cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ICP27 Interacts with the C-Terminal Domain of RNA Polymerase II and Facilitates Its Recruitment to Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Transcription Sites, Where It Undergoes Proteasomal Degradation during Infection

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) ICP27 has been shown to interact with RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) holoenzyme. Here, we show that ICP27 interacts with the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNAP II and that ICP27 mutants that cannot interact fail to relocalize RNAP II to viral transcription sites, suggesting a role for ICP27 in RNAP II recruitment. Using monoclonal antibodies specific for different phosphorylated forms of the RNAP II CTD, we found that the serine-2 phosphorylated form, which is found predominantly in elongating complexes, was not recruited to viral transcription sites. Further, there was an overall reduction in phosphoserine-2 staining. Western blot analysis revealed that there was a pronounced decrease in the phosphoserine-2 form and in overall RNAP II levels in lysates from cells infected with wild-type HSV-1. There was no appreciable difference in cdk9 levels, suggesting that protein degradation rather than dephosphorylation was occurring. Treatment of infected cells with proteasome inhibitors MG-132 and lactacystin prevented the decrease in the phosphoserine-2 form and in overall RNAP II levels; however, there was a concomitant decrease in the levels of several HSV-1 late proteins and in virus yield. Proteasomal degradation has been shown to resolve stalled RNAP II complexes at sites of DNA damage to allow 3' processing of transcripts. Thus, we propose that at later times of infection when robust transcription and DNA replication are occurring, elongating complexes may collide and proteasomal degradation may be required for resolution.
Multiple Timescales of Adaptation in a Neural Code

Many neural systems extend their dynamic range by adaptation. We examine the timescales of adaptation in the context of dynamically modulated rapidly-varying stimuli, and demonstrate in the fly visual system that adaptation to the statistical ensemble of the stimulus dynamically maximizes information transmission about the time-dependent stimulus. Further, while the rate response has long transients, the adaptation takes place on timescales consistent with optimal variance estimation.
Age determination of experimental venous thrombi by ultrasonic tissue characterization

Abstract Purpose: The ability of ultrasonic tissue characterization based on radiofrequency signal processing to detect compositional differences in differences in thrombi of varying ages was evaluated in vivo. Methods: Thrombi were produced in 49 jugular veins of 26 anesthetized 18 to 20 kg pigs by partial ligation and application of direct electric current. Thrombi were imaged 30 minutes after formation and 1, 7, and 14 days later with a color Doppler ultrasound scanner that identified the thrombi, and acquired radio frequency data for ultrasonic tissue characterization analysis. Ultrasonic tissue characterization used two parameters from the normalized power spectrum, slope, and intercept, which are related to scatterer size, scatterer concentration, and acoustic-impedance differences between scatterers and surrounding medium. Previous in vitro studies demonstrated that lower slope and higher intercept values correlated with greater cellularity and more-dense fibrin mesh. Histologic examination was performed for each time period. The values of slope and intercept for each timed observation were compared by a multilinear discriminant analysis. Results: There were no statistical differences between day 0 and day 1. Statistically-significant differences in ultrasonic tissue characterization parameters were seen between all other time intervals with p values Conclusion: Ultrasonic tissue characterization is capable of distinguishing age differences in thrombi in an animal model and has the potential for noninvasive application in clinical diagnosis. (J VASC SURG 1993;17:470-8.)
Econometric efficiency analysis: A policy-oriented review

Abstract The econometric approach to the construction of production, cost and other frontiers, and the measurement of efficiency relative to these frontiers, historically has had a strong policy orientation. This distinguishes the approach from the mathematical programming approach, which has had a managerial decision-making orientation geared to solving allocation problems within the public or private organization. In this paper I review the development of the econometric approach to efficiency analysis. I then discuss a small number of empirical studies chosen to illustrate the application of the econometric approach to a collection of public policy issues for which the notion of efficiency measurement is of prime importance. Examples are drawn from the areas of (1) agricultural productivity, (2) labor market efficiency and equity, (3) the measurement of the standard of living, (4) the establishment of quality of service standards, and (5) the valuation of environmental disamenities.
Ketorolac Tromethamine and Hemorrhage in Tonsillectomy: A Prospective, Randomized, Double‐Blind Study

Ketorolac tromethamine (KT) is a nonsteroidal, antiinflammatory analgesic. Its nonsedating property makes it an attractive analgesic for sleep apnea patients undergoing uvulopharyngopalatoplasty, but its antiplatelet activity makes the potential for postoperative hemorrhage a concern. A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was designed to evaluate the bleeding risk of KT using adult tonsillectomy patients as the model. Patients were randomized into two groups receiving Meperidine (MP) (controls) or KT for the first postoperative day. Posttonsillectomy bleeding rates of 7% (3/43) in the MP group and 18.9% (7/37) in the KT group were demonstrated, but this difference was not statistically significant. The number of KT doses administered had no effect on the incidence of bleeding or the number of cases requiring return to the operative suite for hemostasis. Although this study did not attain statistical significance, the trend towards increased hemorrhage with KT is worrisome. This study and other reports in the literature support the manufacturer's warning that the use of KT is contraindicated in major surgery.
Experimental and theoretical study of the distance dependence of metal-enhanced fluorescence, phosphorescence and delayed fluorescence in a single system

