cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional Map of a Placenta-specific Enhancer of the Human Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor Gene

Abstract We recently reported a placenta-specific enhancer in the human leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) gene and now show detailed characterization of the 226-base pair enhancer (−4625/−4400 nucleotides). Four of twenty-two mutants in linker analysis showed reduced promoter activities to 45, 30, 10, and 10%, respectively. Specific binding of region A (−4617/−4602) with nuclear extract was competed by a known Oct-1 oligo and supershifted by Oct-1 antibody. Specific binding of region B (−4549/−4535) was competed by a GATA oligo, but could not be supershifted by four GATA antibodies. Nevertheless, mutagenesis showed that critical bases in region B were identical to the GATA core motif, indicating that region B may bind to a novel GATA family transcription factor. The other two adjacent regions designated as region C (−4464/−4445) showed no known consensus binding sites, and their specific placental JEG-3 nuclear extract binding was not evident in nonplacental nuclear extracts and was not competed by a trophoblast specific element (TSE), indicating that region C is a novel placenta-specific element (PSE, CATTTCCTGAACTAGTTTTT). Footprinting localized the binding boundary of PSE-binding protein (PSEB), and three Gs were found to be important for specific PSE binding. UV cross-linking showed that PSEB had a molecular mass of ∼160 kDa, substituting the PSE with two previously reported placenta elements TSE or chorionic somatomammotropin enhancer factor 1 (CSEF-1) motifs resulted in markedly different promoter activities, indicating that PSEB is indeed different from TSE binding protein or CSEF-1. These results are the first demonstration that a novel PSE is the major element for placenta-specific enhancer activity in humanLIFR gene.
A Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community: Views From Providers and Residents

Maximizing quality of life for older adults poses challenges for formal service providers. One strategy to identify and address factors influencing health/mental health and promoting autonomy of community-dwelling older people is through a Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NNORC), a community development model of formal and informal home and community-based support. This article uses qualitative methods to report on critical themes generated from an initial evaluation of an NNORC using individual interviews with community partners that developed the program and Resident Council members living in the NNORC community. Findings reveal the need to support older adults aging in place, the importance of informal systems of care, access to trustworthy concrete service providers, and improved models of collaboration.
Analysis of Footing Load Tests on Aggregate Pier Reinforced Clay

AbstractDespite the increased use of aggregate piers for soil reinforcement, the role of typical construction variables on footing performance remains uncertain. This paper describes a series of full-scale footing load tests conducted to evaluate the effect of aggregate gradation, pier length, and compaction method. Tests were conducted on small (0.76 m) and large (2.74 m) instrumented spread footings supported on single aggregate piers and groups of aggregate piers, respectively. The bearing pressure-displacement response of these tests is presented and the statistical significance of the construction variables is quantified for single piers using a 23 factorial analysis within an ANOVA framework. The statistical significance of the effect of pier length, gradation, and compaction was determined by controlling for the spatial variability in matrix soil strength and stiffness across the test site, which indicated that these variables were largely insignificant at the treatment levels evaluated. Additional...
Thermodynamic characteristics of poly(cyclohexylethylene‐b‐ethylene‐co‐ethylethylene) block copolymers

A series of poly(cyclohexylethylene-b-ethylene-co-ethylethylene) (C-E/EE) diblock copolymers containing approximately 50% by volume glassy C blocks and varying fraction (x) of EE repeat units, 0.07 ≤ x ≤ 0.90, was synthesized by anionic polymerization and catalytic hydrogenation. The effects of ethyl branch content on the melt state segment–segment (χ) interaction parameter and soft (E/EE) block crystallinity were studied. The percent crystallinity ranged from approximately 30% at x = 0.07 to 0% at about x ≥ 0.30, while the melting temperature changed from 101 °C at x = 0.07 to 44 °C at x = 0.28. Dynamic mechanical spectroscopy was employed to determine the order–disorder transition (ODT) temperatures, from which χ was calculated assuming the mean-field prediction (χNn)ODT = 10.5. Previously published results for the temperature dependent binary interaction parameters for C-E (x = 0.07), C-EE (x = 0.90), and E-EE (x = 0.07 and x = 0.90) fail to account for the quantitative x dependence of χ, based on a simple binary interaction model. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 566–574, 2010
Laparoscopic embryo transfer in domestic sheep: A preliminary study

Abstract An effective, minor-invasive technique for embryo transfer in sheep was developed using a laparoscopic transabdominal approach. Twelve recipient ewes received embryos either by conventional laparotomy or by laparoscopy. The estrous cycle of recipient ewes was synchronized using a progestagen-impregnated vaginal pessary/pregnant mares' serum gonadotropin treatment regimen. Donor ewes were superovulated with follicle stimulating hormone or human menopausal gonadotropin, bred with a ram of one breed and laparoscopically inseminated in utero with semen from a different sheep breed. Five to six days after estrus, embryos were transferred laparoscopically into the terminal one-half of the recipient's uterine horn ipsilateral to the ovary with prominent corpus luteum development. Pregnancy was diagnosed by transrectal ultrasonic procedures, and by direct laparoscopic examination of the uterus. Of six laparoscopic transfers, three resulted in single births; one of six laparotomy transfers resulted in a live birth. Breed appearances of the four lambs born indicated that two of the offspring resulted from laparoscopic artificial insemination of the donor ewe. The results demonstrated that laparoscopic transfer of embryos was a rapid and safe procedure, easily applied to an ovine embryo transfer program and with potential for similiar studies in other species.
Xenon-Enhanced Computed Tomography in Brain Death

