cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stabilization of natural Faujasite zeolite: possible role of alkaline earth metal ions

Abstract In this study, we have explored the effect of various alkali and alkaline earth metal cations (Na+, K+, Ca+ and Mg2+) on the transformation process of zeolite Y. Crystallization from an initial composition 4Na2O·Al2O3·O2·10SiO2·158H2O produced zeolite-Y with Si/Al ratio of 2.3 after heating at 95°C for 36 h. The zeolite Y, if left in the mother liquor at 95°C disappears over a course of 10 days. Nitrate salts of Na+, K+, Ca+ and Mg2+ cations were added to the mother liquor containing zeolite Y and the synthesis process continued at 95°C. Presence of Na+ and K+ accelerates the transformation of zeolite Y (5–6 days), whereas, Ca+ and Mg2+ stabilizes the zeolite-Y framework (15–25 days). The primary phase replacing zeolite-Y is KSO1, a member of the cancrinite family. In addition to KSO1, other phases observed include P1 for Na+, P1 and phillipsite for K+, P1 and chabazite for Ca2+ and P1 for Mg2+. Further studies focused on the addition of Mg2+ at the various stage of zeolite-Y crystallization process. Presence of Mg2+ at the initial stages of synthesis disrupts the nucleation of zeolite-Y, whereas addition of Mg2+ after zeolite-Y formation stabilizes the framework for extended periods. We propose that a drop in pH is responsible for this effect. If the Na+ ions in the zeolite Y are replaced by Mg2+ and the reaction in the mother liquor continued at 95°C, the zeolite framework remains stable for 50–65 days. XPS studies of the Mg2+-exchanged zeolite-Y during the reaction shows enrichment in magnesium at the surface of zeolite compared to the Mg2+-exchanged zeolite-Y before reaction. It is proposed that the stabilization of zeolite-Y is due to a surface coating, which diminishes the solubility of the zeolite in the mother liquor. These results are used to rationalize the geological occurrence of the metastable faujasite, and it is proposed that after the crystallization of faujasite in nature, interaction with Mg2+ and Ca2+ was necessary to stabilize the framework and prevent its transformation to condensed phases.
Optimizing the Use of Anthracyclines in the Adjuvant Treatment of Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Anthracyclines have been incorporated into adjuvant chemotherapy regimens for breast cancer since the 1980s. A metaanalysis confirmed that regimens containing anthracyclines result in better disease-free and overall survival than standard CMF (cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-fluorouracil), with a proportional reduction of 11% in risk of death at 10 years with the addition of these agents. Dose escalation of doxorubicin results in outcome improvement up to a threshold dose beyond which no further improvement is seen. Epirubicin, with its better toxicity profile, can be escalated to higher doses than doxorubicin, with better outcomes associated with higher dose levels. Tumors expressing HER2/neu may respond better to anthracycline-containing regimens than to standard CMF, but this remains controversial. Newer regimens combining anthracyclines with taxanes may offer a slight additional advantage in terms of disease-free and overall survival in some patient populations. The scheduling of treatment is important, with recent results of dose-dense scheduling showing a greater survival benefit than conventional scheduling. Ongoing clinical trials should further define the best choice of anthracycline and the optimal dose and schedule of treatment.
Defining the irritable bowel syndrome.

One-quarter of the population of Britain and the United States is said to suffer from the irritable bowel syndrome [I]. It has been recognized for a century under various names, including mucous colitis, spastic colitis, functional bowel syndrome, mucomembranous colitis, membranous colitis, colonospasm, and colonic neurosis. While most physicians make the diagnosis freely, none can define it. The widespread use of a term that has no definition is common, but it is antithetical to science. How did this come about in medicine? In this paper, I will show how the disease remains undefined by objective measures, a state of affairs that has led to a phenomenon like that of the Emperor's New Clothes. The originators of the concept had at least a consistent symptom definition for mucous colitis. From the first edition of 1892 [2] to the last in 1947 [3], Osier's great textbook, The Principles and Practice of Medicine included an entry on mucous colitis, a brief description of a malady in which "a tenacious mucus, which may be slimy and gelatinous, like frog-spawn ... is passed in strings, strips, or as a continuous tubular cast of the colon." The casts of the colon constituted mucus with cell
Integrating Ecohealth into a Medical School Curriculum: A Vision of the Future at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine

University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine is undergoing an historical transition which has involved departmental reorganization and creation of several new departments including the Division of Ecology and Health. In establishing this new unit, the US medical school leadership recognized the importance of addressing the cultural and ecological dimensions of health in research and education programs toward achieving the medical school’s vision to become the premier US medical school in the Asia-Pacific region. The Division’s establishment also was compelled by school’s mission to serve the unique health needs of the people of Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, particularly those of indigenous populations with particularly high rates of chronic disease and significant community health issues. This especially depends on innovative, community-based, ecological approaches to research and practice, and integrating concepts at the interface of ecological and health sciences into the medical curriculum. Planning and beginning to implement this integration is one the Division’s early objectives. The approach being taken is based on the use of themes emerging from the new biomedical–behavioral synthesis and the application of ecological concepts, principles, and models. The former involves existing basic science subject matter already taught, which can be conceptually framed and interrelated in terms of the latter. Together, these themes and an ecohealth perspective will facilitate basic science learning by providing a more comprehensive and meaningful conceptual matrix to interrelate basic science concepts and facts. The opportunities and impediments to integrating ecohealth within the curriculum take the form of bridges and barriers. Opportunities exist where linkages can be, and already have been, made between disciplines and departments to encourage interdisciplinary learning and transdisciplinary problem-solving drawing on ecological themes and concepts. Apprehension toward unfamiliar scientific territory and competing demands represent significant barriers. These are nonetheless believed to be surmountable over time, especially by exploiting ecohealth’s transdisciplinary dimension to facilitate and enrich the learning experience, rather than adding ecohealth-related subject matter as a learning objective to an already full curriculum and student workload.
Reliability and stability of the orthodontic patient cooperation scale

Patient cooperation is recognized as an important factor in the outcome of orthodontic treatment. In order to predict patient cooperation, there have been numerous studies which have examined its correlates in orthodontic treatment. However, few, if any, of these studies have considered the reliability or stability of their patient cooperation measures. Hence, the correlates found or not found are suspect. The present article reports on the internal consistency and stability of the Orthodontic Patient Cooperation Scale (OPCS). Using the responses of practicing orthodontists, a list was generated of ten patient behaviors frequently considered in evaluating a patient's cooperation. Subjects were eighth- and ninth-grade students undergoing orthodontic treatment, who were rated by their own orthodontists after 2 months and 6 months of treatment. The internal consistency for the scale was estimated to be 0.71 (N = 44) at 2 months and 0.80 (N = 45) at 6 months. The correlation between scores at 2 months and at 6 months was 0.58 (N = 44), which may be considered to be a conservative estimate of the long-term stability of the scale. In summary, the OPCS has adequate internal consistency and reasonably stable scores over a 4-month period. As such, it should prove useful in studies looking for predictors of patient cooperation and in studies examining the relationship of patient cooperation and outcome of treatment.
Process Enabling and the Scale-Up of 6β-Hydroxymethylsulbactam and Its Esters

The optimization of the synthesis of 6β-hydroxymethylsulbactam is described. The primary challenge in this synthesis is the installation of the 6β-hydroxymethyl group with the proper stereochemistry. Engineering challenges associated with the addition of gaseous formaldehyde to a Grignard reagent at low temperature and a number of approaches to achieving the appropriate β-stereochemistry are presented.
Epithelium-linked smooth muscle hyperresponsiveness in ferret tracheae exposed to acrolein

The effects of acrolein exposure on tissue uptake and airway responses to substance P (SP) and nitroprusside (NIP) were determined in excised ferret tracheae exposed for 60 min to a constant flow of air or 0.3 and 3.5 ppm acrolein-air mixtures. Histological examination indicated that whereas the epithelium of an air-exposed trachea was intact with no apparent injury, acrolein-induced epithelium damage was more pronounced at 3.5 than at 0.3 ppm vapor concentration. The fractional uptake of acrolein into the tracheal tissue continually decreased during the 1 h of exposure and was found to be significantly concentration dependent at the 60 min measurement point. This suggests that the uptake process of acrolein in the mucosal layer is not linear and is dominated by irreversible reaction. In the absence of the neutral endopeptidase inhibitor, phosphoramidon, acrolein significantly increased the maximal response to SP. Pretreatment with phosphoramidon abolished the differential effect of acrolein on airway smooth muscle response to SP. Nitroprusside relaxed acrolein-exposed tracheal rings precontracted with carbachol to their baseline tone, but it induced relaxation of air-exposed tracheal rings below their initial resting tension, indicating the presence of endogenous as well as induced tone. Pretreatment with NIP also abolished the differential effect of acrolein on airway response to carbachol and modified the potency of this agonist. We conclude that acrolein-induced hyperresponsiveness of the underlying airway smooth muscle is linked to inactivation of neutral endopeptidase synthesis as well as to loss of epithelium-derived relaxation factor.
Property Taxation and Optimal Capital Structure in Real Estate Investment

In this paper the capital asset pricing model is extended to include the local property tax, the corporate income tax, and a borrowing rate that increases with the percentage of property value borrowed. The optimal percentage to borrow increases with the risk‐free interest rate and the corporate tax rate, decreases with an exogenous increase in the borrowing rate, and does not depend upon the property tax rate. REITs and limited partnerships have no incentive to borrow in this model, so other motives for borrowing must be posited.
Bayesian optimal classification of metallic objects: a comparison of time-domain and frequency-domain EMI performance

