cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amazon cone isotopic stratigraphy: evidence for the source of the tropical freshwater spike

Abstract The isotopic stratigraphy of piston cores from the upper fan of the Amazon Cone reveals a negative planktic foraminiferal δ18O deviation from the global oxygen isotope signal that extends back into the last deglacial period. The benthic foraminiferal δ18O signal agrees with the global oxygen isotope signal and supports the lithological interpretation that the glacial/interglacial boundary occurs at the iron-rich crust on the Amazon Cone. The negative planktic foraminifera δ18O deviation from the global δ18O signal is interpreted as evidence of increased deglacial Amazon freshwater discharge to the equatorial Atlantic Ocean. 14C dates suggest that the Amazon tropical freshwater discharge initiated at 13.5 ky B.P., peaked at 9.6 ky B.P., and terminated at approximately 6 ky B.P. The timing of the tropical meltwater spike (Showers and Margolis, 1985) which peaked in the southern Venezuelan Basin at 9.6 ky B.P. can be linked to the flooding of the Amazon shelf and the reinitiation of the Brazilian Coastal Current. This change in equatorial circulation and advection of Amazon River freshwater to the North Atlantic via the Caribbean Surface Current, the Gulf of Mexico-Loop Current, the western Atlantic-Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift may be the cause for the rapid termination of the Younger Dryas cool period.
A personal-area network of low-power wireless interfacing devices for handhelds: system and hardware design

Handhelds, such as smart-phones and Pocket PCs, have the potential to become the computing, storage, and connectivity hub, or Digital Hub, for pervasive computing. However, their current interfacing paradigms fall short of achieving this goal. To meet this challenge, we present the system and hardware design for a Bluetooth-based personal-area network (PAN) of low-power wireless interfacing devices. The network consists of a wrist-watch, single-hand single-tap multi-finger keypad, smart speech portal, and GPS receiver. These devices serve a handheld in a synergistic fashion, collectively providing the user with immediate and more natural access to computing power and enabling more and better services.
Inhibition of neurally‐evoked transmitter release by calcium channel antagonists in rat parasympathetic ganglia

1. Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (e.p.s.ps) were recorded from the submandibular parasympathetic ganglia of newborn rats (10-20 days old), by intracellular microelectrode recording and a suction electrode to deliver stimulus trains to the lingual nerve (15 stimuli at 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, and 10 Hz, 22 degrees C). Only evoked responses without voltage-dependent action potentials were analyzed (observed at membrane potentials negative to -70 mV), and e.p.s.p. amplitudes were determined for the plateau responses during each train (5-15th response). 2. Cadmium, an inorganic calcium channel antagonist, reduced e.p.s.p. amplitudes in a dose-dependent manner (Kd 74 microM, P less than 0.01). Nickel (1-300 microM) did not attenuate the amplitude of evoked responses. 3. Verapamil (0.1-30 microM), a phenylamine, had no significant effects upon e.p.s.p. amplitudes at any frequency examined. Higher concentrations of verapamil (100 microM) blocked neurally evoked responses in a manner consistent with the antagonism of voltage-sensitive sodium currents. 4. Diltiazem, a benzothiazepine, reduced e.p.s.p. amplitudes in a dose-dependent manner, the depression being accentuated at high stimulation frequencies (80% block at 30 microM and 10 Hz). The pure (-)-cis enantiomer of diltiazem (10-30 microM) was without effect. 5. Amlodipine, a 1,4-dihydropyridine, did not antagonize synaptic transmission at any stimulus frequency examined (10-30 microM, 0.1-10 Hz, n = 3). 6. Amiloride, a potassium-sparing diuretic, depressed the amplitudes of evoked responses in a dose-dependent manner (one-site Kd 31 microM, P less than 0.005), although the extent of the block was alleviated with high stimulus frequencies. The effects of 30 microM amiloride were unlikely to be of post-synaptic origin as both the amplitudes of miniature e.p.s.ps, and the iontophoretic potentials induced by exogenous acetylcholine, were not attenuated by treatment with this compound. The amiloride derivative, 3',4'-dichlorobenzamil was ineffective in reducing the amplitude of e.p.s.ps (30-100 microM). 7. omega-Conotoxin GVIA, a marine neurotoxin, which depressed whole cell calcium currents recorded from cultured rat parasympathetic cardiac neurones (up to 90% block at 10 nM), was ineffective at blocking synaptic transmission in submandibular ganglia (0.1-1 microM). 8. The differential effects of these calcium channel antagonists upon synaptic transmission in rat parasympathetic ganglia, suggest that either more than one type of calcium channel may be involved in transmitter release, or that the presynaptic calcium channels possess pharmacological sensitivities different from those of channel types described in ne
Cartilaginous Extracellular Matrix-Modified Chitosan Hydrogels for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

Cartilaginous extracellular matrix (ECM) components such as type-II collagen (Col II) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) play a crucial role in chondrogenesis. However, direct clinical use of natural Col II or CS as scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering is limited by their instability and rapid enzymatic degradation. Here, we investigate the incorporation of Col II and CS into injectable chitosan hydrogels designed to gel upon initiation by exposure to visible blue light (VBL) in the presence of riboflavin. Unmodified chitosan hydrogel supported proliferation and deposition of cartilaginous ECM by encapsulated chondrocytes and mesenchymal stem cells. The incorporation of native Col II or CS into chitosan hydrogels further increased chondrogenesis. The incorporation of Col II, in particular, was found to be responsible for the enhanced cellular condensation and chondrogenesis observed in modified hydrogels. This was mediated by integrin α10 binding to Col II, increasing cell–matrix adhesion. These findings ...
Mucoid alteration effects on synthetic calculus formation.

