cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thinness and weight loss: beneficial or detrimental to longevity?

This review examined the hypotheses that 1) low body mass index (BMI) is optimal for longevity and 2) weight loss reduces mortality rates. The preponderance of epidemiological evidence fails to support either of these hypotheses. Indeed, a number of studies show that thinness and weight loss (regardless of initial BMI) are associated with increased mortality rates. These findings cannot be attributed to smoking status or to weight loss resulting from subclinical disease. The effect of intentional weight loss on mortality rates depends upon health status. For overweight individuals in good health, there is no compelling evidence to show that mortality rates are reduced with weight loss. Even among overweight persons with one or more obesity-related health conditions, specific weight loss recommendations may be unnecessary: 1) the reduction in mortality rate associated with intentional weight loss is independent of the amount of weight loss, 2) the reductions in all-cause mortality rate associated with increased physical activity and fitness (23-44%), independent of changes in body weight, are greater than that reported for intentional weight loss (approximately 20%), and 3) many obesity-related health conditions (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemias, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance) can be ameliorated independently of weight loss. In view of the potential risks associated with weight loss and weight cycling, it is suggested that public health may be better served by placing greater emphasis on lifestyle changes and less attention to weight loss per se.
Antisense Methods for Probing Intermediate Filament Function

Abstract We describe two different antisense methods for probing the function(s) of intermediate filament proteins. To determine the role of the glial-specific intermediate filament protein GFAP, we have used stable transfections of antisense GFAP constructs into the human astrocytoma cell line U251. Using this procedure, we have been able to isolate GFAP-negative U251 cell lines, which no longer respond to the addition of primary cerebellar granule neurons by extending long, stable astrocytic processes. These experiments show that the intermediate filament protein GFAP is important in the formation of stable astrocytic processes in response to the addition of primary neurons. We have also used antisense oligonucleotides complementary to the 5′ region of peripherin, the major neuronal intermediate filament protein in PC12 cells, to block both its synthesis and its increase in response to nerve growth factor (NGF). Using this method, peripherin levels decreased to 11% of non-NGF-treated control cells and to 3% of that in NGF-treated control cells. Despite this depletion of peripherin mRNA and protein, neurite outgrowth in response to NGF appeared normal. These experiments suggest that peripherin is not necessary for NGF-induced neurite formation in PC12 cells in vitro.
Effect of Dissolved Air on the Density and Refractive Index of Water

The effect of dissolved air on the density and the refractive index of liquid water is studied from 0 to 50° C. The density effect is calculated from the best available values of Henry’s constants and partial molar volumes for the components of air; the results are in agreement with some previous experimental studies, but not others. The refractive-index effect is calculated as a function of wavelength from the same information, plus the refractivities of the atmospheric gases. Experimental measurements of the refractive-index effect are reported at both visible and ultraviolet wavelengths; the measured and calculated values are in reasonable agreement. The magnitude of the refractive-index change, while small, is several times larger than a previous estimate in the literature.
Regulation of Mitochondrial Ca2+ Dynamics by Inorganic Phosphate

The mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (mCU) is the main influx pathway for the uptake of mitochondria Ca2+ and plays an important role in regulating energy production as well as cell life and death. In our previous study, we reported two modes of the mCU (mode1 and mode 2) that have different properties with respect to Ca2+ affinity (mode1 > mode 2) and Ru360 sensitivity (mode 1 < mode 2). This study further investigates the role of concomitant inorganic phosphate (Pi) transport on mitochondrial uptake of Ca2+ mediated by the mCU in isolated cardiac mitochondria loaded with mitochondrial and extra-mitochondrial Ca2+ fluorescent dyes (Fura-FF and Calcium Green-5N). In Pi-depleted mitochondria, the maximal Ca2+ uptake rate is shown here to be limited by extramitochondrial Pi. The mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake rate was accelerated in a concentration-dependent manner by phosphate concentrations ranging from 0.01 mM to a maximum at ∼0.1 mM. The effect of Pi on mode 2 Ca2+ uptake was largely inhibited in the presence of the mitochondrial phosphate carrier inhibitor N-ethylmaleimide; however, mode 1 uptake was still observed, i.e., bulk Ca2+ uptake through mCU mode 2 was more Pi- dependent than mode 1. These experiments demonstrate another distinction between mCU modes 1 and 2 and contribute to an understanding of their possible physiological roles in mitochondrial function as either a signal for regulating energetics or as a Ca2+ sink.
Isometric and isokinetic testing of lifting strength of males in teamwork.

Additivity of static (isometric) and dynamic (isokinetic) strengths for teams of two and three males was evaluated. Six healthy college students participated in the laboratory experiment. The isometric strength evaluations consisted of four standard measures: arm, stooped back, leg, and composite, while the dynamic lift strength and dynamic back extension strength were used in isokinetic strength testing. In addition to individual strengths, the two-man strengths (15 teams for each of the six strengths) and the three-man strengths (20 teams for each of the six strengths) were tested. With the exception of the isometric leg strength for the team of two, and the isometric arm strength for the team of three, the team strengths were significantly lower (P<0·01) than the respective sums of the individual strengths of team members. On the average, the isometric strengths were approximately 94% of the sums of corresponding individual strengths for the team of two males. For the team of three males, the team isom...
Separate estimates of portion size were not essential for energy and nutrient estimation: results from the Southern Community Cohort food-frequency questionnaire pilot study.

