cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-Coding RNAs Set a New Phenotypic Frontier in Prostate Cancer Metastasis and Resistance

Prostate cancer (PCa) mortality remains a significant public health problem, as advanced disease has poor survivability due to the development of resistance in response to both standard and novel therapeutic interventions. Therapeutic resistance is a multifaceted problem involving the interplay of a number of biological mechanisms including genetic, signaling, and phenotypic alterations, compounded by the contributions of a tumor microenvironment that supports tumor growth, invasiveness, and metastasis. The androgen receptor (AR) is a primary regulator of prostate cell growth, response and maintenance, and the target of most standard PCa therapies designed to inhibit AR from interacting with androgens, its native ligands. As such, AR remains the main driver of therapeutic response in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). While androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), in combination with microtubule-targeting taxane chemotherapy, offers survival benefits in patients with mCRPC, therapeutic resistance invariably develops, leading to lethal disease. Understanding the mechanisms underlying resistance is critical to improving therapeutic outcomes and also to the development of biomarker signatures of predictive value. The interconversions between epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) navigate the prostate tumor therapeutic response, and provide a novel targeting platform in overcoming therapeutic resistance. Both microRNA (miRNA)- and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-mediated mechanisms have been associated with epigenetic changes in prostate cancer. This review discusses the current evidence-based knowledge of the role of the phenotypic transitions and novel molecular determinants (non-coding RNAs) as contributors to the emergence of therapeutic resistance and metastasis and their integrated predictive value in prostate cancer progression to advanced disease.
Evolution of CMOS circuits in simulations and directly in hardware on a programmable chip

The paper introduces an approach to automated synthesis of CMOS circuits, based on evolution on a Programmable Transistor Array (PTA). The PTA is a reconfigurable architecture that allows evolutionary synthesis in simulations as well as on a reconfigurable chip implementing the PTA. Thus, the PTA allows, for the first time, analog circuits obtained by evolutionary design to be immediately validated in hardware on the programmable PTA chip. The paper describes a software experiment showing evolutionary synthesis of a circuit with a desired DC characteristic. The hardware implementation of a PTA chip is then described, and the same evolutionary experiment is performed directly on the chip demonstrating circuit synthesis/self-configuration in hardware. The experiment shows that some solutions obtained in simulated evolutions may not be valid when programmed in hardware.
A room temperature 0.1 /spl mu/m CMOS on SOI

An advanced 0.1 /spl mu/m CMOS technology on SOI is presented. In order to minimize short channel effects, relatively thick nondepleted (0.15 /spl mu/m) SOI film, highly nonuniform channel doping and source-drain extension-halo were used. Excellent short channel effects (SCE) down to channel lengths below 0.1 /spl mu/m were obtained. It is shown that undepleted SOI results in better short channel effect when compared to ultrathin depleted SOI. Devices with little short channel effect all the way to below 500 /spl Aring/ effective channel length were obtained. Furthermore, utilization of source-drain extension-halo minimizes the bipolar effect inherent in the floating body. These devices were applied to a variety of circuits: Very high speeds were obtained: Unloaded delay was 20 ps, unloaded NAND (FI=FO=3) was 64 ps, and loaded NAND (FI=FO=3, C/sub L/=0.3 pF) delay was 130 ps at supply of 1.8 V. This technology was applied to a self-resetting 512 K SRAM. Access times of 2.5 ns at 1.5 V and 3.5 ns at 1.0 V were obtained. >
Parotitis in children who had previously received mumps vaccine.

Twenty children who had previously received mumps vaccine developed parotid swelling which was diagnosed as mumps 3 to 39 months following inoculation. In only eight of seventeen children who were studied serologically could the diagnosis of mumps be confirmed. Since these children were immunized over a 4-year period in four different pediatric offices, it is not likely that a particular lot of vaccine or immunizing procedure was at fault. These eight children probably represent vaccine failure. Serologic, virus isolation, clinical or epidemiologic studies failed to reveal the cause of parotid swelling in the remaining children. It is apparent that children who develop parotid swelling following immunization with mumps vaccine cannot be assumed to have mumps. Serologic studies are required to identify the vaccine failures.
On the modulation of oxygen sensitivity of In2O3 thin films: effects of moisture and dc bias

Oxygen sensing characteristics of In2O3 thin film at room temperature have been investigated through conductivity measurements using interdigitated metal finger patterned devices. We observed that the O2 sensitivity gets affected very significantly in presence of moisture, as well as with applied dc bias. The O2 sensitivity was found to increase several times in moist ambient compared to dry ambient condition. Higher dc bias also dramatically improved the sensitivity, which varied more than two orders of magnitude as the dc bias was increased from 0.5 to 10 V. We propose that the observed increase in sensitivity in presence of moisture is caused by enhanced surface electron density on In2O3 thin film resulting from the donation of electrons caused by the chemisorbed water molecules. The adsorption of O2 molecules, which subsequently formed O2− ions, leads to chemical gating of the sensor devices, which under larger dc bias produced a higher fractional change in current leading to higher sensitivity.
Explorations in Anthropology and Theology

Explorations in Anthropology and Theology. Frank A. Salamone and Walter Randolph Adams. eds. Lanham, MD: University Press of America. 1997. xii. 279 pp. $57.50 (cloth); $32.50 (paper).
Basic Orthopaedic Biomechanics and Mechano-Biology. 3rd ed.

