cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exposure of human epidermal keratinocyte cell cultures to sulfur mustard promotes binding of complement C1q: implications for toxicity and medical countermeasures†‡

Sulfur mustard (HD)-increased proteolytic activity, HD-enhanced expression of Fc receptor (FcR) on human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK) and associated inflammatory responses may contribute to HD pathology. Like the FcR, the first component of the classical complement (C') cascade, C1q, binds to the Fc region of antibody to mediate inflammatory responses. Complement C1q binds specifically to the C1q receptor (C1qR) on the blebs of apoptotic human keratinocytes and is proposed as a cell surface marker for apoptosis. Assays by fluorescent antibodies demonstrated significantly enhanced binding of C1q to HEK cell cultures exposed to HD. The cell populations of HEK that showed enhanced C1q binding also demonstrated an intermediate uptake of propidium iodide that was greater than in viable unexposed cells but less than in dead cells. The HD-enhanced C1q binding was concentration-dependent, negative by flow cytometry or weakly positive by digital scanning microscopy at 100 microM and positive by both methods at 300 microM. Binding of C1q was also time-dependent, weakly positive at 8 h, and positive at 16 and 24 h after HD exposure. The HD-increased C1qR that binds C1q to the surface of HEK might be a contributing mechanism or a marker for the inflammation and vesication associated with HD exposure.
Sequences with small subsum sets

A conjecture of Gao and Leader, recently proved by Sun, states that if X=(xi)i=1n is a sequence of length n in a finite abelian group of exponent n, then either some subsequence of X sums to zero or the set of all sums of subsequences of X has cardinality at least 2n−1. This conjecture turns out to be a simple consequence of a theorem of Olson and White; we investigate generalizations that are not implied by this theorem. In particular, we prove the following result: if X=(xi)i=1n is a sequence of length n, the terms of which generate a finite abelian group of rank at least 3, then either some subsequence of X sums to zero or the set of all sums of subsequences of X has cardinality at least 4n−5.
Cervical Range of Motion in Geriatric Individuals

Recent research concerning the active range of motion (AROM) of the cervical spine of older individuals has been limited. The purpose of this study was to describe cervical AROM in individuals sixt...
Effects of age on validity of self-reported height, weight, and body mass index: findings from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994.

Abstract Objective To compare self-reported to measured heights and weights of adults examined in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), and to determine to what extent body mass index (BMI) calculated from self-reported heights and weights affects estimates of overweight prevalence compared with BMI calculated from measured values. Design A complex sample design was used in NHANES III to obtain a nationally representative sample of the US civilian, noninstitutionalized population. During household interviews, survey respondents were asked their height and weight. Trained health technicians subsequently measured height and weight using standardized procedures and equipment. Subjects The analytical sample consisted of 7,772 men and 8,801 women 20 years old and older. Statistical analyses performed Only persons with measured and self-reported heights and weights were included in the analysis, and statistical sampling weights were applied, t Tests, Pearson product moment correlation coefficients, sensitivity, and specificity analyses were used to determine the validity of self-reported measurements and prevalence estimates of overweight, defined as BMI of 25 or greater. Results Age is an important factor in classifying weight, height, BMI, and overweight from self-reports. Statistically significant differences were found for the mean error (measured-self-reported values) for height and BMI that were notably larger for older age groups. For example, the mean error for height ranged from 2.92 to 4.50 cm for women and from 3.06 to 4.29 cm for men, 70 years and older. Despite the high correlation between measured and self-reported data, the prevalence of overweight calculated from measured values was higher than that calculated from self-reported values among older adults. When calculated with self-reported height, BMI was one unit lower than when calculated from measured height for persons >70 years. Specificity was high but sensitivity decreased with increasing age cohorts. Regression equations are provided to determine actual height from self-reported values for older adults. Conclusion/Applications Self-reported heights and weights can be used with younger adults, but they have limitations for older adults, ages >60 years. In research studies and in clinical settings involving older adults, failure to measure height and weight can result in subsequent misclassification of overweight status. Therefore, registered dietitians are encouraged to obtained a measured weight and height using a calibrated scale and stadiometer. J Am DietAssoc. 2001;101:28-34 .
Note on classical solution of the Yang-Mills equations in Minkowski space

A real solution of the Yang-Mills equations in Minkowski space is constructed by means of a conformal transformation.
Cover Picture: Compartmentalization of Chemically Separated Components into Droplets (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 15/2009)

Electroosmotic-flow-driven droplet generation integrated with capillary electrophoresis (CE) allows the molecular components separated by CE to be compartmentalized into a stream of droplets, as reported by D. T. Chiu and co-workers in their Communication on page 2719 ff. and illustrated on the cover picture. After separation and droplet compartmentalization, the droplet-confined bands either can be docked and studied on-chip or removed off-chip for a second-dimension separation and further analysis.
Semi-automated segmentation to assess the lateral meniscus in normal and osteoarthritic knees.

