cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic and functional characterization of neutrophils from lupus-prone mice (BA4P.223)

Neutrophils constitute a critical component of cellular immunity that eliminate infectious organisms through oxidative burst, phagocytosis and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Recently it has been reported that neutrophils contribute to autoimmunity through NET formation and interactions with auto-reactive immune cells. Our goal is to characterize phenotypic and functional properties of neutrophils in mouse models of systemic lupus (SLE) to determine if and how neutrophil dysregulation occurs. Using flow cytometry we have measured neutrophil populations in healthy control and diseased SLE mouse models. We found neutrophils are consistently increased in the spleen of MRL-Faslpr, C57BL/6-Faslpr and NZBWF1 lupus mice compared to controls. Further characterization of neutrophil functions including phagocytosis, reactive oxygen production, NET formation, protease activity and histone citrullination indicate increased DNA release, increased citrullination and alterations in serine protease activity in lupus neutrophils. Differences in the results between the NZBWF1 and MRL-Faslpr models suggest the background genetics play a role in neutrophil dysregulation in these two models. Ultimately we hope to understand the cause of altered neutrophil function in mouse models of SLE, whether they contribute to lupus disease progression, and hopefully develop newer targeted therapies for lupus.
Apexification in Non-Vital Teeth with Immature Roots: Report of Two Cases

Apexification is a method of inducing apical closure for non-vital immature permanent teeth. During this treatment a mineralized barrier is induced [with long term calcium hydroxide (CH) treatment]; or artificially created [with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) plug]. This article describes two cases of apexification in immature necrotic teeth treated with these two different techniques. After 6 years of follow-up, clinical and radiographic control showed that both treatments were successful.
Science Satellites: Interplanetary Spacecraft

Interplanetary spacecraft have played key roles in both scientific exploration of the solar system and national policy from the beginning of the Space Age. Initially simple low-mass satellites, interplanetary spacecraft have become major scientific investigations with multiple international connections for answering fundamental questions about the origin, state, and evolution of all major bodies in the solar system. Such spacecraft and their payloads represent significant investments of both time and money and must operate reliably under extreme conditions. While relying on many satellite standard parts and some satellite standard systems, interplanetary spacecraft represent a small fraction of all spacecraft launched. Pressing the limits of launch vehicle, propulsion, telecommunications, and spacecraft longevity, these machines are custom made to their missions and continue to return knowledge of our universe that can be obtained in no other way to Earth from across the solar system and beyond. Keywords: Spacecraft; interplanetary; solar system exploration; heliophysics; robotic; space history; planets
The orbital and medial prefrontal circuit through the primate basal ganglia

The ventral striatum is considered an interface between limbic and motor systems. We followed the orbital and medial prefrontal circuit through the monkey basal ganglia by analyzing the projection from this cortical area to the ventral striatum and the representation of orbitofrontal cortex via the striatum, in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra. Following injections of Lucifer yellow and horse radish peroxidase into the medial ventral striatum, there is a very densely labeled distribution of cells in areas 13a and 13b, primarily in layers V and VI, and in medial prefrontal areas 32 and 25. Injections into the shell of the nucleus accumbens labeled primarily areas 25 and 32. The reaction product in the globus pallidus and the substantia nigra supports previous studies demonstrating that efferent projections from the ventral striatum are represented topographically in the ventral pallidum and nontopographically in the substantia nigra, pars compacta. Tritiated amino acid or PHA-L tracer injections into orbitofrontal cortex produce dense patches of terminal labeling along the medial edge of the caudate nucleus and the dorsal part of the nucleus accumbens. These results demonstrate that the orbital prefrontal cortex projects primarily to the medial edge of the ventral striatum and to the core of the nucleus accumbens. The arrangement of terminals in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra show two different patterns. Thus, the orbital and medial prefrontal cortex is represented in a confined region of the globus pallidus but throughout an extensive area of the dorsal substantia nigra. Terminals are extensive throughout the region of the dopaminergic neurons, suggesting that this input may influence a wide area of both the striatum and frontal cortex.
Electrical–thermal modeling of through-silicon via (TSV) arrays in interposer

SUMMARY In this paper, electrical–thermal modeling of through-silicon via (TSV) arrays is presented. In order to address the thermal effect on TSVs, TSV array design and modeling need to take into account the effect of realistic system thermal profile to meet design budget. To obtain temperature estimation for a 3D system, cascadic multigrid method is employed using an initial guess obtained by simulation using equivalent thermal conductivity to represent critical regions. By considering the thermal effect on electrical conductivities of TSV conductor and silicon substrate, the electrical–thermal modeling of TSV array in the interposer is carried out using cylindrical modal basis functions. The temperature effect on TSV insertion loss, crosstalk, and RLCG parameters are discussed with examples along with correlation with measurements. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dilaton and second-rank tensor fields as supersymmetric compensators

