cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leukemia Associated Mutants of SHP2 Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Inhibit Nf1-Expression by Decreasing ICSBP and IRF2 Phosphorylation.

Neurofibromin 1 (Nf1) is a ubiquitous protein with Ras-GAP activity. In myeloid cells, Nf1 down regulates Ras which has been activated by hematopoietic cytokines. Congenital absence of Nf1 is associated with the myeloproliferative/dysplastic disorder Juvenile Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMMoL). JMMoL is characterized by hypersensitivity to cytokines such as GM-CSF, SCF and M-CSF. In previous studies, we found that cytokine stimulation of myeloid progenitor cells increases transcription of the NF1-gene, thereby increasing Nf1-expression. We identified a cis element in the NF1-promoter which is activated by the interferon consensus sequence binding protein (ICSBP). This is of interest because ICSBP-deficiency confers hypersensitivity to the same cytokines as does Nf1-deficiency. In the current studies, we find that interferon regulatory factor 2 (IRF2) cooperates with ICSBP to activate the NF1-cis element in differentiating myeloid cells. This interaction requires specific phosphorylation of conserved tyrosine residues in the IRF-domains of IRF2 and ICSBP. Phosphorylation of both proteins occurs in differentiating myeloid progenitor cells and myeloid cell lines. In myeloid progenitor cells, ICSBP and IRF2 are maintained in a non-phosphorylated state by the protein tyrosine phosphatases SHP1 and SHP2. During myeloid differentiation, activity of these PTPs decreases, permitting increased phosphorylation of ICSBP and IRF2. Leukemia associated, activating mutants of SHP2-PTP have been recently described in JMMoL, MDS and AML. Such mutations induce conformational changes in SHP2, resulting in constitutive activation. When introduced into myeloid progenitor cells, such SHP2-mutants induced a profile of cytokine hypersensitivity which is similar to those seen in Nf1-deficiency or ICSBP-deficiency. We find that expression of one of these leukemia associated SHP2 mutants blocks cytokine-induced phosphorylation of ICSBP and IRF2, impairing Nf1-expression in differentiating myeloid cells. This results in hypersensitivity and sustained proliferation in response to differentiating cytokines. Therefore, our studies mechanistically associate three molecular defects that have been associated with myeloproliferation and cytokine hypersensitivity; ICSBP-deficiency, Nf1-deficiency and expression of activated SHP2 mutants. Our results suggest that hematopoietic cytokine signaling induces tyrosine phosphorylation of IRF2 and ICSBP. These phospho-proteins activate transcription of the NF1-gene. Increased Nf1-expression down regulates cytokine-activated Ras. However, expression of constitutively active forms of SHP2-PTP blocks this process by impairing cytokine induced phosphorylation of IRF2 and ICSBP, decreasing Nf1-expression, and resulting in unopposed Ras activation. These results may be important to targeting this pathway in myeloid disorders characterized by cytokine hypersensitivity and myeloproliferation.
A 2-tap switched capacitor FFE transmitter achieving 1-20 Gb/s at 0.72-0.62 pJ/bit

This paper presents a 28nm CMOS 1-20Gb/s energy proportional transmitter with 2-tap DDR SC FFE, 64:2 1-latch MUX serialization, rapid-on/off LC OSC, and adjustable clock divider. Switched Capacitor frontend allows for fully dynamic operation for minimal quiescent current consumption. Fast startup time is achieved through the 1-latch based MUX SER along with the on/off LC OSC and the adjustable clock divider. The transmitter operates from 1-20Gb/s, occupies 0.19mm2, and consumes 0.72-0.62 pJ/bit.
Analysis of Continuous Arch Frames

The analysis of continuous arch frames with curved members of constant cross-section and either circular, parabolic or semi-elliptic arch form by means of an extension of the slope deflection method is presented. The slope deflection equations for curved members in general are first introduced. Coefficients that appear in these equations are then calculated for a wide range of arch rise/span ratios for the arch forms mentioned above. Numerical example is given to illustrate the application of the proposed method. The results agree closely with those obtained by an approximate method.
Potentiation by GTP of Ins(1,4,5)P3-induced Ca2+ mobilization in permeabilized hepatocytes.

The intracellular effects of a wide range of hormones and other agonists which bind to cell surface receptors are mediated by a rise in cytosolic free Ca2+. In almost all cell types where hormones increase cytosolic Ca2+, the primary source from which the Ca2+ is derived is an intracellular storage pool. While there has long been indirect evidence for a role of inositol phospholipids in the signaling mechanism through which this Ca2+ mobilization is brought about, it is only relatively recently that the key messenger components and their sites of action have been identified. It is now known that agonists stimulate an inositol lipid-specific phospholipase C which cleaves phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to yield inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(l,4,5)P3) and diacylglycerol. Both of these compounds have important second messenger functions. Diacylglycerol activates protein kinase C leading to the phosphorylation of a range of intracellular proteins and Ins(1,4,5)P3 has been shown to release Ca2+ from a specific intracellular storage pool.
Teaching Track Faculty in Computer Science

Many computer science departments have chosen to hire faculty to teach in teaching-track positions that parallel the standard tenure-track position, providing the possibility of promotion, longer-term contracts, and higher pay for excellence in teaching and service. This birds-of-a-feather is designed to gather educators, both experienced and new to teaching track positions, who are currently in such a position to share their experiences as members of the faculty of their departments and schools, and to provide opportunities for schools considering such positions to gather information. This year, we plan on discussing teaching load, particularly as it relates to expanding class sizes and limited budgets for teaching staff support (e.g., TAs, graders, etc.). We will also discuss office hours strategies for both faculty and TAs in light of the same large class-size concerns.
Philosophy, natural kinds, microstructuralism, and the (mis)use of chemical examples: intimacy versus integrity as orientations towards chemical practice

This essay critically considers the issue of natural kind essentialism. More specifically, the essay critically probes the philosophical use of chemical examples to support realism about natural kinds. My simple contention is that the natural kind debate can be understood in terms of two different cultures of academic production. These two cultures will be conceptualized using Thomas Kasulis’s distinction between intimacy and integrity as cultural orientations. Acknowledging Kasulis’s contention that, “What is foreground in one culture may be background in another”, it may very well be the case that philosophers writing about chemistry place chemical practice in the background, thereby adopting the orientation of integrity. Chemists and philosophers of chemistry, on the other hand, place chemical practice at the foreground of their work, thereby adopting the orientation of intimacy. Because the intimacy orientation is grounded in chemical practice, it is preferable to the integrity orientation. Understanding the natural kinds debate from this perspective highlights the fact that the misuse of chemical examples by certain philosophers is informed by an orientation of detachment from actual chemical practice. This underscores the importance of an intimate understanding of chemical practice when deploying chemical examples in the context of philosophical discussions about ontology and metaphysics.
Sleep medication use and incident dementia in a nationally representative sample of older adults in the US

Abstract Background Sleep difficulties are common among older adults, and clinical management of sleep difficulties commonly includes sleep medication (pharmacological and non-pharmacological). Our research examines sleep medication use and incident dementia over 8 years using nationally representative data from older adults ages 65 years and older in the United States. Methods We used data collected from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a nationally-representative longitudinal study of Medicare beneficiaries. Routine sleep medication use (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) was defined as use “most nights” or “every night.” Participants were screened for dementia with validated instruments that assessed memory, orientation, and executive function. We conduct prospective analyses to examine the relationship between routine sleep medication use and incident dementia using Cox proportional hazards modeling and estimated survival curves. Analyses controlled for age, sex, marital status, education, and chronic conditions. Results Among respondents at baseline (n = 6373), most participants (21%) were age 70–74 years of age. Participants were 59% female and the sample comprised non-Hispanic White (71%). At baseline, 15% of our study sample reported using sleep medication routinely, which is representative of 4.6 million older adults in the US. Covariate adjusted proportional hazard models revealed that routinely using sleep medication was associated with incident dementia (HR = 1.30, 95%CI: 1.10 to 1.53, p Conclusions Our study observed, in a nationally representative study of older adults in the US across 8 years of data that 15% of older adults report routinely using sleep medication, yet routine use of sleeping medication was associated with incident dementia across the follow-up interval. Future research may examine behavioral approaches to improving sleep among older adults.
Microfiber abundance associated with coral tissue varies geographically on the Belize Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.

Abstract Ocean plastic pollution is a global problem that causes ecosystem degradation. Crucial knowledge gaps exist concerning patterns in microfiber abundance across regions and ecosystems, as well as the role of these pollutants within the environment. Here, we quantified the abundance of microfibers in coral samples collected from the Belize Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) using a polarized light microscope and identified a subsample of these to the polymer level using an Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy microscope. Microfibers were found in all coral samples with rayon being identified as the most common microfiber, comprising 85% of quantified pollutants. We found a greater average abundance of microfibers in coral samples from the Sapodilla Cayes (296 ± SE 89) than in samples from the Drowned Cayes (75 ± SE 14), indicating spatial variation in microfiber abundance within coral tissue along the MBRS. These results demonstrate that corals on the Belize MBRS interact with microfibers and that microfiber abundance on reefs varies spatially due to point sources of pollution and local oceanography. As rayon from clothing typically enters the ocean through wastewater effluent, alterations to waste water infrastructure may prove useful in decreasing rayon pollution in coastal waters.
Disease correlates of quantitative susceptibility mapping rim lesions in multiple sclerosis