Abstract A bovine submaxillary gland extract was altered by chemical and enzymatic methods. The effect of these alterations were investigated on the formation of calculus, in vitro, by a dipping method; and on the calcium binding capacity of the altered extract. The results indicate that alterations affecting the carboxyl function exerted the greatest inhibition of deposit formation, with the same pattern noted in calcium binding.
Chewing Activity and Digestive Responses of Cows Fed Alfalfa Forages

Nonlactating Guernsey cows were fed alfalfa silage or coarsely chopped, coarsely chopped and reconstituted, or long alfalfa hays. A computer system was developed to monitor chewing activity. Effects of diets upon chewing activity, digestibility, and ruminal parameters were determined. Digestibilities of DM and N were lower for silage than for hays. Cows fed silage had lower ruminal ammonia concentrations that were caused, at least in part, by greater bound N. Digestibilities of DM, N, and fiber were not different among the hays. The computer system recorded 98% of chews; visual measurements of chewing activity agreed well with computer-logged data. Cows spent more time (463 vs. 348 min/d) eating long alfalfa hay than silage; time spent ruminating, total chewing time, and chewing rates were not different among diets. During eating, cows fed hay had more chews per unit of DM or NDF than when eating silage; during rumination, diets had no effect. Eating time of cows fed alfalfa silage was less than for those fed alfalfa hay. Coarsely chopped alfalfa hay was as effective as long alfalfa hay in eliciting chewing activity.
Abstract 5565: Circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with central nervous system metastases

The enumeration of circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood is a validated method of monitoring disease status in patients with epithelial malignancies involving the breast, colon, prostate, or lung. As cancer therapies improve and aim to decrease metastatic burden, the central nervous system (CNS) is emerging as an important sanctuary site for metastasis. Current surveillance and clinical markers of metastatic disease progression involving the CNS are lacking adequate sensitivity, reproducibility, and specificity. One of these clinical markers is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology, which lacks clarity, is insensitive, requires high sample volumes and is subject to interpretation bias by the pathologist. To overcome these limitations, we previously adapted the Cellsearch system (Veridex) to isolate and enumerate tumor cells in the CSF of breast or non-small cell lung cancer patients with CNS metastases. We recently reported that the number of cells in the CSF directly correlated with the subject9s clinical condition and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) in metastatic breast cancer. Furthermore, imaging of the neuroaxis in these patients revealed disease presence, however, was not indicative of disease burden. A sharp decline in the number of CSF tumor cells (CSFTCs) was universally noted after the onset and maintenance of such ventricular intrathecal chemotherapy. We have continued to follow these patients and have expanded our patient population to include non-small cell lung cancer. This includes a patient that we have followed from a baseline CSFTC count of >10,000 to zero over the course of intrathecal treatment, which as been accompanied by drastically reduced disease by and complete resolution of clinical symptoms. We have also begun to perform concomitant CTC enumeration from peripheral blood in conjunction with CSFTC analysis. Interestingly, while there appears to be no strong correlation between the two subpopulations, tumor cells seemed to be compartmentalized to either the blood or the CSF. Together, the current data indicates that CSFTCs may serve as viable markers for diagnosis and prognostication in the setting of CNS metastases. This novel method of isolating CSFTCs provides a semi-automated platform that greatly increases sensitivity, accuracy and reliability over the standard CSF cytology. Furthermore, this platform enables studies to elucidate the significance and biology of this unique subpopulation of tumor cells, including its relationship with CTCs. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5565. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5565
Ral activation promotes melanomagenesis

Up to one-third of human melanomas are characterized by an oncogenic mutation in the gene encoding the small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) NRAS. Ras proteins activate three primary classes of effectors, namely, Rafs, phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinases (PI3Ks) and Ral guanine exchange factors (RalGEFs). In melanomas lacking NRAS mutations, the first two effectors can still be activated through an oncogenic BRAF mutation coupled with a loss of the PI3K negative regulator PTEN. This suggests that Ras effectors promote melanoma, regardless of whether they are activated by oncogenic NRas. The only major Ras effector pathway not explored for its role in melanoma is the RalGEF-Ral pathway, in which Ras activation of RalGEFs converts the small GTPases RalA and RalB to an active guanosine triphosphate-bound state. We report that RalA is activated in several human melanoma cancer cell lines harboring an oncogenic NRAS allele, an oncogenic BRAF allele or wild-type NRAS and BRAF alleles. Furthermore, short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knockdown of RalA, and to a lesser extent of RalB, variably inhibited the tumorigenic growth of melanoma cell lines having these three genotypes. Thus, as is the case for Raf and PI3 K signaling, Rals also contribute to melanoma tumorigenesis.
Characterization of protein tyrosine kinase activity in murine Leydig tumor cells.

