cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Base-catalyzed dinitrogen cleavage by molybdenum amides

Abstract The amides Mo(NRAr)3 (R=CMe3 or C(CD3)2CH3, Ar=3,5-C6H3Me2) and HMo(η2-Me2CNAr)(NRAr)2 (R=CHMe2 or CH(CD3)2, Ar=3,5-C6H3Me2) are known to effect the six-electron reductive cleavage of dinitrogen in the absence of added reagents to provide terminal nitrido molybdenum complexes of formula NMo(NRAr)3. However, this reaction typically has required a lengthy incubation period at −35 °C during which N2 uptake takes place. This work reports on the catalytic effect of addition of stoichiometric amounts of N-heterocyclic bases such as 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, 1-methylimidazole, 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), and pyridine itself. Certain combinations of molybdenum amide and base lead to complete conversion to NMo(NRAr)3 within minutes at 25 °C, 1 atm of N2, in ether or n-pentane solution. Monitoring of reaction progress and probing for possible intermediates has been carried out using 2H NMR spectroscopy, while taking advantage of samples labeled with CD3 groups. In some cases the 2H NMR data are in accord with intermediate base adduct formation, while in other cases adducts are not observed. The effect of potassium hydride in THF as the added base similarly has been investigated.
Effects of Exercise and L-arginine on Ventricular Remodeling and Oxidative Stress

Objective: Our aim was to characterize the changes in messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance, protein, and activity levels of the enzymatic antioxidants, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase, and catalase by exercise training combined with l-arginine after myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: l-Arginine (1 g[middle dot]kg-1[middle dot]d-1) and NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; 10 mg[middle dot]kg-1[middle dot]d-1) were administered in drinking water for 8 wk. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to the following groups: sham-operated control (Sham); MI sedentary (Sed); MI exercise (Ex); MI sedentary + l-arginine (Sed + LA); MI exercise + l-arginine (Ex + LA); MI sedentary + l-NAME (Sed + l-NAME); and MI exercise + l-NAME (Ex + l-NAME). Results: The glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and gp91phox mRNA levels were comparable among all the groups. The SOD mRNA level was significantly increased in the Ex group (5.43 +/- 0.87) compared with the Sed group (1.74 +/- 0.29), whereas this effect was pronouncedly down-regulated by the l-NAME intervention (2.51 +/- 1.17, P < 0.05). The protein levels of SOD in the Sed and Ex groups were both significantly decreased with the administration of l-NAME. The protein levels of catalase were significantly higher in the Ex and Ex + LA groups than that in the Sed, Sed + LA, and l-NAME-treated groups. The collagen volume fraction was significantly lowered by the exercise and/or l-arginine treatment when compared with the Sed group. Fractional shortening was significantly preserved in the trained groups compared with their corresponding sedentary groups with or without drug treatments. However, the beneficial effect was not further improved by l-arginine treatment. Conclusions: Our results suggest that exercise training exerts antioxidative effects and attenuates myocardial fibrosis in the MI rats. These improvements, in turn, alleviate cardiac stiffness and preserve post-MI cardiac function. In addition, l-arginine appears to have no additive effect on cardiac function or expression of enzymatic antioxidants
11.4.2 Assessing the Impacts of Uncertainty Propagation to System Requirements by Evaluating Requirement Connectivity

Although theoretically independent, requirements within a decomposition level of a system architecture are not isolated elements. For an existing design, a change of a requirement may endanger or facilitate fulfillment of other requirements within the same level of the decomposition. The present research suggests a requirement connectivity metric to evaluate the potential consequences that changing a requirement may have on a system with respect to fulfillment of other requirements. A particular aspect of the present research is the assumption that connectivity accounts only for requirements within the same decomposition level of an architecture, not for those flowing up or down the decomposition. The metric is used to evaluate different cases in which requirements are changed due to triggering of uncertain events during a project life-cycle.
Absence of cross-reactivity between murine Ly-6C and Ly-6G.

Background The Ly-6 family has many members, including Ly-6C and Ly-6G. A previous study suggested that the anti-Ly-6G antibody, RB6-8C5, may react with Ly-6Chi murine bone marrow (BM) cells. This finding has been interpreted as cross-reactivity of RB6-8C5 with the Ly-6C antigen, and has been generalized to many hematopoietic cell types, using the terminology Ly-6G/C. The present study was undertaken to determine whether anti-Ly-6G antibodies truly cross-react with the Ly-6C antigen on multiple hematopoietic cell types. Methods Splenocytes, thymocytes, and BM cells obtained from Ly-6.1 and Ly-6.2 strains of mice were stained with a variety of antibodies to Ly-6C and Ly-6G. Flow cytometric analysis was performed on these populations. Results Evaluation of anti-Ly-6C and anti-Ly-6G staining showed only Ly-6C expression and no Ly-6G expression on subsets of splenic T and B cells and thymocytes from Ly-6.1 and Ly-6.2 mice. Bone marrow cells were identified that express both Ly-6G and Ly-6C; no Ly-6G+Ly-6C− populations were seen. Conclusions Multiple Ly-6C+ hematopoietic cell populations were identified that do not stain with anti-Ly-6G antibodies. This calls into question the use of the Ly-6G/C nomenclature and suggests that epitopes recognized by anti-Ly-6G antibodies should simply be designated Ly-6G. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The experimental physics of dynamical supersymmetry in nuclei

