cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor–A mRNA Expression in Fetal, Normal Adult, and Atherosclerotic Human Aortas Analysis by Competitive Polymerase Chain Reaction

Background To understand which growth factors are important for growth of atherosclerotic plaques, it is necessary to know the factor’s relative abundance and how its gene is regulated in relation to cell proliferation. We tested whether platelet-derived growth factor–A (PDGF-A) mRNA levels correlated with cell proliferation in developing aorta, normal adult aorta, and atherosclerotic plaques. Methods and Results We developed a competitive reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay to measure human PDGF-A mRNA levels in small tissue samples. A mutated PDGF-A synthetic RNA was used as an internal standard to compete with endogenous PDGF-A mRNA for amplification. The assay is highly sensitive and much more precise than routine RT-PCR. Correction for heteroduplex pairing between the endogenous and mutant PCR products correlates precisely with synthetic RNA standards and quantitative Northern blotting. Immunostaining with the proliferation marker (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) showed...
“Quite Frankly, I Have Doubts About Remaining”: Aging-In-Place and Health Care Access for Rural Midlife and Older Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals

ABSTRACT Midlife and older adults prefer to stay in their communities as they age. The ability to age-in-place is affected by physical health status, along with access to services and social support. Few previous studies have included the experiences of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) midlife and older adults living in rural communities and their concerns about aging-in-place. This study used a qualitative approach to explore health care service utilization and support networks of 20 midlife and older LGB participants over the age of 40 who live in rural communities. Themes emerging from this study included transportation difficulties, lack of choices for care, affordability of care, and the lack of connection and sense of belonging to a community. Unique issues faced by LGB adults, such as isolation and the lack of informal support, make obstacles to aging-in-place for LGB adults living in rural communities particularly more difficult to overcome. Future studies are needed to gain a better understanding...
Strength through Joy: consumerism and mass tourism in the Third Reich

Strength through Joy: consumerism and mass tourism in the Third Reich, by Shelley Baranowski, Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press, 2007, xviii + 254 pp., US$26.99 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-521-...
From the Ghetto to the Ivory Tower: Gendered Effects of Segregation on Elite‐College Completion*

Objectives. To explore the continuing consequences of segregation for students in elite colleges and test whether male and female students experience the effects of segregation in different ways. Methods. Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshmen (NLSF, 1999–2003) are used to predict the odds of elite-college graduation separately by gender. Theories on childhood gender socialization are addressed using OLS and logistic regression models to test for gendered pathways through which childhood segregation affects the likelihood of college graduation. Results. Males are exposed to higher levels of violence and disorder than females throughout childhood, and the gender gap in exposure grows as levels of segregation increase. The effect of segregation and its sequella on academic performance, however, appears to operate through different channels for males and females. Females experience significant negative effects of ongoing family stress, whereas males at elite colleges do not. Academic preparation, operating through college GPA, remains the single biggest factor affecting the likelihood of college graduation, although the strength of association is greater for males. Conclusions. Growing up in racially segregated environments affects long-term educational outcomes in ways that are not gender neutral. Despite having reached the “ivory tower,” females and males continue to experience the effects of segregation, although in different ways and degrees.
On-site investigations of spandrel glass microenvironments

Abstract Spandrel areas on south and west elevations of curtain walls on occupied office buildings in Summit, New Jersey and Rolla, Missouri were instrumented with sensor arrays that measured various microenvironmental conditions, including glass surface temperature, glass edge temperature, air temperature and relative humidity within the enclosed air space behind the spandrel glass panel and period of condensation on interior spandrel glass surfaces. Data were collected from May 1991 to May 1992. Microenvironmental conditions were more extreme in Rolla, where inside glass surface temperatures reached 82.1 °C (178.9 °F) in May 1991, despite the fact that thermal conditions at each site were moderated by the heat sink effects of massive concrete elements in the spandrel areas. Center-to-edge temperature differentials were sufficient to induce tensile stresses in glass panel edges of approximately 2000 psi (13.8 MPa). High humidities within the spandrel enclosures resulted in regular periods of condensation on inner spandrel glass surfaces.
Aerosol dissemination of veterinary pathogenic and human opportunistic thermophilic and thermotolerant fungi from thermal effluents of nuclear production reactors