Objective: A food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was developed to assess habitual dietary intake in the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS), a prospective epidemiological study to analyse disparities in cancer and other chronic diseases between African-Americans and Whites. Design: Frequency and portion size estimates were obtained for each of 104 foods. Daily intakes of 13 food groups, energy and 18 nutrients were computed. Each participant's rank and quintile classification of nutrient intakes was determined with and without the use of the subject's reported portion size. Subjects: The sample was obtained from the SCCS pilot study conducted in Tennessee, Mississippi and Florida, and consisted of 209 adults, 54% African-American, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 57.1 (12.5) years. Results: Correlations between the ranks from the two methods of estimation were high, ranging from 0.66 to 0.94 for food groups and 0.81 to 0.94 for nutrients. Pearson correlations were similarly high for food groups and nutrients. Concordance in exact quintile rank across the nutrient indices ranged from 52 to 70%, rising to 90-99% for concordance within adjacent quintiles. Conclusions: To reduce the respondents' burden and to increase data completeness, the assignment of a uniform portion size when scoring the SCCS FFQ was considered acceptable.
Microenvironmental effect in polymer-supported reagents. 1. Influence of copolymer architecture on the Mitsunobu reaction

The microenvironment surrounding the active sites in polymer-supported reagents can be tailored for maximized kinetics and yields in organic reactions. Results with the Mitsunobu reaction are presented. Cross-linked copolymers of poly(vinylbenzyl chloride) are substituted with diphenylphosphine ligands at 18, 40, 67, and 100% substitution and used under Mitsunobu conditions to probe benzyl benzoate formation. It is found that the choice of groups surrounding a ligand can be as important as the choice of ligand. Decreasing the percent substitution while increasing the number of unsubstituted phenyl rings directly bonded to the polymer backbone increases the percent alcohol conversion at a 0.1 h contact time (41.7, 68.4, 83.7, and 94.5% conversion for polymers at 100, 67, 40, and 18% substitution). Polymers at 18 and 40% substitution give an equilibrium solution that is purer (97.6 and 97.0% ester) than that with a comparable soluble reagent (85.3% ester). The rapid conversion and high yield obtained as the...
Dopant stability and strain states in Co and Mn-doped Ge (001) epitaxial films

Systematic investigation of structural, chemical, and magnetic properties of Co and Mn-doped Ge (001) as a function of doping concentration reveals that codoping with Co can dramatically reduce phase separation and diffusion of Mn within the Ge lattice while it magnetically complements Mn. The measured strain states indicate the critical role played by substitutional Co with its strong tendency to dimerize with interstitial Mn. Selecting appropriate codopants that form energetically stable dimers in a semiconductor host is shown to be a viable approach, thus demonstrating the feasibility for engineering stable doped magnetic semiconductors.
Reconstructing the Lost Music of Seventeenth-Century Bolognese Dialect Comic Opera 1

Around 1680, writers in Bologna began to create an indigenous comic opera repertory in the local dialect. By substituting the stylized language of mainstream opera with the innately more natural verbal patterns of dialect, Bolognese librettists reflected local life to a degree unheard of in other comic opera repertories. Not a single score has survived from this repertory, but through an analysis of Antonio Maria Monti's libretto for Li diporti d'amore in villa, the first dialect comic opera ever written, suggests that the music of Bolognese comic opera diverged drastically from the standard operatic model. 1I thank Alessandro Fontanelli for his help with the Italian translations of the Bolognese texts, Filomena Zaccara for consulting on linguistic issues, and Hermann W. Haller for commenting on an early draft of this article. Thanks also to Donelle Ruwe for her editorial assistance and to Lorenza Bianconi for consulting with me during my research in Bologna. This article would not have been possible with...
Serologic diagnosis of West Nile virus infection

The epidemic of West Nile virus (WNV) in the USA in 2002 represents the largest outbreak of meningoencephalitis in the Western Hemisphere ever reported. Besides natural transmission by mosquitoes, five new modes of WNV transmission to humans have been reported: blood transfusion, organ transplantation, transplacental transmission, breastfeeding and laboratory-acquired infection. The recognition of these new transmission routes has made the development of rapid and accurate serological diagnosis of WNV infection a public health priority. In this article, the current serologic assays for WNV diagnosis are reviewed, including immunoglobulin M antibody-capture ELISA, immunoglobulin G ELISA, indirect fluorescent antibody tests, hemagglutination inhibition tests and plaque reduction neutralization tests. The recently developed immunoassays that use purified recombinant envelope and nonstructural protein 5 of WNV as antigens are also reviewed. The nonstructural protein 5 protein-based assay can reliably discrimi...
Linking satisfaction to share of deposits: an application of the Wallet Allocation Rule

