cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel Therapies for Advanced Cervical Cancer

Abstract Cervical cancer is second only to breast and lung cancers as a cause of cancer-related mortality with approximately 529,800 new cases diagnosed annually worldwide and 275,100 deaths. During 2016, the American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 12,990 new cases and 4120 deaths in the United States. The median age at diagnosis is 47 years. The causative agent responsible for invasive cervical cancer and its precursor, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, is oncogenic subtypes of the human papillomavirus (HPV), with HPV 16 and HPV 18 being most common. HPV infection is a global epidemic and causes not only cervical cancer, but also carcinoma of the vulva, vagina, anus, penis, and oropharynx, as well as anogenital warts. In developed countries such as the United States, screening programs using cervical cytology with and without high-risk HPV DNA testing have resulted in a dramatic decrease in the incidence and mortality due to cervical cancer. Ultimately, widespread adoption of prophylactic HPV vaccination is expected to reduce incidence and mortality rates further. Until this can be accomplished, novel therapies will need to be studied in vulnerable populations of women with advanced disease.
Isolation of a chiral anthracene cation radical: X-ray crystallography and computational interrogation of its racemization

Chiral cation-radical salts hold significant promise as charge-transfer materials, chiroptical switches, and electron-transfer catalysts for enantioselective synthesis. Herein we demonstrate that the readily-available chiral 9,10-diphenyleanthracene derivative (i.e.SANT) forms a robust cation radical, whose structure was elucidated by X-ray crystallography and DFT calculations. While SANT was observed to racemize on a timescale (t1/2) of 1.1 hours, a computational conformational search and kinetic analysis of the racemization pathway led us to identify a simple methyl substituted SANT derivative, which does not racemize (racemization t1/2 1013–1017 years).
Neonatal Repair of Persistent Fifth Aortic Arch Coarctation and Interrupted Fourth Aortic Arch.

Persistent left fifth aortic arch is a rare anomaly often associated with aortic coarctation. We report the case of a newborn presenting with signs of duct-dependent aortic coarctation. Echocardiography showed an interrupted fourth aortic arch, persistent left fifth aortic arch associated with aortic coarctation, and a restrictive arterial duct. Arch repair was accomplished using the fifth aortic arch as an in situ flap to enlarge the hypoplastic fourth aortic arch associated with coarctectomy and extended end-to-end anastomosis. We believe that this newly reported surgical approach is safe and effective and allows for adequate enlargement of the entire fourth aortic arch.
A Theory of Event Possibility with Application to Vehicle Waypoint Navigation

A previous paper by the author introduced a procedure for computing the possibility of an event based on the notion of context, where the context of an event consists of prerequisites for the event to occur and constraints that may prevent it from occurring. It was proposed to compute the possibility of the event as a function of the probabilities that the prerequisites hold and the constraints do not. The function adopts the conventional rules of possibility theory, so the overall procedure involves a combination of probability and possibility. The present paper briefly recounts those ideas and provides an example application, this being a hypothetical case of navigating a car through city streets.
Women deans' perceptions of the gender gap in American medical deanships.

Background: Women account for 16% of deans of American medical schools. To investigate this gender gap, female deans were interviewed about the barriers facing women advancing toward deanships. Methods: The author conducted semi-structured interviews with eight women deans. Interviews were analyzed using provisional coding and sub coding techniques. Results: Four main themes emerged during the interviews: (1) the role of relationships in personal and career development, (2) leadership challenges, (3) barriers between women and leadership advancement, and (4) recommendations for improvement. Recommendations included allocating resources, mentorship, career flexibility, faculty development, updating the criteria for deanships, and restructuring search committees. Discussion: The barriers identified by the deans are similar to those found in previous studies on female faculty and department chairs, suggesting limited improvement in gender equity progress.
Transceiver cascade system analysis and design via a contribution method: Research Articles

An approach to the design of cascade receiver and transmitter systems for maximum spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) is introduced. The contribution method developed here provides a good initial assignment of noise figure, gain, and linearity requirement to individual stages and enables informed assessment of trade-offs during system design. Application of the approach to the design of a receiver preselector cascade for maximum SFDR is discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2006.
How can new media improve university research and instruction

Faculty and students at universities face a similar challenge. Rapidly advancing technologies require that everyone become a lifelong technology learner in their discipline. A National Academy of Sciences report recently this goal as fluency with information technology.2
Extra-curricular computing engagement, academic achievement, and income attainment: from youth to adulthood

Students' extra-curricular engagement with computing helps to recruit and to ease new students into formal studies of computing. Such engagement has also been found to impart cognitive benefits. It is becoming increasingly important for educators to deepen their understanding of whether and how such engagement may impact important life outcomes such as those concerning academics and careers. This exploratory study uses multi-decade longitudinal data from a large sample of respondents to investigate the impacts of two categories of extra-curricular computing engagement (computer club membership and computer gaming habits) on two key adulthood success indicators (educational achievement and income attainment). The results are unexpected. Youth computer club membership had no impact on adulthood educational achievement or income attainment. Lifelong computer gaming habits had no impact on adulthood income attainment. Contrary to what was expected, lifelong computer gaming habits had a negative impact on adulthood educational achievement.
A Portable Hearth in Great Expectations: Pip’s Search for Home in London

