cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The development and metamorphosis of the indirect developing acorn worm Schizocardium californicum (Enteropneusta: Spengelidae)

Enteropneusts are benthic marine invertebrates that belong to the deuterostome phylum Hemichordata. The two main clades of enteropneusts are defined by differences in early life history strategies. In the Spengelidae and Ptychoderidae, development is indirect via a planktotrophic tornaria larva. In contrast, development in the Harrimanidae is direct without an intervening larval life history stage. Most molecular studies in the development and evolution of the enteropneust adult body plan have been carried out in the harrimanid Saccoglossus kowalevskii. In order to compare these two developmental strategies, we have selected the spengelid enteropneust Schizocardium californicum as a suitable indirect developing species for molecular developmental studies. Here we describe the methods for adult collecting, spawning and larval rearing in Schizocardium californicum, and describe embryogenesis, larval development, and metamorphosis, using light microscopy, immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. Adult reproductive individuals can be collected intertidally and almost year-round. Spawning can be triggered by heat shock and large numbers of larvae can be reared through metamorphosis under laboratory conditions. Gastrulation begins at 17 h post-fertilization (hpf) and embryos hatch at 26 hpf as ciliated gastrulae. At 3 days post-fertilization (dpf), the tornaria has a circumoral ciliary band, mouth, tripartite digestive tract, protocoel, larval muscles and a simple serotonergic nervous system. The telotroch develops at 5 dpf. In the course of 60 days, the serotonergic nervous system becomes more elaborate, the posterior coeloms develop, and the length of the circumoral ciliary band increases. At the end of the larval stage, larval muscles disappear, gill slits form, and adult muscles develop. Metamorphosis occurs spontaneously when the larva reaches its maximal size (ca. 3 mm), and involves loss and reorganization of larval structures (muscles, nervous system, digestive tract), as well as development of adult structures (adult muscles, tripartite body organization). This study will enable future research in S. californicum to address long standing questions related to the evolution of axial patterning mechanisms, germ layer induction, neurogenesis and neural patterning, the mechanisms of metamorphosis, the relationships between larval and adult body plans, and the evolution of metazoan larval forms.
Role of myeloperoxidase in the respiratory burst of human neutrophils

Myeloperoxidase (MPO), a heme enzyme present in the primary granules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), has been demonstrated to participate in the oxygen-dependent microbicidal activity of these cells. Evidence for the importance of MPO in this role comes in part from studies of normal PMNs treated with the heme enzyme inhibitor, sodium azide. MPO has also been suggested to regulate the respiratory activity of PMNs during phagocytosis. The role of MPO in PMN oxygen metabolism was examined by studying parameters of the respiratory burst of PMNs from a number of unrelated MPO-deficient subjects; in addition, the ability of heme enzyme inhibitors to duplicate the MPO-deficient state was studied by treating normal and MPO-deficient cells with these compounds. MPO-deficient PMNs were found to have a time-dependent hypermetabolic response as assessed by measurement of oxygen consumption, superoxide generation, hydrogen peroxide release, and hexose monophosphate shunt activity. Catabolic pathways for hydrogen peroxide were normal, suggesting the increased recovery of oxygen metabolites reflects increased production rather than decreased catabolism of H2O2. These observations support the concept that MPO may play an important role in terminating the respiratory burst of normal PMNs. The three heme enzyme inhibitors studied--sodium azide, potassium cyanide, and 3-aminotriazole--differed greatly in the degree to which they inhibited various enzymatic systems in the PMN. Nonetheless, as a group, they exerted qualitatively similar effects on oxygen metabolism of normal and of MPO-deficient PMNs. This indicates that many of the mechanisms by which heme enzyme inhibitors influence PMN metabolism are independent of the inhibition of MPO. Conclusions from studies using such treatment of PMNs should be interpreted with caution.
Abstract 5816: Inhibition of Hsp90 sensitizes pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo to chemo-radiotherapy

Purpose: Important signaling pathways contributing to proliferation, development, metastasis and resistance to chemo-radiotherapy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) includes the PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α/STAT-3 pathway. The molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) controls the activity, stability, turnover, and trafficking of many molecules involved in these major signaling pathways. Functional inhibition of HSP90 may inhibit these pathways simultaneously. We evaluated the efficacy of HSP90 functional inhibitor ganetespib in combination with chemo-radiotherapy against PDAC in vitro and in vivo. Methods and Materials: Cell proliferation (Br-dU), colony formation (clonogenic assay), migration (spheroid), and Western blot analyses were carried out in HPAC and PANC-1 PDAC cell lines to determine the effect of ganetespib alone or in combination with 5-FU+ 2Gy XRT. Tumor regression study of PDAC with ganetespib alone and in combination with chemo-radiation was analyzed in xenograft mouse models. Results: At the clinically achievable dose of 50 nM, ganetespib inhibited PDAC cells proliferation (p Conclusion: Ganetespib potentiates the effects of chemo-radiation in preclinical studies. Evaluating HSP90 inhibitors in PDAC patients is a rational approach in assessing the fatal PDAC. Citation Format: Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju, Bassel F. El-Rayes. Inhibition of Hsp90 sensitizes pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo to chemo-radiotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5816.
The Relationship Between Open Enrollment and School Bond Voting

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify an association between student mobility through open enrollment and voter support for school bond proposals. Specifically, we hypothesized that hi...
Trends in use of prescription stimulants in the United States and Territories, 2006 to 2016.

