cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes by arachidonic acid.

1. The effects of arachidonic acid on hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes was investigated in male ICR-Swiss mice.2. A single administration of arachidonic acid, 100 mg kg i.p., doubled the hexobarbital sleeping time. Arachidonic acid in vitro gare a type I binding spectrum with hepatic microsomes; it inhibited the metabolism of hexobarbital and of ethylmorphine, two type I binding drugs, but not that of aniline, a type II binding drug; the inhibition of hexobarbital metabolism by arachidonic acid was competitive.3. Repeated administration of arachidonic acid up to a total dose of 1000mg kg i.p., either in the course of 5 hours, or in the course of 5 days, decreased microsomal cytochrome P-450 levels and NADPH—cytochrome c reductase activity.4. It is concluded that the administration of arachidonic acid may impair drug metabolism in two ways, mainly, by competitively inhibiting the activity of drugmetabolizing enzymes, and secondarily, by decreasing the hepatic concentration of these enzymes.
A Common Set of Gene Regulatory Networks Links Metabolism and Growth Inhibition

Using genome-wide analysis of transcription factor occupancy, we investigated the mechanisms underlying three mammalian growth arrest pathways that require the pRB tumor suppressor family. We found that p130 and E2F4 cooperatively repress a common set of genes under each growth arrest condition and showed that growth arrest is achieved through repression of a core set of genes involved not only in cell cycle control but also mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolism. Motif-finding algorithms predicted the existence of nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF1) binding sites in E2F target promoters, and genome-wide factor binding analysis confirmed our predictions. We showed that NRF1, a factor known to regulate expression of genes involved in mitochondrial function, is a coregulator of a large number of E2F target genes. Our studies provide insights into E2F regulatory circuitry, suggest how factor occupancy can predict the expression signature of a given target gene, and reveal pathways deregulated in human tumors.
Failure analysis of TWT cathodes

Impregnated matrix cathodes have been observed to fail unexpectedly in initial phases of life due to poisoning. They have similarly been found to give abnormally delayed response when rapid turn-on performance is required. Loss of emission with life is also a problem.
Quantifying risks of preterm birth in the Arkansas Medicaid population, 2001-2005.

The objective of this study was to examine risks of preterm births, quantify the explanatory power achieved by adding medical and obstetric risk factors to the models and to examine temporal changes in preterm birth due to changes in Medicaid eligibility and the establishment of a maternal–fetal medicine referral system. The study used data from the 2001 to 2005-linked Arkansas (AR) Medicaid claims and birth certificates of preterm and term singleton deliveries (N=89 459). Logistic regression modeled the association among gestational age, demographic characteristics and risk factors, pooled and separately by year. Physiological risk factors were additive with demographic factors and explained more of the preterm birth ⩽32 weeks than later preterm birth. Changing eligibility requirements for Medicaid recipients and increasing the financial threshold from 133 to 200% of federal poverty level had an impact on temporal changes. The proportion of births ⩽32 weeks declined to 33%, from 3.0 to 2.0. However, later preterm births declined and then increased in the last year. Physiological conditions are strongly associated with early preterm birth. Maternal behaviors and other stressors are predictive of later preterm birth. Unmeasured effects of poverty continue to have a role in preterm birth. Further examination of the referral system is needed.
Analytic Representation of Volume Flow as a Function of Geometry and Pressure in a Static Physical Model of the Glottis

Summary A static physical model of the larynx (model M5) was used to obtain a large set of volume flows as a function of symmetric glottal geometry and transglottal pressure. The measurements cover ranges of these variables relevant to human phonation. A generalized equation was created to accurately estimate the glottal volume flow given specific glottal geometries and transglottal pressures. Both the data and the generalized formula give insights into the flow behavior for different glottal geometries, especially the contrast between convergent and divergent glottal angles at different glottal diameters. The generalized equation produced a fit to the entire M5 dataset (267 points) with an average accuracy of 3.4%. The accuracy was about seven times better than that of the Ishizaka–Flanagan approach to glottal flow and about four times better than that of a pressure coefficient approach. Thus, for synthesis purposes, the generalized equation presented here should provide more realistic glottal flows (based on steady flow conditions) as suitable inputs to the vocal tract, for given values of transglottal pressure and glottal geometry. Applications of the generalized formula to pulses generated by vocal fold motions typical of those produced by the Ishizaka–Flanagan coupled-oscillator model and the more recent body-cover model of Story and Titze are also included.
Effects of monocrotophos and fenthion on discrimination acquisition and reversal in northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)

Adult male northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) were fed diets containing organo-phosphorus pesticides, and the birds' discrimination acquisition and reversal performance was evaluated. The birds received the pesticide-laced diets continually, beginning 2 d before behavioral testing and ending after the birds completed the test series consisting of an acquisition and 10 reversals. Bobwhites fed a diet containing 0.18 ppm monocrotophos made 118% more errors (p ± 0.05) than did controls during reversals but not during acquisition. The behavior of bobwhites fed diets containing 0.02 and 0.06 ppm monocrotophos was not different from that of controls. Acquisition performance of bobwhites fed a diet containing 7 ppm fenthion was not different (p > 0.05) from that of controls; however, bobwhites fed the fenthion diet made 48% fewer errors (p ± 0.05) in the reversals. When retested after 18 (monocrotophos) and 73 (fenthion) d on clean diets, no residual behavioral effects were detected. Brain cholinesterase activity was inhibited in all treatment groups.
Photoalteration of calcium channel blockade in the cardiac Purkinje fiber

