cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TP53 variant allelic frequency is associated with differential outcomes in endometrial cancer

Objectives: Endometrial cancers with TP53 mutations (mTP53) are a poor prognosis group, most often comprised of high-grade carcinomas with high somatic copy number alterations (sCNA). A recent sub-analysis of PORTEC-3 demonstrated that patients with TP53 mutant tumors, based on immunohistochemistry, benefit from treatment escalation with systemic chemotherapy. Herein we demonstrate that outcomes may vary dependent on variant allelic frequency (VAF) of TP53 missense mutations, not just the presence of a mutation alone. Methods: De-identified clinical data from the TCGA endometrial cancer cohort was obtained via cbioportal.org. Only patients with information regarding stage, histology, somatic copy-number burden, TP53 sequencing with variant allelic frequency, and exposure to RT were included. Patients with multiple TP53 alterations and stage IV disease were excluded from the analysis. T-test was performed to test for differences in sCNA burden, age, and stage between groups. Kaplan-Meieir analyses were performed to determine progression free survival (PFS) on each cohort, stratified into a VAF high or low using a 0.5 cutoff. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios. Download : Download high-res image (131KB) Download : Download full-size image Results: In total, 389 had genomic and treatment data available for analysis. Of these, 133 (34%) had a TP53 missense mutation. The average age was 64 years, with no significant difference between the RT and not RT groups (p=0.3). The mean sCNA for the RT and no RT, groups were 0.19 and 0.18, respectively (p=0.65). When analyzing the impact of TP53 status on PFS, mTP53 patients who did not receive RT had worse outcomes compared to wild-type TP53 (HR 3.5 [1.8-6.9], p Conclusions: This data highlights that TP53 VAF is a valuable prognostic marker and may be predictive of poor outcomes after radiotherapy alone. Residual wild-type p53 signaling in tumors with a low VAF may help explain outcomes similar to wild-type tumors. This genomic signal could help stratify patients with mTP53 tumors to multimodal therapy or de-escalation of therapy to radiotherapy alone. Further work remains to be done to determine a functional and biologic explanation for these findings.
A novel method of cooling a semiconductor device through a jet impingement thermal management system: CFD modeling and experimental evaluation

Abstract This study investigates the viability of a liquid jet-impingement (JI) thermal management system (TMS). The JI-TMS was used as a heat dissipation tactic to ensure a silicon semiconductor-based pulse-power device’s temperature was maintained below 80 °C during operation. The JI-TMS’s design, which is comprised of 27 nozzles (1 mm nozzle diameter), is analyzed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, with 100 W of average power (i.e., heat generation rate). The heat transfer fluid (HTF) is pure silicone fluid with a viscosity of 20 cSt. The selected HTF has the dielectric constant which provides better electrical insulation than other common HTFs (water, water–glycol, etc.). Validation of the model was performed experimentally to ensure the accuracy of the CFD results. The results show that device’s temperature is maintained well below the maximum desired operating temperature (57.5 °C when using 0.06 kg s ), showing average difference of 5.89% between numerical and experimental data. To better understand the achieved error, heat capacity analysis of the HTF was investigated with differential scanning calorimeter which shows an average deviation of 13.12% with the reported vendor value. The results from this study can be a benchmark for cooling purposes of semiconductor devices in high power densities.
Speaking Up on Black Lives Matter: A Comparative Study of Consumer Reactions toward Brand and Influencer-Generated Corporate Social Responsibility Messages

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement ignited divergent social media reactions and conversations. Addressing the importance of message sources, this study aims to (1) compare audience reactions tow...
The alkaline component of gastric secretion.

In the paper by Doctors Glass and Boyd appearing in this issue of Gastroenterologyl, entitled Present Concept of the "Alkaline Constituent" of the Gastric Juice, the authors sketch the history of this concept, beginning with the original Pavlov theory which ascribes the acidity variations in gastric juice to admixture of the acid parietal secretion with mucus alone. In the course of this review they give particular attention to my modification of this theory, presented in several papers between 1932 and 1950, in which I employed the term, alkaline component of the gastric juice2, to designate the non-acid agent which accounts for the variations in neutral and total chloride concentration as well as acidity. They also cite numerous other investigators who have contributed support to this concept, with or without some modification. Following this historical introduction, Glass and Boyd state that their own data, published separately,S
Observation of strong oscillations in an expanding plasma

Summary form only. Strong oscillations (f/sub peak/ equivalent to 200 kHz) of plasma potential ( Delta Phi /kT/sub e/ approximately=2-4) and density ( Delta n/n approximately=0.2-0.5) have been observed in a two-electron-population plasma (f/sub pi/ approximately=1 MHz) which is expanding into vacuum along an external magnetic field (B approximately=0-50 G). During the expansion, ions are accelerated to very high energies (M/sub i/ nu /sup 2//2>or approximately=110 eV). The oscillations, which vanish in the absence of the magnetic field, increase in amplitude and frequency with an increase in the magnetic field and saturate at B approximately=35 G. Preliminary observations indicate that the oscillations exist only in the presence of a cross-field electric field that develops self-consistently. The magnitude (0-2 V/cm) and direction of the electric field are sensitive functions of background neutral pressure and the magnetic field. A two-probe correlations measurement has been performed to determine the wave number of the dominant mode in the observed oscillations. Initial results indicate that the correlation lengths are very long (l>10 cm) along the magnetic field and relatively short (l approximately=1 cm) in the azimuthal direction. >
Simultaneous State Observability and Parameters Identifiability of Discrete Stochastic Linear Systems

