cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
cis,cis-Muconic acid isomerization and catalytic conversion to biobased cyclic-C6-1,4-diacid monomers

Renewable terephthalic and 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acids can be produced from biomass via muconic acid using a combination of biological and chemical processes. In this conversion scheme, cis,cis-mucononic acid is first obtained by fermentation using either sugar or lignin monomers as a feedstock. The diunsaturated cis,cis-diacid is then isomerized to trans,trans-muconic acid, reacted with biobased ethylene through Diels–Alder cycloaddition, and further hydrogenated or dehydrogenated to yield the desired 100% renewable cyclic dicarboxylic acid. The isomerization of cis,cis- to trans,trans-muconic acid represents the main bottleneck in this process due to undesired side reactions that promote ring closing to form lactones. Therefore, new technologies for the selective isomerization of muconic acid are urgently needed. Here, we studied the corresponding reaction kinetics to elucidate the mechanisms involved in both the isomerization and cyclization reactions with the objective to identify conditions that favor the selective formation of trans,trans-muconic acid. We demonstrate that the reactivity of muconic acid in aqueous media strongly depends on pH. Under alkaline conditions, cis,cis-muconic acid is deprotonated to the corresponding muconate dianion. This species is stable for extended periods of time and does not isomerize. Conversely, cis,cis-muconic acid readily isomerizes to its cis,trans-isomer under acidic conditions. Prolonged heating further triggers the intramolecular cyclizations through reaction of the carboxylic acid and alkene functionalities. The formation of the muconolactone and its dilactone is kinetically favored over the isomerization to trans,trans-muconic acid over a broad range of conditions. However, strategies involving the chelation of the carboxylates with inorganic salts or their solvation using polar aprotic solvents were found to hamper the ring closing reactions and allow the isomerization to trans,trans-muconic acid to proceed with high selectivity (88%). The obtained compound was further reacted with ethylene and hydrogenated to 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, an important monomer for the polyester and polyamide industries.
The costs of induced seismicity: A hedonic analysis

Abstract New developments in drilling technology and hydraulic fracturing have brought unprecedented change to energy markets domestically and internationally. Unintended effects of this extraction technique have been felt, quite literally, due to induced seismicity from wastewater injection. This research measures the costs of induced seismicity through changes in home prices using a hedonic price analysis within a differences-in-differences framework. We find the revealed cost to be between 3.15%–4.7% of home values, up to a $6660 reduction at the average.
Racial and Regional Disparity in Liver Transplant Allocation

Abstract Background Sources of liver transplant disparities are not understood adequately, particularly in terms of race and region. Methods Fixed effects multivariate logistic regression augmented by modified forward and backward stepwise regression of transplanted patients from the United Network for Organ Sharing Standard Transplant Analysis and Research database (1985–2016) was performed to assess causal inference of such disparities. Results In the study sample ( N = 258,602), significant disparities in the odds of receiving a liver were found: African Americans odds ratio 1.12 (95% confidence interval, 1.08–1.17), Asians 1.12 (95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.18), females 0.80 (95% confidence interval, 0.78–0.83), and malignancy 1.18 (95% confidence interval, 1.13–1.22). Region 7 (IL, MN, ND, SD, and WI) was set as the reference level since its transplantation rate most closely approximated the sex and race-matched rate of the national post-Share 35 average. Significant racial disparities by region were identified using Caucasian Region 7 as the reference: Hispanic Region 9 (New York, West Vermont) 1.22 (1.02–1.45), Hispanic Region 1 (New England) 1.26 (1.01–1.57), Hispanic Region 4 (Oklahoma, TX) 1.23 (1.05–1.43), and Asian Region 4 (Oklahoma, TX) 1.35 (1.05–1.73). Conclusion Despite numerous adjustments to liver allocation, we identified with causal inference statistics on a large dataset spanning ≥30 years there remain racial and regional overweighting.
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Donor Selection and Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC; stem cell) transplants represent a key management option for patients with severe disorders, particularly benign or malignant hematological diseases. However, in order to successfully perform a stem cell transplant, it is vital to determine the optimal source of HPCs to serve as a graft, as well as understand the strengths and limitations of these products. Moreover, it is important to understand the potential complications associated with HPC. As such, the aims of this chapter are as follows: (1) to review the types of stem cell sources available for transplant and how they are collected, (2) to discuss HLA and ABO compatibility in the setting of HPC transplant, (3) to understand the potential side effects of stem cell engraftment/transplantation, and (4) to assess possible treatments for side effects that pertain to transfusion medicine and apheresis services.
Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry and Tandem Mass Spectrometry of Large Biomolecules

