cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Carbon dioxide: a reagent for the simultaneous protection of nucleophilic centres and the activation of alternative locations to electrophilic attack. : Part III. A new synthetic method for the ortho-subttitution of N-monoalkylanilines

Abstract N-Methyl- and M-ethyl-aniline are regiospecifically converted into a range of ortho-substituted derivatives, using carbon dioxide both for M-protection and as an intermediate carbanion stabilizing group, and t -butyllithium to lithiate the ortho-carbon atom. The resulting lithium N-(ortho-substituted-phenyl)-N-methyl- and -N-ethyl-carbamates undergo smooth acid-catalysed decarboxylation under mild conditions. No alpha-substituted products were detected.
Effect of subsurface pressure on the interface pressure measurement in an in vitro experiment

IntroductionIt was hypothesized that subsurface pressure (mimicking subcutaneous pressure) variation may affect interface pressure measurement.MethodBISCO® (Rogers, CT) foam was placed on a cylinde...
Interpretación del contenido de la humedad del suelo para determinar capacidad de campo y evitar riego excesivo en suelos arenosos utilizando sensores de humedad

Este documento resume las directrices para la determinacion de la capacidad de campo y la programacion optima del riego para suelos arenosos utilizando sensores de medicion de la humedad del suelo (SHS). Los sensores de humedad del suelo han demostrado potencial para el monitoreo de la humedad del suelo, y para el respaldo en la toma de decisiones de riego en cultivos horticolas. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Lincoln Zotarelli, Michael D. Dukes, and Kelly T. Morgan, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, January 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae496
Chronic kidney disease impact on total joint arthroplasty outcomes: A National Inpatient Sample-based study.

Introduction:In the United States, chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects roughly 11% of the population or 19.2 million people. As the prevalence of CKD and demand for total joint arthroplasty (TJA) ...
Making meaning, doing math: high school English learners, student-led discussion, and math tracking

Mathematics is not just memorized facts, but rather it is understanding how to approach and solve problems, and problem-solving requires linguistic proficiency. Too often, English learners’ (ELs) r...
An Edwardsiid Larva Parasitic in Mnemiopsis

In some years a vermiform larval sea anemone is abundant inside the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Woods Hole, Massachusetts region. This report deals with the identification of its adult form, its occurrence over the years and the extent of infection of the host, observations on penetration of the host, and data on the time required for development to the adult stage.
Somatic mutational profiles and germline polygenic risk scores in human cancer

The mutational profile of a cancer reflects the activity of the mutagenic processes which have been operative throughout the lineage of the cancer cell. These processes leave characteristic profiles of somatic mutations called mutational signatures. Mutational signatures, including single-based substitution (SBS) signatures, may reflect the effects of exogenous or endogenous exposures. Here, we used polygenic risk score (PRS) as proxies for exposures and examined the association between somatic mutational profiles and germline PRS in 12 cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas project. We found 17 statistically significant associations after Bonferroni correction (p < 3.15x10-5), including positive associations between germline inflammatory bowel disease PRS and number of somatic mutations of signature SBS1 in prostate cancer and APOBEC-related signatures in breast cancer. The age at menarche PRS was inversely associated with mutation counts of SBS1 in prostate cancer. Our analysis suggests that there are robust associations between tumor somatic mutational profiles and germline PRS. These may reflect mechanisms through hormone regulation and immunological responses that contribute to cancer etiology and drive cancer progression.
Case Report: Return to Sport Following the COVID-19 Lockdown and Its Impact on Injury Rates in the German Soccer League

The Bundesliga made headlines for becoming the first major sports league to return to sport worldwide following COVID-19 lockdown. To-date, there lacks retrospective studies on longitudinal injury rates to elucidate the effect isolation measures had on the health and safety of professional athletes. This study sought to compare injury rates experienced by Bundesliga athletes before and after the COVID-19 lockdown. Data was collected from public injury and player reports regarding the Bundesliga, with injury defined as trauma resulting in loss of game time. Descriptive statistics were used to present differences in injury incidence between all Bundesliga Match days pre- and post-lockdown. Between the league's resumption and completion on May 16 and June 27, 2020, injuries occurred in 21 forwards (FW), 11 central midfielders (CM), 12 wide midfielders (WM), 16 central defenders (CD), 6 fullbacks (FB), and 2 goalkeepers. Players had 1.13 (95% CI 0.78, 1.64) times the odds of being injured following the COVID-19 lockdown, with a 3.12 times higher rate of injury when controlling for games played compared to injury rates pre-lockdown (0.84 injuries per game vs. 0.27 injuries per game). The most frequent injury group was muscular injuries with 23 injuries total, with 17% of athletes experiencing injury during their first competitive match following lockdown. Injury rate increased over 3-fold following COVID-19 lockdown. Athletes did not experience an increased rate of injury with more cumulative competitive matches played. High injury incidence for players yet to complete their first competitive match may imply suboptimal sport readiness following home confinement.
Population Data for Students with Visual Impairments in the United States.

