cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solid-state multiple-pulse proton NMR studies of doped Poly(p-phenylene)☆

Recently, it has been found that the conductivity of poly(p-phenylene) (PPP) increases by more than ten orders of magnitude upon doping with certain strong electron donors or acceptors [1]. Few studies of this doping mechanism have been reported [2]. By virtue of its sensitivity to the electronic environment of the nucleus, the solid-state NMR technique has provided important information on similar processes in the doping and conduct ion in polyacetylene [3, 4]. We report studies of the proton resonance in poly(p-phenylene) using multiple-pulse NMR techniques which indicate that these techniques may be useful for probing the environment of such doped conductive polyphenylenes. Many substances have been found to be good dopants for PPP [2], including electron donors such as metal naphthylides and the pure metals and alloys of lithium, sodium, and potassium, and electron acceptors such as arsenic pentafluoride, ant imony pentachloride, fluorosulfonic acid, iodine pentafluoride, and ferric chloride. Our studies include PPP doped with all of these except arsenic pentafluoride, the metal alloys, and lithium. Samples for s tudy by NMR spectroscopy were prepared in NMR tubes and sealed while attached to the vacuum manifold. For liquid dopants, PPP was exposed to the dopant directly. After reaction, excess dopant was removed by evacuation and mild heating, if necessary. Metal dopants were heated to melting to produce the doping reaction. Metal naphthylides were prepared by a standard technique and doping was accomplished as with the liquid dopants, the THF being removed by evacuation. Ferric chloride was dissolved in nitromethane for doping. Typical doping times were in the range of four to seven days. Solid-state proton NMR spectra were obtained using the 8-pulse sequence first demonstrated by Rhim e t al. [5]. The sequence greatly at tenuates dipole-dipole broadening of the resonance line, as shown in Fig. 1 for PPP. As can be seen, the use of the 8-pulse sequence reduces the linewidth by nearly two orders of magnitude. The important point to be made is that the lineshape of the multiple-pulse spectrum does not appear to be dominated by chemical-shift anisotropy. The line is approximately Gaussian
Spatial and temporal analyses of shoreline variations

Abstract Using detailed data from historical aerial photography, high resolution (100-m) shoreline and storm surge penetration line rates-of-change and variance were calculated for 428 km of coast between New Jersey and Cape Lookout, North Carolina. Shoreline erosion rates along the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast average 0.6 m/yr but commonly vary (± 1 σ) along-the-coast from −3.6 m/yr to 2.4 m/yr and from −6.8 m/yr to 5.6 m/yr on a decade-to-decade basis. Spatial and temporal variances in shoreline change rates make the design of coastal experiments and systematic monitoring programs difficult. The precision of measurements of the rates of change of the shoreline and storm-surge penetration line decrease as the along-the-coast sampling interval increases. This decrease follows an hyperbolic tangent form of decline. For the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast a sample spacing of 500 m will provide an estimate of the mean shoreline rate-of-change to within ± 0.25σ of the higher resolution (100-m) estimate. The average standard deviation of shoreline change rates for the U.S. mid-Atlantic Coast is ± 3.01 m/yr. Consequently, a 500-m sampling spacing will result in a precision of ± 0.75 m/yr for shoreline change. In addition to the hyperbolic tangent decline of measurement precision, along-the-coast periodicities in shoreline and storm-surge penetration line rates of change occur. Accordingly, unless the objective of the measurement program is to define these periodicities, a constant interval sampling should be avoided.
Themes and Variation of N. S. Thompson-Song

Nick Thompson studied many animals over the course of his career, including non-human primates, dogs, crows, human babies, and mockingbirds. Amidst such variation, Nick maintained a common focus. He sought to provide more accurate and truthful representations of the particular phenomenon of interest. His writings on mentalism, design, anthropomorphism and use of metaphor have provided fellow scientists with insight and helped advance his field of study.
Social problem solving in unsafe situations: Implications for sexual abuse education programs

Examined the impact of two subject variables (age and gender) and two contextual factors (antagonist age and nature of the social dilemma) on children's social problem solving (SPS). Preschoolers (N=62) were individually presented with four stories that varied the antagonist age (peer vs. adult) and social dilemma (nonsexual vs. sexual). Responses were coded for three SPS variables: number of alternative solutions, solution content, and planfulness. Younger preschoolers were less competent problem solvers in all types of unsafe situations, and, compared to girls, some aspects of boys' problem solving were compromised in sexual encounters. Results also suggest that the nature of the social dilemma, but not the age of the antagonist, affects perschoolers' SPS. Children generated fewer alternative solutions and fewer effective strategies to the sexual encounters compared to the nonsexual dilemmas. Findings are discussed in relation to research on children's SPS and child sexual abuse prevention efforts.
Synthesis and Characterization of Imidocubanes with Exocube GeIV and SnIV Substituents: [M(μ3-NGeMe3)]4 (M = Sn, Ge, Pb); [Sn(μ3-NSnMe3)]4

