cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The USDA CSREES Higher Education Program: Doctoral Fellowships in the National Need Area of Management and Marketing

The objective of this study is to summarize the HEP graduate fellowship program in the national need area of management and marketing. The fellowships are the most prestigious in the agricultural sciences in the United States and the monetary amount of the fellowship is the highest in the agricultural sciences at $22,000 per year. Almost 40 percent of all graduated fellows are currently employed in academic positions in the United States and are represented on the faculty of 27 universities. This program could serve as a model for other countries that seek to develop similar fellowships for the purpose of creating a cadre of leaders within agribusiness management. It is important that qualified fellows be recruited, trained, and graduated from doctoral programs that have demonstrated success in training students in the national need of management and marketing.
Dynamical Emergence of Complex Structures in Field Theories

Nonlinear field theories can be used to study both standard physics questions, or to study questions such as the emergence of order and complexity. These theories are generally derived from the symmetries of a given problem and the interactions that respect those symmetries. Formally one can then quantize the system to find the masses of the fundamental excitations, but this procedure generally destroys much information about solutions of the field equations with large non-perturbative amplitudes. To get information about the properties of the solutions to these field theories without perturbative approximations we use real time lattice simulations where complex spatiotemporal structures emerge dynamically from excess free energy and a thermal background. We present results in 2 and 3 dimensions of new interacting quasi-particle formations from a quench. These objects show an emergent level of complexity which we attempt to categorize and define in a manner that should be useful to many different applications.
Nanoscale Resonance Energy Transfer-Based Devices for Probabilistic Computing

Despite the theoretical advances in probabilistic computing, a fundamental mismatch persists between the deterministic hardware that traditional computers use and the stochastic nature of probabilistic algorithms. In this article, the authors propose Resonance Energy Transfer (RET) between chromophores as an enabling technology for probabilistic computing functional units. As a natural continuous-time Markov chain, RET networks can physically implement efficient samplers with arbitrary probability distributions and have great potential for accelerating probabilistic algorithms.
Establishing seating and wheeled mobility research priorities.

Purpose. The Mobility Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center at the Georgia Institute of Technology held its State of the Science Conference to address challenges in studying the health, activity and participation of wheelchair users. The purpose of this project was to collect and report seating and wheeled mobility research priorities.Methods. Invitations were sent to researchers, clinicians, policy makers, manufacturers, methodologists, wheelchair users and federal funding agency scientists. Invitees submitted their three most important wheeled mobility and seating issues. Submissions were blinded and collated into distinct topic areas with the most oft-mentioned topics comprising seven priority topics within each of the mobility and seating areas. Conference attendees voted on these topic areas, narrowing the priorities into four mobility and four seating/posture topics.Results. The Wheeled Mobility research priorities included: impact of long term wheelchair use, relating activity & participation ...
IMPACT OF PULMONARY HYPERTENSION ON OUTCOME AFTER SINGLE-LUNG TRANSPLANTATION

Abstract Single lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension (PH) remains a controversial therapy. We retrospectively studied 48 consecutive recipients of single-lung allografts to determine if preoperative PH was associated with increased mortality or morbidity. Recipients were divided into two groups; those who did not have preoperative PH, defined as mean pulmonary arterial pressure less than or equal to 30 mm Hg (n = 29; group 1), and those recipients with PH who had a mean pulmonary arterial pressure greater than 30 mm Hg (n = 19; group II). Mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance decreased significantly after transplantation in recipients with PH. These values remained significantly higher as compared with those in recipients without pretransplantation PH. Postoperative pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scans demonstrated significant ventilation/perfusion mismatch in lung allografts with pretransplantation PH ( p p p
Some Potential Linkages for Input-Output Analysis with Flow-of-Funds

Three major, interrelated accounting statements, at the frontiers of quantitative economic analysis, are three interrelated systems, namely: (1) National income and product accounts (NIPA), (2) The input-output tableaux, (IO), and (3) flow-of- funds accounts (FF). The third-mentioned system is somewhat less available and used in only limited areas of macroeconomic analysis. This paper is mainly concerned with use of FF accounting systems. This system shows where financial resources originate, and where they go in support of real capital formation. In this respect, interest rates and other market-based financial rates are of key importance. While much macroeconomic analysis is based on the rates that fit the yield curve, showing the interest rate structure over various maturities of debt associated with a given degree of risk. In contrast, the FF accounts throw light on the whole spectrum of interest rates, across maturities and debt qualities. For example, in analysis of the real estate market and funding...
The role of Landau-Darrieus instability in large scale flows

