cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 5443: Developing a novel miR-15a mimic as a potential therapeutic molecule to eliminate resistant colorectal cancer stem cells

In the last 15 years, it has become well established that microRNA play important roles in cancer biology. Due to their ability to regulate the expression of important target genes, aberrant expression of miRNAs has been linked to cancer development and progression. Based on these important functions, there is great interest in developing miRNA based therapeutics. In colorectal cancer, treatment using 5-flurouracil (5-FU) based chemotherapy has improved patient outcomes. However, there remain challenges associated with chemoresistance and recurrence for patients with advanced stage colorectal cancer. miRNA based therapeutics may represent an potential novel therapeutic option for colorectal cancer therapy either alone or in combination with 5-FU based chemotherapy. miR-15a was of the first miRNAs identified to be associated with cancer, and has been shown to have important roles in several tumor types. miR-15a is downregulated in colon cancer and associated with poor patient prognosis. We have identified several important cancer related targets of miR-15a in colon cancer, including YAP1, DCLK1, BMI1 and BCL2. Through the regulation of these targets, miR-15a expression can be used as a potent inhibitor to reduce colon cancer cell proliferation, invasion and improve sensitivity to 5-FU, as well as decreasing tumor growth in vivo mouse colon tumor models using colon cancer stem cells. In the interest of developing miR-15a based colon cancer therapeutics, we have made a modified miR-15a mimic that shows enhanced abilities to disrupt resistant colon cancer cell proliferation and induction of cell cycle arrest when compared to unmodified miR-15a. Following transfection with miR-15a mimic, cell number was reduced by 84% compared to control and 66% compared to miR-15a precursor. Cell cycle analysis showed that G1/S ratio was increased from 1.07 for control to 2.87 for precursor miR-15a and 7.07 for miR-15a mimic. This miR-15a mimic also maintains its ability to regulate these important target genes in colon cancer stem cells. In mouse models using colon cancer stem cells, miR-15a mimic has demonstrated therapeutic potential by reducing tumor growth. Based on these findings, there is potential that modified miR-15a could be adapted for treatment of patients to improve survival of advanced stage colorectal cancer patients. Citation Format: Andrew T. Fesler, Hua Liu, Ning Wu, Jingfang Ju. Developing a novel miR-15a mimic as a potential therapeutic molecule to eliminate resistant colorectal cancer stem cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5443. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5443
Authority of Pharmacists to Administer Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: Alignment of State Laws With Age-Level Recommendations

Objectives:One strategy to increase the uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among adolescents is through the use of pharmacists. Our objectives were to (1) use a publicly available database to describe the statutory and regulatory authority of pharmacists to administer the HPV vaccine in the United States and (2) discuss how the current status of laws may influence achievement of the Healthy People 2020 goal of 80% HPV vaccination rate for teenagers aged 13-15.Methods:Using information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Public Health Law Program database, we identified state laws in effect as of January 1, 2016, giving pharmacists authority to administer vaccines. We used a standardized analysis algorithm to determine whether states’ laws (1) authorized pharmacists to administer HPV vaccine, (2) required third-party authorization for pharmacist administration, and (3) restricted HPV vaccine administration by pharmacists to certain patient age groups.Results:Of 50 states...
Mandibular Catch-Up Growth in Pierre Robin Sequence: A Systematic Review.

Objective:The concept of mandibular catch-up growth is often quoted in the literature regarding Pierre Robin sequence (PRS). We endeavored to perform a systematic review of whether the literature s...
Teaching Science is a Sacred Act

Science, as enterprise and epistemology, has been politicized. This essay recounts one science teacher educator's perspective and experience on this politicization of science and describes the nece...
Anthropogenic Amplification of Storm Surge Damage in the 1935 “Labor Day” Hurricane

On Labor Day, September 2, 1935, the most powerful hurricane in U.S. history (Herbert et al. Greatest storms of this century (and other frequently requested facts) NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS NHC-31, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C, 1992) made a landfall in the Middle section of the Florida Keys. At that time, this was a sparsely populated area. However, the 600 World War I veterans engaged in building U.S. 1 had recently increased the population significantly. The hurricane had winds exceeding Category 5 levels 155 miles/h (69.3 m/s) on the Saffir-Simpson Scale (Weatherwise 27:169–186, 1974) and surge levels up to 18 ft (6 m). Superposed wind waves caused damage at much higher levels. Some natives blamed the filling of tidal channels in the building of the Florida East Coast Railway extension in the early 1900s for impounding floodwaters. However, no one has been able to verify their hypothesis or to quantify the degree of tidal prism restriction.
Early Arabian Littoral