A significant research effort has been expended since the 1950s to develop mass spectrometry (MS) as a useful tool for applications in the biological sciences. Many biological materials are involatile and thermally unstable. As new ionization methods have been developed to propel and vaporize larger compounds into the gas phase without significant sample degradation, a parallel effort has gone into developing mass analyzers and detectors to accomodate the larger molecular species. From amino acids to peptides and finally to proteins, ionization methods such as field desorption (FD),(1) plasma desorption (PD),(2, 3) and fast atom bombardment (FAB)(4, 5) have enabled mass spectrometers to detect and determine molecular weight for biomolecules to ~40 kDa.
Towards Quality of Data Standards: Empirical Findings from XBRL

Certain data standards can help improve the quality of the data created according to the standards. But data standards do not always improve data quality. We introduce the notion of “quality of data standards” and argue that quality of data is affected by the quality of the standards used. We develop metrics for assessing quality of data standards. The metrics are evaluated empirically using company financial reports created using the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) data standards. Our findings show the use frequency of standard data elements roughly follows a power law distribution. Tradeoffs exist between relevancy and completeness dimensions and between a single user perspective and user community perspective.
Energetics of Cofactors in Photosynthetic Complexes: Relationship Between Protein–Cofactor Interactions and Midpoint Potentials

In photosynthetic organisms, solar energy drives electron and proton transfer reactions across cell membranes in order to create energy-rich compounds. These reactions are performed by pigment–protein complexes, including bacterial reaction centers and photosystem II. In this chapter we discuss how electron transfer is determined by the transition energies and oxidation–reduction midpoint potentials of the cofactors and how protein environments can alter the energetics of these cofactors, in particular the primary electron donors, the bacteriochlorophyll dimer of reaction centers and P680 of photosystem II. A Huckel model is presented that provides an accurate description of the electronic structure of the bacteriochlorophyll dimer, including why specific protein interactions, namely, electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions, alter not only the oxidation–reduction midpoint potentials but also the electron spin distribution. A special focus is placed on how protein environments can create strong oxidants, including the ability of photosystem II to perform the highly oxidizing reactions needed to oxidize water and the involvement of the Mn4Ca cluster in this process.
Automated Analysis of Time Series Data to Understand Parallel Program Behaviors

Traditionally, performance analysis tools have focused on collecting measurements, attributing them to program source code, and presenting them; responsibility for analysis and interpretation of measurement data falls to application developers. While profiles of parallel programs can identify the presence of performance problems, often developers need to analyze execution behavior over time to understand how and why parallel inefficiencies arise. With the growing scale of supercomputers, such manual analysis is becoming increasingly difficult. In many cases, performance problems of interest only appear at larger scales. Manual analysis of time series data from executions on extreme-scale parallel systems is daunting as the volume of data across processors and time makes it difficult to assimilate. To address this problem, we have developed an automated analysis framework that generates compact summaries of time series data for parallel program executions. These summaries provide users with high-level insight into patterns in the performance data and can quickly direct a user's attention to potential performance bottlenecks. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our framework by applying it to time-series measurements of two scientific codes.
Diagnosis and Management of Valvular Heart Disease

As the total population has been increasingly aging, the prevalence of valvular heart disease has increased to a level where it is now responsible for 10–20% of cardiac surgeries in the United States (Maganti et al., Mayo Clin Proc 85(5):483–500, 2010). Recent years have brought a remarkable improvement in the clinical outcome of patients with valvular heart disease. Our goal in this chapter is to highlight critical issues when evaluating these patients, including etiology and severity of valvular disease, presence or absence of symptoms, relationship of symptoms and prognosis in valvular disease, and risk-benefit ratio of possible interventions. Finally, we will provide the latest guidelines for treatment including surgical consultation and transcatheter interventions.
New Bonding Model of Radical Adsorbate on Lattice Oxygen of Perovskites.

A new model of bonding between radical adsorbates and lattice oxygens is proposed that considers both the adsorbate–oxygen bonding and the weakening of the metal–oxygen bonds. Density functional ca...
Nickel(II) Cyclen Complexes Bearing Ancillary Amide Appendages for the Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2

Substituted cyclen complexes of nickel(II) containing either one or two pendant amide groups were prepared as potential electrocatalysts for the reduction of CO2 to CO. Four complexes bearing two a...
Assessment of Mitral Valve Disease: A Review of Imaging Modalities

