cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Atherogenic Cytokines Regulate VEGF-A-Induced Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Endothelial Cells

Coronary artery stenting or angioplasty procedures frequently result in long-term endothelial dysfunction or loss and complications including arterial thrombosis and myocardial infarction. Stem cell-based therapies have been proposed to support endothelial regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiate into endothelial cells (ECs) in the presence of VEGF-A in vitro. Application of VEGF-A and MSC-derived ECs at the interventional site is a complex clinical challenge. In this study, we examined the effect of atherogenic cytokines (IL-6, TNFα, and Ang II) on EC differentiation and function. MSCs (CD44+, CD73+, CD90+, CD14−, and CD45−) were isolated from the bone marrow of Yucatan microswine. Naive MSCs cultured in differentiation media containing VEGF-A (50 ng/mL) demonstrated increased expression of EC-specific markers (vWF, PECAM-1, and VE-cadherin), VEGFR-2 and Sox18, and enhanced endothelial tube formation. IL-6 or TNFα caused a dose-dependent attenuation of EC marker expression in VEGF-A-stimulated MSCs. In contrast, Ang II enhanced EC marker expression in VEGF-A-stimulated MSCs. Addition of Ang II to VEGF-A and IL-6 or TNFα was sufficient to rescue the EC phenotype. Thus, Ang II promotes but IL-6 and TNFα inhibit VEGF-A-induced differentiation of MSCs into ECs. These findings have important clinical implications for therapies intended to increase cardiac vascularity and reendothelialize coronary arteries following intervention.
BEST PAPER: A Knowledge Task-Based Framework for Design and Evaluation of Information Visualizations

The design and evaluation of most current information visualization systems descend from an emphasis on a user's ability to "unpack" the representations of data of interest and operate on them independently. Too often, successful decision-making and analysis are more a matter of serendipity and user experience than of intentional design and specific support for such tasks; although humans have considerable abilities in analyzing relationships from data, the utility of visualizations remains relatively variable across users, data sets, and domains. In this paper, we discuss the notion of analytic gaps, which represent obstacles faced by visualizations in facilitating higher-level analytic tasks, such as decision-making and learning. We discuss support for bridging the analytic gap, propose a framework for design and evaluation of information visualization systems, and demonstrate its use
Comment on ``Possibility of quantum mechanics being nonlocal''

A recent proof, formulated in the symbolic language of modal logic, shows that a well-defined formulation of the possibility mentioned in the title is answered affirmatively. In the paper being commented upon several proposals were made about how to translate this symbolic proof into prose, and it was concluded, on the basis of those proposed translations, that either the proof was invalid or that an unwarranted reality assumption was made. However, those interpretations deviate in small but important ways from the precise logical path followed in the proof. It is explained here how by staying on this path one avoids the difficulties that those deviations engendered.
Size, Time, and Asynchrony Matter: The Species–Area Relationship for Parasites of Freshwater Fishes

Abstract: The tendency to attribute species–area relationships to “island biogeography” effectively bypasses the examination of specific mechanisms that act to structure parasite communities. Positive covariation between fish size and infrapopulation richness should not be examined within the typical extinction-based paradigm, but rather should be addressed from the standpoint of differences in colonization potential among individual hosts. Although most mechanisms producing the aforementioned pattern constitute some variation of passive sampling, the deterministic aspects of the accumulation of parasite individuals by fish hosts makes untenable the suggestion that infracommunities of freshwater fishes are stochastic assemblages. At the component community level, application of extinction-dependent mechanisms might be appropriate, given sufficient time for colonization, but these structuring forces likely act indirectly through their effects on the host community to increase the probability of parasite pe...
The mechanism of generation of acoustic streaming

Acoustic streaming is a stationary fluid motion induced by intense ultrasound. This paper describes the mechanism of generation of acoustic streaming, theoretically and experimentally. A qualitative explanation in relation to acoustic radiation pressure is followed by a detailed discussion based on the formulation of the phenomenon. The spatial non-uniformity of the sound field and energy dissipation due to viscosity are requisite for the generation of streaming. In the development of streaming, two kinds of nonlinearity are important: one is fluid-dynamic nonlinearity, which accounts for effects of inertial force compared to viscous force in fluid motion, and the other is acoustic nonlinearity, which determines the driving force of streaming. © 1998 Scripta Technica, Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 81(10): 1–8, 1998
The Influence of Gender and Mental State on Police Decisions in Domestic Assault Cases

Research findings on gender biases in police decision making are mixed and have not directly examined how assailants' gender affects officers' interpretation of situational cues or their decisions. Using hypothetical scripts and experimental manipulation, this study examined how disputants' gender and mental state affected 130 officers' inferences about dangerousness, responsibility, credibility, and control and, ultimately, their decisions to arrest or refer for involuntary civil commitment in domestic assault cases. Officers inferred that male victims of domestic assault had more control over their actions and were more responsible than female victims. Mentally ill assailants were viewed as more dangerous and less in control of their actions than normal assailants. Gender influenced the arrest decision through officers' assessments of disputants' credibility and responsibility. Female mentally ill assailants were more likely than males to be referred for involuntary civil commitment The findings suggest that both gender and mental state affect officers' inferences and decisions in domestic assault cases.
Evidence that estrogen-receptor-negative, progesterone-receptor-positive breast and ovarian carcinomas contain estrogen receptor

