cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monolithic RC All-Pass Networks with Constant-Phase-Difference Outputs

All-pass network techniques have made it possible to realize very small monolithic lumped active phase shifters with decade bandwidths, high yield, and relative phase stability, even when the device parameters vary +-20 percent. We have successfully demonstrated fully monolithic first-order networks (at 250 MHz) and second-order networks (at 4 GHz).
Laparoscopic Fundoplication and Gastrostomy

Fundoplication and gastrostomy are among the more common operative procedures performed in infants and children. This article reviews the techniques, results, and complications of the surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in 389 consecutive pediatric patients over the last 5 years. Chronic unremitting vomiting, failure to thrive, and an array of pulmonary symptoms were the leading indications for fundoplication in these children. Children who eat by mouth were primarily treated by a Toupet fundoplication, whereas gastrostomy-fed children generally received a Nissen fundoplication. The time to perform fundoplication and gastrostomy in our patients averaged about 3 hours for the first 10 patients but required a little over 1 hour for the last 50 patients. Most patients were discharged by the second or third postoperative day. Recurrent symptoms have developed in about 5% of our patients. Five of the 201 children who received a Toupet fundoplication (partial wrap) have been converted to a complete wrap fundoplication. Two of the patients having a Nissen fundoplication have required reoperation for their symptoms. The primary complications were seven cases of transient dysphagia, one case of esophageal perforation, and one case of gastric perforation. Laparoscopic fundoplication seems to achieve results equivalent to open fundoplication and is associated with considerably less postoperative pain and morbidity as well as a more rapid recovery.
Foetal magnetocardiogram amplitude oscillations associated with respiratory sinus arrhythmia.

The authors show that oscillations at foetal breathing frequencies observed in foetal heart rate (FHR) tracings obtained from foetal magnetocardiogram (FMCG) recordings are often accompanied by synchronous modulation of FMCG signal amplitude. This implies an association between the FHR oscillations and foetal chest wall movements, corroborating the hypothesis that the oscillations are due to respiratory sinus arrhythmia.
Sulphuretin glycosides of Coreopsis mutica

Abstract The anthochlor complement of Coreopsis mutica has been determined. The compounds observed were all glycosidic derivatives of sulphuretin, being the mono- and di-glucosides and two new glucosidic derivatives acylated with caffeic acid.
The Four Cs of Promising Practices in Community Colleges

To address the achievement or opportunity gap of underrepresented populations in community colleges, this qualitative field methods study investigated five California community college programs that have demonstrated progress in improving (or show significant potential to improve) student achievement. This research found that promising practices have several conceptual conditions in common—cohesion, connection, cooperation, and consistency—referred to as the Four Cs. Although many of the key components that contribute to the development of promising practices in community college programs are unique to their specific contexts, the presence of these more general Four Cs may be transferable to other community college sites because they can be cultivated in different contexts while respecting the idiosyncrasies of particular community colleges.
The effects of commitment to threats and promises upon bargaining behaviour and outcomes

The course of bargaining is determined in part by interdependent individuals exchanging messages so as to influence other's behaviour, and thereby to increase the likelihood of achieving outcomes consistent with their own goals. The communication of threats and promises are two major message strategies that are employed to influence the behaviour of others in a bargaining relationship. The present study examines the effects of players' level of commitment to these forms of message strategies upon behaviour in a duopoly bargaining task. Past research has oprationalized commitment in terms of the consistency with which an individual has followed through on threats or promises in the past. In the present research, Becker's (1960) concept of a side-bet is employed to provide an alternative means for defining and manipulating commitment. A side-bet obtains when either a threatener or a promiser posts a valued resource, say a bond, which they forfeit if they do not follow through on their stated threat or promise. The main expectations of the present study were that increased commitment to threat meassages would lead to more competitive behaviour and outcomes within a duopoly bargaining task, whereas increased commitment to promise messages would produce more cooperative behaviour and outcomes. Partial support for these major expectations, as well as confirmation of a number of secondary expectations, was obtained.
A 16:1 serializer ASIC for data transmission at 5 Gbps

