cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gemcitabine triggers angiogenesis-promoting molecular signals in pancreatic cancer cells: Therapeutic implications

// Mohammad Aslam Khan 1, * , Sanjeev K. Srivastava 1, * , Arun Bhardwaj 1 , Seema Singh 1 , Sumit Arora 1 , Haseeb Zubair 1 , James E. Carter 2 , Ajay P. Singh 1, 3 1 Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA 2 Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA 3 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Ajay P. Singh, e-mail: asingh@health.southalabama.edu Keywords: pancreatic cancer, gemcitabine, angiogenesis, IL-8 Received: March 11, 2015 Accepted: April 10, 2015 Published: April 23, 2015 ABSTRACT Pancreatic tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by poor tumor-vasculature and extensive desmoplasia that together contribute to poor response to chemotherapy. It was recently shown that targeting of TME to inhibit desmoplasiatic reaction in a preclinical model resulted in increased microvessel-density and intratumoral drug concentration, leading to improved therapeutic response. This approach; however, failed to generate a favorable response in clinical trial. In that regard, we have previously demonstrated a role of gemcitabine-induced CXCR4 signaling as a counter-defense mechanism, which also promoted invasiveness of pancreatic cancer (PC) cells. Here, we investigated the effect of gemcitabine on endothelial cell phenotype. Gemcitabine-treatment of human-umbilical-vein-endothelial-cells (HUVECs) did not promote the growth of HUVECs; however, it was induced when treated with conditioned media from gemcitabine-treated (Gem-CM) PC cells due to increased cell-cycle progression and apoptotic-resistance. Moreover, treatment of HUVECs with Gem-CM resulted in capillary-like structure (CLS) formation and promoted their ability to migrate and invade through extracellular-matrix. Gemcitabine-treatment of PC cells induced expression of various growth factors/cytokines, including IL-8, which exhibited greatest upregulation. Further, IL-8 depletion in Gem-CM diminished its potency to promote angiogenic phenotypes. Together, these findings suggest an indirect effect of gemcitabine on angiogenesis, which, in light of our previous observations, may hold important clinical significance.
Surface exchange between the Weddell and Scotia Seas

Within Drake Passage, the southern flank of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) hosts the ventilation of deep water, the injection of Antarctic shelf waters and interactions between westward and eastward boundary currents. This exchange is explored through the trajectories of forty surface drifters released in January 2012 in the northwestern Weddell Sea. The drifters detail Lagrangian transport pathways between the eastern Antarctic Peninsula and sites of elevated chlorophyll in the Scotia Sea. ACC frontal currents, in particular the Southern ACC Front, act as dynamical transport barriers to the drifters and influence surface chlorophyll distributions, indicating that ACC fronts partition Weddell source waters in the Scotia Sea. Interannual fluctuations in surface chlorophyll in the south Scotia Sea and the northern Weddell Sea covary. This suggests that Scotia Sea ecosystem dynamics are linked to water properties injected from the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula and respond to Weddell Gyre circulation changes.
Effects of Industrial Experience and Coursework During Sophomore and Junior Years on Student Learning of Engineering Design

While prior work indicates that seniors near the end of their capstone design course know more about design than first-year students, it is unclear where this knowledge is gained. We study two possible sources of seniors' greater design knowledge: coursework during sophomore and junior years and industrial experience. The design process knowledge of seniors at the beginning of their capstone class was assessed and information about their industrial experience obtained. These data were compared to assessment data of first-year students at the end of an introduction to engineering design course. The results indicate that industrial experience greatly increases students' recognition that documentation needs to occur throughout the design process. Seniors with industrial experience, however, are less aware that idea generation is an important part of design and are less able to allot time to different design activities than first-year students at the end of a hands-on introduction to engineering design course. For the remaining four aspects of design process knowledge assessed-namely, identifying the requirements for a project at the project's outset, making decisions with a systematic process based on analysis, building and testing prototypes and final designs, and the overall layout of design including iteration-no differences are found between seniors with industrial experience and first-year students at the end of an introduction to engineering design course. One explanation for why industrial experience does not impact student 's design process knowledge positively in more areas than documentation is that students on internships only experience a small portion of a design process. Due to this "snapshot" experience, either (1) students are not able to learn a significant amount about the bigger picture design concepts or (2) students each learn about different aspects of design but, as a population, do not show any significant increase in design process knowledge. The one activity that all interns will experience is the necessity to document their work. Furthermore, seniors without industrial experience scored no differently than first-year students on any single aspect of design process knowledge measured. This indicates that analysis-heavy sophomore and junior classes do not impact design process knowledge.
The polyendocrine deficiency syndromes.

