cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Down-regulation of hsa-miR-1264 contributes to DNMT1-mediated silencing of SOCS3

Previously we found decreased expression of SOCS3 in neointimal hyperplastic region following balloon angioplasty in atherosclerotic micro swine. In our recent in vitro studies using human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMC), we observed the inhibition of SOCS3 expression in the presence of both TNF-α and IGF-1, correlating with the in vivo findings in microswine. We also reported that two independent mechanisms, JAK/STAT3/NFκB and promoter methylation of SOCS3 were responsible for TNF-α and IGF-1 induced SOCS3 inhibition. In this study, using miRNA array and gene expression approaches, we explored the molecular mechanisms involved in the above SOCS3 repression and identified several miRNAs that are associated with the regulation of SOCS3 expression. Our miRNA expression profiling revealed profound down-regulation of two specific miRNAs, hsa-miR-758 and hsa-miR-1264, whose expression levels were decreased by 8–10 folds in HCASMCs that were treated with both TNF-α and IGF-1. This was accompanied with a significant up-regulation of three specific miRNAs, hsa-miR-155, hsa-miR-146b-5p and hsa-miR-146a, which showed about 3–7 fold increases in their expression levels. Importantly, we also found that the miRNA hsa-miR-1264 targets DNA methyltransferase-1 (DNMT1) transcripts by binding to its 3′UTR region to affect its expression. Expression of hsa-miR-1264 in HCASMCs not only resulted in decreased DNMT1 mRNA transcripts but it also increased SOCS3 expression. The treatment with TNF-α and IGF-1 resulted in drastic decrease in hsa-miR-1264 levels with no change in the expression of DNMT1. Consequently, the DNMT1 activity caused hypermethylation in the CpG island of the SOCS3 promoter region and inhibited its expression. This could be a causative epigenetic mechanism associated with TNF-α and IGF-1 induced smooth muscle cell proliferation involved in the pathogenesis of coronary artery hyperplasia and restenosis.
Comparison of a Pituitary TSH-Secreting Micro- Versus Macroadenoma

While more than 40 cases of TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas have been reported in the medical literature (1,2), little attention has been devoted to structural variability—in particular that due to carbohydrate microheterogeneity—of thyrotropin molecules derived from different tumors and distinct physiological states. We recently evaluated two patients representing extremes within the spectrum of TSH-secreting pituitary adenomas and have contrasted several biochemical features of these tumors.
Sumptuary Legislation and the Fabric Construction of National Identity in Early Modern England

The sumptuary legislation is quite specific, outlining exactly which fabrics were permitted for each social class and in what types of clothing. For example, Elizabeth’s 1562 proclamation asserted, “None shall wear in his apparel any silk of the color purple, cloth of gold tissue, but only the King, Queen . . . except dukes and marquises who may wear in doublets and sleeveless coats cloth of gold of tissue not exceeding £5 the yard, and purple in mantles of the Garter.” The language of exclusion reflects the common conceptions of social hierarchy in early modern England. The most lavish accoutrements were reserved for the royal family, including the traditional imperial colors of purple and gold, although certain levels of nobility were allowed to sparingly use those colors. Expressing the desire to halt the use of apparel as a tool for untoward social imitation, writer William Prynne called for a law regulating apparel, not only in the playhouse, but also throughout society “which would well befit our Nation, our times, which Proteus-like are always changing shape and fashion, and like the Moone, appeare from day to day in different formes.” This article is available in Constructing the Past: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/constructing/vol8/iss1/8 Sumptuary Legislation 73 Sumptuary Legislation and the Fabric Construction of National Identity in Early Modern England RACHEL SHULMAN
Unexpected muscle actions at the subtalar joint: implications for the study of multijoint movement

A cadaver model was used to investigate the actions of muscles crossing the subtalar joint. Subtalar joint moment arms of tibialis anterior were evaluated using measured tendon excursions, and the effective attachment site of the Achilles tendon on the calcaneus was located using measurements made using a six degree-of-freedom load cell. Tibialis anterior was found to be a weak inverter, with mean subtalar joint moment arms of 0.6/spl plusmn/0.3 cm, and the attachment site of the Achilles tendon was found to shift substantially in the mediolateral direction with subtalar joint rotation. These observations contrasted with standard anatomical descriptions and model representations of these structures.
Cannabinoids for epilepsy

