cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemoprevention of rat mammary carcinogenesis: Exceptional activity of dietary dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

A major determinant of progress in human breast cancer prevention is the identification of agents with significant anticarcinogenic activity and acceptable levels of toxicity in experimental animals. Over the past 20 years, more than 50 experimental regimens have been shown to have significant chemopreventive activity in the rat mammary gland. The most effective approaches to mammary cancer chemoprevention in rats involve surgical endocrine ablations such as bilateral ovariectomy. However, prophylactic surgical ablations are unlikely to be acceptable to the majority of the general public. All chemicals evaluated to date are less effective, and none has been shown to reduce mammary cancer incidence to zero. As a result, efforts continue to identify chemical agents whose protective activity is comparable to that of endocrine ablation. DHEA is an adrenal steroid with chemopreventive activity in several animal models for human cancer. In the present studies, the chemopreventive efficacy of DHEA was evaluated in rats exposed to the mammary gland carcinogen, N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). Groups of 20 female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed an AIN-76A diet supplemented with 0, 400, or 800 mg DHEA per kg diet; one week later, all rats received a single i.p. injection of 35 mg MNU per kg body weight. Animals were palpated weekly to monitor mammary tumor development, and all mammary tumors were histologically confirmed. When administered at 800 mg/kg diet, DHEA reduced mammary cancer incidence in controls from 95% to 15%; carcinoma multiplicity in rats receiving 800 mg DHEA per kg diet was reduced by more than 85% from control levels. In a separate study, the 400 mg/kg diet dose of DHEA reduced the incidence of mammary cancer to 5% from 80% found in controls fed the basal diet. Reductions in mammary cancer incidence and multiplicity associated with DHEA administration were accompanied by large increases in cancer latency. Evaluation of mammary gland wholemounts from animals fed DHEA demonstrated a massive induction of lobuloalveolar differentiation. These results indicate the dietary supplementation with non-toxic dose levels of DHEA has chemopreventive efficacy approaching that of endocrine ablation. This protection may be mediated by the induction of differentiation in the mammary gland, during which sensitive mammary parenchymal structures (terminal end buds) are stimulated to develop into structures (alveolar buds) less sensitive to carcinogenic insult.
Adaptive and Challenged Parenting Among African American Mothers: Parenting Profiles Relate to Head Start Children's Aggression and Hyperactivity

Research Findings: This study used a within-group research design and person-centered analytic methods to identify multidimensional profiles of parenting styles, parenting practices, and related emotional factors in a sample of 274 African American mothers recruited from Head Start programs in the northeastern and southeastern United States. Interprofile differences in children's behavioral adjustment over time were also examined by measuring preschool children's aggressive and hyperactive behavior at 2 time points during the academic year. The results indicated 3 adaptive parenting profiles and 2 challenged, or less adaptive, profiles among the sample, with a greater proportion of parents represented by the adaptive profiles. Parenting profile membership was significantly associated with child aggressive behaviors at Time 1 and hyperactive behaviors at Time 2. Practice or Policy: Implications of these results for fostering healthy parent–child relations during the early childhood developmental period are discussed. Future research is needed to refine a typology of parenting that captures adaptive parenting techniques utilized within African American families.
Pharyngitis and decision analysis.

Excerpt To the editor: The paper about the cost-effectiveness of therapy for pharyngitis by Tompkins, Burnes, and Cable (Ann Intern Med86:481-492, 1977) is certain to arouse controversy both about ...
Upper mantle structure of the Cascades from full-wave ambient noise tomography: Evidence for 3D mantle upwelling in the back-arc

Abstract Melt generation and volcanism at subduction zones may result from several possible processes: hydration of the mantle wedge by fluid released from the slab, subduction-induced mantle upwelling beneath the back-arc, and heating of downgoing sediments/oceanic crust atop the slab. Each process predicts a distinctly different spatial pattern of melt generation and can thus be distinguished with high-resolution seismic imaging. Here we construct an upper mantle model of the Pacific Northwest using a full-wave ambient noise tomographic method. Normalized vertical components of continuous seismic records at station pairs are cross-correlated to extract empirical Green's functions at periods of 7–200 s. We simulate wave propagation within the 3D Earth structure using a finite-difference method and calculate sensitivity kernels of Rayleigh waves to perturbations of V p and V s based on the Strain Green's Tensor database. Phase delays are extracted by cross-correlating the observed and synthetic waveforms at multiple frequency bands. Our tomographic result reveals three separate low shear-wave velocity anomalies along the back-arc in the upper mantle ∼200 km east of the Cascade volcanic arc, with the central one being the largest in size and lowest in velocity. These back-arc low-velocity anomalies are spatially correlated with the three arc-volcano clusters. The geometry of the low-velocity volumes relative to the slab and arc is consistent with the pattern of subduction-induced decompressional melting in the back-arc. Their along-strike variation suggests that the large-scale plate-motion-induced flow in the back-arc mantle wedge is modulated by small-scale convection, resulting in a highly 3D process that defines the segmentation of volcanism along the Cascade arc.
The operation of outdoor oil circuit breakers under low ambient temperatures