Summary Objective The goal of this study was to develop an algorithm to semi-automatically segment the meniscus in a series of magnetic resonance (MR) images to use for normal knees and those with moderate osteoarthritis (OA). Method The segmentation method was developed then evaluated on 10 baseline MR images obtained from subjects with no evidence, symptoms, or risk factors of knee (OA), and 14 from subjects with established knee OA enrolled in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI). After manually choosing a seed point within the meniscus, a threshold level was calculated through a Gaussian fit model. Under anatomical, intensity, and range constraints, a threshold operation was completed followed by conditional dilation and post-processing. The post-processing operation reevaluates the pixels included and excluded in the area surrounding the meniscus to improve accuracy. The developed method was evaluated for both normal and degenerative menisci by comparing the segmentation algorithm results with manual segmentations from five human readers. Results The semi-automated segmentation method produces results similar to those of trained observers, with an average similarity index over 0.80 for normal participants and 0.75, 0.67, and 0.64 for participants with established knee OA with Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) joint space narrowing (JSN) scores of 0, one, and two respectively. Conclusion The semi-automatic segmentation method produced accurate and consistent segmentations of the meniscus when compared to manual segmentations in the assessment of normal menisci in mild to moderate OA. Future studies will examine the change in volume, thickness, and intensity characteristics at different stages of OA.
Extractable and Diffusible Gibberellins From Light- and Dark-grown Pea Seedlings

Gibberellins were obtained from light- and dark-grown peas by solvent extraction and agar diffusion. Both A5- and A1-like gibberellins were obtained by extraction; however, by diffusion only the A1-like gibberellin was found. There was no significant quantitative difference in the levels of diffusible or extractable gibberellin obtained from light- and dark-grown tall and dwarf peas. Several possible explanations for the discrepancy between diffusible and extractable gibberellin were investigated. Of these, only I was supported by experimental evidence, namely, that GA5 can be converted to GA1.
Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopic study of the chemical microstructure of corn and oat flour-based extrudates

The spatial distribution of starch, protein, and lipid domains (chemical microstructure) in corn and oat flour-based extrudates was investigated in 8 μm thick cross-sections of the products by FTIR-microspectroscopy mapping experiments. The results reveal an even starch distribution in all extrudates investigated confirming that starch forms a continuous phase in cereal-based extrudates. Proteins were the least evenly distributed among the three components. Also, small, protein rich domains of 70 μm diameter were detected in the microstructure of the extrudates. Starch and protein distributions were always inversely related to each other. The lipids in oat flour-based extrudates were less evenly distributed than the starch, but more evenly than the proteins. Lipid distribution was neither correlated with starch nor with protein distribution.
A RETROSPECTIVE SEROLOGIC SURVEY FOR ANAPLASMA SPP. INFECTION IN THREE BIGHORN SHEEP (OVIS CANADENSIS) POPULATIONS IN CALIFORNIA

Using an indirect immunofluorescence assay, we determined the prevalence of Anaplasma-reactive antibody in three herds of bighorn sheep, each a different subspecies and occupying a different habitat in California (USA). Antibodies to Anaplasma spp. were identified in none of twenty California bighorn (Ovis canadensis californiana) sampled from the Mt. Baxter herd, 11 of 17 peninsular bighorn (O. canadensis cremnobates) sampled in the Santa Rosa Mountains, and all 20 desert bighorn (O. canadensis nelsoni) sampled at Old Dad Peak/Kelso Mountains. Based on an assay and an adsorption technique, the titers most likely were due to Anaplasma ovis. The presence and species of tick vectors in each of the habitats, and the presence or absence of deer or livestock were identified as factors potentially influencing seroprevalence of antibodies.
Rates of deposition of brownian particles calculated by lumping interaction forces into a boundary condition

Abstract Double-layer repulsion, van der Waals attractions, and hydrodynamic resistance can be lumped into a boundary condition on the convective-diffusion equation only if (1) they act over sufficiently short distances, and (2) double-layer repulsion is sufficiently strong. Otherwise, the complete transport equations must be solved.
Curvature as a Feature of Pattern Vision

Prolonged inspection of convex lines of one color and concave lines of another color can cause the appearance of oppositely colored aftereffects in curved, achromatic test lines. These effects, strongly dependent on radius of curvature, cannot be attributed to tilt or orientation. It is concluded that these results are not encompassed by models of the visual system that are based on rectilinear arrays and that curvature is a specific feature of human visual perception.
Incorporating stakeholder preferences for land conservation: Weights and measures in spatial MCA

Abstract Spatial multicriteria models may provide an equitable and efficient means for incorporating people's preferences in social decisions. However, in order for these tools to be effective, they should include criteria that are locally relevant and measurable in a spatial framework. This paper integrates measures of stakeholder preferences with GIS data in a spatial multicriteria framework for identifying high priority areas for land conservation. Individual participants' preference weights were measured using the Analytical Hierarchy Process. Individual preferences were aggregated into groups representing outside experts and local stakeholders. Aggregate preferences differed across groups, illustrating an affinity for local knowledge of stakeholders vs. universal broader issues by outside experts. The mapping of priority areas for conservation was relatively unaffected by the weights, mostly due to the lack of spatial measures for locally relevant criteria.
Compensated resistors for high-frequency electrometer applications

