cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lack of correlation between the decreased expression of cell surface LETS protein and tumorigenicity in human cell hybrids

Abstract An analysis of the correlation between tumorigenicity and the loss of expression of the large external transformation-sensitive glycoprotein (LETS) was performed on human cell hybrids and their respective normal and tumorigenic parental cell lines. The distribution of cell surface LETS protein in a series of cell lines was examined by both specific immunofluorescent staining and by gel electrophoresis of lactoperoxidase-catalyzed, iodinated cell surface proteins. The tumorigenicity of these cell lines was assayed in nude mice. Although the series of cell lines studied provided a broad spectrum of LETS protein expression, both quantitatively and qualitatively, there does not appear to be a correlation between tumorigenicity and decreased expression of the LETS protein. In a series of transformed, nontumorigenic hybrids, the LETS protein expression was found to be altered with respect to both decreased organizational complexity and decreased content. These hybrids continue to express a number of other transformed phenotypes. Conversely, a number of tumorigenic hybrids continue to express relatively high levels of LETS protein when compared with nontumorigenic hybrids. Thus an alteration in LETS protein expression by itself, or in concert with a spectrum of other transformation properties, does not appear to be a sufficient requirement for tumorigenicity and lends further support to an apparent separate control of the transformed versus tumorigenic phenotype.
Ethics, genetic prediction, and heart disease

Abstract As we identify genes predictive of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, or cancer, we may unwittingly deprive individuals and families at risk of such diseases from access to health care. This is a problem in distributive justice. Commercial health insurance is built along lines similar to other forms of commercial insurance in which the notion of “actuarial fairness” plays a key role. Actuarial fairness contends that parties seeking insurance ought to pay according to their respective risks of filing a claim. Underwriting is the process by which insurers estimate the likelihood that an applicant would be making a claim. The human genome project has brought the latent ethical problems in commercial health insurance to the surface. In the scenario feared by insurers, predictive genetic tests will filter into general medical practice. Individuals who learn that they are at increased risk of such disease are more likely to purchase insurance. Such behavior is known as “adverse selection” by the insurance industry. Individual companies, in an effort to avoid adverse selection, may seek genetic information about their prospective customers, and other companies may follow suit. Such a scenario has led to the establishment of a national Task Force on Genetic Information and Insurance under the aegis of the human genome project. The Task Force seeks to clarify the empirical and moral components of the controversy. Key questions include the social purpose of health insurance, whether adverse selection is a genuine concern in the context of genetic testing, and the appropriateness of risk underwriting for access to health care. People who participate as subjects in predictive genetic research are at risk of having their access to health and other forms of insurance adversely affected. Consideration should be given to protecting privacy and to making that information part of the informed consent to participate in research.
Raising and Lowering Operators for Semiclassical Wave Packets

Abstract We construct raising and lowering operators for certain orthonormal bases ofL2( R n). These bases consist of quantum mechanical wave packets that can be used to develop asymptotic expansions for solutions to the time–dependent Schrodinger equation in the semiclassical limit. With the knowledge of the raising and lowering operators, we simplify the construction of these bases and the proofs of their crucial properties. We also present simplified proofs of several results in semiclassical quantum mechanics.
A 7.2 kV experimental setup of a third harmonic hybrid active filter for medium voltage utility applications

A practical third harmonic hybrid active filter capable of cost-effectively suppressing third harmonic currents in medium voltage distribution systems was proposed in [1]. The design of the proposed filter was driven by strict utility requirements - reliability, cost, and system impact. This paper extends the previous work by designing, building, and testing a 7.2 kV medium voltage experimental implementation of the proposed filter. Extensive simulations were performed to ensure safe operation of the experimental setup under normal operating conditions and during faults/shutdown of the filter. Experimental results are presented which demonstrate the performance of the proposed filter. The impact of a distributed filtering solution based on the proposed filter on a typical residential/small commercial distribution system was analyzed using actual utility data. The simulation results show considerable third harmonic neutral current and neutral-to-earth voltage reduction by deploying the proposed filter.
Diverse recognition of conserved orthopoxvirus CD8+ T cell epitopes in vaccinated rhesus macaques

Vaccinia virus (VACV) induces a vigorous virus-specific CD8+ T cell response that plays an important role in control of poxvirus infection. To identify immunodominant poxvirus proteins and to facilitate future testing of smallpox vaccines in non-human primates, we used an algorithm for the prediction of VACV peptides able to bind to the common macaque MHC class I molecule Mamu-A*01. We synthesized 294 peptides derived from 97 VACV ORFs; 100 of these peptides did not contain the canonical proline at position three of the Mamu-A*01 binding motif. Cellular immune responses in PBMC from two vaccinia-vaccinated Mamu-A*01+ macaques were assessed by IFNγ ELISPOT assays. Vaccinated macaques recognized 17 peptides from 16 different ORFs with 6 peptides recognized by both macaques. Comparison with other orthopoxvirus sequences revealed that 12 of these epitopes are strictly conserved between VACV, variola, and monkeypoxvirus. ELISPOT responses were also observed to eight epitopes that did not contain the canonical P3 proline. These results suggest that the virus-specific CD8+ T cell response is broadly directed against multiple VACV proteins and that a subset of these T cell epitopes is highly conserved among orthopoxviruses.
Stereocontrolled total synthesis of isocomene sesquiterpenes

