cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The corticothalamocortical circuit drives higher-order cortex in the mouse

An unresolved question in neuroscience relates to the extent to which corticothalamocortical circuits emanating from layer 5B are involved in information transfer through the cortical hierarchy. Using a new form of optical imaging in a brain slice preparation, we found that the corticothalamocortical pathway drove robust activity in higher-order somatosensory cortex. When the direct corticocortical pathway was interrupted, secondary somatosensory cortex showed robust activity in response to stimulation of the barrel field in primary somatosensory cortex (S1BF), which was eliminated after subsequently cutting the somatosensory thalamus, suggesting a highly efficacious corticothalamocortical circuit. Furthermore, after chemically inhibiting the thalamus, activation in secondary somatosensory cortex was eliminated, with a subsequent return after washout. Finally, stimulation of layer 5B in S1BF, and not layer 6, drove corticothalamocortical activation. These findings suggest that the corticothalamocortical circuit is a physiologically viable candidate for information transfer to higher-order cortical areas.
Modelling phosphorus transfer rates in lake water.

Abstract A modification of Lean's (1973 a,b ) four-compartment model of the transfer of phosphorus between soluble and particulate forms in the epilimnion of lakes is necessary to make the model consistent with certain observed transfer curves. By splitting the particulate compartment into two distinct fractions and incorporating appropriate transfer coefficients, differential rates of exchange with the particulate compartment can be simulated. At least two different rates of exchange with the particulate compartment appear to be necessary to make the model consistent with experimentally observed, diphasic phosphorus transfer curves.
Reaction of Benzenediazonium-2-carboxylate with reactor-produced no-carrier-added [18F]fluoride. A novel synthesis of 2-[18F]fluorobenzoic acid

Abstract This investigation centers on the preparation of H18F, K18F, and KB18F4 from reactor-produced [18F]fluoride and the efficacy of anhydrous, no-carrier-added H18F in labeling aryl compounds derived from benzenediazonium-2-carboxylate. It proved possible to prepare KB18FF3 only with the addition of considerable KF carrier. A new synthetic route was developed for producing no-carrier-added 2-[18F]fluorobenzoic acid, based on the fast reaction between benzenediazonium-2-carboxylate and anhydrous H18F in benzene solution. If KF carrier is present, however, the primary product is [18F]fluorobenzene. An increase in yield of 18F by 96% is found by irradiating aqueous, rather than dry, 6LiOH·H2O (96% enriched). The yield of 2-[18F]fluorobenzoic acid is 32% of the radioactivity distilled and represents an overall radiochemical recovery of 15% of 18F activity eluted from an Al2O3 column with cone. NH4OH. The total processing time from end of irradiation is 90–95 min. Non-radioactive reactions were carried out with macro quantities of anhydrous HF gas, aqueous HF solution, and anhydrous HF distilled from KF and H2SO4. With the aqueous HF, two products were obtained: 2-fluorobenzoic acid and 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, whereas with the anhydrous HF an essentially quantitative yield of 2-fluorobenzoic acid was formed.
Oxygen Isotope Effects as Structural and Mechanistic Probes in Inorganic Oxidation Chemistry

Oxidative transformations using molecular oxygen are widespread in nature but remain a major challenge in chemical synthesis. Limited mechanistic understanding presents the main obstacle to exploiting O2 in “bioinspired” industrial processes. Isotopic methods are presently being applied to characterize reactions of natural abundance O2 including its coordination to reduced transition metals and cleavage of the O−O bond. This review describes the application of competitive oxygen-18 isotope effects, together with Density Functional Theory, to examine O2 reductive activation under catalytically relevant conditions. The approach should be generally useful for probing small-molecule activation by transition-metal complexes.
Stability assessment of indocyanine green within dextran-coated mesocapsules by absorbance spectroscopy.

The biocompatibility and high absorption in the near IR range of indocyanine green (ICG) have made it a suitable candidate chromophore for optical imaging and laser-mediated therapy of superficial tumors. However, its clinical efficacy remains limited by factors such as rapid circulation kinetics, lack of target specificity, and molecular instability. Such drawbacks motivated us to encapsulate ICG into carrier particles to improve target specificity and retention time. We use absorbance spectroscopy to investigate the effects of encapsulating ICG within dextran-coated capsules. The mesocapsules (MCs) containing ICG are synthesized using a previously reported charge-assembly technique. Both freely dissolved ICG and ICG-MCs are prepared with ICG concentrations of either 50 or 10 µg/ml. Samples are exposed either to a broadband light source or incubated at 3, 23, or 40°C. Absorbance spectra are recorded at various time points up to 96 h. At the lower concentration of 10 µg/ml, ICG within MCs experiences less light-induced degradation. The MC system also protects ICG from thermal degradation at all tested temperatures. The polymer-salt aggregate core of the MCs hinders the mobility of ICG molecules. The MC system shields ICG from vibrational and translational agitation as well as molecular changes such as fragmentation.
Culture of alveolar epithelial Type II cells isolated from adult rat lung

