cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NOx and soot reduction in diesel engine premixed charge compression ignition combustion: a computational investigation

AbstractThe objective of the present work is to study soot-EGR and soot-NOx tradeoff for premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) combustion at a light-load (4 bar BMEP) operation of a medium-duty, large-bore, direct-injection diesel engine using multi-dimensional computational analysis. The simulations are performed using KIVA-3V computer code coupled with reduced chemical kinetics. Low (40 per cent) to heavy (70 per cent) EGR rates are applied to study the effects of reduced intake oxygen concentration on combustion and emissions. Model predictions of cylinder pressure and emissions are first validated against experimental data. Model-predicted temporal and spatial evolution of in-cylinder mixture in φ—T coordinates is then used to explain the fundamentals of PCCI combustion and emissions. Using computational analysis, it is shown that lower exhaust soot emissions for the lower EGR dilution cases (45 per cent) are due to higher soot oxidation rates, and lower exhaust soot emissions for very high EGR ...
Basic laparoscopic knowledge among gynecologic laparoscopists

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the basic knowledge of laparoscopy and laparoscopic sterilization among gynecologic laparoscopists. STUDY DESIGN: A four-part multiple-choice test designed for use in residency training, covering basic aspects of laparoscopy and laparoscopic sterilization, was distributed to 155 registrants at a gynecologic surgery postgraduate course. Test results were compared among subgroups, as well as with results for 23 residents who had taken the test before their rotation in laparoscopic sterilization. RESULTS: Residents scored higher than practitioners on all test segments. No practitioner achieved the 85% correct passing score required of residents. Practitioner scores did not increase as the number of laparoscopic sterilizations performed per year increased, but higher test scores were associated with more recent completion of residency. CONCLUSION: Basic knowledge of laparoscopic sterilization among practicing gynecologists, as measured by a test designed for residents, is less than that of the residents.
A note on the equality of rank and trace for an idempotent matrix

Abstract The equality of rank and trace for an idempotent matrix is established by means of elementary matrix factorizations. The proof is substantially simpler than most found in the literature.
The Role of Parent Characteristics in Community-Based Medication Treatment for Children with Disruptive Behavior Problems

Studies have documented increased psychoactive medication use rates among children, but little is known about what child and/or family characteristics predict medication treatment in community-based care. This study examines the role of parent characteristics in children’s medication treatment, while accounting for other potential predictors. Participants included 213 children ages 4–13 with disruptive behavior problems. Medication treatment was assessed by parent report; potential predictors of medication treatment, including child characteristics and parent characteristics (e.g., education level, perceived strain and psychopathology) were assessed at service intake. Over 60 % of children used a psychoactive medication during the 16 month study period (most commonly stimulants). Parent education level and reported strain were significant predictors of children’s medication treatment even when accounting for other significant predictors such as child diagnosis, age, race/ethnicity, etc. Results highlight the role that parent characteristics have in accessing community-based medication treatment for children with disruptive behavior problems.
Analysis of Complex Mixtures of Vapors in Ambient Air by Fast-Gas Chromatography

The use of Fast-GC was investigated for the separation and analysis of mixtures of organic vapors in ambient air. Mixtures of up to 34 components were separated and total analysis times ranged from 8 to 100 seconds. Analyses were performed using both flame ionization and electron capture detectors. Up to 950 effective theoretical plates per second were produced when the flame ionization detector was used, and up to 300 per second when the electron capture detector was used. Theoretical predictions of optimal analysis conditions and of column performance matched experimental results.
Unique transcriptomic signature of omental adipose tissue in Ossabaw swine: a model of childhood obesity.

To better understand the impact of childhood obesity on intra-abdominal adipose tissue phenotype, a complete transcriptomic analysis using deep RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on omental adi...
Human cytomegalovirus infections in premature infants by breastfeeding

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of congenital and perinatal infections. Understanding the epidemiology of CMV is a key element in development of strategies for prevention of infection in premature infants. Breast-fed infants are susceptible to CMV infection from breast milk. CMV was isolated more frequently from breast milk at more than one month after delivery than from colostrum or early breast milk. CMV particle shedding into milk whey have a more important role. Cytokines in serum and milk are related to the reactivation of CMV, which occurs locally in the mammary gland of the lactating mother after delivery. Premature infants with low concentration of serum antibodies can acquire CMV infection from the fresh breast milk containing the virus. Freezing breast milk may be protective for the preterm infant until the titer of CMV antibody increases. However clinical importance of CMV infection in premature infants by breast-feeding is still unclear. This minireview focuses on recent advances in the study of CMV infection in premature infants by breastfeeding.
Biochemical Correlates of Cardiac Hypertrophy: I. Experimental Model; Changes in Heart Weight, RNA Content, and Nuclear RNA Polymerase Activity

