cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of novel compounds that enhance colon cancer cell sensitivity to inflammatory apoptotic ligands.

Immune and inflammatory death ligands expressed within neoplastic tissue could potentially target apoptosis to transformed cells. To develop approaches that accentuate the anti-cancer potential of the inflammatory response, the Chembridge DIVERSetTM library was screened for compounds that accentuated apoptosis in a strictly TNF-dependent manner. We identified a number of novel compounds with this activity, the most active of these, AK3 and AK10, sensitized colon cancer cells to TNF at 0.5 μM and 2 μM, respectively, without inducing apoptosis on their own. The activity of these compounds was structure-dependent and general, as they accentuated cell death by TNF or Fas ligation in multiple colon cancer cell lines. Both AK3 and AK10 arrested cells in mitosis, with live cell imaging indicating that mitotically arrested cells were the source of apoptotic bodies. AK3 accentuated caspase-8 and caspase-9 activation with little effect on NFκB target gene activation. Enhanced caspase activation corresponded to an increased expression of TNFR1 on the cell surface. To determine the general interplay between mitotic arrest and TNF sensitivity, Aurora kinase (MLN8054 and MLN8237) and PLK1 (BI2536) inhibitors were tested for their ability to sensitize cells to TNF. PLK1 inhibition was particularly effective and influenced TNFR1 surface presentation and caspase cleavage like AK3, even though it arrested mitosis at an earlier stage. We propose that AK3 and AK10 represent a new class of mitotic inhibitor and that selected mitotic inhibitors may be useful for treating colon cancers or earlier lesions that have a high level of inflammatory cell infiltrate.
Chronic administration of R-flurbiprofen attenuates learning impairments in transgenic amyloid precursor protein mice.

Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with a reduced incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We and others have shown that certain NSAIDs reduce secretion of Aβ42 in cell culture and animal models, and that the effect of NSAIDs on Aβ42 is independent of the inhibition of cyclooxygenase by these compounds. Since Aβ42 is hypothesized to be the initiating pathologic molecule in AD, the ability of these compounds to lower Aβ42 selectively may be associated with their protective effect. We have previously identified R-flurbiprofen (tarenflurbil) as a selective Aβ42 lowering agent with greatly reduced cyclooxygenase activity that shows promise for testing this hypothesis. In this study we report the effect of chronic R-flurbiprofen treatment on cognition and Aβ loads in Tg2576 APP mice. A four-month preventative treatment regimen with R-flurbiprofen (10 mg/kg/day) was administered to young Tg2576 mice prior to robust plaque or Aβ pathology. This treatment regimen improved spatial learning as assessed by the Morris water maze, indicated by an increased spatial bias during the third probe trial and an increased utilization of a place strategy to solve the water maze. These results are consistent with an improvement in hippocampal- and medial temporal lobe-dependent memory function. A modest, though not statistically significant, reduction in formic acid-soluble levels of Aβ was also observed. To determine if R-flurbiprofen could reverse cognitive deficits in Tg2576 mice where plaque pathology was already robust, a two-week therapeutic treatment was given to older Tg2576 mice with the same dose of R-flurbiprofen. This approach resulted in a significant decrease in Aβ plaque burden but no significant improvement in spatial learning. We have found that chronic administration of R-flurbiprofen is able to attenuate spatial learning deficits if given prior to plaque deposition in Tg2576 mice. Given its ability to selectively target Aβ42 production and improve cognitive impairments in transgenic APP mice, as well as promising data from a phase 2 human clinical trial, future studies are needed to investigate the utility of R-flurbiprofen as an AD therapeutic and its possible mechanisms of action.
Systems of Parabolic Equations with Continuous and Discrete Delays

Abstract In this paper we investigate the global existence and the dynamics of a coupled system of nonlinear parabolic equations where the nonlinear “reaction function” may depend on both continuous (infinite or finite) and discrete delays. It is shown that if the reaction function is locally Lipschitz continuous and the system possesses a pair of coupled upper and lower solutions then there exists a unique global solution to the system without any quasimonotone condition on the reaction function. For systems with mixed quasimonotone reaction functions we use the monotone method to establish more dynamic property of the parabolic system in terms of the quasisolutions of the corresponding elliptic system. This approach yields a (global) attractor of the parabolic system, and under some additional conditions this attractor leads to the existence and asymptotic stability of a solution of the elliptic system. Application to three model problems in population dynamics and chemical reactions is given.
Editorial response: coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections: A diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

In the early 1980s, coagulase-negative staphylococci were recognized as important pathogens causing endovascular infections [1]. Since then, they have been found to be the most common cause of prosthetic valve endocarditis and other infections of biopolymer devices [2-6]. Although the valve is most frequently contaminated during surgery, cases of coagulasenegative staphylococcal endocarditis have occurred as late infections and on nonprosthetic valves [3]. The microorganisms have also been found to be an important cause of hospitalacquired infective endocarditis [7]; intravascular devices are the source of the endocarditis in approximately one-half of these patients. As we come to associate coagulase-negative staphylococci with prosthetic valve infections, it is important to remember that 5% of infections occur in association with native valves [4].
Use of conjugate reinforcement to evaluate the relative reinforcing effects of various narrative forms

