cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Defects in bulk ZnO studied by steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence

Unintentionally doped bulk ZnO samples were grown by hydrothermal method in Tokyo Denpa Co. Ltd. (Japan) and MTI Corporation. At low temperatures the PL spectrum contained a very broad band with the peak position (between 2.0 and 2.4 eV) depending on the excitation intensity. Evolution of the PL spectrum after a pulse excitation revealed that the broad band is composed of an orange (OL) and green (GL) luminescence bands having maxima at 1.96 and ∼2.35 eV, respectively. The GL band dominated at times up to 1 ms and then disappeared. The OL band decayed as approximately t−1 over a wide time interval, and its spectrum could be recorded even 24 hours after the excitation source was switched off. The slow nonexponential decay of the OL band is attributed to transitions from shallow donors to a deep acceptor (donor-acceptor pair transitions).
Evidence for a Free-Running Pituitary-Adrenal Circadian Rhythm in Constant Light-Treated Adult Rats

SummaryTo determine whether the circadian rhythm in pituitary-adrenal function persists in adult rats exposed to constant light, 24-hr patterns of plasma corticoster-one concentrations were compared in individual constant light (LL) and light-dark (LD) (lights on 0600-18000 hr) maintained adult female rats. Nonstress plasma corti-costerone concentrations were determined in serial blood samples obtained from a tail vein of each rat at 4-hr intervals for a 44-hr period 15 weeks after initiation of constant light treatment. Plasma corticosterone of eight of nine rats kept in LD had a 24-hr periodicity with peaks entrained to the onset of dark. Five of the nine LL rats demonstrated an unentrained circadian periodicity in plasma corticosterone. The other four LL rats had apparently arrhythmic fluctuations. These findings suggest that in adult rats the plasma corticosterone rhythm is not dependent on an LD environment but that constant light does have a disruptive effect on the rhythmicity of this hormone syste...
Pharmacodynamics of antimicrobial agents. Bactericidal and postantibiotic effects.

Pharmacodynamics of an antimicrobial agent relate the time course of concentrations of the drug to the antimicrobial effects at the site of infection. Antimicrobial agents can be divided into three main groups, based on antimicrobial pharmacodynamic characteristics: 1) agents that exhibit concentration-dependent bactericidal activity over a wide range of drug concentrations (e.g., the aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones); 2) agents that exhibit time-dependent bactericidal activity that has little relationship to the magnitude of the drug concentrations, as long as the concentrations are above a minimally effective level (e.g., vancomycin and beta- lactam antibiotics); and 3) agents that exhibit predominantly a bacteriostatic effect. Knowledge of the antimicrobial pharmacodynamic characteristics provides a more rational basis for determination of optimal dosing regimens in terms of size of the dose and length of the dosing interval.
Parametric Study of Perforated Pipe Underdrains Surrounded by Loose Aggregate

AbstractA detailed computational parametric study of a perforated pipe underdrain surrounded by loose aggregate has been conducted. Several controlling geometric parameters (i.e., trench width, head, aggregate depth over the pipe, pipe wall perforation area per unit length of pipe, and the area of individual perforations) were considered and the variation of pipe discharge characteristics as a function of these parameters has been quantified. Results indicate that, for each combination of these parameters, there is a finite pipe length after which discharge does not increase with increasing pipe length. This pipe length depends on the pipe wall perforation area per unit length of pipe, pipe cross-sectional area, and losses associated with them. It was found that the effective pipe system discharge coefficient is independent of the channel width, aggregate depth, and head over the pipe for the range of parameters tested. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results were used to develop an equation for th...
Multiple neuropathologies and dementia in the aging brain: a key role for cerebrovascular disease?

Abstract This short perspective discusses the conclusions of a Research Roundtable meeting held in October in 2014 within the overall theme of understanding the role of additional/comorbid pathologies in the aging brain and their potential interaction with clinical Alzheimer's disease and other dementia phenotypes. We specifically examine the key role of for cerebrovascular small vessel disease in this context and highlight future directions.
Survival following stereotactic body radiation therapy or conventionally fractionated radiation for definitive non-operative treatment of stage I non-small cell lung cancer: A review of the National Cancer Data Base.

7513 Background: Despite a dramatic increase in utilization of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for non-operative treatment of clinical stage I NSCLC over the last decade, there are no re...
Corrigendum to “When markets reset, will we regain? Planning lessons from across the Atlantic Ocean” [Land Use Policy 65 (2017) 78–92]

The author wishes to remove the reference ‘Balsas, 2017’ pertaining to the article ‘Sustainable urbanism in temperate-arid climates: models, challenges and opportunities in the U.S.’, which was added to the reference list incorrectly. Said article is not in press in the listed journal. The author would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Death Receptor Signaling in the Heart: Cell Survival, Apoptosis, and Necroptosis

