cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative evaluation of 68Ga-labeled urea-based PSMA ligands in LNCaP tumor bearing mice

114 Objectives Urea-based inhibitors of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) show high and specific uptake in PSMA-expressing prostate tumors. It was previously shown that the Ga(III) chelator HBED-CC can be introduced into the pharmacophore Glu-NH-CO-NH-Lys (DKFZ-HBED-CC) and used to efficiently image and quantify PSMA-positive tumors in vivo. MIP-1558 is a high affinity (Kd Methods Both DKFZ-HBED-CC and MIP-1558 were labeled with Ga-68 in acetate buffer (pH 4-5) at 95 0C for 5 and 15 minutes, respectively. Purified products were injected into the retro-orbital sinus of nude mice bearing PSMA positive LNCaP xenografts. Animals (5/time pt./compound) were euthanized at 1 and 3h post injection. Blood and tissues were collected, weighed wet and assayed for radioactivity. The decay corrected data was used to calculate %ID/g as well as T:B ratios. Results Both ligands were efficiently labeled with 68Ga at a high purity and specific activity (>40 GBq/µmole). Radiochemical purity was >97% for both. Both tracers cleared rapidly from the circulation and PSMA negative tissues with high uptake in tumor, kidney and spleen. High tumor uptake was evident for 68Ga-MIP-1558 at 1h pi (8.87± 5.01) that further increased at 3h pi (15.05±8.19). Tumor accumulation for the DKFZ-HBED-CC was lower at both 1h and 3h p.i., with 5.81±1.67 and 6.27±1.44 %ID/g, respectively. While tumor:muscle was similar at 1h p.i., MIP-1558 increased to ~60:1 at 3h. Conclusions In nude mice bearing LNCaP tumors, 68Ga-MIP-1558 and 68Ga- DKFZ-HBED-CC exhibited similar pharmacokinetics with excellent uptake at 1h p.i.. However, tumor localization for MIP-1558 was greater at both time points and increased significantly with time. The DOTA chelate makes MIP-1558 an attractive theranostic ligand for prostate cancer.
Periodontal Treatment in Cancer Patients: an Interdisciplinary Approach

Dental care is an essential component in the comprehensive treatment for a cancer patient. As such, a review of the literature was completed to determine the relationships between periodontal and dental care in the cancer patient and provide strategic suggestions. Periodontal treatment must be personalized depending on the patient’s current oral health status, systemic status, and progress in treatment. Oral mucositis, periodontal status, and osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) remain periodontal concerns in providing dental care to the cancer patient. Risk factors for development of ONJ include root amputation (OR = 6.64), extraction of a single tooth (OR = 3.7), severe tooth mobility (OR = 3.60), and unclosed wound (OR = 2.51). Preventive maintenance, oral hygiene instruction, use of fluoride and chlorhexidine are all important therapeutic strategies. If extractions are required in patients who have received bone-modifying drug infusions, flap management and primary wound closure are needed to reduce the risk of complications.
Radiologic Pseudoprogression during Anti–PD-1 Therapy for Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract Introduction Anti–programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy can lead to unconventional tumor responses, including radiologic pseudoprogression. Here we have determined the real-world incidence of radiologic pseudoprogression in advanced NSCLC and compared radiologic response criteria for assessment of disease response. Methods The electronic medical records of all patients with NSCLC who were receiving anti–PD-1 therapy at our institution over a 3-year period were retrospectively reviewed, and patients with clinically suspected radiologic pseudoprogression were identified. Patients without available follow-up imaging or clinical data were excluded. Imaging examinations were then analyzed to determine whether progression was confirmed on subsequent reimaging. Assessments of tumor response by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1), the unidimensional immune-related response criteria (iRRC), and the iRECIST criteria for all patients were performed and compared. Results A total of 228 consecutive patients began receiving anti–PD-1 therapy over a 3-year period. Of the 166 of these patients who were evaluable, most (80%) received nivolumab. Fifteen patients (9%) were clinically suspected of having radiologic pseudoprogression on account of tumor enlargement and/or development of new lesions on computed tomography images during the first 4 to 6 weeks of therapy, and they continued receiving anti–PD-1 therapy. Three of these patients (2%) demonstrated evidence of radiologic pseudoprogression at first reimaging. The iRRC and immune RECIST criteria were more accurate in classifying radiologic pseudoprogression as nonprogression; none of the three cases were deemed progression by the iRRC or immune RECIST, whereas all three cases were determined to be progression according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1. Conclusions Radiologic pseudoprogression is a clinical challenge but an uncommon occurrence in patients with NSCLC who are receiving anti–PD-1 therapy.
Trigeminal trophic syndrome: an updated review

