cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MULTIPLE RESIDUES SPECIFY EXTERNAL TETRAETHYLAMMONIUM BLOCKADE IN VOLTAGE-GATED POTASSIUM CHANNELS

We have mapped residues in the carboxyl half of the P region of a voltage-gated K+ channel that influence external tetraethylammonium (TEA) block. Fifteen amino acids were substituted with cysteine and expressed in oocytes from monomeric or heterodimeric cRNAs. From a total of six mutant channels with altered TEA sensitivity, three were susceptible to modification by extracellularly applied charged methanethiosulfonates (MTSX). Another residue did not affect TEA block but was protected from MTSX by TEA. MTSX modification of position Y380C, thought to form the TEA binding site, affected TEA affinity only moderately, and this effect could be reversed by additional charge transfer from an oppositely charged MTSX analog. The results show that TEA block is modulated from multiple sites, including residues located deep in the pore and that several side chains besides that of Y380 are exposed at the TEA receptor.
A completion theorem for pro-G-spectra

Abstract We give a very general completion theorem for pro-spectra. We show that, if G is a compact Lie group, M [ ∗ ] is a pro- G -spectrum, and F is a family of (closed) subgroups of G , then the mapping pro-spectrum F ( E F + , M [ ∗ ] ) is the F -adic completion of M [ ∗ ] , in the sense that the map M [ ∗ ] → F ( E F + , M [ ∗ ] ) is the universal map into an algebraically F -adically complete pro-spectrum. Here, F ( E F + , M [ ∗ ] ) denotes the pro- G -spectrum { F ( E F + t , M [ s ] ) } s , t , where E F + t runs over the finite subcomplexes of E F + .
Theoretical investigations of the electronic structure and spectroscopy of mononuclear, non-heme [Fe-NO](6) complexes.

The unusual metal coordination and spin-state of the Fe(III) center in nitrile hydratase (NHase) has stimulated the synthesis of numerous model complexes in efforts to understand the reactivity and spectroscopic properties of the enzyme. A particular problem has been the development of model Fe(III) complexes that exhibit reversible, photolabile binding to nitric oxide (NO) in a manner similar to that observed for the NHase metal center. We now report a detailed NBO analysis of the ground-state chemical bonding in three {Fe−NO}6 complexes that exhibit different responses to irradiation, together with investigations of their spectroscopic properties using semiempirical INDO/S CI singles calculations. Our computational studies reveal a correlation between the photolability of these complexes and the existence of low-energy transitions that promote an electron into the Fe−NO π* antibonding molecular orbital. In addition to providing detailed insights into how the ligand field influences the spectroscopy of t...
Environmental Influence on High Energy Phosphate Metabolites in Porcine Muscle

SUMMARY: Adenosine triphosphate, creatine phosphate and glucose-6-phosphate levels in the muscle of Poland China pigs reared under controlled temperature conditions were studied. Longissimus dorsi muscle from animals reared in 32°C environments had higher initial levels of adenosine triphosphate and creatine phosphate (P < 0.05) and lower levels of glucose-6-phosphate than that from animals reared at 21°C. Muscle from the latter group of animals underwent more rapid post-mortem glycolysis (measured as muscle pH) and more rapid increase in light reflectance. Results indicate that accelerated post-mortem glycolysis in muscle from pigs grown in specified environments may be a reflection of environmental effects upon the ability of porcine muscle to store and maintain high levels of high energy phosphate compounds.
Chemical interactions with the herbicide propanil on propanil-resistant barnyardgrass†

We are examining the interaction of compounds with the herbicide propanil to find synergistic or additive actions that can increase efficacy against propanil-resistant barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli] (R-BYG) without substantial injury to rice. Field tests (herbicidal injury) and laboratory tests (chlorophyll quantification in excised leaves; measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence to determine PSII inhibition) have been conducted on R-BYG and rice tissue exposed to various rates of propanil and additive. Important synergistic interactions on R-BYG in laboratory and field tests were found with propanil plus either the herbicides anilophos or piperophos, or the insecticide carbaryl. In laboratory tests, the insecticide methiocarb and PPG-124 (p-chlorophenyl N-methylcarbamate) were highly effective synergists with propanil on R-BYG. Other important interactions occurred with certain concentrations/application rates when propanil was combined with the herbicides quinclorac, thiobencarb, molinate, or pendimethalin (field tests). Combinations of these or other chemicals with propanil may provide additive or synergistic action useful to control R-BYG without increasing rice injury. Such mixtures might also prevent or delay the development of propanil resistance in this weed species.
A selective cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor suppresses the growth of H-ras-transformed rat intestinal epithelial cells

