cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ternary Polypeptide Nanoparticles with Improved Encapsulation, Sustained Release, and Enhanced In Vitro Efficacy of Carfilzomib.

To develop a new nanoparticle formulation for a proteasome inhibitor Carfilzomib (CFZ) to improve its stability and efficacy for future in vivo applications. CFZ-loaded ternary polypeptide nanoparticles (CFZ/tPNPs) were prepared by using heptakis(6-amino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin(hepta-hydrochloride) (HaβCD) and azido-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(L-glutamic acid sodium salt) (N3-PEG-PLE). The process involved ternary (hydrophobic/ionic/supramolecular) interactions in three steps: 1) CFZ was entrapped in the cavity of HaβCD by hydrophobic interaction, 2) the drug-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes were mixed with N3-PEG-PLE to form polyion complex nanoparticles, and 3) the nanoparticles were modified with fluorescent dyes (AFDye 647) for imaging and/or epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) antibodies for cancer cell targeting. CFZ/tPNPs were characterized for particle size, surface charge, drug release, stability, intracellular uptake, proteasome inhibition, and in vitro cytotoxicity. tPNPs maintained an average particle size of 50 nm after CFZ entrapment, EpCAM conjugation, and freeze drying. tPNPs achieved high aqueous solubility of CFZ (>1 mg/mL), sustained drug release (t1/2 = 6.46 h), and EpCAM-mediated cell targeting, which resulted in increased intracellular drug accumulation, prolonged proteasome inhibition, and enhanced cytotoxicity of CFZ in drug-resistant DLD-1 colorectal cancer cells. tPNPs improved stability and efficacy of CFZ in vitro, and these results potentiate effective cancer treatment using CFZ/tPNPs in future vivo studies.
“LET’S BE INDEPENDENT TOGETHER”: ENABLING STUDENT AUTONOMY WITH TEAM BASED LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN A FLIPPED CLASS

Marketing faculty face a complex challenge in preparing students for the modern marketplace. Today, marketing roles require creativity, problem-solving, curiosity, and the ability to learn continuo...
Preferences for Alternative Water Supplies in the Pacific Northwest: A Discrete Choice Experiment

AbstractUnderstanding residential water preferences allows utility and municipal water managers to improve residents’ welfare through informed pricing and investment decisions. This paper employs a...
Abstract 16801: Papillary Muscle Tip Approximation in Repair of Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation in a Chronic Swine Model

Introduction: Mitral valve (MV) repair with undersized annuloplasty (UMA) for ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is being abandoned in favor of valve replacement (MVR) following CTSN trial results...
CTCF binding modulates UV damage formation to promote mutation hot spots in melanoma.

Somatic mutations in DNA-binding sites for CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) are significantly elevated in many cancers. Prior analysis has suggested that elevated mutation rates at CTCF-binding sites in skin cancers are a consequence of the CTCF-cohesin complex inhibiting repair of UV damage. Here, we show that CTCF binding modulates the formation of UV damage to induce mutation hot spots. Analysis of genome-wide CPD-seq data in UV-irradiated human cells indicates that formation of UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) is primarily suppressed by CTCF binding but elevated at specific locations within the CTCF motif. Locations of CPD hot spots in the CTCF-binding motif coincide with mutation hot spots in melanoma. A similar pattern of damage formation is observed at CTCF-binding sites in vitro, indicating that UV damage modulation is a direct consequence of CTCF binding. We show that CTCF interacts with binding sites containing UV damage and inhibits repair by a model repair enzyme in vitro. Structural analysis and molecular dynamic simulations reveal the molecular mechanism for how CTCF binding modulates CPD formation.
The scientific method and ethical treatment of premenstrual complaints.

Many women seek help for premenstrual complaints and many practitioners are eager to sell them services. The quality of the medical and psychiatric services they receive is questionable, reflecting inadequate scientific knowledge about premenstrual complaints and unjustified acceptance by practitioners of unverified assumptions about etiology and treatment. In the legal arena as well, decisions are made regarding women with premenstrual complaints that are simply not supported by credible, empirical evidence. Here again, the problem is twofold: Premenstrual complaints have only recently become the target of methodologically rigorous scientific inquiry (see chapters by Halbreich & Endicott, O’Brien, Reid, Rubinow, Sampson, and Steiner & Haskett, this volume); as a result, relevant knowledge is limited. In addition, the courts have accepted assumptions about premenstrual complaints, some of which are unverified and some of which are inconsistent with available, albeit scarce, empirical evidence.
Preparation of marked microtubules for the assay of the polarity of microtubule-based motors by fluorescence microscopy.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the preparation of marked microtubules for the assay of the polarity of microtubule-based motors by fluorescence microscopy. It explores how to assemble microtubules with obvious polarity when viewed by fluorescence microscopy; the direction of movement of a motor protein with respect to such polarity-marked microtubules indicates the motor's polarity. Microtubules are polymers of the heterodimeric protein tubulin. The inherent polarity of the microtubule polymer has two major functional implications—namely, (1) the growth rates at the different ends of the microtubules are different and (2) different microtubule-based motor proteins move in opposite directions along the microtubule. Thus, the cylindrical surface of the microtubule has a different texture in the two directions, a texture that the motor proteins can detect. The knowledge of the polarity of movement of a motor protein is essential for interpreting its biological function. Microtubule nucleation will not occur below a certain critical concentration, but new microtubule growth will occur from the pre-existing ends of microtubules down to tubulin concentrations below that critical concentration.
Evaluation Studies: The IEA studies in english and french as foreign languages: Implications for educational planning

