cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prkci is required for a non-autonomous signal that coordinates cell polarity during cavitation

Abstract Polarized epithelia define boundaries, spaces, and cavities within organisms. Cavitation, a process by which multicellular hollow balls or tubes are produced, is typically associated with the formation of organized epithelia. In order for these epithelial layers to form, cells must ultimately establish a distinct apical-basal polarity. Atypical PKCs have been proposed to be required for apical-basal polarity in diverse species. Here we show that while cells null for the Prkci isozyme exhibit some polarity characteristics, they fail to properly segregate apical-basal proteins, form a coordinated ectodermal epithelium, or participate in normal cavitation. A failure to cavitate could be due to an overgrowth of interior cells or to an inability of interior cells to die. Null cells however, do not have a marked change in proliferation rate and are still capable of undergoing cell death, suggesting that alterations in these processes are not the predominant cause of the failed cavitation. Overexpression of BMP4 or EZRIN can partially rescue the phenotype possibly by promoting cell death, polarity, and differentiation. However, neither is sufficient to provide the required cues to generate a polarized epithelium and fully rescue cavitation. Interestingly, when wildtype and Prkci −/− ES cells are mixed together, a polarized ectodermal epithelium forms and cavitation is rescued, likely due to the ability of wildtype cells to produce non-autonomous polarity cues. We conclude that Prkci is not required for cells to respond to these cues, though it is required to produce them. Together these findings indicate that environmental cues can facilitate the formation of polarized epithelia and that cavitation requires the proper coordination of multiple basic cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, cell death, and apical-basal polarization.
Design and Test of Xilinx Embedded ECC for MicroBlaze Processors

The Xilinx Virtex-5QV is robust to configuration errors, but will experience Block RAM upsets. Various approaches to scrubbing Block RAM to support the Xilinx MicroBlaze soft processor were tested at LANSCE. Use of the embedded ECC blocks for system memory is contrasted with soft ECC blocks.
Configuration and energy landscape of the benzonitrile anion

Abstract Quantum chemical calculations are employed to study the configurational isomers of the anion formed by benzene substituted with a cyano group. It is found that an excess electron can form dipole-bound (DB) states with benzonitrile and phenyl-isocyanide isomers. It can also attach to the cyano group, if this group is separated from the benzene ring by some distance, forming a covalent CN − anion. There are four positions at peripherals of the benzene ring where this anion can localize and form stable complexes with the benzene radical. In these complexes CN − is connected to the benzene radical via non-covalent interactions.
An Integrated Approach to Monitoring and Scheduling in Real-Time Systems

Abstract In real-time systems, interactions with the physical environment can lead to unexpected conditions such as system overload and the missing of deadlines. It is highly desirable that these error conditions do not lead to total system failure and that the critical functions of the system are still performed. In addition, when an error condition arises, the system designer may prefer to invoke an error-specific operation to correct or recover from the error. The ability to detect violation of design assumptions or occurrence of unexpected conditions requires an integrated approach in which system timing constraints can be expressed and monitored, and appropriate action taken when a constraint is violated. However, the run-time monitoring of the system constraints consumes time and must not intrude upon the ability of the system to meet its constraints. Our approach allows the run-time monitor to be scheduled as a time-constrained activity and therefore can be part of the schedulability test for the system. This approach can then be further extended beyond simple timing constraints to complex timing assertions as well as the specification and monitoring of arbitrarily complex safety requirements.
Response and remission in adolescent mania: Signal detection analyses of the young mania rating scale

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine optimal criteria for defining response and remission in adolescents with acute mania. Method: Data were analyzed from three treatment studies of adolescents with acute mania ( N = 99). Trained raters completed the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and clinicians completed the Clinical Global Impressions Scale for Bipolar Disorder (CGI-BP) independent of YMRS ratings. For response, the percentages of reduction in YMRS scores from baseline to endpoint were compared with CGI-BP Mania Improvement scores. For remission, endpoint YMRS scores were compared with CGI-BP Mania Severity scores. Signal detection analyses were conducted to evaluate the efficiency of selected cutoffs associated with response and remission. Results: A ≥55% reduction in YMRS scores from baseline to endpoint was the optimal cutoff defining response. An absolute endpoint YMRS score ≤12 was the optimal cutoff defining remission. Conclusions: The results of this signal detection analysis in adolescent mania suggest that current commonly used cutoffs to define response (≥50% reduction) and remission (≤12) may be appropriate with regard to efficiency. Studies with methods specifically tailored to evaluate and compare these rating scales and larger patient samples from multiple sites are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
Random Graphs as Building Blocks for a Network Model

We introduce a new network model, based on a modification of the Newman-Strogatz-Watts model, that shows greatly increased clustering, and consequently much better agreement with the real networks, while preserving the small-world property. We study this model with computer simulation and find a numerically exact solution for its properties.
Lifelong Learning for Clinical Practice: How to Leverage Technology for Telebehavioral Health Care and Digital Continuing Medical Education

