cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A New Regulator of Osteoclastogenesis: Estrogen Response Element–Binding Protein in Bone

The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP)–like estrogen response element–binding protein (ERE-BP) competes with estrogen receptor α (ERα) for occupancy of estrogen response elements (EREs). Here we report that ERE-BP potently stimulates osteoclastogenesis. ERE-BP mRNA and protein were found to be expressed ubiquitously in bone. Overexpression of ERE-BP in cultured osteoblasts stimulated expression of the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and decreased osteoprotegerin (OPG). The effect of ERE-BP on RANKL was shown to be transcriptional in transient transfection assay and competed with via the ER. Constitutive expression of ERE-BP increased the sensitivity of cells toward 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 stimulation of RANKL expression. In contrast, knockdown of ERE-BP in stromal ST-2 cells decreased basal RANKL promoter activity. Cocultures of ERE-BP lentivirus–transduced ST-2 cells with spleen monocytes induced formation of multinucleated osteoclasts (OCs) characterized by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, calcitonin receptors, and functional calcium resorption from bone slices. Although ERα competed with ERE-BP for an ERE in a dose-dependent manner, ERE-BP was an independent and potent regulator of RANKL and osteoclastogenesis. In preosteoclastic RAW cells, overexpression of ERE-BP increased RANK, upregulated NF-κB signaling, and enhanced differentiation toward a mature OC phenotype independent of RANKL. These results identify ERE-BP as a potent modulator of osteoclastogenesis. We hypothesize that ERE-BP may play a critical role in the regulation of bone homeostasis as a modulator of estrogen sensitivity as well as by direct action on the transcription of critical osteoclastogenic genes. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Development of integrated passives QFN package

Integration of passives or discrete components is advantageous for end-customers in the simplification of their board design, board space-saving and overall cost reduction. The paper will discuss the development of integrating passives within a QFN package for an integrated power management solution. It is quickly found that placing together multiple components of varied dimensions and properties, pose challenges to manufacturability and package integrity. An example is to integrate a large body passive, such as a large inductor, which brings challenges to encapsulation and other package integrity issues. Design and process changes were made to resolve these issues after identifying the mechanism of failure. The successful demonstration of System in Package (SiP) for a mature QFN package while utilizing existing infrastructure and processes enables ease of implementation for more products at a lower investment cost, while increasing the value to end-customers. This integration method serves as an intermediate step as the more complex methods become more mature and overall costs are lowered.
El Niño in Santa Barbara Basin: Diatom, radiolarian and foraminiferan responses to the “1983 El Niño” event

Abstract Santa Barbara Basin box cores collected in August of 1985 were sub-sampled and processed in search of microfossil evidence of the “1983 El Nino”. Microplankton and microbenthos indicate the presence of that El Nino bounded by non-El Nino conditions. Specifically the event is recognized by: an increase in diatom diversity, and the presence of several warm water taxa (e.g., Coscinodiscus plicatoides, Hemidiscus cuneiformis, Nitzschia kolaczekii, Pseudoeunotia doliolus, Thalassiosira lineata, Thalassiosira nodulolineata); an increase in polycystine radiolarian flux, and the presence of the eastern tropical Pacific species Spongaster pentas; an increase in the diversity of planktonic foraminifera, and the occurrence of the warm water species Globoturborotalita rubescens. There is also evidence for an oxygenation of the basin during the 1983 El Nino as suggested by the increase in the abundance of the benthic foraminifera Bolivina vaughani and by the decrease in the preservation of phaeodarian radiolarian spines which are best preserved under anoxic conditions. A new onboard procedure for sampling of box cores and freezing of subcores is described.
Recapitulation of the hepatitis C virus life-cycle in engineered murine cell lines.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a major medical problem. In-depth study of HCV pathogenesis and immune responses is hampered by the lack of suitable small animal models. The narrow host range of HC ...
Analgesic efficacy and potency of two oral controlled-release morphine preparations.

MS Contin tablets and Oramorph SR tablets are two forms of oral controlled-release morphine sulfate available for the alleviation of pain. Our objective was to compare their analgesic effects in a relative potency assay. In this study, 151 patients undergoing caesarean section or abdominal hysterectomy and reporting moderate or severe postoperative pain received a 30 or 90 mg dose of either drug in a balanced, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, single-dose experimental design. Patients provided self-ratings of analgesia. Relative potency for pain relief were calculated from log dose-effect curves. For total pain relief (rated by visual analog scales) over 12 hours, the log dose relative potency estimate for MS Contin tablets/Oramorph SR tablets was 1.9 (95% confidence limits, 0.89 to 11.1); for peak pain relief (visual analog scales) the relative potency estimate was 1.7 (95% confidence limits, 0.65 to 48.3). Overall, the 90 mg dose of MS Contin was more effective than 30 or 90 mg doses of Oramorph SR and the 30 mg dose of MS Contin at hours 6 to 12. Adverse experiences (mainly drowsiness) were mostly mild to moderate, with no significant differences in their overall incidence or severity between equivalent doses. MS Contin tablets provided greater peak, total, and duration of analgesia, without higher incidence of adverse experiences. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1993) 53, 469–478; doi:10.1038/clpt.1993.53
Formation of acetylcholine receptor clusters at neuromuscular junction in Xenopus cultures

