cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LIMITS ON GAMMA-RAY BURST PROMPT RADIO EMISSION USING THE LWA1

As a backend to the first station of the Long Wavelength Array (LWA1), the Prototype All Sky Imager has been imaging the sky > –26° declination during 34 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) between 2012 January and 2013 May. Using this data, we were able to put the most stringent limits to date on prompt low-frequency emission from GRBs. While our limits depend on the zenith angle of the observed GRB, we estimate a 1σ rms sensitivity of 68, 65, and 70 Jy for 5 s integrations at 37.9, 52.0, and 74.0 MHz at zenith. These limits are relevant for pulses ≥5 s and are limited by dispersion smearing. For 5 s pulses, we are limited to dispersion measures (DMs) ≤ 220, 570, and 1600 pc cm–3 for the frequencies above. For pulses lasting longer than 5 s, the DM limits increase linearly with the duration of the pulse. We also report two interesting transients, which are, as of yet, of unknown origin and are not coincident with any known GRBs. For general transients, we give rate density limits of ≤7.5 × 10–3, 2.9 × 10–2, and 1.4 × 10–2 yr–1 deg–2 with pulse energy densities >1.3 × 10–22, 1.1 × 10–22, and 1.4 × 10–22 J m–2 Hz–1 and pulse widths of 5 s at the frequencies given above.
Comment on “Exploring nature and predicting strength of hydrogen bonds: A correlation analysis between atoms‐in‐molecules descriptors, binding energies, and energy components of symmetry‐adapted perturbation theory”

We evaluate the correlation between binding energy (BE) and electron density ρ(r) at the bond critical point for 28 neutral hydrogen bonds, recently reported by Emamian and co-workers (J. Comput. Chem., 2019, 40, 2868). As an efficient tool, we use local stretching force constant kHBa derived from the local vibrational mode theory of Konkoli and Cremer. We compare the physical nature of BE versus kHBa , and provide an important explanation for cases with significant deviation in the BE- kHBa relation as well as in the BE-ρ(r) correlation. We also show that care has to be taken when different hydrogen bond strength measures are compared. The BE is a cumulative hydrogen bond strength measure while kHBa is a local measure of hydrogen bond strength covering different aspects of bonding. A simplified and unified description of hydrogen bonding is not always possible and needs an in-depth understanding of the systems involved.
Segment-specific kinetics of mRNA, cRNA and vRNA accumulation during influenza infection

Influenza A virus (IAV) is a segmented negative-sense RNA virus and is the cause of major epidemics and pandemics. The replication of IAV is complex, involving the production of three distinct RNA species; mRNA, cRNA, and vRNA for all eight genome segments. While understanding IAV replication kinetics is important for drug development and improving vaccine production, current methods for studying IAV kinetics has been limited by the ability to detect all three different RNA species in a scalable manner. Here we report the development of a novel pipeline using total stranded RNA-Seq, which we named Influenza Virus Enumerator of RNA Transcripts (InVERT), that allows for the simultaneous quantification of all three RNA species produced by IAV. Using InVERT, we provide a full landscape of the IAV replication kinetics and found that different groups of viral genes follow different kinetics. The segments coding for RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase (RdRP) produced more vRNA than mRNA while some other segments (NP, NS, HA) consistently made more mRNA than vRNA. vRNA expression levels did not correlate with cRNA expression, suggesting complex regulation of vRNA synthesis. Furthermore, by studying the kinetics of a virus lacking the capacity to generate new polymerase complexes, we found evidence that further supports the model that cRNA synthesis requires newly synthesized RdRP and that incoming RdRP can only generate mRNA. Overall, InVERT is a powerful tool for quantifying IAV RNA species to elucidate key features of IAV replication.ImportanceInfluenza A virus (IAV) is a respiratory pathogen that has caused significant mortality throughout history and remains a global threat to human health. Although much is known about IAV replication, the regulation of IAV replication dynamics is not completely understood. This is due in part to both technical limitations and the complexity of the virus replication, which has a segmented genome and produces three distinct RNA species for each gene segment. We developed a new approach that allows the methodical study of IAV replication kinetics, shedding light on many interesting features of IAV replication biology. This study advances our understanding of the kinetics of IAV replication and will help to facilitate future research in the field.
The COVID-19 Pandemic's Influence on Family Systems Therapists' Provision of Teletherapy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered life globally like no other event in modern history, and psychological service changes to meet the resultant impacts on families have not been assessed in the empirical literature. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether family systems therapists increased their teletherapy use during the pandemic relative to prepandemic usage, and whether projected postpandemic rates would remain at the same level; further, environmental and demographic predictors of these changes were examined. In May 2020, a sample of 626 family systems therapists (58.6% women, 40.6% men; M = 57.4 years old; M years in practice = 25.5) completed a national online study assessing these variables. Results suggested that family systems therapists performed 7.92% of their clinical work using teletherapy before the pandemic and 88.17% during the pandemic. They also projected that they would perform 36.57% of their clinical work using teletherapy after the pandemic. Teletherapy uptake was unrelated to primary practice setting, provider age, gender, race/ethnicity, and practice location (urban/suburban vs. rural) but was higher for family systems therapists who reported increased supportive teletherapy policies and training in their practice setting. Organizational infrastructure and availability of training played an important role in influencing teletherapy uptake during the pandemic. Family systems therapists have a unique opportunity to deploy teletherapy modalities to meet the needs of families during the COVID-19 pandemic, and infrastructure and training to do so may facilitate that work.
The Real Option Approach to Adoption and Discontinuation of Management Accounting Innovation: The Case of Activity Based Costing