A new representation of discrete stochastic linear time-invariant systems is presented. This representation generalizes in a rigorous way the concept of observability to parameters identifiability. The state of the augmented system is a combination of the state of the orginal system and the unknown parameters. It is shown that simultaneous state observability and parameters identifiability of linear time-invariant system is an observability problem of an augmented linear time-variant system. It is shown that the well known results derived by Least Squares(LS) algorithms evolve as a special case of the new representation. The representation yields necessary and sufficient conditions on the simultaneous state observability and parameters identifiability. Sufficient conditions derived from the necessary and sufficient conditions are weaker than the well known persistent excitation conditions in the existing least squares schemes. These conditions apply to estimation in open and closed loop without further restrictions. This reestablishes the well known results for identification in closed loop. The observability analysis enables generalization of similar results for nonlinear time-varying feedback. Simulation results demonstrate the performance of estimation with this new approach.
Ultrasound-guided pO2 measurement in breast cancer patients before and after hyperthermia treatment

The significance of tumor hypoxia extends beyond conventional radiation resistance. It has been found that tumor hypoxia affects drug resistance, angiognesis, cytokine production, cell cycle control, apoptosis and development of distant metastases. Recently, it has been reported that hyperthermia improves tumor oxygenation in both canine as well as human soft tissue sarcoma. This study describes a new optimized technique for pO2 measurement in breast cancer patients using ultrasound-guided placement of Eppendorf polarographic oxygen probes. Locally advanced breast cancer patients, participating in a phaseI/II study of neoadjuvant liposomal doxorubicin/paclitaxel/hyperthermia treatment, were the subjects of this study. Tumor oxygenation was measured before and 24 h after hyperthermia treatment.Advantages of the ultrasound-guided pO2 probe placement are the following: accuracy with visualization and verification of the Eppendorf electrode placement in tumor tissue; monitoring of the electrode movement through the tumor tissue during the measurement; ability to avoid electrode placement near or in large blood vessels by using color Doppler imaging; and spatial reproducibility of the second measurement. Despite progress in the technology that can be used to measure tumor hypoxia, accurate and verifiable placement of the oxygen probes in tumor tissue is of tremendous importance. Ultrasound-guided pO2 probe placement should become standard technique to improve accuracy and reliability in the assessment of tumor oxygenation for disease sites in which it is appropriate. Supported by a grant from the NIH CA42745.
Asbestos-induced alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis: role of mitochondrial dysfunction caused by iron-derived free radicals.

Asbestos causes asbestosis and malignancies by mechanisms that are not fully understood. Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) injury by iron-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one important mechanism implicated. We previously showed that iron-catalyzed ROS in part mediate asbestos-induced AEC DNA damage and apoptosis. Mitochondria have a critical role in regulating apoptosis after exposure to agents causing DNA damage but their role in regulating asbestos-induced apoptosis is unknown. To determine whether asbestos causes AEC mitochondrial dysfunction, we exposed A549 cells to amosite asbestos and assessed mitochondrial membrane potential changes (ΔΨm) using a fluorometric technique involving tetremethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) and mitotracker green. We show that amosite asbestos, but not an inert particulate, titanium dioxide, reduces ΔΨm after a 4 h exposure period. Further, the ΔΨm after 4 h was inversely proportional to the levels of apoptosis noted at 24 h as assessed by nuclear morphology as well as by DNA nucleosome formation. A role for iron-derived ROS was suggested by the finding that phytic acid, an iron chelator, blocked asbestos-induced reductions in A549 cell ΔΨm and attenuated apoptosis. Finally, overexpression of Bcl-xl, an anti-apoptotic protein that localizes to the mitochondria, prevented asbestos-induced decreases in A549 cell ΔΨm after 4 h and diminished apoptosis. We conclude that asbestos alters AEC mitochondrial function in part by generating iron-derived ROS, which in turn can result in apoptosis. This suggests that the mitochondrial death pathway is important in regulating pulmonary toxicity from asbestos.
Mechanism of Autolysis of Isolated Cell Walls of Staphylococcus aureus

Autolysis of isolated cell walls of Staphylococcus aureus strain Copenhagen was accompanied by the release of 1 mole of N-terminal alanine per mole of glutamic acid. No other N-terminal amino acids and no C-terminal amino acids were released. These observations indicated that complete hydrolysis of N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine linkages ("amidase" action) had occurred. This was confirmed by fractionation and analysis of the products. Hydrolysis of 4-O-beta-N-acetylglucosaminyl-N-acetylmuramic acid linkages also occurred to a variable extent; on one occasion, complete degradation to disaccharides and hexosamine-free polypeptides (with intact pentaglycine cross-bridges) occurred. In one other instance, hydrolysis within pentaglycine bridges also occurred. Analyses of intact cell walls indicated that, in vivo, glycine endopeptidase activity was negligible and amidase activity was low, but that endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase hydrolysed about 8% of the N-acetylglucosaminyl-N-acetylmuramic acid linkages. Autolysis of isolated cell walls was too slow for the enzymes isolated with them to have significant action during this isolation. The possible functions of these autolytic activities are discussed.
Inequalities of Hardy–Sobolev Type in Carnot–Carathéodory Spaces