The materials used in tank-type oil circuit breakers, the predominate outdoor type, and the effects that low ambient temperatures have upon their performance are examined. Conclusions are presented indicating that low ambient temperatures require special consideration even with modern outdoor oil circuit breakers, but further study is still needed.
Band-pass filters with linear phase

A set of techniques has been developed which permits the simultaneous realization of flat pass band transmission (±0.15 db experimental) linear phase (to within ±5° experimental) over most (1 - 1/N) of the nominal pass band, where N is the number of "in-band" poles. Outside the pass band, the attenuation skirts are steep; experimentally, 40 db has been obtained within 1/N of the nominal filter bandwidth. Shunt L and/or stray capacitance are easily taken into account in the design; in particular, crystals as well as lumped LC have been used. The procedures can accommodate any amount of series resistance in inductors at the expense of flat loss, without any essential change in the computed values of inductors, capacitors, or resonant frequencies. The sensitivity of the network transmission to component errors is modest; discrepancies in the impedance level or tuning of a given constituent resonance in the network branches affect the characteristic mainly in the vicinity of that resonance.
Rifampin for CSF shunt infections caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci.

COAGULASE-NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCAL INFECTIONS are a common complication of cerebrospinal fluid shunt surgery. It is reported that among 289 patients, shunt infections occurred in 27% and half of these infections were caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci? The use of r i fampin in conjunction with other antibiotics has been reported effective in the treatment of coagulase-negative staphylococcal infection of prosthetic valves and CSF shunts? We have observed two patients with coagulase-negative staphylococcal shunt infections who, after poor responses to other antibiotics, showed rapid improvement when rifampin was added to the antibiotic regimen. These patients illustrate the need for further investigation of this potentially valuable antibiotic for the treatment of coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections, especially when response to other therapy has been poor.
The compiler course in today's curriculum: three strategies

The broadening of computer science education has called into question the roles of many traditional core courses. In order to remain viable, courses such as compiler construction must provide a coherent view of their subject matter that fits with the rest of the institution's curriculum. Three strategies have evolved for this course. As described in this paper, each strategy provides a model that a professor can use to design an appropriate course for their situation.
Contribution of β-2 microglobulin levels to the prognostic stratification of survival in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)

Prospective analysis of the importance of the plasma levels of β-2 microglobulin (B2M) in 553 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) found that B2M is an independent prognostic variable for survival with weighted significance second only to the karyotype. The incorporation of the B2M covariate into risk assessment of MDS patients added significantly to the power of the IPSS to stratify MDS patients into risk categories. Our results further document that the 2 objectively measured covariates that display the highest power to predict survival, that is, karyotype and B2M, can alone be used for risk stratification. While the results must be verified in an independent and comparable population, our data strongly recommend routine measurement of B2M in patients with MDS.
The metaphysics of information quality: comments on producing quality technical information

The expressed promise in the title of Producing Quality Technical Information is that following its prescriptions will yield "quality" technical information. This commentary asks what the term quality means here and whether the manual delivers on its promise. In other words, which of the several senses of quality is intended in the title, and the does the publication deliver as promised? That is, which of the major quality schemes corresponds to the rationale of the text: legalistic quality, in which quality is conformity to a long list of detailed regulations and specifications (as in ISO 9000); principle-based quality, in which quality is the result of working according to a small set of broad precepts; or mystical quality, in which quality is an indefinable property or spiritual construct, toward which virtuous people should aspire.
Gper Activation Inhibits Mitochondria Permeability Transition Pore Opening Via Erk Phosphorylation and Provides Cardioprotection after Ischemia-Reperfusion

Recently, several studies have demonstrated G protein coupled receptor 30 (GPER) can directly bind to estrogen and mediate its action. We investigated the role and the mechanism of estrogen-induced cardioprotection after ischemia-reperfusion using a specific GPER agonist G1. Isolated hearts from male mice were perfused using Langendorff technique with oxygenated (95% O2 and 5% CO2) Krebs Henseleit buffer (control), with addition of G1 (1μM), and G1 (1μM)+PD98059 (10μM) to investigate the involvement of Erk pathway. After 20 min of perfusion, hearts were subjected to 20 min global normothermic (37°C) ischemia followed by 40min reperfusion. During the course of experiment cardiac function was measured and myocardial necrosis was evaluated by triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining at the end of the reperfusion. Mitochondria were isolated after 10 minutes of reperfusion to assess the calcium load required to induce mPTP opening. G1 treated hearts developed better functional recovery with higher rate pressure product (RPP, 6140±264 vs. 2640±334 mmHgxbeats/min, p<0.05). The infarct size decreased significantly in G1 treated hearts (21±2% vs. 46±3% p<0.001) and the Ca2+ load required to induce mPTP opening increased (2.4±0.06 vs. 1.6±0.11 μM/mg mitochondrial protein, p<0.05) as compared to the controls. The addition of PD 98059 significantly prevents G1 effect on heart function RPP (4120±46 mmHgxbeats/min, p<0.05), infarct size (53±2%) and calcium retention capacity (1.4±0.11μM/mg mitochondrial protein p<0.05) These results suggest that GPER activation inhibits the mPTP opening and provide a cardioprotective effect after ischemia-reperfusion and this effect is mediated by Erk pathway. Supported by NIH and AHA.
Synthesis of mumps virus polypeptides in infected Vero cells.

