cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Location-specific biological functionalization on nanotubes: Attachment of proteins at the ends of nanotubes using Au nanocrystal masks

We developed a novel method to immobilize proteins at a specific location on nanotubes. In this report, avidin was immobilized only at the ends of peptide nanotubes using Au nanocrystals as protective masks on the sidewalls of nanotubes. While the Au nanocrystal-masked nanotubes adsorbed avidin on their entire surfaces, the chemical etching of the Au nanocrystal masks removed avidin molecules from the sidewalls, but avidin at the nanotube ends remained bound. The chemical etching process did not denature avidin and the nanotube ends could recognize and immobilize onto the complimentary biotin SAMs.
Modelling irregular samples for analyzing the risk of complications of diabetes mellitus

In this paper, we describe a novel approach to approximate and estimate the risk of complications of diabetes mellitus under the assumption that blood glucose has a daily pattern, but data are irregularly sampled and highly dependent on other factors.
Optical properties of planar and selectively grown SiGe/Si multiple quantum wells

An `ultra clean' atmospheric pressure chemical vapor phase deposition (APCVD) system has been used to grow SiGe/Si quantum well structures on planar and patterned substrates. The optical properties have been analyzed by photoluminescence (PL) and the effect of growth temperature, well width, and Ge concentration on the PL properties has been studied. Phonon resolved spectra were obtained for growth temperatures exceeding 600 degree(s)C for selective and non-selective growth. Spectra taken from selectively grown samples reveal additional lines related to dislocations and twin formation. Twinning was found predominantly along the (110) direction of the SiO 2 /Si interface, whereas interfaces along the (100) direction had a much lower defect density. Temperature resolved measurements indicate a free exciton like behavior for the no-phonon (NP) line of the SiGe quantum wells. Time resolved measurements show decay times of the SiGe NP-line in the range of 0.5 to 0.8 microsecond(s) , comparable to those found for the Si TO phonon line. This demonstrates the capability of APCVD to grow selectively and non-selectively SiGe/Si quantum well structures with low defect densities.
The Question of the Relation of Philosophy and Psychoanalysis : The Case of Kant and Freud

La difference entre psychanalyse et philosophie doit etre etablie sur la base d'une triple difference entre Kant et Freud. (1) Freud cherche une analyse de l'inconscient, alors que Kant considere la possibilite du sujet pensant. (2) L'inconscient freudien a un contenu, le sujet conscient kantien n'en a pas. (3) Le psychisme freudien est divise, alors que Kant exige l'unite transcendantale de l'experience
Loss of Heterozygosity Occurs Centromeric to RB Without Associated Abnormalities in the Retinoblastoma Gene in Tumors from Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

AbstractTumor suppressor genes have been found to have loss of function in a number of malignancies. This loss of function is believed to contribute to malignant transformation or metastatic spread. In the present study, expression of the retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor gene was examined in cell lines and tumor tissue obtained from primary renal and metastatic sites in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.Three of fifteen (20 percent) of informative renal carcinoma cell lines had loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the RB gene (intron 20) detected by polymerase chain reaction analysis. Using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, 7 of 22 (32 percent) informative cell lines had LOH centromeric to the RB gene at the D13S1 locus. No LOH (0 of 7) was seen telomeric to the RB gene at the D13S2 locus. None of the 28 cell lines examined had decreased RB mRNA expression compared with short-term cultures of proximal renal tubular cells. Western blotting demonstrated phosphorylated and ...
Preparing Second Language Teachers for Strategy Instruction: An Integrated Approach

Given current interest in strategy instruction, teacher education programs need to provide teachers with solid preparation for working with their students' learning strategies. This article discusses an approach to teacher education in which training for strategy instruction is integrated with other teaching methods instruction. Current trends in strategy instruction and teacher education are identified and the integrated approach is described. Affective questions (such as teacher resistance and receptivity) and crosscultural issues in teacher preparation for strategy instruction are discussed.
Parity violation and the evolution of biomolecular homochirality

Parity violation at the level of terrestrial biopolymers, as seen in proteins, DNAs, and RNAs, and parity violation at the level of nuclear processes, as evident in longitudinally polarized β-particles and parity-violating energy differences (PVEDs), are discussed and their fundamental importances are emphasized. Attempts to find a causal connection between the unique homochirality of biopolymers and parity violation at the nuclear level, and speculations that the former is a consequence of the latter, are reviewed. Consideration of all lines of evidence leads to the conclusion that there is no substantiation for such a causal connection, and that the two levels of parity violation are entirely independent of each other. Chirality 12:114–126, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Acid-fast staining for hooklets of echinococcus.

