cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ODMR in ethylene glycol-aqueous buffer mixtures: Enhancement of triplet spin lattice relaxation at high aqueous concentrations

Abstract Phosphorescence and optical detection of magnetic resonance (ODMR) intensities of the pyrene triplet chromophore in benzo(a)pyrene tetraol are studied as a function of the fraction of aqueous buffer present in the solvent. It is found that the ODMR signal intensity is abruptly attenuated to zero between 95% and 100% buffer, even though appreciable phosphorescence can still be detected. This loss of signal is found to be due to the onset of rapid spin lattice relaxation, induced most probably by a change in the phonon structure of the solvent medium and its coupling with the triplet spin system at high buffer concentrations.
Robustness and fragility in immunosenescence.

We construct a model to study tradeoffs associated with aging in the adaptive immune system, focusing on cumulative effects of replacing naive cells with memory cells. Binding affinities are characterized by a stochastic shape space model. System loss arising from an individual infection is associated with disease severity, as measured by the total antigen population over the course of an infection. We monitor evolution of cell populations on the shape space over a string of infections, and find that the distribution of losses becomes increasingly heavy-tailed with time. Initially this lowers the average loss: the memory cell population becomes tuned to the history of past exposures, reducing the loss of the system when subjected to a second, similar infection. This is accompanied by a corresponding increase in vulnerability to novel infections, which ultimately causes the expected loss to increase due to overspecialization, leading to increasing fragility with age (i.e., immunosenescence). In our model, immunosenescence is not the result of a performance degradation of some specific lymphocyte, but rather a natural consequence of the built-in mechanisms for system adaptation. This “robust, yet fragile” behavior is a key signature of Highly Optimized Tolerance.
Examination of dynamic facilitation in molecular dynamics simulations of glass-forming liquids.

Using data from molecular dynamics computer simulations of the one-component Dzugutov liquid and of BKS silica in metastable equilibrium supercooled states, we examine ideas introduced by Garrahan and Chandler (GC) in their dynamic facilitation (DF) model of the glass transition. Utilizing a recently introduced measure of DF, we find that DF is important for particle motion in both the supercooled Dzugutov liquid and in the BKS silica melt, that mobility propagates continuously, and that this effect becomes increasingly pronounced with decreasing T. We show that, in both systems, dynamic facilitation is strongest on the time scale of the late-β relaxation, where clusters of highly mobile neighboring particles escaping from their cages are largest and, except for the silicon atoms in BKS silica, stringlike motion is most prominent. By comparing the two systems, we show that the temperature dependence of one measure of DF as the mode-coupling temperature is approached from high temperature is similar, once ...
Properties of chick tropoelastin.

Abstract 1. 1. Tropoelastin was purified from the aortas of copper-deficient chicks. The amino acid composition of this protein is very similar to that previously described for porcine tropoelastin. The protein contains more than 40 residues of lysine per thousand total residues and no desmosine or isodesmosine. 2. 2. Tropoelastin is easily solubilized by elastase. The rate of elastolysis was found to increase if tropoelastin was first preincubated in solutions containing sodium dodecyl sulfate, but not dipalmityllecithin or cholesterol. 3. 3. Sodium dodecyl sulfate elicits a marked conformational change in tropoelastin. The circular dichroism spectrum of tropoelastin in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate was typical of proteins containing significant amounts of α-helix. 4. 4. Most of the lysyl residues in tropoelastin appear to equilibrate with aldehyde functions in the formation of Schiff base products. The potential for such reactions is a prerequisite in the formations of elastin cross-links. Approx. 80% of the lysyl groups in the protein appeared capable of forming Schiff base products.
Adjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of intracranial ependymoma of childhood

BACKGROUND Current treatment for childhood intracranial ependymomas with surgery and radiation therapy (RT) yields 5-year survival rates ranging from 50-70% after complete resection to 0-30% after incomplete surgical resection. The role of chemotherapy in the treatment of ependymoma has not been established. In this pilot study, children with newly diagnosed intracranial ependymoma were treated with RT and chemotherapy using agents comparable to those found to be active in the treatment of intracranial ependymoma in infants. METHODS Nineteen children age 3-14 years (median, 7.5 years) were treated with postoperative RT and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was comprised of carboplatin, 560 mg/m2, with vincristine, 1.5 mg/m2, weekly for 3 weeks, alternating at 4-week intervals with ifosfamide, 1.8 g/m2, and etoposide, 100 mg/m2, for 5 consecutive days for a total of 4 cycles. RESULTS The 5-year progression free survival (PFS) estimate was 74%. The extent of surgical resection was not a significant prognostic factor in this study. By contrast, ependymomas located in the posterior fossa were associated with a higher rate of progression (P = 0.036). Toxicity, limited predominantly to myelosuppression, was manageable. CONCLUSIONS The PFS for children with postoperative residual ependymoma treated with RT and chemotherapy in this study was higher than published survival results for RT alone. These results suggest a role for multialkylator chemotherapy in incompletely resected intracranial ependymoma and provide the rationale for a randomized trial comparing this strategy with conventional postoperative RT. Cancer 1997; 80:341-7. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Paired Box Gene 8-Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Fusion Protein and Loss of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Synergistically Cause Thyroid Hyperplasia in Transgenic Mice

