cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase C in fibronectin production in human vascular smooth muscle cells.

Abstract Background. After evaluating various growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, we found that the most potent agonists of smooth muscle cell (SMC) fibronectin (Fn) production were transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). To determine the possible signaling pathways involved in the production of this matrix protein, we investigated the role of the intracellular proteins, protein kinase C (PKC) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP-K), in TGF-β- and EGF-induced human vascular SMC Fn production. Materials and Methods. After stimulation of human SMCs with TGF-β (10 ng/ml) and EGF (100 ng/ml), Fn in the cell medium was assayed by immunoblotting using a specific antibody. PKC was activated by brief stimulation of SMC with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) and inhibited by downregulation with PDBu or the inhibitor, GF109203X. MAP-K was inhibited with PD098059. Results. PKC activation increased basal and synergistically enhanced TGF-β- and EGF-induced Fn production. However, inhibition of PKC by downregulation and GF109203X did not diminish Fn production by TGF-β and EGF. Surprisingly, these two methods of inhibition slightly increased basal and agonist-induced Fn production. The MAP-K kinase inhibitor, PD098059, produced an almost complete inhibition of EGF and a partial inhibition of TGF-β-induced Fn production. Conclusions. Activation of PKC stimulates Fn production; however, neither TGF-β nor EGF produce Fn through a PKC-dependent pathway. EGF and TGF-β both stimulate Fn production at least in part through the intracellular signaling protein MAP-K. Understanding the signaling pathways involved in extracellular matrix protein production will allow the design of specific inhibitors of intimal hyperplasia.
A unified mechanism of stress corrosion and corrosion fatigue cracking

A mechanism of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is outlined in which anodic dissolution at film rupture sites relieves strain hardening and reduces the fracture stress at the crack tip. Experimental evidence is cited to suggest that relief of strain hardening occurs by interaction of subsurface dislocations with divacancies generated by the anodic dissolution. A transgranular crack propagates by accumulation of divacancies on prismatic planes which then separate by cleavage under plane strain conditions at the crack tip. At appropriate metallurgical and chemical conditions, anodic dissolution and/or divacancy migration may be enhanced at grain boundaries, leading to an intergranular failure mode. Evidence is also available to indicate that cyclic loading relieves strain hardening. Relief of strain hardening by combined cyclic loading and corrosion accounts for the higher incidence of corrosion fatigue cracking (CFC) without the requirement of any critical dissolved species. Data on fatigue of stainless steel at elevated temperature in both vacuum and air provide additional support for the proposed mechanism.
A computer program for the simulation of landform erosion

Abstract A computer implementation of a stochastic model describing changes in a landform during lithologically controlled erosion is described. The model is a Markov chain in two dimensions where the noise component depends upon the underlying lithologies. A surface at any elevation above the present level can be reconstructed according to the characteristics of any of four generally accepted geomorphic theories. Erosion then proceeds until the desired reduction in elevation is achieved. The resulting surface then can be compared to an expected surface, such as the present one, and a measure of fit obtained. About 4096 geomorphically significant option combinations are available, including: isostatic adjustment to erosion, epeirogenic uplift, treatment of the landform parameters as random variables, and criteria for ending the simulation. A technique for validation based upon the random topology model of R. L. Shreve is included. An example covering about 5000 km 2 in the central Appalachians is described.
Enhancement of HIV DNA vaccine immunogenicity by the NKT cell ligand, α-galactosylceramide

A number of studies have shown that the natural killer T cell (NKT) ligand alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) serves as an adjuvant for various vaccines, including viral vaccines, parasite vaccines and protein vaccines. In this report, we investigated the adjuvant activity of alpha-GalCer on HIV-1 DNA vaccines in mice. This is a first study to show that alpha-GalCer can enhance the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines, since co-administration of alpha-GalCer with suboptimal doses of DNA vaccines greatly enhanced antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell and CD8+ T-cell responses. Differently from other vaccines, alpha-GalCer was also able to enhance HIV-specific antibody response 10-fold. It is of practical importance to find out that, in a DNA prime-DNA boost regimen, the adjuvant activity of alpha-GalCer was most profound when co-administered at the priming, but not at the boosting phase. In a dose-sparing experiment, we found that the level of cell-mediated immune responses in mice vaccinated with 5 microg of DNA in the presence of alpha-GalCer was equivalent to that of mice vaccinated with 50 microg of DNA in the absence of alpha-GalCer. Finally, results from CD1d and interferon-gamma receptor knockout mice confirm our previous data and determine the mechanistic dependence upon these molecules. These results illustrate that alpha-GalCer enhances the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines in a mechanism-based fashion. Since both mice and humans share the CD1d molecule, this information may aid in designing more effective DNA vaccines and vaccine adjuvants against HIV-1.
Chemical estimation of nitrogen mineralization in paddy rice soils. I: comparison to laboratory indices

Abstract A reliable, rapid procedure for estimating native soil nitrogen (N) mineralization potential in paddy rice (Orysa sativa L.) has eluded researchers. While several have been proposed, no technique has been sufficiently reproducible to be implemented in any soil testing program. Therefore, the objective was to develop a chemical extraction procedure as an index to estimate N mineralization in silt.loam rice soils of the Southern United States Rice Belt. Samples of silt loam soils were collected from strategic locations throughout the rice‐growing region of Arkansas during 1990 and 1991. Anaerobic incubations were performed as an index of potentially mineralisable N. Extraction with acidified potassium permanganate (KMnO4), acidified potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and oxalic acid [(COOH)2], were evaluated at extractant:soil ratios ranging from 5:1 to 1:1. Also, distillation of centrifuged extracts (SUP) was compared to distilling the entire soil‐solution suspension (TOT). T...
Understanding How Hepatitis C Virus Builds Its Unctuous Home

Hepatitis C virus genome replication occurs in endoplasmic reticulum-derived membrane compartments, but it is unknown how these structures arise. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Reiss and colleagues (2011) show that the virus recruits a specific lipid kinase to replication sites, stimulates its kinase activity, and alters the phospholipid profile of replication compartments.
Cesarean section: a worldwide epidemic?

Over the past three decades numerous publications have documented a dramatic rise in North American cesarean delivery rates. The increase in cesarean rates in Europe has also been well documented. In contrast little has been written about cesarean rates in Central and South America. Reports of extremely high cesarean rates in Brazil and Chile have caused many individuals with an interest in childbirth to wonder what is actually going on south of the United States border. The mystery is solved with the recent publication by Belizan and associates of an eye-opening review of cesarean delivery rates in 19 Latin American countries. The authors acknowledge that data came from several different sources and that for some countries national rates had to be estimated by using data from different institutions and was thus subject to error. Nevertheless this publication is probably the clearest look at Latin American cesarean rates ever published. (excerpt)
1-Chloro and 1-Hydroxyphospholene-1-oxides

Abstract A one-step, high-yield procedure is reported for the preparation of a 1:1 mixture of the two isomers of 1-chlorophospholene-1-oxide which may be separated by spinning band distillation. The isomerically pure chlorides were hydrolyzed to form the corresponding 1-hydroxyphospholene-1-oxides. These, as well as the precursor chlorides, were characterized by 1H and 31P nmr, mass spectrometry and IR.
Magnetoelectric effect in strongly magnetized color superconductivity

Abstract The effect of a strong magnetic field on the electric polarization of a three-flavor color superconducting medium is investigated. We find that the electric susceptibility of this strongly magnetized medium is highly anisotropic. In the direction transverse to the applied magnetic field the susceptibility reduces to that of the vacuum, while in the longitudinal direction it depends on the magnetic field and decreases with it. The nature of this behavior is associated with the fieldʼs dependence of the Cooper pairsʼ coherence length, which plays the role of the electric dipole length. The fieldʼs dependence of the electric polarization is interpreted as the realization of the magnetoelectric effect in cold-dense quark matter.
SU‐E‐T‐30: Estimation of Dynamic Leaf Gap for IMRT Dose Calculation

Purpose: To obtain the proper dynamic leaf gap (DLG) of a Millennium 120 MLC such that the calculated dose matches the measured. Methods: The DLG for round leaves is often measured via extrapolating the size of fields formed by sweeping synchronized MLC leaves to the size under which the measured dose equals the MLC transmission. In this situation, the tongue and groove effect would be minimal. However, practical IMRT fields are formed by non‐synchronized MLC leaves. Therefore, we measured doses from both synchronized and non‐synchronized dynamic fields. Each non‐synchronized field had fixed but different neighbouring leaf extensions (tongue‐and‐grove, T&G). The DLG was obtained for each set. Doses calculated with various values of DLG and transmission rate (TR) were compared with the measured dose. The relative discrepancies were put into a lookup table as function of gap and T&G. The table was used to estimate the pass rate of patient IMRT plans, in which each field was decomposed into sub‐fields. Each sub‐field was formed by a pair of opposite leaves. The T&G was calculated from the neighbouring leaves formed the sub‐field. Results: The extrapolated DLG was 1.8, 1.6, 1.7, 2.5 and 1.6mm for the T&G 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20mm, respectively. The MLC TR was 1.6%. For typical patient IMRT plans, the T&G values were broadly distributed from 0 to 20mm but with median around 15mm. From investigating many combinations of TR and T&G, we see the pass rate was extremely sensitive to the combination, and the highest pass rate went to the combination of transmission 1.6% and T&G 2.3mm. This Result excellently agreed with IMRT QA. Conclusion: The extrapolated DLG depends on the T&G. The proper value of DLG can be estimated from the study of non‐synchronized sweeping gaps and T&G distributions in typical patient IMRT plans.
Strategic analysis of the competitive exercise of certain financial options

Abstract Warrants and convertible bonds are claims on the firm which change the outstanding number of common stock shares when exercised or converted. Exercise of such claims in competitive circumstances is modeled here as a noncooperative game played by a continuum of players. First, equilibria of the game are shown to exist by applying results of Schmeidler. Second, the game's equilibria are compared to outcomes that come about when one individual controls the exercise of all the claims, but is constrained to exercise them in one block. The results are analogues of earlier results by one of the authors on the competitive pricing of such claims.
Sudden infant death syndrome in South Australia 1968-97. Part I: changes over time.

Objective: To compare the epidemiology of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) over three consecutive decades. Methodology: The birth history, infant’s developmental and health history, infant care practices for the infant, death scene investigation and autopsy findings for all infants dying suddenly and unexpectedly in South Australia (SA) between January 1968 and December 1997 were studied. Results: The incidence of SIDS in SA rose through the 1970s and early 1980s with the highest incidence being in infants born in 1986 at 2.4 per 1000 live births (LB). Two factors felt to be dangerous for some infants were identified – being left unobserved in the prone position and having the head covered by bed clothes. Publicity about the risk of prone sleeping has been accompanied by a fall in SIDS deaths, to an incidence of 0.5 per 1000 LB in 1997. The incidence in Aboriginal infants, and infants living in lower socio-economic conditions has always been high, but the over-representation of these groups has increased in the last 5 years. Conclusion: If no infant under 8 months of age was placed prone or was able to get to prone unobserved before the age when they can easily get back to supine, and no infant was able to get the head completely covered while unobserved, the incidence of SIDS in SA should fall below 0.2 per 1000 LB.
Muscarinic cholinergic receptor binding in rat brain following traumatic brain injury

Recent evidence suggests that excessive activation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors (mAChRs) contributes significantly to the pathophysiological consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). To examine possible alterations in mAChRs after TBI, the affinity (Kd) and maximum number of binding sites (Bmax) of mAChRs in hippocampus, neocortex, brain stem and cerebellum were determined by [3H]QNB binding. Three groups of rats were examined: 1 h post-TBI (n = 21), 24 h post-TBI (n = 21) and sham-injured rats (n = 21). Kd values were significantly higher in hippocampus and brain stem at 1 but not 24 h post-TBI compared with sham-injured controls (P < 0.05). Kd values did not significantly differ in neocortex and cerebellum at 1 or 24 h post-TBI compared with sham-injured controls. Bmax values did not significantly differ in any brain areas at 1 or 24 h post-TBI compared with sham-injured controls These results show that TBI significantly decreases the affinity of mAChRs in hippocampus and brain stem at an early stage post-TBI, which may contribute to desensitization of mAChRs after TBI. The findings of no change in Bmax values are consistent with a transient elevation in ACh concentrations after TBI.
Comparison of Programmable versus Single Wavelength Fluorescence for the Detection of Three Fluoroquinolone Antibacterials Isolated from Fortified Chicken Liver Using Coupled On Line Microdialysis and HPLC

Summary A recently introduced programmable fluorescence detector was compared with a single wavelength fluorescence detector for quantification of fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibacterial agents, which have widely varying spectral characteristics. The two detectors were connected in parallel to an HPLC system to test their performance characteristics. With single wavelength detection, two FQs, flumequine and oxolinic acid could be detected at an emission wavelength of 368 nm in a single chromatogram while a third FQ, sarafloxacin, was not observed at that wavelength. Similarly, when the detector was optimized for sarafloxacin emission at 440 nm, the other two compounds were undetected. In contrast, all three FQs were quantified at their individual maxima in a single run using the programmable fluorescence detection. The applicability of an HPLC ‐ programmable fluorescence detector, in combination with on-line microdialysis, also was evaluated using chicken liver fortified at low ppb levels with the three FQs. After on-line microdialysis sample clean up, the resultant HPLC chromatograms were free of background interference enabling the programmable detector to optimize the quantitation of the three analytes in a single run. The limit of quantification (LOQ) determined for each FQ was 1.0 ppb and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.2 ppb, an order lower in magnitude than was obtainable with single wavelength detection.
Effects of the Atmosphere on Laser Beam Propagation

An experimental study of horizontal laser beam propagation over paths up to 145 km long was made in which beam diameter and shape, intensity fluctuations, and optical phase distortion were measured. It was found that (1) received beam diameter decreases (on-axis power density increases) with increasing transmitter aperture to a limit reached at an aperture of about 11 cm, (2) beam diameter varies as the 1.2 power of path length, (3) the amplitude of intensity fluctuations decreases with increasing receiver aperture and is nearly independent of path length for paths longer than 0.55 km, (4) the fluctuation spectrum shows a decrease in spectral power with increasing frequency, this negative slope becoming steeper with increasing receiver aperture and remaining constant with path length, and (5) rms fluctuation in phase path length was observed to be 0.25 μ over a 48.8-m path. In addition, it is shown that geometrical optics based on the effects of large scale atmospheric irregularities does not adequately account for signal intensity fluctuations. These results may be helpful in predicting the capability of specific communications systems and in understanding better the nature of atmospheric turbulence.
Atopic march: link to upper airways.

Purpose of reviewThis review examines the role of the upper airways in the atopic march. Evidence examining the theory that allergic rhinitis precedes asthma will be discussed. In addition, the role of allergic rhinitis as an end point in the atopic march will be reviewed.Recent findingsCiprandi and
PW01-237 - Low-dosage topiramate in alcohol dependence: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Introduction Topiramate (up to 300 mg per day) is more efficacious than placebo as an adjunct to standardised medication compliance management in treatment of alcohol dependence. However, adverse events can limit its use in different clinical situation. In this randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled trial we aimed to investigate the efficacy of low-dosage topiramate on alcohol drinking indices. Craving and psychiatric symptoms improvements were the secondary endpoints. Methods Forty alcohol dependent subjects where detoxified and subsequently randomised into two groups, respectively receiving topiramate (100mg/die) or Placebo. The level of craving for alcohol was evaluated by a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Italian -version of the Obsessive and Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS). Psychiatric symptomatology was evaluated by the Symptom Check List 90 Revised (SCL-90 R). Results The improvement of alcohol drinking indices and craving scores was higher in the topiramate group than placebo. The survival function showed that patients treated with topiramate remained abstinent from any alcohol amount for a longer time with respect to placebo (Z= -2.197; P Discussion To our knowledge, this is the first randomised, parallel group trial to evaluate the efficacy of topiramate at low dosage for alcohol dependence. The use of topiramate at low dosage could increase the number of subjects in treatment, given the reduced possibility of adverse events.
Triplet excited states of polycyclic aromatic compounds as probes of their microenvironment in serum albumin complexes.

Abstract Using flash photolysis techniques, the triplet excited states of benzo(a)pyrene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene and other aromatic hydrocarbons have been detected in complexes of bovine (and human) serum albumin dissolved in aqueous solutions at room temperature. The triplet lifetimes can be adjusted to any value within the microsecond-millisecond time domains by varying the partial pressure of oxygen from zero to one atmosphere, thus providing a useful probe on these time scales. Local oxygen concentrations as low as ∼ 2 × 10−7M can be detected. In air saturated solutions, the triplet lifetimes are sensitive to pH dependent conformational changes of the host bovine serum albumin molecules.
PREDICTORS OF MORTALITY AND GENDER DIFFERENCES IN TAKOTSUBO CARDIOMYOPATHY

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is more common in females. However, predictors of mortality and gender differences in mortality are not well established. Hence, we wanted to determine the predictors of mortality as well as any gender differences in patients with TC. Using the Nationwide Inpatient
The quantum adiabatic optimization algorithm and local minima

The quantum adiabatic optimization algorithm uses the adiabatic theorem from quantum physics to minimize a function by interpolation between two Hamiltonians. The quantum wave function can sometimes tunnel through significant obstacles. However it can also sometimes get stuck in local minima, even for fairly simple problems. An initial Hamiltonian which insufficiently mixes computational basis states is analogous to a poorly mixing Markov transition rule. We study a physical system -- the Ising quantum chain with alternating sector interaction defects, but constant transverse field -- which is equivalent to applying the quantum adiabatic algorithm to a particular SAT problem. We prove that for a constant range of values for the transverse field, the spectral gap is exponentially small in the sector length. Indeed, we prove that there are exponentially many eigenvalues all exponentially close to the ground state energy. Applying the adiabatic theorem therefore takes exponential time, even for this simple problem.
Enhancing the sample average approximation method with U designs

Many computational problems in statistics can be cast as stochastic programs that are optimization problems whose objective functions are multi-dimensional integrals. The sample average approximation method is widely used for solving such a problem, which first constructs a sampling-based approximation to the objective function and then finds the solution to the approximated problem. Independent and identically distributed sampling is a prevailing choice for constructing such approximations. Recently it was found that the use of Latin hypercube designs can improve sample average approximations. In computer experiments, U designs are known to possess better space-filling properties than Latin hypercube designs. Inspired by this fact, we propose to use U designs to further enhance the accuracy of the sample average approximation method. Theoretical results are derived to show that sample average approximations with U designs can significantly outperform those with Latin hypercube designs. Numerical examples are provided to corroborate the developed theoretical results.
The fate of the dropped gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Stones can be spilled from the gallbladder during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. These stones can be left in the peritoneal cavity or trapped at the trocar site. The potential late sequel and associated morbidity are not well documented. We reviewed the records of four patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City who suffered from late complications attributed to gallstones left in the peritoneal cavity or abdominal wall. Four patients presented 1–14 months after laparoscopic cholecystectomy with intraabdominal and abdominal wall abscesses. The spillage of gallstones was noticed during the initial operation only in one of the patients. Three patients required laparotomy and open drainage of intraabdominal abscesses with drainage of pus and gallstones after failed attempts at percutaneous drainage. Two patients underwent local exploration of an abdominal wall abscess containing stones. Stones left in the abdominal cavity or trapped in trocar sites after laparoscopic cholecystectomy can cause serious late complications requiring repeated surgical interventions. Every effort should be made in order to avoid spillage of stones during dissection of the gallbladder and cystic duct and during retrieval of the gallbladder through the abdominal wall.
Electroluminescence and photoluminescence from Si1−xGex alloys grown on (100) silicon by molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract Photoluminescence has been observed from Si 1− x Ge x alloy layers, superlattices and non-periodic multilayers where x was varied from 0 to 0.6 A p-type Si 0.82 Ge 0.18 alloy layer 200 nm thick, grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), has been fabricated into a mesa diode which operated as a light-emitting diode, emitting at 1.4 μm at temperatures up to 80 K. This diode was selected from a series of heterostructures which exhibited intense photoluminescence with internal quantum efficiencies in the range 1%–10% at low temperatures. Photoluminescence in the wavelength range 1.2–1.7 μm has been observed from thick (100–200 nm) Si 1− x Ge x alloys and Si 1− x −Si strained layer superlattices with a range of dimensions which was large compared with the unit cell; i.e. where Brillouin zone folding effects were negligible. The intense Si 1− x Ge x alloy photoluminescence peak had a halfwidth of about 80 meV and the peak energy was found to shift consistently and predictably with the germanium fraction. Photoluminescence peak energies at 4.2 K varied from 620 to 990 meV for germanium fractions where 0.53 > x > 0.06. The photoluminescence and electroluminescence peaks were consistently about 120 meV below the established bandgap for tetragonally strained Si 1− x Ge x . In general, Si 1− x Ge x strained layers grown at low temperatures typical of MBE (below 500°C) exhibited low photoluminescence intensity. However, post-growth annealing in the 500–700°C temperature range enhanced luminescence efficiency by up to two orders of magnitude. A comparison is also made of the broad intense photoluminescence observed from MBE material with the weak near-band-edge spectra obtained from Si 1− x Ge x -Si grown by low temperature chemical vapour deposition.
SU-GG-T-269: Should the Image Rotation Be Addressed during Routine CBCT QA?

Purpose: To establish whether a QA check and action level for CBCTimage rotational displacement are required. Methods and Materials: If CBCT misregisters the angular coordinates during image acquisition, this may lead to a slightly rotated reconstructed image. If this problem goes undetected and shifts are applied to patient based on this image, an underdosage of the target volume (TV) as well as an overdosage of the normal tissues may occur. When a CBCT scan of a phantom was performed clockwise and counterclockwise, a ∼2° rotation was identified. We evaluated the clinical implications of the rotation in correlation with changes in dose distribution for 3 different clinical scenarios: (a) isocenter and TV are at the patient's center, (b) isocenter is central and TV is lateral, (c) isocenter and TV are lateral. The problem was formulated vectorially to quantify the residual shift of the TV for CBCTs acquired with the patient at or off isocenter. C++ code was written to determine the image displacements corresponding to the rotations. Patient CTimage sets were rotated by 1°,2°,3°,4°, and 5°. Treatment plans were then recalculated to quantify the changes in DVH at the target and the normal tissue levels. Results: When misregistered CBCTimages were employed, alteration of DVH indicators becomes significant for patient alignment for rotations of >2° for SBRT treatments. When RapidArc was employed, the change in DVH indicators was not significant, most likely due to the volume symmetry and the accompanying dose spillage. Large patient size requires CBCT acquisition and alignment to be performed off isocenter and it translates in significant changes of TV location with respect to isocenter for rotations of >2°. Conclusion: We found that a CBCT QA criterion of <2° would be a reasonable action level in order to ensure accurate dose delivery in any clinical scenario.
An augmented directed graph base for application development

Directed graphs have been used as the theoretical base for many applications in Computer Science -- especially artificial intelligence. Two drawbacks to the use of directed graphs for more practical work have been:1. The difficulty in associating data of a variety of types with the nodes in the graph and with the connections between the nodes, and2. The inability to search and modify the graph efficiently as the size and complexity of the graph grows.This paper describes a library of cooperating routines for dealing with directed graphs that overcomes these objections. The first problem is overcome by adding to the usual directed graph model the concepts of "data tags" and "connection descriptors." The problem of efficiency is addressed by using a binary tree facility to implement the augmented directed graph. This paper describes the augmented directed graph "access method" and how it can be used as the base for application development.
Validation and response to treatment of a pruritus self-assessment tool in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Background Pruritus is a common symptom of psoriasis. In many clinical trials of psoriasis treatments, severity of pruritus is a patient-reported outcome. Objective We sought to evaluate a patient-reported pruritus self-assessment tool using data from clinical trials of a tumor necrosis factor blocker. Methods The validity of the patient-reported 6-point pruritus assessment tool (0 = none to 5 = severe) was determined using data from a phase III trial of etanercept, a tumor necrosis factor blocker. The performance of the pruritus assessment tool was then evaluated using data from two large etanercept trials. Results The pruritus assessment tool was validated and deemed to have good test-retest reliability (kappa coefficient = 0.71; 95% confidence interval = 0.62-0.80) and responsiveness (standardized response mean = 1.28; effect size = 1.63, responsiveness statistic = 1.54). Improvements in pruritus scores correlated with improvements in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index after 8 weeks of etanercept therapy in two phase III trials. Limitations The pruritus assessment is validated only for patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, and may not be applicable to other patient populations. Conclusions The pruritus assessment tool is a valid measurement of pruritus intensity in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and can discriminate between patients on and off treatment.
Hunter–gatherer use of wild plants and domesticates: archaeological implications for mixed economies before agricultural intensification

Much of our success as a species derives from the ability to adapt hunting and gathering to diverse ecologies and incorporate a wide range of food resources. Hunter–gatherers maintain broad dietary options through an array of alternative and fallback strategies. While many decisions facing foragers have been analyzed, few paired nutritional and return rate data are available, especially in relation to the value of wild roots. Ethnoarchaeological data from a group of South American hunter–gatherers allow us to comparatively assess the value of root resources by observing what mobile foragers do when presented with the option to retain or replace wild foods with domesticates. Nutritional content and foraging returns indicate that cultivated tubers provide no clear nutritional or labor advantages. Evidence also does not suggest that wild roots are inferior resources. This may explain why some foragers incorporate domesticates without replacing dependence on wild foods, or signaling a transition to an agrarian economy. This perspective has archaeological implications for modeling of past subsistence during initial and early exploitation of cultigens.
The Evolution of Integration of Biological Systems: An Evolutionary Perspective through Studies on Cells, Tissues, and Organs

Biologists are integrating studies of morphology, development, physiology,and other disciplines in order to understand how species and lineages diversify and cope with their environments. An evolutionary perspective in such studies, including those of cells, tissues, and organs, is potentially useful for the structure and analysis of such problems. Evolutionary biology is the study of the history of evolution and the elucidation of its mechanisms. Comparative biology is the comparison of a trait or traits in selected taxa, and may be, but need not be, evolutionary in approach. A phylogenetic hypothesis is necessary for reconstruction of pattern in morphology, ecology, behavior, and other areas. Acquaintance with evolutionary and phylogenetic perspectives can guide selection of taxa for study and open new approaches to analysis of data. Such an approach is not always appropriate to problems in biology, but it could be utilized beneficially more frequently than is currently practiced. Studies of cells, tissues, and organs may contribute to the construction of new phylogenetic hypotheses and to analysis of patterns and mechanisms of change when pursued from an evolutionary perspective
Near Exit Plane Velocity Field of a 200-Watt Hall Thruster

This work presents the near exit plane velocity field of a 200-W laboratory xenon Hall thruster at a single operating condition with a 250-V anode potential. The ionized propellant velocities were measured using laser-induced fluorescence of the 5d[4] 7/2 -6p[3] 5/2 excited state xenon ionic transition at 834.72 nm. Ion velocities were interrogated from the acceleration channel exit plane to a distance 107 mm from the exit plane (3.3 exit plane diameters). Both axial and radial velocities were measured. A nearly uniform axial velocity profile of approximately 13,800 ± 500 m/s (130 ± 10 eV) was measured at the thruster exit plane. The maximum axial velocity, measured 107 mm from the exit plane, was 16,800 m/s (192 eV). The ion flow exiting the thruster acceleration channel mixes downstream due to both the coaxial thruster geometry and a possible ion-acoustic shock. This behavior appears in regions where multiple, or broadly distributed, radial and axial velocity components occur. These regions also exhibit broadened fluorescence line shapes, likely indicative of collisions between the various velocity populations as well as possible ionization of background neutral, and correspond to the brighter, more visible portions of the plume. This region has been previously identified as a possible ion-acoustic shock. This hypothesis appears consistent with the low radial velocity ion populations measured in this more luminous portion of the plume. In addition, a limited study at five off-nominal conditions near a region of high insulator erosion indicates that the impinging ion energy on the protruding center pole boron nitride insulator is predictably changed by flow rates and anode potentials; however, it also appears to vary significantly with applied magnetic field strength.
Mesothelial- and epithelial-derived FGF9 have distinct functions in the regulation of lung development

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 9 is a secreted signaling molecule that is expressed in lung mesothelium and epithelium and is required for lung development. Embryos lacking FGF9 show mesenchymal hypoplasia, decreased epithelial branching and, by the end of gestation, hypoplastic lungs that cannot support life. Mesenchymal FGF signaling interacts with β-catenin-mediated WNT signaling in a feed-forward loop that functions to sustain mesenchymal FGF responsiveness and mesenchymal WNT/β-catenin signaling. During pseudoglandular stages of lung development, Wnt2a and Wnt7b are the canonical WNT ligands that activate mesenchymal WNT/β-catenin signaling, whereas FGF9 is the only known ligand that signals to mesenchymal FGF receptors (FGFRs). Here, we demonstrate that mesothelial- and epithelial-derived FGF9, mesenchymal Wnt2a and epithelial Wnt7b have unique functions in lung development in mouse. Mesothelial FGF9 and mesenchymal WNT2A are principally responsible for maintaining mesenchymal FGF-WNT/β-catenin signaling, whereas epithelial FGF9 primarily affects epithelial branching. We show that FGF signaling is primarily responsible for regulating mesenchymal proliferation, whereas β-catenin signaling is a required permissive factor for mesenchymal FGF signaling.
Biphasic Role of Nuclear Factor-k B on Cell Survival and COX-2 Expression in SOD1 Tg Astrocytes after Oxygen Glucose Deprivation:

In cytoplasm, nuclear factor-k(NF-kB) is associated with the inhibitory protein, IkBα. On activation by H2O2, IkBα is phosphorylated and degraded, exposing the nuclear localization signals on the NF-kB heterodimer. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which mediates prostaglandin synthesis during inflammation, is induced by oxidative stress mediated by NF-kB. We investigated whether the NF-kB signaling pathway affected cell death and COX-2 expression after hypoxia-induced oxidative stress in wild-type (WT) and copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase transgenic (SOD1 Tg) astrocytes. In WT astrocytes, phospho-IkBα was highly expressed after oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and 2 h of reperfusion, concomitant with the decrease in kBa. The NF-kB p50 level increased similarly in WT and SOD1 Tg astrocytes (1.2-/1.4-fold) after OGD. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed higher DNA-binding activity of NF-kB p50 in WT than in SOD1 Tg astrocytes 6 h after 4 h of OGD. The COX-2 level was induced by 2.7- and 1.3-fold after OGD i...
China-Africa Relations, Political Conditions, and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s "Wizard of the Crow"

Standing, in effect, at the cusp of a global transition from a Western-dominated world to one witnessing the effects of the “economic renaissance of East Asia,” as Giovanni Arrighi has called it, Ngũgĩ’s wa Thiong’o’s 2006 novel Wizard of the Crow reiterates the author’s well-known critique of neocolonialism but, perhaps more importantly, it also registers the growing presence of Asia in Africa and offers a thought-provoking consideration of the meaning of that presence in an era of global capital. Though commonly identified as a “dictator novel,” Wizard of the Crow is only partly about “The Ruler” of the fictional African nation of Aburĩria. Through the titular character, Ngũgĩ also develops a narrative that explores the opportunities and dangers of embracing the paths of modernization marked out by the advancing economic powers of the East, especially China and India. This paper analyzes that narrative, focusing in particular on the thematic and formal elements that reflect and are relevant to China’s all-important ambitions in Africa and its core policy of offering aid “without political conditions.” These issues ultimately offer a unique way of bringing the novel to bear upon contemporary debates specific to the phenomenon of China-in-Africa.
A Modified Turbulent Energy Model for Diffusion from Elevated and Ground Point Sources in Neutral Boundary Layers

A simple model for turbulent diffusion is proposed based on a turbulent energy model modified by Galperin and Hassid (1986) wherein local equilibrium in the concentration flux equation is assumed resulting in a turbulent diffusivity tensor. The early stage of plume development is simulated through adjustment of the integral length scale of diffusion. A simple semi-empirical formulation is also proposed for the dissipation length scale of concentration variance. Although it is substantially simpler than that of Sykes et al. (1984), the model is shown to compare well with the measurements of Fackrell and Robins (1982a, b).
Anoxic preconditioning in hippocampal slices: role of adenosine.

Abstract Prior studies have shown that sublethal anoxic/ischemic insults may “precondition” and thereby protect tissues such as heart and brain from subsequent insults. In hippocampal slices, we examined two hypotheses: (i) that anoxic preconditioning improves the ability of slices to recover synaptic activity following a second anoxic insult and (ii) that anoxic preconditioning involves adenosine receptors. Hippocampal slices were preconditioned by short periods of anoxia prolonged only until the onset of anoxic depolarization. The slices were then reoxygenated for 30 min, after which a second (“test”) anoxic insult was induced. Amplitudes of evoked potentials recovered significantly better after “test” anoxic insults in preconditioned slices. In control slices, transient superfusion with adenosine or an adenosine A1 receptor agonist (2-chloroadenosine) 30 min prior to “test” anoxia markedly improved evoked potential recovery. Administration of 8-cyclopentyl-1 3-dipropylxanthine, an Al receptor antagonist, blocked the protection afforded by preconditioning. These data support the hypothesis that adenosine, probably by its activation of Al receptors, is involved in the neuroprotection afforded by anoxic preconditioning in hippocampal slices. Preconditioning insults may have a significant clinical impact, since certain surgical procedures may require, or produce, multiple periods of brain ischemia.
An integer programming approach to reference staff scheduling

In many large academic libraries, reference service is provided during the library’s busiest hours. While reference schedules vary greatly from library to library, they generally consist of daytime, weekend, and evening hours. The number of hours that reference service can be provided is dependent upon the size of the reference staff. To ensure that a reference librarian is on duty during posted reference hours, and to plan for staff members’ other commitments such as committee meetings or classes, it is frequently necessary to schedule the reference staff to cover these hours. If the staff has ample time dedicated to reference, this scheduling problem is not particularly difficult. A good common sense algorithm executed by hand will deliver an adequate schedule. However, it is more likely that hours available for reference are highly constrained by other commitments. In this case, it can be difficult to find a feasible schedule, let alone one that is acceptable to all reference staff members. This scheduling problem consists of two distinct parts: the managerial or negotiation process, and mathematically piecing together the puzzle of shifts. The process of constructing an acceptable schedule often involves several iterations through each of these phases. The preferences and requirements of the staff that arise in negotiation become the constraints on the mathematical model. Conversely, the model evaluates the implications of each such negotiation which may initiate further negotiation. In this study, we show how to model the technical aspects of this scheduling problem as an integer program and find a solution using existing computer software. This model is a tool that can be used in the managerial process of staff scheduling.
Effect of improved cementing techniques on the longevity of fixation in revision cemented femoral arthroplasties: Average 8.8-year follow-up period

Abstract Forty-six revision cemented femoral arthorplasties in which second-generation cementing techniques were used have been reviewed. After an average follow-up period of 8.8 years, 91% of the femoral components remained in place and 87% remained well fixed. Only 7% were rerevised for aseptic loosening. These results demonstrate a marked improvement over those of first-generation cementing techniques.
The cortico-nigral projection in the rat: an anterograde tracing study with biotinylated dextran amine

The projection from the cortex to the substantia nigra (SN) in the rat was studied using the biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) anterograde tracing method. Injections of BDA into the prefrontal cortex consistently yielded labeling of the thin nerve fibers with small boutons in the SN pars compacta (SNc) and the pars reticulata (SNr). The cortico-nigral projection had a loose medio-lateral and rostro-caudal arrangement. Injections of BDA into the precentral lateral, the parietal, the temporal, and the occipital cortices resulted in sparse or no labeling of boutons in the SN. The density of boutons in the most heavily labeled region of the SN was 0.23/10(3) micron3. For comparison, similar measurement was performed in the cortico-striatal projection. The density of the boutons in the the neostriatum was 4.9/10(3) micron3. This study indicates that the entire prefrontal cortex projects to the SNc and SNr and that the terminal density of this projection is much less than the cortico-striatal projection.
Oxidative and Tribological Properties of Amorphous and Quasicrystalline Approximant Al−Cu−Fe Thin Films

The origins of the tribological properties and corrosion resistance of amorphous and quasicrystalline approximant alloys have been studied by comparing their properties in thin Al-Cu-Fe alloy films with compositions lying near the quasicrystalline region of the ternary compositional phase diagram. Six sputtered thin films of an Al-Cu-Fe alloy were studied using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), and an in situ ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) tribometer. The films were annealed in UHV to induce the formation of orthorhombic, rhombohedral, and amorphous bulk structures. The properties of these thin films were then determined in the same UHV apparatus without exposing the films to air. The rates of surface oxidation by H2O and O2 were measured using XPS. Although the oxidation rates and oxide thicknesses were dependent on the oxidant, they were not sensitive to the structures of the films. Friction was measured between identical samples in sliding contact. The friction coefficients (micros = 0.36 +/- 0.11 to 0.56 +/- 0.08) were comparable to those observed in other experiments using quasicrystals and approximants in UHV; however, there was no strong correlation between the friction coefficients and either the film structure or the degree of surface oxidation. These results suggest that the tribological and corrosion resistance properties of these quasicrystalline approximant alloys are not directly connected to crystalline structure.
Deactivation of gene expression upon the onset of development in Dictyostelium discoideum

Several genes that are deactivated upon the initiation of development of Dictyostelium discoideum have been identified by differential screening of various cDNA libraries. These genes have in common a decrease in the steady-state levels of their corresponding mRNAs as development proceeds. When development was carried out in the absence of protein synthesis by inhibition with cycloheximide, the decrease in mRNA levels for most genes (V genes) was normal or slightly accelerated. However, for about 5% of the genes (H genes), cycloheximide caused an apparent induction of expression, as revealed by a slight or dramatic increase in mRNA levels instead of the normal decrease. This effect was due to inhibition of protein synthesis and not to cycloheximide per se. The induction was found to be due to an enhancement of the transcription rate; normal rates of transcription for the H genes were dependent upon continued protein synthesis during vegetative growth and during development. Thus, two general regulatory classes exist for deactivation of gene expression upon initiation of development, one dependent and one independent of protein synthesis. Models concerning the control of expression of these two classes of genes are discussed here. Analysis of expression of these genes in mutant strains that are aggregation-deficient has also been performed, and the results lead to subdivisions of the classes.