cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genomic Interaction Profiles in Breast Cancer Reveal Altered Chromatin Architecture

Gene transcription can be regulated by remote enhancer regions through chromosome looping either in cis or in trans. Cancer cells are characterized by wholesale changes in long-range gene interactions, but the role that these long-range interactions play in cancer progression and metastasis is not well understood. In this study, we used IGFBP3, a gene involved in breast cancer pathogenesis, as bait in a 4C-seq experiment comparing normal breast cells (HMEC) with two breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, an ER positive cell line, and MDA-MB-231, a triple negative cell line). The IGFBP3 long-range interaction profile was substantially altered in breast cancer. Many interactions seen in normal breast cells are lost and novel interactions appear in cancer lines. We found that in HMEC, the breast carcinoma amplified sequence gene family (BCAS) 1–4 were among the top 10 most significantly enriched regions of interaction with IGFBP3. 3D-FISH analysis indicated that the translocation-prone BCAS genes, which are located on chromosomes 1, 17, and 20, are in close physical proximity with IGFBP3 and each other in normal breast cells. We also found that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a gene implicated in tumorigenesis, interacts significantly with IGFBP3 and that this interaction may play a role in their regulation. Breakpoint analysis suggests that when an IGFBP3 interacting region undergoes a translocation an additional interaction detectable by 4C is gained. Overall, our data from multiple lines of evidence suggest an important role for long-range chromosomal interactions in the pathogenesis of cancer.
Dynamic Stability of Unidirectional Fiber-Reinforced Viscoelastic Composite Plates

This paper deals with a dynamic stability analysis of unidirectional fiber-reinforced composite viscoelastic plates subjected to compressive edge loads. The integrodifferential equations governing the stability problem are obtained by using, in conjunction with a Boltzmann hereditary constitutive law for a three-dimensional viscoelastic medium, a higher-order shear deformation theory of orthotropic plates. Such a theory incorporates transverse shear deformation, transverse normal stress, and rotatory inertia effects. The solution of the stability problem as considered within this paper concerns the determination of the critical in-plane edge loads yielding the asymptotic instability. Numerical applications, based on material properties derived within the framework of Aboudi's micromechanical model, are presented and pertinent conclusions concerning the nature of the loss of stability and the influence of various parameters are outlined.
Characterization of macromolecular transport pathways in malaria-infected erythrocytes.

Abstract We have previously provided evidence for a pathway in Plasmodium falciparum -infected erythrocytes, coined the parasitophorous duct pathway, which provides serum (macro)molecules direct access to intraerythrocytic parasites [1] . The present study addresses the purity of the fluorescent macromolecules used to define the duct pathway and provides ultrastructural evidence for its presence. The fluorescent tracers used to characterize transport remain intact during their incubation with infected erythrocytes. Transport of macromolecules in the external medium or host cell cytosol to the intracellular parasites is shown to occur by two distinct pathways. Fluorescent dextrans in the erythrocyte cytosol are ingested by the parasite via a specialized organelle, the cytostome, and are transported to the parasite food vacuole. Transport through this pathway occurs throughout the asexual life cycle. By contrast, fluorescent dextrans in the external medium bypass the erythrocyte cytosol, and are internalized by the parasite by a process resembling fluid-phase endocytosis. Serial sections of mature parasites fixed and stained by various methods for transmission electron microscopy reveal areas of apparent membrane continuity between the erythrocyte membrane and the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane that surrounds the parasite, that could leave the parasites exposed to the external medium. Using carboxylate and amidine-modified fluorescent latex spheres and laser scanning confocal microscopy, macromolecules up to 50–70 nm in diameter are found to have direct access to intraerythrocytic parasites. This size exclusion is consistent with the dimensions of the parasitophorous duct pathway revealed by electron microscopy. This investigation reports for the first time the existence of two, distinct macromolecular transport pathways in malaria-infected erythrocytes.
Pressure derivatives of the elastic constants of aluminum and magnesium

Abstract The pressure derivatives of the elastic stiffness constants of aluminum and magnesium have been measured over a pressure range from 0 to 6500 bars, by a modified ultrasonic pulse-echo method. The values found are: dC/dP dC′/dP dBs/dP Al 2·31 1·62 5·19 dC 11 / dP dC 33 / dP dC'/dP dC'/dP dC H /dP Mg 6·11 7·22 1·58 1·36 13·7 The notation C = C 44 , C′ = (C 11 −C 12 )/2, B s = (C 11 + 2C 12 )/3, and C H = C 11 +C 12 +2C 33 − 4C 13 has been used. The pressure data for aluminum have been interpreted in terms of Leigh's theory for the elastic stiffnesses themselves, and the magnesium data in terms of the similar theory of Reitz and Smith. Variation of the effective charge density at the boundary of the atomic polyhedron under volume strain causes the electrostatic contribution to the shear stiffnesses to vary approximately as r −8 instead of r −4 for both metals. Electron transfer from states overlapping one type of Brillouinzone face to states overlapping another type of face under volume strain contributes appreciably to the variation of the Fermi shear-stiffness contribution with pressure.
Relationships between observational estimates and physical measurements of upper limb activity