Four isomers of the sesquiterpene isocomene have been synthesized in high yields and in a stereocontrolled fashion from the tricyclic triquinane 1 obtained by the cyclopentene annulation method. Carbon-13 data was obtained for all of the isocomene sesquiterpenes.
The Impact of Grain Crushing on Road Performance

This paper presents the results of a study of grain crushing in road construction and its effect on road behaviour. Sieve analyses of field samples confirmed that grain crushing occurs during compaction of the base layer despite the good quality of aggregates used. Laboratory testing indicated that grain crushing reduces the resilient modulus of the aggregate material by half and increases the permanent deformations by onefold to threefold depending on the state of density and stresses considered. Road design and analyses undertaken to delineate the effect of grain crushing on performance showed that particle breakage yields a significant increase in rutting and longitudinal and alligator cracking of roads.
Coherent Quantum-Noise Cancellation for Optomechanical Sensors

Using a flow chart representation of quantum optomechanical dynamics, we design coherent quantum-noise-cancellation schemes that can eliminate the backaction noise induced by radiation pressure at all frequencies and thus overcome the standard quantum limit of force sensing. The proposed schemes can be regarded as novel examples of coherent feedforward quantum control.
Impact of temperature, moisture, and storage duration on the chemical composition of switchgrass, corn stover, and sweet sorghum bagasse.

Packaged samples of three bioenergy feedstocks—sweet sorghum, corn stover, and switchgrass—were stored indoors under aerobic conditions to determine the change in chemical composition, track loss of specific chemical constituents, and determine the impact of dry matter loss on saccharification yields with and without pretreatment. Biomass samples were stored under controlled temperature conditions at varying stable biomass moisture contents (10–34 % w/w), temperatures (8–35 °C), and durations up to 16 weeks. Total dry matter losses were measured and sample compositions determined to develop a material balance of storage losses for free sugars, glucan, xylan, and lignin. Maximal losses (24–30 %) were observed for sweet sorghum bagasse at high moisture, while minimal losses (0 %) were observed with switchgrass below the highest tested moisture. Sorghum losses predominantly consisted of free sugars, while switchgrass and stover losses consisted of structural carbohydrates—cellulose and hemicellulose. The mass fraction (% dry weight) of lignin was observed to increase in samples showing dry matter loss, as a result of carbohydrate consumption.
Some effects of bromotrifluoromethane inhalation on myocardial glycolysis

Abstract Bromotrifluoromethane (CBrF 3 ) would have considerable potential as a closed environment fire extinguishing agent, except for its membership in that large group of hydrocarbons capable of precipitating irregular heart action when inhaled by persons with elevated levels of blood epinephrine. These experiments were an effort to determine whether myocardial glycolysis was impaired in male Wistar rats breathing 79 21 CBrF 3 O 2 and challenged with 1-epinephrine in what would ordinarily constitute subtoxic doses. CNS effects were the major observations in rats exposed to both CBrF 3 and epinephrine; 17 of the 20 rats so exposed suffered respiratory arrest within 40 min, and several of them exhibited erratic, convulsive behavior prior to exhibiting respiratory difficulties. All control rats survived, and myocardial levels of glycolytic intermediates were compared in animals breathing air or CBrF 3 O 2 , with and without epinephrine challenge, using “crossover plots.” With air-epinephrine and CBrF 3 -epinephrine there were crossovers (activation) at phosphofructokinase, and the general picture was consistent with the CBrF 3 induction of respiratory depression and hypoxia, resulting in the mobilization and intracellular accumulation of free fatty acids.
DNA damage induces downregulation of histone gene expression through the G1 checkpoint pathway

Activation of the G1 checkpoint following DNA damage leads to inhibition of cyclin E–Cdk2 and subsequent G1 arrest in higher eucaryotes. Little, however, is known about the molecular events downstream of cyclin E–Cdk2 inhibition. Here we show that, in addition to the inhibition of DNA synthesis, ionizing radiation induces downregulation of histone mRNA levels in mammalian cells. This downregulation occurs at the level of transcription and requires functional p53 and p21CIP1/WAF1 proteins. We demonstrate that DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation results in the suppression of phosphorylation of NPAT, an in vivo substrate of cyclin E–Cdk2 kinase and an essential regulator of histone gene transcription, and its dissociation from histone gene clusters in a p53/p21-dependent manner. Inhibition of Cdk2 activity by specific inhibitors in the absence of DNA damage similarly disperses NPAT from histone gene clusters and represses histone gene expression. Our results thus suggest that inhibition of Cdk2 activity following DNA damage results in the downregulation of histone gene transcription through dissociation of NPAT from histone gene clusters.
Communications costs under alternative distributed database configurations

