cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anti-apoptotic peptides protect against radiation-induced cell death ☆

The risk of terrorist attacks utilizing either nuclear or radiological weapons has raised concerns about the current lack of effective radioprotectants. Here it is demonstrated that the BH4 peptide domain of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL can be delivered to cells by covalent attachment to the TAT peptide transduction domain (TAT-BH4) and provide protection in vitro and in vivo from radiation-induced apoptotic cell death. Isolated human lymphocytes treated with TAT-BH4 were protected against apoptosis following exposure to 15 Gy radiation. In mice exposed to 5 Gy radiation, TAT-BH4 treatment protected splenocytes and thymocytes from radiation-induced apoptotic cell death. Most importantly, in vivo radiation protection was observed in mice whether TAT-BH4 treatment was given prior to or after irradiation. Thus, by targeting steps within the apoptosis signaling pathway it is possible to develop post-exposure treatments to protect radio-sensitive tissues.
Treatment with Y-27632, a ROCK Inhibitor, Increases the Proinvasive Nature of SW620 Cells on 3D Collagen Type 1 Matrix

The concept of using tissue density as a mechanism to diagnose a tumor has been around for centuries. However, this concept has not been sufficiently explored in a laboratory setting. Therefore, in this paper, we observed the effects of cell density and extracellular matrix (ECM) density on colon cancer invasion and proliferation using SW620 cells. We also attempted to inhibit ROCK-I to determine its effect on cell invasion and proliferation using standard molecular biology techniques and advanced imaging. Increasing cell seeding density resulted in a 2-fold increase in cell invasion as well as cell proliferation independent of treatment with Y-27632. Increasing collagen I scaffold density resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in cell proliferation while treatment with Y-27632 attenuated this effect although 1.5 fold increase in cell invasion was observed in ROCK inhibited samples. Intriguingly, ROCK inhibition also resulted in a 3.5-fold increase in cell invasion within 3D collagen scaffolds for cells seeded at lower densities. We show in this paper that ROCK-I inhibition leads to increased invasion within 3D collagen I microenvironments. This data suggests that although ROCK inhibitors have been used clinically to treat several medical conditions, its effect largely depends on the surrounding microenvironment.
A LINEAR PROGRAMMING MODEL OF RESOURCE ALLOCATION IN A UNIVERSITY

This paper describes the application of a linear programming model to the process of resource allocation at Illinois State University. The model developed is a general model designed to assist academic administrators in allocating the scarce resources at their disposal. The model, and the assumptions upon which it is based, may be altered to suit the particular decision criteria of any particular academic institution. The linear programming model developed here maximizes an objective function which reflects the total net social profit realized by the university on its outputs to society. This objective function was maximized subject to a myriad of constraints which reflected the limitations of budget, space, and other scarce inputs. Further, the constraints reflect the joint interdependency of many parts of the university and the particular educational delivery system employed by a given department. The outputs of the model include the optimal mixture of academic outputs by the university, the optimal distribution and usage of inputs inside the university, and the shadow price of each input. While the linear programming model developed here is general and may be applied to any university, it was applied to Illinois State University in this paper. In the case of Illinois State University, the model recommended a substantial reduction in emphasis upon teacher education.
Future trends in electronic packaging

Electronic packaging is traditionally defined as the back-end process that transforms bare integrated circuits (IC) into functional products. As the IC feature size decreases and the size of silicon wafer increases, the cost per IC is reduced and the performance is enhanced. The future IC chips will be larger in size, have more input/output terminals (I/Os), and require higher power. In addition to the advancements in IC technology, electronic packaging is also driven by the market requirements for low cost, small size, and multi-functional electronic products. In response to these requirements, packaging related areas such as design, packaging architectures, materials, processes, and manufacturing equipment are all changing rapidly. Wafer-level packaging (WLP) offers the benefits of low cost and smallest size for single chip packages, since the package is done at wafer level other than individual die. After packages reach the horizontal limit of dimensions, 3D stacking solution provides more efficient packages through expanding packages in the vertical dimension. Functional integration is achieved with 3D stacking architectures. System in package (SiP), one of the solutions to system integration, incorporates electronics, non-electronic devices such as optical devices, biological devices, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), etc, and interconnection in a single package, to form smart structures or microsystems. MEMS devices require specialized packaging to serve new market applications. This paper and presentation describe the technology requirements and challenges of these advancing packaging areas. The potential solutions and future trends are presented.
Gastric division: A surgical adjunct in selected problems with esophageal anomalies

Abstract Previous reports have suggested the usefulness of gastric division in premature infants or in critically ill infants with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula. 1–3 Division of the stomach has also been applied in certain infants with complications of an esophageal anastomosis where it has proved a satisfactory alternative to cervical esophagostomy and abandonment of esophageal function. Although the advent of intravenous hyperalimentation has altered the critical need for early intestinal feeding in these infants, it has not supplanted use of the intact intestinal tract. This report relates our experience with gastric division in caring for infants with specific problems or complications relating to esophageal discontinuity.
Neurotoxicity Modeling for Risk Assessment