A small number of primary metastatic breast carcinomas are estrogen-receptor-negative and progesterone-receptor-positive (ER-, PGR+) under the normal ligand-binding assay or sucrose density gradient conditions. Among more than 500 tumors analyzed in this laboratory over a year and a half, 28 cases fit this category, 18 of which were patients 51 years of age or younger (Group A) and 7 were patients over the age of 56 (Group B), The ages of three patients were unknown (Group C). By treatment of each of those tumor cytosols with dextran-coated charcoal before the assay was done, 13 of group A became positive (ER range 10-87 fmol/mg protein); 1 was borderline (ER 3-9 fmol/mg protein); 1 became positive only on sucrose gradient determination, and 2 remained negative. In comparison, two patients in group B shifted from borderline ER to ER+ and only one ER- became ER+ at 10 fmol/mg protein. The data provide additional rationale for determining both ER and PGR in all patients, and have obvious implications for the need of standard methods of determining ER and PGR in the prognosis of women with breast cancer.
Effect of age, vitamin D, and calcium on the regulation of rat intestinal epithelial calcium channels.

Transepithelial transport of calcium involves uptake at the apical membrane, movement across the cell, and extrusion at the basolateral membrane. Active vitamin D metabolites regulate the latter two processes by induction of calbindin D and the plasma membrane ATPase (calcium pump), respectively. The expression of calbindin D and the calcium pump declines with age in parallel with transepithelial calcium transport. The apical uptake of calcium is thought to be mediated by the recently cloned calcium channels—CaT1 (or ECaC2, TRPV6) and CaT2 (or ECaC1, TRPV5). The purpose of these studies was to determine whether there were age-related changes in intestinal calcium channel regulation and to identify the dietary factors responsible for their regulation. Young (2 months) and adult (12 months) rats were fed either a high calcium or low calcium diet for 4 weeks. The low calcium diet significantly increased duodenal CaT1 and CaT2 mRNA levels in both age groups, but the levels in the adult were less than half that of the young. The changes in calcium channel expression with age and diet were significantly correlated with duodenal calcium transport and with calbindin D levels. To elucidate the relative roles of serum 1,25(OH)2D3 and calcium in the regulation of calcium channel expression, young rats were fed diets containing varying amounts of calcium and vitamin D. Dietary vitamin D or exogenous 1,25(OH)2D3 more than doubled CaT1 mRNA levels, and this regulation was independent of dietary or serum calcium. These findings suggest that the apical calcium channels, along with calbindin and the calcium pump, may play a role in intestinal calcium transport and its modulation by age, dietary calcium, and 1,25(OH)2D3.
Toward Simplifying and Accurately Formulating Fragment Assembly

ABSTRACT The fragment assembly problem is that of reconstructing a DNA sequence from a collection of randomly sampled fragments. Traditionally, the objective of this problem has been to produce the shortest string that contains all the fragments as substrings, but in the case of repetitive target sequences this objective produces answers that are overcompressed. In this paper, the problem is reformulated as one of finding a maximum-likelihood reconstruction with respect to the two-sided Kolmogorov–Smirnov statistic, and it is argued that this is a better formulation of the problem. Next the fragment assembly problem is recast in graph-theoretic terms as one of finding a noncyclic subgraph with certain properties and the objectives of being shortest or maximally likely are also recast in this framework. Finally, a series of graph reduction transformations are given that dramatically reduce the size of the graph to be explored in practical instances of the problem. This reduction is very important as the un...
Pacing-induced left ventricular asynchronies in dogs with critical coronary stenosis: mechanisms and effect of anesthetics.

The mechanisms leading to left ventricular (LV) asynchronies are incompletely understood, and reports on the functional significance of asynchronies for the affected segments are conflicting. To characterize LV asynchronies, 16 anesthetized docs with critical stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) were instrumented to measure sub-endocardial contractile function (sonomicrometry) and the ECG in the LAD territory. The subendocardial ECG was also recorded from the anterior basal LV territory. Time of regional S wave arrival (TS) and time of onset of segment shortening were determined. The animals underwent atrial pacing with increasing frequencies until systolic LAD territory contractile dysfunction and eventual LV asynchronies were observed. Six animals without LAD stenosis served as controls to define the normal response (mean ± 2 · SD) to increasing pacing rates of systolic shortening and onset time of segment shortening (time difference between TS and onset of segment shortening). LAD contractile dysfunction was considered as a systolic shortening below the normal range, and LV asynchronies as an onset time of segment shortening above the normal range. When LV asynchronies occurred, onset time of segment shortening in the LAD territory was 80.1 ± 4.9 ms versus 14.8 ± 3.7 ms at control (P < 0.01); the time difference between S wave arrival in the LAD and circumflex territories, however, was unchanged. LV asynchronies were associated with marked LAD territory contractile dysfunction (systolic shortening of 9.6 ± 0.8% v 21.0 ± 1.9% at control, after systolic shortening of 31.3 3.8% v 9.0 ± 2.6% at control; P < 0.01). In conclusion, LV asynchronies occurring during pacing tachycardia are induced by a dramatic delay in onset of segment shortening due to a marked increase in onset time of segment shortening and are associated with marked contractile dysfunction in the affected segment. Regionally delayed arrival of electrical activation can be excluded as a mechanism leading to LV asynchronies.
Patterns of Exposures at School Among Children Age 6–19 Years Reported to Texas Poison Centers, 1998–2002