Approximately35%offollicularthyroidcarcinomasandasmallfractionoffollicularadenomasare associated with a t(2;3)(q13;p25) chromosomal translocation that fuses paired box gene 8 (PAX8) with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor- gene (PPARG), resulting in expression of a PAX8-PPAR fusion protein, PPFP. The mechanism by which PPFP contributes to follicular thyroid neoplasia is poorly understood. Therefore, we have created mice with thyroid-specific expression ofPPFP.At1yrofage,25%ofPPFPmicedemonstratemildthyroidhyperplasia.Webredthesemice to mice with thyroid-specific single-allele deletion of the tumor suppressor Pten, denoted ThyPten / . In humans, PTEN deletion is associated with follicular adenomas and carcinomas, and inmice,deletionofonePtenallelecausesmildthyroidhyperplasia.WefoundthatPPFPsynergizes with ThyPten / to cause marked thyroid hyperplasia, but carcinomas were not observed. AKT phosphorylation was increased as expected in the ThyPten / thyroids, and also was increased in the PPFP thyroids and in human PPFP follicular cancers. Staining for the cell cycle marker Ki-67 was increased in the PPFP, ThyPten / , and PPFP;ThyPten / thyroids compared with wild-type thyroids. Several genes with increased expression in PPFP cancers also were found to be increased in the thyroids of PPFP mice. This transgenic mouse model of thyroidal PPFP expression exhibits propertiessimilartothoseofPPFPthyroidcancers.However,themicedevelopthyroidhyperplasia, not carcinoma, suggesting that additional events are required to cause follicular thyroid cancer. (Endocrinology 150: 5181–5190, 2009)
Clostridium sordellii Infection: Epidemiology, Clinical Findings, and Current Perspectives on Diagnosis and Treatment

Clostridium sordellii infections pose difficult clinical challenges and are usually fatal. Most commonly, these infections occur after trauma, childbirth, and routine gynecological procedures, but they have recently been associated with medically induced abortions and injection drug use. We report 2 fatal cases, one of which was associated with minor trauma, and the other of which was associated with normal childbirth, and we summarize the clinical features of 43 additional cases of reported C. sordellii infection. Of these 45 cases, 8 (18%) were associated with normal childbirth, 5 (11%) were associated with medically induced abortion, and 2 (0.4%) were associated with spontaneous abortion. The case-fatality rate was 100% in these groups. Ten (22%) of the C. sordellii infections occurred in injection drug users, and 50% of these patients died. Other cases of C. sordellii infection (in 19 patients [43%]) occurred after trauma or surgery, mostly in healthy persons, and 53% these patients died. Overall, the mortality rate was 69% (31 of 45 patients). Eighty-five percent of all patients with fatal cases died within 2-6 days of initial infection, and nearly 80% of fatal cases developed leukemoid reactions. Rapid diagnostic tests and improved treatments are needed to reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with this devastating infection.
Long Term Acute Care Patients Weaning From Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation Maintain Circadian Rhythm

BACKGROUND: Circadian rhythm regulates many physiologic and immunologic processes. Disruption of these processes has been demonstrated in acutely ill, mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU setting. Light has not been studied as an entraining stimulus in the chronically mechanically ventilated patient. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of naturally occurring ambient light levels in a long-term acute care (LTAC) hospital with circadian rhythm in patients recovering from critical illness and requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV). METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study of 15 adult patients who were recovering from critical illness and receiving PMV and who were admitted to the ventilator weaning unit at an LTAC hospital. Demographic data were obtained from chart review. Light stimuli in each patient room were assessed using a photometer device placed at eye level. Circadian rhythm was assessed by wrist actigraphy. Cumulative data were obtained from each device for a 48-h period, averaged into 4-h intervals, and analyzed. RESULTS: Patients receiving PMV were obese (mean body mass index of 32.7 ± 10.3 kg/m2) and predominantly female (73%) and had an average age of 63.1 ± 14.3 y. Light exposure to this cohort maintained diurnal variation ( P < .001) and was significantly different across time periods. Circadian rhythm, as represented by actigraphy, also maintained diurnal variation ( P < .001) and was in phase with light. Linear regression of movement and time demonstrated a moderate relationship between light and actigraphy (R2 = 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: Despite requiring continued high-level care and a prolonged stay in a medical facility, patients recovering from critical illness and actively weaning from PMV maintain their circadian rhythm in phase with normal diurnal variations of light.
Searching for a Mate The Rise of the Internet as a Social Intermediary