Abstract The formation of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters at the neuromuscular junction was investigated by observing the sequential changes in AChR cluster distribution on cultured Xenopus muscle cells. AChRs were labeled with tetramethylrhodamine-conjugated α-bungarotoxin (TMR-αBT). Before innervation AChRs were distributed over the entire surface of muscle cells with occasional spots of high density (hot spots). When the nerve contacted the muscle cell, the large existing hot spots disappeared and small AChR clusters (less than 1 μm in diameter) initially emerged from the background along the area of nerve contact. They grew in size, increased in number, and fused to form larger clusters over a period of 1 or 2 days. Receptor clusters did not migrate as a whole as observed during “cap” formation in B lymphocytes. The rate of recruitment of AChRs at the nerve-muscle junction varied from less than 50 binding sites to 1000 sites/hr for αBT. In this study the diffusion-trap mechanism was tested for the nerve-induced receptor accumulation. The diffusion coefficient of diffusely distributed AChRs was measured using the fluorescence photobleaching recovery method and found to be 2.45 × 10 −10 cm 2 /sec at 22°C. There was no significant difference in these values among the muscle cells cultured without nerve, the non-nerve-contacted muscle cells in nerve-muscle cultures, and the nerve-contacted muscle cells. It was found that the diffusion of receptors in the membrane is not rate-limiting for AChR accumulation.
Comparison of Apoptosis Signaling through T Cell Receptor, Fas, and Calcium Ionophore

Abstract The SUP-T13 cell line, a human T leukemia, is susceptible to apoptosis by various inducers, including anti-TCR mAb, calcium ionophores, and anti-fas mAb. Induction of apoptosis by these three agents was investigated, and several differences were found. All three agents induced DNA fragmentation with a similar time course, but the kinetics of cell death were different for the three agents. Anti-TCR mAb-induced apoptosis, but not A23187- or anti-fas-induced apoptosis, was rescued by anti-CD3 mAb treatment. In contrast, only anti-fas mAb-mediated apoptosis was rescued by PKC activators such as PMA. These differences suggest that each of these three agents mediate apoptosis by unique signaling pathways. Nevertheless, two variant subclones of SUP-T13 were found to be resistant to all three apoptosis-inducing agents, suggesting a point(s) of common regulation between the different pathways. To determine whether this regulation occurred through bcl-2, p53, or c-myc, their expression in the parental and variant cells was determined. The three clones expressed approximately equal amounts of these proteins, and their levels did not change significantly upon treatment with anti-TCR or anti-TCR plus anti-CD3 mAb. Thus, although the proximal signaling by various apoptosis inducers was quite different, a common mediator(s) (as yet unknown) may still regulate apoptosis induced by these multiple agents.
A single nucleotide change within a plant virus satellite RNA alters the host specificity of disease induction

Summary Some RNA plant viruses contain satellite RNAs which are dependent upon their associated virus for replication and encapsidation. Some cucumber mosaic virus satellite RNAs induce chlorosis on any of several host plants, including either tobacco or tomato. The exchange of sequence domains between cDNA clones of chlorosis-inducing and non-pathogenic satellite RNAs delimited the chlorosis domain for both tobacco and tomato plants to the same region. Site-directed mutagenesis of one nucleotide (149) within this domain changed the host plant specificity for a chlorotic response to satellite RNA infection from tomato to tobacco. Within the chlorosis domain, three conserved nucleotides are either deleted or altered in all satellite RNAs that do not induce chlorosis. Deletion of one of these nucleotides (153) did not affect satellite RNA replication but rendered it non-pathogenic. Thus, two single nucleotides have been identified which play central roles in those interactions between the virus, its satellite RNA and the host plant, and together result in a specific disease state.
Fungus propagules in plastids: the mycosome hypothesis

A stress-induced "mycosome" phase of Aureobasidium pullulans consisting of minute reproductive propagules that may revert directly to walled yeast cells is described. Mycosomes detected by light- and electron-microscopy reproduce within senescent plant plastids, and display three developmental pathways: wall-less cells (protoplasts), yeast cells, or membrane-bounded spherules that harbor plastids. Widespread in plant and algal cells, mycosomes are produced by both ascomycete and basidiomycete fungi.
A construction approach to innovative verbs in Japanese