Abstract Five boys of varying ages and capabilities were offered five types of auditory narration in an attempt to determine whether the continuous reinforcing effects of these diverse stimuli would be different for each individual. The types of auditory narration offered were: a story, poem, journal article, sentences in reverse order, and words in reverse order. Each narrative form was presented by a tape recording that was programmed by a conjugate-reinforcement unit. The individual experimental sessions were composed of six segments; five offering the narration as an accelerating consequence and one as a decelerating consequence. When the narration was programmed as an accelerator the S had to press a hand switch at or beyond the rate of 60 presses per minute to be granted the stimuli at full intensity. During the decelerating contingency, the reverse was true. If the S responded at the rate of 60 presses per minute he was presented silence. The results demonstrated that for these Ss any form of narration was more reinforcing than silence. Although some narrative forms generally maintained more consistent rates than others, it was apparent that each S had a rate pattern that was quite unique.
Critically interrogating the elusive sign: The new ‘race’ theories and a plausible alternative for understanding cultural racializations of Latino/a identities

Recent theorizations of the ‘race’ concept in Latino Studies are improvements over earlier social theories of race as ethnicity, class, or nation. Yet, theorizing race as hybrid, diaspora, difference, or other often reproduces the central limitation of defining race through metaphorical and tangentially related signs. Each of the four theories often shifts the discussion on race away from the interpersonal and institutional processes of racism. A plausible alternative is the notion of cultural racialization that rests upon the processes of racist practices, ideas, discourses, and institutions. The experiences of Latina/os as racialized groups provide the basis for this proposed reconceptualization. Responses to racism on the part of aggrieved Latina/o communities are seen as distinct from race, and best captured by conceptualizing new ethnicities coupled with the re-making of ancestral connections.
Equivalence assessment for interchangeability based on two-sided tests.

Interchangeability was originally developed in order to assess drug bioequivalence beyond average bioequivalence. In 2003, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a Guidance documenting the procedures on using in vivo bioequivalence crossover trial to assess interchangeability between test and reference products. In general, this FDA Guidance describes interchangeability in terms of population and individual bioequivalence. The Guidance procedures were criticized for their lack of sampling distribution of the test statistics. As a result, the critical points were generated from simulation studies without adjusting for sample size. Further more, they lack consistency with average bioequivalence required in the 1992 FDA Guidance. Alternative interchangeability or interchangeability procedures were proposed to measure the probability of individual response difference under two treatments within prespecified lower and upper limits. Interchangeability is claimed if this probability is greater than a p...
Explaining Ugandan Intervention in Congo: Evidence and Interpretations

This paper enquires into the reasons for Uganda's 1998 intervention in the recent Congo war, arguably the most important impediment to economic and political progress in sub-Saharan Africa. It examines a number of prominent arguments about the intervention, and determines that the Rwanda–Uganda alliance should be at the centre of a ‘thick description’ of the intervention. That is, the Uganda–Rwanda alliance was the key to President Museveni's initial decision in 1998, but other explanations contribute to our understanding of the intervention by providing information about its context, justification and permissive causes. Further, the paper suggests that Uganda's initial reasons for entering Congo differ from its reasons for remaining there after having failed to realise its initial goals.
Selective modification and purification of phosphopeptides for automated sequence analysis

Abstract A method is described for the selective purification of 32 P-labeled peptides for sequence analysis. The procedure is based on the differential retention on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of the peptide containing phosphoserine versus dehydroalanine obtained by alkaline β-elimination of the phosphate. The method was tested using two synthetic phosphopeptides representing the phosphorylation site in pyruvate kinase and one of the sites in glycogen synthase.
Hydrogen-bonding as a tool for building one-dimensional structures based on dimetal building blocks

The ligands isonicotinamide and nicotinamide are used to form assemblies of dimetal (M 2 ) building units via a combination of coordinate bonds and intermolecular hydrogen-bond interactions. Polymeric networks of the linear, zig-zag and sinusoidal varieties are observed in the solid state depending on the ligands and metal precursors involved.
U.S. foreign policy and the future of democracy in Iran

The key to solving Iran's nuclear problem is the fate of the country's democratic movement. To assist this movement, a successful U.S. strategy must include these seven pillars and have the patience for the Tehran regime to collapse under its own inconsistencies.
Analysis of the antiestrogenic activity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in human ovarian carcinoma BG-1 cells.

