cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Induction of monocytic differentiation by calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3) in the human promyelocytic leukemic cell line (HL-60) in serum-free medium☆

The effect of calcitriol on the induction of differentiation in human promyelocytic leukemic cell line (HL-60) cultured in serum-free chemically defined medium (SFM) was investigated. The utilization of SFM containing RPMI-1640 basal medium supplemented with insulin (5 micrograms/ml), transferrin (5 micrograms/ml), sodium selenite (5 ng/ml), and bovine serum albumin (0.5 micrograms/ml), transferrin examination of the cellular/molecular mechanism of calcitriol's action in HL-60 cell differentiation without interference of components present in serum. HL-60 cells grown in SFM were induced to differentiate into monocytes/macrophages by calcitriol as indicated by induction of differentiation-associated biological and biochemical parameters: chemiluminescent (CL) responsiveness, lysozyme activity, nonspecific esterase, expression of cell surface antigens, and reduced proliferation. The exposure of HL-60 cells in SFM to calcitriol (from 10(-10) to 10(-8)M) resulted in dose-dependent induction of these parameters, which was similar to those obtained with cells grown in 10% fetal calf serum containing medium (10% SCM). However, calcitriol was 5-fold more potent for HL-60 cells cultured in SFM than those cultured in 10% SCM as indicated by shifts in dose-response curves for induction of CL responsiveness and lysozyme activity. The effect of calcitriol on the proliferation and acquisition of several monocyte-associated cell surface antigens was also more sensitive for HL-60 cells cultured in SFM than for cells grown in 10% SCM. We characterized and quantitated calcitriol receptors in HL-60 cells cultured in SFM in comparison to those in 10% SCM after exposing intact cells to radiolabeled calcitriol. Cells cultured in either SFM or 10% SCM exhibited calcitriol receptors that migrated at 3.4S as a single peak on sucrose gradients and elicited inherent DNA binding ability. There was essentially no difference in the apparent dissociation constants (Kd) nor in the number of calcitriol binding sites per HL-60 cell, that is approximately 6.0 X 10(-11) M and approximately 3000 binding sites/cell respectively. It is concluded that culturing HL-60 cells in SFM results in full expression of calcitriol-induced phenotypic changes excluding the possibility that such changes result from the indirect effect of calcitriol mediated by identified and/or unidentified components present in serum.
Identifying functional connectivity in large-scale neural ensemble recordings: A multiscale data mining approach

Identifying functional connectivity between neuronal elements is an essential first step toward understanding how the brain orchestrates information processing at the single-cell and population levels to carry out biological computations. This letter suggests a new approach to identify functional connectivity between neuronal elements from their simultaneously recorded spike trains. In particular, we identify clusters of neurons that exhibit functional interdependency over variable spatial and temporal patterns of interaction. We represent neurons as objects in a graph and connect them using arbitrarily defined similarity measures calculated across multiple timescales. We then use a probabilistic spectral clustering algorithm to cluster the neurons in the graph by solving a minimum graph cut optimization problem. Using point process theory to model population activity, we demonstrate the robustness of the approach in tracking a broad spectrum of neuronal interaction, from synchrony to rate co-modulation, by systematically varying the length of the firing history interval and the strength of the connecting synapses that govern the discharge pattern of each neuron. We also demonstrate how activity-dependent plasticity can be tracked and quantified in multiple network topologies built to mimic distinct behavioral contexts. We compare the performance to classical approaches to illustrate the substantial gain in performance.
Sequencing by Implicit Ranking and Zero-One Polynomial Programming

Abstract A new model is formulated for sequencing n jobs on a single processor. This paper uses implicit ranking to combine three conflicting criteria in the same objective function; namely, the sequence-dependent setup cost; the inventory carrying cost; and the shortage cost. The effect of the setup time is also included. The formulation is based on the use of zero-one polynomial programming.
Thermal Analysis of Cw Laser Annealing Beyond the Melt Temperature

We present a thermal analysis which treats the problem of melting as it occurs during cw laser heating. Analytical expressions for sample temperature distributions are derived, and calculated results are compared to experimental measurements.
Special Section: The Most Critical Unresolved Issues Associated with Contemporary Vocational Rehabilitation for Substance UsersThe Critical Relationship Between Employment Services and Patient Motivation

Several interventions and service delivery models now exist to help unemployed people in treatment for substance use disorder seek gainful employment (Platt, 1995). Some of these interventions can be conveniently offered within substance user treatment settings. One of the best known examples of these interventions is job seeking skills training and support services that help patients develop resumes, complete employment applications, learn effective networking strategies, and develop and practice effective responses to common issues and questions raised during employment interviews. A wide range of more comprehensive off-site employment programs that provide intensive vocational training and rehabilitation also exist in many communities. The growing availability of on-site services in substance user treatment programs also creates the
Multiphoton microscopy and microspectroscopy for diagnostics of inflammatory and neoplastic lung