Abstract Two of the subjects in which international studies were carried out in the IEA project were English as a foreign Language, and French as a Foreign Language. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the results of these studies and the implications of their results for educational planning.
Renal Vascular Disease

Two man categories of renal artery disease, atherosclerosis cand fibrous dysplasia, account for approx 80% and 20% of all such lesions, respectively. Other unusual causes of renal artery disease include an arterial aneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, neurofibromatosis, extrinsic obstruction of the renal artery, the middle aortic syndrome, and renal artery thrombosis or embolism. Intervention may be indicated in these disorders to treat associated hypertension, to preserve renal function, or to prevent rupture of an arterial aneurysm.
Characteristics of S and X band scatter signals

If a signal is propagated by a scatter mechanism through a turbulent medium, the characteristics of the signal at a receiving site beyond the horizon are a function of: 1. The size of the important scattering volume 2. The velocity of the scatterers The size of the important scattering volume is determined by the scattering coefficient of the turbulent medium and the geometry of the radio link if the antenna beam-angles are large, or by the intersection of the transmitting and receiving beams if the beam-angles are small. The size of the volume determines a length at the receiving site over which signals are correlated and this in turn controls the height-gain function, and the maximum aperture of an antenna which yields its full theoretical gain. The volume size also controls the multipath effects and, hence, signal distortion and bandwidth. If the scatterers are moving with a certain drift velocity and a turbulent velocity, the signal observed at a fixed receiving site fluctuates with time. The contribution of drift velocity to the fluctuations arises from a special pattern moving by the receiving site. The turbulent velocity contributes to the fluctuations due to the beating of frequencies shifted by a Doppler effect from the carrier frequency. Measurements of height-gain, antenna-gain, correlation distances, and fading rates on S-and-X Band signals propagated over a 100 mile path are in agreement with predictions.
Studies of folate compounds in nature. Folate compounds in rat kidney and red blood cells.

Abstract An investigation of folate compounds in the kidney, red blood cells, and urine of rats was made by tracing the radioactivity 24 hr after the injection of 20μCi [ 3 H]folic acid. Column chromatography of tissue folates with standard marker compounds on Sephadex G-15 and G-25, and DEAE-cellulose columns shows the following results: (1) 75%-80% of kidney folates consists of reduced derivatives of pteroylpentaglutamate; (2) ca. 95% of total folates in red blood cells are 5-methyl derivatives of reduced pteroylpolyglutamates, mainly as pentaglutamate (ca. 60%) and hexaglutamate (ca. 35%); (3) more than 90% of urine folates are identified as derivatives of pteroylmonoglutamate.
WiDS checker: combating bugs in distributed systems

Despite many efforts, the predominant practice of debugging a distributed system is still printf-based log mining, which is both tedious and error-prone. In this paper, we present WiDS Checker, a unified framework that can check distributed systems through both simulation and reproduced runs from real deployment. All instances of a distributed system can be executed within one simulation process, multiplexed properly to observe the "happensbefore" relationship, thus accurately reveal full system state. A versatile script language allows a developer to refine system properties into straightforward assertions, which the checker inspects for violations. Combining these two components, we are able to check distributed properties that are otherwise impossible to check. We applied WiDS Checker over a suite of complex and real systems and found non-trivial bugs, including one in a previously proven Paxos specification. Our experience demonstrates the usefulness of the checker and allows us to gain insights beneficial to future research in this area.
Engineering Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to achieve an inverse growth – associated production of a foreign protein, β-galactosidase

Protein synthesis in mammalian cells can be observed in two strikingly different patterns: 1) production of monoclonal antibodies in hybridoma cultures is typically inverse growth associated and 2) production of most therapeutic glycoproteins in recombinant mammalian cell cultures is found to be growth associated. Production of monoclonal antibodies has been easily maximized by culturing hybridoma cells at very low growth rates in high cell density fed- batch or perfusion bioreactors. Applying the same bioreactor techniques to recombinant mammalian cell cultures results in drastically reduced production rates due to their growth associated production kinetics. Optimization of such growth associated production requires high cell growth conditions, such as in repeated batch cultures or chemostat cultures with attendant excess biomass synthesis. Our recent research has demonstrated that this growth associated production in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells is related to the S (DNA synthesis)-phase specific production due to the SV40 early promoter commonly used for driving the foreign gene expression. Using the stably transfected CHO cell lines synthesizing an intracellular reporter protein under the control of SV40 early promoter, we have recently demonstrated in batch and continuous cultures that the product synthesis is growth associated. We have now replaced this S-phase specific promoter in new expression vectors with the adenovirus major late promoter which was found to be active primarily in the G1-phase and is expected to yield the desirable inverse growth associated production behavior. Our results in repeated batch cultures show that the protein synthesis kinetics in this resulting CHO cell line is indeed inverse growth associated. Results from continuous and high cell density perfusion culture experiments also indicate a strong inverse growth associated protein synthesis. The bioreactor optimization with this desirable inverse growth associated production behavior would be much simpler than bioreactor operation for cells with growth associated production.
Dissociation and Reconstitution of Functional Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Vesicles

