cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The importance of 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for reference standard validation in analytical sciences.

This paper highlights the importance of recording at least a 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum to verify identity of standards used in analyses of organic materials irrespective of source. We show the importance of this approach with an example of a quantitative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) study undertaken with green tea extracts that required the use of several polyphenols as standards. In the course of the study one of these standards [(-)-epigallocatechin, EGC], although having the physical appearance and appropriate HPLC chromatographic behavior of EGC, proved by 1H-NMR to be a completely different class of molecule. For us, this raised significant questions concerning validity of many published pieces of research that used quantitative HPLC methods without first performing rigorous validation of the employed standards prior to their use. This paper clearly illustrates the importance of validation of all standards used in analysis of organic materials by recording at least a 1H-NMR spectrum of them prior to their use.
GRANDPARENTS AND CHILDREN OF DIVORCE: THEIR CONTRASTING PERCEPTIONS AND DESIRES FOR THE POSTDIVORCE RELATIONSHIP

Seventy‐seven children of divorce and their selected grandparents completed questionnaires that included a demographic section, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale‐II (FACES II; Olson, Bell, & Portner, 1982) to assess their relationships, and an instrument designed to identify shared activities and desires in these areas. Partners had similar present and future perceptions of relationship and activity factors. All participants desired future increases in both areas. Grandchildren and grandparents connected emotional bonding with grandparents’ listening, keeping them safe, and gift giving; grandparents also thought a good relationship with the custodial parent was important. Most healthy and least healthy subgroups were identified. Membership in the healthiest group was related to geographic proximity, feminine gender for both partners, and being married and employed full‐time for grandparents. Grandparents who were related by blood to custodial parents, had a good relationship with them,...
Detecting sol–gel transition using light transmission

Abstract This paper describes a novel light transmission technique for detecting sol–gel transition. The technique uses a fluorescent light source, a CCD camera and a clear borosilicate mold to measure the light transmission characteristics of liquid aerogel precursors as they gel. We used tetramethoxysilane-based aerogel precursors (TMOS:MeOH:H 2 O:NH 4 OH). Some of the precursor mixtures were doped with strongly absorbing probes in order to facilitate visual observation of the gelation process and improve image quality, whereas others were not doped. Solutions were placed in the mold and heated under pressure in a hot-press. In all cases, we observed that the solutions darkened in appearance and recorded this phenomenon with the CCD camera. To quantify the degree of darkening we converted the RGB images to a hue-saturation-intensity color space. Plots of hue and intensity versus temperature were characterized by a decrease at 95–115 °C. Visual inspection confirmed that the solutions started to gel in this temperature range, resulting in an increase in particle size, increase in extent of light scattering, and subsequent decrease in transmitted light.
Androstenedione Use Among University Recreation Center Users

Abstract Androstenedione is a steroid hormone produced in the ovaries, testes, and to a larger extent the adrenal glands of humans. It has both androgenic as well as estrogenic activity, and has been used in the treatment of various endocrine disorders. However, due to recent regulatory changes, this drug is now sold as a dietary supplement, along with more familiar products such as vitamins and herbs. Because of its reputed performance-boosting effects, and its over the counter availability, it has been heavily marketed as a sports supplement and its use has been promoted by professional athletes and the media as a safe and "natural" product. However, there are no published studies describing its prevalence of use. Methods: A survey was developed to investigate androstenedione use among users of the Texas Tech University Student Recreation Center. Respondents were asked to anonymously volunteer information regarding their gender, knowledge, and use of androstenedione. Results: While completing the survey, respondents were able to view 2 common products that contained androstenedione. Of the 121 males completing the survey, 23(19%) had or were using androstenedione and 56(46.3%) were familiar with the compound. Among the 73 females completing the survey, 1(14%) had used androstenedione and 16(21.9%) were familiar with it. Conclusions: The use of steroid hormones has been associated with numerous side effects and contraindications. Use of androstenedione as a dietary supplement needs to be more fully investigated and closely monitored.
CEALICIAN: Compact Encryption and Line-Integrated Circuitry for Information Assurance in Networking

The Department of Defense (DoD), and in particular various branches of our nation's Armed Forces, are increasingly utilizing unmanned platforms and unattended systems for various C4ISR-related efforts. The underlying systems often create, store, process, and/or transmit sensitive or classified data, requiring advanced cryptographic protection to assure data integrity, point-to-point authentication, confidentiality, and non-deniability. Currently, no certified solution exists that has been specifically developed for use in an unmanned environment. Existing solutions are power-hungry, not portable, and designed for large applications. CEALICIAN, Compact Encryption And Line-Integrated Circuitry for Information Assurance in Networking, is a low-power small-form-factor encryption device that allows an unmanned or unattended system to store and transmit classified data up to the Secret level. CEALICIAN will be integrated into existing storage and communications devices to encrypt and decrypt sensitive and classified information at a high data rate. CEALICIAN will encrypt both data-at-rest (DAR) and data-in-transit (DIT) using NSA Type 1 Suite B encryption in a power-efficient FPGA-based implementation.
The economics of biofuel policies

