cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Near-Real-Time Global Ice Concentration from Spaceborne Passive Microwave Sensors

Near real-time Ice and Snow Extent (NISE) estimates, produced and distributed by the National Snow and Ice Data Center, are presented. The estimates, derived from the DMSP SSM/I passive microwave instrument, provides daily, global, near real-time (< 24 hrs) fields of sea ice concentrations and snow extent. We summarize both the science algorithms and systems engineering involved in producing a near-real time product
Laser-induced fluorescence detection of acetylene in low-pressure propane and methane flames

Laser-induced fluorescence is used to detect and record profiles of acetylene formed as an intermediate species in 10-Torr premixed propane and methane flames. In low-temperature regions of the flames, excitation spectra confirm acetylene as the spectral carrier. The spectra of acetylene overlap those of O2 and NO in terms of both excitation and detection wavelengths, however, acetylene can be detected with relatively little interference in the vicinity of 228 nm, using a detection wavelength of 260 nm. The fluorescence lifetime of acetylene in the flame conditions studied is approximately 20 ns, much shorter than the radiative lifetime, due to a high quenching rate for all the colliders investigated. This can be exploited in low-pressure flames to avoid interference from acetylene in monitoring nitric oxide. The acetylene mole fraction in propane flames reaches its peak value at nearly the same location as that of HCO, slightly closer to the burner than the peak CH mole fraction. The acetylene fluorescence signal is easily detected in propane flames over equivalence ratios from 0.6 to 1.2, although it increases under fuel-rich conditions. In methane flames, the acetylene signal is much weaker and is undetectable for fuel-lean conditions.
Respiratory syncytial virus induces functional thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor in airway epithelial cells

The epithelial-derived cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) plays a key role in the development and progression of atopic disease and has notably been shown to directly promote the allergic inflammatory responses that characterize asthma. Current models suggest that TSLP is produced by epithelial cells in response to inflammatory stimuli and acts primarily upon dendritic cells to effect a T helper type 2-type inflammatory response. Recent reports, however, have shown that epithelial cells themselves are capable of expressing the TSLP receptor (TSLPR), and may thus directly contribute to a TSLP-dependent response. We report here that beyond simply expressing the receptor, epithelial cells are capable of dynamically regulating TSLPR in response to the same inflammatory cues that drive the production of TSLP, and that epithelial cells produce chemokine C–C motif ligand 17, a T helper type 2-associated chemokine, in response to stimulation with TSLP. These data suggest that a direct autocrine or paracrine response to TSLP by epithelial cells may initiate the initial waves of chemotaxis during an allergic inflammatory response. Intriguingly, we find that the regulation of TSLPR, unlike TSLP, is independent of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, suggesting that the cell may be able to independently regulate TSLP and TSLPR levels in order to properly modulate its response to TSLP. Finally, we show evidence for this dynamic regulation occurring following the viral infection of primary epithelial cells from asthmatic patients. Taken together, the data suggest that induction of TSLPR and a direct response to TSLP by epithelial cells may play a novel role in the development of allergic inflammation.
Induction and immunochemical properties of a novel anti-antibody

Abstract This paper describes results which characterize an induced antibody in normal outbred rabbits which we have, for convenience, called parareactant (PR). PR resulting from autoimmunization of rabbits with either keyhole limpet hemocyanin-anti-tetanus toxoid F(ab') 2 or with tetanus toxoid-anti-tetanus toxoid F(ab') 2 complexes was studied. PR activity was directed solely to autologous, homologous or heterologous F(ab') 2 fragments regardless of their specificity. PR failed to react with intact antibodies or with antigen-antibody complexes consisting of homologous antibody bound to specific antigen. Radioimmunoassay and ELISA inhibition assays showed that reactivity between PR and autologous anti-tetanus toxoid F(ab') 2 or homologous anti-bovine serum albumin F(ab') 2 fragments was specifically inhibited with antigen. Anti-allotypic antibodies specific for a2 and b6 markers strongly inhibited binding of 125 I-anti-micrococcal carbohydrate F(ab') 2 (a2, b6) with PR (a3, b4, b5). PR specificity thus appears to be directed against non-idiotypic determinants present in Fv regions. Affinity immunoblotting was used to analyze clonality of PR in the sera collected from individual rabbits during the course of an active immune response. PR-positive sera displayed clonally restricted spectrotype patterns. PR molecules were predominantly IgG with isoelectric points of 5.9–6.8. These results strongly suggest that these PR molecules are coded by a small number of V region genes.
LOW FREQUENCY VARIATION IN ECONOMIC TIME SERIES