We consider various types of Hardy-Sobolev inequalities on a Carnot-Carath\'eodory space $(\Om, d)$ associated to a system of smooth vector fields $X=\{X_1, X_2,...,X_m\}$ on $\RR^n$ satisfying the H\"ormander's finite rank condition $rank Lie[X_1,...,X_m] \equiv n$. One of our main concerns is the trace inequality \int_{\Om}|\phi(x)|^{p}V(x)dx\leq C\int_{\Om}|X\phi|^{p}dx,\qquad \phi\in C^{\infty}_{0}(\Om), where $V$ is a general weight, i.e., a nonnegative locally integrable function on $\Om$, and $1<p<+\infty$. Under sharp geometric assumptions on the domain $\Om\subset \Rn$ that can be measured equivalently in terms of subelliptic capacities or Hausdorff contents, we establish various forms of Hardy-Sobolev type inequalities.
Neurotrophic control of events in injured forelimbs of larval urodeles

Denervated forelimbs and contralateral innervated forelimbs of Ambystoma larvae were injured internally distal to the elbow by compression with watchmaker9s forceps. Innervated controls completely repaired the crush injury within one week; denervated limbs failed to repair the injury and exhibited varying degrees of limb regression. Histological examination revealed that the process of tissue dedifferentiation initiated by injury was more extensive in denervated, regressing limbs than in controls. In innervated limbs, both the DNA labelling index and the mitotic index peaked approximately 4–6 days after the injury and returned to baseline levels by 10 days. In denervated limbs, the DNA labelling index also increased and remained at an elevated level for at least 2 weeks after the injury, but significant mitotic activity was not observed. The data indicate that intact nerves are not needed for cellular dedifferentiation, cell cycle re-entry, and DNA synthesis in injured limbs, but are required for the cells to proliferate and repair the injury. These results are discussed together with those of similar experiments on the role of nerves during the initiation of epimorphic regeneration in amputated limbs.
Japan's Approach to Peacebuilding in Afghanistan: Money, Diplomacy and the Challenges of Effective Assistance

Japan has been a principal player in international assistance to Afghanistan, ranked second only to the United States in its overall financial assistance disbursed since 2002. This article places a...
Stimulus Duration and Visual Processing Time

Summary.-This study investigated the effect of small changes in tachistoscopic exposure of target stimuli on the length of interstimulus interval required to eliminate the masking effect of a subsequent stimulus. This interstimulus interval, termed the Critical ISI, is regarded as the perceptual processing time for the target. At target exposures near the 90% recognition threshold, each 2 msec. increase in target exposure reduced the criucal IS1 by 30 msec. This paper describes findings in a study in which the technique of backward masking is used to determine 'the time required for the recognition of a verbal image in iconic storage. Sperling (1967), Liss (1968), and Haber (1970) are among those who hold that the masking figure cuts short rhe processing of the preceding target. In the present study it is proposed that the time required for the processing of a written word can be measured by determining the inter-stimulus interval beyond which a masking pattern no longer reduces the recognition of the stimulus (Critical ISI). In particular, the question asked is whether varying the duration of a suprathreshold tachistoscopic stimulus influences the values of the Critical ISI. This problem was first explored by Kinsbourne and Warrington (1962), who reported that there was an interaction between target-exposure duration, mask duration, and critical ISI, such that with mask duration controlled, the product of target duration and critical IS1 is constant. In their study, the Critical IS1 was the first ISI, in an ascending series, for which S could report the target letter correctly. Only one trial was given in each condition to any S. Their finding can be restated as meaning that, within the range of exposures studied, processing time is inversely proportional to exposure duration. Kinsbourne and Warrington's results were recently replicated by Turvey ( 1970, unpublished). Haber (1970) and Haber and Nathanson (1969) describe results which conflict with the foregoing. In their study, letters were presented in succession in precisely the same location, so that each letter served to interrupt the processing of the preceding one. The 'on' time for each letter and the 'off' time between letters were independently varied, with the result that letter recognition was found to be a function only of the total interval between letters (i.e., 'on' plus 'off' time) and independent of the 'on' time alone. This finding suggests a model for visual perception in which, once a stimulus of suprathreshold duration is presented, its recognition requires a fixed period of time, regardless of 'Supported in part by NINDS Grants NS 07615 to Clark University and NS 06209 to
Surface Energy Fluxes of Arctic Winter Sea Ice in Barrow Strait

Abstract The surface energy balance of sea ice was measured during degree one-week periods in November, January, and February of 198081 in the Barrow Strait, Northwest Territories, Canada. Turbulent fluxes were derived with the bulk aerodynamic transfer method, using temperature, dewpoint, and wind speed profile measurements. The conductive heat flux was balanced by the sensible and latent heat fluxes, and by the radiative fluxes for all three measuring periods. In November, when there was a mean ice thickness of 0.32 m, approximately 80%, ±6% of the conductive heat flux (− 129 W m−2) was dissipated by the sensible heat flux (108 W m−2), approximately 20% ± 8% of the energy was lost by longwave radiation (30 W m−2), and the latent heat flux (6 W m−2) accounted for 4% of the total surface energy balance. Ice growth rates could be predicted for young ice with an accuracy of 10%, based on conductive flux measurements. Brine-wetted snow on sea ice increased the conductive heat flux to two Lorries that of pur...
Tryptophan hydroxylase and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase activities in the tissues of adult Ascaris suum.

