cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CCAAT/Enhancer-Binding Protein-α Suppresses Lung Tumor Development in Mice through the p38α MAP Kinase Pathway

The transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) is a basic leucine zipper transcription factor and is expressed in alveolar type II cells, alveolar macrophages and Clara cells in the lung. Although decrease or absence of C/EBPα expression in human non-small cell lung cancer suggests a possible role of C/EBPα as a lung tumor suppressor, there is no direct proof for this hypothesis. In this study, we investigated, for the first time, the role of C/EBPα in lung tumors in vivo using transgenic mice with lung epithelial specific conditional deletion of Cebpa (CebpαΔ/Δ mice) and a urethane-induced lung tumor model. C/EBPα expression in the lung was dispensable, and its deletion was not oncogenic under unstressed conditions. However, at 28 wk after urethane injection, the number and size of tumors and the tumor burden were significantly higher in CebpαΔ/Δ mice than in littermate control mice. Urethane-injected CebpαΔ/Δ mice showed highly proliferative adenomas and adenocarcinomas in the lung, and survival time after urethane-injection was significantly shorter than that in control mice. In control mice, C/EBPα was strongly induced in the tumor tissues at 28 weeks after urethane-injection, but became weakened or absent as tumors progressed after long-term observation for over 1 year. Using intraperitoneal injection of p38 inhibitor (SB203580), we demonstrated that the induction of C/EBPα is strongly regulated by the p38 MAP kinase in murine alveolar epithelial cells. A high correlation was demonstrated between the expression of C/EBPα and p38α MAP kinase in tumor cells, suggesting that C/EBPα silencing in tumor cells is caused by down-regulation of p38α MAP kinase. In conclusion, the role of C/EBPα as a lung tumor suppressor was demonstrated for the first time in the present study, and the extinguished C/EBPα expression through p38α inactivation leads tumor promotion and progression.
ITC 2006 panels

The International Test Conference technical program has long included panel sessions that provide an informal, entertaining opportunity for ITC audiences to engage in discussion and debates with industry and research experts on a wide range of subjects. This tradition continued in a new venue in 2006 with an intriguing slate of panel sessions. In this column, the ITC 2006 panel organizers capture the deliberations and results from their respective panels for D&T readers who may not have had the opportunity to attend the conference or perhaps attended different, parallel panel discussions.
Maintenance of acrylic teeth with decalcified allogeneic bone implanted into fresh extraction sites in monkeys and dogs.

Abstract Sixty-five acrylic resin tooth implants were placed in fresh extraction sockets in six monkeys and sevev dogs. Twenty-one of these implants were surrounded with decalcified allogeneic bone matrix. Clinical, radiologic, fluorescent, and histologic studies indicated that, with the use of DABM grafts, the plastic tooth implants were maintained firm within the experimental period of 22 weeks.
Choice of Passive Voice is Affected by Verb Type and Animacy

Abstract In four experiments, subjects were presented with two nouns and a verb and asked to construct a sentence. The primary manipulation was whether the verb was "normal" (agent-theme or experiencer-theme, such as AVOIDED) or theme-experiencer (e.g., CHALLENGED), and the dependent measure was the syntactic form of the sentence (and, secondarily, the time to formulate the sentence). The experiments demonstrated that passives occur more frequently with theme-experiencer verbs than with normal verbs, and passives occur more frequently when the two nouns differ in animacy rather than both being animate. In addition, passives took longer to formulate than actives. The results indicate that speakers attempt to place more prominent thematic roles (agent, experiencer) in the subject position of a sentence.
PREDICTIONS OF SPONTANEOUS FISSION HALF-LIVES FOR HEAVY NUCLEI

Swiatecki's work on correlation of spontaneous fission half lives was modified and extended to include elements beyond Z = 100. The values predicted on these bases are unexpectedly high. For example, the partial half life for Z = 106, A = 271 is predicted to be about 13 years. (auth)
The implementation of cyclic redundancy checking in the C programming language

Abstract It will be demonstrated that error detection mechanisms based on cyclic codes may be easily implemented in the C programming languages. Most error detection mechanisms, such as CRC-16 or CRC-32, are implemented using hardware facilities such as XOR gates and SHIFT registers. However, given a few simple functions, the same error detection capabilities may be implemented by high level software programming.
DATA ANALYSIS FOR SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS: APPLICATION OF A DISTRIBUTION‐FREE MULTIPLE COMPARISONS PROCEDURE

The analysis of simulation data in the evaluation of competing alternatives presents a problem for the analyst using conventional statistical techniques. The assumptions of normality and common variances generally cause difficulties since many classes of simulation experiments typically violate both of these assumptions. In addition, the analyst is usually interested in comparing competing alternatives using environments that are as close to identical as possible. In these situations, blocking is desirable and can usually be accomplished by using common random number streams. This paper discusses a distribution-free method based on Friedman's rank sums test that can be used to analyze simulation results exhibiting the above characteristics. The procedure requires only independence within treatments.
The Distribution of Current in the Four Wires of a Four-Wire Z-Pinch at 0.8-1 MA Peak Current