Distance dependent singlet and triplet metal-enhanced emission of eosin from silica coated silver island films (SiFs) has been studied by steady-state and time resolved fluorescence techniques, along with theoretical finite difference time domain (FDTD) numerical simulations, to understand how the thickness of the dielectric coating surrounding silver nanoparticles fundamentally affects luminescence enhancement. Our findings suggest that the distance dependence of metal-enhanced phenomena such as fluorescence, phosphorescence and delayed fluorescence is underpinned by the decay of the electric near-field, and depending on the actual silver silica sample embodiment, one can see either decreased or enhanced luminescence. These results not only expand our current MEF thinking but also suggest that one may well be able to approximate plasmon-enhanced luminescence values.
In Vivo Cell Tracking With Video Rate Multimodality Laser Scanning Microscopy

Studies of biological processes, such as disease progression and response to therapy, call for live imaging methods that allow continuous observation without terminating the study subject for histological tissue processing. Among all current imaging modalities, optical microscopy is the only method capable of probing live tissue with cellular and subcellular resolution. We present a video-rate (30 frames/s), multimodality imaging system that is designed specifically for live animal imaging and cell tracking. In vivo depth-sectioned, high-resolution images are obtained using confocal and nonlinear optical techniques that extract structural, functional, and molecular information by combining multiple contrast mechanisms, including back scattering, fluorescence (from single- and two-photon excitation), second harmonic generation, and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering. Simultaneous use of up to three modalities is possible and eliminates the need for coregistration, especially on large-scale images. A real-time movement correction algorithm was developed to extend integration times in cases where the image needs to be stabilized against subject movement. Finally, imaging of fast moving leukocytes in blood vessels is made possible with a modification that permits operation at 120 frames/s over a smaller area. Sample imagery obtained in vivo with the microscope is presented to illustrate the capabilities.
Megavoltage radiotherapy for aneurysmal bone cysts.

Abstract Purpose: An aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a rapidly expansile and destructive benign tumor of bone that is usually treated by curettage and bone graft, with or without adjuvant treatment. For recurrent tumors, or tumors for which surgery would result in significant functional morbidity, does radiotherapy (RT) provide a safe and effective alternative for local control? Patients and Methods: Nine patients with histologically diagnosed aneurysmal bone cysts without other associated benign or malignant tumors were treated at the University of Florida with megavoltage RT between February 1964 and June 1992. The patients received local radiotherapy doses between 20 and 60 Gy, with 6 patients receiving 26–30 Gy. In 6 patients the diagnosis was made by biopsy alone; 3 underwent intralesional curettage before RT. Minimum follow-up was 20 months; 7 of 9 patients (77%) had follow-up greater than 11 years. Results: No patient experienced a local recurrence (median follow-up, 17 years). One patient required stabilization of the cervical spine 10 months after RT because of dorsal kyphosis from vertebral body collapse. No other significant side effects were experienced, and no patients developed secondary malignancies. Four patients were lost to follow-up: at 20 months, 11.5 years, 17 years, and 20 years after the initiation of treatment, none with any evidence of local recurrence. All of the patients who had significant pain before RT had relief of their symptoms within 2 weeks of completion of therapy. Conclusions: Using modern-day RT, patients with recurrent or inoperable aneurysmal bone cysts can be treated effectively (with minimal toxicity) using a prescribed tumor dose of 26–30 Gy.
Second approximation calculations of mechanical and electrical relaxation and retardation distributions

Second approximation methods for calculating distribution functions of mechanical relaxation times from complex dynamic data have been improved so that calculations of adequate accuracy can be made over a wider range of variables than was previously possible. Analogous methods for calculating distribution functions of mechanical retardation times and electrical relaxation times are given. The numerical values of the required second approximation correction factors are tabulated.
The Child's Theory of Mind

Do children have a theory of mind? If they do, at what age is it acquired? What is the content of the theory, and how does it differ from that of adults? "The Child's Theory of Mind "integrates the diverse strands of this rapidly expanding field of study. It charts children's knowledge about a fundamental topic - the mind - and characterizes that developing knowledge as a coherent commonsense theory, strongly advancing the understanding of everyday theories as well as the commonsense theory of mind.Wellman presents evidence that children as young as age three do possess a commonsense theory of mind - that they grasp the distinction between mental constructs and physical entities and that they have an understanding of the relationship between individuals' mental states and their overt actions. He delves in detail into questions about the nature of adults' commonsense theories of mind and about the nature of commonsense theories.Wellman then examines the content of the three-year-old's theory of mind, the nature of children's notions of mind before age three, the changes in the theory during subsequent development from ages three to six, and the young child's conception of mind in comparison with those of older children and adults.Henry M. Wellman is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Center for Human Growth and Development at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Comparison of Four Moderate-Size Earthquakes in Southern California Using Seismology and InSAR

Source parameters determined from interferometric synthetic aperture radar (Insar) measurements and from seismic data are compared from four moderate-size (less than M 6) earthquakes in southern California. The goal is to verify approximate detection capabilities of Insar, assess differences in the results, and test how the two results can be reconciled. First, we calculated the expected surface deformation from all earthquakes greater than magnitude 4 in areas with available Insar data (347 events). A search for deformation from the events in the interferograms yielded four possible events with magnitudes less than 6. The search for deformation was based on a visual inspection as well as cross-correlation in two dimensions between the measured signal and the expected signal. A grid-search algorithm was then used to estimate focal mechanism and depth from the Insar data. The results were compared with locations and focal mechanisms from published catalogs. An independent relocation using seismic data was also performed. The seismic locations fell within the area of the expected rupture zone for the three events that show clear surface deformation. Therefore, the technique shows the capability to resolve locations with high accuracy and is applicable worldwide. The depths determined by Insar agree with well-constrained seismic locations determined in a 3D velocity model. Depth control for well-imaged shallow events using Insar data is good, and better than the seismic constraints in some cases. A major difficulty for Insar analysis is the poor temporal coverage of Insar data, which may make it impossible to distinguish deformation due to different earthquakes at the same location.
Error-detection-based quantum fault tolerance against discrete pauli noise

A quantum computer---i.e., a computer capable of manipulating data in quantum superposition---would find applications including factoring, quantum simulation and tests of basic quantum theory. Since quantum superpositions are fragile, the major hurdle in building such a computer is overcoming noise. Developed over the last couple of years, new schemes for achieving fault tolerance based on error detection, rather than error correction, appear to tolerate as much as 3-6% noise per gate---an order of magnitude better than previous procedures. But proof techniques could not show that these promising fault-tolerance schemes tolerated any noise at all. With an analysis based on decomposing complicated probability distributions into mixtures of simpler ones, we rigorously prove the existence of constant tolerable noise rates ("noise thresholds") for error-detection-based schemes. Numerical calculations indicate that the actual noise threshold this method yields is lower-bounded by 0.1% noise per gate.
Detecting the Differences in Jazz: A Comparison of Methods for Assessing Perceptual Veridicality in Applied Aesthetics

Applied aesthetics raises questions concerning the relationship of aesthetic appreciation to the underlying artistic features that can be manipulated in creating works of art. To the extent that subjective aesthetic judgments and objective artistic characteristics correspond, the process of communication is characterized by “perceptual veridicality.” This degree of correspondence should be studied using real as opposed to artificially-constructed artworks and may be measured by either compositional or decompositional methods. By hypothesis, compositional approaches indicate the extent to which subjects can detect objective stimulus characteristics while decompositional techniques show the degree to which they do make such accurate distinctions. This hypothesis is tested on a set of real jazz recordings, with perceptual veridicality measured by mean squared canonical correlations between objective stimulus characteristics and perceptual maps derived by both compositional and decompositional methods. As exp...
Flow Formation in Couette Motion of an Elastico-Viscous Maxwell Fluid In the Presence of a Transverse Magnetic Field

The unsteady flow of an incompressible elastico-viscous Maxwell fluid between two parallel plates, the upper one of which is fixed and the lower one is started impulsively from rest, is studied. It is assumed that a magnetic field perpendicular to the plates is present, no external electric field is imposed and the magnetic Reynold's number is very small. Laplace transforms have been used to get the velocity field in the fluid and the skin friction at the lower plate. It is found that the elasticity of the fluid retards the fluid motion and increases the skin friction.
A method of getting approximate solutions to the orr‐sommerfeld equation for flow on a vertical wall

A method is presented for getting approximate solutions to the Orr-Sommerfeld equation for free surface flows. The method consists of replacing the velocity, normally a function of distance from the wall, by its value at the free surface while the second derivative of the velocity is kept at its true value. This permits a simple solution to the equation and the eigenvalues can then be determined by a simple and rapid numerical technique. Comparison of this approximate solution for the flow of a thin film on a vertical wall with existing exact numerical solutions and with analytical results valid only for small Reynolds numbers shows the approximation to be quite accurate for most practical values of the parameters and suggests that the method will be useful in investigating the stability of related flows.
Modified spectrum autointerferometric correlation (MOSAIC) for single-shot pulse characterization

A method for generation of the modified spectrum autointerferometric correlation that allows single-shot pulse characterization is demonstrated. A sensitive graphical representation of the ultrashort pulse phase quality is introduced that delineates the difference between the presence of temporal and spectral phase distortions. Using these schemes, full-field reconstruction of ultrashort laser pulses is obtained in real time using an efficient iterative technique.
Self-aligned high-quality total internal reflection mirrors

