cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of a lacZ fusion to study the role of the spoO genes of bacillus subtilis in developmental regulation

A mutation in any one of eight spoO genes of Bacillus subtilis blocks the process of spore formation at its earliest stage. To investigate how the products of the spoO genes may be involved in developmental gene expression, we fused the lacZ gene of E. coli to spoVG, a sporulation gene whose induction at the onset of sporulation is under spoO control. In cells of Spo+ bacteria containing a single copy of the gene fusion, conditions leading to the onset of sporulation resulted in the induction of beta-galactosidase synthesis. This induction was moderately to severely impaired by mutations in any of seven spoO genes. Deletion and hybridization analysis demonstrated that this sporulation-induced enzyme synthesis was exclusively expressed from the two overlapping promoters, which comprise the spoVG transcription-initiation region, and that a small DNA segment (157 bp) containing the spoVG promoters was sufficient to cause spoO-dependent induction of the fused lacZ gene.
Cytokine Inhibitors and Graft‐versus‐Host Disease

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains the major complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. T cells in donor bone marrow recognize and react to host alloantigens and thereby initiate GVHD, but the precise mechanisms by which host tissues are damaged remain unclear. Recently, several convergent lines of evidence suggested that inflammatory cytokines act as mediators of acute GVHD. Most of the clinical manifestations of GVHD may, in fact, be due to the dysregulated production of cytokines by T cells and other inflammatory cells. The complex interactions among cytokines and their cellular targets suggest that individual cytokines may play an important and distinctive role in the pathophysiology of GVHD. Perturbation of the cytokine network may function as a final common pathway of target organ damage, and the rapid onset of severe, acute GVHD can be considered a "cytokine storm."
How Do I Ask About Your Disability? An Examination of Interpersonal Communication Processes Between Medical Students and Patients with Disabilities

Medical student behaviors were examined through digital recordings of interpersonal skills communication training framed around a brief curriculum on disability within a family medicine clerkship. This analysis focuses on interpersonal communication processes and ways medical students ask standardized patient educators about visually apparent disability (N = 142). Primary themes of asking about or avoiding disability were identified with regard to language and nonverbal communication in how medical students asked and whether they integrated chronic disability with new musculoskeletal pain complaints. Secondary themes related to timing and communication further contextualized the primary themes. Seventy-four percent of students asked about the disability. Analysis of feedback sessions immediately following the interactions revealed that more than half the students who did not ask about disability spontaneously recognized that they avoided disability language. Results suggest that some ways of asking about disability may inhibit patient disclosure and restrict relationship building. In particular, asking about disability, but then avoiding integrating disability disclosure into the treatment plan, or responding to disability-related disclosure with overly positive, infantilizing-type communication, may pose more difficult dilemmas than never asking about the disability. On the contrary, students who ignored disability altogether often also recognized they missed disability cues, thus providing a learning experience of considerable value. Underlying student attitudes and possibilities for integrating biomedical concerns with social-psychological impacts of disability are addressed.
Uncoordinated Cooperative Jamming for Secret Communications

We consider a Gaussian wiretap channel model with a single-antenna source, destination and eavesdropper. The communication is assisted by multiple multiantenna helpers that transmit noise to confound the eavesdropper. First, we consider a nulling scheme, in which each helper independently transmits noise, designed to maximize the system secrecy rate while creating no interference to the destination. In this scheme, each helper requires only local relay-destination channel state information (CSI). When global CSI is available at the relays, the nulling scheme is not optimal. The optimal jamming noise structure is also provided under global CSI. Interestingly, it is shown both analytically and via simulations that, despite its reduced CSI requirements, the nulling scheme may have secrecy rate performance that is very close to the optimal one. The probability of outage of the nulling scheme is provided in closed form based on the statistics of the eavesdropper CSI.
Behavioral state-specific inhibitory postsynaptic potentials impinge on cat lumbar motoneurons during active sleep.

High-gain intracellular records were obtained from lumbar motoneurons in intact, undrugged cats during naturally occurring states of wakefulness, quiet sleep, and active sleep. Spontaneous, discrete, inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) were found to impinge on lumbar motoneurons during all states of sleep and wakefulness. IPSPs which occurred during wakefulness and quiet sleep were of relatively low amplitude and had a low frequency of occurrence. During the state of active sleep there occurred a great increase in inhibitory input. This was the result of the appearance of large-amplitude IPSPs and of an increase in the frequency of low-amplitude IPSPs which were indistinguishable from those recorded during wakefulness and quiet sleep. In addition to a difference in amplitude, the time course of the large IPSPs recorded during active sleep further differentiated them from the smaller IPSPs recorded during wakefulness, quiet sleep, and active sleep; i.e., their rise-time and half-width were of longer duration and their rate-of-rise was significantly faster. We suggest that the large, active sleep-specific IPSPs reflect the activity of a group of inhibitory interneurons which are inactive during wakefulness and quiet sleep and which discharge during active sleep. These as yet unidentified interneurons would then serve as the last link in the brain stem-spinal cord inhibitory system which is responsible for producing muscle atonia during the state of active sleep.
The taxon concept: is it taxonic?

Summary The question of whether the concept of a “taxon” (a nonarbitrary latent category) is itself categorical, or is a matter of degree, has lain dormant within taxometrics. I analyze the problem conceptually. Part of the meaning of “taxon,” I hold, goes beyond the manifest statistical properties of admixed probability distributions; any of certain forms of causal nexus leading to admixed distributions are involved as well. I defend the thesis that the threshold question, “Is there a taxon?” has a yes-or-no answer, establishing that “taxonicity” is categorical (taxonic), but also that as some taxa are much more readily distinguished from their complement classes than are others, the taxon question is also quantitative. It is on this basis that Meehl and others held the view that taxonicity is a matter of degree; however, they were wrong to hold that it is only a matter of degree.
The role of technology in the future of television: some implications for HDTV broadcasting systems

Simply improving picture and sound quality is unlikely to provide the public with sufficient incentive to buy HDTV receivers in large quantity. Even that improvement is likely to be difficult to achieve, particularly in terrestrial channels, unless means are found to overcome analogue channel impairments. Actually, viewer behaviour indicates that more programme choice is much more desirable than resolution enhancement. International and domestic controversy over standards, and over whether a new system should be compatible with the installed base of receivers, is primarily economic in nature. There is also widespread need to improve the efficiency with which TV utilizes spectrum so that important new services can be accommodated. In view of this, it appears that technology has several potentially more fruitful roles in HDTV than merely increasing the resolution of studio pictures. One is developing transmission systems that can deliver the improved quality to the home under practical conditions. Another is facilitating transcoding among the various formats that will be used in different media and different countries and at different stages of an introduction scenario. Another is providing more viewable channels of a given quality with a smaller overall allocation of spectrum, this making spectrum available for alternative uses. An approach to system design that can support all these requirements is described. It is based on adaptive sub–bank coding and scrambling. The achievement of superior performance depends on the eventual abandonment of NTSC and similar formats, which are inherently wasteful of bandwidth and highly vulnerable to channel defects. Simulcasting is required during the transition period to a new system. It is believed that this is not only practical, but that it is more likely to end up with a satisfactory system than approaches based on receiver compatibility. In this paper, brief descriptions will be given of the various techniques mentioned, together with some numerical examples illustrating the benefits that can be obtained by using this approach to TV system design.
Simplified cytochalasins. 1. Synthesis of versatile perhydroisoindolone intermediates.

Abstract The chiral synthesis of key intermediates in the preparation of simplified cytochalasin based biological probes is described.
A class of robust image processors

Abstract In this paper robust recursive estimators for image restoration are developed. Image restoration for images corrupted by noise is carried out in two steps. To preserve true edges while restoring, edge detection using a 5 × 5 × 5 × 5 Graeco-Latin square is carried out as a first step. An edge is localized using an F -test on contrasts. The center pixel is then estimated as a second step. The method of estimation of a center pixel uses a multiple linear regression model fitted to the noisy image part on the same side of the edge. Parameters of a multiple linear regression model are estimated recursively using the Robbins-Monro Stochastic Approximation procedure applied to the least-squares estimator. When noise departs from a Gaussian assumption, robust techniques for restoration are sought. The recursive least-squares estimator is robustized using Huber's maximum likelihood estimator of location parameter of the - f ′/ f type, where - f ′/ f is approximated by an M -interval polynomial approximation algorithm, and f is the p.d.f. of noise. A minimax estimator based on a soft limiter is used to robustize the recursive least-squares estimator as a computationally simpler but slightly less efficient alternative. The theory developed in this paper was tested using computer simulations which verified the theory and evaluated the computational complexity/simplicity of the methods.
Comprehensive analysis of heterochromatin- and RNAi-mediated epigenetic control of the fission yeast genome

The organization of eukaryotic genomes into distinct structural and functional domains is important for the regulation and transduction of genetic information. Here, we investigated heterochromatin and euchromatin profiles of the entire fission yeast genome and explored the role of RNA interference (RNAi) in genome organization. Histone H3 methylated at Lys4, which defines euchromatin, was not only distributed across most of the chromosomal landscape but was also present at the centromere core, the site of kinetochore assembly. In contrast, histone H3 methylated at Lys9 and its interacting protein Swi6/HP1, which define heterochromatin, coated extended domains associated with a variety of repeat elements and small islands corresponding to meiotic genes. Notably, RNAi components were distributed throughout all these heterochromatin domains, and their localization depended on Clr4/Suv39h histone methyltransferase. Sequencing of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) associated with the RITS RNAi effector complex identified hot spots of siRNAs, which mapped to a diverse array of elements in these RNAi-heterochromatin domains. We found that Clr4/Suv39h predominantly silenced repeat elements whose derived transcripts, transcribed mainly by RNA polymerase II, serve as a source for siRNAs. Our analyses also uncover an important role for the RNAi machinery in maintaining genomic integrity.
Equilibria of hydroxyl defects in MgO