The heteroleptic lithium amide, [(Me3Sn)(Me3Ge)NLi.(Et2O)]2 (2), reacts with MCl(2) (M = Sn, Ge, Pb) to yield the corresponding cubane complexes [M(mu3-NGeMe3)]4 [M = Sn (3), Ge (4), Pb (5)]. In an analogous reaction with SnCl2, the lithium stannylamide, [(Me3Sn)2NLi.(Et2O)]2 (1), produces the mixed-valent Sn congener [Sn(mu3-NSnMe3)]4 (6). All imidocubanes contain both di- and tetravalent group 14 metals that are bridged by N. These structures are comprised of M4N4 (M = Sn, Pb, Ge) cores that possess varying distortion from perfect cube geometry. The Pb derivative (5) exhibits enhanced volatility and vapor-phase integrity.
Prevalence of Recovirus-Neutralizing Antibodies in Human Serum Samples

To investigate recovirus infections and their association with zoonosis, the prevalence of the virus-neutralizing antibody against three recovirus serotypes was tested in the general population and in zookeepers. Neutralizing antibodies were detected in a significantly higher number of zookeepers than in the general population but with significantly lower titers than in macaques.
Chicken collagen X regulatory sequences restrict transgene expression to hypertrophic cartilage in mice.

Collagen X is produced by hypertrophic cartilage undergoing endochondral ossification. Transgenic mice expressing defective collagen X under the control of 4.7- or 1.6-kb chicken collagen X regulatory sequences yielded skeleto-hematopoietic defects (Jacenko O, LuValle P, Olsen BR: Spondylometaphyseal dysplasia in mice carrying a dominant-negative mutation in a matrix protein specific for cartilage-to-bone transition. Nature 1993, 365:56–61; Jacenko O, Chan D, Franklin A, Ito S, Underhill CB, Bateman JF, Campbell MR: A dominant interference collagen X mutation disrupts hypertrophic chondrocyte pericellular matrix and glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan distribution in transgenic mice. Am J Pathol 2001, 159:2257–2269; Jacenko O, Roberts DW, Campbell MR, McManus PM, Gress CJ, Tao Z: Linking hematopoiesis to endochondral ossification through analysis of mice transgenic for collagen X. Am J Pathol 2002, 160:2019–2034). Current data indicate that the hematopoietic abnormalities do not result from extraskeletal expression of endogenous collagen X or the transgene. Organs from mice carrying either promoter were screened by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and Northern blot; transgene and mouse collagen X proteins and messages were detected only in hypertrophic cartilage. Likewise, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction revealed both transgene and mouse collagen X amplicons only in the endochondral skeleton of mice with the 4.7-kb promoter; however, in mice with the 1.6-kb promoter, multiple organs were transgene-positive. Collagen X and transgene amplicons were also detected in marrow, but likely resulted from contaminating trabecular bone; this was supported by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis of rat tibial zones free of trabeculae. Our data demonstrate that in mice, the 4.7-kb chicken collagen X promoter restricts transcription temporo-spatially to that of endogenous collagen X, and imply that murine skeleto-hematopoietic defects result from transgene co-expression with collagen X. Moreover, the 4.7-kb hypertrophic cartilage-specific promoter could be used for targeting transgenes to this tissue site in mice.
A moral dilemma: Ethics in Tess of the D'Urbervilles

(1994). A moral Dilemma: Ethics in Tess of the D'urbervilles. English Studies: Vol. 75, No. 1, pp. 46-61.
Associations with In-Hospital Operative Mortality at a Major Referral Hospital in Rwanda

Serious infections occurred in 24% of patients. Average LOS for burn patients was 8.2 2.3 days, vs 9.7 0.0 days in the U.S. An inverse relationship was seen between TBSA and LOS in Rwanda, in contrast to ABA data’s direct correlation from 080% TBSA. Burn size associated with 50% case fatality in Rwanda was approximately 45% TBSA, vs 70% in the U.S. Examination of care processes demonstrated lack of guidance on appropriate burn care, including virtual absence of excision/grafting (Table).
Follow-up study of patients treated by x-ray epilation for tinea capitis. 3. Dose to organs of the head from the x-ray treatment of tinea capitis.

Doses to the organs of the head associated with the Adamson-Keinbock X-ray epilation treatment for tinea capitis were measured in a tissue equivalent phantom. Doses to the scalp ranged between 450 and 850 rad. Doses to the brain, which were smaller because of shielding by the cranium, ranged between 70 and 175 rad. The eye received 40 to 50 rad and the internal ear received about 70 rad. With the aid of microdosimeters, the dose to cranial marrow was estimated as high as 435 rad. In order to estimate the range of doses received by children of different age groups and head size, a method of calculating scalp and brain doses using a digital computer was developed.
Multi-frequency electrical impedance tomography of the breast: new clinical results.