A high speed, low power 16:1 serializer has been developed with a commercial 0.25 μm silicon-on-sapphire CMOS technology. The serializer operates from 4.0 to 5.7 Gbps. The total jitter is 62 ps and the eye opening of the bathtub curve is 122 ps at bit error rate of 10−12 at 5 Gbps. Power consumption is 463 mW at 5 Gbps. A proton beam test indicates the serializer is suitable for applications in high energy physics experiments.
Keratitis, ulceration, and perforation associated with topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Abstract Purpose To report corneal complications associated with topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Design Retrospective, noncomparative interventional case series. Participants Eighteen eyes of 16 patients with adverse corneal events associated with NSAID use. Methods Evaluation of 16 patients referred for management of corneal complications during use of topical NSAIDs (ketorolac tromethamine [Acular], diclofenac sodium [Voltaren], diclofenac sodium [Falcon DSOS]). Main outcome measures Type and severity of corneal complications. Results Of the 16 patients, two experienced severe keratopathy, three experienced ulceration, six experienced corneal or scleral melts, and five experienced perforations. Eleven patients had recent cataract surgery; nine of these were on concurrent topical steroids and antibiotics. Another patient who did not have recent surgery was using concurrent topical steroids without antibiotics for sarcoid uveitis. Systemic associations included two patients with rheumatoid arthritis, one patient with asymptomatic Sjogren’s syndrome, and two with rosacea. Conclusions Topical NSAIDs were associated with corneal complications in 18 eyes of 16 patients. Potential risk factors include conditions that predispose the patient to corneal melting, concurrent topical steroids, and epithelial keratopathy in the early postoperative period.
Purification of Tumor Associated Antigens from a Methylcholanthrene Induced Murine Sarcoma as Monitored by Humoral Cytotoxicity

Abstract Tumor associated antigens have been purified from a methylcholanthrene sarcoma of syngeneic mice by detergent extraction, column chromatography and isoelectric focusing. The antigen was measured by a sensitive humoral cytotoxicity assay based on inhibition of uptake of 3H thymidine by tumor cells growing in culture in the presence of antibody and complement.
Brewers' yeast pyruvate decarboxylase produces acetoin from acetaldehyde: a novel tool to study the mechanism of steps subsequent to carbon dioxide loss

A gas-liquid chromatographic technique was developed for the determination of both acetaldehyde and the 3-4% acetoin side product that results from the brewers' yeast pyruvate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.1) catalyzed reaction of pyruvic acid. Employing this method enabled the demonstration of the catalysis of acetaldehyde condensation to acetoin by the enzyme. It was found that the acetoin produced enzymatically from pyruvic acid or from acetaldehyde was optically active, thus providing stereochemical information about the reaction. Deuterium kinetic isotope effects (employing CH3CHO and CH3CDO) were determined on the steady-state kinetic parameters to be 4.5 (Vmax) and 3.2 (Vmax/Kappm), respectively. This enabled, for the first time, the estimation of relative kinetic barriers for steps past decarboxylation. It could be concluded that (a) C-H bond scission was part of rate limitation in the enzyme-catalyzed condensation of acetaldehyde to acetoin and that (b) among the steps leading to the release of acetaldehyde, protonation of the key enamine intermediate was part of rate limitation. This latter finding is also directly applicable to the mechanism of pyruvate decarboxylation.
Flow Structure on a Delta Wing of Low Sweep Angle

The instantaneous and averaged flow structure past a delta wing of low sweep angle is investigated using a technique of high-image-density particle image velocimetry. Emphasis is on crossflow planes, where vortex breakdown and stall occur, and the identification of buffeting mechanisms in these regions. At all values of angle of attack up to the fully stalled condition, the averaged vorticity layer exhibits an elongated form; the classical (single) large-scale concentration of vorticity within the leading-edge vortex of a highly swept wing is not present. At low angle of attack α, this elongated, averaged layer can exhibit, however, well-defined concentrations of vorticity. These elongated vorticity layers are accompanied by narrow recirculation zones adjacent to the wing surface. Furthermore, the averaged streamline topology exhibits, at lower α, a saddle point located slightly outboard of the leading edge, in contrast to a saddle point located on the plane of the symmetry of a highly swept wing. Patterns of velocity fluctuation and Reynolds stress show peaks that are generally coincident with large values of averaged vorticity, which indicates that they arise from unsteady events in regions of high shear
Stratigraphy and palaeogeography of the Capo Milazzo area (NE Sicili, Italy): clues to the evolution of the southern margin of the Tyrrhenian Basin during the Neogene

Abstract The Neogene sedimentary sequence of Capo Milazzo (NE Sicily, Italy), with particular reference to the Niocene interval, is described in detail and a paleoenvironmental evolution for the Late Miocene/Pliocene time is proposed. The sequence represents a portion of the northern side of the Calabrian Arc and documents the response of the coastal environment to the complex events (salinity crisis, opening of the Tyrrhenian Basin) which affected the Mediterranean Basin during the Neogene. The beginning of rifting and increased subsidence of the northern sectors along NE-SW faults are recorded in the Late Tortonian, together with a southbound marine transgression, documented by clastic littoral facies. The transgressive trend continued during the Early Messinian, though the moderate subsidence maintained a neritic environment in which a small reef complex adjacent to a lagoon developed. Emersion, and karstic erosion of the Early Messinian limestones is recorded in the Late Messinian time equivalent of the Lower Evaporite. Reactivation of NE-SW faults at this time favoured the formation of large breccias, collapsed from the peripheral portions of the reef complex. Subsequent lowering of the NW sector allowed the area to ne reached by a limited marine episode during the Intra-Messinian Transgression. High-energy stream deposits, coeval with the deposition of the “Lago-Mare” facies in the Mediterranean, end the Messinian sequence. The Pliocene sequence fossilizes a complex palaeotopography with submerged highs and narrow depressions. A rapid marine transgression is recorded at the Miocene/Pliocene boundary, with the development of circalittoral/epibathyal environments. Tensional movements during the latest Messinian/earliest Pliocene and Late Pliocene are recorded by a system of fractures and respective fillings that affect the upper portion of the Early Messinian limestones. The erosion and reworking of most Early Pliocene sediments into Late Pliocene bathyal deposits, together with the local presence of clastic foreset deposits and large blocks of Messinian limestones collapsed into the lower part of Late Pliocene deep water sediments, document a Mid-Pliocene event, likely referable to the Middle-Pliocene Tectonic Phase.
On the stability of electric utility fossil fuel demand

