cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Compact Receive Module in 3-D Printed Vivaldi Antenna

Using a combination of 3-D printing and thin-film processes, a compact microwave front-end module is designed and fabricated. An ultrawideband Vivaldi antenna with a structurally embedded receive module is demonstrated. The receive module is placed in a packaging cavity that is formed in the unused region of the antenna structure. The measurements of this 3-D printed system are compared to a traditional ridged horn antenna with an identical receive module. This novel system-on-antenna (SoA) front-end module shows 5-dB more receive power compared to the ridged horn antenna-based design. Integrated transmit and receive modules play a critical role in the overall cost and performance of phased-array systems, and the process presented demonstrates an emerging technique for meeting these challenges.
218 Evaluating the impact of baltimore community mediation center’s youth-police dialogue circle program

Statement of Purpose The U.S. Department of Justice identified Baltimore Police Department officers as having applied unnecessary and excessive force in their interactions with youth, failing to uphold legal and professional obligations to be sensitive to their vulnerable age and developmental status. The Youth-Police Dialogue Circle (YPDC) Program of Baltimore Community Mediation Center (BCMC) offers unique insight into police-youth interactions and plays an important role in city efforts to reduce violence, increase police legitimacy, and build community trust. This study evaluated the effect of the YPDC program on youth and police attitudes and perceptions of one another. Methods/Approach A mixed methods approach was used to evaluate YPDC program effect on attitudes, perceptions, and concerns among police and youth participants. Surveys collected pre-, post-, and one month following program participation were evaluated. Likert scale questions were evaluated quantitatively to assess whether the program significantly impacted participants’ views and open-ended responses were analyzed qualitatively to identify key themes and glean important context. Results Surveys demonstrate significant improvement in youth and police perceptions and suggest YPDC program participation contributed to mutual understanding. Program impact appears to further develop over time. Police and youth participants’ open-ended responses indicate positive support for additional and expanded YPDC programming. Conclusions The results indicate the YPDC program is effective at improving youth and police attitudes, perceptions, and concerns of one another. Expansion and sustained funding of the YPDC program is suggested and encouraged. Significance and Contributions to Injury Research The YPDC program offers opportunities for police and youth to engage in positive interactions and the chance to address and challenge misperceptions. This intervention has the potential to contribute to meaningful violence reduction efforts, promote behavior change, and restore community-police relations.
4-DIMENSIONAL AND 2-DIMENSIONAL EVAPORATING DILATONIC BLACK HOLES

The picture of S-wave scattering from a 4-D extremal dilatonic black hole is examined. Classically, a small matter shock wave will form a non-extremal black hole. In the “throat region” the r-t geometry is exactly that of a collapsing 2-D black hole. The 4-D Hawking radiation (in this classical background) gives the 2-D Hawking radiation exactly in the throat region. The 4-D geometry outside the throat region is almost the extremal one, and the deviations can be calculated using a linear approximation. Inclusion of the back-reaction changes this picture: the linear approximation is valid only at the beginning of the evaporating process. We give (explicitly) that linear 4-D solution. The linear approximation breaks down even before an apparent horizon is formed, which suggests that the 4-D semiclassical solution may be quite different from the 2-D one.
The Importance of Domestic Commitment

The outcomes of reforms in different postcommunist countries have varied greatly depending on the commitment to reform. The population of a reforming country needs to identify itself as a nation, and the strength of civil society and the intelligentsia matter. Poland, Hungary, and the Baltic nations stand out as having developed strong civil societies years before their democratic breakthroughs. A transition starts with a democratic breakthrough, preferably through a peaceful mass mobilization. The reformers need to act fast before the old elite counterattacks. The strength and honesty of the political leader are vital. The leader needs to appoint and support a strong reform team. Timely international support is crucial to get the reforms on the right track. Early founding elections are also important.
Instilling Social Responsibility in the Business Leaders of Tomorrow

Just as students are motivated to make a difference, we are similarly motivated by the lofty goal of educating our future leaders. Business students are in a unique time in their lives — they can focus on acquiring knowledge and developing new insights to prepare them for their future endeavors.
School-Based Interventions for Middle School Students With Disruptive Behaviors: A Systematic Review of Components and Methodology

This is the first systematic review of the school outcome literature for behavior interventions used with middle school students exhibiting disruptive behaviors. A total of 51 investigations (publi...
The influence of gender and self-monitoring on the products consumers choose for joint consumption

Abstract We examine how impression management can influence the types of products consumers suggest for joint consumption in same-gender and mixed-gender situations. We show that when motivated to engage in impression management, those who care the most about their self-presentations (high self-monitors) are more likely to choose products that take into account the need to accommodate the co-consumer's preferences as well as the desire to remain consistent with gender role expectations and to correct negative expectations of sexism. Whereas the co-consumers' preferences and chooser's gender role expectations are aligned in same-gender situations (i.e., females consuming with females), in cross-gender situations (i.e., males consuming with females), male consumers' willingness to accommodate the female co-consumer's preferences is limited by gender role expectations in certain social contexts (e.g., romantic relationships). Within mixed-gender situations, we also find that high self-monitoring male consumers' ability to accommodate a feminist female co-consumers' preferences is limited by the desire to correct negative expectations and avoid appearing sexist.
Molecular determinants of bacterial sensitivity and resistance to mammalian Group IIA phospholipase A2.