Trigeminal trophic syndrome (TTS) is a rare disease process that is thought to occur after insult to the trigeminal nerve. The earliest descriptions of this condition were provided in the early 20th century, yet it remains relatively unknown, with approximately 200 cases since described. Most commonly seen in older women, TTS characteristically involves persistent facial ulceration with loss of sensation and paresthesia along the distribution of the trigeminal dermatome. Ulceration often occurs in the alar region, following self-manipulation in response to paresthesias. Time of onset of TTS after trigeminal insult may vary from weeks to decades, and emergence of ulceration may be associated with psychiatric disorders. Diagnosis is clinical and made by exclusion of similarly presenting conditions. Histology is nonspecific yet necessary to exclude other causes of facial ulceration. Although there is not yet a standard management strategy, a number of successful approaches have been reported including pharmaceutical and surgical interventions, installation of a protector, and transcutaneous nerve stimulation. However, because of the self-inflicted manifestations of this disorder, behavioral modifications remain of the utmost importance. This review serves to address the history, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, histology, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and management options for TTS.
The Influence of Social Support Factors on the Well-Being of the Elderly

Social support has received considerable attention in the literature as researchers have noted its influence upon both psychological well-being and physical health. Nowhere is the influence of social support more strongly felt than among the elderly population. This group typically experiences a gradual (and sometimes sudden) decline in both support systems and health status over time. Therefore, if social support can, indeed, influence health and well-being, it may be that this population has the most to gain from research findings in this area. This chapter focuses upon the influence of social support factors on both the psychological and physical health of the elderly, two interrelated and overlapping subareas. I will first describe definitional and measurement issues related to social support and health. Next, I will present various theories relating social support to physical and psychological health. In the subsequent sections, I will review demographic variables, which may be useful in identifying individuals at risk for succumbing to stressful life events, and I will discuss adverse effects of social support and make some clinical recommendations of ways to use this information.
Deafness and mortality: analyses of linked data from the National Health Interview Survey and National Death Index.

Objective. To examine the association between age at onset of deafness and mortality. Methods. Tne authors analyzed National Health Interview Survey data from 990 and 1991-the years the Hearing Supplement was administeredinked with National Death Index data for 1990-1995. Adjusting for sociodemographic variables and health status the authors compared the mortality of three groups of adults ages ≥19 years: those with prelingua onset of deafness (≤ age 3 years), those with postlingual onset of deafness (> age 3 years), and a representative sample of the general population. Results. Multivariate analyses adjusted for sociodemographics and stratified by age found that adults with post ngual onset of deafness were more likely to die in the given time frames than non-deaf adults. However, when analyses were also adjusted for Health status, there was no difference between adults with postlingual onset of deafness and a control group of non-deaf adults. No differences in mortality were found between adults with prelingual onset of deafness and non-deaf adults. Conclusions. Adults with postlingual onset of deafness appear to have higher mortality than non-deaf adults, which may be attributable to their lower self-reported health status.
Clinical implication of the new TNM classification of thymic malignancies

With the advent of the 8 th edition of TNM classification of malignant tumors, for the first time there is an official stage classification system for thymic malignancies [thymoma, thymic carcinoma (TC) and neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus (NETT)] (1-3).
The association between out-of-home placement and offending behavior among maltreated youth: A systematic review

Abstract Although children who have been maltreated receive either in-home or out-of-home services in the United States every year, the role of these services in offending behavior remains unclear. Additionally, although maltreated children placed in out-of-home care have different placement experiences (e.g., different types of placements, different numbers of placements), research that summarizes the findings of previous studies and investigates patterns of offending behavior by different placement characteristics is sparse. The present systematic review addressed this gap in existing knowledge by examining the current literature on the association between out-of-home placement and offending behavior among youth with Child Protection Services maltreatment reports. The first research question was: Do maltreated youth placed in out-of-home care demonstrate higher rates of offending behavior as compared to those who received in-home service? The second research question was: For maltreated youth placed in out-of-home care, does offending behavior differ by placement characteristics (i.e., type of placement, number of placements, age at first placement, and neighborhood associated with placement)? Five electronic databases, PsycINFO, PubMed, Criminal Justice Abstracts, Social Work Abstracts, and Social Sciences Citation Index, were searched and a total of 15 articles were included in the current review. The first research question was addressed by eleven studies that compared offending behavior for maltreated youth placed in out-of-home care with those who received in-home care. These studies revealed mixed findings: many studies showed higher rates of offending behavior for maltreated youth placed in foster care compared to those who remained at home, but some studies found no difference between the two groups. The second research question was addressed by ten studies that explored the impact of different placement characteristics on offending behavior of maltreated youth placed in out-of-home care. These studies showed consistent findings; studies showed that more restricted types of care, a higher number of placements, those placed at a later age, and placement with greater ethnic heterogeneity in the neighborhood are each associated with higher rates of offending behavior. Our results suggest that efforts need to be made to place maltreated youth in less restricted care and to reduce the number of placements.
A replication study worth replicating: A comment on Salmanowitz and Spamann