Psychiatric practice continues to evolve and play an important role in patients’ lives, the field of medicine, and health care delivery. Clinicians must learn a variety of clinical care systems and lifelong learning (LLL) is crucial to apply knowledge, develop skills, and adjust attitudes. Technology is rapidly becoming a key player—in delivery, lifelong learning, and education/training. The evidence base for telepsychiatry/telemental health via videoconferencing has been growing for three decades, but a greater array of technologies have emerged in the last decade (e.g., social media/networking, text, apps). Clinicians are combining telepsychiatry and these technologies frequently and they need to reflect on, learn more about, and develop skills for these technologies. The digital age has solidified the role of technology in continuing medical education and day-to-day practice. Other fields of medicine are also adapting to the digital age, as are graduate and undergraduate medical education and many allied mental health organizations. In the future, there will be more online training, simulation, and/or interactive electronic examinations, perhaps on a monthly cycle rather than a quasi-annual or 10-year cycle of recertification.
Zur Geschichte der Orientierungsforschung

Zu den Glanzlichtern der Orientierungsforschung, zu denen deutsche Forscher wesentlich beigetragen haben, zahlen die Entdeckung von Sonnen-, Sternen- und Magnetkompass jeweils mit vielen wesentlichen Einzelheiten, Vektornavigation mit vielen wesentlichen Einzelheiten und das Karte-Kompass Konzept. Das Navigationsproblem ist noch nicht vollstandig gelost.
Security enhancements for the additive cryptosystem

After briefly describing the basic strategy within the Additive Cryptosystem (AC), this paper highlights three techniques that could make the ciphertext more difficult to decode by any unauthorized entity when the symmetric key is unknown. One or more of these techniques can be incorporated into the AC to make it more secure; this allows each instructor several different options regarding which security features will be implemented if an interesting (and challenging) programming assignment - one that utilizes low level, bit-wise operations, and some elementary file I/O - is desired.
Vortex Dynamics in Heavy Fermion CeCoIn5

Local magnetic measurements utilizing a micro-Hall probe were performed on a superconducting heavy fermion CeCoIn5 single crystal. We show that the critical current follows a power law as predicted by Ginzburg–Landau theory. This behavior is found to be universal in different heavy fermion and high-Tc superconducting materials. Furthermore, we report on remanent magnetization relaxation showing a high relaxation rate with approximately linear temperature dependence. Although qualitatively similar to another undoped heavy fermion, UBe13, this relaxation rate is significantly higher, providing evidence that CeCoIn5 can be grown in the clean limit.
Geometric Quantization on Euclidean Space

In this chapter, we consider the geometric quantization program in the setting of the symplectic manifold \({\mathbb{R}}^{2n},\) with the canonical 2-form ω = dp j ∧ dx j . We begin with the “prequantum” Hilbert space \({L}^{2}({\mathbb{R}}^{2n})\) and define “prequantum” operators Q pre(f). These operators satisfy $$\displaystyle{Q_{\mathrm{pre}}(\{f,g\}) = \frac{1} {i\hslash }[Q_{\mathrm{pre}}(f),Q_{\mathrm{pre}}(g)]}$$ for all f and g. Nevertheless, there are several undesirable aspects to the prequantization map that make it physically unreasonable to interpret it as “quantization.” To obtain the quantum Hilbert space, we reduce the number of variables from 2n to n. Depending on how we do this reduction, we will obtain either the position Hilbert space, the momentum Hilbert space, or the Segal–Bargmann space. Each of these subspaces is preserved by the prequantized position and momentum operators, and by certain other operators of the form Q pre(f).
Repair of Topoisomerase II-Mediated DNA Damage: Fixing DNA Damage Arising from a Protein Covalently Trapped on DNA

The generation of elevated levels of enzyme-DNA covalent complexes is the key event in cell killing by many drugs targeting DNA topoisomerases. These agents, termed topoisomerase poisons generate protein-linked DNA strand that block transcription and replication, leading to cell death. Cells treated with topoisomerase targeting drugs rely on diverse repair pathways to maintain genome stability and cell survival. This chapter summarizes current information on how DNA damage arising from Top2 poisons is repaired. A critical and unique area of repair of Top2 damage is the removal of protein that is covalently attached to DNA. Several specialized repair enzymes have recently been shown to remove Top2 covalently bound to DNA including TTRAP/Tdp2, CtIP, and the MRN (Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1) complex. New genetic approaches have led to the identification of many other genes important for repairing Top2 generated DNA damage. These newly identified genes will be important in understanding the repair processes that occur with this unique type of DNA damage, and promise to provide new markers for predicting the therapeutic efficacy of this important class of anticancer drugs.
Occupational silica exposure and mortality from lung cancer and nonmalignant respiratory disease: G-estimation of structural nested accelerated failure time models.