Abstract Group IIA secretory phospholipase A 2 (sPLA 2 -IIA) of mammalian species is unique among the many structurally and functionally related mammalian sPLA 2 in their high net positive charge and potent (nM) antibacterial activity. Toward the Gram-positive bacteria tested thus far, the global cationic properties of sPLA 2 -IIA are necessary for optimal binding to intact bacteria and penetration of the multi-layered thick cell wall, but not for the degradation of membrane phospholipids that is essential for bacterial killing. Various Gram-positive bacterial species can differ as much as 1000-fold in sPLA 2 -IIA sensitivity despite similar intrinsic enzymatic activity of sPLA 2 -IIA toward the membrane phospholipids of various bacteria. d -alanylation of wall- and lipo-teichoic acids in Staphylococcus aureus and sortase function in Streptococcus pyogenes increase bacterial resistance to sPLA 2 -IIA by up to 100-fold apparently by affecting translocation of bound sPLA 2 -IIA to the cell membrane. Action of the sPLA 2 -IIA and other related sPLA 2 against Gram-negative bacteria is more dependent on cationic properties of the enzyme near the amino-terminus of the protein and collaboration with other host defense proteins that produce alterations of the unique Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane that normally represents a barrier to sPLA 2 -IIA action. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Bacterial Resistance to Antimicrobial Peptides.
Multihead multitrack detection with reduced-state sequence estimation in shingled magnetic recording

Intertrack interference (ITI) is one of the most severe impairments in shingled magnetic recording (SMR). The use of Multihead Multitrack (MHMT) detection can best handle this impairment, but increases complexity. Consider a symmetric two-head two-track (2H2T) system given by ra(D)=x-a(D)h(D)+ e xb(D)h(D)+na(D) and rb(D)=exa(D)h(D)+xb(D)h(D)+nb(D), where xa(D), xb(D) and ra(D), r (D) are the input sequences and received sequences, respectively. The intersymbol interference (ISI) is characterized by h(D) and the ITI is specified by parameter e. Both the noise sequences na(D) and n (D) have variance σ2. A similar model is also used in [1] and [2]. The maximum likelihood (ML) 2H2T detector simultaneously decodes two tracks by searching a joint trellis, thus operates at complexity O(4υ), where υ is the channel memory. In this work we design detectors that use fewer trellis states while retaining good performance. Reduced-State Sequence Estimaton (RSSE) was proposed in [3] to reduce the detection complexity when the system has a large input signal set and/or a long channel response. We propose to apply RSSE to the 2H2T model by carefully designing the set partitioning principles. Simulation results show that in many cases RSSE achieves nearly ML performance with 50% fewer states.
Programming with Very Large Graphs

The ParaGraph graph editor is a tool for specifying the graphical structure of parallel algorithms. Based on an extended formalism of Aggregate Rewriting Graph Grammars, it is an improvement on existing techniques for describing the families of regular, scalable communication graphs. We expect that ParaGraph will prove useful as a testbed for new techniques for describing, visualizing and analyzing the structure of very large graphs. This work describes ongoing formal (and practical) efforts to make ParaGraph an a effective tool for specifying massive parallelism.
Mercury Contamination: A Human Tragedy

Historically, the element, mercury, has been widely applied in industry, agriculture, and medicine. The role of mercury in technological progress and therapeutic benefits has generally been quickly accepted despite sketchy trial-and-error methods used to evaluate its overall impact. The discovery of the negative side effects of mercury, such as degradation of the environment and the accompanying threat to human health, has often been overlooked, sometimes for centuries. This article is adapted from Mercury Contamination: A Human Tragedy (Wiley-Interscience 1977), which describes both historical and current applications of quicksilver, the impact on human beings and the environment, and the social and legal efforts to reform the abuses. The impact of mercury on human beings and the environment in various parts of the world is summarized.
Specificity of Ribonucleic Acid Chain Initiation by Bacteriophage T3-induced Ribonucleic Acid Polymerase

Abstract Further studies on the specificity of RNA chain initiation by T3-induced RNA polymerase have been carried out. The nucleotide penultimate to the 5'-guanosine triphosphate end of RNA chains has been determined. GMP is found exclusively in this second position of a growing RNA chain. The 32PPi exchange reaction with ribonucleoside triphosphates catalyzed by T3 RNA polymerase on native T3 DNA template was also studied as a measure of the initiation reaction. It has been found that T3 RNA polymerase carries out an active exchange of 32PPi into ATP in the presence of GTP. In contrast, in reactions containing GTP alone or with GTP + CTP or GTP + UTP, an active exchange of 32PPi only occurs into GTP. No 32PPi incorporation was detected into either CTP or UTP. These results suggest that all RNA chains formed in T3 RNA polymerase reaction directed by native T3 DNA as template contain the sequence pppGp(Gp)n(Ap)m ... (where n and m = 1 or more) at the 5' terminus, indicating a high degree of specificity of initiation of RNA chains in this system.
On Some Mechanistic Approaches to the Study of Deposit Feeding In Polychaetes