Cardiac hypertrophy occurred in mature rats after producing supravalvular aortic stenosis with a specially designed silver clip. For 2 weeks following this procedure, heart weight, body weight, and RNA content of the myocardium were serially determined. Heart weight and RNA content increased within 24 hours of aortic banding, reaching a maximal level in 2 days and remaining elevated during the 2 weeks of observation. Nuclei were isolated and purified from heart muscle homogenates, and changes in RNA polymerase activity following aortic banding were determined. The nearest neighbor frequency of the bases of the RNA synthesized by the polymerase from nuclear preparations was identical in both the banded animals and the sham-operated controls. Both groups could thus be compared on the basis of the enzyme assay. RNA polymerase activity in nuclei from the hearts of banded rats rose rapidly when compared with the activity in sham-operated rats; peak values were reached on the second day, the earliest detectable change being around 12 hours. The increase in RNA polymerase activity represents one of the earliest biochemical events that take place in the myocardium following aortic banding.
Efficiently authenticating code images in dynamically reprogrammed wireless sensor networks

For large scale wireless sensor networks (WSNs), reprogramming sensor nodes through the wireless channel is an important capability. To avoid reprogramming false or viral code images, each sensor node needs to efficiently authenticate its received code image before propagating it. Public key schemes based on elliptic curve cryptography are feasible in WSNs, yet are still very expensive in terms of memory and CPU consumption. In this paper, we propose a hybrid mechanism that combines the speedy verification of hash schemes with the strong authenticity of public key schemes. A hash tree is computed from packetized code and its root is signed by the public key of the base station. Each sensor node can quickly authenticate the data packet as soon as it is received. Simulation shows that the proposed secure reprogramming scheme adds only a modest amount of overhead to a conventional non-secure reprogramming scheme, namely Deluge, and is therefore feasible and practical in a WSN.
Connecting spectral and spring methods for manifold learning

Diffusion Maps (DiffMaps) has recently provided a general framework that unites many other spectral manifold learning algorithms, including Laplacian Eigenmaps, and it has become one of the most successful and popular frameworks for manifold learning to date. However, Diffusion Maps still often creates unnecessary distortions, and its performance varies widely in response to parameter value changes. In this paper, we draw a previously unnoticed connection between DiffMaps and spring-motivated methods. We show that DiffMaps has a physical interpretation: it finds the arrangement of high-dimensional objects in low-dimensional space that minimizes the elastic energy of a particular spring network. Within this interpretation, we recognize the root cause of a variety of problems that are commonly observed in the Diffusion Maps output, including sensitivity to user-specified parameters, sensitivity to sampling density, and distortion of boundaries. We then show how to exploit the connection between Diffusion Map and spring criteria to create a method that can be efficiently applied post hoc to alleviate these commonly observed deficiencies in the Diffusion Maps output.
(4aSR,7SR,9aRS)‐9a‐Bromo‐7‐methyl‐5,5‐dioxo‐1,2,4a,6,7,9a‐hexa­hydro‐8‐oxa‐5λ6‐thia‐1,4‐benzo­cyclo­hepten‐9‐one

The title compound, C10H13BrO4S, crystallizes as a racemic mixture in space group P\overline 1. The seven-membered ring exhibits a chair conformation; the methyl group points away from the bromine substituent.
Intracellular Targeting of Gag Proteins of the Drosophila Telomeric Retrotransposons

Drosophila has two non-long-terminal-repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons that are unique because they have a defined role in chromosome maintenance. These elements, HeT-A and TART, extend chromosome ends by successive transpositions, producing long arrays of head-to-tail repeat sequences. These arrays appear to be analogous to the arrays produced by telomerase on chromosomes of other organisms. While other non-LTR retrotransposons transpose to many chromosomal sites, HeT-A and TART transpose only to chromosome ends. Although HeT-A and TART belong to different subfamilies of non-LTR retrotransposons, they encode very similar Gag proteins, which suggests that Gag proteins are involved in their unique transposition targeting. We have recently shown that both Gags localize efficiently to nuclei where HeT-A Gag forms structures associated with telomeres. TART Gag does not associate with telomeres unless HeT-A Gag is present, suggesting a symbiotic relationship in which HeT-A Gag provides telomeric targeting. We now report studies to identify amino acid regions responsible for different aspects of the intracellular targeting of these proteins. Green fluorescent protein-tagged deletion derivatives were expressed in cultured Drosophila cells. The intracellular localization of these proteins shows the following. (i) Several regions that direct subcellular localizations or cluster formation are found in both Gags and are located in equivalent regions of the two proteins. (ii) Regions important for telomere association are present only in HeT-A Gag. These are present at several places in the protein, are not redundant, and cannot be complemented in trans. (iii) Regions containing zinc knuckle and major homology region motifs, characteristic of retroviral Gags, are involved in protein-protein interactions of the telomeric Gags, as they are in retroviral Gags.
Oxidative Stress and Programmed Cell Death in Diabetic Neuropathy

