cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energetics of homogeneous nucleation of dislocation loops under a simple shear stress in perfect crystals

Abstract We present an analysis of homogeneous nucleation of a dislocation loop under an applied simple shear stress in a perfect crystal. By using a variational boundary integral method together with an interlayer potential in the Peierls-Nabarro (P-N) framework, we have determined the saddle-point configurations of embryonic dislocation loops and their associated activation energies under stress levels up to the ideal shear strength. The results, for typical materials such as Au, Cu, Al, and Si, indicate that energy barriers are far too high to suggest that thermal motion could play a role in nucleation of a dislocation loop in perfect crystals under usual stress levels, markedly below the ideal shear strength. These new findings broaden the earlier understanding of homogeneous nucleation of dislocations in crystalline materials and have significant implications on a number of existing models based on the mechanism of dislocation nucleation in deformation and fracture.
Magnetocardiography for fetal arrhythmias.

The failing adult heart is known to revert to fetal patterns of contractile protein expression during pathologic remodeling, yet very little is known about the electrophysiology or electromechanics of the living human fetal heart during normal prenatal development or during stress. This owes largely to the inability to easily record the fetal electrocardiogram (fECG). While fetal echocardiography provides mechanical assessment of heart rhythm, it does not provide details of the electrophysiology of the fetal heart. These details, along with the genetics of fetal and neonatal demise, are emerging as potential leading factors in defining prenatal sudden death risk. While echocardiography has been utilized extensively for 20 years in prenatal high risk screening, it has not had the desired outcome in reducing overall fetal sudden death to the extent that sudden death has been reduced in the infant, child, and adult. Late gestation unexplained fetal death costs 26,000 fetal lives yearly in the United States and over 4 million fetal lives each year worldwide. Fetal Magnetocardiography (fMCG) opens a new window in fetal healthcare assessment. Fetal cardiac deaths may be preventable because the diseases that lead to these deaths are often treatable, especially if the sophisticated modern ICU monitoring and management techniques could be translated to the field of prenatal care.
A Response to Danis & Lockhart: What Guides Social Work Knowledge about Violence against Women?

This article responds to Fran Danis and Lettie Lockhart's editorial in the Summer 2003 Journal of Social Work Education (Vol. 29, No. 2), which questions the disconnect between the battered women's movement and the social work profession regarding knowledge and practices related to domestic violence. The author examines how two factors might influence responses to violence against women: the use of language in the social work discourse and the reluctance to use research to guide social work knowledge and practice. The ways in which these two factors guide social work's ideology about violence against women and, in turn, its focus on individual pathology and treatment and away from social context, social justice, and community organization are explored.
Multiple Lightning Strokes

Multiple lightning strokes have long been known to exist, but so far instruments for recording the successive discharges on electric power lines have not been available. The application of expulsion protective gaps to 3 typical transmission lines, however, has made a partial Investigation possible, with the aid of the automatic oscillograph. The results of this investigation are presented herewith. As many as 12 successive discharges have been recorded in a single stroke; these discharges have been as close together as 1 cycle (on a 60 cycle system) and as far apart as 9.5 cycles.
Application service provider (ASP) financial models for off-site PACS archiving

For the replacement of its legacy Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (approx. annual workload of 300,000 procedures), UCLA Medical Center has evaluated and adopted an off-site data-warehousing solution based on an ASP financial with a one-time single payment per study archived. Different financial models for long-term data archive services were compared to the traditional capital/operational costs of on-site digital archives. Total cost of ownership (TCO), including direct and indirect expenses and savings, were compared for each model. Financial parameters were considered: logistic/operational advantages and disadvantages of ASP models versus traditional archiving systems. Our initial analysis demonstrated that the traditional linear ASP business model for data storage was unsuitable for large institutions. The overall cost markedly exceeds the TCO of an in-house archive infrastructure (when support and maintenance costs are included.) We demonstrated, however, that non-linear ASP pricing models can be cost-effective alternatives for large-scale data storage, particularly if they are based on a scalable off-site data-warehousing service and the prices are adapted to the specific size of a given institution. The added value of ASP is that it does not require iterative data migrations from legacy media to new storage media at regular intervals.
A neural syntactic language model

This paper presents a study of using neural probabilistic models in a syntactic based language model. The neural probabilistic model makes use of a distributed representation of the items in the conditioning history, and is powerful in capturing long dependencies. Employing neural network based models in the syntactic based language model enables it to use efficiently the large amount of information available in a syntactic parse in estimating the next word in a string. Several scenarios of integrating neural networks in the syntactic based language model are presented, accompanied by the derivation of the training procedures involved. Experiments on the UPenn Treebank and the Wall Street Journal corpus show significant improvements in perplexity and word error rate over the baseline SLM. Furthermore, comparisons with the standard and neural net based N-gram models with arbitrarily long contexts show that the syntactic information is in fact very helpful in estimating the word string probability. Overall, our neural syntactic based model achieves the best published results in perplexity and WER for the given data sets.
Keratinocyte growth factor and keratin gene regulation

