cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cosmopolitanism and the De-colonial Option

What are the differences between cosmopolitanism and globalization? Are they “natural” historical processes or are they designed for specific purposes? Was Kant cosmopolitanism good for the entire population of the globe or did it respond to a particular Eurocentered view of what a cosmo-polis should be? The article argues that, while the term “globalization” in the most common usage refers and correspond to neo-liberal globalization projects and ambitions (roughly from 1980 to 2008), and the Kantian concept of “cosmopolitanism” responded to the second wave (XVIII and XIX of European global expansion), “de-colonial cosmopolitanism” refers to global processes and conceptualizations delinking from both neo-liberal globalization and liberal cosmopolitan ideals. But it delinks also from theological and Marxist visions of a homogenous world center around religious ideals or state socialist regulations. De-colonial cosmopolitanism is a cosmopolitanism of multiple trajectories aiming at a trans-modern world based on pluriversality rather than on a new and good universal for all.
The Role of Students in the Experience of Women Faculty on the Tenure Track

Women faculty disproportionately leave academia by their second or third semester and experience slow rates of tenure and promotion. What then, may cause women faculty, both White and of color, to leave early or conversely, to stay through tenure? With a critical feminist framework, this article presents qualitative research into women’s experiences at research universities from a job satisfaction and institutional fit perspective and concludes with a discussion of what might assist women faculty’s career satisfaction and eventual promotion with tenure. The 22 women who participated in this study reported working with students as highly influential. Interactions with students, both positive and negative, are a window into understanding the faculty experience.
Spin-one wave equation

In this paper a manifestly covariant wave equation for a spin one particle is given in which the wave function has six components. The thirty-six bilinear covariants are exhibited. Formulas for the threevector, four-vector, and antisymmetric tensor polarization operators are given which are valid for any spin. The connections with other spin-one formalisms are shown.
Theory of Magnetic Resonance in Nitric Oxide

The paper presents a theoretical study of the effect of a magnetic field on the lowest of the $^{2}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{\frac{3}{2}}$ levels of ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$. The molecular Zeeman effect is calculated in detail and found to yield good agreement with experiment. Consideration is given to the energy of interaction, (a), of the spin of the ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$ nucleus with the total electronic angular momentum in the external field, and (b) of the quadrupole moment of ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$ with the electric field at the ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$ nucleus. The last section contains an evaluation of the matrix elements needed in the computation of absolute intensities for the transitions within the $^{2}\ensuremath{\Pi}_{\frac{3}{2}}$ level.
Perturbation of membrane phospholipids alters the interaction between epidermal growth factor and its membrane receptors

Abstract Phospholipase C, like the tumor-promoting phorbol esters, inhibits the binding of 125I-labeled epidermal growth factor to treated mink lung and murine 3T3 cells but does not reduce the binding of insulin, multiplication stimulating activity, concanavalin A, α-2-macroglobulin, and murine leukemia virus glycoprotein, gp70, to their membrane receptors. Phospholipase C digestion decreases the affinity of the receptors for EGF without altering the total number of available receptors per cell. Certain other agents that interact with membrane phospholipids mimic the phospholipase C effect. The results suggest a role for membrane phospholipids in the epidermal growth factor—receptor interaction.
Adaptive multiparameter openings

ABSTRACT Adaptation of an opening possessing a multiparameter structuring element is studied in the context of Markov chains by treating the multiple parameters as a vector r defining the state of the system and considering the operativefilter Ar to be opening by reconstruction. Adaptation of Ar (transition of r) is in accordance to whether or not Ar conectly or incorrectly passes signal and noise grains sampled from the image. Signal and noise are modeled as unions ofrandomly parameterized and randomly translated primary grains. Transition probabilities are discussed fortwo adaptation protocols and the state-probability increment equations are deduced from the appropriate Chapman- Kolmogorov equations. Adaptation convergence is characterized by the steady-state distributions of the Markov chains and these are computed numerically. 1. INTRODUCTION Analytic derivation of optimal binary openings was first treated for a restricted model in which grains were assumedto be disjoint homothetics of some basic generating shape that also served as the opening structuring element [1]. A
Response of NADH oxidation and growth in K-562 cells to the antitumor sulfonylurea, N-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)-N′-(4-chlorophenyl)urea (LY181984)

Growth of K-562 cells in culture is inhibited by the antitumor sulfonylureaLY181984 (N-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)-N′-(4-chlorophenyl)urea) with an ED50 of about 30 μM. LY181984 was shown previously to inhibit NADH oxidation by plasma membranes from HeLa cells and other sources and to influence mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. With K-562 cells, NADH oxidation by plasma membranes was transiently stimulated and then inhibited by LY181984. NADH oxidation by whole cells was transiently stimulated and then inhibited by 0.1 to 100 μM LY181984 as well. Both the stimulations and inhibitions of activity were time-dependent. NADH oxidation by lower phase membranes depleted of plasma membranes by aqueous two-phase partition also was inhibited by micromolar and submicromolar concentrations of LY181984. Inhibition did not correlate with mitochondrial presence but rather with membranes that appeared to be fragments of the Golgi apparatus. The oxidation of NADH by whole cells and of plasma membranes that was inhibited by LY181984 was distinguished from mitochondrial NADH oxidation by resistance to inhibition by cyanide and by proceeding under oxygen-depleted conditions or an argon atmosphere. In contrast to the active antitumor agent LY181984, the inactive but chemically-related analog, LY181985 (N-(4-methylphenyl-sulfonyl)-N′-(4-phenylurea), inhibited neither growth nor NADH oxidation with K-562 cells or cell fractions.
Reversals of the earth's magnetic field: An attempt at a relaxation model