Summary form only given. The COBRA accelerator is a pulse generator capable of producing up to 1 MA current pulses with rise times as short as 100 ns for wire-array Z-pinch experiments. The machine is driven by two 53-kJ Marx generators, each of which feeds two pulse-forming lines. All four of the lines in parallel drive the load. The purpose of this experiment is to better understand the dynamics of an array implosion by investigating the distribution of current in a simple wire array for the duration of the current pulse. To accomplish this, the anode hardware was segmented such that each load wire in the array was designated its own return current post. Thus, with sufficient inductive and capacitive isolation, measurement of the current in each of these return current posts yields the current in each load wire. The experimental goal for timing accuracy was less than 1 ns. To accomplish this, signal cables were prepared to be as close to the same length as possible and then timed using a 20-ns pulse along with a 6-GHz oscilloscope. Current measurements were made using Rogowski coils of various types and geometries. Different versions of the segmented anode hardware were tested to find the setup that would best hold off the accumulation of plasma near the anode, and hence best maintain electrical isolation between the various segments. This hold-off time was shown to be at least 17 ns in early experiments, but has recently been improved to over 100 ns. The maximum difference in the start time of current flow in one wire relative to another (i.e., the initiation delay) is shown to range from 2 ns to 17 ns. Throughout this experiment, various diameters of both tungsten and aluminum wires were used. Results focus on the magnitude and pulse shape of current in each wire, as well as the relative timing of current initiation in each wire
Toward Social Life Networks

Computer and information scientists have been focused on cyberspace, but physical space and time are critical in many emerging societal problems. Social life networks consider these factors by returning to fundamental cybernetic principles.
DEMAND, SUPPLY AND ADJUSTMENT OF FARM LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

In this paper a disequilibrium model of the Australian rural labor market is constructed and the demand, supply, and adjustment functions estimated. The results indicate that the market for farm labor can be described by traditional neoclassical analysis and that wages are very slow to adjust to disequilibrium. The results imply that increases in farm prices will not necessarily maintain or raise farm employment. The most important determinants of farm employment are wages relative to other input prices and off-farm wages. Copyright 1986 by Blackwell Publishers Ltd/University of Adelaide and Flinders University of South Australia
Optical frequency chirp generation by swept sideband injection locking

Abstract We demonstrate a technique for generating high-speed coherent optical frequency sweeps. Swept cw phase modulated light is injected into a Fabry–Perot semiconductor laser. Through a judicious choice of the injection locking parameters the system is configured to perform frequency selective amplification of a swept single sideband. Sweep rates up to 100 MHz/ms, limited by the RF sweep source, over 1.2 GHz were observed with a peak-to-sidelobe ratio of 25 dB.
Ploidy of small individual embryo-like structures from maize anther cultures treated with chromosome doubling agents and calli derived from them

In order to determine the ploidy of individual embryo-like structures (ELSs) following chromosome doubling treatments, a method was developed to determine the DNA content (ploidy level) of nuclei from single ELSs weighing as little as 1 mg using flow cytometry. About half (53%) of the ELSs which formed during anther culture of the maize inbred line used in control medium were haploid, 27% mixoploid and 20% diploid. Gibberellic acid (GA3) increased the diploid percentage to 52% without affecting the mixoploid frequency (26%). A four day treatment with the chromosome doubling agent colchicine (50μM) increased chromosome doubling while oryzalin eliminated the diploidy and mixoploidy. When regenerable callus cultures were initiated from the ELSs none were found to be mixoploid but the haploid and diploid proportions were similar to that of the ELSs analyzed. Regenerable cultures could not be initiated from the colchicine treated ELSs, however. These studies show that with the genotype used here, GA3 and colchicine increased the amount of chromosome doubling of the ELSs while oryzalin and pronamide did not. The mixoploidy which existed in about 25% of the ELSs was never observed in calli apparently because these structures do not initiate callus or cells of only one ploidy level grew.
Market discipline and corporate efficiency: evidence from Bulgaria

In this paper we investigate the impact of an increase in market discipline on total factor productivity (TFP) growth at the level of the firm in Bulgaria during 1991-95, focusing in particular on the effect of trade liberalization, corporatization and rationalization of conglomerates, and hard budget constraints. The data support the predicted relationship between increases in market discipline and subsequent productivity growth. Our results demonstrate the need to distinguish between exporting and non-exporting enterprises in assessing the impact of trade liberalization and the importance of taking into account other relevant policy changes.
Oxygen availability limits renal NADPH-dependent superoxide production.

