cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structure–Property Relationships of Oligonucleotide Polyelectrolyte Complex Micelles

Polyelectrolyte complex micelles (PCMs), nanoparticles formed by electrostatic self-assembly of charged polymers with charged-neutral hydrophilic block copolymers, offer a potential solution to the challenging problem of delivering therapeutic nucleic acids into cells and organisms. Promising results have been reported in vitro and in animal models but basic structure–property relationships are largely lacking, and some reports have suggested that double-stranded nucleic acids cannot form PCMs due to their high bending rigidity. This letter reports a study of PCMs formed by DNA oligonucleotides of varied length and hybridization state and poly(l)lysine-poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymers with varying block lengths. We employ a multimodal characterization strategy combining small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), multiangle light scattering (MALS), and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) to simultaneously probe the morphology and internal structure of the micelles. Over a wide range of parameters, we find ...
Effect of Overwintering Environment on the Survival of 30 Species of Herbaceous Perennials

Abstract There is increased interest in overwintering containerized perennials. However, there is little information available on overwintering success. The objective of this research was to determ...
Targeted detection of Dehalococcoides mccartyi microbial protein biomarkers as indicators of reductive dechlorination activity in contaminated groundwater

Dehalococcoides mccartyi (Dhc) bacterial strains expressing active reductive dehalogenase (RDase) enzymes play key roles in the transformation and detoxification of chlorinated pollutants, including chlorinated ethenes. Site monitoring regimes traditionally rely on qPCR to assess the presence of Dhc biomarker genes; however, this technique alone cannot directly inform about dechlorination activity. To supplement gene-centric approaches and provide a more reliable proxy for dechlorination activity, we sought to demonstrate a targeted proteomics approach that can characterize Dhc mediated dechlorination in groundwater contaminated with chlorinated ethenes. Targeted peptide selection was conducted in axenic cultures of Dhc strains 195, FL2, and BAV1. These experiments yielded 37 peptides from housekeeping and structural proteins (i.e., GroEL, EF-TU, rpL7/L2 and the S-layer), as well as proteins involved in the reductive dechlorination activity (i.e., FdhA, TceA, and BvcA). The application of targeted proteomics to a defined bacterial consortium and contaminated groundwater samples resulted in the detection of FdhA peptides, which revealed active dechlorination with Dhc strain-level resolution, and the detection of RDases peptides indicating specific reductive dechlorination steps. The results presented here show that targeted proteomics can be applied to groundwater samples and provide protein level information about Dhc dechlorination activity.
Evaluating Measures of Pre-ART Adherence Readiness Through Associations with ART Adherence in the Early Months of Treatment.

Determining a patient’s readiness to adhere well prior to the start of ART provides an opportunity to address adherence barriers before poor pill taking habits form, and ultimately improve clinical outcomes and resource utilization. Three methods of measuring adherence readiness and their comparative utility in predicting early ART adherence were examined in a sample of 176 patients preparing to start ART. Data were analyzed data from a randomized controlled trial of a cognitive-behavioral adherence intervention. Three measures of pre-ART adherence readiness (provider estimate, 1 week vitamin practice trials, and self-report [HIV Medication Readiness Scale; Transtheoretical Stages of Change item (TSOC)] were examined in association with measures of (1) ART initiation, (2) ART retention, (3) mean electronic dose-taking adherence, and (4) achievement of optimal (85+ % dose-taking) adherence, over the first 3 months of ART. Of the 176 patients, 166 (94.3%) started ART; 124 (74.7% of those who started ART; 70.5% of whole sample) completed the first 3 months of ART. Among the 124 still on ART at month 3, mean dose-taking adherence was 79.3%, and 62 (35.2% of whole sample) achieved optimal adherence. The provider estimate was the only readiness measure significantly associated with each of the four measures of early ART adherence, and it had the highest concordance statistics (71% PPV and 62.3% NPV) with optimal early ART adherence. Practice trial adherence was only associated with ART initiation and retention. Dose-taking adherence over 3 months was significantly correlated with the provider estimate and the two self-reports. Each method of early treatment adherence has its own utility, but the provider estimate had the best overall performance in predicting early ART adherence.
A Systematic and Quality Review of Parent-Implemented Language and Communication Interventions Conducted via Telepractice

