cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overlapping migratory mechanisms between neural progenitor cells and brain tumor stem cells

Neural stem cells present in the subventricular zone (SVZ), the largest neurogenic niche of the mammalian brain, are able to self-renew as well as generate neural progenitor cells (NPCs). NPCs are highly migratory and traverse the rostral migratory stream (RMS) to the olfactory bulb, where they terminally differentiate into mature interneurons. NPCs from the SVZ are some of the few cells in the CNS that migrate long distances during adulthood. The migratory process of NPCs is highly regulated by intracellular pathway activation and signaling from the surrounding microenvironment. It involves modulation of cell volume, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and isolation from compact extracellular matrix. In malignant brain tumors including high-grade gliomas, there are cells called brain tumor stem cells (BTSCs) with similar stem cell characteristics to NPCs but with uncontrolled cell proliferation and contribute to tumor initiation capacity, tumor progression, invasion, and tumor maintenance. These BTSCs are resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and their presence is believed to lead to tumor recurrence at distal sites from the original tumor location, principally due to their high migratory capacity. BTSCs are able to invade the brain parenchyma by utilizing many of the migratory mechanisms used by NPCs. However, they have an increased ability to infiltrate the tight brain parenchyma and utilize brain structures such as myelin tracts and blood vessels as migratory paths. In this article, we summarize recent findings on the mechanisms of cellular migration that overlap between NPCs and BTSCs. A better understanding of the intersection between NPCs and BTSCs will to provide a better comprehension of the BTSCs’ invasive capacity and the molecular mechanisms that govern their migration and eventually lead to the development of new therapies to improve the prognosis of patients with malignant gliomas.
The Bahamas and Cayman Islands

As shallow coral reefs worldwide are increasingly degraded by natural and anthropogenic stressors, mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs; ~30–150 m) represent a potential refugia that may act as seed banks for coral reef resilience. This is particularly true in the Caribbean Basin where phase shifts from coral dominance to either algal or sponge dominance have been reported with increasing frequency. However, coral reefs of the Bahamas and Cayman Islands are less impacted than other Caribbean reefs, and they offer an opportunity to assess the ecology of MCEs and the connectivity between shallow and mesophotic coral reefs. The MCEs of the Bahamas and Cayman Islands are composed of a shallow sloped upper zone (~30–60 m) and a vertical lower zone (60–100+ m). The upper MCE zone has similar biodiversity and percent cover to nearby shallow reefs, but the lower MCE zone is dominated by sponges, and it includes many species not found on shallow reefs. The ecological importance of the mesophotic sponges is unequivocal; they provide habitat for a variety of species and play a significant role in benthic-pelagic coupling via filtration of bacterioplankton, and their symbiotic microbes are sources of nitrogen cycling. Moreover, our data indicate that sponge diversity on MCEs in the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands is more similar to one another than the sponge diversity among shallow and mesophotic reefs in each region. Threats to shallow reefs (e.g., climate change and invasive species) may also impact MCEs; conservation will require mitigation of these stressors.
Determination of confined fluid phase behavior using extended Peng-Robinson equation of state

Abstract Phase behavior of confined fluids deviate significantly from that of bulk fluids because of the strong confinement effect in nanopores. The classical equation of state (EOS) based on bulk fluids is inapplicable for fluids in shale reservoirs because it cannot reflect the unique thermodynamic properties of confined fluids, such as the suppressed bubble-point pressure. The objective of this work is to extend the existing Peng-Robinson EOS (PR EOS) for unconventional reservoir fluids. In this work, techniques have been developed to compute the phase behavior of confined fluids by incorporating critical property shift and capillary pressure in the PR EOS, where a new term representing the molecule-wall interaction has been introduced. On the basis of data collected from both experiments and molecular simulations, a correlation which is a function of dimensionless pore size has been developed and incorporated in the extended PR EOS to correct the shifted critical properties. The capillary pressure effect is considered in phase equilibrium computation to account for the strong capillary force in nanopores, where the pressure in vapor phase is larger than that in liquid phase. The newly extended PR EOS is validated by reproducing the molecular simulation data from a previous literature, yielding an overall error of 7.71%. Both critical property shift and capillary pressure are found to be important factors influencing the phase behavior of confined fluids. The combined effect has been incorporated in the extended PR EOS which is successfully used to compute the phase behavior of three unconventional reservoir fluids. The bubble-point pressures under reservoir temperatures for Bakken, Eagle Ford, and Wolfcamp fluids at 10 nm are found to be reduced by 31.98%, 23.15%, and 37.77%, respectively.
Guselkumab in the treatment of concomitant hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a debilitating skin condition whose pathogenesis is poorly understood, although interleukin (IL)-23 may play a role. IL-23 is also implicated in the pathogenesis of...
L1 Literacy Practices’ Impact on L2 Text Organization