The extent to which veterinary pathogenic and human opportunistic species of thermophilic and thermotolerant fungi disseminate in aerosols from heated effluents of nuclear production reactors of the Savannah River Plant (SRP), South Carolina, has been measured. Aerosol samples were taken at 140 sites, from directly over thermal effluents to more than 100 kilometers from the SRP boundary. Sampling methods included settle plates (134 sites, 1, 103 plates for a total of 2, 805 hrs.), liquid impingement (78 sites, 1 cubic meter each), filtration (79 sites, 1 cubic meter each), and a particle sizing cascade impactor (Andersen Sampler) (17 sites, 1 cubic meter each). Soils, foams, and microbial mats from thermal effluents (a total of 191 samples), and vegetation (560 samples) were sampled to study distribution of particular species. Sampling was done under a variety of conditions: hot weather and cold, wet and dry, day and night, windy and calm, reactor(s) operating and not, disturbed vegetation and undisturbed. At 102 of the aerosol sampling sites, sophisticated meterological analyses were used to allow sampling of air in the plume which originated from thermal effluents. Soil, foam, microbial mat, vegetation, and aerosol samples were quantitatively plated for detection of viable units; filters were halved and then both plated and observed microscopically. Significant dissemination of thermophilic and thermotolerant fungi from thermal effluents was not detected. Thermophilic and thermotolerant fungi were widely distributed in soil, air, and on vegetation. Dactylaria gallopava, the indicator species and dominant fungus in microbial mats lining SRP thermal effluents and the cause of epidemic fatal phaeohyphomycosis in flocks of turkeys and chickens in South Carolina, Georgia, and elsewhere, was isolated from air at a maximum of 50 meters from effluents (8 viable units per cubic meter of air in the plume of an effluent during a strong wind).
Proactive identification of performance problems

We propose to demonstrate Fa, an automated tool for timely and accurate prediction of Service-Level-Agreement (SLA) violations caused by performance problems in database systems. Fa periodically collects performance data at three levels: applications, database server, and operating system. This data is used to construct probabilistic models for predicting SLA violations. Fa currently uses graphical Bayesian network models because of their ability to support a wide range of inferences, including prediction and diagnosis, as well as their support for interactive visualization and presentation of complex system behavior in intuitive ways.
Delimitation of Weathering Zones in the Fiord Area of Eastern Baffin Island, Canada

Three weathering zones have been delimited in the Maktak/Narpaing Fiord area on the basis of data collected during field reconnaissance studies. A detailed sampling of weathering characteristics in Maktak Fiord and subsequent use of character analysis and discriminant analysis techniques supports the trizonal classification. The best combination of weathering characteristics for future use in statistical delimination of weathering zones was tested by multiple stepwise discriminant analysis procedures. Weathering zones appear to have a regional distribution. The zones are stratigraphic units that can be used as a framework upon which a late Cenozoic history of the Cumberland Peninsula and perhaps eastern Baffin Island could be constructed.
The effect of smoking on perception of muscle tension.

It has been suggested that smoking may reduce affect in high-arousal situations by blocking peripheral physiological cues. The effects of smoking on perception of one type of physiological response, muscle activity, was evaluated in two studies. In study 1 male and female smokers were exposed to four conditions: high and low arousal crossed with smoking or deprivation. Results showed that smokers produce less muscle activity during high-than low-arousal stituations, and that smoking reduced sensitivity to muscle activity in females, but enhanced it in males. These perception differences were not related to arousal as assessed by heart rate, which was elevated in all high-arousal situations. When compared to nonsmokers, smokers in a deprived state generate more muscle activity during the perception task, but showed no differences in sensitivity. These results represent the initial demonstration that smoking can alter the perception of physiological processes. Study 2 was designed to determine whether the effects of smoking were specific to muscle tension or indicative of a more generalized perceptual change. Perception of muscle tension and decibel levels were compared in smoking or deprived female smokers who were in the high-arousal situation. Results for muscle-tension perception in high-arousal situations were similar to those in study 1, but smoking did not alter perception of auditory stimuli.
Cervical lymph node metastases from an unknown primary.

Abstract In this retrospective study covering the period from 1%0 to 1973, a series of 51 patients were treated at the University of Iowa Hospitals for cervical lymph node metastases from an occult primary. Of this group of 51 patients, 27 (53%) survived 2 years and 15 (29%) survived 5 years. The best control and prognosis occurred in those patients who had a radical neck dissection combined with radiation therapy consisting of at least 5000 rad to the entire neck and to the sites of a potential ENT primary. The dose of radiation therapy given to the contralateral neck prevented later appearance of nodes and was effective in eliminating the appearance of the primary cancer in the naso-oro-laryngopharyngeal region. Follow-up of our patients eventually yielded only 1 ENT primary, and 6 patients eventually demonstrated a lung primary as the cause of their cervical lymph node metastases.
Abstract 444: Mitochondrial metabolism and phosphorylation of Stat3 in radioresistant cancer stem cells isolated from glioma U87 cells.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Abstract Radiation therapy continues to play a central role in the management of brain tumors. The radioresistance of high-grade gliomas remains one of the reasons for the failure of treatment, which would otherwise require tumoricidal doses beyond the normal tissue tolerance and beyond safe clinical practice. Thus, determining the cellular, molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying radiation resistance becomes critical for successful treatment of these tumors. For this purpose, glioma cell line U87 were treated with fractionated doses of radiation and the resistant clones isolated from the surviving tumor cells were characterized. The radioresistant U87 cells showed enhanced aggressiveness and clonogenic survival with an increased expression of HER2 and CD133, glioma cancer stem cell surface markers, as well as elevated mitochondrial membrane potential but lower oxygen consumption and ATP generation. In addition, compared with the wild type U87 cells, the phosphorylation of mitochondrial Stat3 at Serine 727 was decreased in the radioresistant U87 cells, indicating a role for mitochondrial Stat3 in the radioresistance mechanisms. Additionally, mutation of Serine 727 of Stat3 into Alanine resulted in increased radiosensitivity. These results demonstrate that the radioresistant glioma cells surviving routine radiotherapy are enriched with cancer stem cells expressing CD133 and HER2. The radioresistant phenotype is linked with a lowered mitochondrial metabolism and increased anti-apoptotic function due to inhibition of mitochondrial Stat3 phosphorylation. Thus, improving the mitochondrial metabolism by enhancing mitochondrial Stat3 phosphorylation may serve as an effective approach to re-sensitize the radioresistant glioma tumors. Citation Format: Ming Fan, Yan Shi, Jian Jian Li. Mitochondrial metabolism and phosphorylation of Stat3 in radioresistant cancer stem cells isolated from glioma U87 cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 444. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-444
Effects of buspirone on plasma prolactin and cortisol levels in major depressed and normal subjects