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has been used in the recent past for a number of clinical applications. In this work we present recent tomographic and spectroscopic findings for breast imaging from clinical exams completed at Dartmouth. The results presented here are based on 18 normal and 24 abnormal subjects. The participants were classified as normal or abnormal using the American College of Radiology (ACR) indexing system for mammograms. The EIT data were collected for ten discrete frequencies in the range 10 kHz–1 MHz using a single array of 16 electrodes. The finite element method was used to reconstruct the images. The images were examined visually and were compared with mammograms. The results were also analyzed based on zonal averages of property values and breast tissue radiodensities. Statistical analysis showed a significance difference between the mean conductivity and permittivity values of normal and abnormal subjects for various zones defined on the reconstructed images. Tissues with high radiodensity also had increased conductivity and permittivity.
A maximum entropy method for solving Frobenius-Perron operator equations

Let S: [0, 1] -> [0, 1] be a nonsingular transformation that preserves an absolutely continuous invariant measure with density f. In this paper we develop a general algorithm for approximating f, using the maximum entropy approach.
Understanding and Determining the Etiology of Autism

Worldwide, the rate of autism has been steadily rising. There are several environmental factors in concert with genetic susceptibilities that are contributing to this rise. Impaired methylation and mutations of mecp2 have been associated with autistic spectrum disorders, and related Rett syndrome. Genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 enzymes have also been linked to autism, specifically CYP27B1 that is essential for proper vitamin D metabolism. Vitamin D is important for neuronal growth and neurodevelopment, and defects in metabolism or deficiency have been implicated in autistic individuals. Other factors that have been considered include: maternally derived antibodies, maternal infection, heavy metal exposure, folic acid supplementation, epigenetics, measles, mumps, rubella vaccination, and even electromagnetic radiation. In each case, the consequences, whether direct or indirect, negatively affect the nervous system, neurodevelopment, and environmental responsive genes. The etiology of autism is a topic of controversial debate, while researchers strive to achieve a common objective. The goal is to identify the cause(s) of autism to understand the complex interplay between environment and gene regulation. There is optimism that specific causes and risk factors will be identified. The results of future investigations will facilitate enhanced screening, prevention, and therapy for “at risk” and autistic patients.
Ergoline Alkaloidal Constituents of Hawaiian Baby Wood Rose, Argyreia nervosa (Burm. f.) Bojer

Chemical analysis showed that the seeds of Argyreia nervosa contain the highest percentage of indole alkaloid constituents (0.5-0.9%) of the genera of the Convolvulaceae thus far studied. A total of 19 indole alkaloids were identified by thin-layer and paper chromatographic procedures. Of these, lysergene, festu-clavine, setoclavine, isosetoclavine, agroclavine, elymoclavine, ergine, and isoergine were isolated by column chromatographic procedures and characterized by TLC and IR analyses. Penni-clavine, chanoclavine-I, chanoclavine-II, ergometrine, ergometrinine, lysergic acid α-hydroxyethylamide, isolysergol, racemic chanoclavine-II, molliclavine, lysergol, and isolysergic acid α-hydroxyethylamide were identified by TLC only. Of these, lysergene, setoclavine, isosetoclavine, chanoclavine-II, racemic chano-clavine-II, isolysergol, and molliclavine were identified for the first time in species of the Convolvulaceae. Ergine (0.136%) and isoergine (0.188%) were found in the highest concentration. In addition, 11 unidentified indole alkaloids were detected, these being found in very low concentration. Although the pericarp showed the same alkaloid pattern as the seeds, the concentration was much lower (0.0015%). No alkaloids could be delected in the vegetative tissues of nonflowering specimens.
Exact controllability of structural acoustic interactions

Abstract In this article, we work to discern exact controllability properties of two coupled wave equations, one of which holds on the interior of a bounded open domain Ω , and the other on a segment Γ0 of the boundary ∂Ω . Moreover, the coupling is accomplished through terms on the boundary. Because of the particular physical application involved—the attenuation of acoustic waves within a chamber by means of active controllers on the chamber walls—control is to be implemented on the boundary only. We give here concise results of exact controllability for this system of interactions, with the control functions being applied through ∂Ω . In particular, it is seen that for special geometries, control may be exerted on the boundary segment Γ0 only. Moreover, this reachability problem is posed and solved on the finite energy spaces which are “natural” to the respective wave components; namely, H1×L2. In this work, we make use of microlocal estimates derived for the Neumann-control of wave equations, as well as a special vector field which is now known to exist under certain geometrical situations.
Light's Retention Scale Does Not Predict Success in First-Grade Retainees.

Light's Retention Scale totals, along with measures of reading achievement, mathematics achievement, and self-concept taken at the time first grade nonpromotion was being considered, were used to predict nine separate outcome measures of academic, emotional, and social status at the end of the repeated first grade. In none of the stepwise regressions did the Light total add to the prediction of outcome in the children repeating the first grade. This result, added to earlier studies, suggests that Light's Retention Scale is neither reliable nor valid as a psychometric device.
The Sorcerer II Global Ocean Sampling Expedition: Metagenomic Characterization of Viruses within Aquatic Microbial Samples

Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on our planet. Interactions between viruses and their hosts impact several important biological processes in the world's oceans such as horizontal gene transfer, microbial diversity and biogeochemical cycling. Interrogation of microbial metagenomic sequence data collected as part of the Sorcerer II Global Ocean Expedition (GOS) revealed a high abundance of viral sequences, representing approximately 3% of the total predicted proteins. Cluster analyses of the viral sequences revealed hundreds to thousands of viral genes encoding various metabolic and cellular functions. Quantitative analyses of viral genes of host origin performed on the viral fraction of aquatic samples confirmed the viral nature of these sequences and suggested that significant portions of aquatic viral communities behave as reservoirs of such genetic material. Distributional and phylogenetic analyses of these host-derived viral sequences also suggested that viral acquisition of environmentally relevant genes of host origin is a more abundant and widespread phenomenon than previously appreciated. The predominant viral sequences identified within microbial fractions originated from tailed bacteriophages and exhibited varying global distributions according to viral family. Recruitment of GOS viral sequence fragments against 27 complete aquatic viral genomes revealed that only one reference bacteriophage genome was highly abundant and was closely related, but not identical, to the cyanomyovirus P-SSM4. The co-distribution across all sampling sites of P-SSM4-like sequences with the dominant ecotype of its host, Prochlorococcus supports the classification of the viral sequences as P-SSM4-like and suggests that this virus may influence the abundance, distribution and diversity of one of the most dominant components of picophytoplankton in oligotrophic oceans. In summary, the abundance and broad geographical distribution of viral sequences within microbial fractions, the prevalence of genes among viral sequences that encode microbial physiological function and their distinct phylogenetic distribution lend strong support to the notion that viral-mediated gene acquisition is a common and ongoing mechanism for generating microbial diversity in the marine environment.
Theoretical foundations of the chronometric cosmology.

Abstract The derivation of the redshift (z)-distance (r) relation in the chronometric theory of the Cosmos is amplified. The basic physical quantities are represented by precisely defined self-adjoint operators in global Hilbert spaces. Computations yielding explicit bounds for the deviation of the theoretical prediction from the relation z = tan2(r/2R) (where R denotes the radius of the universe), earlier derived employing less formal procedures, are carried out for: (a) a cut-off plane wave in two dimensions; (b) a scalar spherical wave in four dimensions; (c) the same as (b) with appropriate incorporation of the photon spin. Both this deviation and the (quantum) dispersion in redshift are shown to be unobservably small. A parallel classical treatment is possible and leads to similar results.
Analyzing Recorded Transactions to Extrapolate the Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities of Reference Desk Providers at an Urban, Academic/Public Library

ABSTRACT Much has been written about the competencies that reference providers must exhibit to be successful at their positions given today's technology-rich, information environment. Many have proclaimed new mandatory technological and attitudinal qualities for librarians, while others have interviewed future, practicing, and hiring librarians for their perspectives on this topic. This study adds to the existing literature by examining a dataset of 9,683 recorded reference transactions collected during the fall 2012 semester in an urban, academic/public library. This dataset provides a very current look at the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities that reference providers need to be successful at this library.
Swimming of the semi-infinite strip revisited

Idealized mathematical models have been devised over the years for study of the fundamentals of the swimming of fishes. The two-dimensional flexible strip propelled by execution of transverse traveling-wave undulation is one of the most well-studied of the simple models. This model is redeveloped here, with the finding that higher propulsive efficiencies are theoretically available within the undulatory swimming mode than have been previously exposed. This is by configuring the displacement wave-form for continuously zero circulation over the body length with time, and thereby avoiding the shedding of a vortex wake and its attendant induced drag. The thrust is reactive, via acceleration processes, rather than inductive via relative velocity and lift. As in most of the classical work on fish propulsion, the analysis assumes high Reynolds number and a thin boundary layer, which provides the use of ideal-flow theory. The advance speed is assumed constant and the analysis is initially linearized, but both nonlinear and linear transient analysis are provided in supporting the basic “wakeless swimming” possibility.
An optimum environment for the culturing of Cytospora isolates from stone fruits. III. Nitrogen sources

Six isolates (Cytospora cincta Fr. andC. leucostoma Fr.) were innoculated to liquid and solid synthetic laboratory media containing nine different sources of carbon. One of the isolates did not grow. The remaining five grew at rates, and in relationships, which segregated them in accordance with their species grouping. These relationships were more nearly constant than any other relationships previously noted in Idaho for these or otherCytopora isolates. Two conclusions were reached: 1) For best growth and sporulation, maltose should be incorporated in the laboratory culture medium and not the commonly used dextrose, which was demonstrated to be an inferior source of carbon; and 2) separate investigations, which utilize different carbon sources in the laboratory media, are likely to yield sufficiently different results that co-identity of species strains used by the separate workers may not be evident.
Borrelia burgdorferi erp genes are expressed at different levels within tissues of chronically infected mammalian hosts.

Abstract The spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of Lyme disease and is transmitted to humans and other vertebrate hosts through the bites of ixodid ticks. B. burgdorferi Erp (OspE-F related lipoprotein) family members are encoded on members of the 32 kb circular plasmid-like prophage family (cp32s). Many Erp proteins serve as receptors for the complement inhibitory factor H molecules of numerous vertebrate hosts, providing one mechanism by which the bacteria potentially evade the innate immune system. Indirect immunofluorescence analyses (IFA) have demonstrated that Erp expression is temporally regulated throughout the mammal-tick infectious cycle, indicating that Erp proteins perform an important role (or even roles) during mammalian infection. However, it was not previously known whether Erp proteins are continually produced by B. burgdorferi throughout the course of mammalian infection. To address this issue, quantitative RT-PCR (q-RT-PCR) was utilized to assess erp transcription levels by bacteria within numerous different tissues of both mice and non-human primates (NHPs) chronically infected with B. burgdorferi . Q-RT-PCR results obtained using both animal models indicated that while the majority of erp genes were detectably transcribed during chronic infection, differences in expression levels were noted. These data strongly suggest that Erp proteins contribute to B. burgdorferi persistence within chronically infected host tissues, perhaps by protecting the bacteria from complement-mediated killing.
Production of Boiling-Stable Granular Resistant Starch by Partial Acid Hydrolysis and Hydrothermal Treatments of High-Amylose Maize Starch

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present work was to examine whether partial acid hydrolysis (PAH) of a high-amylose maize starch (ae-VII) would enhance the effects of hydrothermal treatments to produce granular resistant starch (RS) that is stable to further heat treatment at atmospheric pressure. PAH ae-VII starches were prepared by heating 35% (w/v) suspensions with 1% (w/w) HCl at 25°C for 6, 30, and 78 hr. Native and PAH starches were then treated by annealing (ANN) or heat-moisture treatment (HMT). ANN was done at 70% moisture at 50, 60, or 70°C for 24 hr, and HMT was done at 30% moisture at 100, 120, or 140°C for 80 min. RS that survives boiling during analysis was determined by a modification of the AOAC method for determining total dietary fiber. RS was also determined by the Englyst method. Little change in the gelatinization enthalpy was found for ae-VII starch after PAH, ANN, or HMT as individual treatments. After PAH, either ANN or HMT led to decreased gelatinization enthalpy. HMT and ANN alone in...
Kinetics of prostaglandin E metabolism in isolated hepatocytes

Abstract The kinetics of prostaglandin E metabolism were investigated in isolated hepatocytes from male Sprague-Dawley rats. [ 3 H] Prostaglandin E 1 or [ 3 H]prostaglandin E 2 was incubated with cells in suspension, aliquots were collected over time and samples extracted and chromatographed using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Both prostaglandins E 1 and E 2 were rapidly metabolized by the hepatocytes and at low prostaglandin E concentrations (10 −12 M) both have similar apparent half-lives (prostaglandin E 1 , 1.24; prostaglandin E 2 , 1.68 min). Disappearance of counts from prostaglandin E 1 and E 2 fractions was accompanied by the appearance of counts in earlier fractions of the chromatograms, consistent with metabolism to compounds which are more polar than the native prostaglandins. The half-life for prostaglandin E 1 was unchanged over a prostaglandin E 1 concentration range of 10 −12 to 10 −6 M. In contrast, increasing prostaglandin E 2 concentration resulted in a prolonged half-life over the same concentration range. Decreasing cell concentrations from 5 · 10 6 to 5 · 10 5 cells/ml resulted in decreases in the rates of metabolism of both prostaglandins E 1 and E 2 .
Hormone therapy in survivors of gynaecological and breast cancer

Key content Gynaecological and breast cancers affect premenopausal and perimenopausal women at rates ranging 15–70% and treatment often causes the abrupt onset of menopause. Available studies do not show an increase in recurrence or decrease in survival among women with endometrial, ovarian or cervical cancer who use hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Data regarding the risks of systemic HRT in survivors of breast cancer are varied, and an increase in breast cancer recurrence with the use of systemic HRT has been demonstrated in randomised controlled trials. Limited data exist regarding the use of vaginal estrogen, however, no effect on recurrence has been demonstrated. The decision regarding the use of HRT in women with cancer must be individualised and should take into account issues regarding quality of life. Learning objectives To review the evidence regarding the cancer-specific risks, that is, recurrence or death, of HRT in survivors of gynaecological and breast cancer. To provide recommendations for the use of HRT in survivors of gynaecological and breast cancer. Ethical issues How to balance the risks of HRT with quality of life concerns in survivors of gynaecological and breast cancer when evidence to guide our recommendations is limited?
On set theoretic complete intersections in P k 3

We prove that smooth monomial curves of degree greater than three are not set theoretic complete intersections on a wide class of surfaces, called bihonogeneous surfaces.
β2-microglobulin induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in the CCRF-HSB-2 human leukemia cell line independently of the caspase-3, -8 and -9 pathways but through increased reactive oxygen species

Exogenous beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m) induces significant apoptosis in the CCRF-HSB-2 human lymphoblastic leukemia cell line as detected by DNA fragmentation, DAPI staining and annexin V binding assay. beta(2)m treatment induced the release of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from the mitochondria, but no change in mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) was observed during apoptosis, suggesting that cytochrome c may be released through a mechanism independent of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore formation. Moreover, the beta(2)m-induced release of cytochrome c and AIF from the mitochondria in CCRF-HSB-2 cells was caspase-independent, since Z-VAD-fmk, a general inhibitor of caspases, did not block the release of these factors. However, Z-VAD-fmk treatment significantly blocked beta(2)m-induced apoptosis, while Western blot analysis revealed that caspases-1, -2, -3, -6, -7, -8 and -9 are not activated during beta(2)m-induced apoptosis in these cells. These results collectively indicate that a post-mitochondrial caspase-dependent mechanism is involved in beta(2)m-induced apoptosis. Moreover, beta(2)m significantly enhanced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during 12-48 hr treatment, and beta(2)m-induced apoptosis was almost totally inhibited in cells pre-treated with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC), providing evidence that beta(2)m-induced apoptosis in CCRF-HSB-2 cells is ROS-dependent. Therefore, these results reveal that beta(2)m-induced apoptosis in CCRF-HSB-2 cells may occur through an unknown caspase-dependent and ROS-dependent mechanism(s) that is associated with cytochrome c and AIF release from mitochondria, but is independent of the caspase -3, -8 and -9 pathways.
On the CMP material removal at the molecular scale

Understanding of the mechanisms of material removal is of fundamental importance in chemical-mechanical planarization of semiconductor wafers. A plausible mechanism at work is that the material is removed at the molecular scale by debonding the chemistry-weakened molecules at the wafer surface. A sequence of order-of-magnitude calculations is carried out to substantiate this mechanism of chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) materials removal. The analysis may lend further credence to the mechanism in addition to its underlying theoretical foundation.
Fatty acid trafficking in the adipocyte

Abstract The insolubility of fatty acids in cellular environments requires that specific trafficking mechanisms be developed to vectorally orient and deliver lipids for cellular needs. The roles of putative membrane bound fatty acid transporters and soluble carrier proteins are discussed in terms of mechanisms of fatty acid trafficking. The numerous roles for fatty acids as an energy source, as structural elements for membrane synthesis, as bioregulators and as prohormones with the potential to regulate gene expression, are discussed in terms of the necessity to regulate their intracellular location and concentration
Characterization of Precision Spheres with XCALIBIR

The geometry of a nearly spherical surface, for example that of a precision optic, is completely determined by the radius-of-curvature at one point and the deviation from the perfect spherical form at all other points of the sphere. Measurements of radius and form error can now be made with interferometers to remarkable accuracy. To measure the radius, a variant of the well known interferometric radius bench method is used. Careful alignment of phase measuring and displacement measuring interferometers enables us to achieve a standard measurement uncertainty for the sphere radius of about 5 parts in 107. The measurement of the form error is complicated because the entire sphere surface cannot be imaged in one measurement. Instead, 138 overlapping areas of the sphere surface are measured. A “stitching” algorithm is then employed to assemble these measurements into a form error map for the entire surface.
Evidence-based endoscopic management of Barrett’s esophagus

Barrett's esophagus (BE) develops as a consequence of chronic esophageal acid exposure, and is the major risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). The practices of endoscopic screening for—and surveillance of—BE, while widespread, have failed to reduce the incidence of EAC. The majority of EACs are diagnosed in patients without a known history of BE, and current diagnostic tools are lacking in their ability to stratify patients with BE into those at low risk and those at high risk for progression to malignancy. Nonetheless, advances in endoscopic imaging and mucosal therapeutics have provided unprecedented opportunities for intervention for BE, and have vastly altered the approach to management of BE-associ- ated mucosal neoplasia.
Adaptive parallel sentences mining from web bilingual news collection

In this paper a robust, adaptive approach for mining parallel sentences from a bilingual comparable news collection is described Sentence length models and lexicon-based models are combined under a maximum likelihood criterion. Specific models are proposed to handle insertions and deletions that are frequent in bilingual data collected from the web. The proposed approach is adaptive, updating the translation lexicon iteratively using the mined parallel data to get better vocabulary coverage and translation probability parameter estimation. Experiments are carried out on 10 years of Xinhua bilingual news collection. Using the mined data, we get significant improvement in word-to-word alignment accuracy in machine translation modeling.
ABC: software for interactive browsing of genomic multiple sequence alignment data

Background Alignment and comparison of related genome sequences is a powerful method to identify regions likely to contain functional elements. Such analyses are data intensive, requiring the inclusion of genomic multiple sequence alignments, sequence annotations, and scores describing regional attributes of columns in the alignment. Visualization and browsing of results can be difficult, and there are currently limited software options for performing this task.
Prevalence of depression in congestive heart failure.

Patients with congestive heart failure had higher scores than control subjects using a case-finding instrument for depression; such patients also were more likely to exceed the diagnostic threshold for depression with this instrument. Identification and treatment of depressed CHF patients may significantly improve level of functioning in these patients. Language: en
Lizard responses to wildfire in arid interior Australia: Long‐term experimental data and commonalities with other studies