Abstract To gain insight into the role of the Landau-Darrieus instability in the “flamelet” regime of turbulent premixed combustion, the propagation of unstable flames was simulated in flows with a scale much larger than the flame thickness. The simulations were performed using a method that approximates the flame as a discontinuity in the flow. The flow field through which the flame propagated was a periodic array of “square vortices.” From the results of the simulations, it was determined that, although the scale at which the Landau-Darrieus instability has its maximum effect may be much smaller than the flow scale, flame wrinkles with a scale smaller than the flow scale do not develop. This has the consequence that for the flamelet regime of turbulent combustion the smallest flame wrinkling scale will most likely be determined by the flow, not the Landau-Darrieus instability. We also found that although the instability did not induce small scale wrinkling, it did have a significant effect on the mean consumption rate of the flame. For unstable flames, the flame distortions created by the vortices were much larger in amplitude than the distortions of a stable flame. This resulted in an increased consumption rate relative to a stable flame because of the increased surface area of the flame. It is suggested that in the flamelet regime of turbulent combustion the Landau-Darrieus instability will have a similar effect at least for weak to moderate flow intensities such as the ones studied here.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Label Use among College Students

Abstract This study examined the relationships among nutrition education, knowledge, attitude, use of nutritional supplements, and label reading behavior among 537 randomly selected college students using a conceptual model. The majority of the respondents were women, undergraduate students, and nonsmokers. The mean age was 23±6.1 years. A higher percentage of undergraduate students and women had prior exposure to nutrition education, a positive attitude, and greater knowledge of food labels as compared to their graduate and male peers. The structural equation model indicated nutrition education, age, sex, and attitude predicted label use; prior nutrition education and a positive attitude exhibited the strongest (direct) effects on label reading behavior. Attitude mediated the relationship between knowledge and label reading behavior. The indexes of fit for the tested model indicated a good fit; the predictors accounted for 44% of the variance in label usage.
Abstract 13: Expression of mutant c-KIT isoforms in fibroblasts causes tumorigenic transformation

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL The type III membrane tyrosine kinase receptor c-KIT is a proto-oncogene and has been shown to harbor activating mutations in a variety of cancers in humans and dogs. Specifically, deletion in codon 556-558, changing VQWKVV to VQFV (Del2) and deletion in codon 556-557, changing VQWKVV to VQVV (Del9) have been observed in both human and canine human gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). These and similar deletions are also found in some canine mast cell tumors (MCTs). In addition, internal tandem repeat duplications in exon 11 are also observed in canine MCTs. However, the significance of these mutations in driving the tumorigenic process has not been previously assessed. To directly test the hypothesis that mutant c-KIT isoforms observed in spontaneous tumors in humans and dogs are capable of driving the tumorigenic process, each isoform was ectopically expressed in canine primary fibroblasts which normally do not express c-KIT. Transfection of cells with constructs each expressing either the two exon 11 deletion mutants (Del2 and Del9) and one exon 11 duplication mutant, but not normal c-KIT, resulted in neoplastic transformation in vitro. Each transformed cell line was evaluated for the tumorigenic phenotype via the ability to invade matrigel, grow on soft agar and grow in low serum. All transformed cells displayed an invasive tumorigenic phenotype in contrast to normal fibroblasts. In vivo tumorigencity of each transformed cell line was evaluated using subcutaneous injection of one hundred thousand or one million cells of each cell line at three sites each in NSG (NOD scid gamma) immunodeficient mice. All transformed cell lines resulted in tumors at the injection site regardless of the dose. Histologically, all appeared to be sarcomas, with some showing ostoid deposition, thereby warranting the diagnosis of osteosarcoma. With Del2 transformed cells, five of the six tumors were osteosarcomas with two showing metastatic lesions upon necropsy. With Del9 transformed cells three out of six tumors were osteosarcomas and no metastasis was noted. With the duplication mutation three out of the six tumors were osteosarcoma. These findings provide strong support that these mutant c-KIT isoforms are sufficient to derive the tumorigenic process. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 13. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-13
Hydration behavior under confinement by nanoscale surfaces with patterned hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity

We perform molecular dynamics simulations of water confined between nanoscale surfaces (≈3.2 × 3.2 nm2) with various patterns of hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity at T = 300 K, −0.05 GPa ≤ P ≤ 0.2 GPa, and plate separations 0.5 nm ≤ d ≤ 1.6 nm. We find that the water surface density in the first hydration layer is considerably higher at a hydrophobic patch surrounded by hydrophilic borders than it is at a purely hydrophobic surface with the same area, highlighting the importance of heterogeneity on hydrophobicity at nanoscopic length scales. Increasing the pressure causes a progressive blurring of the difference between interfacial water densities manifest at hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, with only minor differences remaining at 0.2 GPa. At P = −0.05 GPa and d = 0.6 nm, a single layer of hydrophilic sites along the border of the hydrophobic nanoscale plates is sufficient to prevent bulk cavitation, in contrast to the behavior observed in the absence of the hydrophilic sites. At small separation be...
Downstream trends in discharge, slope, and stream power in a lower coastal plain river