Organic compounds that block calcium channel current (calcium antagonists) are important tools for the characterization of this channel. However, the practically irreversible nature of this block restricts the usefulness of this group of drugs. In this paper, we investigate the influence of light on calcium channel blockade by several organic compounds. Our results show that inhibition of calcium channel current by two dihydropyridine derivatives that contain an o-nitro moiety (nisoldipine and nifedipine) can be rapidly reversed by illumination. The energy range important to this reaction is for light wavelengths between 320 and 450 nm. Calcium channel inhibition by two other dihydropyridine derivatives (nicardipine and nitrendipine) as well as by D600, is not modulated by illumination. These results indicate that the photosensitivity of certain dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers make these compounds useful as reversible blockers of this channel.
Endogenous creatinine in serum and urine.

Conclusions(1) The technic described measures all of the creatinine and only creatinine in blood and urine. (2) There is a gradual rise in the serum concentration and in the rate of urinary excreti...
The biology of Neodiprion pratti (Dyar) (Hym., Diprionidae), a winter sawfly in West Florida

Neodiprion pratti in West Florida is the isolated remnant of a parent population which during the postglacial period migrated northward with its various pine hosts. Feeding only on sand pine (Pinus clausa), the Florida population squeezes mating, oviposition and larval feeding into the cool season. As a ‘winter’ sawfly, it escapes egg parasitioids completely, avoids heat-related problems, but periodically suffers mortality of small feeding larvae due to freezing and ice storm damage. It is univoltine, with a long larval diapause influenced by high temperature but not by photoperiod. Adaptations to the fine host needles include a compact female saw, and only two to three eggs laid per needle. Egg pockets are located towards the needle tips to enhance incubation of the eggs. Zusammenfassung Zur Biologie von Neodiprion pratti (Dyar) (Hym., Diprionidae) in Westflorida, USA Neodiprion pratti (Dyar) besteht in Westflorida aus einer isolierten Population, deren Larven nur auf Sandfohren (Pinus clausa) leben. Im Gegensatz zu den nordlichen Populationen dieser Art finden in Florida fast alle Entwicklungsvorgange wahrend der kuhlsten Jahreszeit statt (“Winterblattwespe”). Die Imagines schlupfen im November oder Dezember, um nach der Begattung die Eier abzulegen. Diese haben keine Diapause, sondern entwickeln sich so schnell, wie es das Wetter erlaubt. Meist schlupfen die Larven im Februar oder Marz, doch kann man sie in einem sehr milden Winter bereits im Januar beobachten. Da die Art univoltin ist, bleiben die Eonymphen von April bis November im Kokon. Diese Diapause wird nicht durch die Photoperiode beeinflust, sondern ist temperaturabhangig; durch hohe Temperaturen wird die Diapause verlangert. Die sehr dunnen Nadeln des Wirtsbaumes hatten zur Folge, das die Sage der Weibchen zarter geworden ist, das kaum mehr als zwei Eier in eine Nadel gelegt werden, und das diese in der Nahe der Spitze plaziert werden. Die kleinen Larven werden haufig durch Eisregen und Frost dezimiert, wahrend Parasiten altere Larven und Nymphen im Kokon befallen.
Assessing anaphylactic risk? Consider mast cell clonality.

The ability to predict risk for severe anaphylaxis is an important goal for physicians. Bonadonna et al advance this effort with data from a 3-year prospective study that analyzed 44 patients with a serum baseline total tryptase (sBT) level >11.4 ng/mL who were culled from 379 patients with a previous systemic immediate hypersensitivity reaction to a Hymenoptera sting. Their data indicate that the majority of such patients have an underlying clonal mast cell disorder, either systemic mastocytosis or monoclonal mast cell activation syndrome, by assessing the bone marrow for mast cell granulomas, spindle-shaped mast cells, and mast cells expressing surface CD2 or CD25; and the serum for an elevated sBT level. This is the most comprehensive study to date of the relationships among Hymenoptera sting–induced anaphylaxis, sBT levels, and mast cell clonality. The article raises important issues relating to sBT levels and activating mutations in c-kit, which codes for KIT, the receptor for stem cell factor, (which appear to result in a hyperresponsive mast cell phenotype) as biomarkers for anaphylactic risk. Serum baseline total tryptase levels elevated in the setting of a hypotensive or systemic immediate hypersensitivity event—that is, anaphylaxis—have been used as evidence of mast cell degranulation. Persistent elevation in sBT >20 ng/mL has been set as a minor diagnostic criterion for the diagnosis of mastocytosis. Importantly, in this study by Bonadonna et al, a sBT level of >11.4 ng/mL not only identified patients likely to have a clonal mast cell disorder but also those at risk for systemic anaphylaxis. In fact, an odds ratio of 6.2 (95% CI, 3.1-12.4) can be calculated for having had a stage IV anaphylactic reaction if the sBT level was >11.4 ng/mL among the patient group with a systemic reaction to a Hymenoptera sting. A heightened risk for more severe anaphylactic reactions to Hymenoptera stings in those with an elevated sBT has been noted previously. An analogous odds ratio calculation for risk of mast cell clonality in subjects with
Cell-surface antigens of murine sarcoma-virus-transformed non-producer cells: further evidence for lack of transplantation immunity.

