cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elevated p21-activated protein kinase 2 activity suppresses anoikis of breast cancer cells

1830 For metastasis to occur, cancer cells must acquire the ability to invade and survive in circulation. Normal epithelial cells die via anoikis (detachment-induced apoptosis) when detached from the epithelial layer because they loose contacts of integrin receptors with proteins in the extracellular matrix. Metastatic cancer cells escape from anoikis by constitutive activation of signaling pathways downstream of integrin receptors which enables them to survive and even grow in circulation. p21-activated protein kinases (PAKs) have been shown to act in signaling pathways downstream of integrin receptors and are frequently elevated in protein and/or activity levels in breast cancer. To examine if elevated PAK-2 activity enables breast cancer cells to escape anoikis, we have generated Hs578T breast cancer cells with a conditionally active PAK-2 construct. Expression and activation of this PAK-2 construct increases PAK-2 activity levels in Hs578T cells, which contain low levels of endogenous PAK-2 activity. The elevated PAK-2 activity results in enhanced resistance to anoikis and anchorage-independent survival and growth of Hs578T cells. Expression and activation of the conditionally active PAK-2 construct also changes pro- and anti-apoptotic signaling pathways. Phosphorylation of Bad and ERK increases indicating enhanced cell survival and growth signaling. Levels of active caspase 3 and cleavage of the caspase 3 substrate PARP decreases indicating reduced pro-apoptotic caspase cascade signaling. PAK-2 itself is a substrate of caspase 3 and caspase cleavage converts the anti-apoptotic PAK-2 into the pro-apoptotic PAK-2p34 fragment. Interestingly, expression and activation of the conditionally active PAK-2 construct also decreases caspase cleavage of PAK-2 indicating that elevated PAK-2 activity interferes with its own caspase cleavage. It is suggested that elevated PAK-2 activity results in enhanced resistance to anoikis of breast cancer cells by stimulation of anti-apoptotic signaling and suppression of pro-apoptotic signaling including its own processing to the pro-apoptotic PAK-2p34 fragment.
Defining Myself In: My Early Career Journey

AbstractThis article represents an integration of my personal and professional identities. I begin by discussing some of my salient identities (e.g., multiracial Asian American, cisgender woman, se...
Temporal single-surface multipactor dynamics under obliquely incident linearly polarized electric field

It is well-known that single-surface multipactor discharges can negatively affect electromagnetic wave transmission, especially in high power microwave devices and space-based communication systems. In this work, the temporal single-surface multipactor dynamics under an obliquely incident linearly polarized electric field are investigated by particle-in-cell simulations. The results reveal that multipactor discharges highly decay by adjusting the angle, θ, between the rf electric field and the dielectric window. For plane waves with θ = 0, the number of electrons as a function of time oscillates at twice the rf frequency. However, alternative oscillations decrease in magnitude at θ = 0.05 π and disappear at θ = 0.15 π. This is because the perpendicular component of the rf electric field alternatively reinforces or reduces the restoring field and increases or decreases the secondary electron emission in half of the rf period. In addition, the electrons are forced into a few branches in the phase space of velocity and position, i.e., the electrons have a few groups of velocities at a fixed position due to the largely increased electron flight time. Finally, multipactor suppression is investigated by a simple kinetic model, by which the susceptibility diagram is obtained. This diagram shows the upper and lower boundaries gradually approach each other upon increasing θ from 0 to 0.2 π, indicating reduced parameter space, in which multipactor discharge can develop.
Optical Coherence Tomography and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings After Optic Neuritis in Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: In people with multiple sclerosis (MS), optic neuritis (ON) results in inner retinal layer thinning, and reduced density of the retinal microvasculature. Objective: To compare inter-eye differences (IEDs) in macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) measures in MS patients with a history of unilateral ON (MS ON) vs. MS patients with no history of ON (MS non-ON), and to assess how these measures correlate with visual function outcomes after ON. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, people with MS underwent OCT and OCTA. Superficial vascular plexus (SVP) density of each eye was quantified using a deep neural network. IEDs were calculated with respect to the ON eye in MS ON patients, and with respect to the right eye in MS non-ON patients. Statistical analyses used mixed-effect regression models accounting for intra-subject correlations. Results: We included 43 MS ON patients (with 92 discrete OCT/OCTA visits) and 14 MS non-ON patients (with 24 OCT/OCTA visits). Across the cohorts, mean IED in SVP density was -2.69% (SD 3.23) in MS ON patients, as compared to 0.17% (SD 2.39) in MS non-ON patients (p = 0.002). When the MS ON patients were further stratified according to time from ON and compared to MS non-ON patients with multiple cross-sectional analyses, we identified that IED in SVP density was significantly increased in MS ON patients at 1-3 years (p = 3 years post-ON (p < 0.001), but not at <3 months (p = 0.21) or 3-12 months post-ON (p = 0.07), while IED in ganglion cell + inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness was significantly increased in MS ON patients at all time points post-ON (p ≦ 0.01 for all). IED in SVP density and IED in GCIPL thickness demonstrated significant relationships with IEDs in 100% contrast, 2.5% contrast, and 1.25% contrast letter acuity in MS ON patients (p < 0.001 for all). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that increased IED in SVP density can be detected after ON in MS using OCTA, and detectable changes in SVP density after ON may occur after changes in GCIPL thickness. IED in SVP density and IED in GCIPL thickness correlate well with visual function outcomes in MS ON patients.
Packaging and Antenna Integration for Silicon-Based Millimeter-Wave Phased Arrays: 5G and Beyond