We formulate a supersymmetric theory in which both a dilaton and a second-rank tensor play roles of compensators. The basic off-shell multiplets are a linear multiplet (B{sub {mu}}{sub {nu}},{chi},{phi}) and a vector multiplet (A{sub {mu}},{lambda};C{sub {mu}}{sub {nu}}{sub {rho}}), where {phi} and B{sub {mu}}{sub {nu}} are, respectively, a dilaton and a second-rank tensor. The third-rank tensor C{sub {mu}}{sub {nu}}{sub {rho}} in the vector multiplet is 'dual' to the conventional D field with 0 on-shell or 1 off-shell degree of freedom. The dilaton {phi} is absorbed into one longitudinal component of A{sub {mu}}, making it massive. Initially, B{sub {mu}}{sub {nu}} has 1 on-shell or 3 off-shell degrees of freedom, but it is absorbed into the longitudinal components of C{sub {mu}}{sub {nu}}{sub {rho}}. Eventually, C{sub {mu}}{sub {nu}}{sub {rho}} with 0 on-shell or 1 off-shell degree of freedom acquires in total 1 on-shell or 4 off-shell degrees of freedom, turning into a propagating massive field. These basic multiplets are also coupled to chiral multiplets and a supersymmetric Dirac-Born-Infeld action. Some of these results are also reformulated in superspace. The proposed mechanism may well provide a solution to the long-standing puzzle of massless dilatons and second-rank tensors in supersymmetric models inspired by string theory.
Thermodynamics of liquid magnesium alloys using CaF2 solid electrolytes

Abstract The emf method using CaF 2 as a solid electrolyte has been used for the study of liquid Mg alloys. The experimental technique is described and results are presented for the systems Mg-Bi, Mg-Sn, and Mg-Sb. Results for the Mg-Bi system are analyzed in terms of the electronic constitution of the alloys. The results are also used to describe some phase relationships quantitatively.
Contrast-dependent responses in the human visual system: Childhood through adulthood

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) to temporal modulation of spatial patterns, recorded from humans ranging in age from 4-42 years, demonstrated that contrast-dependent responses exist in early childhood and change dramatically throughout childhood. Bright or dark isolated-check stimuli were used to emphasize contributions from ON or OFF pathways to the VEP. (ON and OFF pathways constitute one major pair of parallel subsystems, which process brightness [positive-contrast] and darkness [negative-contrast] information, respectively.) The developmental effects observed for each pathway were similar in magnitude and time course, suggesting maturation of a common physiological mechanism dependent on spatial contrast. Children's responses were more variable and larger than those of adults, and exhibited a relative phase lag. In addition, we recorded transient VEPs to a conventional contrast-reversing checkerboard pattern. The latency of the major positive wave (P100) was found to decrease, while the latency of the initial positive wave (P60) was found to increase, with increasing age. We propose a vector-summation model, which posits a relative decrease in cortical excitation with increasing age, to explain our major findings.
Comment on "Probing the nuclear liquid-gas phase transition"

A Comment on the Letter by J. Pochodzalla, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 75, 1040 (1995). The authors of the Letter offer a Reply.
Ovarian torsion in a patient with congenital absence of the uterus

A patient undergoing abdominal exploration for right lower quadrant pain had right ovarian torsion and an absent uterus. This first reported case of ovarian torsion associated with the Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome is presented and this rare syndrome reviewed.
Phylogenetic relationships of cultivated Prunus species from an analysis of chloroplast DNA variation.

Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) restriction-site mutations in seven cultivated Prunus species were compared to establish the phylogenetic relationships among them. Mutations were detected in 3.2-kb and 2.1-kb amplified regions of variable cpDNA, cut with 21 and 10 restriction endonucleases, respectively, to reveal polymorphisms. Parsimony and cluster analyses were performed. The species pairs P. persica-P. dulcis, P. domestica-P. salicina, and P.cerasus-P. fruticosa were completely monophyletic. All of the species were grouped with conventional subgenus classifications. The subgenus Cerasus was the most diverged. Cerasus ancestors separated from the remainder of Prunus relatively early in the development of the genus. P. persica-P. dulcis, P. domestica-P. salicina and P. armeniaca formed a second monophyletic group. Prunophora species were less diverged than Amygdalus species. The results also suggest that the rate of mutation in Cerasus spp. chloroplast genomes is significantly greater than for the other subgenera sampled.
Coupling of Rotor-Gear-Casing Vibrations During Extreme Operating Events

During extreme operating environments (i.e., seismic events, base motion-induced vibrations, etc.), the coupled vibrations developed between the rotors, bearings, gears and enclosing structure of gear-driven rotating equipment can be quite substantial. Generally, such large vibrational amplitudes may lead to failures in both the rotor-gearing system and/or the casing structure. This paper simulates the dynamic behavior of rotor-bearing-gear system resulting from motion of the enclosed structure. The modal synthesis approach is used in this study to synthesize the dynamics of the rotor systems with the vibrations of their casing structure in modal coordinates. Modal characteristics of the rotor-bearing-gear systems are evaluated using the matrix transfer technique, while the modal parameters for the casing structure are developed through a finite element model using NASTRAN. The modal accelerations calculated are integrated through a numerical algorithm to generate modal transient vibration analysis. Vibration results are examined in both time and frequency domains to develop representations for the coupled dynamics generated during extreme operating conditions. Typical three-rotor bull gear-driven power plant equipment (compressors, pumps, etc.) is used as an example to demonstrate the procedure developed.
Characteristics of Bipolar I patients grouped by externalizing disorders.