Abstract The activity of protein tyrosine kinase (EC 2.7.1.37) was characterized from Leydig tumor cells (M5480A) using the synthetic peptide NH 2 -Glu-Asp-Ala-Glu-Tyr-Ala-Ala-Arg-Arg-Arg-Gly-COOH as a substrate. Relatively high tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity (about 135 pmol/mg protein per min) was detected in a particulate fraction (30 000 × g pellet) and was found to be linear as a function of time and protein concentration. The enzymic activity in the particulate fraction was stimulated 1.4-fold by 0.02% Nonidet P-40 as judged by 32 PO 4 incorporated into the peptide. Phosphorylation of endogenous proteins in M5480A particulate fractions with [γ- 32 P]ATP resulted in several alkali-resistant radiolabeled bands in polyacrylamide gels in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Included in this group was a major radiolabeled doublet with an apparent molecular-weight in the range of 50 000–54 000. Phosphoamino acid analysis of hydrolysates of these eluted proteins indicated the presence of phosphotyrosine. Several alkali-resistant radiolabeled bands, including a major doublet with an apparent molecular-weight of 32 000, were also detected after culturing M5480A cells in the presence of 32 PO 4 . These studies demonstrate the presence of high levels of protein tyrosine kinase activity in Leydig tumor cells and of endogenous protein substrates for this enzyme activity.
Fluid inclusion gas chemistry in east Tennessee Mississippi Valley-type districts: Evidence for immiscibility and implications for depositional mechanisms

Abstract Analyses of fluid inclusion gases from Mississippi Valley-type districts in east Tennessee reveal the presence of several distinct aqueous solutions and vapors that were part of the mineralizing process. Inclusion contents were released by crushing 5 to 25 mg mineral samples and by decrepitating individual inclusions; all analyses were obtained by quadrupole mass spectrometry. Most analyzed inclusion fluids consist of H 2 O with significant amounts of CH 4 (0.3 to 2.9 mol%), CO 2 (0.1 to 4.7 mol%), and smaller amounts of C 2 H 6 , C 3 H 8 , H 2 S, SO 2 , N 2 , and Ar. In general, inclusion gas abundances are greatest for sphalerite from the Mascot-Jefferson City district, lower for the Sweetwater district, and lowest for the Copper Ridge district. Compositional similarities in the inclusion fluids from the three districts imply that mineralization probably formed from fluids that permeated the entire region, rather than from completely separate fluids at each site. Saturation pressures calculated for these fluid compositions range from 300 to 2200 bars. Burial depths for the host unit have been estimated to be about 2 to 3 km in the east Tennessee area during Devonian time, the age of mineralization indicated by recent isotopic ages. Pressures at these depths, whether hydrostatic or lithostatic, would not have been adequate to prevent phase separation. Thus, our gas analyses represent either a mixture of vapor-rich and liquid-rich inclusions, or liquid-rich inclusions that trapped excess vapor. A lack of visible vapor-rich inclusions, high gas contents in individual fluid inclusion gas analyses obtained by decrepitation, and a positive correlation between decrepitation temperature and gas content for individual inclusions strongly suggest that the samples contain liquid-rich inclusions that trapped varying amounts of excess vapor. This excess gas probably accounts for the anomalously high homogenization temperatures and the wide range of homogenization temperatures observed in fluid inclusions in these ores. The vapor phase could have formed either by phase separation resulting from over-pressured aqueous fluids migrating into a region of hydrostatic pressure, or by incorporation of a pre-existing gas cap at the sites of deposition into the invading aqueous fluid. Exsolution of a vapor phase from the mineralizing brines should cause precipitation of carbonate and sulfide minerals, but reaction path modelling indicates that the resulting sparry dolomite:sphalerite ratios would be too high to form an ore-grade deposit. On the other hand, if the vapor phase was from a pre-existing sour gas cap that was intercepted by a Zn-rich brine, large amounts of sphalerite would precipitate in a fairly small region. Preliminary mass balance calculations suggest that a gas cap of dimensions similar to the individual districts in east Tennessee could have contained enough H 2 S to account for the total amount of sphalerite precipitated.
EXPERIMENTAL CHRONIC GLOMERULITIS

Three of 16 rabbits injected (intravenously) daily with crystalline bovine serum albumin (BSA) for periods in excess of 10 wk developed chronic glomerulonephritis. In vivo, animals with chronic proteinuria formed variable quantities of soluble complex after injection of antigen while animals without proteinuria exhibited rapid removal of the injected BSA. In vitro studies demonstrated that a major part of the antibodies produced by rabbits with chronic nephritis lacked precipitating properties. Interpretations of these observations were presented in the discussion. It is suggested that, in addition to quantity, quality of antibody plays an important role in the development of chronic serum sickness. Complexes formed with nonprecipitating antibody, which are less rapidly removed from circulation, would have a greater opportunity to deposit in glomeruli and induce inflammation.
The Soviet image of future war: “Through the prism of the Persian Gulf”

Abstract According to Soviet military experts, the Gulf War was a “technological operation” and therefore a prototype of future war. As a result, the development of the Soviet Armed Forces will now be planned “through the prism of the Persian Gulf.” Soviet military officials have also highlighted several larger and more long‐term lessons of the Gulf War. First, the Gulf War is said to have confirmed Marshal Ogarkov's forecasts on the nature of future war: the “order‐of‐magnitude” improvements in emerging non‐nuclear technologies are making these systems equal to nuclear weapons, and generating a “revolution” in the methods of conducting combat operations. Second, the Gulf War is said to have invalidated Moscow's 1987 “defensive doctrine.” Third, the Gulf War has prompted the Soviet military to redefine the whole concept of “deterrence.” Deterrence is now said to require not only nuclear parity, but also parity in high‐tech non‐nuclear forces. Fourth, the Gulf War has generated serious Soviet concerns over...
Nucleation of cyclopentane hydrate by ice studied by morphology and rheology

Abstract Results from an experimental study of the effects of heterogeneous nucleation of cyclopentane hydrate by ice on the morphological properties of hydrate formed on a single aqueous drop immersed in cyclopentane and the rheological properties of density-matched 40% (v/v) aqueous fraction hydrate-forming emulsions are reported. Experimental observations indicate that the ice-oil-aqueous phase contact line is the hydrate heterogeneous nucleation site. A novel observation showing the critical nature of heterogeneous nucleation is reported: the heterogeneous nucleation of hydrate from ice is found to be qualitatively controlled by the temperature ramp rate in the experiment. Apparently, a low temperature ramp rate results in more heterogeneous nucleation sites for hydrate, and thus a higher surface area crystal structure than a rapid heating rate. The viscosity of a metastable hydrate-forming emulsion evolves rapidly when the emulsion is seeded with ice, although more slowly than when seeded with the hydrate itself. The critical time, defined as the time (measured from the seeding time) when an abrupt jump in viscosity is observed, decreases with higher subcooling; for hydrate-seeded emulsions this time varies from about 15 min to three hours as the subcooling is decreased from 7.3 °C to 4.3 °C; the slower growth with ice relative to hydrate seeding is seen in the larger critical time for ice seeding, as the critical time for ice seeding lags approximately one hour when compared to hydrate-seeded hydrate-forming emulsions, over this same range of subcoolings.
Metabolic response of normal and malignant tissue to acute and chronic methionine stress in athymic mice bearing human glial tumor xenografts

Chronic methionine (MET) stress, defined as depletion of plasma MET to levels below 5 microM, can be induced in animals with withdrawal of dietary MET, homocysteine (HCYS), and choline (CHOL) plus periodic administration of recombinant L-methionine-alpha-deamino-gamma-lyase (rMETase) and rescue homocystine (HCYSS), given i.p. every 8 and 24 h, respectively. This study describes the effect of this MET depleting regimen (METdr) on normal and malignant tissue using athymic mice bearing human glial tumor xenografts. A 7-day METdr in athymic mice bearing SWB40 and U87 anaplastic astrocytoma xenografts reduced tumor MET to 30% of their baseline values. Although this reduction halted tumor growth, it did not induce the expected complete inhibition of mitosis or a rapid and extensive necrosis. In contrast, SWB77 and D-54 xenografts (glioblastomas) showed marked regression, widespread necrosis, and complete loss of mitotic activity when they were subjected to METdr. Levels of MET in SWB77 and D-54 did not respond to METdr as readily as those in SWB40 and U87 and remained relatively high as the tumor responded to treatment and regressed. High steady states of MET along with the absence of HCYS in high-grade gliomas indicates that transmethylation reactions may be inhibited in such tumors under modest methionine stress conditions. On the basis of these results, it is postulated that METdr in its present formulation is more effective against high-grade, more aggressive gliomas, which are resistant to chemotherapy, than against the more differentiated astrocytic tumors. This may be due to the higher requirements of high-grade gliomas for MET to maintain a state of active proliferation. Further studies are needed to identify the source of MET in glial tumors under METdr and to develop more effective regimens to deplete tumor MET, which might result in a complete and sustained regression of high-grade gliomas.
Exploring the Wealth Returns to Latino Higher Educational Attainment Estimates of Work-Life Earnings Profiles

A significant research gap exists in our knowledge of how educational attainment affects wealth building and intergenerational wealth transfers among Latinos. Wealth includes earnings but is a much wider and more fundamental measure of economic mobility. The education—earnings—wealth relationship is explored by constructing estimates of social gains and losses based on work-life earnings profiles for Latino workers. Findings indicate that public investment in Latino higher education results in social benefits by increasing public revenues and contributing to national prosperity.
Self-Concept and Locus of Control in Hemophiliacs

A comparison study of self-concept was done with twenty-one hemophiliacs ages six to twenty-four and twenty-one control subjects, examining the effects of the first year of a home-infusion treatmen...
Current capacity and thermal transport in carbon nanofiber interconnects

Carbon nanofibers (CNF) are studied in a horizontal configuration as a model for on-chip interconnects. The electrical performance is determined by both CNF resistivity and contact resistance with electrodes. Reliability and current capacity are determined by Joule heating in the system and the thermal accompanying transport. We show that current capacity can be modeled by accounting for the nature of the contacts with the substrate and with the electrodes.
Automated software management based on structural models

A number of software management tasks (consistent system construction, system installation, etc.) can be performed by automatic tools. Given a particular software system, such a tool requires a task model that describes how the task is to be applied to the system. For example, a system construction tool needs to know which operations (compilation, linking, etc.) must be applied to which modules. Unfortunately, although task models are convenient for an automatic software management tool, they are inconvenient for users for two reasons. First, users have to create and maintain multiple, partially redundant models. Secondly, task models are often quite awkward to deal with-a primary source of difficulty being the need to specify low-level, task-specific details. In recognition of these problems, recent software management tools have been moving away from task models towards structural models (e.g. who calls who) as a user interface. Structural models are easy to deal with, because they contain high-level, task-independent relationships, rather than task-dependent details. A prototype tool has been implemented that makes this change complete. The tool automatically performs a variety of software management tasks using a single structural model for a system. The tasks themselves are described separately using system-independent task descriptions.
High efficiency CARS conversion in silicon

We experimentally demonstrate unprecedented wavelength conversion efficiency of 58% from coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) in a silicon waveguide. CARS is modeled by incorporating Raman scattering and free carrier effects into the nonlinear Schrodinger equation.
Dense random packings of hard and compressible spheres

Abstract The sublattices of the tetrahedrally co-ordinated random network of Connell and Temkin are related to the dense random packing of equal spheres. Thus, by relaxation of the atomic co-ordinates of the former, the dependence of the pair distribution function and packing fraction of the latter on sphere compressibility can be investigated. The results are compared with experimental data on NiP alloys.
Generating Different Statistical Distributions by the Chaotic Skew Tent Map

This paper uses the skew tent map as a basic endomorphism to generate pseudo-random numbers of several familiar statistical distributions. For a special value of the parameter a in the skew tent map, we obtain the F-distribution and the Z-distribution in [Golubentsev & Anikin, 1998].
Mixed particle acceleration at CME‐driven shocks and flares

[1] A recent study of Cane et al. [2003] showed that in some intense SEP events, the time-intensity profiles exhibit two peaks, with an earlier one having a high Fe/O and a later one with a low Fe/O ratio. They suggested that these two-component events are due to CMEs and their accompanying flares occurring together, with the first peak being flare-related and the second peak being CME-driven shock related. In this paper, we develop a model which examines particle acceleration and transport when both flares and CME-driven shocks are present. We study time-intensity profiles for three different scenarios: a pure shock case, a pure flare case and a shock-flare-mixed case. Using reasonable estimates of the relative timing between CMEs and associated flares, we find that a large portion of the flare accelerated material is subject to absorption and re-acceleration by the CME-driven shock. Consequently, the time intensity profile for the shock-flare-mixed case shows an initial rapid increase, owing to particles accelerated at the flare and followed by a plateau similar to that of a pure shock case.
Experimental Confirmation of Global Murine Cytomegalovirus Open Reading Frames by Transcriptional Detection and Partial Characterization of Newly Described Gene Products

Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) and human CMV (HCMV) share many features making the mouse system a potential small-animal model for HCMV. Although the genomic DNA sequence and the predicted open reading frames (ORFs) of MCMV have been determined, experimental evidence that the ORFs are actually transcribed has been lacking. We developed an MCMV global-DNA microarray that includes all previously predicted ORFs and 14 potential ones. A total of 172 ORFs were confirmed to be transcribed, including 7 newly discovered ORFs not previously predicted. No gene products from 10 previously predicted ORFs were detected by either DNA microarray analysis or reverse transcriptase PCR in MCMV-infected mouse fibroblasts, although 2 of those were expressed in a macrophage cell line, suggesting that potential gene products from these open reading fames are silenced in fibroblasts and required in macrophages. Immunohistochemical localization of the six newly described ORF products and three recently identified ones in cells transfected with the respective construct revealed four of the products in the nucleus and five in mitochondria. Analysis of two ORFs using site-directed mutagenesis showed that deletion of one of the mitochondrion-localized gene products led to significantly decreased replication in fibroblasts.
Lipoxidation products as biomarkers of oxidative damage to proteins during lipid peroxidation reactions

