cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fibronectin fragments and blocking antibodies to α2β1 and α5β1 integrins stimulate mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling and increase collagenase 3 (matrix metalloproteinase 13) production by human articular chondrocytes

Objective To determine if integrin-mediated signaling results in activation of chondrocyte mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases that lead to increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13; collagenase 3), a potent mediator of cartilage matrix degradation. Methods Human articular chondrocytes isolated from normal ankle and knee cartilage obtained from tissue donors were cultured in monolayers. The cells were treated with a 120-kd fibronectin fragment (FN-f) that binds the α5β1 integrin or with antibodies to specific integrin receptors. Activation of MAP kinases was determined by immunoblotting with phosphospecific antibodies. MMP production was measured by gelatin zymography, and MMP-13 production and activation were determined by immunoblotting and by a fluorogenic peptide assay. Results Human articular chondrocytes were found to respond to the 120-kd FN-f and to adhesion-blocking antibodies to the α2β1 and α5β1 integrins with increased phosphorylation of the extracellular signal–regulated kinase 1 (ERK1)/ERK2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAP kinases. Intact FN and integrin-blocking antibodies to α1, α3, and αVβ3 and a nonblocking α5 antibody had no effect. After MAP kinase activation, increased phosphorylation of c-Jun and the nuclear factor κB inhibitor was noted, followed by increased pro- and activated MMP-13 in the conditioned media. Inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, p38, and JNK were each able to inhibit increased MMP-13 production, while the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) protein did not. However, the IL-1Ra partially inhibited FN-f–induced activation of MMP-13. Conclusion Integrin-mediated MAP kinase signaling stimulated by FN-f is associated with increased production and release of pro- and active MMP-13. Autocrine production of IL-1 appears to result in additional MMP-13 activation. These processes may play a key role in feedback loops responsible for progressive cartilage degradation in arthritis.
Variations in faculty assessment of NICU flowsheet data: Implications for electronic data display

Abstract Objective Understanding how physicians navigate through patient data to construct clinically meaningful information has implication for resident education as well as how patient data is displayed. The purpose of this study was to determine how physicians reason through patient data presented on a flowsheet in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods A volunteer sample of 20 neonatologists took part in this study. Participants evaluated 5 hypothetical case scenarios presented on standardized NICU flowsheets to (1) select the best diagnosis for each case (diagnostic choice) and (2) identify the flowsheet items that most influenced their diagnostic choice (diagnostic reasoning). Results Faculty had generally high agreement with respect to their diagnostic choices. There was little agreement on items that faculty considered clinically relevant for each case. On average, only 6% of items per case reached an agreement level of at least 75%. Conclusions We found that neonatologists who agreed on a diagnosis rarely agreed on the most important data elements that led them to that conclusion. Future studies designed to articulate how physicians decide to direct their attention when presented with flowsheet data may shed light on how this data is utilized and might be optimally presented.
The PRMT5 arginine methyltransferase: many roles in development, cancer and beyond.

Post-translational arginine methylation is responsible for regulation of many biological processes. The protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5, also known as Hsl7, Jbp1, Skb1, Capsuleen, or Dart5) is the major enzyme responsible for mono- and symmetric dimethylation of arginine. An expanding literature demonstrates its critical biological function in a wide range of cellular processes. Histone and other protein methylation by PRMT5 regulate genome organization, transcription, stem cells, primordial germ cells, differentiation, the cell cycle, and spliceosome assembly. Metazoan PRMT5 is found in complex with the WD-repeat protein MEP50 (also known as Wdr77, androgen receptor coactivator p44, or Valois). PRMT5 also directly associates with a range of other protein factors, including pICln, Menin, CoPR5 and RioK1 that may alter its subcellular localization and protein substrate selection. Protein substrate and PRMT5–MEP50 post-translation modifications induce crosstalk to regulate PRMT5 activity. Crystal structures of C. elegans PRMT5 and human and frog PRMT5–MEP50 complexes provide substantial insight into the mechanisms of substrate recognition and procession to dimethylation. Enzymological studies of PRMT5 have uncovered compelling insights essential for future development of specific PRMT5 inhibitors. In addition, newly accumulating evidence implicates PRMT5 and MEP50 expression levels and their methyltransferase activity in cancer tumorigenesis, and, significantly, as markers of poor clinical outcome, marking them as potential oncogenes. Here, we review the substantial new literature on PRMT5 and its partners to highlight the significance of understanding this essential enzyme in health and disease.
Acoustic radiation force creep-recovery: Theory and finite element modeling