Background Stimulants are considered the first-line treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the US and they are used in other indications. Stimulants are also diverted for non-medical purposes. Ethnic and regional differences in ADHD diagnosis and in stimulant use have been identified in earlier research. The objectives of this report were to examine the pharmacoepidemiological pattern of these controlled substances over the past decade and to conduct a regional analysis. Methods Data (drug weights) reported to the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System for four stimulants (amphetamine, methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, and methamphetamine) were obtained from 2006 to 2016 for Unites States/Territories. Correlations between state level use (mg/person) and Hispanic population were completed. Results Amphetamine use increased 2.5 fold from 2006 to 2016 (7.9 to 20.0 tons). Methylphenidate use, at 16.5 tons in 2006, peaked in 2012 (19.4 tons) and subsequently showed a modest decline (18.6 tons in 2016). The consumption per municipality significantly increased 7.6% for amphetamine and 5.5% for lisdexamfetamine but decreased 2.7% for methylphenidate (all p < .0005) from 2015 to 2016. Pronounced regional differences were also observed. Lisdexamfetamine use in 2016 was over thirty-fold higher in the Southern US (43.8 mg/person) versus the Territories (1.4 mg/person). Amphetamine use was about one-third lower in the West (48.1 mg/person) relative to the Northeastern (75.4 mg/person, p < .05) or the Midwestern (69.9 mg/person, p ≤ .005) states. States with larger Hispanic populations had significantly lower methylphenidate (r(49) = -0.63), lisdexamfetamine (B, r(49) = -0.49), and amphetamine (r(49) = -0.43) use. Conclusions Total stimulant usage doubled in the last decade. There were dynamic changes but also regional disparities in the use of stimulant medications. Future research is needed to better understand the reasons for the sizable regional and ethnic variations in use of these controlled substances.
Treatment of Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is currently a condition that can be treated, but not cured. The first routinely used thyroid hormone replacement was desiccated thyroid extract. Synthetic levothyroxine, which replaces thyroxine and relies on its peripheral conversion to the active hormone triiodothyronine, has since become standard. Levothyroxine is a well-tolerated therapy for hypothyroidism. There is a robust body of data concerning its benefits and a long duration of experience with its efficacy in reversing the symptoms of hypothyroidism. It is considered the standard of care for multiple reasons, including the fact that it is easy to administer, is an inexpensive medication, has good intestinal absorption, shows a favorable side effect profile, and has a long serum half-life. Although levothyroxine reverses most stigmata of hypothyroidism in the majority of individuals, some patients feel dissatisfied with “monotherapy.” This has stimulated interest in “combination therapy” with both levothyroxine and liothyronine. Trials of combination therapy have generally not shown benefit, although some patient preference for combination therapy exists. It is possible that the trials conducted thus far have not selected the appropriate outcome measures or targeted the appropriate populations. Monotherapy and combination therapy each carry their particular risks and safety concerns, chiefly nonphysiologic hormone ratios and inadvertent thyrotoxicosis. Research regarding which therapy fully reverses hypothyroidism at a tissue and cellular level is ongoing. In the future, regeneration of functional thyroid follicles from stem cells may offer hope for curing hypothyroidism.
Bias Temperature Instability Reliability in Stacked Gate-All-Around Nanosheet Transistor

In this paper, we report the bias temperature instability (BTI) reliability in stacked gate-all-around (GAA) nanosheet (NS) devices. We show that, in addition to its superior intrinsic performance over FinFET and stacked nanowire (NW), stacked NS can also provide NBTI reliability benefit, owing to domination of (100) surface conduction and mitigation of field enhancement effect in ultra-scaled GAA structure.
Assessing voluntary resilience standards and impacts of flood risk information

Voluntary resilience standards are an emerging tool for cities to incentivize developers to incorporate climate change adaptation strategies. Urban planners and researchers, however, are still asse...
Increased capture threshold in permanent His‐bundle pacing associated with flecainide

A 64-year-old man underwent implantation of a permanent His-bundle pacemaker. A marked rise in the selective His-bundle capture threshold was noted 1 month after the patient started flecainide acetate for rhythm control of recurrent, symptomatic atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation. The capture threshold subsequently normalized 4 days after discontinuing flecainide and switching to dofetilide. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of a rise in selective His-bundle capture threshold associated with flecainide acetate. Further studies are needed to characterize this association which could result in higher capture thresholds, decreased battery longevity, and mimic His-bundle lead failure.
Exploring Health Literacy and the Correlates of Pap Testing Among African Immigrant Women: Findings from the AfroPap Study.