We have used human ovarian carcinoma BG-1 cells to determine which steps in the pathway of estrogen signaling are disrupted by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). We report that inhibition of estrogen signaling occurs between 7 and 18 h after TCDD treatment and that this effect is not caused by a decrease in estradiol concentration. TCDD decreased estrogen receptor (ER) levels in cells grown in standard medium; however, in estrogen-stripped medium, ER (but not AhR) levels were dramatically reduced (∼7-fold) but were not decreased further by TCDD. Because the absolute level of estradiol inducibility and inhibition by TCDD was similar in either medium, decreases in ER are not responsible for the antiestrogenic effect. The AhR also did not bind to the estrogen-responsive element (ERE) in vitro, and ERE binding by nuclear ER complexes was not decreased by TCDD, indicating that the effect of TCDD does not involve direct competition between the AhR and ER for DNA binding. However, inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide blocked the TCDD-induced inhibition of ER-dependent gene expression. Overall, our results are consistent with the action of a TCDD-induced protein at a step(s) after ER-DNA binding, most likely at the level of gene transcription.
Phenomenology of children and adolescents with bipolar spectrum disorders

having BP-I primarily because they did not meet the DSM-IV duration criteria for a manic or mixed episode. There were no significant differences among the BP-I and BP-NOS groups in age of onset, duration of illness, lifetime rates of comorbid diagnoses, suicidal ideation and major depression, family history, and the types of manic symptoms that were present during the most serious lifetime episode. Compared with youth with BP-NOS, subjects with BP-I had more severe manic symptoms, greater overall functional impairment, and higher rates of hospitalization, psychosis, and suicide attempts. Elevated mood was present in 81.9% of subjects with BP-NOS and 91.8% of subjects with BP-I. Subjects with BP-II had higher rates of comorbid anxiety disorders compared with the other 2 groups and had less functional impairment and lower rates of psychiatric hospitalization than the subjects with BP-I. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with BP-II and BP-NOS have a phenotype that is on a continuum with that of youth with BP-I. Elevated mood is a common feature of youth with BP-spectrum illness. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63:1139-1148
Pharmacologic and biochemical modulation of human T-lymphocyte colony formation: Hormonal influences

The generation of T-cell colonies from human peripheral blood lymphocytes is a sensitive in vitro measure of cell-mediated immunity, considered to be under different and/or additional regulatory controls than short-term liquid cultures. The influences of steroids (aldosterone, estradiol, diethylstilbestrol, hydrocortisone, prednisolone, progesterone, testosterone), prostaglandins (PGA1, PGA2, PGB1, PGB2, PGE1, PGE2, PGF1 alpha), bradykinin, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP), epinephrine, glucagon, histamine, insulin, luteinizing hormone, luteotropic hormone, serotonin, and thyroxin on the generation of both T-cell colonies in semisolid phase and induction of transformation in liquid culture was assessed in parallel assays. Steroids uniformly suppressed both types of culture systems, although colony formation appeared more sensitive by several hours of magnitude. In contrast, significant differences in the response of lymphocytes in colony formation assay, compared to liquid transformation, was noted for the other agents. Prostaglandins significantly inhibited colony formation even in the presence of as little as 10(-12) M PGE2; however, liquid culture responses were suppressed only by higher concentrations (10(-5) M) and enhanced transformation was found at lower concentrations (10(-9) M). Bradykinin, glucagon, and luteinizing hormone did not significantly influence either colony formation or liquid transformation. In contrast, cyclic AMP inhibited and cyclic GMP stimulated colony formation and liquid transformation. Histamine, insulin, epinephrine, and serotonin all had significant positive or negative influences on colony formation in concentrations that produced no detectable effects using conventional liquid transformation assays. Finally, correlation analysis of drug effects for each system extends the thesis that these assays quantitate different parameters of T-cell function. T-lymphocyte colony formation is a promising diagnostic tool for rapid screening of immune modulating agents.
The use of war and peace in the basic college speech course

(1969). The use of war and peace in the basic college speech course. Today's Speech: Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 37-42.
Capture and detection of cancer cells in whole blood with magnetic–optical nanoovals

Aim: To develop a simple assay for the capture and detection of rare cancer cells in whole blood using iron oxide–gold (IO–Au) nanoparticles. Materials & methods: IO–Au nanoovals (NOVs) were synthesized, coated with Raman tags and linked with antibodies targeting breast cancer. An integrated system was constructed for on-line magnetic cell capture and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection. The capabilities of IO–Au SERS NOVs to capture and detect rare cancer cells in blood were investigated in the integrated system using circulating tumor cell-mimic SK-BR-3 cells. Results: SK-BR-3 cells in whole blood were magnetically captured under a flow condition using IO–Au SERS NOVs, followed by on-line SERS detection with a limit of detection of 1–2 cells/ml blood. Conclusion: We developed a sensitive method that can capture and detect cancer cells in whole blood with a single nanoconstruct, which is highly promising for the detection of circulating tumor cells in the clinic. Original submitted 7 Decem...
The anti-apoptotic effect of regucalcin is mediated through multisignaling pathways