Often, foraging models constructed to predict dietary behavior of organisms partition feeding into a series of choices — decisions about where to forage, which types or quantities of food items to ingest, when to move to a new patch of food, etc. (e.g., Krebs 1978, Stephens and Krebs 1986). The rationale underlying this approach relies heavily on the supposition that as a consequence of evolutionary selection pressure(s), organisms tend to use their food resources efficiently. Given this assumption, it is then possible to develop predictions of how an organism should forage in order to maximize its feeding efficiency and evolutionary fitness.
Early Involvement of Immune/Inflammatory Response Genes in Retinal Degeneration in DBA/2J Mice

Purpose: The DBA/2J (D2) mouse carries mutations in two of its genes, Tyrp1 and Gpnmb. These alterations result in the development of an immune response in the iris, leading to iris atrophy and pigment dispersion. The development of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in this model of glaucoma is considered to be a significant factor leading to the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Changes in gene expression in the retina have already been correlated with the appearance of elevated IOP in the D2 mouse. The purpose of the present study was to determine if any changes in gene expression occur prior to the development of IOP. Methods: The IOP was measured monthly using a rebound tonometer in D2 and age-matched C57/BL6 (B6) mice (normal controls). D2 animals with normal IOP at 2 and 4 M were used. In addition, mice at the age of 6–7 M were included to look for any trends in gene expression that might develop during the progression of the disease. Separate RNA samples were prepared from each of three individual retinas for each age, and gene expression profiles were determined with the aid of mouse oligonucleotide arrays (Agilent). A subset of genes was examined with the aid of real-time PCR. Immunocytochemistry was used to visualize changes in the retina for some of the gene-products. Results: Four hundred and thirteen oligonucleotide probes were differentially expressed in the retinas of 4 M versus 2 M old D2 mice. The most significantly up-regulated genes (181) were associated with immune responses including interferon signaling, the complement system and the antigen presentation pathway, whereas the down-regulated genes (232) were linked to pathways related to cell death and known neurological diseases/disorders. These particular changes were not revealed in the age-matched B6 mice. By 6 M, when IOP started to increase in many of the D2 mice, more robust changes of these same genes were observed. Changes in the levels of selected genes, representative of different functions/pathways, were validated with RT-PCR, and changes in glial responses were visualized in the retina with immunocytochemistry. Conclusions: The results showed that the expression of genes related to the immune response and acute stress were altered independently of the development of elevated IOP, and indicated early involvement of the immune system in the onset of the disease. The later development of elevated IOP, observed in this animal model, was coincident with continued changes in expression of genes observed at earlier time points. Further studies are warranted to identify the roles of specific genes identified here with respect to the death of the RGCs.
Extratemporal, nonlesional epilepsy in children: postsurgical clinical and neurocognitive outcomes.

Object Patients undergoing epilepsy surgery without evidence of a lesion on MR imaging and without a temporal source for seizure onset generally have less favorable outcomes than patients with structural lesions or temporal onset. However, many of these patients are viable candidates for invasive monitoring and subsequent resection or multiple subpial transections (MSTs). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical treatment of pediatric patients with extratemporal, nonlesional epilepsy in order to better understand the clinical and neuropsychological outcomes expected in this patient group. Methods Forty-three pediatric patients with negative results on MR imaging and lateralized, extratemporal findings on electroencephalography underwent invasive monitoring with grid and/or strip electrodes. Thirty-three subsequently had resection of an epileptogenic focus and/or MSTs. Results Outcome was classified as Engel class I or II in 54.5% of the patients who underwent resection/MSTs and Engel class I...
Structural and Thermodynamic Comparison of the Catalytic Domain of AMSH and AMSH-LP: Nearly Identical Fold but Different Stability

