cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automated analysis of instructional text

Abstract The development of a capability for automated processing of natural language text is a long-range goal of artificial intelligence. This paper discusses an investigation into the issues involved in the comprehension of descriptive, as opposed to illustrative, textual material. The comprehension process is viewed as the conversion of knowledge from one representation into another. The proposed target representation consists of statements of the prolog language, which can be interpreted both declaratively and procedurally, much like production rules. A computer program has been written to model in detail some ideas about this process. The program successfully analyzes several heavily edited paragraphs adapted from an elementary textbook on programming, automatically synthesizing as a result of the analysis a working prolog program which, when executed, can parse and interpret LET commands in the basic language. The paper discusses the motivations and philosophy of the project, the many kinds of prerequisite knowledge which are necessary, and the structure of the text analysis program. A sentence-by-sentence account of the analysis of the sample text is presented, describing the syntactic and semantic processing which is involved. The paper closes with a discussion of lessons learned from the project, possible alternative approaches, and possible extensions for future work. The entire project is presented as illustrative of the nature and complexity of the text analysis process, rather than as providing definitive or optimal solutions to any aspects of the task.
Aqueous flux measurements at the Bush Hill hydrate mound, Gulf of Mexico

As part of a collaborative and multidisciplinary project between Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Georgia Tech, and Rice, we deployed seven Scripps CAT meters (Tryon et al., 2001) in the Bush Hill hydrate mound area of the Gulf of Mexico. Our purpose was to (1) provide quantitative measurements to enhance the physical and chemical framework for assisted biological findings from the NSF-Life in Extreme Environments (LExEN) program, (2) produce standalone quantitative constraints to refine the relationships of fluxes and flux pathways to dynamics of gas hydrate reservoirs, and (3) yield site survey data for proposed ODP gas hydrates-related drilling (Kennicutt, GERG-TAMU, lead proponent). The results serve to warn us that simple models of gas, fluid and energy transport are not applicable to many gas hydrate environments. High degrees of spatial and temporal variability may be the norm in the shallow gas hydrate environment. Only through long-term measurements over a significant spatial extent will we be able to adequately constrain these models.
Local population density and the activation of movement in migratory band-forming Mormon crickets

The Mormon cricket, Anabrus simplex (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), is a flightless katydid that undergoes major outbreaks in western North America. Under outbreak conditions, Mormon crickets often form large cohesive migratory bands that can contain millions of individuals moving in unison across the landscape. Density-dependent phase polyphenism has been hypothesized as a behavioural mechanism underlying Mormon cricket band formation and movement based largely on the similarity between bands of Mormon crickets and those of migratory locusts. I tested this hypothesis by quantifying the effects of long-term differences in rearing density versus the short-term presence or absence of conspecifics on Mormon cricket movement behaviour across three different developmental stages. Rearing density and the presence of conspecifics both influenced Mormon cricket movement, but in distinctly different ways. Increases in the expression of walking-related behaviours were mainly induced by the short-term presence of conspecifics. The longer-term effects of high rearing density primarily influenced only turning-related behaviours. Developmental variation in activity levels was observed and indicates that developmental stage should be an important consideration in future analyses of Mormon cricket movement. Overall, these results suggest that interindividual interactions play a greater role in inducing the movement of migratory band-forming Mormon crickets than do endogenous behavioural-phase changes mediated by high local rearing density.
Symbiosis and Insect Diversification: an Ancient Symbiont of Sap-Feeding Insects from the Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidetes

Several insect groups have obligate, vertically transmitted bacterial symbionts that provision hosts with nutrients that are limiting in the diet. Some of these bacteria have been shown to descend from ancient infections. Here we show that the large group of related insects including cicadas, leafhoppers, treehoppers, spittlebugs, and planthoppers host a distinct clade of bacterial symbionts. This newly described symbiont lineage belongs to the phylum Bacteroidetes. Analyses of 16S rRNA genes indicate that the symbiont phylogeny is completely congruent with the phylogeny of insect hosts as currently known. These results support the ancient acquisition of a symbiont by a shared ancestor of these insects, dating the original infection to at least 260 million years ago. As visualized in a species of spittlebug (Cercopoidea) and in a species of sharpshooter (Cicadellinae), the symbionts have extraordinarily large cells with an elongate shape, often more than 30 μm in length; in situ hybridizations verify that these correspond to the phylum Bacteroidetes. “Candidatus Sulcia muelleri” is proposed as the name of the new symbiont.
Regulation of axonemal Mg2+-ATPase from Paramecium cilia: effects of Ca2+ and cyclic nucleotides.

