cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anorexigenic effects of substance P in Coturnix japonica.

Abstract Substance P (SP) is an 11-amino acid tachykinin-related peptide that has anorexigenic effects in birds and mammals although the central mechanism is not well understood. Hence, the objective was to identify appetite-associated hypothalamic mechanisms in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Seven days post-hatch, quail were intracerebroventricularly injected with 0, 0.25, 0.5 or 1.0 nmol of SP and monitored for 180 min. On a cumulative basis, quail that received 0.5 and 1.0 nmol of SP consumed less food for 90 min post-injection. On a non-cumulative basis, food intake was reduced in 0.5 nmol-injected birds at 30 min post-injection. Water intake was not affected. A comprehensive behavior analysis was performed, revealing that SP-injected chicks displayed less feeding pecks and reduced locomotion compared to vehicle-injected birds. To identify molecular mechanisms, the hypothalamus was isolated at 1 h post-injection and real-time PCR was performed to measure mRNA. Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) mRNA was reduced in SP-injected chicks. Immunohistochemistry was used to quantify c-Fos-expressing cells in appetite-associated hypothalamic nuclei. There were more reactive cells in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of SP- than vehicle-injected chicks. The LH and PVN were collected for gene expression analysis. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and urotensin 2 (UTS2) mRNAs were greater in SP- than vehicle-injected chicks in the PVN. In the LH, CRF receptor sub-type 2 (CRFR2) mRNA was greater and kappa opioid receptor mRNA was reduced in SP- compared to vehicle-injected quail. Thus, SP induces a potent anorexia in quail that coincides with increased LH-specific CRFR2 mRNA and increased UTS2 mRNA in the PVN. Future studies will evaluate whether SP-induced anorexigenic effects are mediated through CRF receptors.
Predicting type of sext message sent in adults 25 and older using motivations to sext and relational attachment

There is a paucity of research analyzing sexting behaviors in adults aged 25 and older. The majority of research into sexting focuses on emerging adult populations and adolescents. While sexting has been studied in regard to relational attachment and motivations to sext, little is known about how these constructs are associated with older adults’ sexting behaviors and how they relate to the type of sext message sent. To that end, the current study sought to predict the type of sext message (image or text only) sent based on relational attachment and sexting motivations. A significant logistic regression model was found (χ2(6) = 51.97, p < .001), with relational anxiety and body image reinforcement being significant predictors of adults sending a partially and/or nude image in a sext message. Interestingly, gender was not a significant predictor. Gender not being a significant predictor differs from research into emerging adult relational attachment styles and sexting behaviors. Individuals who sexted for body image reinforcement were more likely to send an image as a sext message. Those who were higher on relational anxiety were less likely to send an image as a sext message.
A survey of weed control costs and strategies in container production nurseries.

Abstract Thirty-two container nurseries were surveyed concerning weed management strategies. Handweeding costs ranged from $608–$1401/ha ($246–$567/acre), with hourly wages paid for handweeding ranging from $3.53 to $3.97/hour. Nurseries averaged 3 applications of preemergence applied herbicides annually. Primary herbicides applied were OH-2 (oxytluorfen + pendimethalin), Rout (oxytluorfen + oryzalin) and Ronstar (oxadiazon). Problem weeds identified by the participants were prostrate spurge (Euphorbia supina Raf.), oxalis (Oxalis sp.), eclipta (Eclipta alba (L.) Hasskarl) and nutsedge [Cyperus esculentus L. (yellow) and C. rotundus L. (purple)]. Weed control material used under containers varied with the nursery size.
Role of VPS13, a protein with similarity to ATG2, in physiology and disease

The evolutionarily conserved VPS13 family proteins have been implicated in several cellular processes. Mutations in each of the four human VPS13s cause neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative disorders. Until recently, the molecular function of VPS13 remained elusive. Genetic, functional and structural studies have now revealed that VPS13 acts at contact sites between intracellular organelles to transport lipids by a novel mechanism: direct transfer between bilayers via a hydrophobic channel that spans its entire rod-like N-terminal half. Predicted similarities to the autophagy protein ATG2 suggested a similar role for ATG2 that has now been confirmed by structural and functional studies. Here, after a brief review of this evidence, we discuss what is known of human VPS13 proteins in physiology and disease.
An Open-Source Dataset on Dietary Behaviors and DASH Eating Plan Optimization Constraints.

