cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overview of the 2014 Food and Drug Administration Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee Meeting About Vorapaxar

Patients with a history of heart disease are at increased risk for future cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and death resulting from cardiovascular disease. Although coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, advancements in medical therapy, particularly antithrombotic agents, have improved patient outcomes.1–4 Although the trend for MI and death after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) over the past 20 years has declined,5,6 such medical advancements are still met with discouraging rates of death and MI after revascularization.7 To this end, it is the recommendation of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association that all ACS patients, regardless of whether percutaneous coronary intervention was performed, be treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for 1 year ( Class IA ).8 Such recommendations are based largely on results from the Clopidogrel in Unstable Angina to Prevent Recurrent Events (CURE) trial, which assessed aspirin versus DAPT with aspirin and clopidogrel for the reduction of ischemic end points in patients presenting with non–ST-segment–elevation ACS who did not receive percutaneous coronary intervention.9 Seeing a need for further risk reduction in long-term management of patients with established atherothrombotic risk, the Thrombin Receptor Antagonist in Secondary Prevention of Atherothrombotic Ischemic Events (TRA 2P)–Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 50 was conducted. The study drug, vorapaxar (Zontivity, Merck, NJ), is an antagonist of the platelet protease-activated receptor (PAR-1) and inhibits thrombin-induced platelet aggregation.10,11 Vorapaxar was shown to have a significant benefit for the reduction of cardiovascular death and ischemic complications in addition to secondary prevention.12 Vorapaxar was also tested in the Thrombin Receptor Antagonist for Clinical Event Reduction in Acute Coronary Syndrome (TRACER) trial as part of adjunct therapy in the non–ST-segment–elevation ACS population.13 In this population, however, …
Optimal thermal design of compression molds for chopped‐fiber composites

Because heat is convected by the motion of material in the cavity of a compression mold, the time-averaged heating load on the cavity surface is nonuniform. In rapid production of large, thin parts, this can lead to large variations in cavity surface temperature when the mold is heated by the usual uniform distribution of heating lines. In this paper, a new method is developed for optimizing the mold heating design so that this nonuniform heating requirement can be satisfied with a minimum variation in cavity surface temperature. Oil heating is considered specifically, but the method can also be used for stream or electric heat. The optimal position and power supply for each heating line in the mold is determined by combining mathematical programming techniques with an analysis of the steady temperature field in the mold. The nonuniform heating load on the cavity surface is represented by a time-averaged steady heat transfer coefficient calculated from the transient temperature distribution in a polyester sheet molding compound as it fills the mold cavity. The design method is applied to an example mold for a large flat panel. At a one-minute cycle, the optimal heating design dramatically reduces nonuniformity in cavity surface temperature compared with a conventional distribution of heating lines. The optimal design is remarkably simple, uses only conventional equipment, and involves only half the customary number of heating lines. Nevertheless, it still has sufficient flexibility to adjust for changes in cycle time without sacrificing uniformity in cavity surface temperature.
Gradable adjectives: A defence of pluralism

This paper attacks the Implicit Reference Class Theory of gradable adjectives and proposes instead a ‘pluralist’ approach to the semantics of those terms, according to which they can be governed by a variety of different types of standards, one, but only one, of which is the group-indexed standards utilized by the Implicit Reference Class Theory.
New tests of Lorentz invariance following from observations of the highest energy cosmic γ-rays

We use the recent reanalysis of multi-TeV -ray observations of Mrk 501 to constrain the Lorentz invariance breaking parameter involving the maximum electron velocity. Our limit is two orders of magnitude better than that obtained from the maximum observed cosmic ray electron energy.
Mutual benefits of research collaborations between zoos and academic institutions.

Zoos focus on welfare, conservation, education, and research related to animals they keep. Academic institutions emphasize description, experimentation, modeling, and teaching of general and specific animal biology and behavior through work in both laboratory and field. The considerable overlap in concerns and methods has increased interest in collaborative projects, but there is ample room for closer and more extensive interactions. The purpose of this article is to increase awareness of potential research collaborations in three areas: (1) control and analysis of behavior, (2) conservation and propagation of species, and (3) education of students and the general public. In each area, we outline (a) research in zoos, (b) research in academics, and (c) potential collaborative efforts. Zoo Biol 27:470–487, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effect of glucose load on synthesis of plasma glucose in lactating cows

We assess the effect of an intravenous glucose load on production of glucose in lactating dairy cows. Isotope dilution techniques were utilized to measure transfer rate of plasma glucose (with tritiated glucose) and gluconeogenesis (with carbon-14 labeled propionate or carbon dioxide). A glucose load equivalent to the cow's normal transfer rate decreased endogenous glucose output two-thirds and decreased gluconeogenesis by half. Glucose concentration and transfer rate were higher within 2 h after glucose load started while carbon-14 transfer to plasma glucose became increasingly depressed and persisted for at least 1 h after loading terminated. Reduced plasma glucose synthesis from propionate during loading was associated with increased transfer of propionate carbon to plasma phospholipids, triglycerides, and cholesterol esters, and with increased plasma insulin concentration. It appears that glucogenic precursors are utilized for greater synthesis of lipid (and presumably glycogen) and that loading leads to metabolic changes causing net reduction in gluconeogenic capacity. These changes could have important implications for use of intravenous glucose in treating hypoglycemic metabolic conditions.
Snail Cooperates with KrasG12D in vivo to Increase Stem Cell Factor and Enhance Mast Cell Infiltration