Recent evidence in both animal models and human sural nerve biopsies indicates an association with oxidative stress, mitochondrial (Mt) membrane depolarization (MMD), and induction of programmed cell death (PCD). In streptozotocin (STZ)-treated diabetic rats, hyperglycemia induces typical apoptotic changes as well as swelling and disruption of the Mt cristae in diabetic dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRG) and Schwann cells (SC), but these changes are only rarely observed in control neurons. In human sural nerve biopsies, from patients with diabetic sensory neuropathy, there is transmission electromicrograph evidence of swelling and disruption of the Mt and cristae compared to patients without peripheral neuropathy. In human SH-SY5Y neurons, rat sensory neurons, and SC, in vivo, there is an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) after exposure to 20 mM added glucose. In parallel, there is an initial Mt membrane hyperpolarization followed by depolarization (MMD). In turn, MMD is coupled with cleavage of caspases. Various strategies aimed at inhibiting the oxidative burst, or stabilizing the DeltaPsi(M), block induction of PCD. First, growth factors such as NGF can block induction of ROS and/or stabilize the DeltaPsi(M). This, in turn, is associated with inhibition of PCD. Second, reduction of ROS generation in neuronal Mt prevents neuronal PCD. Third, up-regulation of uncoupling proteins (UCPs), which stabilize the DeltaPsi(M), blocks induction of caspase cleavage. Collectively, these findings indicate that hyperglycemic conditions observed in diabetes mellitus are associated with oxidative stress-induced neuronal and SC death, and targeted therapies aimed at regulating ROS may prove effective in therapy of diabetic neuropathy.
1,1-bis(3′-indolyl)-1-(p-substituted phenyl)methanes decrease mitochondrial membrane potential and induce apoptosis in endometrial and other cancer cell lines

1,1-Bis(3'-indolyl)-1-(p-substituted phenyl)methanes, containing p-t-butyl (DIM-C-pPhtBu) and phenyl (DIM-C-pPhC(6)H(5)) substituents, are peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonists; however, DIM-C-pPhtBu-induced growth inhibition and cell death in human HEC1A endometrial cancer cells is PPARgamma-independent. DIM-C-pPhtBu decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and promoted the release of cytochrome c and caspase activation and nuclear uptake of endonuclease G leading to apoptosis of HEC1A cells. DIM-C-pPhtBu specifically targeted the mitochondrial permeability transition pore complex (PTPC) because the DIM-C-pPhtBu-induced pro-apoptotic responses were inhibited by atractyloside (Atra), a compound that specifically interacts with the inner mitochondrial membrane adenine nucleotide transport (ANT) proteins. At the dose of Atra used in this study (300 microM), this compound alone did not alter the PTPC but inhibited the mitochondriotoxic effects of DIM-C-pPhtBu. DIM-C-pPhtBu/DIM-C-pPhC(6)H(5) and Atra also differentially affected the ability of eosin-5-maleimide (EMA) to alkylate Cys160 in the ANT protein and Atra, but not DIM-C-pPhtBu, inhibited the exchange of ATP/ADP in isolated mitochondria suggesting that these pharmacophores act on different sites on the ANT protein. Results of this study show that the receptor-independent proapoptotic activity of DIM-C-pPhtBu and DIM-C-pPhC(6)H(5) were related to novel mitochondriotoxic activities involving inner mitochondrial ANT proteins.
Associative effects vs. differentiation: comment on Saltz and Wickey's reply to Birnbaum.

Summary.-The addition of distinctive colors to verbal stimuli can facilitate learning. The question is whether this is due to color serving as an additional associative cue or becaus-" color aids in differentiation in some other way. Saltz and Wickey (1967) failed to find positive correlations between the order of difficulty of items in a llst with colors as stimuli and other lists where the colors were combined with verbal components. An example is constructed to show that this finding is consistent with the Associative hypothesis. In a recent article, Saltz and Wickey (1967) presented an application of Coombs' ( 1964) nonrneuic scaling, to evaluate an hypothesis by Birnbaum (1966) about the effect of context stimuli on the difficulty of learning paired associates. The discussion relates to data by Saltz ( 1963) showing that distinctive colors, used as context stimuli, can facilitate learning even when they are present only on study trials (Condition C-NC), or only on test trials (Condition NC-C). Birnbaum's suggestion is that the colors serve as additional cues which can be used by S for remembering the correct response. Birnbaum's article dealt only with Condition C-NC. She suggested that S may learn associations between verbal sti~nuli and colors on study trials. Then on the test trials, S might rernember the color from the study trial and achieve a correct response by mediation. Birnbaum's data permit the inference that in Condition C-NC, Ss do form associations between the verbal and colored components of the stimuli, thus giving plausibility to the associative hypothesis. A similar argument can be made regarding Condition NC-C. In Saltz' words, "S might associate the color with the CVC stimulus during the test trials; on the learning trials, the CVC could then evoke the color which could become associated with the adjective response; on subsequent rest trials the color could serve as a cue to the correct response" (Saltz, 1963, p. 4). Saltz and Wickey's (1967) article presents a reanalysis of the data from Saltz' Exp. 11. The data were used to scale the difficulty of individual items in five -conditions-the two mentioned previously, plus a condition where colored context was given on study trials and tests (Condition C-C), a condition where only verbal components were used (Condition NC-NC), and a condition where only colors were used as stimuli (Condition NV). The items were rank-ordered for difficulty, and positive correlations between .87 and .96 were found between ranks obtained for different conditions where verbal components were present. Correlations between Condition NV and other groups having colored contexts were between -.I8 and -.37, and the correlation between Groups NC-NC
Phase III Randomized, Intergroup Trial Assessing Imatinib Mesylate At Two Dose Levels in Patients With Unresectable or Metastatic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors Expressing the Kit Receptor Tyrosine Kinase: S0033