Innovative verbs in Japanese are formed from nouns of various sources including loanwords, Sino-Japanese nouns, mimetics, and proper names. Regardless of their different origin, these innovative denominal verbs exhibit a collection of intriguing properties, ranging from phonological, morphological, to semantic and pragmatic. These properties are not strictly predictable from the component parts including the nature of the parent noun and verbal morphology. Such an unpredictable nature is suggestive of a constructional analysis. The form-meaning-function complex takes a templatic representation, which expresses the phonological and morphological characteristics, and associated with it are semantic and pragmatic properties. These phonological, morphological, semantic, and pragmatic properties combine to capture the nature of innovative denominal verbs as a construction. The analysis supports the idea of applying construction grammar to morphology along the lines of the developing field of construction morphology (e.g., Booij 2005, 2007, 2009a, 2009b). We further show how insights from templatic (or prosodic) morphology (e.g., McCarthy and Prince 1986, 1990) can be conceptualized in terms of construction grammar.
Partial Feed Restriction Decreases Growth Hormone Receptor 1A mRNA Expression in Postpartum Dairy Cows

Uncoupling of the growth hormone (GH) axis in early postpartum dairy cows is correlated with a decrease in liver GH receptor (GHR) 1A mRNA and a decrease in liver GH receptor protein. Postpartum recoupling of the GH axis is also correlated with GHR 1A mRNA and GHR protein. We hypothesized that dry matter intake (DMI) partially controls the increase in GHR 1A mRNA postpartum. Prepartum Holstein dairy cows (n = 11) were offered feed ad libitum. After calving, 6 cows were fed 70% of their expected DMI (feed restriction) for 14 d and 5 cows were fed ad libitum (control). Both groups were fed ad libitum after d 14. Liver was biopsied prepartum and on d 1, 7, 14, and 21 postpartum; blood was sampled throughout the experimental period. Rate of increase in postpartum milk production was less for feed-restricted cows. The GHR 1A mRNA decreased from prepartum to d 1 postpartum and subsequently increased. Rate of postpartum increase in GHR 1A mRNA was less in feed-restricted cows. Diminished GHR 1A persisted for at least 7 d after feed-restricted cows returned to ad libitum feeding. Liver insulin-like growth factor-I mRNA concentrations decreased from prepartum to d 1 as well, but were similar for feed restricted and control thereafter. We concluded that DMI partially controls GHR 1A mRNA expression in early postpartum dairy cows and that the decrease in GHR 1A in response to feed restriction persisted for at least 1 wk after ad libitum feeding was restored.
Q Factor Analysis: Applications To Educational Testing and Program Evaluation

The potential use of Q factor analysis for evaluating and designing educational and clinical programs is discussed and illustrated. The advantages of this technique in comparison to normative measurement employing prevalidated or a priori scales include additional richness of theoretical insight, discovery of the structure as well as the content of the individual's thinking, relative independence from prior conceptualization, and efficiency in gathering detailed information quickly. Q factor analysis is most appropriate for use in clinical or educational situations where available typologies or scales seem inadequate, where the psychological dynamics of learning or treatment are not well understood, or where it is desirable to avoid anticipating the precise direction and character of program impact. Several practical applications of the technique are suggested.
Automated knowledge discovery and data-driven simulation model generation of construction operations

Computer simulation models help construction engineers evaluate different strategies when planning field operations. Construction jobsites are inherently dynamic and unstructured, and thus developing simulation models that properly represent resource operations and interactions requires meticulous input data modeling. Therefore, unlike existing simulation modeling techniques that mainly target long-term planning and close to steady-state scenarios, a realistic construction simulation model reliable enough for short-term planning and control must be built using factual data obtained from ongoing processes of the real system. This paper presents the latest findings of authors' work in designing an integrated data-driven simulation framework that employs a distributed network of sensors to collect multi-modal data from construction equipment activities. Collected data are fused to create metadata structures and data mining methods are then applied to extract key parameters and discover contextual knowledge necessary to create or refine data-driven simulation models that represent the latest conditions on the ground.
Basalt glass: an analogue for the evaluation of the long-term stability of nuclear waste form borosilicate glasses

The long-term stability of nuclear waste form borosilicate glasses can be evaluated by understanding the processes that effect the long-term alteration of glass and by comparing laboratory alteration of synthetic basalt and borosilicate glasses with the observed stability of naturally occurring basaltic glasses in diverse geologic environments. This paper presents detailed electron microprobe analyses of naturally altered basaltic glasses (with maximum ages of 10,000 to 20 million years) from low-temperature environments. These results are compared to laboratory data on the corrosion of a synthetic basaltic glass in MCC-1 tests (90/sup 0/C, a SA/V of 0.1 cm/sup -1/ and time periods up to 182 days), MCC-2 tests (190/sup 0/C, a SA/V of 0.1 cm/sup -1/ and time periods up to 210 days) and hydration tests in saturated water vapor (240/sup 0/C, an estimated SA/V of approx. 10/sup 6/ cm/sup -1/ and time periods up to 63 days). Additionally, laboratory-induced hydration alteration of synthetic basalt and borosilicate glasses is compared. These preliminary experiments provide evidence that the alteration processes observed for natural basalt glasses are relevant to understanding the alteration of nuclear waste glass, as both appear to react via similar processes. 12 references, 6 figures, 1 table.
INTRODUCING THRIVING AT WORK TO THE FIELD OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY

Advances in the organizational behavior and management literatures toward social sustainability are leading to new theories, models, and concepts that promote employee well-being and functioning while helping organizations achieved desired ends. One concept that has yet to be imported to community psychology is thriving at work, which is the joint experience of learning and vitality, where a worker is able to grow, develop, and feel energized (Spreitzer et al., 2005). This paper will articulate a definition of thriving at work, explore current theory and modeling of the concept, and show why it is a unique concept of importance to community psychologists. Then, thriving at work will be integrated into recent scholarship on sense of community and sense of community responsibility in organizational settings (Boyd & Nowell, 2014; Nowell & Boyd, 2010; 2011), with an eye on showing how thriving at work can help community psychologists advance organizational behavior research in our field. Finally, in the epilogue of the paper, some thoughts will be advanced on how thriving at work can be incorporated with important research topics in the field of community psychology, and how it can potentially be translated to community contexts in general.
Space stations favored

Recently, Presidential Science Advisor George A. Key worth II created a new wave of enthusiasm about the future of the U.S. space program by stating in Science magazine that the National Aeronautics and Space Administratoin (NASA) should consider a major new initiative (July 8, 1983). Key worth has previously used Science magazine to provide his views on policy to the science community; in the past the messages have not been so supportive of the space program, but apparently NASA has made the case for an ambitious plan of space technology and development. The new program may involve space stations to support a colony on the moon (see Eos, April 19, 1983, p. 145) and perhaps Mars. In the July 8 Science, Keyworth is quoted as saying, “I think the country would take a major thrust in space very seriously. We've shown that the shuttle works, and is realistic. We know we have the technolgy to build a space station—most advocates of a space station readily acknowledge that it is only an intermediate step in a more ambitious longrange goal of exploring the solar system.”
Wilbur Wright, Hockey, and the History of Flight

The Wright Brothers' invention changed the way we live and air travel has transformed our world. It is a fascinating story on how an injury in a hockey game changed Wilbur Wright's career plans. This paper relates the story and how his career evolved with his brother to build bicycles and then develop the airplane and an aircraft manufacturing company.
Control of back surface reflectance from aluminum alloyed contacts on silicon solar cells

A process for forming highly reflective aluminum back contacts with low contact resistance to silicon solar cells is described. By controlling the process conditions, it is possible to vary the silicon/aluminum interface from a specular to a diffuse reflector while maintaining a high interface reflectance. The specular interface is found to be a uniform silicon/aluminum alloy layer a few angstroms thick that has epitaxially regrown on the silicon. The diffuse interface consists of randomly distributed (111) pyramids produced by crystallographic out-diffusion of the bulk silicon. The light trapping ability of the diffuse contact is found to be close to the theoretical limit. Both types of contacts are found to have specific contact resistivities of 10/sup -5/ /spl Omega/2-cm/sup 2/. The process for forming the contacts involves illuminating the devices with tungsten halogen lamps. The process is rapid (under 100 s) and low temperature (peak temperature <580/spl deg/C), making it favorable for commercial solar cell fabrication.
Micafungin concentrations from brain tissue and pancreatic pseudocyst fluid

We report the attainment of micafungin concentrations from brain tissue and pancreatic pseudocyst fluid from two patients with invasive candidiasis. Micafungin was present in low levels at both body sites, indicating limited penetration into central nervous system (CNS) tissue and pancreatic fluid. Further studies are needed to fully characterize its pharmacokinetics at these locations, as micafungin may potentially serve as an alternative antifungal therapy for CNS or pancreatic candidal infections for which the currently recommended first-line therapy fails.
Fluorescence from CsF ionic excimers excited by an electron beam

Mixtures of rare gases and cesium fluoride vapors were excited by an intense relativistic electron beam. The fluorescence of the Cs2+F− ionic excimer radiation at 184.5 nm was studied. The emission spectra and the time-resolved fluorescence intensity were measured. The dependence of the emission on CsF vapor pressure and rare-gas pressure has also been investigated. A discussion of the kinetics of the upper-state excitation process is provided.
A Method of Dispatching Automation Master System Software Testing Based on Cloud Computing Technology

Problems such as high cost of building a testing environment, low degree of automation and low rates of resource utilization are commonly met during the dispatching automation master system software testing. Cloud Computing technologies were introduced to solve these problems. Test methods based on the virtualization and other key technologies were studied and a testing platform includes user management module, testing resource management module, testing management module and man-machine interaction interface module was built. A method composed of three testing modes was presented which can be applied usefully in the static and dynamical testing of dispatching automation master system. Future research direction is prospected in the end of the paper.
Conditional Cash Transfers and HIV/AIDS Prevention: Unconditionally Promising?