Situated within the Intercultural Rhetoric (IR) framework, this study uses text linguistic analysis of Arab students’ English academic papers to investigate the transfer of the Arabic language instruction practices into ESL written texts. The analysis involves a comparison of surface linguistic features (syntactic relations and cohesive devices) in a corpus of Arab students and English-speaking students’ papers. Furthermore, the Arabic and English-speaking students completed surveys about the skills emphasized in their L1 classrooms. It is believed that the methods of writing instruction in Arabic, which are influenced by diglossia, are transferred into ESL written texts. The results show that the Arabic speaking and English-speaking students’ texts exhibit differences at the rhetorical level. The characteristics of the ESL texts are similar to Arabic native texts which suggest a transfer of L1 learned writing methods into L2 texts. The findings from the linguistic analysis and the data obtained from the surveys are discussed with reference to Arabic teaching methodology, diglossia, orality, and learning experience transfer from Arabic into English.
A FIT LAD WITH AN UNFIT LAD

Despite a healthy lifestyle, endurance athletes can develop obstructive coronary disease and require appropriate evaluation, medical and interventional therapies. A 58-year-old healthy male presented to the emergency department after a witnessed cardiac arrest while exercising at a gym. He had a
Hepatic GABA Release Drives Hyperinsulinemia and Insulin Resistance

Abstract The degree of hepatic lipid accumulation in obesity directly correlates with the severity of hyperinsulinemia and systemic insulin resistance. Here, we propose a mechanism that explains this associative link, whereby, hepatic steatosis dysregulates glucose and insulin homeostasis. Obesity-induced lipid accumulation results in hepatocyte depolarization. We have established that hepatocyte depolarization depresses hepatic afferent vagal nerve firing and diet induced obesity increases hepatic GABA release in mice. Hepatic GABA release decreases hepatic afferent vagal nerve activity to stimulate pancreatic insulin release and decreases insulin sensitivity. Surgically eliminating the hepatic vagal nerve signaling, preventing hepatic GABA synthesis, or limiting hepatic GABA export ameliorates hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in diet-induced obese mice. This work establishes that limiting hepatocyte GABA production or release may mute the glucoregulatory dysfunction common to obesity.
Some Reflections on Terrae Incognitae to Mark Its Fiftieth Anniversary

The idea for our Society came to three people who were attending the International Congress of the History of Discoveries at Lisbon in 1960. These three, Jack Parker and Vsevolod Slessarev of the J...
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Decreased Renal Function: Impact on All-Cause Mortality in U.S. Adults.

Introduction Evidence suggests that individuals with a history of adverse childhood experiences have higher odds of developing kidney disease than individuals with no adverse childhood experiences. However, no study has examined the influence of coexisting adverse childhood experiences and kidney disease on mortality risk. This study uses a longitudinal survey of adults to examine the influence of coexisting adverse childhood experiences and decreased renal function on all-cause mortality in a sample of U.S. adults. Methods A total of 1,205 adults participating in the Midlife Development in the United States series between 1995 and 2014 were used for this analysis performed in 2019. A total of 6 types of adverse childhood experiences were available in the data set, which were combined to create a dichotomous variable with any adverse experience counted as yes. Decreased renal function was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate Results In fully adjusted models, adverse childhood experiences and decreased renal function were associated with increased all-cause mortality relative to neither (hazard ratio=2.85, 95% CI=1.30, 6.25). Decreased renal function only and adverse childhood experiences only were not significantly associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio=1.14, 95% CI=0.64, 2.04 and hazard ratio=1.55, 95% CI=0.44, 5.41, respectively). When using decreased renal function as the reference group, coexisting adverse childhood experiences and decreased renal function was associated with a 64% increased risk of all-cause mortality, though this relationship was not statistically significant. Conclusions Coexistence of adverse childhood experiences and decreased renal function is associated with higher all-cause mortality than seen in individuals with neither adverse childhood experiences nor decreased renal function and may be associated with higher all-cause mortality than seen in individuals with decreased renal function alone. Future research is needed to better understand this potential association.
CSIscan: Learning CSI for Efficient Access Point Discovery in Dense WiFi Networks

Network densification through the deployment of WiFi access points (APs) is a promising solution towards achieving high connectivity rates required for emerging applications. A critical first step is to discover an AP before an active association between the client and the AP can be established. Legacy AP discovery procedures initiated by the client result in high latency in the order of a few 100 ms and waste spectrum, especially when clients need to frequently switch between multiple APs. We propose CSIscan that exploits the broadcast nature of WiFi channels by embedding discovery related information within an AP’s ongoing regular transmissions. The AP does this by intelligently distorting the transmitted OFDM frame by inducing perturbations in the preamble, and these injected ‘bits’ of information are detected via changes in the perceived channel state information (CSI). A deep learning framework allocates the optimal level of distortion on a per-subcarrier basis that keeps the resulting packet error rate to less than 1%. Existing clients perceive no changes in their ongoing communication, while potential new clients quickly obtain discovery information at the same time. We experimentally demonstrate that CSIscan reduces the overall WiFi latency from 150 ms to 10 ms and improves spectrum utilization with ~72% reduction in the probe traffic. We show that CSIscan delivers up to 40 discovery information bits in the outgoing WiFi packet in an indoor environment.
An Examination and Analysis of Division I Football Game Contracts: Legal Implications of Game Cancellations Due to Hurricanes