Abstract In “Does the Supreme Court Really Not Apply Chevron When It Should?,” Natalie Salmanowitz and Holger Spamann provide an excellent example of what replication studies in law and economics can and should do. They follow in the footsteps of a highly cited study (Eskridge and Baer, 2008), illuminate its methodological limitations, and with a compelling research design, obtain distinctive results. Importantly, Salmanowitz and Spamann’s methodology is itself reproducible, and it suggests a template for researchers looking to replicate other studies or conduct original research on similar topics.
Determination of Ligand Binding Epitope Structures Using Polarization Transfer from Hyperpolarized Ligands

Drug discovery processes require the determination of the protein binding site structure, which can be achieved via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. While traditional NMR spectroscopy suffers from low sensitivity, NMR signals can be significantly enhanced through hyperpolarization of nuclear spins. Here, folic acid is hyperpolarized by dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (D-DNP). Polarization transfer to dihydrofolate reductase is compared to signal evolution predicted for docking-derived structures. The results demonstrate that a scoring function derived from the experimental data improves the ranking of structures. With data from six methyl groups, Spearman’s correlation coefficient of the experimental scoring function to the root-mean-square deviation from a reference structure is 0.88 for five individually addressed ligand protons and 0.59 for the entire ligand, while the same correlation coefficient of the energy calculated from docking alone is 0.49. D-DNP NMR-derived ranking, the...
Operational Perspectives Into the Resilience of the U.S. Air Transportation Network Against Intelligent Attacks

Protecting critical infrastructures has been deemed a natural security imperative by the U.S. Government for the past 20 years. The resilience of transportation infrastructures is of particular importance, as they serve a crucial rule in economic development and citizen mobility throughout the world. This paper presents a defender–attacker–defender model to analyze the potential impacts of intelligent attacks and worst case disruptions on the U.S. air transportation network, as well as possible protection steps that could be taken to minimize the negative outcomes of such disruptions. Furthermore, to analyze the effects of intermodal connections on the resilience of the air network, a second layer representing a hypothetical bus network is added to the model and studied. We use these models, supported by publicly available data, to identify routes likely to be attacked by intelligent adversaries and those critical to the resilient operation of the air network in such scenarios. We also demonstrate the potential benefits of intermodal linkages toward maintaining network operations and identify promising research directions for this type of integrated and intelligent transportation system.
Exact Expressions for the Total Radiated Power, Radiation Resistance, and Directivity of an Arbitrary Size Uniform Current Elliptical Loop Antenna

This communication presents complete derivations of exact analytical expressions for the total radiated power, radiation resistance, and directivity corresponding to an elliptical loop antenna of arbitrary size with a uniform current distribution. Known results for the important special case of the far-zone electric fields radiated by an arbitrary size uniform current elliptical loop antenna serve as a starting point in the development. These field expressions are then utilized to derive an advantageous form of an exact expansion for the total radiated power and associated radiation resistance. This derivation is carried out in an elegant and complete manner by invoking properties of generalized hypergeometric functions as well as gamma and beta functions. Finally, a convenient expansion is presented that can be used to obtain a series of useful approximations for the directivity by including an appropriate number of higher-order terms, e.g., which are valid for loops of increasing size.
Protein Kinase C Theta Modulates PCMT1 through hnRNPL to Regulate FOXP3 Stability in Regulatory T Cells.

T cell receptor signaling, together with cytokine-induced signals, can differentially regulate RNA processing to influence T helper versus regulatory T cell fate. Protein kinase C family members have been shown to function in alternative splicing and RNA processing in various cell types. T cell-specific protein kinase C theta, a molecular regulator of T cell receptor downstream signaling, has been shown to phosphorylate splicing factors and affect post-transcriptional control of T cell gene expression. In this study, we explored how using a synthetic cell-penetrating peptide mimic for intracellular anti-protein kinase C theta delivery fine-tunes differentiation of induced regulatory T cells through its differential effects on RNA processing. We identified protein kinase C theta signaling as a critical modulator of two key RNA regulatory factors, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNPL) and protein-l-isoaspartate O-methyltransferase-1 (PCMT1), and loss of protein kinase C theta function initiated a "switch" in post-transcriptional organization in induced regulatory T cells. More interestingly, we discovered that protein-l-isoaspartate O- methyltransferase-1 acts as an instability factor in induced regulatory T cells, by methylating the forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) promoter. Targeting protein-l-isoaspartate O-methyltransferase-1 using a cell-penetrating antibody revealed an efficient means of modulating RNA processing to confer a stable regulatory T cell phenotype.
P156 Impact of Culinary Nutrition Education on Student's Knowledge and Ability to Make Culinary Recommendations for the DASH-Diet