This article explores how the efficiency of Internet search is changing the way Americans find romantic partners. We use a new data source, the How Couples Meet and Stay Together survey. Results show that for 60 years, family and grade school have been steadily declining in their influence over the dating market. In the past 15 years, the rise of the Internet has partly displaced not only family and school, but also neighborhood, friends, and the workplace as venues for meeting partners. The Internet increasingly allows Americans to meet and form relationships with perfect strangers, that is, people with whom they had no previous social tie. Individuals who face a thin market for potential partners, such as gays, lesbians, and middle-aged heterosexuals, are especially likely to meet partners online. One result of the increasing importance of the Internet in meeting partners is that adults with Internet access at home are substantially more likely to have partners, even after controlling for other factors....
Study of Phenoloxidase Activity During the Reproductive Cycle in Schizophyllum commune

A study of the temporal relationship between the appearance of phenoloxidase activity and the formation of fruiting bodies in Schizophyllum commune was undertaken. The results indicate that phenoloxidase activity increases in colonies subsequent to the formation of aggregate masses of hyphae, continues to increase until mature, sporulating fruiting structures are produced, and then declines significantly.
Literacy Programming for Jail Inmates: Reflections and Recommendations from One Program:

This article presents discussions of the successes and encountered obstacles of one inmate functional literacy program for jail inmates operating in Jefferson County, Kentucky, in which the city of Louisville is located. Discussion focuses on identifying important structural, organizational, and personnel issues involved in planning, developing, and initiating such a program. Based on the author's experiences in both planning and evaluating the 1st year of operation of such a program in private local correctional facilities, suggestions and recommendations are offered to assist others in all early stages of such efforts.
Displaying emotions while being good citizens? A conceptual analysis of the moderating roles of commitment to the organisation and commitment to the profession

This article aims to establish a new theoretical perspective that examines that impact of emotional labour display strategies and commitment on organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB). Drawing upon the emotional labour and commitment literature, we posit that surface acting negatively affects OCB, whereas deep acting positively influences OCB. In addition, we claim that the negative relationship between surface acting and OCB will be positively moderated by commitment to the organisation and commitment to the profession, and that the positive relationship between deep acting and OCB will be positively moderated by commitment to the organisation and commitment to the profession. Given that emotional labour display strategies play a crucial role in determining service outcomes, our theoretical perspective provides important implications for theory and managerial practice.
The K-segment of maize DHN1 mediates binding to anionic phospholipid vesicles and concomitant structural changes.

Dehydrins (DHNs; late embryogenesis abundant D11 family) are a family of intrinsically unstructured plant proteins that accumulate in the late stages of seed development and in vegetative tissues subjected to water deficit, salinity, low temperature, or abscisic acid treatment. We demonstrated previously that maize (Zea mays) DHNs bind preferentially to anionic phospholipid vesicles; this binding is accompanied by an increase in α-helicity of the protein, and adoption of α-helicity can be induced by sodium dodecyl sulfate. All DHNs contain at least one “K-segment,” a lysine-rich 15-amino acid consensus sequence. The K-segment is predicted to form a class A2 amphipathic α-helix, a structural element known to interact with membranes and proteins. Here, three K-segment deletion proteins of maize DHN1 were produced. Lipid vesicle-binding assays revealed that the K-segment is required for binding to anionic phospholipid vesicles, and adoption of α-helicity of the K-segment accounts for most of the conformational change of DHNs upon binding to anionic phospholipid vesicles or sodium dodecyl sulfate. The adoption of structure may help stabilize cellular components, including membranes, under stress conditions.
Letter by Lahiri et al Regarding Article, “Endovascular Thrombectomy for Anterior Circulation Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”

We read Yarbrough et al’s systematic review and meta-analysis on Endovascular Thrombectomy for Anterior Circulation Stroke with great interest and appreciation.1 The authors should be congratulated on a comprehensive review of the data that addresses efficacy of endovascular thrombectomy (ET) for acute ischemic stroke. Based on the data presented, we note a potential error in the Abstract and Discussion sections, which suggests that patients who were not treated with intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) benefited significantly after ET. The study reports an odds ratio of 1.59 (95% …
Combining power plant water needs and carbon dioxide storage using saline formations: Implications for carbon dioxide and water management policies

Research involving management of carbon dioxide has increased markedly over the last decade as it relates to concerns over climate change. Capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) in geological formations is one of many proposed methods to manage, and likely reduce, CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels in the electricity sector. Saline formations represent a vast storage resource, and the waters they contain could be managed for beneficial use. To address this issue, a methodology was developed to test the feasibility of linking coal-fired power plants, deep saline formations for CO2 storage, and extracting and treating saline waters for use as power plant cooling water. An illustrative hypothetical case study examines a representative power plant and saline formation in the south-western United States. A regional assessment methodology includes analysis of injectioninduced changes in subsurface groundwater chemistry and fate and transport of supercritical CO2. Initial water–CO2-formation reactions include dissolution of carbonate minerals as expected, and suggest that very little CO2 will be stored in mineral form within the first few centuries. Reservoir simulations provide direct input into a systems-level economic model, and demonstrate how water extraction can help manage injection-induced overpressure. Options for treatment of extracted water vary depending upon site specific chemistry. A high efficiency reverse osmosis system (HEROTM) shows promise for economical desalination at the volumes of recovered water under consideration. Results indicate a coupled use CO2 storage and water extraction and treatment system may be feasible for tens to hundreds of years. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The Workplace Within: Psychodynamics of Organizational Life

