cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple roles for Med12 in vertebrate endoderm development.

Abstract In zebrafish, the endoderm originates at the blastula stage from the most marginal blastomeres. Through a series of complex morphogenetic movements and differentiation events, the endodermal germ layer gives rise to the epithelial lining of the digestive tract as well as its associated organs such as the liver, pancreas, and swim bladder. How endodermal cells differentiate into distinct cell types such as hepatocytes or endocrine and exocrine pancreatic cells remains a major question. In a forward genetic screen for genes regulating endodermal organ development, we identified mutations at the shiri locus that cause defects in the development of a number of endodermal organs including the liver and pancreas. Detailed phenotypic analyses indicate that these defects are partially due to a reduction in endodermal expression of the hairy/enhancer of split-related gene, her5, at mid to late gastrulation stages. Using the Tg(0.7her5:EGFP)ne2067 line, we show that her5 is expressed in the endodermal precursors that populate the pharyngeal region as well as the organ-forming region. We also find that knocking down her5 recapitulates some of the endodermal phenotypes of shiri mutants, further revealing the role of her5 in endoderm development. Positional cloning reveals that shiri encodes Med12, a regulatory subunit of the transcriptional Mediator complex recently associated with two human syndromes. Additional studies indicate that Med12 modulates the ability of Casanova/Sox32 to induce sox17 expression. Thus, detailed phenotypic analyses of embryos defective in a component of the Mediator complex have revealed new insights into discrete aspects of vertebrate endoderm development, and provide possible explanations for the craniofacial and digestive system defects observed in humans with mutations in MED12.
The Adiabatic Thermoelastic Effect in Laminated Fiber Composites

The influence of material inhomogeneity and anisotropy on the reversible, adiabatic thermoelastic effect in laminated, continuous-fiber composites is investigated analytically and experimentally. The plane-stress solution for strains in a uniform laminate is combined with a simple micromechanics description of a fiber-reinforced lamina to approximate the nonhomogeneous strains in the fibers and matrix. The equations of anisotropic, linear thermoelasticity are then used to evaluate the temperature change in each of the microconstituents during an adiabatic deformation. The average temperature change of the surface plies of several carbon/epoxy laminates are computed and compared with experimental data obtained via differential infrared thermography. Results indicate that material parameters such as the volume fraction and thermoelastic properties of the microconstituent materials, the orientations of the laminae within the laminate, and the orientation of the lamina on the surface of observation affect the...
Stimulated emission in laser-pumped magnesium vapor

We have observed stimulated emission on the transitions 43S1−33PJ° near 518 nm following pulsed laser excitation of Mg vapor near the 31S0−33P1° resonance at 285 nm. The emission has a divergence similar to the pump laser and closely follows the incident laser in time. The mechanism apparently involves pumping an accidental coincidence 31S0−33P1° and 33PJ°−53DJ, permitting depletion of the lower level of the triplet transition. Photoionization of the Mg vapor creates a large electron density (≲1013 cm−3); electron-impact collisions are presumed to mediate the process, transferring population from the laser-pumped 31P1° level to the triplet manifold.
Architecture and Directional Scales of Heterogeneity in Alluvial-Fan Aquifers

ABSTRACT A wide range of structural, volcanic, and depositional processes produce heterogeneity in alluvial-fan aquifers. This heterogeneity is commonly abrupt, and more importantly, it is directional. Prevalent concepts of scales of heterogeneity and stochastic hydrology emphasize nested or hierarchical aquifer structures that can be represented by stationary models. The argument for stationarity is that heterogeneity becomes homogeneous, or spatially periodic, at some scale. Stationarity may exist in some braided and meandering aquifers, but stationarity is generally not valid for alluvial-fan aquifers, because hierarchical structure is generally present only at the microscopic and partially at the mesoscopic scale. Alluvial fans are directional landforms that extend downdip from a point sou ce. Grain size and bed thickness generally decrease down fan. Abrupt to gradational facies relationships change down fan and may be substantially different in adjacent fans. Hydrogeologic properties, which can vary over 14 orders of magnitude, may parallel the down-fan fining trend or may show a "humped" pattern in a down-fan direction. As fans subside, prograde, and retrograde, a directional aquifer is created whose complex heterogeneities require a directional model. The directional alluvial-fan aquifer is best characterized by three directional scales of heterogeneity (from smallest to largest): (1) within-fan (microscopic scale to facies relationships), (2) between-fan (parallel to depositional and structural strike), and (3) cross-fan (perpendicular to depositional and structural st ike). A directional view of heterogeneities in alluvial-fan aquifers is essential for correct site characterization and for design of well networks, aquifer tests, and flow models.
Efficiency of steam turbine generators for central power stations

Turbine-generator efficiencies are high, but there are substantial fundamental losses associated with the steam cycle. Improvements in efficiency are known to be possible, but these must be weighed against any increased cost and any loss of reliability.
c-Abl-deficient mice exhibit reduced numbers of peritoneal B-1 cells and defects in BCR-induced B cell activation