Objective: This study aimed to explore the association between chronic active rim+ lesions, identified as having a hyperintense rim on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), on both clinical disability and imaging measures of neurodegeneration in patients with multiple sclerosis. Methods: The patient cohort was composed of 159 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients aged 42.17 +/- 10.25 years and disease duration of 10.74 +/- 7.51 years. The Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) were used to assess clinical disability. Cortical thickness and thalamic volume were evaluated as imaging measures of neurodegeneration. Results: A total of 4,469 multiple sclerosis lesions were identified, of which 171 QSM rim+ (3.8%) lesions were identified among 57 patients (35.9%). In a multivariate regression model, as the overall total lesion burden increased, patients with at least one rim+ lesion on QSM performed worse on both physical disability and cognitive assessments, specifically the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (p=0.010), California Verbal Learning Test-II (p=0.030), and EDSS (p=0.001). In a separate univariate regression model, controlling for age (p<0.001), having at least one rim+ lesion was related to more cortical thinning (p= 0.03) in younger patients (< 45 years). Lower thalamic volume was associated with older patients (p=0.038) and larger total lesion burden (p<0.001) however, the association did not remain significant with rim+ lesions (p=0.10). Interpretation: Our findings demonstrate the significant impact of chronic active lesions, as identified on QSM, on both clinical disability and imaging measures of neurodegeneration in patients with multiple sclerosis.
A Pedagogy for Precarious Times: Religious Education and Vulnerability

To live is to be vulnerable. The fact of our fragility has been laid bare in some of the crises we face in public life in the United States: an uncontained pandemic, relentless racist violence, and...
Impacts of family and fieldwork on career/family balance among tenure-track and tenured anthropologists

Objectives A common dilemma rarely mentioned during doctoral training is career/family balance-especially the timing of children. This dilemma extends to professional anthropologists and includes questions surrounding the benefits and challenges of taking children to the field. We analyzed survey data from tenure-track and tenured anthropologists to determine if fieldwork in general and fieldwork with or without their children on site impacts career/family balance. We hypothesized that having children and the burden of fieldwork puts more strain on women than on men in anthropology. Methods We compared 297 tenure-track and tenured anthropologists by gender, tenure status, and mean annual time spent conducting fieldwork using survey data collected for the Family and the Field study. Analysis was conducted using a combination of hierarchical multivariate analysis of variance and regression to analyze the differing factors affecting various groups. Results The primary differences in career/family balance occurred between tenure-track and tenured anthropologists, not women and men, and that fieldwork requirements do not necessarily make achieving personal balance harder for anthropologists than other academics. Conclusions The need to conduct fieldwork may dissuade some people with or planning to have children from becoming anthropologists. However, upon obtaining tenure-track positions, the burdens impacting "balance" taper off and become less stressful. We offer policy suggestions for buffering stress related to career/family balance that may negatively impact decisions to pursue or continue in anthropology as a career.
Isolation of Proteinase Inhibitors from Boar Sperm Acrosomes and Boar Seminal Plasma and Effect on Fertilization

At the time of ejaculation mammalian sperm come in contact with seminal plasma and pick up proteinase inhibitors [1]. These proteinase inhibitors must be removed or inactivated to allow the sperm to digest a passage through the zona pellucida of the ova. The inhibitors are not present in the capacitated sperm [1], therefore the removal or inactivation of the inhibitors occurs during the sperm’s residence in the female reproductive tract (capacitation). In previous studies it was shown that adding seminal plasma proteinase inhibitors to the capacitated sperm blocks both in vivo [2] and in vitro [18] fertilization by preventing penetration of the zona pellucida [3].
Rigid sternal fixation in the management of pediatric postmedian sternotomy mediastinitis: A 20-year study.

Summary Background and aim Pediatric patients are at a risk of mediastinitis, a life-threatening complication of median sternotomy, following cardiac surgery for congenital conditions. Our experience with rigid internal sternal fixation in pediatric patients with postmedian sternotomy mediastinitis is presented. Methods and materials A retrospective chart review was performed of patients Results Twenty-five pediatric patients were diagnosed with postoperative mediastinitis. Rigid fixation of the sternum following debridement was performed in 20 patients (age range: 1 month–18 years), all of whom successfully tolerated the procedure. Resorbable plates were used in 13 patients. Five patients did not undergo rigid fixation due to either serious ill-health or lack of adequate sternal bone stock. No patient experienced recurrent sternal wound infection. A total of 20 patients (80%) survived to discharge. Three patients succumbed to their heart condition prior to rigid fixation, one died following sternal closure from unrelated causes, and one patient was lost to follow-up. Conclusions Post-sternotomy mediastinitis in pediatric patients may be addressed using wide debridement, rigid sternal fixation, and flap coverage. In our series of 25 patients with pediatric mediastinitis, none died from mediastinitis. Placement of hardware did not adversely affect patient survival. This study demonstrates the feasibility of rigid sternal fixation.
The Management of Alfalfa Meadows After Seeding

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the management of alfalfa meadows after seeding. After a good stand of alfalfa is established, its production and longevity depend on management practices, of which the following are the most important: (1) cutting, (2) cultivation, (3) weed control, (4) insect control, (5) fertilization, and (6) irrigation. Alfalfa is usually cut two to several times a year so that both the number of cuttings a year and the development of each crop are important in determining the yield. The growth curve of a crop of alfalfa, like that of other plants, is sigmoid, beginning slowly, followed by a long, fairly uniform period of rapid growth, and then slowing down to a much lower rate. During the rapid growth period in alfalfa, increases in yield of 75 to 100 lb per acre per day are general. Effect of cutting systems on amount and quality of hay is discussed in the chapter. The effect of different systems of cutting on root reserves, sustained yield, and longevity of stands is explained. The chapter also discusses the relation of various factors to the time of cutting.
Adapting Application Mapping to Systematic Within-Die Process Variations on Chip Multiprocessors

