cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On/off switchable high-Q capacitive-piezoelectric AlN resonators

Voltage-controlled on/off switching based on electrode collapse around a 301-MHz capacitive-piezoelectric AlN contour-mode disk resonator has been demonstrated while still allowing on-state Q's as high as 8,800 - the highest yet demonstrated around 300MHz in sputtered AlN. The key to on/off switching of this device is the structure of its capacitive-piezoelectric transducer, which provides a suspended electrode atop the suspended AlN resonator that can be pulled electrostatically towards the substrate, pinning the combined resonator-electrode structure to the substrate, thereby opening new conduits for energy loss that suppress signal transmission. This on/off switchability obviates the signal path micromechanical switches needed by conventional attached-electrode AlN resonator counterparts. The Q approaching 9,000, together with the demonstrated on/off switchability and electromechanical coupling keff2 up to 0.78%, make this capacitive-piezoelectric resonator a strong contender among resonator technologies targeting RF channel-selecting communication front-ends.
Nationwide, Regional, and Statewide Energy Supply Chain Optimization for Natural Gas to Liquid Transportation Fuel (GTL) Systems

An optimization-based supply chain framework is proposed for the nationwide, regional, and statewide analyses of natural gas to liquids (GTL) systems for the United States. With optimized GTL refineries of differing capacities (i.e., 1, 5, 10, 50, and 200 thousand barrels per day) and fuel product ratios (i.e., unrestricted, maximization of diesel, maximization of kerosene, and commensurate with the United States demand), the optimal nationwide, regional, and statewide supply chains are obtained by solving a large-scale mixed-integer linear optimization (MILP) model that minimizes the total cost of fuel production. The mathematical formulation includes the locations of natural gas in the United States discretized by county, the delivery locations of fuel products, the transportation costs of every input and output of the refinery, the material balances of each GTL refinery, water resources, electricity requirements/production of the supply chain, and the CO2 sequestration capacities in the United States. ...
Measurements of substrate oxidation using (13)CO 2-breath testing reveals shifts in fuel mix during starvation.

Most fasting animals are believed to sequentially switch from predominantly utilizing one metabolic substrate to another from carbohydrates, to lipids, then to proteins. The timing of these physiological transitions has been estimated using measures of substrate oxidation including changes in respiratory exchange ratios, blood metabolites, nitrogen excretion, or enzyme activities in tissues. Here, we demonstrate how 13CO2-breath testing can be used to partition among the oxidation of distinct nutrient pools in the body (i.e., carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins) that have become artificially enriched in 13C. Seventy-two Swiss Webster mice were raised to adulthood on diets supplemented with 13C-1-l-leucine, 13C-1-palmitic acid, 13C-1-d-glucose, or no tracer. Mice were then fasted for 72 h during which $$ \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2} $$ , $$ \dot{V}{\text{CO}}_{2} $$ , δ13C of exhaled CO2, body temperature, body mass, and blood metabolites (i.e., glucose, ketone bodies, and triacylglycerols) were measured. The fasting mice exhibited reductions in body mass (29 %), body temperature (3.3 °C), minimum observed metabolic rates (24 %), and respiratory exchange ratio (0.18), as well as significant changes in blood metabolites; but these responses were not particularly indicative of changes in oxidative fuel mixture. Measurements of endogenous nutrient oxidation by way of 13CO2-breath testing revealed a decrease in the rate of oxidation of carbohydrates from 61 to 10 % of the total energy expenditure during the first 6 h without food. This response was mirrored by a coincidental increase in rate of endogenous lipid oxidation from 18 to 64 %. A transient peak in carbohydrate oxidation occurred between 8 and 14 h, presumably during increased glycogen mobilization. A well-defined period of protein sparing between 8 and 12 h was observed where endogenous protein oxidation accounted for as little as 8 % of the total energy expenditure. Thereafter, protein oxidation continually increased accounting for as much as 24 % of the total energy expenditure by 72 h. This study demonstrates that 13CO2-breath testing may provide a complementary approach to characterizing the timing and magnitude of sequential changes in substrate oxidation that occur during prolonged fasting and starvation.
Estimating Transport Footprint along Highways at Local Levels: A Combination of Network Analysis and Kriging Methods

Transport impacts on the natural environment have been increasingly quantified by ecological footprint analysis. Existing studies estimate transport footprint at local levels when traffic data are available. This study introduces an approach to estimate and visualize the transport footprint along highways where traffic data are unavailable by using a combination of network analysis and Kriging methods. The use of this approach is demonstrated in Houghton County, Michigan, USA. The estimated transport footprint along highways provides useful information for environmental and transportation planners to understand traffic impacts on the natural environment at local levels and identify hotspots/corridors of the transport footprint.
Subsidence prediction in shallow room and pillar mines