• The absence of cerebral blood flow is a valuable adjunct confirming clinical criteria of brain death. However, current methods to confirm absent cerebral blood flow have problems that limit their clinical use. We reviewed cerebral blood flow data obtained with xenon-enhanced computed tomography in nine patients who were being evaluated for brain death. In eight patients who met clinical criteria for brain death, mean cerebral blood flow was 1.6 ± 2.0 mL. 100 g. min. This value was within the range of error inherent in the method, and therefore represented absent flow. In a patient with persistent respiratory efforts, flow values compatible with absent flow were obtained in the supratentorial compartment, while mean flows as high as 24 mL. 100 g. min were measured in selected regions of interest in the infratentorial compartment, correlating with the clinical evidence of residual function of the brain stem. Xenon-enhanced computed tomography may be a useful test to confirm the absence of cerebral blood flow in patients being evaluated for brain death.
Use of techniques promoting students' self-determination: effects on students' analytic problem-solving skills

Based on self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 1987, 1991), we assessed the effect of controlling strategies and restricted choice options on students' performance on analytic reason problems. Subjects in the controlling-directives condition were told by their “teacher” that a given strategy was the way students “should” solve a set of analytical problems. Although subjects in the noncontrolling-directives condition were taught the same strategy, they were encouraged to use any strategy they chose to solve the identical problems. The results indicated, as predicted, that subjects in the controlling-directives condition performed significantly worse than subjects in the noncontrolling-directives condition on a subsequent set of analytic reasoning problems, when tested by an experimenter who was unaware of a subject's condition. Interestingly, subjects in the controlling-directives condition regarded the teacher as qualitatively more competent than noncontrolling-directives subjects, in spite of their poorer performance. Furthermore, feelings about the task, mood differences, or perceptions of performance as a function of condition did not account for these findings. The data are discussed as they relate to the theoretical and practical import of the deleterious use of controlling techniques in a number of contexts, as well as adults' erroneous beliefs about controlling strategies.
Deploying Directional Sensor Networks with Guaranteed Connectivity and Coverage

In contrast to existing work on the connected coverage problem in wireless sensor networks which assumes omnidirectional sensors with disk-like sensing range, this paper investigates a suite of novel problems related to connected coverage in directional sensor networks where sensors only sense directionally and have a sector-like sensing range. We first consider the problems of deploying a minimum number of directional sensors to form a connected network to cover either a set of point- locations (connected point-coverage deployment (CPD)) or the entire target sensing area (connected region-coverage deployment (CRD)). CPD is NP-hard as its subproblem of geometric sector cover (GSC) is NP-hard. We present two approximation algorithms for GSC as subroutines, and develop a general solution framework for CPD with approximation ratio sigma + O(1), where sigma is the approximation ratio of the selected GSC subroutine. We also describe two efficient deployment patterns with guaranteed covering density for CRD, and analyze their performance bounds with respect to arbitrary non-crossing deployment patterns. Extensive simulation results validate the correctness and merits of the presented algorithms and analysis.
Smart Pressure Sensing Mats with Embedded Hetero-Core Fiber Optic Nerve Sensors

In this article, we propose a smart mat application in the form of a thin mat placed on the floor designed for monitoring human motion, and specifically of a sole pressure mapping mat that uses het...
Cognitive rehabilitation therapies for Alzheimer's disease: A review of methods to improve treatment engagement and self-efficacy

Cognitive rehabilitation therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are becoming more readily available to the geriatric population in an attempt to curb the insidious decline in cognitive and functional performance. However, people with AD may have difficulty adhering to these cognitive treatments due to denial of memory deficits, compromised brain systems, cognitive incapacity for self-awareness, general difficulty following through on daily tasks, lack of motivation, hopelessness, and apathy, all of which may be either due to the illness or be secondary to depression. Cognitive rehabilitation training exercises are also labor intensive and, unfortunately, serve as a repeated reminder about the memory impairments and attendant functional consequences. In order for cognitive rehabilitation methods to be effective, patients must be adequately engaged and motivated to not only begin a rehabilitation program but also to remain involved in the intervention until a therapeutic dosage can be attained. We review approaches to cognitive rehabilitation in AD, neuropsychological as well as psychological obstacles to effective treatment in this population, and methods that target adherence to treatment and may therefore be applicable to cognitive rehabilitation therapies for AD. The goal is to stimulate discussion among researchers and clinicians alike on how treatment effects may be mediated by engagement in treatment, and what can be done to enhance patient adherence for cognitive rehabilitation therapies in order to obtain greater cognitive and functional benefits from the treatment itself.
Erratum:. Factors Affecting Optical Limiting and Scanning with Thin Nonlinear Samples