A method is described for isolating alveolar Type II cells from adult rat lung and subsequent primary culture of the cells. Certain potential problems that might arise during the procedure are elucidated and means of minimizing their affect on the procedure's success are discussed.
Co-immobilized enzymes in magnetic chitosan beads for improved hydrolysis of macromolecular substrates under a time-varying magnetic field

Glucoamylase and α-amylase co-immobilized with gamma ferric oxide powders in chitosan beads for consecutive starch liquefaction and saccharification under different magnetic fields was investigated. The chitosan concentration in the beads was found to greatly affect the immobilized enzyme performance. Superior immobilization efficiency and enzyme stability were noted when 2% instead of 4% chitosan was utilized. Using confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, the beads with 2% chitosan were seen to exhibit a more rugged surface topology with more macropores and accommodate more protein near the external surface than with the 4% chitosan beads. An optimum loading ratio between α-amylase and glucoamylase exists that gives the highest glucose production, and this ratio varies with the size of the beads. The inclusion of the gamma ferric oxide powders renders the beads magnetically anisotropic and causes them to tumble under a single-phase alternating magnetic field, resulted in increased overall reaction rates. When exposed to a three-phase alternating magnetic field, these beads were stirred vigorously, also leading to enhanced reaction rates. The use of multi-enzyme co-immobilization in magnetic anisotropic chitosan beads may be extended to other practical applications that involve coordinated enzymatic reactions of macromolecular substrates.
Effect of Photoperiod on Milk Yield and Milk Fat in Commercial Dairy Herds

Two hundred and sixteen cows stanchioned in 13 dairy herds were exposed to supplemental lighting of 16 to 16.25 h of light per day from fluorescent lamps, whereas 240 herdmates received only sunlight (9 to 12 h/day) plus lighting for usual management activities (e.g., milking and feeding). After adjustment for differences in stage of lactation, lactation number, mature equivalent, and pretrial milk yield, cows exposed to supplemental lighting produced 2.2 kg per day more milk and had .16% less milk fat than herdmate controls.
Phonatory characteristics of parkinsonian speech before and after morning medication: the ON and OFF states.

Abstract After prolonged treatment with l -dopa, patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience fluctuations in motor performance. Changes in voice production have been documented perceptually during periods of fluctuation, but few quantitative changes have been found. The purpose of this study is to examine the acoustic–phonatory characteristics of PD speech before and after taking medication, to determine if fluctuations affected phonation. Nine PD patients participated in this study. Multiple analyses were performed, and revealed that fundamental frequency ( F o ) variability in vowels and mean F o were higher, while intensity range was lower in PD patients compared to controls. When the PD subjects were examined after versus before medication, group differences were small, but phonatory improvements were seen in individual subjects. Discussion focuses on physiological changes and variability in PD, and implications of response fluctuations to speech production. Learning outcomes: As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to (1) acquire knowledge and understanding of PD and the voice characteristics commonly associated with PD and (2) understand the effects of l -dopa-related fluctuations on voice production in PD.
Review Centric Exploration of Marketing Research

In this paper Marketing Research strategies are reviewed to gain an understanding of the marketing research process and its possible business implications. Based on these findings a summary of key strategies was developed to help describe practical considerations when conducting market research and an expanded model for marketing research was developed. In addition items of interest for further completing this effort were highlighted. Due to the sound and proven methods, Lepine’s review centric strategies will be utilized to “summarize previously established studies and concepts, pinpoint potential problems (such as factual errors), and inspire new discussions and directions for further research activity.” [ 1 ] This research indicates that marketing research efforts can be time consuming and involves multiple disciplines of business and social science. Four key strategies or areas of concern in marketing research are Consumer behavior studies, Consumer Surveys, Focus Groups, and Product development activities. When starting marketing research activities these four areas should be considered and a proper balance between the four areas needs to be agreed upon. Time was a major limitation when it comes to thoroughly exploring this topic. It would be preferable to have the opportunity to conduct “Real World” testing of the model generated in this article. For example introducing and testing a new product using focus groups, surveys, and data accumulated from studying the target consumer’s behavior. Due to the dynamic and rapidly changing climate of business today, sound and practical methods of marketing new products is essential to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Trying to rush a product to market without proper market research may lead to inhibited product performance and or ultimately failure of a product.
Time Variation of Martian Regional Contrasts

Observations of contrast changes in blue light on Mars in 1969 and 1971 are presented. Seasonal effects evidently can be evaluated from these data, although nonseasonal effects are also present. A diurnal variation is noted for certain features during both apparitions. This variation cannot be fully accounted for without considering meteorological effects. An example of a contrast reversal in ultraviolet light is presented. The suggestion is made that during the Martian season covered herein, variability of the bright areas controlled the apparent contrasts observed.
Expression of endogenous retroviral envelope glycoprotein as a determinant of immunity to Rous sarcoma.