Abstract Supersymmetry ideas for nuclei are outlined in the context of traditional models. Following this, a detailed discussion of the structure of two types of nuclear supersymmetry schemes, based on the U(6/4) and U(6/12) supergroups, is given along with an explanation of the appropriate empirical probes for testing each scheme. The experimental evidence for supersymmetry in nuclei is presented with emphasis on areas of both agreement and disagreement and with a discussion of alternate schemes that can reduce the latter.
Historical Seismograms and Earthquakes of the World

From the standpoint of the seismologist studying actual waveforms (as opposed to travel times) a new era began in 1963 with the establishment of the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network (WWSSN): Well-calibrated seismograms from all over the world were available from a single data distributor. But the life of this network has been brief compared to the repeat times of great earthquakes; to learn about many of these, we must turn to pre-WWSSN seismograms, which extend back to the start of instrumental seismology around 1900. These seismograms, now termed historical seismograms, are a primary subject of this book, a collection of papers derived from a 1985 International Association of Seismologists and Physicists of the Earth's Interior symposium. These older seismograms often contain detailed waveform data that could not be used when they were made but which can now be modeled to determine earthquake source parameters. Papers by H. Kanamori, by S. K. Singh, and by S. Stein, E. Okal, and D. Wiens review this area; Kanamori's paper has an especially valuable discussion of instrument responses and a useful list of large earthquakes, while Stein et al. show the contibution older data can make to understanding areas of low seismicity. Even seismograms of lower quality can be of value, as K. Abe shows by deriving magnitudes and origin times of Chinese and California earthquakes from 1898 through 1912 using recordings made by undamped seismometers.
Target detection in hyperspectral imagery using one-dimensional extended maximum average correlation height filter and mahalanobis distance

Target detection in hyperspectral imagery is a challenging task as the targets occupy only a few pixels or less. The presence of noise can make detection more complicated as spectral signature of pixels can change due to noise. In this paper, a novel technique for detection is proposed using one dimensional maximum average correlation height (MACH) filter. The MACH filter is trained using likely variations of target spectral signatures. The variations can be taken from data or can be generated by applying Gaussian noise. Each pixels of the input scene is then correlated with the detection filter. The MACH filter maximizes the relative height of correlation peak for target in comparison with background and noise. Thus, a target can be detected by analyzing the correlation peak values. Single or Multiple targets in a hyperspectral sequence can be detected simultaneously this approach. Test results using real life hyperspectral data are presented to verify the accomplishments of one dimensional MACH filter.
Perspectives on imperfect information processing

It is argued that many applications of expert-system and decision-support-system technologies will require an appropriate blend of the features of each of these technologies. Such a system is termed a knowledge support system. One of its inherent characteristics is that the knowledge will come from multiple sources and perspectives and will be inherently uncertain, imprecise, incomplete, inconsistent, and otherwise imperfect. Major approaches for the representation of imperfect knowledge and their use in approximate reasoning algorithms for knowledge support systems are described.
Standardized comparisons in population research

La estandarizacion es usada en el analisis demografico para hacer corn paraciones de la incidencia o prevalencia de varios fenomenos, tomados en cuenta con las diferencias en uno o mas factores componentes. Este articulo se propone explorar la amplitud de las alternativias disponibles para las composiciones controladas y, especialmente, las relaciones de la estandarizacion con las teorias de la construccion de numeros indices desarrolladas por los economistas. No solo tasas de incidencia, sino tamblen aquellas medidas de prevalencia tales como promedios, razones y distribuciones porcentuales pueden ser estandarizadas mediante una variedad de alternativas, estando determinada la eleccion de la mejor de estas por la naturaleza de la corn paracion a ser hecha. La amplitud de los procedimientos de estandarizacion puede ser clasificada dentro de dos clases generales, “Agregativos” y “promedio de relativos.” Estandarizaciones directas e indirectas, como las usadas por los demografos, son subtipos de indices agregativos, en tanto que varias de las medidas especiales de mortalidad que han sido desarrolladas, son subtipos de la clase promedios de relativas. Este examen sistematico de la estandarizacion puede tener dos usos en la metodologia demo grafica: a) Enfatiza que las medidas estandarizadas son indices comparativos de un procedimiento, y no medidas del procedimiento mismo; una tasa estandarizada, por ejemplo, es altamente util para propositos analiticos, pero no tiene valor intrinseco en si misma. b) Se dispone de varios sistemas alternativos de construccion de numeros indices para computar medidas estandarizadas, y algunos de ellos (tal como el Indice Ideal de Fisher) merecen ser mas explorados por los demografos.
Millisecond pulsar radiation properties