Introduction:The purpose of this study was to determine how many young children and students (birth to 22 years old) were identified with visual impairments and receiving special education services...
Exhibition as Art Historical Space: The 1933 Chinese Art Exhibition in Paris

The 1933 Chinese Art Exhibition in Paris, the first large-scale Chinese art show in France, played a critical role in establishing the category of “modern Chinese painting” in early twentieth-centu...
The Mental Health Effects of Student Activism: Persisting Despite Psychological Costs:

As student activism continues to roil campuses, concerns have arisen about the mental health costs associated with activist-oriented civic engagement. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 42 self-id...
NFkB-signaling promotes glial reactivity and suppresses Müller glia-mediated neuron regeneration in the mammalian retina

Muller glia (MG) in mammalian retinas are incapable of regenerating neurons after damage, whereas the MG in lower vertebrates regenerate functional neurons. Identification networks that regulate MG-mediated regeneration is key to harnessing the regenerative potential of MG. Here we study how NFkB-signaling influences glial responses to damage and reprogramming of MG into neurons in the rodent retina. We find activation of NFkB and dynamic expression of NFkB-associated genes in MG after damage, however NFkB activity is inhibited by microglia ablation. Knockout of NFkB in MG suppressed the accumulation of immune cells after damage. Inhibition of NFkB following NMDA-damage significantly enhanced the reprogramming of Ascl1-overexpressing MG into neuron-like cells. scRNA-seq of retinal glia following inhibition of NFkB reveals coordination with signaling via TGFb2 and suppression of NFI and Id transcription factors. Inhibition of Smad3 or Id transcription factors increased numbers of neuron-like cells produced by Ascl1-overexpressing MG. We conclude that NFkB is a key signaling hub that is activated in MG after damage, mediates the accumulation of immune cells, and suppresses the neurogenic potential of MG.
The Effect of Magnetohydrodynamic (Mhd) Energy Bypass on Specific Thrust for a Supersonic Turbojet Engine

This paper describes the preliminary results of a thermodynamic cycle analysis of a supersonic turbojet engine with a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) energy bypass system that explores a wide range of MHD enthalpy extraction parameters. Through the analysis described here, it is shown that applying a magnetic field to a flow path in the Mach 2.0 to 3.5 range can increase the specific thrust of the turbojet engine up to as much as 420 N/(kg/s) provided that the magnitude of the magnetic field is in the range of 1 to 5 Tesla. The MHD energy bypass can also increase the operating Mach number range for a supersonic turbojet engine into the hypersonic flight regime. In this case, the Mach number range is shown to be extended to Mach 7.0.
The apogee of the hispano-genoese Bond, 1576-1627

The half century between 1576 and 1627 witnessed the most intense relations between the Republic of Genoa and Spain. This period, clearly demarcated at both its beginning and ending points, was ushered in by a brief war in Genoa accompanied by royal insolvency in Spain, and brought to a close by fighting in northern Italy and another quiebra in Spain. The dramatic events that opened this period, however, also forced the Genoese to lay the groundwork for a future internal stability that was to allow the already strong ties with Spain to grow exponentially. Sound ties of mutual dependence —Spanish dependence on Genoese financial capabilities and Genoese dependence on protection from Spain— did not preclude moments of tension. Given the commonality of interest, not to mention overwhelming Spanish military might and the asymmetric nature of the bonds linking the two countries, tensions were destined to be played out on a symbolic level. Such intense bonds, of course, are never eternal and, in fact, at the height of Genoese involvement in Spanish finances and dependence on Spanish arms we see a turning point, the seeds of future shifts to a modified equilibrium which would mature decades later.
Rigid E -Unification and, Its Applications to Equational Matings

Publisher Summary The method of matings can be extended to the first-order languages with equality, and this extension is both sound and complete. The method of matings exploits the fundamental property given by the Skolem–Herbrand–Godel theorem. The extension to equational matings is nontrivial and requires proving of the Skolem–Herbrand–Godel theorem. It also requires extending the concept of a mating so that an equational mating is a set of sets of literals mated sets, where a mated set consists of several positive equations and a single negated equation and a form of unification modulo equational theories, or E-unification. The method of matings is an incremental proof procedure that interleaves two steps: quantifier-duplication steps and search for matings.
Clinical analysis of the S wave pattern electrocardiogram; an investigation including extensive unipolar lead studies.