Traditionally, field EMI sensors are operated in the time- domain. The time-domain (TD) EMI sensor usually is a pulsed system. It contains both a transmitting coil and a receiving coil. After transmitting an excitation pulse, which generates the primary field, the receiving coil records the secondary field in the late time. Since a TD EMI sensor measures only the late-time responses, the information contained in the early time response is lost thus limiting the types of objects that can be discriminated. Alternatively, EMI sensors can be operated in the frequency- domain (FD). In this case, the excitations are sinusoidal signals and the sensor measures the static response. The advantages and disadvantages of TD and FD EMI sensors are reviewed in this paper. For landmine and UXO detection, discrimination of targets of interest from clutter is required, since the cost of large false alarm rates is substantial amounts of money, labor and time. In order to discriminate targets from clutter, Bayesian optimal classifiers are derived. Traditional detectors for these applications only utilize the energy of the signal at the position under test or the output of a matched world scenario, the depth of the underground objects is uncertain. The optimal classifier that we utilize takes these uncertainties into account also. In this paper, we present classification performance for four metal objects using TD and FD EMI data. Experimental data were taken with the PSS- 12, a standard army issued metal detector, and the GEM-3, a prototype frequency-domain EMI sensor. Although the optimal classifier improves performance for both TD and FD data, FD classification rate are higher than those for TD systems. The theoretical basis for this result is explored.
Composite Films of Nickel / Silicon Carbide

The electrodeposition of nickel/silicon carbide (Ni/SiC) composite films formed from modified Watt’s bath solutions under potentiostatic conditions on steel substrates was investigated. The effects of deposition potential, pH, variable concentration of SiC in suspension, and additives, such as coumarin and EDTA, on the nickel nucleation and growth transients, as well as on the composition and morphology of Ni/SiC films are described. Improved Vickers microhardness and corrosion resistance of these composite films were found in comparison to those of particle-free deposits.
Population Dynamics: a per capita Resource Approach

Density dependent structures in a population growth model implicity assume competition between individuals for available resources. In other models, where interactions with resources are explicitly identified, the element of per capita availability of resources is ignored. Here a theory of population growth and interaction is developed under the assumption that the per capita population growth rate is dependent on the per capita availability of resources. Particular aspects of population growth and predation and competition interactions are explored. A general n-species multitrophic level interaction model is proposed.
Kinetic dielectric decrements and conducting liquids

We have calculated influence of ion migration on the measured dielectric constant of an electrolyte solution. The solvent is assumed to be a viscous, incompressible, polarizable liquid continuum having a finite dielectric relaxation time, while the ion is a rigid, impenetrable body. The decrement in the static permittivity of the solution with respect to the pure solvent is shown to be proportional to the product of solvent dielectric relaxation time and conductivity of the solution, with an additional contribution arising from viscous relaxation in the solvent.
A family of binary magnetic icosahedral quasicrystals based on rare earths and cadmium

At present, there are no known examples of binary icosahedral quasicrystals featuring localized magnetic moments. Now, a family of magnetic binary icosahedral quasicrystals is discovered, offering the possibility of studying the behaviour of coupled magnetic interactions in the presence of aperiodic structural order.
Stability of the solution of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation for Bose-Einstein condensation

Abstract We investigate the stability of the Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) for the case of atoms with negative scattering lengths at zero temperature using the Ginzburg-Pitaevskii-Gross (GPG) stationary theory. We have found a new exact equation for determining an upper bound of the critical numbers N cr of atoms required for a metastable state to exist.
Renin-Specific Antibody for Study of Cardiovascular Homeostasis

Antiserum specific for purified canine renal renin was used to inhibit this enzyme in trained, conscious dogs. The antiserum did not affect blood pressure in sodium-replete dogs but decreased plasma renin activity and blood pressure in sodium-depleted animals. The antiserum also reduced blood pressure to control levels concomitant with suppression of plasma renin activity in uninephrectomized dogs with acute renovascular hypertension. These observations establish the role of the renin-angiotensin system in the maintenance of blood pressure in the sodium-depleted state as well as in the initiation of renovascular hypertension.
Evaluation of new and established age-related macular degeneration susceptibility genes in the Women's Health Initiative Sight Exam (WHI-SE) Study.

Purpose To assess whether established and newly reported genetic variants, independent of known lifestyle factors, are associated with the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) among women participating in the Women's Health Initiative Sight Exam (WHI-SE) Genetic Ancillary Study. Design Multicenter case-control study. Methods One hundred and forty-six women with intermediate and late stages of AMD and 1269 subjects without AMD underwent ocular examinations and fundus photography to determine stage of AMD. Fourteen polymorphisms at or near 11 genes, including previously confirmed genes CFH , ARMS2/HTRA1 , C2 , C3 , and CFI ; recently reported AMD genes in the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) pathway LIPC , ABCA1 , CETP , and LPL ; TIMP3/SYN3 , a known ocular gene recently linked with AMD; and APOE , were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results After adjustment for demographic, behavioral, and other genetic factors, a protective effect was detected among TT carriers compared with non-carriers for the HDL pathway gene, LIPC rs493258, for intermediate and late AMD (OR [95% confidence interval]: 0.3 [0.2–0.7], P = .003). Variants in CFH rs1410996, ARMS2/HTRA1 A69S, and C3 R102G were significantly associated with an increased risk of AMD. Individuals with the homozygous CFI rs10033900 TT genotype had a 2.9 [1.2–7.2]-fold increased risk, and those with the CFH Y402H GG genotype had a 2.2 [1.0–4.8]-fold higher risk of developing AMD compared with non-carriers. APOE4 carriers may have a reduced risk of intermediate/late AMD (OR = 0.5 [0.3–0.9], P = .015. Suggestive associations were seen between AMD and the HDL pathway genes CETP and LPL. Conclusion In this unique national cohort of women, we found associations with established AMD-related genetic factors and the recently reported LIPC gene in the HDL pathway. These findings may help develop novel therapeutic targets to treat or delay the onset of the disease.
Proliferation and invasion factors in HIV-associated dysplastic and nondysplastic oral warts and in oral squamous cell carcinoma: an immunohistochemical and RT-PCR evaluation