A role for c-Abl in B cell development and signaling has been suggested by previous work showing that c-Abl-deficient mice have defects in bone marrow B cell development and that c-Abl-deficient B cells are hypoproliferative in response to antigen receptor stimulation. Here we show that in addition to defects in early B cell development, c-Abl-deficient mice have defects in peripheral B cell development, including reduced percentages of peritoneal B-1 cells as well as transitional and marginal zone B cells in the spleen. It has been shown that c-Abl kinase activity increases upon B cell receptor (BCR) stimulation and that one of the targets of tyrosine phosphorylation by c-Abl is CD19. However, the consequences of c-Abl activity on B cell activation and CD19 signaling remain unknown. Here, we show that c-Abl-deficient splenic B cells exhibit reduced calcium flux in response to CD19 cross-linking, consistent with a role for c-Abl in CD19-dependent signaling. Additionally, we show that c-Abl-deficient B cells are defective in their ability to be activated in response to antigen receptor engagement, suggesting a functional role for c-Abl in BCR-dependent activation signaling pathways.
Body temperature and desiccation constrain the activity of Littoraria irrorata within the Spartina alterniflora canopy

Abstract Behavioral patterns of motile ectotherms are often constrained by their microclimate conditions. For intertidal ectotherms, thermal and desiccation stresses are primary limiting factors. In this study, we developed and tested a steady-state heat budget model to calculate the duration of time that the salt marsh snail, Littoraria irrorata (Say), would maintain active behaviors (crawling or attached on stalks of marsh grass Spartina alterniflora) before switching to an inactive state (retracted and glued with a mucus holdfast on the stalks) due to desiccation. The snails' water loss tolerance limit was found to be 43.6±16.0 mg in a laboratory experiment using 5 temperature treatments (25–45 °C in 5 °C increments) with a vapor density (VD) deficit of ∼15 g/m3 (saturated VD-air VD). We found that snails attached to S. alterniflora at lower heights in the canopy had higher body temperatures during daytime hours but lower water loss rates. Furthermore, we found that calculated activity times generally matched daily and seasonal patterns of life history behaviors reported in the literature. If tidal emersion began at night (∼20:00–4:00 h), calculated activity times were much higher than if emersion began in the daytime. The total monthly activity times for 2005–2010 were the highest in May, the lowest in July, and increased from July to September. Therefore, L. irrorata's behaviors appear to be constrained by microclimate conditions within the S. alterniflora canopy as predicted by the heat budget model. The extent to which the snails' life history traits are controlled by environmental conditions will have important implications for their population dynamics as climate change progresses, and heat budget models can help to predict future changes in behavioral responses.
α2-adrenoreceptors on human platelets: Selective labelling by [3H]clonidine and [3H]yohimbine and competetive inhibition by antidepressant drugs☆

J.A. GARCIA-SEVILLA, P.J. HOLLINGSWORTH and C.B. SMITH, a 2-Adrenoreceptors on human platelets: selective labelling by [ 3 H ] clonidine and [ S H ] yohimbine and competitive inhibition by antidepressant drugs, European J. Pharmacol. 74 (1981) 329-341. [3H]Clonidine and [3H]yohimbine have been used to characterize a2-adrenoreceptors on human platelets. At 25°C binding was rapid (t j/2 of association, 1.8 and 2.7 min) and reversible (tl/2 of dissociation, 0.5 and 8.2 min). The binding sites for [3H]clonidine and [ 3 H]yohimbine showed the specificity required for an a z-adrenoreceptor. rank order of potency of inhibitors of [ 3 H]clonidine binding was clonidine>yohimbine>>phenylephrine>prazosin and of [3H]yohimbine binding was yohimbine>clonidine>> phenylephrine>prazosin. Scatchard analysis Of [3H]yohimbine binding indicated the existence of a single population of noninteracting sites (K D =3.0 nM; Bma x -- 188 fmol/mg protein). The high-affinity binding of [3H]clonidine had a lower affinity and a lower number of sites (K D = 5.0 nM; Bma x ----35 fmol/mg protein). [3H]Clonidine binding also showed evidence of a second site of much lower affinity and greater number (KD=18.6 nM; Bronx=77 fmol/mg protein) in 40% of the normal population. In vitro, antidepressant drugs competed with [3H]clonidine and [3H]yohimbine for the platelet a2-adrenoreceptor. The rank order of potency of inhibitors of [3H]clonidine binding was mianserin>amitriptyline>>iprindole>desipramine and of [3H]yohimbine binding was mianserin> amitriptyline >> desipramine> iprindole. The inhibition constants (K i) of adrenergic drugs and of various antidepressant drugs in competing with [3 H]clonidine were correlated with the inhibition constants of these drugs in competing with [ 3 H]yohimbine (r = 0.970; P < 0.001) which suggests that both radioligands labelled the same a2"adren°receptor the human platelet. The inhibition of binding induced by all antidepressant drugs was competitive. In contrast, long-term administration of tricyclic antidepressant drugs to patients was recently found to be associated with. a decrease in the number of binding sites for [3H]clonidine on platelet membranes. The present results indicate that both [3H]clonidine and [3H]yohimbine are useful tools for the quantification of a2-adrenoreceptors on blood platelets and suggests that the specific binding of radiolabelled ~2-adrenoreceptor to human platelet membranes might be used to monitor changes in a 2-adrenoreceptors during tricylic antidepressant drug treatment. 2-Adren°recept°r Blood platelet [ 3 H]Clonidine [ 3 H]Yohimbine Antidepressant drugs
Variability in Citizens’ Reactions to Different Types of Negative Campaigns