Conceptual models of river-estuary interaction are typically based on a notion of systematic downstream change in the intensity of fluvial processes. Low slopes, backwater effects, and effects of antecedent topography and landforms may complicate downstream tends in water and sediment flux in coastal plain rivers. An analysis of the lower Trinity River, Texas shows no consistent downstream pattern of increases or decreases in the discharge, stream power, or water surface slope. Flows may decrease downstream due to coastal backwater effects in the lowermost reaches, and due to diversion of flow into valley-bottom depressions during high flows in both the fluvial and fluvial-estuarine transition reaches. In general, however, stream power and slope decrease in the lower reaches, consistent with earlier findings of limited fluvial sediment delivery to the coastal zone. Some tributaries may become distributaries at high but sub-bankfull flows, as backwater effects reverse flows into depressions associated with paleomeanders. The paleomeanders, and possibly the locations of these "reversible" channels, are related to antecedent topography associated with aggradation/degradation cycles over the past 100 Ka. Low-gradient coastal plain rivers may not function as simple conduits from land to sea. Further, the transition from fluvial to coastal dominance may be variable along the river, with the variability controlled not just by the relative magnitude of river and tidal or backwater forcing, but also by valley topography controlled in part by antecedent landforms.
Pitted rock surfaces on Mars: A mechanism of formation by transient melting of snow and ice

[1] Pits in rocks on the surface of Mars have been observed at several locations. Similar pits are observed in rocks in the Mars-like hyperarid, hypothermal stable upland zone of the Antarctic Dry Valleys; these form by very localized chemical weathering due to transient melting of small amounts of snow on dark dolerite boulders preferentially heated above the melting point of water by sunlight. We examine the conditions under which a similar process might explain the pitted rocks seen on the surface of Mars (rock surface temperatures above the melting point; atmospheric pressure exceeding the triple point pressure of H2O; an available source of solid water to melt). We find that on Mars today each of these conditions is met locally and regionally, but that they do not occur together in such a way as to meet the stringent requirements for this process to operate. In the geological past, however, conditions favoring this process are highly likely to have been met. For example, increases in atmospheric water vapor content (due, for example, to the loss of the south perennial polar CO2 cap) could favor the deposition of snow, which if collected on rocks heated to above the melting temperature during favorable conditions (e.g., perihelion), could cause melting and the type of locally enhanced chemical weathering that can cause pits. Even when these conditions are met, however, the variation in heating of different rock facets under Martian conditions means that different parts of the rock may weather at different times, consistent with the very low weathering rates observed on Mars. Furthermore, as is the case in the stable upland zone of the Antarctic Dry Valleys, pit formation by transient melting of small amounts of snow readily occurs in the absence of subsurface active layer cryoturbation.
Fast gaseous detectors in high magnetic fields

Abstract To cope with the high bunch crossing rates of future particle accelerators, new detectors must have short recovery times. We measured the transit time of drifting photoelectrons in straw tubes of 2.5 mm radius for magnetic fields ranging from 0 to 8 T. Six different gas mixtures, primarily CF 4 based, were studied. Long transit times and signal degradation indicate the need for careful choices in detector design.
Regulation of uridine kinase activity in BLAB/C-3T3 cells by serum components

After the stimulation of quiescent density-inhibited BALB/c-3T3 cells with fresh bovine calf serum, uridine kinase activity measured in cellular extracts increased between hours 3 and 6 of incubation and remained elevated through 12 h after stimulation. The addition of either partially purified platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or platelet-poor plasma (PPP) also caused increased uridine kinase activity by 6 h, but the increased activity was not maintained and the activity returned to the prestimulated level by 12 h. However, when PDGF and PPP were added in combination an increased level of uridine kinase activity was maintained in a manner similar to that seen after the addition of serum. The components of PPP eluted in the void volume from Sephadex G-50 chromatography did not induce uridine kinase activity when present alone, although they did act synergistically with PDGF to allow the maintenance of elevated levels of uridine kinase activity over the period from 6 to 12 h after stimulation. Thymidine kinase activity was not induced by the addition of either PDGF or PPP alone, although either serum or the combination of PDGF and PPP did produce an induction of thymidine kinase activity in late G1.
Serum cytokines and muscle strength after anterior cruciate ligament surgery are not modulated by high-doses of vitamins E (α- and γ-tocopherol's) and C.

Abstract The purpose of this investigation was to identify if supplemental vitamin E (consisting of α- and γ-tocopherol’s) and C modulate serum cytokine and muscle strength following an ACL injury and surgery. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) placebo ( n = 14) or (2) vitamins E (α-[600 mg RRR -α-tocopherol, αT] and γ-[600 mg of RRR -γT]) and C (1000 mg ascorbic acid, AA) (EC; n = 15). Supplements were taken daily starting ∼2-wk prior to and concluding 16-wk after surgery. Fasting blood samples were obtained and single-leg peak isometric force measurements were performed at baseline (prior to supplementation), before surgery (∼120-min – blood draw only), and 8-wk, 12-wk, and 16-wk after surgery. αT, γT, AA, and cytokines were measured in each blood sample, and peak isometric force was measured on the injured and non-injured legs separately at each testing session. An exercise protocol consisting of repetitive knee and hip extension and flexion contractions to exhaustion was performed on the injured limb at 16-wk. Vitamin E and C supplementation significantly (all p
Design, fabrication and thermal characterization of a MEMS device for control of nerve cell growth