Recognition of well-developed hydatid disease in tissue sections or in aspirated cyst fluid usually presents no difficulties. The distinctively laminated outer capsule, the active inner germinative layer and the hydatid fluid containing characteristic brood capsules, scolices and free hooklets, are outstandingly reliable diagnostic criteria. The identification of the organism assumes more difficulty in old, arrested infections when the outer layer, and even the surrounding cellular inflammatory response, has been replaced by a wall of nonspecific, collagenous tissue and the cyst contents contain only calcified remnants of scolices. In the course of time, even the pathognomonic hooklets may no longer be recognizable.
Disc-jet coupling in black hole accretion systems - II. Force-free electrodynamical models

In Paper I, we showed that time-dependent general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) numerical models of accretion discs, although being highly turbulent, have surprisingly simple electromagnetic properties. In particular, the toroidal current density in the disc takes the form dI Φ /dr oc r -5/4 . Guided by this simplicity, we use a time-dependent general relativistic force-free electrodynamics (GRFFE) code to study an idealized problem in which the accretion disc is replaced by an infinitely thin rotating equatorial current sheet. We consider both an r -5/4 current profile and an r -1 profile, the latter corresponding to the paraboloidal model of Blandford and Znajek. The force-free magnetosphere we obtain with the r -5/4 current sheet matches remarkably well to the Poynting-dominated jet seen in GRMHD numerical models. By comparing to the non-rotating force-free model studied in Paper I, rotation is seen to lead to mild decollimation of the jet suggesting that hoop-stress forces nearly cancel centrifugal forces. In order to study the process that generates the corona and disc wind and destroys the ordered field in the corona in GRMHD numerical models, the force-free field with the r -5/4 current distribution is embedded in an accretion disc and followed in a GRMHD simulation. Field at high latitudes is continuously transported to larger radii leaving a corona with only disordered field, while in the equator the turbulent field is accreted. Reconnection and magnetic stresses contribute to a magnetized, thermal wind without the aid of an ordered field threading the disc.
Molecular Dynamics Studies of Tweed and ω -Phase Instabilities in B2 NI62.5AL37.5 Alloys

Diffuse TEM and x-ray data has been reported by several research groups that has been interpreted in terms of both tweed and (ω -phase instabilities. Computer simulations of 1,024 atom arrays were run at various temperatures using the Voter-Chen Embedded Atom Method (EAM) interactions. If the extra Ni atoms were placed at random on the Al sub-lattice of the B2 structure, at low temperatures both * and * diffuse streaking were observed in reciprocal lattice plots, indicative of tweed and ω - phase instabilities, respectively. The atomic displacements causing the diffuse streaking could generally be classified as {110} local shears, in agreement with accepted models of tweed. However, the displacements producing the * streaking were best described as coordinated atom row motions in directions, which does not agree with traditional ω -phase models based on (111) interplanar collapse. Both types of diffuse streaking decreased with increasing temperature, but the type was stronger at all temperatures and persisted to higher temperatures. Furthermore, the atomic displacements producing the streaking were static at low temperatures ( persistence times greater than 1000 vibrational periods) but became dynamic at higher temperatures ( persistence times of the order of a few vibrational periods). Another interesting result was that by merely rearranging the extra Ni atoms into an ordered superlattice pattern, virtually no diffuse streaking of any type was observed at any temperature, strongly suggesting that compositional disorder ( or other kinds of point defects) are essential to induce tweed instabilities. *The asterisk represents a quantity in reciprocal space.
Interleukin-1β augments in vitro alveolar epithelial repair

Biologically active interleukin (IL)-1β is present in the pulmonary edema fluid obtained from patients with acute lung injury and has been implicated as an important early mediator of nonpulmonary ...
MIC and time-kill study of antipneumococcal activities of RPR 106972 (a new oral streptogramin), RP 59500 (quinupristin-dalfopristin), pyostacine (RP 7293), penicillin G, cefotaxime, erythromycin, and clarithromycin against 10 penicillin-susceptible and -resistant pneumococci.

Broth MICs and time-kill studies were used to test the activity of RP 59500 (quinupristin-dalfopristin), RPR 106972, pyostacine (RP 7293), erythromycin, clarithromycin, and cefotaxime for four penicillin-susceptible (MICs of 0.008 to 0.03 microgram/ml), two penicillin-intermediate (MIC of 0.25 microgram/ml), and four penicillin-resistant (MIC of 2.0 to 4.0 micrograms/ml) strains of pneumococci: 6 of 10 strains were resistant to macrolides (MICs of > or = 0.5 microgram/ml). MICs of RP 59500 (0.5 to 1.0 microgram/ml), RPR 106972 (0.125 to 0.25 microgram/ml), and pyostacine (0.125 to 0.25 microgram/ml) did not alter with the strain's penicillin or macrolide susceptibility status. Three penicillin-susceptible strains and one penicillin-intermediate strain were susceptible to macrolides (MICs of or = 4.0 micrograms/ml. Cefotaxime MICs rose with those of penicillin G, but all strains were inhibited at MICs of < or = 2.0 micrograms/ml. RP 59500 was bactericidal for all strains after 24 h at 2 x MIC and yielded 90% killing of all strains at 6 h at 2 x MIC; at 8 x MIC, RP 59500 showed 90% killing of six strains within 10 min (approximately 0.2 h). In comparison, RPR 106972 was bactericidal for 9 of 10 strains at 2 x MIC after 24 h and yielded 90% killing of all strains at 2 x MIC after 6 h; 90% killing of six strains was found at 8 x MIC at 0.2 h. Results for pyostacine were similar to those of RPR 106972. Erythromycin and clarithromycin were bactericidal for three of four macrolide-susceptible strains after 24 h at 4 x MIC. Clarithromycin yielded 90% killing of three strains at 8 x MIC after 12 h. Cefotaxime was bactericidal for all strains after 24 h at 4 x MIC, yielding 90% killing of all strains after 6 h at 4 x MIC. All three streptogramins yielded rapid killing of penicillin- and erythromycin-susceptible and -resistant pneumococci and were the only compounds which killed significant numbers of strains at 0.2 h.
Identification, Diagnosis, and Prevention of Osteoporosis

