cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rigid Body Dynamics

Here we extend our analysis of rigid body motion to include dynamics—i.e., the forces and torques that produce the complicated translational and rotational motion of a rigid body as it moves through space. In particular, we derive Euler’s equations for rigid body motion, which extend the familiar first-year physics equations to general rotations in three dimensions around an axis that can change its orientation in response to external forces. We then apply Euler’s equations to several examples.
The impact of race and ethnicity on lipoprotein(a) levels and cardiovascular risk.

Purpose of review Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a plasma circulating apoB100 (apoB) containing lipoprotein. It has a unique glycoprotein bound to the apoB100, apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)]. The majority of the population expresses two apo(a) isoforms, when bound to apoB100 they create two circulating Lp(a) particles. Lp(a) levels are genetically determined and epidemiological studies have established elevated levels of Lp(a) to be a causal risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Lp(a) levels differ across racial groups and Blacks of Sub-Saharan decent have higher levels when compared to white. In comparison to white populations, studies in minorities are less represented in the published literature. Additionally, there is a lack of standardization in the commercial assays used to measured Lp(a) levels, and hence it is difficult to assess risk based on individual Lp(a) levels, but risk seems to occur in the upper percentiles of the population. Recent findings A recent study using data from the UK biobank highlights the racial differences in Lp(a) levels and the increase risk in CVD amongst all races. Summary This review will highlight Lp(a) biology and physiology with a focus on available data from racially diverse cohorts. There is a need to perform studies in diverse populations to understand if they are at higher risk than whites are.
Vibrant reflective sensors with percolation film Fabry-Pérot nanocavities.

Dynamically reconfigurable structural colors are promising materials for new smart optical systems. However, improved reflected color quality (e.g., saturation, optical contrast, angular invariance) and larger tuning range/sensitivity are needed. Here, we demonstrate a vibrant, actively tunable system which meets these needs via coupling broadband plasmonic resonators to a responsive polymer film. Our structure consists of near-percolation gold nanoislands deposited on a poly[methyl methacrylate] (PMMA) spacer above a gold mirror, forming a Fabry–Perot nanocavity. Broadband absorption in this system creates vivid reflected colors, while the polymer spacer enables continuous tuning over a wide color space. By exploiting swelling effects in PMMA, we show fast, reversible color switching in response to organic vapors. Our sensitive optical structure amplifies small vapor-induced changes in the spacer thickness, enabling naked-eye detection of changes as small as 10 nm. Additionally, optical absorption >99% yields modulation contrasts up to 80:1, opening the door to ultra-sensitive on-chip signal measurements, complementing the visual colorimetric readout. This structure has immediate implications for colorimetric bio/chemical sensing and may also find application to reflective displays and flexible/adaptive optical coatings.
The Effects of an Electronic Daily Behavior Report Card on Student's Challenging Behavior.

An ABAB reversal design was utilized to examine the effects of an electronic daily behavior report card (eDBRC) on non-compliant, off-task, and disruptive classroom behaviors of a 16-year-old with ...
Lung transplantation disparities based on diagnosis for patients bridging to transplant on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly utilized as a bridge to lung transplantation , but ECMO status is not explicitly accounted for in the Lung Allocation Score (LAS). We hypothesized that among waitlist patients on ECMO, patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) would have lower transplantation rates. Methods Using United Network for Organ Sharing data, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who were ≥12 years old, active on the lung transplant waitlist, and required ECMO support from June 1, 2015 through June 12, 2020. Multivariable competing risk analysis was used to examine waitlist outcomes. Results 1064 waitlist subjects required ECMO support; 40 (3.8%) had obstructive lung disease (OLD), 97 (9.1%) had PAH,138 (13.0%) had cystic fibrosis (CF), and 789 (74.1%) had interstitial lung disease (ILD). Ultimately, 671 (63.1%) underwent transplant, while 334 (31.4%) died or were delisted. The transplant rate per person-years on the waitlist on ECMO was 15.41 for OLD, 6.05 for PAH, 15.66 for CF, and 15.62 for ILD. Compared to PAH patients, OLD, CF, and ILD patients were 78%, 69%, and 62% more likely to undergo transplant throughout the study period, respectively (adjusted SHRs 1.78 p = 0.007, 1.69 p = 0.002, and 1.62 p = 0.001). The median LAS at waitlist removal for transplantation, death, or delisting were 75.1 for OLD, 79.6 for PAH, 91.0 for CF, and 88.3 for ILD (p Conclusions Among patients bridging to transplant on ECMO, patients with PAH had a lower transplantation rate than patients with OLD, CF, and ILD.
Optogenetic activation of the distal colon epithelium engages enteric nervous system circuits to initiate motility patterns.