African immigrant (AI) women have low rates of Pap testing. Health literacy plays a pivotal role in health behaviors. Sources and types of health information could shape health literacy and inform the Pap testing behaviors of AI women. However, the influences of health literacy, sources, and types of health information along with cultural and psychosocial correlates on the Pap testing behaviors of AI women are poorly understood. To examine how sources and types of health information impact health literacy, and in turn, how health literacy and cultural and psychosocial factors influence the Pap testing behaviors of AI women. An adapted Health Literacy Skills Framework guided the selection of variables for this cross-sectional study. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 167 AI women, 21–65 years. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess correlates of Pap testing after adjusting for covariates (age, education, English proficiency, employment, income, health insurance, access to primary care, marital status, and healthcare provider recommendation). Most participants (71%) had received a Pap test in the past and used multiple (two or more) sources (65%) and types (57%) of health information. Using multiple sources of health information (aOR 0.11, p < 0.01) but not types of health information was associated with Pap testing. Having negative cultural beliefs (aOR 0.17, p = 0.01) and having high self-efficacy (aOR 9.38, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with Pap testing after adjusting for covariates. High health literacy (OR 3.23, p < 0.05) and high decisional balance (OR 5.28, p < 0.001) were associated with Pap testing in bivariate models but did not remain significant after controlling for covariates. Cultural beliefs was a significant correlate of AI women’s Pap testing behaviors regardless of other known social determinants of health (education, English proficiency, age, access to primary care). Disseminating health information through various sources has the potential to promote Pap testing among AI women. Larger studies which utilize a robust sampling strategy and include a diverse group of AI women are needed in order to optimize health interventions aimed at improving Pap test screening behaviors among AI women.
A Review of Sustainable Materials Used in Thermoplastic Extrusion and Powder Bed Melting Additive Manufacturing

There has been a growing interest in additive manufacturing (AM) in the past decades due to its non-traditional approach of making products. One important area in the body of knowledge of AM is focused on utilization of polymers for the manufacturing of unique and competitive components when compared to traditional manufacturing. Recently bioplastics that are more sustainable, such as polylactic acid (PLA), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), nylon 11, and polycaprolactone (PCL) have started to gain traction as a competitor to these traditional plastics. Thus, there is a large amount of relevant publications that combine material development and characterization suitable for AM, components manufacturing based on materials developed and product characterization. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the most relevant publications that integrates past and current biopolymers development for AM, 3D printed components advantages and challenges using the developed biopolymers, and materials and product testing.
School and sports participation post-transplant

Pediatric recipients of life-saving organ transplants are living longer, with improved graft and overall survivals. After successful transplant, children are encouraged to return to "normal life," with school attendance and participation in age-appropriate physical activities. This transition may cause stress to the recipients, parents, teachers, and other participating caregivers and staff. Planning for school reentry and assuring education for and open lines of communication with the school staff can help alleviate some of this discomfort and ease the process for the patient and the family. Cardiovascular disease has emerged as the leading cause of death in survivors of pediatric transplantation and is contributed to by modifiable risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, and the MS. Physical activity is a proven tool in decreasing surrogate markers of this risk. Sports participation is an important way to promote an enjoyment of physical activity that can ideally persist into adulthood, but conflicting advice and opinions exist regarding type and participation in physical activity. Moreover, specific recommendations are likely not applicable to all recipients, as certain degrees of rehabilitation may be needed depending on degree and length of illness. In general, a program of rehabilitation and increased physical activity has been shown to be safe and effective for most pediatric transplant recipients. Focusing on optimizing the "normal" childhood activities of going to school and participating in sports can improve the physical, social, cognitive, and mental health outcomes of this population after transplant and should be prioritized.
Socioeconomic Status, Race, and Public Support for School Integration:

Polling data routinely indicate broad support for the concept of diverse schools, but integration initiatives—both racial and socioeconomic—regularly encounter significant opposition. We leverage a...
Inhaled high dose nitric oxide is a safe and effective respiratory treatment in spontaneous breathing hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Abstract Background Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) is a selective pulmonary vasodilator. In-vitro studies report that NO donors can inhibit replication of SARS-CoV-2. This multicenter study evaluated the feasibility and effects of high-dose inhaled NO in non-intubated spontaneously breathing patients with Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Methods This is an interventional study to determine whether NO at 160 parts-per-million (ppm) inhaled for 30 min twice daily might be beneficial and safe in non-intubated COVID-19 patients. Results Twenty-nine COVID-19 patients received a total of 217 intermittent inhaled NO treatments for 30 min at 160 ppm between March and June 2020. Breathing NO acutely decreased the respiratory rate of tachypneic patients and improved oxygenation in hypoxemic patients. The maximum level of nitrogen dioxide delivered was 1.5 ppm. The maximum level of methemoglobin (MetHb) during the treatments was 4.7%. MetHb decreased in all patients 5 min after discontinuing NO administration. No adverse events during treatment, such as hypoxemia, hypotension, or acute kidney injury during hospitalization occurred. In our NO treated patients, one patient of 29 underwent intubation and mechanical ventilation, and none died. The median hospital length of stay was 6 days [interquartile range 4–8]. No discharged patients required hospital readmission nor developed COVID-19 related long-term sequelae within 28 days of follow-up. Conclusions In spontaneous breathing patients with COVID-19, the administration of inhaled NO at 160 ppm for 30 min twice daily promptly improved the respiratory rate of tachypneic patients and systemic oxygenation of hypoxemic patients. No adverse events were observed. None of the subjects was readmitted or had long-term COVID-19 sequelae.
ENERGY AND THE US HARDWOOD INDUSTRY - PART I: PROFILE AND IMPACT OF PRICES

According to the Energy Information Administration two fifths of the energy used by US wood products manufacturers comes from electricity and natural gas, the costs of which have pointedly increased over the last decade. Empirical indications exist that higher energy prices affect the industry’s profitability. Together with other developments such as, for example, unfavorable trends in hardwood stumpage prices, higher transportation costs, increasing government regulations, a challenging economic situation, or the ongoing globalization of markets, the US hardwood industry has to cope with some serious challenges threatening its profit potential. To understand the impact of energy prices on wood products manufacturers’ profitability and to gain insights regarding actions the industry is taking to respond to energy-related challenges, a survey was conducted among Eastern US primary hardwood products manufacturers in late 2010. Results show that, overall, the share of energy expenses on total production costs of respondents was 7.9%. A majority of respondents (61.8%) agreed that their energy expenses have increased by an average of 18.7% during the last five years. Half of the respondents reported a 5% or higher negative impact of higher energy prices on their profits over the same period. Actions undertaken by the industry to alleviate the negative impact of rising energy prices are presented in a second paper in this two-part series.
Receptor tyrosine kinase substrates: src homology domains and signal transduction.

Among the intracellular milieu of proteins are molecules with defined biochemical functions that serve as substrates for ligand-activated tyrosine kinase receptors. It seems likely that some of these substrate molecules are elements of a critical signaling pathway used by growth factors to control cell proliferation and subverted by oncogenes to deregulate this process. Although the process of cell growth and division is relatively slow compared with other hormonally regulated responses, homeostasis in a human being requires approximately 20 x 10(6) cell divisions per second for the renewal of various cell populations. This review summarizes the present understanding of tyrosine kinase substrates that seem likely to have key roles in the signal transduction pathway that regulates cell proliferation. This includes structural features of these molecules, the influence of tyrosine phosphorylation on their functions, the biological roles of these proteins, and the capacity of these substrates to associate wit...
Adaptive preferences: merging political accounts and well-being accounts

Accounts of adaptive preferences are of two kinds: well-being accounts fully theorized for their own sake and political accounts theorized to facilitate the political project of reducing oppression and marginalization. Given their practical role, the latter are often less fully theorized, and are therefore less robust to theoretical criticism. In this paper, I first draw on well-being accounts to identify the well-theorized elements that political accounts should want to adopt in order to strengthen their project and avoid common criticisms. Second, I appeal to the political project to show the shortcomings of the well-being accounts on which I draw.
Microstrip antenna elements with internal amplifier slots for spatial power combining reflectarray applications

A new active microstrip antenna element for use in spatial power combining reflectarrays is introduced along with a study of its variations. This new element utilizes a specially shaped slot cut into a square patch to accommodate amplifier components on the same layer within the footprint of the patch. While others have inserted one-port devices in internal slots in a patch, two-port amplification devices have not been inserted in this manner to the authors' knowledge. Use of MMIC amplifiers that have 50-ohm input/output impedances and simplified biasing techniques eliminates the need for complex matching networks, which would reduce bandwidth and possibly cause spurious radiation. By placing the amplifier inside the patch footprint between the two orthogonal feed locations, the element spacing is greatly reduced as well, since the amplifier does not need to be located between radiating elements. This paper presents a study of the effects of slots of differing size and shape on the standard square microstrip patch in preparation for MMIC amplifier implementation.
Experimental hydraulic characterization of pin fin heat sinks with top and side bypass