This paper employs the real option approach (ROA) to study the investment decision of a management accounting innovation—the case of activity-based costing (ABC)—adoption or discontinuation under uncertainty. We argue that investing in ABC is analogous to having the option rights in a financial (American) call option. We propose a model taking the firm’s total annual production as primary decision variable and using the added annual net profits after establishing ABC to identify the optimal threshold for adoption or discontinuation. We find that the optimal adoption (resp., discontinuation) threshold is higher (resp., lower) when obtained by the ROA than by the net present value (NPV) method; thus, the ROA is more conservative than the NPV approach. Their difference stems mainly from the ROA’s option value of delay before implementing the adoption/discontinuation decision. Further, recent empirical researches based on survey found inconclusive results about the adoption of ABC. For instance, there are studies found that manufacturing sector having a higher adoption rate of ABC than non-manufacturing sector, but the other studies find the opposite. Our theoretical model explains the inconclusive results from the empirical researches can be driven by the variations in mean and volatility of sectoral output growth, which are omitted in those studies.
Power Subsystem Approach for the Europa Mission

NASA is planning to launch a spacecraft on a mission to the Jovian moon Europa, in order to conduct a detailed reconnaissance and investigation of its habitability. The spacecraft would orbit Jupiter and perform a detailed science investigation of Europa, utilizing a number of science instruments including an ice-penetrating radar to determine the icy shell thickness and presence of subsurface oceans. The spacecraft would be exposed to harsh radiation and extreme temperature environments. To meet mission objectives, the spacecraft power subsystem is being architected and designed to operate efficiently, and with a high degree of reliability.
Existence in Time: From Substance to Process

Most topics of present-day ontological debate are discussed within a specific ontological research paradigm that has dominated ontological inquiry throughout its history. Since this paradigm has its starting point in Aristotle and contains many elements of Aristotle’s substance metaphysics, one might justifiedly speak of a historical hegemony of the paradigm of substance ontology’. It is important to note, however, that the paradigm reaches beyond the commitment to the dualist categorial framework of ‘substance’ and ‘attribute’ — in fact, being committed to substances and attributes is not even essential to it. Rather, the paradigm of substance ontology consists primarily of a set of principles which governs the construction of ontological theories.
Laser photothermal effects on stability and toxicity of magnetic resonance contrast agents

ABSTRACT Interventional magnetic resonance (MR) using laser fiberoptics is being tested clinically for tumor ablation. The response of MR contrast agents to photothermal exposure in tumors is unkno...
Six Hot Topics in Planetary Astronomy

Six hot topics in modern planetary astronomy are described: (1) light-curves and densities of small bodies, (2) colors of Kuiper belt objects and the distribution of the ultrared matter, (3) spectroscopy and the crystallinity of ice in the outer Solar system, (4) irregular satellites of the giant planets, (5) the Main Belt Comets, and (6) comets and meteor stream parents.
A queueing-network model for half-duplex routing in data communication networks

Virtual-circuit routing is a widely used method of routing traffic sessions between an origin-destination pair in a data communication network. It consists of setting up a fixed path of communication channels from the origin node to the destination node and then routing all the traffic for a particular session on that path. Several sessions and their virtual circuits are allowed to share channels and the data is transmitted through these channels in a store-and-forward fashion. Thus no traffic is lost and the effect of load is felt only through higher queueing delays in getting the messages to the destination nodes.
Synthesis and characterization of Na2Ti6O 13 whiskers and their transformation to (1-x) Na0.5Bi 0.5TiO3-xBaTiO3 ceramics

In this paper we report the synthesis of monoclinic Na2Ti6O13 whiskers and their transformation to lead-free 0.93Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3–0.07BaTiO3 (NBTBT) ceramics. Synthesis of Na2Ti6O13 templates was performed using molten salt synthesis method. These whiskers were further characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, and HR-TEM for structural analysis. Tape-casting method was used to align the whiskers in base matrix powder and subjected to various processing temperatures to elucidate the microstructure and texture evolution. For this, SEM, HR-TEM, AFM, and EDS analysis were used as principal tools. The sintering process can be understood by dividing it into three stages, namely (i) transformation of monoclinic whiskers in to NBTBT perovskite phase through topochemical reaction ( 1050°C). The concentric growth ledges observed on grain surfaces were found to be preferably confined on the corners of cubical grains indicating 〈111〉 growth direction. The Lotgering factor (f100) for the sintered matrix was found to decrease with increase in sintering temperature. The longitudinal piezoelectric constant (d33) of samples sintered for 20 h at 1175°, 1200°, and 1225°C was measured to be ∼153, ∼216, and ∼180 pC/N, respectively.
An introduction to laser spectroscopy: Two cw-laser experiments