Previous studies have indicated that cells transformed by murine sarcoma virus (MSV) in the absence of virus production lack detectable transplantation antigens. Recent findings that antibodies to a surface antigen associated with MSV-transformed cells can be elicited by hyperimmunization, led to the present studies. Attempts were made to detect transplantation immunity to MSV-transformed cells in animals producing this antibody. Mice, hyperimmunized with an MSV-transformed non-producer clone of BALB/3T3, failed to demonstrate a higher resistance than BALB/3T3 hyperimmunized mice to tumor induction by either the homologous non-producer cell or MSV itself. Under these conditions, both MSV non-producer cell hyperimmunized tumor-bearing and non-tumor-bearing mice showed antibodies to the MSV-associated cell surface antigen. Thus, even in mice possessing this antibody, there is no transplantation immunity to MSV non-producer cells.
Lattice Coding over the Relay Channel

It has been conjectured that lattice codes are good for (almost) everything. As an additional bit of evidence for this claim, we offer a few results showing the utility of lattice codes for the AWGN relay channel. We show that the decode-and-forward rates of the relay channel can be achieved using lattice encoding and decoding. We present an encoding/decoding technique that uses a doubly-nested lattice code. Encoding is accomplished using a combination of superposition encoding and block Markov encoding, while decoding is accomplished using a strategy reminiscent of Cover and El Gamal's list decoding. Our technique can be extended to a wide variety of relay topologies, including the half-duplex relay channel and the cooperative multiple-access channel.
Parasitic element and PIFA antenna structure

An PCE is proposed that uses available space in the phone housing effectively and adds additional bands to existing PIFA. The PCE can be used advantageously to add a GPS band to a cellular band PIFA but other uses such as adding bands in the WiFi and WiMax bands are also possible. The PE can be manufactured cost effectively and can be added to an existing phone without re-tooling the plastic housing.
Rigid, melting, and flowing fluid

This work focuses on the simulation of fluids as they transition between a solid and a liquid state, and as they interact with rigid bodies in a realistic fashion. The equations of motion that are generally considered appropriate only for liquids or gas can also be used to model solids. Without adding extra constraints, one can model a solid simply as a fluid with a high viscosity. This Melting and Flowing solver is a fast and stable system for animating materials that melt, flow, and solidify. Examples of real-world materials that exhibit these phenomena include melting candles, lava flow, the hardening of cement, icicle formation, and limestone deposition. Key to this fluid solver is the idea that we can plausibly simulate such phenomena by simply varying the viscosity inside a standard fluid solver, treating solid and nearly-solid materials as very high viscosity fluids. Another way to represent solids with the fluid equations is to add extra constraints to the equations. I use this representation in the parts of this work that focus on the two-way coupling of liquids with rigid bodies. The coupling affects both how the liquid moves the rigid bodies, and how the rigid bodies in turn affect the motion of the fluid. Distributed Lagrange multipliers are used to ensure two-way coupling that generates realistic motion for both the solid objects and the fluid as they interact with one another. The rigid fluid method is so named because the simulator treats the rigid objects as if they were made of fluid. The rigidity of such an object is maintained by identifying the region of the velocity field that is inside the object and constraining those velocities to be rigid body motion. The rigid fluid method is straightforward to implement, incurs very little computational overhead, and can be added as a bridge between current fluid simulators and rigid body solvers. Many solid objects of different densities (e.g., wood or lead) can be combined in the same animation.
Substance-Using Hispanic Youth and Their Families: Review of Engagement and Treatment Strategies

A growing population of Hispanic immigrants to the United States means that helping professionals need to gain knowledge about specific issues affecting these groups. Stresses related to the immigration experience and minority status can influence the use of alcohol and illegal substances by Hispanic adolescents. Because the family is considered the preferred unit of treatment for this population, studies addressing approaches to engagement and treatment are reviewed, and two promising models are highlighted: the strategic structural systems engagement approach and the brief strategic family therapy model.
Recovering Articulated Model Topology from Observed Rigid Motion

Accurate representation of articulated motion is a challenging problem for machine perception. Several successful tracking algorithms have been developed that model human body as an articulated tree. We propose a learning-based method for creating such articulated models from observations of multiple rigid motions. This paper is concerned with recovering topology of the articulated model, when the rigid motion of constituent segments is known. Our approach is based on finding the Maximum Likelihood tree shaped factorization of the joint probability density function (PDF) of rigid segment motions. The topology of graphical model formed from this factorization corresponds to topology of the underlying articulated body. We demonstrate the performance of our algorithm on both synthetic and real motion capture data.
Development of p-n heterojunctions based on thin polycrystalline CdSe films