SUMMARY In recent years a number of investigators have suggested that many economic time series exhibit significant long-run variations about an upward trend as well as short-run business fluctuations. However, several recent studies in which spectrum-analytic techniques have been employed reach negative conclusions with respect to the significance of long swings in economic activity. This paper is concerned with some of the basic problems associated with the use of spectrum estimates to test the significance of low-frequency variation in economic time series. An examination of the problem of low-frequency resolution, inadequate trend removal, low-frequency bias due to least-squares trend elimination, and the variance of low-frequency estimates leads to a qualification of some of the earlier spectrum-analytic results. This study suggests that while there is some evidence of long swings in economic activity, the problems inherent in the analysis of low-frequency variation make it extremely difficult to ascertain the statistical signifiance of these long cycles.
Image sharpness metric-based deformable mirror control for beam projection systems operating in strong scintillation

We describe a new approach to controlling the deformable mirror in beam projection systems operating in conditions of strong scintillation. Under the conditions of interest, two-way propagation is required to create the light used for wavefront sensing. In this situation, the beacon can subtend an angle that is many times larger than the isoplanatic angle. Our approach uses a nonlinear optimization-based technique to determine the deformable mirror (DM) figure which optimizes an image sharpness metric. This correction is applied to the outgoing laser beam with the goal of concentrating most of the laser's power on a small area of the target. The optimization algorithm chosen for this purpose is the simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA). Our results show that using phase-only conjugation with nonlinear optimization of an image sharpness metric can provide an improvement in encircled energy performance compared to phase-only conjugation with only linear Hartman wavefront sensor processing.
Performance of Musicians under Noise

Three groups of 10 college music students were exposed to different noise treatments while completing simple math problems. No significant differences were noted between groups.
Protection against early radiation injury to the microvasculature.

Abstract Early radiation injury in some species of higher vertebrates includes vascular damage that may result in circulatory stasis and death within a few hours after exposure. The chicken exhibits an early edema and hemoconcentration, and terminal events include widespread stasis and degenerative changes of the endothelium. Described in this report are the effects of protective procedures against early radiation injury to the microcirculation, studied in the extraembryonic membranes of the living, explanted, 3-day chick embryo. Early vascular damage after a lethal radiation exposure was reduced in embryos pretreated with a conditioning X-ray exposure, 4 hr before the second, or challenging, dose (a split exposure). A similar protective response was observed in irradiated embryos pretreated with the antiprotease, soybean trypsin inhibitor. These results suggest that resistive processes are active during the interval between exposures and that effects leading to vascular degeneration can be reversed or prevented at an early stage in development of the injury. The possible relation of activated or released hydrolases to the early microvascular damage is discussed.
Prussian Railway Administration

I. The period of early railway building and state aid extended from 1835 to 1849, during which there were no state railroads. The first general law regulating Prussian railways was passed in 1838comprehensive and detailed, providing for strict governmental control. From 1843 to 1849 the state assisted various private railways by guaranteeing a minimum interest to takers of stock, reserving to itself the right to take over the lines if the companies proved unable to profitably operate them. II. The first period of state railroads lasted from 1850 to 188o, during which private and public lines were co-existent. The first
Can children with language impairment be accurately identified using temporal processing measures? A simulation study.

Three simulation experiments were conducted to determine the basis of the high predictive accuracy (98%) of temporal processing variables for the identification of language impairment obtained by Tallal, Stark, and Mellits (1985). In the first two experiments, the stepwise discriminant analysis using a set of 160 arrays of random numbers to predict a dichotomous language status (either normal or disordered) resulted in an average accuracy rate of 86.3% in contrast with the 98% rate obtained by Tallal, Stark, and Mellits. The third experiment showed that a 95% accuracy rate could be obtained from an array of 160 variables that each may only account for about 1.5% variance in the language ability. These results emphasize the need for confirmatory studies when large data sets are used to identify a small set of predictor variables.
Effect of N-Acetyl Cysteine on Oxidative DNA Damage and the Frequency of DNA Deletions in Atm-Deficient Mice

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is a hereditary human disorder resulting in a wide variety of clinical manifestations, including progressive neurodegeneration, immunodeficiency, and high incidence of lymphoid tumors. Cells from patients with AT show genetic instability, hypersensitivity to radiation, and a continuous state of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress and genetic instability, including DNA deletions, are involved in carcinogenesis. We examined the effect of dietary supplementation with the thiol-containing antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) on levels of oxidative DNA damage and the frequency of DNA deletions in Atm-deficient (AT-mutated) mice. We confirmed that Atm-deficient mice display an increased frequency of DNA deletions (Bishop et al., Cancer Res 2000;60:395). Furthermore, we found that Atm-deficient mice have significantly increased levels of 8-OH deoxyguanosine, an indication of oxidative DNA damage. Dietary supplementation with NAC significantly reduced 8-OH deoxyguanosine level and the frequency of DNA deletions in Atm-deficient mice. These levels were similar to the levels in wild-type mice. Our findings demonstrate that NAC counteracts genetic instability and suggest that genetic instability may be a consequence of oxidative stress in Atm-deficient mice.
Two Signaling Mechanisms for Activation of αMβ2 Avidity in Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils

Circulating polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are quiescent, nonadherent cells that rapidly activate at sites of inflammation, where they develop the capacity to perform a repertoire of functions that are essential for host defense. Induction of integrin-mediated adhesion, which requires an increase in integrin avidity, is critical for the development of these effector functions. Although a variety of stimuli can activate integrins in PMN, the signaling cascades involved are unclear. Phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase has been implicated in integrin activation in a variety of cells, including PMN. In this work, we have examined activation of the PMN integrin alphaM beta2, assessing both adhesion and generation of the epitope recognized by the activation-specific antibody CBRM1/5. We have found that PI 3-kinase has a role in activation of alphaM beta2 by immune complexes, but we have found no role for it in alphaM beta2 activation by ligands for trimeric G protein-coupled receptors, including formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMLP), interleukin-8, and C5a. Cytochalasin D inhibition suggests a role for the actin cytoskeleton in immune complex activation of alphaM beta2, but cytochalasin has no effect on fMLP-induced activation. Similarly, immune complex activation of the Rac/Cdc42-dependent serine/threonine kinase Pak1 is blocked by PI 3-kinase inhibitors, but fMLP-induced activation is not. These results demonstrate that two signaling pathways exist in PMN for activation of alphaM beta2. One, induced by FcgammaR ligation, is PI 3-kinase-dependent and requires the actin cytoskeleton. The second, initiated by G protein-linked receptors, is PI 3-kinase-independent and cytochalasin-insensitive. Pak1 may be in a final common pathway leading to activation of alphaM beta2.
Broadband Operation Of Erbium-Doped Silica-Based Fiber Lasers

Two high power, broadband, 1.55 µm sources utilizing an erbium-doped silica-based single mode fiber pumped at 0.5145 p.m are presented. The first source is a non resonant superfluorescent fiber laser. With proper selection of the fiber length, it exhibits an output power of 5 mW and a bandwidth of 19 nm for an absorbed pump power of 460 mW. Spectral variations with pump power and/or fiber length, in particular spectral shape, center wavelength and spectral narrowing, are investigated. The second source is a resonant fiber laser with an intracavity acousto-optic modulator which, when frequency modulated at a rate lower than 1 kHz, produces modulation of the laser wavelength over 9 nm with an output power in excess of 5 mW.
Distributed modelling of propagation of computer viruses/worms by partial differential equations

Two distributed Partial Differential Equations-based (PDES-based) mathematical models of propagation of computer viruses are derived for the first time. It is shown that experimental studies and inverse problems should be two main topics of further research of these models. The recently developed so-called globally convergent convexification numerical method of the author and Timonov is a good candidate to be a base of corresponding inverse algorithms. †Dedicated to Professor Wei Lin on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
Redesign of backstepping for robustness against unmodelled dynamics

We present a redesign method to robustify backstepping control laws against linear unmodelled dynamics at the input of the plant. The admissible unmodelled dynamics are relative degree zero and minimum phase. We prove that the redesign ensures global boundedness and convergence of the closed-loop solutions to an arbitrarily small compact set around the origin. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Process Development of Voriconazole: A Novel Broad-Spectrum Triazole Antifungal Agent

In the synthesis of (2R,3S)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(5-fluoro-4-pyrimidinyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-butanol (voriconazole), the relative stereochemistry is set in the addition of a 4-(1-metalloethyl)-5-fluoropyrimidine derivative to 1-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethanone. The diastereocontrol of this reaction has been examined by variation of pyrimidine substitution pattern and by changes in the metalation and reaction conditions. Excellent diastereoselection (12:1) is obtained using an organozinc derivative of 6-(1-bromoethyl)-4-chloro-5-fluoropyrimidine. After removal of the chlorine from the pyrimidine ring, the absolute stereochemistry of voriconazole is established via a diastereomeric salt resolution process using (1R)-10-camphorsulfonic acid. Synthetic routes to the pyrimidine partner have also been evaluated. The initial six-step development route from 5-fluorouracil has been superseded by a four-step synthesis involving fluorination of methyl 3-oxopentanoate and cyclisa...
Critical analysis of the pediatric end-stage liver disease scoring system: A single center experience

The Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease (PELD) scoring system is a new nationally utilized formula developed to provide a continuous numerical assessment of the risk of death in order to allocate livers to children for transplantation. A retrospective review of the clinical course of children undergoing liver transplantation at the Mount Sinai Medical Center was performed in order to assess the effectiveness of this scoring system in the first 24 months of its utilization. Forty-eight patients underwent liver transplantation with overall patient and graft survival rates of 98% and 96%, respectively. In 23 cases the PELD scoring system determined waiting time for transplantation. Of these 23 patients, 7 moved to the intensive care unit (ICU). Only 2 of 23 patients underwent transplantation with their actual PELD score. The rest required petition for exception (17) or status 1 listing (4). Significant morbidity occurred while awaiting transplantation: failure to thrive (78%), ascites (73%), hemorrhage (49%), infectious complications (39%), encephalopathy (30%), peritonitis (17%), pathologic bone fractures (13%), and hepatopulmonary syndrome (9%). In patients with PELD scores granted by exception the average score that did not yield a liver offer was 38 with an average waiting time of 55 days. At the time of transplantation actual PELD score averaged 22, while the petitioned score was 40. Based upon our center's initial experience, the current PELD scoring system is not adequate. Actual PELD scores did not lead to timely allocation of livers to children. It appears that this scoring system underestimates the near-term risk of death. Urgent reassessment is required to prevent potential morbidity and mortality in children. In conclusion the United Network for Organ Sharing policy that permits granting of exceptions has circumvented these problems with the PELD scoring system.
Rayleigh scattering in fluoride glass optical fibres

The present study has verified for the first time the explicit λ−4 Rayleigh behaviour of light scattering in fluoride glass optical fibres and has projected an ultra-low Rayleigh scattering loss of at least 0.012 dB/km at 4 μm.
Low-Cost Indoor Location Management for Robots Using IR Leds and an IR Camera

Many applications in wireless sensor networks can benefit from position information. However, existing accurate solutions for indoor environments are costly. Radio-Frequency (RF)-based approaches are not suitable for some indoor environments such as factory floors where heavy machinery can cause interference. We propose a low-cost and simple location management system using infrared (IR) leds and the Wii Remote Controller (WRC) which has an IR camera. The proposed solution is motivated by the need to find the location of a mobile robot used for data collection in a wireless sensor network. In the proposed schemes, the WRC is placed vertically on the mobile robot pointing upward and IR leds are placed irregularly on the ceiling. The mobile robot determines its position using the relative positions of the IR leds detected by the WRC. The WRC senses a few IR leds at a time, and they are differentiated using the irregularity among them. We analyze the problem theoretically and show that there exist limitations for covering large areas. We also discuss how to overcome these limitations. For small coverage areas, we provide optimal solutions using linear programming. The proposed scheme uses the resources efficiently and can cover a large area using a single WRC and multiple IR leds. We have simulation results including nonvertical placements of the WRC. The proposed scheme is easy to implement and requires minimal bandwidth for location management.
Hypotonic Activation of Volume-sensitive Outwardly Rectifying Anion Channels (VSOACs) Requires Coordinated Remodeling of Subcortical and Perinuclear Actin Filaments

Cell volume regulation requires activation of volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying anion channels (VSOACs). The actin cytoskeleton may participate in the activation of VSOACs but the roles of the two major actin pools remain undefined. We hypothesized that structural reorganization of both subcortical and perinuclear actin filaments (F-actin) contributes to the hypotonic activation of VSOACs. Hypotonic stress of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) was associated with reorganization of both peripheral and perinuclear F-actin, and with activation of VSOACs. Preincubation with cytochalasin D caused prominent dissociation of perinuclear, but not of subcortical F-actin. Cytochalasin D failed to induce isotonic activation and delayed the hypotonic activation of VSOACs. F-actin stabilization by phalloidin delayed both the hypotonic stress-induced dissociation of membrane-associated actin filaments and the activation kinetics of VSOACs. PKCe, which was proposed to phosphorylate and inhibit VSOACs, colocalized primarily with F-actin and the net kinase activity remained unchanged during hypotonic cell swelling. In conclusion, normal hypotonic activation of VSOACs requires disruption of peripheral F-actin but intact perinuclear F-actin; interference with this pattern of actin reorganization delays the activation kinetics of VSOACs. The cell swelling-induced peripheral actin dissociation may underlie the observed translocation of PKCe, which leads to a net decrease of PKCe inhibitory activity in submembranous sites. Thus, reorganization of actin and PKCe may establish conditions for mechano- and/or signal transduction-mediated activation of VSOACs.
Structural description of images using image algebra

A common perception among researchers who are only superficially acquainted with image algebra is that although convolutions and morphological operations are easily expressible in the language of image algebra, higher level image operations, such as structural descriptions of scene content, are outside the realm of image algebra. The purpose of this paper is to dispel this perception by providing examples of structural descriptions of images using image algebra. Specifically, we present structural descriptions such as adjacency and inclusion relationships between regions of regionally-segmented images and quadtree representation of binary images, and show how these can be concisely expressed in image algebra.
WOMEN, MEN, AND PATRIARCHAL BARGAINING IN AN ISLAMIC SUFI ORDER The Tijaniyya in Kano, Nigeria, 1937 to the Present

This article describes the rules and scripts that operate in a sub-Saharan African system, the Tijaniyya Islamic Sufi order in Kano, Nigeria. It analyzes the patriarchal bargains between women and men in the order and reveals how the actions of Muslim women with positions of spiritual authority were both independent and shaped by the order's patriarchy. The author argues that larger shifts across several decades in the Islamic world, the international Tijaniyya leadership, and the Nigerian state allowed Kano Tijaniyya women to act differently and increase their spiritual authority and personal autonomy without breaking the rules of their bargain. The author concludes by suggesting that analyses of other Muslim societies may lead to a better understanding of which strategies lead to women's marginalization and which strategies result in successful bargaining.
Evolution of SiC nanocluster from carbon fullerene: A density functional theoretic study

Abstract Stability of SiC fullerene type structures is still an unsolved issue as no experimental confirmation has been reported so far regarding its existence. However, theoretical reports are available in the literature where carbon fullerenes were taken as base models for SiC fullerene structures. In this present Letter we show by a systematic study on the C 20 fullerene that this approach may not always produce the ground state structure in fullerene form. Instead, the energetically favorable structure could be highly distorted and open structure. However, we observed a very systematic linear trend in the evolution of binding energies of SiC clusters from the carbon fullerene.
Mirrored images: the Passion and the First Crusade in a fourteenth-century Parisian illuminated manuscript (Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, MS fr. 352)

This lavish mid-fourteenth-century Parisian illuminated manuscript (Paris, Bibliotheque nationale de France, MS fr. 352) combines a description of the Holy Land with an abridged version of the history and continuations of William of Tyre in Old French known as the Eracles. It is both visually familiar to scholars and under-studied. Several of its Gothic panel miniatures, especially folio 62r, the conquest of Jerusalem, have been published more than once, yet the manuscript's illumination programme as a whole has not been assessed since Jaroslav Folda's 1968 doctoral dissertation. Analysis of folio 62r in the context of both the full illumination programme and the manuscript's historical setting reveals that MS fr. 352 speaks to the desire of mid-fourteenth-century French nobility to see the chivalric present mirrored by the crusading past, the new Western ‘holy land’ of Paris mirrored by the true locus sanctus of Jerusalem, and the Passion mirrored by the First Crusade.
Extracranial internal carotid artery dissection with unusual gadolinium enhancement

The exact mechanisms and etiology of spontaneous carotid artery dissection (sCAD) are unknown, but evidence supports both environmental exposures and ultrastructural abnormalities of collagen as contributing factors.1,2 MRI classically reveals a semilunar hyperintensity on fat-suppressed T1- and T2-weighted images, thought to be due to a tear in the intimal layer with extravasation of blood between this layer and the media.3 Recent evidence of microhemorrhages, other cellular debris, and phagocytes in between the medial and adventitial layers of undissected arteries in patients with sCAD suggests that injury is not limited to the medial layers and involves inflammatory immune responses.4 We present a case of sCAD with early progression and marked gadolinium enhancement suggestive of acute inflammation. A 61-year-old right-handed woman with hypertension and prior ductal carcinoma in situ of the right breast treated with lumpectomy, radiation therapy, and hormonal therapy presented with transient left eye blurriness followed by right hand weakness and trouble speaking. These symptoms lasted 25 minutes before spontaneously remitting. She had no other neurologic complaints except for mild …
Novel images and novel locations of familiar images as sensitive translational cognitive tests in humans

Object recognition is a sensitive cognitive test to detect effects of genetic and environmental factors on cognition in rodents. There are various versions of object recognition that have been used since the original test was reported by Ennaceur and Delacour in 1988. There are nonhuman primate and human primate versions of object recognition as well, allowing cross-species comparisons. As no language is required for test performance, object recognition is a very valuable test for human research studies in distinct parts of the world, including areas where there might be less years of formal education. The main focus of this review is to illustrate how object recognition can be used to assess cognition in humans under normal physiological and neurological conditions.
Elemental Abundances for Stellar S-Process Studies

Nuclear reaction network calculations of heavy element enhancements are tabulated for different values of the mean neutron exposure τ0. These tables are useful for comparison with observeds-process abundance patterns which appear to span a wide range in τ0.
Human aortocoronary grafts and nitric oxide release: relationship to pulsatile pressure

Abstract Background . Short and long-term failure of saphenous vein grafts continues to be a significant problem for cardiac surgeons. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the early adaptive changes of human artery and vein conduits with respect to nitric oxide (NO) production under various pressure and pulsatile distention conditions. Methods . Real-time amperometric NO determinations were made in an in vitro model using human saphenous vein segments (n = 12) and internal thoracic artery segments (n = 8) between 70 and 170 mm Hg, under static conditions recorded with a pressure transducer. Exposing the tissue to morphine (10 −6 M) also stimulated NO release. Under conditions in which the conduits were exposed to the respective pressures for 1 hour, they were then examined for their granulocyte-adhering potential using computer-assisted imaging techniques. Results . A pressure-dependent decrease of NO release was found after 32 minutes of pulsatile pressure (170 mm Hg) in artery and vein, the latter of which appeared to be affected more negatively ( p p Conclusions . Increased pressure and cyclic distention lead to loss of NO release and increased immunocyte adhesion, which are significantly more pronounced in saphenous vein than in internal thoracic artery, suggesting that in the long term this may contribute to the failure of saphenous vein conduits in coronary revascularization.
The (1 × 1) structure of Si(111): Strong correlations in surface state bands?

