cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract IA8: Novel insights into synthetic lethal interactions in cancer: Common nodes in protein synthesis control and nucleotide metabolism

Our research is centered on understanding the molecular mechanisms by which impairments in accurate control of mRNA translation, cell growth, and overall cellular protein synthesis rates lead to cancer and human disease. We have uncovered that a common denominator of multiple oncogenic pathways (i.e. PI3K-AKT-mTOR, Ras, Myc) is their ability to directly control the core translation machinery of a cell, resulting in intrinsic regulation of the cancer cell gene expression program. Our work delineates how the “cancer translatome” can reprogram gene expression at the post-transcription level, by controlling the translation of specific subsets of mRNAs through unique cis-acting elements, during distinct steps of cancer progression. The immediate impact of these studies has been the design of a new generation of compounds to target the aberrant translation machinery, presently in clinical trials. I will discuss our most recent findings revealing that oncogenic pathways have evolved self-sustaining circuitries that couple two fundamental cellular processes, protein synthesis and metabolism, to sustain the unchecked growth potential of cancer cells. By employing an unbiased metabolomics approach combined with mouse genetics, our findings unveil a critical feed-forward mechanism by which Myc9s ability to elevate the protein synthesis capacity of cancer cells directly reprograms nucleotide biosynthesis pathways as a mechanism to sustain tumor growth and survival. I will further discuss how both PI3K-AKT-mTOR and Myc converge on phosphorylation of 4EBP1, a master regulator of protein synthesis control, setting the stage for a unique therapeutic approach to render Myc druggable in the clinic. Together, our findings reveal that targeting either hyperactivation of protein synthesis or nucleotide production represents a novel and unexpected synthetic lethal mechanism for eradicating cancer but not normal cells. Citation Format: Davide Ruggero. Novel insights into synthetic lethal interactions in cancer: Common nodes in protein synthesis control and nucleotide metabolism. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Third AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; Sep 18-22, 2013; National Harbor, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(19 Suppl):Abstract nr IA8.
Contrasting treatments for severe impairments of picture naming

Abstract Little is known about the treatment of object naming impairments in patients with multiple loci of deficit in the cognitive processes underlying picture naming. We evaluated the outcome of naming treatment in two such patients. We developed two treatments on the basis of a cognitive neuropsychological assessment of naming and contrasted their effectiveness with that of simple verbal rehearsal. In Treatment Programme 1, we targeted presumed impairment at the level of lexical retrieval by attempting to train subjects to use a phonological cueing hierarchy during a name to auditory definition task. In Treatment Programme 2, we targeted presumed impairment of visual-semantic processing by attempting to train subjects to use a visual-semantic cueing hierarchy during an oral picture naming task. Treatment Programme 3 was designed to determine if improvement in oral naming could result from simple rehearsal. All three treatment programmes improved naming abilities of the two subjects to some degree, par...
A case study for land model evaluation: Simulation of soil moisture amplitude damping and phase shift

[1] Observations have described soil moisture profile variability in terms of phase shift, fluctuation damping, and persistence increasing with soil depth [Wu et al., 2002]. This variability as a function of soil depth couples to climate variability. Whether or not land models can reproduce this variability should be a good test of their parameterizations in soil hydrology both physically and numerically. A widely used multilayer land surface model was applied to simulate the soil moisture profile variability documented from observations to explore the sensitivity to various parameters and to evaluate the model performances through the detailed analysis of a case study. Sensitivity experiments assumed changes of (1) the initial soil moisture field; (2) the root sink term; (3) the soil texture; and (4) the atmospheric forcing at upper boundary. Their impacts on the soil moisture profile phase shift, amplitude damping, and corresponding evapotranspiration were examined. The key land surface prognostic variables, i.e., soil moisture and evapotranspiration, were evaluated against observations prior to the sensitivity integrations. All the factors that affected the soil moisture profile variability of amplitude damping and phase shift also influenced the amplitude and phase of evapotranspiration, suggesting that the simulation of soil moisture profile variability might be more important in the context of timescales than the soil wetness field itself.
The association between depressive symptoms and acute exacerbations of COPD.

Depression is an important comorbidity for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The association between depression and acute exacerbations of COPD is unknown. This study was designed to determine the frequency of COPD exacerbations in outpatients with and without depressive symptoms. In this retrospective cohort study, patients with a primary diagnosis of COPD were followed for 1 year after discharge from a pulmonary rehabilitation program and the frequency of exacerbations was recorded. Upon completion of the program, all patients were administered the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), which contains a mental health domain. Patients were classified as having depressive symptoms based on their domain score, which was separately validated in a second population of patients. Of the 194 patients with COPD who completed the pulmonary rehabilitation program, 32 (16.5%) had depressive symptoms. There were no differences in terms of age, race, pack-years, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), 6-minute walk distance, body mass index, use of supplemental oxygen, use of inhaled steroids, or the Charlson Comorbidity Index between patients with and without depressive symptoms. Patients with depressive symptoms had more exacerbations in the following year (1.91 vs. 1.36; p = 0.02), were 2.8 times more likely to have ever had an exacerbation (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1–7.3; p = 0.03), and suffered a first exacerbation earlier (148 days compared with 266 days; p = 0.04) than nondepressed patients. COPD patients with depressive symptoms have a significantly higher risk for exacerbations. Early screening for depression in patients with COPD may help identify those patients at higher risk for subsequent exacerbations.
Nanostructured ceramics in medical devices: Applications and prospects