Article, see p 729 Research over the past 3 decades has established that loss of cardiomyocytes through regulated cell suicide mechanisms contributes critically to the pathogenesis of myocardial infarction, heart failure, and other cardiac syndromes.1 Two of the most important cell death programs in the context of heart disease are apoptosis and necrosis. These forms of cell death differ primarily with respect to the magnitude of collateral damage inflicted on surrounding tissue. In apoptosis, the plasma membrane remains intact until the dying cell undergoes phagocytosis, whereas in necrosis not only does the membrane become leaky, but the cell actively secretes proinflammatory molecules. Apoptosis has always been recognized as a gene-directed and regulated process. In contrast, necrosis was thought to be an uncontrolled form of cell death resulting from overwhelming physical and chemical trauma to a cell. A big surprise over the past 15 years, however, has been the realization that a significant proportion of necrotic cell deaths occurs through highly regulated mechanisms. Both apoptosis and necrosis can be initiated through 2 major pathways: 1 involving mitochondria and the other cell surface death receptors (Figure, A). In this issue of Circulation , Guo et al2 utilize multiple mouse genetic models to dissect the death receptor pathway in the heart. The most important finding in this study is that knockout of the gene encoding tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), a protein in this pathway, results in dilated cardiomyopathy through unleashing apoptotic and necrotic cardiomyocyte death. Figure. Apoptosis and necrosis signaling. A , Overview of death receptor and mitochondrial cell death pathways. Both apoptosis and necrosis can be initiated through death receptor and mitochondrial pathways. Regardless of pathway, the defining molecular event in apoptosis is activation of caspases, which are a class of cysteine proteases. Caspase activation takes place …
Rethinking Dental School Admission Criteria: Correlation Between Pre-Admission Variables and First-Year Performance for Six Classes at One Dental School.

Admissions committees in dental schools are charged with the responsibility of selecting candidates who will succeed in school and become successful members of the profession. Identifying students who will have academic difficulty is challenging. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of pre-admission variables for the first-year performance of six classes at one U.S. dental school. The authors hypothesized that the variables undergraduate grade point average (GPA), undergraduate science GPA (biology, chemistry, and physics), and Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores would predict the level of performance achieved in the first year of dental school, measured by year-end GPA. Data were collected in 2015 from school records for all 297 students in the six cohorts who completed the first year (Classes of 2007 through 2013). In the results, statistically significant correlations existed between all pre-admission variables and first-year GPA, but the associations were only weak to moderate. Lower performing students at the end of the first year (lowest 10% of GPA) had, on average, lower pre-admission variables than the other students, but the differences were small (≤10.8% in all categories). When all the pre-admission variables were considered together in a multiple regression analysis, a significant association was found between pre-admission variables and first-year GPA, but the association was weak (adjusted R 2 =0.238). This weak association suggests that these students’ first-year dental school GPAs were mostly determined by factors other than the pre-admission variables studied and has resulted in the school’s placing greater emphasis on other factors for admission decisions.
Nationwide Trends in Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis Among Privately Insured Children and Non-Elderly Adults in the United States, 2007-2014.

Abstract Background & Aims Epidemiologic analyses of acute and chronic pancreatitis (AP and CP) provide insight into causes and strategies for prevention, and affect allocation of resources to its study and treatment. We sought to determine current and accurate incidences of AP and CP, along with the prevalence of CP, in children and adults in the United States. Methods We collected data from the Truven MarketScan Research Databases of commercial inpatient and outpatient insurance claims in the United States from 2007 through 2014 (patients 0–64 years old). We calculated the incidences of AP and CP, and prevalence of CP, based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnosis codes. Children were defined as 18 years or younger and adults as 19 to 64 years old. Results The incidence of pediatric AP was stable from 2007 through 2014, remaining at 12.3/100,000 persons in 2014. Meanwhile the incidence for adult AP decreased from 123.7/100,000 persons in 2007 to 111.2/100,000 persons in 2014. The incidence of CP decreased over time in children (2.2/100,000 persons in 2007 to 1.9/100,000 persons in 2014) and adults (31.7/100,000 persons in 2007 to 24.7/100,000 persons in 2014). The prevalence of pediatric and adult CP was 5.8/100,000 persons and 91.9/100,000 persons, respectively in 2014. Incidences of AP and CP increased with age; we found little change in incidence during the first decade of life, but linear increases starting in the second decade. Conclusions We performed a comprehensive epidemiologic analysis of privately insured non-elderly adults and children with AP and CP in the United States. Changes in gallstone formation, smoking, and alcohol consumption, along with advances in pancreatitis management, may be responsible for the stabilization and even decrease in the incidences of AP and CP.
Original Research: Lesbian Health Education: A Survey of Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Training Programs