Prevention of osteoporotic fractures is of major importance from a public health perspective. Despite the large burden the disease exacts on individuals and society, not all patients with osteoporosis receive optimal treatment. Since only 1 in 3 patients with osteoporosis is diagnosed, clinicians need to improve their ability to identify patients who are candidates for bone mineral density (BMD) screening. Although limited data exist about the direct correlation between effective screening and fracture morbidity and mortality, it has been proved that increases in fractures are associated with increases in morbidity and mortality. Therefore, identifying patients at risk, making a timely diagnosis, implementing prevention measures (ie, calcium, vitamin D, exercise, fall precautions, etc), and initiating pharmacologic therapy for appropriate patients can all help to minimize fracture risk.
Legitimate Acts by Mindie Lazarus‐Black; Global Culture

Mindie Lazarus-Black. Legitimate Acts and Illegal Encounters: Law and Society in Antigua and Barbuda. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994. Karen Fog Olwig. Global Culture, Island Identity: Continuity and Change in the Aftro–Caribbean Community of Nevis. Chur, Switzerland: Harwood Academic Publishers, 1993.
Evolving options in the management of esophageal perforation

Esophageal perforation remains a devastating event that is difficult to diagnose and manage. The majority of injuries are iatrogenic and the increasing use of endoscopic procedures can be expected to lead to an even higher incidence of esophageal perforation in coming years. Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment depend on early recognition of clinical features and accurate interpretation of diagnostic imaging. Outcome is determined by the cause and location of the injury, the presence of concomitant esophageal disease, and the interval between perforation and initiation of therapy. The overall mortality associated with esophageal perforation can approach 20%, and delay in treatment of more than 24 hours after perforation can result in a doubling of mortality. Surgical primary repair, with or without reinforcement, is the most successful treatment option in the management of esophageal perforation and reduces mortality by 50% to 70% compared with other interventional therapies.
Role of Interstitials in As TED and Clustering in Crystalline Silicon

In recent years, experimental studies [1-3] have suggested that Si interstitials may play a role in facilitating As transient enhanced diffusion duringpn junction formation in silicon. These studies contradict conventional models that assume vacancy-mediated As diffusion. Using density functional theory calculations within the generalized gradient approximation, we have examined the structure, stability, and diffusion of the neutral As-Sii pair. We find the lowest energy structure is comprised of an As and Sii atom pair that is aligned in the [110] direction while sharing a lattice site. We have calculated the binding energy as well as diffusion pathways and barriers for the neutral As-Sii pair. Our results suggest that the neutral As-Sii pair has a binding energy relative to neutral Sii and neutral As of 0.63 eV. We also find an overall diffusion activation energy of 3.3 eV, which is similar to experimental observations for As diffusion and preVious calculations for As-vacancy complex diffusion. These results clearly support that interstitials can contribute significantly to As transient enhanced diffusion, especially in regions where interstitials exist in excess. In addition, interstitial-mediated arsenic diffusion suggests that interstitials may also play a role in arsenic agglomeration.
Need for Closure and Political Orientation Among German University Students

(1997). Need for Closure and Political Orientation Among German University Students. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 137, No. 6, pp. 787-789.
Immunoregulatory CD4 + T Cell Subpopulations: Enumeration, Activation, and Functional Analyses in Normals and Autoimmune Disease

Our understanding of the regulation of the normal immune response by T cells has been advanced enormously by the recognition of two distinct subsets of mature T cells. Inducer T cells that express the CD4 cell surface glycoprotein recognize antigen when it is presented by accessory cells in the context of class II self-histocompatibility determinants—eg, HLA-DR, -DQ, -DP.1 Suppressor/cytotoxic T cells that bear the CD8 surface molecule recognize antigen along with MHC class I determinants—eg, HLA-A and -B.1 It is now clear that CD4+ T cells play a pivotal role in the induction and regulation of a variety of immunological events. These include antigen-specific or polyclonal B cell activation, proliferation and differentiation of B cells into immunoglobulin producing cells, delayed type hypersensitivity, induction of CD8+ suppressor or cytotoxic T cells, and killing of appropriate target cells.
Scatter factor regulates vascular endothelial cell motility.