Extensive tests were conducted to obtain hydraulic characteristics of pin fin heat sinks with pins of square cross-section under different top and side bypass conditions. A consistent set of aluminum heat sinks with constant platform area and variable pitch were utilized. The heat sinks were tested in a second-generation adjustable cross-section wind tunnel which provides 0 to 1 top and 0 to 10 side clearance ratios. Detailed pressure distributions around the heat sinks were measured, and the influence of top and side bypass was explored. It was found that side clearance only results in higher overall pressure drop compared to top clearance only, at the same clearance ratio. But overall pressure drop surprisingly scales very well on overall clearance ratio CL when both top and side clearance are present. A novel, non-iterative two-branch semi-inviscid bypass model was developed to calculate the pressure drop across the heat sinks. The analytical results compared well with experimental data.
Coming of Age in Post-Soviet Russia

Coming of Age in Post-Soviet Russia. Fran Markowitz. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2000. 245 pp.
The Trials of Love and Art for an Impressionist Painter: Monet and Pierre Loti's Iceland Fisherman

Art in general and painting in particular have probably never received more general public attention than in France during the second half of the nineteenth century. Napoleon III used the fine arts...
An acetabular fracture with superior gluteal artery disruption.

necrosis oftheabductor muscles during such extensile exposuresbecause theonly major collateral circulation tothehipabductormuscles-the ascending branches ofthelateral femoral anddeepiliaccircumflex arteries-must bedivided [2,3,5].Considering ourpatient’s traumatically interrupted superior glu-tealartery, sequential anterior ilioinguinal andposterior Kocher-Lan-
Phenotypic Alterations in Adrenal Tumor Cultures

Adrenal tumor cells in culture gradually develop a requirement for glutamine and serum albumin in order to produce steroids in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone. Glutamine acts simply as a precursor for a protein or proteins whose synthesis is required for the response to the hormone. Albumin apparently binds steroid hormone products that otherwise would inhibit further biosynthesis of steroids.
Reaffirming the Role of the Scientist-Practitioner Model of Training in Psychology

This article provides concluding remarks to the journal issue and reaffirms the viability of the scientist-practitioner training model as effective and essential for this dynamic discipline of psychology. The skills developed in science and practice and applications to practice are considered invaluable for professional psychology.
Psychrometric limits and critical evaporative coefficients for unacclimated men and women.

Critical environmental limits, defined as those above which heat balance cannot be maintained for a given metabolic heat production, have not been determined for unacclimated subjects. To character...
The TEAD/TEF Family Protein Scalloped Mediates Transcriptional Output of the Hippo Growth-Regulatory Pathway

Summary The Hippo (Hpo) kinase cascade restricts tissue growth by inactivating the transcriptional coactivator Yorkie (Yki), which regulates the expression of target genes such as the cell death inhibitor diap1 by unknown mechanisms. Here we identify the TEAD/TEF family protein Scalloped (Sd) as a DNA-binding transcription factor that partners with Yki to mediate the transcriptional output of the Hpo growth-regulatory pathway. The diap1 ( th ) locus harbors a minimal Sd-binding Hpo Responsive Element (HRE) that mediates transcriptional regulation by the Hpo pathway. Sd binds directly to Yki, and a Yki missense mutation that abrogates Sd-Yki binding also inactivates Yki function in vivo. We further demonstrate that sd is required for yki -induced tissue overgrowth and target gene expression, and that sd activity is conserved in its mammalian homolog. Our results uncover a heretofore missing link in the Hpo signaling pathway and provide a glimpse of the molecular events on a Hpo-responsive enhancer element.
The Proliferation of Case Method Teaching in American Law Schools: Mr. Langdell's Emblematic “Abomination,” 1890-1915

Case method teaching was first introduced into American higher education in 1870 by Christopher C. Langdell (1826-1906) of Harvard Law School (HLS), where it became closely associated with—and emblematic of—a set of academic meritocratic reforms. Though regnant today, “the ultimate triumph of [Langdell's] system was not apparent” for many years. The vast majority of students, alumni, and law professors initially derided it as an “abomination,” and for two decades case method and the associated reforms were largely confined to Harvard. During the subsequent twenty-five years between 1890 and 1915, a national controversy ensued as to whether case method teaching—and the concomitant meritocratic reforms—would predominate in legal education and, ultimately, professional education in the United States.
Effects of tumor-necrosis-factor-activated neutrophils on tumor cell survival.