Abstract Ciliary activity is regulated by Ca2+ and cyclic nucleotides, but the molecular mechanisms of the regulation are unknown. We have tested the ability of Ca2+ and cyclic nucleotides to alter ciliary Mg2+-ATPase or to stimulate phosphorylation of axonemal dynein. Mg2+-ATPase activity in cilia and axonemes from Paramecium was stimulated 2-fold by micromolar Ca+, but this Ca2+ sensitivity was lost upon solubilization of the dyneins from the axoneme. The Ca2+-sensitive component of ciliary Mg2+-ATPase activity was inhibited by the dynein inhibitors vanadate and Zn2+, but was insensitive to the calmodulin antagonists calmidazolium and melittin. Dynein activity in the high-salt extract from axonemes was also insenstive to calmidazolium. Calmodulin did not sediment with 22 S or 12 S dyneins on sucrose gradients containing Ca2+, but it did sediment in the region from 19 S to 14 S. Mg2+-ATPase activity in ciliary fractions was unaltered in the presence of cAMP or cGMP. However, polypeptides associated with the 22 S and 12 S dyneins, as well as proteins of 19 S, 15 S, and 8 S, were substrates for endogenous ciliary kinases. High molecular weight polypeptides that sedimented at 22 S and 19 S were phosphorylated in a cyclic nucleo-stimulated manner.
The Role of the Laboratory in Undergraduate Engineering Education

The function of the engineering profession is to manipulate materials, energy, and information, thereby creating benefit for humankind. To do this successfully, engineers must have a knowledge of nature that goes beyond mere theory—knowledge that is traditionally gained in educational laboratories. Over the years, however, the nature of these laboratories has changed. This paper describes the history of some of these changes and explores in some depth a few of the major factors influencing laboratories today. In particular, the paper considers the lack of coherent learning objectives for laboratories and how this lack has limited the effectiveness of laboratories and hampered meaningful research in the area. A list of fundamental objectives is presented along with suggestions for possible future research.
The temporalis muscle

Abstract The term temporal fascia is a misnomer for the temporal aponeurosis. The entire outer half of the muscle attaches to this aponeurosis. A temporal subaponeurotic surgical space does not exist. A collection of pus in the so-called space is really a purulent temporal myositis. From anatomic evidence the temporal muscle is capable of lifting the coronoid process some 15 mm. and retracting it 7 or 8 mm. The subaponeurotic elevation of zygomatic fractures invades the temporal muscle. This need not be serious. The temporal lines, superior and inferior, are muscular eminences which carry the pull of the outer half of the temporal muscle.
Integrin Alpha 7 Interacts with High Temperature Requirement A2 (HtrA2) to Induce Prostate Cancer Cell Death

Integrins are a family of receptors for extracellular matrix proteins that have critical roles in human tissue development. Previous studies identified down-regulation and/or mutations of integrin α7 (ITGA7) in prostate cancer, liver cancer, soft tissue leiomyosarcoma, and glioblastoma multiforme. Here we report that expression of ITGA7 induced apoptosis in the human prostate cancer cell lines PC3 and DU145. Yeast two-hybrid analysis revealed that the C-terminus of ITGA7 interacts with high temperature requirement A2 (HtrA2), a serine protease with a critical role in apoptosis. Expression of ITGA7 increases the protease activity of HtrA2 both in vitro and in vivo. Deletion of the HtrA2 interaction domain abrogates the cell death activity of ITGA7, whereas down-regulation of HtrA2 dramatically reduced cell death mediated by ITGA7. In addition, site-directed protease-null mutant HtrA2S306A expression blocked apoptosis induced by ITGA7. Interestingly, interaction between ITGA7 and its ligand laminin 2 appears to protect against cell death, since depleting laminin β2 with a small-interfering RNA significantly exacerbated apoptosis induced by ITGA7 expression. This report provides a novel insight into the mechanism by which ITGA7 acts as a tumor suppressor.
The effect of contemporaneous reserve accounting on the market for federal funds

Abstract This paper evaluates the effect of the transition from lagged to contemporaneous reserve accounting for the determination of bank reserve requirements through its impact on the market for Federal funds. The results indicate that increased target reserve uncertainty resulting from the implementation of the contemporaneous reserve accounting system (CRA) caused an initial increase in intraday Federal funds rate variance and daily interest rate differences. However, subsequent to a ‘learning’ period, intraday variance appears to be less pronounced and daily differentials appear to be narrower than under the previously used lagged reserve accounting system (LRA). These results are attributed to the lengthening of the accounting period from one to two weeks. Therefore, while not costless, the new system does not appear to have seriously disrupted the Federal funds market.
Two identical active X chromosomes in human mammary carcinoma cells.

