cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extracellular vesicular microRNAs as potential biomarker for early detection of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Background Long-term use of doxorubicin (DOX) is limited by cumulative dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Objectives Identify plasma extracellular vesicle (EV)-associated microRNAs (miRNAs) as a biomarker for cardiotoxicity in dogs by correlating changes with cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations and, echocardiographic and histologic findings. Animals Prospective study of 9 client-owned dogs diagnosed with sarcoma and receiving DOX single-agent chemotherapy (total of 5 DOX treatments). Dogs with clinically relevant metastatic disease, preexisting heart disease, or breeds predisposed to cardiomyopathy were excluded. Methods Serum concentration of cTnI was monitored before each treatment and 1 month after the treatment completion. Echocardiography was performed before treatments 1, 3, 5, and 1 month after completion. The EV-miRNA was isolated and sequenced before treatments 1 and 3, and 1 month after completion. Results Linear mixed model analysis for repeated measurements was used to evaluate the effect of DOX. The miR-107 (P = .03) and miR-146a (P = .02) were significantly downregulated whereas miR-502 (P = .02) was upregulated. Changes in miR-502 were significant before administration of the third chemotherapeutic dose. When stratifying miRNA expression for change in left ventricular ejection fraction, upregulation of miR-181d was noted (P = .01). Serum concentration of cTnI changed significantly but only 1 month after treatment completion, and concentrations correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular internal dimension in diastole. Conclusion and clinical significance Downregulation of miR-502 was detected before significant changes in cTnI concentrations or echocardiographic parameters. Further validation using a larger sample size will be required.
Ultrasound Shear Wave Velocity Varies Across Anatomical Region in Ex Vivo Bovine Ovaries.

The physical properties of the ovarian extracellular matrix (ECM) regulate the function of ovarian cells, specifically the ability of the ovary to maintain a quiescent primordial follicle pool whil...
Interactive Effects of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Secondhand Smoke in Mice and Human Subjects

Active smoking and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure increase the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Active smoking is associated with reduced levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) and studies show that n-3 PUFA supplementation can improve smoking-induced vascular dysfunction. However, the relationship between n-3 PUFA and SHS exposure has not been studied. Fat-1 transgenic mice, which convert n-6 to n-3 PUFA, were fed diets with n-3 PUFA or without (n-6 PUFA diet), exposed to air or SHS for 4 weeks, and vasoreactivity, antioxidant indices, and omega-3 index (percent eicosapentaenoic + docosahexaenoic acids in RBC) measured. Compared to air-exposed mice, SHS-enhanced aortic constriction in mice fed the n-6 PUFA diet (omega-3 index, 5.9 ± 0.2%; mean ± SE), but not in mice fed the n-3 PUFA diet (omega-3 index, 7.8 ± 0.6%). SHS also significantly induced mRNA expression of cytochrome P4501A1, NADPH:quinone oxidoreductase, heme oxygenase-1, and angiotensinogen in adipose tissue, and increased antioxidant capacity only in mice on the n-6 PUFA diet. Notably, SHS reduced the omega-3 index by 1.0 percentage point (p = 0.003), compared to air-exposed mice irrespective of diet. Additionally, we recruited human nonsmokers (NS) with and without SHS exposure (n = 40) 19–40 years old and measured the omega-3 index and antioxidant capacity. In human subjects SHS exposure was associated with a significantly lower omega-3 index (NS, 4.4 ± 1.1%; NS + SHS, 3.2 ± 1.0%; mean ± SD, p = 0.002) and higher antioxidant capacity (p < 0.001) than unexposed NS. Thus, SHS exposure is associated with lower levels of n-3 PUFA in mice and humans; however, an omega-3 index of ~ 8% in mice has vasoprotective and antioxidant properties.
Overcoming Language Barriers between Interventionists and Immigrant Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study used a video prompting intervention to overcome language barriers between English-speaking trainers and Spanish-speaking immigrant parents of children with autism. Parents were taught instructional skills targeting independent dressing. A multiple baseline design across three families and a replication using an alternating treatments design with a fourth family were used to evaluate the effects of the intervention. All mothers reached mastery criterion and generalization of instructional skills was observed for three mothers, with treatment gains maintaining during follow-up. Improvement in independent dressing skills was observed for four children. Findings suggest that video prompting can be used to teach immigrant parents of children with autism who have limited English proficiency when there is a language mismatch between parents and trainers.
Critiquing Indicators of Community Strengths in Community Health Needs Assessments