Life in terrestrial Australian ecosystems has evolved over the past 10 million years to thrive in habitats kept in a dynamic state through fire succession cycles. Previous studies support the notion that wildfires promote species diversity in plant and animal communities by creating a heterogeneous mix of habitats, each habitat more suitable for particular subsets of species. We document population and community responses to fire in a species-rich lizard assemblage in the Great Victoria Desert of Western Australia. Lizards were censused by pit trapping at a long-unburned flat spinifex site in the Great Victoria Desert in Austral springs of 1992 and 1995. A controlled burn was undertaken in mid-October of 1995, and lizards were censused thereafter in late 1995 and early 1996, and then again in the Austral springs of 1998, 2003 and 2008. Forty-six species of lizards (2872 individuals) were collected and their stomach contents analysed over the course of a 16-year fire succession cycle at this single study site. Most strikingly, relative abundances of two species of agamids varied inversely, responding oppositely to habitat clearing effects of fire. The military dragon Ctenophorus isolepis reached higher abundances when vegetation was dense, and decreased in abundance in open vegetation following fire. The netted dragon Ctenophorus nuchalis was rare when vegetation coverage was high but increased rapidly after fire. Abundances of five species of Ctenotus skinks, C. ariadnae, C. calurus, C. hanloni, C. pantherinus and C. piankai, tracked those of C. isolepis. Abundance of a termite-specialized nocturnal gecko, Rhynchoedura ornata, increased in abundance following fire. Lizard diets changed during the course of the fire succession cycle, returning to near pre-burn conditions after 16 years. In addition to short-term fire succession cycles that contribute to structuring local communities, changes in long-term rainfall also impact desert food webs and regional biotas.
Profile of ustekinumab and its potential in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn’s disease

The advent of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α therapy has been a major advance in the medical management of Crohn's disease (CD). However, a significant proportion of patients with CD do not respond adequately to treatment with these agents. Primary and secondary nonresponse to anti-TNFα therapy represents a common clinical challenge, and highlights the need for the development of additional medication options for CD. The proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 are thought to play a key role in the pathogenesis of CD, and serve as a potential target for additional biologic therapies. Monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-12/23 have shown efficacy in animal models of colitis, and are currently being studied in Phase III clinical trials of CD. This review focuses on ustekinumab, a fully human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody, which blocks activity of IL-12 and IL-23 through binding the p40 subunit, and describes the current efficacy and safety data for ustekinumab in patients with CD.
Effects of transforming growth factor-beta on parathyroid hormone-related protein production and ribonucleic acid expression by a squamous carcinoma cell line in vitro

The effects of human recombinant transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 were determined on PTH-related protein (PTHrP) production and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression by a canine squamous carcinoma cell line (SCC 2/88) in vitro. TGF-beta increased PTHrP production in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.05) as measured by RIA, and the effects of TGF-beta treatment persisted up to 72 h after removal. TGF-beta increased PTHrP production by SCC 2/88 cells until cellular confluence, at which time there was no longer a significant increase compared to control. Actinomycin D inhibited the TGF-beta-mediated increase in PTHrP production, suggesting that TGF-beta acted in part by increasing gene transcription. SCC 2/88 cells also produced active TGF-beta as measured by a [3H]thymidine incorporation assay in mink lung epithelial cells. Exposure of SCC 2/88 cells to a neutralizing anti-TGF-beta monoclonal antibody decreased (up to 50%, P < 0.01) basal PTHrP production. TGF-beta increased PTHrP mRNA expression in...
IR spectroscopic properties of H(MeOH)n + clusters in the liquid phase: evidence for a proton wire.

The long-standing problem of understanding the nature of the “excess proton” in acidified water is simplified by studying the proton in methanol. The 3D network of hydrogen bonds in H(aq)+ is reduced to a 1D problem. Infrared spectroscopic characterization of linear chain methanol proton solvates in H(CH3OH)n+ for n=2–8 provides insight into some of the puzzling IR spectral features associated with O-H-O vibrations. These include the virtual disappearance of otherwise strong bands from H-bonded methanol molecules adjacent to symmetrical O-H+-O groups. The data indicate that a chain of up to four OH⋅⋅⋅O bonds either side of this group can act as an electrical wire to separate positive charge. This suggests a refinement of the Grotthuss proton-hopping mechanism for explaining the anomalously high mobility of H+ in H-bonded media.
Perception of lower extremity loads in stroke survivors

Abstract Objective This study aimed to improve our understanding of static and dynamic lower extremity sensory perception and the impact of sensory impairments on the control of walking in stroke survivors. Methods Using a custom, real-time unloading system, we tested load perception at heel strike, mid stance and push off in 10 stroke survivors and compared their performance to 10 age-matched and 5 young adult control subjects. Dynamic load perception was based on a judgment of which leg was bearing more load, which was altered on a step by step basis. We also examined lower extremity static load perception, coordination, proprioception, balance, and gait symmetry. Results The stroke survivors performed significantly worse than the control subjects in dynamic load perception, coordination, proprioception, balance and gait symmetry. Gait symmetry correlated with static and dynamic load perception measures but not with age, proprioception, coordination, and balance. Conclusions Sensory deficits related to load detection in the impaired limb could result in an increased uncertainty of limb load and a gait strategy in which stroke survivors minimize loading of the impaired limb. Significance This new method of measuring lower extremity dynamic load perception provides a framework for understanding gait-related sensory impairments in stroke survivors.
What is microbial community ecology