Limitations of current medical procedures for detecting early lung cancers inspire the need for new diagnostic imaging modalities for the direct microscopic visualization of lung nodules. Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) provides for subcellular resolution imaging of intrinsic fluorescence from unprocessed tissue with minimal optical attenuation and photodamage. We demonstrate that MPM detects morphological and spectral features of lung tissue and differentiates between normal, inflammatory and neoplastic lung. Ex vivo MPM imaging of intrinsic two-photon excited fluorescence was performed on mouse and canine neoplastic, inflammatory and tumor-free lung sites. Results showed that MPM detected microanatomical differences between tumor-free and neoplastic lung tissue similar to standard histopathology but without the need for tissue processing. Furthermore, inflammatory sites displayed a distinct red-shifted fluorescence compared to neoplasms in both mouse and canine lung, and adenocarcinomas displayed a less pronounced fluorescence emission in the 500 to 550 nm region compared to adenomas in mouse models of lung cancer. These spectral distinctions were also confirmed by two-photon excited fluorescence microspectroscopy. We demonstrate the feasibility of applying MPM imaging of intrinsic fluorescence for the differentiation of lung neoplasms, inflammatory and tumor-free lung, which motivates the application of multiphoton endoscopy for the in situ imaging of lung nodules.
Enhanced photodynamic efficacy towards melanoma cells by encapsulation of Pc4 in silica nanoparticles

Nanoparticles have been explored recently as an efficient means of delivering photosensitizers for cancer diagnosis and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Silicon phthalocyanine 4 (Pc4) is currently being clinically tested as a photosensitizer for PDT. Unfortunately, Pc4 aggregates in aqueous solutions, which dramatically reduces its PDT efficacy and therefore limits its clinical application. We have encapsulated Pc4 using silica nanoparticles (Pc4SNP), which not only improved the aqueous solubility, stability, and delivery of the photodynamic drug but also increased its photodynamic efficacy compared to free Pc4 molecules. Pc4SNP generated photo-induced singlet oxygen more efficiently than free Pc4 as measured by chemical probe and EPR trapping techniques. Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering measurements showed that the size of the particles is in the range of 25-30 nm. Cell viability measurements demonstrated that Pc4SNP was more phototoxic to A375 or B16-F10 melanoma cells than free Pc4. Pc4SNP photodamaged melanoma cells primarily through apoptosis. Irradiation of A375 cells in the presence of Pc4SNP resulted in a significant increase in intracellular protein-derived peroxides, suggesting a Type II (singlet oxygen) mechanism for phototoxicity. More Pc4SNP than free Pc4 was localized in the mitochondria and lysosomes. Our results show that these stable, monodispersed silica nanoparticles may be an effective new formulation for Pc4 in its preclinical and clinical studies. We expect that modifying the surface of silicon nanoparticles encapsulating the photosensitizers with antibodies specific to melanoma cells will lead to even better early diagnosis and targeted treatment of melanoma in the future.
Effect of deformation mode on the strength of deformation processed Cu-20%Nb composites

Abstract It was previously concluded that all f.c.c.-b.c.c. deformation processed composites have larger Hall-Petch slopes than layered composites (1). The present results on rolled versus wire drawn Cu-20%Nb show that the Hall-Petch slopes in deformation processed f.c.c.-b.c.c. composites depend on the mode of deformation processing and presumably the resulting filament morphology. Layered composites appear to be a good approximation to rolled deformation processed composites because of the filaments being essentially planar in both types of composites. Layered composites appear to be a poor approximation to axisymmetrically deformation processed composites because of the convoluted ribbonlike morphology of the filaments in the latter composites as compared to their planar nature in the former composites.
Stimulation-induced status epilepticus: role of the hippocampal mossy fibers in the seizures and associated neuropathology

A study of seizure activity and neuronal cell death produced by intracerebroventricular kainic acid had suggested that seizures conveyed by the hippocampal mossy fibers are more damaging to CA3 pyramidal cells than seizures conveyed by other pathways. To test this idea, the effects of a unilateral mossy fiber lesion were determined on seizure activity and neuronal degeneration provoked by repetitive electrical stimulation of the hippocampal fimbria in unanesthetized rats. Fimbrial stimulation resulted in self-sustained status epilepticus accompanied by neuronal degeneration in several brain regions, including area CA3 of the hippocampal formation. A unilateral mossy fiber lesion more readily attenuated the electrographic and behavioral seizures provoked by fimbrial stimulation than those provoked by kainic acid. If status epilepticus developed in the presence of a mossy fiber lesion, denervated CA3 pyramidal cells were still destroyed, although similar lesions protect these neurons from kainic acid-induced status epilepticus. Thus the two models of status epilepticus employ somewhat different seizure circuitries and neurodegenerative mechanisms. Seizures which involve the mossy fiber projection are not necessarily more damaging to CA3 pyramidal cells than seizures which do not.
A method of numerical solution of functional equations