Shear wave elasticity imaging methods have demonstrated that tissue elasticity changes with disease state. The majority of current methods use shear wave speed and rely on rheological models to estimate mechanical properties such as elasticity and viscosity. A method to quantify viscoelastic properties in a model-independent manner by using acoustic radiation force induced recovery is useful to estimate tissue mechanical properties independent of the applied force and fitting models. In this study the acoustic radiation force recovery theory is reviewed and it is tested in tissue mimicking phantoms. Moreover, a finite element model (FEM) is used to study the acoustic radiation force induced recovery strain under different conditions of material properties defined by Voigt model, density and geometry. From the FEM study it was found that the shear strain can be approximated as the partial derivative of vertical displacement with respect to lateral distance. Moreover, FEM and experimental data showed that recovery strain is more likely to converge to Voigt model when viscosity is high.
Direct ANP inhibition of hypoxia-induced inflammatory pathways in pulmonary microvascular and macrovascular endothelial monolayers.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) has been shown to reduce hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular leak in vivo, but no explanation of a mechanism has been offered other than its vasodilatory and natriur...
On the theory of forced double refraction (photoelasticity)

The double refraction of crystals may be due (1) to anisotropy of theions taken separately; (2) to the anisotropic arrangement of the ions in the lattice, which results in an anisotropic force even if the ions are undisturbed; (3) to an anisotropic Lorentz-Lorenz force due to the anisotropic arrangement of the ions. Ewald and Bragg have assumed (3) alone to be present. Here calculations are made for effect (3) in cubic crystals under stress (forced double refraction, photo-elasticity). The effect seems not to be explained entirely by (3). Incidentally it is shown how the Lorentz-Lorenz force is built up in the unstrained crystal. It turns out that the force−4πP+4π/3P is almost entirely due to the plane passing through the considered ion.
Geochemical evidence for sundering of the West Mariana arc in miocene ash from the Parece Vela Basin

Abstract Glass and mineral fragments from discrete volcanic ash layers were sampled from DSDP/IPOD Site 450 in the Parece Vela Basin, Philippine Sea and analyzed by electron microprobe. The ashes are interpreted as eruptive products of the adjacent West Mariana arc system between 25 and 14 Ma B.P., and have compositions between basaltic andesite and rhyolite, and rarely, boninite. ‘Continuous’ chemical trends appear to reflect mixing of mafic and silicic magmas. ‘Discontinuous’ trends between these end-members are relatively few, and are consistent with ‘liquid lines’ produced by fractional crystallization. Andesitic tephra become progressively richer in MgO and CaO through the middle Miocene, while boninite appears towards the end of the sequence, between 14 and 15 Ma B.P. Coeval rhyolitic glasses become richer in K 2 O and Na 2 O, with maximum concentrations at about 15 Ma B.P. Chronologic changes in fractionation type and composition of parent magmas are interpreted to reflect the subaerial volcanic evolution of the West Mariana arc. The appearance of boninite is believed to signal early stages of arc sundering, and corresponds temporally with regional uplift of the sea floor above the carbonate compensation depth, precursor to a new pulse of back-arc spreading.
A non-adsorptive method for the isolation and fractionation of natural dissolved organic carbon

A non-adsorptive method was tested for the concentration and fractionation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in groundwater. Reverse osmosis combined with ultrafiltration recovered more than 90% of the DOC and efficiently separated the DOC into three size fractions. Unlike adsorptive methods, this procedure avoids the use of strong acids and bases that may alter the structure of the DOC. A diafiltration method was applied during ultrafiltration that gave good separation of the DOC into high-, medium-, and low-molecular-size fractions. The high- and medium-molecular-size fractions are desalted during this fractionation procedure and can be further analyzed for individual compounds. The inorganic solutes remain in the low-molecular-size fraction. Future advances in ultrafiltration membrane technology may facilitate removal of inorganic ions without significant loss of low-molecular-size organic acids. Studies on a synthetic groundwater showed that the combined reverse osmosis/ultrafiltration method is viable for the concentration and fractionation of a wide range in organic compounds typically found in groundwater.
Phosphatidylethanolamine augments factor VIIa-tissue factor activity: enhancement of sensitivity to phosphatidylserine

The effect of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) on the activity of the factor VIIa-tissue factor complex (fVIIa-TF) has been examined with respect to plasma clotting activity and activation of factor X (fX) in a purified system. Vesicles prepared by relipidating membrane-anchored TF (dcTF; TF1-244, lacking the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail) into phospholipid vesicles containing 6 mol % phosphatidylserine (PS) and increasing levels of PE up to 40 mol % (the balance consisting of phosphatidylcholine) were found to progressively shorten TF-initiated clotting in normal human plasma to levels comparable to those observed using dcTF relipidated with cephalin. The shortened clotting times were at least in part due to the ability of PE-containing membranes to better support the activation of fX by the fVIIa.TF complex, as vesicles with increased PE content yielded progressively higher initial rates of fX activation. Surprisingly, PE substantially altered the sensitivity of fX activation to low levels of PS, yielding near-maximal rates of activation at only 3 mol % PS compared to 15-20 mol % PS required in the absence of PE. The effect of PE was not synergistic with that of PS since PE did not increase fX activation rates at high levels of PS (20 mol %). Examination of the kinetic parameters for fX activation revealed that the majority of the effect of PE was in decreasing the apparent Km for fX.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation promotes survival in children with trauma related respiratory failure