Abstract A mathematical model that might be relevant to the dynamic properties of the earth's dynamo is constructed. The model involves one mechanical variable (convection velocity at constant geometry) and two electromagnetic degrees of freedom. It represents a generalization of the Rikitake coupled dynamos. We first show that the problem involves two very different time scales, a fast MHD scale and a slow inductive scale. Using the ratio of these scales as an expansion parameter, we solve analytically the non-linear differential system which describes the dynamics of our model. We first isolate a slow motion, and we study its stability against fast MHD ocillations. For large amplitudes, we show how to construct an expansion in the drift of the fast orbit. We survey in some detail the various possible regimes. Among them, we find a typical “ratchet like” relaxation behaviour, which may perhaps explain the very sudden reversals of the earth's field. Orders of magnitude and possible generalizations are briefly sketched.
Token swap test of significance for serial medical data bases

Established tests of statistical significance are based upon the concept that observed data are drawn randomly from a larger, perhaps infinite source population. The significance value, p, is the probability that the observations are drawn from a source population satisfying the null hypothesis; if p is small enough (less than 5 percent, 1 percent, etc.), then the null hypothesis is rejected. Serial medical data bases, such as a hospital clinic intake or autopsy case accessions, often do not have an identifiable source population from which they are randomly drawn. In an effort to make a reasonable interpretation of these less-than-ideal data, this report introduces a "token swap" test of significance, in which the usual paradigm of repeated drawing from a source population is replaced by a paradigm or misclassification within the observed data themselves. The token swap test consists of rearranging the data into a balanced distribution, and determining the disparity between the observed and the balanced distribution of data. In a two-by-two contingency table, patients are represented as "tokens" distributed into four "cells." Significance is determined by the proportion of "token swaps" that are able to transform the balanced table into the observed table. The token swap test was applied to three series of autopsy observations, and gave results roughly comparable to the corresponding (two-tail) chi-square and one-tail Fisher exact tests. The token swap test of significance may be a useful alternative to classic statistical tests when the limiting assumptions of a retrospective, serial medical data base are present.
Can Convenience and Effectiveness Converge in Mobile Web? A Critique of the State-of-the-Art Adaptation Techniques for Web Navigation on Mobile Handheld Devices

Proliferation of mobile handheld devices and the significant advancement of wireless technologies and infrastructures have become a strong driving force of many mobile applications, including ubiquitous web information access through those devices. Despite the tremendous flexibility, accessibility, and convenience, rendering and navigating Web content on handheld devices suffer from significant usability problems attributable to their physical constraints, especially the small screen size, restricted interaction mechanisms, and low memory. Therefore, improving the effectiveness of web content navigation on those devices is crucial and has attracted increasing attention from both academics and industry. One of the promising solutions is adaptation, which focuses on the content restructuring, rearranging, and visualization. This article attempts to provide a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art approaches to web adaptation for mobile handheld devices. The study not only categorizes, synthesizes, and...
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase mediates the ability of retinol to decrease colorectal cancer cell invasion.

Previously, we showed that retinol (vitamin A) decreased both colorectal cancer cell invasion and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity through a retinoic acid receptor–independent mechanism. Here, we determined if these phenomena were related by using parental HCT-116 cells that harbor 1 allele of wild-type PI3K and 1 allele of constitutively active (ca) PI3K and 2 mutant HCT-116 cell lines homozygous for caPI3K. In vitro, treatment of parental HCT-116 cells with 10 μM retinol reduced cell invasion whereas treatment of mutant HCT-116 cell lines with retinol did not. Treatment with 10 μM retinol also decreased the activity of matrixmetalloproteinase-9 and increased tissue inhibitor of matrixmetalloproteinase-I levels in parental, but not mutant, HCT-116 cells. Finally, parental or mutant cells were intrasplenically injected into athymic mice consuming diets with or without supplemental vitamin A. As expected, vitamin A supplementation tended (P = 0.18) to reduce the incidence of metastases in mice...
Digital reflection-mode time-reversed ultrasonically encoded (TRUE) optical focusing

To achieve localized light delivery beyond turbid layers, TRUE optical focusing has been previously implemented by both analog and digital devices. The digital scheme offers a higher energy gain than the analog version. In many biological applications, the reflection-mode configuration, which uses backscattered light from the sample, is more suitable than the transmission-mode configuration. Although reflection-mode analog TRUE focusing has been demonstrated, its digital implementation has not been explored. Here, we report a reflection-mode digital TRUE focusing to concentrate light through a turbid layer. Further, by simply moving the ultrasound focus, we show the system's dynamic focusing capability.
Self-recognition among institutionalized profoundly retarded males: A replication