The Arabian peninsula was arid throughout the Holocene. However, moderate grasslands were apparently present around lakes that formed in basins adjacent to stabilized dunes. In the middle Holocene, a period of higher precipitation led to an expansion of these grasslands and a consequent increase in both plant and animal populations. At this time, human groups began penetrating the Arabian peninsula and following a broad-spectrum hunting-fishing-gathering lifestyle. Of particular importance to these foragers were ocean and coastal resources, and coastal sites figure prominently in the Early Arabian Littoral tradition.
Biomechanical implications of the onset of walking

Abstract Changes in long bone strength associated with the onset of bipedal walking in humans have been previously documented in a longitudinal growth sample. However, it is unclear if this transition can be detected using archaeological, cross-sectional data, which likely encompass more cultural and biological variation than a single dataset of living children. Focusing on variation in cross-sectional polar second moment of area, we evaluate the ratios of femoral, tibial, and humeral strength in seven temporally diverse samples of individuals from birth to the age of eighteen years (n = 501), with subsequent comparisons to immature Late Pleistocene fossils. Using these samples, we determine whether changes related to the developmental onset of bipedality can be detected in a large, multi-population sample, test for differences in long bone strength ratios among Holocene groups that may indicate developmental differences in the onset of walking, and determine whether immature Late Pleistocene samples follow the same patterns as modern humans. Despite great variation within the Holocene sample, clear changes in these ratios are apparent around the age of the onset of walking. Humeral-to-femoral strength increases briefly prior to the age of one, with a sharp decline in relative humeral strength thereafter until age four. A similar pattern is apparent in the ratio of humeral/tibial and femoral/tibial strength. While the general pattern is consistent across all human groups sampled, these ratios vary by skeletal population, which seems to be closely related to variation in tibial length among samples. Although the extremely small fossil sample makes differences difficult to interpret, Neandertals also differ from both Late Pleistocene and Holocene modern humans in their strength ratios. Further research in this area may provide additional information about the skeletal impact of the onset of walking in the past and in additional fossil taxa.
Effects of glaciation and whole genome duplication on the distribution of the Campanula rotundifolia polyploid complex

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors contribute to a species distribution. Among plants, the extrinsic effects of glaciation and intrinsic effects of whole genome duplication are powerful drivers of biogeographical patterns, but the interplay of these factors is poorly understood. Here, we investigate the roles glaciation and whole-genome duplication have played in the evolution of the widespread polyploid complex Campanula rotundifolia. METHODS We assessed the cytotype of 37 populations that spanned the geographic and cytotypic range of the C. rotundifolia complex. We constructed a chloroplast phylogeny for these populations and used RAD-seq to create nuclear phylogenies and networks for a subset of 23 populations; and estimated divergence times of major clades using Bayesian estimation of substitution rates. KEY RESULTS Campanula rotundifolia originated in south-central Europe and underwent range expansion throughout much of Europe and North America. Multiple genome duplications have occurred in C. rotundifolia-at least two tetraploid and three hexaploid formations. CONCLUSIONS Nuclear and chloroplast phylogenies are largely congruent with a history of populations surviving glacial maxima in known Pleistocene refugia in Europe and North America. Divergent European clades are consistent with two disjunct glacial refugia within Europe. North America was colonized by hexaploids derived from Western European lineages. A glacial refugium in Midwestern North America likely facilitated post-glacial recolonization of North America and limited genetic divergence. These results implicate both glaciation and whole-genome duplication as contributing factors to the extant biogeography of C. rotundifolia.
Immigrants Church Participation and Community Integration: The Mediating Role of the Local Storytelling Network

This article investigates the implications of church participation for immigrants’ commitment to the broader community. Utilizing communication infrastructure theory (CIT), this study introduces a communication lens for exploring the civic potential of immigrant churches in diverse urban communities. Supplementing CIT with social capital concepts of bonding and bridging, and observations made in the civic engagement literature on spill-over effects, this study examines how immigrant church participation shapes neighborhood belonging and integration into the local storytelling network. Self-administered surveys conducted in 2015 with members of a large Korean immigrant church in Los Angeles inform the research findings. Regression analyses indicate church-based social ties and civic participation promote members' integration into their residential communities. Furthermore, findings support a communication mediation model wherein the local storytelling network mediates the relationship between church participation and community integration.
Optimal High Efficiency 3D Plasmonic Metasurface Elements Revealed by Lazy Ants

Recent transmissive optical metamaterials that leverage a generalized form of Snell’s law to induce an anomalous refraction of light have garnered considerable interest in both optical and material...
A binary unrelated-question RRT model accounting for untruthful responding