Renal oxygen tension is substantially lower in the medulla than in the cortex and is reduced in hypertensive rats, a model of oxidative stress. Expression of NADPH oxidase, the primary source for s...
Incidence and outcomes of Clostridium difficile-associated disease in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are at a high risk of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) given frequent hospitalizations, prolonged antibiotic usage and altered integrity of intestinal mucosa. The prevalence and trends of CDAD in HSCT patients have not been extensively studied. In this study, the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes were used to identify CDAD in HSCT patients using a nationwide inpatient sample in the United States from 2000 to 2009. The prevalence of CDAD and in-hospital mortality in HSCT were investigated and compared to those without any transplants. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify if BMT and graft versus host disease (GVHD) were independently associated with mortality in CDAD patients. Of the 344,507 HSCT discharges, 4.7 % had CDAD. This was about 5 times higher when compared to non-transplant discharges. During engraftment admission, rates of CDAD were higher in allogenic group (8.4 vs. 5.7 %, p < 0.001). In subsequent admissions, those with GVHD had higher rates of CDAD (5.7 vs. 3.2 %, p < 0.001). On adjusted analysis in patients with CDAD, during engraftment admission, allogenic group had significantly higher mortality when compared with non-transplants (OR 3.7). Notably, there was no significant difference in mortality between patients with and without CDAD during the engraftment period for the allogeneic group. In subsequent admissions, there was higher mortality in those with GVHD (OR 4.8). Though the prevalence of CDAD in non-transplant population doubled (from 0.44 % in 2000 to 0.99 % in 2008), it has remained stable in HSCT patients (from 4.8 % in 2000 to 5.6 % in 2008). HSCT and GVHD are independently associated with CDAD though its presence does not affect mortality.
Falsifying Paradigms for Cosmic Acceleration

Consistency relations between growth of structure and expansion history observables exist for any physical explanation of cosmic acceleration. We perform MCMC likelihood exploration of these relations, using future SNAP supernova and Planck CMB data to derive the expected variation in the growth and distance functions and the Hubble parameter under different classes of models for dark energy — a cosmological constant, scalar field quintessence, or a general smooth component, allowing at the same time for nonzero curvature and early dark energy. For each class we identify tight redshift-dependent predictions.
Influence of neonatal handling on blood pressure, locomotor activity, and preweanling heart rate in spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar Kyoto rats.

This experiment tested the hypothesis that increased stimulation early in development would (a) alter developmental changes in heart rate and behavioral reactivity and (b) affect the level at which blood pressure was regulated in adulthood. For this purpose, the effects of daily handling and maternal separation (3 min per day) on both behavioral and cardiovascular measures were examined in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive control Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. Prior to weaning, elevated heart rates in pups handled during the first postnatal week were most pronounced among 4-week-old prehypertensive SHR pups. Early handling affected behavior observed during openfield testing similarly in young adult rats of the SHR and WKY strains (e.g., increased locomotor activity on the first day of testing). In female rats of the WKY strain, early handling resulted in a lower baseline blood pressure; the blood pressure; the blood pressure of SHR rats was not affected by increased stimulation in infancy. Examination of longitudinal data yielded no support for a direct association between behavioral reactivity or preweaning heart rate and high blood pressure. These findings demonstrate the influence of both early environmental conditions and genetic factors on maturation within the cardiovascular system and suggest that genetic models of pathological conditions may provide a productive means of examining environmentally shaped aspects of individual differences in physiological regulation.
Metastable impurity bands: Conduction in Si1−xCox and Si1−xNix alloy films

Abstract Conductivity data for silicon-nickel and silicon-cobalt films prepared by electron beam evaporation shows a hopping conduction at metal concentrations in the range of 1 to 6 at.%. A semiconductor-to-metal transition was observed at metal concentrations of 15 at.% Co for SiCo and 13 at.% Ni for SiNi films.
The Fate of Penicillin and Penicillamine when Incubated with Contents of the Proventriculus and Duodenum of the Chick

Abstract Elam et al. (1951) reported that growth responses in chicks were obtained by injection of penicillin which had been autoclaved in aqueous solution. They obtained no response when autoclaved penicillin was fed orally. Abraham et al. (1942 (1943) found that the hydrolysis of penicillin yields among other products, the amino acid, penicillamine. Fell and Stephenson (1953) indicated that penicillamine, a degradation product of penicillin, was effective in promoting growth when injected but not when administered orally. A growth response was obtained when penicillin was either injected or fed orally. The above findings supported the supposition that differences between responses obtained by oral feeding and by injection might be due to variations in stability of the products in the contents of organs of the digestive system, particularly the proventriculus and the duodenum; and the experiment reported herein was designed to study the effects of their contents on both penicillin and penicillamine.
Microfluidic Reactors for Bioluminescence Detection

Bioluminescence detection is often achieved by using luciferase as an enzyme. When it is implemented in a microfluidic device, the enzyme must be properly mixed with luciferase assay reagents (LAR) to achieve enzymatic reactions. Two microfluidic reactors are investigated in this work for bioluminescence detection. The reactors were fabricated in poly(methylmethacrylate), PMMA, by hot embossing using a mold master with the reactor layouts made by high-precision micromilling. Reactor I device contains staggered herringbone mixers. Reactor II device has the same layout except that the mixers were replaced with smooth channels. We found that the mixing efficiency in Reactor I was 17.8 times higher than Reactor II. Theoretical analysis of the experimental results indicated that the required channel length of mixing was linearly proportional to the flow rate. A calibration curve for luciferase was obtained for both reactors. The limit of detection in Reactor I was determined to be 0.14 μg/mL of luciferase.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Crystalline electric-field effects in single-crystal HoNi2B2C.