The setting of acceptable exposure levels for neurotoxicants has followed the traditional approach of dividing experimental no-observed-adverse-effect-levels (NOAELs) by safety/uncertainty factors. NOAELs are believed by many toxicologists to represent levels having zero or negligible risk, while uncertainty factors are used to account for a number of sources of variation. Although the use of NOAELs in this manner has been criticized because of their imprecise quantitative definition, NOAELs for nonquantal neurotoxic effects have not been replaced by more precisely defined quantities (e.g., benchmark doses), partly due to the absence of a generally accepted methodology for attaching specific risk levels to low exposures. The present paper describes a quantitative approach to modeling nonquantal neurotoxic effects for risk assessment, which can be used to obtain results similar to the familiar results obtained in risk assessment for carcinogenicity and developmental toxicity. The steps involved in implementing the process are discussed, with particular attention being given to the critical step of defining an adverse neurologic effect. An experimental data set is used to illustrate the methodology.
Bioinspired Structural Materials

Materials scientists are seeking to create synthetic materials based on the mechanical design principles found in biological materials such as seashell nacre.
Silver iodide burn complex and silver phosphate effects oh methanogenesis

Weather modification nucleating agents may accumulate in anaerobic environments such as aquatic muds and anaerobic sewage treatment facilities. Silver iodide burn complex and silver phosphate effec...
Sum-Frequency-Generation Vibration Spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory Calculations with Dispersion Corrections (DFT-D2) for Cellulose Iα and Iβ

Sum-frequency-generation (SFG) vibration spectroscopy selectively detects noncentrosymmetric vibrational modes in crystalline cellulose inside intact lignocellulose. However, SFG peak assignment in biomass samples is challenging due to the complexity of the SFG processes and the lack of reference SFG spectra from the two crystal forms synthesized in nature, cellulose Iα and Iβ. This paper compares SFG spectra of laterally aligned cellulose Iα and Iβ crystals with vibration frequencies calculated from density functional theory with dispersion corrections (DFT-D2). Two possible hydrogen-bond networks A and B (Nishiyama et al.Biomacromolecules 2008, 9, 3133) were investigated for both polymorphs. From DFT-D2 calculations the energetically favorable structures for cellulose Iα and Iβ had CH2OH groups in tg conformations and network A hydrogen bonding. The calculated frequencies of C–H stretch modes agreed reasonably well with the peak positions observed with SFG and were localized vibrations; thus, peak assig...
Crime in the afternoon: Murder and robbery on soap operas

This study of soap opera content focused on the occurrence of murder and robbery, comparing the depiction of suspects and victims in daytime serials with that image derived from official records. Information about crime in soap operas was obtained both from interviews with viewers and by coding Soap Opera Digests from 1977 through 1984. Females and whites are represented more often as murder and robbery suspects and victims than would be expected from official records.
Future developments for 1:1 projection photolithography

This paper reviews the application of 1 : 1 projection photolithography to present-day and future VLSI design rules. It now appears possible to extend 1 : 1 exposure techniques down to the realm 1.0-2.0- µm working features. To achieve this goal, exposure instruments must be designed to provide higher resolution, better uniformity of illumination, tighter overlay characteristics, and strict control over environmental factors. At the same time, an adequate depth of focus must be retained to accommodate real-world wafers. This paper demonstrates how control of partial coherence along with the possibility of lower exposure wavelengths (2400-3200 A) makes 1:1 projection printing a realizable cost-effective solution for fabrication of VLSI for many years to come.
Small-molecule organic light-emitting devices in flat panel display applications

Small-molecule-based organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) have been shown to have the brightness, range of colors and operating lifetime to be useful in full-color flat panel display applications. Recent technological advances have created exciting new opportunities for OLEDs in flat panel display applications. These include the development of a transparent OLED device for vehicular windshields, architectural windows, and 'head up' displays; a novel vertically-stacked OLED pixel structure that provides full- color tunability, minimum pixel size, and maximum fill factor for high-resolution displays; and an ultra- lightweight, flexible OLED for use in conformable or foldable displays. In addition, we discuss other development issues for the fabrication of high-resolution, full-color OLED displays.
Using Students to Make Instructional Videos: Report of an Initial Experiment

Librarians employed student assistants and tasked them with the mission of creating library instruction video tutorials for their fellow digital natives. This article describes the benefits of peer instruction and learning within a participatory culture, a culture in which students are not only consumers of content but also creators. It also covers how a university library used these tutorials to teach first-year common experience courses and surveyed 200 students from these courses about their knowledge and comfort levels with specific library services after viewing the videos.
Designing, fabricating, and imaging Raman hot spots