The principles, techniques and apparatus of two demonstration experiments using a tunable cw-laser are described. In the first experiment a passive external cavity enhanced the intensity of an incident laser beam enough to generate easily detected second harmonic UV radiation. The experiment also showed how to lock the frequency of one cavity to that of another. The second experiment used laser saturation spectroscopy to obtain sub-Doppler resolution and thereby exhibit the hyperfine spectrum of iodine molecules.
Abstract B221: Clopidogrel augments cisplatin cytotoxicity by enhancing delivery and direct receptor mediated effects.

Clopidogrel, a well known P2Y12 (purinergic receptor) inhibitor is widely used for its role in preventing thrombosis by platelet aggregation inhibition. Tumor vasculature is critically dependent on platelet mediated hemostasis and disruption of the same can promote its leakiness. This can increase the intra-tumoral delivery of chemotherapeutic nanoformulations, which depend on the Endothelial permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Also, Expression of P2Y12 receptors has been documented in some cancer cell lines like C6 glioma, kidney carcinoma and colon carcinoma. However, its direct role in altering response to chemotherapeutics has not been studied. In this project we evaluated the role of P2Y12 receptor inhibitors (Clopidogrel and 2-Methylthioadenosine 5-Monophosphate) in potentiating the tumor cytotoxicity of cisplatin based chemotherapeutics in vitro and in vivo. Western blot studies in 4T1 breast cancer cell lines showed a low basal expression of P2Y12 receptors with significant up regulation by cisplatin treatment in a time and dose dependent fashion. Co-administration of P2Y12 inhibitor (MeSAMP) with cisplatin resulted in significantly increased upregulation of caspase dependent apoptotic pathway when compared to cisplatin alone. This was mediated by downstream inhibition of PI3K-pAKT-mTOR pathway by the P2Y12 inhibitor. In-vitro cell proliferation assay showed that co-administration of 2-MeSAMP significantly reduced the IC-50 of cisplatin from 3.9 μM to 1.8μM. In-vivo studies in murine syngenic 4T1 breast cancer model showed significantly decreased tumour growth and increased survival in treatment groups using combination of clopidogrel and cisplatin (free and nanoformulation forms). This was more pronounced with cisplatin nano-formulation combination therapy. Further analysis of tumour tissue using Inductive Coupled Plasma-spectrophotometry confirmed that co-treatment with clopidogrel increased the delivery of free and nanoformulation form of cisplatin to tumor tissue by 1.8 and 4 folds respectively. Taken together our study findings suggest that clopidogrel can enhance therapeutic efficiency of cytotoxic agents by increasing delivery and by direct receptor level effects. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B221.
Evolution of the pion distribution amplitude in next-to-leading order.

The evolution of the pion distribution amplitude in next-to-leading order is studied for a fixed and a running coupling constant. In both cases, the evolution provides a logarithmic modification in the end point region. Assuming a simple parametrization of the distribution amplitude at a scale of ${\mathit{Q}}_{0}$\ensuremath{\sim}0.5 GeV, it is shown numerically that these effects are large enough at Q\ensuremath{\sim}2 GeV that they have to be taken into account in the next-to-leading-order analysis for exclusive processes. Alternatively, by introducing a new distribution amplitude that evolves more smoothly, this logarithmic modification can be included in the hard-scattering part of the considered process.
Scanning tunneling microscopy of marine hydrothermal sediments

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was employed to study the nanometer-scale morphology and topography of marine hydrothermal sediments collected from the Lau Basin and the North Fiji Basin during R/V Sonne cruise SO 35. The mineralogy and bulk chemistry of the sediments were determined prior to STM studies. Samples consist primarily of birnessite or a mixture of todorokite and birnessite. Because manganese oxides are wide bandgap semiconductors that cannot be readily imaged in their natural state, the particles were coated with an approximately 25-nm carbon layer prior to imaging. Low resolution STM images were acquired in the constant current mode. The birnessite surface is characterized by gently sloped topography and smaller scale knolls and depressions; less commonly distinct elongated growth patterns similar to fibrous todorokite crystals are observed. The surface of todorokite-birnessite particles is more homogeneous with the well-defined parallel ridge and valley topography of fibrous todorokite. Ridges and valleys are interrupted by 7-10-nm terraces and step-like features interpreted to represent edges of aligned tunnel structures. The authors observations are consistent with results of previous studies of hydrothermal manganese oxides and suggest that STM is useful for investigating the nanometer-scale surface characteristics of aggregates of wide bandgap semiconductor particles. However, becausemore » of 2-3-nm scale artifacts imparted by carbon coating, only features larger than approximately 5 nm can be confidently attributed to the underlying particles.« less
Enhancement of the Stress Corrosion Sensitivity of AA5083 by Heat Treatment