Abstract Objective. Oral warts arising in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection occasionally show marked epithelial dysplasia. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that they do not progress to oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Therefore, we evaluated lesions for expression of proteins (tenascin-C, β6 integrin, and matrix metalloproteinase-1[MMP1]) that have been identified as important in the invasive phase of oral SCC. Study Design. Twenty-two oral dysplastic warts from 22 patients and 5 oral SCCs were stained for human papillomavirus (HPV) antigen, proliferation protein Ki-67, tenascin-C, β6, and MMP1 by immunohistochemical methods. For comparison, 5 nondysplastic warts each from HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients and 5 normal mucosa specimens were included. Sections were semiquantitatively assessed, and results were compared. Because MMP1 was the lowest or least expressed interface protein, MMP1 mRNA was quantitatively assessed from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue in selected cases with quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results. Twenty of 22 dysplastic warts stained positive for human papillomavirus common antigen, and all warts showed high proliferative fractions similar to SCCs. Tenascin-C and β6 were variably expressed by the dysplastic warts but were consistently expressed at high levels in the SCCs. MMP1 protein levels were negative or low in 20 of 22 in dysplastic warts, but were elevated in 4 of 5 SCCs. MMP1 mRNA analysis indicated that message was low in 4 dysplastic warts and also suggested that protein translation was incomplete in 3 of the warts. Conclusion. We conclude that invasion-associated proteins are underexpressed in oral dysplastic warts in HIV-positive men. However, until these patients are followed for extended periods, the risk of development of SCC from oral dysplastic warts remains unknown. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2002;94:724-31)
Phosphorylation of α-Actinin 4 upon Epidermal Growth Factor Exposure Regulates Its Interaction with Actin

The ubiquitously expressed family of α-actinins bridges actin filaments to stabilize adhesions, a process disrupted during growth factor-induced migration of cells. During the dissolution of the actin cytoskeleton, actinins are phosphorylated on tyrosines, although the consequences of this are unknown. We expressed the two isoforms of human α-actinin in murine fibroblasts that express human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and found that both α-actinin 1 (ACTN1) and α-actinin 4 (ACTN4) were phosphorylated on tyrosine residues after stimulation with EGF, although ACTN4 was phosphorylated to the greater extent. This required the activation of Src protein-tyrosine kinase and p38-MAPK (and phosphoinositide trisphosphate kinase in part) but not MEK/ERK or Rac1, as determined by inhibitors. The EGF-induced phosphorylation sites of ACTN4 were mapped to tyrosine 4, the major site, and tyrosine 31, the minor one. Truncation mutagenesis showed that the C-terminal domains of ACTN4 (amino acids 300–911), which cross-link the actin binding head domains, act as an inhibitory domain for both actin binding and EGF-mediated phosphorylation. These two properties were mutually exclusive; removal of the C terminus enhanced actin binding of ACTN4 mutants while limiting EGF-induced phosphorylation, and conversely EGF-stimulated phosphorylation of ACTN4 decreased its affinity to actin. Interestingly, a phosphomimetic of tyrosine 265 (which can be found in carcinoma cells and lies near the K255E mutation that causes focal segmental glomerulosclerosis) demonstrated increased actin binding activity and susceptibility of ACTN4 to calpain-mediated cleavage; this variant also retarded cell spreading. Remarkably, either treatment of cells with low concentrations of latrunculin A, which has been shown to depolymerize F-actin, or the deletion of the actin binding domain (100–252 amino acids) of ACTN4Y265E restored EGF-induced phosphorylation. An F-actin binding assay in vitro showed that Y4E/Y31E, a mimetic of diphosphorylated ACTN4, bound F-actin slightly compared with wild type (WT). Importantly, the EGF-mediated phosphorylation of ACTN4 at tyrosine 4 and 31 significantly inhibited multinucleation of proliferating NR6WT fibroblasts that overexpress ACTN4. These results suggest that EGF regulates the actin binding activity of ACTN4 by inducing tyrosyl-directed phosphorylation.
A computation of the small instanton contribution to the axion potential