PURPOSE: To assess potential differences in progression-free or overall survival when imatinib mesylate is administered to patients with incurable gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) at a standard dose (400 mg daily) versus a high dose (400 mg twice daily). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with metastatic or surgically unresectable GIST were eligible for this phase III open-label clinical trial. At registration, patients were randomly assigned to either standard or high-dose imatinib, with close interval follow-up. If objective progression occurred by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, patients on the standard-dose arm could reregister to the trial and receive the high-dose imatinib regimen. RESULTS: Seven hundred forty-six patients with advanced GIST from 148 centers across the United States and Canada were enrolled onto this trial in 9 months. With a median follow-up of 4.5 years, median progression-free survival was 18 months for patients on the standard-dose arm, and 20 months for those receiving high-dose imatinib. Median overall survival was 55 and 51 months, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in objective response rates, progression-free survival, or overall survival. After progression on standard-dose imatinib, 33% of patients who crossed over to the high-dose imatinib regimen achieved either an objective response or stable disease. There were more grade 3, 4, and 5 toxicities noted on the high-dose imatinib arm. CONCLUSION: This trial confirms the effectiveness of imatinib as primary systemic therapy for patients with incurable GIST but did not show any advantage to higher dose treatment. It appears reasonable to initiate therapy with 400 mg daily and to consider dose escalation on progression of disease.
Theories of Federalism under the Holy Roman Empire

A fact little appreciated by American political scientists is the relatively early emergence of federalism as a working concept of political theory in the Holy Roman Empire of the seventeenth century. But although these federal theories run ahead of corresponding theories elsewhere, it must be pointed out that political and legal conditions peculiar to the medieval Empire retarded an even earlier appearance. For centuries, the constitution of the Empire had retained its feudalistic structure. Many conspicuous changes, however, had taken place in the course of its development and had filled that structure with an entirely different content. The main result of the Empire's constitutional evolution had been its gradual transformation from an originally fairly unitary state into a federalistic organization of de facto sovereign states. It might be supposed, therefore, that the highly articulated territorial organization of the Empire would have easily served as fertile soil on which contemporary political theorists and jurists might have founded an elaborate theory of federalism.
Lamin B1 loss is a senescence-associated biomarker

Cellular senescence is a potent tumor-suppressive mechanism that arrests cell proliferation and has been linked to aging. However, studies of senescence have been impeded by the lack of simple, exclusive biomarkers of the senescent state. Senescent cells develop characteristic morphological changes, which include enlarged and often irregular nuclei and chromatin reorganization. Because alterations to the nuclear lamina can affect both nuclear morphology and gene expression, we examined the nuclear lamina of senescent cells. We show here than lamin B1 is lost from primary human and murine cell strains when they are induced to senesce by DNA damage, replicative exhaustion, or oncogene expression. Lamin B1 loss did not depend on the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor-κB, ataxia telangiectasia-mutated kinase, or reactive oxygen species signaling pathways, which are positive regulators of senescent phenotypes. However, activation of either the p53 or pRB tumor suppressor pathway was sufficient to induce lamin B1 loss. Lamin B1 declined at the mRNA level via a decrease in mRNA stability rather than by the caspase-mediated degradation seen during apoptosis. Last, lamin B1 protein and mRNA declined in mouse tissue after senescence was induced by irradiation. Our findings suggest that lamin B1 loss can serve as biomarker of senescence both in culture and in vivo.
Both sides now: multiple interactions of ATP with pannexin-1 hemichannels. Focus on A permeant regulating its permeation pore: inhibition of pannexin 1 channels by ATP

how atp and other nucleotides are released from intact cells is a fundamental question, given the existence of multiple purinergic receptor signaling cascades operative in most vertebrate tissues ([25][1]). It is well-established that neurons and neuroendocrine cells release ATP via classical
Performance optimization of power supply networks using renewable energy resources

This paper presents results on an ongoing work in the area of power quality and network performance improvements utilizing Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in power systems. The work presented particularly addresses the optimization of switching and selection of installed DERs within the network and the analysis of their impacts on the power quality, particularly, performance measures related to the voltage deviations in the network.
Quantifying microbial utilization of petroleum hydrocarbons in salt marsh sediments by using the 13C content of bacterial rRNA.