Abstract Background Bipolar disorder co-occurs with a number of disorders with externalizing features. The aim of this study is to determine whether Bipolar I (BPI) subjects with comorbid externalizing disorders and a subgroup with externalizing symptoms prior to age 15 have different clinical features than those without externalizing disorders and whether these could be attributed to specific genetic variations. Methods A large cohort ( N =2505) of Bipolar I subjects was analyzed. Course of illness parameters were compared between an Externalizing Group, an Early-Onset Subgroup and a Non-Externalizing Group in the Discovery sample ( N =1268). Findings were validated using an independent set of 1237 BPI subjects (Validation sample). Genetic analyses were carried out. Results Subjects in the Externalizing Group (and Early-Onset Subgroup) tended to have a more severe clinical course, even in areas specifically related to mood disorder such as cycling frequency and rapid mood switching. Regression analysis showed that the differences are not completely explainable by substance use. Genetic analyses identified nominally associated SNPs; calcium channel genes were not enriched in the gene variants identified. Limitations Validation in independent samples is needed to confirm the genetic findings in the present study. Conclusions Our findings support the presence of an externalizing disorder subphenotype within BPI with greater severity of mood disorder and possible specific genetic features.
High performance computing for deformable image registration: towards a new paradigm in adaptive radiotherapy.

The advent of readily available temporal imaging or time series volumetric (4D) imaging has become an indispensable component of treatment planning and adaptive radiotherapy (ART) at many radiotherapy centers. Deformable image registration (DIR) is also used in other areas of medical imaging, including motion corrected image reconstruction. Due to long computation time, clinical applications of DIR in radiation therapy and elsewhere have been limited and consequently relegated to offline analysis. With the recent advances in hardware and software, graphics processing unit (GPU) based computing is an emerging technology for general purpose computation, including DIR, and is suitable for highly parallelized computing. However, traditional general purpose computation on the GPU is limited because the constraints of the available programming platforms. As well, compared to CPU programming, the GPU currently has reduced dedicated processor memory, which can limit the useful working data set for parallelized processing. We present an implementation of the demons algorithm using the NVIDIA 8800 GTX GPU and the new CUDA programming language. The GPU performance will be compared with single threading and multithreading CPU implementations on an Intel dual core 2.4 GHz CPU using the C programming language. CUDA provides a C-like language programming interface, and allows for direct access to the highly parallel compute units in the GPU. Comparisons for volumetric clinical lungimages acquired using 4DCT were carried out. Computation time for 100 iterations in the range of 1.8 – 13.5 s was observed for the GPU with image size ranging from 2.0 × 10 6 to 14.2 × 10 6 pixels . The GPU registration was 55–61 times faster than the CPU for the single threading implementation, and 34–39 times faster for the multithreading implementation. For CPU based computing, the computational time generally has a linear dependence on image size for medical imaging data. Computational efficiency is characterized in terms of time per megapixels per iteration (TPMI) with units of seconds per megapixels per iteration (or spmi). For the demons algorithm, our CPU implementation yielded largely invariant values of TPMI. The mean TPMIs were 0.527 spmi and 0.335 spmi for the single threading and multithreading cases, respectively, with 2 % variation over the considered image data range. For GPU computing, we achieved TPMI = 0.00916 spmi with 3.7% variation, indicating optimized memory handling under CUDA. The paradigm of GPU based real-time DIR opens up a host of clinical applications for medical imaging.
Self-focusing and beam attenuation in laser materials processing

During laser materials processing, the melt pool can form a convex or concave surface depending on the processing conditions and surface tension of the liquid metal. The curved surface can act as a lens to refract the laser rays. Temperature distributions below the substrate's surface are calculated for various values of the attenuation coefficient and radii of curvature of the free surface of the melt pool. For convex spherical curvature and a large penetration depth of the laser beam, the subsurface temperatures are found to be extremely high, exceeding the surface temperature severalfold. This is because of self-focusing, that is further focusing of the laser beam, that causes high subsurface laser irradiance.
Regulation of Uterine Smooth Muscle Function during Gestation

The uterus is unique among smooth muscular organs in that, during pregnancy, it undergoes profound, largely reversible, changes orchestrated by the ovarian hormones. These changes facilitate uterine adaptation to the stretch induced by the growing fetus such that a state of myometrial contractile quiescence can be maintained. This quiescent state usually is maintained until fetal development is sufficient for extrauterine life, at which point unknown mechanisms precipitate conversion to a highly contractile state. Throughout pregnancy, signaling mechanisms for myometrial contractility are altered-first to promote quiescence and then again to promote contractions. The mechanisms responsible for these changes are only partially understood. This review attempts to summarize salient features of many of the changes in uterine contractile signaling and the current state of ongoing investigations of their mechanisms. We have also highlighted some newer information and concepts from nonuterine tissues, which we believe may provide insight into the control of uterine smooth muscle function. Some detail has been omitted, and can be found in the many excellent reviews cited. We hope that this discussion may stimulate the interests of other investigators. The diverse areas of inquiry offer hope that this decade will lead to a fuller understanding of myometrial function and the development of vastly improved approaches for the control of preterm labor.
Development of Multi-Broadband Planar Wire Antennas for Wireless Applications

A new type of multi-broadband antennas is developed for wireless applications. The broadband performance of this type of antennas is achieved by introducing a small gap on a wire loop while the multi-band operation is realized by simultaneously exciting one or more additional wire elements. Three antenna configurations are investigated for single-, dual-, and triple-broadband operations. The dual-broadband operation is obtained by employing a combination of a loop and a monopole. The triple-broadband antenna consists of a loop, a monopole, and an inverted-L structure. It is demonstrated that the multi-broadband antennas can achieve a bandwidth of 30% in the 1GHz band, 50% in the 2 GHz band, and 40% in the 5 GHz band, which cover the frequency bands for AMPS/PCS, GSM/DCS, PDC/PHS, and IMT-2000 mobile communications as well as for 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz wireless applications.
ABSOLUTE CROSS SECTIONS AND ANGULAR DISTRIBUTIONS FOR CHARGED PARTICLES FROM LITHIUM-LITHIUM NUCLEAR REACTIONS

Angular distributions in the barycentric coordinate system are presented for 24 charged-particle emissions from Li/sup 7/Li/sup 7/, Li/sup 7/,Li/sup 6/, and Li/sup 6/Li/sup 6/ interactions. Th ese have been integrated, and the resulting total cross sections are tabulated. The total cross-section sums for a given projectile target combination are in reasonable agreement with theoretical estimates based on barrier penetration with nuclear radii given by r/sup 0/A/sup 1/2/ with r/sub 0/ = 1.5 F. The largest total cross sections measured are approximately 40 x 10/sup -28/ cm/sup 2/. The angular distributions from Li/sup 6/Li/sup 6/ and Li/sup 7/Li/sup 7/ are symmetr ical about 90 deg by necessity, those from Li/sup 7/Li/sup 6/ are, in general, asymmetric and difficult to reconcile with a simple compound-nucleus interpretation of the reactions. Most of the intense particle emissions are cases in which the residual nucleus can be formed by Li/sup 7/ capturing a deuteron or an alpha from Li/sup 6/, or by Li/sup 6/ capturing an alpha from Li/sup 7/ To produce high cross sections these captures must be with 1 = 0 between the reacting clusters. The evidence supports the hypothesis that a prominent but not necessarily exclusive reaction mechanism is for one ofmore » the Li-Li reacting partners to be distorted into reacting clusters,'' consisting of an alpha cluster from either of the lithiums, and a deuteron cluster from Li/sup 6/ or a triton cluster from Li/sup 7/. (auth)« less
The electrode reaction of Euglena gracilis cytochrome c-552 at edge-oriented pyrolytic graphite.

Summary The direct electron transfer reaction of Euglena gracilis cytochrome c -552 at edge-oriented pyrolytic graphite electrodes was determined by cyclic voltammetry to be quasi-reversible, stable and reproducible. The presence of a persistent layer of irreversibly adsorbed cytochrome c -552 on the electrode surface was detected in these experiments. Heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants for both the diffusing and adsorbed forms of the protein are reported, and mechanistic aspects are addressed. The applicability of cytochrome c -552 as a complementarily charged analog of eucaryotic cytochrome c in interfacial bioelectrochemical studies is discussed.
Combining independent one-sample tests of significance

The problem of combining independent one-sample tests of significance is considered using techniques developed by the author (1965). LetX i1,..., Xim i be positive observations andY i1,..., Yin i, the absolute values of negative observations in a sampleZ i1,..., ZiN i ofN i=mi+ni independent and identically distributed random variables from a population with continuous cumulative distribution function\(\Pi _{0_i } (z);i = 1, \cdots ,k\).
A causal model of psychosomatic reactions to vacuum aspiration abortion

Among 215 women aborted by vacuum aspiration approximately 15 % experienced a difficult abortion decision; were quite anxious before and anxious and depressed after the abortion; and experienced a very painful abortion. Causal modeling indicated: being married was the dominant socio-demographic correlate of a difficult abortion decision which, in turn, predicted greater anxiety before the abortion. Higher anxiety before abortion interacted with inferior skill of the operator to increase pain experienced during the procedure. Increased postabortion anxiety resulted from the additive, independent effects of more pain during the procedure, greater anxiety before the abortion and a difficult decision to abort as well as previous nulliparity.
Prevalence of 22q11 region deletions in patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, conotruncal anomaly face syndrome, tetralogy of Fallot, and pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect are all associated with hemizygosity of 22q11. While the prevalence of the deletions in these phenotypes has been studied, the frequency of deletions in patients presenting with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is unknown. We performed fluorescence in situ hybridization for locus D22S75 within the 22q11 region on 23 patients with VPI (age range 5-42 years) followed in the Craniofacial Clinic at the University of Florida. The VPI occurred either as a condition of unknown cause (n=16) or as a condition remaining following primary cleft palate surgery (n=7). Six of sixteen patients with VPI of unknown cause and one of seven with VPI following surgery had a deletion in the region. This study documents a high frequency of 22q11 deletions in those presenting with VPI unrelated to overt cleft palate surgery and suggests that deletion testing should be considered in patients with VPI.
Complete activation of porcine oocytes induced by the sulfhydryl reagent, thimerosal.

Thimerosal (200 gAM) triggered Ca 2+ oscillations in 56 of 56 mature porcine oocytes. The Ca 2+ oscillations were blocked by the sulfhydryl-reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT), thus supporting the hypothesis that thimerosal acts by oxidizing critical sulfhydryl groups on intracellular Ca2+-release proteins. Thimerosal treatment alone arrested the oocytes in metaphase, probably by oxidizing tubulin sulfhydryl groups and thus destroying the spindle. However, a 10-min exposure to 200 tM thimerosal followed by a 30-min incubation in 8 mM DTT induced complete activation, as 73.8% of the oocytes formed pronuclei. The second polar body was visible in 73.3% (55 of 75) of the activated oocytes. Combined thimerosal/DTT treatment of the oocytes also induced cortical granule exocytosis, as revealed by confocal microscopy, and the subsequent hardening of the zona pellucida. After activation, some oocytes were incubated in vitro, or in vivo in a ligated porcine oviduct, for 6 days. When cultured in vitro, 42.0% (37 of 88) of the oocytes developed to the compact morula or blastocyst stage; the average number of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) nuclei in the blastocysts was 8.6 + 0.7 and 20.1 1.3, respectively. Culture in a ligated oviduct resulted in 42.9% development to the compact morula or blastocyst stage, with the blastocysts having a mean number of 12.5 + 1.0 ICM and 63.6 ± 9.2 TE nuclei.
Comparison of two formulae for estimation of glomerular filtration rate in children

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured in 216 studies in 151 children using the cimetidine protocol. This was compared with the GFR calculated using Leger’s pharmacokinetic equation and with that calculated using k*L/[Cr]s (constant × length in centimeters divided by serum creatinine concentration). The GFR calculated using the equation GFR=k*L/[Cr]s yielded a closer approximation to the measured GFR than that using Leger’s pharmacokinetic equation. Currently there is focus on screening children for decreased GFR to identify those with asymptomatic chronic kidney disease at a time when intervention may delay progression to chronic renal failure. This study showed close approximation of the calculated GFR with the measured GFR using the equation GFR=k*L/[Cr]s, when the values for k were determined in the laboratory in which creatinine was measured.
The Effects of Lighted Incubation on Eggs with Pigmented and Nonpigmented Yolk

Abstract A study was undertaken to determine if light causes embryonic acceleration by working through the xanthophyll pigments in the egg yolk. Using the same type of incubating and lighting system described by other workers, eggs from White Leghorn hens fed diets with and without dietary xanthophyll were exposed to either dark or lighted incubation and allowed to hatch. Results of the study indicated that light does not accelerate embryonic growth through its effect on the xanthophyll pigments in the yolk, but it does support light as a stimulus for embryonic acceleration.
Cardiovascular effects of acute changes in extracellular ionized calcium concentration induced by citrate and CaCl2 infusions in conscious, chronically instrumented dogs and their interactions with ganglionic blockade.

To assess the hemodynamic effects of acute changes in extracellular ionized calcium concentration, [Ca2+], seven dogs were chronically instrumented to measure heart rate, aortic, left atrial, and left ventricular (LV) pressures, cardiac output, and coronary and renal blood flows. [Ca2+] was lowered 0.35 mmol ± l-1 by citrate infusion and then increased 0.35 mmol ± l-1 above control level by CaCl2 infusions. This protocol was performed in the conscious dogs with and without ganglionic blockade (chlorisondamine 2 mg ± kg-1). LV dP/dtmax decreased at low [Ca2+] and increased at high [Ca2+] during all conditions. The other hemodynamic variables measured were only slightly changed by changing [Ca2+] without ganglionic blockade and surprisingly even less with ganglionic blockade. Therefore, the lesser hemodynamic effects induced by acute changes in [Ca2+] in the conscious compared with anesthetized dogs cannot be explained by the depressant effects of the anesthetics upon the autonomic nervous system. We have suggested that the binding of Mg2+ to citrate may be of importance for the minor hemodynamic effects in the conscious dogs.
The reaction of LiAlH4/HMPA with oximes: Mechanism and synthetic applications

Abstract Three aspects of the reaction of LiAlH4 in HMPA with oximes have been studied: the mechanism of the conversion of ketoximes into ketones, application of this reaction to the selective reduction of enones to ketones via the ene-oxime, and the conversion of aldoximes to either nitriles or aldehydes as a function of substrate structure.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: lumen-liver interactions and possible role for probiotics.