Abstract The reconstitution of functional sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles has been achieved. Sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles at a concentration of 7.0 mg of protein per ml are solubilized with the use of 3.4 mg per ml of deoxycholate. The solubilized sample is nonmembranous as viewed in the electron microscope. Sedimentation studies indicate it is dissociated largely into protein and phospholipid. Removal of the detergent by dialysis results in the reaggregation of protein and phospholipid to form membranous vesicles which are capable of energized Ca2+ accumulation. The reconstitution is temperature dependent being optimal at about 20°; function is not restored if dialysis is carried out at 0–4°. The composition of the dialysis buffer which favors reconstitution is 0.4 m KCI, 1.5 mm Mg2+-1.0 mm ethylenediaminetetraacetate, and 0.1 mm Ca2+, pH 7.25. Reconstituted and original sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles have a similar phospholipid content and buoyant density. The Ca2+ pump protein is the major protein in both reconstituted and original vesicles; however, the two other major proteins with a molecular weight of approximately 55,000 are only in part rebound. The reconstituted vesicles have an elevated adenosine triphosphatase activity. Energized Ca2+ uptake capacities measured in the presence and absence of oxalate are restored to about 50% and 25%, respectively.
Determining the U -Value of a Wall from Field Measurements of Heat Flux and Surface Temperatures

Thermal conductances (U-values) and thermal resistances (R-values) are discussed throughout the literature as the appropriate parameters for characterizing heat transfer through walls. Because the quoted numbers are usually determined from the handbook values of material properties, they have several drawbacks: (1) they do not take into account degradation effects, (2) they ignore construction irregularities, and (3) they do not take into account multi-dimensional heat flow. This paper examines the use of field measurements of heat flow and surface temperatures to determine the U-values of walls. The effects of thermal mass on measurements of wall U-values are described in detail, using two data interpretation techniques to estimate the U-values of insulated and uninsulated cavity walls, with and without brick facing. The errors in U-value estimation are determined by comparison with an analytical model of wall thermal performance. For each wall, the error in the U-value determination is plotted as a function of test length for several typical weather conditions. For walls with low thermal mass, such as an fiberglass-insulated cavity wall, it appears that, under favorable test conditions, a 6-hour measurement is adequate to measure the U-value within about 10% uncertainty. For masonary walls, the measurement time required is considerably longermore » than 6 hours. It is shown that for masonry walls, and in general, the optimal measurement time is a multiple of 24 hours due to the effects of diurnal weather fluctuations.« less
Sexual Dysfunction in Male Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans: Association with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Other Combat-Related Mental Health Disorders: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Introduction Mental health disorders are prevalent in the United States, Iraq, and Afghanistan war veterans. Mental illness, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with or without psychiatric medications, can increase the risk for male sexual dysfunction, threatening quality of life.
Multimedia environmental monitoring: 50 years at Hanford.

Environmental monitoring has been an ongoing activity on the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site in southeastern Washington for almost 50 years. Objectives are to detect and assess potential impacts of Site operations on air, surface and ground waters, foodstuffs, fish, wildlife, soil and vegetation. Data from monitoring effects are used to calculate the overall radiological dose to humans working onsite or residing in nearby communities. In 1989, measured Hanford Site perimeter concentrations of airborne radionuclides were below applicable guidelines. Concentrations of radionuclides and nonradiological water quality in the Columbia River were in compliance with applicable standards. Foodstuffs irrigated with river water taken downstream of the Site showed radionuclide levels that were similar to those found in foodstuffs from control areas. Low levels of 137Cs and 90Sr in most onsite wildlife samples and concentrations of radionuclides in soils and vegetation from on- and offsite locations were typical of those attributable to worldwide fallout. The calculated dose potentially received by a maximally exposed individual (i.e., based on hypothetical, worst-case assumptions for all routes of exposure) in 1989 (0.05 mrem/yr) was similar to those calculated for 1985 through 1988.
Abstract 1147: High-throughput nanofluidic PCR-based preparation of 454 sequencing libraries for identifying mutations in EGFR and MET