Linear constrained optimization techniques have been applied to many real-world settings. In recent years, inferring the unknown parameters and functions inside an optimization model has also gained traction. This inference is often based on existing observations and/or known parameters. Consequently, such models require reliable, easily accessed, and easily interpreted examples to be evaluated. To facilitate research in such directions, we provide a modified dataset based on dietary behaviors of different groups of people, their demographics, and pre-existing conditions, among other factors. This data is gathered from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and complemented with the nutritional data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). We additionally provide tailored datasets for hypertension and pre-diabetic patients as groups of interest who may benefit from targetted diets such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan. The data is compiled and curated in such a way that it is suitable as input to linear optimization models. We hope that this data and its supplementary, open-accessed materials can accelerate and simplify interpretations and research on linear optimization and constrained inference models. The complete dataset can be found in the following repository: this https URL
Targeting the expression of T antigens with selinexor (KPT-330) shows promise for Merkel cell polyomavirus-positive Merkel cell carcinoma treatment.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare primary neuroendocrine skin cancer. In the Northern hemisphere, the disease most commonly arises as a result of infection with Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV).1 Although the incidence of MCC is only 0.7 per 100,000 individuals in the United States, this number is increasing worldwide, and the cancer is highly aggressive, often carrying a poor prognosis.2 Immunotherapies such as pembrolizumab have emerged as leading treatments for MCPyV-associated MCC; however, only a subset of patients respond to these agents, and many require other treatments to remain in remission.
SPALLING MECHANISM OF NITRIDED LAYER OF AUSTENITIC STEEL 4Cr14Ni14W2Mo

The tendency of spalling of the nitrided layer of the hot rolled austenitic steel 4Cr-14Ni14W2Mo exhibits close relation to the nitrided surface orientation relative to the rolled steelrod It is found that the dislocations in the imperfactly recrystalized steel align as parallel dislo-cation walls in macroscopic extent, and the thickness of "white sublayer" in the nitrided layeris much larger at the surface which is parallel to the dislocation walls. At such surface spallingof the nitrided layer happens often.
All Earth – an open access journal on all spherical perspectives of our home planet: editorial questions

All Earth is a reinvention of an existing JCR- and Scopus-listed peer-reviewed fully open access journal, i.e. Geodinamica Acta, and re-launched as a new forward-looking and broad-science journal p...
Foreign expansion of small firms

Abstract This research analyzes foreign expansions of small firms. In particular, we look at how a small firm's foreign expansion is affected by the join effects of prior foreign business involvement and other factors. We found that when encountering performance downturn and market size decline, small firms with prior foreign business involvement are more likely to use foreign expansion to deal with the problems. This suggests that organizational characteristics mediate the relationship between competitive threats and foreign expansion activities. We also found that small firms' foreign diversification is affected by their product and domestic expansions, suggesting foreign activities of small firms are closely related to their non-foreign strategies.
Activated Complement Factors as Disease Markers for Sepsis

Sepsis is a leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide. Early recognition and effective management are essential for improved outcome. However, early recognition is impeded by lack of clinically utilized biomarkers. Complement factors play important roles in the mechanisms leading to sepsis and can potentially serve as early markers of sepsis and of sepsis severity and outcome. This review provides a synopsis of recent animal and clinical studies of the role of complement factors in sepsis development, together with their potential as disease markers. In addition, new results from our laboratory are presented regarding the involvement of the complement factor, mannose-binding lectin, in septic shock patients. Future clinical studies are needed to obtain the complete profiles of complement factors/their activated products during the course of sepsis development. We anticipate that the results of these studies will lead to a multipanel set of sepsis biomarkers which, along with currently used laboratory tests, will facilitate earlier diagnosis, timely treatment, and improved outcome.
Characterization of the bovine herpesvirus 4 major immediate-early transcript.

Abstract The major immediate-early (IE) RNA of bovine herpesvirus 4 (BHV-4) has been identified and characterized by analyzing cytoplasmic polyadenylated RNA isolated from Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells infected with BHV-4(DN-599) in the presence of cycloheximide. Hybridization of cDNA to Southern blots of viral DNA, Northern (RNA) blot analysis, and S1 nuclease analyses showed that the major BHV-4 IE RNA is a spliced, 1.7-kb RNA, which is transcribed from right to left on the restriction map of the BHV-4 genome from DNA contained in the 8.3-kb HindIII fragment E. The major IE RNA contains three small exons at its 5' end, spliced to a 1.3-kb 3' exon. This RNA is present in much-reduced amounts when cells are infected in the absence of cycloheximide. However, late in infection, the major IE RNA gene region encodes abundant RNAs which differ in structure from the major IE RNA. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the gene encoding the major IE RNA revealed an open reading frame encoding 284 amino acids. A homology search of amino acid sequence data bases showed that a 141-amino-acid region near the amino terminus of the predicted amino acid sequence is similar to sequences near the amino terminus of herpes simplex virus type 1 IE110. This region of homology includes CXXC pairs, which could be involved in zinc finger structures. The region encoding this putative zinc finger domain is also found in RNAs transcribed from this IE region late in infection, but it is spliced to different sequences than those used in IE RNA. Thus, the major IE region of the BHV-4 genome could encode a family of proteins sharing a zinc finger domain.
Influence of long‐range‐transported pollution on the annual and diurnal cycles of carbon monoxide and ozone at Cheeka Peak Observatory