The purpose of this study was to systematically review the literature researching telepractice and parent-implemented language and communication interventions. A total of 12 studies met inclusion criteria and comprise the final study sample. A majority of the included articles were single-case research studies, and two were randomized controlled trials. We analyzed participant characteristics, intervention types, outcomes, and research quality in all 12 studies. All telepractice-based parent-implemented interventions reported improvements in parent and/or child outcomes. We evaluated the rigor of the studies against single-case research and group design quality indicators as well as What Works Clearinghouse standards. Of the 10 single-case research studies, one met single-case research design standards and six met standards with reservations, and of the two group design studies, only one met all quality indicators and standards. Results are discussed and future directions are provided.
Aided Hearing Moderates the Academic Outcomes of Children With Mild to Severe Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVES There are very limited data regarding the spoken language and academic outcomes of children with mild to severe hearing loss (HL) during the elementary school years, and the findings of these studies are inconsistent. None of these studies have examined the possible role of aided hearing in these outcomes. This study used a large cohort of children to examine these outcomes and in particular to examine whether aided hearing moderates the effect of HL with regard to these outcomes. DESIGN The spoken language, reading, writing, and calculation abilities were measured after second and fourth grades in children with mild to severe HL (children who are hard of hearing; CHH, n = 183) and a group of children with normal hearing (CNH, n = 91) after the completion of second and fourth grades. Also, among the CHH who wore hearing aids, aided better-ear speech intelligibility index values at the age of school entry were obtained. RESULTS Oral language abilities of the CHH with mild and moderate HL were similar to the CNH at each grade. Children with moderately-severe HL (better-ear pure tone threshold >59 but <76 dB HL) had significantly poorer oral language and reading skills than the CNH at each grade. The children with mild and moderate HL did not differ from the CNH in oral language or reading. No differences were found between the CHH regardless of severity and CNH with regard to spelling, passage writing, or calculation. The degree to which hearing aids provided audible speech information played a moderating role in the oral language outcomes of CHH and this moderation of language mediated the relationship between the unaided hearing ability of the CHH and their academic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS As a group, children with mild and moderate HL have good outcomes with regard to language and academic performance. Children with moderately-severe losses were less skilled in language and reading than the CNH and CHH children with mild and moderate losses. Audibility provided by hearing aids was found to moderate the effects of HL with respect to these outcomes. These findings emphasize the importance of including the effects of clinical interventions such as aided hearing when examining outcomes of CHH.
Evaluation of Acupuncture's Efficacy Within Otolaryngology.

Objectives:Acupuncture is a form of Traditional Chinese Medicine that has minimal side effects, is cost-effective, can be easily administered, and may serve as a useful non-pharmaceutical therapy f...
Tourism and Economic Growth in the Dominican Republic: 1985-2018

Tourists – overnight visitors – to the Dominican Republic have increased from 560,000 in 1984 to 6.6 million in 2018 – a nearly 12-fold increase in 34 years. Hotel rooms and tourism jobs have increased by similar factors. The eastern tip of the island was home to only a few families in the early 1980s, and Punta Cana now welcomes six of every ten tourists to the country. The Colonial Zone in the capital city of Santo Domingo, has seen its 16th century buildings transformed into museums, restaurants, shops, and boutique hotels. Cobblestone streets now afford higher priorities to pedestrian traffic; and cruise-ship passengers are welcomed into the Colonial Zone several times a week. Airports and sea port facilities have also expanded steadily in the Dominican Republic to accommodate and attract tourists. The Punta Cana International Airport inaugurated in 1982 was the first privately built international commercial airport in the world. In 2018, it handled around eight million passengers from some 100 cities in 28 countries, making it the leading airport in Central America and the Caribbean. The Dominican Republic currently has eight international airports and five ports that handle cruise ships. Over the same period of time, since the mid-1980s, the economy of the Dominican Republic has outperformed that of nearly every other country in Latin America. With tourism receipts equal to 9.5% of GDP in 2017, the DR is more dependent on tourism than any other country in Latin America. Given the visible changes that tourist growth has wrought in the Dominican Republic, it is easy to assume that tourism has been the key to the country’s remarkable economic growth since the mid-1980s. But it is not quite so simple. The Dominican economy has changed in numerous ways since the mid-1980s and has become a complex economy with lots of moving parts. This paper helps explain how economic growth from tourism fits into changes in the overall economy, with an overview of the Dominican economy and its growth and evolution since the mid-1980s.
Chapter 13 – Biogeography and Phylogeography

Amphibians and reptiles have a long and complex past in terms of their global distribution. Following a review of continental drift (history of the Earth) and biogeographic theories, including island biogeography, examples selected from major amphibian and reptile groups are used to highlight various approaches to biogeography, both in the distant and recent past.
What Do Course Offerings Imply About University Preferences

University decisions can have lasting effects on students in the labor market; however, little is known about how these decisions are made. This paper develops a new framework for empirically analyzing course offerings at a sample university. The framework is based on the idea that course offerings directly affect student utilities and the probabilities that students choose courses in a given field. As such, administrators deciding which courses to offer are always implicitly trading off the number of students choosing courses in each field and total student utility. By measuring the marginal effects of offering additional courses in each field on field enrollments and student utility, one can quantify these implicit tradeoffs between student utility and field enrollments. In my empirical application, I find that a marginal dollar of spending on social science courses produces 2.5 times as much student utility as a marginal dollar of spending on business or occupational courses at a sample university. From this, I conclude the university is implicitly sacrificing student utility to draw students out of social science courses and into business or occupational courses. If this is intentional, then the university has a preference for business and occupational enrollment which may affect how their course offerings respond to changes in policies or student composition. Counterfactual analyses show that ignoring these responses can lead to understating the effects of changes in student composition on field enrollments by a factor of three.
Identification of high-risk monomorphic post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder following solid organ transplantation.