The cortisol response to ipsapirone (a 5-HT1A-partial agonist that produces a dose-dependent increase in plasma cortisol secretion in man) is blunted in major depression. Buspirone is another 5-HT1A agonist that increases cortisol secretion in man. This study investigated cortisol and prolactin (PRL) responses to buspirone (30 mg orally) in 45 major depressed subjects and 28 normal controls. Buspirone administration yielded a significant increase in cortisol and PRL levels in both normal controls and depressed subjects. No differences in buspirone-induced hormone responses were found either between major depressives and normal controls or between melancholic and nonmelancholic depressives. There were no significant relationships between severity of depression and any of the hormonal responses to buspirone. PRL responses to buspirone were significantly higher in women than in men.
separated-beam experiments and transit-time broadening

Separated-beam experiments for both the Doppler-free two-photon and saturated absorptions are under consideration. In the Doppler-free two-photon absorption, the experimental arrangement is important. Such important has not been recognized before. Three different arrangements are discussed here. In the first one, the separated-beam experiment is not coherent and the Ramsey fringe variation cannot be observed. In the second, the transit-time broadening is present and the Ramsey fringe variation depends on the atom's time of flight as well as the transit time. Finally, in the third arrangement, the transit-time broadening is eliminated and the Ramsey fringe variation depends on the atom's time of flight alone. These examples have shown that in the Doppler-free two-photon absorption, the elimination of the transit-time broadening is through a mechanism other than the beam separation. In the saturated absorption the situation is quite different. Even in the presence of transit-time broadening, the Ramsey fringe spacing depends only on the atom's time of flight.
Factors affecting the kinetics of DNA reassociation in phenol-water emulsion at high DNA concentrations.

DNA reassociation kinetics using the phenol emulsion reassociation technique (PERT) [Kohne, D. E., Levison, S. A. & Byers, M. J. (1977) Biochemistry16, 5329–5341] has been investigated at high DNA concentrations using an endonuclease S1 assay of reaction progress. Apparent second-order rate constants fall on two intersecting straight lines when presented as a function of DNA concentrations on a log–log plot. In the low DNA concentration range, the rate constants drop about 10-fold when concentration increases 1000-fold. In the high DNA concentration range, the rate constants drop more than 10-fold when concentration increases 10-fold. The slopes of these lines are the same in different solvents and at different temperatures. The intersection between the lines occurs when the available catalytic surface is saturated. At high DNA concentrations, high-complexity heterologous denatured DNA apparently competes 2–4 times better for the surface than homologous DNA because it does not participate in a reassociation reaction. Native and partially native DNA molecules cannot compete with single-stranded DNA for a saturated surface. At high DNA concentrations, reactions using PERT become dependent on the single-strand DNA length. Increasing length lowers reassociation rates.
Evaluating evidence for aging.

In their report “Mitochondrial DNA mutations, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in mammalian aging” (15 July, p. [481][1]), G. C. Kujoth et al. present data showing that mice with a mutant form of mitochondrial DNA polymerase accumulate mitochondrial mutations, die at a very early age, and exhibit
The Role of Chemical and Visual Stimuli in the Preferential Discrimination of Young by the Cichlid Fish Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum (Günther)

During the parental period, females of the cichlid fish Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum have demonstrated a keen ability to locate and preferentially discriminate their own wiggling young from those of other species on the basis of chemoreception. Males also apparently perceive chemical substances emitted by their young, but their response is weak in comparison to that of the female. There was no apparent perception of chemical substances emanating from eggs until 10 to 15 hours prior to hatching at which time, females began responding to them. No clear nor consistent preference by visual means, alone was shown by pairs of C. nigrofasciatum toward wiggling young of either their own species or those of Hemichromis; however, rapid preferential discrimination, by such means, was shown when a pair's own wiggling young were tested with free-swimming young of a foreign species. Vision apparently serves primarily for orienting the parents to young during their wiggling stage of development, while chemoreception serves primarily a discriminative function, at least, when both chemical and visual stimuli are present in a given situation. Once the free-swimming stage of development has been reached, parental vision not only continues to mediate orientation to the young, but also assumes an increasing role in discriminating among different types of young. When combining the chemical stimuli of wiggling young of their own species with the visual stimuli of either these same young or wiggling young of another species, females of C. nigrofasciatum apparently can learn, within 15 to 19 hours, sufficient visual characteristics to show preferential discrimination, at least, for a period of 5 to 7 hours after removal of the chemical stimuli. This result was in sharp contrast to that seen when visual stimuli, alone were tested for the same or longer periods. The interaction of chemical and visual stimuli in young recognition by parental cichlids and the relevance of the present findings to previous studies, dealing with similar mechanisms, are discussed.
Discovery of eight novel divergent homologs expressed in cattle placenta