By fitting the temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility of single-crystal Lu{sub 0.976}Ho{sub 0.024}Ni{sub 2}B{sub 2}C for applied magnetic fields parallel and perpendicular to the {ital c} axis, the crystalline electric-field (CEF) parameters {ital B}{sup {ital m}}{sub {ital n}}, and the CEF energy levels and eigenstates of Ho{sup 3+} were determined. Approximate values of the anisotropic exchange constants between the Ho{sup 3+} ions in HoNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}C were also estimated. Our CEF parameters were checked by calculating magnetization versus field isotherms and good agreement with experiment was found. The energy-level scheme shows two singlets and a doublet below 10 K and a large energy gap ({approximately}90 K) between these levels and the next excited states. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Pilot-scale production of butanol by Clostridium beijerinckii BA101 using a low-cost fermentation medium based on corn steep water

To improve the economic competitiveness of the acetone/butanol/ethanol fermentation process, glucose/corn steep water (CSW) medium was used on a pilot scale for the production of solvents. The production of butanol by the Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052 parent strain and the solvent-hyperproducing BA101 mutant was compared. In a 20-l fermentation using 5% glucose/CSW medium, C. beijerinckii 8052 produced 8.5 g butanol/l and 5 g acetone/l, while C. beijerinckii BA101 produced 16 g butanol/l and 7.5 g acetone/l. Further studies were carried out on a larger scale using an optimized 6% glucose/CSW medium. In a 200-l pilot-scale fermentor, C. beijerinckii 8052 produced 12.7 g butanol/l and 6 g acetone/l following 96 h of fermentation. C. beijerinckii BA101 produced 17.8 g/l and 5.5 g/l butanol and acetone respectively, following 130 h of fermentation. These results represent a 40% increase in final butanol concentration by the C. beijerinckii BA101 mutant strain when compared to the 8052 parent strain. The total solvents (acetone, butanol, and ethanol) produced by C. beijerinckii NCIMB 8052 and BA101 in a 200-l fermentation were 19.2 g/l and 23.6 g/l respectively. This is the first report of pilot-scale butanol production by the solvent-hyperproducing C. beijerinckii BA101 mutant employing an inexpensive glucose/CSW medium.
Growth and thermal stability of single crystal metastable semiconducting (GaSb),1−xGex films

Epitaxial metastable (GaSb)1−xGex alloys with compositions across the pseudobinary phase diagram have been grown on (100) GaAs substrates by multitarget rf sputtering. The maximum growth temperature Ts ranged from 490 to 520 °C depending on the alloy composition. An essential feature allowing the growth of these metastable materials was low energy ion bombardment of the growing film during deposition to enhance surface diffusion, promote mixing, and preferentially sputter incipient second phase precipitates. A phase map plotted as a function of Ts showed a very narrow transition region between metastable single phase alloys and equilibrium two phase structures. Annealing experiments indicated that the metastable films exhibit good high temperature stability and that they transform through a continuous series of GaSb-rich and Ge-rich phases in which the solute concentrations decrease until the equilibrium two phase alloy is obtained. While the calculated free energy difference between the single phase metastable and equilibrium states is ~ 18 MeV atom−1, the measured activation barrier for the transformation is ~ 3 eV. All films were p-type with room temperature hole concentrations varying from 1016 to 1019 cm−3 and mobilities between 10 and 720 cm2/V-s, depending on film composition.
Management of autoimmune cytopenia complicating chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Autoimmune cytopenia is an important and often serious complication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL). The most common presentations are autoimmune hemolytic anemia (...
Structure-Function Relationship of Lipoprotein Lipase-mediated Enhancement of Very Low Density Lipoprotein Binding and Catabolism by the Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor FUNCTIONAL IMPORTANCE OF A PROPERLY FOLDED SURFACE LOOP COVERING THE CATALYTIC CENTER

We examined the structure-function relationship of human lipoprotein lipase (hLPL) in its ability to enhance the binding and catabolism of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) in COS cells. Untransfected COS cells did not bind to or catabolize normal VLDL. Expression of wild-type hLPL by transient transfection enhanced binding, uptake, and degradation of the VLDL (a property of LPL that we call bridge function). Heparin pretreatment and a monoclonal antibody ID7 that blocks LDL receptor-binding domain of apoE both inhibited binding, and apoE2/E2 VLDL from a Type III hyperlipidemic subject did not bind. However, LDL did not reduce 125I-VLDL binding to the hLPL-expressing cells, whereas rabbit β-VLDL was an effective competitor. By contrast, LDL reduced uptake and degradation of 125I-VLDL to the same extent as excess unlabeled VLDL or β-VLDL. These data suggest that binding occurs by direct interaction of VLDL with LPL but the subsequent catabolism of the VLDL is mediated by the LDL receptor. Mutant hLPLs that were catalytically inactive, S132A, S132D, as well as the partially active mutant, S251T, and S172G, gave normal enhancement of VLDL binding and catabolism, whereas the partially active mutant S172D had markedly impaired capacity for the process; thus, there is no correlation between bridge function and lipolytic activity. A naturally occurring genetic variant hLPL, S447→Ter, has normal bridge function. The catalytic center of LPL is covered by a 21-amino acid loop that must be repositioned before a lipid substrate can gain access to the active site for catalysis. We studied three hLPL loop mutants (LPL-cH, an enzymatically active mutant with the loop replaced by a hepatic lipase loop; LPL-cP, an enzymatically inactive mutant with the loop replaced by a pancreatic lipase loop; and C216S/C239S, an enzymatically inactive mutant with the pair of Cys residues delimiting the loop substituted by Ser residues) and a control double Cys mutant, C418S/C438S. Two of the loop mutants (LPL-cH and LPL-cP) and the control double Cys mutant C418S/C438S gave normal enhancement of VLDL binding and catabolism, whereas the third loop mutant, C216S/C239S, was completely inactive. We conclude that although catalytic activity and the actual primary sequence of the loop of LPL are relatively unimportant (wild-type LPL loop and pancreatic lipase loops have little sequence similarity), the intact folding of the loop, flanked by disulfide bonds, must be maintained for LPL to express its bridge function.
Is Classroom Cheating Related to Business Students' Propensity to Cheat in the "Real World"?

Previous studies have reportedstudents' widely held belief that they are moreethical than businessmen. On the other hand,widespread cheating among college students hasbeen reported. This paper examines thisinconsistency between the beliefs of collegestudent regarding the need for ethical behaviorin a business setting and their actions in anacademic setting.
Polypeptides reactive with antibodies eluted from the surface of Babesia bovis-infected erythrocytes.

A technique was sought that would enable identification of surface-exposed parasite antigens on Babesia bovis-infected erythrocytes (BbIE) that are not detectable by surface-specific immunoprecipitations. Antibodies which bind to the surface of BbIE were recovered from intact cells using a low pH wash procedure. The eluted antibodies were then used in conventional immunoprecipitation assays to identify parasite-synthesized polypeptides carrying epitopes that are exposed on the surface or are cross reactive with shuch epitopes. The results of these experiments support our previous data, obtained using a surface-specific immunoprecipitation technique, in the identification of a repertoire of parasite-derived antigens on the surface of infected erythrocytes (Allred et al., 1991). In addition, two polypeptides of Mr 68,000 and 185,000 were identified wich react strongly with the eluted antibodies but wich are not detected by surface-immunoprecipitation. These data illustrate the potential of this approach for identification of parasite polypeptides wich carry epitopes exposed on, or cross-reactive with exposed epitopes of the infected erythrocyte surface.
Game-theoretic power control in DS-CDMA wireless networks with successive interference cancellation

A noncooperative game-theoretic power control framework for a wireless DS-CDMA uplink with imperfect successive interference cancellation is presented. Assuming a fixed cancellation ordering, a unique Nash equilibrium corresponding to the centralised solution is shown to exist, and simulation reveals significant utility improvement compared to traditional matched filter detection.
Accumulation of Intracellular Amyloid-β Peptide (Aβ 1–40) in Mucopolysaccharidosis Brains

To evaluate whether in vivo accumulations of heparan sulfate caused by inborn errors in the metabolism of glycosaminoglycans lead to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and/or senile plaques, as seen in Alzheimer disease (AD), we studied postmortem brains from 9 patients, ages 1 to 42 years, with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS). The brains of patients with Hurler's syndrome (MPS I: n = 5) and Sanfilippo's syndrome (MPS III; n = 4) as well as from caprine MPS IIID and murine MPS VII models were evaluated by thioflavine-S staining and by immunohistochemistry using antibodies directed against heparan sulfate proteoglycans, hyperphosphorylated tau, amyloid-beta peptide precursor proteins (APP), and amyloid-beta peptides (A beta [1-40], and A beta [1-42]). A two-site sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was also utilized to compare levels of total soluble and insoluble A beta (1-40) and A beta (1-42) obtained from temporal cortex of MPS patients. Although no neurofibrillary tangles, senile plaques, or tau-positive lesions were detected in any of the MPS brains studied here, antibodies directed against A beta (1-40) intensely and diffusely stained the cytoplasm of cells throughout the brains of the MPS patients and the caprine MPS model. The ELISA assay also demonstrated a significant 3-fold increase in the level of soluble A beta (1-40) in the MPS brains compared with normal control brains. Thus, at least some of the metabolic defects that lead to accumulations of glycosaminoglycans in MPS also are associated with an increase in immunoreactive A beta (1-40) within the cytoplasmic compartment where they could contribute to the dysfunction and death of affected cells in these disorders, but not induce the formation of plaques and tangles. Models of MPS may enable mechanistic studies of the role A beta and glycosaminoglycans play in the amyloidosis that is a neuropathological feature of AD.
Cardiovascular responses to an acute psychological stressor are associated with the cortisol awakening response in individuals with chronic neck pain.

