cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Real-time imaging of leukotriene B₄ mediated cell migration and BLT1 interactions with β-arrestin.

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) belong to the seven transmembrane protein family and mediate the transduction of extracellular signals to intracellular responses. GPCRs control diverse biological functions such as chemotaxis, intracellular calcium release, gene regulation in a ligand dependent manner via heterotrimeric G-proteins1-2. Ligand binding induces a series of conformational changes leading to activation of heterotrimeric G-proteins that modulate levels of second messengers such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), inositol triphosphate (IP3) and diacyl glycerol (DG). Concomitant with activation of the receptor ligand binding also initiates a series of events to attenuate the receptor signaling via desensitization, sequestration and/or internalization. The desensitization process of GPCRs occurs via receptor phosphorylation by G-protein receptor kinases (GRKs) and subsequent binding of β-arrestins3. β-arrestins are cytosolic proteins and translocate to membrane upon GPCR activation, binding to phosphorylated receptors (most cases) there by facilitating receptor internalization 4-6. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a pro-inflammatory lipid molecule derived from arachidonic acid pathway and mediates its actions via GPCRs, LTB4 receptor 1 (BLT1; a high affinity receptor) and LTB4 receptor 2 (BLT2; a low affinity receptor)7-9. The LTB4-BLT1 pathway has been shown to be critical in several inflammatory diseases including, asthma, arthritis and atherosclerosis10-17. The current paper describes the methodologies developed to monitor LTB4-induced leukocyte migration and the interactions of BLT1 with β-arrestin and , receptor translocation in live cells using microscopy imaging techniques18-19. Bone marrow derived dendritic cells from C57BL/6 mice were isolated and cultured as previously described 20-21. These cells were tested in live cell imaging methods to demonstrate LTB4 induced cell migration. The human BLT1 was tagged with red fluorescent protein (BLT1-RFP) at C-terminus and β-arrestin1 tagged with green fluorescent protein (β-arr-GFP) and transfected the both plasmids into Rat Basophilic Leukomia (RBL-2H3) cell lines18-19. The kinetics of interaction between these proteins and localization were monitored using live cell video microscopy. The methodologies in the current paper describe the use of microscopic techniques to investigate the functional responses of G-protein coupled receptors in live cells. The current paper also describes the use of Metamorph software to quantify the fluorescence intensities to determine the kinetics of receptor and cytosolic protein interactions.
Identification of volatile allelochemicals from Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats

Allelopathic volatiles associated with the weed Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.; AMAPA) were trapped on Tenax GC, thermally desorbed, and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Methyl ketones and alcohols (C4–C11) were the principal components of the volatiles mixture. Seedheads, stems, or roots were placed in a glass container and incubated at 31 °C (10 hr)/21 °C (14 hr) for three days prior to trapping the volatiles. Seedheads were rich in 2-heptanone which was consistently found, together with 2-heptanol, in all AMAPA tissues. Vapors of authentic 2-heptanone and (±)-2-heptanol at concentrations of 1 ppm or higher strongly inhibited the germination of onion and carrot and almost completely suppressed the germination of tomato and AMAPA seeds.
A rapid method for locating intracerebral electrode tracks.

This method consists of: (1) cutting formalin-fixed frozen sections 160μ thick of the brain of experimental animals, (2) mounting the unstained sections in glycerol under a cover slip, and (3) photographing their enlarged images on Kodak Direct Positive paper. The results resemble photographs of myelin sheath preparations. Direct positive photography eliminates the time needed for tediously tracing projected images, usually done on stained sections. With this method it is possible to obtain a histological analysis of a neurophysiological experiment on the following day.
Use of Excel Spreadsheets to Create Interpretive Reports for Laboratory Tests Requiring Complex Calculations

The use of Excel (Microsoft, Seattle, WA) software to analyze data and create reports is probably higher among business end users and information technology (IT) staff than among clinical laboratory personnel. According to a 2002 survey by Actuate Corporation, touted as the “Information Delivery market leader,” of business end users and IT staff, 57% of end users and 70% of IT staff put reports into a spreadsheet for easier manipulation; 81% of IT managers indicated that their end users dumped their reports into spreadsheets; and, 51% of all respondents wanted more Excel format spreadsheet reporting.1 According to this survey, “the spreadsheet paradigm is clearly the “lingua franca” of most business end users. Moreover, more than 90% of organizations polled by Actuate cited Microsoft Excel as the spreadsheet of choice to review or analyze data.1 In addition, an unexpectedly high percentage (78%) of “rank and file” end users preferred to develop their own reports rather than have reports developed for them.1 Similarly, both rank and file end users and their company executives expressed a strong need for Web-enabled access to spreadsheet driven access to the data and formulas contained in business summary reports.1 The top 4 reasons cited for this need were: Although the use of Excel spreadsheets to record, catalog, analyze, and store laboratory test data is ubiquitous, the use of spreadsheets for developing patients’ reports that use these data for performing complex calculations and providing interpretive information in useful, eye-appealing, and colorful reports is much less ubiquitous. Below are several examples of spreadsheet reports that I created to take advantage of the error reduction over manual calculation provided by programming an Excel …
Tumor cell proliferation and sequential chemotherapy after partial tumor resection in C3H/HeJ mammary tumors