Approximate solutions of some functional equations as the best approximation of the exact solutions in some suitable spaces have been obtained and some applications given.
Phase-locked multicore all-fiber lasers: modeling and experimental investigation

A systematic study on a compact, novel phase-locked multicore fiber laser device that is based on a truly all-fiber approach is presented. Supermode selection inside this monolithic fiber device is numerically analyzed, and multicore fiber lasers operating explicitly at the in-phase supermode are experimentally demonstrated.
Green revolution revisited: The adoption of high yielding variety wheat seeds in India

Using the data collected by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) under the Additional Rural Income Survey (ARIS) for the year 1970–71, two models are estimated for the use of HYV wheat seeds. The first model estimated is the logit for the adoption of HYV wheat seeds. The second model estimated is the linear regression model for the percentage of land under HYV wheat for its users. The models include many social and economic variables. The results indicate that the proportion of land irrigated and the availability of tractors on hire in the village are the most significant variables for the adoption decision. Being part of the wheat‐belt region is also a very highly significant variable. The distance of the market from the village is significant in some cases. The proportion of land irrigated is a significant variable in all estimates for the second model also. The land owned (with a negative impact) and the existence of moneylenders are significant in some cases in the second model.
84 The Impact of Donor Specific HLA Antibodies in Lung Transplantation after Induction with Alemtuzumab

Purpose Donor specific HLA antibodies (DSA) have been associated with poor outcomes after lung transplantation including bronchiolitis obliterans (BOS). We sought to evaluate the relationship between DSA, freedom from BOS and survival in a cohort of consecutive lung transplant recipients who received induction with alemtuzumab. Methods and Materials A cross-sectional study of patients from 2003-2007 was performed. Per protocol, patients were screened at 2 weeks and every 3 months for class I and II DSA with ELISA and Luminex-based assays in conjunction with surveillance and clinical bronchoscopies. The primary outcome was time from transplant to the development of BOS or death with a study endpoint of 9/1/2010. Associations were assessed with student t-tests and freedom from BOS and survival were assessed with Kaplan Meier estimates with log rank analysis. Results A total of 343 patients were included with a mean follow-up time of 3.3 ± 1.9 years. 51 (14.8%) patients developed DSA at a median time of 435 (IQR 697) days from transplantation. 41 (80.4%) patients with DSA developed BOS during the study period versus 79 (27.1%) of patients without DSA. The mean onset to BOS in patients with DSA was 787.5 (SD 390) days versus 978.3 (SD 532) days in those patients without DSA (p Download : Download high-res image (89KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions After induction with alemtuzumab, the incidence of DSA in lung transplant recipients is lower in comparison with previous reports. Patients with DSA are at a higher risk of early BOS and mortality. Further studies are needed to assess the significance of antibody-directed therapy to improve allograft function and overall survival.
The Experiential Group and Society

The emergence of experiential groups is seen as an expression of society, as a message to be decoded about its nature. Using Basil Bernstein's (1970) classification of group and grid systems of org...
Deterministic controlled-not gate for two-qubit single-photon quantum logic

Using linear optical elements we have demonstrated a deterministic controlled-NOT gate for a quantum logic protocol that uses the polarization and momentum degrees of freedom of a single photon as the control and target qubits
Comparison of the reactivity of tetradecenoic acids, a triacsin, and unsaturated oximes with four purified Saccharomyces cerevisiae fatty acid activation proteins

Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains at least five acyl-CoA synthetases (fatty acid activation proteins, or Faaps). Four FAA genes have been recovered to date. Recent genetic studies indicate that Faa1p and Faa4p are involved in the activation of imported fatty acids, while Faa2p activates endogenous pools of fatty acids. We have now purified Faa4p from S. cerevisiae and compared its fatty acid substrate specificity in vitro with the specificities of purified Faa1p, Faa2p, and Faa3p. Among C8-C18 saturated fatty acids, Faa4p and Faa1p both prefer C14:0. Surveys of C14 fatty acids with single cis-double bonds at C2-C12 indicated that Faa4p and Faa1p prefer Z9-tetradecenoic acid, although Faa4p's preference is much greater and also evident in C16 and C18 fatty acids. Faa4p's selectivity for fatty acids with a C9-C10 cis-double bond is a feature it shares with Faa3p and is notable since in yeast Ole1p, a microsomal cis-Δ9 desaturase, accounts for de novo production of monoenoic acyl-CoAs from saturated acyl-CoA substrates. Faa4p has no detectable acyl-CoA synthetase activity when incubated with tetradecenoic acids having a trans-double bond at C2-3, C4-5, C5-6, C6-7, C7-8, or C9-10. Faa3p can only use E9-tetradecenoic acid as a substrate, while E4-, E6- and E9-tetradecenoic acids can be used by Faa1p and Faa2p. E2-tetradecenoic acid is an Faap inhibitor, with Faa2p exhibiting the greatest sensitivity (IC50 = 2.6 ± 0.2 μM). Triacsin C (1-hydroxy3-(E,E,E,2′,4′,7′-undecatrienylidine)-1,2,3-triazene) has trans-double bonds at positions that correspond to those in E2-, E5-, and E7-tetradecenoic acids. This compound is a potent inhibitor of Faa2p (Ki = 15 ± 1 nM; competitive with fatty acid), less potent against Faa4p (Ki = 2 μM), and not active against Faa1p or Faa3p (IC50 > 500 μM). Analysis of an n-tetradecanal plus a series of oximes (tridecanal oxime, 1-azadeca-1,3,5-trienol, and 1-azaundeca-1,3,5-trienol) indicated that the combination of an azenol moiety (R-CH⋕N-OH) plus adjacent unsaturation are critical for triacsin C's selective inhibition of Faa2p. Triacsin C and oxime derivatives appear to be very useful for defining differences in molecular recognition among S. cerevisiae acyl-CoA synthetases. The >25,000-fold range in the inhibitory effects of triacsin C on these four Faaps suggests that it may be possible to develop other selective inhibitors of eukaryotic acyl-CoA synthetases.
Is radionuclide transmission scanning obsolete for dual-modality PET/CT systems?