Abstract Introduction Dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA-axis) is common in individuals who experience chronic psychological stress, as well as individuals with chronic pain. Changes in cortisol availability in the presence of a chronic stressor such as pain may influence the sympathetic–adrenal–medullary (SAM) system, which contributes to cardiovascular responses to stress and also exhibits altered responsiveness in the presence of pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between HPA activity during the cortisol awakening response and cardiovascular reactivity during exposure to an acute psychological stressor in individuals with chronic neck pain. Methods Area under the curve (AUC) of the salivary cortisol awakening response was assessed in 41 individuals with chronic neck pain aged 19–80 years (22 men, 23 women). Slopes representing the change in mean arterial pressure and heart rate during a baseline quiet sitting condition, a low stress condition with mental concentration, and a high stress condition combining mental concentration with social evaluative threat were calculated for each individual as an index of cardiovascular responsiveness to the acute stressor. Cardiovascular responses were regressed on cortisol awakening AUC and pain duration, adjusting for age and sex. Results Greater mean arterial pressure (β = − 0.33, p = 0.02) and heart rate responses (β = − 0.41, p = 0.007) to the acute psychological stressor were associated with lower cortisol awakening responses after adjusting for age and sex. Individuals with a shorter duration of chronic pain also demonstrated a larger increase in mean arterial pressure during the laboratory stressor (β = − 0.39, p = 0.01), but there was no relationship between pain duration and changes in heart rate (p = 0.25). Conclusions Individuals with a shorter duration of chronic neck pain who demonstrate heightened cardiovascular responsiveness to an acute psychological stressor also exhibit lower cortisol awakening response. These results are consistent with time-dependent adaptations across the two major stress systems in the presence of chronic pain.
Rank injustice?: How the scoring method for cross-country running competitions violates major social choice principles

The scoring method used by high schools and colleges in the U.S. to determine which team wins a cross-country meet can violate a major social choice principle, referred to here as Independence from Irrelevant Teams: whether team A is scored as defeating or losing to team B can depend on whether team C’s performance is included in the calculations. In addition, if a three-way meet is scored as three dual meets, the scoring method can produce a cycle, thereby violating the principle of Transitivity: team A beats team B, team B beats team C, but team C beats team A. Real-world violations of Independence and Transitivity are reported from a high school cross-country meet held in Michigan in the U.S. in 2003. Several results are presented about the conditions under which these two principles can be violated. An alternative scoring method that will violate neither Independence nor Transitivity is also discussed and evaluated.
FURSMASA: A new approach to rapid scoring functions that uses a MD‐averaged potential energy grid and a solvent‐accessible surface area term with parameters GA fit to experimental data