Conditional cash transfers (CCTs) have recently received considerable attention as a potentially innovative and effective approach to the prevention of HIV/AIDS. We evaluate a conditional cash transfer program in rural Malawi which offered financial incentives to men and women to maintain their HIV status for approximately one year. The amounts of the reward ranged from zero to approximately 3‐4 months wage. We find no effect of the offered incentives on HIV status or on reported sexual behavior. However, shortly after receiving the reward, men who received the cash transfer were 9 percentage points more likely and women were 6.7 percentage points less likely to engage in risky sex. Our analyses therefore question the “unconditional effectiveness” of CCT program for HIV prevention: CCT Programs that aim to motivate safe sexual behavior in Africa should take into account that money given in the present may have much stronger effects than rewards offered in the future, and any effect of these programs may be fairly sensitive to the specific design of the program, the local and/or cultural context, and the degree of agency an individual has with respect to sexual behaviors. JEL codes: I12, C93, O12 Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, various strategies have been put in place to curb the spread of the disease and prevent further infections. There is ongoing research focusing on ways to reduce the HIV transmission rate such as treating of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), vaccines and microbicides, and male circumcision. The majority of HIV prevention strategies have targeted behavior change, encouraging individuals to shift from risky to less risky sex. These strategies thus promote programs such as education about the disease and how to protect oneself, HIV testing to know one’s
Design fundamentals of a reconfigurable robotic gripper system

Discusses the design and modeling fundamentals of a multi-degree-of-freedom reconfigurable robotic gripper system (RGS), designed to automate the process of limp material handling, reliably and without distortion, deformation, and/or folding. The reconfigurable gripper design draws upon a previously reported flat surfaced, fixed-dimensions gripper system (Kolluru et al., 1998). The design consists of four arms in a cross-bar configuration, with a flat surfaced, fixed dimensions, suction-based gripper unit mounted on each of the arms. The kinematic and dynamic performance of the reconfigurable RGS is analyzed theoretically and then validated using Integrated Design Engineering Analysis Software (I-DEAS) simulation software.
The Effects of the Island of Hawaii on Offshore Rainband Evolution

Abstract The diurnal cycle of airflow on the island of Hawaii and the structure of the low-level flow separation line between the island-induced offshore flow and incoming trade winds are reasonably well understood. This study examines the formation and organization of nocturnal and early morning offshore Hawaiian rainbands, the flow patterns associated with these rainbands, and their relationship to the flow separation line. This investigation uses the complete radar and aircraft dataset from the 1990 Hawaiian Rainband Project. The formation and evolution of nocturnal and early morning rainfall on the windward side of the island were found to be related to four major factors: (a) the existence or absence of trade wind cloud patches arriving from the northeast Pacific, (b) the effect of island blocking on the trade wind flow as it approaches the island, (c) the low-level convergence and thermal and moisture stratification near the flow separation line, and (d) the position of the flow separation line, con...
Recognition of word-final unstressed syllables

A system was developed to recognize American English word-final unstressed syllables ending in a sonorant. The algorithm takes as inputs a digitized speech signal and two time pointers, one during the penultimate vowel and the other at the end of the input word. Output includes identification of the final segment and a list of features for the segment preceding the final segment. Identifying these segments is necessary to distinguish many sets of words, such as easy/easing and hammer/hanger. A two-pass process is used to recognize the unstressed syllables. First, the system segments the signal by broad phonetic classes. Then, routines are applied to identify the final segment of the word and to determine a list of some of the features of the segment preceding the final segment. Most of the decisions made by the system are based on energy measurements and formant frequencies. System testing showed that a segment in an unstressed syllable could be reliably identified as one of a small set of phonemes, but absolute identification is difficult. Broad-class segmentation was 83% accurate, and the best feature-recognition rates were for strong fricatives and voicing. Final segments were identified correctly 67% of the time. Two-thirds of the errors, however, were substitutions within pairs of phonemes which are only rarely used to distinguish words.
Opposing Regulation of the Tight Junction Protein Claudin-2 by Interferon-γ and Interleukin-4

Background The claudins are tight junction (TJ) proteins. Claudin-2 has been found to negatively affect the TJ, causing a decrease in transepithelial resistance. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have altered intestinal permeability, suggesting a TJ disruption. Interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) negatively regulate each other and may have opposing roles in inflammatory bowel disease. Hypothesis: IFNγ and IL-4 will have opposing effects on the expression of claudin-2. Methods Confluent T84 monolayers were apically incubated with IFNγ or IL-4. The monolayers were immunofluorescently stained or lysed for Western blot with anti-claudin-2 or -4. Additional monolayers were grown on transwell plates, treated with IFNγ or IL-4, measured for changes in transepithelial resistance, and assayed for changes in permeability using FITC-dextran-4000. Statistics were calculated by analysis of variance. Results Addition of IFNγ to T84 monolayers resulted in decreased claudin-2 and addition of IL-4 resulted in increased claudin-2 by Western blot. By immunofluorescence, there was a loss of claudin-2 from the membrane in cells treated with IFNγ. Transepithelial resistance across T84 monolayers increased with IFNγ and decreased with IL-4. T84 monolayer permeability increased with IL-4 but not with IFNγ. Conclusions Incubation of T84 cells with IL-4 leads to increased claudin-2 with a corresponding decrease in transepithelial resistance and increase in permeability. Incubation of T84 cells with IFNγ leads to decreased claudin-2 and increased transepithelial resistance. These cytokines have opposite effects on the expression of claudin-2 and the physiology of the TJ.
Short contribution: A practical alternative to Kubiena boxes for the collection of samples for micromorphological analysis

This note proposes a practical and economical alternative to using Kubiena boxes for the collection of undisturbed soil or sediment samples for micromorphological analysis. The authors promote the use of plastic electrical outlet boxes (gang boxes) that can be purchased at any hardware store for around 20 cents apiece. In addition to availability and low cost, plastic gang boxes are preferred by thin-section laboratories over that of the aluminum Kubiena boxes because they cause less wear on the thin-sectioning equipment. As with Kubiena boxes, the samples are impregnated directly in the gang boxes, yet they are more easily and efficiently retrieved, thus facilitating overall sample preparation and insuring a final product of equal or better quality. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Expression of Several Genes in the Human Chromosome 3p21.3 Homozygous Deletion Region by an Adenovirus Vector Results in Tumor Suppressor Activities in Vitro and in Vivo

A group of candidate tumor suppressor genes (designated CACNA2D2, PL6, 101F6, NPRL2, BLU, RASSF1, FUS1, HYAL2, and HYAL1) has been identified in a 120-kb critical tumor homozygous deletion region (found in lung and breast cancers) of human chromosome 3p21.3. We studied the effects of six of these 3p21.3 genes (101F6, NPRL2, BLU, FUS1, HYAL2, and HYAL1) on tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis in human lung cancer cells by recombinant adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in vitro and in vivo. We found that forced expression of wild-type FUS1, 101F6, and NPRL2 genes significantly inhibited tumor cell growth by induction of apoptosis and alteration of cell cycle processes in 3p21.3 120-kb region-deficient (homozygous) H1299 and A549 cells but not in the 3p21.3 120-kb region-heterozygous H358 and the normal human bronchial epithelial cells. Intratumoral injection of Ad-101F6, Ad-FUS1, Ad-NPRL2, and Ad-HYAL2 vectors or systemic administration of protamine-complexed vectors significantly suppressed growth of H1299 and A549 tumor xenografts and inhibited A549 experimental lung metastases in nu/nu mice. Together, our results, coupled with other studies demonstrating a tumor suppressor role for the RASSSF1A isoform, suggest that multiple contiguous genes in the 3p21.3 120-kb chromosomal region may exhibit tumor suppressor activity in vitro and in vivo.
Clarke Against Spinoza on the Manifest Diversity of the World

Samuel Clarke was one of Spinoza's earliest and fiercest opponents in England. I uncover three related Clarkean arguments against Spinoza's metaphysic that deserve more attention from readers today. Collectively, these arguments draw out a tension at the very heart of Spinoza's rationalist system. From the conjunction of a necessary being who acts necessarily and the principle of sufficient reason, Clarke reasons that there could be none of the diversity we find in the universe. In doing so, Clarke potentially reveals an inconsistent triad in Spinoza. Responses to this inconsistency map onto a deep division in the contemporary Spinoza literature. I conclude that Clarke's arguments provide a new approach to the recently revived debate over acosmic interpretations of Spinoza and point to new interpretive possibilities.
Non-invasive assessment of pulse wave velocity in mice by means of ultrasound images

Abstract Objective Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is considered as a surrogate marker of arterial stiffness and could be useful for characterizing cardiovascular disease progression even in mouse models. Aim of this study was to develop an image process algorithm for assessing arterial PWV in mice using ultrasound images only and test it on the evaluation of age-associated differences in abdominal aorta PWV. Methods Ultrasound scans were obtained from ten adult (mean age: 5.5 months) and nine old (mean age: 15.5 months) wild type male mice (strain C57BL6) under gaseous anesthesia. For each mouse, instantaneous values of diameter and flow velocity were obtained from abdominal aorta B-mode and PW-Doppler, respectively. Single-beat mean diameter and velocity were calculated providing the velocity-diameter (lnD-V) loop. PWV values for both the early systolic phase (aaPWV) and the late systolic one (aaPWV ls ) were obtained from the slope of the corresponding linear parts of the loop. Relative distension (relD) was calculated from the mean diameter signal. Results aaPWV values for adult mice (1.91 ± 0.44 m/s) were significantly lower ( p ls (2.68 ± 0.68 vs 3.67 ± 0.95 m/s; p p Conclusions The proposed system discriminates well between age groups and supplies a non-invasive evaluation of anatomical and functional parameters of the mouse abdominal aorta. Since it provides a non-invasive PWV assessment from ultrasound (US) images only, it may offer a simple and useful system for evaluation of local vascular stiffness at other arterial site in the mouse, such as the carotid artery.
Toric Varieties and Toric Resolutions

