cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estradiol enhances prostaglandin synthase activity in epithelial but not in stromal cells of human endometrium.

Abstract Exogenous estradiol (E 2 ) has been shown to elevate PGF 2α output by explants of human secretory endometrium and in monolayer cultures of glandular epithelial, but not of stromal cells isolated from endometrium. In this study, PGF 2α output was measured in each of these cultures in the presence of E 2 and the calcium ionophore A23187, added singly or in combination. The ionophore, known to liberate arachidonic acid (AA) by stimulating phospholipase activity, produced a calcium-dependent increase in PGF 2α output in the cultures of epithelial cells, whereas greater than additive effects were obtained with mixtures of E 2 and A23187. In contrast, PGF 2α levels were not elevated by A23187 in the stromal cell cultures even in medium supplemented with CaCl 2 or when E 2 was added. A calcium-dependent increase in PGF 2α output was also observed in fragments of secretory endometrium incubated with A23187. Effects on PGF 2α output by endometrial fragments incubated with E 2 and A23187 were essentially additive and intermediate between those of the two component cells types. Arachidonic acid produced similar increases in PGF 2α output in the epithelial and stromal cell cultures but only in the epithelial cell cultures was there greater utilization of AA in the presence of Ez. When mixtures of Ez and AA were added to the cultures of epithelial cells the increase in PGF 2α output was 2.5-fold greater than the sum of the increases elicited by E 2 or AA alone. In contrast, no enhancement of the AA effect by E 2 was observed in the stromal cell cultures. Extrapolation of these results from cell cultures to intact tissue suggests that the epithelium and not the stroma is the primary target for the effects of E 2 on PGF 2α output by secretory endometrium. The synergistic actions of E 2 and either AA, the obligatory precursor of PGF 2α , or A23187, an enhancer of AA release from phospholipid stores, point to a stimulatory effect of E 2 on prostaglandin synthase activity.
Characterization of mutant spectra generated by a forward mutational assay for gene A of ΦX174 from ENU-treated transgenic mouse embryonic cell line PX-2

The sensitivity of in vivo transgenic mutation assays benefits from the sequencing of mutations, although the large number of possible mutations hinders high throughput sequencing. A forward mutational assay exists for ΦX174 that requires an altered, functional ΦX174 protein and therefore should have fewer targets (sense, base-pair substitutions) than forward assays that inactivate a protein. We investigated this assay to determine the number of targets and their suitability for detecting a known mutagen, N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU). We identified 25 target sites and 33 different mutations in ΦX174 gene A after sequencing over 350 spontaneous and ENU-induced mutants, mostly from mouse embryonic cell line PX-2 isolated from mice transgenic for ΦX174 am3,cs70 (line 54). All six types of base-pair substitution were represented among both the spontaneous and ENU-treated mutant spectra. The mutant spectra from cells treated with 200 and 400 μg/ml ENU were both highly different from the spontaneous spectrum (P < 0.000001) but not from each other. The dose trend was significant (P < 0.0001) for a linear regression of mutant frequencies (R2 = 0.79), with a ninefold increase in mutant frequency at the 400 μg/ml dose. The spontaneous mutant frequency was 1.9 × 10−5 and the spontaneous spectrum occurred at 11 target base pairs with 15 different mutations. Thirteen mutations at 12 targets were identified only from ENU-treated cells. Seven mutations had highly significant increases with ENU treatment (P < 0.0001) and 15 showed significant increases. The results suggest that the ΦX174 forward assay might be developed into a sensitive, inexpensive in vivo mutagenicity assay. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 39:55–68, 2002 Published 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Partial Characterization of the Cytoplasmic Domain of Human Kidney Band 3

The major anion exchanger in type A intercalated cells of the cortical and medullary collecting ducts of the human kidney is a truncated isoform of erythrocyte band 3 (AE1) that lacks the N-terminal 65 residues. Because this missing sequence has been implicated in the binding of ankyrin, protein 4.1, several glycolytic enzymes, hemoglobin, and hemichromes in erythrocytes, we have undertaken examination of the structure and peripheral protein interactions of this kidney isoform. The cytoplasmic domain of kidney band 3, kidney CDB3, was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. The kidney isoform exhibited a circular dichroism spectrum and Stokes radius similar to its larger erythrocyte counterpart. Kidney CDB3 was also observed to engage in the same conformational equilibrium characteristic of erythrocyte CDB3. In contrast, the tryptophan and cysteine clusters of kidney CDB3 behaved very differently from erythrocyte CDB3 in response to pH changes and oxidizing conditions. Furthermore, kidney CDB3 did not bind ankyrin, protein 4.1, or aldolase, and expression of erythrocyte CDB3 was toxic to its bacterial host, whereas expression of kidney CDB3 was not. Taken together, these data suggest that the absence of the N-terminal 65 amino acids in kidney CDB3 eliminates the major function currently ascribed to CDB3 in erythrocytes, i.e. that of peripheral protein binding. The primary function of residues 66-379 found in kidney CDB3 thus remains to be elucidated.
Echocardiographic evidence of aortopulmonary collaterals in premature infants after closure of ductus arteriosus

