cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3215: Role of pterostilbene on proliferation, invasion, and migration in ovarian and uterine cancer cells

PURPOSE: To determine the functional effects of the resveratrol analog, pterostilbene (PTE), and its potential adjuvant role with cisplatin, in ovarian and uterine cancer cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The human ovarian cancer cell lines (OVCAR8, SKOV3) and uterine cancer cell lines (HEC1A, ECC1) were obtained from ATCC, and grown according to standard protocols using recommended media. Standard proliferation (MTT) and migration assays were performed in routine fashion, with or without PTE +/- cisplatin treatment. For the in-vitro Cell Proliferation Assay, different concentrations of cisplatin (3 - 50 μM), pterostilbene (PTE) (30 - 500 μM), or both in combination were added for 72 hours. Cell migration was assayed using 24-mm diameter chambers with 8-μm pore filters, with or without treatment of PTE and cisplatin, and migrated cells were counted using Image-pro program. A synergistic analysis from the MTT assay results was calculated via the CompuSyn for Windows computer program based on the combination index (CI) theorem of Chou-Talalay, to determine the presence of synergy between cisplatin and PTE. RESULTS: PTE reduces proliferation in OVCAR8, SKOV3, HEC1A, and ECC1 cells, and its anti-proliferative effect approaches that of cisplatin. Addition of PTE to cisplatin potentiates the anti-proliferative effects of cisplatin in HEC1A, ECC1, SKOV3, and OVCAR8 cells. The combined effect of PTE and cisplatin is synergistic in OVCAR8 cells based on synergy calculations (CI CONCLUSIONS: Pterostilbene, a resveratrol analog with improved bioavailability, reduces proliferation and migration in ovarian and uterine cancer cells, and potentiates the anti-proliferative and anti-migratory effects of cisplatin, thus presenting as an attractive non-toxic alternative for potential adjuvant chemotherapy in ovarian and uterine cancer. Citation Format: Gina Lowe, Wei Wen, Cai Roberts, James Finlay, Carlotta Glackin, Ernest Han, Thanh H. Dellinger. Role of pterostilbene on proliferation, invasion, and migration in ovarian and uterine cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3215. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3215
Phase relationships in the systems MoSnS, WSnS and MoWS

Abstract By using the evacuated and sealed capsule technique, phase relationships in the systems Mo-Sn-S, W-Sn-S and Mo-W-S were studied in the temperature range 500–800 °C. One ternary compound, SnMo5S6 and two liquids, L1 (Sn) and L2 (Sn sulfide), are stable in the system Mo-Sn-S at 800 °C and form equilibrium assemblages with MoS2, Mo2S3, SnS2, SnS and Mo. No solid solution was found between the two layer-type disulfides. In the system W-Sn-S, WS2 forms equilibrium assemblages with SnS2, SnS, L1 and L2 at 800 °C; at 500 °C the assemblage of W + SnS becomes a stable one. The system Mo-W-S is characterized by two solid solution series, (W, Mo) and (W, Mo)S2, in the temperature range 500–800 °C.
Childhood disability determination for supplemental security income: Implementing the Zebley decision

Abstract The United States Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in 1990 in Sullivan v. Zebley, invalidating the Social Security Administration's (SSA) regulations governing adjudication of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) childhood disability claims under Title XVI of the Social Security Act. This article briefly describes the Zebley decision. Allowances and denials of SSI childhood disability claims are presented by state and region and examined in relation to disability advocates' reactions to Zebley regulations and SSA implementation efforts. Implications for social work practice reflect the unanticipated high number of childhood disability applications and the rate of wrongful denials due to documentation errors. The need for an understanding of low-income and diverse populations and skill in interpersonal communications and in negotiating service delivery systems underscore the importance of social workers as a major resource for parents and guardians of low-income children with disabilities and for the new system for determining childhood disability. “The solutions to knotty problems such as how to assess functionality generally can be found in the field of practice. We at Social Security must work in concert with practitioners in the fields of medicine, rehabilitation, and other service delivery settings to refine our efforts to define human functionality as it relates to eligibility for and receipt of disability benefits and other services.” (Parker, 1992, p. 1).
A descriptive and comparative study of the deciduous dentition of prehistoric Ohio Valley Amerindians.

The deciduous dentition of 58 individuals from groups of prehistoric Ohio Valley Amerindians (2,000 B.C.-1,600 A.D.) was measured for antero-posterior and bucco-lingual dimensions and scored for morphological characteristics and macroscopic pathology. Only five dimensions of the posterior teeth and the frequency of severe linear enamel hypoplasia showed significant differences in the groups. In all cases focal agriculturalists exhibited smaller teeth and a higher frequency of severe linear enamel hypoplasia. These findings are explained as the result of changing diet and food preparation techniques, and/or sampling bias in the earlier burial cult groups where primarily higher status individuals may be the representatives. Comparison of metric and morphological characteristics of the deciduous dentition in the prehistoric Amerindians and roughly contemporaneous European groups indicates morphological characteristics are the better means of discrimination.
A pharmacologic study of the relationship between lymphocyte function and surface antigen expression