PMN are end-stage, short-life leukocytes which can no longer proliferate or mount memory response to repeated challenges like lymphocytes. Therefore, they tend to be overlooked by tumor immunologists. However, increasing evidence suggests that PMN, especially TNF-activated PMN, play an important role in determining the survival of tumor cells in the hosts. On the positive side, TNF-activated PMN can suppress tumor cell proliferation by producing H2O2 which can eventually lead to tumor cell death. On the negative side, PMN, can suppress the development of lymphocyte antitumor LAK cytotoxicity by producing superoxide anion. In addition, the tumoricidal activity of mature NK and LAK cells can be inhibited by PMN at the effector cell phase. The PMN inhibition of NK- and LAK-mediated cytotoxicity is further enhanced by TNF through the induction of H2O2 production. Approaches to take advantage of the TNF-induced PMN cytostatic activity against tumor cells, and to circumvent the regulation of NK and LAK functions by PMN and TNF-activated PMN may be beneficial for patients receiving TNF or TNF-inducing immunotherapies for cancer.
Providing Second Chance to Students and Improving Retention

All students’ learning style is not the same and traditional in-class lecture model might not be suitable or enough to all of our new generation and technology-enhanced, science and engineering students. In this paper, we have addressed this issue and laid out our current research outline. We believe students should get a “second chance” for learning the lecture material i.e. if anyone is not able to follow the in-class lecture he/she should get a chance to watch the lecture later on-demand or listen to podcasts on-the-go. Our aim is to provide more learning facilities to our students and improve students’ performance and eventually improve retention. At the same time, we have adopted technology that will not bring more loads or a significant new learning curve for educators.
Ribozymes: a distinct class of metalloenzymes

Ribozymes are an important new class of metalloenzymes that have an unlikely feature: they are made entirely of ribonucleic acid (RNA). Metal ions are essential for efficient chemical catalysis by ribozymes and are often required for the stabilization of ribozyme structure. Most ribozymes catalyze reactions at phosphorus centers through one of two major mechanistic pathways, and reaction has been observed at carbon centers. Creative experiments have revealed the position of metal ions in the active site of two ribozymes. The exploitation of variable metal geometry and reactivity has expanded ribozyme chemistry and has facilitated the application of in vitro selection for the creation of novel ribozymes.
Recent Advances in Gallium Phosphide Junction Devices for High-Temperature Electronic Applications

Recent advances in gallium phosphide technology are reviewed as they relate to high-temperature (T > 300°C) device applications. The electronic properties and materials aspects of GaP are summarized and compared to silicon and gallium arsenide. Minority-carrier unction devices are discussed as one area where this technology could have wide application. In this light, the high-temperature operation of two junction devices, a diode and a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), are displayed. The GaP diode is observed to provide excellent rectification properties with very low leakage over the full temperature range from 20°C to 400°C (< 3x10 -3A/cm2 at VR = 3 V, T = 400°C) and has demonstrated stable operation under bias for over 1000 h at 300°. The bipolar transistor has demonstrated constant current gain (6 < s B < 10) and very low collector-base leakage for temperatures up to 450°C (ICO 80 µA at VCB = 3 V, T = 450°C). The contacting technology to GaP is identified as one area where additional work is necessary.
Test of global Hauser-Feshbach calculations for proton-induced reactions on Zn 68

Excitation functions are presented for the reactions $^{68}\mathrm{Zn}(p,\ensuremath{\gamma})^{69}\mathrm{Ga}$, $^{68}\mathrm{Zn}(p,\ensuremath{\alpha})^{65}\mathrm{Cu}$, and $^{68}\mathrm{Zn}(p,n)^{68}\mathrm{Ga}$. The first two reactions show substantial competition effects above the neutron threshold. Global Hauser-Feshbach calculations using particle transmission functions deduced from optical model analysis of elastic scattering data agree well with the results. Calculations using transmission functions obtained from the equivalent square-well representation of the optical potential are less successful, probably because of inadequate experimental information on particle strength functions.
Biological mechanisms in the relationship between depression and heart disease

Psychological depression is shown to be associated with several aspects of coronary artery disease (CAD), including arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, heart failure and sudden death. The physiological mechanisms accounting for this association are unclear. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysregulation, diminished heart rate variability, altered blood platelet function and noncompliance with medial treatments have been proposed as mechanisms underlying depression and cardiovascular disease. Recent evidence also suggests that reduced baroreflex sensitivity, impaired immune function, chronic fatigue and the co-morbidity of depression and anxiety may be involved in the relationship between depression and cardiovascular dysregulation. An experimental strategy using animal models for investigating underlying physiological abnormalities in depression is presented. A key to understanding the bidirectional association between depression and heart disease is to determine whether there are common changes in brain systems that are associated with these conditions. Such approaches may hold promise for advancing our understanding of the interaction between this mood disorder and CAD.
Use of the simplex algorithm for automated focusing of a mass spectrometer source

Abstract An efficient and reliable method of focusing the source of a thermal ionization mass spectrometer while under computer control has been developed. The focusing program uses a simplex algorithm which is easily programmed and does not require knowledge of the form of the function being maximized. This algorithm focuses at least as reliably as an experienced operator and usually in less time than that required for careful manual focusing. It thus represents a significant improvement over previous automated focusing techniques.
A difference equation with eventually periodic solutions