Echocardiographic evidence of aortopulmonary collaterals in premature infants after closure of ductus arteriosus 972
Applications to cryptography of twisting commutative algebraic groups

We give an overview on twisting commutative algebraic groups and applications to discrete log-based cryptography. We explain how discrete log-based cryptography over extension fields can be reduced to cryptography in primitive subgroups. Primitive subgroups in turn are part of a general theory of tensor products of commutative algebraic groups and Galois modules (or twists of commutative algebraic groups), and this underlying mathematical theory can be used to shed light on discrete log-based cryptosystems. We give a number of concrete examples, to illustrate the definitions and results in an explicit way.
Transcriptional Activation following Cerebral Ischemia in Mice of a Promoter-deleted Nitric Oxide Synthase-2 Gene

Abstract Nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-2 is transcriptionally activated in a wide variety of injurious conditions, including cerebral ischemia, and the resulting nitric oxide is implicated both in tissue damage and recovery. Studies in vitro suggest that the proximal region of the NOS-2 promoter is obligatory for gene activation by proinflammatory cytokines. However, following cerebral ischemia in a NOS-2 gene-deficient mouse in which this region and exons 1–4 have been deleted, we find temporal and spatial expression, identical to wild-type, from a previously unidentified promoter region. The resulting protein is predicted to lack the first 113 amino acids and is NOS-2-incompetent. Fortuitously, this gene-deficient mouse presents a unique opportunity to determine more about the mechanisms of NOS-2 gene regulation in vivo.
Comparison of structural and hemostatic properties of the poly‐N‐acetyl glucosamine Syvek Patch with products containing chitosan

Polysaccharides are becoming increasingly developed as therapeutics and medical products, as the new field of Glycomics expands. Glycosaminoglycans that contain N-acetyl glucosamine constituents have been the focus of research leading to medical devices. A new hemostatic bandage, the Syvek Patch, has been introduced in the recent past for the control of bleeding at vascular access sites in interventional cardiology and radiology procedures. This product consists of poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (pGlcNAc) isolated in a unique fiber crystalline structural form from the large-scale culture and processing of a marine diatom. The Syvek pGlcNAc fiber material has chemical, physical, and biological properties that result in its favorable performance as a hemostat. Two new products, the Clo-Sur PAD and ChitoSeal, have recently become available also as patch hemostats. These two products both use chitosan, another N-acetyl glucosamine containing glycosaminoglycan, as their active ingredient. Structural, chemical, and biological comparisons of Syvek pGlcNAc and chitosan reveal a number of important differences. Syvek pGlcNAc fibers contain approximately 50 fully acetylated, high molecular weight pGlcNAc molecules in a crystalline, three-dimensional beta structure array, and are insoluble. Chitosan is a low molecular weight mixed amorphous cationic polymer with no regular structure as a solid, and is water-soluble taking on a random coil configuration when in solution. These structural dissimilarities result in differences in the hemostatic properties of the two materials. Syvek pGlcNAc is able to significantly reduce the in vitro fibrin clot formation time of platelet-rich plasma samples and has the ability to cause aggregation of red blood cells in vitro. Chitosan is no better than gauze or other controls in these in vitro assays. The Syvek Patch is able to control the bleeding and cause hemostasis in a coagulopathic swine spleen-bleeding animal model 100% of the time, whereas Clo-Sur PAD was completely unsuccessful (0%) and ChitoSeal (25%) was worse than a gauze pad control (50%) in the same model. Syvek pGlcNAc fibers have structural and chemical properties that provide a unique basis for their ability to interact with blood components to cause hemostasis. Chitosan does not have the same properties and capabilities.
Autoradiographic-based phantoms for emission tomography

In the development of reconstruction algorithms in emission computed tomography (ECT), digital phantoms designed to mimic the presumed spatial distribution of radionuclide activity in a human are extensively used. Given the low spatial resolution in ECT, it is usually presumed that a crude phantom, usually with a constant activity level within an anatomically derived region, is sufficiently realistic for testing. Here, we propose that phantoms may be improved by assigning biologically realistic patterns of activity in more precisely delineated regions. Animal autoradiography is proposed as a source of realistic activity and anatomy. We discus the basics of radiopharmaceutical autoradiography and discuss aspects of using such data for a brain phantom. A few crude simulations with brain phantoms derived from animal data are shown.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An agglomerative query model for discovery in linked data: semantics and approach

Data on the Web is increasingly being used for discovery and exploratory tasks. Unlike traditional fact-finding tasks that require only the typical single-query and response paradigm, these tasks involve a multistage search process in which bits of information are accumulated over a series of related queries. The ability and effectiveness of users to connect the dots between these pieces of information are crucial to enable discovery. In this paper, we introduce the notion of agglomerative querying for supporting "search processes" and present its motivation, challenges and formalization. We focus on a specific class of agglomerative querying called association agglomerative querying which is very natural for linked data models such as RDF. We present a preliminary implementation approach for processing such queries and discuss its relationship with SPARQL query processing. Finally, we present empirical results for proving the effectiveness of our approach on the DBLP dataset and future directions.
CSGT-DFT calculation of 13C and 15N NMR shielding of the backbone amide group, 13Cα, and 13Cβ in ω-Conotoxin GVIA

