cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Blinded by the brand: inauthentic salesperson brand attachment and its influence on customer purchase intentions

Prior research finds that the more attached salespeople are to a brand they sell, the more effort they extend on behalf of the brand, thus improving sales performance. However, high salesperson bra...
The Relative Effects of Instruction Linking Word Reading and Word Meaning Compared to Word Reading Instruction Alone on the Accuracy, Fluency, and Word Meaning Knowledge of 4th-5th Grade Students With Dyslexia

This within-subjects experimental study investigated the relative effects of word reading and word meaning instruction (WR+WM) compared to word-reading instruction alone (WR) on the accuracy, fluen...
Atomically Dispersed Tin-Modified γ-alumina for Selective Propane Dehydrogenation under H2S Co-feed

Developing an earth-abundant catalyst that is sulfur-tolerant, active, and highly selective is of great interest for valorizing natural gas streams containing sour gas. A tin-modified alumina catal...
Psychological Sequelae to Rape

The scientific study of the effects of rape is in its infancy, as is the development and evaluation of intervention strategies for rape-related problems. This state of affairs poses certain problems for the writer charged with the task of reviewing virtually nonexistent treatment research and venturing evaluative judgments on the relative merits of behavioral versus more traditional approaches. Therefore, this chapter will of necessity be speculative in nature.
Internal Marketing for Retailers: The Junior Executive Employee

How to attract and retain quality employees continues to challenge retailers. The concept of internal marketing provides a new perspective to meeting this challenge. The focus is on viewing employees as customers and developing job packages for each employee segment. Suggestions are given for an internal marketing strategy approach for junior executives to illustrate the concept. Finally, a case history of the buying organization as a target market for the Sanger Harris department stores of Dallas is analyzed.
Abstract 1886: Dietary scores and cancer incidence, mortality and survival: Epidemiologic evidence and meta-analysis

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Diet scores or indices assess the degree to which an individual's reported diet conforms to dietary recommendations or culturally-defined healthful diets. Characterizing diet exposures in this way provides a more complete picture of individual dietary behavior, and potentially captures additive and/or interactive effects on disease risk. Such metrics, where higher points reflect better diets, and lower scores reflect worse diets, have been examined in relation to cancer incidence, mortality and survival. To date, the literature on the association between diet scores and cancer risk is inconsistent across and within scores. We conducted a literature search for prospective cohort studies of a priori dietary scores or indices in relation to cancer incidence, mortality or survival using PubMed. Meta-analyses were performed when at least five separate studies published results on a cancer outcome, using the same diet score. When studies on both incident and fatal outcomes were available from the same cohort for the same cancer/s, estimates from incident outcomes were used. If more than one version of the same score in the same cohort was evaluated, we used the most recent score. Estimates in men and women were included separately. Meta-analyses of four out of six diet scores and the outcome “total cancer incidence or mortality” showed significant inverse associations comparing top vs bottom quantiles, often with significant study heterogeneity: the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) Relative Risk (RR) = 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84-0.93, p heterogeneity = 0.02; Healthy Eating Index (HEI) RR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.77-0.92, p heterogeneity<0.001; Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) RR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.78-0.85, p heterogeneity = 0.35; and WCRF/AICR RR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.68-0.86, p heterogeneity = 0.046. The associations with the Recommended Food Score (RFS) and Diet Quality Index (DQI) were not statistically significant. The MDS was associated with significantly lower colorectal cancer risk (RR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.73-0.91, p heterogeneity = 0.034). In studies of cancer survivors, less than three studies were available for each diet score/outcome combination; thus no meta-analyses of cancer survival were conducted. These results suggest that following recommended dietary guidelines or the Mediterranean healthy diet pattern may significantly reduce overall cancer risk. The limited number of studies in cancer survivors indicates a need for further research. Citation Format: Marjorie L. Mccullough, Ying Wang, Roma Shah, Susan Gapstur. Dietary scores and cancer incidence, mortality and survival: Epidemiologic evidence and meta-analysis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1886. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1886
Education for Making Meaning.

This chapter explains the meaning of meaning-making for the quarterlife generation. It describes what is called the meaning-quest—consisting of nine core meaning-making questions—and offers two examples of the pedagogy that the authors use in working with students.
Originality: Does the Copyright Office Hide the Ball?

The Copyright Office, incapable in fact of determining the originality of most works, generally makes no attempt when registration is sought. Moreover, most works easily pass the test set out in the well-known Feist case. Despite that, the Office singles out some types of work and commonly refuses registration for lack of originality. Courts, with one notable exception, have upheld its decisions.Types of works in issue, however, often signal an agenda driven by subject matter, not originality. This paper argues that, until courts press harder, the Office will continue to hide the ball and fail better to articulate its criteria for selecting works found to warrant enhanced scrutiny.
Structure and function of a membrane anchor-less form of the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase glycoprotein of Newcastle disease virus

The hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) glycoprotein of paramyxoviruses is anchored in the virion membrane near its amino terminus, protruding from the virion surface to mediate attachment to cellular receptors. Solubilization of HN spikes can be achieved by treatment of virions with detergent and high salt concentrations. When the solubilized HN protein from the Australia-Victoria (AV) isolate of the virus is incubated at 37 degrees C, a chymotrypsin-sensitive site between residues 112 and 113 is exposed. A chymotrypsin-cleaved soluble form of the protein, named CT-HN, has been prepared using this approach. It is membrane anchor-less, due to removal of a 14-kDa fragment from the NH2 terminus of HN. It retains all potential glycosylation sites and cysteines present in the ectodomain of the native protein. It migrates in nonreducing gels and sediments in sucrose gradients at the rate expected for homodimeric HN. The latter is also consistent with our demonstration by site-directed mutagenesis that cysteine residues at positions 6 and 123, respectively, mediate disulfide-linked homotetramer and homodimer formation. CT-HN retains almost total antigenicity, suggesting that it is conformationally very similar to the intact molecule, as well as receptor recognition function and, at low pH, neuraminidase activity. It should prove to be a useful tool for further studies of the structure and function of this important viral glycoprotein.
Can Internet Offerings Bridge the Small Business Capital Barrier

Internet technology offers the potential to reduce the search and information costs associated with capital formation. Commentators have suggested that the Web will enable small business to achieve better access to the capital markets. To facilitate this access, they have suggested regulatory reforms to make internet offerings cheaper and easier. At the same time, small business offerings have been identified as among the most risky, offering a caution to those who counsel regulatory reform. This article examines the existing regulatory climate. State and federal regulators have adopted a number of recent reforms to facilitate the use of the internet and to reduce the regulatory burden on small business offerings. The article explores proposals for further reform and evaluates the existing evidence on the extent to which previous regulatory changes have affected the use of the internet for small business capital formation. The article concludes that, despite these reforms, small businesses have had limited success to date in using the internet as a substitute for traditional financing methods. The article goes on to consider the effect of substituting public capital markets for traditional small business financing sources, such as banks, angel investors and venture capital, if technological and regulatory change makes this substitution possible. In particular, the article identifies nonfinancial benefits that banks and private equity provide to small businesses through active managing and monitoring. Shifting the source of small business capital may sacrifice of these benefits, at the cost of future business performance.
XIA: efficient support for evolvable internetworking

Motivated by limitations in today's host-centric IP network, recent studies have proposed clean-slate network architectures centered around alternate first-class principals, such as content, services, or users. However, much like the host-centric IP design, elevating one principal type above others hinders communication between other principals and inhibits the network's capability to evolve. This paper presents the eXpressive Internet Architecture (XIA), an architecture with native support for multiple principals and the ability to evolve its functionality to accommodate new, as yet unforeseen, principals over time. We describe key design requirements, and demonstrate how XIA's rich addressing and forwarding semantics facilitate flexibility and evolvability, while keeping core network functions simple and efficient. We describe case studies that demonstrate key functionality XIA enables.
Heart Failure and the Renoprotective Effect of Statins

We read with great interest the meta-analysis by Gandhi et al, highlighting the protective role of statins in contrastinduced nephropathy. We would like to comment on the potential benefit of but lack of evidence on the role of statins in cardiogenic shock and nonischemic congestive heart failure. In the report by Gandhi et al, cardiogenic shock was excluded in 2 of the 3 evaluated studies, with the third not commenting on the same. This is a crucial gap in literature because cardiogenic shock is an independent predictor of contrast-induced nephropathy. Early statin initiation has been shown to reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in patients in cardiogenic shock undergoing emergency revascularization. The anti-inflammatory action of statins are beneficial in managing the multiorgan dysfunction from cardiogenic shock. We hypothesize that statins also may provide renoprotective effects in this population. However, most trials evaluating contrast-induced nephropathy have excluded patients in cardiogenic shock; therefore, the data on this aspect is lacking. With current research focusing on the role of statins in other forms of shock, there is likewise the necessity for similar research on statins in contrast-induced nephropathy and cardiogenic shock. The report by Gandhi et al advocates for a short course of statin therapy in all patients with congestive heart failure for protection against contrast-induced nephropathy. Although 3 studies in the meta-analysis evaluated patients
The System MgO─P2O5─H2O at 25°C

The phase diagram for the ternary system MgO─P2O5─H2O at 25°C has been constructed. The magnesium phosphates represented are Mg(H2PO4)2·nH2O (n= 4, 2, 0), MgHPO4·3H2O, and Mg3(PO4)2·mH2O (m= 8, 22). Because of the large differences in the solubilities of these compounds, the technique which involves plotting the mole fractions of MgO and P2O5 as their 10th roots has been employed. With the exception of MgHPO4·3H2O, the magnesium phosphates are incongruently soluble. Because incongruency is associated with a peritectic-like reaction, the phase Mg2(PO4)3· 8H2O persists metastably for an extended period.
Gestational cortisol and social play shape development of marmosets' HPA functioning and behavioral responses to stressors.