AbstractScatter factors (SFs) are mesenchymal cellderived cytokines which stimulate epithelial motility. SF purified from ras-transformed 3T3 cell supernatants markedly stimulated vascular endothelial cell migration at < 100 pM. Preliminary studies suggest endothelial lines with cobblestone (epithelioid) morphology respond to SF, while those lines with elongated cells do not respond. SFs may play roles in development and tissue repair.
Dobutamine Challenge for Low-Gradient Aortic Stenosis

In adults with valvular aortic stenosis (AS), valve replacement is recommended in the presence of symptoms and severely reduced aortic valve area (AVA).1 In such patients, valve replacement improves symptoms and survival, even in the setting of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. LV dysfunction in severe AS is usually due to afterload mismatch; valve replacement relieves the afterload excess imposed by the stenotic valve and improves LV performance. 2 However, a subset of patients with “ severe” AS, LV dysfunction, and low-transvalvular gradient has been reported to have a relatively high operative mortality and poor prognosis.2–4⇓⇓ This clinical scenario has been termed “low-flow, low-gradient AS.” Accurate assessment of AVA in such patients is difficult because (1) calculated AVA is directly proportional to forward stroke volume, and (2) the Gorlin constant varies at low-flow states. 5–7⇓⇓ Some patients with low-flow, low-gradient AS have a reduced AVA as a result of inadequate forward stroke volume rather than anatomic stenosis, a situation analogous to reduced anterior mitral leaflet excursion in dilated cardiomyopathy where there is not enough forward flow to fully open the valve. For example, Cannon et al 8 showed that some patients with low-gradient AS were found to have only mild AS at surgery despite a Gorlin AVA indicating critical AS. Obviously, surgical therapy is unlikely to benefit such patients because their primary pathology is a cardiomyopathy. On the other hand, patients with severe anatomic AS may benefit from valve replacement despite the increased operative risk associated with a low-flow, low-gradient hemodynamic state. The recent American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines for managing valvular heart disease recommends hemodynamic evaluation of low-flow, low-gradient AS using dobutamine echocardiography to distinguish patients with fixed anatomic AS from those with flow-dependent (“ relative”) AS in patients with LV …
Estimation and modeling of the harmonic drive transmission in the Mitsubishi PA-10 robot arm

The purpose of this paper is to present our results in developing a dynamic model of the Mitsubishi PA-10 robot arm for the purpose of low velocity trajectory tracking using very low feedback gains. The novelty of this research is therefore the development of a systematic algorithm to extract the model parameters of a harmonic drive transmission in the robot arm to facilitate model-based control. We have chosen the elbow pitch joint (joint 4) of the PA-10 robot arm for estimation and modeling purposes. We have done several experiments to identify the various parameters of the harmonic drive system. We conclude with a sample trajectory tracking task whereby the feedback torque required to do trajectory tracking with and without the parameter identification of the HDT is significantly different.
Differential Distribution and Function of Hyperpolarization-Activated Channels in Sensory Neurons and Mechanosensitive Fibers

Sensory neurons express hyperpolarization-activated currents (I(H)) that differ in magnitude and kinetics within the populations. We investigated the structural basis for these differences and explored the functional role of the I(H) channels in sensory neurons isolated from rat nodose ganglia. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated a differential distribution of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) protein (HCN1, HCN2, HCN4) in sensory neurons and peripheral terminals. HCN2 and HCN4 immunoreactivity was present in all nodose neurons. In contrast, only 20% of the total population expressed HCN1 immunoreactivity. HCN1 did not colocalize with IB4 (a marker for C-type neurons), and only 15% of HCN1-positive neurons colocalized with immunoreactivity for the vanilloid receptor VR1, another protein associated primarily with C-type neurons. Therefore, most HCN1-containing neurons were A-type neurons. In further support, HCN1 was present in the mechanosensitive terminals of myelinated but not unmyelinated sensory fibers, whereas HCN2 and HCN4 were present in receptor terminals of both myelinated and unmyelinated fibers. In voltage-clamp studies, cell permeant cAMP analogs shifted the activation curve for I(H) to depolarized potentials in C-type neurons but not A-type neurons. In current-clamp recording, CsCl, which inhibits only I(H) in nodose neurons, hyperpolarized the resting membrane potential from -63 +/- 1 to -73 +/- 2 mV and nearly doubled the input resistance from 1.3 to 2.2 GOmega. In addition, action potentials were initiated at lower depolarizing current injections in the presence of CsCl. At the sensory receptor terminal, CsCl decreased the threshold pressure for initiation of mechanoreceptor discharge. Therefore, elimination of the I(H) increases excitability of both the soma and the peripheral sensory terminals.
Statistical Tropical Cyclone Wind Radii Prediction Using Climatology and Persistence