Changes in tumor cell proliferation and chemosensitivity after partial (up to 3/4) surgical resection were studied in C3H/HeJ mammary tumors, In all studies surgical cytoreduction stimulated tumor cell proliferation in the residual tumor, as evidenced by increases in the3H-TdR labelling index between 24 and 72 hrs after surgery. The time of maximal proliferative activity was directly related to the amount of tumor removed. In spontaneous mammary tumors, proliferative recovery after 1/2 resection could be delayed by giving dexamethasone 24 hrs after resection. The regrowth delay after surgery and various combinations of dexamethasone, vincristine, 5-FU, and cyclophosphamide, was used to assess the significance of the kinetic changes in the residual tumor for the design of adjuvant therapeutic strategies. The results indicated that the chemosensitivity of C3H/HeJ mammary tumors was substantially increased after surgical cytoreduction, and that these post-surgical changes were directly correlated with changes in tumor cell proliferative activity.
Cohesive modeling of crack nucleation under diffusion induced stresses in a thin strip: Implications on the critical size for flaw tolerant battery electrodes

Recent advances in lithium-ion battery electrodes with huge volume changes during intercalation–deintercalation cycles are calling for studies on crack nucleation under diffusion induced stresses. Here we develop a cohesive model of crack nucleation in an initially crack-free strip electrode under galvanostatic intercalation and deintercalation processes. The analysis identifies a critical characteristic dimension below which crack nucleation becomes impossible. The critical size and other predictions of the model are compared to recent experiments on silicon nanowire electrodes. The results suggest nanostructured electrodes are highly promising for applications in high capacity batteries.
Organizing and Evaluating Results From Multiple Reading Assessments

The challenges of understanding how reading abilities vary within the classroom can be daunting. This article offers techniques to organize a variety of assessment data to give teachers a clear picture of individual achievement, how students compare with one another, and how reliably various assessment instruments yield an accurate picture of reading ability. A class profile based on a common scale is described and used to give an overview of student reading levels.
Change in high field Q-slope by baking and anodizing

Low temperature RF performance of two niobium cavities that underwent different chemical treatments was measured after they were heat treated at 100 °C for 48 h. After heat treatment cavities were anodized in ammonia hydroxide solution for sequentially increasing voltage until baking effect was gone. The thickness of niobium finally consumed is estimated to be 20 nm. The results are discussed in view of one of the current models for the baking effect on the high field Q-slope.
2D analysis of Gabor-filter output signatures for texture segmentation

Many texture-segmentation schemes use Gabor elementary functions as filters to decompose a textured image into a joint space/spatial-frequency domain. Dunn et al. (1991, 1992) showed for a 1-D model that these filters (when properly tuned) can produce certain characteristic discontinuities (step, valley and ridge) at texture boundaries, aiding image segmentation. The authors generalize the work of Dunn et al. by providing a more general 2-D analytical development. They also show when vertical and horizontal texture-phase discontinuities produce ridge or valley discontinuities, and when asymmetric filters are beneficial. >
Influence of left ventricular function on signal averaged late potentials in patients with coronary artery disease with and without ventricular tachycardia

Left ventricular dysfunction has been suggested as a cause of late potentials on the signal averaged ECG of patients with coronary artery disease. We compared the averaged surface ECG with angiographic findings in 57 patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction. Sixteen patients had sustained ventricular tachycardia and 41 had no documented arrhythmia. These two patient groups were comparable with respect to age, mean ejection fraction, and wall motion score. Late potentials, defined as voltage <25 μV in the last 40 msec of the filtered QRS complex, were found in 10 of 16 patients with ventricular tachycardia and in 6 of 41 patients without arrhythmia (p < 0.005). However, late potentials were independent of ejection fraction, wall motion score, or presence of dyskinesis in both groups. There was no correlation between the total fiiltered QRS duration and ejection fraction or wall motion score in either patient group. In patients with coronary artery disease, late potentials are associated with ventricular tachycardia but are independent of global or regional left ventricular function. This finding has important implications for studies of the prognostic value of late potentials following myocardial infarction.
Emerging molecular diversity from the intra-molecular Ugi reaction: iterative efficiency in medicinal chemistry

This review details a now established area within the isonitrile multi-component reaction (IMCR) field of study, namely employing bi-functional reagents in the Ugi reaction for the construction of screening sets with the additional element or even possibly 'metric' of enhanced 'iterative efficiency potential'. The concept of 'iterative efficiency' will be briefly introduced, coupled with discussion on new synthetic routes to select bi-functional IMCR precursors and their use in the generation of pharmacologically relevant 'molecular diversity'.
Poly(amidoamine) Dendrimers on Lipid Bilayers I: Free Energy and Conformation of Binding