[1] We assess the importance of distant pollution sources on the marine background by combining measurements of carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3) with model simulations from the GEOS-CHEM chemical transport model and two types of back trajectories. Measurements were made over a complete annual cycle from March 2001 to May 2002 at Cheeka Peak Observatory (CPO) in Washington State. Data from an earlier campaign (March–April 1997 and 1998) were also incorporated. The seasonal cycles of CO and O3 show a spring maximum and a summer minimum, consistent with other remote sites in the marine boundary layer. European and Asian pollution emission sources of CO, parameterized by GEOS-CHEM, were grouped into one category called “LRT,” representing “long-range transport.” LRT values produced good correlations with measured CO (monthly averaged r = 0.60, 6-hour averages) and were found to comprise between 15 and 60% of total CO, with higher values in winter/spring and lower values in the summer/fall. CO and O3 observations were classified on the basis of these LRT values, creating two general categories: “more polluted” (LRT > 75th percentile from monthly distribution) and “less polluted” (LRT 75% percentile) were observed throughout the year. Ozone behavior was quite complicated during these events, producing no consistent enhancements. Classification of the measurements with LRT values from GEOS-CHEM is compared to back trajectories, both isentropic and kinematic. Isentropic trajectories agree reasonably well with GEOS-CHEM between February and May in capturing the CO enhancements in air masses influenced by recent emissions but were found to be less useful from June to January. HYSPLIT kinematic trajectories were slightly better at capturing the Asian pollution events than isentropic trajectories but still missed an event during the summer completely that was verified by GEOS-CHEM. Possible reasons for poor trajectory performance in the summer and fall are discussed. Long-range transport appears not to affect the magnitude of the diurnal variability of O3 measurements at CPO, which reflect daytime production of 2–4 ppbv/d. Rather, ship traffic in the vicinity of CPO, which supplies NOx through combustion, likely plays a dominant role.
The Maine Lobster Market: Between Market and Hierarchy

Owners of firms in the Maine lobster industry exist in a complicated social milieu. They have one set of ties with firms from which they buy and to which they sell lobsters, which I call vertical ties. They have other ties with firms at the same level of the market, horizontal ties. Both, I shall argue, are necessary for economic success in the industry, although they are used for very different purposes. This paper examines how members of the lobster industry use their ties; the reasons for their evolution; and the effect of this social system on the way prices are established in the industry. The marketing system for lobsters in Maine is dominated by a large number of small, specialized firms which have developed long-term bilateral relationships. Fishermen, dealers, truckers, and wholesalers typically own their own small firms and buy and sell lobsters to each other. No vertically integrated firms have been developed which are involved in all phases of the business-from catching the lobsters to shipping them to distant markets. Yet the owners of these small firms do not act like the quintessential entrepreneur of the neoclassical model of economics, who responds only to market prices and buys and sells to the highest bidder with only economic optimization in mind. Rather, they buy and sell at the "established market price" to the same finite number of firms with whom they have developed ties. A fisherman ordinarily sells only to one lobster dealer; and the dealer usually sells only to a small number of pound operators, wholesalers, or other buyers. In this respect, the situation in Maine closely resembles the situation found in many other markets in the world where buyers and sellers have long-standing ties (Mintz; Geertz: 29ff.; Spoehr: 162ff; Wilson, 1980). However, there are differences as well.
Accounting and Repayment Provisions of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program

ABSTRACT: The accounting and repayment practices employed by the Water and Power Resources Service (WPRS) greatly distort the actual resource allocation process and the ultimate repayment to the Federal Treasury. Through a series of transfers of capital repayment obligations to future development with modest or no interest charges, the repayment is reduced to only a fraction of the amount implied. In the case of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, the public subsidy of hydroelectric power is estimated to be $2 for every $1 of repayment. For irrigation investment, the direct repayment to the Federal Treasury is less than 10 percent of the annualized cost of the public investment, with irrigators repaying at a rate of less than $0.03 for every dollar of public expenditure.
Pre-column derivatization and high-performance liquid chromatography of biogenic amines in blood of normal and malignant hyperthermic pigs☆

A sensitive, selective, pre-column derivatization method was used with high-performance liquid chromatography to measure norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin in plasma from normal and malignant hyperthermic (MH) pigs. Samples were carefully collected from control and stressed animals under halothane anesthesia. Using a simple extraction method involving pre-column derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde and ethyl acetate partitioning, the samples were chromatographed in less than 50 min. Norepinephrine was found to be elevated in MH pigs as the syndrome progressed, reaching levels eight-fold greater than control pigs under anesthesia. These experiments provide some evidence for our hypothesis that a failure to metabolize excess norepinephrine may be one of the key metabolic defects in causing the pathophysiology of the malignant hyperthermia—stress syndrome. The application of our chromatographic method in animal and human tests may provide a pattern of biogenic amine types and levels that could be diagnostic in identifying susceptible humans and carrier animals.
Aortic branch artery pseudoaneurysms accompanying aortic dissection. Part I. Pseudoaneurysm anatomy.