Two investigations of millisecond pulsar radiation are discussed: average total intensity pulse morphology and individual pulse to pulse fluctuations. The average emission profiles of millisecond pulsars are compared with those of slower pulsars in the context of polar cap models. In general the full widths of pulsar emission regions continue to widen inversely with periodP as P-(0.30-0.5) as expected for dipole polar cap models. Many pulse components are very narrow. The period scaling of pulsar profiles -separations and widths -can tell us about the angular distribution of radiating currents. An investigation of individual pulses from two millisecond pulsars at 430 MHz shows erratic pulse to pulse variations similar to that seen in slow pulsars. PSR B1937+21 displays occasional strong pulses that are located in the trailing edge of the average profile with relative flux densities in the range of 100 to 400. These are similar to the giant pulses seen in the Crab pulsar.
Evaluation of the impact of CO2, co-contaminant gas, aqueous fluid and reservoir rock interactions on the geologic sequestration of CO2

Lowering the costs of front–end processes (e.g., separation) in the geologic sequestration of CO2 can dramatically lower the overall costs. One possible approach is to sequester less-pure CO2 waste streams that are less expensive or require less energy to separate from flue gas or a coal gasification process, etc. The objective of this research is to evaluate the impacts of CO2 itself, as well as an impure CO2 waste stream, on geologic sequestration using reaction progress models, reactive transport simulators and analogous reactive transport experiments run in a plug flow reactor. Specifically, we are investigating the potential for co-injecting the SOx, NOx, and H2S present in coal-fired waste streams along with the CO2. We present here the results of reactive transport simulations made to investigate the long-term impact of dissolved CO2, H2S and SO2 on carbon sequestration in the Frio Fm., TX. The results suggest that addition of relatively large amounts of H2S to a CO2 injection should not adversely impact injectivity or sequestration compared to the injection of CO2 alone. The co-injection of SO2, however, could produce significantly different results, if conditions are such that SO2 can oxidize to sulfate. In the long-term the simulations suggest that carbonate mineral formation can sequester a significant fraction of the injected carbon through the formation of calcite, magnesite and dawsonite.
FPGA area reduction by multi-output function based sequential resynthesis

We propose a new resynthesis algorithm for FPGA area reduction. In contrast to existing resynthesis techniques, which consider only single-output Boolean functions and the combinational portion of a circuit, we consider multi-output functions and retiming, and develop effective algorithms that incorporate recent improvements to SAT-based Boolean matching. Our experimental results show that with the optimal logic depth, the resynthesis considering multi-output functions reduces area by up to 0.4% compared to the one considering single-output functions, and the sequential resynthesis reduces area by up to 10% compared to combinational resynthesis when both consider multi-output functions. Furthermore, our proposed resynthesis algorithm reduces area by up to 16% compared to the best existing academic technology mapper, Berrylikei ABC.
The effects of deliberations and religious identity on mock jurors’ verdicts

Jurors may be biased toward defendants because of their group status or similarities/differences. Deliberation may minimize bias by forcing jurors to rationalize their decisions. In two experiments...
PHOTOBIOLOGY: AN OVERVIEW

AbstractWithout the sun, life as we know it could not exist on earth. Solar energy (electromagnetic radiation) provides both the warmth required to make the planet habitable and the primary energy source for living organisms. How solar energy might influence and interact with living things has been of interest since ancient times. Today, the influences and interactions of nonionizing electromagnetic radiation, both from the sun and man-made sources, on biological systems, and the use of such radiation to study biological processes constitute the purview of the science of photobiology. Areas of interest falling under this general heading include vision, photosynthesis, environmental photobiology, bioluminescence, photomedicine, and others.
Methodology for identifying car following events from naturalistic data

Naturalistic Driving Studies (NDS) are becoming an integral tool for development of driver assistance systems. Because of its large volume, one challenge with working with NDS data is identifying driving scenarios of interest automatically. This study introduces a methodology for identifying situations where the driver of the instrumented vehicle applied the brakes while following another vehicle. These car following events are of interest for designers of Forward Collision Warning (FCW) systems. This algorithm could be used in conjunction with a large scale NDS, such as the Virginia Tech Transportation Research Institute's 100-Car database, to generate population distributions of braking behavior during car following. These population distributions could be used to inform the design of warning thresholds for FCW. The heuristic algorithm developed in this study identifies car following events using forward looking radar (object range and range rate) and vehicle dynamics (speed, vehicle yaw rate). The proposed algorithm identified the same car following scenario as a visual inspection of the data in 91.8% of brake applications, suggesting it can automatically identify car following events.
The randomized comparative pediatric critical illness stress-induced immune suppression (CRISIS) prevention trial.