We have developed a probe of the electromagnetic mechanism of surface-enhanced Raman scattering via Au nanodisk arrays generated by using on-wire lithography. In this approach, disk thickness and interparticle gap are precisely controlled from 5 nm to many micrometers. Confocal Raman microscopy demonstrates that disk thickness and gap play a crucial role in determining surface-enhanced Raman scattering intensities. Theoretical calculations also demonstrate that these results are consistent with the electromagnetic mechanism, including the surprising result that the largest enhancement does not occur for the smallest gaps.
Regiospecific synthesis of polychlorinated dibenzofurans with chlorine‐37 excess

The synthesis of regiospecifically chlorine-37 labeled di- and trichlorodibenzofurans is described. The strategy for introducing a chlorine-37 label regiospecifically has been to reduce the nitro derivative to the corresponding amine. The amine is converted to the diazonium salt with t-butyl nitrite, and this product is converted to the final product via the Sandmeyer reaction with chlorine-37 labeled cuprous chloride.
Magnesium–Calcium Exchange in Cardiac Troponin C Bound to Cardiac Troponin I

Abstract Understanding the process of Ca 2+ /Mg 2+ exchange during muscle excitation and relaxation is fundamental to elucidating the mechanism of Ca 2+ -regulated muscle contraction. During the resting phase, the C-domain of cardiac troponin C may be occupied by either Ca 2+ or Mg 2+ . Here, complexes of recombinant cardiac troponin C(81–161) and the N terminus of cardiac troponin I, representing residues 33–80, were generated in the presence of saturating Mg 2+ . Heteronuclear multi-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance experiments were used to obtain backbone assignments of the Mg 2+ -loaded complex. In the presence of cardiac troponin I, the affinity of site IV for Mg 2+ is increased. Comparison of Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ -loaded complexes reveals that chemical shift differences are primarily localized to metal-binding sites III and IV, defining positions within these sites that have distinct Ca 2+ /Mg 2+ conformations. The observed transition from the Mg 2+ -loaded to Ca 2+ -loaded form demonstrates that sites III and IV fill simultaneously with Ca 2+ displacing Mg 2+ . However, even in the absence of excess Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ does not readily displace Ca 2+ in the isolated binary complex. Thus, the Mg 2+ -loaded conformer may only represent a small fraction of the total cardiac troponin C found in the sarcomere.
How to find an opening (or lots of them).

DNase-chip and DNase-array: similar names for two different new approaches that give a genomic perspective to the conventional DNase I hypersensitivity assay used to measure chromatin accessibility.
A method to predict the orientation relationship, interface planes and morphology between a crystalline precipitate and matrix. Part I. Approach

A model based on the near-coincidence of diffraction intensity weighted reciprocal-lattice spots is proposed to determine preferred orientation relationships between two crystalline phases. The preferred orientation is found by minimizing the three-dimensional lattice mismatch, i.e. by maximizing the total overlapping intensity, between the diffraction spots of two crystals. The procedure is biased towards matching reciprocal lattice sites with high structure-factor values, which is physically equivalent to matching planes of high atomic density. In contrast to previous reciprocal-lattice models, including the diffraction intensity in the present method makes it sensitive to the types of atoms in (chemistry of) crystals. The preferred orientation relationship is then used to identify the orientations of low-energy interfaces using a Δ g approach. A Voronoi (or Wigner–Seitz) construction based on the Δ g values is further used to qualitatively estimate the equilibrium shape of the precipitate in the matrix...
Characterization of the transition state of protein unfolding by use of molecular dynamics: chymotrypsin inhibitor 2

Abstract Temperature-induced unfolding of chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 in water was investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The major transition state of unfolding was identified on the basis of structural and conformational changes in the protein during the unfolding reaction. The native tertiary contacts in the hydrophobic core were considerably disrupted in the transition state, whereas the secondary structure was partially intact. The extent of structural change of the protein around a particular residue was represented quantitatively by the ratio of the number of contacts the residue makes in the transition state relative to the native state, phi MD, which allows quantitative comparison with the experimentally determined phi F values. For the region of the unfolding trajectory that is identified as the transition state, the phi MD and phi F values are in good agreement, suggesting that the transition state identified in the unfolding simulation corresponds to that probed with protein engineering methods. Although speculative, the transition state identified in the simulation is consistent with available experimental data and provides an in-depth view of what the transition state of unfolding may look like.
Brief Report: Compliance and Noncompliance to Parental Control Strategies in Children with High-Functioning Autism and Their Typical Peers