The Workplace Within: Psychodynamics of Organizational Life. Larry Hirschhorn. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 1988,. + 265 pp.
The toxicity of purified fumonisin B1 in broiler chicks

Abstract An investigation of the toxicity of fumonisin B1 (FB1), a toxic metabolite of Fusarium moniliforme, in broiler chicks was conducted. Purified FB1 (98.1% pure) was incorporated into the diets of broiler chicks at 0, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg, and fed to chicks from 0 to 21 d of age. Dietary FB1, at concentrations of 80 mg/kg or less, did not adversely affect body weight, feed efficiency, or water consumption of broiler chicks. The relative weights of the liver, spleen, kidney, proventriculus, and bursa of Fabricius were also unaffected (P
Dynamics and Control for Surface Exploration of Small Bodies

We provide a general discussion on the surface dynamics of particles in the gravitational fleld of a small body system. In this paper, we model the asteroid as an ellipsoid, and also consider binary systems. We investigate the dynamics near the stable and unstable surface equilibria of an ellipsoid body under difierent perturbations. We give analytical tools to approximate the total distance covered and the amount of time it takes for a particle to settle on a non-ideal surface. Using these analytical tools, we develop control laws for single and multiple collaborating vehicles to counteract the efiect of surface equilibria. Simulations of the dynamics and control are shown.
Stability Diagram for the System Yba2Cu3O7–x

The dependence of the degree of nonstoichiometry of YBa2Cu307–x (123) on temperature and oxygen pressure has been determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in the temperature range 400° to 950°C and the oxygen pressure range 10–6 to 1 atm (1 atm = 105 Pa). The nature of the decomposition of 123 in the temperature range 750° to 950°C and the oxygen pressure range 10–6 to 10–2 atm has been determined by TGA and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). As the oxygen pressure decreases, the decomposition of 123 follows the sequence 123→ Y2BaCuo5 (211) + BaCuO2° Cu2O→ 211 ° BaCuO2° BaCu2O2→ 211 ° YBa3Cu2Ox (132) ° BaCu2O2→ 211 ° BaCu2O2°BaO. The incongruent melting temperatures have been determined in the oxygen pressure range 10–6 to 1 atm by differential thermal analysis, and the phases formed on solidification have been identified by XRD. The stability diagram for the composition 123 has been constructed.
Television at the grassroots: CATV

The first community television antenna systems were cooperative efforts to “bring in” stations that individuals found economically or technically unfeasible to receive. During the freeze” period of 1948–52, impatient potential viewers in areas temporarily denied local television service went to extreme lengths to obtain television pro‐grams to watch. After the “freeze” catv systems continued to grow in communities too small or too isolated to support stations of their own for the most part, but also in communities where the establishment of local outlets had been delayed. Competition between local broadcasters and catv operators has grown in some communities, while cooperation has grown in others.
Membrane Protein Secondary Structure Determination via Pulsed EPR ESEEM

Membrane proteins are involved in a variety of pertinent roles within the cell such as ion channels, communication, and catalysts for reactions in the membrane. Limited structural information exists for membrane proteins and new approaches need to be developed. A new method has been developed to determine the secondary structure of membrane proteins using pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The three-pulse electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) can be used to detect the dipolar coupling between a deuterium-labeled residue and a spin label attached up to 4 residues away (i + 4) and correlate the strength of this coupling with the radial distance between the spin and deuterium labels. In this case, i represents the location of the 2H-labeled residue and 4 represents the location of the spin label 4 residues away. Unique periodic structural difference between an α-helix and a β-sheet can be easily observed in the corresponding ESEEM spectra for i + 2 and i + 3 samples. We have demonstrated these distinct trends with model α-helical (M2δ subunit of the acetylcholine receptor) and β-sheet (first 17-residues of ubiquitin) peptides. Circular Dichorism spectroscopy further confirms the secondary structure of the labeled peptide constructs to ensure the validity of the method. The new ESEEM approach provides site-specific secondary structural information both qualitatively and quantitatively on membrane proteins that otherwise might not have been structurally elucidated.
A load-balancing shared-protection-path reconfiguration approach in WDM wavelength-routed networks

We propose a load-balancing shared-protection-path reconfiguration approach for WDM wavelength-routed networks, using which service providers can re-optimize the network utilization to postpone network upgrades, resulting in significant cost savings.
Electronic structure and band alignment of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone passivated silicon surfaces

In this work we demonstrate that the room-temperature deposition of the organic molecule 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PQ) reduces the surface defect density of the silicon (100) surface by chemically bonding to the surface dangling bonds. Using various spectroscopic measurements we have investigated the electronic structure and band alignment properties of the PQ/Si interface. The band-bending at the PQ-passivated silicon surface is negligible for both n- and p-type substrates, demonstrating a low density of surface defects. Finally we show that PQ forms a semiconducting wide-bandgap type-I heterojunction with silicon.
Comparisons of Belief-Based Personality Constructs in Polish and American University Students Paranormal Beliefs, Locus of Control, Irrational Beliefs, and Social Interest

This two-part study used Rotter's Social Learning Theory as a framework for comparing university students from Poland and from the Southern United States on (a) four belief-based personality constructs: paranormal beliefs, locus of control, irrational beliefs, and social interest; and (b) personality correlates of paranormal beliefs. Both Poles and Americans reported high levels of traditional religious belief, as well as disbelief in superstition, spiritualism, and witchcraft. As hypothesized, the Poles reported a significantly more external locus of control and significantly greater endorsement of irrational beliefs. Also consistent with hypotheses, for the Poles paranormal beliefs showed 10 significant personality correlates, whereas for the Americans only one relationship was significant. These findings are consistent with the notion that within the Polish sociocultural situation, fundamental political and ideological conflicts between the government and the Roman Catholic Church may have optimized pe...
Kinetics of Spinodal Decomposition in the TiO2‐SnO2 System: The Effect of Aliovalent Dopants

Dense samples in the TiO2-SnO2 system were fabricated by pressureless sintering in air using commercial powders as well as powders obtained by coprecipitation. Phase equilibria in the system were examined using X-ray diffraction on samples that were annealed for long periods of time. Samples of near equi-molar composition made with controlled amounts of Al and Ta (separately) as dopants were annealed inside the coherent spinodal. X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy were the principal characterization tools used to follow the kinetics of phase transformation. The composition modulations occurred along the [001] direction consistent with prior work. During the early stages of the decomposition process, interlamellar surfaces were coherent. At later stages, strain mismatch was accommodated by interface dislocations. The kinetics of decomposition were strongly influenced by the type and the amount of dopant. Specifically, trivalent aluminum enhanced the decomposition while pentavalent tantalum suppressed it. The kinetics in a sample doped with 0.5 mol% Al2O3 were more than 3 orders of magnitude more rapid than a sample doped with 1.0 mol% Ta2O5. These observations are rationalized on the premise that cation interstitial mobility is greater than cation vacancy mobility.
Identification of in Vivo Target RNA Sequences Bound by Thymidylate Synthase

We developed an immunoprecipitation-RNA-random PCR (rPCR) method to isolate cellular RNA sequences that bind to the folate-dependent enzyme thymidylate synthase (TS). Using this approach, nine different cellular RNAs that formed a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex with thymidylate synthase (TS) in human colon cancer cells were identified. RNA binding experiments revealed that seven of these RNAs bound TS with relatively high affinity (IC50 values ranging from 1.5 to 6 nM). One of the RNAs was shown to encode the interferon (IFN)-induced 15 kDa protein. Western immunoblot analyses demonstrated that the level of IFN-induced 15 kDa protein was significantly decreased in human colon cancer H630-R10 cells compared with parent H630 cells. While the level of IFN-induced 15 kDa mRNA expression was the same in parent and TS-overexpressing cell lines, the level of IFN-induced 15 kDa RNA bound to TS in the form of a RNP complex was markedly higher in H630-R10 cells relative to parent H630 cells. These studies begin to define a number of cellular target RNA sequences with which TS interacts and suggest that these TS protein-cellular RNA interactions may have a biological role.
Endothelial cell seeding influences lesion development following arterial injury in the cholesterol-fed rabbit.

Objective: A functionally intact endothelial monolayer is thought to be critical for the adaptive process of vascular remodeling. This study was undertaken to examine the hypothesis that endothelial restoration is a critical determinant of remodeling after balloon angioplasty. Methods: Rabbits ( N =12) were fed a cholesterol-supplemented diet (0.5%) and were subjected to bilateral balloon catheter injury of the iliofemoral arteries. At the time of injury, autologous venous endothelial cells (ECs) were implanted on one artery; the contralateral vessel served as control. A mean of 42 days after injury, arteriography was performed, followed by vessel harvest and histologic analysis. Results: High grade (≥70%) stenoses or occlusion were present in 55% of control and none of the EC-seeded arteries. EC-seeding was associated with improved mean (1.0±0 vs. 0.7±0.1, P <0.001) and minimal (0.7±0.1 vs. 0.4±0.1, P <0.001) luminal diameters by angiography. Seeded arteries demonstrated decreased medial area (0.69±0.04 vs. 1.04±0.09 mm2, P <0.001), a more uniform range of final lumen area ( P <0.0001), and a positive remodeling index. Neointimal area was not significantly different. Stenoses were characterized primarily by larger neointimal area (2.02±0.18 vs. 1.38±0.09 mm2, stenotic vs. non-stenotic, P <0.005). Final lumen area was strongly influenced by both neointimal growth and vessel remodeling. Conclusions: These data support the concept that endothelial restoration is a critical determinant of the outcome of vessel wall repair, particularly in the context of hypercholesterolemia.
Use of Alternative Therapies and Their Impact on Compliance: Perceptions of Community Pharmacists in Texas

Abstract Objective To assess community pharmacists' experiences with the use of alternative therapies by their patients with chronic illnesses. Design Mail survey. Setting State of Texas. Participants 142 community independent and chain pharmacists. Main Outcome Measures Pharmacists' recollections about patients' use of alternative therapies. Results Pharmacists estimated that 17% of their patients with chronic illnesses used some form of alternative therapy. A majority (66.9%) indicated that they have patients who used some type of alternative therapy for chronic conditions and that a majority (59.7%) of these patients consulted with them regarding those therapies. However, in only 11.1% of these cases did pharmacists document alternative therapy use in patients' pharmacy records. Pharmacists reported that 25.9% of these patients who use alternative therapies for chronic conditions were not compliant with their prescribed medication regimen. One-third (33.1%) of respondents indicated they knew of no patients who used alternative therapies, and 35.9% had never asked. Conclusion Pharmacists need information on patients' use of alternative therapies for chronic illnesses to make valid therapy decisions and to monitor outcomes. Future research should identify actions that pharmacists take to address drug-related problems among alternative therapy users and assess the impact of these actions on drug therapy-related outcomes.
Role of calcium in adaptive cytoprotection and cell injury induced by deoxycholate in human gastric cells

We have developed an in vitro model of adaptive cytoprotection induced by deoxycholate (DC) in human gastric cells and have shown that pretreatment with a low concentration of DC (mild irritant, 50...
Financial Impact of Nuclear Power Plants: Pseg and Hope Creek

This case is about the financial impact of negative publicity and a company's reaction. A Public Service Enterprise Group had ownership interest in five nuclear power plants, three of which were located in Lower Alloways Creek, New Jersey. These three plants had been cited for concerns about a safety conscious work environment by a fired employee and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. One U.S. senator and two congressmen had written a letter to NRC requesting an investigation of the situation.
Formation and Interlayer Decoupling of Colloidal MoSe2 Nanoflowers

We report the colloidal synthesis of substrate-free MoSe2 nanostructures with a uniform flower-like morphology and tunable average diameters that range from approximately 50–250 nm. The MoSe2 nanoflowers contain a large population of highly crystalline few-layer nanosheets that protrude from a central core. Aliquot studies and control experiments indicate that the nanoflowers are generated through a two-step process that involves the formation of a core in the early stages of the reaction followed by outward nanosheet growth that can be controlled based on the concentrations of reagents. The effects of laser-induced local heating, bulk-scale heating using a temperature stage, and nanostructuring on the ability to trigger and tune interlayer decoupling were also investigated. Notably, laser-induced local heating results in dynamic and reversible interlayer decoupling. Such capabilities provide a pathway for achieving quasi-two-dimensional behavior in three-dimensionally structured and colloidally synthesiz...
The Parasitic Fly, Zelia Vertebrata Say (Diptera, Dexiidae)

In an ecological study of Passalus cornutus Fabricius (Pearse, Patterson, Rankin, Wharton, 1936) the parasites and commensals were studied. The Dexiid fly, Zelia vertebrata , infested large larvae and pupae, the average number within a single Passalus was 0.1.
Examining the Efficacy of a Brief Group Protective Behavioral Strategies Skills Training Alcohol Intervention With College Women

College students' use of protective behavioral strategies (PBS; e.g., determining not to exceed a set number of drinks, avoiding drinking games) is related to lower levels of alcohol consumption and problems. The present study evaluated the efficacy of a novel brief, single-session group PBS skills training intervention aimed at increasing college students' use of PBS and reducing risky drinking and consequences. Participants (N = 226) were heavy-drinking incoming first-year college women randomized to either a PBS skills training intervention or study skills control condition. Participants attended a 45-min group session and completed online surveys pre- and postintervention (1 month and 6 months). We conducted a series of 2 × 2 × 3 repeated-measures ANCOVAs with condition and baseline mental health (anxiety/depression) as the between-subjects factors and time as the within-subjects factor. Intervention participants, relative to controls, reported significantly greater increases in PBS use and reductions in both heavy episodic drinking and alcohol consequences. The intervention was particularly effective in increasing PBS use at 1 month among participants with high anxiety. Further, tests of moderated mediation showed a significant conditional indirect effect of condition on 1-month consequences through PBS use among participants with high levels of anxiety. Findings provide preliminary support for a brief PBS-specific group intervention to reduce alcohol risk among college women, particularly anxious women. Future research is needed to strengthen the long-term effectiveness of the present approach and further explore the moderating effects of mental health.
Possibility of Recombination Gain Increase in CV Ions at 4.0 nm Via Coherence

This paper is about the recent experimental results on amplification of the CV line in the “water window” at 4.03 nm from resonance transition to the ground level of He-like ions in recombination scheme. The indication of the amplification of the CV line has been observed when an elongated narrow plasma channel was created, where high intensity 100 fs beams, optimal for creating CV ions in high density plasma, was propagated up to 0.5–0.6 mm. Without channeling the effective plasma length was much shorter and there was no indication of amplification.The large interest in gain generation in He-like ions in the transition to ground state is due to the possibility of applying a recently developed theory of Lasing Without Inversion (LWI) in XUV and X-ray regions to largely increase the gain for such transitions. The presented results of the indication of CV line amplifications are being discussed from the point of view of using LWI as a superradiance gain increase, hence to construct a very compact soft X-ray laser in the “water window”.The last part of the paper is related to the application of the ultra-intensive fs plasma laser, which is currently in the process of development by using stimulated Raman backscattering (SRBS) to create a plasma amplifier and compressor, as the pump for compact laser operating in the “water window” and also at shorter wavelengths.
Immunochemical studies of rabbit N-acetyltransferases.

Immunochemical studies were undertaken to investigate qualitative and quantitative differences in N -acetyltransferases from rapid and slow isoniazid acetylator rabbits. Goat anti- N -acetyltransferase antiserum was prepared against partially purified liver N -acetyltransferase from a rapid acetylator rabbit. N -Acetyltransferases found in rabbit erythrocytes, lymphocytes, intestinal mucosa, and livers were tested against this antiserum by Ouchterlony double diffusion. Liver and intestinal mucosal enzyme preparations yielded reactions of complete identity between enzymes in the two tissues and also between enzymes in the two phenotypes, whereas erythrocyte and lymphocyte N -acetyltransferases were nonimmunoreactive. Precipitin reactions between goat anti- N -acetyltransferase and 100,000 g liver supernatant fractions from each acetylator genotype yielded equivalent amounts of precipitated protein at nearly identical equivalence points. The antibody titer required to inactivate the sulfamethazine and p -aminobenzoic acid N -acetyltransferase activity in 100,000 g liver supernatant fractions was not significantly different for rapid and slow phenotypes, although sulfamethazine N -acetyltransferase activity in rapid acetylator preparations was 10 to 407 times greater than in slow acetylator preparations. Sulfamethazine N -acetyltransferase and p -aminobenzoic acid N -acetyltransferase activities were inactivated at the same rate in both phenotypes. Radial immunodiffusion studies with hepatic supernatant fractions containing equal amounts of p -aminobenzoic acid N -acetyltransferase activity produced precipitin rings with equivalent areas for both rapid (137.5 ± 16.3 mm 2 ) and slow (163.0 ± 46.2 mm 2 ) acetylators. Equal amounts of sulfamethazine N -acetyltransferase activity produced much larger precipitin ring areas for slow acetylator preparations (2443 ± 1389 mm 2 ) than for rapid preparations (27.6 ± 4.1 mm 2 ). These observations are consistent with the following hypotheses: (i) The livers of rapid and slow isoniazid acetylator rabbits contain approximately the same number of N -acetyltransferase molecules, but contain different forms of N -acetyltransferase with markedly different catalytic activities; and (ii) monomorphic ( p -aminobenzoic acid) and polymorphic (sulfamethazine) substrates are acetylated by the same N -acetyltransferase molecule.
Oral methylene blue and the dissolution of renal calculi.

AbstractOral methylene blue therapy was not effective in dissolving non-obstructive renal calculi in 26 patients but it may prevent new stone formation in patients with metabolically active urolithiasis. The use of methylene blue therapy in combination with other regimens having different mechanisms of stone inhibition is recommended to further improve results.
Marxism and Concrete Philosophy: Ernst Bloch

In order to situate Bloch and his Marxism, it is necessary to move beyond the history of ideas to enter into the concerns and choices of a real movement aiming at changing the world. This orientation presents a double difficulty that arises from trying to understand a thinker who has been an actor in this movement for the past 70 years and at the same time trying to cast some light on this movement itself. The difficulty is multiplied by the fact that Bloch considers himself not simply a philosopher but a Marxist philosopher for whom Marx’s Aufhebung of philosophy proposes the elimination of the bad, contemplative philosophy of the past, but not the destruction of philosophy itself. As a result, the facts of history and the choices made by Bloch cannot explain the movement of his action or thought; it is necessary to philosophize with the philosopher-Marxist in order to illuminate his contribution as it was at the time and as it remains.
Abstract 114: Oncogenomic analysis of Merkel cell carcinoma

We used an integrative oncogenomic approach to investigate the molecular etiology of Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) in an effort to identify novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers for this highly aggressive neuroendocrine skin tumor. Because MCC is rare and poorly understood, there are currently no effective treatment options for patients with advanced disease. Approximately 80% of MCC tumors have Merkel Cell polyomavirus (MCV) DNA integrated into the host genome, and viral oncogenes are thought to drive carcinogenesis. Moreover it has been reported that MCV-negative MCC samples have an increased rate of mutations relative to MCV-positive tumors. Taken together, this suggests that MCV-positive and negative MCCs are driven by different mechanisms. We used whole exome sequencing and bioinformatic analyses to identify somatically dysregulated genes and pathways in MCC tumor samples. Additionally, we used a comparative genomic hybridization array to identify genomic amplifications and deletions. Whole transcriptome profiling was achieved using microarrays and RNA-sequencing. As the same tumor samples were used in each of these platforms, we were able to systematically correlate sequence variants with copy number changes and gene expression to identify high priority targets for further study. Interestingly, despite differences in driver mutations, we found relatively few differences in the global gene expression of MCV-positive and MCV-negative MCC tumors. Overall, our integrative oncogenomic approach has identified novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of MCC that are currently undergoing functional validation and preclinical testing. Citation Format: Tara Gelb, Kenneth Daily, Amy Coxon, Isaac Brownell. Oncogenomic analysis of Merkel cell carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 114.
Emotion Socialization in the Context of Childhood Cancer: Perceptions of Parental Support Promotes Posttraumatic Growth.

Background Examined youth’s perceptions of parental reactions to youth’s cancer and non-cancer event-related distress and the link between perceptions of parental reactions and youth posttraumatic growth (PTG). Method Participants included 201 youth (8–21 years) with a history of cancer. Participants self-identified their most stressful life event, which were characterized as cancer or non-cancer related, and then completed measures in reference to this event assessing (1) their perceptions of parent reactions to event-related distress and (2) PTG. Results Youth who identified a cancer-related event perceived their parents as reacting with more support and reassurance/distraction than those who identified a non-cancer event. Perceptions of parental support, reassurance/distraction, and magnification of youth distress were associated with more PTG, with event type (cancer vs. non-cancer) indirectly predicting PTG through perceptions of parental support. Conclusion Youth perceive their parents as reacting differently to cancer versus non-cancer distress, which is in turn predictive of their perceptions of growth. Findings suggest that parental support and reassurance/distraction are possible mechanisms facilitating resilience and growth in children with cancer.
Discourse analysis beyond the speech event, by S. Wortham and A. Reyes

For many discourse analysts working in linguistic anthropology and related fields, the question of how (or even if) a ‘microanalytic’ approach to studying text and talk can be used to address long-...
A mathematical approach for secondary structure analysis can provide an eyehole to the RNA world

The RNA pseudoknot is a conserved secondary structure encountered in a number of ribozymes, which assume a central role in the RNA world hypothesis. However, RNA folding algorithms could not predict pseudoknots until recently. Analytic combinatorics, a newly arisen mathematical field, has introduced a way of enumerating different RNA configurations and quantifying RNA pseudoknot structure robustness and evolvability, two features that drive their molecular evolution. I will present a mathematician9s viewpoint of RNA secondary structures, and explain how analytic combinatorics applied on RNA sequence to structure maps can represent a valuable tool for understanding RNA secondary structure evolution. Analytic combinatorics can be implemented for the optimization of RNA secondary structure prediction algorithms, the derivation of molecular evolution mathematical models, as well as in a number of biotechnological applications, such as biosensors, riboswitches etc. Moreover, it showcases how the integration of biology and mathematics can provide a different viewpoint into the RNA world.
Management of Cirrhotic Patients After Successful HCV Eradication

Chronic hepatitis C (HCV) is a hepatotropic virus which, when untreated, can lead to progressive inflammation and fibrosis resulting in cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and decompensations related to end-stage liver disease. The relatively recent introduction of all oral, interferon-free, direct-acting antiviral medications against HCV has transformed the management of these patients. Previous treatment regimens were prolonged, poorly tolerated, and frequently did not result in cure. Current therapies achieve sustained viral response (SVR) in the vast majority of patients including those with decompensated liver disease; a previously challenging population to treat. These successes will result in significant numbers of cirrhotic patients requiring management after SVR. Although many complications of cirrhosis are improved in this setting, regular follow-up of HCC, esophageal varices, and other sequelae of cirrhosis will be necessary. This chapter will review the management of cirrhosis in HCV patients achieving cure.
Alkaloid-Poor Plant Families, Poaceae and Cyperaceae, Are Over-Utilized for Medicine in Hawaiian Pharmacopoeia

The theory of non-random medicinal plant selection predicts that the number of medicinal plant species in a given family is related to the total number of species in that family. As a consequence of such a strong relationship, some plant families are over-utilized for medicinal purposes while others are not. Medicinal plant families that are often over-utilized share evolutionary traits such as the presence of secondary plant compounds which are known to have medicinal values. Consistent with this model, several studies have shown that alkaloid-poor plant families such as Poaceae and Cyperaceae, two families known more for their physical defenses rather than their chemical defenses, are medicinally under-utilized across the world. In this study, we demonstrate that contrary to expectation, Poaceae and Cyperaceae are over-utilized in the Hawaiian ethnopharmacopoeia. One reason for this over-utilization is a result of the Hawaiian cultural practice of converting plants in the Poaceae and Cyperaceae families into ash for direct medicinal use or as a component in other medicinal preparations. The over-utilization of Poaceae and Cyperaceae is also potentially due to their versatility and greater availability in parts of the land divisions where most humans are allowed to visit. Knowledge of how to use ash is taught through mo‘olelo, Hawaiian history, and represents a Native Hawaiian understanding of and relationship to chemical knowledge. Our study provides new evidence for the theory of non-random medicinal plant selection and shows, contrary to expectation, that unique patterns of plant family over-utilization could arise in unique cultural and geographical contexts.