Thin-film solar cells based on the wide-bandgap semiconductor CdSe were prepared and investigated applying two design principles, a MIS structure and a p-n heterojunction. The MIS structure was prepared by depositing an I layer of ZnSe ( approximately=4.5 nm) combined with an ultrathin Cu layer of 0.2 nm and a Au layer ( approximately=7 nm) onto the CdSe film. After a temper process at 130 degrees C the optimal photovoltaic performance was achieved. The p-n heterojunction was prepared by depositing the ZnTe onto the CdSe film at 450 degrees C under high-vacuum conditions. The photovoltaic limit of the MIS system was caused by an insufficient Schottky barrier height >
The Spallation Neutron Source diagnostics: Initial integration and commissioning progress report

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) Project, a collaboration of six national laboratories, is constructing an accelerator based neutron facility at ORNL. The SNS accelerator systems will deliver a 1 GeV, 1.44 MW proton beam to a liquid mercury target. The high-beam power and desired high availability of the accelerator complex have had important consequences for the design and implementation of diagnostics at the SNS. Namely, diagnostic systems have been designed with high reliability, the ability for hands-on maintenance, redundancy in critical diagnostics, and commonality of subsystems in mind. The multi-laboratory diagnostics group has successfully implemented and commissioned a number of systems at LBNL during initial commissioning of the SNS Front-End systems. This talk reports on the team's progress in diagnostics commissioning and performance for the SNS, summarizes the approach that has been used in this multi-laboratory effort, describes the lessons learned and presents the technical and organizational challenges that lie ahead.
Just In Time Dynamic Voltage Scaling: Exploiting Inter-Node Slack to Save Energy in MPI Programs

Recently, improving the energy efficiency of HPC machines has become important. As a result, interest in using powerscalable clusters, where frequency and voltage can be dynamically modified, has increased. On power-scalable clusters, one opportunity for saving energy with little or no loss of performance exists when the computational load is not perfectly balanced. This situation occurs frequently, as balancing load between nodes is one of the long standing problems in parallel and distributed computing. In this paper we present a system called Jitter, which reduces the frequency on nodes that are assigned less computation and therefore have slack time. This saves energy on these nodes, and the goal of Jitter is to attempt to ensure that they arrive "just in time" so that they avoid increasing overall execution time. For example, in Aztec, from the ASCI Purple suite, our algorithm uses 8% less energy while increasing execution time by only 2.6%.
Genetic variation of sitting frequency and duration in pigs

McGlone, J.J., Akins, C.K. and Green, R.D., 1991. Genetic variation of sitting frequency and duration in pigs. Appl. Anita. Behav. Sci., 30:319-322. Prior to weaning, many piglets die from crushing, chilling, starvation, diarrhea and weakness. Piglets often die from crushing by the sow when she lies down after sitting. The objective of this study was to determine the amount of heritable genetic variation of sitting behavior. A total of 312 pigs from 62 litters were given ad libitum feed and water. Frequency and occurrence of sitting were summarized from 24-h video records. Heritability estimates (h 2) were calculated for these traits using a full-sib analysis. The h 2 for the occurrence of sitting was 0.41 + 0.14 and for frequency of sitting was 0.43 + 0.14. Genetic correlation between frequency and occurrence of sitting was 0.84 and the phenotypic correlation was 0.68 (P< 0.01 ). Sitting behavior was moderately to highly heritable indicating possible favorable selection against occurrence of this trait. Genetic selection against sow sitting could potentially decrease mortality rates among piglets, increase production and decrease costs for pork producers.
Dry sliding wear of NiAl

The dry sliding wear behavior of the B2-structured (ordered body-centered cubic) compound NiAl has been studied. Pin-on-disk experiments were conducted at room temperature in air using pins made from extruded NiAl with compositions of 50, 48, and 45 at.% aluminum. Partially stabilized zirconia was the disk material. Wear rate measurements showed an inverse relation between wear and hardness. Hardness increased with increasing nickel content as the composition moved away from stoichiometric composition. Friction results indicate higher friction coefficients for Ni-50Al than for either Ni-48Al or Ni-45Al. Surface examinations of the pin wear scars, by both optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, show the wear process of NiAl is dominated by plastic deformation in all compositions, with little evidence of material loss by brittle fracture.
Diamond metallization for Mo electroplating

