cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gene transfer of a reserpine-sensitive mechanism of resistance to N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium.

Abstract The toxin N-methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine produces a model of neural degeneration very similar to idiopathic Parkinson disease. To understand the cellular mechanisms that modulate susceptibility to its active metabolite N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), we have transfected a cDNA expression library from the relatively MPP(+)-resistant rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells into MPP(+)-sensitive Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblasts. Selection of the stable transformants in high concentrations of MPP+ has yielded a clone extremely resistant to the toxin. Reserpine reverses the resistance to MPP+, suggesting that a transport activity protects against this form of toxicity, perhaps by sequestering the toxin within an intracellular compartment. In support of this hypothesis, dopamine loaded into the CHO transformant shows a localized distribution that is distinct from the pattern observed in wild-type cells and is also reversed by reserpine.
Linking Past to Present to Create an Image of the Child

Abstract Principles of the Reggio Emilia approach are a catalyst for thinking about practices in early childhood education. Teachers in the child care system of Reggio Emilia encourage us to think about our image of childhood and the ways we interact with children, plan curriculum, and design environments. This article examines experiences in a rural Alaskan Head Start program and the initial steps to identify an image of the children in their program. How do we connect principles of the Reggio Emilia approach within our own cultural context? How do we start rethinking our image of children in our own classrooms? These questions are addressed in the remote Cup'ik village of Chevak, Alaska. The author derives general guidelines from the Chevak experience that will be useful for other programs seeking to discern the meaning of childhood for their particular cultural context.
Dynamic modeling and scaling of nanostructure formation in the lithographically induced self-assembly and self-construction

We numerically studied the dynamical formation process and the scaling of the nanostructures in the lithographically induced self-assembly and self-construction of thin polymer films. Our studies show that the period of the self-assembled pillars depends on the ratio between the surface tension force and the electrostatic force. The viscosity of the polymer has no effect on the final pillar shape. When the feature width of the mold is comparable to or smaller than the most unstable disturbance wavelength of the system, the initially self-assembled pillars will merge to form a self-constructed mesa.
Subionospheric VLF signatures of oblique (nonducted) whistler‐induced precipitation

Subionospheric very low frequency (VLF) signal perturbations observed at multiple sites in association with individual lightning discharges exhibit onset delays which steadily increase with increasing L-value. The timing of the onsets and the inferred spatial extent (∼1000 km) of the ionospheric disturbance are consistent with those expected for electron precipitation induced by obliquely propagating (i.e., nonducted) whistlers.
Self-assembled (In,Ga)As/GaAs quantum-dot nanostructures: strain distribution and electronic structure

Abstract This paper presents a simple analytical method for calculating the strain distribution in and around self-assembled (In,Ga)As/GaAs quantum-dot nanostructures. The dots are assumed to be buried in an infinite medium so that the effects of free surfaces can be neglected. This assumption is based on the relative size of the dot, compared to that of the overlayer. The model—based on classical continuum elasticity—is capable of handling dots of arbitrary shapes; here, however, only dots with pyramidal and truncated-pyramidal shapes are considered. The approximate shape of the dots is extracted from high-resolution transmission electron microscope observations. The electronic energy levels in the dots are calculated by solving the three-dimensional effective mass Schrodinger equation. The carrier confinement potential in this equation is modified by the strain distribution. Because the dots are in a strong confinement regime, the effects of Coulomb interactions are neglected. The calculated confined eigen-energies agree with our experimental photoluminescence data. The calculations also support previous results reported by others.
Synthesis, structure, and superconductivity of new high pressure phases in the systems GeP and GeAs

Abstract Reactions of Ge with P and As were run in a tetrahedral anvil press at conditions ranging from 600–1300C and 15–65 kbars. Three new phases were found in the GeP system. Two phases of approximate formulas GeP 5 and GeP 3 have rhombohedral crystal structures related to the A7 arsenic type. The cell dimensions of GeP 5 are a = 3.467 (3)A, c = 10.04 (1)A and of GeP 3 a = 7.050 (1)A, c = 9.932 (3)A. The cell dimensions vary for different preparations indicating ranges of stoichiometry. A new tetragonal form of GeP was prepared by the reaction of Ge + 1.0–1.7 P at 600–800C, 45–65 kbars. The cell dimensions are a = 3.544 (2)A, c = 5.581 (1)A and space group is 14 mm. A similar tetragonal phase was formed in the GeAs system. The cell dimensions are: a = 3.715 (1)A, c = 5.832 (1)A. The tetragonal crystal structures were solved by least-squares refinement of the powder-diffraction intensity data. Bond distances and angles were calculated. Electrical measurements on single crystals show metallic behavior. Meissner effect measurements show that GeP is superconducting below 1.8–4.2K and GeAs below 3–3.5K.
Development of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor subunit immunoreactivity in the neonatal gerbil cochlear nucleus