Many scholars and practitioners have heard the call to include asset-based community development (ABCD) approaches in their toolkits to enhance community well-being. This overview article discusses how indicators of community strengths and assets have been included in community health assessments, specifically those focused on exploring community needs. The authors collate a list of common strengths-based indicators (i.e., assets) assessed in the community health and well-being literature. In particular, this overview article addresses how such indicators of community strengths may be limited in their abilities to elucidate meaningful insights when surveying diverse populations of individuals/groups regarding their well-being. Asking, which indicators of community strengths uniquely contribute to individual and community health when sampling diverse populations, this article leverages a recent community health needs assessment in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, to demonstrate the merits and limits of strengths indicators in needs assessments. Moreover, the article concludes by suggesting that strengths indicators as add-ons to needs assessments do not adequately reflect the myriad possibilities for meaningful inferences that can be derived from ABCD approaches, specifically in regard to social determinants of health, individual health, and community well-being.
Measuring Risk Perception in Pregnant Women in Heavily Polluted Areas: A New Methodological Approach from the NEHO Birth Cohort

Risk perception (RP) evaluation during pregnancy and its relationship with lifestyles are considered useful tools for understanding communities living in high-risk areas and preventing dangerous exposure. It is well known that exposure to pollutants and less-healthy lifestyles may result in increased disease occurrence during life. Our work investigated environmental RP through ad hoc questionnaires administered to 611 mothers within the NEHO birth cohort, recruited in three heavily contaminated areas of Southern Italy. Four different RP indices, an exploratory factorial analysis (EFA), and a latent class analysis were evaluated from questionnaires. The highest values of risk perception index were observed in the Milazzo site (0.64 ± 0.16) and the lowest in the Crotone site (0.5 ± 0.18). EFA revealed four latent factors, including different items describing environmental pollution, and subjects were classified into four latent classes with different RP indices. Significant RP profiles were different among the sites (p < 0.001). Our results did not demonstrate any association between RP and lifestyles during pregnancy. Improving healthy lifestyle behaviours, particularly in polluted areas, would generate co-benefits by preventing further risk factors. As remediation interventions can take a long time, it needs to improve healthy lifestyles in residents until remediation is completed.
Vascular hemodynamics and blood pressure differences between young and older women.

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death in the United States, and hypertension is a primary risk factor. Therefore, the primary causes of hypertension need to be identified so they may be addressed for treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare blood pressure with hemodynamic values and identify factors that may explain blood pressure differences between a cohort of healthy normotensive younger and older women. METHODS Participants were 49 young (age: 33.8 ± 5.9) and 103 old (age: 65.8 ± 4) who were non-hypertensive, had no previous history of heart disease or type 2 diabetes, body mass index less than 30 kg/m2, normal electrocardiography response at rest and during exercise, nonsmokers, and no use of medications known to affect cardiovascular or metabolic function. Body composition measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Hemodynamic values measured by non-invasive pulse wave velocity through radial artery tonometry. Markers of inflammation measured through blood sample analysis. RESULTS Significant differences exist between young and old groups in %fat (P < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P = 0.001), large artery elasticity (P = 0.005), small artery elasticity (P < 0.001), systemic vascular resistance (P = 0.004), total vascular impedance (P < 0.001), estimated cardiac output (P < 0.001), and tumor necrosis factor-⍺ (TNF-⍺) (P < 0.001). Using ANCOVA the difference in SBP between age groups was no longer significant after adjusting for small artery elasticity (P < 0.001) and TNF-⍺ (P = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that blood pressure and vascular hemodynamic measures differ significantly between young and old women independent of body composition. Furthermore, these differences may be explained by the inflammation marker TNF-⍺ and/or small artery elasticity.
Distinguishing Transitory and Permanent Price Elasticities of Charitable Giving with Pre-Announced Changes in Tax Law

This paper develops and applies a new estimation technique for distinguishing transitory and permanent price and income elasticities of charitable giving using panel data. Twelve-year individual averages of income and deductions are combined with information on legislated changes in tax schedules, to construct instruments for permanent price and income variation. Unlike the previous literature, pre-announced changes in tax law are used to identify transitory variation, and fixed-effects are used to control for unobserved heterogeneity. The timing of giving is found to be significantly more responsive to tax incentives than is the long-run level of giving.
Selective X-ray contrast enhancement of the spleen of living mice mediated by gold nanorods

Gold nanomaterials (AuNPs) represent a promising new class of contrast agents for X-ray computed tomographic (CT) imaging in both research and clinical settings. These materials exhibit superior X-ray absorption properties compared with other iodinated agents, and thus require lower injection doses. Gold is nonimmunogenic and therefore contributes to safety profile in living specimens. Unfortunately, most reports on the use of AuNPs as X-ray CT enhancers only demonstrate marginal enhancement of the intended anatomical structure. In this study, we demonstrate the dramatic properties of gold nanorods (GNR) to serve as robust X-ray CT contrast-enhancing agent for selective imaging of the spleen. These organ-specific uptake properties were delineated by performing longitudinal CT imaging of living mice that were dosed with GNR at 2 day intervals. Rapid uptake in spleen was noted within 12 h of first systemic administration with a change in contrast enhancement of 90 Hounsfield units (ΔHU = 90) and with two subsequent injections a total contrast enhancement of over 200 HU was observed. The resulting images provide excellent contrast that will enable the detailed anatomical visualization and study of a range of pre-clinical models of spleen disease including infection and cancer. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rabbit Liver Phosphofructokinase COMPARISON OF SOME PROPERTIES WITH THOSE OF MUSCLE PHOSPHOFRUCTIOKINASE

