cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning from Error in American Criminal Justice

[Virtually every system we will examine places "operator error" high on its list of causal factors?generally about 60 to 80 percent of accidents are attributed to this factor. But if, as we shall see time and again, the operator is confronted by unexpected and usually mysterious interactions among failures, saying that he should have zigged instead of zagged is possible only after the fact. Before the accident no one could know what was going on and what should have been done. 2 ?Charles Perrow
Oil pressure signatures for engine lubrication system monitoring

This paper describes an application of signature analysis techniques to oil pressure signals of internal combustion engines for monitoring the status of an engine lubrication system. The dynamic characteristics of a lubrication flow network are presented. The state of the lubrication system is reflected not only in the mean or D.C. component, but also in higher frequencies of the signal. Experimental results are presented for both periodic and position locked components of the pulsatile signals. The signal characteristics are altered if a defect is present in the engine. Signal characteristics are affected due to perturbations introduced by the defect present downstream in the lubrication system. The changes in oil pressure signals are sensitive to oil temperature and proximity of the defect to the monitoring point. Results are presented to indicate limitations of such analysis techniques for lubrication system fault detection.
Hierarchical Bayes Methods

Dose–response studies of environmental toxins are designed to determine the detrimental effects associated with exposure to the toxin, over a particular range of exposures. To properly quantify the toxic effect of a toxin, the background risk of no exposure to the toxin, R(0), must first be specified. The additional risk incurred by exposure to a dose, d, of the toxin is then called the added risk (AR) at this dose and is given by AR(d) = R(d) –R(0).
The dysplastic nevus: From historical perspective to management in the modern era: Part I. Historical, histologic, and clinical aspects

Since its description in the 1970s, the dysplastic nevus has been a source of confusion, and whether it represents a precursor to melanoma remains a controversial subject. Although a Consensus Conference in 1992 recommended that the term "dysplastic nevus" no longer be used, the histologic diagnosis continues to present a therapeutic quandary for dermatologists and other physicians, and there remains significant variation in clinical management. In part I of this continuing medical education review, we will discuss the historical origins of the term, the evidence for its distinct histologic basis, and its clinical significance.
ConfiDNS: leveraging scale and history to detect compromise

While cooperative DNS resolver systems, such as Co-DNS, have demonstrated improved reliability and performance over standard approaches, their security has been weaker, since any corruption or misbehavior of a single resolver can easily propagate throughout the system. We address this weakness in a new system called Confi-DNS, which augments the cooperative lookup process with configurable policies that utilize multi-site agreement and per-site lookup histories. Not only does Confi-DNS provide better security than cooperative approaches, but for up to 99.8% of unique lookups, ConfiDNS exceeds the security of standard DNS resolvers. ConfiDNS provides these benefits while retaining the other benefits of CoDNS, such as incremental deployability, higher reliability, and improved performance, in some cases faster than CoDNS.
The Effect of Dibutyryl Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate on Synthesis of Sulfated Acid Mucopolysaccharides by Transformed Fibroblasts

Abstract The effect of dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and theophylline on the incorporation of [35S]sulfate into acid mucopolysaccharides by 3T3 and SV3T3 fibroblasts has been studied. SV40 transformation of 3T3 fibroblasts produced a marked decrease in the rate of synthesis of acid mucopolysaccharides, in agreement with the data of others. When the transformed cells were grown in medium supplemented with dibutyryl-cyclic AMP and theophylline for 3 days, they secreted, on the basis of cell protein, approximately 250% more labeled acid mucopolysaccharides during a 24-hour labeling period than did the nontreated controls. The secretion of a variety of sulfated acid mucopolysaccharides was increased including chondroitin-4- and -6-sulfate and dermatan sulfate. Comparison of the rate of sulfate incorporation into acid mucopolysaccharides and the rate of loss of previously labeled acid mucopolysaccharides from the cells indicated that the effect was due to a greater rate of synthesis of these compounds at the time of labeling rather than due to a decrease in the rate of their degradation.
Carrier frequency offset correction for uplink multi-user MIMO for next generation Wi-Fi

In this paper, we study carrier frequency offset estimation and correction for uplink multi-user MIMO (UL MU-MIMO) for Wi-Fi, where distributed stations (STAs) send multiple data streams to a common access point (AP) with multiple receive antennas. We provide a description of the proposed system, and propose a three-step approach using a joint phase estimation algorithm for carrier frequency synchronization that takes advantage of the existing pilot signals to deliver good performance and also has low complexity. We provide simulation results to demonstrate that the proposed approach incurs negligible performance loss due to carrier frequency offsets.
JAK-Mediated Signaling Inhibits Fas Ligand-Induced Apoptosis Independent of De Novo Protein Synthesis