Monomorphic post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (M-PTLD) occurring after solid organ transplant histologically resembles aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas, with diffuse large B-cell lymphom...
EXACT ${\mathcal O}(g^2\alpha_s)$ TOP DECAY WIDTH FROM GENERAL MASSIVE TWO-LOOP INTEGRALS

We calculate the b-dependent self-energy of the top-quark at by using a general massive two-loop algorithm proposed in a previous article. From this we derive by unitarity the radiative corrections to the decay width of the top quark, where all effects associated with the b-quark mass are included without resorting to a mass expansion. Our results agree with the analytical results available for the correction to the top-quark width.
Exploring the Use of State Medical Cannabis Legislation as a Proxy for Medical Cannabis Use Among Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

The use of medical cannabis is expanding in the USA. Due to conflicting, low-quality evidence, many oncologists may not feel confident to recommend it to patients. Given the potential for legal and financial risks when conducting clinical trials with medical cannabis, the use of observational data should be explored. Observational data that directly capture medical cannabis use in relation to prescription medications and track the prevalence and patterns of cannabis use is sparse. To gain insights into the role medical cannabis plays in the pharmaceutical landscape, proxies such as cannabis legislation need to be explored. In the context of recommendation-nonadherent antiemetic prescribing among patients experiencing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, medical cannabis may be a suitable alternative to an antiemetic in states that allow medical cannabis. Findings suggest that legislation may impact the use of certain antiemetics in states with cannabis legislation in place. The presence or absence of legislation regarding medical cannabis use may serve as an early, observable surrogate marker of medical cannabis use in the community. In light of the paucity of clinical trials and observational datasets that capture cannabis use, there remains a tremendous need for the development of methodologies or standardized datasets that appropriately and reliably capture the use of medical cannabis to facilitate research into its clinical application and effect on prescription medication use. Standardizing the reporting and destigmatizing use could eliminate the dependence upon proxy measures as a substitute for more extensive data and go a long way in improving data capture, thus allowing us to generate knowledge and hypotheses from observational data until research conditions improve and allow for expanded clinical trials involving medical cannabis.
In-Line Microelectrode Arrays for Impedance Mapping of Microphysiological Systems

Herein, a 60-electrode array is fabricated down the length of a microchamber for analysis of a microphysiological system. The electrode array is fabricated by standard photolithographic, metallization, and etching techniques. Permutations of 2-wire impedance measurements (10 Hz to 1 MHz) are made along the length of the microchannel using a multiplexer, Gamry potentiostat, and custom Labview code. An impedance "heat map" is created via custom algorithms. Spatial resolution and mapping capabilities are exhibited using conductive NaCl solutions and 2D cell culture.
Incitement, Anwar Al-Awlaki’s Western Jihad: by Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University Press, 2020, (hardcover), $35.00, £28.95, Є31.50, ISBN 9780674979505.

It has been over a decade now since the influential Islamist terrorist ideologue and facilitator Anwar Al-Awlaki was killed by US forces, and his legacy as a propagator of particularly pernicious p...
Who Will Lead? The Executive Session

A few weeks after the Annenberg Conference, Saul Weingart called me on the phone, introduced himself and said, “We should do an Executive Session on medical errors.” “What is an Executive Session?” I replied. He then told me about the work he had been involved in at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (HKS) on juvenile justice and community policing. Developed in the late 1970s at HKS, an executive session is a prolonged confidential conversation among leaders in a practice field to solve a complex problem for which there is no evident technical solution.
A population-based study of acute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis in the United States: 2004 to 2015.

e19003Background: Acute panmyelosis with myelofibrosis (APMF) is a rare subtype of acute myeloid leukemia characterized by acute panmyeloid proliferation with increased blasts, cytopenias with bone...
Outcome Assessment and Quality Improvement for Geriatric Hip Fractures

The goal of the physician is to effect a good outcome for the patient. The long-standing question is how best to measure, and even define, outcome. Over the past century, clinical investigators have made great progress in assessing and documenting outcomes for geriatric hip fracture patients. In turn, clinicians have used these outcomes for quality improvement in patient care. The goal of this chapter is to describe the evolution of and current methodologies for assessing outcomes, the use of outcome research for quality improvement, and the leadership role of the orthopedic surgeon within outcome research and quality improvement.
Long Term Outcomes after Laparoscopic Assisted Trans-Gastric Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography.