Using an all-optical approach to measure real-time cell-to-cell communication responsible for colon functions, we show that selective optogenetic stimulation of distal colon epithelium produced act...
Marital Separation/Divorce: A Review of Individual Responses to a Major Life Stressor

A review of the literature was conducted to determine the current knowledge base regarding the impact of marital separation or divorce on the individual. The review focused on the literature in psychiatry, psychology, and social work, but also included related disciplines, such as family law. The findings indicate a focusing of research questions since the early 1970's, particularly in defining the process of divorce and differential impact of the various stages across gender. However, some gaps still exist within the literature, pointing toward additional research questions, such as in the area of treatment, and the impact of initiator status.
Variation in Composition of Yeast Phosphohexosans

Omitting of KH2PO4 from culture media leads to the production of altered phosphohexosans or neutral extracellular mannans by yeasts that otherwise elaborate phosphogalactans and phosphomannans.
Specificity of TLS-CHOP Rearrangement for Classic Myxoid/Round Cell Liposarcoma: Absence in Predominantly Myxoid Well-Differentiated Liposarcomas

Myxoid liposarcoma (LS), the most common subtype of LS, is known to be characterized by the specific t(12;16) resulting in a TLS-CHOP fusion in almost all cases. We wished to address the following questions: (i) Is this genetic hallmark also present in other types of LS with predominant myxoid change? (ii) What is the proportion of cases with the variant EWS-CHOP fusion? (iii) What is the optimal approach for Southern blot detection of TLS breakpoints? We identified 59 LS characterized histologically by >90% myxoid component, in which frozen tissue tumor was available for DNA extraction. These 59 LS with myxoid features were divided into 2 groups: 42 LS with classic myxoid/round cell appearance (myxoid LS) and 17 well-differentiated LS (WDLS) with a predominant (>90%) myxoid component. Within the myxoid LS group, 29 tumors were low grade and 13 high grade (>20% round cell component). Among the 17 predominantly myxoid WDLS, there were 15 low grade and 2 focally high grade tumors. In addition, we selected as control group, 20 LS of other histological types with minimal or no myxoid change (17 WDLS and 3 pleomorphic LS) and 13 myxofibrosarcomas. Southern blot analysis was performed in all cases using a CHOP cDNA probe, and in all CHOP rearranged cases using a TLS cDNA probe. Probe/enzyme combinations for Southern blot analysis were CHOP exon 3–4 cDNA probe with BamHI or SacI, TLS exon 3–6 cDNA probe with BclI. All 42 cases of myxoid LS showed a CHOP rearrangement and 38 of them also had a TLS rearrangement. Among the 4 myxoid LS without Southern blot evidence of TLS rearrangement, 1 showed an EWS-CHOP fusion by Southern blotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and in another case, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction detected a TLS-CHOP fusion transcript. None of the predominantly myxoid WDLS and none of the tumors included in the control group showed rearranegements with CHOP probe. In addition, 12 predominantly myxoid WDLS, 10 other LS, and 5 myxofibrosarcoma from the control group were also tested for TLS rearrangement; all were negative. The TLS-CHOP fusion is highly sensitive and specific for the entity of classic myxoid/round cell LS. Other types of LS, even with a predominant myxoid component, lack the TLS-CHOP rearrangement, confirming that they represent a genetically distinct group of LS. The prevalence of the EWS-CHOP variant fusion was approximately 2% in this series. The optimal enzyme for TLS genomic breakpoint detection is BclI.
Mammalian Chromosomes In Vitro. XVII. Idiogram of the Chinese Hamster

From 67 diploid male Chinese hamster cells in vitro, an idiogram was constructed. The chromosomes can be classified into 4 natural groups: group I, 2 pairs of large submetacentrics (1 and 2); group II, 3 pairs of medium-sized submetacentrics (the sex pair, 4 and 5); group III, 3 pairs of medium-sized subtelocentrics (6,7, and 8); group IV, 3 pairs of small metacentrics (9,10, and 11). A system of subdividing each chromosome into regions is also suggested.
Contextualize Technical Writing Assessment to Better Prepare Students for Workplace Writing: Student-Centered Assessment Instruments

To teach students how to write for the workplace and other professional contexts, technical writing teachers often assign writing tasks that reflect real-life communication contexts, a teaching approach that is grounded in the field's contextualized understanding of genre. This article argues to fully embrace contextualized literacy and better teach workplace writing, technical writing teachers also need to contextualize how they assess student writing. To this end, this article examines some of workplaces' best assessment practices and critically integrates them into an introductory technical writing classroom through a method called student-centered assessment instruments. This method engages students, as workplaces engage employees, in the assessment process to identify local requirements for writing tasks. Aligned with theory and practice, this method is not only an effective classroom assessment method, but becomes an integrated part of students' genre-learning process within and beyond the classroom.
Effects of temperature on tissue thermal injury and wound strength after photothermal wound closure