“A Portable Hearth in Great Expectations: Pip’s Search for Home in London” examines Charles Dickens’s uses of kitchen spaces to create and articulate Pip’s search for home, and thus himself. He doe...
Security Framework for Context Aware Mobile Web Services

Service-Oriented Computing (SOC) could be served as a good platform for the growth of Context Aware Mobile applications with the multi-functionality smart mobile devices. The other key drivers for the evolution of these location aware systems are ease-of-use, convenience, social interactions and anytime-anywhere availability. Additionally, the Context Aware Mobile Applications facilitates day-to-day activities such as search services, business, entertainment, advertising, marketing, shopping, ticket purchasing, payment and mobile banking live and smarter. These applications utilize services as fundamental elements that support rapid, low-cost, loosely connected and dynamic services in heterogeneous environment. Service Computing (SC) promises the development of a world of services with cheaper and agile distributed applications. Underneath the hype and publicity over these new technologies, the design specifications and the physical properties of the involving devices define the capabilities and limitations for many distributed enterprise computing applications.
Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Course on Chronic Disease to Enhance Critical Thinking in Health Promotion Undergraduate Students:

A key component of health promotion is disease prevention. Thus, providing students in a health promotion degree program with a foundation of knowledge on chronic disease is essential. While some h...
Model Predictive Control of Single-Phase Grid-Connected Voltage-Sourced Converters

This paper proposes model predictive control (MPC) of real and reactive power of a single-phase grid-connected voltage-sourced converter (VSC). MPC is proposed as an alternative to the conventional PWM control in the finite control set–based scheme. Compared to the conventional PWM control, the proposed MPC provides faster transient response and lower ripple in the steady-state response. It also provides overcurrent protection without using a separate protection device. The proposed finite control set–based model predictive control (FCS-MPC) uses a cost function minimization algorithm without using a modulator, which enables inclusion of other optimization criteria. The effectiveness of the proposed FCS-MPC structure is validated via real-time simulation case studies using OPAL-RT.
Adult transverse diagnosis and treatment: A case-based review

Abstract Problems in the transverse dimension can be challenging to manage, especially in adult patients. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of normal transverse jaw development, the etiology and diagnosis of transverse discrepancies, goals of adult transverse treatment, and treatment options for adult transverse discrepancies. Mirroring a seminar from your orthodontic residency, this article is written in question and answer format. We ask that you think through answers to the questions we present very carefully and make the best decisions you can, before you refer to the answers we provide. Like your orthodontic residency, you will find that certain principles are emphasized and applied time and time again to a spectrum of patients in this case-based article. These are the principles which have served us well over many years of teaching and treating adults in the transverse dimension.
Determination of interlaminar fracture toughness and fracture mode dependence of composites using the edge delamination test

Edge delamination testing has been conducted in order to determine the mixed mode interlaminar fracture toughness of unnotched (+, -35/0/90)s and (0/+, -35/90)s laminates with graphite fibers and epoxy matrices, with or without elastomer additives. Although the two stacking sequences were chosen so that the total strain energy release rates were equal, the percentages of crack opening and shear mode energy release rates were found to vary widely between the layups. Plots of interlaminar fracture toughness as a function of crack opening energy release rate percentage have been drawn to generate delamination failure criteria which reflect the observed fracture mode dependence.
Advanced Functional Imaging: fMRI, PET, and MEG

Functional imaging now encompasses many techniques including positron emission tomography (PET), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). These techniques alone or in combination are becoming standard of care for neurosurgical planning in many institutions. They allow quantitative metabolic and detailed temporal and anatomical information respectively to be incorporated into neurosurgical treatment planning. Functional imaging can reduce time required for intraoperative mapping, guide trajectories to access brain pathology, and in some cases eliminate the need for awake craniotomy altogether. Outside neurosurgery, functional imaging is informing treatments for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases and epilepsy to name a few. This chapter reviews the current clinical uses of PET, MEG, and fMRI and also discusses future directions for functional mapping in clinical practice.
Visual Fields and Imaging in Glaucoma

In recent decades, glaucoma diagnosis has evolved. Once defined as a disease of high intraocular pressure, current definitions of glaucoma instead focus on the disease as a primary disorder of the optic nerve, often, but not always, accompanied by elevated pressures. This evolution in the understanding of glaucomatous optic nerve disease has been a motivating factor behind the shift in glaucoma identification and progression. Both visual field and fundus disc imaging, which have been used for many years, have seen technological improvements which have enhanced glaucoma management, and the addition of objective, noninvasive, and rapid OCT testing has added greatly to the ability to accurately diagnose glaucoma in its earliest stages and to adequately assess the patient’s response to ongoing treatment.
Comentário sobre “Revisitando o Triunvirato lógica/dialética/retórica”, de Ralph Johnson