An operational model used to predict tropical cyclone wind structure in terms of significant wind radii (i.e., 34-, 50-, and 64-kt wind radii, where 1 kt 0.52 m s 1 ) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Department of Defense/Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) is described. The statistical-parametric model employs aspects of climatology and persistence to forecast tropical cyclone wind radii through 5 days. Separate versions of the model are created for the Atlantic, east Pacific, and western North Pacific by statistically fitting a modified Rankine vortex, which is generalized to allow wavenumber-1 asymmetries, to observed values of tropical cyclone wind radii as reported by NHC and JTWC. Descriptions of the developmental data and methods used to formulate the model are given. A 2-yr verification and comparison with operational forecasts and an independently developed wind radii forecast method that also employs climatology and persistence suggests that the statistical-parametric model does a good job of forecasting wind radii. The statistical-parametric model also provides reliable operational forecasts that serve as a baseline for evaluating the skill of operational forecasts and other wind radii forecast methods in these tropical cyclone basins.
Verifying Distributed Protocols using MSC-Assertions, Run-time Monitoring, and Automatic Test Generation

This paper addresses the need for formal specification and runtime verification of system-level requirements of distributed reactive systems. It describes a formalism for specifying global system behaviors in terms of message sequence chart assertions and a technique for the evaluation of the likelihood of success of a distributed protocol under non-trivial communication conditions via discrete event simulation and runtime execution monitoring. We constructed a proof-of-concept prototype for the leader-election algorithm within a 4-node ring network. The prototype consists of the following components: (i) an OMNeT++ model of the network using non-trivial communication conditions, (ii) C+ + code for the network agents, (Hi) a system-level assertion stipulating the formal requirement for a correct, time- bound, leader election, (iv) simulation of the formal assertion, (v) automatic scenario generation, and (vi) run-time monitoring of the formal assertion and stochastic-based estimation of the likelihood of success of this assertion under the specified communication conditions.
Molecular Changes After Left Ventricular Assist Device Support for Heart Failure

Heart failure is associated with remodeling that consists of adverse cellular, structural, and functional changes in the myocardium. Until recently, this was thought to be unidirectional, progressive, and irreversible. However, irreversibility has been shown to be incorrect because complete or partial reversal can occur that can be marked after myocardial unloading with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Patients with chronic advanced heart failure can show near-normalization of nearly all structural abnormalities of the myocardium or reverse remodeling after LVAD support. However, reverse remodeling does not always equate with clinical recovery. The molecular changes occurring after LVAD support are reviewed, both those demonstrated with LVAD unloading alone in patients bridged to transplantation and those occurring in the myocardium of patients who have recovered enough myocardial function to have the device removed. Reverse remodeling may be attributable to a reversal of the pathological mechanisms that occur in remodeling or the generation of new pathways. A reduction in cell size occurs after LVAD unloading, which does not necessarily correlate with improved cardiac function. However, some of the changes in both the cardiac myocyte and the matrix after LVAD support are specific to myocardial recovery. In the myocyte, increases in the cytoskeletal proteins and improvements in the Ca²⁺ handling pathway seem to be specifically associated with myocardial recovery. Changes in the matrix are complex, but excessive scarring appears to limit the ability for recovery, and the degree of fibrosis in the myocardium at the time of implantation may predict the ability to recover.
Asset Pricing with Status Risk

This paper examines the impact of status-seeking considerations on investors' portfolio choices and asset prices in a general equilibrium setting. The economy studied in this paper consists of traditional ("Markowitz") investors as well as status-seekers who are concerned about relative wealth. The model highlights the strategic and interdependent nature of portfolio selection in such a setting: Low-status investors look for portfolio choices that maximize their chances of moving up the ladder while high-status investors look to maintain the status quo and hedge against these choices of the low-status investors. In equilibrium, asset returns obey a novel two-factor model in which one factor is the traditional market factor and the other is a particular "high volatility factor" that does not appear to have been identified so far in the theoretical or empirical literature. This two-factor model found significant support when tested with stock market data. Of particular interest is that the model and the empirical results attribute the low returns on idiosyncratic volatility stocks to their covariance with the portfolio of highly volatile stocks held by investors with relatively low status.
Active Learning with support Vector machines in the drug discovery process

We investigate the following data mining problem from computer-aided drug design: From a large collection of compounds, find those that bind to a target molecule in as few iterations of biochemical testing as possible. In each iteration a comparatively small batch of compounds is screened for binding activity toward this target. We employed the so-called “active learning paradigm” from Machine Learning for selecting the successive batches. Our main selection strategy is based on the maximum margin hyperplanegenerated by “Support Vector Machines”. This hyperplane separates the current set of active from the inactive compounds and has the largest possible distance from any labeled compound. We perform a thorough comparative study of various other selection strategies on data sets provided by DuPont Pharmaceuticals and show that the strategies based on the maximum margin hyperplane clearly outperform the simpler ones.
Insulin-mediated signaling promotes proliferation and survival of glioblastoma through Akt activation.