Do negative advertisements lower voters’ evaluations of the targeted candidate? We theorize that there is much to be gained by examining the variance in the content and tone of negative campaign messages and the variance in voters’ sensitivity to negative political rhetoric. We employ data from the 2006 Cooperative Congressional Election Study to investigate the impact of negative campaigning in U.S. Senate campaigns. We sampled 1,045 respondents in 21 of the 28 U.S. Senate races featuring a majority party incumbent and challenger. In addition to the survey data, we collected contextual data regarding the political advertisements aired during the campaigns and the news coverage of these campaigns in state newspapers. The evidence suggests that the impact of negative information is multifaceted, and under some circumstances, substantial. We find that uncivil and relevant negative messages are the most powerful, especially for people with less tolerance for negative political rhetoric.
Atomistic simulations of electrowetting in carbon nanotubes

Electrowetting of carbon nanotubes by mercury was studied using classical molecular dynamics simulations in conjunction with a macroscopic electrocapillarity model. A scaled ab initio mercury dimer potential, optimized to reproduce the mercury liquid density (at 300 K), melting point, and wetting angle on graphite, was selected for the simulations. Wetting of (20,20) single-walled carbon nanotubes by mercury occurs above a threshold voltage of 2.5 V applied across the interface. Both the electrocapillary pressure and imbibition velocity increase quadratically with voltage and can acquire large values, for example, 2.4 kbar and 28 m/s at 4 V, indicating a notable driving force. The observed voltage scaling can be captured by the Lucas-Washburn equation modified to include a wetting-line friction term.
Single-atom point source for electrons: Field-emission resonance tunneling in scanning tunneling microscopy.

Many years ago spectroscopic evidence based on a single-electron process, namely, field-emission resonance tunneling, was reported showing the electronic structure of single atoms adsorbed on metal surfaces. Huge enhancements in the highly collimated tunneling current through the virtual states of the adparticle made the single-atom spectroscopy feasible when the field-emission spectrometer was operated in the «probe-hole mode.» A related effect is currently popular in today's scanning tunneling microscopy and also in nanometer-cluster spectroscopy. The phenomenology and theory of the effect is presented and the current activity is considered in light of what has been uncovered in the field-emission work
The Type I IFN-Induced miRNA, miR-21

The interferon (IFN) family of cytokines not only has antiviral properties at various steps in the viral replication cycle, but also anticancer activity through multiple pathways that include inhibiting cell proliferation, regulating cellular responses to inducers of apoptosis and modulating angiogenesis and the immune system. IFNs are known to induce their biological activity through the induction of protein encoding IFN-stimulated genes. However, recent studies have established that IFNs also induce the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small endogenous non-coding RNAs that suppress gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. MiRNAs play critical roles in tumorigenesis and have been implicated to act as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors in various human cancers. Therefore, IFN-induced miRNAs play an important role, not only in the host response to innate immune response to cancer, but also in the tumorigenic process itself. Furthermore, IFN-induced miRNAs may participate in and/or orchestrate antiviral defense in certain viral infections. In this review, we describe our recent studies on the induction of miR-21 by type I IFN, the role of the STAT3 and NFκB signaling pathways in IFN-induced miR-21 expression, the role of miR-21 in different cancers and the role of miR-21 in regulating the antiviral response.
Biolog Phenotype Microarrays

Phenotype microarrays nicely complement traditional genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analysis by offering opportunities for researchers to ground microbial systems analysis and modeling in a broad yet quantitative assessment of the organism's physiological response to different metabolites and environments. Biolog phenotype assays achieve this by coupling tetrazolium dyes with minimally defined nutrients to measure the impact of hundreds of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulfur sources on redox reactions that result from compound-induced effects on the electron transport chain. Over the years, we have used Biolog's reproducible and highly sensitive assays to distinguish closely related bacterial isolates, to understand their metabolic differences, and to model their metabolic behavior using flux balance analysis. This chapter describes Biolog phenotype microarray system components, reagents, and methods, particularly as they apply to bacterial identification, characterization, and metabolic analysis.
Ex vivo virotherapy with myxoma virus does not impair hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

