cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activation of keratinocyte muscarinic acetylcholine receptors reverses pemphigus acantholysis

We studied neuroendocrine mediator regulation of adhesion and motility of human epidermal keratinocytes (EK) and found that cholinergic compounds control EK cell-matrix and cell-cell attachment. In this study, we tested the anti-acantholytic activity of muscarinic agonists in pemphigus and non-pemphigus acantholysis, and investigated the effects of pemphigus antibody (Pab) on the the keratinocyte muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR). Acantholysis produced by Pab from two patients with pemphigus vulgaris was compared with acantholysis induced by the serine protease trypsin. the calcium chelator EOT A or the muscarinic antagonist atropine. Trypsinized EK first lost contact with microplate surface and then retracted their intercellular filaments. EDTA-treated cells first detached from each other and then from the dish. EK cultures treated with Pab or atropine rounded up and retracted their intercellular filaments simultaneously, although it took hours to obtain acantholysis with Pab treatment compared to several seconds with atropine treatment. Addition of acetylcholine or other muscarinic agonists (bethanechol. carbachol or methacholine) to acantholytic cultures reversed both pemphigus and non-pemphigus acantholysis. Acantholysis induced by atropine reversed spontaneously. Short-term preexposure of EK to Pab significantly increased, and long-term preexposure significantly decreased, the [3H]atropine binding to keratinocyte mAChR. We conclude that muscarinic agonists reverse various types of acantholysis. including acantholysis induced by Pab, and that binding of Pab to EK may affect the ability of keratinocyte mAChR to bind its ligands.
Temporary Territories?: Responses to Intrusions in a Public Setting

Do people create temporary territories in public settings? To address this question, territorial cognitions and behaviors regarding two types of study sites in a library—tables and carrels—were investigated. In the first questionnaire experiment subjects indicated that: carrel sites were more valuable for studying than table sites; they expected they would be more likely to defend a carrel site than a table site; and the perceived causes of carrel and table invasions differed. In the second field study an experimenter occupied seats that subjects had temporarily vacated. Results supported our hypothesis and the questionnaire results of the first experiment. In the carrel condition subjects were more likely to ask for their seat back than in the table condition. Thus, using the stringent demarcation and defense criterion it appears that people do create temporary territories in public spaces. Furthermore, the results suggest a close covariation between territorial cognitions and behavior, and the importance of desirability of locale for both of these. The implications of the results for territorial typologies, animal-human territorial differences, and future research on human territoriality were outlined.
Social costs from proximity to hydraulic fracturing in New York State

The study reports data from an economic choice experiment to determine the likely welfare impacts of hydraulic fracturing, in this case using natural gas extracted by hydraulic fracturing for household electricity. Data were collected from an Internet survey of 515 residents of New York State. The welfare analysis indicated that on average households incur a welfare loss from in-state hydraulic fracturing as the source of their electricity. The evidence suggests that households in shale counties bear more costs from HF electricity than households out of shale counties. The average welfare loss is substantive, estimated at 40–46% of average household electric bills in shale counties and 16–20% of bills in counties without shale. The evidence also suggests that relative proximity to HF well sites also increases cost borne by households.
The Environmental Protection Agency's research program on total human exposure

Abstract The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA) research program on total human exposure to environmental pollution seeks to develop a newly emerging concept in the environmental sciences. Instead of focusing purely on the sources of pollution or their transport and movement through the environment, this research focuses on human beings as the receptors of these pollutants. People and daily activities become the center of attention. The methodology measures and models the pollutant concentrations found at the physical boundaries of people, regardless of whether the pollutants arrive through the air, water, food, or skin. It seeks to characterize quantitatively the impact of pollution on people by determining if an environmental problem exists at the human interface and, if so, by determining the sources, nature, extent, and severity of this environmental problem. By exploiting an emerging new arsenal of miniaturized instruments and by developing statistically representative survey designs for sampling the population of cities, significant progress has been made in recent years in providing previously unavailable human exposure field data needed for making valid risk assessments. The U.S. EPA total human exposure research program includes: development of measurement methods and instruments, development of exposure models and statistical protocols, microenvironmental field studies, total human exposure studies, validation of human exposure models with empirical data, and dosage research investigations.
Pharmacological basis of immediate hypersensitivity in the domestic fowl: a review

This review discusses the mechanisms of immediate hypersensitivity and their putative relationship to clinical syndromes in the fowl. The general features of these mechanisms are outlined, in terms of the pharmacological mediators involved, the anaphylactic antibodies, and the distribution and relative significance of the immune target cells — the mast cells and basophils. Emphasis is given to the ways in which these features are similar to or differ from those occurring in mammals. Consideration is given to the immunological release of histamine and of SRS-A in the fowl. The results of work on the mechanisms of in vitro anaphylaxis (Schultz-Dale phenomenon) in the chicken are discussed. The roles of several potential mediators of acute systemic anaphylaxis are discussed in some detail, with reference to the activities of antagonists to each of these potential mediators. A major role for the vasoactive lipids and peptides is suggested.
Volcanic ash in ancient Maya ceramics of the limestone lowlands: implications for prehistoric volcanic activity in the Guatemala highlands