Objectives: Nosocomial infection/sepsis occurs in up to 40% of children requiring long-term intensive care. Zinc, selenium, glutamine, metoclopramide (a prolactin secretalogue), and/or whey protein supplementation have been effective in reducing infection and sepsis in other populations. We evaluated whether daily nutriceutical supplementation with zinc, selenium, glutamine, and metoclopramide, compared to whey protein, would reduce the occurrence of nosocomial infection/sepsis in this at-risk population. Design: Randomized, double-blinded, comparative effectiveness trial. Setting: Eight pediatric intensive care units in the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network. Patients: Two hundred ninety-three long-term intensive care patients (age 1–17 yrs) expected to require >72 hrs of invasive care. Interventions: Patients were stratified according to immunocompromised status and center and then were randomly assigned to receive daily enteral zinc, selenium, glutamine, and intravenous metoclopramide (n 149), or daily enteral whey protein (n 144) and intravenous saline for up to 28 days of intensive care unit stay. The primary end point was time to development of nosocomial sepsis/infection. The analysis was intention to treat. Measurements and Main Results: There were no differences by assigned treatment in the overall population with respect to time until the first episode of nosocomial infection/sepsis (median whey protein 13.2 days vs. zinc, selenium, glutamine, and intravenous metoclopramide 12.1 days; p .29 by log-rank test) or the rate of nosocomial infection/sepsis (4.83/100 days whey protein vs. 4.99/100 days zinc, selenium, glutamine, and intravenous metoclopramide; p .81). Only 9% of the 293 subjects were immunocompromised and there was a reduction in rate of nosocomial infection/sepsis with zinc, selenium, glutamine, and intravenous metoclopramide in this immunocompromised group (6.09/ 100 days whey protein vs. 1.57/100 days zinc, selenium, glutamine, and intravenous metoclopramide; p .011). Conclusion: Compared with whey protein supplementation, zinc, selenium, glutamine, and intravenous metoclopramide conferred no advantage in the immune-competent population. Further evaluation of zinc, selenium, glutamine, and intravenous metoclopramide supplementation is warranted in the immunocompromised long-term pediatric intensive care unit patient. (Pediatr Crit Care Med 2012; 13:165–173)
Neuroactive Properties of Reproductive Steroids

Migraine is 3 times more common in postpubertal women than in men. Migraine is frequently exacerbated perimenstrually and commonly occurs exclusively at that time. It is often benefited by pregnancy and menopause. Estrogen withdrawal has been implicated as a mechanism for triggering migraines. The mechanism, however, is not well understood. Reproductive steroids have neuroactive properties that can modulate neuronal morphology and physiology. Increasing evidence suggests that circulating reproductive steroid levels regulate the balance of neuroexcitatory and neuroinhibitory activities in some brain regions by influencing synaptic plasticity. Estrogen has neuroexcitatory, whereas progesterone has neuroinhibitory, effects in most preclinical and clinical models. Several neurotransmitter systems that are implicated in migraine vary with reproductive steroid levels during the reproductive cycle. Estrogen stabilization may provide effective treatment in susceptible women, especially for catamenially exacerbated migraine.
Organizing without formal organization: group identification, goal setting and social modeling in directing online production

A challenge for many online production communities is to direct their members to accomplish tasks that are important to the group, even when these tasks may not match individual members' interests. Here we investigate how combining group identification and direction setting can motivate volunteers in online communities to accomplish tasks important to the success of the group as a whole. We hypothesize that group identity, the perception of belonging to a group, triggers in-group favoritism; and direction setting (including explicit direction from group goals and implicit direction from role models) focuses people's group-oriented motivation towards the group's important tasks. We tested our hypotheses in the context of Wikipedia's Collaborations of the Week (COTW), a group goal setting mechanism and a social event within Wikiprojects. Results demonstrate that 1) publicizing important group goals via COTW can have a strong motivating influence on editors who have voluntarily identified themselves as group members compared to those who have not self-identified; 2) the effects of goals spill over to non-goal related tasks; and 3) editors exposed to group role models in COTW are more likely to perform similarly to the models on group-relevant citizenship behaviors. Finally, we discuss design and managerial implications based on our findings.
Data compression in real-time distributed systems

A scheme that can be used to compress image and textlike data efficiently and to meet the real-time constraints of distributed simulation networks is presented. An initial transformation step is applied to image data in order to induce desirable properties that allow the efficient application of popular lossless text compression schemes to image data. The VLSI design of a new run-length encoding chip that can provide on-the-fly compression of images within real-time networks is described. >
Characteristics associated with maltreatment types in children referred to a hospital protection team

Objective The aim of this paper is to describe characteristics associated with maltreatment types in children referred to the child protection team at the University Children’s Hospital Zurich. Since 2003, the child protection team has registered data on each case in a standardized form.
Effects of Sex, Race and Year in College on Self-Reported Drinking-Related Problem Behaviors

This research was conducted to study the effects of sex, race, and year in college on self-reported drinking-related problem behaviors. It was hypothesized that men would report more problem behaviors than women, white students would report more than Hispanic or black students, and an interaction of sex and race would be observed. The study was conducted at a middle-sized eastern college, where 181 students anonymously filled out a 17-item questionnaire. The design was a 3 (race) x 2 (sex) x 2 (year in college) factorial. The hypotheses for sex and race were confirmed. Investigation of whether these self-reported drinking-related problem behaviors are congruent with actual behaviors requires study.
Branched Chain Amino Acids Are Associated With Muscle Mass in Functionally Limited Older Adults