Natural remediation of oil spills is catalyzed by complex microbial consortia. Here we took a wholecommunity approach to investigate bacterial incorporation of petroleum hydrocarbons from a simulated oil spill. We utilized the natural difference in carbon isotopic abundance between a salt marsh ecosystem supported by the 13 C-enriched C4 grass Spartina alterniflora and 13 C-depleted petroleum to monitor changes in the 13 C content of biomass. Magnetic bead capture methods for selective recovery of bacterial RNA were used to monitor the 13 C content of bacterial biomass during a 2-week experiment. The data show that by the end of the experiment, up to 26% of bacterial biomass was derived from consumption of the freshly spilled oil. The results contrast with the inertness of a nearby relict spill, which occurred in 1969 in West Falmouth, MA. Sequences of 16S rRNA genes from our experimental samples also were consistent with previous reports suggesting the importance of Gamma- and Deltaproteobacteria and Firmicutes in the remineralization of hydrocarbons. The magnetic bead capture approach makes it possible to quantify uptake of petroleum hydrocarbons by microbes in situ. Although employed here at the domain level, RNA capture procedures can be highly specific. The same strategy could be used with genus-level specificity, something which is not currently possible using the 13 C content of biomarker lipids. Coastal environments are threatened by petroleum spills ranging from low-level discharges to catastrophic accidents. Large spills commonly are followed by clean-up efforts, but complete containment is rare. In all cases, remediation ultimately depends on microbial degradation. The rate of this natural bioremediation varies with physical and biological factors (temperature, wind and wave action, macroecology, and microbial community diversity), all of which have been extensively studied and reviewed (3, 4, 23, 27, 42, 69).
Pediatric AIDS/HIV Infection: An Emerging Challenge to Pediatric Psychology

The number of pediatric AIDS cases are increasing. This disease, with its social and political ramifications, as well as its biological consequences, presents a number of unique issues for psychologists. Some of the areas that present opportunities and problems for psychologists are briefly identified. These areas include prevention, clinical issues, public education, research, neuropsychological effects, psychoneuroimmunological issues, and ethical concerns. Current epidemiological projections and future directions for research are also discussed.
Extracting queries by static analysis of transparent persistence

Transparent persistence promises to integrate programming languages and databases by allowing procedural programs to access persistent data with the same ease as non-persistent data. When the data is stored in a relational database, however, transparent persistence does not naturally leverage the performance benefits of relational query optimization. We present a program analysis that combines the benefits of both approaches by extracting database queries from programs with transparent access to persistent data. The analysis uses a sound abstract interpretation of the original program to approximate the data traversal paths in the program and the conditions under which the paths are used. The resulting paths are then converted into a query, and the program is simplified by removing redundant tests. We study an imperative kernel language with read-only access to persistent data and identify the conditions under which the transformations can be applied. This analysis approach promises to combine the software engineering benefits of transparent data persistence with the performance benefits of database query optimization.
Periodicity, chaos and localization in a Burridge-Knopoff model of an earthquake with rate-and-state friction

SUMMARY We investigate the emergent dynamics when the slip law formulation of the non-linear rateand-state friction law is attached to a Burridge–Knopoff spring-block model. We derive both the discrete equations and the continuum formulation governing the system in this framework. The discrete system (ODEs) exhibits both periodic and chaotic motion, where the system’s transition to chaos is size-dependent, that is, how many blocks are considered. From the discrete model we derive the non-linear elastic wave equation by taking the continuum limit. This results in a non-linear partial differential equation (PDE) and we find that chaos ensues when the same parameter is increased. This critical parameter value needed for the onset of chaos in the continuous model is much smaller than the value needed in the case of a single block and we discuss the implications this has on dynamic modelling of earthquake rupture with this specific friction law. Most importantly, these results suggest that the friction law is scale-dependent, thus caution should be taken when attaching a friction law derived at laboratory scales to full-scale earthquake rupture models. Furthermore, we find solutions where the initial slip pulse propagates like a travelling wave, or remains localized in space, suggesting the presence of soliton and breather solutions. We discuss the significance of these pulse-like solutions and how they can be understood as a proxy for the propagation of the rupture front across the fault surface during an earthquake. We compute analytically the conditions for soliton solutions and by exploring the resulting parameter space, we introduce a possible method for determining a range of suitable parameter values to be used in future dynamic earthquake modelling.
New insights into the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme obtained from the analysis of genetically modified mice