Estimating the prevalence of a sensitive trait in a population is not a simple task due to the general tendency among survey respondents to answer sensitive questions in a way that is socially desirable. Use of randomized response techniques (RRT) is one of several approaches for reducing the impact of this tendency. However, despite the additional privacy provided by RRT models, some respondents may still provide an untruthful response. We consider the impact of untruthful responding on binary unrelated-question RRT models and observe that even if only a small number of respondents lie, a significant bias may be introduced to the model. We propose a binary unrelated-question model that accounts for those respondents who may respond untruthfully. This adds an extra layer of precaution to the estimation of the sensitive trait and decreases the importance of presurvey respondent training. Our results are validated using a simulation study.
Mutual Coupling and Failure analysis in Phased Antenna Arrays

The mutual coupling between the radiating elements in an array environment is discussed. The relation between the mutual coupling and the radiation Characteristic (gain and side lobe level) of the subarrays is presented. Then a model to analyze and design the failure of the phased array system including the mutual coupling between the elements is introduced.
Gambling and Cannabis Use: Clinical and Policy Implications

Eleven US States and the District of Columbia legally allow personal (i.e., recreational) cannabis use by adults, and an additional 22 states allow use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. Of these jurisdictions, only two do not have some form of legalized gambling available (https://www.casino.org/local/guide/). In contrast to this rapid increase in legally available marijuana is the limited knowledge about the intersection of cannabis use and gambling. This paper strives to define the current status of the relevant literatures and consider the implication for future gambling research. We describe the research literature on the prevalence of cannabis use and co-existing gambling problems and the effects of cannabis use on gambling-related cognitive functions and decision-making. We also discuss clinical considerations with treating problem gamblers with a cannabis use disorder. Finally, the potential implications for responsible gambling practices and policies and the most pressing gaps in the research literature are offered.
Siemens and Healthineers: Valuing the IPO

This case covers the initial public offering (IPO) of the Siemens AG subsidiary Healthineers. The case offers the opportunity to discuss IPOs and to value the company. In contrast to "Healthineers: A Strategic IPO" (UVA-F-1881), which provides some base case valuation analysis, this version of the case is designed to be used when a primary teaching objective is to have students perform more of the analysis. The material is set in 2018, when CEO Joe Kaeser and the management board of Siemens planned an IPO of its Healthineers subsidiary to support the company's continued success and spur entrepreneurial independence. The IPO would position Healthineers to compete successfully in the global health care market, which was quite different from other sectors in which Siemens, a global technology conglomerate, operated. While Siemens would maintain a substantial equity interest, Healthineers would become a separate public company with increased flexibility and autonomy. In the immediate term, the management team was especially interested in what value financial markets would place on Healthineers once it was a public company. Excerpt UVA-F-1913 Rev. Feb. 24, 2020 Siemens and Healthineers: Valuing the IPO By early March 2018, CEO Joe Kaeser and the management board of Siemens AG (Siemens) had been focused on the progress of its Healthineers subsidiary for several years. Management planned an initial public offering (IPO) of Healthineers in mid-March to support the company's continued success and spur entrepreneurial independence. The IPO would position Healthineers to compete successfully in the global health care market, which was quite different from other sectors in which Siemens—a global technology conglomerate—operated (see Exhibit 1). Though Siemens would maintain a substantial equity interest, Healthineers would become a separate public company with increased flexibility and autonomy. Because Siemens would be a long-term shareholder, Kaeser and the board had a keen interest in Healthineers's strategy and performance. Would the company continue to drive profitable growth in the short term? Tap into adjacent growth markets in the medium term? Be a market leader in health care? In the immediate term, the board was especially interested in what value financial markets would place on Healthineers once it was a public company. Siemens Healthineers AG . . .
Impact of Surgical Wait Time to Hysterectomy for Benign Gynecologic Disease.

ABSTRACT Study Objective To determine the impact of surgical wait time on healthcare use and surgical outcomes for patients undergoing hysterectomy for benign gynecologic indications. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Urban, academic tertiary care center. Patients Patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign disease between 2012 and 2018. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Patients were categorized into 2 groups, dichotomized by surgical wait times >30 days or ≤30 days. Healthcare use was measured by the number of discrete patient interactions with the healthcare system through phone calls, secure electronic messaging, and office and emergency room visits. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were performed to assess the association between surgical wait time and healthcare use and perioperative outcomes while controlling for confounders. A total of 277 patients were included in our analysis: 106 (38.3%) had surgical wait times >30 days (median 47 days, range 24–68 days), and 171 (67.1%) had surgical wait times ≤30 days (median 19 days; range 12–26 days). The groups did not differ by age, insurance status, substance use, or comorbid conditions. Patients in the group with surgical wait times >30 days were more likely to have increased healthcare use (69 of 106, 65% vs 43 of 171, 25%; odds ratio 5.55; 95% confidence interval, 3.27–9.41). There were no differences in intraoperative complications (9 of 106, 8% vs 19 of 171, 11%; p = .482) or postoperative complications (28 of 106, 26% vs 32 of 171, 19%; p = .13) between the groups; however, after controlling for potential confounders, patients with surgical wait times >30 days were 3.22 times more likely to be readmitted than patients with surgical wait times ≤30 days (95% confidence interval, 1.27–8.19). Conclusion A surgical wait time >30 days in patients undergoing a hysterectomy for benign disease is associated with increased healthcare use in the interim. Although patients who experience longer surgical wait times do not experience worse surgical outcomes, they may be at higher risk for readmission after surgery. Targeted interventions to optimize perioperative coordination of care for patients undergoing a hysterectomy for benign disease, especially those within vulnerable populations, are needed to improve quality of care, decrease any redundant or inefficient healthcare use, and reduce any unnecessary delays.
Risk of de novo severe carpal tunnel syndrome after bilateral oophorectomy: a population-based cohort study.

