cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract A42: Paracrine regulation of the pancreatic cancer epigenome

Development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) follows an increasingly well-defined series of genetic events in the pancreatic epithelium. Less well understood are the steps orchestrating the exuberant desmoplasia that accompanies every case of PDAC. This accumulation of stromal components arises from and is maintained by the reciprocal interactions between genetically altered tumor cells and adjacent stroma. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are myofibroblast-like cells activated by tissue damage and implicated in wound healing. Recent work suggests that PSCs are key primary drivers of the desmoplastic reaction that characterizes the disease, possibly through their established secretory capacity. We wished to explore the paracrine effects of PSC secreted factors on gene expression in pancreatic cancer cells. To investigate the global gene expression changes induced by stromal factors, PDAC cell lines were grown in “a-stromal” or “stromal” conditions. The addition of structural and diffusible PSC-derived factors significantly altered expression of thousands of genes in the cancer genome, suggesting that these factors exert genome-wide effects on the epigenetic state to so broadly affect transcription level. Stromal inputs lead to broad hyperacetylation of histones in the PDAC epigenome, particularly on gene-activating lysines on histone tails. These epigenetic events coincided with induction of genes implicated in anabolic metabolism, the glycosylation pathway, and inflammation. The gene expression changes induced by stromal factors overlap with those previously identified following oncogenic Kras, suggesting functional complementarity between cell-autonomous and microenvironmental cues characteristic of PDAC. As epigenome modification results in changes in gene expression through the functions of readers, we tested a small molecule inhibitor of a family of epigenetic readers for the capacity to inhibit gene expression changes downstream of stromal factors. Paracrine induction of pro-growth and inflammatory genes was inhibited by this small molecule, suggesting that acetyl-lysine readers serve as key transducers of stromal inputs to drive alterations in gene expression in pancreatic cancer cells. Inhibition of acetyl-lysine sensing reduced pancreatic tumor growth and associated inflammation in vivo, with significant reduction in expression of genes implicated in macromolecule biosynthesis and tumor-permissive immune regulation. This work supports further investigation of epigenetic modulators, in combination with targeted drugs or immunotherapeutic approaches, for the treatment of PDAC. Citation Format: Mara H. Sherman, Eric Collisson, Michael Downes, Ronald M. Evans. Paracrine regulation of the pancreatic cancer epigenome. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A42.
Halo measurements of the extracted beam at the Los Alamos Proton Storage Ring

The spatial beam density distribution beyond 2.5 to 3 standard deviations of the beam center is an important property for understanding the relatively small fractional losses of high intensity beams at the Los Alamos Proton Storage Ring (PSR) and transport lines to the neutron production target. This part of the distribution (sometimes referred to as beam halo) is not well determined by the LANSCE-standard wire scanner system nor is it yet reliably predicted by the simulation codes. To significantly improve the experimental determination of the beam halo, an improved wire scanner has been developed, tested and installed in the extraction line. To enhance the signal-to-noise ratio, an amplifier consisting of a wide dynamic-range, integrating amplifier, sample-and-hold circuit, log amplifier and line driver is located near the beam line. Offset errors at the input of the amplifiers are actively cancelled and timing gates are derived from a single input pulse. We will describe the prototype instrument, discuss our encouraging test results and report our experience with the instrument in the PSR extraction line.
Thick Skin - Serving Uncle Samuel and the Clinton White House: A Review of William B. Gould - Labored Relations

It is no secret in the labor community that Bill Gould's chairmanship of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) attracted more than its fair share of criticism. This review assesses Gould's term as memorialized in Gould's memoir, Labored Relations. In the course of the review, I argue that the call of public service does not come cheap. By looking at Gould's experience in comparison to other new Clinton administration agency heads, especially FCC Chair Reed Hundt, it becomes clear that agency policy-making has become increasingly difficult in the face of Congressional partisan politics. Nonetheless, memoirs are a key tool for evaluating agency and political behavior in the modern era.
The Neo-Vygotskian Approach to Child Development

Introduction: the problem of determinants and mechanisms of child development 1. Vygotsky's approach to child development 2. The neo-Vygotskian elaboration of Vygotsky's approach to child development 3. First year of life: emotional interactions with caregivers as the leading activity of infants 4. Second and third years of life: object-centered joint activity with adults as the leading activity of toddlers 5. Three to six-year-olds: sociodramatic play as the leading activity during the period of early childhood 6. The period of middle childhood: learning at school as children's leading activity 7. The period of adolescence: interactions with peers as the leading activity of adolescents 8. Conclusion - the neo-Vygotskian approach to child development: accomplishments and shortcomings.
PALM: portable sensor-augmented vision system for large-scene modeling