A analise de Johnson sobre o que ele chama de Visao do Triunvirato e a Distincao Tripartite que a acompanha suscita varias preocupacoes criticas que merecem revisao. Meu objetivo, neste comentario, e reconceptualizar a natureza de valor agregado do projeto original de Wenzel e sugerir onde pode estar sua maior utilidade.
Effect of virtual reality-simulated exercise on sympathovagal balance

Discovery of therapeutic avenues to provide the benefits of exercise to patients with enforced sedentary behavior patterns would be of transformative importance to health care. Work in model organisms has demonstrated that benefits of exercise can be provided to stationary animals by daily intermittent stimulation of adrenergic signaling. Here, we examine as a proof of principle whether exposure of human participants to virtual reality (VR) simulation of exercise can alter sympathovagal balance in stationary humans. In this study, 24 participants performed 15 minutes of cycling exercise at standardized resistance, then repeated the exercise with a virtual reality helmet that provided an immersive environment. On a separate day, they each controlled a virtual environment for 15 minutes to simulate exercise without actual cycling exercise. Response to each treatment was assessed by measuring heart rate (HR), norepinephrine, and heart rate variability, and each participant's response to virtual exercise was compared internally to his/her response to the actual cycling. We found that neither post-exercise norepinephrine nor post-exercise HR was significantly increased by VR simulation. However, heart rate variability measured during virtual exercise was comparable to actual cycling in participants that engaged in moderate exercise, but not in those that engaged in high-intensity exercise. These findings suggest that virtual exercise has the potential to mimic some effects of moderate exercise. Further work will be needed to examine the longitudinal effects of chronic exposure to VR-simulated exercise.
Seeds of change: A qualitative case study of a neighborhood youth program.

Even within economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, programs fostering protective factors can shape youth outcomes. One positive youth development (PYD) program- Seeds of Change-employs teenagers in an urban neighborhood in Ohio and uses goats and community gardens to promote adolescent development. The current study used semi-structured interviews with adolescents (N = 7, ages 16-20) to conduct a case study of the program. The case study describes youth's perceptions of the neighborhood, the program, and future directions; responses were analyzed using content analysis. Youth described that Seeds of Change enacts change on multiple levels of the social ecology by emphasizing individual growth, building a social support system with peers and adults, and increasing both tangible resources and positive relationships throughout the neighborhood. Seeds of Change promotes positive socialization, increases resources, and embodies multiple elements of effective PYD programming.
The Pandemic Defeated My CURE: Replacement with a Student Project of a Literature Review of the Syntheses of Small Molecule Drugs

Loss of 7 weeks of organic chemistry laboratory work, including 3–4 weeks that would have been used for a CURE, prompted the creation of a literature review project in which students investigated synthetic routes to drug molecules of molecular weight 180 g/mol or less. The students wrote a 5–10 page paper and then made videotaped presentations based on the report and feedback from the instructor on that report. The project appears to have succeeded in connecting organic synthesis to real-world applications and life sciences. While lacking the hands-on aspect of lab work, it gave the students experience in searching and reading the literature, writing, and delivering presentations.
Ya Basic: Examining the Duality of Minority-Serving Conference Experiences.

This paper aims to critically frame the successes and failings of scientific conferences designed for underrepresented undergraduate physics students as counterspaces in physics. The beginning of the paper outlines the necessity of these counterspaces’ existence as evidenced by the literature. We apply a critical lens to the experiences of minority students who have attended these conferences to examine the ways the events support their holistic identities or fail to do so.
The Shareholder Derivative Suit in Arkansas