Abstract Distributed database management systems (DDBMSs) can be configured in a variety of ways. Full or partial replication of data may be utilized, and even within systems not allowing replication a variety of directory configurations might be used, including fully replicated, centrally replicated and distributed directory systems. Alternative DDBMS configurations may lead to very different communications costs in a distributed network, and changes in database usage patterns are likely to affect different configurations in different ways. This paper models the communications costs associated with several alternative DDBMS configurations and examines the impact of changing database usage patterns on those costs. Changes in usage are found to have a substantial impact on relative communications costs of the alternative configurations.
Crossroads of Religions: Shrines, Mobility and Urban Space in Goa

Wayside shrines — representing Hindu and Catholic divinities and saints — show an astonishing dynamic in the cities of Goa and India. Not only do they persist in a milieu of drastic modern change that often seems to be at odds with their traditional locations, aesthetics and purposes, but also some of them surpass temples, churches and mosques in popularity. The popularity of these seemingly marginal religious monuments is a response to three forms of mobility characterizing modern Indian urban environments: cultural mobility — the diversification and fluctuation of religious ideas and practices; social mobility — the diversification and fluctuation of people from different castes, social classes and geographical regions, as well as the change of caste and class status due to socio-economic change; and physical mobility — the movement of and movement around increasingly dense and complex flows of motorized traffic. The shrines modify and transform the centuries-old spatio-religious system of Hindus and Catholics to fit the conditions of late-modern city life. They allow a culturally diversifying, socially changing and geographically fluctuating population to engage with a variety of personalized deities and saints whose charismatic authority is not only quite independent from formalized local social hierarchies, but often also cuts across orthodox divisions between religious traditions.
Reagan's National Security Legacy: Model-Based Analyses of Recent Changes in American Policy

As the Reagan presidency draws to an end, speculation grows as to its legacy in various areas, from domestic economics to international politics. The current study takes as its focus the Reagan leg...
Hospice education about people with AIDS as terminally ill patients: Coping with a new epidemic of death

Hospice care for patients with AIDS often differs from care provided to patients with other terminal illnesses, such as cancer. We designed a seminar series to educate regional hospice staff about these differences and subsequently determined if the educational intervention was associated with improvements in their AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, or behaviors toward patients with AIDS. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from seminar participants (n = 63) and a similar comparison group (n = 18) at several time points. Seminar participants significantly improved their AIDS-related behaviors (p.05); and there was a trend toward knowledge improvement. Qualitative data shed light on the quantitative findings. Participants verbalized better understanding of the relatively aggressive care often given to terminally ill patients with AIDS when it enhanced quality of life.
Comment on “The German Twin Crisis of 1931”

It is lovely to see attention to this critical episode in the Great Depression. Isabel Schnabel repeats the familiar argument that bank behavior was a primary cause of the German crisis. We have argued elsewhere that the German crisis clearly began as a currency crisis, not a banking crisis. The purpose of this comment is to examine the data that Schnabel's article brings to bear on this question and evaluate the evidence it presents in support of its hypotheses.
A phase interpolation algorithm for sinusoidal model based music synthesis

This paper presents a least square quadratic phase interpolation algorithm for sinusoidal model based music synthesis. This algorithm uses two additions with one parameter per data frame to generate the phase samples of a component sinewave. Compared with the cubic phase interpolation algorithm proposed by McAulay and Quatieri (1986), the proposed algorithm is more efficient in terms of computational complexity and parameter storage. In the meantime, it also produces smoother frequency tracks (that is, with less spurious oscillations). Unlike the existing quadratic phase interpolation algorithm, where the phase measurements are ignored ("magnitude-only"), the proposed algorithm interpolates phase in a least square sense from both the phase and the frequency measurements at data frame boundaries. Thus the resulting phase samples are approximately "locked" to the measured ones. Informal listening tests on various musical instrument tones indicate that the proposed algorithm clearly outperforms the magnitude-only synthesis approach and is qualitatively comparable to the cubic one.
Framed Before We Know It: How Gender Shapes Social Relations

In this article, I argue that gender is a primary cultural frame for coordinating behavior and organizing social relations. I describe the implications for understanding how gender shapes social behavior and organizational structures. By my analysis, gender typically acts as a background identity that biases, in gendered directions, the performance of behaviors undertaken in the name of organizational roles and identities. I develop an account of how the background effects of the gender frame on behavior vary by the context that different organizational and institutional structures set but can also infuse gendered meanings into organizational practices. Next, I apply this account to two empirical illustrations to demonstrate that we cannot understand the shape that the structure of gender inequality and gender difference takes in particular institutional or societal contexts without taking into account the background effects of the gender frame on behavior in these contexts.
Low-rank matrix completion for array signal processing