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous disease processes including diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, ischaemia reperfusion injury and rheumatoid arthritis. Chemical modification of amino acids in protein during lipid peroxidation results in the formation of lipoxidation products which may serve as indicators of oxidative stress in vivo. The focus of the studies described here was initially to identify chemical modifications of protein derived exclusively from lipids in order to assess the role of lipid peroxidative damage in the pathogenesis of disease. Malondialdehye (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) are well characterized oxidation products of polyunsaturated fatty acids on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and adducts of these compounds have been detected by immunological means in atherosclerotic plaque. Thus, we first developed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry assays for the Schiff base adduct of MDA to lysine, the lysine-MDA-lysine diimine cross-link and the Michael addition product of HNE to lysine. Using these assays, we showed that the concentrations of all three compounds increased significantly in LDL during metal-catalysed oxidation in vitro. The concentration of the advanced glycation end-product N epsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) also increased during LDL oxidation, while that of its putative carbohydrate precursor the Amadori compound N epsilon-(1-deoxyfructose-1-yl)lysine did not change, demonstrating that CML is a marker of both glycoxidation and lipoxidation reactions. These results suggest that MDA and HNE adducts to lysine residues should serve as biomarkers of lipid modification resulting from lipid peroxidation reactions, while CML may serve as a biomarker of general oxidative stress resulting from both carbohydrate and lipid oxidation reactions.
Recent Developments in Hearing-Aid Use

ResumeLes rapports de notre laboratoire ou d'autres, ont montre trois developpements recents dans l'emploi des protheses auditives. Le transistor et son voie de consequence la miniaturisation des circuits ont permis la fabrication de protheses tres petites. Un avantage capital de ces petites protheses vient de ce que le malade peut les porter au niveau de la těte, au lieu d'avoir un microphone fixe sur la poitrine. Un “pick-up” au niveau de la těte facilite le sens de la localisation et augmente l'intelligibilite de la parole dans le bruit, měme pour une oreille; il rend plus facile l'utilisation de la deuxieme oreille pour l'audition binauriculaire. Deuxieme consequence des developpements techniques, c'est a dire l'augmentation de la largeur des bandes passantes et de la puissance sans distortion des protheses: c'est l'utilisation des protheses personelles par les enfants sourds. Avant cet epoque-ci, ces enfants devaient employer les protheses de groupe, dans les salles de classe seulement, et presque to...
Suprabenthic species distributions relative to small-scale bathymetric features along the Virginia coast, USA

AbstractThis investigation explored relationships between suprabenthic community composition and fine-scale differences among bathymetric features in the shallow ocean waters and the surf zone off an eastern North America barrier island. Suprabenthic sled collections from the surf to 4 km offshore of Assateague Island, Virginia in June of 2008 and 2009 provide the first detailed analysis of the suprabenthic community of the first 30 cm above the sea floor along the Atlantic coast of the United States. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) revealed discrete assemblages of suprabenthic fauna associated with specific bathymetric features (surf zone, inshore flat, an 11–13 m deep trough, and an adjacent ridge). Virtually all abundant taxa showed significantly different abundances between these four zones (ANOVA). The densities of key taxa between years differed, but their affinities for specific zones were evident in both years. The near-shore flat had the highest abundances of crab and fish larvae, suggesting that ...
Shear-induced dilatancy of fluid-saturated faults: Experiment and theory

[1] Pore fluid pressure plays an important role in the frictional strength and stability of tectonic faults. We report on laboratory measurements of porosity changes associated with transient increases in shear velocity during frictional sliding within simulated finegrained quartz fault gouge (d50 = 127 mm). Experiments were conducted in a novel true triaxial pressure vessel using the double-direct shear geometry. Shearing velocity step tests were used to measure a dilatancy coefficient (e = Df/Dln(v), where f is porosity and v is shear velocity) under a range of conditions: background shearing rate of 1 mm/s with steps to 3, 10, 30, and 100 mm/s at effective normal stresses from 0.8 to 20 MPa. We find that the dilatancy coefficient ranges from 4.7 � 10 � 5 to 3.0 � 10 �4 and that it does not vary with effective normal stress. We use our measurements to model transient pore fluid depressurization in response to dilation resulting from step changes in shearing velocity. Dilatant hardening requires undrained response with the transition from drained to undrained loading indexed by the ratio of the rate of porosity change to the rate of drained fluid loss. Undrained loading is favored for high slip rates on low-permeability thick faults with low critical slip distances. Although experimental conditions indicate negligible depressurization due to relatively high system permeability, model results indicate that under feasible, but end-member conditions, shear-induced dilation of fault zones could reduce pore pressures or, correspondingly, increase effective normal stresses, by several tens of megapascals. Our results show that transient increases in shearing rate cause fault zone dilation. Such dilation would tend to arrest nucleation of unstable slip. Pore fluid depressurization would exacerbate this effect and could be a significant factor in generation of slow earthquakes, nonvolcanic tremors, and related phenomena.
Referent-Wrecking in Korowai: A New Guinea abuse register as ethnosemiotic protest