We propose PALM-a portable sensor-augmented vision system for large-scene modeling. The system solves the problem of recovering large structures in arbitrary scenes from video streams taken by a sensor-augmented camera. Central to the solution method is the use of multiple constraints derived from GPS measurements, camera orientation sensor readings, and image features. The knowledge of camera orientation enhances computational efficiency by making a linear formulation of perspective ray constraints possible. The overall shape is constructed by merging smaller shape segments. Shape merging errors are minimized using the concept of shape hierarchy, which is realized through a "landmarking" technique. The features of the system include its use of a small number of images and feature points, its portability, and its low cost interface for synchronizing sensor measurements with the video stream. Example reconstructions of a football stadium and two large buildings are presented and these results are compared with the ground truth.
Ethics and cybernetics: Levinasian reflections

Is cybernetics good, bad, or indifferentq Sherry Turkle enlists deconstructive theory to celebrate the computer age as the embodiment of ``difference.'' No longer just a theory, one can now live a ``virtual'' life. Within a differential but ontologically detached field of signifiers, one can construct and reconstruct egos and environments from the bottom up and endlessly. Lucas Introna, in contrast, enlists the ethical philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas to condemn the same computer age for increasing the distance between flesh and blood people. Mediating the face-to-face relation between real people, allowing and encouraging communication at a distance, information technology would alienate individuals from the social immediacy productive of moral obligations and responsibilities. In this paper I argue against both of these positions, and for similar reasons. Turkle's celebration and Introna's condemnation of information technology both depend, so I will argue, on the same mistaken meta-interpretation of it. Like Introna, however, but to achieve a different end, I will enlist Levinas's ethical philosophy to make this case.
Aberrant Formation of Glutamate Receptor Complexes in Hippocampal Neurons of Mice Lacking the GluR2 AMPA Receptor Subunit

The number and type of receptors present at the postsynaptic membrane determine the response to the neurotransmitter released from the presynaptic terminal. Because most neurons receive multiple and distinct synaptic inputs and contain several different subtypes of receptors stimulated by the same neurotransmitter, the assembly and trafficking of receptors in neurons is a complex process involving many levels of regulation. To investigate the mechanism that neurons use to regulate the assembly of receptor subunits, we studied a GluR2 knock-out mouse. GluR2 is a critical subunit that controls calcium permeability of AMPA receptors and is present in most native AMPA receptors. Our data indicate that in the absence of GluR2, aberrant receptor complexes composed of GluR1 and GluR3 are formed in the hippocampus, and that there is an increased number of homomeric GluR1 and GluR3 receptors. We also show that these homomeric and heteromeric receptors are less efficiently expressed at the synapse. Our results show that GluR2 plays a critical role in controlling the assembly of AMPA receptors, and that the assembly of subunits may reflect the affinity of one subunit for another or the stability of intermediates in the assembly process. Therefore, GluR1 may have a greater preference for GluR2 than it does for GluR3.
Integration host factor is a negative effector of in vivo and in vitro expression of ompC in Escherichia coli.

Integration host factor (IHF) of Escherichia coli is a DNA-binding protein involved in gene expression and other cellular functions in E. coli and some of its bacteriophages and plasmids. We report here that IHF is a direct negative effector of the ompC operon of E. coli. IHF binds to ompC DNA and protects a region of 35 base pairs located upstream from the ompC promoters. The addition of IHF to a purified in vitro transcription system inhibited transcription from two of the three ompC promoters. In vivo experiments suggest that the in vitro results are physiologically relevant. IHF mutants show increased expression of OmpC. In addition, the OmpC- phenotype of certain strains is completely suppressed by a mutation in IHF. Images
Transcription termination at the chicken beta H-globin gene.

Abstract We characterized the transcription termination region of the chicken beta H-globin gene. First we located the region by nuclear runon transcription in vitro. Then we sequenced and subcloned it into a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) expression vector for assay in vivo. The region of beta H termination contains two interesting elements located about 1 kilobase downstream of the beta H gene poly(A) site. Either element alone can block CAT expression if inserted between the promoter and the poly(A) site of the cat gene in pRSVcat. The first element in the termination region is an unusually large inverted repeat in the DNA (delta G = -71 kcal). The second element, 200 base pairs further downstream, is an RNA polymerase II promoter which directs transcription back upstream on the complementary strand. This transcription converges on and collides with that from the beta H gene at or near the inverted repeat where transcription from both directions stops. We propose that the inverted repeat is a strong pause site which positions the converging polymerases for mutual site-specific termination.
Hydrothermal dehydration of aqueous organic compounds