Background Dietetics students receive DASH-diet education as part of their medical nutrition therapy (MNT) curriculum. The ability for students to translate that knowledge into practice is currently unknown. There is evidence supporting that culinary nutrition education integrated into coursework has shown a positive association with nutrition knowledge and self-efficacy in students, adults, and health professionals. However, there is limited research showing the impact of culinary nutrition education on dietetics students. Objective To determine the impact of a combined lecture and DASH-diet culinary module for undergraduate dietetics students on knowledge and self-efficacy in making culinary-related recipe adaptations. Study Design, Setting, Participants This is a quasi-experimental pre-, post-study design. Using a non-probability and purposive sampling technique, students were recruited from a MNT class at San Jose State University (SJSU) and were randomly assigned to control (n = 12) and intervention (n = 13) group. All students received a DASH-diet lecture while only the intervention group received a culinary module following the lecture. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Data collection involved a questionnaire administered pre- and post-intervention and during a 1-month follow-up. Data analysis included descriptive statistics reported as means compared between and within groups using SPSS version 25. Results There was a statistically significant improvement in identifying maximum amount of sodium in post (P = .009) and ingredient substitutions in pre (P = .12) and post (P = .008) between control and intervention group. There was a statistically significant improvement in identifying sodium-containing ingredients (P = .046) and ingredient substitution (P Conclusions This pilot study shows culinary nutrition education has the potential to positively impact dietetics students’ knowledge on the DASH diet. Future programs should incorporate longer modules with additional opportunities to engage in hands-on practice and promote knowledge retention.
Auditory-Motor Perturbations of Voice Fundamental Frequency: Feedback Delay and Amplification.

Purpose Gradual and sudden perturbations of vocal fundamental frequency (f o), also known as adaptive and reflexive f o perturbations, are techniques to study the influence of auditory feedback on ...
The Uniqueness of Innate Immunity

Innate immune response is the first line of host defense to infections and innate immunity also provides key initiation signals for adaptive immune responses. Importantly, the innate immune system is also alerted and activated by damaged self. The fundamental phases of the innate immune response, such as recognition, response, and resolution, are generally the same regardless of the initial trigger, allowing the host to return to normal homeostasis after responding to an infectious or sterile innate immune insult. However, in chronic liver diseases where persistent viral infection, metabolic danger signals or tissue injury is persistent for a prolonged period of time, the resolution phase of the immune response is never achieved, allowing persistent innate immune activation and inflammation. Such persistent, usually low-grade inflammation, contributes to chronic liver diseases and becomes the driver of progressive liver injury. Chronic inflammation in the liver leads to liver fibrosis and contributes to end-stage liver disease. The liver is rich in all cell types of the innate immune system, and innate immune cells are rapidly recruited to the liver from the bone marrow. In addition to classical cells of the innate immune system, hepatocytes and other liver parenchymal cells also express evolutionally preserved receptors and pathways that recognize danger at the molecular level. These include various pattern recognition receptors, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and Nod-like receptors (NLRs). Activation of these innate immune signaling pathways results in production of interferons, chemokines, cytokines, and cellular activation. The uniqueness of innate immunity is discussed in this chapter.
Technology Transfer at U.S. Federal Laboratories: R&D Disclosures Patent Applications

This chapter describes relationships within the technology transfer process at U.S. federal laboratories. Using federal laboratory data on R&D, invention disclosures, and patent applications, aggregated to the agency level, quantitative estimates of the relationship among these metrics are presented. The policy-related finding is that a 10 percent increase in R&D per 100 scientists is associated with between a 1.52 percent and a 2.04 percent increase in patent applications per 100 scientists.
Low hospital mobility-Resurgence of an old epidemic within a new pandemic and future solutions.

Low mobility during hospitalization poses risks of functional decline and other poor outcomes for older adults. Given the pervasiveness of this problem, low mobility during hospitalization was first described as 'dangerous' in 1947 and later described as an epidemic. Hospitals have made considerable progress over the last half-century and the last two decades in particular, however, the COVID-19 pandemic presents serious new challenges that threaten to undermine recent efforts and progress towards a culture of mobility. In this special article, we address the question of how to confront an epidemic of immobility within a pandemic. We identify 4 specific problems for creating and advancing a culture of mobility posed by COVID-19: social distancing and policies restricting patient movement, personnel constraints, PPE shortages, and increased patient hesitancy to ambulate. We also propose 4 specific solutions to address these problems. These approaches will help support a culture of healthy mobility during and after hospitalization and help patients to keep moving during the pandemic and beyond.
Patient factors associated with time to medication receipt of oral anti-cancer drugs.

1519Background: The past decade has seen a dramatic increase in the number of Food and Drug Administration approvals of oral anti-cancer drugs (OACDs). Most OACD prescriptions require coordination ...
Numerical and Experimental Assessment of an Improved Design Detail for Partially Grouted Reinforced Masonry Wall Structures

AbstractReinforced masonry buildings predominantly are partially grouted in areas of low or moderate seismicity in North America. The walls in such structures typically contain widely spaced separa...
Photoinduced copper-catalysed asymmetric amidation via ligand cooperativity.