Abstract Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) has been shown to modulate carbohydrate metabolism in adult female Ascaris suum. Two enzymes, l -tryptophan hydroxylase (TOH) and aromatic l -amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), which are responsible for the biosynthesis of 5-HT in mammalian systems, were demonstrated in isolated muscle and intestinal tissue of adult female A. suum. The specific activities of TOH in muscle and intestine were 0.22 nmol min−1 g−1 and 1.48 nmol min−1 g−1, respectively. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) and maximum initial velocity (Vmax) of TOH for l -tryptophan (TRP) in the intestine were found to be 21.50 μm and 2.30 nmol min−1 g−1, respectively. The specific activities of AADC in the isolated muscle and intestinal tissues were 1.64 nmol mm−1 g−1 and 5.72 nmol min−1 g−1, respectively. The apparent Km and Vmax of the muscle AADC for l -5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) were 10 μM and 3.40 nmol min−1 g−1. The apparent Km and Vmax of the intestinal AADC for 5-HTP were 1.08 μ M and 14.50 nmol min−1 g−1, respectively. The apparent inhibitor constant (Ki) of TOH for p-chlorophenylalanine, an inhibitor of mammalian TOH activity, in isolated intestine of A. suum was 1.72 mM. The TOH activity from A. suum intestine was inactivated upon exposure to oxygen and this inactivation could be partially reversed by anaerobic incubation in the presence of dithiothreitol and ferrous sulfide at 25 ° C. Collectively, the data demonstrated the presence of TOH and AADC activities in adult A. suum isolated muscle and intestinal tissues.
Reflectance spectral characterization and mineralogy of acid sulphate soil in subsurface using hyperspectral data

Abstract Acid sulphate soil (ASS) is a kind of soil which is harmful to the environment. ASS is hard to efficiently assess efficiently in the subsurface, although it is detectable on the surface by remote sensing. This paper aims to explore a new way to rapidly assess ASS in the subsurface by introducing a proximal hyperspectral instrument, namely the Hylogger™ system which can rapidly scan soil cores and provide high resolution hyperspectral data. Some minerals in ASS, which usually act as indicators of the severity of ASS, such as iron oxides, hydroxides, and sulphates, as well as some clay minerals, such as kaolinite, have diagnostic spectral absorption features in the reflectance spectral range (4002500 nm). Soil cores were collected from a study area and hyperspectral data were acquired by Hylogger™ scanning. The main minerals related to ASS were characterized spectrally, and were subsequently identified and mapped in the soil cores based on their reflectance spectral characteristics. Traditional X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were also applied to verify the results of the mineral identification. The main results of this study include the spectral characterisation of ASS and its main compositional minerals, as well as the distribution of these relevant minerals in different depth of cores.
Transfection of human ovarian cancer cells with the HER-2/neu receptor tyrosine kinase induces a selective increase in PTP-H1, PTP-1B, and PTP-α expression

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation is a key regulator of cell growth regulation and, when aberrant, is linked with the process of oncogenic transformation. Since tyrosine phosphatases (PTP) reverse phosphorylation mediated by tyrosine kinases (PTK), it has been hypothesized, but insufficiently studied to date, that PTPs function as tumor suppressors. Alternatively, PTPs may augment signal transduction by repriming substrates. To begin to assess the role of PTPs in ovarian cancer cell growth regulation, PTP partial cDNAs were cloned from the OVCA 433 ovarian cancer cell line using RT/PCR and degenerate oligonucleotide primers for the PTP consensus domain. Thirteen partial cDNAs were isolated, the sequences of which, when compared to GenBank, suggested that they were derived from PTP family members. These included PTP-alpha, PTP-gamma, LAR, PTP-delta, T-cell PTP, PTP-2A(1D), PTP-1B, PTP-1C, PTP-H1, PTP-PEST, PTP-Gallus, and two isolates which potentially represent novel PTPs. Steady-state expression analyses revealed that PTP-1B expression was undetectable in normal epithelium but was expressed in four of five ovarian cancer cell lines. In contrast, the expression of two SH2-containing PTPs, PTP-1C and PTP-2A, was detected in the normal ovarian epithelium but lost from one or more ovarian cancer cell lines. Finally, PTP-1B, PTP-alpha, and PTP-H1 expression was increased following HER-2/neu transfection of ovarian cancer cell lines. These results suggest that both normal ovarian epithelial cells and ovarian cancer cells express multiple PTPs. Further, some PTPs are differentially expressed between normal ovarian epithelium and ovarian cancer cells. Intriguingly, the transfection and increased expression of the prognostically significant HER-2/neu PTK induced a selective increase in the expression of the PTP-alpha, PTP-1B, and PTP-H1 tyrosine phosphatases.
A Unique Copy of Leaves of Grass, 1882

Describes a unique copy of the 1882 Camden "Author's Edition" of Leaves of Grass, inscribed by Whitman to Frances ("Fannie") Taylor (1846-1907) and containing "nine printed poems (from magazines and newspapers) Whitman evidently sent Fannie Taylor."
Neurological complications of organ transplantation

Over the last thirty years, organ transplantation has become a practical treatment option for many otherwise fatal diseases. New immunosuppressive agents, advances in tissue matching, and improvements in surgical technique have increased both the number and type of transplants performed. Kidney, bone marrow, heart, lung, liver, and pancreas transplants are now used regularly in the treatment of end-stage disease. However, these advances have come at a price. Transplant recipients are subject to numerous complications, many of which involve the nervous system. Depending on the type of organ transplanted, 30 to 60% of transplant recipients experience neurological problems. Most neurological complications, especially those related to immunosuppression, are common to all transplant types; other complications are associated predominantly with specific transplant types. This report reviews the general categories of neurological complications as well as the specific problems associated with each kind of transplant.
The use of reciprocal inhibition procedures in the treatment of stuttering

Abstract In this study, a nonfactorial, single-group design was employed to observe what changes (if any) in patients' stuttering would correlate with the application of reciprocal inhibition therapy. Twelve subjects were exposed to at least 10 weeks of this form of treatment. The criteria for selecting stutterers for rehabilitation are described and a brief review of the therapy itself is given. Progress was measured both in and outside of the clinical setting. Results indicated that 75% of the patients exhibited at least some improvement in fluency in association with the application of therapy. These and other findings are discussed relative to certain sub-groups of stutterers found within the parent sample, and with respect to the hypothesis that reciprocal inhibition is an effective means of treating at least some stutterers.
Non-consensus progesterone response elements mediate the progesterone-regulated endometrial expression of the uteroferrin gene

Abstract A 2.0 kilobasepair (kb) fragment encompassing the promoter and 5′ flanking region of the uteroferrin (UF) gene was previously demonstrated to confer progesterone (P) responsiveness to chimeric UF gene promoter-reporter gene constructs when transfected in endometrial cells. In the present study, transient transfection experiments with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene linked to the sequentially deleted UF gene 5′ flanking region and to genomic fragments within this region subcloned into the heterologous SV40 promoter were used to define the progesterone-responsive elements (PRE). The identified PREs are located distal to the promoter in the region between −1754 to −1601 bp and −893 to −678 bp of the UF gene and exhibit only limited similarities to the half-sites of the consensus palindromic PRE. The non-consensus PREs bind the progesterone receptor (PR) and independently exhibit P-dependent enhancer activities within the context of homologous and heterologous promoters in endometrial and placental cell lines. The unique features of these functional PREs suggest that formation of the P-PR complex with its cognate sequences upstream of the UF gene may be less dependent on the sequence per se but may require the binding of nuclear factors proximal to the PRE to stabilize PR-PRE interactions.
Variable Ratio Beam Splitters For High Energy Glass Laser Systems

A multijoule Nd:glass laser system for laser fusion research is currently under construction at the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The twenty-four beam system will consist of hundreds of optical elements. The design of optical components for use in lasers operating in the multikilojoule energy regime must include considerations neglected in more conventional applications. The relevant component design factors include resistance to damage caused by laser radiation, contribution to non-linear phenomena, retardance, beam break-up and loss of focusable energy. This paper describes variable ratio beam splitters that permit flexible balancing of beam line energy content. Several options are considered in light of the relevant design parameters. The result consists of plane plate, coated beamsplitters used in conjunction with half wave retardation plates in the presence of plane polarized light.© (1978) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
K α x-ray satellite and hypersatellite spectra of vanadium metal and oxides excited in heavy-ion collisions

The spectra of vanadium $K\ensuremath{\alpha}$ x rays excited in targets of vanadium metal, VO, ${\mathrm{V}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, and ${\mathrm{V}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{5}$ by $15\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{MeV}∕\mathrm{amu}$ projectiles of Ne, Ar, Kr, Ag, and Ho have been measured with a curved-crystal spectrometer. The spectra were analyzed to extract the relative intensities and energies of $K\ensuremath{\alpha}$ satellites and hypersatellites emitted in the decay of states having single and double $K$ vacancies, respectively, plus additional vacancies in the $L$ shell ranging from zero to seven. The intensity distributions, energies, and hypersatellite to satellite intensity ratios were examined for chemical effects. The parameters of a ``universal'' scaling function were obtained for the description of $K\ensuremath{\alpha}$ x-ray hypersatellite intensity distributions excited by heavy-ion collisions in solid targets.
A giant cystic pheochromocytoma of the adrenal gland

Adrenal pheochromocytomas are rare catecholamine-secreting tumors that originate from chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla, and giant pheochromocytomas with cystic changes are particularly rare. We report a case of a 46-year-old man who presented with episodic hypertension and headache. Radiographic studies showed an 18-cm cystic mass in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen; further workups, which included light microscopy, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic analysis, revealed a pheochromocytoma of the left adrenal gland. Cytogenetic analysis and genetic mutation analyses for von-Hippel–Lindau (VHL), rearranged during transfection (RET), and succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit B (SDHB) genes were also performed but failed to reveal any abnormalities within the tumor cells.
Use of chemometric methodology in optimizing conditions for competitive binding partial filling affinity capillary electrophoresis.

This work expands the knowledge of the use of chemometric response surface methodology (RSM) in optimizing conditions for competitive binding partial filling ACE (PFACE). Specifically, RSM in the form of a Box–Behnken design was implemented in flow-through PFACE (FTPFACE) to effectively predict the significance of injection time, voltage, and neutral ligand (neutral arylsulfonamide) concentration, [Lo], on protein–neutral ligand binding. Statistical analysis results were used to create a model for response surface prediction via contour and surface plots at a given maximum response (ΔRMTR) to reach a targeted Kb = 2.50×106 M−1. The adequacy of the model was then validated by experimental runs at the optimal predicted solution (injection time = 2.3 min, voltage = 11.6 kV, [Lo] = 1.4 μM). The achieved results greatly extend the usefulness of chemometrics in ACE and provide a valuable statistical tool for the study of other receptor–ligand combinations.
Identification and cloning of a novel type I sering / threonine kinase receptor of the TGF-β / BMP superfamily in rat prostate

A cDNA clone encoding a new member of the type I serine/threonine kinase receptors of the TGF-beta/BMP superfamily was isolated from a rat prostate cDNA library. The predicted sequence of the encoded protein is 493 amino acids with a molecular weight of 55 kDa. It contains a putative cysteine rich extracellular domain, a transmembrane domain, a conserved type I receptor GS domain and a cytoplasmic serine/threonine kinase domain. The kinase domain shares 80% homology with that of ALK-4 and ALK-5 whose ligands are activin and TGF-beta. Northern blot analysis revealed that this prostate serine/threonine kinase receptor I (PSKR-I) is highly expressed in rat dorsolateral prostate, coagulating gland (anterior prostate), cerebellum and adipose tissue.
Microgeometry of Pt/mordenite and stereoselectivity of methylcyclopentane ring-opening catalysis

Abstract Preparations of Pt/mordenite and Pt/Y catalysts varying in metal load and proton concentration have been studied. Temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) have been used to characterize the metal species. High-temperature peaks observed in the TPD indicate extremely small, potentially monatomic Pt species. For mordenite, monatomic Pt may reside in the side pockets of main channels. MCP has been used as a probe reactant to determine differences in ring-opening selectivity. The ratio of the ring-opening products 2-MP/3-MP is greater than the statistical and thermodynamic equilibrium value of 2 for low-load Pt/HMor. Mordenite appears to be unique among zeolites, as it permits stabilization of isolated Pt atoms without completely shielding them from potential adsorptives such as MCP.
Selective inhibition by sodium butyrate of the glucocorticoid induction of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase in glial cultures.

Abstract We examined the effect of millimolar concentrations of the short chain fatty acid, n-butyrate, on the induction of two cytoplasmic enzymes in the C6 rat glioma cell line. Hydrocortisone addition to the culture medium produced a 2- to 3.5-fold induction of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase after 24 h, and norepinephrine produced a 2-fold increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity in this time period. Five mM sodium butyrate completely abolished the glucocorticoid-mediated response, while the catecholamine-mediated response was unaffected. This selective inhibition was rapid and reversible, and did not affect the level of cytoplasmic steroid binding. Furthermore, high doses of hydrocortisone did not overcome the inhibition. Finally, this phenomenon was also seen in primary cultures of pure oligodendrocytes.
The role of emotion dysregulation in suicide as considered through the ideation to action framework

Research supports a model in which emotionally dysregulated individuals are more likely to think about suicide and experience proximal risk factors for suicidal ideation (e.g., thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness). The drive to escape aversive affective sensations inherent in emotion dysregulation, however, serves as an obstacle to the capability for suicide. As such, although emotionally dysregulated individuals die by suicide at an elevated rate, the transition from ideation to attempt appears better explained by the tendency of emotionally dysregulated individuals to engage in painful and/or provocative behaviors (e.g., NSSI) capable of elevating the capability for suicide. The relationship between emotion dysregulation and suicide is thus robust but nuanced.
Sensorless Control of PM Synchronous Machines by Physics-Based EMF Observer

A sensorless rotor position estimation and speed control of three-phase radial flux surface-mounted permanent magnet synchronous machine (SMPMSM) is presented. A novel thermoelectric physics-based modeling approach was developed to evaluate more realistic information about the instantaneous behavior of the machine during operation. The extracted information from the physics-based models is employed in the back electromotive force observer. The mathematical modeling, stability, and transient analysis of the observer are developed and described in detail. The sensorless operation of a 0.2-kW SMPMSM was verified numerically and experimentally for medium low, low, and very low speeds at different operational contingencies. The results show that, in spite of significant machine model variations and increased noise level especially at very low speeds, the accuracy of estimated speed and rotor position using the developed observer is acceptable.
Covalent linkage of a synthetic peptide to a fluorescent phospholipid and its incorporation into supported phospholipid monolayers

A number of fluorescent peptide-lipid conjugates have been synthesized. Peptides with ten or eleven amino acids are linked through a single lysine residue to the headgroup of phosphatidylethanolamine, fluorescently labelled on one acyl chain, using homobifunctional disuccinimidyl crosslinking reagents. Peptide-lipids can be further derivatized with the hapten dinitrophenyl. Purified peptide-lipids have been incorporated into dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine monolayers at the interface of air and phosphate-buffered saline, at concentrations of up to 11 mol%. For equal average molecular areas, monolayers containing peptide-lipids have higher surface pressures than pure lipid monolayers; for equal surface pressures, peptide-lipid monolayers have higher average molecular areas than pure lipid monolayers. When the peptide-lipid monolayers are transferred to hydrophobic glass slides, the fluorescence appears uniformly distributed. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching measurements indicate that peptide-lipids diffuse in the monolayer with coefficient 1.5 X 10(-9) cm2/s, which is much smaller than that of typical lipids in fluid membranes. In addition, the diffusion coefficient of peptide-lipids decreases with increasing peptide-lipid concentration. We conclude that the peptide portion of the peptide-lipid associates with the lipid monolayer and/or that peptide-lipids oligomerize.
Fire-induced flow of smoke and hot gases in open vertical enclosures

An experimental study on the flow and heat transfer in open vertical enclosures, representing elevator shafts, warehouses, and atriums, due to a building fire is carried out, using a scale model. Smoke and hot gases are injected into the enclosure at a lower opening and the resulting downstream flow and temperature fields are studied. The inlet temperature and flow rate of the hot gases are varied over wide ranges to simulate the flow due to fire in multi-leveled buildings with vertical open shafts or atriums under natural ventilation. The conditions at the outlet, which is located on the same wall as the inlet, are also monitored to determine the effects of entrainment into the flow and heat transfer to the walls. Typical values of the operating conditions have been investigated, ranging from high buoyancy levels, for which the flow stays close to the vertical wall of the enclosure, to much lower levels, at which the flow enters the enclosure with a significant flow velocity and spreads outward very quickly. With increasing temperature at the inlet, the buoyancy effect is larger, resulting in higher velocities and shorter time to reach the top. The measured temperature at the outlet depends on heat transfer to the walls as well as on the flow velocity. Detailed measurements of the velocity and temperature fields have also been taken. It is found that a wall plume is generated which conveys the hot fluid rapidly along the vertical wall containing the inlet and the outlet. A recirculating flow arises away from this wall and this flow affects the heat transfer and flow in the wall plume. This feature, in turn, affects the entrainment into the flow, decay of the temperature level and the evolution of mean flow. Therefore, horizontally uniform conditions cannot be assumed here, as employed in several studies of tall enclosures. The wall plume has to be modeled in this case, considering the entrainment into the boundary layer flow and the effect of the recirculating flow.
Anaerobic growth defects resulting from gene fusions affecting succinyl-CoA synthetase in Escherichia coli K12.

Insertion of the fusion-generating phage Mud1 (Ap, lacZ) yielded two similar isolates, DC511 and DC512, which were unable to grow aerobically on acetate or alphaketoglutarate but which could use succinate, malate, fumarate, glycerol, and various sugars. These mutants were unable to grow anaerobically on most sugars unless provided with methionine, lysine, and delta-aminolevulinic acid, all of which require succinyl-CoA for their synthesis. The insertions of both mutants mapped at 17 min, in the suc operon. Enzyme assays indicated a lack of succinyl-CoA synthetase; however, full activity of the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase was retained. Beta-galactosidase expression by strains containing these gene fusions was reduced under anaerobic conditions. In aerobically grown cultures, both fusions were induced about fivefold in the presence of acetate. This type of regulation would be expected of a Krebs cycle enzyme.
High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin for Screening Large Populations of Healthy People: Is There Risk?

Imagine a biomarker that is able to diagnose acute myocardial infarction (MI)3 with high clinical sensitivity and within 2 h of the onset of ischemic symptoms. Imagine that the same biomarker can rule out an MI with almost 100% negative predictive value by using multiple measurements taken over a 2- to 3-h period. Imagine that the biomarker can also risk-stratify symptomatic and stable acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients for both short-term (during admission) and long-term (over 6 months to 2 years) major adverse cardiac events by using the same measurements. Imagine thinking, beyond ACS, that the biomarker can also identify nonischemic pathologies that have caused the myocardial injury, thus identifying these individuals as belonging to a group at higher risk than ACS patients. The story gets better—no hype. Imagine this biomarker can stand alone—without the cumbersome weight of a multiple-biomarker strategy—as a predictor of major adverse cardiac events in individuals within the general population. So what is this biomarker, and is it being used in clinical practice? What is the evidence to convince laboratory scientists and clinicians that they should drop everything and add this test to their laboratory test menu? In the year 1995 the first cardiac troponin assay, for cardiac troponin T (cTnT), was cleared [510(k)] by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an aid for the diagnosis of MI. In 1996, the FDA cleared cTnI. I often wonder why it took 20 years for this cardiac-specific marker to get to the market. Once these markers were FDA cleared, and with the rapid development and availability of immunoassays for both cTnT and cTnI, data regarding their clinical utility quickly accumulated in the evidence-based literature (1). In 1999, the clinical chemistry community, followed by the cardiology community in 2000, recommended cardiac troponin as the definitive biomarker …
Effects of nonverbal intimacy on arousal and behavioral adjustment

The effects of two intimacy manipulations, 80% eye contact (EC) and combined lean, touch, 50% eye contact (LT), were examined in a bogus waiting period involving a male confederate-male subject pairing. Hypothesized arousal increase was found only for the LT manipulation when it occurred later, rather than earlier, in the waiting period. Associated with that increased arousal were weak tendencies for increased eye contact and talking. These results offered limited support for the arousal model of interpersonal intimacy (Patterson, 1976). However, it also appeared that the directing effect of the specific social context qualified the impact and meaning of the confederate's high intimacy.
Maintenance of CD4+ T cell TCR Vβ repertoire heterogeneity is characteristic of apathogenic SIV infection in non-human primate model of AIDS

A PCR-based assay was established to screen for potential changes in the heterogeneity of Vbeta TCR expressing CD4+ T cells from rhesus macaques (RM) and sooty mangabeys (SM) prior to and following SIV infection. The rationale for these studies was to determine whether the progressive CD4+ T cell loss in SIV-infected disease susceptible RM and the moderate CD4+ T cell loss in disease resistant SM leads to the depletion of select Vbeta TCR families of CD4+ T cells. Results show that whereas SIV infection leads to the loss of Vbeta TCR heterogeneity in disease susceptible RM, the CD4+ T cells from SM retain their degree of Vbeta TCR heterogeneity, suggesting that the mechanism(s) of SIV induced CD4+ T cell loss maybe distinct in these 2 species and contribute to the differences in the clinical outcome.
Attitudes toward the sale and use of drugs--a cross-sectional analysis.

Samples of six specific groups (both students and adults) were intensively surveyed on their differential attitudes toward the use and sale of eight drug types, Resulting comparisons between groups, drugs, and attitudes provide a relative picture of the attitudes on drug sale and use held by those surveyed.Summarizing the attitudes toward the use and sale of drugs, there are several striking consistencies. There is the least variation in opinion regarding alcohol and heroin, and there is the most variation in opinion regarding marijuana on all of the six questions discussed. Heroin is consistently seen as the “worst” drug relative to the other seven. It is considered to be worse on the good-bad dimension, more illegal, more dangerous, and more addictive than any of the other drugs.The view of what is the “best” drug varies. Alcohol is better on the good-bad and legal-illegal dimension than any of the other drugs. However, on the safe-dangerous and the addictive-nonaddictive dimensions, marijuana is signif...
Effect of metal ions on calcifying growth plate cartilage chondrocytes.

The effects of the trace metals zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and cadmium (Cd) on the metabolism of growth plate chondrocytes was examined using a mineralizing culture system. Supplementation of serum-free primary cultures of growth plate chondrocytes with 10–100 μm Zn resulted in an increase in cell protein and greatly increased alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity; however, above 25 μm Zn mineralization of the cultures was reduced. The effects of Zn on cellular protein and AP activity were enhanced by the addition of the albumin to the culture media. Removal of Zn from basal culture media resulted in recoverable reductions in cellular protein and AP activities. Cadmium was acutely toxic to chondrocyte cell cultures at concentrations above 5 μm. Even at very low concentrations (0.25 μm) Cd caused significant reductions in DNA, cellular protein, and matrix protein synthesis. In contrast, Cd had negligible effects on AP activity or culture mineralization. Manganese treatment (50 μm) resulted in reduced levels of proteoglycan, cell protein, DNA synthesis, and collagen synthesis, although AP specific activity did not change. At 10 μm, Mn significantly reduced mineralization but had only minor influence on other culture parameters. Both Zn (200 μm) and Cd (0.1 μm), but not Mn, induced the synthesis of metallothionein. The physiological and biochemical effects of specific metal ions is largely dependent on their physicochemical properties, especially their ligand affinities. Knowledge of these properties allows predictions to be made regarding whether the organic or the mineral phase are most likely to be affected in a mineralized tissue.
Non-destructive provenance study of chert using infrared reflectance microspectroscopy

Abstract In this paper we explore the potential of non-destructive Infrared reflectance microspectroscopy (IRRMS) for the characterization of chert samples from 10 different geological outcrops in North America with emphasis on the Midcontinent. A principle objective of the project is to determine whether IRRMS analysis can provide a mineral-based signature for bedrock sources of chert artifacts. The technique utilizes a Bio-Rad Digilab FTS-40 Infrared spectroscope and microscope attachment that reflects an infrared beam off a chert specimen. Our findings indicate that spectral features from the molecules constituting minor and trace minerals in chert may provide sufficient characterization for chert sourcing.