Abstract Mumps virus was adapted to growth in Vero cells, which yielded virus of high infectivity titers. The structural polypeptides of purified virions grown in Vero cells were similar to those described previously for egg-grown mumps virus: L (200K), HN (79K), NP (72K), F1 (61K), P (45K), M (40K), and F2 (16K). We have analyzed the synthesis of viral polypeptides in Vero cells by pulse labeling with radioactive amino acid precursors. The nucleoprotein (NP) was the first to be detected intracellularly above the cellular protein background at 6 h.p.i. By 12 h.p.i., all viral polypeptides were observed except for the glycoproteins F1 and F2, which are derived from a precursor designated F0 (74K). Two low-molecular-weight polypeptides not present in purified virions were also detected in infected cells. They are designated pI (28K) and pII (19K). Peptide mapping revealed that these two polypeptides share regions of their amino acid sequence and that they are also related to the structural protein P. Polypeptides pI and pII were found in several cell types (Vero, CEF, MDBK cells) infected with mumps virus. Infection of Vero cells with other paramyxoviruses (SV5 and Sendai virus) did not induce the synthesis of proteins comparable to pI and pII, whereas in mumps virus-infected cells no counterpart to the nonstructural C protein of Sendai virus was detected. Pulse-chase experiments suggest that pI and pII may not be derived from P by proteolytic cleavage.
A hybrid transport-diffusion method for Monte Carlo radiative-transfer simulations

Discrete Diffusion Monte Carlo (DDMC) is a technique for increasing the efficiency of Monte Carlo particle-transport simulations in diffusive media. If standard Monte Carlo is used in such media, particle histories will consist of many small steps, resulting in a computationally expensive calculation. In DDMC, particles take discrete steps between spatial cells according to a discretized diffusion equation. Each discrete step replaces many small Monte Carlo steps, thus increasing the efficiency of the simulation. In addition, given that DDMC is based on a diffusion equation, it should produce accurate solutions if used judiciously. In practice, DDMC is combined with standard Monte Carlo to form a hybrid transport-diffusion method that can accurately simulate problems with both diffusive and non-diffusive regions. In this paper, we extend previously developed DDMC techniques in several ways that improve the accuracy and utility of DDMC for nonlinear, time-dependent, radiative-transfer calculations. The use of DDMC in these types of problems is advantageous since, due to the underlying linearizations, optically thick regions appear to be diffusive. First, we employ a diffusion equation that is discretized in space but is continuous in time. Not only is this methodology theoretically more accurate than temporally discretized DDMC techniques, but it also has the benefit that a particle's time is always known. Thus, there is no ambiguity regarding what time to assign a particle that leaves an optically thick region (where DDMC is used) and begins transporting by standard Monte Carlo in an optically thin region. Also, we treat the interface between optically thick and optically thin regions with an improved method, based on the asymptotic diffusion-limit boundary condition, that can produce accurate results regardless of the angular distribution of the incident Monte Carlo particles. Finally, we develop a technique for estimating radiation momentum deposition during the DDMC simulation, a quantity that is required to calculate correct fluid motion in coupled radiation-hydrodynamics problems. With a set of numerical examples, we demonstrate that our improved DDMC method is accurate and can provide efficiency gains of several orders of magnitude over standard Monte Carlo.
INEPT Experiments Involving Quadrupolar Nuclei in Solids

Abstract Coherence transfer from quadrupolar 27 Al ( I = 5 2 ) nuclei to 31 P ( I = 1 2 ) via INEPT experiments is investigated. 27 Al → 31 P INEPT experiments on a (CH 3 ) 3 P–AlCl 3 complex in zeolite NaX are performed, and the results demonstrate that the 31 P INEPT signals strongly depend on whether or not the 27 Al pulses are applied synchronously with the rotor period, and on the length of the 27 Al pulses. A density-matrix calculation involving the use of the spin operators for spin 3 2 and 1 2 nuclei has been performed to help understand the evolution behavior of the density matrix under the influence of the quadrupolar interaction, the dipolar and J -couplings, and the pulse lengths applied to the quadrupolar nuclei. The theoretical predictions obtained from these calculations are consistent with the INEPT experimental observations.
The Stigma of Obesity