Mitral valve disease (MVD) related to mitral valve prolapse (MVP), coronary artery disease (CAD), and calcific mitral stenosis, is increasing in prevalence across the USA and Europe in the context of a longer life expectancy and aging population. In developing countries, rheumatic heart disease remains a major cause of MVD. Echocardiography represents the primary diagnostic modality for assessment of the mitral valve (MV). With the implementation of three-dimensional imaging, echocardiography has become an indispensable tool to evaluate the morphology, geometry, and function of the MV apparatus in the pre-operative setting. However, recognition of its limitations and advances in newer technologies have led to a growing interest in other imaging modalities such as cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). Although still not widely available, CMR is an essential complement to echocardiography, especially when poor image quality, significant variability in flow diameter measurements, and geometric assumptions of flow orifice preclude accurate quantification of mitral regurgitation on echocardiographic images. In addition, CMR can reliably provide quantitative determination of ventricular volumes and function, hence facilitating surgical decision-making when serial linear echocardiographic measurements are discrepant. Finally, CMR assessment of fibrosis using late gadolinium enhancement allows better understanding of the interactions between MVD and the myocardium in both MVP and MVD related to CAD or other myopathy. In this review, we summarize the role of the available imaging modalities in understanding valvular pathology and determining severity of regurgitation or stenosis. Recently published valvular guidelines highlight the importance of monitoring MVD progression and the shift to intervention earlier in the course of disease. In this context, we also discuss the potential role of echocardiography and CMR in identifying early stages of MVD and/or pre-clinical markers of myocardial dysfunction.
National trends in hospital readmission following transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary lesions.

Several institutions recently published their experiences with unplanned readmissions rates after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary lesions. Readmission rates on a national level, however, have not been explored in depth. We investigated nationwide trends in this procedure and associated independent predictors, costs, and causes of 30-day readmission. The Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried to identify patients 18 and older who underwent transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary lesion resection (2010–2015). National trends and statistical variances were calculated based on weighted, clustered, and stratified sample means. Of the weighted total of 44,759 patients treated over the 6-year period, 4658 (10.4%) were readmitted within 30 days. Readmission rates did not change across the survey period (P = 0.71). Patients readmitted had a higher prevalence of comorbidities than those not readmitted (82.5% vs. 78.4%, respectively, P < 0.001), experienced more postoperative complications (47.2% vs. 31.8%, P < 0.001), and had a longer length of stay (6.59 vs. 4.23 days, P < 0.001) during index admission. The most common causes for readmission were SIADH (17.5%) and other hyponatremia (16.4%). Average total readmission cost was $12,080 with no significant trend across the study period (P = 0.25). Predictors for readmission identified included diabetes mellitus, psychological disorders, renal failure, and experiencing diabetes insipidus during the index admission. Unplanned readmission is an important quality metric. While transsphenoidal pituitary surgery is a relatively safe procedure, 30-day readmission rates and costs have not declined. Future studies on institutional protocols targeting these identified predictors to prevent readmission are necessary to decrease readmission rates on a national scale.
Power and Politics: Decision-Making, Protection, Rebuilding, and Justice

Understanding the nexus between community advocacy, social justice, and political power is critical to cultivating an awareness of moving toward environmental justice. Communities that organize for social, economic, and environmental justice in the face of the powerful corporations and their lobbying groups provide case studies and models for future action. The ways we engage within these communities are important catalysts for change. We explore policy and decision-making processes as they pertain to who is and is not included. Because policy is complicated and varies widely at different levels, this chapter explores important policy entities and mechanisms at the international, national, tribal, and other local levels.
Hot under the collar: A latent measure of interstate hostility:

The majority of studies on international conflict escalation use a variety of measures of hostility including the use of force, reciprocity, and the number of fatalities. The use of different measu...
Abstract 14108: Does Primary Graft Dysfunction Increase First Year Intimal Thickness After Heart Transplantation?

Introduction: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) has been reported in between 7-30% of heart transplant recipients with severe PGD known to have poor outcome. Due to graft dysfunction and potential fo...
Extramammary myofibroblastoma of the zygomatic arch

Abstract Myofibroblastomas are tumors of the breast, which can rarely present at extramammary sites. Only a few cases have been reported to appear in the head and neck. Here we discuss the first reported case of an extramammary myofibroblastoma presenting as a firm nodule on the zygomatic arch and review the literature of these rare tumors in the head and neck.
Parallel operation of power converters and their filters

Abstract The synchronized and interleaving control of the parallel-connected voltage source converters (VSCs) is described in this chapter. The component mismatch, application of different voltage vectors, and dead-time effects may lead to the circulating current between the parallel-connected VSCs. The circulating current is analyzed for the parallel-connected VSCs with the common and separate DC-bus arrangements. The control techniques for the proper load sharing and circulating current reduction are discussed in detail. The harmonic performance of the parallel-connected VSCs can be improved by interleaving control. The harmonic performance of various commonly used pulse width modulation (PWM) schemes is evaluated. Since the parallel interleaved VSCs yield multilevel voltage waveforms, a multilevel PWM scheme can be used. A modified multilevel PWM scheme that leads to improved harmonic performance is also illustrated. Various filtering techniques for the high-frequency circulating current suppression are also discussed.
Alkylation of flavins using methyl fluorosulfonate

A method for N3 methylation of flavins is described using methyl fluorosulfonate. The reaction proceeds through O alkylation of the carbonyls followed by an O to N rearrangement.
A career in lactation biology