Abstract It is shown that a model in which surface states in the semiconductor gap ale described by the Hubbard model yields an interpretation of photoemission from the (1 × 1) Structure of Si(111) which is compatible with the relaxed upper layer structure extracted from analyses of low energy electron diffraction intensities. The model predicts a low temperature antiferromagnetic ground state for the two-dimensional surface state electron fluid. This state should be observable experimentally.
Synthesis and Facile One-pot Aldol/Elimination/Diels-Alder Reaction of ß-Keto-Z-Dienylamides as Cytochalasin C Intermediates1

Abstract The coupling of chiral dienylamine 1ZE with s-ketoesters and subsequent one-pot aldol reaction with derivatives of glyoxylic acid, acetylation of the hydroxyester thus produced, and intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction of the diene portion of the molecule with the incipient dienophile is described. The entire sequence generates all of the requisite chiral centers in the isoindolone skeleton of cytochalasin C simultaneously, in an overall yield of approximately 85%.
Abstract 2345: Combined inhibition of protein kinase C and MEK is a rational therapeutic approach for melanomas with GNAQ or GNA11 mutations.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignant tumor in adults. There currently is no effective treatment for metastatic UM. UM differs from cutaneous melanoma in that it lacks BRAF, NRAS, or KIT mutations but instead harbors mutations in the Gαq family members GNAQ and GNA11 in over 80 to 90% of cases. Understanding the downstream effector pathways of these oncoproteins is of considerable interest to identify opportunities for targeted therapy. Using 293T cells, immortalized mouse and human melanocytes, we find that GNAQQ209L or GNA11Q209L induce activation of the protein kinase C (PKC) and MAPK pathways. ShRNA mediated knock-down of mutant GNAQ abrogates both PKC and MAPK activation in human melanoma cell lines or model systems. Using two different PKC inhibitors we found selective extinction of PKC and MAPK signalling and induction of G1 arrest in panels of melanoma cell lines carrying GNAQ or GNA11 mutations, whereas no such effect was observed in melanoma cell lines with other mutations. MAPK activation occurred downstream of activated PKC in cells with GNAQ or GNA11 mutations. In contrast to PKC inhibitors, which selectively inhibited the growth of melanoma cell lines with GNAQ or GNA11 mutations, the MEK inhibitor PD0325901 inhibited melanoma cell lines irrespective of their GNAQ/11 mutation status. In vivo the PKC inhibitor AEB071 slowed the growth of tumors in an allograft model of GNAQQ209L transduced melanocytes, but did not induce tumor shrinkage. Analysis of tumor lysates identified suppression of PKC signaling but not of MAP-kinase pathway signaling under chronic PKC inhibition. The rebound of MAP-kinase activation could be overcome using a combination of AEB071 with the MEK inhibitor PD0325901, which showed strong synergy in halting proliferation and in inducing apoptosis. Our data suggest that PKC is a rational therapeutic target for melanoma patients with GNAQ or GNA11 mutations and indicate that a combination therapy with MEK inhibitor is superior to treatment with either approach alone. Citation Format: Xu Chen, Qiuxia Wu, Boris C. Bastian. Combined inhibition of protein kinase C and MEK is a rational therapeutic approach for melanomas with GNAQ or GNA11 mutations. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2345. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2345
Pumped Storage Using Inclined-Axis Units at Trunman Dam

A general description is given, of the hydro-electric facility at the Harry S. Truman Dam and Reservoir near Warsaw, Missouri. The project incorporates pumped storage using the Lake of the Ozarks as its afterbay. The plant's six units are the largest inclined-axis units yet installed by the Corps of Engineers, and were an attempt to find an economical low head hydro design. The combination of pumped storage and inclined-axis technology has resulted in some unique construction problems which are discussed at length. The facility is currently in the final stages of construction and testing and should be completed in 1980.
Sunlight and dysplastic nevus risk. Results of a clinic-based case-control study

The dysplastic nevus (DN) is the most important risk factor and precursor for malignant melanoma. The authors compared the responses of 132 consecutive cases of DN, 186 consecutive cases of cutaneous melanoma, and 239 controls attending the same subspecialty clinic to questions regarding sun sensitivity, sun exposure, and other possible risk factors. Dysplastic nevus cases were younger than controls and were of a higher social class, as indicated by more years of formal education. Sun sensitivity (assessed by reported depth of tan after multiple exposures) was associated with both DN risk and melanoma risk after controlling for age and education in logistic regression analysis (P = 0.009 and 0.03, respectively), but for DN risk this association was nonlinear: the relative risks (versus deep tan) were 2.3 for average tanners, 2.8 for light tanners, and 1.6 for those who reported practically no tan. Sun exposure measures were not associated with DN risk after controlling for age and education, whether or not depth of tan was controlled in the analysis. These observations suggest a role for either sunlight or a trait linked with sun sensitivity in the development of dysplastic nevi.
Transforming provenance using redaction