Abstract In the spirit of collaborative research, Glicken and Ford embarked on the problem of identifying the source of volcanic ash used as temper in prehistoric Maya ceramics. Verification of the presence of glass shards and associated volcanic mineralogy in thin sections of Maya ceramics was straightforward and pointed to the Guatemala Highland volcanic chain. Considering seasonal wind rose patterns, target volcanoes include those from the area west of and including Guatemala City. Joint field research conducted in 1983 by Glicken and Ford in the limestone lowlands of Belize and neighboring Guatemala, 300 km north of the volcanic zone and 150 km from the nearest identified ash deposits, was unsuccessful in discovering local volcanic ash deposits. The abundance of the ash in common Maya ceramic vessels coupled with the difficulties of long-distance procurement without draft animals lead Glicken to suggest that ashfall into the lowlands would most parsimoniously explain prehistoric procurement; it literally dropped into their hands. A major archaeological problem with this explanation is that the use of volcanic ash occurring over several centuries of the Late Classic Period (ca. 600–900 AD). To accept the ashfall hypothesis for ancient Maya volcanic ash procurement, one would have to demonstrate a long span of consistent volcanic activity in the Guatemala Highlands for the last half of the first millennium AD. Should this be documented through careful petrographic, microprobe and tephrachronological studies, a number of related archaeological phenomena would be explained. In addition, the proposed model of volcanic activity has implications for understanding volcanism and potential volcanic hazards in Central America over a significantly longer time span than the historic period. These avenues are explored and a call for further collaborative research of this interdisciplinary problem is extended in this paper.
Low power FPGA design using post-silicon device aging (abstract only)

The impact of process variation (PV) in deep submicron CMOS technologies has raised major concerns for energy optimization efforts in FPGAs. We have developed a post-silicon leakage energy optimization scheme that raises the threshold voltage (by way of negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) aging) of the components that are either unused or not on the critical timing paths, thereby reducing the total leakage energy consumption. In order to obtain the input vectors for aging only the targeted transistors, we map the problem of minimizing leakage energy under timing constraints to an instance of the satisfiability (SAT) problem. We implemented low power designs targeting Xilinx Spartan6 FPGAs and analyzed the potential leakage power savings over a set of ITC99 and Opencores benchmarks. The analysis of the experimental results shows a substantial amount of potential leakage energy reduction with very small performance degradation.
Broadly applicable methodology for the rapid and dosable small molecule-mediated regulation of transcription factors in human cells.

Direct and selective small molecule control of transcription factor activity is an appealing avenue for elucidating the cell biology mediated by transcriptional programs. However, pharmacologic tools to modulate transcription factor activity are scarce because transcription factors are not readily amenable to small molecule-mediated regulation. Moreover, existing genetic approaches to regulate transcription factors often lead to high nonphysiologic levels of transcriptional activation that significantly impair our ability to understand the functional implications of transcription factor activity. Herein, we demonstrate that small molecule-mediated conformational control of protein degradation is a generally applicable, chemical biological methodology to obtain small molecule-regulated transcription factors that modulate transcriptional responses at physiologic levels in human cells. Our establishment of this approach allows for the rapid development of genetically encoded, small molecule-regulated transcr...
Analysis of the grain boundary misorientation distribution in polycrystalline gold thin films using minimal data

Grain boundary misorientation distributions and their related character distributions (in terms of the coincidence site lattice) have been shown to influence various properties of polycrystalline metals. Materials with high proportions of {Sigma} and {Sigma}3 boundaries exhibit improved resistance to various kinds of intergranular degradation. Most studies of grain boundary distribution, therefore, look at the number- or area-fractions of the various coincidence-related boundaries in what is called the grain boundary character distribution. An important question for experimentalists in this field is whether the number of grain boundaries used in an analysis is sufficient to represent the distribution accurately. The problem is significantly ameliorated when automated data collection can be used, allowing huge data sets to be accumulated, but this is not always possible, either because the necessary equipment is not available, or because the specimens do not lend themselves to the available techniques. In this work, the authors use an investigation of the misorientation distribution in a polycrystalline gold thin film to illustrate how useful conclusions may be drawn from minimal numbers of observations.
Did Fielding Write for The Craftsman