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Constitutive expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) has been found in 85% of colorectal cancers. Ras mutations are found in 50% of colorectal adenocarcinomas. The aim of this study was to determine the role of COX-2 in ras-induced transformation in rat intestinal epithelial (RIE) cells. METHODS: Cell growth was determined by cell counts. The expression of COX-2 was examined by Northern and Western analyses. For tumorigenicity assays, cells were inoculated into dorsal subcutaneous tissue of athymic nude mice. DNA-fragmentation assays were performed to detect apoptosis. RESULTS: The expression of COX-2 was increased in RIE-Ras cells at both messenger RNA (9-fold) and protein (12-fold) levels. Prostaglandin I2 levels were elevated 2.15-fold in RIE-Ras cells. Serum deprivation further increased COX-2 expression 3.8-fold in RIE-Ras cells. Treatment with a selective COX-2 antagonist (SC58125) inhibited the growth of RIE-Ras cells through inhibition of cell proliferation and by induction of apoptosis. SC-58125 treatment reduced the colony formation in Matrigel by 83.0%. Intraperitoneal administration of SC-58125 suppressed RIE-Ras tumor growth in nude mice by 60.3% in 4 weeks. SC-58125 treatment also induced apoptosis in RIE-Ras cells as indicated by increased DNA fragmentation. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of COX-2 may contribute to tumorigenicity of ras-transformed intestinal epithelial cells. Selective inhibition of COX-2 activity inhibits growth of ras-transformed intestinal epithelial cells and induces apoptosis. (Gastroenterology 1997 Dec;113(6):1883-91)
Histopathologic consequences of hyperglycemic cerebral ischemia during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in pigs

Abstract Background . This study examined whether 34°C or 31°C hypothermia during global cerebral ischemia with hyperglycemic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in surviving pigs improves electroencephalographic (EEG) recovery and histopathologic scores when compared with normothermic animals. Methods . Anesthetized pigs were placed on CPB and randomly assigned to 37°C (n = 9), 34°C (n = 10), or 31°C (n = 8) management. After increasing serum glucose to 300 mg/dL, animals underwent 15 minutes of global cerebral ischemia by temporarily occluding the innominate and left subclavian arteries. Following reperfusion, rewarming, and termination of CPB, animals were recovered for 24 (37°C animals) or 72 hours (34°C and 31°C animals). Daily EEG signals were recorded, and brain histopathology from cortical, hippocampal, and cerebellar regions was graded by an independent observer. Results . Before ischemia, serum glucose concentrations were similar in the 37°C (307 ± 9 mg/dL), 34°C (311 ± 14 mg/dL), and 31°C (310 ± 15) groups. By the first postoperative day, EEG scores in 31°C animals (4.2 ± 0.6) had returned to baseline and were greater than those in the 34°C (3.4 ± 0.5) and 37°C (2.5 ± 0.4) groups ( p p Conclusions . Hypothermia during CPB significantly reduced the morphologic consequences of severe, temporary cerebral ischemia under hyperglycemic conditions, with the greatest protection at 31°C.
Moving double layers

Abstract Using a triple-plasma device, moving double layers have been produced by abruptly increasing the plasma density in the region of the double layers. Propagation velocities up to 3.5 c s have been achieved with their velocity scaling as ν ∼ (2e × δϕ T e ) 1 2 c S .
Significant dose can be lost by extended delivery times in IMRT with x rays but not high-LET radiations.

Purpose: To experimentally simulate IMRT delivery using two human cell modelsin vitro and test the hypothesis that a loss in effective dose resulting from the prolongation of megavoltage x-raytreatment delivery time would be greatly reduced in corresponding IMRT simulations using higher-LET radiation. Methods: The effect of prolonging the delivery time of a treatment fraction was investigatedin vitro using human PC-3 prostate and HGL21 glioblastoma tumorcell lines. Cells were irradiated with x rays from a conventional linear accelerator or with neutrons from a clinical d ( 48.5 ) + Be radiotherapy beam and maintained at 37 ° C throughout. The delivery time for six closely spaced doses, simulating six multiple-port segments, was varied from acute to 60 min for x-rayirradiation, and acute to 120 min for neutron irradiation.Cell survival was measured following summed doses for the six segments of 0.5–6 Gy for x rays and 0.16–2 Gy for neutrons, covering the most likely range of dose per fraction used in clinical radiotherapy. Results: Prolonging x-ray delivery time (from initiation of segment 1 to initiation of segment 6) from 5 to 45 min resulted in a loss in effective total dose (in equivalent 2 Gy multifraction treatments) of 5.6% in the PC-3 cell line and 11.7% in the HGL21 cell line. More clinically common prolongations of 5–30 and 5–15 min resulted in effective dose reductions of 3.8% and 1.7% for PC-3, and 7.3% and 2.9% for HGL21. A loss of less than 0.5% in effective dose was observed for prolongations up to 45 min of similarly effective neutron irradiation of PC-3 and HGL21 cells. Conclusions: Prolonged delivery times of photon fractions could have a significant impact on treatment outcome especially for tumors with a low α / β ratio and short repair halftime. These effects are significant at delivery times commonly associated with IMRT and are variable with cell type. X-rayIMRT should therefore always be planned to minimize dose-fraction delivery time. However, if IMRTtreatments are delivered with high-LET radiation, this considerably reduces the dependence of the biological effect on fraction delivery time even out to 2 h.
Does the Difficulty of an Interruption Affect our Ability to Resume