Abstract We show that every solution of the difference equation x n + 1 = max ⁡ { 1 x n , A x n − 1 } , n = 0 , 1 , ... , where the parameter A and the initial conditions x−1 and x0 are nonzero real numbers is eventually periodic with period 2, 3, or 4. We also give a precise description of the period in terms of A and the initial conditions.
Mechanics of Small Utility Cuts in Urban Street Pavements: Implications for Restoration

The results of a three-dimensional finite element analysis of the impacts of small utility cuts in urban street pavements are presented. The analysis was restricted to flexible pavements for cuts of the order of 915 mm (3 ft) square. Using ANSYS Solid 45 Version 5.2 on a one-eighth area, the excavation process was simulated using a stress relief approach, in which the material was assumed to be removed in successive layers. Starting with gravity loading on the uncut model, the element stress results from the previous removal were used to compute the new effective confining stresses of the respective layers. The in situ material properties were typical of flexible pavements in an urban street. The analysis presented a clear picture of the magnitude and extent of the distress induced on the pavement structure below and surrounding the cut. The analysis also showed how the restraining action of the asphalt layer is reflected in its arching up from heave and granular material thrusting, causing tension at the...
Titration of oral nicotine intake with smoking behaviour in monkeys.

SEVERAL studies have indicated that nicotine is an incentive in smoking. Johnston1 found that heavy smokers reported a pleasurable sensation when given nicotine, whereas non-smokers reported an unpleasant effect. Lucchesi et al.2 showed that intravenous administration of nicotine diminished the number of cigarettes smoked by heavy smokers. Jarvik et al.3 found that oral nicotine administration produced a very small but significant decrease in the number of cigarettes smoked but because humans were used, they3 were not able to use large doses of nicotine which might have produced larger decrements in smoking. Previous work in this laboratory with monkeys trained to puff cigarette smoke showed that mecamylamine, a nicotinic-blocking agent, reduced their smoking4, and the work reported here was conducted to establish more definitely that orally administered nicotine could substitute for nicotine derived from smoking.
Marital dissolution and blood pressure reactivity: evidence for the specificity of emotional intrusion-hyperarousal and task-rated emotional difficulty.

Objective:To assess blood pressure (BP) reactivity as recently separated adults completed a laboratory task asking to mentally reflect on their relationship experiences. Marital separations and the experience of divorce are associated with increased risk for early mortality and poor health outcomes.
Drug resistance associated with altered DNA topoisomerase II.

Abstract OLX-209 has readily measurable activity, is safe in experimental animals, and is efficacious in model systems. These results support the concept of OLX-209 and provide groundwork for further development of this oncoprotein targeted agent.
Recovery of temperature records from slow-growing corals by fine scale sampling of skeletons

[1] We used laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA ICP-MS) to analyze Sr/Ca ratios in 5 colonies of the Atlantic corals, Diploria labyrinthiformis and Montastrea franski, each growing less than 5 mm yr−1. By targeting the centers of septa we avoided thickening deposits to achieve an analytical sampling resolution of 5-10 days. The sensitivity of Sr/Ca to temperature (−0.096 mmol/mol/°C) is ∼3 times higher than previously reported for these species and equivalent to that exhibited by fast-growing Porites corals from the Indo-Pacific. The Sr/Ca-sea surface temperature (SST) calibrations derived from these corals were not statistically different and were independent of colony growth rate over the period studied. Data from 4 D. labyrinthiformis colonies were pooled to produce a single Sr/Ca-SST calibration with a calculated standard error on the predicted ocean temperature of ±0.51°C. Applying our calibration to Sr/Ca analyses of D. labyrinthiformis skeleton deposited in the late 18th century indicated that average annual sea surface temperatures around Bermuda were ∼1°C cooler than today.
Synergistic effects on DNA synthesis in peripheral blood lymphocytes of mitogens and dental plaque sonicates in man and macaque monkeys.

Supernatants obtained from sonication of human and macaque dental plaque contained components which, when added to homologous peripheral blood lymphocytes and simultaneously cultured in vitro with suboptimal amounts of mitogen, caused a synergistic effect upon the synthesis of DNA by the lymphocytes. The component in human plaque was heat stable, predominantly non-dialysable and present exclusively in the void volume fraction after Sephadex G-150 column chromatography. A proposed mechanism for the synergism is that among the many cells non-specifically stimulated to divide in culture by the mitogen are cells which were specifically sensitized to plaque antigens; the number of these cells therefore increases and the synergism observed occurs as these sensitized cells become further stimulated by plaque antigens.
The Present Condition of Economic History