PURPOSE Small areas of blood flow are sometimes seen within an otherwise thrombosed false lumen on computed tomography (CT) scans of intramural hematomas of the aorta. These are blood-filled spaces that, although they have no apparent communication with the true lumen, appear isodense with the aorta on contrast-enhanced CT scans. The purpose of this report is to describe angiographic and autopsy studies that establish the nature of this entity and describe the principal CT features distinguishing it from a penetrating ulcer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Conventional angiographic and CT aorta findings in two cases with small collections of contrast material within an otherwise thrombosed false lumen of an aortic dissection are discussed. Also examined is another case with pathologic and histologic findings in addition to those of small collections of contrast material within an otherwise thrombosed false lumen of an aortic dissection, which illustrate the pathoanatomy of these lesions. RESULTS Angiographic and necropsy evidence shows that some of these lesions represent branch artery pseudoaneurysms and, as such, are secondary to an intramural hematoma, not the primary cause of it. CONCLUSIONS Difficulty in demonstrating communication between these collections of contrast material and the adjacent true lumen of the aorta on helical CT examinations and the characteristic location of these lesions along the nonpleural portion of the aortic circumference distinguish them from penetrating ulcers and should suggest the diagnosis of branch artery pseudoaneurysm. Demonstration of a branch artery originating from the contrast collection confirms the diagnosis. These branch artery pseudoaneurysms should be distinguished from penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers.
Chronic Upper Extremity Arterial Insufficiency: Etiology, Manifestations, and Operative Management

• Forty-eight arterial reconstructions were performed for chronic upper extremity ischemia in 43 patients, aged 31 to 81 years. Diagnostic arterial catheterization was the most frequent cause of symptomatic occlusion, followed by proximal arteriosclerotic lesions and noniatrogenic trauma. Doppler ultrasound evaluation provided important diagnostic and prognostic data that complemented information derived from arteriography. Indications for operation included disabling claudication (39 cases) or digital gangrene (four cases). Restoration of normal extremity function can be anticipated except in instances where poor forearm runoff exists. Autogenous saphenous and basilic interposition vein grafts have proved excellent for axillary-brachial revascularizations. Axillary-axillary bypass procedures for innominate-subclavian artery occlusions appear hemodynamically sound and technically simple. Follow-up, averaging 48 months, extended to 144 months. Late vein graft failure or progressive distal occlusive disease was not encountered. (Arch Surg113:419-423, 1978)
A clinical study of forces generated by the intrinsic muscles of the index finger and the extrinsic flexor and extensor muscles of the hand

A study of the forces generated by the intrinsic muscles of the index finger and coordinating muscles of the hand found that the intrinsic muscles of the index finger contributed combined forces equivalent to approximately 80% of those generated by the flexor profundus and superficialis, and to 73% of the moment for the motion of metacarpopalangeal flexion with simultaneous interphalangeal joint extension. No current tendon transfer operation can correct this deficit, though several supply sufficient force at the metacarpophalangeal joint to counterbalance the extrinsic extensors.
MRI estimation of total renal volume demonstrates significant association with healthy donor weight.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to correlate total renal volume (TRV) calculations, obtained through the voxel-count method and ellipsoid formula with various physical characteristics. Materials and methods MRI reports and physical examination from 210 healthy kidney donors (420 kidneys), on whom renal volumes were obtained using the voxel-count method, were retrospectively reviewed. These values along with ones obtained through a more traditional method (ellipsoid formula) were correlated with subject height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), and age. Results TRV correlated strongly with body weight ( r = 0.7) and to a lesser degree with height, age, or BMI ( r = 0.5, −0.2, 0.3, respectively). The left kidney volume was greater than the right, on average ( p p Conclusions Body weight was the physical characteristic which demonstrated the strongest correlation with renal volume in healthy subjects. Given this finding, a formula was derived for estimating the TRV for a given patient based on the his or her weight: TRV = 2.96 × weight (kg) + 113 ± 64.
All-optical pulse regeneration in an ultrafast nonlinear interferometer with Faraday mirror polarization control

Summary form only given. We present a folded ultrafast nonlinear interferometer (FUNI) optical switch that uses Faraday rotation to achieve acoustic and polarization stabilization. We experimentally demonstrate FUNI operation for 3R all-optical regeneration with a wide switching window and a low BER power penalty.
The Helly bound for singular sums

The singularity graph of a finite ring has the ring elements as vertices with edges joining pairs whose difference is not invertible. In this paper we will establish a bound for the number of sums which can be generated by a clique in the singularity graph of Zn, the ring of integers mrodulo n. When n has at least three prime factors, there are always cliques based on Helly families of sets which realize n - φ(n) sums, where φ denotes the Euler totient function. When n has exactly three prime factors, this bound is best possible.
Transport defects as the physiological basis for eye color mutants of Drosophila melanogaster.