Abstract Background Relapsing disease is a major challenge after hematopoietic cell transplantation for hematological malignancies. Myxoma virus (MYXV) is an oncolytic virus that can target and eliminate contaminating cancer cells from auto-transplant grafts. The aims of this study were to examine the impact of MYXV on normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and define the optimal treatment conditions for ex vivo virotherapy. Methods Bone marrow (BM) and mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (mPBSCs) from patients with hematologic malignancies were treated with MYXV at various time, temperature and incubation media conditions. Treated BM cells from healthy normal donors were evaluated using flow cytometry for MYXV infection, long-term culture-initiating cell (LTC-IC) assay and colony-forming cell (CFC) assay. Results MYXV initiated infection in up to 45% of antigen-presenting monocytes, B cells and natural killer cells; however, these infections were uniformly aborted in >95% of all cells. Fresh graft sources showed higher levels of MYXV infection initiation than cryopreserved specimens, but in all cases less than 10% of CD34 + cells could be infected after ex vivo MYXV treatment. MYXV did not impair LTC-IC colony numbers compared with mock treatment. CFC colony types and numbers were also not impaired by MYXV treatment. MYXV incubation time, temperature or culture media did not significantly change the percentage of infected cells, LTC-IC colony formation or CFC colony formation. Conclusions Human hematopoietic cells are non-permissive for MYXV. Human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells were not infected and thus unaffected by MYXV ex vivo treatment.
Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among HIV+ men who have sex with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Since 2000, an increase in hepatitis C virus infection among HIV-infected (HIV+) men who have sex with men has been observed. Evidence points to blood exposure during sex as the medium of hepatitis C virus transmission. Hepatitis C virus prevalence among HIV + MSM overall and in relation to injection drug use is poorly characterized. In this study, a systematic review and meta-analysis examining global hepatitis C virus antibody prevalence and estimating active hepatitis C virus prevalence among HIV + MSM were conducted; 42 reports provided anti-hepatitis C virus prevalence data among HIV + MSM. Pooled prevalence produced an overall anti-hepatitis C virus prevalence among HIV + MSM of 8.1%; active HCV prevalence estimate was 5.3%-7.3%. Anti-hepatitis C virus prevalence among injection drug use and non-injection drug use HIV + MSM was 40.0% and 6.7%, respectively. Among HIV + MSM, hepatitis C virus prevalence increased significantly over time among the overall and non-injection drug use groups, and decreased significantly among injection drug use HIV + MSM. We identified a moderate prevalence of hepatitis C virus among all HIV + MSM and among non-injection drug use HIV + MSM; for both, prevalence was observed to be increasing slightly. Pooled prevalence of hepatitis C virus among HIV + MSM was higher than that observed in the 1945-1965 US birth cohort. The modest but rising hepatitis C virus prevalence among HIV + MSM suggests an opportunity to control HCV among HIV + MSM; this combined with data demonstrating a rising hepatitis C virus incidence highlights the temporal urgency to do so.
Calcium scoring with dual-energy CT in men and women: an anthropomorphic phantom study

This work aimed to quantify and compare the potential impact of gender differences on coronary artery calcium scoring with dual-energy CT. An anthropomorphic thorax phantom with four synthetic heart vessels (diameter 3-4.5 mm: female/male left main and left circumflex artery) were scanned with and without female breast plates. Ten repeat scans were acquired in both single- and dual-energy modes and reconstructed at six reconstruction settings: two slice thicknesses (3 mm, 0.6 mm) and three reconstruction algorithms (FBP, IR3, IR5). Agatston and calcium volume scores were estimated from the reconstructed data using a segmentation-based approach. Total calcium score (summation of four vessels), and male/female calcium scores (summation of male/female vessels scanned in phantom without/with breast plates) were calculated accordingly. Both Agatston and calcium volume scores were found comparable between single- and dual-energy scans (Pearson r= 0.99, p<0.05). The total calcium scores were larger for the thinner slice thickness. Among the scores obtained from the three reconstruction algorithms, FBP yielded the highest and IR5 yielded the lowest scores. The total calcium scores from the phantom without breast plates were significantly larger than those from the phantom with breast plates, and the difference increased with the stronger denoising in iterative algorithm and with thicker slices. Both gender-based anatomical differences and vessel size impacted the calcium scores. The calcium volume scores tended to be underestimated when the vessels were smaller. These findings are valuable for understanding inconsistencies between women and men in calcium scoring, and for standardizing imaging protocols for improved gender-specific calcium scoring.
Managing Sediment in the Mekong River Basin: Tradeoffs between Hydropower and the Environment

The Mekong/Lancang River Basin is undergoing a period of rapid hydropower development. Construction of over 20 dams is currently underway just in the Lower Mekong Basin, with at least an additional 42 dams planned for construction in the next 20 years. The resulting alteration of the basin’s natural flow and sediment regimes, geomorphologic makeup, and fish migration patterns could significantly impact the exceptional biodiversity and food production characteristics of the basin’s ecosystems. This study is devoted to assessing the improvement in sediment passage (compared to current and expected conditions) that could be achieved at various locations in the basin by implementing reservoir sediment management practices such as sediment bypasses, drawdown flushing, seasonal drawdown routing, and sluicing. Specific sediment management options are discussed for selected reservoirs in the Sre Pok, Se San and Se Kong sub-basins (called the “3S” basins). These sub-basins are particularly important with respect to biodiversity and ecological productivity, and serve as an important source of flow, sediment and nutrients to the mainstream Mekong River. Simulations are performed with the Sediment Simulation Screening (3S) Model. Using a daily time-step, this model simulates the mass-balance of flow and sediment to predict in relative terms the spatial and temporal accumulation and depletion of sediment in river reaches and in reservoirs under different sediment management policies. It also identifies the relative tradeoffs between hydropower output and reliability and sediment regime alteration for these sediment management options. INTRODUCTION In the recent past, wars have kept the Mekong Basin natural, and as such it has supplied the fish that support the livelihoods of more than 50 million people living in the basin. The production of fish results from the natural hydrological and sediment (and nutrient) regimes as the water flows for 4,750 km from the upper Mekong (called the Lancang) River basin of China through portions of Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia on its way to the Vietnam Delta. Given the current absence of military conflict in the basin the river has become attractive to hydropower developers and those who will benefit economically from that development, at least in the short run. The Mekong River and its tributaries form one of the world's most diverse ecosystems, containing over 560 endemic fish species and over 300 globally threatened vertebrate species. The basin’s productivity and biodiversity are driven by an annual flood pulse, which carries most of the annual 1297 World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2013: Showcasing the Future © ASCE 2013
Animal and Human Studies with Oral Mitomycin C(6): A Preliminary Report