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which is used for cardiopulmonary support in many non-trauma settings, may also be of use in pediatric patients with traumatic lung injury by allowing the lung to rest and heal. We have utilized ECMO to support three multitrauma pediatric patients with posttraumatic respiratory failure in the past 2 years. We sought to review our experience at a level 1 tertiary care children’s hospital in this patient population. Our outcomes along with the limited number of pediatric trauma patients previously reported in the literature suggest that ECMO may be safely and effectively used to manage respiratory failure in this patient population.
The Raymond pearl memorial lecture, 1992: ethnicity and disease-more than familiality

It has long been recognized that the prevalence of many, possibly most diseases differs among different ethnic groups, and it is further known that cultural differences among people affect the acceptability of measures to prevent or ameliorate a given disease process. Major public health challenges of our time are the delineation and understanding of how these differences in prevalence arise, and the fashioning of acceptable and effective intervention strategies. The web of causation is undoubtedly complex and in the unraveling there will be a need to examine new paradigms, new models of how genes and environments interact in the evolution of disease. These models must recognize the levels within the disease process where interactions can occur. This will demand a holistic rather than the reductionist approach that has obtained in the past. However, there are promising developments at the molecular and cellular levels, and the methods of data analysis grow progressively more sophisticated. This presentation briefly describes the methods of and problems confronted by genetic epidemiology in the context of studies of ethnic differences in disease. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Analysis of a JBI pub/sub architecture's infrastructure requirements

A Distributed Information Enterprise Modeling and Simulation (DIEMS) framework, presently under development, is applied to the analysis of a Joint Battlespace Infosphere (JBI) Pub/Sub architecture's infrastructural requirements. This analysis is an example of one methodology that can be employed utilizing the DIEMS framework. This analysis capability permits the information systems engineer to ensure that the planned JBI architecture deployment will provide the required information exchange performance on the infrastructure provided. This paper describes the DIEMS framework including its application in constrained and unconstrained resource utilization modes. A JBI architecture is evaluated in the context of a representative operational scenario on one infrastructure. The simulator's unconstrained resource mode is employed to identify the architecture's ideal operational requirements and in turn identify potential resource limitations. The constrained simulation mode is employed to evaluate the potential choke points in relation to the architecture's performance. The results identify the infrastructure changes required so that the specific JBI architecture will achieve the required operational performance.
Home Maintenance and Improvement Behavior of Owners1

A systems approach was the basis for analysis of maintenance and improvement behavior of owners of single-family dwellings. Situational determinants influencing demands and resources were analyzed as well as the influence of demands and resources on the behavior. The sample was composed of 188 male heads of intact families living in small towns. Least squares analysis of variance revealed that maintenance skill and time available influenced maintenance behavior; improvement skill affected improvement behavior; goal preferences decreased with age of the head whereas occurrent wants increased with increased age and with a decreased consumption orientation, but decreased with increased house value. In relation to resources, the consumption orientation of the head affected maintenance skill and interest, and improvement skill and interest. Community location affected maintenance skill and interest, while occupation of the head affected maintenance and improvement interest. Improvement interest also varied with husband's age.
Total esophagogastric dissociation: an alternative approach.

Abstract Background/Methods: The authors report experience with five children, four of whom underwent esophagogastric dissociation with a Roux-en-Y esophagojejunal anastomosis and jejuno-jejunostomy after recurrent failure of fundoplication to control gastroesophageal reflux. A fifth child had a similar temporary gastric dissociation because of lifethreatening aspiration caused by reflux into a colonic neoesophagus. Reversal is planned when the child has achieved sufficient physical growth and accepts a substantial oral intake. Feeding into the dissociated stomach was by intermittent catheterization of a nonrefluxing gastrostomy in four children and a Stamm tube gastrostomy in one child. The postoperative course and follow-up were notable for the rapid improvement in the children's general condition and nutritional status and the reduction in the frequency of pneumonitis. Reflux did not recur. Results: Review of the postoperative course led to a restructuring of surgical management with the development of tailored ‘patient-specific' plans based on short-term and long-term prognosis. Failure to thrive, difficulty in child handling, gastroesophageal reflux, and neurological and physical impairment are particular considerations. Conclusions: The author's limited experience leads us to suggest that esophagogastric dissociation with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy and a nonrefluxing feeding gastrostomy is a useful temporary or permanent ‘rescue' procedure. Furthermore, it is the author's view that the procedure may have a useful role as the primary form of management when normal oral feeding is unlikely to become established.
In vitro activities of benzimidazole D- and L-ribonucleosides against herpesviruses.

Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), and human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) are responsible for a number of clinical manifestations in both normal and immunocompromised individuals. The parent benzimidazole ribonucleosides evaluated in this series, 2-bromo-5,6-dichloro-1-(β-d-ribofuranosyl)benzimidazole (BDCRB) and maribavir (1263W94), are potent and selective inhibitors of human CMV replication. These nucleosides act by two different mechanisms. BDCRB blocks the processing and maturation of viral DNA, whereas 1263W94 inhibits the viral enzyme pUL97 and interferes with DNA synthesis. In the present study, we have evaluated the in vitro antiviral activity of BDCRB, an analog, GW275175X (175X), and 1263W94 against the replication of HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV, CMV, EBV, HHV-6, and HHV-8. By using various methodologies, significant activity was observed against human CMV and EBV but not against HSV-1, HSV-2, VZV, HHV-6, or HHV-8. Plaque reduction assays performed on a variety of laboratory and clinical isolates of human CMV indicated that all strains, including those resistant to ganciclovir (GCV) and foscarnet, were sensitive to all three benzimidazole ribonucleosides, with mean 50% effective concentration values of about 1 to 5 μM compared to that of GCV at 6 μM. The toxicity of these compounds in tissue culture cells appeared to be similar to that observed with GCV. These results demonstrate that the benzimidazole ribonucleosides are active against human CMV and EBV and suggest that they may be useful for the treatment of infections caused by these herpesviruses.
Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β and Cathepsin B in Diabetic Endothelial Progenitor Cell Dysfunction: An Old Player Finds a New Partner

Microvascular and macrovascular complications associated with type 2 diabetes are leading causes of morbidity and mortality. In fact, cardiovascular (CV) complications account for a major portion of health care costs in patients with diabetes. Although lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapy aimed at CV disease risk factor modification are the mainstay of medical treatment, revascularization (surgical and endovascular) is often necessary to restore tissue perfusion and function. Indeed, nearly 25% of coronary revascularization procedures performed in the U.S. occur in individuals with diabetes (1). Furthermore, diffuse atherosclerosis, impaired ability to form vascular collaterals, and restenosis contribute to higher rates of repeat revascularization in these patients (1). Consequently, cell-based therapy with bone marrow cells and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) aimed at inducing angiogenesis and reendothelialization is a promising strategy that is under active investigation in both preclinical and clinical studies (2,3). EPCs constitute a very small subset of circulating blood cells. They are progenitors of endothelial cells and have the ability to proliferate and differentiate to form perfused blood vessels in vivo and tube-like structures in vitro (4). EPC-induced neovascularization in response to tissue hypoxia and injury is a highly coordinated, temporally regulated, and complex set of events that involves mobilization, migration, and homing of EPCs to the target tissue (5,6). Endothelial injury and hypoxia activate the transcription factor hypoxia-induced factor (HIF) to initiate the expression and release of growth factors and chemokines. These include stromal cell–derived factor 1 (SDF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), c-Kit ligand (or SCF), angiopoietin, and interleukin-8 (IL-8), among others (5,6). Platelet aggregation leads to high levels of platelet-derived SDF-1 at the site of endothelial injury (7). EPCs are retained in the bone marrow in distinct niches by their interaction with stromal cells. …
Gradient of Increasing Affinity of Importin β for Nucleoporins along the Pathway of Nuclear Import

Nuclear import and export signals on macromolecules mediate directional, receptor-driven transport through the nuclear pore complex (NPC) by a process that is suggested to involve the sequential binding of transport complexes to different nucleoporins. The directionality of transport appears to be partly determined by the nucleocytoplasmic compartmentalization of components of the Ran GTPase system. We have analyzed whether the asymmetric localization of discrete nucleoporins can also contribute to transport directionality. To this end, we have used quantitative solid phase binding analysis to determine the affinity of an importin β cargo complex for Nup358, the Nup62 complex, and Nup153, which are in the cytoplasmic, central, and nucleoplasmic regions of the NPC, respectively. These nucleoporins are proposed to provide progressively more distal binding sites for importin β during import. Our results indicate that the importin β transport complex binds to nucleoporins with progressively increasing affinity as the complex moves from Nup358 to the Nup62 complex and to Nup153. Antibody inhibition studies support the possibility that importin β moves from Nup358 to Nup153 via the Nup62 complex during import. These results indicate that nucleoporins themselves, as well as the nucleocytoplasmic compartmentalization of the Ran system, are likely to play an important role in conferring directionality to nuclear protein import.
Attitudes toward the older job applicant: just as competent, but more likely to fail

Undergraduate and mid-life participants evaluated a male or female job applicant on the basis of a transcript of a job interview, answering both attitudinal and attributional questions. One-half of the participants were told that the applicant was 65 years old, one-half that the person was 25 years old. Competence of the applicant and his or her success in obtaining the job were also manipulated. Age and sex of the applicant had very little impact on attitudinal items in both the young and mid-life samples. Regardless of the target's age and sex, competent and hired applicants were rated significantly more positively on all questions than their not-hired or less competent counterparts. However, there was a significant age by hiring interaction on the attribution items. Stable factors (particularly demographic characteristics) were used more often to explain the failures of the old than the failures of the young. Implications of these results for employment prospects of the elderly as well as future attitude research are discussed.
Propafenone Associated Agranulocytosis