High-quality total internal reflection (TIR) mirrors are fabricated by a new self-aligned etch process using SiCl/sub 4/ reactive ion etching (RTE). The self-aligned etch process requires only a single SiO/sub 2/ mask layer without additional dielectric depositions and lift-off steps. The reflectivity of the TIR mirrors are measured by characterizing InGaAs-GaAs-AlGaAs strained-layer quantum-well heterostructure crank lasers that consist of crank-shaped ridge waveguides with two TIR mirrors and two cleaved facets. It is found that the self-aligned TIR mirrors have a very high reflectivity of 0.90 (0.46 dB/90/spl deg/ loss). >
Effects of Frying Shortening Quality, Holding Conditions, and Reheating on Selected Flavor Volatiles of Deep-Fat Fried Chicken Parts

Abstract Broiler parts were fried in fresh, used, or extensively used shortening. Major flavor volatile contents of the shortenings and the fried parts were analyzed. The extensively used shortening had higher (P Holding fried chicken at 60 C for 3 hr, 2 to 4 C for 24 hr or −18 C for 24 hr did not alter the tested volatiles. Reheating refrigerated and frozen chicken parts also had no effect on the carbonyl and H2 S contents except in skin and coating portions of the frozen parts. The CH3 SH and free NH3 contents of the refrigerated skin and coating portions decreased (P
The Effects of MPL-Ligand, Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-11 on Megakaryocyte and Platelet Alpha-granule Proteins

Thrombopoietin (Mpl ligand), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-11 (IL-11) differ in their effects on megakaryocyte maturation and development. In the present study, the impact of these thrombocytopoietic cytokines on biochemical and structural granule and membrane components was examined. Western blotting was performed on equivalent amounts of isolated megakaryocyte or platelet protein and the relative intensities of the enhanced chemiluminescent-visualized bands were quantitated by densitometry. Megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF), a recombinant thrombopoietin-related molecule, significantly increased megakaryocyte fibronectin (72%), thrombospondin (55%), von Willebrand factor (28%) and p-selectin (CD62p) (37%) when compared to equivalent amounts of protein from saline-treated controls (p<0.01). Megakaryocyte fibrinogen was not increased. Ultrastructurally, there was a marked increase in ribosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum even in mature-appearing megakaryocytes. Platelets from MGDF-treated mice showed small increases in fibronectin (8%), and CD62p (18%), but did not show increases in other measured alpha-granule proteins. Neither IL-6 nor IL-11 increased megakaryocyte or platelet alpha-granule proteins over levels observed in saline controls. IL-11 treated megakaryocytes, while also exhibiting an increase in ribosomes, were characterized by prominent cytoplasmic fragmentation. The study demonstrates the impact of Mpl ligand in increasing synthesized megakaryocyte alpha-granule proteins and of IL-11 in promoting megakaryocyte fragmentation.
Oxygen radical-mediated vascular injury selectively inhibits receptor-dependent release of nitric oxide from canine coronary arteries.

Reperfusion after global cardiac ischemia may injure coronary artery endothelium and lead to vasospasm and thrombosis. Oxygen-derived radicals have been implicated as mediators of this process, but the precise mechanism of injury is unknown. We hypothesized that oxygen-derived radicals impair coronary endothelial production of nitric oxide, a potent endogenous vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet adhesion. To test this theory, we developed an in vitro model of reperfusion injury in which segments of epicardial canine coronary artery were suspended in organ chambers (physiologic salt solution, 37° C, 95 % oxygen and 5 % carbon dioxide) and exposed to oxygen-derived radicals (generated by adding xanthine [10-4 mol/L] and xanthine oxidase [100 mU/ml] to the bathing solution for 70 minutes). After exposure to oxygen-derived radicals, epicardial coronary artery smooth muscle exhibited normal contraction to potassium ions (20 mmol/L) and prostaglandin F2 (4 × 10-6 mol/L); also, the rings relaxed normally on exposure to isoproterenol and sodium nitroprusside (10-9 to 10-4 mol/L) (n = 6). In contrast, endothelium-dependent vasodilatation to receptor-dependent agonists acetylcholine and adenosine diphosphate (10-9 to 10-4 mol/L) was impaired as compared with the reaction of control vessels not exposed to oxygen-derived radicals (n = 18, P
Intimate partner homicide-suicide: perpetrator primary intent across young, middle, and elder adult age categories

Intimate partner homicide-suicide (IPHS) is the most violent domestic abuse outcome, devastating families and communities. Nationwide murder-suicide data were collected from news surveillance of 728 events (representing 1611 deaths) reported 1999-2005. Content analysis compared perpetrator's primary intent (homicide or suicide) across 3 age categories: young (18-44), middle aged (45-59) and elder adult (60 +) couples. Based on information obtained, a known history of intimate partner violence (IPV) was most common in young dyads, compared to other age categories. Suicide pacts and mercy killings appear to be very rare. The majority of perpetrators were men who utilized firearms. Female victims varied in their awareness of danger. Evidence suggests there were differences in the primary intentions with young adults reflecting homicidal motive and elders were more often suicidal. Those in middle age indicated a mix, with most similarities to young adults. If substance abuse and mental illness played a significant role in the IPHS events, it was not evident from these data. Triangulation of data analysis methods contributed rich details about themes associated with danger clarity, perceptions of lethality, and evidence of the perpetrator's view of the self and others. Understanding existing distinctions in primary intent is crucial to the development of appropriate lethality assessments and prevention efforts. Language: en
Finding the Middlemen in Genome Organization

Chromatin domains associated with the nuclear lamina are generally heterochromatic and transcriptionally repressed. How they are recruited to and maintained at the nuclear periphery remains unclear. A recent study by Gonzalez-Sandoval et al. (2015) in Cell identifies a chromatin-binding protein that links repressive chromatin with the inner nuclear membrane.
A Tax Lawyer’s Interpretation of Shakespeare

Shakespeare has been quoted and invoked in numerous contexts, but, inexplicably, the insights his immortal words bring to tax law have been ignored. This short and lighthearted piece begins to fill that gap. Expanding on my remarks in accepting the 2009 Dana Latham Memorial Award from the Los Angeles County Bar Association Taxation Section, I discuss quotations from Shakespeare’s plays that illuminate important tax doctrines.
Beyond Understanding: Process Skills as a Context for Nature of Science Instruction

Effective nature of science (NOS) instruction is explicit and should be situated in a meaningful context that encourages students to reflect on the scientific enterprise. This approach to NOS instruction aligns with situated learning theory, which espouses that learning cannot be disconnected from the content to which it applies. The process skills-based approach is emerging as an effective way to contextualize NOS instruction. This approach explicitly links familiar inquiry skills such as observation, inference, and experimental design to the more abstract and esoteric NOS concepts (Bell, 2008). Preliminary research suggests that the process skills-based approach is effective in improving learners’ views of NOS and teachers’ abilities to teach NOS. Preservice teachers have shown substantial improvements in their NOS understanding (Matkins & Bell, 2007) and evidence supports that these teachers go on to use the approach to teach their own students about NOS (Bell, Binns, Schnittka, & Toti, 2006). In addition, the process skills-based approach has been linked to increased student achievement when science teachers implemented the approach in their classrooms (Binns, Schnittka, Toti, & Bell, 2007).
Valuation of Netflix, Inc

Intended for MBAs, this case concerns the valuation of Netflix, Inc., which was the largest U.S. online movie rental subscription service in early 2009. After reviewing Netflix’s historical financial and customer relationship performance, this case presents three approaches for valuing the firm in early 2009. The first is a company-level discounted cash flow analysis based on pro forma projections of revenues, earnings, and cash flow. The second approach attempts to judge whether the prevailing market value of Netflix was reasonable by comparing selected company ratios with those of comparable companies. The final approach is based on the assumption that Netflix’s enterprise value (EV) was the sum of its current and future subscribers’ values (discounted present values, to be exact). There is also a spreadsheet available for students (UVA-S-F-1610).
The Interaction Engine: Tools for Prototyping Connected Devices

In this workshop, we will familiarize participants with the Interaction Engine, a system for prototyping connected, interactive devices using low cost, single-board Linux computers and Arduino microcontrollers. Our main objective is to introduce participants to the basic architecture of connected devices and provide hands-on experience creating networked, physical hardware. The Interaction Engine is a generic framework, not a specialized toolkit. We employ widely available, community-supported tools that can enable web-connected hardware capable of merging tangible interfaces with audio/visual web interfaces. We view low-cost single-board computers as an enabling technology, representing the next step for tangible, embedded, and embodied designs enabling deep interaction between physical and digital worlds. This workshop will be a starting point for participants to begin exploring connected device development and will provide a basic set of tools and skills that participants can use in their own applications.
Mesoporous organosilica with amidoxime groups for CO2 sorption.

Incorporation of basic species such as amine-containing groups into porous materials is a well-established strategy for achieving high uptake of acidic molecules such as CO2. This work reports a successful use of the aforementioned strategy for the development of ordered mesoporous organosilica (OMO) with amidoxime groups for CO2 sorption. These materials were prepared by two-step process involving: (1) synthesis of OMO with cyanopropyl groups by co-condensation of (3-cyanopropyl)triethoxysilane and tetraethylorthosilicate in the presence of Pluronic P123 triblock copolymer under acidic conditions, and (2) conversion of cyanopropyl groups into amidoxime upon treatment with hydroxylamine hydrochloride under suitable conditions. The resulting series of amidoxime-containing OMO was prepared and used for CO2 sorption at low (25 °C) and elevated (60, 120 °C) temperatures. These sorbents exhibited relatively high adsorption capacity at ambient conditions (25 °C, 1 atm) and remarkable high sorption uptake (∼3 mm...
Problematic Analogies and Forgotten Details of 1989

We are happy that communism ended mostly peacefully in East-Central Europe in 1989. That civil society channeled peaceful dissent in the northern part of this region was important. Nevertheless, it...
A new paradigm for the role of smooth muscle cells in the human cervix