Ten divergent homologs were identified using a subtractive bioinformatic analysis of 12,614 cattle placenta expressed sequence tags followed by comparative, evolutionary, and gene expression studie...
Prior HLA allosensitization predisposes patients to become and remain highly sensitized after LVAD implantation

Bridging to transplantation with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) is associated with HLA allosensitization which prolongs transplant waiting times, especially in highly sensitized patients(pts). We hypothesized that prior sensitization might predispose pts to become highly sensitized after LVAD implantation. Methods: We reviewed 64 consecutive HeartMate LVAD pts from 1993 to 2002. Panel reactive antibody (PRA) was assessed, either with antiglobulin cytotoxicity or flowcytometry, prior to LVAD implantation and biweekly thereafter. Sensitization was defined as a PRA 10% and highly sensitized was considered if the PRA was 90%. Results: Ten of 64 pts (15.6%) were sensitized before LVAD implantation (Group1, average PRA 49.8 24.6 %) and 54/64 pts (84.4%) were not (Group 2). Age, gender, cardiac diagnosis, and duration of mechanical support did not differ between the groups. Perioperative transfusion rates of packed red blood cells (7.3 7.9 vs 11.0 10.0 Units, p 0.25), platelets (3.0 4.0 vs 3.4 3.3 Units, p 0.71), and fresh frozen plasma (13.18 10.4 vs 12.6 8.0 Units, p 0.45) were comparable (Group 1 and Group 2, respectively). Nine of 10 Group 1 pts (90%) became highly sensitized (PRA 90%) compared to only 9/54 pts (16.7%) in Group 2 (p 0.001). Despite similar duration of support, the PRA remained elevated ( 90%) in all but 1 of the highly sensitized pts in Group 1 (8/9, 88.9%), compared to only 5/9 (55.6%) of the highly sensitized pts in Group 2. In the rest of Group 2 highly sensitized pts, PRA declined from a peak value of 93.5 4.5% to 54.7 15.3% (p 0.01). Conclusion: Presensitized pts seem to be at higher risk for becoming and remaining highly HLA allosensitized after LVAD implantation. Since such a high degree of sensitization decreases the likelihood of a subsequent crossmatch-compatible transplant, this high risk group could be the focus for prophylactic immunomodulation at the time of LVAD implantation.
Effects of Oregano Oil Brine Enhancement on Quality Attributes of Beef Longissimus dorsi and Semimembranosus Muscles from Various Age Animals

ABSTRACT: The study reports whether or not oregano oil can reduce lipid oxidation and evaluate palatability variations in beef longissimus dorsi and semimembranosus muscles from various age animals (approximately 18 mo; 18 M, 30 to 60 mo; 30 M, and >60 mo; 60 M). Six muscles of each age group were halved and enhanced with a control brine containing no antioxidants (CN) or a brine containing oregano oil (OR), cut into steaks, and stored in modified atmosphere packaging for 0, 4, 7, and 11 d. Each sampling day, surface color (Minolta L*, a*, b*), lipid oxidation (TBARS), cook yield, sensory analysis, and Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF) were measured. OR enhancement decreased TBARS values and slowed the rate of decline in a* values (P 0.05) compared to CN steaks. OR steaks had less rancidity detection, more off-flavor, lower overall acceptability in sensory analysis (P < 0.05). This indicated oregano oil can effectively reduce lipid oxidation and extend shelf-life of meat products, but further investigation would be needed to avoid off-flavor and acceptability of product quality. Practical Application: Decreases in meat consumption have led the meat industry to become more innovative in product development. Reducing lipid oxidation is a viable method to reduce rancidity, and improving product acceptability. Our research indicated that although oregano oil did reduce lipid oxidation, the adverse effects of flavor were too great, and thus would not be tolerable in fresh meat products at this concentration. However, there is potential to use oregano oil at lower concentrations and in a variety of processed products which could be beneficial to further the use of natural antioxidants.
Universal data compression and portfolio selection

The authors consider universal data compression, universal portfolio selection (online portfolio algorithms) and the relationship of both to information theory. Apparently the fundamental minimax redundancy game in data compression and the minimax regret game for the growth rate of wealth in investment have the same answer. There is also a duality between entropy rate and the growth rate of wealth.
Diagnosis and Design for Diagnosability for Internet Routers

This paper deals with diagnosis and design for diagnosability at the system level. In particular, diagnosis and design for diagnosability of high-end Internet routers in manufacturing test and design validation are considered. A packet flow model is used for diagnosis down to the replaceable unit level. The diagnosis method operates correctly when there are multiple or intermittent faults. A diagnosability criterion is proposed and a method for assessing diagnosability of various designs given. The paper concludes with a description of empirical results from an industrial application of the diagnosis method.
Thermal resistance measurements for AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors

A method for the measurement of the thermal resistance of heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) has been developed. The measurement technique is described and its application is illustrated. Results for single-emitter HBTs are explained with the help of a model for HBT thermal resistance. Measured values agree with the predictions of the model for heat flow for single-emitter HBTs. >
Sliding Mode Control of Automotive Engines

there is considerable interest in coordinated automotive engine/transmission control for smooth shifts, or for traction control of front wheel drive vehicles. Closed-loop control of the engine has been shown to be useful in improving shift quality. Because of the nonlinear dynamic behavior of the engine, the control method of sliding modes is well suited for engine control algorithms. The authors outline a dynamic engine model, and develop the sliding control laws to follow desired torque converter pump and turbine speed trajectories
Inter-Core Cooperative TLB Prefetchers for Chip Multiprocessors

Translation Lookaside Buffers (TLBs) are commonly employed in modern processor designs and have considerable impact on overall system performance. A number of past works have studied TLB designs to lower access times and miss rates, specifically for uniprocessors. With the growing dominance of chip multiprocessors (CMPs), it is necessary to examine TLB performance in the context of parallel workloads. This work is the first to present TLB prefetchers that exploit commonality in TLB miss patterns across cores in CMPs. We propose and evaluate two Inter-Core Cooperative (ICC) TLB prefetching mechanisms, assessing their effectiveness at eliminating TLB misses both individually and together. Our results show these approaches require at most modest hardware and can collectively eliminate 19% to 90% of data TLB (D-TLB) misses across the surveyed parallel workloads. We also compare performance improvements across a range of hardware and software implementation possibilities. We find that while a fully-hardware implementation results in average performance improvements of 8-46% for a range of TLB sizes, a hardware/software approach yields improvements of 4-32%. Overall, our work shows that TLB prefetchers exploiting inter-core correlations can effectively eliminate TLB misses.
CHANGING GENDER RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT IN YEMEN: EDUCATION, FAMILY, HEALTH AND FERTILITY, CULTURAL EXPRESSION

This study undertakes an innovative approach to confound the public-private paradigm prevalent which predominates in the literature on women and community in the developing world. It utilizes the concept of life options as formulated by Janet Z. Giele—which serves as the dependent variables in the analysis. Women's roles and status—as measured by these life options—are seen as structurally determined by state ideology (regime orientations and juridical system), level and type of economic development, and class location. The hypothesis to be tested is that, in an underdeveloped nation such as Yemen with a conservative, shah'a-based personal status law and a minuscule middle class, the status of women will be low on the dimensions of the life options examined—education, family, health and fertility, and cultural expression. The conclusion confirms what the development literature would lead the researcher to expect: a convergence of conservative cultural norms embodied in state policy, low economic development, and a diminutive middle class containing few women accounts for little improvement in women's status on the designated indicator in Yemen in recent years.
Systems analysis using Hartley impedances

The Fourier-based method of phasors is reformulated as an all-real calculation method which is based on the Hartley transform. In that transform, the all-real kernel cas (vt) is used rather than the familiar e/sup -jvt/ which is used in the Fourier transform. The concept of an all-real Hartley impedance is developed. The advantages and disadvantages of this alternate formulation are discussed. The method is applied to the calculation of harmonics in electric power distribution systems. >
Understanding the Role of Pension Obligation Bonds: The California Experience

Taxable pension obligation bonds (POBs) emerged in 1993 and have been issued extensively by a number of state and local governments. POBs are almost always general obligation bonds (GOBs or GO bonds). They convert “soft” unfunded pension liabilities on the pension plans balance sheet into “hard” bond debt on the governmental employer’s balance sheet. California has been one of the big issuers of POBs. Due to a court decision requiring voter approval, the State of California has not issued POBs as have some states. However, a judicially created loophole allows county, municipal and other local governments to issue such pension bonds without voter approval and without regard to state constitutional debt limits. Many have done so. Bond issues are usually insured by one of a handful of Wall Street bond insurers. There have been a number of Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcies in California including that of the City of Stockton. The combination of POBs, bond insurers and Chapter 9 proceedings can result in an out...
Structural Change in α-Chymotrypsin Induced by Complexation with α1-Antichymotrypsin As Seen by Enhanced Sensitivity to Proteolysis†

Both human neutrophil elastase (HNE) and free chymotrypsin (Chtr) proteolyze Chtr within the complex that Chtr forms with antichymotrypsin (ACT). As free Chtr is stable both to self-digestion and to digestion by HNE, these results are indicative of a stability and/or conformational change in Chtr that accompanies complex formation. As determined by both N-terminal sequence analysis and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectroscopy (MALDI-MS), the major initial sites of HNE cleavage of complexed Chtr are between γ-chain residues A158/S159 and V188/S189. Significantly, this latter site is at the base of the S1 site that recognizes the P1 position of the serpin. A slower cleavage in the β-chain between T139/G140 is also found. In addition, rACT is cleaved between residues V22/D23. The γ-chain of complexed Chtr is also cleaved by free Chtr, but at different sites: L162/L163 and W172/G173. β-Chain cleavages were also found between residues Q81/K82 and F114/S115. Cleavages similar to those desc...
Improvement of aging kinetics and precipitate size refinement in Mg–Sn alloys by hafnium additions