Regucalcin (RGN/SMP30) was originally discovered in 1978 as a calcium-binding protein that does not contain the EF-hand motif of as a calcium-binding domain. The name, regucalcin, was proposed for this calcium-binding protein, which can regulate various Ca2+-dependent enzymes activation in liver cells. The regucalcin gene is localized on the X chromosome, and its expression is mediated through many signaling factors. Regucalcin plays a pivotal role in regulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis in various cell types. Regucalcin also has a suppressive effect on various signaling pathways from the cytoplasm to nucleus in proliferating cells and regulates nuclear function in including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis. Overexpression of endogenous regucalcin was found to suppress apoptosis in modeled rat hepatoma cells and normal rat kidney proximal epithelial NRK52 cells induced by various signaling factors. Suppressive effect of regucalcin on apoptosis is related to inhibition of nuclear Ca2+-activated DNA fragmentation, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent nitric oxide synthase, caspase-3, Bax, cytochrome C, protein tyrosine kinase, protein tyrosine phosphatase in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Moreover, regucalcin stimulates Bcl-2 mRNA expression and depresses enhancement of caspase-3, Apaf-1 and Akt-1 mRNAs expression. This review discusses that regucalcin plays a pivotal role in rescue of apoptotic cell death, which is mediated through various signaling factors.
Comparative study of N uptake and distribution in three lines of common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at early pod filling stage

The uptake and distribution of15NH 4 + ,15NO 3 − and15N2 was studied in greenhouse-grown beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with a commercial cultivar and 2 recombinant inbred backcross lines;15N was supplied in the nutrient solution at the R3 (50% bloom) stage. Plants were harvested 1, 5 and 10 days after treatment, and were separated into nodules, roots, stems, mature leaflets, immature leaflets, and flowers/fruits. All 3 lines showed rapid increases in the N content of flowers/fruits after the R3 stage. However, the percentage N in these tissues decreased after the R3 stage. One of the recombinant lines showed a greater uptake of NH 4 + than the other 2 lines. Rates of15N2 fixation and NO 3 − uptake were similar for all 3 lines, N2 fixation estimated from total N content showed the 2 recombinant lines with 24 and 34 percent greater activity than the commercial cultivar. Distribution of15N at the whole plant level was similar for all 3 lines for a similar N source.15NO 3 − was transported first to leaflets and the label then moved into flowers/fruits. Transport of fixed N2 was from the nodules to roots, stems and into flowers/fruits; usually less than 10 percent entered the leaflets. This indicates that N2 fixation furnishes N directly to flowers/fruits with over 50 percent of the fixed N being deposited into flowers/fruits within 5 days after treatment.
Medical students writing letters to their patients: Teaching communication and empathy

This Editorial was written as an encomium to DoctorsMrduljas-Đujic, Pavlicevic, Marusic and Marusic to acknowledgetheir contributions to medical education inthe article they have authored for this issue of Acta MedicaAcademica (1). However, before I address the key featuresof that article allow me first to describe the problems ofteaching humanism in medical schools, at least the way Isee them.
Light scattering from assemblies of spherulites

A general equation describing the small-angle Hv light-scattering intensity for a system of N undeformed spherulites located at random within the sample and taking into account the truncation and interference effects is given. Scattering contour plots or radial scans are reported for various arrangements of the N spherulites. The results show that the interference effect may explain the speckled appearance of the experimental patterns. Moreover, the interference and truncation effects (for the special cases where truncation is considered here) do not seem to shift the position of the maximum scattering angle of the cloverleaf pattern as calculated from the single spherulite theory. Finally, the calculations show that the truncation effect increases the relative intensity of the pattern at large and low scattering angles and at azimuthal angles 0 and 90°C, as compared with the intensity at the position of maximum scattering angle.
A STEPWISE PROCEDURE FOR CONSTRAINED UTILITY MAXIMIZATION

Constrained utility maximization underlies much consumer behavior in economics. Opportunities for solving important problems are ever present. However, most potential applications remain potential because existing software packages are not able to estimate the systems of equations necessary to identify the utility function. At least three features often conspire to make these problems intractable: the size of the system of equations that must be estimated, the lack of any theory for imposing zero restrictions on many of the parameters of the nonadditive utility functions, and the necessity to insure negative definiteness consistent with the axioms of consumer behavior. This paper develops an approach and illustrates the stepwise least squares estimator of a group of equations by application to the demand for food items.
Disproportionation of pentaammineruthenium(III)–nucleoside complexes leads to two-electron oxidation of nucleosides without involving oxygen molecules

Pentaammineruthenium(III) complexes of deoxyinosine (dIno) and xanthosine (Xao) ([RuIII(NH3)5(L)], L is dIno, Xao) in basic solution were studied by UV–vis spectroscopy, liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and high-performance liquid chromatography. Both RuIII complexes disproportionate to RuII and RuIV. Disproportionation followed the rate law d[RuII]/dt = (k o + k 1[OH−])[RuIII]. k o and k 1 of disproportionation at 25 °C were 2.1 (±0.1) × 10−3 s−1 and 21.4 ± 3.2 M−1 s−1, respectively, for [RuIII(NH3)5(dIno)], and 3.5 (±0.7) × 10−4 s−1 and 59.7 ± 3.6 M−1 s−1, respectively, for [RuIII(NH3)5(Xao)]. The [RuIII(NH3)5(Xao)] complex disproportionates at a faster rate than [RuIII(NH3)5(dIno)] owing to the stronger electron-withdrawing effect of exocyclic oxygen in Xao. The activation parameters ΔH ‡ and ΔS ‡ for k 1 of [RuIII(NH3)5(dIno)] were 80.2 ± 15.2 kJ mol−1 and 47.6 ± 9.8 J K−1 mol−1, respectively, indicating that the disproportionation of RuIII to RuII and RuIV is favored owing to the positive entropy of activation. The final products of both complexes in basic solution under Ar were compared with those under O2. Under both conditions [Ru(NH3)5(8-oxo-L)] was produced, but via different mechanisms. In both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, the deprotonation of highly positively polarized C8-H of Ru-L by OH− initiates a two-electron redox reaction. For the next step, we propose a one-step two-electron redox reaction between L and RuIV under anaerobic conditions, which differentiates from Clarke’s mechanism of two consecutive one-electron redox reactions between L, RuIII, and O2.
Effects of surface films on the deformation of metals