Abstract The view that the regional demand for fossil fuels by electric utilities in the United States is characterized by stable relationship is subjected to an objective statistical test. The test utilizes a statistic which equals the ratio of the sum of squared residuals of one period prediction from the k + 1 period to the rth period to the sum of squared residuals of one period prediction from the k + 1 to the Tth period, where k is the number of estimated coefficients in the model and T is the sample size. The results suggest, for the period 1973 – 1978, that the fossil fuel demand functions in Region II and Region VIII and the coal demand function in Region X became unstable around 1977. For the other regions, the results indicate no apprenciable (statistically significant) change in the relative importance of the underlying determinants of the demand for fossil fuels.
Functional assessment of the fontan operation: Combined M-mode, two-dimensional and doppler echocardiographic studies

Combined M-mode, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographie studies were used to assess the postoperative status of 33 patients who had undergone the modified Fontan procedure. Twenty-four patients had surgical repair with use of a simple direct right atrium to pulmonary artery anastomosis. The remaining patients had repair with use of a prosthesis or associated Glenn shunt. Twenty-seven patients were studied early in the postoperative period (2 months or less) and the remaining patients were studied up to 6 years postoperatively. A total of 36 examinations were performed. Of the 33 patients, 13 had tricuspid atresia, 12 had double inlet left ventricle with hypoplastic right ventricular outlet chamber and 8 had complex lesions with atrioventricular canal, double outlet right ventricle or a hypoplastic ventricle. Postoperative assessment by M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated normal or mildly reduced ventricular function (ejection fraction > 40%) in 22 patients. In 24 patients, a “normal” (low pattern was observed in the pulmonary artery by pulsed Doppler echocardiography, with predominant diastolic flow and accentuation by atrial systole somewhat similar to the venous flow pattern observed in the superior vena cava. “Abnormal” flow patterns (disorganized systolic flow, absence of atrial waves and little or no increase with inspiration) were observed in nine patients with reduced ventricular function or residual shunt. Continuous wave Doppler study also demonstrated mild dynamic subaortic obstruction in two patients. Combined pulsed and continuous wave studies showed atrioventricular valve insufficiency in 10 patients. Follow-up studies revealed a satisfactory clinical course in most patients. Three patients died approximately 4 to 8 months after their Fontan operation.
Structure and morphology of segmented polyurethanes: 1. Influence of incompatability on hard-segment sequence length

Abstract Separation of three polybutadiene/toluene diisocyanate/butane diol segmented polyurethanes by means of solvent extraction and the characterization of their fractions indicate that the molecules of the original polyurethanes are quite dissimilar in chemical composition and average hard-segment length. These polyurethanes are just blends of two fractions of segmented copolymer with very different average hard-segment content and average hard-segment length. For these polyurethanes, in addition to the segregation of the hard and soft segments, as expected usually for segmented copolymers, the segregation of macromolecules as a whole according to their composition should be considered in the interpretation of their morphology and properties and has been proved to be the origin of the existence of two hard-segment T g 's. This ind of compositional non-uniformity is the result of the poor compatibility between the components of the system. It should be a common phenomenon for segmented copolymers, but is especially obvious in the case of polybutadiene-containing polyurethanes owing to the extremely poor compatibility between their components.
Biodiversity: Biodiversity equals instability?

An understanding of how ecosystems function is vital in guiding human use of natural resources. New work will fuel further debate over the knotty problem of how an ecosystem's diversity and stability are interlinked.
Steatosis in chronic hepatitis C: Relative contributions of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and alcohol

Steatosis has emerged as a histologic finding of importance to the progression of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated liver disease. However, most studies of HCV-associated steatosis have excluded alcohol drinkers and individuals with diabetes and thus have not addressed the relative contribution of known causes of steatosis to liver injury in HCV-associated disease. To address this issue, we studied 297 consecutive patients with HCV who met inclusion criteria. Alcohol consumption, demographics, and serologic tests were correlated with degrees of steatosis and fibrosis on liver biopsy. Liver biopsy specimens were also examined for evidence of significant alcohol or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) injury. In univariate analysis, steatosis correlated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (P =.005) and body mass index (BMI) (P =.0001) but not with the intensity of alcohol intake (in grams per day). In multivariate analysis, BMI (P =.0002) and genotype 3a infection (P =.02) were independent predictors of steatosis. When patients with risk factors for NASH were excluded, genotype 3a infection was the only independent predictor of steatosis. Steatosis (P =.04) and inflammation (P <.0001) scores on liver biopsy were the only independent predictors of fibrosis. Significant alcohol or NASH injury was found in only 6% of biopsy specimens. In conclusion, steatosis in HCV infection is associated with risk factors for NASH, particularly obesity, rather than alcohol consumption.
Design of a video-server complex for interactive television