Background Occupational exposure to crystalline silica is known to increase risks of both lung cancer and noninfectious nonmalignant respiratory diseases (NMRD). However, associations between silica exposure and survival times have not been described. Methods In a longitudinal cohort of diatomaceous earth workers exposed to crystalline silica (primarily cristobalite) and followed from 1942 to 2011, we applied g-estimation of structural nested accelerated failure time models to adjust for time-varying confounding that could result in healthy worker survivor bias. A continuous measure of exposure was used in analyses estimating the hypothetical effect of banning exposure to silica on survival time. Since a ban is infeasible, sensitivity analyses examined the hypothetical effects of enforcing various Occupational Exposure Limits. Results The estimated median number of years of life lost per worker (for all natural causes) due to silica exposure was 0.48 (95% confidence interval = 0.02, 1.01). For NMRD deaths, the corresponding estimate was 3.22 (0.82, 7.75) and for lung cancer deaths, 2.21 (0.97, 3.56). Cause-specific estimates were sensitive to the use of weights to adjust for competing events. Lung cancer mortality, which tended to occur at younger ages, was an important competing event for NMRD mortality. Sensitivity analyses supported the main results, but with larger estimates, and suggested that a strict limit would be nearly as effective as a complete ban on silica exposure. Conclusions Workplace exposure to crystalline silica in this industry appears to shorten survival times significantly, particularly for those who die of lung cancer or NMRD. More stringent exposure limits are probably warranted.
Diachronic Aspects of Metathesis

Metathesis refers to a sound pattern where a sequence of sounds is observed in one order in one context but in the opposite order in another context. A historical explanation is given for why metathesis occurs, why certain sound combinations tend to undergo metathesis, why others are common results of metathesis, and why patterns of metathesis differ across languages.
Anal Adenocarcinoma Can Masquerade as Chronic Anal Fistula in Asians

Purpose Perianal adenocarcinoma arising from a chronic anorectal fistula is a rare condition for which the natural history and optimal management are not well established. For that reason, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 5 consecutive patients with a perianal adenocarcinoma arising from a chronic anorectal fistula managed at our institution from January 2014 to December 2015. Methods The patients were identified from a prospectively collected colorectal cancer database that included all patients managed for colorectal cancer at our institution. Results The median age at diagnosis was 64 years (range, 55-72 years). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was the initial investigation for all patients and showed a hyperintense T2-weighted image. One patient underwent an abdominoperineal resection following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and remained disease free during the 12-month follow-up. Three patients received neoadjuvant therapy with intent for surgery, but did not undergo surgery due to either worsening health or metastatic spread. One patient declined intervention. The median overall survival was 10.5 months (range, 2-19 months). Conclusion A high index of suspicion is required to make a clinical diagnosis of an anal adenocarcinoma arising from a chronic fistula. Histologic diagnosis must be achieved to confirm the diagnosis. Multimodal therapy with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by abdominoperineal resection is the treatment of choice.
Reviewing how intergenerational learning can help conservation biology face its greatest challenge

Abstract Environmental problems can be resolved when the public is no longer willing to accept their risks and demands change (i.e., Reflexive Modernization). Notable examples include responses to the ozone hole and acid rain, but in an emerging post-truth world, politicization of conservation can result in adults ignoring risks and accepting the status quo (i.e., Anti-Reflexivity). This problem is particularly acute for conservation biology challenges linked to climate change. Although strategic framing of conservation messages can help overcome ideological barriers to conservation actions, additional methods are needed to engage citizens in addressing loss of biodiversity. We argue that child to parent intergenerational learning is an understudied but promising pathway to incite biodiversity conservation actions among children and adults. Children have unique perspectives on wildlife and conservation, are easily reached in schools, and are likely the best equipped to help parents navigate ideologically fraught topics in ways that create action. We review key practices of intergenerational learning and outline how its best practices may be integrated in conservation biology programming and research.
Principle over Party: The Farmers' Alliance and Populism in South Dakota, 1880–1900

Review of: "Principle Over Party: The Farmers' Alliance and Populism in South Dakota, 1880–1900," by R. Alton Lee.
X-Linked Myotubular Myopathy and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in a Preterm Infant: A Rare Combination

Disorders of central and peripheral nervous system should be considered in floppy infants with ventilator dependence. Workup for neuromuscular disorders should be undertaken in infants with hypotonia, weakness, contractures, feeding difficulties, or failed attempts at extubation. We present the case of a preterm infant with hypotonia and ventilator dependence where despite a positive result, further investigations were undertaken because of lack of clinical correlation. The infant had a rare combination of 2 neuromuscular conditions: X-linked myotubular myopathy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. One was the reason for immediate clinical manifestation and the other influenced the prognosis and decision-making in determining reorientation of care. This case demonstrates the value of interpretation of a positive result that did not explain the clinical picture and warranted consideration of further diagnosis. This case also emphasizes the importance of discussions with family about the prognosis of 2 conditions that influenced decision making.
Atomic layer deposition of sodium fluoride thin films