Abstract The effect of a thin coating on the mechanical deformation of a single crystal wire is found to be an increase in the stress required for the initiation of easy glide; the development of pseudo-elastic defor mation prior to easy glide, during which the sample deforms as an hollow elastic cylinder with a plastic core; and the concentration of slip at relatively few slip lines. A dislocation model used to explain these observations involves the generation of dislocations by the action of sources of various initial lengths, l , with a distribution of lengths, N ( l ) dl , assumed to be inversely proportional to their lengths. The increase in yield strength is due to the barrier effect of the coating and the axial strain of the sample, e x , is shown to be approximately proportional to the applied stress, expressed as resolved shear stress, τ r , in the slip direction on the slip plane. A principal feature of the dislocation model is that the critical shear stress, τ c , required for piled-up dislocations to penetrate the interfacial barrier is proportional to nτ r , where n is the number of dislocations in the pile-up. This accounts for the observation that under the level of stress where dislocation break through begins, only those few sources for which nτ r , > τ c will be able to penetrate, and consequently slip lines are reduced in number and slip is concentrated. It is also pointed out that the initial distribution of source lengths is a factor in the effect of a coating on the mechanical properties of a metallic crystal.
Antibacterial nitric oxide-releasing xerogels : Cell viability and parallel plate flow cell adhesion studies

The ability of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing xerogels to reduce adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa under flowing conditions was evaluated using a parallel plate flow chamber. At a controlled bacterial suspension flow rate of 0.2mL/min, the NO-releasing xerogels reduced bacterial adhesion in a flux-dependent fashion, with an NO flux of approximately 21pmolcm(-2)s(-1) reducing P. aeruginosa adhesion by approximately 65% compared to controls. Fluorescent viability staining indicated that bacteria adhered to NO-releasing xerogels were killed within 7h. Quantitative cell-plating viability studies showed that the extent of bactericidal activity was dependent on the total amount of NO released, with 750nmolcm(-2) killing >90% more adhered bacteria than xerogels releasing 25nmolcm(-2). Thus, NO-releasing xerogels were shown to both inhibit P. aeruginosa adhesion and kill adhered bacteria cells, two important steps toward designing anti-infective biomaterial coatings.
Nonrandom association of a type II procollagen genotype with achondroplasia

Abstract Achondroplasia is an autosomal dominant disorder that involves defective endochondral bone formation. Type II collagen is the predominant collagen of cartilage. We found a HindIII polymorphic site in the normal Caucasian population by using the type II procollagen gene probe pgHCol(II)A. The presence of this site yields a 7.0-kilobase (kb) band; its absence yields a 14.0-kb band. We found a significant deviation in genotype distribution and allele frequencies in a population of unrelated individuals with sporadic achondroplasia, compared with the normal control population. The HindIII genotype frequencies in 32 individuals with achondroplasia are 0.41 for the 7/7 genotype (controls, 0.08), 0.34 for the 7/14 genotype (controls, 0.54), and 0.25 for the 14/14 genotype (controls, 0.37). The apparent equilibrium excess of the "7" allele in individuals with achondroplasia may reflect either a predisposition for the mutation that causes achondroplasia or it could be the result of the achondroplasia-causing mutation. In either case, these findings suggest an association of the type II procollagen gene with achondroplasia.
The Role of Intermolecular Interactions in Solid State Fluorescent Conjugated Polymer Chemosensors

A functionalized fluorescent conjugated polymer, tolylterpyridine poly(p-phenyleneethynylene-thienyleneethynylene (ttp-PPETE), was designed and synthesized to detect trace amounts of toxic transition metal pollutants in ground water. Photophysical studies in tetrahydrofuran (THF) successfully demonstrated this polymer as a selective and sensitive chemosensor for Ni2+ and Co2+ in aqueous solution. Solid state composites of these chemosensors have now been prepared which can be modified to provide for inexpensive and portable field based chemical detection. A solid composite of ttp-PPETE, blended with poly (methyl methacrylate) shows UV–vis absorption and fluorescence emission spectra which are red- shifted when compared to solution phase spectra, suggesting an increase in conjugation in the solid state. An additional absorption peak, not present in solution, is also observed in the solid state. The presence of this new peak provides evidence of interacting FCP chains in the solid state. Concentration dependent experiments were done on the solid composite showing red-shifted emission peaks accompanied by a significant reduction in the fluorescent quantum yield. These observations are consistent with the formation of aggregated polymer species in the solid state. Intermolecular interactions of this type can be manipulated in the design of sensitive and selective solid state fluorescent conjugated polymer sensors.
Collisional ionization of atomic cesium by UF6 and WF6