Both gestational cortisol exposure (GCE) and variability in postnatal environments can shape the later-life behavioral and endocrine outcomes of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. We examined the influence of GCE and social play on HPA functioning in developing marmosets. Maternal urinary cortisol samples were collected across pregnancy to determine GCE for 28 marmoset offspring (19 litters). We administered a social separation stressor to offspring at 6, 12, and 18 months of age, during which we collected urinary cortisol samples and behavioral observations. Increased GCE was associated with increased basal cortisol levels and cortisol reactivity, but the strength of this relationship decreased across age. Increased social play was associated with decreased basal cortisol levels and a marginally greater reduction in cortisol reactivity as offspring aged, regardless of offspring GCE. Thus, GCE is associated with HPA functioning, but socially enriching postnatal environments can alter the effects associated with increased fetal exposure to glucocorticoids. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 56: 1229–1243, 2014.
TU‐C‐12A‐04: Quantification of Hepatic Perfusion Maps From DCE MRI Using Spatial Regularization

Purpose: To reduce uncertainty in hepatic perfusion quantification from DCE-MRI for assessing tumor and normal tissue response to RT in intrahepatic cancer. Methods: Pharmacokinetic modeling of liver DCE-MRI estimates arterial inflow rate (ka), portal venous inflow rate (kp), central venous outflow rate (kl) and bolus arrival time delays (ta, tp) from respective arterial and portal vein input functions to tissue. The parametric images estimated by the conventional approach could exhibit large variance and severe bias. To reduce the uncertainty in the quantitative images, we incorporated the prior knowledge, the slowly spatial variation of the time delays in the liver, into the model by adding spatial regulations on the time delays. The weighting factors of regularizations were determined by Stein’s unbiased risk estimate (SURE) of the mean squared prediction error (MSPE). The regularized model was optimized by the conjugate gradient minimization and implemented on the GPU to achieve fast computation. The method was evaluated by simulated and patient DCE-MRI data. The simulated perfusion image was generated with (k2, ka, kp) of (400, 20,100 ml/(100g min)), smooth (ta, tp) maps in a 64x64 matrix, and Gaussian random noise to have contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) of 10 to 100. Results: Compared to the conventional estimation, the proposed method reduced estimate variances from 14% to 8% for k2, 38% to 9% for ka, and 14% to 10% for kp in the simulated data with 20 CNR. The SURE-based method consistently led to the optimal weight of the regularization determined by the true MSPE on the simulation data. Regularizing time delays improved the hepatic perfusion images of the patient data. Conclusion: The improved repeatability and possible accuracy in hepatic perfusion images quantified from DCE-MRI have the potential to increase statistical power in clinical application of the physiological images for predicting outcome of liver cancer treatment. The work was supported by NIH/NCI grant RO1CA132834.
Voltammetry of the aquodiethyltin(IV) cation-polydiethyltin(II) system

Summary Cyclic voltammetric studies of the aquodiethyltin(IV) reduction on mercury show that several polymers are formed. The monomeric diethyltin(II) diradical is very short-lived. Extensive polymerization occurs at times as short as 1 msec. Short-chain polymers are reoxidized to the parent species, but long-chain polymers are oxidized with some loss of organic groups.
The NACCT abstract review process.

For decades, the annual meeting of the North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology (NACCT) has been the premiere international meeting for professionals of varied backgrounds interested in the c...
Tracking losses of brevetoxins on exposure to phytoplankton competitors: Mechanistic insights

The increasing frequency of devastating blooms of the harmful dinoflagellate Karenia brevis has motivated investigations into understanding bloom dynamics and the potential for mitigation. Previous findings indicate that waterborne concentrations of the most abundant brevetoxin (brevetoxin B or PbTx-2) associated with these blooms decrease in the presence of other phytoplankton species. The current study explores the mechanism of brevetoxin removal from seawater upon exposure to phytoplankton competitors. Live phytoplankton removed waterborne brevetoxins more rapidly than lysates, but phytoplankton did not need to be in a state of active metabolism. Biomolecules, probably proteins, exuded from phytoplankton appeared to be responsible for the loss of brevetoxins, either by irreversible complexation or by degradation. Selective removal of PbTx-2 and -1, but not PbTx-3, -9 or BTX-B5, by cultured phytoplankton revealed that brevetoxin removal is dependent upon the presence of an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde functionality. The mechanism of biotransformation appears to be common among phytoplankton, since members of various taxonomic groups including diatoms, dinoflagellates, and a cryptophyte each caused 75-90% decrease in PbTx-2 concentration, as did a generic protein (bovine serum albumin) added to seawater at high concentration. These findings support the concept of potentially using competitor phytoplankton species or compounds derived from phytoplankton as biocontrol agents for waterborne toxins associated with red tide.
Compartmentalization of 14C-DDT in an experimental old-field plot.