OBESITY is a complex phenomenon having a variety of causes and consequences, and accordingly, it is very insufficiently understood. In the vast medical and nutritional literature on the topic, obesity is usually treated as a clinical problem residing in the physical make-up and the behavior pattern of the individual, and it has been only recently that social causations and their consequences, amounting to stigmatization, have received increased attention. However, obesity is hardly ever mentioned in the writings of sociologists, and not at all in the literature on social deviance. This omission is amazing because it ought not to escape any one scanning the articles and advertisements in popular journals or listening to radio and television commercials that obesity is a social phenomenon. Clearly, in our kind of society, with its stress on affluence and upward mobility, being overweight is considered to be detrimental to health, a blemish to appearance, and a social disgrace. What is much less obvious is that it is held to be morally reprehensible. In the deliberations that follow I intend to review some pertinent findings in recent research with regard to these factors, but with emphasis on the moral factor which I believe to be of decisive importance, both diagnostically and therapeutically. I shall attempt to construct an ideal-typical model of the stigma of obesity, not so much as a hypothesis to be verified or modified, but as a conceptual guidepost with which the varieties of actual occurrences may be compared.' Speaking of obesity, I am going to disregard the internal difference between overweight and obesity in a narrower sense. It is possible to think of overweight as minimal obesity and of obesity as maximal overweight. Generally, among medical practitioners, something like 30 to 40 per cent beyond a presumed "normal" weight-whatever that may
Bounds to the influence coefficients by the assumed stress method

Abstract The direct influence coefficient obtained by the hybrid stress finite element model proposed by Pian has been proved to be bounded from above from that of the equilibrium model, provided that they have the same type of stress distribution within each element, and that of the compatible displacement model, provided that they are the same type of displacement along the interelement boundary.
Sialoadenectomy and the Distribution of Thyrotrophin labelled with Iodium-131

PREVIOUS reports from these laboratories1,2 have indicated the thyroid response to thyrotrophic hormone, as measured by uptake of phosphorus-32 (ref. 3), to be increased in sialoadenectomized animals when compared with intact controls. Hypophysectomy and hypophysectomy plus sialoadenectomy gave identical results as regards iodine trapping by rat thyroid, but the ratio of thyroid organic iodine-131 to inorganic iodine-131 indicated that sialoadenectomy reduced the synthesis of organically bound iodine-131 (ref. 4). To date, our observations have indicated some change in the modus operandi of thyrotrophic hormone in animals whose salivary glands have been removed. To obtain further information regarding the role of thyrotrophic hormone in sialex animals, it was decided to investigate the distribution of labelled hormone therein.
An evaluation of time-dependent changes in susceptibility of mice to pentobarbital injection.

Abstract The circadian rhythm in sleep-response of mice to pentobarbital injection was studied at four different doses. Characteristics of the rhythm, determined by least squares cosine fitting, varied significantly among doses. Parallel-line bioassay of log-transformed data permitted expression of the susceptibility rhythm as a variation in relative potency. Concomitant study of circadian-rhythmic and age-related changes in sleep-response to pentobarbital injection indicated significant differences on both time scales, and the absence of interaction. At circadian phases of long and short sleep duration, brain and blood pentobarbital concentrations were determined at intervals after injection, up to and including the time of awakening. The waking concentrations in brain and blood were significantly higher at the circadian phase of short sleep duration, while time-dependent differences in the rate of barbiturate disappearance from these sites could not be demonstrated. The waking brain pentobarbital concentration at a given circadian phase also differed between 4-month and 9-month old mice. Factors possibly responsible for time-dependent changes in susceptibility to barbiturate injection are discussed.
Early management of severe acute pancreatitis.

Significant literature on the management of acute severe acute pancreatitis has emerged in recent years. The new information ranges from data on newer single or multiparameter severity assessment tools and classification systems to therapeutic modalities. However, a few basic issues—the ideal severity assessment modality, volume of intravenous fluids required in the first 48 to 72 h, and the role of prophylactic antibiotics—are still not clear and are subject to controversy. The International Working Group has devised the Revised Atlanta Classification, which will be published soon. This new classification is eagerly awaited worldwide, and hopefully clarifies many of the problems of the original Atlanta Classification. In this article, we discuss the developments that have arisen in the past 2 to 3 years concerning the classification, prognostication, and early management of severe acute pancreatitis.
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibition Increases Myocardial Glucose Uptake in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy

Abstract Background Glucose and fatty acids comprise the primary substrates for myocardial energy metabolism. The normal myocardium switches toward glucose metabolism in the setting of stress; the inability to affect such a switch is a fundamental mechanism behind “diabetic” or “insulin-resistant” cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this mechanistic study was to evaluate the effects of treatment with the dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) 4 inhibitor sitagliptin on myocardial glucose uptake in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Methods and Results Twelve nondiabetic subjects with nonischemic cardiomyopathy underwent metabolic testing and assessment of myocardial glucose uptake by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomographic/computerized tomographic imaging at baseline and after 4 weeks of sitagliptin therapy. Sitagliptin therapy resulted in a significant increase in myocardial glucose uptake (19% increase; P = .04). Although most patients had at least a slight increase in glucose uptake, there was an overall bimodal response, with 6 patients (“responders”) demonstrating large increases (>20%) in glucose uptake and 6 patients (“nonresponders”) demonstrating Conclusions Therapy with the DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin results in increased myocardial glucose uptake in nondiabetic patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy.
Orientation Imaging Microscopy With Optimized Convergence Angle Using CBED Patterns in TEMs

Grain size statistics, texture, and grain boundary distribution are microstructural characteristics that greatly influence materials properties. These characteristics can be derived from an orientation map obtained using orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) techniques. The OIM techniques are generally performed using a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for nanomaterials. Although some of these techniques have limited applicability in certain situations, others have limited availability because of external hardware required. In this paper, an automated method to generate orientation maps using convergence beam electron diffraction patterns obtained in a conventional TEM setup is presented. This method is based upon dynamical diffraction theory that describes electron diffraction more accurately as compared with kinematical theory used by several existing OIM techniques. In addition, the method of this paper uses wide angle convergent beam electron diffraction for performing OIM. It is shown in this paper that the use of the wide angle convergent electron beam provides additional information that is not available otherwise. Together, the presented method exploits the additional information and combines it with the calculations from the dynamical theory to provide accurate orientation maps in a conventional TEM setup. The automated method of this paper is applied to a platinum thin film sample. The presented method correctly identified the texture preference in the sample.
“I Can Air My Feelings Instead of Eating Them”: Blogging as Social Support for the Morbidly Obese

The morbidly obese, defined as people who are 100 pounds or more overweight, are the fastest growing population among the obese. They often live with health risks, face discrimination, and lack traditional social support. This article explores the use of weight loss blogs by the morbidly obese (N = 50) and argues that blogging provides invaluable computer-mediated social support for them in four ways: (a) it allows for empathy; (b) it ensures accountability to others; (c) it provides venting and advice seeking; and (d) it shares validation of the weight loss experience. Additionally, the article argues that social support scholars must move beyond chat rooms and message boards as media and explore more media-rich environments such as blogging and social networks.
Modular removable precision mechanism for alignment of an FUV spatial heterodyne interferometer

Spaceflight optical instruments have two conflicting requirements. They need to be both rigid and lightweight. In addition, for interferometric far ultraviolet spectrometers, the requirements for precision positioning are more severe than for conventional spectrometers. To meet the challenge of lightweight optical instruments, a modular adjustment mechanism was developed to position two orthogonal axes of a universal three-axis gimbal support system with a positioning accuracy on the order of 10 arc seconds. The mechanism was designed as a self-contained assembly which can be removed after final alignment of a spacebound optical instrument to reduce its in-flight mass. To demonstrate the concept, a number of these assemblies were made and mounted on two of the positioning axes of a far ultraviolet spatial heterodyne interferometer. A shaft clamp was used on each positioning axis to retain the adjusted position. This paper describes the design of the mechanism and presents optical test results.
Personalized Platelet Transfusions: One Step Closer to the Clinic

In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Nakamura et al. (2014) use human pluripotent stem cells to generate immortalized megakaryocyte progenitor cell lines that can be cryopreserved, expanded in vitro, and induced to undergo terminal maturation and platelet release. This strategy advances efforts to produce clinically relevant numbers of tissue-culture-derived platelets for transfusion therapies.
Effect of body training position on outcomes of an aerobic training study on individuals with quadriplegia

The use of the supine training position to enhance aerobic training was evaluated in a 10-week upper-body exercise study. Fourteen subjects with quadriplegia (QD) were matched on initial peak power output (PO) values and then randomly assigned to either a supine (SUP, n = 7) or sitting (SIT, n = 7) training group. Peak VO2 and PO were measured pretraining and posttraining in both the supine and sitting positions. There were significant (p < .01) increases in peak VO2 (720 to 780 mL.min-1) and PO (29.3 to 33.3W) with training. Although the SIT group exhibited a small training effect size (0.1), while the SUP group exhibited a moderate effect size (0.6), the interaction between time and training group failed to reach significance (p = .07) because of a large injury level-related variation in VO2. The training effect achieved by the SUP group generalized to the sitting position, as their peak VO2 increased 80mL.min-1 in the sitting position. Endurance improved (p < .0001) in all subjects, with time to exhaustion increasing from 52min to 135min over the 10 weeks of training. The sum of 4 skinfolds decreased (p < .05) from 67.5 to 61.0mm. The lack of change in stroke volume at rest and at 50% of peak PO suggests that an inotropic adaptation of the heart, commonly observed in subjects without SCI, did not occur in this population. However, a 4.7bpm increase (p < .01) in resting heart rate (HR) and a near significant increase (p = .07) in peak HR from pretraining to posttraining suggests a training-induced chronotropic adaptation of the heart. Although improvements in aerobic capacity can be achieved by training in either supine or sitting positions, the training effect size was larger in the supine position. Improvements in SV were not observed in either training position; this may be because of low absolute workloads were used. Central cardiovascular adaptation may occur in subjects with QD but changes are reflected as chronotropic and not inotropic adaptations.
Chirality and Rotation of Asymmetric Surface-Bound Thioethers†