Chromosome G-banding analysis of two human mammary carcinoma cell lines, Elco and MCF-7, showed the existence of two X chromosomes in both cell lines. To determine the state of activity of the X chromosomes, a methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease, HpaII, was used to distinguish the active X from the hypermethylated, inactive X chromosome with a probe for the phosphogalactokinase locus by Southern blot hybridization. DNA digested with the restriction enzymes PstI and BstXI showed a band at either 1.05 or 0.9 kilobases. After HpaII digestion, a 50% reduction in intensity was observed in the female controls, whereas total reduction of the band was observed for the tumor cell lines and the male control. This indicates the absence of an inactive X and the presence of only active X chromosomes in the mammary carcinoma cell lines and the male control. To investigate the mechanisms involved in the alteration of the X chromosome composition and activity, restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses of seven additional X chromosome markers (L1.28, DX13, p52A, pX65H7, L782, pA13.RI, and pXG-12) were performed on the DNA isolated from the tumor cells and controls. Heterozygosity for at least one of the seven markers was detected in the six female controls whereas only homozygosity was detected for each marker in the tumor cell lines and the male control. These results indicate that the two active X chromosomes identified in each of the two tumor cell lines are identical, resulting from duplication or nondisjunction of the active X and loss of the inactive X chromosome.
Hydrogeologic facies models to delineate large-scale spatial trends in glacial and glaciofluvial sediments

Recent interest in contaminant transport in ground water has led hydrogeologists to the conclusion that predicting the movement of solutes requires information on the distribution of spatial trends and heterogeneities in porous media. Description of spatial trends has long been of interest to sedimentologists who have produced a large body of geologic information on the subject. In this paper, facies models are used to construct conceptual models of hydrogeologic facies for glacialmeltwater-stream sediment and till. These hydrogeologic facies models, which delineate large-scale trends in heterogeneity, are appropriate for use in designing hydrogeologic field tests and for estimating input to regional ground-water flow and transport models. This paper treats each facies as a homogeneous, anisotropic hydrogeologic unit. The models presented herein conceptualize the hydrogeologic relationships among facies and illustrate one method of converting the apparent chaos in nature into an orderly system that can be tested scientifically and modeled mathematically. The principles used to create conceptual models of hydrogeologic facies for the types of sediment considered in this paper can be extended to other sedimentary environments. It should be recognized, however, that such models do not address the small-scale heterogeneity present within individual facies. Additional basic research is required to measure hydraulic conductivity variation within representative hydrogeologic facies and to develop statistical descriptions to represent the variations. Such detailed descriptions of hydraulic conductivity may be necessary to describe ground-water flow at a local scale for analysis of contaminant transport.
Innovations to speed treatment may be cost-effective for hip fracture: commentary on an article by Christopher J. Dy, MD, MSPH, et al.: "An economic evaluation of a systems-based strategy to expedite surgical treatment of hip fractures".

The paper “An Economic Evaluation of a Systems-Based Strategy to Expedite Surgical Treatment of Hip Fractures” by Dy et al. is a cost-effectiveness analysis of two systems-based strategies to expedite surgical repair of hip fractures. Reading a cost-effectiveness analysis may seem foreign to many JBJS readers. These analyses are based on models that include probabilities of outcomes derived from systematic literature reviews, utilities based on qualitative surveys of the value that patients place on various health states, and cost estimates based on economic data. These studies involve a whole new vocabulary: QALYs (quality-adjusted life years), Monte Carlo simulation, sensitivity analysis, ICER (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio), utilities, and time trade-off. It is easy for an orthopaedic surgeon to skip over this article, saying, “I don't understand the methodology,” “It's an abstract model,” or “I'm not a health care economist.” However, economic analyses in orthopaedic surgery have never been more important. Contemporary forces in medicine have driven economic analyses to the foreground. The federal government, state governments, and insurers are analyzing cost-effectiveness data to determine how to “ration” limited resources. Hospitals and medical groups are trying to limit costs yet still provide effective care. Quality and safety initiatives are being implemented from all directions. Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are looming on the horizon. There can be an inherent mistrust of decision analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis among clinicians who mistrust the modeling process and also among those who view these techniques as a means to reduce costs, impinge on physician autonomy, corrupt the doctor-patient relationship, and compromise individualized patient care. In fact, the goal of decision analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis is to optimize …
Earth's orbital eccentricity and the rhythm of the Pleistocene ice ages: the concealed pacemaker

Abstract Most paleoclimate researchers would probably agree that variations in Earth's axial tilt and precession parameters have influenced past climate change. However, claims of connections between orbital eccentricity and ice age climate are more difficult to demonstrate or accept, especially since the amplitude of the strongest component of eccentricity-induced insolation, the 413-ky signal, is conspicuously small or absent from the power spectra of the last million years of paleoclimate data, and climate models without external forcing can easily reproduce the main ∼100-ky cycles of the late Pleistocene and Holocene. Here I show that it is possible to tease out the 413-ky component of eccentricity directly from orbitally untuned deep-sea δ18O time series, and that the signal is strong, albeit buried deep in the δ18O time series, concealed by frequency modulation (FM). To extract the 413-ky signal, the data is frequency and phase demodulated numerically, while synthetic surrogate time series with properties believed similar to the actual data are used to test the nature of the modulator and the accuracy of each step in the inversion.
Study of Radar Detector Use on Georgia Highways