Background Premature cervical remodeling resulting in spontaneous preterm birth may begin with premature failure or relaxation at the internal os (termed "funneling"). To date, we do not understand why the internal os fails or why funneling occurs in some cases of premature cervical remodeling. Although the human cervix is thought to be mostly collagen with minimal cellular content, cervical smooth muscle cells are present in the cervix and can cause cervical tissue contractility. Objective To understand why the internal os relaxes or why funneling occurs in some cases of premature cervical remodeling, we sought to evaluate cervical smooth muscle cell content and distribution throughout human cervix and correlate if cervical smooth muscle organization influences regional cervical tissue contractility. Study Design Using institutional review board–approved protocols, nonpregnant women t test was used where appropriate. Results Cervical tissue was collected from 41 women. Immunohistochemistry showed cervical smooth muscle cells at the internal and external os expressed mature smooth muscle cell markers and contraction-associated proteins. The cervix exhibited a gradient of cervical smooth muscle cells. The area of the internal os contained 50-60% cervical smooth muscle cells that were circumferentially organized in the periphery of the stroma, which may resemble a sphincter-like pattern. The external os contained approximately 10% cervical smooth muscle cells that were randomly scattered in the tissue. In organ bath studies, oxytocin stimulated the internal os to contract with more than double the force of the external os (1341 ± 693 vs 523 ± 536 integrated grams × seconds, respectively, P = .009). Nifedipine significantly decreased cervical tissue muscle force compared to timed vehicle control (oxytocin alone) at doses of 10 –5 mol/L (vehicle 47% ± 15% vs oxytocin + nifedipine 24% ± 16%, P = .007), 10 –4 mol/L (vehicle 46% ± 16% vs oxytocin + nifedipine –4% ± 20%, P = .003), and 10 –3 mol/L (vehicle 42% ± 14% vs oxytocin + nifedipine –15% ± 18%, P = .0006). The half maximal inhibitory concentration for nifedipine was 1.35 × 10 –5 mol/L. Conclusion Our findings suggest a new paradigm for cervical tissue morphology–one that includes the possibility of a specialized sphincter at the internal os. This new paradigm introduces novel avenues to further investigate potential mechanisms of normal and premature cervical remodeling.
3 UROKINASE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR-INDUCED CARDIAC FIBROSIS PROCEEDS BY AN ANGIOTENSIN-INDEPENDENT MECHANISM.

Objective Cardiac fibrosis is a common finding in end-stage heart disease and likely contributes to worsening function. Increased plasmin activity is found in human hearts with fibrosis. We have generated mice with macrophage-targeted overexpression of urokinase (SR-uPA+/o mice) that develop cardiac fibrosis and macrophage accumulation by 15 weeks of age. Treatment with angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) decreases cardiac fibrosis in several mouse models. Since renin is a plasmin substrate, we hypothesized that uPA-induced cardiac fibrosis is mediated in part by the renin-angiotensin system. To test this hypothesis, we treated SR-uPA+/o mice with the ARB losartan and analyzed hearts for fibrosis and macrophage accumulation. Methods SR-uPA+/o mice and nontransgenic littermates were administered either 10 mg/kg/d losartan in drinking water or no treatment from 5 weeks of age (a time-point with no cardiac fibrosis) to 13.5 weeks of age and were sacrificed at 15 weeks. Hearts were fixed, embedded, and sectioned. Fibrillar collagen was detected with picrosirius red staining, and percent fibrosis in the midventricle was quantified using digital image analysis. Macrophages were detected using a Mac-3 antibody, and average macrophage density was determined by manual counting of 20 high-power (400×) fields per heart. Results Contrary to our initial hypothesis, SR-uPA+/o mice receiving losartan treatment had no significant difference in fibrosis compared to SR-uPA+/o mice receiving no treatment (12.9 ± 6.7% vs7.9 ± 5.6%, n = 8, p = .126 by Student9s t-test). However, the losartan group had a 2-fold increase in cardiac macrophages compared to the untreated group (212 ± 175 vs 102 ± 81 Mac-3 positive cells/mm2, n = 8, p = .05 by one-way ANOVA). Untreated and losartan-treated nontransgenic control mice showed no fibrosis and minimal macrophage accumulation. Conclusions In SR-uPA+/o mice, treatment with losartan did not decrease cardiac fibrosis, indicating that uPA-induced cardiac fibrosis proceeds through an angiotensin-independent pathway. Surprisingly, losartan treatment significantly increased cardiac macrophage density in SR-uPA+/o hearts. Further investigation of the mediators of ARB-induced increases in cardiac macrophage accumulation may illuminate mechanisms of angiotenin inhibitor escape in end-stage heart disease.
Bt-resistance management--theory meets data.

Plants that express two Bt toxins have the potential to delay insect resistance more effectively than single toxin plants.
O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase. A target for the modulation of drug resistance.