There has been significant work on use of MEMS for biomedical applications in the past few years. This work presents a microheater device for use in experiments to study the effect of temperature on nerve cell growth. The device consists of a thin membrane with embedded heater and temperature sensors. Nerve cells could be immobilized on the membrane surface and their growth behavior could be studied by applying different heating powers, the goal being the actuation and control of cell growth using temperature. This work presents the design and fabrication of the microheater device being used in these cell growth experiments. Experimental data and finite element modeling are used to characterize the thermal response of the device. This yields a low value of the membrane thermal conductivity which indicates the amorphous nature of the thin film.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
An experimental test of P-wave anisotropy in stratified media

In theory, stratified media in which the layers are elastically homogeneous and isotropic approximate transversely isotropic media with an axis of symmetry perpendicular to layering when the seismic wavelength is sufficiently longer than the layer spacing. The phenomenon has apparently been observed in field measurements, and acoustic anisotropy in deep‐sea sediments, measured in the laboratory, has been attributed to fine‐scale bedding laminations. However, to the best of our knowledge, no rigorous test of the theory has been made. We have made a partial test by making laboratory measurements of compressional‐wave velocities parallel and perpendicular to layering in fabricated samples consisting of glass and epoxy. We found no statistically significant difference between observation and theory in this limited test. Further, having used several frequencies, we found that the velocities progressively change from the long‐wave values toward those predicted by the time‐average relation, as expected. Finally,...
Substrate-induced chemiluminescence of xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase

Abstract Milk xanthine oxidase and rabbit liver aldehyde oxidase produce chemiluminescence when operating on their substrates. This luminescence can be measured by a Beckman scintillation counter with the coincidence circuit turned off. Hydrogen peroxide markedly enhances the luminescence, and catalase inhibits the light signal by more than 95%. The inhibition of luminescence by sulfite, cysteine, and bovine erythrocyte superoxide dismutase indicates that a free radical, probably the superoxide ion (O 2 ⨪), is responsible for the light signal.
Evidence for static quenching of MLCT excited states by iodide.

The metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) excited states of Ru(deeb)(bpy)2(PF6)2 [where bpy is 2,2-bipyridine and deeb is 4,4‘-(CO2CH2CH3)2-2,2‘-bipyridine] in acetonitrile or dichloromethane were found to be quenched by iodide at room temperature. The ionic strength dependence of the optical spectra gave evidence for ion pairing. Iodide is found to quench the photoluminescence (PL) intensity and influence the spectral distribution of the emitted light. A static component to the time-resolved PL quenching provided further evidence for ground-state adduct. Stern−Volmer analysis of the static component provided an estimate of the iodide−Ru(deeb)(bpy)22+ adduct equilibrium constant in dichloromethane, Ksv = 40 000 M-1. Transient absorption studies clearly demonstrate that an electron-transfer quenching mechanism is operative and that I2-• can be photoproduced in high yield, φ = 0.25. For Ru(bpy)3(PF6)2 in acetonitrile, similar behavior could be observed at iodide concentrations >100 times that required for ...
Calculation of protein tertiary structure.

Abstract We describe a method for calculating the tertiary structure of proteins given their amino acid sequence. The algorithm involves locally minimizing an energylike expression as a function of the Cartesian co-ordinates of the C β of all residues. Although the approximation to the true polypeptide geometry and conformational energies is extremely approximate, quite respectable results have been obtained for the small proteins rubredoxin and trypsin inhibitor, where the root mean square errors are as low as 4.0 A and 4.7 A, respectively.
Temperature dependence of the magnetic excitations in Gd

We have made inelastic neutron scattering studies of the magnetic excitations in gadolinium above and below the Curie temperature (Tc = 293 K). The constant Q measurements were made out to the Brillouin zone boundaries in the [001] and [100] directions in the temperature range from 9 to 593 K. The small q spin‐wave energies renormalize in approximate proportionality to the net magnetization and approach zero at Tc. There is very little broadening of these peaks except at temperatures very near Tc. At large q, however, there is appreciable broadening but a much slower decrease of spin‐wave energies with increasing temperature. The large q peaks do not vanish at Tc; instead, they persist as broad shoulders in the magnetic excitation spectra up to about 1.2 Tc.
The gaseous exchanges of trypanosome-infected rats

Abstract 1. 1. The rate of oxygen consumption of rats infected with Trypanosoma equiperdum and Trypanosoma evansi is significantly increased over the preinfection level only during the last 36 hours preceding death. 2. 2. A slight increase in internal temperature is insufficient to explain this increase; it is in part due to the oxygen consumption of the parasites. The increase is too little to allow the assumption that the parasites asphyxiate their hosts. 3. 3. The respiratory quotient of fed infected rats was higher than that of fasting infected rats even in the terminal stages of the disease. The implications of this finding on the sugar consumption theory of trypanosome injury are discussed, and it is concluded that it does not favor such a theory.
Structural and Exchange Components of Occupational Mobility: A Cross‐National Analysis*

Using data from 16 nations, this paper examines the effects of the occupational structure, the intergenerational change in the structure and exchange mobility on the observed mobility rates of males. The intergenerational change in the occupational structure has a strong effect on mobility due primarily to the decline of the proportion of men in agricultural occupations. The proportion of men in farming, the most important aspect of the shape of the structure, has a negative influence on mobility. This effect, however, is of minor importance among the more developed countries. Contrary to recent predictions, cross-national variance in exchange mobility has a strong effect which is at least as great as the structural effects among the more developed nations. Consequently, theory and research will have to pay careful attention to both structural and exchange components of mobility.
Measuring team ethical climate: development of the TECS