Ongoing mutual relationships among entities rely on sharing quality information while preventing release of sensitive content. Provenance records the history of a document for ensuring both, the quality and trustworthiness; while redaction identifies and removes sensitive information from a document. Traditional redaction techniques do not extend to the directed graph representation of provenance. In this paper, we propose a graph grammar approach for rewriting redaction policies over provenance. Our rewriting procedure converts a high level specification of a redaction policy into a graph grammar rule that transforms a provenance graph into a redacted provenance graph. Our prototype shows that this approach can be effectively implemented using Semantic Web technologies.
The Golden Radius in Balanced Atmospheric Flows

AbstractIn gradient-balanced, cyclonic flow around low pressure systems, a golden radius exists where RG, the gradient-wind Rossby number, is ϕ−1 = 0.618 034, the inverse golden ratio. There, the geostrophic, cyclostrophic, and inertia-circle approximations to the wind all produce equal magnitudes. The ratio of the gradient wind to any of these approximations is ϕ−1. In anomalous (anticyclonic) flow around a low, the golden radius falls where RG = −ϕ = −1.618 034, and the magnitude of the ratio of the anomalous wind to any of the two-term approximations is ϕ. In normal flow, the golden radius marks the transition between more-nearly cyclostrophic and more-nearly geostrophic regimes. In anomalous flow, it marks the transition between more-nearly cyclostrophic (anticyclonic) and inertia-circle regimes. Over a large neighborhood surrounding the golden radius, averages of the geostrophic and cyclostrophic winds weighted as ϕ−2 and ϕ−3 are good approximations to the gradient wind. In high pressure systems Rg, ...
Returns from research in economies with policy distortions: hybrid sorghum in Sudan

Conventional estimates of the economic return to agricultural research use market prices for the values of products and inputs; on this basis, economic rates of return are typically well above the cost of capital, suggesting that more investment in research would be socially desirable. But these estimates may be incorrect if, as is often the case, market prices are distorted by market failures or government policies and hence do not reflect social values. This paper presents a simple, partial-equilibrium methodology with which to improve the measurement of social returns to research by taking account of multiple distortions in the market prices of products, inputs and foreign exchange. The method also takes account of variation in domestic and world prices, making a product tradable in some years and nontradable in others. The method is applied to the case of Hageen-Dura 1 (HD-1), Sub-Saharan Africa's first commercially successful hybrid sorghum. HD-1 was released in the Sudan in 1983. From the start of research in 1979 to 1992, the HD-1 breeding program had an estimated IRR of 97% when all major policies in the sorghum market, the fertilizer market, and the exchange rate are taken into account. The high rate of return to HD-1 research was due to the program's low cost and rapid payoff, pointing to the potential value of small adaptive research programs, taking full advantage of foreign technology and genetic material to produce locally-appropriate crosses in a short period of time. Even in the highly distorted economies of Africa, such programs can yield very high payoffs.
Photonic NoCs: System-Level Design Exploration

Network-on-chip is a key enabling technology to address the challenges of interconnecting the increasing number of cores in emerging chip multiprocessors. By leveraging recent advances in the CMOS integration of photonic devices and the unique properties of the optical medium, photonic NoCs offer a promising solution to meet the communication requirements of chip multiprocessors with minimal draw from their power budget.
MRI of the left atrium: predicting clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a significant public health burden, with clinically, epidemiologically and economically significant repercussions. In the last decade, catheter ablation has provided an improvement in morbidity and quality of life, significantly reducing long-term healthcare costs and avoiding recurrences compared with drug therapy. Despite recent progress in techniques, current catheter ablation success rates fall short of expectations. Late gadolinium-enhancement cardiovascular MRI is a well-established tool to image the myocardium and, most specifically, the left atrium. Unique imaging protocols allow for left atrial structural remodeling and fibrosis assessment, which has been demonstrated to correlate with clinical outcomes after catheter ablation, assessment of the individual's risks of thromboembolic events, and effective imaging of patients with left atrial appendage thrombus. Late gadolinium-enhancement MRI aids in the individualized treatment of atrial fibrillation, stratifying recurrence risk and guiding specific ablation strategies. Real-time MRI offers significant safety and effectiveness profiles that would optimize the invasive treatment of atrial fibrillation.
The Ubiquitination Machinery of the Ubiquitin System

The protein ubiquitin is a covalent modifier of proteins, including itself. The ubiquitin system encompasses the enzymes required for catalysing attachment of ubiquitin to substrates as well as proteins that bind to ubiquitinated proteins leading them to their final fate. Also included are activities that remove ubiquitin independent of, or in concert with, proteolysis of the substrate, either by the proteasome or proteases in the vacuole. In addition to ubiquitin encoded by a family of fusion proteins, there are proteins with ubiquitin-like domains, likely forming ubiquitin's β-grasp fold, but incapable of covalent modification. However, they serve as protein-protein interaction platforms within the ubiquitin system. Multi-gene families encode all of these types of activities. Within the ubiquitination machinery “half” of the ubiquitin system are redundant, partially redundant, and unique components affecting diverse developmental and environmental responses in plants. Notably, multiple aspects of biotic...
A case of an unusual hernia associated with gastrointestinal bleeding.