The present study examined children’s compliance and noncompliance behaviors in response to parental control strategies in 20 children with high-functioning autism (HFA) and 20 matched typically-developing children. Observational coding was used to measure child compliance (committed, situational), noncompliance (passive, defiance, self-assertion, negotiation) and parent control strategies (commands, reprimands, positive incentives, reasoning, bargaining) in a clean-up task. Sequential analyses were conducted to identify parent behaviors that temporally predicted child compliance or noncompliance. Children with HFA were significantly more noncompliant and less compliant immediately following parents’ indirect commands than typically-developing children, even after controlling for receptive language. These results add to the existing literature on the efficacy of control strategies for children with autism, and have important implications for caregiver interventions.
Information Technology, Coordination, and Competitiveness in the Food and Agribusiness Sector

As business managers search for strategies to improve the competitive position of their firms, information technology is playing an increasingly crucial role. While much of the literature on competitiveness has examined how such technology supports the strategic goals of the firm by lowering costs, raising barriers to outside competitors, or facilitating the differentiation of products, relatively little attention has been devoted to the role technology plays in shaping the relationship between players in a productionmarketing spectrum. It is the goal of this paper to explore the topic of technology, coordination, and competitiveness in the context of the agribusiness sector. Specifically, we will argue that in an increasingly consumer-oriented business environment, information technology not only has enhanced but has hastened coordination strategies between various levels of the sector. Furthermore, these coordination strategies would not necessarily have evolved as a result of the existing price signals or market structure. The first section of the paper addresses definitional issues along with a literature review. The review includes both contributions from the agricultural economics field and research from the business literature on competitiveness. In the second section of the paper, we argue that as a result of information technology, the agribusiness sector has become increasingly focused on the consumer, forcing retailers to shift their marketing strategies. Illustrations of how consumer demands are passed down through the producer-consumer chain and a discussion of conditions which might enhance or inhibit information-based coordination strategies are discussed in the third section. In the fourth section, we discuss implications for the agricultural economics profession. The conclusions which result from the framework we suggest are presented in the final section.
Bulk and Interface Charging Mechanisms in Organic Semiconductor-Gate Dielectric Bilayers

Since the first reports of charge storage in the gate dielectrics of organic semiconductors, several groups have proposed charge-storing dielectrics that become polarized through varied mechanisms, and have offered various explanations for observed charge storage phenomena. These groups were concerned either with nonvolatile memories as an application, or with controlling hysteresis in conventional OFETs. This manuscript describes measurements of surface charging and OFET threshold voltage shift for a case where charge is clearly stored in the dielectric. The magnitude and stability of the charge storage depend on the hydrophobicity of the dielectric and the charge deposition process. We focus on SiO 2 as the dielectric and use a thiophene oligomer or hexadecafluoro-copper phthalocyanineas semiconductor. In one case, the phthalocyanine was inverted from electron- to hole-carrying, enabling a complementary device to be made from a single semiconductor.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Children with Intellectual Disabilities.

The study examines the epidemiology of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) for children with intellectual disabilities (ID; n = 49), children with borderline intellectual functioning (BIF; n = 20), and typically developing children (TD; n = 115). The Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children was administered to mothers at child ages 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 years. Children with ID had consistently higher rates of ODD than TD children, whereas children with BIF had intermediate prevalence rates. The comorbidity of ODD with other disorders, especially attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, was elevated for children with ID. There were no group differences in gender, age of onset, or stability of ODD and all of the groups endorsed symptoms of ODD with the same relative frequency. Accordingly, the study findings generally support the assertion that ODD is the same disorder for children with and without ID.
ENHANCEMENT OF PHYTOPLANKTON GROWTH BY MARINE BACTERIA12

SUMMARY Investigations were conducted into the effect of 3 marine bacteria, Vibrio anguillarum #19264, V. anguillarum #19109, and Escherichia coli, on the growth of 10 phytoplakters. A disc method on agar plates was used to evaluate growth responses. Growth enhancement of all algae in the presence of V. anguillarum #19264 occurred on an enriched agar medium; the other bacteria yielded variable responses. Evidence available is consistent with the hypothesis that growth enhancement of algae is related to the release of stimulating substances through bacterial hydrolysis of the agar.
Are Foreign Language Textbooks Sexist? An Exploration of Mobes of Evaluation

This paper discusses nonsexist guidelines that have been established by publishing houses and some preliminary research on sexism in educational materials. Research (the data are 20 studies conducted between 1975 a.nd 1984) on sexism in foreign language (FL) textbooks is then reviewed and critically compared. It is argued that the relatively sparse and dissimilar body of research identifying and assessing gender role portrayal in FL textbooks underscores the need for more analyses. The unsystematic nature of the research on sexual bias demonstrates the need for a standardized evaluative instrument, so that a data base of similarly analyzed FL textbooks can thus be generated.
Switched Parasitic Dipole Antenna Array for High-Data-Rate Body-Worn Wireless Applications