Abstract Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a stromally derived paracrine mitogen that belongs to the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. It is secreted by dermal fibroblasts and specifically promotes keratinocyte proliferation. We have recently shown that epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), modulators of keratinocyte proliferation, regulate expression of specific keratin genes. However KGF, unlike EGF and TGFβ, allows keratinocytes to differentiate normally. With this in mind, we sought to determine whether KGF may be involved in keratinocyte differentiation through a mechanism that does not involve regulation of keratin gene expression. We transfected human epidermal keratinocytes with ten different keratin gene promoters linked to a reporter gene, and grew the transfected cells in the presence or absence of KGF. Interestingly, no significant change in keratin gene regulation was observed in the presence of KGF relative to control. The possibility that KGF influences the induction of keratin gene expression by other keratinocyte modulators, such as EGF, TGFβ and gamma interferon (IFBγ), was also explored. In these experiments, the transformed keratinocytes were exposed simultaneously to KGF and another modulator. KGF did not significantly change the effects of EGF, TGFβ or IFNγ on keratin gene expression. KGF's lack of ability to directly regulate keratin gene expression suggests that KGF affects keratinocyte growth and differentiation through a pathway independent of keratin gene regulation. These results illustrate that regulation of keratinocyte proliferation can be separated from the regulation of keratin gene expression. Furthermore, they indicate a profound difference in the functions of EGF and KGF signals: while both promote proliferation, EGF seems to be a mediator of an emergency response that involves induction of synthesis of keratins K6 and K16, e.g. in wound healing, whereas KGF seems to mediate a proliferative response compatible with normal differentiation that does not alter keratin gene expression.
Pulmonary hypersensitivity to hexyl isocyanate-ovalbumin aerosol in guinea pigs.

Abstract The antigenicity of hexyl isocyanate was evaluated using the guinea pig animal model of hapten-specific respiratory hypersensitivity previously described. Animals were sensitized by daily inhalation of hexyl isocyanate-ovalbumin (H-OA) aerosol, exposure chamber concentration 12 μg/liter. Pulmonary hypersensitivity, assessed by increased respiratory rate, was produced exclusively toward the hexyl isocyanate (hapten) portion of the sensitizing antigen. Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis tests and gel diffusion analyses revealed the presence of antibodies having specificity toward the haptenic groups. Hapten-specific IgE antibodies were also identified. No reactions were detected between antibodies and antigen conjugates prepared with p-tolyl isocyanate or phenyl isocyanate. This report of respiratory hypersensitivity and cytophilic antibody production in animals exposed to hexyl isocyanate antigen aerosol alerts one to the possibility of hypersensitivity reactions in workers exposed to vapors of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI).
Neutralizing the piracy of motion pictures: reengineering the industry’s supply chain

Abstract Faced with the challenge of distributing digital product in the digital realm, the American film industry is acutely aware of its increasing vulnerability to piracy and is currently considering two solutions to protect its copyrights—a legislative solution (e.g., the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998) and a technical solution (e.g., digital watermarking). We suggest that a better way of dealing with piracy is an economic solution, such as neutralizing piracy by reengineering the supply chain across all three sectors of the motion picture industry: distribution, exhibition, production. In distribution, the industry can make legitimate downloading of high-quality movie files easier and cheaper (than pirating) by strategically locating “e-Blockbusters” (i.e., digital movie libraries) at or near Internet service provider (ISP) sites and making them attractive through feasible pricing schemes. In exhibition, innovative digital theaters could offer virtual reality viewing experiences and flexible windowing systems that maximize revenue for each feature film. In production, work would be done primarily or entirely in the digital domain. Digital film reservoirs would provide universal naming and indexing functions for easy access, reuse, and extension, and the industry would achieve a new diversity of quality and quantity. In addition, dynamic cross-media convergence can be expected as a function of the complementarities created by content digitization. To prosper in the new digital economy, the motion picture industry must closely collaborate with the information industry to achieve a new supply chain rather than competing with it to the detriment of both.
Phenomenology of photon-jets