Pancreaticductaladenocarcinoma(PDAC)isassociatedwithapronounced fibro-inflammatorystromalreaction that contributes to tumor progression. A critical step in invasion and metastasis is the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which can be regulated by the Snail family of transcription factors. Overexpression of Snail (Snai1) and mutant Kras G12D in the pancreas of transgenic mice, using an elastase (EL) promoter, resulted in fibrosis. To identify how Snail modulates inflammation in the pancreas, we examined the effect of expressing Snail inEL-Kras G12D mice(Kras G12D /Snail)onmastcellinfiltration,whichhasbeenlinkedtoPDACprogression.Using this animal model system, it was demonstrated that there are increased numbers of mast cells in the pancreas of Kras G12D /Snail mice compared with control Kras G12D mice. In addition, it was revealed that human primary PDAC tumors with increased Snail expression are associated with increased mast cell infiltration, and that Snail expression in these clinical specimens positively correlated with the expression of stem cell factor (SCF/KITLG), a cytokine known to regulate mast cell migration. Concomitantly, SCF levels are increased in the Kras G12D /Snail mice than in control mice. Moreover, overexpression of Snail in PDAC cells increased SCF levels, and the media conditioned by Snail-expressing PDAC cells promoted mast cell migration. Finally, inhibition of SCF using a neutralizing antibody significantly attenuated Snail-induced migration of mast cells. Implications: Together, these results elucidate how the EMT regulator Snail contributes to inflammation associated with PDAC tumors. Mol Cancer Res; 12(10); 1440–8. � 2014 AACR.
Acyclic 1,2-/1,3-mixed pentols. Synthesis and general trends in bichromophoric exciton coupled circular dichroic spectra

Abstract The synthesis of all eight configurational isomers of acyclic 1,2,3,4,6-pentols belonging to the 2R enantiomeric series is described. The 1-anthroyl-2,3,4,6-p-methoxycinnamates of these pentols give rise to unique exciton coupled circular dichroic spectra in the range of 220–380 nm. Comparisons with the CD of corresponding bichromophoric derivatives of the lower homologous tetrols, 1-anthroyl-2,3,4-p-methoxycinnamates led to a predictable general trend in which only minor differences result from 1,3-syn extensions whereas major differences result from 1,3-anti extensions.
Virulence Meets Metabolism: Cra and KdpE Gene Regulation in Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

Gastrointestinal (GI) bacteria sense diverse environmental signals as cues for differential gene regulation and niche adaptation. Pathogens such as enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), which causes bloody diarrhea, use these signals for the temporal and energy-efficient regulation of their virulence factors. One of the main virulence strategies employed by EHEC is the formation of attaching and effacing (AE) lesions on enterocytes. Most of the genes necessary for the formation of these lesions are grouped within a pathogenicity island, the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE), whose expression requires the LEE-encoded regulator Ler. Here we show that growth of EHEC in glycolytic environments inhibits the expression of ler and consequently all other LEE genes. Conversely, growth within a gluconeogenic environment activates expression of these genes. This sugar-dependent regulation is achieved through two transcription factors: KdpE and Cra. Both Cra and KdpE directly bind to the ler promoter, and Cra's affinity to this promoter is catabolite dependent. Moreover, we show that the Cra and KdpE proteins interact in vitro and that KdpE's ability to bind DNA is enhanced by the presence of Cra. Cra is important for AE lesion formation, and KdpE contributes to this Cra-dependent regulation. The deletion of cra and kdpE resulted in the ablation of AE lesions. One of the many challenges that bacteria face within the GI tract is to successfully compete for carbon sources. Linking carbon metabolism to the precise coordination of virulence expression is a key step in the adaptation of pathogens to the GI environment. IMPORTANCE An appropriate and prompt response to environmental cues is crucial for bacterial survival. Cra and KdpE are two proteins found in both nonpathogenic and pathogenic bacteria that regulate genes in response to differences in metabolite concentration. In this work, we show that, in the deadly pathogen enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7, which causes bloody diarrhea, these two proteins influence important virulence traits. We also propose that their control of one or more of these virulence traits is due to the direct interaction of the Cra and KdpE proteins with each other, as well as with their DNA targets. This work shows how EHEC coopts established mechanisms for sensing the metabolites and stress cues in the environment, to induce virulence factors in a temporal and energy-efficient manner, culminating in disease. Understanding how pathogens commandeer nonpathogenic systems can help us develop measures to control them.
Behavioral syndromes and the evolution of correlated behavior in zebrafish