Abstract This introduction summarizes some of the contributions made by woman in the field of lactation biology and endocrine regulation of lactation. In particular, it highlights the career of Dr. Karen Plaut, who at the time of writing this introduction was Dean of the College of Agriculture at Purdue University. She was a trailblazer for women in lactation biology following in the footsteps on some influential women in the field. She describes some of the accomplishments made by women in the field and some of the opportunities for the future.
Legacy of a 10-Year Multidomain Lifestyle Intervention on the Cognitive Trajectories of Individuals with Overweight/Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Introduction Weight loss and increased physical activity interventions are commonly recommended for individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight or obesity. We examined the impact of randomization to an intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) on trajectories of cognitive function over 10 years in a cohort of participants in a randomized clinical trial who had T2D and overweight/obesity at baseline. Methods Participants aged 45-76 years were enrolled in 2001-2004 and were randomized to the ILI or a diabetes support and education (DSE) condition. Cognitive function was assessed in 3,938 participants at up to 4 time points 8-18 years after randomization. General linear mixed effects models examined cognitive trajectories over time. Subgroup analyses focused on sex, individuals with baseline body mass index >30, those carrying the APOE e4 allele, and those with a baseline history of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Results Overall, there were no differences in the rate of cognitive decline by intervention arm. Subgroup analyses showed that participants who had a baseline history of CVD and were randomized to the ILI arm of the study performed significantly worse on the Stroop Color Word Test than those in the DSE arm. Discussion/conclusions The ILI did not result in preserved cognitive function or slower rates of cognitive decline in this cohort of individuals who had T2D and were overweight or obese at baseline.
Isolation and flow cytometric characterization of plant protoplasts.

Publisher Summary Cell structural properties measured by flow cytometry (FCM) have been used to discriminate the subpopulations of white blood cells, to resolve subpopulations in tumors, to separate mitotic cells from interphase cells, and to evaluate chromatin conformational changes in isolated nuclei. The molecular basis for the observed alterations in cytoplasm and chromatin conformation and structure is unknown but could involve the nuclear matrix and the cytomatrix. A new FCM method combining light-scattering measurements and detection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) incorporation through fluorescent antibodies and the quantitation of cellular DNA content by propidium iodide (PI) allows the identification of additional compartments in the cell cycle. The thermal denaturation appears to enhance the differences in the chromatin structure of cells in the various phases of the cell cycle to the extent that cells could be separated based on the 90o scatter, which is mainly dependent on reflective and refractive components in the nucleus. Light scattering is correlated with chromatin condensation, as judged by the microscopic evaluation of cells sorted based on the light scatter. The method has the advantage over the parental BrdUrd/DNA bivariate analysis in allowing the G2 and M phases of the cell cycle to be separated and the G1 phase to be analyzed in detail.
Abstract 2501: Proteomics signature of lack of retinoic acid signal surveillance at early breast cancer stages

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Endogenous retinoic acid (RA), the bioactive derivative of Vitamin A, is necessary for breast acinar morphogenesis. One of the hallmarks of early stage breast cancer, such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), is the inability to respond to RA morphogenetic action, which results in the uncontrolled growth of the mammary duct luminal cells. By imaging endogenous RA signaling during normal and aberrant breast acinar development in three dimensional (3D) culture, we found that the inability to form the acinar lumen can be traced to lack of activation of the RA receptor alpha (RARA) genomic function by endogenous RA variation. We further found that aberrant acinar morphogenesis, regardless of the causing factors, is marked by a distinct protein signature, which includes the upregulation of Annexin A8 (ANXA8). Forced expression of ANXA8 in breast epithelial cells was sufficient to disrupt 3D acinar architecture. Moreover, by screening DCIS tissue microarrays (TMAs), we found that ANXA8 expression correlates with tumor grade and stage. Thus, further development of this proteomics signature indicative of lack RA signal surveillance is expected to assist in the early detection of initial breast cancer stages. This work was funded by R01 CA127614, the Friends for an Earlier Breast Cancer Test Foundation, and the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation. Citation Format: Stefano Rossetti, Wiam Bshara, Nicoletta Sacchi. Proteomics signature of lack of retinoic acid signal surveillance at early breast cancer stages. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2501. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2501
Phosphatidylglycerol and fetal lung maturity

The lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio has been reported to be inadequate as a predictor of fetal surfactant maturity in many complicated obstetric cases, particularly in patients with diabetes. L/S ratios are also unreliable when the sample contains blood or meconium. Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) is present only in amniotic fluid and respiratory tract effluent. PG may characterize surfactant maturity in samples of amniotic fluid contaminated with blood or meconium as well as specimens collected from the vagina in cases of premature rupture of membranes. Three hundred eleven samples of amniotic fluid collected from January, 1980, to June, 1981, were analyzed for L/S ratio and PG. This report analyses the ability of these tests to predict neonatal maturity in normal and complicated obstetric cases.
Vegetative bacteriophage λ DNA: I. Infectiv in a spheroplast assay☆