Eighteen profoundly retarded males were pretested for the ability to recognize their mirrored and photographic images. Nine subjects were then given mirror training for 10 min daily on 13 consecutive days. Posttest results indicated no improvement in recognition as measured. These findings are similar to those reported by Pechacek, Bell, Cleland, Baum, and Boyle (1973) indicating that (1) profoundly mentally retarded males rank somewhat below adolescent chimpanzees (e.g., Gallup, 1970) and orangutans (Lethmate & Ducker, cited in Gallup, Boren, Gagliardi, & Wallnau, in press) in the ability to make “self-directed” responses to their mirrored images; and (2) mirror training does not transfer to self-photograph discrimination for which comparative data are unavailable.
The Role of Technical Expertise in Firm Governance Structure: Evidence from Chief Financial Officer Contractual Incentives

We provide evidence that the presence of technical expertise in a firm’s governance structure allows the firm to reduce reliance on contractual incentives to control the potential agency problem. Specifically, we find that firms with a board finance committee, or a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who has a financial background, tend to use lower levels of incentive-based compensation for their Chief Financial Officers (CFOs). Our findings suggest financial experts provide stronger oversight and/or direction with regard to the firm’s financial policies and strategies, thereby allowing firms to reduce reliance on incentive compensation. Our study provides insight into the role of technical expertise and board committees in firm governance, and into the benefits of common functional expertise within top management teams.
Ethnic and Racial Identities of Second-Generation Black Immigrants in New York City.

This article explores the types of racial and ethnic identities adopted by a sample of 83 adolescent second-generation West Indian and Haitian Americans in New York City. The subjective understandi...
A Case Study Involving Mixture–Process Variable Experiments within a Split-Plot Structure

The authors provide a real example of a mixture–process experiment with noise variables within a split-plot structure.
2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine, an inhibitor of GTP cyclohydrolase I, suppresses nitric oxide production by chicken macrophages

Abstract Biosynthesis of nitric oxide (·NO) from L -arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) represents a major cytotoxic effector function of macrophages. It has been shown that most mammalian NOS requires tetrahydrobiopterin (BH 4 ) as a cofactor and that inhibition of BH 4 synthesis results in suppressed ·NO production. Chicken L -arginine metabolism differs from that of mammals in that chickens cannot synthesize L -arginine de novo . Therefore, it is important to examine whether chicken macrophage ·NO synthesis is also BH 4 -dependent. 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine (DAHP), a specific inhibbitor for GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTP-CH; EC 3.5.4.16), the rate-limiting enzyme in de novo pterin synthesis, was used to block synthesis of BH 4 . Both chicken peritoneal macrophages (PECs) and the avian MC29 virus-transformed macrophage cell line, HD11, exhibited a dose-dependent reduction in ·NO production (mearused as nitrite accumulation) relative to DAHP concentration. Authentic BH 4 and a substrate for pterin salvage pathway of BH 4 synthesis, sepiapterin, were both capable of restoring the production of ·NO in DAHP-treated PECs and HD11 macrophages. These results suggest that chicken macrophages require active synthesis of BH 4 to produce ·NO and that chemicals interfering with BH 4 synthesis may result in ssuppressed ·NO productionn and, hence, ·NO-mediated immune function.
Recombineering mycobacteria and their phages

Bacteriophages are central components in the development of molecular tools for microbial genetics. Mycobacteriophages have proven to be a rich resource for tuberculosis genetics, and the recent development of a mycobacterial recombineering system based on mycobacteriophage Che9c-encoded proteins offers new approaches to mycobacterial mutagenesis. Expression of the phage exonuclease and recombinase substantially enhances recombination frequencies in both fast- and slow-growing mycobacteria, thereby facilitating construction of both gene knockout and point mutants; it also provides a simple and efficient method for constructing mycobacteriophage mutants. Exploitation of host-specific phages thus provides a general strategy for recombineering and mutagenesis in genetically naive systems.
Qualitative to Quantitative and Spectrum to Report: An Instrument-Focused Research Methods Course for First-Year Students

Our Introduction to Research Methods course is a first-year majors course built around the idea of helping students learn to work like chemists, write like chemists, and think like chemists. We have developed this course as a hybrid hands-on/lecture experience built around instrumentation use and report preparation. We take the product from one of our general chemistry laboratories, the synthesis of aspirin, which is characterized qualitatively (FeCl3, FT-IR) in the laboratory sequence and we characterize it quantitatively (1H and 13C NMR, GC–MS) as part of the majors course. We want to give the students the opportunity to generate as much data from their aspirin sample as we possibly can, since the data and the spectra allow students to begin to think like chemists and use the methods by which we “see” (visualize and study) molecules. Students prepare an ACS-style laboratory report detailing the synthesis and spectroscopic analysis of aspirin. The laboratory report is prepared in stages, where each proce...
Native Americans water rights in the water scarce Western United States, its causes, consequences and probable solutions