Abstract To analyze the effect of the expression of endogenous retroviral envelope glycoprotein on tumor immunity, patterns of sarcoma growth were compared in inbred FP line chickens infected with either of two strains of avian sarcoma virus, Pr-B (subgroup B) or cl.85 (subgroup G). These viruses were chosen for analysis because the envelope glycoprotein of Pr-B, but not of cl.85, is antigenically cross-reactive with the endogeneous retroviral envelope glycoprotein expressed in the FP line. Inoculation of 1-day-old hatchmates with either virus yielded a significant percentage of chickens with distal sarcomas localized to visceral organs. By contrast, a marked difference in the percentage of chickens bearing distal sarcomas was noted when sarcoma tissue excised from virus-inoculated donors was implanted in 1-day-old recipients; a high proportion of the recipients of Pr-B-induced sarcoma tissue (Pr-B-sarcoma recipients), but only a low proportion of the cl.85-sarcoma recipients, exhibited distal sarcomas. At 3 weeks posthatch, a significantly higher percentage of donor-derived cells was detected in the primary tumors of the cl.85- versus the Pr-B-sarcoma recipients. A model of immune control, premised on the tolerogenicity of endogenous viral glycoprotein, is proposed to rationalize these results.
Physical map locations of the phospholipid biosynthetic structural and regulatory genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Here we report the physical map locations of five genes required for phospholipid biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These include four structural genes (INO1, CHO2, OP13 and PIS1) and one global negative regulatory gene (UME6). Collectively, this information completes the mapping of all phospholipid biosynthetic structural and regulatory genes identified to date.
A prospective randomized study of the aggressive management of early labor.

The aggressive management of early labor has been suggested as a means to lower the cesarean section rate for dystocia. The aim of our study was to prospectively evaluate a protocol of early intervention in primigravid women with infrequent uterine contractions during early labor in relation to the course of labor, the cesarean section rate, and the perinatal morbidity. In our population the active management of labor did not alter the mode of delivery or the perinatal outcome. Furthermore, the course and duration of labor were not significantly different between the management and control groups. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1987;157:1174-7.)
GENETICS AND DERMATOLOGY OR IF I WERE TO REWRITE COKCAYNE'S INHERITED ABNORMALITIES OF THE SKIN

Since 1933 great strides have been made in an understanding of the basic mechanisms in genetic disorders of the skin. Furthermore, study of these disorders has contributed significantly to the understanding of the normal skin and in some instances to the genetics of man (Table II). The several contributions in this symposium will further document these statements. I see a bright future for genetics in dermatology and for dermatology in genetics, the two domains for which Cockayne wrote his book.
OntoPortal: An ontology-supported portal architecture with linguistically enhanced and focused crawler technologies

Abstract This paper proposed the techniques of ontology and linguistics to develop a fully-automatic annotation technique, coupling with an automatic ontology construction method, could play a key role in the development of Semantic Portals. An ontology-supported portal architecture: OntoPortal was proposed according to this technique, in which three internal components Portal Interface, Semantic Portal, and OntoCrawler was integrated to rapidly and precisely collect information on Internet and capture true user’s intention and accordingly provide high-quality query answers to meet the user requests. This paper also demonstrated the OntoPortal prototype which defined how a semantic portal is interacting with the user by providing five different types of interaction patterns such as including keyword search, synonym search, POS (Part-of-Speech)-constrained keyword search, natural language query, and semantic index search. The preliminary experiment outcomes proved the technology proposed in this paper to be able to really up-rise the precision and recall rates of webpage searching and accordingly showed that it can indeed retrieve better semantic-directed information to meet user requests.
Come on in! Stepping into DMAC to become a Digital Media Dweller

Abstract This essay describes the Digital Media and Composition (DMAC) institute as a welcoming “technology gateway” with a “cultural ecology” that deeply influenced my digital literacy in lasting ways ( Selfe et al., 2007 , p. 208). DMAC created a professional development environment conducive to acquiring digital media savvy, rather than mere technological training. DMAC's theories, practices, rituals, language, workshops, and literacy project promoted cultural equity and inclusion, and disruptions of power structures. In recounting the evolution of my collaborative 2006 DMAC literacy documentary project and the subsequent repurposing of experiential classroom writing assignments, I explore how DMAC's pedagogical influence not only fostered an authentic acquisition of digital literacy, but also how its “cultural ecology” created a sense of place and belonging to the field of digital media and composition. Participating in DMAC, like walking a neighborhood or reading an essay or navigating new technologies, was an embodied and affective professional development experience of dwelling within digital literacies.
RGS16 inhibits breast cancer cell growth by mitigating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling.