Abstract If QCD becomes strong at high energies, then small color instantons can induce a significant contribution to the axion potential. We show by explicit calculation that these effects can be well estimated by dimensional analysis.
Physical activity participation constraints among athletic trainers: A profession based assessment

Abstract Despite well‐documented health benefits, physical activity participation rates remain low. Leisure constraints theory can provide insights into understanding non‐participation in physical activity. One hundred fifty‐three certified athletic trainers from the U.S. Big‐10 and PAC‐10 conferences were surveyed to understand physical activity participation and leisure constraints among this group. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to examine the effect of gender, age and leisure constraints on physical activity participation. Findings suggest less than ideal physical activity participation, some level of dissatisfaction with physical activity participation, and high mean Body Mass Index level (BMI) among the sample. Although structural constraints significantly and negatively predicted actual physical activity participation, the leisure constraints model did not explain the variance in physical activity participation. Athletic trainers are trained to be physically fit, maintain healthy li...
Expression of CD3 ɛ Subunit in Gastric Parietal Cells: A Possible Role in Signal Transduction?

CD3 antigen, formerly thought to be specific for T lymphocytes, has been found on gastric parietal cells in animals and humans. The common anti-CD3 antibodies recognize the epsilon subunit, which has a role in signal transduction. The aim of this study was to immunostain stomach specimens from humans and different animal species for CD3 antigen to determine if CD3 antigen is conserved across species and if CD3 antigen expression is altered in humans by use of certain drugs or the presence of gastritis. Gastric biopsies from 50 humans and necropsy sections from 13 different animals were immunostained using commercial anti CD3 epsilon antibodies on an automated immunostainer. Sections of stomach from four mice lacking the gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit and four control mice were similarly immunostained. CD3 epsilon antigen expression in cytoplasm and cell membranes of gastric parietal cells was graded subjectively based on the number of positive cells. CD3 epsilon antigen was found on gastric parietal cells in all but one species studied, with varying expression in membranes and cytoplasm. There was a trend toward a decreased frequency of CD3+ cells in biopsies from patients on drugs (n = 23) compared to those on no drugs (n = 27). This trend was most marked in patients on H2 receptor antagonists. There was no correlation between CD3 expression and inflammation or Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. There was loss of CD3 expression in parietal cells in mice lacking the alpha-subunit of H+,K(+)-ATPase. These findings support previous observations that CD3 antigen is present in gastric parietal cells, and suggest that it may function in signal transduction during acid secretion.
Prolamins in systematics of Poaceae subfam. Arundinoideae

Circumscription of theArundinoideae and the taxonomic treatments of its tribes have long been disputed. In the present study, 21 species representing the tribesArundineae, Danthonieae, Cortaderieae, andAristideae were examined for prolamin size heterogeneity and immunological cross-reactivities. The immunmological data were analyzed phenetically and cladistically. Prolamins of species examined were similar in size and size diversity except forPhragmites. Structural similarities as measured by ELISA and immunoblotting were very high among all genera exceptAristida andPhragmites. Based on prolamin structure,Aristida is not similar to the core genera of theArundinoideae, the remaining genera could not be distinguished as distinct tribes, and theArundinoideae as represented by the taxa tested appeared monophyletic.
Specific Effects of Aging on Proper Name Retrieval: Now You See Them, Now You Don't

Existing research is equivocal as to whether aging negatively affects the retrieval of proper names more than other types of words. To clarify previous results, this study had young and older participants name and provide specific biographical information in response to pictures of familiar celebrities; it used two different measures of recall errors. An analysis of tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) responses indicated specific age-related increases in TOTs for names compared with words representing biographical information. An analysis including all other (non-TOT) recall errors did not indicate age-related deficits in name retrieval. These findings highlight the importance of the measures adopted in forming conclusions about age effects on the retrieval of names.
RIGOR‐STRETCHED TURKEY MUSCLES: EFFECT OF HEAT ON FIBER DIMENSIONS AND SHEAR VALUES

Fiber dimensions and shear force values were measured in folded, prerigor and rigor stretched semi-tendinosus and sartorius muscles from unaged adult turkey carcasses. The unheated rigor muscles can be extended in situ but the extent is significantly less than prerigor stretching. Extensibility was detected by increases in sarcomere length. Prerigor and rigor stretching caused significantly smaller fiber diameters. Heat (70°C and 82°C) decreased sarcomere length of stretched muscles, but produced no significant change in folded controls. The stretched muscles had either significantly higher shear force values (semitendinosus) or were not different (sartorius) from the folded controls. All treatments gave reduced fiber diameters on heating. The relevance of this observation to meat tenderness is discussed. Light microscope evidence showed little damage in the rigor-stretched or heated fibers.
Regulation of Bile Acid Synthesis by Fat-soluble Vitamins A and D