A combination of theory and experiment is used to interrogate the surface bonding geometry and rotational dynamics of a simple asymmetric thioether, butyl methyl sulfide. Calculations predict that binding occurs to a Au surface through one of the lone pairs on the sulfur atom and that the alkyl tails lie almost parallel to the surface. The unbonded lone pair remains unperturbed, and the geometry around the S atom is essentially tetrahedral, and hence two surface-bound enantiomers of the prochiral molecule are formed with an R-S inversion barrier that is predicted to be large. The rapidly rotating molecules can be clearly distinguished upon atomic-scale imaging by their mirror image pinwheel appearance. The binding of asymmetric dialkyl sulfides leads to the formation of surface-bound enantiomers, which has important consequences for studies in which thioether linkers are used in conjunction with chiral moieties and indicates that diastereomeric effects may be at play in these systems.
Abstract 4867: The metabolomic signature of Rhodiola rosea L. extracts- (SHR-5) treated mouse bladder cancer in the UPII-mutant Ha-ras transgenic model.

Rhodiola rosea has been used for centuries in the traditional medicine for reducing depression, enhancing work performance, and preventing high altitude sickness. We have recently shown that Rhodiola rosea L. extract, SHR-5, markedly inhibited the growth of bladder cancer and the survival of mice in the UP-II-mutant Ha-ras transgenic model via inhibition of the mTOR pathway. The purpose of this study was to further investigate the effects of SHR-5 on bladder tumor metabolism. The global metabolic profiles were compared for bladder tumors from mice that were fed with normal drinking water (n=7), 1.25 (n=7) or 6.25 (n=7) mg/ml SHR-5 in water for about five months. The analysis was conducted at Metabolon Inc. with a combination of high-throughput LC- and GC-based MS method. From a metabolomics library consisting of more than 2,000 standards, a total of 341 named metabolites were detected. Phenolic metabolites, such as phenylpropionylglycine, hydroxycinnamate and catechol sulfate, were increased, while prostaglandin metabolites, such as prostaglandins A2, D2 and E2, were decreased in tumors treated with SHR-5. This observation suggested the potential anti-inflammation effect of SHR-5 in bladder tumors. Neurotransmitters GABA, taurine, NAA and 2-oxoindole-3-acetate was more abundant; whereas kynurenine, histamine and aminoadipate were less abundant with SHR-5 treatment. This result is consistent with mood-improving effects of SHR-5. In addition, SHR-5 treatment resulted in increased levels of glucose and glycogen metabolites (e.g. maltotriose, maltose), as well as two glycolysis intermediates (3-phosphoglycerate and 2-phosphoglycerate) and the citric acid cycle (TCA) intermediates (fumarate and malate) compared to control treatment. These patterns suggest that SHR-5 may increase mobilization of glycogen for energy production in glycolysis and TCA cycle. These effects of SHR-5 may be mediated by differential effects on the mTOR pathway. Taken together, we show that global metabolomic profiling provides a unique and efficient tool for studying mechanisms of complex herb extracts’ action. Citation Format: Zhongbo Liu, Christopher A. Blair, Xiaolin Zi. The metabolomic signature of Rhodiola rosea L. extracts- (SHR-5) treated mouse bladder cancer in the UPII-mutant Ha-ras transgenic model. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4867. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4867
Increased capabilities of the 30-cm diameter Hg ion thruster

A 30-cm-diam mercury ion thruster, using two or three grid ion accelerating systems, is operated at increased values of beam current. Comparisons with the SEP (Solar Electric Propulsion) and EPSEP (Extended Performance SEP) baseline thrusters are made with respect to performance and lifetime. It is found that when a third, or decelerator, grid is added to the conventional two-grid optics of a SEP-like thruster, the ion beam focusing properties are improved, as expected from theoretical considerations. The total thruster efficiency as a function of specific impulse, is increased for values of specific impulse in the range 1200-2800 sec. Lifetime test results predict a thruster lifetime, under space conditions, not less than that of the baseline SEP thruster.
Entry of Oxygen and Nitrogen into Intact Soybean Nodules

The apparent nitrogenase activity of soybean root nodules is reduced approximately 70% upon nodule detachment. By increasing the partial pressure of oxygen in the assay vessel from approximately 0 2 to 0 5 atm, the nitrogenase activity of detached nodules is restored to the original attached level. On the other hand, maximal assayable nitrogenase activity of nodules attached to the intact soybean plant is achieved in the presence of 0-2-0-3 atm of oxygen. Exposure of attached nodules to 0-5 atm oxygen causes a decrease in nitrogenase activity seemingly due to inactivation of nitrogenase. These and other data suggest that, upon detachment, the entry of oxygen into the nodules is impaired. A model for the regulation of airflow into attached and detached nodules is presented. This model is also consistent with response of nodule activity to water stress.
Endrin-induced production of nitric oxide by rat peritoneal macrophages