The distribution of immunoreactivity for the ionotropic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits was mapped in the cochlear nucleus of postnatal day (P) 7, P14, P21, and P28 gerbils. Frozen sections and serial plastic sections of tissue were incubated with antibodies to NMDAR1 (NR1), NMDAR2A (NR2A), NMDAR2A/B (NR2A/B), and NMDAR2B (NR2B). An overall diffuse stain was noted at P7 for NR1 and NR2A/B. Staining of neuronal somata in the dorsal cochlear nucleus molecular layer and fusiform cell layer, the posteroventral cochlear nucleus octopus cell area, and the anteroventral cochlear nucleus increased from P7 to P28. Staining of the neuropil (the unresolved mass of processes and axons, excluding only neuronal somata and distinctly stained proximal dendrites) of the deep dorsal cochlear nucleus and posteroventral cochlear nucleus showed a steady decrease, while molecular layer neuropil remained moderately stained. The NR2A antibody produced a distinctive staining of dendrites in the dorsal cochlear nucleus deep and fusiform cell layers seen first at P14 with increasing dendritic lengths stained at P21 and P28. Giant neurons of the deep dorsal cochlear nucleus were the most conspicuous somata stained by the NR2A. Their stained dendrites spanned much of the dorsal cochlear nucleus deep and fusiform cell layers and even extended into the octopus cell area of the posteroventral cochlear nucleus. Dendritic staining was also present in caudal and rostral posteroventral cochlear nucleus, first distinguishable at P14 and becoming increasingly strong. The Chemicon polyclonal NR2B antibody produced glial staining especially prominent in the caudal posteroventral cochlear nucleus and the dorsal cochlear nucleus fusiform cell layer, most intense at P7 and subsequently decreasing, although not disappearing, in all areas through P28. The Molecular Probes (Eugene, OR) polyclonal NR2B produced a light granular staining pattern over a number of somata but no glial staining. Neuropil staining was not prominent with either NR2B antibody. Differences in changes of neonatal immunoreactivity patterns in different populations of cochlear nucleus neuronal somata and dendrites for NR1, NR2A, NR2A/B, and NR2B suggest that alterations in some receptor composition is occurring over the period spanning the onset of hearing.
Halloysite Deposits in the Terraced Hills Washoe County, Nevada

Large hydrothermal deposits of halloysite clay occur in the Terraced Hills, Washoe County, Nevada and similar bodies probably are present elsewhere in the Basin and Range province. The host rock, an andesitic tuff, is underlain and overlain by volcanic flows; all these rocks are late Miocene to Pliocene in age. The clay bodies are composed mostly of halloysite with some iron oxides, variable amounts of feldspar and quartz, and locally some montmorillonite. Commonly all the pyroclastic unit is altered to halloysite material. In one locality, however, the halloysite body is restricted to the upper part and it is in sharp contact with underlying, partly montmorillonitized tuff. The contact of a clay body with the overlying basalt is distinct. Generally some halloysite is present in the lower part of the basalt and montmorillonite occurs in both materials near their contact. The solutions that altered the tuff were generated during volcanism, rose along high-angle faults, and were restricted to the permeable and otherwise favorable vitric tuff by the capping of relatively impermeable basalt.
TNF-α-mediated apoptosis in normal human prostate epithelial cells and tumor cell lines

In this study we compared the role of TNF-alpha in the regulation of growth and apoptosis in normal human prostate epithelial cells (NP) and prostate tumor cell lines PC3 and LNCap. The NP and PC3 cells were resistant whereas the LNCap cell line was highly sensitive to TNF-alpha induced growth arrest and apoptosis. The resistance of NP and PC3 cells was mediated via an NF-kB survival pathway as treatment of resistant cells with TNF-alpha was accompanied by phosphorylation of I-kBalpha and translocation of NF-kB to the nucleus. TNF-alpha did not induce phosphorylation of I-kB in the sensitive LNCap cells. The sensitivity of LNCap cells involved a cysteine protease cascade as Z-VAD-CH2 F reversed the sensitivity of LNCap cells and induced resistance to TNF-alpha. The differences in susceptibilities to TNF-alpha induced apoptosis of NP and certain prostate tumor cells offer intriguing possibilities for the treatment of prostate cancer without affecting the normal prostate tissue.
Uptake of tritiated folates by human bone marrow cells in vitro.

Summary. Using incubation periods up to 4 hr, it was demonstrated that uptake of tritiated pteroylglutamic acid ([3H]PteGlu) by human bone marrow cells in vitro was in the range of six-fold greater than uptake by reticulocytes. Uptake was temperature-dependent, increasing during 4 hr at 37°C but not at 4°C; a similar temperature dependence was found for the uptake of [3H]methyltetrahydrofolate ([3H-CH3]H4PteGlu). The pH optimum for [3H]PteGlu uptake was in the range of 7.4. Percentage uptake decreased as concentration of [3H]PteGlu increased. Preincubation with unlabelled PteGlu reduced uptake of subsequently added [3H]PteGlu by twice as much as did preincubation with methotrexate, suggesting that methotrexate may only partly share the uptake mechanism for [3H]PteGlu. [3H]PteGlu uptake was not affected by preincubation with diphenylhydantoin or a sulphydryl inhibitor. Uptake of [3H-CH3]H4PteGlu by human bone marrow cells appeared to be approximately twice the uptake of [3H]PteGlu. The findings support the concept of two mechanisms for folate uptake by human reticulocytes and bone marrow cells: an energy-dependent, active carrier mechanism probably of primary physiologic significance, and a seemingly passive diffusion-like mechanism, probably primarily of pharmacologic significance.
RELATIONSHIP OF CHANGES IN pH AND ENERGY STATUS TO HYPOXIC CELL FRACTION AND HYPERTHERMIA SENSITIVITY

Abstract The relative concentrations of nucleotide triphosphates, creatine phosphate, inorganic phosphate, and pH have been evaluated as a function of tumor volume in a murine fibrosarcoma (FSaII) by 31 P NMR spectroscopy. As the tumor volume increased from 60–1250 mm 3 , the ratio of phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate systemically decreased. This decrease paralleled a decrease in the ratio of nucleotide triphosphate to inorganic phosphate in thesame tumor volume range. The tumor pH as measured by 31 P NMR decreased slightly with tumor growth. A pH of 7.17 ± 0.07 (n = 17) was found for tumors between 60 and 150 mm 3 , whereas for tumors greater than 900 mm 3 , a pH of 7.05 ± .03 (n = 6) was noted. Intermediate size tumors (151–900) had a pH of 7.12 ± 0.09 (n = 18). The change in tumor energy status with tumor volume inversely paralleled the change in tumor radiobiologic hypoxic cell fraction and suggested a causal relationship between tumor nutrient status and energy status. Tumor thermal sensitivity also increased with tumor volume, suggesting a relationship between pH, energy status, and thermal sensitivity, as has been demonstrated under in vitro conditions. Each NMR parameter was found to correlate significantly with tumor volume independent of the other NMR parameters.
Turning an aptamer into a light-switch probe with a single bioconjugation.

We describe a method for transforming a structure-switching aptamer into a luminescent light-switch probe via a single conjugation. The methodology is demonstrated using a known aptamer for Hg2+ as a case study. This approach utilizes a lanthanide-based metallointercalator, Eu-DOTA-Phen, whose luminescence is quenched almost entirely and selectively by purines, but not at all by pyrimidines. This complex, therefore, does not luminesce while intercalated in dsDNA, but it is bright red when conjugated to a ssDNA that is terminated by several pyrimidines. In its design, the light-switch probe incorporates a structure-switching aptamer partially hybridized to its complementary strand. The lanthanide complex is conjugated to either strand via a stable amide bond. Binding of the analyte by the structure-switching aptamer releases the complementary strand. This release precludes intercalation of the intercalator in dsDNA, which switches on its luminescence. The resulting probe turns on 21-fold upon binding to it...
Acute and chronic pain in the emergency department

Study objectives: Patients with acute and chronic pain may have different presentations and treatment in the emergency department (ED). This study compares patients with acute and chronic pain with respect to presenting pain intensity, expectation for pain relief, analgesic administration, and discharge pain intensity. Methods: This was a prospective, observational study performed in an academic ED with a volume of 32,000 patients. A convenience sample of patients with moderate to severe pain, defined as a pain verbal numeric rating scale (NRS) greater than 3, were enrolled from September 2002 to May 2003. Those excluded were younger than 18 years or too ill to participate. Pain intensity was measured using an 11-point (0 to 10) previously validated NRS. Patients with chronic pain were identified as having pain related to this ED visit that had been treated by another physician. Research associates performed all data collection. Means are reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and groups are compared using χ 2 analysis. Results: Six hundred fifty-four patients with pain were enrolled. Mean age was 38 years, with 373 (57%) female patients. Two hundred sixty-two (40%) patients reported chronic pain. Mean pain intensity at presentation was 6.4 (95% CI 6.1 to 6.6) for patients with acute pain and 7.1 (95% CI 6.8 to 7.4) for patients with chronic pain. One hundred fifty-nine (40%) of 392 patients with acute pain and 128 (49%) of 262 patients with chronic pain received analgesics in the ED ( P P Conclusion: Patients with chronic pain report higher pain at presentation and are more likely to receive analgesics in the ED. However, despite similar expectations for pain relief and similar decreases in pain, patients with chronic pain are less likely to have their needs for pain relief met in the ED. Limitations include convenience sampling and lack of a temporal definition of chronic pain.
A theoretical proof on the error-bounded low-rank representation of integral operators for large-scale 3-D electrodynamic analysis

We theoretically prove that the minimal rank of the interaction between two separated geometry blocks in an integral-equation based analysis of general 3-D objects, for a prescribed error bound, scales linearly with the electric size of the block diameter. We thus prove the existence of the error-bounded low-rank representation of both surface and volume based integral operators for electrodynamic analysis, irrespective of electric size and scatterer shape. Numerical experiments have verified its validity. This work provides a theoretical basis for employing and further developing the low-rank matrix algebra to accelerate the computation of large-scale electrodynamic problems.
Distorted-wave impulse approximation and coupled-channels analysis of inelastic pion scattering from 18O.