In this paper, we propose the application of low-rank matrix completion techniques for array signal processing. Specifically, under the assumption that the number of targets is generally much smaller than the number of antennas, the received signals can form a low-rank matrix with noise. According to the recently proposed matrix completion theory, only a subset of the entries are enough to recover the whole matrix as long as certain conditions are met, thus the implementation cost of obtaining a matrix could be reduced. We prove that the matrix formed by the received signals satisfies the condition for matrix recovery. Moreover, a uniform spatial sampling (USS) method is proposed, which is easy for hardware implementation and also could take advantage of the available number of front-end elements to achieve a better performance. We analytically prove that the probability of matrix recovery failure under the USS model is asymptotically equal to that under the Bernoulli model. Simulation results demonstrate that the matrix recovery performance under the USS model is very close to that using the uniform model.
Five-month-old infants know humans are solid, like inanimate objects

Infants know that humans are exempt from some of the principles that govern the motion of inanimate objects: for instance, humans can be caused to move without being struck. In the current study, we report that infants nevertheless do apply some of the same principles to both humans and objects, where appropriate. Five-month-old infants expect humans, like all material objects, to be solid.
Real-time analysis of transient stability using reconfigurable analog VLSI

This letter presents a new method to perform transient stability analysis of a system using reconfigurable analog VLSI. A novel concept for reconfiguring system parameters has been developed and tested using a one generator infinite bus system.
MEMS Temperature Characterization by CdSe Quantum Dots

Non-contact temperature measurements of MEMS structures using CdSe quantum dots (QDs) have been successfully demonstrated for a 1-mm long, 40-mum wide aluminum micro heater. Quantum dot emission wavelength shifts as a function of temperature was for the first time characterized at the single particle level to be 0.24 nm/degC in the 25-65degC range. Temperature profiles of a MEMS heater under different input powers were evaluated based on the spectral shift of bulk quantum dots on the heater and were compared with a one-dimensional electrothermal model. Both experiments and simulations are consistent with variations of less than 0.8degC. The theoretical spatial resolution of this technique can go down to the size of a single quantum dot for non-contact temperature characterizations of micro/nano structures including biological samples.
Top quark as a topological color soliton

In this paper I propose a scenario for the top quark as a topological color soliton. I illustrate some features of the top quark as a soliton in a toy model based on a nonlinear realization of SU{sub {ital L}}(3){times}SU{sub {ital R}}(3)/SU{sub {ital L}+{ital R}}(3) with SU{sub {ital L}+{ital R}}(3) being the color gauge group.
The effect of porcine somatotropin supplementation in pigs on the lipid profile of subcutaneous and intermuscular adipose tissue and longissimus muscle

Abstract: The effect of porcine somatotropin PST) on the lipid profiles of adipose tissue and muscle was investigated. Sixteen crossbred barrows were injected daily with either 3 mg of PST or a placebo. After slaughter, total lipid and fatty acid composition of raw subcutaneous (SC) adipose and intermuscular (IM) adipose tissue and longissimus muscle were determined. The SC adipose tissue from PST-treated pigs had a 7.5% decrease in total lipid content; specific fatty acids 16:0, 18:0, and 18:1(n-9)c decreased most. The IM fat from PST-treated pigs had lower levels of 16:0 and 20:0. There was no effect of PST treatment on the lipid profile of the longissimus muscle. The data suggest that PST treatment produces small but significant changes in the saturated fatty acid content Of adipose tissue in pigs.
Expression of a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase gene from Camptotheca acuminata is differentially regulated by wounding and methyl jasmonate.

We have isolated a gene, hmg1, for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) from Camptotheca acuminata, a Chinese tree that produces the anti-cancer monoterpenoid indole alkaloid camptothecin (CPT). HMGR supplies mevalonate for the synthesis of the terpenoid component of CPT as well as for the formation of many other primary and secondary metabolites. In Camptotheca, hmg1 transcripts were detected only in young seedlings and not in vegetative organs of older plants. Regulation of the hmg1 promoter was studied in transgenic tobacco using three translational fusions (-1678, -1107, -165) with the [beta]-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene. Histochemical analysis of plants containing each of the three promoter fusions showed similar developmental and spatial expression patterns. In vegetative tissues, GUS staining was localized to the epidermis of young leaves and stems, particularly in glandular trichomes. Roots showed intense staining in the cortical tissues in the elongation zone and light staining in the cortex of mature roots. hmg1::GUS expression was also observed in sepals, petals, pistils, and stamens of developing flowers, with darkest staining in the ovary wall, ovules, stigmas, and pollen. Leaf discs from plants containing each of the translational fusions showed a 15- to 20-fold wound induction of hmg1::GUS expression over 72 h; however, this increase in GUS activity was completely suppressed by treatment with methyl jasmonate. Taken together, these data show that a 165-bp fragment of Camptotheca hmg1promoter is sufficient to confer developmental regulation as well as wound induction and methyl jasmonate suppression of GUS expression in transgenic tobacco.
LYME DISEASE:A Review of Aspects of Its Immunology and Immunopathogenesis

Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, causes a multisystem inflammatory ailment, although the precise means of tissue damage are not well understood. It is clear that the organism is present at the site of inflammation in many organs and that many of the features of the illness are relieved by antibiotic therapy. A complex interaction between spirochete and immune systems of a number of mammalian hosts, in human disease and animal models, has been described. It is clear that T cells and macrophages are intimately associated with the pathogenesis of arthritis and that immune mechanisms are involved in other aspects of disease. Inflammation directed at persistence of Borrelial antigens is a plausible explanation for persisting arthritis. Autoimmunity based on molecular mimicry may play a role in the pathogenesis of Lyme disease. Humoral immunity plays a protective role, prompting interest in vaccine development. Significant variation in certain of the outer surface proteins suggests that multiple proteins, peptides, or chimeric vaccines may be needed to provide a sufficiently broad humoral protective response.
Resource Dependence and in Terorganiza Tional Relations Local Employment Service Offices and Social Services Sector Organizations

A resource dependence model is proposed as a conceptual scheme to account for organizational behavior observed under conditions where interorganizational relations are a critical environmental contingency. The model is used to explain the pattern of transactions between 19 local Employment Service offices and 249 social service organizations in New York State. Four aspects of interorganization transaction are taken as problematic: intensity, reciprocity, standardization of interaction, and the degree of perceived cooperation in the relationship. The results support the important role assigned to the manipulation of authority by the resource dependence perspective, and the findings document the minimal role played by domain consensus.
Primary perineal wound closure after preoperative radiotherapy and abdominoperineal resection has a high incidence of wound failure.

Neoadjuvant radiation therapy has been used increasingly to downstage rectal cancer and decrease local recurrence. Despite its efficacy, preoperative radiation therapy may inhibit healing and contribute to wound complications. This study was designed to evaluate perineal wound complications after abdominoperineal resection. The clinical records of a consecutive series of patients who underwent abdominoperineal resection for rectal carcinoma between 1988 and 2002 were reviewed. Demographic data, disease stage, and use of preoperative radiation therapy were recorded. Major wound complications included delayed wound healing (>1 month), wound infection requiring drainage/debridement, or reoperation. A total of 160 patients underwent abdominoperineal resection with primary closure of the perineal wound (mean age, 63 ± 12 years); 117 (73 percent) patients received preoperative radiation therapy; 114 received radiation therapy for rectal cancer (radiation therapy + chemotherapy = 107, radiation therapy alone = 7); 3 received radiation therapy for other pelvic malignancies. Median radiation dose was 5,040 (range, 900–5,400) cGY. Overall wound complication rate was 41 percent. Major wound complication rate was 35 percent. Delayed healing was the most common complication (24 percent), followed by infection (10 percent). Radiation therapy increased the risk of any wound complication (47 vs. 23 percent; P = 0.005), risk of a major wound complication (41 vs. 19 percent; P = 0.021), and risk of infection (14 vs. 0 percent; P = 0.015). Risk of wound complications did not correlate with age, gender, disease stage, smoking, or diabetes. Wound complications are frequent after abdominoperineal resection and primary closure of the perineum. Preoperative radiation therapy doubles the rate of total and major perineal wound complications. Alternatives to primary perineal closure should be considered, particularly after radiation therapy.
Screening and surveillance CT abdomen/pelvis for metastases in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma of the extremity

Objectives The clinical utility of routine cross sectional imaging of the abdomen and pelvis in the screening and surveillance of patients with primary soft-tissue sarcoma of the extremities for metastatic disease is controversial, based on its questionable yield paired with concerns regarding the risks of radiation exposure, cost, and morbidity resulting from false positive findings. Methods Through retrospective review of 140 patients of all ages (mean 53 years; 2 to 88) diagnosed with soft-tissue sarcoma of the extremity with a mean follow-up of 33 months (0 to 291), we sought to determine the overall incidence of isolated abdominopelvic metastases, their temporal relationship to chest involvement, the rate of false positives, and to identify disparate rates of metastases based on sarcoma subtype. Results A total of four patients (2.9%) exhibited isolated abdominopelvic metastatic disease during the surveillance period. In all cases of concomitant chest and abdominopelvic disease, chest involvement preceded abominopelvic involvement. There was a significant false positive rate requiring invasive workup. Conclusions In the setting of a relative paucity of evidence concerning a rare disease process and in difference to recently published investigations, we add a clinical cohort not supportive of routine cross sectional imaging of the abdomen and pelvis. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2015;4:45–9.
Accretion of Jupiter's atmosphere from a supernova-contaminated molecular cloud