Although children and adolescents spend a large amount of time in school, there is little information on the factors involved in school exposures that are reported to poison centers. This study used data involving exposures among children age 6-19 yr reported to 6 Texas poison centers during 1998-2002. The distribution of school and nonschool exposures was determined for various demographic and other factors, and comparisons were made between the two types of exposures. The lowest proportion of reported school exposures occurred in June-August and the next lowest proportion occurred in December-January; nonschool exposures were more constant throughout the year. Males accounted for 58% of school exposures and 49% of nonschool exposures. The exposure was unintentional in 74% of school and 67% of nonschool exposures. Ingestion was the most frequently reported exposure route for school (64%) and nonschool (76%) exposures. Among those cases with known medical outcome, the most frequently reported medical outcome involved minor effects for both school exposures (58%) and nonschool exposures (46%). Nonpharmaceuticals were involved in 75% of school exposures and 48% of nonschool exposures. The most frequently reported substances involved in school exposures were arts, crafts, and office supplies (18%), while the most frequently reported substances involved in nonschool exposures were analgesics (17%). This information may allow school administrators and health care providers to implement prevention strategies.
Measurements of Swimming Speeds of Yellowfin Tuna and Wahoo

Bainbridge1 and Nursall2 have questioned the validity of certain fish swimming speed estimates because these require that either completely laminar flow or very high power factors must be postulated in order to explain the animals' performance. Speeds in excess of 45 km/h are included in this suspect category. Walters3 showed that certain morphological features indicate that scombroid fishes may attain velocities of 10 body-lengths/sec, and the large species should be able to attain maximum speeds considerably in excess of 45 km/h.
[η5-cyclopentadien-1-YL-η4-tetraphenylcyclobutadienecobalt]diphenylmethylium hexafluorophosphate: A metal-stabilized carbonium ion salt

Abstract Mercuration of η5-cyclopentadienyl-η4-tetraphenylcyclobutadienecobalt, followed by transmetalation with n-butyllithium and reaction of the lithium derivative with benzophenone gave η4-Ph4C4Coη5-C5H4CPh2OH. Treatment of this alcohol produced the [η4-Ph4C4CoC5H4CP2]+ cation. This species reacted as a carbon electrophile with methanol, monomethylamine and N-methylpyrrole, as a cobalt electrophile with N,N-dimethylaniline and anisole. In the latter process the C5H4CPh2 ligand was displaced and the η6-arene-η4-tetraphenylcyclobutadienecobalt complexes were formed. Similar reactions with benzene, toluene and mesitylene proceeded only in the presence of aluminum chloride. The bonding in the cation is discussed on the basis of this chemistry and 13C NMR studies.
Comparison of PCR-based detection of chromogranin A mRNA with traditional histological lymph node staging of small intestinal neuroendocrine neoplasia.

Background: Accurate neuroendocrine neoplasia (NEN) staging is vital for determining prognosis and therapeutic strategy. The great majority of NENs express chromogranin A (CgA) which can be detected at a protein or transcript level. The current standards for lymph node metastasis detection are histological examination after Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and CgA immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. We hypothesized that detection of CgA mRNA transcripts would be a more sensitive method of detecting these metastases. Findings: We compared these traditional methods with PCR for CgA mRNA extracted from formalin fixed paraffin embedded slides of lymph nodes (n=196) from small intestinal NENs, other gastrointestinal cancers and benign gastrointestinal disease. CgA PCR detected significantly more NEN lymph nodes (75%) than H&E (53%) or CgA IHC (57%) (p=0.02). PCR detected CgA mRNA in 50% (14 of the 28) of SI-NEN lymph nodes previously considered negative. The false positive rate for detection of CgA mRNA was 19% in non-neuroendocrine cancers, and appeared to be due to occult neuroendocrine differentiation or contamination by normal epithelium during histological processing. Conclusions: Molecular pathological analysis demonstrates the limitations of observer-dependent histopathology. CgA PCR analysis detected the presence of CgA transcripts in lymph nodes without histological evidence of tumor metastasis. Molecular node positivity (stage molN1) of SI-NEN lymph nodes could confer greater staging accuracy and facilitate early and accurate therapeutic intervention. This technique warrants investigation using clinically annotated tumor samples with follow-up data.
Preliminary design study of solar probe heat shields

The requirements, constraints, design guidelines, and expected performances of heat-shield systems for a solar probe are analyzed. A multiple-stage, asymmetric, right-angle radiation cascade configuration is used as the basis for comparison. Output-to-input radiative flux ratios are first calculated for a system employing gray surfaces. Assuming that the temperature of the inner surface of the payload bus is allowed to reach 400 K, it is shown that four- and five-stage cascade systems employing graphite can approach, respectively, to within about 5.5 and 4 solar radii of the sun. The systems using slip-cast silica and tungsten are then analyzed accounting for the degradation of surface-optical performance caused by the solar wind. It is shown that two- and three-stage silica-tungsten systems can approach, respectively, to within 4 and 3 solar radii of the sun.
An Experiment on Unit Increase in Problem Complexity

The effect of a variation in problem complexity and how the variation relates to programming complexity is predicted and measured. An experiment was conducted in which eighteen graduate students programmed two variations of the same smali algorithm where the problem complexity varied by 25 percent. Eight measurable program characteristics are compared with predicted values obtained using only two known parameters. The agreement between observed and predicted values is very good. Both predicted and observed measurements indicate that the 25 percent increase in problem complexity results in a 100 percent increase in programming complexity.
Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Economy Effects of 16 % Butanol and Various Ethanol Blended Fuels (E10, E20, and E85)

Due to various concerns involving conventional gasoline, there has been a growing interest in the study of alternative fuels and their use in the automotive industry. There has been particular interest in the fuel effects of varying levels of ethanol blends and other alternative fuels on vehicle emissions and fuel economy. This paper will examine and compare both exhaust emissions and fuel economy for various ethanol blended fuels, and a 16 % butanol blended fuel. The results were generated using the U.S. Federal Test Procedure. Vehicles that are certified to U.S., European, and Brazilian government standards were tested. These vehicles include a flex fuel capable (FFV) 2007 Chevrolet Zafira (E100-FFV), 2007 Chevrolet Suburban (E85-FFV), 2007 Saab 9-5 BioPower (E85-FFV), 2007 Chevrolet Suburban, 2007 Pontiac G5, and a 2006 Pontiac G6. The fuels examined were E10, E20, E85, and Bu16. Each fuel was splash blended to make up the proper finished fuel blend. Fuel economy and emissions results from these fuels were compared with those from Tier 2 Emissions Certification fuel.
Relationships between the Circadian System and Alzheimer's Disease-Like Symptoms in Drosophila

Circadian clocks coordinate physiological, neurological, and behavioral functions into circa 24 hour rhythms, and the molecular mechanisms underlying circadian clock oscillations are conserved from Drosophila to humans. Clock oscillations and clock-controlled rhythms are known to dampen during aging; additionally, genetic or environmental clock disruption leads to accelerated aging and increased susceptibility to age-related pathologies. Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), are associated with a decay of circadian rhythms, but it is not clear whether circadian disruption accelerates neuronal and motor decline associated with these diseases. To address this question, we utilized transgenic Drosophila expressing various Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, which are prone to form aggregates characteristic of AD pathology in humans. We compared development of AD-like symptoms in adult flies expressing Aβ peptides in the wild type background and in flies with clocks disrupted via a null mutation in the clock gene period (per01). No significant differences were observed in longevity, climbing ability and brain neurodegeneration levels between control and clock-deficient flies, suggesting that loss of clock function does not exacerbate pathogenicity caused by human-derived Aβ peptides in flies. However, AD-like pathologies affected the circadian system in aging flies. We report that rest/activity rhythms were impaired in an age-dependent manner. Flies expressing the highly pathogenic arctic Aβ peptide showed a dramatic degradation of these rhythms in tune with their reduced longevity and impaired climbing ability. At the same time, the central pacemaker remained intact in these flies providing evidence that expression of Aβ peptides causes rhythm degradation downstream from the central clock mechanism.
Electrical conductivity of germanium as a function of optically injected carrier density and temperature

The effects of carrier-carrier scattering on the transport properties of high-density electron-hole plasmas in germanium were studied both experimentally and theoretically. Experimentally, the dc electrical conductivities of nearly uniform optically injected bipolar plasmas in high-purity single crystals of germanium were measured for a broad range of carrier densities (\ensuremath{\sim} ${10}^{14}$ - \ensuremath{\sim} 5 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{17}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$) and temperatures (21-298 K). Concurrent measurements of the absorption of 3.39-\ensuremath{\mu}m radiation due to inter-hole-band transitions aided the calibration of the carrier densities at some temperatures. The previous theory of Appel, which used Kohler's variational principle to solve the Boltzmann equation, was generalized with respect to the inclusion of interband hole scattering, electron mass anisotropy, degeneracy, and use of the RPA $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{q}}$-dependent screening approximation (although not with respect to all at once). The most crucial generalization was the accounting for the presence of nonconducting excitons in the plasma. The scattering of free carriers by excitons was also considered, using a neutral-impurity scattering theory similar to that of Erginsoy. Incorporation of all the above considerations led to excellent agreement between experiment and theory at densities below the Mott criterion for transition to the exciton-free phase. The transition itself appeared to be gradual, however, and behavior of the conductivity in the high-density region was consistent with the recent assertion by Thomas and Rice that excitons are present at densities significantly above the Mott criterion.
effects of Combustor Inlet Conditions on Flame Stability

Abstract A model for predicting flame ignition and blowout in a combustor primary zone is presented. The model employs a Monte Carlo calculation procedure to follow a chemical reaction through a mixing process to account for composition nonuniformities in the primary zone. The fuel oxidation process is described by an overall kinetic rate equation. The model is used to predict the lean ignition and blowout limits of premixed turbulent flames; the effect of composition nonuniformity on the lean ignition limit is explored using an assumed distribution of fuel fraction. The predicted trends are verified using data from the literature and by experimental work on an atmospheric pressure, constant cross-sectional area tubular combustor. Data on the effects of variations in inlet temperature, reference velocity and mixture uniformity on the lean ignition and blowout limits of gaseous propane-air flames are presented. The variations of the predicted lean limits with mixture temperature, pressure and velocity comp...
Haemodynamic changes in children with portal hypertension during the postoperative period

The cardiovascular changes following portosystemic shunt surgery (PSSS) in 33 children with extrahepatic portal hypertension (EPH) were studied to determine if portosystemic shunt surgery had any influence on the cardiovascular state. Haemodynamic data were obtained using two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography, pulsed-wave Doppler and direct invasive techniques. Postoperatively all patients developed a hyperdynamic state, associated with an increase in cardiac index (CI), heart rate (HR) and a decrease in systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI). In 16 patients (group I), who preoperatively exhibited a hyperdynamic state accompanied by pulmonary hypertension, postoperative studies found an increase in acceleration time to ejection time ratio (AT/ET) in the pulmonary artery from 0.32 +/- 0.05 (mean +/- SEM) to 0.43 +/- 0.01; P < 0.01. Nine patients (group II) who were normodynamic preoperatively developed pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction postoperatively: decrease in AT/ET from 0.42 +/- 0.02 (mean +/- SEM) to 0.32 +/- 0.01; P < 0.01 and an increase in maximal peak pulmonary artery velocity to acceleration time ratio (Vmax/AT) from 702.56 +/- 69.10 (mean +/- SEM) to 1127 +/- 105.30 cm.sec-2; P < 0.01. In eight patients (group III) who were normodynamic preoperatively and were treated with dobutamine infusions at a rate of 5 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 postoperatively, the CI was found to increase from 5.28 +/- 1.1 (mean +/- SEM) to 7.97 +/- 1.64 L.min-1.m-2; P < 0.01, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from 69.0 +/- 4.1 (mean +/- SEM) to 81.0 +/- 2.9%; P < 0.01 and AT/ET from 0.37 +/- 0.04 (mean +/- SEM) to 0.44 +/- 0.03; P < 0.01.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of individual line shapes on composite profiles and line series

Abstract We consider (i) the use of approximate ion microfield distributions as inputs into spectral line shapes and (ii) the effects of individual lines on unresolved transition array (UTA) profiles observed in highly ionized plasmas. Spectral line shapes and line wings have significant effects on mean opacity calculations.
Peer Input and Revised Judgment: Exploring the Effects of (Un) Biased Confidence1

An experiment was conducted to test the effects of biased versus unbiased peer input on the revised judgments of others. After completing a set of knowledge items and assessing their confidence in each answer, subjects were: (a) given written input (in the form of answers and confidence assessments) from a peer who had completed the same set of items, and (b) allowed to revise their earlier answers and confidence assessments. Peer input was either overconfident, underconfident, or appropriately confident. Relative to appropriately confident input, both overconfident and underconfident input caused subjects’ accuracy in judgment to suffer. Overconfident input was particularly harmful because it led to more extreme overconfidence without any increase in accuracy. Practical implications of these results are discussed.
Introduction to the question: is confusion a form?

This paper introduces a collection of papers and responses presented as a panel at the Johannesburg Workshop in Theory and Criticism, in June 2013. The theme of the workshop that year was “The Life of Forms.” Our papers addressed the place of the concept of “form” in the emergence of terms such as precarity, fragmentation, impasse and others, applied to situations that comprise confusion, “too-muchness.” We bring ethnographic attention to cosmologies and approaches to daily life amongst African and Africa-descended populations in southwest Nigeria, Brazil and Congo, where there are already “forms,” such as personification and objectification, that have conventionally been translated into English in terms that convey confusion. Responses from the workshop extend the discussion by drawing on art and mathematics, and an African literary source. In this introduction, some existing past and recent literatures relative to “form” and “confusion” are discussed, and the papers and responses of the symposium are in...
Bile acids: antioxidants or enhancers of peroxidation depending on lipid concentration.

Abstract Using three different assay systems, we have discovered a heretofore unrecognized antioxidant property of bile acids at physiological concentrations. Bile acids inhibit peroxidation of the polyunsaturated lipid, linoleic acid, and of the highly fluorescent protein phycoerythrin. In part, the antioxidant activity results from scavenging of peroxyl radicals by direct oxidation of the bile acids. The most abundant products of the reaction of cholate and chenodeoxycholate with peroxyl radicals were studied in detail and shown to be the keto derivatives formed by oxidation of the 7α-hydroxyl groups. Paradoxically, at linoleate concentrations higher than 1–2 m m , glycocholate up to ~10–14 m m enhances lipid peroxidation and inhibits only at higher concentrations. These findings may prove important in understanding the etiology of certain disease states of the biliary tract and intestine where lipid peroxidation may be involved and in providing a rationale for the positive epidemiological correlation between high lipid intake and higher fecal bile acid output and colon cancer.
NAUGHTS AND CROSSES: PESHER MANUSCRIPTS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE FOR READING PRACTICES AT QUMRAN

Historians of Judaism and Christianity would very much like to know how Scripture was read, explained, and understood in the synagogues and house churches of the first century CE; unfortunately, the available sources preserve precious little information on this subject. Our understanding of reading practices may be broadened, however, by a careful study of manuscript evidence. Formal aspects of ancient manuscripts reflect the pressures exerted on them by the concrete reading circumstances in and for which they were produced. To invoke a musical image, we may treat these Jewish and Christian manuscripts as "scores" for textual performance, scores inflected for concrete occasions of performance and appropriation. The trove of documents from Qumran offers a rich body of evidence for this type of study; the pesher commentaries in particular contain many suggestive clues for scholars interested in reading practices at Qumran. In the present study, I will consider the significance of two paleographic features in the pesher manuscripts: first, the separation of lemmata and comment by the use of vacats (open spaces of two or more letterwidth spaces within a line) and second, a scribal mark that cancels open spaces. Close examination of such details shows that readers and scribes took special care when formatting these documents. This suggests that pesher commentaries were publicly performed at Qumran and that a proper performance of these works owed much to a carefully formatted score.
A crossed beam study of the reaction C(3P) + N2O: energy partitioning between the NO(X 2Π) and CN(X 2Σ+) products

Abstract The reaction of C( 3 P) with N 2 O is studied at a collision energy of 0.9 ± 0.4 eV in a crossed, pulsed molecular beam arrangement using laser ablation for carbon atom production. Nascent CN(X 2 Σ + ) and NO(X 2 Π) products are detected by laser-induced fluorescence. In accord with previous studies, the CN(X 2 Σ + ) product is found to be vibrationally inverted (maximum at ν = 3) and possesses substantial rotational excitation. Product NO(X 2 Π) is formed vibrationally “cold” (maximum at ν = 0) but rotationally “hot”, with a maximum population found at J = 49.5 for both spin—orbit states. The implications of these results for the reaction dynamics are assessed.
The urban political ecology of plastic bag waste problem in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract Over 24 million plastic bags are consumed in Kenya monthly. More than half of the bags end up in the solid waste stream. Plastic bags now constitute the biggest challenge to solid waste management in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya and home to three million people. As a result, plastic bag waste has attracted great political and public attention, especially because the waste has myriad unique environmental problems. This paper seeks to unravel the problem of plastic bag waste in Nairobi through an urban political ecological perspective. Urban political ecology has done much to excavate economic, political, and cultural processes, as well as ecological dynamics that create and re-create urban environments. Little has been done in this context with respect to urban solid waste problems, with the exception of urban political ecology of environmental justice. However, research done within the context of urban political ecology of environmental justice has mainly focused on solid waste problems in the Western World, particularly USA. Drawing on research conducted in Nairobi, as well literature on business and politics, and solid waste management in Kenya, this paper examines the nature of plastic bag waste problem, its political–economic roots and implications for environmental justice.
CEO compensation, customer satisfaction, and firm value

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to examine whether the design of chief executive officer (CEO) compensation generates incentives to engage in managerial behavior that enhances customer satisfaction and whether these incentives, in turn, lead to higher firm value. Design/methodology/approach – A unique dataset combining customer satisfaction and executive compensation data was used, and the relationship between option sensitivity, customer satisfaction and performance was modeled using simultaneous equations modeling with industry and year fixed effects. Findings – Findings suggest that CEO compensation plays an important role in explaining the variation in customer satisfaction and firm value. Specifically, CEO short-term compensation (salary or bonus) has no affect on customer satisfaction or firm value; the sensitivity of CEO wealth from long-term incentive compensation to stock price changes is positively related and also exhibits an inverted U-shaped relationship with customer satisfaction; t...
"What's the worst thing… ?" Gender-directed insults.

College students, 107 females and 57 males, were asked to give single-word or phrase responses to four questions about the “worst thing” a member of each sex can call a member of the same or the opposite sex. The resulting 134 different words and phrases were sorted into seven categories by peer raters and a series of chi-square analyses were performed. With minor exceptions, no sex differences in responses were found, but highly significant differences were found in insults attributed to and by the two sexes. For example, insults referring to sexual looseness were said to be directed almost exclusively toward women, and those referring to homosexuality almost exclusively toward men, but only by other men. Results suggest that male and female college students agree on some stereotypic differences between men and women in the giving and receiving of verbal attack.
Wave-ray coupling for interactive sound propagation in large complex scenes

We present a novel hybrid approach that couples geometric and numerical acoustic techniques for interactive sound propagation in complex environments. Our formulation is based on a combination of spatial and frequency decomposition of the sound field. We use numerical wave-based techniques to precompute the pressure field in the near-object regions and geometric propagation techniques in the far-field regions to model sound propagation. We present a novel two-way pressure coupling technique at the interface of near-object and far-field regions. At runtime, the impulse response at the listener position is computed at interactive rates based on the stored pressure field and interpolation techniques. Our system is able to simulate high-fidelity acoustic effects such as diffraction, scattering, low-pass filtering behind obstruction, reverberation, and high-order reflections in large, complex indoor and outdoor environments and Half-Life 2 game engine. The pressure computation requires orders of magnitude lower memory than standard wave-based numerical techniques.
Treatment and survival patterns in relation to multimorbidity in patients with locoregional breast and colorectal cancer

Purpose To examine the effects of the occurrence and co-occurrence of comorbidities (COM), functional limitations (FL), and geriatric syndromes (GS) on treatment and outcomes in older cancer patients.
Probing the functional impact of sequence variation on p53-DNA interactions using a novel microsphere assay for protein-DNA binding with human cell extracts.

The p53 tumor suppressor regulates its target genes through sequence-specific binding to DNA response elements (REs). Although numerous p53 REs are established, the thousands more identified by bioinformatics are not easily subjected to comparative functional evaluation. To examine the relationship between RE sequence variation—including polymorphisms—and p53 binding, we have developed a multiplex format microsphere assay of protein-DNA binding (MAPD) for p53 in nuclear extracts. Using MAPD we measured sequence-specific p53 binding of doxorubicin-activated or transiently expressed p53 to REs from established p53 target genes and p53 consensus REs. To assess the sensitivity and scalability of the assay, we tested 16 variants of the p21 target sequence and a 62-multiplex set of single nucleotide (nt) variants of the p53 consensus sequence and found many changes in p53 binding that are not captured by current computational binding models. A group of eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was examined and binding profiles closely matched transactivation capability tested in luciferase constructs. The in vitro binding characteristics of p53 in nuclear extracts recapitulated the cellular in vivo transactivation capabilities for eight well-established human REs measured by luciferase assay. Using a set of 26 bona fide REs, we observed distinct binding patterns characteristic of transiently expressed wild type and mutant p53s. This microsphere assay system utilizes biologically meaningful cell extracts in a multiplexed, quantitative, in vitro format that provides a powerful experimental tool for elucidating the functional impact of sequence polymorphism and protein variation on protein/DNA binding in transcriptional networks.
Whistles in the wind: the noisy Moche city

AbstractArchaeologists have begun in recent years to take seriously the study of sound in past societies. As a contribution to this endeavor we here argue that any nuanced approach to past sound should take into account the entirety of aural experience embodied in the concept of the soundscape. This includes not only the humanly organized sounds of music, but environmental sounds and ‘unwanted’ sounds such as noise. Utilizing a case study of Moche ceramic whistles, this paper explores the category of noise, and its role in the composition of particular cultural soundscapes. We argue that sounds which often appear harsh and unwanted to modern ears (and bodies) – sounds routinely categorized as noise – may not have been viewed as unwanted sound/noise in certain past contexts. The non-melodic aerophone whistles produced and used by the Moche people living at Huacas de Moche, a large urban center located on the north coast of Peru, were designed, manufactured and used, we argue, to deliberately produce a part...
What's new in objective assessment and treatment of facial hyperpigmentation?

Facial hyperpigmentation is common and challenging to treat in darker-skinned populations. A Medline literature search of articles published up to October 2013 reporting the objective assessment of and/or treatment for melasma, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, dermatosis papulosa nigra, lichen planus pigmentosus, and erythema dyschromicum perstans was reviewed. Objective assessment was only reported for melasma and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Furthermore, randomized controlled trial evidence was only reported for melasma. Although progress has been made, there is a need to develop more objective outcome measures and effective treatments for hyperpigmentation.
Effects of all three trimester moderate binge alcohol exposure on the foetal hippocampal formation and olfactory bulb

Objective: Pre-natal alcohol exposure results in injury to the hippocampus and olfactory bulb, but currently there is no consensus on the critical window of vulnerability. This study tested the hyp...
Long-Term High-Resolution Radar Rainfall Fields for Urban Hydrology

Accurate records of high-resolution rainfall fields are essential in urban hydrology, and are lacking in many areas. We develop a high-resolution (15 min, 1 km2) radar rainfall data set for Charlotte, North Carolina during the 2001-2010 period using the Hydro-NEXRAD system with radar reflectivity from the National Weather Service Weather Surveillance Radar 1988 Doppler weather radar located in Greer, South Carolina. A dense network of 71 rain gages is used for estimating and correcting radar rainfall biases. Radar rainfall estimates with daily mean field bias (MFB) correction accurately capture the spatial and temporal structure of extreme rainfall, but bias correction at finer timescales can improve cold-season and tropical cyclone rainfall estimates. Approximately 25 rain gages are sufficient to estimate daily MFB over an area of at least 2,500 km2, suggesting that robust bias correction is feasible in many urban areas. Conditional (rain-rate dependent) bias can be removed, but at the expense of other performance criteria such as mean square error. Hydro-NEXRAD radar rainfall estimates are also compared with the coarser resolution (hourly, 16 km2) Stage IV operational rainfall product. Stage IV is adequate for flood water balance studies but is insufficient for applications such as urban flood modeling, in which the temporal and spatial scales of relevant hydrologic processes are short. We recommend the increased use of high-resolution radar rainfall fields in urban hydrology.
A computational model of ceramic microstructures subjected to multi-axial dynamic loading

A model is presented for the dynamic finite element analysis of ceramic microstructures subjected to multi-axial dynamic loading. This model solves an initial-boundary value problem using a multi-body contact model integrated with interface elements to simulate microcracking at grain boundaries and subsequent large sliding, opening and closing of microcracks. An explicit time integration scheme is adopted to integrate the system of spatially discretized ordinary differential equations. A systematic and parametric study of the effect of interface element parameters, grain anisotropy, stochastic distribution of interface properties, grain size and grain morphology is carried out. Numerical results are shown in terms of microcrack patterns and evolution of crack density, i.e., damage kinetics. The brittle behavior of the microstructure as the interfacial strength decreases is investigated. Crack patterns on the representative volume element vary from grains totally detached from each other to a few short cracks, nucleated at voids, except, for the case of microstructures with initial flaws. Grain elastic anisotropy seems to play an important role in microfracture presenting higher values of crack density than the isotropic case. The computational results also show that decreasing the grain size results in a decrease in crack density per unit area at equal multiaxial dynamic loading. Histograms of crack density distribution are presented for the study of the stochasticity of interface parameters. Finally, a strong dependency with grain shape is observed for different microstructures generated using Voronoi Tessellation. The micromechanical model here discussed allows the study of material pulverization upon unloading. The qualitative and quantitative results presented in this article are useful in developing more refined continuum theories on fracture properties of ceramics.
Influence of Premolt Production on Postmolt Performance with Explanation for Improvement in Egg Production Due to Force Molting

Abstract Performance of force-molted hens as influenced by premolt production was determined in two experiments using 720 Babcock hens. Hens selected to be laying at a low (41%), average (59%), and high (75%) rate of production were divided into two groups. One half of the hens were force molted (FM) and the other half served as controls (CON). On completion of the fasting period, blood was collected for chemical analyses from 10 hens per group. These hens were then necropsied and weights of the ovary, oviduct, liver, and fat pad determined. During the last 4 weeks of the postmolt period, dietary calcium was increased from 3.5 to 4.5% in half of each group. Postmolt production was directly related to premolt production. The hens laying the highest rate premolt showed no improvement, whereas those laying at the lowest rate showed the greatest improvement. The FM hens exhibited a lower incidence of shell-less eggs than CON hens. Premolt production appeared to have little influence on postmolt egg weight, organ weights, and blood constituents. However, shell weight and egg specific gravity were significantly improved by force molting. Increasing dietary calcium had no significant influence on shell weight and specific gravity in FM hens in either experiment but significantly increased specific gravity and shell weight of CON hens during Experiment 2. It was concluded that most of the improvement in production in force-molted hens was caused by a reduction in shell-less eggs and not by an increase in ovulation. Also, only a portion of the improvement in shell quality could be explained by an increase in feed intake (calcium intake) after molting due to the increase in production. An improvement in calcium metabolism was postulated to be a major cause of improved shell quality.
Structural theory of the swelling pressure of corneal stroma in saline

The swelling pressure of the corneal stroma is discussed in terms of a stromal model of collagen fibrils interconnected via protein-mucopolysaccharide molecular complexes. The analysis leads to an expression for the swelling pressure in terms of molecular parameters of the complexes regarded as polymeric chains. Assigning reasonable values to these parameters we find that the model is consistent with the swelling pressure experiments. These parameters indicate the electrostatic (Donnan) pressure component accounts for most of the swelling pressure at normal thickness in 0.174 M NaCl, while the pressure components deriving from a free energy of mixing account for most of the swelling pressure at normal thickness in 1.74 M NaCl.