A mathematical model has been developed utilizing the relative flexural strength of the strata overlying a coal seam to predict the vulnerability of shallow room and pillar mined areas to subsidence. The model assumes the failure of the immediate roof as the precursor of a subsidence event in shallow room and pillar mines. After the roof fails, either a sink hole subsidence event develops if the unconsolidated material is thin and dry; or a subsidence trough forms if the unconsolidated material is thick and wet. The model relates the Missavage number (Mn), which is dependent only on the stratigraphy and rock strength, to the extraction number, which is dependent only on the extraction ratio and maximum span of the opening. A high correlation coefficient (r=0.78) betweenMn and the extraction number for 27 subsidence events in a southern Illinois mine showed potential for using this model to delineate areas more vulnerable to subsidence. The developed and validated model was then subjected to a blind test on a 12.9 square kilometer area of an Illinois Coal Basin mine. The model successfully predicted 10 out of 12 subsidence events in the blind half of the study area and two of three additional subsidence events in the known half of the study area.
Molecular profile and proliferative responses of rat lymphatic endothelial cells in culture.

Background: Lymphangiogenesis plays an important role in metastasis of many solid tumors. To study lymphangiogenesis under controlled conditions, an in vitro model is needed. The goal of this work was to establish such an in vitro model by determining a molecular profile of rat mesenteric lymphatic endothelial cells (RMLEC) and characterizing their proliferative responses to angiogenic and lymphangiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor A and C (VEGF-A and VEGF-C). Methods and Results: RMLEC strongly expressed most lymphatic-specific markers, including Prox-1, LYVE-1, and VEGFR-3. Proliferation of RMLEC was serum and heparin dependent. In the presence of low (2%) serum concentration, exogenously added VEGF-A and VEGFC stimulated RMLEC in a linear and dose-dependent manner. This effect was abrogated by anti-VEGF-A and VEGF-C antibodies, as well as by soluble Tie-2 and Flt-4 fusion proteins. Abrogation was reversed by VEGF-A, suggesting that this factor as an important regulator of lymph...
Biochemical and biophysical properties of cytochrome o of Azotobacter vinelandii

Cytochrome o, solubilized from the membrane of Azotobacter vinelandii, has been purified to homogeneity as judged by ultracentrifugation and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The detergent-containing cytochrome o is composed of one polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 28 000–29 000, associated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The enzyme exists as a dimer by gel filtration analysis. The amino analysis which reveals the majority of residues are of hydrophobic nature. The cytochrome o oxidase contains protoheme as its prosthetic group and about 20–40% of phospholipids. The phospholipids are identified as phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol by radioautographic analysis using 2-dimensional thin-layer chromatography. No copper or nonheme iron can be detected in the purified oxidase preparation by atomic absorption and chemical analyses. Oxidation-reduction titration shows this membrane-bound cytochrome o to be a low-potential component, and Em was determined to be −18 mV in the purified form and −30 mV in the membrane-bound form. Both forms bind CO with a reduced absorption peak at 559 and 557–558 nm in the native and solubilized forms, respectively. A high-spin (g = 6.0) form is assigned to the oxidized cytochrome o by electron paramagnetic resonance analysis, and KCN abolishes this high-spin signal. CO titration of purified cytochrome o in the anaerobic conditions shows the enzyme binds one CO per four protohemes and a dissociation constant is estimated to be 3.2 μM for CO. Cyanide reacts with purified cytochrome o in both oxidized and CO-bound forms, identified by specific spectral compounds absorbed at the Soret region. Cytochrome c, often co-purified with cytochrome c from the membrane, cannot serve as a reductant for cytochrome o in vitro, due to the apparent potential difference of about 300 mV. Upon separation, both cytochrome o and cytochrome c4 show a great tendency of aggregation. Furthermore, the oxidase activity (measured by tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine oxidation rate) decreases as the cytochrome c concentration is decreased by ammonium sulfate fractionation. All these suggest the structural and functional complex nature of cytochrome c4 and cytochrome o in the membrane of A. vinelandii.
Gay bars as deviant community organizations: The management of interactions with outsiders

Past research on interaction in gay bars and community studies are combined to focus on gay bars as deviant community organizations that vary in their receptiveness to outsiders. Our central argument is that a diverse set of encounters with nongays may aid both gays and their community in the development of expressive‐instrumental activities and in the maintenance of horizontal‐vertical ties. The four outsider roles of antagonist, guest, competitor, and customer serve as counterroles that aid in the creation and maintenance of gay identity. Data collected by a female observer in 10 Atlanta area male homosexual bars serve as the basis for investigating the processes by which different kinds of bars define the role of outsiders and manage interactions through the use of location, announcement, screening, and interior design and appearance.
Airway responses to methacholine and histamine in basenji greyhounds and other purebred dogs