Purpose – Despite the fact that customer satisfaction is among the most widely used metrics by managers, the link with share of deposits tends to be weak. Using a recent innovative approach termed the “Wallet Allocation Rule (WAR)” this research investigates whether measuring satisfaction relative to other competitors used exhibits a stronger correlation to share of deposits compared to measuring absolute satisfaction with the focal firm/product. Design/methodology/approach – A survey approach was used with a sample of 4,712 banking customers across the USA. Using the WAR, each respondent's satisfaction ratings were transformed into relative rankings and used to estimate their share of deposits. Findings – The results confirmed that at both the individual and the aggregate level examining relative ranked satisfaction correlates strongly with customers’ share of deposits. At the individual level relative satisfaction explains 55 percent of the variance in share of deposits, as opposed to only 9 percent for...
Numerical dosimetry at power-line frequencies using anatomically based models.

We have used the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to calculate induced current densities in a 1.31-cm (nominal 1/2 in) resolution anatomically based model of the human body for exposure to purely electric, purely magnetic, and combined electric and magnetic fields at 60 Hz. This model based on anatomic sectional diagrams consists of 45,024 cubic cells of dimension 1.31 cm for which the volume-averaged tissue properties are prescribed. It is recognized that the conductivities of several tissues (skeletal muscle, bone, etc.) are highly anisotropic for power-line frequencies. This has, however, been neglected in the first instance and will be included in future calculations. Because of the quasi-static nature of coupling at the power-line frequencies, a higher quasi-static frequency f' may be used for irradiation of the model, and the internal fields E' thus calculated can be scaled back to the frequency of interest, e.g., 60 Hz. Since in the FDTD method one needs to calculate in the time domain until convergence is obtained (typically 3-4 time periods), this frequency scaling to 5-10 MHz for f' reduces the needed number of iterations by over 5 orders of magnitude. The data calculated for the induced current and its variation as a function ofmore » height are in excellent agreement with the data published in the literature. The average current densities calculated for the various sections of the body for the magnetic field component (H) are considerably smaller (by a factor of 20-50) than those due to the vertically polarized electric field component when the ratio E/H is 377 ohms. We have also used the previously described impedance method to calculate the induced current densities for the anatomically based model of the human body for the various orientations of the time-varying magnetic fields, namely from side to side, front to back, or from top to bottom of the model, respectively. 34 refs.« less
Oil and Water Don't Mix [Point of View]

Imagine a land that was formerly pristine but has been contaminated with an estimated 19 billion gallons of waste produced from crude oil drilling. During oil production, an additional 16.8 million gallons of crude oil are spilled into the environment. The contamination seeps into the drinking water [1]. Women living near the oil fields have a 2.5 times higher risk of spontaneous abortions than those living further away [2]. Men and women living near the oil fields have significantly higher incidences of cancer [3], [4].
Effects of X-rays and Nitrogen Mustard on Lymphatic Nodule of the Rabbit

SummaryThe histologic effects on the lymphatic nodules of the rabbit after X-rays and after nitrogen mustard are identical in nature. However, there is a quantitative difference in the response of the lymphatic nodules to the LD50 dose of the two agents. The difference is minor in the mesenteric lymph node, where there is a slightly earlier regeneration after nitrogen mustard than after X-rays. The difference is greater in the appendix where the histologic changes after nitrogen mustard at the LD50 dose level are comparable to the changes after half the LD50 dose of X-rays.
THE EFFECT OF ADULT CHICKEN ORGAN GRAFTS ON THE CHICK EMBRYO

The explanation of the wide-spread changes in the embryo after grafting with adult organs offers a problem of considerable interest. Just what factors are responsible for them we are unprepared to say. They occur only after the grafting of certain adult homologous organs and are absent after grafting with such tissues as the chicken sarcoma, adult muscles, bone, and cartilage. Likewise no systemic changes have been observed after grafting of various tissues from foreign species, such as rat and mouse embryos, rat and mouse tumors of various sorts, or the normal organs of an adult animal of a foreign species. Whether or not this extensive proliferation of the white blood cell elements is to be looked on as a stimulation of a center with metastasis in the membranes and organs, or whether it is a general stimulation to the anlage of the various cells, is a point difficult to determine. Judging from the distribution and character of the proliferation, the latter seems the more plausible view. Moreover, the reaction may be of the same type as that observed by Da Fano in mice after immunization against cancer by means of tissue injections. The changes he describes, however, were not so pronounced in character and were for the most part confined to the plasma cell in the connective tissues. The possibility of the action of infection must also be considered. Smears from the embryo spleen and the scattered nodules failed, however, to show microorganisms, and cultures taken on the ordinary media were negative for bacteria. If the reaction was a result of bacterial invasion, we should expect to find the changes occurring after the implantation of some of the transplantable rat and mouse tumors, for it is well known that they become highly contaminated. But such is not the case. A possible explanation of the necrosis is that the nutrition supply does not keep pace with the growth, so that a condition develops analogous to that of the central necrosis in rapidly growing tumors. We conclude, therefore, that grafts of adult spleen, bone marrow, liver, and kidney placed in the outer membrane of a chick embryo cause stimulation of the embryo spleen and lead to proliferation of certain leukocytic elements in the mesoderm, subcutaneous tissues, and around vessels in the liver and kidney.
Contemporary Irish textile artists: Exploring experiences of gender, culture, and artistic medium

The purpose of this study was to understand what textile art means in Irish culture and society through the lens of women who create it. The methodology used in this study was founded in part on the phenomenological exploration of meaning within lived experience and was informed by concerns raised within and central to contemporary feminist writing about women?s experiences in society and culture. Four interpretive techniques were used to collect data in the field: long interviews, a demographic questionnaire, close observation, and an analysis of each artist?s work. Three conceptual areas were used to structure the thematic interpretation: identity, marginality, and agency. The results of this interpretation provide insight into the ways that textiles, as an artistic medium, help to shape and redefine notions of gender and creative expression in a socio-cultural context.
Tolerance allocation using neural networks

The purpose of tolerance allocation is to find a combination of tolerances to individual components such that the assembly tolerance constraint is met with minimum production cost. There are several methods available to allocate or apportion the assembly tolerance to individual parts. Some of the most common methods use linear programming, Lagrange multipliers, exhaustive search and statistical distributions. However, all the methods have some limitations. Moreover, most of these methods cannot account for the frequently observed mean shift phenomena that occur owing to tool wear, chatter, bad coolant, etc. This paper presents a neural networks-based approach for the tolerance allocation problem considering machines' capabilities, and mean shifts. The network is trained using the backpropagation learning method and used to predict individual part tolerances.
Determinants of Habitat Selection by Desert Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma platyrhinos): The Importance of Abiotic Factors Associated with Vegetation Structure

Abstract The degree to which microhabitat elements such as shade from shrubs are used by lizards and the relative importance of such factors compared to others (e.g., prey availability) remains poorly understood. We examined habitat associations of Desert Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) to evaluate the determinants of lizard occurrence using surveys along a shrub-steppe bajada in northwestern Utah. We then examined microhabitat preferences of lizards maintained in an experimental arena to explore further the potentially influential factors explaining habitat choice. Greater shrub cover, open understory, and greater cover by cryptobiotic soil crusts were the best predictors of lizard occurrence. While the role of soil crusts is unclear, these other factors may benefit lizards by providing open space for unhindered locomotion and opportunities for temperature regulation through sun/shade shuttling and burrowing. In contrast ants, a primary food source, did not appear to be a significant determinant ...
Trauma, technology and the ontology of the modern subject

For later Heidegger, in the human sciences, technology involves enframing or ordering of human being into standing reserve, or resource, for the ends of a calculative rationality. With some similarity, Foucault takes up technology as a ‘grid of intelligibility’ for power/knowledge, and in those practices deploying the subject’s own ethical self-understanding. This article integrates dimensions of modern subjectivity articulated by Heidegger and Foucault, hermeneutically inquiring into the emergent intelligibility of modern subjectivity as depicted in psychological accounts of trauma in Janet, Freud, Caruth and others. It is argued that trauma, as a dispositif, technologically refashions the masterful subject that fell into crisis after the early Enlightenment. It is also suggested that technological enframing of trauma as the collapse of memory and language underwrites the subject’s own space of reflexivity, while concealing the subject’s fractured ontological and temporal horizon.
Toward a methodology for moral decision making in medicine.

The failure of medical codes to provide adequate guidance for physicians' moral dilemmas points to the fact that some rules of analysis, informed by moral theory, are needed to assist in resolving perplexing ethical problems occurring with increasing frequency as medical technology advances. Initially, deontological and teleological theories appear more helpful, but critcisms can be lodged against both, and neither proves to be sufficient in itself. This paper suggests that to elude the limitations of previous approaches, a method of moral decision making must be developed incorporating both coherence methodology and some independently supported theoretical foundations. Wide Reflective Equilibrium is offered, and its process described along with a theory of the person which is used to animate the process. Steps are outlined to be used in the process, leading to the application of the method to an actual case.
Infrared characterization of surfaces and coatings by internal-reflection spectroscopy

Some problems which arise in the characterization of surfaces and coatings by internal reflection spectroscopy are described. The ir spectra of bare CaF2 trapezoids and of ThF4- and ZnSe-coated trapezoids exhibit absorption bands in the same spectral region as those of H2O and hydrocarbon impurities. In accord with previous investigations, it is observed that the absorptance due to water is much greater in the ThF4 films than in the ZnSe films or on the CaF2 surfaces. These results suggest that the water is distributed throughout the ThF4 films, whereas for ZnSe it resides primarily on the surface. In addition, a number of interesting observations on the desorption and adsorption of water and hydrocarbons to these materials are made. The experimentally observed absorptances are analyzed on the basis of the reflectance for a three-layer system. The analysis enables reasonably quantitative values for the absorption coefficient to be determined for these thin-film coatings.
Hyperextension strain or "whiplash" injuries to the cervical spine

To define “whiplash” radiologically. Material and methods. A full cervical spine radiographic series (including flexion and extension views) was reviewed in 40 patients with clinically proven “whiplash” injuries and compared to the radiographs in 105 normal controls. The level and degree of kinking or kyphosis, subluxation, and the difference in the amount of fanning between spinous processes on flexion and extension films were measured in each patient. Localized kinking greater than 10° and over 12 mm of fanning, often occurring at the level below the kinking or kyphosis, occurred mainly in the group of whiplash patients (sensitivity 81%, specificity 76%, accuracy 80%). Localized kinking greater than 10° and fanning greater than 12 mm are useful measurements by which to separate patients with true whiplash injuries from those with minor ligamentous tears. Flexion and extension views are essential to help define whiplash and other ligamentous injuries of the cervical spine.
Designing Component Test Plans for Series System Reliability via Mathematical Programming

For verification of system reliability it is often necessary to conduct individual tests of components that compose the system. We consider a series system consisting of components with unequal test costs and unknown constant failure rates with preassigned bounds on the latter. We derive minimum costcomponent test plans that guarantee specified values of producers' and consumers' risks on the system reliability. These plans are derived for the case in which the component failure times are exponentially distributed, as well as the case in which they follow a gamma distribution. The optimization problems are formulated and solved via standard mathematical programming techniques.
A Heuristic Finite-State Model of the Human Driver in a Car-Following Situation

An approach to modeling human driver behavior in single-lane car following which is based on a finite-state decision structure is considered. The specific strategy at each point in the decision tree was obtained from observations of typical driver behavior. The synthesis of the decision logic is based on position and velocity thresholds and four states defined by regions in the phase plane. The performance of the resulting assumed intuitively logical model was compared with actual freeway data. The match of the model to the data was optimized by adapting the model parameters using a modified PARTAN algorithm. The results indicate that the heuristic model behavior matches actual car-following performance better during deceleration and constant velocity phases than during acceleration periods.
Partitioning of radiation and energy balance components in an inhomogeneous desert valley

Abstract Radiation and energy balance components are required to validate global, regional, and local scale models representing surface heat flux relationships in the heterogeneous surfaces of the world's arid and desert regions. Research was conducted in north-eastern Nevada, U.S.A., in a Great Basin inhomogeneous semi-arid desert valley located at 40° 44′ N, 114° 26′ W, with an elevation of 1707 m above mean sea level, to study the daily, monthly, and annual mesoscale radiation and energy balance components. We established five radiation stations along with five Bowen ratio systems to measure the incoming (R si ) and outgoing (R so ) solar (shortwave) radiation, net (R n ) radiation, air temperatures and moisture at 1 and 2 m above-ground, the aggregated (soil + vegetation) surface temperature, soil heat flux at 8 cm (three locations at each station), soil temperatures at 2 and 6 cm above each soil flux plate, wind speed and direction at 10 m, and precipitation (if any) every 5 s averaged into 20 min throughout the valley during the 93–94 water year (beginning 1 October). Our study during the 93–94 water year showed that albedo (R so /R si ) ranged from 85% (snow-covered surface) to 10% (cloudy skies with wet surface) among stations. The water year total incoming solar radiation (averaged among stations) amounted to 6·33 × 10 3 MJ·m −2 and about 24% of that was reflected back to the atmosphere. The net longwave radiation (R ln = R lo − R li ) was about 32% of R si , where R lo and R li are the terrestrial (outgoing) and atmospheric (incoming) longwave radiation, respectively. The 93–94 water year average net radiation (R n ) among stations amounted to 2·68 × 10 3 MJ·m −2 (about 44% of R si ). Approximately 85·3% and 14·6% of R n were used for the processes of sensible (H) and latent (LE) heat fluxes, respectively. The annual R n contribution to surface soil heat flux (G surf ) was almost 0·1%. Monthly and annual relationships among radiation and energy balance components are also reported. Using just one pyranometer and these relationships, one can estimate the daily, monthly, and annual values of R so , R n , R ln , LE, H, and G surf . We have made a major step toward being able to estimate net radiation of heterogeneous desert landscape based on vegetation cover and irradiance levels. The results can be applied to any similar closed desert basin in Australia, the Great Basin in the U.S.A., the Middle East, and North Africa.
On helium release from metal tritides

On montre que des observations recentes de la taille des bulles d'helium dans les tritiures metalliques et les previsions theoriques de l'equation d'etat de l'helium dans ces bulles conduisent a une simple prevision quantitative du rapport critique helium sur metal quand la percolation de ces bulles est analysee. Comparaison avec les observations
An Optimal UEP Scheme of Audio Transmission over MIMO Wireless Links

In this paper, we present an optimal UEP framework for transmitting packetized audio streams over MIMO wireless links. Our proposed framework aims at maximizing the expected end-to-end Segmented SNR of a received audio sequence. It reduces the packetization overhead of small audio frames while protecting audio streams against temporarily correlated bit errors introduced by wireless transmission medium. To reduce the packetization overhead, our framework suggests a frame grouping technique distributing the transmission overhead of one packet among multiple audio frames. To mitigate the effects of random bit errors, our framework utilizes a UEP RS channel coding scheme to assign parity bits according to the combined perceptual importance of frames embedded in individual packets.
Demonstration of inflammatory cell population changes in rat lungs in response to intratracheal instillation of spring wheat dust using lung enzymatic digestion and centrifugal elutriation.

Abstract The inhalation of grain dust by grain workers is responsible for a large number of pulmonary pathophysiologies. These problems may be acute or chronic and may be mediated by the chronic activation of the immune system. Constant inflammatory states in the lung may eventually lead to tissue damage and respiratory deficit. This study was designed to measure the changes in the relative number of inflammatory cells in peripheral blood, bronchoalveolar spaces, and lung interstitium that occur in response to intratracheally instilled airborne spring wheat dust in rats. It was found that 6h after instillation with dust, neutrophils were present in greater numbers in the blood and bronchoalveolar spaces than in lung interstitium. After 24h, there appeared to be a larger number of neutrophils in the lung interstitium in dust-instilled animals than in saline-instilled controls. These results indicate that intratracheal instillation of grain dust initiates an acute inflammatory reaction, and that there is an initial influx of neutrophils into the air spaces of the lung followed by transit of these cells into the lung interstitium.
Differential alphav integrin-mediated Ras-ERK signaling during two pathways of angiogenesis.

Antagonists of αvβ3 and αvβ5 disrupt angiogenesis in response to bFGF and VEGF, respectively. Here, we show that these αv integrins differentially contribute to sustained Ras-extracellular signal–related kinase (Ras-ERK) signaling in blood vessels, a requirement for endothelial cell survival and angiogenesis. Inhibition of FAK or αvβ5 disrupted VEGF-mediated Ras and c-Raf activity on the chick chorioallantoic membrane, whereas blockade of FAK or integrin αvβ3 had no effect on bFGF-mediated Ras activity, but did suppress c-Raf activation. Furthermore, retroviral delivery of active Ras or c-Raf promoted ERK activity and angiogenesis, which anti-αvβ5 blocked upstream of Ras, whereas anti-αvβ3 blocked downstream of Ras, but upstream of c-Raf. The activation of c-Raf by bFGF/αvβ3 not only depended on FAK, but also required p21-activated kinase-dependent phosphorylation of serine 338 on c-Raf, whereas VEGF-mediated c-Raf phosphorylation/activation depended on Src, but not Pak. Thus, integrins αvβ3 and αvβ5 differentially regulate the Ras-ERK pathway, accounting for distinct vascular responses during two pathways of angiogenesis.
Do Labor Regulations Affect the Formation of Corporate Groups

This paper studies the effect of country employment regulations on the formation of corporate groups in Europe. While employment regulations in some European countries impose substantial constraints on external labor markets, these regulations do not apply to internal labor markets of corporate groups. Using a comprehensive firm-level dataset covering 15 West European countries, we study the strategic response of firms to increased employment regulations. We document the presence of a specific mechanism through which regulations affect corporate groups: internal labor markets. We find that the propensity of firms to be affiliated with groups is larger where country regulations and industry turnover are jointly high. This result is especially strong for smaller firms, which do not have their own internal labor market, and for affiliates of large and diversified groups. We complement our findings with direct evidence on managerial mobility, and show that internal mobility becomes more likely than external m...
cAMP-induced phenotypic reversion of adhesion, aggregation, and endocytosis in adhesion-defective CHO cell variants

ADvF11 cells are a CHO adhesion variant which, unlike wild type (WT) cells, are not able to adhere to fibronectin (Fn) coated substrata or to be aggregated by Fn-beads. However, ADvF11 cells bind Fn-beads to the same extent as WT cells, thus suggesting that the defect(s) associated with ADvF11 cells are distal to the initial receptor-ligand binding event (Cheung and Juliano, Exp. Cell Res. 152:127, 1984). In this communication we report that cAMP analogs such as dibutyryl-cAMP (dbcAMP) and 8-bromo-cAMP are able to correct defect(s) associated with ADvF11 cells enabling them to adhere to Fn-coated dishes and to aggregate in the presence of Fn-beads. However, only approximately 40% of ADvF11 cells were found to be responsive to dbcAMP suggesting heterogeneity in the cell population with respect to dbcAMP sensitivity. Further analysis of this partial response led us to isolate a subclone of ADvF11 cells, F11CA11, which is highly responsive to dbcAMP treatment. Induction of Fn-mediated cell adhesion and aggregation in F11CA11 by dbcAMP is both time and dose dependent. Optimal responses were obtained after overnight incubation in alpha-MEM containing, 1% fetal calf serum, 4% bovine serum albumin, 0.5 mM dbcAMP and 0.2 mM methyl-isobutyl-xanthine (MIX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Under these conditions, 70-80% of F11CA11 cells were found to be adherent, compared to 5-7% of untreated F11CA11 cells and 95-100% of WT cells. Aggregation of dbcAMP-MIX treated F11CA11 cells induced by Fn-beads also approached that of WT cells. In addition, treatment with dbcAMP-MIX markedly increased the ability of F11CA11 cells to internalize Fn-beads. The maintenance of the adherent phenotype required the constant presence of dbcAMP-MIX. Removal of dbcAMP-MIX from the incubation medium resulted in return to the original nonadhesive phenotype. Thus, elevation of cAMP levels can dramatically modify the behavior of F11CA11 cells with respect to fibronectin mediated adhesion, aggregation and endocytosis, in effect causing a phenotypic reversion of all three parameters to wild type status. This suggests that the mechanisms for adhesion, aggregation and endocytosis may each involve regulation by cyclic AMP-protein kinase systems.
Evidence for cyclotron maser emission from the Sun and stars