The Arkansas authorities governing derivative claims deviate from the authorities governing direct claims to a greater extent than is necessary. Three statutes govern shareholder derivative suits in Arkansas: the 1965 Arkansas Business Corporation Act (the 1965 ABCA); Arkansas Rule of Civil Procedure 23.1 (Rule 23.1); and the 1987 Arkansas Business Corporation Act (1987 ABCA). While the statutes occasionally conflict with Rule 23.1, the general goal is to prevent “strike suits.” Further, the Arkansas Supreme Court’s interpretation of the authorities suggests conflicts will be resolved in favor of the Rule. These statutes provide procedural restrictions for shareholder derivative suits. There are a number of “shareholder demand requirements” that claimants must meet including a demand’s method, audience, and necessity. Under Rule 23.1, the claim may be challenged if it appears relevant interests are not represented. Questions of contemporaneous ownership and adequacy of representation should arise in motions to strike, dismiss, or grant summary judgment. Venue and jurisdiction must also be properly considered for a claim to succeed. Choosing to file a derivative suit requires filing in chancery rather than circuit court. If a claimant is successful, damages are often awarded to the corporation and in some cases to individual shareholders, though punitive damages are rare. In light of the complexity involved with litigating derivative claims and their distinctions from direct suits, Arkansas courts should reconsider whether these deviations are actually furthering the goals of derivative proceedings.
Clinical Experience of Cerebrospinal Fluid-Based Liquid Biopsy Demonstrates Superiority of Cell-Free DNA over Cell Pellet Genomic DNA for Molecular Profiling.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) offers unique opportunities for genomic profiling of tumors involving the central nervous system but remains uncommonly used in clinical practice. We describe our clinical experience using cfDNA from CSF for routine molecular testing using Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets (targeting 468 cancer-related genes). In all, 148 cfDNA samples were assessed, comparing results of cfDNA versus genomic DNA (gDNA; gDNA from cell pellets) derived from the same CSF sample and the primary tumor. Of these, 71.6% (106/148) were successfully sequenced. Somatic alterations (mutations and fusions) were observed in 70.8% (75/106) of the samples; 97.3% (73/75) comprised variants confirming central nervous system involvement by a previously diagnosed tumor, 14.7% (11/75) had additional variants consistent with a therapy-related resistance mechanism, and 2.7% (2/75) had variants that independently diagnosed a new primary. Among samples with paired cfDNA and gDNA sequencing results, cfDNA was more frequently positive for at least one mutation [43.6% (55/126) versus 19.8% (25/126)] and harbored 1.6× more mutations (6.94 versus 4.65; P = 0.005), with higher mean variant allele fractions (41.1% versus 13.0%; P
Distributed leadership and innovative teaching practices

Abstract The primary aim of this research was to understand the relationship between distributed leadership and teachers’ use of innovative teaching practices. Innovative practices such as increasing cognitive activation and enhanced curricular activities have shown to have significant positive effects on student outcomes (Le Donne et al., 2016). Based on internationally representative samples including 7,436 lower secondary school principals and 117,876 teachers from 34 countries surveyed in the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2013 data, this study analyzed the effect of distributed leadership on teachers’ use of these innovative teaching practices. The findings demonstrate that distributed leadership has a significant and positive impact on teachers’ use of innovative teaching practices. Conclusions, limitations, and recommendations for further research are discussed.
Maximum Likelihood Joint Tracking and Association in Strong Clutter

We have developed a maximum likelihood formulation for a joint detection, tracking and association problem. An efficient non-combinatorial algorithm for this problem is developed in case of strong clutter for radar data. By using an iterative procedure of the dynamic logic process "from vague-to-crisp" explained in the paper, the new tracker overcomes the combinatorial complexity of tracking in highly-cluttered scenarios and results in an orders-of-magnitude improvement in signal- to-clutter ratio.
Abstract 51: Access to Primary Stroke Centers for Older Adults and Implications for Travel Times, and Mortality

Background: Regionalization of care to primary stroke centers (PSC) may improve outcomes for stroke patients. We evaluated the current access of Medicare stroke patients to PSC, and its potential impact on mortality. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of a 100% sample of Medicare fee-for-service claims data for patients admitted with stroke in 2008-2009, with one-year follow-up through 2010. Population weighted centroids were created, helicopter pad locations were identified, and driving distances were calculated based on real road network data. Driving and flying speeds, dispatch, scene, and pre-hospital times were estimated using validated models, adjusted for population density. The association of 30-day mortality with travel times, and treatment at a PSC was investigated using multivariable regression models. Results: During the study period, 510,822 patients (mean age 79.6 years, 59.7% females) had a stroke. There was significant regional variation in our cohort, (Figure) with 8.6% of stroke patients having ground access to a PSC within 30 minutes, 14.9% from 30 to 45 minutes, 11.1% from 45 to 60 minutes, 43.9% from 1 to 4.5 hours, and 21.5% over 4.5 hours. The latter group could be limited to 0.1% of stroke patients, if existing helicopter services were used optimally. 164,485 (32.2%) patients received treatment in a PSC, and had modestly decreased mortality (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99). For this group, actual travel time to the PSC was not associated with mortality for patients within one hour of the PSC. On the contrary, travel times from 1 to 4.5 hours (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.08-1.22), and over 4.5 hours (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.29-1.54) were associated with increased mortality. Conclusions: There is significant regional variation in access to PSC for elderly stroke patients, with a potential impact on outcomes. Optimal use of helicopter services may address these disparities. Funding: NIH (P01-AG19783, and U01-AG046830-01). ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Structural analysis of nucleolar precursors of ribosomal ribonucleic acids. I. Isolation and characterization of the longest polypurine sequences of nucleolar 28 S ribonucleic acid and ribosomal 28 S ribonucleic acid of Novikoff hepatoma ascites cells.