Abstract Collisional ionization of Cs by UF 6 and WF 6 has been studied in crossed-beam geometry. Product UF − 6 and WF − 6 contain ≈3 eV of internal excitation energy even at the lowest Cs laboratory impact energy of 7 eV.
When and why does abuse predict reduced autobiographical memory specificity

Two studies were conducted to explore the conditions that elicit autobiographical memory problems in abuse victims and the mechanism that underlie them. In Study 1 older adolescents (n=80) with and without self-reported abuse histories completed a modified version of the Autobiographical Memory Test (AMT-U); participants were given an unlimited amount of time to provide specific memories in response to cue words. Participants also completed measures of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), working memory, and attentional biases. This study found that abuse severity and PTSD symptoms were positively related to memory specificity on the AMT-U. In Study 2 older adolescents (n=78) with and without self-reported abuse histories completed the traditional (timed) version of the AMT. Participants also completed measures of working memory, attentional biases, self-reported coping, and psychopathological symptoms (i.e., depression and PTSD). In this study the opposite relationship was observed, such...
Neural tube and notochord promote in vitro myogenesis in single somite explants.

Abstract We have developed an in vitro assay for examining the neural tube/notochord influence on somite myogenesis. No cells committed to myogenesis (operationally defined as immunopositive staining for myosin heavy chain after a 48-hr culture period) are present in the most caudal somites (I-V) of stage 8-11 chicken embryos, whereas by stage 14-15, the most caudal somites occasionally produce differentiated muscle cells when cultured alone. To test for responsiveness to neural tube, one somite of each pair was cultured in contact with a piece of neural tube; as a control, the contralateral somite was cultured alone to test for prior myogenic commitment of somitic cells. Using this assay, we show that neural tube induces myogenesis in single somite explants, that close somite-neural tube proximity is required, and that the interaction can occur in defined medium. Neural tube induces myogenesis in the most recently formed somites and in segmental plate mesoderm, indicating that somite segmentation is not a prerequisite for neural tube mediated myogenesis in vitro . The assay was also used to determine whether continued exposure to neural tube is required for increasing myogenic cell numbers in somites which already contain cells committed to myogenesis. Since somites containing committed cells exhibit a fourfold increase in the number of myogenic cells when cocultured with neural tube, continued in vitro exposure to neural tube either recruits additional somite cells into the myogenic lineage, and/or it stimulates proliferation of existing myogenic cells. Consistent with this finding, the most rostral neural tube retains its inductive properties as evidenced by the induction of nascent myogenesis in the most caudal somites. Parallel studies of notochord mediated myogenesis indicate that the notochord promotes myogenesis within somites II-VIII, but not within somite I or the segmental plate. This observation suggests either a qualitative or quantitative difference in the mechanism by which the neural tube and notochord communicate with the youngest somite and presomitic mesoderm.
Children with a history of SLI show reduced sensitivity to audiovisual temporal asynchrony: an ERP study.

Purpose The authors examined whether school-age children with a history of specific language impairment (H-SLI), their peers with typical development (TD), and adults differ in sensitivity to audiovisual temporal asynchrony and whether such difference stems from the sensory encoding of audiovisual information. Method Fifteen H-SLI children, 15 TD children, and 15 adults judged whether a flashed explosion-shaped figure and a 2-kHz pure tone occurred simultaneously. The stimuli were presented at 0-, 100-, 200-, 300-, 400-, and 500-ms temporal offsets. This task was combined with EEG recordings. Results H-SLI children were profoundly less sensitive to temporal separations between auditory and visual modalities compared with their TD peers. Those H-SLI children who performed better at simultaneity judgment also had higher language aptitude. TD children were less accurate than adults, revealing a remarkably prolonged developmental course of the audiovisual temporal discrimination. Analysis of early event-relat...
Area Per Lipid of Membranes from Natural Abundance Solid-State 13C NMR Spectroscopy