Police radar is known to have an effect on the speed of drivers. This effect derives from the presence of vehicles equipped with radar detectors in the traffic stream. The most common method for determining radar detector use is visual examination of the traffic stream. Other methods employ specially developed receivers, often called radar detector detectors. As a response to the development of such a radar detector detector, radar detector manufacturers inserted countermeasures in their designs with the objective of avoiding their detection. Presented is the Georgia Institute of Technology Research Institute radar detector detector, which was developed by using advanced surveillance technology and handles the countermeasures of current radar detectors. This system was used to determine radar detector densities at three sites (rural two-lane road, four-lane state route, and six-lane Interstate) around the Atlanta, Georgia, metro area. The data collected were analyzed and compared against commonly used sta...
Flash Sterilization Revisited

Flash sterilization has a place in the operative suite. However, for flash sterilization to be used appropriately, effectively, and safely, suitable tools need to be developed and consistently applied. Furthermore, oversight of flash sterilization needs to be maintained through strict monitoring, comprehensive policies, and well-understood procedures. To address identified problems, the use of interdisciplinary teams is usually the best approach. In this arena of patient safety, one must continue to be vigilant and practice safely.
Dynamics of supervision

This chapter introduces research and resources that can support supervisors in working with employees during challenging financial times. The author provides a broad overview of issues that are influencing the higher education and current environment for supervisors.
Fluctuations in central and peripheral temperatures induced by intravenous nicotine: central and peripheral contributions.

Nicotine (NIC) is a highly addictive substance that interacts with different subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems. While the direct action of NIC on central neurons appears to be essential for its reinforcing properties, the role of peripheral actions of this drug remains a matter of controversy. In this study, we examined changes in locomotor activity and temperature fluctuations in the brain (nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area), temporal muscle, and skin induced by intravenous (iv) NIC at low human-relevant doses (10 and 30 μg/kg) in freely moving rats. These effects were compared to those induced by social interaction, an arousing procedure that induces behavioral activation and temperature responses via pure neural mechanisms, and iv injections of a peripherally acting NIC analog, NIC pyrrolidine methiodide (NIC-PM) used at equimolar doses. We found that NIC at 30 μg/kg induces a modest locomotor activation, rapid and strong decrease in skin temperature, and weak increases in brain and muscle temperature. While these effects were qualitatively similar to those induced by social interaction, they were much weaker and showed a tendency to increase with repeated drug administrations. In contrast, NIC-PM did not affect locomotion and induced much weaker than NIC increases in brain and muscle temperatures and decreases in skin temperature; these effects showed a tendency to be weaker with repeated drug administrations. Our data indicate that NIC's actions in the brain are essential to induce locomotor activation and brain and body hyperthermic responses. However, rapid peripheral action of NIC on sensory afferents could be an important factor in triggering its central effects, contributing to neural and physiological activation following repeated drug use.
Cue enhancement as a function of task set

The hypothesis was tested that the intention to use a particular cue relation would enhance the effectiveness of that particular cue in determining the resulting perception. For this purpose, a situation was presented in which the apparent depth position of an object in a configuration of objects would differ depending upon which of two possible cue relations (size cues) were used. The results support the conclusion that the perceived depth position of the object differed in the expected directions as a function of the task set. The data of the study are discussed with respect to the “adjacency principle” which states that cue efficiency is determined by the relative adjacency of objects between which the cues occur. Although the effect of cue set upon the perception seems to be small compared with that of adjacency, it cannot completely be ignored.
Percutaneous brachial catheterization: the hidden hazard of high brachial artery bifurcation

We describe a patient in whom a brachial arterial cutdown done at the same site for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty immediately after uncomplicated percutaneous brachial coronary arteriography revealed the percutaneous sheath in a deeper, smaller, and more lateral artery than the brachial artery, complicating placement of the guiding catheter. This case illustrates the potential hidden hazard of normal brachial artery bifurcation variants, which may be responsible for some of the potential complications encountered in percutaneous brachial artery catheterization techniques.
Propranolol: The preferred palliation for tetralogy of fallot☆

Abstract The records of 35 infants with tetralogy of Fallot who received propranolol as palliative treatment to prevent hypoxemic spells were reviewed to examine the effectiveness and safety of this treatment. Propranolol was successful in eliminating spells for at least 3 months in 28 (80 percent) of the patients. Patients in whom the drug failed received a significantly smaller daily dose (1.2 versus 2.6 mg/kg, p Cineangiograms of all patients were reviewed to determine if drug success or failure could be related to anatomy of the right ventricular infundibulum, main pulmonary artery or branch pulmonary arteries. There were no significant differences except that the diameter of the proximal right pulmonary artery was smaller in patients in whom treatment with propranolol failed but, even in this measurement, there was overlap between the two groups. Patients in whom propranolol therapy was successful had a delay in operation by a mean of 13.1 months. The only toxic effect was congestive heart failure, which occurred in one patient at a dose of 4.0 mg/kg per day. Intracardiac repair was performed in 16 patients who were receiving propranolol, which was administered up to the morning of operation. There were two operative deaths, neither related to the use of propranolol. It is concluded that (1) propranolol was effective in preventing hypoxemic spells in 80 percent of infants with tetralogy of Fallot. (2) Its effectiveness might have been greater had larger doses been administered. (3) When effective, propranolol delayed surgical intervention by an average of 13 months. (4) Propranolol did not affect surgical mortality of intracardiac repair. Treatment with propranolol (2 to 6 mg/kg per day) is recommended for all small infants with hypoxemic spells due to tetralogy of Fallot.
Recent Advances in the Treatment of Heart Failure