Kynurenine-H3 transport and conversion to 3-hydroxykynurenine were studied in organ culture using the Malpighian tubules and developing eyes from wild type and the eye color mutants w, st, 1td, ca, and cn of Drosophila melanogaster. Malpighian tubules from wild type have the ability to concentrate kynurenine and convert it to 3-hydroxykynurenine. The tubules from w, st, 1td, and ca are deficient in the ability to transport kynurenine, as are the eyes of the mutants w, st, and 1td. This defect in kynurenine transport provides a physiological explanation for the phenotypic properties of the mutants. The relationship of these measurements to previous observations on these eye color mutants is discussed and the transport defect hypothesis is consistently supported. We have concluded that several of the eye color mutants in Drosophila are transport mutants.
Lewis acid catalysis alters the shapes and products of bis-pericyclic Diels-Alder transition states.

The reactions of cyclopentadiene with α-keto-β,γ-unsaturated phosphonates or with nitroalkenes proceed through an unsymmetrical bis-pericyclic transition state to give both Diels−Alder and hetero-Diels−Alder cycloadducts. The change in periselectivity of the Lewis acid catalyzed reactions can be qualitatively rationalized by the change in the potential energy surface (PES) landscapes, which ultimately affects the branching ratio of these bis-pericyclic reactions.
A comparison of hydrogen- and deuterium-bonding in carbon tetrachloride solutions of methanol

Abstract Spectra of pure CH3OH and CH3OD and of carbon tetrachloride solutions of both alcohols have been recorded using a Perkin-Elmer Model 621 spectrophotometer. Frequencies of the OH and OD stretching vibrations for both the hydrogen-bonded and non-hydrogen-bonded species are found to agree with those previously reported in the literature. The first and second overtones of the non-hydrogen-bonded species were also observed using a Cary Model 14 spectrophotometer. It appears that little additional anharmonicity of these modes is introduced by hydrogen-bonding. The relative intensities of the overtone bands as a function of alcohol concentration were used to determine the relative strength of the QH···O and OD···O bonds. The quotient calculated from the ratio of the concentration of monomeric CH3OD to the concentration of monomeric CH3OH and the same ratio for hydrogen-bonded CH3OD and CH3OH is 1.29±0.04 for all concentrations studied indicating that hydrogen-bonding is more extensive than deuterium-bonding.
Spectroscopic characterization of surface species derived from HCOOH, CH3COOH, CH3OH, C2H5OH, HCOOCH3, and C2H2 on MgO thin film surfaces

Abstract Neutralization of surface charge and determination of an appropriate binding energy reference are among the difficulties in characterizing adsorbates on insulator surfaces with electron spectroscopies. In the present study, the surface charging problem associated with insulating MgO was circumvented by using MgO thin films formed on the Mg(0001) surface by O 2 adsorption. XPS and UPS spectra were obtained from HCOOH, CH 3 COOH, CH 3 OH, C 2 H 5 OH, HCOOCH 3 , and C 2 H 2 adsorbed on the MgO thin film at temperatures ranging from 170 to 550 K. The adsorption states of these molecules at different temperatures were essentially consistent with those reported on MgO powders and characterized by other techniques, indicating that MgO thin films provide good models of bulk MgO, with distinct advantages for electron spectroscopic studies.
Molybdenum effect on volume in Fe-Cr-Ni alloys

By X-ray diffraction on powder specimens, we determined the unit-cell size for six facecentred-cubic Fe-Cr-Ni alloys, nominally Fe-19Cr-12Ni (at%). In these alloys, the molybdenum content ranged up to 2.4 at%. We found that molybdenum increases volume: 0.45% per at%. Usual models based on atomic volumes and elastic compressibilities fail to explain the large volume increase. We ascribe the discrepancy to changes in interatomic bonding, which we describe in terms of 3d-electron models.
Diffuse abdominal accumulation of Ga-67 citrate in a patient with alpha-chain disease.

A middle-aged Latin American with serological and biopsy proven diagnosis of alpha-chain disease involving the small intestine had whole-body imaging with 5 mCi Ga-67 citrate for the staging of possible lymphoma. There was persistent diffuse accumulation of the Ga-67 activity in the abdomen, simulating findings of peritonitis. The causes of diffuse abdominal Ga-67 activity are briefly discussed.
Acculturation, socioeconomic vulnerability, and quality of life in Spanish-speaking and bilingual latino HIV-infected men and women.

Little is known about the health-related QOL (HRQOL) of low-income, Latino men and women living with HIV. Monolingual Spanish-speaking Latino individuals may be at greater risk than bilingual men a...
Orbits Embedded in IFS Attractors

It has recently been shown that a modified iterated function system (IFS) is capable of generating closed orbits which undergo bifurcation and transition to a chaotic regime as control parameters are varied [Bahar, 1995, 1996]. Here we discuss a technique for isolating orbits embedded in chaotic attractors generated by an IFS algorithm, and develop a symbolic classification based on the folding patterns of the embedded orbits.
Examinee abilities and task difficulty in task-based second language performance assessment:

This article summarizes findings from investigations into the development and use of a prototype English language task-based performance test. Data included performances by 90 examinees on 13 compl...
Synthesis of Hollow Gold–Silver Alloyed Nanoparticles: A “Galvanic Replacement” Experiment for Chemistry and Engineering Students