The conditions for infection of spheroplasts of several strains of Escherichia coli by λ DNA have been studied. An assay has been developed and used to compare the capacity of λ DNA, at various stages of infection, to infect either spheroplasts or helper-phage-infected whole bacteria. In contrast to the results obtained with the helper assay, λ DNA extracted from an immune lysogen after superinfection is able to infect spheroplasts. The component from the infected cell which is responsible for most of the infectivity in the spheroplast assay is the twisted, circular form of λ DNA. This component is non-infective in the helper assay. Similarly, after infection of a sensitive bacterium by λ, there is no loss of DNA infectivity, measured in the spheroplast assay, although the capacity of the extracted DNA to infect helper-infected bacteria decreases 85%. During infection, synthesis of λ DNA which is able to infect spheroplasts precedes the synthesis of λ DNA which is able to infect helper-infected bacteria by at least 20 minutes at 30 °C. The conclusion suggested by these and experiments presented in the following paper is that synthesis of the twisted, circular form of λ DNA occurs until the time of phage maturation, at which time linear phage DNA, containing cohesive ends, is synthesized and encapsulated. The “notched” circular form of λ DNA, prepared in vitro, is also able to infect spheroplasts, although it has little infectivity in the helper assay.
The Impact of National Culture on the Continuous Learning Environment

Abstract Companies spend billions of dollars on formalized training, and other less formal methods of learning are perhaps even more pervasive. For these expenditures to be fruitful, organizations must ensure that their employees continually learn from an appropriate mix of sourcestraining and otherwise-and that the work environment encourages the acquisition and application of new skills and ideas. This exploratory research examined the continuous learning environment in four countries: United States, Japan, Korea, and China. The goals of this research were to (1) examine whether a continuous learning environment survey developed in the United States would translate well into other languages, and (2) gather initial data on the patterns of factors that influence continuous learning in these countries. Results suggest that the importance of learning, the sources of learning, and the conditions under which continuous learning is enhanced differ among countries. Implications for future research are presented.
Imidacloprid decreased lifespan and increased intestinal fat deposition in C. elegans (1029.8)

Two thirds of the US population is overweight or obese and childhood obesity is increasing. Growing evidence supports a connection between obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and environmental chemical exposure. Effects of imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide, on intestinal fat deposition and lifespan were tested in wild type (N2) and daf-16 deficient (daf-16(mgDf50)I) Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in liquid culture supplied with 5-fluoro-2’-deoxyuridine (0.24mM). Control group received E. coli (OP50). Experimental group was treated with additional imidacloprid (0.1-1,000nM). Half of the nematodes were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, washed with PBS, stained with Nile red and fluorescent spectrometry determined intensity. Imidacloprid dose-dependently reduced mean survival time during 22 day study and increased intestinal fat deposition in N2. The reduced fat deposition was diminished and the lifespan was mildly decreased by imidacloprid in daf-16(mgDf50)I (0.1nM, P=0.003). These data prove tha...
An optimal method for identification of pole-zero transfer functions

An optimal algorithm for estimation of the parameters of rational transfer functions from prescribed impulse response data is presented. The proposed method is based on the minimization of the l/sub 2/-norm of the true fitting error and is uniformly applicable for rational models with arbitrary numbers of poles and zeros. Existing methods either modify the true nonlinear error criterion in the theoretical derivation or require the transfer function model to have exactly one less number of zeros than poles. The multidimensional nonlinear error criterion is decoupled into a purely linear and a nonlinear subproblem of reduced dimension. The inherent mathematical structure in the non-linear subproblem is exploited in formulating an efficient iterative computational algorithm for its minimization. The effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated with several simulation examples. >
Mechanism of Folate Transport in Lactobacillus casei: Evidence for a Component Shared with the Thiamine and Biotin Transport Systems

Lactobacillus casei cells have been shown previously to utilize two separate binding proteins for the transport of folate and thiamine. Folate transport, however, was found to be strongly inhibited by thiamine in spite of the fact that the folate-binding protein has no measurable affinity for thiamine. This inhibition, which did not fluctuate with intracellular adenosine triphosphate levels, occurred only in cells containing functional transport systems for both vitamins and was noncompetitive with folate but competitive with respect to the level of folate-binding protein. Folate uptake in cells containing optimally induced transport systems for both vitamins was inhibited by thiamine (1 to 10 muM) to a maximum of 45%; the latter value increased to 77% in cells that contained a progressively diminished folate transport system and a normal thiamine system. Cells preloaded with thiamine could transport folate at a normal rate, indicating that the inhibition resulted from the entry of thiamine rather than from its presence in the cell. In a similar fashion, folate (1 to 10 muM) did not interfere with the binding of thiamine to its transport protein, but inhibited thiamine transport (to a maximum of 25%). Competition also extended to biotin, whose transport was strongly inhibited (58% and 73%, respectively) by the simultaneous uptake of either folate or thiamine; biotin, however, had only a minimal effect on either folate or thiamine transport. The nicotinate transport system was unaffected by co-transport with folate, thiamine, or biotin. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the folate, thiamine, and biotin transport systems of L. casei each function via a specific binding protein, and that they require, in addition, a common component present in limiting amounts per cell. The latter may be a protein required for the coupling of energy to these transport processes.
Modeling effects of dexamethasone on disease progression of bone mineral density in collagen-induced arthritic rats