A relatively simple procedure was devised for the purification of phosphofructokinase from rabbit liver extracts. The enzyme was purified more than 2600-fold with a yield of close to 50%. Liver phosphofructokinase migrates faster on zone electrophoresis than rabbit skeletal muscle phosphofructokinase. It also differs from muscle enzyme in stability, molecular weight, and kinetic properties. The liver enzyme behaves on Sepharose chromatography as a polymer of various states of aggregation with the largest aggregate having a particle weight of many millions. A comparison of the kinetic properties of liver and muscle phosphofructokinase revealed similarities in pH optimum, cation activation, and substrate affinity at pH 8.2. On the other hand, striking differences in kinetic control properties were observed at pH 7.0. The liver enzyme was more inhibited by ATP, less sensitive to the deinhibiting action of AMP, ADP, and cyclic 3',5'-AMP, less inhibited by citrate, phosphoenolpyruvate, phosphocreatine, 2-phosphoglycerate, and 3-phosphoglycerate, and more inhibited by 2,3-diphosphoglycerate than muscle phosphofructokinase. The results suggest that liver phosphofructokinase is less suited for anaerobic energy production than the skeletal muscle enzyme and may not be subject to the same control mechanism in vivo.
Repetitive Hypershear Activates and Sensitizes Platelets in a Dose-Dependent Manner

Implantation of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices-ventricular assist devices and the total artificial heart-has emerged as a vital therapy for advanced and end-stage heart failure. Unfortunately, MCS patients face the requirement of life-long antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy to combat thrombotic complications resulting from the dynamic and supraphysiologic shear stress conditions associated with such devices, whose effect on platelet activation is poorly understood. We developed a syringe-capillary viscometer-the "platelet hammer"-that repeatedly exposed platelets to average shear stresses up to 1000 dyne/cm(2) for as short as 25 ms. Platelet activation state was measured using a modified prothrombinase assay, with morphological changes analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. We observed an increase in platelet activation state and post-high shear platelet activation rate, or sensitization, with an increase in stress accumulation (SA), the product of shear stress and exposure time. A significant increase in platelet activation state was observed beyond an SA of 1500 dyne-s/cm(2) , with a marked increase in pseudopod length visible beyond an SA of 1000 dyne-s/cm(2) . Utility of the platelet hammer extends to studies of other shear-dependent pathologies, and may assist development of approaches to enhance the safety and effectiveness of MCS devices and objective antithrombotic pharmacotherapy management.
Noninvasive sensor arrays: separate evaluation of inputs for adaptive noise reduction

An algorithm is described which optimally reduces additive noise from a biological signal, given one primary input and multiple reference inputs, by the method of least squares. The algorithm separately compares two parallel cost functions for each reference input, in gain space, as a means of updating the global weight vector. At the global minimum of the cost function, optimal noise reduction is achieved. The algorithm requires minimal code, and rapidly converges even with the signal to noise ratio >
Lymphadenectomy during endometrial cancer staging: practice patterns among gynecologic oncologists.

Objectives Several controversies surround lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer; surgical approach, who to stage, and the anatomic borders of the lymphadenectomy. The purpose of this study was to identify practice patterns among gynecologic oncologists when performing a lymph node evaluation during staging for endometrial cancer.
Identification of RAPD markers for 11 Hessian fly resistance genes in wheat

The pyramiding of genes that confer race- or biotype-specific resistance has become increasingly attractive as a breeding strategy now that DNA-based marker-assisted selection is feasible. Our objective here was to identify DNA markers closely linked to genes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that condition resistance to Hessian fly [Mayetiola destructor (Say)]. We used a set of near-isogenic wheat lines, each carrying a resistance gene at 1 of 11 loci (H3, H5, H6, H9, H10, H11, H12, H13, H14, H16 or H17) and developed by backcrossing to the Hessian fly-susceptible wheat cultivar ‘Newton’. Using genomic DNA of these 11 lines and ‘Newton’, we have identified 18 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers linked to the 11 resistance genes. Seven of these markers were identified by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and the others by agarose gel electrophoresis. We confirmed linkage to the Hessian fly resistance loci by cosegregation analysis in F2 populations of 50–120 plants for each different gene. Several of the DNA markers were used to determine the presence/absence of specific Hessian fly resistance genes in resistant wheat lines that have 1 or possibly multiple genes for resistance. The use of RAPD markers presents a valuable strategy for selection of single and combined Hessian fly resistance genes in wheat improvement.
First passage time Markov chain analysis of rare events for kinetic Monte Carlo: double kink nucleation during dislocation glide