This paper describes the architecture and implementation of a scalable video server for interactive television services, which has been used in several video-on-demand projects in Japan. This server supports a large number of users with the delivery of high-quality video and provides many types of interactive multimedia applications. The server, using the IBM RISC System/6000® and RISC System/6000 Scalable POWERparallel Systems®, permits full interactive operation with clients. It also can deliver a large number of streams when it is expanded from a single-processor system to a multi-processor system, without any change of the server architecture. In this paper, we describe the end-to-end architecture, the design considerations regarding scalability of the delivery scheme for MPEG-2 transport streams, and the management mechanism for interactive applications. This paper also addresses the implementation of quality of service for digital services through a hybrid fiber-coax network infrastructure, and protocols for interactive television services.
Regulation of the Effector Stages of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis via Neuroantigen-Specific Tolerance Induction. III. A Role for Anergy/Deletion*

Our previous work has shown that specific peripheral immune tolerance induced by the intravenous administration of ECDI-fixed, antigen-coupled syngeneic splenocytes is an extremely efficient method for prevention and treatment of chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (R-EAE) in susceptible SJL/J mice. The current study examined the mechanisms by which unresponsiveness is induced in primed encephalitogenic T cells. The results indicate that the inhibition of MBP-specific T cells by the i.v. injection of MBP-coupled splenocytes is not due to the induction of antigen-specific regulatory T cells, but rather to the induction of anergy/deletion of the effector cells. This conclusion is supported by the findings that spleen or lymph node cells isolated from MBP-toIerant mice fail to inhibit the adoptive transfer of R-EAE in cotransfer assays, and that tolerance is not inhibited by prior thymectomy or prior treatment with cyclophosphamide or anti-CD8 monoclonal antibody. In contrast, we demo...
Adolescent perceptions of alcohol risk: variation by sex, race, student activity levels and parental communication

Drawing on data gathered from adolescents (N = 18,991) in the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), this study examined the effects of sex and race, as well as measures of student activity levels and frequency of recognition from parents, on perceptions of the risks associated with binge drinking. Overall, female, Black, Asian, and Hispanic adolescents, as well as individuals who indicated belonging to more than one race, perceived higher levels of risk. Male, White, and Native American/Alaskan/Pacific Islander respondents perceived lower risk levels. In addition, those who participated the most in school and community activities, as well as those who received more frequent recognition from parents, estimated higher levels of risk associated with binge drinking.
Lipid content and composition of the tse-tse fly, Glossina morsitans Westwood

Abstract 1. 1. Lipids from teneral and non-teneral tse-tse flies, Glossina morsitans, were isolated and their properties compared. 2. 2. The hydrocarbon fraction of the lipids represents a mixture of low and high molecular saturated hydrocarbons. A branch-chain saturated hydrocarbon with approximate formula C42H86 was isolated from teneral flies. 3. 3. Fatty acids from neutral lipids were investigated by gas chromatography. C16:0 was the major saturated and C16:1 the major unsaturated fatty acid. No polyunsaturated fatty acids were found. 4. 4. The phospholipids were separated by column chromatography on silicic acid. They consisted of 40 per cent phosphatidyl ethanolamine, 35 per cent phosphatidyl choline, 15 per cent phosphatidyl inositol and 10 per cent phosphatidyl serine. All fractions contained C16:0, C16:1, C18:0, C18:1 and C18:2 acids.
2H MAS NMR Studies of Deuterated Goethite (α-FeOOD)

2H MAS NMR spectroscopy was applied to study the deuterated form of iron oxyhydroxide goethite (α-FeOOD), typically one of the major inorganic components of soil. High-resolution spectra can be obtained above the Neel temperature, either by raising the temperature or by cation doping. The results indicate that NMR spectroscopy is a feasible method for characterizing the local internal and surface structures of these classes of materials and challenge the often-held assumption that iron-containing materials are impossible to investigate by using high-resolution MAS NMR methods.
Propyl gallate is a superoxide dismutase mimic and protects cultured lens epithelial cells from H2O2 insult