The need for advanced energy conversion and storage devices remains a critical challenge amid the growing worldwide demand for renewable energy. Metal fluoride thin films are of great interest for applications in lithium-ion and emerging rechargeable battery technologies, particularly for enhancing the stability of the electrode-electrolyte interface and thereby extending battery cyclability and lifetime. Reported within, sodium fluoride (NaF) thin films were synthesized via atomic layer deposition. NaF growth experiments were carried out at reactor temperatures between 175 and 250 °C using sodium tert-butoxide and HF-pyridine solution. The optimal deposition temperature range was 175–200 °C, and the resulting NaF films exhibited low roughness (Rq ≈ 1.6 nm for films of ∼8.5 nm), nearly stoichiometric composition (Na:F = 1:1.05) and a growth per cycle value of 0.85 A/cycle on SiO2 substrates. These results are encouraging for future applications of NaF thin films in the development of improved energy capture and storage technologies.
A platform for continuous learning in oncology

Institutional clinical data repositories provide a depth and consistency of data elements that is difficult to match even with data pooled from diverse sources. A study now demonstrates how real-world data and clinical encounters can be captured in an integrated ‘data story’ to enable continuous learning and hypothesis generation in oncology.
Pacific Connections: The Making of the U.S.-Canadian Borderlands

In the late nineteenth century the borderlands between the United States, the British Empire in Canada, and the Asia-Pacific Rim emerged as a crossroads of the Pacific world. In Pacific Connections, Kornel Chang tells the dramatic stories of the laborers, merchants, smugglers, and activists who crossed these borders into the twentieth century, and the American and British empire-builders who countered them by hardening racial and national lines. But even as settler societies attempted to control the processes of imperial integration, their project fractured under its contradictions. Migrant workers and radical activists pursued a transnational politics through the very networks that made empire possible. Charting the U.S.-Canadian borderlands from above and below, Chang reveals the messiness of imperial formation and the struggles it spawned from multiple locations and through different actors across the Pacific world. Pacific Connections is the winner of the Outstanding Book in History award from the Association for Asian American Studies and is a finalist for the John Hope Franklin Book Prize from the American Studies Association.
Long Term Safety of the Asse Salt Mine

The strategy for performance assessment of the long term safety of a salt mine with radioactive waste is complex. It must include various aspects of geochemistry, fluid flows, geomechanics, geology, hydrology and radiation protection. The concept of geochemical engineering to ensure low radionuclide solubilities and enhance sorption as well as program tools to model fluid flows in the galleries and shafts with and without technical barriers have to be developed and fine tuned for selecting technical measures to enhance the long term safety. These results have to be combined with the hydrogeological model and the geologic long term prediction. The radiological exposition of man has to comply with the limits given by the federal laws for radiation protection to prove the long term safety. The current status of assessment of long term safety of the Research Mine Asse is presented here.
Isolation of Prolymphocytes from Bone Marrow and Fetal Liver

Isolation of the lymphoid progenitors in their earliest stage of development is indispensable for understanding when and how hematopoietic cell lineages are committed. Recently developed immunofluorescent labeling and sorting has made it possible to identify and isolate rare progenitors of lymphocytes. In this unit, protocols for isolating lymphoid progenitors from three different sources are provided. These protocols are based on stepwise purification consisting of magnetic and fluorescence-activated cell sorting techniques, optimized according to the nature of progenitors in each organ. Isolated progenitors may be analyzed in the lymphocyte differentiation cultures described in the following units and are useful for in vivo transfer experiments or microarray assays for gene expression.
Genetic and Biochemical Characterization of Nectria haematococca Strains with Adhesive and Adhesion-Reduced Macroconidia

Abstract A previous study reported the isolation of two mutants (LE1 and LE2) of the plant pathogenic fungus Nectria haematococca (anamorph, Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae) with macroconidia with reduced ability to adhere (Att-) to zucchini fruits and polystyrene. The adhesion-reduced-phenotype in LE1 and LE2 macroconidia is temperature sensitive and dependent on the concentration of nutrients. Classical genetic analysis of progeny derived from LE1 identified a mutation in a genetic locus, named Att1. The 90-kDa glycoprotein and macroconidial tip mucilage which were previously associated with the development of adhesion competence in Att+ macroconidia are specifically associated with macroconidia; neither is produced on microconidia, which are relatively nonadherent. However, macroconidia of both Att+ and Att- strains produce the 90-kDa glycoprotein and the macroconidial tip mucilage.
Ad-hoc extensions to the 802.15.3 MAC protocol

The paper describes the design and evaluation of ad-hoc extensions to the IEEE 802.15.3 medium access control (MAC) layer for wireless personal area networks (WPANs). The proposed protocol allows communication between ad-hoc devices without the intervention of any central entity and, at the same time, ensures bounded delays for isochronous traffic. Ad-hoc communication is made possible without the hidden terminal problem. Features from both IEEE 802.15.3 and IEEE 802.11 standards are used - in particular the TDMA structure from 802.15.3 and RTS-CTS based contention from 802.11. The protocol includes certain other ingredients, like a decentralized synchronization procedure using randomized beaconing, periodically interspersed contention periods, bit maps to convey reservation information and a mechanism to estimate and react to channel errors. The MAC has been simulated in ns-2 and simulation results are reported.
The Effects of IT-Based Training on Employees Uptake of New Technologies in the Work-Place

