cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Who can prescribe a general studies policy

Since the original publication of Circular 323, further education colleges have been faced with two rather different curricular tasks. The first was the broadening of the base of the specifically vocational or technical curriculum; the second was the addition to that curriculum of other studies that would have reference to wider social and community needs, and the personal development of the individual students. For a considerable period there was confusion between these two tasks and between the two parts of the second task. More recently there has been some measure of clarification, thanks to the publication in 1970 of the City and Guilds monograph General Studies, the introduction of the ONC (Technology), the coming of TEC and BEC, and the discussions and experiments associated with those developments. We have now reached a point where it is clear that there are two distinctive aspects to General Studies which have been labelled ‘integrative’ and ‘additive’, but there is still dispute as to whether both aspects must be equally part of a unified and prescriptive policy; whether they exist as optional alternative approaches (or should so exist); whether the one has priority over the other; and whether whichever aspect is deemed to have priority should be the prescriptive element, while the other be a line of approach open to colleges to choose if they so wish. A further complication arises from conflict within the ‘additive’ area between those people who are mainly concerned with social and community needs, and those who are concerned with personal development.
Expression-based segmentation of the Drosophila genome.

It is generally accepted that gene order in eukaryotes is nonrandom, with adjacent genes often sharing expression patterns across tissues, and that this organization may be important for gene regulation. Here we describe a novel method, based on an explicit probability model instead of correlation analysis, for identifying coordinately expressed gene clusters (‘coexpression segments’), apply it to Drosophila melanogaster, and look for epigenetic associations using publicly available data. We find that two-thirds of Drosophila genes fall into multigenic coexpression segments, and that such segments are of two main types, housekeeping and tissue-restricted. Consistent with correlation-based studies, we find that adjacent genes within the same segment tend to be physically closer to each other than to the adjacent genes in different segments, and that tissue-restricted segments are enriched for testis-expressed genes. Our segmentation pattern correlates with Hi-C based physical interaction domains, but segments are generally much smaller than domains. Intersegment regions (including those which do not correspond to physical domain boundaries) are enriched for insulator binding sites. We describe a novel approach for identifying coexpression clusters that does not require arbitrary cutoff values or heuristics, and find that coexpression of adjacent genes is widespread in the Drosophila genome. Coexpression segments appear to reflect a level of regulatory organization related to, but below that of physical interaction domains, and depending in part on insulator binding.
Air pollution in nurseries: correlation with a decrease in oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin.

A decrease in the hemoglobin-oxygen-carrying capacity of healthy newborn infants correlated with the level of air pollution. Pollution was estimated from daily concentrations of carbon monoxide obtained at a city pollution monitoring station; this was used as an index of the general level of air pollution. The percentage decrease in oxygen-carrying capacity was also related to the duration of postnatal exposure.
Localized RNAs and their functions

The eukaryotic cell is partitioned by membranes into spatially and functionally discrete subcellular organelles. In addition, the cytoplasm itself is partitioned into discrete subregions that carry out specific functions. Such compartmentation can be achieved by localizing proteins and RNAs to different subcellular regions. This review will focus on localized RNAs, with a particular emphasis on RNA localization mechanisms and on the possible biological functions of localization of these RNAs. In recent years, an increasing number of localized RNAs have been identified in a variety of cell types among many animal species. Emphasis here will be on localized RNAs in the most intensively studied systems-Drosophila and Xenopus eggs and early embryos.
On stationary and moving interface cracks with frictionless contact in anisotropic bimaterials

The asymptotic structure of near-tip fields around stationary and steadily growing interface cracks, with frictionless crack surface contact, and in anisotropic bimaterials, is analysed with the method of analytic continuation, and a complete representation of the asymptotic fields is obtained in terms of arbitrary entire functions. It is shown that when the symmetry, if any, and orientation of the anisotropic bimaterial is such that the in-plane and out-of-plane deformations can be separated from each other, the in-plane crack-tip fields will have a non-oscillatory, inverse-squared-root type stress singularity, with angular variations clearly resembling those for a classical mode II problem when the bimaterial is orthotropic. However, when the two types of deformations are not separable, it is found that an oscillatory singularity different than that of the counterpart open-crack problem may exist at the crack tip for the now coupled in-plane and out-of-plane deformation. In general, a substantial part of the non-singular higher-order terms of the crack-tip fields will have forms that are identical to those for the counterpart open-crack problem, which give rise to fully continuous displacement components and zero tractions along the crack surfaces as well as the material interface.
“Saying One Thing and Doing Another”: Examining the Impact of Event Order on Hypocrisy Judgments of Others