The governmental body charged with defining the Indian water rights may be Congress, the courts, or a Federal agency. Regardless which body assumes this responsibility, resolution of particular disputes between private users and Indian reservations must be made against a background of a larger political battle between the states, the Federal Government, Indian tribes, and private enterpreneurs for control over W waters. The Federal-State concerns are supplemented by Indian fears of unfair treatment at the state level and of failure by the Federal Government to meet its fiduciary obligations to the tribes. As a first step in resolving the Indian water dilemma, the nature of the contending interests and the institutional possibilities calls for the Federal courts to protect Indian interests and to reduce uncertainty through definition of the scope of Indian reserved water rights.
Automated Control Logic for Naturally Ventilated Agricultural Structures

An innovative control strategy for a naturally ventilated (NV) swine finishing building was evaluated. Extensive monitoring of an existing NV-controlled swine finishing building indicated that the building temperature control was .3.C of set-point for less than 50% of the time, with 20% of the time greater than .6.C. Based on the experience gained from this monitoring, the building was modified to accommodate testing and development of a new NV control logic. Using the improved NV control logic, the building temperature was .2.C of the set-point for 91% of the time, and, .3.C for 97% of the time for a wide range of cold and mild weather conditions with no supplemental heater use. A routine using inside relative humidity feedback was used to preserve indoor air quality levels through a series of purging routines.
Cross-validation of the YMCA submaximal cycle ergometer test to predict VO2max.

Abstract Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is an important indicator of health-risk status, specifically for coronary heart disease (Blair et al., 1989). Direct measurement of VO2max is considered to be the most accurate means of determining cardiovascular fitness level. Typically, this measurement is taken using a progressive exercise test on a treadmill or cycle ergometer. Unfortunately, this test is costly and time consuming and requires a well equipped laboratory, highly trained personnel, and for some populations medical supervision. Therefore, submaximal exercise test protocols that predict VO2max have been developed (Astrand & Rhyming, 1954; Fitchett, 1985). These tests require less equipment, time and are easily administered without highly skilled personnel.
Iodoamino acid distribution in thyroglobulin iodinated in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract The amount and the distribution of the iodoamino acids in thyroglobulin iodinated in vivo were compared to those obtained by iodination in vitro . Normal bovine thyroglobulin (54 atoms I per molecule) and virtually iodine-free human goiter thyroglobulin (0.5 atom I per molecule) were iodinated with 100 and 200 moles 131 I 2 per molecule thyroglobulin at pH 9.0 and at pH 7.2, and then hydrolyzed with pronase. The distribution of the radioactivity among the various iodoamino acids, including 3,3′,5′-triiodothyronine, 3′,5′-diiodothyronine, and monoiodohistidine, in the pronase digest was determined by cation exchange chromatography and thin-layer chromatography. Native rat thyroglobulin, iodinated in vivo by equilibrium labeling, was analyzed in the same way. In equilibrium-labeled native thyroglobulin small amounts of 3,3′,5′-triiodothyronine, 3,3′- and 3′,5′-diiodothyronine, and monoiodohistidine were present in addition to mono- and diiodotyrosine, 3,3′,5-triiodothyronine, and thyroxine. In thyroglobulin which had been iodinated in vitro , considerably smaller amounts of the thyroid hormones thyroxine and 3,3′,5-triiodothyronine were present and the biologically inactive iodothyronines (3,3′,5′-triiodothyronine and 3′,5′-diiodothyronine) formed a proportionately higher percentage of the total iodothyronines. No labeled 3,3′-diiodothyronine could be detected in thyroglobulin iodinated in vitro . Monoiodohistidine, present in native thyroglobulin only in minute amounts, was found in considerably larger amounts after iodination in vitro . Thyroglobulin iodinated in vitro is less extensively hydrolyzed by pronase than native thyroglobulin which suggests structural differences between the two types of thyroglobulin. Although the various differences between thyroglobulin iodinated in vivo and in vitro may be partly due to species differences, they seem to arise mainly from differences in the mechanism of the two types of iodination.
Jak3 negatively regulates dendritic-cell cytokine production and survival.

Cytokines are critical in regulating the development and function of diverse cells. Janus kinase 3 (Jak3) is a tyrosine kinase expressed in hematopoietic cells that associates with the common gamma chain (γc) and is required for signaling for a family of cytokines including interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21; deficiency of either Jak3 or γc results in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). While Jak3 is essential for lymphoid-cell development, the potential roles for Jak3 in regulating dendritic cells (DCs) were unclear. Herein, we show that although CD8+CD11c+ splenic DCs are absent in Jak3-/- mice, bone marrow–derived DCs developed normally in vitro from Jak3-/- precursor cells. In fact, the survival of Jak3-/- DCs was enhanced, and they expressed lower levels of proapoptotic proteins. Jak3-/- DCs exhibited normal antigen uptake and up-regulation of costimulatory molecules. However, Jak3-/- DCs produced more IL-12 and IL-10 in response to Toll-like receptor ligands, which correlated with enhanced T helper 1 (Th1) differentiation in vivo. In summary, Jak3 is not essential for DC development but unexpectedly appears to be an important negative regulator. These results may be relevant clinically for patients with SCID who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and for patients who might be treated with a Jak3 inhibitor.
Compliance and Enforcement: Air Pollution Regulation in the U.S. Steel Industry

