cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The quinone reductase gene: A unique estrogen receptor-regulated gene that is activated by antiestrogens

Antiestrogens are thought to exert most of their beneficial effects in breast cancer by antagonizing the actions of estrogen. We report here that antiestrogens also stimulate the expression of quinone reductase (QR) [NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.99.2], which may provide protective effects against the toxicity and mutagenicity caused by quinones. QR is up-regulated by low concentrations of antiestrogens (trans-hydroxytamoxifen, tamoxifen, and ICI182,780) in estrogen receptor (ER)-containing breast cancer cells, and this increase is suppressed by estrogen via an ER-dependent mechanism. Since regulation of the QR gene, as well as other genes involved in detoxification such as the glutathione S-transferase Ya subunit (GST Ya) gene, is known to be mediated by an electrophile/antioxidant response element (EpRE/ARE), we examined the effects of antiestrogens on a 41-bp electrophile responsive region derived from the GST Ya gene. Transfection of this EpRE-containing region into ER-negative breast cancer cells in the presence or absence of an expression vector for the human ER, as well as mutagenesis studies, revealed that the EpRE-containing construct was activated by antiestrogen to the same extent as by tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a known activator of EpREs; however, only the stimulation by antiestrogen, and not TBHQ, required ER and was repressed by estradiol, although activation by both inducers mapped to the same 10-bp EpRE consensus sequence. Thus, there appear to be two pathways for QR induction, one that is activated by electrophile inducers such as TBHQ and is ER independent, and a second that is antiestrogen regulated and ER dependent; both pathways act through the EpRE. The anticancer action of antiestrogens may thus derive not only from the already well-known repression of estrogen-stimulated activities but also from the activation of detoxifying enzymes, such as QR, that may contribute to the beneficial antioxidant activity of antiestrogens.
The Effects of Role and Sex on the Perception of Others

Summary The contribution of role and sex of another person to impression formed were examined experimentally. College students were presented with written descriptions which varied in the sex and social role attributed to the other person. The three roles used were chosen to represent the expressive (social worker) and instrumental (engineer) functions that are stressed in Parsons's theory of role differentiation; in addition, for some subjects the other person was said to be a husband and father or a housewife and mother. Contrary to the implications of previous studies of sex stereotypes, role, not sex, carried the greatest weight for subject's attribution of personality characteristics, though the woman in the instrumental role was given low ratings on likeableness.
The cure model and time confounded risk in the analysis of survival and other timed events.

Abstract The use of theKaplan-Meier estimator for the analysis and testing of cure model data is discussed and results are compared with the more commonly used logrank test. The Kaplan-Meier estimator is particularly appropriate for describing the shape of the underlying survival distribution of data from bone marrow transplantation but is also relevant for different types of timed events data from other chronic diseases. The estimate of the event-free fraction by the product limit, may have a bias depending on the extent of follow-up, the parameters of the model, and confounding by competing risk events. The test based on the product limit has appropriate size and is more powerful as long as follow-up is sufficient to minimize the bias. On the other hand, the logrank test, which is optimal for testing differences in time-to-event curves under proportional hazard assumptions, may be inappropriate and misleading for evaluating the difference in event-free fractions under the cure model.
Environmentally induced asthma

Asthma is characterized by inflammation, reversible airway obstruction, and increased airway responsiveness to various stimuli. Despite advances in understanding of the pathophysiology and in developing new treatments, asthma prevalence and mortality have been rising over the last decade, after a steady decline in the 1970s. Risk factors for environmentally induced asthma include air pollutants, tobacco smoke, wood smoke, and excessive allergen exposure. In controlled human chamber studies, asthmatics demonstrate increased susceptibility to outdoor pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and acidic particles with acute reductions in lung function during and following exposures; responses are enhanced by increased ventilation, for example during exercise, or breathing cold air and/or dry air. The evidence is even stronger that inhaled indoor allergens have a causal relationship to asthma. It is possible that changes in housing conditions have led to increased levels of dust mite and other proteins in homes with consequent increases in the prevalence of sensitization. Avoidance of specific allergens such as house dust mite over months results in a reduction in clinical symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The interaction between aeroallergens and air pollutants in triggering environmentally induced asthma is an area of active research.
Reexamination of Dependence of Plate Number on SDS Concentration in Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography.