Martin C. Battestin's 1989 book attributing essays from The Craftsman to Henry Fielding on internal evidence appears to be widely accepted, with the essays increasingly incorporated into scholarship on Fielding. This article shows the reasons for rejecting the attributions. It gives an evaluation of Battestin's method, with representative examples, indicating also where important contrary evidence has been ignored. The system of letter-designations marking authorship of reprinted Craftsman papers is freshly analysed, with the letter ‘A’ shown to be an alternate designation for the editor Nicholas Amhurst. Battestin's treatment of parallels of style and allusion as evidence is deficient, in that parallels claimed as significantly distinctive repeatedly turn out to be part of the shared idiom of contemporary discourse and useless as markers of individual authorship. Nor do the partisan political themes of the attributed essays comport with the interests of Fielding's known work. Certain unrecognised parallels with writings by Amhurst have virtually probative quality, and the case for his authorship of No. 469 is exhibited at length. Fielding had nothing to do with the Craftsman. Many of the essays in question are undoubtedly by Amhurst, and for those which may not be there are far more plausible candidates than Fielding.
Correlation of the response to nitroglycerin in rabbit aorta with the activity of the mu class glutathione S-transferase

Abstract The relationship between the activity of glutathione S -transferases (GSTs), especially the mu isozyme, and the production of response to nitroglycerin (GTN) was investigated in rabbit aorta. GST mu isozyme activity was measured using trans -stilbene oxide (TSO) as a substrate. Each aorta was divided into four parts, two of which were frozen for enzymatic analyses while the ramaining two were used to measure the effects of GTN (0.5 μM), i.e. the increase in cGMP levels and the corresponding relaxation. Thus, all three measured were botained in each individula rabbit aorta. Eight different rabbits were studied. An excellent correlation was obtained between the rise in cGMP and the mu isozyme activity ( r 2 = 0.948). A good correlation was also obtained between TSO activity and the relaxation response to GTN. Total GST activity did not correlate well with either cGMP increases or percent relaxation. These observation indicate that the activity of the mu isozyme measured using TSO and not the total GST correlates with the responses to GTN in the in vitro rabbit aorta model.
High precision charged particle detector using noble liquids.

WE agree wholeheartedly with P. Rice-Evans1 and the leading article in Nature2 that there is a need for higher resolution particle detectors at the new synchrotrons. Following a suggestion by one of us3, we are working towards the development of a thin multi-conductor chamber filled with a noble liquid. Our initial efforts with liquid argon have been described in several NAL Summer Study reports4 and the successful operation of a liquid xenon proportional counter is the subject of a recent article5.
Lipopolysaccharide Treatment Results in Loss of Glycosaminoglycans from Rat Large Intestine

Lipopolysaccharide Treatment Results in Loss of Glycosaminoglycans from Rat Large Intestine
The association of remotely-sensed outdoor temperature with blood pressure levels in REGARDS: a cross-sectional study of a large, national cohort of African-American and white participants

Evidence is mounting regarding the clinically significant effect of temperature on blood pressure. In this cross-sectional study the authors obtained minimum and maximum temperatures and their respective previous week variances at the geographic locations of the self-reported residences of 26,018 participants from a national cohort of blacks and whites, aged 45+. Linear regression of data from 20,623 participants was used in final multivariable models to determine if these temperature measures were associated with levels of systolic or diastolic blood pressure, and whether these relations were modified by stroke-risk region, race, education, income, sex hypertensive medication status, or age. After adjustment for confounders, same-day maximum temperatures 20°F lower had significant associations with 1.4 mmHg (95% CI: 1.0, 1.9) higher systolic and 0.5 mmHg (95% CI: 0.3, 0.8) higher diastolic blood pressures. Same-day minimum temperatures 20°F lower had a significant association with 0.7 mmHg (95% CI: 0.3, 1.0) higher systolic blood pressures but no significant association with diastolic blood pressure differences. Maximum and minimum previous-week temperature variabilities showed significant but weak relationships with blood pressures. Parameter estimates showed effect modification of negligible magnitude. This study found significant associations between outdoor temperature and blood pressure levels, which remained after adjustment for various confounders including season. This relationship showed negligible effect modification.
'In the Way of Righteousness Is Life': Symbolic Death Transcendence in Proverbs 10–29

While the book of Qohelet expresses significant anxiety over the prospect of death, the sages of Proverbs 10–29 scarcely exhibit a trace of death anxiety. Research in experimental social psychology suggests that such psychological equanimity about death is not accidental. Scholars often argue that Proverbs 10–29 envisions death as a ‘universal fate’ that encounters both the righteous and the wicked in the same way, but examining the text through the lens of Robert Lifton's work on symbolic death transcendence shows that a distinction is made between the post-mortem fates of the righteous and the wicked: the wicked are viewed as being utterly terminated by death while the righteous remain connected to life in multiple symbolic ways, primarily in the biological and creative modes. As a result, Proverbs 10–29 appears to function as an effective buffer against death anxiety, providing its adherents with the symbolic resources to face death with equanimity.
Succeeding at new businesses: a matrix to measure flexibility