Treatment strategies for patients with heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction continue to evolve as the complex pathophysiology of this disease is better understood. A number of advances have been made in recent years, most notably the addition of β-receptor antagonists. In addition, recent studies have provided important information regarding the utility of angiotensin receptor antagonists, aldosterone receptor antagonists, and natriuretic peptides in the management of heart failure. Nonpharmacologic advances include resynchronization therapy, which appears to confer symptomatic improvement in some patients, and improvements in ventricular assist device technology. As the importance of neurohormonal activation in the progression of heart failure becomes increasingly apparent, new therapeutic strategies targeting these neurohormonal systems are being investigated. (Circ J 2002; 66: 117 - 121)
The effect of temperature on the stability of Nujol-water emulsions

Abstract The rate of separation of oil from Nujol-water emulsions stabilized with sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPyCl), Tween 20 or Triton X-100 was determined over the temperature range from 5 to 30°C in an ultracentrifuge at 39,460 rpm. The emulsions were all found to be less stable at the higher temperatures, but the change in stability with temperature was such as to suggest that it is not caused primarily by changes of the viscosity with temperature. The results with SDS could be fitted to a zero-order rate expression, leading to a calculated activation energy of 9.0 kcal, but the rate of loss of oil by the other emulsions conformed to no simple rate law.
Agglutination of Plant Protoplasts by Fungal Cell Wall Glucans

Glucans, called elicitors, isolated from cell walls of Phytophthora infestans, caused rapid agglutination and death of protoplasts isolated from potato leaf tissue. Cells incubated with high concentrations of elicitor were rapidly killed, but did not agglutinate. Agglutination and cell death did not occur with any of several commercial polysaccharides including laminarin, but laminarin did inhibit elicitor-mediated agglutination. The results are consistent with the existence of specific elicitor receptor sites on the outer surface of potato leaf plasma membranes.
Riverine movements of hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) upon return as adults

Hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon returning as adults to Maine's Penobscot River drainage basin were tagged with radio transmitters to permit long-term observation of their movements. Locations of salmon carrying small stomachemplaced transmitters were periodically determined primarily from an airplane; canoes and road vehicles were also used. Objectives were to determine the patterns, routes and rates of salmon movement; to assess the effect of dams on the migration; and to compare the behavior of salmon that had been imprinted as smolts to headwaters with that of salmon released as smolts near the head of tide.
Catecholaminergic activity of the baroreceptor areas of the brain in response to bilateral dorsolateral transection of medulla oblongata in rats.

Abstract Central catecholaminergic activity was studied by measurement of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (EPI), their metabolites: total 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol in brain nuclei in response to bilateral dorsomedullary knife-cut (DMK-cut) in rats. In saline-pretreated conscious rats DMK-cut caused a marked hypertension, tachycardia and increases in plasma NE, EPI and vasopressin. Chlorisondamine (CHL) prevented the rise in plasma catecholamines and the tachycardia but failed to prevent the hypertension and the increment in plasma vasopressin. DMK-cut decreased NE and EPI in the nucleus tractus solitari (NTS) and A2 area; there were no catecholamine changes in A1 area or the periventricular nucleus but an increase in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), the latter effect reversed by CHL, CHL alone or combined with DMK-cut had no effect on catecholamine concentrations in NTS-A2 area but lowered MHPG content. It is suggested that DMK-cut decreases the activity of the catecholaminergic system originating in A1 and terminating in PVN, where it causes catecholamine accumulation and may be involved in vasopressin release and thereby contribute to hypertension. In NTS-A2 area, however, the DMK-cut appears to increase catecholaminergic activity since catecholamines are depleted. Central effects of DMK-cut differ from those of ganglionic blockade-induced inhibition of the baroflex presumably due to sectioning of other pathways in addition to the primary baroreceptor input.
Beyond the crystallization paradigm: Structure determination from diffraction patterns from ensembles of randomly oriented particles

We amplify on the principles of the method we have recently proposed for recovering an oversampled diffraction pattern of a single particle from measured diffraction patterns from multiple particles in orientations related by rotation about an axis parallel to the incident radiation. We propose an alternative method of phasing a reference resolution ring by means of a non-negativity constraint on the diffraction intensities, point out the need for caution about enantiomeric ambiguities in the reconstruction of a diffraction pattern from its angular correlations, and show that converged correlations may be deduced by appropriate averaging of even very noisy data.
Dietary energy availability affects primary and metastatic breast cancer and metformin efficacy