IT is currently thought that two distinct disorders are grouped under the general rubric of polyendocrine deficiency syndrome. The first disorder begins at a mean age of about 12 years and is characterized by the association of hypoparathyroidism, primary adrenal insufficiency, and mucocutaneous candidiasis. Alopecia, pernicious anemia, malabsorption, and chronic active hepatitis also occur. This disorder is currently designated as the polyendocrine deficiency syndrome Type I.1 The inheritance pattern is not always clear, but in some families an autosomal recessive pattern has been observed.2 The second disorder begins at an average age of 30 years and is recognized by the . . .
Daily torpor induced in white-footed mice (Peromyscus spp.) by starvation.

WHITE-FOOTED mice have frequently been reported to be heterotherms or incipient hibernators with variable body temperatures1–3 and two species have been found in a state of torpor in outdoor nest boxes in winter4. In a systematic study of Peromyscus eremicus, daily torpor was interpreted as a summer phenomenon occurring at moderate ambient temperatures in response to aridity5.
Differences in health, productivity and quality of care in younger and older nurses

Aim To determine if younger and older hospital employed nurses have differences in their self-reported health, health related productivity and quality of care.Background An understanding of age cohort differences may assist nurse managers in understanding the health related productivity and potential quality of care concerns of their staff.Method A cross-sectional survey design was utilised. There were 1171 usable surveys returned (47% response rate). Nurses over the age of 50 made up 26% of the respondents.Result Older nurses had a higher body mass index (BMI), higher mental well-being, higher pain scores, a 12% higher prevalence of having health problems, and reported a higher health related productivity loss than younger nurses.Implications for nursing management Nurse managers must determine if their older nurses are being given more difficult, complex patients because of their experience. Perhaps older nurses, especially those with health problems, need assignments that require their assessment and critical thinking skills rather than their strength and physical abilities.
Chromate reduction and retention processes within arid subsurface environments.

Chromate is a widespread contaminant that has deleterious impacts on human health, the mobility and toxicity of which are diminished by reduction to Cr(III). While biological and chemical reduction reactions of Cr(VI) are well resolved, reduction within natural sediments, particularly of arid environments, remains poorly described. Here, we examine chromate reduction within arid sediments from the Hanford, WA site, where Fe(III) (hydr)oxide and carbonate coatings limit mineral reactivity. Chromium(VI) reduction by Hanford sediments is negligible unless pretreated with acid; acidic pretreatment of packed mineral beds having a Cr(VI) feed solution results in Cr(III) associating with the minerals antigorite and lizardite in addition to magnetite and Fe(II)-bearing clay minerals. Highly alkaline conditions (pH > 14), representative of conditions near high-level nuclear waste tanks, result in Fe(II) dissolution and concurrent Cr(VI) reduction. Additionally, Cr(III) and Cr(VI) are found associated with portland...
An overview of menopausal oestrogen–progestin hormone therapy and breast cancer risk

Results from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial support findings from observational studies that oestrogen–progestin therapy (EPT) use is associated with an increase in breast cancer risk. We conducted a meta-analysis using EPT-specific results from the Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer (CGHFBC) pooled analysis and studies published since that report to obtain an overview of EPT use and breast cancer risk. We also assessed risk by histologic subtype of breast cancer, by schedule of the progestin component of EPT, and by recency of use. We estimate that overall, EPT results in a 7.6% increase in breast cancer risk per year of use. The risk was statistically significantly lower in US studies than in European studies – 5.2 vs 7.9%. There was a significantly higher risk for continuous-combined than for sequential EPT use in Scandinavian studies where much higher total doses of progestin were used in continuous-combined than in sequential EPT. We observed no overall difference in risk for lobular vs ductal carcinoma but did observe a slightly higher risk for current vs past EPT use.
“Postpolio” Sequelae and Sleep-Related Disordered Breathing

Objective To analyze the clinical manifestations and various types of sleep-related disordered breathing (SRDB) in patients with a history of poliomyelitis and with current "postpolio" sequelae (PPS). Material and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 108 consecutive patients with PPS and sleep disturbances encountered during an 11-year period at Mayo Clinic Rochester and abstracted the features of acute polio, PPS, and results of sleep evaluation (overnight oximetry or polysomnography). Only those patients who were not receiving ventilatory support were included in the study. Results The features of PPS were dyspnea, fatigue, new weakness, and musculoskeletal pain. Of the 108 patients, 35 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Sleep evaluations revealed three general types of disturbances: obstructive sleep apnea (group O, N=19); hypo ventilation (group H, N=7); and both (group OH, N=9). The mean apnea/hypopnea index was 37, 4, and 16 per hour in patients in groups O, H, and OH, respectively ( P P Conclusion In patients with PPS, we identified three patterns of sleep disturbance—obstructive sleep apnea, hypoventilation, and a combination of both. These groups are characterized by clinical features and by results of arterial blood gas determinations, overnight oximetry, and polysomnography. SRDB is a late sequela of poliomyelitis, and clinical evaluation should include information about sleep.
Anemia in the critically ill: the role of erythropoietin.