Purpose – This purpose of this paper is to suggest and develop an alternative model, the Opportunity Assessment Matrix, to address some of the primary strategic issues in the business environment of today. Changes in the business environment are increasing the need for strategic planning, but it has also diminished the value of some of the classic tools used in strategy formation in the past, such as portfolio models. Design/methodology/approach – The shortcomings in applying portfolio models from the past to today’s business environment are discussed, providing a basis for the developing the Opportunity Assessment Matrix. Findings – The Opportunity Assessment Matrix is introduced as a means to evaluate the ability of an organization to successfully undertake and exploit new business opportunities. The proposed model is based on two dimensions – operational flexibility and market potential. Originality/value – The Opportunity Assessment Matrix facilitates an assessment of new business and product opportun...
Direct supervision and delinquency: Assessing the adequacy of structural proxies

Abstract This research tests the hypothesis that children who grow up in families that carefully and consistently monitor children's behavior will be less delinquent than children in families where supervision is lax and/or haphazard. Although research operationalizing direct supervision in family interactional terms has supported this hypothesis, research using structural proxies for direct supervision (i.e., family size, broken home, and employed mother) has tended to show negligible effects. This research tests the direct supervision hypothesis using a more parsimonious structural proxy — the ratio of adults to children in a household. It is hypothesized that this ratio will be negatively related to delinquency, and that it will be a stronger predictor of delinquency than more common structural measures. Using data from the 1986 wave of the Monitoring the Future survey (Bachman, Johnston, and O'Malley, 1986), bivariate and multivariate ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models reveal that none of the structural variables, including the ratio of adults to children, are good predictors of delinquency. These results support Wells and Rankin's (1958) contention that family structural proxies are inadequate for testing the specific family functional processes on which direct supervision hinges.
Real-Time Stress Measurements in Lithium-ion Battery Negative-electrodes

Abstract Real-time stress evolution in a graphite-based lithium-ion battery negative electrode during electrolyte wetting and electrochemical cycling is measured through wafer-curvature method. Upon electrolyte addition, the composite electrode develops compressive stress of 1–2 MPa due to binder swelling. During electrochemical intercalation, the compressive stress increases with the electrode's state-of-charge, reaching a maximum value of 10–12 MPa. There appears to be an approximate correlation between the rate of stress rise and the staging behavior of the lithiated graphite. De-intercalation results in a similar decrease in electrode stress. Although higher peak stresses are seen at high C-rates, the dependence appears to be relatively weak (up to 5C). These measurements reveal, for the first time, the nature of stress evolution in practical lithium ion- battery electrodes and provide useful data to quantify the driving force for mechanical damage that accrues in composite electrodes upon repeated cycling. While the reported results can serve as reference for calibrating theoretical and computational models to predict electrode stress and damage evolution, the methodology demonstrated can be used to measure stresses and characterize fatigue damage in any composite lithium-ion-battery electrode as well as optimize its microstructure to mitigate stress-related damage mechanisms.
The Braess Paradox and Its Impact on Natural-Gas-Network Performance

Summary Steady increases in natural gas transportation volumes have prompted operators to reevaluate the performance of the existing gas-pipeline infrastructure. Conventional wisdom dictates that adding an additional link or a pipe leg in a gas-transportation network should enhance its ability to transport gas. Several decades ago, however, Dietrich Braess challenged this traditional understanding for traffic networks. Braess demonstrated that adding extra capacity could actually lead to reduced network efficiency, congestion, and increased travel times for all drivers in the network (the so-called “Braess paradox”). The study of such counterintuitive effects, and the quantification of their impact, becomes a significant priority when a comprehensive optimization of the transportation capacity of operating gas-network infrastructures is undertaken. Corroborating the existence of paradoxical effects in gas networks could lead to a significant shift in how network capacity enhancements are approached, challenging the conventional view that improving network performance is a matter of increasing network capacity. In this study, we examine the occurrence of Braess’ Paradox in natural-gas-transportation networks, its impact, and potential consequences. We show that paradoxical effects do exist in natural-gas-transportation networks and derive conditions where it can be expected. We discuss scenarios that can mask the effect and provide analytical developments that may guide the identification of paradoxical effects in larger-scale networks.
Outpatient hypertension treatment, treatment intensification, and control in Western Europe and the United States.

Background: Hypertension guidelines in the United States tend to have more aggressive treatment recommendations than those in European countries. Methods: To explore international differences in hypertension treatment, treatment intensification, and hypertension control in western Europe and the United States, we conducted cross-sectional analyses of the nationallyrepresentativeCardioMonitor2004survey,which included 21053 hypertensive patients visiting 291 cardiologists and 1284 primary care physicians in 5 western European countries and the United States. The main outcomemeasureswerelatestsystolicanddiastolicblood pressure(BP)levels,hypertensioncontrol(latestBPlevel, 140/90 mm Hg), and medication increase (dose escalation or an addition to or switch of drug therapy) for inadequately controlled hypertension. Results: At least 92% of patients in each country received antihypertensive drug treatment. The initial pretreatment BP levels were lowest and the use of combinationdrugtherapy(2antihypertensivedrugclasses)was highest in the United States. Multivariate analyses controlling for age, sex, current smoking, and physician specialtyindicatedthat,comparedwithUSpatients,European patients had higher latest systolic BP levels (by 5.3-10.2 mmHgacrosscountriesexamined)anddiastolicBPlevels (by1.9-5.3mmHg),asmallerlikelihoodofhypertension control (odds ratios, 0.27-0.50), and a smaller likelihood ofmedicationincreaseforinadequatelycontrolledhypertension (odds ratios, 0.29-0.65) (all P.001). In addition, controlling for initial pretreatment BP level attenuatedthedifferencesinlatestsystolicanddiastolicBPlevels and the likelihood of hypertension control. Conclusion: Lower treatment thresholds and more intensive treatment contribute to better hypertension control in the United States compared with the western European countries studied. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:141-147
Elimination of narrow-band interference in BPSK-modulated signal reception