Process variations, which lead to timing and power variations across identically-designed components, have been identified as one of the key future design challenges by the semiconductor industry. Using worst case latency/power assumptions is one option to address process variations. This option, while simplifying the problem, is becoming less and less attractive as its performance and power costs keep increasing. As a result, exploring options that allow the software to have knowledge about the actual latency/power consumption values is critical for future systems. Targeting systematic process variations, this paper makes two contributions. First, we discuss how we can assign threads to the cores of a chip multiprocessor (CMP) with process variations in mind and show the energy-delay product (EDP) benefits such a process variation-aware thread mapping can bring. Second, we study the benefits of varying the frequencies on a subset of the cores to increase EDP savings. We propose and evaluate integer linear programming based thread mapping schemes in both studies. While these schemes operate with profile data, they can be made to work with partial profiling as well with the help of curve fitting. We tested our schemes using both sequential and multi-threaded benchmarks from different suites and the results collected indicate that we can achieve EDP savings as much as 73.4%, with an average saving of 37.1% over a process variation agnostic scheme.
Tetrahedrizing Point Sets in Three Dimensions

This paper offers combinatorial results on extremum problems concerning the number of tetrahedra in a tetrahedrization of n points in general position in three dimensions, i.e. such that no four points are coplanar. It also presents an algorithm that in O(nlog n) time constructs a tetrahedrization of a set of n points consisting of at most 3n–11 tetrahedra.
Market Expansion: The Case of Genoa

The honorable program chairman has appended to my paper a title I had not entirely foreseen, and this drove me to modify my line to some extent. I had toyed with the idea of taking a long look at a short period in the fifteenth century, when the Genoese did all they could to adjust to shrinking opportunities and to find new markets in the place of those they were losing. This will still take about one half of my time, if only because it dovetails with the paper of Harry Miskimin. But if Genoa has to be considered as a test case for market expansion, we cannot restrict ourselves to the years when the going was not so good.
Gun deaths in rural and urban settings: recommendations for prevention.

BACKGROUND Family physicians can play a vital role in preventing gun violence, and better data on which to base their interventions might result in more effective prevention efforts. Using Washington State data, two assumptions on which interventions can be based were tested: compared with urban areas, rural areas have (1) a higher percentage of gun deaths from shotguns and rifles, and (2) a higher percentage of gun deaths from suicides and accidents METHODS From 1990 to 1996, 4,271 gun deaths on Washington death certificates were classified as rural or urban. The data were retrospectively sorted and analyzed by gun type (handguns, rifles, shotguns, or other) and by intent (suicide, homicide, or accidental death). RESULTS Compared with urban settings, rural areas had a higher percentage of gun deaths from shotguns and rifles and a higher percentage from suicides and accidents (P CONCLUSIONS Family physicians might want to focus their firearm safety efforts on preventing handgun deaths and suicides, which accounted for most gun deaths in rural and urban areas. Also, data from this study suggest that deaths from shotguns and rifles as well as accidental and suicide gun deaths deserve special attention in rural areas.
Medicare for All - If It Were Politically Possible - Would Necessarily Replicate the Defects of Our Current System

Medicare for All, ideally implemented, could offer powerful advantages over our current health care financial system. Unfortunately, the political obstacles to such a system are formidable and are likely to remain so for decades. More to the point, a politically viable single-payer system would not replace our currently dysfunctional health care politics. It would be a product of that same legislative process and political economy and thus be disfigured by the same interest group politics, path dependence, and fragmentation that Laurence Seidman rightly laments.
Mammalian response to subdermal implantation of textured microimplants.

The development of small, textured implant particles suspended in a hydrogel has allowed for subdermal injection therapy to fill tissue defects. The microimplant particles were placed subdermally into the ears of white New Zealand rabbits in order to characterize the foreign body response and the permanence of the implant. Serial micrometer readings were performed on the implant sites to determine any change in thickness of the augmentation following baseline measurement. An initial increase in the thickness was noted approximately 20–30 days postimplantation, as expected. A stable thickness was noted for the remainder of the experiment. Serial histological sections were performed at irregular intervals from one week to one year. Histology demonstrated a mild foreign body response with collagen surrounding each individual microimplant particle. The response was stable after 30–40 days and has remained stable for over one year. It was determined that the histology demonstrated a Boros IA type, or nonimmunogenic, low-turnover foreign body reaction.
Absolute Disintegration Rate of Finite Gold Sample: Determination by Coincidence Techniques

A method has been developed for absolute disintegration rate determination of finite-sized, radioactive samples. Measurements were made on a 15-mg gold foil. The average disintegration rate was 2.163×105 for 24 determinations with a precision of 2.3%. Subsequent measurements yielded precisions as low as 0.5%. Conditions of bias settings, decay corrections, and coincidence resolving times were widely varied. The scintillation, coincidence equipment, including novel pulse timing, are mentioned. Data corrections, including accidentals and particle A in detector B are discussed. It is shown that the corrections are empirical and do not limit the absolute nature of the measurements. Some of the nuclear parameter requirements and spectroscopic implications are indicated.
A low-frequency selective amplifier

A selective feedback amplifier which is useful. at sub-audio frequencies is described .It is shown that has the Same characteristic as a simple resonant circuit and that the selectivity is improved by an increase in gain. The measurements on an actual amplifier are presented; they show close agreement with the theory.
Arthroscopic surgery for osteochondritis dissecans of the femoropatellar joint of the horse

Summary Arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of osteochondritis dissecans was undertaken on 252 femoropatellar joints in 161 horses (82 Thoroughbreds, 39 Quarter Horses, 16 Arabians, 9 Warmbloods and 15 others of various breeds). There were 53 females and 108 males. Twenty-two horses were 1 year of age at the time of surgery, 68 were yearlings, 36 were 2-year-olds, 21 were 3-year-olds, and 14 were ≤4 years old. Ninety-one had bilateral involvement and 70 had unilateral disease. Follow-up information was obtained on 134 horses, including 79 racehorses and 55 non-racehorses: 86 (64%) of these 134 horses returned to their intended use, 9 (7%) were in training, 21 (16%) were unsuccessful and 18 (13%) were unsuccessful due to other defined reasons. Horses with Grade I lesions ( 4 cm) lesions (63% and 54% success rates respectively). A significantly higher success rate was also noted for horses operated on as 3-year-olds compared with the remainder of the study population. A significantly lower success rate was noted for yearlings than for the remainder of the population. There was no significant difference in outcome as related to sex of animal involved, racehorse versus non-racehorse, lesion location, unilateral versus bilateral involvement, presence or absence of patellar or trochlear groove lesions, or presence or absence of loose bodies.
The structure of the mixed dimer [R3NH+Cl−. R3NH+FeCl4−

Abstract The i.r. spectra of benzene and nitrobenzene solutions of tri-n-octylammonium (TOAH+) chloride and/or tetrachloroferrate and tetraheptylammonium (THA+) tetrachloroferrate have been studied over the ranges 40–400 cm− and 2000–4000 cm−1. The data indicate that the mixed dimer TOAHCl. TOAHFeCl4 has the structure [R3NH-Cl-HNR3]+FeCl4− in which two TOAH+ cations are hydrogen bonded to a single Cl−. No other spectroscopically different mixed species were observed at TOAHCl/TOAHFeCl4 mole ratios ranging from 1:3 to 3:1.
The natural finite element formulation of the impedance boundary condition in shielding structures

The study of shielding configurations requires an analysis of ac electromagnetic fields. However, the fine meshes required within the shield make ac analysis uneconomic and a static analysis is usually employed. In this paper, the impedance boundary condition, cast in vector potential form as a general Neumann condition, is naturally imposed through Galerkin’s method to eliminate eddy currents from the domain. This allows a more exact ac analysis to be employed.
California Adults Increase Fruit and Vegetable Consumption from 1997-2007

Abstract Objective To determine whether fruit and vegetable consumption among California adults significantly increased from 1997-2007. Design Biennial telephone surveillance surveys of California adults' dietary practices. Participants California adults (n = 9,105 total all 6 surveys). Intervention Surveillance data reporting. Main Outcome Measures Changes in fruit and vegetable consumption over time between 1997-2007, measured by mean servings and percentage of adults eating ≥ 5 servings on any given day. Analysis Comparisons of subsets both within the same year and across years were made using t tests, chi-square, and Tukey Studentized Range tests at 5% procedure-wise error rate. Results California adults significantly increased mean daily servings of fruits and vegetables from 3.8 servings in 1997 to 5.2 servings in 2007. Conclusions and Implications Since 1998, notable improvements in fruit and vegetable consumption have occurred to California populations, including the target audience groups of the Network for a Healthy California .
Source localization for template implants with particular reference to stepping-source afterloaders.