n-Propyl gallate (nPG) is a food preservative that is generally regarded as safe by the US FDA. It suppresses oxidation in biological systems. The mechanism by which nPG acts in biological systems is uncertain. We investigated whether nPG protected cultured lens epithelial cells from H(2)O(2)-induced damage. Cells were treated with H(2)O(2) or with nPG and then H(2)O(2). H(2)O(2) inhibited growth, caused membrane blebbing, decreased lactate production, increased the level of GSSG, decreased the levels of GSH, ATP and NAD(+), and G3PDH activity, stimulated the hexose monophosphate shunt and induced single-strand breaks in DNA. nPG prevented the H(2)O(2)-induced growth inhibition, membrane blebbing, drop in NAD(+) and single-strand breaks in DNA. The mechanism by which nPG acts at the chemical level was investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), direct spectrophotometric kinetic measurements, and cyclic voltammetry. When nPG at low concentrations (nM to microM) was mixed with a large excess of O(2)(-)*, the superoxide signal was destroyed as indicated by UV visible spectroscopy and EPR. Kinetic analysis indicated that nPG dismutated O(2)(-)* in repetitive additions of superoxide with little loss of activity. The rate constant for the overall reaction of nPG with O(2)(-)* was ca. 10(6)M(-1)s(-1). nPG had a very low specific binding constant for Fe(2+) as determined by cyclic voltammetry. The evidence indicates that nPG dismutates the superoxide ion in a catalytic manner.
Self-tolerance alters T-cell receptor expression in an antigen-specific MHC restricted immune response.

The influence of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene products on the T-lymphocyte αβ receptor (TCR) repertoire is well documented1–4, but how specificity is also generated for a diverse array of foreign peptide antigens is unknown. One proposed mechanism is that the TCR repertoire is selected by the recognition of processed self-antigens bound to MHC molecules5,6. Here, we examine the influence of non-MHC-encoded self-antigens on the TCR repertoire expressed in an antigen-specific immune response. Most pigeon cytochrome c-specific, EKαEKβ (Ek) Ia-restricted T cells from B10.A mice express a product of the Vα11 gene family in association with a Vβ3 gene-encoded protein7–10. We therefore examined Vα11 and Vβ3 gene expression in cytochrome c-specific T-cell lines derived from various mouse strains with different non-MHC genetic backgrounds. T cells from several strains failed to express any Vβ3 due to tolerance induced by Mlsc-encoded self-antigens11,12. Variable levels of Vα11 messenger RNA (mRNA) were expressed by antigen-specific T cells from all the strains. In one strain Vβ3 was expressed in the relative absence of Vα11. These results directly demonstrate that self-tolerance alters TCR gene usage in the immune response to a foreign antigen, and indicate that TCR Vα and Vβ proteins may, in part, be independently selected.
Membrane segment organization in the stator complex of the flagellar motor: Implications for proton flow and proton-induced conformational change

MotA and MotB are membrane proteins that form the stator of the bacterial flagellar motor. Each motor contains several MotA4MotB2 complexes, which function independently to conduct protons across the membrane and couple proton flow to rotation. The mechanism of rotation is not understood in detail but is thought to involve conformational changes in the stator complexes driven by proton association/dissociation at a critical Asp residue of MotB (Asp 32 in the protein of Escherichia coli). MotA has four membrane segments and MotB has one. Previous studies using targeted disulfide crosslinking showed that the membrane segments of the two MotB subunits are together at the center of the complex, surrounded by the TM3 and TM4 segments of the four MotA subunits. Here, the cross-linking studies are extended to TM1 and TM2 of MotA, using Cys residues introduced in several positions in the segments. The observed patterns of disulfide cross-linking indicate that the TM2 segment is positioned between segments TM3 and TM4 of the same subunit, where it could contribute to the proton-channel-forming part of the structure. TM1 is at the interface between TM4 of its own subunit and the TM3 segment of another subunit, where it could stabilize the complex. A structural model based on the cross-linking results shows unobstructed pathways reaching from the periplasm to the Asp 32 residues near the inner ends of the MotB segments. The model indicates a close proximity for certain conserved, functionally important residues. The results are used to develop an explicit model for the proton-induced conformational change in the stator.
Detection of an exon 53 polymorphism in the dystrophin gene

We utilized a heteroduplex method to screen for small mutations in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients who did not have deletions or duplications. A dystrophin exon 53 heteroduplex band was identified in 14.4% of the affected patients. Direct sequencing of the amplified product from DNA producing the heteroduplex revealed the presence of a polymorphism in the coding region. The codon for asparagine was converted from AAT to AAC.
Protein Kinase Cα Expression Confers Retinoic Acid Sensitivity on MDA-MB-231 Human Breast Cancer Cells