The rapid academic and industrial development of nanotechnology has led to its implementation in laboratory teaching for undergraduate-level chemistry and engineering students. This laboratory experiment introduces the galvanic replacement reaction for synthesis of hollow metal nanoparticles and investigates the optical properties of these nanoparticles. Changes of localized surface plasmon resonance from solid to hollow nanoparticles are monitored by UV–vis spectroscopy, while corresponding morphological changes are validated by transmission electron microscopy. The optical properties are further investigated by the use of a laser pointer, laser irradiation, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. By performing these experiments, students gain practical knowledge for the synthesis of hollow metal nanoparticles and the underlying structure-dependent optical properties.
Legionella pneumophila mip gene potentiates intracellular infection of protozoa and human macrophages.

Abstract Legionella pneumophila is an intracellular parasite of freshwater protozoa and human macrophages. Recent studies determined that the macrophage infectivity potentiator (Mip) surface protein, a prokaryotic homolog of the FK506-binding proteins, is required for optimal infection of macrophages. To determine whether Mip is also involved in L. pneumophila infection of protozoa, we examined the ability of a strain lacking Mip to parasitize Hartmannella amoebae and Tetrahymena ciliates. After 3 days of incubation, approximately 1000-fold fewer bacteria were recovered from protozoan cocultures infected with the Mip- strain than from those cocultures infected with an isogenic Mip+ strain. The mip mutant was, however, not impaired in its ability to bind to amoebae cell surfaces, indicating that Mip is involved in bacterial resistance to intracellular killing and/or intracellular multiplication. These data suggest that L. pneumophila employs similar genes and mechanisms to infect human cells and protozoa. Furthermore, they support the hypothesis that the ability of L. pneumophila to parasitize macrophages and hence to cause human disease is a consequence of its prior adaptation to intracellular growth within protozoa.
Psychologists Entering Primary Care: Manhattan Cannot Be Bought for $24 Worth of Beads

Speer and Schneider's review (2003; this issue) illustrates a number of problems in psychologists’ understanding of elderly primary care (PC) patients and their providers, as well as the context of PC. Claims that elderly patients overutilize health services and do so primarily because of mental health problems are not well founded. Older PC patients also face practical and preference barriers to accepting conventional psychological treatment The evidence that psychological services provide cost offset is questionable, and cost offset is not the best way of evaluating the value of psychological services. Rather than as frontline providers, psychologists’ best prospects for an expanded role in PC is in the design, supervision, and evaluation of augmented services in this setting.
Combined photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging of human breast in vivo in the mammographic geometry

This photoacoustic volume imaging (PAVI) system is designed to study breast cancer detection and diagnosis in the mammographic geometry in combination with automated 3D ultrasound (AUS). The good penetration of near-infrared (NIR) light and high receiving sensitivity of a broad bandwidth, 572 element, 2D PVDF array at a low center-frequency of 1MHz were utilized with 20 channel simultaneous acquisition. The feasibility of this system in imaging optically absorbing objects in deep breast tissues was assessed first through experiments on ex vivo whole breasts. The blood filled pseudo lesions were imaged at depths up to 49 mm in the specimens. In vivo imaging of human breasts has been conducted. 3D PAVI image stacks of human breasts were coregistered and compared with 3D ultrasound image stacks of the same breasts. Using the designed system, PAVI shows satisfactory imaging depth and sensitivity for coverage of the entire breast when imaged from both sides with mild compression in the mammographic geometry. With its unique soft tissue contrast and excellent sensitivity to the tissue hemodynamic properties of fractional blood volume and blood oxygenation, PAVI, as a complement to 3D ultrasound and digital tomosynthesis mammography, might well contribute to detection, diagnosis and prognosis for breast cancer.
Further studies on the separation and identification of two phosphatases with acid optima from rat bone.

Studies were designed to examine the effects of isotonic sucrose and hypertonic KCl on the extraction and properties of phosphatases (acid optima) from long bones of suckling rats. Low-speed supernatants (S) of homogenates in sucrose were dialyzed against sucrose or deionized H2O. Free enzyme was recovered from both retentates by ultracentrifugation before (S1) or after sequential treatment with KCl and Triton X-100 (S2), protamine (S3), and a final dialysis (S4). Activity was measured withp-nitrophenylphosphate (p-NPP), β-glycerophosphate (β-GP), ATP, and casein. S was evaluated for latent enzyme with hypertonic KCl and classic lysing methods. Fractionation of activity in final extracts was accomplished with CM-52 cellulose or electrophoresis. Results showed that: (a) sucrose did not alter the types or properties of enzymes extracted, but did decrease yield of activities; (b) activity in S was increased approximately 20% by lysing methods, 80% by hypertonic KCl, and was unstable unless salt and detergent were present; and (c) chromatography or electrophoresis of S4 resolved only two enzymes: a tartrate-sensitive phosphomonoesterase (E1) responsible for 15% of the total activity in S, and a tartrate-insensitive enzyme (E2) which accounted for 85% of the activity, was unstable in isotonic medium, had high affinity for ATP andp-NPP, and had low affinity for casein and β-GP. It is concluded that sucrose is not necessary for the isolation of total bone acid phosphatase activity, that hypertonic KCl does not negatively affect the properties of the enzymes isolated, and that E1 and E2 show different latencies.
High grade undifferentiated uterine sarcoma: surgery, treatment, and survival outcomes.