Background The gastric bypass is a commonly performed bariatric procedure. The stomach is divided into a small pouch as well as leaving a larger remnant that is bypassed by the gastrojejunal anastomosis. This makes access to the biliary system difficult as an endoscope cannot transverse the esophagus, roux limb, and biliopancreatic limb. Therefore, a transgastric approach (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [t-ERCP]) through the abdominal wall and remnant stomach is necessary. This involves the surgical team providing access to the remnant stomach for the gastroenterologist to perform the t-ERCP. We have performed a number of these for biliary pathology that ranges from cancer to retained gallstones. We evaluated these patients with at least a 3-year follow-up to determine long term outcomes. Methods We conducted a chart review of patients who underwent a t-ERCP with at least a 3-year follow-up. We collected de-identified data including demographics, operative details, complications, and postoperative courses. Results There were 12 patients who underwent t-ERCP. Eleven patients had at least a 3-year follow-up with a mean follow-up of 68.1 months (excluding one death from pancreatic cancer). The most common pathology was benign biliary stricture (n = 6), followed by retained gallstones (n = 4), with one pancreatic cancer, and one normal examination. Two patients still had epigastric pain at long term follow-up after 3 years. Conclusion T-ERCP is safe and efficacious with good long-term results.
PU.1 expression defines distinct functional activities in the phenotypic HSC compartment in a mouse model of inflammatory stress

The transcription factor PU.1 is a critical regulator of lineage fate in blood-forming hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). In response to inflammatory signals, PU.1 expression is increased in HSC, activating myeloid differentiation genes while repressing cell cycle and protein synthesis genes. To address potential functional heterogeneity arising in the phenotypic HSC compartment due to changes in PU.1 expression, here we fractionated phenotypic HSC using the SLAM code in conjunction with PU.1 expression levels using the PU.1-EYFP reporter mouse strain. While PU.1lo SLAM cells contain extensive long-term repopulating activity and a molecular signature corresponding to HSC activity at steady state, under inflammatory conditions the PU.1lo SLAM fraction is comprised almost entirely of HSC-like cells containing extensive short-term megakaryocytic potential. Our data demonstrate that the phenotypic HSC gate is heterogenous, and that similar PU.1 transcription factor levels can be tied to distinct functional activities under steady-state and inflammatory conditions.
Pulse Coupled Oscillator Based Radio System

We have seen in the previous chapter that distribution of the PCO synchronization beacon in a wireless network leads to a globally synchronized network with very stable relative timing, even in the presence of frequency mismatch and jitter. This chapter describes a transceiver system built around the PCO synchronization. The system uses a PLL to partition the PCO period into 128 time bins which are used for multiple access. Detailed analysis is done for the timing system with respect to phase-offset and jitter and specifications are defined.
A mechanically flexible, battery-powered, differential electrode unit for electrophysiological recordings

Describes a new type of micro-powered electrode configuration. The circuit consists of an instrumentation amplifier and a special AC coupling configuration that maintains a high CMRR with a gain of a 1000. All electronics, including two lithium batteries, are mounted on a flexible circuit board (FPC). The single FPC has a special shape that allows differential recording at various distances between the electrodes. The whole circuit is typically popped onto EMG electrodes so that it can be re-used many times.
Expert judgement on inadvertent human intrusion into the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

Four expert-judgment teams have developed analyses delineating possible future societies in the next 10,000 years in the vicinity of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). Expert-judgment analysis was used to address the question of future societies because neither experimentation, observation, nor modeling can resolve such uncertainties. Each of the four, four-member teams, comprised of individuals with expertise in the physical, social, or political sciences, developed detailed qualitative assessments of possible future societies. These assessments include detailed discussions of the underlying physical and societal factors that would influence society and the likely modes of human-intrusion at the WIPP, as well as the probabilities of intrusion. Technological development, population growth, economic development, conservation of information, persistence of government control, and mitigation of danger from nuclear waste were the factors the teams believed to be most important. Likely modes of human-intrusion were categorized as excavation, disposal/storage, tunneling, drilling, and offsite activities. Each team also developed quantitative assessments by providing probabilities of various alternative futures, of inadvertent human intrusion, and in some cases, of particular modes of intrusion. The information created throughout this study will be used in conjunction with other types of information, including experimental data, calculations from physical principles and computer models,more » and perhaps other judgments, as input to ``performance assessment.`` The more qualitative results of this study will be used as input to another expert panel considering markers to deter inadvertent human intrusion at the WIPP.« less
Effect of feed moisture, extrusion temperature and screw speed on properties of soy white flakes based aquafeed: a response surface analysis