Isochronal annealing studies were carried out on slow-cooled MgO single crystals. The annealing behaviour of the hydroxyl defects is consistent with a defect model in which brucite precipitates dissolve in MgO forming OH-V-OH defects with a heat of solution equal to 0.45 eV. These OH-V-OH defects further dissociate into V OH − defects and hydroxyl ions with a dissociation energy of 0.82 eV.
Utility of Gridded Rainfall for IHACRES Daily River Flow Predictions in Southern California Watersheds1

Abstract: Studies to regionalize conceptual hydrologic models generally require rainfall and river flow data from multiple watersheds. Besides the considerable time (cost) to assemble and process rainfall data for many watersheds, investigators often need to choose from a number of candidate gauges, subjectively weighing the relative importance of proximity and elevation to select a representative rainfall dataset. The Unified Raingauge Dataset (URD) is a gridded daily rainfall dataset that covers the conterminous United States at 0.25 × 0.25 degrees spatial resolution and is available from 1948 to present. The objective of this study was to determine whether uncertainty in daily river flow predictions using the conceptual hydrologic model IHACRES in small to moderate size watersheds (50-400 km2) in southern California would increase if URD gridded rainfall data were used in place of single rain gauge data to calibrate the model. Rain gauge data were obtained from the gauge nearest the watershed centroid and the gauge closest in elevation to the watershed mean elevation. Results from 20 randomly selected watersheds indicated that IHACRES calibration performance was similar using rainfall data from the URD grids and rain gauge data. There was some evidence of greater uncertainties associated with the URD calibrations in areas where topography may affect rainfall amounts. In contrast to the URD data, monthly gridded data produced by the Parameter-Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) includes adjustments for elevation and produces gridded values at a finer spatial resolution (4 km2). A limited test on two watersheds demonstrated that scaling the URD daily rainfall estimates to match the PRISM monthly values may improve rainfall estimates and model simulation performance.
Phase-field investigation of multicomponent diffusion in single-phase and two-phase diffusion couples

Interdiffusion in hypothetical ternary single-phase and two-phase diffusion couples are examined using a phase-field model by numerically solving the nonlinear Cahn-Hilliard and Ginzburg-Landau equations. For diffusion couples assembled with a regular single-phase solution, constant chemical mobilities were used to examine the development of concentration profiles including uphill diffusion and zero-flux plane. Zero-flux plane for a component was observed to develop for a diffusion couple at the composition that corresponds to the activity of that component in one of the terminal alloys. Experimental thermodynamic parameters and composition-dependent chemical mobilities were used to examine the morphological evolution of the interphase boundary in solid-to-solid, two-phase diffusion couples. Instability at the interphase boundary was introduced initially (t=0) by a small compositional fluctuation at the diffuse interface, and its evolution varied largely as a function of terminal alloys and related composition-dependent chemical mobility.
Importance of noninvasive ultrasonic-Doppler testing in the evaluation of patients with asymptomatic carotid bruits*

An ultrasonic Duplex scanner was used to estimate the site and degree of extracranial arterial disease in two groups of patients with asymptomatic bruits. In the first 100 patients only the extent of disease was assessed with 37% of the sides with bruits having high-grade stenoses (> 50% diameter reduction) and one-half having lesions which narrowed the internal carotid artery by less than 50%. Seven percent were found to be normal. The remaining 6% had occlusion of the internal carotid artery. In a second group of 81 patients, the effect of the reported findings of the Duplex scan on patient management was reviewed. Only 13 patients underwent angiography and 11 of these were in patients with high-grade stenoses. Five carotid endarterectomies were performed and in each case, the patient had bilateral high-grade lesions. The implications of this diagnostic approach are discussed as well as the need for prospective studies of patients who present with an asymptomatic bruit.
Red cell Na+,K+-ATPase: a method for estimating the extent of inhibition of an enzyme sample containing an unknown amount of bound cardiac glycoside.

Abstract Na + , K + -ATPase activities of the membranes obtained from intact red cells that are exposed to ouabain, digoxin, and digitoxin are inhibited. The extent of inhibition of each enzyme sample can be found by the following two assays: 1) Activity is measured by the addition of enzyme to a buffered solution containing 2 mM ATP, 3 mM Mg 2+ , 1 mM EDTA, 100 mM Na + , and 25 mM K + . Since little regeneration of the inhibited enzyme occurs under these conditions, the measured activity is that of the partially inhibited enzyme. 2) Enzyme is preincubated for ten minutes in the same solution from which Mg 2+ and K + are omitted, and then assayed by the addition of Mg + and K + . Since the inhibited enzyme is completely regenerated during the preincubation period, the activity measured here serves as a control for that determined in the first assay.
Influence of initial charge state on fragmentation patterns for noncovalent drug/DNA duplex complexes

The charge state-dependent dissociation of various DNA duplexes and drug/duplex complexes has been investigated using collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer (QIT-MS). Several non-self-complementary 14-residue oligonucleotides were employed, in addition to an array of known DNA-interactive ligands, including the intercalators daunomycin and nogalamycin, as well as the minor groove binding agents distamycin, netropsin, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, and Hoechst 33342. In general, the dissociation pathways exhibited by both the duplexes and the drug/duplex complexes were found to be markedly sensitive to initial charge state. Time- and activation voltage-independent duplex strand separation predominated for higher charge states, which was interpreted to be a result of internal Coulombic repulsion or partial unzipping in the interface, while time- and activation voltage-dependent covalent cleavage predominated for lower charge states. The identity of the drug and the sequence of the duplex were both found to affect the competition between different dissociation processes. The dissociation pathways for the lower charge state complexes are probably more reflective of specific drug-DNA interactions because Coulombic and/or conformational effects are less marked for these precursors.
VEGF inhibits PDGF-stimulated calcium signaling independent of phospholipase C and PKC activation

Abstract Introduction. Although vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent stimulus for endothelial cell proliferation, little is known about its effect on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), a potent source of VEGF. We have shown that VEGF inhibits platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) induced VSMC proliferation in part by inhibition of ERK MAP kinase and Rb phosphorylation. These experiments examined whether VEGF altered PDGF stimulated intracellular calcium signaling. Methods. Human aortic smooth muscle cells (VSMC), after serum starvation, were stimulated with either PDGF (20 ng/ml) or PDGF (20 ng/ml) with VEGF at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ng/ml. Cell lysates were obtained at 5, 10, 30, and 60 min and Western immunoassay was performed for activated phospholipase C (PLC) and protein kinase C (PKC). Intracellular calcium influx was measured by a Fura2 assay in PDGF and VEGF treated cells. Results. PDGF stimulation resulted in a rapid rise in intracellular calcium which was completely suppressed by the presence of VEGF. PDGF resulted in phosphorylation of PLC by 5 min and peaked at 10 min. VEGF did not activate PLC and reduced PDGF-stimulated PLC activation at 10 min. PKC activation by PDGF was not affected by VEGF. Conclusion. VEGF suppresses PDGF-induced intracellular calcium influx. Although it down regulates PLC activation by PDGF at 10 min, the temporal course of the suppression of intracellular calcium accumulation suggests that the mechanism by which VEGF suppresses PDGF-induced calcium elevation is independent of the PLC pathway. Download full-size image
Chromosome translocations in sarcomas and the emergence of oncogenic transcription factors

A subset of sarcomas is characterised by recurrent chromosome translocations that generate novel fusion oncoproteins. One or both of the genes involved in these translocations often encode transcription factors, and the resulting fusion proteins have aberrant transcriptional function compared to their wild-type counterparts. These fusion transcription factors disrupt multiple biological pathways by altering expression of target genes, and thereby result in a variety of altered cellular properties that contribute to the tumourigenic process. However, experimental data indicate that the fusion gene alone is not sufficient for transformation in primary cells (EWS-FLI1) or tumourigenesis in the mouse (PAX3-FKHR, FUS-CHOP), suggesting that additional collaborating genetic alterations are required. In addition to improving our understanding of the etiology of these tumours, this accumulating knowledge of the oncogenic properties of these fusion proteins, their downstream targets, and cooperating genetic alterations will permit the development of a variety of novel approaches to improve the therapy of these cancers.
On malonaldehyde and acetylacetone: are theory and experiment compatible?

Abstract For malonaldehyde (MA) and acetylacetone (AcAc) the available experimental structural and spectroscopic data are briefly summarized and contrasted with extensive ab initio calculations of their salient features. Attention is directed to a clear discrepancy between ab initio computed stability of the two degenerate structures of enol AcAc (as published, and confirmed in this report) and the observed species populations. MA and AcAc are prototypes of a unique class of compounds for which significant differences in structure are anticipated for small differences in thermochemical parameters. Temperature dependent FTIR spectra were recorded; the latter confirm that a discrepancy exists.
Detailed characterization and analysis of the breakdown voltage in fully depleted SOI n-MOSFET's

The breakdown voltage in fully depleted SOI n-MOSFET's has been studied over a wide range of film thicknesses, channel dopings, and channel lengths. In lightly-doped films, the breakdown voltage roll-off at shorter channel lengths becomes much less severe as the film thickness is reduced. This is a result of improved resistance to punchthrough and DIBL effects in thinner SOI. Consequently, at channel lengths below about 0.8 /spl mu/m, ultrathin (50 nm) SOI can provide better breakdown voltages than thicker films. At heavier doping levels the punchthrough and DIBL are suppressed, and there is little dependence of breakdown voltage on film thickness. Two-dimensional simulations have been used to investigate the breakdown behavior in these devices. It is found that the drain-induced barrier lowering affects the breakdown voltage both directly, via punchthrough, and indirectly through its effect on the current flow and hole generation in the high-field regions. >
Mechanical and metabolic characterization of ischemic contracture in the neonatal pig heart.