Abstract For comparison of the oligonucleotides of highly labeled nucleolar and ribosomal 28 S RNA, the products of complete digestion with pancreatic RNase were separated by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 at pH 7.6. The peaks containing several nonanucleotides, decanucleotides, one undecanucleotide, and one tetradecanucleotide were well defined. To separate the individual oligonucleotides, they were rechromatographed on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 at pH 3.3. Sequence studies were carried out by complete digestions with T1 RNase and with alkali and partial digestion with spleen phosphodiesterase. Complete sequences were defined for the nonanucleotides A-A-A-A-G-G-A-A-Cp, A-G-A-G-G-A-A-A-Cp, and G-G-G-A-A-G-A-G-Up. Partial sequences were determined for the nonanucleotides (Gp)(Gp)-(A-Gp)(A-Gp)-A-A-Cp and (A-A-A-A-Gp)(A-Gp)(Gp)Up, the decanucleotides (A-Gp)(Gp)(Gp)(Gp)-A-A-G-G-Up and (A-A-A-Gp)(A-Gp)(Gp)(Gp)(Gp)Up, the undecanucleotide (A-A-Gp)(A-Gp)(C-Gp)(Gp)(Gp)(Gp)Up, and the tetradecanucleotide (A-A-A-A-Gp)(A-Gp)(Gp)(Gp)(Gp)-A-A-A-Cp. In agreement with the hybridization and analytical studies reported earlier, each of the polypurine sequences found in nucleolar 28 S RNA was also isolated from ribosomal 28 S RNA, thereby providing more definitive chemical evidence that the nucleolar 28 S RNA is the precursor of 28 S ribosomal RNA.
New York-New Jersey Region's Job Growth to Continue on 1999, But Risks Have Risen

Employment growth in the New York-New Jersey region in 1998 is likely to match the previous year's pace of 1.7 percent, or 200,000 new jobs. Growth will continue in 1999, but it will slow modestly, to about 1.2 percent, or 145,000 new jobs.
Evaluation of die coating materials for chip-on-board technology insertion in spaceborne applications

Chip-on-board (COB) packaging technology has become increasingly popular for miniaturization purposes in high-reliability applications such as spaceborne electronics. It eliminates the hermetic package weight, permits the use of conventional soldered devices on an organic substrate (MCM-L), and supports rework. These characteristics provide the much needed flexibility to support a faster, better and cheaper electronic design. Miniaturization of spaceborne hardware can lead to improvement in performance and reliability as well as to cost savings. The non-hermetic nature of COB requires a careful selection of coating materials and a well planned process to provide protection against moisture ingress and contamination from the surrounding environment. This paper presents a study that evaluates the effects of various die coating materials on bare dice and the wire bonding process. It includes temperature cycling and the bias humidity test results on die coating materials as the basis for the selection of the most suitable encapsulant material for spaceborne applications.
Clinical significance of isolated Staphylococcus aureus central venous catheter tip cultures

This retrospective cohort study examined the clinical significance of isolated Staphylococcus aureus central venous catheter (CVC) tip cultures (i.e., positive tip cultures without concomitant positive blood cultures). Subsequent S. aureus bacteraemia was found in nine (12%) of 77 patients at a median time of 4 days after CVC removal. A high co-morbidity score and no effective antibiotic treatment within 48 h of CVC removal were independent risk-factors for septic complications following multivariate analysis. A matched case-control study that compared the above cohort with patients with CVC tip cultures negative for S. aureus supported the significance of these findings.
Clinical evaluation of Toxi · Prep™: a semiautomated solid-phase extraction system for screening of drugs in urine

A prototype Toxi · Prep (TP) system that utilizes solid-phase extraction (SPE) has been developed as a method for broad-spectrum drug screening and identification of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) metabolites in urine. TP can simultaneously extract up to seven specimens while automating the process of sample extraction, washing, and elution onto a chromatogram. TP was compared with the Toxi · Lab A (TL-A) system for extraction of basic drugs only. In a blind study, 33 distinct drugs and metabolites were detected in 55 urines over 13 runs. Of the drug occurrences, 68.8% (141 of 205) were detected on both TP and TL-A. Of the 13 runs, quinidine and quinine, nortriptyline metabolites, and diphenhydramine were noted more frequently on TP than TL-A, whereas nicotine and metabolites, morphine, and methadone metabolites were more frequently noted on TL-A. Twenty specimens were analyzed for THC metabolites. Of the cases positive for THC metabolites, 100% (16 of 16) were positive by both methods. Time and motion studies for all runs proved an overall labor reduction for extraction and spotting by ∼40%.
Fabrication of nanodevices using sub-25 nm imprint lithography

The key obstacle that prevents many nanostructures and nanodevices from becoming economically viable is the lack of a high-throughput and low-cost nanolithography method. Recently, a high-throughput and low-cost nanolithography method, imprint lithography, has been proposed and demonstrated. Here, we report new progress in imprint lithography and the first fabrication of nanodevices (such as MSM photodetectors and Si quantum wire transistors) using imprint lithography. In imprint lithography a mold with nanoscale features is first pressed into a resist film cast on a substrate to create a thickness contrast pattern in the resist. After removing the mold, an anisotropic etching process is used to transfer the pattern through the entire resist thickness by removing the remaining resist in the compressed areas.
Picosecond to Microsecond Photodynamics of a Nonplanar Nickel Porphyrin: Solvent Dielectric and Temperature Effects