Mitomycin C, a product of Streptomyces caespetosus, is an antineoplastic antibiotic marketed for intravenous usage (1). Extravasation outside the vein at the site of the injection results in painful necrosis of the surrounding tissue, and daily intravenous injections are a difficult method to use when continuous low dose therapy is desired. Consideration was given to the development of an oral form of Mitomycin C. This paper reports results from our initial animal and human trials. We later learned that oral Mitomycin C has been used clinically in Japan.
Sociospatial Dimensions of Water Injustice: The Distribution of Surface Water Toxic Releases in California’s Bay-Delta

Previous water injustice research focuses predominantly on inequities and power relations in water use, management, governance, and rights. This article charts a new research direction with a case study of the unequal distribution of surface water toxic release hazard levels across census block groups in California’s Bay-Delta region in the year 2000. The article draws on secondary data and geographic information systems, as well as spatial regression analyses to test intersectional environmental inequality hypotheses regarding the determinants of surface water cumulative areal-weighted modeled hazard scores (CAWMHS)—a new environmental health hazard indicator derived in this study from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators database. Spatial error regression models demonstrate that black disadvantage and isolated Latino disadvantage are the strongest and positive demographic determinants of surface water CAWMHS, net of other factors. Findings have scholarly and p...
Analysis of Demand of Cultivated Land Area Based on “Food Security”——With Shaanxi Province as an Example

"Food Security"is the basic issue to national development and social stability.Is"the cultivated land area"important in many influence factors for food security?Is cultivated land area established to guarantee food security?There are some controversy about the relationship between food security and cultivated land in the academic circle.This paper carries analysis on the relationship by using relevant social statistical data of Shaanxi province and predicts the area of cultivated land under the prerequisite of food security in certain period for the province.The results of the study show that:grain production and cultivated land area are related,but it is not the main influence factors from 1990to 2009;base on maintaining the existing cultivated land area,relying on scientific and technological progress,improving grain yield per unit area is the main direction for the province to increase grain production capacity in the future.In the premise of food security in 2020and 2030,the need of cultivated land area is respectively 3.37991million hectares and 3.26638million hectares.
Kinetics and thermodynamics of degumming of oil by ion exchange resin with weak acid

Degumming of oil by weak acid ion exchange resin was conducted and the thermodynamic and kinetic model of the resin were studied.The action of degumming by resin in the experiment condition could be better described by Freundlich equation after compared the relative standard deviation between the Langmuir and Freundlich at different temperture.The equations were y=2.028 1x+0.391 4(R2=0.950 4)and y=1.816 5x+0.405 4(R2=0.940 7)at 40 ℃ and 50 ℃,respectively,and ΔH0,ΔG0,ΔS0 were got for further study.The study indicated that the adsorption for phospholipid on the resin surface in degumming process was the multi-layer adsorption and the degumming was a micro-endothermal process.
Malignant gonadal stromal tumor of the testis arising with a malignant teratoma.

AbstractWe report a case of a rare malignant gonadal stromal tumor arising with a malignant teratoma of the testis. The malignant gonadal stromal element of the tumor or the nongerminal cell component was resistant to chemotherapy and ultimately metastasized to the lymph nodes, lung, bones and liver. Nongerminal cell tumors arising with germinal cell neoplasms may become more common because the chemosensitive germ cell tumor may be destroyed and the chemoresistant nongerminal tumor remains. The nongerminal cell tumor is the most important prognostic factor and also dictates possible later changes in therapy.
NADH Conformation Assessed using Spectral Phasor Analysis: Illustrating Concepts from Molecular Folding to Metabolic Monitoring