There is a growing appreciation for how cells integrate and appropriately respond to competing signals for proliferation and apoptosis. The studies described in this report examined the effects of exposure to the cytokine IFN-α (IFN-α-2a) on sensitivity of the human cell lines H9 and SKW6.4 to Fas ligand (FasL)-induced apoptosis. In a concentration-dependent manner, FasL induced apoptosis, as shown by Western blot analysis of procaspase 8 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage after 3-h exposure and by cytofluorometric analysis of sub-G0-G1 cellular DNA content after 24-h exposure. H9 and SKW6.4 cell lines responded to 10,000 IU/ml IFN-α-2a, as evidenced by decreased cell proliferation and tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat1 and Stat3 proteins without significant cytotoxicity. The effects of cytokine exposure on apoptosis were examined; incubation in medium containing 10,000 IU/ml IFN-α-2a for 1 h before FasL treatment significantly reduced all above-mentioned hallmarks of apoptosis. Surprisingly, these antiapoptotic effects of IFN-α-2a were independent of de novo protein synthesis, because they occurred in both the absence and the presence of cycloheximide. However, chemical inhibitors of JAK completely abrogated the effects of IFN-α-2a on FasL-induced apoptosis, indicating a direct role for JAK-mediated protein phosphorylation in modulating sensitivity to apoptosis. Together, these data suggest a novel mechanism, independent of protein synthesis, by which cytokine signals through JAKs can interact with and attenuate this receptor-mediated apoptotic process.
Responsive Transmission of 3D Scenes over Internet

The obvious trend of the application on Internet is not only data transferring or providing document browsing, but also providing services and streaming rich media including 3D scenes. In this paper we present a streaming framework for Internet services which is connection saving and responsive to the status of clients. For a scene containing several progressive meshes, our framework refines objects according to their visual importance selectively. Instead of creating streaming connection for each object, our framework assembles a stream containing an interlaced refinement sequence in run-time according to the level-of-detail diagnostics of clients. Exploiting this technology it makes a server able to serve as many clients as possible. It is quite essential for the development of Internet services.
Portable petaFLOP/s programming: applying distributed computing methodology to the grid within a single machine room

According to today's best projections, petaFLOP/s computing platforms will combine deep memory hierarchies in both latency and bandwidth with a need for many-thousand-fold parallelism. Unless effective parallel programs are prepared in advance, much of the promise of the first year or two of operation for these systems may be lost. We introduce a candidate for a portable petaFLOP/s programming model that can enable these important early application programs to be developed while, at the same time, permitting these same applications to run efficiently on the most capable computing systems now available. An MPI-based model is portable, but its programming paradigm ignores the potential benefits of hardware support for shared memory within each network node. A threads-based model cannot directly cope with the distributed nature of the memory over the network. Therefore, a new, portable programming model is needed. The shared memory programming model dramatically simplifies the expression of dynamic load balancing strategies for irregular algorithms. The main strategy is a transparent self-scheduled task list performed in parallel so long as specified data-dependent conditions are met. The model used is a cluster of multiprocessor distributed shared memory machines with network-attached disks. Our experimental run-time system allows the programmer to view this computing platform as a single machine with a four-stage memory hierarchy, consisting of coherent processor cache, non-coherent local shared memory, global shared memory, plus a global disk file system.
Steerable filters for early vision, image analysis, and wavelet decomposition

An efficient architecture is presented to synthesize filters of arbitrary orientations from linear combinations of basis filters, allowing one to adaptively 'steer' a filter to any orientation, and to determine analytically the filter output as a function of orientation. The authors show how to design and steer filters, and present examples of their use in several tasks: the analysis of orientation and phase, angularly adaptive filtering, edge detection, and shape-from-shading. It is also possible to build a self-similar steerable pyramid representation which may be considered to be a steerable wavelet transform. The same concepts can be generalized to the design of 3-D steerable filters, which should be useful in the analysis of image sequences and volumetric data. >
Gated, Ion-Selective Sodium and Potassium Channels of the Squid Giant Axon: Do they have a Role in Bioelectric Excitation?

Evidence from internally perfused squid giant axons indicates that gated sodium and potassium channels may well have no role in bioelectric excitation of these axons.
Yin Yang 1 Is a Negative Regulator of p53

Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a transcription factor that plays an essential role in development. However, the full spectrum of YY1's functions and mechanism of action remains unclear. We find that YY1 ablation results in p53 accumulation due to a reduction of p53 ubiquitination in vivo. Conversely, YY1 overexpression stimulates p53 ubiquitination and degradation. Significantly, recombinant YY1 is sufficient to induce Hdm2-mediated p53 polyubiquitination in vitro, suggesting that this function of YY1 is independent of its transcriptional activity. We identify direct physical interactions of YY1 with Hdm2 and p53 and show that the basis for YY1-regulating p53 ubiquitination is its ability to facilitate Hdm2-p53 interaction. Importantly, the tumor suppressor p14ARF compromises the Hdm2-YY1 interaction, which is important for YY1 regulation of p53. Taken together, these findings identify YY1 as a potential cofactor for Hdm2 in the regulation of p53 homeostasis and suggest a possible role for YY1 in tumorigenesis.
Overcoming Barriers To a Cognitive Psychology of Religion