The behaviour of electrometer feedback resistors at high frequencies is discussed. It is shown theoretically that the performance of a shielded resistor of this type can be greatly improved by the addition of capacitive coupling between the electrometer output and the centre of the resistor. The improvement has been verified in practice.
Selective Inhibition of NF-κB Activation by a Peptide That Blocks the Interaction of NEMO with the IκB Kinase Complex

Activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)–κB by proinflammatory stimuli leads to increased expression of genes involved in inflammation. Activation of NF-κB requires the activity of an inhibitor of κB (IκB)-kinase (IKK) complex containing two kinases (IKKα and IKKβ) and the regulatory protein NEMO (NF-κB essential modifier). An amino-terminal α-helical region of NEMO associated with a carboxyl-terminal segment of IKKα and IKKβ that we term the NEMO-binding domain (NBD). A cell-permeable NBD peptide blocked association of NEMO with the IKK complex and inhibited cytokine-induced NF-κB activation and NF-κB–dependent gene expression. The peptide also ameliorated inflammatory responses in two experimental mouse models of acute inflammation. The NBD provides a target for the development of drugs that would block proinflammatory activation of the IKK complex without inhibiting basal NF-κB activity.
1H, 15N and 13C assignments of the dimeric C-terminal domain of HIV-1 capsid protein.

HIV-1 capsid protein (CA) encloses the viral RNA genome and forms a conical-shaped particle in the mature HIV-1 virion, with orderly capsid assembly and disassembly critically important for viral infectivity. The 231 residue CA is composed of two helical domains, connected by a short linker sequence. In solution, CA exhibits concentration dependent dimerization which is mediated by the C-terminal domain (CTD). Here, we present nearly complete 1H, 15N and 13C assignments for the 20 kDa homodimeric CA–CTD, a prerequisite for structural characterization of the CA–CTD dimer.
A Small Place: Jamaica Kincaid and a Methodology of Connection

In this article, the author looks at the methodological implications of Jamaica Kincaid’s (1988) book, A Small Place, for ethnographic inquiry. Kincaid’s incisive critique of tourist practices in her birthplace, Antigua, forefronts the significance of connection as a paradigm for ethnography. Drawing on Kincaid’s writing, the author argues that researchers’ analysis of everyday practices and places must be situated within the global connections that Kincaid places at the center of her analysis. To illustrate the possibilities of this approach, the author draws on contemporary ethnographic inquiry, including her own research with youth in a South African high school.
The 2425 keV state in 21Na as a subtreshold resonance in 20Ne (p,γ)21 Na☆

Abstract The high-energy tail of the J π = 1 2 + , 2425 keV state in 21Na, bound by 7 keV against proton decay, has been observed in the 20Ne (p,γ)21Na reaction at Ep=0.5−1.5 MeV. The observed excitation function is consistent with a single-level Breit-Wigner shape with Γγ=0.31±0.07 eV at Ex = 2425 keV.
The Reel Splint: experience with a new traction splint apparatus in the prehospital setting.

A new lower extremity splint apparatus was applied by paramedics to 50 patients in the prehospital setting to manage a total of 60 injuries. The Reel Splint ® was designed to provide stabilization with or without traction to a variety of angulated lower extremity fractures/dislocations. In 37 instances (74%), the splint was judged by the rescuers to be superior to the standard Thomas splint. In this series the splint was used successfully for extrication, to immobilize deformed limbs, and to provide traction for the restoration and maintenance of peripheral circulation, with frequent pain relief. No deleterious functional complexities or manufacturing defects were identified. The Reel Splint is a uniquely useful alternative to currently available splints.
Aneural culture of rat myoblasts for myocardial transplant.

Abstract Due to the peculiar characteristics of skeletal muscle, myoblast transplants have emerged as a therapy for cardiomyopathy, particularly after myocardial infarction. The objectives of this study were to define the mean time of cultivation necessary to obtain a cellular concentration of 10 6 to expand the mass for transplant, and to identify the proliferation phase of myoblasts. Ten myoblast cultures were performed using newborn Wistar rats. The isolation method used enzymatic dissociation in culture medium (HAM-F12 and 199) supplement with basic–fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) and insulin growth factor (IGF-I). The mean cultivation time to obtain the desired concentration of 10 6 was 7 days, with expansion of up to 10 8 /g. When b-FGF was used, the cellular yield was approximately 10 7 , with IGF-I the cellular yield was approximately 10 8 , independent of the medium. We concluded that IGF-I is the better option for mass cellular expansion of myoblasts for application in myocardial transplants.
Phosphatidylinositol phosphate 5-kinase Iβ recruits AP-2 to the plasma membrane and regulates rates of constitutive endocytosis