The following paper explores the concept of ethical climate in undergraduate interdisciplinary project teams. Ethical climate is formed from the shared perceptions of individuals working in some organization toward the moral situations that occur. At the team level, ethical climate is the shared moral attitudes formed by individuals in a group after working together for some time. The paper introduces a new instrument for ethical climate developed for teams, the Team Ethical Climate Survey (TECS). This measure is based on the Ethical Climate Questionnaire [1], which was formulated around Kohlberg's (1981) cognitive stage theory of moral development. The authors initially proposed eight scales covering the spectrum of team ethics considerations: team interest, laws and codes, personal morality, rules and procedures, self-interest, care, shared ethics, and interdisciplinary professional ethics. These scales include supported scales from the ECQ as well as additional considerations that might be unique to multidisciplinary team decision-making. Initial findings of the TECS, including Cronbach's alpha reliability estimates for each scale are discussed. The authors used a commonly used test development tool, the content validation panel, in which subject matter experts evaluate the overlap between the test and the domain of interest. In the present study, subject matter experts (applied ethicists, engineers, and ethics researchers) evaluated relevance and wording of each test item and suggested several new questions for incorporation. Additional findings and implications for engineering faculty and professionals are provided. This paper presents the results of research to date on the ethics component of a collaborative effort involving team-based project programs at four universities funded by the National Science Foundation under a Transforming Undergraduate Education in Science (TUES) Phase 2 grant.
Proof of non-integrability for the Hénon-Heiles Hamiltonian near an exceptional integrable case

Abstract In this paper we describe an analytical method for establishing non-integrability in Hamiltonian systems which are small perturbations of integrable ones. We illustrate the method with an application to a system of Henon-Heiles type.
SU-E-T-311: Comparison of Two Imaging Setups for Small Animal Cone Beam CT

Purpose: To support non‐coplanar irradiation, cone beam CT(CBCT) on our small animal radiation research platform (SARRP) is acquired in a “pancake” setup where the prone animal is rotated between the stationary x‐ray source and flat‐panel detector. This study compares the performance of the pancake setup with conventional CBCT of a stationary animal. Methods: CBCTimages were acquired on the SARRP using the pancake and a “tubular” setup with upright phantoms to mimic conventional CBCT. PMMA cylindrical phantoms of mouse dimension (3‐cm wide and 7.5‐cm long) embedded with 5‐mm wide rods of teflon, delrin, acrylic and polyethylene inhomogeneities were employed. The study included a single phantom, three side‐by‐side phantoms, and a euthanized mouse. Images were acquired at 65 kVp, 0.1‐mm brass filtration for: (1) imaging dose at 1x, 2x, and 4x of 1.6 cGy; (2) inclined “pancake” object at 14 degree and 28 degree. Comparison of zero‐frequency signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and contrast‐to‐nose ratio (CNR) were made. Results: At 1.6 cGy, both SNR (19.4–23.0 vs 23.2–48.5) and CNR (−0.11%–0.57% vs −0.15%–0.88%) of the pancake setup were lower than those of the tubular setup for the 4 inhomogeneities. Similar results were obtained for the 3‐phantom study. Doubling the dose for the pancake setup improved these metrics and approached those of tubular setup at 1x dose. The difference in SNR and CNR between the pancake and tubular setups were reduced with increasing inclination. Pancake CBCT of an inclined mouse at 28 degree was virtually identical to that of the tubular setup. Conclusions: CBCTimage quality of the pancake setup is compromised in favor of the ease of non‐coplanar irradiation. Image quality can be recovered with a modest increase in imaging dose to 3 cGy. Notwithstanding, pancake CBCT is adequate to support image guidance, while providing other irradiation advantages. John Wong has a sponsored research agreement with Xstrahl Ltd. Xstrahl Ltd. has a technology transfer agreement with Johns Hopkins University on the SARRP.
Bowman-Birk Inhibitor Suppresses Autoimmune Inflammation and Neuronal Loss in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis

The Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI) is a soybean-derived serine protease inhibitor. BBI concentrate (BBIC) is an extract enriched with BBI, but predominantly contains other ingredients including several protease inhibitors. We previously found that BBIC administration to Lewis rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) significantly suppresses disease. In the present study we determined whether BBI mediates the suppressive effects of BBIC in EAE, evaluated its potential neuroprotective effects, and investigated mechanisms of BBI action. We tested effects of purified BBI on clinical and histopathological parameters of EAE in two models (relapsing/remitting EAE in SJL/J mice and chronic EAE in C57BL/6 mice). Effects of BBI were compared to BBIC in relapsing/remitting EAE, and effects of BBI on neuronal survival were examined during acute optic neuritis. Treatment with BBI in both EAE models significantly improved EAE disease parameters (onset, severity, weight loss, inflammation and demyelination). BBI significantly reduced the incidence of optic neuritis and prevented loss of retinal ganglion cells. In most experiments proliferation of immune cells derived from BBI-treated mice was significantly lower relative to control groups. Using Boyden's chamber assay we found that BBI inhibited invasiveness of activated splenocytes through the matrigel barrier. BBI also induced higher production of EAE-suppressive cytokine IL-10 by immune cells. These results demonstrate that BBI is the active component of BBIC that ameliorates clinical EAE. BBI reduces inflammation and attenuates neuronal loss, making it an excellent candidate for oral therapy in MS. BBI likely ameliorates EAE by inhibiting multiple pathways involved in disease pathogenesis.
Resolution of 7‐chloro‐4(4′‐diethylamino‐1′methylbutyl)aminoquinoline (chloroquine) into its enantiomers