We demonstrate a new approach to the development of scoring functions through the formulation and parameterization of a new function, which can be used both for rapidly ranking the binding of ligands to proteins and for estimating relative aqueous molecular solubilities. The intent of this work is to introduce a new paradigm for creation of scoring functions, wherein we impose the following criteria upon the function: (1) simple; (2) intuitive; (3) requires no postparameterization tweaking; (4) can be applied (without reparameterization) to multiple target systems; and (5) can be rapidly evaluated for any potential ligand. Following these criteria, a new function, FURSMASA (function for rapid scoring using an MD-averaged grid and the accessible surface area) has been developed. Three novel features of the function include: (1) use of an MD-averaged potential energy grid for ligand–protein interactions, rather than a simple static grid; (2) inclusion of a term that depends on the change in the solvent-accessible surface area changes on an atomic (not molecular) basis; and (3) use of the recently derived predictive index (PI) target when optimizing the function, which focuses the function on its intended purpose of relative ranking. A genetic algorithm is used to optimize the function against test data sets that include ligands for the following proteins: IMPDH, p38, gyrase B, HIV-1, and TACE, as well as the Syracuse Research solubility database. We find that the function is predictive, and can simultaneously fit all the test data sets with cross-validated predictive indices ranging from 0.68 to 0.82. As a test of the ability of this function to predict binding for systems not in the training set, the resulting fitted FURSAMA function is then applied to 23 ligands of the COX-2 enzyme. Comparing the results for COX-2 against those obtained using a variety of well-known rapid scoring functions demonstrates that FURSMASA outperforms all of them in terms of the PI and correlation coefficient. We also find that the FURSAMA function is able to reliably predict the water solubility for 1032 compounds from the Syracuse Research solubility database with a cross-correlated PI of 0.84 and a correlation coefficient R2 of 0.69. This prediction, which is based solely on a term derived from the atom-based solvent-accessible surface areas, compares favorably with the best prediction methods in the literature, most of which are more complex and/or require experimental data. Finally, as a rigorous test of the applicability to database screening, we apply FURSMASA to large active/decoy ligand databases for IMPDH (400 actives vs. 10,000 decoys), p38 (502 actives vs. 10,000 decoys), and HIV (787 actives vs. 10,000 decoys) used in earlier work to critically evaluate many popular scoring functions, and find that FURSMASA performs surprisingly well for IMPDH and HIV. Proteins 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Comparative localization of cystathionine beta-synthase and cystathionine gamma-lyase in retina: differences between amphibians and mammals.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gaseous neuromodulator that can be synthesized by the transsulfuration enzymes cystathionine -synthase (CBS) and cystathionine -lyase (CGL). In this study we examined H2S as a potential neuromodulator in vertebrate retina. CBS-like immunoreactivity (LI) was found in somas in the inner nuclear layer and as punctate staining in the inner and outer plexiform layers in the salamander retina. CGL-LI was most clearly characterized in salamander, where it was localized in Muller cells. Western blots indicated proteins with the correct molecular weights for both enzymes in both species for liver and cerebellum. Correct molecular weight proteins were identified for both CGL and CBS in salamander retina. The CBS antiserum did not recognize the correct molecular weight protein in mouse retina but the CGL antiserum recognized the correct molecular weight protein for mouse retina. Enzyme assays indicated both CGL and CBS enzyme activity in all three tissues in the salamander. There was good CBS activity in the liver and cerebellum of the mouse but no activity in the retina. CGL activity was clearly present only in the mouse liver, with only trace activity in the cerebellum and retina. In conclusion, both CBS and CGL are present in the amphibian retina, which suggests either a potential role for H2 Sa s a gaseous neuromodulator in both neurons and glia in the retina or a requirement for cysteine and glutathione synthesis via the transsulfuration pathway as a defense against oxidative stress. J. Comp. Neurol. 505:158 -165, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Relationships among Internet use, personality, and social support

Abstract Competing claims have been presented in the literature regarding the impact of Internet use on social support. Some theorists have suggested that Internet use increases social interaction and support (Silverman, 1999, American Psychologist 54, 780–781), while others have argued that it leads to decreased interaction and support (Kiesler & Kraut, 1999, American Psychologist 54, 783–784). This study was designed to address this issue by examining the relationships among Internet use, personality, and perceived social support. Two-hundred and six participants completed questionnaires that assessed Internet use, personality (agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, openness), and perceived social support. Using principal components analysis, individual computer activities were combined into three primary factors: Technical, Information Exchange, and Leisure. Correlation and regression analyses revealed only a marginal relationship between computer use and social support. Similarly, only modest associations were found between personality and computer use. However, personality did moderate the relationship between computer use and social support. That is, on two occasions, high computer use coupled with high personality was associated with decreased perceived social support and on a third occasion this combination resulted in increased perceived social support. These results help to address some of the inconsistencies that have been reported in the literature.
Centrality Dependence of Two-Particle Correlations in Heavy Ion Collisions

Abstract Data from the PHOBOS detector have been used to study two-particle correlations over a broad range of pseudorapidity. A simple cluster model parameterization has been applied to inclusive two-particle correlations over a range of centrality for both Cu+Cu and Au+Au collisions at s N N = 200 GeV . Analysis of the data for Au+Au has recently been extended to more peripheral collisions showing that the previously-observed rise in cluster size with decreasing system size eventually reaches a maximum value. Model studies have been used to quantify the significant effect of limited detector acceptance on the extracted cluster parameters. In the case of Au+Au, correlations between a trigger particle with p T 2.5 GeV and inclusive associated particles have also been studied. These reveal the presence of a 'ridge' at small relative azimuthal angle which extends with roughly constant amplitude out to the largest relative pseudorapidity studied. The large phase-space coverage of the PHOBOS detector has enabled a quantitative understanding of the so-called ‘ZYAM’ parameter used in the subtraction of the contribution of elliptic flow to these triggered correlations.
Toward a Flexible Bidding Strategy with Preference Analysis

Today, the majority of solution development is completed under a fixed-price contract. Due to the inherent uncertainty of executing a project with many unpredictable factors, the solution developer bears significant risk in terms of cost, delivery time and quality. Compared to a variable-price (time-and-materials) contract, a fixed-price contract shifts most of the development risk from clients to developers. Therefore, it is important for developers to understand the level of risk inherent in a project and take the proper steps to mitigate risks. From the analysis of custom application development projects using service-oriented architecture methods, we observe that extension of the project duration utilizing a smaller development team can help to reduce the project effort (working hours) and therefore reduce the development cost. We characterize the relationship between deterioration in team performance and the increase in project team size through multivariate regression. We also provide a method to adjust the results of standard project estimation methods to take into account client-side risks. We then propose simple client and developer utility functions to quantify these trade-offs. This serves as an initial framework to identify choices that can be made during the bidding process to reduce development risks.
Composition of selected Moroccan cereals and legumes : comparison with the FAO table for use in Africa