The substitution of an alkyl electrophile by a nucleophile is a foundational reaction in organic chemistry that enables the efficient and convergent synthesis of organic molecules. Although there has been substantial recent progress in exploiting transition-metal catalysis to expand the scope of nucleophilic substitution reactions to include carbon nucleophiles1–4, there has been limited progress in corresponding reactions with nitrogen nucleophiles5–8. For many substitution reactions, the bond construction itself is not the only challenge, as there is a need to control stereochemistry at the same time. Here we describe a method for the enantioconvergent substitution of unactivated racemic alkyl electrophiles by a ubiquitous nitrogen-containing functional group, an amide. Our method uses a photoinduced catalyst system based on copper, an Earth-abundant metal. This process for asymmetric N-alkylation relies on three distinct ligands—a bisphosphine, a phenoxide and a chiral diamine. The ligands assemble in situ to form two distinct catalysts that act cooperatively: a copper/bisphosphine/phenoxide complex that serves as a photocatalyst, and a chiral copper/diamine complex that catalyses enantioselective C–N bond formation. Our study thus expands enantioselective N-substitution by alkyl electrophiles beyond activated electrophiles (those bearing at least one sp- or sp2-hybridized substituent on the carbon undergoing substitution)8–13 to include unactivated electrophiles. In the presence of three ligands and light, two distinct copper catalysts combine to produce enantioenriched secondary amides from racemic alkyl electrophiles and primary amide nucleophiles.
The Corynebacterium diphtheriae HbpA Hemoglobin-Binding Protein Contains a Domain That Is Critical for Hemoprotein Binding, Cellular Localization, and Function.

The acquisition of hemin-iron from hemoglobin-haptoglobin (Hb-Hp) by Corynebacterium diphtheriae requires the iron-regulated surface proteins HtaA, ChtA, ChtC, and the recently identified Hb-Hp binding protein HbpA. We previously showed that a purified form of HbpA (HbpA-S), lacking the C-terminal region, was able to bind Hb-Hp. In this study, we show that the C-terminal region of HbpA significantly enhances binding to Hb-Hp. A purified form of HbpA that includes the C-terminal domain (HbpA-FL) exhibits much stronger binding to Hb-Hp than HbpA-S. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) showed that HbpA-FL as well as HtaA-FL, ChtA-FL, and ChtC-FL exist as high molecular weight complexes, while HbpA-S is present as a monomer, indicating that the C-terminal region is required for formation of large aggregates. Growth studies showed that expression of HbpA-FL in the ΔhbpA mutant restored wild-type levels of growth in low-iron medium that contained Hb-Hp as the sole iron source, while HbpA-S failed to complement the ΔhbpA mutant. Protein localization studies in C. diphtheriae showed that HbpA-FL is present in both in the supernatant and in the membrane fractions, and that the C-terminal region is required for membrane anchoring. Purified HbpA-FL was able to enhance growth of the ΔhbpA mutant when added to culture medium that contained Hb-Hp as a sole iron source, suggesting that secreted HbpA is involved in the use of hemin-iron from Hb-Hp. These studies extend our understanding of this novel Hb-Hp binding protein in this important human pathogen. IMPORTANCE Hemoproteins, such as Hb, are an abundant source of iron in humans and are proposed to be required by numerous pathogens to cause disease. In this report, we expand on our previous studies in further defining the role of HbpA in hemin-iron acquisition in C. diphtheriae. HbpA is unique to C. diphtheriae, and appears to function unlike any previously described bacterial iron-regulated Hb- or Hb-Hp-binding protein. HbpA is both secreted and present in the membrane, and exists as a large aggregate that enhances its ability to bind Hb-Hp and promote hemin-iron uptake. Current studies with HbpA will increase our understanding of iron transport systems in C. diphtheriae.
Psychopathic traits in the context of paid erotic services and sex exchange among college students.

Scholars have begun to explore college student engagement in erotic services (e.g., pornography, escort); however, few studies in the United States have examined the prevalence of erotic service involvement among college students and which personality traits are associated with such engagement. This study examined the relevance of gender and psychopathic traits, above the influence of substance use, for understanding erotic service involvement in men and women college students. A total of 1,250 undergraduate students (800 women) completed the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale-III and Erotic Activity Questionnaire. Men and women, respectively, endorsed low-moderate provision levels (12.25% and 11.00%) and moderate-high consumption levels (44.17% and 26.16%) of erotic services and/or sex exchange. Impulsive-antisocial psychopathic traits were related to erotic service provision. In contrast, participants high on both interpersonal-affective and impulsive-antisocial factors of psychopathy were most likely to consume services. These relations did not change when adjusting for substance use. Lastly, although associations between psychopathic traits and provision were not dependent on gender, the interpersonal-affective traits were associated with increased consumption of physical contact services in women, whereas consumption was similar in men across levels of these traits. Results inform college student involvement in erotic services and highlight personality correlates of engagement in understanding risks and benefits. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Internal Transmission of Information