A switched parasitic dipole antenna array is introduced for 2.45-GHz body-worn wireless applications. The array consists of a driven folded dipole and four parasitic dipoles whose excitation currents are controlled using p-i-n diode switches. Radiation beam can be steered in the azimuth plane using selective switching of the parasitic dipoles. An experimental prototype array was fabricated and tested to demonstrate performance both in free-space and next to the human body. Measured S11 (dB) data clearly demonstrate that the array meets the 2.45-GHz ISM band bandwidth requirements when operated on or near the body. Simulation results of the array against an anatomical human body model show that the array beam can be scanned within an angular region of 65° with 6.9-8 dBi of peak gain. Significant improvement in radiation efficiency and considerably lower specific absorption rate (SAR) are achieved with this array. Measured radiated field strength test shows that the array performance is 2-5 dB superior to a single folded dipole for body-worn applications.
PITUITARY-GONADAL FUNCTION IN XYY AND XXY MEN IDENTIFIED IN A POPULATION SURVEY

SUMMARY Evidence on pituitary-gonadal function in XYY subjects has been inconclusive and based, for the most part, on selected samples such as institutionalized individuals or subjects examined for particular behavioural or medical characteristics. We report the results of a double-blind hormonal study of a sample from an entire well-defined birth cohort of men. The starting population included all males born in Copenhagen during the period 1944–1947 comprising 31,436 individuals. Chromosome determinations conducted on 4139 men representing the top 15.9% of the height distribution of the sample identified 12 XYY and 16 XXY men. All the XYY subjects and 14 XXYs consented to participate in an individual case study and were individually matched to XY controls selected from the total sample. The XYY men had significantly higher plasma concentrations of LH, FSH and testosterone than matched XY controls. There were no differences in testicular size and in the reported number of children between the XYYs and control group. XXY men from the same population showed significantly higher LH and FSH, lower concentrations of testosterone, had smaller testes and reported fewer children than their matched controls.
Global attractions in competitive systems

We establish the ecological principle of mutual exclusion as a mathematical theorem in a discrete system modeling the interactions of pioneer species
The effects of US priming on CR performance and acquisition

The effects of a pretrial, priming US were investigated in the context of eyeblink conditioning in the rabbit. The administration of a priming US, 4 or 9 sec prior to a CS-US pairing, facilitated the performance of conditioned responding to the CS but decreased the subsequent evidence of conditioning resulting from the pairing. The results are congruent with those from prior studies of CS and US priming in eyeblink conditioning and are consistent with the expectations from a processing model of Pavlovian conditioning (Wagner, 1981) that has been based largely on studies of priming.
Sustaining Baby Friendly Excellence With Innovative Strategies

Newborn Care Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program The process to obtain Baby Friendly status began in 2009, and designation was achieved in 2011. It was recognized that nursing practices could be challenged and improved beyond the Ten Steps. The traditional methods of education were becoming fiscally demanding and lacked a measurement for effectiveness. A review of the literature provided examples of practices that had been associated with improved exclusive breastfeeding rates. The literature did not provide us with a fiscally responsible and effective education mechanism. The measurement of success chosen to evaluate the proposed changes was The Joint Commission (TJC) Perinatal Core Measure (PC-05) and the quality improvement process provided by Baby Friendly. Proposed Change The shared governance council reviewed the literature and voted to concentrate on two practice changes: immediate, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact after vaginal birth and delaying the bath for a minimum of 12 hours. Leadership also determined that education needed to be engaging. After evaluating options, a game show question and answer session was created that was easily completed at staff meetings. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation A gap analysis was conducted with stakeholders to determine barriers to the proposed practice changes. Some barriers identified were the need to document birth weight immediately after birth, nursing assessments, administering medications at the warmer, bathing that was performed based on a nursing checklist, and a lack of patient knowledge. A variety of strategies was used to address each barrier. Preimplementation, the exclusive breastfeeding rate was 64%. The rate has steadily increased to 90% as compared with 78%, which was the top 10% in the TJC core measure hospitals in 2013. The second initiative of educating staff was implemented with the Baby Friendly quality improvement (QI) process. Staff was provided education in a nontraditional game show fashion and then individually interviewed. The interview tool evaluated the staff knowledge of the Ten Steps as well as how the hospital integrated them into practice. A total of 80% of the staff were interviewed. One hundred percent of the interviewees were able to articulate appropriate answers to the entire tool. The results of patient rounding by leadership indicated that patients were receiving consistent messaging about breastfeeding. Implications for Nursing Practice Evaluating typical nursing practices may reveal opportunities to change work flow and processes to improve exclusive breastfeeding rates. Education can be completed by using a less-traditional modality and can be effective.
Turning an antiviral into an anticancer drug: Nanoparticle delivery of acyclovir monophosphate