Third-generation (G3) poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers are simulated approaching 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) bilayers with fully atomistic molecular dynamics, which enables the calculation of a free energy profile along the approach coordinate. Three different dendrimer terminations are examined: protonated primary amine, uncharged acetamide, and deprotonated carboxylic acid. As the dendrimer and lipids become closer, their attractive force increases (up to 240 pN) and the dendrimer becomes deformed as it interacts with the lipids. The total energy release upon binding of a G3−NH3+, G3−Ac, or G3−COO− dendrimer to a DMPC bilayer is, respectively, 36, 26, or 47 kcal/mol or, equivalently, 5.2, 3.2, or 4.7 × 10−3 kcal/g. These results are analyzed in terms of the dendrimers’ size, shape, and atomic distributions as well as proximity of individual lipid molecules and particular lipid atoms to the dendrimer. For example, an area of 9.6, 8.2, or 7.9 nm2 is covered on the bilayer for the...
Electron backscattered diffraction characterization technique for analysis of a Ti2AlNb intermetallic alloy.

Summary This investigation was conducted to ascertain the benefits of electropolishing after mechanical polishing for electron backscattered diffraction of a Ti2AlNb intermetallic Ti−21Al−29Nb (at.%) alloy containing the orthorhombic (O) and body-centered-cubic (BCC) phases. Electropolishing was performed at −40 °C in 6% H2SO4 methanol solution. Atomic force microscopy was used to measure the surface topography in attempt to correlate nano-scale surface roughness with electron backscatter diffraction pattern quality. The results suggest that mechanically polishing with colloidal silica (SiO2) or alumina followed by electropolishing is a sufficient surface preparatory technique for producing quality electron backscattered diffraction patterns for O + BCC microstructures. However, poor pattern quality results after mechanically polishing without electropolishing. High-quality orientation maps for O-dominated O + BCC microstructures were only possible through mechanical polishing followed by electropolishing. The data also suggest that surface roughness, on the order of 50 nm, has less effect on pattern quality than subsurface deformation. Overall, removing the near-surface damage was more critical than reduction of topography.
Reduction of response latency in monkeys by a procedure of differential reinforcement

The response latency of monkeys performing in a visual reaction time situation was reduced when a contingency for differential reinforcement of brief-latency responses (DRE) was introduced. Introduction of the DRB contingency was also associated with a reduction in the variability of response latency.
Breakdown of the Born approximation in laser phase-noise to amplitude-noise conversion

When a vapor absorbs laser light, the field's intrinsic phase fluctuations (PM) induce variations in the atoms' absorption cross section, which in turn yield fluctuations in the transmitted light intensity. In the Born approximation, the observed amplitude noise (AM) arises from a single scattering of the input field. Here, we show that the Born approximation breaks down for optically thick vapors and that the observed AM is influenced by scatterings of the ``medium-perturbed'' field. With importance for spectroscopy, we find that the multiple field-atom scatterings reduce the PM-to-AM conversion efficiency.
On sharply n-transitive superstable groups

Abstract We study sharply n -transitive superstable groups for n = 2, 3. For n = 3 we get a complete classification, and for n = 2 we prove that such groups split if we also assume the surjectivity principle. These results generalize the algebraic case.
Building Consortia-Based it Solutions: A Decision Support Architecture for Agencies in Multiple State Governments

Abstract Consortia-based IT solutions can be found in many industries, but they pose special management challenges. This article describes an example from the public sector in which the outcomes include a decision support architecture that facilitates within-organization and cross-organization data analysis and reporting, as well as a Web-based knowledge management store for participants. the author argues that the governance model, processes, and key success factors from this project can be useful for those embarking on multi-organizational projects in which highly autonomous units have incentives to participate.
Physical Attractiveness and the Approach/Avoidance of Self-Awareness

The approach/avoidance of self-awareness was assessed in a naturalistic setting for individuals surreptitiously rated as low, medium, or high in physical attractiveness. As hypothesized, selective exposure to self-awareness increased as a linear function of physical attractiveness level Results were interpreted as providing additional evidence for self-awareness exposure effects.
STATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF MOS-CONTROLLED THYRISTORS — ANALYSIS, SIMULATION, AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