Research has shown that different types of interruptions can affect their disruptiveness. However, it is unclear how different features of the interrupting task determine its disruptive effects. Specifically, some theories predict that the difficulty of an interruption does not contribute to the disruptive effects of that interruption alone. Disruptive effects can be mediated by the extent to which the interrupting task interferes with the ability to rehearse during the interruption. In this experiment participants performed a single primary task with three interruptions of different difficulty. We found that interruptions were more disruptive when the task minimized the participant's ability to rehearse (as measured by the number of mental operators required to perform the task) and not just when they were more difficult. These results suggest that the ability to rehearse during an interruption is critical in facilitating resumption of a primary task.
High na duv printing tool with combination of oblique illumination source for 0.25 .MU.m lithography application.

In this paper, the performance of quadrapole illumination source under two types of high numerical aperture (NA) deep-ultra-violet (DUV) printing tools, namely, excimer laser stepper with chromatic lens design and step-and-scan systems without chromatic aberration for the application of 0.25μm lithography is studied through simulation. The results are based on both aerial image and Shipley XP89131 negative DUV resist model [1] study. Due to the unique characteristics of oblique illumination source imaging, i.e., imaging by using only zero and first diffraction order light, both stepper resolution limit and depth of focus (DOF) of dense lines are extended. As a result, the proximity effect and the chromatic aberration effect in resist printing are also different from that of conventional illumination source. The optical proximity effect increases under the oblique illumination source as compared to that of conventional illumination source, especially when the light incident angle is large. For chromatic lens aberration, unlike the conventional illumination source, aerial image degradation depends not only on the laser spectral profile and amount of the lens aberration, but also on the mask feature sizes and pattern types.
Hot electrons in low-dimensional phonon systems

A simple bulk model of electron-phonon coupling in metals has been partially successful in explaining experiments on metal films that actually involve surface- or other low-dimensional phonons. However, by an exact application of this standard model to a semi-infinite substrate with a free surface, making use of the actual vibrational modes of the substrate, we show that such agreement is fortuitous, and that the model actually predicts a low-temperature crossover from the familiar ${T}^{5}$ temperature dependence to a stronger ${T}^{6}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\mathrm{log}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}T$ scaling. Comparison with existing experiments suggests a widespread breakdown of the standard model of electron-phonon coupling in metals.
Process alternative generation from product geometric design data

A fundamental element in operating a competitive manufacturing system is the ability to control material, cost, and other production resources required to transform the raw material to a finished product. To successfully control cost, it is essential that a reliable assessment of the tasks required to manufacture the product be made. This involves identifying the operations and the machine tools required. In this research, a method of decomposing polyhedral components to generate all possible ways to process the part is presented. The technique takes as input the geometric design data of the product, analyzes and interprets the design to identify the volume of material to be machined out from the raw material block to obtain the finished product. The volume of material to be removed are characterized to generate various approach directions from which the material can be machined out. The alternate tool approach directions are used to construct an AND/OR graph that captures the process alternatives. Using ...
Regional cerebral blood flow response to recognition memory versus semantic classification tasks

Abstract Two randomly assigned groups, N = 7 each, of neurologically normal patients were composed. One group, RM, had regional cerebral blood flow measurements during a recognition memory probe test; the other group, SC, had rCBF measurements during a semantic classification task, using the same stimulus and response features as the RM task. Thus, the groups differed only in the cognitive instruction they were executing. The RM group showed a significantly lower change from resting baseline to activation, in mean left hemisphere initial slope index, than did the SC group. The RM group, but not the SC group, showed a significant inverse correlation between occipital flow and accuracy of memory performance as indicated by d ′. Correlations between age and hemispheric initial slope index, and between homologous left and right hemisphere sites, were also described. The results are considered to support an anatomical basis for the distinction between episodic and semantic memory and to suggest that occipital flow may diminish with accurate memory performance because of an upstream demand of blood in the medial temporal lobes.
Oxidative functionalization of benzylic C–H bonds by DDQ

C–H activation of the methyl group of toluene and related ArCH3 derivatives by 2,3-dichloro-4,5-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) gives insertion products, ArCH2O[C6Cl2(CN)2]OH via a rate-determining hydride abstraction by DDQ. The resulting benzylic ether can undergo reactions with phosphines to give benzylic phosphonium salts (Wittig reagents) and with phosphites to give phosphonate esters (Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reagents).
Double-mirror catadioptric sensors with ultrawide field of view and no distortion

