cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae AP-1 Protein Discriminates between Oxidative Stress Elicited by the Oxidants H2O2 and Diamide

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae AP-1 protein (yAP-1) is a key mediator of oxidative stress tolerance. Transcriptional activation by yAP-1 has been shown to be inducible by exposure of cells to H2O2 and diamide, among other oxidative stress eliciting compounds. Here we define the segments of the yAP-1 protein that are required to respond to this environmental challenge. Western blotting analyses indicated that levels of yAP-1 do not change during oxidative stress. Deletion mutagenesis and gene fusion experiments indicate that two different segments of yAP-1 are required for oxidative stress inducibility. These two domains function differentially depending on the type of oxidant used to generate oxidative stress. Three repeated cysteine-serine-glutamate sequences located in the carboxyl terminus are required for normal regulation of yAP-1 function during oxidative stress. Replacement of these cysteine-serine-glutamate repeats by alanine residues does not similarly affect H2O2 and diamide regulation of yAP-1 function. While yAP-1 transactivation is enhanced by exposure to either H2O2 or diamide, the protein responds to the oxidative stress produced by these compounds in nonidentical ways.
Solubilization of Gases by Poly(ethylene oxide)–Poly(propylene oxide) Triblock Copolymers

Abstract Measurements have been made to determine the solubilities of three hydrocarbon gases, methane, ethane, and propane, in aqueous solutions of four different water-soluble triblock copolymers of the Pluronic class: Pluronic P103, P104, P105, and F108. The solubilities of each gas, measured at 25°C, follow Henry's Law. At concentrations above the critical micelle concentration, the solubilities increase linearly with polymer concentration as would be expected if micellar solubilization occurs. The micellar gas solubilities derived from these data increase in the order CH4
Development of a biodegradable, temperature-sensitive dextran-based polymer as a cell-detaching substrate.

A biodegradable, temperature-sensitive dextran-allyl isocyanate-ethylamine (TSDAIE) as a nonenzymatic cell detachment polymeric substrate for human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is developed and examined. The lower critical solution temperature of TSDAIE is determined; its phase transition occurrs at 18 to 22 °C. For EPC culture, cell culture flasks are coated with TSDAIE and type I collagen. The TSDAIE coating enables EPC detachment when the culture is cooled to 4 °C. The concentration of TSDAIE affects EPC attachment, which is thereby used to optimize the concentration of TSDAIE for coating. At the determined optimal concentration, TSDAIE is found to be compatible for use in EPC culture as revealed by cell attachment, spreading, proliferation, and phenotype. Overall, biodegradable TSDAIE shows promise for applications that culture and expand EPCs including vascular regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
Chronic urologic pain syndromes

Chronic pains typically evaluated by a urologist are discussed from the perspective of a non-urologist pain clinician. The pathophysiology of some pains is understood and so we believe the patient’s symptoms: examples are cancer-related pain and recurrent urolithiasis. We treat these pains with traditional analgesics. Other pains, such as those of interstitial cystitis, chronic prostatodynia, and chronic orchialgia are less understood and so are treated in a more conservative and often empiric fashion. Proposed therapies for these disorders are discussed.
Job phobia: School phobia revisited

Abstract Job phobia in the adult is psychodynamically similar to school phobia in the child. 16,17 Life's circumstances, with the acquisition of a family and the need to support them and become a mature adult appears to bring to the fore a previously repressed pattern. Since no one will take care of his family, he is forced to do so himself. He is unable to avoid responsibility via a token commitment as was so when living with his own parents. Then he submitted totally to them, which prevented the emergence of his own ego as a solitary entity. Parental aspirations were so out of reach he could differentiate his ego from ego-ideal. This differentiation became blurred later in life as he began to perform in earnest. No matter how successful he appeared to be, he regarded himself as a failure. The job phobia is ultimately resorted to when panic, and fear of castration and death appear.
Development and Validation of an Inventory to Assess Mealtime Behavior Problems in Children with Autism

To date, no standardized measures have been developed to evaluate the mealtime behavior of children with autism. The Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI) was designed to measure mealtime behavior problems observed in children with autism. Caregivers of 40 typically developing children and 68 children with autism completed the BAMBI, the Behavioral Pediatric Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS), the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (GARS), the Youth/Adolescent Questionnaire (YAQ), and a 24-hour recall interview. The BAMBI demonstrated good internal consistency, high test-retest reliability, a clear factor structure, and strong construct and criterion-related validity in the measurement of mealtime behavior problems in children with autism.
Cloud chambers and crystal growth: Effects of electrically enhanced diffusion on dendrite formation from neutral molecules

We present an extension of the solvability theory for free dendrite growth that includes the effects of electrically enhanced diffusion of neutral polar molecules. Our theory reveals a new instability mechanism in free dendrite growth, which arises when electrically enhanced diffusion near the dendrite tip overwhelms the stabilizing influence of surface tension. This phenomenon is closely related to the growth instability responsible for the visualization of charged particle tracks in cloud chambers, and is expected for enhanced diffusion of neutral molecules, but not for the case of ionic diffusion. Above a threshold applied potential, the crystal growth can no longer be described by the usual solvability theory, and requires a new physical mechanism to limit the growth velocity. We also describe experimental observations of the free dendrite growth of ice crystals from water vapor in supersaturated normal air. These observations demonstrate the calculated growth instability, which results in the rapid growth of branchless ice needles with a tip velocity 5–50 times the normal dendrite tip velocity. The production of clean ice needles is useful for the study of ice crystal growth from vapor, allowing the controlled growth of isolated single-crystal samples. This instability mechanism may find further application in crystal growth from a wide variety of polar molecules.
Effects of Testosterone Proprionate on Lymphoid Tissues and Antibody Production in Chickens

Abstract WHITE Leghorn chickens show peak weights of the bursa of Fabricius by the 4th to 6th week of age. Regression begins soon after the peak level is reached and is complete soon after puberty (Glick, 1956). Kirkpatrick and Andrews (1944) in pheasants and Glick (1957) in chickens have demonstrated that regression of the bursa can be speeded by administration of gonadal hormones. The action of steroid hormones on lymphoid tissues is well documented in the literature (see Dougherty, 1952, for a review). Recently, Meyer, Rao and Aspinall (1959a, b) have reported the effects of steroid hormones on the development of lymphoid tissues in chicken embryos. Their work demonstrates that 19-nortestosterone and related analogs (Aspinall et al., 1959) not only inhibit the growth and development of the bursa of Fabricius, but also retards the development of other lymphoid tissues. Chang et al. (1955, 1957, 1958) have surgically demonstrated that the bursa …
Mold exposure during infancy as a predictor of potential asthma development.

Background Exposure to mold has been associated with exacerbation of asthma symptoms in children. Objective To report how the presence of visible mold and exposure to (1–3)-β-D-glucan in infancy affects the risk of asthma at the age of 3 years as defined by an Asthma Predictive Index (API). Methods Visible mold was evaluated by means of home inspection. (1–3)-β-D-glucan levels were measured in settled dust. Children were considered to be at high risk for asthma at later ages if they reported recurrent wheezing at the age of 3 years and met at least 1 of 3 major or 2 of 3 minor API criteria. Results Children aged 3 years with high visible mold in the home during infancy were 7 times more likely to have a positive API than were those with no visible mold (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 7.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2–12.6). In contrast, at low (1–3)-β-D-glucan levels ( 133 μg/g) were at decreased risk (aOR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.2–1.6). Of the other covariates, mother's smoking was the strongest significant risk factor for the future development of asthma based on a positive API (aOR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.7–11.6). Conclusions The presence of high visible mold and mother's smoking during infancy were the strongest risk factors for a positive API at the age of 3 years, suggesting an increased risk of asthma. High (1–3)-β-D-glucan exposure seems to have an opposite effect on API than does visible mold.
Stimulated Brillouin scattering phase conjugating properties of long multimode optical fibers

Abstract This paper describes and characterizes a detailed experiment that proves the phase conjugating properties of stimulated Brillouin scattering in multimode fibers (km of length), a problem still in debate in the literature, by studying the random aberrations correction abilities of this nonlinear interaction. Detailed qualitative and quantitative evaluation of aberration correction, by using the M 2 beam propagation ratio as a criterion to assess beam quality of the beams, proves the phase conjugation via SBS in long MM fibers. A new parameter to characterize the efficiency of the SBS phase conjugation process is proposed and conditions to obtain a complete healing of distortions (complete phase conjugation) are discussed.
Constitutive activity of G-protein-coupled receptors: cause of disease and common property of wild-type receptors

The aim of this review is to provide a systematic overview on constitutively active G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a rapidly evolving area in signal transduction research. We will discuss mechanisms, pharmacological tools and methodological approaches to analyze constitutive activity. The two-state model defines constitutive activity as the ability of a GPCR to undergo agonist-independent isomerization from an inactive (R) state to an active (R*) state. While the two-state model explains basic concepts of constitutive GPCR activity and inverse agonism, there is increasing evidence for multiple active GPCR conformations with distinct biological activities. As a result of constitutive GPCR activity, basal G-protein activity increases. Until now, constitutive activity has been observed for more than 60 wild-type GPCRs from the families 1–3 and from different species including humans and commonly used laboratory animal species. Additionally, several naturally occurring and disease-causing GPCR mutants with increased constitutive activity relative to wild-type GPCRs have been identified. Alternative splicing, RNA editing, polymorphisms within a given species, species variants and coupling to specific G-proteins all modulate the constitutive activity of GPCRs, providing multiple regulatory switches to fine-tune basal cellular activities. The most important pharmacological tools to analyze constitutive activity are inverse agonists and Na+ that stabilize the R state, and pertussis toxin that uncouples GPCRs from Gi/Go-proteins. Constitutive activity is observed at low and high GPCR expression levels, in native systems and in recombinant systems, and has been reported for GPCRs coupled to Gs-, Gi- and Gq-proteins. Constitutive activity of neurotransmitter GPCRs may provide a tonic support for basal neuronal activity. For the majority of GPCRs known to be constitutively active, inverse agonists have already been identified. Inverse agonists may be useful in the treatment of neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular diseases and of diseases caused by constitutively active GPCR mutants.
Limit theorems for the ratio of the empirical distribution function to the true distribution function