This study examined the internal validity of observational-based ergonomic job analysis methods for assessing upper limb force exertion and repetitive motion. Six manual tasks were performed by multiple ‘workers’ while direct measurements were made to quantify force exertion and kinematics of the upper limb. Observational-based analyses of force and upper limb motion/repetition were conducted by 29 professional ergonomists. These analysts overestimated the magnitude of individual force exertions – temporal aspects of force exertion (duty cycle) were estimated more accurately. Estimates of the relative severity of repetitive motions among the jobs were accurate. Absolute counts of repetitive motions were less accurate. Modest correlations (r2 = 0.28 to r2 = 0.50) were observed between ratings of hand activity level and measured joint velocities. Ergonomic job analyses relying on systematic observation should be applied and interpreted with consideration given to the capabilities and limitations of analysts...
Expression of Multiple Gap Junction Proteins in Human Fetal and Infant Hearts

ABSTRACT: Mammalian cardiac myocytes express multiple gap junction channel proteins or connexins. Expression patterns of the avian homologues of the mammalian cardiac connexins change during cardiac morphogenesis in association with changes in the electrophysiologic properties of intercellular junctions in chick cardiac myocytes. To determine whether expression of cardiac connexins is developmentally regulated in humans, we characterized connexin mRNA and protein content and distribution in hearts of 11 human fetuses (74 to 122 d gestational age), seven children (0.5 mo to 3 y of age), and two adults. Northern blot analysis identified transcripts of connexin40 (Cx40), connexin43 (Cx43), and connexin45 (Cx45) genes in all hearts analyzed. Cx40 mRNA was approximately 5-fold more abundant in samples from fetal hearts than in hearts of children or adults. However, fetal samples used for RNA extraction included atrial as well as ventricular myocardium, whereas samples from children and adults were exclusively ventricular. Northern analysis of adult human right atrial appendages revealed abundant Cx40 mRNA, thus suggesting that the greater amount of Cx40 signal seen on Northern blots from fetal hearts could have been attributable to atrial contributions. Neither Cx43 nor Cx45 mRNA varied significantly in amount in samples from the different developmental stages analyzed. Immunofluorescence identified abundant Cx43 in the known distribution of gap junctions in myocytes in sections of all hearts. Cx45 staining was inconspicuous in fetal hearts but was readily apparent in cardiac myocytes in hearts of older subjects. In contrast, Cx40 staining in the ventricle was confined to mural coronary arteries, apparently in endothelial cells, whereas in the atrium Cx40 staining at myocyte junctions was abundant. Junctions in hypertrophied myocardium of children with congenital or acquired heart disease appeared more prominent and complex than in normal tissues. Thus, the human heart contains multiple connexins, but their distribution and developmental patterns differ from each other and from those in other species. Cx45 expression is not restricted to the fetal human heart. Cx40 expression in ventricles occurs selectively in coronary arteries.
The origin and role of confronting cisternae in selected fetal mouse and rat tissues.

Abstract Confronting cisternae (CC) are described for the first time in normal fetal rat and mouse liver and intestinal epithelial cells. In these cells, CC characteristically consist of 2 parallel cisternae which are devoid of ribosomes on their juxtaposed surfaces. The intracisternal spacing is consistently 20nm. While CC occur in rapidly proliferating tissues such as fetal liver and intestinal epithelium, they do not occur in hepatocytes following partial hepatectomy. Although it has been postulated that the intact CC profiles represent a mechanism of assuring the presence of performed nuclear envelope (NE) or rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) in cells, it is more likely that the subunits which result from CC degradation serve as a pool of membrane precursors for new NE or RER.
Regionalism versus Multilateralism: Evidence for the Natural Trade Partners Theory from the Euro-Mediterranean Region?

The slow pace of multilateral negotiations has given a greater impetus to regional trade arrangements (RTA) as countries are eager to take advantage of welfare enhancing trade creation effect of trade liberalization. At the same time, this approach raises concerns as due their discriminatory nature, RTAs lead to welfare reducing trade diversion from third countries. The paper develops a modified triple-indexed gravity model to measure the trade creation and diversion effects of the preferential trade agreements in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The model is applied to different components of imports, since the welfare implications of each component is expected to be different. Using these measures, the paper proceeds to look for evidence for the Natural Trade Partners Theory using three definitions of natural partners. Results show that there is support for the theory when geographical distance or initial trade volumes are used to define naturalness only for intra-industry components. Stronger support is found when complementarity is used to identify natural partners.
Monodispersed biocompatible silver sulfide nanoparticles: facile extracellular biosynthesis using the γ-proteobacterium, Shewanella oneidensis.