Korowai of West Papua practice a register of transgres si ve vocabulary sub stitutions in which a referent's normal designation is replaced by another expression with independent semantic meaning. Uttering a substitute term in the presence of its referent is thought to damage the referent. Usually the terms are carefully avoided, but they can also be deliberately uttered in an ger. Substitutions highlight uncanny iconic resemblances between entities that are otherwise mutually incongruous. Substitutions often involve gro tesque imagery of bodily disintegration, and they focus on strange margins close to humans' positions. Speakers use the register to portray uncertainty about the categorial integrity not just of referents but also of language users themselves. Through the register's core idea of avoiding damaging effects of iconic connections beneath fragile surface appearances, Korowai express a reflexive sensibility about language, in which transparently affir mative semantic relations between words and referents are a contingent prag matic possibility, not a natural certainty. (Lexical substitution registers, figuration, avoidance, euphemism, transgression, pragmatic relativity of ref erential semantics)*
Performance evaluation of rendezvous using model predictive control

A new form of Model Predictive Control (MPC) is presented. It is shown to guarantee robust, finitetime maneuver completion for an arbitrary target region. The new method is used to control spacecraft rendezvous and its performance is compared, in simulation, with both a traditional, glideslope approach and an earlier MPC formulation. The new method is shown to use less fuel than both other controllers. The development over existing MPC formulations is the ability to explicitly minimize fuel cost for a general target point, not necessarily an equilibrium. The new formulation also guarantees robust completion of the maneuver. Given an unknown but bounded disturbance, the spacecraft will still reach the target in finite time. This is demonstrated in simulation, also showing that the new formulation of MPC oers lower fuel use than the glideslope algorithm when unmodeled disturbances are present.
A toxin-antitoxin system promotes the maintenance of an integrative conjugative element.

SXT is an integrative and conjugative element (ICE) that confers resistance to multiple antibiotics upon many clinical isolates of Vibrio cholerae. In most cells, this ,100 Kb element is integrated into the host genome in a site-specific fashion; however, SXT can excise to form an extrachromosomal circle that is thought to be the substrate for conjugative transfer. Daughter cells lacking SXT can theoretically arise if cell division occurs prior to the element’s reintegration. Even though ,2% of SXTbearing cells contain the excised form of the ICE, cells that have lost the element have not been detected. Here, using a positive selection-based system, SXT loss was detected rarely at a frequency of ,1610 27 . As expected, excision appears necessary for loss, and factors influencing the frequency of excision altered the frequency of SXT loss. We screened the entire 100 kb SXT genome and identified two genes within SXT, now designated mosA and mosT (for maintenance of SXT Antitoxin and Toxin), that promote SXT stability. These two genes, which lack similarity to any previously characterized genes, encode a novel toxin-antitoxin pair; expression of mosT greatly impaired cell growth and mosA expression ameliorated MosT toxicity. Factors that promote SXT excision upregulate mosAT expression. Thus, when the element is extrachromosomal and vulnerable to loss, SXT activates a TA module to minimize the formation of SXT-free cells.
Biological Rhythms as Information Channels in Interpersonal Communication Behavior

In this paper I begin with the following assumptions which are implicit in a General Systems or communication theoretical epistemology.
Composing semantic services in open sensor-rich environments

Networked sensing promises to drastically change the way people interact with their environments by providing rich contextual information in real time. Major challenges remain on how concurrent users program and control such environments at the application level. This paper summarizes our research efforts in automatically composing semantics services to fulfill declarative user queries in resource efficient ways. We also describe an example software platform, MSR Sense, which supports service abstraction, composition, and execution.
Ground State Bond Diagrams

As the simplest illustrative case of our ideas, let us consider the union of two fragments C· and L· to form the two electron-two orbital system C-L. The ground state of this system, Ψ , is described by an optimal linear combination of the three CW’s as shown below: $$\Psi aC \bullet \bullet L + {\lambda _l}[C\bar :{L^ + }] + {\lambda _2}[{C^ + }L\bar :]$$ (44)
Re: Meta-analysis of Efficacy of Interventions Elevated Depressive Symptoms in Adults Diagnosed With Cancer

Despite the fundamental importance of the question of whether interventions can reduce depressive symptoms among can- cer patients, Hart and colleagues (1) had to contend with a literature that is limited in both quality and quantity of studies in their effort to establish basic effect sizes. With few studies to begin with, they had to eliminate four studies because of incom- plete data, and they eliminated another study as an extreme outlier in effect size. They were left with five studies they clas- sified as psychotherapeutic and four studies as pharmacologic. (5) contributed two effect sizes based on comparisons of 29 patients receiving cogni- tive behavior therapy and 23 receiving sup- portive therapy with the same 26-patient no-treatment control group, thus violating the assumption of independence of effect sizes. In sum, the authors identified only weak evidence for the efficacy of psycho- therapeutic interventions from two small studies with no control group for minimal attention and support. Of the four pharmacologic studies, one (6) substantially differed from the others in inadequacies in both its determination of depression and its medication management by mail, and reduction in depressive symp- toms was not its primary outcome. Of the 163 patients randomized to either treat- ment or control group, only 93 were avail- able at follow-up. The other three studies also involved substantial loss of patients to follow-up; one of these studies (7) began with a total of 35 patients randomized to active medication or placebo and retained only 21 at follow-up. Overall, effect sizes for psychothera- peutic and pharmacologic interventions generated by this meta-analysis are mis- leading as estimates of the efficacy of intervention for depressive symptoms among cancer patients. Any verdicts on the efficacy of interventions for depressive symptoms or calls for these interventions to be disseminated and implemented and integrated into routine care are prema- ture. What would seem most appropriate is acknowledgment of the weakness of available data and the need for more and better quality research with more appro- priate control groups.
Novel technique to improve power engineering education through computer-assisted interactive learning