Of the 2.81 × 106 ug DDT applied to the plot in June 1976, 2.58 × 106 ug (91.8%) were accounted for as of June 1977. Silk screens, ethylene glycol air samples, and run-off contained 40.57 × 10−3%, 0.09 × 10−3%, and 1.18 × 10−3%, respectively of the DDT applied. Soil vas the major sink for DDT in this study, with 91.8% of the applied DDT located there. Most of the remaining 8.2% was probably lost during the formulation and application of the14C-DDT granules, some was probably lost in organisms (mainly flying insects) leaving the plot, and some was accounted for by experimental error and error in the counting technique.
Nonparametric tests of regularity, Farrell efficiency, and goodness-of-fit☆

Abstract The goal of this paper is to reveal the links among several seemingly unrelated literatures: 1. 1) the nonparametric regularity test literature (see Afriat, 1972; Diewert and Parkan, 1983; Hanoch and Rothschild, 1972; Varian, 1984), 2. 2) the efficiency measurement literature (Farrell, 1957, is the classic reference, but also included is what has been dubbed Data Envelopment Analysis), and 3. 3) the ‘goodness-of-fit’ approach associated with Varian (1990). The unifying threads are the Shephard-type distance function and the Mahler inequality (Mahler, 1939). Our synthesis yields regularity tests of cost minimization and technical change which are nonparametric, yet provide information as to goodness-of-fit based on Farrell-type efficiency measures.
Electromagnetic scattering by an aggregate of spheres

We present a comprehensive solution to the classical problem of electromagnetic scattering by aggregates of an arbitrary number of arbitrarily configured spheres that are isotropic and homogeneous but may be of different size and composition. The profile of incident electromagnetic waves is arbitrary. The analysis is based on the framework of the Mie theory for a single sphere and the existing addition theorems for spherical vector wave functions. The classic Mie theory is generalized. Applying the extended Mie theory to all the spherical constituents in an aggregate simultaneously leads to a set of coupled linear equations in the unknown interactive coefficients. We propose an asymptotic iteration technique to solve for these coefficients. The total scattered field of the entire ensemble is constructed with the interactive scattering coefficients by the use of the translational addition theorem a second time. Rigorous analytical expressions are derived for the cross sections in a general case and for all the elements of the amplitude-scattering matrix in a special case of a plane-incident wave propagating along the z axis. As an illustration, we present some of our preliminary numerical results and compare them with previously published laboratory scattering measurements.
Competitive Inhibition of Rat Brain Hexokinase by 2-Deoxyglucose, Glucosamine, and Metrizamide

The effects of metrizamide on the kinetics of rat brain hexokinase were compared in vitro with those of 2-deoxyglucose and glucosamine. Although metrizamide, 2-deoxyglucose, and glucosamine are known to be competitive inhibitors of approximately equal potency for glucose of yeast hexokinase (Ki approximately 0.7 mM for all three), metrizamide is a much weaker competitive inhibitor (Ki about 20 mM) of rat brain hexokinase than either 2-deoxyglucose or glucosamine (Ki about 0.3 mM for both). This indicates a greater active site specificity of rat brain hexokinase than of yeast hexokinase. Rat brain hexokinase activity is enhanced approximately threefold in the presence of 0.05, 0.2, and 0.8 mg/ml bovine serum albumin, while yeast hexokinase is only enhanced by 50% under these conditions. Despite the high Ki value for metrizamide, interference with glucose metabolism may occur whenever metrizamide is present in much higher concentrations than glucose. Myelography in humans is one such situation.
Cattle breed alters reproduction in Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae).

FemaleAmblyomma americanum [L.] that feed onBos taurus cattle weigh significantly (P=0.05) more (x=505.4 mg) than females that feed onB. indicus x B. taurus cattle (x=450.7 mg) but not females that feed onB. indicus cattle (x=489.7 mg). Females that feed onB. taurus cattle lay more eggs (x=3492) and produce more larvae (x=3243) than females that feed onB. indicus cattle (x=3103 eggs; 2925 larvae) orB. indicus x B. taurus cattle (x=2961 eggs; 2759 larvae). The number of eggs produced per unit engorged female weight is not significantly different in ticks that feed onB. taurus andB. indicus x B. taurus cattle.
Translational regulation in rat brain hemispheres.

Present studies on the sensitivity of the transcription process in rat cerebral hemispheres showed that the relative abundance and translation of free and bound poly (A)+ mRNAs in a reticulocyte mRNA-dependent system were reduced following 1 h and 4 h of ethanol or pentobarbital administration with free being affected to a greater extent than the bound poly (A)+ mRNAs. In addition, the energy-dependent nucleocytoplasmic transport of in vivo [3H]labeled nuclear RNA to surrogate cytoplasm was modified in response to ethanol exposure. The translocation of the labeled nuclear RNA fraction occurred only to the microsomal'ribosomal fractions of the cytoplasm, was stimulated by cyclic cAMP and abolished when the cytoplasm was depleted of its protein factors following streptomycin treatment, thereby establishing the translocated RNA as messenger RNA. It is concluded that the neural cell, in response to ethanol exposure, modifies the efficiency of nuclear processing and transport of mRNA. This nuclear restriction probably occurs at multi-levels during the post-transcriptional modification of mRNAs.
MNDO calculations on boron–nitrogen derivatives of nonbenzenoid aromatics: I. The two fully boron–nitrogen‐alternating isomers of “inorganic azulene”