Abstract Anemia is a common clinical problem in critically ill patients and is associated with substantial red blood cell (RBC) transfusion requirements. However, RBC transfusion has significant risks, including adverse effects on the immune system. Although a low hemoglobin concentration may be tolerable, it may not be optimal for the critically ill patient. Thus, alternative therapies that can increase hemoglobin and avoid complications of RBC transfusion are desirable. Critically ill patients appear to have anemia identical to the anemia of chronic inflammatory disease with blunted erythropoietin production. Results of a recent randomized controlled trial in critically ill patients demonstrated that recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO, epoetin alfa) significantly reduced (by ≈50%) the number of RBC units transfused ( P P
On the modified Tabor parameter for the JKR-DMT transition in the presence of a liquid meniscus.

Abstract The JKR, DMT, Maugis models and Tabor parameter for contact under normal loading have been developed based mainly on solid–solid (van der Waals) interactions. In this case, the characteristic length scale for the adhesive forces in the Tabor parameter is the equilibrium interatomic spacing. However, for contact in humid environments, where a liquid meniscus may be present, capillary forces with a longer force range related to the Kelvin radius dominate. Fogden and White [J. Colloid Interface Sci. 138 (1990) 414] introduced a parameter that includes the Kelvin radius for the JKR–DMT transition. This topic was also addressed by Maugis and Gauthier-Manuel [J. Adhes. Sci. Technol. 8 (1994) 1311] who included capillary effects within the frame work that Maugis had previously established. The parameters introduced by Fogden and White and Maugis and Gauthier-Manuel can be viewed as a modified Tabor parameter for the JKR–DMT transition. In the present work, the Kelvin equation linking the Kelvin radius and the relative humidity was explicitly included in the modified Tabor parameter. This provided a quantitative description of the JKR–DMT transition in terms of the relative humidity. This parameter was examined via load and contact radius measurements, where the latter were obtained from Bowden and Tabor's assumption that the friction force f = τ A . The friction experiments were conducted at two different humidity levels using a newly-developed mesoscale friction tester (MFT), which provides a very wide range of contact radii. The modified Tabor parameter was used to reexamine data from pull-off experiments in water and cyclohexane vapor environments [L.R. Fisher, J.N. Israelachvili, Colloids Surf. 3 (1981) 303 and H.K. Christenson, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 121 (1988) 170]. Finally, guidelines are presented for the appropriate choice of contact mechanics models to be used in interpreting data from SFA and AFM experiments in humid environments.
The cholinergic stimulating effects of ciliary neurotrophic factor and leukemia inhibitory factor are mediated by protein kinase C

: The intracellular mechanisms through which two trophic factors, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), regulate cholinergic development were examined in sympathetic neuron cultures. Treatment with CNTF or LIF increased levels of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity by 375 and 350%, respectively. However, in neuronal cultures depleted of protein kinase C (PKC) activity by chronic phorbol ester treatment, neither CNTF nor LIF elevated ChAT activity. Further, the stimulation of ChAT due to increased cell density was not observed in PKC-depleted sympathetic neurons. The inhibition of CNTF-stimulated ChAT by phorbol ester occurred in a dose-dependent manner and chronic phorbol ester treatments did not alter the levels of the catecholamine biosynthetic enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase. Moreover, increased levels of diacylglycerol, an endogenous activator of PKC, were observed in sympathetic neurons treated with CNTF. However, neither CNTF nor LIF stimulated the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. These observations suggest that a common PKC-dependent pathway, which is independent of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis, mediates the cholinergic stimulating effects of CNTF, LIF, and cell-cell contact in cultured sympathetic neurons.
Minimal composite Higgs model with light bosons

We analyze a composite Higgs model with the minimal content that allows a light standard-model-like Higgs boson, potentially just above the current CERN LEP limit. The Higgs boson is a bound state made up of the top quark and a heavy vector-like quark. The model predicts that only one other bound state may be lighter than the electroweak scale, namely a CP-odd neutral scalar. Several other composite scalars are expected to have masses in the TeV range. If the Higgs boson decay into a pair of CP-odd scalars is kinematically open, then this decay mode is dominant, with important implications for Higgs boson searches. The lower bound on the CP-odd scalar mass is loose, in some cases as low as $\ensuremath{\sim}100$ MeV, being set only by astrophysical constraints.
Characterization and comparison of "bindin" isolated from sperm of two species of sea urchins.

Abstract The insoluble acrosome granule content of sea urchin sperm consists of a single 30,500 dalton protein named bindin. Bindin mediates species-specific recognition and adhesion of sperm to the egg surface. Bindin from Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (Sp) and Strongylocentrotus franciscanus (Sf) have tyrosine as their single N-terminal amino acid. The pI of Sp bindin is 6.62 and of Sf 6.59. Amino acid analysis reveals almost identical composition between the two species for 16 amino acids. Only two (or three) amino acids, Pro and Asx, show large species differences. Tryptic peptide maps of the two species of bindin show very similar patterns with 24 spots of identical correspondence.
Conformation of the transmembrane domain of the c-erbB-2 oncogene-encoded protein in its monomeric and dimeric states.