In recent years, extreme weather events, namely hurricanes, have compromised the college football schedule in the United States. Incidents of extreme weather have caused the cancellation, postponement, relocation, or otherwise alteration of dozens of Division I college football games in recent years. Focusing primarily on hurricanes, this study will present several concerns related to these storms and extreme weather in the US, and contractual law principles of common law defenses and force majeure clauses as they relate to college football game contracts. The purpose of the present study is to begin to better understand the football game contract inconsistencies that can lead to legal disputes faced by college football programs that deal with these storms, and gain a better insight of the contractual considerations made in light of these storms that are becoming increasinglyfrequent and severe. To do so, college football game contracts were obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to select NCAA Division I colleges, internet-based searches, and media exchanges. Analysis of force majeure contract language revealed inconsistent definitions of force majeure events, a limited number of contracts containing specific weather-related force majeure language, and a range of force majeure events leading to the absence of a clear and consistent understanding of how extreme weather-related cancellations would impact the contractual relationships. Recommendations, asa result of the document analysis, are then made for provisionary revision and reconstruction to meet current realistic needs for individual schools. Societal consciousness regarding climate change is adjusting, therefore sport and legal practitioners can reflect this modernization by scrutinizing potential prudent risks.
Design of an Assistive Robot for Infant Mobility Interventions

Childhood ambulatory disabilities detract from not only the physical development, but also the social engagement of young children. Commercial mobility aids can help improve the autonomy of children with disabilities, but affordability issues, policy challenges, and uncertainty about training standards limit early use of these devices. In this paper, we build on affordable research-grade mobility aids for young children and consider how to design and evaluate an assistive robot that can support the use of these devices. With young children’s contingency learning abilities in mind, we designed an assistive mobile robot capable of supplying age-appropriate light, sound, and bubble rewards. We conducted a first evaluation of the robot’s ability to support driving practice with N = 5 typically developing infants. The results indicate mixed success of the robot rewards; driving distances uniformly tended to fall over the course of the study, but children did tend to look at the robot. In a second exploratory study involving N = 6 children in free ambulatory play, we see clearer differences in gaze and behavior from the introduction of an assistive robot. Generally, this research can inform others interested in assistive robotic interventions for young children.
Benefits of Cochlear Implantation in Childhood Unilateral Hearing Loss (CUHL Trial).

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESES Children with unilateral sensory hearing loss (UHL) struggle to understand speech in noise and locate the origin of sound and have reduced quality of hearing. This clinical trial will determine the benefits of cochlear implantation in children with UHL. STUDY DESIGN Prospective clinical trial. METHODS Twenty children with at least moderate to profound sensory hearing loss and poor speech perception (word score <30%) in one ear and normal hearing in the contralateral ear participated in a Food and Drug Administration-approved clinical trial. Subjects were evaluated for speech perception in quiet, speech perception in noise, sound localization, and subjective benefits after implantation. RESULTS CNC word score perception in quiet significantly improved (1% to 50%, P < .0001) by 12 months after activation. Speech perception in noise by BKB-SIN significantly improved in all three noise configurations; there was a 3.6 dB advantage in head shadow (P < .0001), a 1.6 dB advantage in summation (P = .003), and a 2.5 dB advantage in squelch (P = .0001). Localization improved by 26° at 9 months (P < .0001). Speech, Spatial, and Qualities (SSQ) demonstrated significant improvements in speech (5.2 to 7.4, P = .0012), qualities of hearing (5.9 to 7.5, P = .0056), and spatial hearing (2.7 to 6.6, P < .0001). SSQ subscales associated with binaural hearing were significantly improved, as was listening effort (P = .0082). Subjects demonstrated a non-significant improvement in fatigue. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that children with UHL significantly benefit from cochlear implantation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level 3 Laryngoscope, 2021.
From VLSI to WLSI an introduction to 3D wafer level system integration

Wafer level system integration (WLSI) as the new system scaling technology platform is taking the stage in parallel to transistor level Moor's Law scaling to drive the semiconductor industry moving forward in new mobile computing and Internet-of-Thing (IoT) markets. Two key WLSI technology platforms, Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) and Integrated Fan-Out (InFO) are introduced and their merits are discussed. Both CoWoS and InFO are scalable and sustainable to continuously driving future semiconductor industry revolution.
Approximation Algorithms for the Mixed Postman Problem