The lifetime of the (dz2,dx2-y2) metal excited state of nickel(II) 5,10,15,20-tetra-tert-butylporphyrin (NiT(t-Bu)P) exhibits an extraordinary dependence on solvent dielectric properties and temperature. At room temperature, the excited-state deactivation time varies from 2 ps in highly polar solvents to about 50 ns in nonpolar media. The lifetimes increase to several microseconds in both polar and nonpolar solvents near 80 K. In contrast, the (d,d) lifetimes of nominally planar nickel porphyrins such as nickel tetraphenylporphyrin (NiTPP) vary only weakly with solvent dielectric properties and temperature, and typically fall in the range of 100 to 300 ps. All available evidence indicates that NiT(t-Bu)P in solution is highly ruffled (nonplanar) in the ground electronic state. It is proposed that the photoinduced conformational changes that occur in NiT(t-Bu)P in order to accommodate the excited-state electronic distribution are limited by the severe steric constraints imposed by the bulky meso tert-butyl...
Bicycling renaissance in North America? An update and re-appraisal of cycling trends and policies

This paper reviews trends in cycling levels, safety, and policies in Canada and the USA over the past two decades. We analyze aggregate data for the two countries as well as city-specific case study data for nine large cities (Chicago, Minneapolis, Montreal, New York, Portland, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington). Cycling levels have increased in both the USA and Canada, while cyclist fatalities have fallen. There is much spatial variation and socioeconomic inequality in cycling rates. The bike share of work commuters is more than twice as high in Canada as in the USA, and is higher in the western parts of both countries. Cycling is concentrated in central cities, especially near universities and in gentrified neighborhoods near the city center. Almost all the growth in cycling in the USA has been among men between 25-64 years old, while cycling rates have remained steady among women and fallen sharply for children. Cycling rates have risen much faster in the nine case study cities than in their countries as a whole, at least doubling in all the cities since 1990. They have implemented a wide range of infrastructure and programs to promote cycling and increase cycling safety: expanded and improved bike lanes and paths, traffic calming, parking, bike-transit integration, bike sharing, training programs, and promotional events. We describe the specific accomplishments of the nine case study cities, focusing on each city's innovations and lessons for other cities trying to increase cycling. Portland's comprehensive package of cycling policies has succeeded in raising cycling levels 6-fold and provides an example that other North American cities can follow.
Genetic regulation of telomere-telomere fusions in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisae

Yeast strains with mutations in both TEL1 and MEC1 have short telomeres and elevated rates of chromosome deletions. By using a PCR assay, we demonstrate that mec1 tel1 strains also have telomere–telomere fusions (T-TFs). T-TFs require Lig4p (a ligase required for nonhomologous end-joining DNA repair). The highest rates of T-TFs are found in strains with combination of mutations that affect telomere length and DNA damage checkpoints (mec1 tel1, mec3 tel1, mre11 mec1, and ddc1 tel1 strains). Examining many mutant genotypes, we find good agreement between the level of T-TFs and the rate of chromosomal deletions. In addition, if telomeres are elongated in a mec1 tel1 strain, we eliminate T-TFs and reduce the deletion rate. The correlation between the level of T-TFs and the rate of deletions argues that many of these deletions reflect a cycle of T-TF formation (resulting in dicentric chromosomes), followed by chromosome breakage.
Treatment of advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma with doxorubicin in patients progressing after paclitaxel/carboplatin: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center experience from 1995 to 2009.

Objective Long-term survival for patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma is poor, and limited options exist for the management of recurrent disease. Our goal was to investigate the activity of doxorubicin in the second-line setting in patients who progressed after paclitaxel/carboplatin adjuvant treatment. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with recurrent endometrial carcinoma who were treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1995 to 2009 and who received paclitaxel/carboplatin adjuvant chemotherapy followed by second-line doxorubicin therapy at time of recurrence. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival times following paclitaxel/carboplatin and following second-line doxorubicin therapy were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Toxicity was assessed by the treating physician at each visit and graded using version 4.0 of Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Patient presentation, treatment, patterns of recurrence, and patient outcomes were summarized. Results Seventeen patients were included in study analyses. The median PFS from completion of paclitaxel/carboplatin was 8.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.5–13.6 months). At the time of recurrence, all 17 patients were treated with doxorubicin as second-line therapy. No patient achieved objective response of stable disease. The median PFS of this cohort following doxorubicin treatment was 2.1 months (95% CI, 0.95–2.7) months. Median overall survival was 5.8 months (95% CI, 1.0–15.0 months). There is only 1 patient still alive; her median follow-up time is 49.4 months. Predominant doxorubicin-related grade 2 toxicities included nausea/vomiting (18.8%), fatigue (18.8%), and neutropenia (12.5%). No grade 3 or 4 toxicities occurred. Conclusions Among patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma who had received adjuvant paclitaxel/carboplatin, treatment with doxorubicin at time of disease recurrence failed to achieve any objective responses and was associated with a very short (2 months) time to progression. Doxorubicin may be considered inactive as second-line therapy in this endometrial carcinoma population.
Haemophilus influenzae outer membrane protein P5 is associated with inorganic polyphosphate and polyhydroxybutyrate.

Outer membrane protein P5 of nontypeable (acapsulate) Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi P5) forms large pores in planar lipid bilayers between symmetric solutions that unpredictably display a nonzero reversal potential. Moreover, NTHi P5 has a high theoretical isoelectric point, calculated as 9.58, which is not in agreement with the experimental isoelectric point, determined as 6.3–6.8, or with its preference for cations, disproportionately strong at one side. These anomalous results intimate that NTHi P5 is associated with a polyanion. Chemical and immunological analyses revealed the presence of inorganic polyphosphate (polyP), and the amphiphilic, solvating polyester, poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate, frequently associated with polyP. A sharp reduction in cation selectivity was observed after addition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae exopolyphosphatase X to the bilayer, providing functional evidence for the involvement of polyP in selectivity. The results suggest that NTHi P5 associates with polyP and poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate to create large, cation-selective pores in the outer membrane of H. influenzae.
Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy of Pure and Doped Hematite

The magnetocrystaline anisotropy of synthetic single crystals of hematite ($\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$), both pure and doped with ${\mathrm{Ga}}^{3+}$, ${\mathrm{Al}}^{3+}$, and ${\mathrm{Ti}}^{4+}$, has been measured. The principal anisotropy constant $K_{1}^{}{}_{}{}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ has been determined below the low-temperature (Morin) transition by spin-flop measurements. An analysis of these data that considers the origins of the anisotropy has permitted the prediction of the transition temperature. Although the transition temperature is a sensitive function of doping, the predicted values are in excellent agreement with those observed experimentally. The magnetocrystalline anisotropy in the basal plane above the transition temperature has been studied with ferromagnetic-resonance techniques. The in-plane anisotropy is observed to be remarkably sensitive to stress but only slightly dependent on doping.
Studies At Oyster Bay In Jamaica, West Indies. Iv. Observations On The Morphology And Asexual Cycle Of Pyrodinium Bahamense Plate(1) (2)

The morphology and asexual cycle of the luminescent armoured dinoflagellate, Pyrodinium bahamense Plate, were examined in situ and in vitro. Several previously unreported aspects of the cycle are described. Attempts to induce the formation of these alternate life stages by imposing new conditions were unsuccessful.
Power Split CVT Modeling With Spool Valve Actuation

New stringent emission regulations are requiring automotive engineers to develop vehicles featuring multiple energy sources and innovative drivetrain components. One such innovation is the continuously variable transmission (CVT) which offers a continuum of variable gear ratios for greater efficiency and elimination of unwanted jerks in comparison to fixed gear transmissions. The power split CVT configuration offers both fixed gearing and adjustable pulleys to satisfy the torque/speed demands. Spool valves regulate the hydraulic fluid to actuate the CVT’s primary and secondary sheaves for gear ratio manipulation based on the belt’s tension requirements. To fully support the evaluation of various powertrain configurations and control algorithms, a design tool must be developed which characterizes the complete powertrain system. In this paper, a power split CVT will be mathematically modeled and analyzed. Dynamic models will be introduced for the transmission, driveline, and chassis with attention focused on the CVT pulleys and hydraulics. Representative numerical results will be presented and discussed to quantify the performance of the power split CVT and sheave actuation for prescribed driving maneuvers.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Pyridoxine restores endothelial cell function in high glucose.

Abstract Objective: Aminoguanidine, which inhibits the formation of advanced glycosylation end products, can restore the ability of endothelial cells to align and elongate in response to shear stress when that ability is lost during culture in high glucose conditions. This study tests whether aminoguanidine can also restore migratory ability of endothelial cells and whether pyridoxine, a stable form of vitamin B6, can restore migratory ability and ability to align and elongate in response to shear. Methods: Human aortic endothelial cells were cultured in normal glucose (5.5 mM), 17.5 mM glucose, and 30.5 mM glucose in the presence or absence of 5 mM aminoguanidine or varying concentrations of pyridoxine (10–1,000 mg/L). Assay of percent closure of a scrape wound after 24 h quantified migratory ability, and alignment and elongation under flow at 10 dynes/cm2 quantified response to shear stress. Results: Aminoguanidine (5 mM) fully restores and pyridoxine (100 mg/L, 0.6 μM) partially restores migratory abil...
Interleukin 3 or interleukin 1 abrogates the reconstituting ability of hematopoietic stem cells