A mechanism-based model was developed to characterize the crosstalk between proinflammatory cytokines, bone remodeling biomarkers, and bone mineral density (BMD) in collagen-induced arthritic (CIA) rats. Male Lewis rats were divided into five groups: healthy control, CIA control, CIA receiving single 0.225 mg kg(-1) subcutaneous (SC) dexamethasone (DEX), CIA receiving single 2.25 mg kg(-1) SC DEX, and CIA receiving chronic 0.225 mg kg(-1) SC DEX. The CIA rats underwent collagen induction at day 0 and DEX was injected at day 21 post-induction. Disease activity was monitored throughout the study and rats were sacrificed at different time points for blood and paw collection. Protein concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b) in paws were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Disease progression and DEX pharmacodynamic profiles of IL-1β, IL-6, RANKL, and OPG were fitted simultaneously and parameters were sequentially applied to fit the TRACP-5b and BMD data. The model was built according to the mechanisms reported in the literature and modeling was performed using ADAPT 5 software with naive pooling. Time profiles of IL-1β and IL-6 protein concentrations correlated with their mRNAs. The RANKL and OPG profiles matched previous findings in CIA rats. DEX inhibited the expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, and RANKL, but did not alter OPG. TRACP-5b was also inhibited by DEX. Model predictions suggested that anti-IL-1β therapy and anti-RANKL therapy would result in similar efficacy for prevention of bone loss among the cytokine antagonists.
An in situ toxicity identification evaluation method part II: Field validation

When sediments are found to be toxic usually there is a mixture of chemicals present. Often it is important to establish which chemicals contribute to the toxicity. Establishing causality can be difficult and often requires fractionation with subsequent toxicity testing. The sample collection and manipulation process can alter chemical bioavailability and toxicity. An in situ toxicity identification evaluation (iTIE) chamber is described that was placed in sediments and fractionated pore-water chemicals into nonpolar chemicals, metals, and ammonia-type groups. This method was field tested and compared to the laboratory-based, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) method. Field studies were performed at three sites contaminated primarily with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (Little Scioto River, OH, USA), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (Dicks Creek, OH, USA), and chlorobenzenes (Sebasticook River, ME, USA). Both the iTIE and the U.S. EPA TIE methods used Daphnia magna in 24-h exposures. Although the iTIE and TIE were conducted on sediments from the same location, there was significantly more toxicity observed in the iTIE testing. The dominant chemical classes were separated by the iTIE method and revealed which fractions contributed to toxicity. The loss of toxicity in the TIE approach did not allow for subsequent fractionation and stressor identification. Advantages of the iTIE over the TIE method were greater sensitivity and ability to detect causative toxic chemical fractions; lack of sediment collection and subsequent manipulation; and, thus, reduction in potential artifacts, more realistic exposure with slow, continual pore-water renewal in situ, ability to evaluate pore waters in sandy or rocky substrates where pore waters are difficult to collect, and a quicker phase I evaluation. Limitations of the iTIE method as compared to the TIE methods were extensive pretest assembly process, fewer phase I fractionation possibilities, and restriction to shallow waters. The results of these studies suggest that the iTIE method provides a more accurate and sensitive evaluation of pore water toxicity than the laboratory TIE method.
Experimental hepatic tumor necrosis. Comparison of spin-echo and pulsed magnetization transfer contrast magnetic resonance imaging.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: We compared the effectiveness of pulsed magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spin-echo MRI in detecting tumor necrosis. METHODS: Adenocarcinoma cells were transplanted in the livers of 12 syngenic BDIX rats. To induce various degrees of tumor necrosis, the rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: 1) control; 2) localized hyperthermia; 3) intralesional cisplatin; and 4) hyperthermia plus intralesional cisplatin. At day 7 after treatment, the rats were imaged using a 1.5-T imager with 1) multiplanar gradient-recalled echo sequence (MPGR) 500/8/20 degrees with and without magnetization transfer contrast (MTC); 2) spin-echo 2500/20,80, and 3) spin-echo 300/20 pulse sequences. The rats were then sacrificed and pathologic specimens were prepared using MR images as guidance. T2 and ratios of signal intensity after saturation to signal intensity before saturation (Ms/Mo ratios) of the necrotic and granulation tissues and viable tumors were determined in 10 rats. RESULTS: Compared with standard MPGR images, MPGR images with MTC provided better contrast between the pathologic tissues and normal liver. However, T2 values were more useful than Ms/Mo ratios in distinguishing necrotic areas from viable tumor. The T2 values of coagulative necrosis and granulation tissue were significantly different from that of viable tumor. No significant difference between the Ms/Mo ratios of the different pathologic tissues and normal liver was found. CONCLUSION: Pulsed magnetization transfer contrast MRI was inferior to spin-echo MRI in distinguishing necrotic from viable tumors in rat livers using the pulse sequences described, and none of the sequences studied was thought to be reliable enough for this purpose.
Antigen-specific human T-lymphocyte clones. Genetic restriction of influenza virus-specific responses to HLA-D region genes.