The mixed postman problem, a generalization of the Chinese postman problem, is that of finding a shortest tour that traverses each edge of a given mixed graph (a graph containing both undirected and directed edges) at least once. The problem is solvable in polynomial time either if the graph is undirected or if the graph is directed, but NP-hard in mixed graphs. An approximation algorithm with a performance ratio of 3/2 for the postman problem on mixed graphs is presented.
Waste reduction: Issues and policies

Abstract This paper reviews the major problems that confronted the Committee set up by the Solid Waste Management Board of the state of California to prepare a background report and recommend alternative methods for reducing solid waste generation. The results of their analysis are presented, together with discussion of the conclusions reached.
CCSR 92: Calculus for Communicating Shared Resources with Dynamic Priorities

CCSR 92 is a process algebra which supports timed actions and instantaneous synchronization. In addition, it supports the notion of static and dynamic priorities, such as first-in-first-out and earliest deadline first. This paper describes the syntax and operational semantics of the language and a notion of compositionality of preemption. Compositionality allows us to eliminate possible behaviors without changing the potential effect of the process. We analyze several ways of combining the priorities of simultaneous actions that satisfy our compositionality requirement. Several examples of dynamic priority schemes are also shown to be compositional, while general dynamic priority schemes are not.
Sexual partner preference, hypothalamic morphology and aromatase in rams

The male-oriented ram is a unique and valuable animal model for the study of hormonal, developmental and genetic contributions to sexual partner preference. Unlike most other mammalian models that are in use currently, variations in sexual attraction occur spontaneously in domestic ram populations. It is estimated that as many as 8-10% of rams exhibit a sexual partner preference for other males, classifying them as male-oriented rams. Studies have failed to identify any compelling social factors that can predict or explain the variations in sexual partner preferences of rams. Nor is there consensus on the endocrine and sensory responsiveness of male-oriented rams to other rams. However, a number of studies have reported differences in brain structure and function between male-oriented and female-oriented rams, suggesting that sexual partner preferences are neurologically hard-wired. Recently, we identified a sexually dimorphic nucleus (oSDN) in the sheep preoptic area-anterior hypothalamus. The oSDN is larger in female-oriented rams than in male-oriented rams and similar in size in male-oriented rams and ewes. In addition, mRNA levels for aromatase in the oSDN were higher in males than in females and were higher in female-oriented rams than in male-oriented rams. These results suggest a relationship between steroid hormones, specifically estrogens and oSDN morphology. In this review, we provide an overview of sexual behavior in rams and discuss the multiple factors that may contribute to the development and adult expression of same-sex partner preferences in rams.
Chronic lithium administration alters behavioral recovery from nigrostriatal injury: Effects on neostriatal [3H]spiroperidol binding sites

Unilateral damage to the mesotelencephalic dopaminergic projection of the rat produces impairments in sensorimotor functions, including an inability to localize contralateral somatosensory stimuli. Many rats with 6 hydroxydopamine injections along this pathway show a gradual improvement in somatosensory localization during the first post-operative month. One mechanism that may contribute to this behavioral recovery is the proliferation of dopamine receptor sites in the affected neostriatum. The role of these binding site changes in the recovery was tested by chronic administration of lithium to rats. Rats given lithium in their drinking water for 4 weeks after the 6-hydroxydopamine injection showed a greatly attenuated recovery of sensorimotor functions, compared to brain-damaged rats drinking unadulterated water. When rats that were given lithium for the first postoperative weeks were subsequently given unadulterated water top drink, they recovered normally. Lithium treatment did not prevent the augmentation of [3H]spiroperidol binding in the neostriatum ipsilateral to the lesion, relative to the contralateral control neostriatum, at 4 or 8 weeks post-operatively. Thus, lithium treatment dissociates behavioral recovery after nigrostriatal injury from the lesion-induced relative proliferation of neostriatal [3H]spiroperidol binding sites. However, the lithium treatment decreased the absolute amount of specific [3H]spiroperidol binding to both the ipsilateral and contralateral neostriata. The significance of these findings for the neural mechanism underlying this recovery sequence is discussed.
Assessing the riskiness and profitability of credit-card banks

This article measures the riskiness and profitability of financial institutions specializing in credit-card loans and related plans. Focusing on explicit accounting returns on explicit credit-card assets, we find that credit-card banks, whether subsidiaries of bank holding companies or independent banks, earned extraordinary returns over the years 1984 to 1991. On average, credit-card firms had pretax return on assets of 3.36 percent compared to .95 for noncredit-card banks. The costs of the higher returns are greater variability of ROA and higher probabilities of insolvency, indicating that credit-card banks are riskier than other commercial banks.
Differences in α2-adrenoceptor modulation of calcium channels in vascular smooth muscle cells of male and female rats