Propafenone hydrochloride was approved for marketing by the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 1989. During U.S. clinical trials of propafenone, one case of agranulocytosis was seen. Seven additional cases have been reported outside the U.S. One German report of profound but reversible granulocytopenia appeared in 1982. In January 1991, the FDA reviewed adverse events reported with propafenone. Four reports of agranulocytosis were identified and are described. The reporting rate of approximately one case of agranulocytosis per 10,000 propafenone prescriptions per year likely underestimates the true incidence of this adverse event.
Normalized Technology Verification of Structural BMPs, Low Impact Development (LID) Designs and Manufactured BMPs

Three rainfall-runoff events between September and October 2004 were monitored for a suite of structural BMPs, Low Impact Development designs, and manufactured BMPs. The range of 12 stormwater unit processes include: infiltration devices, filtration devices, treatment wetlands, conveyance structures, detention ponds, and manufactured BMPs; all of which were evaluated for water quality performance and storm volume reduction. Stormwater management strategies were tested in parallel, with uniformly sized unit processes targeted for a rainfall-runoff depth of 25.4 millimeters that is equivalent to 90% of the annual volume of rainfall. Under the parallel and uniformly sized configuration, a normalized performance evaluation is possible because unit processes of the same scale receive runoff from events of the same duration, intensity, antecedent dry period, and watershed. Water quality contaminants monitored include nutrients, hydrocarbons, metals, solids, and other routine parameters. Runoff constituent analyses routinely include total suspended solids (TSS), diesel range organics (DRO), nitrate (NO3), phosphate (PO4), chloride (Cl), zinc (Zn). A range of water quality parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity) were monitored continuously as real-time data for influent and effluent waters. Previous research has demonstrated that treatment performance by stormwater control measures varies widely depending on both the design of stormwater treatment measures, as well as the variations in contaminant loading functions from site to site. In many cases it has been shown for stormwater BMPs that contaminant effluent concentrations exceed influent concentrations, particularly those
“Who Said You Could Wear My Sweater?” Adolescent Siblings’ Conflicts and Associations With Relationship Quality

A new measure of sibling conflict was used to identify 2 types of conflicts in 115 adolescent sibling pairs (older siblings, M = 15.59, SD = 2.01 years; younger siblings, M = 13.02, SD = 2.06 years). Conflicts overall were more frequent than intense and more likely to involve the invasion of the personal domain than conflicts involving equality and fairness, especially by early adolescent older siblings. For both siblings, and with parents' ratings of their relationship with the target child controlled, these conflicts were negatively associated with sibling relationship quality. The implications of the findings for sibling relationships during adolescence are discussed.
SEX DIFFERENCES IN DENDRITIC ATROPHY OF CA3 PYRAMIDAL NEURONS IN RESPONSE TO CHRONIC RESTRAINT STRESS

The present study investigated the effects of 21 days of chronic restraint stress on neural and endocrine parameters in male and female rats. Consistent with previous results, repeated restraint stress induced apical dendritic atrophy (a decrease in the number of apical branch points and dendritic length) of the CA3c pyramidal neurons in male rats. In contrast, female rats did not show significant dendritic atrophy in the apical field in response to repeated restraint stress. Female rats did show a decrease in the number of branch points in the basal dendritic tree compared to male rats in response to repeated restraint stress. Baseline and stress levels of plasma corticosterone were higher in female rats compared to male rats. Females exhibited slightly longer increases in corticosterone levels throughout the 21 days of restraint stress than males, indicating that the male corticosterone response to stress exhibited greater habituation. Plasma corticosteroid-binding globulin levels of female rats were also higher than those of male rats throughout the experiment. There was no change in plasma corticosteroid-binding globulin levels in male rats during the restraint stress, while there was a decrease in plasma corticosteroid-binding globulin levels in female rats during the restraint stress. Plasma estradiol levels in female rats also decreased in response to the chronic stress. In view of the qualitatively different dendritic atrophy found in males and females in appears unlikely that sex differences in the corticosteroid-binding globulin and corticosterone response can account for these morphological differences.
Purified Shiga-like toxins induce expression of proinflammatory cytokines from murine peritoneal macrophages