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) has been well-recognized for its role in blood pressure regulation. ACE is made by many tissues, though it is most abundantly expressed on the luminal surface of vascular endothelium. ACE knockout mice show a profound phenotype with low blood pressure, but also with hemopoietic and developmental defects, which complicates understanding the biological functions of ACE in individual tissue types. Using a promoter-swapping strategy, several mouse lines with unique ACE tissue expression patterns were studied. These include mice with ACE expression in the liver (ACE 3/3), the heart (ACE 8/8), and macrophages (ACE 10/10). We also investigated mice with a selective inactivation of either the N- or C-terminal ACE catalytic domain. Our studies indicate that ACE plays a role in many other physiologic processes beyond simple blood pressure control.
Dysregulation of Catalase Activity in Newborn Myocytes During Hypoxia Is Mediated by c-Abl Tyrosine Kinase

In the adult heart, catalase (CAT) activity increases appropriately with increasing levels of hydrogen peroxide, conferring cardioprotection. This mechanism is absent in the newborn for unknown reasons. In the present study, we examined how the posttranslational modification of CAT contributes to its activation during hypoxia/ischemia and the role of c-Abl tyrosine kinase in this process. Hypoxia studies were carried out using primary cardiomyocytes from adult (>8 weeks) and newborn rats. Following hypoxia, the ratio of phosphorylated to total CAT and c-Abl in isolated newborn rat myocytes did not increase and were significantly lower (1.3- and 4.2-fold, respectively; P < .05) than their adult counterparts. Similarly, there was a significant association (P < .0005) between c-Abl and CAT in adult cells following hypoxia (30.9 ± 8.2 to 70.7 ± 13.1 au) that was absent in newborn myocytes. Although ubiquitination of CAT was higher in newborns compared to adults following hypoxia, inhibition of this did not improve CAT activity. When a c-Abl activator (5-(1,3-diaryl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)hydantoin [DPH], 200 µmol/L) was administered prior to hypoxia, not only CAT activity was significantly increased (P < .05) but also phosphorylation levels were also significantly improved (P < .01) in these newborn myocytes. Additionally, ischemia-reperfusion (IR) studies were performed using newborn (4-5 days) rabbit hearts perfused in a Langendorff method. The DPH given as an intracardiac injection into the right ventricle of newborn rabbit resulted in a significant improvement (P < .002) in the recovery of developed pressure after IR, a key indicator of cardiac function (from 74.6% ± 6.6% to 118.7% ± 10.9%). In addition, CAT activity was increased 3.92-fold (P < .02) in the same DPH-treated hearts. Addition of DPH to adult rabbits in contrast had no significant effect (from 71.3% ± 10.7% to 59.4% ± 12.1%). Therefore, in the newborn, decreased phosphorylation of CAT by c-Abl potentially mediates IR-induced dysfunction, and activation of c-Abl may be a strategy to prevent ischemic injury associated with surgical procedures.
Health Insurance Expansion and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: Does Increased Access Lead to Improved Care?

Background Pancreatic cancer is increasingly common and poised to become the second leading cause of cancer deaths by the year 2020. Surgical resection is the only chance for cure, yet significant disparities in resection rates exist by insurance status. The 2006 Massachusetts health care reform serves as natural experiment to evaluate the unknown impact of health insurance expansion on treatment of pancreatic cancer. Study Design Using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's State Inpatient Databases, this cohort study examines nonelderly, adult patients with no insurance, private coverage, or government-subsidized insurance plans, who were admitted with pancreatic cancer in Massachusetts and 3 control states. The primary end point was change in pancreatic resection rates. Difference-in-difference models were used to show the impact of Massachusetts health care reform on resection rates for pancreatic cancer, controlling for confounding factors and secular trends. Results Before the Massachusetts reform, government-subsidized and self-pay patients had significantly lower rates of resection than privately insured patients. The 2006 Massachusetts health reform was associated with a 15% increased rate of admission with pancreatic cancer (p = 0.043) and a 67% increased rate of surgical resection (p = 0.043) compared with control states. Measured disparities in likelihood of resection by insurance status decreased in Massachusetts and remained unchanged in control states. Conclusions The 2006 Massachusetts health care reform was associated with increased resection rates for pancreatic cancer compared with control states. Our findings provide hopeful evidence that increased insurance coverage can help improve equity in pancreatic cancer treatment. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the longevity of these findings and generalizability in other states.
On the self-damping nature of densification in photonic sintering of nanoparticles

Sintering of nanoparticle inks over large area-substrates is a key enabler for scalable fabrication of patterned and continuous films, with multiple emerging applications. The high speed and ambient condition operation of photonic sintering has elicited significant interest for this purpose. In this work, we experimentally characterize the temperature evolution and densification in photonic sintering of silver nanoparticle inks, as a function of nanoparticle size. It is shown that smaller nanoparticles result in faster densification, with lower temperatures during sintering, as compared to larger nanoparticles. Further, high densification can be achieved even without nanoparticle melting. Electromagnetic Finite Element Analysis of photonic heating is coupled to an analytical sintering model, to examine the role of interparticle neck growth in photonic sintering. It is shown that photonic sintering is an inherently self-damping process, i.e., the progress of densification reduces the magnitude of subsequent photonic heating even before full density is reached. By accounting for this phenomenon, the developed coupled model better captures the experimentally observed sintering temperature and densification as compared to conventional photonic sintering models. Further, this model is used to uncover the reason behind the experimentally observed increase in densification with increasing weight ratio of smaller to larger nanoparticles.
The effect of grinding upon starch and starch pastes.