One of the challenges of collider physics is to unambiguously associate detector-based objects with the corresponding elementary physics objects. A particular example is the association of calorimeter-based objects such as ``jets,'' identified with a standard (IR-safe) jet algorithm, with the underlying physics objects, which may be QCD-jets (arising from a scattered parton), electrons, photons or, as discussed here, photon-jets (a group of collinear photons). This separation is especially interesting in the context of Higgs search, where the signal includes events with two photons (in the Standard Model) as well as events with two photon-jets (in a variety of Beyond the Standard Model scenarios), while QCD provides ever-present background. Here we describe the implementation of techniques from the rapidly evolving area of jet substructure studies, not only to enhance the more familiar photon-QCD separation, but also to separately distinguish photon-jets, i.e., to separate usual jets into three categories: single photons, photon-jets and QCD-jets. The efficacy of these techniques for separation is illustrated through studies of simulated data.
Serological evidence of infections and Type 2 diabetes: the MultiEthnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Aims Prospective studies have identified chronic inflammation as a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. However, it is not known whether infection by specific pathogens or having a greater ‘pathogen burden’ is associated with diabetes. The aim of this study was to examine the cross-sectional relation of seropositivity to five pathogens (Chlamydia pneumoniae, cytomegalovirus, Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis A virus, herpes simplex virus) and prevalent diabetes. Methods Baseline data from a random sample of MultiEthnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants (n = 1000; age 45–84 years) were used. Diabetes was defined by American Diabetes Association 2003 criteria, and ‘pathogen burden’ by the number of pathogens (0–5) for which an individual was seropositive. Logistic regression was used to test differences in diabetes prevalence by seropositivity. Linear regression was used to explore associations between pathogen seropositivity and the inflammation markers C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and fibrinogen. Results Diabetes prevalence was 12.7%, whereas seropositivity for C. pnuemoniae was 76%, cytomegalovirus 77%, H. pylori 45%, hepatitis A 58% and herpes simplex virus 85%. Seventy-two percent were seropositive for three or more pathogens. In crude analyses, the prevalence of diabetes was higher among those with a pathogen burden of three or more, and with seropositivity to cytomegalovirus, H. pylori, hepatitis A and herpes simplex virus. After adjustment for demographic covariates (particularly race), all associations became non-significant. Pathogen seropositivity was also not related to inflammation marker levels. Conclusions Following demographic adjustments, no associations were observed between infection by several pathogens and diabetes status, suggesting no aetiological role for them in the occurrence of diabetes.
Moped (a portable debugger)

Moped is a portable debugger that uses enhanced tracing facilities and backtracing to discover unusual or undesirable program behaviors. It is based upon two modules — Program Probes and Program History. Program Probes is a forward tracing utility which allows Moped to dynamically examine the execution of a program. Program History is a backtracing utility which allows Moped to study the executed section of a program. Together, Program Probes and Program History enable Moped to have more control over the behavior of a program than either one of them, and consequently to provide an easier path toward program debugging. Moped is written in Common LISP with no dependencies on details of the machine implementation. Therefore, it is easily portable to any Common LISP environment.
Productivity and collaborative patterns of physical educators.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which gender ratio and patterns of collegiality intersect among physical educators in higher education. An indirect measure of patterns of collegiality was obtained from an examination of the gender of authors and of author teams. Specifically, the investigator focused on publication rates, gender of primary authors of mixed teams and dyads, and size and gender composition of author teams. The data base consisted of articles published by physical educators in 14 research-based physical education journals 1980–1984. In addition, a measure of change was obtained through a comparison of selected data of 1980 and 1984. The results showed that although on the average, women and men had published the same number of articles, type and degree of collaboration differed significantly. Women tended to publish alone while men tended to publish in groups. The data also indicated that men were accorded senior authorship of mixed sex teams significantly mor...
Role of winter temperature and climate change on the survival and future range expansion of the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) in eastern North America

Global climate change has already affected the abundances, range limits, and interactions of many species. The hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), an invasive insect introduced to eastern North America from Japan, has decimated stands of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and Carolina hemlock (T. caroliniana) from Georgia to Connecticut. However, its spread across central and northern New England has been slowed substantially by its inability to tolerate cold winter temperatures. Using data from previous lab and field studies collected over the past 17 years, including adelgid spread and overwintering mortality, we first characterize the temperature conditions that may limit adelgid spread. We then show how, in the future, rising winter temperatures due to climate change are likely to remove the conditions currently limiting adelgid spread, and facilitate the northward expansion as more suitable habitat becomes available.
NUMERICAL SOLUTION OF THE GEL'FAND-LEVITAN EQUATION

Abstract The inverse Sturm-Liouville problem is solved by using the Gel'fand-Levitan equation. The equation is discretized by the trapezoidal rule and the problem reduced to solving a sequence of systems of linear equations. The convergence of the method is established. It is shown that the problem can be arbitrarily ill conditioned. Finally, the accuracy of the method is illustrated by two numerical examples.
Self-help groups at the turning point: emerging egalitarian alliances with the formal health care system?

Review of the historical development and current status of mutual aid self-help groups (SHGs) in the U.S. The SHGs social movements received an impetus from the 1987 Surgeon General's Workshop. Some alliances forming to link SHGs with the health care system are described. The Workshop recommended principles to guide these alliances. What direction will linkages actually take? Professional or bureaucratic cooptation and control of SHGs? Professionals can take a stand to respect SHG autonomy and self-determination. Professionals need training about SHGs. Research is needed on usefulness of experiential knowledge created and disseminated in SHGs and their social movement aspects.
Comparison of the Sutureless and Suture-Type Epicardial Electrodes in Pediatric Cardiac Pacing

Abstract Fourteen consecutive patients with the suture-type electrode (Group 1) were compared with the previous 14 patients having the sutureless electrode (Group 2). Five patients in Group 1 had had failure with the sutureless electrode, for a total of 23 patients. In Group 1, no exit block was encountered. One patient had sensing problems corrected simply by increasing the pacer rate. One patient had generator failure and another, lead fracture. In 5 patients in Group 2, exit block developed early (less than 6 months after implantation); 3 patients had the problem twice, making a total of eight early failures. Two patients had late exit block (more than 6 months after implantation). Improved results with the suture-type electrode can probably be explained by its smaller head, larger surface area, ease of placement in a small space, and control of direction and depth of implantation.
Counseling about risks of congenital anomalies from prescription opioids

The use of prescription opioids is becoming an increasing problem among women of reproductive age. More than half of pregnancies are unintended; therefore, many first-trimester exposures to opioids occur before pregnancy confirmation. Studies are limited about the fetal risks to opioid exposure in early pregnancy. One large study demonstrated an increased risk of certain heart defects and spina bifida with first-trimester exposure to opioids. It is important to counsel women whose fetuses were exposed to opioids in early pregnancy about the potential risks, encourage them to cease using opioids or seek alternative treatments when appropriate, and use the lowest effective dose when opioid treatment is to be continued. It is also valuable to screen for anatomic abnormalities such as neural tube and cardiac defects with available maternal serum testing and ultrasound imaging in the early second trimester. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 94:620-625, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Preservation of Adenosine 5'-Triphosphate and Mitochondrial Function During Hypercalcemic Reperfusion Using Verapamil Cardioplegia

Immediate hypercalcemic reperfusion results in ventricular dysfunction and loss of high-energy stores. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of verapamil cardioplegia on the preservation of myocardial energy stores, mitochondrial ultrastructure, and ventricular dysfunction in the postischemic rat heart during immediate hypercalcemic reperfusion. Rats in the control group were subjected to cardioplegia with potassium, while rats in groups 1 to 3 were subjected to the same with verapamil (0.5 mg/L). The control and group 1 rats underwent normocalcemic reperfusion and groups 2 and 3 rats underwent hypercalcemic reperfusion. Myocardial samples were analyzed for adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) content and mitochondrial ultrastructural damage. Hemodynamic parameters of heart rate, aortic flow (AF), and postischemic rate of aortic pressure change (dP/dT) also were evaluated. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance. The ATP stores were preserved at greater than 100% control levels in hearts subjected to verapamil cardioplegia. There was no evidence of irreversible mitochondrial damage. Heart rate, AF, and dP/dT were significantly (p
Functional Outcomes After Arthroscopic Scapulothoracic Bursectomy and Partial Superomedial Angle Scapulectomy

Background:Arthroscopic scapulothoracic bursectomy with partial superomedial angle scapulectomy has been described as a treatment for persistent scapulothoracic bursitis with varying results.Purpos...
FLEXURAL WAVE PROPAGATION AND SCATTERING ON THIN PLATES USING MINDLIN THEORY

Abstract The theory of scattering for flexural waves is developed for an elastic heterogeneity in a flat thin plate in the context of Mindlin's theory. Some new results are derived for energy flux and contrasted with the equivalent results in Kirchhoff plate theory. Numerical examples are presented for scattering of flexural waves from circular regions of inhomogeneity with different plate properties and are compared with similar results using the Kirchhoff plate theory.
Underemployment and economic disparities among minority groups

This article examines the interracial/ethnic differences in the United States in labor force positions among Puerto Ricans, blacks, Mexicans, Cubans, Chinese, and Japanese. The analysis is based on the Labor Utilization Framework developed by Hauser, Sullivan, Clogg, and others and the 1980 US Census data. Our results show that these minority groups differ in the ways in which they are utilized in the labor Iorce and that differential economic consequences are associated with interracial/ethnic differences in labor force utilization. In general, over 40 percent of the members of each of the minority groups are underemployed in the labor market in one way or another, though the ways in which they are underemployed vary. In particular, blacks and Puerto Ricans are hardest hit by labor force nonparticipation and by high rates of sub-unemployment and unemployment. Mexicans do not seem to be particularly hard hit by joblessness, but they fall disproportionately in categories of partial or low-wage employment. Chinese are most disadvantaged in adequate employment, but this disadvantage seems to be offset by high rates of low-wage employment and occupational mismatch. Cubans and Japanese have a relatively higher rate of adequate employment than other groups, and, at the same time, they manage to bypass the disadvantages of joblessness through occupational mismatch. These patterns of interracial/ethnic disparities persist in the labor market even after controlling for education and age. Another significant finding is that some forms of underemployment offer fewer disadvantages than others. Occupational mismatch, for example, may be an effective way to bring about substantial positive economic consequences.
Effects of cocaine and quinpirole on perceptual and motor functions in baboons

The effects of cocaine and quinpirole were studied in baboons to determine whether quinpirole, a relatively selective D2/D3 dopamine agonist, produced effects similar to those of cocaine on perceptual and motor processes. To measure perceptual and motor function, three baboons were trained to discriminate differences between a standard vowel and four other synthetic vowels; response accuracy as well as response latencies, or ”reaction times”, were measured following drug administrations. Cocaine reduced reaction times in two baboons, and did not affect reaction times in a third; on the other hand, quinpirole lengthened reaction times in a dose-dependent manner in all baboons. Cocaine and quinpirole also differed in the time course to produce the maximal reaction time effect following drug administration. Cocaine and quinpirole did not differ consistently in their perceptual effects, as indicated by similar changes in d′, a signal-detection index of discriminability. These distinct profiles of effects for cocaine and quinpirole suggest differing neurochemical actions for these two drugs.
Global integral gradient bounds for quasilinear equations below or near the natural exponent

We obtain sharp integral potential bounds for gradients of solutions to a wide class of quasilinear elliptic equations with measure data. Our estimates are global over bounded domains that satisfy a mild exterior capacitary density condition. They are obtained in Lorentz spaces whose degrees of integrability lie below or near the natural exponent of the operator involved. As a consequence, nonlinear Calderon–Zygmund type estimates below the natural exponent are also obtained for \(\mathcal{A}\)-superharmonic functions in the whole space ℝ n . This answers a question raised in our earlier work (On Calderon–Zygmund theory for p- and \(\mathcal{A}\)-superharmonic functions, to appear in Calc. Var. Partial Differential Equations, DOI 10.​1007/​s00526-011-0478-8) and thus greatly improves the result there.
Vascular smooth muscle contractile properties in the pigeon

Abstract Rings excised from the upper portion (aortic arch to A. Celiaca) and lower portion (A. celiaca to A. renalis cranialis) of the pigeon aorta showed distinctly different contractile properties. Both tissues exhibited significant temperature sensitivity over the range of 45-22°C with optimal temperature at 40–42°C. The optimal preload was approximately 3 g and 8 g for the lower and upper segments of the aorta, respectively. The two segments differed significantly in their sensitivity to potassium depolarization. Disruption of the endothelium did not alter the sensitivity to potassium depolarization, but reduced the maximal response. The response of both segments to norepinephrine was quite variable, and showed evidence of decreased responsiveness with repeated contraction or prolonged exposure to the compound. Both segments showed extracellular calcium dependency. Significant tension, development in zero calcium buffer, was observed for both segments, but was particularly pronounced in the upper aorta. Cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of actin polymerization, blocked slow tension increase in both segments, but was particularly effective in rings from the lower segment of aorta. The results indicate that the regulation of contractile function in pigeon aorta differs in important respects from that of mammalian tissue.
Relation of monophasic action potential recorded with contact electrode to underlying transmembrane action potential properties in isolated cardiac tissues: a systematic microelectrode validation study.

Monophasic action potentials, recorded with contact non-suction electrodes, have been used both clinically and experimentally. However, to date no systematic microelectrode validation studies have been done to underlying myocardial cell populations from different myocardial regions with different transmembrane potential profiles. In the present study transmembrane action potential properties, recorded with standard microelectrodes, were compared with monophasic action potentials recorded with contact electrodes in three different (endocardium, epicardium, and free running Purkinje fibre) isolated canine preparations during pacing and during spontaneous automatic activity. The mean transmembrane durations at 50% and 90% repolarisations (APD50 and APD20) of 19-30 cells at a monophasic action potential recording site was not statistically significant from monophasic action potential duration in all three tissue preparations studied. However, in endocardial preparations, composed of superficial (1-2 cell layers) Purkinje fibres with deeper ventricular muscle cells, the APD50 (139(17) ms) and APD90 (181(26) ms) of monophasic action potentials more closely reflected (but not significantly different) the underlying deeper ventricular muscle cells (APD50 134(14) ms and APD90 167(15) ms) rather than the mean transmembrane action potential durations of the underlying most superficial Purkinje fibres (166(22) ms for APD50 and 210(30) ms for APD90) (p<0.025). Tetrodotoxin (TTX) at 1 X 10−6 mol·litre−1 shortened Purkinje fibre action potential duration and slightly lengthened that of ventricular muscle. Simultaneously recorded monophasic action potential showed an intermediate change in action potential duration. Incremental pacing and applied single premature stimuli resulted in similar degrees of shortening of action potential duration for both monophasic action potential and transmembrane potential in all three preparations. In endocardial preparations, barium chloride (4 mmol·litre−1) superfusion induced early afterdepolarisations, and spontaneous phase 4 depolarisations (n=6) in both Purkinje and ventricular muscle cells giving rise to spontaneous automatic activity. These abnormal automatic activities were accurately detected by simultaneous monophasic action potential recordings. Suppression of automaticity by verapamil (0.2–0.5 μg·ml−1) as confirmed by transmembrane action potential recordings were similarly detected by monophasic action potential recordings. It is concluded that (a) monophasic action potentials recorded with contact electrodes closely resemble transmembrane action potential duration of the preponderant cell population underlying the contact electrode, and (b) spontaneous automatic activity may be monitored with contact monophasic action potential with reasonable accuracy.
NF-κB to the rescue: RELs, apoptosis and cellular transformation