With the introduction of dual-modality PET/CT imaging, the nuclear medicine community is witnessing a revolution in its daily clinical practice. The hope is that this technology will alleviate the complexity of the clinical decision-making process and improve patient management [1]. Even though combined PET/CT units have been accepted commercially, the clinical benefits of and the need for these systems remain controversial [2] and are still being debated [3]. For example, PET alone provides enough information to resolve clinically relevant metabolic problems for many malignant diseases, offering a sensitivity and specificity in excess of 90%; some argue that an incremental improvement in specificity or sensitivity beyond that point probably cannot justify the cost of performing image fusion systematically for all patients on a routine basis. The marketing strategy of vendors (supported by many scientists) aiming to achieve wider diffusion of hybrid PET/CT technology in clinical practice is that the added value of combined units is well established and represents the ultimate solution for image co-registration, allowing appropriate combination of imaging technologies to yield useful fusion of functional and anatomical images [1]. It appears that more than 90% of last year’s PET sales were PET/CT; this is leading almost all scanner manufacturers to entirely replace PET-only scanners by combined PET/CT, a questionable choice according to some active researchers in the field [2]. Whereas combined PET/CT has many interesting features and offers many advantages compared with software approaches to image co-registration for patient diagnosis and image-guided radiation therapy, it is often argued that combined PET/ CT is not the ultimate solution for image co-registration and will most likely not be considered a major breakthrough that revolutionised the paradigm of medical imaging [3]. It is the role of medical physicists providing physics support to clinical PET facilities and involved in today’s biomedical imaging research enterprise to debate important issues related to design aspects of this technology and optimal data acquisition and processing protocols with the aim of improving image quality and obtaining accurate quantitative measures. Among many other issues, the important role of attenuation correction (AC) in PET has been discussed in a number of review papers [4–6] and debated in editorials [7, 8] and point/counterpoint papers [9–11].
Mammalian Fused is essential for sperm head shaping and periaxonemal structure formation during spermatogenesis

Abstract During mammalian spermatogenesis, the diploid spermatogonia mature into haploid spermatozoa through a highly controlled process of mitosis, meiosis and post-meiotic morphological remodeling (spermiogenesis). Despite important progress made in this area, the molecular mechanisms underpinning this transformation are poorly understood. Our analysis of the expression and function of the putative serine–threonine kinase Fused (Fu) provides critical insight into key steps in spermatogenesis. In this report, we demonstrate that conditional inactivation of Fu in male germ cells results in infertility due to diminished sperm count, abnormal head shaping, decapitation and motility defects of the sperm. Interestingly, mutant flagellar axonemes are intact but exhibit altered periaxonemal structures that affect motility. These data suggest that Fu plays a central role in shaping the sperm head and controlling the organization of the periaxonemal structures in the flagellum. We show that Fu localizes to multiple tubulin-containing or microtubule-organizing structures, including the manchette and the acrosome–acroplaxome complex that are involved in spermatid head shaping. In addition, Fu interacts with the outer dense fiber protein Odf1, a major component of the periaxonemal structures in the sperm flagellum, and Kif27, which is detected in the manchette. We propose that disrupted Fu function in these structures underlies the head and flagellar defects in Fu -deficient sperm. Since a majority of human male infertility syndromes stem from reduced sperm motility and structural defects, uncovering Fu׳s role in spermiogenesis provides new insight into the causes of sterility and the biology of reproduction.
Exploring social and institutional variation across oak wilt risk management programs in Minnesota, USA