Overexpression of phosphatidylinositol phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5KI) isoforms α, β, or γ in CV-1 cells increased phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) levels by 35, 180, and 0%, respectively. Endocytosis of transferrin receptors, association of AP-2 proteins with membranes, and the number of clathrin-coated pits at the plasma membrane increased when PIP2 increased. When expression of PIP5KIβ was inhibited with small interference RNA in HeLa cells, expression of PIP5KIα was also reduced slightly, but PIP5KIγ expression was increased. PIP2 levels and internalization of transferrin receptors dropped 50% in these cells; thus, PIP5KIγ could not compensate for loss of PIP5KIβ. When expression of PIP5KIα was reduced, expression of both PIP5KIβ and PIP5KIγ increased and PIP2 levels did not change. A similar increase of PIP5KIα and PIP5KIβ occurred when PIP5KIγ was inhibited. These results indicate that constitutive endocytosis in CV-1 and HeLa cells requires (and may be regulated by) PIP2 produced primarily by PIP5KIβ.
Near-duplicate detection by instance-level constrained clustering

For the task of near-duplicated document detection, both traditional fingerprinting techniques used in database community and bag-of-word comparison approaches used in information retrieval community are not sufficiently accurate. This is due to the fact that the characteristics of near-duplicated documents are different from that of both "almost-identical" documents in the data cleaning task and "relevant" documents in the search task. This paper presents an instance-level constrained clustering approach for near-duplicate detection. The framework incorporates information such as document attributes and content structure into the clustering process to form near-duplicate clusters. Gathered from several collections of public comments sent to U.S. government agencies on proposed new regulations, the experimental results demonstrate that our approach outperforms other near-duplicate detection algorithms and as about as effective as human assessors.
NALOXONE REVERSAL OF MILD NEUROBEHAVIORAL DEPRESSION IN NORMAL NEWBORNS AFTER ROUTINE OBSTETRICAL ANALGESIA

Narcotic antagonists are generally administered to newborns only if they exhibit evidence of cardiorespiratory depression in the delivery room following maternal narcotic analgesia. To investigate the presence of subtle narcotic depression, we have evaluated the effects of naloxone vs placebo in a double blind parallel group study in 43 normal term newborns whose mothers had received routine narcotic analgesia within 6 hrs prior to delivery. The infants were given an IM injection of 20 μg/kg naloxone after the 1 min Apgar, and the following parameters were compared: Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min., capillary blood gases at 1, 30, 60, 120, and 240 min., and Scanlon neurobehavioral assessments at 1, 4, and 24 hrs. No adverse effects were observed. Neither the Apgar scores nor the blood gases differed significantly between the two groups. The alertness score was significantly higher for the naloxone group at 1 and 4 hrs (p < .05, .05). The general score for the Narcan group was higher at 4 hr (p < .05) and 24 hrs (p < .055). Response to sound was significantly higher in the naloxone group at 24 hrs (p < .05). These data suggeat that maternal narcotic analgesia may produce subtle changes in alertness and general behavior not reflected by Apgar scores or respiratory status. It may be advisable, therefore, to administer naloxone to most infants on a routine basis if birth is within 6 hrs of maternal narcotic administration.
Collaborating with Public Libraries, Public Health Departments, and Rural Hospitals to Provide Consumer Health Information Services

ABSTRACT East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine Library (ETSUQCOML) developed a training program to enable public libraries, public health workers, and rural hospital staff to be consumer health information providers. Four NN/LM-developed classes were taught to public libraries. Regional public library directors were invaluable in obtaining the concurrence of their boards for release time for class attendance. Classes were also developed for the public health workforce and rural hospital staff. Five-hundred thirty-three students attended the classes. Fifty-two public library workers will receive the MLA's Consumer Health Information Specialist certification. Thirty-one public libraries have joined NN/LM. All ordered MedlinePlus marketing materials for their libraries from InformationRx. org.
Bis(fluorinated-acetylacetonato)copper(II) complexes with bidentate ligands

Abstract The reactions of Cu(trifac)2 (trifac=1,1,1-trifluoropentane-2,4-dionato) and Cu(hfac)2·H2O (hfac=1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dionato) with the nitrogen donor complexes 4-cyanopyridine (4-cp) and 1,5-diaminonaphthalene (1,5-dan) result in the copper(II) complexes [Cu(trifac)2(4-cp)] (1), [Cu(hfac)2(4-cp)2] (2), and the binuclear complex [Cu(trifac)2]2(1,5-dan) (3). The solid state structures of 1–3 have been obtained by single crystal X-ray crystallography with the following parameters: (1) monoclinic P2(1)/c, a=9.687(3) A , b=19.392(8) A , c=10.013(3) A , V=1869.4(10) A3, and Z=4; (2) triclinic P 1 , a=6.5166(10) A , b=10.0163(3) A , c=10.1914(3) A , V=656.09(3) A3, and Z=1; (3) monoclinic P2(1)/n, a=10.9390(3) A, b=15.5876(4) A, c=22.3511(5) A, V=3695.28(18) A3, and Z=4. The vacant coordination site in 3 is occupied by a weak intermolecular N⋯Cu interaction with a neighboring binuclear copper(II) unit. Weak intermolecular hydrogen bonding is also present in 3, which helps to align the molecular structure to give a two-dimensional sheet structure in the solid state.
Synthesis and preliminary evaluation of 18F-labeled 4-thia palmitate as a PET tracer of myocardial fatty acid oxidation