Background. Metabolic profiling may provide insight into biologic mechanisms related to the maintenance of muscle and fat-free mass in functionally limited older adults. The objectives of the study were to characterize the association between thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and the fat-free mass index (FFMI; total lean mass/height2) with the serum metabolite profile, to further identify significant metabolites as associated with markers of insulin resistance or inflammation, and to develop a metabolite predictor set representative of muscle CSA and the FFMI in functionally limited older adults.
High-Dose Statins Should Be Used in All Acute Ischemic Strokes

This case raises several questions: (1) Is the role for statins in acute ischemic stroke to improve outcome, to reduce the chances of a recurrent stroke, or both? (2) Do the benefits associated with high dose statin use extend across all stroke sub-types including catheter related stroke? Irrespective of the etiology of ischemic stroke, use of statins has been associated with reduced infarct size and a more favorable outcome.1 This is reinforced by our own observations that statins given within 4 weeks of stroke onset improve stroke outcome at 90 days compared with subjects not given statins. The benefits were more pronounced in statin-na|fkve patients who received statins early on after the stroke as compared with patients on statins before stroke onset. Furthermore, the benefits extended across all stroke types including cardioembolic stroke.2,3 Similarly, using the Kaiser Permanente …
Consistency in explaining model behavior based on its feedback structure

Real-world concepts can be operationalized into a variety of feedback structures which may be mathematically identical but diverse in the number of feedback loops. Factors including model purpose, the modeler's perspective and the intended audience all influence the final layout of a feedback-rich model. One challenge in the analysis of model behavior is to account for the variations in the appearance of its structure and the feedback loops. This technical paper focuses on consistency in explaining model behavior and illustrates some of the issues related to the cancellation problem and figure-8 loops. Both conditions can potentially lead to poor and even contradictory explanations of model behavior based on its idiosyncratic feedback structure. The paper presents three case studies and demonstrates that for these case studies the pathway participation approach remains consistent in detecting the dominant structure regardless of variations in the number of feedback loops in mathematically equivalent models. The paper calls for comparative studies using alternative approaches to model analysis to better understand the general principles and subtleties in connecting the structure to the behavior and explaining observed dynamics. Copyright © 2011 System Dynamics Society.
Review of A Short Introduction to Stata For Biostatistics by Hills and De Stavola

The new book by Hills and De Stavola (2002) is reviewed. Copyright 2002 by Stata Corporation.
The world's microbiology laboratories can be a global microbial sensor network

The microbes that infect us spread in global and local epidemics, and the resistance genes that block their treatment spread within and between them. All we can know about where they are to track and contain them comes from the only places that can see them, the world's microbiology laboratories, but most report each patient's microbe only to that patient's caregiver. Sensors, ranging from instruments to birdwatchers, are now being linked in electronic networks to monitor and interpret algorithmically in real-time ocean currents, atmospheric carbon, supply-chain inventory, bird migration, etc. To so link the world's microbiology laboratories as exquisite sensors in a truly lifesaving real-time network their data must be accessed and fully subtyped. Microbiology laboratories put individual reports into inaccessible paper or mutually incompatible electronic reporting systems, but those from more than 2,200 laboratories in more than 108 countries worldwide are now accessed and translated into compatible WHONET files. These increasingly web-based files could initiate a global microbial sensor network. Unused microbiology laboratory byproduct data, now from drug susceptibility and biochemical testing but increasingly from new technologies (genotyping, MALDI-TOF, etc.), can be reused to subtype microbes of each genus/species into sub-groupings that are discriminated and traced with greater sensitivity. Ongoing statistical delineation of subtypes from global sensor network data will improve detection of movement into any patient of a microbe or resistance gene from another patient, medical center or country. Growing data on clinical manifestations and global distributions of subtypes can automate comments for patient's reports, select microbes to genotype and alert responders.
Ursodeoxycholic acid inhibits Ras mutations, wild-type Ras activation, and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in colon cancer.

K-ras mutations occur frequently in colon cancer and contribute to autonomous growth. In the azoxymethane (AOM) model of colon cancer, in addition to K-ras mutations, we have shown that wild-type (WT) Ras can be activated by upstream pathways, including, e.g., signaling by ErbB receptors. Tumors with mutant or activated WT Ras had increased cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) expression. We have also shown that ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) prevented AOM-induced colon cancer and suppressed Cox-2 induction. In this study, we examined the role of Ras in Cox-2 inhibition by UDCA. Rats were fed AIN-76A chow alone, or supplemented with 0.4% UDCA, and received 20 mg/kg AOM i.p. weekly x 2 weeks. At 40 weeks, rats were sacrificed, and tumors were harvested. K-ras mutations were assessed by primer-mediated RFLP, allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization, and direct DNA sequencing. Ras was immunoprecipitated and defined as activated if [Ras - GTP/(Ras - GTP + Ras - GDP)] was >3 SD above normal colonocytes. Cox-2 mRNA was determined by reverse transcription-PCR, and protein expression was assessed by Western blotting and immunostaining. In the AOM alone group, Ras was activated by mutations in 8 of 30 (27%) tumors, and WT Ras was activated in 7 of 30 (23%) tumors. UDCA significantly suppressed the incidence of tumors with mutant Ras (1 of 31, 3.2%; P 50-fold in tumors with normal Ras activity and further enhanced in tumors with mutant or signaling-activated Ras. UDCA significantly inhibited Cox-2 protein and mRNA levels in tumors with normal Ras activity. In summary, we have shown for the first time that UDCA suppressed the development of tumors with Ras mutations and blocked activation of WT Ras. Furthermore, UDCA inhibited Cox-2 induction by Ras-dependent and -independent mechanisms.
Self-assembly of a conjugated triblock copolymer at the air–water interface