Objective The incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is higher in women, and peaks around the age of menopause. Therefore, we investigated whether bilateral oophorectomy is associated with an increased risk of severe CTS. Methods We included all of the 1,653 premenopausal women who underwent bilateral oophorectomy for a nonmalignant indication between 1988 and 2007, and a random sample of 1,653 age-matched referent women who did not undergo bilateral oophorectomy in Olmsted County, MN. Diagnoses of CTS assigned to women over their entire lifetime were identified in these two cohorts. The risk of de novo severe CTS after bilateral oophorectomy (or index date) was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for potential confounders. Results Bilateral oophorectomy was associated with an increased risk of severe CTS (adjusted hazard ratio 1.65, 95% confidence interval 1.20-2.25). The risk was suggestively greater in women with lower body mass index, nulliparity, and with a benign ovarian indication for oophorectomy (nonsignificant interactions). We did not observe a protective effect of estrogen therapy after the oophorectomy. The findings were similar in secondary analyses considering the incidence of CTS of any severity or idiopathic CTS. Conclusions The risk of severe CTS, common in perimenopausal women, is increased after bilateral oophorectomy. The association may be causal or due to confounding. Therefore, the precise biological mechanisms explaining the association and the absence of a mitigating effect of estrogen therapy should be further investigated.
Online Allocation and Display Ads Optimization with Surplus Supply.

In this work, we study a scenario where a publisher seeks to maximize its total revenue across two sales channels: guaranteed contracts that promise to deliver a certain number of impressions to the advertisers, and spot demands through an Ad Exchange. On the one hand, if a guaranteed contract is not fully delivered, it incurs a penalty for the publisher. On the other hand, the publisher might be able to sell an impression at a high price in the Ad Exchange. How does a publisher maximize its total revenue as a sum of the revenue from the Ad Exchange and the loss from the under-delivery penalty? We study this problem parameterized by \emph{supply factor $f$}: a notion we introduce that, intuitively, captures the number of times a publisher can satisfy all its guaranteed contracts given its inventory supply. In this work we present a fast simple deterministic algorithm with the optimal competitive ratio. The algorithm and the optimal competitive ratio are a function of the supply factor, penalty, and the distribution of the bids in the Ad Exchange. Beyond the yield optimization problem, classic online allocation problems such as online bipartite matching of [Karp-Vazirani-Vazirani '90] and its vertex-weighted variant of [Aggarwal et al. '11] can be studied in the presence of the additional supply guaranteed by the supply factor. We show that a supply factor of $f$ improves the approximation factors from $1-1/e$ to $f-fe^{-1/f}$. Our approximation factor is tight and approaches $1$ as $f \to \infty$.
The Reactions of Na2 with O2

The reactions of Na2 with O2 were studied in a crossed-beam experiment at collision energies (Ec) of 8 and 23 kcal/mol. The formation of NaO2 + Na was observed at both collision energies, with the angular distributions of NaO2 in the center of mass coordinates peaking strongly forward with respect to the direction of the O2 beam, suggesting that the reaction is completed in a time scale that is shorter than one rotational period of the molecular system. From the velocity distribution of the products, we found that the newly formed NaO2 molecules are internally excited, with less than 20% of the available energy appearing in the translational motion of the separating products. These results indicate a “spectator stripping” mechanism, with the O2 stripping one Na off the Na2 molecule. At Ec = 23 kcal/mol, the cross section for this reaction channel, σNaO2, is estimated to be 0.8 A2. Another reaction channel which produces NaO + NaO was seen at Ec = 23 kcal/mol. The angular distribution for NaO is broad and forward-backward symmetric in the center-of-mass frame. A substantial fraction of the available energy is released into the relative motion of the products. This reaction is likely to proceed on an excited potential energy surface since a charge transfer to the excited O2 − orbitals seems necessary for breaking the O-O bond. The measurement yields a bond energy of 60 kcal/mol for the Na-O molecule, and a total cross section for this reaction channel at Ec = 23 kcal/mol, σNaO = 2 A2.
Discussion with Jonathan Pershing and Elizabeth Thorndike