Infections with Shiga toxin-producing Shigella dysenteriae type 1 and Shiga-like toxin (SLT)-producing Escherichia coli cause outbreaks of bloody diarrhea in which patients are at risk for developing life-threatening complications involving the renal and central nervous systems. Histopathology studies and in vitro experiments suggested that the toxins damage toxin receptor-expressing endothelial cells (EC) lining glomerular and central nervous system capillaries. In the presence of inducible host factors (cytokines), EC sensitivity to SLT toxicity was increased approximately 1 million-fold. We hypothesized that to manifest the vascular lesions characteristic of infection with toxin-producing bacteria, two signals were needed: systemic toxins and elevated proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha], interleukin 1 [IL-1], and IL-6). Human EC do not secrete these cytokines when stimulated with SLTs in vitro, suggesting that additional cells may be involved in pathogenesis. Therefore, we carried out comparative analyses of the capacity of purified (endotoxin-free) SLTs and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to induce cytokine mRNA and proteins from murine macrophages. The cells were essentially refractory to SLT cytotoxicity, expressing low to undetectable levels of toxin receptor. SLTs and LPS induced TNF activity and IL-6 expression from macrophages, although dose response and kinetics of cytokine induction differed. LPS was a more effective inducing agent than SLTs. SLT-I-induced TNF activity and IL-6 expression were delayed compared with induction mediated by LPS. IL-1 alpha production required approximately 24 h of exposure to SLTs or LPS. Macrophages from LPS-hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ mice produced low levels of TNF activity when treated with SLT-I, suggesting that LPS and SLTs may utilize separate signaling pathways for cytokine induction.
Pattern extraction and synthesis using a hierarchical wavelet-based framework

Despite their success in other areas of statistical signal processing, current wavelet-based image models are inadequate for modeling patterns in images, due to the presence of unknown transformations inherent in most pattern observations. In this paper we introduce a hierarchical wavelet-based framework for modeling patterns in digital images. This framework takes advantage of the efficient image representations afforded by wavelets, while accounting for unknown pattern transformations. Given a trained model, we can use this framework to synthesize pattern observations. If the model parameters are unknown, we can infer them from labeled training data using TEMPLAR (template learning from atomic representations), a novel template learning algorithm with linear complexity. TEMPLAR employs minimum description length (MDL) complexity regularization to learn a template with a sparse representation in the wavelet domain. We illustrate template learning with examples, and discuss how TEMPLAR applies to pattern classification and denoising from multiple, unaligned observations.
The Computation of Spectra of Some 2D Photonic Crystals

Using analytical methods we develop an accurate and efficient algorithm for computation of the spectrum and eigenmodes for a 2D photonic crystal which comprises a periodic array of parallel rods of air of a square cross section embedded in a background lossless medium of higher dielectric constant. The numerical analysis of dependence of the spectral bands on the parameters of the 2D photonic crystal is carried out. It gives a reliable base for the optimal design of 2D photonic crystals.
Can prayer increase gratitude

The objective of these studies was to determine the strength and direction of the relationship between prayer and gratitude. In Study 1 (n 674), the authors replicated the cross-sectional association between prayer frequency and gratitude that has been demonstrated in previous research. In Study 2 (n 780), prayer frequency predicted gratitude 6 weeks later even when controlling for initial gratitude and religiosity. In Study 3 (n 832), the authors replicated this longitudinal relationship, this time also controlling for socially desirable responding. In Study 4 (n 104), participants were randomly assigned to prayer versus other conditions in a journal study that spanned 4 weeks. At follow up, those who were randomly assigned to pray every day reported higher gratitude scores than control participants. Together, these studies provide evidence that prayer increases gratitude.
A self-organizing knowledge representation scheme for extensible heterogeneous information environment

The self-organizing knowledge representation aspects in heterogeneous information environments involving object-oriented databases, relational databases, and rulebases are investigated. The authors consider a facet of self-organizability which sustains the structural semantic integrity of an integrated schemea regardless of the dynamic nature of local schemata. To achieve this objective, they propose an overall scheme for schema translation and schema integration with an object-oriented data model as common data model, and it is shown that integrated schemata can be maintained effortlessly by propagating updates in local schemata to integrated schemata unambiguously. >
Temsirolimus downregulates p21 without altering cyclin D1 expression and induces autophagy and synergizes with vorinostat in mantle cell lymphoma.

Objective To investigate the mechanisms of antiproliferative effect induced by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor temsirolimus in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Materials and Methods The antiproliferative effect of temsirolimus on three well-defined MCL cell lines was examined by the MTS assay. Induction of cell-cycle arrest, autophagy, and apoptosis were determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. The molecular mechanisms underlining these effects were determined by Western blot. Synergy between temsirolimus and vorinostat were examined by MTS assay and the combination index was calculated. Results Temsirolimus has antiproliferative activity in three MCL cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Mechanistically, temsirolimus inhibited mTOR, as evidenced by inhibition of ribosomal S6 phosphorylation, and induced cell-cycle arrest in the G 0 /G 1 phase and a decrease in p21 expression without altering p27 or cyclin D1 levels. Furthermore, temsirolimus increased the number of acidic vesicular organelles and the amount of microtubule-associated protein 1 light-chain 3 processing, which are characteristic of autophagy, without induction of apoptosis. These changes were not associated with alteration in phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), beclin-1, Bax, or Bak levels. In contrast, treatment of these cell lines with the histone deacetylase inhibitor vorinostat decreased ERK phosphorylation, activated caspase 3, and induced apoptosis. Moreover, temsirolimus synergized with submaximal concentrations of vorinostat in all MCL cell lines. Conclusion This is the first report of temsirolimus-induced autophagy in MCL, and of vorinostat inhibition of ERK phosphorylation in MCL. Collectively, these data suggest that the combination of temsirolimus and vorinostat have synergistic antiproliferative activity in MCL cells by distinctively targeting apoptosis and autophagy.
The Death Anxiety of Gays.