Abstract Although mineral dehydration in hydrothermal and metamorphic processes is a commonly observed phenomenon, it is often stated that organic compounds will not dehydrate in the presence of an aqueous solution even at elevated temperatures and pressures. Both theoretical calculations and experimental measurements directly refute this paradigm. Results obtained in the present study indicate that increasing temperature tends to favor dehydration reactions among organic compounds in aqueous solution. Calculation of the thermodynamic properties for several aqueous organic dehydration reactions were conducted using equations, data, and parameters from Shock , and Helgeson (1990) and Shock (1992,1993a), together with additional data estimated in this study. Dehydration reactions which may proceed at elevated temperatures include amide formation from carboxylic acids and ammonia, ester formation from carboxylic acids and alcohols, and peptide formation from amino acids. Condensation of complex organic molecules may be energetically favored in hydrothermal solutions, which would greatly facilitate the ability of organisms to infiltrate high-temperature/pressure environments.
Advances in polarized fluorescence depletion measurement of cell membrane protein rotation

The laser microscopic method of polarized fluorescence depletion (PFD) has permitted the rotational dynamics of functional membrane proteins to be measured on single cells under physiological conditions. This provides information comparable to that obtained by the older technique of time-resolved phosphorescence anisotropy (TPA) but with a greater than 1000- fold reduction in sample requirements. A new cuvette implementation of PFD methods, together with a data analysis model appropriate to this new experimental geometry, permits small volumes of dilute cell suspensions to be examined in their entirety. Data can thus be obtained at rates comparable to TPA. The instrument can also be used for TPA measurements and this permits direct comparison of PFD and TPA results obtained under otherwise identical conditions. In addition, a new photomultiplier gating device and system timing strategy reduce the minimum observable rotational correlation times to < 2 microsecond(s) ec, a 10-fold improvement over previous systems. These speed improvements have been examined in studies of BSA rotation in glycerol solution.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Problems and some solutions in customization of natural language database front ends

This paper is concerned with some of the issues arising in the development of a domain-independent English interface to IBM SQL-based program products. The TQA system falls into the class of multilayered natural language processing systems. As a result, there is a large number of potential points at which customization to a particular database can be done. Of these, we discuss procedures that affect the reader, the lexicon, the lowest level of grammar rules, the semantic interpreter, and the output formatter. Our tests lead us to believe that the approach we are taking will make it possible for database administrators to generate robust English interfaces to particular databases without help from linguistic experts.
A thin film temperature sensor for measuring nasal and oral breathing in neonates

A nasal-oral air temperature sensor for measuring breathing in infants has been developed using microelectronic technology. Preliminary studies with this sensor on eight infants showed that six of them demonstrated periods of oral, along with nasal, breathing.
Correction: Author's Name Omitted

Excerpt To the editor: In our article in the June issue, "Biliary Excretion of Aluminum in Aluminum Osteodystrophy with Liver Disease" (1), we inadvertently omitted the name of Genaro M. A. Palmier...
Tritium release from irradiated beryllium at elevated temperatures

Abstract Tritium release kinetics have been measured for neutron-irradiated beryllium in the temperature range of 573–884 K. Two tritium release tests of 270 and 550 h are the first in a series of tritium release tests on irradiated Be in support of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) blanket designs. Real-time tritium release curves were measured after temperature step changes of 100 K by an ionization chamber under conditions specific to ITER. The conditions and experiment were designed to measure diffusion-controlled release from irradiated Be. The preliminary conclusion from this data set is that a unique rate-controlling mechanism is not distinguishable. Apparent diffusion kinetics at lower temperatures give way to a burst release at 884 K, coincident with a restructuring and bubble coalescence in this fully dense material.
EXPANSION CHARACTERISTICS OF CALCIUM SULFOALUMINATE HYDRATES

LOW-EXPANSION SOLID SOLUTION SURFACE LAYERS FORMED BY CHEMICAL REACTIONS AT HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE USED TO CHEMICALLY STRENGTH ALUMINA AND SPINEL BODIES. SOLID SOLUTIONS IN THE SYSTEM, ALUMINUM CHROMATE, STRENGTHENED ALUMINA, AND SOLID SOLUTIONS IN THE SYSTEM, MAGNESIUM OXIDE ALUMINUM CHROMATE, STRENGTHENED SPINEL. PRIOR TREATMENTS WITH AQUEOUS HYDROFLUORIC ACID WERE USED TO REMOVE INTERGRANULAR MATERIAL AND INCREASE THE THICKNESS OF THE SOLID SOLUTION LAYERS. THE RELATIVE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTHS, DISTRIBUTION OF THE FLEXURAL STRENGTHS, AND THERMAL SHOCK RESISTANCE OF THE STRENGTHENED MATERIALS WERE INVESTIGATED. /AUTHOR/
A Demonstration of Modern Bayesian Methods for Assessing System Reliability with Multilevel Data and for Allocating Resources

Good estimates of the reliability of a system make use of test data and expert knowledge at all available levels. Furthermore, by integrating all these information sources, one can determine how best to allocate scarce testing resources to reduce uncertainty. Both of these goals are facilitated by modern Bayesian computational methods. We demonstrate these tools using examples that were previously solvable only through the use of ingenious approximations, and employ genetic algorithms to guide resource allocation.
Commentary: Commentary: The impact of social networking tools on political change in Egypt's Revolution 2.0