The REL/NF-kappaB/IkappaB superfamily of signal transducers and transcription factors are paradigmatic of molecular mechanisms by which rapid responses in the immune system can be achieved. NF-kappaB proteins have been implicated in diverse processes such as the ontogeny of the immune system, immune responses to pathogens and, importantly, in contributions to the multistage processes of oncogenesis, as described in this review. NF-kappaB and its regulators, the IkappaBs, are linked to pro- and anti-apoptotic events as well as signaling systems contributing to cellular transformation. How are these disparate events controlled to effect normal and abnormal processes in cells? Here we explore a few of the many events in which NF-kappaB appears to participate and processes that integrate signals to control important stages of oncogenesis.
Follistatin-activin complexes in human serum and follicular fluid differ immunologically and biochemically.

Follistatin (FS) is the principle high affinity activin-binding protein in tissues such as the pituitary and ovary as well as in serum. In addition, the activin-binding peaks identified after gel filtration of serum or human follicular fluid (hFF) exhibited high affinity and low reversibility binding kinetics, with higher concentrations in hFF than serum. This extremely low reversibility was also observed for recombinant human follistatin 288 (rhFS288) under a variety of incubation conditions, further supporting the identification of the serum and hFF activin-binding proteins as FS. Using enhanced resolution gel filtration, immunoprecipitation with monoclonal antibodies to rhFS288, and sulfated carbohydrate binding, activin-FS complexes in hFF and serum differed. The activin-FS complex in hFF elutes at approximately 200-300 kDa, is immunoprecipitated by anti-hFS288 monoclonal antibodies, and binds to sulfate Cellufine matrix, all characteristics similar to those of recombinant human FS288. In contrast, th...
Metabolic syndrome and blood pressure response to sodium – Authors' reply

1946 www.thelancet.com Vol 373 June 6, 2009 We acknowledge the limitations of the modest amount of randomised trial data currently available in dialysis patients, and strongly support the need to do trials individually powered to clearly defi ne the benefi ts and risks associated with blood-pressure-lowering regimens. We also acknowledge that the use of blood-pressure-lowering agents can be diffi cult or inappropriate in some dialysis patients. However, in the context of the available randomised trial data in dialysis patients, and clear positive fi ndings for people with lesser degrees of kidney disease, we believe it is the responsibility of nephrologists to make patients aware of these potential benefi ts, and to consider the appropriateness of blood-pressure lowering in each person receiving dialysis.
The depth dependence of light scattering from the normal rabbit cornea.

Abstract When a normal cornea is examined under a slit-lamp in lateral directions the notable features are the non-scattering epithelium bounded by two narrow bright bands, the stroma in which the scattering is relatively uniform and less intense than in the two bright bands, and a bright band at the endothelium. Other researchers have investigated this distribution of scattering and have concluded that most of the contribution to the integrated scattered intensity from the cornea comes from the limiting layers. In the present study we report our measurements of light scattering vs depth into the cornea over a wide range of scattering angles (20–145°), and show that, at each angle, most of the scattering emanates from the stromal region. This conclusion is based on an analysis which corrects for the distortions introduced by the spatial response function of the measuring apparatus.
Effect of ion size on the structure of mixed cation and anion fluoride halides

Abstract The systems SrFClSrFI, SrFBrSrFI, SrFClBaFCl, SrFBrBaFBr, and CaFClBaFCl were studied and characterized by the Guinier-Hagg X-ray powder diffraction technique. In the first two systems, PbFCl-type solid solutions were observed for 0.0 σ = ( V 2 − V 1 ) V 1 , with V2 > V1, is presented.
On Two Nonlinear Biharmonic Evolution Equations: Existence, Uniqueness and Stability