Background Metabolic complications such as obesity, hyperglycemia, and type 2 diabetes are associated with poor outcomes in patients with glioblastoma. To control peritumoral edema, use of chronic high-dose steroids in glioblastoma patients is common, which can result in de novo diabetic symptoms. These metabolic complications may affect tumors via profound mechanisms, including activation of insulin receptor (InsR) and the related insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) in malignant cells. Methods In the present study, we assessed expression of InsR in glioblastoma surgical specimens and glioblastoma response to insulin at physiologically relevant concentrations. We further determined whether genetic or pharmacological targeting of InsR affected oncogenic functions of glioblastoma in vitro and in vivo. Results We showed that InsR was commonly expressed in glioblastoma surgical specimens and xenograft tumor lines, with mitogenic isoform-A predominating. Insulin at physiologically relevant concentrations promoted glioblastoma cell growth and survival, potentially via Akt activation. Depletion of InsR impaired cellular functions and repressed orthotopic tumor growth. The absence of InsR compromised downstream Akt activity, but yet stimulated IGF1R expression. Targeting both InsR and IGF1R with dual kinase inhibitors resulted in effective blockade of downstream signaling, loss of cell viability, and repression of xenograft tumor growth. Conclusions Taken together, our work suggests that glioblastoma is sensitive to the mitogenic functions of insulin, thus significant insulin exposure imposes risks to glioblastoma patients. Additionally, dual inhibition of InsR and IGF1R exhibits promise for treating glioblastoma.
Protein–protein interactions in plant mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) form tightly controlled signaling cascades that play essential roles in plant growth, development, and defense. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying MAPK cascades are still elusive, due largely to our poor understanding of how they relay the signals. Extensive effort has been devoted to characterization of MAPK-substrate interactions to illustrate phosphorylation-based signaling. The diverse MAPK substrates identified also shed light on how spatiotemporal-specific protein-protein interactions function in distinct MAPK cascade-mediated biological processes. This review surveys various technologies used for characterizing MAPK-substrate interactions and presents case studies of MPK4 and MPK6, highlighting the multiple functions of MAPKs. Mass spectrometry-based approaches in identifying MAPK-interacting proteins are emphasized due to their increasing utility and effectiveness. The potential for using MAPKs and their substrates in enhancing plant stress tolerance is also discussed.
Voice of the Arabs Radio: Its Effects and Political Power during the Nasser Era (1953-1967)

The Voice of the Arabs radio program was one of the most prominent instrument known to the Arab World. The radio was one of the most influential media tool in Arab media history. Its message played a significant role in changing the map of Arab politics in 1950s, creating the concept of Arab Nationalism and marked the real beginning of media politics in the Arab world. This paper studies how the radio was used to spread propaganda and create large-scale ideological campaigns against perceived enemies (imperialist and colonialist) of national security, sovereignty, and political monopoly. Also, this paper investigates the elements of political power in The Voice of the Arabs radio program especially in war and its impact on the international masses. Finally, how the radio show reflected diplomatically and politically on other Arab countries as well as on the West, then, how the U.K. and the U.S. responded to the radio.
Examining e-extension: diffusion, disruption, and rate of adoption among Iowa State University Extension and Outreach professionals

The purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions of eXtension held by Iowa Extension professionals and their rate of adoption of the online resource using Rogers’s (2003) diffusion of innovations theory and Christensen’s (1997) disruptive innovation theory. Specifically, the study looked at Iowa Extension professionals’ perceptions and stage of adoption of eXtension. The study also examined the relationship among Iowa Extension professionals’ background characteristics and their perceptions of the online resource in addition to whether respondents’ perceptions of eXtension predicted stage of adoption. A census survey was disseminated to 975 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach professionals. A final response rate of 44% (n=429) was obtained and included the respondents from the pilot study. The highest number of respondents reported that they were familiar with eXtension— persuasion stage and third stage of adoption (n=139, 32.63%). One quarter of the respondents remained at the no knowledge stage of eXtension (n=109, 25.59%), 16% of respondents were at the knowledge stage (n=68), less than 1% were at the decision stage (n=3), 15% were at the implementation stage (n=65), and 10% were at the highest stage of confirmation (n=42). 75% of Iowa Extension professionals indicated have made a decision to use or not use eXtension in their work. Respondents were shown to have more favorable perceptions of eXtension’s perceived relative advantage, accessibility and capacity attributes, while the compatibility, complexity, observability, trialability, affordability, responsiveness, and customization attributes were neutrally perceived. In addition, eXtension was perceived to exhibit only two of the disruptive innovation attributes (accessibility and capacity). The technology was
Detection ofABH Tissue Isoantigens by Immunoperoxidase Methods in Normal and Neoplastic Urothelium: Comparison with the Erythrocyte Adherence Method

The expression of the ABH blood group antigens (BGAg) by carcarinomas of the urinary bladder at the time of initial biopsy heralds a relatively benign clinical course, whereas antigen deletion in histologically similar tumors is often predictive of tumor recurrences and invasion. The use of BGAg as a tumor marker in the clinical setting has been limited by difficulties in demonstrating BGAg in tissue sections with the erythrocyte adherence test, especially for antigen H. In this study, immunoperoxidase methods were used to detect BGAg in deparaffinized tissue sections of normal and malignant human urothelium, and the results were compared with those of the erythrocyte adherence test performed on adjacent sections. Results with the two methods were similar for antigens A and B; however, a novel lectin-antilectin immunoperoxidase method was clearly superior for detecting antigen H. The immunoperoxidase method significantly reduced false-positive test results for antigen deletion in normal urothelium and more accurately predicted the subsequent clinical course in patients having urinary bladder cancer.
In vivo Imaging of Nanoparticle Delivery and Tumor Microvasculature with Multimodal Optical Coherence Tomography

Photothermal OCT is used to monitor gold nanoparticle delivery in tumors with co-registered speckle variance OCT of vascular morphology. This work demonstrates multimodal OCT as a tool to optimize in vivo drug delivery platforms.
Cocoon formation in patients with midgut neuroendocrine tumors: a rare and unrecognized final pathway.