Modified neglect of diatomic overlap (MNDO) calculations have been used to investigate the ground state properties of the two fully boron-nitrogen-alternating isomers of “inorganic azulene”: 1,3,4,6,8-pentaaza-2,3a, 5,7, 8a-pentaboraazulene (1, 1,3,4,6,8-PAPBAZ) and 2,3a,5,7,8a-pentaaza-1,3,4,6,8-pentaboraazulene (2, 2,3a,5,7,8a-PAPBAZ). Both molecules optimize to planar structures, have exothermic heats of formation (−194.4 kcal/mol and −161.4 kcal/mol, respectively), and exhibit some bond delocalization. The relationship of these two PAPBAZ isomers to their organic parent molecule, azulene, is discussed.
Power Optimization of Vibration Energy Harvesters Utilizing Passive and Active Circuits

This article presents the maximum power operating conditions for piezoelectric energy harvesters when connected to several different circuit topologies. Four circuits are studied herein for comparison: a simple resistive load, the standard rectifier circuit, and parallel and series synchronized switch harvesting on inductor. A single-mode model of a vibration-based energy harvester under base excitation is developed to capture the important dynamics near its fundamental resonance while providing a simple basis for performing design optimization. Relevant dimensionless parameters are given to provide a scale-free context for discussing the optimal operating points. For a prescribed vibration energy harvester, the base excitation frequency and load impedance for maximum power generation are provided by the results of this study. Furthermore, the effects of mechanical damping, electromechanical coupling, circuit quality factor, and rectifier forward voltage are presented. These effects are discussed in order to cite the salient parameters in the design of these energy harvesting systems.
Recovery and survival from aging-associated diseases.

Objectives Considering disease incidence to be a main contributor to healthy lifespan of the US elderly population may lead to erroneous conclusions when recovery/long-term remission factors are underestimated. Using two Medicare-based population datasets, we investigated the properties of recovery from eleven age-related diseases.
Mean distance in a tree

Abstract We characterize the quantities which can arise as the mean distance in a tree, giving in each case the number of nonisomorphic trees with the given mean distance. In particular, we show that every rational r≥2 is the mean distance in some tree, solving a problem posed by Hendry.
Externalizing behavior among adopted boys with preadoptive histories of child sexual abuse

This study examined the severity of externalizing symptomology among adopted boys with preadoptive histories of child sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect/abandonment, or no abuse. The study was based on data collected across a three-year period from parents who adopted children from Florida's child welfare system. The sample consisted of 1,136 adopted boys aged 6 to 18 years. In repeated cross-sectional multivariate analyses, the results revealed that adopted boys with preadoptive child sexual abuse were prone to significantly higher levels and clinically severe externalizing symptomotology as compared to adopted boys without such histories. The findings highlight the need for postadoption services and empirically validated interventions for families adopting boys with preadoptive child sexual abuse.
Configuration management issues and objectives for a real-time research flight test support facility

Presented are some of the critical issues and objectives pertaining to configuration management for the NASA Western Aeronautical Test Range (WATR) of Ames Research Center. The primary mission of the WATR is to provide a capability for the conduct of aeronautical research flight test through real-time processing and display, tracking, and communications systems. In providing this capability, the WATR must maintain and enforce a configuration management plan which is independent of, but complimentary to, various research flight test project configuration management systems. A primary WATR objective is the continued development of generic research flight test project support capability, wherein the reliability of WATR support provided to all project users is a constant priority. Therefore, the processing of configuration change requests for specific research flight test project requirements must be evaluated within a perspective that maintains this primary objective.
Revisiting the heterogeneous electron-transfer kinetics of nitro compounds

Abstract Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has been used to determine the heterogeneous electron-transfer kinetic parameters for the reduction of the following nitrobenzene derivatives in acetonitrile containing 0.10 M tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate at a mercury working electrode: 2-methylnitrobenzene( 1 ), 2,6-dimethylnitrobenzene( 2 ), 2,4,6-trimethylnitrobenzene( 3 ), 2,3,5,6-tetramethylnitrobenzene ( 4 ), pentamethylnitrobenzene ( 5 ), 2,4,6-triisopropylnitrobenzene ( 6 ) and 2,4,6-tri- tert -butylnitrobenzene ( 7 ). The results are discussed together with previously published results for nitromethane ( 8 ), nitroethane ( 9 ), 2-nitropropane ( 10 ) and 2-methyl-2-nitropropane ( 11 ). In general, a decrease in the standard electron-transfer rate constant, k s , is seen on going from 1 to 7 and this trend continues for 8–11 . Double layer effects are shown to be of minor importance. A previous explanation, based on increasing outer reorganization energies on going from 1 to 11 is called into question by the fact that the Gibbs energies of solvation of the radical anions of 1, 3 and 8 have been found to be almost identical. Arguments are presented supporting the idea that the outer reorganization energy should scale linearly with the Gibbs energy of solvation. A previously presented model, used to explain the effect of electrolyte cation size on the values of k s , has been extended to include the effect of reactant size. It is inferred that the decrease in k s on going from 8 (CH 3 NO 2 ) to 11 ((CH 3 ) 3 CNO 2 ) results at least partly from the increased size of the alkyl group, which causes the average distance of closest approach to increase from 8 to 11 resulting in an increased tunneling distance and smaller rate constants. This suggests that the “true” values of k s for 8–11 , corrected for this distance effect, are roughly constant. Finally, semi-empirical molecular orbital methods (AM1; 6 and 7 ) and density functional theory (B3LYP; 1–5 ; 8–11 ) were used to estimate the contributions of the inner reorganization energy for 1–11 . These contributions are small for 1 but steadily increase on going to 5 . The inner reorganization contribution for 8–11 is quite substantial, ca. 4–5 kcal/mol (1 kcal/mol = 4.184 kJ/mol). This suggests that the inner reorganization term is a very significant factor underlying the sharp decrease in k s on going from 1 to 11 . The principal structural change causing the calculated larger values of inner reorganization energy for 1–5 is the significant turning of the nitro group out of the plane of the ring in the neutral, a feature that is resisted in the radical anion. For 8–11 , pyramidalization at nitrogen in the radical anion is the most significant structural change.
Guanyl nucleotide regulatory proteins in neoplastic and normal human thyroid tissue.