Interest remains strong for the development of a noninvasive technique for assessment of regional fatty acid oxidation rate in the myocardium. (18)F-labeled 4-thia palmitate (FTP, 16-[(18)F]fluoro-4-thia-hexadecanoic acid) has been synthesized and preliminarily evaluated as a metabolically trapped probe of myocardial fatty acid oxidation for positron emission tomography (PET). The radiotracer is synthesized by Kryptofix 2.2.2/K(2)CO(3) assisted nucleophilic radiofluorination of an iodo-ester precursor, followed by alkaline hydrolysis and by purification by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. Biodistribution studies in rats showed high uptake and long retention of FTP in heart, liver, and kidneys consistent with relatively high fatty acid oxidation rates in these tissues. Inhibition of carnitine palmitoyl-transferase-I caused an 80% reduction in myocardial uptake, suggesting the dependence of trapping on the transport of tracer into the mitochondrion. Experiments with perfused rat hearts showed that the estimates of the fractional metabolic trapping rate (FR) of FTP tracked inhibition of oxidation rate of palmitate with hypoxia, whereas the FR of the 6-thia analog 17-[(18)F]fluoro-6-thia-heptadecanoic acid was insensitive to hypoxia. In vivo defluorination of FTP in the rat was evidenced by bone uptake of radioactivity. A PET imaging study with FTP in normal swine showed excellent myocardial images, prolonged myocardial retention, and no bone uptake of radioactivity up to 3 h, the last finding suggesting a species dependence for defluorination of the omega-labeled fatty acid. The results support further investigation of FTP as a potential PET tracer for assessing regional fatty acid oxidation rate in the human myocardium.
The economics of biofuel policy and biotechnology

This paper employs a partial equilibrium trade framework to show that biofuel policy can substitute for traditional agricultural policy intended to boost farm welfare. It also shows how food market volatility can induce periods of boom and bust in the ethanol industry, causing episodes of bankruptcy and reduced capital investment. This paper further models the effects of two specific technological innovations cellulosic ethanol and agricultural biotechnology on food and fuel markets and demonstrates that technology can reduce ethanol market volatility. A parameterized model is used to characterize the impacts of biofuels on food and fuel markets.
Context, ambiguity, and unlearning: sources of relapse after behavioral extinction.

There is now ample evidence that extinction, the loss of learned performance that occurs when a Pavlovian signal or an instrumental action is repeatedly presented without its reinforcer, does not reflect a destruction of the original learning. This article summarizes the evidence and extends and updates earlier reviews. The main alternative to "unlearning" is the idea that extinction (as well as other retroactive interference processes, including counterconditioning) involves new learning that is stored along with the old. One consequence is that the Pavlovian signal or instrumental action has two available "meanings" and thus has the properties of an ambiguous word: its current meaning (and the resulting behavioral output) depends on what the current context retrieves. Contexts can be provided by a variety of background stimuli, including the physical environment, internal drug state, and time. The second thing learned (e.g., extinction, counterconditioning) seems especially dependent on the context for retrieval. A variety of evidence is consistent with this analysis, which highlights several important sources of relapse after extinction. The article concludes with several issues for future research, among them the question of how we can optimize extinction and other putative "unlearning" treatments so as to prevent the various forms of relapse discussed here.
Good to glow: auroras hide an array of planetary secrets

Detecting the electromagnetic emissions that cause dramatic light display might reveal a wealth of information about exoplanets
Comparative bacterial genomics and its use in undergraduate education

Abstract Photorhabdus spp. and Xenorhabdus spp. both form mutualistic associations with entomopathogenic nematodes and function as potent pathogenic agents towards a variety of insects. The availability of genetic approaches and the ability to grow the bacteria in standard media make Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus promising models for the study of host–microbe interactions. A particularly attractive aspect of this system is that both harmful and beneficial interactions can be studied in a single microbe. The genome sequence of Photorhabdus luminescens subspecies laumondii strain TT01 has been completed and a genome project for Photorhabdus asymbiotica has been initiated. Likewise, a collaborative project to compare the genomes of two species of Xenorhabdus is in progress. The availability of genomic sequences for Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus will open new avenues of investigation and enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanism by which a bacterium can function as both symbionts and pathogens. In this paper, the genomic information from the Photorhabdus species are compared with the genome of the related species, Yersinia pestis, and the usefulness of genomics in undergraduate education will provide excellent training for future scientists and assist in a better understanding of the nematode–bacterium complex.
One-pot synthesis of cinnamylideneacetophenones and their in vitro cytotoxicity in breast cancer cells

A series of cinnamylideneacetophenones were synthesized via a modified Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction and evaluated for cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells using the Alamar Blue™ assay. Derivatives 17 and 18 bearing a 2-nitro group on the B ring, exhibited sub-micromolar cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells (IC50=71 and 1.9 nM), respectively. Derivative 17 also displayed sub-micromolar (IC50=780 nM) cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-468 cells. Additionally, 17 and 18 displayed significantly less cytotoxicity than the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin in non-tumorigenic MCF-10A cells. This study provides evidence supporting the continued development of nitro-substituted cinnamylideneacetophenones as small molecules to treat breast cancer.
Molecular probe location in reverse micelles determined by NMR dipolar interactions.