In this study, the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance of AA5083 is intentionally degraded by a series of progressively longer annealing treatments at 448 K (175 °C) that create a two-phase microstructure. Precipitation of strongly anodic Mg2Al3, known as β-phase, occurs heterogeneously with substantial precipitation along the grain boundaries, as observed by differential interference microscopy. Ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and strain to failure of AA5083 alloy were found to be independent of the amount of β-phase precipitates, making AA5083 an ideal system to study the relative contributions of anodic dissolution and hydrogen embrittlement. Open circuit dropwise exposure SCC tests with precracked double cantilever beam (DCB) specimens made from the AA5083 alloy with different heat treatment conditions were conducted using 3.5 pct NaCl solution at an initial stress intensity factor (K I ) of $$ 1 5\,{\text{ksi}}\sqrt {\text{in}} .\;\left( { 1 6. 5\,{\text{MPa}}\sqrt {\text{m}} } \right). $$ Two SCC characteristics, initial crack growth rate and incubation time, were found to be strongly dependent on the amount of β-phase precipitates. Initial crack growth rate increased sigmoidally as a function of heat treatment time with an inflection point between 120 and 240 hours of sensitization time, while the incubation time decreases monotonically with sensitization time. Additionally, fracture surfaces investigated by scanning electron microscopy demonstrated characteristics of intergranular cracking with multiple crack tips. Discussion centers on the evidence supporting anodic dissolution of β-phase grain boundary precipitates as a primary mechanism of SCC in severely sensitized AA5083 alloy and the potential contribution of hydrogen embrittlement in the failure of grain boundary ligaments between β-phase grain boundary precipitates in less severely sensitized conditions.
Synthesis and evaluation of fluoroquinolone derivatives as substrate-based inhibitors of bacterial efflux pumps

Bacterial efflux pump systems contribute to antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic bacteria. The co-administration of bacterial efflux pump inhibitors with antibiotics is being pursued to overcome efflux-mediated resistance to antibiotics. In this study we investigated a strategy for converting broad-spectrum efflux pump substrates, fluoroquinolone antibacterial agents which are inherently recognized by most efflux transporters, into expanded spectrum efflux pump inhibitors. Employing this strategy against organisms expressing efflux pumps from the MFS, MATE and RND classes of pump systems, we report here the identification of an ofloxacin-based EPI that is a potent inhibitor of MFS (NorA) and MATE (MepA) efflux pumps in Staphylococcus aureus. The methods described here outline a process that we feel will be broadly applicable to the systematic identification of bacterial efflux pump inhibitors.
Significance of invertebrate abundance to dabbling duck brood use of created wetlands

We investigated factors influencing dabbling duck (Anas spp.) brood densities on 9 created wetlands, arranged in 4 clusters on the National Elk Refuge in western Wyoming. Because dabblers are limited by the depth they can reach while up-ending, and created wetlands were between 1.5–2.5 m deep, we examined the significance of invertebrate density in the top 25 cm of the water collumn and in the entire water column where brood use occurs. Total invertebrate, nekton, and zooplankton density in the entire water column measured in 1992 accounted for between 59%, 61%, and 73%, respectively, (P<0.05) of the variation in brood density among wetlands that year. No variable measured in the top 25 cm of the water column accounted for variation in brood densities on wetlands. We suggest that vertical migrations in the water column make most invertebrates accessible to dabbler hens and broods.
Conditioning of Fluorine Containing Polyimides. 1. Effect of Exposure to High Pressure Carbon Dioxide on Permeability

This paper discusses the effect of penetrant-induced conditioning on the gas transport properties of four fluorine-containing polyimide isomers. The effects of substitution of bulky groups within the dianhydride residue of the polyimide and isomerism of the diamine residue on the penetrant-induced hysteresis of CO 2 permeability were investigated. The CO 2 permeability in the polyimide films that had been conditioned with carbon dioxide at 60 atm are compared to those in the untreated films. Exposure of the polyimides to CO 2 at 60 atm resulted in 4.5- to 10-fold increases in the permeability of CO 2 relative to unconditioned films. The permeability enhancement was a result of increases in both the solubility and diffusivity following conditioning. There was also a surprising maximum in the permeability at intermediate pressures in conditioned samples of two of the polyimides. The permeability of CO 2 in the conditioned polymers initially increased with decreasing pressure, exhibited a maximum value at approximately 30 atm, and decreased in permeability at low pressures.
Electronic transactions: Their impact on financial reporting

The creation of accounting transactions has changed from a manual to computerized recording. In many operational applications, the accounting entries are generated as a by-product of the underlying transactions, thus making it possible to shorten the existing delays in the creation of accounting data. Under this method, it is possible to issue financial statements monthly or weekly, as opposed to presently used quarterly and annual periods. Many corporations already generate such financial reports for their internal use but not for external purposes. It would be advisable to distribute financial reports via an electronic clearing house. This method would permit instant access to reports and insure that these documents cannot be modified by the preparer.
Culturally competent intervention with families of Latino youth at risk for drug abuse.