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) play important roles in cancer development and are promising targets for anticancer therapies. Mutations in the EGFR and MET genes are associated with multiple types of cancer and the ability to detect variants in these genes is crucial for a better understanding of disease progression and response to targeted therapeutics. Next-generation sequencers (e.g. 454, Illumina) hold great potential for detecting disease-specific alterations within patient populations for a given cancer type. However, current approaches for targeted resequencing of specific genetic regions are not well suited to studying the hundreds or thousands of patient samples required to assign significance to mutations. We have developed a novel nanofluidic platform, the Access Array™ system, which enables the robust, simultaneous amplification of 48 PCR products (amplicon) from 48 samples in parallel using only 50ng input DNA per sample. In addition, we have developed a primer design strategy that incorporates sample-specific barcodes and 454 sequencing adaptors into each amplicon, removing the need for library preparation before sequencing. We will present sequencing data collected from amplicon libraries prepared using the Access Array system to amplify 48 exon regions of the EGFR and MET genes from the NCI-60 cell lines. Sequencing data from these libraries demonstrates excellent uniformity in representation between amplicons and across samples. We will present data mapping mutations within these genes across the NCI-60, and discuss the use of Access Array enrichment panels in monitoring mutations across large patient populations. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1147.
Depression assessment after traumatic brain injury: an empirically based classification method.

Abstract Seel RT, Kreutzer JS. Depression assessment after traumatic brain injury: an empirically based classification method. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003;84:1621–8. Objectives To describe the patterns of depression in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Neurobehavioral Functioning Inventory (NFI) Depression Scale, and to classify empirically NFI Depression Scale scores. Design Depressive symptoms were characterized by using the NFI Depression Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) Depression Scale. Setting An outpatient clinic within a Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems center. Participants A demographically diverse sample of 172 outpatients with TBI, evaluated between 1996 and 2000. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures The NFI, BDI, and MMPI-2 Depression Scale. The Cronbach α, analysis of variance, Pearson correlations, and canonical discriminant function analysis were used to examine the psychometric properties of the NFI Depression Scale. Results Patients with TBI most frequently reported problems with frustration (81%), restlessness (73%), rumination (69%), boredom (66%), and sadness (66%) with the NFI Depression Scale. The percentages of patients classified as depressed with the BDI and the NFI Depression Scale were 37% and 30%, respectively. The Cronbach α for the NFI Depression Scale was .93, indicating a high degree of internal consistency. As hypothesized, NFI Depression Scale scores correlated highly with BDI ( r =.765) and MMPI-2 Depression Scale T scores ( r =.752). The NFI Depression Scale did not correlate significantly with the MMPI-2 Hypomania Scale, thus showing discriminant validity. Normal and clinically depressed BDI scores were most likely to be accurately predicted by the NFI Depression Scale, with 81% and 87% of grouped cases, respectively, correctly classified. Normal and depressed MMPI-2 Depression Scale scores were accurately predicted by the NFI Depression Scale, with 75% and 83% of grouped cases correctly classified, respectively. Patients' NFI Depression Scale scores were mapped to the corresponding BDI categories, and 3 NFI score classifications emerged: minimally depressed (13–28), borderline depressed (29–42), and clinically depressed (43–65). Conclusions Our study provided further evidence that screening for depression should be a standard component of TBI assessment protocols. Between 30% and 38% of patients with TBI were classified as depressed with the NFI Depression Scale and the BDI, respectively. Our findings also provided empirical evidence that the NFI Depression Scale is a useful tool for classifying postinjury depression.
Ernesto Grassi: Humanismus zwischen Faschismus und Nationalsozialismus

Wilhelm Buttemeyer, (Munich: Karl Alber, 2009), 448 pp., €29 (pb), ISBN 978‐3‐495‐48321‐3 Italian philosopher Ernesto Grassi (1902–1991) played a significant role in European intellectual history, ...
Sensory responses, dietary-induced obesity and biochemical values in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Abstract Food intake and body weight gain variability in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats exposed to a palatable high-fat diet were examined in relation to sensory responses and biochemical parameters in two experiments. In the first experiment, varying sucrose concentrations (4–32% wt./vol.) were randomly presented for 20 minutes to ad lib chow-fed rats. Each rat's sensory response was expressed as Beta (B), or the slope of the regression between solute intake and concentration, and used to assign rats to diet groups. In the second experiment, responsiveness to fat emulsions (1–37%) were similarly measured and categorized. In both experiments sensory responses to sucrose were significantly related to weight gain/ fatness on the high-fat diet (lab chow-corn oil). Sensory responsiveness to the fat emulsions was unrelated to sucrose responsiveness or to high-fat feeding. Biochemical parameters (insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoproteins) reflected increased caloric (fat) intake, as well as sucrose responsiveness. Predictors (sensory responses, biochemical values) of response to chronic (4 months) or short-term (
I'm Afraid I Have Something Bad to Tell You: Breaking Bad News From the Perspective of the Giver1