Abstract Two Mg–Sn alloys were microalloyed by addition of Hafnium and their age-hardening response was studied at 200 °C. Time to reach peak hardness was significantly reduced and improved by Hf addition. TEM study showed Hf clusters in the close vicinity and at the surface of Mg2Sn precipitates, which confirms that Hf clusters act as additional nucleation centers for Mg2Sn precipitate formation. Our results support the validity of thermokinetic criterion proposed by Mendis for selection of microalloying elements in order to refine precipitate size, accelerate aging kinetics and enhance peak hardness.
Dijet photoproduction at HERA and the structure of the photon

The dijet cross section in photoproduction has been measured with the ZEUS detector at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 38.6 pb\(^{-1}\). The events were required to have a virtuality of the incoming photon, \(Q^2\), of less than 1 GeV\(^2\) and a photon-proton centre-of-mass energy in the range \(134 14\) GeV and \(E_{T}^{\rm jet2}>11\) GeV and pseudorapidity requirements of \mbox{\(-1<\eta^{\rm jet1,2}<2.4\)}. The measurements are compared to next-to-leading-order QCD predictions. The data show particular sensitivity to the density of partons in the photon, allowing the validity of the current parameterisations to be tested.
Association of Diffusion and Anatomic Imaging Parameters with Survival for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Participating in Two Different Clinical Trials

PURPOSE: To evaluate the time course and association with survival of anatomic lesion volumes and diffusion imaging parameters for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma who were treated with radiation and concurrently with either temozolomide and enzastaurin (TMZ+enza cohort) or temozolomide, erlotonib, and bevaciumab (TMZ+erl+bev cohort). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Regions of interest corresponding to the contrast-enhancing and hyperintense lesions on T2-weighted images were generated. Diffusion-weighted images were processed to provide maps of apparent diffusion coefficient, fractional anisotropy, and longitudinal and radial eigenvalues. Histograms of diffusion values were generated and summary statistics calculated. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to assess the association of representative imaging parameters with survival with adjustments for age, Karnofsky performance status, and extent of resection. RESULTS: Although progression-free survival was significantly longer for the TMZ+erl+bev cohort (12.8 vs 7.3 months), there was no significant difference in overall survival between the two populations (17.0 vs 17.8 months). The median contrast-enhancing lesion volumes decreased from 6.3 to 1.9 cm3 from baseline to the postradiotherapy scan for patients in the TMZ+enza cohort and from 2.8 to 0.9cm3 for the TMZ+erl+bev cohort. Changes in the T2 lesion volumes were only significant for the latter cohort (26.5 to 11.9 cm3). The median apparent diffusion coefficient and related diffusion parameters were significantly increased for the TMZ+enza cohort (1054 to 1225 μm2/s). More of the anatomic parameters were associated with survival for the TMZ+enza cohort, whereas more diffusion parameters were associated with survival for the TMZ+erl+bev cohort. CONCLUSION: The early changes in anatomic and diffusion imaging parameters and their association with survival reflected differences in the mechanisms of action of the treatments that were being given. This suggests that integrating diffusion metrics and anatomic lesion volumes into the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology criteria would assist in interpreting treatment-induced changes and predicting outcome in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma who are receiving such combination treatments.
On the Measurement of Chronic Poverty

Long term poverty or chronic poverty is defined as poverty where a person has significant deprivation of capabilities for a number of years, and economists have emphasized the need to measure chronic poverty separately from total poverty (Hulme and Shepherd, 2003). There is an existing literature measuring chronic poverty in an area (Bossert et al., 2012; Datta et al., 2011; Duclos et al, 2010; Foster, 2009; Gibson, 2001; Jalan and Ravallion, 1998; Medola et al., 2012; Gradin et al., 2012; Hoy and Zheng, 2012). However, it can be difficult to measure if the well-being of the chronically poor improved using these prevailing measures, because they incorporate past poverty information into current poverty score of an individual. In this paper, I show how chronic poverty can be measured using an existing uni-dimensional poverty measure. It identifies the individuals who are currently in poverty and who remained in poverty for x or more years, where x>1, and then uses their current income to aggregate their poverty score. One advantage of this measure is that it can also be used to see if chronic poverty levels have changed over time, by using the method of stochastic dominance (Davidson and Duclos, 2010). Using PSID dataset as an example, I show how this method can be implemented on a panel dataset.
Hydrogenation of CO2 to Methanol: Importance of Metal–Oxide and Metal–Carbide Interfaces in the Activation of CO2