Ms. Werner: Yesterday the UK indicated that they would be the first national action plan review starting in January. Do you want to comment on that?
A report on early neurodevelopmental outcomes in extremely low birth weight infants managed on early nasal continuous positive airway pressure

At our institution a policy of early nasal continuous positive airway pressure (ENCPAP) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants has been followed during the past 5 years. Routine intubation and surfactant administration is no longer our practice. The impact of this policy on infant outcomes is under investigation. This is a retrospective review of ELBW infants (
Diffuse galactic annihilation radiation

The study reports observations of positron annihilation radiation from the inner region of the Galaxy which show that there are two components of the radiation: a steady, diffuse Galactic component and a variable component from discrete, presumably compact sources. The existence of the variable component is supported by the ensemble of all narrow FOV 511 keV line observations, including recent detections with OSSE. The fit of this ensemble to a time-independent source distribution can be excluded at the approximately 3-sigma level. The same ensemble, combined with the broad FOV SMM observations of Galactic 511 keV line emission, sets constraints on the Galactic distribution of the diffuse component.
Localization of myocilin to the golgi apparatus in Schlemm's canal cells.

PURPOSE Biochemical and genetic evidence suggests that overexpression of or mutations in myocilin within the cells of the aqueous humor outflow pathway play a significant role in the development of steroid-induced and several other open-angle glaucomas. As a baseline to understanding the normal and pathologic function of myocilin, we determined the subcellular localization of myocilin in steroid-treated human Schlemm's canal endothelial (SC) cells. METHODS SC cells were grown to confluence, treated with dexamethasone for 10 days, and then stained using antibodies against myocilin, tubulin, or beta-COP (a specific golgi protein) or vital stains for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and golgi. Brefeldin A (BFA) and nocodazol (NZ) were used to disrupt the golgi or microtubules. RESULTS The authors found that myocilin staining was (a) always centered around the centrosome, (b) very similar to the pattern seen with NBD-ceramide, (c) was disrupted in characteristic ways by BFA and NZ and (d) showed extensive colocalization with beta-COP. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that myocilin is localized to the golgi in SC cells. Such localization is consistent with myocilin being processed for secretion but is also consistent with sequence analysis and other data that suggest that myocilin or myocilin mutations might be targeted to the cytoplasmic face of the golgi, and under some circumstances play a role in or interfere with golgi or vesicle function. How such interference could eventually lead to open angle glaucoma is discussed.
Two-dimensional turbulence: A novel approach via logarithmic conformal field theory

Abstract A new conformal field theory description of two-dimensional turbulence is proposed. The recently established class of rational logarithmic conformal field theories provides a unique candidate solution which resolves many of the drawbacks of former approaches via minimal models. This new model automatically includes magneto-hydrodynamic turbulence and the Alf'ven effect.
Effect of Sugars on d-Arabitol Production and Glucose Metabolism in Saccharomyces rouxii

The effect of sugars on the production of d-arabitol and on the glucose catabolic pathways was investigated in the osmotrophic yeast Saccharomyces rouxii. The activity of d-arabitol dehydrogenase, which served as a measure of total d-arabitol production, increased when cells were grown in the presence of increasing glucose concentrations. Growth in sucrose had no effect on the enzyme activity. A high intracellular concentration of d-arabitol could be demonstrated when the cells were grown in a 60% glucose medium and could be eliminated by anaerobic growth or growth in the presence of 4 mg of chloramphenicol per ml. A mutant was isolated that would not grow in 60% glucose; although the regulation of d-arabitol dehydrogenase was altered in this strain, the production of d-arabitol was not eliminated. The activity of d-arabitol dehydrogenase followed the growth phases of the parent strain when the cells were preadapted to 30% glucose. If the cells were adapting from 1 to 30% glucose, a large increase in enzyme activity was detected before growth occurred. Protein synthesis was found to be involved in this increase in activity. There was an increased participation of the pentose phosphate pathway when the cells were grown in the presence of increasing glucose concentrations. The mutant strain had only an 11% pentose phosphate pathway participation compared with 20% for the parent strain in glucose. The results suggest that the active pentose phosphate pathway is involved in glucose tolerance by providing a plentiful supply of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate which is necessary for cell survival.
The Personal Is Political: LGBTQ Education Research and Policy Since 1993

My own journey as a teacher, scholar, and activist has framed my scholarship and experience in education and thus exemplifies the feminist mantra “The personal is political.” My goal in this essay ...
Intelligent recombination using individual learning in a collective learning genetic algorithm