This paper reports on Phase 1 of a project that investigates the personal and institutional factors influencing the effectiveness of information technology based training on the uptake and integration of IT in the work-place. The results show that personal factors such as attitudes towards IT and confidence in using it affect the trainees’ abilities and willingness to use it in the work place. Institutional factors, such as the organization and delivery method of the training, the understanding of the trainee’s needs and the design of the training programmes have been shown to limit the effectiveness of the training. The personal factors in the model are based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, and the institutional factors have been identified from previous empirical evidence. Both have been adjusted to accommodate the results of Phase 1.
Compressive wideband direction of arrival estimation

Compressive Sampling (CS) has recently emerged as a groundbreaking technique which reconstructs the sparse signal using samples taken below Nyquist sampling frequency (sub-Nyquist samples). In this paper we consider to estimate the Direction of Arrival (DOA) of wideband signals using sub-Nyquist samples. In a sensor array, the time delay between two sensors depends on the position of source and thus estimating it is equivalent to finding the DOA of the source. The time delay could be estimated using the cross-correlation of the signals received at the sensor array. Since the cross-correlation of wideband signals is sparse in nature with peaks at the time delays, the concept of CS could be used here to reconstruct it from the cross-correlation of sub-Nyquist samples to estimate the location of the peaks and hence the DOA.
The Galatian Shield in Egypt

In the Hellenistic world Galatian mercenaries were extremely popular in the armies of the successor kingdoms. They were a non-aligned ethnic mercenary element which would be loyal to its employer, the king, rather than the local community. The Ptolemaic kingdom was no exception, hiring many of these mercenaries and settling them in Egypt. Once the Galatians arrived in Egypt, an effort was made to preserve the uniqueness of these “barbarian” troops among the rest of the population. Nowhere is this distinction clearer than in the symbols used to identify Galatians in art. The most prevalent of these symbols is the shield. With its distinctive boss and horizontal handle, the Celtic shield used by the Galatians has an appearance that conveys an ethnic attachment. Greek and Egyptian shields are smaller with a different boss and handle combination that would have made the distinction clear for a person living in Egypt at the time. In Ptolemaic Egypt the Galatian shield became an identifying symbol of the Galatian mercenaries living in the kingdom, a symbol reinforced by their Greek neighbors. DOI:10.2458/azu_jaei_v04i1_coleman
Psychiatry of the medically ill in the burn unit.

Clinical experience and burn survivor testimony show that the experience of being burned can be associated with catastrophic stress and lead to drastic permanent body image changes from scarring and limb-function loss. Close relatives, if not killed in the fire, often also experience clinically significant bystander stress. Closeness of relationships may be lost, and self-image may suffer. Property damage and loss of crucial resources may be associated with fires. Although many burns result from accidents, most result from preventable causes associated with psychiatric disorders, which include mood disorders, psychoses, cognitive disorders, and substance-use disorders. Burns then result from: Deliberate self-harm Impaired judgment and poor coordination associated with substance intoxication Risk-taking behavior Poor supervision of children and impaired elderly persons Careless handling of flammable materials. Many clinical syndromes, such as delirium, ASD, acute psychosis, suicidality, and pain need to be addressed by the consulting psychiatrist to facilitate surgical treatment of the burn injury. Other psychiatric disorders, such as PTSD, major depression, and adjustment disorder, need to be treated to expedite long-term adjustment. Hospital length of stay and RTW/RTS are major outcome variables. The psychiatry consultant can positively affect both variables substantially using both pharmacologic and psychosocial measures. The important role of psychiatric issues both before and after burn injury support the need for more consistent and comprehensive medical insurance coverage for psychiatric consultation to burn units and clinics. Burn Support Groups are an invaluable asset. Language: en
Citizenship in the Empowered Locality: An Elaboration, a Critique, and a Partial Test

Although liberal and communitarian interpretations of citizenship differ profoundly, they nevertheless offer essentially similar prescriptions in support of empowered localities. The authors argue, instead, that the rejected alternative of consolidated government better promotes both interpretations of effective citizenship. They develop this argument by more fully specifying the behavioral implications of the two views of citizenship and theoretically linking those behaviors to fragmented and consolidated urban institutions using the Exit, Voice, Loyalty, and Neglect model introduced by Lyons and Lowery in I986. They then test the central proposition derived from that analysis using a comparison group design.
Microbial synthesis and the characterization of metal-substituted magnetites

The use of bacteria as a novel biotechnology to facilitate the production of nanoparticles is in its infancy. We describe a bacterially mediated electrochemical process in which metal (Co, Cr, or Ni)-substituted magnetite powders were synthesized by iron(III)-reducing bacteria under anaerobic conditions. Amorphous Fe(III) oxyhydroxides plus soluble metal species (Co, Cr, Ni) comprise the electron acceptor and hydrogen or simple organics comprise the electron donor. The microbial processes produced copious amount of nm-sized, metal-substituted magnetite crystals. Chemical analysis and X-ray powder diffraction analysis showed that metals such as Co, Cr, and Ni were substituted into biologically facilitated magnetites. These results suggest that the bacteria may be viewed as a nonspecific source of electrons at a potential that can be calculated or surmised based on the underlying thermodynamics. Microbially facilitated synthesis of the metal-substituted magnetites at near ambient temperatures may expand the possible use of the specialized ferromagnetic particles.
A VGF-Derived Peptide Attenuates Development of Type 2 Diabetes via Enhancement of Islet β-Cell Survival and Function

Deterioration of functional islet β-cell mass is the final step in progression to Type 2 diabetes. We previously reported that overexpression of Nkx6.1 in rat islets has the dual effects of enhancing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and increasing β-cell replication. Here we show that Nkx6.1 strongly upregulates the prohormone VGF in rat islets and that VGF is both necessary and sufficient for Nkx6.1-mediated enhancement of GSIS. Moreover, the VGF-derived peptide TLQP-21 potentiates GSIS in rat and human islets and improves glucose tolerance in vivo. Chronic injection of TLQP-21 in prediabetic ZDF rats preserves islet mass and slows diabetes onset. TLQP-21 prevents islet cell apoptosis by a pathway similar to that used by GLP-1, but independent of the GLP-1, GIP, or VIP receptors. Unlike GLP-1, TLQP-21 does not inhibit gastric emptying or increase heart rate. We conclude that TLQP-21 is a targeted agent for enhancing islet β-cell survival and function.
Pentacarbonyliron(0) Photocatalyzed Reactions of Trialkylsilanes with Alkenes.

Abstract We report results of the near-ultraviolet irradiation of Fe(CO) 5 in the presence of R 3 SiH (R  Me or Et) and an alkene. Good conversion to a mixture of alkane, (alkyl)SiR 3 , and (alkenyl)SiR 3 products obtains. For terminal alkenes, conversion to products generally exceeds 80%. The distribution of products depends on the alkene/R 3 SiH ratio and on the reaction temperature (0-50°C). Terminal, sterically unhindered alkenes react fastest, and give organosilicon products which result from addition of the R 3 Si moiety to the terminal carbon. With R 3 SiD starting silane extensive protium/deuterium exchange can be detected in the starting alkene and silane at intermediate stages of the reaction. Quantum yields for consumption of the starting materials exceed unity, implicating photocatalysis. The key photogenerated species is proposed to be (H)(R 3 Si)Fe(CO) 3 (alkene) which can be used to rationalize the formation of all products. Also, this intermediate accommodates a temperature dependent photocatalysis as well as a reagent concentration ratio dependence on the final product distribution. At low temperature and low alkene/silane ratio the alkylsilane product dominates, but at higher temperatures and high alkene/silane ratio the alkenylsilane is the dominant product. The temperature dependence in the range 0-50°C is consistent with a thermal rate-limiting step in the photocatalytic cycle which is crucial to the final product distribution.
Experience of the Texas Department of Transportation in Repair of Steel Bridge Fatigue

Although steel bridges of the Texas Department of Transportation (DOT) generally exhibit satisfactory fatigue performance, several structures have developed fatigue cracks at various welded attachments because of the previous use of fatigue-prone details. These bridges were typically constructed between the 1950s and 1980s, before the knowledge base of steel bridge fatigue and fracture was well established. Some bridges were not designed to carry the increasing traffic volume experienced today. Cracks occurred primarily at details that were not sufficiently addressed in the previous AASHTO design specifications, in particular at locations subjected to out-of-plane distortion. This paper provides an overview of Texas DOT practice in the repair of steel bridge fatigue cracking, including Texas DOT-sponsored research studies and their successful implementation in bridge rehabilitation. Case studies presented in this paper include the Fair Park bridges in Dallas, the IH-20 bridges in Midland County, the SH-22...
Boundary-based cellwise OPC for standard-cell layouts

Model based optical proximity correction (OPC) has become necessary at 90nm technology node. Cellwise OPC is an attractive technique to reduce the mask data size as well as the prohibitive runtime of full-chip OPC. As feature dimensions have gotten smaller, the radius of influence for edge features has extended further into neighboring cells such that it is no longer sufficient to perform cellwise OPC independent of neighboring cells, especially for the critical layers. The methodology described in this work accounts for features in neighboring cells and allows a cellwise approach to be applied to cells with a printed gate length of 45nm with the projection that it can also be applied to future technology nodes. OPC-ready cells are generated at library creation (independent of placement) using a boundary-based technique. Each cell has a tractable number of OPC-ready versions due to an intelligent characterization of standard cell layout features. Results are very promising: the average edge placement error (EPE) for all metal1 features in 100 layouts is 0.731nm which is less than 1% of metal1 width; the maximum EPE for poly features reduced to 1/3, compared to cellwise OPC without considering boundaries, creating similar levels of lithographic accuracy while obviating any of the drawbacks inherent in layout specific full-chip model-based OPC.
Impact of CVD knowledge, risk perception, and barriers to healthcare on routine CVD management in Coimbatore, India

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence in urban India has increased 9-fold over the past decade and attributes to nearly 25% of deaths nationwide. It has been shown that diabetes and hypertension are 2 of the greatest risk factors for developing CVD. The goal of this study was to explore factors influencing the likelihood of CVD care follow-up in diabetic and hypertensive patients in a primary care setting in Coimbatore, India. This project evaluated the relationship between CVD knowledge, personal risk perceptions, healthcare barriers and self-reported CVD-related followup care plans. The study was designed to address CVD care limitations and to initiate effective educational programs in India. Methods: A survey instrument was administered to patients attending a primary care center in Coimbatore, India. The participants were Indians greater than 18 years of age, who had a confirmed diagnosis of diabetes and/or hypertension and were not previously diagnosed with CVD. The primary outcome of the study was to investigate the factors contributing to the likelihood of receiving CVD care and the relationships between these predictors. The study was approved by the Kovai Medical Center and Hospital ethics committee and University of Connecticut IRB. After accepting the invitation to participate, participants were read the informed consent form and verbal consent was obtained. Findings: 229 subjects (82 diabetics, 81 hypertensives, 66 both) were analyzed in this study. Patients with DM alone had increased knowledge scores compared to those with HTN alone (19.43 2.5 vs 16.56 3.37, p< 0.05). In those with a single diagnosis, there was a higher risk perception in diabetics (25.8 7.45) than hypertensives (21.2 2.47) p < 0.01. There was also a positive correlation between increasing BMI and risk perception (r1⁄40.169, p < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between CVD knowledge and risk perception (r1⁄40.369, p< 0.001), healthcare barriers and GP follow-up for CVD care (r1⁄4 0.164, p < 0.05) and cardiologist (r1⁄40.229, p< 0.001). Conversely, an inverse correlation between healthcare barriers and cardiologist follow-up was demonstrated (r1⁄4-0.279, p < 0.001). Interpretation: These findings suggest that increased CVD knowledge is associated with greater personal risk perception. Greater risk perception is associated with self-reported intention to receive preventive CVD care. Individuals with greater barriers to healthcare are more likely to follow-up with a GP than a cardiologist. These data suggest a role for primary preventive CVD care and education in primary care settings. Interventions focused on patients with HTN may be particularly effective in this setting. The small sample size and self-reported variables were limitations. This study was funded by the UCHC Student Research Program. Funding: No funding listed. Abstract #: 02NCD001
Phase II study of CT-2103 as first- or second-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer: unexpected incidence of hypersensitivity reactions

This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of CT-2103, a novel conjugate of paclitaxel and poly-l-glutamate, in patients with HER2-negative, metastatic breast cancer who had received 0 or 1 prior lines of chemotherapy. Although CT-2103 had activity in this small study, neurotoxicity and hypersensitivity reactions were more frequent in this patient population than expected, and led to early termination of the trial. Purpose To evaluate the safety and efficacy of CT-2103, a novel conjugate of paclitaxel and poly-l-glutamate, in patients with metastatic breast cancer who had received 0 or 1 prior lines of chemotherapy. Patients and Methods Eighteen women with HER2-negative breast cancer were enrolled. Patients received intravenous CT-2103 at a dose of 175 mg/m2 of conjugated paclitaxel over 10 min every 3 weeks, without routine premedication. Eighty-three percent of women had received prior chemotherapy as part of adjuvant (39%), metastatic (17%), or both adjuvant and metastatic (28%) treatment. Three patients (17%) had previously received a taxane in the adjuvant setting. Results Objective responses were observed in 4 of 18 patients (overall response rate, 22%, 95% confidence interval, 6 to 48%). Grade 3 or 4 neuropathy was observed in four patients. Grade 3 or 4 hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) were observed in four patients; none occurred prior to cycle 4 of therapy. Because of the higher-than-expected rate of HSR, the study was terminated early. Conclusion Although CT-2103 had activity in this small study of women with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, neurotoxicity and hypersensitivity reactions were more frequent in this patient population than expected. Hypersensitivity reactions were most likely to occur in later cycles of treatment, suggesting a true drug allergy, distinct from the HSR typically seen with standard paclitaxel.
The Heterogenous Nature of In Vivo Basal Cell Carcinoma

background. There have been nearly 70 different histologic subtypes of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) described. Some of the subtypes have been shown to have clinical relevance. The degree to which one type may merge to another, within the same tumor mass, has been poorly studied. objective. To determine if BCCs maintain biopsy histology throughout the entire architecture of the tumor. method. Tumors were evaluated with a prospective histologic analysis of all primary BCCs using the Mohs “removal in layers” technique. All BCCs that required more than a single Mohs stage to clear were included in analysis. results. One hundred forty-nine tumors were examined. Fourteen of these were of mixed histologic subtype on biopsy and were not included in the analysis. Six biopsy specimens were inadequate to make a subtype diagnosis and were excluded from calculation. Of the remaining 129 tumors 59% maintained their biopsy diagnosis at first Mohs stage, and 49% at the second Mohs stage. Infiltrative tumors were the most likely to maintain their histologic subtype classification. Of the tumors that showed nodular BCC on biopsy, 13% were infiltrative or micronodular at first Mohs stage. conclusion. While many BCCs demonstrate a single histolog-ical subtype, roughly 40% change in their microscopic appearance at the subclinical extension. This finding has the potential to alter therapy.
Dislodgment of Pacemaker Electrode Simulating Focal Motor Seizure