An equation for the iK-vAK static forward characteristic of an MOS-controlled thyristor (MCT) is derived using a four-transistor equivalent model of the device. The Ebers–Moll large-signal model is used for n-p-n and p-n-p bipolar transistors. The equation is similar to that for forward-biased diodes. The equivalent saturation current of the MCT is a function of both the saturation currents and the forward and reverse current gains of the n-p-n and p-n-p transistors. Effects of these parameters on the MCT equivalent saturation current are investigated. Voltages and currents of all transistors that form the MCT equivalent model are simulated using SPICE to explain the behavior of the device in the forward-biased region. Finally, the experimental iK-vAK characteristics are presented. The calculated and measured iK-vAK characteristics were in good agreement. The measured ON-voltage drop was 1.6 V at a cathode current of 200 A and a temperature of 300 K. MCTs are especially useful power devices for electric car applications.
Metabolic Competition in the Tumor Microenvironment Is a Driver of Cancer Progression

Failure of T cells to protect against cancer is thought to result from lack of antigen recognition, chronic activation, and/or suppression by other cells. Using a mouse sarcoma model, we show that glucose consumption by tumors metabolically restricts T cells, leading to their dampened mTOR activity, glycolytic capacity, and IFN-γ production, thereby allowing tumor progression. We show that enhancing glycolysis in an antigenic "regressor" tumor is sufficient to override the protective ability of T cells to control tumor growth. We also show that checkpoint blockade antibodies against CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1, which are used clinically, restore glucose in tumor microenvironment, permitting T cell glycolysis and IFN-γ production. Furthermore, we found that blocking PD-L1 directly on tumors dampens glycolysis by inhibiting mTOR activity and decreasing expression of glycolysis enzymes, reflecting a role for PD-L1 in tumor glucose utilization. Our results establish that tumor-imposed metabolic restrictions can mediate T cell hyporesponsiveness during cancer.
Interpreting patient/informant discrepancies of reported cognitive symptoms in MS

Although numerous studies have shown that brain-damaged patients tend to underestimate neuropsychological (NP) impairment when self-ratings are compared to informant ratings, the meaning of such discrepancies is not well studied in multiple sclerosis (MS). We compared patient self- and informant-report questionnaire ratings of NP functioning in 122 MS patients and 37 age- and education-matched normal controls. In addition to completing the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire (MSNQ), participants underwent NP testing and assessment of depression, personality, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Based on the normal distribution of discrepancy scores, patients were classified according to whether they overestimated or underestimated their cognitive ability, relative to informant ratings. ANOVAs comparing test scores derived from overestimators, underestimators, and accurate estimators were significant for multiple measures of cognitive function, depression, personality, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Overestimators were characterized by less depression and conscientiousness, and greater degrees of cognitive impairment, euphoric behavioral disinhibition, and unemployment as compared to underestimators. We conclude that patient/informant discrepancy scores on the MSNQ are associated with the aforementioned neuropsychiatric features, and that the MSNQ has potential utility for predicting euphoria and disinhibition syndromes in MS. (JINS, 2005, 11, 574–583.)All authors are from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Division of Departmental and Behavioral Neurosciences, and the Jacobs Neurological Institute, Buffalo General Hospital, Buffalo, NY.
The Ubiquitous Clicker SoTL Applications for Scientist–Educators

Over 5 semesters and 10 sections, students in a 300-level research methods course used clickers to respond to knowledge-based and opinion/attitude questions about clicker use, the effectiveness of ...
The Ecology of Decline and Revitalization in PSA

Professional organizations all exist in resource niches and, over time, confront varying degrees of density and, hence, competition with other organizations. The initial founding and growth, the precipitous decline, and the subsequent revitalization of the Pacific Sociological Association over the last six decades can be analyzed from an ecological perspective, suggesting strategies for the further survival of PSA in an every more dense resource niche.
Expected rank in antimatroids

We consider a probabilistic antimatroid A on the ground set E, where each element [email protected]?E may succeed with probability p"e. We focus on the expected rank ER(A) of a subset of E as a polynomial in the p"e. General formulas hold for arbitrary antimatroids, and simpler expressions are valid for certain well-studied classes, including trees, rooted trees, posets, and finite subsets of the plane. We connect the Tutte polynomial of an antimatroid to ER(A). When S is a finite subset of the plane with no three points collinear, we derive an expression for the expected rank that has surprising symmetry properties. Corollaries include new formulas involving the beta invariant of subsets of S and new proofs of some known formulas.
Effects of constant and intermittent food supply on life-history parameters in a marine copepod

Laboratory experiments were used to determine effects of long- and short-term food limitation on birth, growth, and death rates in Centropages typicus (Copepoda, Calanoida), a species previously reported to be sensitive to patchy food resources. Life-history parameters were measured in cohorts from hatching to senescence in a range of constant food treatments (0.2-7 pg Chl a liter-‘) and in two pulsed treatments that cycled between 0.5 and 2.0 pg Chl a liter-I at periods of -0.5 and 1.0 d. A flow-through culture system minimized biochemical and grazing-induced changes in food supply and allowed automated measurement of food levels (fluorescence). Particulate carbon, nitrogen, lipid, carbohydrate, and protein were measured also. Results show that even the “foodsensitive” copepod, C. typicus, can integrate daily fluctuations in food supply at amplitudes comparable to patchiness levels observed in the field. This finding has important implications for field and laboratory studies that relate zooplankton growth and fertility to ambient food supply. Additional new findings include exponential growth in body length, sustained high fertility with age, ingestion of large algal and animal prey, and low contribution of camivory to the diet. Comparisons with field data suggest that C. typicus is restricted to shelf regions due to food limitation, but that on the shelf it is a major contributor to total copepod production in the fall.
Gangkill: An Exploratory Empirical Assessment of Gang Membership, Homicide Offending, and Prison Misconduct

Extant research indicates that inmates with street gang history are prone for prison misconduct but that inmates convicted of homicide offenses are less likely to be noncompliant. No research has explored the interaction between street gang history and homicide offending. Based on official infraction data from 1,005 inmates selected from the Southwestern United States, the current study found that inmates with street gang history and convictions for homicide offenses were significantly involved in six types of institutional misconduct, net the effects of homicide offending, offense severity, street and prison gang risk, violence history, and demographics. Implications for theory and research are explored.
Patent foramen ovale associated with the unusual presentation of unilateral paramedian thalamic perforating artery infarction after embolic occlusion of ‘artery of Percheron’: case report and review of the literature

'Artery of Percheron' is a rare variation in blood supply in which a solitary arterial trunk arises from one of the proximal segments of the posterior cerebral arteries and supplies the paramedian thalami bilaterally. A young patient (in their early 30s) who presented with sudden onset of visual disturbance and speech difficulties is reported. A review of literature from 1981 to 2009 and review of the most widely reported clinical signs and symptoms are provided.
Creative approaches to measuring creativity: comparing the effectiveness of four divergence thinkLets

This paper presents a variety of ways in which the effectiveness of four divergence thinkLets used to aid creative solution generation in a group support system environment can be measured and compared. A thinkLet is a codified facilitation technique that can be used to support a group collaboration process. In the first thinkLet, free brainstorming, four-member groups worked on their own without any form of external interaction. In the three subsequent thinkLets, the group interaction was "directed" by a facilitator who provided carefully constructed stimuli to similar four-member groups at specific timed intervals. The only difference between the directed thinkLets was the specific ordering of the stimuli set. A number of useful measurements that may be made during the course of comparing the relative effectiveness of these creativity thinkLets are discussed and compared within the context of a theoretical model. The differences among the various thinkLets are then used to offer advice for practitioners.
Association between Pulmonary Function and Sputum Biomarkers in Cystic Fibrosis

Rationale: Sputum biomarkers of infection and inflammation are noninvasive measures that enable quantification of the complex pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. Validation of these biomarkers as correlates of disease severity is a key step for their application.Objectives: We constructed a large database from four multicenter studies to quantify the strength of association between expectorated sputum biomarkers and FEV1.Methods: FEV1 (range, 25–120% predicted) and quantitative data on expectorated sputum biomarkers including free neutrophil elastase, IL-8, neutrophils, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus were obtained from 269 participants (ages, 9–54 years) from 33 centers. Cross-sectional and longitudinal statistical analyses were performed to estimate associations between the markers and FEV1, including the use of multivariable analyses.Results: Elastase was negatively correlated with FEV1 (correlation [r] = −0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.46, −0.22). On average...
An Evaluation of a Self-Management Program for Adults with Asthma

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a self-management program for adults with moderate to severe asthma on compliance with inhaled, prescribed, nonemergency medications; asthma symptoms; and airway obstruction. In this controlled experimental study, 55 subjects from a rural community were randomized to one of two groups. Self-efficacy theory served as the framework for this study. Primary measures included the Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) Chronolog, a journal of daily asthma concerns, and a peak-flow meter to appraise airway obstruction. Secondary measures included the Asthma Self-Management Assessment Tool (ASMAT) and the Self-Efficacy for Asthma Management Scale (SEAMS). These measures were completed pre- and post-intervention. Data analysis using descriptive and inferential statistics revealed that subjects receiving the self-management program increased compliance with inhaled medications (U = 271, p = .043).
Employers in the Boom: How Did the Hiring of Less-Skilled Workers Change during the 1990s?

Abstract Employers became more willing to hire a range of disadvantaged workers during the 1990s boom—including minorities, workers with certain stigmas (such as welfare recipients), and those without recent experience or high school diplomas. The wages paid to newly hired less-skilled workers also increased. On the other hand, employers' demand for specific skill certification rose over time, as did their use of certain screens. The results suggest that the tight labor markets of the late 1990s, in conjunction with other secular changes, raised hiring costs and induced employers to shift toward screens that seemed more cost-effective.
The Benefits of Progressive Taxation in Economic Development

Progressive income taxation may result in a more equitable income distribution, higher revenues, less financial and economic volatility, and faster growth. The evidence shows a link with higher revenues and a more equitable income distribution but also with larger deficits. There is no link to output volatility and growth. The alternative of a value-added tax does not offer universally better outcomes, either in isolation or in combination with progressive taxes.
Utility of creatinine excretion in body-composition studies of healthy men and women older than 60 y.

This study evaluated whether aging alters the usefulness of creatinine excretion as an index of lean body mass (LBM) or muscle mass in healthy men and women. Creatinine excretion was determined while 24 young (15 men and 9 women aged 60 y) healthy volunteers stayed at a clinical research center for 3 d. Total LBM was determined by 40K counting in all subjects, and cross-sectional areas of upper arm and thigh muscles were determined in some subjects (10 young, 20 old) by magnetic resonance imaging. The slopes and intercepts of the regression equations relating LBM to average daily creatinine excretion were the same in the younger and older groups, and the precision with which LBM could be determined from creatinine excretion was not diminished by aging. Creatinine excretion was closely correlated with cross-sectional areas of upper arm (r = 0.85) and thigh (r = 0.88) muscles, and the slopes and intercepts of the regression equations were not significantly affected by age. The older group had a mean LBM smaller than that of the younger group, which was accounted for entirely by a smaller muscle mass. Mean resting metabolic rate (RMR), whole-body protein turnover rate, and thigh strength were lower in the older group than in the young group. Adjustment of RMR and protein turnover for creatinine excretion or LBM eliminated the age effects. Strength was lower in the older group even after adjustment for creatinine excretion or LBM. This study indicates that creatinine excretion is useful for evaluating body composition in both young and old subjects.
Negative ion chemical ionization for the determination of methylphenidate in human plasma by stable isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A sensitive and specific method for the determination of methylphenidate in human plasma is presented. Methylphenidate was extracted from plasma by solvent extraction with hexane at pH 9.3 and derivatized to its heptafluorobutyrate derivative. The derivative was measured by gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry without any further purification. Using this detection mode, a diagnostically useful fragment ion at m/z 369 was obtained at high relative abundance. (18)O(2)-labelled methylphenidate was used as an internal standard and its rapid and facile preparation from the unlabeled compound is described. Calibration graphs were linear within the range 0.14-18.25 ng ml(-1). The inter-assay precision was 8.7% (0.14 ng ml(-1)) and 3.1% (4.56 ng ml(-1)) and the intra-assay variability was 1.3% (0.14 ng ml(-1)) and 0.4% (4.56 ng ml(-1)). Accuracy determinations showed deviations of +0.7% (0.14 ng ml(-1)) and -2.5% (4.56 ng ml(-1)). The method is rugged, rapid and robust and has been applied to the batch analysis of methylphenidate during pharmacokinetic profiling of the drug.
Effects of Pulsed Laser Irradiation on Thermal Oxides of Silicon

The electrical effects associated with pulsed laser irradiation of thermal oxides of silicon were investigated. Three of the functions performed by thermal oxides are control of field effects, junction passivation and electrical isolation. Representative oxide thicknesses suitable for these applications were studied: ≈ 100 nm; ≈ 500 nm and ≥, 1.0 μm respectively. The oxides were irradiated by a repetitively Q-switched Nd 3+ :YAG laser operated at the fundamental frequency. The key laser parameters of energy and power density were varied over a wide range, from no change to the onset of discernible change and irreversible damage. The range of energy densities over which the oxide was not electrically degraded was established for each thickness of the oxide. This range of energy densities is compared to the useful range of energy densities for annealing polysilicon and for activating an implant through an oxide. The electrical data was obtained using a mercury probe and through the analysis of a large number of MOS capacitors formed on the irradiated oxides. Parameters measured include: breakdown voltages, surface state charge densities and flat band voltages.
Blind oxytocin challenge test and perinatal outcome

A total of 435 oxytocin challenge tests (OCT) were performed on 217 high-risk pregnant patients, and the test results were blinded. The results were correlated with late decelerations of the fetal heart rate during labor, Apgar scores at 5 minutes, a neonatal morbidity score, and perinatal mortality. The incidence of late decelerations during labor was 17% in the negative group, 24% in the suspicious group, and 33% in the positive group. The correlation of OCT results and the various measures of fetal outcome indicated that an individual fetus at risk cannot be identified with a high degree of accuracy since 67% of the tests were false positive and 17% were false negative. Even when the OCT was positive, 61% of infants did not have late decelerations in labor, low Apgar scores, or significant neonatal morbidity. When elective delivery has been decided upon after consideration of all clinical information, induction of labor rather than primary cesarean section is usually indicated. In this study 78% of patients were delivered vaginally with no significant increase of cesarean sections in the positive and suspicious groups as compared with the negative group.
Who Should Abate Carbon Emission? An International Perspective