Papillary and follicular thyroid neoplasms have been documented to have thyrotropin (TSH) receptors and an intact receptor-adenylate cyclase (AC) system. The AC response to TSH in most benign and malignant thyroid neoplasms is greater in the neoplasms than in the adjacent normal thyroid tissue. This increased AC response could be due to abnormal amounts of guanyl nucleotide regulatory (G) proteins, to an altered ratio of stimulating to inhibiting G proteins, or to the coupling of the G proteins—to either the receptor or to the catalytic unit of AC. To study why tumors have a greater AC response to TSH, we first extracted the G proteins from normal and neoplastic human thyroid tissue and placed them in membranes from cyclase minus S49 mouse lymphoma cells that lack a stimulating guanyl nucleotide regulatory protein (Gs). These studies demonstrated that there were comparable amounts of guanyl nucleotide regulatory protein in normal and neoplastic thyroid tissue. We next investigated whether there was an alteration in the ratio of inhibiting (Gi) to stimulating (Gs) guanyl nucleotide regulating proteins in thyroid neoplasms. Pertussis toxin (PT) (10 μg/ml) was used to study the activity of the inhibiting G protein since it stimulates AC activity by inhibiting the inhibitory regulatory protein by adenosine diphosphate ribosylating the alpha subunit of the Gi protein. Cholera toxin (CT) (10 ng/ml) was used because it selectively activates the stimulating G proteins. AC activity was determined by the conversion of [α-32P]ATP to cAMP in pmol/mg protein per 30 minutes. In 11 patients, PT-stimulated AC levels [8.55±1.7 SEM, (mean±standard deviation)] in normal tissues were higher than basal levels of AC (5.14±0.9,p< 0.01). However, there were no differences in basal and PT-stimulated levels in neoplastic tissues (6.43±1.0 and 6.87 ±1.8, respectively). This suggests that there is less Gi protein in the neoplasms since the AC response to PT was greater in normal tissues by 170%, but there was no significant stimulation in neoplastic tissues. In contrast, the AC response to CT (10 μg/ml that directly activates the stimulatory guanyl nucleotide regulatory proteins was greater in neoplastic thyroid tissue (174.3±30.1) than in normal thyroid tissue (78.5±16.3) from the same patients (p<0.01).
Saxagliptin: a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Purpose The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, safety, and dosage and administration of saxagliptin are reviewed. Summary Saxagliptin is a selective, reversible inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults. By inhibiting DPP-4, saxagliptin reduces the degradation of endogenous incretin hormones, resulting in increased glucose-dependent insulin release and decreased glucagon secretion from the pancreas. Saxagliptin is rapidly absorbed after oral administration, and its pharmacokinetic profile allows for once-daily oral administration. Clinical trials of saxagliptin as monotherapy and as combination therapy with other oral antidiabetic medications including metformin, glyburide, pioglitazone, and rosiglitazone have demonstrated clinical benefits in various glycemic endpoints, including glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and postprandial glucose (PPG) levels over 24 to 102 weeks of therapy. Due to its glucose-dependent mechanism of action, saxagliptin as monotherapy or in combination with metformin results in a low risk for hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. Saxagliptin was generally well tolerated in clinical trials, with headache, upper-respiratory-tract infection, and urinary tract infection being the most common adverse events. Saxagliptin has demonstrated a low risk for drug–drug interactions. For patients with moderate or severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease or patients taking a strong inhibitor of cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme 3A4 or 3A5, the recommended dosage is 2.5 mg once daily. Conclusion Saxagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, demonstrated safety and efficacy in lowering HbA1c, FPG, and PPG levels as both monotherapy and in combination with other oral antidiabetic medications.
Clarification of Apple Juice by Hollow Fiber Ultrafiltration: Fluxes and Retention of Odor‐Active Volatiles

Fresh apple juice was clarified in a pilot scale ultrafiltration (UF) unit, with membranes made of polysulfone and polyamide and plate and frame and vacuum drum filters. Flux of apple juice (L/m2 hr) vs UF transmembrane pressure data showed an optimum at a pressure of about 140 kPa. Retention of odor-active volatiles was highest in plate and frame filtered apple juice and lowest in vacuum drum filtered juice; the retention of odor-active volatiles in UF juice was intermediate to the two traditional filtration methods. Retention of odor-active volatiles in the permeate of a polyamide membrane was higher than that of a polysulfone membrane.
17β-Estradiol Restores Endothelial Nitric Oxide Release to Shear Stress in Arterioles of Male Hypertensive Rats