The relationship between functional activity and distribution of lymphocyte surface markes has not been clearly defined. We have examined the relationship between cell surface markers and function under the influence of immunosuppressant therapy. We found that after immunization with EL4 cells, the development of the immune reponse in the BALB/c mouse was accompanied by a decrease in spleen cells which stained brightly with fluorescein-labeled monoclonal anti-Thy 1 and an increase in cells which stained with rabbit anti-mouse Ig as measured on the FACS. Low doses of azathioprine and cyclophosphamide, which affect functional activity of the cells, do not alter cell surface markers. However, at higher doses of the drugs normalization of immunization-induced marker changes were observed, and the Thy 1+ and Ig+ surface markers were maintained at levels seen in non-immunized mice. In spite of a nearly 3-fold increase in the total number of lymphocytes and an increase in the functional activity of cytotoxic T cells (Lyt2+) after immunization, no alteration in the percentage of Lyt 2+ T cells nor in the intensity of staining with FITC-labeled Lyt 2 antibody was seen. Inhibition of the immune response with immunosuppressant also failed to change the Lyt 2+-staining cell population. This study demonstrates that lymphocyte functional changes precede cell surface antigen changes, and that functional changes may occur without surface antigen changes. Thus cell surface markers are “late” indicators of functional changes.
Modification of Blade Vortex Interactions Using Leading Edge Blowing

This paper investigates the effectiveness of leading-edge blowing (LEB) active flow control for modifying the vortex induced vibrations induced on an airfoil by the wake of a circular cylinder. The airfoil was allowed to oscillate perpendicular to the fluid flow direction in response to the impinging Von-Karman street. The flow field was simultaneously captured using Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV) and accelerometer measurements in a time-resolved sense. The results indicate that LEB can significantly reduce the degree of unsteady loading due to the blade vortex interaction (BVI). In some cases, the LEB jet appears to break the coherency of a vortex incident on the airfoil, and in other cases it appears to increase the mean standoff distance of the vortex as it convects over the airfoil surface.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
In situ biomonitoring of juvenile Chinook salmon (Onchorhynchus tshawytscha) using biomarkers of chemical exposures and effects in a partially remediated urbanized waterway of the Puget Sound, WA

In situ biomonitoring has been used to assess the effects of pollution on aquatic species in heavily polluted waterways. In the current study, we used in situ biomonitoring in conjunction with molecular biomarker analysis to determine the effects of pollutant exposure in salmon caged in the Duwamish waterway, a Pacific Northwest Superfund site that has been subject to remediation. The Duwamish waterway is an important migratory route for Pacific salmon and has received historic inputs of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Juvenile pre-smolt Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) caged for 8 days in the three contaminated sites in close proximity within the Duwamish were analyzed for steady state hepatic mRNA expression of 7 exposure biomarker genes encompassing several gene families and known to be responsive to pollutants, including cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) and CYP2K1, glutathione S-transferase π class (GST-π), microsomal GST (mGST), glutamylcysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), UDP-glucuronyltransferase family 1 (UDPGT), and type 2 deiodinase (type 2 DI, or D2). Quantitation of gene expression was accomplished by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in assays developed specifically for Chinook salmon genes. Gill PAH-DNA adducts were assessed as a chemical effects biomarker using 32P-postlabeling. The biomarkers in the field-caged fish were analyzed with respect to caged animals maintained at the hatchery receiving flow-through water. Chemical analysis of sediment samples from three field sampling sites revealed relatively high concentrations of total PAHs in one site (site B2, 6711 ng/g dry weight) and somewhat lower concentrations of PAHs in two adjacent sites (sites B3 and B4, 1482 and 1987 ng/g, respectively). In contrast, waterborne PAHs at all of the sampling sites were relatively low (<1 ng/L). Sediment PCBs at the sites ranged from a low of 421 ng/g at site B3 to 1160 ng/g at site B4, and there were no detectable waterborne PCBs at any of the sites (detection limit=10 ng/L). There were no significant differences (p<0.05) in biomarker gene expression in the Duwamish-caged fish relative to controls, although there was a pattern of gene expression suppression at site B3, the most heavily PAH-enriched site. The lack of a marked perturbation of mRNA biomarkers was consistent with relatively low levels of gill PAH-DNA adduct levels that did not differ among caged reference and field fish, and which were also consistent with relatively low waterborne concentrations of chemicals. The results of our study suggest a low bioavailability of sediment pollutants in caged juvenile Chinook potentially reflecting low waterborne exposures occurring at contaminated sites within the Duwamish waterway that have undergone partial remediation.
On corrective factors for project uncertainty

A common method of accounting for uncertainty in an engineering project is to assign a minimum acceptable rate of return on capital investments. This minimum rate of return is assigned in a rather arbitrary way according to the expected risk in the project. In this paper we introduce the concepts of statistical decision theory and show how the minimum rate of return can be estimated in terms of uncertainty in sales income, project life, investment, manufacturing costs, etc. Il est pratique courante de tenir compte des incertitudes dans un projet de genie en appliquant un taux minimum acceptable de revenu de placement. Ce taux minimum est une fonction arbitraire du risque de l'entreprise. Nous presentons les concepts de la theorie de decision statistique et demontrons comment ce taux minimum de revenu de placement est evalue en fonction de l'incertitude dans les ventes, le revenu net, le placement, la vie de l'entreprise, les coǔts de production, etc.
Ion distributions in inhomogeneous regions