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with United States Forest Service, has implemented a risk management program to fund local government action aimed at containing the exotic invasive oak tree pathogen, Ceratocystis fagacearum – the causal agent of oak wilt. In administering the oak wilt ReLeaf program, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and United States Forest Service sought to facilitate efficient and effective management through enabling and mobilizing local land managers. Because the program is decentralized and because cities and counties are heterogeneous, local land managers take advantage of the program in different ways. Our goal in this study was to document the social and institutional variation in oak wilt management programs at the local (city and county) level, and provide preliminary insights into the causes of the variation. Specifically we asked: what factors constrain and facilitate oak wilt management at the local level; and how do ReLeaf program funds influence local management? To address these questions, we completed 12 in-depth qualitative interviews with foresters and private contractors, yielding information on 16 oak wilt management programs in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, Minnesota, USA. Through our analysis we identified five emergent themes that produce and reflect the overall variation in oak wilt management programs: (1) existence and enforcement of Potential Spore Producing Tree removal ordinances; (2) amount of local resources and potential effect of decrease in state funding; (3) differences across urban and rural areas; (4) differences in program goals and landowner cost sharing structures; and (5) ability to attain the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ suppression goal. These findings describe factors contributing to variation across oak wilt management programs, illustrate challenges facing local invasive species management efforts, and provide insights for designing improved invasive species management programs at the federal, state and local level.
Kinetics and mechanism of the charge-transfer polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated with n-butyl amine and carbon tetrachloride catalyzed by palladium dichloride

We studied the kinetics and mechanism of the charge-transfer polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated with n-butyl amine (BA) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) catalyzed by palladium dichloride (PdCl2 or PdII) in a dimethyl sulfoxide medium by using a dilatometric technique at 60°C. The rate of polymerization (Rp) was a function of [MMA], [BA], [CCl4], and [PdII]. The kinetic data indicated a mechanism involving the possible participation of the charge-transfer complex formed between the {BA–PdII} complex and CCl4 or monomer in the polymerization of MMA. In the absence of either CCl4 or BA, no polymerization of MMA was observed under these experimental conditions. Rp was inhibited by hydroquinone; this suggested a free-radical initiation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
From Augustine to Islam: Translation and History in the Arabic Orosius

To be named among the elect in Dante's paradise is among the great honors for any church father. But to be copied at the same time in Muslim North Africa is an accolade of a still higher order. Such was the good luck of Orosius (Hurūshiyūsh) during the fourteenth century, when the Florentine literati remembered this avvocato de' tempi cristiani, and Maghribī Arabs, the chronicler of the ayyām al-masīḥ (the days of Christ).
Epigenetic regulation of the calcitonin gene-related peptide gene in trigeminal glia

Background: The neuropeptide calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP) plays a key role in migraine. CGRP gene expression involves an enhancer that is active in neurons, yet inactive in glia. In this report, we analyze epigenetic modifications that allow enhancer activation in glia.Methods: DNA methylation and histone acetylation states were measured in rat and human- model cell lines and primary cultures of rat trigeminal ganglia glia. The functional consequence of altering the chromatin state was determined by quantitative measurements of both calcitonin (CT) and CGRP mRNAs.Results: A hypermethylated CpG island flanking the enhancer was identified in glia and non-expressing cell lines. In addition, the chromatin was hypoacetylated. Treatment with the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine induced CT mRNA ∼30-fold in glial cultures. Treatment with a histone deacetylase inhibitor alone had little effect; however, the combination of inhibitors yielded a synergistic ∼80-fold increase in CT and ∼three...
The effect of changing the Coriolis force gradient parameter on the escape probability and mean residence time

We investigate a quasigeostrophic vortex flow with random perturbations. The system we will look at is rotating and has a gradient in the Coriolis force (the force due to the earth's rotation). When these two characteristics are present, the conserved quantity is the potential vorticity q=@?^2@j+@by. Thus, the dynamics are determined by the quasigeostrophic equation (@?"t+v->.@?)q=0. In this, the parameter @b is proportional to the Coriolis force gradient. Whenever we have a system with random perturbations, we may talk of the escape probability of fluid particles crossing a portion of the boundary for a fluid domain, and the mean residence time of fluid particles inside a fluid domain. The goal of this paper is to determine the relationship between the parameter @b and the escape probability and the mean residence time. We will look at a vortex of the flow and determine the escape probability crossing the upper and lower boundaries of the vortex of a particle (we assume that the particles are uniformly distributed in the vortex). We will also calculate the mean residence time for a particle inside a vortex. We find that as @b increases, the escape probability for a particle crossing the lower boundary decreases. We also find that as @b increases the mean residence time of a particle inside a vortex decreases.
α-Thrombin Inhibits Interleukin-6-Induced Stat3 Signaling and gp130 Gene Expression in Primary Cultures of Human Lung Fibroblasts