This paper introduces a new collective learning genetic algorithm (CLGA) which employs individual learning to do intelligent recombination based on a cooperative exchange of knowledge between interacting chromosomes. Each individual in the population observes a unique set of features in the chromosomes with which it interacts in order to explicitly estimate the average fitnesses of schemata in the population, and to use that information to guide recombination. The stages of evolution are still controlled by a global algorithm, but much of the control in the CLGA is distributed among chromosomes that are individually responsible for recombination, mutation and selection. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated on random problems generated by an NK-Landscape problem generator. Preliminary results suggest that the CLGA may be especially effective for searching for solutions to highly epistatic, non-separable problems, a class of problems traditionally difficult for regular GAs.
Update: Clinically Significant Cytochrome P‐450 Drug Interactions

Recent technologies have resulted in an explosion of information concerning the cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes and increased awareness of life-threatening interactions with such commonly prescribed drugs as cisapride and some antihistamines. Knowledge of the substrates, inhibitors, and inducers of these enzymes assists in predicting clinically significant drug interactions. In addition to inhibition and induction, microsomal drug metabolism is affected by genetic polymorphisms, age, nutrition, hepatic disease, and endogenous chemicals. Of the more than 30 human isoenzymes identified to date, the major ones responsible for drug metabolism include CYP3A4, CYP2D6, CYP1A2, and the CYP2C subfamily.
Ammonium Ion Requirement for the Cell Cycle of Mycobacterium avium

Mycobacterium avium has a defined cell cycle in which small cells elongate to about five times their original length and then divide by fragmentation. The nitrogen requirement for production of maximal number of colony-forming units was assessed by varying concentrations and kinds of nitrogen source in the medium. Ferric ammonium citrate at a concentration in 7H10 medium of 0.17 mumol/ml or ammonium chloride at 0.25 mumol/ml as the nitrogen source permitted the cells to elongate and to undergo limited division, with the final culture at 4 x 10(7) colony-forming units per ml. Ammonium chloride at 2.5 mumol/ml or glutamine at 1.37 mumol/ml supported completion of the cell cycle with final colony-forming units at about 5 x 10(8)/ml. Other amino acids, including glutamic acid, at 2.5 mumol/ml did not support completion of the cell cycle, although in most cases an intermediate number of colony-forming units per milliliter were formed. Limited uptake of [(14)C]glutamic acid and uptake of [(14)C]glutamine were not detectable until cell fission began. Cells not limited for nitrogen took up five times as much (35)S during fission as limited cells did during the same time. The nonlimited cells contained 10 times as much sulfolipid as the nitrogen-limited cells at the end of the cell cycle. These results demonstrate that rapidly dividing cells of M. avium utilize amino acids and sulfur and also synthesize sulfolipids in events that are apparently separable from metabolic functions of elongating cells. The results are contrasted with those found for other mycobacteria in which no cell cycle has been demonstrated.
Filter logics: Filters on ω1

Abstract Compactness and completeness theorems are proved for logics with a new quantifier M, whose interpretation depends on the choice of a filter on ω 1 . Omitting types theorems and extensions to structures of arbitrary cardinality are also discussed. A number of questions are raised.
Students and Teachers Investigate Marine Concepts-Under Sail

Marine and geoscience majors from the University of the District of Columbia study estuarine processes in the Chesapeake Bay aboard a privately-owned 27-foot fiberglass sloop. Within roughly the 6-hour duration of half of a tidal cycle each student makes observations and collects data on basic oceanographic processes. Teams rotate through investigations so that after all stations they have collected all parameters and utilized each piece of equipment. After the trip the students each plot their data on profiles constructed from the local bathymetric charts. Samples are taken back to school for analysis and compared to previous trips. These trips cost the University nothing, and the students bring their pre-planned lunch and drinks. The field equipment is brought from the school. Students are encouraged to construct and test their own equipment. A workable on-board plan allows for a safe and unencumbered movement of up to 13 persons. Considering the thousands of vessels sailing our waterways and the number of land-lubber students in coastal urban universities, a cooperative effort would be of great mutual benefit.
Economic Evaluation of Drug Abuse Treatment Programs: Methodology and Findings

Research has shown that drug abuse treatment can help many individuals. Yet funding is often lacking for treatment because these programs compete for scarce resources with other important and effective social programs. This study shows how drug abuse treatment programs can be made more attractive to decision makers and funding agencies by first highlighting why economic evaluation is a critical component of drug abuse treatment research. Next, an evaluation methodology is presented that can be followed by program staff and researchers. The evaluation methodology includes aspects of cost-and-outcome analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and benefit-cost analysis. Methods and findings are then discussed from most of the major economic evaluation studies of drug and alcoholism treatment. Lastly, guidelines for conducting future economic evaluations are presented along with suggestions for how the results can be used for policy purposes and program planning.
Prevention of primary ventricular fibrillation in acute myocardial infarction with prophylactic lidocaine