Chromatograms of hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and intermediate-polarity analytes were developed in 50-μm capillaries by micellar electrokinetic chromatography at field strengths less than 31 kV/m. The analytes were solubilized by phosphate/borate buffers containing 15, 50, and 100 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The plate numbers N of the analytes, as well as those of the electroosmotic flow and micellar markers, were compared to predictions of N estimated by a simple model based on longitudinal diffusion and plug size. Good to fair agreement between theory and experiment was obtained for the hydrophilic and intermediate-polarity analytes in all buffers over the entire field strength range. Good agreement between theory and experiment was obtained for the hydrophobic analyte and micellar marker in all buffers at low field strengths; however, these compounds were subject to dispersion at higher field strengths by what appears to be Joule heating. The magnitudes of other, closely related Joule heating losses ...
NAE grand challenges for engineering: Rhetorical analysis of grand challenges website

This paper presents initial observations from a rhetorical analysis of the website (engineeringchallenges.org) used by the National Academy of Engineering to disseminate and promote their Grand Challenges for Engineering.
Hartree-Fock Theory for Double Condensates

We present the first theoretical treatment that accounts in detail for a recent observation of overlapping Bose-Einstein condensates of two different ${}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ hyperfine states [C. J. Myatt et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 586 (1997)]. Despite the complicated geometry, we have completed a three-dimensional Hartree-Fock calculation for the coupled condensates. The calculation explains a number of its key properties: (i) The manner in which one condensate partially wraps around the other, (ii) the mean separation between the two condensates including the effects of gravity and of their mutual interaction, and (iii) the surprisingly long lifetime of the trap.
Induction and detection of delayed dermal hypersensitivity in guinea-pigs immunized with Blastomyces dermatitidis lysate and filtrate antigens

Guinea-pigs were immunized using yeast phase antigens (lysate and filtrate preparations) from two strains of Blastomyces dermatitidis (T-58 and Le). Following a sensitization period, the animals were skin tested on days 40 and 216 using T-58 and Le yeast and mycelial phase lysate and filtrate antigen preparations for the detection of delayed dermal hypersensitivity (DTH). Using the Friedman's analysis of variance by rank test, significant differences were found in the efficacy of the immunogens to induce DTH in the animals when skin tested on both occasions (P < 0·05). Optimal reactivity was observed in guinea-pigs immunized with Le yeast lysate (mean axes of induration ranging from 12·0 to 18·8 mm and 7·0 to 18·5 mm on day 40 and 216, respectively) and T-58 yeast filtrate (mean axes of induration ranging from 7·5 to 18·0 mm and 8·0 to 17·0 mm on day 40 and 216, respectively) when the immunogens were administered with adjuvant. When the same data was analysed using the Friedman's test with regard to evalu...
Characterization of ion accelerating systems on NASA LeRC's ion thrusters

An investigation is conducted regarding ion-accelerating systems for two NASA thrusters to study the limits of ion-extraction capability or perveance. A total of nine two-grid ion-accelerating systems are tested with the 30- and 50-cm-diam ring-cusp inert-gas ion thrusters emphasizing the extension of ion-extraction. The vacuum-tank testing is described using xenon, krypton, and argon propellants, and thruster performance is computed with attention given to theoretical design considerations. Reductions in perveance are noted with decreasing accelerator-hole-to-screen-hole diameter ratios. Perveance values vary indirectly with the ratio of discharge voltage to total accelerating voltage, and screen/accelerator electrode hole-pair alignment is also found to contribute to perveance values.
Continuous zircon growth during long-lived granulite facies metamorphism: a microtextural, U–Pb, Lu–Hf and trace element study of Caledonian rocks from the Arctic

Microtextural, U–Pb, trace element and Lu–Hf analyses of zircons from gneisses dredged from the Chukchi Borderland indicate a long-lived, Cambrian–Ordovician, granulite facies metamorphism. These results reveal a complete prograde, peak and cooling history of zircon growth during anatexis. Early increasing temperatures caused modification and Pb-loss of Precambrian zircons by recrystallization and dissolution/re-precipitation of existing grains. Small variations in initial 176Hf/177Hf results (0.282325–0.282042) and flat HREE patterns of these zircons indicate that they grew by dissolution/re-precipitation in the presence of garnet. Zircons subsequently crystallized from a partial melt during peak to post-peak metamorphism from 530 to 485 Ma. A broad range of initial 176Hf/177Hf ratios (0.282693–0.282050) and mineral inclusions within zircons suggest that this phase of growth incorporated Zr and Hf obtained from the breakdown of Zr-enriched phases. Microtextural evidence along with trace element and isotopic data suggests that final growth of metamorphic rims on zircon occurred during slow cooling and crystallization of residual partial melts during the early Ordovician (485–470 Ma). Younger, late Ordovician–Silurian (420–450 Ma) euhedral, oscillatory-zoned, trace element-enriched zircons crystallized within leucocratic veins that intrude the gneisses. Their age corresponds to granitoids dated from this same dredge. The intrusives and veins provide evidence that the Chukchi Borderland rifted from a position near Pearya and northwest Svalbard, which represent the northern continuation of the Caledonian orogen. Evidence for earlier Cambrian metamorphism has not been reported from this region. The age of granulite facies metamorphism reported here represents the earliest phase of deformation in the Arctic Caledonides.
89 EFFECTS OF ALVEOLAR HYPOXIA AND INTRAVENOUS TOLAZOINE ON PULMONARY HEMODYNAMICS AND LUNG LYMPH FLOW OF AWAKE WEEK-OLD LAMBS