Exposure of primary human lung fibroblasts (HLF) to interleukin-6 (IL-6) rapidly induced Stat3 (signal transducers and activators of transcription 3) tyrosine phosphorylation. In these cells, alpha-thrombin did not induce tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat3; however, it potently induced its serine phosphorylation. Interestingly, a short pretreatment of cells with alpha-thrombin significantly inhibited IL-6-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat3. The inhibition by alpha-thrombin was attenuated if cells were pretreated with U0126, a specific inhibitor of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase 1 (MAPKK1). Exposure of HLF cells to IL-6 induced a twofold increase in gp130 mRNA levels; however, alpha-thrombin inhibited this IL-6-induced response almost to control levels. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that in HLF cells alpha-thrombin inhibits IL-6-induced Stat3 signaling via activation of MAPKK1 and that this cross-talk regulates IL-6-induced gp130 gene expression.
The Caged Panther: the Prison Years of Huey P. Newton

Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter of a police officer (Oakland, CA) in September 1968. He was sentenced to 2 to 15 years in prison. For 22 months, he was incarcerated at California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo, CA under “lock-up”—a system which gave him very limited interaction with the general prison population. During this time, Newton had no direct contact with members or leaders of the Black Panther Party. Furthermore, he was restricted to ten persons on his visiting list, nine of whom had to be members of his immediate family. The author of this paper was the tenth person on Newton’s visiting list. For the entire period of his incarceration, I visited with Newton almost every Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Following each visit, I would record a detailed memoir of our discussions, the general circumstances in the prison, and my reflections on everything that had transpired. This paper discusses the 22 months Huey P. Newton was in California Men’s Colony. It describes how we organized our sessions so the conversations would be of value to him during the following week. It also includes a description of some of the major ideas we shared, including how Newton developed some of his decisions about the Black Panther Party as well as his personal life. Finally, the paper includes my own observations about Newton and how he managed his life as an inmate “lock-up” in a maximum security prison. Newton was released in August 1970 following the reversal of his conviction by the California Appellate Court. He died in 1989. He was 47 years old.
Speech recognition in parallel

Concomitantly with recent advances in speech coding, recognition and production, parallel computer systems are now commonplace delivering raw computing power measured in hundreds of MIPS and Megaflops. It seems inevitable that within the next decade or so, gigaflop parallel processors will be achievable at modest cost. Indeed, gigaflops per cubic foot is now becoming a standard of measure for parallel computers.
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Ostiomeatal Disease

The advent of endoscopic sinus instrumentation and high-resolution computed tomographic (CT) scanning enables otolaryngologists to delineate precisely the anatomy of the middle meatus. We have utilized a staging system for chronic sinusitis based on endoscopic and CT criteria. This system provides a means of evaluating and standardizing the surgical approach and provides a basis for institutional comparison. In this system Stage I disease includes patients with a history of recurrent sinusitis and anatomic findings which narrow and impinge upon the ostiomeatal complex. We are reporting on 25 patients with Stage I disease who underwent surgical treatment for ostiomeatal complex disease. The endoscopic and CT findings will be presented, as well as follow-up defining control of symptomatology.
RAPID METHOD FOR DETECTION OF SALMONELLAE ATTACHED TO CHICKEN SKIN1

A rapid, sensitive nitrocellulose membrane lifting technique was developed to identify Salmonella typhimurium attached to chicken skin. Basically, this method used a nitrocellulose membrane to remove salmonellae attached to chicken skin. The membrane with attached salmonellae was then incubated on xylose lysine deoxycholate (XLD) agar for 18 h at 37°C. Appearance of black colonies on the white membrane was considered a positive presumptive test for salmonellae. Immunostaining of colonies on the nitrocellulose membrane was then used to confirm presence or absence of salmonellae. This technique can be used to identify salmonellae contamination of chicken skin in less than 24 h and was shown to be more sensitive than presently used swabbing or washing techniques.
New Evolutionary Techniques for Optimization of Energy Systems Utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics

Optimization techniques that search a solution space without designer intervention are becoming important tools in the engineering design of many thermal fluid systems. Evolutionary algorithms are among the most robust of these optimization methods because the ability to optimize many designs simultaneously makes evolutionary algorithms less susceptible to premature convergence. However application of evolutionary algorithms to thermal and fluid systems described by high fidelity models (e.g. computational fluid dynamics) has been limited due to the high computational cost of the fitness evaluation. This paper presents a novel technique that combines two technologies used in the optimization of thermal fluids systems. The first is graph based evolutionary algorithms that are implemented to help increase the diversity of the evolving population of designs. The second is an algorithm utilizing a feed forward neural network that develops a stopping criterion for computational fluid dynamics solutions. This reduces the time required for each future evaluation in the evolutionary process and allows for more complex thermal fluids systems to be optimized. In the system examined here the overall reduction in computational time is approximately 8 times.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Fundamental Rotorcraft Acoustic Modeling from Experiments (FRAME)