We compute a family of double-mirror catadioptric sensors with ultrawide field of view and no distortion. The two concentric mirrors are rotationally symmetric, and the inside mirror is a revolved conic section. The mapping between the object and the image planes was linear, hence the lack of distortion. The equations describing the outer mirror were determined by the projection induced by the inside mirror and the rectifying property of the sensor. Solving the resulting nonlinear ordinary differential equations yielded the cross section of the secondary mirror. The sensors we present require no further digital processing.
Amylin blunts hyperphagia and reduces weight and fat gain during recovery in socially stressed rats

During recovery from social stress in a visible burrow system (VBS), during which a dominance hierarchy is formed among the males, rats display hyperphagia and gain weight preferentially as visceral adipose tissue. By proportionally increasing visceral adiposity, social stress may contribute to the establishment of metabolic disorder. Amylin was administered to rats fed ad libitum during recovery from VBS stress in an attempt to prevent hyperphagia and the resultant gain in body weight and fat mass. Amylin treatment reduced food intake, weight gain, and accumulation of fat mass in male burrow rats, but not in male controls that spent time housed with a single female rather than in the VBS. Amylin did not alter neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related peptide (AgRP), or proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA expression in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus as measured at the end of the recovery period, nor did it affect plasma corticosterone or leptin. Amylin exerted most of its effect on food intake during the first few days of recovery, possibly through antagonism of NPY and/or increasing leptin sensitivity. The potential for chronic social stress to contribute to metabolic disorder is diminished by amylin treatment, though the neuroendocrine mechanisms behind this effect remain elusive.
Mustela erminea (Short-tailed weasel)

Several pairs of metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes can be distinguished from one another, but most of the acrocentrics are similar. Two pairs of the acrocentrics, however, are unique. One has a deep secondary constriction at the middle, and the other is distinctly smaller than the rest. There is no great difficulty identifying the sex chromosomes, especially the Y.
A model and a system for machine recognition of speech

This paper presents a model for machine recognition of connected speech and the details of a specific implementation of the model, the HEARSAY system. The model consists of a small set of cooperating independent parallel processes that are capable of helping in the decoding of a spoken utterance either individually or collectively. The processes use the "hypothesize-and-test" paradigm. The structure of HEARSAY is illustrated by considering its operation in a particular task situation: voice-chess. The task is to recognize a spoken move in a given board position. Procedures for determination of parameters, segmentation, and phonetic descriptions are outlined. The use of semantic, syntactic, lexical, and phonological sources of knowledge in the generation and verification of hypotheses is described. Preliminary results of recognition of some utterances are given.
Bright, dark, and gray spatial soliton states in photorefractive media

A theory based on the Kukhtarev–Vinetskii model is developed that provides the evolution equation of one-dimensional optical spatial solitons in photorefractive media. In the steady-state regime and under appropriate external bias conditions, our analysis indicates that the underlying wave equation can exhibit bright and dark as well as gray spatial soliton states. The characteristics of these self-trapped optical beams are discussed in detail.
Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma with complex supernumerary ring chromosomes composed of chromosome 3 segments

Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma is a rare, recently described, and distinctive low-grade tumor of soft tissue. To our knowledge, there is only one previous report on the cytogenetics of this tumor. That case showed complex structural abnormalities, including a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 1 and 10 [t(1;10)(p22;q24)] with loss of chromosomes 3 and 13. We describe here a second case showing supernumerary ring chromosomes, and a derivative chromosome 13, with additional material on the short arm. We conclude that the presence of chromosomal abnormalities supports the neoplastic nature of this tumor and aids in its diagnosis. Furthermore, we also postulate that the finding of ring chromosomes, which have been identified in other low-grade soft-tissue tumors, may have important prognostic implications regarding the aggressiveness of this neoplasm.
Algebraic surface design with Hermite interpolation

This paper presents an efficient algorithm called Hermite interpolation, for constructing low-degree algebraic surfaces, which contain, with C1 or tangent plane continuity, any given collection of points and algebraic space curves having derivative information. Positional as well as derivative constraints on an implicitly defined algebraic surface are translated into a homogeneous linear system, where the unknowns are the coefficients of the polynomial defining the algebraic surface. Computaional details of the Hermite interpolation algorithm are presented along with several illustrative applications of the interpolation technique to construction of joining or blending surfaces for solid models as well as fleshing surfaces for curved wire frame models. A heuristic approach to interactive shape control of implicit algebraic surfaces is also given, and open problems in algebraic surface design are discussed.
The Cytoskeleton and Cell Signaling: Component Localization and Mechanical Coupling

Janmey, Paul A. The Cytoskeleton and Cell Signaling: Component Localization and Mechanical Coupling. Physiol. Rev. 78: 763–781, 1998. — The three-dimensional intracellular network formed by the fil...
Simulating genealogies of selected alleles in a population of variable size.