Abstract Interest in engineered metal and semiconductor nanocrystallites continues to grow due to their unique size- and shape-dependent optoelectronic, physicochemical and biological properties. Therefore identifying novel non-hazardous nanoparticle synthesis routes that address hydrophilicity, size and shape control and production costs has become a priority. In the present article we report for the first time on the efficient generation of extracellular silver sulfide (Ag2S) nanoparticles by the metal-reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis. The particles are reasonably monodispersed and homogeneously shaped. They are produced under ambient temperatures and pressures at high yield, 85% theoretical maximum. UV–visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements confirmed the formation, optical and surface properties, purity and crystallinity of the synthesized particles. Further characterization revealed that the particles consist of spheres with a mean diameter of 9 ± 3.5 nm, and are capped by a detachable protein/peptide surface coat. Toxicity assessments of these biogenic Ag2S nanoparticles on Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and S. oneidensis) and Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) bacterial systems, as well as eukaryotic cell lines including mouse lung epithelial (C 10) and macrophage (RAW-264.7) cells, showed that the particles were non-inhibitory and non-cytotoxic to any of these systems. Our results provide a facile, eco-friendly and economical route for the fabrication of technologically important semiconducting Ag2S nanoparticles. These particles are dispersible and biocompatible, thus providing excellent potential for use in optical imaging, electronic devices and solar cell applications.
Vibrotactile masking: Temporal integration, persistence, and strengths of representations

Subjects were presented with two successive vibrotactile spatial patterns (a target and a masker) to their left index fingerpads and were instructed to identify the first pattern (Experiments 1 and 2) or the second pattern (Experiment 3). Many of the two patterns combined to form other patterns, composites, that were available to the subjects as potential responses. The temporal separation between the onsets of the two patterns (stimulus onset asynchrony, or SOA) was varied. In Experiment 1 (backward masking), subjects often erred at brief SOAs and responded with the composite of the two patterns presented. In addition, subjects sometimes responded with the masker. Both effects decreased as the SOA was increased. In Experiment 2 (backward masking), the intensity of the target was varied. As the intensity of the target was increased, the tendency to respond with the masker decreased. In Experiment 3 (forward masking), subjects again often erred at brief SOAs and responded with the composite of the two patterns presented. In addition, there was less forward masking than backward masking. Rarely, in this case, did subjects respond with the masker. It is suggested that the presentation of a vibrotactile pattern yields an internal representation that persists for some time following the cessation of stimulation. In addition, when two vibrotactile patterns are presented in close temporal and spatial proximity, they are integrated into a composite that contains a strong representation of the temporally trailing pattern.
Stationary Models of Unqueued Traffic and Number of Freeway Travel Lanes

Occupancies and flows were jointly sampled from freeway segments in nearly stationary, unqueued traffic. When plots of occupancy per lane versus flow per lane were normalized by n (the number of travel lanes in the freeway segment from which a data set came), the plots took shapes that were piecewise linear in form (except for conditions that were near capacity) and were clearly influenced by n. Drivers adopted a higher speed (for a given occupancy) while traveling on segments of greater n. Yet, the speeds on these wider segments exhibited greater sensitivity: drivers began decelerating at relatively low occupancies. These findings came from a comparison of a data plot from each of five different freeway segments with the plot from its neighboring segment. Because each segment appeared to differ from its neighbor only in its n, the comparisons (approximately) controlled for other influential factors, including geometric design standards, speed limit, and driver population. The five pairwise comparisons, which verify the reproducibility of the effects of n on the data, were performed for freeways in and near Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and California. The findings are compared with the information currently provided in traffic handbooks.
Accumulation of trace elements in a marine copepod

We measured assimilation efficiencies (AEs) from ingested algal food, uptake rates from the dissolved phase, and efflux rate constants of five trace elements (Ag, Cd, Co, Se and Zn) in the marine copepod Temora longicornis. AEs of Ag, Cd, Co, Se, and Zn from two diatom diets were 13, 35, 14, 59, and 61%, respectively. AEs of metals from ingested natural seston collected during the spring phytoplankton bloom in Long Island Sound were comparable to AEs from diatoms. The assimilation of all trace elements within the T. longicornis gut took longer (4–15 h) than the gut passage time of ingested food particles. The rate constant of metal uptake from the dissolved phase was highest for Ag, followed by Zn > Cd > Co > Se. Efflux rate constants for all trace elements ranged from 0.08 to 0.30 d−1, indicating that metals were regenerated at a very fast rate in these animals. Generally, the efflux rate of metals was higher following uptake from food than uptake from the dissolved phase. The retention half-times of trace elements in copepod carcasses were 0.6–3.3 d. A bioenergetic-based kinetic model was used to quantify the relative importance of metal uptake in copepods from different pathways. The model indicates that under conditions typically encountered by copepods in nature, >50% of Zn and >98% of Se in copepods are obtained from ingested food. For Ag, Cd, and Co, >50% accumulates from the dissolved phase. The relative importance of trace element uptake from the dissolved phase vs. particulate ingestion in the overall metal uptake depends greatly on the metal AE, the feeding rate of copepods, and the partition coefficient of metals in ingested food particles.
Low separation rank covariance estimation using Kronecker product expansions

This paper presents a new method for estimating high dimensional covariance matrices. Our method, permuted rank-penalized least-squares (PRLS), is based on Kronecker product series expansions of the true covariance matrix. Assuming an i.i.d. Gaussian random sample, we establish high dimensional rates of convergence to the true covariance as both the number of samples and the number of variables go to infinity. For covariance matrices of low separation rank, our results establish that PRLS has significantly faster convergence than the standard sample covariance matrix (SCM) estimator. In addition, this framework allows one to tradeoff estimation error for approximation error, thus providing a scalable covariance estimation framework in terms of separation rank, an analog to low rank approximation of covariance matrices [1]. The MSE convergence rates generalize the high dimensional rates recently obtained for the ML Flip-flop algorithm [2], [3].
Time reversal and microwave techniques for solving inverse problem in Non-Destructive Evaluation

Abstract Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) methods are used to inspect materials without damaging their usefulness. The key problem in NDE is the inverse problem which involves reconstructing materials’ physical profiles, like inner discontinuity etc., using information in the measured NDE signal. Inverse problem solutions in NDE can be classified as model-based and system-based approach. In model-based approach, an accurate forward model is used in an iterative framework. This approach provides a resultant materials' physical profile that minimizes the error between the measured signal and a simulated signal. However, this approach requires repeated calculations of a numerical model in each iteration, making it computationally demanding. This paper presents a model-based method that also provides a direct approach to inversion using principles of time reversal. Time reversal focusing is based on the fact that when a wave solution is reversed in time and back-propagated the wave comes to focus at the source. Using a computational model, this paper applies principles of time reversal to microwave NDE data to solve the inverse problem of defect detection in dielectric materials. A two-dimensional finite difference time domain (FDTD) model, for simulating the propagation of forward and time reversed wave fields, is developed. A dielectric sample with artificial defects, illuminated by a Gaussian modulated pulse, is used in the simulations. The microwave measurements are recorded, time reversed and propagated using the FDTD model to highlight the scatterer/defect. Maxima in the energy image indicate locations of defects. Simulation results demonstrate the feasibility of the technique to detect defects in dielectric materials. The FDTD model is validated using experimental data.
Localization of ouabain-sensitive, potassium-dependent nitrophenyl phosphatase in the rectal gland of the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias.

Tissue from the digitiform rectal gland of the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias, was fixed briefly by formaldehyde perfusion and studied for the specificity and localization of p-nitrophenyl phosphatase (NPP'ase) activity. The enzymatic activity was K+-dependent (56%) and ouabain-sensitive (67% inhibition). The electron-dense reaction product (SrPO4) of the cytochemical reaction (Ernst, 1972b) was localized along the inner surfaces of the basolateral membranes of the secretory cells. It was absent from mitochondria, nuclei, vesicles, and other organelles. The luminal surface of the secretory cells was slightly reactive. On the basis of (1) this pattern of localization for the sodium transport system, (2) the presence of extensive intercellular labyrinthine channels (Bulger, 1963) that would facilitate “standing gradients” (Diamond and Bossert, 1968), and (3) the specific distribution of the energy-providing mitochondria, we conclude that the concentration and electrochemical gradients recorded from the secreting gland (Hayslett et al., 1974) are maintained across the domains of the basolateral surfaces of the secretory cells.
Thick Airfoils With Blunt Trailing Edge for Wind Turbine Blades

This paper addresses the primary concerns regarding the aerodynamic performance characteristics of thick airfoils with blunt trailing edges (or so-called flatback airfoils) and the utilization of these section shapes in the design of rotor blades for utility-scale wind turbines. Results from wind tunnel and computational fluid dynamic studies demonstrate the favorable impact of the blunt trailing edge on the aerodynamic performance characteristics including higher maximum lift coefficient and reduced sensitivity of lift to premature boundary layer transition. The negative effect of the blunt trailing edge on drag can be partially mitigated through simple trailing edge treatments such as splitter plates. Studies on the effect of these section shapes on wind turbine rotor performance show that at attached flow conditions this inboard blade modification does not adversely affect rotor torque output. Blade system design studies involving the collective optimization of aerodynamic performance, structural strength and weight, and manufacturing complexity demonstrate the overall favorable impact of the flatback concept.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Rehabilitation for Homemakers with Cardiovascular. Involvements: Changes in Attitudes and Ability1

Rehabilitative changes that occurred during an educational program in homemaking were measured using three instruments: an Information and Activity Questionnaire, a Self- Analysis Scale, and the Cardiac Adjustment Scale. These tests were administered to 28 homemakers who were divided into experimental and control groups, each group with 14 subjects. The tests were administered on an individual basis before and after the 10-week program. Homemakers involved in the homemaking rehabilitation program showed significant and favorable changes in scores on the three instruments, whereas the group not involved in the rehabilitation program did not show significant changes. Also, the differences between mean pre- and posttest scores were significantly greater for the experimental than for the control group.
Patriotism, War, and the Limits of Permissible Partiality

This paper examines whether patriotism and other forms of group partiality can be justified and what are the moral limits on actions performed to benefit countries and other groups. In particular, I ask whether partiality toward one’s country (or other groups) can justify attacking enemy civilians to achieve victory or other political goals. Using a rule utilitarian approach, I then (a) defend the legitimacy of “moderate” patriotic partiality but (b) argue that noncombatant immunity imposes an absolute constraint on what may be done to promote the interests of a country or other group involved in warfare or other forms of violent conflict.
Functional Genomics of Gram-Positive Microorganisms: review of the meeting, San Diego, California, 24 to 28 June 2001.

It is clear from the endless stream of sequencing information now flooding the databases of the world that apparently disparate bacterial species have many features in common, especially within gram-positive or gram-negative lineages. The Functional Genomics of Gram-Positive Microorganisms meeting held in San Diego, Calif., 24 to 28 June 2001, was organized to bring together investigators working with related, in this case gram-positive, bacterial species under the premise that what has been learned about gene regulation, expression, and function from decades of molecular genetic and biochemical studies of the more common species would rapidly advance the understanding of less-well-studied members of the lineage. From all the comments received, this comingling of investigators and species under a common rubric was a successful strategy. The meeting saw a surfeit of seemingly similar sounding suffixes made by splicing and ligating suffixes to truncated nouns. Aside from the emerging usage of transcriptome to describe the mRNA population of a cell and proteome as the protein population, the attendees were treated to septasome, proteins making up the septation apparatus (S. A. Robson, University of Connecticut Health Center); secretome, components of the machinery for protein secretion (J. Kok, University of Groningen); cellulosome, a multienzyme complex for cellulose degradation (T. Dror, Technion); and fluxome, the array of metabolic fluxes for all reactions in an organism, (U. Sauer, ETH Institute of Biotechnology). One can subdivide these categories by adding adjectives, e.g., stress proteome (A. Hartke, University of Caen), or prefixes, phosphoproteome (S. Seror, University of Paris Sud). It occurred to these reviewers that a hierarchical structure of “omes” could be developed and portions of each placed into either a factome or an artifactome, both being metastable interchangeable states. Because the use of microarrays is a new technology leading to the rapid recognition of the role of regulatory proteins and the definition of transcriptomes, this meeting review may be devoted disproportionately to these new results. Many of the interesting and significant presentations could not be described in this review. Some of the associated papers appear in this issue (1–9).
Using arbitrary trial distributions to improve intramolecular sampling in configurational-bias Monte Carlo

A new formulation of configurational-bias Monte Carlo that uses arbitrary distributions to generate trial bond lengths, angles and dihedrals is described and shown to provide similar acceptance rates with substantially less computational effort. Several different trial distributions are studied and a linear combination of the ideal distribution plus Gaussian distributions automatically fit to the energetic and ideal terms is found to give the best results. The use of these arbitrary trial distributions enables a new formulation of coupled–decoupled configurational bias Monte Carlo that has significantly higher acceptance rates for cyclic molecules. The chemical potential measured via a modified Widom insertion is found to be ill-defined in the case of a molecule that has flexible bond lengths due to the unbounded probability distribution that describes the distance between any two atoms. We propose a simple standard state that allows the computation of consistent chemical potentials for molecules with fle...
Three-Dimensional Growth Characteristics of a Plane Crack Subjected to Concentrated Forces

A combination of longitudinal shear and normal forces acting on a half-plane crack is shown to lead to predictions of crack growth qualitatively similar to those obtained by Knauss (1970) for crack propagation in antiplane shear. The presented results, based on the strain-energy-density fracture criterion, predict the direction of growth and the load which initiates it.
Roles of LPA3 and COX-2 in implantation

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a lipid-derived G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonist that is involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including cell survival, proliferation and differentiation, cytoskeletal rearrangement, cell–cell interactions, tumorigenesis and cell invasion. LPA also stimulates oocyte maturation, the preimplantation development of two- or four-cell embryos to the blastocyst stage and embryo transport in the oviduct. Recent studies revealed that targeted deletion of the LPA 3 receptor results in delayed implantation and altered embryo spacing, and significantly reduced litter size in mice. This was attributable to selective downregulation of uterine cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which generates prostaglandins (PGs) E 2 and I 2 . Exogenous administration of PGE 2 or the PGI 2 analogue, carba-prostacyclin, to LPA 3 -deficient female mice rescued delayed implantation but did not prevent defects in embryo spacing. These findings indicate that LPA-induced COX-2 induction has a crucial role in implantation and mammalian reproduction.
Growth of single Ti2O3 crystals from the melt

Abstract Procedures are described for growth of large single crystals of TiO x, (1.501 ⩽ x ⩽ 1.512) that are reasonably free of cationic impurities and of C and N . Data concerning the stoichiometry and the segregation of impurities during crystal growth are presented. The electrical properties of doped and pure single crystal materials are briefly described.
Differentiation of thymidine kinase deficient mouse myoblasts in the presence of 5′-bromodeoxyuridine

Abstract The hypothesis that 5′-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) inhibits differentiation via incorporation into DNA was examined with a strain of thymidine kinase-deficient (TK−) mouse myoblasts. TK− cells were derived from a permanent clonal line of mouse myoblasts which were mutagenized with ethylmethanesulfonate and then carried through 3 BUdR/visible light selection cycles. Cells were characterized as TK− by their inability to grow in HAT medium, their minimal ability to incorporate [3H]thymidine into DNA, and the absence of all but trace amounts of thymidine kinase in cell extracts. TK− isolates were initially unstable with respect to myogenic properties, but a stable diploid myogenic TK− strain was obtained after several serial subclonal cultivations. To monitor effects of BUdR on muscle differentiation, colonies of proliferating wild-type and TK− myoblasts were incubated with or without BUdR for 24 h. Differentiation was then induced by incubating the cultures in mitogen-depleted medium for 36 h. Exposure of wild-type myoblasts to 5 or 15 μM BUdR caused 84 and 98% inhibition of myotube formation, whereas exposure of TK− myoblasts to these BUdR levels caused only 15 and 25% inhibition. Similar results were obtained when differentiation was assessed by measuring creatine phosphokinase activity. These results indicate that BUdR must be metabolized to at least the mono-phosphate form to inhibit muscle differentiation, and they are consistent with the hypothesis that BUdR acts via incorporation into DNA.
Constitutive model of creep in rock salt applied to underground room closure

A multimechanism constitutive model of the creep of polycrystalline rock salt has been developed based on steady state creep as modified to incorporate transient creep through workhardening and recovery. Application of the model is in calculation of the closure of underground rooms excavated in a natural, bedded evaporite salt deposit. This requires an integrated technology consisting of not only the proper constitutive model, but also a range of other system elements relating to the site geology, initial and boundary conditions, and numerical methods peculiar to the application. Through finite element calculations, this model, with appropriate laboratory material parameters and a Tresca flow potential, has predicted the closure of a number of large, in situ experimental rooms at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). In this paper, an overview of the model development, laboratory parameter generation and numerical simulation capability is given, together with a summary of the comparisons of the calculated and measured creep closure results. The comparisons encompass a range of test room configurations that exercise the predictive capability for stratigraphic setting, room geometry, thermal heating, stress field interaction and two and three-dimensional deformation fields. The simulations have proven satisfactory and suggest the general adequacy of the predictive technology.
Some weaker monotone separation and basis properties

Abstract Ito showed that stratifiable spaces in which there is a closure preserving local base at each point are M1. That local version of M1 is called m1, while m2 and m3 are analogously defined. We look at some of the properties of these spaces. A subtler weakening of one of the characterizations of monotone normality leads to a new class of spaces we call “monotonically T2”. Besides giving a considerably larger class of spaces, the monotone T2 property is, for example, preserved under arbitrary box products. Also, there is a strong relationship between the mi-spaces and the monotone T2 property, and in some circumstances they are equivalent. We also discuss similar analogs of acyclic and strong monotone normality.
Resection of Atriocaval Adrenal Carcinoma Using Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest

Carcinoma of the adrenal cortex may occasionally extend through the inferior vena cava to the right atrium without actually invading the vascular endothelium. Surgical resection may result in excellent palliation and the potential for prolonged survival when no other signs of advanced disease are present. Extrapolating from our experience with renal cell carcinoma extending to the right atrium, we resected a similar adrenocortical carcinoma using hypothermic circulatory arrest.
The Radial Distribution of the Kuiper Belt

We examine the radial distribution of the Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) using a method that is insensitive to observational bias effects. This technique allows the use of the discovery distances of all KBOs, independent of orbital classification or discovery circumstance. We verify the presence of an outer edge to the Kuiper Belt, as reported in other works, and we measure this edge to be at R = 47 ± 1 AU given any physically plausible model of the size distribution. We confirm that this outer edge is due to the classical KBOs, the most numerically dominant observationally. In addition, we find that current surveys do not preclude the presence of a second, unobserved Kuiper Belt beyond R = 76 AU.
Social considerations for information technology offshoring

Recently, the outsourcing of Information Technology (IT) activities to offshore locations has been gaining significant momentum, with some associated backlash by the workforce in the United States. Based on their 2005 survey [6], Global Insight, a private consulting firm, estimated that U.S. companies will spend about $38.2 billion in offshore IT services by 2010, compared with about $15.2 billion in 2005, primarily because the expected cost savings will grow by $11.7 billion in the same time period. Binder writing in "Foreign Affairs" [2] states that offshoring expenditures will continue to increase dramatically, and the changes the offshoring phenomenon will bring will transform society. This paper focuses on the social impact of offshoring and the effects of the weighing of costs and benefits as a result of offshoring activities.
Mechanical Distribution ofChrysoperla rufilabrisandTrichogramma pretiosum:Survival and Uniformity of Discharge after Spray Dispersal in an Aqueous Suspension

Abstract The feasibility of spraying an aqueous suspension containing biological control organisms was investigated as an improved means for their distribution. Chrysoperla rufilabris (Burmeister) eggs and Trichogramma pretiosum (Riley) from parasitized eggs of Ephestia kuhniella (Zeller) were submerged in water to determine their survival after exposure to wetting. The hatching rate for C. rufilabris and the emergence rate of T. pretiosum adults were not significantly affected by submergence in water and agitation for up to 3 h. Additional experiments determined the uniformity of distribution, measured as the concentration of eggs per unit of liquid volume, and survival of eggs from spraying through a large-orifice fan nozzle. The hatching rate for C. rufilabris and the emergence rate for T. pretiosum were not affected by spraying of the suspension. The test suspensions of C. rufilabris and T. pretiosum were agitated using an air sparge and a mechanical paddle, respectively, during 1-h spray experiments. The concentration of eggs in the suspension discharged from the spray nozzle was relatively constant during the experiment, although eggs of both species showed trends toward a decreasing concentration.
An anti-oncogenic role for decorin. Down-regulation of ErbB2 leads to growth suppression and cytodifferentiation of mammary carcinoma cells.

The leucine-rich proteoglycan decorin interacts with the epidermal growth factor receptor and triggers a signaling pathway that leads to growth suppression. We find that decorin causes a functional inactivation of the oncogenic ErbB2 protein in breast carcinoma cells. Upon de novo expression of decorin, the ErbB2 protein is reduced by ∼40%, whereas its degree of tyrosyl phosphorylation is almost completely abrogated. Both co-culture experiments or experiments with recombinant decorin demonstrate an initial induction of ErbB2 tyrosine kinase, followed by a profound and long-lasting down-regulation of its activity. This leads to growth inhibition and cytodifferentiation of mammary tumor cells and a concurrent suppression of their tumorigenic potential in vivo. These decorin-mediated effects appear to involve the activation of ErbB4, which in turn would block the phosphorylation of heterodimers containing either ErbB2 or ErbB3. These results provide an explanation for the heightened decorin levels around invasive carcinomas and suggest that decorin may function as a natural antagonist of neoplastic cells enriched in ErbB2.
ASSAY OF BLOOD AND URINE FOR THYREOTROPIC HORMONE IN THYROTOXICOSIS AND MYXEDEMA1

Rogowitch (1) demonstrated hypertrophy of the anterior pituitary body following thyroidectomy in rabbits and dogs as early as 1889. Niepce (2) in 1851 recorded that both man and animals with large parenchymatous goiters had greatly enlarged pituitaries. Boyce and Beadles (3) in 1892 described enlargement of this gland along with colloid in the anterior lobes of the pituitary in cases of human myxedema. This finding was confirmed in 1917 by Hale White; and Wegelin (4) described similar findings in a case of cachexia thyreo priva. Degener (5), Kojima (6) and Kamo confirmed the findings of Rogowitch in animals. In 1914 Adler (7) demonstrated that destruction of the pituitary in tadpoles depressed metamorphosis and the development of the thyroid gland. Allen (8) and Smith (9) in 1916 independently studied the same relationship in tadpoles. Gudernatch (10) had described the role of the thyroid hormone in metamorphosis in 1912 and it was therefore logically suspected that the inhibition of etamorphosis followin...
Congenital atypical benign chondroblastoma of a rib

Abstract Pathological examination of a congenital rib tumor showed a proliferating chondroid tumor with many features of a benign chondroblastoma. The site and occurrence in this age group was not described previously.
Zebrafish bashful/laminin‐α1 mutants exhibit multiple axon guidance defects

Laminin is known to provide a highly permissive substratum and in some cases directional information for axon outgrowth in vitro. However, there is still little known about laminin function in guiding axons in vivo. We investigated the axon guidance role of laminin-α1 in the developing zebrafish nervous system. Analysis of zebrafish bashful (bal)/laminin-a1 mutants revealed multiple functions for laminin-α1 in the outgrowth and guidance of central nervous system (CNS) axons. Most CNS axon pathways are defective in bal embryos. Some axon types, including retinal ganglion cell axons, early forebrain axons, and hindbrain reticulospinal axons, make specific pathfinding errors, suggesting laminin-α1 is required for directional decisions. Other axon tracts are defasciculated or not fully extended in bal embryos, suggesting a function for laminin-α1 in regulating adhesion or providing a permissive substratum for growth. In addition, some neurons have excessively branched axons in bal, indicating a potential role for laminin-α1 in branching. In contrast to CNS axons, most peripheral axons appear normal in bal mutants. Our results, thus, reveal important and diverse functions for laminin-α1 in guiding developing axons in vivo. Developmental Dynamics 235:213–224, 2006. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of Radar Proximity on Single-Doppler Velocity Signatures of Axisymmetric Rotation and Divergence

Abstract Geometrical and mathematical relationships are developed to explain the variation with radar range of idealized single-Doppler velocity patterns of axisymmetric rotation and divergence regions. The velocity patterns become distorted as they approach a Doppler radar site. As a consequence, the apparent core diameters and locations of the centers of the features depart from the true values. Equations are derived to estimate the true values from the distorted Doppler velocity fields.
Investigating the Human Dimension of Weed Management: New Tools of the Trade

The human dimension of weed management is most evident when farmers make decisions contrary to science-based recommendations. Why do farmers resist adopting practices that will delay herbicide resistance, or seem to ignore new weed species or biotypes until it is too late? Weed scientists for the most part have ignored such questions or considered them beyond their domain and expertise, continuing to focus instead on fundamental weed science and technology. Recent pressing concerns about widespread failure of herbicide-based weed management and acceptability of emerging technologies necessitates a closer look at farmer decision making and the role of weed scientists in that process. Here we present a circular risk-analysis framework characterized by regular interaction with and input from farmers to inform both research and on-farm risk-management decisions. The framework utilizes mental models to probe the deeply held beliefs of farmers regarding weeds and weed management. A mental model is a complex, often hidden web of perceptions and attitudes that govern how we understand and respond to the world. One's mental model may limit ability to develop new insights and adopt new ways of management, and is best assessed through structured, open-ended interviews that enable the investigator to exhaust the subjects inherent to a particular risk. Our assessment of farmer mental models demonstrated the fundamental attribution error whereby farmers attributed problems with weed management primarily to factors outside of their control, such as uncontrolled weed growth on neighboring properties and environmental factors. Farmers also identified specific processes that contribute to weed problems that were not identified by experts; specifically, the importance of floods and faulty herbicide applications in the spread of weeds. Conventional farmers expressed an overwhelming preference for controlling weeds with herbicides, a preference that was reinforced by their extreme dislike for weeds. These preferences reflect a typical inverse relationship between perceived risk and benefit, where an activity or entity we perceive as beneficial is by default perceived as low risk. This preference diminishes the ability of farmers to appreciate the risks associated with overreliance on herbicides. Likewise, conventional farmers saw great risk and little benefit in preventive measures for weed control. We expect that thorough two-way communication and a deeper understanding of farmer belief systems will facilitate the development of audience-specific outreach programs with an enhanced probability of affecting better weed management decisions.
Integration of Supportive Psychotherapy with Case Management for Older Adults with Borderline Personality Disorder

This article attempts to demonstrate how supportive psychotherapy may serve as a companion therapeutic modality for case management activities with older adult clients suffering with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Justification for this approach is provided and techniques and interventions are identified. Three case examples demonstrating the modalities integration are provided.
Detecting Multiple Causal Rare Variants in Exome Sequence Data

Recent advances in sequencing technology have presented both opportunities and challenges, with limited statistical power to detect a single causal rare variant with practical sample sizes. To overcome this, the contributors to Group 1 of Genetic Analysis Workshop 17 sought to develop methods to detect the combined signal of multiple causal rare variants in a biologically meaningful way. The contributors used genes, genome location proximity, or genetic pathways as the basic unit in combining the information from multiple variants. Weaknesses of the exome sequence data and the relative strengths and weaknesses of the five approaches are discussed.
Temperamental Differences in Children's Reactions to Peer Victimization.

This research examined the hypothesis that temperament and sex moderate the contribution of peer victimization to children's subsequent adjustment (aggression and depressive symptoms). Children (125 boys, 158 girls; M age = 7.95 years, SD = 0.32; 77.7% White, 22.3% minority) and teachers reported on overt and relational victimization. Parents rated children's temperament (inhibitory control and negative emotionality) and depressive symptoms, and teachers reported on children's overt and relational aggression. Across a 1-year period, (a) overt victimization predicted overt aggression in girls with poor inhibitory control, (b) overt and relational victimization predicted depressive symptoms in girls with high negative emotionality, and (c) relational victimization predicted depressive symptoms in boys with low negative emotionality. This research helps to explain individual variation in children's reactions to peer victimization and has implications for Person × Environment models of development. Moreover, ...