The human c-erbB-2 oncogene is homologous to the ratneu oncogene, both encoding transmembrane growth factor receptors. Overexpression and point mutations in the transmembrane domain of the encoded proteins in both cases have been implicated in cell transformation and carcinogenesis. In the case of theneu protein, it has been proposed that these effects are mediated by conformational preferences for anα-helix in the transmembrane domain, which facilitates receptor dimerization, an important step in the signal transduction process. To examine whether this is the case for c-erbB-2 as well, we have used conformational energy analysis to determine the preferred three-dimensional structures for the transmembrane domain of the c-erbB-2 protein from residues 650 to 668 with Val (nontransforming) and Glu (transforming) at position 659. The global minimum energy conformation for the Val-659 peptide from the normal, nontransforming protein was found to contain several bends, whereas the global minimum energy conformation for Glu-659 peptide from the mutant, transforming protein was found to beα-helical. Thus, the difference in conformational preferences for these transmembrane domains may explain the difference in transforming ability of these proteins. The presence of higher-energyα-helical conformations for the transmembrane domain from the normal Val-659 protein may provide an explanation for the presence of a transforming effect from overexpression of c-erbB-2. In addition, docking of the oncogenic sequences in theirα-helical and bend conformations shows that the all-α-helical dimer is clearly favored energetically over the bend dimer.
Cells and the (imaginary) patient: the multistable practitioner-technology-cell interface in the cytology laboratory.

Modern health care is inextricably bound up with technologically mediated knowledge and practice. It is vital to investigate its use and role in different clinical contexts characterized, on one hand, by face to face practitioner and patient encounters (where technology may be conceptualised as hindering therapeutic relations) and, on the other hand, by practitioners’ encounter with bodily parts in laboratories (where conceiving of patients may be thought of as confounding objectivity). To contribute to the latter, I offer an ethnographic analysis of cytology laboratory practitioners’ work and microscopic assessment of normal and abnormal cells. First, I discuss the biomedical literature on cytology and the quest for a non-variational bodiless vision. Second, I discuss the concept of multistability, first developed by philosopher of technology Don Ihde, here used to analyse technologically mediated perception and how practitioners interact with technology. Combined with long term ethnographic fieldwork it enables access to, and analysis and articulation of the implicit multifaceted practitioner–technology–cell interface embedded in clinical practice and diagnostic processes. I will also address some implications of my analysis for clinical cytology.
Analysis of Reaction-Diffusion Systems with Anomalous Subdiffusion

Reaction-diffusion equations are the cornerstone of modeling biochemical systems with spatial gradients, which are relevant to biological processes such as signal transduction. Implicit in the formulation of these equations is the assumption of Fick's law, which states that the local diffusive flux of species i is proportional to its concentration gradient; however, in the context of complex fluids such as cytoplasm and cell membranes, the use of Fick's law is based on empiricism, whereas evidence has been mounting that such media foster anomalous subdiffusion (with mean-squared displacement increasing less than linearly with time) over certain length scales. Particularly when modeling diffusion-controlled reactions and other systems where the spatial domain is considered semi-infinite, assuming Fickian diffusion might not be appropriate. In this article, two simple, conceptually extreme models of anomalous subdiffusion are used in the framework of Green's functions to demonstrate the solution of four reaction-diffusion problems that are well known in the biophysical context of signal transduction: fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, the Smolochowski limit for diffusion-controlled reactions in solution, the spatial range of a diffusing molecule with finite lifetime, and the collision coupling mechanism of diffusion-controlled reactions in two dimensions. In each case, there are only subtle differences between the two subdiffusion models, suggesting how measurements of mean-squared displacement versus time might generally inform models of reactive systems with partial diffusion control.
The duration of the terminal G1 of fusing myoblasts

Abstract We found earlier that the initiation of fusion in cultures of embryonic myoblasts is accompanied by a marked protraction of G 1 , that phase of the cycle to which fusion is restricted. To test the relationship of this increase in G 1 to the appearance of multinucleated cells we have compared the distribution of the length of G 1 in cycling myoblasts (at both prefusion and fusion stages) to the G 1 preceding fusion. Our data indicate that myoblasts spend a minimum of 4 hr in G 1 before fusing. Although 87.5% of cycling myoblasts in fusion-stage clones satisfy this minimum, only 17.5% of the myoblasts at prefusion stages would be competent by this criterion. Based on these percentages, the probability of contact between competent cells is 54-fold greater at fusion than at prefusion stages suggesting that fusion is initiated when a large enough fraction of the cycling myoblasts spends more than 4 hr in G 1 . The fact that the graph of terminal G 1 s exhibits two distinct peaks suggests that the distribution may be bimodal, the modal value of the first peak being close to the modal value of those myoblasts in fusing cultures which reenter S. Bimodality is confirmed by a transitional probability plot of the data, which may also indicate that, when G 1 exceeds 11 hr the probability of fusing increases. These data are compatible with the concept that myoblasts (of the first mode, at least) fuse in an indeterminate state from which they can, alternatively, reenter S. This may also be true of two-thirds of the myoblasts of the second mode the terminal G 1 s of which fall within the limits of G 1 of fusion-stage cycling myoblasts.
Nature of the Smectic-A-Chiral-Smectic-C Phase Transition

Abstract Details of a generalized mean-field model will be presented. A systematic fitting scheme will be discussed to acquire all eleven expansion coefficients in this mean-field model. Very good fitting results are obtained on our high-resolution heat-capacity, tilt-angle, and spontaneous polarization data in the vicinity of the smectic-A-chiral-smectic-C phase transition of p-(n-decyloxybenzylidene)-p-amino-(2-methyl-butyl)cinnamate (DOBAMBC). The fitting also gives qualitative account for one set of existing helicoidal pitch data.
Manhood Incorporated Diet and the Embodiment of “Civilized” Masculinity

Employing an interdisciplinary framework, this article attempts to “think” the history of men and masculinities in a transnational way by connecting the distinctive experiences of specific national...
Effects of purified and technical piperonyl butoxide on drug-metabolizing enzymes and ultrastructure of rat liver.

Abstract Weanling male rats were fed technical grade piperonyl butoxide at dietary levels of 1000, 5000 and 10,000 ppm for 1, 4 and 8 weeks and 100 ppm for 1 week. Activities of hexobarbital oxidase, aniline hydroxylase, p-nitroanisole-demethylase, nitroreductase, glucuronyltransferase and P-450 content were increased 2- to 4-fold by 5000 or 10,000 ppm technical grade piperonyl butoxide. Liver weight and microsomal protein were increased a maximum of 50–70% by piperonyl butoxide. Electron microscopy showed enlargement and extensive proliferation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) in liver parenchymal cells of rats fed 5000 or 10,000 ppm technical grade piperonyl butoxide. A dose of 1000 ppm produced minimal effects on liver weight, P-450, and glucuronyltransferase activity, but no effects of this dose could be detected on proliferation of the SER. Maximum induction of P-450 and the drug-metabolizing enzymes which require P-450 occurred after 1 week of exposure with all doses of piperonyl butoxide. In contrast, the effects of 10,000 ppm piperonyl-butoxide on liver weight, cellular hypertrophy and SER proliferation appeared greater after 8 weeks than after 1 week. No differences in the degree of SER proliferation could be detected after different lengths of exposure to 5000 ppm piperonyl butoxide. Glucuronyl transferase activity was induced maximally between 4 and 8 weeks at all dose levels. Purified and technical grade piperonyl butoxide (10,000 ppm) were equally effective in increasing liver drug-metabolizing enzymes and producing proliferation of the SER.
Demons registration of high angular resolution diffusion images

In this work we present a method for non-rigid registration of high angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) datasets that are modeled by a field of antipodally symmetric spherical functions, represented by their expansion in the real spherical harmonic (RSH) basis. We use a multichannel demons algorithm which utilizes a computationally simple, rotationally invariant similarity function defined in the RSH space. Additionally, we describe a finite strain based algorithm for reorientation of the HARDI data model. We validate our framework on simulated fiber orientation distribution datasets and on human in-vivo data.
Recurrence of symptomatic pituitary cysts following transsphenoidal drainage

Two patients with symptomatic pituitary cysts were treated by transsphenoidal surgery with resolution of visual and endocrine abnormalities, but identical lesions reappeared within two years. Such recurrences have not been previously reported following this procedure. They may be attributed to incomplete resection of the suprasellar component, or failure to marsupialize the cyst into the subarachnoid space, which is achieved by the traditional transfrontal approach to the lesion. Guidelines for the management and follow-up of pituitary cysts are provided.
Amorphous-amorphous transitions in silica glass. I. Reversible transitions and thermomechanical anomalies

Amorphous-amorphous transitions in silica glass under a variety of thermomechanical conditions are studied with molecular-dynamics simulations using a charge-transfer three-body potential model. The polyamorphic transitions can be reversible or irreversible depending on the combination of pressure and temperature at which the transitions take place. Anomalous thermomechanical behaviors of silica glass, such as an increase of the mechanical moduli upon expansion as a result of tensile deformation or thermal expansion, are well reproduced in our simulations. In part I, we show these anomalies are due to reversible structural transitions, which activate similar structural modes of displacement as in the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-to-$\ensuremath{\beta}$ phase transformations in cristobalite silica. The emergence of dynamic instabilities is observed in conjunction with these reversible structural changes, characterizing them as transitions rather than gradual deformations. The polyamorphic transitions are gradual and localized in silica glass in contrast to the instantaneous and extended character of polymorphic transformation in crystals. The mechanism of the irreversible transitions, the negative thermal expansion of silica glass under pressure, as well as the effect of pressure and temperature on the permanent densification of silica glass and the nature of the newly discovered amorphous phases are discussed in part II.
Near-surface dynamics of a separated jet in the coastal transition zone off Oregon

[1] Three-dimensional circulation in the coastal transition zone (CTZ) off Oregon is studied using a 3 km resolution model based on the Regional Ocean Modeling System. The study period is spring and summer 2002, when extensive observations were available from the northeastern Pacific component of the Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics project. Our main focus is on near-surface transports, particularly in an area off Cape Blanco where an energetic coastal current is separated in the CTZ. Comparisons with available observations (velocities from midshelf moorings, surface velocities from high-frequency radars, satellite sea surface temperature maps, along-track sea surface height altimetry, and SeaSoar hydrography) show that the model reproduces qualitatively correctly the flow structure and variability in the study area. The near-surface flow behavior during 26 July to 21 August, a late-summer time period of strong, time-variable southward winds, is examined. During that period the coastal jet separates from the continental shelf around Cape Blanco (43°N). The energetic separated jet continues to flow southward in a near-coastal region between 42.2°N and 43°N. It subsequently turns around 42°N to flow westward offshore past 127°W. Relatively vigorous up- and downwelling is found concentrated in the region of the separated jet. Frontogenesis secondary circulation, nonlinear effects of the relative vorticity on the ageostrophic Ekman transport, and submesoscale instabilities contribute to the vertical circulation within the jet. Vertical velocities are found to reach 50 m d−1 in the offshore part of the jet and 100 m d−1 in the near-coastal part, where the jet is aligned with the wind direction.
Relativistic Effects in the QSO Broad-Line Region

The broad-line region (BLR) of quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) appears to be subdivided into an inner optically thin very broad line region (VBLR) forming the profile bases, and an outer intermediate-line region (ILR) forming the profile cores. The consequences of relativistic effects on the emission from each region are investigated under the black hole model, with an emphasis on the VBLR. It is found that good matches to the optical and ultraviolet broad emission line profiles of low-redshift QSOs can be obtained for relativistic models. Specifically, the redward profile asymmetries seen in some objects can be produced by the effect of gravitational redshift on the emission from the VBLR, provided that this region takes the form of a flattened ensemble of clouds viewed nearly face-on and with a mean distance of a few tens of gravitational radii from the hole. Similarly, the ~100 km s-1 redshifts of the ILR components of the Balmer lines measured in some objects can be obtained for a flattened cloud ensemble seen at a similar orientation and lying a few hundred gravitational radii from the black hole. These results are fairly independent of the cloud velocity field and the radial dependence of the cloud emissivity, although observations favor a model of Keplerian motion for the VBLR clouds. For black hole masses ~109 M☉, these distances are consistent with estimates of the sizes of the ILR and VBLR based on emission-line variability. The correlated increase in profile width and redward asymmetry found in low-redshift QSOs can be produced by varying the mean distance of a virialized ensemble of clouds from the black hole under the above constraints, and the simultaneous increase in UV/X-ray luminosity can be interpreted as the result of a mass-luminosity correlation. The blueward profile asymmetries observed in the high- and low-ionization lines of some objects and the ~102-103 km s-1 peak blueshifts observed in the high-ionization lines are not produced by these models, and thus require an additional mechanism(s) acting on the line emission that competes with gravitational redshift. Electron scattering from X-ray-heated winds may be one possibility.
Spring Distribution and Abundance of Larval Fishes in the St. Marys River, With a Note on Potential Effects of Freighter Traffic on Survival of Eggs and Larvae

Larval fishes were collected at seven transects in the St. Marys River from late April to late May, 1985, to determine potential effects of extending the winter navigation season on spawning success and survival. Larval lake herring (Coregonus artedii) 8 to 25 mm occurred in densities of 0 to 1,450 larvae/1,000 m3 and were most commonly found in shallow water (1 to 2 m). Most lake herring hatching occurred during late April to early May, the first 3 wk after ice break-up, but there was no distinct hatching peak. Lake whitefish (C. clupeaformis) larvae, 12 to 23 mm, with densities of 0 to 600/1,000 m3, were most common at 1 m being collected at all transects, except the transect in the Edison Hydropower Canal which passes Lake Superior water into the river. Densities of the two coregonine species were similar to densities observed in important nursery areas of Lake Huron. However, the contribution of lake herring to the river population is not known. Burbot (Lota lota) larvae were common temporally and spatially, with higher abundances in the channel. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) larvae were absent in April and early May, and abundant in late May. Lake herring, lake white-fish, and burbot have the greatest probability of being affected by the proposed extension of the navigation season through resuspension of sediments, dislodgment of eggs, and premature emergence of larvae.
Media Use, Media Literacy, and African American Females’ Food Consumption Patterns

One hundred twenty-nine African American women completed a survey that investigated the relationship among media use, media literacy, and food consumption. The data indicated that the frequency of news viewing was positively associated with healthy food choices and negatively associated with unhealthy ones. Moreover, media literacy was positively related to healthy food consumption and negatively related to unhealthy food consumption including visits to fast-food restaurants.
cDNA cloning by amplification of circularized first strand cDNAs reveals non-IRE-regulated iron-responsive mRNAs.

Currently, the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) is the most common method for PCR cloning of cDNA. Because RACE uses a gene specific primer and one adaptor primer that is shared by all cDNAs may result in numerous nonspecific products that can hinder the cloning process. Here we report a new method that uses circularized first strand cDNA from mRNA and two gene specific primers to amplify both the 5' and 3' cDNA ends in one reaction. A cDNA band of correct size can be obtained on the first pass in this approach. If the correct size is not obtained on the first pass, amplification of cDNA ends can be repeated until the correct size of the cDNA is obtained. We tested this new method on eight mRNAs that we have previously shown to respond to cellular iron levels. We obtained sequences for six mRNAs that were 43 bp to 1324 bp longer than that reported in GenBank and obtained the same length sequence for the other two mRNAs. RNA folding program shows no iron responsive elements (IRE) on these mRNA. In conclusion, our cloning approach offers a more efficient method for cloning full-length cDNA and it may be used to replace the existing method of 5' end cDNA extension. The data enabled us to exclude the possibility that the expression of these iron responsive genes are regulated by IREs.
Effect of Propyliodone (DionosilR) Bronchograms on Blood Iodine and Radioiodine Uptake

1. Oily Dionosil is a safe and satisfactory agent for bronchography. Excellent visualization is secured usually. 2. Oily Dionosil produces elevation of the serum PBI (usual initial range is 9 to 23 mcg./100 ml. serum), with return to the normal range of 3.8 to 8 mcg./l00 ml. serum in about six to eight weeks. 3. PBI determinations which may be required after Dionosil bronchography are best postponed until eight weeks after bronchography. 4. Radioiodine uptake determinations should be postponed until at least three weeks after Dionosil bronchography.
Structure of Human Adenovirus

A detailed structural analysis of the entire human adenovirus capsid has been stymied by the complexity and size of this 150 MDa macromolecular complex. Over the past 10 years, the steady improvements in viral genome manipulation concomitant with advances in crystallographic techniques and data processing software has allowed structure determination of this virus by X-ray diffraction at 3.5 A resolution. The virus structure revealed the location, folds, and interactions of major and minor (cement proteins) on the inner and outer capsid surface. This new structural information sheds further light on the process of adenovirus capsid assembly and virus-host cell interactions.
Regulation of endo-acting glycosyl hydrolases in the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima grown on glucan- and mannan-based polysaccharides.

The genome sequence of the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima encodes a number of glycosyl hydrolases. Many of these enzymes have been shown in vitro to degrade specific glycosides that presumably serve as carbon and energy sources for the organism. However, because of the broad substrate specificity of many glycosyl hydrolases, it is difficult to determine the physiological substrate preferences for specific enzymes from biochemical information. In this study, T. maritima was grown on a range of polysaccharides, including barley β-glucan, carboxymethyl cellulose, carob galactomannan, konjac glucomannan, and potato starch. In all cases, significant growth was observed, and cell densities reached 109 cells/ml. Northern blot analyses revealed different substrate-dependent expression patterns for genes encoding the various endo-acting β-glycosidases; these patterns ranged from strong expression to no expression under the conditions tested. For example, cel74 (TM0305), a gene encoding a putative β-specific endoglucananse, was strongly expressed on all substrates tested, including starch, while no evidence of expression was observed on any substrate for lam16 (TM0024), xyl10A (TM0061), xyl10B (TM0070), and cel12A (TM1524), which are genes that encode a laminarinase, two xylanases, and an endoglucanase, respectively. The cel12B (TM1525) gene, which encodes an endoglucanase, was expressed only on carboxymethyl cellulose. An extracellular mannanase encoded by man5 (TM1227) was expressed on carob galactomannan and konjac glucomannan and to a lesser extent on carboxymethyl cellulose. An unexpected result was the finding that the cel5A (TM1751) and cel5B (TM1752) genes, which encode putative intracellular, β-specific endoglucanases, were induced only when T. maritima was grown on konjac glucomannan. To investigate the biochemical basis of this finding, the recombinant forms of Man5 (Mr, 76,900) and Cel5A (Mr, 37,400) were expressed in Escherichia coli and characterized. Man5, a T. maritima extracellular enzyme, had a melting temperature of 99°C and an optimun temperature of 90°C, compared to 90 and 80°C, respectively, for the intracellular enzyme Cel5A. While Man5 hydrolyzed both galactomannan and glucomannan, no activity was detected on glucans or xylans. Cel5A, however, not only hydrolyzed barley β-glucan, carboxymethyl cellulose, xyloglucan, and lichenin but also had activity comparable to that of Man5 on galactomannan and higher activity than Man5 on glucomannan. The biochemical characteristics of Cel5A, the fact that Cel5A was induced only when T. maritima was grown on glucomannan, and the intracellular localization of Cel5A suggest that the physiological role of this enzyme includes hydrolysis of glucomannan oligosaccharides that are transported following initial hydrolysis by extracellular glycosidases, such as Man5.
Ethics and computer‐assisted assessment: Three case studies

Three ethical-legal case incidents involving computer-assisted psychodiagnostic assessment in the schools are presented. Each case incident is analysed in terms of applicable laws, ethical codes, and standards for professional practice.
UV−Resonance Raman Thermal Unfolding Study of Trp-Cage Shows That It Is Not a Simple Two-State Miniprotein

Trp-cage, a synthetic 20 residue polypeptide, is proposed to be an ultrafast folding synthetic miniprotein which utilizes tertiary contacts to define its native conformation. We utilized UV resonance Raman spectroscopy (UVRS) with 204 and 229 nm excitation to follow its thermal melting. Our results indicate that Trp-cage melting is complex, and it is not a simple two-state process. Using 204 nm excitation we probe the peptide secondary structure and find the Trp-cage's alpha-helix shows a broad melting curve where on average four alpha-helical amide bonds melt upon a temperature increase from 4 to 70 degrees C. Using 229 nm excitation we probe the environment of the Trp side chain and find that its immediate environment becomes more compact as the temperature is increased from 4 to 20 degrees C; however, further temperature increases lead to exposure of the Trp to water. The chi(2) angle of the Trp side chain remains invariant throughout the entire temperature range. Previous kinetic results indicated a single-exponential decay in the 4-70 degrees C temperature range, suggesting that Trp-cage behaves as a two-state folder. However, this miniprotein does not show clear two-state behavior in our steady-state studies. Rather it shows a continuous distribution of steady-state spectral parameters. Only the alpha-helix melting curve even hints of a cooperative transition. Possibly, the previous kinetic results monitor only a small region of the Trp-cage which locally appears two-state. This would then argue for spatially decoupled folding even for this small peptide.
Coagulation and Stabilization of Colloidal Particles by Adsorbed DNA Block Copolymers: The Role of Polymer Conformation

This study examines the relationship between polymer surface conformation and colloid stability using single-stranded DNA as a model polymer and a biochemical technique called hydroxyl radical footprinting (HRF). The DNA polymer (dT40B) has a diblock copolymer architecture with an uncharged and relatively hydrophobic block and an equally long negatively charged block. In a previous report, we showed that HRF could be used to probe the surface conformation of dT40B when the molecule is adsorbed to charge-modified latex particles at moderate salt concentrations (0.05 M NaCl). Here, we present additional HRF results for this model polymer and examine the relationship between the polymer's surface conformation and its effect on latex particle coagulation rates. When the bare latex particles are positively charged, the DNA adsorbs in a flat conformation and particle stability depends on polymer surface coverage. In this case, the DNA influences particle stability by altering the net surface charge of the latex...
Top-down estimates of global CO sources using MOPITT measurements

[1] We present a synthesis inversion of CO emissions from various geographical regions and for various source categories for the year 2000 using CO retrievals from the MOPITT (Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere) instrument. We find a large discrepancy between our top-down estimates and recent bottom-up estimates of CO emissions from fossil fuel/biofuel (FFBF) use in Asia. A key conclusion of this study is that CO emissions in East Asia (EAS) are about a factor of 1.8–2 higher than recent bottom-up estimates.
Purchasing Ethics and Inter-Organizational Buyer–Supplier Relational Determinants: A Conceptual Framework

This study examines unethical purchasing practices from the perspective of buyer–supplier relationships. Based on a review of the inter-organizational literature and qualitative data from in-depth interviews with purchase managers from diverse industries, a conceptual framework is proposed, and theoretical arguments leading to propositions are presented. Taking into consideration the presence or absence of an explicit or implicit company policy sanctioning ethically questionable activities, unethical purchasing practices are conceptualized as a three-tiered set. Three broad themes emerge from the analysis toward explaining purchasing ethics from a buyer–seller perspective: (a) Inter-organizational power issues (inter-organizational power and idiosyncratic investments), (b) Inter-organizational relational issues (long-term orientation and satisfaction), and (c) Interpersonal relational issues (interpersonal ties and trust). Theoretical and managerial implications of the conceptual framework are discussed.