Evidence is accumulating that 7-chloro-4-[4-diethylamino-1-methylbutyl] amino quinoline (chloroquine) displays considerable stereoselectivity in its metabolism, pharmacokinetics, macromolecular interactions, and biological activity. The availability of the enantiomers has been hampered by the failure of direct methods of resolution. We now describe a successful resolution in which the atropisomeric 1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl hydrogen phosphate is used in a 1:1 ratio to form stereoselectively the 2:1 diastereomeric salt from one enantiomer of the base, leaving the other in solution. By this means both enantiomers of chloroquine may be readily isolated. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The association of inhaled corticosteroid use with serum glucose concentration in a large cohort.

Abstract Background Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are widely used in the treatment of obstructive lung disease. ICSs have been shown to be systemically absorbed. The association between ICS and serum glucose concentration is unknown. Methods To explore the association of ICS dosing with serum glucose concentration, we used a prospective cohort study of US veterans enrolled in 7 primary care clinics between December 1996 and May 2001 with 1 or more glucose measurements while at least 80% adherent to ICS dosing. The association between ICS dose from pharmacy records standardized to daily triamcinolone equivalents and serum glucose concentration was examined with generalized estimating equations controlling for confounders, including systemic corticosteroid use. Results Of the 1698 subjects who met inclusion criteria, 19% had self-reported diabetes. The mean daily dose of ICS in triamcinolone equivalents was 621 μg (standard deviation 555) and 610 μg (standard deviation 553) for subjects with and without diabetes, respectively. After controlling for systemic corticosteroid use and other potential confounders, no association between ICS and serum glucose was found for subjects without diabetes. However, among subjects with self-reported diabetes, every additional 100 μg of ICS dose was associated with an increased glucose concentration of 1.82 mg/dL ( P value .007; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-3.15). Subjects prescribed antiglycemic medications had an increase in serum glucose of 2.65 mg/dL ( P value .003; 95% CI, 0.88-4.43) for every additional 100 μg ICS dose. Conclusion Among diabetic patients, ICS use is associated with an increased serum glucose concentration in a dose-response manner.
The structure of the reduced product of preinjective modules over a hereditary right pure semisimple ring

ABSTRACT Let G be a division ring and F ⊂ G a fixed subdivision ring of G such that dim F G = ∞, dim G F = 2 and the F-G-bimodule F G G has the infinite dimension type d−∞( F G G ) = (…, 2, 2…,2, 2, 1, ∞) in the sense of Simson (1996 2000), see Section 2. In particular, the hereditary ring is a counter-example to the pure semisimplicity conjecture. Let be a complete set of representatives of pairwise non-isomorphic preinjective right R G -modules. We prove that the reduced product is a direct sum , where , , s 0 = s 1 = (card G)ℵ0 , and means the direct sum of s j copies of the right ideal P j of R G . We also show that is isomorphic to ∏ℵ0 P 1. Communicated by J. Gomaz Pardo.
Morphine treatment in vitro or in vivo decreases phagocytic functions of murine macrophages.

Abstract Studies were performed to compare in vitro and in vivo effects of morphine on the phagocytic function of murine peritoneal macrophages. Macrophage monolayers were incubated with Candida albicans for 30 min in the absence of autologous serum. Morphine added in vitro was found to decrease both the phagocytic activity (percent of phagocytic cells) and the phagocytic index (average number of ingested yeasts per cell) in a concentration-dependent manner, with maximal effects of 26% and 41%, respectively, at 10 −6 M. When morphine was administered in vivo via an implanted 75-mg pellet, there was a 22% decrease in phagocytic activity and a 40% decrease in the phagocytic index. Naltrexone completely blocked the effects of morphine both in vitro and in vivo . The results suggest that morphine is capable of interacting directly with opioid receptors on macrophages, resulting in a decrease in phagocytic function.
PLZT film capacitors for power electronics and energy storage applications