Background—Endothelial nitric oxide (NO)–mediated responses are impaired in arterioles of male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), but they are still present in female SHR. We hypothesized that in vitro incubation of arterioles of male SHR with estrogen will restore NO-mediated responses by upregulation of endothelial NO synthase. Methods and Results—Responses to increases in perfusate flow (from 0 to 25 μL/min) and to the calcium ionophore A23187 (5×10−8 to 10−6 mol/L), norepinephrine (NE; 10−7 to 3×10−7 mol/L), sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 10−8 to 10−6 mol/L), and adenosine (ADO; 10−6 to 5×10−5 mol/L) were studied in cannulated and pressurized gracilis muscle arterioles (≈75 μm in diameter) isolated from 12-week-old male SHR before and after incubation with 10−9 mol/L 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) for 16 to 18 hours. After incubation with 17β-E2, basal diameter of arterioles was significantly increased (by ≈10%), and flow-induced dilation was significantly enhanced (79.8±2.9 versus 103.7±3.7 μm at 25 μL/min),...
Maturation of carotid chemoreceptor sensitivity to hypoxia: in vitro studies in the newborn rat.

1. A preparation was developed to record single-fibre chemoreceptor afferent activity from carotid bodies of newborn and adult rats in vitro. The response to severe hypoxia was studied as a function of developmental age in four age groups: 1-2, 4-7, 10-15 days and adult (25-30 days). 2. During superfusion with HEPES-saline at room PO2 and at 26 or 35 degrees C, afferent chemoreceptor activity could be recorded in all age groups. No significant difference was found among groups in baseline discharge frequency at 26 or 35 degrees C. 3. All chemoreceptors responded to anoxia (PO2 congruent to 0 Torr) with a rapid increase in discharge frequency. At 35 degrees C, peak discharge frequency of single chemoreceptor afferents was significantly greater in the adult (15.7 +/- 1.6 Hz, mean +/- S.E.M., n = 18) and 10-15 days (11.2 +/- 4.2, n = 8) compared to rats of 1-2 days (4.3 +/- 0.7, n = 14) and 4-7 days of age (3.9 +/- 1.0, n = 7). 4. At 2 min into the anoxia period, all chemoreceptor activities were reduced from their peak discharge levels. At 35 degrees C, this decrease was significantly greater in the adult compared to the newborn. 5. During the period of decreased activity during anoxia, the chemoreceptor discharge could not be increased by inter-stream injection of acetylcholine (100 micrograms) or dopamine (100 micrograms), although these drugs were effective in increasing discharge rate prior to hypoxia. 6. We conclude that: (1) postnatal maturation of chemoreceptor sensitivity to hypoxia is present in vitro, (2) maturation occurs between the first and second week after birth in the rat, and (3) the decrease in activity during prolonged anoxia is not greater in the newborn compared to the adult. Thus, maturational changes occur in the sensitivity of the glomus cell-nerve ending complex to hypoxia.
Computational observer approach for the assessment of stereoscopic visualizations for 3D medical images

We present a computational stereoscopic observer approach inspired by the mechanisms of stereopsis in human vision that makes decisions based on a set of image pairs. Our stereo observer is constrained to a left and a right image generated using a visualization operator (ray tracing) to render simulated voxel datasets. We present the formulation of the observer based on model observer theory and discuss issues regarding simulated data generation and processing for this approach. The applicability of this observer extends to stereoscopic displays in the areas of entertainment, industrial, and medical imaging applications.
Anatomical studies of a boy trisomic for the distal portion of 13q.

A boy trisomic for the distal portion of 13q was dissected in detail and compared to 8 cases of complete trisomy 13 previously studied in our laboratory. The comparison shows that the partial trisomy 13q case did not correspond well to a muscle phenotype based on 6 variations common in trisomy 13, but rather to a larger muscle phenotype that included variations less frequently observed in complete trisomy 13. Additional cases of partial trisomy 13 must be studied before these findings can be related to specific portions of chromosome 13.
Partnerships between industry and higher education

Using the experience of the Industrial Division of Honeywell Control Systems in the UK, this article examines the way in which partnerships between industry and education can enhance the development of engineers-to-be.
Ethanol reforming using Ba0.5Sr0.5Cu0.2Fe0.8O3−δ/Ag composites as oxygen transport membranes

Abstract Cobalt-free oxygen transport membranes (OTMs), Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 Cu 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3−δ (BSCF) and its composites, Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 Cu 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3−δ /Ag (BSCF/Ag), were fabricated by conventional solid state synthesis, and their oxygen transport properties were evaluated. The metal (Ag) content in the composite was 10–40 vol.%. Based on oxygen-permeation results, BSCF/40 vol.% Ag with Rh catalyst was selected for testing its ability to supply high-purity oxygen (from air) for ethanol reforming. It was found that the composite played an important role in producing hydrogen from ethanol reforming at 600 °C. The composite with catalyst shifted ethanol conversion toward production of hydrogen and away from production of other products, i.e., using a catalyst increased the selectivity for hydrogen in the reformate. The crystal structure, thermal expansion, coke formation, and the microstructural behavior of the OTMs are discussed.
THE BIOLOGY OF COLORECTAL CANCER METASTASIS