Abstract Background Acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleed is a well-known presentation to the emergency department (ED) frequently accompanied by hematemesis. We describe the case of a patient with abdominal content herniation into the chest wall with a recent history of coronary artery bypass graft presenting with acute onset of hematemesis. Objectives To present an exceedingly rare herniation of abdominal contents into the chest wall that was accompanied by hematemesis and to present the rare visual findings inherent in this pathology. Case Report A 65-year-old man presented to the ED vomiting large amounts of blood upon presentation, compromising hemodynamic stability and prompting emergent resuscitation. The patient’s presentation was complicated by a large 30 × 40-cm anterior chest wall mass extending 2 cm inferior to the sternal notch expanding with each episode of hematemesis. Computed tomography after stabilization revealed a large ventral hernia extending into the chest wall, containing small and large bowel. We suspected this large, unusual hernia to be the underlying cause of the patient’s GI bleeding. Conclusion The emergency physician must be able to assess hemodynamic stability of an upper GI bleed and resuscitate the unstable patient if warranted. Diagnosis is to be subsequently determined after stabilization.
Repression of Major Histocompatibility Complex Genes by a Human Trophoblast Ribonucleic Acid

The suppression of polymorphic major histocompatibility complex antigen expression in human trophoblasts is critical for the avoidance of a cell-mediated immune response by maternal lymphocytes against cells expressing paternal antigens. In this study, a repressor of major histocompatibility complex gene expression was cloned by negative immunoselection using a trophoblast cDNA expression library in interferon-gamma-responsive human cells. The sequence of this regulatory gene was analyzed, and the functions of the transfected cDNA or microinjected gene product were examined in interferon-gamma-responsive cells by immunocytochemical methods. The repressor, called TSU-- trophoblast STAT (signal transducers and activators of transcription) utron (untranslated region of an mRNA)--reduced STAT1 nuclear translocation and suppressed major histocompatibility complex class II antigen expression at high doses of interferon-gamma and class I expression at low doses of interferon-gamma. TSU encoded a small, untranslated poly-A+-RNA that appeared to bind STAT1 through pairs of motifs analogous to STAT-binding promoter sequences. These promoter-like motifs, but no open reading frame, were conserved in a TSU-related gene in goats. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that TSU was expressed as a 0. 5-kilobase (kb) RNA in placenta and as an ubiquitous 4.4-kb RNA. TSU expression may protect trophoblasts from immune attack and promote the survival of the placenta and fetus.
International Skills for Managers: Integrating International and Managerial Skill Leaming

Current US skills courses are strongly influenced by studies done in the US. Are they relevant for international managers? This study identifies and com pares skills seen as important in US and int...
Spark‐Plasma Sintering of Silicon Carbide Whiskers (SiCw) Reinforced Nanocrystalline Alumina

The combined effect of rapid sintering by spark-plasma-sintering (SPS) technique and mechanical milling of γ-Al2O3 nanopowder via high-energy ball milling (HEBM) on the microstructural development and mechanical properties of nanocrystalline alumina matrix composites toughened by 20 vol% silicon carbide whiskers was investigated. SiCw/γ-Al2O3 nanopowders processed by HEBM can be successfully consolidated to full density by SPS at a temperature as low as 1125°C and still retain a near-nanocrystalline matrix grain size (∼118 nm). However, to densify the same nanopowder mixture to full density without the benefit of HEBM procedure, the required temperature for sintering was higher than 1200°C, where one encountered excessive grain growth. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results indicated that HEBM did not lead to the transformation of γ-Al2O3 to α-Al2O3 of the starting powder but rather induced possible residual stress that enhances the densification at lower temperatures. The SiCw/HEBMγ-Al2O3 nanocomposite with grain size of 118 nm has attractive mechanical properties, i.e., Vickers hardness of 26.1 GPa and fracture toughness of 6.2 MPa·m1/2.
Ultrastructure and Transport Across Epithelial Membranes

For epithelia, all too frequently this or that ultrastructure is spoken of as "absorptive" or "(secretory." Correlation between structure and function must relate to phenomena, such as the apparent active transport of weak electrolytes or water, that are unique for the epithelium. The macroscopic tubule of the gastric mucosa cannot sequester the active transport of hydrochloric acid from the solution bathing the mucosa. In the absence of both intracellular canaliculi and a microvillous border from the amphibian parietal cell, by exclusion, the endoplasmic reticulum or the plasma membrane proper must be considered as possible structures responsible for the sequestration.