BACKGROUND Soy white flakes (SWF) is an intermediate product during soy bean processing. It is an untoasted inexpensive product and contains around 51% of crude protein. It can be a potential source of protein to replace fish meal for developing aquafeed. The extrusion process is versatile and is used for the development of aquafeed. Our objective was to study the effects of inclusion of SWF (up to 50%) and other extrusion processing parameters such as barrel temperature and screw speed on the properties of aquafeed extrudates using a single-screw extruder. RESULTS Extrudate properties, including pellet durability index, bulk density, water absorption and solubility indices and mass flow rate, were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the process variables. SWF was the most significant variable with quadratic effects on most of the properties. Increasing temperature and screw speed resulted in increase in durability and mass flow rate of extrudates. Response surface regression models were established to correlate the properties of extrudates to the process variables. CONCLUSION SWF was used as an alternative protein source of fish meal. Our study shows that aquafeed with high durability, lower bulk density and lower water absorption and higher solubility indices can be obtained by adding SWF up to 40%.
Studies on the morphopoiesis of the head of phage T-even. V. The components of the T4 capsid and of other, capsid-related structures.

Abstract By applying analytical acrylamide electrophoresis to degraded purified capsid-related material, we found that (1) normal T4 capsids contain a major component, identified as a product of gene 23, plus at least two minor components, k and l, which we could not yet identify genetically; (2) capsids of the short-headed variant contain the same components as the normal ones; and (3) polyheads contain mainly the product of gene 23 and very little, if any, of the minor components k and l. The minor components can be extracted from capsids by treatment with 8 M urea at 45°. A residual capsid is left behind which, in the electron microscope, is not significantly different from the normal one. It is discussed why k and l are not likely to have a morphopoietic role, since they are identifiable neither with the product of genes 66 and 20, whose morphopoietic functions are known, nor with that of other genes known to be necessary for the production of stable heads.
ANALYSIS OF SOIL MOVEMENT AROUND A DEEP EXCAVATION

The investigation was performed to study soil movements around the 160-ft deep excavation for Buena Vista Pumping Plant in southern California. The calculated movements were compared with the observed movements around the excavation. The study described to calculate soil movements consists of two parts: the first involved conducting laboratory tests on undisturbed soil specimens to determine the strength and nonlinear properties of the soil around the excavation, and the second involved performing finite element analyses using the nonlinear soil properties to calculate soil movements and stresses at the end of excavation. The results of these analyses were found to agree well with the observed behavior of the excavation, with regard to both the magnitude of soil movements and the development of regions of local failure.
Does Competition Reduce Forecasting Bias

Psychologists and behavioral economists have documented numerous deviations from the rational expectations model of forecasting that is a common assumption of neoclassical economics. In response, it has been claimed that, while such biases may exist for individuals, firms that exhibit (costly) biases will be eradicated through competitive pressures. In this paper, I test this hypothesis directly, by examining the effects of competition on the biases of firms' sales forecasts. Using data from firm-level surveys in five African countries, I show that firms that are protected from foreign competition generate 'backward-looking' forecasts of sales growth. There is no such deviation from rational expectations among firms in markets with foreign competitors. I further provide evidence that these erroneous forecasts have real effects on these firms' inventory management.
Wound care challenges in children and adults with spina bifida: An open-cohort study

Skin breakdown is a frequent concern for individuals with spina bifida. We explored wound incidence in patients with spina bifida and how it varies across a person's life span and functional neurologic level. We examined the settings in which skin breakdown most commonly occurred, looking for evidence of chronic, non-healing wounds. We also sought to develop criteria to improve wound monitoring. We identified reported wound episodes in an open-cohort study over a 13-year period, examining the hospital and outpatient clinical records of spina bifida patients at Children's National Medical Center (CNMC). Current age, age at wound presentation, sex, weight, functional neurologic level, wound location, setting in which the wound was acquired, the development of a chronic wound, and presence of a shunt were recorded. Of the 376 patients in our clinical population, 123 (average age: 18.8 years, range: infancy-56 years) developed a total of 375 wounds; the majority of patients who developed one wound went on to develop one or more additional wounds, and 20 patients developed chronic wounds. Our data suggest that age bracket (adolescents), wheelchair use, and bare feet, as well as possibly obesity and reduced executive functioning, are key risk factors for wound development. These findings have led to a focused effort to increase wound education and prevention. In addition we report on our early experience using a wound care specialist to champion this initiative.
Apoptosis-inducing potential of Myrothamnus flabellifolius, an edible medicinal plant, on human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells

Summary. Conventional therapies for treating acute myeloid leukemia involve chemotherapy and radiation. This approach causes damage to both normal and cancerous cells resulting in several side effects. There is a dire need to discover novel drugs that selectively targets only the cancer cells with minimal effects on normal cells. Our research is an effort to identify a novel plant based drug which is edible and selectively targets only the leukemic cells with negligible effects on the normal cells. In this study, extracts from Myrothamnus flabellifolius, a South African resurrection plant was used against human leukemic cells (HL-60). M. flabellifolius is known for its anti-viral, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. Extracts from this plant also contain derivatives of galloyl and quinic acid. In literature, galloyl and quinic acid have been demonstrated to show anti-cancerous effects. Here, we investigated the anti-cancerous effects of the methanolic and petroleum ether extract of this plant on human leukemic cells (HL-60) compared to non-leukemic lymphocytes (TK6). The methanolic extract depicted reduced HL-60 cell viability while the petroleum ether extract did not. The loss in HL-60 viability in response to the methanolic extract was accompanied by the induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis by way of caspase-7 and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. This study establishes an IC 50 of 62.5 µg/ml of dry Myrothamnus extract on HL-60 leukemic cells. Industrial Relevance. The outcome of our study depicts the potential of M. flabellifolius as a cancer drug due to its selective biological activity against cancer cells. The anti-cancer effects of this plant extract did not manifest toxic side effects as it did not harm the normal lymphocytic cells. The edible nature of M. flabellifolius marks it as having a potential role in cancer treatment as a complementary medicine to the existing treatment options. Keywords . Myrothamnus flabellifolius; Anticancer; HL-60; TK6; Leukemia
Distributed Economic Model Predictive Control of a Catalytic Reactor: Evaluation of Sequential and Iterative Architectures

Abstract The development and application of distributed economic model predictive control (DEMPC) methodologies to a catalytic reactor is considered. Two DEMPC methodologies are designed for sequential and iterative implementation, respectively. The DEMPC architectures are evaluated on the basis of the closed-loop performance and on-line computation time requirements compared to a centralized EMPC approach. For the catalytic reactor considered, DEMPC proves to be a viable option as it is able to give similar closed-loop performance while reducing the on-line computation time requirements relative to a centralized EMPC strategy.
Hopx distinguishes hippocampal from lateral ventricle neural stem cells

In the adult dentate gyrus (DG) and in the proliferative zone lining the lateral ventricle (LV-PZ), radial glia-like (RGL) cells are neural stem cells (NSCs) that generate granule neurons. A number of molecular markers including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), Sox2 and nestin, can identify quiescent NSCs in these two niches. However, to date, there is no marker that distinguishes NSC origin of DG versus LV-PZ. Hopx, an atypical homeodomain only protein, is expressed by adult stem cell populations including those in the intestine and hair follicle. Here, we show that Hopx is specifically expressed in RGL cells in the adult DG, and these cells give rise to granule neurons. Assessed by non-stereological quantitation, Hopx-null NSCs exhibit enhanced neurogenesis evident by an increased number of BrdU-positive cells and doublecortin (DCX)-positive neuroblasts. In contrast, Sox2-positive, quiescent NSCs are reduced in the DG of Hopx-null animals and Notch signaling is reduced, as evidenced by reduced expression of Notch targets Hes1 and Hey2, and a reduction of the number of cells expressing the cleaved, activated form of the Notch1 receptor, the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) in Hopx-null DG. Surprisingly, Hopx is not expressed in RGL cells of the adult LV-PZ, and Hopx-expressing cells do not give rise to interneurons of the olfactory bulb (OB). These findings establish that Hopx expression distinguishes NSCs of the DG from those of the LV-PZ, and suggest that Hopx potentially regulates hippocampal neurogenesis by modulating Notch signaling.
AlGaN/GaN HEMTs with an InGaN-based back-barrier

In this work, we use an ultra-thin InGaN layer below the GaN channel to increase the confinement of the electrons. In this novel approach, the polarization induced electric field in the InGaN layer is used to raise the conduction band energy in the buffer layer with respect to the channel. With this technique, a double-heterojunction transistor can be formed without the need of a high bandgap or p-doped buffer. Poisson-Schrodinger simulations (Wu, et.al.) have confirmed the increased electron confinement at electron temperatures as high as 3000 K
Individual and Contextual Inhibitors of Sexual Harassment Training Motivation

Studies have evaluated the outcomes of sexual harassment training, but considerably less research has focused on variables that influence sexual harassment training effectiveness. To address this need, we developed and tested a model of individual and contextual inhibitors of sexual harassment training motivation to learn. Survey data collected from male and female participants across three time points were used to test the mediating role of pessimism about sexual harassment change in the relationship between sexual harassment myth endorsement and motivation to learn, as well as the moderating role of organizational tolerance for sexual harassment on the relation between sexual harassment myth endorsement and pessimism. Results were consistent with the hypotheses, and exploratory analyses also revealed unhypothesized sex differences. The strengths and limitations of the study, implications for practitioners, and directions for future research are discussed.
Non-clearing labor markets and minority employment in municipal government