Background Marijuana appears to have anti-epileptic effects in animals. It is not currently known if it is effective in patients with epilepsy. Some states in the United States of America have explicitly approved its use for epilepsy. Objectives To assess the efficacy and safety of cannabinoids when used as monotherapy or add-on treatment for people with epilepsy. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Epilepsy Group Specialized Register (9 September 2013), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library (2013, Issue 8), MEDLINE (Ovid) (9 September 2013), ISI Web of Knowledge (9 September 2013), CINAHL (EBSCOhost) (9 September 2013), and ClinicalTrials.gov (9 September 2013). In addition, we included studies we personally knew about that were not found by the searches, as well as searched the references in the identified studies. Selection criteria Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) whether blinded or not. Data collection and analysis Two authors independently selected trials for inclusion and extracted the data. The primary outcome investigated was seizure freedom at one year or more, or three times the longest interseizure interval. Secondary outcomes included responder rate at six months or more, objective quality of life data, and adverse events. Main results We found four randomized trial reports that included a total of 48 patients, each of which used cannabidiol as the treatment agent. One report was an abstract and another was a letter to the editor. Anti-epileptic drugs were continued in all studies. Details of randomisation were not included in any study report. There was no investigation of whether the control and treatment participant groups were the same or different. All the reports were low quality. The four reports only answered the secondary outcome about adverse effects. None of the patients in the treatment groups suffered adverse effects. Authors' conclusions No reliable conclusions can be drawn at present regarding the efficacy of cannabinoids as a treatment for epilepsy. The dose of 200 to 300 mg daily of cannabidiol was safely administered to small numbers of patients generally for short periods of time, and so the safety of long term cannabidiol treatment cannot be reliably assessed.
Cardiac response to exercise in normal-weight and obese, Hispanic men and women: implications for exercise prescription.

AIM: The effects of obesity on cardiac function during incremental exercise to peak oxygen consumption (VO(2peak)) have not been previously described. The purpose of this study was to compare submaximal and maximal cardiac function during exercise in normal-weight and obese adults. METHODS: Normal-weight (n = 20; means ± SE: age = 21.9 ± 0.5 years; BMI = 21.8 ± 0.4 kg m(-2)) and obese (n = 15; means ± SE: age = 25.1 ± 5.2 years; BMI = 34.1 ± 01.0 kg m(-2)) participants were assessed for body composition, VO(2peak) and cardiac variables (thoracic bioimpedance analysis) at rest and at heart rates (HR) of 110, 130, 150 and 170 beats min(-1) and maximal HR during incremental cycling exercise to exhaustion. Differences between groups were assessed with mixed-model ancova with repeated measures. Cardiac variables were statistically indexed for body surface area and resting HR. VO(2) and arteriovenous oxygen difference (a-vO(2)) were statistically indexed for fat-free mass and resting HR. RESULTS: Significant main effects for group indicated obese participants had higher cardiac output (Q) index and stroke volume (SV) index but lower ejection fraction (EF) and a-vO(2) index during incremental exercise to exhaustion compared with their normal-weight peers, despite similar submaximal and maximal VO(2) and absolute power outputs (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that although Q index and SV index were higher in obese, young adults, EF and a-vO(2) index were significantly lower when compared to matched, normal-weight adults.
Repurposing Hsp104 to Antagonize Seminal Amyloid and Counter HIV Infection

Naturally occurring proteolytic fragments of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP248-286 and PAP85-120) and semenogelins (SEM1 and SEM2) form amyloid fibrils in seminal fluid, which capture HIV virions and promote infection. For example, PAP248-286 fibrils, termed SEVI (semen-derived enhancer of viral infection), can potentiate HIV infection by several orders of magnitude. Here, we design three disruptive technologies to rapidly antagonize seminal amyloid by repurposing Hsp104, an amyloid-remodeling nanomachine from yeast. First, Hsp104 and an enhanced engineered variant, Hsp104(A503V), directly remodel SEVI and PAP85-120 fibrils into non-amyloid forms. Second, we elucidate catalytically inactive Hsp104 scaffolds that do not remodel amyloid structure, but cluster SEVI, PAP85-120, and SEM1(45-107) fibrils into larger assemblies. Third, we modify Hsp104 to interact with the chambered protease ClpP, which enables coupled remodeling and degradation to irreversibly clear SEVI and PAP85-120 fibrils. Each strategy diminished the ability of seminal amyloid to promote HIV infection, and could have therapeutic utility.
Stop Blaming the Prosecutors: The Real Causes of Wrongful Convictions and Rightful Exonerations, and What Should Be Done to Fix Them

Wrongfully convicted and rightfully exonerated criminal defendants spent, on average, ten years in prison before exoneration, and the ramifications to the defendants, the criminal justice system, and society are immeasurable. Prosecutorial misconduct, however, is not the primary cause of wrongful convictions. To begin with, although more than twenty million new adult criminal cases are opened in state and federal courts each year throughout the United States, there have been only 1,281 total exonerations over the last twenty-five years. In only six percent of those cases was prosecutorial misconduct the predominant factor resulting in those wrongful convictions. Of course, although prosecutorial misconduct is not the driving force behind wrong convictions, prosecutors can – and should – be part of a comprehensive solution that reduces the likelihood of wrongful convictions. This article proposes a number of solutions to reduce the number of wrongful convictions in our criminal justice system, and to ensure that criminal trials are conducted in a manner that is consistent with due process of law.
Re-viewing scientific models of career as social constructions