We describe a first passage time Markov chain analysis of rare events in kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) simulations and demonstrate how this analysis may be used to enhance kMC simulations of dislocation glide. Dislocation glide is described by the kink mechanism, which involves double kink nucleation, kink migration and kink–kink annihilation. Double kinks that nucleate on straight dislocations are unstable at small kink separations and tend to recombine immediately following nucleation. A very small fraction (<0.001) of nucleating double kinks survive to grow to a stable kink separation. The present approach replaces all of the events that lead up to the formation of a stable kink with a simple numerical calculation of the time required for stable kink formation. In this paper, we treat the double kink nucleation process as a temporally homogeneous birth–death Markov process and present a first passage time analysis of the Markov process in order to calculate the nucleation rate of a double kink with a stable kink separation. We discuss two methods to calculate the first passage time; one computes the distribution and the average of the first passage time, while the other uses a recursive relation to calculate the average first passage time. The average first passage times calculated by both approaches are shown to be in excellent agreement with direct Monte Carlo simulations for four idealized cases of double kink nucleation. Finally, we apply this approach to double kink nucleation on a screw dislocation in molybdenum and obtain the rates for formation of stable double kinks as a function of applied stress and temperature. Equivalent kMC simulations are too inefficient to be performed using commonly available computational resources.
Estimated Power Quality for Line Commutated Photovoltaic Residential System

A residential photovoltaic system using a line commutated inverter is modeled using a single diode model for the solar cells and a four switch model for the inverter. The model predicts power factor and total harmonic distortion as a function of solar radiation, array voltage, inverter output voltage, and inverter filter capacitor and inductor size. The model was run using parameter values appropriate for the John F. Long PV System and the predicted results compared well with measured results from the system. The model shows that improvements in total harmonic distortion are made at the expense of the power factor. The harmonic distortion is least when the inverter is operating at just continuous conduction. The. total harmonic distortion can be kept to less than 0.17 all day if a variable inductor is used in the inverter's input filter.
Social Construction of Cervical Cancer Screening Among Panamanian Women

Abstract Background: Understanding how “health issues” are socially constructed may be useful for creating culturally relevant programs for Hispanic/Latino populations. Purpose: We explored the constructed meanings of cervical cancer and cervical cancer screening among Panamanian women, as well as socio-cultural factors that deter or encourage screening services. Women in this age group have the highest rate of HPV in Panama, placing them at elevated risk for cervical cancer. Methods: Using a social construction approach, four qualitative research techniques were employed to assess the meaning of cervical cancer in the lives of 132 Panamanian women between 20 and 40 years of age. Results: Emergent themes included the importance of religion and family, the relationship between sexuality and health, influence of media, and the influence of husbands and of other women in helping to construct screening knowledge. Also, the generalized belief that cancer signifies death was clear. Discussion: Cervical cancer a...
Propagation of Uncertainty in Aqueous Equilibrium Calculations: Non-Gaussian Output Distributions

The propagation of uncertainty in aqueous equilibrium calculations is examined using a derivative method and Monte Carlo simulations. Simulations of 104 trials provide both good reproducibility and reasonably short simulation times (<100 s on a 90 MHz Pentium microcomputer) for simple systems of up to seven components. Independent Gaussian uncertainty distributions of input constraints can lead to bimodal and/or skewed output distributions of pH, pM, and species concentrations. Gaussian input uncertainties of ≤10% can lead to much larger output uncertainties (95% confidence interval in pH or pM over 2 log units). While derivative methods of uncertainty prediction are faster than Monte Carlo simulations and reasonably accurate for some solution conditions, they are inappropriate if the output distribution is non-Gaussian. Consequently, Monte Carlo simulations are an essential complement to derivative methods for evaluating the uncertainty of calculated equilibrium concentrations.
An uncommon profession

The discipline of speech is rich in wisdom and experience, strong in professional spirit, broad and humane in its emphasis, important in its contribution to the students, and ever‐growing in its demands and concepts.
An epidemiologic evaluation of two diagnostic classification schemes for temporomandibular disorders.

Abstract Few diagnostic classification schemes for temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have been applied systematically to examine the prevalence of various subtypes of TMD in clinic or community populations. In this study, computer algorithms were developed for classifying subjects according to the scheme of Eversole and Machado (1985) and a classification scheme recently developed in our own research at the University of Washington. The diagnostic algorithms were applied to clinical examination data for (1) persons without TMD pain (community controls) and (2) persons reporting TMD pain in the prior 6 months (community subjects with pain), identified in a random sample survey of a health maintenance organization (HMO) population, as well as (3) clinic patients seeking treatment for TMD through the same HMO. Prevalence rates for myofascial pain dysfunction in clinic patients were much higher under the University of Washington approach, whereas rates of internal derangement (type I) and degenerative joint disease were similar under the two schemes. These similar prevalence rates were not, however, accompanied by high concordance between the two schemes. These results highlight the complexities of differential diagnosis of TMD in field research, and suggest that further evaluation of alternative diagnostic schemes is warranted.
Spectroscopic Applications of Photographic Emulsion Mosaics