Four different classes of adaptive signal cancelers can be used to eliminate narrowband interference, from a broadband signal. The adaptive algorithm for these filters has been proposed by Kwan and Martin (1989) and modified by Petraglia, Mitra and Szczupak. The authors propose a modification of the structure to improve the adaptation and simplify the hardware. The new structure is applied to narrowband biphase shift-key (BPSK) interference in broadband BPSK signals with and without background noise. >
TIM-1 and TIM-3 Proteins in Immune Regulation

Over the last several years, there has been increasing interest in the role of proteins of the TIM (T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain) family in regulating immune responses. Despite what the name suggests, proteins of this family function in a much more widespread manner than just on T cells, as we will discuss in this review. We therefore propose that the definition of TIM be adjusted to "transmembrane immunoglobulin and mucin".
Capacitance scaling law for diatomic molecules and prediction of their electron detachment energies

The variation or 'scaling' of the quantum capacitances is explored for 45 diatomic molecules as a function of their dimensions. Scaling trends in the capacitances of these diatomic molecules dictate an 'atoms-in-molecules' view of their valence energetics. That is, experimentally derived quantum capacitances for both homonuclear and heteronuclear diatomic molecules scale linearly with the average of the mean radii for the outermost orbitals of their component atoms. This is in accord with Maxwell's law for classical capacitors formed from two conducting atom-sized spheres in tangential contact. However, the scaling behavior for the molecules has some nonclassical features. Notably, the quantum capacitances extrapolate to nonzero values at zero dimensions. Radius-capacitance points of the homonuclear diatomics lie primarily along five scaling lines, with each determined by points for molecules composed of atoms with the same atomic symmetry (i.e., atoms from the same column in the periodic table). Five scaling lines for heteronuclear diatomics each are determined by points for molecules of the same or similar molecular symmetries. The molecules' quantum capacitances are calculated from their ionization potentials (IPs) and electron affinities (EAs). Thus, equations or laws for the scaling lines impose mutual consistency conditions among these electron detachment energies for different diatomicsmore » of similar symmetries. By taking advantage of this, the linear quantum capacitance scaling laws and ab initio atomic mean radii are used to predict IPs for two diatomics with known EAs (Ga{sub 2} and SeO), but for which there is no standard value of the IP. Similarly, the laws are used to predict EAs that were unknown or uncertain for several diatomics (Li{sub 2}, LiF, CSe, PN, BF, BCl, SiO, GeO, NCl, CaO, SrO, and BaO) with known IPs.« less
Enhancing CBT for the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Concurrent Anxiety

Because anxiety and other concurrent psychological problems are common among children with high-functioning autism and Asperger syndrome, research initiatives have been devoted to the development of efficacious treatments to address the multifaceted needs of youth with this presentation. Emerging research indicates that when carefully adapted to accommodate for the unique needs of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) may be a viable treatment modality. Because inherent features of ASD may compromise the efficacy of traditional CBT, our preliminary work suggests that it may be important to gear intervention efforts towards directly addressing core autism symptoms to promote optimal treatment response. This article describes an evidence-based CBT treatment manual modified and expanded to address core ASD features above and beyond anxiety symptomatology. A case example of a 10-year-old boy with Asperger syndrome is presented with supporting data to illustrate the treatment modifications and their rationale. The positive treatment response attained in this case suggests that an enhanced variant of a standard CBT programme may be an efficacious treatment approach for children with ASD and concurrent anxiety.
Nonlinguistic Cognitive Effects of Language Treatment for Children With Primary Language Impairment

Children with Primary (or Specific) Language Impairment (PLI) demonstrate subtle deficits in nonlinguistic cognitive processing skills such as processing speed, working memory, and sustained selective attention (SSA). Previous research has suggested that intensive language treatment may influence nonlinguistic cognitive skills, particularly attention. The present study explored this hypothesis to inform future treatment studies and to provide a unique perspective on cognitive-linguistic interaction in children with PLI. A single-subject multiple-baseline design was used to track changes in key nonlinguistic cognitive processing skills before and during language treatment for three school-aged children with PLI. Results were mixed across tasks and participants, with stronger evidence for change on the working memory and processing speed tasks than on SSA. Performance variability was substantial. Results suggest that cognitive-linguistic interactions during language treatment for children with PLI may occur...
Protein‐Enabled Layer‐by‐Layer Syntheses of Aligned, Porous‐Wall, High‐Aspect‐Ratio TiO2 Nanotube Arrays