We study the following two nonlinear evolution equations with a fourth order (biharmonic) leading term: and with an initial value and a Dirichlet boundary conditions. We show the existence and uniqueness of the weak solutions of these two equations. For any t ∈ [0, + ∞ ), we prove that both solutions are in . We also discuss the asymptotic behavior of the solutions as time goes to infinity. This work lays the ground for our numerical simulations for the above systems [M.J. Lai, C. Liu and P. Wenston (2004). Numerical Simulations on Two Nonlinear Biharmonic Evolution Equations. Applicable Analysis, 83, 563–577].
A comparison of the wear resistance and hardness of indirect composite resins

Abstract Statement of problem. Various new, second-generation indirect composites have been developed with claimed advantages over existing tooth-colored restorative materials. To date, little independent research has been published on these materials, and the properties specified in the advertising materials are largely derived from in-house or contracted testing. Purpose. Four second-generation indirect composites (Artglass, belleGlass, Sculpture, and Targis) were tested for wear resistance and hardness against 2 control materials with well-documented clinical application. Human enamel was also tested for comparison. Material and methods. Twelve specimens of each material were fabricated according to the manufacturers' directions and subjected to accelerated wear in a 3-body abrasion, toothbrushing apparatus. Vickers hardness was measured for each of the tested materials, and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy was performed to determine the elemental composition of the composite fillers. The statistical tests used for wear and hardness were the Kruskal-Wallis 1-way ANOVA test with Mann-Whitney tests and 1-way ANOVA with multiple comparisons (Tukey HSD). The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the existence of a relationship between the hardness of the materials and the degree to which they had worn. The level of statistical significance chosen was α=.05. Results. The control material Concept was superior to the other composites in wear resistance and hardness and had the lowest surface roughness. Significant relationships were observed between depth of wear and hardness and between depth of wear and average surface roughness. Enamel specimens were harder and more wear resistant than any of the composites. EDX spectroscopy revealed that the elemental composition of the fillers of the 4 new composites was almost identical, as was the composition of the 2 control composites. Conclusion. The differences in wear, hardness, and average surface roughness may have been due to differences in the chemistry or method of polymerization of the composites. Further research in this area should be encouraged. It was also apparent that the filler present in the tested composites did not exactly fit the manufacturers' descriptions. (J Prosthet Dent 2001;85:386-95.)
Disease model: dissecting the pathogenesis of the measles virus

Abstract Host–pathogen interactions of measles virus (MV), a leading cause of childhood mortality worldwide, are still poorly understood. Using transgenic mice that express the human MV receptor CD46, we generated models to study the pathogenesis of MV infection of the central nervous system (CNS) and immune system. CNS infection in CD46 transgenic mice allows replication and spread throughout neurons, inflammation, and ultimately death of the animals. CD46-transgenic mice can also be used to study immunosuppression, a hallmark of measles. Together with mouse knockout technology and a system for generating recombinant MVs, CD46 transgenic mice will ultimately lead to a better understanding of both viral and host factors contributing to disease.
51Cr-uptake assay. A sensitive and reliable method to quantitate cell viability and cell death

This report describes a sensitive and reproducible cytotoxicity assay which is ideal for screening toxic compounds or soluble lytic factors from leukocytes. The assay relies on the ability of sodium [51Cr]chromate to be taken up by viable but not dead cells. This assay is the reverse of the conventional 51Cr-release assay. The target cells are 51Cr-labeled after incubation with cytotoxic factors. 51Cr-uptake does not depend on DNA, RNA or protein synthesis and the only parameters which influence its uptake are temperature, viability, number and cell volume.
Local structure of Al-and Fe-based metallic glasses

The local atomic structures of Fe-and Al-based amorphous metallic glasses have been investigated by the pair density function (PDF) analysis of neutron diffraction data. In the Fe system, chemical substitution at the transition metal ion sites induces significant changes of the local structural environment. With the substitution of Nb for Zr and Mn for Fe, a pre-peak in the structure function is observed that is indicative of short-range chemical rearrangement. This is accompanied by a reduction of volume in real space and a contraction of interatomic pair correlations that could in turn be associated with stronger glass forming ability. In the Al–Ni–Nd system, using the isotope difference neutron PDF technique, the local environments for Ni and Nd were separately determined. The Ni ions tend to form strong interactions with Al with significant shortening of the bond length and weaker interactions with Nd. The local Ni–Al cluster is almost spherical with a coordination close to twelve nearest neighbours, while Ni–Ni chemical short-range ordering is quite strong as indicated by the change of amplitude of the pre-peak with the isotopic substitution. On the other hand, the local Nd environment is more disordered with two separate Nd–Al coordination environments and weaker clustering.
Improving protein crystal quality by selective removal of a Ca 2+ -dependent membrane-insertion loop