A metallization system for diamond compatible with Mo electroplating is presented. The deposition of the thin films is made by RF sputtering. 2 MeV /sup 4/He/sup ++/ backscattering spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and sheet resistivity measurements are used to characterize the metallization. The stability of the metallization is tested in a tube furnace in a vacuum of 7/spl times/10/sup -7/ Torr. The metallization consists of an adhesion layer 30 nm thick of Mo, a 240 nm thick TaSi-N diffusion barrier and an additional 200 nm thick Mo layer to facilitate the subsequent electroplating of a heavy Mo film. The Mo adhesion layer is found to react with diamond and form Mo/sub 2/C after annealing at 800/spl deg/C during 30 min. The Ta/sub 24/Si/sub 39/N/sub 37/ film is stable up to 1 h annealing at 900/spl deg/C, it starts losing nitrogen close to the surface for 1 h annealing at 1000/spl deg/C. The Ta-Si-N barrier prevent diffusion of C in the top Mo layer, which needs to be free of N, C, Si and Ta. This requirement is satisfied for annealing of the complete structure at 900/spl deg/C during 1 h. Mo-Si-N and Mo-N have also been potential candidates for diffusion barrier.
The atypical pneumonias: clinical diagnosis and importance.

Decades ago, a major concern of structural engineers was the development and application of new and powerful numerical methods for the static and dynamic analysis of large civil engineering structures. The rapid development of finite-element techniques accompanied by tremendous technological progress in the field of personal computers allowed structural designers to use software packages for accurate simulation of structural behavior. However, the design and construction of more and more complex and ambitious civil structures, like dams, large cablestayed or suspension bridges, or other special structures have led structural engineers to develop new experimental tools to enable the accurate identification of the most relevant static and dynamic properties. These tools would provide reliable data to support calibrating, updating, and validating of structural analysis numerical models used at the design stage. The continuous ageing and subsequent structural deterioration of a large number of existing structures have encouraged the development of efficient vibration-based damage detection techniques supported by structural health monitoring systems. The natural tendency of civil engineering researchers was to utilize well established input-output modal identification techniques to accurately identify the main dynamic properties of civil structures. However, it is difficult to excite large civil structures in a controlled manner. Fortunately, remarkable technological progress in transducers and analog-to-digital converters has supported modal analysis of large structures exclusively based on measuring the structural response to ambient excitations and applying suitable stochastic modal identification methods. The main purpose of this article is to briefly present our perspective concerning the evolution of experimental modal analysis in the civil engineering field, from input-output to output-only modal identification techniques. This discussion is strongly influenced by our experience as researchers.
Early Stigmatization, PTSD, and Perceived Negative Reactions of Others Predict Subsequent Strategies for Processing Child Sexual Abuse

OBJECTIVE: Trauma processing is central to healthy recovery, but few studies examine how youth process experiences of child sexual abuse (CSA). The current study builds on our prior work identifying individual differences in CSA processing strategies (i.e., Constructive, Absorbed, Avoidant) to examine whether abuse stigmatization, PTSD symptoms, and negative reactions from others experienced during the year after abuse discovery were associated with subsequent CSA processing strategies. METHOD: Participants included 160 ethnically diverse youth (8-15 years, 73% female) with confirmed cases of CSA. Predictors were measured at abuse discovery (T1) and 1 year later (T2). Individual differences in CSA processing strategies were assessed 6 years after discovery (T3) from participants' abuse narratives. RESULTS: The persistence of abuse stigmatization from T1 to T2 significantly increased the odds of using either an Avoidant or Absorbed (vs. Constructive) strategy at T3. Higher levels of PTSD symptoms at T1 as well as their persistence from T1 to T2 each significantly increased the odds of having an Absorbed versus Constructive strategy. The persistence of perceived negative reactions from others from T1 toT2 increased the odds of an Absorbed versus Avoidant strategy. Effect sizes ranged from medium to large (M d = 0.636). CONCLUSIONS: Results further validate prior work identifying distinct CSA processing strategies and suggest the persistence of abuse-specific disruptions over the year after abuse discovery may be associated with subsequent problems processing CSA experiences. Language: en
Using neural networks to predict corporate failure

Predicting corporate failure or bankruptcy is one of the most important problems facing business and government. The recent Savings and Loan crisis is one example, where bankruptcies cost the United States billions of dollars and became a national political issue. This paper provides a ‘meta analysis’ of the use of neural networks to predict corporate failure. Fifteen papers are reviewed and compared in order to investigate ‘what works and what doesn’t work’. The studies are compared for their formulations including aspects such as the impact of using different percentages of bankrupt firms, the software they used, the input variables, the nature of the hidden layer used, the number of nodes in the hidden layer, the output variables, training and testing and statistical analysis of results. Then the findings are compared across a number of dimensions, including, similarity of comparative solutions, number of correct classifications, impact of hidden layers, and the impact of the percentage of bankrupt firms. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Establishment Radical: Assessing the Legacy of Reinhold Niebuhr's Reflections on the End of an Era

This article argues that Reinhold Niebuhr's most politically radical work, Reflections at the End of an Era (1934) is more determinative of his subsequent political theology than Niebuhr scholarship has acknowledged. In particular, the doctrine of grace and view of history that Niebuhr here developed continued to shape his mature thought, infusing his work with a politically unsettling quality that Niebuhr scholarship routinely overlooks in favor of depicting him as the “establishment theologian.” This article maintains that reclaiming the legacy of Reflections will enable future reception of Niebuhr to recover the radical dimension to his thought.
Metal complex assembly controlled by surface ligand distribution on mesoporous silica: Quantification using refractive index matching and impact on catalysis