This paper is an introduction to toric varieties and toric resolutions. We begin with basic definitions and examples, and then cover standard topics in toric geometry, including fans, support functions, and ampleness criteria. The paper also explores alternate constructions of toric varieties and nonnormal toric varieties. Then we turn our attention to singularities. We will discuss blowing-up in the toric context and resolution of singularities for toric varieties.
Changes in health risks among the participants in the United Auto Workers--General Motors LifeSteps Health Promotion Program.

Abstract Purpose. To examine health risk changes among participants of a multicomponent worksite health promotion program. Design. A study using health risk changes among health risk appraisal (HRA) participants linked to program participation records. Baseline risk and participation in multiple programs were examined in relation to risk change in multivariate models. Setting. Worksite health promotion programming sponsored by the United Auto Workers (UAW) and General Motors (GM). Subjects. Active employees (12,984) who voluntarily participated in an HRA in each of two program years. Intervention. The nationwide program was a mailed HRA and a 1-800 nurse line. A pilot program (implemented in two cities) added screening, wellness programs, a materials resource, and, for high risk participants, health coaching and vouchers for medical office visits. Measures. Using 13 selected health risk factors from the HRA, changes in overall health risks were measured as program outcomes in three ways: one-directional, ...
Globalization and Corporate Social Responsibility: Challenges for the Academy, Future Lawyers, and Corporate Law

Changes in information technology, in combination with changing popular and political opinion (including concern over climate change) are moving the subject of corporate social responsibility ('CSR') to the forefront of policy reform, consumer and investor behavior, and graduate business education. Nevertheless, up to the present, CSR has not thrived within law schools’ curricula, or mainstream graduate or undergraduate programs. First, the subject is too synthetic to fit neatly within the core, established framework of academic subject areas (e.g. history, economics, sociology and management), or law schools’ conventional teaching of corporate, securities, employment, administrative, or environmental law. CSR is relevant to all these areas but has not become central in any one of them. This essay charts the intellectual history of CSR and explains how the traditional corporations and securities regulation courses have marginalized the study of CSR. It suggests ways these courses could be expanded to address CSR issues and contends that law schools will be falling behind if they do not prepare future corporate lawyers to do so. The global nature of modern commerce and financial markets, and the greater accountability facilitated by the internet, will ensure continued, widespread interest in CSR subjects. The Appendix presents my Congressional testimony in favor of the Extractive Industries Transparency and Disclosure Act – an act which raises fundamental CSR issues which could be explored in law and business schools, as well as in graduate programs in political science and economics, inter alia.
Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: It Is All about Donors?

Background: Live-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is a valuable option for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as compared with deceased-donor liver transplantation (DDLT); the tumor could be eradicated early. Methods: Herein, we reviewed the outcome of adult patients with HCC who underwent LDLT from 1990 to 2009 in the USA, as reported to United Network for Organ Sharing. Results: Compared to DDLT (n=5858), patients who underwent LDLT for HCC (n=170) were more likely to be female (43.8% vs 23.8%), younger (mean age 48.6 vs 54.9 years) and have more tumors outside Milan criteria (30.7% vs 13.6%). However, the recipients of LDLT for HCC had a significantly shorter mean wait time before transplantation (173 vs 219 days; p=0.04). The overall allograft and patient survival were not different, though more patients in LDLT group were outside Milan criteria. Since implementation of the MELD exception for HCC, DDLT for HCC has increased form 337 (2.3%) cases in 2002 to 1142 (18.7%) in 2009 (p<0.001). However, LDLT for HCC has remained stable from 16 (5.7%) in 2002 to 14 (9.2%) in 2009 (p=0.1). Regions 1, 5 and 9 had the highest rate of LDLT for HCC compared to other regions. Conclusions: LDLT can achieve the same long-term outcomes compared to DDLT in patients with HCC. The current MELD prioritization for HCC reduces the necessity of LDLT for HCC except in areas with severe organ shortage.
Clinical management of the obese adult.