The aims of this paper are to identify three barriers to the development of cognitive approaches to the study of religion and to suggest how each might be circumvented. The first of these barriers is methodological and lurks amid two issues that, historically, have dominated anthropologists' reflections on the relationship of their discipline to psychology. The older of the two can be characterized as the "psychic unity" controversy (see Shore 1995). The second issue is the controversy over the "autonomy of culture". Advocates of the latter thesis are usually unsympathetic to psychological explanations of religious phenomena. In the first section, I shall begin by briefly examining each of those issues and then exploring the connections between the two as well as interesting logical tensions that arise in the face of popular responses to each. In section two, I shall consider a pair of barriers to a cognitive psychology of religion rooted in two strategies that have dominated many psychologists' approaches to the study of religion. I will argue that for some purposes, at least, both strategies should be relaxed. Finally, in section three, I shall briefly sketch one sort of cognitive approach to religious phenomena, suggesting how it handles the two strategic barriers in particular.
Course characteristics and college students' ratings of their teachers: What we know and what we don't

From showing in a general way that there is “room” for course context to influence class (average) ratings of instruction, this review proceeds to a search for specific course characteristics that are associated with these ratings. Extant research has centered around five such characteristics: class size, course level, the “electivity” of the course, the particular subject matter of the course, and the time of day that the course is held. Although statistically significant zero-order relationships do not appear in every piece of research located for review, such relationships are more likely to be found than not for the first four of these characteristics. The associations may not be particularly strong, but rather clear-cut patterns do emerge. Of the studies reporting an association between size of class and class ratings, most find it to be inverse, although several studies show a curvilinear (U-shaped) relationship. Teacher (and course) ratings tend to be somewhat higher for upper division courses and elective courses. Compared to other instructors, those teaching humanities, fine arts, and languages tend to receive somewhat higher ratings. The possible reasons for these relationships are many and complex. A precise understanding of the contribution of course characteristics to the ratings of teachers (and the courses themselves) is hampered by two circumstances. Studies in which relevant variables are controlled are far fewer in number than are the studies in which only the zero-order relationships between course characteristics and ratings are considered. More importantly, existing multivariate studies tend to underplay or ignore the exact place of course characteristics in a causal network of variables.
Analysis of Microstructure of Grinding Strengthening Layer in Point Grinding under Small Depth of Cut Conditions

Grinding strengthening and hardening can change and improve the ground surface integrity directly by the composite process of thermal load and mechanical force during process. The thickness and distribution of strengthening layer in ground surface makes the key role to measure the surface integrity of workpiece. The hardness and size of strengthening layer can influence the fatigue strength working life of the workpiece significantly. Based on the grinding strengthening test of 45 steel specimens, the strengthened layer microstructure, thickness and surface hardness were analyzed. This study illustrates the mechanism of grinding strengthened layer formation and also provides the theoretical basis for grinding strengthening and hardening layer quality control and grinding strengthening process making properly under small depth of cut conditions.
Second-order approximations for selection coefficients at polygenic loci

I determine the second-order approximation for the phenotypic distribution of an arbitrary number of quantitative traits, ignoring the effects of epistasis and linkage disequilibrium, conditioned on the presence of a specified genotype at one underlying locus of small effect. Using this approximation, I determine formulae for the effects of selection at a single locus with random mating under either Gaussian stabilizing selection, or correlated selection with truncation selection for one character. These formulae apply for arbitrary phenotypic distributions, yet even with multivariate Gaussian distributions of phenotypic effects the formula for correlated selection includes a correction to the standard formula in Falconer (1989). 1 demonstrate that this approximation has an error that is third order in the allelic or genotypic effects, independent of the form of the phenotypic distribution. I show also that the approximation of analogous form for the phenotypic distribution conditioned on the presence of a specified allele at a single locus is also correct to second order. Both approximations allow for dominance and are consistent in the sense that computing marginal fitnesses from approximations based on genotypic deviations and those based on average allelic effect yield the same answers.
Nucleotides Adjacent to the Ligand-Binding Pocket are Linked to Activity Tuning in the Purine Riboswitch

Direct sensing of intracellular metabolite concentrations by riboswitch RNAs provides an economical and rapid means to maintain metabolic homeostasis. Since many organisms employ the same class of riboswitch to control different genes or transcription units, it is likely that functional variation exists in riboswitches such that activity is tuned to meet cellular needs. Using a bioinformatic approach, we have identified a region of the purine riboswitch aptamer domain that displays conservation patterns linked to riboswitch activity. Aptamer domain compositions within this region can be divided into nine classes that display a spectrum of activities. Naturally occurring compositions in this region favor rapid association rate constants and slow dissociation rate constants for ligand binding. Using X-ray crystallography and chemical probing, we demonstrate that both the free and bound states are influenced by the composition of this region and that modest sequence alterations have a dramatic impact on activity. The introduction of non-natural compositions result in the inability to regulate gene expression in vivo, suggesting that aptamer domain activity is highly plastic and thus readily tunable to meet cellular needs.
Targeted Myostatin Gene Editing in Multiple Mammalian Species Directed by a Single Pair of TALE Nucleases