Descriptions of the optical transmission from simple devices designed to behave as optical power limiters have been studied in both the weak and strong nonlinear regimes. The models investigated feature an active medium whose third-order nonlinear susceptibility possesses both a refractive (real) and absorptive (imaginary) component. It has been found that the behaviour of the transmission with strong nonlinearities differs markedly from that with weak nonlinearities. Specific effects investigated are those associated with variations in the position of the sample, the beam shape, the size of the exit aperture and the ratio of the nonlinear refractive and absorptive coefficients. Some useful expressions have been derived for the aperture correction factors within different scanning regimes. These allow the maximum change calculated for the normalised transmissivity of a pinhole to be easily extended to any finite aperture size.
Intrinsic direct repeats generate consistent post‐transcriptional gene silencing in tobacco

It is well documented that transgenes with inverted repeats can efficiently trigger post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS), presumably via a double stranded RNA induced by complementary sequences in their transcripts. We show here that transgenes with intrinsic direct repeats can also induce PTGS at a very high frequency (80-100%). A transgene with three or four repeats induced PTGS in almost 100% of the primary transformants, regardless of whether a strong (enhanced 35S promoter) or a relatively weak (chlorophyll a/b binding protein promoter) promoter was used. The PTGS induced by three or four repeats is consistently inherited in subsequent generations, and can inactivate homologous genes in trans. Based on the high frequency and consistent heritability, we propose that the intrinsic direct repeat within a transgene may act as a primary determinant of PTGS referred to as direct repeat-induced PTGS (driPTGS). Silencing occurred in all five genes, in this and two previous reports, suggesting that driPTGS might be a universal gene silencing mechanism both in dicotyledonous tobacco plants and monocotyledonous rice cells. In addition, driPTGS may help dissect the gene silencing mechanism and generate silenced phenotypes useful for research and plant biotechnology products.
Emission spectra of Warm Dense Matter plasmas

Warm Dense Matter (WDM) is a highly transient state of material between cold condensed matter and dense plasmas. In this work, we have investigated the confinement of carbon ions in the WDM regime and the emission in spectral lines for WDM copper in a range of plasma temperatures and densities using the developed collisional-radiative equilibrium model that includes the effects of dense plasma on radiative properties. The 2s and 2p orbitals and charge density of carbon ions are found to be severely distorted at near-solid density. It is observed for WDM copper that with the increase of temperature, spectral lines disappear in infrared and visible spectrum regions and appear in ultraviolet and soft x-ray regions. At temperature >5 eV and low density (<0.1 g/cm3), a significant amount of radiation is emitted in x-ray spectral lines. With the increase of mass density of WDM copper, the change in line shapes, their broadening and shifts are observed. At mass density of ∼0.1 g/cm3, the number of spectral lines is reduced, and completely disappear above solid density.
Strengths and Weaknesses of MOS, Running-Mean Bias Removal, and Kalman Filter Techniques for Improving Model Forecasts over the Western United States

Abstract Despite improvements in numerical weather prediction, model errors, particularly near the surface, are unavoidable due to imperfect model physics, initial conditions, and boundary conditions. Here, three techniques for improving the accuracy of 2-m temperature, 2-m dewpoint, and 10-m wind forecasts by the Eta/North American Meso (NAM) Model are evaluated: (i) traditional model output statistics (ETAMOS), requiring a relatively long training period; (ii) the Kalman filter (ETAKF), requiring a relatively short initial training period (∼4–5 days); and (iii) 7-day running mean bias removal (ETA7DBR), requiring a 7-day training period. Forecasts based on the ETAKF and ETA7DBR methods were produced for more than 2000 MesoWest observing sites in the western United States. However, the evaluation presented in this study was based on subjective forecaster assessments and objective verification at 145 ETAMOS stations during summer 2004 and winter 2004/05. For the 145-site sample, ETAMOS produces the most a...
On Comparing Linguistic Theories: Further Notes on the Generative Semantics/Interpretive Semantics Debate in American Linguistics

