cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Xylene—A potential danger to the maxillofacial prosthodontist

Abstract Basic health standards must be observed in the fabrication of facial prostheses. The hazards associated with the use of xylene must be recognized, and corrective measures should be extended for all potentially dangerous biochemical procedures and products that are uniquely used by the maxillofacial prosthodontist.
Importance of pH in assessing the potential for nitrosocarbamate formation in the stomach

Abstract Formation of the nitroso derivatives of 14C-labeled carbaryl, carbofuran, and p-chlorophenyl methylcarbamate (PCMC), and their subsequent stabilities were investigated using low levels of carbamate (0.5 μmol) and aqueous HCl concentrations encompassing those considered maximum for the gastric contents of humans (pH 1–2) and of rats (pH 3–4). Reacting the carbamates with excess sodium nitrite for 10 min at 37°C in a pH 1.0 HCl solution gave nitrosocarbamate yields of 42 to 64%, while only trace amounts were formed at pH 2 and above. The nitrosocarbamates were most stable at pH 3–5 with half-lives ranging from 114 to 470 min. Stability of all three nitroso derivatives was considerably less at pH 1.5 ( t 1 2 , 25–34 min), but at pH 7 the stability varied: nitroso-PCMC t 1 2 , 6 min; nitrosocarbofuran t 1 2 , 70 min; nitrosocarbaryl t 1 2 , 139 min. Denitrosation to the parent carbamate was the predominant degradation pathway at pH 1.5, but at pH 3–7 degradation was primarily by hydrolysis of the carbamate ester linkage. Each of the nitrosocarbamates was directly mutagenic in the S. typhimurium assay system. Since the data show that nitrosation of residue levels of carbamate pesticides occurs readily at pH 1 but not at pH 2 and above, it is critical that gastric contents of any animal model used for assessing nitrosocarbamate formation have a pH approaching 1 as may occur in the human stomach.
Cytochrome P-450 in culture forms of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Abstract 1. Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote and trypomastigote forms contain microsomal peptides in the 40–60,000 mol. wt region, some of which are heme-staining-positive and are induced by phenobarbital, as indicated by SDS-gel electrophoresis and by double-labeling experiments. 2. Epimastigotes show induced peptides of mol. wt 56,000, 52,500, 49,000, 44,000, 42,000 and 40,500 whereas only one peptide (52,500 mol. wt) is increased in trypomastigotes. 3. Fractionation of microsomes derived from epimastigotes by octylamine Sepharose-4B column chromatography reveals the presence of two heme peptides with mol. wt of 55,800 and 56,600. 4. The pooled fraction has a typical cytochrome P-450 CO-difference spectrum and appears to correspond to a high spin form. 5. The demonstration of the existence of this family of hemoproteins in T. cruzi further supports the idea that resistance to chemotherapeutic agents is due to active metabolism. 6. The active metabolism, however, may not be similar in the various developmental forms of this organism since differences exist in the patterns of induction of heme-positive microsomal peptides.
Ab Initio Study of the Electronic Structure of XSO and XSO2(X = F, Cl) Radicals

The geometry and vibrational frequency of XSO and XSO2 (X = F, Cl) radicals in both the ground state and the first excited electronic state, as well as the transition energy between the two states ...
Motion of Model Leukocytes near a Wall in Simple Shear Flow

Receptor-mediated cell adhesion to surfaces depends on the motion of the cell prior to adhesion. We studied the hydrodynamic behavior of cells near a wall in simple shear flow using a model leukocyte system that we have also used extensively in cell-substrate adhesion studies. Specifically, we measured the velocity of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells near a surface in a parallel-plate flow chamber and compared it to the motion of polystyrene beads and glutaraldehyde-fixed RBL cells. We found that RBL cells (13 microns diameter) travel 25% faster than polystyrene beads of 14.5 microns diameter for a wide range of shear rates (20-180 s-1); this suggests that RBL cells would travel 39% faster than polystyrene beads of equivalent size. Glutaraldehyde-fixed RBL cells travel at a velocity between those of live cells and 14.5-microns beads. These differences in velocities have been observed over both polyacrylamide gel and glass substrates. Application of a theory for hard sphere motion near a wall in simple shear flow at low Reynolds number [Goldman, A.J.; Cox, R.G.; Brenner, H. Chem. Eng. Sci. 1967b, 22, 653-660] to our measured cell velocities suggests that cells are separated from the wall by > or = 550 nm. Such large separation distances have also been predicted by others who have used hard sphere theory to analyze the effect of shear flow on cell motion near walls. However, the extensive receptor-mediated cell adhesion seen in these systems is inconsistent with these separation distances, which are approximately 30 times greater than the distance required for receptor-ligand contact. Instead, we propose that, because of cell deformability and cell surface roughness, cells remain within a separation distance that allows for molecular contact while they travel faster than the hard sphere theory predicts. Therefore, the theory of Goldman and co-workers, while adequate for hard sphere motion, is likely not accurate for cellular motion.
Limit theorems for semigroups with perturbed generators, with applications to multiscaled random evolutions

Abstract For parameters η, let {B(η)} denote infinitesimal operators of strongly continuous semigroups, with resolvents R(λ; B(η)) satisfying λR(λ; B(η)) = P(η) + λV(η) + o(λ). For parameters α, let {A(α)} denote possibly unbounded, linear operators for which {A(α) + B(η)} are infinitesimal operators of strongly continuous semigroups {Uα·η(t)}. For α, η converging simultaneously, we show strong convergence of the semigroups Uα·η(t) to a strongly continuous semigroup U(t), with limiting infinitesimal operator characterized by limα·η ∑j P(η) A(α) × (V(η) A(α))if. We give applications of the abstract perturbation theorems to limit theorems of random evolutions and associated abstract Cauchy problems, in which multiscaling occurs in the convergence.
Non‐profit response to catastrophic disasters

Purpose – This article aims to examine the role of non‐profit organizations in response to catastrophic disasters.Design/methodology/approach – The study uses the context of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City to study the emergence of public non‐profit networks in response to an actual event. The case study utilizes the data from content analyses from news reports in The New York Times; situation reports from the FEMA; interviews with public and non‐profit managers; and archival documents.Findings – The findings of the study emphasize the importance of well‐coordinated collaboration between the public and non‐profit sector organizations in effective disaster response operations. This type of networks constitutes a field of substantial interest to democratic societies that are seeking to manage problems of public service delivery with innovative means at reasonable cost.Originality/value – Its theoretical framework draws upon the literature in interorganizational netw...
Protein Phosphatase 2A Is Targeted to Cell Division Control Protein 6 by a Calcium-binding Regulatory Subunit

The cell division control protein 6 (Cdc6) is essential for formation of pre-replication complexes at origins of DNA replication. Phosphorylation of Cdc6 by cyclin-dependent kinases inhibits ubiquitination of Cdc6 by APC/Ccdh1 and degradation by the proteasome. Experiments described here show that the PR70 member of the PPP2R3 family of regulatory subunits targets protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) to Cdc6. Interaction with Cdc6 is mediated by residues within the C terminus of PR70, whereas interaction with PP2A requires N-terminal sequences conserved within the PPP2R3 family. Two functional EF-hand calcium-binding motifs mediate a calcium-enhanced interaction of PR70 with PP2A. Calcium has no effect on the interaction of PR70 with Cdc6 but enhances the association of PP2A with Cdc6 through its effects on PR70. Knockdown of PR70 by RNA interference results in an accumulation of endogenous and expressed Cdc6 protein that is dependent on the cyclin-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation sites on Cdc6. Knockdown of PR70 also causes G1 arrest, suggesting that PR70 function is critical for progression into S phase. These observations indicate that PP2A can be targeted in a calcium-regulated manner to Cdc6 via the PR70 subunit, where it plays a role in regulating protein phosphorylation and stability.
The Substitution between Moves and Quits

If a worker's workplace and residence locations do not maximize utility, quits and moves are "substitutes"; a quit or a move alone is more likely than both together. Records of a single company confirm this. Simultaneous bivariate probit estimates of move and quit behavior demonstrate that uncontrolled shocks to quits and moves are negatively correlated. Furthermore, when the company relocated from the central business district to a suburb of its metropolitan area, the occurrence of either a quit or a move virtually precluded the occurrence of the other among employees whose journeys-to-work were lengthened by the relocation. Copyright 1991 by Royal Economic Society.
Mass-analyzed threshold ionization spectroscopy of AlAr

Abstract Mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectroscopy is applied for the first time to a metal van der Waals complex, AlAr. The experimental configuration for MATI uses a time-of-flight mass spectrometer, oriented perpendicular to the molecular beam axis, without modification of any components. The vibrationally resolved spectrum yields a frequency of ω″ e =67 cm −1 for the ground state of Al + Ar, and a value of Δ G ″ 1 2 =39 cm −1 for neutral AlAr.
Flow and mixed convection heat transfer in buoyant jets from floor registers

Abstract As models of energy movement in buildings and tools for load calculation become more refined, more accurate descriptions of fluid mechanics and heat transfer in perimeter zones are needed. New construction which includes glass curtain walls around perimeter zones presents a unique challenge. A mixed convection regime may be present which precludes the use of existing models developed for purely forced convection. In order to study flow and heat transfer in these situations, environmental conditions are precisely controlled in a test room to simulate situations that may occur in perimeter zones of buildings with glass curtain walls. Diffuser jets issuing from floor registers were shown to exhibit behavior not accounted for in existing heat transfer models. Results show that the movement of the jet issuing from floor registers is highly dependent on the mixed convection parameter Gr/Re2 or Richardson number. Models are put forth to predict the movement of these jets, and the resulting heat transfer at walls or windows. When the effect of buoyancy forces is accounted for, models conform to a form used previously for turbulent forced convection. Three distinct flow regimes are identified and prescriptions are put forth for ensuring proper thermal control and accurate energy models.
3-D Reconstructions of Tailed Bacteriophages from CYRO Electron Microscopy Images

A 3-D reconstruction problem for virus particles based on cryo electron microscope images is described in which a spatially localized deviation from total-particle symmetry is present. In particular, we describe a statistical algorithm for the reconstruction of tailed bacteriophages where the symmetries of the capsid and tail are incompatible and therefore the tail is a deviation from symmetry. For reasons of computational complexity and reduced storage, we propose a two-step approach to reconstruction. Mathematical models and numerical results computed from synthetic data are presented.
Cell-mediated immunity in patients with renal cell carcinoma as measured by leukocyte migration inhibition test

Abstract The cell-mediated immune (CMI) response to tumor-associated antigens present in 3 M KCL extracts of renal cell carcinoma tissue was measured in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by the leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI) test. Of 30 patients with histologicall proved RCC, 19 (63 per cent) gave a positive LMI test; whereas, 2 of 28 (7 per cent) of the normal donors, 13 of 43 (30 per cent) patients with other cancers, and 5 of 14 (36 per cent) benign kidney disease patients gave positive tests. Thirteen per cent of RCC patients reacted to a normal kidney extract. Although 33 per cent gave a positive response to a lung carcinoma extract, the incidence of reactivity was less than that observed with the lung cancer patients. These results suggest that a CMI response to a renal carcinoma-associated antigen was measured by the LMI test. Correlation of the LMI data with the stage of disease and clinical status indicated that 71 per cent of patients that had a localized tumor and were clinically free of disease one year postnephrectoiny lost their tumor-directed CMI response. Patients with distant metastasis (Stage D) were LMI positive provided they had not received radiation or hormone therapy at the time of testing. These results suggest that the demonstration of CMI, as measured by the leukocyte migration inhibition test, correlates with the presence of active disease.
X-ray powder diffraction analysis of the electron superconductor Nd2−xThxCuO4 system

Abstract The polycrystalline structure of the superconducting Nd 2−x Th x CuO 4 system is studied using the x-ray diffraction technique. High quality x-ray powder diffraction data are obtained, and analysis shows that the Nd 2−x Th x CuO 4 compounds synthesized by solid state reaction are well-crystallized and have a body-centered tetragonal T′-structure. A minor amount of Cu 2 O is detected suggesting a possible Cu deficiency in the x≥0.10 compounds. A significant amount (in the 10% range) of unreacted ThO 2 is also found in the x=0.25 sample which confirms the Th solubility limit in Nd 2−x Th x CuO 4 is 0.20. New x-ray powder diffraction data with excellent figures of merit of F 30 >210 and M 20 >260 of the superconductor Nd 1.85 Th 0.15 CuO 4 and its parent compound Nd 2 CuO 4 are reported. Values of the lattice dimensions with an estimated precision of 2.5×10 −5 by least-squares refinements from 32 to 33 reflections in the front reflection region are obtained. Decreases in the c lattice dimension and the c/a ratio with increasing x are caused by the substitution of smaller Th 4+ ions for larger Nd 3+ ions.
A participatory workplace health and safety training program for ethylene oxide

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has regulated ethylene oxide (EtO) on the basis of its acute toxicity and its potential carcinogenic and reproductive effects since 1971. OSHA's 1984 EtO standard and its 1988 revisions focused new attention on health and safety training and other preventive measures. An EtO health and safety training program for hospital sterilization workers was developed by the staff of an independent occupational and environmental health clinic. Participatory and empowerment training methods were central to the approach. Also included were hands-on, demonstration, interactive presentation, and other methods. An EtO Health and Safety Training Manual was developed based on the training experiences. This paper presents the challenges, benefits, and limitations of incorporating participatory and empowerment approaches in the design, implementation, and evaluation of EtO health and safety training.
Modulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in human embryonic stem cells using a 3-D microwell array

Intercellular interactions in the cell microenvironment play a critical role in determining cell fate, but the effects of these interactions on pathways governing human embryonic stem cell (hESC) behavior have not been fully elucidated. We and others have previously reported that 3-D culture of hESCs affects cell fates, including self-renewal and differentiation to a variety of lineages. Here we have used a microwell culture system that produces 3-D colonies of uniform size and shape to provide insight into the effect of modulating cell-cell contact on canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hESCs. Canonical Wnt signaling has been implicated in both self-renewal and differentiation of hESCs, and competition for β-catenin between the Wnt pathway and cadherin-mediated cell-cell interactions impacts various developmental processes, including the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Our results showed that hESCs cultured in 3-D microwells exhibited higher E-cadherin expression than cells on 2-D substrates. The increase in E-cadherin expression in microwells was accompanied by a downregulation of Wnt signaling, as evidenced by the lack of nuclear β-catenin and downregulation of Wnt target genes. Despite this reduction in Wnt signaling in microwell cultures, embryoid bodies (EBs) formed from hESCs cultured in microwells exhibited higher levels of Wnt signaling than EBs from hESCs cultured on 2-D substrates. Furthermore, the Wnt-positive cells within EBs showed upregulation of genes associated with cardiogenesis. These results demonstrate that modulation of intercellular interactions impacts Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hESCs.
Accumulation of L-Dopa in the Median Eminence: An Index of Tuberoinfundibular Dopaminergic Nerve Activity*

A microradioenzymatic assay for dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) was used to measure the concentration of this precursor of dopamine (DA) in different regions of the rat brain. The accumulation of dopa 30 min after the injection of 3-hydroxybenzylhydrazine (NSD 1015), an inhibitor of dopa decarboxylase, was measured in the striatum and median eminence to obtain a biochemical index of the activity of nigrostriatal and tuberoinfundibular DA nerves, respectively. Injections of a DA agonist, piribedil, reduced dopa accumulation in the striatum but not in the median eminence. Injections of a DA antagonist, haloperidol, increased dopa accumulation in the striatum 2 and 8 h after injection and in the median eminence 16 h after injection. Three daily injections of estradiol benzoate increased the accumulation of dopa in the median eminence but not in the striatum; the estrogen-induced increase of dopa accumulation in the median eminence was not observed in hypophysectomized rats. The effects of these pharmacological...
Tumour eradication using synchronous thermal ablation and Hsp90 chemotherapy with protein engineered triblock biopolymer-geldanamycin conjugates.

AbstractPurpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) suffers high tumour recurrence rate after thermal ablation. Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) induced post-ablation is critical for tumour survival and progression. A combination therapy of thermal ablation and polymer conjugated Hsp90 chemotherapy was designed and evaluated for complete tumour eradication of HCC. Materials and methods: A thermo-responsive, elastin-like polypeptide (ELP)-based tri-block biopolymer was developed and conjugated with a potent Hsp90 inhibitor, geldanamycin (GA). The anti-cancer efficacy of conjugates was evaluated in HCC cell cultures with and without hyperthermia (43 °C). The conjugates were also administered twice weekly in a murine HCC model as a single treatment or in combination with single electrocautery as the ablation method. Results: ELP-GA conjugates displayed enhanced cytotoxicity in vitro and effective heat shock inhibition under hyperthermia. The conjugates alone significantly slowed the tumour growth without systemic t...
ACTIVE TILE SELF-ASSEMBLY, PART 1: UNIVERSALITY AT TEMPERATURE 1

We present an active tile assembly model which extends Winfree's abstract tile assembly model to tiles that are capable of transmitting and receiving binding site activation signals. We also prove that this model has universal computational power in 2D at temperature 1 by showing an active tile assembly construction that simulates one-dimensional cellular automata in 2D at temperature 1.
Information-based sensor management for landmine detection using multimodal sensors

We consider an information-theoretic approach for sensor management that chooses sensors and sensor parameters in order to maximize the expected discrimination gain associated with each new sensor measurement. We analyze the problem of searching for N targets with M multimodal sensors, where each sensor has its own probability of detection, probability of false alarm, and cost of use. Other information, such as the prior distribution of the targets in space and the degree of constraint of the sensor motion, is also utilized in our formulation. Performance of the sensor management algorithm is then compared to the performance of a direct-search procedure in which the sensors blindly search through all cells in a predetermined path. The information-based sensor manager is found to have significant performance gains over the direct-search approach. Algorithm performance is also analyzed using real landmine data taken with three different sensing modalities. Detection performance using the sensor management algorithm is again found to be superior to detection performance using a blind search procedure. The simulation and real-data results also both illuminate the increased performance available through multimodal sensing.
Neuroprotective effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rodent and primate models of Alzheimer's disease

Profound neuronal dysfunction in the entorhinal cortex contributes to early loss of short-term memory in Alzheimer's disease. Here we show broad neuroprotective effects of entorhinal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) administration in several animal models of Alzheimer's disease, with extension of therapeutic benefits into the degenerating hippocampus. In amyloid-transgenic mice, BDNF gene delivery, when administered after disease onset, reverses synapse loss, partially normalizes aberrant gene expression, improves cell signaling and restores learning and memory. These outcomes occur independently of effects on amyloid plaque load. In aged rats, BDNF infusion reverses cognitive decline, improves age-related perturbations in gene expression and restores cell signaling. In adult rats and primates, BDNF prevents lesion-induced death of entorhinal cortical neurons. In aged primates, BDNF reverses neuronal atrophy and ameliorates age-related cognitive impairment. Collectively, these findings indicate that BDNF exerts substantial protective effects on crucial neuronal circuitry involved in Alzheimer's disease, acting through amyloid-independent mechanisms. BDNF therapeutic delivery merits exploration as a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease.
Human metapneumovirus: a newly described respiratory pathogen of humans

Abstract Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a newly discovered human respiratory pathogen that causes a spectrum of clinical symptoms ranging from a common cold to fulminant bronchiolitis with respiratory failure. Nearly all humans appear to be infected by this virus in the first few years of life, although specific risk factors for severe disease remain to be determined. Standard viral cultures, as traditionally performed in most clinical laboratories, fail to yield growth of this virus because of its unusual growth requirements. Genomic sequence analysis places hMPV in the Pneumovirinae subfamily of the Paramyxoviridae and supports the presence of at least two major circulating virus subgroups. Additional information on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of this newly discovered virus continues to emerge.
The cDNA sequence and primary structure of the chicken transferrin receptor

Recombinant cDNA clones encoding the chicken transferrin receptor (cTR) have been isolated and sequenced. Comparison of the deduced primary structure of cTR with those of the human transferrin receptor (hTR) and mouse transferrin receptor (mTR) shows that their size, hydropathy profile, location of sites for posttranslational modifications, and domain organization are highly similar. The cytoplasmic domain of cTR contains the motif Tyr-Xaa-Arg-Phe (YXRF) that is the recognition signal for high-efficiency endocytosis of hTR. The cTR has several highly conserved regions within its extracellular domain, including those flanking the putative N-glycosylation sites. Overall, however, the extracellular domain of cTR is only 53% identical to the extracellular domains of hTR and mTR. The cTR also lacks three of the six Cys residues found in the extracellular domains of the mammalian TRs. These differences can account for functional and structural properties that distinguish cTR and mammalian TRs.
THE USE OF A HAIR LOOP TO ISOLATE UNICELLS INTO PURE CULTURE1

SUMMARY The formation and use of a microhair loop to isolate algal unicells into pure culture are described. Loops made from the distal end of cat vibrissae have been used to isolate unicells as small as 5–10 μ. Advantages of the loop technique over conventional mechanical methods are discussed.
Hepatic mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in rats with chronic dietary iron overload.

We examined the effects of chronic dietary iron overload on hepatic mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Experimental iron overload was produced by feeding rats a chow diet supplemented with carbonyl iron over a 7-week period. Biochemical and histologic evaluations of liver tissue confirmed moderate degrees of hepatic parenchymal iron overload. Electron microscopy showed no abnormalities in hepatic mitochondrial ultrastructure in blocks of tissue or in mitochondrial fractions from iron-loaded liver. Studies of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism revealed a consistent and progressive decrease in state 3 (ADP-stimulated) respiration and in respiratory control ratios at hepatic iron concentrations above 1,000 μg per gm for all three substrates studied, glutamate, β-hydroxybutyrate and succinate. Changes in state 4 (ADP-limited) respiration and ADP/O ratios were not progressive with increasing hepatic iron concentrations. At hepatic iron concentrations at which there were decreases in state 3 respiration and respiratory control ratios, there was also evidence of lipid-conjugated diene formation, indicative of mitochondrial lipid peroxidation. There were no changes in mitochondrial function when iron as either ferritin or hemosiderin or as a combination of ferritin, hemosiderin and ferric nitrilotriacetate was added in vitro to normal liver homogenates. Use of density gradient centrifugation to reduce iron and lysosomal contamination of mitochondrial fractions failed to prevent the reduction in mitochondrial function. We conclude that moderate degrees of chronic hepatic iron overload in vivo result in an inhibitory defect in the mitochondrial electron transport chain as evidenced by a decrease in state 3 respiration and respiratory control ratios.
A mathematical model of an isothermal, flue gas desulforization, copper oxide moving‐bed reactor

An analytical model of an isothermal flue gas desulfurization moving-bed reactor has been developed. The governing equations can be applied to any moving bed reactor system with pseudo-first order gas phase kinetics. The average concentrations of SO{sub 2} in the effluent gas and CuO in the exiting sorbent are provided by explicit equations. The performance of the moving bed reactor can be predicted with these two simple expressions, thereby eliminating the need for numerical simulators that model the reactor as an array of interconnected microreactors. This analytical model is in agreement with an analytical model developed by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). Eight sets of experimental results from DOE`s pilot-scale Life-Cycle-Test-System desulfurization reactor were compared with predictions from both models. No adjustable parameters were used to optimize the fit of the data. The isothermal model underestimated the effluent concentration of SO{sub 2} by an average value of 13.2%, and underestimated the change in composition by 0.066%.
Excitatory amino acid receptors in the dorsomedial hypothalamus mediate prostaglandin-evoked thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue

We determined whether the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) plays a role in the thermogenic, metabolic, and cardiovascular effects evoked by centrally administered PGE2. Microinjection of PGE2 (170 pm...
Growth factors for human pleural mesothelial cells in soluble products from formed clots.

Abstract Fibrin deposition within the pleural space may influence repair following pleural injury. Although the mesothelial surface can organize fibrin, the contribution of pleural mesothelial cells to pleural repair is unknown. During coagulation thrombin cleaves Fibrinopeptide A (FPA, Aα 1–16) and fibrinopeptide B (FPB) from the Aa and BB chains of fibrinogen to generate fibrin monomer. Since these peptides are mitogenic for human fibroblasts, we considered that they might stimulate replication of human pleural mesothelial cells (HPMC). Application of fluid expressed from fibrin clots significantly increased cell number and stimulated uptake of 3H-thymidine by HPMC compared with untreated cells. The mitogenic response of subconfluent HPMC to dilutions of clot fluid (30–150 μg/ml protein) was comparable to that of 0.1 nM TGF-B. Fibrinopeptide A (7.5–30 μM) stimulated 3H-thymidine uptake in HPMC, but FPB had only a slight effect at 30 μM. Antibody to FPA antibody significantly attenuated the mitogenic effect of clot fluid, indicating that a major component is FPA. Our study suggests that fibrinopeptides released during fibrin formation in vivo may stimulate local mesothelial regeneration following pleural injury.
Revisiting the Case for Explicit Syntactic Information in Language Models

Statistical language models used in deployed systems for speech recognition, machine translation and other human language technologies are almost exclusively n-gram models. They are regarded as linguistically naive, but estimating them from any amount of text, large or small, is straightforward. Furthermore, they have doggedly matched or outperformed numerous competing proposals for syntactically well-motivated models. This unusual resilience of n-grams, as well as their weaknesses, are examined here. It is demonstrated that n-grams are good word-predictors, even linguistically speaking, in a large majority of word-positions, and it is suggested that to improve over n-grams, one must explore syntax-aware (or other) language models that focus on positions where n-grams are weak.
EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL STUDIES OF A DIRECT CURRENT MICRODISCHARGE PLASMA THRUSTER

A simple Microdischarge Plasma Thruster (MPT) for small satellite propulsion has been designed and studied by performing experiments and running simulations with a numerical model. The MPT comprises a tri-layer sandwich structure with a dielectric layer sandwiched between two electrode layers, and a contoured through-hole drilled into the structure. Each layer is a few hundred micron thick and the hole diameter is also of approximately this size. The device operates at Ar §ow rates of ∼ 1 sccm with moderate electrode voltages (∼ 1000 V). Spectral measurements of the plume are used to determine its composition and calculate the electron excitation temperature. A two-dimensional computational model has been developed to provide a detailed description of plasma dynamics inside the MPT including power deposition, ionization, coupling of plasma phenomena with the high-speed §ow, and propulsion system performance. Gas heating, primarily due to ion Joule heating, is found to have a strong in§uence on the overall discharge behavior.
Do fairness and race matter in generosity? Evidence from a nationally representative charity experiment

Abstract We present a dictator game experiment where the recipients are local charities that serve the poor. Donors consist of approximately 1000 participants from a nationally representative sample. We manipulate the perceived worthiness and race of the charities' recipients with an audiovisual presentation. Respondents then decide how much to give to the charities and report their perceptions of recipient worthiness and racial composition. We have four main findings. First, treatments describing recipients as worthy significantly increase giving. Second, the treatment where respondents viewed photos mostly of the black recipients rather than white recipients had no significant effect on giving, even though it successfully manipulated perceptions of racial composition. Third, we find significant racial bias in perceptions of worthiness; the black picture treatment lowers perceived recipient worthiness significantly more among non-black respondents than among black respondents. Finally, we decompose the reduced-form effect of the black picture treatment on giving into two channels: one operating via perceptions of recipient worthiness and one running through perceptions of recipient racial composition. The worthiness perceptions channel is statistically significant, while the race perceptions channel is not. Thus, racially biased worthiness perceptions have a significant effect on giving but this effect is not strong enough to cause a significant reduced-form effect of the black picture treatment on giving.
Tenascin-C deficiency attenuates TGF-β-mediated fibrosis following murine lung injury

Tenascin-C (TNC) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein of unknown function that is highly expressed in adult lung parenchyma following acute lung injury (ALI). Here we report that mice lacking TNC are protected from interstitial fibrosis in the bleomycin model of ALI. Three weeks after exposure to bleomycin, TNC-null mice had accumulated 85% less lung collagen than wild-type mice. The lung interstitium of TNC-null mice also appeared to contain fewer myofibroblasts and fewer cells with intranuclear Smad-2/3 staining, suggesting impaired TGF-β activation or signaling. In vitro, TNC-null lung fibroblasts exposed to constitutively active TGF-β expressed less α-smooth muscle actin and deposited less collagen I into the matrix than wild-type cells. Impaired TGF-β responsiveness was correlated with dramatically reduced Smad-3 protein levels and diminished nuclear translocation of Smad-2 and Smad-3 in TGF-β-exposed TNC-null cells. Reduced Smad-3 in TNC-null cells reflects both decreased transcript abundance and enhanced ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated protein degradation. Together, these studies suggest that TNC is essential for maximal TGF-β action after ALI. The clearance of TNC that normally follows ALI may restrain TGF-β action during lung healing, whereas prolonged or exaggerated TNC expression may facilitate TGF-β action and fibrosis after ALI.
Measurement and computation of powdered mixture permittivities

The permittivities of pulverized samples of coal and limestone were measured over a range of bulk densities at 11.7 GHz and 20/spl deg/C, and were used, along with particle densities, determined by pycnometer measurements, and the Landau and Lifshitz, Looyenga dielectric mixture equation to determine the solid material permittivities. Subsequently, similar measurements were taken on a 35%-65% coal-limestone mixture, and the Landau and Lifshitz, Looyenga equation and the Complex Refractive Index dielectric mixture equation were used to calculate the permittivities of powdered coal, limestone, and the 35%-65% mixture at various bulk densities. Results compared to the measured permittivities showed that the Landau and Lifshitz, Looyenga equation provided much better estimates than the other equation, with errors of 0.15% in predicting the dielectric constants of powdered coal, 1.4% in predicting the dielectric constants of powdered limestone, and 0.5% in predicting the dielectric constants of the coal-limestone mixture.
Transition to community-based nursing curriculum: Processes and outcomes

As the health care delivery system evolves, nurse educators must prepare graduates who can meet the comprehensive health needs of communities in a variety of settings. This article describes one college's process of curricular change from a traditional to community-based format. The concepts that guided curriculum development and implementation are presented, along with the outcomes that have resulted from this change. Lessons learned as the curriculum was restructured are described.
Supersonic Retropropulsion Thrust Vectoring for Mars Precision Landing

Landing heavier payloads with pinpoint precision on the surface of Mars is a known challenge for future missions to Mars. Supersonic retropropulsion has been proposed as a means to deliver higher-mass payloads to the surface, traditionally with the sole intent of deceleration. By adding range control capability during the supersonic retropropulsion maneuver by means of thrust vectoring, it has been found that a substantial amount of propellant can be saved in a precision landing scenario when compared with traditional architectures. Decreasing the propellant mass necessary for the mission increases the amount of payload mass that can be brought to the surface. Propellant mass savings greater than 30% are possible if thrust vectoring is unconstrained during the supersonic phase of flight. Propellant mass fraction is found to be sensitive to the divert direction and also the altitude and flight-path angle at ignition, favoring low altitudes and shallow flight-path angles. Decreased nozzle cant angles and ae...
Aspect-oriented modeling approach to define routing in enterprise service bus architectures

System-of-systems integration is a fundamental challenge to Software Engineering. Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) technologies help overcoming this challenge by addressing loose coupling of services while provisioning for crosscutting concerns. ESBs use aspect-oriented techniques and flexible message routing and filtering to support decoupling of the business logic from crosscutting concerns such as encryption and failure management. These characteristics have led to an increasing adoption of ESBs in the enterprise business domain. However, currently there is no systematic development approach for Service-Oriented Architectures (SOAs) ranging from requirements analysis to architecture design to ESB deployment. A core challenge is the precise specification of the routing capabilities of the ESB. A viable solution should maintain the decoupling of crosscutting concerns from the business logic while being able to reason about the integrated interaction pattern. In this paper we leverage the Rich Service architectural blueprint in combination with Aspect-Oriented Modeling techniques to address this problem.
Toward a Writing and Healing Approach in the Basic Writing Classroom: One Professor's Personal Odyssey.

The author's therapeutic experience of writing a book about a personal tragedy led her to investigate the fledgling interdisciplinary field of Writing and Healing to see if it holds implications for the teaching of basic writing and also to revisit the debate about per- sonal versus academic writing in the introductory composition class. The result was her redesigned basic writing course, in which students do extensive private writing on personal and sometimes painful issues. This private writing forms the basis for all their essays, be- ginning with personal narratives and moving toward more academic genres. The author's initial experiment with this approach suggests that it has the potential to improve students' attitudes toward and confidence in their writing and to help them develop a stronger prose style and more authentic voice.
Changes of Cell-Free Fetal DNA in Maternal Plasma after Elective Termination of Pregnancy

Fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) during pregnancy or subsequent isoimmunization, caused by a breach of the placental barrier, could lead to an adverse perinatal outcome (1)(2). However, concerns have been raised regarding the accuracy of the standard Kleihauer–Betke test to quantify FMH (3). In a previously published study, we explored the possibility of using cell-free fetal DNA (fDNA) in maternal plasma as a novel marker of FMH after surgical and medical elective first-trimester termination of pregnancy (TOP) (4). In our earlier study, pre- and posttermination blood samples were drawn at various time points relative to TOP. To adjust for this confounder, we retrospectively applied a mathematical model to the analysis of the data. Projected pretermination fDNA values were calculated based on the anticipated linear increase of fDNA during pregnancy. Adjusted posttermination fDNA concentrations were calculated based on the reported 16-min clearance rate of circulating fDNA after delivery (5). Adjusted posttermination fDNA concentrations were then compared with the projected pretermination concentrations. In the present study, we specifically enrolled only pregnant women in the first trimester undergoing elective surgical TOP. In addition, the pre- and posttermination blood samples were drawn on the same day with a controlled time interval between TOP and the posttermination blood collection. The concentrations of circulating fDNA were then analyzed along with pertinent clinical information to better understand the dynamics of circulating fDNA after TOP. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards at Tufts-New England Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine. Pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy undergoing elective surgical TOP at Boston Medical Center were enrolled. Gestational ages were ascertained by ultrasonography and were expressed as postmenstrual days. Paired blood samples were obtained before and immediately after the termination procedure. The blood samples were centrifuged at 800 g , after …
Multi-agent modeling and simulation of human behavior in aircraft evacuations

Predicting the collective behavior of people during evacuations from aircraft is a significant challenge, complicated by human behavioral factors such as stress and panic. This paper presents a multi-agent system for simulating the impact of individual human factors on aircraft evacuations. Based on the model, a prototype system, AvatarSim, was developed to simulate emergency evacuations from aircrafts. The simulator can be used to model situations that are difficult to test in real-life due to safety considerations.
Children’s Labor Market Involvement, Household Work, and Welfare: A Brazilian Case Study

The large numbers of children working in developing countries continue to provoke calls for an end to such employment. However, many reformers argue that efforts should focus on ending the exploitation of children rather than depriving them of all opportunities to work. This posture reflects recognition of the multiplicity of needs children have and the diversity of situations in which they work. Unfortunately, research typically neglects these complexities and fails to distinguish between types of labor market jobs, dismisses household chores as irrelevant, and conceptualizes children’s needs largely in terms of the education they require for successful careers. Based on data collected in schools in Franca, Brazil, where children often combine school with work in the shoe industry, this study first examined the implications of labor market jobs and household work for their health, life satisfaction, and education. Analyses suggested that both forms of work negatively affected children’s welfare, but the effects of household work were more extensive, especially for girls. The second part focused on children with labor market jobs and examined how facets of their jobs as well as their after-work household duties affected their welfare. A lack of discretion on the job undermined the health of both boys and girls, higher pay adversely affected boys’ education, and housework had detrimental effects on all indicators of girls’ welfare. This paper discusses the implications of these findings for further research and suggests the needs for attention to different forms of work activities within families. It concludes with suggestions for multinationals sourcing in developing areas that go beyond the usual calls for ridding their facilities and supply networks of child workers.
Analysis and modeling of intermediate-scale reservoir heterogeneity based on a fluvial point-bar outcrop analog, Williams Fork Formation, Piceance Basin, Colorado

This study presents results of outcrop characterization and modeling of lithologic heterogeneity within a well-exposed point bar of the Williams Fork Formation in Coal Canyon, Piceance Basin, Colorado. This deposit represents an intermediate-scale depositional element that developed from a single meandering channel within a low net-to-gross ratio fluvial system. Williams Fork outcrops are analogs to petroleum reservoirs in the Piceance Basin and elsewhere. Analysis and modeling of the point bar involved outcrop measurements and ground-based high-resolution light detection and ranging data; thus, the stratigraphic frameworks accurately represent the channel-fill architecture. Two- and three-dimensional (2-D and 3-D) outcrop models and streamline simulations compare scenarios based on different lithologies, shale drapes, observed grain-size trends, petrophysical properties, and modeling methods. For 2-D models, continuous and discontinuous shale drapes on lateral-accretion surfaces result in a 79% increase and 24% decrease in breakthrough time (BTT), respectively, compared to models without shale drapes. The discontinuous shale drapes in the 2-D and 3-D models cause a 30% and 107% decrease, respectively, in sweep efficiency because they focus fluid flow downward to the base of the point bar. For similar reasons, 2-D models based on grain size exhibit 67–267% shorter BTT and 44–57% lower sweep efficiency compared to other model scenarios. Unlike the 2-D models, the continuous shale drapes in the 3-D models cause the fluid front to spread out and contact more of the reservoir, resulting in 42–53% longer BTT and 41–52% higher sweep efficiency compared to the other models. These results provide additional insight into the significance of intermediate-scale heterogeneity of fluvial reservoirs.
Accuracy of implanted port placement with the use of the electromagnetic CathTrack catheter locator system.

Purpose To test whether an electromagnetic guidance system such as CathTrack would allow long-term central venous access devices to be reliably placed at a decreased cost and without radiation exposure to patients and staff. The following study was undertaken to verify accuracy of the CathTrack system for catheter placement and to develop guidelines for its use. Methods Twenty-nine consecutive patients were prospectively enrolled in the study and taken to the operating room for implantation of a permanent central venous access port. By protocol, the CathTrack system was used to guide initial catheter positioning using the center of the third intercostal space along the right sternal border as the desired external target. Fluoroscopy was then used to visualize tip position and relocate the catheter tip to the exact position desired by the surgeon. Results Catheter placement using the CathTrack system was successfully accomplished in 27 out of 29 patients. In two instances CathTrack was abandoned and fluoroscopy utilized because of difficulty in threading the initial guidewire into the superior vena cava. Conclusion The CathTrack electromagnetic locator system can be used to reliably position catheters for the establishment of long-term central venous access. Decreased cost and elimination of radiation exposure are distinct advantages of this system over fluoroscopy.