Studies of “behavioral syndromes” in different populations and species of animals can be used to shed light on the underlying mechanisms of evolution. For example, some personality syndromes suggest the existence of an underlying hormonal link, whereas other relationships between boldness and aggression appear to be the result of similar selective pressures. Here, we used 1 wild-derived and 2 laboratory strains of zebrafish (Danio rerio) to examine relationships among 5 behavioral measures: shoaling, activity level, predator approaches, latency to feed after a disturbance, and biting to a mirror stimulus. We found evidence of an activity syndrome, as if underlying metabolic costs influence variation in multiple forms of behavior. Evidence for a relationship between boldness and aggression was also apparent but depended both on strain and which specific behavior patterns were identified as measures of “boldness.” Although some comparisons of laboratory and wild-derived strains were consistent with a domestication syndrome, others were not. Most observed relationships were relatively weak and occasionally inconsistent, arguing against strong underlying genetic linkages or pleiotropic effects relating any of the behavioral measures. Instead, it may be more important to study the details of selective context or the long-term impact of linkages between some, but not all, of a large set of genes influencing complex behavioral traits. We found profound differences among strains in most behavior patterns, but few sex differences. One strain (TM1) was consistently different from the others (SH and Nadia) being more social, more likely to approach predators, and taking less time to recover from disturbance than were the other 2 strains.
Report of the Committee on Infiltration, 1943–44

The personnel of the Committee and the affiliations with the six subcommittees follow: (1) Infiltration and the Physics of Soil Moisture and of the Infiltration Process, B. T. Shaw (Chairman), Willard Gardner, S. J. Richards, F. L. Duley, (2) Infiltration in Relation to Ground-Water Walter N. White (Chairman), S. W. Lohman, Samuel F. Turner, (3) Infiltration in Relation to Snow and Its Physical Properties, Walter T. Wilson (Chairman), B. T. Shaw, George D. Clyde, (4) Infiltration in Relation to Irrigation, M. R. Lewis (Chairman), Harry F. Blaney, Howard L. Cook, (5) Infiltration In Relation to Evapotranspiration and the Consumptive Use of Water, Harry F. Blaney (Chairman), Walter N. White, L. K. Sherman, Colin A. Taylor, Jose Garcia Montes, (6) Infiltration in Relation to Surface-Runoff, Howard L. Cook (Chairman), G. A. Hathaway W. W, Horner R. A. Hertzler, W. B. Langbein
Evaluation of the toxicity of Adonis aestivalis in calves

Toxicosis of Adonis aestivalis is well documented in horses, but little is known of its toxicity in cattle. A. aestivalis (summer pheasant's eye) was collected over multiple years, under different growing conditions, and at various stages of maturity, dried, and administered to calves to evaluate the toxicity of A. aestivalis in cattle. Four 300-lb Holstein, and 2 90-lb, preruminating Jersey calves were administered 1% body weight of ground A. aestivalis via a stomach tube and monitored for clinical signs for 2 weeks and 1 week, respectively. The Holstein calves were then fed 0.2 to 1% body weight A. aestivalis daily for 4 to 5 weeks. The Holstein calves had transient, mild cardiac abnormalities during the feeding trial. Mild, transient gastrointestinal and cardiac signs were noted in the preruminating calves. No gross or microscopic lesions were seen on necropsies performed at the end of the study. Based on the results of this study, cattle do not appear to be as susceptible to toxicosis from A. aestivalis as other species, such as horses and pigs.
A Scalable Decoder for Parsing-Based Machine Translation with Equivalent Language Model State Maintenance

We describe a scalable decoder for parsing-based machine translation. The decoder is written in JAVA and implements all the essential algorithms described in Chiang (2007): chart-parsing, m-gram language model integration, beam- and cube-pruning, and unique k-best extraction. Additionally, parallel and distributed computing techniques are exploited to make it scalable. We also propose an algorithm to maintain equivalent language model states that exploits the back-off property of m-gram language models: instead of maintaining a separate state for each distinguished sequence of "state" words, we merge multiple states that can be made equivalent for language model probability calculations due to back-off. We demonstrate experimentally that our decoder is more than 30 times faster than a baseline decoder written in PYTHON. We propose to release our decoder as an open-source toolkit.
Stochastic Equations Driven by a Cauchy Process

Using the method of Krylov's estimates, we prove the existence of (weak) solutions of the one-dimensional stochastic equation dXt = b(Xt )dZt+ a(Xt)dt with arbitrary initial value x0 2 IR and the driven symmetric Cauchy process Z. The bounded coecient b is assumed to be of non-degenerate form and the drift a to satisfy the condition |a(x)| 1/2|b(x)| for all x 2 IR.
Expression of MRP1 and GSTP1-1 modulate the acute cellular response to treatment with the chemopreventive isothiocyanate, sulforaphane

A major component of the anticarcinogenic activity of the dietary chemopreventive agent sulforaphane (SFN) is attributed to its ability to induce expression of phase II detoxification genes containing the antioxidant response element (ARE) within their promoters. Because SFN is a reactive electrophile--readily forming conjugates with glutathione (GSH)--we asked whether expression of glutathione S-transferase (GST) P1-1 and the GSH conjugate efflux pump, multidrug resistance or resistance-associated protein (MRP) 1, would significantly modify the cellular response to SFN exposure. This was investigated using GST- and MRP1-poor parental MCF7 cells and transgenic derivatives expressing GSTP1-1 and/or MRP1. Compared with parental cells, expression of GSTP1-1 alone enhanced the rate of intracellular accumulation of SFN and its glutathione conjugate, SFN-SG--an effect that was associated with increased ARE-containing reporter gene induction. Expression of MRP1 greatly reduced SFN/SFN-SG accumulation and resulted in significant attenuation of SFN-mediated induction of ARE-containing reporter and endogenous gene expression. Coexpression of GSTP1-1 with MRP1 further reduced the level of induction. Depletion of GSH prior to SFN treatment or the substitution of tert-butylhydroquinone for SFN abolished the effects of MRP1/GSTP1-1 on ARE-containing gene induction-indicating that these effects are GSH dependent. Lastly, analysis of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)--a transcription factor operating via binding to the ARE--showed that the increased levels of Nrf2 following SFN treatment were considerably less sustained in MRP1-expressing, especially those coexpressing GSTP1-1, than in MRP1-poor cells. These results suggest that the regulating effects of MRP1 and GSTP1-1 expression on SFN-dependent induction of phase II genes are ultimately mediated by altering nuclear Nrf2 levels.
A latent class factor approach to identifying subtypes of juvenile diversion youths based on psychopathic features.

Latent class factor analysis allows for the estimation of a dimensional construct such as psychopathy through factor analysis while also examining the heterogeneity of the sample. We report the results of a latent class factor analysis examining the psychometric structure of a widely used measure of psychopathy, as well as internalizing (i.e. anxiety) and externalizing indices, among diversion program youths involved in an intervention study. The results indicated that four subgroups of adolescents existed in the data: one with high psychopathic features and externalizing problems, but low anxiety; one with moderately high affective and behavioral psychopathic features and externalizing problems, but low anxiety; one with moderately high interpersonal and behavioral psychopathic features, externalizing problems, and anxiety; and one with very low psychopathy scores, anxiety, and externalizing problems. The validity of these subgroups was assessed comparing prior family problems, substance use, and offending measures, and one-year follow-up measures of recidivism, detention days, substance use, and program completion. This study offers partial support for the existence of psychopathy subgroups and has implications for future studies of psychopathy typologies. In addition, this study employed a methodology for classification that permits consideration of the dimensional nature of a construct, and as such has implications for a variety of research areas. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nitrous oxide does not change the incidence of postoperative delirium or cognitive decline in elderly surgical patients

Background Postoperative delirium and cognitive decline are common in elderly surgical patients after non-cardiac surgery. Despite this prevalence and clinical importance, no specific aetiological factor has been identified for postoperative delirium and cognitive decline. In experimental setting in a rat model, nitrous oxide (N2O) produces neurotoxic effect at high concentrations and in an age-dependent manner. Whether this neurotoxic response may be observed clinically has not been previously determined. We hypothesized that in the elderly patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, exposure to N2O resulted in an increased incidence of postoperative delirium than would be expected for patients not receiving N2O. Methods Patients who were ≥65 yr of age, undergoing non-cardiac surgery and requiring general anaesthesia were randomized to receive an inhalational agent and either N2O with oxygen or oxygen alone. A structured interview was conducted before operation and for the first two postoperative days to determine the presence of delirium using the Confusion Assessment Method. Results A total of 228 patients were studied with a mean (range) age of 73.9 (65–95) yr. After operation, 43.8% of patients developed delirium. By multivariate logistic regression, age [odds ratio (OR) 1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.26], dependence on performing one or more independent activities of daily living (OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.01–2.35), use of patient-controlled analgesia for postoperative pain control (OR 3.75; 95% CI 1.27–11.01) and postoperative use of benzodiazepine (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.21–4.36) were independently associated with an increased risk for postoperative delirium. In contrast, the use of N2O had no association with postoperative delirium. Conclusions Exposure to N2O resulted in an equal incidence of postoperative delirium when compared with no exposure to N2O.
Long-term response of spruce–fir stands to herbicide and precommercial thinning: observed and projected growth, yield, and financial returns in central Maine, USA

Herbicide application and precommercial thinning (PCT) are common silvicultural treatments used across North America and Europe. Despite this widespread use, long-term growth and yield responses fr...
Fliess operators on Lp spaces: convergence and continuity