Abstract Objectives High grade undifferentiated uterine sarcomas (HGUS) are rare, aggressive malignancies. Data regarding management are limited. We aimed to describe disease stage, response to treatment, and survival outcomes among patients with HGUS at our institution. Methods We identified all patients with HGUS who received treatment at our institution from 1/2000 to 3/2011. Demographics, surgical procedures, disease stage, treatment response, and survival outcomes were abstracted from the medical records. Results Twenty-one patients were identified. FIGO 2008 stage distribution was: I — 7 (33%), II — 1 (5%), III — 2 (10%), IV — 11 (52%). Eighteen of 21 patients (86%) undergoing primary surgical resection achieved a complete gross resection; however, progression within the abdominal cavity was identified in 11 patients (61%) by the time they underwent postoperative imaging. Of 13 patients who received first-line chemotherapy for measurable disease, the overall response rate was 62%. Responses were observed in patients treated with gemcitabine/docetaxel (6 of 8) and doxorubicin-based regimens (2 of 5). Progression-free and overall survivals for the entire cohort were 7.3months and 11.8months, respectively. In 14 patients with measurable disease at the time of treatment, 1-year survival was 35.7% versus 80% in 5 patients without measurable disease at time of treatment (P=0.112). Nine patients received second- or additional chemotherapy for progressive disease, with response rate of 19%. Time to progression was short among responders. Conclusions HGUS represents a distinct histologic subtype of uterine sarcoma with poor outcomes regardless of stage at diagnosis. A majority rapidly develops distant metastases despite surgical resection. Gemcitabine–docetaxel and doxorubicin-based treatment achieved objective, but short-lived, responses in patients with measurable disease.
Behavior therapy for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: theory and practice.

Abstract Behavior therapy techniques for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) have been effective in treating this difficult anxiety disorder. This review explores the theory and underlying behavioral strategies, rebuts common misconceptions about behavior therapy, and outlines the clinical management of obsessions, cleaning rituals, checking rituals, and obsessional slowness. Predictors of treatment failure and outcome research for OCD are reviewed.
Flight Instruction: The Challenge From Situated Cognition

A primary claim from the field of situated cognition is that learning is ineffective if removed from the context in which the target skills must be deployed. This claim is inconsistent with many of the mainstream approaches to education and cognition. I describe what it means to be situated, and I outline the central issues raised in the literature on situated cognition and situated learning. The ideas outlined here have several implications for the conduct of flight instruction. The most pervasive implications are that current and potential training practices in aviation can create a breach between instruction and practice and can lead to the development of inert skills. A recurrent theme for situated cognition is that there is a self-organizing character to learning. If adequately supported by the design of the workspace and the structure of the training program, this self-organizing character of learning will limit the possibility of a breach between instruction and practice and will ensure development...
Corrective feedback in historical perspective

In this paper, pedagogical, linguistic theoretical, and psychological perspec tives on corrective feedback are discussed and an attempt is made to inte grate these different perspectives. To a large extent, researchers in these three approaches have been isolated from one another, each ignorant of the others' stands on the issues. Herein, we attempt to overcome the isolation, interweaving the similarities and pointing out the differences of the three approaches.It is argued that the answers to questions raised here and elsewhere concerning the role of corrective feedback in language learning will not come in the form of sweeping affirmative or negative generalizations. They will come from the careful teasing apart of the components of language and experimental work on these components. We need to ascertain whether some components can in fact be acquired on the basis of positive evidence alone, and whether negative evidence (feedback) is required for successful mastery of some other components.
Characterization of insulin and atypically processed proglucagon-derived peptides from the surinam toad Pipa pipa (Anura:Pipidae).

Abstract Electrospray mass spectrometry was used to identify insulin, glucagon and two peptides related to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in an extract of the pancreas of the Surinam toad, Pipa pipa, a species belonging to the same family as the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. Purification and characterization of the peptides established the primary structure of Pipa insulin as A-chain: GIVEQCCHSS 10 CTLLQLETYC 20 N and B-Chain: FSNQR LCGSH 10 LVEALHLVCG 20 DRGFFYYPKA 30 . This amino acid sequence contains several substitutions (B5 His → Arg, B16 Tyr → His, A12 Ser → Thr, A14 Tyr→ Leu, A18Asn → Thr) of residues that have otherwise been quite strongly conserved during vertebrate evolution. Pipa glucagon comprises 37 amino acid residues (HSQGTFTSDY 10 SKYLDSRRAQ 20 DFVQWLMNTK 30 QSGGLSS) and the 29 amino-acid-residue peptide was not identified in the extract. In Xenopus and mammalian preproglucagons, the glucagon-29 sequence is followed by Lys-Arg which functions as a recognition site for a prohormone convertase. We propose that a point mutation in the gene encoding Pipa preproglucagon has transformed the Lys 30 -Arg 31 processing site into Lys-Gln with the result that the site in no longer recognized by the processing enzyme. In contrast, Pipa GLP-32 and GLP-37 are of the same molecular size as the corresponding peptides from Xenopus.
Ketamine: A Controversial Drug for Neonates