Primary ventricular fibrillation (VF) during an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) occurs with a high incidence and mortality rate with or without thrombolysis. The incidence varies from 2% to 19% depending on the definition of “primary.” Primary VF in this study refers to fibrillation occurring in the absence of shock or pulmonary edema. Mortality rate, when primary VF occurs, is 2 to 4 times greater than when it does not. Prevention of VF has been impeded by the publication of the 1996 recommendations of the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology against the use of prophylactic lidocaine based on meta-analysis studies implying toxicity. This observational study of 4,254 patients with AMI reports the incidence and mortality rates of primary VF over 32 years. Of the 4,254 patients, 4,150 received prophylactic lidocaine, and 104 patients did not receive prophylactic lidocaine due to the 1996 guidelines, after which administration of prophylactic lidocaine was governed by physician choice. The incidence of primary VF was 0.5% among the 4,150 who received prophylactic lidocaine and 10% among the 104 who did not (p
Software opens the door to quantitative imaging

Cellular imaging by fluorescence microscopy is becoming simultaneously higher-throughput and more quantitative as researchers develop integrated systems for image acquisition and analysis.
Unified design of symbol-matching-based document image compression and merging system

This paper describes a document image compression and merging system, which provides capabilities for automatically indexing from documents to form a document library and for merging the partial image of a document page. Because of the nature of document images, the technique described in this paper is intended to be used to process bi-level text images. The key technology for image merging is correlation analysis. State- of-the-art techniques exist to merge gray-scale and color natural image. However, these techniques do not apply for document image containing much text and they fail too often when used to merge document images regardless of their computational intensive nature. The proposed system solution will provide a reliable correlation analysis technique for document image merging where only bi-level images are primarily available.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Morphological diversity of ependymal cells in tissue culture.

Abstract Ependymal cells were visualized in primary cultures of cerebral cortex from rat using an immunohistochemical staining technique. Five different morphological subtypes of cuboidal ependyma were recognized: 1) round, 2) triangular, 3) columnar, 4) cone- and spindle-shaped, and 5) large pleomorphic cells. These cells varied in size and almost all possessed cilia. Two distinct forms of tanycyte ependyma were detected based on the presence or absence of cilia. These features reflect a significant level of development of the ependymal cells in culture and may correspond to functional diversity within this group.
THE REACTION MECHANISM OF HUMAN C5 IN IMMUNE HEMOLYSIS

The data presented here indicate that the C5 reaction step may proceed via the specific attachment of C5 to EAC1,4,2,3 and the formation of a hemolytically active C5 intermediate complex. During this process only a minor proportion (less than 4%) of C5 offered to EAC1,4,2,3 becomes bound, although the remaining C5 also participates in the reaction as evidenced by its inactivation in the fluid phase. Once bound, C5 is exceptionally efficient in producing hemolysis, requiring less than seven specifically bound molecules per cell for the production of a hemolytic lesion. The extent of formation of the C5 intermediate complex is primarily dependent on the number of molecules of C4, 2 and C3 present on the cells employed for its generation. In these respects, the mode of action of C5 is completely analogous to that of the other components of complement thus far investigated. The C5 step differs, however, in other aspects. The binding of C5 is influenced by C6 and C7, components which are thought to act subsequent to it in the complement sequence. In addition, the hemolytic activity of the isolated C5 intermediate complex is exceedingly labile, having an average half-life at 30°C of only 9 min. This characteristic distinguishes the C5 step, along with the C2 step, as potentially rate-limiting in the complement reaction. However, unlike C2, C5 remains firmly cell-bound during the decay process and apparently undergoes an alteration in situ which renders it hemolytically unreactive. Finally, C5 is unique in that it readily adsorbs in native form to unsensitized erythrocytes. This nonspecifically bound C5 remains firmly attached, although it may be specifically utilized as a source of C5 by an ongoing complement reaction. The significance of the marked affinity of native C5 for cell-surface receptors remains to be determined.
A High Index Refractometer