AMSH plays a critical role in the ESCRT (endosomal sorting complexes required for transport) machinery, which facilitates the down-regulation and degradation of cell-surface receptors. It displays a high level of specificity toward cleavage of Lys63-linked polyubiquitin chains, the structural basis of which has been understood recently through the crystal structure of a highly related, but ESCRT-independent, protein AMSH-LP (AMSH-like protein). We have determined the X-ray structure of two constructs representing the catalytic domain of AMSH: AMSH244, the JAMM (JAB1/MPN/MOV34)-domain-containing polypeptide segment from residues 244 to 424, and AMSH219(E280A), an active-site mutant, Glu280 to Ala, of the segment from 219 to 424. In addition to confirming the expected zinc coordination in the protein, the structures reveal that the catalytic domains of AMSH and AMSH-LP are nearly identical; however, guanidine-hydrochloride-induced unfolding studies show that the catalytic domain of AMSH is thermodynamically less stable than that of AMSH-LP, indicating that the former is perhaps structurally more plastic. Much to our surprise, in the AMSH219(E280A) structure, the catalytic zinc was still held in place, by the compensatory effect of an aspartate from a nearby loop moving into a position where it could coordinate with the zinc, once again suggesting the plasticity of AMSH. Additionally, a model of AMSH244 bound to Lys63-linked diubiquitin reveals a type of interface for the distal ubiquitin significantly different from that seen in AMSH-LP. Altogether, we believe that our data provide important insight into the structural difference between the two proteins that may translate into the difference in their biological function.
Practical steps for patenting software post Bilski

The US Supreme Court's holding in Bilski v Kappos limits software developers attempting to patent inventions using method claims. The Bilski holding limited the scope of business method patents to those that claim a method hosted on a machine or those that effect a transformation of a particular article into a different state or thing. While today's scope of method claims is more limited than before Bilski, inventors can still effectively patent software inventions. This paper presents practical suggestions for patenting software inventions described by a method claim. The Supreme Court's holding is discussed, then using a scenario of an interest in patenting a method of finding the roots of a polynomial, several claim formats will be reviewed.
Multitarget tracking with an optical neural net using a quadratic energy function

Summary form only given, as follows. Multitarget tracking over consecutive pairs of time frames is accomplished with a neural net. This involves position and velocity measurements of the targets and a quadratic neural energy function. Simulation data are presented, and an optical implementation is discussed. >
In Vivo Microdialysis for PK and PD Studies of Anticancer Drugs

In vivo microdialysis technique has become one of the major tools to sample endogenous and exogenous substances in extracellular spaces. As a well-validated sampling technique, microdialysis has been frequently employed for quantifying drug disposition at the desired target in both preclinical and clinical settings. This review addresses general methodological considerations critical to performing microdialysis in tumors, highlights selected preclinical and clinical studies that characterized drug disposition in tumors by the use of microdialysis, and illustrates the potential application of microdialysis in the assessment of tumor response to cancer treatment.
Community empowering service-learning courses through 21st century technologies

This panel will include a historical perspective of IT service-learning (SL) courses at a multi-campus university followed by specific descriptions of the challenges and rewards of designing and facilitating courses that foster civic engagement. The courses covered will include the earliest course in the SL repertoire, Computers for Human Empowerment, and a course that helps higher-functioning (less impaired) computer science high school students with disabilities in learning advanced technology skills and life planning and personal productivity skills where assistive communication devices are tailored to each student. Also included will be a discussion of Problem Salving Using LEGO Robotics in which robotics technology is being integrated into science and technology (STEM) courses at the New York School for the Deaf. Intergenerational Computing, which was showcased on CBS News recently, will be highlighted in this panel discussion.
In vitro study of Listeria monocytogenes infection to murine primary and human transformed B cells.

Abstract Immunity to Listeria monocytogenes is largely mediated by T lymphocytes. Recently, B lymphocytes or their secreted products are implicated to provide immunity against L. monocytogenes infection. To understand whether L. monocytogenes can infect and kill B cells as a possible strategy to initiate an infection, we examined the effects of L. monocytogenes on a human B lymphoma (Ramos RA-1) and mouse primary B cells in vitro. L. monocytogenes infection resulted in significantly ( p ≤0.05) high cytotoxicity (58–79%) for Ramos and 39–68% cytotoxicity for mouse primary B cells. In contrast, non-pathogenic L. innocua caused only 1.2% cytotoxicity for Ramos and 19% for primary B cells. Bacterial cells were found frequently adhered to the B cell surfaces; however, active invasion was not a prerequisite for infection. L. monocytogenes caused loss of B cell surface molecules, pore formations, cell swelling, membrane damages and apoptosis. This study demonstrates that L. monocytogenes can infect and kill B cells as a possible strategy to initiate a successful infection.
Rab proteins and post‐Golgi trafficking of rhodopsin in photoreceptor cells

Polarized sorting of rhodopsin in retinal rod photoreceptors is mediated by post-Golgi vesicles that bud from the trans-Golgi network and fuse with the specialized domain of the plasma membrane in the rod inner segment. This domain surrounds the cilium that connects the inner segment and the rod outer segment to which mature rhodopsin is delivered. To dissect the sorting machinery that regulates budding, targeting, and fusion of rhodopsin carrier vesicles, their GTP-binding protein composition has been studied using multiple means including high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and [32P]GTP overlays of renatured proteins. These studies indicate a succession on rhodopsin-bearing vesicles of rab6, rab11, rab3 and rab8, all members of the small GTP-binding protein family of the known regulators of membrane trafficking. In this review the role of rab proteins in post-Golgi trafficking of rhodopsin is discussed.
Determining “True” Leukocytosis in Bloody Joint Aspiration