Dietary energy restriction has been shown to repress both mammary tumorigenesis and aggressive mammary tumor growth in animal studies. Metformin, a caloric restriction mimetic, has a long history of safe use as an insulin sensitizer in diabetics and has been shown to reduce cancer incidence and cancer-related mortality in humans. To determine the potential impact of dietary energy availability and metformin therapy on aggressive breast tumor growth and metastasis, an orthotopic syngeneic model using triple negative 66cl4 tumor cells in Balb/c mice was employed. The effect of dietary restriction, a standard maintenance diet or a diet with high levels of free sugar, were tested for their effects on tumor growth and secondary metastases to the lung. Metformin therapy with the various diets indicated that metformin can be highly effective at suppressing systemic metabolic biomarkers such as IGF-1, insulin and glucose, especially in the high energy diet treated animals. Long-term metformin treatment demonstrated moderate yet significant effects on primary tumor growth, most significantly in conjunction with the high energy diet. When compared to the control diet, the high energy diet promoted tumor growth, expression of the inflammatory adipokines leptin and resistin, induced lung priming by bone marrow-derived myeloid cells and promoted metastatic potential. Metformin had no effect on adipokine expression or the development of lung metastases with the standard or the high energy diet. These data indicate that metformin may have tumor suppressing activity where a metabolic phenotype of high fuel intake, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes exist, but may have little or no effect on events controlling the metastatic niche driven by proinflammatory events.
Beer: An Ancient Yet Modern Biotechnology

The brewing of beer is a complex process that draws on a diversity of sciences and technology, of which chemistry is but one. This paper focuses on the chemistry of the brewing process and of the finished product. It examines each of the main classes of molecule found in beer, considers their contribution to quality and their origins in the brewing process. The study of beer and its production provides an excellent illustrative example for teaching how raw materials and the manner by which they are processed determine the acceptability of a product. Beer, whilst 90%+ water, contains a wide range of chemical species which establish its properties. Apart from ethanol (the common denominator amongst all alcoholic beverages), beer contains substances that determine its flavor, foam, and color. The flavorsome components of beer include the bitter iso-a-acids and aromatic essential oils from hops, along with esters, acids, sulfur-containing compounds and vicinal diketones from yeast. The foaminess of beer depends on the presence of carbon dioxide but also of surface-active materials like amphipathic polypeptides from malt and the bitter substances from hops. The color is due to Maillard reaction products generated largely during the kilning of malt. The malting and brewing processes (which are briefly described) are designed to maximize the extraction and digestion of barley starch and protein, yielding highly fermentable wort. The processes are also designed to eliminate materials that can have an adverse effect on beer quality, such as the haze-forming polyphenol from barley and hops and the lipids and oxygen that, together, can cause beer to stale.
Hydrogen production in the conversion of 2-methylbutane over a series of acid catalysts

Abstract The production of hydrogen from the conversion of 2-methylbutane was studied over a series of acid catalysts in a recirculation reactor system. Conversion of 2-methylbutane over an amorphous silica–alumina catalyst and ZSM-5 zeolite resulted in significant amounts of hydrogen. This supports a carbonium ion mechanism with a penta-coordinated carbonium ion intermediate. The conversion of 2-methylbutane over the USY zeolite and sulfated zirconia did not result in hydrogen being produced thus supporting the bimolecular carbenium ion mechanism.
The effect of solute size on diffusive-dispersive transport in porous media

Abstract The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of solute size on diffusive-dispersive transport in porous media. Miscible displacement experiments were performed with tracers of various sizes (i.e. tritiated water ( 3 H 2 O), pentafluorobenzoate (PFBA), and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)) and a homogeneous, nonreactive sand for pore-water velocities varying by three orders of magnitude (70, 7, 0.66, and 0.06 cm h −1 ). Hydrodynamic dispersion is the predominant source of dispersion for higher pore-water velocities (exceeding 1 cm h −1 ), and dispersivity is, therefore, essentially independent of solute size. In this case, the practice of using a small-sized tracer, such as 3 H 2 O, to characterize the dispersive properties of a soil is valid. The contribution of axial diffusion becomes significant at pore-water velocities lower than 0.1 cm h −1 . At a given velocity below this value, the contribution of axial diffusion is larger for 3 H 2 O, with its larger coefficient of molecular diffusion, than it is for PFBA and 2,4-D. The apparent dispersivities are, therefore, a function of solute size. The use of a tracer-derived dispersivity for solutes of different sizes would not be valid in this case. For systems where diffusion is important, compounds such as PFBA are the preferred tracers for representing advective-dispersive transport of many organic contaminants of interest.
Tea Catechin Auto-oxidation Dimers are Accumulated and Retained by Caco-2 Human Intestinal Cells

