Controlled Synthesis of Manganese Dioxide Nanostructures via a Facile Hydrothermal Route

Manganese dioxide nanostructures with controllable morphological structures and crystalline phases were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route at low temperatures without using any templates or surfactants. Both the aging duration and aging temperatures were the main synthesis parameters used to influence and control the rate of morphological and structural evolution of MnO2 nanostructures. MnO2 nanostructures comprise of spherical nanoparticulate agglomerates and highly amorphous in nature were formed at lower temperature and/or short aging duration. In contrast, MnO2 nanostructures of sea-urchin-like and nanorods-like morphologies and nanocrystalline in nature were prepared at the combined higher aging temperatures and longer aging durations. These nanostructures underwent notable phase transformation from δ-MnO2 to α-MnO2 upon prolonged hydrothermal aging duration and exhibited accelerated rate of phase transformation at higher aging temperature

Ssibaji, An Opera in Two Acts for 9 Characters, Percussion and Piano

The SSIBAJI (translation: The Seed-Bearer) examines an aspect of Korean culture which in not widely known in the United States. And, even though the subject matter is little known, it is a story of universal appeal. The complexity of emotion for every character and the mythic overtones are what drew the librettist, composer, and director to this unique story. In Korea, in the 18th and 19th centuries, a high born family whose eldest son's wife was barren, often turned to a surrogate mother to bear a son. Carrying on the family lineage was critically important. These arrangements were carried out in secret. The surrogate, impregnated by the husband, would live in hiding in the servants' quarters while the wife lived out a sham pregnancy. If the surrogate gave birth to a son, she was paid, usually in farmland, and chased away. If she gave birth to a daughter, she was paid half, and kept the child. These girls often became surrogate mothers themselves, prized for descending from a high-born father. SSIBAJI is both a love story and a tragedy. The husband, who initially refuses to go along with this practice, falls in love with the surrogate. The wife risks the love of her husband in order to maintain her status in the family and provide an heir. Ssibaji, 17, falls in love and is foolish enough to believe that she can defy convention and keep her child, her lover and her own life. The story line is simple while the emotions are complex and difficult. The formality of Korean culture, the dramatic class distinctions, the beauty of the setting, the fascinating rituals, all add sub-text, texture, and fascination to the story. The libretto was written by an Emmy Award winning playwright Laura Harrington

A Bayesian approach for applying Haseman-Elston methods

The main goal of this paper is to couple the Haseman-Elston method with a simple yet effective Bayesian factor-screening approach. This approach selects markers by considering a set of multigenic models that include epistasis effects. The markers are ranked based on their marginal posterior probability. A significant improvement over our previously proposed Bayesian variable selection methodology is a simple Metropolis-Hasting algorithm that requires minimum tuning on the prior settings. The algorithm, however, is also flexible enough for us to easily incorporate our hypotheses and avoid computational pitfalls. We apply our approach to the microsatellite data of Collaborative Studies on Genetics of Alcoholism using the coded values for the ALDX1 variable as our response

Molecular Structure of Selected Tuber and Root Starches and Effect of Amylopectin Structure on Their Physical Properties

The objectives of this study were to characterize starches isolated from potato, canna, fern, and kudzu, grown in Hangzhou, China, for potential food and nonfood applications and to gain understandings of the structures and properties of tuber and root starches. Potato and canna starches with B-type X-ray patterns had larger proportions of amylopectin (AP) long branch chains (DP g37) than did fern (C-type) and kudzu (CA-type) starches. The analysis of Naegeli dextrins suggested that fern and kudzu starches had more branch points, R-(1,6)-D-glycosidic linkages, located within the double-helical crystalline lamella than did the B-type starches. Dispersed molecular densities of the C- and CA-type APs (11.6-13.5 g/mol/nm3) were significantly larger than those of the B-type APs (1.4-6.1 g/mol/nm3) in dilute solutions. The larger proportion of the long AP branch chains in the B-type starch granules resulted in greater gelatinization enthalpy changes (ΔH). Retrograded kudzu starch, which had the shortest average chain length (DP 25.1), melted at a lower temperature (37.9 °C) than the others. Higher peak viscosities (550-749 RVU at 8%, dsb) of potato starches were attributed to the greater concentrations of phosphate monoesters, longer branch chains, and larger granule sizes compared with other tuber and root starches

Controlled Synthesis of Manganese Dioxide Nanostructures via a Facile Hydrothermal Route

Manganese dioxide nanostructures with controllable morphological structures and crystalline phases were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route at low temperatures without using any templates or surfactants. Both the aging duration and aging temperatures were the main synthesis parameters used to influence and control the rate of morphological and structural evolution of MnO2 nanostructures. MnO2 nanostructures comprise of spherical nanoparticulate agglomerates and highly amorphous in nature were formed at lower temperature and/or short aging duration. In contrast, MnO2 nanostructures of sea-urchin-like and nanorods-like morphologies and nanocrystalline in nature were prepared at the combined higher aging temperatures and longer aging durations. These nanostructures underwent notable phase transformation from δ-MnO2 to α-MnO2 upon prolonged hydrothermal aging duration and exhibited accelerated rate of phase transformation at higher aging temperature