Ceramic film capacitors with high dielectric constant and high breakdown strength hold special promise for applications demanding high power density. By means of chemical solution deposition, we deposited ≈2-μm-thick films of lanthanum-doped lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) on LaNiO3-buffered Ni (LNO/Ni) foils and platinized silicon (PtSi) substrates. The dielectric properties and energy storage performance of the resulting samples were determined under a high level of applied electric field. X-ray diffraction stress analysis revealed that PLZT on LNO/Ni bears a compressive stress of ≈370 MPa while PLZT on PtSi endures a tensile stress of ≈250 MPa. Compressive stress was found to lead to heightened polarization, improved tunability, increased irreversible domain wall motion, and enhanced breakdown strength for PLZT deposited on the LNO/Ni as compared with the PtSi substrate. We observed a tunability of ≈55 and ≈40 % at room temperature under 100 kV/cm applied field, remanent polarization of ≈23.5 and ≈7.4 µC/cm2, coercive electric field of ≈25.6 and ≈21.1 kV/cm, and dielectric breakdown strength of ≈2.6 and ≈1.5 MV/cm for PLZT deposited on LNO/Ni foils and PtSi substrates, respectively. A high recoverable energy density of ≈85 J/cm3 and energy conversion efficiency of ≈65 % were measured on the PLZT film grown on LNO/Ni.
Linkage information content and efficiency of full-sib and half-sib designs for gene mapping

The accuracy of a genetic map depends on the amount of linkage information contained in the data set used for construction of the map. The amount of linkage information is related to the designs employed for linkage analysis. The purpose of this study was to provide general formulations for various genotyping schemes and family structures in order to evaluate the amount of linkage information in a data set. Linkage information content (LIC) was defined as the frequency of fully informative gametes, which are gametes from doubly heterozygous parents with known linkage phases. Depending on the design, LIC is based on two generations if the parental phases are determined statistically, or three generations if the parental phases are determined genetically. Different schemes were considered in deriving LIC: (1) genotyping of one parent or two parents, and (2) genotyping of two or three generation families. The LIC for a full-sib design was found to be generally greater than for a half-sib design but requires typing a large number of individuals when at least one locus has only two alleles. The efficiency of the full-sib design is reduced significantly if a sex-specific linkage map is sought.
Single transverse spin asymmetries.

Using generalized factorization theorems, we calculate the leading single transverse spin asymmetry for high transverse-momentum direct-photon production in pp collisions, in terms of partonic matrix elements. The leading contribution comes from a ``twist-3'' parton distribution, involving the correlation between quark fields and the gluonic field strength. With simple assumptions for this matrix element, the asymmetry increases with ${\mathit{x}}_{\mathit{F}}$, naturally giving effects of 10% or more at large ${\mathit{x}}_{\mathit{F}}$.
Synthesis of 1H,3H‐imidazo[1,5‐c]thiazole‐5,7‐[6H,7aH]‐dione and 7,8‐dihydro‐5‐H‐imidazo[1,5‐c][1,3]thiazine‐1,3‐[2H,8aH]‐dione and derivatives

1H,3H-Imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-5,7-[6H,7aH]-dione and the corresponding 7-thione derivatives as well as 7,8-dihydro-5H-imidazo[1,5-c][1,3]thiazine-1,3-[2H,8aH]-dione and the corresponding 3-thione derivatives were synthesized starting from L-cysteine and DL-homocysteine thiolactone, respectively. The second group of bicyclic compounds represents a new heterocyclic ring system. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by spectroscopic studies and elemental analyses.
Pore Size and Shape in Mortar by Thermoporometry

Abstract The pore structure of mortar (w/c = 0.55) was examined using thermoporometry (TPM), nitrogen adsorption/desorption (NAD), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The TPM measurements were calibrated by comparison to NAD and MIP measurements on porous glass; similar comparisons were made on dried and resaturated mortars. For undried mortars, TPM provides the size of pore entries (from the freezing cycle) and interiors (from the melting cycle). In keeping with previous studies, we find that there is an unfrozen layer of water between the ice and the pore wall in porous glass that is about 0.8 nm thick; when lime-saturated water is used, the thickness of that layer increases by about 10%. In mortar, the unfrozen layer is about 1.0–1.2 nm thick, so no freezing occurs in pores with diameters ≤ 4.5 nm, at least down to − 40 °C (where the radius of the crystal/liquid interface is ∼ 1.5 nm). Based on the hysteresis in the freezing and melting curves, the larger mesopores in mortar were found to be rather spheroidal, while the smaller ones were more cylindrical.
IgG, IgA and IgE gliadin antibody determinations as screening test for untreated coeliac disease in children, a multicentre study.

The diagnostic value of gliadin IgG, IgA and IgE antibody (AB) determinations using the fluorescent immunosorbent test was examined in 586 children with malabsorptive disorders and/or failure to thrive. All patients underwent jejunal biopsy and were on a gluten-containing diet. IgG AB were found in all patients (331/331) with untreated coeliac disease (CD) in our study, but IgA AB in only 295/331 (89%). Therefore a screening test based only on IgA AB determinations is not recommended. By contrast, 203 (80%) of 255 children with other malabsorptive disorders had no gliadin AB, 43 (16.5%) had only IgG AB and only 9 (3.5%) had IgG and IgA AB. IgE AB proved to be of no additional value as a diagnostic tool because they were found in a quarter of the children without CD. Statistical evaluation of combined IgG and IgA AB determination showed at least 96% sensitivity and a specificity of 97%. The subjective (“Bayesian”) probability that an actual patient with a given AB test result has CD, is considered: a patient very probably has CD in the case of positive IgG and IgA AB, and no CD in the case of a negative AB result. In the case of negative IgA AB but positive IgG AB the physician's judgement (“prior probability”) influences the (“posterior”) probability of CD for an actual patient. In contrast to IgG AB, IgA AB decline rapidly after the introduction of a gluten-free diet and may be used for diet control after diagnosis. Antibodies against cow's milk proteins, though present in 72% of the 331 patients with CD, are of no therapeutic significance in CD and are of no value for its diagnosis.
Insulin regulation of glycogen synthase in the isolated rat hepatocyte