We consider almost sure limit theorems for $$\begin{gathered} \parallel \Gamma _n /I\parallel _{ a_{ n} }^{ 1} \equiv \sup (\Gamma _n (t)/t) \hfill \\ a_{ n} \leqq t \leqq 1 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ and $$\begin{gathered} \parallel I/\Gamma _n \parallel _{ a_{ n} }^{ 1} = \sup (t/\Gamma _n (t)) \hfill \\ a_{ n} \leqq t \leqq 1 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ whereΓ n is the empirical distribution function of a random sample ofn uniform (0, 1) random variables anda n ↓0. It is shown that (1) ifna n /log2 n→∞ then both $$\parallel \Gamma _n /I\parallel _{ a_{ n} }^{ 1} $$ and $$\parallel I/\Gamma _n \parallel _{ a_{ n} }^{ 1} $$ converge to 1 a.s.; (2) ifna n /log2 n=d>0 (d>1) then $$\parallel \Gamma _n /I\parallel _{ a_{ n} }^{ 1} ( \parallel I/\Gamma _n \parallel _{ a_{ n} }^{ 1} )$$ has an almost surely finite limit superior which is the solution of a certain transcendental equation; and (3) ifna n /log2 n→0 then $$\parallel \Gamma _n /I\parallel _{ a_{ n} }^{ 1} $$ and $$\parallel I/\Gamma _n \parallel _{ a_{ n} }^{ 1} $$ have limit superior +∞ almost surely. Similar results are established for the inverse functionΓ −1 .
Risk assessment of potential bio-terrorism agents for laboratory workers

ABSTRACT In the wake of recent national and global events, biological weapons have become an increasingly urgent issue. Preparedness and defense are now the topic of numerous conferences and funding opportunities. Due to this increasing activity researchers must now focus more intently on their own safety and security. Bio-safety measures are analyzed by means of risk assessments. In this paper we will explore qualitative risk assessments and the risks associated with six specific pathogens and toxins that are potential bio-terrorism agents: Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularemia, Smallpox virus, and the two toxins, ricin and botulinum.
Environmental Life Cycle Perspective on Rare Earth Oxide Production

Rare earth elements (REEs) are a collection of 17 chemical elements that are critical to the functionality of a host of modern commercial industries including emerging clean energy technologies, electronics, medical devices, and national defense applications. Despite their key importance in multiple industries, to-date there has been little emphasis on environmental systems analysis of REE production. Rapid growth in these industrial sectors could result in heightened global demand for REE. As such, assessing the broader ramifications of REE production on human health and the environment is crucial for guiding the sustainable development of these industries. In this study, life cycle assessment (LCA) is performed to evaluate the environmental impacts and resource intensity of producing rare earth oxides (REO) from the Bayan Obo mine located in Inner Mongolia, China. Analysis indicates that the mining, as well as extraction and roasting phase(s), had the greatest contribution to overall life cycle environm...
Effects of carcinogen treatment on rat liver DNA synthesis in vivo and on nascent DNA synthesis and elongation in cultured hepatocytes.

One objective of this study was to determine the effects of N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-OH-AAF) treatment on DNA synthesis in regenerating rat liver. Rats were subjected to a two-thirds hepatectomy followed 20 h later by i.p. injection of N-OH-AAF. 4 h after carcinogen injection, it was found that N-OH-AAF caused a dose-dependent inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation into liver DNA. This inhibition was followed by a gradual, but incomplete recovery beginning 28 h after carcinogen treatment. Radioimmunoassay of deoxyguanine-C8 adducts remaining in liver DNA indicated that the recovery began prior to detection of adduct removal. The second objective of the study was to determine the effects of DNA damage on the size distribution and elongation of nascent hepatocyte DNA. Hepatocytes, which have been shown to demonstrate a pattern of inhibition and subsequent recovery of DNA synthesis following UV irradiation similar to that seen in vivo upon treatment with N-OH-AAF (Zurlo and Yager, 1984), were cultured under conditions that promote replicative DNA synthesis. The size distribution of nascent DNA after UV irradiation was determined by pH step gradient alkaline elution analysis. [3H]Thymidine pulse times and subsequent chase times were adjusted to equalize amounts of DNA synthesis in control and UV-irradiated cells. The results show that UV irradiation caused a dose-dependent decrease in the size distribution of nascent DNA suggesting an inhibition of elongation. Pulse-chase studies revealed that subsequent joining of nascent chains in UV-irradiated hepatocytes occurred at a rate comparable to or faster than controls and that this could be inhibited by caffeine. The results obtained from both the in vivo and in vitro studies show that resumption of DNA synthesis and nascent strand elongation occur on damaged templates. These observations along with our previous studies demonstrating the ability of UV-irradiated hepatocytes to carry out enhanced reactivation of UV-irradiated herpes virus lend support to the idea that DNA damage leading to inhibition of DNA synthesis may induce SOS-type processes which if mutagenic may play a role in the initiation of carcinogenesis.
The Dynamic Mechanical Environment of the Chondrocyte: A Biphasic Finite Element Model of Cell-Matrix Interactions Under Cyclic Compressive Loading

Cyclic mechanical loading of articular cartilage results in a complex biomechanical environment at the scale of the chondrocytes that strongly affects cellular metabolic activity. Under dynamic loading conditions, the quantitative relationships between macroscopic loading characteristics and solid and fluid mechanical variables in the local cellular environment are not well understood. In this study, an axisymmetric multiscale model of linear biphasic cell-matrix interactions in articular cartilage was developed to investigate the cellular microenvironment in an explant subjected to cyclic confined compressive loading. The model was based on the displacement-velocity-pressure (u-v-p) mixed penalty weighted residual formulation of linear biphasic theory that was implemented in the COMSOL Multiphysics software package. The microscale cartilage environment was represented as a three-zone biphasic region consisting of a spherical chondrocyte with encapsulating pericellular matrix (PCM) that was embedded in a cylindrical extracellular matrix (ECM) subjected to cyclic confined compressive loading boundary conditions. Biphasic material properties for the chondrocyte and the PCM were chosen based on previous in vitro micropipette studies of cells or chondrons isolated from normal or osteoarthritic cartilage. Simulations performed at four loading frequencies in the range 0.01–1.0 Hz supported the hypothesized dual role of the PCM as both a protective layer for the cell and a mechanical transducer of strain. Time varying biphasic variables at the cellular scale were strongly dependent on relative magnitudes of the loading period, and the characteristic gel diffusion times for the ECM, the PCM and the chondrocyte. The multiscale simulations also indicated that axial strain was significantly amplified in the range 0.01–1.0Hz, with a decrease in amplification factor and frequency insensitivity at the higher frequencies. Simulations of matrix degradation due to osteoarthritis indicated that strain amplification factors were more significantly altered when loss of matrix stiffness was exclusive to the PCM. The findings of this study demonstrate the complex dependence of dynamic mechanics in the local cellular environment of cartilage on macroscopic loading features and material properties of the ECM and the chondron.
Methoxyethoxyethoxyphosphazenes as ionic conductive fire retardant additives for lithium battery systems

Abstract The current highly flammable configurations for rechargeable lithium batteries generate safety concerns. Although commercial fire retardant additives have been investigated, they tend to decrease the overall efficiency of the battery. We report here ionically conductive, non-halogenated lithium battery additives based on a methoxyethoxyethoxyphosphazene oligomer and the corresponding high polymer, which can increase the fire resistance of a battery while retaining a high energy efficiency. Conductivities in the range of 10−4 S cm−1 have been obtained for self-extinguishing, ion-conductive methoxyethoxyethoxyphosphazene oligomers. The addition of 25 wt% high polymeric poly[bis(methoxyethoxyethoxy)phosphazene] to propylene carbonate electrolytes lowers the flammability by 90% while maintaining a good ionic conductivity of 2.5 × 10−3 S cm−1.
Sparse probit factor analysis for learning analytics

We develop a new model and algorithm for machine learning-based learning analytics, which estimate a learner's knowledge of the concepts underlying a domain. Our model represents the probability that a learner provides the correct response to a question in terms of three factors: their understanding of a set of underlying concepts, the concepts involved in each question, and each question's intrinsic difficulty. We estimate these factors given the graded responses to a set of questions. We develop a bi-convex algorithm to solve the resulting SPARse Factor Analysis (SPARFA) problem. We also incorporate user-defined tags on questions to facilitate the interpretability of the estimated factors. Experiments with synthetic and real-world data demonstrate the efficacy of our approach.
Relative Rochlin invariants

Abstract The Rochlin invariant of a compact 3-manifold with a fixed spin structure can be regarded as the signature (mod 16) of any solution to a certain surgery problem. This paper explores this remark in some detail. The relative Rochlin invariants arise from consideration of other surgery problems. We work out the general theory and apply it with RP 3 replacing S 3 to study free involutions on 3-manifolds. The Morgan-Sullivan linking cycle theory gives new insight into the relation between spin structures on the 3-manifold and how circles in the manifold link. From the algebra which expresses this relation one can calculate the relative Rochlin invariants mod 8, and can often recover the spin structure on the manifold.
(23‐tert‐Butyl‐5,10,15,20‐tetraphenylazuliporphyrinato)palladium(II) dichloromethane solvate

The title compound, [Pd(C54H39N3)]·CH2Cl2, contains an azuliporphyrin surrounding a PdII ion in a typical four-coordinate square-planar geometry. Van der Waals contacts between the azulene H atoms and the ortho-C atoms of the meso aryl substituents result in a twisted azulene.
Effectively Reducing Sensory Eye Dominance with a Push-Pull Perceptual Learning Protocol

Much knowledge of sensory cortical plasticity is gleaned from perceptual learning studies that improve visual performance [1-7]. Although the improvements are likely caused by modifications of excitatory and inhibitory neural networks, most studies were not primarily designed to differentiate their relative contributions. Here we designed a novel push-pull training protocol to reduce sensory eye dominance (SED), a condition that is mainly caused by unbalanced interocular inhibition [8-10]. During the training, an attention cue presented to the weak eye precedes the binocular competitive stimulation. The cue stimulates the weak eye (push) while causing interocular inhibition of the strong eye (pull). We found that this push-pull protocol reduces SED (shifts the balance toward the weak eye) and improves stereopsis more so than the push-only protocol, which solely stimulates the weak eye without inhibiting the strong eye. The stronger learning effect with the push-pull training than the push-only training underscores the crucial involvement of a putative inhibitory mechanism in sensory plasticity. The design principle of the push-pull protocol can potentially lend itself as an effective, noninvasive treatment of amblyopia.
Surfactant-free synthesis of Bi2Te3-Te micro-nano heterostructure with enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit.

An ideal thermoelectric material would be a semiconductor with high electrical conductivity and relatively low thermal conductivity: an “electron crystal, phonon glass”. Introducing nanoscale heterostructures into the bulk TE matrix is one way of achieving this intuitively anomalous electron/phonon transport behavior. The heterostructured interfaces are expected to play a significant role in phonon scattering to reduce thermal conductivity and in the energy-dependent scattering of electrical carriers to improve the Seebeck coefficient. A nanoparticle building block assembly approach is plausible to fabricate three-dimensional heterostructured materials on a bulk commercial scale. However, a key problem in applying this strategy is the possible negative impact on TE performance of organic residue from the nanoparticle capping ligands. Herein, we report a wet chemical, surfactant-free, low-temperature, and easily up-scalable strategy for the synthesis of nanoscale heterophase Bi2Te3−Te via a galvanic replac...
Development of a modern OPAC: from REVTOLC to MARIAN

Since 1986 we have investigated the problems and possibilities of applying modern information retrieval methods to large online public access library catalogs (OPACs). In the Retrieval Experiment—Virginia Tech OnLine Catalog (REVTOLC) study we carried out a large pilot test in 1987 and a larger, controlled investigation in 1990, with 216 users and roughly 500,000 MARC records. Results indicated that a forms-based interface coupled with vector and relevance feedback retrieval methods would be well received. Recent efforts developing the Multiple Access and Retrieval of Information with Annotations (MARIAN) system have involved used of a specially developed object-oriented DBMS, construction of a client running under NeXTSTEP, programming of a distributed server with a thread assigned to each user session to increase concurrency on a small network of NeXTs, refinement of algorithms to use objects and stopping rules for greater efficiency, usability testing and iterative interface refinement.
Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate Gland Accompanied by Primary Small Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder

Small cell carcinoma in the urinary bladder is very rare. There are only a handful of cases reported in the medical literature to date. A case of a primary bladder small cell carcinoma, detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during a follow up examination of a 77-year-old male patient who visited the outpatient clinic of our institution initially complaining of voiding difficulties and diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the prostate gland with a Gleason score of 10 is, herein, reported. (Korean J Urol 2007;48:1092-1095) 󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏󰠏
Effects of Pretreatment and Dehydration Temperature on Color, Nutrient Retention and Sensory Characteristics of Okra

Moisture content, water activity, color, and concentrations of ascorbic acid and thiamin of blanched (boiling water with or without 0.1% SO2) and unblanched okra, dried for 10 hr at 63°C or 14 hr at 52°C, were determined before and after 6 wk storage at ambient temperature. Sensory characteristics were evaluated after storage and rehydration of okra slices. Blanching in boiling water with or without 0.1% SO2 resulted in protection of the characteristic flavor of okra. Blanching in SO2 solution before dehydration produced greater ascorbic acid retention (p < 0.05) but a substantial loss of thiamine (p ≤ 0.05).
The concentration dependence of the sedimentation constants of flexible macromolecules

Data for a number of vinyl polymer-solvent systems show that the constant Ks in the relation 1/S = (1/S0) (1 + KsC) (where S and S0 are sedimentation constants at the concentration C and zero respectively) is proportional to the intrinsic viscosity. The average constant of proportionality is 1.6. Assuming the Mandelkern-Flory theory of the relation of frictional coefficient and intrinsic viscosity to root-mean-square end-to-end distance and Burgers' relation for the sedimentation constant of a dilute suspension of spheres, the ratio Ks/[η] is calculated to be 1.66. Molecular weights may be calculated from Ks and the limiting sedimentation constant, S0 without the use of the constants Φ and P, and agree well with molecular weights determined independently. These considerations apparently do not apply to cellulose derivatives, for which Ks is not proportional to [η].
Parallel access to files in the Vesta file system

The Vesta parallel file system is intended to solve the I/O problems of massively parallel multicomputers executing numerically intensive scientific applications. It provides parallel access from the applications to files distributed across multiple storage nodes in the multicomputer, thereby exposing an opportunity for high-bandwidth data transfer across the multicomputer's low-latency network. The Vesta interface provides a user-defined parallel view of file data, which gives users some control over the layout of data. This is useful for tailoring data layout to much common access patterns. The interface also allows user-defined partitioning and repartitioning of files without moving data among storage nodes. Libraries with higher-level interfaces that hide the layout details, while exploiting the power of parallel access, may be implemented above the basic interface. It is shown how collective I/O operations can be implemented, and six parallel access modes to Vesta files are defined. Each mode has unique characteristics in terms of how the processes share the file and how their accesses are interleaved. The combination of user-defined file partitioning and the six access modes gives users very versatile parallel file access.
TACO: test suite augmentation for concurrent programs

The advent of multicore processors has greatly increased the prevalence of concurrent programs to achieve higher performance. As programs evolve, test suite augmentation techniques are used in regression testing to identify where new test cases are needed and then generate them. Prior work on test suite augmentation has focused on sequential software, but to date, no work has considered concurrent software systems for which regression testing is expensive due to large number of possible thread interleavings. In this paper, we present TACO, an automated test suite augmentation framework for concurrent programs in which our goal is not only to generate new inputs to exercise uncovered changed code but also to explore new thread interleavings induced by the changes. Our technique utilizes results from reuse of existing test inputs following random schedules, together with a predicative scheduling strategy and an incremental concolic testing algorithm to automatically generate new inputs that drive program through affected interleaving space so that it can effectively and efficiently validate changes that have not been exercised by existing test cases. Toward the end, we discuss several main challenges and opportunities of our approach.
Determination of the incidence and clinical characteristics of subsequent retinal tears following treatment of the acute posterior vitreous detachment-related initial retinal tears

Abstract Purpose To determine the incidence of subsequent retinal tears (SRT) in patients who were previously treated for acute posterior vitreous detachment (PVD)-related retinal tears. Design Retrospective chart review. Methods A retrospective chart review of 155 eyes of 137 consecutive patients treated for acute PVD-related retinal tears was performed. Results During a median follow-up of 13 months (range 3 to 157 months) after treatment, SRT developed in 19 (12.2%) of 155 treated eyes. Most of the SRT occurred during the first 6 months (12 of 19 eyes) after initial treatment. Subsequent vetinal tears developed within the first 12 months in 15 of 19 treated eyes, however only six of 15 of these eyes were symptomatic. Of those patients who developed SRT after 12 months, all had new visual symptoms. Conclusion Patients who present with acute PVD-related retinal tears are at a low but significant risk for developing SRT. A significant number of patients treated for PVD-associated retinal tears present within 1 year with SRT without symptoms.
IFN‐γ‐induced IDO and WRS expression in microglia is differentially regulated by IL‐4

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a tryptophan catabolizing enzyme, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various neurological disorders. IDO expression is induced by IFN-γ and leads to neurotoxicity by generating quinolinic acid. Additionally, it inhibits the immune response through both tryptophan depletion and generating other tryptophan catabolites. IL-4 and IL-13 have been shown to control IDO expression by antagonizing the effects of IFN-γ in different cell types. Here, we investigated the effects of these cytokines on IDO expression in microglia. Interestingly, we observed that both IL-4 and IL-13 greatly enhanced IFN-γ induced IDO expression. However, tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (WRS), which is coinduced with IDO by IFN-γ, is downregulated by IL-4 and IL-13. The effect of IL-4 and IL-13 was independent of STAT-6. Modulation of IDO but not WRS was eliminated by inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway further differentiated the regulation of these two enzymes, as inhibiting the PI3K pathway eliminated IFN-γ induction of IDO, whereas such inhibition greatly enhanced WRS expression. These findings show discordance between modulations of expression of two distinct enzymes utilizing tryptophan as a common substrate, and raise the possibility of their involvement in regulating immune responses in various neurological disorders.
A caspase inhibitor decreases oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced apoptosis in bovine endothelial cells.

Background. Apoptosis is a pathway of cell death orchestrated by a family of proteases called caspases. Oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is a putative cause of atherogenesis. We examined the effect of oxLDL on endothelial cell (EC) apoptosis and the ability of a caspase antagonist to inhibit oxLDL-induced EC injury. Methods. Bovine ECs were plated at a concentration of 5.0 × 105 cells/ml and exposed to LDL oxidized by ultraviolet radiation at a concentration of 100 μg oxLDL/ml for 20 h. Some ECs were pretreated with an irreversible caspase inhibitor (ZVAD). Samples were analyzed histologically. Apoptosis was measured using the Annexin V assay (flow cytometry) which detects phosphatidylserine on plasma membranes and confirmed by TUNEL assay (flow cytometry). Statistical assessments were performed using ANOVA. Results. ECs treated with LDL were morphologically similar to untreated cells. Cells treated with oxLDL demonstrated cytoplasmic shrinkage, plasma membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, and loss of adhesion. These effects were diminished after pretreatment with the caspase inhibitor ZVAD. The Annexin V assay showed: (a) cells exposed to LDL had a 12 ± 1% apoptosis rate, (b) exposure to oxLDL induced apoptosis in 30 ± 0.3% of the cells, and (c) pretreatment with the caspase inhibitor ZVAD decreased the oxLDL-induced apoptosis to 16 ± 1% (P < 0.05). This decrease in apoptosis was also reflected by an increase in the percentage of alive cells from 34 ± 7% after oxLDL exposure to 55 ± 6% after apoptosis inhibition with ZVAD. TUNEL assay demonstrated a 2.5-fold reduction in mean fluorescence intensity between cells treated with oxLDL alone and those treated with ZVAD, suggesting a significant decrease in apoptosis in the latter group. Conclusions. We conclude that treatment of bovine ECs with oxLDL induces apoptosis which can be significantly reduced by a specific caspase inhibitor.
The alternative pathway is required, but not alone sufficient, for retinal pathology in mouse laser-induced choroidal neovascularization

Human genetic studies have demonstrated that polymorphisms in different complement proteins can increase the risk for developing AMD. There are three pathways of complement activation, classical (CP), alternative (AP), and lectin (LP), which all activate a final common pathway. Proteins encoded by the AMD risk genes participate in the AP (CFB), CP/LP (C2), or in the AP and final common pathway (C3). Here we tested which pathway is essential in mouse laser-induced CNV. CNV was analyzed using single complement pathway knockouts (i.e., eliminating one complement pathway at a time), followed by a double knockout in which only the AP is present, and the CP and LP are disabled, using molecular, histological and electrophysiological outcomes. First, single-gene knockouts were analyzed and compared to wild type mice; C1q(-/-) (no CP), MBL(-/-) (no LP), and CFB(-/-) (no AP). Six days after the laser-induced lesion, mice without a functional AP had reduced CNV progression (P 0.3). Second, AP-only mice (C1q(-/-)MBL(-/-)) were as protected from developing CNV as the CFB(-/-) mice. The degree of pathology in each strain correlated with protein levels of the angiogenic and anti-angiogenic protein VEGF and PEDF, respectively, as well as levels of terminal pathway activation product C5a, and C9. The analysis of complement activation pathways in mouse laser-induced CNV allows for the following conclusions. Comparing the single pathway knockouts with those having only a functional AP showed: (1) that AP activation is necessary, but not alone sufficient for injury; and (2) that initial complement activation proceeds via both the LP and CP. Thus, these data indicate an important role for the AP in the generation of complement-dependent injury in the RPE and choroid via amplification of CP- and LP-initiated complement activation. Improving our understanding of the local regulation of this pathway in the eye is essential for developing improved treatment approaches for AMD.
Laser-induced fluorescence measurements of velocity within a Hall discharge

The results of a study of laser-induced fluorescence velocimetry of neutral and singly ionized xenon in the plume and interior portions of the acceleration channel of a Hall thruster plasma discharge operating at powers ranging from 250 to 725 W are described. Axial ion and neutral velocity profiles for four discharge voltage conditions (100 V, 160 V, 200 V, 250 V) are measured as are radial ion velocity profiles in the near-field plume. Ion velocity measurements of axial velocity both inside and outside the thruster as well as radial velocity measurements outside the thruster are performed using laser-induced fluorescence with nonresonant signal detection on the xenon ion 5d[4]7/2–6p[3]5/2 excitation transition while monitoring the signal from the 6s[2]3/2–6p[3]5/2transition. Neutral axial velocity measurements are similarly performed in the interior of the Hall thruster using the 6s[3/2]0 2–6p[3/2]2transition with resonance fluorescence collection. Optical access to the interior of the Hall thruster is provided by a 1-mm-wide axial slot in the insulator outer wall. While the majority of the ion velocity measurements used partially saturated fluorescence to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, one radial trace of the ion transition was taken in the linear fluorescence region and yields a xenon ion translational temperature between 400 and 800 K at a location 13 mm into the plume.
Injection of a porcine sperm factor induces activation of mouse eggs.

Injection of sperm preparations into mammalian oocytes and eggs has been shown to elicit persistent [Ca 2+ ]i oscillations that closely resemble fertilization-associated Ca 2+ release. However, the ability of these sperm fractions to initiate egg activation has not been clearly demonstrated. In the present experiments, mouse eggs injected with a porcine sperm preparation were evaluated for early and late events of activation. Events monitored included, among early events, the generation of [Ca 2+ ]i oscillations and cortical granule exocytosis and, among late events, the decrease in histone H1 and myelin basic protein kinase activities, polar body extrusion, pronuclear formation, and cleavage to the two-cell stage. Injection of sperm fractions consistently evoked [Ca2 + ]i oscillations that, in turn, initiated all events of activation. Uninjected control eggs or eggs injected with buffer or heat-treated sperm fractions failed to show Ca 2+ responses or activation. In addition, injection of sperm fractions into recently ovulated eggs (experiments were concluded within 15 hr after human chorionic gonadotropin administration) induced high rates of activation, while similarly aged eggs exposed to 7% ethanol for 5 min, a known parthenogenetic treatment, failed to activate. Together these results indicate that injection of sperm fractions elicits [Ca2 + ]i oscillations that are capable of initiating normal egg activation. These results support the hypothesis that a sperm component participates in the generation of fertilization-associated [Ca2 + ]i oscillations.
Role of Intraaortic Balloon Pump in Left Ventricular Endoaneurysmorrhaphy

Intraaortic balloon counterpulsation has become a prerequisite for surgical repair of a left ventricular aneurysm. From October 1991 to October 1996, 60 consecutive patients underwent left ventricular endoaneurysmorrhaphy. Most had associated procedures, mainly coronary artery bypass grafting. Twenty-two patients (36.7%) were in New York Heart Association functional class III or IV preoperatively. These included 16 (26.7%) who had low cardiac output requiring an intraaortic balloon pump in the perioperative period. Pharmacological inotropic support alone was inadequate in 13 of these patients, one required a balloon pump for 5 days preoperatively due to severe low cardiac output, and 2 needed mechanical support postoperatively for ventricular arrhythmia and low cardiac output. The other 44 patients (73.3%) recovered without mechanical support. This study highlights the important role of intraaortic balloon counterpulsation in the surgical treatment of postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm.
Direct repeat sequences are not required at the breakpoints of age-associated mitochondrial DNA deletions in rhesus monkeys

The large majority of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions analyzed from mitochondrial myopathies and aging humans have been found to be flanked by direct repeats, a finding which has led to the slip-replication hypothesis of deletion formation. In this study, we have characterized 13 mtDNA deletion breakpoints from skeletal muscle harvested from 9- to 27-year-old rhesus monkeys. Seven of the deletions, five of which were unique to a particular animal, did not have direct repeats at the deletion breakpoints. In contrast, two of the three deletions common to several animals had direct repeats flanking the breakpoints. It appears, therefore, that at least two different mechanisms exist by which mtDNA deletions are formed during aging, one requiring and one independent of flanking direct repeats. Furthermore, the species in which mtDNA deletions are detected may determine which mechanism predominates.
Phonological neighbourhood spread facilitates lexical decisions

In visual word recognition, words with many phonological neighbours are processed more rapidly than are those with few neighbours. The research reported here tested whether the distribution of phonological neighbours across phoneme positions influences lexical decisions. The results indicate that participants responded more rapidly to words where all phoneme positions can be changed to form a neighbour than they did to those where only a limited number of phoneme positions can be changed to form a neighbour. It is argued that this distribution effect arises because of differences between the two groups of words in how they overlap with their neighbours.
Ocean variability in relation to living resources during the 1982–83 El Niño

Ocean /atmosphere perturbations that generate large-scale thermal anomalies in the Pacific are natural processes that cause significant variability in living resources. Analysis of the 1982–83 El Nino indicates that depression of the nutricline set in motion a decrease in productivity that eventually affected survival and reproduction at higher trophic levels. This impact, together with large-scale southward redistributions, accounted for most of the observed changes in the abundance of living resources.
Behavior of MoS2Intercalation Compounds in HDS Catalysis

Abstract MoS 2 intercalated with various proportions of Co(OH) 2 or Cp 2 Co + were used as catalyst precursors for the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene in a differential flow reactor. X-ray diffraction and EXAFS were used to characterize the structures of the pristine and used catalysts. It was shown that the intercalates are unstable under the reaction conditions and revert to 2H-MoS 2 with extrusion of the intercalated material, which is then converted to Co 9 S 8 . The catalytic activity, normalized to the BET surface area, and the product distributions at steady state are essentially identical to conventionally prepared, Co-promoted MoS 2 . It is argued that the pseudo-intercalation theory does not model the active site.
Analytical methods to evaluate flux distributions from point-focus collectors for solar furnace and dish engine applications.

This paper introduces a new analytical “stretch” function that accurately predicts the flux distribution from on-axis point-focus collectors. Different dish sizes and slope errors can be assessed using this analytical function with a ratio of the focal length to collector diameter fixed at 0.6 to yield the maximum concentration ratio. Results are compared to data, and the stretch function is shown to provide more accurate flux distributions than other analytical methods employing cone optics.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Superheated Ice Formed by the Freezing of Superheated Water

Water, superheated with respect to the vapor phase, has been made to freeze, thus forming ice that is also superheated with respect to the vapor. This phase transformation occurred at the extension of the melting curve below the triple point pressure.
Visual input enhances selective speech envelope tracking in auditory cortex at a "cocktail party".

Our ability to selectively attend to one auditory signal amid competing input streams, epitomized by the “Cocktail Party” problem, continues to stimulate research from various approaches. How this demanding perceptual feat is achieved from a neural systems perspective remains unclear and controversial. It is well established that neural responses to attended stimuli are enhanced compared with responses to ignored ones, but responses to ignored stimuli are nonetheless highly significant, leading to interference in performance. We investigated whether congruent visual input of an attended speaker enhances cortical selectivity in auditory cortex, leading to diminished representation of ignored stimuli. We recorded magnetoencephalographic signals from human participants as they attended to segments of natural continuous speech. Using two complementary methods of quantifying the neural response to speech, we found that viewing a speaker9s face enhances the capacity of auditory cortex to track the temporal speech envelope of that speaker. This mechanism was most effective in a Cocktail Party setting, promoting preferential tracking of the attended speaker, whereas without visual input no significant attentional modulation was observed. These neurophysiological results underscore the importance of visual input in resolving perceptual ambiguity in a noisy environment. Since visual cues in speech precede the associated auditory signals, they likely serve a predictive role in facilitating auditory processing of speech, perhaps by directing attentional resources to appropriate points in time when to-be-attended acoustic input is expected to arrive.