Anti-herpes simplex virus (HSV) drug acyclovir (ACV) is phosphorylated by the viral thymidine kinase (TK), but not the cellular TK. Phosphorylated ACV inhibits cellular DNA synthesis and kills the infected cells. We hypothesize that ACV monophosphate (ACVP), which is an activated metabolite of ACV, should be efficient in killing cells independent of HSV-TK. If so, ACVP should be a cytotoxic agent if properly delivered to the cancer cells. The Lipid/Calcium/Phosphate (LCP) nanoparticles (NPs) with a membrane/core structure were used to encapsulate ACVP to facilitate the targeted delivery of ACVP to the tumor. The LCP NPs showed entrapment efficiency of ~70%, the nano-scaled particle size and positive zeta potential. Moreover, ACVP-loaded LCP NPs (A-LCP NPs) exhibited concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against H460 cells and increased S-phase arrest. More importantly, a significant reduction of the tumor volume over 4 days following administration (p<0.05-0.005) of A-LCP NPs, suggests excellent in vivo efficacy. Whereas, two free drugs (ACV and ACVP) and blank LCP NPs showed little or no therapeutic effect. It was also found that the high efficacy of A-LCP NPs was associated with the ability to induce dramatic apoptosis of the tumor cells, as well as significantly inhibit tumor cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. In conclusion, with the help of LCP NPs, monophosphorylation modification of ACV can successfully modify an HSV-TK-dependent antiviral drug into an anti-tumor drug.
Evaluation of the IITC tail cuff blood pressure recorder in the rat against intraarterial pressure according to criteria for human devices

National standards govern the manufacture and marketing of medical devices in the United States, including those for indirect blood pressure measurement in man. There are no comparable standards for devices for recording in laboratory animals. Noninvasive tail cuff blood pressure (BP) recording in the rat is widely accepted, but beset by methodologic difficulties. Intraarterial recording is regarded as the "gold standard" but is invasive and also susceptible to methodologic error. We compared the IITC Mark 12 photoelectric/oscillometric tail cuff system (IITC Life Sciences, Woodland Hills, CA) versus simultaneous femoral intraarterial recordings in spontaneously hypertensive rats, during anesthesia and 1 to 2 days after recover (150 recordings under each condition), according to the guidelines for human data collection and analysis suggested the American National Standard for automated sphygmomanometers. Within- and between-observer disagreements in estimates made by two observers from 40 anesthetized recordings were less for intraarterial measurements than for the tail cuff method. Within-observer differences (mean +/- SD of differences [SDD]) for systolic, diastolic, and mean pressure were 0 +/- 1, 0 +/- 1, and 0 +/- 1 mm Hg for intraarterial versus -1 +/- 3, 0 +/- 8, and 0 +/- 5 mm Hg for tail cuff. Between-observer differences were 0 +/- 2, 0 +/- 1, and 6 +/- 2 mm Hg versus 5 +/- 4, 13 +/- 7, and 0 +/- 5 mm Hg, respectively. Differences between tail cuff and intraarterial methods were 16 +/- 13, -5 +/- 11, and 2 +/- 8 mm Hg in anesthetized animals and 8 +/- 14, -5 +/- 9, and 0 +/- 9 mm Hg in conscious animals (39% to 82% of differences exceeded 5 mm Hg). The upper limits of clinically acceptable disagreement in the American National Standard are: mean of 5 mm Hg, SDD of 8 mm Hg. The disagreement between tail cuff and intraarterial recordings cannot be ascribed to either method with certainty. These findings do not support the manufacturer's guarantee of tail-cuff readings within "5 mm Hg of intraarterial." Inaccuracy and unreliability of devices intended for laboratory animal use have considerable scientific, fiscal, and ethical implications. Marketing of these devices should also be governed by rigorous standards.
On Some Recent Claims for the Efficacy of Cognitive Therapy for People with Intellectual Disabilities

Background Many authors have expressed concern regarding the efficacy of psychotherapy, including psychotherapy for people with intellectual disabilities. Materials and Methods Recently, many authors have made claims for the effectiveness of cognitive therapy for treating people with intellectual disabilities. During this debate, applied behaviour analysis has been misrepresented by incorrectly labelling behavioural as cognitive techniques, repeated misrepresentations of behaviourism and attributing the efficacy of treatment packages to cognitive components of undemonstrated efficacy when it is more parsimonious to attribute efficacy to behavioural elements of known efficacy. Conclusions This article documents and corrects these errors.
Glucose dysregulation among veterans living with schizophrenia-related disorders after switching second-generation antipsychotics.