Abstract A study of otherwise normal electrocardiograms of fifty-two patients showing S waves in all standard limb leads was carried out, using precordial leads, six unipolar limb leads, and right upper quadrant and left upper scapular unipolar leads. The S waves in the standard limb leads were 25 per cent or more than the R deflection in the same lead. The clinical diagnoses in fifty-two patients were heart disease in twelve, hypertension alone in one, pulmonary disease alone in eleven, and hypertension and pulmonary disease together in two cases, while in twenty-six patients there was no disease present which would influence the electrocardiogram. The only positive correlation which was noted from inspection of the standard limb leads was that when the S-wave deflections were of considerable magnitude in all leads there was a high incidence of pulmonary disease. Unipolar lead studies were made in an attempt to establish criteria for differentiating patients with disease from those without disease and for correlating the electrocardiographic findings with the clinical findings. The multiple unipolar precordial leads offered no assistance in this respect. By grouping the various patterns noted in the unipolar limb leads, it was found that the pattern designated as Type 1 was associated with a very high incidence of cardiovascular or pulmonary disease. The remaining types did not contribute any further information. The unipolar leads from the right upper quadrant and left upper scapular areas were of no more than slight value in determining the presence of hypertrophy of either ventricle. It is probable that the fundamental factor in determining the presence of S waves in the standard limb leads is the position of the heart. A tendency toward a vertical position with the apex displaced posteriorly is the most common cause. A heart in a transverse position with marked counterclockwise rotation on its long axis rarely will give rise to such a pattern. Cardiac or pulmonary disease is active in producing the pattern only insofar as it may contribute to such cardiac positions. In one-half of the patients studied, this electrocardiographic pattern was a normal characteristic of the individual. It is concluded from this study that such extensive unipolar lead investigations are impractical as a routine clinical procedure because of the relatively little clinical value that they yield. Tracings meeting the criteria used in this paper are obtained in approximately 2 per cent of all electrocardiograms taken on adults.
PICS: A Public IaaS Cloud Simulator

Public clouds become essential for many organizations to run their applications because they provide huge financial benefits and great flexibility. However, it is very challenging to accurately evaluate the performance and cost of applications without actual deployment on the clouds. Existing cloud simulators are generally designed from the perspective of cloud service providers, thus they can be under-developed for answering questions for the perspective of cloud users. To solve this prediction and evaluation problem, we created a Public Cloud IaaS Simulator (PICS). PICS enables the cloud user to evaluate the cost and performance of public IaaS clouds along with such dimensions like VM and storage service, resource scaling, job scheduling, and diverse workload patterns. We extensively validated PICS by comparing its results with the data acquired from real public IaaS cloud using real cloud-applications. We show that PICS provides highly accurate simulation results (less than 5% of average errors) under a variety of use cases. Moreover, we evaluated PICS' sensitivity with imprecise simulation parameters. The results show that PICS still provides very reliable simulation results with imprecise simulation parameters and performance uncertainty.
Wafer level burn-in

Is it the industry's intent to apply wafer-level burn-in (WLBI) to MPUs and ASICs? Package-level burn-in (PLBI) today is facing escalating burn-in power dissipation for these MPU and ASIC devices. The burn-in board (BIB) density (devices/BIB) varies inversely with device power dissipation. However, wafer-level burn-in would indicate the opposite-more devices in a 200 mm diameter. Is it the industry's intent to apply wafer-level burn-in to memory and more specifically, to DRAM? Here, the power situation is much less problematic than MPUs and ASICs. Yet, unlike logic DRAMs are overwhelmingly wirebonded die which require a test interface (probe) that can penetrate the bond pad's aluminum oxide without damaging the wafer. There are multi-device under test (DUT) probe technologies available today for /spl times/32 DUT testing; they can cover an area of four square inches. And it may be possible to leverage these technologies to provide full wafer contact-but not for free. How would these compare to the PLBI economic model that we know and love? In the 1993-94 timeframe, several technology issues concerning WLBI were considered risky and required years to solve. So where is the design point today? Is WLBI a static burn-in methodology where applying elevated voltage and temperature is sufficient? Is it dynamic burn-in? Monitored burn-in? In situ burn-in? Or, will it naturally progress to wafer-level test and burn-in (WLTB)? This paper provides an overview of wafer-level burn-in, past and present, and offers a prediction for the future.
The Use of Simulation Models in Public Health with Applications to Substance Abuse and Obesity Problems

Evaluation studies often focus on a particular policy applied to a specific population. Due to data limitations, purely statistical methods of analysis are often ill equipped to simultaneously consider all of the important relationships inherent in complex problems, such as the effects of tobacco control policies on smoking rates at different ages and how those effects impact health outcomes over time. An alternative, complementary approach to purely statistical modeling is simulation modeling (SM), also known as computational models.
Bone histology in extant and fossil penguins (Aves: Sphenisciformes).