Fliess operators as input–output mappings are particularly useful in a number of fundamental problems concerning nonlinear realization theory. In the classical analysis of these operators, certain growth conditions on the coe3cients in their series representations insure uniform and absolute convergence, provided every input is uniformly bounded by some 4xed upperbound. In some emerging applications, however, it is more natural to consider other classes of inputs. In this paper, Lp function spaces are considered. In particular, it is shown that the classic growth conditions also provide su3cient conditions for convergence and continuity when the admissible inputs are from a ball in Lp[t0 ;t 0 + T ], where T is bounded and p ? 1. In addition, stronger global growth conditions are given that apply even for the case where T is unbounded. When the coe3cients of a Fliess operator have a state space representation, it is shown that the state space model will always locally realize the correspondinginput–output map on Lp[t0 ;t 0 + T ] for su3ciently small T? 0. If certain well-posedness conditions are satis4ed then the state space model will globally realized the input–output mapping for unbounded T when the coe3cients satisfy the global growth condition. c � 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Critical Analyses of Separate Spheres and the Role of Life Cycle in Shaping the Material World

Throughout the various analyses of the material world in Deerfield – architectural changes as well as ceramic tea and tablewares – two recurring themes emerged. The first was that gender separation was extant in virtually every ideology shaping gendered social relations from the mid-eighteenth through the early twentieth century. Nevertheless, families and individuals did not consistently adopt wholesale the gender ideals most fashionably current during their respective lifetimes – such as republican motherhood, the cult of domesticity, equal rights feminism, domestic reform, or other ideology. Rather, the ideals to which residents in Deerfield appeared to subscribe were frequently tempered by the unique evolutionary arc of their family. As such, the role of life cycle in shaping the material world was the second theme to emerge through the course of these analyses. The archaeological record was often affected by whether the couple was newly wed, had many young children at home, were in their peak earning years as a family, and so on.
Physical Background of Excitability: Synthetic Membranes and Excitable Cells

The value of biomimetric models is unquestionable. Beyond their heuristic role, they have also a practical aspect. The studies of reassembled biological material models preceded those of fully artificial materials. We shall in the first three sections review very briefly the irritability (excitability), which is common not only in the animal realm but also in living matter in general, and then discuss the details of our new findings on excitability of synthetic artifical cells.
Augmented urethroplasty with pseudospongioplasty in the treatment of penile strictures

Strictures involving the penile urethra generally require tissue transfer techniques. Ventral graft placement usually is avoided in the penile urethra because of the relative paucity of viable corpus spongiosal tissue necessary for vascularization and support. Instead, grafts are commonly placed dorsally using either an onlay or inlay technique. However, the successful use of ventrally placed grafts in the penile urethra supported by a pseudospongioplasty has recently been reported. The incorporation of a pseudospongioplasty provides a well-vascularized milieu for successful graft take in the penile urethra. This technique incorporates periurethral flaps of tunica dartos and Buck’s fascia for graft coverage. Pseudospongioplasty in the penile urethra has been shown to have a similar efficacy to standard spongioplasty in the bulbar urethra. Additionally, pseudospongioplasty outcomes are comparable to other graft augmentation techniques performed in the penile urethra. In penile strictures, where there is a paucity of spongiosal tissue, pseudospongioplasty for coverage of a ventral graft is a reliable option.
Pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins mediate carbachol-induced REM sleep and respiratory depression

Microinjecting cholinomimetics into the medial pontine reticular formation (mPRF) of conscious cats causes a rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-like state and state-dependent respiratory depression. Muscarinic receptors within the mPRF have been shown to mediate this state-dependent respiratory depression, but the specific signal transduction mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study tested the hypothesis that the cholinergically induced REM sleep-like state and state-dependent respiratory depression are mediated by guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins). Cholera toxin, pertussis toxin, 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate, and forskolin were microinjected alone and in combination with carbachol into the mPRF of intact unanesthetized cats. All of the G protein-altering compounds significantly reduced the ability of carbachol to produce the REM sleep-like state. Pertussis toxin caused the greatest decrease in the percent of time spent in the carbachol-evoked REM sleep-like state, showing for the first time mediation by a pertussis toxin-sensitive (Gi- or G(o)-like) G protein. Cholera toxin blocked the carbachol-induced respiratory depression, indicating mediation by a Gs-like G protein. Forskolin significantly decreased carbachol-evoked REM sleep. These data provide the first demonstration that adenylyl cyclase within the mPRF contributes to the carbachol induction of REM sleep and respiratory depression.
Correlation between conjugated bisphenol a concentrations and efflux transporter expression in human fetal livers

Because of its widespread use in the manufacturing of consumer products over several decades, human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) has been pervasive. Fetuses are particularly sensitive to BPA exposure, with a number of negative developmental and reproductive outcomes observed in rodent perinatal models. Xenobiotic transporters are one mechanism to extrude conjugated and unconjugated BPA from the liver. In this study, the mRNA expression of xenobiotic transporters and relationships with total, conjugated, and free BPA levels were explored utilizing human fetal liver samples. The mRNA expression of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and multidrug resistance-associated transporter (MRP)4, as well as BCRP and multidrug resistance transporter 1 exhibited the highest degree of correlation, with r(2) values of 0.941 and 0.816 (P < 0.001 for both), respectively. Increasing concentrations of conjugated BPA significantly correlated with high expression of MRP1 (P < 0.001), MRP2 (P < 0.05), and MRP3 (P < 0.05) transporters, in addition to the NF-E2-related factor 2 transcription factor (P < 0.001) and its prototypical target gene, NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (P < 0.001). These data demonstrate that xenobiotic transporters may be coordinately expressed in the human fetal liver. This is also the first report of a relationship between environmentally relevant fetal BPA levels and differences in the expression of transporters that can excrete the parent compound and its metabolites.
Effect of double-bond substituents on the rate of cyclization of α-carbomethoxyhex-5-enyl radicals.