The wide applicability of spectroscopy makes fluorescence measurements on biomolecules an attractive modality for introducing biophysical topics into undergraduate physics laboratory courses. Here we show how the spectroscopic assessment of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) conformation is useful for conveying concepts spanning multiple size scales. While advanced sources of optical contrast for NADH conformation include fluorescence excitation transfer efficiency, excited-state lifetime, and anisotropy decay rate, our recently published studies have shown how the quantification of autofluorescence spectrum shape using spectral phasor analysis is useful for monitoring NADH conformations during metabolic transitions. Here we present the pedagogical use of spectral phasor approaches to assess NADH conformation, with educational modules illustrating concepts ranging from molecular folding to protein binding, in addition to cellular metabolic monitoring. In the first module, we explore the NADH folding-unfolding transition in solution during methanol denaturation. The two-state nature of the transition and the degree of unfolding are evaluated using spectral phasors. A two-state solvent-denaturation model is used to estimate the free energy of transition. Next, we consider the protein binding of NADH to various dehydrogenases, showing that binding to different proteins can be discriminated optically, providing a spectroscopic means of examining ligand-binding behavior. The NADH binding constant to malate dehydrogenase is also measured, with the degree of ligand binding quantified using spectral phasors. Finally at the cellular level, the response of energy metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to various functional modifiers is monitored. We note that all modules were originally research projects involving undergraduate students, and so results here illustrate the relationship between student-driven, faculty-mentored research and the translation of those outcomes to courses centered around discovery-oriented learning.
Analog Data Acquisition Circuits in Integrated Sensing Systems

This paper discusses current worldwide efforts aimed at the development of integrated microinstrumentation systems. Such systems are merging sensors, actuators, analog interface circuits, and embedded microcontrollers on common substrates to implement distributed measurement/control functions that are able to respond to a variety of conditions and which fit into a hierarchical control structure. Digital compensation of offset, slope, and temperature sensitivities appears capable of extending the precision of such systems by an order of magnitude or more provided the analog front-end is stable over time. While linearity is becoming less important in such systems, low-noise, low power, and small layout area continue to be key design goals. New force-balanced, resonant, and tunneling operating modes are largely unexplored in terms of integrated readout circuitry. In addition, the development of analog self-test and autocalibration procedures along with improved compensation protocols and test strategies offer many new challenges. Examples of highly-integrated analog front-ends for such systems are given in three areas: integrated circuitry for exploring neural networks at the cellular level, an integrated microflowmeter offering over 10 bits of accuracy and 16 hits of dynamic range, and an integrated gas analyzer based on ultrathin sensing films and precise temperature control. All of these devices are partially or fully self-testing.
Hybrid polymer nanolayers for surface modification of fibers

Publisher Summary A combination of several ingredients in the same hybrid material is useful in achieving a number of desirable properties, sometimes contra-properties. Such behavior will be valuable for textiles, especially for cloth. Depending on environmental conditions or the state of the body, the textile may change its properties to adapt to the situation in a desired way. These kinds of textiles and cloth are known as “smart textiles/cloth”. Switching of physical and chemical behavior of smart textiles is needed to regulate the temperature of the body and the humidity of the skin surface to evacuate excessive perspiration, to protect the skin from irradiation, aggressive chemicals and microbes, and to protect the cloth from becoming contaminated with dust and stains of foods, beverages, and oil. At the same time, the textile should be stable, resistant to washing/cleaning, demonstrate good feel, and be attractive. That is a very complex task and doubtless such a textile will have a complex structure. In this case, hybrid material is a key word. This chapter discusses one of the structural elements of the textile: thin hybrid coatings. Although thin coatings cannot perform all the above functions of the smart textiles, the responsive coating is a very important component of complex smart materials to regulate wetting, adhesion, and permeability. Responsiveness of thin polymer films is based on a phase segregation mechanism. It can be either intramolecular segregation of homopolymers and copolymers with a complex architecture when different segments of blocks are incompatible and segregate to avoid unfavorable interactions, or intermolecular segregation when two or more dissimilar polymers segregate to microscopic or macroscopic phases. The phase segregation in thin films can be regulated by their environment represented in terms of a solvent quality change and confinement effects of the interfaces.
Walking a Tightrope: The Jesuit Robert Bütler and Muslim–Christian Dialogue in Pakistan

ABSTRACTThis article deals with the Swiss Jesuit Robert Andreas Butler (1915–1996) and his attempts to develop Muslim–Christian dialogue in Pakistan between the 1960s and 1980s. It focuses especially on his correspondence with the Islamist ideologue Sayyid Abu ’l-Aʿla Mawdudi (1903–1979), one of the most influential Muslim thinkers of the twentieth century and a major figure in South Asian Islam. On the basis of their written exchange, the article identifies challenges to Muslim–Christian rapprochement against the backdrop of state-funded Islamization and rising political tensions in Pakistan. It demonstrates how Butler’s efforts became entangled in postcolonial struggles for a national identity, thereby revealing the limits of Vatican II-inspired approaches to Muslim–Christian dialogue.
Development of a novel chimeric toxin vaccine against Clostridium difficile infection