Abstract We use data on individual steel plants to study the relationship between regulators' enforcement of air pollution regulations and firms' compliance decisions. We find the expected interactions between the decisions: at the plant level, greater enforcement leads to greater compliance, while greater compliance leads to less enforcement. We also test whether differences in firms' characteristics affect either compliance or enforcement decisions at the plant level, holding plant characteristics constant, and find that they seem to matter more for enforcement than for compliance.
Oxidative Lime Pretreatment of Alamo Switchgrass

Previous studies have shown that oxidative lime pretreatment is an effective delignification method that improves the enzymatic digestibility of many biomass feedstocks. The purpose of this work is to determine the recommended oxidative lime pretreatment conditions (reaction temperature, time, pressure, and lime loading) for Alamo switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Enzymatic hydrolysis of glucan and xylan was used to determine the performance of the 52 studied pretreatment conditions. The recommended condition (110°C, 6.89 bar O2, 240 min, 0.248 g Ca(OH)2/g biomass) achieved glucan and xylan overall yields (grams of sugar hydrolyzed/100 g sugar in raw biomass, 15 filter paper units (FPU)/g raw glucan) of 85.9 and 52.2, respectively. In addition, some glucan oligomers (2.6 g glucan recovered/100 g glucan in raw biomass) and significant levels of xylan oligomers (26.0 g xylan recovered/100 g xylan in raw biomass) were recovered from the pretreatment liquor. Combining a decrystallization technique (ball milling) with oxidative lime pretreatment further improved the overall glucan yield to 90.0 (7 FPU/g raw glucan).
A "PLANAR" REPRESENTATION FOR GENERALIZED TRANSITION KERNELS

In [9], Mauldin, Preiss and von Weizsacker have given a theorem representing transition kernels (atomless and between standard Borel spaces) by a planar model. Here, motivated by measure-theoretic as well as probabilistic considerations, we generalize by allowing the parametrizing spaceX to be arbitrary, with an arbitrary σ-field of “Borel” subsets, and allowing the corresponding measures to have atoms. (We also, for convenience rather than generality, allow arbitrary finite measures rather than probability ones.) The transition kernel is replaced by a substantially equivalent one fromX toX ×I that is “sectioned”, hence completely orthogonal. This is shown to be isomorphic to a model in which the image space consists of 3 specifically defined subsets ofX × ℝ: an ordinate set (in which vertical sections have Lebesgue measure), an “atomic” set contained inX × (−ℕ), and a “singular” set with null sections. The method incidentally produces and exploits a “reverse” transition kernel fromX toX ×I. Some further extensions are briefly discussed; in particular, allowing “uniformly σ-finite” measures (in the “standard” case) leads to a generalization that includes the planar representation theorem of Rokhlin [10] and the author [5]; cf. also [7, 2].
The accuracy of protein synthesis in reticulocyte and HeLa cell lysates

Abstract The accuracy of translation in protein synthesis is measured as the rate of misincorporation of a particular amino acid, different from that specified by an mRNA codon, into protein. The cowpea variant of tobacco mosaic virus, CcTMV, contains no cysteine or methionine in its coat protein. Translation in vitro of purified CcTMV coat protein mRNA by rabbit reticulocyte and HeLa cell lysates has been performed. The coat protein product was purified by immunoprecipitation with specific antisera, and separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The error rate was measured by comparing the incorporation of [35S]cysteine with incorporation of [3H]leucine, and the total CcTMV coat protein synthesized was calculated from its known leucine content. An error rate of (1−2)·10−3 cysteines/CcTMV coat protein was obtained with reticulocyte lysates. If errors were cysteine incorporation in place of arginine, this number is converted to 3·10−4 cysteine/codon. If cysteine was incorporated anywhere in the polypeptide, the rate is 9·10−6 cysteines/amino acid. The error frequencies with HeLa cell lysates were 6-fold higher. Paromomycin, a eukaryotic misreading antibiotic, increased error rates 10-fold in both lysates. These data compare well with in vivo measurements and suggest that some transformed cells may survive with higher mistranslation rates.
Contribution of electric fields and active species in nanosecond pulsed DBD plasma treatment for stimulation of murine mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 cells