This study intends to determine the diagnostic value of implementing a corrective formula that can adjust for serum leukocytes in bloody joint fluid. Our cohort included 91 infected and 37 aseptic total knee arthroplasties. Joint fluid leukocyte count (>1760/microL) and neutrophil percentage (>73%) were the cutoff values for deep infection. The adjusted fluid leukocyte counts were calculated using the following simple formula: WBCadjusted=WBCobserved-[(WBCblood x RBCfluid/RBCblood)]predicted. Adjusted fluid cell counts of only 5 infected patients dropped below the cutoff value, whereas the remaining 86 maintained a high cell count. Ten noninfected patients had false-positive cell counts, 6 of which were successfully corrected to levels below the designated thresholds. The aspirates that were corrected had a greater number of introduced white blood cells. This study suggests that our corrective formula can detect false-positive joint aspirations without jeopardizing the diagnosis of periprosthetic infection.
Evaluating the role judgment plays in forecast accuracy

The majority of model-based forecasting efforts today rely on relatively simple techniques of estimation and the subjective adjustment of the model’s results to produce forecasts. Published forecasts reflect to a great extent the judgment of the forecaster rather than what the model by itself has to say about the future. This paper examines the role judgment plays in the process of producing a macroeconometric forecast. The debate over the use of adjustment constants to alter the statistical results of a model is outlined and an empirical analysis of forecasts generated by the Michigan Quarterly Econometric Model of the US economy is presented using a unique data set which isolates the role of judgment in the forecasting process.
Consolidation Behavior of Polymerized Bentonite-Amended Backfills

AbstractThe potential for incompatibility between soil-bentonite (SB) backfills of vertical cutoff walls composed of conventional sodium bentonite (CSB) and contaminated groundwater has led to the evaluation of chemically modified bentonites for improved chemical resistance. In addition, the stress conditions and consolidation behavior represent important considerations with respect to the performance of SB vertical cutoff walls. Accordingly, the consolidation behavior of SB backfills amended with a polymerized bentonite known as bentonite polymer nanocomposite (BPN) were evaluated and compared with those for a backfill composed of CSB. The three backfills that were evaluated included clean silica sand amended with either 2 or 5% dry BPN and mixed with 2% BPN slurry (i.e., 2BPN2 and 5BPN2, respectively), and the same sand amended with 5% dry CSB and mixed with 5% CSB slurry (5CSB5). The 5BPN2 backfill displayed bisemilog linear stress-strain behavior and was more sensitive to stress conditions than either...
The Synthesis of a Dopamine D2 Partial Agonist for the Treatment of Schizophrenia

The synthesis of the phosphoric acid salt of dopamine D2 partial agonist 2-{4-[4-(7-fluoro-naphthalen-1-yl)-piperazin-1-yl]-butoxy}-5,6,7,9-tetrahydro-1,7,9-triaza-benzocyclohepten-8-one (1) is reported. The most prominent feature of the molecule is a seven-membered ring urea functionality that has been prepared via an efficient one-pot, three-step transformation. The original synthesis from the Medicinal Chemistry group provided precursor 13 in 10 steps and 2% overall yield, required four chromatographies and employed unsafe reagents such as 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) and HClO4. The optimized synthetic route for the preparation of phosphate salt 1 consists of 12 linear steps with a 10% overall yield. Safer and more robust reaction conditions have been developed with only one required chromatography. Another key step in the synthesis is the coupling of iodide 25 with naphthalenopiperazine 12 to provide 13. Due to the difficulty to purify this intermediate, a protocol had to be developed to obtain crude ma...
Association of cancer worry and perceived risk with doctor avoidance: an analysis of information avoidance in a nationally representative US sample

Fear of receiving bad news about one's health can lead people to avoid seeking out health information that, ironically, may be crucial for health maintenance. Using a nationally representative US sample, the present study examined whether perceived likelihood of developing cancer and worry about cancer were associated with reports of avoiding visits to one's doctor, in respondents under and over age 50. Cancer worry, but not perceived risk of cancer, predicted doctor avoidance in respondents aged 50 and older, whereas the opposite pattern held for respondents under age 50. Moreover, in respondents aged 50 and older, cancer worry and perceived cancer risk interacted such that cancer worry was linked to doctor avoidance only when respondents also perceived a high likelihood of cancer. The latter result is consistent with the notion that worry may motivate information seeking when people expect information to dispel worry and information avoidance when the information is seen as highly likely to confirm one's fears. Findings suggest a need for communication strategies that can influence worry and perceived risk differentially. Research should also assess the effectiveness of other behavioral strategies (e.g., automatic scheduling of appointments) as a means for reducing doctor avoidance.
Neoaplectana glaseri: essential amino acids.