T global emergence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has contributed to the recent surge in severe antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colonic inflammation. C. difficile produces two homologous glucosylating exotoxins, TcdA and TcdB, both of which are pathogenic and require neutralization to prevent disease occurrence. However, because of their large size and complex multifunctional domain structures, it has been a challenge to produce native recombinant toxins that may serve as vaccine candidates. Here, we describe a novel chimeric toxin vaccine that retains major neutralizing epitopes from both toxins and confers complete protection against primary and recurrent CDI in mice. Using a nonpathogenic Bacillus megaterium expression system, we generated glucosyltransferase-deficient holotoxins and demonstrated their loss of toxicity. The atoxic holotoxins induced potent antitoxin neutralizing antibodies showing little cross-immunogenicity or protection between TcdA and TcdB. To facilitate simultaneous protection against both toxins, we generated an active clostridial toxin chimera by switching the receptor binding domain of TcdB with that of TcdA. The toxin chimera was fully cytotoxic and showed potent proinflammatory activities. This toxicity was essentially abolished in a glucosyltransferase-deficient toxin chimera, cTxAB. Parenteral immunization of mice or hamsters with cTxAB induced rapid and potent neutralizing antibodies against both toxins. Complete and long-lasting disease protection was conferred by cTxAB vaccinations against both laboratory and hypervirulent C. difficile strains. Finally, prophylactic cTxAB vaccination prevented spore-induced disease relapse, which constitutes one of the most significant clinical issues in CDI. Thus, the rational design of recombinant chimeric toxins provides a novel approach for protecting individuals at high risk of developing CDI. Hanping Feng, J Bacteriol Parasitol 2013, 4:4 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2155-9597.S1.004
Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Sodium Silicate Glasses — Toward an Improved Understanding of the Structure

Reactive potentials are becoming increasingly popular as they are expected to bridge the gap between ab initio and classical molecular dynamics. However, their applicability and potential benefits to model multicomponent glass networks are yet to be assessed. Here, an archetypal modified silicate glass, sodium silicate glass, is simulated using the ReaxFF potential. The predicted structure is critically evaluated and compared to that obtained by a classical potential and experimental data. Our results indicate that ReaxFF offers an improved description of the atomic structure, both at the short- and medium- range. Particularly, owing to its bond order form that dynamically adjusts potential energies according to the local atomic environment, ReaxFF reproduces the effect of modifiers on the Si–O network, a demonstration of its good transferability to various compositions. Overall, ReaxFF provides a promising alternative to classical and ab initio methods for simulating complex structures and processes for multi-component silicate glasses.
Attitude Kinematics and Dynamics

This chapter begins with a discussion of the kinematics of rotations, or attitude kinematics, and then moves on to attitude dynamics. The distinction between kinematics and dynamics is that kinematics covers those aspects of motion that can be analyzed without consideration of forces or torques. When forces and torques are introduced, we are in the realm of dynamics. To make this distinction clear, consider the motion of a point particle in Newtonian physics. If r denotes position, v denotes velocity, and time derivatives are indicated by a dot, then the kinematic equation of motion is simply \(\dot {\mathbf {r}}=\mathbf {v}\). The dynamic equation of motion is \(m\dot {\mathbf {v}}=\mathbf {F}\) or \(\dot {\mathbf {p}}=\mathbf {F}\), where F is the applied force and p ≡ mv is the translational momentum. Kinematics and dynamics are often subsumed under the single term dynamics by combining the kinematic and dynamic equations in the single relation \(m\ddot {\mathbf {r}}=\mathbf {F}\). In fact, it is common in filtering theory to apply the term dynamics to any relation expressing time dependence.
Vascular Endothelial-Cadherin Targeted Alpha-Particle Mediated Vascular Killing and Remodeling Augments Subsequent Chemotherapeutic Efficacy.

Abstract 3054 Poster Board II-1030 Cancer therapies targeting tumor endothelium have shown promising results when combined with chemotherapeutics. Vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin is an endothelial cell specific molecule that is expressed constitutively throughout the vasculature and participates in the formation of adherens junctions between adjacent endothelial cells. The monoclonal antibody E4G10 specifically binds to a cryptic epitope exposed only on the monomeric unengaged form of VE-Cadherin found in neovasculature. We chemically conjugated E4G10 with the cytotoxic, short-range αa-particle emitter, 225 Ac, and show that the agent dampens tumor growth as a single agent and this effect is enhanced when given in combination with chemotherapy in a xenograft mouse model. The therapeutic efficacy of the combination therapy is sequence dependent and most pronounced when 225 Ac-E4G10 is administered prior to the chemotherapy. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence studies for endothelial cells (Meca32), vascular basement membrane (Collagen IV), and pericytes (alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), nerve/glial antigen 2 (NG2) ) showed that the vasculature of 225 Ac-E4G10 treated tumors was depleted and the remaining vessels appeared normalized as evidenced by morphological changes, increased pericyte density and coverage. Fluorescence studies with Hoechst 33342 dye i.v. injected showed more homogenous distribution of the dye within 225 Ac-E4G10 treated tumors, suggesting improved perfusion, and biodistribution studies with i.v. injected 111 In-Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA), a freely diffusible small molecule, showed significantly (p=0.03) increased passive tumor accumulation of 111 In-DTPA in 225 Ac-E4G10-treated tumors when compared to controls. Quantitative autoradiographic studies on tumor sections also showed both stronger and more homogenous signal distribution in 225 Ac-E4G10-treated tumors. These results show that 225 Ac-E4G10 treatment leads to ablation and remodeling of the tumor vasculature allowing improved delivery of subsequent small molecules, such as chemotherapeutics, and thereby improves therapeutic outcome. Disclosures McDevitt: Actinium Pharma Inc.: Patents & Royalties. Scheinberg: Actinium Pharma Inc.: Patents & Royalties.
Nitrate: Warum und wie sie heute eingesetzt werden sollten