A COMPREHENSIVE spectral survey over as wide a wave-length range as possible is a frequent early requirement during spectroscopic studies of terrestrial and astronomical light sources. Such surveys are often made with low-dispersion prism spectrographs, and sometimes with grating instruments.
A Quantitative Study of the Heat Labile Sulpides of Milk. III. Influence of Ph, Added Compounds, Homogenization and Sunlight,

Summary Sulfide liberation from milk is decreased either by low pH values or pH values above 9; by sugars, formaldehyde, cystine, sodium chloride, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, and the following metals: copper, silver, mercury, and iron. An increase in the heat labile sulfides results by increasing pH values between 6.5 and 9, and by the addition of ethyl alcohol, sodium sulfite and cysteine-HCl. Those factors which apparently have no effect upon the formation of sulfhydryl compounds in milk are homogenization, sunlight, and the addition of salts of nickel, tin, aluminum, and manganese. Sulfide liberation from milk may be decreased by (a) treating milk so that the denaturation and coagulation of serum proteins are retarded or prevented, (b) oxidizing or blocking out the sulfhydryl groups as they are formed, or (c) by adding materials that will combine with the liberated sulfides. Enhancement of sulfide liberation may be produced by (a) treating milk so that denaturation and coagulation of serum proteins are favored, or (b) by creating a reduced system through the addition of suitable reducing agents.
Random sequential adsorption of line segments with a finite jamming limit.

Abstract The traditional formulation for random sequential adsorption (RSA) of line segments onto a plane does not possess a jamming limit; there is always space for a 1D object on a 2D plane. We propose a qualitatively different RSA formulation for line segments which does lead to a finite jamming limit, 1.5707 ± 0.0001 segments per square one segment on the side. To our knowledge, this is the first appearance of the number π in the jamming limit of an RSA problem. This RSA formulation can be applied to adsorption of rigid, very high aspect ratio rods on a flat surface. These rods are not well modeled by the traditional RSA formulation. As an example of such a problem we describe the deposition of carbon nanotube–DNA hybrids on a surface and show that our theoretical formulation is consistent with experimental results.
Mass stopping powers of protons up to 200 MeV in some biologically important materials

Abstract A simple method for the calculation of mass stopping powers of protons from 0.5 MeV to 200 MeV in some biologically important materials is described.
The JAND as a measure of nurses' perception of moral behavior

A comprehensive review of research using the Judgment About Nursing Decisions (JAND) as a measure of nurses' ethical decision making raises numerous concerns about the conceptual basis, reliability, and validity of this widely used instrument. These concerns promoted the present study, which raised specific issues about the JAND. Among these issues are the representatives of ethical dilemmas contained in the JAND, the validity of its scoring scheme, the persistence of low-to-marginal reliability across studies, and questionable validity. Findings from studies using the JAND should be interpreted with caution until the instrument is further refined.
Comparison of flushing solutions for in situ renal preservation

Abstract Various flushing solutions were evaluated for their ability to prevent renal failure resulting from three hours of ischemia in situ. A single arterial flush, prior to the ischemic incident, was performed with saline-heparin at 37° C. (Group I), saline-propranolol at 37° C. (Group II), saline at 4° C. (Group III), and Collins solution at 4° C. (Group IV). Survival was 0 6 in Group I, 2 6 in Group II, 6 6 in Group III, and 7 7 in Group IV. Both immediate and long-term renal function were superior with cold Collins solution compared to cold normal saline.
Performance characteristics of a multiple- arcjet wind tunnel.

This paper describes the operational characteristics of a low-density wind tunnel that uses six arc jets operating thermally in parallel but with separate electric supplies. Programable power controls permit operation at constant total equilibrium enthalpy for open-loop timevarying mass flow rate (mt) programs that simulate real-time altitude changes. Impact pressure fluctuations of 3% rms for low mass-flow rates rapidly decay to 1% as the programed mt is increased. Measured Pilot and static pressures for mt = 156 g/sec and a dimensionless enthalpy ho/RTs of approximately 150 are in good agreement with the machine computations. These computations also show that the flow freezes slightly beyond the throat. Microwave and Langmuir probe measurements of static electron density indicate that this quantity also freezes approximately at the throat. Boundary-layer impact-pressure profiles have been found to satisfy the Blasius velocity profile for more than an order-of-magnitude variation of m. Assuming the Blasius distribution for velocity to hold in the boundary layer, isentropic core densities and velocities were calculated. The velocities determined in this way agreed reasonably well with velocities determined by electron-beam-probe data and machine-computed results.
Small Antennas and Wheeler's radian sphere

Harold A. Wheeler was a pioneer and innovator in electromagnetics, including antennas and microwaves. Two of his fundamental contributions on antennas were on the topics of Small Antennas and Radian Sphere, which are briefly discussed in this paper.
Large-scale time series microscopy of neovessel growth during angiogenesis

During angiogenesis, growing neovessels must effectively navigate through the tissue space as they elongate and subsequently integrate into a microvascular network. While time series microscopy has provided insight into the cell activities within single growing neovessel sprouts, less is known concerning neovascular dynamics within a large angiogenic tissue bed. Here, we developed a time-lapse imaging technique that allowed visualization and quantification of sprouting neovessels as they form and grow away from adult parent microvessels in three dimensions over cubic millimeters of matrix volume during the course of up to 5 days on the microscope. Using a new image acquisition procedure and novel morphometric analysis tools, we quantified the elongation dynamics of growing neovessels and found an episodic growth pattern accompanied by fluctuations in neovessel diameter. Average elongation rate was 5 μm/h for individual vessels, but we also observed considerable dynamic variability in growth character including retraction and complete regression of entire neovessels. We observed neovessel-to-neovessel directed growth over tens to hundreds of microns preceding tip-to-tip inosculation. As we have previously described via static 3D imaging at discrete time points, we identified different collagen fibril structures associated with the growing neovessel tip and stalk, and observed the coordinated alignment of growing neovessels in a deforming matrix. Overall analysis of the entire image volumes demonstrated that although individual neovessels exhibited episodic growth and regression, there was a monotonic increase in parameters associated with the entire vascular bed such as total network length and number of branch points. This new time-lapse imaging approach corroborated morphometric changes in individual neovessels described by us and others, as well as captured dynamic neovessel behaviors unique to days-long angiogenesis within the forming neovascular network.
Doxorubicin and paclitaxel loaded microbubbles for ultrasound triggered drug delivery

A polymer ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) developed in our lab has been shown to greatly reduce in size when exposed to ultrasound, resulting in nanoparticles less than 400 nm in diameter capable of escaping the leaky vasculature of a tumor to provide a sustained release of drug. Previous studies with the hydrophilic drug doxorubicin (DOX) demonstrated enhanced drug delivery to tumors when triggered with ultrasound. However the therapeutic potential has been limited due to the relatively low payload of DOX. This study compares the effects of loading the hydrophobic drug paclitaxel (PTX) on the agent's acoustic properties, drug payload, tumoricidal activity, and the ability to deliver drugs through 400 nm pores. A maximum payload of 129.46 ± 1.80 μg PTX/mg UCA (encapsulation efficiency 71.92 ± 0.99%) was achieved, 20 times greater than the maximum payload of DOX (6.2 μg/mg), while maintaining the acoustic properties. In vitro, the tumoricidal activity of paclitaxel loaded UCA exposed to ultrasound was significantly greater than controls not exposed to ultrasound (p < 0.0016). This study has shown that PTX loaded UCA triggered with focused ultrasound have the potential to provide a targeted and sustained delivery of drug to tumors.
Real-time conversational crowd assistants

When people work together, they converse about their current actions and intentions, building a shared context to inform their collaboration. Despite decades of research attempting to replicate this natural form of interaction in computers, the capabilities of conversational assistants are still extremely limited. In this paper, we investigate how human and machine intelligence can be combined to create assistants that work even in real-world situations. We introduce a crowd-powered conversational interface, called Chorus, that allows users to interact with a group of crowd workers as if they are a single conversional partner. We use Chorus as a personal assistant, and show that our incentive mechanism enables workers to hold consistent conversations and answer 84% of questions accurately. We then discuss a number of potential improvements that can be made by integrating artificial intelligence, and future systems that our work enables.
Effect of calcium chloride administration on the postischemic isolated rat heart

Hypercalcemic reperfusion of the postischemic heart has been associated with ventricular dysfunction and with ultrastructural changes in the mitochondria. The isolated working rat heart model was used to correlate ventricular function, mitochondrial damage, and high-energy phosphate content with degree and timing of hypercalcemia during reperfusion. When administered early during reperfusion, calcium chloride caused a dose-dependent deterioration in ventricular function, whereas calcium augmented function when it was administered after a 15-minute period of normocalcemic reperfusion. Hearts treated with calcium early during reperfusion demonstrated more mitochondrial damage and decreased stores of adenosine triphosphate than those in which calcium administration was delayed. The data indicate that a period of normocalcemic reperfusion should precede calcium administration in the postischemic heart. Mitochondrial damage resulting in decreased synthesis of adenosine triphosphate is likely the cause of ventricular dysfunction associated with calcium administration in the postischemic heart.
Accuracy of neurologic examination and history in detecting evidence of MRI-diagnosed cerebral infarctions in children with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy.

We determined the accuracy of neurologic examination and the history of a previous neurologic event in detecting clinical evidence of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-diagnosed cerebral infarction in 30 children with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy. Each patient had an MRI of the brain, neurologic examination, chart review, and psychometric evaluation. Seventeen children (57%) had MRI evidence of cerebral infarction based on demonstration of parenchymal abnormalities in a vascular distribution. Among the 17 children with MRI evidence of cerebral infarction, only 12 (71%) had an abnormal neurologic examination, and 11 (65%) had a history of a prior neurologic event. In contrast, among the 13 children with normal MRIs, 12 (92%) had normal neurologic examinations, and no child had a previous history of a neurologic event. Multiple, bilateral, heterogeneous cerebral infarctions frequently occur without overt neurologic signs or symptoms in children with sickle cell hemoglobinopathy. Previous studies that relie...
Modifying the beta,gamma leaving-group bridging oxygen alters nucleotide incorporation efficiency, fidelity, and the catalytic mechanism of DNA polymerase beta.

DNA polymerase catalysis and fidelity studies typically compare incorporation of “right” versus “wrong” nucleotide bases where the leaving group is pyrophosphate. Here we use dGTP analogues replacing the β,γ-bridging O with CH2, CHF, CF2, or CCl2 to explore leaving-group effects on the nucleotidyl transfer mechanism and fidelity of DNA polymerase (pol) β. T·G mismatches occur with fidelities similar to dGTP with the exception of the CH2 analogue, which is incorporated with 5-fold higher fidelity. All analogues are observed to bind opposite template C with Kds between 1 and 4 μM, and structural evidence suggests that the analogues bind in essentially the native conformation, making them suitable substrates for probing linear free energy relationships (LFERs) in transient-kinetics experiments. Importantly, Bronsted correlations of log(kpol) versus leaving-group pKa for both right and wrong base incorporation reveal similar sensitivities (βlg ≈ −0.8) followed by departures from linearity, suggesting that a c...
Adiabatic processes and the equation of state

Abstract It is shown that if a system satisfies the conditions for exact equality of its isolated and isentropic susceptibilities, then the system has an equation of state of the Gruneisen form. The much weaker consequences of the generally valid asymptotic equality of the susceptibilities are also discussed.
Murine Neonates Are Highly Resistant to Yersinia enterocolitica following Orogastric Exposure

Neonates are considered highly susceptible to gastrointestinal infections. This susceptibility has been attributed partially to immaturity in immune cell function. To study this phenomenon, we have developed a model system with murine neonates, using the natural orogastric route of transmission for the enteropathogen Yersinia enterocolitica. The susceptibilities of 7-day-old and adult mice to orogastric Y. enterocolitica infection were assessed in 50% lethal dose experiments. Remarkably, neonatal mice of either the BALB/c or C57BL/6 mouse strain showed markedly enhanced survival after infection compared to adult mice. The resistance of neonates was not due to failure of the bacteria to colonize neonatal tissues; Y. enterocolitica was readily detectable in the intestine and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) for at least 1 week after infection. In adult mice, Y. enterocolitica rapidly disseminated to the spleen and liver. In striking contrast, bacterial invasion of the spleen and liver in neonates was limited. Using flow cytometry and histology, we found substantial increases in the percentages of neutrophils and macrophages in the neonatal MLN, while influx of these cells into the adult MLN was limited. Similar results were obtained using two different high-virulence Y. enterocolitica strains. Importantly, depletion of neutrophils with a specific antibody led to increased translocation of the bacteria to the spleens and livers of neonates. Together, these experiments support the hypothesis that the neonatal intestinal immune system can rapidly mobilize innate phagocytes and thereby confine the bacterial infection to the gut, resulting in a high level of resistance.
DENSITY AND FIELD INDUCED AUTOIONIZATION OF NO VALENCE STATES

The photoionization and absorption spectra of NO doped into argon for argon densities between the gas and the liquid are reported. As the photoionization threshold is lowered due to the increasing density, lower vibrational levels of the B′ 2Δ ← X2Π(ν′, 0) and G 2Σ− ← X2Π(ν′, 0) valence transitions are forced to autoionize. An additional increase in the autoionization efficiency is observed when the ionization potential is further lowered by means of an electric field at a fixed density.
Amnesia produced by unilateral, subseizure, electrical stimulation of the amygdala in rats.

Rats were trained on a one-trial inhibitory (passive) avoidance task. Five seconds after the offset of the training footshock, animals received unilateral, subseizure electrical stimulation of the amygdala. When compared to either implanted or unimplanted control animals, those animals which received posttrial amygdala stimulation had a significant retention deficit. Histological examination of electrode placements indicated that maximal interference with retention was produced by stimulation of a small region of the amygdala in or near the basomedial nucleus. Increases in the stimulation train duration from 10 to 30 sec increased the degree of the retention deficit produced by the stimulation.
Role of noise in the initial stage of solidification instability

Evolution of the morphological instability at the initially flat interface of a nonfaceting crystal growing freely into its pure melt has been studied by a computer simulation. A stochastic differential equation for the spatial Fourier components of the interface was formed by adding Gaussian random-noise terms representing spontaneous temperature fluctuations to the deterministic Mullins-Sekerka result of linear stability analysis. The results of the simulation qualitatively reproduce recent experiments in succinonitrile in which the spatial Fourier spectrum was found to be extremely noisy. The noise level required in the simulation was found to agree qualitatively with a rough estimate of temperature-fluctuation effects.
Platinum(II) Complexes Containing Quaternized Nitrogen Ligands: Synthesis, Stability, and Evaluation as Catalysts for Methane and Benzene H/D Exchange

This paper describes an efficient synthesis of the cationic platinum complex [(N-CH3-bpym)PtCl2]+ (N-CH3-bpym = N-methylbipyrimidinium) and evaluation of its catalytic activity in H/D exchange reactions of CH4 (with D2SO4) and benzene (with CF3CO2D). With both substrates [(N-CH3-bpym)PtCl2]+ shows C−H activation reactivity comparable to that of its neutral analogue (bpym)PtCl2 (bpym = bipyrimidine). The origin of this similar reactivity is proposed to be the in situ formation of the same active catalyst in both cases.
FICO: Web Person Disambiguation Via Weighted Similarity of Entity Contexts

Entity disambiguation resolves the many-to-many correspondence between mentions of entities in text and unique real-world entities. Fair Isaac's entity disambiguation uses language-independent entity context to agglomeratively resolve mentions with similar names to unique entities. This paper describes Fair Isaac's automatic entity disambiguation capability and assesses its performance on the SemEval 2007 Web People Search task.
The organization of paramembranous densities during postnatal maturation of synaptic junctions in the cerebral cortex

Abstract The postnatal maturation of synaptic junctions in layers I and II of the somatic sensory cortex has been studied by selectively staining with ethanolic phosphotungstic acid (E-PTA) the paramembranous synaptic densities in unosmicated tissue taken from newborn through 21-day-old kittens. The presynaptic component of an immature synapse consists of a narrow band or plaque of moderately dense material. This gradually develops into a series of interconnected triangular projections during the first postnatal week. Later, the presynaptic dense projections increase in height but remain joined at their bases by thin filamentous densities. Cleft material is present and restricted to the contact region at all stages of maturation of the synaptic junction. The postsynaptic component is visualized initially as a band or plaque of dense material slightly thicker than the presynaptic density. By the tenth day, the postsynaptic density has thickened and developed focal densities. At this stage, two types of synaptic junctions are distinguished according to the degree of focalization or separation into discrete units of the paramembranous densities. During the third week, the organization of the presynaptic dense projections and the cleft densities is unchanged. However, a thin unstained band subdivides the postsynaptic component of most junctions into inner and outer dense bands. Very few definitive examples of PTA-stained components of the dendritic spine apparatus are found during the third week, whereas they are found readily in adult preparations. This suggests that certain components of the spine apparatus develop later than 21 days.
Justice as Strategy: the Role of Procedural Justice in an Organizational Realignment

Abstract We apply the strategic human resource management and justice literature to the context of a piloted organizational realignment within a large public university professional school seeking to maintain and enhance its competitive position. In this study, we use interpretive and empirical methodologies to examine the strategy enactment role of procedural justice as related to members' perceptions of the fairness and success of realignment outcomes and of objective performance criteria.
Hip, a novel cochaperone involved in the eukaryotic hsc70/hsp40 reaction cycle

The Hsc70-interacting protein Hip, a tetratricopeptide repeat protein, participates in the regulation of the eukaryotic 70 kDa heat shock cognate Hsc70. One Hip oligomer binds the ATPase domains of at least two Hsc70 molecules dependent on activation of the Hsc70 ATPase by Hsp40. While hydrolysis remains the rate-limiting step in the ATPase cycle, Hip stabilizes the ADP state of Hsc70 that has a high affinity for substrate protein. Through its own chaperone activity, Hip may contribute to the interaction of Hsc70 with various target proteins. We propose a mechanism for the regulation of eukaryotic Hsc70 that is distinct from that of bacterial Hsp70. The Hsc70/Hsp40/Hip system is apparently independent of a GrpE-like nucleotide exchange factor.
Comments on a comparison of AM1 with the recently developed PM3 method

A reparameterized version (PM3) of AM1 has recently been reported and the results for several hundred molecules compared with those from AM1 itself. The comparison implied that PM3 represents a significant improvement over the earlier treatment. The apparently poor performance of AM1 is, however, due to the inclusion of “AM1 results” for elements (A1,P,S) for which AM1 parameters were unavailable. If these are omitted, PM3 is seen to be only marginally better than AM1. Since this conclusion refers only to a specific set of stable molecules, it is not clear whether even this small improvement will apply to other species or studies of reactions. It is in any case insufficient to justify the confusion caused by the release of the new treatment.