Nanostructured materials may possess unique capabilities for specific interactions with cells, proteins, and DNA. This article reviews several classes of nanostructured ceramics with unique biological functionalities that are being considered for use in medical devices. The properties of calcium phosphate nanoparticles (Nano-CaPs™) and diamond-like carbon-metal nanocomposite films are described in detail.
Hepatic involvement in the Bardet-Biedl syndrome.

A 12-year-old boy with the Bardet-Biedl syndrome (retinal dystrophy, polydactyly, mental retardation, and mild obesity) died of renal failure and was found to have hepatic fibrosis. Nephropathy and hepatic fibrosis in the Bardet-Biedl syndrome suggest pathogenetic similarity of autosomal recessive disorders in which retinal dystrophy, hepatic fibrosis, and a nephronophthisis-like disorder are associated.
Lattice-tiling properties of integral self-affine functions

Abstract Let A be a d × d expanding integer matrix and ϱ : Z d → C be absolutely summable and satisfy Σ x∈ Z d ϱ(x) = | det A| . A function ƒ ∈ L 1 ( R d ) is called an integral self-affine function for the pair (A, ϱ) if it satisfies the functional equation ƒ(A −1 x) = Σ y∈ Z d ϱ(y)ƒ(x - y) , a.e. (x). We prove that for such a function there is always a sublattice Λ of Zd such that ƒ tiles Rd with Λ with weight ω = | Z d : Λ| −1 ∝ R d ƒ . That is Σ λ∈Λ ƒ(x - λ) = ω , a.e. (x). The lattice Λ ⊆ Z d is the smallest A-invariant sublattice of Zd that contains the support of ϱ. This generalizes results of Lagarias and Wang [1] and others, which were obtained for ƒ and ϱ which are indicator functions of compact sets. The proofs use Fourier Analysis.
Senile-Presenile Dementia: Follow-Up Data on an Effective Psychotherapy-Anticoagulant Regimen*

: This report contains follow-up data on the effects of an anticoagulant-psychotherapy regimen in presenile and senile dementia. Over a two-year period, 49 such patients who were seriously ill were treated with a Coumadin-psychotherapy regimen; 34 (69 percent) improved (4 of them dramatically) and 15 (31 percent) did not improve or became worse. The underlying pathologic processes are discussed, with the rationale for therapy.
Depression Among Injured Workers Receiving Vocational Rehabilitation: Contributions of Work Values, Pain, and Stress

Introduction Work-related injuries or disabilities result in significant negative consequences to physical, economic, social, and psychological well-being. Depression has been shown to increase post-injury and to contribute to poor return to work outcomes. The primary goals of the study were to test known correlates of depression in a sample of injured workers receiving vocational rehabilitation and to assess the unique contribution of work values in injured worker depression. Method Scores on depression, stress, pain, work values, and demographic information were obtained from an archived sample of 253 injured workers receiving vocational rehabilitation. Results Hierarchical multiple linear regression was used for analyses, resulting in a final model with a “large” effect size (R 2 = 0.42). The accepting vs. investigative work value dimension accounted for variance in depression scores beyond that accounted for by covariates and other significant correlates. Of the study variables, significant regression coefficients were found for pain, psychosocial stress, an interaction between pain and stress, and having an accepting work value. Conclusions Injured workers experiencing higher levels of pain and stress and who prefer to avoid workplace challenges may be vulnerable to experiencing depression. Results suggest that the presence of pain, stress, and the accepting work value dimension should be monitored in injured workers, and that the role of work values in injured worker depression may be a fruitful area for further research.
Deformation twinning in ordered CuPt

Abstract Ordered 50 atomic percent copper-platinum has been deformed and examined by transmission electron microscopy. Both slip and {111} deformation twinning were observed. A model is offered to explain how the twinning is compatable with the L1 1 superlattice.
Polymer crystallization : density functional theory and application to polyethylene

Abstract A general microscopic approach for the crystallization of flexible polymer melts is formulated and applied to polyethylene.
The Significance of Information Systems Research on Emerging Technologies: Seven Information Technologies that Promise to Improve Managerial Effectiveness*