Despite the presence of bioactive catechin B-ring auto-oxidation dimers in tea, little is known regarding their absorption in humans. Our hypothesis for this research is that catechin auto-oxidation dimers are present in teas and are absorbable by human intestinal epithelial cells. Dimers (theasinensins [THSNs] and P-2 analogs) were quantified in commercial teas by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. (-)-Epigallocatechin (EGC) and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) homodimers were present at 10 to 43 and 0 to 62 mumol/g leaf, respectively. The EGC-EGCG heterodimers were present at 0 to 79 mumol/g. The potential intestinal absorption of these dimers was assessed using Caco-2 intestinal cells. Catechin monomers and dimers were detected in cells exposed to media containing monomers and preformed dimers. Accumulation of dimers was significantly greater than monomers from test media. Three-hour accumulation of EGC and EGCG was 0.19% to 0.55% and 1.24% to 1.35%, respectively. Comparatively, 3-hour accumulation of the EGC P-2 analog and THSNs C/E was 0.89% +/- 0.28% and 1.53% +/- 0.36%, respectively. Accumulation of P-2 and THSNs A/D was 6.93% +/- 2.1% and 10.1% +/- 3.6%, respectively. The EGCG-EGC heterodimer P-2 analog and THSN B 3-hour accumulation was 4.87% +/- 2.2% and 4.65% +/- 2.8%, respectively. One-hour retention of P-2 and THSNs A/D was 171% +/- 22% and 29.6% +/- 9.3% of accumulated amount, respectively, suggesting intracellular oxidative conversion of THSNs to P-2. These data suggest that catechin dimers present in the gut lumen may be readily absorbed by intestinal epithelium.
COMMD1 interacts with the COOH terminus of NKCC1 in Calu-3 airway epithelial cells to modulate NKCC1 ubiquitination

Mice deficient in Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC1) have been generated by targeted disruption of the gene encoding NKCC1 involving the carboxy terminus (CT-NKCC1) but not the amino terminus. We hypothesize that the resulting physiological defects are due to loss of proteins interacting with CT-NKCC1. Using a yeast two-hybrid approach, adaptor protein COMMD1 was found to bind to CT-NKCC1 (aa 1,040–1,212). Binding was verified in a yeast-independent system using GST-COMMD1 and myc-CT-NKCC1. Truncated COMMD1 and CT-NKCC1 peptides were used in binding assays to identify the site of interaction. The results demonstrate concentration-dependent binding of COMMD1 (aa 1–47) to CT-NKCC1 (aa 1,040–1,134). Endogenous COMMD1 was detected in pull downs using recombinant FLAG-CT-NKCC1; this co-pull down was blocked by COMMD1 (aa 1–47). CT-NKCC1 (aa 1,040–1,137) decreased basolateral membrane expression of NKCC1, and COMMD1 (aa 1–47) increased NKCC1 membrane expression. Downregulation of COMMD1 using silencing (si)RNA led to a transient loss of endogenous COMMD1 but did not affect activation of NKCC1 by hyperosmotic sucrose. Hyperosmolarity caused a transient increase in NKCC1 membrane expression, indicating regulated trafficking of NKCC1; downregulation of COMMD1 using siRNA reduced baseline (unstimulated) NKCC1 expression and blunted a transient elevation in NKCC1 membrane expression caused by hyperosmolarity. Constitutive downregulation of COMMD1 in HT29 engineered cells exhibited loss of COMMD1 and decreased NKCC1 membrane expression with no effect on activation of NKCC1. Loss of COMMD1 in Calu-3 cells and in HT29 cells led to reduced ubiquitinated NKCC1. The results indicate a role for COMMD1 in the regulation of NKCC1 membrane expression and ubiquitination.
Perceptions About HIV and Condoms and Consistent Condom Use Among Male Clients of Commercial Sex Workers in the Philippines

Because consistent condom use is an effective strategy in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and HIV transmission, it is important to examine social cognitive influences of consistent condom use not only among female sex workers (FSWs) but also among their male clients, for whom less is known. Because little is known about how HIV knowledge and condom attitudes affect condom use among male clients of FSWs in the Philippines, the main objective was to determine what characteristics (age, education, HIV knowledge, marital status) as well as attributes taken from protection motivation theory (perceived vulnerability, perceived severity, response efficacy) are significantly associated with consistent condom use among male clients of FSWs. Logistic regression analyses showed that the odds of using condoms consistently with an FSW are 13% higher for those with more years of education (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03, 1.23), higher versus lower perception of severity of HIV/AIDS (AOR = 1.97; 95% CI = 1.04, 3.73), and had a higher score for response efficacy of condoms (AOR = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.27). Future HIV/AIDS prevention interventions that address condom use among male clients should promote educational attainment and focus on awareness of the enduring negative health consequences of acquiring HIV/AIDS, as well as cultivate positive attitudes toward the efficacy of condom use, using creative social marketing strategies.
Root carbon inputs to the rhizosphere stimulate extracellular enzyme activity and increase nitrogen availability in temperate forest soils