A new methodology is developed for the construction of helicopter source noise models for use in mission planning tools from experimental measurements of helicopter external noise radiation. The models are constructed by employing a parameter identification method to an assumed analytical model of the rotor harmonic noise sources. This new method allows for the identification of individual rotor harmonic noise sources and allows them to be characterized in terms of their individual non-dimensional governing parameters. The method is applied to both wind tunnel measurements and ground noise measurements of two-bladed rotors. The method is shown to match the parametric trends of main rotor harmonic noise, allowing accurate estimates of the dominant rotorcraft noise sources to be made for operating conditions based on a small number of measurements taken at different operating conditions. The ability of this method to estimate changes in noise radiation due to changes in ambient conditions is also demonstrated.
Disabling the mitotic spindle and tumor growth by targeting a cavity-induced allosteric site of survivin

Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family and has an essential role in mitosis. Survivin is overexpressed in a large variety of human cancers and represents an attractive target for cancer therapy. Epidermal growth factor receptor and Her/neu-transformed human tumors in particular exhibit high levels of survivin. The survivin protein forms dimers through a conserved region that is critical for subcellular localization and biological functions of the protein. We identified small molecules that target a specific cavity adjacent to the survivin dimerization surfaces. S12, a lead compound identified in the screen, can bind to the survivin protein at the intended target site. Moreover, S12 alters spindle formation, causing mitotic arrest and cell death, and inhibits tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Cell death occurs in premetaphase stage following mitotic arrest and is not a consequence of general toxicity. Thus, the study validates a novel therapeutic target site in the survivin protein and provides a promising strategy to develop a new class of therapeutic small molecules for the treatment of human cancers.
Can external fixation maintain reduction after distal radius fractures

Background The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of external fixation and percutaneous pinning in maintaining distal radius fracture reduction over a 6-month period and to identify factors that might predict loss of fracture reduction. Methods Seventy cases had complete radiographic evaluation before surgery; at surgery; and at 6-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up. Radiographic parameters measured included volar tilt, dorsal displacement, radial inclination, radial height, radial shift, and ulnar variance. Results Dorsal tilt averaged 17.5 degrees from neutral before surgery; this value was corrected to 0.9 degree at surgery, but then progressed to 4.2 degrees by the 6-month follow-up. At 6-month follow-up, 49% of cases had lost more than 5 degrees of initially reduced volar tilt. However, none of these patients went from an acceptable initial reduction to an unacceptable reduction at 6 months. Initial deformity, patient age, use of bone graft, and duration of external fixation were not predictors of loss of reduction. Conclusion Loss of reduction of volar tilt was seen for a period of up to 6 months after fixation, despite the use of pinning to hold the reduction. No specific predictor of loss of reduction was noted, although there was a trend toward loss of reduction in younger patients.
The effect of core displacement orientation on the resonance properties of nanoegg dimers

In this paper we study the effect of the core displacement orientation in nanoegg dimers on the resonance properties of the dimer. We consider the case of symmetrical nanoegg dimers and uniform nanoegg dimers, where in Symmetrical nanoegg dimers, the core in one nanoegg is displaced in a direction opposite to the direction of core displacement in the other, while in uniform nanoegg dimers, the core displacement is the same in the two nanoeggs. We show how the orientation of the core displacement affects the field enhancement and the resonance wavelength of the dimer.
Formation of nanostructure in Al produced by a low-energy ball milling at cryogenic temperature

Abstract Nanocrystalline (nc) Al powders produced by ball milling at a low-energy level and cryogenic temperature (i.e., cryomilling) were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The average grain size ( d ) in the 8 h milled Al was 26 nm. The development of the nanostructure appears to be dominated by the total level of the microstrain generated by the deformation process. Two types of distinctive nanostructures were identified: primarily a random dispersion of equiaxed grains with typical diameters of 10–30 nm, and a less frequently observed lamellar structure with a length range of 100–300 nm and an average width close to d . The morphology of the mixed nanostructures in the cryomilled sample shows a large number of high angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) formed by a grain subdivision mechanism. Microstructural evidence for the formation of nanostructure by recrystallization mechanism is also discussed.
Climatic Role of North American Low-Level Jets on U.S. Regional Tornado Activity

AbstractVariability of springtime tornadic activity over the United States is assessed through the connectivity of preferred modes of North American low-level jet (NALLJ) variability to the local thermodynamic environment and remote SST variations. The link between regional tornado activity and NALLJ variability as diagnosed from a consistent reanalysis system (i.e., NCEP–NCAR) serves as dynamical corroboration in light of the inhomogeneous tornado database. The analysis reveals a multidecadal variation in the strength of the NALLJ–tornado connection, highlighted by tornado activity in the southern Great Plains region nearly doubling its correlation with NALLJ principal component 1 (PC 1) in recent decades. Locally, this is a result of a southward shift of NALLJ variability modes during the recent period. Motivated by these epochal shifts in NALLJ activity, a comparison of the early (1950–78) and late (1979–2010) tornado and NALLJ SST linkages indicates an Atlantic decadal SST variability influence during...
Cell survival is dicey without Dicer