An aqueous, protein-enabled (biomimetic), layer-by-layer titania deposition process is developed, for the first time, to convert aligned-nanochannel templates into high-aspect-ratio, aligned nanotube arrays with thin (34 nm) walls composed of co-continuous networks of pores and titania nanocrystals (15 nm ave. size). Alumina templates with aligned open nanochannels are exposed in an alternating fashion to aqueous protamine-bearing and titania precursor-bearing (Ti(IV) bis-ammonium-lactato-dihydroxide, TiBALDH) solutions. The ability of protamine to bind to alumina and titania, and to induce the formation of a Ti–O-bearing coating upon exposure to the TiBALDH precursor, enables the layer-by-layer deposition of a conformal protamine/Ti–O-bearing coating on the nanochannel surfaces within the porous alumina template. Subsequent protamine pyrolysis yields coatings composed of co-continuous networks of pores and titania nanoparticles. Selective dissolution of the underlying alumina template through the porous coating then yields freestanding, aligned, porous-wall titania nanotube arrays. The interconnected pores within the nanotube walls allow enhanced loading of functional molecules (such as a Ru-based N719 dye), whereas the interconnected titania nanoparticles enable the high-aspect-ratio, aligned nanotube arrays to be used as electrodes (as demonstrated for dye-sensitized solar cells with power conversion efficiencies of 5.2 ± 0.4%).
Effect of systolic blood pressure reduction on hematoma expansion, perihematomal edema, and 3-month outcome among patients with intracerebral hemorrhage: results from the antihypertensive treatment of acute cerebral hemorrhage study

Background Evidence indicates that systolic blood pressure (SBP) reduction may reduce hematoma expansion in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) who are initially seen with acute hypertensive response. Objective To explore the relationship between different variables of SBP reduction and hematoma expansion, perihematomal edema, and 3-month outcome among patients with ICH. Design Post hoc analysis of a traditional phase 1 dose-escalation multicenter prospective study. Setting Emergency departments and intensive care units. Patients Patients having ICH with an elevated SBP of at least 170 mm Hg who were seen within 6 hours of symptom onset. Intervention Systolic blood pressure reduction using intravenous nicardipine hydrochloride targeting 3 tiers of sequentially escalating SBP reduction goals (170-199, 140-169, or 110-139 mm Hg). Main outcome measures We evaluated the effect of SBP reduction (relative to initial SBP) on the following: hematoma expansion (defined as an increased intraparenchymal hemorrhage volume >33% on 24-hour vs baseline computed tomographic [CT] images), higher perihematomal edema ratio (defined as a >40% increased ratio of edema volume to hematoma volume on 24-hour vs baseline CT images), and poor 3-month outcome (defined as a modified Rankin scale score of 4-6). Results Sixty patients (mean [SD] age, 62.0 [15.1] years; 34 men) were recruited (18, 20, and 22 patients in each of the 3 SBP reduction goal tiers). The median area under the curve (AUC) (calculated as the area between the hourly SBP measurements over 24 hours and the baseline SBP) was 1360 (minimum, 3643; maximum, 45) U. Comparing patients having less vs more aggressive SBP reduction based on 24-hour AUC analysis, frequencies were 32% vs 17% for hematoma expansion, 61% vs 40% for higher perihematomal edema ratio, and 46% vs 38% for poor 3-month outcome (P > .05 for all). The median SBP reductions were 54 mm Hg at 6 hours and 62 mm Hg at 6 hours from treatment initiation. Comparing patients having equal to or less vs more than the median SBP reduction at 2 hours, frequencies were 21% vs 31% for hematoma expansion, 42% vs 57% for higher perihematomal edema ratio, and 35% vs 48% for poor 3-month outcome (P > .05 for all). Conclusions We found no significant relationship between SBP reduction and any of the outcomes measured herein; however, the Antihypertensive Treatment of Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage study was primarily a safety study and was not powered for such end points. The consistent favorable direction of these associations supports further studies with an adequately powered randomized controlled design to evaluate the efficacy of aggressive pharmacologic SBP reduction.
Quantized H ∞ control for discrete-time systems

In this paper, the quantized state feedback H∞ control problem for discrete-time linear time-invariant (LTI) systems is studied. The quantizers considered here are dynamic and time-varying. Firstly, taking quantization errors into account, a state feedback controller is designed. Then, by using the designed controller, a state-dependent control strategy is proposed with updating quantizer's parameter, such that the quantized closed-loop system is asymptotically stable and a prescribed H∞. performance is achieved. An example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the control strategy.
The cost of cancer registry operations: Impact of volume on cost per case for core and enhanced registry activities.