Rate constants have been calculated, and compared with experimental results, for the cyclizations of 1-carbomethoxy-1-methyl-5-hexenyl radicals (2) with various substituents on C6. The calculations have been done by DFT at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level of theory. They show considerable interaction between C5 and the radical centers even in the ground state of all of the radicals 2. Experimentally, the radicals have been generated by H• transfer to the corresponding acrylate esters 1 and the yields of cyclized products compared to the calculated rate constants. (The “cyclized products” include those from cyclohydrogenation, 4, and those from cycloisomerization, 9.) Two phenyl substituents on C6 (2i), or a phenyl and a methyl substituent (2g, 2h), increase the rate of cyclization, but a single phenyl substituent on C6 produces a greater increase. The calculations show that the two phenyl substituents are twisted in the transition state for cyclization, while a single phenyl substituent remains flat in that tra...
Rotaxanes from Tetralactams

Attempts to incorporate a tetralactam (3a) into a side-chain polyrotaxane by formation of its complex with p-tritylphenolate and reaction with poly(vinybenzyl chloride) failed, probably due to steric hindrance. However, three new small molecule model rotaxanes (acetal 11a and ethers 14a and 14b) were prepared based on this macrocycle, and one (14b) was characterized by X-ray crystallography. Attempts to prepare poly(ether rotaxane)s such as 18 and 20b via polymerizations in the presence of this tetralactam failed because the mild conditions required for complexation (nonpolar solvent, room temperature) are not sufficient for effective step-growth polymerizations, resulting in only oligomer formation. In an alternative approach, clipping of the tetralactam 23 onto a preformed poly(urethane rotaxane) (27) in CH2Cl2 was successful, and the original biphasic segmented polymer was converted to a single-phase polyrotaxane (28) with a significantly lower glass transition temperature.
Concentration of Intrinsic Factor and Vitamin B12-Binding Activities of Fractions of Desiccated Hog Stomach

Fractionation of desiccated defatted hog stomach through the use of isoelectric and ammonium sulfate precipitation technics, and guided by assays in patients with pernicious anemia in relapse given daily oral doses of 5 µg. of vitamin B12, has led to the concentration of intrinsic factor activity in an amount of protein equivalent to 0.03 per cent of the original weight of crude material. The electrophoretic pattern of this active fraction indicated a lack of homogeneity. The vitamin B12-binding activities of three fractions obtained by precipitation with ammonium sulfate were investigated by microbial inhibition and dialysis methods. There was no correlation between the ability of the fractions to bind vitamin B12 and to exert intrinsic factor activity. Among these fractions, that with the highest intrinsic factor activity in patients with pernicious anemia in relapse bound the least amount of vitamin B12.
Motivational effects of standardized language assessment on Chinese young learners

AbstractThis review paper examines how standardized language assessment affects Chinese young learners’ motivation for second-language learning. By presenting the historical and contemporary contexts of the testing system in China, this paper seeks to demonstrate the interrelationship among cultural, social, familial, and individual factors, which collectively contribute to test impacts on young learners’ motivation. In order to call for future research on standardized language assessment’s motivational effects on Chinese young learners, this paper synthesizes findings and arguments from established research on learners of different age groups in different social contexts, which serve as a theoretical foundation for emerging studies on Chinese young test takers. The author concludes that Chinese young learners’ motivation for second-language learning is shaped by the sociocultural and historical context of the testing system, subject to age-related characteristics, and vulnerable to adults’ attitudes towa...
The Tudors, Natalie Dormer, and Our “Default” Anne Boleyn

When I interviewed Hilary Mantel in 2011 while she was still writing Bring Up the Bodies, she described her characters as belonging to “a chain of literary representation.” Her Cromwell, she told me, “shakes hands” with previous depictions, as does her Thomas More, a bold departure from earlier depictions such as the sanctified icon of conscience in Robert Bolt’s A Man for All Seasons:
Meeting the Demands of the 21st Learner