Abstract The effect of oral endrin administration to rats on the production of nitric oxide (NO) by peritoneal macrophages was investigated. Nitric oxide formation was measured as nitrite. Endrin (4.5 mg kg ) enhanced the secretion of NO by approx. 300%. The effect of endrin on NO formation was both dose- and time-dependent. Ellagic acid, which has been shown to be a potent antioxidant, inhibited the elevation of NO production induced by endrin. These results suggest that the toxicity of endrin may at least in part be due to the production of an oxidative stress.
Mean stability of stochastic difference systems

Abstract In this paper the mean stability of linear and non-linear stochastic difference systems is considered. For linear systems the relationship between mean stability and other stability definitions is explored. For the non-linear system explicit criteria for mean stability are derived when the non-linear term satisfies a certain realistic condition.
The role of adaptation and resiliency in computation and power management

Variations, both static and dynamic in nature, impact the performance and power-efficiency of microprocessors and other digital integrated circuits. While static process variations can often be mitigated through binning or by post-silicon tuning, dynamic variations change as a function of time and environment and cannot be reduced by static tuning. Examples of these types of dynamic variations include power supply (VCC) droop, temperature change, and device aging over time. The droop magnitude, frequency and duration depend on the complex interaction of capacitive and inductive parasitics at the board, package, and die levels and change with the workload and current demand [1-3]. VCC droops contain high-frequency (i.e., fast changing) and low-frequency (i.e., slow changing) components and occur locally and/or globally across the die. Temperature variations occur at a relatively slower time scale with local hot spots on the die, depending on environmental and workload conditions as well as the heat-removal capability of the package. Further, transistor aging slowly degrades the drive current over time as a function of gate bias and temperature conditions. Conventional designs build in VCC guardband (VCC GB) at a target frequency to ensure correct functionality even in the presence of worst-case dynamic variations. In the digital core, this GB accounts for the delay increase on critical paths when dynamic variations occur and guarantees that timing constraints are met even under worst-case conditions. In the storage arrays (register files and caches) this GB is added to the static minimum operating voltage (VMIN) to obtain the resultant operating VMIN and results in an increase of both leakage and dynamic array power. The key design aspect of adaptive and resilient designs is to remove a part of this GB, such that logic timing and memory functionality can be met at a lower VCC. This improves energy efficiency and improves battery life; a key consideration in mobile and handheld platforms. The mitigation of the design GB can be achieved in two fundamentally different ways. For dynamic variations with time scales in the order of hundreds of μs to ms (such as temperature variations or transistor aging), a reactive scheme where any functional error is avoided is applicable. For example, embedded temperature sensors can be used to trigger changes in the clock frequency or changes in the supply voltage, such that at low temperatures (when transistor currents are higher) a faster clock (at iso-VCC) or a lower supply (at iso-clock frequency) can be employed [4]. For dynamic changes which occur in time scales of ns to μs, such reactive schemes are impossible by design. Hence, an alternative scheme can be employed where timing errors (in logic) or read-write errors (in memory) are allowed to happen. Once errors occur, they are detected, and the errant instruction is replayed with proper care such that data integrity is maintained. A combination of such adaptive schemes (Fig. 1) result in the mitigation of a major part of the design GB, resulting in higher energy efficiency.
Functional expression of a cDNA encoding a human ecto-ATPase.

The metabolism of extracellular nucleotides plays an important role in nucleotide signalling mediated by P2 receptors. The nucleotide sequence encoding a putative human ecto-ATPase named CD39L1 was reported recently. However, the biological activity of this protein has not been established. Based on the sequence of CD39L1 we isolated from mRNA from human ECV-304 cells a sequence encoding a 495 amino acid protein that is identical to CD39L1, with the exception that this sequence contains a 23 amino acid stretch in the putative extracellular loop that is missing in CD39L1. Partial sequence of a genomic DNA clone indicates that the CD39L1 gene corresponds to an alternative spliced form of the human ecto-ATPase. Stable expression of isolated sequence in NIH-3T3 mouse fibroblasts conferred a marked nucleotide hydrolytic activity consistent with the activity of an ecto-ATPase. The human ecto-ATPase hydrolyzed all naturally occurring nucleoside triphosphates in a Ca2+- or Mg2+-dependent manner. Nucleoside diphosphates were hydrolyzed at a rate approximately 5% of that of the corresponding triphosphates. The apparent Km and Vmax values were: 394±62 μM and 107±7 nmol Pi min−1 106 cells−1 for the hydrolysis of ATP, and 102±33 μM and 4±0.4 nmol Pi min−1 106 cells−1 for the hydrolysis of ADP, respectively. In conclusion, we report here the cloning and functional expression of a human ecto-ATPase. The study of the biochemical properties and the regulatory mechanisms of ecto-ATPases of defined sequence will be valuable in the definition of their role in nucleotide signalling. British Journal of Pharmacology (1999) 128, 396–402; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0702805
Confined‐carrier luminescence of a thin In1−xGaxP1−zAsz well (x∼0.13, z∼0.29, ∼400 Å) in an InP p‐n junction