Substantial changes in bone histology accompany the secondary adaptation to life in the water. This transition is well documented in several lineages of mammals and non-avian reptiles, but has received relatively little attention in birds. This study presents new observations on the long bone microstructure of penguins, based on histological sections from two extant taxa (Spheniscus and Aptenodytes) and eight fossil specimens belonging to stem lineages (†Palaeospheniscus and several indeterminate Eocene taxa). High bone density in penguins results from compaction of the internal cortical tissues, and thus penguin bones are best considered osteosclerotic rather than pachyostotic. Although the oldest specimens sampled in this study represent stages of penguin evolution that occurred at least 25 million years after the loss of flight, major differences in humeral structure were observed between these Eocene stem taxa and extant taxa. This indicates that the modification of flipper bone microstructure continued long after the initial loss of flight in penguins. It is proposed that two key transitions occurred during the shift from the typical hollow avian humerus to the dense osteosclerotic humerus in penguins. First, a reduction of the medullary cavity occurred due to a decrease in the amount of perimedullary osteoclastic activity. Second, a more solid cortex was achieved by compaction. In extant penguins and †Palaeospheniscus, most of the inner cortex is formed by rapid osteogenesis, resulting an initial latticework of woven-fibered bone. Subsequently, open spaces are filled by slower, centripetal deposition of parallel-fibered bone. Eocene stem penguins formed the initial latticework, but the subsequent round of compaction was less complete, and thus open spaces remained in the adult bone. In contrast to the humerus, hindlimb bones from Eocene stem penguins had smaller medullary cavities and thus higher compactness values compared with extant taxa. Although cortical lines of arrested growth have been observed in extant penguins, none was observed in any of the current sampled specimens. Therefore, it is likely that even these 'giant' penguin taxa completed their growth cycle without a major pause in bone deposition, implying that they did not undergo a prolonged fasting interval before reaching adult size.
Analysis of YFP(J16)-R6/2 reporter mice and postmortem brains reveals early pathology and increased vulnerability of callosal axons in Huntington's disease

Cumulative evidence indicates that the onset and severity of Huntington's disease (HD) symptoms correlate with connectivity deficits involving specific neuronal populations within cortical and basal ganglia circuits. Brain imaging studies and pathological reports further associated these deficits with alterations in cerebral white matter structure and axonal pathology. However, whether axonopathy represents an early pathogenic event or an epiphenomenon in HD remains unknown, nor is clear the identity of specific neuronal populations affected. To directly evaluate early axonal abnormalities in the context of HD in vivo, we bred transgenic YFP(J16) with R6/2 mice, a widely used HD model. Diffusion tensor imaging and fluorescence microscopy studies revealed a marked degeneration of callosal axons long before the onset of motor symptoms. Accordingly, a significant fraction of YFP-positive cortical neurons in YFP(J16) mice cortex were identified as callosal projection neurons. Callosal axon pathology progressively worsened with age and was influenced by polyglutamine tract length in mutant huntingtin (mhtt). Degenerating axons were dissociated from microscopically visible mhtt aggregates and did not result from loss of cortical neurons. Interestingly, other axonal populations were mildly or not affected, suggesting differential vulnerability to mhtt toxicity. Validating these results, increased vulnerability of callosal axons was documented in the brains of HD patients. Observations here provide a structural basis for the alterations in cerebral white matter structure widely reported in HD patients. Collectively, our data demonstrate a dying-back pattern of degeneration for cortical projection neurons affected in HD, suggesting that axons represent an early and potentially critical target for mhtt toxicity.
Cartilage tissue engineering using thyroid chondrocytes on a type I collagen matrix.

Objective/Hypothesis: Reconstructive procedures of the head and neck often require materials that offer long-term structural support A problem that many surgeons have encountered is identifying a material that offers this support without rejection of the implanted materiaL This has led many surgeons to prefer autologous cartilage. However, autologous cartilage is of limited supply. Cartilage tissue engineering has become a new modality that allows investigators to harvest a small piece of cartilage and extract its chondrocytes for expansion in culture. These chondrocytes are applied to a matrix that will act as a scaffold and allow for cartilage growth. Finding a compatible matrix seems to be the limiting step in the progress of this research. We describe a new approach of tissue creation using bovine collagen matrices as templates onto which cells are seeded. Study Design: Laboratory research. Methods: Chondrocytes obtained from thyroid cartilage of dogs were seeded onto bovine collagen type I matrices and grown in vitro. Chondrocyte seeded matrices were evaluated histologically. Results: Thyroid chondrocytes expressed themselves phenotypically by producing type II collagen in the presence of this type I collagen matrix. Conclusions: This study offers the preliminary findings on an exciting new type of matrix worth exploring in the ability to successfully engineer cartilage.
Modeling and Experimental Verification of Nano Positioning System for Nanomanufacturing

Vibration Assisted Nano Impact-machining by Loose Abrasives (VANILA) is a novel nanomachining process that combines the principles of vibration-assisted abrasive machining and tip-based nanomachining has been developed by the authors to perform target specific nano abrasive machining of hard and brittle materials. One of the critical factors in achieving nanoscale precision during the VANILA process is to maintain an optimal machining gap between the tool and the workpiece surface. Piezoelectric crystal based positioning systems is a proven method for achieving ultraprecision control, however the application of such a system for controlling the nanoscale machining gap during a machining process is not explored. In this paper, the possibility of using a piezoelectric crystal based nano positioning setup to achieve the desired gap during the VANILA process is explored. This research thus finds a new application for the nanopositioning systems in order enhance the capability of existing VANILA process. Analytical models based on piezoelectric theory are done to predict the vibrational behavior of the piezoelectric crystal in the nano-positioning setup under different machining conditions. Further experiments are conducted to validate the model and study the mass-loading effect on the piezoelectric crystal. The model developed is agreeing within 20% with the experimentally determined values and thus the model forms the basis for using the nano-positioning system for maintaining optimal gap between the tool tip and the workpiece surface.
Investigation of aging mechanisms of high power Li-ion cells used for hybrid electric vehicles