Abstract Background Cancer registration data is vital for creating evidence-based policies and interventions. Quantifying the resources needed for cancer registration activities and identifying potential efficiencies are critically important to ensure sustainability of cancer registry operations. Methods Using a previously validated web-based cost assessment tool, we collected activity-based cost data and report findings using 3 years of data from 40 National Program of Cancer Registry grantees. We stratified registries by volume: low-volume included fewer than 10,000 cases, medium-volume included 10,000–50,000 cases, and high-volume included >50,000 cases. Results Low-volume cancer registries incurred an average of $93.11 to report a case (without in-kind contributions) compared with $27.70 incurred by high-volume registries. Across all registries, the highest cost per case was incurred for data collection and abstraction ($8.33), management ($6.86), and administration ($4.99). Low- and medium-volume registries have higher costs than high-volume registries for all key activities. Conclusions Some cost differences by volume can be explained by the large fixed costs required for administering and performing registration activities, but other reasons may include the quality of the data initially submitted to the registries from reporting sources such as hospitals and pathology laboratories. Automation or efficiency improvements in data collection can potentially reduce overall costs.
The United Nations, Enuga Reddy and the Global Anti-Apartheid Movement

The international campaign against apartheid was one of the most successful global solidarity movements of the 20th century. The aim of this paper is to overview the role United Nations in the global anti-apartheid movement and in particular the role of an international civil servant Enuga Reddy, whose coordination and vision as the prime mover within the Special Committee Against Apartheid of the United Nations created new political opportunities for anti-apartheid activists and enabled them to take advantage of contingent circumstances such that they could shift international opinion and the South African domestic political terrain against apartheid. Reddy worked against apartheid on one hand, by mobilizing within the UN to denounce South Africa and to increase the institutions capacity to make firm resolutions against apartheid. On the other hand, he simultaneously maneuvered behind-the-scenes as a high-ranking official to carve out a vital transnational space for global anti-apartheid activists that would allow them to network and plan their next moves. The paper will show how Reddys efforts, over a 35 year career as a United Nations civil servant, had cascading consequences from the 1960s onwards that contributed to the eventual demise of apartheid.
Abstract 219: Splicing inhibitors reduce human AML CD34+ cell survival and self-renewal during MDS/AML evolution in a leukemia stem cell supportive niche assay.

Introduction. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are relatively common neoplasms of hematopoietic stem cells, which commonly evolve to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Recent results suggest that MDS evolution is controlled by mutations in splicing related genes and epigenetic modifiers of gene expression. Alternative splicing driven by these mutations has been implicated in the evolution of MDS to AML. However, little is known about the cell type and context specific functional effects of these mutations on leukemia stem cells (LSC) that promote AML therapeutic resistance. Therefore, we investigated 1) the effect of splicing inhibitors on LSC survival and self-renewal during the MSD/AML progression in a bone-marrow stromal co-cultures that recapitulates key aspects of the human LSC niche and 2) the genomic mutations in LSC and non-LSC populations during disease progression. Methods. Whole exome sequencing on CD34+ and CD34- cells before and after MDS/AML progression . Mouse bone marrow cell lines transfected to produce human SCF, IL3 and G-CSF, were used as a stromal monolayer. Human CD34+ cells were selected from MDS and AML primary samples (n=6). As a normal control, cord blood CD34+ cells (CB, n=3) were utilized. Two SF3B1-targeted splicing inhibitors: FD 895 and a FD-analog were added at the initiation of co-culture at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to10 uM. Results. Whole exome DNA sequencing analysis revealed that a loss of chr21 was observed at different frequencies in CD34- and CD34+ cells. We identified a RUNX1 missense mutation with increasing prevalence in CD34+ during progression. Notably, loss of heterozygosity and a missense mutation in the histone methyltransferase EZH2 gene, implicated in MDS progression, was detected only in CD34+ post-progression to AML. After 2 weeks of stromal co-culture, survival of the cells was investigated by colony forming assay in methylcellulose. While the splicing inhibitors demonstrated no cytotoxicity towards normal CB, MDS and AML samples showed a dose-dependent inhibition of colony formation. To analyze the effect of splicing inhibitors on LSC self-renewal, replating assays were performed. While compounds at high doses mediated only a slight decrease in colony formation in CB samples, MDS and AML samples exhibited a dose dependent inhibition of LSC survival (38.2+/-8.1% p Citation Format: Larisa Balaian, Michael Burkart, Shawn Yost, Sophie Rozenhak, Edward D. Ball, Kelly Frazer, Olivier Harismendy, Catriona Jamieson. Splicing inhibitors reduce human AML CD34+ cell survival and self-renewal during MDS/AML evolution in a leukemia stem cell supportive niche assay. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 219. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-219
Photoionization of CO2 -CO-O2 Mixtures. Formation and Reactions of Ion Clusters.