Most biological processes require the coordination of activities at multiple locations. Thus, the activity of an individual cell usually occurs in coordination with the activity of other cells and larger assemblages of cells generally require compensation or support from other multicellular structures. This type of interrelated activity requires either direct communication among the participating units or common receipt of related signals from a controlling structure. This chapter is concerned with the variety of means of communication among separate parts of animals.
REMOVAL OF HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION FROM PEANUT SKIN EXTRACTS BY WASTE BIOMASS ADSORPTION

Peanut skins are a processing waste product with potential as a low-cost source of polyphenols for nutraceutical or functional food ingredient use. Aqueous extractions of peanut skins and subsequent concentration of these extracts can result in normally innocuous levels of heavy metals present to be increased to concentrations of human health concern. Adsorption utilizing waste biomasses is a promising method of removing these contaminants from extracts. Peanut hulls and chitosan cross-linked beads were evaluated as possible adsorbents. The Langmuir adsorption model determined that peanut hulls were the more effective material. Peanut hulls removed 88.6 ± 1.9% of the cadmium present. Apparent removal of arsenic (21.7 ± 9.5%) showed no correlation to adsorbent dosage. Successful removal of cadmium without reduction of the phenolic content of the extracts showed that this strategy is effective for heavy metal remediation of peanut skin extracts, making them a viable source of antioxidants in food applications. Practical Applications Polyphenols are a rapidly increasing portion of the nutraceutical and functional food marketplace. Peanut skins are a waste product from the peanut blanching and roasting industry which have potential as a low-cost source of polyphenols. Extraction and concentration of peanut skin extracts can cause normally innocuous levels of the heavy metal content to be increased to concentrations of concern. Adsorption utilizing waste biomasses is a promising method of removing contaminants from extracts. The present study developed peanut hulls as a possible adsorbent material for the remediation of peanut skin extracts. The results of this study will be useful to peanut growers and shellers to develop new ingredient applications for peanut skin polyphenol extracts.
Geometric Compression of Orientation Signals for Fast Gesture Analysis

This paper concerns itself with compression strategies for orientation signals, seen as signals evolving on the space of quaternion's. The compression techniques extend classical signal approximation strategies used in data mining, by explicitly taking into account the quotient-space properties of the quaternion space. The approximation techniques are applied to the case of human gesture recognition from cell phone-based orientation sensors. Results indicate that the proposed approach results in high recognition accuracies, with low storage requirements, with the geometric computations providing added robustness than classical vector-space computations.
Photoaffinity labeling of peptide hormone binding sites.

Abstract The known binding of a derivative of the COOH-terminal tetrapeptide of gastrin with high biological activity to bovine serum albumin suggests a convenient model system for testing the affinity labeling of hormone binding sites. Photolysis of 4-azidobenzoylpentagastrin, 2-nitro-5-azidobenzoylpentagastrin, 4-acetylbenzoylpentagastrin, and 4-benzoylbenzoylpentagastrin in the presence of bovine serum albumin attaches each peptide derivative covalently to the protein to the extent of 50 mole % using a 3-fold excess of peptide and moderate photolysis times. Under similar conditions using lysozyme for the protein, only 8 mole % peptide is bound. Oleic acid was found to compete for the binding sites on serum albumin. When serum albumin labeled with 4-azidobenzoylpentagastrin was split with cyanogen bromide most of the label was found on two of the peptides located in the middle of the albumin chain. A degree of specificity is thus indicated. These results suggest that the peptide derivatives should be capable of labeling their binding sites on tissue which is stimulated by the hormones gastrin and pancreozymin. In addition, the model photoreactions of acetophenone and benzophenone with glycine were investigated and the photoaddition products isolated. The results of these model reactions and the successful labeling of albumin with ketone derivatives of pentagastrin suggest that ketones may be useful photoaffinity probes.
Helium-3 Behavior in Some Nickel-Based Amorphous Alloys

AbstractHelium trapping and release are studied for the nickel-rich amorphous alloys Ni75.1 Cr14.0-P10.1C0.08, Ni63.5Zr36.5, and Ni87.7P12.3. Helium-3 is introduced into the samples by implantation at 150-keV energy. The depth distribution of the implanted helium is observed by neutron depth profiling employing the reaction 3He(n, p)3H. Two implantation doses are used: 1 × 1016 and 5 × 1016 3He/cm. Both implantation doses were chosen to be low enough to avoid blistering or flaking of the surface of the samples. The helium release behavior of the samples is studied by taking depth profiles after each annealing stage. At the same time, electron diffraction is used on parallel samples to observe the microstructure of the samples as a function of annealing. The annealing sequence for each material is broken off when electron diffraction indicated the existence of relatively large crystals in a sample. Only a small fraction of the implanted helium is released in most cases, and a clear correlation between heli...
Cyclic nucleotides and contractility in human and sheep umbilical arteries