Controlling the self-assembly of highly luminescent conjugated polymers is essential for preparing various optoelectronic devices. In this study, a polyisoprene-b-polystyrene-b-poly(3-hexylthiophene) (PI-PS-P3HT) triblock copolymer was synthesized and readily self-assembled into network-like morphologies via dewetting at the air–water interface. Interestingly, the monolayer thick film displayed high photoluminescence (PL) as a result of successfully transferring the amorphous conjugated P3HT chains in the PI-PS-P3HT triblock copolymer from the solution state to the solid state. A model was proposed to illustrate the supramolecular organization of the PI-PS-P3HT monolayer. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of a hydrophobic conjugated block copolymer at the air–water interface, from which the conjugated polymer-based monolayer with highly efficient PL formed by dewetting was achieved.
Physiological activity of Porphyra in relation to eulittoral zonation

article i nfo Eulittoral seaweeds at different tidal elevations are exposed to various frequencies and durations of emergence. Their physiological activities (e.g. nutrient uptake) may be affected by water loss during emersion. We used three Porphyra species from different tidal elevations to test whether species at different vertical elevations on the shore respond differently to the increasingly non-marine environment, in terms of their physiological activities including nutrient uptake, tissue carbon, nitrogen and phycoerythrin contents. Simulated tidal cycles produced water losses of 0%, 40±10% and 90±5% tissue water. Emersion was stressful for all species regardless of their habitat. It was more stressful to nitrate and phosphate uptake for the sublittoral species P. yezoensis than eulittoral species, P. umbilicalis and P. leucosticta. Interestingly, tissue N for thalli that had been emerged and then re-submerged was significantly higher than those of continuously submerged individuals. During exposure, tissue N contents of all species declined but recovered quickly (e.g. within 30 min) after re-submergence. This result suggests that emersion-induced N release may constitute an undescribed biogeochemical pathway linking marine, terrestrial, and atmospheric N reservoirs.
Research Resource: Genome-Wide Profiling of Progesterone Receptor Binding in the Mouse Uterus

Progesterone (P4) signaling through its nuclear transcription factor, the progesterone receptor (PR), is essential for normal uterine function. Although deregulation of PR-mediated signaling is known to underscore uterine dysfunction and a number of endometrial pathologies, the early molecular mechanisms of this deregulation are unclear. To address this issue, we have defined the genome-wide PR cistrome in the murine uterus using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) followed by massively parallel sequencing (ChIP-seq). In uteri of ovariectomized mice, we identified 6367 PR-binding sites in the absence of P4 ligand; however, this number increased at nearly 3-fold (18,432) after acute P4 exposure. Sequence analysis revealed that approximately 73% of these binding sites contain a progesterone response element or a half-site motif recognized by the PR. Many previously identified P4 target genes known to regulate uterine function were found to contain PR-binding sites, confirming the validity of our methodology. Interestingly, when the ChIP-seq data were coupled with our microarray expression data, we identified a novel regulatory role for uterine P4 in circadian rhythm gene expression, thereby uncovering a hitherto unexpected new circadian biology for P4 in this tissue. Further mining of the ChIP-seq data revealed Sox17 as a direct transcriptional PR target gene in the uterus. As a member of the Sox transcription factor family, Sox17 represents a potentially novel mediator of PR action in the murine uterus. Collectively, our first line of analysis of the uterine PR cistrome provides the first insights into the early molecular mechanisms that underpin normal uterine responsiveness to acute P4 exposure. Future analysis promises to reveal the PR interactome and, in turn, potential therapeutic targets for the diagnosis and/or treatment of endometrial dysfunction.
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation (malignant triton tumor).