The DNA repair protein, O 6 -alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase, is a major contributor to the resistance to the nitrosourea, triazine, and tetrazine class of alkylating agents. Many tumor cells and primary tumor samples contain high levels of this protein, although a great deal of heterogeneity exists between and within tumors. Inhibition of the alkyltransferase by O 6 -benzylguanine results in significant potentiation of the cytotoxic effects of these chemotherapeutic agents, generating responses in human tumor xenografts that are completely resistant to nitrosoureas alone. These studies may rekindle the interest in the nitrosourea class of alkylating agents and stimulate the search for inhibitors of other mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance.
A Soviet Moral Panic? Youth, Delinquency and the State, 1953–;1961

The keynote speech at the 11th Moscow city Komsomol2 conference in 1954 took the unusual step of condemning “unworthy, amoral, and occasionally even criminal behavior among a certain portion of the youth”.3 Exploding in frequency at conferences, in resolutions and in newspapers in subsequent years, such sentiments reflected the initiation of a broad campaign by the Party-state4 which targeted young people perceived as spending their free time in inappropriate ways. The Soviet Union shares its experience of rising concerns about youth transgressing sociocultural norms with post-Second World War developments in “western” capitalist democratic countries.5 In the latter, expert commentary on and newspaper stories about youth misbehaviour inspired widespread popular worries, which in turn propelled an exaggerated and coercive government backlash against alleged young people perceived as juvenile delinquents. Scholars termed this phenomenon a “moral panic”.6 This chapter explores the Soviet anti-deviance campaign of the mid-1950s, asking: what motivated the post-Stalin leadership to launch the anti-deviance campaign? How did the authorities implement it? What does the new initiative reveal about the nature of the Soviet system in the 1950s and 1960s? Can we term this campaign a “moral panic” in the western sense of the term? What can it tell us about how different societies react to perceived deviance?
IRB Approval of Research Programs

Every institution that houses, sanctions, or sponsors research on human beings — whether invasive or intrusive or not — must first constitute an Institutional Review Board (IRB) that examines all research proposals and that must approve any non-exempt research on human beings before it is undertaken. It must also approve applications for exemptions. An IRB is bound by stringent Federal guidelines, informed largely by the NIH, and intended foremost to protect the research subjects from foreseeable harms. These guidelines are not necessarily motivated by protective benevolence or paternalism on the part of the government; they are motivated by an ardent desire to discourage lawsuits against the researchers and their institutions. An IRB-approved research program is so well-indemnified in principle that even the most litigious of beings would look elsewhere to press a suit. The IRB approval confers institutional protection on the researcher, who cannot, therefore, be sued independently, and moreover, the IRB acts under regulatory law, which confers federal protection on the institution, which cannot, therefore, be sued independently.
Airborne surface profiling of glaciers: a case-study in Alaska

A relatively lightweight and simple airborne system for surface elevation profiling of glaciers in narrow mountain valleys has been developed and tested. The aircraft position is determined by kinematic global positioning system (GPS) methods. The distance to the glacier surface is determined with a laser ranger. The accuracy is about 0.3 m, sufficient to permit future changes to be observed over short time intervals. Long-term changes can be estimated by comparison of profiles with existing maps. Elevation profiles obtained in 1993-94 from three glaciers in central and south-central Alaska are compared with maps made about 1950. The resulting area-averaged, seasonally corrected thickness changes during the interval are: Gulkana Glacier (central Alaska Range) -11 m, Worthington Glacier (central Chugach Mountains) + 7 m, and Bear Lake Glacier (Kenai Mountains) -12 m. All three glaciers retreated during the interval of comparison. The estimated uncertainty in the average thickness change is ±5 m, which is mainly due to errors in the existing maps. Constraints on the accuracy of the maps are obtained by profiling in proglacial areas.
I Count Now

Aspen, Erika, and I moved to State College, Pennsylvania, home of Penn State, in July 1997. To celebrate my appointment, George Andrews and I organized the conference “Topics in Number Theory in Honor of Basil Gordon and Sarvadaman Chowla.” The meeting was held from July 31 to August 3 at the Penn State Hotel. George and I wanted to honor the memory of Chowla, a longtime member of the Penn State faculty who had passed away in 1995, and we wanted to celebrate Gordon’s sixty-fifth birthday.
Specific Killing of Multiple Myeloma Cancer Cells by Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Extracted from Green Tea.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated chemopreventive effects of green tea in several types of cancers. The active ingredient present in green tea, and not black tea, is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). EGCG has been shown to interfere with multi-step carcinogenesis and it exerts its effects in pharmacologically attainable non-toxic concentrations. We examined the effects of EGCG on growth of MM cells. We observed dose- and time-dependent induction of apoptosis in MM cells following EGCG treatment. Apoptotic cell death, as measured by annexin V labeling was 38 ± 6% and 60 ± 8% at 24h with 100 mM and 200 mM EGCG concentration, respectively. This increased to 73 ± 5% and 88 ± 2% at 72h, respectively. Importantly, no significant apoptosis was observed in normal cells exposed to 200 μM EGCG. The apoptotic cell death was predominantly caspase 9 dependent and not caspase 8 dependent as evaluated using specific caspase 8 and 9 inhibitors. The anti-tumor effects of EGCG has been demonstrated to be mediated via a metastasis-associated 67-kDa laminin receptor. Gene expression profile of MM cell lines (n=6) and patient myeloma cells (n=15) compared to normal plasma cells (n=3) showed 3.1 ± 1 and 3.9 ± 0.7-fold elevation of laminin receptor respectively. Significant upregulation of this receptor was observed in 6 of 6 MM cell lines and 14 of 15 MM patient samples. We are currently investigating possible role of laminin receptor in EGCG mediated cell death in MM and combinations that may enhance EGCG-mediated MM cell death. These data suggest EGCG as a promising natural agent with excellent therapeutic index.
Predicting the Force Needed to Create a Compression Seal in an Ultrathin Elastoviscoplastic Membrane