Abstract If Jupiter and the Sun both formed directly from the same well-mixed proto-solar nebula, then their atmospheric compositions should be similar. However, direct sampling of Jupiter’s troposphere indicates that it is enriched in elements such as C, N, S, Ar, Kr, and Xe by 2–6× relative to the Sun (Wong, M.H., Lunine, J.I., Atreya, S.K., Johnson, T., Mahaffy, P.R., Owen, T.C., Encrenaz, T. [2008]. 219–246). Most existing models to explain this enrichment require an extremely cold proto-solar nebula which allows these heavy elements to condense, and cannot easily explain the observed variations between these species. We find that Jupiter’s atmospheric composition may be explained if the Solar System’s disk heterogeneously accretes small amounts of enriched material such as supernova ejecta from the interstellar medium during Jupiter’s formation. Our results are similar to, but substantially larger than, isotopic anomalies in terrestrial material that indicate the Solar System formed from multiple distinct reservoirs of material simultaneously with one or more nearby supernovas (Trinquier, A., Birck, J.-L., Allegre, C.J. [2007]. Astrophys. J. 655, 1179–1185). Such temporal and spatial heterogeneities could have been common at the time of the Solar System’s formation, rather than the cloud having a purely well-mixed ‘solar nebula’ composition.
Adaptive simulation training using cumulative sum: a randomized prospective trial.

Abstract Background Cumulative sum (Cusum) is a novel tool that can facilitate adaptive, individualized training curricula. The purpose of this study was to use Cusum to streamline simulation-based training. Methods Preclinical medical students were randomized to Cusum or control arms and practiced suturing, intubation, and central venous catheterization in simulation. Control participants practiced between 8 and 9 hours each. Cusum participants practiced until Cusum proficient in all tasks. Group comparisons of blinded post-test evaluations were performed using Wilcoxon rank sum. Results Forty-eight participants completed the study. Average post-test composite score was 92.1% for Cusum and 93.5% for control ( P = .71). Cusum participants practiced 19% fewer hours than control group participants (7.12 vs 8.75 hours, P Conclusions In this comparison between adaptive and volume-based curricula in surgical training, Cusum promoted more efficient time utilization while maintaining excellent results.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (CG)- and phorbol ester-stimulated phosphorylation of the luteinizing hormone/CG receptor maps to serines 635, 639, 649, and 652 in the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail.

In a number of instances, binding of a ligand to its receptor results in receptor phosphorylation that mediates receptor uncoupling from its effector. Recently, we showed that human CG (hCG)- or phorbol ester- [phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)] stimulation of cells transfected with the LH/CG receptor induced rapid LH/CG receptor phosphorylation and a reduced cAMP response upon reexposure to hCG. The fact that hCG and PMA both phosphorylate and uncouple the LH/CG receptor suggests a common mechanism of action, namely the activation of protein kinase C. The studies presented here were designed to investigate the role of the C kinase in LH/CG receptor phosphorylation and to locate the phosphorylation site(s) within the receptor protein. The experiments presented here show that although hCG activates the C kinase in these cells, phosphorylation of the LH/CG receptor in response to hCG is maintained in C kinase-deficient cells. This suggests that activation of protein kinase C is not required for hCG-indu...
Research and Education in Green Materials: A multi-disciplinary program to bridge the gaps

The University of California has recently funded a new Lead Campus program: Research and Education in Green Materials, a multi-campus graduate fellowship program designed to bridge the disciplinary boundaries of engineering, science, toxicology and social science. This paper describes the program and the graduate course on green engineering.
Structure of a biological oxygen sensor: A new mechanism for heme-driven signal transduction

The FixL proteins are biological oxygen sensors that restrict the expression of specific genes to hypoxic conditions. FixL’s oxygen-detecting domain is a heme binding region that controls the activity of an attached histidine kinase. The FixL switch is regulated by binding of oxygen and other strong-field ligands. In the absence of bound ligand, the heme domain permits kinase activity. In the presence of bound ligand, this domain turns off kinase activity. Comparison of the structures of two forms of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum FixL heme domain, one in the “on” state without bound ligand and one in the “off” state with bound cyanide, reveals a mechanism of regulation by a heme that is distinct from the classical hemoglobin models. The close structural resemblance of the FixL heme domain to the photoactive yellow protein confirms the existence of a PAS structural motif but reveals the presence of an alternative regulatory gateway.
Oxytocin and Vasopressin Stimulate Anion Secretion by Human and Porcine Vas Deferens Epithelia

Abstract Experiments were conducted to characterize the effects of oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) on epithelial cells isolated from human (1°HVD) and porcine (1°PVD) vas deferens and an immortalized epithelial cell line derived from porcine vas deferens (PVD9902 cells). Cultured monolayers were assessed in modified Ussing flux chambers and the OT- or VP-induced change in short circuit current (ISC) was recorded. All cell types responded to basolateral OT or VP with a transient increase in ISC that reached a peak of 3–5 μA cm−2. Concentration-response curves constructed with 1°PVD and PVD9902 cells revealed that the apparent KD (kapp) for OT was ∼100-fold less than the kapp for VP. Amplicons for the OT receptor (OXTR) and vasopressin type 2 and type 1a receptors (AVPR2 and AVPR1A) were generated with RT-PCR and the identification of each amplicon confirmed by sequence analysis. A selective antagonist for OXTR and AVPR1A fully blocked the effects of OT and partially blocked the effects of VP when assess...
Child Food Insecurity and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Low-Income Infants and Toddlers in the United States

Objective: Examine the association between child-level food insecurity and iron status in young children utilizing community-based data from the Children's Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program (C-SNAP). Methods: A cross-sectional sample of caregivers of children ≤36 months of age utilizing emergency department (ED) services were interviewed between 6/96–5/01. Caregiver interviews, which included questions on child-level food security, were linked to a primary clinic database containing hemoglobin, red blood cell distribution width, mean corpuscular volume, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin and lead values. Children a priori at-risk for anemia: birthweight ≤2500 g, with HIV/AIDS, sickle cell disease, or lead values ≥10.0 ug/dL, and children ≤6 months of age were excluded from the analysis. Only laboratory tests 365 days prior or 90 days after interview were examined. Iron status was classified in four mutually exclusive categories: 1) Iron Sufficient-No Anemia (ISNA), 2) Anemia (without iron deficiency), 3) Iron Deficient-No Anemia (IDNA), 4) Iron Deficient with Anemia (IDA). Results: 626 ED interviews linked to laboratory data met the inclusion criteria. Food insecure children were significantly more likely to have IDA compared to food secure children [Adjusted Odds Ratio = 2.4, 95% CI (1.1–5.2), p = 0.02]. There was no association between child food insecurity and anemia without iron deficiency or iron deficiency without anemia. Conclusion: These findings suggest an association between child level food insecurity and iron deficiency anemia, a clinically important health indicator with known negative cognitive, behavioral and health consequences. Cuts in spending on food assistance programs that address children's food insecurity may lead to adverse health consequences.
Comparing Two Collaborative Projects in a Cognitive Psychology Course

I compared 2 collaborative class projects in an undergraduate Cognitive Psychology class. One was the Museum of the Mind, in which students created interactive museum-like displays that explained or illustrated a topic within cognitive psychology. The second was the Cognition Book, an edited book about cognition, in which students authored the chapters. Both projects required that students work collaboratively in small groups, in and outside of class. This article presents guidelines for constructing both. The results of a learning outcome measure and students' self-reports indicated that students in the Museum of the Mind class enjoyed aspects of their experiences more than students in the Cognition Book class, but students in the former class learned marginally less than students in the latter.
Pro: continuation of aspirin/clopidogrel for cardiac surgery.

The pivotal role of platelets in the formation of thrombi or clots inside a blood vessel and the effect of aspirin and clopi- dogrel are well known. Classically, thrombosis is caused by abnormalities in 1 or more of the 3 components of Virchow's triad: the composition of blood, the condition of the vessel wall, and the peculiarities of the blood flow. A thrombus consists of platelet aggregates and fibrin that ultimately may grow into a hemostatic plug, obstructing a vessel. Usually, arterial throm- bosis is initiated by the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque, either spontaneous or mechanical (eg, during endovascular procedures). The atherosclerotic core beneath the endothelium is then exposed to blood, and platelets are activated when brought into contact with collagen (collagen is laid bare when the endothelial blood vessel lining is damaged). The platelets adhere to the extracellular matrix, become activated, and recruit new platelets that aggregate. At the same time, tissue factor initiates the coagulation system. Activated platelets not only synthesize and release a platelet-activating lipid, thromboxane- A2, but they also release adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and serotonin. They expose receptors for fibrinogen in the form of activated glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, which represents the final com- mon pathway leading to the aggregation of platelets. Ulti- mately, thrombin generated by the coagulation cascade trans- forms fibrinogen to fibrin, which stabilizes the thrombus. Thrombus formation initiated by endothelial lesions in a coro- nary artery may set off an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and ultimately death. Aspirin irreversibly blocks the formation of thromboxane-A2 in platelets, which inhibits platelet aggregation, making it a useful
NMR Solution structure of the glucagon antagonist [desHis1, desPhe6, Glu9]glucagon amide in the presence of perdeuterated dodecylphosphocholine micelles

Glucagon, a 29-residue peptide hormone, plays an important role in glucose homeostasis and in diabetes mellitus. Several glucagon antagonists and agonists have been developed, but limited structural information is available to clarify the basis of their biological activity. The solution structure of the potent glucagon antagonist, [desHis1, desPhe6, Glu9]glucagon amide, was determined by homonuclear 2D NMR spectroscopy at pH 6.0 and 37 °C in perdeuterated dodecylphosphocholine micelles. The overall backbone root-mean-square deviation (rmsd) for the structured portion (residues 7−29, glucagon numbering) of the micelle-bound 27-residue peptide is 1.36 A for the 15 lowest-energy structures, after restrained molecular dynamics simulation. The structure consists of four regions (segment backbone rmsd in A): an unstructured N-terminal segment between residues 2 and 5 (1.68), an irregular helix between residues 7 and 14 (0.79), a hinge region between residues 15 and 18 (0.54), and a well-defined α-helix between...
Lymph flow in sheep with rapid cardiac ventricular pacing