Ketamine is widely used for anesthesia and analgesia in neonates and children. It provides potent sedation, analgesia, and amnesia, a short duration of action, supporting hemodynamic and respiratory stability. Noncompetitive antagonism of NMDA receptors produces its primary therapeutic effects, but it also alters receptor function at dopaminergic, serotonergic, cholinergic, and opioidergic sites. Recent interest in ketamine stems from its potential to block excitotoxic cell death, although concerns have been raised about anesthetic neurotoxicity in neonatal animal models. The development of ketamine, its clinical profile, toxic effects in the immature brain, and future applications in neonates and children are reviewed in this article.
Threat sensitivity in the San Marcos salamander: effects of predator diet and prey experience

Prey must constantly balance foraging and predator avoidance demands. Avoidance response efficiency may be improved when prey match the intensity of their avoidance behaviours to a perceived level of predatory threat (threat sensitivity). Additionally, experience with predators may influence the intensity of avoidance responses. I examined the possibility that experience with predators in the natural habitat would influence threat sensitive avoidance behaviours of an aquatic salamander, Eurycea nana, by comparing the intensity of avoidance responses to predators that had been fed a neutral diet (low-risk) or a diet of conspecifics (high-risk) between laboratory-reared and recently-collected adult salamanders. I found that laboratory-reared salamanders exhibited graded responses to low- and high-risk predators consistent with threat-sensitive predator avoidance. Predator-experienced salamanders (recently-collected), however, responded less intensely to all predators and their responses showed little evidence of threat sensitivity. These less intense responses observed in experienced salamanders may result from mechanisms of adaptive forgetting, which allow prey to respond to environmental variation. I discuss implications of these results for E. nana and other prey as well as highlighting the need for researchers to consider the longer-term experiences of prey used in studies of predation risk.
Hemodynamic abnormalities in response to supine exercise in patients after operative correction of tetrad of Fallot after early childhood.

Abstract The exercise hemodynamic values in two groups of patients with repaired tetrad of Fallot (eight patients with some residual pulmonary insufficiency and seven patients without insufficiency) were compared with values in seven patients with trivial pulmonary stenosis who had not been operated on. The patients with tetrad of Fallot underwent surgery after age 8 years and all had a good hemodynamic repair (no shunts and a right ventricular systolic pressure at rest of less than 60 mm Hg). Exercise increased the right ventricular outflow tract gradient by the same magnitude in all three groups of patients. However, both surgically treated groups experienced impaired cardiac pump function on supine exercise (that Is, a lower than anticipated cardiac Index for the amount of oxygen consumed and a significant decrease in stroke Index). Exercise also caused both groups with repair to have a decrease in stroke Index and a concomitant increase in right ventricular end-diastolic and pulmonary wedge pressures; in contrast, the patients with pulmonary arterial stenosis had an Increase in stroke index and a concomitant decrease in right ventricular end-diastolic and pulmonary wedge pressures. These findings Indicate that an impaired cardiac response to supine exercise can occur in patients In whom Intracardlac repair of tetrad of Fallot was performed after early childhood, even though they have had a good hemodynamic repair. In addition, the impaired cardiac response to supine exercise in these patients was probably due largely to an altered myocardial compliance rather than to either residual pulmonary stenosis or pulmonary insufficiency.
Reduced LIBS plasma model via thermodynamics

A standard spectroscopic sensor technique for classification of materials is Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS). Though LIBS, as an Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (AES) technique, is generally separated from signal processing based classification techniques, they strongly interact in the design of sensor systems. Strict disciplinary separation results in approaches that inadequately address the mass, power consumption and other portability parameters of the ultimate sensor. Modifications in the sensor design approach and of the classification processing techniques reduce redundancies in the system, resulting in more compact overall systems. An engineering thermodynamic approach to the plasma description, as part of a predictor-corrector style classification loop, is used to reduce system requirements for material classification. This paper presents results for the compaction of the model system. In this work, a nontraditional approach is made to reduce the modeling system to a configuration compatible with the incorporation of the model onto a compact DSP structure. Calculation of partition function tables allows heuristic adjustments to a thermodynamic description of the LIBS plasma. Once the plasma environment is established, rate equation descriptions can establish detailed balance and predict the emission properties of the sample. The resulting model must be compatible with compact, low power, computation schemes, such as multi-core DSPs as part of a predictor-corrector classifier.© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.