Objectives To compare (1) blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) laboratory results and (2) longitudinal trends in blood glucose levels among veterans switched from one second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) to another. Design Retrospective, naturalistic, nonequivalent control group. Setting United States between April 1, 2003, and September 30, 2003. Patients 1,776 U.S. Veterans Health System beneficiaries living with schizophrenia-related disorders switching (1) from olanzapine to another SGA, (2) to olanzapine from another SGA, and (3) among nonolanzapine SGAs. Intervention Data were retrieved from the laboratory results (LAR) database for a maximum of 180 days before and 365 days after the index date. Main outcome measures Mean blood glucose, A1C, and change in blood glucose. Results Blood glucose (36.0 mg/dL, paired t test109 = -4.87, P Conclusion Blood glucose and A1C were significantly improved among veterans switched from olanzapine with evidence of glucose dysregulation before the switch. They were stable among those without evidence of preexisting glucose dysregulation. Therapeutic switches from one SGA to another should be monitored as a risk factor for changes in glucose regulation.
Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction: Rapid Correction with Neostigmine in the Emergency Department

Ogilvie's syndrome, now known as acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, is characterized by massive dilatation of large bowel in the absence of mechanical obstruction. It is found in a variety of patients, although elderly and immobile patients make up a large portion of the afflicted population. This article discusses the case of a 64-year-old bedridden, paraplegic, male nursing home resident who presented to the Emergency Department with a chronic history of abdominal distention that acutely worsened on the day of his arrival. A diagnosis of acute colonic pseudo-obstruction was made and 2 mg of intravenous neostigmine was administered, with resolution of the patient's condition allowing for subsequent Emergency Department discharge. This report discusses the utilization of neostigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, for patients with colonic pseudo-obstruction. We also briefly review the literature on this condition and other therapeutic options.
Akt-Dependent and -Independent Survival Signaling Pathways Utilized by Insulin-Like Growth Factor I

Protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt is implicated in survival signaling in a wide variety of cells including fibroblasts and epithelial and neuronal cells. We and others have described a linear survival signaling cascade used by insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) that consists of the IGF-I receptor, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3 kinase), Akt, and Bad. Activation of this pathway can be sufficient to protect cells from apoptosis. However, previous work had not determined whether this pathway is invariably necessary for protection from apoptosis or whether there are alternative survival signaling pathways. In this communication, we report the existence of two survival signaling pathways, one dependent on PI3 kinase and Akt and the other independent of these enzymes. We found that survival signaling initiated by IGF-I treatment of Rat-1 cells could be blocked by overexpression of a dominant negative kinase-deficient Akt (K179A) as well as by wortmannin. This demonstrates a survival signaling pathway dependent on PI3 kinase and Akt. However, when IGF-I receptors were overexpressed in a Rat-1 background (RIG cells), an alternative pathway became apparent, in which survival mediated by IGF-I was no longer sensitive to wortmannin or to overexpression of dominant negative Akt, even though Akt activation and Bad phosphorylation were still wortmannin sensitive. Experiments with inhibitors of RNA synthesis showed that transcriptional activation is dispensable for this alternative PI3 kinase/Akt-independent survival signaling. These findings demonstrate the existence of a new survival signaling pathway independent of PI3 kinase, Akt, and new transcription and which is evident in fibroblasts overexpressing the IGF-I receptor.
Ceramics for fusion applications

Abstract Ceramics are required for a variety of uses in both near-term fusion devices and in commercial powerplants. These materials must retain adequate structural and electrical properties under conditions of neutron, particle and ionizing irradiation; thermal and applied stresses; and physical and chemical sputtering. Ceramics such as Al 2 O 3 , MgAl 2 O 4 , BeO, Si 3 N 4 and SiC are currently under study for fusion applications, and results to date show widely-varying responses to the fusion environment. Materials can be identified today that will meet initial operating requirements, but improvements in physical properties are needed to achieve satisfactory lifetimes for critical applications.
A low-loss phase shifter in 180 nm CMOS for multiple-antenna receivers

A negative resistance approach decreases the loss of reflective-type passive phase shifters by as much as 5.9 dB over 2.27-2.45 GHz for use in multiple-antenna receivers. Conventional and low-loss prototypes each exhibit a phase-control range of -105/spl deg/ and consume 1.08 mm/sup 2/ in 180 nm CMOS.
Decoding of lipoprotein-receptor interactions: properties of ligand binding modules governing interactions with apolipoprotein E.