To investigate whether airway hyperresponsiveness is a general characteristics of either the basenji or the greyhound ancestry of the basenji-greyhound (BG) dog and to determine whether airway hyperresponsiveness of the BG dogs in specific for methacholine, we compared pulmonary responsiveness to increasing doses of aerosols of histamine and methacholine in 17 BG dogs, 5 unrelated purebred basenjis and 5 unrelated greyhounds. BG dogs were hyperresponsive to both methacholine and histamine compared to basenjis and greyhounds. There was a significant correlation between histamine and methacholine responsiveness (r = 0.70, P < 0.001) in the dog population. We conclude that airway hyperresponsiveness characteristics of the BG dog is not a general characteristic of the basenji or greyhound breed and occurs to histamine as well as to methacholine.
Polycrystalline elastic constants of in situ cementite (Fe3C)

Abstract By extrapolation, we estimated cementite's elastic constants. Altogether, we studied seven Fe–C binary alloys varying from 0 to 17.3 at% carbon. Thus, we measured hypoeutectoid, near-eutectoid, and hypereutectoid alloys. Using the hypereutectoid compositions, for cementite, we report a complete set of quasiisotropic (polycrystal) elastic constants. To correct for texture, we used a Voigt–Reuss–Hill averaging method. Surprisingly, for the dilatational modes, cementite's elastic constants differ little from those of b.c.c. iron and are about 10% higher for a shear mode such as the Young modulus. This stiffening indicates a tendency toward Fe–C covalent bonding. The decrease in Poisson ratio supports covalent bonding, but the small decrease indicates smaller covalent-bonding effects than expected by Pauling. Against ten previous Young modulus reports, we find cementite stiffer than α-iron, almost 10% in the Young modulus. Our results support Pauling's suggested Fe–C bonding over Petch's suggested Fe–Fe bonding. We compare our results with those from recent ab initio calculations, which make very different predictions, which suggests that cementite occurs in at least two crystal structures, a suggestion made at least twice previously. Our derived Debye temperature T D = 501 K differs considerably from previous reports. Within measurement errors, our bulk modulus agrees with three recent geophysical measurements.
Affinity purification of a chimeric nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in the agonist and antagonist bound states

Abstract Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) form ligand-gated ion channels that mediate fast signal transmission at synapses. These receptors are members of a large family of pentameric ion channels that are of active medical interest. An expression system utilizing a chimerical construct of the N-terminal extracellular ligand binding domain of alpha7 type nAChR and the C-terminal transmembrane portion of 5HT3 type receptor resulted high level of expressions. Two ligand affinity chromatography purification methods for this receptor have been developed. One method relies on the covalent immobilization of a high affinity small molecule alpha7 nAChR agonist, (R)-5-(4-aminophenyl)-N-(quinuclidin-3-yl) furan-2-carboxamide, and the other uses mono biotinylated alpha-bungarotoxin, an antagonist, that forms a quasi-irreversible complex with alpha7 nAChR. Detergent solubilized alpha7/5HT 3 chimeric receptors were selectively retained on the affinity resins and could be eluted with free ligand or biotin. The proteins purified by both methods were characterized by gel electrophoresis, mass spectra, amino acid composition analysis, and N-terminal sequence determination. These analyses confirmed the isolation of a mature alpha7/5HT 3 receptor with the signal peptide removed. These results suggest a scalable path forward to generate multi-milligram amounts of purified complexes for additional studies including protein crystallization.
High school and collegiate football athlete concussions: a biomechanical review

Researchers are striving to understand the biomechanics of concussive injury that occur in the context of sport by using a number of methodologies. Animal models, video reconstruction, and helmet-based accelerometers have all been used, but have their limitations. The Head Impact Telemetry (HIT) System permits the real-time in vivo tracking of all impacts that occur on the football field and has been used in both the high school and collegiate setting. This review provides a theoretical discussion of concussion mechanics and examines the current literature on the effects of the number of impacts, impact magnitude, impact distribution, and concussion threshold in high school and collegiate football athletes recorded by the HIT System.
An expanded price/brand effect model ‐ A demonstration of heterogeneity in global consumption

In this study, the homogeneity versus heterogeneity of global consumption is tested in a cross‐cultural price/brand effect model. Middle‐class consumers in two countries are compared: the USA, an established consumer society, and India, a recently developing consumer society. Focus groups demonstrate the tremendous importance of brands in India, but survey data suggest that, compared to Americans, Indians actually have a lower perception of brand quality. They need to be convinced of standardized quality. Indians are, in addition, more positive than Americans about economizing. This implies that they feel guilty about consumption. These differences between Americans and Indians influence how price and brand affect their different purchase decisions: the Indian is a much tougher consumer to whom to sell. The results suggest that consumption, while it is becoming global, is still heterogeneous. It is being interpreted and implemented differently in different cultures.
Accurate Determination of Imaging Modality using an Ensemble of Text- and Image-Based Classifiers