The properties of liquid-crystalline membranes vary according to the molecular composition of the lipid bilayer [1]. Structural investigations of lipid membranes using NMR spectroscopy generally require isotopic labeling of the lipids, thereby precluding investigations of complex lipid systems. Combining natural-abundance solid-state 13C magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR with a statistical mean torque (MT) model [2] enabled us to obtain the average area per lipid and volumetric bilayer thickness DB for lipid bilayers. The 2D separated local field (SLF) NMR experiment DROSS gives isotropic chemical shifts in the F2 frequency dimension and site-specific dipolar Pake doublets in the F1 dimension [1]. By analyzing the Pake patterns we extracted 13C-1H residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) and calculated segmental |SCH| order parameters. The |SCH| order parameters carry the structural information that aid calculation of and DB using the MT model. Experiments were conducted with DMPC, POPC, and EYSM lipids as single component (liquid-disordered, ld) lipid bilayers as well as with cholesterol. EYSM is more ordered in the ld phase and hence experiences less structural perturbation upon adding cholesterol to form the liquid-ordered (lo) phase relative to POPC. We infer that the cholesterol stiffening effect on lipid bilayers is limited by the maximum volumetric hydrocarbon thickness [2]. Knowledge of structural parameters like and DB is important for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and provides information about the balance of forces in membrane lipid bilayers [3]. Our studies demonstrate the applicability of solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy to site-specific structural investigations of complex lipids, where isotope labeling may be prohibitive, allowing structural studies of biologically relevant membrane systems. [1] A. Leftin et al.(2013) JMB425 2973-2987. [2] H. I. Petrache et al.(2000) BJ.79 3172-3192. [3] A. Leftin et al.(2011) BBA1808 818-839.
APOPTOSIS BY DIETARY AGENTS FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CANCER

The role of apoptosis or programmed cell death in the regulation of development and maintenance of homeostasis in multicellular organisms is well established. During the last decade, naturally occurring dietary agents known to produce chemopreventive effects in experimental models have been shown to target signaling intermediates in apoptosis-inducing pathways. Apoptosis is triggered by two different signals, one extrinsic, which responds mainly to extracellular stimuli, and the other intrinsic, activated by modulators within the cell itself. Proapoptotic compounds could protect against cancer by enhancing elimination of initiated, precancerous cells, and antiapoptotic compounds could promote tumor formation by inhibiting apoptosis in genetically damaged cells. In this brief review, we explore the potential mechanistic interactions of various dietary cancer chemopreventive components within the context of apoptosis.
The permanent electric dipole moment of thorium sulfide, ThS

Numerous rotational lines of the {18.26}1-X1Σ+ band system of thorium sulfide, ThS, were recorded near 547.6 nm at a resolution of approximately 30 MHz. Measurements were made under field-free conditions, and in the presence of a static electric field. The field-free spectrum was analyzed to produce rotational and Λ-doubling parameters. The Stark shifts induced by the electric field were analyzed to determine permanent electric dipole moments, μel, of 4.58(10) D and 6.72(5) D for the X1Σ+ (v = 0) and {18.26}1 states, respectively. The results are compared with the predictions of previous and new electronic structure calculations for ThS, and the properties of isovalent ThO.
Treatment of acute inferior vena cava and iliac vein thrombosis with pharmacomechanical thrombectomy using simultaneously operating "kissing" Trellis-8 thrombolysis catheters.

PURPOSE: To present a new endovascular technique for treating acute large thrombus burden in the iliocaval venous system. TECHNIQUE: This method is demonstrated in a 62-year-old man with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis who had a nonfunctioning right femoral dialysis catheter that was placed 3 month earlier. After catheter removal, venography demonstrated significant thrombus in the inferior vena cava (IVC) and both iliac veins. The patient was treated successfully using two simultaneously operating Trellis-8 thrombolysis catheters placed side-by-side in the IVC and both iliac veins in a "kissing" configuration. CONCLUSION: This technique was able to effectively debulk acute large thrombus burden in the iliocaval system in a single session and preserve the patient's available hemodialysis access. The technique has the potential to minimize morbidity, duration of hospital stay, and overall cost of treatment.
Strong electric field heating of conduction-band electrons in SiO2

Etude experimentale du chauffage de plusieurs eV des electrons au-dessus de la limite de la bande de conduction pour des champs de 5 a 12 MV/cm. Stabilisation de la distribution d'energie electronique aux champs eleves par des mecanismes de perte d'energie autres que la diffusion par phonons LO
Endogenous phosphorylation of retinal photoreceptor outer segment proteins by calcium phospholipid-dependent protein kinase.

Abstract A calcium phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (C-kinase) activity was detected in the soluble fraction of rod outer segments (ROS) of the bovine retina. The enzyme required calcium, phosphatidylserine (PS) and diacylglycerol for maximal activity. In the presence of calcium and PS, C-kinase endogenously phosphorylated proteins with molecular weights of 95,000, 91,000, 31,000, 21,000, 19,000, 18,000, 16,000, 14,000 and 11,000. Addition of diolein in the reaction mixture further enhanced the endogenous phosphorylation of these proteins. Retinal was found to inhibit the phosphorylation of endogenous proteins by C-kinase in a concentration dependent manner. Half-maximal inhibition of enzyme activity was obtained at a retinal concentration of about 12μM. These results suggest that calcium, phospholipids and the C-kinase enzyme may play an important role in the functional regulation of rod photoreceptors and, with retinal, perhaps in the visual process as well.
Imploding Cylindrical Plasmas As X-Ray Laser Media

Recombination and collisionally excited x-ray laser schemes in hot dense plasmas require ideally the existence of gradient-free uniform conditions for times long enough to generate high x-ray yield. The potential for imploding cylindrical plasmas to circumvent refraction effects associated with long plasmas generated from thin foils is discussed.
Gate sizing in the presence of gate switching activity and input vector control