To study the effects of alveolar hypoxia on lung fluid dynamics of newborn lambs, we measured mean pulmonary arterial (Ppa) and left atrial (Pla) pressures, cardiac output (Qb), steady-state lung lymph flow (Ql), and lymph (L) and plasma (P) protein concentrations of 8 awake 1-2 week old lambs breathing air for 2 h, then 10-12% 02 for 2-4 h. The lambs were at least 2 days postoperative during studies. Summary of results (mean): x: per g dry bloodless lung *: significant difference, p<.05 Contrary to results of previous studies of mature sheep (Circ Res 40:269, 1977), Q1 of lambs increased and L:P decreased when pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) increased 66%, suggesting that alveolar hypoxia increased pulmonary transvascular filtration pressure and resultant fluid exchange,with no change in microvascular permeability to protein. To 6 lambs we infused tolazoline intravenously (2 mg/kg rapidly, then 4 mg/kg.h−1 for 3-4h) during steady-state hypoxia. As PVR diminished 16%, Q1 decreased 23%, showing that tolazoline decreased pulmonary transvascular filtration pressure and net fluid flux into the lung of hypoxic lambs.
Source resolution and risk apportionment to augment the Bubble Policy: Application to a steel plant “bubble”

Source resolution and risk apportionment of emission source categories for risk reduction purposes can be used to enhance the Bubble Policy of the Clean Air Act. This is performed by incorporating receptor modeling techniques of factor analysis and chemical mass balances to assess noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic inhalation risks to a target population for certain pollutants coming from major emission source categories in a steel plant air shed. Source resolution, using factor analysis, statistically interprets a “source” from ambient data. By subsequently quantifying risks from identified metal emission sources using chemical mass balances and risk apportionment, a total additive risk from main source contributors in the steel plant is estimated. From this methodology, the Bubble Policy can be enhanced by targeting only main risk sources or by “risk-trading” with minor impact sources to reduce the total risk (if deemed significant) without arbitrarily reducing risk for all sources in an industrial source complex’s “bubble.”
Analytical investigation of axial field limitations in MHD generators

Electrical breakdown of the interelectrode insulator gap of an MHD generator is represented by a time dependent thermal and electrical model for the regions. Predicted results for a simplified configuration are in general agreement with available experimental data. MHD generator electrode wall design philosophies are evaluated.
Study of the stereoselectivity of 2-azido-2-deoxygalactosyl donors: remote protecting group effects and temperature dependency.

The stereoselectivity of glycosylation reactions is affected by many factors. Synthesis of 1,2-cis glycosidic linkages (such as α linkages in glucose and galactose like monosaccharides) is challeng...
Electroweak interactions with gauged baryon and lepton numbers

The possibility that gauge symmetries associated with baryon and lepton numbers are spontaneously broken symmetries of nature is entertained. In this endeavor, the gauge group of electroweak interactions is SU(2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}U${(1)}^{3}$. Consistent with neutral-current phenomenology, the spectrum of massive neutral gauge bosons consist of the ${Z}^{0}$ of the standard electroweak model and two additional neutral bosons with mass lower bounds of 120 and 210 GeV which makes these particles prospective candidates for production in the energy regimes of the CERN LEP, Fermilab Tevatron, and the Superconducting Super Collider.
Some new tests of relevance theory in information science

A central idea in Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson’s relevance theory is that an individual’s sense of the relevance of an input varies directly with the cognitive effects, and inversely with the processing effort, of the input in a context. I argue that this idea has an objective analog in information science—the tf*idf (term frequency, inverse document frequency) formula used to weight indexing terms in document retrieval. Here, tf*idf is used to weight terms from five bibliometric distributions in the context of the seed terms that generated them. The distributions include the descriptors co-assigned with a descriptor, the descriptors and identifiers assigned to an author, two examples of cited authors and their co-citees, and the books and journals cited with a famous book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. In each case, the highest-ranked terms are contrasted with lowest-ranked terms. In two cases, pennant diagrams, a new way of displaying bibliometric data, augment the tabular results. Clear qualitative differences between the sets of terms are intuitively well-explained by relevance theory.
Avicenna's Enthymeme: A Pointer

In reaction to earlier scholarship on the role of Aristotelian political theory among medieval Arabic-writing intellectuals, this paper argues that another approach of those intellectuals might more profitably be followed: that of the role of rhetorical speech. That political speech is investigated in Aristotle's Rhetoric makes it a suitable candidate for such a pursuit. However, what the present investigation concludes is that even this aspect of political theory by way of the Rhetoric also was not perceived to warrant investigation among medieval Arabic-writing intellectuals. In a review of all constituents of Greek political theory as it is now understood, this paper finds that there was one aspect of rhetorical speech that captivated the attention of these writers: the use of the enthymeme in speech patterns. Drawing on the writings of Avicenna, the author concludes that, instead of the application of the enthymemic construction of political rhetoric, Avicenna perceived yet another arena for its applicability: the training of philosophy students.
Isolation, characterization and physiological specificity of the crustacean hyperglycemic factors from the sinus gland of the lobster, Homarus americanus (Milne-Edwards)