Abstract Isolated rat hepatocytes have been prepared by a modified technique of collagenase digestion. This method yields cells which, on exposure to insulin, exhibit the rapid activation of glycogen synthase characteristic of the response observed when the liver is studied in situ . Activation of glycogen synthase I by insulin and added glucose is observed in a complex medium containing amino acids and vitamins. The conditions of cell isolation are critical to the preservation of insulin responsiveness in the isolated rat hepatocyte.
1619 PERIVENTRICULAR LUCENCY: THE MOST COMMON CT LESION IN FULL-TERM NEONATES WITH CNS DISEASE

1619 PERIVENTRICULAR LUCENCY: THE MOST COMMON CT LESION IN FULL-TERM NEONATES WITH CNS DISEASE
Entrepreneurship in young adults: Initial findings from the young entrepreneurs study

Abstract The scientific study of youth entrepreneurship is truly in its infancy, with research on the development of entrepreneurship constrained by theoretical foundations that rely on static, trait-like approaches that equate entrepreneurship with stable personality characteristics. In this article, we define entrepreneurship as a fluid process that relies on the bidirectional interplay between a developing individual and his or her context. We report initial findings from the Young Entrepreneurs Study that clarify how entrepreneurial intentions and actions manifest in youth. We present quantitative analyses that examined the relations between entrepreneurial strengths and entrepreneurial activities in a sample of 3461 college students, and we describe the results of semi-structured interviews from a 48-person subset of our larger sample that explored how entrepreneurial intentions and actions manifested in our sample. We describe a mixed-method triangulation that integrates these two sets of findings, then discuss implications for future research.
Transgenic Mice Overexpressing Leptin Accumulate Adipose Mass at an Older, But Not Younger, Age1

Sensitivity to leptin is associated with a normal regulation of the adipose mass, whereas decreased leptin sensitivity results in elevated adipose tissue stores. To address whether the effects of chronic hyperleptinemia are sustained with age, we generated transgenic mice that overexpress leptin under the control of the fat specific aP2 promoter/enhancer. At 6–9 weeks of age, transgenic mice overexpressed 5-fold more human leptin than endogenous mouse levels and had consistently low body weights, with reduced brown and white fat depots characterized by adipocytes either devoid of or containing minute lipid droplets. However, at 33–37 weeks, despite continuous secretion of human leptin, the transgenic mice showed a rebound effect characterized by an increase in body weight, accumulation of adipose mass, and lipid-filled adipocytes. Thus, this mouse model exhibits a two-stage phenotype, with respect to fat accumulation. In addition, plasma glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels were markedly depress...
Beam characteristics for electron emission from a narrow energy band of a semiconductor

In this paper, equations are derived giving energy distribution, total current and beam noise for thermionic electron emission from a narrow energy band of a semiconductor. The treatment applies to cases of both positive and negative affinity. It is shown that the total emission is always less than the emission from a metal at the same temperature. When the energy band is more than a few κT in width, the total emitted current approaches the value given by Richardson's equation. For positive affinity, the plot of energy distribution of the emitted electrons in the direction perpendicular to the cathode surface has a nearly triangular shape. For negative affinity, the shape is nearly rectangular for lower energies. The noise temperature of the emitted beam is derived for both positive and negative affinity.
New fast algorithms for polynomial interpolation and evaluation on the Chebyshev node set

Abstract For a polynomial p ( x ) of a degree n , we study its interpolation and evaluation on a set of Chebyshev nodes, x κ = cos ( (2κ + 1)π (2n + 2) ), κ = 0, 1, …, n . This is easily reduced to applying discrete Fourier transforms (DFTs) to the auxiliary polynomial q ( ω ) = ω n p ( x ), where 2 x = αω + ( αω ) −1 , α = exp ( π⇔−1 (2n) ) . We show the back and forth transition between p ( x ) and q ( ω ) based on the respective back and forth transformations of the variable: αω = (1 − z) (1 + z) , y = (x − 1) (x + 1) , y = z 2 . All these transformations (like the DFTs) are performed by using O ( n log n ) arithmetic operations, which thus suffice in order to support both interpolation and evaluation of p ( x ) on the Chebychev set, as well as on some related sets of nodes. This improves, by factor log n , the known arithmetic time bound for Chebyshev interpolation and gives an alternative supporting algorithm for the record estimate of O ( n log n ) for Chebyshev evaluation, obtained by Gerasoulis in 1987 and based on a distinct algorithm.