Imaging modality can aid retrieval of medical images for clinical practice, research, and education. We evaluated whether an ensemble classifier could outperform its constituent individual classifiers in determining the modality of figures from radiology journals. Seventeen automated classifiers analyzed 77,495 images from two radiology journals. Each classifier assigned one of eight imaging modalities—computed tomography, graphic, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography, photograph, ultrasound, or radiograph—to each image based on visual and/or textual information. Three physicians determined the modality of 5,000 randomly selected images as a reference standard. A “Simple Vote” ensemble classifier assigned each image to the modality that received the greatest number of individual classifiers’ votes. A “Weighted Vote” classifier weighted each individual classifier’s vote based on performance over a training set. For each image, this classifier’s output was the imaging modality that received the greatest weighted vote score. We measured precision, recall, and F score (the harmonic mean of precision and recall) for each classifier. Individual classifiers’ F scores ranged from 0.184 to 0.892. The simple vote and weighted vote classifiers correctly assigned 4,565 images (F score, 0.913; 95% confidence interval, 0.905–0.921) and 4,672 images (F score, 0.934; 95% confidence interval, 0.927–0.941), respectively. The weighted vote classifier performed significantly better than all individual classifiers. An ensemble classifier correctly determined the imaging modality of 93% of figures in our sample. The imaging modality of figures published in radiology journals can be determined with high accuracy, which will improve systems for image retrieval.
Commercial wild species rearing: competing groups and regulation.

Abstract Unlike species in the wild, animals reared in captivity are regarded as property. The development of captive rearing enterprises that compete with the wild harvest can establish a pressure group with a vested interest in regulating harvesting from the wild. Despite the potential for aggregate gains, regulations have often worked against the development of captive rearing enterprises. This paper examines why regulations may not favor the captive rearing sector and why that sector has little incentive to impose regulations that could reduce the inefficiencies associated with harvesting from the wild.
A plant defensive cystatin (soyacystatin) targets cathepsin L-like digestive cysteine proteinases (DvCALs) in the larval midgut of western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera)

Feeding bioassay results established that the soybean cysteine proteinase inhibitor N (soyacystatin N, scN) substantially inhibits growth and development of western corn rootworm (WCR), by attenuating digestive proteolysis [Zhao, Y. et al. (1996) Plant Physiol. 111, 1299–1306]. Recombinant scN was more inhibitory than the potent and broad specificity cysteine proteinase inhibitor E-64. WCR digestive proteolytic activity was separated by mildly denaturing SDS–PAGE into two fractions and in-gel assays confirmed that the proteinase activities of each were largely scN-sensitive. Since binding affinity to the target proteinase [Koiwa, H. et al. (1998) Plant J. 14, 371–380] governs the effectiveness of scN as a proteinase inhibitor and an insecticide, five peptides (28–33 kDa) were isolated from WCR gut extracts by scN affinity chromatographic separation. Analysis of the N-terminal sequence of these peptides revealed similarity to a cathepsin L-like cysteine proteinase (DvCAL1, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera cathepsin L) encoded by a WCR cDNA. Our results indicate that cathepsin L orthologs are pivotal digestive proteinases of WCR larvae, and are targets of plant defensive cystatins (phytocystatins), like scN.
The role of decidability in first order separations over classes of finite structures

We establish that the decidability of the first order theory of a class of finite structures C is a simple and useful condition for guaranteeing that the expressive power of FO+LFP properly extends that of FO on C, unifying separation results for various classes of structures that have been studied. We then apply this result to show that it encompasses certain constructive pebble game techniques which are widely used to establish separations between FO and FO+LFP, and demonstrate that these same techniques cannot succeed in performing separations from any complexity class that contains DLOGTIME.
Can Good Come From Bad? An Examination of Adversarial Growth in Division I NCAA Athletes

The purpose of this study was to examine adversarial growth in a sample of Division I NCAA athletes. Male and female athletes (n = 214) from three universities completed the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory from the perspective of an adversity experienced as a college athlete. The athletes reported positive change at low to moderate levels resulting from their most difficult adversity, and indicated the most improvement in personal strength. Female athletes reported greater spiritual growth, as well as more of a change in their ability to relate to others than their male counterparts. Of the three types of adversities analyzed (i.e., time demands, injury, and the mental and physical stress of sport), athletes who reported time demands as their most difficult adversity exhibited more appreciation for life than athletes who cited the mental and physical stress of sport. These findings are consistent with studies of growth in college student nonathletes (e.g., Anderson & Lopez-Baez, 2008; 2011), and support th...
Biochemical and morphological correlates of growth in diploid and triploid rainbow trout

Diploid and triploid rainbow trout contained the same amount of RNA per unit weight of white muscle tissue at a given growth rate. This finding, along with a previous finding that the protein content of triploid muscle tissues is not different from that of the diploids, indicates that triploid nuclei produce more RNA than their diploid counterparts. This increased production of RNA is probably due to the expression of the extra set of chromosomes in triploid nuclei. RNA-based growth correlates and liver somatic index (IH) were valid predictors of growth for both triploid and diploid fish. RNA concentration appeared to be better than RNA/DNA and RNA/protein in predicting growth.
Rejection sensitivity as a mediator of the impact of childhood exposure to family violence on adult attachment behavior.