Abstract Human T lymphocytes, primed in vitro to influenza virus, were cloned by limiting dilution and expanded using medium containing interleukin 2 and feeder cells. A detailed analysis of the genetic requirements for induction of T-cell proliferation was conducted using a panel of cells from unrelated donors and two families who had previously been extensively phenotyped for HLA region antigens. Clones obtained from a Dw1,Dw3 individual required Dw1,DR1 histocompatibility for successful presentation of viral antigens by antigen-presenting cells. The antigen-presenting ability segregated with HLA-B,D,DR in an informative HLA-A/B recombinant individual. In contrast, some TLCs responded to antigen presented by cells that did not share known HLA antigens, and in one informative family, reactivity did not segregate with HLA. None of the T-cell clones reacted to allogeneic cells in the absence of antigen, suggesting that the TLCs do not bear receptors that recognize both influenza virus and alloantigens. In antibody-blocking studies. Dw1, DR1-restricted clones were blocked by all monoclonal anti-DR framework antibodies. The non-HLA-restricted TLCs were blocked by some, but not all, of the anti-DR framework monoclonal antibodies. These results confirm and extend the role of HLA-D region gene products in antigen presentation and also provide that yet undefined cell interaction products, which may include hybrid structures, are able to participate in antigen-specific proliferative responses by human T cells.
Correlation of tensile properties with plane-strain, limiting dome height

While no single test can predict the formability of sheet metal under all modes of deformation, the planestrain limiting dome height (LDH0) has been shown to correlate with material performance during stretching. However, because LDH0 values are a relatively new measure of formability, and require specialized equipment to measure, such data are not commonly available. Thus it was considered desirable to determine whether a reasonable correlation exists between LDH0 and tensile properties. The latter can be measured more readily or, alternatively, are routinely generated by suppliers. A comparison of LDH0 and transverse tensile data from nineteen steel samples, eleven aluminum samples, and a zinc sample demonstrated that LDH0 correlates best with the total elongation. Further, all the data can be represented by a straight line whose equation is: LDH0(mm) = 10.0 + 0.508 × [Total Elongation (pct)] with a standard error of estimate of 1.62 mm for 50.8 mm gage length specimens of ASTM E-8 configuration. Additional refinement of the goodness-of-fit through incorporation of planar anisotropy was investigated for some of the steel samples. It was found that r (as opposed to r0 or r90) yielded the greatest improvement in goodness-of-fit and that a high r was detrimental to a high LDH0 value.
Theoretical study of the CICS2 adduct

Abstract Three adducts of atomic chlorine with CS2 were studied with G1 theory, S isomer, where the chlorine atom is attached to a sulfur atom, and two C isomers, where the chlorine atom as attached to a carbon atom in a symmetrical or unsymmetrical complex. The symmetrical C isomer has the largest calculated binding energy (8.3 kcal/mol), in good agreement with the experimental binding energy of 10.5 kcal/mol at 298 K. At the Hartree—Fock level, the unsymmetrical C isomer is more stable than the symmetrical C isomer due to the “symmetry breaking” phenomenon. While the MP2 level of electron correlation strongly favors the symmetrical structure, higher levels of electron correlation reduce the preference. G1 theory predicts the unsymmetrical structure to be only 1.0 kcal/mol less stable.
Effect of support structure on CO2 adsorption properties of pore-expanded hyperbranched aminosilicas

Hyperbranched aminosilica (HAS) CO2 adsorbents are prepared by the ring-opening polymerization of aziridine from SBA-15 mesoporous silica, as in the original synthesis of HAS materials, as well as over an array of new support materials with substantially larger average pore diameters to elucidate the effect of support porosity on final adsorbent properties. Pore-expanded hyperbranched aminosilica (PEHAS) CO2 adsorbents are prepared from several different pore-expanded, ordered mesoporous silicas including pore-expanded SBA-15, mesocellular foam, and a large-pore commercial silica. The effect of the nature of the silica support is determined by examining the degree of aziridine polymerization and the CO2 adsorption kinetics and capacities of the resulting organic/inorganic hybrid materials. Comparisons are made to non-pore-expanded SBA-15 based HAS adsorbents, reported previously, where pores become blocked at higher amine loadings. The PEHAS materials unexpectedly possess lower amine loadings than the previously reported HAS materials and do not exhibit pore blocking. The use of acetic acid as a catalyst during PEHAS synthesis only marginally increases amine loading. The adsorption kinetics of PEHAS adsorbents are similar to HAS adsorbents with low amine loadings and do not show the detrimental effects of pore-blocking. However, the inability to synthesize PEHAS adsorbents with high amine loadings via this approach limits the total amount of CO2 captured per gram of material, compared to HAS adsorbents with high amine loadings.
Metabolites of furazolidone in urine of chickens.