Summary A two-step high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation system, based on ion exchange and hydrophobic properties, was developed in order to isolate and purify several neuropeptides from the sinus gland of the lobster Homarus americanus. With this system, most of the thus far reported neurohormonal activities, such as hyperglycemia, gonad and pigment controlling factors are detectable. Special attention is given to two pairs of closely related peptides, all reacting with a polyclonal rabbit antiserum raised against the hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) of the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-urea-PAGE) of these substances reveals two peptides of about 6.5 kDa, and two more of about 8 kDa. A hyperglycemic response is provoked by both 6.5 kDa peptides and the second 8 kDa component. A stimulatory effect on the oocyte growth is associated with the elution time of both 8 kDa peptides. Furthermore, the presence of two factors with...
Social Identity Theory and Biblical Interpretation

This study is intended to provide readers with an introduction to Social Identity Theory and its use as a heuristic device for biblical interpretation. After a general overview of Social Identity T...
Explaining wartime rape

In the years since the first reports of mass rapes in the Yugoslavian wars of secession and the genocidal massacres in Rwanda, feminist activists and scholars, human rights organizations, journalists, and social scientists have dedicated unprecedented efforts to document, explain, and seek solutions for the phenomenon of wartime rape. While contributors to this literature agree on much, there is no consensus on causal factors. This paper provides a brief overview of the literature on wartime rape in historical and ethnographical societies and a critical analysis of the four leading explanations for its root causes: the feminist theory, the cultural pathology theory, the strategic rape theory, and the biosocial theory. The paper concludes that the biosocial theory is the only one capable of bringing all the phenomena associated with wartime rape into a single explanatory context.
A polyconvex model for materials with cubic symmetry

A framework for developing polyconvex strain energy functions for hyperelastic materials with cubic anisotropy is proposed. Polyconvexity of the strain energy density guarantees existence of solutions of boundary value problems in finite elasticity. The anisotropy is described by a single fourth order structural tensor for which the minimal polynomial basis is identified and used for the formulation of the strain energy functions. After proving the polyconvexity of some polynomial terms, a model based on a simple strain energy function is proposed. The model response is investigated analytically under simple deformations and its versatility and robustness are demonstrated via numerical simulations of problems in two and three dimensions involving large anisotropic deformations. In particular, the model is verified in the infinitesimal limit against the exact solution for an anisotropic plate with a hole subjected to remote unidirectional loading.
Delay-Bounded and Energy-Efficient Composite Event Monitoring in Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks can be used for event warning applications. Till date, in most of the proposed schemes, the raw or aggregated sensed data are periodically sent to a data consuming center. However, with those schemes, the occurrence of an emergency event such as a fire is hardly reported timely, which is a strict requirement for event warning applications. In wireless sensor networks, it is also highly desired to conserve energy so that network lifetime can be maximized. Furthermore, to ensure the quality of surveillance, some applications require that if an event occurs, it needs to be detected by at least k sensors, where k is a user-defined parameter. In this work, we examine the Timely Energy-efficient k-Watching Event Monitoring (TEKWEM) problem and propose a scheme, which involves an event detection model and a warning delivery model, for monitoring composite events and delivering warnings to users. Theoretical analysis and simulation results are shown to validate the proposed scheme.
Measuring Managers' Minds: The Assessment Of Style in Human Information Processing

Research on decision making frequently identifies different styles of human information processing. In this article, we examine three approaches to the measurement of style that seem to reflect the underlying dual nature of human consciousness. These approaches are: (1) physiological monitoring of brain wave patterns, (2) inference of style from observed behavior, and (3) self-description inventories. Researchers should be aware of these complementary approaches and measurement issues that surface in the study of individual decision styles.
Reduction of intensity variations on the absorbers of ideal flux concentrators.

Large nonuniformities occur in the instantaneous distribution of flux on the absorber of an ideal light concentrator when it is illuminated by a point source such as the sun. These nonuniformities may be reduced by texturing the reflecting surface with small distortions. Such distortions will also be effective if used in the primary reflector of a two-stage concentrator. Data on a model compound parabolic concentrator are presented. The suitability of such concentrators for use by spacecraft is mentioned.
Memory and the Sense of Personal Identity

Memory of past episodes provides a sense of personal identity — the sense that I am the same person as someone in the past. We present a neurological case study of a patient who has accurate memories of scenes from his past, but for whom the memories lack the sense of mineness. On the basis of this case study, we propose that the sense of identity derives from two components, one delivering the content of the memory and the other generating the sense of mineness. We argue that this new model of the sense of identity has implications for debates about quasi-memory. In addition, articulating the components of the sense of identity promises to bear on the extent to which this sense of identity provides evidence of personal identity.
Demonstration of ultrahigh brightness X-ray amplification from xenon hollow atom states at 2.71 - 2.93 angstroms

Experimental data of several forms have been obtained which constitute interlocking concordant evidence of amplification in self-trapped plasma channels on several transitions of the Xe(L) hollow atom spectrum at wavelengths in the range /spl lambda/ /spl sim/ 2.71-2.93 /spl Aring/. Specifically, they are (/spl alpha/) strongly enhanced spectra arising from Xe/sup 31+/, Xe/sup 32+/, Xe/sup 34+/, Xe/sup 35+/, Xe/sup 36+/, and Xe/sup 37+/ ions recorded from the channel in the forward (axial) direction, (/spl beta/) the measurement of a corresponding spectral narrowing on the directionally enhanced lines emitted from the channel, (/spl gamma/) evidence for saturation of three of these transition arrays (Xe/sup 34+/, Xe/sup 35+/, Xe/sup 36+/) given by the simultaneous quenching (spectral hole-burning) of the corresponding spontaneous emission from them in transversely recorded spectra only when amplifying channels are present.
Binding of Biotinylated DNA to Streptavidin-Coated Polystyrene Latex: Effects of Chain Length and Particle Size

The binding of 5'-end biotinylated DNA, ranging in size from 100 to 5000 base pairs, was studied using streptavidin-coated polystyrene latex particles with diameters between 0.944 and 0.090 micron. The experimental binding constants and forward rate constants of this solid-phase reaction were determined to be several orders of magnitude lower than values for the biotin-streptavidin interaction in solution as expected and were shown to depend on the size of both ligand and substrate. An observed inflection in the binding constant of the biotinylated DNA appeared around 1000 base pairs, possibly indicating different surface orientations of the macroligand above and below this critical size. This effect was more pronounced for the smaller latex particles used in this study and highlighted possible differences in the surface arrangement of streptavidin on the differently sized particles. Diffusion limitation to the binding reaction was found to be significant in all cases. In this present work, an exponential relationship was established between the experimental binding constant and the number of base pairs in the biotinylated DNA. This relationship possibly provides a means to predict capacity and binding speed in cases where adsorption, purification, and release of larger DNA chains are required.
The Influence of Celebrity Endorsements on Stock Prices

Celebrity endorsements have been long been used to promote companies’ products and strengthen brands; however, celebrity endorsements can also be linked to an increase in company stock prices. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of celebrity endorsements on stock prices. An overview of the theoretical framework of the celebrity will be applied to stock analysts and a review of the abnormal returns of this influence will be presented.
Visual information for object identity in apparent movement

Apparent movement is used to examine the nature of the visual information which specifies object identity. Constructive feature-comparison theories rely on static formal information and predict that two phases of an apparent movement display must be featurally similar in order to appear as a single object in motion. An opposing Gibsonian model is based on abstract geometrical information and predicts that the two phases may differ radically in shape but must be ecologically transformable in order to be seen as a single object. The predictions are tested by presenting subjects with displays which are similar but not transformable, and transformable but dissimilar. Results show that the transformability of the display determines its perceived object identity, while featural similarity has no effect. An event theory of object identity is offered which claims that theaffordance structure of an event, determined by geometric invariants specifies object identity. ma-
Molecular containers assembled through the hydrophobic effect

This review focuses on molecular containers formed by assembly processes driven by the hydrophobic effect, and summarizes the progress made in the field over the last ten years. This small but growing facet of supramolecular chemistry discusses three classes of molecules used by researchers to investigate how self-assembly can be applied to form discrete, mono-dispersed, and structurally well-defined supramolecular entities. The approaches demonstrate the importance of preorganization of arrays of rigid moieties to define a specific form predisposed to bind, fold, or assemble. As the examples demonstrate, studying these systems and their properties is teaching us how to control supramolecular chemistry in water, shedding light on aspects of aqueous solutions chemistry, and illustrating novel applications that harness the unique properties of the hydrophobic effect.
The B cell-specific transcription factor BSAP regulates B cell proliferation

The B cell-specific activator protein (BSAP) is a DNA-binding transcription factor expressed in pro-B, pre-B, and mature B cells, but not in plasma cells. In this study, we explored the role of BSAP in B cell function by assessing how the content of this protein varies in cells driven by proliferative stimuli and, conversely, how artificial manipulation of BSAP activity affects cell proliferation. We found that BSAP activity of nuclear extracts increased when B cells were activated by mitogen (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]), antigen receptor-mediated signaling (surface immunoglobulin D [IgD] cross-linking) or T cell-dependent stimulation (CD40 cross-linking). We could suppress BSAP activity by exposure of B cells to phosphorothioate oligonucleotides antisense to the BSAP translation initiation start site, whereas control oligonucleotides were virtually inactive. Antisense-induced BSAP suppression was associated with a striking reduction in LPS-induced proliferation of splenic B cells and in the spontaneous proliferation of B lymphoma cells (CH12.LX), but the antisense oligonucleotide had virtually no effect on proliferation of two cell lines lacking BSAP: the T lymphoma line EL-4 and the plasma cell line MOPC-315. Overexpression of BSAP in splenic B cells or de novo expression in MOPC-315 plasma cells induced by transfection of a BSAP expression plasmid stimulated cell proliferation. Taken together, these results suggest that BSAP activity is a rate-limiting regulator of B cell proliferation. We also found that treatment with the antisense BSAP oligonucleotide downregulated Ig class switching induced by interleukin 4 plus LPS. This effect may be secondary to reduced proliferation or could be mediated through BSAP binding sites in the IgH locus.
Counterion condensation and shape within Poisson–Boltzmann theory

An analytical approximation to the nonlinear Poisson–Boltzmann (PB) equation is applied to charged macromolecules that possess one-dimensional symmetry and can be modeled by a plane, infinite cylinder, or sphere. A functional substitution allows the nonlinear PB equation subject to linear boundary conditions to be transformed into an approximate linear (Debye-Huckel-type) equation subject to nonlinear boundary conditions. A simple analytical result for the surface potential of such polyelectrolytes follows, leading to expressions for the amount of condensed (or renormalized) charge and the electrostatic Helmholtz energy for polyelectrolytes. Analytical high-charge/low-salt and low-charge/high-salt limits are shown to be similar to results obtained by others based on PB or counterion condensation theory. Several important general observations concerning polyelectrolytes treated within the context of PB theory can be made including: (1) all charged surfaces display some counterion condensation for finite electrolyte concentration, (2) the effect of surface geometry is described primarily by the sum of the Debye constant and the mean curvature of the surface, (3) two surfaces with the same surface charge density and mean curvature condense approximately identical fractions of counterions, (4) the amount of condensation is not determined by a predefined “condensation distance” although such a distance can be determined uniquely from it, and (5) substantial condensation occurs if the Debye constant of the electrolyte is much less than the mean curvature of a highly charged polyelectrolyte. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 93: 619–639, 2010. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
A Validity Problem in Measuring Exposure to Mass Media Campaigns

Recognition of radio and television messages included in three mass media campaigns designed to keep adolescents from starting to smoke cigarettes was measured in six treatment and four control cities (Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas) in the south- eastern United States. The telephone survey of 574 randomly selected adolescents found high recognition of campaign messages even in the areas where the campaigns had not been broadcast. Campaign messages that differed significantly from other anti-smoking messages were less likely to be falsely recognized. These results reinforce the need to include true control groups in mass media evaluations and to construct distinctive mes sages if exposure is an important aspect of campaign evaluation.
Distributed-mass micromachined gyroscopes: demonstration of drive-mode bandwidth enhancement

The limitations of photolithography-based micromachining technologies defines the upper-bound on the performance and robustness of micromachined gyroscopes. The mode-matching problem and the quadrature error due to the resulting fabrication imperfections are the two major challenges in MEMS gyroscope design. This paper presents a novel micromachined z-axis rate gyroscope with multidirectional drive-mode, that increases the drive-mode bandwidth for relaxing mode-matching requirements, and completely decouples the drive and sense modes. By utilizing multiple drive-mode oscillators with incrementally spaced resonance frequencies, wide-bandwidth response is achieved in the drive-mode, leading to reduced sensitivity to structural and thermal parameter fluctuations. Quadrature error and zero-rate-output are also minimized, due to the enhanced decoupling of multi-directional linear drive-mode and the torsional sense-mode. Bulk-micromachined prototypes have been fabricated in a one-mask SOI-based process, and experimentally characterized.
The Long Coring Facility, New Techniques in Deep Ocean Coring

A new technique, the Long Coring Facility (LCF), is currently being developed which will enable the recovery of 50 meter piston corer from oceanic depths of up to 6500 meters. The LCF will be completely portable and is designed for use aboard a selected number of research vessels.The need for a device of this nature has arisen from requirements identified by both the scientific and engineering community for the acquisition of long, high quality cores for use in interdisciplinary studies. The development of the LCF has relied on previous coring experience and the creation of a series of computer models designed to predict the performance of the developing system. Based on the results of these analysis it is apparent that a reliable, and efficient coring system can be produced utilizing existing technology.
Citizen Science: A Tool for Integrating Studies of Human and Natural Systems

Citizen science has proliferated in the last decade, becoming a critical form of public engagement in science and an increasingly important research tool for the study of large-scale patterns in nature. Although citizen science is already interdisciplinary, it has untapped potential to build capacity for transformative research on coupled human and natural systems. New tools have begun to collect paired ecological and social data from the same individual; this allows for detailed examination of feedbacks at the level of individuals and potentially provides much-needed data for agent-based modeling. With the ongoing professionalization of citizen science, the field can benefit from integrating a coupled systems perspective, including a broadening of the social science perspectives considered. This can lead to new schema and platforms to increase support for large-scale research on coupled natural and human systems.
Camera Motion-Based Analysis of User Generated Video

In this paper we propose a system for the analysis of user generated video (UGV). UGV often has a rich camera motion structure that is generated at the time the video is recorded by the person taking the video, i.e., the ?camera person.? We exploit this structure by defining a new concept known as camera view for temporal segmentation of UGV. The segmentation provides a video summary with unique properties that is useful in applications such as video annotation. Camera motion is also a powerful feature for identification of keyframes and regions of interest (ROIs) since it is an indicator of the camera person's interests in the scene and can also attract the viewers' attention. We propose a new location-based saliency map which is generated based on camera motion parameters. This map is combined with other saliency maps generated using features such as color contrast, object motion and face detection to determine the ROIs. In order to evaluate our methods we conducted several user studies. A subjective evaluation indicated that our system produces results that is consistent with viewers' preferences. We also examined the effect of camera motion on human visual attention through an eye tracking experiment. The results showed a high dependency between the distribution of fixation points of the viewers and the direction of camera movement which is consistent with our location-based saliency map.
Use of Technology to Support Information Needs for Continuity of Operations Planning in Public Health: A Systematic Review

Objectives: Continuity of operations planning focuses on an organization’s ability to deliver essential services before, during and after an emergency. Public health leaders must make decisions based on information from many sources and their information needs are often facilitated or hindered by technology. The aim of this study is to provide a systematic review of studies of technology projects that address public health continuity of operations planning information needs and to discuss patterns, themes, and challenges to inform the design of public health continuity of operations information systems. Methods: To return a comprehensive results set in an under-explored area, we searched broadly in the Medline and EBSCOHost bibliographic databases using terms from prior work in public health emergency management and continuity of operations planning in other domains. In addition, we manually searched the citation lists of publications included for review. Results: A total of 320 publications were reviewed. Twenty studies were identified for inclusion (twelve risk assessment decision support tools, six network and communications-enabled decision support tools, one training tool and one dedicated video-conferencing tool). Levels of implementation for information systems in the included studies range from proposed frameworks to operational systems. Conclusion: There is a general lack of documented efforts in the scientific literature for technology projects about public health continuity of operations planning. Available information about operational information systems suggest inclusion of public health practitioners in the design process as a factor in system success.
Nest-site selection in honey bees: how well do swarms implement the "best-of-N" decision rule?

This study views a honey bee swarm as a supraorganismal entity which has been shaped by natural selection to be skilled at choosing a future home site. Prior studies of this decision-making process indicate that swarms attempt to use the best-of-N decision rule: sample some number (N) of alternatives and then select the best one. We tested how well swarms implement this decision rule by presenting them with an array of five nest boxes, only one of which was a high-quality (desirable) nest site; the other four were medium-quality (acceptable) sites. We found that swarms are reasonably good at carrying out the best-of-N decision rule: in four out of five trials, swarms selected the best site. In addition, we gained insights into how a swarm implements this decision rule. We found that when a scout bee returns to the swarm cluster and advertises a potential nest site with a waggle dance, she tunes the strength of her dance in relation to the quality of her site: the better the site, the stronger the dance. A dancing bee tunes her dance strength by adjusting the number of waggle-runs/dance, and she adjusts the number of waggle-runs/dance by changing both the duration and the rate of her waggle-run production. Moreover, we found that a dancing bee changes the rate of her waggle-run production by changing the mean duration of the return-phase portion of her dance circuits. Differences in return-phase duration underlie the impression that dances differ in liveliness. Although a honey bee swarm has bounded rationality (e.g., it lacks complete knowledge of the possible nesting sites), through its capacity for parallel processing it can choose a nest site without greatly reducing either the breadth or depth of its consideration of the alternative sites. Such thoroughness of information gathering and processing no doubt helps a swarm implement the best-of-N decision rule.
Triethanolamine Nanocomposite- based Chemiresistive Nitrogen Dioxide Gas Sensor

We present here the development of a triethanolamine (TEA) nanocomposite-based chemiresistive gas sensor for detecting NO2 in the ambient environment. The detection mechanism is based on measuring resistivity changes that occur in a nanocomposite due to the absorption and continuous reaction of NO2 gas molecules with TEA. By incorporating carbon nanoparticles into the nanocomposite, NO2-induced resistance changes are amplified by the nanocomposite and measured. Based on calibration, the sensor has a calculated sensitivity of ∼50 parts per billion (ppbv) (limit of detection) to NO2 with a response time of 2 min. Sensor did not react with exposure to NO, O3, CO, CO2, and SO2. Sensor prototype is compact, cost effective, and has the capability of being modularized for field deployments, which are the key requirements for developing portable sensor technology for air quality monitoring.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy for Mild Heart Failure: Compelling Evidence of Long-Term Benefits.

Multiple prospective, randomized clinical trials evaluating biventricular pacing with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) have demonstrated improved heart failure status, quality of life, exercise capacity, left ventricular (LV) systolic function, mortality, and multiple other outcomes in heart
Laboratory Visualization of Gravity Fluid Displacement in Well Annulus Affected by Sustained Casing Pressure

Sustained Casing Pressure (SCP) in petroleum wells poses environmental risk and needs to be removed using either downhole intervention or annular intervention methods. The latter method involves displacing the annular fluid above the top of the gas-leaking well cement with a heavy fluid to increase the hydrostatic pressure and stop the gas leak. Past field applications of the method failed — most likely due to incompatibility of the two fluids. In this study, a see-through scaled-down hydraulic analog of the well’s annulus was designed and used for video-taped displacement experiments with clear synthetic-clay muds and heavy (kill) fluids. The results show that only immiscible hydrophobic kill fluids provide effective displacement. The study demonstrates importance of controlled injection of the kill fluid to set out efficient buoyant settling and prevent initial dispersion. A side- (versus top-) injection geometry and the injection rate data are analyzed to develop empirical correlation of maximum injection rate for a given properties of the two fluids.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
On the relationship between manifold learning latent dynamics and zero dynamics for human bipedal walking

Dynamic modeling of human bipedal walking is important for studying human locomotion and designing assistive and rehabilitation robotic devices. Physical principle-based models and data-driven learning models are two main methods to obtain human walking dynamics. We present analysis and connections between these two different modeling approaches. Mapping and correspondence are established between the reduced analytical dynamics (i.e., zero dynamics) of the bipedal walking and the learned latent dynamics from walking kinematic data. We present these mapping functions, their properties and applications. Experiments are presented to demonstrate and illustrate the analysis and results.
Abstract 19492: Novel Assessment of Pulmonary and Systemic Pressures During Treadmill Testing via Implantable Telemetry in a Rat Model of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Objectives: 1) To determine if pulmonary arterial pressures (PAP) may be measured simultaneously with systemic blood pressures (BP) during exercise testing in laboratory rats using implantable telemetry; and 2) To determine the relationship of exercise intensity to acute PAP exercise responses over the course of PAH development. Methods: A specialized implantable transmitter (Data Sciences International); via telemetry following thoracotomy with right ventricular (RV) and abdominal aortic catheter positioning, respectively enabled simultaneous systolic, diastolic and mean PAP and BP recordings. Following recovery, an incremental treadmill test measured maximal aerobic capacity (VO 2 max) via analysis of expired gases. Steady state exercise testing was then performed for 3 different submaximal relative intensities: 50, 75, and 90% VO 2 max. Pressures were recorded during each test, as well as pre- and post- exercise. At 2.5 weeks following monocrotaline (MCT, 40 mg/kg) administration (mild PH) and 7 weeks post-MCT (advanced PH), VO 2 max and steady-state exercise tests were repeated. Results: Compared to pre-MCT, at 2.5 weeks post-MCT systolic PAP increased from 25 to 41 mmHg at rest; from 105 to 117 mmHg at peak exercise; and from 40 to 58 mmHg, 46 to 65 mmHg, and 55 to 75 mmHg during running at 50, 75, and 90% VO 2 max, respectively. At 7 weeks post-MCT, PAP further increased at rest (to 59 mmHg), and during steady state running (to 69, 70, and 73 mmHg, at 50, 75, and 90% VO 2 max, respectively). During recovery from steady state exercise, the fall in PAP occurred more rapidly post-MCT, bringing PAP to even lower than resting from 10 min to 2h into recovery. Conclusions: Using implantable telemetry we have accomplished dual pressure recordings during serial exercise tests before and after PAH induction. The rise in PAP relative to exercise intensity is steeper in PAH but is accompanied by a post-exercise window of normalized PAP, which may be attributed to pronounced acute pulmonary endothelial activation. Future work will investigate how these acute effects translate to wall stress and RV remodeling with chronic exercise training and may allow for optimized exercise prescription for patients affected with PAH.
Penicillin as a Sporicidal Agent

SummaryUnder suitable conditions of incubation, penicillin in relatively low concentration is actively sporicidal against many aerobic species of bacteria. In sensitive species the sporicidal activity of penicillin is much greater in milk than in water and is usually enhanced by sublethal heating of the spores before treatment with penicillin.