In the last two decades, online enrollment in higher education has increased substantially. As more students enroll in courses, Universities may find that the demand within the institution will grow beyond current offerings. Within the field of teacher education, hundreds of online course offerings in teacher preparation programs worldwide are offered. The advantages to online versus face-to-face courses are numerous. Despite the marked increase in online course offerings and enrollment, however, some obstacles do exist in online classes. A review of recent literature indicated a need to study the challenges faced by faculty who teach hybrid courses and the need to better understand what constitutes quality online education. So, the importance of this research is how do teacher preparation programs meet the demands and charges of institutions while maintaining quality of instruction. Using autoethographic methods, two professors who teach elementary science methods and elementary math methods chronicle how they begin to address the challenges in online teaching and how they overcame those challenges to meet the needs of the 21st century learner. The participants in this study describe how they apply constructivist concepts solely online. These outcomes are what we call the call the good, the bad and the ugly.
An African-centered approach to community policing

ABSTRACTThe relationship between the Black community and law enforcement has received increased attention in the media in the last 3 years. Much of the conversation has centered around Black males and females being killed by police officers and the negative relationship between law enforcement and Black communities. This article focuses on how Afrocentricity can be applied to community policing as an option to address these issues. While much has been stated about community policing, nothing has been discussed that grounds the experience and the response in an African-centered perspective. By centering the discussion from a cultural perspective, African-centered theory can be utilized to frame the response within the Black experience and not from a Eurocentric perspective. Principles of the African-centered paradigm are identified and discussed as applied to creating a newly envisioned community policing initiative. Recommendations for the role of social workers are also offered with regards to having soc...
The Application of Spectral Data from Isotopically Substituted Molecules to the Determination of Anharmonic Potential Energy Constants

Attempts to obtain the anharmonic terms in the power-series expansion of a molecule’s internuclear force field encounter two difficulties. Firstly, these terms are much more numerous than the harmonic (quadratic) terms determined by the usual normal coordinate treatment. Secondly, data from isotopically substituted analogues are rarely used to characterize the force field common to both the molecule and its analogues; this further increases the paucity of data. The reason such data are not used, despite their being routinely employed in obtaining quadratic constants in the usual normal-coordinate treatment, is that the computations involved in the anharmonic case are much more difficult, The present investigation explores the possibility of carrying out such computations with the aid of an electronic computer to reduce computational difficulties, In addition, a systematic method is described for approximately characterizing the anharmonicities when insufficient data are available for their complete determination, which is the usual case. This method, in a sense, allows the molecule itself to state which of the anharmonic constants are the most important. The limited data available may then be used to determine these, while the less important anharmonic constants are set equal to zero. The method was tested by using solely the nine observed fundamental wave numbers of H2O, HDO, and D2O to characterize the force field common to all three molecules, which field involves four quadratic, six cubic, and nine quartic force constants. Reasonably good values of the harmonic wave numbers and of the principal anharmonicities are obtained.
Childhood stress, grown-up brain networks: corticolimbic correlates of threat-related early life stress and adult stress response

BackgroundExposure to threat-related early life stress (ELS) has been related to vulnerability for stress-related disorders in adulthood, putatively via disrupted corticolimbic circuits involved in stress response and regulation. However, previous research on ELS has not examined both the intrinsic strength and flexibility of corticolimbic circuits, which may be particularly important for adaptive stress responding, or associations between these dimensions of corticolimbic dysfunction and acute stress response in adulthood.MethodsSeventy unmedicated women varying in history of threat-related ELS completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan to evaluate voxelwise static (overall) and dynamic (variability over a series of sliding windows) resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) of bilateral amygdala. In a separate session and subset of participants (n = 42), measures of salivary cortisol and affect were collected during a social-evaluative stress challenge.ResultsHigher severity of threat-related ELS was related to more strongly negative static RSFC between amygdala and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and elevated dynamic RSFC between amygdala and rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC). Static amygdala-DLPFC antagonism mediated the relationship between higher severity of threat-related ELS and blunted cortisol response to stress, but increased dynamic amygdala-rACC connectivity weakened this mediated effect and was related to more positive post-stress mood.ConclusionsThreat-related ELS was associated with RSFC within lateral corticolimbic circuits, which in turn was related to blunted physiological response to acute stress. Notably, increased flexibility between the amygdala and rACC compensated for this static disruption, suggesting that more dynamic medial corticolimbic circuits might be key to restoring healthy stress response.
Chapter 14 – Finite Difference Derivative Approximations

The estimation of derivatives using floating point numbers is usually accomplished using finite differences. In this chapter we present the finite difference approximation to the derivative as a finite version of the definition of a derivative. Using Taylor series we can show the accuracy of an approximation to the derivative and predict how the error behaves as the difference parameter goes to zero. We also discuss second-derivatives and the finite difference version of the diffusion operator. Richardson extrapolation is presented as a means to get highly accurate derivative estimates by manipulating the error terms in the Taylor series. Finally, we demonstrate that complex arithmetic enables highly-accurate derivative estimates without finite differences via the complex step approximation.
Navigating the Contested Terrain of Teacher Education Policy and Practice: Authors Respond to SCALE.

Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning, and Equity (SCALE) provided a commentary on the manuscripts in the first part of this special issue, which highlighted the benefits of edTPA and the necessity for such assessment programs to improve teacher education and strengthen teaching practices. In turn, the authors responded to the SCALE commentary. The authors’ responses raise concerns about equity, fairness, and unintended consequences of teacher performance assessments. These responses highlight the need for continued dialogue on ways to improve teacher education and strengthen the teaching profession.
Optically induced acoustic waveguides and reflective barriers (Conference Presentation)

The requirement for solid, rigid structures for the ability to precisely control and manipulate acoustic waves can be highly limiting in applications such as biomedical imaging where sound manipulation and control through such interfaces cannot easily be employed. In this work, we describe the ability to generate optically induced reflective sound barriers and waveguides. These barriers are generated by creating abrupt density barriers via photothermal depletion of the transport medium along the path of a laser beam, causing sharp differences in compressibility, resulting in significant acoustic reflection. Using this technique, acoustic reflection efficiencies of 30% have been demonstrated. Furthermore, employing multiple optically induced acoustic reflective barriers sequentially can result in complete suppression of incident acoustic sound wave transmission. In addition to optically induced acoustic suppression, optical waveguiding can also be achieved using cylindrical, ring shaped laser beams. By containing the acoustic waves inside the cylindrical channel, dramatic improvements in acoustic transmission can be achieved. Optical waveguding of acoustic signals offers a new paradigm in the manipulation of sound over extended distances in various media, providing potentially significant improvements to photoacoustic sensing and imaging in many applications
Trauma to the globe.

Trauma to the globe is a common problem seen in the emergency department that may lead to significant permanent visual disability. Common causes of globe trauma include motor vehicle crashes, assaults, falls, and sports-related and occupational injuries. Rapid collection of accurate historical data, expedient physical examination, evaluation, and treatment are of paramount importance in preserving visual capacity. This article summarizes the initial diagnostic and therapeutic approach, important prognostic indicators, and delayed complications of the traumatized globe. Accurate diagnosis and proper disposition are vital in salvaging visual capacity.
The role of uropathogens in feline lower urinary tract disease. Clinical implications.

Bacterial, fungal, and parasitic uropathogens have small but significant roles as causative agents in naturally occurring feline lower urinary tract disease. However, the exact cause of hematuria, dysuria, and/or urethral obstruction remains unknown in a large percentage of cats. Feline calicivirus, feline syncytiaforming virus, bovine herpesvirus-4, mycoplasmas, and ureaplasmas are potential uropathogens whose etiopathogenic roles in idiopathic feline lower urinary tract disease remain, as of yet, unresolved.
Dyslipoproteinemia and Premature Atherosclerosis in the Pediatric Rheumatic Disease

Publisher Summary Dyslipoproteinemia (DL) is common in the pediatric rheumatic diseases, and may play a significant role in development of premature atherosclerosis. Both chronic inflammatory disease and its treatment with corticosteroids contribute to DL, however, differential patterns of DL are evident. Antiphospholipid antibody presence which increases the risk of thrombosis, may also be associated with DL, further increasing the atherosclerosis risk. Prevention of premature atherosclerosis with treatment of DL should begin in the pediatric age group. Initial treatment with dietary modification and physical activity is indicated. In select patients, fish oil supplementation or pharmacologic intervention with lipid lowering agents may be indicated. A similar pattern of DL consisting of low total cholesterol, low HDL-C and LDL-C with high VLDL-C and triglycerides has been demonstrated in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Abnormalites in serum lipoprotein concentrations were most pronounced in patients with active arthritis and in systemic onset disease patients.
The effects of lysocellin and varying calcium levels on performance and ruminal and plasma characteristics of growing beef steers fed corn silage.

Twenty-four steers initially averaging 221 kg BW were used to evaluate the effects of lysocellin and calcium (Ca) level on performance and ruminal and plasma characteristics. Lysocellin at 0 or 22 mg/kg of diet and Ca at .3 or .6% were fed in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Steers in individual pens had ad libitum access to a diet consisting of 80% corn silage and 20% (DM basis) of a protein, mineral and vitamin supplement. Ruminal fluid and blood samples were collected on d 42 and 85 of the 113-d trial. Steers fed the .6% Ca diet gained faster and required less feed/unit of gain than those fed the .3% Ca diet (P less than .05). There was a tendency for a lysocellin X Ca interaction for gain and feed efficiency (P less than .10). Lysocellin tended to depress performance when fed with .3% Ca, but it tended to improve gain and feed efficiency when fed with .6% Ca. Molar proportions of propionate were higher and those of acetate were lower (P less than .01) for steers fed lysocellin. Ruminal-soluble Zn, Fe and Cu levels were higher (P less than .01) in steers fed lysocellin. Ruminal-soluble Ca (P less than .01) was higher and ruminal-soluble P and Na were lower (P less than .01) in steers fed .6% Ca. Plasma K was higher (P less than .05) in steers fed .6% Ca but it was lower (P less than .05) in steers fed lysocellin. Results of this study indicate that dietary Ca affects certain metabolic responses to lysocellin in growing cattle.