Van C. Mow and Rik Huiskes, editors. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2005. 720 pages. $110.00. The lofty title of this book is descriptive of the rapidly advancing state of knowledge regarding the role of mechanics in our ever-expanding understanding of the musculoskeletal system and its constituent materials. The book has grown by three chapters and more than 200 pages since the second edition, which was published in 1997. While several of the authors are new, others have been maintained, and the text flourishes through their various contributions. Although entire text-books have been devoted to the history of science, the author of the first chapter of this textbook succinctly describes the march of progress with specific regard to the appreciation of biomechanical concepts. The evolving contributions of many individuals, from ancient to modern times, are described in a way that compliments our predecessors while acknowledging that they themselves stood on what Sir Isaac Newton termed “the shoulders of giants.” This …
Using Antecedent Physical Activity to Increase On-Task Behavior in Young Children:

A withdrawal design was used to investigate how physical activity affects on-task behavior of young children with significant developmental delays in a special education preschool classroom. Five preschool age children with significant developmental delays engaged in either physical activity or seated center activities for 20 min prior to a 15-min teacher-directed group activity. Momentary time sampling was used to calculate the percentage of intervals the participants were on-task using 15-s intervals. Results indicated all of the participants’ on-task behavior was higher during the physical activity condition. These findings suggest physical activity may be used as a proactive behavioral intervention to improve the on-task behavior of young children with significant developmental delays during teacher-directed group activities.
Elevated testosterone reduces choosiness in female dark–eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis): evidence for a hormonal constraint on sexual selection?

Because testosterone (T) often mediates the expression of attractive displays and ornaments, in the absence of constraints sexual selection should lead to an evolutionary increase in male T levels. One candidate constraint would be a genetic correlation between the sexes that leads to a correlated response in females. If increased T in females were to have deleterious effects on mate choice, the effect of sexual selection on male T would be weakened. Using female dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), we tested whether experimentally enhancing female T would lead to a decrease in discrimination between two classes of males, one treated with T (T-males) and one control (C-males). The two female treatments (T-implanted and C-females) spent equal amounts of time with both classes of males, but T-treated females failed to show a preference for either male treatment, whereas C-females showed a significant preference, albeit in an unexpected direction (for C-males). T-females were less discriminating than C-females, irrespective of the direction of their preference. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that circulating hormones can alter female choosiness without reducing sexual motivation. Our results suggest that hormonal correlations between the sexes have the potential to constrain sexual selection on males.
Global solutions of the relativistic Euler equations

We demonstrate the existence of solutions with shocks for the equations describing a perfect fluid in special relativity, namely, divT=0, whereTij=(p+ρc2)uiuj+pηij is the stress energy tensor for the fluid. Here,p denotes the pressure,u the 4-velocity, φ the mass-energy density of the fluid,ηij the flat Minkowski metric, andc the speed of light. We assume that the equation of state is given byp=σ2ρ, whereσ2, the sound speed, is constant. For these equations, we construct bounded weak solutions of the initial value problem in two dimensional Minkowski spacetime, for any initial data of finite total variation. The analysis is based on showing that the total variation of the variable ln(ρ) is non-increasing on approximate weak solutions generated by Glimm's method, and so this quantity, unique to equations of this type, plays a role similar to an energy function. We also show that the weak solutions (ρ(x0,x1),v(x0,x1)) themselves satisfy the Lorentz invariant estimates Var{ln(ρ(x0,·)}<V0 and\(\left\{ {In\frac{{c + v(x^0 , \cdot )}}{{c - v(x^0 , \cdot )}}} \right\}< V_1 \) for allx0≧0, whereV0 andV1 are Lorentz invariant constants that depend only on the total variation of the initial data, andv is the classical velocity. The equation of statep=(c2/3)ρ describes a gas of highly relativistic particles in several important general relativistic models which describe the evolution of stars.
Financial Literacy and Credit Card Behaviors: A Cross-Sectional Analysis by Age

In this study, we use a measure of financial literacy that includes both a test score of actual financial literacy and a self-rating of perceived financial literacy to investigate how financial literacy affects five credit card behaviors: (1) always paying a credit card balance in full; (2) carrying over a credit card balance and being charged interest; (3) making only a minimum payment on a credit card balance; (4) being charged a fee for a late payment; and (5) being charged a fee for exceeding a credit limit. Probit analysis was used to assess each behavior with a large nationally representative sample of U.S. adults (N = 28,146) divided into groups to reflect the five major decades in the adult life cycle (18–29; 30–39; 40–49; 50–59; and 60–69 and older). Perceived financial literacy was found to be a stronger predictor of less costly practices in credit card use than actual financial literacy for the five credit card behaviors and across each of the five age groups. The study also shows that the combination of the subjective assessment with the objective assessment of financial literacy provides a more comprehensive analysis of how financial literacy affects each credit card behavior. This combined approach to assessment produced the largest estimates of the effects of financial literacy on credit card behavior. The findings hold across the five credit card behaviors and the five age groups.
On the strain rate sensitivity of the flow stress of ultrafine-grained Cu processed by equal channel angular extrusion (ECAE)

Abstract The strain rate sensitivity of the flow stress of ultrafine-grained Cu processed by ECAE is compared with that of vapor-deposited and electrodeposited Cu. The results for all three processing methods were in accord with the model of grain boundary shear promoted by the pile-up of dislocations.
Feeding algae to fish

Abstract Aquarium-held bigmouth buffalo Ictiobus cyprinellus (Valenciennes) were fed the blue-green alga Spirulina platensis (Nordstedt) at a daily rate of 29 g dry weight/kg body weight for 28 days. Daily growth was 14 g/kg body weight, and food conversion was 2.0. Tilapia aurea (Steindachner) also was fed this blue-green alga; growth and food conversion were similar to those found for bigmouth buffalo. Fresh Spirogyra sp. fed to grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella Valenciennes resulted in poor growth, and food conversion was about 10.
Depressive symptoms and cigarette smoking in twins from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.

Objective: To our knowledge, no prior twin studies have examined genetic and environmental contributions to the association of depressive symptoms and cigarette smoking in adolescence. Design: Genetic and environmental contributions to the covariation of depressive symptoms and cigarette smoking were estimated among 287 monozygotic and 441 dizygotic adolescent twin pairs from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Main outcome measures: Depressive symptoms were measured using an 18-item modified version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D; Radloff, 1977). Smoking involvement was defined using an ordinal scale based on smoking recency and frequency. Results: Depressive symptoms and smoking were significantly correlated in both males and females. Twin modeling indicated that, in females, the correlation was attributable in part to common genetic factors and in part to environmental factors not shared among twins, or nonshared environment. In males, the correlation between depressive symptoms and smoking was solely attributable to nonshared environment. Conclusions: Nonshared environmental correlations in males and females lend support to a direct causal relationship between depressive symptoms and smoking in adolescence. However, the additional common genetic vulnerability in females suggested that common genetic factors also contribute, particularly among adolescent females.
Fast Spectrophotometric Measurement of H + Changes in Chromatium Chromatophores activated by a Liquid Dye Laser

The fast changes in hydrogen ion concentration which follow photo-activation of the bacteriochlorophyll complex of Chromatium have been measured by observing absorbance changes of the pH indicator bromcresol purple using a ruby-pumped dye laser. This acts as an optical frequency converter with an output pulse corresponding to an absorption peak of the chromatophore. The changes in H+ binding represent a sort of “membrane Bohr effect”.
Self-healing minefield

The Self Healing Minefield (SHM) is comprised of a networked system of mobile anti-tank landmines. When the mines detect a breach, each calculates an appropriate response, and some fire small rockets to “hop” into the breach path, healing the breach. The purpose of the SHM is to expand the capabilities of traditional obstacles and provide an effective anti-tank obstacle that does not require Anti-Personnel (AP) submunitions. The DARPA/ATO sponsored program started in June 2000 and culminated in a full 100-unit demonstration at Fort Leonard Wood, MO in April 2003. That program went from “a concept” to a prototype system demonstration in approximately 21 months and to a full tactically significant demonstration in approximately 33 months. Significant accomplishments included the following: (1) Demonstration of a working, scalable (order of a hundred nodes), ad hoc, self-healing RF network. (2) Demonstration of an innovative distributed time synchronization scheme that does not rely on GPS. (3) Demonstration of a non-GPS based, self-mapping, relative geolocation system. (4) Development of an innovative distributed safe, arm, and fire system that allows for independent firing of eight rockets within a single node. (5) Development of a small rocket design with a novel geometry that meets the propulsion requirements.
Effect of benzene and its closed ring metabolites on intrachromosomal recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract Genome rearrangements, such as DNA deletions, translocations and duplications, are associated with cancer in rodents and humans, and clastogens are capable of inducing such genomic rearrangements. The clastogen benzene and several of its toxic metabolites have been shown to cause cancer in animals. Benzene is associated with leukemia and other blood related disorders in humans. Benzene and metabolites tested negative in short-term bacterial mutation assays such as the Salmonella Mutagenicity Test and the Escherichia coli Tryptophan Reversion Assay. These assays, while reliable for the detection of point-mutagenic carcinogens, are incapable of detecting DNA strand break inducing xenobiotics. The yeast DEL assay is based on intrachromosomal recombination events resulting in deletions and is very sensitive in detecting DNA strand breaks. In previous results the DEL assay detected 17 Salmonella positive as well as 25 Salmonella negative carcinogens [Bishop, Schiestl, Hum. Mol. Genet. 9 (2000) 2427–2434]. The carcinogen benzene and its metabolites including phenol, catechol, p-benzoquinone and hydroquinone induced DEL recombination. The benzene metabolite 1,2,4-benzenetriol was negative. Interestingly, p-benzoquinone induced DEL recombination at a dose 300-fold lower than any of the other metabolites, suggesting that it might be responsible for much of benzene's genotoxicity. In addition, an excision repair deficient strain was used, but no difference was detected compared to the wildtype, indicating that DNA adducts subject to excision repair were not formed by benzene or its metabolites.
Extensively Expanded Auricular Chondrocytes Form Neocartilage In Vivo

Objective. Our goal was to engineer cartilage in vivo using auricular chondrocytes that underwent clinically relevant expansion and using methodologies that could be easily translated into health care practice. Design. Sheep and human chondrocytes were isolated from auricular cartilage biopsies and expanded in vitro. To reverse dedifferentiation, expanded cells were either mixed with cryopreserved P0 chondrocytes at the time of seeding onto porous collagen scaffolds or proliferated with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). After 2-week in vitro incubation, seeded scaffolds were implanted subcutaneously in nude mice for 6 weeks. The neocartilage quality was evaluated histologically; DNA and glycosaminoglycans were quantified. Cell proliferation rates and collagen gene expression profiles were assessed. Results. Clinically sufficient over 500-fold chondrocyte expansion was achieved at passage 3 (P3); cell dedifferentiation was confirmed by the simultaneous COL1A1/3A1 gene upregulation and COL2A1 downregulation. The chondrogenic phenotype of sheep but not human P3 cells was rescued by addition of cryopreserved P0 chondrocytes. With bFGF supplementation, chondrocytes achieved clinically sufficient expansion at P2; COL2A1 expression was not rescued but COL1A1/3A1genes were downregulated. Although bFGF failed to rescue COL2A1 expression during chondrocyte expansion in vitro, elastic neocartilage with obvious collagen II expression was observed on porous collagen scaffolds after implantation in mice for 6 weeks. Conclusions. Both animal and human auricular chondrocytes expanded with low-concentration bFGF supplementation formed high-quality elastic neocartilage on porous collagen scaffolds in vivo.
PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), nitro-PAHs, and hopane and sterane biomarkers in sediments of southern Lake Michigan, USA.

Abstract PAHs in the Great Lakes basin are of concern due to their toxicity and persistence in bottom sediments. Their nitro derivatives, nitro-PAHs (NPAHs), which can have stronger carcinogenic and mutagenic activity than parent PAHs, may follow similar transport routes and also are accumulated in sediments. Limited information exists regarding the current distribution, trends and loadings of these compounds, especially NPAHs, in Lake Michigan sediments. This study characterizes PAHs, NPAHs, and biomarkers steranes and hopanes in surface sediments collected at 24 offshore sites in southern Lake Michigan. The ΣPAH 14 (sum of 14 compounds) ranged from 213 to 1291 ng/g dry weight (dw) across the sites, levels that are 2 to 10 times lower than those reported 20 to 30 years earlier. Compared to consensus-based sediment quality guidelines, PAH concentrations suggest very low risk to benthic organisms. The ΣNPAH 5 concentration ranged from 2.9 to 18.6 ng/g dw, and included carcinogenic compounds 1-nitropyrene and 6-nitrochrysene. ΣSterane 6 and ΣHopane 5 concentrations ranged from 6.2 to 36 and 98 to 355 ng/g dw, respectively. Based on these concentrations, Lake Michigan is approximately receiving 11, 0.16, 0.25 and 3.6 metric tons per year (t/yr) of ΣPAH 14 , ΣNPAH 5 , ΣSterane 6 and ΣHopane 5 , respectively. Maps of OC-adjusted concentrations display that concentrations decline with increasing off-shore distance. The major sources of PAHs and NPAHs are pyrogenic in nature, based on diagnostic ratios. Using chemical mass balance models, sources were apportioned to emissions from diesel engines (56 ± 18%), coal power plants (27 ± 14%), coal-tar pavement sealants (16 ± 11%), and coke ovens (7 ± 12%). The biomarkers identify a combination of petrogenic and biogenic sources, with the southern end of the lake more impacted by petroleum. This first report of NPAH levels in sediments of Lake Michigan reveals several carcinogenic compounds at modest concentrations, and a need for further work to assess potential risks to aquatic organisms.
Response of Rhesus Monkeys to Social Stimulation Presented by Means of Colored Slides

Preliminary data for differentially reared rhesus demonstrated the utility of assessing responses to social stimuli depicted in colored slides.
A new approach to study fibroblast migration

This paper presents a new approach to study cell migration. Human tendon fibroblasts were plated on silicone membranes coated with 10 μg/ml ProNectin-F. The silicone surfaces were micro-fabricated with parallel microgrooves, with 10 μm ridge and groove width, and 3 μm groove depth. Fibroblasts grown in the microgrooves had an elongated shape and oriented along the microgroove direction. They also moved along the same direction instead of “random walk” when cells migrate on smooth culture surfaces. In response to TGF-β1 (5 ng/ml) treatment, these fibroblasts on the microgrooved surfaces were differentiated into myofibroblasts, as judged by an elevated expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), a specific marker for myofibroblasts. Moreover, these myofibroblasts were found to be ∼30% less motile compared to that of untreated fibroblasts. Thus, use of microgrooved surface may be an effective approach to detect difference in cell motility because cell migration on the microgrooved surface is one dimensional and hence easier to be quantified than two-dimensional random movement on conventional smooth culture surfaces. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Ethnobotany of the Rama of Southeastern Nicaragua and Comparisons with Miskitu Plant Lore1

Ethnobotany of the Rama of Southeastern Nicaragua and Comparisons with Miskitu Plant Lore. The Rama are one of the three Amerindian groups of eastern Nicaragua. This is the first systematic study of Rama ethnobotany. A total of 249 plant species, in 190 genera and 78 families, were documented as useful. Included are 190 species used as medicinals, 80 as food plants, and 99 for other uses. The ethnobotanical lore of two distinct indigenous groups, the Rama and Miskitu, were compared. Out of 249 species used by the Rama, 171, or 69%, were used by both groups, and 78 unique species were used by the Rama. These results have important implications for the understanding of ethnobotany as they demonstrate how unrelated indigenous groups sharing the same ecosystem, though separated by some physical distance, can have significantly similar ethnobotanical lore.
Early and late insulin response as predictors of NIDDM in Pima Indians with impaired glucose tolerance.

Risk factors predicting deterioration to diabetes mellitus were examined in 181 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. Fifty-seven subjects had impaired glucose tolerance on one occasion followed by normal glucose tolerance at a repeat oral glucose tolerance test, and 124 subjects had impaired glucose tolerance on two successive oral glucose tolerance tests. Subjects were followed for a median period of 5.0 years (range 1.0–17.2). The age- and sex-adjusted cumulative incidence of diabetes at 10 years of follow-up was higher in subjects who had impaired glucose tolerance on both tests (70%) than in those whose glucose tolerance was normal at the repeat test (53%), [rate ratio (RR)=1.6, 95% confidence intervals (CI)=1.0–2.5]. Proportional hazards analyses were used to identify baseline risk factors (measured at the repeat oral glucose tolerance test) for subsequent diabetes, and incidence rate ratios were calculated for the 90th percentile compared with the 10th percentile of each continuous variable for the whole group. In all subjects, in separate models, higher body mass index [RR=2.0, 95% CI=2.2–9.9], high fasting serum insulin concentrations [RR=2.4, 95% CI=1.4–4.2], and low early insulin response [RR=0.5, 95% CI=0.3–0.8] 30 min after a glucose load were significant predictors for deterioration to diabetes. In a multivariate analysis which controlled for age and sex, 120-min post-load glucose, fasting insulin and late insulin response predicted diabetes. In subgroup analyses the predictors of diabetes were generally similar in subjects who had impaired glucose tolerance at only one test and those who had impaired glucose tolerance on both tests. These findings suggest that in those subjects with impaired glucose tolerance whose glucose tolerance has returned to normal, the risk of subsequent diabetes is high. Insulin resistance, impaired early insulin response, or both, are predictive of subsequent development of diabetes in Pima Indians with impaired glucose tolerance.
Credibility and Impression Formation

Fifty-one participants indicated attraction toward individuals described positively, neutrally, or negatively by one of three types of sources, friend, acquaintance, or compet itor. Deviations in rated liking from Anderson's (1971) multi plying model for communication effectiveness were in line with credibility ratings and predictions from attribution theory. A two-stage information integration model is proposed.
The role of androgyny in leader prototypes over four decades

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of psychological androgyny, a construct that represents a combination of masculinity and femininity, in explaining changes in descriptions of a good manager over time. Design/methodology/approach – Samples of the same two populations were surveyed at four different points in time spanning four decades (N = 1,818). Findings – Good-manager descriptions became increasingly similar in masculinity and femininity over time, or increasingly androgynous according to the balance conceptualization of androgyny. However, both good-manager masculinity and good-manager femininity declined over time, with masculinity declining to a greater extent, which accounted for the greater similarity in these scores. As a result, according to the high masculinity/high femininity conceptualization of androgyny, good-manager descriptions actually became decreasingly androgynous and more “undifferentiated”. Overall, the trend in leader prototypes over time was toward less em...
Temperature- and composition-dependent mid-infrared absorption spectrum of gas-phase gasoline: Model and measurements

Abstract A spectroscopic model is developed to predict the composition- and temperature-dependent absorption spectrum of gasoline vapor in the mid-IR region of the C–H stretching vibrations near 3.5 μm. Data from a detailed compositional analysis of a representative gasoline sample are used to select and weight the absorption spectra of individual hydrocarbon species, providing class-averaged spectra for five hydrocarbon classes: the normal and branched alkanes, olefins, aromatics, and oxygenates. The absorption spectra for 21 other samples of gasoline are then predicted by weighting these class-averaged spectra according to the volume fractions of olefins and aromatics, and the mass fraction of oxygenates in the gasoline, determined by standard chemical analysis (ASTM D1319 for olefins and aromatics, ASTM D4815 for oxygenates), and the volume fraction contributions from normal and branched alkanes estimated according to fuel grade. The absorption spectra predicted by the model are compared to FTIR-measured absorption spectra of these 21 gasoline samples at 50 and 450 °C. While the measured cross-section at selected wavelengths varies by a factor of 2 for this set of gasoline samples, the data agree well with the model predictions, exhibiting only a 6.8% RMS deviation. This deviation is reduced to 5.5% by excluding four samples of aged gasoline. The good agreement between model and measurements over a large temperature range illustrates the utility of this model to predict the temperature-dependent absorption cross-sections of gasoline in the C–H vibrational absorption band using two commonly available class analyses of gasoline samples.
Cognitive affordances of the cyberinfrastructure for science and math learning

The cyberinfrastucture is a broad informational network that entails connections to real‐time data sensors as well as tools that permit visualization and other forms of analysis, and that facilitates access to vast scientific databases. This multifaceted network, already a major boon to scientific discovery, now shows exceptional promise in advancing educational goals, especially in fostering deep and authentic understanding in science and scientific practice. In this paper, we outline the key features of the cyberinfrastructure that make it far more than the latest technological innovation. In particular, we identify six cognitive affordances for education that are unique to the cyberinfrastructure and that, in combination, set it apart from its predecessors: (a) immediate original data, (b) distributed expert networks, (c) analytical and visualization tools, (d) instantaneous retrieval of source documents, (e) forums for public discourse, and (f) opportunities for metacognitive structuring of ill‐define...
Pre-differentiated human committed T-lymphoid progenitors promote peripheral T-cell re-constitution after stem cell transplantation in immunodeficient mice.

T-cell re-constitution after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is often dampened by the slow differentiation of human peripheral blood CD34+ (huCD34+) hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) into mature T cells. This process may be accelerated by the co-transfer of in vitro-pre-differentiated committed T/NK-lymphoid progenitors (CTLPs). Here, we analysed the developmental potential of huCD34+ HSCs compared with CTLPs from a third-party donor in a murine NOD-scid IL2Rγnull model of humanised chimeric haematopoiesis. CTLPs (CD34+lin−CD45RA+CD7+) could be generated in vitro within 10 days upon co-culture of huCD34+ or cord blood CD34+ (CB-CD34) HSCs on murine OP9/N-DLL-1 stroma cells but not in a novel 3-D cell-culture matrix with DLL-1low human stroma cells. In both in vitro systems, huCD34+ and CB-CD34+ HSCs did not give rise to mature T cells. Upon transfer into 6-wk-old immune-deficient mice, CTLPs alone did not engraft. However, transplantation of CTLPs together with huCD34+ HSCs resulted in rapid T-cell engraftment in spleen, bone marrow and thymus at day 28. Strikingly, at this early time point mature T cells originated exclusively from CTLPs, whereas descendants of huCD34+ HSCs still expressed a T-cell-precursor phenotype (CD7+CD5+CD1a+/−). This strategy to enhance early T-cell re-constitution with ex vivo-pre-differentiated T-lymphoid progenitors could bridge the gap until full T-cell recovery in severely immunocompromised patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
COLLECTOR-EMITTER OFFSET VOLTAGE IN HETEROJUNCTION BIPOLAR TRANSISTORS

Abstract Collector-emitter offset voltage in heterojunction bipolar transistors is studied in detail. Based on an in-depth analysis of junction characteristics at zero collector current, a general model for offset voltage applicable to homojunction, single heterojunction and double heterojunction bipolar transistors is obtained. For an abrupt SHBT, the conduction band discontinuity at emitter-base heterojunction is found to be the main cause of large offset voltages. For DHBT's it is found that even when emitter and collector base junctions are identical in all respects, they will have an offset voltage with a magnitude dependent on the current gain of the transistor. Appropriate grading of emitter-base junction is shown to reduce the offset voltage in HBT's to values obtained in homojunction bipolar transistors.
Magnetic feedback amplifier for electromagnetic induction sensors

A method using magnetic feedback is presented that reduces measurement errors in an electromagnetic induction sensor operating near magnetic soils. The method uses a feedback coil that is placed near the receive coil in the sensor to partially cancel the errors introduced by the magnetic properties of the soil. A soil sensitivity metric is introduced to quantify the effects of the soil, and this metric is used to optimize a circuit used to drive the feedback coil. Theoretical and experimental results are presented to show the effectiveness of the feedback.
Toll-like receptor expression and activation in mice with experimental dry eye.

Purpose. To investigate the expression and/or function of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in dry eye inflammation.
Pulsed radiofrequency for the treatment of chronic ilioinguinal neuropathy

Background Ilioinguinal neuropathy is a rare but disabling condition. The condition may arise spontaneously or in the setting of pelvic surgery. To date, most therapeutic options have been limited to neuropathic pain medications, anti-inflammatory medications, nerve blocks with local anesthetics, or neurectomy. Long-term results of non-surgical interventions are fair at best. We present a case of chronic ilioinguinal neuropathy treated with pulsed radiofrequency.
Radioautography technique for human and rat seminiferous tubules mounted in toto

Abstract A technique for radioautography of rat and human seminiferous tubules mounted in toto is described. It consists essentially of coating two opposite surfaces of flattened seminiferous tubules with photographic emulsion, and mounting the seminiferous tubules after development of the emulsion between two coverslips. The double coating allows similar or different dark exposure periods of the two emulsion-coated surfaces, and the coverslip “sandwich” method of mounting permits microscopic examination of both surfaces of the seminiferous tubules. The radioautographs obtained by this technique are highly reproducible, and the optical properties of the preparations allow satisfactory identification of germ cell morphology.
Inability of energy dispersive X‐ray analysis to identify particulate polyethylene

There are limitations to all techniques used to identify particulate polyethylene in histological specimens. The goal of our study was to determine if remnant metal elements used during the catalytic production of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, could be used as markers for particulate polyethylene detection in histological specimens. It was hypothesized that these catalyst elements could be detected in polyethylene using energy dispersive X-ray elemental analysis. Six samples from five different companies were evaluated. These included virgin polymer powder, polyethylene bar stock, and artificial joint components. Five specimens from each of the six samples were analyzed with energy dispersive X-ray elemental analysis. After elemental analysis was completed, only 2 of 30 specimens were positive for the catalyst elements. In the remaining 28 specimens, catalyst elements were not detected. Our investigation demonstrates that energy dispersive X-ray elemental analysis is not currently a feasible method of particulate polyethylene detection. Additional techniques will need to be developed to accurately identify particulate polyethylene in histological specimens.
Effects of 4-ipomeanol on bovine alveolar macrophage function.

The objective of this study was to determine whether 4-ipomeanol toxicosis in calves impairs alveolar macrophage functions important in pulmonary defense against infectious agents. Male Holstein calves were given either 4-ipomeanol (3 mg kg-1, i.v.) or vehicle (polyethylene glycol 400). Alveolar macrophages were recovered by pulmonary lavage 3 days later, and their capacities to phagocytose and kill E. coli, migrate toward zymosan-activated immune bovine serum, and produce interferon and interleukin-1 activity were evaluated in vitro. Alveolar macrophages recovered from 4-ipomeanol-treated calves had over a 70% decrease (p < 0.01) in chemotactic activity and over a 37% decrease (p < 0.005) in their capacity to phagocytose E. coli as compared to macrophages from control calves. Interleukin-1 activity in macrophages from 4-ipomeanol-treated calves tended to be higher than that from control calves, but the differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.06). 4-ipomeanol did not affect macrophage bactericidal activity or production of interferon. These results indicate that 4-ipomeanol suppresses select functions of alveolar macrophages in cattle that may be important in pulmonary defense against bacterial pathogens.
Construction of Coupled Scattering and Production Amplitudes Satisfying Analyticity and Unitarity

The methods for constructing single-channel scattering amplitudes, production amplitades, and vertex functions on the basis of analyticity and unitarity have been extended to the case of pi /sup 2/ coupled amplitades T/sub ij/ ( omega ) representing the production and scattering among n different channels. each of which may have a different threshold energy. The equations for these methods are derived and applications to double pion production, associated production. and K/sup -/-- N scattering are in progress. (B.O.G.)
Deviatoric and hydrostatic mode interaction in hard and soft tissue

It has been established that many hard and soft tissues have anisotropic material symmetry. It is noted here that the deviatoric and hydrostatic modes interact with each other in a general anisotropic elastic material. In the special case of isotropic, linear elastic, materials these modes are non-interactive. As a consequence of the interaction of these modes encountered in anisotropic materials, the decomposition into hydrostatic and deviatoric modes, and deviatoric mode concepts such as the von Mises effective stress are not appropriate for anisotropic materials in general. The implications of this observation for the presentation of computationally generated stress contours for hard and soft tissues are discussed. It is also pointed out that the mode coupling and mode interaction raise the question of whether anisotropic living tissues respond directly to stress or to some other physical quantity such as strain or strain energy, in view of the recent hypothesis concerning the proliferation and ossification of cartilage.
APPOINTMENT POLICIES IN SERVICE OPERATIONS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK

In this paper we review the literature on appointment policies, specifically in terms of the objective function commonly used and the assumptions made about the behavior of demand. First, we provide an economic framework to analyze the problem. Based on this framework we make a critical analysis of the objective functions used in the literature. We also question the validity of the assumption made throughout the literature that demand is exogenous and independent of customers' waiting times. We conclude that the objective functions used in the literature are appropriate only in the case of a central planner facing a demand that is unresponsive to waiting time. For other scenarios, such as a private server facing a demand that does react to waiting time, these objective functions are only shortcuts for the real objective functions that must be used. A more general model is then proposed that fits these scenarios well. Finally, we determine the impact of using the literature's objective functions on optimal appointment policies.
On the completeness of the generalized eigenfunctions of elliptic operators on manifolds with conical singularities

We show the completeness of the system of generalized eigenfunctions of closed extensions of elliptic cone operators under suitable conditions on the symbols (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Retrovirally mediated transfer of a G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) dominant-negative mutant enhances endogenous calcitonin receptor signaling in Chinese hamster ovary cells. GRK inhibition enhances expression of receptors and receptor mRNA.

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) initiate pathways leading to agonist-dependent phosphorylation and desensitization of G protein-coupled receptors. However, the role of GRKs in modulation of signaling properties of native receptors has not been clearly defined. Here we addressed this question by generating Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably expressing a dominant-negative mutant of GRK2 (DN-GRK2), K220R, using retrovirally mediated gene transfer, and we assessed function of the endogenously expressed calcitonin (CT) receptors. We found that CT-mediated responses were prominently enhanced in CHO cells expressing DN-GRK2 compared with mock-infected control CHO cells with ∼3-fold increases in CT-promoted cAMP production in whole cells and adenylyl cyclase activity in membrane fractions. CT-promoted phosphoinositide hydrolysis was also enhanced in DN-GRK2 cells. The number of CT receptors was increased ∼3-fold in DN-GRK2 cells, as assessed by125I-salmon CT-specific binding, and this was associated with increased CT receptor mRNA levels. These results indicate that DN-GRK2 has multiple consequences for CT receptor signaling, but a primary effect is an increase in CT receptor mRNA and receptor number and, in turn, enhanced CT receptor signaling. As such, our findings provide a mechanistic basis for previous observations regarding agonist-promoted down-regulation of CT receptors and for resistance and escape from response to CT in vitroand in vivo. Moreover, the data suggest that blunting of receptor desensitization by DN-GRK2 blocks a GRK-mediated tonic inhibition of CT receptor expression and response. We speculate that GRKs play a similar role for other G protein-coupled receptors as well.
Developing an exchange mindset.

Exchange is a fundamental concept that underlies all social marketing efforts. In a successful exchange, both parties receive something of value and the benefits that they desire in return for a price. The purpose of this article is to describe how practitioners can develop an “exchange mindset.” A practitioner’s answer to five basic questions will enable him or her to see the exchange through the eyes of the customer and increase the likelihood of creating a successful exchange that will benefit both parties involved and result in positive behavior change.
Enhanced Li+ ion transport in LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 through control of site disorder

High voltage spinel LiNi(0.5)Mn(1.5)O(4) is a very promising cathode material for lithium ion batteries that can be used to power hybrid electrical vehicles (HEVs). Through careful control of the cooling rate after high temperature calcination, LiNi(0.5)Mn(1.5)O(4) spinels with different disordered phase and/or Mn(3+) contents have been synthesized. It is revealed that during the slow cooling process (<3 °C min(-1)), oxygen deficiency is reduced by the oxygen intake, thus the residual Mn(3+) amount is also decreased in the spinel due to charge neutrality. In situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrates that the existence of a disordered phase fundamentally changes the spinel phase transition pathways during the electrochemical charge-discharge process. The presence of an appropriate amount of oxygen deficiency and/or Mn(3+) is critical to accelerate the Li(+) ion transport within the crystalline structure, which is beneficial to enhance the electrochemical performance of LiNi(0.5)Mn(1.5)O(4). LiNi(0.5)Mn(1.5)O(4) with an appropriate amount of disordered phase offers high rate capability (96 mAh g(-1) at 10 °C) and excellent cycling performance with 94.8% capacity retention after 300 cycles. The fundamental findings in this work can be widely applied to guide the synthesis of other mixed oxides or spinels as high performance electrode materials for lithium ion batteries.
Gas chromatographic determination of progestins in tissue and blood

Abstract A sensitive and rapid method of physical determination of progesterone and 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one in biological material has been developed. The method uses ether extraction, thin-layer chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography. It has a sensitivity that approaches 0.1 μg and accuracy at this level sufficient for biological problems. Preliminary studies show its application to in vitro studies of progestin synthesis by porcine and rabbit ovarian tissue and to in vivo studies using rabbit and guinea pig blood. The sensitivity of the method facilitates progestin investigations in laboratory animals and kinetic studies of luteotropic mechanisms.
Distributional Aspects of Price Intervention

For a small country, whose terms of trade are beyond its control, the loss of welfare (real income) associated with price intervention policies, such as international trade restrictions, is often calculated by the summation of producer and consumer "deadweight losses" in a Hicksian-compensated economic surplus framework.' Such calculations presumably are useful to policymakers in their decision making. Yet frequently, an important part of the analysis, namely the internal redistributive effects of the policy, is neglected. These effects are often large and are equally important in the policy decision process. Such is the case in a recent Journal article by Bale and Greenshields (hereafter referred to as BG). They present an analysis of the welfare costs of current and future Japanese trade and production policies of major agricultural commodities produced and imported by Japan. The real income loss and proportion of food expenditure represented by the calculations, while impressively large, pale in comparison to the distributive effects of such policies. In this note the redistribution of real income between Japanese consumers and producers and the government revenue effect, using the BG data, will be presented together with a brief discussion of distributional effects.