This study investigated whether the temporal order of people's expressed statements and their behaviors affected others' judgments of hypocrisy, and why. It was proposed that hypocrisy would be greater when a statement establishing a personal standard preceded a behavior violating that standard as opposed to the reverse order. This order effect occurred in three studies, generalizing across two topic areas (healthy living and safe sex) and for both normative and non-normative statements (pro/anti-safe sex). Mediation analyses indicated that the reverse order mitigated against hypocrisy because the target's inconsistency was attributed to dispositional change. The discussion addresses additional variables likely to affect hypocrisy and the relationship of this research to hypocrisy paradigms in dissonance.
High-precision Monte Carlo test of the conformai-invariance predictions for two-dimensional mutually avoiding walks

Let ζ l be the critical exponent associated with the probability thatl independentN-step ordinary random walks, starting at nearby points, are mutually avoiding. Using Monte Carlo methods combined with a maximum-likelihood data analysis, we find that in two dimensions ζ2=0.6240±0.0005±0.0011 and ζ3=1.4575±0.0030±0.0052, where the first error bar represents systematic error due to corrections to scaling (subjective 95% confidence limits) and the second error bar represents statistical error (classical 95% confidence limits). These results are in good agreement with the conformal-invariance predictions ζ2=5/8 and ζ3=35/24.
Fine-mapping of prostate cancer aggressiveness loci on chromosome 7q22-35.

BACKGROUND Deciphering the genetic basis of prostate cancer aggressiveness could provide valuable information for the screening and treatment of this common but complex disease. We previously detected linkage between a broad region on chromosome 7q22–35 and Gleason score—a strong predictor of prostate cancer aggressiveness. To further clarify this finding and focus on the potentially causative gene, we undertook a fine-mapping study across the 7q22–35 region. METHODS Our study population encompassed 698 siblings diagnosed with prostate cancer. 3,072 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning the chromosome 7q22–35 region were genotyped using the Illumina GoldenGate assay. The impact of SNPs on Gleason scores were evaluated using affected sibling pair linkage and family-based association tests. RESULTS We confirmed the previous linkage signal and narrowed the 7q22–35 prostate cancer aggressiveness locus to a 370 kb region. Centered under the linkage peak is the gene KLRG2 (killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily G, member 2). Association tests indicated that the potentially functional non-synonymous SNP rs17160911 in KLRG2 was significantly associated with Gleason score (P = 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that genetic variants in the gene KLRG2 may affect Gleason score at diagnosis and hence the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. Prostate 71:682–689, 2011. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cholesterol feedback: from Schoenheimer's bottle to Scap's MELADL

Cholesterol biosynthesis is among the most intensely regulated processes in biology. Synthetic rates vary over hundreds of fold depending on the availability of an external source of cholesterol. Studies of this feedback regulatory process have a rich history. The field began 75 years ago when Rudolf Schoenheimer measured cholesterol balance in mice in a bottle. He found that cholesterol feeding led to decreased cholesterol synthesis, thereby introducing the general phenomenon by which end products of biosynthetic pathways inhibit their own synthesis. Recently, cholesterol feedback has been explained at a molecular level with the discovery of membrane-bound transcription factors called sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), and an appreciation of the sterol-sensing role of their partner, an escort protein called Scap. The key element in Scap is a hexapeptide sequence designated MELADL (rhymes with bottle). Thus, over 75 years, Schoenheimer's bottle led to Scap's MELADL. In addition to their basic importance in membrane biology, these studies have implications for the regulation of plasma cholesterol levels and consequently for the development of atherosclerotic plaques, myocardial infarctions, and strokes. In this article we review the major milestones in the cholesterol feedback story.
Family Acceptance of Home Apnea Monitors

ABSTRACT Home monitoring for apnea patients has been called a stressful situation for family members, A 28-item questionnaire was used to ascertain the impact of home monitoring on the families of children with infantile apnea, Forty of 71 families returned the questionnaire. The majority of respondents felt the stress of home monitoring to be minimal (42.5%) to moderate (37,5%), All respondents favored home monitoring with 80% of parents reporting that the monitor had alerted them to at least one significant apnea or bradycardia episode during the first month of use. Half of parents reported more than five significant alarms in the first month of use. Financial hardship on the family was reported to be minimal. A few parents related significant strain on marital and other sibling-parent relationships, Concerns most commonly voiced were mechanical problems (70%), difficulty in locating qualified and willing babysitters (62,5%), and desire for more concrete information from the physician regarding the child’s medical problem (40.0%). These results confirm good acceptance of home monitors by the family and offer direction in dealing with the families’ primary concerns.
Principles, Publicity, and Politics: Notes on Human Rights Media

L'A. soutient que les activistes des droits de l'homme ont largement contribue a la creation d'un nouveau type d'activisme mediatique. Celui-ci non seulement utilise de facon sophistiquee et innovante les techniques de la celebrite et de la publicite a travers un large spectre de formes mediatiques - notamment les medias analogiques anciens comme l'impression, la photographie et le film, et les nouveaux medias digitaux comme l'internet, le CD-ROM, les cameras videos mobiles -, mais il implique aussi la creation de nouvelles structures organisationnelles qui fournissent une sorte de plate-forme pour la production, la circulation, et la distribution de ces medias. Par ailleurs, a l'instar d'autres types d'activisme, les mouvements des droits de l'homme visent egalement le changement social, et leur analyse implique de prendre en compte la maniere dont les images generent des actions en dehors de l'evenement textuel. Si l'on peut differencier les formes de mediation pour l'analyse, dans la pratique elles existent dans un continuum qui va du spectacle culturel a l'ecriture de rapports juridiques, les activistes les deployant souvent simultanement.
Selection rules for matrix elements of spin-dependent operators

Abstract Selection rules for spin-dependent operators are derived using the decomposition of electronic wavefunctions into spatial- and spin-functions and utilizing the properties of the symmetric group. The argument is particularly simple due to the special nature of spin-space which is obscured when spin is treated in the same way as orbital angular momentum.
The kinetics of oxidation of uranium between 300 and 625° C

Abstract Studies of the isothermal oxidation of uranium in the 300 to 625° C temperature range have been carried out in a metal “heat sink” reaction cell designed to minimize self-heating. Data with two sources of pure uranium as well as 1 at % copper and 1 at % aluminum alloys of uranium showed substantially identical selfaccelerating reaction rates up to 400° C. Oxidation with pure uranium and the copper alloy underwent a transition to a slower reaction in which the oxide was somewhat protective above 500° C, with the copper alloy considerably more protective than the pure metal. The self-accelerating reaction continued to higher temepratures for the aluminum alloy. The results of isothermal oxidation studies for the β-quenched pure uranium metal have been expressed in the form of empirical equations. From 300 to 450° C the oxidation rate was found to be proportional to (time) 5 4 while above 450° C a decelerating rate proportional to (time) 5 6 holds. There is evidence linking this change in the reaction kinetics at 450° C with a changed character of the oxide.
Nonlinear variation of parameters formula for set differential equations in a metric space

Nonlinear variation of parameters formula for set differential equations in a metric space is developed investigating necessary tools such as differentiability of solutions relative to initial values. Other needed results are also proven.
Broadscale specificity in a bark beetle-fungal symbiosis: a spatio-temporal analysis of the mycangial fungi of the western pine beetle.

Whether and how mutualisms are maintained through ecological and evolutionary time is a seldom studied aspect of bark beetle–fungal symbioses. All bark beetles are associated with fungi and some species have evolved structures for transporting their symbiotic partners. However, the fungal assemblages and specificity in these symbioses are not well known. To determine the distribution of fungi associated with the mycangia of the western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis), we collected beetles from across the insect’s geographic range including multiple genetically distinct populations. Two fungi, Entomocorticium sp. B and Ceratocystiopsis brevicomi, were isolated from the mycangia of beetles from all locations. Repeated sampling at two sites in Montana found that Entomocorticium sp. B was the most prevalent fungus throughout the beetle’s flight season, and that females carrying that fungus were on average larger than females carrying C. brevicomi. We present evidence that throughout the flight season, over broad geographic distances, and among genetically distinct populations of beetle, the western pine beetle is associated with the same two species of fungi. In addition, we provide evidence that one fungal species is associated with larger adult beetles and therefore might provide greater benefit during beetle development. The importance and maintenance of this bark beetle–fungus interaction is discussed.
Dyskeratosis congenita or chronic graft-versus-host disease? A diagnostic dilemma in a child eight years after bone marrow transplantation for aplastic anemia

: A 12-year-old boy had striking reticulate hyper pigmentation of the neck and upper chest, dystrophic nails, patchy alopecia, and a white streak on the buccai mucosa. He was diagnosed as having chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) based on clinical findings, skin biopsy findings, and his history of a bone marrow transplantation for apiastic anemia eight years earlier. Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) was not a diagnostic consideration, although the clinical findings and history of aplastic anemia made it a compelling possibility. This case highlights the clinical similarities between DC and chronic GVHD and the difficulty in arriving at an unequivocal diagnosis.
Stimulation and proliferation of primary rat hepatic stellate cells by cytochrome P450 2E1-derived reactive oxygen species

The alcohol-inducible cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) is expressed mainly in hepatocytes and generates reactive oxygen species (ROS). To better understand how hepatic stellate cells (HSC) become activated in the presence of oxidative stress and evaluate whether CYP2E1-derived ROS activate stellate cells, we coincubated primary stellate cells with HepG2 cells, which do (E47 cells) or do not (C34 cells) express CYP2E1. Morphologic changes and loss of lipid droplets were more apparent in the stellate cells cocultured with E47 cells. There was a more pronounced increase in alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-sma), intracellular and secreted collagen type I protein, and intra- and extracellular H(2)O(2) and lipid peroxidation products in stellate cells coincubated with E47 cells. Expression of collagen in stellate cells did not change when cocultured with HepG2 cells expressing a different P450, CYP3A4. Stellate cells cultured on Matrigel expressed increased alpha-sma and collagen when incubated with E47 cells. The increase in collagen production by coculture with E47 cells was prevented by antioxidants, by CYP2E1 inhibitors, and by transfected antisense CYP2E1. The addition of arachidonic acid plus ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA), agents that potentiate oxidative stress, further induced collagen protein in the E47 coculture. Stellate cell proliferation was greater in the E47 coculture, and this was partially abrogated by catalase and vitamin E. These results show that hepatocytes containing CYP2E1 release diffusible mediators including ROS, which can activate HSC. Thus, besides perturbing the homeostasis of hepatocytes, CYP2E1-derived diffusible oxidants may also interact with stellate cells and contribute to hepatic fibrosis.
Nonparametric Bayes estimation of gap-time distribution with recurrent event data

Nonparametric Bayes (NPB) estimation of the gap-time survivor function governing the time to occurrence of a recurrent event in the presence of censoring is considered. In our Bayesian approach, the gap-time distribution, denoted by F, has a Dirichlet process prior with parameter α. We derive NPB and nonparametric empirical Bayes (NPEB) estimators of the survivor function F=1−F and construct point-wise credible intervals. The resulting Bayes estimator of F extends that based on single-event right-censored data, and the PL-type estimator is a limiting case of this Bayes estimator. Through simulation studies, we demonstrate that the PL-type estimator has smaller biases but higher root-mean-squared errors (RMSEs) than those of the NPB and the NPEB estimators. Even in the case of a mis-specified prior measure parameter α, the NPB and the NPEB estimators have smaller RMSEs than the PL-type estimator, indicating robustness of the NPB and NPEB estimators. In addition, the NPB and NPEB estimators are smoother (...
Nonadiabatic tunneling in ponderomotive barriers.

Localized regions of intense large-scale radiofrequency field are known to act like effective (``ponderomotive'') potential barriers, which scatter particles elastically and in the direction determined by the particle initial velocity rather than phase. In smaller-scale fields, transmission through a ponderomotive barrier is probabilistic and resembles tunneling of a quantum particle through a static potential. We derive asymptotic expressions for the phase-averaged transmission coefficient $T$ as a function of the particle energy ${\mathcal{E}}_{0}$. We show that, unlike for a truly quantum particle, $T({\mathcal{E}}_{0})$ is of algebraic form and has a threshold, below which transmission does not occur. We also find a threshold in ${\mathcal{E}}_{0}$, above which all particles are transmitted regardless of their initial phase.
Dominant Negative Mutants of TRAF3 Reveal an Important Role for the Coiled Coil Domains in Cell Death Signaling by the Lymphotoxin-β Receptor

Ligation of the lymphotoxin-β receptor (LTβR) recruits tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor-3 (TRAF3) and initiates cell death in HT29 adenocarcinoma cells. The minimal receptor binding domain (TRAF-C) defined by two hybrid analyses is not sufficient for direct recruitment to the ligated receptor. A series of TRAF3 deletion mutants reveal that a subregion of the coiled coil motif is required for efficient recruitment to the LTβR. Furthermore, the ability of TRAF3 to self-associate maps to an adjacent subregion. A TRAF3 deletion mutant that lacks the N-terminal zinc RING and zinc finger motifs, but retains the coiled coil and TRAF-C motifs, competitively displaces endogenous TRAF3 from the LTβR. A second TRAF3 mutant that lacks the receptor binding domain, yet contains the TRAF3 self-association domain, prevents TRAF3 homodimers from being recruited to the LTβR. Both of these mutants have a dominant negative effect on cell death and demonstrate that the recruitment of TRAF3 oligomers is necessary to initiate signal transduction that activates the cell death pathway.
Prostaglandin-induced bicarbonate secretion in the canine stomach: Characteristics and evidence for a cholinergic mechanism

Abstract Using a canine chambered stomach preparation, the effect of topical 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E 2 (dmPGE 2 ) in neutral solution (150 m N NaCl) on gastric mucosal bicarbonate (HCO 3 − ) secretion was assessed. Compared to control studies in which neutral solution alone bathed the epithelium, dmPGE 2 (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 μg/ml), when applied to gastric mucosa, significantly increased the output of gastric HCO 3 − in a stepwise and dose-related fashion. Accompanying these effects in HCO 3 − output were similar increases in sodium, potassium, chloride, and gastric perfusate volume. In other studies, the effects of intravenous atropine and close intraarterial tetrodotoxin on this PG-induced HCO 3 − secretion were evaluated. Both agents completely prevented the stimulation of HCO 3 − output induced by dmPGE 2 (2 μg/ml). It is concluded that dmPGE 2 , when topically applied to canine gastric epithelium, is a potent stimulant of bicarbonate output that is dose-dependent. The ability of atropine and tetrodotoxin to prevent this secretion suggests that a cholinergic mechanism may be involved and that dmPGE 2 mediates its effects on HCO 3 − output through acetylcholine release which in turn stimulates cholinergic nerve endings.
Enhancing toxicity test performance by using a statistical criterion

Aquatic toxicity tests are laboratory experiments that measure the biological effect (e.g., growth, survival, reproduction) of effluents, receiving waters, or storm water on aquatic organisms. These toxicity tests must be performed using the best laboratory practices, and every effort must be made to enhance repeatability of the test method. We evaluated the generated reference toxicant test data for insurance of a level of quality assurance for tests over time within a laboratory and among laboratories. We recommend the reporting and evaluation of the percent minimum significant difference (PMSD) value for all toxicity test results. The minimum significant difference (MSD) represents the smallest difference between the control mean and a treatment mean that leads to the statistical rejection of the null hypothesis (i.e., no toxicity) at each concentration of the toxicity test dilution series. The MSD provides an indication of within-test variability, and smaller values of MSD are associated with increased power to detect a toxic effect. We recommend upper and lower PMSD bounds for each test method in order to minimize within-test variability and increase statistical power. To ensure that PMSD does not exceed an upper bound, testing laboratories may need to increase replication, decrease variability among replicates, or increase the control mean performance.
Application of the thoracic sampling definition to fiber measurement.

As part of a consideration of the sampling method for refractory ceramic fibers, calculations were carried out at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to evaluate different approaches to fiber measurement. The most common technique for estimating fibers that can reach the lungs is to use an upper diameter limit of 3 µm in the phase contrast optical microscope counting rules. Calculations were carried out to estimate the aerodynamic diameter of fibers in several lognormal size distributions likely to occur in workplaces. Using these size distributions, the use of a 3 µm fiber diameter upper limit in the counting rules was compared with results expected from a sampler designed to collect fibers according to the thoracic definition, which is based on the aerodynamic diameter of compact particles. The other limits in the optical counting procedure, i.e., counting only fibers longer than 5 µm and thicker than 0.25 µm, were included in the calculations. The calculations indicate that the 3 ...
On the role of eyes and brain photoreceptors in the sparrow: Arrhythmicity in constant light

The activity of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) is normally rhythmic in constant dim light (1.0 lux or less, Table 1). When sparrows are exposed to constant bright light (10 lux or more, Table 1) their perching activity becomes arrhythmic. Following bilateral orbital enucleation a clear circadian rhythm emerges (Fig. 1) which persists even under very high intensities of constant illumination (Fig. 2). Rhythmic intact birds in constant dim light become arrhythmic when the light intensity reaching the brain is increased by plucking feathers from the top of the head. Rhythmicity can be restored by covering the head with opaque material (Fig. 3). Although extraretinal brain photoreceptors contribute to the production of arrhythmicity by constant light, the presence of the eyes is necessary for this phenomenon to occur (Table 2). Arrhythmicity is thus the only response of the circadian system to light which has been found to require an input from the eyes.
Sustainable remediation at the Massachusetts Military Reservation

When does remediation do more harm than good? After conducting a sustainability analysis on a large pump-and-treat site at the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR), the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE) found evidence suggesting that the remediation systems were creating more pollution than they were remediating. For several years, the AFCEE/MMR has had an aggressive “better, cheaper, faster” optimization program intended to expedite aquifer restoration, reduce costs to the taxpayers, and reduce cleanup time frames. An initial sustainability analysis was conducted in 2005 as part of this program. The analysis identified several concerns, one of which was the indirect generation of air emissions from conventional fossil fuel–based power plants used to power the remediation systems. In addition to the environmental impact of these air emissions, the cost of electricity continues to increase. The AFCEE/MMR evaluated options for addressing both of these concerns and opted to employ renewable energy technology in the form of a utility-scale wind turbine. This case study presents a more sustainable approach to remediation at the MMR through the use of renewable energy, in the form of a 1,500-kW wind turbine. Power costs for operating the treatment systems, which processed up to 16 million gallons per day, amounted to over $2.2 million in 2008. The wind turbine is anticipated to reduce the program's electricity costs and offset air emissions, generated indirectly through the use of electricity from fossil fuel–based power plants, by approximately 25 to 30 percent. Based on a range of utility cost projections and an estimate of the turbine's energy production, the $4.6 million project is anticipated to have a payback period between six and eight years. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.*
Microfungal Community Changes in Rodent Food Stores over Space and Time.

> Abstract This paper reports the changes over time in the microfungal communities that inhabit three rodent species' food stores at two climatically different locations. Results reveal that microfungal diversity values calculated from above-ground food stores are highest in the more commonly disturbed portions of the rodent dens. Interactions among food-inhabiting microbes and between the rodents and food-inhabiting microbes also appear to influence the microfungal communities within the rodent dens. For example, our data suggest that transport by animal vectors, and not by air currents, is more effective at dispersing microbial propagules. Furthermore, although fungal communities inhabiting food stores within dens varied in composition and diversity over time, standardized substrates (sorghum seeds) simultaneously placed within the food stores converged in microfungal composition the longer they were left within the dens. We hypothesize that animal vectors, including rodents, make neighboring fungal communities more alike by introducing similar communities of microbes, which in turn initiate a cascade of biological interactions that, over time, result in similar microfungal communities inhabiting newly stored food items.http://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00248/bibs/38n1p79.html
Novel beamline optics for X-ray lithography

Abstract We describe here a unique lithography beamline that delivers x-rays using a flexible arrangement of two toroidal mirrors (one concave-concave and the other concave-convex), providing high spectral and spatial uniformity at the wafer plane. The image produced is a thin horizontal line, suitable for exposing a 25 by 50 mm field compatible with 0.25 μm VLSI. We also present the current status of the beamline being constructed at CXrl utilizing these optics.
Editorial: Molecular Endocrinology Articles in the Spotlight for January 2012

Beginning with this issue of Molecular Endocrinology, we’ll be highlighting three articles that should be of special interest to our readers. Although all manuscripts accepted for publication in Molecular Endocrinology have a high degree of scientific merit, the three selected for an editorial highlight are meant to showcase particularly novel and significant findings reflective of others that can be found throughout the issue. This first issue of 2012 includes the following articles that are excellent examples of the relevance of basic science findings to clinical management of endocrine disorders. The first, “Reduced bone turnover in mice lacking the P2Y13 receptor of ADP” by Alison Gartland and colleagues, addresses the issue of osteoporosis and the need for drugs that provide alternative treatment for osteoporosis. The authors show that deletion of the P2Y13 receptor, a G protein-coupled receptor for extracellular ADP, leads to a reduction in trabecular bone mass, reduction in osteoblast and osteoclast numbers and an overall reduction in the rate of bone remodeling in mice. They also find that P2Y13R( / ) mice are protected from ovariectomyinduced bone loss. Therefore, the P2Y13 receptor may provide a new therapeutic target that confers a protective advantage in conditions of accelerated bone turnover such as estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis. This would be a tremendous benefit to the one third of all women and one fifth of all men over fifty who will experience an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime. “FXR protects lung from LPS-induced acute injury”, by Wendong Huang and colleagues, is another article in the spotlight this month. This research addresses acute lung injury, which is associated with 17,000–43,000 deaths each year. In one of the important findings of this study, Huang et al. demonstrate that expression of a constitutively active FXR repressed the expression of proinflammatory genes and improved lung permeability and lung regeneration in FXR / mice. Therefore, FXR may be an ideal target for drug development as novel and safe FXR ligands may be effective for the treatments of lung injury and other related diseases. Finally, Signe Altmae and colleagues bring us a Research Resource contribution, “Interactome of human embryo implantation: identification of gene expression pathways, regulation, and integrated regulatory networks.” This study helps us to better understand the complex genetic network that leads to successful embryo implantation and will be relevant to the development of future strategies to alleviate human infertility. The authors are the first to perform thorough computational analysis to identify the potential molecular interactions between implantation-stage endometrium and the embryo. I hope you enjoy these articles, as well as the rest of the exceptional articles in this issue. With best wishes for 2012— Donald B. DeFranco, Editor-in-Chief
Effects of high-energy neutron irradiation on the creep of niobium

(1979). Effects of high-energy neutron irradiation on the creep of niobium. Radiation Effects: Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 113-114.
Aortic Valve Disease in Turner Syndrome

Objectives Our goal was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of aortic valve disease in girls and women with monosomy for the X chromosome, or Turner syndrome (TS). Background Complications from congenital aortic valve disease are a major source of premature mortality in TS, but accurate data on the prevalence of aortic valve abnormalities and their association with aortic root dilation are not available. Methods This prospective study characterized the aortic valve and proximal aorta in 253 individuals with TS age 7 to 67 years using transthoracic echocardiography as our primary screening tool, supplemented with magnetic resonance imaging. Results Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a normal tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) in 172 and a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) in 66 subjects. Transthoracic echocardiography could not visualize the aortic valve in 15 of 253 or 6%. Magnetic resonance imaging diagnosed 12 of 15 of these cases (8 BAV and 4 TAV), so that only 3 of 253 (1.2%) could not be visualized by either modality. The aortic valve was bicuspid in 74 of 250 (30%) adequately imaged subjects. The prevalence was equal in pediatric ( Conclusions Girls and women with TS need focused screening of the aortic valve and root to identify the many asymptomatic individuals with abnormal valvular structure and/or aortic root dilation.
Lethal photosensitization of oral pathogens via red-filtered halogen lamp.

Objectives The ability of laser irradiation in the presence of photosensitizing agent to induce lethal effect on oral bacteria is well documented. We designed an in vitro experiment to achieve phototoxic results on two common oral pathogens, using a high intensity, red filtered halogen lamp. Our goal was to determine the minimum duration of light exposure and drug dilution to achieve at least 50% reduction in bacterial counts. Methods Two common oral pathogens, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia were used in this experiment. The source for light energy was continuous working, high intensity, red filtered, halogen lamp (HL). The light was transmitted through a flexible light guide over petri dishes containing live bacteria. Microorganisms were exposed to halogen light for 5, 10 and 20 min. Methylene Blue (MB) in concentrations of 0.1, 0.075, 0.05, 0.025 and 0.01% was used as a photosensitizing agent. Light energy alone and MB alone was used as controls. Results and discussion Optimum lethal photosensitization (50% or more bacteria killing) of oral pathogens was achieved under following conditions. 1. Halogen light illumination for 5 min and longer with 0.05% MB. 2. Exposure to light for 20 min in the presence of 0.025 and 0.01% MB. Light exposure of 20 min in the absence of MB was not effective in killing bacteria. In the absence of light, MB at concentrations of 0.025 and 0.001% was not effective. Reduction of bacteria with the use of 0.05% MB alone was also insignificant. However, 0.075 and 0.1% MB, even in the absence of light was found to be bacteriocidal. Conclusions Our in vitro data indicates that we were able to achieve lethal photosensitization of two common oral pathogens with high intensity red filtered HL in the presence of diluted MB. In this era of increased incidence of antibiotic resistance, bacterial killing with laser or light energy in the presence of photosensitizing agents, can prove to be a valuable treatment modality.
Drugs Used to Treat Osteoporosis: The Critical Need for a Uniform Nomenclature Based on Their Action on Bone Remodeling

There continues to be uncertainty about the classification of available drugs for treating osteoporosis. We find that grouping them into anti-catabolic and anabolic classes based on the mechanisms of their action on bone remodeling and fracture reduction removes ambiguities and provides a relatively straightforward classification. The recent introduction of teriparatide into clinical practice initiated the era of anabolic therapy for osteoporosis, but it is still unclear how to define an anabolic drug. All drugs that increase bone mass do so by affecting bone remodeling. When their mechanisms of action on bone remodeling and on fracture reduction are considered, we find that anti-osteoporotic drugs fall naturally into either anti-catabolic or anabolic classes. Anti-catabolic drugs increase bone strength and reduce fractures mainly by decreasing the number of bone multicellular units (BMUs). This reduces perforative resorption and preserves skeletal microarchitecture (by preventing further structural damage to trabecular bone and increased porosity in cortical bone induced by high bone remodeling). Reduction in bone remodeling by anti-catabolic drugs may increase bone mass moderately during the interval in which previously initiated BMUs are completing mineralization. Some anti-catabolic drugs may also enhance the formation phase of the remodeling cycle, but their major action is to reduce overall bone turnover (i.e., the number of BMUs in bone). In contrast, anabolic drugs increase bone strength and reduce fractures by substantially increasing bone mass as a result of an overall increase in the number of BMUs combined with a positive BMU balance (the magnitude of the formation phase is greater than that of the resorption phase). Some anabolic drugs also induce renewed modeling, increase periosteal apposition and repair of trabecular microstructure. We hope that this classification will serve as a starting point for continued discussion on the important issue of nomenclature.
Direct luteotrophic effect of oestradiol-17β on pig corpora lutea

Five gilts each received intraluteal implants releasing about 4.4 +/- 1.1 (Group 1), 15.0 +/- 1.1 (Group 2) or 22.4 +/- 1.0 (Group 3) micrograms oestradiol/day as determined by in-vitro incubation of implants of similar weight and oestradiol content. On Day 11 of the oestrous cycle (Day 0 = first day of oestrus), 3 CL in one ovary received oestradiol implants, 3 CL in the other ovary received vehicle implants, and all other CL in both ovaries served as uninjected control CL. An additional group of 6 animals served as controls and included 4 animals receiving bilateral vehicle implants (3 CL per ovary) on Day 11 and 2 unoperated gilts. All animals were slaughtered on Day 19 of their oestrous cycle, and the weight, progesterone content and concentration of each CL were determined. In Group 3 gilts, luteal weight, progesterone content and concentration were greater by 68.7 +/- 24.0 mg, 6.54 +/- 1.33 micrograms and 7.54 +/- 2.00 ng/ml respectively (P less than 0.01) in oestradiol-implanted CL than in vehicle-implanted CL, which appeared to be similar to uninjected control CL. No differences were seen between oestradiol-17 beta and vehicle-treated CL in CL from gilts in Groups 1 or 2. All CL of Group 3 gilts were heavier and contained a greater content and concentration of progesterone (P less than 0.01) than gilts in Groups 1 and 2, and in controls for which the values were similar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Submandibular Ductal Fistula: An Obstacle to Sialendoscopy