Several investigators have studied the effect of grinding upon raw starch. Schleiden1 reported that grinding starch with twice its weight of water gave the mass a salve-like consistency. Kraemer2 found that grinding with sand and Sponsler3 that grinding dry in a pebble mill rendered part of the starch soluble in cold water. These observations were verified by the writers. Grinding potato starch for 74 hours with flints in a pebble mill and wheat starch for 122 hours injures all the grains, as may be noted with the microscope. About 60 per cent of each of the starches was then soluble in cold water. The solution could be filtered quite clear with paper pulp, was not viscous, and gave a characteristic blue iodine reaction. Apparently the starch grain is protected by a membrane or membrane network impermeable to the soluble substance. When the membrane structure is injured, the contents may be leached out with the greatest ease. Ground starches suspended in water and heated do not gelatinize, and no paste ca...
Transport, zwitterions, and the role of water for CO2 adsorption in mesoporous silica-supported amine sorbents

The uptake of CO2 in highly loaded, silica-supported, polyethylenimine (PEI)-impregnated sorbents was investigated in a reaction-diffusion model of the CO2 adsorption process. The model successfully replicated the pseudoequilibrium behavior experimentally observed in thermogravimetry (TGA) experiments. A parametric study and sensitivity analysis of the model revealed that the stability and mobility of diffusive intermediates—assumed in the model to be zwitterions—effectively control the observable capacity of the sorbent. A subsequent quantum chemical study called into question the stability of zwitterions in PEI but suggested that physically bonded moieties involving water, amines, and CO2 may be better candidates for diffusive intermediates. The implications are a strong dependence of the observable CO2 capacity of the sorbent on the presence of water in the gas stream, which was found to be consistent with TGA results.
The International Society of Nephrology years: a perspective.

Abstract It is reasonable to argue that Ike's contributions mirror closely the extraordinary growth and development of the ISN in the last two decades. As we noted at the outset of this article, Ike's tenure on the Executive Committee is the longest tenure of any individual to date. Further, it is improbable, given the current structure of the Executive Committee, that the duration of his tenure will be equaled, at least in the near future. More importantly, one can measure the impact of his tenure in terms of formidable accomplishments. These include, at a minimum, the development of Kidney International both as an academic triumph and as a fiscally sound organ; the initial formulation of a reasonable and apparently enduring model for the Forefronts in Nephrology series; and the transformation of the ISN Congresses to their current format. Lastly, we should stress another contribution of Ike's to the ISN, clearly palpable to those of us who have served on the Executive Committee. That is, his consistent wisdom and diplomacy, his dedicated preoccupation with maintaining the international flavor of the ISN, and his consistent insistence on the needs of our colleagues in emerging nations. When taken in the context of the contributions described in this note, these are no mean accomplishments and this Supplement in his honor becomes a small token of our appreciation for these contributions.
Soy-based Infant Formula Feeding and Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Among Young African American Women.

Background:Phytoestrogen exposure from soy formula feeding during infancy may disrupt reproductive system development, resulting in altered menstrual bleeding in adulthood.Methods:We investigated this relationship in a cohort of 1,696 young African American women using enrollment data from the Study
The Anatomy and Management of the Thumb in Apert Syndrome

The thumb in a child with Apert syndrome provides the key to hand function. The characteristic “hitchhiker” posture or radial clinodactyly of these short but broad digits is caused by an abnormal proximal phalanx. Along with the shortened and radially deviated proximal phalanx, the first webspace (thumb-index) is always deficient. This article details the authors’ anatomic observations of these abnormal thumbs and their rationale for treatment.
Understanding the Organizational Context of Academic Program Development.