The location and interactions of solutes in microheterogeneous environments, such as reverse micelles, critically influence understanding of many phenomena that utilize probe molecules to characterize properties in chemical, biological, and physical systems. The information gained in such studies depends substantially on the location of the probe used. Often, intuition leads to the assumption that ionic probe molecules reside in the polar water pool of a system. In this work, the location of a charged polar transition metal coordination complex in a reverse micellar system is determined using NMR spectroscopy. Despite the expected Coulomb repulsion between the surfactant headgroups and the negatively charged complex, the complex spends significant time penetrating into the hydrophobic portion of the reverse micellar interface. These results challenge the assumption that ionic probe molecules reside solvated by water in microheterogeneous environments and suggest that probe molecule location be carefully c...
Increased alcohol selection in rats after alcohol drinking paired with recovery from thiamine deficiency.

Abstract Repeated pairings of novel alcohol solutions (5% or 7.5% w/v) with IP injections of 267 μg/kg thiamine in thiamine-deficient male Sprague-Dawley rats resulted in the ingestion of pharmacologically active doses of alcohol in association with recovery. Mean alcohol intake in a postrecovery fluid choice situation exceeded metabolic capacity for 7–10 days; such intake was not observed in nondeficient pair-fed rats or in formerly deficient rats whose recovery was not paired with alcohol drinking. Alcohol was self-selected in the presence of water under conditions where the rats had no experience with water while deficient, but the presence of 0.1% saccharin as a postrecovery alternative to alcohol was sufficient to abolish the elevated intake. Absolute alcohol intake and blood alcohol levels on recovery days and during self-selection were comparable with 5% and 7.5% alcohol solutions.
Water Use by Five Warm‐Season Legumes in the Southern Great Plains

Growing warm-season legumes during fallow periods associated with traditional continuous systems of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the southern Great Plains (SGP) can provide supplemental forage, biological N, and protection from soil erosion, provided the legumes can tolerate drought stress and not deplete the available water in the soil profi le. Our objective was to quantify water use by fi ve species of pulse legumes {pigeon pea [(Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp.) cv. GA-2], guar [Cyamopsis tetragonobloba (L.) Taub., cv. Kinman], cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., cv. Chinese red], mung bean [Vigna radiate (L.) Wilcz., cv. Berkins], and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr., cv. Hutcheson (the control)]}. Seeds were inoculated and planted after wheat harvest in mid-June 2003 through 2006. The amount of water in the upper 65 cm of the soil profi le was measured on nine dates [from 45 d before planting legumes to 195 d since planting (DSP)]. Signifi cant (P < 0.01) differences in soil water were recorded among treatments, dates, and years. Differences in soil water among fallow, cowpea, and mung bean were less following the 2003 and 2004 summer seasons and most noticeable in 2005 and 2006. Mung bean, guar, soybean, and pigeon pea used the greatest amounts of water in 2005, the wettest season, while cowpea and mung bean used the least in 2003. Mung bean, cowpea, and guar generated smaller water defi cits and used less soil water, in three of four years, and could be effective in wheat-summer legume rotations in the SGP.
Electron transport in narrow‐gap semiconductors

The electron transport properties of the narrow-gap semiconductors InSb and InAs are calculated by a Monte Carlo procedure. The drift velocity and electron distribution function are found to be affected at high electric fields by the inclusion of impact ionization collisions, and the negative differential conductivity is correspondingly reduced. Es werden die elektrischen Transporteigenschaften der schmalbandigen Halbleiter InSb und InAs mit einer Monte-Carlo-Methode berechnet. Es wird gefunden, das die Driftgeschwindigkeit und die Elektronenverteilungsfunktion bei hohen elektrischen Feldern durch Stosionisation beeinflust werden und die negative differentielle Leitfahigkeit entsprechend verringert wird.
Evaluation of Global Satellite Rainfall Products over Continental Europe

AbstractAn extensive evaluation of two global-scale high-resolution satellite rainfall products is performed using 8 yr (2003–10) of reference rainfall data derived from a network of rain gauges over Europe. The comparisons are performed at a daily temporal scale and 0.25° spatial grid resolution. The satellite rainfall techniques investigated in this study are the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) 3B42 V6 (gauge-calibrated version) and the Climate Prediction Center morphing technique (CMORPH). The intercomparison and validation of these satellite products is performed both qualitatively and quantitatively. In the qualitative part of the analysis, error maps of various validation statistics are shown, whereas the quantitative analysis provides information about the performance of the satellite products relative to the rainfall magnitude or ground elevation. Moreover, a time series analysis of certain error statistics is used to depict the temporal variations of the accuracy of the two satellite t...
Novel targeted and immunotherapeutic strategies in chronic myeloid leukemia.