Background and objectives Our goal was to determine the effect of temperature on the induction of tissue damage after laser-welded wound closure with and without albumin solder. Study design/materials and methods Multiple full-thickness skin incisions were made in a porcine model. Incisions were repaired by using a 1.32-microm laser at temperatures of 65 degrees C, 75 degrees C, 85 degrees C, or 95 degrees C with and without a 50% human albumin solder. The rate of apoptosis (programmed cell death) was quantified by counting the proportion of cells that stained positively for nuclear DNA fragmentation (nick end labeling). The distance that necrosis extended from the wound edge was also measured. The strength of the weld was measured with a tensiometer. Results For laser-welded repairs with solder, the amount of apoptosis at 65 degrees C and 75 degrees C was comparable to that of controls but became significantly elevated at 85 degrees C and 95 degrees C. The extent of necrosis was similar to that of controls at low temperature but also increased at 95 degrees C. Incisions repaired without solder showed increased necrosis compared with those repaired with solder at temperatures of 65 degrees C, 75 degrees C, and 95 degrees C at 0-0.5 mm from the incision. Wounds repaired at 85 degrees C and 95 degrees C showed more apoptosis in the absence of solder. The increased cell death at higher temperatures correlated with significantly decreased wound strengths at 3 days after repair in the solder group. A lower rate of cell death was observed in the solder group, which correlated with superior wound strength when compared with repairs without solder at days 0 (65-95 degrees C) and 3 (95 degrees C). Conclusion Both apoptotic and necrotic cell death were used as quantitative measures of tissue injury and were accurate predictors of short-term wound strength. The addition of albumin solder decreased overall tissue injury. These results suggest that temperatures of 65-75 degrees C with solder provide the optimal conditions for maximizing acute wound strength and minimizing tissue injury.
IN VITRO PROCESSING OF PROOPIOMELANOCORTIN BY RECOMBINANT PC1 (SPC3)

The prohormone convertases, PC1 (SPC3) and PC2, are subtilisin-like serine proteases capable of processing neuropeptide precursors. In cotransfection experiments, other investigators have found that PC1 and PC2 can process POMC to appropriate peptide products. In this study, recombinant rat PC1 was stably expressed in a mouse L-cell line and partially purified. Mouse POMC was cleaved by recombinant PC1 to generate ACTH intermediates, ACTH, ACTH linked to joining peptide, joining peptide, 16-kilodalton N-POMC, N-POMC-(1-74), and beta-lipotropin. Recombinant PC1 was also found to cleave ACTH to ACTH-(1-15) and bovine N-POMC-(1-77) to gamma 3 MSH. The pH optimum of the cleavages was 6.0. We conclude that recombinant PC1 is capable of processing POMC in vitro at all of the paired basic residues, with the exception of Lys-Arg and Lys-Lys in beta-lipotropin and beta-endorphin, respectively. This in vitro study showed a more general specificity of recombinant PC1 for paired and tetrabasic residues of POMC than w...
The Biblical Instructor and Comparative Religion

HE fundamental concern of most of the members of the National Association of Biblical Instructors is the teaching of the Bible. At the same time, however, many of us are expected to offer one or more courses in comparative religion. The young biblical instructor who is faced with this assignment for the first time is apt to regard it with mixed feelings. He will grant the value of the course within the liberal arts curriculum: whereas the core courses in history, literature, philosophy, and the Bible seek to emancipate the student from the narrow outlook of the twentieth century and to make him free of the whole history of western culture, comparative religion is one of a small number of offerings which take the student outside of western culture and invite his imagination to make itself at home in the whole world. And yet the young teacher is still apt to be uncertain as to whether he wants to teach this course. For one thing, his personal commitment to Christianity causes him to doubt if the course in comparative religion can promote the religious growth of his students as much as another course in the Bible would do. For another thing, and this is more important than one would suppose, he feels that working up such a course would take an enormous amount of time; and he is uncertain of the fundamental lessons to be learned from the material. In the field of Bible he has studied under
Binding of the rhesus TRIM5α PRYSPRY domain to capsid is necessary but not sufficient for HIV-1 restriction

Abstract The PRYSPRY domain of TRIM5α provides specificity and the capsid recognition motif to retroviral restriction. Restriction of HIV-1 by rhesus TRIM5α (TRIM5αrh) has been correlated to its ability to bind to the HIV-1 core, suggesting that capsid binding is required for restriction. This work explores whether the PRYSPRY domain of TRIM5αrh exhibits an additional function besides binding to the HIV-1 core. Using our recently described structure of the PRYSPRY domain, we performed an exhaustive structure–function study of the surface and interior residues of the PRYSPRY domain. Testing retroviral restriction and capsid binding of an extensive collection of 60 TRIM5αrh PRYSPRY variants revealed that binding is necessary but not sufficient for restriction. In support of this hypothesis, we showed that some human tripartite motif proteins bind the HIV-1 capsid but do not restrict HIV-1 infection, such as human TRIM6 and TRIM34. Overall this work suggested that the PRYSPRY domain serves an unknown function, distinct from the binding of TRIM5αrh to the HIV-1 core, to block HIV-1 infection.
Preparation and Faraday Rotation of Divalent Europium Glasses

A large glass-forming region was discovered in the system EUO–Al2O3–B2O3 and chemically stable glasses of good optical quality were produced. The concentration range extends from about 3 to 43 mole % EuO. Room-temperature Verdet constants as large as –2.55 min/oe-cm were measured on a glass containing 30.5 mole % Eu2+. This is somewhat higher than those reported for the trivalent rare-earth ions in similar glass matrices. The effective transition wavelength causing the rotation is 380 ± 20 mμ. Compared to Ce3+, Tb3+, and Pr3+ the large rotation of Eu2+ in the visible region is due primarily to a large J (total angular momentum) value as well as to a large effective transition wavelength.
Opportunities and challenges of integrating wind, solar and other distributed generation & energy storage: Effects on and values for the grid