This chapter provides a conceptual model that academic leaders can use to navigate the complex, and often contentious, organizational terrain of academic program development. The model includes concepts related to the institution's external environment, as well as internal organizational structures, cultures, and politics. Drawing from the literature in management, organizational studies, and higher education, this chapter explains how various organizational configurations lead to different assumptions and practices regarding data use and program development decisions. These assumptions and practices are illustrated through a case study of the development of online programs in a community college system.
An Epoxy Bonding Apparatus for Applications under Extreme Environment

A number of electrical components and devices work in extreme environment such as high temperature, high pressure, strong vibration, corrosive chemicals, etc. A common practice to protect them is to shield them in materials that are mechanically and chemically resistant to these harsh conditions. In this scenario, epoxy bonding is preferred and it is crucial to have high bonding strength. One example is the acoustic transducers used in oil drilling. The temperature can reach 200 °C and the pressure can reach 140 MPa. The piezoelectric ceramic parts cannot withstand these conditions so different packaging materials are used such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK). Here an epoxy bonding apparatus is presented that has demonstrated ultrahigh bonding strength. Though epoxy resin is degassed before applying, which gets rid of air bubbles generated in the mixing process, there is trapped air when two surfaces are closed together. This trapped air has minuscule effect for applications in ambient environment, but under extreme environment, it compromises the bonding strength majorly. We devised a vacuum system that contains a motorized stage with the bonding parts attached. After the epoxy is applied and the system is pumped to 1% vacuum, a computer controls the motor to move the bonding parts into contact. Since the entire operation is in vacuum, it leaves no trapped air and results in increased bonding strength. This apparatus confirmed the importance of surface preparation, including removal of air by starting the cure in vacuum (5 mm Hg) and subsequently releasing the vacuum [1]. Another technique to improve the bonding strength utilizes the finding that a uniform epoxy resin layer between 50 µm and 150 µm [2] results in the optimal bonding strength. Here we applied spacers such as optic fiber (125 µm in diameter) or glass fiber fabric (150 µm in thickness) in between the bonding surfaces. These spacers ensure that the epoxy resin layer is of uniform thickness. It also utilizes the principle of glass-epoxy compositing to increase mechanical strength by fiber reinforcement and load distribution [3, 4]. The above bonding apparatus has been proven to increase the bonding strength by experiments. Acoustic transducers bonded with this technique passed the high pressure, high temperature tests resembling the oil drilling conditions.
Family connectedness and pediatric asthma management: The roles of child age and race or ethnicity

ABSTRACTFamily connectedness has been linked to better than expected asthma health in youth at risk for asthma disparities, yet it is unclear whether benefits exist across child development. The association between family connectedness and asthma management was examined in 245 youth (6–15 years), as well as whether this relationship varied by child age and race or ethnicity. Youth and caregivers completed family connectedness and asthma management semi-structured interviews. Higher levels of family connectedness were related to better asthma management across racial/ethnic groups. Child age was a significant moderator of the relation between family connectedness and asthma management for non-Latino White youth only, suggesting that for this group, the effect of family connectedness on asthma management was weaker for older youth. Conversely, family connectedness may consistently promote asthma management for Latino and non-Latino Black youth throughout development.
A qualitative study of adolescent perceptions of electronic cigarettes and their marketing: Implications for prevention and policy

This study examined youths' perceptions of electronic cigarettes ("e-cigarettes"), sources of e-cigarettes exposure, and preferred sources of e-cigarette health information. Participants (n = 25, M age 15.0 years) recruited during primary care visits completed an in-depth qualitative interview assessing these topics. Most participants (72%) perceived e-cigarettes as "healthier" than cigarettes and reported e-cigarette advertising exposure (80%) and interpersonal exposure (60%). Participants reported advertisements portray e-cigarettes as less harmful than cigarettes and novel products. Most (72%) indicated their doctor was their preferred source of e-cigarette health information, suggesting pediatric health care providers are well-positioned to counsel patients to prevent e-cigarette use.
Electrospun materials for affinity-based engineering and drug delivery

Electrospinning is a process which can quickly and cheaply create materials of high surface to volume and aspect ratios from many materials, however in application toward drug delivery this can be a strong disadvantage as well. Diffusion of drug is proportional to the thickness of that device. In moving from macro to micro to nano-sized electrospun materials drug release rates change to profiles that are too fast to be therapeutically beneficial. In this work we use molecular interactions to further control the rate of release beyond that capable of diffusion alone. To do this we create materials with molecular pockets, which can "hold" therapeutic drugs through a reversible interaction such as a host/guest complexation. Through these complexes we show we are able to impact delivery of drug from electrospun materials, and also apply them in tissue engineering for the reversible presentation of biomolecules on a fiber surface.
Simulation of quantum transport in an ultra-small SOI MOSFET

Industry predictions estimate that, within a few years, semiconductor devices with active regions of less than 10 nm in length will be in production. It is well known that the active regions in these devices are smaller than the relative phase coherence lengths, and quantum transport will govern the operation of these devices. With the advent of tri-gate and quantum wire devices, 2D transport simulations become inadequate as the third dimension (width) must be included to account for the underlying physics present in the problem. Here, we present results of an efficient 3D, self-consistent quantum transport simulation applied to an ultra-small SOI MOSFET. We find that the transition between a wide source contact and a discretely doped, narrow channel sets up a resonant tunneling situation in which the channel becomes fully populated and then dissipates as the gate voltage is swept.