The cellular requirements for Dicer, an essential miRNA processing enzyme, and the consequences of altered levels of its expression on tumorigenesis are incompletely understood. We review the effects of Dicer loss in cells of different origin and whether loss of p53 permits cell survival and growth in the absence of Dicer.
Effect of voids and pressure on melting of nano-particulate and bulk aluminum

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed using isobaric–isoenthalpic (NPH) ensembles to study the effect of internal defects in the form of voids on the melting of bulk and nano-particulate aluminum in the size range of 2–9 nm. The main objectives are to determine the critical interfacial area required to overcome the free energy barrier for the thermodynamic phase transition, and to explore the underlying mechanisms for defect-nucleated melting. The inter-atomic interactions are captured using the Glue potential, which has been validated against the melting temperature and elastic constants for bulk aluminum. A combination of structural and thermodynamic parameters, such as the potential energy, Lindemann index, translational-order parameter, and radial-distribution functions, are employed to characterize the melting process. The study considers a variety of void shapes and sizes, and results are compared with perfect crystals. For nano aluminum particles smaller than 9 nm, the melting temperature is size dependent. The presence of voids does not impact the melting properties due to the dominancy of nucleation at the surface, unless the void size exceeds a critical value beyond which lattice collapse occurs. The critical void size depends on the particle dimension. The effect of pressure on the particulate melting is found to be insignificant in the range of 1–300 atm. The melting behavior of bulk aluminum is also examined as a benchmark. The critical interfacial area required for the solid–liquid phase transition is obtained as a function of the number of atoms considered in the simulation. Imperfections such as voids reduce the melting point. The ratio between the structural and thermodynamic melting points is 1.32. This value is comparable to the ratio of 1.23 for metals like copper.
Generalized Foldy-Lax formulation

We present a method for numerical wave propagation in a heterogeneous medium. The medium is defined in terms of an extended scatterer or target which is surrounded by many small scatterers. By extending the classic Foldy-Lax formulation we developed an efficient algorithm for numerical wave propagation in two dimension. In the method that we set forth multiple scattering among the point scatterers and the extended target is fully taken into account via a boundary integral formulation coupled with the Foldy-Lax formulation. This formulation forms the basis for our numerical procedure.
Peritubular matrix: a correlated radiographic and staining study.

Previous investigators have reported a number of methods which will differentially stain peritubular matrix in undecalcified ground sections of human dentin. The methods, however, were all carried out at pH values which were potentially high enough to decalcify the highly acid-soluble peritubular matrix. Microradiograms were prepared of ground sections both before and after they had been exposed to either the staining or pre-staining treatments which reportedly had been successful for staining peritubular matrix. The radiograms revealed that the peritubular matrix was decalcified either at the end of, or long before, the prescribed treatment had been completed. It was concluded that the use of these staining techniques should be re-evaluated by more recent methods.
Prospects for neutron→antineutron transition searches

Presently-available sources of free neutrons can allow an improvement in the discovery potential of a neutron-antineutron transition search by four orders of magnitude as compared to that of the most recent reactor-based search experiment performed at ILL in Grenoble. This would be equivalent to a characteristic neutron-antineutron transition time limit of >10{sup 10} seconds. With future dedicated neutron-source Facilities, with further progress in cold-neutron- moderator techniques, and with a vertical experiment layout, the discovery potential could ultimately be pushed by another factor of {approximately}100 corresponding to a characteristic transition time limit of {approximately}10{sup 11} seconds. Prospects for, and relative merits of, a neutron-antineutron oscillation search in intranuclear transitions are also discussed.
Measurement and simulation of dew accumulation and drying in a potato canopy

Abstract Liquid water on the leaves of many crop plants plays an important role in the outbreaks of foliar diseases. While rain and irrigation contribute, the majority of wetting events in many areas results from cooling of leaves below the dewpoint temperature of surrounding air. Thus, most models of crop foliar diseases include factors related to both pathogen biology and environmental regulation of the presence of water on leaves. We measured and simulated leaf wetness formation to test the ability of a detailed, mechanistic soil-canopy-atmosphere model to predict wetness formation as a function of vertical position in the canopy, and to study the role of the near-surface wetness of soil beneath. Position of water formation is important because older, lower leaves tend to be more susceptible to some diseases, and the role of soil wetness has implications for the accuracy of mesoscale modeling of leaf wetness in lieu of in-field measurements. When random dispersion of leaves was assumed our simulation model generally underestimated water formation on leaves in the lower half of the canopy. Clumping of leaves within each horizontal layer of the simulation decreased water accumulation in the upper portion of the canopy and increased accumulation on lower leaves. Local near-surface soil wetness increased the duration of leaf wetness by about 2 h in our simulations. Thus mesoscale simulations that do not explicitly include local soil moisture, including irrigation, may frequently underestimate leaf wetness duration.