The purpose of this study was to assess the status of lesbian health education in obstetrics and gynecology training programs in the United States and Canada. A survey was conducted of program directors of all accredited North American obstetrics and gynecology residency training programs. The response rate was 42% (118/283). The mean number of hours devoted to lesbian health education over the 4 years was 1.86 hr (n = 118 programs), with the most frequent method of instruction being lectures and seminars. More than half of the programs offered no instruction in lesbian health. Seventy-three percent of program directors felt that the lesbian health training was less than adequate, and 71% perceived a need to expand the lesbian health curriculum in their programs. In conclusion, lesbian health education is variable across institutions. The current status of lesbian health education is felt to be inadequate by program directors and there is a perceived need to expand the lesbian health curriculum in obstetrics and gynecology training programs.
Possible Mechanism for Cardiovascular Drug — Membrane Interactions

The lipophilic nature of several beta-adrenergic and calcium channel blocking drugs may play an important role in the binding reaction of these drugs with their receptors in the sarcolemma, which has a relatively high lipid content. A model is proposed by which these lipophilic drugs first partition into the bulk lipid matrix of the sarcolemma, where they become precisely oriented as a result of the well-defined structure of the lipid bilayer and then diffuse laterally through the bulk lipid domain to their protein receptor sites. The model allows for hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic drug-receptor interactions. In addition, lipophilic drugs can gain access to protein receptor sites on the side of the membrane bilayer opposite that to which they were presented by a flip-flop or diffusion mechanism between monolayers of the same bilayer. Consideration of this “membrane bilayer” model for drug-receptor interactions may provide new insights into molecular criteria that are essential for the design of more potent and selective drugs for clinical use.
Rejecting the Equilibrium-Point Hypothesis

The lambda version of the equilibrium-point (EP) hypothesis as developed by Feldman and colleagues has been widely used and cited with insufficient critical understanding. This article offers a small antidote to that lack. First, the hypothesis implicitly, unrealistically assumes identical transformations of lambda into muscle tension for antagonist muscles. Without that assumption, its definitions of command variables R, C, and lambda are incompatible and an EP is not defined exclusively by R nor is it unaffected by C. Second, the model assumes unrealistic and unphysiological parameters for the damping properties of the muscles and reflexes. Finally, the theory lacks rules for two of its three command variables. A theory of movement should offer insight into why we make movements the way we do and why we activate muscles in particular patterns. The EP hypothesis offers no unique ideas that are helpful in addressing either of these questions.
Critical role of lysophospholipids in the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of ovarian cancer.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), the simplest of all phospholipids, exhibits pleiomorphic functions in multiple cell lineages. The effects of LPA appear to be mediated by binding of LPA to specific members of the endothelial differentiation gene (Edg) family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). Edg 2, Edg4, and Edg7 are high affmity receptors for LPA, and Edgl may be a low affinity receptor for LPA. PSP24 has been shown to be responsive to LPA in Xenopus oocytes, however, its role in mammalian cells is unclear. The specific biochemical events initiated by the different Edg receptors, as well as the biological outcomes of activation of the individual receptors, are only beginning to be determined. LPA levels are consistently elevated in the plasma and ascites of ovarian cancer patients, but not in most other epithelial tumors, with the exception of cervix and endometrium, suggesting that LPA may be of particular importance in the pathophysiology of ovarian cancer. In support of this concept, ovarian cancer cells constitutively and inducibly produce high levels of LPA and demonstrate markedly different responses to LPA than normal ovarian surface epithelium. Edg4 and Edg7 levels are consistently increased in malignant ovarian epithelial cells contributing to the aberrant response of ovarian cancer cells to LPA. Edg2 may represent a negative regulatory LPA receptor inducing apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. Thus, increased levels of LPA, altered receptor expression and altered responses to LPA may contribute to the initiation, progression or outcome of ovarian cancer. Over 40% of known drugs target GPCR, making LPA receptors attractive targets for molecular therapeutics. Indeed, using the structure-function relationship of LPA in model systems, we have identified selective Edg2 antagonists, as well as Edg4 and Edg7 agonists. These lead compounds are being assessed in preclinical model systems. Understanding the mechanisms regulating LPA production, metabolism and function could lead to improved methods for early detection and to new targets for therapy in ovarian cancer.
Genital Zoster Infection: the Great Imposter

Abstract Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are taxonomically closely related viruses that produce clinically distinct diseases but share common features of infection. HSV-1 and HSV-2 both produce cutaneous and mucocutaneous primary infections followed by reactivation disease occurring at the same or a nearby anatomic site. Primary VZV infection, also known as chickenpox, is usually a childhood disease that produces pox-like cutaneous lesions distributed over the entire body. Reactivation VZV infection, often called herpes zoster, generally occurs later in life but, unlike HSV disease, produces pox-like lesions at a different anatomic location, typically along dermatomes. As such, the clinical differential diagnosis of reactivation HSV infection and zoster is generally based upon the anatomic location and the appearance of the lesion(s). The recent availability of molecular assays has resulted in the unexpected diagnosis of zoster infections in male and female patients who presented with genital lesions. The purpose of this article is to present a brief overview of HSV and VZV infections and to relate a laboratory experience that resulted in the diagnosis of zoster infections using a molecular assay in which almost 10% of the 282 positive VZV specimens were from genital sites.
The Adventure of the Ambulant Doctor