In most Instances, obesity in adults represents increased food intake and decreased energy expenditure. In the management of these patients, increased physical activity is just as important as dietary restriction. The preferred diet is one that produces a deficit of 500 to 1000 cal per day and contains 30 to 50 gm of carbohydrate. There is good evidence that eating five or six small meals a day is a better schedule than one or two larger meals.
Diagnosing the System

The introduction to Part II contained a discussion of the human and material resources that must be considered when designating the system that will carry out a goal or solve a problem. Once a system is identified, it must be diagnosed.
Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive cancer of neuroendocrine origin, which is strongly associated with cigarette smoking. Patients typically present with a short duration of symptoms and frequently (60–65 %) with metastatic disease. SCLC is a heterogeneous disease including extremely chemosensitive and chemoresistant clones. For this reason, a high percentage of patients respond to first-line chemotherapy but rapidly succumb to the disease. SCLC is generally divided into two stages, limited and extensive. Standard treatment of limited stage disease includes combination chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide for four cycles, thoracic radiation initiated early with the first cycle of chemotherapy, and consideration of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in the subset of patients with good response. Surgery may play a role in TNM stages I and II. In extensive disease, platinum agents and etoposide, used in combination, are again the first-line standard of care in the USA. However, thoracic radiation therapy is used predominately in patients where local control is important and PCI is of uncertain benefit. Despite these treatments, prognosis remains poor and novel therapies are needed to improve survival in this disease.
"Same Difference": Comprehensive evaluation of three DNA methylation measurement platforms.

Background: DNA methylation in CpG context is fundamental to the epigenetic regulation of gene expression in high eukaryotes. Disorganization of methylation status is implicated in many diseases, cellular differentiation, imprinting, and other biological processes. Techniques that enrich for biologically relevant genomic regions with high CpG content are desired, since, depending on the size of an organism9s methylome, the depth of sequencing required to cover all CpGs can be prohibitively expensive. Currently, restriction enzyme based reduced representation bisulfite sequencing and its modified protocols are widely used to study methylation differences. Recently, Agilent Technologies and Roche NimbleGen have ventured to both reduce sequencing costs and capture CpGs of known biological relevance by marketing in-solution custom-capture hybridization platforms. We aimed to evaluate the similarities and differences of these three methods considering each targets approximately 10-13% of the human methylome. Results: Overall, the regions covered per platform were as expected: targeted capture based methods covered >95% of their designed regions whereas the restriction enzyme-based method covered >70% of the expected fragments. While the total number of CpG loci shared by all methods was low, ~30% of any platform, the methylation levels of CpGs common across platforms were concordant. Annotation of CpG loci with genomic features revealed roughly the same proportions of feature annotations across the three platforms. Targeted capture methods encompass similar amounts of annotations with the restriction enzyme based method covering fewer promoters (~9%) and shores (~8%) and more unannotated loci (7-14%). Conclusions: Although all methods are largely consistent in terms of covered CpG loci and cover similar proportions of annotated CpG loci, the restriction based enrichment results in more unannotated regions and the commercially available capture methods result in less off-target regions. Quality of DNA is very important for restriction based enrichment and starting material can be low. Conversely, quality of the starting material is less important for capture methods, and at least twice the amount of starting material is required. Pricing is marginally less for restriction based enrichment, and number of samples to be prepared is not restricted to the number of samples a kit supports. The one advantage of capture libraries is the ability to custom design areas of interest. The choice of the technique should be decided by the number of samples, the quality and quantity of DNA available and the biological areas of interest since comparable data are obtained from all platforms.
Processing emotions in sounds: cross-domain aftereffects of vocal utterances and musical sounds

ABSTRACTNonlinguistic signals in the voice and musical instruments play a critical role in communicating emotion. Although previous research suggests a common mechanism for emotion processing in music and speech, the precise relationship between the two domains is unclear due to the paucity of direct evidence. By applying the adaptation paradigm developed by Bestelmeyer, Rouger, DeBruine, and Belin [2010. Auditory adaptation in vocal affect perception. Cognition, 117(2), 217–223. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2010.08.008], this study shows cross-domain aftereffects from vocal to musical sounds. Participants heard an angry or fearful sound four times, followed by a test sound and judged whether the test sound was angry or fearful. Results show cross-domain aftereffects in one direction – vocal utterances to musical sounds, not vice-versa. This effect occurred primarily for angry vocal sounds. It is argued that there is a unidirectional relationship between vocal and musical sounds where emotion processing of voc...
Growth of Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus in retail pumpkin pies.

The ability of pumpkin pies as prepared and distributed in the food distribution system to support growth of selected food pathogens was studied. Products were puchased from a cross-section of retail outlets. Microbial quality of the products was determined. One of four samples contained high levels of coliforms and Staphylococcus aureus . Salmonella was not detected in any of the samples. Samples were inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium and S. aureus and incubated at 4, 25 and 35 C. Water activity (aw), pH and S. aureus enterotoxin were measured. Pumpkin pies supported growth of the pathogens at 25 and 35 C. Data revealed if contaminated and held at room temperature, pumpkin pies could present a public health hazard. Growth of pathogens is inhibited at refrigeration temperatures. Enterotoxin was present in samples containing S. aureus . Potassium sorbate (0.25%) inhibited growth of S. typhimurium but not S. aureus . Refrigeration is recommended for pumpkin pies to eliminate the possible health hazard.