College students (N= 90) completed a questionnaire designed to assess their recollection of a time that they delivered bad news. Responses were provided about whether each of 72 possible characteristics of such transactions occurred in addition to the impact each had on the ease of delivering the news. Participants also provided information about the stress associated with the process and their perceptions of the anxiety experienced by the receiver of the news. Three important findings emerged: (a) there was substantial diversity in the type of bad news that givers recalled transmitting; (b) students reported a wide variety of experiences associated with the bad-news process, with a sizable cluster of these experiences seeming to typify such transactions across students and news type; and (c) the level of stress associated with the bad-news process was generally high, and it was associated with what students thought about and did during the transaction.
Supplementing collegiate financial statements with across-fund aggregations: An experimental inquiry☆

Abstract Two experiments, one using commercial loan officers and the other MBA students, were conducted to examine potential user effects from supplementing conventional fund-by-fund collegiate financial statements with organizationwide, across-fund, consolidations. Significant differences in subject perceptions regarding the financial condition and changes in that condition for a hypothetical university were observed between subjects given traditional fund-by-fund statements and those receiving supplemental consolidated data.
The Fatty Acids of Vegetables. II. Spinacha,b

SUMMARY The fatty acids in the extracted crude lipid of spinach were studied to determine changes during storage at -17.8°C in the blanched and untreated condition. It was further determined that the total free fatty acids increased in the unblanched samples during storage. Palmitic acid increased during storage, whereas the longer-chain fatty acids, particularly linolenic acid, decreased. A fatty acid containing 17 carbon atoms, n-heptadecanoic acid, was present in fair quantity.
Parenting practices and age-group swimming: a correlational study

To examine the parenting correlates of children's experiences in age-group swimming, 44 families of 6- to 14-year-old, competitive swimmers were studied. Mothers and fathers completed questionnaires on their childrearing practices; children, coaches, fathers, and mothers completed questionnaires on the child's enjoyment, effort, competitiveness, commitment, and ability. For both mothers and fathers, parental support was positively associated with child enthusiasm, whereas parental performance outcome goals and directiveness showed curvilinear effects. Specifically, parents reporting moderate levels of directiveness and performance outcome goals had children reporting the greatest enthusiasm for swimming. The major mother-father difference concerned modeling: Although mother modeling was positively associated with child enthusiasm for both boys and girls, father modeling showed a negative association with child enthusiasm, but only for boys.
Shortest path ray tracing with sparse graphs

A technique for improving the efficiency of shortest path ray tracing (SPR) is presented. We analyze situations where SPR fails and provide quantitative measures to assess the performance of SPR ray tracing with varying numbers of nodes. Our improvements include perturbing the ray at interfaces according to Snell’s Law, and a method to find correct rays efficiently in regions of low velocity contrast. This approach allows the investigator to use fewer nodes in the calculation, thereby increasing the computational efficiency. In two‐dimensional (2-D) cross‐borehole experiments we find that with our improvements, we need only use 2/3 as many nodes, saving up to 60 percent in time. Savings should be even greater in three dimensions. These improvements make SPR more attractive for tomographic applications in three dimensions.
Pigmented lesions of the skin

Abstract Pigmented lesions are common in the dog and cat. They are less common in the horse and pig and infrequently found in laboratory animals and other domestic animals kept for food and fiber production. The true incidence of pigmented lesions in animals is not known. This article is limited to pigmented lesions that arise as spontaneous tumors and tumorlike lesions of the dog and cat. Additional information on melanomas in horses and in swine may be found in other publications. 1,2
Studies of the N-terminal region of a parathyroid hormone-related peptide (1-36) analog: receptor subtype-selective agonists, antagonists, and photochemical cross-linking agents.

The N-terminal regions of PTH and PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) are involved in receptor-mediated signaling and subtype selectivity. To better understand the molecular basis for these processes, we first prepared a series of[ I5,W23,Y36]-PTHrP(1–36)NH2 analogs having stepwise deletions of residues 1–4 and characterized them with the human (h)PTH-1 and hPTH-2 receptor subtypes stably transfected in LLC-PK1 cells. Deletions beyond residue 2 caused progressive and severe losses in cAMP-signaling efficacy without dramatically diminishing receptor-binding affinity; consistent with this, [I5,W23]-PTHrP(5–36) was a potent antagonist for both PTH receptor subtypes. We then prepared and characterized photolabile analogs of[ I5,W23,Y36]-PTHrP(1–36)NH2 that were singly modified with para-benzoyl-l-phenylalanine (Bpa) along the first six residues. These full-length analogs exhibited receptor subtype-selective agonism, antagonism, and photochemical cross-linking profiles. In particular, the [Bpa2]- and[ Bpa4]-substitute...
Corrosion in Drinking Water Distribution Systems: A Major Contributor of Copper and Lead to Wastewaters and Effluents

Corrosion, even in water supply systems with treatment to reduce it, can be a major contributor of copper and lead to both treated municipal (publicly owned treatment works, POTW) wastewater effluents and biosolids. Lead and copper concentrations were measured at several points in the water/wastewater systems of four Massachusetts municipalities. Domestic wastewater was found to contain concentrations of lead and copper significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in source waters. For each facility, the median concentration of Cu in domestic wastewater was a substantial fraction of the median concentration found in the influent to the POTWs with ratios of 0.36, 0.41, 0.65, and 1.25 for Gardner, New Bedford, Fall River, and Clinton, respectively. The values for lead, in the same order, were 0.28, 0.19, 0.17, and 0.69 (this last ratio based on mean values). Data from the study indicate that minimizing influent concentrations of Cu and Pb to POTWs is an important control factor since the finding of constant r...
Metabolism of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane in the mouse

The metabolites of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDD) found in the urine of female Swiss mice are reported. The metabolites of DDT are DDD, 1-chloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethene (DDMU), 1,1-dichloro-2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethene (DDE), 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)acetic acid (DDA), 2-hydroxy-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)acetic acid (alpha OH-DDA) and 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethanol (DDOH), while DDD afforded DDMU, DDE, DDA, alpha OH-DDA and DDOH. The relative excreted levels of DDA and DDOH and the absence of 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)acetaldehyde (DDCHO) are not consistent with the generally accepted pathway for DDA formation, which involves sequential metabolism of DDT and DDD via DDOH to afford DDA. The quantitative results are interpreted to mean that DDA is formed by hydroxylation at the chlorinated sp3-side chain carbon of DDD to give 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)acetyl chloride (DDA-Cl), which in turn is hydrolyzed to DDA. The excretion of alpha OH-DDA from both DDT- and DDD-treated mice has never been previously observed. It is suggested that this metabolite arises from the initial epoxidation of DDMU, a metabolite of DDT and DDD, to yield 1,2-epoxy-1-chloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDMU-epoxide). This chloroepoxide is then hydrolyzed and oxidized to produce the alpha OH-DDA.
Rapid semi-quantitative isolation of beta-2-microglobulin from urine.

Abstract A rapid semi-quantitative purification of β 2 -microglobulin from transplant urine relies on a batch absorption using hydroxylapatite-cellulose. Stepwise elution is followed by Sephadex G-150 gel permeation chromatography. Using this methodology, it is possible to process quickly and conveniently many liters of urine at bench scale, with yields exceeding 95% and overall purity greater than 97% β 2 -microglobulin.
Norms for an Isometric Muscle Endurance Test

Musculoskeletal performance assessment is critical in the analysis of physical training programs in order to prioritize goals for decreasing injury risk and focusing performance goals. Abdominal endurance as part of this analysis is often assessed with techniques that have validity that has been debated in literature. The purpose of this study was to develop normative sex- and athlete-specific percentiles for a trunk stabilization and muscular endurance by using a prone forearm plank test in college-aged students. A second purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of habitual physical activity and the reason for test termination. There were 471 participants (means ± SE; males: n = 194, age 20.4 ± 0.2 years, body height 179.4 ± 0.5 cm, body mass 81.1 ± 1.2 kg; females: n = 277, age 20.2 ± 0.2 years, body height 165.7 ± 0.4 cm, body mass 63.9 ± 0.7 kg) who performed this test to volitional or technique failure. Males produced significantly higher test durations than females (means ± SD; 124 ± 72 seconds vs. 83 ± 63 seconds) and athletes produced significantly longer test durations than non-athletes (123 ± 69 s vs. 83 ± 63 s) but no interaction effects were seen in the variables of sex and athletic status. The activity level was found to have a threshold of influence (>3 times/week) on abdominal endurance that is dose-specific where greater than 5 times/week showed the greatest influence. The fatigue of the abdominals was the termination reason producing the lowest test duration and there was no sex effect on reason for test termination. These normative percentiles for abdominal endurance suggest that the abdominal plank test can now be used as an alternative to other abdominal assessments in college students, but further investigation is warranted prior to confirmation and generalization to other populations.
Transient electropore lifetimes in skeletal muscle cells

Electroporation of skeletal muscle cell membranes has been postulated to cause myonecrosis In most victims of major electrical trauma.[1,2] To precisely quantify membrane damage due to electroporation, we utilized a ratiometric fluorometric assay to determine the threshold of imposed transmembrane potential required to reversibly and irreversibly electroporate the cell membrane and calculated the time constants for electropores created over a wide range of applied fields.
Synthesis and crystallographic characterization of dimeric perfluoroalkyl iridium complexes: [Cp∗Ir(X)(RF)]2 (X = I, RF = CF3, CF2CF3, CF2CF2CF3, CF(CF3)2, CF(CF3)(CF2CF3); X = Cl and Br, RF = CF2CF3), and a new perfluoroethylidene complex Cp∗Ir(PPh3)(CFCF3)

Abstract Monomeric perfluoroalkyl-iridium complexes IrCp∗(RF)(CO)I react with N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMO) with loss of the CO ligand, and clean formation of stable red iodide-bridged dimers, all of which have characterized in solution by 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray diffraction. Dimeric perfluoroethyl analogues with chloro and bromo ligands have also been prepared. Reaction of these iodo-bridged dimers with acetonitrile, ethylene and amines forms the corresponding monomeric complexes in solution but coordination is weak and reversible. CO reacts irreversibly to afford the monomeric starting materials, while PMe3 and PPh3 yield monomeric phosphine complexes, which can be reduced to give perfluoroethylidene compounds.
Regulation of Neuronal KATP Channels by Signaling Elicited by cGMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Activation

The ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel couples intracellular metabolic state to cell excitability. Recently, we have demonstrated that activation of the nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP/cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) signaling cascade results in stimulation of Kir6.2/SUR1 (i.e. the neuronal-type KATP) channels. To understand how PKG activation induces plasma-membrane KATP channel stimulation, in the present study we investigated the potential involvement of the mitochondrial KATP (mitoKATP) channel and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in signal transduction. By performing single-channel recordings in transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells and neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, we found that the enhancement of Kir6.2/SUR1 channel currents by PKG activation observed in cell-attached patches was diminished by the selective mitoKATP channel inhibitor 5-hydroxydecanoic acid (5-HD), ROS scavengers, and catalase, an enzyme that decomposes hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). 5-HD, ROS scavengers and catalase also significantly attenuated Kir6.2/SUR1 channel stimulation induced by NO donors. Moreover, bath application of H2O2 increased the activity of Kir6.2/SUR1 channels in cell-attached but not inside-out patches, and the stimulatory effect was not affected by 5-HD, excluding ROS as a signal upstream of the mitoKATP channel to mediate Kir6.2/SUR1 channel stimulation. In addition, H2O2 failed to stimulate tetrameric Kir6.2LRKR368/369/370/371AAAA channels expressed without the SUR subunit in intact cells. Altogether, these novel findings suggest that PKG stimulates neuronal KATP channels via opening of mitoKATP channels and ROS generation in a SUR1 subunit-dependent manner, implicating functional coupling between mitoKATP and plasma-membrane KATP channels upon PKG activation. The NO/cGMP/PKG/mitoKATP/ROS signaling cascade may contribute to neuroprotection under ischemic conditions by enhancing the function of plasma-membrane KATP channels whose activation reduces cell excitability.
Human Hepatic and Lipoprotein Lipase: The Loop Covering the Catalytic Site Mediates Lipase Substrate Specificity

Hepatic lipase (HL) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) are key enzymes that mediate the hydrolysis of triglycerides (TG) and phospholipids (PL) present in circulating plasma lipoproteins. Relative to triacylglycerol hydrolysis, HL displays higher phospholipase activity than LPL. The structural basis for this difference in substrate specificity has not been definitively established. We recently demonstrated that the 22-amino acid loops ("lids") covering the catalytic sites of LPL and HL are critical for the interaction with lipid substrate (Dugi, K.A., Dichek, H.L., Talley, G.D., Brewer, H.B., Jr., and Santamarina-Fojo, S. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 25086-25091). To determine whether the lipase lid plays a role in conferring the different substrate specificities of HL and LPL, we have generated four chimeric lipases. Characterization of these chimeric enzymes using TG (triolein and tributyrin) or PL (dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) vesicles, DOPC proteoliposomes, and DOPC-mixed liposomes) substrates demonstrated marked differences between their relative PL/TG hydrolyzing activities. Chimeric LPL containing the lid of HL had reduced triolein hydrolyzing activity (49% of the wild type), but increased phospholipase activity in DOPC vesicle, DOPC proteoliposome, and DOPC-mixed liposome assay systems (443, 628, and 327% of wild-type LPL, respectively). In contrast, chimeric HL containing the LPL lid was more active against triolein (123% of the wild type) and less active against DOPC (23, 0, and 30%, respectively) than normal HL. Similar results were obtained when the lipase lids were exchanged in chimeric enzymes containing the NH2-terminal end of LPL and the COOH-terminal domain of HL. Exchange of the LPL and HL lids resulted in a reversal of the phospholipase/neutral lipase ratio, establishing the important role of this region in mediating substrate specificity. In summary, the lid covering the catalytic domains in LPL and HL plays a crucial role in determining lipase substrate specificity. The lid of LPL confers preferential triglyceride hydrolysis, whereas the lid of HL augments phospholipase activity. This study provides new insight into the structural basis for the observed in vivo differences in LPL and HL function.
The city of Ames, Iowa, refuse-derived fuel transport, storage, and retrieval system: Operation and cost analysis

Abstract This paper presents one year's (June 1976–May 1977) operational and economic information in the refuse-derived fuel pneumatic transport and storage subsystems of the Ames, Iowa, solid waste recovery system. A review of the system design is also included. Resultant average cost per unit mass is $8.60/Mg, of which 63% is capital, 16% is labor and the remainder is electrical energy and repair.
INSIDER TRADING: THE CASE AGAINST THE “VICTIMLESS CRIME” HYPOTHESIS

This paper challenges the long held hypothesis that insider trading is a victimless crime. Using utility maximization analysis, the author examines both the good news and bad news cases. Injury is demonstrated. Separability of the insider's trade from the insider's information monopoly is also examined utilizing the generally accepted market structure analysis. Separability is rejected.
Clinical challenges presented by three simultaneous solid tumors.

Abstract Background. Simultaneous tumors are rare, and their management can be challenging. The simultaneous presentation of cervical carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, and appendiceal carcinoma has not been previously described. Case. A 57-year-old woman presented with cervical cancer. During her workup, she was diagnosed with mucinous appendiceal carcinoma and clear cell carcinoma of the kidney. One year following surgery, she remains without evidence of disease and with continually improving nutritional status. Conclusion. When simultaneous tumors are diagnosed, optimal care requires the creative expertise of a multidisciplinary team. Standard sequential therapies may be problematic in patients undergoing major surgery to treat another primary tumor, and sequential treatment delays rather than combining therapies can jeopardize cure. Treatment planning should utilize a coordinated multidisciplinary approach.
Mesozoic evolution, hinterland of the Sevier orogenic belt

West of the Mesozoic foreland Sevier orogenic belt in northern Utah and southern Idaho, a regional detachment of inferred mid-Jurassic age occurs in Upper Mississippian shale and can be traced westward to the margin of the coeval magmatic arc, represented by spaced calc-alkalic intrusions. The detachment may be the oldest and structurally highest intrusions. The detachment may be the oldest and structurally highest thrust of the Idaho-Wyoming thrust belt. If so, it bridges the apparent spatial and temporal gap between magmatism and thrusting, thus suggesting a direct genetic link. Thin-skinned deformation is interpreted here to be driven from the heated magmatic arc toward the colder craton by lateral tectonic compression created by lateral volume increase due to intrusion, elevated crustal geotherms, and possible thickening in the arc. The metamorphic complexes occur at the crustal interface between these two thermal-tectonic regimes and may themselves be allochthonous.
Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone.

A review of over 400 primary bone tumors yielded 11 lesions with features allowing classification as malignant fibrous histiocytoma on a purely histological basis. Correlation with roentgenograms and clinical data indicated that these tumors occurred as osteolytic lesions associated with a high incidence of pathologic fractures in the metaphyses of skeletally mature long bones. Nine patients developed pulmonary metastases and 3 developed lymph node metastases within 21 months following diagnosis. The average survival was 12 months in 6 of the 9 patients who had no secondary treatment of their metastases. Treatment of 3 patients with metastatic lesions with chemotherapy or radiotherapy has been clinically encouraging. Some evidence was obtained that either or both the histiocytic and fibroblastic component may metastasize. There is a need for biopsy of metastatic lesions and autopsy followup to more accurately assess the mode of spread and histologic type of the metastases.
Effect of the smectic-A temperature range on the behavior of the smectic-A-smectic-C (or -chiral-smectic-C) transition.

First we demonstrate that the extended mean-field model suggested by Huang and Viner is necessary and sufficient to describe the nature of the smectic-A\char21{}smectic-C (or \char21{}chiral-smectic-C) transition. The rest of the expansion terms in the mean-field free energy can be treated as higher-order correction terms. Then a general scheme is proposed to normalize the smectic-C (or chiral smectic-C) order parameter. As a result, the mean-field coefficients near the smectic-A\char21{}smectic-C (or \char21{}chiral-smectic-C) transition are found to vary systematically with the size of the smectic-A temperature range for all single-component liquid-crystal compounds with smectic-A\char21{}smectic-C (or \char21{}chiral-smectic-C) transition.
Resonance-shifting to circumvent reabsorption loss in luminescent solar concentrators

Re-absorption losses in luminescent solar concentrators cause concentration performances to be around ten times less than the ideal value. Researchers have now reduced re-absorption by forcing the emission in one region to be off-resonant with the other regions, achieving a two-fold enhancement in concentration performance over conventional devices.
Unimorph PZT Cymbal Design in Energy Harvesting

This paper presents power generation performance of unimorph PZT (lead zirconate titanate) cymbal harvesters optimally designed for the power requirements of a specific application. Proof-of-concept work has shown that the traditional cymbal design can be adapted to a new design that is capable of sustaining higher mechanical loads by replacing the piezoelectric plate with a unimorph circular piezoelectric diaphragm between the metal end caps. The unimorph circular diaphragm is constructed by bonding PZT to a steel substrate to provide increased strength. Additional work was performed to prepare the new cymbal design for large-scale implementation in a variety of applications. The parameters that affect energy harvesting performance for the cymbal structure are first optimized by parametric studies to produce optimum generated energy from a specific range of applied cyclic forces. Key parameters in the unimorph PZT cymbal design include the material properties and the dimensions of the end caps, the ratios of the diameters of the unimorph disc and the end cap cavity, and thickness ratio of the PZT layer and the substrate. Based on the optimized unimorph PZT cymbal structure, a specimen was then fabricated and tested on the load-frame to validate analytically predicted energy generating performance. The specimen was tested under a 1 Hz cyclic load of up to 2,100 N. The measured open circuit output voltages for two different load inputs were in accordance with the analytical prediction.Copyright © 2011 by ASME