High dose non-thermal nanosecond pulsed dielectric barrier discharge (nspDBD) plasma treatment of mammalian cells can result in cell death. Alternatively, low dose DBD can stimulate cellular proliferation and differentiation [1, 2]. While these results highlight the great potential of this technology, the ability to tailor nspDBD treatments to achieve an effective and predictable cellular response would be a great advancement for the field of Plasma Medicine. With this goal in mind, we have attempted to separate the individual components of nspDBD plasma (electric field, radiation, charged and neutral species) and measure cellular response to each. First, to determine the correct treatment range, we investigated the effect of nspDBD plasma on cell death using the murine mesenchymal cell line C3H10T1/2. nspDBD plasma was applied to the cells and viability was evaluated one hour after treatment using the fluorescent indicator, propidium iodide (membrane permeable in dead cells). In subsequent experiments, each plasma component was selectively removed and cell viability was measured. Electric field was measured by submersing the electrode in cell media to eliminate the formation of plasma. To evaluate the effects of charged and neutral species, a grounded copper grid was inserted between the high voltage electrode and the cells. Results showed no statistical difference in cell viability between control (live untreated) cells and cells subjected to electric field alone. However, when the effect of charged and neutral species were evaluated, a significant increase in cell death was present at one hour post-treatment. These results suggest electric field is not the major contributor to cell death during nspDBD treatment and that charges and short-lived neutral species play a greater role. On-going experiments includes measuring intracellular reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in addition to cell death and the effects of radiation. This study will advance our understanding of plasma-cell interaction and lead to the development of a tunable plasma device to direct cells toward specific, predictable processes.
New Stepped-Impedance Parallel-Coupled Line (PCL) Filters for Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) Applications

A new class of stepped-impedance parallel-coupled line filters is presented. The filters are compact, suitable for ultra-wide band frequency applications and exhibit broad upper stopband frequency characteristics. Several UWB filters were implemented at 1 and 3 GHz each demonstrating a measured fractional bandwidth of over 111% and each exhibiting a first spurious passband located at five times the fundamental passband center frequency. Furthermore a 6.85 GHz filter was fabricated and showed excellent electrical performance.
The deciduous premolars of Mammut americanum (Mammalia, Proboscidea)

Deciduous premolars of Mammut americanum have received relatively little study, and previous work was based on small sample sizes. We present morphologic descriptions and quantitative data for a sample of over 135 deciduous premolars of M. americanum from Florida. Most second and third deciduous premolars are bilophodont, although a few anomalous teeth deviate from this pattern to a varying degree. Although the premolars are morphologically similar to the adult molars in many respects, differences in development of cingula, orientation of lophs and lophids, and relative strengths of enamel crests are observed. Distal cingula and stylar cusps are the most variable portions of the crown. Crown length increases distally along the tooth row, with no observed overlap in length between adjacent teeth.
Secure data communication in mobile ad hoc networks

We address the problem of secure and fault-tolerant communication in the presence of adversaries across a multihop wireless network with frequently changing topology. To effectively cope with arbitrary malicious disruption of data transmissions, we propose and evaluate the secure message transmission (SMT) protocol and its alternative, the secure single-path (SSP) protocol. Among the salient features of SMT and SSP is their ability to operate solely in an end-to-end manner and without restrictive assumptions on the network trust and security associations. As a result, the protocols are applicable to a wide range of network architectures. We demonstrate that highly reliable communication can be sustained with small delay and small delay variability, even when a substantial portion of the network nodes systematically or intermittently disrupt communication. SMT and SSP robustly detect transmission failures and continuously configure their operation to avoid and tolerate data loss, and to ensure the availability of communication. This is achieved at the expense of moderate transmission and routing overhead, which can be traded off for delay. Overall, the ability of the protocols to mitigate both malicious and benign faults allows fast and reliable data transport even in highly adverse network environments.
Molecular biomarker development for anti-EGFR therapy: moving beyond EGFR expression.

K-ras had a significantly prolonged median PFS of 12.3 weeks of panitumumab compared with 7.3 weeks of BSC. This study provides further evidence that patients with mutant K-ras derive no clinical benefit from panitumumab therapy. Tejpar et al 3 investigated the potential role of expression of the key growth factor ligands amphiregulin and epiregulin and K-ras mutation status in patients treated with cetuximab therapy. As observed with panitumumab, they observed that patients with tumors expressing mutant K-ras derived no benefit from cetuximab treatment. However, patients with tumors expressing wild-type K-ras and increased levels of amphiregulin and epiregulin showed significantly higher PFS and median overall survival compared with those with wild-type K-ras and below-median levels of the growth factor ligands. This study suggests that expression of growth factor ligands might represent an additional discriminating factor to K-ras status in determining clinical outcome to antibody therapy. There is now growing evidence to suggest that the presence of mutant K-ras is a reliable predictor for resistance to panitumumab
Better Wireless LAN Coverage through Ventilation Duct Antenna Systems

This work presents fair comparisons of a ventilation duct based antenna system to a conventional wireless LAN access point installation, both inside and in areas around the outside of a building. We present comparisons of 3 different access point locations using signal strength measurements at nearly 100 different locations in the building for each location. We also present signal strength measurement comparisons as a user gets further and further away from the building outdoors. Lastly, we use this data to show that ventilation duct antenna systems can provide better signal strength inside a building resulting in improved user experience and in reduced system installation and life-cycle cost.
Single Miller capacitor compensated multistage amplifiers for large capacitive load applications