Abstract Based on the premise that ion—ion interaction energy term contributions to the chemical potential of an ionic species in the inhomogeneous region cannot be neglected, the basic nonlinear differential equations relating the electric potential profile, dielectric profile and concentration profiles are formulated. Analytical expressions for solutions of these differential equations are obtained. It is shown that the magnitudes of the inhomogeneous region and electric potential difference are determined by the system in a self-consistent manner. Certain interesting conclusions, in contradiction with classic Gouy—Chapman theory, are obtained.
Living in the Eye of the Storm How did Hazleton’s Restrictive Immigration Ordinance Affect Local Interethnic Relations?

As Hispanic immigrants have moved beyond traditional immigrant gateways in recent years, local restrictive immigrant ordinances have proliferated. Although scholars have studied the determinants of...
Inhibition of running wheel activity in the hamster during chronic thermal stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus

Abstract 1. 1.Running activity of most rodents is inversely correlated with ambient temperature. 2. 2.When the rostral brainstem of free running hamsters is heated with a thermistor powered by a miniature, self-contained battery pack, there is a 43% reduction in circadian running activity. 3. 3.These data indicate that the thermoregulatory centres in the hypothalamus exert control on the amount of volitional running activity.
Effect of prolyl-leucyl-glycinamide on blood pressure, heart rate and angiotensin converting enzyme activity in spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rats.

The effect of melanotropin release inhibiting factor (L-prolyl-L-leucyl-glycinamide, MIF) on blood pressure and heart rate of both spontaneously hypertensive (SH) and age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats was investigated. A single s.c. injection of MIF at a lower dose (1 mg/kg) had no effect on the blood pressure of either SH or WKY rats when measured 1,4 and 7 hr after the injection of MIF. Higher doses of MIF (2 or 4 mg/kg), on the other hand, significantly depressed blood pressure in SH animals at 4 and 7 hr after the drug injection. However, MIF had no effect on the blood pressure of WKY rats. None of the doses of MIF had any appreciable effect on the heart rate of either SH or WKY rats. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity of anterior pituitary of WKY rats was significantly higher than that of SH rats. ACE activity of neurohypophysis, however, was lower in WKY rats than in SH rats. No change in the ACE activities of central and peripheral tissues (plasma, pituitary, striatum and hypothalamus) of SH rats was observed 4 hr after the administration of MIF (1, 2 or 4 mg/kg), a time at which MIF produced significant antihypertensive effect. It is concluded that MIF causes a delayed lowering of blood pressure only in the genetically hypertensive rats and that this effect is not mediated via an action on the ACE.
Freudianism, behaviour therapy and “self-disclosure”

Abstract The Editors of this Journal have graciously invited me to write “a comparative revaluation of the works of Wolpe and of Dollard and Miller on the subject of psychotherapy”. I am happy to accept this assignment but wish to extend it by also placing these works in juxtaposition to another, very different approach and point of view which I believe involves a much more realistic conception of neurosis and holds far greater promise of effective treatment and prevention.
The determination of stable organic compounds in waste effluents at microgram per liter levels by automatic high-resolution ion exchange chromatography

Abstract A high-resolution anion exchange analyzer was adapted for determination of u.v.-absorbing compounds in water at μg 1 −1 levels. The samples were concentrated prior to analysis by vacuum distillation and freeze-drying. Seventy-seven peaks were obtained from a municipal primary sewage effluent; each constituent was present at less than 100 μg 1 −1 . Thirty-eight peaks were obtained from a municipal secondary sewage effluent, with each constituent at less than 20 μg 1 −1 . Thirteen compounds have been identified as relatively stable to primary treatment. The concentrations of compounds in industrial primary and secondary effluents were estimated at up to 1 mg 1 −1 ; the secondary treatment caused little degradation. Chromatograms of the effluents appear to depend upon sewage plant operating conditions as well as upon the type of feed sent to the treatment plant.
Assessing differences between technology transfer officers and institutions in the decision to commercialise new technologies

Extant literature has identified a set of criteria critical to the successful commercialisation of new technologies, however little research has examined whether or not technology transfer officers uniformly apply these criteria in the commercialisation process. We undertook a quantitative and qualitative investigation of the manner in which decision criteria vary across a population of technology transfer officers. We surveyed 21 technology transfer officers at 11 different research institutions regarding their application of these criteria to specific, institutional technologies. Our findings suggest that the nature of the technology, experience of the transfer officer and organisation of the technology transfer office each influence the decision to pursue commercialisation of specific technologies. Subsequently, we interviewed six officers to better understand our initial findings. Through these interviews, we gained substantial insight into the process, importance of external partners, performance criteria, and institutional metrics for technology transfer success.
Housing, Adjustment Costs, and Macro Dynamics