The high thermochemical stability of CO2 makes it very difficult to achieve the catalytic conversion of the molecule into alcohols or other hydrocarbon compounds, which can be used as fuels or the starting point for the generation of fine chemicals. Pure metals and bimetallic systems used for the CO2 → CH3OH conversion usually bind CO2 too weakly and, thus, show low catalytic activity. Here, we discuss a series of recent studies that illustrate the advantages of metal–oxide and metal–carbide interfaces when aiming at the conversion of CO2 into methanol. CeOx/Cu(111), Cu/CeOx/TiO2(110), and Au/CeOx/TiO2(110) exhibit an activity for the CO2 → CH3OH conversion that is 2–3 orders of magnitude higher than that of a benchmark Cu(111) catalyst. In the Cu–ceria and Au–ceria interfaces, the multifunctional combination of metal and oxide centers leads to complementary chemical properties that open active reaction pathways for methanol synthesis. Efficient catalysts are also generated after depositing Cu and Au on T...
Methods for Analysis of Gastrointestinal Toxicants

There are several analytical techniques that can be used to monitor and detect a variety of known gastrointestinal toxicants. These gastrointestinal toxicants include heavy metals, antineoplastic agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, amatoxins, alkaloids, ricin and abrin, anticholinesterase insecticides, and cantharidin. Due to the continuously evolving advancements in analytical toxicology, these techniques continue to provide lower limits of detection, an increased capacity to screen for multiple analytes, and the ability to accommodate accurate detection of analytes in a wide range of complex environmental and biological samples.
A pilot study of dexmedetomidine sedation and caudal anesthesia for inguinal hernia repair in infants

SummaryBackground Recent concerns regarding possible long-term effects of early anesthesia exposure on neurodevelopment in children have provided an impetus to explore alternative anesthetic techniques using potentially neuroprotective agents. Dexmedetomidine has not been implicated in anesthesia-induced neurotoxicity and has been shown to be neuroprotective in preclinical studies. We describe a case series of 50 neonates and infants who received dexmedetomidine sedation with caudal anesthesia instead of general endotracheal anesthesia for inguinal hernia surgery. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review on all neonates and infants who underwent inguinal hernia surgery with dexemetomidine sedation and caudal anesthesia in our institution. We started exploring this technique since October 2011 and established a protocol of administering dexmedetomidine 2 mcg·kg−1 over 10 min, followed by 1 mcg·kg−1 over the next 10 min. This led to satisfactory conditions for caudal placement in 20 min, with minimal need for airway intervention during surgery. Results The median gestational age of the infants was 31.4 (28.7, 36.0) weeks and median postconceptual age was 39.7 weeks (IQR 37.8, 45.7) at time of surgery. Of patients, 86% had surgery successfully completed under this technique alone. Seven patients required sevoflurane or nitrous oxide due to failed caudal block (n = 1) or difficult or prolonged surgery (n = 6). After establishing the sedation protocol and excluding patients with large or complicated hernias, the success rate was 96%. Transient intra-operative apnea or hypoventilation occurred in five patients and postoperative apnea in two patients. All respiratory events were easily reversed and no patient developed significant bradycardia or required intubation. Conclusions Dexmedetomidine sedation with caudal anesthesia is a feasible alternative to spinal or general anesthesia in selected infants undergoing uncomplicated hernia surgery. It avoids the need for endotracheal intubation and may be potentially beneficial in avoiding the unknown effects of general anesthesia on neurodevelopment.
Epidemiological Investigation on An Outbreak of Infectious Diarrhea in A School of Zhenba County of Shanxi Province

[Objective]To investigate the causes and epidemic features of infectious diarrhea outbreak and in Chinan primary school ,and provide scientific evidence for administration to develop infectious disease control measures.[Methods]Field epidemiological investigation of individual case,clinical diagnosis and laboratory tests were adopted. [Results]A total of 84 cases were reported,the attack rate was 10.64%. Three samples of drinking water were conducted laboratory tests; the colony count,total coliform,and fecal coliform were all beyond standards seriously. The positive rate of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was 100%,that of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-induced diarrhea in faeces was 87.50%.[Conclusion]Centralized water supply networks and school impounding reservoir of Chinan County was polluted by bacteria. The direct cause of infectious diarrhea was the unboiled water supply for students. The lack of water supply management and strict disinfection measures was the key to the outbreak.
Metabolic Complexity of Aggressive Primary and Metastatic Brain Tumors Beyond the Warburg Effect: What Substrates are Fueling the Citric Acid Cycle?

Background: Glioblastomas and brain metastases are aggressive, highly proliferative tumors with short survival times. 13C-NMR analysis of resected tumors from brain tumor patients infused with 13C-glucose at the time of surgery established that oxidation of glucose was occurring simultaneously with high lactate production. While it was clear that the citric acid cycle was actively metabolizing glucose, there were carbons in the acetyl-CoA pool that could not be attributed to infused 13C-glucose. The tumors were metabolizing another substrate(s), identified as the 'substrate gap' (Maher et al., 2012). Since astrocytes, the presumptive cell of origin of glioblastomas, use acetate as a major energy substrate, we investigated whether the tumors were capable of oxidizing acetate. Brain metastases, tumors derived from organs that do not normally oxidize acetate were studied to determine whether altered substrate choice is cell type dependent or a property of brain tumors. Methods: For these studies we used our ...
Surgical management of leg ulcers.

