The Status of Women\u27s Entrepreneurship: Pathways to Future Entrepreneurship Development and Education

This article examines major areas of inquiry related to entrepreneurial capabilities, motivations, and the acquisition of resources to launch and grow women-owned businesses

Dynamic Measurements of Cerebral Pentose Phosphate Pathway Activity In Vivo Using [1,6- 13 C 2 ,6,6- 2 H 2 ] Glucose and Microdialysis

Cerebral pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) activity has been linked to NADPH-dependent anabolic pathways, turnover of neurotransmitters, and protection from oxidative stress. Research on this potentially important pathway has been hampered, however, because measurement of regional cerebral PPP activity in vivo has not been possible. Our efforts to address this need focused on the use of a novel isotopically substituted glucose molecule, [1,6- 13 C 2 ,6,6- 2 H 2 ]glucose, in conjunction with microdialysis techniques, to measure cerebral PPP activity in vivo, in freely moving rats. Metabolism of [1,6- 13 C 2 ,6,6- 2 H 2 ]glucose through glycolysis produces [3- 13 C]lactate and [3- 13 C,3,3- 2 H 2 ]lactate, whereas metabolism through the PPP produces [3- 13 C,3,3- 2 H 2 ]lactate and unlabeled lactate. The ratios of these lactate isotopomers can be quantified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for calculation of PPP activity, which is reported as the percentage of glucose metabolized to lactate that passed through the PPP. Following addition of [1,6- 13 C 2 ,6,6- 2 H 2 ]glucose to the perfusate, labeled lactate was easily detectable in dialysate using GC/MS. Basal forebrain and intracerebral 9L glioma PPP values (mean ± SD) were 3.5 ± 0.4 (n = 4) and 6.2 ± 0.9% (n = 4), respectively. Furthermore, PPP activity could be stimulated in vivo by addition of phenazine methosulfate, an artificial electron acceptor for NADPH, to the perfusion stream. These results show that the activity of the PPP can now be measured dynamically and regionally in the brains of conscious animals in vivo.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65845/1/j.1471-4159.1995.64031336.x.pd

An algorithm for constructing and classifying the space of small integer weighing matrices

In this paper we describe an algorithm for generating all the possible $PIW(m,n,k)$ - integer $m\times n$ Weighing matrices of weight $k$ up to Hadamard equivalence. Our method is efficient on a personal computer for small size matrices, up to $m\le n=12$, and $k\le 50$. As a by product we also improved the \textit{\textbf{nsoks}} \cite{riel2006nsoks} algorithm to find all possible representations of an integer $k$ as a sum of $n$ integer squares. We have implemented our algorithm in \texttt{Sagemath} and as an example we provide a complete classification for \ $n=m=7$ and $k=25$. Our list of $IW(7,25)$ can serve as a step towards finding the open classical weighing matrix $W(35,25)$

Treatment of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Primary Care: A Randomized Study Using Aromatic Herbs

This study is a prospective randomized double-blind controlled trial whose aim was to investigate the clinical effects of aromatic essential oils in patients with upper respiratory tract infections. The trial was conducted in six primary care clinics in northern Israel. A spray containing aromatic essential oils of five plants (Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus globulus, Mentha piperita, Origanum syriacum, and Rosmarinus officinalis) as applied 5 times a day for 3 days and compared with a placebo spray. The main outcome measure was patient assessment of the change in severity of the most debilitating symptom (sore throat, hoarseness or cough). Sixty patients participated in the study (26 in the study group and 34 in the control group). Intention-to-treat analysis showed that 20 minutes following the spray use, participants in the study group reported a greater improvement in symptom severity compared to participants in the placebo group (P = .019). There was no difference in symptom severity between the two groups after 3 days of treatment (P = .042). In conclusion, spray application of five aromatic plants reported in this study brings about significant and immediate improvement in symptoms of upper respiratory ailment. This effect is not significant after 3 days of treatment

Mechanism of action of lonidamine in the 9L brain tumor model involves inhibition of lactate efflux and intracellular acidification

Malignant gliomas have been associated with a high rate of glycolytic activity which is believed necessary to sustain cellular function and integrity. Since lonidamine (LND) is believed to reduce tumor glucose utilization by inhibition of the mitochondrially-bound glycolytic enzyme hexokinase (HK), 31 P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to noninvasively follow the effects of LND on both tumor pH and the high-energy phosphate metabolites; ATP, phosphocreatine (PCr) and inorganic phosphate (P i ) in subcutaneous rat 9L gliosarcomas. 31 P tumor spectra acquired in 5 min intervals pre- and post LND administration of 50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p. revealed an acidotic pH shift of − 0.25 and − 0.45 pH units, respectively within 30 min post administration. The ATP/P i ratio of 9L tumors decreased to 40% of control and P i levels increased to 280% of control over a 3 hr period. LND exerted no effect on tumor blood flow and mean arterial blood pressure. Brain and muscle metabolite levels and pH were also unaffected by LND. In vitro measurements of cultured 9L tumor cell intra- and extracellular lactate, pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and hexokinase (HK) activities suggest that the mode of action of LND involves inhibition of lactate efflux and intracellular acidification. The selective reduction of tumor energy metabolites and pH by LND may be exploitable for sensitizing gliomas to radiation, chemotherapy or hyperthermia.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45386/1/11060_2004_Article_138171.pd