This paper presents a novel interactive teaching method utilizing computers to improve engineering education. The course material is divided into units covering major topics. First, the hardware related to the topic is presented using PowerPoint slides and industry-furnished videos. This is followed by a presentation of the theory. Then the students, who use computers, jointly derive the equations and their practical applications. In a computer-equipped classroom, the instructor outlines each step of the analysis, and then the students proceed to develop the equation(s) using their computers. After a few minutes, the instructor confirms the equation and the students make corrections. The knowledge expected from the students is summarized at the end of each unit in the form of questions. Instead of a final exam, each student has to pass a test at the end of each unit. The unit exam has a calculation and an essay part. The teaching effectiveness is assessed with questions that the students answer before and after the completion of the unit of study. The method has been partially tested with promising results.
A COMPARISON OF EXPOSURES TO REFRACTORY CERAMIC FIBRES OVER MULTIPLE WORK SHIFTS

As part of an ongoing, industry-wide study in the manufacture of refractory ceramic fibres (RCF), time weighted average (TWA) exposures have been collected at five facilities according to a standardised protocol. Work activities were grouped into dust zones (DZs). Persons to be sampled were randomly selected according to a protocol designed to assure that at least one sample was collected annually from each DZ; each work shift is also sampled at least annually. TWA exposures calculated over a sampling period of at least 360 min were included in the data set. DZs were combined into one of three groups (DZGs): fibre production; vacuum processes; other. The data were analysed to identify any differences by DZG between airborne fibre exposures, by the shift worked at each facility, and across all facilities. There were no statistically significant shift-related differences detected between airborne fibre exposures across the five RCF facilities when analysed as a group. Within four of the facilities, no shift-related differences were detected between airborne fibre exposures; however, at one facility, first and third shift exposures were statistically different. No documentation related to job activities was found to account for the observation. The data generally support the use of a single exposure estimate for each DZG in each of these facilities, regardless of shift worked. Researchers reconstructing exposure and not able to determine the shift worked by study subjects may find these results useful, but are cautioned that substantial differences in exposure across shifts may exist in other types of manufacturing.
Spontaneous metastasis of PC-3 cells in athymic mice after implantation in orthotopic or ectopic microenvironments

The ability of subcutaneous, prostatic, and nonprostatic intraabdominal organ microenvironments to influence local tumor growth and metastasis of PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells in athymic mice was determined. Tumorigenesis and metastasis of PC-3 were evaluated 60 days after subcutaneous and intraprostatic (orthotopic) implantation of 5 × 105 PC-3 cells in 6-week-old, male athymic mice. Intraprostatic implantation of PC-3 cells resulted in paraaortic lymph node metastases in 10 of 10 (100%) mice with prostatic tumors, whereas metastases were present in only 2 of 9 (22%) mice after subcutaneous implantation. Next, we determined whether the urinary bladder (nonprostatic, urogenital microenvironment) or stomach (nonurogenital, intraabdominal microenvironment) would facilitate the metastasis of PC-3 cells in athymic mice. Tumorigenesis and metastasis were 100% after subserosal implantation of PC-3 cells within the wall of the urinary bladder (n = 6 mice). Subserosal implantation of PC-3 cells into the stomach wall (n = 7 mice) also resulted in tumor formation and metastasis to regional lymph nodes in 100% of mice. In all experiments, regional lymph nodes were the most frequent site of metastasis, regardless of implantation site. We conclude that tumor microenvironment factors responsible for the metastasis of PC-3 cells in athymic mice may not be organ-specific, since nonprostatic visceral microenvironments are sufficient for predictable metastasis. Use of these models may further our understanding of how tumor microenvironment modulates expression of the metastatic phenotype by human prostate carcinoma cells.
Performance characteristics of measurement instruments of epistemic curiosity in third-year medical students

Epistemic curiosity is theorized to underlie the adoption of learning goals, studying strategies, and skill development critical to becoming a successful physician. However, there is relatively little research regarding the measurement of epistemic curiosity in medical learners. We administered the I- and D-type curiosity and Need For Cognition (NFC) scales to assess individual differences in epistemic curiosity, and the Study Processes Questionnaire to measure tendencies to employ “Deep” or “Surface” learning goals and strategies to 90 third-year medical students in academic years 2010 and 2011. The performance characteristics of these instruments were characterized, and path analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between these instruments. Individual differences in I- and D-type curiosity were positively associated with tendencies to set goals and use strategies aimed at developing a deeper understanding of knowledge. NFC was negatively associated with goals and strategies that involved seeking only a surface understanding of new information. Our results demonstrate that in a population of medical learners, I- and D-type curiosity scale scores significantly predict seeking a deeper understanding of new information, while NFC scale scores may be better considered as a marker of avoiding superficial study processes but not necessarily engaging in deeper approaches.