Data for inelastic pion scattering from $^{18}\mathrm{O}$ at ${T}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}$=164 MeV, exciting the lowest ${2}^{+}$, ${3}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$, and ${1}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ states, were analyzed by distorted-wave impulse approximation and coupled-channel calculations using transition densities derived from shell model calculations. Coupled-channels effects were found to be relatively unimportant for the ${2}^{+}$ and ${3}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ states, but non-negligible for the excitation of the ${1}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ state. Nevertheless, the inclusion of multistep excitation paths is not sufficient to generate a fit to the ${1}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ data with the shell model wave functions. Major modifications are needed in the radial dependence of the neutron and proton parts of the transition density for the ${0}^{+}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${1}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ one-step process.
Traditional Crow Indian Health Beliefs and Practices Toward a Grounded Theory

An important element in American Indian cultures is a holistic view of wellness. Nurses attempting to provide holistic, culturally sensitive health services to American Indian clients must assess the cultural orientation of their clients and have culture-specific knowledge. A pilot qualitative study was conducted at the Crow Indian Reservation in south central Montana. Qualitative analysis of data identified categories of traditional contemporary health practices of Crow Indians. These categories are use of rituals/ceremonies, indigenous healers, and sacred objects. Five patterns of use of traditional health practices were also discovered. These are (a) initial use of traditional practices followed by modern health services, (b) initial use of modern health services followed by traditional practices, (c) simultaneous bicultural use, (d) traditional use only, and (e) modern use only.
Equal educational opportunity and declining teacher morale at black, white, and Hispanic high schools in a large urban school district

School desegregation plans and program efforts in bilingual education, special education, compensatory education, and others designed to promote equal educational opportunity for minorities are threatened with a teaching staff best described as being “burned out,” highly stressed, of low morale, having high absenteeism, and subject to physical abuse. This study examines the extremely low level of teacher morale at inner-city schools and finds major “ethical” stressors such as racial tension among faculty, falsifying of school records, and sexual harassment by school officials emerging as factors contributing to teacher exit and absenteeism. With the use of multivariate discriminant analysis procedures and a sample of 400 high school teachers at nine high schools (three black, three white, and three Hispanic in terms of predominant ethnicity), a set of stressors were derived which uniquely characterize teachers at predominantly black, white, and Hispanic high schools. An economic framework is also presented for understanding the nature of the teacher morale, exit, and absenteeism phenomena in urban schools.
Longitudinal study of cranial base shape changes in Macaca nemestrina

The primate cranial base (CB) represents a complex irregular structure even when limited to two dimensions, making it difficult to describe quantitatively using the conventional metrical approach composed of angles and distances. Consequently, a curve-fitting procedure, elliptical Fourier functions (EFF), was utilized; which accurately defines the form of complex two-dimensional morphologies. A longitudinal Macaca nemestrina sample consisting of 14 females and 15 males was utilized. Lateral headfilms, 1 to 8 years, were available (275 headfilms). Because the x-rays were not always taken at precise one-year intervals, a number of headfilms were excluded, which reduced the sample to 181. The CB boundary outline was carefully traced onto acetate sheets and 54 points located. The observed points were digitized and used to compute size-standardized EFF's with 20 harmonics. From each EFF, a set of 150 expected distances to the CB boundary was generated using the centroid as an origin. Superimposition of the CB's on the centroid also provided a detailed picture of the relative shape changes with respect to that center. Statistically significant shape differences were found as a function of age and sexual dimorphism. These age changes consisted of a gradual anteroposterior lengthening with a concomitant narrowing in the superoinferior direction. Specifically, a lengthening of the dorsal clivus and an anterior migration of the hypophyseal fossa could also be discerned. Thus, Fourier descriptors provide a particularly powerful method for documenting, both visually and numerically, the shape changes of complex two dimensional morphologies. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effect of Infantile Treadmill Experience on Body-weight and Resistance to Exhaustion in the Rat

AN earlier experiment reported an inverse relationship between the age of rats and their exhaustion time on a slowly and continuously revolving wheel1. The experiments reported here show the effect of early treadmill experience on later resistance to exhaustion and a hitherto-unnoticed weight-gain effect.
Alcohol outlets, gonorrhea, and the Los Angeles civil unrest: a longitudinal analysis.

This study tests the effect of neighborhood changes on gonorrhea rates. Prior studies that indicate gonorrhea rates are associated with alcohol outlet density and neighborhood deterioration have been cross-sectional and cannot establish causality. After the 1992 Civil Unrest in Los Angeles, 270 alcohol outlets surrendered their licenses due to arson and vandalism thus providing a natural experiment. We geocoded all reported gonorrhea cases from 1988 to 1996 in LA County, all annually licensed alcohol outlets, and all properties damaged as a result of the civil unrest. We ran individual growth models to examine the independent effects of changes in alcohol outlets and damaged buildings on gonorrhea. The individual growth model explained over 90% of the residual variance in census tract gonorrhea rates. After the civil unrest, a unit decrease in the number of alcohol outlets per mile of roadway was associated with 21 fewer gonorrhea cases per 100,000 (p<.01) in tracts affected by the Unrest compared to those not affected. Neighborhood alcohol outlets appear to be significantly associated with changes in gonorrhea rates. The findings suggest that efforts to control sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea and HIV, should address contextual factors that facilitate high-risk behaviors and disease transmission
Watermarking schemes evaluation

In this article we have used a duality approach to the watermarking evaluation problem by splitting the evaluation criteria into two (independent) groups: functionality and assurance. The first group represents a set of requirements that can be verified using agreed series of tests; the second is a set of levels to which each functionality is evaluated. These levels go from zero or low to very high. We are investigating how evaluation profiles can be defined for different applications and how importance sampling techniques could be used to evaluate the false alarm rate in an automated way.
Differentiation of the lateral compartment of the cochlea requires a temporally restricted FGF20 signal

A large proportion of age-related hearing loss is caused by loss or damage to outer hair cells in the organ of Corti. The organ of Corti is the mechanosensory transducing apparatus in the inner ear and is composed of inner hair cells, outer hair cells, and highly specialized supporting cells. The mechanisms that regulate differentiation of inner and outer hair cells are not known. Here we report that fibroblast growth factor 20 (FGF20) is required for differentiation of cells in the lateral cochlear compartment (outer hair and supporting cells) within the organ of Corti during a specific developmental time. In the absence of FGF20, mice are deaf and lateral compartment cells remain undifferentiated, postmitotic, and unresponsive to Notch-dependent lateral inhibition. These studies identify developmentally distinct medial (inner hair and supporting cells) and lateral compartments in the developing organ of Corti. The viability and hearing loss in Fgf20 knockout mice suggest that FGF20 may also be a deafness-associated gene in humans.
A cumulative damage theory for creep and creep-fatigue interaction

Abstract A cumulative damage theory is developed based on the concept of bounds on residual life. Previous results applicable to fatigue are generalized to creep-rupture and to creep-fatigue interaction. By defining a creep endurance limit and void-initiation life fractions, a complete symmetry is established between the creep and fatigue cumulative damage problems. This enables the derivation of bounds for two-stage creep exposures as well as for creep-fatigue and fatigue-creep interactions. The question of test data scatter in cumulative damage tests is considered, and optimum bounds are derived which bracket the entire test data scatter.
Emotional labor and leadership: A threat to authenticity?

Abstract Building on the emotional labor and authentic leadership literatures, we advance a conceptual model of leader emotional displays. Three categories of leader emotional displays are identified: surface acting, deep acting and genuine emotions. The consistency of expressed leader emotions with affective display rules, together with the type of display chosen, combines to impact the leader's felt authenticity, the favorability of follower impressions, and the perceived authenticity of the leader by the followers. Emotional intelligence, self-monitoring ability, and political skill are proposed as individual differences that moderate leader emotional display responses to affective events. We also look at followers' trust in the leader and leader well-being as key outcomes. Finally, we explore the influence on leader emotional labor of contextual dimensions of the environment, including the omnibus (national and organizational culture, industry and occupation, organizational structure, time) and discrete (situational) context. Directions for future research are discussed.
Dissociation of Phospholamban Regulation of Cardiac Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ATPase by Quercetin

Abstract Quercetin had a biphasic effect on Ca2+ uptake and calcium-stimulated ATP hydrolysis in isolated cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Stimulation of Ca2+ATPase was observed at low quercetin concentrations (<25 μM) followed by inhibition at higher concentrations. The effects were dependent upon the SR protein concentration, the MgATP concentration, and intact phospholamban regulation of cardiac Ca2+ATPase. Only the inhibitory effects at higher quercetin concentrations were observed in skeletal muscle SR which lacks phospholamban and in cardiac SR treated to remove phospholamban regulation. Stimulation was additive with monoclonal antibody 1D11 (directed against phospholamban) at submaximal antibody concentrations; however, the maximal antibody and quercetin stimulation were identical. Quercetin increased the calcium sensitivity of the Ca2+ATPase like that observed with phosphorylation of phospholamban or treatment with monoclonal antibody 1D11. In addition, low concentrations of quercetin increased the steady-state formation of phosphoenzyme from ATP or Pi, but higher quercetin decreased phosphoenzyme levels. Quercetin, even under stimulatory conditions, was a competitive inhibitor of ATP, but appears to relieve the Ca2+ATPase from phospholamban inhibition, thereby, producing an activation. The subsequent inhibitory action of higher quercetin concentrations results from competition of quercetin with the nucleotide binding site of the Ca2+ATPase. The data suggest that quercetin interacts with the nucleotide binding site to mask phospholamban's inhibition of the SR Ca2+ATPase and suggests that phospholamban may interact at or near the nucleotide binding site.
Epithelial cells pay a Toll for protection.

Ligands from commensal microflora can stimulate Toll-like receptors on the surface of intestinal epithelial cells. Work in mice now assigns a surprising role to such signals: cell survival and repair during inflammation.
13 Imaging of prostate cancer

For the diagnosis of prostate cancer, transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) is the only appropriate imaging tool. Its sensitivity can be further increased by systematically applying color-Doppler imaging. TRUS is also a significant aid for biopsy guidance, either for focal lesions, to direct biopsies to suggestive and potentially involved areas, or for any set of systematic biopsies. Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging is the most useful tool for evaluation of local extension, especially to the seminal vesicles. As TRUS, MRI though has its limitations, particularly in the evaluation of microscopic disease. It is presumed that patients at increased risk of lymph node metastases are most likely to benefit from CT or MRI and subsequent fine needle aspiration cytology when lymphadenopathy is found.
Multimedia Chat for Helpdesks: A Requirements Study, a Practical SOA Architecture, and an Interface Prototype

In this work we study the actual requirements of amultimedia chat system for helpdesks by quantifying theverbal imagery communication in 115 real transcripts. Thedata shows that in chats which use verbal imagery, itcorresponds to about 25% of the total time, most of it(75%) coming from the agent. These results clearly showthat multimedia support for contact center chat systems iscalled for. But unlike in personal chat systems, the existing3rd party chat services for helpdesk centers are text-basedonly. To circumvent this issue, an innovative, practicalSOA-based chat system architecture is proposed in thispaper that creates multimedia chat services bydecomposition and re-composition of the services from anexisting 3rd party text-based helpdesk chat product. OurSOA architecture implements uniquely a session-basedinteractive mashup mechanism and bundles it to theprevious operations in the same chat session. However, tobe effective in the context of technical support, amultimedia chat system must be provided with user andagent interfaces which address the distinctive aspects oftechnical support communication and imagery use in theconversations. We present an interface prototype thataddress those issues through the use of persistent imagery,linking instructions and imagery, use of common images,and easy screen sharing.
Piezoelectric actuator and sensor models for a shell under pressure

Inflatable structures have been a subject of renewed interest in recent years for space applications. Actuators and sensors made of piezoelectric materials are recently being considered for the vibration and shapes control of such structures. This study is directed towards developing actuator and sensor models of piezoelectric films attached to an inflatable structure, which can be modeled as a shell under pressure. The derivations are made using the definitions of strain energy and kinetic energy. We use Sanders' shell theory to model the vibration of shell and derive the constitutive equations for combinations of shell and piezoelectric patches in unimorph and bimorph configurations. Equations of motion for the shell vibrating in the presence of actuators have been obtained. The inertia terms in the equations of motion are modified in order to account for the mass of the actuators. The generalized forces due to piezoelectric actuators are found. Finally, a sensor equation is provided.
Abundance of Gulf Sturgeon in the Apalachicola River, Florida

Abstract Gulf sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi a subspecies of Atlantic sturgeon A. oxyrinchus were once abundant in coastal rivers of the eastern Gulf of Mexico but have declined substantially due to habitat loss and overexploitation. Because relatively little is known about their population status in the Apalachicola River, Florida, we used capture–recapture data collected during 1982–1991 to assess the population of Gulf sturgeon at the Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam, which limits upstream migration. We estimated that about 100 fish greater than 45 cm total length were present below the dam, although the estimates were biased to an unknown degree because of violations of capture–recapture model assumptions. To obtain a less biased estimate, we conducted an intensive 10-week capture–recapture experiment in 1993 that accounted for most of the assumption violations. We also used radiotelemetry to test the assumption that the population remained closed to immigration and emigration during sampling. The 199...
Hospitality and Hostility in Genesis 19 and Judges 19

Based upon the protocol of hospitality customs outlined in my study of Judges 4 (BTB 21:1 [Spring, 1991], 13-21; see CHART at end of this article), it seems evident that the writer(s) of Genesis 19 and Judges 19 has (have) deliberately created scenes in which the code of conduct is systematically violated. This may be part of a deliberate theme contrasting the "flawed," but valiant ancestor with towns and their inhabitants whose violations of custom justify their destruction. It may also be part of an attempt, especially in the case of Judges 19, to portray a "topsy-turvy" world in which all customs are ignored or corrupted in an effort to justify the establishment of the monarchy in Israel. In the course of the study, an attempt is made to point out the violations of the hospitality code as they occur and to explain, where possible, the reasons, both within the text and in the context of anthropological research, why they occur.
Growth of Thick ${\rm BaZrO}_{3}$ -Doped ${\rm YBa}_{2}{\rm Cu}_{3}{\rm O}_{7-\delta}$ Films With High Critical Currents in High Applied Magnetic Fields

High quality, thick YBa2Cu3O7-delta (YBCO) films with splayed, self-assembled BaZrO3 insulating nanodot columns were epitaxially grown by pulsed laser deposition on short pieces of ion-beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) MgO substrate. Variations in superconducting and microstructural properties were observed for samples grown at different substrate temperatures between 790 and 810degC. At substrate temperatures between 790 and 800degC, samples were measured to have large self-field I c of 670-787 A/cm at 77 K and minimum I c of 353-392 A/cm for all angles at 65 K, 3 T.
Electroseismic and seismoelectric measurements of rock samples in a water tank

An electromagnetic (EM) or seismic wave can induce seismic or EM waves because of the electrokinetic conversion based on the electric double layer in a fluid-saturated porous medium. We tested a new method for observing electroseismic and seismoelectric conversions in rock samples. Our method is designed to overcome the shortcoming of previous attempts to separate signals generated by a continuous electric or seismic source in a small container. We first observed acoustic fields around electrodes excited by an electric pulse in a water tank or in a water-saturated porous sample. In our approach, we immersed rock samples in a water tank and measure the seismic or electric responses using electric or acoustic pulses conveyed through the immersed electrodes or hydrophone. We measured electroseismic- and seismoelectric-frequency responses in Berea Sandstone and Westerly Granite samples at a frequency range of 15–150 kHz . The measurements clearly separate the effects of the electric source, background noises,...
Observed 1970-2005 Cooling of Summer Daytime Temperatures in Coastal California

This study evaluated 1950–2005 summer [June–August (JJA)] mean monthly air temperatures for two California air basins: the South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB) and the San Francisco Bay Area (SFBA). The study focuses on the more rapid post-1970 warming period, and its daily minima temperature Tmin and maxima temperature Tmax values were used to produce average monthly values and spatial distributions of trends for each air basin. Additional analyses included concurrent SSTs, 40-yr European Centre for MediumRange Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40) sea level coastal pressure gradients, and GCMdownscaled average temperature Tave values. Results for all 253 California National Weather Service (NWS) Cooperative Observer Program (COOP) sites together showed increased Tave values (0.238C decade 21 ); asymmetric warming, as Tmin values increase faster than Tmax values (0.278 versus 0.048C decade 21 ) and thus decreased daily temperature range (DTR) values (0.158C decade 21 ). The spatial distribution of observed SoCAB and SFBA Tmax values exhibited a complex pattern, with cooling (20.308C decade 21 ) in low-elevation coastal areas open to marine air penetration and warming (0.328C decade 21 ) in inland areas. Results also showed that decreased DTR values in the basins arose from small increases at inland sites (0.168C decade 21 ) combined with large decreases (20.588C decade 21 ) at coastal sites. It is also possible that some of the current observed temperature trends could be associated with low-frequency decadal variability, expected even with a constant radiative forcing. Previous studies suggest that cooling JJA Tmax values in coastal California were a result of increased irrigation, coastal upwelling, or cloud cover. The current hypothesis is that they arise (as a possible ‘‘reverse reaction’’) from the global warming of inland areas, which results in increased sea-breeze flow activity. GCM model Tave warming decreased from 0.138C decade 21 at inland sites to 0.088C decade 21 in coastal areas. Sea level pressure increased in the Pacific high and decreased in the thermal low. The corresponding gradient thus showed a trend of 0.04 hPa 100 km 21 decade 21 , supportive of the hypothesis of increased sea-breeze activity.
Haltere determination and mutations at the bithorax locus

Mutations at the bithorax locus transform anterior haltere tissue into anterior wing. These transformations could in principle be due to the mutations altering either the expression or cell heredity functions of determination. I have studied two alleles of the bithorax locus bx3 and bx34e using disc culture techniques and found that both produce their transformations by altering the expression of the determined state. I have also found that the expression of the temperature-sensitive allele, bx34e, can be altered by temperature shifts during the culture period. Evidence has been obtained that suggests that such changes in expression do not require growth or cell division.
Syntheses and structures of di(carboxylato)hexakis(acetonitrile)-dimolybdenum(II) bis(tetrafluoroborate) and trans-[di(μ-acetato)-di(acetonitrile)di(μ-bis(diphenylphosphino)amine)dimolybdenum(II)] bis(tetrafluoroborate)

Abstract Di(carboxylato)hexakis(acetonitrile)dimolybdenum(II)bis(tetrafluoroborate)s, [Mo2(μ-O2CR)2(CH3CN)6](BF4)2 (R = CH3, CH2Cl, C(CH3)3, CF3) (3a-d), are easily accessible by reacting [Mo2(CH3CN)8](BF4)4 (2) with a stoichiometric amount or a slight excess of the appropriate carboxylic acid and anhydride in acetonitrile. A large excess of carboxylic acid leads to the formation of tetracarboxylates. As an example cis-[Mo2(μ-O2CCH2Cl)2(CH3CN)6](BF4)2 (3b) has been structurally characterized. Crystallographic data are as follows: space group: I42d (No. 122), a = b = 10.733(2), c = 59.448(5) A , V = 6848(2) A 3 , Z = 8, d( Mo-Mo ) = 2.140(1) A . Trans-[Mo2(μ-O2CCH3)2(dppa)2(CH3CN)2](BF4)2 (4) can be synthesized from cis-[Mo2(μ-O2CCH3)2(CH3CN)6](BF4)2 (3a) and bis(diphenyl-phosphino)amine (dppa) at room temperature. This result contradicts earlier reports where bulky diphosphines such as dppm (sterically very similar to dppa) did not lead to bis-diphosphine products. Furthermore our results indicate that in all the syntheses reported to date for [Mo2(μ-O2CCH3)2(LL)2](BF4)2 type-compounds [Mo2(μ-O2CCH3)2(CH3CN)6](BF4)2 acts as the precursor compound. Crystallographic data for 4 are as follows: P21/c (No. 14), a = 19.683(3), b = 15.129(2), c = 21.084(1) A , β = 101.30(1)°, V = 6848(2) A 3 , Z = 4 . There are two independent molecules of the cation in the unit cell, d( Mo-Mo ) = 2.133(1) and 2.136(1) A .
Who Converts to Vote-By-Mail? Evidence From a Field Experiment

Over the past decade, permanent absentee voting, or “Vote-by-Mail” (VBM), has become increasingly popular. More than half the U.S. states offer their citizens the option to vote by mail. Yet until now, we have known relatively little about which voters are most likely to use this option when it is available, and what (if anything) can be done to convert voters effectively to permanent VBM status. In this paper, we address both these issues. We conduct a field experiment with all registered voters in California’s San Joaquin County as our subjects, where a randomly chosen treatment group receives postcards – a low-cost conversion option – offering them the chance to easily obtain permanent VBM status. We supplement this experiment with a survey of a subset of these voters, allowing identification of what types of voters are most likely to convert to VBM. Though the low-cost postcard treatment did significantly increase conversion to permanent VBM status, this effect shows up at disproportionately high rates among groups that already vote at higher rates.
Redundant-system demonstrated-reliability approximation using piece-part failure rates

A method of obtaining the reliability of a redundant system when only the part force-of-mortality estimates (hazard rates) for electronic parts are available is presented. Part failures are reported without specifying whether the parts are configured in series or in parallel. The sum of all the part failure rates in the system, recorded from the turn-on date of the system up to the present time of monitoring, and the sum of the failure rates of all the parts in the system recorded up to a certain previous time after the system turn-on date are calculated. The system reliability for a certain critical mission time, with or without redundancy, is calculated at that previous time. The method is useful in field-equipment reliability monitoring because exact computation is impossible without knowing whether the failed parts are configured in series or in parallel. Generally, Monte Carlo simulation should be used only to verify the results calculated through an analytic method, if such a method is available and is neither time consuming nor cost prohibitive. A dimensionless reliability parameter is introduced. >
Consideration of instage and central buffers in two-stage production system

Abstract In this paper, the effect of instage buffer storage and central buffer for bulk storage on the system cost of a two-stage production line is considered for the case where the two production units have different production rates. A mathematical model is developed to determine optimal ready buffer size and number of material handler trips while minimizing total system cost. The model also performs a cost comparison of two potential alternate manufacturing strategies.
Petri-net-based modeling and evaluation of pipelined processing of concurrent database queries

A description is given of a Petri-net-based methodology for modeling and evaluation of pipelined processing of concurrent database queries in an integrated data network (IDN). An extended Petri-net model is presented and used to model two key approaches to concurrent database query processing in the IDN, namely, pipelined and data-flow-based execution of queries and intermediate data sharing among concurrent queries. Database operations are categorized, and the models for the data flow and control flow in them are presented. A general-purpose Petri-net simulator has been developed using event-driven programming techniques and used to simulate the execution of the Petri-net models of some test queries. The results validate the results of a previous analytical evaluation in which the advantages of pipeline and intermediate data sharing were established. Since all the essential details of query processing in the IDN have been simulated, the results of this simulation study are believed to present closely the workings of the actual system. >
Syneresis and Crystallinity in Plasticized Rubbery Networks and Composites.

We prepared polycaprolactone networks plasticized (60 wt %) with triacetin, with and without filler particles to model high-energy solid rocket propellants. Under strain and at lower temperatures these materials partially crystallize but also undesirably exude plasticizer (syneresis). We measured both properties isothermally (30°C) on the basis of molecular mobility: crystallinity with rapid-passage cw proton NMR, and syneresis with pulsed-gradient spin-echo NMR diffusion techniques, as a function of strain and time. In the gumstocks crystallinity and syneresis increase monotonically with strain and asymptotically with time. In a given specimen syneresis lags behind crystallinity but they approach the same value, suggesting that syneresis originates in expulsion of plasticizer from crystallizing regions
Effective block size for imbibition or absorption in dual-porosity media

A theoretical study is presented of liquid imbibition and solute absorption from a fracture network into a collection of matrix blocks of varying sizes and shapes. An individual irregularly-shaped matrix block can be modeled with reasonable accuracy using the results for a spherical matrix block, by defining an effective radius {bar a} = 3V/A, where V is the volume of the block and A is its surface area. In the early-time regime, a collection of spherical blocks of different sizes can be replaced by an equivalent spherical block with a radius of a{sub eq} = {sup {minus}1}, where the average is taken on a volumetrically-weighted basis. In the long-time limit, where no equivalent radius can rigorously be defined, asymptotic expressions are derived for the cumulative uptake as a function of the mean and the standard deviation of the radius distribution function, for both normal and lognormal radius distributions. 18 refs., 3 figs.