Abstract Retinoic acid activation of retinoic acid receptor α (RARα) induces protein kinase Cα (PKCα) expression and inhibits proliferation of the hormone-dependent T-47D breast cancer cell line. Retinoic acid has no effect on proliferation or PKCα expression in a hormone-independent, breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). To test the role of PKCα in retinoic acid-induced growth arrest of human breast cancer cells we established MDA-MB-231 cell lines stably expressing PKCα. Constitutive expression of PKCα did not affect proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells but did result in partial retinoic acid sensitivity. Retinoic acid treatment of PKCα-MDA-MB-231 cells decreased proliferation (by ∼40%) and inhibited serum activation of MAP kinases and induction of c- fos . Similar results were seen in MDA-MB-231 cells in which transcription of the transfected PKCα cDNA was reversibly induced by isopropyl β- d -thiogalactoside. Expression of RARα in PKCα expressing MDA-MB-231 cells resulted in even greater retinoic acid responses, as measured by effects on cell proliferation, inhibition of serum signaling, and transactivation of an RARE-CAT reporter plasmid. In summary, PKCα synergizes with activated RARα to disrupt serum growth factor signaling, ultimately arresting proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells.
Dimensional reduction example with three families of low mass fermions

Abstract We show that dimensional reduction of a supersymmetric E 8 Yang-Mills theory in ten dimensions can lead to a flavor-chiral SU(5) × SU(3) × U(1) Yang-Mills-Higgs theory in four dimensions where three 5 + 10 fermion families are massless in the absence of representation mixing. When representation mixing is taken into account only the u-quarks can acquire a mass comparable to the W-mass.
Physicochemical determinants of multiwalled carbon nanotube bacterial cytotoxicity.

Rational modification of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to isolate their specific physical and chemical properties will inform a mechanistic understanding of observed CNT toxicity in bacterial systems. The present study compares the toxicity of commercially obtained multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) before and after physicochemical modification via common purification and functionalization routes, including dry oxidation, acid treatment, functionalization, and annealing. Experimental results support a correlation between bacterial cytotoxicity and physicochemical properties that enhance MWNT-cell contact opportunities. For example, we observe higher toxicity when the nanotubes are uncapped, debundled, short, and dispersed in solution. These conclusions demonstrate that physicochemical modifications of MWNTs alter their cytotoxicity in bacterial systems and underline the need for careful documentation of physical and chemical characteristics when reporting the toxicity of carbon-based nanomaterials.
Hemolysis, Pump Thrombus, and Neurologic Events in Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Recipients

Background An ongoing challenge in the management of patients with heart failure who receive left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) is achieving optimal anticoagulation. Adverse prothrombotic events include hemolysis or pump thrombus (H/T) and neurologic events (NEs), and all limit the success of LVAD therapy. Our aim was to study the incidence and clinical outcomes associated with these events in a large single-center cohort. Methods We retrospectively reviewed our prospectively collected database of all patients receiving a HeartMate II (Thoratec Corp, Pleasanton, CA) LVAD from 2005 to 2012. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data were analyzed using standard statistical methods. All adverse events were recorded. Results Of 193 patients receiving LVADs, we identified 39 H/T events in 26 (13.4%) patients and 22 NEs in 19 (9.8%) patients. Seventy-four percent of events occurred in the last 3 years of the series, during which time 63% of implants were placed. Of patients with H/T, 8 (31% of those having H/T, 4.1% of total) had more than 1 event and 4 (15.4% of those having H/T, 2.1% of total) underwent pump exchanges. Five (23%) patients had NEs after H/T, and 6 (32%) died as a result of the NE. Of patients with H/T, 27% had preceding episodes of infection, 31% had an international normalized ratio (INR) of less than 1.5, 31% had an INR of 1.5 to 2, 15% had a history of clotting or were hypercoagulable, and 4% had anticoagulation intentionally withheld. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), plasma hemoglobin, INR, and platelet determinations were significantly different at the time of H/T compared with baseline values. The survival at 6 months (alive or having undergone transplantation) for those with a prothrombotic event compared with those without was 70% versus 75.2% ( p = 0.5). Conclusions The incidence of H/T or NEs is significant and results in major morbidity after LVAD placement. Infection and suboptimal anticoagulation are associated with the majority of these events. Identification of patients at higher risk for hemolysis (ie, infection) may allow for modification of anticoagulation regimens to reduce these risks and improve clinical outcomes.
Correlation of clinical, surgical, pathologic, and MR fat suppression results for head and neck cancer.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides superior soft tissue delineation of head and neck tumors compared to previous radiologic studies. Further refinements using fat suppression and gadolinium (Gd-DTPA) enhancement have added to these improved images. We performed MR studies of 16 patients with head and neck tumors with detailed clinical, surgical, and pathologic information. MR studies included standard spin-echo T1-weighted images (T1WI) with and without fat suppression and T2-weighted images (T2WI) with fat suppression. Gadolinium was also administered with fat suppression. Conventional and paired fat suppression MR images were compared by a grading system. Post-Gd-DTPA fat suppression T1WI, and T2WI with fat suppression, showed superior sensitivity for tumor delineation when compared to conventional T1WI. Fat suppression T2WI was the best technique to delineate squamous cell carcinoma both in the primary site and regional lymph nodes. Clinical, surgical, and pathologic results correlated perfectly with imaging findings. These refinements in MR imaging represent a significant advance in the radiologic evaluation of head and neck tumors. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Optical Mapping Applications

Holography can be used for arbitrary, parallel, weighted mappings between planes with up to to 106 pixels each at I/O limited rates. This allows precalculated mappings to occur at very high speed. The applicarttions for one-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, and many-to-many maps are explored here.
Expression of interleukin-1alpha, interleukin-6, and basic fibroblast growth factor by cultured skin substitutes before and after grafting to full-thickness wounds in athymic mice.