Abstract Required for a nematode's reproduction in a chemically defined medium are the nine mammalian essential amino acids ( sensu strictu ). Needed in addition to lysine, tryptophane, histidine, phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine, methionine, and valine is arginine which is marginally essential for mammals. Tyrosine, nonessential for mammals, is not absolutely required by the nematode but is beneficial in terms of onset time and quantity of reproduction. Aspartic acid, nonessential for the nematode and mammals, is toxic for adult nematodes at and above 4.8 mg/ml medium. The nematode, Neoaplectana glaseri , is parasitic in insect grubs but the strain used has been cultivated in species isolation on kidney slices continuously since (1944).
Amino acid interrelationships: the effect of a load of leucine on the metabolism of isoleucine.

SummaryThe effect of a load of leucine on the metabolism of isoleucine was studied. Rats were fed L-isoleucine-(U)-14C and were given a load of leucine in gel form 12 hr later when the rate of 14CO2 expired had become constant. This resulted in a significant increase in 14CO2 expired, in every instance. This stimulation of the metabolism of isoleucine by a load of leucine offers an explanation for the previously observed depression of plasma isoleucine level after a load of leucine in human infants.
Near‐coastal storms and associated waves

Because of the erosive action on beaches of high, short-period waves generated by near-coastal storms, the meteorological situations associated with these storms are investigated. The situations for the Pacific Coast of the United States are classified, based on a study of three years of daily weather maps. The monthly and latitudinal distributions of near-coastal storms are tabulated. Forecasting problems and limitations of resulting waves are discussed. Data from two near-coastal storms at Oceanside, California, are presented to illustrate the wind and wave conditions, forecasting problems, and beach effects.
Corneal Sensation and Dry Eye Symptoms after Conventional versus Inverted Side-Cut Femtosecond LASIK: A Prospective Randomized Study

Purpose To compare corneal sensation and self-reported dry eye symptoms after femtosecond-assisted LASIK with conventional versus inverted side cuts. Design Prospective, randomized, eye-to-eye study. Participants A total of 120 eyes in 60 participants with myopia. Methods Fellow eyes were randomized to receive femtosecond-assisted LASIK with a conventional 70-degree side cut made with the 60 kHz IntraLase FS (Abbott Medical Optics, Santa Ana, CA) or an inverted 130-degree side cut made with the 150 kHz IntraLase iFS (Abbott Medical Optics). Cochet–Bonnet aesthesiometry (Luneau Ophthalmologia, Chartes, France) measured corneal sensation (60 mm = normal sensation; Main Outcome Measures Objective corneal sensation and self-reported light sensitivity, dryness, foreign body sensation, and pain/discomfort. Results Preoperative corneal sensation as measured by mean Cochet–Bonnet aethesiometry was equal between the inverted and conventional side cut groups but was better in eyes with an inverted side cut compared with a conventional side cut at all postoperative months (inverted vs. conventional: 1 month, 14.5 vs. 13.2 mm; 3 months, 24.9 vs. 18.4 mm; 6 months, 51.2 vs. 42.6 mm; 12 months, 59.8 vs. 58.3 mm; all P ≤ 0.02). None of the subjective dry eye parameters demonstrated statistically significant differences between the groups at any time point. Conclusions The LASIK flaps with an inverted side cut are associated with superior recovery of corneal sensation compared with flaps with a conventional side cut during the first postoperative year; however, this may not translate to significant improvements in subjective dry eye symptoms.
Phenytoin increases specific triacylglycerol fatty esters in skeletal muscle from horses with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated that phenytoin decreases the levels of triacylglycerols in several tissues other than skeletal muscle. Since phenytoin is clinically effective in several skeletal muscle disorders, triacylglycerol metabolism in skeletal muscle from four normal Quarter horses and four Quarter horses with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis was examined. The horses with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis had low levels of 18:3 in the phospholipids, low levels of 16:0, 16:1 and 18:3 in the free fatty acids and low levels of 20:4 in triacylglycerols. Triacylglycerol levels were increased in skeletal muscle from seven (three controls, four hyperkalemic periodic paralysis) of the eight horses on treatment with oral phenytoin for one week. Instead of an increase in all fatty ester types only 16:0, 16:1, 18:1 and 18:2 were significantly increased. Total lipid phosphorus and the distributions of phospholipid fatty esters and free fatty acids were not significantly altered by phenytoin treatment in most cases. An alteration in triacylglycerol metabolism by phenytoin was also observed in primary cultures of normal equine skeletal muscle radiolabeled with 18:1, but not in those radiolabeled with 18:2. These findings suggest that phenytoin does not just increase the levels of triacylglycerol in skeletal muscle, but alters the utilization and incorporation of fatty esters. These findings suggest a potential involvement of triacylglycerol metabolism in the clinical efficacy of phenytoin in hyperkalemic periodic paralysis.
Resilience to risk‐taking behaviors in impoverished African American girls: The role of mother–daughter connectedness

Rates of risk behaviors (e.g., violence, substance use) for impoverished girls are exceedingly high. Some view their future pessimistically, decreasing their resilience to avoid risky behaviors. Others resist such behaviors. Connectedness with an adult promotes this resilience, but how is unclear. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to investigate the relationships among connectedness to mother, time perspective, and resilience to risk-taking behaviors in impoverished African American girls ages 11-15. Structural equation modeling was used to cross-validate this model. In contrast to the results found in earlier studies, no direct relationship emerged between maternal connectedness and resilience. Instead, future time perspective was the key mediator between connectedness and resilience. These findings suggest that an important aspect of interventions to foster resilience to risk behaviors in young girls could be to assist their mothers in developing a connected relationship with their daughters that would promote a future time perspective.
Pre- and Postoperative Clinical Care of Patients Undergoing Interventional Oncology Procedures: A Comprehensive Approach to Preventing and Mitigating Complications

Interventional radiology (IR) is transforming itself into a fully fledged clinical specialty. Successful practices will have to adapt to this environment by developing the requisite clinical skills and acquiring the associated privileges. To thrive, an IR physician will have to develop strong clinical skills, be intimately familiar with the relevant disease, IR procedure, its possible complications and how to address them effectively. From an administrative point of view, successful practices will have to follow a multidisciplinary approach to treatment that involves other physician-specialists and develop a diverse IR group that can provide appropriate pre- and post-intervention clinical care. The above are especially necessary in order to offer interventions such as arterial embolizations and percutaneous ablations which are rapidly becoming the mainstay of treatment for non-surgical patients (and increasingly surgical patients as well) with cancer.
Localization of the K+–Cl− cotransporter, KCC3, in the central and peripheral nervous systems: expression in the choroid plexus, large neurons and white matter tracts

Abstract Na + -independent K + –Cl − cotransporters function in the regulation of cell volume, control of CNS excitability and epithelial ion transport. Several K + –Cl − cotransporter isoforms are expressed in the nervous system, and KCC3 in particular is expressed at significant levels in both the brain and spinal cord. The cellular localization of this transporter has, however, not been determined. In this study, we generated a polyclonal antibody against the KCC3 cotransporter in order to characterize and localize this protein in the brain. Western blot analysis of mouse kidney and brain demonstrated KCC3 proteins of different size, 150 and 170 kDa, respectively; this disparity remained after deglycosylation. Northern blot confirmed the presence of two distinct forms of KCC3, KCC3a and KCC3b, generated by the inclusion of different first coding exons. KCC3a predominates in the brain, whereas KCC3b is more abundant in the kidney. Western blots with membrane protein from dissected mouse brain revealed abundant expression in all brain regions examined: the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, diencephalon, brainstem and cerebellum. The spinal cord showed the highest levels of KCC3 expression, whereas peripheral nerves did not contain immunoreactive KCC3 protein. Western blot analysis of whole brain from rats of varoious ages indicated increasing expression in the postnatal period, concurrent with CNS maturation and myelination. Immunofluorescence studies demonstrated strong signal in myelinated tracts of the spinal cord, consistent with individual myelin sheaths. Brain sections also showed white matter enhancement, but also cellular signal consistent with pyramidal neurons and Purkinje cells. The base of the choroid plexus epithelium was also strongly labeled. These data demonstrate the specificity and diversity of KCC3 expression in the mouse CNS.
A Sensitivity Analysis of Expected Profitability of Pharmaceutical Research and Development

An indirect effect of increased regulation of the pharmaceutical industry in the USA has been a reduction in the effective patent life for a new drug. The reason is that the average time to develop a new chemical entity and gain regulatory approval far exceeds the time necessary to obtain a patent. The period of patent protection now averages only 10 years compared to the legal life of 17 years. In this article we describe a sensitivity analysis which sheds some light on the relationship between product life and profitability. Based upon a number of important assumptions, we show, for example, that at a 10% real rate of return the average 1970–1976 new drug required 19 years to break even. At an 8% real rate of return, 12 years would permit the firm to break even.
State Funding Limitations and Community College Open Door Policy: Conflicting Priorities?.

Recent national budget shortfalls in the United States have caused many states to evaluate various ways to cut their budgets—including cutting education expenditures—while community college enrollments have continued to explode. The combination of these 2 factors threatens the traditional open door policy of public community colleges.
Killing of Flies in Electrocuting Insect Traps Releases Bacteria and Viruses

Electrocuting insect traps (EIT) are popular devices frequently used by homeowners and food handlers attempting to localize the control of flying insects, including the ubiquitous house fly (Musca domestica L.). The traps contain a visual attractant and a high-voltage metal grid. Upon contact with the grids, the insects are disintegrated by the high voltage. As part of a systematic evaluation of EITs and their role in infectious disease spread, we quantitated spread of bacteria and a bacterial virus during electrocution of house flies. We loaded flies with Serratia marcescens or with the Escherichia coli phage ΦX174 and placed sprayed or fed flies into a room containing an EIT. While flies were being electrocuted, liberated particles and bacteria were assayed via agar plates or via air filtration samplers. Sprayed flies released one of every 10,000 of the added bacteria or viruses, and fed flies released one of every 1,000,000 of the consumed bacteria or viruses. Results of our studies suggest EITs could play a role in the spread of infectious disease agents, but the potential is influenced by the insect's route of contamination.
Exploratory chemoinformatic analysis of cell type-selective anticancer drug targeting.

In pharmaceutical development, structure−activity relationship studies aim to identify characteristics of chemical structures associated with well-defined activity end points. While this goal-driven approach is ideally suited for lead development purposes, a more exploration-driven approach is needed to discover cell type-selective drug targeting mechanisms in complex data sets. Growth inhibition profiles across different cancer cell lines are potentially informative with respect to molecular mechanisms targeting the activity of anticancer agents to specific tumor cells, yet only a small number of mechanistic associations between chemical structure and growth inhibition profiles have been discovered to date. Here, we have applied an exhaustive statistical analysis strategy to more than 10 000 compounds in the NCI's anticancer agent database to identify molecular substructures associated with specific cytotoxicity signatures against a panel of human tumor-derived cancer cell lines (the Developmental Therap...
IN VITRO STUDIES OF CELL TYPES RESPONSIVE TO ERYTHROPOIETIN.

Bone marrow cells derived from rats that had been exposed to X rays, treated with phenylhydrazine to induce anemia, or starved; peripheral white and red cells from rats; and spleen cells from normal and polycythemic mice have been tested for the effect of erythropoietin on glucosamine-1-14C incorporation. Only in hemopoietic cells was this uptake stimulated by the hormone. The relative proportion of normoblasts in the marrow was shown not to affect the response to erythropoietin; possibilities for the nature of erythropoietin target cells are discussed. (Endocrinology 74: 968, 1964)
Dendrimer−Drug Conjugates for Tailored Intracellular Drug Release Based on Glutathione Levels

N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent with significant potential in clinical applications including stroke and neuroinflammation. The drug shows high plasma binding upon IV administration, requiring high doses and associated side effects. Through the use of an appropriate delivery vehicle, the stability and efficacy of NAC can be significantly improved. Dendrimers are an emerging class of nanoscale drug delivery vehicles, which enable high drug payloads and intracellular delivery. Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer-NAC conjugates having cleavable disulfide linkages are designed for intracellular delivery based on glutathione levels. We have successfully synthesized two conjugates with a cationic G4-NH(2) and an anionic G3.5-COOH PAMAM dendrimer with NAC payloads of 16 and 18 per dendrimer, respectively, as confirmed by (1)H NMR and MALDI-TOF analysis. NAC release from the conjugates at intracellular and extracellular glutathione (GSH) concentrations were evaluated by reverse phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) analysis, and approximately 70% of NAC payload was released within one hour at intracellular GSH concentrations (approximately 10 mM), whereas negligible NAC release was observed at extracellular GSH levels (2 microM). FITC-labeled conjugates showed that they enter cells rapidly and localize in the cytoplasm of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated microglial cells (the target cells in vivo). The significantly improved efficacies of dendrimer-NAC conjugates in activated microglial cells was confirmed by measuring the nitrite inhibition in the cell culture medium, which is an indication of the antioxidative property of the drug. Both G4-NH(2) and G3.5-COOH conjugates showed significantly better nitrite inhibition both at 24 and 72 h compared to free NAC, by as much as a factor of 16. The results indicate that PAMAM dendrimer conjugates produce higher local NAC concentration inside the cells, with GSH-sensitive disulfide linker enabling efficient and rapid cellular release of the drug.
Systemic delivery of siRNA nanoparticles targeting RRM2 suppresses head and neck tumor growth

Systemic delivery of siRNA to solid tumors remains challenging. In this study, we investigated the systemic delivery of a siRNA nanoparticle targeting ribonucleotide reductase subunit M2 (RRM2), and evaluated its intratumoral kinetics, efficacy and mechanism of action. Knockdown of RRM2 by an RNAi mechanism strongly inhibited cell growth in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. In a mouse xenograft model of HNSCC, a single intravenous injection led to the accumulation of intact nanoparticles in the tumor that disassembled over a period of at least 3days, leading to target gene knockdown lasting at least 10days. A four-dose schedule of siRNA nanoparticle delivering RRM2 siRNA targeted to HNSCC tumors significantly reduced tumor progression by suppressing cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. These results show promise for the use of RRM2 siRNA-based therapy for HNSCC and possibly NSCLC.
Novel conformationally restricted tetracyclic analogs of Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol

Abstract Novel analogs of (−)- Δ 8 -tetrahydrocannabinol ( Δ 8 -THC) in which the conformation of the side chain was restricted by incorporating the first one or two carbons into a six membered ring fused with the aromatic phenolic A ring were synthesized. The affinities of the novel ligands for CB1 and CB2 indicated that the “southbound” chain conformer retained the highest affinity for both receptors.