Recent observational and theoretical work on cyclotron maser instability is reviewed, with emphasis on the similarities between microwave spike bursts from the sun and bursts from stars and planets. Results on particle-in-cell simulations are discussed, and it is suggested that such studies may provide further information on the amount and efficiency of energy transfer by the maser radiation. Observational tests of the cyclotron maser theory are considered, in addition to the role of the cyclotron maser as an energy transport mechanism in solar flares.
The theory of meaning and some related theories of the learning of language

There are two basically different sorts of theory of meaning and the sort of theory one adopts has a great deal to do with the view one takes of the learning of language. Corresponding to the two kinds of theory of meaning two theories of the learning of language are delineated and the issues that are disputed by them clarified. The logical question of whether each theory is intelligible in itself is first discussed, and, it being concluded that both are genuine empirical hypotheses, an examination is made of psychological grounds for preferring one or the other. While no final decision is arrived at, it is argued that there are grounds for preferring one of the theories.
Recognition and repair of compound DNA lesions (base damage and mismatch) by human mismatch repair and excision repair systems

Nucleotide excision repair and the long-patch mismatch repair systems correct abnormal DNA structures arising from DNA damage and replication errors, respectively. DNA synthesis past a damaged base (translesion replication) often causes misincorporation at the lesion site. In addition, mismatches are hot spots for DNA damage because of increased susceptibility of unpaired bases to chemical modification. We call such a DNA lesion, that is, a base damage superimposed on a mismatch, a compound lesion. To learn about the processing of compound lesions by human cells, synthetic compound lesions containing UV photoproducts or cisplatin 1,2-d(GpG) intrastrand cross-link and mismatch were tested for binding to the human mismatch recognition complex hMutS alpha and for excision by the human excision nuclease. No functional overlap between excision repair and mismatch repair was observed. The presence of a thymine dimer or a cisplatin diadduct in the context of a G-T mismatch reduced the affinity of hMutS alpha for the mismatch. In contrast, the damaged bases in these compound lesions were excised three- to fourfold faster than simple lesions by the human excision nuclease, regardless of the presence of hMutS alpha in the reaction. These results provide a new perspective on how excision repair, a cellular defense system for maintaining genomic integrity, can fix mutations under certain circumstances.
Repressor element 1 silencing transcription factor (REST) controls radial migration and temporal neuronal specification during neocortical development

Neurogenesis requires mechanisms that coordinate early cell-fate decisions, migration, and terminal differentiation. Here, we show that the transcriptional repressor, repressor element 1 silencing transcription factor (REST), regulates radial migration and the timing of neural progenitor differentiation during neocortical development, and that the regulation is contingent upon differential REST levels. Specifically, a sustained presence of REST blocks migration and greatly delays—but does not prevent—neuronal differentiation, resulting in a subcortical band heterotopia-like phenotype, reminiscent of loss of doublecortin. We further show that doublecortin is a direct gene target of REST, and that its overexpression rescues, at least in part, the aberrant phenotype caused by persistent presence of REST. Our studies support the view that the targeted down-regulation of REST to low levels in neural progenitors, and its subsequent disappearance during neurogenesis, is critical for timing the spatiotemporal transition of neural progenitor cells to neurons.
Effect of Impurities on Sic Whisker Morphology

Thermal decomposition of polymeric organosilicon, as precursor to SiC whiskers, in the presence of impurities such as alkali and alkaline-earth metals and aluminum related in glass beads or droplets on the ..beta..-SiC whiskers. Semiquantitative analysis of typical whiskers and whiskers with glass beads were performed using a transmission electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer and a scanning transmission electron microscope equipped with an electron energy loss spectrometer. The major impurities identified were correlated with the processing method employed. 7 references, 6 figures, 1 table.
Towards Optimal Resource Allocation in Partial-Fault Tolerant Applications