Gay persons obtained Death Anxiety Scale score means similiar to those in predominantly heterosexual populations in addition to exhibiting the same lack of relationship between death anxiety and ag...
An Interface Design for Future Cloud-Based Visualization Services

The pervasive concept of cloud computing suggests that visualization, which is both data and computing intensive, is a perfect cloud computing application. This paper presents a sketch of an interface design for an online visualization service. To make such a service attractive to a wider audience, its user interface must be simple and easy to use for both casual and expert users. We envision an interface that supports visualization processes mainly directed by browsing and assessing existing visualizations in terms of images and videos will be very appealing to, in particular, casual users. That is, the aim is to maximize the utilization of the rich visualization data on the web. Without losing generality, we consider volume data visualization applications for our interface design. We also discuss issues in organizing online visualization data, and constructing and managing a rendering cloud.
The effect of acetylcholine upon arterial saturation.

Abstract 1. 1. Infusion of acetylcholine into the pulmonary artery or right ventricular outflow tract in a dose of 1.6 to 4.0 mg. per minute (20 to 75 μg per minute per kilogram) in the patients studied was associated with the following changes: (a) a decrease in mean arterial saturation; (b) an increase in mean cardiac index and a decrease in mean calculated total pulmonary resistance and total systemic resistance but no significant change in mean pulmonary arterial pressure, mean brachial arterial pressure, or mean pulse rate; (c) a slight increase in minute ventilation, with no significant change in mean oxygen consumption or respiratory exchange ratio and no statistically significant increase in mean ventilation equivalent. 2. 2. Inhalation by the patient of 99.6 per cent oxygen for 5 minutes while acetylcholine was being infused reversed the arterial unsaturation produced by the infusion of acetylcholine, but 5 or 10-minute periods of breathing oxygen during the infusion of acetylcholine did not usually produce a full 100 per cent oxygen saturation of arterial hemoglobin. 3. 3. The mechanism of the systemic arterial oxygen unsaturation produced by acetylcholine is discussed, and it is assumed that acetylcholine produces arterial unsaturation by decreasing the protective local vasoconstriction which is thought to occur normally in areas of the lung which are poorly ventilated.
DEVALUATION: ITS INTERSPATIAL AND INTERTEMPORAL PRICE EFFECTS ON FUTURES MARKETS

THE PRINCIPAL PURPOSE of this dissertation was to determine the interspatial and intertemporal price effects that devaluation transmits between two international competitive markets transacting a homogeneous commodity. The thesis examines and explains international price-spread movements between futures markets in the United States and Great Britain during Sterling crisis periods. Typically, most of the work that has been done in the areas of international finance and economics has addressed itself solely to the static case in which goods or assets are priced and transacted for immediate delivery. The approach of this thesis differs considerably from previous studies in that the element of time is introduced into the analysis of a two-country, one asset model. Another interesting aspect of this study is that commodity futures are metamorphic and can take the form of either an investor's or speculator's asset, or a producer's or consumer's good. The thesis begins by describing the evolution of commodity futures exchanges, the institutional structure of futures markets, and the economic and legal aspects of futures trading. It then focuses on the static and dynamic elements of arbitrage theory. The theory of arbitrage is formulated within the context of the conditional statements regarding time and space, and certainty and uncertainty. Four general types of arbitrage models are formulated: (I) Static One-Period Arbitrage Under Certainty (II) Dynamic Two-Period Arbitrage Under Certainty (III) Static One-Period Arbitrage Under Uncertainty (IV) Dynamic Two-Period Arbitrage Under Uncertainty From these models a general arbitrage incentive model is developed. This model serves to measure empirically through time the interspatial price relationships between the New York and London Cocoa Exchanges during the Sterling Devaluation of 1967 and during Sterling crisis periods in which devaluation was not realized. In the cross-sectional time series investigation of devaluation's price effects on the joint cocoa futures markets of London and New York, it was found that certain types of arbitrage activity are ignited by arbitrageurs' expectations that a currency parity change will disturb the interspatial equilibrium basis between London and New York. Empirical evidence indicates that a premium spread between international markets can be interpreted as market anticipation of a permanent upward shift in the interspatial equilibrium basis. A cross-sectional time trend analysis was also conducted on the interspatial spread behavior during different crisis periods in which devaluation was not realized: the 1957 September crisis, the 1961 July crisis, the 1965 November-December crisis, the 1965 July-August crisis, and the 1966 July-September crisis. The results indicate that only when devaluation expectations are present will the interspatial spread compound its premium motion during a Sterling crisis. After examining the non-devaluation Sterling crisis periods, it was concluded that
The Criterion-Related Validity of the Sit and Reach Test: Replication and Extension of Previous Findings