The advanced understanding of the molecular biology and immunology of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has led to novel therapeutic strategies unique to this disease. CML responds to immune-mediated therapies, including stem cell transplantation, donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI), and interferon alfa. T cells and other immune effectors are implicated in the mechanisms of action of these immune therapies. Recently, clinical observations supported by laboratory data have demonstrated the presence of CML-specific T cells in patients. Several proteins may potentially act as leukemia-specific antigens for major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted cytotoxicity in CML, and active specific therapies (vaccines) are in development. Antigens under investigation include bcr-abl, PR1, Wilms tumor protein (WT1), minor histocompatibility antigens (mH), CML-66, CML-28, and survivin. Other strategies target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitors or make use of CML-derived dendritic cells (DC).
Mixed Inhibition of P450 3A4 as a Chemoprotective Mechanism against Aflatoxin B1-Induced Cytotoxicity with cis-Terpenones

We recently reported the protective effect of 2-hydroxy- cis-terpenone (HCT) against aflatoxin B 1 (AFB1)-induced cytotoxicity in human HepG2 liver cells ( Zhou et al. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 2006, 19, 1415-1419 ); however, the mechanism was not clear. In this paper, the chemoprotective mechanism was investigated with liver microsomes and purified P450 3A4 enzyme. HCT showed effective inhibition of the metabolic conversion of AFB1 in liver microsomes at 40 microM, and more importantly, the inhibition of the carcinogenic exo-AFB1-epoxide formation from AFB1. Further study indicated the direct inhibition of purified P450 3A4 enzyme activity by HCT with an IC 50 value of 20 microM. Under aqueous conditions, HCT was slowly converted to an oxidized product OHCT, which exhibits similar inhibitory effects on both P450 3A4 and the metabolic conversion and carcinogenic activation of AFB1 with liver microsomes as those of HCT. Enzyme mechanism studies revealed that OHCT acted as a mixed inhibitor of P450 3A4 with K i and K i' at 17.6 +/- 5.6 and 7.6 +/- 1.5 microM, respectively. Finally, OHCT showed no cytotoxicity at 60 microM in HepG2 liver cells and effective chemoprotection at 40 and 60 microM against AFB1 (2 microM) induced cytotoxicity. In contrast, ketoconazole alone exhibited 20% cell mortality at 20 microM, while chemoprotection with ketoconazole against 2 microM AFB1 in HepG2 was observed at 10 and 20 microM, which was much higher than the 1 microM concentration used in the inhibitory assays of P450 3A4 activity and AFB1 metabolism with liver microsomes.
A Dialectic of Disinterested and Immersive Aesthetics: Santiniketan Art Education and Labour Translated.

This article argues for art education's potential to transform mundane work, mindful of the steep challenges of the aesthetic and mundane dialectic. Those challenges, magnified in the context of capitalism and industrialism, confronted twentieth-century Indian artist educators Rabindranath Tagore and Nandalal Bose, but also confront twenty-first-century art educators. Tagore created Visva-Bharati University to counteract the excessive materialism of modernism, recognising diversity and the immanence of the transcendent in humanity. Tagore's aesthetics, though deeply relational, nevertheless regard the mundane as essentially irredeemable. It is in Visva-Bharati's environment, however, that Nandalal Bose was able to conceive an aesthetic, developed from Yogic ideas of immanence and Far Eastern aesthetics, which envisioned the transformation of the mundane through creative activity.
Genetic diversity of clinical isolates of Bacillus cereus using multilocus sequence typing

Bacillus cereus is most commonly associated with foodborne illness (diarrheal and emetic) but is also an opportunistic pathogen that can cause severe and fatal infections. Several multilocus sequence typing (MLST) schemes have recently been developed to genotype B. cereus and analysis has suggested a clonal or weakly clonal population structure for B. cereus and its close relatives B. anthracis and B. thuringiensis. In this study we used MLST to determine if B. cereus isolates associated with illnesses of varying severity (e.g., severe, systemic vs. gastrointestinal (GI) illness) were clonal or formed clonal complexes. A retrospective analysis of 55 clinical B. cereus isolates submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 1954 and 2004 was conducted. Clinical isolates from severe infections (n = 27), gastrointestinal (GI) illness (n = 18), and associated isolates from food (n = 10) were selected for analysis using MLST. The 55 isolates were diverse and comprised 38 sequence types (ST) in two distinct clades. Of the 27 isolates associated with serious illness, 13 clustered in clade 1 while 14 were in clade 2. Isolates associated with GI illness were also found throughout clades 1 and 2, while no isolates in this study belonged to clade 3. All the isolates from this study belonging to the clade 1/cereus III lineage were associated with severe disease while isolates belonging to clade1/cereus II contained isolates primarily associated with severe disease and emetic illness. Only three STs were observed more than once for epidemiologically distinct isolates. STs of clinical B. cereus isolates were phylogenetically diverse and distributed among two of three previously described clades. Greater numbers of strains will need to be analyzed to confirm if specific lineages or clonal complexes are more likely to contain clinical isolates or be associated with specific illness, similar to B. anthracis and emetic B. cereus isolates.
Development of a stable tritium (HT) generation system for testing atmospheric HT monitors