Leg ulcers are a fairly common problem. Determining the cause of the leg ulcer, as with any other disease process, requires -a thorough history, physical examination, and various laboratory tests, which may include a skin biopsy. The list of causes of leg ulcers is quite long; however, the more common causes are chronic venous stasis, arteriosclerosis obliterans, diabetes mellitus, and trauma. Treatment should be directed toward the cause of the ulcer. Medical management and surgical treatments of leg ulcers are included.
A Case of Simultaneous Bilateral Nonseminomatous Testicular Tumors in Persistent Müllerian Duct Syndrome

Abstract Persistent mullerian duct syndrome is characteristically associated with unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism. Like other undescended testes, these gonads are at an increased risk of malignant transformation. We report a case of synchronous bilateral mixed germ cell tumors in the cryptorchid testes of a patient with the persistent mullerian duct syndrome. Accepted for publication
Handbook on Medical Student Evaluation and Assessment.

The Handbook on Medical Student Evaluation and Assessment originates from chapters published earlier in the Alliance for Clinical Educators' popular Guidebook for Clerkship Directors.1 Two highly r...
Impaired osteogenesis of T1DM bone marrow-derived stromal cells and periosteum-derived cells and their differential in-vitro responses to growth factor rescue

Poor bone quality, increased fracture risks, and impaired bone healing are orthopedic comorbidities of type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Standard osteogenic growth factor treatments are inadequate in fully rescuing retarded healing of traumatic T1DM long bone injuries where both periosteal and bone marrow niches are disrupted. We test the hypotheses that osteogenesis of bone marrow-derived stromal cells (BMSCs) and periosteum-derived cells (PDCs), two critical skeletal progenitors in long bone healing, are both impaired in T1DM and that they respond differentially to osteogenic bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and/or insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) rescue. BMSCs and PDCs were isolated from Biobreeding Diabetes Prone/Worcester rats acquiring T1DM and normal Wistar rats. Proliferation, osteogenesis, and adipogenesis of the diabetic progenitors were compared with normal controls. Responses of diabetic progenitors to osteogenesis rescue by rhBMP-2/7 heterodimer (45 or 300 ng/ml) and/or rhIGF-1 (15 or 100 ng/ml) in normal and high glucose cultures were examined by alizarin red staining and qPCR. Diabetic BMSCs and PDCs proliferated slower and underwent poorer osteogenesis than nondiabetic controls, and these impairments were exacerbated in high glucose cultures. Osteogenesis of diabetic PDCs was rescued by rhBMP-2/7 or rhBMP-2/7 + rhIGF-1 in both normal and high glucose cultures in a dose-dependent manner. Diabetic BMSCs, however, only responded to 300 ng/nl rhBMP-2/7 with/without 100 ng/ml rhIGF-1 in normal but not high glucose osteogenic culture. IGF-1 alone was insufficient in rescuing the osteogenesis of either diabetic progenitor. Supplementing rhBMP-2/7 in high glucose osteogenic culture significantly enhanced gene expressions of type 1 collagen (Col 1), osteocalcin (OCN), and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) while suppressing that of adipogenic marker peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) in diabetic PDCs. The same treatment in high glucose culture only resulted in a moderate increase in Col 1, but no significant changes in OCN or GLUT1 expressions in diabetic BMSCs. This study demonstrates more effective osteogenesis rescue of diabetic PDCs than BMSCs by rhBMP-2/7 with/without rhIGF-1 in a hyperglycemia environment, underscoring the necessity to tailor biochemical therapeutics to specific skeletal progenitor niches. Our data also suggest potential benefits of combining growth factor treatment with blood glucose management to optimize orthopedic therapeutic outcomes for T1DM patients.
The nuclear astrophysics explorer

The Nuclear Astrophysics Explorer (NAE) is a concept for a possible future NASA Explorer mission which would obtain high resolution, EΔE ∼ 500, observations of gamma-ray lines in order to study many fundamental problems in astrophysics. It operates from 15 keV to 10 MeV with a 3σ sensitivity to narrow lines of ∼ 3×10−6 ph/cm2-s in a 106 s observation. This is 100 times below the presently known gamma-ray line fluxes. The NAE uses a heavily shielded array of 9 cooled Ge detectors in a very low background configuration. Its 10° field of view contains a versatile coded mask system which provides 2-D imaging with 4° resolution, 1-D imaging with 2° resolution and efficient measurements of emission from diffuse and point sources. The late 1990's is the earliest the NAE mission could begin. The scientific motivation, instrument concept, mission concept and expected results, and status and plans for the NAE are presented.
Entrepreneurship’s Relationship to CSR

Where does business ethics begin? The Corporate Social Responsibility model of business ethics has been a leading paradigm, but its practitioners typically start the middle of things by taking large firms as representative of business and addressing their ethical issues. That sometimes leads to over-generalizing, e.g., by taking the hierarchical social structure of corporations as their defining trait, or to analyzing business in terms of top-down political models.