This article discusses the core concepts used in the science of vocational psychology during the 20th century and re-views their meaning relative to the career concerns of workers in the 21st century. Vocational psychologists and career counselors may better assist individuals prepare for and succeed in the boundaryless organizations of the global economy if they supplement the meaning of modern concepts grounded in logical positivism with postmodern constructs grounded in social constructionism.
The New Regulation of Small Business Capital Formation: The Impact - If Any - Of the Jobs Act

An efficient access to external capital by businesses is essential to a market economy. Small businesses, which amount to a vital component of our market economy, face not only structural and economic disadvantages but also legal obstacles in their search for essential, external capital. The Titles II, III and IV of the Jobs Act were designed, at least apparently, to ameliorate inefficient legal rules governing small businesses’ access to external capital. While the act itself is not without challenges and significant misdirection, it offered the Commission an opportunity to construct regulatory regimes that materially enhance efficient, small business capital formation. The Commission, however, has failed to take full advantage of this opportunity. Title II of the Jobs Act, as implemented by Commission regulations, changes Regulation D to permit a broad solicitation for investors in Rule 506 offerings. That change amounts to an efficient improvement that will provide some benefit to small businesses in search of external capital. A requirement for the exemption provided by the revised Rule 506, however, is that sales must be restricted to accredited investors only, and that by definition is a limited source of capital for small businesses. Without significant changes to the Commission’s proposed rules implementing Title III (crowdfunding), the crowdfunding exemption will be less available for small business issuers than efficiency would require. The Commission’s proposed rules are plagued by excessive disclosure requirements for small offerings, integration complications, and unmanageable risks created by actions of intermediaries. Without significant changes to the Commission’s proposed rules implementing Title IV (popularly called Regulation A-Plus), the exemption provided by Regulation A-Plus will be essentially unavailable for small businesses. This is due to excessive disclosure requirements for small offerings and, more importantly, the failure to provide an effective preemption of state authority over small Regulation A-Plus offerings. The problems regarding the proposed crowdfunding regulations and the proposed Regulation A-Plus regulations are fixable, if the Commission has the will.
cAMP response element modulator α controls IL2 and IL17A expression during CD4 lineage commitment and subset distribution in lupus.

Appropriate expression of IL-2 plays a central role during the priming and differentiation of T cells. A tight balance between IL-2 and the effector cytokine IL-17A is essential for immune homeostasis. Epigenetic mechanisms have been documented as a key component of cytokine regulation during lineage commitment. The molecular mechanisms that induce chromatin remodeling are less well understood. We investigated epigenetic regulators that mediate the diametric expression of IL-2 and IL-17A in naive, central memory, and effector memory CD4+ T cells. We demonstrate that cAMP response modulator (CREM)α contributes to epigenetic remodeling of IL2 in effector memory T cells through the recruitment of DNMT3a. CREMα also reduces CpG-DNA methylation of the IL17A promoter. CREMα expression is regulated at the epigenetic level by CpG-DNA methylation, which allows increased CREMα expression in effector memory CD4+ T cells. T cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) express increased levels of CREMα and exhibit a phenotype that is similar to effector memory CD4+ T cells with epigenetically predetermined expression patterns of IL-2 and IL-17A. We conclude that CREMα mediates epigenetic remodeling of the IL2 and IL17A gene during T-cell differentiation in favor of effector memory T cells in health and disease.
Suppressive effect of receptor-interacting protein 140 on coregulator binding to retinoic acid receptor complexes, histone-modifying enzyme activity,and gene activation

Abstract Gene induction by retinoic acid (RA) is suppressed by overexpression of receptor-interacting protein 140 (RIP140). RIP140-mediated suppression was reversed most effectively by overexpressing the coactivator p300/CREB-binding protein-associated factor (P/CAF). Immunoprecipitation demonstrated coexistence of holoreceptors complexed with RIP140 or P/CAF. Chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed rapid RA-enhanced recruitment of RIP140, but delayed P/CAF recruitment, to an RA-targeted promoter in COS-1 cells supplemented with RIP140. In RA-induced P19 cells, endogenous RIP140 was rapidly (within 4 h) and significantly recruited to both the RARβ2 and TR2 genes, whereas the peak of endogenous P/CAF recruitment occurred much later (48 h) and to a lesser degree. Consistent with these observations, significant histone acetylation of endogenous RA receptor (RAR) targets was only observed 48 h following RA treatment. In vitro experiments confirmed RA-induced transcription from a chromatin template, which was reduced by adding RIP140. This study presents evidence for coexistence of multiple RAR-coregulator complexes and a preferential RA-induced recruitment of RIP140 to endogenous RAR-targeted promoters after short term RA treatment, which correlates with suppressed induction of RA-regulated gene expression in the presence of RIP140.
Quantum rotors, phase-slip centers, and the Coulomb blockade

Abstract We present a simple formulation of the quantum rotor, which is analogous to both an inductor and a capacitor. There exists a quantum blockade in all these systems, a specific case of which is the Coulomb blockade for a small capacitor. The analysis underlines the importance of a rotationally symmetric coordinate.
Metabolic inhibition activates a non-selective current through connexin hemichannels in isolated ventricular myocytes.