Abstract The catalytic activity of discrete metal complexes can be dictated by the local ligand environment. By covalently immobilizing ligands on a surface, the ability of a single metal to engage multiple ligands is controlled by the overall surface loading and distribution. Using an azide functionalized mesoporous silica prepared via co-condensation, the surface loading of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), a bidentate chelating ligand, can be varied systematically to form preferentially mono-, bis-, or tris-phen ligated metal complexes. Solvent refractive index matching enables in situ transmissive spectroscopic quantification of intense metal-to-ligand charge transfer bands of the immobilized copper(I) bis-phen and iron(II) tris-phen complexes. Metal complex formation agrees well with a random distribution model of the phen ligands on the surface, providing a means to quantitatively correlate immobilized species interactions and overall catalytic performance. Rapid epoxidation catalysis is obtained with surface distributions that maximize mono- or bis-phen ligated manganese centers.
Abstract 4983: The role of bone marrow derived tumor stromal cells in intestinal tumor response to Thymidylate Synthase Inhibitors inhibitors in the ApcMin/+ mouse.

Historically, most anti-cancer therapies have been developed to target cancer cells. For many decades, inhibitors of the enzyme thymidylate synthase (TS), such as fluoropyrimidines, have been used in the clinical management of various cancers. However, their clinical utility has been limited by their toxicity to normal cells and acquired resistance by tumor cells. More recently, the role of non-neoplastic cells in the tumor microenvironment on tumor initiation and progression has been firmly established. These non-neoplastic cells infiltrate the tumor and together with the extracellular matrix, blood vessels, connective tissue, and secreted molecules make up the tumor stroma. These cells are thought to play a role in tumor response to therapy. While therapeutic efficacy is often measured by its impact on tumor burden, the impact of TS inhibitors on tumor stromal cells is largely unknown. Bone marrow derived cells (BMDCs) are a major component of the tumor stroma.The goal of this project is to determine theirin mediating tumor response to systemic therapy with TS inhibitors. We hypothesize that in addition to targeting tumor cells, tumor stromal cells are also direct of TS inhibitors and thattumor response to therapy may in fact be dictated by stromal sensitivity to the therapy.To test this hypothesis, we generated chimeric wherein the chemo-sensitivity of intestinal tumor stromal cells to TS inhibitors was different from that of the tumor cells. We transplanted ApcMin/+ mice, a genetic model of intestinal tumorigenesis, with bone marrow cells that weregenetically modified to express a drug-resistant TS molecule from E. coli. We found that tumors in these mice were more resistant to a combined therapy of TS inhibitors as compared to mice transplanted with non-modified marrow. We identified examine the response of BMDCs in the tumor stroma that have previously been shown to promote intestinal tumor development, namely, myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), mast cells and T-regulatory (Treg) cells. We found that MDSCs, but not mast cells or Tregs were specifically sensitive to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Our data suggest that tumor response to 5-FU are at least in part mediated by MDSCs. Current studies are aimed at examining the response of other stromal components to 5-FU with the goal of developing strategies to enhance tumor sensitivity to TS inhibitors. Citation Format: Grishma Acharya, Celestia Davis, Nikeya Tisdale, Maria Marjorette O. Pena. The role of bone marrow derived tumor stromal cells in intestinal tumor response to Thymidylate Synthase Inhibitors inhibitors in the ApcMin/+ mouse. [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 4983. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4983
Josiah Willard Gibbs

(1939). Josiah Willard Gibbs. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 46, No. 2, pp. 75-84.
Iron Sulfide (FeS) Nanotubes Using Sulfurization of Hematite Nanowires

We report the phase transformation of hematite (α-Fe2O3) single crystal nanowires to crystalline FeS nanotubes using sulfurization with H2S gas at relatively low temperatures. Characterization indicates that phase pure hexagonal FeS nanotubes were formed. Time-series sulfurization experiments suggest epitaxial growth of FeS as a shell layer on hematite. This is the first report of hollow, crystalline FeS nanotubes with NiAs structure and also on the Kirkendall effect in solid–gas reactions with nanowires involving sulfurization.
p73 gene in dopaminergic neurons is highly susceptible to manganese neurotoxicity.

Chronic exposure to elevated levels of manganese (Mn) has been linked to a Parkinsonian-like movement disorder, resulting from dysfunction of the extrapyramidal motor system within the basal ganglia. However, the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms of Mn-induced neurotoxicity remain elusive. In this study, we treated C57BL/6J mice with 30 mg/kg Mn via oral gavage for 30 days. Interestingly, in nigral tissues of Mn-exposed mice, we found a significant downregulation of the truncated isoform of p73 protein at the N-terminus (ΔNp73). To further determine the functional role of Mn-induced p73 downregulation in Mn neurotoxicity, we examined the interrelationship between the effect of Mn on p73 gene expression and apoptotic cell death in an N27 dopaminergic neuronal model. Consistent with our animal study, 300 μM Mn treatment significantly suppressed p73 mRNA expression in N27 dopaminergic cells. We further determined that protein levels of the ΔNp73 isoform was also reduced in Mn-treated N27 cells and primary striatal cultures. Furthermore, overexpression of ΔNp73 conferred modest cellular protection against Mn-induced neurotoxicity. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Mn exposure downregulates p73 gene expression resulting in enhanced susceptibility to apoptotic cell death. Thus, further characterization of the cellular mechanism underlying p73 gene downregulation will improve our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of Mn neurotoxicity.
Comparative assessment of SUVR methods and reference regions in amyloid PET studies

INTRODUCTION  We compare results of standard uptake value ratio (SUVR) analyses of Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) florbetapir PET scans using a native space compared to SPM template methods and a variety of possible SUVR reference regions.  The objective is to find a method with highest longitudinal effect size to allow a sufficiently powered clinical trial efficacy measure using the smallest number of subjects.
Typical and reticular degenerative retinoschisis.

Retinoschisis is the term used to describe a complex and heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by splitting of the sensory retina. This concept of splitting or cleavage within the sensory retina was introduced by Bartels [1] in 1933, and the term retinoschisis was first applied to this process by Wilczek [2] in 1935. Samuels and Fuchs [3] used this concise term in their English-language textbook in 1952 and the word retinoschisis has been widely employed since then.
Organizational readiness for change: Preceptor perceptions regarding early immersion of student pharmacists in health-system practice.

Abstract Purpose To examine preceptors' perceptions regarding readiness for change pre- and post-implementation of a pilot early immersion program engaging student pharmacists in direct patient care. Methods Student pharmacists enrolled in the second professional year of a Doctor of Pharmacy degree program completed a four-week health-system introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) which was modified to include direct patient care roles in operational (drug preparation and dispensing) and clinical (comprehensive medication management) pharmacy environments. Pharmacy preceptors with direct oversight for program implementation completed a pre/post Organizational Readiness for Implementing Change (ORIC) survey and a 50-min interview or focus group post-experience. The ORIC survey evaluates two dimensions of organizational readiness for change – change commitment and change efficacy. Additional items assessed included implementation needs, support, and perceived value of the change. ORIC survey constructs were compared before and after the experience. Interviews and focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed, and evaluated by constant comparative analysis. A mixed methods approach was used to triangulate findings and develop greater understanding of the ORIC survey results. Results Twenty pharmacy preceptors (37 ± 8 years of age, 60% female, 65% clinical pharmacist position, 70% prior preceptor experience) participated in the study. There were no significant changes in pre/post survey constructs, except for a decline in the perception of organizational change commitment (p Conclusion As pharmacy curricula immerse student pharmacists in practice earlier in their education, pharmacy departments can utilize the ORIC survey to identify preceptors' commitment and concerns to support the necessary changes for student pharmacist engagement.
Safety and Risk Mitigation for Cervical Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections

The purpose of this review is to describe cases of serious neurologic complications due to cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injection, safety techniques to mitigate the risks of these, and briefly cover other more common but less severe complications. The most common complications reported in the largest available cohort of epidural steroid injections include increased pain, steroid side effects, and vasovagal reaction without any cases of serious neurologic complications being captured. The risk of neurologic damage due to aberrant needle location or space occupying lesions is very small, though not zero even if ideal technique is used. Proper utilization of risk mitigation techniques can further reduce the risk of these rare but serious complications.
Reflections of the Editor-in-Chief.

Along with our entire team, I have learned a great deal in the 2 years since I was tapped to be Editor-in-Chief of Circulation . Now, looking back, I have reflected on the insights we’ve gleaned during this early journey. The scope of cardiovascular disease is now more global than ever. Whereas in previous years, communicable diseases were the major killer in low- and middle-income nations, they have largely been replaced by heart disease, vascular disease, and stroke. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease is growing rapidly in Asia and beyond, as lifestyles have evolved to include high-calorie consumption and diminished physical activity. Meanwhile, in the West, the scope of cardiovascular disease is also evolving, with a shift from atherothrombotic manifestations toward disease triggered by metabolic stress. In fact, in many ways, the face of cardiovascular disease in developed countries is increasingly shaped by heart failure, whereas in the developing world the immediately lethal manifestations of myocardial infarction and stroke continue to rise. Heart disease is emerging with 2 faces in different parts of the globe. To address the global manifestations of cardiovascular disease, we have implemented a distributed leadership …
The social convoys of affordable senior housing residents: Fellow residents and “Time Left”

Living in an affordable senior housing site is a viable option for older adults who want to age in a community setting. Affordable senior housing is subsidized housing provided in the United States...
Theoretical Models of γ Doradus Variables

The γ Doradus variables are a newly-discovered class of variable stars having spectral types between A7 and F5, luminosity classes of IV, IV -V or V (Kaye et al. 1998). The physical origin of the variations present in these new variables is as yet unknown, although both photometric and spectroscopic observations (Hatzes 1998; Zerbi et al. 1997; Kaye 1998) strongly suggest that high-order (n), low-degree (l), non-radial pulsations are the cause; starspot models were originally proposed, but they fail to explain the multiperiodicity, period stability, and phase information seen in at least some γ Doradus stars. Given that we are observing non-radial pulsations and that the periods range from about 0.5 to 3 days, the pulsations must be g-modes, because p-modes for models corresponding to γ Doradus variables should have periods shorter than about an hour. Given this information, Gautschy and Loffler (1996) computed evolutionary models of stars appropriate to γ Doradus and analyzed them for pulsational stability. All of their models (Z = 0.02) are pulsationally stable and their studies show no suggestions for instability in “normal” models for γ Doradus variables. However, recent observations have better defined the temperatures and luminosities of γ Doradus stars [see, e.g., Villa & Breger (1998); ESA (1997)] and the theoretical work on evolutionary models including diffusion that are appropriate to A and F stars (Turcotte et al. 1998) suggest possible ways that pulsational instability might occur in these otherwise “stable” stars. We use the bona fide γ Doradus variable 9 Aurigae as an example star for our theoretical modeling efforts; in this paper, we present the results of our preliminary modeling and our thoughts on the pulsation mechanism and its physical origins.
Fractals and Patterns in Electrodepostion

Of the most common sources of complex (and fractal) patterns in nature is unstable growth. For example, growth limited by diffusion (e.g., chemical precipitation, crystallization, etc.) is very familiar and is intrinsically unstable. The fundamental process is known to metallurgists as the Mullins-Sekerka instability (Mullins and Sekerka, 1957). It is the result of the fact that when an object grows because it is being fed by matter diffusing from outside, the tip of a bump on its surface will collect more matter than a neighboring flat portion; the bump protrudes into the region where the density of diffusers is higher. The tip grows quickly as a result and screens the flat surface. Plane surfaces are unstable.
Endocrine Responses to Multiple Sensory Input Related to Injury

Traumatic injury is a complex physiological stimulus that evokes a diverse array of autonomic and endocrine responses (1). Although a complete understanding of the compensatory responses to traumatic injury is not yet possible, a useful experimental approach has been to consider these responses as expressions of the efferent limb of a broad neuroendocrine reflex. The reflex derives its sensory input from multiple sources, requires integration by central neural pathways and is expressed as the autonomic or endocrine adjustments to the applied stimulus. An overview of this reflex is seen in Fig. 1. Several sources of afferent input that likely accompany traumatic injury are indicated as are several brain regions thought to be of major importance in neural integration and modulation of the afferent sensory input. The animal preparations used to explore the components of this reflex often require the use of anesthesia; however, valuable information may be obtained that is relevant for understanding the responses to traumatic injury as well as for understanding the compensatory responses to surgical stress in man.
An Abstract Law of Large Numbers

We study independent random variables (Zi)i∈I aggregated by integrating with respect to a nonatomic and finitely additive probability ν over the index set I. We analyze the behavior of the resulting random average ${\int }_I Z_i d\nu (i)$. We establish that any ν that guarantees the measurability of ${\int }_I Z_i d\nu (i)$ satisfies the following law of large numbers: for any collection (Zi)i∈I of uniformly bounded and independent random variables, almost surely the realized average ${\int }_I Z_i d\nu (i)$ equals the average expectation ${\int }_I E[Z_i]d\nu (i)$.
Late Fall and Early Spring Application of Granular Preemergence Herbicide on a Fertilizer Carrier for Season-Long Crabgrass Control

Abstract Though sprayable preemergence herbicides will provide season-long control of crabgrass when applied in fall or early spring in the northern states, little work has been done with the now p...
Inactivation of Salmonella Enteritidis and Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 in corn flour by radio frequency heating with subsequent freezing

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 (E. faecium) as a surrogate of Salmonella enterica Enteritidis PT30 (S. Enteritidis PT30), validate radio frequency (RF) heating in pasteurizing corn flour, and study the effect of subsequent freezing treatment after RF heating in enhancing the microbial inactivation effect. Corn flour with water activity of 0.45 ± 0.05 at 25 °C was homogeneously inoculated with S. Enteritidis PT30 and E. faecium separately at 8.50 ± 0.23 log CFU/g. Thermal resistance parameters in corn flour were determined in a water bath at 75, 80, and 85 °C and RF heating was used to pasteurize 3.18 kg corn flour with subsequent freezing storage at −20 °C. Results showed that the thermal resistance of E. faecium was higher than S. Enteritidis PT30. Samples heated to 85 °C, held for 10 min after heating in a RF system, and then stored at −20 °C for 48 h, resulted in the reduction of S. Enteritidis PT30 by 6.59 ± 0.21 log and E. faecium by 4.79 ± 0.17 log. E. faecium could be used as its surrogate for validation studies in the packaged corn flour. Results also confirmed that RF heating combined with freezing storage treatment could significantly reduce the survival of both microorganisms in corn flour.
Pressure Gradients Driving Ion Transport in the Topside Martian Atmosphere

An edited version of this paper was published by AGU. Copyright 2019 American Geophysical Union.