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) catalyze the regiospecific and stereospecific dioxygenation of polyunsaturated membrane-embedded fatty acids. A Ca2+-dependent membrane-binding function was localized to the amino-terminal C2-like domain of 8R-lipoxygenase (8R-LOX) from the soft coral Plexaura homomalla. The 3.2 A crystal structure of 8R-LOX and spectroscopic data suggested that Ca2+ stabilizes two membrane-insertion loops. Analysis of the protein packing contacts in the crystal lattice indicated that the conformation of one of the two loops complicated efforts to improve the resolution of the X-ray data. A deletion mutant of 8R-LOX in which the corresponding membrane-insertion loop is absent (Δ41–45:GSLOX) was engineered. Removal of the membrane-insertion loop dramatically increases the protein yield from bacterial cultures and the quality of the crystals obtained, resulting in a better than 1 A improvement in the resolution of the diffraction data.
Energy balance during underwater implosion of ductile metallic cylinders

Energy-based metrics are developed and applied to a numerical test case of implosion of an underwater pressure vessel. The energy metrics provide estimates of the initial energy in the system (potential energy), the energy released into the fluid as a pressure pulse, the energy absorbed by the imploding structure, and the energy absorbed by air trapped within the imploding structure. The primary test case considered is the implosion of an aluminum cylinder [diameter: 2.54 cm (1 in.), length: 27.46 cm (10.81 in.)] that collapses flat in a mode-2 shape with minimal fracture. The test case indicates that the structure absorbs the majority (92%) of the initial energy in the system. Consequently, the energy emitted as a pressure pulse into the fluid is a small fraction, approximately 5%, of the initial energy. The energy absorbed by the structure and the energy emitted into the fluid are calculated for additional simulations of underwater pressure vessel implosions. For all cases investigated, there is minimal fracture in the collapse, the structure absorbs more than 80% of the initial energy of the system, and the released pressure pulse carries away less than 6% of the initial energy.
In vitro synthesis of β2-microglobulin by human fetal tissues☆

Abstract Human fetal tissues were cultured in the presence of 14C-labeled amino acids and the culture fluids analyzed by radioimmunoelectrophoresis for the presence of radioactive β2-microglobulin. Synthesis of the protein was demonstrated in all the tissues studied. Using the Ouchterlony method, β2-microglobulin was also detected in culture media from serially transferred cell cultures of fetal tissues and established fetal cell strains.
Innovation in the Green Economy: An Extension of the Regional Innovation System Model?

Policy makers increasingly look to green innovation as a source of job creation. Using the case of California, we argue that green innovation complicates traditional models of innovation and its ro...
D/developments after the Meltdown

Part of what makes the current conjuncture so extraordinary is the coincidence of the massive economic meltdown with the implosion of the neoconservative Project for a New American Century, and the reappearance of US liberal internationalism in the guise of "smart power" defined in terms of Diplomacy, Development, and Defence. This essay engages these challenges through a framework that distinguishes between "Development" as a post- war international project that emerged in the context of decolonization and the Cold War, and capitalist development as a dynamic and highly uneven process of creation and destruction. Closely attentive to what Gramsci calls "the relations of force at various levels", my task in this essay is to suggest how the instabilities and constant redefinitions of official discourses and practices of Development since the 1940s shed light on the conditions in which we now find ourselves.
Work in Progress: Pedagogies for Developing Cross-Cultural Communication Competencies in an Era of Virtual Collaboration

This paper describes an ongoing study of pedagogies to help students understand the issues associated with cross-cultural communication and develop strategies for collaborating with colleagues around the globe. With the need for engineering students to work in a global marketplace established, engineering educators now face the challenge of developing teaching strategies to help students communicate and collaborate effectively across cultures. To address this challenge, this paper presents two case-studies that test pedagogies for incorporating cross-cultural communication into engineering curricula. Preliminary results suggest that classroom simulation can lead to effective meta-knowledge about cross-cultural collaboration, while students engaged in live partnerships may require more support to separate cross-cultural challenges from challenges associated with distance technology and disciplinary differences.
Intrarenal Perfusion and Angiotensin II Levels Regulate In Vivo Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Imaging in the Kidney

To the Editor: In the recent issue of Hypertension , Dr Szabo’s group used novel positron-emission tomographic (PET) [11C]KR31173 imaging to study the regulation of intrarenal angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor binding in a swine model of renal artery stenosis in vivo.1 In this study, AT1 receptor binding, as visualized by live [11C]KR31173 imaging (L-159 884), was markedly increased in pig kidneys with renal artery stenosis, and pretreatment of the animals with the ACE inhibitor lisinopril for 2 weeks did not alter AT1 receptor binding in vivo.1 The authors interpreted …