Intracellular Na(+)accumulation and K(+)loss play important roles in the pathogenesis of arrhythmias and injury in the ischemic heart. We investigated the role of metabolically sensitive connexin hemichannels as a potential route for Na(+)influx and K(+)efflux during ischemia, using dye uptake and electrophysiological measurements to assay hemichannel activity in isolated rabbit ventricular myocytes. Consistent with the known size selectivity of connexin hemichannels,;50% of myocytes exposed to either low extracellular Ca(2+)(an established method for opening connexin hemichannels) or to metabolic inhibitors (a recently described method for opening hemichannels) accumulated fluorescent dyes with <1000 MW (propidium iodide and calcein), but excluded a larger dye with 1500-3000 MW (dextran-rhodamine). Using the whole cell patch clamp technique, we found that metabolic inhibitors activated a non-selective current permeant to both small and large cations, and blocked by La(3+), similar to the properties of connexin 43 when overexpressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. These findings indicate that isolated cardiac myocytes endogenously express metabolically-sensitive connexin hemichannels. If activated during ischemia, these hemichannels could contribute significantly to altered ionic fluxes promoting arrhythmias and myocardial injury.
Nuclear factor 90 is a substrate and regulator of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 kinase double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase

Nuclear factor 90 (NF90) is a member of an expanding family of double-stranded (ds) RNA-binding proteins thought to be involved in gene expression. Originally identified in complex with nuclear factor 45 (NF45) as a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein, NF90 contains two double stranded RNA-binding motifs (dsRBMs) and interacts with highly structured RNAs as well as the dsRNA-activated protein kinase, PKR. In this report, we characterize the biochemical interactions between these two dsRBM containing proteins. NF90 binds to PKR through two independent mechanisms: an RNA-independent interaction occurs between the N terminus of NF90 and the C-terminal region of PKR, and an RNA-dependent interaction is mediated by the dsRBMs of the two proteins. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrates that NF90, NF45, and PKR form a complex in both nuclear and cytosolic extracts, and both proteins serve as substrates for PKR in vitro. NF90 is phosphorylated by PKR in its RNA-binding domain, and this reaction is partially blocked by the NF90 N-terminal region. The C-terminal region also inhibits PKR function, probably through competitive binding to dsRNA. A model for NF90-PKR interactions is proposed.
Atomistic simulations of nanoindentation

Our understanding of mechanics is pushed to its limit when the functionality of devices is controlled at the nanometer scale. A fundamental understanding of nanomechanics is needed to design materials with optimum properties. Atomistic simulations can bring an important insight into nanostructure-property relations and, when combined with experiments, they become a powerful tool to move nanomechanics from basic science to the application area. Nanoindentation is a well-established technique for studying mechanical response. We review recent advances in modeling (atomistic and beyond) of nanoindentation and discuss how they have contributed to our current state of knowledge.
How entrepreneurs discover opportunities in China: An institutional view

This paper investigates how entrepreneurs in China accumulate and integrate information and knowledge to identify opportunities when facing weak infrastructure and changing institutional settings. By employing institutional theory and an interactive framework of entrepreneurship, this paper proposes a model that incorporates both individual and environmental effects. First the individual characteristics that lead to opportunity recognition are discussed: (1) human capital, (2) social capital, and (3) social skills. Next the model proposes that the relationships between individual characteristics and opportunity recognition are contingent upon: (1) the entrepreneurial environment in which opportunities are discovered, and (2) the personal turbulence experienced by entrepreneurs.
Mothers but not wives: The increasing lag between nonmarital births and marriage

This study analyzed trends in marital behavior for unwed mothers who gave birth between 1960 and 2004. With nationally representative data on 15,353 White and Black unmarried mothers, results indicated that mothers who gave birth after 1989 were waiting much longer to marry than were mothers giving birth before 1968. The most pronounced delays were found immediately after a birth. Over the study period, the cumulative proportion of women who married within three years of a birth decreased for Whites by 27% and for Blacks by 60%. Findings underscore the separation that has developed between first births and first marriages in the United States, and they highlight the older ages at which children are experiencing a transition to marriage.
Variation of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the HeLa and Detroit 98 cell lines and their clonal derivatives

Contrary to other reports, we have found that the “A” type G6PD found in two permanent cell lines—HeLa (Gey), with its single cell clonal derivative HeLa S3, and Detroit 98, with its four clonal derivative lines—is not a single variant but rather at least three different isozymes. One is heat stable with normal specific activity and normal “A” type electrophoretic migration, another is heat labile with normal specific activity and normal “A” type electrophoretic migration, and the third is heat labile with reduced specific activity and slightly slow “A” type electrophoretic migration. We also found that in a mosaic cell population with respect to G6PD phenotype, the predominant G6PD phenotype varied randomly over a 5-month period, that the G6PD phenotype might be mutable in permanent cell lines, and that spontaneous human cell lines might not be HeLa cell contaminants as has been suggested.
Left Ventricular Thrombus

A37-year-old white man with a past medical history of mental retardation, hypertension, and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was admitted to a regional hospital with uncontrolled hypertension, nausea, and vomiting. Two days after admission, the patient developed ischemia …
Contagion in Theology and Law: Ethical Considerations in the Writings of Two 14th Century Scholars of Nasrid Granada

The Black Death, which struck al-Andalus in the second half of the 8th/14th century, was an unprecedented natural disaster. In this essay I examine the legal and ethical responses of two Granadan scholars to the social and intellectual challenge posed by this event. Whereas previous scholarship has almost universally lauded the stridently critical stance of the wazir Ibn al-Khatīb as an exceptional example of rational empiricism, I argue that his stance is more productively understood when compared to that of his teacher Ibn Lubb. Both scholars articulated an ethical response to an insurmountable challenge from within a medical and legal framework. Their interpretive choices and conclusions were based not so much on one scholar's privileging of empirical evidence over legal dogma, or vice versa, as they were on both scholars' grounding their respective statements in differing understandings of the nature of the evidence at hand.
DAX1: Increasing complexity in the roles of this novel nuclear receptor.

Abstract DAX1 (NR0B1) is a nuclear receptor with a characteristic C-terminal ligand binding domain, but an atypical DNA binding domain. Mutations in the DAX1 gene cause adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) establishing its biological importance. Recent studies highlight the complexities of DAX1 regulation and function. There is considerable phenotypic variability in AHC suggesting the existence of DAX1 modifier genes and environmental influences on DAX1 function. The findings of an alternatively spliced DAX1A, more common than DAX1 in all tissues except testis, of DAX1 homodimers, and of DAX1 heterodimers with a number of transcription factor partners including DAX1A and SHP point to an expanded transcription regulatory network under DAX1 control. Model organisms (mice and zebrafish) are being used to identify other DAX1 functions and modifier genes to understand the pathogenesis of AHC and the lack of genotype–phenotype correlation.
Optimal Waveband Switching in Optical Ring Networks

Waveband switching saves port costs in optical crossconnects by grouping together a set of consecutive wavelengths and switching them as a single waveband. Previous work has focused on either uniform band sizes or non-uniform band sizes considering a single node. In this paper, we show that such solutions are inadequate when considering the entire network, and present a novel framework for optimizing the number of wavebands in a ring network for deterministic traffic. We then consider a specific type of traffic, namely, all-to-all traffic and present bounds and heuristic solutions for the problem. Our results show that the number of ports can be reduced by a large amount using waveband switching compared to wavelength switching. We also numerically evaluate the performance of our waveband design algorithms under dynamic stochastic traffic.
Assessing the GAD Hypothesis with Paleomagnetic Data from Large Proterozoic Dike Swarms

Abstract Previous compilations of paleomagnetic studies have suggested that the Proterozoic geomagnetic field may have had as large as 12% quadrupole and 29% octupole components, relative to the dipole intensity. These values would have significant implications for geodynamo secular cooling and outer core dynamics, and for paleogeographic reconstructions. Herein we test the validity of one method, using paleomagnetic remanence of three Proterozoic large igneous provinces (LIPs), as well as younger paleomagnetic datasets, to determine zonal geomagnetic field models. Our results show that individual LIPs are not laterally widespread enough to support claims of significant global non-dipole field components in Proterozoic time. The geocentric axial dipole hypothesis remains viable for Proterozoic paleogeographic and geodynamic models.
Role of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in resolution of HSV-2 infection of the mouse vagina

A naturally occurring population of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) was detected in the vaginal lumen of uninoculated mice. A large population of these cells also infiltrated the vaginal mucosa following intravaginal HSV-2 inoculation. We examined the role of PMNs in preventing infection of the vaginal mucosa, virus clearance, and limiting virus spread to the lumbosacral ganglia. Depletion of PMNs prior to HSV-2 inoculation did not increase the incidence of infection suggesting that the small population of resident PMNs was ineffective in preventing infection by a viral pathogen. Depletion of PMNs impacted virus clearance from the vagina over a range of HSV-2 doses resulting in significantly higher virus titers on days 4 through 6 after inoculation. Virus clearance was delayed in PMN-depleted immune μMT mice suggesting that PMN involvement in HSV-2 clearance did not require specific antibody. PMN-depletion of non-immune mice increased virus spread to the sensory ganglia only in mice inoculated with high virus doses. Immunization of mice with an attenuated strain of HSV-2 protected the sensory ganglia against acute infection with a challenge strain. Although PMN depletion of immune mice significantly increased virus titers in the vagina, the incidence of acute virus replication in the sensory ganglia was not different than in control-treated immune mice suggesting that PMNs were not required for protection of the sensory ganglia in immune animals. Taken together, these results suggest that PMNs were involved in resolving genital HSV-2 infections, but played only a limited role in preventing HSV-2 spread to the sensory ganglia.
Burning velocities of ethanol-isooctane blends

Abstract Laminar burning velocities of isooctane, ethanol, and isooctane-ethanol blends in air have been determined over a practical range of mixture strength at various initial mixture temperatures using a constant volume spherical bomb. Measurements were made during the constant pressure combustion period and a detailed density correction scheme was employed for calculation of burning velocities from the measured flame growth rates. A strong promotion of isooctane combustion by ethanol has been observed. Maximum burning rates were found to occur at an equivalence ratio of approximately 1.08, independently of unburned mixture temperature and fuel type. Mixture strength, unburned mixture temperature, and fuel type dependence of burning velocity is represented by empirical functions over the range of Φ = 0.75−1.4, T u = 350−600K, and up to 20% ethanol (by liquid volume) in isooctane-ethanol blends.
Steam and Radio-Frequency Curing of Natural Rubber

Abstract The object of this investigation was to compare the resulting vulcanizates when natural rubber is cured in a conventional steam-heated mold and when it is cured by dielectric losses at radio frequencies under identical time-temperature conditions. In practice it is of course recognized that dielectric heating offers many advantages in speeding up heating processes through its inherent ability to heat uniformly throughout the mass, compared with relatively slower heating where heat is conducted in from hot surfaces. The purpose was, then, to determine if any appreciable difference in vulcanizates is obtained when identical conditions of time and temperature are artificially maintained by the two methods. One series of tests was made on samples with different curing times at a fixed curing temperature; another series was carried out with a fixed curing time, with the temperature the independent variable. Finally a comparison was made with samples which had a curing cycle consisting of a gradually r...
The Effects of an Aerobic Exercise Program on Psychological Variables in Older Adults.

In a study assessing the psychological effects of exercise in the elderly, a fourteen week aerobic program produced a significant increase in self-concept and a significantly greater perceived internal locus of control. Improvement in memory was not found.
‘Acoustic Fiber’ Aluminum-Clad Copper Cable for Communication and Power Transmission

An aluminum-clad steel wire is used to transmit power acoustically. Analogous to optical fiber cable consisting of a core and a cladding layer selected for total internal reflection due to the difference in refractive index between the two, an acoustic fiber cable is constructed by using aluminum-clad steel wire having the property that the bulk longitudinal acoustic wave speed within aluminum is higher than within the steel core by about 8% such that ultrasonic longitudinal waves are trapped in the steel core and the acoustic waves propagate to great range. Results using a 5.9 mm aluminum-clad steel wire 28.7 m long with 0.45 mm wall thickness show successful acoustic transmission in air in the frequency range 20 Hz to 1.5 MHz, with maximum power transmission efficiency 26% for frequencies near 75 kHz and 12% for frequencies near 215 kHz.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Soil Moisture Content of Composite Rough Surfaces Based on a Variational Technique to Distinguish Between the Larger and Smaller Scale Surface Spectral Density Functions

The determination of soil moisture content is often based on the measurements of the ratio of the vertically and horizontally polarized cross sections for large angles of incidence, where the cross sections could be significantly different. Using the high frequency, physical optics model of the earth's surface, this ratio depends primarily on the Fresnel reflection coefficients for the two polarizations, while the impact of surface roughness factors out of the cross section ratio. Thus for highly conducting moisture saturated soils, this ratio approaches one. Using the low frequency, small height-small slope perturbation model of the earth's surface, the vertically and horizontally polarized cross sections are critically dependent on polarization for large angles of incidence, even for the perfectly conducting rough surfaces. However using the standard perturbation model, the ratios of the cross sections are also independent of the surface roughness. Applying the small perturbation approach to highly conducting rough surfaces, the ratio of the horizontally to vertically polarized cross sections approaches zero for grazing angles of incidence, for which the two cross sections differ significantly. There is ample experimental evidence that neither the physical optics nor the small perturbation models are adequate. The standard hybrid two scale physical optics-perturbation approach depends critically upon the decomposition of the composite surface into smaller and larger scale surfaces. The smaller scale surface is restricted to small Rayleigh roughness parameters, proportional to the mean square height, and the larger scale surface is restricted by the large radii of curvature criteria. Using a two scale full wave approach, the cross section are expressed as a weighted sum of a physical optics cross section for the larger scale surface, reduced by a factor equal to the square of the small scale surface characteristic function, and a cross section for the smaller scale surface that is modulated by the slopes of the larger scale surface. A variation technique is used to decompose the surface height spectral density function in a continuous, smooth manner into spectral density functions for the larger and smaller scale surfaces. It is shown that the corresponding polarization dependent rough surface cross sections are stationary over a wide range of the variation parameters. The ratio of the cross sections are dependent of the surface roughness, since the horizontally polarized cross sections are significantly dependent on modulation by the slopes of the larger scale surfaces, for large angles of incidence.
A randomized, controlled trial of interventions to improve adherence to isoniazid therapy to prevent tuberculosis in injection drug users.

Abstract PURPOSE: To determine the effect of several interventions on adherence to tuberculosis preventive therapy. Methods: We conducted a randomized trial with a factorial design comparing strategies for improving adherence to isoniazid preventive therapy in 300 injection drug users with reactive tuberculin tests and no evidence of active tuberculosis. Patients were assigned to receive directly observed isoniazid preventive therapy twice weekly (Supervised group, n=99), daily self-administered isoniazid with peer counseling and education (Peer group, n=101), or routine care (Routine group, n=100). Patients within each arm were also randomly assigned to receive an immediate or deferred monthly $10 stipend for maintaining adherence. The endpoints of the trial were completing 6 months of treatment, pill-taking as measured by self-report or observation, isoniazid metabolites present in urine, and bottle opening as determined by electronic monitors in a subset of patients. Results: Completion of therapy was 80% for patients in the Supervised group, 78% in the Peer group, and 79% in the Routine group ( P = 0.70). Completion was 83% (125 of 150) among patients receiving immediate incentives versus 75% (112 of 150) among patients with deferred incentives ( P = 0.09). The proportion of patients who were observed or reported taking at least 80% of their doses was 82% for the Supervised arm of the study, compared with 71% for the Peer arm and 90% for the Routine arm. The proportion of patients who took 100% of doses was 77% for the Supervised arm (by observation), 6% for the Peer arm (by report), and 10% for the Routine arm (by report; P P Conclusion: Adherence to isoniazid preventive therapy by injection drug users is best with supervised care. Peer counseling improves adherence over routine care, as measured by electronic monitoring of pill caps, and patients receiving peer counseling more accurately reported their adherence. More widespread use of supervised care could contribute to reductions in tuberculosis rates among drug users and possibly other high-risk groups.
Multiple Center of Mass Space Images of Single Objects and Their Impact on Path Planning

The center of mass space is a convenient space for planning motions that minimize reaction forces at the manipulator’s base or optimize the stability of a mechanism. A unique problem associated with path planning in the center of mass space is the potential existence of multiple center of mass images for a single Cartesian obstacle, since a single center of mass location can correspond to multiple manipulator joint configurations. The existence of multiple images results in a need to either maintain multiple center of mass obstacle maps or to update obstacle locations when the manipulator passes through a singularity, such as when it moves from an elbow-up to an elbow-down configuration. To illustrate the concepts presented in this paper, a path is planned for an example task requiring motion through multiple center of mass space maps. The object of the path-planning algorithm is to locate the path with a bang-bang acceleration profile that minimizes the manipulator’s base reactions in the presence of a s...
How Does the Knowledge of Subgroup Membership of Examinees Affect the Prediction of True Subscores

Subscores are reported for several operational assessments. Haberman (2008) suggested a method based on classical test theory to determine if the true subscore is predicted better by the corresponding subscore or the total score. Researchers are often interested in learning how different subgroups perform on subtests. Stricker (1993) and Livingston and Rupp (2004) found that the mean difference between the subgroups was not the same for the different subscores. We suggest new methods to investigate whether the quality of prediction of the true subscore improves if the investigator knows about the subgroup membership. We applied our suggested method to data from 4 operational testing programs. We found that the quality of prediction of the true subscore does not improve if the investigator knows the subgroup membership. We also found that whether the subscores have value added does not depend on the subgroups.
Partner effects in relationship research: Conceptual issues, analytic difficulties, and illustrations

This article discusses the conceptual meaning of partner effects, which occur when one person is affected by the behavior or characteristics of his or her partner. We show that partner effects can be used to validate the presence of a relationship and can elaborate the particular nature of that relationship. We discuss possible moderation of partner effects and show that many theoretical variables in relationship research (e.g., similarity) can be viewed as the interactions of partner effects with other variables. We present three extended examples that illustrate the importance of partner effects.
Statistics and Public Policy: Reflections of a Changing World

One hundred fifty years ago, when the American Sta­ tistical Association (ASA) was founded, statistics had yet to be recognized as an organized discipline, the descriptive information about the state of the world was incomplete and relatively unscientific, the country had no unified com­ prehensive data base, and the federal statistical system as we know it today did not exist. The four population cen­ suses that had been carried out were the responsibility of U.S. marshals who added the enumeration chore to their law-enforcement activities. Some states sponsored survey work on income and production, but the methods used were primitive and the data were incomplete. From its beginning, the purpose of our association­ and, for that matter, of the field of statistics in this country at that time-was to develop and disseminate facts about society. It was not until much later that the organization's attention expanded to include theory and methods in­ volving statistical inference, variability, error structure, and methods of data analysis.
Second to fourth digit ratio and prostate cancer severity

The ratio of the second to the fourth digit (2D:4D ratio) is a sexually dimorphic trait established in utero that differs between ethnic groups. It is associated with prenatal androgen exposure, and studies have evaluated the ratio as a marker for certain traits and disease states known to be associated with higher levels of in utero androgens, such as prostate cancer. There are currently no screening tools that stratify men with prostate cancer according to the severity of their disease. This study aims to investigate the 2D:4D ratio as a potential marker for prostate cancer severity. Our hypothesis was that lower digit ratios, representing higher in utero androgen exposure, would be associated with more severe disease. Measurements were taken of the second and fourth digits of the right hand of male patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. Gleason score, presence of metastasis, family history, age at diagnosis and race were recorded. The distribution of demographic and other patient characteristics were compared with digit ratios to determine relationships. African-American men with prostate cancer are 3.70 times more likely to have a low 2D:4D digit ratio than Caucasian men with prostate cancer (95% confidence interval: 1.98, 6.92; P<0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences in the presence of metastasis, Gleason score, family history or age at diagnosis by digit ratio. 2D:4D ratio shows strong differences between African-Americans and Caucasians; however, it does not correlate with disease severity in men already diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although this is a small population sample with possible confounding factors, it does not provide evidence to support the hypothesis that prenatal androgens affect prostate cancer grade or progression.
Urinary metabolism of orally administered Ortho-phenyl phenol in dogs and cats

The urinary metabolites from repeated oral doses of 3.7 mg o-phenyl phenol (OPP) to mature and immature dogs and cats were studied. At both age levels, dogs excreted significantly more OPP as sulfate and glucuronide than did cats. Puppies produced 4 times the level of glucuronides than mature dogs. No such age differences were seen with glucuronide formation by cats, nor were there any age differences in either group of animals for sulfate formation. Some sex differences were observed in conjugation of OPP in cats and dogs. The dominant urinary excretion product of oral OPP administration was the unchanged OPP.
Research and Development of Prevention and Control Measures for Mold Contamination

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division, Indoor Environment Management Branch has, since 1995, conducted research into controlling biological contami...
Infiltration in reclaimed mined land ameliorated with deep tillage treatments

Abstract Reclamation of mined land with heavy machinery can result in soil compaction. Compaction increases soil bulk density and reduces porosity, water infiltrability, root elongation and crop productivity. Mine operators have used deep tillage equipment to alleviate the compaction problem. The main objectives of this study were to examine (1) the effect on infiltration in reclaimed surface mined land of a deep tillage treatment, and (2) the subsequent changes in infiltration after the amelioration. The experiment was conducted at the Horse Creek Mine near Conant, Perry County, IL, USA. The soil was classified as Schuline series, which is a fine, loamy, mixed, mesic, Typic Udorthents. The treatments included tillage depths of 20 (as a control), 40, 60 and 80 cm. Infiltrometers and runoff plots were installed to evaluate infiltration and rainfall-runoff relationships affected by the treatments. Results indicated that the steady infiltration rates of the 40- and 60-cm tillage treatments were lower than that of the control treatment successively during the experimental period for 3 years. Results also revealed that the 80-cm tillage treatment increased infiltration and reduced surface runoff most. Even though the beneficial effects declined over a 3-year test period, the 80-cm tillage is recommended in the amelioration of soil compaction because tillage depths less than 80 cm did not enhance water infiltration rate much.
Phenethyl Isothiocyanate Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer Cells In Vitro and in a MIAPaca2 Xenograft Animal Model

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and it has a poor prognosis that points to an increased need to develop effective chemoprevention strategies for this disease. We examined the ability of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a naturally occurring isothiocyanate found in cruciferous vegetables, to inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in a MIAPaca2 xenograft animal model. Exposure to PEITC inhibited pancreatic cancer cell growth in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 of approximately 7 μmol/L. PEITC treatment induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest, downregulated the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL, upregulated the proapoptotic protein Bak, and suppressed Notch 1 and 2 levels. In addition, treatment with PEITC induced cleavage of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase and led to increased cytoplasmic histone-associated DNA fragmentation and subdiploid (apoptotic) fraction in pancreatic cancer cells. Oral administration of PEITC suppressed the growth of pancreatic canc...
Improvement of Sensitivity and Dynamic Range in Proximity Ligation Assays by Asymmetric Connector Hybridization

The proximity ligation assay (PLA) is one of the most sensitive and simple protein assays developed to date, yet a major limitation is the relatively narrow dynamic range compared to other assays such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In this work, the dynamic range of PLA was improved by 2 orders of magnitude and the sensitivity was improved by a factor of 1.57. To accomplish this, asymmetric DNA hybridization was used to reduce the probability of target-independent, background ligation. An experimental model of the aptamer−target−connector complex (aptA−T−aptB−C20,PLA) in PLA was developed to study the effects of asymmetry in aptamer−connector hybridization. Connector base pairing was varied from the PLA standard of 20 total bases (C20) to an asymmetric combination with 15 total bases (C15). The results of this model suggested that weakening the affinity of one side of the connector to one aptamer would significantly reduce target-independent ligation (background) without greatly affecting target-d...