Mechanical and Metabolic Characterization of Ischemic Contracture in the Neonatal Pig Heart
The Impact of Information and Communications Technologies on International Conflict Management

The effect of emerging information and communication technologies on international relations, however, is a subject first publicly broached at a conference sponsored by the US Institute of Peace in 1997. here are examples of the impact of such technologies on international peacemaking
Evaluation of Cutting Efficiency of Ultrasonic Tips Used in Orthograde Endodontic Treatment

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the cutting efficiency of the three different ultrasonic tips for orthograde endodontic treatment: stainless steel, zirconium nitride-coated, and diamond-coated tips. An ultrasonic handpiece was mounted on a custom-made automated balance, and each tip repeatedly penetrated dental stone blocks to a depth of 3 mm for 10 times. The amount of time taken to penetrate 3 mm of stone was measured. The diamond-coated tips showed significantly greater cutting efficiency than either stainless steel tips or zirconium-nitride coated tips. The stainless steel tips showed initial better cutting efficiency, but over time Table 1 , there is no significant difference between the cutting efficiency of the stainless steel tips and the zirconium nitride coated tips. The diamond coated tips were the only group that showed breakage in this study.
The Sato–Vartia index and the monotonicity axiom

Abstract The Sato–Vartia index is believed to be on a par with the Fisher ideal index in terms of its ability to satisfy index number axioms or tests. Yet we show that this index fails to satisfy the monotonicity axiom, and we provide formulas for the point at which a Sato–Vartia price index becomes non-monotonic in prices. In fact, requiring monotonicity for initial as well as final prices rules out not only the Sato–Vartia index but all log-change price indexes whose weights depend upon initial or final expenditure shares. Since cost of living index theory leads naturally to the Sato–Vartia index, as well as to other log-change indexes, there is an irreconcilable tension between the standard axiomatics for indexes, and cost of living index theory.
Krüppel-like factor 5 activates MEK/ERK signaling via EGFR in primary squamous epithelial cells

Rapid cell proliferation is a hallmark of transit amplifying cells, but the mechanisms of this localized proliferation are not well understood. The Kruppel-like factor family member Klf5 (IKLF; BTEB2) promotes cell proliferation and is highly expressed in squamous epithelia, in regions of active proliferation. Here, using mouse primary esophageal keratinocytes as a model, we identify a critical role for Klf5 in regulating squamous epithelial proliferation via the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which, like Klf5, is localized to basal cells in squamous epithelia. We show that Klf5 increases proliferation, transcriptionally up-regulates EGFR, and activates MEK/ERK signaling, as indicated by increased phosphorylation of MEK and ERK. By chromatin immunoprecipitation, we demonstrate that Klf5 binds directly to the 5' regulatory region of EGFR. In addition, we show that regulation of proliferation by Klf5 is dependent on EGFR and MEK/ERK signaling, as the proliferative response to Klf5 is blocked by pharmacologic inhibition of EGFR or MEK. Inhibition of EGFR or MEK also decreases Klf5 expression. Thus, Klf5 regulates MEK/ERK signaling via EGFR and is also downstream of MAPK signaling, providing a novel mechanism for signal amplification or suppression and control of proliferation in basal cells.
Cloud security is not (just) virtualization security: a short paper

Cloud infrastructure commonly relies on virtualization. Customers provide their own VMs, and the cloud provider runs them often without knowledge of the guest OSes or their configurations. However, cloud customers also want effective and efficient security for their VMs. Cloud providers offering security-as-a-service based on VM introspection promise the best of both worlds: efficient centralization and effective protection. Since customers can move images from one cloud to another, an effective solution requires learning what guest OS runs in each VM and securing the guest OS without relying on the guest OS functionality or an initially secure guest VM state.We present a solution that is highly scalable in that it (i) centralizes guest protection into a security VM, (ii) supports Linux and Windows operating systems and can be easily extended to support new operating systems, (iii) does not assume any a-priori semantic knowledge of the guest, (iv) does not require any a-priori trust assumptions into any state of the guest VM. While other introspection monitoring solutions exist, to our knowledge none of them monitor guests on the semantic level required to effectively support both white- and black-listing of kernel functions, or allows to start monitoring VMs at any state during run-time, resumed from saved state, and cold-boot without the assumptions of a secure start state for monitoring.
Cell Interactions with Laminin and its Proteolytic Fragments during Outgrowth of Mouse Primary Trophoblast Cells

Mouse blastocysts in serum-free culture for 24-48 h become attachment-competent, adhere to flbronectin- or laminin-coated surfaces, and subsequently form trophoblast outgrowths. The blastocyst laminin receptor was characterized in outgrowth studies using modified laminin, Trophoblast cells interacted with the peptide portion of laminin, but not the oligosaccharide moiety since its adhesive activity was reduced by boiling or trypsin treatment, but not by treatments that removed or modified its carbohydrate. Laminin outgrowth-promoting activity was further localized within its structural domains by use of the well-characterized proteolytic fragments of laminin, E1-4, and E8, and a synthetic peptide, CDPGYIGSII. The E1-4 fragment of laminin did not promote embryo outgrowth. However, the E8 fragment, which contains a heparin-binding domain as well as sites recognized during cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth, vigorously promoted outgrowth in both the presence and absence of heparin, heparan sulfate, or heparinase. Consistent with these results, outgrowth on intact laminin was not inhibited by CDPGYIGSR, a sequence within the El -4 fragment that is known to mediate the adhesion of some cell types. It is concluded from these results that early trophoblast cells adhere to peptide in the E8 domain of laminin using a mechanism that is independent of the one used for adhesion to fibronectin.
Four ways to improve security

How can you tell if an IT security product (or a product that includes security components) can secure your application? How can you be certain that a product will fully deliver on its claims that it will protect against malice in a deployed environment? Unfortunately, few vendors - and even fewer customers - can make these judgments. The article won't make you a security wizard, but it will give you a feel for what to look for in, and when to be concerned about, a vendor's claims. To ensure that a product has a chance of being secure; customers should check that vendors use adequate approaches in four primary areas. In order of importance (and maturity and availability), they are: quality-control (QC) mechanisms; cryptographic primitives; hardware assist mechanisms; and separation mechanisms.
Cosmological Consequences of String Axions

Axion fluctuations generated during inflation lead to isocurvature and non-Gaussian temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation. Following a previous analysis for the model independent string axion we consider the consequences of a measurement of these fluctuations for two additional string axions. We do so independent of any cosmological assumptions except for the axions being massless during inflation. The first axion has been shown to solve the strong CP problem for most compactifications of the heterotic string while the second axion, which does not solve the strong CP problem, obeys a mass formula which is independent of the axion scale. We find that if gravitational waves interpreted as arising from inflation are observed by the PLANCK polarimetry experiment with a Hubble constant during inflation of H{sub inf} {approx}> 10{sup 13} GeV the existence of the first axion is ruled out and the second axion cannot obey the scale independent mass formula. In an appendix we quantitatively justify the often held assumption that temperature corrections to the zero temperature QCD axion mass may be ignored for temperatures T {approx}< {Lambda}{sub QCD}.
Characterization of Glass-Like Fragments from the 3714 Building

This report describes characterization of a sample obtained from the 3714 building in the 300 Area. Characterization of this unknown material was required for the demonolition activities in the 300 Area. The object of the study was to dertermine the nature of the material, composition, possible structure, evidence for hazards components. The green material is a sodium alumino-silicate glass. This conclusion is based on the composition provided by SEM-EDS, and the images that suggest a glass-like morphology. Further analysis with Ramin and/or infrared could be used to determine the presence of any organics.
Stem cell-based therapies for multiple sclerosis: recent advances in animal models and human clinical trials.

"...much progress has been made in laying out the groundwork for stem cell-based therapies to be used for multiple sclerosis treatment. Further work is needed to explore the effects of stem cell transplantation with or without ablative therapies and to maximize the success of this approach."
Impact of a Four-Point Order-Priority Score on Imaging Examination Performance Times

Abstract Background Many hospitals use a traditional categoric system (eg, STAT, ASAP [as soon as possible], routine) to prioritize orders for imaging examination performance. If left undefined, these categories contain ambiguity, which contributes to errant or misused categorizations, and ultimately, lost opportunity to optimally direct resources toward timely patient care. Our hospital implemented ordinal order-priority categories with specific definitions. We sought to determine the impact of this prioritization method on examination performance time and consistency. Methods A four-level numeric priority system with clinical definitions for each category was implemented in 2011 to replace a traditional model for hospital imaging orders. Retrospective analysis was performed on imaging orders for three years (2011-2013) after implementation, to assess the order-to-performance time (OTPT), defined as the time between order placement by the provider and examination completion by the technologist. Consistency was measured by the length of the interquartile range for the OTPT distribution. Comparison was made to orders from the preimplementation year (2010), as a control. Results The OTPT and OTPT consistency for performed examinations were both predictably stratified by order-priority level. Relative to control, we observed a reduction in the percentage of prioritized examinations, as well as modest general improvements in OTPT and OTPT consistency. Conclusions A revised order-priority system with ordinal categorizations and clinical definitions accompanying each priority level at order entry yielded desirable prioritization of imaging examination performance by technologists, as evidenced by appropriate stratification of turnaround times and consistency by level of priority.
The theory and practice of genetically engineered crops and agricultural sustainability

The development of genetically engineered (GE) crops has focused predominantly on enhancing conventional pest control approaches. Scientific assessments show that these GE crops generally deliver significant economic and some environmental benefits over their conventional crop alternatives. However, emerging evidence indicates that current GE crops will not foster sustainable cropping systems unless the negative environmental and social feedback effects are properly addressed. Moreover, GE crop innovations that promote more sustainable agricultural systems will receive underinvestment by seed and chemical companies that must understandably focus on private returns for major crops. Opportunities to promote crops that convey multi-faceted benefits for the environment and the poor are foundational to a sustainable food system and should not be neglected because they also represent global public goods. In this paper, we develop a set of criteria that can guide the development of GE crops consistent with contemporary sustainable agriculture theory and practice. Based on those principles, we
Analysis of interrelationships between photovoltaic power and battery storage for electric utility load management

The impact of photovoltaic power generation on an electric utility's load shape under supply-side peak load management conditions is explored. Results show that some utilities utilizing battery storage for peak load shaving might benefit from use of photovoltaic (PV) power, the extent of its usefulness being dependent on the specific load shapes as well as the photovoltaic array orientations. Typical utility load shapes both in the eastern (at Rayleigh, NC) and in the western (at Hesperia, CA) parts of the USA are examined for this purpose. It is concluded that while photovoltaic power generation seems to present a bigger impact on the load of the western utility, both utilities will experience considerable savings on the size of the battery system required to shave the peak loads as well as in the night-time base capacity required to charge the battery. >
Platelet aggregation and disaggregation in the streptozotocin induced diabetic rat: the effect of sympathetic inhibition.

Abstract Alterations in platelet function have been observed in a number of diabetic states. Increased respon-siveness to platelet-aggregating agents in diabetes associated with increased catecholamine production and/or turnover suggested that heightened sympathetic activity may contribute to this increased platelet aggregation response. To investigate this possibility, we made male Wistar-Furth rats diabetic with streptozotocin and treated them either with adrenergic inhibitors (clonidine, yohimbine, reserpine) or saline. After 2 weeks, arterial blood samples were collected in 3.8% sodium citrate oracid citrate dextrose (ACD). Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was prepared, and platelet aggregation studies were conducted directly or conducted on washed platelets prepared from PRP collected with ACD. Platelet aggregation in response to ADP by PRP was reduced while the rate of disaggregation was increased in platelets from diabetic animals when compared to controls. However, platelet aggregation in response to ADP in washed platelets was increased in diabetic animals when compared to controls. Clonidine, reserpine and yohimbine significantly decreased the diabetes-induced increase in maximum aggregation. Thrombin-induced aggregation was not altered by diabetes or any of the treatments. The platelet size was increased in the diabetic animals and was decreased toward controls by clonidine, reserpine and yohimbine treatment. These studies suggest that diabetes increases platelet aggregation response in diabetic rats, and that blockage or suppression of adrenergic activity reverses or attenuates the diabetes-induced hypersensitivity to ADP.
Pancreatic Lipase-related Protein 2 Is the Major Colipase-Dependent Pancreatic Lipase in Suckling Mice

Suckling mice express colipase before the expression of pancreatic triglyceride lipase. Yet, efficient fat digestion in newborns requires colipase, suggesting that colipase may act as a cofactor for another lipase such as pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (PLRP2). We determined whether PLRP2 or another lipase depends on colipase for maximal activity in newborn mice by analyzing extracts from the pancreas of 4-d-old colipase-deficient and PLRP2-deficient mice. Pancreatic extracts from colipase-deficient pups had lipase activity that was stimulated onefold by the addition of exogenous colipase (P < 0.001). The activity was completely inhibited by an antibody against pancreatic triglyceride lipase that also recognizes PLRP2. In contrast, pancreatic extracts from PLRP2-deficient pups had significantly lower baseline activity and no colipase-dependent activity. The baseline activity was not inhibited by the anti-pancreatic triglyceride lipase antibody or an antibody against carboxyl ester lipase. We next separated the extracts into two fractions, one containing PLRP2 and the other devoid of PLRP2. All of the colipase-dependent activity segregated with the PLRP2-containing fraction, consistent with the conclusion that PLRP2 is the major colipase-dependent lipase in the pancreas of newborns.
An Introduction to Hyperspectral Image Data Modeling

Hyperspectral data sets collect light from an object over a large number of narrowly spaced, contiguous wavelengths. The resulting data set associates with each spatial pixel (x, y) an n-dimensional vector (or spectrum) (z 1, …, z n ), where z i is the intensity at wavelength λ i and n is the number of spectral channels (or bands). The large increase in spectral content can be used to develop improved image processing algorithms; however, to fully exploit this information, mathematical models and algorithms are needed that can handle the large amount of data associated with each image. Models should also be able to fully use the highly structured, spatial/spectral nature of the data. In this chapter, we present a general overview of hyperspectral imaging and review a number of existing data models that have been presented to analyze such data.
Switchgrass for Bioethanol and Other Value-Added Applications: A Review

Switchgrass is a promising feedstock for value-added applications due to its high productivity, potentially low requirements for agricultural inputs and positive environmental impacts. The objective of this paper is to review published research on the conversion of switchgrass into bioethanol and other value-added products. Environmental benefits associated with switchgrass include the potential for carbon sequestration, nutrient recovery from runoff, soil remediation and provision of habitats for grassland birds. Pretreatment of switchgrass is required to improve the yields of fermentable sugars. Based on the type of pretreatment, glucose yields range from 70% to 90% and xylose yields range from 70% to 100% after hydrolysis. Following pretreatment and hydrolysis, ethanol yields range from 72% to 92% of the theoretical maximum. Other value-added uses of switchgrass include gasification, bio-oil production, newsprint production and fiber reinforcement in thermoplastic composites. Future prospects for research include increased biomass yields, optimization of feedstock composition for bioenergy applications, and efficient pentose fermentation to improve ethanol yields.
The endoscopic approach to sinonasal malignancy

Expanded endoscopic techniques often are used for benign diseases of the sinonasal cavity. Malignancy has traditionally been relegated to open approaches. Recent advances in instrumentation and technique have revolutionized endoscopic surgery. We believe that often endoscopic techniques achieve equivalent, if not improved, tumor resection and will likely prove to be comparable with or superior to open approaches as the use of these approaches continues. The axiom remains that if the approach is limiting the tumor resection, then a conversion to an open procedure is necessary. This article describes our approach to endoscopic resection of sinonasal malignancy.
Dendrite growth and degradation in multi‐junction solar cells

Silver dendrites have been shown to be responsible for shunting of p/n multi-junction solar cell assemblies with silver-plated interconnects. A variety of cell and interconnect designs has been studied in order to identify the key factors that result in silver dendrite formation and subsequent cell shunting. The experimental results suggest that in this case the shunting was due to the particular polarity of the cell and design of the interconnect that placed it in close proximity to the cell edge. As a result, mitigation strategies are readily available. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Significance of pyroxene megacrysts for massif anorthosite petrogenesis: Constraints from the Labrieville, Quebec, pluton

Newly discovered orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene megacrysts (OPMs and CPMs) in the Labrieville massif provide additional constraints on megacryst origins and their sig- nificance in massif anorthosite petrogenesis. Pyroxene megacrysts (-1-15 em across) oc- cur throughout the anorthosite, some in layered zones (as cumulates?) and others as scat- tered crystals that form subophitic intergrowths with plagioclase; some also contain tabular plagioclase inclusions. In many cases, pyroxene megacrysts are intergrown with ilmenite and locally occur within meter-sized masses of ilmenite. Plagioclase and ilmenite are the dominant exsolution products in OPMs, whereas CPMs contain additional lamellae of orthopyroxene. Biotite consistently occurs with megacrysts, locally as an integral portion of exsolution lamellae. Microprobe spot compositions of the megacrystic pyroxenes (OPM - EnSS_66, CPM - W04sEn4oFs,s) are essentially the same as those of smaller matrix pyroxenes in the same outcrops. In contrast, three bulk OPMs (4.4-5.9 wt%AI203)and one CPM (6.4 wt%A1203) are enriched in Ca, Na, AI, and Ti, compatible with observed exsolution products. Plagio- clase lamellae (An34-S3) are more calcic than matrix plagioclase (An32-3S) but are the most sodic recognized in any massif anorthosite thus far. Field characteristics of megacrysts indicate that they formed contemporaneously with the other minerals in the same outcrops. Furthermore, bulk OPMs have XMg similar to matrix pyroxene (or are slightly more Fe-rich). In comparison, OPMs from the Saint Urbain massif are more magnesian (- En66-n),whereas lamellae and matrix plagioclase are more anorthitic (-Anss_7sand -An40,respectively). These systematic differences be- tween the two massifs suggestthat the En content of OPMs and the An content of plagio- clase (matrix and lamellae) are strongly controlled by local magma composition. Collec- tively, these results can be explained best by the in-situ growth of megacrysts, together with or after adjacent plagioclase. The megacrysts bulk compositions can be adequately accounted for by a rapid growth mechanism. The common association of OPMs with ilmenite (and biotite) is noteworthy and suggeststhat oxidizing conditions played an im- portant role in controlling the properties and compositions of the megacrysts. The impli- cation is that these megacrysts are not relics of prior high-pressure pyroxene fractionation and provide no demonstrable link to a basaltic parent magma for this massif.