Emerging information technologies are those excitingly novel advances that decision makers are just beginning to notice. These emerging products or processes may have been invented some time ago, but are only now beginning to reveal practical applications. This paper examines this collection of seven studies exploring emerging technologies, classifying them so the context of their results can be related to other emerging technologies. Once the research is classified and the contribution and managerial significance of the research is identified, it becomes apparent that certain barriers exist, holding back the technology from wider use and appreciation. Common obstacles include resistance to, or difficulty with, using the technology; uncertainty concerning the value of the technology; and the complexities involved with implementation. This paper concludes with recommendations for future research aimed at breaking down the barriers in order to move from the technological emergence phase to the technological sublime phase in which decision makers and other end users understand the technology, realize and appreciate its value, and put the technology to its best use.
Effect of state of stress on compression failure in carbon/epoxy laminates

Compression loadings in thick composites can in some cases lead to three-dimensional states of stress with a compressive mean stress. A model is developed in the present work that attempts to incorporate this compressive mean stress into a prediction for compression strength of carbon/epoxy fiber composites. The model assumes that the fibers have an initial misalignment, and that composite failure occurs when the fiber-matrix bond strength is exceeded. Literature values for the effect of pressure on bond strength are included. Comparisons with experimental data support the predicted increase in compression strength with pressure.
Guide to the Interpretation of Crustal Refraction Profiles

Summary Using the reflectivity method, synthetic, vertical-component seismograms have been computed for simple velocity transitions appropriate to crustal models. Record sections of the synthetic seismograms including refracted and reflected phases aid in elucidating the fine structure of the crust since they illustrate the effects of various velocity models. The computed record sections indicate the importance to interpretation of secondary arrivals such as near-vertical incidence and wide-angle reflections and illustrate the following: (1) an upper crustal low velocity layer (LVL) can best be recognized from reflections from the top of the LVL; (2) wide-angle reflections are nearly always of larger amplitude than head waves and have apparent velocities indicative of the layer velocities; (3) head wave amplitudes are greatly affected by velocity gradients within the refracting layer; (4) near-vertical incidence reflections are of significant amplitude principally for reflections from first-order velocity discontinuities; and (5) comp!ex wave patterns result from relatively simple upper crustal models which contain an LVL and serve to emphasize the need for detailed amplitude studies so that amplitudes of head waves and near-critical reflections may be considered. Synthetic seismograms which closely approximate observed seismograms for a detailed refraction line in the eastern Basin and Range province are used to infer fine structure of the crust. Synthetic record sections computed for a Basin and Range and an eastern United States crustal model illustrate different amplitude-timedistance features which are characteristic of observed seismic data from these regions.
Developments in Precision Casing Joint and Radioactive Measurements for Compaction Monitoring

A method has been developed in Wilmington field, CA, for measuring oil zone compaction and expansion by the deformation in well casing. Possible formation compaction is also directly investigated by locating radioactive bullets previously placed in the formation. Early logging techniques were described fully in 1969./sup 1/ The addition of a downhole odometer and different recording techniques have improved measurement accuracy. Random joint lengths have been repeatedly measured and remeasured under field conditions with a standard deviation of 0.0159 ft (4.8 mm). An alternative system, developed by Ruedrich et al.,/sup 2/ utilized multiple collar locators and specially milled casing joints. Both systems can be applied to field situations where random joint lengths are found: however, the odometer system should be more accurate under these conditions.
Variables affecting homogeneous acid catalyst recoverability and reuse after esterification of concentrated omega-9 polyunsaturated fatty acids in vegetable oil triglycerides

Global concerns regarding greenhouse gas emissions combined with soaring oil prices have driven the search for renewable diesel fuels derived from either virgin or waste vegetable oils, dubbed “bio-diesels”. A key challenge in the emerging bio-diesel industry is cost-effective pre-treatment of waste vegetable oils to reduce free-fatty acid content prior to transesterification. This article reports, for the first time, recoverability and reusability of hydrochloric and sulfuric acid catalysts for efficient pre-treatment of waste cooking oils for subsequent conversion to bio-diesels. Esterification of omega-9 polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly 18:2,18:3 linoleic acid with methanol and a homogenous acid catalyst was investigated over a range of fatty acid concentrations. It was determined that greater than 95% by weight of each catalyst was recovered after esterification under all conditions investigated. When recovered methanol was used, containing recovered catalyst and water, it was determined that hydrochloric acid catalyzed esterification exhibits a higher tolerance to water accumulation. After sulfuric acid was recovered and re-used, the observed rate constant decreased more than 50% to a value comparable to that observed for hydrochloric acid at more than three times the water concentration.
A novel algorithm for 2-dimensional frequency estimation

In this paper, an algorithm for 2-D frequency estimation is proposed. This algorithm consists of two parts. First, two sets of 1-D distinct frequencies are estimated separately. Then, the estimates of the 2-D frequencies are obtained by pairing the components in the two sets of estimated 1-D frequencies. The correct pairing is accomplished based on the fact that a vector in the signal subspace is orthogonal to the noise subspace of a 2-D signal. The capability of determining the number of signals is inherited in the proposed algorithm. Computer simulation results are provided to demonstrate the efficacy of the algorithm. >
Polyaspartimides: Condensation of aromatic diamines and bismaleimide compounds

A detailed investigation of the condensation of aromatic amines and maleimide compounds was conducted by the use of model compounds. Weak Bronsted acids were found to have a marked catalytic effect on the reaction. By using glacial acetic acid as the reaction medium, a number of model aspartimide compounds were prepared. Aromatic diamines and bismaleimide compounds were condensed to high polymers in cresol containing a small amount of a protonic acid catalyst. Polymers having a variety of novel backbone structures were prepared and their physical properties studied.
Myocardial stress perfusion scintigraphy with rubidium-81 versus stress electrocardiography*

Fifty-six patients who subsequently underwent selective coronary angiography were studied noninvasively with relative myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with rubidium-81 and graded stress electrocardiography in an attempt to evaluate the ability of these tests to identify the presence of significant ischemia and, indirectly, coronary stenosis. Both the sensitivity (0.91) and specificity (0.91) of perfusion scintigraphy were impressive and better than the sensitivity (0.79) and specificity (0.64) of stress electrocardiography, the specificity of scintigraphy significantly so ( P
In Utero and Lactational Exposure of the Male Rat to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin: Impaired Prostate Growth and Development without Inhibited Androgen Production

To determine whether in utero and lactational 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure decreases male rat accessory sex organ weights during postnatal development secondary to decreases in testicular androgen production or changes in peripheral androgen metabolism, pregnant Holtzman rats were administered a single dose of TCDD (1.0 microgram/kg, po) or vehicle on Gestation Day 15 and offspring were exposed via placental and subsequent lactational transfer until weaning on Postnatal Day (PND) 21. Between PNDs 21 and 63, circulating androgen concentrations and intratesticular androgen content tended to be decreased by in utero and lactational TCDD exposure, but in most cases decreases were not statistically significant. In vitro human chorionic gonadotropin-stimulated testosterone production by decapsulated testes from TCDD-exposed animals was not different from control, although 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol production was decreased on PNDs 32 and 49 and increased on PND 63. Taken together, these results imply that in utero and lactational TCDD exposure can cause subtle decreases in testicular androgen production. However, the biological relevance of these reductions is equivocal because they do not correlate temporally with one another or with decreases in androgen-dependent male accessory sex organ weights. Of the male accessory sex organs, ventral prostate (VP) and dorsolateral prostate (DLP) were the most severely affected. Between PNDs 21 and 63, relative VP and DLP weights were decreased to 65-84% and 57-80% of control, respectively, and the magnitude of observed decreases was greatest at early times. In contrast, relative weights of the seminal vesicle and coagulating gland ranged from 80 to 104% of control, and the magnitude of observed decreases was greatest at later times. The sensitivity of the prostate to TCDD could not be explained by tissue-specific decreases in dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations. Although VP DHT concentration was decreased to 63% of control on PND 21, DHT concentration was not decreased in the VP between PNDs 32 and 63 or in the DLP at any time. We conclude that in utero and lactational TCDD exposure selectively impairs rat prostate growth and development without inhibiting testicular androgen production or consistently decreasing prostate DHT concentration.
Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic Lamb wave transducers using rectangular membranes

This paper details the theory, fabrication, and characterization of a new Lamb wave device. Built using capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs), the structure described uses rectangular membranes to excite and receive Lamb waves on a silicon substrate. An equivalent circuit model for the transducer is proposed that produces results, which match well with those observed by experiment. During the derivation of this model, emphasis is placed on the resistance presented to the transducer membranes by the Lamb wave modes. Finite element analysis performed in this effort shows that the dominant propagating mode in the device is the lowest order antisymmetric flexural wave (A/sub 0/). Furthermore, most of the power that couples into the Lamb wave is due to energy in the vibrating membrane that is transferred to the substrate through the supporting posts of the device. The manufacturing process of the structure, which relies solely on fundamental IC-fabrication techniques, is also discussed. The resulting device has an 18 /spl mu/m-thick substrate that is almost entirely made up of crystalline silicon and operates at a frequency of 2.1 MHz. The characterization of this device includes S-parameter and laser vibrometer measurements as well as delay-line transmission data. The insertion loss, as determined by both S-parameter and delay-line transmission measurements, is 20 dB at 2.1 MHz. When configured as a delay-line oscillator, the device functions well as a sensor with sensitivity to changes in the mass loading of its substrate.
Food insecurity and body norms among rural Guatemalan Schoolchildren

The predominant hypothesis regarding the ecology of body image suggests that contexts of food insecurity foster positive evaluations of and preferences for fat bodies as they symbolize wealth, social and reproductive success, strength, beauty, and fertility. Yet, there are few studies that empirically test this relationship or examine how experiences of food insecurity influence perceptions of thin bodies. In this study, we examine the ecology of body norms among a group of primary schoolchildren in a semirural community in the Central Highlands of Guatemala. Specifically, we test the hypotheses that food insecurity predicts fat-positive or thin-negative evaluations of children's body size or, conversely, that food security predicts thin-positive or fat-negative evaluations. Utilizing a characteristic attribution task to measure positive and negative evaluations of average, thin, and fat bodies, we measure the strength of preference and prejudice for each body size. While we find a strong preference for average bodies and prejudice against both thin and fat bodies overall, food insecurity predicts children having very negative evaluations of thin bodies. These results suggest a different interpretation of the ecology of body norms as, rather than fostering fat-positive evaluations, food insecurity exaggerates biases toward thin bodies.
Mining soft-matching rules from textual data

Text mining concerns the discovery of knowledge from unstructured textual data. One important task is the discovery of rules that relate specific words and phrases. Although existing methods for this task learn traditional logical rules, soft-matching methods that utilize word-frequency information generally work better for textual data. This paper presents a rule induction system, TEXTRISE, that allows for partial matching of text-valued features by combining rule-based and instance-based learning. We present initial experiments applying TEXTRISE to corpora of book descriptions and patent documents retrieved from the web and compare its results to those of traditional rule and instance based methods.
Unconventional Mechanics of Lipid Membranes: A Potential Role for Mechanotransduction of Hair Cell Stereocilia

A force-conveying role of the lipid membrane across various mechanoreceptors is now an accepted hypothesis. However, such a mechanism is still not fully understood for mechanotransduction in the hair bundle of auditory sensory hair cells. A major goal of this theoretical assessment was to investigate the role of the lipid membrane in auditory mechanotransduction, especially in generating nonlinear bundle force versus displacement measurements, one of the main features of auditory mechanotransduction. To this end, a hair bundle model that generates lipid membrane tented deformation in the stereocilia was developed. A computational analysis of the model not only reproduced nonlinear bundle force measurements but also generated membrane energy that is potentially sufficient to activate the mechanosensitive ion channel of the hair cell. In addition, the model provides biophysical insight into 1) the likelihood that the channel must be linked in some way to the tip link; 2) how the interplay of the bending and stretching of the lipid bilayer may be responsible for the nonlinear force versus displacement response; 3) how measurements of negative stiffness may be a function of the rotational stiffness of the rootlets; and 4) how the standing tension of the tip link is required to interpret migration of the nonlinear force versus displacement and activation curves. These are all features of hair cell mechanotransduction, but the underlying biophysical mechanism has proved elusive for the last three decades.
Personal Values and Political Affiliation Within italy

The philosophy of life of 82 young Italian males was analyzed in relation to their preferences in politics. The political spectrum from Right to Left was identified by the following continuum of party affiliation: Fascist, Monarchist, Liberal, Christian Democratic, Socialist, Communist, Popular Front Socialist. Statements in a questionnaire organized around personal and social philosophy were then correlated with positions of the young men on this continuum. The results showed clearly that the influence of the Catholic Church in matters of custom and morality is an important source of divisiveness in Italian political life. The Left splits sharply from Center and Right on matters having to do with divorce and sexual freedom; the Center is less exclusively determined by dogma but still is clearly orthodox and conservative, while the Right is dominated by its hatred of Communism and its emphasis on formalism and central authority.
Cross-Layer Design Challenges for Quality of Service Guarantees in Satellite Networks

Satellite Communications plays a significant role in supporting next generation IP-based heterogeneous communication network infrastructure for broadband fixed and mobile services. Emerging media streaming, mobile broadcasting, content delivery and distribution, and broadband Internet access require Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees. Traditionally, satellite network protocol design has been based on a layered approach in which each layer in the protocol stack is designed and operated independently with interfaces between the layers. However, exploitation of cross-layer protocol optimization and engineering lead to efficient performance and provisioning of end-to-end QoS. In this paper we propose cross-layer protocol design approaches for satellite communication network. We provide a brief overview of cross-layer protocol optimization research emphasizing the interactions among, PHY, data links, network, transport and application layer. The interactions between physical layer and bandwidth allocation considering fade countermeasures, and dynamic resource allocation and the effect on transport control protocol (TCP) throughput are illustrated through examples. We provide some simulation results for geostationary (GEO) satellite network TCP throughput for different modulations at the physical level. Our simulation results demonstrate that the interaction/adaptation of these different layers of TCP/IP protocol stack for a satellite network improve the higher-layer goodput.
Legislating Self-Risking Behaviors: Motorcycle Helmet Laws and the Symbolic Defense of Individual Freedoms

Helmet laws are suggestive of a societal trend toward the increased formal control of risky behaviors. Applying Tittle's integrated model, this case study sees the intersection of federal cost reco...
Contemplation, Charity and Creation ex nihilo in Dante's Commedia

In this article I reflect on the importance of creation ex nihilo for our understanding of Dante's Commedia. I do so, in particular, by reflecting on the inextricable relationship existing in Dante's poem between creation ex nihilo, contemplation and charity. More specifically, I attempt to outline an understanding of how Dante's idea of the relationship between these three can be seen to underlie the very structure and narrative form of the Commedia. Through reflection on the relationship between contemplation, charity, and creation ex nihilo, I suggest, form and content might be seen, from a theological point of view, to be perfectly at one. Underlying these reflections are also some broader questions. What is the Commedia ultimately about? What is Dante's final end in writing his poem? What bearing does this have on our understanding of the form of Dante's text as a narrative poem? And what, in turn, are the broader theological implications of all this?
Protoporphyrin IX generation from δ-aminolevulinic acid elicits pulmonary artery relaxation and soluble guanylate cyclase activation

Protoporphyrin IX is an activator of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), but its role as an endogenous regulator of vascular function through cGMP has not been previously reported. In this study we ex...
Dendraster; a problem in echinoid taxonomy

Intraspecific variation in the echinoid genus Dendraster is studied by means of a statistical analysis of variation in the living species: D. excentricus. The character "eccentricity" is analyzed in samples from 34 collections of D. excentricus. This character is prominent in current classifications of the genus. It is found that observed eccentricity data are biased by an allometric relation between eccentricity and test length. This allometry is described by an empirically derived curve. The parabolic function defining this allometric curve is used to eliminate the length bias from the eccentricity data. No systematic geographic variation is recognized in D. excentricus as reflected in the character eccentricity. However, the species may be divided into two ecological races on the basis of eccentricity. The race inhabiting sheltered bays is significantly less eccentric than the race living along the open coast. The eccentricity data for D. excentricus are employed in a review of the classification of the fossil members of the genus. The heretofore unrecognized allometry and ecological variation in Dendraster may explain some of the difficulties encountered in the fossil classification. It is found that there are greater differences in eccentricity between populations of D. excentricus than there are between species in the fossil record.
Copper Alloys Used in Barye's Hunt Scenes in the Surtout de Table of the Duc d'Orleans

The copper alloys of the statues by Antoine-Louis Barye were examined with energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence. Barye experimented with casting techniques in his own workshop and regularly worked with the foundry of Honore Gonon, who re-introduced lost wax casting to 19th century Paris. Two of the technically complex Barye sculptures in the surtout de table of the Duc d’Orleans were difficult to cast using the more common sand casting technique. Problems with the sand casts sent to other foundries resulted in Gonon completing the casting for problematic statues in the surtout, after Gonon had completed lost wax casting of the three hunt scenes initially sent to his foundry. Examination of the copper alloy compositions differentiates the casts from the various foundries and determines which parts of the surtout were ultimately cast by Gonon.
ONE SIMPLE VISUAL AID: A PSYCHODYNAMIC VIEW

A three-centimeter Cuisenaire rod may be used to elicit from a student a relatively elaborate mental image. The student helps the teacher to construct this image in his own mind, through the use of language, and the teacher uses language to show that he has gotten the desired picture. This simple procedure is used in this article as a vehicle for exploring certain aspects of what happens inside and between people in a language classroom, drawing on the work of Charles A. Curran, Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, Roy Schafer, and others. The essential feature of the procedure seems to be the teacher's ability to make “counseling responses” to what the student says. The same type of teacher-response may be of value in many other procedures as well.
Aeroacoustics of a Heated Mach 2.0 Jet

Results of an experimental study to determine the aeroacoustic characteristics of a heated supersonic jet operating at an ideally expanded condition are presented. The heated jet was operated at an exit Mach number of 2.0, which resulted in an exit velocity of 782 m/s. The Reynolds number based on the jet exit conditions is about 5x10 5 . The jet characteristics are given in terms of mean velocity and temperature profiles that cover the range from the nozzle exit to about 30 diameters downstream. The acoustic near and farfield measurements were obtained to characterize the sound field. The details of the data provided here are sucient enough to be used in the validation of numerical simulations of supersonic jets. The near-field acoustic data show distinct broadband peaks corresponding to the mixing noise at St = 0.25 and the Mach wave radiation at St = 0.7. The corresponding far-field spectra show a dominant peak at St = 0.2 in the peak radiation direction. A broad spectrum is observed in the direction normal to the jet axis, which is consistent with many previous observations.
Overexpression of Mcl-1 Confers Multidrug Resistance, Whereas Topoisomerase IIβ Downregulation Introduces Mitoxantrone-Specific Drug Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Drug resistance is a serious challenge in cancer treatment and can be acquired through multiple mechanisms. These molecular changes may introduce varied extents of resistance to different therapies and need to be characterized for optimal therapy choice. A recently discovered small molecule, ethyl-2-amino-6-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-4H-chromene-3-carboxylate) (CXL017), reveals selective cytotoxicity toward drug-resistant leukemia. A drug-resistant acute myeloid leukemia cell line, HL60/MX2, also failed to acquire resistance to CXL017 upon chronic exposure and regained sensitivity toward standard therapies. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms responsible for HL60/MX2 cells’ drug resistance and the molecular basis for its resensitization. Results show that the HL60/MX2 cell line has an elevated level of Mcl-1 protein relative to the parental cell line, HL60, and its resensitized cell line, HL60/MX2/CXL017, whereas it has a reduced level of topoisomerase IIβ. Mcl-1 overexpression in HL60/MX2 cells is mainly regulated through phospho-extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2–mediated Mcl-1 stabilization, whereas the reduction of topoisomerase IIβ in HL60/MX2 cells is controlled through genetic downregulation. Upregulating Mcl-1 introduces multidrug resistance to standard therapies, whereas its downregulation results in significant cell death. Downregulating topoisomerase IIβ confers resistance specifically to mitoxantrone, not to other topoisomerase II inhibitors. Overall, these data suggest that Mcl-1 overexpression is a critical determinant for cross-resistance to standard therapies, whereas topoisomerase IIβ downregulation is specific to mitoxantrone resistance.
Surgical Management of Modern Combat-Related Pancreatic Injuries: Traditional Management and Unique Strategies

ABSTRACT Background: Management of war-related pancreatic injuries is challenging with potential for associated concomitant injuries and complications. Methods: Retrospective record review of patients treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center sustaining pancreatic injury during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2003 to 2009 was carried out. Results: Pancreatic injuries occurred in 31 of 522 (7%) patients, with the average age of 28 (range 19–54). Mechanism of injury included gunshot (68%), blast injuries (23%), and blunt injuries (10%). Distal pancreatic injuries were treated with distal pancreatectomy (55%) or drainage (45%). Head of the pancreas injuries were treated with drainage (86%). Four patients with unspecified anatomic location underwent drainage only. One patient underwent emergent pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) followed by completion pancreatectomy and islet cell autotransplantation. Conclusion: Management of war-related pancreatic injuries varied based on the anatomic l...
Five Reasons Why Patent Disclosure in Standards-Setting Organizations Doesn't Work (And What to Do Instead)

Patent “hold up” is a risk associated with standard- setting, and requiring or encouraging disclosure of relevant patents by standards developers is one tool used to mitigate this risk. Disclosure has an intuitive appeal and a strong theoretical justification as a method for addressing an informational asymmetry. This paper argues that disclosure simply does not work as a practical matter, however. The paper makes five key assertions: 1. Disclosure rules create an over-disclosure problem. Only a small percentage of patents declared as essential by patent owners are in fact essential for implementation of the standard — an unsurprising fact given the incentives of some parties to err on the side of disclosure. 2. Disclosure rules also result in an under-disclosure problem. For various reasons, certain key parties will have essential patent claims but will not disclose. 3. Disclosure rules suffer from a timing problem. Information is frequently available only after critical decisions have been made. 4. Disclosure rules create an action problem: that is, standards setting organizations are ill-equipped to use the disclosed information in a productive way. 5. Disclosure rules present a complexity and cost problem. Disclosure requirements are complex, ambiguous, and differ widely across SSOs. Participants in the standards development process must bear significant associated costs.The paper concludes that disclosure is not an effective tool to address patent hold up, and suggests that other tools (such as enhanced “F/RAND” licensing obligations and improved patent valuation methodologies) should be used instead.
The Effect of Mixing and Gravitational Segregation Between Natural Gas and Inert Cushion Gas on the Recovery of Gas from Horizontal Storage Aquifers

It has been proposed in the literature that certain economies might result from the use of an inert cushion gas, such as flue gas, during the storage of natural gas in aquifers. Where cushion gas is used, 2 types of displacement occur: (1) miscible displacement at the natural gas-cushion gas boundary and (2) immiscible displacement at the cushion gas-water interface. Mixing and gravitational segregation occur during miscible displacement with the result that not all of the stored natural gas can subsequently be recovered. A calculation procedure, which considers the miscible boundary only, has been developed to calculate the recovery efficiency. The calculation procedure was validated by displacements in a horizontal 3-dimensional radial consolidated sand model utilizing miscible liquids of differing densities. Excellent agreement was found over 2 complete injection- production cycles. Thus validated in the laboratory, the mathematical model was applied to a hypothetical storaol the distribution of uraniumacterized by a thermally activated process. he effect of various parameters, temperature, pressure, and steam percent in hydrogen feed. Fifteen experimental runs have been completed using NiMo as the main component of thThe Q/sub 2//sup +/ value obtained for /sup 200/Hg is in agreement with previous work, but that for /sup 202/Hgmore » is not. The results obtained are compared with the predictions of various nuclear models, and the mass dependence of Q/sub 2//sup +/ in the region 182 < A < 206 is examined.« less
The Prevalence of Positive Findings on Metal Artifact Reduction Sequence Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background We sought to assess the prevalence of soft tissue changes seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after metal-on-metal (MOM) total hip arthroplasty (THA) and determine if the presence of pseudotumors was associated with metal ion levels, acetabular cup position, outcomes scores, and femoral head size. Methods After receiving an institutional review board exemption for secondary data analysis, we performed a cross-sectional study identifying 55 patients (55 hips) that underwent primary THA with a MOM articulation and had subsequent MRI imaging between February 2013 and February 2014 at a single academic medical center. Results Twenty-four patients (44%) had no evidence of pseudotumors, 27 (49%) had type I pseudotumors, and 4 (7%) were classified as having type II pseudotumors. The presence and severity of pseudotumors were associated with higher serum chromium levels ( P = .043). Neither acetabular inclination nor acetabular version was associated with the presence of pseudotumors, the severity of pseudotumors, or elevated serum metal ion levels (all P > .05). Increased metal ion levels were associated with lower Harris Hip Score and higher Harris Hip Score pain subscores (all P Conclusion In conclusion, pseudotumors on metal artifact reduction sequencing MRI may be present in both symptomatic and asymptomatic MOM THAs. Surgeons should therefore exercise caution in placing too much emphasis on isolated studies such as cross-sectional imaging. Instead, a structured approach to evaluation of MOM arthroplasty should be followed.
Accurate tight-binding models for the π bands of bilayer graphene

We derive an ab initio $\ensuremath{\pi}$-band tight-binding model for $AB$ stacked bilayer graphene based on maximally localized Wannier wave functions centered on the carbon sites, finding that both intralayer and interlayer hopping is longer in range than assumed in commonly used phenomenological tight-binding models. Starting from this full tight-binding model, we derive two effective models that are intended to provide a convenient starting point for theories of $\ensuremath{\pi}$-band electronic properties by achieving accuracy over the full width of the $\ensuremath{\pi}$ bands, and especially at the Dirac points, in models with a relatively small number of hopping parameters. The simplified models are then compared with phenomenological Slonczewski-Weiss-McClure--type tight-binding models in an effort to clarify confusion that exists in the literature concerning tight-binding model parameter signs.
Role of GCN2-Independent Signaling Through a Noncanonical PERK/NRF2 Pathway in the Physiological Responses to Dietary Methionine Restriction

Restricting availability of essential amino acids (EAAs) limits aminoacylation of tRNAs by their cognate EAAs and activates the nutrient-sensing kinase, general control nonderepressible 2 (GCN2). Activated GCN2 phosphorylates eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2), altering gene-specific translation and initiating a transcriptional program collectively described as the integrated stress response (ISR). Central GCN2 activation by EAA deprivation is also linked to an acute aversive feeding response. Dietary methionine restriction (MR) produces a well-documented series of physiological responses (increased energy intake and expenditure, decreased adiposity, and increased insulin sensitivity), but the role of GCN2 in mediating them is unknown. Using Gcn2(-/-) mice, we found that the absence of GCN2 had no effect on the ability of MR to reduce body weight or adiposity, increase energy intake and expenditure, increase hepatic transcription and release of fibroblast growth factor 21, or improve insulin sensitivity. Interestingly, hepatic eIF2 phosphorylation by MR was uncompromised in Gcn2(-/-) mice. Instead, protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum (ER) kinase (PERK) was activated in both intact and Gcn2(-/-) mice. PERK activation corresponded with induction of the ISR and the nuclear respiratory factor 2 antioxidant program but not ER stress. These data uncover a novel glutathione-sensing mechanism that functions independently of GCN2 to link dietary MR to its metabolic phenotype.
Rotational and Vibrational Termperatures for a Dielectric Barrier Discharge in Air Using Emission Epectroscopy

Spatially resolved rotational and vibrational temperatures have been obtained for a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) using emission spectroscopy. The temperatures were obtained by ma tching the measured nitrogen second positive 0 -2, 1 -3 and 2 -4 transitions with a calculated one. The temperature had a periodic profile in the spanwise direction where the peaks correlated with the strong attachment points within the discharge. These resul ts, as well as visual observations, indicate that there are variations in the structure of the DBD and it is not a fully uniform glow discharge. It may be that these temperature high points indicate localized flow structure in the form of small plasma jets . The maximum rotational temperature in the DBD was 410 K located at the interface between the exposed and buried electrode. The minimum value of temperature measured was 310 K located at the edge of the discharge region. The vibrational tem peratures had a maximum of 6200 K at the i nterface, and a minimum of 5700 K at the edge of the discharge region.
19 Periprosthetic Joint Infection After TKR

This chapter deals with the incidence and etiology of periprosthetic joint infections after total knee arthroplasty. In addition, risk factors and most common organisms are reported.