OBJECTIVES Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are relatively rare with an indolent nature. As a result, treatment is often delayed and passive. The most commonly recognized disease progression leading to death is from the sequelae of bowel obstruction, ischemia, or liver failure secondary to liver metastasis. We recently recognized a rare cocoon-like formation in patients with metastatic gastroenteropancreatic NETs and hypothesize that this may be a distinct, final pathway for these patients. METHODS Ten patients with stage IV gastroenteropancreatic NETs, seen at our center between October 2008 and November 2011, who developed a cocoon were identified. Patient's charts, operative reports, pathology, and tumor markers were reviewed. RESULTS No discernable predictors were identified as precursors to this condition. One patient survived 13 months after cocoon diagnosis, and the remaining 9 patients were all deceased within 5 months. Surgical treatment was attempted in 6 patients and was only partially successful in 1 patient who had the earliest stage of cocoon formation (type 1). CONCLUSIONS Cocoon-like formations in patients with stage IV gastroenteropancreatic NETs is rare and may be a terminal disease progression that has not been previously recognized. The best treatment option remains unknown. Surgical treatment is not advisable, with the exception of type 1 abdominal cocoons.
New Chemistry for the Sol-Gel Process: Acetone as a New Condensation Reagent

A nonhydrolytic sol-gel process that uses acetone as the condensation reagent is described. In the new process, the hydrocarbon soluble Zn(OCEt 3 ) 2 is converted to a rigid, transparent gel and then to ZnO by an aldol-condensation-elimination sequence. The chemical pathway for the transformation has been established, and differs completely from the pathway for the conventional hydrolytic sol-gel processing of alkoxide precursors. The new, nonhydrolytic strategy may prove applicable to a variety of metal-alkoxide systems.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Aerobic Exercise for Survivors of Sexual Violence with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Feasibility Study

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Aerobic Exercise for Survivors of Sexual Violence with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Feasibility Study Sexual violence is a significant and pervasive public health issue impacting women. Due to the high prevalence rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among this population, women who have experienced sexual assault may constitute the largest group of individuals suffering from PTSD in the United States. Although effective treatments for PTSD have been developed, survivors of sexual violence may be reluctant to seek formal treatment such as psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy and remission may be difficult to obtain using these interventions. Given that research supports the psychological benefits of aerobic exercise for reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, which commonly co-occur with PTSD, aerobic exercise may also reduce symptoms of PTSD. We discuss a strategy to examine the impact and feasibility of incorporating an adjunct aerobic exercise intervention as a treatment for PTSD among women who experienced sexual violence. Fourteen participants received cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or CBT plus group aerobic exercise sessions (CBT+E). Feasibility was measured by participant retention and adherence. Acceptability was assessed using a questionnaire. The findings support that it is feasible to conduct a study to evaluate a package of interventions that include an evidence-based treatment for PTSD and aerobic exercise. The high rates of participant retention and satisfaction suggest that exercise is an acceptable intervention among this population. Our results indicate that a large, randomized controlled trial to explore the efficacy of aerobic exercise for the treatment of PTSD among adult women survivors of sexual violence would be safe and feasible. Methodological challenges in conducting this research as well as suggestions for further examination of exercise interventions with adult survivors of sexual violence are discussed.
Is endoscopic resection of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors safe

Gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) commonly present as an incidental finding on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Advances in endoscopic technology have allowed some to perform attempted excision of these lesions endoscopically. The oncologic implications of such an approach remain unclear. A-74-year-old man initially presented with an incidental finding of a 1.6 x 1.8-cm c-kit-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumor with low mitotic activity in the gastric fundus. The patient underwent an attempted endoscopic resection of this mass resulting in incomplete excision and gastric perforation. There was immediate conversion to a celiotomy and the patient underwent partial gastrectomy; there was no evidence of metastatic GIST. Three years later, the patient was noted to have an asymptomatic large pelvic mass (4 x 7 cm) on CT scan and was referred for evaluation. Subsequent surgical exploration revealed a single mass adherent to the pelvic sidewall that was resected. Subsequent pathology demonstrated a c-kit-positive GIST consistent with metastatic disease. Eighteen months later, the patient remains free of disease. Complications from endoscopic resection of gastric GIST may be associated with peritoneal dissemination of disease. This should be considered when formulating a strategy for management of gastric GIST. Complete transperitoneal excision (either open or laparoscopic) with clear margins and without tumor rupture remains the gold standard for management of gastric GIST.
Power, Control, and the Ownership of Language