We review the optimal pattern of carbon emission abatements across countries in at simple muIti-country world. We model explicitly (with the model in Chichilnisky, 1993b) the fact that the atmosphere is a public good. Within this framework we establish conditions for it to he necessary for optimality that the marginal cost of abatement be the same in all countries. These conditions are quite restrictive. and amount to either ignoring distributional issues between countries or operating within at framework within which lump-sum transfers can be made between countries. These results have implications for the use of tradeable emission permits, which as normally advocated will lend to the equalization of marginal abatement costs across countries. The observation that the atmosphere is a public good implies that we may need to look at a Lindahl equilibrium rather than a Walrasian equilibrium in tradeable permits.
Contrast Pattern Based Methods for Visualizing and Predicting Spatiotemporal Events

The emerging spatiotemporal data (e.g. social event data like crimes, or meteorology science data) bring in both challenges and opportunities for understanding the complex temporal and/or geographic processes and phenomena from different fields. Learning from spatiotemporal data has been a challenging task, because the variations among spatial, temporal and multivariate spaces have created a huge amount of features and complex regularities within the data. In this study we presented three methods targeting at two analytical purposes of spatiotemporal events: visualization and prediction. In detail, we developed 1) Hotspot Optimization Tool (HOT) for spatial incident hotspot visualization with reasoning, 2)Spatial Cluster Optimization Tool (SCOT)for summarizing the spatial regularity of variable's temporal patterns and an instance-based algorithm, Spatial Cluster Pattern based Classifier (SPC) for predicting spatiotemporal events through classification. All the three algorithms were built based on the mining of contrast frequent pattern. We applied and evaluated our algorithms using two real-world spatiotemporal data set: residential burglary data collected from a northeast city in the United States for crime hotspot visualization and meteorological data for forecasting extreme rainfall events in the eastern Central Andes area.
Correlation of in Situ Oxazolidine Formation with Highly Synergistic Cytotoxicity and DNA Cross-Linking in Cancer Cells from Combinations of Doxorubicin and Formaldehyde

Anthracyclines are a class of antitumor compounds that are successful and widely used but suffer from cardiotoxicity and acquired tumor resistance. Formaldehyde interacts with anthracyclines to enhance antitumor efficacy, bypass resistance mechanisms, improve the therapeutic profile, and change the mechanism of action from a topoisomerase II poison to a DNA cross-linker. Contrary to current dogma, we show that both efficient DNA cross-linking and potent synergy in combination with formaldehyde correlate with the anthracycline's ability to form cyclic formaldehyde conjugates as oxazolidine moieties and that the cyclic conjugates are better cross-linking agents and cytotoxins than acyclic conjugates. We also provide evidence that suggests that the oxazolidine forms in situ, since cotreatment with doxorubicin and formaldehyde is highly cytotoxic to dox-resistant tumor cell lines, and that this benefit is absent in combinations of formaldehyde and epirubicin, which cannot form stable oxazolidines. These results have potential clinical implications in the active field of anthracycline prodrug design and development.
Abstract 3488: PGE2 promotes angiogenesis by activating PKA catalytic subunit gamma

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL The Cyclooxygenase-2 product PGE2 is suggested to be involved in angiogenesis, but its exact role and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we show that PGE2 dose-dependently promotes the in vitro tube formation of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC). PGE2 also increases vessel density in chicken chorioallantoic membrane, and vessel outgrowth of mouse aortic rings. All cognate PGE2 receptors, namely EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4 can be detected in the HMVECs at both the gene and protein levels. Using EP-specific ligand agonists and antagonists our data demonstrate the EP4-dependent tube formation. Concordantly, knockdown of EP4, but not EP1, EP2 or EP3 with siRNA attenuates the PGE2-induced tube formation. Treatment with PGE2 increases cAMP accumulation and PKA activation, and knockdown of EP4 attenuates the PKA activation, suggesting a principally EP4-to-PKA signal. Remarkably, the treatment with selective PKA inhibitors H89 or PKI attenuates the PGE2-mediated tube formation. There are three PKA catalytic subunits and the knockdown of catalytic subunit gamma (PKACg) prevents the PGE2-regulated tube formation. To begin to identify the PKA substrate(s) involved in tube formation, a panel of SMARTpool siRNAs targeting 16 PKA substrates was tested. Results show that heat shock protein B6, endothelial nitric oxide synthase and small GTPase Rap1A exert pro-tube formation effects, whereas small GTPase RhoA and GSK3b may be involved in anti-tube formation. Our data suggest that PGE2 promotes angiogenesis through a EP4-cAMP-PKACgamma pathway. Targeting EP4 and PKACgamma may serve as an efficient strategy to control initiation and progression of diseases affected by angiogenesis, such as cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3488. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3488
Failure of histamine-beeswax mixture to produce gastrointestinal lesions in dogs after total gastrectomy.