Abstract A stable tritium (HT) generation system that can be used to test atmospheric HT monitors has been developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The system produces HT in air at concentrations between one and ten times the current atmospheric background level (about 8 × 10−10 μCi per liter of air). This has been accomplished by the precise mixing of two controlled gas flows, one from a gravimetrically prepared argon-tritium mixture of known tritium activity concentration, and the other from a stream of clean (tritium-free) air. The system has a total output flow of about 1 1/min and was designed and evaluated to test atmospheric HT monitors that have an input flow of less than or equal to 0.85 1/min.
Thoracic Artificial Lung Impedance Studies Using Computational Fluid Dynamics and In Vitro Models

Current thoracic artificial lungs (TALs) possess blood flow impedances greater than the natural lungs, resulting in abnormal pulmonary hemodynamics when implanted. This study sought to reduce TAL impedance using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). CFD was performed on TAL models with inlet and outlet expansion and contraction angles, θ, of 15°, 45°, and 90°. Pulsatile blood flow was simulated for flow rates of 2-6 L/min, heart rates of 80 and 100 beats/min, and inlet pulsatilities of 3.75 and 2. Pressure and flow data were used to calculate the zeroth and first harmonic impedance moduli, Z(0) and Z(1), respectively. The 45° and 90° models were also tested in vitro under similar conditions. CFD results indicate Z(0) increases as stroke volume and θ increase. At 4 L/min, 100 beats/min, and a pulsatility of 3.75, Z(0) was 0.47, 0.61, and 0.79 mmHg/(L/min) for the 15°, 45°, and 90° devices, respectively. Velocity band and vector plots also indicate better flow patterns in the 45° device. At the same conditions, in vitro Z (0) were 0.69 ± 0.13 and 0.79 ± 0.10 mmHg/(L/min), respectively, for the 45° and 90° models. These Z(0) are 65% smaller than previous TAL designs. In vitro, Z(1) increased with flow rate but was small and unlikely to significantly affect hemodynamics. The optimal design for flow patterns and low impedance was the 45° model.
The Mammalian Cell as a Macromolecular Assembly.

INTRODUCTION. Throughout much of the history of biochemistry a reductionist approach has dominated attempts to understand cell function[1]. While such studies have been essential for identifying cell components and determining their catalytic and structural properties, by necessity, this approach destroys the structural organization that distinguishes a living cell from a test tube containing the same components. In recent years, it has become evident that interactions among macromolecules play an important role in the efficiency of cellular metabolism, and various methodologies have been employed to study such interactions. We have been investigating the mammalian protein synthetic machinery as a model system to understand the importance of structural organization for in vivo cell function.
A STRANGE CAREER: THE HISTORICAL STUDY OF ECONOMIC LIFE

This article attempts to account for professional historians' relative neglect of the history of economic life over the past thirty years, looking mainly at the American case. This neglect seems paradoxical, considering the remarkable transformations that have taken place in world capitalism during this same period. I trace the neglect to the capture of the once interdisciplinary field of economic history by mathematically inclined economists and to the roughly simultaneous turn of historians from social to cultural history. I conclude by suggesting some topics in the history of economic life that seem both timely and exciting. I also suggest some intellectual resources that other disciplines, particularly economic sociology and economic history, could offer should historians decide to tackle the history of economic life once again.
Penetration of hard layers by hypervelocity rod projectiles

Abstract The penetration resistance of hard layers, such as ceramics and hardened steels, struck by high velocity long rod projectiles can be characterized by the depth of penetration (DOP) test. The DOP test can be used to calculate average penetration resistance, which can be expressed as R T . The tests can also be used to compute differential efficiency. For hard materials, these values differ markedly from those for conventional armor steel (RHA). Implications for the effectiveness of hypervelocity penetrators are that the optimum velocity for energy efficient penetration will be much higher for hard materials than for RHA. Furthermore, ceramics will continue to substantially outperform armor steels, while high hardness steels will lose their relative advantages against long rod projectiles above 3 km/s.
Patient acceptance of and satisfaction with rapid HIV Testing in a Labor and Delivery Setting.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate women's acceptance of and satisfaction with rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in a labor and delivery (L&D) setting. Methods: We conducted a cross-sec...
Ice core records of atmospheric CO2 around the last three glacial terminations

Air trapped in bubbles in polar ice cores constitutes an archive for the reconstruction of the global carbon cycle and the relation between greenhouse gases and climate in the past. High-resolution records from Antarctic ice cores show that carbon dioxide concentrations increased by 80 to 100 parts per million by volume 600 ± 400 years after the warming of the last three deglaciations. Despite strongly decreasing temperatures, high carbon dioxide concentrations can be sustained for thousands of years during glaciations; the size of this phase lag is probably connected to the duration of the preceding warm period, which controls the change in land ice coverage and the buildup of the terrestrial biosphere.