Treatises of the past decade, 209. — Economic history has been studied by periods, 213. — The genetic point of view, 214. — The content of economic history, 217. — Need of a synthesis of development, 218. — Dependence of economic history on history and economics, 220. — Conclusion, 224.
Purification and properties of normal human α1-antitrypsin

Abstract A relatively gentle purification method has been devised for the major serine-protease inhibitor in human plasma. The product, a single chain glycoprotein of 50,000 molecular weight, is obtained in 25% yield. It contains 11.5% carbohydrate by weight, a single residue of cysteine and two of tryptophan. N-terminal glutamate or glutamine was found by dansylation. Isoelectric focusing at high resolution in acrylamide gels revealed three major and several minor protein species. Several possible mechanisms to account for this isoelectric microheterogeneity are discussed.
From Beans to Berries and Beyond: Teamwork between Plant Chemicals for Protection of Optimal Human Health

It is now well known to consumers around the world that certain fruits and vegetables can help prevent or treat chronic human diseases. But, what many people don't fully appreciate is that it is not a single component in these plant-derived foods, but rather complex mixtures of interacting natural chemicals, that produce such powerful health-protective effects. These natural components accumulate simultaneously together in a plant, and provide a multifaceted defensive strategy for both the plant, and the human consumer. In order to investigate the strength of natural chemical cooperation in highly-pigmented, flavonoid-rich functional foods, our lab has relied on analysis of both whole fruits, and continuous, reliable plant cell culture production systems which accumulate anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins in high concentrations. Successive rounds of relatively gentle, rapid, and large-volume fractionations are linked to bioassay of complex to simple mixtures and semi-purified compounds. By means of this strategy, additive interactions or synergies between related compounds in health maintenance can be sorted out. Interestingly, phytochemical interactions between the same classes of compounds intensify the efficacy of flavonoid-rich fruits against multiple, not necessarily discrete, human disease conditions including CVD, cancer, metabolic syndrome, and others.
Life expectancy without surgery in tetralogy of fallot

Abstract All published autopsy cases of patients with tetralogy of Fallot who died without surgical treatment were studied to determine the life expectancy of such persons. In addition, the data from a study of persons with tetralogy alive in Denmark in 1949 were reanalyzed. The survival data from these two sources were remarkably similar, indicating that 66 percent of persons with tetralogy of Fallot not treated surgically live to age 1 year, 49 percent to age 3 years and 24 percent to age 10 years; thereafter, the hazard function (or Instantaneous risk of death) remains constant. The chance of survival is significantly less when pulmonary atresia, rather than stenosis, is present.
On the Thermomechanical Response of HTPB Composite Beams Under Near-Resonant Base Excitation

Currently, there is a pressing need to detect and identify explosive materials in both military and civilian settings. While these energetic materials vary widely in both form and composition, many traditional explosives consist of a polymeric binder material with embedded energetic crystals. Interestingly, many polymers exhibit considerable self-heating when subjected to harmonic loading, and the vapor pressures of many explosives exhibit a strong dependence on temperature. In light of these facts, thermomechanics represent an intriguing pathway for the stand-off detection of explosives, as the thermal signatures attributable to motion-induced heating may allow target energetic materials to be distinguished from their more innocuous counterparts. In the present work, the mechanical response of a polymeric particulate composite beam subjected to near-resonant base excitation is modeled using Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. Significant sources of heat generation are identified and used with distributed thermal models to characterize the system’s thermomechanical response. In addition, the results of experiments conducted using a hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) beam with embedded ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) crystals are presented. The thermal and mechanical responses of the sample are recorded using infrared thermography and scanning laser Doppler vibrometry, and subsequently compared to the work’s analytical findings. By adopting the combined research approach utilized herein, the authors seek to build upon recent work and bridge the considerable gap that exists between theory and experiments in this specific field. To this end, the authors hope that this work will represent an integral step in enhancing the ability to successfully detect explosive materials.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Management Briefs: Tag Loss and Handling Mortality for Northern Pike Marked with Plastic Anchor Tags

Abstract Two assumptions of mark-recapture experiments are that marks are not lost and that mortality does not differ between marked and unmarked fish. To evaluate if these assumptions were met on northern pike Esox lucius marked with plastic anchor tags, we estimated tag loss from and handling mortality of northern pike trapped and tagged during the spring in a lake in Minnesota. Annual tag loss was 1.8% for Floy tags and 0% for modified Dennison tags. Proportions of tags observed to have been lost from creeled fish in six other lakes in Minnesota were 1.2% for Floy tags and 2.5% for Dennison tags. Short-term handling mortality of northern pike trapped, tagged, and held in net pens was 2.4%.
Effects of RSV infection on pulmonary surfactant protein SP-A in cultured human type II cells: contrasting consequences on SP-A mRNA and protein.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important cause of serious lower respiratory illness in infants and children. Surfactant proteins A (SP-A) and D (SP-D) play critical roles in lung def...