IMPORTANCE Submandibular fistula is a rare condition that presents diagnostic and treatment challenges. Accurate diagnosis may be achieved by means of thorough physical examination, proper imaging, and usually surgical exploration. We describe the clinical significance of aberrant submandibular ductal fistula or ostium and discuss our dilemmas during sialendoscopy in 2 patients with repeated submandibular glandular swelling. OBSERVATIONS Two patients had submandibular ductal abnormalities. The first patient was found to have the ostium of the submandibular duct in an unusual anatomical location at the posterior floor of the mouth, which was identified during surgical exploration of the floor of the mouth. The second patient was found to have a submandibular ductal fistula into the floor of the mouth proximal to a calculus in the main duct (which was severely atrophic and could not be cannulated). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The precise etiology and pathogenesis of sialo-oral fistula formation are currently unknown but could be extrapolated from previously described syndromes involving ductal obstruction and inciting damage in other regions of the body. Consideration of submandibular fistula in the differential diagnosis may spare the patient morbidity of redundant invasive procedures.
Belief structure in relation to low‐fat milk consumption

One hundred and three subjects completed a questionnaire on consumption of low-fat milks, along with attitudes and beliefs about consumption. Females showed a generally more favourable disposition towards consuming low-fat milks, whereas age and social class had little effect. The belief-evaluation scores showed good prediction of behavioural intention and self-reported behaviour. A principal components analysis of the belief-evaluation scores showed the nutritional beliefs to be separable from the sensory and functional beliefs, with the price items not clearly related to either. The nutritional beliefs were more closely related to the person's attitude towards consuming low-fat milk.
Phylogeny of sulfate‐reducing bacteria

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are a diverse group of prokaryotes that may be divided into four groups based on rRNA sequence analysis: Gram-negative mesophilic SRB; Gram-positive spore forming SRB; thermophilic bacterial SRB; and thermophilic archaeal SRB. In this review, we have assembled representative 16S rRNA sequences reported to date for SRB and have constructed phylogenetic trees from these sequences. Physiological characteristics particular to each of these groups are discussed, as is the availability of tested group-specific phylogenetic probes and PCR primers directed toward individual groups.
Battery-Sensing Intrusion Protection for Wireless Handheld Computers Using a Dynamic Threshold Calculation Algorithm for Attack Detection

This paper proposes a pioneering battery-sensing intrusion protection system (B-SIPS) for mobile computers, which alerts on power changes detected on small wireless devices, using an innovative dynamic threshold calculation algorithm. B-SIPS enabled hosts are employed as sensors in a wireless network and form the basis of the intrusion detection system (IDS). This detection capability is scalable and complementary with existing commercial and open system network IDSs. B-SIPS implementation correlates device power consumption with IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi and 802.15.1 Bluetooth communication activity. Irregular and attack activity is detected and reported to the intrusion detection engine for correlation with existing signatures in a database and for forensic investigation by a security manager
Novel Experiments for Understanding the Shallow Land Burial of Low-Level Radioactive Wastes

Data on the basic processes that occur in the shallow land burial of low-level radioactive wastes are needed to engineer facilities with guaranteed performance, to validate models for system predictions, and to provide input to models that consider contaminant pathways out of the facility. Two types of novel experiments that will provide experimental data on the basic processes in shallow land burial facilities are described in this paper. Generic experiments that give data on the movement of water and radionuclides and an experiment that is particularly important for semi-arid sites are described.
Dynamic shifts in occupancy by TAL1 are guided by GATA factors and drive large-scale reprogramming of gene expression during hematopoiesis

We used mouse ENCODE data along with complementary data from other laboratories to study the dynamics of occupancy and the role in gene regulation of the transcription factor TAL1, a critical regulator of hematopoiesis, at multiple stages of hematopoietic differentiation. We combined ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data in six mouse cell types representing a progression from multilineage precursors to differentiated erythroblasts and megakaryocytes. We found that sites of occupancy shift dramatically during commitment to the erythroid lineage, vary further during terminal maturation, and are strongly associated with changes in gene expression. In multilineage progenitors, the likely target genes are enriched for hematopoietic growth and functions associated with the mature cells of specific daughter lineages (such as megakaryocytes). In contrast, target genes in erythroblasts are specifically enriched for red cell functions. Furthermore, shifts in TAL1 occupancy during erythroid differentiation are associated with gene repression (dissociation) and induction (co-occupancy with GATA1). Based on both enrichment for transcription factor binding site motifs and co-occupancy determined by ChIP-seq, recruitment by GATA transcription factors appears to be a stronger determinant of TAL1 binding to chromatin than the canonical E-box binding site motif. Studies of additional proteins lead to the model that TAL1 regulates expression after being directed to a distinct subset of genomic binding sites in each cell type via its association with different complexes containing master regulators such as GATA2, ERG, and RUNX1 in multilineage cells and the lineage-specific master regulator GATA1 in erythroblasts.