Social networking is a new driving force that has a significant global impact on political change. Few research studies have been published on the impact of social networking related to political change. This commentary discusses the impacts of social networking tools on the recent political changes in the eighteen-day Egyptian ''Revolution 2.0'' of 2011. We discuss a number of factors related to social networking that predisposed the people of Egypt to rise up in a revolt that stunned many observers, given its speed and dramatic outcome. Social network-related factors appear to have had a positive impact on Egyptians' attitudes toward social change, which, in turn, supported their individual and aggregate behavior, leading to the revolution.
Goal-relevant events need not be rare to boost memory for concurrent images

In the attentional boost effect, memory for images presented at the same time as unrelated targets (e.g., an orange square) is enhanced relative to images presented at the same time as distractors (e.g., a blue square). One difficulty in understanding the nature of this enhancement is that, in most experiments demonstrating the attentional boost effect, targets have been less common than distractors. As a result, the memory enhancement associated with target detection may have been driven by differences in the relative frequencies of targets and distractors. In four experiments, participants encoded images into memory at the same time that they monitored a second, unrelated stimulus stream for targets. In some conditions, targets were as common as distractors (1:1 ratio); in others, targets were rare (1:6 ratio). The attentional boost effect was present when the target and distractor frequencies were equated, ruling out oddball and distinctiveness effects as explanations. These effects were observed when targets required a buttonpress and when they were covertly counted. Memory enhancements were not observed for images presented at the same time as rare distractor stimuli. We concluded that selectively attending to events that require an overt or covert response enhances the processing of concurrent information.
Democratization: The Contribution of Fair Trade and Ethical Trading Movements

De-democratization and institutional corruption threaten equality among the expanding global market community. International treaties have been largely unsuccessful because they are designed to favor the more politically and economically advantaged players. In addition to meeting these challenges, there are many additional benefits to be gained from adopting the principles of the Fair Trade and Ethical Trading movements. Finally, international law has an obligation to integrate the principles of social and ethical trading movements to prevent the autonomous powers and transnational corporations from dominating the traditional, less powerful markets and so that welfare increases for all.
Single-walled carbon nanotube growth using [Fe(3)(mu(3)-O)(mu-O(2)CR)(6)(L)(3)](n+) complexes as catalyst precursors.

We present herein the VLS growth of SWNTs from oxo-hexacarboxylate–triron precursors, [Fe3O(O2CCH3)6(EtOH)3] (1) and [Fe3O(O2CCH2OMe)6(H2O)3][FeCl4] (2), on spin-on-glass surfaces, using C2H4/H2 (750 °C) and CH4/H2 (800 and 900 °C) growth conditions. The SWNTs have been characterized by AFM, SEM and Raman spectroscopy. The characteristics of the SWNTs are found to be independent of the identity of the precursor complex or the solvent from which it is spin-coated. The as grown SWNTs show a low level of side-wall defects and have an average diameter of 1.2–1.4 nm with a narrow distribution of diameters. At 750 and 800 °C the SWNTs are grown with a range of lengths (300 nm–9 µm), but at 900 °C only the longer SWNTs are observed (6–8 µm). The yield of SWNTs per unit area of catalyst nanoparticle decreases with the growth temperature. We have demonstrated that spin coating of molecular precursors allows for the formation of catalyst nanoparticles suitable for growth of SWNTs with a high degree of uniformity in the diameter, without the formation of preformed clusters of a set diameter.
Factors associated with radiation-induced nausea and vomiting in head and neck cancer patients treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy.

Abstract Background and purpose To investigate factors associated with radiation-induced nausea and vomiting (RINV) in the setting of head and neck intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Materials and methods Forty-three patients treated with IMRT for head and neck cancer between 2002 and 2007 comprise the cohort. The majority (79%) were treated with an accelerated altered fractionation scheme, and concurrent chemotherapy was delivered to 23. A retrospective review of factors associated with nausea was performed. Results Eighteen patients (42%) reported grade 1 acute nausea, and seven patients (16%) reported grade 2 nausea. Factors significant for grade 1–2 nausea on univariate analysis included dose to the dorsal vagal complex of the mid-medulla, younger age, use of a low neck field, and Amifostine use. Only young age retained significance on multivariate analysis. High-grade nausea was associated with use of Amifostine ( p =0.003) and concurrent chemotherapy ( p =0.015). Conclusions In addition to previously recognized emetic factors, young age and radiation dose to the dorsal vagal complex of the brainstem may play a role in development of nausea during head and neck IMRT.
Relative efficacy upon Pasteurella multocida of various antibiotics aureomycin, terramycin, bacitracin, and polymyxin B.

SummaryThe bacteriostatic activity toward eight strains of Pasteurella multocida of aureomycin, terramycin, and bacitracin and the relative efficacy of four additional antibiotics, previously studied only singly, have been determined. It was found that the eight strains were very susceptible to penicillin, aureomycin, Chloromycetin, terramycin and polymyxin B but rather resistant to bacitracin and streptomycin.
Guest Editor's Introduction: Getting More Out of Test

The 2006 IEEE International Test Conference (ITC) focused on the theme "Getting More Out of Test." This means ensuring product quality and reliability as cost efficiently as possible. In today's market environment, it also means taking test beyond its traditional role of separating good products from bad. The three articles in this special section, all written by well-received ITC 2006 authors, address ways to get more out of test. The first two articles provide specific examples of techniques for addressing the newly important diagnosis and debugging functions of test. The third article addresses test decision making more generally, and specifically suggests that exploring the psychology that underlies the decisions made by designers, DFT engineers, and test engineers could eventually help to get more out of test.
Crystal and Molecular Structure of an Unreactive Methacrylate Phase, Cu2[C3H5COO]4.2[C3H5COOH]

Abstract The title compound was synthesized and its structure determined by single crystal x-ray diffraction techniques. The complex crystallizes in monoclinic space group P21/c, with a=9.015(2), b=19.704(4), c=9.034(2) A; β=116.96°, and Z=2. Full-matrix least squares refinement of positional and thermal parameters for all nonhydrogen atoms, using 1682 reflections for which F>3.92[sgrave](F), led to R=0.041 and RW=0.051. Crystals of this material were found to be unreactive upon exposure to x- and ry-irradiation, as well as to heating to 200°C. The lack of reactivity is discussed in terms of carbon-carbon contacts and other factors.
Optimization of strategic defenses to provide specified post-attack production capacities

This paper presents a model for choosing a minimum-cost mix of strategic defenses to assure that specified production capacities for several economic sectors survive after a nuclear attack. The defender selects a mix of strategic defenses for each of several geographic regions. The attacker chooses an allocation of attacking weapons to geographic regions, within specified weapon inventories. The attack is optimized against any economic sector. This formulation allows the defense planner the capability to assess the results of the optimal defense structure for a “worst case” attack. The model is a mathematical program with nonlinear programming problems in the constraints; an example of its application is given and is solved using recently developed optimization techniques.
Placenta previa percreta with bladder involvement: new considerations and review of the literature

Placenta previa percreta is a life-threatening condition. Antenatal diagnosis is important to establish and to optimize a plan of management. When bladder invasion occurs, other potential complications can result, including massive hemorrhage and the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Numerous modalities have been used successfully to treat these patients, but hysterectomy at delivery is the treatment most commonly used. A case of placenta previa percreta with suspected bladder invasion was diagnosed in a 35-year-old woman by routine office ultrasound examination at 19 weeks 6 days' gestation. She was managed conservatively until 36 weeks 3 days' gestation, at which time she underwent a modified classical Cesarean section after amniocentesis to confirm fetal lung maturity. The placenta was left in situ immediately postpartum. The patient underwent a prophylactic embolization of her hypogastric arteries and received methotrexate chemotherapy. Eight weeks later, she developed a low-grade coagulopathy and underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy. Conservative management intrapartum is thought to be appropriate, to avoid the risk of severe hemorrhage at the time of delivery. However, elective hysterectomy ought to be considered earlier (2-4 weeks postpartum) than the time suggested in the literature, to avoid the development of further complications, including coagulopathy.
Genes and susceptible loci of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common and devastating neurodegenerative disease of the elderly. Many research findings on familial AD suggest that the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of the disorder is more complex although the overall neuropathology of all cases of AD is surprisingly very similar. Genetic studies on some families have shown that mutations in the genes encoding beta-amyloid precursor protein and presenilins 1 and 2 are responsible for early-onset AD. In addition, apolipoprotein E gene allele E4 and the bleomycin hydrolase locus are shown to be genetic risk factors for late-onset AD in certain sporadic cases. Mitochondrial dysfunctions and age-related oxidative stress may also contribute to degenerative processes in AD. Although several studies support the amyloid cascade hypothesis as the mechanism of the disease, transgenic experiments and recent findings on a variant form of an AD family suggest that A beta deposition may not be sufficient to cause AD. Identification in the future of other genetic, environmental, and age-related factors, may provide additional targets for therapies.
The separation of the light and heavy strands of bromouracil-substituted mammalian DNA†

DNA from mammalian cells which have grown and divided once in the presence of 5-bromodeoxyuridine and in which 5-bromouracil substitutes for approximately one half of the DNA-thymine has an effective density between 1·761 and 1·755 g/cm 3 . It can be separated by heat denaturation as shown by density-gradient centrifugation into a light strand which is essentially free of bromouracil and a substituted strand with effective densities between 1·716 and 1·722 and between 1·821 and 1·831 g/cm 3 respectively. These results confirm previous evidence that such DNA is hybrid in nature and that mammalian cells replicate DNA in a semiconservative manner.
Coastal ocean wind fields gauged against the performance of an ocean circulation model

[1] Atmosphere model-derived flux fields are used to force coastal ocean models. Coarse resolution and incomplete boundary layer dynamics limit the accuracy of these forcing fields and hence the performance of the ocean models. We address this limitation for the west Florida shelf using optimal interpolation to blend winds measured in situ with winds produced by model analyses. By improving the coastal wind field we improve the fidelity between currents modeled and currents observed. Comparisons between momentum analyses performed independently from the model and the data demonstrate the fidelity to be of a correct dynamical basis. We conclude that the primary limitation to coastal ocean model performance lies with the boundary conditions.
How and why criteria defining moderators and mediators differ between the Baron & Kenny and MacArthur approaches.

Objective: In recognition of the increasingly important role of moderators and mediators in clinical research, clear definitions are sought of the two terms to avoid inconsistent, ambiguous, and possibly misleading results across clinical research studies. Design: The criteria used to define moderators and mediators proposed by the Baron & Kenny approach, which have been long used in social/behavioral research, are directly compared to the criteria proposed by the recent MacArthur approach, which modified the Baron & Kenny criteria. Results: After clarifying the differences in criteria between approaches, the rationale for the modifications is clarified and the implications for the design and interpretation of future studies considered. Conclusions: Researchers may find modifications introduced in the MacArthur approach more appropriate to their research objectives, particularly if their research might have a direct influence on decision making.
Use of oligonucleotide arrays for molecular taxonomic studies of closely related species in the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) complex

Molecular markers derived from intron sequence polymorphisms have been identified to augment and improve existing tools available for the analysis of closely related species found in the Bactrocera dorsalis species complex. Arrays of allele-specific oligonucleotides incorporating these markers have been developed to allow both for rapid taxonomic identification and direct genotyping of individual specimens in single hybridization experiments.
Causal Green Function in Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

The causal Green function or Feynman propagator for the free-field Klein-Gordon equation and related singular functions, defined as distributions, are related to the causal time-boundary data. Probability densities and amplitudes are defined in terms of the solutions of the Klein-Gordon equation for a complex scalar field interacting with an electromagnetic field. The convergence of the perturbation expansion of the solution of the Klein-Gordon equation for a charged scalar particle in an external field is shown for well-behaved electromagnetic potentials. Other relativistic wave equations are discussed briefly.
Nonlinear algorithm for task-specific tomosynthetic image reconstruction

This investigation defines and tests a simple, nonlinear, task-specific method for rapid tomosynthetic reconstruction of radiographic images designed to allow an increase in specificity at the expense of sensitivity. Representative lumpectomy specimens containing cancer from human breasts were radiographed with a digital mammographic machine. Resulting projective data were processed to yield a series of tomosynthetic slices distributed throughout the breast. Five board-certified radiologists compared tomographic displays of these tissues processed both linearly (control) and nonlinearly (test) and ranked them in terms of their perceived interpretability. In another task, a different set of nine observers estimated the relative depths of six holes bored in a solid Lucite block as perceived when observed in three dimensions as a tomosynthesized series of test and control slices. All participants preferred the nonlinearly generated tomosynthetic mammograms to those produced conventionally, with or without subsequent deblurring by means of iterative deconvolution. The result was similar (p less than 0.015) when the hole-depth experiment was performed objectively. We therefore conclude for certain tasks that are unduly compromised by tomosynthetic blurring, the nonlinear tomosynthetic reconstruction method described here may improve diagnostic performance with a negligible increase in cost or complexity.
Better static memory management: improving region-based analysis of higher-order languages

Static memory management replaces runtime garbage collection with compile-time annotations that make all memory allocation and deallocation explicit in a program. We improve upon the Tofte/Talpin region-based scheme for compile-time memory management[TT94]. In the Tofte/Talpin approach, all values, including closures, are stored in regions. Region lifetimes coincide with lexical scope, thus forming a runtime stack of regions and eliminating the need for garbage collection. We relax the requirement that region lifetimes be lexical. Rather, regions are allocated late and deallocated as early as possible by explicit memory operations. The placement of allocation and deallocation annotations is determined by solving a system of constraints that expresses all possible annotations. Experiments show that our approach reduces memory requirements significantly, in some cases asymptotically.
An alternate pathway for androgen regulation of brain function: Activation of estrogen receptor beta by the metabolite of dihydrotestosterone, 5α-androstane 3β, 17β diol

The complexity of gonadal steroid hormone actions is reflected in their broad and diverse effects on a host of integrated systems including reproductive physiology, sexual behavior, stress responses, immune function, cognition, and neural protection. Understanding the specific contributions of androgens and estrogens in neurons that mediate these important biological processes is central to the study of neuroendocrinology. Of particular interest in recent years has been the biological role of androgen metabolites. The goal of this review is to highlight recent data delineating the specific brain targets for the dihydrotestosterone metabolite, 5α-androstane, 3β, 17β-diol (3β-Diol). Studies using both in vitro and in vivo approaches provide compelling evidence that 3β-Diol is an important modulator of the stress response mediated by the hypothalmo-pituitary-adrenal axis. Further, the actions of 3β-Diol are mediated by estrogen receptors, and not androgen receptors, often through a canonical estrogen response element in the promoter of a given target gene. These novel findings compel us to re-evaluate the interpretation of past studies and the design of future experiments aimed at elucidating the specific effects of androgen receptor signaling pathways.
Sedimentary processes on the Bengal continental shelf as revealed by clay-size mineralogy

Shelf sediment dispersal seaward of the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system is examined during January/February (low discharge) through analysis of sediment cores and surface grab samples for clay-size mineralogy. Illite is the dominant mineral in surficial sediments landward of the 50-m isobath, comprising >40% of the clay-size assemblage. Kaolinite concentrations of surficial sediments generally are greater than 20% throughout the area; however, very high abundances occur off Bhola Island (25–33%) and the Chittagong coast (34–39%), probably as a result of extensive shoreline erosion of cultivated areas enriched in kaolinite. Smectite and illite/smectite concentrations, reflecting input from distributaries of the Ganges, are enriched on the western inner shelf and along the western margin of the “Swatch of No Ground”, a major submarine canyon west of the present river mouth. Although surficial chlorite abundances on the inner shelf in water depths <20m generally are low to negligible (<5%), mid-shelf abundances range from 5 to 13% with the highest concentrations near the head of the submarine canyon. These high concentrations probably reflect sediment dispersal to the mid-shelf region during the high-discharge season (May–October) when chlorite-enriched sediments from the nearby Himalayas are discharged by the river. During low discharge, chlorite-poor sediments are concentrated on the inner shelf and do not dilute the “relict” chlorite signal which is preserved offshore. Downcore zones of high chlorite concentrations east of the submarine canyon indicate that at least part of the high-discharge signal is preserved in the sedimentary record. Chlorite is depleted west of the canyon, suggesting that the “Swatch of No Ground” presently interrupts the westward along-shelf transport of riverine sediments.
Metallothionein synthesis and degradation in indian childhood cirrhosis fibroblasts

ABSTRACT: Indian childhood cirrhosis (ICC) is a fatal liver disease characterized by the accumulation of copper-sulfur aggregates. We demonstrated that cultured fibroblasts from a patient with ICC contain vesicular aggregates, fibrillar whorls, and crystalloids along with dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum filled with flocculent material. Although the copper content of the fibroblasts was normal, both basal and metal-induced metallothionein (MT) synthesis was reduced in the ICC cells. The lower MT synthesis in ICC cells was seen at copper concentrations of 100, 200, and 400 μM, zinc concentrations of 50 and 100 μM, and a cadmium concentration of 2 μM. The lower MT synthesis in ICC cells was not due to failure of the cells to take up copper because 67Cu uptake kinetics were normal in the mutant cells. MT degradation was also normal in the ICC cells. The size of human MT HA mRNA was normal in the ICC cells, but its amount was reduced under both basal and metal-induced conditions. The MT HA gene, which is the predominant MT gene in human beings, showed no sequence alterations in any of its exons, introns, or promoter region in the ICC cells compared with normal cells. These studies demonstrate that this case of ICC represents a genetic disease with some level of expression in cultured fibroblasts; the basic defect may involve insufficient MT mRNA and protein synthesis for the copper load present. However, it remains to be determined whether reduced MT synthesis is a primary or secondary phenomenon.
The effect of surface driven flows on the dissolution of a partially immersed solid in a liquid-analysis

Abstract The role of surface driven flows and of natural convection is described in affecting the rate of corrosion of a soluble vertical wall in a confined system. The problem is stated in terms of the two dimensional equation of motion and the diffusion equation. The numerical solution of the differential equations showed that surface driven flows may play a very important part in determining the local corrosion pattern. These computed results were found to be in good agreement with experimental data reported in the literature.
A Muscle Contusion Injury Model Biomechanics, Physiology, and Histology

We developed a reproducible muscle contusion injury and studied its effect on contractile function, histology, and passive failure. An instrumented drop-mass technique (mass, 171 g; height, 102 cm; spherical radius, 6.4 mm) delivered a single impact to the posterior surface of the gastrocnemius muscle in one limb of 40 male Wistar rats. On Day 0, the impact significantly (N = 12, P < 0.01) decreased maximum tetanic tension to 63% of the contralateral control value. Histologic examination demonstrated extravasation of erythrocytes, edema, myofiber disruption, and vacuolation of myofibers. Passive failure initiated at the site of injury. At 2 days, tetanic tension was 75% of controls (N = 11, P < 0.01). Histologically, acute inflammation and phagocytosis were noted. Tetanic tension at 7 days was 81% of controls (N = 8, P < 0.01). Vimentin staining indicated a dramatic increase in myoblast activity. Contractile strength was near normal at 24 days. Histologic examination showed complete regeneration of normal striated muscle fibers. No vimentin activity was found. No passive failures initiated at the injury site. Contusion injury produced a significant deficit in contractile function that continually diminished with gross histologic evidence of degeneration, regeneration, and normalization at the injured muscle fibers.
Guest Editors' Introduction: New Dimensions in 3D Integration

Although various forms of 3D fabrication technology have existed for a few decades, only in recent years have researchers developed highly integrated 3D design technologies that are potentially manufacturable and economically feasible. Several companies are already marketing 3D structures built by wafer stacking, where the distance between the 3D layers on a wafer are on the order of the wafer thickness. But 3D technology must also surmount several challenges, such as exploiting the design space to build high-performance systems and architectures to gain the fullest advantage achievable. The articles in this special issue highlight these advances and challenges, providing an excellent snapshot of the state of 3D technology as it stands today.
Effect of molecular motions on time-dependent fracture

Abstract The modification of a rate process by externally introduced conditions is well known. An equation of the same general form has been found applicable to such diverse rate phenomena as wear, friction, voltage breakdown, mechanical degradation and fracture. As applied to fracture rates, the equation takes the form, τ = τ0 exp {(E−γσ)/RT}, where T is the time to fracture, τ0 is a constant, E is an energy, γ is a stress concentration factor, σ is the applied stress, R is the gas constant, and T is the absolute temperature. This equation can only be an approximation, since it predicts a finite time to break when σ is zero. Further, although E is taken to be the energy of the breaking bond, it varies over a large range for many polymers having the same carbon backbone. In this paper, a two-position barrier model is developed, in which the barrier is that which arises from the energy for polymer chain motion. Assuming bond breaking subsequent to the rate-determining step, the stress term in the equation ...
Motivation: New Directions for Theory, Research, and Practice

The current state of motivation theory is reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the internal, unobservable aspects of motivation and the distinction between motivation and behavior and performance. Major theories of motivation concerned with the arousal and choice of behavior are examined, problems of implementation are discussed, and directions for future research are suggested. They include study of the circumstances under which any given motivational theory is most effective. The long-run objective should be a contingency type model of motivation.
An automatic mosaicking algorithm for generating a large-scale forest stand height map using spaceborne repeat-pass InSAR coherence

This paper describes the algorithm and results for an automatic mosaicking method in generating a large-scale forest stand height (FSH) map utilizing spaceborne repeat-pass HV-pol InSAR coherence data. This technique demonstrates the capability for creating FSH metrics that can cover large areas. By using repeat-pass InSAR correlation measurements that are dominated by temporal decorrelation and scene-wide fitting parameters (two) that depend on the mean random motion and dielectric changes of the volume scatterers within the scene, it can be shown that a height sensitive measure can be created and validated over the whole scene. In order to combine these single-scene results into a mosaic, a matrix formulation is used with nonlinear least squares (NLS) and observations in adjacent-scene overlap areas to create a self-consistent estimate of FSH over the larger region. This mosaicking algorithm is validated over the US state of Maine by comparing the inverted FSH with Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS) height and National Biomass and Carbon Dataset (NBCD) Basal Area Weighted (BAW) height.
Palynology of the Dakota sandstone (middle cretaceous) near Bryce canyon national park, Southern Utah

Abstract The Dakota Sandstone, the oldest formation of Cretaceous age in south‐central Utah, has long been a problem for the paleontologist and paleoecologist. In this area it was deposited on the western fringe of a broad, shallow, fluctuating sea, which extended from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. Probably because of the salinity and poor circulation in the ancient sea, few megafossils occur in the formation. Little hope was held that the paleoecology of the formation would ever be understood. However, since beds representing flood plains and coal swamps are found interbedded among the beach and shoal deposits of the Dakota, palynological techniques offer a fresh and productive approach to the problem. Samples of Dakota sediment were collected within 200 feet of a measured section in Willis Creek Canyon, Paunsaugunt Plateau, near Bryce Canyon. Each sample was located with respect to that section. Thirteen samples have yielded abundant palynofloras and were used to make determinations for this r...
The Impact of Formation Damage and Completion Impairment on Horizontal Well Productivity

Many horizontal wells in unconsolidated to weakly consolidated formations are completed open hole with sand-control screens to prevent production of formation sand. In these completions, the screens are designed to retain formation sand by incorporating outer layers of resin-coated gravel, porous metal sheets, or tightly woven wire mesh. These screens are prone to plugging with mud and drill solids. In weaker zones, the formation may collapse onto the sand-control screen.