Summary An importance-sampling method is presented that allows the simulation of the history of a selected allele in a population of variable size. A sample path describing the number of copies of an allele that arose as a single mutant is generated by simulating backwards from the current frequency until the allele is lost. The mathematical expectation of a quantity or statistic is then estimated by taking averages over replicate simulations, weighting each replicate by the ratio of its probabilities under the Markov chains for the forward and backwards processes. This method was used to find the average age of a selected allele in an exponentially growing population. In terms of the eect on average allele age, selection in favour of an allele is not equivalent to exponential growth. To generate gene genealogies of a sample of copies of a selected allele, the neutral coalescent model is simulated for the subpopulation containing only the selected allele. From the resulting intra-allelic genealogy, it is possible to calculate the likelihood of the selection intensity as a function of the observed level of variability at marker loci closely linked to the selected allele. This method was used to estimate the intensity of selection aecting the D32 allele at the CCR5 locus in Europeans and a mutant at the MLH1 locus associated with colorectal cancer in the Finnish population.
Profiling the Multiple Role Planning Attitudes of College Women

We conducted a latent profile analysis of scores on a measure of multiple role planning attitudes obtained from an ethnically diverse sample of undergraduate women (age range: 18–29 years) to determine whether clusters of participants with distinct profiles of these attitudes were identifiable and whether these groups differed with respect to their educational level, relationship commitment status, and in their responses to independent measures of their relationship dispositions and orientations. Findings yielded support for the presence of three groups representing varying patterns of attitudinal investment in multiple role planning. Relative to their peers in the other two classes, women in the “actively engaged” group demonstrated significantly lower levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance, higher scores on relational interdependence, and stronger dispositions toward healthy self-assertion. Implications of these findings for both future research and for interventions designed to promote adaptive mul...
Simulation of SiO2-based piezoresistive microcantilevers

This article uses finite element design for optimization of piezoresistive Si covered SiO 2 microcantilevers. The maximum resistance changes were systematically investigated by varying piezoresistor geometries and doping concentration. Our simulation results show that both cantilever deflection displacement andR/R change decrease when the thickness of piezoresistors increases; the highest sensitivity can be obtained when the piezoresistor length is approximately 2/5 of the SiO 2 cantilever length; increase of both Si width and leg width result in decrease in cantilever deflection and sensitivity; the sensitivity of cantilevers with lower doping concentrations is more significant than those with higher doping concentrations. Temperature control is critical for thin piezoresistor in lowering the S/N ratio and increasing the sensitivity. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Multioperand decimal addition

This paper introduces four techniques for performing fast decimal addition on multiple binary coded decimal (BCD) operands. Three of the techniques speculate BCD correction values and use chaining to correct intermediate results. The first speculates over one addition. The second speculates over two additions. The third employs multiple instances of the second technique in parallel and then merges the results. The fourth technique uses a binary carry-save adder tree and produces a binary sum. Combinational logic is then used to correct the sum and determine the carry into the next digit. Multioperand adder designs are constructed and synthesized for four to sixteen input operands. Analyses are performed on the synthesis results and the merits of each technique are discussed. Finally, these techniques are compared to previous attempts made at speeding up decimal addition.
Synergistic effects of halogen bond and π–π interactions in thiophene-based building blocks

Although recognized as a significant force in crystal engineering, halogen bonding (XB) has been scarcely investigated in “bottom-up” approaches towards organic electronics. We report, herein, the use of a thiophene-based building block, pyridyl-thiophene (Pyr-T), to achieve an assembly driven by XB and π–π stacking interactions with iodopentafluorobenzene (IPFB). Spectroscopic and thermal analysis of the co-crystal provide indirect evidence of the assembly. The combined effects of XB and π–π stacking are confirmed experimentally via X-ray crystallography. Density functional theory (DFT) computations support experimental observations. The results of the study speak to the use of halogen bond driven self-assembly in organic electronic device application.
Ponderomotive potential effects in semiconductors

Summary form only given. We have observed induced absorption below the band edge and optical sideband generation in semiconductors strongly driven by intense mid-infrared (MIR) pulses. Phenomena of this type occur in matter when the applied electromagnetic field has a ponderomotive potential, U/sub p/=(2/spl pi/e/sup 2//mc)(I//spl omega//sup 2/), comparable to or greater than the photon energy, /spl planck//spl omega/. Matter in the presence of such strong electromagnetic fields exhibit properties that cannot be described by perturbation theory We have observed evidence of ponderomotive potential effects in strongly driven semiconductors: induced absorption below the band edge and the generation of multiple off-resonance optical sidebands. The optical sideband generation may be used as a means of characterizing MIR pulse duration and wavelength using near-infrared detectors, which are more sensitive than MIR detectors.
Traffic lights for axon growth: proteoglycans and their neuronal receptors

Axon growth is a central event in the development and post-injury plasticity of the nervous system. Growing axons encounter a wide variety of environmental instructions. Much like traffic lights in controlling the migrating axons, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) often lead to "stop" and "go" growth responses in the axons, respectively. Recently, the LAR family and NgR family molecules were identified as neuronal receptors for CSPGs and HSPGs. These discoveries provided molecular tools for further study of mechanisms underlying axon growth regulation. More importantly, the identification of these proteoglycan receptors offered potential therapeutic targets for promoting post-injury axon regeneration.
Vitamin A combined with retinoic acid increases retinol uptake and lung retinyl ester formation in a synergistic manner in neonatal rats

Vitamin A (VA) is stored in tissues predominantly as retinyl esters (REs), which provide substrate for the production of bioactive retinoids. Retinoic acid (RA), a principal metabolite, has been shown to induce postnatal lung development. To better understand lung RE storage, we compared VA (given as retinyl palmitate), RA, and a nutrient-metabolite combination, VARA, given orally on postnatal days 5-7, for their ability to increase lung RE in neonatal rats. VARA increased lung RE significantly [ approximately 14, 2.4, 2.1, and <1 nmol/g for VARA, VA, RA, and control (C), respectively; P < 0.001]; the increase by VARA was more than additive compared with the effects of VA and RA alone. Lung histology and morphometry were unchanged. In a 6 h metabolic study, providing [(3)H]retinol with VARA, compared with VA or C, increased the uptake of newly absorbed (3)H by 3-fold, indicating that VARA stimulated the uptake of [(3)H]retinol and its retention as [(3)H]RE in neonatal lungs. After cessation of VARA, lung RE remained increased for 9 d afterward, through the period of alveolar development. In conclusion, VARA, a 10:1 nutrient-metabolite combination, increased lung RE significantly compared with VA alone and could be a promising therapeutic option for enhancing the delivery of VA to the lungs.
Anxious and Depressive Symptomatology Among Male Youth: The Joint and Interactive Contribution of Temperament and Executive Functioning

Few studies have investigated the combined effects of temperament and executive functioning (EF) on anxious and depressive symptomatology in youth. The current study is the first to investigate the joint and interactive contribution of mother- and youth self-reported affective dimensions of temperament and EF to the explanation of anxious and depressive symptomatology. Participants included 174 adolescent males (M age = 13.6 ± 1.35). Results confirmed the joint and interactive contribution of temperament in the explanation of anxious and depressive symptomatology. Further, EF contributed to the explanation of anxious/depressive symptomatology via interaction with youth-, but not mother-reported, temperament; it was not a unique predictor. Results support the need to consider both affective dimensions of temperament and EF in etiological models of anxious and depressive symptomatology, which has implications for identifying at-risk youth and developing early intervention and targeted problem-specific prevention programs.
A barrier retractor to reduce surgical site infections and wound disruptions in obese patients undergoing cesarean delivery: a randomized controlled trial.

Background Surgical site infections (SSIs) are an important cause of morbidity following cesarean delivery, particularly in obese patients. Methods to reduce SSIs after cesarean delivery would have an important impact in obese obstetric patients. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Alexis O cesarean delivery retractor, a barrier self-retaining retractor, reduces SSIs and wound disruptions in obese patients undergoing cesarean delivery. Study Design This was a randomized controlled trial of obese women (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) undergoing nonemergent cesarean delivery. Patients were randomized to the treatment group (using the Alexis O cesarean delivery retractor) or to the control group (using conventional handheld retractors). The primary outcome was SSI or wound disruption during the 30 day postoperative period. Secondary outcomes included operative time, estimated blood loss, change in hemoglobin, antiemetic use, length of postoperative hospital stay, hospital readmission, and other postoperative complications. Results A total of 301 patients were enrolled in the study. One hundred forty-four patients were randomized to the treatment group and 157 to the control group. Baseline characteristics and indications for cesarean delivery were similar between the 2 groups. Median body mass index was 40.1 kg/m 2 . There were no significant differences between the treatment and the control group in the primary outcome of SSI or wound disruption rates at the 30 day assessment (20.6% vs 17.6%, P = .62), during the postoperative inpatient hospitalization or at the 1–2 week postoperative visit. There were also no differences in the primary outcome when adjusting for obesity class or thickness of the subcuticular layer. Patients in the treatment group had lower rates of uterine exteriorization (54.3% vs 87.3%, P Conclusion Use of the Alexis retractor in cesarean delivery deliveries did not decrease SSI or wound disruption rates in an obese population. Its use as a retractor should be left to the discretion of the surgeon and clinical circumstances.
Health Implications of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin Exposure in Primates

Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was administered in the diet at a level of 500 parts per trillion to eight adult female rhesus monkeys for nine months. Effects included acne, loss of hair and eyelashes and periorbital edema during the initial three months of exposure. There was also a decrease in 17β-estradiol and progesterone levels as well as the development of irregularities in their menstrual cycles. Inability to conceive and early abortions occurred in the animals following six months exposure to TCDD. Death in 5 of the 8 experimental animals was preceded by a severe pancytopenia. Microscopic changes included suppression of hematopoiesis in the bone marrow, hypocellularity of the lymphoid tissue, widespread hemorrhage, cardiac hypertrophy, edema and dilatation, hyperplasia and metaplasia of ductal tissue throughout the body, hypertrophic gastritis with ulceration, and dilatation of the biliary system. Death in most instances was attributed to the extensive hemorrhage that was associated with the thrombocytopenia.
Abstract C72: Estradiol-ERβ signaling axis in disparity of prostate cancer in African American men

Our study showed that high circulating estrogens and estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) may be implicated in prostate cancer (PCa) progression, and had higher expression level in African American (AA) than Caucasian American (CA) men. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The objective of this study was to investigate the signaling cross-talk between ERβ; and AR in vitro and in vivo levels. Prostate cancer cells; LNCaP, C4-2B and PC3 were treated with different concentrations and at different time points with 17β-Estradiol (E2) and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and examined for cell proliferation by WST assay, promoter activity by luciferase assay, DNA-protein interaction by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. After E2 or DHT treatment, the translocation of ERβ; and AR in PCa cells was also examined using fluorescence microscope. Our results show that ERβ; was stimulated by treatment of cells with 10nM DHT and AR was also induced by treating PCa cells with10nM E2. These results were confirmed by promoter activity of truncated psPSA-luc in either PCa cell lines or Cos-7 cells. The predesigned Androgen Response Element (ARE) was bound to the protein9s receptor after E2 induction. ChIP experiment corroborated the cross-talk between AR and ERβ; after treating C4-2B cells with 10nM E2 for 30 min up to 1.5 hr. Immunofluorescence depicted colocalization of AR and ERβ; in the nucleus after 30 min from E2 treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating crosstalk between ERβ; and AR signaling in PCa in response to E2 treatment. Our results implicate potential therapeutic application by targeting AR and ERβ; in castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). Citation Format: Zakaria Y. Abd Elmageed, Hogyoung Kim, Raju Thomas, Krishnarao Moparty, Asim B. Abdel-Mageed. Estradiol-ERβ signaling axis in disparity of prostate cancer in African American men. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Sixth AACR Conference: The Science of Cancer Health Disparities; Dec 6–9, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014;23(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C72. doi:10.1158/1538-7755.DISP13-C72
5. Diffraction Techniques

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the most important experimental aspects of surface-sensitive diffraction. It discusses the essentials to set up a diffraction experiment and interpret the results. The chapter discusses the atomic structure of surfaces, by discussing the general types of surface crystallographic information that can be obtained, with a surface-sensitive diffraction technique. The chapter also explains two major techniques, low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED). It discusses LEED, because of the much greater activity historically and presently in LEED. It explains that RHEED focuses on those experimental aspects that are unique, different, or of particular value in certain experiments. It discusses that the measurement of surface extended X-ray-absorption fine structure (EXAFS), a potentially quite powerful diffraction technique, can be used to determine the local structural environment around individual types of surfaces atoms. It is based on measuring the diffraction of a spherical wave that represents a photoelectron emitted from a particular type of atom. The chapter concludes that the development of technology for surface-sensitive diffraction had lagged considerably behind that of the other surface analysis techniques. Further impetus to this development is the marriage of surface science and ultrahigh-vacuum technology, with high-energy electron microscopy and diffraction, a field at the forefront of technology, in which the ideas of instrumental response, data quality, and quantitative interpretation of results are firmly established. It is likely that this union will bring significant advances both in the understanding of surface crystallography and in the development of the experimental techniques.
Transmission of Corn Earworm Resistance from Zapalote Chico to Topcross Progenies

Cameron and Anderson (1966) found that the exotic corn strain ‘Zapalote Chico’ was extremely resistant to corn earworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie). Silks from this strain were shown by Bennett et al. (1967) to be resistant to earworm feeding in field tests and in laboratory tests when larvae were fed freshly excised silks. Utilizing meridic media containing lyophilized silks from Zapalote Chico and Mp319, Straub and Fairchild (1970) obtained significantly lower 8-day larval weights on the Zapalote Chico media. They hypothesized that silks from this strain contained some chemical factor that acted as a feeding deterrent or a growth inhibitor. The present study was undertaken to determine if the Zapalote Chico resistance factor could be genetically transmitted to its progenies. The resistant strain, Zapalote Chico, and the susceptible synthetic, ‘Iowa Super Stiff Stalk,’ were used as topcross tester parents and crossed on 7 single crosses encompassing a wide range in maturity for comparing the transmission of earworm resistance.
Diagnostic Testing and Disease Monitoring in Birdshot Chorioretinopathy

Birdshot chorioretinopathy (BSCR) is a rare form of posterior uveitis in which hypopigmented choroidal lesions are scattered throughout the posterior pole. In order to avoid the poor natural history of BSCR, many practitioners would argue that it is critical to diagnose and carefully monitor the often subtle activity of this disease; BSCR can progress insidiously in a white and painless eye, and treatment algorithms based on visual acuity, vitreous inflammation, and retinal vascular leakage of fluorescein alone have been ineffective. This article reviews the various modalities that can be used to diagnose and monitor BSCR, including the clinical and ophthalmoscopic features, diagnostic criteria, electroretinography (ERG--full field, multifocal, and pattern), fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green (ICG) angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus autofluorescence (AF), visual fields, HLA A29 testing, and other laboratory testing. HLA-A29 testing can be useful in diagnostically borderline cases, but a positive test is not as useful as one might think in cases where the clinical suspicion for BSCR is low. Out of all the testing modalities, the ERG has been studied most extensively in its relationship to successful treatment. The key parameter is the 30 Hz flicker implicit time, which is abnormal in 70% of patients at baseline. A normal implicit time is correlated with the chance that a patient can be successfully tapered from systemic immunomodulatory therapy without recurrence. Alternatively, some practitioners use ICG angiography or visual field testing for adjunctive monitoring. OCT is used most commonly to follow macular edema. While there is no consensus on how to best monitor disease activity, our institution uses serial ERGs as an adjunct to the normal exam.
MANIFEST ANXIETY AND VOCATIONAL PREFERENCE AMONG MALE GRADUATE STUDENTS

Holland (1966) has asserted that most people can be categorized as being one of six personality types with corresponding environments: Realistic, Intellectual, Social, Conventional, Enterprising, and Artistic. According to Holland's theoretical formulations, each environment is dominated by a given type of personality wherein individuals search for vocations that will lead to fulfillment of their needs. Relatively little research has been concerned with the relationship between anxiety per se and vocational choice; however, some implications may be drawn from the existing literature. Steiner and Vannoy (1966) found that the Manifest Anxiety Scale (MAS) was positively correlated with conformity which persisted in the absence of social pressure. More recently Hountras and Scharf (1970) reported that Ss who were external in locus of control were significantly more anxious than were Ss who were internal. The research might be interpreted to suggest that the intellectual personality types might be less anxious, with conventional, artistic, and realistic types being more anxious. Ss were 145 randomly selected male graduate students at the University of North Dakota who were drawn from 18 departments and grouped into Holland's six classifications. Ss were administered the forced-choice MAS (Heineman, 1953) and Holland's (1965) Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI). No significant differences were found among the six personality types (P = 2.11, p > .05). The artistic group had the highest mean (27.74) and the social group had the lowest mean (23.17). The groups expected to be more anxious were the three most anxious groups; however, the intellectual group was only slightly less anxious than these three groups. The relationship of anxiety to the VPI scales showed only slight correlations. The largest correlation of -.I5 occurred with the Enterprising scale. It seems reasonable to conclude that anxiety, as measured by the forcedchoice version of the Manifest Anxiety Scale, is not related to the vocational choices of males in graduate school as measured by Holland's scale. This might mean that graduate school might be seen as a relatively homogeneous work environment for the six vocational types. If future research shows that differing amounts of anxiety are found for different work environments. the difference might be due to the environments themselves rather than
A fully electronic microfabricated gas chromatograph with complementary capacitive detectors for indoor pollutants

This paper reports a complete micro gas chromatography (μGC) system in which all the components are lithographically microfabricated and electronically interfaced. The components include a bi-directional Knudsen pump, a preconcentrator, separation columns and a pair of capacitive gas detectors; together, these form the iGC3.c2 system. All the fluidic components of the system are fabricated by a common three-mask lithographic process. The Knudsen pump is a thermomolecular pump that provides air flow to the μGC without any moving parts. The film heaters embedded in the separation columns permit temperature programming. The capacitive detectors provide complementary response patterns, enhancing vapor recognition and resolving co-eluting peaks. With the components assembled on printed circuit boards, the system has a footprint of 8×10 cm2 . Using room air as the carrier gas, the system is used to experimentally demonstrate the analysis of 19 chemicals with concentration levels on the order of parts per million (p.p.m.) and parts per billion (p.p.b.). The tested chemicals include alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, aldehydes, halogenated hydrocarbons and terpenes. This set of chemicals represents a variety of common indoor air pollutants, among which benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) are of particular interest.