This work presents two compensation techniques for low-voltage three-stage amplifiers driving large capacitive loads: single Miller capacitor compensation (SMC) and single Miller capacitor feedforward compensation (SMFFC). They are implemented in amplifiers fabricated in standard 0.5 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. The use of a single Miller compensation capacitor in three stage amplifiers is explored. The small compensation capacitors used in the proposed topologies enhance the bandwidth and significantly reduce the silicon area. Feedforward paths are properly used to improve the stability of the amplifiers. Experimental results show that the SMC and SMFFC amplifiers achieve gain-bandwidth products of 4.6 MHz and 9 MHz, respectively, when driving a load of 250 /spl Omega//120 pF. Each amplifier operates from a /spl plusmn/1 V supply, dissipates less than 0.42mW of power and occupies less than 0.02 mm/sup 2/ of silicon area.
Genomewide Analysis Reveals Novel Pathways Affecting Endoplasmic Reticulum Homeostasis, Protein Modification and Quality Control

To gain new mechanistic insight into ER homeostasis and the biogenesis of secretory proteins, we screened a genomewide collection of yeast mutants for defective intracellular retention of the ER chaperone, Kar2p. We identified 87 Kar2p-secreting strains, including a number of known components in secretory protein modification and sorting. Further characterization of the 73 nonessential Kar2p retention mutants revealed roles for a number of novel gene products in protein glycosylation, GPI-anchor attachment, ER quality control, and retrieval of escaped ER residents. A subset of these mutants, required for ER retrieval, included the GET complex and two novel proteins that likely function similarly in membrane insertion of tail-anchored proteins. Finally, the variant histone, Htz1p, and its acetylation state seem to play an important role in maintaining ER retrieval pathways, suggesting a surprising link between chromatin remodeling and ER homeostasis.
Proliferating oligodendrocytes are present in both active and chronic inactive multiple sclerosis plaques.

The proliferation marker Ki-67 labels cell nuclei in the G(1), S, M, and G(2) phases of the cell cycle. We used Ki-67 immunohistochemistry to quantify proliferating glial cells in brain tissue sections from twenty-four patients, comprised of multiple sclerosis, normal brains, and other neurological disease controls. Glial proliferation was greatly increased in MS lesions when compared with control brain white matter. Both actively demyelinating/early remyelinating plaques and chronic inactive plaques of long standing often displayed large numbers of glial cells in the proliferative cycle. The bulk of these proliferating cells were of oligodendroglial lineage in the MS plaques. Ki-67 positive macrophage/microglial lineage cells were largely restricted to acute lesions. The finding of increased numbers of proliferating oligodendroglia in most MS plaques, regardless of disease duration or activity state, indicates that the MS brain is capable of recruiting unexpectedly large numbers of new oligodendrocytes over long periods of time. The factors within the MS plaque microenvironment that provoke new oligodendrocyte generation and their subsequent loss still need to be identified.
An Rb-Skp2-p27 Pathway Mediates Acute Cell Cycle Inhibition by Rb and Is Retained in a Partial-Penetrance Rb Mutant

It is believed that Rb blocks G1-S transition by inhibiting expression of E2F regulated genes. Here, we report that the effects of E2F repression lag behind the onset of G1 cell cycle arrest in timed Rb reexpression experiments. In comparison, kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 protein accumulates with a faster kinetics. Conversely, Rb knockout leads to faster p27 degradation. Rb interacts with the N terminus of Skp2, interferes with Skp2-p27 interaction, and inhibits ubiquitination of p27. Disruption of p27 function or expression of the Skp2 N terminus prevents Rb from causing G1 arrest. A full-penetrance, inactive Rb mutant fails to interfere with Skp2-p27 interaction but, interestingly, a partial-penetrance Rb mutant that is defective for E2F binding retains full activity in inhibiting Skp2-p27 interaction and can induce G1 cell cycle arrest with wild-type kinetics. These results identify an Rb-Skp2-p27 pathway in Rb function, which may be involved in inhibition of tumor progression.
Characteristics of chemokine signatures elicited by EGF and TNF in ovarian cancer cells