We introduce a novel gate sizing approach that considers both the gate switching activity (SA) and gate input vector control leakage (IVC). We first extract SA using simulation and find promising input vectors. Next, in an iterative framework, we interchangeably conduct gate sizing and refining the IVC. As dictated by the new objective function, our algorithm conducts iterative gate freezing and unlocking with cut-based search for the most beneficial gate sizes under delay constraints. We evaluate our approach on standard benchmarks in 45 nm technology, showing promising improvement, achieving up to 62% (29% avg.) energy savings compared to the traditional objective function.
Perimalleolar subcutaneous tissue pressure effects of elastic compression stockings

Abstract Purpose: We hypothesized that the clinical benefit of elastic compression stockings (ECS) is at least in part due to an increase in subcutaneous pressure that may promote resorption of extracellular fluids, providing more efficient diffusion of oxygen and nutrients from the microcirculation to the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Methods: To test this hypothesis we designed and standardized a device for measuring subcutaneous pressure in patients. We then measured the supine perimalleolar subcutaneous pressure from a single limb in four groups: group 1 consisted of control subjects ( n = 8); group 2 consisted of patients with varicose veins and superficial venous insufficiency without lipodermatosclerosis or edema ( n = 5); group 3 consisted of patients with deep venous insufficiency and lipodermatosclerosis but without edema ( n = 8); and group 4 consisted of patients with deep venous insufficiency, lipodermatosclerosis, and clinically evident edema ( n = 8). Measurements were made at baseline and after application of 20 to 30 mm Hg and 30 to 40 mm Hg ECS. Results: There was no significant difference in the baseline subcutaneous pressure between the three groups without clinical edema ( p > 0.05). Baseline perimalleolar pressure was elevated, however, in group 4 patients compared with groups 1, 2, and 3 ( p Conclusions: Patients with CVI and edema have significant elevations in supine resting perimalleolar subcutaneous pressure compared with control subjects and patients with CVI without edema. Twenty to 30 mm Hg and 30 to 40 mm Hg ECS increased measured perimalleolar subcutaneous pressure in patients with CVI with and without clinical edema but not in control patients. These results suggest the mechanism of benefit of ECS in patients with CVI is due at least in part to an increase in subcutaneous pressure that may act to promote more efficient absorption of perimalleolar extracellular fluid. (J VASC SURG 1993;18:783-8.)
Characterization of Neurotrophin and Trk Receptor Functions in Developing Sensory Ganglia: Direct NT-3 Activation of TrkB Neurons In Vivo

Spinal sensory ganglia have been shown to contain neuronal subpopulations with different functions and neurotrophin dependencies. Neurotrophins act, in large part, through Trk receptor tyrosine kinases: nerve growth factor (NGF) via TrkA, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5) via TrkB, and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) via TrkC. In the present paper, we use antibodies to TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC to characterize their expression patterns and to determine which subpopulations of cells are lost in mice lacking individual neurotrophins or Trk receptors. Despite previous reports of Trk receptor mRNAs in neural crest cells, we detect Trk receptor proteins only in neurons and not in neural crest cells or neuronal precursors. Comparisons of neonatal mice deficient in NT-3 or its cognate receptor TrkC have shown that there is a much greater deficiency in spinal sensory neurons in the former, suggesting that NT-3 may activate receptors in addition to TrkC. Using the same antibodies, we show that, during the major period of neurogenesis, NT-3 is required to maintain neurons that express TrkB in addition to those that express TrkC but is not essential for neurons expressing TrkA. Results also indicate that survival of cells expressing both receptors can be maintained by activation of either one alone. NT-3 can thus activate more than one Trk receptor in vivo, which when coexpressed are functionally redundant.
Cryptanalysis of TEA Using Quantum-Inspired Genetic Algorithms

The Tiny Encryption Algorithm (TEA) is a Feistel block cipher well known for its simple implementation, small memory footprint, and fast execution speed. In two previous studies, genetic algorithms (GAs) were employed to investigate the randomness of TEA output, based on which distinguishers for TEA could be designed. In this study, we used quan-tum-inspired genetic algorithms (QGAs) in the cryptanalysis of TEA. Quantum chromosomes in QGAs have the advan-tage of containing more information than the binary counterpart of the same length in GAs, and therefore generate a more diverse solution pool. We showed that QGAs could discover distinguishers for reduced cycle TEA that are more efficient than those found by classical GAs in two earlier studies. Furthermore, we applied QGAs to break four-cycle and five-cycle TEAs, a considerably harder problem, which the prior GA approach failed to solve.
A GaAs MMIC based successive detection logarithmic amplifier

A six-stage successive detection logarithmic amplifier is described in which each stage is a GaAs monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) incorporating RF amplification, detection, and a novel video summation technique, using standard 0.5- mu m process field effect transistors (FETs) and Schottky diodes. The circuit had a dynamic range of 80 dB at 3.8 GHz with linearity of +or-1 dB and power dissipation of 4.0 W. RF and video processing have been incorporated on a single die. Pulse performance and other parameters are summarized. >