Integrating renewable energy resources, particularly wind and solar energy, to the electric grid is expected to contribute significantly to our striving for a appreciable reduction of the Green House Gas (CO2) emission footprint. On the other hand, in order to reliably integrate higher penetration of renewable resources, which by their nature are variable power resources and usually a long distance from load centers, it requires significant changes in transmission, manufacturing, and marketing. These needs drive power system engineers to searching for enabling and robust transmission technologies aiming at strengthening and expanding the fundamental infrastructure of the electric power grid.
Geometry and chemical bonding in polyhedral boranes, metallaboranes, and dimetallaboranes: From closo to isocloso to oblatocloso polyhedra

Abstract The geometry and chemical bonding in the closo metal-free boranes B n H n 2 - and the isoelectronic carboranes CB n - 1 H n - and C2Bn−2Hn with 2n + 2 skeletal electrons are based on the most spherical deltahedra with a preference for degree 5 vertices, particularly for the boron atoms. Such deltahedral boranes can be considered to be three-dimensional aromatic systems, as indicated by strongly diatropic nucleus independent chemical shift values for B n H n 2 - (n = 6, 8, 9, 12). Metallaborane structures, particularly those with 9–11 vertices and only 2n rather than 2n + 2 apparent skeletal electrons, are often based on isocloso deltahedra with the metal atom at a degree 6 vertex. Dimetallaborane structures, particularly the rhenium derivatives Cp2Re2Bn−2Hn−2 (8 ⩽ n ⩽ 12), are based on highly non-spherical and very oblate deltahedra with the metal atoms typically at degree 6 or 7 vertices, which are the lowest curvature sites of the deltahedra. A viable model for the skeletal bonding in such dimetallaboranes can be developed if each of the two metal vertices is assumed to contribute five internal orbitals to the skeletal bonding. This leads to 2n + 4 skeletal electrons, which are partitioned into n surface bonds and a formal metal–metal double bond inside the oblate deltahedron.
Framework for Analysis of Legal Mobilization: A Decision‐Making Model

The American legal system, structured in an entrepreneurial mode, relies upon the individual actor to personally evaluate the burdens and benefits of invoking the law on his or her own behalf Without discounting the contribution to our understanding of legal mobilization which has been made by the access-to-justice movement, the author argues that focusing on the poor and the distribution of legal services has limited our understanding of the legal system. The article presents an alternative analytic framework for examination of citizen use of the law. The model of legal mobilization presented focuses on demands rather than needs, on citizens rather than lawyers or judges, on decision making rather than access, and on invoking the law rather than compliance with it. Drawing on the literature and available empirical evidence, the author attempts to analytically clarify the complex process of legal mobilization by organizing relevant variables into a decision-making model that focuses on the individual actor and the factors weighed in deciding whether and how to proceed in mobilizing the law.
Immunosuppression: The basics

Summary The short history of transplantation is characterizedby fluctuating styles in immunosuppression. Anesthesiologists who do not work regularly on transplant services cannot be expected to keep up with the intricacies of immunosuppressive cocktails. However, the major complications of immunosuppression have direct implications for anesthetic management. Transplant patients have a high incidence of cardiovascular disease. All invasive procedures should be performed with special attention to infection control. To minimize disruption of immunosuppressive regimens, anesthesiologists should consult the center where the patient underwent transplantation and/or the hepatologist managing the patient's immunosuppression drug therapy. Monitoring drug levels during the perioperative period and maintenance of adequate immunosuppression during surgery and postoperative recovery should be part of the anesthetic plan. Furthermore, some of the side effects of commonly used agents (eg, tacrolimus) are just now becoming apparent after the drug has been on the market for a few years. Because new combinations of drugs are constantly being tested, communication with are constantly being tested, communication with the patient's transplant center is a valuable source of information about potential side effects that may not yet be reported in the literature.
Wavelength-scanned surface-enhanced Raman excitation spectroscopy.

A detailed wavelength-scanned surface-enhanced Raman excitation spectroscopy (WS SERES) study of benzenethiol adsorbed on Ag nanoparticle arrays, fabricated by nanosphere lithography (NSL), is presented. These NSL-derived Ag nanoparticle array surfaces are both structurally well-characterized and extremely uniform in size. The WS SERES spectra are correlated, both spatially and spectrally, with the corresponding localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectra of the nanoparticle arrays. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra were measured in two excitation wavelength ranges: (1) 425−505 nm, and (2) 610−800 nm, as well as with the 532-nm line from a solid-state diode-pumped laser. The WS SERES spectra have line shapes similar to those of the LSPR spectra. The maximum SERS enhancement factor is shown to occur for excitation wavelengths that are blue-shifted with respect to the LSPR λmax of adsorbate-covered nanoparticle arrays. Three vibrational modes of benzenethiol (1575, 1081, and 1009 ...
Noise impact of single-event upsets on an FPGA-based digital filter

Field-programmable gate arrays are well-suited to DSP and digital communications applications. SRAM-based FPGAs, however, are susceptible to radiation-induced single-event upsets (SEUs) when deployed in space environments. These effects are often handled with the area and power-intensive TMR mitigation technique. This paper evaluates the effects of SEUs in the FPGA configuration memory as noise in a digital filter, showing that many SEUs in a digital communications system cause effects that could be considered noise rather than circuit failure. Since DSP and digital communications applications are designed to withstand certain types of noise, SEU mitigation techniques that are less costly than TMR may be applicable. This could result in large savings in area and power when implementing a reliable system. Our experiments show that, of the SEUs that affected the digital filter with a 20 dB SNR input signal, less than 14% caused an SNR loss of more than 1 dB at the output.
Ragged but Right: Black Traveling Shows, “Coon Songs,” and the Dark Pathway to Blues and Jazz

At the start of the 20th century, black minstrelsy and accompanying “coon songs” dominated popular entertainment in the United States. Histories of the ragtime era often ignore this uncomfortable f...
Particulate Stresses in Dense Disperse Flow

We review and discuss the progress as achieved to date in the matter of describing particulate stresses of different origins that occur in concentrated suspensions of solid particles. A few physical mechanisms of generating such stresses are explicitly recognized. First, these stresses appear as a result of direct momentum transport over a transient network of particles separated by thin lubricating films of the intervening fluid, so that a part of the apparent suspension viscosity must be attributed to its dispersed phase. Second, normal and tangential particulate stresses originate because of random fluctuations of particles caused by (1) their pair interactions as the particles are brought closer together and pass one another in mean shear flow, (2) the relative fluid flow and an external body force field as they interact with random fluctuations of suspension concentrations, and (3) random macroscopic flow patterns, such as bubbles rising in fluidized beds that produce a system of Reynolds-like stresses
Polyisoprenoid glycolipids involved in glycoprotein biosynthesis

Until five years ago, it was believed that the oligosaccharide chains of most, if not all, glycoproteins were assembled by the stepwise transfer of single sugar residues from their nucleotide derivatives to growing oligosaccharide chains attached to a polypeptide core. It is now becoming widely accepted that polyisoprenol-linked mono- and oligosaccarides function as activated glycosyl carriers in the biosynthesis of some glycoproteins in animal tissues. The lipophilic glycosyl carrier of monosaccharides is the phosphomonoester of dolichol, the C80-100-polyisoprenol, containing a saturated terminal isoprene unit. In this biosynthetic process, sugars are initially transferred to dolichol monophosphate from their nucleotide derivatives by membrane-associated glycosyltransferases. These dolichol-linked monosaccharides serve as glycosyl donors in the glycosylation of oligosaccharide phospholipids. It appears likely that dolichol is also the lipid moiety of the oligosaccharide intermediates. Detailed enzymatic studies with oligosaccharide phospholipids formed by rat liver, a mouse myeloma tumor and hen oviduct have revealed that these intermediates function as oligosaccharide donors in the assembly of at least one class of glycoproteins.
Precooking and Cooling of Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonas pelamis): A Numerical Simulation

Abstract A numerical simulation of the commercial tuna precooking and cooling process was developed as an aid to improving these critical thermal processing steps. Using the finite element method, a two-dimensional model of a tuna consisting of three regions, muscle, backbone, and viscera, was developed. Results from previous research on thermal properties of skipjack tuna were applied in the model. Preprocessor software, GAMBIT 1.1, and commercial finite element software, FIDAP 8.52, were used. The model was tested via comparison with experimental data collected in a commercial processing facility and a pilot plant. Good agreement between the simulation and experimental results was obtained.
Effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan on H-reflex recovery curves in normal subjects and patients with affective disorders

Abstract The effect of the serotonin precursor dl-5- hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) on the Hoffmann reflex recovery curve (HRRC) was studied in normal subjects and patients with affective illness. 5-HTP significantly decreased the HRRC in normal controls and in depressed and manic patients receiving treatment with lithium or antidepressants. 5-HTP increased the HRRC in unmedicated depressed and manic patients. These results provide further evidence for a serotonergic abnormality in the affective disorders .
Production and Observation of the Dissipative Trapped-Ion Instability

A new, steady-state linear mirror machine has been constructed which produces a low-density, low-temperature hydrogen plasma in the collisionality regime of the dissipative trapped-ion instability. This instability was seen and identified through the observed dependence of wave amplitude on trapped fraction, axial and radial position, and collisionality and through the scaling of real frequency with trapped fraction.
1199 DOUBLE OUTLET RIGHT VENTRICLE FOLLOWING CONOTRUNCAL CONSTRICTION IN THE CHICK EMBRYO

We are studying the effect of a timed teratogenic event on cardiac morphogenesis. A 0.5 mm loop of 10-0 nylon was placed constricting the midpoint of the conotruncus in stage 24 chick embryos. The embryos were reincubated and harvested between stages 36 and 40. The embryo hearts were fixed in diastole, microdissected and measured. The study group included 46 experimental, 35 sham operated and 72 control embryos. In 27 (59%) experimental embryos, the aorta arose from the right ventricle. In this group the separation of the mitral and aortic valve (MAS) (0.85 ± .06 mm) was significantly greater (p< .05) than sham operated and control embryos (0.34 ± .09 mm). MAS did not increase with developmental stage. All embryos with double outlet right ventricle had 1 or more ventricular septal defects and 7 (26%) had aortic arch malformations. Among 15 embryos with the aorta originating from the left ventricle the MAS (.50 ± .05 mm) was not significantly different from controls. All but one embryo in this group had a ventricular septal defect and 6 (40%) had aortic arch malformations. Right ventricular size was similar among experimental, sham operated control embryos. These data indicate a timed teratogenic insult to the conotruncus can interfere with the assignment of the aorta to the left ventricle resulting in double outlet right ventricle and the persistance of the aortic conus.
Design and synthesis of a combinatorial chemistry library of 7-acyl, 10-acyl, and 7,10-diacyl analogues of paclitaxel (taxol) using solid phase synthesis.

A series of 10-acyl and 7,10-diacyl paclitaxel analogues (7a−7e and 9a−9u) have been synthesized using a solid phase combinatorial chemistry approach, and a second series of 7-acyl-10-deacetylpaclitaxel analogues have been prepared by conventional chemistry. In the first series, 10-deacetylpaclitaxel (4) was linked through its 2‘-hydroxyl group using 1% polystyrene−divinyl benzene resin functionalized with butyldiethylsilane linker (PS-DES) and then acylated at the C-10 hydroxyl group with various anhydrides and dialkyl dicarbonates in the presence of CeCl3. The resin-bound C-10 acylated paclitaxel derivatives (6a−6e) were then treated with various carboxylic acids in the presence of 1,3-diisopropylcarbodiimide in toluene to provide polymer-supported 7,10-diacylpaclitaxels (8a−8u). These 7-acyl- and 7,10-diacylpaclitaxels (6a−6e and 8a−8u) were cleaved from the resin to give the 24 paclitaxel analogues 7a−7e and 9a−9u. Nine 7-acyl-10-deacetylpaclitaxel analogues were also prepared by conventional chemistr...
Invariant imbedding and radiation dosimetry: IV. finite order scattering of gamma radiation by a target slab☆

Abstract Computation of the transmission and reflection functions of the radiation impinging on a slab with scattering properties which are unisotropic and incoherent are relevant to the problems in radiation dosimetry, where we meet with the passage of low energy gamma radiation through human tissue. Employing the concept of finite order transmission and reflection functions of earlier papers in this series, we obtain recurrence relations for these functions which introduce enormous simplicity in the numerical calculations.
Gonadotropin Regulation of Ovarian Cholesterol Levels in the Rat

The regulation of ovarian cholesterol storage and depletion was examined in intact immature, hypophysectomized immature and hypophysectomized PMS-HCG treated rats. LH treatment alone caused a depletion of cholesterol in the interstitial tissue of intact animals and stimulated estrogen production, as judged by uterine growth. Neither of these events occurred when LH was given in combination with amino-glutethimide (AGP); instead, cholesterol accumulated in the interstitial tissue. Treatment with LH in the hypophysectomized immature rat resulted in a similar effect, except that no estrogen stimulation of the uterus was noted. Cholesterol failed to accumulate in the corpora lutea of the hypophysectomized PMSHCG treated rats receiving LH alone or LH plus AGP; however, a significant increase in uterine growth occurred with LH treatment alone. Thus, it was concluded that LH alone can cause estrogen production by the corpora lutea, while in the interstitial tissue LH requires some other factor(s) for estrogen pr...
Optimal Capital Structure for a Property-Liability Insurer

Traditional finance studies have found that firm value is maximised at a mid-range level of leverage. This paper empirically tests the effect of leverage on firm value for property-liability insurers. We analysed an international data set of 96 insurers from 1992 to 2006 using two measures for firm value (price-to-earnings and market-to-book) and three measures of leverage (liabilities-to-equity, premiums-to-equity and surplus duration). We found that price-to-earnings at first increases with leverage, as measured by liabilities-to-equity and premiums-to-equity, but decreases past a certain point. Market-to-book exhibited a similar pattern for the premium-to-equity ratio but had a positive relationship with liabilities-to-equity and a negative relationship with surplus duration.
Abstract 4191: MiR-20a inhibits thyroid cancer cell growth and invasion through LIMK1.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC There have been conflicting reports regarding the function of miR-20a in a variety of cancers. In this study, we evaluated the expression and function of miR-20a in thyroid cancer tissue and cell lines in vitro and in vivo. We found miR-20a was significantly downregulated in undifferentiated and aggressive thyroid cancer (p<0.05). Ectopic overexpression of miR-20a significantly inhibited thyroid cancer cell proliferation in vitro (p < 0.01) and in vivo (p < 0.01), tumor spheroid formation (p < 0.05), and invasion (p < 0.05) in multiple thyroid cancer cell lines. We performed integrated transcriptome analysis with and without miR-20a overexpression and target prediction analysis, and identified LIMK1 as a target of miR-20a. Luciferase assay demonstrated that LIMK1 was a direct target of miR-20a and that direct knockdown of LIMK1 recapitulated the effects of miR-20a in multiple thyroid cancer lines. Our findings suggest that miR-20a has a tumor suppressive function in thyroid cancer which is mediated through LIMK1 and that loss of miR-20a expression may be involved in thyroid cancer progression. Citation Format: Yin Xiong, Lisa Zhang, Electron Kebebew. MiR-20a inhibits thyroid cancer cell growth and invasion through LIMK1. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4191. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4191
676 THE IMPORTANCE OF INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE MONITORING IN THE NEAR-DROWNING CHILD

The survival in the patient who is comatous from near drowning is poor. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the value of intracranial pressure monitoring. Intracranial Pressure (ICP) monitoring by the subarachnoid bolt and Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP) served as major guidelines in the therapy of near drowning in children in coma Group I (G1). G1 consisted of 1 decorticate, 4 decerebrate and 10 flaccid children (C1,C2,C3 respectively) from a total population of 25 victims. G2 (3 patients) and G3 (7 patients) included obtunded and fully awake patients respectively. Mean arterial pH on arrival was 7.03 (G1) and 6.99 (C3), Mean ICP 23.75 mmHg (G1) and 25.28 (C3), and mean CPP 63.25 mmHG (G1) and 64.14 (C3). All patients in G2 and G3 recovered completely. All patients in C1 and C2 survived and 1 patient (C2) remained moderately brain damaged. In C3 6 died but 4 recovered completely including normal EEG. Overall survival rate for all groups was 76%, complete recovery 72% and death 24%. In G1 survival rate was 60% and complete recovery 53.3%. Modes of therapy are discussed. We conclude that ICP and CPP monitoring should be mandatory in near drowning victims who are comatous. Therapy must focus on cerebral resuscitation. Utilizing this technique, our results in the comatous patients are clearly superior to those previously published.
Detection of onion postharvest diseases by analyses of headspace volatiles using a gas sensor array and GC-MS

Abstract Onion postharvest diseases cause significant losses in storage. Volatile sensing by the gas sensor array technology could be used as a promising alternative method to detect onion diseases. Onions were inoculated with Botrytis allii and Burkholderia cepacia , causal pathogen for Botrytis neck rot and sour skin, respectively. In the first phase of this study, 30 onions with equal number of B. allii inoculated and control healthy onions were measured by the gas sensor array from 8 to 11 days after inoculation (dai) and the principal component analysis (PCA) score plot demonstrated that the gas sensor array responded differently to Botrytis neck rot infected onions from those of healthy onions. In the second phase, 30 onions with 10 for each of the three treatments (Botrytis neck rot, sour skin, control) were measured by the gas sensor array on 5, 6, and 7 dai. The PCA score plot illustrated that three treatments formed three distinct clusters, while a hierarchical cluster analysis dendrogram indicated that the response of the gas sensor array to Botrytis neck rot and sour skin were similar. The correct classification rate of the linear discriminant model for three treatments was over 97.8%. Results from GC-MS showed that total 24 major volatiles were identified from the headspace of three treatments. Sixteen compounds were uniquely present in B. allii and B. cepacia inoculated onion bulbs. Total amount of volatile compounds detected in pathogen inoculated bulbs was one to two orders of magnitude higher than that of control healthy bulbs. This study demonstrated the feasibility of using a gas sensor array to detect two onion postharvest diseases in storage.
Where am I going? The future of academic cardiovascular medicine.

In the last three decades, the U.S. life expectancy has been prolonged by about one or two years each decade due to advances in cardiovascular medicine. This improvement is the result of the development of better therapies rather than cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Despite this improvement
Reply from David Berube, NCSU

Dear readers, No one gets a free pass. Not industry. Not government. Not civil advocacy groups. And not even me. Once you enter the critical dialogue on environmental health and safety as a spokesperson for stakeholders, you are bound to higher levels of accuracy. You are speaking for others and, as a contract of sorts, it carries duties and obligations. The article I wrote speaks for itself. The page from the FOE sunscreen report that became the focus of the exercise was selected purposefully. It is difficult to understand how one page full of inaccuracies can be justified contextually in an argumentative claim. As to factual errors, the material in the article I wrote comes directly from the studies the report cited and from the lead authors who completed the research. As to ‘‘wrong studies’’, all references were traced back to lead authors (something the report should have done). All the claims in the part of the FOE report selected for evaluation were referenced to scientific publications. The researchers for the cited material (but for one) were contacted and responded. They commented on how the claims were supported by their research. No lead author who responded to my queries felt the reference was to another publication of theirs during the same year. I deferred to their insight in every instance. For example, Claims 5, 6 and 7 were challenging for me. There were highly redundant claims from cell death via DNA mutation in Claim 5 to cell death via DNA mutation in Claim 7. As such, distinguishing one claim from another was very difficult, so direct cross-referencing might have suffered a little but not sufficiently to discredit any of my conclusions. If there was any confusion as Mr. Illuminato suggested, it was illuminated since all the studies were vetted and nearly all the researchers contacted. The citations, direct and otherwise, included Oberdorster who addressed DNA mutation and cell death as well as Geiser (unreachable), Li via Nel and Savic via Maysinger. All these studies were appropriately vetted and all but one of the researchers contacted. The studies and the researchers do not concur with Claims 5–7 being made in the report. As to resorting to the position that those who wrote the report were not toxicologists hence not qualified to do so, I would argue you should have tried harder. As to inconsistencies made by the staff of FOE in this report, this is a condemning remark. You are See also DOI 10.1007/s11051-008-9362-7 and DOI 10.1007/s11051-008-9442-8.
Erratum to: Biographical Sketch: Virgil Pendleton Gibney, MD, 1847–1927