Bile acids are required for proper absorption of dietary lipids, including fat-soluble vitamins. Here, we show that the dietary vitamins A and D inhibit bile acid synthesis by repressing hepatic expression of the rate-limiting enzyme CYP7A1. Receptors for vitamin A and D induced expression of Fgf15, an intestine-derived hormone that acts on liver to inhibit Cyp7a1. These effects were mediated through distinct cis-acting response elements in the promoter and intron of Fgf15. Interestingly, transactivation of both response elements appears to be required to maintain basal Fgf15 expression levels in vivo. Furthermore, whereas induction of Fgf15 by vitamin D is mediated through its receptor, the induction of Fgf15 by vitamin A is mediated through the retinoid X receptor/farnesoid X receptor heterodimer and is independent of bile acids, suggesting that this heterodimer functions as a distinct dietary vitamin A sensor. Notably, vitamin A treatment reversed the effects of the bile acid sequestrant cholestyramine on Fgf15, Shp, and Cyp7a1 expression, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit of vitamin A under conditions of bile acid malabsorption. These results reveal an unexpected link between the intake of fat-soluble vitamins A and D and bile acid metabolism, which may have evolved as a means for these dietary vitamins to regulate their own absorption.
Cardiovascular risk in long-term survivors of testicular cancer.

BACKGROUND Long-term survivors of testicular cancer (TC) who received cisplatin-based chemotherapy have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A cross-sectional study was performed to objectively assess cardiovascular risk, subclinical atherosclerosis, and endothelial function in long-term survivors of TC. METHODS Long-term survivors of TC underwent evaluation including determination of body mass index (BMI), Framingham relative risk (RR), brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood for levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and circulating endothelial cells (CECs). TC survivors who received chemotherapy were compared with a chemotherapy naive cohort. RESULTS Twenty-four patients received cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CBCT) and 15 were chemotherapy-naive (CN). The CBCT cohort demonstrated more impairment of brachial artery FMD than the CN group (5.6% vs 8.8%; P = .05). The mean sICAM was also found to be higher in the CBCT cohort compared with the CN group (P = .04). No significant differences between the groups were noted with regard to BMI, Framingham RR, carotid IMT, or hs-CRP. In a subset of patients, TC survivors who received chemotherapy had a significantly increased level of CECs compared with CN patients (P = .04). No significant difference in EPC levels was detected. CONCLUSIONS Long-term survivors of TC who received chemotherapy demonstrate objective evidence of endothelial injury and dysfunction, a potential mechanism for increased cardiovascular risk. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Measuring performance and evaluating progress in a Web-based synchronous interactive learning environment

Due to the increasing proliferation of courses and "courseware", it is clear that there is a need to assess the effectiveness of online learning processes in order to provide "best-practice" benchmarks. Similar to the focus on task-technology fit in the design of human-computer systems, attention must be paid to "course-technology" fit and the goals of the stakeholders for each course that takes a technology-mediated form. Educational "added value" depends on a mix of factors: pedagogical goals, personnel and technology budgets, and the availability of connectivity between educators who are capable facilitators and students who are skilled in accommodating new ways of learning. This work contributes positively to the discussion by presenting personal experiences with the deployment of technology-mediated course variations.
Both Estrogen Receptor α and β Stimulate Pituitary GH Gene Expression

Although sex steroids have been implicated in the control of mammalian growth, their direct effect on GH synthesis is less clear. The aim of this study was to establish whether estradiol (E2) directly affects GH synthesis in somatotrophs. Somatotroph GH3 and MtT/S cells were used as in vitro models. At physiological doses of E2 stimulation, GH mRNA levels were increased and the ER antagonist ICI 182,780 completely abolished this effect. Estrogen receptor (ER) α- and ERβ-selective agonists, propylpyrazole triol (PPT), and 2,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionitrile (DPN), respectively, augmented GH mRNA expression and secretion, whereas E2 and PPT, but not DPN increased prolactin (PRL) mRNA levels. E2, PPT, and DPN stimulated expression of the pituitary transcription factor Pou1f1 and increased its binding to the GH promoter. In vivo evidence of E2 effects on GH synthesis was obtained from the generation of the somatotroph-specific ERα knockout (sERα-KO) mouse model. Basal pituitary GH, PRL, POU1F1, and ERα mRNA expression levels were lower in sERα-KO mice compared with those in controls; whereas ERβ mRNA levels remained unchanged. E2 and DPN stimulated pituitary GH mRNA expression and serum GH levels in control and sERα-KO ovariectomized mice; however, serum GH levels were unchanged in PPT-treated ovariectomized sERα-KO mice. In these animal models, PRL mRNA levels increased after either E2 or PPT, but an increase was not seen after DPN treatment. Thus, we propose a mechanism by which estrogen directly regulates somatotroph GH synthesis at a pretranslational level. In contrast to the predominant effect of ERα in the lactotroph, these results support a role for both ERα and ERβ in the transcriptional control of Gh in the somatotroph and illustrate important differences in ER isoform specificity in the anterior pituitary gland.
E-mail as a Source and Symbol of Stress