Substantial evidence indicates a link between exposure to family violence in childhood and troubled social relationships. We draw on attachment and social-cognitive theory to formulate a model of the mechanisms underlying this association. The model proposes that early experiences of overt rejection (e.g., physical maltreatment) or covert rejection (e.g., emotional neglect) are internalized as sensitivity to rejection. In this study, we operationalize sensitivity to rejection in social-cognitive terms as a tendency to expect and be concerned about rejection across a range of social situations. We hypothesize that rejection sensitivity mediates the link between exposure to family violence and adult attachment behavior. Data from a survey of 212 undergraduates support this hypothesis and also provide evidence that indicates sensitivity to rejection underlies both avoidant and ambivalent patterns of insecure adult attachment behavior. Overall, the results illustrate the power of a process approach to explaining the developmental sequelae of maltreatment.
Using selective orthonormalization to update the analytic center after addition of multiple cuts

We study the issue of updating the analytic center after multiple cutting planes have been added through the analytic center of the current polytope. This is an important issue that arises at every ‘stage’ in a cutting plane algorithm. If q n cuts are to be added, we show that we can use a ‘Selective Orthonormalization’ procedure to modify the cuts before adding them | it is then easy to identify a direction for an ane step into the interior of the new polytope, and the next analytic center is then found in O(q logq) Newton steps. Further, we show that multiple cut variants with selective orthonormalization of standard interior point cutting plane algorithms have the same complexity as the original algorithms.
Quasi-Biennial and Quasi-Decadal Variations in Snow Accumulation over Northern Eurasia and Their Connections to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

Abstract Spatial and temporal characteristics of winter snow depth variation over northern Eurasia and their connections to sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and associated atmospheric circulation anomalies, surface air temperatures, and precipitation are examined by using 60 yr (1936–95) of station data records. This study found that snow depth variation over the region east of the Caspian Sea and west of China, explaining 10.1% of total snow depth variance, has a quasi-biennial variability of about 2.5 yr. The snow depth variation over central European Russia and western-central Siberia, explaining 8.1% of the total snow depth variance, has a quasi-decadal variability of about 11.8 yr. The snow depth variation over the northern Ural Mountains, explaining 7.5% of the total snow depth variance has, variability of about 8 and 14 yr. The quasi-biennial snow depth variation is associated with SSTs over the northern North Pacific and tropical western Atlantic extending into the Gulf of Mexico. The associated at...
Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome: Prenatal Ultrasonic Diagnosis and Clinical Implications

The Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a complex congenital disorder with omphalocele, macroglossia, and gigantism as its most common neonatal features. However, in individual cases, the phenotypic expression of this condition is variable. Antenatal diagnosis in previously unsuspected cases depends upon the identification of a number of specific ultrasonic findings. We report a case in which the antenatal diagnosis of BWS was made, and review the previously described cases, noting the specific ultrasonic findings that suggest the correct in utero diagnosis.
Importance of discriminator base stacking interactions: molecular dynamics analysis of A73 microhelixAla variants

Transfer of alanine from Escherichia coli alanyl-tRNA synthetase (AlaRS) to RNA minihelices that mimic the amino acid acceptor stem of tRNA(Ala) has been shown, by analysis of variant minihelix aminoacylation activities, to involve a transition state sensitive to changes in the 'discriminator' base at position 73. Solution NMR has indicated that this single-stranded nucleotide is predominantly stacked onto G1 of the first base pair of the alanine acceptor stem helix. We report the activity of a new variant with the adenine at position 73 substituted by its non-polar isostere 4-methylindole (M). Despite lacking N7, this analog is well tolerated by AlaRS. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations show that the M substitution improves position 73 base stacking over G1, as measured by a stacking lifetime analysis. Additional MD simulations of wild-type microhelix(Ala) and six variants reveal a positive correlation between N73 base stacking propensity over G1 and aminoacylation activity. For the two DeltaN7 variants simulated we found that the propensity to stack over G1 was similar to the analogous variants that contain N7 and we conclude that the decrease in aminoacylation efficiency observed upon deletion of N7 is likely due to loss of a direct stabilizing interaction with the synthetase.
MicroRNAs as regulators of mammalian hematopoiesis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of approximately 22 nucleotide non-coding RNAs and play important regulatory roles in animal and plant development at the post-transcriptional level. Many miRNAs cloned from mouse bone marrow cells are differentially regulated in various hematopoietic lineages, suggesting that they might influence hematopoietic lineage differentiation. miR-181, a miRNA specifically expressed in B cells within mouse bone marrow, promotes B-cell differentiation when expressed in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Some human miRNAs are linked to leukemias: the miR-15a/miR-16 locus is frequently deleted or down-regulated in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and miR-142 is at a translocation site found in a case of aggressive B-cell leukemia. Collectively, these results indicate that miRNAs may be important regulators of mammalian hematopoiesis. Here, we provide background on the biogenesis and function of miRNAs and discuss how miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation may influence the development and function of blood cells.
Susceptibility of Chlamydia trachomatis to the Excipient Hydroxyethyl Cellulose: pH and Concentration Dependence of Antimicrobial Activity

Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) is used as a neutral excipient in microbicides used against sexually transmitted pathogens. However, HEC inhibits the infection of cervical epithelial cells by Chlamydia trachomatis at pH 5 in a concentration-dependent manner. At pH 7, infection is inversely dependent on the concentration of HEC, possibly due to pH-dependent calcium sequestration.
Progress with thiazolidinediones in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Much progress has been made in the field of medicine within the past 20 years; however, cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus have not improved to a corresponding degree. Although numerous treatments are available for the management of type 2 diabetes, current approaches appear to address the spectrum of the disease and its complications insufficiently. Objectives: This article reviews evidence for the minimal effects of standard antidiabetic treatments on the macrovascular complications associated with type 2 diabetes, discusses the improvements in markers of cardiovascular risk seen with the thiazolidinediones (TZDs), and explores the rationale for their earlier use. Methods: Relevant articles and guidelines on the use of oral antidiabetic agents in the treatment of type 2 diabetes were identified through a search of MEDLINE for the past 15 years using the terms cardiovascular, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, metformin, sulfonylurea, type 2 diabetes, and thiazolidinediones. The reference lists of selected articles also were searched. Articles chosen for review were required to assess clinically important outcomes or surrogate markers that have been shown to have a direct link to clinically important outcomes. Results: The data reviewed suggest that the sulfonylureas and/or metformin are able to reduce microvascular complications associated with type 2 diabetes but do not substantially affect macrovascular complications. In contrast, the TZDs demonstrate insulin-sensitizing effects attributable to their novel mechanism of action on the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. The resulting reduction in insulin resistance appears to improve many of the metabolic and cardiovascular pathways influenced by insulin activity. Blood pressure, vascular and coagulation defects, lipid abnormalities, and beta-cell function have been found to improve in patients receiving TZD treatment. For example, there are reports of significant reductions in levels of C-reactive protein (P < 0.01); small, dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol particles (P < 0.05); and circulating free fatty acids (P < 0.003), in addition to improvements in the proinsulin-to-insulin ratio (P < 0.05). Conclusions: In this review of the literature, use of TZDs as monotherapy or as part of combination therapy has been associated with effective glycemic control and reductions in markers of various macrovascular complications of type 2 diabetes. Although outcomes trials are ongoing, the preliminary effects of TZD therapy are promising and suggest that earlier use of TZDs in the pharmacologic management of type 2 diabetes has the potential to minimize severe disease sequelae.
Plant Growth in Polyethylene Glycol Solutions in Relation to the Osmotic Potential of the Root Medium and the Leaf Water Balance

The changes in leaf extension, plant dry weight, leaf area, net assimilation rate (E), relative growth-rate and relative leaf growth-rate (R£), have been studied for four species grown for 2 weeks in solutions of polyethylene glycol 4000 of controlled osmotic potentials. All aspects of growth were decreased by decreasing the osmotic potential (■""sol) °f the root medium and the leaf water potential ( p from the values in the control plants decreased growth during the first week but partial recovery was apparent during the second week's growth in solution culture, when leaf extension, E, Ri, and Riiincreased in plants subjected to stress. Examination of the water balance, water potential, osmotic potential, and turgor of the leaf in relation to relative water content suggests that recovery was related to increased turgor and that the ability of the plants to grow at reduced values of the osmotic potential of the root medium and of the leaf water potential depended on the maintenance of turgor.
Inverter matrix for the Clementine mission

An inverter matrix test circuit was designed for the Clementine space mission and is built into the RRELAX (Radiation and Reliability Assurance Experiment). The objective is to develop a circuit that will allow the evaluation of the CMOS FETs using a lean data set in the noisy spacecraft environment. As is shown, only nine data points are needed to acquire ten CMOS FET parameters. >
Phosphorylation and regulation of antidepressant-sensitive serotonin transporters.

Antidepressant-sensitive serotonin (5-hydroxytrypta-mine, 5HT) transporters (SERTs) are responsible for efficient synaptic clearance of extracellular 5HT. Previously (Qian, Y., Galli, A., Ramamoorthy, S., Risso, S., DeFelice, L. J., and Blakely, R. D. (1997) J. Neurosci. 17, 45–47), we demonstrated that protein kinase (PKC)-linked pathways in transfected HEK-293 cells lead to the internalization of cell-surface human (h) SERT protein and a reduction in 5HT uptake capacity. In the present study, we report that PKC activators rapidly, and in a concentration-dependent manner, elevate the basal level of hSERT phosphorylation 5–6-fold. Similarly, protein phosphatase (PP1/PP2A) inhibitors down-regulate 5HT transport and significantly elevate hSERT 32P incorporation, effects that are additive with those of PKC activators. Moreover, hSERT phosphorylation induced by β-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate is abolished selectively by the PKC inhibitors staurosporine and bisindolylmaleimide I, whereas hSERT phosphorylation induced by phosphatase inhibitors is insensitive to these agents at comparable concentrations. Protein kinase A and protein kinase G activators fail to acutely down-regulate 5HT uptake but significantly enhance hSERT phosphorylation. Basal hSERT and okadaic acid-induced phosphorylation were insensitive to chelation of intracellular calcium and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase inhibitors. Together these results reveal hSERT to be a phosphoprotein whose phosphorylation state is likely to be tightly controlled by multiple kinase and phosphatase pathways that may also influence the transporter's regulated trafficking.
Effectiveness of an Adjuvant Chemotherapy Regimen for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis

Importance Different adjuvant chemotherapy regimens are available for early-stage breast cancer. Because conventional meta-analysis does not allow comparing all regimens, we performed a network meta-analysis to identify the most effective adjuvant chemotherapy regimen. Objective To find the most effective adjuvant therapy regimen for early-stage breast cancer. Data Sources We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for articles published before June 2015; the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting abstracts from January 1983 through December 2014; and the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting abstracts from January 1916 through December 2014. Additionally, we manually searched bibliographies for related references. Study Selection We included randomized clinical trials of adjuvant treatments for early-stage breast cancer that compared 2 or more of the following: no adjuvant chemotherapy; sequential anthracycline-cyclophosphamide and taxane (AC-T); concurrent anthracycline-cyclophosphamide and taxane (ACT); anthracycline-cyclophosphamide without taxane (AC); docetaxel and cyclophosphamide (TC); cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF); and platinum-containing regimens. Data Extraction and Synthesis We followed the PRISMA guidelines. Two investigators independently selected the articles and extracted information. Disagreements were resolved by discussion with another author. Quality was assessed by Cochrane risk-of-bias method. Data were pooled using random-effects models. Main Outcomes and Measures We used network meta-analysis to test the most effective adjuvant therapy regimen in terms of overall survival (OS) by comparing regimens listed in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines and platinum-containing regimens. Results We identified 24 trials. The TC and platinum-containing regimens had OS benefit similar to that of sequential AC-T (TC hazard ratio [HR], 0.93; 95% CI, 0.62-1.40; and platinum HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.66-1.31). Patients treated with CMF or AC had significantly worse OS than those treated with sequential AC-T (CMF HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.32-1.85; and AC HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.10-1.37). Platinum-containing regimens tended to be more toxic than sequential AC-T. The toxicity of TC was similar to or less than that of sequential AC-T. Meta-regression analysis showed that hormone receptor status did not impact the HRs for OS for any regimen. Conclusions and Relevance Sequential AC-T is likely to be the most effective adjuvant therapy regimen for early-stage breast cancer regardless of hormone receptor status.
Eye Movements Induced by Gravitational Force and by Angular Acceleration: Their Relationship

The relationship between putative ‘canal’ and ‘otolith’ function was studied by using both vertical axis and horizontal axis (barbecue spit) rotations. The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) with eyes closed of 7 normal subjects during vertical axis rotation was characterized (0.02 to 1.67 Hz) using pseudorandom acceleration. Gain and phase points were calculated. The long time constant of the VOR was then estimated from the phase points using a simple linear systems model. The same subjects were also tested with eyes closed using earth horizontal axis rotations. Constant velocity rotation (60°/sec) produced a periodic oscillation in the slope of the slow component of nystagmus known as the ‘modulation component’. The amplitude of this component was averaged for clockwise and counterclockwise runs. For the 7 subjects, the amplitude of averaged modulation component correlated with the low-frequency phase values (r = 0.82 to 0.89) and VOR long time constant estimates (r = −0.95) obtained during vertical axis rot...
Prehatch intestinal maturation of turkey embryos demonstrated through gene expression patterns

Some of the challenges faced by neonatal turkeys include weakness, reduced feed intake, impaired growth, susceptibility to disease, and mortality. These symptoms may be due to depleted energy reserves after hatch and an immature digestive system unable to replenish energy reserves from consumed feed. To better understand enteric development in turkeys just before hatch, a new method was used to identify the patterns of intestinal gene expression by utilizing a focused microarray. The duodenums of 24 turkey embryos were sampled on embryonic day (E)20, E24, E26, and hatch (E28). The RNA populations of 96 chosen genes were measured at each time point, from which 81 significantly changed (P < 0.01). These genes were clustered by gene expression pattern similarity into 4 groups. The expression pattern of hormone receptors revealed that intestinal tissues may be less responsive to growth hormone, insulin, glucagon, and triiodothyronine during the last 48 h before hatch, when developmental emphasis switches from cell proliferation to functional maturation. Based on gene expression patterns, we concluded that at hatch, poults should have the capacity to 1) digest disaccharides but not oligopeptides, due to increased expression of sucrase-isomaltase but decreased expression of aminopeptidases and 2) absorb monosaccharides and small peptides due to high expression of sodium-glucose cotransporter-4 and peptide transporter-1.
EFFICACY OF SINGLE CALFHOOD VACCINATION OF ELK WITH BRUCELLA ABORTUS STRAIN 19