Source localization from radiographs can be very difficult for template‐guided implants if the needle images overlap. At UCSF several techniques to make this task easier have been developed. The techniques include selection of an optimum simulator gantry angle, use of different types of dummies, and differential dummy loading. In addition, several modifications have been made in our brachytherapy planning computer program to facilitate source entry. As a result of these improvements, source localization is now accomplished in much less time with improved accuracy.
Comparative effects of fibrous and nonfibrous minerals on cells and liposomes

Abstract The comparative effects of chrysotile asbestos, silica, talc, kaolinite, and montmorillonite on cellular and artificial membranes were examined using three test systems—monolayer cultures of tracheal epithelial cells, suspensions of sheep erythrocytes (RBC), and preparations of phospholipid-cholesterol vesicles. The four minerals caused perturbations in each system, although to varying degrees. Membrane alterations induced by chrysotile asbestos and the clay mineral montmorillonite were more striking than those caused by other dusts. The results obtained with the three test systems were consistent. Electron microscopic observations indicated that the particles were phagocytized by cultured epithelial cells of hamster tracheal origin and developed intimate associations with the RBC plasma membrane. These interactions are discussed with regard to possible mechanisms of cellular injury and their relevance to pulmonary disease.
Doppler Tissue Imaging: A Noninvasive Technique for Evaluation of Left Ventricular Relaxation and Estimation of Filling Pressures

Objectives. This investigation was designed 1) to assess whether the early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E a) obtained with Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) behaves as a preloadindependent index of left ventricular (LV) relaxation; and 2) to evaluate the relation of the mitral E/E a ratio to LV filling pressures. Background. Recent observations suggest that E a is an index of LV relaxation that is less influenced by LV filling pressures. Methods. One hundred twenty-five study subjects were classified into three groups according to mitral E/A ratio, LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and clinical symptoms: 34 asymptomatic subjects with a normal LVEF and an E/A ratio >1; 40 with a normal LVEF, an E/A ratio 1 (pseudonormal [PN]). E a was derived from the lateral border of the annulus. A subset of 60 patients had invasive
Experimental evidence for coupling of plasma particle and heat transport in the TEXT tokamak

Detailed measurements of heat and particle transport are made on the TEXT tokamak by analyzing the dynamics of the postcrash sawtooth perturbation. Both the density and temperature perturbations are observed to be transported out through the confinement zone at the same rate and exhibit similar scaling with plasma parameters. The density and temperature sawteeth are in phase and highly correlated. These results suggest a strong coupling of plasma particle diffusion and heat flow.
The Vector Harmonic Transform Method for Solving Partial Differential Equations in Spherical Geometry

Abstract The development of computational methods for solving partial differential equations in spherical geometry is complicated by problems induced by the spherical coordinate system itself. Even though the solution is smooth in Cartesian coordinates, in spherical coordinates the components of vector fields such as the wind are multivalued at the poles and the differential equations have unbounded terms. For example, the total derivative of the velocity is unbounded at the poles. Here, the vector harmonic transform method for the effective treatment of these problems is presented. Vector fields such as the wind are expanded in terms of vector harmonics, and scalar fields such as pressure and temperature are expanded in terms of scalar harmonies. Unbounded terms in the differential equation are grouped into bounded expressions that are evaluated by their formal application to the spectral expansions. The method can be applied to any differential equation without introducing scalar-dependent variables, su...
Applicatlon of the two-phase partition assay for chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) to transfections with simian virus 40-CAT plasmids

The two-phase partition assay for chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) was tested for its applicability in transfection experiments involving CAT-expression plasmids containing simian virus 40 (SV40) transcriptional control elements. The assay was shown to be simple, sensitive, reproducible, and, with the modification described, cost-effective. However, CAT transfection experiments themselves gave highly variable results. Yields of CAT per microgram of protein in pSV2-CAT transfections of CV-1 cells varied by 60%. This variability could not be explained by variation in the quality of DNAs used, differences in growth states of the cells at transfection, the culture medium employed, or the time at which transfected cells were extracted for CAT assay.
Estimation of a generalized random-effects model: some ECME algorithms and Monte Carlo evidence

Abstract This paper first derives ECME algorithms for computing maximum-likelihood estimates of a generalized random-effects model with an autoregressive remainder term, a model which nests a well-known error-components model. In addition to being easy to implement, the algorithms increase the log-likelihood with each iteration. The paper also compares various estimators with Monte Carlo experiments. Contrary to Maddala and Mount's (J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 68 (1973) 324) Monte Carlo results for estimators of an error-components model with uncorrelated remainder terms, when the remainder terms are autocorrelated, maximum-likelihood is found to be superior to two-step feasible generalized least-squares estimation.
Maxwell's Demons: Disenchantment in the Field

This is an account of the fluctuating spiritual beliefs of my research assistant, Maxwell, and me as we moved through his cultural world side by side—I, initially, as an agnostic ethnographer; he, initially, as the passionate would-be leader of a revival movement for a marginalized indigenous religion. The article is intended as a meditation on the fine line between belief and disbelief, on the politics and pain of adhering to a stigmatized belief system, and on the underexplored complexities that may arise from the mismatch between ethnographers' epistemology and that of their assistants in the field.
Direct gauging of the poincaré group. III. Interactions with internal symmetries

The problem of gauging matter fields with a Poincare invariant action functional that admits anr parameter, semisimple groupG(r) of internal symmetries is considered. A minimal replacement operator for the total groupP10×G(r) is obtained, together with the requisite compensating 1-forms for both the Poincare and theG(r) sectors. A basis forP10×G(r)-invariant Lagrangian densities for the free fields is obtained. Restriction to Lagrangian densities that are at most quadratic in the associated curvature and torsion fields eliminates active coupling between theP10 free field Lagrangian and theG(r) free field Lagrangian, although there is passive coupling that arises through the requirement of tensorial covariance under general coordinate transformations generated by the local action of the translation group. A superposition principle, modulo passive coupling, thus holds for quadratic free field Lagrangian for the total group:LTOT=L P +L G(r) . Field equations for the matter fields and the compensating fields of theG(r) sector are obtained. Both share the passive coupling toP10 that is required in order to achieve “tensorial” covariance, but only the matter fields couple directly to the Poincare fields and only to the Lorentz sector. For “weak” Poincare fields, the field equations for the matter fields and the compensating fields of the internal symmetries go over into the standard field equations of gauge theory for an internal symmetry group.
Configurational stability of allenic anions, use of a vitamin D derived CD fragment as a stereochemical probe and the stereoselective synthesis of precursors

Abstract Metallation ( n -Buli, t -BuOK, THF) followed by quenching (DCl, D2O) of (S)-allenes 4a-c occurs primarily with retention of configuration, whereas that of (R)-allenes 4d-e occurs mainly with inversion; the allenes 4 were prepared from related propargyl alcohols ( 5, 7-9 ,)
The Culture Horse and the Global Cart

Globalization and American Popular Culture. By Lane Crothers. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2006. 192 pp., $60.00 cloth (ISBN: 0-7425-4138-X), $22.95 paper (ISBN: 0-7425-4139-8). Globalization and American Culture, by Lane Crothers, is a valuable addition to the scholarly conversation about globalization. In the book, Crothers explores the nature of globalization and the role of culture within it. The book's core lesson is that, to the extent that popular media are a force in globalization, it is because those media embody globalization. So, in terms of the globalization of popular culture, the horse not only pulls the cart, it paradoxically rides in the cart at the same time. As art imitates life, life imitates art. Crothers’ stated purpose in Globalization and American Culture is to explore “the relationships between the profound economic, social, political, and cultural changes going on in the modern world that are collectively called globalization” (p. 1). As might be expected from a political scientist, Crothers’ strongest discussions concern the political and social dimensions of globalization; his weakest arguments focus on the complexities of the cultural dimension. Nonetheless, the book contains many intriguing claims and insights; some of which are well substantiated, and some of which require further exploration. It also contains some more tenuous claims that reveal a lack of familiarity with the work being done on textual analysis and identity formation (for example, Liebes 1998; Ang 2001; Gillespie 2006). Perhaps the greatest insight in Globalization and American Culture is found in the conclusion to one of its chapters: “much, if not most, of the music, films, and television programming generated by the major popular culture corporations carries an American label regardless of the nation of origin” (p. 63). In other words, popular culture need not be from the United States to be “American.” Rather, popular media are defined as “American” because of textual attributes that they demonstrate and not simply because of their place of origin. Consequently, …
Phase equilibrium measurements for the I2–H2O and I2–HI–H2O systems of the sulfur–iodine cycle using a continuous-flow apparatus

Abstract Liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) phase behavior was investigated for the binary iodine–water (I 2 –H 2 O) and the ternary iodine–hydroiodic acid–water (I 2 –HI–H 2 O) at the elevated temperatures and pressures of interest for the reactive distillation column of the Sulfur–Iodine Cycle. A continuous-flow apparatus, with wetted parts fabricated from tantalum-tungsten alloys, was designed and constructed for the highly corrosive conditions of this work. A central feature of the apparatus is the equilibrium view cell, which allows for the observation and discernment of vapor-liquid, liquid-liquid, and liquid–liquid–vapor equilibria for HIx systems. For the I 2 –H 2 O system, LLE was observed at temperatures and pressures to 300 °C and 104 bar. Based on our observations, we estimate that the upper critical solution temperature for this system occurs at 310–315 °C. For the I 2 –HI–H 2 O ternary, VLE, LLE, and LLVE were all observed at 160 and 200 °C, and three compositions on the water-rich side of the LLE phase envelope were determined.
Human pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG1) motif suppresses prolactin expression

Pituitary tumor-transforming gene (PTTG) originally isolated from GH-secreting pituitary adenoma cells causes in vitro cell transformation, in vivo tumorigenesis, and induces basic fibroblast growth factor. These functions require an intact C-terminal proline-proline-serine-proline motif. PTTG1 is abundantly expressed in human pituitary tumors and plays a role in the early stages of experimental prolactinoma formation. We now determined direct effects of PTTG1 on hormonal phenotypes of functional pituitary tumor cells. Overexpression of PTTG1 C terminus (amino acids 147–202) containing intact proline-proline-serine-proline motifs in rat prolactin (PRL)- and GH-secreting GH3 cells markedly abrogates PRL mRNA expression by more than 90% (P < 0.001) and hormone levels (P < 0.001) and PRL promoter activity (P < 0.01) compared with control vector cells or to a PTTG1 C terminus mutant (P163A, S165Q, P166L, P170L, P172A, and P173L). Wild-type PTTG1 C-terminal transfectants formed smaller (P < 0.05) sc tumors in ...
Cloud-Point Phenomena in Wormlike Micellar Systems Containing Cationic Surfactant and Salt

Cationic surfactants with an erucyl (C22, monounsaturated) tail display unusual phase behavior in aqueous solution as a function of temperature and added salt concentration. Low amounts of salts with binding counterions such as sodium tosylate (NaTos) lead to highly viscoelastic wormlike micellar solutions. With further addition of salt, the viscosity decreases, and the solutions cloud on heating (i.e., exhibit lower consolute phase behavior). The cloud-point temperature and the zero-shear viscosity η0 pass in parallel through minima as a function of NaTos concentration. Cloud-point behavior is seen over a wider range of salt concentrations in the case of sodium salicylate (NaSal), which has an even stronger binding counterion. In the case of a weakly binding salt (NaCl), phase transitions are observed only at much higher salt contents, and the phase behavior is predominantly of the upper consolute type. Light and neutron scattering data show evidence of critical concentration fluctuations near the cloud ...
Inverted papilloma of the urinary bladder: ultrastructural and immunologic studies

The histologic, ultrastructural, and immunologic features of an inverted urinary bladder papilloma were studied with thin-section and freeze-fracture electron microscopy, a specific red blood cell adherence test, and through analysis of urine carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The increased number of gap junctions and desmosomes, the presence of thickened and reduplicated basal laminae, and the normal CEA levels found in association with this neoplasm, correlate well with its generally predictable benign behavior.
Capitated Medicaid and the process of care of elderly hypertensives and diabetics: results from a randomized trial.

purpose To measure the quality of care for hypertensive and diabetic elderly Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in managed care versus fee-for-service (FFS) plans. methods Individuals enrolled in the Medicaid Demonstration Project in Hennepin County, Minnesota, were randomly assigned to receive their care either in one of seven managed care health plans in which the Medicaid payment for their care was capitated or in an FFS plan. Two hundred ninety-one hypertensives and 96 diabetics who were aged 65 years or over at the beginning of the evaluation were interviewed at baseline and followed for 1 year. Drug and nondrug therapy, monitoring, monthly medication costs, and access to medications were assessed. results The prepaid and FFS did not differ in drug or nondrug therapy, with the exception that slightly more FFS enrollees were on human insulin after 1 year. Mean monthly medication costs and access to medications were similar for both groups. conclusions In this randomized trial, we were unable to detect differences in the process of care for hypertensive and diabetic Medicaid enrollees.
Stability of factor loadings

Abstract Each of 17 tests was embedded in six different eight-test matrices. Stability of general factor loadings were determined over the six contexts. Correlations of factor loadings ranged from 0.52 to 0.94 with an average value of 0.83.
The exchange of phospholipids between subcellular organelles of the liver.

Abstract Phospholipid exchange in vitro was demonstrated between the following preparations from rat liver: (a) mitochondria and microsomes, (b) different microsomal preparations, (c) mitochondria and plasma membranes, and (d) microsomes and plasma membranes. This exchange is dependent upon time and temperature, and is stimulated by the soluble fraction. It does not require biological activity of the membranes, since denaturation by heat or TCA, and treatment with metabolic inhibitors, has no effect. However, denaturation of the soluble protein prevents the usual stimulation of phospholipid exchange by the post 105,000 g supernatant. The data suggest the possibility of a continuous exchange of phospholipids between all membranes within the cell. The demonstration of phospholipid exchange between two different microsomal preparations was made possible by the use of a new method for isolation of microsomes at a very low centrifugal force. Microsomes bound to Ca 2+ were sedimented by centrifugation at 30 g for 10 min. These microsomes were structurally and functionally comparable to those obtained conventionally be centrifuging at 105,000 g for 1 hr, while contamination with mitochondria was significantly diminished. This method not only allows separation of “low-speed” from “high-speed” microsomes, but also saves considerable time, particularly when multiple washes are required.
Temporal architecture of in vivo endocrine glandular signaling: obtaining a secretory blueprint by deconvolution analysis.

Recent molecular and cellular studies of the mechanisms that regulate endocrine glandular secretion have unmasked an array of interesting biochemical and molecular features of hormone release. Such mechanisms involve genomic control, subcellularly compartmentalized hormone synthesis, posttranslational (glyco)protein modification, and appropriate intragranular packaging for exocytosis. Moreover, studies in cell biology have identified discrete messenger pathways activating secretion in individual cells, cell ensembles, and intact endocrine glands. Despite these advances in our understanding of endocrine secretory mechanics. far less information is available regarding the regulated timestructure of hormone release. The temporal arrhitecture of endocrine glandular signaling is believed to convey important biochemical information to the remote target tissue, and also represents a signature of the time-specified activation of responsive endocrine cells. Consequently, to
Perceived Social Support, Coping Styles, and Chinese Immigrants’ Cardiovascular Responses to Stress

Background Social support and coping strategies are important determinants of health, especially for those in the immigrant community adjusting to a new environment.