Abstract Because of their known myelopoietic activities, both interleukin (IL)-3 and IL-1 are often used in combination with other cytokines for in vitro (ex vivo) expansion of stem cells. We have investigated the effects of IL-3 and IL-1 on in vitro expansion of murine hematopoietic stem cells with long-term engraftment capabilities, using a highly purified progenitor population. Lineage-negative, Ly-6A/E+, c-kit+ bone marrow cells from male mice were cultured in suspension in the presence of stem cell factor, IL-6, IL-11, and erythropoietin with or without IL-3 or IL-1. Kinetic studies revealed an exponential increase in total nucleated cells and about 10-fold enhancement of nucleated cells by IL-3 during the initial 10 days. Addition of IL-3 hastened the development but significantly suppressed the peak production of colony-forming cells. Addition of IL-1 also significantly suppressed the numbers of colony-forming cells. The reconstituting ability of the cultured cells was tested by transplanting the expanded male cells into lethally irradiated female mice. The cells expanded from enriched cells in the absence of IL-3 and IL-1 revealed engraftment at 2, 4, 5, and 6 months, whereas addition of IL-3 or IL-1 to the cultures significantly reduced the reconstituting ability. The results suggest that these cytokines may have a modulatory role on the self-renewal of stem cells and further indicate that the use of IL-3 and IL-1 for in vitro expansion of human stem cells needs to be cautiously evaluated.
1-Nitro-2-phenylethane, a possible intermediate in the biosynthesis of benzylglucosinolate

Abstract Results have been obtained consistent with the hypothesis that aci tautomers of nitro compounds are precursors of glucosinolates. When dl -[3-14C]phenylalanine and [14C]1-nitro-2-phenylethane were fed to shoots of Tropaeolum majus L., the incorporation of tracer from each compound into benzylglucosinolate was found to be similar. Conversion of 14C from 1-nitro-2-phenylethane into the aglycone moiety of benzyl-glucosinolate was specific. The natural occurrence of 1-nitro-2-phenylethane in T. majus and its formation in this plant from [1-14C]phenylacetaldoxime were demonstrated by gas chromatography and by means of a trapping experiment.
Historical Perspectives on Family Studies

This article explores the relationship of historical research to contemporary family studies. Family history was influenced greatly by fields such as sociology and anthropology, leading it to make several contributions to those fields in turn. The continuing collaboration of these disciplines can significantly enrich current family research, practice, and policy making. History's specific contribution lies in its attention to context. Although historical research confirms sociologic and ethnographic findings on the diversity of family forms, for example, it also reveals that all families are not created equal. The advantage of any particular type of family at any particular time is constructed out of contingent and historically variable social relationships. Historical research allows researchers to deepen their analysis of family diversity and family change by challenging widespread assumptions about what is and what is not truly new in family life. Such research complicates generalizations about the impact of family change and raises several methodological cautions about what can be compared and controlled for in analyzing family variations and outcomes.
On the local compactness of a certain space of characters

Let S be a locally compact space and C(S) the space of all continuous complex-valued functions on S. Let M,(S) be the vector space of complex measures on S which have compact support and suppose M,(S) is endowed with a barreled topology which is stronger than o(M,(S), C(S)). An example of such a topology may be obtained as follows: For each compact KC S let M(S, K) denote the Banach space2 of measures in M,(S) with support contained in K. Then the inductive limit of the topologies of the spaces M(S, K) (KC S, K compact) is barreled3 and stronger than +4(S)9 W)). We suppose below that 8 is a subset of M,(S), G and H are mappings of 9 into M,(S), and (p, v) + pv is a mapping of 9 x H(9) into M,(S) such that : (1) 9 separates C(S); (2) for each v E H(9) there is a continuous mapping s --, v, of S into M,(S) such that
Polynuclear metal complexes as model mixed oxide catalysts: Selective chemisorption of ammonia and nitric oxide

Abstract Model mixed oxide catalysts were prepared by supporting polynuclear metal (M 3+ and Cu 2+ ) complexes of the form M[(μ-OH)Cu(μ-OCH 2 CH 2 NR 2 )] 3+ 6 (M = Al, Cr, and Fe) on Cab-O-Sil (28 wt% loading). The supported complexes exhibited both Bronsted (bridging OH groups) and Lewis (Cu 2+ ions) acidities. While the coordinatively saturated central M 3+ ion was not an available Lewis site, changing M 3+ influenced catalyst acidity through an apparent ligand effect. Reported are acidity characterizations by ammonia adsorption, first with Cu 2+ ions open to estimate overall acidity, and second with Cu 2+ ions blocked to evaluate the Bronsted acidity. Selective sorption of nitric oxide was an effective Lewis site poison at temperatures to 80 °C. Ammonia sorption to unpoisoned supported complexes revealed increasing overall acidity for the series Al to Cr to Fe (with NH 3 adsorption heats of 4.6, 8.1, and 8.2 kcal/mol, respectively). Ammonia sorption to NO-poisoned supported complexes indicated increasing Bronsted acidity with NH 3 adsorption heats of 2.6, 8.5, and 8.2 kcal/mol, respectively.
Methane conversion to ethylene and acetylene: Optimal control with chlorine, oxygen, and heat flux

In this paper, an optimal control strategy is applied to the problem of finding the flux profiles for the conversion of methane to ethylene and acetylene in a plug flow reactor. A chlorine-catalyze...