SUMMARY A culturally specific intervention for families with children at risk for substance abuse was implemented by Proyecto Juventud (Youth Project), a community-based family services program located in the rural southwestern United States. This intervention, incorporating culturally appropriate language, beliefs, values, and principles, provided substance abuse education to families. Participants were pretested at intake and posttested at one year, utilizing one measure for knowledge of drugs and drug abuse, and a second measure for family functioning. Results indicated that parents' scores relating to drug and drug abuse knowledge showed a trend of improvement on 16 out of 20 items. The results on family functioning were inconclusive. The study illustrated the importance of using a cultural approach with Latino families in the area of substance abuse prevention.
A General Mathematical Model for Respiratory Dynamics Relevant to the Clinical Setting

We have developed and validated a general mathematical model for the dynamic behavior of the single-compartment respiratory system in response to an arbitrary waveform of applied inspiratory pressure. Our general model for ventilation applies to all integrable functions of applied pressure, and it enables computation of most ventilation and pressure variables of clinical interest from clinician-selected and impedance-determined inputs readily measured or estimated at the bedside. Interactions between both phases of the ventilatory cycle are considered by assuming that deflation occurs passively from a unicompartment lung. Because this flexible model appears both capable of accurate prediction and robust to major violations of its underlying linear assumptions, it may prove to be of value in a variety of scientific, educational, and clinical settings.
Preferences for positive psychology exercises

Positive psychologists have developed a variety of techniques to increase well-being. This study explored whether preferences for some interventions are linked to preferences for other interventions. A total of 792 participants received up to six positive psychology exercises. After each exercise, participants indicated their preference for each exercise and how often they engaged in it. A factor analysis of these scores revealed three groupings of subjective preferences: active-constructive responding and savoring; blessings and life summary; and gratitude visit and strengths. Individuals who had high preference for an exercise were more likely to complete the exercise. Implications for application of positive psychology exercises and future recommendations are discussed including the use of such a framework for tailoring custom programs of interventions.
Plasma Kinins and Cortisol: A Possible Explanation of the Anti-Inflammatory Action of Cortisol

Kinins are naturally occurring vasoactive polypeptides thought to be mediators of acute inflammatory responses. Kinins are released from a plasma protein substrate by glass-activated plasma enzymes (kallikreins) or by isolated intact granulocytes. Cortisol in concentrations of 2.5 x 10-6 to 2.5 x 10-5M prevented the release of active kinin from substrate by granulocytes or contact with glass. Deoxycorticosterone, progesterone, and etiocholanolone in comparable concentrations were significantly less effective in preventing kinin release. Plasma obtained from patients receiving prednisone released no kinin after activation by glass and less kinin than control plasma when exposed to granulocytes. Cortisol also partially inhibited the release of kinin by purified urinary kallikrein. Certain adrenocorticosteroids may exert their anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the release of plasma kinins. Steroids may act in part by preventing interaction between the activated kallikrein and its substrate.
Force and Position Control of a Solenoid Injected Monopropellant Powered Actuator

This paper describes the control of a direct-injection, liquid monoproplellant powered actuation system, which was developed for the purpose of providing mechanical power to autonomous human-scale robots. The actuation system utilizes the catalytic decomposition of a monopropllant as a hot gas generator for powering a pneumatic actuator. Pressurization of the respective sides of a pneumatic actuator. is provided via solenoid injection valves, which control the flow of the monopropellant through a catalyst pack into the respective sides of the cylinder. Depressurization is provided by a three-way proportional spool valve, which proportionally exhausts one of the two cylinder chambers. This paper describes a controller that coordinates the control of the two discrete injection valves, together with the control of the proportional exhaust valve, in order to provide actuator force tracking. The controller is implemented on a prototype system with a closed-loop servo controller. Experimental results indicate effective position and force tracking.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
The severity of excitotoxic brain injury is dependent on brain temperature in immature rat

The effect of brain temperature on the severity of excitotoxic brain injury was evaluated in perinatal rats. Postnatal day (PND) 7 rats received unilateral intrastriatal injections of 25 nmol N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and then were exposed for 2 h to one of six different ambient temperatures. Animals were sacrificed 5 days later and the severity of brain injury was assessed quantitatively by comparison of the weights of the injected and contralateral cerebral hemispheres. Injection of NMDA consistently produced extensive unilateral brain injury in rats maintained at normothermia (36 degrees C ambient temperature; 29 +/- 1.8% reduction in the weight of the injected hemisphere). In the range of ambient temperatures between 25 degrees C and 40 degrees C, there was a linear relationship between temperature and the severity of NMDA-induced injury (r2 = 0.95, P less than 0.001, linear regression). In a separate analysis, in PND 7 rats, a positive linear relationship between ambient temperature (28 degrees C and 40 degrees C) and brain temperature was observed (r2 = 0.96, P less than 0.001). These data suggest that the severity of excitotoxic brain injury is dependent upon brain temperature.
Abstract B36: Development of calcitrol-resistance in triple-negative breast cancer cells through SLUG-mediated coordinate repression of CYP2R1, CYP27B1, and VDR gene promoters