In this paper, a finite element model is developed, and experimentally validated, for predicting the force required to produce a compression seal between a polycarbonate sealing boss and a 25 μm thick elastoviscoplastic hemodialysis membrane. This work leverages previous efforts to determine the conditions for hermetic sealing in a microchannel hemodialyser fabricated using hot-embossed polycarbonate microchannel laminae containing sealing boss features. Methods are developed for mechanically characterizing the thin elastoviscoplastic hemodialysis membrane. Experimental data for assessing the depth of penetration into the membrane as a function of force show an R2 value of 0.85 showing good repeatability. The average percent error was found to be −8.0% with a range between −21.9% and 4.4% error in the strain region of interest.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
ACCEPTABILITY VIS-A-VIS FATIGUE DAMAGE OF TUBE SHEETS CONTAINING IRREGULAR PERFORATIONS

One of the acceptability criteria of Nuclear Vessels concerns fatigue behavior under alternating loadings. In the case of a Steam Generator Tube Sheet, the fatigue analysis concerns not only the nominal geometry of the perforated area but also those regions where anomalous perforations sometimes result from manufacturing difficulties. Non-conform perforations can be justified by running a numerical simulation of the actual geometry. The advantage of such a method is that it yields results which are representative of the misplacement ; the inconveniences are: - the time lag between the dectection of a non-conformity and the conclusions of the numerical analysis, - the necessity of running a numerical simulation for each case. An other method consists of running the numerical simulations in advance in order to determine a “Domain of Acceptability”, covering all the situations encountered. In this paper, we present how the Domain of Acceptability could be determined (by using the Finite Element Program SYSTUS) and we give 2 examples of non-conformity analysis,
Children, Careers, and Clergy Life: Predictors of Religious Commitment From Stressors Among Catholic Deacons

ABSTRACTWe assessed the impact of clerical and life stressors on the religious commitments of employed, married with children Catholic deacons (n = 317 men: M age = 43.87 years old). Independent of social desirability, stressors during the last 6 months predicted separately intracommitment and intercommitment variables. Enthusiasm for church work and time spent on spiritual reflection predicted religious intracommitment (one’s relationship with a higher power, God); study of Scripture predicted religious intercommitment (one’s relationship in community reflecting God’s presence). Results suggest that despite current stressful life demands of marriage and family plus outside employment, Catholic deacons (“clergy dads”) maintained religious beliefs.
An investigation on 3D printing technology for power electronic converters

Due to the advantages like design flexibility, potential for low costs, short lead time, and so on, three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is currently applied to many fields of engineering and sciences. In order to improve 3D printing technology applying into power electric converter, several prototypes of power electronic components made by using 3D printing are investigated in this paper. The circuit board, the inductor and the heat sink of the buck converter is built by using 3D printing technology. Meanwhile, they are compared with a prototype fabricated by using a milling machine and commercial products. The general 3D printing approaches for building the board, the inductor and the auxiliary components are introduced, respectively. The prototype of the buck converter with 3D printing technology proves that this technology has broad prospects in power electronics once the current material limitations are overcome.
Introducing a ''Legal Notes and Issues'' Section: Law's Growing Influence in the Field of Personnel Evaluation

In the ®eld of personnel evaluation, scholars and practitioners may disagree on many issues. Most would concede, however, that the ®eld has become more and more burdened by legal constraints. In the previous issue, the Journal of Personnel Evaluation in Education recognized this trend by devoting, for the ®rst time, a complete publication to legal matters. Authors explored such topics as employment discrimination, the legal viability of personnel evaluation standards, and teacher unions responsibilities for improving the quality of the teaching force. In this issue, JPEE introduces a Legal Notes and Issues section, where law-oriented articles will appear in the future. The following article by Kathleen A. Sullivan and Perry A. Zirkel is the ®rst contribution to this new section. Appropriately enough, their essay is an overview of recorded court cases on teacher evaluation issues. Updating Zirkel's (1996) survey of law in this area, the authors note several decisions in which courts invalidated a school district's personnel action based solely on procedural errors by school evaluators. They also discuss cases involving remedial plans for de®cient teachers, the application of open records laws to teachers' performance records, and damages claims brought by teachers who receive negative evaluations or references. In the months to come, more articles will appear on legal topics. We anticipate no shortage of manuscripts, since litigation and legislation in the area of personnel evaluation seem to be a growth industry. For example, within the last eighteen months, courts have issued these provocative opinions: