cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inflammasome activation of IL-1 family mediators in response to cutaneous photodamage

Although keratinocytes are relatively resistant to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) induced damage, repeated UVR exposure result in accumulated DNA mutations that can lead to epidermal malignancies. Keratinocytes play a central role in elaborating innate responses that lead to inflammation and influence the generation of adaptive immune responses in skin. Apart from the minor cellular constituents of the epidermis, specifically Langerhans cells and melanocytes, keratinocytes are the major source of cytokines. UVR exposure stimulates keratinocytes to secrete abundant pro-inflammatory IL-1-family proteins, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-33. Normal skin contains only low levels of inactive precursor forms of IL-1β and IL-18, which require caspase 1-mediated proteolysis for their maturation and secretion. However, caspase-1 activation is not constitutive, but dependents on the UV-induced formation of an active inflammasome complex. IL-1 family cytokines can induce a secondary cascade of mediators and cytokines from keratinocytes and other cells resulting in wide range of innate processes including infiltration of inflammatory leukocytes, induction of immunosuppression, DNA repair or apoptosis. Thus, the ability of keratinocytes to produce a wide repertoire of proinflammatory cytokines can influence the immune response locally as well as systematically, and alter the host response to photodamaged cells. We will highlight differential roles played by each IL-1 family molecule generated by UV-damaged keratinocytes, and reveal their complementary influences in modulating acute inflammatory and immunological events that follow cutaneous UV exposure.
Stochastic resonance at the single-cell level

Does the electricity with which we power our world pose significant health hazards from the resulting electromagnetic fields? Several authors1,2 have speculated that ‘stochastic resonance’3 — a nonlinear phenomenon in which the addition of noise to a system increases its response to an external signal — may allow biological cells to detect and respond to very weak external electric fields far below the thermal noise limit4,5, and thus possibly cause harmful effects. Here we examine this question using a recent theory of Bezrukov and Vodyanoy6 for the effect of non-equilibrium noise on a voltage detector (such as a biological ion channel7). We show that with parameters appropriate for typical biological cells, adding noise does not make a far-from-detectable signal detectable.
Euler's Function in Residue Classes

We discuss the distribution of integers n with φ(n) in a particular residue class, showing that if a residue class contains a multiple of 4, then it must contain infinitely many numbers p(n). We get asymptotic formulae for the distribution of p(n) in the various residue classes modulo 12.
Data Albums: An Event Driven Search, Aggregation and Curation Tool for Earth Science

Approaches used in Earth science research such as case study analysis and climatology studies involve discovering and gathering diverse data sets and information to support the research goals. To gather relevant data and information for case studies and climatology analysis is both tedious and time consuming. Current Earth science data systems are designed with the assumption that researchers access data primarily by instrument or geophysical parameter. In cases where researchers are interested in studying a significant event, they have to manually assemble a variety of datasets relevant to it by searching the different distributed data systems. This paper presents a specialized search, aggregation and curation tool for Earth science to address these challenges. The search rool automatically creates curated 'Data Albums', aggregated collections of information related to a specific event, containing links to relevant data files [granules] from different instruments, tools and services for visualization and analysis, and information about the event contained in news reports, images or videos to supplement research analysis. Curation in the tool is driven via an ontology based relevancy ranking algorithm to filter out non relevant information and data.
Interauricular septal defect; correlation of the clinical, radiologic, and electrocardiographic findings in fifteen cases, with special reference given to the electrocardiogram.

Abstract The clinical, radiographic, and electrocardiographic findings in fifteen cases of interauricular septal defect have been presented. No specific pattern or patterns were seen that could be considered absolutely diagnostic for this defect. However, it would seem that accurate diagnoses can be made with proper correlation of the clinical, radiographic, and electrocardiographic findings, even though a physician does not have the highly specialized diagnostic procedures at his disposal, such as angiocardiography or cardiac catheterization. Clinically, the lesion does not appear as innocuous in children as some suggest. Heart failure can and does occur. Upper respiratory infections, which occur frequently, should be guarded against because of their complicating sequelae. Electrocardiographically, it was seen that right ventricular hypertrophy can only be shown consistently by the use of the precordial and unipolar limb leads. No specific electrocardiographic pattern was seen to be absolutely diagnostic, but the electrocardiographic variations that may be seen in an auricular septal defect have been discussed.
Associations of Dispositional Mindfulness with Obesity and Central Adiposity: the New England Family Study.

To evaluate whether dispositional mindfulness (defined as the ability to attend nonjudgmentally to one’s own physical and mental processes) is associated with obesity and central adiposity. Study participants (n = 394) were from the New England Family Study, a prospective birth cohort, with median age 47 years. Dispositional mindfulness was assessed using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Central adiposity was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans with primary outcomes android fat mass and android/gynoid ratio. Obesity was defined as body mass index ≥30 kg/m2. Multivariable-adjusted regression analyses demonstrated that participants with low vs. high MAAS scores were more likely to be obese (prevalence ratio for obesity = 1.34 (95 % confidence limit (CL): 1.02, 1.77)), adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, birth weight, childhood socioeconomic status, and childhood intelligence. Furthermore, participants with low vs. high MAAS level had a 448 (95 % CL 39, 857) g higher android fat mass and a 0.056 (95 % CL 0.003, 0.110) greater android/gynoid fat mass ratio. Prospective analyses demonstrated that participants who were not obese in childhood and became obese in adulthood (n = 154) had −0.21 (95 % CL −0.41, −0.01; p = 0.04) lower MAAS scores than participants who were not obese in childhood or adulthood (n = 203). Dispositional mindfulness may be inversely associated with obesity and adiposity. Replication studies are needed to adequately establish whether low dispositional mindfulness is a risk factor for obesity and adiposity.
Differentiating advertising for a technological innovation: What the consumer knows matters

Abstract This study investigates the influence of prior knowledge on individuals' reactions to verbal and visual advertising stimuli for a technological innovation, the compact disc player, during the first two years of its diffusion. Unknowledgeable individuals responded differentially only to visual emphasis in ads while those with prior knowledge reacted differentially to visual emphasis and verbal claims. Implications and suggestions for tailoring communications strategies to each group of individuals over the diffusion cycle are discussed.
Dominant Powers and Subordinate States: The United States in Latin America and the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe

In comparing how the two superpowers exercise their persuasive control over their respective spheres, this book presents collective evidence toward the startling conclusion that this dominance, as it has been practiced, is no longer in the national interest of either the United States or the USSR.
New uranium-series ages of the Waimanalo Limestone, Oahu, Hawaii: implications for sea level during the last interglacial period

Abstract The Waimanalo Formation (limestone) of Oahu has been correlated with the last interglacial period based on U-series dating of corals by T.-L. Ku and colleagues. The limestone consists of growth-position corals and overlying coral conglomerate. An apparent bimodal distribution of ages for the growth-position corals (mean age = 133 ka) and the overlying coral conglomerate (mean age = 119 ka) has been interpreted to represent two distinct high stands of sea that occurred within the last interglacial period. Both growth-position corals and overlying, conglomerate coral occur in an outcrop east of Kaena Point and consist mainly of Pocillopora and Porites . U-series ages of growth-position corals that show closed-system conditions are 120 ± 3 ka and 127 ± 4 ka; overlying conglomerate corals have U-series ages that range from 120 ± 3 ka to 138 ± 4 ka. At Kahe Point, conglomerate corals have ages of 120 ± 3 ka and 134 ± 4 ka. These data show that the growth position corals are not systematically older than the conglomerate corals; thus, there is no evidence for two distinct high stands of sea. Waimanalo deposits at Kahe Point and Mokapu Point (new U-series ages of 134 ± 4 ka and 127 ± 3 ka) have beach deposits as high as 12.5 m and, at Mokapu Point, growth-position corals as high as 8.5 m. A last-interglacial sea-level stand of +8.5 to +12.5 m conflicts with estimates of +6 m from a number of tectonically stable coastlines and islands in the western Atlantic Ocean. We infer, therefore, that Oahu may be undergoing uplift at a low rate. This uplift may be due to compensatory lithospheric flexure, because the island of Hawaii has been subsiding throughout much of the Quaternary from volcanic loading. Because of this possible uplift, Oahu and islands like it elsewhere in the Pacific cannot be used as reference points for sea level during the last interglacial period.
Integrated 1000-year planning

Abstract This paper develops the concept of integrated 1000-year planning. The products of 1000-year planning, referred to as 1000-year plans, are intended to deal with issues on a global scale and address the survival of humanity and the protection of the earth’s environment. One thousand years is an appropriate global planning horizon because it is long enough to unmask big picture problems that appear to be invisible to today’s societies. Furthermore, this time horizon encourages the perspective that over the long-term, many problems that seem unsolvable today, and therefore receive little attention and few resources, can indeed be overcome. Topics of 1000-year plans are numerous and include: energy, land use, carbon management, oceans, biodiversity, nuclear and hazardous waste, water, human settlements, near-earth objects, and space exploration. The argument is made that responsibilities for action by current generations to benefit future generations be based on risk assessments and risk thresholds. In the near-term, 1000-year planning must be driven by an international grassroots coalition of scientists, policy analysts, environmentalists, planners, and concerned citizens.
Ribosomal binding of labelled initiation factor F3.

The following two articles clarify the involvement of initiation factor F3 in the translation of messenger RNA. First, Sabol and Ochoa tell how they used 35S-labelled F3 to prove that 70S ribosomes, released at polypeptide chain termination, are dissociated when F3 binds to the 30S ribosomal subunit.
A computational study of the C2 fragmentation energy of C80

Abstract Semiempirical (PM3), ab initio (HF/STO-3G) and density functional theory (B3LYP/3-21G) calculations have been performed to investigate the possible fragmentation pathways of the two most stable C 80 isomers, D 2 C 80 and D 5d C 80 . The most reliable quantum-chemical method employed here, B3LYP/3-21G, appears to overestimate C 2 fragmentation energies for the D 2 C 80 isomer by ∼1 eV. After inclusion of an empirical correction meant to compensate for the poor B3LYP description of the C 2 wavefunction, the calculated C 2 fragmentation energies lie in the range 8.7–9.0 eV, in very good agreement with the experimental value of 9.4 ± 0.7 eV.
A field comparison of two strains of sterilized screwworm flies.

Trapping studies were conducted in a Central Texas river valley and in South Texas rangeland during the summer of 1973 to compare dispersal and survival of a new strain (“TEX-MEX”) of screwworm fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), with the standard production strain (“APHIS”) used in the Southwestern Screwworm Eradication Program. Based on total recoveries and distances flown within the test area, the new strain outperformed the standard production strain.
Something borrowed: wedding cakes as symbols in modern Japan

The incorporation of new—and especially borrowed—elements into existing rituals presents a problem for symbolic analysis: if the additions are to be understood as meaningful rather than random, it must be shown that the incorporated element has been coherently integrated into the already existing system of symbolic meanings. In order to understand one example of a borrowed element, the Western-style wedding cake in modern Japanese weddings, this paper begins with an examination of the symbolic distinctions operative in a variety of contexts of Japanese culture. It concludes that the cake can be seen as coherently integrated in terms of these distinctions into the wedding ritual, as a symbol of fertility, [symbolic anthropology, semiotics, marriage rites, ritual change, Japan]
Water and cytochrome oxidation-reduction reactions.

Heavy water (2H2O) substitution for H2O in photosynthetic bacterial whole cells and mitochondrial membrane fragments results in an isotope effect of √2 for the ratio of the half-times [t12(2H2O)/t12(H2O)] of oxidation-reduction reactions involving cytochromes. This result, along with the absolute requirement for water, and the effects on the half-times of the substitution of hydrogen-bonding molecules such as ethylene glycol and glycerol for water suggest the direct participation of hydrogen atoms of water and water rotation in the rate-determining step of these electron transfer reactions. Arrhenius plots of cytochrome photooxidation half-times measured at various temperatures from 300 to 77 °K show the half-times to be temperature-dependent from 300 °K to about 150 °K and temperature-independent from about 150 °K through liquid N2 temperatures. 2H2O substitution does not change the qualitative response of half-times to temperature; however, the half-times are retarded by √2 throughout the entire temperature range investigated. If the √2 factor found in these experiments is indicative of proton or hydrogen atom motion, then direct electron transfer by electron tunnelling can not be the rate-limiting step in the cytochrome oxidation-reduction processes studied. The experimental results suggest that electron transfer between membrane-bound electron carrier molecules may be effected by means of hydrogen atom transfer via “water bridges” in biological oxidation-reduction reactions.
An experimental model for study of Candida survival and transmission in human volunteers

In order to determine the potential for cross-transmission of Candida spp. between health-care workers and patients, the survival of clinical isolates of five species of Candida on the palms of human volunteers was tested. One hundred microliters of a McFarland 1.0 density suspension (5 x 10(5) cfu) from an overnight culture of Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis and Candida glabrata was used as inoculum. The degree of hydrophobicity of the different Candida species was also tested and did not influence the survival. The half-lives were brief, being 9.5, 12.4, 7.4, 12.8, 9.6 min for Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida tropicalis, respectively, but at 45 min 2.6 x 10(3) to 3 x 10(4) organisms remained on the hands. Survival of Candida albicans for as long as 24 h on inanimate surfaces was observed. Transmission from one hand to a second hand occurred in 69% of the experiments and from the first to a third hand in 38%. Transmission to and from inanimate surfaces was successful in most of the experiments (90%). This experimental model aids in the biological study of Candida spp. and suggests some of the potential mechanisms of transmission.
Obstacles in coordinating services for the care of the psychiatrically ill aged.

: A coordinated program for comprehensive care is a good approach to the management of the psychiatrically ill aged. Nevertheless, the patients, their families, community professionals, and the organizational patterns of many facilities and agencies offer a variety of obstacles to comprehensive care. These obstacles are discussed under the headings: 1) attributes of the patients, 2) patient-family interactions, 3) attributes of professional caregivers, 4) adequacy of community resources and organization, 5) multidisciplinary interactions, and 6) attributes of the case coordinator. These categories are not mutually exclusive, nor do they exhaust the full range of the problems. Such a classification, however, helps to determine some of the major difficulties encountered by coordinators in implementing programs for comprehensive care.
Predicting the impacts of global warming on wildland fire

Simulations of impacts of a double-CO2 climate with the Changed Climate Fire Modeling System in Northern California consistently projected increases in area burned and in the frequency of escaped fires compared with simulations of the present climate. However, the magnitude of those increases was strongly influenced by vegetation type, choice of atmospheric general circulation model (GCM) scenario, and choice of climatic forcing variables. The greatest projected increase in fire severity occurred in grasslands, using the Princeton Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory GCM, with wind speed, temperature, humidity and precipitation as driving variables.
Accounting for Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Bioenergy Systems

Researchers have recently argued that there is a 'critical climate accounting error' and that we should say 'goodbye to carbon neutral' for bioenergy. Many other analysts have published opionions on the same topic, and the US Environmental Protection Agency posted a specific call for information. The currently burning questions for carbon accounting is how to deal with bioenergy. The questions arises because, unlike for fossil fuels, burning of biomass fuels represents part of a cycle in which combustion releases back to the atmosphere carbon that was earlier removed from the atmosphere by growing plants. In a sustainable system, plants will again remove the carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) from the atmosphere. Conceptually, it is clear that there are no net emissions of the greenhouse gas CO{sub 2} if biomass is harvested and combusted at the same rate that biomass grows and removes CO{sub 2} from the atmosphere. The problem lies in the fact that growth and combustion do not occur at the same time or in the same place, and our accounting system boundaries - spatial and temporal - frequently do not provide full and balanced accounting. When the first comprehensive guidelines for estimating national greenhouse gas emissions and sinks weremore » put together by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, they noted that it has been argued that CO{sub 2} emissions resulting from bioenergy consumption should not be included in a country's official emission inventory because there are no net emissions if the biomass is produced sustainably, and if the biomass is not produced sustainably, the loss of carbon will be captured as part of the accounting for emissions from land-use change. In the same philosophical vein, the Kyoto Protocol provides that emissions or sinks of CO{sub 2} from land-use change and forestry activities be measured as the 'verifiable changes in carbon stocks'. From these has grown the convention that emissions from biomass fuels are generally not counted as part of emissions inventories, and biomass energy is sometimes referred to as being 'carbon neutral.' But what happens when a forest is harvested for fuel but takes 60 years to regrow or when biomass is harvested in a country that is not party to an international accord but is burned in a country that is party to an international accord? Biomass energy is only truly 'carbon neutral' if we get the system boundaries right. They need to make sure that the accounting methodology is compatible with our needs and realities in management and policy.« less
Distribution, stereochemistry, and stable isotope composition of amino acids in K/T boundary sediments

Abstract The Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary, with an age of 65 million years before present, is associated with the mass extinctions of dinosaurs and other terrestrial and marine organisms. Evidence for the K/T boundary is reported in both marine and non-marine stratigraphic units. The presence of two exotic amino acids, α-aminoisobutyric acid and isovaline, has been reported from Stevns Klint, Denmark sediments. Two hypotheses have been proposed for the occurrence of α-Aiba and I-val in the Stevns Klint sediments: (1) they are of extraterrestrial origin; and (2) they are the by-products of the thermal alteration of coal. To test these hypotheses, samples were obtained from three K/T boundary sites, two (Starkville South and Raton Pass) located in the non-marine Raton Basin of Colorado and New Mexico and one from the marine sequence at Stevns Klint, Denmark. The samples were analyzed for amino acid distributions and stereochemistry, bulk stable C and N isotope compositions and stable C isotope compositions of individual amino acids at the Starkville South site. Protein and non-protein amino acid components are present in the K/T boundary sediments at nmol/g levels and are primarily of the l -configuration. The non-protein amino acids, α-Aiba and I-val, were detected in several of the sediment samples based on retention times and verified through coinjections of authentic standards. Protein and non-protein amino acid components of the Murchison meteorite are enriched in 13 C relative to terrestrial materials. The δ 13 C values of individual amino acids in the Starkville South samples are, however, depleted in 13 C in all samples, with values ranging from −13‰ for glycine to −31 ‰ for l -isoleucine. In contrast, the δ 13 C value for glycine in Murchison is +22‰. Also, bulk organic δ 13 C and δ 15 N values for the K/T boundary sediments are substantially depleted in 13 C and 15 N relative to bulk values for the Murchison meteorite. It is therefore suggested that the amino acids in these K/T boundary sediments are primarily of terrestrial, biogenic origin.
Characterization of silica surfaces by free radical spin labels

Abstract Silanol groups on the surface of various silicon oxide materials have been labeled for esr study by bonding or adsorption of free radicals. The number of bonded radicals was correlated with the relative concentrations of vicinal and isolated silanols. When the vicinal silanols have been removed by treatment above 600°C, the labeling was found to be quantitative and complete. The improved label attachment in the latter case indicates that steric crowding is not a consideration, but that the resistance of vicinal silanols to labeling reagents is responsible for limited labeling at low temperatures. The ratio of trichlorosilane di-labels to dichlorosilane mono-labels was observed to approach the theoretical limiting value 2.0 above 600°C, and the variation of this ratio may be a basis for quantitative determinations under conditions of incomplete labeling. In contrast to covalently bonded labels, adsorbed labels were found to attach to both vicinal and isolated silanols, and observed silanol concentrations are closely comparable to the bonded label values above 600°C. Labeling susceptibility of the silica surface was found to be drastically modified by pretreatment with inorganic and organometallic reagents. The potential usefulness of spin-labeling in electronics was illustrated by labeling of silanols in quartz surfaces (piezoelectric resonators), on oxidized silicon (MOS integrated circuits) and in evaluation of various surface passivation techniques.
Resonant contributions to single charge transfer between He 2 + and He

Energy levels and lifetimes are calculated for the resonant states that are important in radiative single charge transfer in ${\mathrm{He}}^{2+}$-He collisions at thermal energies. The resonant contribution to the charge-transfer rate decreases with increasing temperature and is approximately 12% of the total rate at 300 K.
On the Chalcogenophilicity of Mercury: Evidence for a Strong Hg–Se Bond in [TmBut]HgSePh and its Relevance to the Toxicity of Mercury

One of the reasons for the toxic effects of mercury has been attributed to its influence on the biochemical roles of selenium. For this reason, it is important to understand details pertaining to the nature of Hg−Se interactions and this has been achieved by comparison of a series of mercury chalcogenolate complexes that are supported by tris(2-mercapto-1-t-butyl-imidazolyl)hydroborato ligation, namely [TmBut]HgEPh (E = S, Se, Te). In particular, X-ray diffraction studies on [TmBut]HgEPh demonstrate that although the Hg−S bonds involving the [TmBut] ligand are longer than the corresponding Cd−S bonds of [TmBut]CdEPh, the Hg−EPh bonds are actually shorter than the corresponding Cd−EPh bonds, an observation which indicates that the apparent covalent radii of the metals in these compounds are dependent on the nature of the bonds. Furthermore, the difference in Hg−EPh and Cd−EPh bond lengths is a function of the chalcogen and increases in the sequence S (0.010 A) < Se (0.035 A) < Te (0.057 A). This trend indi...
A complex network of regulatory elements in Ikaros and their activity during hemo-lymphopoiesis

Regulated expression of Ikaros is critical for normal hemopoiesis and lymphocyte development. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying transcription of Ikaros, tissue-specific DNase I-hypersensitive sites (DHS) were mapped throughout the Ikaros locus, and several promoters were identified. The activity of these regulatory regions was elucidated using an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter in transgenic mice. Two genomic fragments, each containing a distinct promoter and its associated DHS cluster, were found to be active in the myeloid (DHS-C2 and DHS-C3) and B-cell (DHS-C3) lineages. Although neither of these regulatory regions was active within the majority of differentiating thymocytes and mature T cells, the DHS-C3 region was active at the earliest stages (DN1-DN3) of T-cell differentiation. However, when the DHS-C3 region was combined with the downstream intronic DHS-C6 cluster, its activity was maintained and raised to higher levels at subsequent stages of T-cell differentiation. This combination of regulatory elements provided reporter expression that closely resembles that of endogenous Ikaros during hemo-lymphopoiesis, and it decreased (but did not alleviate) position effect variegation within the expressing cell types.
Competing Under Regulatory Uncertainty: A U.S. Perspective on Advertising in the Emerging European Market:

Contemplating the 1992 changes in the European Community, this study examines among-country variation in Europe among EC members and nonmembers. Three propositions are tested against data that describe advertising regulations for four key consumer product categories. Findings indicate that there are inconsistencies in these regulations among countries in Western Europe, including EC member nations.
Multiplication of corn stunt spiroplasma in Dalbulus maidis and transmission in vitro, following injection.

SUMMARY Corn stunt spiroplasma (CSS) multiplied in all injected Dulbulus maidis, reaching titres of over 1 × 106 colony forming units (cfu)/insect and 1 × 104 cfu/salivary gland of each insect. Spiroplasmas could be isolated from the haemolymph and from the salivary glands 1 h after injection and at any time subsequently. Insect extract at a concentration greater than the equivalent of 0.1 insects/ml was inhibitory to the growth of CSS in cultures. Helices could be seen in the haemolymph at any time after injection. However, distorted or partially deformed cells and small aggregates were not present until 2–3 wk after injection. The salivary gland cells of injected insects contained membrane-bound ‘pockets’ or ‘colonies’ packed with pleomorphic organisms, which included some filamentous forms. Intracellular colonies were always on the periphery of cells and were easily detectable by fluorescent microscopy. Both pleomorphic and filamentous forms were also seen intercellularly in the salivary glands. Following injection, transmission of CSS to maize and to sterile feeding solution were compared using 1 day feeding periods. A proportion of injected leafhoppers began to transmit to maize by the third day following injection (5%) and reached a maximum of 72% by day 14. By day 9, 82% of the population had transmitted at least once to plants and by day 12, 100% had transmitted. Similar insects transmitted through membranes to sterile feeding solution on day 4 (3%) reaching a maximum of 62% by day 14.
Quantification of the Nanomechanical Stablility of Multicomponent Lipid Bilayers

Quantification of the mechanical stability of lipid bilayers is important in establishing the composition-structure-property relations, and shed light on understanding functions of biological membranes. We report a direct correlation of the self-organized structures exhibited in phase-segregated supported lipid bilayers consisting of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine/egg sphingomyelin/cholesterol (DEC) in the absence and presence of ceramide (DEC-Ceramide) with their nanomechanical properties using AFM imaging and high-resolution force mapping. Direct incorporation of ceramide into phase-segregated supported lipid bilayers formed ceramide-enriched domains, where the height topography was found to be imaging setpoint dependent. In contrast, liquid ordered domains in both DEC and DEC-Ceramide presented similar heights regardless of AFM imaging settings. Owing to its capability for simultaneous determination of the topology and interaction forces, AFM-based force mapping was used in our study to directly correlate the structures and mechanical responses of different coexisting phases. We also designed an experiment to directly probe and quantify the nanomechanical stability and rigidity of the ceramide-enriched platforms that play a distinctive role in a variety of cellular processes. Our force mapping results have demonstrated that the ceramide-enriched domains require both methyl β-cyclodextrin (MbCD) and chloroform treatments to weaken their highly ordered organization, suggesting a lipid packing different from typical gel states. Our results also show the expulsion of cholesterol from the sphingolipid/cholesterol- enriched domains as a result of ceramide incorporation. This work provides quantitative information on the nanomechanical stability and rigidity of coexisting phase-segregated lipid bilayers with the presence of ceramide-enriched platforms, indicating that generation of ceramide in cells drastically alters the structural organization and the mechanical property of biological membranes.
A simple synthesis of bromine-77-labeled alkyl bromides.

Abstract Bromine-77 labeled primary, secondary and benzylic alkyl bromides have been prepared in no-carrier-added form by the reaction of the corresponding alcohols with Na77Br and chlorotrimethylsilane in acetonitrile solution. This represents a new and very simple method for radiobromination, and has been used to prepare 77Br-12-bromododecanoic acid useful for studying myocardial metabolism.
Resistance to aldrin in the rice water weevil in Louisiana.

Laboratory studies conducted during 1965 and 1966 using the topical-application technique demonstrated resistance to aldrin in the rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophius Kuschel, in Louisiana. High levels (100- to two-fold) of resistance were found in weevils from Alsatia, Crowley, and Ville Platte. Intermediate levels (5- to 10-fold) of resistance in weevils were shown to be widespread over the major rice-producing area of Louisiana The more susceptible weevils were found principally around the fringes of the major rice area. The aldrin-resistant rice water weevils from Alsatia and Crowley also appeared to be resistant to endrin but not to methyl parathion and Nia 10242 (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranyl methylcarbamate).
Precise and accurate determination of high concentrations of sulphur by isotope-dilution thermal-ionization mass-spectrometry

Abstract An isotope-dilution thermal-ionization mass-spectrometric procedure has been developed for the accurate and precise determination of sulphur in steels and organic-based materials. The sample and isotopically enriched sulphur spike are dissolved in a sealed tube to prevent loss of sulphur and the sulphur isotopes are measured as AsS + ions, with silica gel as an emitter. This technique has been applied to the determination of sulphur in 13 NBS Standard Reference Materials ranging in concentration from 0.03 to 5% S. The relative uncertainty for a single determination is typically 0.5% (95% confidence interval) and arises primarily from the uncertainty in the spike calibration and from sample inhomogeneity.
Reflections on the cost of doing science.

Scientists must consider not only the direct hazards of virulence or oncogenicity in genetic research but the possibility of indirect harm or costs. This 2nd-order or world-view effect is the concept whereby the kinds of models that society adapt influence their ideas about the casual ordering of the world. A genetic model encourages a view containing moral assumptions about the relationship of people to their environment and responsibility for their disease or behavior not tenable from an environmental standpoint. 3 related questions are: 1) possible human costs by erroneously or prematurely incorporating unsubstantiated genetic models into social policy 2) potential costs of inappropriately utilizing valid genetic models of behavior or disability and 3) costs to using genetic models per se for studying human traits or behaviors. Genetic hypotheses are usually tentative to facilitate investigation into complex areas. Nonscientists may move such theory into the area of social policy reordering our values and social priorities to the detriment of our society.
Evaluation of inferior alveolar nerve function during distraction osteogenesis in the dog.

Purpose: A series of electrophysiologic studies were performed in a canine model to evaluate inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) function during distraction osteogenesis of the mandible. Materials and Methods: Fourteen dogs, including two controls, were used in the study. Twelve dogs underwent a 10-mm bilateral mandibular lengthening with an intraoral bone-borne appliance and midbody osteotomy. By using sensory nerve action potentials, IAN function was assessed before and immediately after surgery, before and at the completion of distraction, and before necropsy after 4, 6, or 8 weeks of fixation. Results: Twelve of the 24 nerves showed a complete loss of evoked potential after surgery without recovery at any point throughout the study. Acute nerve injury caused by either the osteotomy or screw encroachment was identified at necropsy. The other 12 nerves showed reproducible responses after surgery. Eight of these nerves had significant amplitude attenuation of the evoked potentials, which was identified at necropsy as a result of acute injury. The remaining four nerves did not show significant evoked potential abnormalities and appeared to be grossly normal at necropsy. During distraction, the amplitude of evoked potentials in all 12 nerves remained at the postoperative level, whereas latency showed a significant delay. In 7 of these 12 nerves, various degrees of evoked potential recovery were identified at the completion of the study. Conclusions: The high incidence of acute IAN injury in the current study was primarily related to device construction and osteotomy technique. If acute nerve injury is avoided at surgery, distraction osteogenesis with 10 mm mandibular lengthening appears to produce minimal deleterious effect on IAN function.
Translating at Work Genetically Modified Mouse Models and Molecularization in the Environmental Health Sciences

This paper examines processes of translation through which molecular genetic technologies and practices are incorporated into environmental health research and regulation. Specifically, it considers how scientists, risk assessors, and regulators have used genetically modified mouse models to translate across scientific disciplines, articulate emergent molecular forms, standards, and practices with the extant? gold standard,? and establish roles for molecular knowledge in risk assessment and regulation. Noting variation both within and between regulatory agencies in responses to data from these models, the article describes also the role of public-private networks and their effects on professional and institutional imperatives which shape regulators? responses to the potential applications of these models. The conclusions address the importance of translation for understanding the wider implications of the molecularization of environmental health science.
Fast coregistered breast imaging in vivo using a hand-held optical imager

A hand-held optical imaging device has been developed in our laboratory towards fast 2D imaging and 3D tomography for breast cancer diagnosis. The device has the unique abilities: (1) to contour to different tissue curvatures using a flexible probe face; (2) perform fast 2D imaging by employing simultaneous over sequential source illumination; and (3) self coregistration towards (future) 3D tomography. The objective of the current work is to demonstrate fast coregistered 2D imaging on breast tissue of healthy female subjects. Fluorescence imaging experiments are performed in vitro and in vivo to demonstrate coregistered imaging as well as the ability to detect deep targets from multiple surface scans. A 0.45 cc spherical target filled with 1 μM indocyanine green is embedded at various depths of a cubical phantom filled with chicken breast (in vitro models). For in vivo studies, the fluorescent target is placed under the flap of the breast tissue to represent a tumor for fluorescence imaging. Multiple scans (fast continuous-wave images of fluorescence intensity) are collected and coregistered at different locations on the breast tissue. This study demonstrates the potential of the hand-held optical device towards future in vivo surface imaging and tomographic imaging for 3D tumor localization.
Protein kinase C stimulates release of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 by human decidual cells.

Objective: Increased concentrations of amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 have been observed in the context of premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity. However, the source of the stimuli that contribute to the accumulation of these proteins in amniotic fluid remains to be identified. The present study was conducted to investigate MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 secretion by decidual cells in response to activated protein kinase C (PKC). Methods: Decidual cells were isolated from term placentae, grown to confluence and incubated with control media or 10-11 to 10-8 mol/l concentrations of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the culture supernatant were determined using sensitive and specific immunoassays. Substrate zymography was conducted to confirm MMP-9 assays. Results: PMA induced a concentration-dependent stimulation of release of MMP-9 (control vs. PMA 10-...
Multimodality imaging of primary CNS lymphoma in immunocompetent patients

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) belongs to the group of extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and the management of the disease is radically different from other central nervous system neoplasms. Owing to its varied appearance on imaging, diagnosis of PCNSL can be challenging. The purpose of this pictorial review is to depict the brain findings of PCNSL during initial diagnosis in immunocompetent individuals. Multimodal imaging integrating advanced sequences can facilitate differentiation of PCNSL from other CNS neoplasms.
Pain Reduction by Fibrin Sealant in Older Children and Adult Tonsillectomy

Objectives: Because tonsillectomy is a painful procedure in adults, this study was performed to see whether the addition of fibrin sealant (Tisseel) to the tonsillar fossa at the completion of tonsillectomy would reduce pain in adults and allow them to return to work sooner. Study Design: Forty adult patients over the age of 12 were entered into a prospective randomized study to see whether the addition of fibrin sealant (Tisseel) to the tonsillar fossa at the completion of tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis would reduce the time the patient needed to take narcotic analgesics after surgery. Methods: Fifteen adults had a traditional complete tonsillectomy by means of a needle point Bovie and served as a control group. Twenty-five (adults had the same procedure with the addition of Tisseel to see how long they required narcotic analgesics postoperatively and when they were able to resume normal activities. Results: The control group took narcotics for an average of 10.3 days, whereas the addition of Tisseel reduced the time to 8.16 days (P = .0058). This significant reduction of time allowed adults to return to work and other activities sooner. Conclusion: Because the time required to return to work is often of paramount interest to patients having surgery, Tisseel should be considered a safe addition to older children and adult tonsillectomy in patients who are not allergic to bovine products because it will allow an earlier return to normal activities.
High-gain multi-finger power n-MODFET on Si substrate

A multi-finger n-type Si/SiGe modulation-doped field-effect transistor fabricated on Si substrate for RF power amplification is demonstrated for the first time. Load-pull measurements performed at 2 GHz on a ten-finger device with a gate length of 0.3 μm and a gate width of 750 μm show a maximum output power of 14 dBm and power gain of 16 dB at 1 dB compression point with power added efficiency of 15%.
Data security and integrity: developments and directions

Data is a critical resource in numerous organizations. One of the challenging problems facing these organizations today is to ensure that only authorized individuals have address to data. Data also has to be protected from malicious corruption.Much of the early work on data security focused on multilevel secure data management systems where users have different clearance levels and data has different sensitivity levels and access to data is governed by the security policies. There were many efforts on securing relational, distributed and objectoriented databases. More recently, several aspects of data security are being investigated including data confidentiality, integrity, trust and privacy. Furthermore, securing data warehouses, semantic web, as well as applying data mining for solving security problems are getting a lot of attentionThis presentation will review the developments in data security and integrity as well as discuss directions for further research and development. In particular, policy management for the semantic web, assured information sharing, privacy preserving data mining and novel ways to build secure data management systems will be discussed.
A simple and robust virtual infrastructure for massively deployed wireless sensor networks

The networks considered in this paper consist of tiny energy constrained commodity sensors massively deployed in an area of interest. Overlaying a virtual infrastructure over a physical network is a time-honored strategy for conquering scale. The main contribution of this paper is an energy-efficient protocol that self-organizes an amorphous mass of massively deployed tiny sensors into a wireless sensor network. The resulting virtual infrastructure is simple and can be leveraged by a number of different protocols.
DIRECTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED EMISSION FROM THE MOON

Infrared surveys of the illuminated Moon have shown that the lunar surface does not radiate like a Lambert emitter. A detailed description is presented of directional emission from the equatorial region of the Moon, based on brightness temperature measurements by Saari and Shorthill (1967a, b). In general, the measurements indicate that the illuminated lunar surface is anomalously warm (cool) when the Sun is behind (in front of) the observer. It is plausible to attribute such directional effects to negative surface relief. A thermal model of a cratered lunar soil is developed to examine these effects both qualitatively and quantitatively. The results of the study indicate that centimeter-and meter-scale craters, with a variety of forms, both sharp and subdued, can account for measured directional emission characteristics over a wide range of Sun and observer angles.
Feline infectious peritonitis

Ten cases of feline infectious peritonitis, seen at the University of California in 1969, are presented and compared with those reported by other authors. Various aspects of the disease are summarized, and a treatment effective in two or three cats is described. Resume. Dix cas de peritonite infectieuse feline, observes a l'Universite de Californie en 1969, sont presentes et compares B ceux rapportes par d'autres auteurs. Resume de divers aspects de la maladie et description d'un traitement efficace de deux ou trois chats. Zusammenfassung. Zehn Falle von infektioser Peritonitis, der Katze, die 1969 an der Universitat von Kalifornien beobachtet wurden, werden dargestellt und mit den von anderen Autoren beschriebenen verglichen. Verschiedene Aspekte der Krankheit werden herausgestellt und eine in zwei oder drei Fallen erfolgreiche Behandlung wird beschrieben.
Robert Hooke: Early Respiratory Physiologist, Polymath, and Mechanical Genius

Robert Hooke (1635–1703) was a polymath who made important contributions to respiratory physiology and many other scientific areas. With Robert Boyle, he constructed the first air pump that allowed...
Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEPs) and Bilirubin-Albumin Binding in Jaundiced (jj) Gunn Rat Pups • 794

Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEPs) and Bilirubin-Albumin Binding in Jaundiced (jj) Gunn Rat Pups • 794
Personality and psychological reactance: extending the nomological net

Psychological reactance is a construct that has potential wide ranging counseling implications. Recently, researchers have argued that reactance is characterological in nature and have attempted to delineate its nomological network. This study extends the nomological network of psychological reactance using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Therapeutic Reactance Scale (TRS). Personality type was found to be related to psychological reactance as measured by the TRS. The relationship between the TRS and MBTI, while significant, is complicated by a significant three-way interaction between Extraversion-Introversion, Intuition-Sensing and Thinking-Feeling. More specifically, thinkers consistently reported higher levels of psychological reactance than did Feelers, and intuitive-thinkers tended to report higher levels of psychological reactance than did sensing-thinkers.