Abstract Brucellosis has been eradicated from cattle in the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, USA. However, free-ranging elk (Cervus elaphus) that use feedgrounds in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) and bison (Bison bison) in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks still have high seroprevalence to the disease and have caused loss of brucellosis-free status in Wyoming. Management tools to control or eliminate the disease are limited; however, wildlife vaccination is among the methods currently used by wildlife managers in Wyoming. We conducted a controlled challenge study of single calfhood vaccination. Elk calves, caught in January and February of 1999 and 2000 and acclimated to captivity for 3 weeks, were randomly assigned to control or vaccinate groups. The vaccinate groups received Brucella abortus vaccine strain 19 (S19) by hand-delivered intramuscular injection. Calves were raised to adulthood and bred at either 2.5 or 3.5 years of age for 2000 and 1999 captures, respectively. Eighty-nine ...
Maternal high‐fat diet and obesity impact palatable food intake and dopamine signaling in nonhuman primate offspring

Objective To utilize a nonhuman primate model to examine the impact of maternal high-fat diet (HFD) consumption and pre-pregnancy obesity on offspring intake of palatable food and to examine whether maternal HFD consumption impaired development of the dopamine system, critical for the regulation of hedonic feeding. Methods The impact of exposure to maternal HFD and obesity on offspring consumption of diets of varying composition was assessed after weaning. The influence of maternal HFD consumption on the development of the prefrontal cortex-dopaminergic system at 13 months of age was also examined. Results During a preference test, offspring exposed to maternal HFD consumption and obesity displayed increased intake of food high in fat and sugar content relative to offspring from lean control mothers. Maternal HFD consumption suppressed offspring dopamine signaling (as assessed by immunohistochemistry) relative to control offspring. Specifically, there was decreased abundance of dopamine fibers and of dopamine receptor 1 and 2 proteins. Conclusions This study reveals that offspring exposed to both maternal HFD consumption and maternal obesity during early development are at increased risk for obesity due to overconsumption of palatable energy-dense food, a behavior that may be related to reduced central dopamine signaling.
Experiments in Public Archaeology as Civic Engagement: My Five Years with the New College Public Archaeology Lab in Sarasota, Florida

A few years after I took an assistant professor position in Anthropology, Teaching Archaeology in the Twenty-First Century, edited by Susan Bender and George S. Smith (2000) was published and sits ...
Dewatering and Stabilizing Fine-Grained Soils with Very High Moisture Content

The primary objective of this paper is to evaluate the feasibility and subsequent properties of rapidly dewatering fine-grained soils with polymers and stabilizing them with Portland cement. Rapidly dewatering very high moisture soil (VHMS) from 10 % to 30 % solids for immediate re-use in a disaster environment appears feasible. The most feasible application would be saltwater slurry with a relatively low organic content [e.g., high-plasticity clay (CH) soil along a coastline]. Handling contaminated sediments in a disaster environment appears to be a suitable application. Using polymers improved shear strength and elastic modulus of cement-stabilized VHMS. On average, shear strength and elastic modulus improved 25 % and 63 %, respectively. Shear strengths of the materials produced ranged from soft to stiff clay after up to 7 days of curing, which is a useable strength for several applications.
Faculty development activities in family medicine: in search of innovation.

Objective To describe the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's (ACGME) faculty development requirements, explore the range of faculty development activities and support currently used by family medicine residencies to meet these requirements, and describe one innovative approach to satisfy this need. Method An electronic survey of faculty development activities and support offered to faculty by residency programs was sent to a random sample of 40 medical school and community based family medicine residency programs across the United States. Data were examined using t-tests, Fisher's exact tests, and Analysis of Variance. Results Faculty development, beyond traditional clinical CME, was strongly encouraged or required by a large proportion of the sample (73%). Only 58% of programs reported having discussed the ACGME's faculty development component areas (clinical, educational, administrative, leadership, research, and behavioral). In each component area except the "clinical" area, the absence of discussing the ACGME component areas with residency faculty was associated with fewer faculty development activities and support being offered by the program. Conclusions These results, although preliminary, suggest that family medicine residency programs may value and encourage faculty development. The majority of programs use traditional activities and strategies such as CME, faculty meetings, faculty conferences and workshops; and a smaller number of programs are exploring the utility of mentoring programs, faculty discussion groups, and technology based learning systems. The challenge is to develop faculty development activities tailored to individual program and faculty needs and resources.
Ethionine-Induced Resorption of the Rat Conceptus.∗

SummaryA marked increase in resorption of the embryos and placentae was observed following administration of high doses of ethionine to pregnant rats. A similar dose of methionine had no apparent effect by itself while a combination of methionine with ethionine resulted in about a 50% reduction in the resorptive effect of ethionine. The sequential destruction of the tissues of placenta and embryo associated with the ethionine-induced resorption is described.