Abstract High power lithium-ion batteries need to exhibit long service life to meet targets of automotive applications. This article describes the deep investigation of the so-called VL6P cells, high power lithium-ion cells mass produced by Johnson Controls – Saft (JC-S), in order to understand the root causes of their aging. Cells aged by calendar and cycle life are investigated here compared to fresh cells. Among the results of the different analyses, the most significant is that more active lithium is detected in negative electrode after aging. This tends to indicate that effect of aging is due to increase of positive electrode limitation. Results of this investigation will allow JC-S to continue to improve life of the lithium-ion cells.
Abstract LB-13: Hyaluronic acid-based CD44 targeted nanoparticle delivery of combination MDR1 siRNA/paclitaxel to overcome drug resistance in ovarian cancer

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA A major obstacle in the success of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer is the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR). Overexpression of the MDR1 gene and corresponding P-glycoprotein (Pgp) efflux pumps is one of the best characterized MDR mechanisms. Although MDR1 siRNA based strategies are emerging as highly promising approaches to reverse MDR, the systemic delivery still remains a great challenge. In the present study, CD44 targeting hyaluronic acid (HA) based self-assembling nanoparticle systems were designed with MDR1 siRNA to evaluate its delivery efficiency and combination anticancer therapeutic efficacy with paclitaxel in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that HA-poly(ethyleneimine)/HA-poly(ethylene glycol) (HA-PEI/HA-PEG) nanoparticle successfully delivered MDR1 siRNA into MDR ovarian cancer cell lines, SKOV-3TR and OVCAR8TR. Western blot analysis, calcein AM retention assay, and MTT assay further demonstrated that HA-PEI/HA-PEG nanoparticles loaded with MDR1 siRNA efficiently down-regulated the expression of MDR1 and inhibited the functional activity of Pgp, and subsequently increase cell sensitivity to paclitaxel. HA-PEI/HA-PEG/MDR1 siRNA nanoparticle therapy followed by paclitaxel treatment produced a significant inhibitory effect on the drug-resistant tumor growth as compared with control groups in MDR ovarian cancer xenograft mouse models. These results indicated CD44-targeted HA-PEI/HA-PEG nanoparticle platform is an effective siRNA delivery system for potential siRNA-based anticancer therapeutics in ovarian cancer. Citation Format: Xiaoqian Yang, Arun lyer, Francis hornicek, Mansoor Amiji, Zhenfeng Duan. Hyaluronic acid-based CD44 targeted nanoparticle delivery of combination MDR1 siRNA/paclitaxel to overcome drug resistance in ovarian cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-13. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-LB-13
Selective Alcohol Oxidation with Molecular Oxygen Catalyzed by Os−Cr and Ru−Cr Complexes

The heterobimetallic complexes [Y][M(N)R2(μ-O)2CrO2] (where Y is either N(n-Bu)4+ or PPh4+; M is either Ru or Os; and R is an alkyl or aryl ligand) catalyze the selective oxidation of alcohols with molecular oxygen. The rate of the reaction is higher with a ruthenium-containing complex than with an analogous osmium-containing catalyst. The rate decreases with steric bulk in either the catalyst or substrate. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of [N(n-Bu)4][Ru(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(μ-O)2CrO2] and [PPh4][Os(N)Me(CH2SiMe3)(μ-O)2CrO2] show the chromate group coordinated to each nitrido(dialkyl)metal center through two oxo ligands. The oxidation of benzyl alcohol by [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N)(CH2SiMe3)2(μ-O)2CrO2] was examinined in detail. It is first order in alcohol and substrate, and, when oxygen partial pressure is low, the rate depends directly on the O2 partial pressure. A mechanism in which alcohol coordinates to the osmium center and is oxidized by β-hydrogen elimination is consistent with the data. [N(n-Bu)4][Os(N...
Coupling-induced resonance frequency shifts in coupled dielectric multi-cavity filters.

Coupling-induced resonance frequency shifts (CIFS) are theoretically described, and are found to be an important fundamental source of resonance frequency mismatch between coupled optical cavities that would be degenerate in isolation. Their deleterious effect on high-order resonant filter responses and complete correction by pre-distortion are described. Analysis of the physical effects contributing to CIFS shows that a positive index perturbation may bring about a resonance shift of either sign. Higher-order CIFS effects, the scaling of CIFS-caused impairment with finesse, FSR and index contrast, and the tolerability of frequency mismatch in telecom-grade filters are addressed. The results also suggest possible designs and applications for CIFS-free coupled-resonator systems.
Effects of thiazolidinediones on the triad of type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease

Type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events that carry a poor prognosis. Majority of patients with type 2 diabetes are insulin resistant and have associated metabolic abnormalities that are also significant cardiovascular risk factors. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are currently the only available oral anti-hyperglycaemic medications that reduce insulin resistance. In addition to lowering blood glucose, TZDs have been shown to affect and reduce surrogate markers of CV risk in patients with type 2 diabetes. PROactive was the first prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled outcome study on high risk type 2 diabetes patients using pioglitazone. Although the primary endpoint of the PROactive study was not reached, the results of the secondary endpoints are consistent with an anti-atherosclerotic effect of the medication. Ongoing TZD clinical trials should provide additional information or definitive evidence as to whether TZDs can reduce CV risk. Current emphasis should be placed on reducing CV risk factors and improving glycaemic control, when possible, and the clinician should be alert for signs and symptoms of atherosclerosis.
Corrigendum to ``Orthogonal double-pulse versus single-pulse laser ablation at different air pressures: A comparison of the mass removal mechanisms'' [Spectrochim. Acta Part B 64 (2009) 29-34]

The author regrets that in the above published article an error occurred in the description of the experimental apparatus. The pulse width of the laser used in the experiments was 50 ns and not 10 ns, as declared by the manufacturer. The variation is only marginal, both for the relevance of the results as well as for the discussion. However, the values of the threshold irradiances describing the physical mechanisms need to be moved to
Orthography in botanical nomenclature

The place of orthography in a code of nomenclature may be questioned; but perhaps one cannot fix the application of a name unless one fixes its spelling. Unfortunately the dabbling of botanists in etymology and linguistic science has not yielded uniformly satisfying results. Much confusion has resulted from the wording of Article 70 of the International rules of botanical nomenclature, ed. 3; and the examples given, though numerous, have not served to illuminate the difficulties. Here is the Article:
Bayesian methods for partial stochastic orderings

SUMMARY We discuss two methods of making nonparametric Bayesian inference on probability measures subject to a partial stochastic ordering. The first method involves a nonparametric prior for a measure on partially ordered latent observations, and the second involves rejection sampling. Computational approaches are discussed for each method, and interpretations of prior and posterior information are discussed. An application is presented in which inference is made on the number of independently segregating quantitative trait loci present in an animal population.
Biogenetically Inspired Approach to the Strychnos Alkaloids. Concise Syntheses of (±)-Akuammicine and (±)-Strychnine

A linear synthesis of the indole alkaloid (+/-)-akuammicine (2) was completed by a novel sequence of reactions requiring only 10 steps from commercially available starting materials. The approach features a tandem vinylogous Mannich addition and an intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction to rapidly assemble the pentacyclic heteroyohimboid derivative 8 from the readily available hydrocarboline 6. Oxidation of the E ring of 8 gave the lactone 9 that was converted into deformylgeissoschizine (11). The subsequent elaboration of 11 into 2 was effected by a biomimetically patterned transformation that involved sequential oxidation and base-induced skeletal reorganization. A variation of these tactics was then applied to the synthesis of the C(18) hydroxylated akuammicine derivative 36. Because 36 had previously been converted into strychnine (1) in four steps, its preparation constitutes a concise, formal synthesis of this complex alkaloid.
Effect of student ethnicity on interpersonal skills and objective standardized clinical examination scores.

Abstract Objective: To determine whether standardized patients’ perceptions of medical students’ ethnicity influenced ratings on the interpersonal skills subsection of the objective standardized clinical examination (OSCE) and performance overall on the OSCE. Methods: The OSCE is used to evaluate medical students’ performances in the obstetrics and gynecology basic clerkship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. It is based on a series of standardized patient interviews conducted by medical students and incorporates ratings by standardized patients on each student’s interpersonal skills. Medical students ( n = 353) enrolled in the obstetrics and gynecology basic clerkship from 1995–1998 were classified according to ethnicity. Overall OSCE scores according to ethnicity were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Total interpersonal skills scores and scores on the individual components of the interpersonal skills section of the OSCE were analyzed according to students’ ethnicity using the Kruskal-Wallis test for nonparametric analysis of variance. Results: There were no statistically significant differences among ethnic groups in overall OSCE scores, total interpersonal skills scores, or scores on the individual components of the interpersonal skills section of the OSCE. Conclusion: No bias attributable to perceived medical student ethnicity that affects performance on the OSCE exists.
Family response to childhood chronic illness: Description of management styles

Based on family members' subjective accounts of the illness experience, this study identifies unique styles of family response to childhood chronic illness. Drawing on principles of triangulation, the investigators collected data longitudinally from multiple family members (ill child, parents, well sibling) in 63 families using structured and unstructured data collection techniques. In all families there was a school-age child with a chronic illness. Five family management styles (FMSs) were identified. Each is made up of a distinct configuration of qualitative themes. Across the five FMSs, the configurations reflect differences in the following major aspects of the chronic illness experience: definition of the illness experience, management goals and approach, and illness consequences. The five FMSs (thriving, accommodating, enduring, struggling, and floundering) represent a continuum of difficulty families experience in managing a child's chronic illness. The FMSs also contribute to understanding the underlying processes associated with differing outcomes for families and their individual members when a child has a chronic illness.
Health-related quality of life after ileoanal pull-through evaluation and assessment of new health status measures

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Health-related quality of life (HRQL) after proctocolectomy is a critical parameter for management decisions in patients with chronic pancolitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the HRQL of patients with ileoanal pull-through and to validate new, easy-to-administer HRQL measures. METHODS: The Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), Short Form 36 (SF-36), Rating Form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Patient Concerns (RFIPC), and the time trade-off (TTO) were used to measure HRQL of pull-through patients. The SF-36 and the RFIPC were validated. RESULTS: HRQL of patients with ileoanal pull-through was better than that of a national sample of patients with IBD (SIP and RFIPC) and similar to that of a normal population (SF-36). Physical and psychosocial subscales of the SF-36 correlated with the SIP, affirming the construct validity of the SF-36. The RFIPC results correlated with the SIP and SF-36 results, suggesting that it is also a valid health status measure for these patients. TTO results correlated with the physical subscales of the SIP and SF-36, reflecting the impact of physical health on this group. CONCLUSIONS: HRQL of patients with ileoanal pull-through is excellent. The SF-36 and RFIPC are valid health status measures that can be used by clinicians and researchers in these patients. (Gastroenterology 1997 Jul;113(1):7-14)
Whole body exposures to a phosphoric acids aerosol: I. Spontaneous activity effects in wild rodent and avian species

Two inhalation‐chamber studies were conducted to assess acute (2‐h out‐of‐chamber) and subacute (≤ 6 d postexposure) spontaneous activity effects of whole‐body phosphoric acids aerosol exposure(s) in black‐tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) and rock doves (Columba livia). The aerosol was generated using a red phosphorus/ butyl rubber (RP/BR) mixture under development as a military obscurant. Each study involved (1) 3 RP/BR target concentration groups [0.0 (controls), 1.0, and 4.0 mg/L], (2) 24 prairie dogs or rock doves (8/group), with gender included as a factor, (3) a successive 3‐phase paradigm (2 d preexposure; 4 and 2 d of about 80 min/d exposures to RP/BR for prairie dogs and rock doves, respectively; and 6 d postexposure), and (4) infrared detection of the rodents'/birds’ home‐cage movements. In‐chamber atmospheres were uniform and acceptable for all exposures; median aerosol mass concentrations ranged from 0.76 to 0.89 mg/L and 3.46 to 3.74 mg/L for the 1.0 and 4.0 mg/L groups, respectivel...
THE MEASUREMENT OF URBAN TRAVEL DEMAND

It is a truism that the transportation system is a critical component of every urban economy, and that transportation policy decisions can have a profound effect on the development of the urban system. Public transportation projects are often massive and mutually exclusive, with irreversible cumulative effects over long periods. If major social losses are to be avoided, careful planning based on a conceptually sound and empirically accurate benefit-cost calculus is essential. Accurate forecasts of travel demand under alternative transport policies are required for precise calculations of benefits. To be fully satisfactory, these forecasts must be sufficiently sensitive to reflect the impact of the changing urban environment over the lifetime of proposed transport projects. Travel demand forecasting has long been the province of transportation engineers, who have built up over the years considerable empirical wisdom and a repertory of largely ad hoc models which have proved successful in various applications. The contribution of psychologists and economists to forecasting methodology has been limited; despite a surge of recent interest, there still does not exist a solid foundation in behavioral theory for demand forecasting
Self-sustained discharge detector for gas chromatography.

IN a recent communication to Nature, Drs. Evrard, Thevelin and Joossens1 described their experience with a self-sustained discharge detector for chromatographic analysis of permanent gases. Argon containing 200 p.p.m. of ethylene was used as carrier gas, a mixture similar to that described elsewhere by Willis2 for detecting atmospheric gases with an ionization detector containing a radioactive source. In both these methods, permanent gases quench the current flowing in the detector.
LATS1 tumour suppressor affects cytokinesis by inhibiting LIMK1

LATS (large tumour suppressor) is a family of conserved tumour suppressors identified in Drosophila and mammals. Here we show that human LATS1 binds to LIMK1 in vitro and in vivo and colocalizes with LIMK1 at the actomyosin contractile ring during cytokinesis. LATS1 inhibits both the phosphorylation of cofilin by LIMK1 and LIMK1-induced cytokinesis defects. Inactivation of LATS1 by antibody microinjection or RNA-mediated interference in cells, or gene knockout in mice, abrogates cytokinesis and increases the percentage of multinucleate cells. Our findings indicate that LATS1 is a novel cytoskeleton regulator that affects cytokinesis by regulating actin polymerization through negative modulation of LIMK1.
(Solid + liquid) phase equilibria and solid-compound formation in tetrachloromethane + cyclopentanone, + 4-butyrolactone, and + 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone

Abstract (Solid + liquid) phaZe diagrams have been constructed for “tetrachloromethane + each of the three cyclic compounds (which are very similar in size and shape) cyclopentanone (C 5 H 8 O), 4-butyrolactone (C 4 H 6 O 2 ), and 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (C 5 H 9 NO)’. Solid addition compounds form with the empirical formulae: C 5 H 8 O·CCl 4 , (C 4 H 6 O 2 ) 2 ·CCl 4 , C 5 H 9 NO·CCl 4 , and (C 5 H 9 NO) 2 ·CCl 4 . All are congruently melting except the last which melts incongruently. Its composition is not certain. Compound formation is attributed to a charge-transfer interaction with the tetrachloromethane acting as electron acceptor and the nitrogen or oxygen in the second component acting as electron donor.
Low-Dimensional Electronic States at Metal Surfaces:. Quantum Wells and Quantum Wires

Several possibilities of “engineering” low-dimensional solids on the atomic scale are discussed. The electronic and magnetic structure of such materials is explored for two classes, i.e., multilayers and “wires” attached to step edges. Magnetic multilayers represent a particularly promising case, since quantum effects have macroscopic consequences. Quantization perpendicular to the layers is connected with oscillatory magnetic coupling, which in turn is important for obtaining “giant” magnetoresistance. This effect is being applied towards the fabrication of magnetoresistive reading heads for magnetically stored data. Extensions towards lateral superlattices and quantum wires are explored, where a stepped surface acts as a template. It is found that electrons can be trapped at step edges, and level shifts of the order 0.5 eV are observed for atoms adsorbed at step edges.
Effects of molecular oxygen on chick limb bud chondrogenesis.

Abstract Chondrogenesis is an important process in the development of the embryonic chick limb. If limb buds are dispersed just prior to the initiation of chondrogenic differentiation and their cells seeded densely in culture as three-dimensional “micromasses,” some of the cells differentiate to form chondrogenic nodules. These nodules characteristically produce sulfated proteoglycans and type II collagen. Two conditions within the early avian limb core have been linked causatively to the initiation of chondrogenesis: a limitation in the availability of molecular oxygen and a low NAD content of the tissue. The O2 limitation is thought to be responsible for the low NAD level. We examined the effects of molecular oxygen on the NAD content of chick limb-bud cells in micromass culture, the formation of chondrocytic nodules, and the production of type II collagen and sulfated proteoglycans. The NAD content of the cells in the micromasses and the production of type II collagen did not vary greatly as a function of oxygen availability. The development of the nodules was modified, but not eliminated, by high oxygen partial pressure (0.95). It was eliminated by anoxia. Proteoglycan synthesis was decreased significantly by high oxygen tension and its sulfation was also decreased, more so in the wing-bud than the leg-bud cells. The results suggest that in culture, high oxygen tension is compatible with some, but not all, aspects of chondrogenic differentiation of cells from embryonic chick limbs.
“It Makes Me a Man from the Beating I Took”: Gender and Aggression in Children’s Narratives About Conflict

Personal conflict narratives were written by 364 4th–6th graders from two urban schools in the U.S. mid-south that contrasted in levels of poverty and crime. Narratives were coded for severity of violence, type of aggression, explanations, characters’ mental and emotional states, and authors’ moral evaluations. Boys described more severe physical violence than girls, but provided fewer explanations, less moral evaluation, and showed less psychological mindedness in the moderate-stress neighborhood, but only when they wrote stories about boy aggressors and physical or psychological aggression. Boys describing girl or relational aggression were as psychologically and morally astute as girls were. Girls also neglected to explain and evaluate boys’ aggression. Findings supported a social constructivist model of how narrative discourse may gender aggression.
Central Circulatory Changes Accompanying Mitral Commissurotomy

The flow-pressure relationships within the pulmonary circuit and left side of the heart were measured in 24 patients immediately before and just after mitral commissurotomy. The diastolic pressure gradient across the mitral valve was decreased in all cases, but was rarely obliterated completely. No significant change occurred in cardiac output; a shorter ventricular filling period and a consequent increase in mitral valve flow per unit of filling time was consistently observed. A decrease in mean pulmonary artery pressure generally occurred with valve fracture, but it was almost always less than the decrease in left atrial pressure. The result was an immediate postoperative increase in the pressure gradient and in the calculated resistance across the pulmonary circuit. These observations suggest that the reduction in left atrial pressure following mitral commissurotomy has no immediate effect on pulmonary vasomotor tone.