(1989). The Criterion-Related Validity of the Sit and Reach Test: Replication and Extension of Previous Findings. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport: Vol. 60, No. 4, pp. 384-387.
RIBBON 2-KNOTS WITH DISTINCT RIBBON TYPES

A ribbon 2-knot is a 2-sphere in R4, which is obtained from m 2-spheres in R4 by connecting them with m - 1 pipes. Even in the case that a ribbon 2-knot K2 is constructed by two 2-spheres and one pipe, a way of constructing K2 is not always unique. That is, K2 might have presentations of two or more types. The presentation that a pipe crosses two spheres n times is said to be an n-crossing ribbon presentation, and also n be the ribbon crossing number of this presentation. In this note, we will show that for any positive integer i, there exists a ribbon 2-knot with presentations of two distinct types such that the difference of their ribbon crossing number is i; and in addition we will also show that for any positive integer j, there exists a ribbon 2-knot with presentations of j, distinct types such that they have the same ribbon crossing number.
The Breast Density Conundrum

Standardized auditing for all imaging modalities is important because cross-modality comparisons are accurate and clinically meaningful, which is especially relevant when judging the relative strengths and limitations of supplementary screening using those of the various modalities.
Evaluation of Possible Effects of Acid Rain on Scleroderris Canker of Red Pine in New York

The possible affects of acid rain on Scleroderris canker of red pine were evaluated through two procedures. In the first, red pine seedling field plots, protected and unprotected from natural rain, were exposed to natural inoculum and treated with either deionized distilled water (pH 5.6), artificial acid rain (pH 3.5), or lime. Acid rain treatments did not increase disease infection levels over distilled water or lime treatments. Soil pH was slightly lowered by acid rain treatments. The second procedure evaluated pH and buffering capacity of red pine bark and buds from twelve plantations in the Adirondack region of New York. In addition, soil pH and soil cation content of the stands were determined and evaluated in relation to bark pH and natural Scleroderris canker disease increase rates. The effect of acid rain on red pine bark is probably minimal since bark surfaces were generally more acidic than acid rain. Buffering capacity against acid was small. Soil pH and spring bark surface pH were found to be inversely correlated with disease increase. These two procedures generated contrasting interpretations: (1) Scleroderris canker disease did not increase in response to artificial acid rain treatment of seedlings; (2) Scleroderris canker disease increase rate in red pine stands was somewhat related to soil pH. None of these relationships are very strong, and, therefore, it would appear that the various interacting factors of acid rain on the system generate a neutral minor impact on the Scleroderris disease problem in New York.
USING STRONTIUM ISOTOPES TO EVALUATE CBNG IRRIGATION AMENDMENTS 1

Water produced as a byproduct of coal bed natural gas (CBNG) production may be used for irrigation when its water quality permits. Produced water, which is typically sodium-bicarbonate type, may cause clay dispersion, potentially resulting in reduced soil permeability. These effects may be mitigated by the application of sulfur and gypsum amendments to the soil surface. Both contribute calcium to the soil's cation exchange complex; gypsum through dissolution and sulfur by bringing naturally occurring calcite into solution. In this study, soil samples were collected from two irrigated and two non-irrigated fields along the Powder River in northeast Wyoming. At the time of sampling, one field had been irrigated for three years, while the other had undergone irrigation for three months. We used the isotopic ratio of naturally-occurring strontium of the soil, irrigation water and amendments to trace the influence of gypsum amendments on the soil column. We show that because of strontium's chemical similarity to calcium, the strontium isotopic ratio identifies inputs, changes to the calcium cycle, and downward movement of calcium from gypsum in fields irrigated with CBNG-produced water. Gypsum supplies more of the calcium on the cation exchange complex in fields that have undergone irrigation and gypsum application for three years compared to those with irrigation and amendment application for three months. Calcium supplied by gypsum is apparently downwardly mobile in soil to depths of up to 30 cm on the field irrigated for three years. Prolonged application of gypsum may help the clays maintain a plant available source of calcium which will help mitigate some of the negative effects of using sodium rich CBNG water for irrigation. The conclusions drawn by this study may help design future treatment options for CBNG produced water beneficial uses, while still protecting the integrity of the soil to which it is applied.
Does Management Practice Lag Behind Theory in the Computer Environment

The effect of the computer on management practice and management style in the field of inventory control is investigated in five selected major corporations. Despite the large expenditure of money and technical talent, top management rarely uses the computer effectively. A method of measuring the organization's ability to adapt to the computer environment is described.