Abstract Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors arise from Schwann cells or within existing neurofibromas and have a strong association with type 1 neurofibromatosis. These tumors are histologically diverse and may contain malignant areas of divergent mesenchymal differentiation, the most common of which is skeletal muscle (rhabdomyosarcoma). Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation is also known as malignant triton tumor. Malignant triton tumor has a worse prognosis than classic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor does, and the correct diagnosis requires attention to the clinical history and knowledge of the complexities regarding its differential diagnosis. In this review we discuss the clinical, histopathological, immunohistochemical, and prognostic features of this rare neoplasm.
Abstract T MP100: Improving Encounter Frequency, Physician Prescribing, or Patient Adherence - What Works Best for Controlling Blood Pressure? Results From a Validated Micro-Simulation Model

Background: Only half of hypertensive adults achieve blood pressure (BP) control in the United States. Methods: We developed the BP Control Model to simulate physician- and patient-level processes relevant in achieving BP control. We validated the model by simulating the intervention arm of a recent multicenter clinical trial and used the validated model to examine the effects of isolated improvements in three modifiable processes on BP control. Data from national surveys, cohort studies, and trials were used to parameterize the model. We simulated 5,000 hypothetical adult patients with uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP≥ 140) using probability sampling of participants from the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We modeled 50% improvements and ideal scenarios for each process parameter. Outcome: We reported outcomes in terms of BP control (% with SBP < 140 mmHg), and average change in BP at 52 weeks. Results: In our validation analysis, the model-predicted BP control was similar to what was achieved in the VIPER-BP clinical trial (63.5% vs. 63.8%). In our base case scenario, 24% of the NHANES-derived cohort achieved BP control at 52 weeks. In scenarios with 50% improvements, the model predicted small increases in BP control, but substantially larger and more variable effects when processes were idealized (Table). Control was reached in 77% with ideal treatment intensification, 44% with ideal encounter frequency, only 32% with ideal adherence, and 97% when all three processes were idealized. Conclusion: While improving patient adherence to medications would improve BP control, healthcare systems can achieve similar or greater success by focusing on increasing the frequency of clinical encounters and improving physicians’ prescribing behavior. The BP Control Model can be used to predict how much improvement to expect from such interventions. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Topographic genotyping of colorectal carcinoma: from a molecular carcinogenesis model to clinical relevance.

Background: In recent years, as a result of refinement in molecular biology techniques, significant progress has been made in the understanding of colorectal carcinogenesis. Particular attention has been drawn to identification of genetic mutation that may predispose to colorectal carcinoma (familial syndromes) and may affect tumor behavior and prognosis (sporadic cases).
New Diseases of Termites Caused by Bacteria

During the past few years in the course of large-scale laboratory rearing of Zootermopsis angusticollis Hagen, various diseases have repeatedly been observed to kill individuals or groups of termites. Occasionally these have taken on the proportion of an epizootic, but more frequently they have shown up sporadically in the death of one or a few individuals of a group. The mortality resulting from these diseases is a serious factor in the experiments being carried on upon the problem of caste differentiation in Zootermopsis by Dr. S. F. Light of the Zoology Department of the University of California. It was with the purpose of learning more concerning the causes of this mortality, that the present study was undertaken. Prom the practical viewpoint of laboratory control of the disease and from the biological viewpoint the problem is of considerable interest. Apparently the diseases studied are as yet undescribed for any termite. Aside from certain fungus diseases, the two bacterial diseases which are treated in this paper were the most noticeable causes of mortality in the laboratory stock. That they were singled out for study is due to the fact they were observed repeatedly and could be identified by their striking effect upon the termite. Undoubtedly with further work more disease-producing bacteria will be isolated from Zootermopsis.
Evaluation of the BCG vaccination effects and analysis of related factors among infants in Lu'an city

Objective To evaluate the quality and effect of BCG vaccination among infants,and analyze its influence factors.Methods Eight hundred healthy infants aged below 1 year,and inoculation with BCG more than 12 weeks,were selected from 8 counties,Lu' an City.Inoculation time,BCG scar diameter,and other information were collected.BCG vaccination effects were evaluated by PPD test.Results Among the total of 800 infants,BCG scar rate was 97.00%,PPD positive rate was 80.13%.Single factor analysis showed that the vaccination time after birth(χ2= 6.695,P = 0.010),BCG scar diameter(χ2= 61.250,P = 0.000) and address(χ2= 73.148,P = 0.000) were factors influencing the effect of BCG vaccination(P0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the difference of PPD positive was closely related with BCG scar diameter 3 mm or ≥3 mm(OR = 0.413,95%CI:0.263-0.649),indicating that diameter ≥3 mm would be more successful.Conclusion The overall quality of BCG vaccination was good in Lu'an.BCG scar diameter,vaccination time after birth and inoculation skills of medical personnel were factors influencing the effect of BCG vaccination.
Simultaneous Multiple Patient Simulation in Undergraduate Nursing Education: A Focused Literature Review