Metastatic breast and other cancers are often found to be refractory to vitamin D therapy. Vitamin D is synthesized from 7-dehydrocholesterol, an intermediate metaboltie in cholesterol synthesis. Ultraviolet irradiation in sunlight-exposed skin induces a photochemical reaction of 7–25-position by vitamin D 25-hydroxylase (CYP2R1), to yield 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Vitamin D3 is hydroxylated at the 25-position by vitamin D 25-hydroxylase (CYP2R1), to yield 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3; 25-hydroxycholecalciferol), the major form of vitamin D in the circulation. 25(OH)D3 is further hydroxylated at the 1 -position by the 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1 -hydroxylase (CYP27B1) to produce calcitrol (VD3). VD3 exhibits physiological and pharmacological effects by binding to the vitamin D receptor (VDR), a transcription factor of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Although photoactivated cholecalciferol is mainly hydroxylated in the liver and kidney, many other cells including breast cells have significant expressions of CYP2R1, CYP27B1 and VDR. Breast cells thus should be able to activate and utilize cholecalciferol if these proteins are not suppressed. We report here that the metastasis modulator protein SLUG, which is often overexpressed in metastatic triple negative breast cancer cells, coordinately repressse the levels of CYP2R1, CYP27B1 and VDR proteins in the breast cancer cells to induce vitamin D-resistance in these cells. SLUG inhibited CYP2R1, CYP27B1 and VDR gene promoter activities in these cells. ChIP assays revealed that SLUG is recruited at the CYP2R1, CYP27B1 and VDR gene promoters. Knockdown of SLUG in highly invasive MDA-MB-231 and BT549 cells increased their CYP2R1, CYP27B1 and VDR gene expression and decreased their resistance their resistance to VD3 in vitro. Our data established that SLUG regulates vitamin D metabolism and contributes to the induction of VD3-resistance in human breast cancer cells through the inhibition of CYP2R1, CYP27B1 and VDR gene promoters epigenetically through chromatin remodeling. Supported in parts by the DOD-CDMRP grants BC050641 and BC103645. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):B36.
Reconstruction of the global velocity field in the axisymmetric mixing layer utilizing the proper orthogonal decomposition

Experimental data are presented from 138 synchronized channels of hot-wire anemometry in an investigation of the large-scale, or coherent, structures in a high Reynolds number fully developed, turbulent axisymmetric shear layer. The dynamics of the structures are obtained from instantaneous realizations of the streamwise velocity field in a single plane, x/D = 3, downstream of a round jet nozzle. The Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) technique is applied to an ensemble of these realizations to determine optimal representations of the velocity field, in a mean-square sense, in terms of an orthogonal basis. The coefficients of the orthogonal functions, which describe the temporal evolution of the POD eigenfunctions, are determined by projecting instantaneous realizations of the velocity field onto the basis.Evidence is presented to show that with a partial reconstruction of the velocity field, using only the first radial POD mode, the large-scale structure is objectively educed from the turbulent field. Further, it is shown that only five azimuthal Fourier modes (0,3,4,5,6) are necessary to represent the evolution of the large-scale structure. The results of the velocity reconstruction using the POD provide evidence for azimuthally coherent structures that exist near the potential core. In addition to the azimuthal structures near the potential core, evidence is also found for the presence of counter-rotating, streamwise vortex pairs (or ribs) in the region between successive azimuthally coherent structures as well as coexisting for short periods with them. The large-scale structure cycle, which includes the appearance of the ring structure, the advection of fluid by the ribs in the braid region and their advection toward the outside of the layer by a following ring structure, repeats approximately every one integral time scale. One surprising result was that the most spatially correlated structure in the flow, the coherent ring near the potential core which ejects fluid in the streamwise direction in a volcano-like eruption, is also the one with the shortest time scale.
Simultaneous measurement of acetylcholine and choline in brain by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Abstract Pyrolysis-gas chromatography and chemical ionization mass fragmentography were combined to develop a specific, simple and rapid method for simultaneously measuring endogenous and stable isotopic variants of acetylcholine and choline with a detection limit of approxiamtely 10−12 mol. The recovery and reproductivity of the method are excellent, and the method is suitable for measuring acetylcholine and choline in discrete regions of rat brain and to measure incorporation of choline into acetylcholine, both of which uses are demonstrated. This method affords easy analysis of 40 samples in a working day. The new technique used to extract compounds from tissues and the modified gas flow arrangement may be useful to measure other compounds as well.
Crop yield and rooting as affected by fragipan depth in loess soils in the southeast USA