This article reviews current research and development as well as future opportunities for packaging and antenna integration technologies for silicon-based millimeter-wave phased arrays in emerging communication applications. Implementations of state-of-the-art silicon-based phased arrays below 100 GHz are discussed, with emphasis on array architectures for scaling, antenna integration options, substrate materials and process, antenna design, and IC-package codesign. Opportunities and challenges to support phased array applications beyond 100 GHz are then presented, including emerging packaging architectures, interconnect characterization requirements, thermal management approaches, heterogeneous integration of multifunction chiplets, and novel antenna technologies.
Caregiver Burden Among Those Caring for Patients With Spina Bifida.

Abstract Objective 1) To identify baseline characteristics of caregivers of school-aged children with spina bifida; 2) To identify independent predictors of caregiver burden in this population. Materials and Methods A survey was distributed via Facebook advertising to caregivers of patients with congenital genitourinary anomalies from May to September 2018. Eligible participants (n = 408) entailed English-speaking adults who are involved in the patient's care and attend ≥50% of their medical appointments. Caregiver burden was assessed using the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), where higher scores indicate higher burden. CBI ≥24 indicates need for respite and CBI ≥36 indicates high risk of burnout. Bivariate analyses (t-tests and chi-square tests) were conducted using STATA software. Results Our analysis includes 408 caregivers caring for patients with spina bifida. In our study population, 59.3% of caregivers were in need of respite due to caregiver burden and 26.7% of caregivers were so burdened that they are at risk of burning out (CBI score ≥36). Bivariate analysis showed that caregiver gender and number of tasks performed by the caregiver were significantly associated with risk of burnout (CBI ≥ 36). Multivariable analysis of overall caregiver burden showed increased risk of burnout (CBI ≥ 36) among older caregivers, female caregivers, and those performing more caregiving tasks. Conclusion Caregiver burden is common among caregivers of patients with spina bifida, and further research is needed to identify strategies and resources for mitigating caregiver burden.
DEER Analysis of GPCR Conformational Heterogeneity.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent a large class of transmembrane helical proteins which are involved in numerous physiological signaling pathways and therefore represent crucial pharmacological targets. GPCR function and the action of therapeutic molecules are defined by only a few parameters, including receptor basal activity, ligand affinity, intrinsic efficacy and signal bias. These parameters are encoded in characteristic receptor conformations existing in equilibrium and their populations, which are thus of paramount interest for the understanding of receptor (mal-)functions and rational design of improved therapeutics. To this end, the combination of site-directed spin labeling and EPR spectroscopy, in particular double electron–electron resonance (DEER), is exceedingly valuable as it has access to sub-Angstrom spatial resolution and provides a detailed picture of the number and populations of conformations in equilibrium. This review gives an overview of existing DEER studies on GPCRs with a focus on the delineation of structure/function frameworks, highlighting recent developments in data analysis and visualization. We introduce “conformational efficacy” as a parameter to describe ligand-specific shifts in the conformational equilibrium, taking into account the loose coupling between receptor segments observed for different GPCRs using DEER.
Dielectric metasurfaces made from vertically oriented nanoresonators

Dielectric metasurfaces control optical wavefronts via nanoscale resonators laid out across a surface. However, most metasurfaces are, by design, planar. In this work, we demonstrate the ability to fabricate dielectric metasurfaces with vertically oriented dielectric resonators using membrane projection lithography. We first numerically characterize the resonant modes of an array of vertically oriented germanium ellipses with no substrate and identify a narrowband region where the resonators satisfy the first Kerker condition. We then fabricate seven metasurfaces by depositing germanium ellipses onto walls of a 3D micrometer-sized silicon nitride photonic scaffold and characterize their transmission. We find that signatures of the multipolar modes seen in the unsupported array persist in the supported array, but the overall behavior is more complicated due to the scaffold. Further, we show that for a conceptual metasurface containing two coupled, vertically oriented ellipses, the ellipses can generate a sharp resonance with a quality factor of 240.
Measurement of finger tapping performance using a smartphone application: a pilot study

[Purpose] Describe the measurement, reliability and validity of finger tapping repetitions recorded using a commercially available smartphone application (app). [Participants and Methods] We tested a convenience sample of 12 young right-handed participants who completed unilateral index finger tapping and peg board completion tasks with each hand. [Results] Measurement of finger tapping performance was practicable and was shown to be acceptably reliable and able to distinguish between performance of the dominant versus nondominant hand. Finger tapping was not correlated with pegboard performance. [Conclusion] A small sample of young adults showed that measures of finger tapping were easily obtained using a smartphone app. The measures demonstrated acceptable reliability and known groups validity. They, however, may not reflect performance at other measures of voluntary movement functions.
Rice-based integrated farming systems for doubling of farm income in Eastern India

The realisation of low farm income from the farming sector invariably caused agrarian distress among farming communities caused economic and social problems poses detrimental effects on agricultural farming. Suitable integration of rice farming with other crops, fish, livestock and agroforestry components and up scaling with newer varieties of cash crops etc. (i.e. riceornamental fish, crop-livestock-agroforestry, multitier farming, rice-fish-duck and rice-fish-azolladuck integrated farming etc.) can create an opportunity for strengthening the farm productivity and income, which can fulfil the target of doubling the farmer’s income. The system provides production sustainability with nutritional, economic, employment and environmental security for Indian small and marginal farmers.
Studies of the Chemical Intermediate Diphenylcarbene: Intersystem Crossing, Solvent Effects on Dynamics, Spin State Selective Chemistry, Photochemistry of the Excited Triplet State

This paper describes the recent results from our laboratory concerning kinetic studies on diphenylcarbene (DPC). A combination of picosecond and nanosecond laser spectroscopy measurements, chemical quenching experiments and triplet sensitization experiments has allowed the determination of the rapid singlet to triplet and slower triplet to singlet intersystem crossing rates for diphenylcarbene in fluid solution at room temperature. It is shown that under the conditions of the kinetic measurements, singlet and triplet diphenylcarbene (1DPC and 3DPC, respectively) are in rapid equilibrium relative to reactions, so that knowledge of the values of kST and kTS allows determination of the equilibrium constant and change in energy gap for the 1DPC ⇄ 3DPC process. It is found that there is a significant solvent effect on the intersystem crossing rates and energy gaps.
Implementing Resonance-Based Acoustic Technology on Mechanical Harvesters/Processors for Real-Time Wood Stiffness Assessment: Opportunities and Considerations

Abstract Acoustic technology has been successfully used as a nondestructive technique for assessing the mechanical quality of various wood products and species based on stiffness. Many mechanical harvester/processor manufacturers have implemented mechanical sensors to measure tree diameter and length as well as optimal bucking algorithms on their equipment. There is a growing interest in incorporating technologies for measuring internal stem features into a harvester head. The objectives of this study, therefore, were to i) determine and investigate the factors arising from incorporating acoustic instruments on a mechanized harvester head that might influence resonance- based acoustic signal and velocity readings and quality in Douglas-fir, and ii) investigate the issues and considerations associated with suggested working strategies in regard to harvest productivity impacts and processing decisions. After taking into account some feasibility considerations, it was determined that the hold of the machine ...
The synthesis of quadricyclenes : A retrospective look

Abstract Unsuccessful attempts to prepare quadrcyclenes are described, as are a number of successful experiments. The initial studies of reactions of quadricyclenes are summarized. The relationships between the preparative methods for and the properties and reactions of quadricyclenes to orbital symmetry theories and to possible methods for solar energy harvesting are briefly discussed.
Contrasting soil thermal responses to fire in Alaskan tundra and boreal forest

Recent fire activity throughout Alaska has increased the need to understand postfire impacts on soils and permafrost vulnerability. Our study utilized data and modeling from a permafrost and ecosystem gradient to develop a mechanistic understanding of the short- and long-term impacts of tundra and boreal forest fires on soil thermal dynamics. Fires influenced a variety of factors that altered the surface energy budget, soil moisture, and the organic-layer thickness with the overall effect of increasing soil temperatures and thaw depth. The postfire thickness of the soil organic layer and its impact on soil thermal conductivity was the most important factor determining postfire soil temperatures and thaw depth. Boreal and tundra ecosystems underlain by permafrost experienced smaller postfire soil temperature increases than the nonpermafrost boreal forest from the direct and indirect effects of permafrost on drainage, soil moisture, and vegetation flammability. Permafrost decreased the loss of the insulating soil organic layer, decreased soil drying, increased surface water pooling, and created a significant heat sink to buffer postfire soil temperature and thaw depth changes. Ecosystem factors also played a role in determining postfire thaw depth with boreal forests taking several decades longer to recover their soil thermal properties than tundra. These factors resulted in tundra being less sensitive to postfire soil thermal changes than the nonpermafrost boreal forest. These results suggest that permafrost and soil organic carbon will be more vulnerable to fire as climate warms.
Clorgyline and deprenyl attenuate striatal malonate and 3-nitropropionic acid lesions.

We have previously shown that dopamine depletion reduces striatal damage elicited by the mitochondrial neurotoxins malonate and 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP). Metabolism of dopamine by monoamine oxidase results in the formation of hydrogen peroxide, which may mediate dopamine toxicity. In this study, administration of the monoamine oxidase inhibitors clorgyline and deprenyl resulted in a 42% and 75% reduction in lesion volumes in malonate- and 3NP-treated animals, respectively, compared to controls.
Minimally Invasive Surgery: The Pediatric Surgery Experience

Abstract Background: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has become an important aspect of general surgery. The degree to which pediatric surgeons have incorporated MIS into their practice is not known. Study Design: An MIS survey was sent to all members of the American Pediatric Surgical Association. Respondents were separated into two groups: nonperformers and performers of MIS. Performers were asked how they were trained in MIS and the total number and types of minimally invasive procedures they have performed. Results: Eighty-two percent of surveyed pediatric surgeons perform MIS. Eighty-seven percent received some or all of their training in a postgraduate course. Two percent received their only training during their general surgery residency. Forty-seven percent of performers reported 50 or fewer total procedures. A wide variety of procedures were reported, but laparoscopic cholecystectomy (95%) was the procedure most frequently reported. Thoracoscopic procedures (71%) were also reported at high rates. Conclusions: Most pediatric surgeons in our survey perform MIS. The high rate of laparoscopic cholecystectomies reported suggests that the initial MIS experience of pediatric surgeons in our survey is similar to adult general surgeons. The frequency, however, of thoracic cases reported indicates that MIS techniques are being applied to all areas of pediatric surgery. The total minimally invasive procedure experience of our respondents also suggests that pediatric surgeons are early in their learning curve.
Spontaneous thrombolysis of native artery occlusions

Acute arterial ischemia of the lower extremities is a major cause of mortality and limb loss in patients with peripheral vascular disease. Patients with acute limb ischemia secondary to embolus or in situ thrombosis usually require emergency revascularization, either surgically or with the use of thrombolytic agents. It is commonly assumed that heparin therapy alone, without disobliterative intervention, can produce clinical improvement through continued patency and enlargement of the collateral circulation. The occurrence of spontaneous thrombolysis of major limb vessels is not generally accepted. We describe three patients, all with confirmed occlusion of either the iliac or superficial femoral arteries, who had spontaneous thrombolysis of occluded vessels. These experiences document that spontaneous resolution of arterial occlusion does occur, although it may be infrequent.
Laccase—and Not Tyrosinase—Is the Enzyme Responsible for Quinone Methide Production from 2,6-Dimethoxy-4-allyl Phenol

Abstract Tyrosinase, which is known to possess both monophenol monooxygenase activity (EC 1.14.18.1, tyrosine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine:oxygen oxidoreductase) and o -diphenoloxidase activity (EC 1.10.3.1, o -diphenol:oxygen oxidoreductase), has been shown to exhibit other related activities. Recently, a new reaction, viz., oxidative conversion of 2,6-dimethoxyallyl phenol to its quinone methide, catalyzed by commercial preparations of mushroom tyrosinase was reported (E. S. Krol, and J. L. Bolton, 1997, Chem. Biol. Interact. 104, 11–27). Since the reaction involves an unusual 1,6-oxidation rather than the conventional 1,4-oxidation, we reexamined this reaction more carefully. The o -diphenoloxidase activity and the dimethoxyallyl phenol oxidase activity of mushroom tyrosinase preparations exhibited different mobilities on size-exclusion chromatography on a Sephacryl S-200 column. A similar behavior was also witnessed on preparative isoelectric focusing in a rotofor cell. Different preparations of mushroom tyrosinase possessed varying ratios of these two activities, further confirming that they are due to two different enzymes. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by activity staining of the gel revealed different mobilities for these two activities. The protein band exhibiting dimethoxyallyl phenol oxidase activity could also be stained by syringaldazine, a well-known substrate for laccase (EC 1.10.3.2, p -diphenol:oxygen oxidoreductase). Two insect phenoloxidases, which are known for their wide substrate specificity, failed to oxidize dimethoxyallyl phenol to any detectable extent, thereby confirming that typical o -diphenoloxidases lack the ability to oxidize dimethoxyallyl phenol. On the other hand, laccase, which is known to convert syringaldazine to its quinone methide derivative, readily produced the quinone methide from dimethoxyallyl phenol. It is therefore concluded that laccase, which is present as a contaminant in the commercial preparations of mushroom tyrosinase—and not tyrosinase ( o -diphenoloxidase)—is the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the new conversion of dimethoxyallyl phenol to its corresponding quinone methide.
Hexosamine content of marine biological adhesives

Abstract Mytilus edulis byssal threads have been shown to contain both glucosamine and galactosamine. Inadvertent degradation of the material probably is the reason for the reported absence of these hexosamines from the Mytilus adhesive; evidence for this explanation has been found.
The Empress Elisabeth of Austria and HER “Untidy” Collection

“In ‘Her’ there is everything, but as in a disordered museum—pure treasures, which go unused. Nor does she know what to do with them.” 1 1Marie Festitics on Elisabeth qtd. in The Reluctant Empress ...
NLRB Regional Office Decision Making: Independence, Partisanship, and Caseloads:

As part of an investigation of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regional office decision making, I examine decisions to dismiss cases or withdraw unfair labor practice complaints by unions against their employers by creating a cross-sectional time series data set from 1964 to 1986. I hypothesize that changes in economic conditions, traditional regional sympathies, and union membership coupled with the demise of the pro-labor coalition in the NLRB under the Reagan administration significantly increased the uncertainty by which decisions are made to dismiss or withdraw cases. In particular, regional offices with high caseloads or those who reside in states traditionally hostile to unions have higher withdrawal and dismissal rates. Further, changes in the NLRB under the Reagan administration influenced decisions to dismiss cases made by regional offices in economically declining areas and decisions by unions to withdraw cases. This suggests that regional offices may be reacting to environmental conf...
Foreign Policy and the Evaluation of Presidential Candidates

This article applies recent work on social cognition to examine the impact of foreign policy on presidential elections, particularly on the evaluation of incumbent candidates. The authors propose that specific issue evaluations shape the public's overall evaluation of candidates and that the overall evaluation in turn shapes the public's voting decision. This two-step hypothesis is tested with aggregate and individual-level data for both foreign policy and economic evaluations of incumbent performance and for the very different elections of 1980 and 1984. The results support the hypothesized two-step process at both aggregate and individual levels of analysis and for all categories of party identifiers. Foreign policy issues not only shape public evaluation of candidates but their influence does not compare unfavorably with that of economic circumstances. The results provide new evidence that the outcome of presidential elections is influenced, albeit indirectly, by foreign policy.
The GABAA receptor γ1-subunit in seizure prone (DBA/2) and resistant (C57BL/6) mice

Abstract γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptors are the sites of action for many antiepileptic drugs such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates. We report the results of molecular cloning of the γ 1 -subunit from seizure prone DBA/2J and resistant C57BL/6J inbred mice, and analyses of nucleotide sequences and expression of the γ 1 -subunit messenger RNA (mRNA) in DBA/2 and C57BL/6 inbred mice. The mouse γ 1 -subunit complementary DNA (cDNA) shares 98% similarity with that of the rat at the level of amino acid sequence. Northern blot hybridization indicates that the γ 1 -subunit mRNA is expressed predominantly in areas other than the cerebral cortex and cerebellum and shows little change with postnatal development. No differences have been found for the subunit between DBA/2 and C57BL/6 mice either for nucleotide sequence or for level of expression of the subunit’s mRNA in whole brain by Northern blots at 3 weeks of age.
Kinetics of the zinc fluoborate- and hydrogen ion-catalyzed hydrolyses of butadiene diepoxides

Optimum conditions for the etherification of cotton cellulose rather than hydrolysis or solvolysis of the diepoxide had been found to occur with zinc fluoborate catalysis when the diepoxide/catalyst molar ratio was 10–20, and water/diepoxide ratio was less than 100. Data in the literature on specific reaction rates of hydrolysis of butadiene diepoxide at approximately 1M in the presence of zinc fluoborate 0.05M were not available, nor were there such data for the H+ catalyzed-hydrolysis of the diepoxide at a pH = 3.25, which was the pH of the zinc fluoborate–butadiene diepoxide solution. Therefore, kinetics of the hydrolysis of the racemic mixture of the d,l-isomers (BDO) and of the meso-isomer of butadiene diepoxide (called BDE) catalyzed by dilute zinc fluoborate and by dilute HCl at 25–90°C. have been investigated. Rates of hydrolysis of both BDO and BDE were measured by following the change in oxirane oxygen content with time at 25, 40, 60, 75, and 90°C. Analysis of the experimental data at each temperature by the modified Swain method confirmed the assumption of consecutive first order reaction kinetics for the opening of the first and second oxirane rings for both Zn(BF4)2- and H+-catalyzed reactions. The relative rates (k2z/k1z) for the overall reaction with Zn(BF4)2 catalysis exceeded unity at each temperature, while the relative rates (k2H/k1H) with H+ ion catalysis was always less than unity. Thus, with Zn(BF4)2 catalysis, the second oxirane oxygen ring opened more rapidly than the first; but with H+ catalysis, the reverse was true. Correction of specific reaction rate constants of the Zn(BF4)2-catalyzed hydrolysis for the H+- control rates produced the same net result observed in the overall reaction; i.e., the corrected k2′/k1′ was much greater than unity. The zinc fluoboratecatalyzed hydrolysis was much faster than the H+-catalyzed hydrolysis of both rings. Enthalpies, entropies, and free energies of activation for both oxirane rings were calculated. Large negative entropies of activation indicated and SU2 mechanism for both ring openings.
Growth competition of columnar dendritic grains: A phase-field study

Abstract We report the results of an extensive phase-field study of the growth competition of columnar dendritic grains in two dimensions. We investigate the influence of the temperature gradient and grain bicrystallography on the selection of both grain and microstructure, focusing on a geometry with two grains with principal crystal axes oriented parallel and at a finite misorientation angle with respect to the axis of the temperature gradient. Our first main finding is that, for well-developed dendritic structures forming at a low-temperature gradient, the rate of elimination of the misoriented grain is a non-monotonic function of the difference in undercooling between the dendrite tips of the two grains. Hence this rate cannot be predicted even qualitatively by the common assumption that the elimination rate increases with this undercooling difference. The breakdown of this assumption is particularly striking for highly misoriented dendritic and degenerate structures that persist for very long times despite growing at a substantially larger undercooling than the well-oriented neighboring grains. Our second main finding is that microscopic thermal fluctuations at the origin of sidebranching can induce significant variations in the macroscopic trajectories of grain boundaries (GBs), thereby making grain selection a stochastic process, while yielding limited variations in the selected primary spacings. In contrast, in the absence of fluctuations, GB motion becomes essentially deterministic and grain elimination is suppressed. In addition, our simulations reproduce quantitatively scaling laws deduced from experiments for both the primary dendritic spacing and the dendrite growth direction of misoriented grains. They further reveal that the “intergrain” primary spacing selected by tertiary branching events at GBs is systematically larger than the “intragrain” primary spacing selected by the transient growth competition between primary branches within a single grain, while obeying the same scaling laws. Finally, the fact that the rate of grain elimination is slower in our 2-D simulations than in experiments suggests that the 3-D grain bicrystallography plays a key role in grain selection. This role is interpreted in the light of 2-D simulations that hinder sidebranching on the misoriented grain.
Gender and national identity in Finland: An exploration into women's political agency

Abstract This article explores the nature of women's political agency in Finland. Finnish national identity and ideology is framed by the national narrative authored in Finland's preindependence period. The authorship of the narrative and the nature of female encoding in that narrative afforded women a certain degree of political legitimacy as participants in public policy. Women's political agency can be seen in their high level of public political participation and ongoing involvement in the development and implementation of welfare state policies. This political power is nonetheless bound by the ideology of a national “image-appropriate” female and state understanding of equality. A portrait of two different women's voluntary associations illustrates the limits of women's political agency in Finland and also provides a brief introduction to the unique difficulties encountered by a feminist movement in a social welfare state.
Crohn's disease: Multimodality Imaging of Surgical Indications, Operative Procedures, and Complications

Surgical management is considered for specific indications in Crohn's disease and a wide variety of surgeries is performed. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to depict manifestations of Crohn's disease that indicates surgery, various surgical procedures that are performed, and the complications arising from these surgical procedures. Surgical indications including obstruction due to strictures or adhesions, fistulae and abscesses, and surgeries for these conditions, such as, ileocecectomy, stricturoplasty, small bowel resection, fecal diversion, segmental colectomy, and lysis of adhesions and their complications will be discussed and their imaging will also be illustrated.
Expression of regulated cardiac troponin I in Escherichia coli.

Abstract The study of the functional effects of troponin isoform changes would be greatly aided by the development of a strategy permitting protein engineering and mutational analysis. To assess the role of troponin isoforms in regulating myofibrillar ATPase activity, we have expressed rat cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in E. coli and purified the protein to near homogencity. We utilized the inducible expression vector pGEX-KG to create a glutathione-S-transferase fusion protein which can be cleaved with thrombin. Approximately 6 mg of cTnI can be purified from 1 I of culture. Ca 2+ Mg 2+ ATPase activity was measured using the bacterially synthesized cTnI and the remaining components of the regulated actomyosin complex (troponin T, troponin C, tropomyosin, actin, and myosin) purified to homogeneity from mammalian hearts. In the presence of free Ca 2+ ranging from 10 -2 to 10 -8 M, bacterially synthesized cTnI exhibits specific activity similar to that observed for control cTnI isolated from rat hearts. The bacterially synthesized protein is capable of stoichiometric phosphorylation and demonstrates appropriately regulated specific activity. These results establish the feasibility of using bacterial expression to study functional consequences of changes in expression of troponin isoforms.
Robust Optimality for Discounted Infinite-Horizon Markov Decision Processes With Uncertain Transition Matrices

We study finite-state, finite-action, discounted infinite-horizon Markov decision processes with uncertain transition matrices in the deterministic policy space. The transition matrices are classified as either independent or correlated. A generalized robust optimality criterion which can be degenerated to some popular optimality criteria is proposed, under which an optimal or near-optimal policy exists for any uncertain transition matrix. Theorems are developed to guarantee a stationary policy being optimal or near-optimal in the deterministic policy space.
Compatibilization of PP/EPDM Blends via a Hexa Functional Coupling Agent and Peroxide During Reactive Extrusion:

Isotactic polypropylene (PP) and ethylene-propylene-methylene-norbornene terpolymer (EPDM) were blended in a counter-rotating twin screw extruder in the presence of a peroxide initiator and a new multifunctional coupling agent (hexa(allylamino)cyclotriphosphonitrile (HAP)). The effects of free radical coupling reactions on the mechanical properties and morphologies of the resultant blends were evaluated. Blends that included both HAP and peroxide displayed an increase in low temperature impact strength. Tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) of the alloys revealed enhanced dispersion of EPDM within the PP matrix when compared to the base blends.
KINETIC STUDIES OF THE OXYGEN-PEROXIDE COUPLE ON PYROLYTIC GRAPHITE

The cathodic and anodic properties of the oxygen—peroxide couple have been studied on ordinary pyrolytic graphite, high-pressure annealed pyrolytic graphite and single crystal graphite in alkaline solutions using the rotating disk technique. Both the reduction of O2 and oxidation of peroxide are inhibited on the cleavage surface of the oriented graphite relative to the edge surface. This difference in behaviour is attributed to the lack of suitable adsorption sites on the cleavage surface for the reacting species and/or intermediates. The current/potential data, reaction orders, and stoichiometric number support the following mechanism: O2 → O2(ads); O2(ads) + HOH + e → HO2(ads) + OH−; 2HO2(ads) + OH− → HO2− + O2 + HOH, with the first and second steps rate-controlling for the cathodic reduction.
Everyday ethics: reflections on practice

This introductory article frames the contributions for this issue on everyday ethics – moments that demand moral considerations and ethical choices that researchers encounter. We discuss concerns raised within the research community about the tendency to observe merely obligatory ethical procedures as outlined in Human Subjects Review regulations. We argue that these procedural rituals are manifestly insufficient for the moral challenges of ongoing and evolving research with people; we call for deeper engagement with the ethical dilemmas and defining moments that arise in the everyday conduct of research. We argue that considerations of ethics should be central to establishing the rigor or trustworthiness of research projects. Drawing on principles of systematic inquiry as transparent and grounded in conceptual reasoning, we describe research as praxis and the researcher as practitioner.
Provably good moat routing

Moat routing is the routing of nets between the input/output pads and the core circuit. In this paper, it is proved that moat routing is NP-complete under the routing model in which there are no vertical conflicts and doglegs are disallowed (i.e., every net is routed within a single track). This contrasts with the fact that channel routing is efficiently solvable under these restrictions. The paper then presents an approximation algorithm for moat routing that computes moat routing solutions that are guaranteed to use at most three times the optimal number of tracks. Empirical results are presented indicating that for a number of industrial benchmarks, the algorithm produces solutions that are near optimal and that use significantly fewer tracks than previous moat routing strategies.
Adhesive specificity in normal and transformed mouse fibroblasts.

Abstract Adhesive specificity was studied in normal and transformed Balb c mouse fibroblasts by comparing the number of labeled cells collected from a suspension of these cells by aggregates of various cell types. Aggregates of the two malignant cells examined collected either very many cells (aggregates of SV3T3 cells) or very few cells (aggregates of 3T12 cells). In addition, the relative adhesive behavior of these two aggregate types did not vary according to the cell suspension in which they were circulated. These data make it unnecessary to assume that malignancy is always accompanied by a decrease in intercellular adhesion. The adhesive behavior of normal 3T3 cell aggregates, compared to the aggregates composed of either malignant cell type, varied according to the type of cells in the suspension. Aggregates of 3T3 cells collected an appreciable number of SV3T3 cells but few 3T12 cells. Collection of 3T3 cells by 3T3 aggregates was also low if the 3T3 cells of the suspension were harvested from confluent cultures. However, collection of 3T3 cells by 3T3 aggregates increased significantly, as compared to collection by SV3T3 and 3T12 aggregates in the same cell suspension, if the 3T3 suspension was prepared from sparse cultures. Flat-revertants of SV3T3 cells were also studied. These cells behave like nonmalignant 3T3 cells rather than like the SV3T3 cells from which they were derived. We suggest that malignancy may not be caused by decreased intercellular adhesion as compared to normal cells but, perhaps, by decreased intercellular recognition.
Utilitarians are not always fair and the fair are not always utilitarian: Distinct motives for cooperation

This paper investigates the effect of utilitarianism and fairness motives on cooperative behavior in a real-life, large-scale social dilemma while also looking at the moderating effect of various situational factors on this relationship. Perceived criticality of the situation and high-efficacy beliefs are shown to increase cooperation of utilitarians more than they increase cooperation of those with a fairness motive. Ownership of the problem and the expected cooperation of others on the other hand are shown to increase cooperation of those with a fairness motive more so than they increase cooperation of utilitarians. Implications of these findings for increasing cooperation in social dilemmas are discussed.
Photoelectrochemical Studies on Inorganic/Organic Aqueous Nano-Suspensions Made by TiO2/Poly Neutral Red Assembly

An inorganic/organic interface (IOI) consisting of TiO2/polyNeutral Red(PNR) was subjected to photoelectrochemical studies in both aqueous nano-suspensions and in thin solid forms. The effects caused by PNR modifier on the photoelectrochemical behaviour of the IOI were investigated using [Fe(CN)6]4- as a photoactive hydrated electron donor agent. Results show that the adsorption process of [Fe(CN)6]3- (photolysis product) controls the photo-activity outcomes of IOI assemblies. TiO2/PNR shows lower heterogeneous photochemical response than native TiO2 in a short photolysis time. At longer photolysis times the IOI show a photo activity greater than that of native TiO2. TiO2 /PNR nanoparticles adsorb more [Fe(CN)6]3- in a very steady adsorption /desorption process than the unmodified particles. The interface activities were explained by analysing the IOI junction characteristics, such as electron affinity, work function and hole/electron barrier heights. At TiO2/PNR a strong hybridization between electrons-like and hole-like sub band states in close vicinity to the Fermi energy are developed. The aqueous nano-systems retained moderate stability as indicated by the reproducibility of their photo catalytic activities. Both [Fe(CN)6]4- and PNR contributed to the stability of native TiO2 surfaces.
Predicted tetragonal modifications of V3Si-type compounds☆

Abstract In addition to the 5 possible tetragonal sub-space groups of V 3 Si-type (βW, or O 3 h − Pm3n) crystals previously analysed, 3 more must be examined. These were inadvertantly overlooked previously [ 1 ]. Two of the three added cases can be eliminated using the general theory. Possible tetragonal modifications are then C 7 4v − P4mc; D 5 2d − P 4 m2; C 2 4h − P4 2 /m, all are compatible with second order phase transitions, the last named is the additional case.
Formation of a σ-complex from dicyanopyridinyl and hydroxyalkyl radicals. An ESR study of the photoinitiated complex forming reactions of aryl ketones with 2,4-pyridinedicarbonitrile and alcohols†

When a 1° or 2° alcohol solution of benzophenone and 2,4-pyridinedicarbonitrile (1) is irradiated, the 2,4-dicyanopyridinyl radical (2) is formed immediately. When the irradiation is performed in the cavity of an ESR spectrometer, the spectrum amplitude increases to a near steady-state level, α. When the illumination is discontinued, a sharp rise in amplitude is observed to the β level. These results can be interpreted in terms of an equilibrium between free 2 and an ESR-silent complex of 2 (concentrations proportional to α and β - α, respectively) with Keq = (β - α)/α. The unprecedented increase in signal amplitude when irradiation is stopped requires an alcohol; the effect is not observed when other solvents are used. Keq was found to correlate with the steric bulk of the alcohol solvent. These and other results lead to the conclusion that hydroxyalkyl radicals react reversibly with 2 to form the ESR-silent complex.
Modeling revenue yield of reservation systems that use nested capacity protection strategies

Abstract Airline reservation systems involve the use of booking policies to implement a predetermined allocation of seats to different fare classes. Models for optimal allocation of seats typically assume one of two commonly used booking policies, often without recognizing the differences between them. In this paper, we present alternative representations of these booking policies, and demonstrate that even with identical seat allocations the two booking policies may result in different expected revenues. We also show conditions under which one of the policies is better. Our Markov chain models facilitate optimization of seat allocations given either booking policy. Examples are given.
Automating Isolation and Least Privilege in Web Services

In many client-facing applications, a vulnerability in any part can compromise the entire application. This paper describes the design and implementation of Passe, a system that protects a data store from unintended data leaks and unauthorized writes even in the face of application compromise. Passe automatically splits (previously shared-memory-space) applications into sandboxed processes. Passe limits communication between those components and the types of accesses each component can make to shared storage, such as a backend database. In order to limit components to their least privilege, Passe uses dynamic analysis on developer-supplied end-to-end test cases to learn data and control-flow relationships between database queries and previous query results, and it then strongly enforces those relationships. Our prototype of Passe acts as a drop-in replacement for the Django web framework. By running eleven unmodified, off-the-shelf applications in Passe, we demonstrate its ability to provide strong security guarantees-Passe correctly enforced 96% of the applications' policies-with little additional overhead. Additionally, in the web-specific setting of the prototype, we also mitigate the cross-component effects of cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by combining browser HTML5 sandboxing techniques with our automatic component separation.
Myosin accumulation in mononucleated cells of chick muscle cultures.

Abstract The biosynthesis and accumulation of the myosin heavy chain (MHC) peptide has been examined in embryonic chick skeletal muscle cultures under conditions of normal or arrested cell fusion. When compared with primary chick fibroblasts, the myogenic cells accumulated significantly more MHC, even while mononucleated. Electron microscopy of the fusion-blocked cultures revealed the presence of myosinlike thick filaments in the myoblasts. It is concluded that cell fusion is not a prerequisite for myosin accumulation or myofilament assembly during embryonic chick muscle differentiation.
KDDCS: a load-balanced in-network data-centric storage scheme for sensor networks

We propose an In-Network Data-Centric Storage (INDCS) scheme for answering ad-hoc queries in sensor networks. Previously proposed In-Network Storage (INS) schemes suffered from Storage Hot-Spots that are formed if either the sensors' locations are not uniformly distributed over the coverage area, or the distribution of sensor readings is not uniform over the range of possible reading values. Our K-D tree based Data-Centric Storage (KDDCS) scheme maintains the invariant that the storage of events is distributed reasonably uniformly among the sensors. KDDCS is composed of a set of distributed algorithms whose running time is within a poly-log factor of the diameter of the network. The number of messages any sensor has to send, as well as the bits in those messages, is poly-logarithmic in the number of sensors. Load balancing in KDDCS is based on defining and distributively solving a theoretical problem that we call the Weighted Split Median problem. In addition to analytical bounds on KDDCS individual algorithms, we provide experimental evidence of our scheme's general efficiency, as well as its ability to avoid the formation of storage hot-spots of various sizes, unlike all previous INDCS schemes.