Phospholipase C??1 links inflammation and tumorigenesis in colitis-associated cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Colorectal cancer is linked to inflammation and phospholipase C??1 (PLC??1) is associated with tumorigenesis and the development of colorectal cancer; however, evidence of mechanisms connecting them remains unclear. The tight junctions (TJ), as intercellular junctional complexes, have an important role for integrity of the epithelial barrier to regulate the cellular permeability. Here we found that PLC??1 regulated colitis and tumorigenesis in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC). To induce the colitis-associated cancer (CAC), we used the AOM/DSS model. Mice were sacrificed at 100 days (DSS three cycles) and 120 days (DSS one cycle). In a CAC model, we showed that the deletion of PLC??1 in IEC decreased the incidence of tumors by enhancing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation during tumor development. Accordingly, the deletion of PLC??1 in IEC reduced colitisinduced epithelial inflammation via inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators. The PLC??1 pathway in IEC accelerated colitis-induced epithelial damage via regulation of TJ proteins. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that PLC??1 is a critical regulator of colitis and colorectal cancer and could further help in the development of therapy for colitis-associated cancer

New Sensitization to House Dust Mites in Cefteram-Induced Occupational Asthma: A Case Report

Occupational asthma (OA) can improve after cessation of exposure; however, some patients suffer from persistence or aggravation of their asthmatic symptoms. Here we report a case of a new sensitization to house dust mites during the follow-up period in a 37-year-old female patient with OA induced by cefteram pivoxil powder (cefteram powder). She was previously diagnosed with OA caused by inhalation of cefteram powder. Consequently, she left her job and had been well for 9 subsequent years. She began to experience aggravation of her rhinitis and asthmatic symptoms again several months prior to presentation. Her skin-prick test results had converted to strongly positive responses to two types of house dust mites. The serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and the total and specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E levels against the two types of house dust mites were elevated. An inhalation challenge test with Dermatophagoides farinae was performed, and significant bronchoconstriction (21.1% reduction in the forced expiratory volume in the first second) with asthma symptoms was observed at 10 minutes. To our knowledge, this is the first case demonstrating a new sensitization to house dust mites in a patient with OA caused by cefteram powder. Regular monitoring, including skin-prick tests and measurement of specific serum IgE/ECP levels, may help to screen potential cases

Diagnosis of Cerebral Aneurysm Via Magnetic Resonance Angiography Screening: Emphasis on Legal Responsibility Increases False Positive Rate

PurposeFalse positive diagnoses of cerebral aneurysm via magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) screening may increase unnecessary cerebral catheter angiography. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of medical liability on medical decision-making during radiologic interpretation.Materials and MethodsWe included 56 consecutive patients who were referred with suspected aneurysm based on MRA or computed tomography angiography (CTA) and showed no aneurysm on subsequent digital subtraction angiography (DSA). MRA and CTA were reviewed twice by two neuroradiology fellows who were blind as to whether the suspected lesions were true aneurysms or not. The second review was repeated after proposing that their decision was subject to legal liability and they would be responsible for medico-legal problems related to their diagnoses. Diagnostic differences based on each review were analyzed, focusing on changes in false positive diagnosis rates.ResultsA total of 63 suspected aneurysmal lesions detected via MRA or CTA were found to be negative based on DSA. At first review, 32 lesions were diagnosed as true aneurysms by observer 1 and 27 by observer 2, corresponding to false positive rates of 51% and 43% respectively. At the second review, 39 lesions (62%) were diagnosed by observer 1, and 30 (48%) by observer 2. Thus, there was an overall increase in false positive aneurysm diagnosis of 11% for observer 1 and 5% for observer 2, after emphasizing their responsibilities in the context of medical litigation.ConclusionConcerns about medical liability could result in increased false positive diagnoses of cerebral aneurysms via MRA screening. Whether repeated follow-up of the suspected lesion or catheter angiographic confirmation is better with regard to long-term patient outcomes requires further study

Collaborative identity development during a global pandemic: exploring teacher identity through the experiences of pre-service high school teachers in England

Since early 2020, COVID-19 has had a substantial impact on teacher education. We consider novel aspects of how pre-service teachers have collaboratively developed their professional identities during the pandemic. Drawing on findings from forty-five interviews with pre-service high school teachers working in England during September 2020 – June 2021, we share how collaborative identity development was central and occurred in a variety of spaces, communities and modes. Collaborative identity development featured in how pre-service teachers saw themselves making a positive contribution to society through education and, in strong subject connections. Reflection that is collaborative, personalised, iterative, and separate from notions of formal progression enables positive identity work. Notions of identity are absent from international policy initiatives in ITE (Initial Teacher Education). This case study provides insights for policy makers in and beyond England who aim to support teachers at the beginning of their career so that they are retained