This paper posits a public choice model for explaining the variation across cities in the minority share of local government employment. The paper argues that, when hiring under conditions of excess supply, vote-maximizing local public employers exchange public sector jobs for political support from identifiable special interest groups. The model is tested for two local government occupations — police officer and firefighter — using a sample of cities above 50,000 in population. The results are compatible with the basic hypothesis that the greater the excess supply for an occupation, the higher the share of minority employment in that occupation.
Photonics For Integrated Circuits And Communications

This paper reviews recent progress in the development of integrated optical circuits involving the GaAs/AfGaAs double heterostructure system. Devices utilizing periodic corrugations or gratings are considered briefly, whereas alternative attempts to fabricate optical circuits by chemical etching are discussed in detail. The InGaAsP/InP system is also considered. Recent advances in processing techniques for optical integration, including reactive ion etching, are described, along with recent measurements that correlate waveguide loss with epitaxial layer uniformity.
Monitoring Vocal Fold Abduction through Vocal Fold Contact Area

A number of commercial devices for measuring the transverse electrical conductance of the thyroid cartilage produce waveforms that can be useful for monitoring movements within the larynx during voice production, especially movements that are closely related to the time-variation of the contact between the vocal folds as they vibrate. This paper compares the various approaches that can be used to apply such a device, usually referred to as an electroglottograph, to the problem of monitoring the time-variation of vocal fold abduction and adduction during voiced speech. One method, in which a measure of relative vocal fold abduction is derived from the duty cycle of the linear-phase high pass filtered electroglottograph waveform, is developed in detail.
Cholinesterase inhibitors: applying pharmacokinetics to clinical decision making.

Abstract Background Cholinesterase inhibitors are indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer-type dementia. There are few direct comparative studies of adverse effects or studies to suggest clinical superiority of one inhibitor over the others. Objective The objective of this study was to relate pharmacokinetic differences among the agents to potential clinical considerations. Methods Population pharmacokinetics were obtained from US Food and Drug Administration–approved label information and published literature. Plasma concentration–time profiles were derived from these parameters using noncompartmental pharmacokinetic modeling. Results Plasma concentration profiles differed significantly among different agents and between different formulations of the same agent. Conclusions The initial choice among the various cholinesterase inhibitors requires consideration to adherence and cost. Consideration to differences in pharmacokinetics among these drugs provides a better understanding for the clinical practice of dose titration, identification and management of drug-related side effects, and lapses in therapy. Pharmacokinetic considerations among the various agents and formulations provide the clinician with options to enhance therapy when these agents are chosen for treatment of patients with Alzheimer-type dementia.
Micromanipulation of mitotic chromosomes in PTK2 cells using laser-induced optical forces (“optical tweezers”)

To study the potential use of optical forces to manipulate chromosome movement, we have used a Nd:YAG laser at a wavelength of 1.06 microns focused into a phase contrast microscope. Metaphase and anaphase chromosomes were exposed while being monitored by video microscopy. The results indicated that when optical forces were applied to late-moving metaphase chromosomes on the side closest to the nearest spindle pole, the trapped chromosomes initiated movement to the metaphase plate. The chromosome velocities were two to eight times the normal rate depending on the chromosome size, geometry, and trapping site. At the initiation of anaphase, a pair of chromatids could be held by the optical trap and kept motionless throughout anaphase while the other pairs of chromatids separated and moved to opposite spindle poles. As a result, the trapped chromosome either was incorporated into one of the daughter cells or was lost in the cleavage furrow, or the two chromatids eventually separated and moved to their respective daughter cells. If the trap was removed at the beginning of anaphase B, the chromosome moved back to the poles. Our experiments demonstrate that the laser-induced optical force trap is a potential new technique to study noninvasively the mitotic spindle of living cells.
Russia’s Industry in July 2013

According to the data obtained during a series of business surveys conducted by Gaidar Institute, the situation with the Russian industrial sector in July 2013 can be evaluated through a few of contradictive components, namely continued demand weakening, mass usage of the price factor for sales support, plans to curtail investments and continued layoffs are combined with minimum output growth, rapid plus adjustment to appreciations of stocks of finished products, and growing optimism with regard to production plans.
A re-examination of septal lesion-induced weight gain in female rats.

A re-examination of septal lesion-induced weight gain in female rats. PHYSIOL BEHAV Previous studies that examined the effects of knife cuts ventral to the septal area, or the pattern of anterograde degeneration after other obesity-inducing lesions or cuts, have implicated the septal area in feeding behavior. However, lesion studies have been inconsistent. In the present study, large electrolytic lesions that destroyed all or nearly all of the septal area resulted in excessive weight gain in female rats (25 g/20 days compared to 1 g/20 days for controls). Lesions confined to the ventral septum produced equal weight gains, but rats with lesions confined to the dorsal septum did not differ from controls. The excessive weight gains were accompanied by modest hyperphagia. The weight gains were not the result of incidental damage to adjacent structures such as the stria terminalis or the shell of the nucleus accumbens. It is concluded that the ventral portion of the septum is part of a limbic-hypothalamic circuitry regulating food intake in female rats.
Uneasy Alchemy: Citizens and Experts in Louisiana's Chemical Corridor Disputes