Clusters of complement-type ligand binding repeats in the LDL receptor family are thought to mediate the interactions between these receptors and their various ligands. Apolipoprotein E, a key ligand for cholesterol homeostasis, has been shown to interact with LDLR, LRP, and VLDLR, through these clusters. LDLR and VLDLR each contain a single ligand binding repeat cluster, whereas LRP contains three large clusters of ligand binding repeats, each with ligand binding functions. We show that within sLRP3 the three-repeat subcluster CR16−18 recapitulated ligand binding to the isolated receptor binding portion of ApoE (residues 130−149). Binding experiments with LA3−5 of LDLR and CR16−18 showed that a conserved W25/D30 pair appears to be critical for high-affinity binding to ApoE(130−149). The triple repeat LA3−5 showed the expected interaction with ApoE(1−191)·DMPC, but surprisingly CR16−18 did not interact with this form of ApoE. To understand these differences in ApoE binding affinity, we introduced mutation...
A Note on Breton Pluralization and the Elsewhere Condition

Anderson (1986) has argued that Breton ‘double plurals’, though apparently disconfirming the Elsewhere Condition, can be brought into conformity with it if they are viewed as deriving from basic collective nouns rather than from plural nouns. This solution is here shown to be unworkable: on the one hand, certain double plurals derive from forms with transparently plural morphology; moreover double plurals counterexemplify the Elsewhere Condition even if they are assumed to derive from basic collectives, since the latter are not distinct in their morphosyntactic feature content from ordinary plurals. Plural diminutives present similar difficulties, since their formation requires the successive application of two rules whose application is predicted by the Elsewhere Condition to be disjunctive. Besides suggesting that the Elsewhere Condition cannot be maintained in its strongest form, the Breton evidence raises questions about the existence of a strict division between inflectional and derivational morphology.
Real-space pseudopotential calculations of the ground-state and excited-state properties of the water molecule

Excitation energies, normal modes of vibration and geometries of the electronically excited states of the water molecule are calculated using time-dependent density functional theory with ab initio pseudopotentials and the local density approximation. We express electronic orbitals on a real-space grid with no explicit basis set; as such, no polarization functions are required. Convergence is controlled by a single parameter, the grid spacing. It is found that for the first and second excited states the time-dependent local density approximation predicts a metastable configuration, in disagreement with published results using asymptotically corrected functionals that correctly predict the photodissociation of the molecule. It is shown that applying the real space method with the asymptotically corrected local density approximation reproduces the previous results. The polarizability of the water molecule is calculated using the time dependent local density approximation as well as using the asymptotically corrected local density approximation.
Interactive multimedia technology and engineering education: A case study

A project is underway at the Pennsylvania State University to develop the Steel Design Educational Module (SteelDEM), an interactive multimedia computer application for teaching/learning of design and development of steel structures. The module will cover different structural steel members, their behavior, limit states, and design. The effects of different variables on the physical behavior and strength of members will be studied through use of graphics, animations, text and video of different situations as well as discussions of design specifications, formulas, and plots. SteelDEM will contain a number of sections. Within each section, the module will contain a variety of materials including exercises of different difficulty levels to ensure a better understanding of the subject matter. >
A simplified method for monitoring progestagens in African elephants under field conditions

Summary1. Hormone analyses are frequently used to support management of wildlife; however, currenttechniques are notveryﬁeld-friendly.Insitu hormone monitoring is oftenexpensive, timeconsum-ing and logisticallydiﬃcult. Thus, a new method forassessing ovariancycle activitynon-invasivelyinfree-rangingAfricanelephantswasdeveloped.2. The techniqueinvolveshandshakingfaecalsamplesincommonorganicsolvents,useofenviron-mentally stable antibody-coated microtitre plates and assessment of progestagen concentrationsbasedonavisualcolourchange.3. Studies using ex situ African elephants determined that handshaking faeces in a solution of iso-propylalcoholwaseﬀectiveforextractingthefaecalprogestagens(eﬃciency>90%).4. Antibody-coated plates were stable for up to 3 months under a range of temperatures (4 to>38 C) and the resulting faecal oestrous cycle progestagen proﬁles corresponded signiﬁcantly tothoseofserum(r =0AE89,P <0AE01).5. This ﬁeld-friendly technique provided qualitative hormone data without the need for expensiveequipment. Although developed for progestagen analyses in elephants, this approach should beadaptable to other steroids in a myriad of species. As such, it could facilitate how hormones aremeasured in species under ﬁeld conditions and provide new tools for making sensible conservationmanagementdecisions.Key-words: enzyme immunoassay, faeces, hormone extraction, Loxodonta africana, non-invasive, progestagensIntroduction
A Survey on Dementia Training Needs Among Staff at Community-Based Outpatient Clinics

Dementia is a major public health concern. Educating health-care providers about dementia warning signs, diagnosis, and management is paramount to fostering clinical competence and improving patient outcomes. The objective of this project was to describe and identify educational and training needs of staff at community-based outpatient clinics related to treating and managing veterans with dementia. Health professionals took an online survey consisting of questions related to general knowledge and skills in working with veterans with dementia and their families, staff training, and attitudes toward people with dementia. Most participants considered knowledge of dementia important; however, few reported having received training in dementia care within the past year. Furthermore, over half of participants considered themselves beginners in terms of knowledge and skills in dementia care. Regarding training needs, topics that could improve the overall care of veterans with dementia and their caregivers were m...