Effects of the α2-adrenergic agonist clonidine on current through Ca2+ channels was recorded from vascular smooth muscle cells isolated from tail arteries and aortae of male and female rats. The average Ba2+ current in control was not significantly different between males and females; however, clonidine (1 μM) enhanced Ba2+ current through Ca2+ channels in cells from females, but not from males. The greater sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle cells to clonidine may underlie different contractile responses to α2-adrenergic agonists between males and females.
Second phase embrittlement of solids

Hydrogen embrittlement of Nb is caused by stress-induced formation and cleavage of the brittle ..beta.. hydride. This note reviews this fracture mechanism for application to other systems (Nb--O, Nb--N, V--0, V--C, and Fe--C). (DLC)
Electroluminescence- and electrically-detected magnetic resonance studies of spin one-half-polaron and singlet-exciton dynamics in multilayer small molecular organic light-emitting devices

The electroluminescence (EL)- and electrically-detected magnetic resonance (ELDMR and EDMR, respectively) of tris- (8-hydroxyquinoline) Al (Alq 3 )]/[buffer]/Al-based organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) are described. Positive spin ½ ELDMR and EDMR observed at T =60 K. Its amplitude increases with T, and it is much stronger in devices with an AlO x buffer layer than in those with a CsF buffer. Its behavior is consistent with magnetic resonance enhancement of the spin-dependent formation of dianions at the organic/cathode interface.
Assembly-Based Vulnerability of Buildings and Its Use in Performance Evaluation

Assembly-based vulnerability (ABV) is a framework for evaluating the seismic vulnerability and performance of buildings on a building-specific basis. It utilizes the damage to individual building components and accounts for the building's seismic setting, structural and nonstructural design and use. A simulation approach to implementing ABV first applies a ground motion time history to a structural model to determine structural response. The response is applied to assembly fragility functions to simulate damage to each structural and nonstructural element in the building, and to its contents. Probabilistic construction cost estimation and scheduling are used to estimate repair cost and loss-of-use duration as random variables. It also provides a framework for accumulating post-earthquake damage observations in a statistically systematic and consistent manner. The framework and simulation approach are novel in that they are fully probabilistic, address damage at a highly detailed and building-specific level, and do not rely extensively on expert opinion. ABV is illustrated using an example pre-Northridge welded-steel-moment-frame office building.
Elastic Electron Scattering by Screened Nuclei

The differential cross section and the asymmetry function of the elastic scattering of electrons from screened nuclei were computed at 10-deg intervals from 10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 170\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. We report here the results of the calculation for (1) gold, with electron energies of 400, 200, 188, 120, 100, and 50 keV; (2) copper, with electron energies of 400, 200, 100, and 50 keV; and (3) mercury, with electron energy of 204 keV. The screening potentials used were a three-terms exponential potential for gold, a two-terms exponential potential for copper, and the Hartree potential for mercury. The modified method of the summation of the phase shifts series leads to improved accuracy. The error in the calculated cross section and the asymmetry function is estimated to be not greater than one percent. All results together with the corresponding calculations for Coulomb field are given in tabulated form.
Mu1 opioid receptor involvement in maternal behavior

Previous studies have demonstrated that morphine inhibits the display of maternal behavior in lactating rats. Whether morphine exerts its actions specifically at the mu receptor has not yet been determined. The present study examined this possibility by evaluating whether naloxonazine, an irreversible and selective antagonist of the mu 1 opioid receptor subtype, is able to attenuate morphine's disruptive effect on maternal behavior in primiparous lactating rats. Experiment 1 compared the ability of naloxonazine (AZINE) and naloxone (NAL) to block the action of morphine (MOR) on maternal care. Virgin, Sprague-Dawley rats were mated in our colony and on day 3 postpartum (parturition, day 0) all rats received jugular catheters. On day 6 the mothers received one of the following treatments: MOR alone (10 mg/kg, SC, N = 10); MOR (10 mg/kg, SC) 24 hr after AZINE pretreatment (10 mg/kg, IV, N = 10); MOR (10 mg/kg, SC) 24 hr after NAL pretreatment (10 mg/kg, IV, N = 8); or MOR (10 mg/kg, SC) immediately after NAL (0.5 mg/kg, SC, N = 10). MOR alone completely disrupted maternal behavior (0% responded) which was blocked by prior NAL administration (100%). AZINE pretreatment 24 hr earlier partially blocked MOR disruption of MB (40% responded; significantly different from MOR alone). The response of rats pretreated 24 hr earlier with NAL did not differ from MOR alone. AZINE blocked MOR's effect on pup retrieval to an even greater degree (70% responded vs. 10% in MOR alone). Experiment 2 determined the ability of AZINE to interfere with varying doses of MOR on maternal behavior.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Line emission from clumpy photodissociation regions