Concerns about food security, deforestation, fiscal balance and the elusion of dramatic breakthroughs in second-generation technologies are forcing policymakers to rethink biofuel policies. So are ...
Comparison of Star Formation in Five Nearby Molecular Clouds

We have calculated bolometric temperature (Tbol) and bolometric luminosity (Lbol) for 383 young stellar objects (YSOs) in five molecular clouds within 200 pc in Corona Australis (CrA), Ophiuchus (Oph), Taurus (Tau), Chamaeleon (Cha), and Lupus (Lup). We used Tbol, Lbol, and bolometric luminosity-temperature (BLT) diagrams to characterize and compare the overall-star-formation activity of the clouds on a self-consistent basis. The main results are the following: (1) the YSO populations in the clouds can be differentiated by the fraction of their low-Tbol sources, which increases systematically from Lup and Cha to Tau and to Oph and CrA. This trend is interpreted as increasing current star-forming activity in the same order; (2) the clouds with higher cold source fractions also seem to have higher bright source fractions; (3) In the BLT diagram, the CrA and Oph sources are more uniformly distributed while the Cha and Lup sources are aggregated near the zero-age mainsequence (ZAMS). Tau sources appear to be an intermediate case. Taurus also seems to contain more cold (Tbol < 1000 K) and low-luminosity (Lbol < 1 L?) sources than the other complexes; (4) the YSOs show a characteristic distribution in the median BLT diagram. This distribution is qualitatively consistent with the early YSO evolution from a protostar to a pre-main-sequence star and provides a unique observational test to star-formation models; (5) for Lup pre-main-sequence stars, the ratio of their Tbol to Teff increases during their approach to the ZAMS. This increase can be explained by the disk and envelope dissipation during the pre-main-sequence evolution; (6) the most active star-forming clouds (Oph and CrA) also have denser molecular cores as measured by C18O J = 1-0 line emission, suggesting that the star formation occurs in the densest parts of the molecular clouds; and (7) we find an anti-correlation between Tbol and C18O emission for the class 0 and I Tau sources (Tbol < 650 K). This shows that Tbol measures the intrinsic redness of YSOs, rather than their disk-envelope orientation. The disk orientation may have a more important effect on Tbol of the pre-main-sequence stars.
Non-overlapping functions for Pyk2 and FAK in osteoblasts during fluid shear stress-induced mechanotransduction.

Mechanotransduction, the process by which cells convert external mechanical stimuli such as fluid shear stress (FSS) into biochemical changes, plays a critical role in maintenance of the skeleton. We have proposed that mechanical stimulation by FSS across the surfaces of bone cells results in formation of unique signaling complexes called mechanosomes that are launched from sites of adhesion with the extracellular matrix and with other bone cells [1]. Deformation of adhesion complexes at the cell membrane ultimately results in alteration of target gene expression. Recently, we reported that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) functions as a part of a mechanosome complex that is required for FSS-induced mechanotransduction in bone cells. This study extends this work to examine the role of a second member of the FAK family of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases, proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2), and determine its role during osteoblast mechanotransduction. We use osteoblasts harvested from mice as our model system in this study and compared the contributions of Pyk2 and FAK during FSS induced mechanotransduction in osteoblasts. We exposed Pyk2+/+ and Pyk2−/− primary calvarial osteoblasts to short period of oscillatory fluid flow and analyzed downstream activation of ERK1/2, and expression of c-fos, cyclooxygenase-2 and osteopontin. Unlike FAK, Pyk2 was not required for fluid flow-induced mechanotransduction as there was no significant difference in the response of Pyk2+/+ and Pyk2−/− osteoblasts to short periods of fluid flow (FF). In contrast, and as predicted, FAK−/− osteoblasts were unable to respond to FF. These data indicate that FAK and Pyk2 have distinct, non-redundant functions in launching mechanical signals during osteoblast mechanotransduction. Additionally, we compared two methods of generating FF in both cell types, oscillatory pump method and another orbital platform method. We determined that both methods of generating FF induced similar responses in both primary calvarial osteoblasts and immortalized calvarial osteoblasts.
Fighting in the home cage: Agonistic encounters and effects on neurobiological markers within the social decision-making network of house mice (Mus musculus)

Inbred strains of mice, such as C57Bl/6, have become preferred animal models for neurobehavioral studies. A main goal in creating inbred lines is to reduce the effects of individual genetic variation on observed phenotypes. Most studies use only males, and there is increasing evidence that agonistic interactions within the home cage may produce systematic variability in behavior and brain function. Previous studies have demonstrated that the outcomes of aggressive interactions have powerful effects on the brain and behavior, but less is known about whether aggressive interactions within the home cage have similar effects. We assessed group-housed laboratory mice C57Bl/6 for competitive ability and then tested the extent high competitive ability (CA) or low CA was related to gene and protein expression within related pathways. We focused on a broad social behavior network, including the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). High CA mice had significantly more corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) and estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) mRNA in the BNST. Our data suggest a simple test of CA could yield valuable information that could be used to reduce error variance and increase power in neurobiological studies using mice.
Local delivery of paclitaxel in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease.