The online version of the original article can be found under doi:10.1007/s11999-009-1166-2.
Influence of numerical model decisions on the flow-induced vibration of a computational vocal fold model

Computational vocal fold models are often used to study the physics of voice production. In this paper the sensitivity of predicted vocal fold flow-induced vibration and resulting airflow patterns to several modeling selections is explored. The location of contact lines used to prevent mesh collapse and assumptions of symmetry were found to influence airflow patterns. However, these variables had relatively little effect on the vibratory response of the vocal fold model itself. Model motion was very sensitive to Poisson's ratio. The importance of these parameter sensitivities in the context of vocal fold modeling is discussed.
Ab initio approach to the structure and dynamics of metallofullerenes

, and La@C82. Structural, electronic, and vibrational properties are determined and compared with experiment whenever possible. In the C60 case, clear characteristic and measurable features are found that distinguish between exo- and endo-complexes. Also in C82, fingerprints of the presence of the guest atom, its position, and charge state are identified in measurable spectra, as well as of the structure of the cage.
Optimizing channel profits with threshold incentives and alternative pricing schemes

We analyze manufacturers' trade promotions that are offered in the form of threshold incentives. In such programs, the incentive is given if the retailer's order/sales quantity exceeds a pre-specified threshold level, and can be offered as a lump-sum payment or on a per-unit basis. The manufacturer determines the incentive terms and her wholesale price; in return, the retailer reacts with his profit-maximizing decisions, which ultimately impact the market demand and total channel profits. Modeling two alternative pricing schemes by the retailer, we investigate the performance of threshold incentives from the channel perspective. We find that the threshold incentives optimize channel profits in equilibrium when the retailer exercises first-degree price discrimination, but they lead to suboptimal channel efficiency when the retailer implements uniform pricing. We extend our models to address demand uncertainty and an alternative form of incentive scheme, and we generate further insights from numerical examples.
A new look at oxygen production on Mars - In situ propellant production (ISPP)

Consideration is given to the technique of producing oxygen on Mars from CO2 in the Martian atmosphere via in situ propellent production (ISPP). Mission implications of ISPP for both manned and unmanned Mars missions are described as well as ways to improve system reliability. Technology options that improve reliability and reduce power requirements include the use of adsorption pumps and advanced zirconia membranes. It is concluded that both manned and unmanned missions will benefit greatly from ISPP, especially in the context of a permanent manned base on Mars.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Advances in Management and Diagnosis

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of irreversible visual impairment in older populations in industrialized nations. AMD is a late-onset deterioration of photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium in the central retina caused by various environmental and genetic factors. Great strides in our understanding of AMD pathogenesis have been made in the past several decades, which have translated into revolutionary therapeutic agents in recent years. In this review, we describe the clinical and pathologic features of AMD and present an overview of current diagnosis and treatment strategies.
Theoretical study of the high‐latitude ionosphere's response to multicell convection patterns

A time-dependent three-dimensional model of the high-latitude ionosphere is used to study the characteristic ionospheric signatures associated with two-, three-, and four-cell plasma convection patterns. It is found that, for two-cell convection, the antisunward flow of plasma from the dayside into the polar cap acts to maintain the densities in this region in winter. For four-cell convection, the two additional convection cells in the polar cap are in darkness most of the time, and the resulting O(+) decay acts to produce twin polar holes that are separated by a sun-aligned ridge of enhanced ionization due to theta-auroral precipitation. For three-cell convection, only one polar hole forms in the total electron density, and an additional O(+) depletion region develops near noon. In this region there are strong electric fields, high ion temperatures, and an enhanced rate of O(+) - NO(+) conversion.
Coagulase-Positive Staphylococcus Intramammary Infections in Primiparous Dairy Cows

Objectives were to determine the prevalence of coagulase-positive staphylococcal IMI in primiparous cows at first parturition, to contrast the differences in coagulase-positive staphylococcal IMI in primiparous cows at parturition in herds with high and low prevalences of coagulase-positive staphylococcal IMI in the lactating herd, and to determine the percentage of primiparous cows having persistent coagulase-positive staphylococcal IMI. Milk samples were collected aseptically from cows at the start and end of the study, at dry-off, and at parturition. Herds (n = 18) were split evenly into two categories: high (> 10%) or low (< 5%) prevalence of coagulase-positive staphylococcal IMI. At the start, the mean prevalence of coagulase-positive staphylococcal IMI in high prevalence herds was 30%, ranging from 13 to 65%, and in low prevalence herds was 2%, ranging from 0 to 5%. Overall the prevalence of coagulase-positive staphylococcal IMI in primiparous cows at parturition was 8.1% (67 of 828), ranging from 0 to 27%. Although primiparous cows from high prevalence herds had a higher prevalence of coagulase-positive staphylococcal IMI (9.2%; 40 of 436) at parturition than did primiparous cows from low herds (6.9%; 27 of 392), the difference was not significant. Of primiparous cows with coagulase-positive staphylococcal IMI at parturition, 43% had coagulase-positive staphylococcal IMI at least 2 mo after parturition. Primiparous cows with coagulase-positive staphylococcal IMI at parturition may represent significant reservoirs of infection to uninfected herdmates.