The exudation of carbon (C) by tree roots stimulates microbial activity and the production of extracellular enzymes in the rhizosphere. Here, we investigated whether the strength of rhizosphere processes differed between temperate forest trees that vary in soil organic matter (SOM) chemistry and associate with either ectomycorrhizal (ECM) or arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. We measured rates of root exudation, microbial and extracellular enzyme activity, and nitrogen (N) availability in samples of rhizosphere and bulk soil influenced by four temperate forest tree species (i.e., to estimate a rhizosphere effect). Although not significantly different between species, root exudation ranged from 0.36 to 1.10 g C m−2 day−1, representing a small but important transfer of C to rhizosphere microbes. The magnitude of the rhizosphere effects could not be easily characterized by mycorrhizal associations or SOM chemistry. Ash had the lowest rhizosphere effects and beech had the highest rhizosphere effects, representing one AM and one ECM species, respectively. Hemlock and sugar maple had equivalent rhizosphere effects on enzyme activity. However, the form of N produced in the rhizosphere varied with mycorrhizal association. Enhanced enzyme activity primarily increased amino acid availability in ECM rhizospheres and increased inorganic N availability in AM rhizospheres. These results show that the exudation of C by roots can enhance extracellular enzyme activity and soil-N cycling. This work suggests that global changes that alter belowground C allocation have the potential to impact the form and amount of N to support primary production in ECM and AM stands.
High performance PC architecture design

Exploring the advantages and disadvantages of chipset BGA packaging with routing and layout tips often proves beneficial in PC architecture design. A detailed discussion about typical high performance embedded PC design considerations, like the identification and prioritization of critical layout paths and associated layout guidelines, typically aides in the success of most high speed Pentium/sup (R)/ processor designs. Following these tried and true application suggestions should help to avoid most of the common pitfalls of designing high performance embedded Pentium/sup (R)/ processor systems.
Dignity and Indignation: How People Experiencing Homelessness View Services and Providers

This article examines how people experiencing homelessness view their interactions with service providers. Drawing on a database of more than 500 transcribed interviews with people experiencing homelessness we find that descriptions of interactions with staff and providers were predominantly expressed in sharply negative terms, with experiences of objectification and infantilization being commonplace. In response to these experiences, nearly all were angry, and many simply opted out of the social service system in order to maintain a sense of dignity and self-respect. We argue that these responses should not simply be analyzed as an individual psychological or cognitive response, but rather as a result of the power relations and social inequities in the provider-client relationship. This suggests that the perpetuation of homelessness is not internal to the homeless individual as many claim, but rather may be embedded in the service industry itself, which subjects both clients and providers to bureaucratic forms of authority and experiences of disrespect. These negative descriptions are juxtaposed with positive comments, which offer potential solutions from homeless individuals themselves. We conclude that qualitative research, in contrast to a reliance on statistics and best practice assessments, is an important tool in developing socially just policies and programs serving those in need.
Why is This Happening? A Causal Attribution Approach to Work Exhaustion Consequences

In an effort to clarify the literature on work exhaustion (or job burnout), the author integrates causal attribution research and the burnout and exhaustion literature to develop an attributional model of work exhaustion consequences. With this model the author suggests that individuals experiencing work exhaustion will not exhibit all of the job attitudes and behaviors found to correlate with exhaustion. Rather, individuals are likely to experience a subset of these, depending on their perceptions regarding the cause of exhaustion. The author also discusses implications and directions for future research.
Synthesis, characterization, and X-ray structural analysis of some half-sandwich ruthenium(II) arene complexes with new N,S-donor Schiff base ligands

Abstract A series of cationic, half-sandwich ruthenium complexes with the general formula [(η 6 -arene)RuCl(R 1 S-C 6 H 4 -2-CH NR 2 )] + (arene = p -cymene or hexamethylbenzene; R 1 = CH 2 Ph, i Pr, or Et; R 2 = aryl) have been prepared from the reaction of [(η 6 -arene)RuCl 2 ] 2 with various N,S-donor Schiff base ligands derived from 2-(alkylthio)benzaldehyde and several primary amines. All of the ruthenium complexes were characterized by IR, 1 H NMR, electrochemistry, and UV/Vis spectroscopies. The p -cymene complexes undergo irreversible oxidations while the hexamethylbenzene complexes undergo quasi-reversible oxidations. The molecular structures of ligand 1a and complexes 4a , 4l , and 5e were determined by X-ray crystallography.
A child with altered sensorium, hyperglycemia, and elevated troponins.

Abstract Background Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) are potentially life-threatening complications of diabetes mellitus. Although DKA and HHS share similar features, they are distinct clinical entities requiring different treatment measures. Objective This case illustrates that the clinical distinction between these two entities can be difficult at times, especially in children who can present with an overlapping picture. Case Report We report an interesting case of a 12-year-old whose initial presentation of diabetes was a mixed picture of hyperosmolar DKA and HHS coma complicated by myocardial strain and acute renal insufficiency. The myocardial strain resolved completely with resolution of the metabolic abnormalities. Conclusions Emergency physicians should be cognizant of varied presentations of hyperglycemic emergencies in children to initiate appropriate management for better outcomes.