So what can be said about who owns language? The fields of law, linguistics, and other social sciences have their own standards, based on the knowledge, research, and principles of their respective fields. These differences grow out of quite conflicting views of where the standardization comes from and how it works. As was pointed out in chapter 1, the authority of law, attorneys, money, as opposed to the way linguists document the natural processes of language change, can come in conflict when placed together in the same arena, such as a trademark case.
LISe pixel detector for neutron imaging

Abstract Semiconducting lithium indium diselenide, 6 LiInSe 2 or LISe, has promising characteristics for neutron detection applications. The 95% isotopic enrichment of 6 Li results in a highly efficient thermal neutron-sensitive material. In this study, we report on a proof-of-principle investigation of a semiconducting LISe pixel detector to demonstrate its potential as an efficient neutron imager. The LISe pixel detector had a 4×4 of pixels with a 550 µm pitch on a 5×5×0.56 mm 3 LISe substrate. An experimentally verified spatial resolution of 300 µm was observed utilizing a super-sampling technique.
Studies on Leaf Surface Lipid of Tobacco I

Duvatrienediol is a diterpene specifically occurred in tobacco plants and thought to be a precursor of tobacco aroma. Green tobacco leaves contained 0.2_??_1% of duvatrienediol per dry weight and it was corresponded to 30_??_60% of leaf surface lipid. Leaves on upper stalk position contained more of leaf surface lipid and duvatrienediol. In leaves on each stalk position, leaf surface lipid and duvatrienediol contents increased with leaf growth and decreased by over-maturation. Production of leaf surface lipid and duvatrienediol was affected by soil conditions or applied amount of nitrogen fertilizer. Both leaf surface lipid and duvatrienediol were decreased during curing of tobacco leaves, but the change in the latter was more drastic. Comparing to leaf surface lipid, changes in cytoplasmic lipid were less during growth and senescence of tobacco leaves.
Cytotoxic T Cell Effector and Memory Function in Viral Immunity

The first evidence that virus-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are primary effectors in vivo came shortly after the discovery of major histo- compatibility complex (MHC)-restricted CD8+ CTL activity (Zinkernagel and Doherty 1974). Adoptive transfer of immune spleen cells from mice of MHC type A into A or (AxB) F1, but not B, virus-infected recipients caused massive inflammatory pathology (Doherty and Zinkernagel 1975; DOHERTY et al. 1976b) and acute elimination of the pathogen (BLANDEN et al. 1975a; Zinkernagel and Welsh 1976). This was repeated for situations in which A and B represented different MHC haplotypes or distinct allelic forms of class I MHC glycoproteins (Doherty and Zinkernagel 1975; Blanden et al. 1975b; Doherty et al. 1976a). The analysis was extended to H-2 mutant mice and, again, the spectrum of cross-reactivity for T cell effector function in vivo and CTL activity in vitro seemed to run in parallel (Doherty et al. 1976a; Zinkernagel and Doherty 1979).
Modeling Kinetics of Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Poultry Litter and Wheat Straw Mixed with Municipal Wastewater in a Continuously Mixed Digester with Biological Solid Recycle Using Batch Experimental Data

The half-saturation rate coefficient and maximum rate constant in the Monod model, yield coefficient defined as the ratio of microbial mass to substrate mass, and endogenous decay coefficient are important kinetic parameters for design of anaerobic digestion. These parameters are usually determined from a continuous stable operation of anaerobic digestion, which is more difficult and complex than batch operation in laboratory scale. In this study, a novel method has been developed to determine those parameters from data of batch experiments. To verify this method, kinetics of batch anaerobic co-digestion of poultry litter and wheat straw mixed with municipal wastewater at three total solid (TS) levels (2, 4, and 8% TS) and 50% volatile solid (VS) of wheat straw (VSWS) were investigated. The results showed that the maximum specific methane volume (209 mL (initial g VS)−1)) was reached at 4% TS of 50% VSWS. Using the developed method, the kinetic parameters of endogenous decay coefficient, yield coefficient...
Early Detection of Nonnative Alleles in Fish Populations: When Sample Size Actually Matters

Reliable detection of nonnative alleles is crucial for the conservation of sensitive native fish populations at risk of introgression. Typically, nonnative alleles in a population are detected through the analysis of genetic markers in a sample of individuals. Here we show that common assumptions associated with such analyses yield substantial overestimates of the likelihood of detecting nonnative alleles. We present a revised equation to estimate the likelihood of detecting nonnative alleles in a population with a given level of admixture. The new equation incorporates the effects of the genotypic structure of the sampled population and shows that conventional methods overestimate the likelihood of detection, especially when nonnative or F-1 hybrid individuals are present. Under such circumstances—which are typical of early stages of introgression and therefore most important for conservation efforts—our results show that improved detection of nonnative alleles arises primarily from increasing the number...