Objectives : Cultured skin substitutes (CSSs), consisting of human keratinocytes and human fibroblasts attached to collagen-glycosaminoglycan substrates, have been demonstrated to cover wounds, and may release detectable quantities of growth factors that promote wound healing. Materials and Methods : Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were assayed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry in CSSs in vitro and at days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 after grafting to full-thickness wounds in athymic mice. Measurements and Main Results : When isolated cells were tested, IL-1α was found to come primarily from the keratinocytes, whereas bFGF was from the fibroblasts. Combinations of both cell types in the CSSs resulted in a synergistic enhancement of IL-6 expression. Quantities of all three cytokines from CSSs were greater in vitro compared with in vivo levels at all time points after grafting. bFGF increased from day 1 to day 7, and then remained relatively constant until day 21. At day 3 maximal levels of IL-1α were observed. By day 7, IL-1α decreased to approximately 40% of maximal levels, and subsequently increased until day 21. IL-6 levels were highest at day 7 after grafting. All cytokines had reached elevated levels during the time of wound revascularization (days 3-7). Conclusions : The sequence of cytokine synthesis in the wounds (i.e., rapid IL-1α increase followed by IL-6 expression) parallels serum levels reported after a septic challenge. These findings support the hypothesis that the wound is a source of systemic cytokines.
Dental student perceptions of the elderly: Measuring negative perceptions with projective tests

Stereotypic perceptions of older patients have been documented to influence relationships with older adults. To assess the impact of age and dentate status on dental student treatment decisions and perceptions of patients, we designed a qualitative study utilizing projective tests. Seventy first- and third-year dental students wrote stories about two "cue" statements, one describing a young patient and one an older patient. Each cue varied by dentate status, having either a complete dentition or seven remaining teeth. The stories were evaluated for negativity and for general themes of stereotypic statements. The results indicated that while patient age did not influence the dental care prescribed, a high level of negativity existed toward old patients in general (45%, older patient with teeth; 47%, older patient with seven teeth) and toward a younger patient with few remaining teeth (57.6%). The level of negativity expressed toward the young patient with full dentition (27%) may suggest a patient gender bias among dental students in this sample.
Optimization of autocatalytic reactions

Abstract The problem of maximizing product (catalyst) mass was formulated for irreversible autocatalytic reactions of any order power law kinetics, A + nB → (n + 1)B, mB → C. The feeds strategy for a well-mixed isothermal semi-batch reactor was determined using singluar control theory. The product concentration or the net product mass produced per total charge of reactant is maximized. The feedback singular feedrate and singular switching functions were developed for free final-time porblems with final-time-independent performance functions. The generalization feedback singular feedrate and singular switching functions were simplified for cubic autocatalysit (n = 2) with first-order decay (m = 1). Analysis of the singular feedrate, singular switching function, and the net rate of catalyst mass and concentration change trajectories allowed determination of the practical operating limitations of singular control and provided an insight into the best initial and feed compositions to use. Multiple converging and/or diverging critical composition exist on the singular arc. The numerical optimization was performed using initial conditions which lie on the singular arc for a feed containing reactant and catalyst and a feed containing reactant only. A minimum of 15% improvement, depending upon the initial conditions used, over semi-batch with constant feedrate followed by batch operation with an addition of fresh feed was observed when the optimal semibatch feedrate scheme was used. The global optimization problem, in which the total amounts of catalyst and reactant are fixed, was solved to determine the best initial and feed compositions to use in conjuction with the feedback singular control.
Butyrate suppresses Cox-2 activation in colon cancer cells through HDAC inhibition

Abstract Cox-2 plays an important role in colon carcinogenesis and inflammation. Studying the HT-29 colon cancer cell line as a model, we found that Cox-2 expression and activity is increased approximately 25-fold by TNF-α. As previously reported for other Cox-2 inducers, this activation appears to result from a p38-mediated mRNA stabilization rather than an increase in promoter activity. The HDAC inhibitors butyrate and TSA blocked the TNF-α activation of Cox-2 protein and mRNA synthesis, and dramatically suppressed Cox-2 activity in HT-29 cells. The suppression of Cox-2 synthesis did not involve promoter inactivation and could be achieved even when applied after the TNF-α stimulus. The effect of the HDAC inhibitors was observed prior to the activation of p21 expression and did not require new protein synthesis. Finally, butyrate did not prevent p38 phosphorylation, so the block is likely to occur at a later step in the activation pathway. We propose that a component of the cytokine-induced Cox-2 mRNA stabilization pathway is sensitive to acetylation.
Conversion of human hexosaminidase A to hexosaminidase “B” by crude Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase preparations: Merthiolate is the active factor