When utility depends on a single, frictionlessly adjustable consumption good, the household's willingness to substitute consumption intertemporally is solely determined by the curvature of the utility function. When the utility specification is generalized from one good to two, however, the curvature parameter then specifies the curvature of the utility function with respect to a composite good. If both goods are frictionlessly adjustable, then each of the individual goods will all have the same dynamics, and the intuition from the one-good case--that the elasticity of intertemporal substitution is determined solely by the curvature parameter--remains valid. In this article, however, the two goods are interpreted as housing services and non-housing goods. Non-housing consumption can be adjusted frictionlessly, but housing services are subject to a non-convex adjustment cost. The article explores the dynamic behavior of non-durable consumption by solving numerically for the optimal level of non-housing consumption, conditional on an assumed path for housing consumption and for the marginal utility of wealth. The results indicate that the intertemporal behavior of nonhousing consumption depends crucially on the intratemporal substitutability of the two goods as well as the curvature of the utility function with respect to the composite good. (JEL codes: E21, E32, D91) Copyright The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Ifo Institute for Economic Research, Munich. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com, Oxford University Press.
Gastrin Induction of Protein Synthesis in Isolated Gastric Mucosal Cells

AbstractExposure of isolated rat gastric mucosal cells to 10-10 and 10-9M gastrin (G-17-I) for 2 hr significantly stimulated [3H]leucine incorporation (15 min pulse) into protein by 100 and 212%, respectively, when compared with the basal levels. Doses beyond 10-9M lowered the maximal stimulatory effect of the hormone. Gastrin (10-9M) specifically stimulated the synthesis of five proteins in isolated gastric mucosal cells with apparent molecular weights of 105, 76, 71, 63, and 54 kDa. Actinomycin-D (10 μg/ml) completely abolished the gastrin-mediated stimulation of protein synthesis in isolated gastric mucosal cells.
Altered function of adenylate cyclase in the myocardium of the spontaneously hypertensive rat

The effects of Mg2+, Mn2+, Ca2+, guanylylimidodiphosphate [Gpp(NH)p] and isoproterenol on adenylate cyclase activity in myocardial membrane preparations from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Kyoto Wistar normotensive rats (WKY) were compared. The isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity of myocardial membranes from WKY rats responded at a lower threshold (10 vs 200 nM) and with a lower EC 50 (300 nM vs 1 μM) and a higher maximal velocity. When the isoproterenol effect was studied in the presence of 100 nM Gpp(NH)p, the threshold for isoproterenol was similar in SHR and WKY. However, the activity at each dose was significantly lower (P<0.05) in SHR. In the presence of Gpp(NH)p alone, no differences were observed between SHR and WKY. Increasing Mg2+ and Mn2+ concentrations stimulated adenylate cyclase activity but no differences were observed between SHR and WKY for Mn2+ stimulation. However, the SHR myocardial activity was significantly reduced at Mg2+ concentrations ranging from 6 to 25 mM. The effect of varying the Mg2+ concentration was further tested in the prsence of 1 μM isoproterenol. The adenylate cyclase activity of myocardia of SHR was significantly reduced at Mg2+ concentrations between 4 and 24 mM. These observations suggest that sensitivity of the adenylate cyclase to isoproterenol has been decreased in SHR.
Motivations for Participation in Knitting Among Young Women

The number of young women who knit has increased dramatically in the past ten years; however, there is little research focused on understanding young, female knitters. The purpose of this research ...
Further studies on pyruvoyl amino acids.

Abstract Pyruvoyl-α-aminoisobutyric acid was prepared, and its absorption characteristics in the ultraviolet compared with those of pyruvoylglycine, pyruvoyl- dl -alanine, and pyruvoyl- dl -phenylalanine. All four compounds in aqueous solution possess the same type of absorption, with maxima at 242–245 mμ and at 310–337 mμ. On alkalinization of the solution, the characteristic absorption of the latter three compounds disappears, and is not restored on acidification. On the other hand, the characteristic absorption of pyruvoyl-α-aminoisobutyric acid changes very little on alkalinization of the solution, and the small change is completely reversed on acidification. These differences have been interpreted as being due to the presence of at least one hydrogen atom on the α-carbon of the amino acid residue in pyruvoylglycine, pyruvoylalanine, and pyruvoylphenylalanine which permits ring closure in alkaline solution to the corresponding γ-hydroxy-pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid derivatives. Where no such hydrogen exists, as in pyruvoyl-α-aminoisobutyric acid, ring closure cannot occur, and the original starting material can be recovered.
High temperature vacuum assisted resin transfer molding of phenylethynyl terminated imide composites

Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) hasproven to be a cost effective process for manufactur-ing composite structures compared with prepreg/auto-clave and traditional resin transfer molding (RTM) proc-esses. However, VARTM has not been accomplishedwith high temperature resins (such as polyimides) untilrecently, primarily because no resins had low melt vis-cosity and long melt stability that are required byVARTM. With the recent invention of phenylethynyl ter-minated imides (PETIs), high temperature VARTM hasbeen achieved. Two processing methods, in-plane andthrough-thickness resin ﬂow, were proposed andtested. Both methods are capable of fabricating polyi-mide matrix composites; and the carbon ﬁber lami-nates yield good ﬁber-resin interfacial bonding andcomparable mechanical properties to those laminatesfabricated using RTM.
Study of the density-gradient expansion for the exchange energy

It is well known that the density-gradient expansion of the Hartree-Fock exchange energy for the bare-Coulomb interaction contains divergent terms of order ${e}^{4}$ where $e$ is the electronic charge. We argue that the exchange energy evaluated with Kohn-Sham orbitals (i.e., those derived from a local effective potential) is purely of order ${e}^{2}$ and therefore its gradient expansion is well defined. This density-gradient expansion, with the a priori coefficient of Sham, is shown to converge by comparison with numerically refined values for the exact exchange energy of a metal surface in the linear-potential model. As the electron density profile becomes more slowly varying, the relative error of the zeroth-order (local-density) term tends to zero. We present here the first demonstration that, in addition, the absolute error is increasingly canceled by the second-order (gradient) term. Like the gradient expansion for the kinetic energy but unlike the one for correlation, the gradient expansion for exchange gives useful results even for "physical" surface profiles. One- and many-electron atoms are also discussed. It is observed that, as the atomic number increases, the relative errors of the local-density and gradient-expansion approximations decrease in magnitude, but the gradient term corrects only a small fraction of the error of the local-density approximation. This is a consequence of the fact that the convergence condition $\frac{|\ensuremath{\nabla}n|}{2}{k}_{F}n\ensuremath{\lesssim}1$ is increasingly satisfied as the atomic number increases but the second convergence condition $\frac{|{\ensuremath{\nabla}}^{2}n|}{2{k}_{F}|\ensuremath{\nabla}n|}\ensuremath{\ll}1$ is not so well satisfied.
The Importance of the Social Sciences to the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction

The Executive Board of the Research Committee on Disasters of the International Sociological Association endorsed the following statement about the 1DNDR on 14 December, 1990.
Preceptor Perceptions of the Importance of Experiential Guidelines

Objectives. To assess preceptors’ perceptions of the importance of experiential guidelines and identify and compare differences in perceptions. Methods. Active advanced and introductory pharmacy practice experience preceptors for the University of New Mexico were invited to participate in an anonymous electronic survey regarding the importance of specific tasks and abilities expected in new pharmacist practitioners as outlined in Appendix C of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Standards and Guidelines. Results. While the majority of preceptors rated most tasks (eg, communication, patient counseling) as very important or important, emerging tasks (eg, health literacy, public health, physical assessment) were not rated as highly by a majority of preceptors. Conclusion. The deficiencies identified in the study suggest potential reductions in the transfer of learning from preceptors to experiential students. Preceptor training programs should be structured to raise the perceived level of importance of these tasks.
Overlapping 3′-end formation signals and ARS elements: tightly linked but functionally separable

3'-End formation signals are closely associated with autonomous replicating sequences (ARSs) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in that ARSs frequently contain signals that direct 3'-end formation (Chen et al., 1996). Mutationally-inactivated ARSs that co-reside with 3'-end formation sequences do not disrupt 3'-end formation, thus demonstrating that replication function does not affect termination function. To test the corollary possibility that 3'-end formation is important for replication function, we made point mutations in ARS305 that increase readthrough of the 3'-end formation signals and determined plasmid replication efficiency. Replication efficiency, as assessed by plasmid stability assays, was not altered by mutations affecting 3'-end formation when transcription through the ARS was either absent or highly-induced. Under conditions of high-level transcription through the ARS, the rate of plasmid loss in both wild-type and mutated terminators increased over five-fold from rates observed during transcriptionally repressed conditions. This result indicates that the native 3'-end formation signal is incapable of protecting the replication function when high levels of transcription are directed into the ARS. Thus, the compact nature of the S. cerevisiae genome, rather than a functional inter-dependence, may account for close association of transcription terminators and ARSs.
Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor primes neonatal granulocytes for enhanced oxidative metabolism and chemotaxis.

ABSTRACT: Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) induces proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells. Additionally, rhGM-CSF enhances the physiologic responses of adult polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) especially with respect to oxidative metabolism and chemotaxis. Neonatal PMN are deficient in chemotaxis and have been demonstrated to have reduced oxidative responses in times of stress. We evaluated the priming effects of rhGMCSF (1-100 pmol/L) on cord (neonatal) superoxide production and chemotaxis. Cord and adult PMN were incubated with 100 pmol/L rhGM-CSF (Amgen, 4 × 107 U/mg) for 0-120 min and stimulated with N-formyl-1-methionyl- 1-leucyl-phenylalanine. RhGM-CSF enhanced O2− production at all time periods with maximal priming at 60 min (147.97 ± 11.14% p ≤ 0.006) with less, but significant enhancement at 120 min (116.53 ± 7.92% p ≤ 0.05). Maximal adult PMN O2− release occurred at 120 min (190.02 ± 8.71% p ≤ 0.003) and was more pronounced than cord PMN. RhGM-CSF (100 pmol/L × 30 min) incubation of cord PMN also primed for increased PMN O2− release after zymosan-activated serum stimulation (p ≤ 0.05) but not PMA (p = NS). Co-incubating cord PMNs with 100 pmol/L rhGM-CSF and a murine anti-human GM-CSF antibody (0-100 mcg/ml) resulted in 95% inhibition of the priming effect of rhGM-CSF enhancement of cord PMN (V release. RhGM-CSF, primed cord PMN for enhanced chemotaxis during early incubation (5 min) with both N-formyl-1-methionyl-l-leucyl-phenylalanine (10∼8 M) and Escherichia coli filtrate (113.54 ± 6.11% p ≤ 0.025 and 110.84 ± 4.69% p ≤ 0.001), respectively, but not at 30-min or 60-min incubation. These studies suggest that rhGM-CSF similarly primes neonatal PMN like adult PMN for enhanced in vitro PMN oxidative responses and chemotaxis.
Tissue Culture Cells on Deformable Substrata: Biomechanical Implications

A method has been developed for the study of the forces which individual cells exert during their locomotion. Polydimethyl-siloxane (silicone fluid) was crosslinked on its surface by brief flaming to form a thin layer of silicone rubber. Tissue culture cells of many types were then plated out onto these rubber substrata and the propulsive forces these cells exert as they adhere and spread became visible as wrinkles and other distortions in the rubber. From time-lapse films of these distortions, it appears that the component cells of the body move by exerting shearing forces through their plasma membranes. How these forces are exerted and how this technique for observing them could be made more quantitative are discussed.
Internalization of Two Distinct Receptors in Response to Occupation with a Bivalent Ligand Incorporating a Single Stimulus for Internalization

Treatment of patients with CCK2 receptor antagonists potentiates pain relief induced by mu-opioid (MOP) agonists. In attempt to enhance this effect with a single bivalent ligand, we connected pharmacophores of non-peptidyl CCK2 receptor antagonist and MOP receptor agonist with a spacer. Spacer length of 16-21 atoms was consistent with simultaneous binding to both receptors, however provided no advantage in biological activity from that of two individual ligands (J Med Chem, 2009). Here, we extend this to examine effects of ligand tethering on receptor regulation. We prepared a series of CHO cell lines stably expressing yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-tagged single receptor constructs or both of these receptors tagged with half of YFP (YN attached to one receptor and YC attached to the other). The YFP halves were not fluorescent until brought into spatial approximation to reconstitute YFP. These receptors bound their specific ligands effectively. The MOP agonist signaled normally and resulted in MOP receptor internalization. The CCK2 receptor antagonist did not stimulate receptor internalization. In the dual receptor-expressing cell line, bivalent ligands capable of binding both receptors simultaneously effected YFP fluorescence at the cell surface, and this signal internalized in a time- and temperature-dependent manner. Bivalent ligands with spacer arms too short to occupy both receptors simultaneously did not result in such a signal. Thus, a bivalent ligand is able to stimulate the association of two non-spontaneously-dimerizing receptors on the cell surface, and both of these receptors are internalized in response to binding a ligand of one receptor that stimulates internalization. Tethering provides a mechanism for dragging other surface molecules into the endocytic pathway.
Melanoprotein Absence of a direct melanin-protein relationship in chick embryp melanocytes

Abstract Short-term synthesis of radioactivity labeled melanin (using dl -[2- 14 C]tyrosine or 2-[2- 14 C]thiouracil) by chick retinal pigment tissues in vitro was not influenced by inhibitors of protein synthesis, puromycin and cyloheximide. Co-ordinate synthesis of protein is, therefore, unnecessary for melanin synthesis, and melanoproteins must represent secondary interactions between melanin and protein. Melanin was isolated from chick embryo feather germs by extracting the proteins with hot dodecyl sulfate/mercaptoethanol. Melanin isolated from tissues incubated previously in l -[U- 14 C]valine medium had no associated radioactivity compared to the radioactivity of melanin prepared from tissues incubated in dl -[2- 14 C]tyrosine or 2-[2- 14 C]thiouracil. If melanoproteins exist at all, they are non-covalently bonded associations of melanin and melanosomal proteins.
Effects of Chronic Ochratoxin A and Citrinin Toxicosis on Kidney Function of Single Comb White Leghorn Pullets

The objectives of the present study were to examine the effects of repeated or chronic ochratoxin A (OA) and citrinin exposure, and to determine if severe ochratoxicosis permanently alters renal function in pullets. The OA-treated birds were injected intramuscularly (breast muscle) with a 1 mg/mL solution of OA at a dose of .25 mg/kg BW or .5 mg/kg BW. Citrinin-treated birds were injected with a 6 mg/mL solution of citrinin at a dose of 6 mg/kg BW. Control birds received an equal volume injection of the citrinin and OA solvent, 100% ethanol, at a dose of 1 mL/kg BW. Kidney function was evaluated after 10 consecutive days of OA, citrinin, or ethanol injection, and 2 wk following the final injections. Venous blood gas measurements were taken after the seventh day of injection. The OA increased urine flow rate, decreased urine osmolality, increased ion excretion (Na, K, Ca, P), increased water consumption, increased manure moisture, and caused a relative alkalosis when measured immediately after 10 days of OA injection. These effects of OA were not detected 2 wk later. Citrinin increased manure moisture, decreased plasma P, increased the clearance of para-aminohippuric acid, and had no consistent effect on blood acid-base parameters. The results suggest that OA may cause an osmotic diuresis by inhibiting tubular reabsorption of electrolytes. The data also suggests that the effects of OA may be reversible simply by discontinuing toxin administration. Although the citrinin-induced increase in manure moisture indicates that citrinin had an effect on renal function, renal function analysis suggests that even repeated exposure to high doses of citrinin may only have a short duration of diuretic action on the kidneys.
Self-Disclosure of HIV Infection to Dentists and Physicians

We prospectively examined self-disclosure of HIV infection by 129 men and women to dentists and physicians. After an average of 2.3 years since initial HIV-positive notification and repeated individual counseling, only 53 percent of subjects had told their dentists of HIV infection compared to 89 percent who had told their physicians. This high rate of non-disclosure despite extensive counseling raises concern about effectiveness of education alone in promoting voluntary self-disclosure. Our findings further support recommended universal precautions.
Measurement of the affinity and cooperativity of annexin V-membrane binding under conditions of low membrane occupancy.

Abstract We developed a method for measuring the binding affinity of annexin V for phospholipid vesicles and cells at very low levels of membrane occupancy. The annexin V-117 mutant was labeled with fluorescein iodoacetamide on its single N-terminal cysteine residue; binding to phospholipid vesicles containing phosphatidylserine (PS) and 2% rhodamine–phosphatidylethanolamine was measured by fluorescence quenching due to resonance energy transfer; binding to cells with exposed PS was measured by fluorometry after elution of bound protein. The equilibrium constant was calculated as a function of the midpoint of the calcium titration curve, the Hill coefficient, and the concentration of membrane binding sites. Calcium titrations at very low ratios of protein to membrane revealed Hill coefficients of approximately 8 for both vesicles and cells, far higher than previously measured, but as the protein–membrane ratio was increased above 3% of maximum membrane occupancy, the value of the Hill coefficient progressively decreased to a limiting value of about 2. High Hill coefficients were also observed for measurements performed at different ionic strengths and with membrane PS content varied over the range from 20 to 50%. This method allows the accurate determination of the affinity and cooperativity of annexin V–membrane binding and will be useful for the evaluation of modified annexin V derivatives intended for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Electrohydrodynamic Oscillating Piston Problem

The linearization method of Prandtl-Glauert type is applied to the electrohydrodynamic supersonic flow over a wavy wall. But it is found that it has no solutions satisfying the appropriate boundary conditions. Thus, a simplified model of an oscillating piston problem for this flow is considered. Numerical solutions of this problem are obtained as the initial value problem. The density distributions and the streamlines are calculated. It is found that sufficiently far from the piston, shocks are fully developed.
A “Bottom-Up” Redefinition for Mobility and the Effect of Poor Tube–Tube Contact on the Performance of CNT Nanonet Thin-Film Transistors

Nanonet thin-film transistors (NN-TFTs) based on random or aligned networks of single-wall carbon nanotubes are often regarded as a promising high-performance alternative to amorphous-Si technology for various macroelectronics applications involving sensors and displays. The comparison of NN-TFTs with other competing technologies such as organic, a-Si, and p-Si TFTs, however, has proved difficult as the mobility of these devices (counterintuitively) depends on a host of geometrical parameters such as tube density D, tube length LS, channel length LC, tube-tube contact C ij, etc. In this letter, we redefine the mobility for NN-TFTs by generalizing the classical definition from a ldquobottom-uprdquo perspective based on a stick percolation model. This new definition would allow a direct comparison of NN-TFT mobilities across different laboratories and with other competing technologies. We also suggest a simple experimental measure of the critical tube-tube contact C ij parameter to allow design of optimized transistors.
Two addition theorems

Abstract The following theorems are proved: o (1) Let A⊕B=A∪B∪(A+B). If G is a finite Abelian group and A 1 +…+A k subsets of G with |A 1 |+…+|A k |≥|G| then either A 1 ⊕…⊕A k =G or 0∈A 2 +…+A k . For k=2 this statement is true for any group. (3) Let a 1 , …, a p+k−1 be a sequence of p+k−1 integers. Then it is possible to select k distinct indices i 1 , …, i k such that a i 1 +…+a i k ≡0(mod p ). By means of (2), the proof of a theorem of Erdos, Ginzburg, and Ziv can be considerably simplified.
Model selection and estimation in the Gaussian graphical model

SUMMARY We propose penalized likelihood methods for estimating the concentration matrix in the Gaussian graphical model. The methods lead to a sparse and shrinkage estimator of the concentration matrix that is positive definite, and thus conduct model selection and estimation simultaneously. The implementation of the methods is nontrivial because of the positive definite constraint on the concentration matrix, but we show that the computation can be done effectively by taking advantage of the efficient maxdet algorithm developed in convex optimization. We propose a BIC-type criterion for the selection of the tuning parameter in the penalized likelihood methods. The connection between our methods and existing methods is illustrated. Simulations and real examples demonstrate the competitive performance of the new methods.
Tin Oxide Films Made by Physical Vapor Deposition-Thermal Oxidation and Spray Pyrolysis

Tin oxide films have been prepared by physical vapor deposition of Sn followed by thermal oxidation and by spray pyrolysis of SnCl4 or SnCl4·5H4O mixed with CH3OH. Phase changes and surface morphologies during the syntheses were monitored by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Electrical resistance and UV−visible transmittance of tin oxide films prepared by both methods were measured. The peak shapes of the Auger Sn M4N45N45 transition of the prepared tin oxide films were compared to those of commercial SnO and SnO2 and used to determine rough values of the oxidation state of Sn. Oxygen/tin ratios in the films were determined from analyses of scanning Auger microprobe and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and are all less than 2. Auger depth profiles with thermally oxidized tin oxide films on glass substrates show an overlapping region between the tin oxide film and the substrate. These films were tested as sensors for CH2Cl2 in O2. The mixed phase (SnO·SnO2) tin oxide films prepared by tem...
Electronic Raman scattering from carbon acceptors in undoped GaAs-Al1-xGaxAs multiple quantum wells

Abstract Electronic Raman scattering related to carbon acceptor states was observed in undoped GaAs-Al1-xGaxAs multiple quantum well structures. The experimental results show that the largest contributions involve transitions from Γ6 (heavy hole) ground state to Γ6 (heavy hole) first excited state at the center of the well, and are in good agreement with recent theoretical calculations.
Variation in Pediatric Head CT Imaging Protocols in Washington State

Purpose To examine variation in pediatric trauma head CT imaging protocols in Washington state. Methods A web-based survey was sent to trauma-designated hospitals in Washington state. Respondents were queried about pediatric head trauma volumes, type of CT scanners, and technical information about the CT imaging protocols. Variation in pediatric trauma volumes, CT dose reduction strategies, and effective dose by trauma center levels was examined. Mean head effective dose and organ dose for a female baby were estimated. Results We achieved a 76% overall response rate. Of the 2,215 children who received head CT scans, 36.3% (n=805) received head CT imaging at level 4 trauma center facilities, followed by level 1 trauma center (31.4%; n=695), level 3 trauma center (19.7%; n=436), level 2 trauma center (12%; n=267), and Level 5 (0.5%; n=12) facilities. Most responding trauma center facilities (44/47) reported having a pediatric specific imaging head CT protocols. However, compared to levels 1 and 2 trauma centers together, a greater proportion of levels 3, 4 & 5 trauma center facilities collectively lacked dose reduction strategies (0% vs. 25-57%), tended to have higher mAs (169 ± 113 vs. 110 ± 36), and were later adopters of dose reduction strategies on the CT scanners. There was more than a 10-fold variation in estimated median effective dose for a baby within level 4 trauma center facilities (3.5 ± 0.84 mSv, range 0.60 to 9.60 mSv). Discussion There is both within and between trauma center level variation in pediatric head CT imaging protocols and radiation dose in Washington state.
Electrical resistivity and TDR methods for soil moisture estimation in central Italy test-sites

Summary In this study, the feasibility of the resistivity method for the study of the spatial and temporal soil moisture variations in the Vallaccia catchment (central Italy), covering an area of about 56 km 2 , was investigated. Correlation and regression analyses were performed over a 1 year data set of simultaneous soil electrical resistivity and soil moisture measurements, acquired in eight different sites with a Resistivimeter Syscal Junior and a portable Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR), respectively. Measurements acquired in-time by continuous Frequency Domain Reflectometer (FDR) sensors were also used and compared with simultaneous resistivity measurements. The statistical analyses were conducted not only for the whole data set, but also separately for each sampling day, for each sampling site and considering spatially averaged data. Results showed a good correlation between resistivity and soil moisture measurements, revealing the capability of resistivity measurements to infer soil moisture spatial and temporal variability with a root mean square error equal, on average, to 4.4% vol/vol. In comparison with TDR, the resistivity method gives information integrated on a greater volume of soil and the measurements are easier and quicker to be carried out. Therefore, this method can be considered as an alternative tool to be employed for qualitative and quantitative soil moisture monitoring in small to medium catchments.
Gender, development and urban social change: Women's community action in global cities

Abstract This article addresses the gender dimensions of women's community action in global cities. It focuses on two types of women's organizations (food provision and anti-violence) and draws out their implications for community and national development frameworks in the context of economic restructuring and urban poverty. The article undertakes three tasks: First, it rethinks frameworks of development and urban social change from a gender perspective. Second, it analyzes the ways in which local women's organizations have acted proactively—rather than merely reactively—to processes of urban restructuring. Third, it proposes an approach in which women's informal political and economic participation is better accounted for in national development frameworks and related community development initiatives.
Codes for differential signals in the presence of large numbers of antennas

We consider the design of codes for differential space-time modulation in the presence of large numbers of transmit and/or receive antennas. Based on the novel upper bound on the pairwise-error probability of differential space-time modulation for large numbers of antennas, we show that Euclidean distance is an appropriate code performance indicator in the large-array regime. For two transmit antennas, we use the new design criterion to obtain new differential codes with large minimum Euclidean distance. Simulations of bit-error-rate confirms that the new codes has improved the performance of differential codes for large numbers of receive antennas.