Increases in systemic venous pressure (Pv) associated with heart failure cause an increase in microvascular fluid filtration into the tissue spaces. By removing this excess filtrate from the tissues, lymphatic vessels help to prevent edema. However, the lymphatics drain into systemic veins and an increase in Pv may interfere with lymphatic flow. To test this, we cannulated caudal mediastinal node efferent lymphatics in sheep. We used rapid cardiac ventricular pacing (240-275 beats/min) to cause heart failure for 4-7 days. Each day we determined the lymph flow rate two ways. First, we adjusted the lymph cannula height so that the pressure at the outflow end of the lymphatic was zero. After we determined the lymph flow with zero outflow pressure, we raised the cannula so that outflow pressure was equal to the actual venous pressure. We quantitated the effect of venous pressure on lymph flow rate by comparing the flow rate with outflow pressure = Pv to the flow rate with zero out low pressure. At baseline, Pv = 5.0 +/- 2.5 (SD) cmH2O and we found no difference in the two lymph flow rates. Pacing caused Pv and both lymph flow rates to increase significantly. However for Pv 15 cmH2O slowed lymph flow by 55 +/- 29% relative to the lymph flow rate with zero outflow pressure. Thus Pv values > 15 cmH2O interfere with lymph flow from the sheep caudal mediastinal lymph node.
Algebraic differential equations with functional coefficients concerning ζ and Γ

Abstract We prove that the Riemann zeta function and the Euler gamma function cannot satisfy a class of algebraic differential equations with functional coefficients that are connected to the zeros of the Riemann zeta function on the critical line.
Co-Simulation Platform for Characterizing Cyber Attacks in Cyber Physical Systems

Smart grid is a complex cyber physical system containing numerous and variety of sources, devices, controllers and loads. Communication/Information infrastructure is the backbone of the smart grid system where different grid components are connected with each other through this structure. Therefore, the drawbacks of the information technology related issues are also becoming a part of the smart grid. Further, smart grid is also vulnerable to the grid related disturbances. For such a dynamic system, disturbance and intrusion detection is a paramount issue. This paper presents a Simulink and OPNET based co-simulated platform to carry out a cyber-intrusion in a cyber-network for modern power systems and smart grids. The cyber attack effect is also characterized for the physical power system. The effectiveness of the co simulated platform is demonstrated by the IEEE 30 bus power system model. The distributed denial of service attack was carried out in the cyber network to see its effect on the physical network. Different physical fault situations in the test system are considered and the results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed co-simulated scheme.
Does cyberchondria overlap with health anxiety and obsessive–compulsive symptoms? An examination of latent structure and scale interrelations

Searching for medical information online is a widespread activity that increases distress for many individuals. Researchers have speculated that this phenomenon, referred to as cyberchondria, overlaps substantially with both health anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. This study sought to examine: (1) the distinguishability of cyberchondria from health anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms and (2) the components of health anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms that cluster most strongly with cyberchondria. The sample consisted of community adults in the United States with no current reported medical problems (N=375). Results from confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) support the idea that cyberchondria is distinct from, yet related to, health anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Results from zero-order correlations and regression analyses suggest that cyberchondria clusters with the affective (health worry) component of health anxiety. Regression results diverged from prior findings, as obsessive-compulsive symptoms did not share associations with cyberchondria after accounting for negative affect and health anxiety. The present results indicate that cyberchondria is possibly discernible from both health anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, while also providing insight into areas of potential overlap.
Multiphasic Sensory Alginate Particle Having Polydiacetylene Liposome for Selective and More Sensitive Multitargeting Detection

A novel fabrication method of monophasic, biphasic, and triphasic alginate microparticles having sensory polydiacetylene (PDA) liposomes has been developed to achieve selective and more sensitive multitargeting detection in solution. In this alginate microparticle based detection system, the sensory PDA liposomes are concentrated in the particles rather than being diluted in a solution, which is the case of a conventional solution based detection system, providing superior sensitivity and stability. The biphasic nature of the alginate microparticles was realized by coinjecting two different PDA liposome/alginate mixture solutions into a CaCl2 solution using a simple combined needle injection system. The size and the constituent of the Janus particles and the extended triphasic particles could be independently manipulated by controlling a centrifugal force and formulating the composition of the PDA liposome solutions, respectively. The multitargeting capability of such mutiphasic alginate particles was dem...
Glutamine Synthetase, Heat-Shock Protein 70, and Glypican-3 in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Glutamine synthetase (GS), heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70), and glypican-3 (GPC-3) are markers best characterized in hepatocellular lesions. Their staining patterns in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IH-ChCa) are not well described. A tissue microarray containing 21 IH-ChCa samples was stained with commercially available antibodies to GS, …