Myostatin (MSTN) is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. Strategies to block myostatin signaling pathway have been extensively pursued to increase muscle mass in various disease settings including muscular dystrophy. Here, we report a new class of reagents based on transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) to disrupt myostatin expression at the genome level. We designed a pair of MSTN TALENs to target a highly conserved sequence in the coding region of the myostatin gene. We demonstrate that codelivery of these MSTN TALENs induce highly specific and efficient gene disruption in a variety of human, cattle, and mouse cells. Based upon sequence analysis, this pair of TALENs is expected to be functional in many other mammalian species. Moreover, we demonstrate that these MSTN TALENs can facilitate targeted integration of a mCherry expression cassette or a larger muscular dystrophy gene (dysferlin) expression cassette into the MSTN locus in mouse or human cells. Therefore, targeted editing of the myostatin gene using our highly specific and efficient TALEN pair would facilitate cell engineering, allowing potential use in translational research for cell-based therapy.
Abnormal regulation of ENaC: syndromes of salt retention and salt wasting by the collecting duct.

Although the aldosterone-responsive segments of the nephron together reabsorb <10% of the filtered Na+, certain single-gene defects that affect the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) in the luminal memb...
Effects of pregabalin on smoking behavior, withdrawal symptoms, and cognitive performance in smokers

Rationale In preclinical and clinical studies, medications enhancing the GABA neurotransmission attenuate nicotine reward. Pregabalin, a GABA analogue, presumably interacts with brain glutamate and GABA neurotransmission. The goal of this study was to determine pregabalin's effects on smoking behavior, nicotine withdrawal, craving for cigarettes, and cognitive performance.
Total Synthesis of (+)-Hitachimycin

The first total synthesis of the macrocyclic antibiotic-antitumor agent (+)-hitachimycin has been achieved via a convergent and efficient route. The key transformation entailed a highly stereoselective, three-component coupling of (−)-5-methoxycyclopentenone with a zincate derived from vinyl iodide and aldehyde (−)
Structural and Functional Conservation of Vertebrate Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Genes: Evidence for a Critical Role for a Conserved Cyclic AMP Response Element

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) plays a central role in neuroendocrine, autonomic, immune, and behavioral responses to stressors. We analyzed the proximal promoters of two Xenopus laevis CRF genes and found them to be remarkably conserved with mammalian CRF genes. We found several conserved cis elements in the frog CRF genes including a cAMP response element (CRE), activator protein 1 binding sites, and glucocorticoid response elements. Exposure to a physical stressor caused a rapid elevation in phosphorylated CRE binding protein (CREB; 20 min) and CRF (1 h) in the anterior preoptic area of juvenile frogs. CREB bound to the putative frog CREs in vitro, which was disrupted by point mutations introduced into the CRE. The frog proximal CRF promoters supported basal transcription in transfection assays, and forskolin caused robust transcriptional activation. Mutagenesis of the CRE or overexpression of a dominant-negative CREB reduced forskolin-induced promoter activation. Using electroporation-mediated gene transfer in tadpole brain, we show that the proximal CRF promoters support cAMP or stressor-dependent transcription in vivo, which was abolished by mutation of the CRE. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we found that CREB associated with the proximal frog CRF promoter in vivo in a stressor-dependent manner. These data provide strong support for the hypothesis that stressor-induced CRF gene activation in vivo depends on CREB binding to the CRE in the promoter. Our findings show that the basic regulatory elements of the CRF gene responsible for stressor-induced activation arose early in vertebrate evolution and have been maintained by strong positive selection.
Concentration of tritium in brain tissue of dogs given [1,2-3H2] cortisol intravenously

Abstract A technique for removing discrete hypothalamic nuclei in the dog is described. Following the intravenous administration of [1,2- 3 H 2 ]cortisol to normal dogs the amount of radioactivity present per mg tissue in the hypothalamic nuclei was higher than in the hypophysis or in cortex cerebri. Hypothalamus showed a fast uptake and a slow release of free cortisol and its free metabolites. The hypophysis, cortex cerebri, the mammillary body, a median eminence and a nucleus supraopticus area all converted cortisol to cortisone in vitro . It is postulated that cortisol inhibition of the adrenal-pituitary axis primarily occurs at a hypothalamic level.
Time Course of Activating Brain Areas in Generating Verbal Associations

Generating a use for a visual word in comparison with reading the word aloud activates frontal attention areas first (170 ms), a left lateral frontal area next (250 ms), and then a left temporoparietal (Wernicke's) area (650 ms) A brief period of practice reduces these activations If subjects are asked to respond to a word from the same practiced list by giving a novel use, the original activations reappear and are joined by activity similar in location and time to Wernicke's activation but in the right hemisphere These findings demonstrate the time course of activations of neuroanatomical areas in word processing and indicate a role for the right hemisphere when semantic processing is more difficult, such as in generating a less frequent association in the presence of a highly practiced one
Performance Modeling and Optimization of a Novel Multi-mode Hybrid Powertrain

This paper presents a systematic model for the operation simulation and optimization of a novel multi-mode hybrid powertrain. The hybrid configuration proposed in the paper features a planetary gear train for an electric CVTmode in addition to lay-shaft gears for multiple speed ratios and realizes six operation modes in a simple structure. Detailed component level models were established for the multi-mode hybrid transmission and integrated to the overall vehicle model according to the system configuration using the Simulink/Advisor platform. The vehicle control strategy was then established with the objective to optimize the overall vehicle operation and each hybrid operation mode in terms of fuel economy and emission levels. The performance of the proposed hybrid vehicle system was studied using the developed model under various operation conditions and benchmarked with a current market model with leading performance parameters. The proposed hybrid configuration shows substantial improvements over the benchmark and is validated as a viable hybrid design based on the model simulation.
Aerodynamic and Electromagnetic Analysis of a Variable Electromotive-Force Generator for a Wind Turbine

A question that usually arises is whether an existing wind turbine with a specified rotor can be modified to expand its operational range and improve the power generation. There are various methods to achieve this goal and one of them can be a modified generator referred to as a variable electromotive-force generator (VEG), where the overlap between the rotor and the stator is made to be adjustable. In this work the possibility of harnessing more wind power via a VEG in areas with large changes in the wind speed from very low to high values throughout a year is investigated theoretically. Aerodynamic and mathematical techniques are used to estimate the generated power of a wind turbine in the low wind speed region, and a combination of electromagnetic and aerodynamics principles are employed to obtain the mathematical model of the VEG with an adjustable overlap between the rotor and the stator. The Neg-Micon wind turbine (NM-72) specifications for a certain site in Thailand are used for the numerical analysis. The results show the possibility of expanding the operational range and increasing the power generation of the studied wind turbine.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Expression of v-src and chicken c-src in rat cells demonstrates qualitative differences between pp60v-src and pp60c-src

Abstract The retroviral oncogene v-src arose by transduction of the cellular gene c-src . The similarity between these genes raised the possibility that c-src might be able to elicit neoplastic growth. We explored this by constructing a chimeric plasmid that allows the expression of chicken c-src . A rat cell line containing ten times the normal intracellular level of pp60 c-src was isolated after transfecting rat-2 cells with the chimeric DNA. These cells produce the protein encoded by c-src (pp60 c-src ) in quantities at least three times greater than required to achieve transformation by the product of v-src (pp60 v-src ). The cells remain phenotypically normal, contain actin cables, and do not grow in soft agar. However, transfection of the cell line containing elevated cells of pp60 c-src or Rat-2 cells with a molecular clone of v-src produces cells that exhibit properties of biologically transformed cells: round morphology, disrupted actin cables, and ability to grow in soft agar.
Rana catesbeiana tadpole red blood cells express an alpha, but not a beta, c-erbA gene.

Thyroid hormone (TH) receptor number in red blood cells (RBCs) from Rana catesbeiana (RC) tadpoles increases 4-fold during both spontaneous and TH-induced metamorphosis, an effect that we have previously shown to be preceded by an increase in the level of c-erbA-related mRNA. The goals of the present study were to obtain an RC c-erbA alpha cDNA that contains the entire open reading frame for a putative TH receptor protein, to determine if this protein has characteristics typical of a TH receptor, and to assess its contribution to the developmentally related increase in TH receptor number. To accomplish this, the missing 5'-sequence of a previously isolated partial RC c-erbA alpha cDNA (RC12) was synthesized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and spliced to RC12 to yield a 1490-basepair cDNA (RC15) that contained the entire coding sequence of the receptor protein. Transcription of RC15 followed by translation of its mRNA in a rabbit reticulolysate system yielded a 50-kilodalton protein on sodium dodecyl su...
Mimicking the mechanical properties of the cell cortex by the self-assembly of an actin cortex in vesicles

The composite of the actin cytoskeleton and plasma membrane plays important roles in many biological events. Here, we employed the emulsion method to synthesize artificial cells with biomimetic actin cortex in vesicles and characterized their mechanical properties. We demonstrated that the emulsion method provides the flexibility to adjust the lipid composition and protein concentrations in artificial cells to achieve the desired size distribution, internal microstructure, and mechanical properties. Moreover, comparison of the cortical elasticity measured for reconstituted artificial cells to that of real cells, including those manipulated using genetic depletion and pharmacological inhibition, strongly supports that actin cytoskeletal proteins are dominant over lipid molecules in cortical mechanics. Our study indicates that the assembly of biological systems in artificial cells with purified cellular components provides a powerful way to answer biological questions.
Zip6-attenuation promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in ductal breast tumor (T47D) cells

Breast cancer is associated with zinc (Zn) hyper-accumulation in breast tissue which is postulated to be potentiated by the over-expression of Zn importing proteins. Zip6 (LIV-1) over-expression has been documented in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast tumors. Anti-estrogens, such as fulvestrant, are typically prescribed for ER+ breast cancer and thus may play a role in modulating cellular Zn hyper-accumulation. Herein, we investigated the physiological relevance of Zip6 over-expression and the consequences of Zip6-attenuation in breast tumor cells as a mechanism in the development of anti-estrogen resistance. We documented that over-expression of Zip6 was associated with significantly higher cellular Zn levels in tumor cells compared with normal breast cells. Fulvestrant significantly reduced Zn accumulation in tumor cells, without robust effects on Zip6 protein abundance. Zip6-attenuation significantly reduced cellular Zn pools, which was associated with increased mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) and decreased apoptotic stimuli (cytoplasmic cytochrome C release, caspase-3 and -9 activities). Importantly, decreased apoptosis significantly increased tumor colony formation in soft agar and was associated with reduced E-cadherin expression. Our data suggest that anti-estrogen treatment regulates Zn level and importantly verify that Zip6 over-expression is not an underlying mechanism initiating breast cancer, but in fact may play a "tumor-constraining" role.
What Is Patronage? A Critical Reexamination

Despite a long and storied history, patronage and the functions it plays in American politics and public administration are still very much a mystery. This paper examines how patronage has been used and understood in American political science and public administration. The author calls for a reexamination of the concept based on developments found in the field of anthropology. In an effort to generate future scholarship, the author introduces a typology of patronage styles based on this reexamination.
BETWEEN GENOCIDE AND “GENOCIDE”

The two books discussed here join a current pushback against the concept (thus also against claims for the historical occurrence) of genocide. Nichanian focuses on the Armenian “Aghed” (“Catastrophe”), inferring from his view of that event's undeniability that “genocide is not a fact” (since all facts are deniable). May's critique assumes that groups don't really—“objectively”—exist, as (by contrast) individuals do; thus, genocide—group murder—also has an “as if” quality so far as concerns the group victimized. On the one hand, then, uniqueness and sacralization; on the other hand, reductionism and diffusion. Alas, the historical and moral claims in “defense” of both genocide and “genocide” survive.
Evaluation of the emergency department as a site for hypertension screening

To see if the emergency department is an appropriate site for hypertension screening, the coverage, appropriateness of the target population and the adequacy of follow-up procedures were evaluated. The study was conducted in the Adult Emergency Department of The Johns Hopkins Hospital, which 61% of the community regard as their regular source of care. All patients had their blood pressure read in the emergency department. A reading of 95 diastolic or greater was used as the definition of hypertension. Data from the 1970 census and The Johns Hopkins outpatient department billing system were used to evaluate screening coverage. Data to judge the appropriateness of the target population and adequacy of follow-up were collected in a retrospective audit of a random sample of emergency department records. The overall prevalence rate of hypertensive blood pressure readings was 19.5%. Blood pressure was read in only 75% of sample cases. The potential screening coverage ranged from 9.9% to 38.6% with an overall community coverage of 24.2%. Less than 10% of the detected hypertensive were referred for follow-up. Therefore, in some emergency departments, including the Adult Emergency Department of The Johns Hopkins Hospital, hypertension screening may be feasible.
Utility of routine trauma CT in the detection of bladder rupture.

Rationale and Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency with which routine computed tomography (CT) fails to depict bladder rupture, the potential utility of delayed CT scans, and whether these findings might be useful in determining which patients may require subsequent cystography. Materials and Methods. Cystograms and abdominal and pelvic CT scans of 54 patients with blunt trauma and in whom bladder rupture was clinically suspected were retrospectively reviewed. Blind readings of CT scans were performed by two genitourinary radiologists. Cystograms were used as the standard. Results. Cystograms depicted bladder rupture in 10 patients. On CT scans, extravesical fluid was depicted in all three patients with intraperitoneal bladder rupture (although only a small amount of pelvic intraperitoneal fluid was present in two of these patients), in all seven patients with extraperitoneal bladder rupture, and in 32 of the 44 patients without bladder injury. Contrast material had been excreted into the bladder at the time of the initial or delayed CT in eight patients with bladder rupture; however, extravasation was identified in only four of the eight. In two of the four patients without extravasation, the bladder was distended at the time of CT. No bladder injuries were found in the 12 patients in whom pelvic fluid was not identified on CT scans. Conclusion. The absence of pelvic fluid on a trauma CT scan indicates that bladder rupture is unlikely. Even when a partially opacified bladder is passively distended, bladder injury may be present despite the absence of contrast material extravasation.
Silymarin and silibinin cause G1 and G2–M cell cycle arrest via distinct circuitries in human prostate cancer PC3 cells: a comparison of flavanone silibinin with flavanolignan mixture silymarin

Here, we assessed and compared the anticancer efficacy and associated mechanisms of silymarin and silibinin in human prostate cancer (PCA) PC3 cells; silymarin is comprised of silibinin and its other stereoisomers, including isosilybin A, isosilybin B, silydianin, silychristin and isosilychristin. Silymarin and silibinin (50-100 microg/ml) inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell death, and caused G1 and G2-M cell cycle arrest in a dose/time-dependent manner. Molecular studies showed that G1 arrest was associated with a decrease in cyclin D1, cyclin D3, cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4, CDK6 and CDK2 protein levels, and CDK2 and CDK4 kinase activity, together with an increase in CDK inhibitors (CDKIs) Kip1/p27 and Cip1/p21. Further, both agents caused cytoplasmic sequestration of cyclin D1 and CDK2, contributing to G1 arrest. The G2-M arrest by silibinin and silymarin was associated with decreased levels of cyclin B1, cyclin A, pCdc2 (Tyr15), Cdc2, and an inhibition of Cdc2 kinase activity. Both agents also decreased the levels of Cdc25B and cell division cycle 25C (Cdc25C) phosphatases with an increased phosphorylation of Cdc25C at Ser216 and its translocation from nucleus to the cytoplasm, which was accompanied by an increased binding with 14-3-3beta. Both agents also increased checkpoint kinase (Chk)2 phosphorylation at Thr68 and Ser19 sites, which is known to phosphorylate Cdc25C at Ser216 site. Chk2-specific small interfering RNA largely attenuated the silymarin and silibinin-induced G2-M arrest. An increase in the phosphorylation of histone 2AX and ataxia telangiectasia mutated was also observed. These findings indicate that silymarin and silibinin modulate G1 phase cyclins-CDKs-CDKIs for G1 arrest, and the Chk2-Cdc25C-Cdc2/cyclin B1 pathway for G2-M arrest, together with an altered subcellular localization of critical cell cycle regulators. Overall, we observed comparable effects for both silymarin and silibinin at equal concentrations by weight, suggesting that silibinin could be a major cell cycle-inhibitory component in silymarin. However, other silibinin stereoisomers present in silymarin also contribute to its efficacy, and could be of interest for future investigation.
QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF TURKEY BOLOGNA FORMULATED WITH CARRAGEENAN, STARCH, MILK AND SOY PROTEIN

A low-fat (12%) high-added water (27%) bologna was formulated with mechanically deboned turkey meat (MDTM) and either carrageenan (0.5%), milk protein (2%), isolated soy protein (2%), or starch (2%). Cooking loss, purge loss during storage, cooked product bind, sensory characteristics, and batter viscosity were evaluated. Starch added late in the chopping process was the most effective in reducing cooking loss as well as decreasing (P < 0.05) purge loss during storage (both refrigerated and frozen storage). Cooked product hardness was increased (P < 0.05) by all test ingredients, except starch and kappa carrageenan added late in the chopping process. Kappa carrageenan incorporated before chopping significantly (P < 0.05) increased cooked product bind. Overall acceptability (sensory analysis) scores were higher (P < 0.05) when milk protein, isolated soy protein and starch were added during chopping, compared to their addition prior to chopping. However, this order of addition effect was not observed for either of the carrageenan treatments.
The efficiency of competitive equilibria in insurance markets with asymmetric information

Abstract This paper addresses the relationship between competitive equilibria and efficient allocations in an insurance market with asymmetric information. Using the definition of second-best efficiency proposed by Harris and Townsend (1981) for environments characterized by informational assmmetry, the efficiency properties of several proposed market equilibria are examined. We find an analogue to the First Optimality Theorem: A Miyazaki-Wilson equilibrium always results in a second best allocation.
The identification of two myoinhibitory peptides, with sequence similarities to the galanins, isolated from the ventral nerve cord of Manduca sexta.

Abstract Two new myoinhibitory peptides, Mas-MIP I and Mas-MIP II, were identified from the ventral nerve cord of the adult tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. Sequences obtained by a combination of automated Edman degradation and electrospray mass spectrometry were, respectively, AWQDLNSAW and GWQDLNSAW. The native peptides were found to co-elute with synthetic C-terminal amides on a reverse phase HPLC system. When applied to isolated ilea (anterior hindgut) of adult M. sexta, both peptides were found to significantly reduce the rate of peristalsis, or abolish peristalsis entirely, at concentrations of 1·10−9 M. Both peptides share sequence similarities with Lom-MIP, a previously identified myoinhibitory peptide from Locusta migratoria, and with the N-terminal portion of vertebrate peptides in the galanin family.
Electrical properties of evaporated zinc sulfide thin films

Abstract A study was made of the electrical properties of evaporated zinc sulfide films 200–5000 A thick. A model was proposed to explain the effect of low resistance paths through the dielectric. These paths appeared to be due to peaks in the aluminum electrode films. They were removed by voltage pulsing. The results did not reveal the anomaly in the dielectric constant as a function of thickness reported by Hacskaylo and Feldman19. The measured dielectric constant of 6.5 for films thicker than about 1000 A was approximately the bulk value. In addition to the dielectric constant, the d.c. resistivity was also measured before and after voltage pulsing. Also measured were the capacitance as a function of frequency and annealing time, and the I–V characteristics of the films. No anomalous behavior was revealed.
Malnutrition is an unusual cause of decreased muscle mass in chronic kidney disease

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), including those who are treated with hemodialysis, frequently develop hypoalbuminemia and a decrease in body weight. These abnormalities are usually attributed to malnutrition, but true malnutrition (ie, a disorder due to an abnormal diet) is rarely the mechanism causing decreased protein stores. Hypoalbuminemia is closely related to evidence of inflammation, and a decrease in muscle mass is caused by activation of muscle protein breakdown. In uremic rodents and patients, the initial step in the loss of muscle protein is activation of caspase-3, which cleaves the complex structure of muscle to provide substrates for the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway (UPP). The activity of caspase-3 can be detected by the presence of a characteristic 14-kDa actin fragment in the insoluble fraction of a muscle biopsy specimen. Abnormalities in cell signaling activate caspase-3 and the UPP; a key abnormality is decreased activity in the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt pathway, leading to activation of caspase-3 and a specific E3 ubiquitin conjugating enzyme, atrogin-1/MAFbx. Inflammatory cytokines also represent a potential cell signaling abnormality that activates muscle protein breakdown, possibly because cytokines activate the E3 ubiquigin conjugating enzyme, MuRF1. An understanding of these pathways could help the clinician to identify therapeutic targets for preventing loss of muscle protein.
Toxic metals in sewage sludge-amended soils: has promotion of beneficial use discounted the risks?

Abstract Land application of contaminated waste products has been defended as beneficial use by some scientists and regulators, based on the premise that the behavior of any toxins accumulated in soils from this practice is reasonably well understood and will not have detrimental agronomic or environmental impacts into the foreseeable future. In this review, I use the case of toxic metals in sewage sludges applied to agricultural land to illustrate that metal behavior in soils and plant uptake is difficult to generalize because it is strongly dependent on the nature of the metal, sludge, soil properties and crop. Nevertheless, permitted agricultural loadings of toxic metals from sewage sludges are typically regulated using the sole criterion of total metal loading or concentrations in soils. Several critical generalizing assumptions about the behavior of sludge-borne metals in soil-crop systems, built into the US EPA risk assessment for metals, have tended to underestimate risks and are shown not to be well justified by published research. It is argued that, in the absence of a basic understanding of metal behavior in each specific situation, a more precautionary approach to toxic metal additions to soils is warranted.
Assignment of the chloramphenicol resistance gene to mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid and analysis of its expression in cultured human cells.

Abstract The mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acids (mtDNA's) from human HeLa and HT1080 cells differed in their restriction endonuclease cleavage patterns for HaeII, HaeIII, and HhaI. HaeII digestion yielded a 9-kilobase fragment in HT1080, which was replaced by 4.5-, 2.4-, and 2.1-kilobase fragments in HeLa. HaeIII and HhaI yielded distinctive 1.35- and 0.68-kilobase HeLa fragments. These restriction endonuclease polymorphisms were used as mtDNA markers in HeLa-HT1080 cybrid and hybrid crosses involving the cytoplasmic chloramphenicol resistance mutation was used. mtDNA's were purified and digested with the restriction endonucleases, the fragments were separated on agarose gels, and the bands were detected by ethidium bromide staining and Southern transfer analysis. Three cybrids and four hybrids (four expressing HeLa and three expressing HT1080 chloramphenicol resistance) contained 2- to 10-fold excesses of the mtDNA of the chloramphenicol-resistant parent. One cybrid, which was permitted to segregate chloramphenicol resistance and was then rechallenged with chloramphenicol, had approximately equal proportions of the two mtDNA's. Only one hybrid was discordant. These results indicated that chloramphenicol resistance is encoded in mtDNA and that expression of chloramphenicol resistance is related to the ratio of chloramphenicol-resistant and -sensitive genomes within cells.
A distributed architecture for fast SGD sequence discriminative training of DNN acoustic models

We describe a hybrid GPU/CPU architecture for stochastic gradient descent training of neural network acoustic models under a lattice-based minimum Bayes risk (MBR) criterion. The crux of the method is to run SGD on a GPU card which consumes framerandomized mini-batches produced by multiple workers running on a cluster of multi-core CPU nodes which compute HMM state MBR occupancies. To minimize communication cost, a separate thread running on the GPU host receives minibatches from and sends updated models to the workers, and communicates with the SGD thread via a producer-consumer queue of minibatches. Using this architecture, it is possible to match the speed of GPU-based SGD cross-entropy (CE) training (1 hour of processing per 100 hours of audio on Switchboard). Additionally, we compare different ways of doing frame randomization and discuss experimental results on three LVCSR tasks (Switchboard 300 hours, English broadcast news 50 hours, and noisy Levantine telephone conversations 300 hours).