We introduce Zen, a new resource allocation framework that assigns application components to node clusters to achieve high availability for partial-fault tolerant (PFT) applications. These applications have the characteristic that under partial failures, they can still produce useful output though the output quality may be reduced. Thus, the primary goal of resource allocation for PFT applications is to prevent, delay, or minimize the impact of failures on the application output quality. This paper is the first to approach this resource allocation problem from a theoretical perspective, and obtains a series of results regarding component assignments that provide the highest service availability under the constraints imposed by the application data flow graph and the hosting clusters. We show that (1) even simple versions of this resource allocation problem are NP-Hard, (2) a 2-approximate polynomial-time algorithm works for tree topologies, and (3) a simple greedy component placement performs well in practice for general application topologies. We implement a system prototype to study the application availability achieved by Zen compared to failure-oblivious placement, replication, and Zen+replication. Our experimental results show that three PFT applications achieve significant data output quality and availability benefits using Zen.
Use of a Frameless, Armless Stereotactic Wand for Brain Tumor Localization with Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Neuroimaging

Preliminary experience with a frameless, armless stereotactic localization system in brain tumor surgery is presented. The localizing wand emits ultrasonic pulses that are detected by a table-mounted array of microphones--with triangulation of the emitter positions. The wand tip and trajectory are determined by proprietary computer software. Real-time display of this information is presented in multiple, two-dimensional or three-dimensional displays. Forty-eight patients underwent 52 craniotomies for brain tumors. The wand was used to assist in placing a minimal craniotomy in 48 cases, to determine the tumor/brain interface in 27 cases, to localize subcortical tumors in 14 cases, and to correlate the physiological mapping with the surface anatomy in 5 cases. In 12 instances, the wand was used in conjunction with frame stereotaxy and found to be comparable or superior. Triplanar (coronal, sagittal, transverse) two-dimensional images provided sufficient information for the detection of tumor boundaries but proved difficult to use to access a subcortical lesion; two-dimensional or three-dimensional images along the localization axis were more helpful. Frameless stereotaxy with this sonic wand system proved to be a useful adjunct to open-tumor biopsy or resection.
A force-directed macro-cell placer

In this paper we present a novel force-directed placement algorithm, which is used to solve macro-cell placement problems. A new wire model replaces the traditional clique model and makes possible early awareness of routing congestion. Issues such as cell orientation, overlap elimination, and pad positioning are also considered. Experiments show satisfactory performance and fast run time.
Bid Mediates Apoptotic Synergy between Tumor Necrosis Factor-related Apoptosis-inducing Ligand (TRAIL) and DNA Damage

The death ligand, TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand), has shown great promise for inducing apoptosis selectively in tumors. Although many tumor cells are resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis alone, they can often be sensitized by co-treatment with DNA-damaging agents such as etoposide. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this therapeutically important synergy is unknown. We explored the mechanism mediating TRAIL-DNA damage apoptotic synergy in human mesothelioma cells, a tumor type particularly refractory to existing therapies. We show that Bid, a cytoplasmic Bcl-2 homology domain 3-containing protein activated by caspase 8 in response to TRAIL ligation, is essential for TRAIL-etoposide apo-ptotic synergy and, furthermore, that exposure to DNA damage primes cells to induction of apoptosis by otherwise sublethal levels of activated Bid. Finally, we show that the extensive caspase 8 cleavage seen during TRAIL-etoposide synergy is a consequence and not a cause of the apoptotic cascade activated downstream of Bid. These data indicate that TRAIL-etoposide apoptotic synergy arises because DNA damage increases the inherent sensitivity of cells to levels of TRAIL-activated Bid that would otherwise be insufficient for apoptosis. Such studies indicate how the adroit combination of differing proapoptotic and sublethal signals can provide an effective strategy for treating refractory tumors.
The cyclin A centrosomal localization sequence recruits MCM5 and Orc1 to regulate centrosome reduplication

Centrosomes are the major microtubule-organizing centers in animal cells and regulate formation of a bipolar mitotic spindle. Aberrant centrosome number causes chromosome mis-segregation, and has been implicated in genomic instability and tumor development. Previous studies have demonstrated a role for the DNA replication factors MCM5 and Orc1 in preventing centrosome reduplication. Cyclin A-Cdk2 localizes on centrosomes by means of a modular centrosomal localization sequence (CLS) that is distinct from that of cyclin E. Here, we show that cyclin A interacts with both MCM5 and Orc1 in a CLS-dependent but Cdk-independent manner. Although the MRAIL hydrophobic patch is contained within the cyclin A CLS, binding of both MCM5 and Orc1 to cyclin A does not require a wild-type hydrophobic patch. The same domain in MCM5 that mediates interaction with cyclin E also binds cyclin A, resulting in centrosomal localization of MCM5. Finally, unlike its function in DNA synthesis, MCM5-mediated inhibition of centrosome reduplication in S-phase-arrested CHO cells does not require binding to other MCM family members. These results suggest that cyclins E and A sequentially prevent centrosome reduplication throughout interphase by recruitment of DNA replication factors such as MCM5 and Orc1.