Aberrant activity of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway supports growth of many tumors including those of breast, lung, and prostate. Resistance of breast cancer cells to targeted chemotherapies including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) has been linked to persistent PI3K activity, which may in part be due to increased membrane expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors (HER2 and HER3). Recently we found that proteins of the RGS (regulator of G protein signaling) family suppress PI3K activity downstream of the receptor by sequestering its p85α subunit from signaling complexes. Because a substantial percentage of breast tumors have RGS16 mutations and reduced RGS16 protein expression, we investigated the link between regulation of PI3K activity by RGS16 and breast cancer cell growth. RGS16 overexpression in MCF7 breast cancer cells inhibited EGF-induced proliferation and Akt phosphorylation, whereas shRNA-mediated extinction of RGS16 augmented cell growth and resistance to TKI treatment. Exposure to TKI also reduced RGS16 expression in MCF7 and BT474 cell lines. RGS16 bound the amino-terminal SH2 and inter-SH2 domains of p85α and inhibited its interaction with the EGF receptor-associated adapter protein Gab1. These results suggest that the loss of RGS16 in some breast tumors enhances PI3K signaling elicited by growth factors and thereby promotes proliferation and TKI evasion downstream of HER activation.
Will future pensioners have sufficient income to meet their needs

Recent pension policy developments in the United Kingdom have mostly focussed on helping people to accumulate assets to fund retirement. Although there has been some research on the use of assets in retirement, most of the research has examined particular assets in isolation. However, less is known and has been considered about what individuals actually need income and assets for in retirement, and how needs might change as retirement progresses. Recent work by the Pensions Policy Institute has brought together assessments of pensioners needs in retirement with evidence about future trends in different sources of income and assets. The findings from this research present some interesting and difficult challenges for future policy.
Solute and penetrant diffusion in swellable polymers. IX: The mechanisms of drug release from pH-sensitive swelling-controlled systems

Abstract Copolymers were prepared by bulk polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with either methacrylic acid or maleic anhydride. The reaction was initiated with benzoyl peroxide, the crosslinking agent was ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and the temperature of the reaction varied from 40°C to 80°C and was increased in step intervals. Dynamic swelling and solute release studies were performed in buffered aqueous solutions of various pH values. It was shown that the relaxation-controlled mechanism of controlled release prevailed in alkaline solutions. Deborah and swelling interface numbers were used to analyze this diffusional release behavior.
Anomalous γ -Band Intraband Transition Rates in Er 166

The 7+\ensuremath{\rightarrow}6+, 6+\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5+, and 5+\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4+ intraband transitions within the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ vibrational band of ${\mathrm{Er}}^{166}$ have been observed. The intensities of these transitions have been measured relative to the $E2$ crossover transitions which originate from the same states. The $\ensuremath{\Delta}I=\ensuremath{-}1$ "stopover" transitions have intensities which exceed the Alaga-rule predictions for pure $E2$ $\ensuremath{\Delta}I=\ensuremath{-}1$ transitions. The excess intensity is indicative of an $M1$ admixture into these transitions, in contrast to a vanishing $M1$ rate which would be anticipated if rotational states correspond to the rotation of a uniform nuclear fluid. The square of the $M1$ matrix element, which is deduced from these data, increases with the spin of the initial state approximately as ${I}^{2}{(I+1)}^{2}$.
Children’s Use of Spatial Prepositions in Two- and Three-Dimensional Tasks

This study evaluates children’s performance on selected spatial prepositions and determines the age levels these prepositions are acquired in both receptive and expressive language, as revealed in ...
Update in Hematology: Evidence Published in 2014

This Update summarizes studies published in 2014 that the authors consider highly relevant to the practice of hematology. Topics include malignant hematology, transfusion medicine, and bleeding and...
Nano-indentation: A tool to investigate crack propagation related phase transitions in PV silicon

Abstract The initiation and propagation of a crack in a silicon wafer introduces local variations in the stress field and lattice structure through elastic energy release at crack-tip. In this study, the low load (
Regulation of the Lck SH2 Domain by Tyrosine Phosphorylation

Src homology 2 (SH2) domains bind to phosphotyrosine (Tyr(P)) residues in specific sequence contexts in other proteins and thereby mediate tyrosine phosphorylationdependent protein-protein interactions. The SH2 domain of the Src family kinase Lck is phosphorylated at tyrosine 192 in T cells upon T cell antigen receptor triggering. We have studied the consequences of this phosphorylation on the properties of the SH2 domain and on the function of Lck in T cell activation. We report that phosphorylation at Tyr192 reduced the capacity of the isolated SH2 domain to bind a high affinity peptide ligand and Tyr(P)-containing cellular proteins. This effect was mimicked by mutation of Tyr192 to an acidic residue. In intact T cells, where Lck participates in T cell antigen receptor signal transduction in an SH2 domain-dependent manner, phosphorylation of Tyr192 correlated with reduced downstream signaling. Our results indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation of the SH2 domain of Lck terminates its high affinity binding to ligands, thereby negatively regulating its participation in T cell antigen receptor signaling. This represents a novel mechanism for the regulation of the function of SH2 domains.
Sedimentology and paleopedology of Miocene alluvial deposits at the Paşalar Hominoid site, Western Turkey

Abstract Miocene age alluvial deposits at the Pasalar Hominoid site in Western Turkey consist of a fossil-bearing green sand unit and two drab-colored, calcareous paleosols that sandwich the fossiliferous bed. The green sand unit contains a significant amount of bone chips and teeth. High concentrations of gravel, bone and teeth occur in, and directly above, large pothole shaped bodies which extend from the green sand down into the underlying calcareous paleosol. Gravel pipes emanating upward from the vicinity of these “potholes” are interpreted as fluid escape structures. The fossiliferous green sand bed is interpreted as the deposit of a silty, pebbly sand flow (en masse emplacement) on the basis of its overall normal grading, vague horizontal layering, grain and matrix supported fabrie, and abundant fluid escape structures. The enigmatic potholes may have been holes produced by the burning out of tree trunks in the soil; they match modern examples well. The two calcareous paleosols, termed the lower and upper calcareous silt, are very much alike and represent a soil-forming environment where both clay formation and calcification took place. Pedogenic features common to both paleosols include green colors, high clay content, clay skins and clay slickensides, an unusually great thickness (about 2 m after compaction) and an abundance of golf-ball-sized calcareous nodules. The gleyed nature of the paleosol indicates a climate with seasonal waterlogging. Abundant calcareous nodules in the paleosol profiles indicate a pronounced dry season and clay formation indicates a warm, humid season. Up-section from the fossil beds is the main alluvial sequence of thick non-calcareous siltstones and cobble conglomerates exposed in gullies to the northeast of the exacavation site. The siltstones are pervasively mottled red and green. They have abundant soil structures including root traces, blocky peds and cutans. These massive, mottled siltstones are interpreted as paleosols of a generally well drained floodplain and the interbedded conglomerates are interpreted as braided stream channel deposits. The main alluvial sequence has dips of less than 3° whereas the fossil beds and their clayey paleosols dip between 7° and 10°. Thus there was an episode of tilting between the deposition of the two sequences. A riverine levee and floodplain depositional environmental is interpreted for the Pasalar fossil beds based on the gleyed paleosol profiles and the onlap of channel fill and levee deposits on both the fosiliferous sand unit and upper calcareous silt. They probably formed in a low-lying stream side location in a wet-dry monsoon climate, similar to semi-arid to semi-humid areas in the Punjab province of India. On the basis of comparison with modern soils from the Punjab, similar Pasalar paleosols are classified as intermediates between Calciorthids and Ustochrepts that have gleyic properties.
Cationic hafnium silyl complexes and their enhanced reactivity in σ-bond metathesis processes with Si-H and C-H bonds

Reaction of the mixed-ring silyl methyl complex CpCp*Hf[Si(SiMe3)3]Me (4) with B(C6F5)3 in bromobenzene-d5 yielded the zwitterionic hafnium silyl complex [CpCpHfSi(SiMe3)3][MeB(C6F5)3] (7), which is stable for at least 12 h in solution. Addition of PhSiH3 to 7 rapidly produced HSi(SiMe3)3, CpCp*HfH(μ-H)B(C6F5)3, and oligomeric silane products. Reactions of CpCp*Hf(SiR3)Me (SiR3 = SitBuPh2, SiHMes2) with B(C6F5)3 rapidly produced HSiR3 in quantitative yield along with unidentified hafnium-containing species. However, reactions of Cp2Hf(SiR3)Me (SiR3 = Si(SiMe3)3 (8), SitBuPh2 (9), SiPh3 (10)) with B(C6F5)3 quantitatively produced the corresponding cationic hafnium silyl complexes 12−14. The complex Cp2Hf(SitBuPh2)(μ-Me)B(C6F5)3 (13) was isolated by crystallization from toluene at −30 °C and fully characterized, and its spectroscopic properties and crystal structure are compared to those of its neutral precursor 9. The σ-bond metathesis reaction of 13 with Mes2SiH2 yielded HSitBuPh2 and the reactive species...
Yale University Library has Digitized its Legacy Slavic Collection Created by Joel Sumner Smith

The article briefly describes the Slavic collection created by Joel Sumner Smith, which became the basis of Yale University Library's Slavic, East European, and Central Asian Collection. It then discusses preparation for digitizing it and the processes involved in creating this digital collection, as well as some of the problems encountered.
Aerosol delivery of robust polyethyleneimine-DNA complexes for gene therapy and genetic immunization.

Aerosol delivery of plasmid DNA to the lungs offers the possibility of direct application of gene preparations to pulmonary surfaces as a means of treating a variety of genetic pulmonary disorders. However, the process of jet nebulization rapidly degrades naked DNA, viral vectors, and many lipid-based formulations. While complexing DNA with cationic lipids has been shown to significantly stabilize plasmid DNA, losses of biological activity often occur during nebulization, severely limiting the efficiency of aerosol delivery of many such complexes. In conjunction with the design of aerosol delivery systems appropriate for DNA delivery, we have developed formulations using polyethyleneimine (PEI, a polycationic polymer) and DNA that result in a high level of pulmonary transfection (10- to 100-fold greater than many cationic lipids) and are stable during nebulization. In addition, these PEI-based formulations exhibit a high degree of specificity for the lungs. The properties of PEI-based formulations that make them resistant to nebulization and efficient as DNA delivery vectors for pulmonary sites have been investigated. Potential applications of this technology, including the use of aerosolized PEI–DNA for genetic immunization, are discussed.
Development and fabrication of extended short wavelength infrared HgCdTe sensors grown on CdTe/Si substrates by molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract The development and fabrication of extended short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) HgCdTe (MCT) sensors grown on CdTe/Si substrates is reported. The MCT epilayers were grown on CdTe/Si substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). The epilayers were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray double crystal rocking curve (DCRC), Van der Pauw Hall measurements, dislocation defect–decoration etching and Nomarski microscopy. The FTIR analysis revealed a cutoff wavelength of 2.25 μm at 300 K which corresponds to a cadmium composition of 47%. As-grown epilayers have void defect densities less than 10 3 cm −2 and etch pit densities of ∼1 × 10 7 cm −2 . The Hall mobilities of annealed MCT samples are on the order of 1500 cm 2 /Vs and have carrier concentrations of ∼1 × 10 16 cm −3 at 300 K. Samples were doped in situ with indium (donor) and ion-implanted with arsenic (acceptor) to fabricate p–n diodes with sizes ranging from 15 μm to 250 μm diameter. We present the results and analysis of temperature dependent current–voltage ( I – V ) and quantum efficiency/responsivity measurements on the p–n diodes. In our analysis, we found that the I – V characteristics of small devices were dominated by shunt currents and quantum efficiency is limited by Shockley–Read–Hall (SRH) mechanisms.
Investigation of Risk Acceptance in Hand Transplantation

Purpose Twenty-four hands have been transplanted in 18 individuals and clinicians continue to debate whether the risks justify the benefits in these procedures. To assess quantitatively the risks versus benefits in hand transplantation we used a validated instrument (Louisville Instrument for Transplantation) to measure the degree of risk individuals are willing to accept to receive different types of transplantation procedures. Methods The Louisville Instrument for Transplantation contains 237 standardized questions that incorporate modified standard gamble and time trade-off outcome measures and questions that assess body image perception, depression, self-esteem, optimism, socially desirable responding, and demographics. Respondents were questioned on the extent to which they would trade off specific numbers of life-years or sustain other costs in exchange for receiving 7 different transplantation procedures. For this study we questioned 227 individuals in 4 study populations with differing life experiences: healthy individuals, organ transplant recipients, upper-extremity amputee patients, and lower-extremity amputee patients. Results All populations questioned perceived risk similarly despite their differing life experiences and would accept differing degrees of risk for the different transplantation procedures. Organ transplant recipients were the most risk-tolerant group whereas upper-extremity amputee patients were the most risk adverse, even when considering a single hand transplant. All groups that were questioned would accept a higher degree of risk to receive a double versus a single hand transplant. Conclusions By questioning individuals who have experienced directly the risks of immunosuppression and those who could benefit from hand transplantation, this study presents an empiric basis for assessing risk versus benefit in this procedure.
Growth and Nutrition in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease

Growth failure remains an important problem for children with kidney disease secondary to medical kidney disease or urologic disorders. In children with chronic kidney disease, growth remains suboptimal even with energy intake above 80% of the recommend daily allowance. Adults who had chronic kidney disease as children frequently report dissatisfaction with final adult height. Additionally, growth failure in children with end-stage renal disease is associated with adverse clinical outcomes, including more frequent hospitalizations and increased mortality. This review describes the prevalence and morbidity associated with growth retardation in US children with chronic kidney disease. Additionally, available strategies to optimize growth and nutrition and current controversies in nutritional management and assessment of nutritional status in children with chronic kidney disease are discussed.
An evolution in blood management: Past, present, and future

Blood management is a concept that adopts a principle of improving patient outcome by integrating all available techniques to ensure safety, availability, and appropriate allocation of blood products. This constitutes a model of multidisciplinary care where the changes in culture are system directed on the basis of evidence-based medicine. There are about 14% US hospitals where any kind of blood management program exists, although the idea remains the same but the programs vary in their execution, implementation, and ultimately providing the value to patients. In this article, we have described our experience of creating a patient-centric, cost-effective, evidence-based, and multipronged program creation with scalable results. The use of data, education, process improvement, engagement, and accountability of caregivers have resulted in sustained results and helped in creating a comprehensive blood management program.
Dynamics of the Littoral Fish Assemblage in Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Implications for Prey Availability for Piscivores

Abstract We assessed the dynamics of the littoral fish assemblage in Spirit Lake, Iowa, and examined potential consequences of these dynamics for availability of prey fish for piscivores. Using beach seines, we quantified the annual, seasonal, and spatial variation in density and biomass of the entire assemblage and of component species over a 4-year period. Potential prey fish availability was inferred from the biomass of the cumulative total fish length groups and sizes of fish eaten by piscivores. Total fish density and biomass averaged 10,024 fish/ha and 276.3 kg/ha, respectively. Density and biomass of total fish varied among years and seasons, but seasonal patterns differed among years. Yellow perch Perca flavescens, bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, walleye Stizostedion vitreum, and common carp Cyprinus carpio were the predominant species overall, but the proportional species composition of both total density and total biomass varied highly. Changes in the fish assemblage resulted in dramatic changes i...
An alternative treatment of anal squamous cell carcinoma: Combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy

The conventional surgical treatment of anal squamous cell carcinoma is abdominoperineal resection. A new approach of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy has been proposed following the observation of excellent local control. In this retrospective study, 40 cases of primary anal squamous cell carcinoma without distant metastasis were collected between 1979 and 1986 and the individual prognosis of the above two methods of treatment was evaluated. Group I (20 cases) received abdominoperineal resection with or without postoperative radiotherapy. Postoperative radiation was given if regional lymph node biopsy was positive. Group II (20 cases) received combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy with or without wide local excision. Radiation was delivered to the anus, pelvis, and bilateral inguinal nodal areas to a total dose of 5,500 rads. A continuous infusion of 5-FU was started on day 2 of the irradiation at a dose of 1,000 mg/m2 body surfaceiday for 5 days and a bolus injection of rnitomycin was given on day 2 at a dose of 10 mg/m2 body surface. The second course was given 1 month later to complete the chemotherapy. The wide local excision was performed if the disease still persisted after completion of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy. All 40 cases were followed up for at least 5 years. All cases (100%) in group I survived 1 year, 18 cases (90%) 2 years, 14 cases (70%) 3 years, 10 cases (50%) 4 years, and 6 cases (30%) 5 years. Twenty cases (100%) in group II survived 1 year, 17 cases (85%) 2 years, 13 cases (65%) 3 years, 8 cases (40%) 4 years, and 5 cases (25%) survived 5 years. All the mortalities in both groups died of distant metastasis or abdominal carcinomatosis. From the above results, the overall survival rate of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy was not significantly worse than that of convential abdominoperineal resection. In conclusion, combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be chosen as an alternative management in treating anal squamous cell carcinoma. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Free and conjugated dopamine in human ventricular fluid.

Abstract Free dopamine and an acid hydrolyzable conjugate of dopamine were measured in human ventricular fluid specimens with a radioenzymatic assay and by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. Only trace amounts of free norepinephrine and dopamine were detected in ventricular fluid from patients with movement disorders. When the ventricular fluid was hydrolyzed by heating in HClO4 or by lyophilization in dilute HClO4 however, a substantial amount of free dopamine was released. Values for free plus conjugated dopamine in ventricular fluid from patients who had never taken l -DOPA ranged from 139 to 340 pg/ml when determined by HPLC and from 223 to 428 pg/ml when measured radioenzymatically. The correlation coefficient for values obtained by the two methods in the same sample of CSF was 0.94 (P l -DOPA had higher levels of conjugated dopamine in their ventricular CSF which correlated inversely with the time between the last dose of l -DOPA and withdrawal of the ventricular fluid. Additionally, one patient with acute cerebral trauma had elevated levels of free norepinephrine and both free and conjugated dopamine in his ventricular fluid. Conjugation may be an important inactivation pathway for released dopamine in man.
Imaging spin injection and spin transport in semiconductors

Using scanning Kerr-rotation microscopy, we directly image the injection and subsequent transport of spin-polarized electrons in semiconductors. We discuss optical spin injection as well as electrical spin injection in hybrid Fe/GaAs spin transport devices.
Photosynthetic capacity of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) trees during the first year of carbon dioxide enrichment in a forest ecosystem

Our objective was to assess the photosynthetic responses of loblolly pine trees (Pinus taeda L.) during the first full growth season (1997) at the Brookhaven National Lab/Duke University Free Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiment. Gas exchange, fluorescence characteristics, and leaf biochemistry of ambient CO2 (control) needles and ambient + 20 Pa CO2 (elevated) needles were examined five times during the year. The enhancement of photosynthesis by elevated CO2 in mature loblolly pine trees varied across the season and was influenced by abiotic and biotic factors. Photosynthetic enhancement by elevated CO2 was strongly correlated with leaf temperature. The magnitude of photosynthetic enhancement was zero in March but was as great as 52% later in the season. In March, reduced sink demand and lower temperatures resulted in lower net photosynthesis, lower carboxylation rates and higher excess energy dissipation from the elevated CO2 needles than from control needles. The greatest photosynthetic enhancement by CO2 enrichment was observed in July during a period of high temperature and low precipitation, and in September during recovery from this period of low precipitation. In July, loblolly pine trees in the control rings exhibited lower net photosynthetic rates, lower maximum rates of photosynthesis at saturating CO2 and light, lower values of carboxylation and electron transport rates (modelled from A‐C i curves), lower total Rubisco activity, and lower photochemical quenching of fluorescence in comparison to other measurement periods. During this period of low precipitation trees in the elevated CO2 rings exhibited reduced net photosynthesis and photochemical quenching of fluorescence, but there was little effect on light- and CO 2-saturated rates of photosynthesis, modelled rates of carboxylation or electron transport, or Rubisco activity. These first-year data will be used to compare with similar measurements from subsequent years of the FACE experiment in order to determine whether photosynthetic acclimation to CO2 occurs in these canopy loblolly pine trees growing in a forest ecosystem.
NOAA Budget Proposal Calls for a Small Increase, But Several Programs Would Be Sharply Cut

The White House's proposed budget of $5.497 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for fiscal year (FY) 2015 would be good news for the agency overall if Congress goes along with the Obama administration's funding plan. The proposal would increase NOAA's discretionary budget by $174.1 million, 3.27% above the FY 2014 enacted budget (see Table ). The White House announced the overall federal budget on 4 March, and the NOAA budget “blue book” with specific funding numbers was issued in mid-March.
Abstract 2612: Tumor associated microvesicles confer neoplastic transformation of patient derived adipose stem cells .

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Background: Unraveling the underlying mechanisms of prostate tumor growth and metastasis is critical to developing curative therapies currently unavailable for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Obesity has been linked to increased risks of PC progression. Emerging evidence suggests that adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are often recruited to and promote tumor growth via unknown mechanisms. Methods: Patient derived ASCs (pASCs) with tumor homing potential were enriched and treated with condition media (CM) or microvesicles (MVs) of PC (C4-2B, PC-3) or normal prostate epithelial (RWPE1) cells. CM or MV-primed pASCs were examined for their ability to form prostate tumors in vivo. Tumor formation was validated by histopathologic analysis, expression of neoplastic and vasculogenic markers, karyotyping and PC specific markers. LC/MS-MS, miRNA array, miRNA mimics and qRT-PCR analyses were employed to decipher the underling mechanistic roles of oncogenic RNAs and proteins of PC cell associated MVs in pASC tumor formation. Results: Herein, we report that PC cell microenvironment induces genotypic and phenotypic changes in pASCs and subverts them to undergo neoplastic transformation. Unlike normal counterparts, the pASCs primed with PC cell CM form neoplastic lesions in vivo and reproduce aggressive tumors in secondary recipients. The pASC tumors acquire cytogenetic aberrations and express epithelial, neoplastic and vasculogenic markers reminiscent of molecular features of PC tumor xenografts and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET). MVs derived from PC cell CM recapitulated prostate tumorigenic mimicry by pASCs in vivo. The oncogenic ‘reprogramming’ of pASCs is associated with PC cell-derived MVs transfer of oncomiRNAs (miR-125b, miR-130b, miR-155), H-Ras and K-Ras transcripts and Ras-related oncoproteins (RAB1A, RAB2A, RAB1B, RAB11A) and down-regulation of tumor suppressors Lats2 and PDCD4. Conclusion: Our findings establish previously uncharacterized mechanisms for tumor-derived MV-pASC axis in tumor formation, phenotypic variations in mesenchymal and epithelial states in tumor microenvironment, and in promoting tumor burden and metastasis in cancer patients. Citation Format: Zakaria Y. Abd Elmageed, Yijun Yang, Raju Thomas, Krishnarao Moparty, Manish Ranjan, Debasis Mondal, Krzysztof Moroz, Oliver Sartor, Asim B. Abdel-Mageed. Tumor associated microvesicles confer neoplastic transformation of patient derived adipose stem cells . [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2612. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2612
The Effect of Fruit and Vegetable Intake on Risk for Coronary Heart Disease

Consumption of fruits and vegetables, particularly green leafy vegetables and vitamin C–rich fruits and vegetables, appears to have a protective effect against coronary heart disease.
Seismological Information Necessary for Beneficial Earthquake Risk Reduction

Seismic hazards are classified into four categories: (1) ground shaking, (2) fault rupture, (3) tsunamis and seiches, and (4) secondary hazards (i.e., avalanches, land and mud slides, differential ground settlement and soil liquefaction, floods from dam and levee failures, and fires). Any city or developed urban area may be threatened by these hazards, depending on the seismogenic conditions of the region (see Figure 1). In this paper, I discuss the way that geological and seismological studies can lay a basis for crucial decision-making on the appropriate level of preparation for the earthquake threat. The discussion gives a critique of not only the type of decision analysis necessary but also the practical results that may be expected from detailed seismological studies.
Robust space-time extraction of ventricular surface evolution using multiphase level sets

This paper focuses on the problem of accurately extracting the CSF-tissue boundary, particularly around the ventricular surface, from serial structural MRI of the brain acquired in imaging studies of aging and dementia. This is a challenging problem because of the common occurrence of peri-ventricular lesions which locally alter the appearance of white matter. We examine a level set approach which evolves a four dimensional description of the ventricular surface over time. This has the advantage of allowing constraints on the contour in the temporal dimension, improving the consistency of the extracted object over time. We follow the approach proposed by Chan and Vese which is based on the Mumford and Shah model and implemented using the Osher and Sethian level set method. We have extended this to the 4 dimensional case to propagate a 4D contour toward the tissue boundaries through the evolution of a 5D implicit function. For convergence we use region-based information provided by the image rather than the gradient of the image. This is adapted to allow intensity contrast changes between time frames in the MRI sequence. Results on time sequences of 3D brain MR images are presented and discussed.