The increasing volume of e-mail and other technologically enabled communications are widely regarded as a growing source of stress in people's lives. Yet research also suggests that new media afford people additional flexibility and control by enabling them to communicate from anywhere at any time. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data, this paper builds theory that unravels this apparent contradiction. As the literature would predict, we found that the more time people spent handling e-mail, the greater was their sense of being overloaded, and the more e-mail they processed, the greater their perceived ability to cope. Contrary to assumptions of prior studies, we found no evidence that time spent working mediates e-mail-related overload. Instead, e-mail's material properties entwined with social norms and interpretations in a way that led informants to single out e-mail as a cultural symbol of the overload they experience in their lives. Moreover, by serving as a symbol, e-mail distracted people from recognizing other sources of overload in their work lives. Our study deepens our understanding of the impact of communication technologies on people's lives and helps untangle those technologies' seemingly contradictory influences.
Centromere protein-A, an essential centromere protein, is a prognostic marker for relapse in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer

Introduction Centromere protein A (CENP-A), an essential centromere protein, has been associated with high grade cancers. This study was undertaken to determine if CENP-A is a prognostic factor for breast cancer patients not receiving systemic therapy or predictive of response to tamoxifen or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Learning to demo: the sociomateriality of newcomer participation in engineering research practices

An understanding of newcomer participation is important both from the perspective of engineering organizations and to prepare future engineers but we know little about how newcomers to engineering practices traverse their trajectory of participation. Prior work on newcomers has addressed socialization processes but has overlooked the sociomaterial nature of engineering practices and its consequences for newcomer participation. In this paper, I present an in-depth case study of a newcomer navigating his early days in an industrial research and development laboratory. I identify ‘demoing’, or the use of prototypes to communicate research outcomes, as a highly valued practice at the studied firm and trace a newcomer's participation from entry until his first demo, which signaled significant progress toward full participation. I argue that as engineers move from being novices toward fuller participation, they need to become sociomaterial experts – both socially adept and proficient at using materiality in con...
Optimizing airport construction site layouts to minimize wildlife hazards

Construction operations in airport expansion projects often attract wildlife species to critical airport traffic areas leading to an increase in the risk of wildlife–aircraft collision accidents. Airport operators and construction planners need to carefully consider and minimize these wildlife hazards during the planning of construction site layouts in order to comply with Federal Aviation Administration recommendations. This paper presents the development of an advanced optimization model for planning airport construction site layouts that is capable of minimizing the hazards of wildlife attractants and minimizing the site layout costs, simultaneously. The model incorporates newly developed concepts and performance criteria that enable (1) quantifying, controlling, and minimizing the hazards of construction-related wildlife attractants near airport traffic areas; and (2) minimizing the travel cost of construction resources and the cost of devices installed to control wildlife on airport construction site...
Architecture and assembly of mammalian H/ACA small nucleolar and telomerase ribonucleoproteins.

Mammalian H/ACA small nucleolar RNAs and telomerase RNA share common sequence and secondary structure motifs that form ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs) with the same four core proteins, NAP57 (also dyskerin or in yeast Cbf5p), GAR1, NHP2, and NOP10. The assembly and molecular interactions of the components of H/ACA RNPs are unknown. Using in vitro transcription/translation in combination with immunoprecipitation of core proteins, UV-crosslinking, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we demonstrate the following. NOP10 associates with NAP57 as a prerequisite for NHP2 binding. Although NHP2 on its own binds RNA nonspecifically, this NAP57–NOP10–NHP2 core trimer specifically recognizes H/ACA RNAs. GAR1 associates independently with NAP57 near the pseudouridylase core of mature H/ACA RNPs. In contrast to other RNPs whose assembly is initiated by protein–RNA interactions, the four H/ACA core proteins form a protein-only particle that associates with H/ACA RNAs. Nonetheless, functional H/ACA snoRNPs assembled in cytosolic extracts are stable and do not exchange their RNA components, suggesting that new particle formation requires de novo synthesis.
Issues in H.264/MPEG-2 video transcoding

The H.264 video coding standard has recently been standardized under the auspices of both the ITU and the ISO video experts groups. This new generation video standard, with its significant bandwidth savings, is expected to replace the use of MPEG-2 video compression in digital video systems. The complete migration to the new video coding algorithm will take several years given the wide scale use of MPEG-2 in the market place today. This creates an important need for transcoding technologies that transcode the widely available MPEG-2 compressed video to H.264 compressed format and vice versa. The high transcoding complexity can be reduced by reusing the information gathered in the video decoding process. However, given the significant differences between the MPEG-2 and the H.264 coding algorithms, transcoding is much more complex compared to MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 transcoding. We give a brief introduction to H.264 and discuss the issues in transcoding and complexity reduction.
Tyrosinemia II: Lessons in Molecular Pathophysiology