Metastasis is a complex process involving a series of tumor-host interactions that follow tumor initiation and progression. Metastatic cancer cells must be capable of completing all stages of this process to establish secondary foci at distant sites. Most studies infer the functional significance of various observations based on models designed to emphasize the contributions of single molecules or ligand-receptor pairs. While providing useful insights into potential mechanisms of tumorigenesis and metastasis, additional studies are needed to elucidate the complex dynamic interactions involved in these processes. Nonetheless, a better understanding of how tumor cells metastasize is leading to new therapies to prevent and treat micrometastatic disease.
Use of seal-like robot PARO in sensory group therapy for older adults with dementia

This work presents the preliminary results of an eight- week study of the seal-like robot PARO being used in a sensory therapy activity in a local nursing home. Participants were older adults with different levels of cognitive impairment,. We analyzed participant behaviors in video recorded during the weekly interactions between older adults, a therapist, and PARO. We found that PARO's continued use led to a steady increase in physical interaction between older adults and the robot and an increasing willingness among participants to interact with it.
Man bites dog.

The structure of the anthrax edema factor (EF) exotoxin reveals evidence of a new adenylate kinase mechanism and the first structure of an active calmodulin-dependent enzyme in complex with calmodulin (CaM). The CaM-free toxin opens to enfold CaM in a way that positions critical EF substrate-binding residues near the catalytic site.
Nanosized Pd37(CO)28{P(p-Tolyl)3}12 Containing Geometrically Unprecedented Central 23-Atom Interpenetrating Tri-icosahedral Palladium Kernel of Double Icosahedral Units: Its Postulated Metal-Core Evolution and Resulting Stereochemical Implications

Pd37(CO)28{P(p-Tolyl)3}12 (1) was obtained in ∼50% yield by the short-time thermolysis of Pd10(CO)12{P(p-Tolyl)3}6 in THF solution followed by crystallization via layering with hexane under N2. The low-temperature (100 K) CCD X-ray diffraction study of 1 revealed an unusual non-spheroidal Pd37-atom polyhedron, which may be readily envisioned to originate via the initial formation of a heretofore non-isolated central Pd23 kernel composed of three interpenetrating trigonal-planar double icosahedra (DI) that are oriented along the three bonding edges of its interior Pd3 triangle. This central Pd23 kernel is augmented by face condensations with two additional phosphorus-free and 12 tri(p-C6H4Me)phosphine-ligated Pd atoms, which lower the pseudo-symmetry of the resulting 37-atom metal core from D3h to C2. The 12 P atoms and 28 bridging CO connectivities preserve the pseudo-C2 symmetry. The central Pd23 kernel in 1 provides the only crystallographic example of the 23-atom member of the double icosahedral family...
Heart Block and Conduction Disturbances.

Heart block and conduction disturbances appear to be relatively common in the general population. Because many individuals with conduction system disease are asymptomatic and never seek medical attention, our knowledge of the natural history of these disorders comes from large population-based studies [1–3]. Because conduction system disease is a heterogeneous entity of diverse causes, treatment options may vary from individual to individual, depending on the specific cause and the clinical manifestations. Permanent pacing is the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with symptomatic conduction system disease. Recent technologic improvements in permanent pacing systems have made this option more attractive although there are situations in which other therapeutic options may be considered. Specific therapy is not necessary in all patients with conduction system disease, especially those without symptoms. Of those requiring treatment, medica tion may be helpful in certain situations, but pacemakers remain the mainstay of therapy in most. Recent advances in the therapy of ischemic heart disease (eg, thrombolytic agents and reperfusion techniques) show some promise in arresting or even reversing some forms of conduction system disease, but these techniques require further study [4,5].
The Immunosuppressive Metabolite of Leflunomide Is a Potent Inhibitor of Human Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase

The active metabolite of leflunomide, A771726, is a novel immunosuppressive compound that has been shown to be a powerful antiproliferative agent for mononuclear and T-cells. The molecular mechanism of action for this compound has not been clearly established. In vitro cellular and enzymatic assays, however, demonstrate that leflunomide is an inhibitor of several protein tyrosine kinases, with IC50 values between 30 and 100 μM. The in vivo properties of A771726 are reminiscent of another immunosuppressive agent, brequinar sodium, which has been shown to be a nanomolar inhibitor (Ki = 10−30 nM) of the enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODase). On this basis, we have investigated the effects of leflunomide and A771726 on the activity of purified recombinant human DHODase. We find that A771726 is a potent inhibitor of DHODase (Ki = 179 ± 19 nM), while the parent compound, leflunomide, had no inhibitory effect at concentrations as high as 1 μM. Studies of the dependence of inhibition on the concentrations...