A thin (∼400 A) LPE In1−xGaxP1−zAsz ’’trap’’ on the p‐type side of an InP junction [Eg(InP)−Eg(InGaPAs) ≡ΔE∼245 meV], is filled by injection to a high enough density to make it possible to observe confined‐particle states and laser modes in a 70‐meV (≳600 A) range. The position of the modes is in good agreement with the transition energies expected for a finite potential well.
Maize and Grace: History, Corn, and Africa's New Landscapes, 1500–1999

The old man's complaint about maize as “European” food in Audrey Richards' now classic 1939 field study reflected his obvious disdain for the new food of the mines and cities of colonial Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). His perception of maize as “European” food was, however, anachronistic even in 1939, reflecting a landscape of memory rather than the creep of agrarian modernism and the maize-based diet of an urban wage-labor economy. In fact, by the 1930s diets and farm plots all over twentieth-century Africa were rapidly changing their seasonal tastes, textures and colors to reflect the inexorable spread of a food crop with origins in the New World, but with an increasingly African personality. These dramatic changes over the past three decades have now superceded the analysis and speculative data of Marvin Miracle's classic work Maize in Tropical Africa, and call for a reinterpretation of maize's historical trajectory in Africa.Marvin Miracle, Maize in Tropical Africa (Madison, 1966). The chronology and meaning of maize's expansion in Africa are the subjects of this article.
STUDIES ON INFLAMMATION : VI. FIXATION OF TRYPAN BLUE IN INFLAMED AREAS OF FROGS.

Trypan blue injected into the circulating blood stream of frogs accumulates rapidly in an inflamed area. When trypan blue is injected directly into the area of inflammation it is fixed in situ and fails to diffuse outward. If the dye is injected at the periphery of an inflamed area it fails to enter the site of inflammation. This failure of penetration is caused by the occlusion of lymphatic vessels and the presence of a network of fibrin in the inflamed area. These experiments furnish additional evidence that fixation of foreign substances by the inflammatory reaction is due to mechanical obstruction caused by a network of fibrin and by thrombosed lymphatics at the site of inflammation.
A case of REM sleep behavior disorder with autopsy-confirmed alzheimer's disease: postmortem brain stem histochemical analyses

Rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is an injurious parasomnia that mainly affects older men who act out violent dreams (Thorpy 1990). Although there is an animal model of RBD induced by bilateral pontine tegmental lesions, human RBD is associated with diverse neurologic disorders, which usually spare the brain stem, in approximately half of reported cases (Schenck et al 1993). In the other half of reported cases, RBD has been considered to be an idiopathic condition, although this view must now be revised in light of new data indicating that 38% of a group of 29 older men initially diagnosed with idiopathic RBD eventually developed a parkinsonian disorder (Schenck et al 1996). Published autopsy data in RBD are scarce. Since RBD was formally identified in 1985, to our knowledge there has been one report presenting postmortem brain findings in RBD. In that report, incidental Lewy body disease, with marked decrease of pigmented neurons in the locus coeruleus and substantia nigra, was identified in a 84-year-old man who had a 20-year history of
Gastrogenomic delights: a movable feast.

The complete genome sequences of Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori provide insights into the biology of these species.
Synthesis and characterization of {[CuI3Sn2(OBut)6]+[CuII(hfac)3]−} – A heterometallic cluster with unique triangular copper(I) core

Abstract New heterometallic Sn–Cu compound that contains copper atoms in two different oxidation states was obtained by the solid state reaction between Sn(OBut)2 (OBut = tert-butoxide) and Cu(hfac)2 (hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate). Single crystal X-ray diffraction study revealed the ionic structure of a compound that can be formulated as {[CuI3Sn2(OBut)6]+[CuII(hfac)3]−} (1) with no significant interactions between complex cation and anion. The anion is comprised of an octahedrally coordinated by three chelating β-diketonate ligands CuII atom that shows a typical tetragonal Jahn–Teller distortion of the polyhedron. The heterometallic [Cu3Sn2(OBut)6]+ cation features a CuI triangle capped by two Sn(OBut)3 units. All alkoxide ligands are μ2-bridging between Sn and Cu atoms providing a trigonal pyramidal geometry around tin that is consistent with lone pair SnII centers. An almost perfect triangular copper core is stabilized by cuprophilic interactions, similar to those in other polynuclear CuI compounds. The cation represents the first example of a CuI triangular arrangement that is not supported by μ3-centering atoms or by μ2-all-side bridging. Multinuclear NMR studies unambiguously confirm the retention of heterometallic cluster in solution as well as the absence of ligand redistribution between the anion and cation. The use of a mixed-ligand approach creates broad opportunities for designing new heterometallic complexes with unusual architectures that are not observed in homoleptic counterparts.