Abstract Conversion of human hexosaminidase A to a form having the electrophoretic, immunologic and heat stability characteristic of hexosaminidase B occurs upon incubation with commercial Vibrio cholerae culture filtrates. Purified neuraminidase preparations have no such conversion activity. The conversion factor of Vibrio cholerae culture filtrates is shown not to be neuraminidase by virtue of its heat stability, dialyzability and resistance to Pronase digestion. The conversion factor has been identified as merthiolate, a preservative added to these commercial Vibrio cholerae culture filtrates. Robinson and Stirling (Biochem. J. 107, 321–327, 1968) used a commercial Vibrio cholerae culture fluid (Burroughs Wellcome) containing merthiolate as a source of neuraminidase in their studies on the conversion of hexosaminidase A to a form resembling hexosaminidase B. In light of the results reported here on the effect of merthiolate, their conclusions that hexosaminidase A and hexosaminidase B are glycoproteins differing in the number of sialic acid residues must be reevaluated.
Detection of heterogeneities in a multiple text database environment

As the number of text retrieval systems (search engines) grows rapidly on the World Wide Web, there is an increasing need to build search brokers (metasearch engines) on top of them. Often, the task of building an effective and efficient metasearch engine is hindered by the heterogeneities among the underlying local search engines. We first analyze the impact of various heterogeneities on building a metasearch engine. We then present some techniques that can be used to detect the most prominent heterogeneities among multiple search engines. Applications of utilizing the detected heterogeneities in building better metasearch engines are provided.
A CROSS-LINKED CONTROL SYSTEM. II. CONTROL OF PYRIDINE NUCLEOTIDE FORMATION IN VIVO.

Abstract Pyridine nucleotide formation in Bacillus subtilis must be controlled since the specific activity of nicotinic acid mononucleotide pyrophosphorylase (nicotinic acid mononucleotide: pyrophosphate phosphoribisyltransferase), the enzyme which catalyzes the rate-limiting reaction in pyridine nucleotide biosynthesis, is approximately 50-fold greater than the rate at which pyridine nucleotide formation occurs in the intact cell. The intracellular concentrations of nicotinic acid and 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate, the two reactants in the rate-limiting reaction, do not appear to control the rate of pyridine nucleotide formation in vivo . The intracellular concentration of adenosine 5′-triphosphate, a necessary component for nicotinic acid mononucleotide pyrophosphorylase activity, is approximately one-third of that required for halfmaximal activity of the enzyme in vitro . Furthermore, conditions which increase the intracellular level of adenosine 5-triphosphate in non-growing cells cause a marked stimulation of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide formation in non-growing cells. It is concluded that pyridine nucleotide formation in Bacillus subtilis , and in part in Escherichia coli , is controlled by the intracellular concentration of adenosine 5′-triphosphate, a regulatory phenomenon which may occur widely in nature.
Depth controlled symmetric function fanin tree restructure

A symmetric-function fanin tree (SFFT) is a fanout-free cone of logic that computes a symmetric function such as AND, OR and XOR. These trees are usually created during logic synthesis, when there is no knowledge of the tree gate locations. Because of this, large SFFTs present a challenge to placement algorithms. The consequence is that the tree placements are generally far from optimal, leading to wiring congestion, excess buffering, and timing problems. [10] proposed a fanin-tree restructure algorithm to reduce the SFFT wirelength. However, [10] was based on Steiner trees and might cause serious timing problems due to the high Steiner tree depth. In this paper, we extend the SFFT tree identification algorithm to allow both positive and negative tree inputs. Contrary to the Steiner-tree based approach, we propose a new tree restructure flow to build SFFTs from bottom to top level by level at the physical design stage. The tree restructure algorithm is in a transaction mode so that only improved trees are accepted, and the new tree won't cause any placement legal issue. A new partitioning algorithm is proposed to serve for gate creation. In addition, various optimization techniques are developed to reduce tree wirelength On tested designs, the total tree wirelength is reduced by 31% with similar tree gates and tree depths.
Air quality outcomes of fuel quality and vehicular technology improvements in Bangalore city, India

Abstract The Government of India has sought to improve air quality through fuel quality improvements and tightening of vehicle emission norms to control vehicular air pollution in urban areas. Air quality nevertheless continues to be an area of concern in most urban areas of India as a result of the rapid increase in the number of registered vehicles. This paper discusses the various fuel quality and vehicular technology improvements that have been taken up nationally, and in Bangalore City, and also traces the air quality trend monitored at an important traffic junction in Bangalore over 10-years. The analysis shows that particulate matter and sulphur dioxide concentrations have decreased and correspond to the incremental fuel quality and vehicle emission norms implemented during the period but particulate matter and respirable suspended particulate matter concentrations are still above permissible standards.