The unusual finding of dislocation of the electrode of a pacemaker in a patient caused repetitive twitching of the right leg. Initial confusion with focal motor seizure resulted in the administration of antiepileptic medication. Malposition of the electrode was confirmed by appropriate roentgenographic studies, and subsequent repositioning terminated the episode.
Microassay of human erythrocyte catechol-O-methyltransferase: Removal of inhibitory calcium ion with chelating resin

Summary A radiochemical micromethod for the determination of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity in human red blood cells (RBC) is described. The method avoids artifacts that occur with other assay procedures. Erythrocyte lysates are exposed to a particulate chelating agent (Chelex-100) to remove endogenous divalent cations that inhibit COMT. 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid rather than norepinephrine is used as a substrate to increase both the sensitivity and the reproducibility of the procedure. An internal standard of purified rat liver COMT is added to lysates to detect possible variations in endogenous activators or inhibitors of the enzyme. Blood samples from 373 unselected subjects age 16–18 were assayed for RBC COMT activity with this assay procedure. The COMT activity in these blood samples ranged from 3–25 units with a mean activity of 11.3 ± 4.2 (mean ±S.D.).
Modulation of Ion Transport by Direct Targeting of Protein Phosphatase Type 1 to the Na-K-Cl Cotransporter

The specificity of major protein phosphatases is conferred via targeting subunits, each of which binds specifically to the phosphatase and targets it to the vicinity of substrate proteins. In the case of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), an RVXFXD motif on a targeting subunit binds to a cleft in PP1c, the catalytic subunit. Here we report that a substrate of PP1, the Na-K-Cl cotransporter (NKCC1), bears this motif in its N terminus near sites of regulatory phosphorylation and that direct binding of PP1 to NKCC1 is functionally important in determining the set point for intracellular chloride regulation. NKCC1 mutants in which the motif is destroyed or improved exhibit dramatically shifted activation curves because of a change in the rate of cotransporter dephosphorylation. Furthermore, direct interaction of NKCC1 and PP1c observed by coprecipitation of the two proteins is not seen in a mutant lacking the site. This establishes a new paradigm of phosphatase specificity, one in which a substrate protein containing an RVXFXD motif binds directly to PP1c; we propose that this may be a quite general mechanism.
The relationship between sister-chromatid exchange induction and the formation of specific methylated DNA adducts in Chinese hamster ovary cells

The ability of simple alkylating carcinogens to induce sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) has been well established (Perry and Evans, 1975; Carrano et al., 1978), although the alkyl lesion(s) leading to SCE formation have not been delineated. Several lines of evidence have led to the suggestion that persistent DNA damage, particularly O6-alkylguanine, is important in inducing SCE (Wolff, 1978, 1982; Goth-Goldstein, 1977). After treatment with simple alkylating agents, human cells which are defective in the removal of O6-alkylguanine have higher SCE frequencies than cells with normal levels of O6-methylguanine removal (Wolff et al., 1977; Day et al., 1980). The results of liquid-holding studies, however, argue that repairable DNA damage is involved in SCE formation. In these studies, the mutation rate (Jostes, 1981) or the level of O6-methylguanine (Connell and Medcarf, 1982) remained constant while SCE frequencies decreased after holding the cells using conditions that prohibited replication. These results suggested that SCE were the result of repairable DNA damage such as 3-alkyladenine or 7-alkylguanine (Jostes, 1981; Connell and Medcalf, 1982), although no single DNA adduct was identified which was repaired at the rate that SCE-causing damage was removed. The results of time-course experiments are consistent with the liquid-holding studies. In these experiments, the initial SCE frequency induced by exposure to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) decreased in subsequent generations after treatment (Ockey, 1981; Muscarella and Bloom, 1982). SCE frequency returned to near control levels approximately 10 generations after treatment (Muscarella and Bloom, 1982). Studies in which levels of specific DNA adducts induced by different alkylating agents were quantified and compared with SCE frequencies have not yet yielded conclusive results. The results of Swenson et al. (1980) were supportive of
Development of a screening method for the determination of 49 priority pollutants in soil

Abstract A screening procedure was developed for the determination of 49 priority pollutants in soil. An extraction procedure followed by the capillary gas chromotographic technique was used. Dual pH solutions with methylene chloride were used as extraction solvent system; no sample clean‐up procedure was applied. Both base/neutral and acidic fractions were analyzed on the same capillary column (SPB‐1). The relative standard deviation for 5.1 ppm (51 μg/ 10 g) concentration in “zero soil” was less than 25%.