New Urbanism in the Inner City: A Case Study of Pittsburgh

This article argues that community development efforts can be significantly improved through careful attention to urban design. One potential design application is New Urbanism, which offers promising principles for integrating affordable housing into inner-city neighborhoods. These points are illustrated through a case study of four New Urbanist projects in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Here, New Urbanists have been involved in community-based, inner-city revitalization efforts for more than two decades. This is often overlooked in a critical literature that focuses only on New Urbanist communities in the suburbs. While it is too early to pronounce final, comprehensive judgments on these Pittsburgh projects, they illustrate an important new direction that is worthy of close study by urban planners, community development officials, scholars of urban affairs, and urban designers.

Like the best-selling first edition, this report offers specific design guidance to planners, developers, and others involved in laying out, regulating, and reviewing proposals for “traditional neighborhoods.” For this edition, Arendt revised the model ordinance and subdivision regulations to make them easier to implement. Illustrations on the CD-ROM are directly tied to the provisions of the regulations. The CD-ROM also includes the author's running commentary on the regulations.     

Dietary intakes in infertile women a pilot study

Background  

The reproductive axis is closely linked to nutritional status. The purpose of this study was to compare the nutritional status in two groups of young infertile women, without clinically overt eating disorders: hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).     

Osmium tetroxide, 2,2'-bipyridine: electroactive marker for probing accessibility of tryptophan residues in proteins

A complex of osmium tetroxide with 2,2'-bipyridine (Os,bipy) has been applied as a chemical probe of DNA structure as well as an electroactive DNA label. The Os,bipy has been known to form covalent adducts with pyrimidine DNA bases. Besides the pyrimidines, electrochemically active covalent adducts with Os,bipy are formed also by tryptophan (W) residues in peptides and proteins. In this paper we show that Os,bipy-treated proteins possessing W residues (such as avidin, streptavidin, or lysozyme) yield at the pyrolytic graphite electrode (PGE) a specific signal (peak alphaW) the potential of which differs from the potentials of signals produced by free Os,bipy or by Os,bipy-modified DNA. No such signal is observed with proteins lacking W (such as ribonuclease A or alpha-synuclein). Subpicomole amounts of W-containing proteins modified with Os,bipy can easily be detected using adsorptive transfer stripping voltammetry with the PGE. Binding of biotin to avidin interferes with Os,bipy modification of the protein, in agreement with the location of W residues within the biotin-binding site of avidin. These Ws are accessible for modification in the absence of biotin but hidden (protected from modification) in the avidin-biotin complex. The Os,bipy-modified avidin is unable to bind biotin, and its quarternary structure is disrupted. Analogous effects were observed with another biotin-binding protein, streptavidin. Our results demonstrate that modification of proteins with Os,bipy under conditions close to physiological, followed by a simple electrochemical analysis, can be applied in the microanalysis of protein structure and interactions.     

Taking Time Seriously? Theorizing and Researching Change in Communication and Media Studies

This article argues that in order to adequately comprehend and explain change, the field needs to engage more completely with the challenges of researching change over time, and ground the theorizing of change more firmly in empirical research. The goal of this article is to foster a more concerted discussion on these issues that will hopefully move research forward. The first part of the article reviews the breadth and diversity of existing empirical approaches to comprehending change over time across the field. The article then identifies some of the problems and oversights of current approaches and discusses possible solutions, drawing both on proposals developed by communication and media scholars and those developed in other disciplines.     

The Swiss‐Army‐Knife Self‐Assembled Monolayer: Improving Electron Injection,Stability, and Wettability of Metal Electrodes with a One‐Minute Process

A novel Self‐assembled Monolayer (SAM) forming molecule bisjulolidyldisulfide (9,9'‐disulfanediylbis(2,3,6,7‐tetrahydro‐1H,5H‐pyrido[3,2,1‐ij]quinoline)) is demonstrated which lowers the work function of metal surfaces by ≈1.2 eV and can be deposited in a 1 min process. Bisjulolidyldisulfide exists in a stable disulfide configuration prior to surface exposure and can therefore be stored, handled, and processed in ambient conditions. SAM from bisjulolidyldisulfide are deposited on metal surfaces (Au and Ag), including inkjet printed Ag on polyethylene terephthalate substrates, investigated by photoelectron and infrared spectroscopy, and used as electrodes in n‐type organic field effect transistor (OFET). Treatment of electrodes in OFET devices with with bisjulolidyldisulfide‐SAMs reduces the contact resistance by two orders of magnitude and improves shelf life with respect to pristine metal electrodes. The presented treatment also increases the surfaces wettability and thereby facilitates solution processing of a subsequent layer. These beneficial properties for device performance, processing, and stability, combined with ease of preparation and handling, render this SAM‐forming molecule an excellent candidate for the high‐throughput production of flexible electronic devices.     

Effects of Geometry,Flow Index,and Temperature on Flow Splitting

In this paper, the flow splitting of fluids with complex rheological properties in complex geometries is examined. This work is motivated by the desire to achieve good control of flow-splitting processes independent of the geometries of the manifold. As an example of this class of flows, the flow of a complex fluid from a main pipe to two branch pipes is considered. Using the diameter and length of one branch as parameters, the flow splitting of Newtonian and power-law fluids was studied. This study was conducted under both isothermal and non-isothermal conditions; the latter were achieved by imposing a temperature difference between the wall and the inlet. Hence, the splitting of power-law fluids with temperature-dependent viscosity was also studied and compared with the isothermal cases. Our analytical and numerical results indicate that the unevenness in the split is accentuated as the geometrical asymmetry and degree of shear thinning increase. In the non-isothermal cases, symmetric splitting is approached as the ratio of inlet to wall viscosity increases. However, as this ratio is reduced below unity, asymmetric splitting is promoted.     

Laser-arc hybrid welding of wrought to selective laser molten stainless steel

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a successful tool-free powder additive technology. The success of this manufacturing process results from the possibility to create complex shape parts, with intrinsic engineered features and good mechanical properties. Joining SLM steel to similar or dissimilar steel can overcome some limitations of the product design like small dimension, undercut profile, and residual stress concentration. In this way, the range of applications of the SLM process can be broadened. In this paper, the hybrid laser welding of selective laser molten stainless steel was investigated. A high-power fiber laser was coupled to an electric arc and austenitic stainless steel wrought and SLM parts were welded together. The power and speed parameters were investigated. The joints were analyzed in terms of weld bead profile, microstructure, microhardness, and tensile test. The efficiency of the welding process was evaluated through the line energy input versus the weld molten area.     

Boosted Pro-Inflammatory Activity in Human PBMCs by Lipopolysaccharide and SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Is Regulated by α-1 Antitrypsin

For the treatment of severe COVID-19, supplementation with human plasma-purified α-1 antitrypsin (AAT) to patients is currently considered. AAT inhibits host proteases that facilitate viral entry and possesses broad anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. Researchers have demonstrated that an interaction between SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) enhances pro-inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo. Hence, we wanted to understand the potential anti-inflammatory activities of plasma-derived and recombinant AAT (recAAT) in a model of human total peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) exposed to a combination of CHO expressed trimeric spike protein and LPS, ex vivo. We confirmed that cytokine production was enhanced in PBMCs within six hours when low levels of LPS were combined with purified spike proteins (“spike”). In the presence of 0.5 mg/mL recAAT, however, LPS/spike-induced TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA expression and protein release were significantly inhibited (by about 46–50%) relative to LPS/spike alone. Although without statistical significance, recAAT also reduced production of IL-6 and IL-8. Notably, under the same experimental conditions, the plasma-derived AAT preparation Respreeza (used in native and oxidized forms) did not show significant effects. Our findings imply that an early pro-inflammatory activation of human PBMCs is better controlled by the recombinant version of AAT than the human plasma-derived AAT used here. Considering the increasing clinical interest in AAT therapy as useful to ameliorate the hyper-inflammation seen during COVID-19 infection, different AAT preparations require careful evaluation.     

Antimicrobial Properties of Palladium and Platinum Nanoparticles: A New Tool for Combating Food-Borne Pathogens

Although some metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are commonly used in the food processing plants as nanomaterials for food packaging, or as coatings on the food handling equipment, little is known about antimicrobial properties of palladium (PdNPs) and platinum (PtNPs) nanoparticles and their potential use in the food industry. In this study, common food-borne pathogens Salmonella enterica Infantis, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were tested. Both NPs reduced viable cells with the log₁₀ CFU reduction of 0.3–2.4 (PdNPs) and 0.8–2.0 (PtNPs), average inhibitory rates of 55.2–99% for PdNPs and of 83.8–99% for PtNPs. However, both NPs seemed to be less effective for biofilm formation and its reduction. The most effective concentrations were evaluated to be 22.25–44.5 mg/L for PdNPs and 50.5–101 mg/L for PtNPs. Furthermore, the interactions of tested NPs with bacterial cell were visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM visualization confirmed that NPs entered bacteria and caused direct damage of the cell walls, which resulted in bacterial disruption. The in vitro cytotoxicity of individual NPs was determined in primary human renal tubular epithelial cells (HRTECs), human keratinocytes (HaCat), human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), human epithelial kidney cells (HEK 293), and primary human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs). Due to their antimicrobial properties on bacterial cells and no acute cytotoxicity, both types of NPs could potentially fight food-borne pathogens.     

Reduced mammary tumor progression in a transgenic mouse model fed an isoflavone-poor soy protein concentrate

Dietary exposure to soy has been associated with reduced breast cancer incidence. Soy isoflavones and protein components, such as protease inhibitors and the lunasin peptide, have been indicated as potential agents reducing carcinogenesis. In this study, the effect of soy-based diets was evaluated in a transgenic mouse model of breast carcinoma, overexpressing the neu oncogene. Neu female mice were fed for 20 wk a soy- and isoflavone-free diet (IFD), 4RF21 laboratory mouse diet, soy-based, thus isoflavone-rich (STD), or AIN-76-based semisynthetic diets with a soy protein isolate (SPI) or an isoflavone-poor soy protein concentrate (IPSP) as protein source. Mice were then sacrificed and tumors removed. Mammary tumor weights were not different in SPI versus IFD and STD fed mice. In contrast, mice fed IPSP showed reduced tumor progression versus IFD and STD groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, IPSP fed mice showed lower bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into breast tumor cells compared to STD and SPI fed animals (p < 0.02). Lung metastases were detected in 80% of IFD fed mice, in 70% of mice fed STD and SPI, and only in 50% of the IPSP fed animals. These results indicate that a diet containing an isoflavone-poor soy protein concentrate may inhibit breast tumor progression and metastasis development.