Ovarian cancer, an inflammation-associated cancer, is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women. The malignancy produces a large amount of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) which promotes a proinflammatory tumor microenvironment. In addition, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is frequently overexpressed in high-grade ovarian cancer, which likely aggravates cancer progression. Since ovarian cancer progression is closely associated with chemokine networks driven by inflammation or EGFR activation, we investigated the chemokine signatures elicited by EGF and TNF in ovarian cancer cells to determine their individual profiles and if there was in fact some kind of synergy between their actions on the chemokine network. We used a PCR array for the chemokine network to examine the signature of chemokines and their receptors elicited by EGF and TNF in four ovarian cancer cell lines (OVCAR-3, SKOV-3, CaOV-3 and TOV-21G). The chemokine network revealed that ovarian cancer cells commonly expressed high levels of proinflammatory chemokines such as CCL20, CXCL1-3 and CXCL8 in response to EGF or TNF. However, the responsiveness to EGF or TNF displayed a cell line specific pattern. Although OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 cells were responsive to either EGF or TNF, their TNF responsiveness was dominant. On the other hand, CaOV-3 and TOV-21G cells were responsive to EGF but less to TNF, probably due to the high levels of non-canonical nuclear factor (NF)-κB components such as IKKα and p52 in these cell lines compared to OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 cells. Among chemokine receptors, only CXCR5 was responsive to EGF or TNF in CaOV-3 cells. Finally, CCL20 and CXCL8 responded synergistically in response to EGF and TNF in OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 cells. Our results indicate that CCL20, CXCL1-3 and CXCL8 are the primary chemokines induced by EGF or TNF and are elicited in these ovarian cancer cells via NF-κB, Akt and Erk signaling pathways. Of interest, there was a syngergistic response in terms of CCL20 and CXCL8 levels, when OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 cells were exposed to EGF plus TNF. Targeting these proinflammatory chemokines may be a promising therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer with abundant TNF and EGFR activation patterns.
Socioeconomic status and age at menarche: an examination of multiple indicators in an ethnically diverse cohort.

Purpose Ethnic disparities exist in US girls' ages at menarche. Overweight and low socioeconomic status (SES) may contribute to these disparities but past research has been equivocal. We sought to determine which SES indicators were associated uniquely with menarche, for which ethnic groups, and whether associations operated through overweight.
Applications of Ray‐Tracing to Observations of Mountain‐Associated Infrasonic Waves

Summary Previous studies have identified a class of infrasonic waves characterized by periods ranging from 10 to 100 seconds, horizontal trace velocities across the detecting array at acoustic velocities or greater, and zero to peak amplitudes from 0.5 to 7 dyne cmm2. These signals triangulate principally in mountainous regions and have thus been termed mountain-associated waves. In this paper, the effects of propagation conditions on the observed characteristics are examined using a ray-tracing technique implemented on a hybrid computer. It is shown that the observed seasonal variation in occurrence of these waves follows from the conditions along the propagation path-primarily winds-and therefore may not be indicative of variations in the actual generating mechanism.
RFID Keeper: An RFID Data Access Control Mechanism

Access control for RFID tags is challenging due to the limited computational and energy capability of RFID tags. To solve this problem, we propose RFID Keeper - an RFID data access control mechanism based on RFID media access control protocols. RFID Keeper is designed to detect and counter unauthorized accesses to RFID tags.
Hawaii Under Martial Law

While the story of martial law in Hawaii is of particular interest to the student of civil rights, it merits the attention of all citizens of the United States. Martial law was declared in the Territory of Hawaii immediately after the attack upon Pearl Harbor, and it continues in effect today. Since December 7, 1941, the citizens of this territory have lived under the rule of the Military Governor and his assistants and, while cognizant the war effort is paramount, they have not refused to criticize this rigid control.' Although the use of martial law in Hawaii is one of a gradual lessening of severity and a corresponding restoration of the civil order, martial law still remains in force. As the result of a visit to Washington of certain territorial officials 2 urging the restoration of the civil order, an announcement was made on January 20, 1943, that, while martial law would remain in effect, additional functions would be returned to the civil authorities as the military situation improved. The proclamation, therefore, on February 8, 1943, of an extensive modification of the use of martial law, effective March 10, 1943, was received with gratification although many had hoped for a declaration that its use was at an end.' By this proclamation eighteen functions of government have been transferred to the proper civil authority. With respect to other functions of government martial law still is in effect, and the privileges of the writ of habeas corpus remains suspended. The following account shows
Toward a broader view of security protocols

Computer and network security researchers usually focus on the security of computers and networks. Although it might seem as if there is more than enough insecurity here to keep all of us fully occupied for the foreseeable future, this narrow view of our domain may actually be contributing to the very problems that we are trying to solve. We miss important insights from, and opportunities to make contributions to, a larger world that has been grappling with security since long before the computer was invented.
Uncovering the Stoichiometry of Pyrococcus furiosus RNase P, a Multi-Subunit Catalytic Ribonucleoprotein Complex, by Surface-Induced Dissociation and Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry†

We demonstrate that surface-induced dissociation (SID) coupled with ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS) is a powerful tool for determining the stoichiometry of a multi-subunit ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex assembled in a solution containing Mg2+. We investigated Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu) RNase P, an archaeal RNP that catalyzes tRNA 5′ maturation. Previous step-wise, Mg2+-dependent reconstitutions of Pfu RNase P with its catalytic RNA subunit and two interacting protein cofactor pairs (RPP21⋅RPP29 and POP5⋅RPP30) revealed functional RNP intermediates en route to the RNase P enzyme, but provided no information on subunit stoichiometry. Our native MS studies with the proteins showed RPP21⋅RPP29 and (POP5⋅RPP30)2 complexes, but indicated a 1:1 composition for all subunits when either one or both protein complexes bind the cognate RNA. These results highlight the utility of SID and IM-MS in resolving conformational heterogeneity and yielding insights on RNP assembly.