In "The Adventure of the Resident Patient," Sherlock Holmes and John Watson take two walks -- one long, one short -- in London. The story gives little detail about exactly where they go or what they see in the city. This map is the result of one effort to harness the knowledge of fans to track the movements of the objects of their enthusiasm.
The Deliverymen of Florentine Comedy: 1543-55

Renaissance Italian comedy is often accused of banality the more the sixteenth century pushes forward. Tireless re-workings of recognizable plots and themes – from Athens and Rome, Boccaccio’s stories, Machiavelli’s theater, and Ariosto’s, too – are all too common in the proliferation of printed editions, of literary circles, and of amateur dramaturges themselves. However, in mid-sixteenth century Florence, several members of the Florentine Academy, including Giovanni Battista Gelli, Francesco D’Ambra, and Giovanni Maria Cecchi, signal innovation in the compendium of familiar storylines as they stage lively urban environments and change in the make-up of society. Building on work of Virginia Cox and Sarah G. Ross, I view this brand of Florentine comedy as one that unlocks the door to ordinary realities and “everyday renaissances” of the period. This study observes the novelty of quotidian Florence in the onstage portrayals of the zanaiuolo, a deliveryman of predominantly foodstuffs, in Academy dramas. Purveyors who work as contractually employed individuals are an unusual social class of culinary workers who act and interact on their own accord. Although deliverymen are liminal to the core action of the drama, I argue that they demonstrate a playwright’s willingness to stage speculum consuetudinis. The simple inclusion of a deliveryman in the character list demonstrates sixteenth-century Florence (and its comedy) to be a locus of developing municipal professions. Their language and interaction reveal to us the dynamics of cultural exchange and developing residential and commercial areas of the city. Moreover, their presence on stage confirms the ideology of their creators, who are dedicated to rendering literature and theater accessible to a larger audience of upper-middle class artisans and intellectuals such as themselves. In this article, I prove how peculiar deliverymen stand as examples of cultural encounter and mobility in the urban cityscape of sixteenth-century Florence.
Overall Mental Health and Misuse of Erectile Dysfunction Medication Among Sexual Minority Men

AbstractBackground: Research has noted that rates of recreational use of erectile dysfunction medication (EDM) are particularly high among men who have sex with other men. Though previous research ...
Predictive multi‐scale occupancy models at range‐wide extents: Effects of habitat and human disturbance on distributions of wetland birds

AIM: Predicting distributions is fundamental to ecology, yet hindered by spatially restricted sampling, scale‐dependent relationships and detection error associated with field surveys. Predictive species distribution models (SDMs) are nonetheless vital for conservation of many species. We developed a framework for building predictive SDMs with multi‐scale data and used it to develop range‐wide breeding‐season SDMs for 14 marsh bird species of concern. LOCATION: USA. METHODS: We built SDMs using data from range‐wide surveys conducted over 14 years, and habitat and disturbance covariates measured at multiple spatial scales. We built hierarchical occupancy models that included heterogeneity in detectability during sampling, and used Bayesian model selection to regulate model complexity (covariates and scales) based explicitly on spatial predictive abilities. We thus integrated model selection for optimizing out‐of‐sample prediction, range‐wide sampling over broad conditions, multi‐scale analyses and scale optimization, and species‐specific detectability for a suite of wide‐ranging species. RESULTS: Distributions of marsh birds were affected by local wetland conditions, but also by agricultural, urban and hydrologic disturbances operating from local scales (100–500 m) to the watershed level. Variables measuring human disturbances improved prediction for most species, and every species was affected by attributes at >1 scale. Five species showed evidence for continental‐scale range contraction during the study. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate how hierarchical occupancy models can be optimized for prediction across a species' range at the extent of a continent while also accounting for imperfect detection, and thus describe a generalizable approach that can be used for any species. We provide the first data‐driven, empirical SDMs built at the range‐wide extent for most of our 14 study species and demonstrate that previous studies focused on local distributions and the effects of fine‐scale wetland vegetation missed important broadscale drivers of occupancy for marsh birds.
Modeling therapist responses with structured practice enhances facilitative interpersonal skills

OBJECTIVE Facilitative interpersonal skills (FIS) video stimuli were used to develop and test a brief training component of observational modeling with repeated practice. Specifically, this study hypothesized that a brief training of video modeling therapeutic use of interpersonal skills, combined with repeated practice, would result in improved FIS responses (relative to control). METHOD Undergraduates (n = 101) with expressed interest in the helping professions were randomly assigned to Modeled Practice or Control conditions. After a baseline, participants in Modeled Practice observed model responses and then repeatedly practiced different responses, while those in the Control group observed videos comparable in format, but nontherapeutic in content. Participants then gave responses to different simulated clients, which were used to assess hypotheses. RESULTS FIS for Modeled Practice was significantly higher than controls in postpractice. CONCLUSIONS Result provides empirical support for training in practice strategy components and has implications for therapeutic deliberate practice training.
Heartbeat: focus on heart disease in women.

The relationship between hormone status and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women remains controversial. CVD mortality is higher in women who experience period cessation at a younger age but few studies have examined the effect of menopause on risk factors for CVD. With ageing, there is an increased prevalence and severity of conventional CVD risk factors, including elevated serum lipid levels, hypertension, diabetes and body size, making it challenging to determine whether hormonal changes at menopause are an independent risk factor for CVD in women, particularly because previous studies have largely been based on a cross-sectional study design. O’Keeffe and colleagues1 were able to examine the relationship between age at period cessation and trajectories of CVD risk factors using longitudinal data from 2547 women enrolled in the UK Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development, followed from birth in 1946 to the most recent visit at age 69 years. This data showed no association between age at period cessation (natural or surgical) and trajectories of serum lipid levels or blood pressure from age 36 to 69 years, with inconsistent associations for other CVD risk factors. …
Compensation Scheme for High Bandwidth LDOs with Large Parasitic ESL

This paper presents a compensation scheme for an externally compensated low drop-out (LDO) regulator, which has to provide fast high-load currents with low-noise and high-PSRR. The approach overcomes the challenge of the presence of large parasitics (ESR and ESL) when the external capacitor is placed far away from the chip, which is becoming more common in many space constrained electronic modules. The proposed scheme has been validated in a 5V LDO designed in TSMC’s 40nm DMOS technology. It delivers 200ns wide 200mA current pulses while maintaining low noise and high PSRR (40dB) up to 1MHz. The LDO is stabilized with an external $2.2 \mu\text{F}$ capacitor and can accommodate large bonding parasitics (up to 4nH).
True Threats, Self-Defense, and the Second Amendment.

Does the Second Amendment protect those who threaten others by negligently or recklessly wielding firearms? What line separates constitutionally legitimate gun displays from threatening activities ...
Stereoscopic virtual reality does not improve knowledge acquisition of congenital heart disease

Advances in virtual reality have made it possible for clinicians and trainees to interact with 3D renderings of hearts with congenital heart disease in 3D stereoscopic vision. No study to date has assessed whether this technology improved instruction compared to standard 2D interfaces. The purpose of this study was to assess whether stereoscopic virtual reality improves congenital heart disease anatomy education. Subjects in a prospective, blinded, randomized trial completed a pre-test assessing factual and visuospatial knowledge of common atrioventricular canal and were randomized to an intervention or control group based on their score. The intervention group used a 3D virtual reality (VR) headset to visualize a lecture with 3D heart models while the control group used a desktop (DT) computer interface with the same models. Subjects took a post-test and provided subjective feedback. 51 subjects were enrolled, 24 in the VR group & 27 in the DT group. The median score difference for VR subjects was 12 (IQR 9–13.3), compared to 10 (IQR 7.5–12) in the DT group. No difference in score improvement was found (p = 0.11). VR subjects’ impression of the ease of use of their interface was higher than DT subjects (median 8 vs 7, respectively, p = 0.01). VR subjects’ impression of their understanding of the subject matter was higher than desktop subjects (median 7 vs 5, respectively, p = 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the knowledge acquisition observed between the stereoscopic virtual reality group and the monoscopic desktop-based group. Participants in virtual reality reported a better learning experience and self-assessment suggesting virtual reality may increase learner engagement in understanding congenital heart disease.
Unconditional Support for Trump’s Resistance Prior to Election Day in Public Opinion

Prior to the 2020 Presidential Election, it was predicted that then-President Trump would lose the popular vote and Electoral College but refuse to concede. Indeed, this was exactly what occurred and ultimately manifested in the January 6 Capitol Insurrection. Thus, a few weeks before the election we explored support among Trump voters for resisting hypothetical election results when Joe Biden is said to win by a range of popular vote margins. In this paper, we examine whether popular vote margins influence the acceptance of election results, or, if in the novel and contentious 2020 election, Trump voters would resist the results regardless of the closeness of the election itself. Finding the latter, we explore why Trump voters would support the former President’s resistance, and show that the legal challenges, protests and insurrection that followed the election enjoyed support from Trump voters prior to the election itself.
In vitro and in vivo optimization of liposomal nanoparticles based brain targeted vgf gene therapy.

Abstract Vgf (non-acronymic), a neurotrophin stimulated protein which plays a crucial role in learning, synaptic activity, and neurogenesis, is markedly downregulated in the brain of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. However, since vgf is a large polar protein, a safe and efficient gene delivery vector is critical for its delivery across the blood brain barrier (BBB). This research work demonstrates brain-targeted liposomal nanoparticles optimized for delivering plasmid encoding vgf across BBB and transfecting brain cells. Brain targeting was achieved by surface functionalization using glucose transporter-1 targeting ligand (mannose) and brain targeted cell-penetrating peptides (chimeric rabies virus glycoprotein fragment, rabies virus derived peptide, penetratin peptide, or CGNHPHLAKYNGT peptide). The ligands were conjugated to lipid via nucleophilic substitution reaction resulting in >75% binding efficiency. The liposomes were formed by film hydration technique demonstrating size
Apolipoprotein C1 (APOC1) as a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for lung cancer: A marker phase I trial

Background Tumor cells continuously evolve over time in response to host pressures. However, explanations as to how tumor cells are influenced by the inflammatory tumor microenvironment over time are, to date, poorly defined. We hypothesized that prognostic biomarkers could be obtained by exploring the expression of inflammation-associated genes between early and late stage lung cancer tumor samples.
Measurement and calculation of the effectiveness of the gas-cooled fast breeder reactor grid-plate shield

An analysis of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Tower Shielding Facility gas-cooled fast breeder reactor (GCFR) grid-plate shield design confirmation experiment was performed and inferences were m...
Cytidine 5'-monophosphosialic acid hydrolase. Subcellular location and properties.

CMP-sialic acid hydrolase catalyses the reaction: CMP-sialic acid → sialic acid + (CMP) Enzymatic activity was measured by following both the disappearance of substrate, CMP-[14C]sialic acid, and the appearance of product, [14C]sialic acid, after separation by ion exchange column chromatography. The stoichiometry of this relationship was 1:1. The activity of CMP-sialic acid hydrolase in crude homogenates of rat liver (in 0.25 m sucrose) was 53 units of enzyme per g of liver. The specific activity was 0.29 unit per mg of protein. It was demonstrated that CMP-sialic acid hydrolase is an enzyme of the plasma membrane. The yield of the hydrolase and its increase in specific activity in plasma membranes was similar to that of marker enzymes for this subcellular site. About 25% recovery of the hydrolase was obtained in purified plasma membranes, accompanied by 13- to 18-fold increases in specific activity. The presence of the hydrolase in nuclear and microsomal fractions could be accounted for by the presence of plasma membranes in these fractions. Liver and kidney were the most active of 13 tissues that were examined. The apparent Km (CMP-sialic acid) was 0.40 m m . In Tris-HCl buffers, the pH optimum was about 9.0. The action of the hydrolase was not reversible. No metal requirement could be demonstrated. The hydrolase was inhibited by nucleosides, nucleotides, sugar nucleotides, EDTA, PPi, and compounds that contain free sulfhydryl groups. UDP-galactose and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine acted as competitive inhibitors, having inhibition constants of about 0.3 m m . The inhibition constant for glutathione was about 5 m m . The enzyme was unaffected by —SH-reactive reagents, free sialic acid, sugars, sugar 1-phosphates, and Pi.
Water‐CO2‐mineral systems: Interfacial tension, contact angle, and diffusion—Implications to CO2 geological storage

[1] The interfacial interaction between mineral surfaces and immiscible fluids determines the efficiency of enhanced oil or gas recovery operations as well as our ability to inject and store CO2 in geological formations. Previous studies have shown that the interfacial tension and contact angle in CO2-water-mineral systems change noticeably with fluid pressure. We compile previous results and extend the scope of available data to include saline water, different substrates (quartz, calcite, oil-wet quartz, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)), and a wide pressure range (up to 20 MPa at 298K). Data analysis provides interfacial tension and contact angle as a function of fluid pressure; in addition, we recover the diffusion coefficient of water in liquid CO2 from long-term observations. Results show that CO2-water interfacial tension decreases significantly as pressure increases in agreement with previous studies. Contact angle varies with CO2 pressure in all experiments in response to changes in CO2-water interfacial tension: it increases on nonwetting surfaces such as PTFE and oil-wet quartz and slightly decreases in water-wet quartz and calcite surfaces. Water solubility and its high diffusivity (D = 2 × 10−8 to 2 × 10−7 m2/s) in liquid CO2 govern the evolution of interparticle pendular water. CO2-derived ionic species interaction with the substrate leads to surface modification if reactions are favorable, e.g., calcite dissolution by carbonic acid and precipitation as water diffuses and migrates into the bulk CO2. Pressure-dependent interfacial tension and contact angle affect injection patterns and breakthrough mechanisms, in other words, the performance of geological formations that act as either reservoirs or seals.
Tuning the optoelectronic properties of core-substituted naphthalene diimides by the selective conversion of imides to monothioimides

Selective sulfur substitution of the distal carbonyls of a core-substituted naphthalene diimide was obtained when a combination of core and imide substituents were used. The substituents appear to inhibit thionation of the proximal carbonyl by steric hindrance. Each thionation caused a 50 nm bathochromic shift of the visible absorption band and an anodic shift of the reduction potentials. The dithionated compound has a λmax in the near-IR at 733 nm and an optical gap of 1.59 eV, which is unusually low for this type of molecule. Thionation of carbonyls offers a useful avenue for tuning optoelectronic properties of NDI-based materials.
Observations: Gross Anatomy Revisited.

As a second-year resident in our program, I am given the opportunity to participate in the first-year medical student gross anatomy course during the head and neck section. My engaging in this type of activity, with a much broader knowledge base several years after having taken the same course, has helped me to solidify and encourage the teaching of these anatomic relationships. It has been an enlightening experience.
Differential purinergic signaling in bladder sensory neurons of naïve and bladder-inflamed mice.

This study explored purinergic signaling in lumbosacral (LS) and thoracolumbar (TL) dorsal root ganglion neurons innervating the urinary bladder. In naive mice, a greater proportion of LS (93%) than that of TL (77%) bladder neurons responded to purinergic agonists. Three types of purinergic currents were identified: 'sustained' (homomeric P2X2) currents were detected only in LS neurons, rapidly activating, 'slow' deactivating (heteromeric P2X2/3) currents predominated in both LS and TL neurons, and 'fast' activating/de-activating (homomeric P2X3) currents were detected only in TL neurons. Relative to TL bladder neurons, slow current density was greater in LS neurons, which also had a more negative action potential threshold and generated more action potentials in response to purinergic agonists (suggesting greater excitability of LS neurons). Single cell nested PCR documented P2X2 and P2X3 subunit expression in both TL and LS bladder neurons. Relative to saline treatment, bladder wall thickness and weight increased after cyclophosphamide (CYP) treatment. Both LS and TL neuron excitability increased (rheobase was decreased and responses to purinergic agonists increased) after CYP treatment. The proportion of sustained currents in LS bladder neurons increased fourfold after CYP bladder inflammation. Although proportions of slow and fast purinergic currents in TL neurons were unchanged by CYP treatment, the fast current density was greater than in saline-treated mice. These results in mouse, as previously described in rat, reveal differential purinergic signaling in TL and LS bladder neurons. The predominant currents and significant changes after inflammation, however, occur in different ganglia/sensory pathways in mouse and rat.
Methyl CpG binding protein 2 deficiency enhances expression of inflammatory cytokines by sustaining NF-κB signaling in myeloid derived cells

Knocking down methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) enhances NF-κB activation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In this study, we examined whether this caused the expression of cytokines to be elevated. Increased levels of TNFα, IL-6, and IL-3 mRNAs were observed in human PBMC made MeCP2 deficient with a lentiviral shRNA MeCP2 vector and in splenocytes from MeCP2-null mice. TNFα neutralizing antibody attenuated expression of IL-6 and TNFα but did not affect expression of IL-3. Lipopolysaccharide-mediated increases in TNFα, IL-6, and IL-3 mRNAs were also enhanced in MeCP2-deficient PBMC. Two inhibitors of NF-κB blocked the increased levels of IL-6, TNFα, and IL-3 in MeCP2-deficient PBMC treated with lipopolysaccharide. MeCP2 deficiency also enhanced expression of IL-6 and TNFα mRNAs in the THP1 human monocyte cell line, which were also attenuated by the NF-κB inhibitors. In chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, the binding of the NF-κB family member p65 and acetylated H3 to the TNFα promoter was greater after treatment with LPS in MeCP2-deficient THP1 cells. MeCP2 did not bind to the TNFα promoter. In summary, the data indicates that MeCP2 deficiency increases expression of TNFα and other inflammatory cytokines by enhancing NF-κB signaling.
Untersuchungen über Hydratation von Metallhalidrauchen mit Elektronenbeugung

Mittels Elektronenbeugung wurden Versuche durchgefuhrt, die HydratationsfAhigkeit einiger Metallhalide festzustellen.
SU-E-I-46: Quantitative Effects of Clinical Practice on the Efficiency of CT Tube Current Modulation for Radiation Dose Reduction.

Purpose:CT tube current modulation (TCM) represents one of the most important and efficient methods for radiation dose reduction and has been well accepted. However, the possible influence of clinical practice is likely to be ignored although venders may provide clinical protocols and instructions. This study is designed to further investigate the quantitative effects of clinical operation, including radiograph direction and patient positioning, on the efficiency of TCM by measuring patient radiation dose and image quality. Methods: An anthromorphologic chest phantom was scanned in a Sensation 40 and a lightSpeed 16 CT scanner, respectively, using routine chest protocols with TCM. We first investigated the effects of radiograph direction. Anterior‐posterior (AP), lateral, and posterior‐anterior (PA) directions were chosen. CTDIvol and dose‐length‐product (DLP) were recorded for analyses. Our second experiment studied the influence of patient position. First the phantom was positioned at the iso‐center then scanned with AP direction. CTDIvols and DLPs were recorded as reference. Then the phantom was moved out of iso‐center, up or down 2 and 4 cm respectively then scanned. CTDIvols and DLPs were recorded for comparison. For each setting, imagenoise was measured. Results: CTDIvol increases approximately 20% for PA direction, compared to AP or lateral direction which generates similar CTDIvol and DLP with TCM. Imagenoise for the PA direction is less than those for the AP or lateral directions. CTDIvol increases approximately 9% for LightSpeed 16 and 13% for Sensation 40 when the phantom was moved up 4 cm, while CTDIvol decreases approximately 5% for LightSpeed 16 and 8% for Sensation 40 when the phantom was moved down 4 cm. Conclusions: Our quantitative study can direct clinical practice to improve the efficiency of CT tube current modulation and reduce patient radiation dose.
Arizona’s teacher policies and their relationship with English learner instructional practice

In response to the passage of a state English-only policy and a newly mandated instructional model for English learners that focuses on English acquisition, Arizona introduced training requirements for all of the state’s educators related to English learners. This policy coincided with changes in the training Arizona teachers opted to pursue, where more teachers chose to complete state mandated training that focuses on English-only strategies rather than more extensive training in English as a second language or bilingual education. Using data from teacher surveys, this article examined the relationship between teachers’ training and their self-reported instructional practices. Findings revealed that, in every instance, holding a teaching endorsement in English as a second language or bilingual education had a positive, significant relationship with teachers’ reported use of effective instructional approaches for ELs, while holding the state mandated endorsement was never significantly related to teachers’ practices. These trends are cause for concern, as they indicate that Arizona’s teacher policy may be undermining teachers’ capacity to work with English learners and limiting English learners’ learning opportunities.
Modified axillary crutches for an adolescent with bilateral congenital transverse deficiencies of the radius and ulna and no hands

This report describes the construction of modified axillary crutches for a patient who had bilateral congenital transverse incomplete deficiencies of the radius and ulna and no hands. Before physical therapy, the patient underwent a left pangeniculate percutaneous epiphysiodesis of the distal femoral and proximal tibial physis, causing him to be temporarily non-weight-bearing on the left lower extremity. The patient lacked both hands; therefore, he was unable to use crutches. Traditional axillary crutches were modified with permanent bilateral casts at the axilla/arm region to facilitate use by the patient. Using the modified axillary crutches, he ambulated independently and climbed and descended stairs with contact guard assist, while maintaining the non-weight-bearing status of the left lower extremity.
Breit-Wigner-Fano resonances in the photoconductivity of semiconductors: theory

Abstract We present a theory of the Breit-Wigner-Fano (BWF) resonances in photoconductivity due to the interference of bound states of the hole plus optical phonons with unbound hole states. The theory is found to be in qualitative agreement with experiment. Differences between the BWF resonances in absorption and photoconductivity are explored and explained.
Tournament pathwidth and topological containment

We prove that if a tournament has pathwidth >=4@q^2+7@q then it has @q vertices that are pairwise @q-connected. As a consequence of this and previous results, we obtain that for every set S of tournaments the following are equivalent:*there exists k such that every member of S has pathwidth at most k, *there is a digraph H such that no subdivision of H is a subdigraph of any member of S, *there exists k such that for each T@?S, there do not exist k vertices of T that are pairwise k-connected. As a further consequence, we obtain a polynomial-time algorithm to test whether a tournament contains a subdivision of a fixed digraph H as a subdigraph.
Preoperative statins for the prevention of atrial fibrillation after cardiothoracic surgery

Objective Recent studies have suggested that statins reduce atrial fibrillation after cardiothoracic surgery, but the use of proven prophylactic strategies such as beta-blockers and amiodarone in these studies was not provided. Therefore, we sought to determine whether preoperative statin use could reduce the incidence of post-cardiothoracic surgery atrial fibrillation in a population who already had a high background use of beta-blockers and appreciable use of prophylactic amiodarone. Methods Patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery from the randomized, controlled Atrial Fibrillation Suppression Trials I, II, and III were evaluated in this nested cohort evaluation. The patients' demographics, surgical characteristics, medication use, and incidence of post-cardiothoracic surgery atrial fibrillation (atrial fibrillation >5 minutes duration) were uniformly and prospectively collected as part of Atrial Fibrillation Suppression Trials I, II, and III. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results Overall, 331 patients (59.6%) received a statin preoperatively and 224 patients (40.4%) did not. The study population had an average age of 67.8 ± 8.6 years, 77.1% were male, 14.6% had valve surgery, 6.1% had a history of atrial fibrillation, 12.6% had a history of heart failure, 84.0% received postoperative beta-blockade, and 44.1% received postoperative prophylactic amiodarone. In total, 174 patients (31.4%) developed post-cardiothoracic surgery atrial fibrillation. Upon multivariate logistic regression, statin use was associated with a reduction in post-cardiothoracic surgery atrial fibrillation (adjusted odds ratio: 0.60; 95% confidence interval 0.37–0.99). Higher intensity statin dosing (equivalent of ≥40 mg of atorvastatin) seemed to be associated with the greatest reductions in post-cardiothoracic surgery atrial fibrillation (adjusted odds ratio: 0.45; 95% confidence interval 0.21–0.99). Conclusions In a population with appreciable beta-blocker and amiodarone use, adjunctive preoperative statin use was still associated with a 40% reduction in patients' odds of developing post-cardiothoracic surgery atrial fibrillation.