Abstract Strips of human umbilical artery (HUA) and sheep umbilical artery (SUA) were freeze-clamped at selected times during drug-induced contraction or relaxation. Tissue concentrations of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP were measured. 5-Hydrpxytryptamine (10 μM) contracted HUA and SUA, but had no detectable effect on cyclic GMP; cyclic AMP rose in SUA (but not in HUA) after contractions had begun. Histamine (4 gmM) elevated cyclic GMP in HUA with a time course that lagged behind contraction. Prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 ), PGE 2 and PGF 2α (2.8 μM with 0.1 % v/v ethanol) contracted HUA and decreased cyclic GMP. Nitroglycerin (3 μM) relaxed KCl-contracted HUA; this relaxation was preceded by an initial 29-fold elevation of cyclic GMP. Our data shows no consistent correlation of cyclic nucleotide changes with contraction of unbilical arteries and suggest that such changes are not essential for contraction of vascular smooth muscle. In contrast, the temporal relationship between cyclic GMP elevation and relaxation induced by nitroglycerin suggests a possible role for cyclic GMP.
Carbon Nanotube-Tipped Endoscope for In Situ Intracellular Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Gold nanoparticle-decorated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are used to study intracellular environments in situ using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). CNTs are decorated with gold nanoparticles and assembled onto the tips of pulled glass capillaries to form a SERS-enabled endoscope. The sub-micrometer size and high mechanical strength of the endoscope make it possible to penetrate the cell membrane for intracellular probing and remain positioned inside during lengthy SERS measurements without causing damage to the cell. Using the SERS-enabled endoscope, DNA and other biomolecules are detected in situ within the nucleus of a single human cervical carcinoma cell in a minimally invasive manner. The SERS-enabled endoscopes exhibit high selectivity and sensitivity for detecting trace amounts of analytes (≈1 pM) in biofluid environments, highlighting their capabilities as label-free, biological sensors for real-time in situ cellular diagnostics, biological detection, and pharmaceutical research.
Solvatochromic Probe Behavior within Ternary Room-Temperature Ionic Liquid 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Hexafluorophosphate + Ethanol + Water Solutions

The solvatochromic probe behavior within ternary BMIMPF6 + ethanol + water systems were investigated using four solvatochromic probes: pyrene, 1,3-bis(1-pyrenyl)propane, 1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde, an...
Immunization of newborns of HBsag- positive mothers: A successful first step in control of hepatitis B virus in Taiwan

To combat hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Taiwan, a mass immunoprophylaxis program was launched on July 1, 1984, aiming first at prevention of chronic HBV carriage from perinatal mother-to-infant infection. In the first 15-month period, 352721 (78%) of 450585 pregnant women were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg); HBsAg was present in 62359 (18%), with 50% of them categorized as highly infectious. Infants born to HBsAg-positive women were given 5 μg of a plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine at ages 1, 5, and 9 weeks, with a booster at age 12 months. Infants of highly infectious carrier mothers recived an additional 0.5 mL of hepatitis B immune globulin within 24 hours after birth. The coverage rate of the hepatitis B immune globulin was 77% in 27375 infants born to highly infectious mothers, and that of the first, second, third, and the fourth doses of vaccine was 88%, 86%, 84%, and 71%, respectively, in infants of 55620 carrier mothers. The reported untoward reactions to immunization were negligible. We conclude that a mass hepatitis B vaccination program is feasible in hyperendemic areas such as Taiwan; this should be a significant step toward the effective control of HBV infection in these areas. To evaluate the efficacy of the mass hepatitis B vaccination program in Taiwan in interrupting perinatal hepatitis B virus transmission, 3464 randomly selected 18-month-old infant vaccinees born to hepatitis B surface antigen-carrier mothers were recruited from 9697 eligible infants during a six-month period of the program. They were divided into ten groups according to maternal in-fectivity and compliance with the vaccination schedule. Serum samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen, and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. In 786 infants who had highly infectious mothers and who received hepatitis B immune globulin and vaccine on schedule, the protective efficacy was about 85%. The efficacy seemed to be slightly lower in those immunized off schedule. Overall, 11% of infants still carried hepatitis B surface antigen, and 81% of the infants had antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen that exceeded 10 mlU/ mL in more than 90% of them. The geometric mean titers of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen were more than 200 mlU/mL in every group of infants. We conclude that the mass vaccination program is efficacious in preventing perinatal hepatitis B virus transmission and the chronic carrier state; most infant vaccinees have adequate levels of protective antibody at 18 months of age. This program is extremely significant in the control of hepatitis B virus infection in Taiwan.
Measurement of the Triple Scattering Parameter R' in Proton-Proton Scattering at 137 1/2 MeV