Akute Angina pectoris-Anfalle konnen durch den Einsatz von Nitraten schnell und wirksam beendet werden. Aber auch in der Prophylaxe bei symptomatischen und asymplomatischen Myokardischamien sind Nitrate uberaus effektiv. Bei Patienten mit chronischer stabiler Angina besteht der entscheidende Wirkungsmechanismus der Nitrate in einer Herabsetzung der Vorlast und unterscheidet sich in diesem von Beta-Blokkern oder Kalziumantagonisten. Hierbei werden die Koronararterien nicht nur pra- und poststenotisch, sondern auch in exzentrischen Stenosen erweitert. Bei Patienten mit Endotheldysfunktion scheinen die Nitrate den endothelium-derived relaxing factor physiologisch zu substituieren. Wahrend der letzten Dekade hat es jedoch deutliche Hinweise auf einen klinisch relevanten Verlust der antiischamischen Effekte (≪Nitrattoleranz≫) gegeben. Viele Studien, in denen Isosorbid-Dinitrat oder Isosorbid-5-Mononitrat mindestens dreimal taglich oral gegeben wurde, haben bei Patienten mit Koronararterienerkrankung und/oder Herzinsuffizienz eine Nitrattoleranz zeigen konnen. Der vollstandige Verlust der antiischamischen Wirksamkeit wurde auch nach wiederholter und dauerhafter Pflasteranwendung beschrieben. 1983 haben wir erstmalig gezeigt, das eine intermittierende Therapie mit einer einmal taglichen Einnahme einer hohen Dosis Isosorbid-Dinitrat mit langsamer Freisetzung erfolgreich eine Toleranzentwicklung verhindern konnte. In gleicher Weise zeigte sich auch keine Toleranz gegenuber Isosorbid-5-Mononitrat bei einmal taglicher Einnahme. Es wird inzwischen allgemein akzeptiert, das zur Vermeidung einer Toleranzentwicklung ein gewisser Zeitraum mit taglich niedrigen Nitratplasmaspiegeln erforderlich ist. Die minimale Dauer eines pflasterfreien Zeitraums, die zur Vermeidung einer Toleranz erforderlich ist, mus im einzelnen noch untersucht werden. Man kann aber davon ausgehen, das bei den meisten Patienten hierzu ein Zeitraum von 12 Std ausreicht. Eine einmal tagliche anzuwendende, hohe Dosierung von Isosorbid-Dinitrat oder Isosorbid-5-Mononitrat mit verzogerter Freisetzung besitzt eine verlangerte Wirkungsdauer und vergrosert die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer antiischamischen Wirksamkeit. Hinzu kommt eine verbesserte Patientenmitarbeit bei einer einmal taglichen Dosierung. Diese wichtigen Grunde sprechen dafur, die Anwendung von hochdosierten Nitraten einmal taglich zu empfehlen.
The Effects of Gamification on Restaurant Consumer-Retention

This paper considers the marketing concept of gamification . This includes most loyalty programs, but, in addition, has tentacles in many other areas of marketing. It is a concept which has been growing rapidly in the marketing field. While a lot has been written about it, there is little quantitative analysis of its impact. In this paper, we perform a statistical analysis using a database of about 1,100 people and several variables, related to the restaurant industry in particular. We consider several hypotheses. One is whether the consumer loyalty engendered by gamification differs by gender. Another is the relationship between customer loyalty engendered by gamification and some restaurant-specific measures, such as frequency of visits to the restaurant, amount of money spent at a restaurant, and the impact of special rewards programs. We also consider which variables are significant in a predictive model with the dependent variable: I would visit a restaurant more often with the presence of as points-based reward program , and several of the earlier-considered variables as independent variables.
The Odds of Justice: Adjusting the Odds

Just as you may have used statistics to resolve issues for others, you too may benefit from their judicious use. There may be times when hiring, promotion, tenure, or other decisions don't go your ...
Data Mining of World Bank Indicators

World Bank annual report contains vital data indicators about many countries. Data mining techniques helps in studying the underlying relation between different indicators. This research proposes a clustering system for Egypt’s World Bank indicators. The proposed system has three phases; preprocessing phase, clustering phase and analysis phase. Preprocessing phase consolidates Egypt’s data and prepares it for clustering. Clustering phase estimates the appropriate number of clusters and uses K-Means to cluster both years’ data and indicators data values. Analysis phase uses principle component analysis to find the most important indicators for each type of cluster. The results indicate that years’ clusters are more compact and separated than indicators’ clusters.
A Death Retold in Truth and Rumour: Kenya, Britain and the Julie Ward Murder

Julie Ward was a young British tourist and wildlife photographer who had visited Kenya several times. In September 1988, her body was found in Maasai Mara; it appeared have been dismembered before ...