SUMMARYThe article examines several issues raised in recent critiques of Ideology and Linguistic Theory (Huck & Goldsmith 1995) and finds no reason either to reject or to revise the original conclusion that Interpretivist arguments purporting to establish the superiority of Interpretive Semantics over Generative Semantics were weak and were justifiably dismissed by proponents of the latter. It also briefly discusses the particular use of the term 'ideology' and its application in an analysis of linguistic thought.RESUMEL'article examine certaines questions soulevees dans les compte-rendus du livre Ideology and Linguistic Theory (Huck & Goldsmith 1995). Les auteurs n'y trouvent aucune raison de rejeter ou de reviser leur conclusion centrale, a savoir que les arguments interpretivistes qui visaient a etablir la superiorite de la Semantique Interpretive par rapport a la Semantique Generative etaient faibles, et que le rejet de ces arguments par les partisans de la Semantique Generative etait justifie. Ils discutent egalement brievement de leur usage particulier du terme 'ideologie' et de son role dans une analyse des theories linguistiques.ZUSAMMENFASUNGIn diesem Aufsatz werden verschiedene Kritikpunkte untersucht, die in Besprechungen des Buches Ideology and Linguistic Theory (Huck & Goldsmith 1995) erhoben wurden. Die Autoren legen dar, weshalb sie keinen Grund sehen, ihre ursprungliche Schlusfolgerung aufzugeben oder zu revidieren, derzufolge interpretivistische Argumente, die die Uberlegenheit der Interpretativen Semantik gegenuber der Generativen Semantik zeigen sollten, in der Tat schwach waren und zu Recht von Anhangern der letztereji zuruckgewiesen wurden. Die Autoren diskutieren auserdem kurz ihren besonderen Gebrauch des Begriffes 'Ideologic' und seine Anwendung in der Analyse linguistischen Denkens.
Protective Effect of 2-Chloroadenosine on Lung Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Abstract Reperfusion following ischemia yields an inflammatory response characterized by polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) influx, inflammatory mediator release, microvascular permeability alteration, and protein-enriched fluid transudation. Evidence has accumulated suggesting that low-dose adenosine may "down-regulate" the PMN response. This study evaluated the effects of an adenosine analogue, 2-chloroadenosine (2CA), on ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in rabbit lungs. In these experiments the left pulmonary hilum was skeletonized, obliterating the bronchial circulation, and the left pulmonary artery and vein were occluded for 1 min for the sham ischemia (SI-V) group or for 1 hr for the ischemia (I-V) and 2CA-treated (I-A) groups. The left lung was inflated with nitrogen during the ischemic period. Saline (SI-V and I-V groups) or 2CA (I-A group) infusions were begun prior to and during the reperfusion period. After 4 hr of reperfusion and restored ventilation, selective left lung physiologic measurements and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were performed. Groups ( N = 8/group) were compared using analysis of variance. The I-A group demonstrated a significantly lower mean pulmonary artery pressure and higher cardiac output than the I-V group. Pulmonary vascular resistance was significantly elevated in group I-V compared to group I-A. A significantly greater alveolar WBC influx and protein transudation (BAL/ plasma albumin) occurred in the ischemic group compared to the 2CA-treated animals and sham controls. Decreased PaO 2 and increased venous admixture were noted in the ischemic group, but did not reach significance when compared to the 2CA group. These data suggest that 2CA may have a protective effect against the inflammatory response and physiologic alterations which follow IR injury in the lung.
High-strength cement pastes — A critical appraisal☆

Abstract The mechanisms responsible for high strength in cement paste systems are assessed in an attempt to define features common to selected new technologies, e.g., hot-pressed, impregnated, and macrodefect-free pastes. Important factors influencing strength of porous systems include porosity, pore geometry, C-S-H composition, composite behaviour and fracture criteria. The effects of low water-cement ratio, dense inclusions, stress modification in critical areas and their role in optimizing and controlling production of high-strength cement paste are discussed.
Crystallization of some FeNi metallic glasses

Abstract The beginning of crystallization was determined as a function of time and temperature for amorphous alloys of Fe40Ni40P14B6, Fe40Ni40B20, and Fe80B20. Both calorimetric and magnetic methods were used. The onset of crystallization was found to be a thermally activated process; the activation energies ΔE for the three alloys were 3.9 eV, 3.0 eV and 2.1 eV, respectively. These results, and all results available from the literature, show that ΔE increases with increase in the number of atomic species in the amorphous alloy. ΔE also increases with the increase in the difference between the temperature for the onset of crystallization and the glass temperature, Tx − Tg, both determined from scanning calorimetry. The Fe80B20 alloy was the least stable of the three alloys. Its projected life at 200 °C is 25 years, adequate for many, but not all magnetic applications. The temperature for the beginning of crystallization, from 2 h anneals, was also determined for amorphous alloys in the series FeyNi80−yP14B6, FeyNi80−yB20 and Fe40Ni40P20−zBz. These results are consistent with the structural relaxation model.
RESTRICTIONS ON THE ANGULAR MOMENTUM OF t-CHANNEL EXCHANGES FROM s-CHANNEL HELICITY CONSERVATION.

Abstract We show that there are constraints on the angular momentum of t-channel exchanges due to s-channel helicity conservation in the elastic reactions of 0 + S → 0 + S.
Implementing service-based chemical procurement: lessons and results

Chemical use reduction is strongly desirable for environmental and public welfare reasons, and is a critical element of moving towards more sustainable consumption in the business-to-business economy. However, the fundamental economic relationship between chemical supplier and chemical customer creates supply side incentives for increased chemical use. Chemical management services (CMS) is a business model that aligns economic incentives in the chemical supplier–customer relationship towards reduced chemical use by making chemical services rather than chemical volume the basis of supplier compensation. CMS thus ‘servicizes’ the chemical supply chain and is a Product Service System with significant potential environmental benefits. CMS enjoys high penetration in the US auto and semiconductor sectors, and is emergent in other sectors. The paper synthesizes lessons learned from hands-on work with 15 chemical-using firms over 5 years in all aspects of CMS program implementation. Key points are that poor cost accounting and chemical information management form significant barriers to making, understanding and evaluating the CMS business case. The details of contractual compensation mechanisms are critical to achieving in practice the potential environmental benefits of the CMS model.
Older Offenders on Probation and Parole.