A theoretical parameter study of dense photodissociation regions is presented. It is found that when the gas density is sufficiently high relative to the FUV flux, self-shielding of the molecules can move the C(+)/CO and H/H2 atomic-molecular transitions close to the surfaces of the molecular cloud, where they can feel the full effect of heating by the FUV radiation field. For n of 100,000/cu cm, collisional deexcitation of the FUV-pumped H2 can move the lower levels toward the LTE, producing line ratio resembling those of shocked regions for these low-v levels, while the high-v level line ratios retain a 'fluorescent' value. Appreciable emission in high-J transitions of CO originates in this warm molecular gas. Comparison with observations suggests that a small volume filling factor of high density clumps embedded within a moderate density interclump medium are a common phenomenon in photodissociation regions.
An Entrepreneurial Perspective on Value Creation in Public-Private Ventures

The authors discuss value creation in public-private business ventures, commenting on the article "Creating and Capturing Value in Public-Private Ties: A Private Actor's Perspective," by I. Kivleniece and B. V. Quelin, published elsewhere in the issue. According to the authors, behavioral docility in management can facilitate intersubjective interaction and overcome threats of stakeholder activism and opportunism through the generation of trust and its associated competitive advantages.
WE-E-220-04: Focused Ultrasound Ablation of Tumour Hypoxic Tissue of Small Animals under PET and MRI Guidance

Purpose: Motivated by the need of alleviating tumor hypoxia‐related resistance to radiation therapy, we propose to develop a magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) guided focused ultrasound system (MRgFUS) incorporating positron emission tomography(PET) hypoxia imaging to detect and coagulate the hypoxic areas in mouse tumors before radiation treatment. We plan to use this system to test the hypothesis that thermal coagulation of evidently hypoxic regions of a tumor can improve radiotherapy outcome. Methods: A prototype system was established to seamlessly integrate the processes of PETimaging and MRgFUS ablation. It includes (1) A small animal specialized MR‐compatible FUS applicator using a spherically‐focused ultrasound transducer. (2) 18F‐ fluoromisonidazole microPET imaging (Siemens) to acquire and correlate the uptake of 18F‐miso tracers to hypoxic tissue in tumors. (3) A small animal positioning and immobilization device that is compatible both to PET and MRI, and can facilitate anesthesia supply, breathing sensor and FUS applicator. (4) An effective method to register PETimages with MRIimages so that the regions of hypoxic, necrotic, and normoxic tissue can be delineated within a tumor. (5) MRgFUS ablation of the segmented tumor hypoxic areas with the guidance of MRI‐acquired (7.0 T Bruker) temperature maps. To test the robustness of this system, we conducted in vivo experiments on six A/J mice bearing 4T1 tumors. Results: The tumor hypoxic regions can be clearly distinguished by 18F‐miso PET scans of mouse tumors with i.v. injection of 1 mCi/mouse and 1.5–2 hours of uptake. The positioning and immobilization device allowed accurate registration of PET and MRIimages. Accurate targeting and heating (error <2 mm) was achieved with MRI‐temperature guidance (resolution: 0.2×0.5mm, per 4 s). Conclusions: The overall system/approach has proven the feasibility of PET+MRgFUS and should be useful in the study of combined treatment strategies incorporating radiation and thermal therapy using small animals.
Mechanism of polyamine toxicity in cultured cardiac myocytes.

Abstract The goal of this study was to investigate the mechanism of polyamine-mediated injury to the cardiac myocytes isolated from neonatal rat hearts. The myocytes, cultured in Dulbecco's minimal essential medium–1% foetal calf serum (FBS), were exposed to spermidine or spermine. The toxicity to myocytes was determined by (a) increased release of creatine kinase (CPK) into the media and (b) decline in cell viability or functional activity. Spermidine, above 10 μ m , increased the release of CPK into media, decreased cell viability and decreased the functional activity of the myocytes. The FBS exhibited polyamine oxidase activity and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activity. Aminoguanidine, MDL72,527 or semicarbazide, are the inhibitors of amine oxidases, polyamine oxidase (PAO) and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), respectively. The addition of these inhibitors to the medium protected the myocytes from spermidine toxicity. To determine whether myocyte PAO is involved in polyamine toxicity, we used horse serum that contained high SSAO activity and negligible PAO activity. The myocyte extracts had negligible SSAO activity but high PAO activity. When myocytes were cultured in horse serum in lieu of FBS, spermine caused toxicity at above 100 μ m . In horse serum, MDL72,527 and semicarbazide protected the myocytes from spermine toxicity. These observations show that extracellular amine oxidases and myocyte PAO are significant in mediation of polyamine toxicity.
Measurement of sin2θw and ϱ in deep inelastic neutrino-nucleon scattering

Abstract We describe a high statistics measurement from deep inelastic neutrino-nucleon scattering of the electroweak parameters ϱ and sin 2 θ w , performed in the Fermilab narrow-band neutrino beam. Our measurement uses a radius-dependent cut in y = E H / E v which reduces the systematic error in sin 2 θ w , and incorporates electromagnetic and electroweak radiative corrections. In a renormalization scheme where sin 2 θ w ≡ 1− m 2 W / m 2 Z , a value of sin 2 θ w = 0.242±0.011±0.005 is obtained fixing ϱ = 1. If both sin 2 θ w and ϱ are allowed to vary in a fit to our data, we measure ϱ = 0.991 ± 0.025 ± 0.009.
Formation of Mercury(II)-Glutathione Conjugates Examined Using High Mass Accuracy Mass Spectrometry

Maternal exposure to Hg(II) during pregnancy has been identified as a potential causal factor in the development of severe neurobehavioral disorders. Children with autism have been identified with lower reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratios, and GSH is known to strongly bind Hg(II). In order to gain insight into the mechanism by which GSH binds Hg(II), high resolution mass spectrometry coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was utilized to examine the conjugation process. While the 1:1 Hg(II):GSH conjugate is not formed immediately upon mixing aqueous solutions of Hg(II) and GSH, two species containing Hg(II) are observed:the 1:2 Hg(II):GSH conjugate, [(GS)2 Hg + H+], and a second Hg(II)-containing species around m/z 544. Interestingly, this species at m/z 544 decreases in time while the presence of the 1:1 Hg(II):GSH conjugate increases, suggesting that m/z 544 is an intermediate in the formation of the 1:1 conjugate. Experiments using the high mass accuracy capability of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry coupled to an electrospray ionization source indicate that the intermediate species is [GSH + HgCl]+, andnotthe 1:1 conjugate [Hg(GSH) – H + 2H2O]+postulated in previous literature. Further confirmation of [GSH + HgCl]+ is supported by collisionofinduced dissociation experiments, which show neutral loss of HCl from the intermediate and loss of the N- and C-terminal amino acids, indicating binding of Hg(II) at the Cys residue.
Shock-loading response of 6061- T6 aluminum metal-matrix composites

The purpose of this research was to systematically study the influence of peak-shock pressure and second-phase reinforcement on the structure/property response of shock-loaded 6061-T6 Al-alumina composites. The reload stress-strain response of monolithic 6061-T6 Al, used as a baseline for comparison, showed no increased shock hardening compared to the unshocked material deformed to an equivalent strain. The reload stress-strain response of the shock-loaded 6061-T6 Al-alumina composites exhibited a lower reload yield strength than the flow stress of the starting composites. The degree of strength loss was found to increase with increasing shock pressure. Wavespeed measurements of shock-prestrained specimens showed no degradation compared to unshocked specimens, indicating that particle cracking had not occurred under shock. This result was supported by optical metallography, which did not reveal cracked particles or particle decohesion in the shock-prestrained samples. The reload stress-strain response of the shock-prestrained composites, after resolutionizing and T6 reaging, showed that the composites recovered their full as-received preshock stress-strain responses. This result supports the finding that degradation in reload strength was attributable to matrix microstructural changes resulting from the shock. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examination of the shock-loaded microstructures revealed that the matrix regions adjacent to the particle/matrix interface had undergone significant recovery and partial recrystallization resulting from the shock. This type of near-interface substructure is in stark contrast to the heavily dislocated near-interface dislocation substructure of the as-received composites. The loss of dislocation density(i.e., strain hardening) in the near-interface matrix region, resulting from the shock, highlights the importance of the thermally introduced dislocation substructure changes in establishing the strength of metal-matrix composites (MMCs).
Glucocorticoid receptor phosphorylation in v-mos-transformed cells

Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) is disrupted in v-mos-transformed cells leading to the redistribution of hormone-bound receptors from the nuclear to cytoplasmic compartments. We show here that GRs from v-mos-transformed cells are hyperphosphorylated on a specific peptide and maintain hormone-induced phosphorylations upon a prolonged hormone treatment that is associated with disruptions in its nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Since similar effects on GR nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and phosphorylation were exerted upon treatment of nontransformed cells with the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid, we examined whether hyperphosphorylation of GRs in v-mos-transformed cells resulted from inhibition of receptor dephosphorylation. Protein phosphatase activity, measured using various substrates in vitro, was identical in cell-free extracts prepared from v-mos-transformed and nontransformed cells. Analysis of phosphate turnover in vivo from either the sum of all GR phosphorylation sites or from individual sites using pulse-chase analysis, did not reveal any significant difference between v-mos-transformed cells versus nontransformed cells. Thus, hyperphosphorylation of GR in v-mos-transformed cells does not appear to result from inhibition of GR dephosphorylation, but rather from stimulation of GR phosphorylation.
A search For Artic ozone

Four atmospheric scientists took off with their instruments for Greenland last week, where they will try to see if depletion of stratospheric ozone in the Arctic can be detected as it has been in Antarctica since 1985. Members of the scientific team include Susan Solomon and George Mount of the Aeronomy Laboratory at the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) in Boulder, Colo., and Ryan Sanders and Roger Jakoubec of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science in Norman, Okla. These four participated in previous National Ozone Expedition (NOZE) investigations at McMurdo Station in Antarctica that helped document the ozone “hole,” decreases of up to 50% in ozone during the early austral spring in September and October of the last 2 years (1986–1987).
Temperature dependence of (+)-catechin pyran ring proton coupling constants as measured by NMR and modeled using GMMX search methodology

Abstract The pyran ring proton coupling constants for (+)-catechin have been experimentally determined in deuterated methanol over a temperature range of 213 K to 313 K. The experimental coupling constants were simulated to 0.04 Hz on the average at a 90% confidence limit using a LAOCOON method. The temperature dependence of the coupling constants was reproduced from the Boltzmann distribution of the conformational ensemble generated by the GMMX searching program.
Latitude-dependent Effects in the Stellar Wind of η Carinae

The Homunculus reflection nebula around eta Carinae provides the rare opportunity to observe the spectrum of a star from more than one direction. In the case of eta Car, the nebula's geometry is known well enough to infer how wind profiles vary with latitude. We present STIS spectra of several positions in the Homunculus, showing directly that eta Car has an aspherical and axisymmetric stellar wind. P Cygni absorption in Balmer lines depends on latitude, with relatively high velocities and strong absorption near the polar axis. Stronger absorption at high latitudes is surprising, and it suggests higher mass flux toward the poles, perhaps resulting from equatorial gravity darkening on a rotating star. Reflected profiles of He I lines are more puzzling, and offer clues to eta Car's wind geometry and ionization structure. During eta Car's high-excitation state in March 2000, the wind had a fast, dense polar wind, with higher ionization at low latitudes. Older STIS data obtained since 1998 reveal that this global stellar-wind geometry changes during eta Car's 5.5 year cycle, and may suggest that this star s spectroscopic events are shell ejections. Whether or not a companion star triggers these outbursts remains ambiguous. The most dramatic changes in the wind occur at low latitudes, while the dense polar wind remains relatively undisturbed during an event. The apparent stability of the polar wind also supports the inferred bipolar geometry. The wind geometry and its variability have critical implications for understanding the 5.5 year cycle and long-term variability, but do not provide a clear alternative to the binary hypothesis for generating eta Car s X-rays.
Is postal follow‐up of childhood cancer survivors worthwhile?

Background Childhood cancer survival has increased over the last 30 years, but long-term effects necessitate continued monitoring of survivors. Since not all of them attend follow-up clinics, this study assesses the efficacy of obtaining information from general practitioners (GPs) through a 5-year rolling postal program. Procedure Survivors were included who had been diagnosed with a malignancy in the West Midlands since 1957 and were not attending central long-term follow-up clinics. Results One thousand twenty-seven patients were followed up between 1993 and 2004. Replies were received on 903 (88% response). There were 44 subsequent malignancies and 42 deaths. No medical problems were reported in 341/935 patients (36.5%); in the other 594 endocrine effects were the most common, with visual effects the biggest single problem. Brain tumor survivors had the largest proportion of problems. Conclusions The response rate and information quality achieved show that this method of follow-up is feasible, in cases of discharged or defaulting patients. These data will complement those derived from hospital-based follow-up studies, to give a broader understanding of the spectrum of late effects experienced by survivors and may inform the development of specific long-term follow-up protocols. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:80–84. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Interleukin-12 induced cytolytic activity in lymphocytes from recipients of autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplants.

Interleukin-12 induced cytolytic activity in lymphocytes from recipients of autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplants
Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers: Effect on Agronomic Performance of Corn in Iowa

Management of N in corn (Zea mays L.) production systems attempts to increase crop yields and minimize environment impact. This study evaluated enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) compared to their non-EEF forms on grain yield and corn biomass at the beginning of the grain-filling period, leaf chlorophyll index (CI) measurements, spectral reflectance, and leaf area index throughout the growing season. These studies were conducted on a continuous corn study from 2008 through 2010 stabilized urea with urease and nitrification inhibitors (SuperU [Koch Agronomic Services, Wichita, KS]), urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN) with and without a urease and nitrification inhibitor (AgrotainPlus [Koch Agronomic Services, Wichita, KS]), and environmentally smart nitrogen polymer coated urea (ESN [Agrium Advanced Technologies, Loveland, CO]). There was no significant effect of EEFs compared to non-EEF materials on the biomass or leaf area indices (LAI) at the end of vegetative development; however, there were consistently higher yields with the EEF materials. Differences in yield were related to increased leaf CI values during the grain-filling period and a summation index based on leaf CI was linearly related to grain yield. Use of the EEF materials decreased the rate of leaf senescence with a linear relationship for each year but not a common relationship among years. Application of EEF materials to corn produced a positive impact on grain yield through the increased ability of the corn canopy to maintain green leaf area, capture photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and convert this energy into larger yields. The effect of EEF materials on improved grain-fill under rainfed conditions of the central Corn Belt provides effective N management strategies to increase yield.