Louisiana annually reports over eight tons of toxic waste for each citizen. Uneasy Alchemy examines the role of experts -- lawyers, economists, health professionals, and scientists -- in the struggles for environmental justice in the state's infamous Chemical Corridor or "Cancer Alley." This legendary toxic zone between New Orleans and Baton Rouge is home to about 125 oil and chemical plants; cancer and respiratory illness rates there are among the highest in the nation. The efforts of residents to ensure a healthy environment is one of the most important social justice movements of the post-civil rights era.Louisiana is an especially appropriate venue for the examination of race, class, and politics within an environmental justice framework because of the critical role the chemical industry has played in the economic development of the state, and the weak record of state agencies in controlling toxic chemicals and enforcing environmental regulations. But while Louisiana suffers from some of the worst chemical pollution in the nation, it has also been the site of important environmental victories. Using ethnographic analysis of interviews with citizens, activists, and experts, media accounts, policy reports, government documents, minutes of hearings, and company statements, Barbara Allen identifies the factors that contribute to successful environmental justice efforts. She finds that the most successful strategies involved temporary alliances between local citizens and expert-activists, across lines of race and class, and between local and national organizations. These alliances were not easy to achieve -- local citizens tend to mistrust outside experts and want fast action in response to health threats -- but once formed, these powerful combinations of local and expert knowledge were an important force for action and change.
Source attribution of ambient air toxic and other VOCs in Columbus, Ohio

Abstract Chemical mass balance (CMB) source apportionment modeling was conducted on a data set of 142 3 h integrated air samples collected at 6 different sites in 3 separate campaigns during the summer of 1989 in Columbus, Ohio; source contributions to 19 light hydrocarbon and toxic VOC species, including formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, were modeled. Overall, the results indicated that area sources, and in particular vehicle exhaust and organic solvent usage by small industrial/commercial facilities, are important contributors to the major toxic VOCs measured in urban air. In addition, the temporal resolution of the measurements allowed a number of observations regarding the short-term variability of these area sources, including diurnal trends in vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapor, and natural gas sources. The natural gas source was identified as a significant source of light hydrocarbons in the Columbus area, a finding similar to that of several other recent source apportionment studies of VOCs in urban areas. The temporal and spatial variability in gasoline vapor contributions suggested that the source is associated more with mobile sources (running losses, evaporative emissions from vehicles), rather than with fixed sites such as service stations. Finally, CMB modeled source contributions were coupled with a simple box model of the study area to provide estimates of the emission rates of various area sources. The results of these calculations suggest that there are probably substantial emissions from area sources that are not included in current emissions inventories.
Biphasic effects of amphetamine on striatal dopamine dynamics.

Abstract S(+)-Amphetamine (AMPH) was administered to rats over the dose range 0.15–10.0 mg/kg (1–74 μmoles/kg) at various times before sacrifice. 15 min before sacrifice rats received an intraventricular injection of 3H-tyrosine, and the accumulation of striatal 3H-dopamine (DA) was assessed as an index of striatal DA formation and utilization. 3H-DA formation exhibited a biphasic dose response to AMPH. At 16 and 31 min after AMPH administration, 3H-DA accumulation increased linearly in response to AMPH to a maximal rate of 200% of control values at 1.0 mg/kg, then declined to less than 50% of control values at AMPH doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg. As a function of time, low doses of AMPH (to 2.0 mg/kg) only increased 3H-DA accumulation, whereas high doses of AMPH (- 2.5 mg/kg) only decreased 3H-DA accumulation. All doses of AMPH increased endogenous levels of striatal DA. The data are discussed in terms of compensatory adaptive mechanisms of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway.
Revealing posttranscriptional regulatory elements through network-level conservation.

We used network-level conservation between pairs of fly (Drosophila melanogaster/D. pseudoobscura) and worm (Caenorhabditis elegans/C. briggsae) genomes to detect highly conserved mRNA motifs in 3′ untranslated regions. Many of these elements are complementary to the 5′ extremity of known microRNAs (miRNAs), and likely correspond to their target sites. We also identify known targets of RNA-binding proteins, and many novel sites not yet known to be functional. Coherent sets of genes with similar function often bear the same conserved elements, providing new insights into their cellular functions. We also show that target sites for distinct miRNAs are often simultaneously conserved, suggesting combinatorial regulation by multiple miRNAs. A genome-wide search for conserved stem-loops, containing complementary sequences to the novel sites, revealed many new candidate miRNAs that likely target them. We also provide evidence that posttranscriptional networks have undergone extensive rewiring across distant phyla, despite strong conservation of regulatory elements themselves.