Abstract Newly graduated registered nurses are entering nursing practice with few, if any, undergraduate experiences caring for more than one patient at a time. Employers have identified this as a significant concern related to patient safety and staff morale. A potential solution to this dilemma is to assign multiple patient simulations during undergraduate preparation. However, little is known about the use of simultaneous multiple patient simulation (SMPS) in undergraduate nursing education. Furthermore, the planning and implementation of SMPSs can be resource intensive and cost prohibitive. The purpose of this article was to analyze the scientific quality of articles related to SMPS published between January 1, 2005, and October 31, 2015, and to provide recommendations for future research about the use of SMPS in undergraduate nursing education. Twelve publications were appraised using the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Research Evidence Appraisal Tool. Although undergraduate nursing students tend to be satisfied with, and challenged by, this learning strategy, evidence about its effectiveness as a strategy to learn how to care for multiple patients simultaneously is lacking. Further research that utilizes longitudinal, rather than cross-sectional, study designs, psychometrically sound outcome measures, and participant randomization is necessary to provide evidence for the widespread use of SMPSs in undergraduate nursing education programs.
Antimicrobials and the Natural Biology of a Bacterial-Nematode Symbiosis

The Gram-negative proteobacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophila, engages in a mutualistic association with a nematode partner, Steinernema carpocapsae, which infects susceptible insect hosts. After entering the insect, the nematode carrying X. nematophila penetrates the intestine and enters the insect body cavity (hemocoel) where X. nematophila is released transitioning to its pathogenic stage. Together, X. nematophila and the nematode kill the insect host. Microbiota from the insect gut is assumed to translocate into the hemocoel during nematode invasion. In the hemocoel, X. nematophila encounters the dual challenge of inhibiting potential microbial competitors that may proliferate in the insect blood (hemolymph) and suppressing the host innate immune response. X. nematophila produces a plethora of small molecule antimicrobial compounds and secondary metabolites that function in interspecies competition and immune suppression. Suppressing growth of potential competitors and neutralizing an activated immune response not only benefit X. nematophila directly but also enhance fitness of the nematode that reproduces in the hemocoel. Thus, the secondary metabolites support a defensive mutualism between the bacterium and nematode. While secondary metabolites produced at high levels in broth culture can have antimicrobial properties in in vitro assays, their role in a natural infection of an insect host where they may be produced at subinhibitory concentrations is yet to be elucidated. In the present chapter, we discuss the diverse antimicrobial and immunosuppressive compounds produced by X. nematophila and their potential roles in this intriguing defensive mutualism and describe the microbial population dynamics in the hemocoel during the early phase of infection.
GREENWICH COVE SITE AND NARRAGANSETT BAY: SETTING AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK

The Greenwich Cove site lies at the southern end of Greenwich Cove, approximately 0.5 km east of the present mouth of the Maskerchugg River. Greenwich Cove is the southern appendage of larger Greenwich Bay, and the two together forms an arm on the western side of Narragansett Bay in eastern Rhode Island. The archeological site contains two major areas of prehistoric deposition. Materials, primarily lithic, dating to the Late Archaic period is found on the top of a glacial outwash terrace overlooking the cove. A shell midden containing more recent remains is located on the southern slope of this terrace, on the north-western edge of a kettle now containing a pond. Archeological fieldwork focused on these two deposits, although some testing and limited excavation took place in other areas of the site. Glaciation and the subsequent retreat of glacial ice are primarily responsible for the types of landforms and topography present in the Narragansett Bay region. Postglacial sea-level rise accounts for the highly irregular Rhode Island coastline and the formation of estuaries, which harbor rich and diverse communities of plant and animal life.
Methods for Measuring the Components and the Profile of Drug Actions: The Multivantaged Approach

The original assumptions about how the drugs work have had a major influence on the nature of new drugs developed and shape the ways in which they are evaluated. Most of the assumptions are now shown to be invalid. The multivantaged method was developed to achieve both the primary and secondary aims of the trial. It provides the methods required to identify and measure the specific components and dimensions of the targeted disorder. The chapter describes the methods and the evidence leading to the generation of the three major dimensions and the 11 behavioral and mood components, their reliabilities and validities. It utilizes figures and tables from earlier research on their development.
Activation of Diatomic and Triatomic Molecules for the Synthesis of Organic Compounds: Metal Catalysis at The Subseafloor Biosphere

Chemical synthesis of organic molecules from simple diatomic and triatomic molecules is enhanced by transition metal catalysis. The actual forms of the catalysts that were available in prebiotic times to initiate the first formation of simple organic compounds are not known. However, the petroleum industry has made an enormous research effort to make organic materials from small molecules using various transition metal compounds as catalysts, and we can make estimates regarding the functional forms of catalysts. Recent work has speculated on the formation of small organic molecules that are the building blocks for life at hydrothermal vents and the subsurface seafloor, but the kinetics and proposed reaction intermediates as catalysts in these studies are not obvious. Metals, which are the center of these catalysts and which are present in the subseafloor biosphere, are typically in low oxidation states (e.g.; 0, +1) and have a rich chemistry that permits ease of ligand substitution and electron transfer reactions as well as insertion reactions, which are necessary chemical pathways for organic and biochemical synthesis. In addition, the metals overcome some of the poor electron acceptor properties of small molecules (e.g., N 2 ) via these pathways. This paper describes in detail possible kinetic pathways and gives examples of organic chemical syntheses/transformations that are used in abiotic and biotic processes. These reactions are kinetically controlled and the catalysts are regenerated during synthesis.