Conclusions1. Eight dogs were subjected to total transthoracic gastrectomy and following this were given daily intramuscular injections of a histamine-beeswax mixture for periods varying from 21 to 40 days. 2. In no instance did any ulcers of the esophagus, small intestine or large intestine develop. 3. This supports the hypothesis that histamine-induced ulcers of the gastro-intestinal tract of the intact dog are due to the excessive production of gastric juice.
Pragmatic Translation Studies in China: A Review and Prospects

The past decade has witnessed great progress in pragmatic translation studies in Mainland China.The studies have covered a wide range of pragmatic texts in business,law,finance,contract,advertising,and medicine,etc.,focusing on the exploration of translation principles,translation techniques on lexical,syntactical,stylistic and rhetorical levels,and analysis of errors in pragmatic translations.Nevertheless,it seems to be relatively weak in corpus-based,cross-disciplinary and C-E pragmatic translation studies,and more efforts are needed to increase access to their future studies.
When Data Is a Dirty Word: A Survey to Understand Data Management Needs Across Diverse Research Disciplines

EDITOR'S SUMMARY Prompted by federal mandates regarding data management planning, researchers sought to understand the needs and expectations of faculty at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities for managing their data. An initial survey revealed weak identification with the word data. Researchers then customized surveys for four colleges, using terminology that would resonate best for each. Survey results showed a distinction between those who identify the primary output of their work as data vs. research materials. Among those in the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences, 91% responded they generate data, along with 65% of health center researchers, 68% of College of Science and Engineering respondents and 54% of those from the College of Liberal Arts. Those whose focus was data wanted support with long term data preservation and preparing for sharing materials. Respondents who stated they produce research materials rather than data indicated different needs, though help with long term preservation and better access to resources to support data management were common themes.
Allograft meniscus transplantation.

Allograft meniscus transplantation recently has become a potential method of treating the meniscus-deficient knee. The history, immunology, processing and sterilization techniques, animal studies, clinical trials, indications, surgical techniques, postoperative rehabilitation, and complications of this procedure are reviewed. At this time, meniscal allograft transplantation remains an investigational procedure with limited indications.
Exploring U.S. Social Work Students’ Sexual Attitudes and Abortion Viewpoints

Social workers frequently engage with sexual and reproductive health topics, yet a notable paucity of social work research exists regarding abortion. Informed by overlapping theoretical frameworks of human rights and reproductive justice, this study examined a large, nationwide survey of social work students in the United States (N = 504). Linear regressions indicated that students’ endorsements of permissive sexual attitudes and support for birth control are inversely associated with holding anti-choice abortion views. Moreover, distinct relationships were found among sociodemographic characteristics and abortion attitudes and knowledge, suggesting that social work education efforts regarding contentious reproductive and sexual health topics should also focus on nuances of cultural competence and diversity, as well as general human rights principles and professional ethics.
Profiles as a Way of Learning More About Resilience

Britt, Shen, Sinclair, Grossman, and Klieger (2016) discuss employee resilience trajectories, noting that only a few studies taking this approach have been conducted in the workplace. They recommend that with such an approach it is essential to assess baseline functioning, document adversity, and gather longitudinal data. They also point out the need to clarify what variables should be measured in the demonstration of resilience and suggest that resilience trajectories across different outcomes may or may not converge. We agree that trajectories are a promising approach to studying employee resilience. However, conceptualizing trajectories as profiles provides additional meaningful concepts for describing the demonstration of resilience. These concepts have the potential for moving theory and research beyond the work on trajectories described by Britt et al.
IMAGES IN CLINICAL MEDICINE. Regression of Clubbing after Treatment of Lung Cancer.

A 59-year-old woman with a smoking history of 60 pack-years presented with progressive shortness of breath and clubbing of her fingers. CT scan showed a large mass with cavitation in the left lower lobe of the lung.
Medicare beneficiaries' use of computers and internet: 1998-2005.

The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) contains a vast amount of information about the Medicare population. Common characteristics such as demographic, health status, and utilization of various services are included in the survey as well as other less known information. This highlight will look into the use of computers and Internet service by the Medicare population over time using data from 1998-2005 Access to Care Files. Demographic characteristics of the Medicare population who use the computer and Internet will also be examined using MCBS data. With the abundance of heath-related information available on the Internet, it is interesting to see how much of it is being utilized by the Medicare population. In 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act introduced the Part D prescription drug program. As expected, usage of the Medicare Web site (https://www.medicare.gov) increased significantly between 2004 and 2005. More detailed information about this trend will be available from the MCBS in the next few years. Other results show that 47 percent of the Medicare population owned a computer and 46 percent reported having Internet access in 2005. In many instances, owning a computer might still be a luxury item for Medicare beneficiaries. With health related expenses such as prescription drugs taking an increased percent of their disposable income, owning a computer might not be on many of the beneficiaries' priority lists. Other reasons for not having a computer or not having Internet access could be: lack of interest, confidence, or computer skills. Additional information about the MCBS, may be found at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcbs.