cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Urea in the Concentrate Mixture on Intake and Production of Cows Fed Corn Silage as the only Forage

Abstract Eighty-four lactating Holstein cows fed corn silage as the only forage were used in three experiments to study effects of feeding concentrates containing urea on milk yield and composition, dry matter intake, and body weight changes. The per cent of urea in the concentrates ranged from 0 to 3% and furnished from 0 to 35% of the total ration nitrogen. Effects of frequency of feeding and mineral supplementation of concentrates containing urea were investigated. Milk yields, protein, solids-not-fat, and silage intake were not affected (P>.05) by the substitution of 2 or 3% urea in the concentrate to replace an equivalent amount of nitrogen from soybean meal. When concentrates containing 0, 2, or 3% urea were fed to cows, milk fat per cent was higher in all experiments and significantly higher in two of the experiments for the cows fed the concentrates which contained urea. Feeding a concentrate which contained 2% urea six times daily versus two times daily did not significantly affect performance. Addition of either .4% sodium sulfate or 1% dicalcium phosphate plus .2% monosodium phosphate to concentrates which contained 3% urea did not improve the use of these concentrates.
On Average, Physicians Spend Nearly 11 Percent Of Their 40-Year Careers With An Open, Unresolved Malpractice Claim

The US malpractice system is widely regarded as inefficient, in part because of the time required to resolve malpractice cases. Analyzing data from 40,916 physicians covered by a nationwide insurer, we found that the average physician spends 50.7 months—or almost 11 percent—of an assumed forty-year career with an unresolved, open malpractice claim. Although damages are a factor in how doctors perceive medical malpractice, even more distressing for the doctor and the patient may be the amount of time these claims take to be adjudicated. We conclude that this fact makes it important to assess malpractice reforms by how well they are able to reduce the time of malpractice litigation without undermining the needs of the affected patient.
Bending Toward Justice: The Voting Rights Act and the Transformation of American Democracy. By Gary May. (New York, NY: Basic Books, 2013. Pp. xxi, 300. $28.99.)

The author of this book provides an excellent account and analysis of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and its political and legal consequences. Gary May's book includes a brief history of voting rights ...
Transcription-Coupled Repair Deficiency and Mutations in Human Mismatch Repair Genes

Deficiencies in mismatch repair have been linked to a common cancer predisposition syndrome in humans, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), and a subset of sporadic cancers. Here, several mismatch repair-deficient tumor cell lines and HNPCC-derived lymphoblastoid cell lines were found to be deficient in an additional DNA repair process termed transcription-coupled repair (TCR). The TCR defect was corrected in a mutant cell line whose mismatch repair deficiency had been corrected by chromosome transfer. Thus, the connection between excision repair and mismatch repair previously described in Escherichia coli extends to humans. These results imply that deficiencies in TCR and exposure to carcinogens present in the environment may contribute to the etiology of tumors associated with genetic defects in mismatch repair.
Reequilibration of fluid inclusions in low-temperature calcium-carbonate cement

Calcium-carbonate cements precipitated in low-temperature, near-surface, vadose environments contain fluid inclusions of variable vapor-to-liquid ratios that yield variable homogenization temperatures. Cements precipitated in low-temperature, phreatic environments contain one-phase, all-liquid fluid inclusions. Neomorphism of unstable calcium-carbonate phases may cause reequilibration of fluid inclusions. Stable calcium-carbonate cements of low-temperature origin, which have been deeply buried, contain fluid inclusions of variable homogenization temperature and variable salt composition. Most inclusion fluids are not representative of the fluids present during cement growth and are more indicative of burial pore fluids. Therefore, low-temperature fluid inclusions probably reequilibrate with burial fluids during progressive burial. Reequilibration is likely caused by high internal pressures in inclusions which result in hydrofracturing. The resulting fluid-inclusions population could contain a nearly complete record of burial fluids in which a particular rock has been bathed.
New calculation of surface wave contributions associated with mie backscattering

Diffracted field contributions to backscattering of an electromagnetic plane wave by a spherical particle are calculated. The diffracted fields give rise to surface waves in the shadow region and can be evaluated by finding surface wave poles and computing their residues. In order to compute the residues the valid range of the Schobe and Debye asymptotic expansion formulas for the Hankel function is examined. With these asymptotic formulas numerical values of the surface wave complex poles are tabulated. Curves for backscattering cross section due to the first six surface waves are presented as a function of the size parameter kappaa between 5 and 60 for absorbing spheres of refractive index m = 1.61-i0.0025 as well as nonabsorbing spheres with m = 1.60.
Cholesterol-Peptide Hybrids to Form Liposome-Like Vesicles for Gene Delivery

In this paper, four amphiphilic cholesterol-peptide conjugates (Ch-R5H5, Ch-R3H3, Ch-R5 and Ch-R5) were designed and synthesized, and their properties in gene delivery were evaluated in vitro with an aim of developing more efficient gene delivery carriers. These amphiphilic cholesterol-peptide conjugates are composed of hydrophobic cholesterol and positively charged peptides. They were able to self-assemble into micelles at low concentrations and their critical micelle concentrations in phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.4) are ≤85 µg/mL. Amphiphilic cholesterol-peptide conjugates condensed DNA more efficiently than a hydrophilic cationic oligoarginine (R10) peptide with no hydrophobic segment. Their transfection efficiencies were at least two orders of magnitude greater than that of R10 peptide in HEK-293 cells. Moreover, the introduction of histidine residues in cholesterol-peptide conjugates led to higher gene expression efficiency compared with cholesterol-peptides without histidine (Ch-R5 and Ch-R3), and the luciferase expression level was comparable or even higher than that induced by PEI at its optimal N/P ratio. In particular, Ch-R5H5 condensed DNA into smaller nanoparticles than Ch-R3H3 at higher N/P ratios, and the minimum size of Ch-R5H5/DNA complexes was 180 nm with zeta potential of 23 mV, achieved at the N/P ratio of 30. This liposome-like vesicle may be a promising gene delivery carrier for intravenous therapy.
Determination of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,4,5‐trichlorophenoxyacetic acid in lawn fertilisers

The extraction and determination by gas chromatography of 2,4-dichloro- (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichloro-phenoxyacetic acids (2,4,5-T) as their methyl esters when present together in lawn fertilisers is described. The recovery of these herbicides varies with the composition of the fertiliser and four formulations have been studied to cover the most likely variations to be met in practice. The presence of dissolved hide meal results in extremely low recoveries. With this exception, recovery of over 90% of the 2,4-D added and 75% of the 2,4,5-T added is obtained. Standard deviations for three formulations are quoted.
Zooplankton Community Responses during Recovery from Acidification in Little Rock Lake, Wisconsin

Follow-up studies after whole-ecosystem-stress experiments can provide important insights into the recovery process itself and into basic ecosystem properties. We report here on zooplankton community recovery during the first 5 years following the experimental acidification of Little Rock Lake, Wisconsin, U.S.A. Acidity in the lake’s treatment basin returned quickly to near pre-manipulation levels. Zooplankton population shifts, however, did not support our hypothesis that species that had increased in abundance with acidification would persist and resist the return of the pre-manipulation community. The three species that had proliferated most dramatically under low pH conditions—Daphnia catawba, Tropocyclops extensus, and Keratella taurocephala, returned close to their originally low, pre-acidification population levels during the early stages of acid recovery. Some species that had been reduced during low pH conditions, such as Diaptomus minutus and Daphnia dubia, did not recover to pre-manipulation levels. Overall, the zooplankton community in the treatment basin exhibits little similarity to that in the reference basin, a condition quite different from that which had occurred prior to the imposition of acid stress.
Severe thrombocytopenia associated with cocaine use.

Excerpt During the past 15 months, six habitual cocaine users have been evaluated for severe, destructive thrombocytopenia with platelet counts of less than 20 x 109/L. None of our patients had ant...
Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes reduce [3H]acetylcholine levels in an eserine-sensitive manner in rat cerebral cortical synaptosomes.

We investigated the effects of various phospholipids on the presynaptic levels of newly synthesized [3H]acetylcholine (ACh) in rat cerebral cortical synaptosomes. When administered as small unilamellar vesicles (200–500 A diameters) dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) reduced [3H]ACh levels in concentration and time-related manners, while increasing the efflux of labelled choline to a similar extent. The reductions in synaptosomal [3H]-ACh levels induced by DPPC (3 mg/ml) were found in the cytosolic S3 but not microsomal P3 fraction, arguing for a cytoplasmic, nonvesicular site of action. DPPC-induced reductions in [3H]ACh levels were blocked by 100 μM eserine, a tertiary amine cholinesterase inhibitor, but not with 100 μM neostigmine, a quaternary ammonium inhibitor. Large unilamellar vesicles (2000–5000 A diameters) consisting of soybean-phosphatidylcholine reduced [3H]ACh levels to the same extent that small vesicles did at the same concentration (3 mg/ml). Taken together, these results suggest that DPPC can fuse with membranes to increase the hydrolysis of cytoplasmic ACh via a small intra-terminal subpopulation of cholinesterases.
An efficient sequential design of clinical trials

We propose an efficient group sequential monitoring rule for clinical trials. At each interim analysis both efficacy and futility are evaluated through a specified loss structure together with the predicted power. The proposed design is robust to a wide range of priors, and achieves the specified power with a saving of sample size compared to existing adaptive designs. A method is also proposed to obtain a reduced-bias estimator of treatment difference for the proposed design. The new approaches hold great potential for efficiently selecting a more effective treatment in comparative trials. Operating characteristics are evaluated and compared with other group sequential designs in empirical studies. An example is provided to illustrate the application of the method.
Time-resolved magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy of photolyzed carbonmonoxy cytochrome c oxidase (cytochrome aa3).

Nanosecond time-resolved magnetic circular dichroism (TRMCD) and time-resolved natural circular dichroism (TRCD) measurements of photolysis products of the CO complex of eukaryotic cytochrome c oxidase (CcO-CO) are presented. TRMCD spectra obtained at 100 ns and 10 microseconds after photolysis are diagnostic of pentacoordinate cytochrome a3Fe2+, as would be expected for simple photodissociation. Other time-resolved spectroscopies (UV-visible and resonance Raman), however, show evidence for unusual Fea3(2+) coordination after CO photolysis (Woodruff, W. H., O. Einarsdottir, R. B. Dyer, K. A. Bagley, G. Palmer, S. J. Atherton, R. A. Goldbeck, T. D. Dawes, and D. S. Kliger. 1991. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88:2588–2592). Furthermore, time-resolved IR experiments have shown that photodissociated CO binds to CuB+ prior to recombining with Fea3(2+) (Dyer, R. B., O. Einarsdottir, P. M. Killough, J. J. Lopez-Garriga, and W. H. Woodruff. 1989. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 111:7657–7659). A model of the CcO-CO photolysis cycle which is consistent with all of the spectroscopic results is presented. A novel feature of this model is the coordination of a ligand endogenous to the protein to the Fe axial site vacated by the photolyzed CO and the simultaneous breaking of the Fe-imidazole(histidine) bond.
Abstract IA41: A new TRacK in lung cancer: NTRK1 gene fusions as a therapeutic target.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a heterogeneous disease that can be organized into groups designated by the dominant oncogene or oncogenic ‘driver’. Classification of NSCLC by oncogenes is critical because oral kinase inhibitors or other targeted therapeutic strategies can often effectively inhibit these oncogenes leading to dramatic tumor shrinkage and thus significant clinical benefit for patients. Several of these oncogenes are the result of chromosomal translocations that generate gene fusions in which the kinase domain of a receptor tyrosine kinase is aberrantly expressed and activated by the addition of sequence from an unrelated gene. Recent examples of such gene fusions in NSCLC include those involving the ALK, ROS1, RET and FGFR1/2/3 genes. We have recently discovered previously uncharacterized gene fusions involving the NTRK1 gene in patients with lung adenocarcinoma whose tumors did not harbor other known oncogenes. These novel oncogenes contain the 3 portion of the neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor, type 1 (NTRK1) gene, which encodes the kinase domain of the TRKA receptor. Cloning and ectopic expression of these novels genes in non-tumor cells demonstrate their oncogenic potential. Treatment of cells expressing NTRK1 gene fusions with TRK inhibitors inhibits autophosphorylation of the chimeric TRKA proteins, important downstream signaling pathways, and cellular proliferation. Gene fusions involving NTRK1 (TRKA), NTRK2 (TRKB), and NTRK3 (and TRKC) have now been identified across multiple tumor types. As clinical next generation sequencing becomes increasingly common, cancer patients with these somatic gene abnormalities will be identified and therefore it is critical to understand their biology, utility as a therapeutic target, and mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired drug resistance in order to advance a precision medicine strategy for the treatment of NSCLC. Citation Format: Robert C. Doebele. A new TRacK in lung cancer: NTRK1 gene fusions as a therapeutic target. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-IASLC Joint Conference on Molecular Origins of Lung Cancer; 2014 Jan 6-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2014;20(2Suppl):Abstract nr IA41.
Hydrodesulfurization of sulfur heterocyclic compounds: Kinetics of dibenzothiophene

Abstract A kinetic analysis of the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT), a representative model of the condensed sulfur heterocyclics found in heavy petroleum feeds, has been carried out. Kinetic data were generated over standard CoMo γ- Al 2 O 3 catalyst at temperatures of 285 to 350 °C by varying hydrogen partial pressure, liquid hourly space velocity, and DBT feed concentration. From the data, models obeying Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics were developed to account for the rate of disappearance of DBT as well as for the selectivity of product formation. The models imply that two types of sites on the catalyst surface are involved in the HDS reaction, on one of which dibenzothiophene and the reaction products biphenyl, cyclohexylbenzene, and hydrogen sulfide competitively adsorb and a second site on which hydrogen adsorbs. The kinetic models developed to account for the appearance of the products indicate that product formation proceeds predominantly by a parallel path mechanism. However, there is a small contribution to the cyclohexylbenzene production from the sequential hydrogenation of biphenyl which becomes significant at higher temperatures.
Radiative Transfer In Turbid Water

Quantitative analytical procedures for relating selected water quality parameters to the characteristics of the backscattered signals, measured by remote sensors, require the solution of the radiative transport equation in turbid media. In this paper, we present an approximate closed form solution of this equation and based on this solution discuss the remote sensing of the sediments. The results are compared with other standard closed form solutions such as quasi-single scattering approximations.
Reaction of the antithrombotic and antimetastatic agent, nafazatrom, with oxidizing radicals

Pulse radiolysis and electron spin resonance experiments have been performed on the antithrombotic and antimetastatic agent, nafazatrom. Results show that nafazatrom is an extremely reactive scavenger of free radicals. The rate of its reaction with Br2− is higher than rates found for biologically important antioxidants, tocopherol and ascorbate. The radical formed by oxidation of nafazatrom is indicated by ESR to have a structure similar to phenoxyl radical. This radical is found to decay at a rate approaching diffusion controlled rates. The ease of oxidation of nafazatrom makes it ideally suited to act as an antioxidant. This property may be an important determinant of its pharmacological activities.
Plasma-treated ultra-high strength polyethylene fibers. Part II. Increased adhesion to poly(methyl methacrylate)

The use of ultra-high strength polyethylene (UHSPE) fibers in composites has been limited by problems with adhesion to the matrix. The present study presents a gas plasma treatment of UHSPE fibers (Spectra ™ 900 and 1000) to improve adhesion with poly(methyl methacrylate) bone cements. The gases used were nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide for treatment times of 0, 1, 5, and 10 min. Significant improvements in the interfacial shear strength and fiber pull-out energies were achieved with only modest changes in the tensile strengths. Increased adhesion was attributed to improved wettability of the fiber surface. Increased fiber pull-out energies were attributed to enhanced propensity for surface peeling causing higher forces needed for fiber pull-out, based on SEM photomicrographs and fiber pull-out curves. No significant differences in interfacial shear strengths and energies were observed among fibers exposed to the three gases. One-minute exposure times were sufficient to cause significant improvements ...
Volatile Profile of Cashews (Anacardium occidentale L.) from Different Geographical Origins during Roasting

: Volatile compounds were quantified in the headspace of Indian, Vietnamese, and Brazilian cashews, both raw and during roasting by selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry. The optimum roasting times based on color measurements were also determined. Raw cashews were oil roasted for 3 to 9 min at 143 °C and color and volatiles measured. An excellent correlation, following a pseudo 1st-order reaction, was found between L* value and roasting time; darkness increases as roasting time increases. The optimum roasting time was 6, 8, and 9 min for Vietnamese, Indian, and Brazilian cashews, respectively. Raw cashews had lower concentrations of volatiles than roasted cashews. Most volatiles significantly increased in concentration during roasting of Brazilian, Indian, and Vietnamese cashews. Only a few volatiles significantly decreased during roasting. Ethanol and 1-heptene significantly decreased during roasting in Brazilian cashews and toluene decreased in Vietnamese cashews. Brazilian cashews had significantly higher levels of most volatiles than Indian and Vietnamese cashews. Most volatile levels in Indian and Vietnamese cashews were not significantly different. Of the volatiles, Strecker aldehydes, including methylbutanal, 2-methylpropanal, and acetaldehyde, were at the highest concentration in roasted cashews. The Maillard reaction contributed to the formation of most of the volatiles in cashews from the 3 countries. There was also degradation of sugars to form furan-type compounds and oxidation of lipids to form alkanals such as hexanal. Practical Application: The volatile profile during roasting of cashews can be used to determine the best roasting time for each type of cashew. The rate of color development and the production of volatiles differ for the cashews from the 3 geographical locations.
Strontium-calcium thermometry in coral skeletons

The strontium to calcium ratio of skeletal aragonite in three genera of reef-building corals varies as a simple function of temperature and the strontium to calcium ratio of the incubation water. The strontiumlcalcium distribution coefficients of coral aragonite apparently differ from the corresponding coefficient of inorganically precipitated aragonite. With some care, coral skeletons can be used as recording thermometers.
System for 3D visualization and data mining of large vascular trees

Modern micro-CT scanners produce very large 3D digital images of arterial trees. A typical 3D micro-CT image can consist of several hundred megabytes of image data, with a voxel resolution on the order of ten microns. The analysis and subsequent visualization of such images poses a considerable challenge. We describe a computer-based system for analyzing and visualizing such large 3D data sets. The system, dubbed the Tree Analyzer, processes an image in four major stages. In the first two stages, a series of automated 3D image-processing operations are applied to an input 3D digital image to produce a raw arterial tree and several supplemental data structures describing the tree (central-axis structure, surface rendering polygonal data, quantitative description of all tree branches). Next, the human interacts with the system to visualize and correct potential defects in the extracted raw tree. A series of sophisticated 3D editing tools and automated operations are available for this step. Finally, the corrected tree can be visualized and manipulated for data mining, using a large number of graphics-based rendering tools, such as 3D stereo viewing, global and local surface rendering, sliding-thin slabs, multiplanar reformatted views, projection images, and an interactive tree map. Quantitative data can also be perused for the tree. Results are presented for 3D micro-CT images of the heart and liver.
Aqueous Route Synthesis of Mesoporous ZrO2 by Agarose Templation

Mesoporous zirconia with high surface area has been synthesized using self-assembling agarose gel as a template. Agarose gel was formed in the presence of aqueous zirconyl nitrate solutions followed by precipitation of zirconium (hydr)oxide in the gel framework. A porous zirconia structure is obtained by pyrolysis of agarose. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is employed to assess the agarose-zirconia precursor interaction. Changes in the C–O absorption bands indicate zirconium association with the OH groups of the agarose. Solid state 13C NMR studies of the nanocomposite showed a shift in intensity from 70 to 75 ppm indicating conversion of ~7% of C–O–H to C–O–Zr. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that both agarose/zirconia nanocomposite and zirconia have similar morphological features as that of pure agarose gel confirming agarose templation. Phase transformation of zirconia from amorphous to tetragonal between 300°C and 500°C, and gradually into monoclinic phase up to 900°C is observed using X-ray powder diffraction. Specific surface area and pore size distribution are determined using nitrogen adsorption, employing BET and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda methods, respectively. The specific surface area of porous zirconia after heat treatment at 500°C was determined to be 86 m2/g, which reduced with increasing temperature to 13 m2/g above 900°C. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the hierarchical structure of porous zirconia.
Functional versus capability-oriented innovation management in multinational firms

Summary form only given. This paper argues that the function-based classification of laboratory sites into research and development sites is less useful for laboratory site management than an innovative classification of laboratory sites into home-base-augmenting and home-base-exploiting sites. The innovative classification is developed in the paper. Based on a large survey of 156 laboratory sites abroad established by 32 multinational firms in over 15 countries, the authors find that there are two motives for the establishment of R&D activities abroad. Firms invest in laboratory activities abroad either in order to acquire new knowledge or in order to exploit knowledge that is already available within the firm. They call the former type of laboratory "home-base-augmenting" and the latter type "home-base-exploiting".
Faster top running speeds are achieved with greater ground forces not more rapid leg movements

We twice tested the hypothesis that top running speeds are determined by the amount of force applied to the ground rather than how rapidly limbs are repositioned in the air. First, we compared the ...
A Cellular Micro-RNA, let-7i, Regulates Toll-like Receptor 4 Expression and Contributes to Cholangiocyte Immune Responses against Cryptosporidium parvum Infection

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important pathogen recognition molecules and are key to epithelial immune responses to microbial infection. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate TLR expression in epithelia are obscure. Micro-RNAs play important roles in a wide range of biological events through post-transcriptional suppression of target mRNAs. Here we report that human biliary epithelial cells (cholangiocytes) express let-7 family members, micro-RNAs with complementarity to TLR4 mRNA. We found that let-7 regulates TLR4 expression via post-transcriptional suppression in cultured human cholangiocytes. Infection of cultured human cholangiocytes with Cryptosporidium parvum a parasite that causes intestinal and biliary disease, results in decreased expression of primary let-7i and mature let-7 in a MyD88/NF-κB-dependent manner. The decreased let-7 expression is associated with C. parvum-induced up-regulation of TLR4 in infected cells. Moreover, experimentally induced suppression or forced expression of let-7i causes reciprocal alterations in C. parvum-induced TLR4 protein expression, and consequently, infection dynamics of C. parvum in vitro. These results indicate that let-7i regulates TLR4 expression in cholangiocytes and contributes to epithelial immune responses against C. parvum infection. Furthermore, the data raise the possibility that micro-RNA-mediated post-transcriptional pathways may be critical to host-cell regulatory responses to microbial infection in general.
A new method for measuring the degree of crosslinking in elastomers

A rapid method for determining the degree of crosslinking in elastomers is described which involves measuring equilibrium compression modulus at very small deformations on solvent-swollen samples. The elastomer used was a polyether urethane vulcanized by an accelerated sulfur recipe. The degree of crosslinking as measured by the compression method agreed with that measured by the extension method within 1–3%. Both methods agreed reasonably well with the theoretical values calculated from the sulfur level, polymer molecular weight, and crosslink structure.
The World Grant Ideal and Engagement Scholarship.

Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon’s concept ofthe world grant ideal is grounded in three core values: quality, inclusiveness, and connectivity. These core values fuel the 21st-century imperative to build sustainable global prosperity. They represent an affirmation of the Morrill Act of 1862 in the context of a global society and as a model of university-community collaboration, applicable not only to research-intensive universities but also to higher education in general as well as to a broad range of societal organizations. In this essay, the authors describe the core features of a world grant ideal, provide examples of how Michigan State University has applied the three core values, and draw attention to critical organizational alignments that must occur in order to support fully engaged higher education institutions.
Notes on a Small Collection of Bat Ecto-Parasites

During the summer of 1927 Mr W. J. Hamilton, a student in the Department of Entomology, Cornell University, collected biological material in parts of Cuba, Panama, and Costa Rica. He brought two small vials of parasites taken from bats. Though the collection contained only 24 specimens yet it is of interest on account of the rarity of some of the species. It is, therefore, thought worth while to offer the following brief notes on the species taken.
Carotid siphon calcification impact on revascularization and outcome in stroke intervention

Abstract Objective The degree of coronary artery calcification has been shown to predict outcomes in coronary artery disease. The impact of intracranial carotid artery calcification on the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is unknown. The authors sought to examine if the degree of intracranial carotid artery calcification influences reperfusion or outcomes in AIS intervention. Methods All anterior circulation large vessel occlusion AIS cases that underwent intra-arterial therapy from January 2009 to July 2012 were reviewed. Clinical and radiographic data were collected. Non-contrast brain CT scans were assigned a Calcium Extent Score (degree of calcification of the carotid wall circumference), Calcium Thickness Score (thickness of the calcified plaque), and total Carotid Siphon Calcium (CSC) Score (8-point scale). Results One-hundred seventeen patients met inclusion criteria. The mean age was 65.4 ± 15.6 years and 36% were male. Calcification was present in the intracranial carotid artery of 84 patients (71%). Inter-rater agreement for total CSC score was strong (Spearman's rho = 0.883, p Conclusion Extensive calcification on the intracranial carotid artery does not have impact on reperfusion or clinical outcomes in AIS patients undergoing endovascular therapy. Higher CSC scores are associated with coronary artery disease, increasing age and cervical internal carotid artery occlusion/near-occlusion.
Matrix Metalloproteinase 20–Dentin Sialophosphoprotein Interaction in Oral Cancer

Matrix metalloproteinase 20 (MMP-20), widely regarded as tooth specific, participates with MMP-2 in processing dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) into dentin sialoprotein, dentin phosphoprotein, and dentin glycoprotein. In biochemical system, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 bind with high affinity to, and are activated by, specific small integrin-binding ligand N-linked glycoproteins (SIBLINGs): bone sialoprotein, osteopontin, and dentin matrix protein 1, respectively. Subsequent reports documented possible biological relevance of SIBLING-MMP interaction in vivo by showing that SIBLINGs are always coexpressed with their MMP partners. However, the cognate MMPs for 2 other SIBLINGs-DSPP and matrix extracellular phosphogylcoprotein-are yet to be identified. Our goal was to investigate MMP-20 expression and to explore preliminary evidence of its interaction with DSPP in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). Immunohistochemistry analysis of sections from 21 cases of archived human OSCC tissues showed immunoreactivity for MMP-20 in 18 (86%) and coexpression with DSPP in all 15 cases (71%) positive for DSPP. Similarly, 28 (93%) of 30 cases of oral epithelial dysplasia were positive for MMP-20. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis on OSCC cell lines showed upregulation of MMP-20 protein and mRNA, respectively, while immunofluorescence showed coexpression of MMP-20 and DSPP. Colocalization and potential interaction of MMP-20 with dentin sialoprotein was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analysis of immunoprecipitation product from OSCC cell lysate, and in situ proximity ligation assays. Significantly, results of chromatin immunoprecipation revealed a 9-fold enrichment of DSPP at MMP-20 promoter-proximal elements. Our data provide evidence that MMP-20 has a wider tissue distribution than previously acknowledged. MMP-20-DSPP specific interaction, excluding other MMP-20-SIBLING pairings, identifies MMP-20 as DSPP cognate MMP. Furthermore, the strong DSPP enrichment at the MMP-20 promoter suggests a regulatory role in MMP-20 transcription. These novel findings provide the foundation to explore the mechanisms and significance of DSPP-MMP-20 interaction in oral carcinogenesis.
Proteinuria: Its clinical importance and role in progressive renal disease

In patients with essential hypertension and in those with diabetes mellitus, the presence of increased amounts of urinary protein or albumin has been shown to be an important and independent risk for an increased incidence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A constellation of cardiovascular risk factors has been described in these individuals, as well as evidence for diffuse endothelial cell dysfunction, which suggests these individuals are particularly susceptible to the development of extensive vascular disease. Recent studies have also suggested that proteinuria is not only a marker for renal disease but it also predicts those patients at greatest risk for the development of chronic and progressive renal insufficiency. This effect of proteinuria was evident in patients in whom urinary protein excretion rates exceeded 1 g/24 hours, but probably is true even in patients with smaller amounts of proteinuria. This effect of proteinuria on progression of renal disease is independent of other risk factors such as level of renal function, blood pressure, and dyslipidemia. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated that modification of proteinuria by the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors independent of reductions in systemic blood pressure results in slowing of the rate of loss of renal function and even stabilization of renal function over longer periods of treatment. In patients with renal disease, the totality of evidence suggests that multiple pharmacological and dietary modifications will be necessary to achieve the optimal slowing of the progression of renal disease. In addition, strategies will be required to reduce risks involved in the development of cardiovascular disease to ensure optimal patient survival. The similarity of risk factors involved in cardio-renal disease progression should allow us to achieve this goal with our current therapeutic armamentarium.
Folate transport by human intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles

Transport of folic acid (Pte-Glu) across the brush-border membrane of human intestine was studied using brush-border membrane vesicle (BBMV) technique. The transport of Pte-Glu was higher in BBMV prepared from the jejunum than those prepared from the ileum (0.70 +/- 0.05 and 0.14 +/- 0.02 pmol X mg protein-1 X 10 s-1, respectively). The transport of Pte-Glu appeared to be carrier mediated and was pH dependent and increased with decreasing incubation buffer pH; saturable (Kt = 1.69 microM, Vmax = 4.72 pmol X mg protein-1 X 10 s-1); inhibited in a competitive manner by the structural analogues 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, methotrexate, and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate (Ki = 2.2, 1.4 and 1.4 microM, respectively); not affected by inducing a relatively positive or negative intravesicular compartment; independent of Na+ gradient; and inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostlibene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), an anion exchange inhibitor. The increase in Pte-Glu transport on decreasing incubation buffer pH appeared to be in part mediated through a direct effect of acidic pH on the transport carrier and in part through the pH gradient imposed by activating Pte-Glu-:OH- exchange and/or Pte-Glu-:H+ co-transport mechanisms. The important role of an acidic extravesicular environment in Pte-Glu transport is consistent with a role for the intestinal surface acid microclimate in folate transport. These results demonstrate that Pte-Glu transport in human BBMV occurs by a carrier-mediated system that is similar to that described for rat and rabbit intestinal BBMV.
Prior Target Valuations and Acquirer Returns: Risk or Perception?

In a large sample of public-public acquisitions, target valuation changes between their 52-week highs and just prior to the acquisition announcements are positively related to acquirer announcement returns. I contend that prior target valuation changes are measures of target valuation uncertainty. Risk-averse acquirer managers likely require compensation when their firms take on valuation risk through the acquisition of hard-to-value targets. Diversified shareholders of public targets have little incentive to provide such compensation through lower acquisition prices because they do not benefit from offloading idiosyncratic risk. Without compensation for the acquirer in the form of lower acquisition prices, acquirer managers need to be motivated by other, likely private, benefits to undertake acquisitions of targets with uncertain valuations. In a competitive takeover market, the costs of the acquirer managers’ private benefits can only be borne by the acquiring firm. Therefore, the more uncertain a target’s valuation, the lower is the acquirer’s announcement return. I use various proxies for target valuation uncertainty and find that higher target valuation uncertainty is significantly related to lower acquirer announcement returns. As predicted, acquirer governance variables are related to this effect. Further, the target valuation uncertainty proxies have significant negative correlations with the prior target valuation changes and they dominate the prior target valuation changes in their effect on acquirer announcement returns. While behavioral biases based on prospect theory can explain the significant empirical relation of prior target valuation changes and acquirer announcement returns, my empirical results suggest that rational explanations based on target valuation uncertainty dominate the behavioral stories.
The quantitative separation of leucin from valin

Of the known amino-acids determined in semi-quantitative estimations of final proteolytic products, leucin and its relatives, isoleucin and valin, have proven unusually difficult to prepare pure in even approximately quantitative amounts. The separation of these substances, because of their close physical and chemical similarity, has offered almost insurmountable difficulties to previous investigators. The acids form isomorphous mixtures which are absolutely inseparable by crystallization; and their esters have so nearly the same boiling points that they cannot be fractionated by distillation. Because of these difficulties, most investigators have not attempted to separate the mixture, but have reported the entire mass as leucin. Fischer1 states that all the figures reported from his laboratory for leucin in protein hydrolyses refer to this mixture. Ehrlich2 has recently reported a method for separating the three substances, but it involves a long process, large losses, and the racemization of the isoleuc...
Morphology-controlled ZnO nanowire arrays for tailored hybrid composites with high damping.

Hybrid fiber reinforced composites using a nanoscale reinforcement of the interface have not reached their optimal performance in practical applications due to their complex design and the challenging assembly of their multiscale components. One promising approach to the fabrication of hybrid composites is the growth of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowire arrays on the surface of carbon fibers to provide improved interfacial strength and out of plane reinforcement. However, this approach has been demonstrated mainly on fibers and thus still requires complex processing conditions. Here we demonstrate a simple approach to the fabrication of such composites through the growth of the nanowires on the fabric. The fabricated composites with nanostructured graded interphase not only exhibit remarkable damping enhancement but also stiffness improvement. It is demonstrated that these two extremely important properties of the composite can be controlled by tuning the morphology of the ZnO nanowires at the interface. Higher d...
Microwave-assisted synthesis of porous carbon-titania and highly crystalline titania nanostructures.

Porous carbon–titania and highly crystalline titania nanostructured materials were obtained through a microwave-assisted one-pot synthesis. Resorcinol and formaldehyde were used as carbon precursors, triblock copolymer Pluronic F127 as a stabilizing agent, and titanium isopropoxide as a titania precursor. This microwave-assisted one-pot synthesis involved formation of carbon spheres according to the recently modified Stober method followed by hydrolysis and condensation of titania precursor. This method afforded carbon–titania composite materials containing anatase phase with specific surface areas as high as 390 m2 g–1. The pure nanostructured titania, obtained after removal of carbon through calcination of the composite material in air, was shown to be the anatase phase with considerably higher degree of crystallinity and the specific surface area as high as 130 m2 g–1. The resulting titania, because of its high surface area, well-developed porosity, and high crystallinity, is of great interest for cata...
367 SCREENING TEENS FOR CHLAMYDIA DURING PEDIATRIC URGENT CARE: HOW CAN IT BE ACCOMPLISHED?

Purpose To evaluate an intervention to increase CT screening among 14- to 18-year-old sexually active teens in HMO during pediatric urgent care visits. Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most common reportable bacterial infection in teen girls. Most infections are asymptomatic and if untreated can lead to PID, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. Despite at least annual screening recommendations for sexually active adolescents, little progress is being made. Of concern is the fact that that most (half to two-thirds) teens in any given year are never seen for a preventive health visit, where CT screening is more routine. Interventions are therefore needed to reach teens at their point of contact with the health care system-urgent care. Methods In a randomized control trial of 10 pediatric clinics, 5 clinics received a systems intervention in which a team of providers and clinic staff at each clinic established CT screening guidelines for urgent care. Teams were given a toolkit that had been used successfully in our prior well-care intervention. They met monthly to review protocols and screening rates and problem-solve barriers. Controls received a lecture on the importance of CT screening and were given the same intervention toolkit. CT screening rates between January 2005 and June 2006 were evaluated. Results Preliminary data indicate that improvements in CT screening rates among females in the intervention clinics were greater than improvements in the controls (+8.8% and −3.0% respectively). This difference approached significance, p = .058 (95% CI −0.2410, 0.0050). Two of the five intervention clinics have not adopted systems changes proven to be successful at the other clinics. With these two clinics excluded, mean improvement for the intervention clinics (14%) was significantly greater than controls (−3.0%), p = .021 (95% CI −0.3033, −0.0367). Baseline average for the intervention group was 32% and 47% at postintervention. Conclusions The most significant improvements in CT screening rates for girls occurred among clinics that adopted the intervention model and used recommended tools. It is necessary to pursue innovative interventions to increase screening in urgent care to reach the majority of at-risk teens.
Aldose reductase gene expression and osmotic dysregulation in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

A "compatible osmolyte hypothesis" proposes that intracellular nonionic organic osmolytes such as sorbitol, myo-inositol, taurine, betaine, and glycerophosphorylcholine respond coordinately to chan...
Effect of Trapping Methods, Weather, and Landscape on Estimates of the Culex Vector Mosquito Abundance

The local abundance of Culex mosquitoes is a central factor adding to the risk of West Nile virus transmission, and vector abundance data influence public health decisions. This study evaluated differences in abundance estimates from mosquitoes trapped using two common methods: CO2-baited CDC light traps and infusion-baited gravid traps in suburban, Chicago, Illinois. On a weekly basis, the two methods were modestly correlated (r = 0.219) across 71 weeks over 4 years. Lagged weather conditions of up to four weeks were associated with the number of mosquitoes collected in light and gravid traps. Collections in light traps were higher with higher temperature in the same week, higher precipitation one, two, and four weeks before the week of trapping, and lower maximum average wind speed. Collections in gravid traps were higher with higher temperature in the same week and one week earlier, lower temperature four weeks earlier, and with higher precipitation two and four weeks earlier. Culex abundance estimates from light traps were significantly higher in semi-natural areas compared to residential areas, but abundance estimates from gravid traps did not vary by the landscape type. These results highlight the importance of the surveillance methods used in the assessment of local Culex abundance estimates. Measures of risk of exposure to West Nile virus should assess carefully how mosquito abundance has been estimated and integrated into assessments of transmission risk.
Role of lymphadenectomy in renal cell carcinoma.

SUMMARY A hilar or limited lymph node dissection will not remove the primary lymphatic drainage area of either kidney. For a lymphadenectomy to have a therapeutic benefit, an extended dissection is required, particularly for right-sided tumors. An extended lymphadenectomy may not be justified in all patients with renal cell carcinoma, particularly those with small tumors (who rarely have lymphatic disease) or grossly positive nodes (who have a high risk of existing distant metastases). For some patients with T3 or V+ tumors and palpably normal retroperitoneal nodes, an extended nodal dissection may resect microscopically involved nodes and result in an improved survival rate. This hypothesis will not be tested appropriately until a randomized controlled study is performed.
Demystifying 'Pornography': Tailoring Special Release Conditions Concerning Pornography and Sexually Oriented Expression

This article illustrates how current attempts to define and analyze overly broad special release conditions relating to pornography and sexually oriented expression create problems for courts and probationers alike. Instead of focusing on narrowing an overly broad prohibition via a legal definition, courts should individualize special release conditions so that they are more closely tied to a given probationer’s behavior and problems. In this way, courts can better align these special release conditions with the goals of preventing recidivism and protecting the public and can thus reduce or avoid constitutional challenges of vagueness and overbreadth.