Abstract The need for a Moroccan food composition table has long been recognized. The purpose of this study was to construct the beginning of such a table. The most consumed cereals (barley, corn, durham wheat, soft wheat, sorghum, and rice) and legumes (peas, lentils, white beans, and broad beans) in Morocco were analyzed for energy, water, protein, fat, total carbohydrates, toal ash, and 15 minerals. The samples originated from two different regions. The regions produce 33.7 and 22.5% of the total Moroccan production of cereals and legumes, respectively. The results of this study were then compared to the values of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) food composition table for use in Africa. The data show that the energy value of the Moroccan foods are higher than those reported in the FAO table. However, the protein contents of the Moroccan foods are lower than those in the FAO table, except for rice. The differences in fat and mineral contents between the Moroccan foods and those reported in the FAO table are not consistent. The contents of 15 minerals in Moroccan foods are reported, including Ca, P, and Fe, the only minerals reported in the FAO table. The comparison of the mineral content of foods from two different regions of Morocco showed some significant differences, indicating that food composition varies with the source of the sample. The data also indicate the need for more work of this type and caution is needed when extrapolating international data to a regional level. Moreover, the use of the FAO table may result in failure to consider the potential for a nutritional problem such as iron deficiency anemia.
Stereoselective NH Insertion‐Arylation Reactions of Nitrodiazoesters

Phosphoric acid derivatives operate as effective catalysts for the synthesis of glycines in high yield through multicomponent coupling reactions of nitrodiazoesters, anilines, and indoles. This interesting process requires double polarity reversal, or umpolung, of the ester functionality: two nucleophiles undergo addition to the carbon alpha to an ester. Modest control over the absolute stereochemistry of the glycine products is attainable under the influence of chiral BINOL-based phosphoric-acid-derived catalysis.
A Python Analytical Pipeline to Identify Prohormone Precursors and Predict Prohormone Cleavage Sites

Neuropeptides and hormones are signaling molecules that support cell-cell communication in the central nervous system. Experimentally characterizing neuropeptides requires significant efforts because of the complex and variable processing of prohormone precursor proteins into neuropeptides and hormones. We demonstrate the power and flexibility of the Python language to develop components of an bioinformatic analytical pipeline to identify precursors from genomic data and to predict cleavage as these precursors are en route to the final bioactive peptides. We identified 75 precursors in the rhesus genome, predicted cleavage sites using support vector machines and compared the rhesus predictions to putative assignments based on homology to human sequences. The correct classification rate of cleavage using the support vector machines was over 97% for both human and rhesus data sets. The functionality of Python has been important to develop and maintain NeuroPred (http://neuroproteomics.scs.uiuc.edu/neuropred.html), a user-centered web application for the neuroscience community that provides cleavage site prediction from a wide range of models, precision and accuracy statistics, post-translational modifications, and the molecular mass of potential peptides. The combined results illustrate the suitability of the Python language to implement an all-inclusive bioinformatics approach to predict neuropeptides that encompasses a large number of interdependent steps, from scanning genomes for precursor genes to identification of potential bioactive neuropeptides.
Rotenone, an anticarcinogen, inhibits cellular proliferation but not peroxisome proliferation in mouse liver

In previous National Toxicology Program (NTP) studies, rotenone reduced the background incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in male B6C3F1 mice. In the present studies, rotenone reduced the basal hepatic labeling index of male B6C3F1 mice in a dose-dependent fashion and inhibited hepatocellular proliferation, but not peroxisome proliferation, induced by the peroxisome proliferator Wy-14,643. These results indicate that reduction of hepatic tumors by rotenone may have been due to decreased liver cell replication, that peroxisome proliferation can be induced in the absence of hepatocellular proliferation and suggest rotenone as a potential tool in studies of relationships of cell proliferation, peroxisomal proliferation and hepatocarcinogenesis.
Preparation and some physical properties of Bi2Te3, Sb2Te3, and As2Te3

Abstract The preparation of the intermetallic compounds Bi2Te3, Sb2Te3, and As2Te2 from purified elements by several techniques is discussed. Advantages and disadvantages of the various techniques are enumerated. Electrical and thermal properties are presented as functions of temperature and impurity concentration. The variation of carrier mobility with temperature is approximately T -5 2 for AS2Te3 and Bi2Te3. An anomalous variation of Hall coefficient with temperature is observed. The thermal conductivities of the three compounds are similar. It is suggested that the compounds are necessarily heavily doped semiconductors because Group-V atoms appear on tellurium lattice sites and tellurium atoms appear on Group-V atom lattice sites.