Abstract The combination of soil erosion and restrictive subsurface features can adversely influence root growth and crop productivity. The effects of depth to a restrictive layer on yield and root development were determined for soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.) and corn ( Zea mays L.) grown on Grenada silt loam (Oxyaquic Fraglossudalfs) in West Tennessee. Seven sites were selected in a cropped field where depth to the fragipan ranged from 0 to 107 cm below the soil surface. Across-the-site comparisons involving bulk density, soil color, exchangeable acidity and organic carbon indicated that at the sites that were shallow to the fragipan, profile modification had occurred as a result of soil erosion. Soils were sampled to 120 cm depths in 15 cm increments within the row and 25 and 51 cm from the row. Roots were extracted and total root lengths were determined by the line-intercept method. Greater total root lengths were observed with increasing depth to the fragipan. Crop yields decreased significantly as depth to the fragipan decreased. Soybean yields ranged from 0.5 Mg ha −1 on the 0 cm depth site to 2.8 Mg ha −1 on the 107 cm depth site, whereas corn yields ranged from 5.5 Mg ha −1 on the 0 cm depth site to 10.0 Mg ha −1 on the 107 cm depth site. Erosion was not measured directly; however, the reduced soil depth due to erosion caused an easily demonstrated reduction in root growth and yield in both corn and soybean.
Molecular motion in solid all-trans retinoic acid (vitamin A acid) by proton NMR

An investigation of the molecular dynamics of all-trans retinoic acid (vitamin A) has been carried out in the solid state by proton NMR. Measurements were made of T1 at 14 and 25 MHz and of second moment at 25 MHz in the temperature range 55 to 420 K for both monoclinic and triclinic forms. In the monoclinic state relaxation was attributed to methyl group reorientation below 250 K and to conformational motion of the cyclohexene ring above this temperature. Activation energies and time constants were derived for the motions. In the triclinic state the same motions were active, but the cyclohexene ring motion was less restricted and some of the methyl group motions were more restricted indicating that hindrances to the motions were at least partly determined by the intermolecular packing arrangements.
Effects of Fusarium canker on translocation in yellow-poplar seedlings

Abstract Yellow-poplar seedlings inoculated with Fusarium solani were exposed to 14 CO 2 , and the 14 C activity was measured 24 h later. Fusarium cankers did not cause an accumulation of photosynthate in the phloem tissue near the infection site. The inoculated seedlings contained more 14 C activity than the uninoculated seedlings, suggesting a greater photosynthetic assimilation of 14 CO 2 by the infected seedlings.
Knobe, Side Effects, and the Morally Good Business.

This paper focuses on Joshua Knobe’s experiments which show that people attribute blame and intentionality to the chairman of a company that knowingly causes harmful side effects, but do not attribute praise and intentionality to the chairman of a company that knowingly causes helpful side effects. Knobe’s explanation of this data is that people determine intentionality based on the moral consideration of whether the side effect is good or bad. This observation and explanation has come to be known as the “Knobe Effect.” One implication from the Knobe Effect is that it seems profit-driven businesses can only intentionally cause harmful and never good side effects. This paper examines the Knobe Effect, and argues for a way that business persons can understand it and avoid its implications. The argument has three parts. The first point is that business persons who care only about profits are blameworthy and rightly should not get credit for good side effects. Second, when a morally praiseworthy person who cares about values other than profits causes side effects, her actions are intentional and praiseworthy. Therefore, profit-driven business persons can be praised for intentionally producing good side effects if they consider other moral values as moral agents should. Finally, morally praiseworthy business persons need only to be Minimally Good Samaritans and not totally altruistic. When a business person strives for profits, adheres to other morally important values, and produces morally good side effects, then we should say that she intentionally caused those effects and is praiseworthy.
The Postpostivist Choice Tracy or Lindbeck

Dans un article recent, David Tracy pose le probleme auquel la theologie contemporaine est confrontee. Ici, l'A. voudrait decrire l'impasse actuelle en suggerant qu'elle trouve son origine dans la methode epistemologique moderne. Cette impasse est intraitable dans la mesure ou c'est contre cette modernite que la theologie contemporaine gagne son identite. On repere souvent la cause de cette crise dans la mort des theologies de Dieu et dans celle du positivisme logique. Dans les travaux de Tracy et Lindbeck, on retrouve l'idee de rejet de la modernite inspiree par les Lumieres tout en s'enracinant dans une vision moderne
Effect of dietary intake of fat-soluble vitamins on intensity of experimental swine influenza virus infection in mice☆

Abstract Mice were fed defined diets low in in vitamins A, D, and E, or containing added fat-soluble vitamins, for four weeks and were then inoculated intranasally with swine influenza virus. Intensity of influenzal infection was determined quantitatively by use of a combined death and lung consolidation end point. Vitamin A was shown to have a definite and significant ability to decrease the intensity of experimental swine influenza virus infection in mice, resulting in fewer mice infected from a standard inoculum, as well as less severe disease and fewer deaths among those mice that did become infected. The difference in morbidity was not due to lowering of the ability to produce antibody. Mice fed diets with vitamin E in combination with vitamin A had more severe infections than mice fed vitamin A alone or vitamin A in combination with vitamin D. Vitamin E, when added in combination with vitamin D, did not alter the severity of infection in mice fed such diets as compared to mice which received vitamin D as the sole supplemental fat-soluble vitamin. Intensity of infection in mice fed diets containing (1) no fat-soluble vitamins, (2) vitamin D alone, (3) vitamin E alone, or (4) vitamins D and E in combination was essentially the same.
Comparison of hydroxylated print additives on antibody microarray performance.

Various hydroxylated additives were added to antibody print buffers at different concentrations to stabilize printed antibodies during normal array spot desiccation on commercial polymer-coated microarray slides. Polyvinyl alcohol addition to print buffers produced the most regular spot morphologies, homogeneous intra-spot antibody distribution, uniform fluorescence intensity, and improved analyte capture activity, maintained up to 1 month at 4 °C for capturing model analytes, anti-human IL-1β, IL-4, and TNFα, on these microarraying slides. Keywords: microarray • antibody • surface chemistry • immobilization • assay • diagnostics • shelf life
A Genetic-Algorithm-Based Design Approach to Minimize Abnormal Hemodynamics Parameters at the End-to-Side Distal Anastomoses of Synthetic Bypass Grafts

Medical records on post-operative performances of synthetic bypass grafting show poor results due to the re-stenosis occurring at the end-to-side distal (ETSD) anastomoses of the grafts. The re-stenosis is mainly caused by intimal hyperplasia (IH) [1]. A major factor behind the anastomotic IH development is the non-physiological flow patterns, such as separation and re-attachment, resulting from the bifurcating nature of the anastomotic geometry [2]. The spatial wall shear stress gradient (SWSSG) has been experimentally proven to cause proliferation and migration of the endothelial cells [3], resulting in an endothelial dysfunction that potentially leads to the initiation of IH.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The effect of grouping of laboratory students on selected educational outcomes

The purpose of this study was to discover if grouping students in the laboratory on the basis of their formal reasoning ability affected (1) their science content achievement, (2) their formal reasoning ability, (3) the learning environment in the laboratory, and (4) the relationships between individuals in a particular group. The laboratory groups for three physical science classes for preservice elementary teachers were arranged as follows: (1) one class with students of unequal reasoning ability grouped together, i.e., one highly developed formal reasoner per group (the heterogeneous group), (2) one class with students of similar reasoning ability grouped together (the homogeneous group), and (3) one class arranged in groups according to the desires of the class members (the student choice group). The three classes were compared using pre-and post-scores on content and formal reasoning instruments and scores for classroom environment and social relationships. Results indicated that the groupings as described had significantly different effects on science content achievement but not on any of the other questions posed above. The students in the class with laboratory teams grouped by student choice had significantly lower science content scores than the students in the classes with teams formed using either the heterogeneous or homogeneous grouping procedures. The difference between the heterogeneously and homogeneously grouped classes was not significant at the 0.05 level.
Circuit-Based Indices of Locational Accessibility

Two circuit-based measures of relative spatial accessibility are derived from a synthesis of the spatial interaction and graph-theoretic approaches to measuring locational benefit. They offer a much better description of the locational accessibility pattern of urban truck terminals in Chicago than does a traditional Hansen-type index of direct interaction potential. They should be considered for further use where highly circuitous daily urban travel is the norm. In a more speculative vein, the use of such indices in multifacility location problems is considered. (Author/TRRL)
Sampling an autocorrelated process: the AR(1)

An AR (1) series measured at unit interval is still an AR(1) when measured at another interval h which is a multiple of the original, The autocorrelation at lag 1 for the new series is given by ρ1′ = φ1h. At the α significance level a sample of length n of the process is not distinguishable from white noise whenever $$h \geqslant \ln [1 + n (1 - \phi _1^m )/\chi _{m - 1}^2 ,\alpha l/ - \ln \phi _1^2 $$
Presenting 3D MRI data in visual perspective

To improve depth perception a projection scheme was developed, which incorporates visual perspective transformation in the MR image reconstruction, in which an observation point (OP) was selected in space relative to the image volume. The image formation process was modeled as a camera, whose lens center (LC) coincide with the OP, and a picture plane (PP) was placed at the focal plane. The finite sized PP corresponded to what the observer saw. Each pixel in the PP defined a ray projection trajectory (PT) from LC. The intensity values for a set of discrete points along the PT were interpolated from the image volume. From these projection profiles, various projection images can be derived depending how the intensity profile is manipulated. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the method, we obtained three dimensional image data sets, which included anatomical (TR/TE/flip=13/6/9) and angiographical data sets (TR/TE/Flip=30/5.4/15) in transverse orientation from a patient head at 1.5T. Both quasi-surface rendering and MaxIP algorithms were used along the viewing trace of perspective projection than rather the parallel projection. For multiple Ops with different distances from the 3D image volume, consecutive views were obtained at a constant interval azimuthally. When displayed in cine-mode, the MaxIP images appeared realistic with improved depth perception, different portions of the image moved naturally according to the expectation of human visual system.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.