Various mixtures containing combinations of CO2, O2, or CO have been photoionized at 16.7 and 21.2 eV at pressures up to 1.5 torr in the NBS high pressure photoionization mass spectrometer. In CO2-CO mixtures the interactions of CO2+ ions eventually lead to the formation of (CO)2+ and [(CO)2-CO2]+ cluster ions, while photoionization of CO2-CO-O2 mixtures yields mainly oxygen-containing clusters at higher pressures. The investigation of O2-CO mixtures also revealed reactions between O4+ and CO. The role of impurity reactions involving H2O is considered in some detail, and the implications of all of these data to the vapor phase radiolysis of CO2 is discussed.
Synthesis, photophysics, and reverse saturable absorption of bipyridyl platinum(II) bis(acetylide) complexes bearing aromatic electron-withdrawing substituents on the acetylide ligands.

Three platinum(II) bipyridyl bis((7-R-fluoren-2-yl)acetylide) complexes (R = benzoyl (Pt-1), 2-(N-phenylbenzimidazoly) (Pt-2), or 2-(3-phenylquinoxalinyl) (Pt-3)) are synthesized and characterized. Their photophysical properties and reverse saturable absorption are systematically investigated via UV–vis absorption, emission, transient absorption, and nonlinear transmission spectroscopy/technique. All three complexes possess ligand-centered 1π,π* transitions below 400 nm, and a broad, featureless 1MLCT/1LLCT absorption band in the region of 400–550 nm in CH2Cl2 solutions. They are emissive in a variety of fluid solutions at room temperature and at 77 K glassy matrix. On the basis of the emission lifetime, solvatochromic effect, and thermally induced Stokes shift, the emitting states are tentatively ascribed to 3π,π*/3MLCT/3LLCT states for Pt-1, and predominantly 3MLCT/3LLCT states for Pt-2 and Pt-3 in polar solvents like CH3CN. Pt-1–Pt-3 also exhibit broad triplet excited-state absorption, i.e., 425–800 nm...
New Insights into Biophysical Mechanisms of the nsPEF-Induced Neuronal Response

Simulation studies of neuromuscular incapacitation using high-intensity electric pulses (EPs) were previously reported. These studies hypothesized that a reversible action potential (AP) block can be achieved based on energy deposition causing neuronal electroporation. However, theoretical concepts were presented without elaboration of specific details on possible biological mechanisms. Recently, we discovered that nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) could initiate phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) depletion in non-excitable cells. PIP2 is the precursor for important second messengers and is a key modulator of the neuronal ion channels involved in AP generation. By using primary hippocampal neurons (PHN) and the PLCδ-PH-EGFP optical probe of PIP2 hydrolysis, we demonstrated that electric field (EF) exposure induced PIP2 depletion in the PHN, and defined EF exposure parameters necessary to safely elicit reversible effects without neuronal damage. Results show that five days after neuronal dissociation (D5), the pre-exposure level of the cytoplasmic PLCδ-PH-EGFP fluorescence is significantly higher in D5 neurons than in D1 neurons, likely due to higher levels of tonic inositol1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). Such biological sensitization caused D5 neurons to respond intensely following a single 7.5 kV/cm 600 ns EP, while the D1 neurons did not respond. Despite age of development, the stronger 15 kV/cm 600 ns or longer 7.5 kV/cm 12 µs EPs initiated profound PIP2 depletion in all neurons studied, outlining direct impact on the neuronal plasma membrane during electroporation. Accordingly, D1 neurons exposed to such EPs had significant post-exposure propidium iodide (PI) uptake. In the more sensitive D5 neurons, PIP2 recovery was achieved within 10 min after all 600 ns EPs exposures, but 12 µs EPs caused irreversible PIP2 depletion. Thus, nsPEF-induced PIP2 depletion in neurons could be the primary biological mechanism responsible for both stimulation and latent inhibition of neuronal tissues.
Morphine versus motilin in the initiation of migrating myoelectric complexes

The roles of morphine and motilin in the initiation of migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) cycles were studied in four conscious dogs. Morphine or motilin boluses and morphine or motilin infusions were administered to healthy conscious dogs, each implanted with a set of 12 electrodes on the small intestine. The durations of premature phase IIIs initiated by morphine and motilin were not significantly different from each other or from control values. The premature phase IIIs initiated by morphine boluses propagated significantly faster over the 1st half of small intestine than the control or motilin bolus-initiated phase IIIs. The latent period for the onset of phase IIIs after morphine was not significantly different from that after motilin. Morphine infusion (50 micrograms X kg-1 X h-1) generally initiated one or two premature MMC cycles and then disrupted further MMC cycling. Motilin infusion (0.3 microgram X kg-1 X h-1) initiated one premature MMC cycle, and then further cycling continued at the normal rate. We conclude that morphine acts on both the MMC-initiating and MMC-propagating mechanisms, whereas motilin acts only on the MMC-initiating mechanism. Morphine has both excitatory and disruptive effects on MMC cycling, while motilin has only excitatory effects.