The proton-proton triple scattering parameter ${R}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ has been measured at a laboratory energy of 137\textonehalf{} MeV over a range of scattering angles ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{2}$. The following values were obtained: ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{2}(\mathrm{laboratory})=20\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}{50}^{\ensuremath{'}}, 0.562\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.052; 25\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}{26}^{\ensuremath{'}}, 0.472\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.054; 30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}{8}^{\ensuremath{'}}, 0.375\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.068; 35\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}{16}^{\ensuremath{'}}, 0.238\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.084; 39\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}{55}^{\ensuremath{'}}, 0.251\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.121$. The stated errors include a 5% error in ${R}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ which is systematic from angle to angle. This has been combined quadratically with the other errors.
X-Ray, Optical, and Infrared Imaging and Spectral Properties of the 1 Ms Chandra Deep Field North Sources

We present the optical, near-infrared, submillimeter, and radio follow-up catalog of the X-ray–selected sources from an ≈1 Ms Chandra observation of the Hubble Deep Field North region. We have B, V, R, I, and z' magnitudes for the 370 X-ray point sources, HK' magnitudes for 276, and spectroscopic redshifts for 182. We present high-quality spectra for 175 of these. The redshift distribution shows indications of structures at z = 0.843 and 1.0175 (also detected in optical surveys), which could account for a part of the field-to-field variation seen in the X-ray number counts; however, these structures do not dominate the number of X-ray sources in the sample and hence should not strongly affect the redshift distribution. All of the X-ray sources with z > 1.6 are either broad-line active galactic nuclei (AGNs) or have narrow Lyα and/or C III] 1909 A emission; none of the known z > 1.6 absorption-line galaxies in the field are detected individually in X-rays. We estimate photometric redshifts for the sources with (B-I) > 1.5 (bluer than this and it is hard to distinguish between low-redshift irregulars and luminous high-redshift AGNs) and find agreement (most are within 25%) with the available spectroscopic redshifts. The majority of the galaxies in both the 2–8 keV (hard) and 0.5–2 keV (soft) samples have absolute magnitudes comparable to or more luminous than M = -22. The flux contributions separated into unit bins of redshift show that the z < 1 spectroscopically identified sources already contribute about one-third of the total flux in both the hard and soft bands. Thus, major accretion onto supermassive black holes has occurred since the universe was half its present age. We find from ratios of the X-ray counts that the X-ray spectra are well described by absorption of an intrinsic Γ = 1.8 power law, with NH values ranging from about 1021 cm-2 to 5 × 1023 cm-2. We find very little evolution in the maximum rest-frame opacity-corrected and K-corrected 2–8 keV X-ray luminosities with decreasing redshift until z 0.5, where the volume becomes too small to probe effectively very high luminosity sources. We estimate that the Chandra sources that produce 87% of the HEAO A X-ray background (XRB) at 3 keV produce 57% at 20 keV, provided that at high energies the spectral shape of the sources continues to be well described by a Γ = 1.8 power law. However, when the Chandra contributions are renormalized to the BeppoSAX XRB at 3 keV, the shape matches fairly well the observed XRB at both energies. Thus, whether a substantial population of as yet undetected Compton-thick sources or some change in the spectral shape of the current sources from the simple power-law dependence is required to completely resolve the XRB above 10 keV depends critically on how the currently discrepant XRB measurements in the 1-10 keV energy range tie together with the higher energy XRB.
Risk factors for thyroid cancer.

Abstract The potential risk factors for thyroid carcinoma development include genetic predisposition, exposure to therapeutic or environmental ionizing radiation, residence in areas of iodine deficiency or excess, history of preexisting benign thyroid disease, as well as hormonal and reproductive factors. In this review, we analyze some of the epidemiological data, as well as the possible molecular mechanisms by which certain environmental and genetic factors might predispose to thyroid tumorigenesis. © 1997, Elsevier Science Inc. (Trends Endocrinol Metab 1997; 8:20–25).
Fire Season and Prairie Forb Richness in a 21-y Experiment

An experimental restoration in Wisconsin planted in 1986 tested the hypothesis that growing-season fire maintained richness of native herbaceous dicots (forbs). Replicated plantings were burned in May or July, or left unburned, every third year from 1989 to 2004 and monitored for differences in cover and richness through 2006. Native forb richness was higher in burned than unburned plots, with greatest richness following July burns. Two seasons after the 2004 fires, counts averaged 2 more native forb species in replicates burned in July than those burned in May and 4 more species in replicates burned in July than those left unburned. The strongest statistical response to fire season was higher richness of early-flowering species in replicates burned in July, largely attributable to early-flowering forbs planted in 1986 that persisted better after July burns than in other treatments. Spring fire increased cover of late-flowering C4 grasses. As of 2006, C4 grasses accounted for 76% cover after May fires, 52% after July fires, and 39% in unburned plots. Replicates burned in July held more alien species for the first 12 y, after which alien richness declined and differences among treatments disappeared. Summer fire best maintained richness of native, especially early-flowering, species.