A new refractometer is described, based on the principle of the penetration of light into the rarer medium at total reflection. A transparent hemisphere with a slightly curved diametral plane makes point contact with the smooth surface of the sample to be measured. When viewed through the hemispherical surface, Newton’s black spot is visible. At the critical angle, the light is totally reflected at the hemisphere boundary, and the black spot diappears. The critical angle at which the spot is no longer seen can be translated into refractive index and measured with very simple equipment. Operation is unaffected by the index of a contact liquid and indices can be measured which are as high as the optical constants of the material available for the hemisphere. Measurements are described with a rutile hemisphere which renders the instrument useful to the index of the ordinary ray, n = 2.61.
Abstract 3082: Exploring LIN28 mRNA targets in breast cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL LIN28 is a RNA binding protein and a pluripotency factor. It represses tumor suppressing microRNA let-7 and thus derepresses let-7 oncogene targets such as HMGA2, K-Ras and c-Myc. In addition, LIN28 binds and enhances translation of IGF-2 mRNA a known mitogen. Recent reports show that LIN28 overexpression promotes tumor cell migration and cellular transformation through repression of let-7, and that overexpression is associated with advanced stages of disease, including breast cancer. Despite the apparent critical role in cancer, the molecular function and mode of action of LIN28 is not yet elucidated. To further understand the function of LIN28, we explored LIN28 mRNA targets in breast cancer cells using RNA-protein immunoprecipitation (RIP-Chip) followed by RNA sequencing. Using RIP-Chip and RNA sequencing we have identified a number of novel LIN28 targets in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Therapeutic drugs inhibiting LIN28 could be promising in treatment of cancer. Our experiments also demonstrate that MG132, a proteasome inhibitor, inhibits LIN28 expression and modulates expression of LIN28 mRNA targets in breast cancer cells. The mechanism by which LIN28 regulates its targets is unknown; however, a number of the new targets are important in cancer. Previous studies suggest that LIN28 acts through translational mechanisms. Studies are ongoing to reveal the mechanisms by which LIN28 regulates bound targets and how proteasome inhibitors impact this regulation. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3082. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3082
The George E. Brown Memorial Lecture

In this lecture a partial and tentative examination has been made of chemical factors possibly important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The discussion has centered about four observations concerning the incidence and extent of the disease. The first is that man appears to be unique among mammals in his predisposition; the second, that the condition is seldom if ever seen in the human infant at birth; the third, that healthy women are not likely to develop its complications before the time of the menopause; the fourth, that in man certain maladies and particularly diabetes, familial xanthomatosis, and nephrosis favor early and extensive atheromatous deposits. An attempt has been made to relate present knowledge of lipid composition of the blood to known variations in the degree of predisposition to the disease. This has included scrutiny of observations on concentration of cholesterol and the Sf 10-20 bodies of Gofman, on cholesterol-phospholipid ratios and on the distribution of cholesterol betwe...
Cloud cover conditions and stability of the Western Ghats montane wet forests

[1] Using remote sensing data from multiple satellites and numerical simulations we addressed the hypothesis that the Western Ghats tropical montane wet forests in southwest India are hydrometeorologically stressed and lowland deforestation has decreased cloud cover and precipitation. We generated water cloud and Leaf Area Index climatologies for a 6 year period and answered the following questions: (1) what are the diurnal and seasonal variations of water clouds, (2) what is the relationship between cloud cover and topography, (3) where are potential locations of the tropical montane wet forests, (4) what are the current hydrometeorological conditions over the identified tropical montane wet forests, and (5) what is the sensitivity of cloud cover and precipitation over the montane wet forests to lowland deforestation? The study found that (1) strong correlations between climatological precipitation and cloud frequency were present thereby indicating that higher spatial and temporal resolution cloud frequency is a good indicator of hydrometeorological conditions; (2) cloud frequency was lower in the dry season (10–25%) and higher in the monsoon seasons (40–45%); (3) a morning-afternoon pattern in cloud cover exists during both the dry and wet seasons; (4) morning cloud cover decreased from October to January with afternoon cloud cover similarly decreasing but with higher values than the morning cloud cover; (5) cloud cover generally increased with elevation; (6) 39%, 70%, 47% and 42% of the clouds intersected the mountains during March and May 2007 and February and April 2008, respectively; (7) our maps showing regions with conditions suitable to sustain tropical montane wet forests successfully identified known montane biodiversity hot spots; and (8) simulations showed an increase of afternoon cloud cover and dry season precipitation but reduced cloud immersion over the montane forests with lowland deforestation.
Synthesis and spectral properties of cholesterol- and FTY720-containing boron dipyrromethene dyes.

Two analogues (1, 2) of free cholesterol and one analogue (3) of the immunosuppressive sphingolipid FTY720 containing a boron dipyrromethene chromophore (BODIPY) were synthesized. The synthetic routes involved preparation of boron dipyrromethene moieties (5, 11), bearing a phenylethynyl group at different positions of the chromophore, and lipids (13, 20) bearing an azido group. The dye was tethered to the lipid via a 1,2,3-triazole in the linker by the click reaction. Analogues derived from 11 [in which an (E)-styrylethynyl moiety is bonded to C-5 of BODIPY] exhibited a marked red shift (∼70−80 nm) compared with those derived from 5 (in which a phenylethynyl moiety is bonded to C-8 of BODIPY).