Colostomized chickens were medicated with single oral doses of the antibacterial furazolidone. An average of 7.5 ± 3.0% of the dose was excreted in the urine within 12 hr. as compounds measured by a procedure in which they react to form 5-nitrofurfural phenylhydrazone. Chromatographic analysis delected four metabolites containing a furan ring. Only one metabolite reacted to form 5-nitrofurfural phenylhydrazone. Elimination of the metabolites with a furan ring was complete in 12 hr. Only traces of furazolidone were detected by the chromatographic procedure.
Diffusive fractionation of surface implanted gases

Abstract During the thermal release of gases trapped in near-surface regions, the composition of the evolving gas, as well as that of the remaining gas, asymptotically approaches a constant value different from the composition of the implanted gas and dependent on the relative depths of trapping and the relative diffusion coefficients. The composition of the implanted gas cannot be unambiguously determined by thermal release experiments, except if large losses have occurred simultaneously with ion implantation, in which case the composition of the implanted gas is the same as the observed composition of the initial gas release. If large gas losses occur subsequent to gas implantation but prior to analysis, all thermal release fractions will have the asymptotic composition. Thus, the observation of a constant composition for a large number or even all thermal release fractions representing a major portion of the total gas is not sufficient evidence for the existence of a gas reservoir in the solar system with that composition. Additional information about the extent of prior loss and about relative implantation depths and diffusion coefficients is necessary to deduce the composition of the implanted gas. Evidence that trapped rare gases in lunar samples and gas-rich meteorites are fractionated by this mechanism is found in the variation of the trapped Ne isotopic compositions as a fucntion of gas release and the comparison of these compositions with solar wind values. At least two of the Ne components previously inferred to exist in these samples can be related by diffusive fractionation during analysis.
Cholecystokinin tetrapeptide, proglumide and open-field behavior in rats

The effect of cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK-4) was studied in an open field situation. CCK-4 increased locomotion and rearing and the effect was enhanced by proglumide, a selective antagonist of CCK-8. This is in sharp contrast to our earlier findings that CCK-8 decreased the open-field behavior and that proglumide completely blocked the effect. Thus, the effects of CCK-4 and CCK-8 appear to be opposite to each other in that one is excitatory and the other inhibitory to open-field responses.
Counting the house in public television: A history of ratings use, 1953–1980

This study explores the evolution, diffusion and application of audience research in public television from its origins through the 1970s, the formative period for the system. Shifts in funding structures for public TV and the rise of cable and satellite competition are reflected in the changing practice of such research.
Feature fusion using ranking for object tracking in aerial imagery

Aerial wide-area monitoring and tracking using multi-camera arrays poses unique challenges compared to stan- dard full motion video analysis due to low frame rate sampling, accurate registration due to platform motion, low resolution targets, limited image contrast, static and dynamic parallax occlusions.1{3 We have developed a low frame rate tracking system that fuses a rich set of intensity, texture and shape features, which enables adaptation of the tracker to dynamic environment changes and target appearance variabilities. However, improper fusion and overweighting of low quality features can adversely aect target localization and reduce tracking performance. Moreover, the large computational cost associated with extracting a large number of image-based feature sets will in uence tradeos for real-time and on-board tracking. This paper presents a framework for dynamic online ranking-based feature evaluation and fusion in aerial wide-area tracking. We describe a set of ecient descriptors suitable for small sized targets in aerial video based on intensity, texture, and shape feature representations or views. Feature ranking is then used as a selection procedure where target-background discrimination power for each (raw) feature view is scored using a two-class variance ratio approach. A subset of the k-best discriminative features are selected for further processing and fusion. The target match probability or likelihood maps for each of the k features are estimated by comparing target descriptors within a search region using a sliding win- dow approach. The resulting k likelihood maps are fused for target localization using the normalized variance ratio weights. We quantitatively measure the performance of the proposed system using ground-truth tracks within the framework of our tracking evaluation test-bed that incorporates various performance metrics. The proposed feature ranking and fusion approach increases localization accuracy by reducing multimodal eects due to low quality features or background clutter. Adaptive feature ranking increases the robustness of the tracker in dynamically changing environments especially when the object appearance is changing.