cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mutagenic responses of nickel oxides and nickel sulfides in Chinese hamster V79 cell lines at the xanthine-guanidine phosphoribosyl transferase locus

Abstract Mutagenesis of several insoluble nickel compounds-crystalline nickel sulfide NiS, nickel subsulfide Ni3S2, nickel oxides (black and green) and soluble NiCl2 was studied in three Chinese hamster cell lines - at the hrpt gene of the well-defined V79 cell line, and at gpt in two transgenic derivative cell lines G12 and G10. The transgenic cell line G12 responded very strongly to the insoluble Ni compounds, such that the gpt mutagenesis was at least 20 times higher than the spontaneous mutagenesis and in some experiments was even higher. In contrast the response of the G10 cells was much lower - the mutant frequencies only increased 2–3 times over the controls. In V79 cells, NiS and NiO (black) did not induce a mutagenic response at hprt. Soluble NiCl2 also exhibited no mutagenic activity in V79 cells and induced considerably lower activity than the insoluble compounds in the transgenic G12 cells. Following vitamin E pretreatment of G12 cells for 24 h prior to nickel exposure, increased cell survival was observed for several insoluble Ni compounds whereas vitamin E had no effect on NiCl2 cytoxicity. With vitamin E pretreatment, significantly lower mutagenic responses in G12 cells were also noted for some insoluble Ni compounds, while no such effect was observed for NiCl2.
Toward a reformulation of the neonatal mortality rate.

Abstract The use of neonatal and postneonatal mortality rates as proxies for endogenous and exogenous mortality rates is common in demographic and epidemiological research. The results reported in this paper suggest that such a practice is not entirely valid and that, perhaps, a reformulation of the operational definition of the neonatal mortality rate is in order. The study shows that day‐specific endogenous mortality rates predominate during the first eighteen days of life and that curves representing the patterning of day‐specific endogenous and exogenous mortality rates converge at about the 18th day and not at about the 28th day. The study also warrants against the use of the postneonatal mortality rate, as currently defined, as a proxy for exogenous mortality. Of all classifiable infant deaths occurring between the 19th and the 365th day, less than half (44.5 per cent) are due to exogenous causes. The matched birth and death data from New Mexico used for this study are shown to correspond rather clo...
Trading cultures: Resource mobilization and service rendering in the life sciences as revealed in the journal article's paratext

Formal and informal modes of collaboration in life sciences research were explored paratextually. The bylines and acknowledgments of more than 1,000 research articles in the journal Cell were analyzed to reveal the strength of collegiate ties and the importance of material and ideational trading between both individuals and labs. Intense coauthorship and subauthorship collaboration were shown to be defining features of contemporary research in the life sciences. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Isolation and partial purification of phthalate ester hydrolyzing enzyme(s) from the brine shrimp, Artemia

Abstract Isolation and 30-fold purification of a di-n-butyl phthalate (DNBP) hydrolyzing enzyme from synchronously hatched larvae of the brine shrimp, Artemia, are reported. The activity of the enzyme increases during larval development simultaneously with the acute toxic action of DNBP on the larvae. The enzyme is not stimulated by 10 mM sodium cholate, is stable for days to weeks in solution at 4°C, indefinitely stable at −70°C and is distinct from the previously reported trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like proteases [1].
Corporate feed design for microstrip arrays

A design technique for an embedded microstrip corporate feed is presented. The aim of the design is to shape each corporate feed junction to achieve a tapered and in-phase output current distribution. From this, a Dolph-Chebyshev array sum pattern may be constructed. In the experiments, the designed corporate feed is used to excite a five-element equispaced linear array of overlay microstrip dipoles. It is found both theoretically and experimentally that a 20-dB Dolph-Chebyshev broadside sum pattern can be synthesized in the H-plane at 8.5 GHz. Mutual coupling among the dipoles is included in this analysis. The pattern degradation due to manufacturing tolerances on the alignment between the feed network and the dipole array is discussed. >
Research on self-control: An integrating framework

The tendency to choose a larger, more delayed reinforcer over a smaller, less delayed one has frequently been termed “selfcontrol.” Three very different research traditions – two models emphasizing the control of local contingencies of reinforcement (Mischel's social learning theory and Herrnstein's matching law) and molar maximization models (specifically optimal foraging theory) – have all investigated behavior within the self-control paradigm. A framework is proposed to integrate research from all three research areas. This framework consists of three parts: a procedural analysis, a causal analysis, and a theoretical analysis. The procedural analysis provides a common procedural terminology for all three areas. The causal analysis establishes that, in all three research traditions, self-control varies directly with the current physical values of the reinforcers; that is, choices increase with reinforcer amount and decrease with reinforcer delay. But self-control also varies according to past events to which a subject has been exposed, and according to current factors other than the reinforcers. Each of the three models has therefore incorporated these indirect effects on self-control by postulating unobservable mechanisms. In all three cases, these mechanisms represent a subject's behavior as a function of a perceived environment. The theoretical analysis demonstrates that evolutionary theory can encompass the research from all three areas by considering differences in the adaptiveness of self-control in different situations. This integration provides a better and more predictive description of self-control.
Probing the Inflow/Outflow and Accretion Disk of Cygnus X-1 in the High State with the Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating

Cygnus X-1 was observed in the high state at the conjunction orbital phase (0) with Chandra High Energy Transmission Grating (HETG). Strong and asymmetric absorption lines of highly ionized species were detected, such as Fe xxv, Fe xxiv, Fe xxiii, Si xiv, S xvi, Ne x, etc. In the high state the profile of the absorption lines is composed of an extended red wing and a less extended blue wing. The red wings of higher ionized species are more extended than those of lower ionized species. The detection of these lines provides a way to probe the properties of the flow around the companion and the black hole in Cyg X-1 during the high state. A broad emission feature around 6.5 keV was significantly detected from the spectra of both the Chandra/HETG and the RXTE/Proportional Counter Array. This feature appears to be symmetric and can be fitted with a Gaussian function rather than the Laor disk line model of the fluorescent Fe K(alpha) line from an accretion disk. The implications of these results on the structure of the accretion flow of Cyg X-1 in the high state are discussed.
Properties of the solar acoustic source inferred from nonadiabatic oscillation spectra

Severino et al. suggested in 2001 that observed power and cross spectra of medium-degree p-modes in velocity and intensity can be described by splitting the solar background noise into correlated, coherent, and uncoherent components. We account for the nonadiabatic nature of solar oscillations by including the perturbations of the radiative energy flux in our model for the oscillations. Our calculations show the potential to explain the observations without the ad hoc phase differences between velocity and intensity oscillations introduced in the model of Severino et al. The phases and amplitudes of the correlated noise components are obtained by fitting our nonadiabatic model to the SOHO MDI power and cross spectra. These parameters provide information about the p-mode excitation process. We show that the type and location of the source can not be uniquely determined by the properties of the resonant p-modes in power and cross spectra of velocity and intensity oscillations. However, we obtain estimates for the phases and amplitudes of the correlated noise, which we interpret in terms of isolated rapid downdrafts in intergranular lanes. This idea is supported by three-dimensional simulations of the upper solar convection zone.
Crystal engineering of energetic materials: co-crystals of Ethylenedinitramine (EDNA) with modified performance and improved chemical stability.

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Christer B. Aakeroy at Kansas State University. The image depicts the transition from one page to the next reflecting how research in the area of energetic materials can be facilitated by new co-crystal technology. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201501721.
Highly scalable web applications with zero-copy data transfer

The performance of server-side applications is becoming increasingly important as more applications exploit the Web application model. Extensive work has been done to improve the performance of individual software components such as Web servers and programming language runtimes. This paper describes a novel approach to boost Web application performance by improving inter-process communication between a programming language runtime and Web server runtime. The approach reduces redundant processing for memory copying and the context switch overhead between user space and kernel space by exploiting the zero-copy data transfer methodology, such as the sendfile system call. In order to transparently utilize this optimization feature with existing Web applications, we propose enhancements of the PHP runtime, FastCGI protocol, and Web server. Our proposed approach achieves a 126% performance improvement with micro-benchmarks and a 44% performance improvement for a standard Web benchmark, SPECweb2005.
Radiation chararcteristics of reflectarray antennas: Methodology and applicatios to dual configurations

Reflectarrays combines key features of large reflectors and phased array elements to generate a collimated beam as required in high gain antennas. In reflectarrays, a large flat reflecting surface with many resonant patch elements is illuminated by a feed (or by a feed/subreflector in dual reflector configuration). In many space applications, reflectarrays applications can be advantageous because their large surface can be folded or rolled as a part of spacecraft payload before being deployed. Consequently, a reflectarray can significantly reduce both volume and mass requirements in space deployment.
Monitoring data dependencies in concurrent process execution through delta-enabled grid services

This paper presents our results with monitoring data dependencies among concurrently executing, distributed processes that execute over grid services. The research has been conducted in the context of the DeltaGrid project, focusing on the development of a semantically robust execution environment for the composition of grid services. Delta-Enabled Grid Services (DEGS) are a foundational aspect of the DeltaGrid environment, extending grid services with the capability of recording incremental data changes, known as deltas. Deltas generated by DEGS are forwarded to a Process History Capture System (PHCS) that organises deltas from distributed sources into a global, time-sequenced schedule of data changes. The design and construction of DEGS is presented, along with the storage and indexing techniques for merging deltas from multiple DEGS to create a global schedule of data changes that can be analysed to determine how the failure and recovery of one process can potentially affect other data-dependent processes. The paper also summarises the performance results for the global history construction and retrieval process.
Decreases in diameters of treated abdominal aortic aneurysms and reduction in rupture rate.

Objective To determine whether the diameters of treated abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) have changed during the last 10 years. Design, Setting, and Patients A retrospective record review was completed on all patients undergoing any AAA repair from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2009, at a single high-volume institution. All cases of repaired AAAs that had computed tomographic scans within 3 months of surgery were included. The mean and median maximal diameters of AAAs were noted. Correlation and regression analyses were used. Main Outcome Measures The mean and median maximal diameters of AAAs. Results Of 360 patients with treated AAAs, 339 met the inclusion criteria. The mean (SD) diameter of repaired AAAs decreased from 6.49 (1.46) cm (median, 6.40 cm) in 2000 to 5.83 (1.23) cm (median, 5.60 cm) in 2009. Correlation analysis confirmed a decrease in diameter across years (Pearson R = −0.141; P = .01). A fitted regression line also showed a decreasing trend (slope = −0.059 cm per year; P = .01). Conclusions The diameters of repaired AAAs at our hospital have decreased progressively during the last decade. This observation is consistent with a reduction in the expansion rates of AAAs and may account for the progressive decreases in the aneurysm rupture rate in the United States.
Recreational diving impacts and the use of pre-dive briefings as a management strategy on Florida coral reefs

Ecotourism often is promoted as an ecologically sustainable activity, but some ecotourism activities negatively impact coastal ecosystems. Impacts of intensive diving tourism on coral reefs remain poorly understood, especially in the Florida Keys. We determined patterns of recreational dive frequency, diver behaviour, and coral damage on reefs near Key Largo, and assessed how pre-dive briefings and other factors affect these damage rates. Recreational divers contacted live stony corals ~ 18 times per scuba dive; most contacts deposited sediment onto corals, but also caused abrasion to coral tissues and fracture of coral skeletons. Divers who received pre-dive ecological briefings caused significantly less coral damage than those who did not, and divers with cameras and/or gloves caused the most damage. The proportion of damaged corals increased significantly with the estimated rate of recreational diving on each reef, and the percent cover of live corals decreased. We conclude that current rates of recreational diving in Key Largo are unsustainable, resulting in damage to >80 % of coral colonies and reduction of live coral cover to <11 % at heavily-dived sites. We recommend that dive tour operators administer pre-dive ecological briefings to all recreational divers, provide extra briefings to camera and glove users, and employ underwater dive guides who intervene when divers inadvertently damage live stony corals. This study provides a scientific basis to support management of intensive ecotourism on Florida coral reefs.
Observations on the Expansion of a Relict Population of Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in a Maine Estuary: Implications for Climate Change and Restoration

Abstract The Gulf of Maine has undergone dramatic physiographic and oceanographic changes over the last several millenia resulting in some unusual biogeographic consequences. One is that there are pockets of Virginian species, including Crassostra virginica (Eastern Oyster), that survive in isolated warm water pockets, usually at the heads of estuaries. These small and vulnerable populations need documentation, protection, and restoration in order to preserve their genetic characteristics and ecological services. In this contribution, we describe the circumstances whereby tidal restoration made available 2.5 linear km of new habitat area to the relict oyster population of the Marsh River, ME, the northernmost documented native oyster population in the United States. Oysters recruited to the new habitat quickly, demonstrating the restoration potential of isolated, relict populations. The resultant larger population size and areal extent should provide increased stability and survivability of the oyster and...
Density evolution for low-density parity-check codes under Max-Log-MAP decoding

A density evolution procedure for low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes under Max-Log-MAP decoding is presented. Using this technique, the precise convergence threshold for LDPC code could be easily derived.
A Cytogenetic Study of a Chromosome Fragment in Maize.

Page 499, at end of line 7, insert "(Table 2)." Page 500, line 37, for "383 Pr bm1" read "383 Bm1 Pr
Citizen communications in crisis: anticipating a future of ICT-supported public participation

Recent world-wide crisis events have drawn new attention to the role information communication technology (ICT) can play in warning and response activities. Drawing on disaster social science, we consider a critical aspect of post-impact disaster response that does not yet receive much information science research attention. Public participation is an emerging, large-scale arena for computer-mediated interaction that has implications for both informal and formal response. With a focus on persistent citizen communications as one form of interaction in this arena, we describe their spatial and temporal arrangements, and how the emerging information pathways that result serve different post-impact functions. However, command-and-control models do not easily adapt to the expanding data-generating and -seeking activities by the public. ICT in disaster contexts will give further rise to improvised activities and temporary organizations with which formal response organizations need to align.
Long-term rapamycin therapy in the Han:SPRD rat model of polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

Background. Short-term studies have demonstrated that rapamycin or everolimus treatment decreases cyst formation and improves renal function in animal models of polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients would likely require life-long treatment with rapamycin. Methods. Male Han:SPRD rats with PKD (Cy/+) were treated with rapamycin (0.2 mg/kg/day IP) or vehicle from 1 to 12 months of age. Mean trough levels of rapamycin (ng/mL) were 6.6 ± 0.1 at 8 weeks of age. Twelve-month-old littermates (+/+) were used as normal controls. Results. Twelve-month-old male Cy/+ rats treated with the vehicle had a more than doubling of kidney volume, severe chronic renal failure, severe hypertension and increased heart weight compared to normal littermate controls (+/+). After rapamycin treatment, 12-month-old Cy/+ rats had markedly improved kidney volume, renal function, blood pressure and heart weight not statistically different from controls. Rapamycin reduced the cyst volume density (CVD) by 72%. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation in the heart, as evidenced by a marked increase in the phospho-S6 protein that was inhibited by rapamycin, was demonstrated in 12-month-old Cy/+ rats. Conclusion. In conclusion, long-term rapamycin treatment in Cy/+ rats results in a normalization of kidney volume, renal function, blood pressure and heart weight. The novel finding that rapamycin decreases hypertension, heart enlargement and mTOR signalling in the heart in PKD rats is reported. The only side effect of rapamycin treatment was an 11% decrease in body weight.
Providing better protection and promoting growth: A defence of Averting the old age crisis

This article briefly summarizes the recommendations of the recent World Bank report, Averting the old age crisis, analyses why representatives of the ISSA and the ILO came to quite different policy conclusions from that report, and takes up other selected issues. The article argues that there are four underlying reasons for the divergence between the World Bank and the ILO/ISSA positions: the Bank is more concerned about the impact of social security systems on the broader economy; the Bank is troubled by the inequities that we often find in current systems in practice, even though they may look equitable on paper; the Bank believes that behavioural responses and political economy factors sometimes make non-viable the design changes of public systems recommended by the ILO and the ISSA; and the Bank places considerable emphasis on the benefits of risk diversification.
Role of the Agr-Like Quorum-Sensing System in Regulating Toxin Production by Clostridium perfringens Type B Strains CN1793 and CN1795

Clostridium perfringens type B causes enteritis and enterotoxemia in domestic animals. By definition, these bacteria must produce alpha toxin (CPA), beta toxin (CPB) and epsilon toxin (ETX) although most type B strains also produce perfringolysin O (PFO) and beta2 toxin (CPB2). A recently identified Agr-like quorum-sensing (QS) system in C. perfringens controls all toxin production by surveyed type A, C, and D strains, but whether this QS is involved in regulating toxin production by type B strains has not been explored. Therefore, the current study introduced agrB null mutations into type B strains CN1795 and CN1793. Both type B agrB null mutants exhibited reduced levels of CPB, PFO, and CPA in their culture supernatants, and this effect was reversible by complementation. The reduced presence of CPB in culture supernatant involved decreased cpb transcription. In contrast, the agrB null mutants of both type B strains retained wild-type production levels of ETX and CPB2. In a Caco-2 cell model of enteritis, culture supernatants of the type B agrB null mutants were less cytotoxic than supernatants of their wild-type parents. However, in an MDCK cell in vitro model for enterotoxemic effects, supernatants from the agrB null mutants or wild-type parents were equally cytotoxic after trypsin activation. Coupling these and previous results, it is now evident that strain-dependent variations exist in Agr-like QS system regulation of C. perfringens toxin production. The cell culture results further support a role for trypsin in determining which toxins contribute to disease involving type B strains.
Probing polymer surface and interface dynamics

Polymeric materials generally exhibit various molecular motions and relaxations. Such relaxation processes, which include the glass transition temperature, have significant effects on physical and mechanical behavior. Polymer molecules and segments at surfaces and interfaces also exhibit motions and relaxations. In air or vacuum, such motions ‘permit’ the surface to restructure to minimize the surface free energy. In aqueous solution, the polymer surface restructures and reorients to optimally interact with the aqueous solvent, thereby minimizing the interfacial free energy. XPS and related high vacuum techniques probe the vacuum-equilibrated surface. The best way to probe the polymer-liquid interface is via dynamic contact angle or wetting methods. A number of issues and concerns are discussed: (1) the size or hierarchy of structures: (2) the time course of surface dynamic processes; (3) theory, modeling, and simulation of surface dynamics; and (4) experimental methods.
Do Women Feel Worse to Look Their Best? Testing the Relationship Between Self-Esteem and Fertility Status Across the Menstrual Cycle:

Two studies measured self-esteem across the menstrual cycle to test the prediction that self-esteem will vary interindividually as a positive function of mate value and intraindividually as a negative function of fertility status. Study 1 (n = 52) found that self-esteem was positively related to mate value between women but that women experienced a self-esteem decrease nearest to ovulation, when women tend to be more attractive to men. Study 2 (n = 59) replicated these results and demonstrated that the self-esteem decrease at high fertility was positively related to women’s reported long-term mating motivation. Additionally, the magnitude of the self-esteem decrease at high fertility was found to be related to increased willingness to spend money on items to enhance attractiveness at high fertility. A self-esteem decrease at high fertility may motivate mate value enhancement efforts when such efforts are most critical.
Change in glucose and insulin after six months' treatment with the oral contraceptive Demulen☆☆☆

The effect of an oral contraceptive containing 1 mg of ethynodiol diacetate and .05 mg of ethinyl estradiol (Demulen) on carbohydrate metabolism was studied. 37 normal women were given glucose tolerance tests before and 6 months after treatment and determinations of blood glucose and plasma insulin were made. Mean age of patients was 22.1 years; mean parity 2.3; mean control weight 141.2 pounds and mean weight after 6 months treatment 142.2 pounds. There was a slight but significant rise in mean blood glucose values from 5.1 to 13.5 mg % (p<.01). The fasting 2 and 3 hour values of plasma insulin at the 6 months test were significantly elevated (p<.05). The mean differences ranged from 6.3 to 31.6 microunits per ml. From these results and other published data the authors conclude the carbohydrate metabolic effects of these drugs are related mainly to the progesterone component although estrogen may act synergistically.
Molecular Methodologies in Nutrition Research

In the early stages of the evolution of life forms, cellular growth and evolutionary success required that the developing organism respond to a myriad of environmental factors. In particular, an organism had to be able to fulfill its nutrient needs as well as to sense periods of nutrient deficiency or excess and then turn on pathways of synthesis or storage. Because of this need to sense changes in nutrient environment, early cell life forms developed switches that regulated the transcription of genes encoding proteins involved in such metabolic functions as sugar synthesis and amino acid transport. This regulation of gene expression and metabolism was, in essence, a primitive hormonal signaling system used for the survival and growth of the organism. As single cell organisms evolved into complex life forms, nutrients continued to act as environmental signals to regulate gene expression and metabolism. These dietary signals and their effects on gene expression could be both beneficial and detrimental in the etiology of such nutritionally related pathophysiologies as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. We are now beginning to understand how nutrients govern gene expression and the abundance of pivotal metabolic and structural proteins. We now know that dietary constituents can govern the expression of proteins at a number of transcriptional and posttranscriptional points. For example, fatty acids, retinoic acid and cholecalciferol have specific nuclear receptors. Following ligand activation, the receptors interact with specific DNA recognition sequences within a particular gene and either up or down regulate the gene’s rate of transcription (Alroy et al. 1995, Mangelsdorf and Evans 1995, Schoonjans et al. 1996). Recent data also suggest that carbo
Protein sectors: evolutionary units of three-dimensional structure.

SUMMARY Proteins display a hierarchy of structural features at primary, secondary, tertiary, and higher-order levels, an organization that guides our current understanding of their biological properties and evolutionary origins. Here, we reveal a structural organization distinct from this traditional hierarchy by statistical analysis of correlated evolution between amino acids. Applied to the S1A serine proteases, the analysis indicates a decomposition of the protein into three quasi-independent groups of correlated amino acids that we term ‘‘protein sectors.’’ Each sector is physically connected in the tertiary structure, has a distinct functional role, and constitutes an independent mode of sequence divergence in the protein family. Functionally relevant sectors are evident in other protein families as well, suggesting that they may be general features of proteins. We propose that sectors represent a structural organization of proteins that reflects their evolutionary histories.
Inclusion of People with Special Needs in Choral Settings: A Review of Applicable Research and Professional Literature.

Despite long-standing antidiscrimination laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which are meant to guarantee equal access, many school an...
Azimuthal propagation of low‐energy solar‐flare protons as observed from spacecraft very widely separated in solar azimuth

The azimuthal propagation of solar protons with kinetic energies in the range ∼10 to ∼30 Mev is investigated by using observations made in the period December 1967 through August 1968 with University of Chicago instruments on board the earth satellite Imp 4 and the deep-space probes Pioneer 6 and Pioneer 7, which were very widely separated from the earth during this period. In the period studied, nine solar-proton events were observed simultaneously at all three spacecraft. In 6 of the 9 events discussed, the proton fluxes approached uniformity around the sun at the orbit of earth, and in 5 of these 6, the decay was divisible into 2 phases. During phase 1 azimuthal gradients were strong and the decay of the flux was fast, with exponential time-decay constants in the range ∼10 to 20 hours. During phase 2, azimuthal gradients were weak or nonexistent and decay was slow, with time constants generally in excess of 40 hours. The times required for rise to maximum intensity and approach to uniformity, if interpreted in terms of the 1967 model of L. F. Burlaga, are found consistent with the existence of diffusion coefficients κ∥ > 4.3 × 1020 cm²/sec and κ⊥ ∼ 1020 to 1021 cm²/sec at the orbit of earth. From observations of the energy spectra of the protons in these events, it is concluded that the azimuthal propagation process did not depend strongly on particle energy and that consequently there was no simple general dependence of the spectral form on azimuthal separation from the flare site. Though detailed interpretation and discussion of the theoretical implications of these results are deferred to a later paper, alternative models for the understanding of the observations are mentioned briefly.
Determination of cross sections by overtone mobility spectrometry: evidence for loss of unstable structures at higher overtones.

Overtone mobility spectrometry (OMS) is examined as a means of determining the collision cross sections for multiply charged ubiquitin and substance P ions, as well as for singly charged rafinose and melezitose ions. Overall, values of collision cross section measured by OMS for stable ion conformations are found to be in agreement with values determined by conventional ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) measurements to within ∼1% relative uncertainty. The OMS spectra for ubiquitin ions appear to favor different conformations at higher overtones. We propose that the changes in the distributions as a function of the overtone region in which they are measured arise from the elimination of ions that undergo structural transitions in the drift regions. Kinetics simulations suggest that structural transitions occurring on the order of a few ms and resulting in an ∼4% change in ion collision cross sections are detected by OMS measurements. The unique method of distinguishing ion mobilities with OMS reveals these s...
Stromal expression of miR-143/145 promotes neoangiogenesis in lung cancer development

The two unrelated miRNAs miR-143 and miR-145, coexpressed from the miR-143/145 cluster, have been proposed to act as tumor suppressors in human cancer, and therapeutic benefits of delivering miR-143 and miR-145 to tumors have been reported. In contrast, we found that tumor-specific deletion of miR-143/145 in an autochthonous mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma did not affect tumor development. This was consistent with the lack of endogenous miR-143/145 expression in normal and transformed lung epithelium. Surprisingly, miR-143/145 in the tumor microenvironment dramatically promoted tumor growth by stimulating the proliferation of endothelial cells. Loss of miR-143/145 in vivo led to derepression of the miR-145 target CAMK1D, an inhibitory kinase, which when overexpressed prevents mitotic entry of endothelial cells. As a consequence, tumors in miR-143/145-deficient animals exhibited diminished neoangiogenesis, increased apoptosis, and their expansion was limited by the tumor's ability to co-opt the alveolar vasculature. These findings demonstrate that stromal miR-143/145 promotes tumorigenesis and caution against the use of these miRNAs as agents in cancer therapeutics. Significance: This study shows that miR-143/145 expressed from the tumor microenvironment stimulates neoangiogenesis and supports tumor expansion in the lung, demonstrating a surprising role for the putative tumor suppressor miRNA cluster in promoting tumorigenesis. We propose inhibition of miR-143/145 as a therapeutic avenue to modulate tumor neoangiogenesis. Cancer Discov; 6(2); 188–201. ©2015 AACR . This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, [p. 109][1] [1]: /lookup/volpage/6/109?iss=2
Toxicity of Nutritional Support in the Traumatic Brain Injured

We have observed patients with severe traumatic brain injuries deteriorate after institution of parenteral nutrition. We established a protocol designed to test the hypothesis that “institution of nutritional support would be associated with increased difficulty in the maintenance of ICP/CPP and/or neurologic function”.
Indirect Calorimetry Evaluation of Dietary Protein and Animal Fat Effects on Energy Utilization of Laying Hens

Abstract A multichamber indirect calorimeter was constructed and used to measure energy utilization of laying hens. Four basic diets were formulated by a least cost linear program for use in this study. The first diet was formulated to meet the 1984 National Research Council (NRC) recommendations and contained by analysis 14.5% protein, .58% TSAA, and .68% lysine (designated NRC). The second diet (NRCAA) was formulated to the same amino acid specifications without a protein restriction and contained 12.9% protein, .57% TSAA, and .69% lysine. Another pair of diets was formulated with higher protein (HP) and amino acid restrictions. The HP diet contained 16% protein, .67% TSAA, and .85% lysine; whereas the HPAA diet had 14% protein, .68% TSAA, and .86% lysine. Four additional diets were formulated with the inclusion of 3% animal fat, using the same protein and amino acid restrictions as were used to formulate the first four diets. Animal fat supplementation significantly (P
Crime, Fear, and Legitimating Ideologies: State of the Union Addresses as Hegemonic Strategy

Beckett and Sasson argue that the wars on crime and drugs of the 1980s and 1990s were part of an elite-engineered hegemonic strategy aimed at replacing the welfare state with the security state. As the welfare state came under attack, a new hegemonic strategy emerged that attacked welfare policies and promoted “tough on crime” policies. Yet, Beckett and Sasson note that for the new hegemonic strategy to be successful, it must be rooted in the experiences and cultural beliefs of the general population. We investigate the possibility of an elite-engineered effort to build support for tough on crime policies by conducting a time series analysis using General Social Survey data and statements by presidents in State of the Union addresses from 1972 to 2010. Specifically, we predict aggregate levels of fear of crime and support for welfare spending with presidential mentions of “crime” and “welfare” in State of the Union addresses. Our results indicate that fear increases when presidents discuss crime and welfa...
Gendered diffusion on gendered issues: the case of human trafficking

This study aims to identify those factors that impact the comprehensiveness of state human trafficking legislation. To do so, we propose independent effects of policy diffusion and the percentage of females in a state legislature. Building on this framework, we then suggest a process of gendered diffusion, whereby female state legislators represent a unique diffusion network for "women's interest" issues both within their own legislature, as well as across state networks. Taken together, this paper suggests that, for certain types of new issue areas, the demographic composition of state legislative chambers and the policy diffusion process are conditional on one another. This finding extends the bodies of scholarship concerning descriptive representation and policy diffusion, and presents a novel way to look at the policy-making process.
The Robustness of Affect Manipulations in Vigilance Paradigms

Previous research has shown that vigilance tasks result in decreased affect ratings. However, studies have not examined the effectiveness of valence manipulations presented in discrete manipulation sessions over the course of a vigilance task, nor how repeated exposure to an affect manipulation would impact the perceptions or effectiveness of the manipulations. To that end, 109 participants from a large southeastern university completed three affect manipulations (of either positive, negative, or neutral valence) over the course of a 700 image visual search task and rated the manipulation stimuli and their own experiences in terms of valence and arousal. Results revealed no changes in the perceptions or effectiveness of the negative manipulations over time. However, those in the positive condition perceived their stimuli as less positive over time and were resistant to affect restoration at the end of the experiment. Results are discussed in relation to implications for experimental design when attempting...
Liquid crystal electro-optical switching approaches

Liquid crystals (LCs), a special state of matter, with properties resembling both liquids and crystals has proven to be a commercially viable technology in the flat panel displays arena. For years, LCs have attracted the attention of optical switch designers, hoping to capture and harness their powerful electro-optic properties for routing and controlling light.
A Σππ mass enhancement and a nearby triangle singularity

The enhancement observed in the (Σππ)+ system at about 1660 MeV is described using a triangle diagram which has an intermediate state composed of a π+ and a Y0*(1520). In view of this, it is suggested that this enhancement does not represent the three-particle decay mode of the Y1*(1660), but that rather it is the result of a final-state interaction mechanism.
The use of a group meal in the brief group therapy of bulimia nervosa

The group meal is a technique that can be easily incorporated into traditional forms of short-term group therapy for bulimia nervosa. It is a modification of the exposure and response-prevention mo...
PD-1/PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The programmed death 1 (PD-1) pathway is an immune checkpoint that has been implicated in tumoral immune escape, and has emerged as a major focus of immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Multiple agents have progressed through clinical development in recent years, including antibodies targeting both PD-1 and its key ligand, programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). This article reviews PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in NSCLC, including completed clinical trials, ongoing studies, future directions, and challenges.
Adaptive Training Sequence Based Frequency Synchronization Scheme for MIMO-OFDM Systems

Joint design of the carrier frequency offset(CFO) estimator and adaptive training sequence for multi-input multi-output orthogonal frequency division multiplexing(MIMO-OFDM) system is investigated.With adaptive training sequence,which is optimized according to channel state information(CSI) available at the transmitter,proposed CFO estimator can update Schenk's estimator and then reduce the effect of channel noise and further increase the accuracy of CFO estimation in fading channels.
The use of intravesical thio-tepa in the management of non-invasive carcinoma of the bladder.

AbstractTwo separate uses of intravesical therapy with thio-tepa were tested: 1) the ablative effect on noninvasive carcinoma of the bladder (that is treatment) and 2) the prophylactic effect in the prevention of new or recurrent tumors (that is prophylaxis).Of the 95 patients treated with thio-tepa for the ablation of incompletely resected carcinoma of the bladder (stages O and A) 45 (47 per cent) were free of disease after 2 treatment courses. The success rate was not affected by the dose (30 or 60mg.) or by pathologic assessment of stage and grade. The number of tumors was associated with response to treatment. Patients with 4 or more tumors did not do as well as patients with less than 4 (success rates of 36 and 62 per cent, respectively, which is significant statistically, p equals 0.02).The prophylaxis study included 93 patients: 23 on 30mg. dose, 23 on 60mg. and 47 controls. The interval free of disease was longer for patients receiving thio-tepa prophylaxis compared to the controls (statistically ...
Policy compliance recommendations for international shipbreaking treaties for Bangladesh

Abstract The ship breaking industry in Bangladesh is challenged to balance economic goals with improving environmental and human health conditions. Since ship breaking is an inherently international industry, Bangladesh as a major shipbreaking party needs to adjust its national policy strategy to harmonize with international rules, regulations, and decision making. The Hong Kong International Convention on the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and their Disposal (BC) regulate how ships are sold, managed, traded, and scrapped. A policy gap analysis was used to determine whether and how current Bangladesh national policies conform with international shipbreaking conventions and to identify gaps in regulatory enforcement. Key informants' interviews were used to obtain expert opinions on existing policies and a grounded theory approach for data analysis. Although national laws do conform with international conventions, Bangladesh authorities are currently not able to fully implement either national or international regulations as they lack the necessary financial and technical capacity for monitoring and enforcement. In accordance with the “polluter pays principle,” the international shipbreaking policy regime should utilize a deposit-refund system to rectify the lack of capacity in developing countries to comply with regulations. Given initial estimates presented here, a global fund adequate to upgrade all facilities in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan (to recycle the current flow of end-of-life ships) could be fully financed by a deposit of ~0.3% of a new ship's purchase price per year.
Animal Models for Febrile Seizures

Publisher Summary Human studies have provided conflicting information regarding the causal relationship between febrile seizures and the subsequent development of temporal lobe epilepsy. This chapter considers the prerequisites of an optimal animal model for febrile seizures, including age specificity, electroencephalographic confirmation, temperature range and validation, pharmacological profile, low morbidity/mortality, and appropriate controls. In view of the difficulties of studying both the mechanisms of febrile seizures and the potential direct effects of these seizures on the immature brain, the search for an appropriate animal model has been an ongoing endeavor. Temperatures that lead to the seizures should be in the physiological range. This chapter also highlights the significant decline in the susceptibility to hyperthermic seizures evident between the 11th and the 17th days of a rat's life. The goal of setting up models of febrile seizures is to study the mechanisms or the outcomes of these seizures. However, by definition, each model involves subjecting the brain to hyperthermia to simulate fever.
Drugs That Affect Competence

The elderly (over 65s) constitute 11.4 percent of the Irish population yet receive 47% of all prescribed medicines on the GMS (General Medical Services); it is estimated that 32 items per year are prescribed per elderly person (GMS Prescribing Data, 2000). Similar figures are seen across Europe. This is thought to be due to the presence of multiple pathologies, the increasing range of available medicines, inappropriate prescribing, lack of medication review and an increased emphasis on preventative treatments in older people. Polypharmacy is the norm not the exception. A significant factor is repeat prescribing particularly where older patients are not reviewed regularly. Institutionalized patients tend to be on an even larger number of drugs (Denham and Denham, 1998). Self-medication with over the counter (OTC) medicines or continued treatment for a previous condition that has resolved is also common and can increase the risk of adverse events (Batty et al., 1997).
Building an audience, bonding a city: digital news production as a field of care

Cities act as shared social structures that shape citizen identity. These bonds are solidified through fields of care, in which residents are tied to the city by both geographic space and emotional...
Context-Dependent Effects of Amplified MAPK Signaling during Lung Adenocarcinoma Initiation and Progression.

Expression of oncogenic KrasG12D initiates lung adenomas in a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal-dependent manner from only a subset of cell types in the adult mouse lung. Amplification of MAPK signaling is associated with progression to malignant adenocarcinomas, but whether this is a cause or a consequence of disease progression is not known. To better understand the effects of MAPK signaling downstream of KrasG12D expression, we capitalized on the ability of Braf inhibition to selectively amplify MAPK pathway signaling in KrasG12D-expressing epithelial cells. MAPK signal amplification indeed promoted the rapid progression of established adenomas to malignant adenocarcinomas. However, we observed, surprisingly, a greater number of overall tumor-initiating events after MAPK signal amplification, due to induced proliferation of cell types that are normally refractory to KrasG12D-induced transformation. Thus, MAPK signaling in the lung is thresholded not only during malignant progression but also at the moment of tumor initiation.
Literature review on field study of ventilation and indoor air quality performance verification in high-performance commercial buildings in North America

In this article, the authors summarize the results of field studies to evaluate the ventilation and indoor air quality performance in high-performance commercial (nonindustrial and nonresidential) ...
Summary of Other Model Order Reduction Techniques

Besides the dynamic condensation technique described in preceding chapters, many other techniques are available in the literature for the model reduction in the area of structural dynamics and vibrations. Several popular techniques among them will be summarized in this chapter. They are modal coordinate reduction, Ritz vector method, component mode synthesis, proper orthogonal decomposition, balanced realization reduction, and condensation model reduction.