Abstract This paper contributes to the growing body of literature on older offenders by presenting a profile of those persons under community supervision. This is the single largest group of older convicted offenders, outnumbering prisoners by four to one. The profile includes descriptions of demographic and personal data, criminal history, instant offense and performance on supervision. Parallels are drawn between the processing of women and older offenders in the criminal justice system in a discussion of discrimination, leniency and neglect.
Results of screening for phenylketonuria using a lower cutoff value in early collected specimens

Abstract Introduction: Currently, 64% of the newborn blood specimens in California are collected on or before 1 day of age and approx. 16% are collected before 12 h of age. During the period 1990–1991, the California Newborn Screening Program for phenylketonuria (PKU) instituted a lower phenylalanine cutoff for early-collected specimens because of the expressed concern in some reports that missed cases could result from lower elevations that infants with PKU might have during the first hours of life. Methods: During this period, 596329 specimens were screened for PKU using the fluorometric method. The phenylalanine cutoff for all specimens whose collection age was at or under 12 h, or not recorded, was lowered to 4.0 mg/dl, from the standard cutoff of 4.3 mg/dl. Results: No cases of either classical or variant PKU were detected among a total of 1256 infants determined to be presumptive positive based on the 12 h or less, or unknown, collection age (n = 72 868) and a phenylalanine level of 4.0–4.2 mg/dl. One infant diagnosed with transient hyperphenylalaninemia and who has not required treatment was detected. This may be compared to the 24 confirmed cases of PKU and 19 variants detected among 1532 infants determined to be presumptive positive based on the 4.3 mg/dl cutoff, regardless of age. Discussion: Using a single 4.3 mg/dl cutoff, there have been no known cases of phenylketonuria missed by the California Newborn Screening Program since its inception in 1980, during which time over seven million infants have been screened for PKU. In view of the additional false positives generated, there does not appear to be justification for using a lower cutoff value in early discharged infants when a quantitative technique is used.
Phosphate restriction reduces proteinuria of the uninephrectomized, diabetic rat.

Proteinuria is the clinical hallmark of diabetic nephropathy and the harbinger of progressive renal disease. Therefore, the present study was designed to examine the effect of phosphate restriction on the proteinuria of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus in the rat. Uninephrectomy was performed in experimental and control groups to worsen the degree of diabetic nephropathy. Proteinuria was prevented in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with the intestinal phosphate binder, dihydroxyaluminum aminoacetate (DHAAA) (24.75 ± 20.35 mg/d at 3 months v control, 77.45 ± 44.72 mg/d, P v 34.94 ± 24.28 mg/d) and in transmembrane hydraulic pressure difference (41.1 ± 1.2 v 46.4 ± 2.8 mm Hg, P
Coalitional Stability of Multi-Party Systems: Evidence from Poland

function form game that represents payoffs of electoral coalitions in a multi-party system. Three empirical hypotheses are formulated under the assumption that seat-maximizing parties modify coalitional structures to extract gains from coalescing. The hypotheses say that party systems under stable voter preferences and electoral law tend to stability with respect to splits and coalescing. The partition function is estimated for various coalitional structures for the Polish party system with simulation based on district-level election results and survey data. The estimates show that the Polish party system is split stable. While the opportunities for gains from coalitions on the Right were exhausted between the years of 1993 and 1997, some opportunities for such gains emerged on the Left. Introduction
Alternative quinone substrates and inhibitors of human electron-transfer flavoprotein-ubiquinone oxidoreductase

Electron-transfer flavoprotein (ETF)-ubiquinone (2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone) oxidoreductase (ETF-QO) is a membrane-bound iron-sulphur flavoprotein that participates in an electron-transport pathway between eleven mitochondrial flavoprotein dehydrogenases and the ubiquinone pool. ETF is the intermediate electron carrier between the dehydrogenases and ETF-QO. The steady-state kinetic constants of human ETF-QO were determined with ubiquinone homologues and analogues that contained saturated n-alkyl substituents at the 6 position. These experiments show that optimal substrates contain a ten-carbon-atom side chain, consistent with a preliminary crystal structure that shows that only the first two of ten isoprene units of co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) interact with the protein. Derivatives with saturated alkyl side chains are very good substrates, indicating that, unlike other ubiquinone oxidoreductases, there is little preference for the methyl branches or rigidity of the CoQ side chain. Few of the compounds that inhibit ubiquinone oxidoreductases inhibit ETF-QO. Compounds found to act as inhibitors of ETF-QO include 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide, a naphthoquinone analogue, 2-(3-methylpentyl)-4,6-dinitrophenol and pentachlorophenol. 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone (DBMIB), which inhibits the mitochondrial bc1 complex and the chloroplast b6 f complex in redox-dependent fashion, can serve as an electron acceptor for human ETF-QO. The observation of simple Michaelis-Menten kinetic patterns and a single type of quinone-binding site, determined by fluorescence titrations of the protein with DBMIB and 6-(10-bromodecyl)ubiquinone, are consistent with one ubiquinone-binding site per ETF-QO monomer.
Properties of nonlinear Hodge fields

Conditions are given for the global triviality and local smoothness of nonlinear Hodge fields having apparent singularities and, in some cases, nonuniform ellipticity.
Community‐based environmental management in Vietnam: the challenge of sharing power in a politically guided society

SUMMARY The article presents the challenges of introducing a ‘shared-power’ community-based management approach in the socialist society of Vietnam. The Portland State University (PSU)’s Oregon Environmental Management Alliance partnered with Vietnamese organisations in a shared-power pilot project aimed at strengthening stakeholder participation in environmental improvements in two communities along the Tan Hoa-Lo Gom (THLG) canal in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The Oregon Solutions model, a community-based environmental management (CBEM) approach, was adapted for the shared-power project. This article analyses three core ingredients of the shared-power CBEM approach: multiple stakeholder structure, dispersed authority arrangements and diverse policy instruments. Critical reflections are offered on the meaning and appropriateness of these shared-power ingredients when they are reinvented in Vietnam’s politically guided governance system. Copyright # 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
SU-E-T-699: Evaluation of a Monte Carlo Based TPS for SBRT

Purpose: Hypo‐fractionated dose regimens used in stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT) demand superior dose calculation and delivery accuracy. We evaluate the impact of using Monte Carlo (MC)treatment planning system (TPS) in SBRT of lung patients.Methods: A commercial MC TPS (iPlan 4.1.2, BrainLAB AG, Feldkirchen, Germany) validated in heterogeneous phantom geometry was employed. For lung and bone heterogeneities, iPlan has shown excellent agreement with measurements to within 2–3%/2mm for dose/distance‐to‐agreement. Five lungSBRT patient plans (PTV: 10 – 250 cc, mean = 67.5cc, S.D. = 85.9cc) originally computed with pencil beam (PB) algorithm were retrospectively analyzed using MC. Prescription dose was 50Gy to >99% of PTV in 5 fractions using 10–12 non‐coplanar 6MV beams. For each patient, four delivery modes were considered: 3DCRT, IMRT, dynamic‐conformal arc (DCA), and hybrid‐arc (HA). Monitor units obtained from PB plans were used to recalculate MCdose. All patient plans were compared using PTV and OAR dose indices (Dmin, Dmax, Dmean and D95).Results: MC calculated doses were significantly lower compared to PB plans for PTV surrounded by lung medium. Owing to electron disequilibrium, largest dose discrepancy was seen in superficial (<5mm) regions of target. For a 22mm target (PTV = 38.2cc): PTV Dmean and Dmin were 14.3% and 27.6% lower respectively. Corresponding differences were smaller for ITV (Dmean and Dmin 14% and 7.6% lower respectively) showing better agreement between PB and MC plans. For PTV surrounded by soft‐tissue or adjacent to chest‐wall, MCdoses were closer to PB (<5% agreement). Results were relatively insensitive to target size and mode of delivery Conclusions: This study highlights the need for MC based dose calculations in lungSBRT. Closer agreement between PB and MC results for ITV calls for robust and reliable image‐guidance.
Assessment and Treatment of Internet Sexuality Issues

The pervasive nature of technology has forced couples and families to rethink the role technology plays in their lives. Several notable areas emerging as challenging areas in couples’ lives include Internet infidelity, Internet pornography usage, and cybersex addiction. The increased prevalence of technology-related issues in therapy has challenged clinicians with the task of understanding the distinct differences and commonalities among each Internet-related issue. Two common Internet sexuality issues reported by clinicians are cybersex and Internet infidelity. The purpose of this article is to provide brief descriptions of the most common Internet sexuality issues, provide an overview of common assessment procedures, and outline the most recent development in treatment of these problems.
The brain/body problem

Abstract It is a commonplace of contemporary thought that the mind is located in the brain. Although there have been some challenges to this view, it has remained mainstream outside of a few specialized discussions, and plays a prominent role in a wide variety of philosophical arguments. It is further assumed that the source of this view is empirical. I argue it is not. Empirical discoveries show conclusively that the brain is the central organ of mental life, but do not show that it is the mind's location. The data are just as compatible with a view where mentality is a human capacity on the model of circulation or respiration, with the brain playing the same kind of role as the heart or lungs. The standard conception of the brain as the locus of mind stems, I claim, from the imposition of a Cartesian conception of the self on a materialist ontology. Recognizing that the empirical data do not justify such a move casts doubt on the foundations of a number of philosophical discussions and raises new questi...
Expression of murine cyclin B1 mRNAs and genetic mapping of related genomic sequences.

Abstract Two cDNAs that encode a protein with 87% identity to human cyclin B1 and that differ only in the length of their 3′-untranslated regions have been isolated from a 70Z 3B murine pre-B leukemia cell library. Three sizes of RNA transcripts were detected in Northern hybridization analyses of a variety of normal tissues and transformed cell lines using the cDNA inserts as probes. The expression of these RNAs can be modulated in tissue culture cell lines by physiologically relevant stimuli, increasing when cells are stimulated to proliferate and decreasing when cells are induced to differentiate. Moreover, RNAs from tissues that contain few proliferating cells have no detectable hybridizing transcripts. The coordinate regulation of these RNAs with other genes that are activated during the cell division cycle and the profound similarity of the predicted amino acid sequence to those of published cyclin B homologues indicate that these genes encode a murine cyclin B1. In Southern hybridization analysis of BALB cAnPt genomic DNA digested with Eco RI, 12 fragments hybridized with the cDNA probes. Through Southern blot analyses of DNA from backcross and cogenic mice, recombinant inbred strains, and somatic cell hybrids, the genetic loci that produce the cyclin B1-related sequences (designated loci Cycb1-rs1 to Cycb1-rs9 ) were mapped on mouse chromosomes 5, 1, 17, 4, 14, 13, 7, X, and 8, respectively. Cycb1-rs6 (on chromosome 13) is discussed as the most likely candidate for an expressed structural gene locus.
Free Radical Scavengers and Myocardial Preservation during Transplantation

Abstract The efficacy of oxygen radical scavengers in preservation of left ventricular (LV) function after prolonged hypothermic global ischemia was investigated in a model of orthotopic cardiac transplantation in sheep. Group 1 hearts (N = 8) received hypothermic crystalloid cardioplegic solution, and were harvested and stored at 4°C in balanced electrolyte solution for six hours prior to transplantation. Group 2 (N = 9) received identical treatment with the addition of 30,000 units of superoxide dismutase to the cardioplegic solution and the administration of 60,000 units of superoxide dismutase coincident with reperfusion. All animals were weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. Preischemic and postischemic LV function was determined using sonomicrometry and a micro-manometer-tipped LV catheter. Coronary blood flow was determined using standard microsphere techniques, and platelet deposition was assayed with autologous platelets labeled with indium 111. Lipid peroxidation products were measured using thiobarbituric acid assay. LV performance was significantly better ( p p p p
Boundary-layer analysis of propagating mode II cracks in porous elastic media

Abstract The steady advance of semi-infinite cracks in porous elastic media is examined in the limiting cases of very slow and very rapid propagation. The low-speed limit is the elastic solution representing fully-drained behavior, with no boundary layers present. In the high-speed limit, two boundary layers are identified: one along the crack face and another centered at the crack tip. The zero-order outer solution is the elastic solution representing fully-undrained behavior, with both boundary layers acting as zones of transition to the effectively drained conditions at the crack itself. Closedform expressions are derived for the stresses and pore pressure within the crack-tip boundary layer. The true stress intensity factor is found to be reduced by an amount related to the disparity between the drained and undrained Poisson's ratios of the medium.
Phospholipid loss in dying platelets

The death of a cell results in a large amount of membrane lipid, predominantly phospholipids and cholesterol, that must be eliminated. In this study, we have examined what happens to phospholipids in dying rat platelets. Rat platelets were incubated for up to three days following their activation with thrombin. Platelet death occurred during the first day of incubation. This was indicated by a complete loss of platelet lactate dehydrogenase hydrogenase into the incubation medium. The platelets progressively lost over one-half of their phospholipid content during the three days of incubation. Cholesterol and sphingomyelin (the phospholipid with the highest affinity for cholesterol) were not lost during the same period. Our findings suggest that significant degradation of cellular non-sphingomyelin phospholipid can be triggered by cell death. The preservation of sphingomyelin in dying platelets, may be an adaptive response to maintain cholesterol in a solubilized state within dying cells.
On the critical behavior of the surface tension in a random surface model

Abstract We examine the continuity of the surface tension α(p), at the critical point Pc, for the surfaces formed in the random plaquette model on Z3 - of independent plaquettes with density p. It is shown that α(p)⩽| In p|P ∞ 2 (1−p), and α(p)⩽| In p|P ∞ , 1 2 (1−p), where P ∞ (q) is the percolation probability in the dual bond percolation model - of independently occupied bonds with qand P ∞, 1 2 (q) is the percolation probability in the semi-infinite system. Under natural assumptions on the bond-percolation transition, these results strongly indicate that the surface tension vanishes continuously as p↑pc.
The diabetic patient as paradigm for selective antihypertensive therapy.

Abstract General recommendations from US and international organizations indicate that an ideal approach to the therapy of hypertension should begin with lifestyle modifications, such as decreased salt and fat intake and a careful aerobic exercise program, with the therapeutic goal of a blood pressure (BP) 140 90 mm Hg. The most recent guidelines recommend more rigorous targets for BP lowering in high-risk populations, such as those with hypertension and concomitant diabetes and/or renal disease with proteinuria. This chapter addresses hypertension in patients with diabetes as an example of a group at especially high risk. It reviews recent clinical trials that support more rigorous BP goals in such patients to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and considers the importance of combination therapy in achieving these goals.
STAT3 Is Required for Proliferation and Maintenance of Multipotency in Glioblastoma Stem Cells

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) regulates diverse cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis, and is frequently activated during tumorigenesis. Recently, putative glioblastoma stem cells (GBM-SCs) were isolated and characterized. These cells can self-renew indefinitely in culture, are highly tumorigenic, and retain the ability to differentiate in culture. We have found that treatment of GBM-SCs with two chemically distinct small molecule inhibitors of STAT3 DNA-binding inhibits cell proliferation and the formation of new neurospheres from single cells. Genetic knockdown of STAT3 using a short hairpin RNA also inhibits GBM-SC proliferation and neurosphere formation, confirming that these effects are specific to STAT3. Although STAT3 inhibition can induce apoptosis in serum-derived GBM cell lines, this effect was not observed in GBM-SCs grown in stem cell medium. Markers of neural stem cell multipotency also decrease upon STAT3 inhibition, suggesting that STAT3 is required for maintenance of the stem-like characteristics of these cells. Strikingly, even a transient inhibition of STAT3 leads to irreversible growth arrest and inhibition of neurosphere formation. These data suggest that STAT3 regulates the growth and self-renewal of GBM-SCs and is thus a potential target for cancer stem cell-directed therapy of glioblastoma multiforme.
1476 TIME OF GENTAMICIN (GN) ADMINISTRATION: AN IMPORTANT VARIABLE IN EXPERIMENTAL NEPHROTOXICITY IN THE RAT

Na loading can reduce the severity of drug nephrotoxicity. Rats, frequently used in such studies, consume food primarily at night and are thus relatively Na loaded in the early morning. To examine if this “natural” state of Na excess confers any protection from GN nephrotoxicity, male Fischer 344 rats on ad libitum Purina Chow (Na 0.36%) were given GN 60 mg/kg/d sc at 8 AM (Gr 1) and 6 PM (Gr 2) for 8 days. Control rats (Gr 3) on the same diet were given 0.1 cc saline sc. Urine was collected daily for a 10-hour period preceeding each injection. There were no initial differences between groups in mean age, weight or BUN. Gr 1 rats had decreased urinary osmolality (Uosm) but normal serum creatinine (Scr) and Clcr (8.5 ± 2.6 ml/min/kg). Gr 2 rats had decreased Uosm, increased Scr and decreased Clcr (3.0 ± 0.7 ml/min/kg)*. In evaluating drug nephrotoxicity in rats and comparing data, the time of drug administration should be considered.
BiovaxID™ idiotype vaccination: active immunotherapy for follicular lymphoma

Although advanced-stage follicular lymphoma (FL) has been considered incurable with standard therapy, novel strategies that utilize immunotherapy provide opportunities for prolonging disease-free survival. While passive immunotherapy with antibodies targeting the CD20 antigen on B cells has been the most widely applied lymphoma immunotherapy, active immunization with vaccines derived from the immunoglobulin idiotype present on the surface of FL provides an opportunity to induce specific humoral and cellular immune responses to the tumor, and have been demonstrated to produce significant benefits in prolonging disease-free survival. Promoting the benefits of all forms of immunotherapy will likely depend upon improving complete remission rates with initial treatment. BiovaxID, a patient-specific idiotype vaccine, has demonstrated durable remissions when administered to FL patients in first complete remission along with keyhole limpet hemocyanin and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and is now undergoing evaluation in a pivotal Phase III clinical trial.
Thyroid hormone-induced dissociation between plasma triglyceride and cholesterol regulation in the rat.

Exposure to thyroid hormone (T4) has been known to affect the plasma triglyceride (TG) concentration as well as the plasma cholesterol level, but the mechanism (s) and reproducibility of the TG response have not been defined. In the present study, we examined TG secretion in vivo in rats maintained in hypothyroid, euthyroid, and hyperthyroid states for 6 weeks. Endogenous TG secretion, as evaluated by the Triton methodology, increased in a linear fashion in relation to increasing plasma T4 concentration and was correlated with progressively increased levels of plasma TG. The largest response was seen in the transition between the hypothyroid and euthyroid states. Plasma total cholesterol concentration was progressively reduced with increasing thyroid hormone exposure, demonstrating a change the opposite of that observed for plasma TG. The plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration was reduced in the transition between the hypothyroid and euthyroid states, but a further reduction in hyperthy...
Reliability/safety analysis of a fly-by-wire system

An analysis technique has been developed to estimate the reliability of a very complex, safety-critical system by constructing a diagram of the reliability equations for the total system. This diagram has many of the characteristics of a fault-tree or success-path diagram, but is much easier to construct for complex redundant systems. The diagram provides insight into system failure characteristics and identifies the most likely failure modes. A computer program aids in the construction of the diagram and the computation of reliability. Analysis of the NASA F-8 Digital Fly-by-Wire Flight Control System is used to illustrate the technique.
Polarization scattering from a Spectralon calibration sample

The in-plane Mueller matrix bidirectional reflectance distribution function (MMBRDF) is measured for a Spectralon calibration target with a reflectance of 99%. Measurements are acquired using a Mueller matrix active imaging, goniometric polarimeter operated in the near infrared at 1550nm. The Spectralon is measured for both incident and scattering angles from -80 degrees to 80 degrees to within 20 degrees of retro-reflection. A range of polarization states is generated and scattered polarization states are analyzed by means of a dual rotating retarder Mueller matrix polarimeter. Complete Mueller matrix data is measured with a high-resolution camera in image form. Polarization scatter data is presented in Mueller matrix angular arrays. As expected the Spectralon is a strong depolarizer and weak s-plane oriented diattenuator. It was also a weak retarder. Diattenuation and retardance are strongest at horizontal and vertical polarizations, and weakest for circular polarization states.