Background Despite advancements from balloon angioplasty to drug-eluting stents, primary patency rates after endovascular revascularization of peripheral artery disease have remained inferior compared to surgery. Endovascular revascularization has been limited by restenosis and mechanical stent failure. Thus, there is increased research into other nonstent-based local drug delivery modalities, which can provide an active drug to inhibit restenosis focally and avoid the risk of systemic adverse effects. Methods This review will summarize the unique properties of paclitaxel and studies on paclitaxel local delivery for the treatment of peripheral artery disease. A MEDLINE search for relevant peer-reviewed scientific literature published in English was conducted. Search terms included but were not limited to paclitaxel pharmacodynamics, paclitaxel local drug delivery, and drug eluting balloons, with a focus on the use of paclitaxel in the context of coronary and peripheral vascular disease. Results The primary search produced 182 results of which 51 papers were relevant. Of the 51 relevant papers, 27 were original research papers and 24 were either review papers, commentary or opinion papers. Conclusions Paclitaxel has several chemical properties, which make it ideal for local drug delivery including its hydrophobicity, ability to concentrate into the arterial intima layer and prolonged effect on cells even after brief exposure periods. Local delivery of paclitaxel via injection catheters, balloon catheters and coated balloons has shown encouraging results in terms of efficacy and safety in small-scale animal and clinical studies. Additional preclinical and clinical studies are needed to determine the long-term efficacy and safety of these treatments in humans.
Identification of epitopes of the A1aBx and A5A4B3 subunits of glycinin antigenic in three animal species

Soybean meal is commonly added to a variety of animal feeds to supplement protein sources and to optimise growth. While soybean protein is a valuable food supplement it has been recognised as an important food allergen. The soybean seed storage protein, glycinin, has been identified as an allergen. A tiled peptide array of the A1aBx and A5A4B3 subunits of glycinin was screened to identify the epitopes that bind antibodies from multiple species. We have identified four regions in these two glycinin subunits that are antigenic in most or all of the species tested. One region is implicated in an allergic response in dogs by the dog's ability to bind IgE. Three regions overlap or abut regions that are similar to allergenic epitopes in peanut. It will be critical to identify immunogenic regions able to cause allergies to soy in order to prioritise them for mitigation.
Toxic shock syndrome associated with use of biobrane in a scald burn victim

Biobrane remains an excellent biosynthetic dressing for thermal injury coverage. The present report of a probable case of toxic shock syndrome associate with its use does not question its efficacy as temporary coverage for partial thickness thermal burns. Instead, attention is focused on raising the index of suspicion of toxic shock syndrome in burn patients treated with Biobrane, or other occlusive dressings, who develop early signs or symptoms which may be consistent with the diagnosis.
Rape, sex partnership, and substance use consequences in women veterans

The association of rape history and sexual partnership with alcohol and drug use consequences in women veterans is unknown. Midwestern women veterans (N = 1,004) completed a retrospective telephone interview assessing demographics, rape history, substance abuse and dependence, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One third met lifetime criteria for substance use disorder (SUD), half reported lifetime completed rape, a third childhood rape, one quarter in-military rape, 11% sex with women. Lifetime SUD was higher for women with rape history (64% vs. 44%). Women with women as sex partners had significantly higher rates of all measures of rape, and also lifetime substance use disorder. Postmilitary rape, sex partnership, and current depression were significantly associated with lifetime SUD in multivariate models (odds ratio = 2.3, 3.6, 2.1, respectively). Many women veterans have a high need for comprehensive mental health services.
Overcoming Resistance to Surveillance: A Genealogy of the EAP Discourse

Through an examination of employee assistance programs we address Foucault’s contention that the pervasive surveillance characteristic of disciplinary control is facilitated by a discourse claiming therapeutic rather than punitive aims. By characterizing poor job performance as evidence of substance abuse or other ‘behavioral-medical’ illness, the EAP discourse endeavors to overcome the reluctance of supervisors to identify poor performers, for whom job loss is the frequent consequence of failure to improve. Following Foucault’s view that power effects occur without express intention to exercise power, we analyze the web of institutional and professional disciplinary mechanisms that effect heightened supervisory surveillance.
Documented reversal of global ischemia immediately after removal of an acute subdural hematoma. Report of two cases.

✓ The authors report two cases of severe head injury with acute subdural hematoma, in which cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) measurements were obtained prior to evacuation of the subdural hematoma and again immediately after removal. The first patient, a 21-year-old man with a motor response localizing to pain, had a global CBF of 18.2 ml/100 gm/min and a decreased global CBV of 3.7 ml/100 gm at 2.3 hours after injury. Immediately after removal of the subdural hematoma (8.1 hours after injury), CBF and CBV measurements revealed increases to 35.5 ml/100 gm/min and 5.8 ml/100 gm, respectively. The second patient, a 49-year-old woman with a normal flexor motor response to pain, had preoperative global values of 15.8 ml/100 gm/min for CBF and 2.0 ml/100 gm for CBV at 3 hours after injury. Postoperatively (9.3 hours after injury), the CBF and CBV values increased to 41.6 ml/100 gm/min and 4.0 ml/100 gm, respectively. The first patient, with only borderline ischemia and removal of the s...
Short Note: A conservative correction procedure via reconstruction formulation with the Chain-Rule divergence evaluation

An electric pump composed of an MgB2 motor is combined with superconducting level sensors using thin CuNi-sheathed MgB2 wires to transfer liquid hydrogen. An impeller is attached to the lower end of a rotating shaft on the MgB2 motor and covered with an outer casing to form a centrifugal pump. Then, the MgB2 motor and impeller are placed vertically inside a cryostat with an infill of liquid hydrogen. A glass Dewar vessel is prepared to receive the liquid hydrogen transferred from the cryostat containing the MgB2 motor. The MgB2 sensors are used not only to detect the level of liquid hydrogen but also to control the electric pump on the basis of their pre-estimated calibration curves. By using the assembled pump system, the liquid hydrogen is successfully transferred from the cryostat to the glass Dewar vessel via a transfer tube.
The Relation between the Degree of Solidification of Fat in Cream and its Churning Time. II. The Physical Distribution of the Liquid-Solid Phases within the Globule

Summary A calorimetric technique was used to determine the percentage of crystallized milk fat (degree of solidification) present in creams prepared for churning by the following methods: Lot A. Cream was cooled and held at 0° C. for 18 hr. prior to churning at selected temperatures. Lot B. Cream was cooled and held at 10° C. for 18 hr. prior to churning at selected temperatures. Lot C. Cream was cooled in ice-water from 60° C. to the desired temperature and immediately churned. The degree of solidification in creams from lots A and B, churning within 35 to 55 min., ranged between 48 and 68 per cent solidified fat. Cream portions from lot C that churned within the same time range contained between 20 and 31 per cent solidified fat. Within any one lot of cream, the more solidified fat that is present at the churning temperature, the longer is the time required for churning. The experimental results indicate that the churning time is not entirely dependent upon the actual degree of solidification in the fat, but, to a greater extent, upon the distribution of the liquid and solid fat phases on the globular fat surfaces. Polymorphic transition of the crystallized fat has been considered as a possible explanation for the churning results obtained.
Virtual reality in the wild: A self-contained and wearable simulation system

We implement and describe a computer simulation system that takes virtual reality technology beyond specialized laboratories and research sites, and makes them available in any space, such as a high-school gymnasium or a public park. Our hardware and software systems enable HMD-based immersive virtual reality simulations to be conducted in any arbitrary location with no external infrastructure and little-to-no setup required. We demonstrate the ability of this system to provide realistically motion-tracked navigation for users and to generate usable behavioral data by having participants navigate through a full-scale virtual grocery store while physically situated in a grassy field. Applications for behavioral research and use cases for other fields are discussed.
Measurement of electrostatic and site-specific associations of alkali metal cations with humic acid

SUMMARY A discontinuous acidimetric titration method incorporating ultrafiltration was developed to measure the association of a soil humic acid with Li+ t, Na+ and K+ (pH 3 to 8). In addition, possible site-specific binding of these alkali metal cations was investigated using desorption experiments at pH 1. Li, Na and K cations behaved equivalently in the titrations and the amounts of these cations associated with the humic acid was measurable at all pH values between 3 and 8. Up to 90% of the total alkali metal cation was humate-associated at pH 8. The absolute amount of humic-associated cation did not depend on the alkali metal cation concentration, but rather on the solution alkalinity. In addition, the net charge of the humate polyanion made a negligible contribution to the electroneutrality of the bulk solution under all conditions. These results are consistent with a diffuse layer model of hydrated humic acid in which the alkali metal cations neutralize the humic charge. The association of Na+ andK+ with humic acid at pH 1 was successfully described by a Langmuir adsorption model. The number of sites per g of humic acid was very small, and greater for K+ than for Nat. Lithium cations exhibited no detectable humic association at pH 1. These differences suggest that humic acids may have a small number of specific binding sites for which the size of the hydrated cation is important.
Trinity or tritheism

In The Christian God (hereafter CG), Richard Swinburne offers a series of arguments which a priori support the necessity of the doctrine of the Trinity. If his arguments are successful, he has dramatically narrowed the field of logically possible religious beliefs to (Christian) trinitarianism. I contend that Swinburne's arguments necessitate the existence of more than one quasi-independent divine being; indeed Swinburne's arguments move us in the direction of tritheism rather than orthodox trinitarianism.
Men smelling women: null effects of exposure to ovulatory sweat on men's testosterone.

Males of many species, humans included, exhibit rapid testosterone increases after exposure to conspecific females. Female chemical stimuli are sufficient to trigger these responses in many nonhuman species, which raises the possibility of similar effects in humans. Recently, Miller and Maner (2010) reported that smelling T-shirts worn by women near ovulation can trigger testosterone responses in men; however, men were aware that they were smelling women's scents, and thus mental imagery associated with that knowledge may have contributed to the hormone responses. Here, we collected axillary sweat samples from women on days near ovulation. In a crossover design, men who were not explicitly aware of the specific stimuli smelled the sweat samples in one session and water samples in a second session. There were no differences in testosterone responses across the experimental conditions. Our null findings suggest that the relevant chemical signal is not found in axillary sweat, and/or that knowledge of the st...
A New Approach To Information Theory

The fundamental contribution of this work is to show that it is possible to change the way that we view the basic question of sending information over channel. In particular we can show that codes that are only good on “average” suffice for worst case performance provided the channel is restricted to be a feasible one. These methods have recently been used to show that one can give a “constructive” proof to Shannon's Theorem for any feasible channel [5].
A self-binning BIST structure for data communications transceivers

Data communication chips are becoming ubiquitous, and their operating frequencies are constantly increasing. Testing of these devices using customary methods has become increasingly challenging and difficult. An on-chip built-in self-testing (BIST) approach that overcomes such difficulties is proposed in this paper to test the functionality of transceivers on a data communications chip. The proposed BIST is capable of performing functional testing at different speeds, thus facilitating binning of the devices according to their working speeds. The concept has been applied to test a 400 Mbps three-port IEEE 1394a system, implemented in a 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS technology.
Virtual Exclusion: An architectural approach to reducing leakage energy in caches for multiprocessor systems

This paper proposes virtual exclusion, an architectural technique to reduce leakage energy in the L2 caches for cache-coherent multiprocessor systems. This technique leverages two previously proposed circuits techniques - gated Vdd and drowsy cache, and proposes a low cost, easily implementable scheme for cache-coherent multiprocessor systems. The virtual exclusion scheme saves leakage energy by keeping the data portion of repetitive cache lines off in the large higher level caches while still manages to maintain multi-level Inclusion, an essential property for an efficient implementation of conventional cache coherence protocols. By exploiting the existing state information in the snoop-based cache coherence protocol, there is almost no extra hardware overhead associated with our scheme. In our experiments, the SPLASH-2 multiprocessor benchmark suite was correctly executed under the new Virtual Exclusion policy and showed an up to 72% savings of leakage energy (46% for SMP and 35% for multicore in L2 on average) over a baseline drowsy L2 cache.
Raman scattering and lattice-dynamical calculations of crystalline KNO 3

The Raman spectrum of a ${\mathrm{KNO}}_{3}$ single crystal was measured at both room and liquid-nitrogen temperatures. Lattice-dynamical calculations, based on the rigid-ion approximation and empirical potentials, were performed. The possibility of a phase transition at 217 K was investigated by measuring the temperature dependence of the Raman spectrum.
Health as the Goal for Nursing

Health is a basic concept in the discipline and profession of nursing. A review of literature from several disciplines revealed that health is viewed as a multidimensional concept. Several approaches to categorize health were presented by various authors. An overview of King's conceptual framework and theory of goal attainment related to her concept of health was discussed. The need to develop reliable and valid instruments to measure the dimensions of health was identified. Several instruments developed by nurses were reviewed. The importance of deriving a conceptual and operational definition of health was related to advancing nursing science. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the meaning of health and its relevance for nursing science. A synthesis of the literature will be discussed first, then King's concept of health will be presented along with the relevance of this knowledge for nursing science and the nursing profession.
Rhinosinusitis and asthma: the missing link

Purpose of reviewDisease of the nose and sinuses is the most common comorbidity associated with asthma. Rhinitis, sinusitis and asthma may represent part of one disease process with manifestations at different sites. The purpose of this review is to highlight significant new findings on the epidemio
Anaerobic production and transformation of aromatic hydrocarbons and substituted phenols by ferulic acid-degrading BESA-inhibited methanogenic consortia

Sewage sludge-derived methanogenic enrichments degrading ferulic acid as sole carbon and energy source were partially inhibited with 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid. The various intermediates and products formed under inhibition of methanogenesis were studied using gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS). In addition to aromatic, alicyclic, and aliphatic acids previously shown to be intermediates of ferulate degradation to CO2 and CH4, the following compounds were detected: toluene, ethylbenzene, phenol, p-cresol, 2-ethylphenol, catechol, and 3-hydroxy-4-ethylphenol. The character and the sequence of appearance of the compounds indicate that fermentative bacteria which initiate the anaerobic transformation of ferulic acid, in case of disruption of interspecies hydrogen transfer, dispose of electrons by converting part of the substrate to reduced derivatives. Aromatic hydrocarbons are further partially oxidized through hydroxylation of the ring (and, to a lesser extent, the side-chain), and partially reduced to saturated alicyclic rings. Some of these compounds seem to be gradually degraded to branched or straight- chain aliphatic acids. Some compounds, like catechol and ethylphenol, accumulate transiently or persistently in high concentrations (up to 16 mM carbon out of the initial concentration of 30 mM substrate carbon), indicating that hydroxylation of the aromatic ring might be an important metabolic reaction in these systems.
Students With Autism, Service Dogs, and Public Schools: A Review of State Laws

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) increasingly receive assistance from service dogs. Nonetheless, confusion surrounding service dogs for students with ASD has precipitated litigation between parents and schools. The purpose of this review was to examine state laws pertaining to the use of service dogs among children with ASD. Statutes were evaluated to identify all disability classifications eligible to use a service dog, regulations related to the authorized training of service animals, and school access for service animals. Results suggest that current state laws do not facilitate the use of service dogs by children with ASD or provide sufficient guidance for parents and schools. Recommendations for policy follow a discussion of the results.
The dental safety net, its workforce, and policy recommendations for its enhancement.

Objective: The dental safety net includes the facilities, providers, and payment programs that support dental care for underserved populations including those individuals disadvantaged by a variety of social, economic, and health conditions. Its components-health centers, dental schools, clinics, Medicaid-oriented dental practices, free-care programs, hospital emergency rooms, and others-vary in availability, comprehensiveness, continuity, and quality. The objective of this overview is to identify options and opportunities for policy changes to enhance oral health professional workforce in the safety net. Methods: Characteristics of the dental safety net and its components are reviewed and compared. Results: Professionals who now staff the dental safety net are a small subset of US dental providers and few current trainees anticipate practicing in these programs. Therefore, the safety net will continue to confront workforce challenges. Conclusions: Multifactorial policy alternatives to increase the availability of dental professionals who care of the underserved include proposed changes in dental education, licensure, scope of practice for allied dental personnel, and federal and state financing of public insurance. Also needed are local efforts to establish social norms and activities among private dentists that engage more private practitioners in care of the underserved.
The heart of the matter: protection of the myocardium from T cells.

Myocardial inflammation and damage can lead to lethal acute or chronic cardiac failure. A variety of regulatory mechanisms limit the magnitude and duration of T cell responses in the heart. Insights into these regulatory mechanisms have come from studies of specific deficiencies in central or peripheral T cell tolerance which cause or enhance the severity of myocarditis. Under non-inflammatory conditions, constitutive DC presentation of cardiac peptides to naive T cells in cardiac draining lymph nodes tolerizes recirculating naive T cells specific for these antigens. Cardiac antigen-specific naive T cells, especially those specific of α-myosin heavy chain peptides, become activated and differentiate into expanded clones of effector T cells under various conditions, such as cardiac infection and/or genetic variations in peripheral tolerance. The pathology that these effector cells cause in the myocardium is limited by PD-L1 expressed on myocardial cells in response to inflammatory cytokines, and by CTLA-4 dependent mechanisms. The PD-1:PD-L1 pathway works together with other control mechanisms to keep the heart safe from T cells, and combined impairment of this pathway along with other regulatory mechanisms synergize to cause myocarditis. T cell derived IFNγ contributes to the inflammatory damage to the heart in autoimmune myocarditis, but it also engages regulatory mechanisms that limit disease, including upregulation of PD-L1, and differentiation of TNF and iNOS expressing DCs from monocytes. iNOS derived from these DCs and other IFNγ stimulated cells inhibits expansion of T cells that cause myocarditis. Regulatory T cells also appear to be critical for suppression of effector T cells specific for myocardial antigens.
A lifestyle assessment and intervention tool for pediatric weight management: the HABITS questionnaire

Background: Lifestyle assessment and intervention tools are useful in promoting pediatric weight management. The present study aimed to establish convergent validity and reliability for a quick simple measure of food intake and physical activity/sedentary behaviour. The HABITS questionnaire can be used to identify and monitor behavioural intervention targets. Methods: Thirty-five youths (ages 7‐16 years) were recruited from the waiting area of the Jacobi Medical Center Child and Teen Health Services. To establish convergent validity for the HABITS questionnaire, study participants completed the HABITS questionnaire, a 24-h recall and a modified version of the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (MAQ). Participants completed a second HABITS questionnaire within 1 month to assess test‐retest reliability. Internal consistency for dietary and physical activity/sedentary behaviour subscales was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, and test‐retest reliability was assessed using Cohen’s Kappa coefficient. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were calculated for individual items using the 24-h recall and the MAQ as reference standards. Results: The HABITS questionnaire subscales showed moderate internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.61 and 0.59 for the dietary and physical activity/ sedentary behaviour subscale, respectively). The test‐retest reliability was 0.94 for the dietary subscale and 0.87 for the physical activity/sedentary behaviour subscale. Several items on the HABITS questionnaire were moderately correlated with information reported in the MAQ and the 24-h recall (r = 0.38‐ 0.59, P < 0.05). Conclusions: The HABITS questionnaire can reliably be used in a paediatric setting to quickly assess key dietary and physical activity/sedentary behaviours and to promote behaviour change for weight management.
How much variability can designers tolerate

Designers hate large variations in a gate's critical dimensions (CDs) because large variations imply large guardbanding in design. Lithographers hate small variations in CD numbers because they imply impossible process windows. With the publication of the 2003 International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (1TRS), gate CD control requirements for lithography and front-end (etching) processes will doubtless receive intense scrutiny.
Macroinvertebrate response to land cover, habitat, and water chemistry in a mining-impacted river ecosystem: A GIS watershed analysis

This study addressed potential land use impacts to macroinvertebrate communities and water quality from past coal mining activities in the watershed of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River (located in northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New York). Landscape tools of GIS and remote sensing (RS) were used to calculate percent land cover (forest, agriculture, barren, urban, and water) from SPOT imagery (for tributaries) and Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) data (for river sites) on 17 subcatchments in the study area. The study design included field sampling at reach locations at four first- and second-order sites with low urban and low barren (mining) land cover, four similar sized sites with high mining and high barren land cover, five sites with intermediate combinations of urban and barren, and four mainstem river sites (60% forest and 35% agriculture). Sites were sampled in early fall for macroinvertebrates (17 parameters, e. g., EPT richness, percent filterers), benthic substrates (including deposits from mine waters), and 10 water chemistry parameters. A principal component analysis (PCA) on the macroinvertebrate parameters provided plot-clustering of subcatchments based generally on the above study design groupings; river sites clustered closer to smaller streams with low mining and urban land cover. Correlations identified six macroinvertebrate parameters (e. g., EPT richness, collector-gatherers) best associated with the three major axes of the PCA; each of these six indicators was analyzed in step-wise multiple regressions as dependent variables against land cover, benthic substrate, and water chemistry parameters. The strongest regressions were for percent barren land cover that explained the greatest amount of variation in both EPT richness and taxa richness. This mining affect was confirmed with dissolved iron and sulfate concentrations and levels of sedimentation and iron deposition explaining variability across several macroinvertebrate parameters. Comparison to the published literature on mining impacts indicated advantages to using a GIS watershed approach in multivariate analyses of stream ecosystem response. Also, this appears to be the first GIS watershed assessment of mining land use affects since most published studies of land use impacts to watersheds and lotic ecosystems have focused on either agriculture or urbanization.
Simulation of Realistic Particle Packing and Impact on High-Density Tape Recording

Local microscopic particle density variation stemming from packing density far below unity is one of the important aspects of digital tape recording. In this paper, we present a modeling methodology for simulating realistic particle packing in particulate tape media. The packing algorithm is able to generate randomly dispersed tape particles with packing density as high as 34%-40% and user-defined parameters such as easy axes orientation, aspect ratio variation, size distribution, etc. Micromagnetic modeling of recording characteristics have also been conducted to study the impact of various aspects of packing.
Large scale production of the copper enzyme peptidylglycine monooxygenase using an automated bioreactor

Rat PHM (peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase; EC 1.14.17.3) expressed in CHO DG44 cells as a recombinant protein (rat PHMcc, residues 42-356 cloned in the pCIS vector, A.S. Kolhekar, H.T. Keutman, R. E. Mains, A.S.W. Quon, B.A. Eipper, Biochemistry 36 (1997) 10901-10909), was produced in two different bioreactors, a Cellmax 100 (B1) and an Accusyst-MiniMax (B2). B2 contains features not present in B1, which contribute to environmental control, and ease of operation, and was more successful at producing high quality PHM than B1 in both yield (B1: 5mg/day, B2: 12-15 mg/day), activity (B1: 12-20 micromol O(2)/min/mg, B2: 24-36 micromol O(2)/min/mg), and viability (B1: <6 months, B2: indefinite). Additionally, B1 exhibited clipping at Ser 61, and a decline in quality late in the run. PHM from B2 was of consistent quality and homogeneity throughout the run. The increased yield and purity made possible collection of visible spectra of the Cu(II) sites, and mass spectrometric data not previously available.
Calreticulin Displays In Vivo Peptide-Binding Activity and Can Elicit CTL Responses Against Bound Peptides

Calreticulin is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone that displays lectin activity and contributes to the folding pathways for nascent glycoproteins. Calreticulin also participates in the reactions yielding assembly of peptides onto nascent MHC class I molecules. By chemical and immunological criteria, we identify calreticulin as a peptide-binding protein and provide data indicating that calreticulin can elicit CTL responses to components of its bound peptide pool. In an adoptive immunotherapy protocol, dendritic cells pulsed with calreticulin isolated from B16/F10.9 murine melanoma, E.G7-OVA, or EL4 thymoma tumors elicited a CTL response to as yet unknown tumor-derived Ags or the known OVA Ag. To evaluate the relative efficacy of calreticulin in eliciting CTL responses, the ER chaperones GRP94/gp96, BiP, ERp72, and protein disulfide isomerase were purified in parallel from B16/F10.9, EL4, and E.G7-OVA tumors, and the capacity of the proteins to elicit CTL responses was compared. In both the B16/F10.9 and E.G7-OVA models, calreticulin was as effective as or more effective than GRP94/gp96 in eliciting CTL responses. Little to no activity was observed for BiP, ERp72, and protein disulfide isomerase. The observed antigenic activity of calreticulin was recapitulated in in vitro experiments, in which it was observed that pulsing of bone marrow dendritic cells with E.G7-OVA-derived calreticulin elicited sensitivity to lysis by OVA-specific CD8+ T cells. These data identify calreticulin as a peptide-binding protein and indicate that calreticulin-bound peptides can be re-presented on dendritic cell class I molecules for recognition by CD8+ T cells.
A History of Veterinary Anesthesia

The history of veterinary anesthesia has paralleled but lagged behind that of anesthesia for human patients (Fig. 23.7). The two have been intimately intertwined, each contributing to the advancement of the other. The introduction of veterinary anesthesia was delayed by the misperception that the induction of anesthesia in animals was painful’and unnecessary’one needed but to hobble the animal. Fortunately this misperception gave way to reality, and led to the governmental demand for the application of anesthesia to relieve the pain of surgery in animals. The conduct of anesthesia in animals today, as does surgery in animals, is remarkably similar to that in humans, particularly in the US, Canada, Great Britain, and Europe.
Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) Potentiators Protect G551D but Not ΔF508 CFTR from Thermal Instability

The G551D cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutation is associated with severe disease in ∼5% of cystic fibrosis patients worldwide. This amino acid substitution in NBD1 results in a CFTR chloride channel characterized by a severe gating defect that can be at least partially overcome in vitro by exposure to a CFTR potentiator. In contrast, the more common ΔF508 mutation is associated with a severe protein trafficking defect, as well as impaired channel function. Recent clinical trials demonstrated a beneficial effect of the CFTR potentiator, Ivacaftor (VX-770), on lung function of patients bearing at least one copy of G551D CFTR, but no comparable effect on ΔF508 homozygotes. This difference in efficacy was not surprising in view of the established difference in the molecular phenotypes of the two mutant channels. Recently, however, it was shown that the structural defect introduced by the deletion of F508 is associated with the thermal instability of ΔF508 CFTR channel function in vitro. This additional mutant phenotype raised the possibility that the differences in the behavior of ΔF508 and G551D CFTR, as well as the disparate efficacy of Ivacaftor, might be a reflection of the differing thermal stabilities of the two channels at 37 °C. We compared the thermal stability of G551D and ΔF508 CFTR in Xenopus oocytes in the presence and absence of CTFR potentiators. G551D CFTR exhibited a thermal instability that was comparable to that of ΔF508 CFTR. G551D CFTR, however, was protected from thermal instability by CFTR potentiators, whereas ΔF508 CFTR was not. These results suggest that the efficacy of VX-770 in patients bearing the G551D mutation is due, at least in part, to the ability of the small molecule to protect the mutant channel from thermal instability at human body temperature.
Cushing disease: highlighting the importance of early diagnosis for both de novo and recurrent disease in light of evolving treatment patterns.

ABSTRACT Objective To highlight and summarize current literature on Cushing disease (CD)-related morbidity and mortality, focusing on residual complications after “cure” and the changing role of pharmacologic therapy in CD. Methods Current journal articles on the consequences of untreated or undertreated CD, CD recurrence, and recent trends in CD treatment were collected from PubMed searches and analyzed in combination in view of the authors’ clinical experience. Results Timely recognition and treatment of de novo and recurrent CD remains a singular clinical challenge. Chronic excess cortisol exposure leads to potentially irreversible sequelae and death, stressing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Disease relapse after primary pituitary adenomectomy is prevalent and recurrence may manifest decades after initial surgery. Increased risk for mortality and hypercortisolism-related complications in postsurgical CD patients may indicate persistent subclinical disease and further underscores the need for cautious, ongoing observation and testing. Potential long-term pharmacologic treatment options (e.g., pasireotide, mifepristone) have recently emerged that may provide biochemical and symptomatic remission for those with refractory CD, or those for whom surgery is contraindicated. Conclusion Delays in CD diagnosis, management, and follow-up are common and lead to increased adverse metabolic complications and mortality. Rapid recognition and treatment as well as vigilant monitoring are therefore essential. After surgical treatment, some patients may suffer from persistent subclinical CD that remains difficult to detect with routine testing. Although long-term pharmacologic treatment has historically been limited by adverse reactions or escape from response, new treatments may offer more options for patients with refractory disease. (Endocr Pract. 2014;20:945-955)