Tyrosinemia II is caused by a deficiency of hepatic tyrosine aminotransferase. With the deficiency of this key enzyme of tyrosine catabolism there is an increase in plasma tyrosine and then an increase in tyrosine metabolites in the urine. The increased plasma tyrosine causes tyrosine to crystallize in the cornea, producing corneal ulcerations and sometimes proliferation of corneal epithelium. In the epidermis of the palms and soles, tyrosine leads to erosions, crusting, and then hyperkeratosis. The human disease is due to an autosomal recessive gene, and similar genetic diseases have been found in mink and in dogs. A nutritional model for the disease, in which a high-tyrosine low-protein diet is fed to rats, produces almost identical features. The features of this disorder and some of the implications of this disease for the study of other genetic diseases is discussed in this review.
The Gay Affirmative Practice Scale (GAP): A New Measure for Assessing Cultural Competence with Gay and Lesbian Clients

Gay affirmative practice models provide guidelines for behaviors and beliefs in social work practice with gay and lesbian individuals. The aim of this study was to develop a valid rapid assessment instrument to assess the extent to which social work practitioners engage in principles consistent with gay affirmative practice. The Gay Affirmative Practice Scale is a 30-item scale designed to assess practitioners' beliefs and behaviors in practice with gay and lesbian individuals. Information about the rationale for development of the instrument, reliability and validity of the measure, potential uses of the scale, and implications for social work practice, education, and research are presented.
Hydrogen Embrittlement of Austenitic Stainless Steel

Abstract Type 310 stainless steel in thin sections was embrittled by hydrogen. The temperature and strain rate dependence of this embrittlement was almost analogous to that well-established for hyd...
Analysis of alternatives for using cable bolts as primary support at two low-seam coal mines

Cable bolts are sometimes used in low-seam coal mines to provide support in difficult ground conditions. This paper describes cable bolting solutions at two low-seam coal mines in similar ground conditions. Both mines used support systems incorporating cable bolts as part of the primary support system. Two original cable bolt based support systems as well as two modified systems are evaluated to estimate their ability to prevent large roof falls. One of the support systems incorporated passive cable bolts, while the other used pre-tensioned cable bolts. The results and experience at the mines showed that the modified systems provided improved stability over the original support systems. The presence of the cable bolts is the most important contribution to stability against large roof falls, rather than the details of the support pattern. It was also found that a heavy steel channel can improve the safety of the system because of the ‘sling’ action it provides. Additionally, the analysis showed that fully-grouted rebar bolts load much earlier than the cable bolts, and pre-tensioning of the cable bolts can result in a more uniform distribution of loading in the roof.
Infrared Spectra in the 3 μm Region of Ethane and Ethane Clusters in Helium Droplets

Ethane and ethane clusters (N ≈ 102–104) were studied inside helium droplets with infrared laser spectroscopy. The spectra were measured in the 2880–3000 cm–1 range, which covers the ν5, ν8+11, and ν7 vibrational bands of ethane. Partially resolved rotational fine structure in the spectrum of the monomer reveals solvent-induced band origin blue shifts that are each approximately 1 cm–1. The effective BHe and AHe rotational constants were found to be reduced by 52% and 16% in comparison to their gas phase values, respectively. Spectra of the clusters show the same three bands shifted toward low frequency by approximately 10 cm–1 because of intermolecular interactions in the clusters. The spectra of the ethane clusters are dominated by the ν7 band, whereas the relative intensities of the ν5 and ν8+11 bands are about a factor of 5 weaker than for single molecules or for solid ethane, the spectrum of which is also reported here.
Cyromazine Effects on the Reproduction of Anastrephaludens (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the Laboratory and in the Field

The effects of cyromazine on the adult Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), include mortality and reduced fecundity and survival of the F1 generation. Dosage-dependent mortality was recorded for concentrations from 0.125 to 16%. Neonate to 2-d-old females fed an artificial diet with 5% cyromazine were incapable of laying eggs in fruit with a resistance of penetration >11 newtons. Laboratory observations showed that treated females could not insert their ovipositor into grapefruit rind. When the same females were given a soft substrate (parafilm membrane), they laid significantly fewer eggs than control females. The F1 generation of treated females developed significantly less in an artificial larval diet and in grapefruit in the field. A field test showed that grapefruit from treatments made with 5% cyromazine-NuLure mixture had significantly fewer larvae per fruit than the control. This difference did not occur with fruit from a 5% malathion treatment.
Lyricism, Identity, and the Power of Lyricism as the Third Space

This study used the construct of “lyricism” as an instructional practice to explore the identity connections and cognitive learning potential embedded in instruction in a culturally relevant context. Through a 5-week mixed methods study of students using the principles of lyricism (e.g., metaphor, double entendre, personification, polysemy, simile, and analogy), we used content analysis and interviews to analyze five students’ experiences learning science through lyricism. Our resulting analysis highlighted the generative potential of lyricism as a teaching tool, as students were required to develop a detailed understanding of the concept being taught to complete the lyrical tasks associated with the activity. We discovered that students developed a detailed understanding of the concepts while concurrently developing a rich appreciation of the scientific language they learned in the process. In this way, using lyricism as a teaching tool was paramount to the construction of a “third space” for science teaching and learning.