Abstract Density functional theory (DFT) combined with the continuous set of gauge transformations (CSGT) method was employed to calculate chemical shielding of the carbonyl carbon (13CO) and nitrogen (15N) atoms of the backbone amide groups in ω-conotoxin GVIA, as well as alpha carbon (13Cα) and beta carbon (13Cβ) shielding. Experimental 13C and 15N chemical shifts were determined using multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. The three-dimensional solution structure of ω-conotoxin GVIA was solved using a hybrid distance geometry-simulated annealing protocol. Peptide fragments with experimentally measured bond lengths, bond angles, and torsion angles were used as model structures in the CSGT-DFT calculations. Linear correlation plots were constructed to compare theoretical data with experiment.
On the energy of {100} coincidence twist boundaries in MgO

Abstract The energy of coincidence twist boundaries formed by rotation about a [100] axis in MgO crystals has been calculated using the Born-Mayer potential and rigid lattice approximation. It is found that the four prominent coincidence twist boundaries at 16.26, 22.62, 28.07, and 36.87° have local energy minima. The coincidence boundary formed by a rotation of 28.07° has a positive contribution to energy from the electrostatic term and therefore has the shallowest minima. This is in agreement with experimental observations on crystals of MgO smoke.
Establishment of a collaborative university-commercial maternal serum α-fetoprotein screening program: a model for tertiary center outreach

Abstract Expansion of the availability of tertiary level services beyond major medical centers has proved to be a major problem in health care delivery. Routine maternal serum α-fetoprotein screening for neural tube defects, and now also for aneuploidy, is a classic example in which there has been a schism between the clinical expertise to manage such a program within a tertiary level reproductive genetics center and the ability to reach patients in regions that are not routinely accessible to the tertiary center. To address this problem we have established a collaborative university-commercial laboratory statewide maternal serum α-fetoprotein program that we believe can serve as a model for others. In the first 4 months since its implementation, the program volume has increased tenfold. The detection frequency of neural tube defects has been consistent with that of other programs ( 1 1690 ). Three aneuploid karyotypes were found in amniotic fluid of 118 women
Reovirus activation by heating and inactivation by cooling in MgCl2 solutions

Abstract The infective titer of reovirus could be increased 4–8 times by heating at 50–55° for 5–15 minutes in 2 M MgCl 2 . Virus which could be thermally activated was produced early as well as late in the growth cycle. Only Mg ions have been found to enhance the titer of reovirus at 50°; other divalent cations and NaCl were without effect. While the titer of infectious virus could be increased, the titer of viral hemagglutinin remained the same as that of the unheated samples. Conversely the infectivity of the virus could be reduced and its hemagglutinin destroyed by exposing the virus to subzero temperatures in 2 M MgCl 2 or other divalent salts. Dispersion of the virus particles by heat and aggregation by cold did not play a role in the peculiar responses to temperature changes found for reovirus. The small fraction of the virus population (less than 0.1%) resistant to cold temperatures continued to yield progeny that were almost all cold-susceptible in the presence of MgCl 2 .
Nodal prices and transmission rights: A critical appraisal

This article challenges several prevalent claims about the role of nodal prices and transmission rights which underlie Poolco proposals. The application of nodal prices for pricing transmission services in networks with parallel path flows can have perverse consequences due to the interaction of power flows.
The use of framing devices to sequester organizational narratives: Hegemony and harassment

This empirical study of sexual harassment extends the current critical‐interpretive approaches to organizational communication by exploring and examining the role that framing devices play in sequestering stories that might otherwise challenge the dominant interests of organizations. Six framing devices are proposed and reviewed in terms of their relation to hegemony. A quota sample based on figures garnered from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics was selected. Working women were interviewed about their experiences with sexual harassment and their accounts were interpreted according to their reliance on the proposed framing techniques. The findings suggest that the most prominently employed framing devices by the subjugated group are trivialization, denotative hesitancy, and invoking the private domain or private expression. Furthermore, mutual negation, minimalization, self‐defacing, and self‐effacing/erasing emerged as framing techniques. The implication of these findings is that the subjugated group a...
Jahn-Teller coupling in the X E ground states of the CF O and CF S radicals ~ 2 3 3

The Jahn—Teller and spin—orbit coupling in the ground states of the CF3O and CF3S radicals have been investigated experimentally by dispersed fluorescence spectroscopy. These spectra are analysed using a theoretical model that simultaneously includes spin—orbit coupling and multimode Jahn—Teller coupling, both linear and quadratic. We find that in each of these radicals a moderate linear Jahn—Teller effect exists in ν6, with a much smaller coupling in ν5. These results are compared and contrasted with those for the related radicals CH3O and CH3S. The experimental data and theoretical analyses of these four radicals represent the most thorough investigations to date of the combined effects of spin—orbit and Jahn—Teller coupling.
A dynamic model for tail-actuated robotic fish with drag coefficient adaptation

In this paper we present a dynamic model for a tail-actuated robotic fish by merging rigid-body dynamics with Lighthill’s large-amplitude elongated-body theory. The model is validated with extensive experiments conducted on a robotic fish prototype. We investigate the role of incorporating the body motion in evaluating the tail-generated hydrodynamic force, and show that ignoring the body motion (as often done in the literature) results in significant overestimate of the thrust force and robot speed. By exploiting the strong correlation between the angle of attack and the tail-beat bias, a computationally efficient approach is further proposed to adapt the drag coefficients of the robotic fish, and its effectiveness is supported by experimental results.
Effects of Mass Discontinuity on the Numerical Solutions to Quantum Wells Using the Effective Mass Equation

This paper investigates the effects of mass dicontinuity on the numerical solutions to quantum wells using the effective mass equation. The numerical methods utilized are the finite element method with first-order elements, and the finite difference method with the entire truncated solution domain discretized by equally spaced nodes. The three Hamiltonians explored are the convention Hamiltonian, the BenDaniel and Duke Hamiltonian, and the Bastard Hamiltonian. It is shown that the proper discretization patterns for both numerical schemes may drastically improve the solution accuracy. The finite difference representation of the BenDaniel and Duke Hamiltonian using the direct mass average is found more accurate than the one using the harmonic mass average. It is further pointed out that, at the mass profile discontinuities, the commonly accepted interface conditions for the Bastard Hamiltonian are not natural conditions. This observation is critical if the Bastard Hamiltonian is to be solved numerically.
System specification with the SpecCharts language

The SpecCharts language, which builds on VHDL to meet the unique requirements of system-level specification and design, is described. With an underlying model of behavioral hierarchy, SpecCharts modeling constructs enable designers to capture system specifications simply and precisely. SpecCharts constructs facilitate system-level design tasks by permitting high-level communication, maintaining information, and allowing design modification at an easy-to-comprehend level. The results of system-level design tasks are reflected in a modified SpecCharts, enabling the designer to evaluate the quality of each step. A detailed example demonstrates the use of SpecCharts. >
Trial state for a two-dimensional hexatic

We investigate a possible trial state for liquid crystalline phases with hexatic order in two dimensions using a generalization of Laughlin's wave function for a 1/7-filled lowest Landau level. This state has possible applications for the understanding of recent experiments showing melting at ca. 135 mK of the Wigner crystal to a fractional quantum Hall state at low filling factors [Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 176802 (2002)], and for other problems in two-dimensional crystallization of one-component plasmas like electrons on the surface of liquid helium.
The infaunal benthos of a natural oil seep in the Santa Barbara channel

We are studying a diverse infaunal benthic community that exists in the fine sand sediments of a shallow (16 m) natural oil seep near Santa Barbara, California, USA. The study area and sampling methods are described in this introductory paper. Data presented indicate the adequacy of sampling in revealing horizontal patchiness and vertical faunal distributions. The infauna of the seep and of a nearby comparison area, without seepage but of similar depth and sediment type, are compared. The data indicate a consistently larger but fluctuating density of organisms at the seep station. However, Shannon-Weaver diversity (H′=1.6 to 1.7), Peilou's evenness (J=0.80 to 0.81), and measures of dominance-diversity with estimates of graphical skewness (0.66 to 0.68) and kurtosis (1.2 to 1.4) are all similar for the two stations. The rank correlation of common species at the stations is significant according to Spearman's rho. Species common to both stations account for 85 to 95% of the individuals, further indicating the high degree of similarity between stations. Denser populations of oligochaetes and the maldanid polychaete Praxillella affinis pacifica suggest some advantages for deposit feeders at the seep station. Mats of the bacterium Beggiatoa sp. are associated with localized intense oil seepage. Hypotheses suggesting trophic enrichment and biochemical adaptation at the seep are presented.
An Analytical Investigation of the Effects of Heterogeneous Regression Slopes in Analysis of Covariance

The effects of violation of the assumption of homogeneity of regression on the Type I error rate and on the power of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were investigated. The study shows that the test statistic used to test the hypothesis of equal treatment effects has a non-central Fwith the non-centrality parameter equal to zero if and only if the regression slopes are homogeneous and/or the means of the covariables, computed on the entire sample, are all zero. Consequently, if the heterogeneous regression slopes are present, the likelihood of committing a Type I error is greater than what the researcher prespecified. The power function of the test of hypothesis was also determined. Results indicated that the power of ANCOVA was effected by heterogeneous regression slopes and furthermore it was found that the test does not maximize the power for all possible differences of the treatment effects as described by the alternative hypothesis. The method of investigation was analytical and the results are general for any number of groups, any combination of group sizes and any number of covariables, provided the number of observations in each group is larger than the number of covariables. A primary purpose of the analysis of covariance is to provide an adjustment of the results of an experiment for differences existing among subjects before the start of the experiment. The magnitude of the adjustment depends upon the relationship between the covariates and the dependent variable. The adjustment is made under the assumption that the relationship between the covariates and the dependent
A Spectral Paley-Wiener Theorem.

The Fourier inversion formula in polar form is\(f(x) = \int_0^\infty {P_\lambda } f(x)d\lambda \) for suitable functionsf on ℝn, wherePλf(x) is given by convolution off with a multiple of the usual spherical function associated with the Euclidean motion group. In this form, Fourier inversion is essentially a statement of the spectral theorem for the Laplacian and the key question is: how are the properties off andPλf related? This paper provides a Paley-Wiener theorem within this avenue of thought generalizing a result due to Strichartz and provides a spectral reformulation of a Paley-Wiener theorem for the Fourier transform due to Helgason. As an application we prove support theorems for certain functions of the Laplacian.
Product and economic analysis of direct liquefaction of swine manure.

Direct hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass is a technology that has shown promising results in treating waste and producing oil. A batch hydrothermal liquefaction system was used to treat swine manure, and it successfully converted up to 70% of swine manure volatile solids into oil and reduced manure chemical oxygen demand by up to 75% (He et al., Trans ASAE 43(6):1827–1833, 2000). A continuous-flow reactor was developed and resulted in similar conversion rates to the batch process, indicating the potential for scale-up (Ocfemia, 2005). This study investigates the hydrothermal process in relation to a livestock system to determine the impact on oil yields and fertilizer values that might be realized in a farm-scale application. Oil products from the hydrothermal process are maximized using manure containing around 20% solids, but typical swine confinement facilities contain wetter manure slurries. A preliminary investigation of liquid–solid separation methods was conducted to determine the resultant oil yields and the effects of the hydrothermal process on fertilizer values in the wastewater as compared to the unprocessed manure. Energy and economic analyses of the liquid–solid separation and hydrothermal liquefaction processes were also conducted. The hydrothermal process results in an oil product as well as a fertilizer product that retains the majority of its nitrogen value with a reduced level of phosphorus (as compared to the unprocessed swine manure). The economic analyses indicate feasibility for several different liquid–solid separation methods, dependent on the equipment and maintenance costs assumed for each method. Conveyor-belt manure collection systems in conjunction with hydrothermal liquefaction are especially promising.
SU‐GG‐I‐60: Radiation Risks in Nuclear Cardiac Imaging

Purpose To investigate how patient age, sex and weight affect risks of radiation induced cancer in cardiac imaging.Method and Materials Patients between 40–80 years old and weight > 40 kg undergoing cardiac imaging with 99mTc sestamibi, 99mTc tetrofosmin and 201Tl during a 5 year period (2002–2007) were reviewed. Effective doses (E) were obtained assuming a constant 40 mCi administered activity (10 mCi rest/30 mCi stress) for sestamibi/tetrofosmin and 3 mCi for 201Tl. An empirically derived correction factor (i.e., E proportional Wa) was used to calculate an effective dose corrected for patient weight. Patient effective doses were converted into age and sex dependent risks of cancer induction from radiation exposure using BEIR VII data. Results A total of 7023 procedures were selected (3801 females/3223 males). Median age for males was 61 years (46–75) and 59 years (46–74) for females (10th to 90th percentile ranges are in brackets). Median weight for males was 88.6 kg (68.6–113.6) and 78.2 kg (59.1–106.8) for females. The overall median cancer induction risk was 0.053% (0.031%–0.085%), 0.044% (0.026%–0.069%) and 0.11% (.066%–0.22%) for sestamibi, tetrofosmin and 201Tl respectively. The median female to male cancer induction risk ratio was 1.25 for 99mTc and 1.4 for 201Tl. On average for males and females, increasing weight from 10th percentile to 90th percentile reduced the cancer induction risk by factors of 1.6, 1.4 and 2.1 for sestamibi, tetrofosmin and 201Tl respectively, and the risk reduction factors for increasing age from 10th to 90th percentiles 2.2, 2.1 and 2.4 for sestamibi, tetrofosmin and 201Tl respectively. Conclusion Patient age was found to be the most significant factor affecting radiation risks, (2.2x) similar to choice of pharmaceutical (2x). 201Tl had a higher risk than 99mTc (2x). Weight had a slightly smaller influence on risks while sex related variations in risk were lower.
Laser biosensors for drug discovery

Summary form only given. While lasers have been utilized for countless applications since their introduction more than 50 years ago, the demonstration of a laser with a wavelength that can be tuned by selective recognition and detection of biomolecules has occurred only recently. The high intensity and narrow linewidth properties of the stimulated emission process are highly advantageous for biosensing applications requiring detection of the smallest analytes, such as drug molecules, with high resolution.
Generating merger trees for dark matter haloes: a comparison of methods

Halo merger trees describe the hierarchical mass assembly of dark matter haloes, and are the backbone for modeling galaxy formation and evolution. Merger trees constructed using Monte Carlo algorithms based on the extended Press-Schechter (EPS) formalism are complementary to those extracted from N-body simulations, and have the advantage that they are not trammeled by limited numerical resolution and uncertainties in identifying (sub)haloes and linking them between snapshots. This paper compares multiple EPS-based merger tree algorithms to simulation results using four diagnostics: progenitor mass function (PMF), mass assembly history (MAH), merger rate per descendant halo, and the unevolved subhalo mass function (USMF). In general, algorithms based on spherical collapse yield major-merger rates that are too high by a factor of two, resulting in MAHs that are systematically offset. Assuming ellipsoidal collapse solves most of these issues, but the particular algorithm investigated here that incorporates ellipsoidal collapse dramatically overpredicts the minor-merger rate for massive haloes. The only algorithm in our comparison that yields MAHs, merger rates, and USMFs in good agreement with simulations, is that by Parkinson et al. (2008). However, this is not a true EPS-based algorithm as it draws its progenitor masses from a PMF calibrated against simulations, rather than `predicted' by EPS. Finally we emphasize that the benchmarks used to test the EPS algorithms are obtained from simulations and are hampered by significant uncertainties themselves. In particular, MAHs and halo merger rates obtained from simulations by different authors reveal discrepancies that easily exceed 50 percent, even when based on the same simulation. Given this status quo, merger trees constructed using the Parkinson et al. algorithm are as accurate as those extracted from N-body simulations.
Finding the Subspace Mean or Median to Fit Your Need

Many computer vision algorithms employ subspace models to represent data. Many of these approaches benefit from the ability to create an average or prototype for a set of subspaces. The most popular method in these situations is the Karcher mean, also known as the Riemannian center of mass. The prevalence of the Karcher mean may lead some to assume that it provides the best average in all scenarios. However, other subspace averages that appear less frequently in the literature may be more appropriate for certain tasks. The extrinsic manifold mean, the L2-median, and the flag mean are alternative averages that can be substituted directly for the Karcher mean in many applications. This paper evaluates the characteristics and performance of these four averages on synthetic and real-world data. While the Karcher mean generalizes the Euclidean mean to the Grassman manifold, we show that the extrinsic manifold mean, the L2-median, and the flag mean behave more like medians and are therefore more robust to the presence of outliers among the subspaces being averaged. We also show that while the Karcher mean and L2-median are computed using iterative algorithms, the extrinsic manifold mean and flag mean can be found analytically and are thus orders of magnitude faster in practice. Finally, we show that the flag mean is a generalization of the extrinsic manifold mean that permits subspaces with different numbers of dimensions to be averaged. The result is a "cookbook" that maps algorithm constraints and data properties to the most appropriate subspace mean for a given application.
Optical manipulation: Momentum exchange effect

A pulling force can be generated via amplification of the photon linear momentum when a fairly uniform light field passes from one dielectric to another with a higher refractive index. This force can drag small objects over macroscopic distances along dielectric interfaces.
New approximation schemes for lattice theories

We describe a class of approximation procedures which is applicable to a variety of lattice theories including lattice gauge theories. The approach is nonperturbative in the temperature or its inverse. The low-order approximants are expected to be most reliable at low temperatures. As examples we approximate the free energy of the classical $x$-$y$ model and of Abelian gauge fields on a lattice in two ways, one of which gives us monotonically converging bounds on the free energy.
Regulation of Fibronectin by Insulin-like Growth Factor-I in Cultured Rat Thoracic Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells and Glomerular Mesangial Cells

We examined the regulation of fibronectin (FN) levels by insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in rat thoracic aortic smooth muscle cell (SMC) and glomerular mesangial cell cultures. IGF-I enhances FN levels in the culture media of the SMC and in the cell samples of the mesangial cells. It shows no effect on FN levels in the cell samples of the SMC and in the culture media of the mesangial cells. Modulation of IGF-I-induced FN levels by insulin was also examined. Insulin enhances FN levels in the culture media of the SMC but not in the cell samples. Insulin did not induce an increase in FN levels in either the mesangial cell samples or the culture media. No additive effect of FN levels was observed when the SMC were treated with insulin and IGF-I together. The effect of IGF-I on FN mRNA levels was assessed. IGF-I enhances SMC and FN mRNA levels, implying that acquisition of additional FN mRNA units accounts for the increase in FN levels. The effects of actinomycin D and cycloheximide on IGF-I-induced FN mRNA levels were also examined. Inhibition of the IGF-I-induced FN mRNA levels by actinomycin D and an increase of FN mRNA levels by cycloheximide suggest that IGF-I regulates FN mRNA synthesis at the transcriptional level.
BUNDLE BRANCH BLOCK ON CARDIAC SLOWING AT A CRITICAL SLOW HEART RATE.

Abstract Aberration or bundle branch block on cardiac slowing at a critical slow cardiac rate is discussed. Only 4 illustrative cases were found reported in the literature, and these were mentioned briefly. Two new cases were added and described in detail. Reported for the first time was an instance of transient bundle branch block which was apparently induced by cardiac slowing caused by intermittent partial A-V heart block with a critical heart rate. Explanations for the occurrence of aberration or bundle branch block on cardiac slowing at slow heart rates were considered. Possible circulatory and physicochemical changes and vagal effects were discussed. Concealed conduction and auxomeric conduction were also considered. Pertinent reported electrophysiologic and clinical studies on conduction and refractoriness in bundle branch tissues which were possibly concerned with the electrocardiographic phenomena observed on cardiac slowing in the cases described were reviewed. Possible mechanisms of occurrence of aberration or bundle branch block on cardiac slowing at a slow heart rate were suggested.
Effects of Terrorist Attacks on Students with Emotional Problems and Behavioral Disorders

This article discusses the effects of the terrorist attacks on children and youth with emotional and behavioral disorders. These children may be adversely affected in a number of ways: in-attentiveness, increased restlessness, crying, sleeplessness, use of profanity, and even inappropriate laughter. Several suggestions are offered to support students with emotional and behavioral problems through this stressful time.
Flow cytometric sorting of sperm: influence on fertilization and embryo/fetal development in the rabbit

Viable, intact rabbit sperm, pre- pared, processed, and flow cytometrically sorted, were used in this study to determine the influence of flow sorting on fertilization and embryo development. In experiment I, flow-sorted or control (unstained and unsorted) sperm were surgically inseminated into the uterine horn of hor- monally primed does (10 to 12 does per time point). At 42 hr postsurgical insemination, flushed embryos were as- sessed for development. Fetal development was deter- mined at day7, day 14, and day 21 post-surgical insemina- tion. Embryos resulting from does surgically inseminated with control sperm at 42 hr post-insemination were ob- served to be at the early morula stage of development (> 16 cell), whereas embryos from does inseminated with flow sorted sperm were at the 8- to 16-cell stage. No difference was observed between treatments at day 7, 14, or 21, however, there was a significant decrease in fetus number per doe inseminated with flow-sorted sperm over time. In experiment II, mature oocytes were flushed from the oviducts of superovulated does and coincubated in vitro (IVF) with flow-sorted or control rabbit sperm. Oocytes observed at 6 hr post-coincubation exhibited swollen sperm heads in the cytoplasm, demonstrating that fertiliza- tion had occurred (2 PN + T). There was a higher percent- age of fertilized oocytes by 8 hr post-coincubation for both control (31%) and flow-sorted sperm (31%) when used for IVF. By 10 and 12 hr post-coincubation, little difference was observed in the number of fertilized oocytes between sperm treatments (52% and 66% for control vs. 57 and 54% for flow-sorted, respectively). These studies demonstrate that flow-sorted sperm are capable of fertilizing mature oocytes under in vitro conditions. In addition they show that flow sorting may not negatively influence fertilization events, but likely interferes during early embryonic and fetal development. o 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.*
Cancer Vaccines for the Treatment and Prevention of Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Cancer vaccines targeting non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been studied for decades; clinical trials, for the most part, have focused on the use of autologous and allogeneic whole-tumor cell vaccines. Recent advances in molecular biology and immunology, however, have allowed the identification of many tumor antigens involved in the generation of immunity to NSCLC. Although small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is commonly thought of as an immunogenic tumor, it is now clear that NSCLC is also capable of eliciting an endogenous immune response in patients with the disease and, in fact, has a natural history that may make NSCLC more amenable to vaccine therapy as an adjuvant treatment strategy. This review will highlight the major components of the immune system that may potentially interact with tumor-associated proteins as well as outline the immunologic similarities and differences between SCLC and NSCLC. Tumor antigens that elicit immune responses in patients with NSCLC will be discussed. Finally, clinical trials of whole-tumor cell vaccines, both autologous and allogeneic, and tumor antigen-specific vaccines will also be discussed.
Systematic order-dependent effect in expression values, variance, detection calls and differential expression in Affymetrix GeneChips®

Motivation: Affymetrix GeneChips® are common 3′ profiling platforms for quantifying gene expression. Using publicly available datasets of expression profiles from human and mouse experiments, we sought to characterize features of GeneChip® data to better compare and evaluate analyses for differential expression, regulation and clustering. We uncovered an unexpected order dependence in expression data that holds across a variety of chips in both human and mouse data. Results: Order dependence among GeneChips® affected relative expression measures pre-processed and normalized with the Affymetrix MAS5.0 algorithm and the robust multi-array average summarization method. The effect strongly influenced detection calls and tests for differential expression and can potentially significantly bias experimental results based on GeneChip® profiling. Contact: Kathe.bjork@cudenver.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary Material, including links to files of ordered transcripts and supporting analyses, is available at the authors' websites, at http://www-math.cudenver.edu/~kbjork/research/, and http://www-math.cudenver.edu/~kk/research/.
Populations of biochemical oscillators as circadian clocks

Abstract Various types of populations of interacting oscillators were analyzed and their synchronization states were determined. One of the systems involving biochemical oscillators was simulated on the computer and the occurence of rhythm splitting was observed. A comparison of its attributes with experimental results on circadian ryhythms showed good agreement. This allows us to distinguish between types of mechanisms held responsible for the splitting phenomenon in the past. The present model also offers a new explanation about the differences of light action on diurnal and nocturnal organisms.
EFFECTIVE PUBLIC RELATIONS — A MODEL FOR BUSINESS

Forty years ago the coverage of business news by the media was scant or non‐existent. At best, local newspapers carried the stock market report. Gradu‐ally this situation has changed. Today, business news affects many facets of our everyday lives—oil prices affect the cost of gasoline; interest rates play a part in determining whether or not we buy a house; the economic stability of an organization can determine whether we keep or lose our job.
An examination of referent selection processes underlying job satisfaction

Using two different methods of assessment, the goal of the present research was twofold: (1) to examine the relative influence that different standards of comparison have in determining satisfaction with various job facets; and (2) to examine the relative consistency of each standard's influence across job facets. According to both direct reports and the strength of empirical relationships, the results indicated that some standards of comparison were stronger predictors of facet satisfaction than others. The consistency of a standard's influence or predictive power depended on the particular standard of comparison under consideration. Some standards were consistently strong or consistently weak predictors of facet satisfaction, regardless of the particular job facet. However, for other standards of comparison, the amount of predictive influence depended on the particular job facet. Within the context of discrepancy-based theories of job satisfaction, results are discussed in terms of their comparability across the two different methods of assessment, and the directions they suggest for future research.
Nitric oxide redox reactions and red cell biology.

Three hypotheses explain a role for red blood cells (RBCs) in delivering NO to the vasculature: (a) "the SNOHb hypothesis" involves the uptake of NO by RBCs with NO transferred from the heme to the β-93 thiol in the R quaternary conformation, followed by the release to membrane thiols in the T quaternary conformation; and (b and c) "the nitrite hypotheses" bypass the intrinsic difficulties of transporting the highly reactive NO, by reutilizing the nitrite formed when NO reacts with oxygen. Deoxyhemoglobin reduces this nitrite back to NO. The distinction between the two nitrite mechanisms depends on the importance of intermediate species formed during nitrite reduction. Without bioactive intermediates, the NO must be immediately released to avoid binding to deoxyhemoglobin. The "nitrite intermediate hypothesis" enables the RBCs to store a pool of potentially bioactive NO until it is released from the cell. In this review, we critically compare these different proposals for the transport/delivery of NO by R...
Donor Interactions at Phosphorus. Implications Regarding Enzymatic Reaction Intermediates

In recent work on the biological relevance of hypervalent phosphorus compounds, a new aspect of active site interactions of phosphoryl transfer enzymes undergoing nucleophilic attack is suggested by structural studies on phosphites, phosphates, and oxyphosphoranes which are shown to interact with donor groups to give higher coordinate geometries. The degree of coordination increases from phosphate to pentaoxyphosphoranes which model substrates and active site transition states, respectively. Thus a rate enhancement effect is anticipated due to stronger enzyme binding in the transition state-enzyme complex. The studies suggest that donor interactions at applicable active sites may assist in nucleophilic attack in causing a general loosening of P-O bonds undergoing cleavage to form products via a hexacoordinate transition state. Previously, only pentacoordinate intermediates have been invoked in nucleophilic displacement reactions of phosphoryl transfer enzymes. The results are illustrated with reference to...
Light microscopic localization of silver-enhanced liposome-entrapped colloidal gold in mouse tissues

Abstract Silver-enhanced liposome-entrapped colloidal gold was developed for light microscopic localization of liposomes. Preparation of colloidal gold entrapped in liposomes was achieved by a modified method of Hong, et al. (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 732, 320–323). In this report, a gold chloride/citrate solution of low pH (3.4) was used to inhibit the formation of gold granules during the liposome preparation. The diameter of most liposomes ranged from 80 to 100 nm. Following liposome preparation, the pH was adjusted to 6, and the temperature increased to 55°C. The majority of the liposomes contained one to three gold particles. Liposomes were injected into mice via tail vein; 24 h later, tissues were collected. Sections were processed for silver enhancement of the gold particles and examined by light microscopy. Silver-enhanced gold particles were clearly observed in both liver and implanted tumor. Localization was confirmed by electron and fluorescence microscopy. Thus, we have shown that silver enhancement of colloidal gold liposomes is a direct and sensitive method for tracing the fate of liposomes in vivo, providing minimal background interference and a good definition of various cell types.
Mitochondrial genetics and disease

Mitochondrial respiratory chain diseases are a highly diverse group of disorders whose main unifying characteristic is the impairment of mitochondrial function. As befits an organelle containing gene products encoded by both mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nDNA), these diseases can be caused by inherited errors in either genome, but a surprising number are sporadic, and a few are even caused by environmental factors.