Tremendous progress has been made over the past decade in the understanding of the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its associated disease burden. Much of this research has re-focused attention on the relationship between intestinal bacteria and liver disease. The concept that gut-derived bacteria and their products injure the liver and cause systemic illness has surfaced and resurged repeatedly. Indeed, one review of this topic written just over a decade ago (subtitled An Idea Whose Time Has Come Again) argued
The Child Health Disadvantage of Parental Cohabitation

This study uses Fragile Families data (N = 2,160) to assess health differences at age 5 for children born to cohabiting versus married parents. Regression analyses indicate worse health for children born to cohabiting parents, including those whose parents stably cohabited, dissolved their cohabitation, and married, than for children with stably married parents. The findings also suggest that stable cohabitation is no better for child health than cohabitation dissolution. Child health is better among those whose cohabiting parents marry than for those whose parents remain stably cohabiting, which indicates a possible health advantage of parental marriage, even if it occurs after the child's birth.
Enzymatic Coupling of the Herbicide Bentazon with Humus Monomers and Characterization of Reaction Products

To elucidate the binding mechanism of the herbicide bentazon (3-isopropyl-1H-2,1,3-benzothiadiazine-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide) with humic monomers in the presence of an oxidative enzyme, the reaction of bentazon with catechol, caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, and syringaldehyde was investigated. In the presence of a laccase from the fungus Polyporus pinsitus, catechol was the most reactive humic monomer; bentazon with catechol in the presence of the laccase was completely transformed in 30 min at pH 4.0. The reactivity of bentazon decreased with increasing pH, but reactivity of bentazon decreased with increasing pH, but complete transformation of bentazon could be achieved even at high pH if the concentration of catechol was increased. When bentazon was incubated with humic acid (extract of leonardite) in the presence of the laccase, a reaction of the two substrates was observed, as indicated by bentazon disappearance. Two metabolites that result from the reaction of bentazon with catechol were isolated by ...
Vaulting trade barriers: The Japanese approach

Abstract An innovative marketing strategy pursued by Japanese manufacturers of a wide variety of durable consumer goods to successfully penetrate the Indian market, despite high entry barriers, is the subject of this report. Considerations that may justify imitation of the Japanese strategy by durable goods manufacturers in other industrialized nations to penetrate protected Third World markets are also discussed.
Cytochrome C Oxidase in rat adrenal and liver: Effects of anti-androgen treatment and studies in testicular feminized rats.

The role of androgen receptors in androgen-induced changes in rat adrenocortical and liver cytochrome c oxidase (COX) has been investigated. The anti-androgen, flutamide, blunted the increase in COX activity and COX subunits II/III and IV, that is seen with androgen treatment. Testicular feminized (Tfm) rats had levels of COX activity and COX subunits II/II and IV in adrenal cortex and liver that were intermediate between the high levels found in normal male rats and the lower levels of normal female rats. These data suggest that androgen effects on adrenal and liver COX are mediated through interactions with androgen receptors known to be present in these tissues. However, the observed changes in COX activity and COX subunits were not accompanied by altered levels of mRNAs encoding for COX II or COX IV.
Infrequent Fas mutations but no Bax or p53 mutations in early mycosis fungoides : A possible mechanism for the accumulation of malignant T lymphocytes in the skin

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most frequent manifestation of cutaneous T cell lymphoma but its cause and pathophysiology remain unclear. Because progression of lesions is characteristically slow, we hypothesized that mycosis fungoides originates from an accumulation of lymphocytes due to defective apoptosis of skin homing T lymphocytes. In this study, we investigate possible alterations of three molecules regulating apoptosis, i.e., Fas antigen, Bax, and p53, at the genomic level in skin lesions from 44 patients with MF, as Fas mediates one of two major pathways for apoptosis of activated T cells. Fas mutations were found in six patients using a polymerase chain reaction and single-strand conformational polymorphism method followed by cloning and sequencing of abnormal polymerase chain reaction products. The mutations predict for defective transmission of the death signal in three cases. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the lack of Fas protein expression on dermal lymphocytes in one case with Fas gene mutation predicting for a truncated death domain, whereas Fas protein was expressed by dermal lymphocytes in the other investigated cases. By contrast, no mutations of Bax or p53 were found, whereas immunohistochemistry demonstrated increased p53 expression in the nucleus of basal keratinocytes above the neoplastic infiltrate in some MF cases. These results support the hypothesis that Fas defects may play a role in the pathogenesis of MF.
Zen Fish: A Consideration of the Discordance between Artifactual and Zooarchaeological Indicators of Thule Inuit Fish Use

Abstract Despite fish bone being rare in even the best preserved Classic Thule Inuit (ca. A.D. 1000–1400) faunal assemblages from the Canadian Arctic, it has often been assumed that fish played an important role in Thule economies. This is due to the prominent place of fishing in the harvesting practices of the Historic Inuit and the ubiquity of fishing implements in Thule artifact assemblages. Based on an evaluation of potential taphonomic, sampling, and interpretive biases and the artifactual and zooarchaeological evidence for harvesting of sea mammals, land mammals, fish, and birds, it appears that fishing was of generally limited importance in the eastern parts of the Canadian Arctic and before about A.D. 1400, likely due to resource scheduling conflicts. The nonetheless widespread occurrence of fishing gear invites consideration of alternative scenarios for the place of fishing in Thule society, in which a minor dietary role is not inconsistent with important cultural roles.
Maternal Territoriality Achieved Through Shaking and Lunging: An Investigation of Patterns in Associated Behaviors and Substrate Vibrations in a Colonial Embiopteran, Antipaluria urichi

Substrate vibration communication is displayed by a variety of insects that rely on silk for shelter. Such signaling is often associated with territoriality and social interactions. The goal in this study was to explore the use of substrate vibration by subsocial insects of the little-studied order Embioptera (also known as Embiidina). Antipaluria urichi (Saussure) (Embioptera: Clothodidae) from Trinidad and Tobago, a large embiopteran, exhibits maternal care and facultatively colonial behavior. Previous observations suggested that they were aggressive while guarding eggs but gregarious when not. Egg-guarders in particular have been observed shaking and lunging their bodies, but to date these putative signals have not been recorded nor were their contexts known. Staged interactions were conducted in the laboratory using residents that had established silk domiciles enveloping piezo-electric film used to detect vibrations. Predictions from two competing hypotheses, the maternal territoriality hypothesis and the group cohesion hypothesis, were erected to explain the occurrence of signaling. Experiments pitted pre-reproductive and egg-guarding residents against female and male intruders, representing social partners that ranged from potentially threatening to innocuous or even helpful. Behavioral acts were identified and scored along with associated substrate vibrations, which were measured for associated body movements, duration, and frequency spectra. Signals, sorted by the distinct actions used to generate them, were lunge, shake, push up, and snapback. Egg-guarding females produced most signals in response to female intruders, a result that supported the maternal territoriality hypothesis. Female intruders generally responded to such signaling by moving away from egg-guarding residents. In contrast, pre-reproductive residents did not signal much, and intruders settled beside them. Theme software was used to analyze the behavioral event recordings to seek patterns over time and their association with signals. Long patterns of behavioral acts were associated with shakes, lunges, and push-ups, indicating that interactions were occurring between the residents and intruders as would be expected when communication occurs. The value of Theme software, as well as the relationship between signaling by A. urichi and the risks and benefits of coloniality, are discussed.
Corruption, Political Allegiances, and Attitudes Toward Government in Contemporary Democracies

Using surveys conducted in sixteen mature and newly established democracies around the globe, this study examines the effect of corruption on people's attitudes toward government. The analysis demonstrates that citizens in countries with higher levels of corruption express more negative evaluations of the performance of the political system and exhibit lower levels of trust in civil servants. However, the results also show that the negative effect of corruption on evaluations of the political system is significantly attenuated among supporters of the incumbent political authorities. These findings provide strong and systematic evidence that informal political practices, especially those that compromise important democratic principles, should be considered important indicators of political system performance. Moreover, they imply that, while corruption is a powerful determinant of political support across widely varying political, cultural, and economic contexts, it does not uniformly diminish support for political institutions across all segments of the electorate.
An economic-demographic approach to forecasting national and subnational birth rates

Abstract This paper conceptualizes and tests an economic-demographic fertility projection model, founded in the prevailing microeconomic theories of fertility behavior and embracing both economic and demographic determinants. Through a simulataneous system approach, the focus is on the linked decision areas for women concerning marriage, childbearing, employment, carreer and education. National age-race fertility rate projections are generated for the period of 1978–1985. An approach is explored whereby these can be adjusted to subnational levels and this is illustrated for the state of Illinois. The multivariate model appears to capture the key factors affecting fertility. It supports the Easterlin forecast that a turnaround from the steep decline of fertility rates during the past two decades will occur by the early 1980s. However the upturn will be relatively modest though sustained due to strong offsetting forces. The results justify further research on the potential and form of the economic-demographic approach to projecting the direction of fertility at the various geographic levels.
Strategic planning for technology products

A DELPHI Questionnaire study was completed that evaluates the relative importance of management of technology (MOT) problems and ranks 24 problems in order of importance, as perceived by MOT expert participants in industry and academia. The problem of ‘Strategic Planning for Technology Products’ ranked well above all others in terms of its evaluated importance. A follow-up DELPHI study was completed to clarify the nature and dimensions of the top problem. This second study identifies the 21 top ranked sub-problems within the Strategic Planning for Technology Products general problem and ranks these sub-problems in order of importance. The two most important of these sub-problems are ‘Linking Technology Strategic Planning to Corporate Strategic Planning’, and ‘Linking R&D Strategic Planning to Business Unit Product Development Planning’. Seen as closely related, these two problems are discussed in this article as ‘the linkage problem’. The 11 highest ranked problems of this second study are considered individually in this article. This follow-up study has important implications for both academic researchers and company managers. For researchers the results suggest specific avenues of research that can fruitfully be followed. For technology managers as well as corporate managers the study offers strong indications of areas where company planning performance may be weak, as well as steps that can be taken to deal with any planning weaknesses perceived.
Unsolved problems in diagnosis and therapy of hyperphenylalaninemia caused by defects in tetrahydrobiopterin metabolism.

Phenylketonuria is caused by a defect in the phenylalanine hydroxylating system. This complex system consists of two enzymes, phenylalanine hydroxylase and dihydropteridine reductase, and the essential coenzyme tetrahydrobiopterin. DHPR and BH4 are also essential for tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase. The way in which BH4 and DHPR function in all of these hydroxylating systems is shown in the Figure, which also outlines the pathway for the de novo synthesis of BH4 from guanosine triphosphate. It should be noted that the DHPR-catalyzed reaction (reaction 6) is necessary for BH4 to function catalytically. The classic form of PKU is caused by a lack of phenylalanine hydroxylase, 1 the enzyme that catalyzes reaction 5. In addition to this most prevalent form of the disease, variants of PKU have been discovered during the last 10 years that are caused by a defect in either the regeneration of BH4 (caused by a lack of DHPR, the enzyme that catalyzes reaction 6) or a defect in the de novo biosynthesis of BH4 2 (caused by a lack of an enzyme catalyzing reactions 1 or 2). Although methods of differential diagnosis and therapy of these diseases have been developed, there are still challenging and urgent problems.
Structural Dynamics and Load Analysis of Large Offshore Wind Turbines in Western Gulf of Mexico Shallow Water

In this paper, a study is conducted on wind and metocean loads and associated structural dynamics of a 13.2-MW large offshore wind turbine in Western Gulf of Mexico (GOM) shallow water. The offshore wind turbine considered includes a rotor with three 100-meter long blades and a mono-tower support structure. Natural frequencies and mode shapes of the blades and the mono-tower are determined first and used subsequently to establish a Campbell diagram for safe wind turbine operation. The results show that hydrodynamic added mass has little effect on the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the support structure but it introduces, in part, appreciable effects on loads carried by the turbine when the blades are pitched at wind speeds above the rated speed. Also determined, for normal operation and extreme metocean conditions (i.e., 100-year return hurricanes), are normal thrust on the wind rotor, blade-tip displacement, overturning moment and tower-top displacement sustained by the wind turbine.© 2014 ASME
Engagement in Academic Work: The Role of Learning Goals, Future Consequences, Pleasing Others, and Perceived Ability

Engagement in academic work was viewed from a multiple goals perspective. Two studies were conducted in which high school math students completed an instrument measuring five goals students might have for doing academic work (learning goals, performance goals, obtaining future consequences, pleasing the teacher, and pleasing the family), perceived math ability, self-regulatory activities, strategies (deep or shallow) used when studying for math, and the amount of effort and persistence expended on the class. Factor analysis indicated that the five goals scales and the perceived ability scale represented unique factors. The correlations among the variables revealed theoretically consistent interrelationships. Multiple regression analyses indicated that various goals (e.g., learning goals, obtaining future consequences, and pleasing the teacher), perceived ability, and some interactions accounted for significant amounts of variance in the task engagement measures (self-regulation, strategy use, effort, and persistence) and achievement. Results are discussed in relation to current theory and their practical implications.
Cleavage of H−C(sp2) and C(sp2)−X Bonds (X = Alkyl, Aryl, OR, NR2): Facile Decarbonylation, Isonitrile Abstraction, or Dehydrogenation of Aldehydes, Esters, Amides, Amines, and Imines by [RuHCl(PiPr3)2]2

The RuHClL2 fragment (L = PiPr3) reacts at 25 °C with a dozen different GCHE compounds (G = O, E = R, OR, NR2; G = NR, E = R) to give π-acid abstraction products, RuHCl(CG)L2, and E−H. For E−H = C2H5OH, alcohol is decarbonylated in a second step to give an additional CO ligand and CH4. For E−H = HNR(CR‘2H), amine can be dehydrogenated by RuHClL2 to give RuH(H2)ClL2 and CR‘2NR. X-ray crystallographic studies are presented for the DMF decarbonylation intermediate Ru(H)2Cl(η2-C(O)NMe2)L2, where the strong reducing potential of RuHClL2 is manifested in the formally Ru(IV) species obtained from oxidative addition of H−C(O)NMe2. The structure of Ru(H2)Cl(η2-C6H4CHNMe)L2, the product from aryl C−H activation of benzylidenemethylamine, PhHCNMe, is also presented. This ability to abstract CO, isonitrile, or H2 is traced to the considerable π-basicity of RuHCl(PiPr3)2.