The activities of complex communities of microbes affect biogeochemical transformations in natural, managed and engineered ecosystems. Meaningfully defining what constitutes a community of interacting microbial populations is not trivial, but is important for rigorous progress in the field. Important elements of research in microbial community ecology include the analysis of functional pathways for nutrient resource and energy flows, mechanistic understanding of interactions between microbial populations and their environment, and the emergent properties of the complex community. Some emergent properties mirror those analyzed by community ecologists who study plants and animals: biological diversity, functional redundancy and system stability. However, because microbes possess mechanisms for the horizontal transfer of genetic information, the metagenome may also be considered as a community property.
Rooted routing in linear lightwave networks

The authors propose a new scheme for optical signal routing within linear lightwave network (LLN) subnets. They study the synchronization problem that exists in these subnets which prevents efficient implementation of time division multiple access schemes for sharing a common broadcast medium. A solution for this problem is proposed, based on a new optical agent signal routing scheme, called rooted routing. The impact of the rooted routing on power losses is analyzed, and an approach for optimizing the power losses in LLNs with rooted routing is presented. It is shown that when the link and excess losses are small, the optimal power budget is close to that when the original, shortest path routing scheme is used. It is also shown that the power budget in LLNs with rooted routing can be significantly improved using a single optical amplifier. >
Does Justification Aim at Truth

Does epistemic justification aim at truth? The vast majority of epistemologists instinctively answer ‘Yes’; it's the textbook response. Joseph Cruz and John Pollock surprisingly say no. In ‘The Chimerical Appeal of Epistemic Externalism’ they argue that justification bears no interesting connection to truth; justification does not even aim at truth. ‘Truth is not a very interesting part of our best understanding’ of justification (CP it has no ‘connection to the truth.’ A ‘truth-aimed … epistemology is not entitled to carry the day’ (C&P 2004, 138, emphasis added). Pollock and Cruz's argument for this surprising conclusion is of general interest for it is ‘out of step with a very common view on the part of epistemologists, both internalist and externalist alike’ (CP cf. Audi 1988).
The existence of weak solutions with prescribed singular behavior for a conformally invariant scalar equation

On demontre un theoreme d'existence general pour des solutions distribution positives, a comportement singulier prescript, de l'equation scalaire semilineaire provenant de la deformation conforme des metriques de Riemann
Impact of Ozone Depletion on Skin Cancers

Because of recent growth in the uses and production of certain chlorofluorocarbon compounds, the ozone layer is at risk of diminishing. The major effect of a decrease in ozone will be an increase in the amount of UV-B radiation in sunlight. Even a small increase in UV-B radiation will almost certainly affect human health. The most obvious effect of increased UV-B radiation will be an increase in the incidence of basal and squamous cell carcinomas. Other possible effects include a contribution to the development of cutaneous melanoma, ocular changes leading to the formation of cataracts, and immunologic perturbations.
Mechanisms regulating prostaglandin F2α secretion from the bovine endometrium

The mechanism that regulates luteolytic PGF2 alpha secretion as stimulated by oxytocin is thought to involve induction of the inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate-diacylglycerol second messenger system, which mobilizes intracellular calcium and activates protein kinase C. In Experiment 1, endometrial explants taken from heifers on d 18.5 to 19.5 postestrus had increased PGF2 alpha secretion after treatment with 1 microM calcium ionophore A23187 to increase intracellular calcium, 100 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate to activate protein kinase C, and 100 nM oxytocin. The stimulatory effects of oxytocin and calcium ionophore A23187 plus phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate did not differ from each other. In Experiment 2, endometrial explants taken from cows on d 18.5 to 19.5 postestrus had increased PGF2 alpha secretion after treatment with 0.2 and 2 microM thapsigargin to mobilize intracellular calcium that was sensitive to inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate. Secretion of PGF2 alpha was also increased by 100 nM oxytocin and was influenced by the interaction of thapsigargin and oxytocin such that 100 nM oxytocin did not further increase the secretion of PGF2 alpha in the presence of 2 microM thapsigargin. In Experiment 3, 100 nM oxytocin stimulated greater production of inositol trisphosphate and total inositol phosphates in the endometrium of cyclic cows than in the endometrium of pregnant cows on d 16.5 to 17.0 postestrus, although luteolysis was not yet initiated in the cyclic cows. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the activation of the inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate-diacylglycerol second messenger system by oxytocin is involved in the stimulation of PGF2 alpha secretion from the endometrium during late diestrus in cows.
Methylxanthine Use in Anaphylaxis: What Does the Evidence Tell Us?

OBJECTIVE:To review the literature examining the use of methylxanthines in the treatment of anaphylaxis.DATA SOURCES:A MEDLINE search (January 1966–December 1998) was performed using the terms aminophylline, theophylline, and anaphylaxis.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:Articles discussing methylxanthine use in anaphylaxis were independently examined by each author. Additional information was obtained through the references of these articles. Articles not written in English were excluded.DATA SYNTHESIS:No human studies were identified. Limited published data were found in animal models of anaphylaxis.CONCLUSIONS:Safer agents with proven efficacy exist for the treatment of bronchoconstriction in anaphylaxis. Until data are available in humans, methylxanthines should not be recommended in the treatment of anaphylactic reactions.