cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Cobit primer.

COBIT is a set of documents that provides guidance for computer security. This report introduces COBIT by answering the following questions, after first defining acronyms and presenting definitions: 1. Why is COBIT valuable? 2. What is COBIT?, and 3. What documents are related to COBIT? (The answer to the last question constitutes the bulk of this report.) This report also provides more detailed review of three documents. The first two documents--COBIT Security Baseline{trademark} and COBIT Quickstart{trademark}--are initial documents, designed to get people started. The third document-Control Practices-is a ''final'' document, so to speak, designed to take people all the way down into the details. Control Practices is the detail.
Adjudicating Cultural Pluralism, Legislating Cultural Pluralism

This article addresses the following question: what insights can the literature on legal pluralism and cultural pluralism written by ethnographers of courts provide analysts interested in studying legislatures? The ethnographic insights developed by anthropologists of courts can not be imported into the study of legislatures wholesale. In this article, I explore the ways analyses of cultural pluralism shift when one changes institutional vantage points from courts to legislatures. I argue that three central analytical shifts occur. First, in courts, contexts are often made cultural as one technique among many to create a suitable interpretation that will lead to resolution. From a legislative perspective, contexts are often made cultural using a demographic imagination, that is, through a form of quantification. Second, in courts, only outsiders tend to embody culture, contributing to a historical account of what culture is. In legislatures, anyone, even representatives themselves, can be cultural, making being cultural into a political tactic centered on rendering historical and social connections visible. Third, in legislatures, law is always a compromise. As law travels out of legislatures and into courts, the agonism at the heart of law is forgotten, and law becomes a contextual.
Micro-Shaping, Polishing, and Damage Repair of Fused Silica Surfaces Using Focused Infrared Laser Beams†

Localized infrared (IR) laser heating of fused silica optics has proven highly effective in reducing or removing surface flaws, which tend to limit performance in high power laser systems. Here, we present both simulation and experimental results to examine the use of IR laser light to polish, anneal, and micro-shape fused silica surfaces used in high power laser systems. We show how the resulting material response can be tuned by considering the temperature-dependent optical constants of the material and choosing the appropriate laser parameter set. For example, non-evaporative laser polishing of glass surfaces to heal crack networks is shown most effective when using mid-IR lasers, which lead to laser energy coupling up to ≈1 mm in depth. In contrast, long-wave IR light tuned to the Restrahlen frequency of the material is shown to evaporate material most efficiently with penetration depths of <1 μm. Through calibrated, time-resolved thermal imaging we are able to monitor the laser polishing process, to control material response. The results of our studies can be applied beyond the practical application of damage mitigation in high energy pulsed laser systems to any which require laser-smoothing and shaping of silica surfaces.
Laboratory and clinical studies on vaginal trichomoniasis.

Abstract 1. 1. The present report is based upon a series of clinical and laboratory studies during the past 3 years on women with vaginal trichomoniasis, before, during, and after treatment of the infection, in an endeavor to furnish information on alterations attributable to T. vaginalis. 2. 2. Over half of the patients when first seen had mild to severe inflammation of the vaginal introitus but not necessarily of the vaginal vault. 3. 3. Even though the majority of the patients had not been sufficiently disturbed by their vaginal symptoms to consult a physician prior to joining the study, nearly every patient who was followed over a period of several months had one or more episodes of mild to marked inflammation of the vaginal introitus which was almost invariably accompanied by increased itching or other sensations. This amounted to a definite clinical vaginitis in 40 per cent of the patients which, however, usually improved after a few days even without treatment. 4. 4. Calculation of the fluctuations in per cent of cornified cells during menstrual cycles failed to demonstrate any marked difference between women with or without T. vaginalis and did not show evidence of an increased percentage of cornified cells in women with vaginal trichomoniasis. 5. 5. Administration of trichomonacidal and fungicidal medication, however, resulted in an increased per cent of cornified cells which was most pronounced and persisted the longest with vaginal Aureomycin. 6. 6. A greater proportion of vaginal smears from women with moderate to severe vaginitis had deep cells and intense leukocytosis than those from women without such an inflammation, but there was no particular difference between women with or without T. vaginalis. 7. 7. The per cent of vaginal cells containing glycogen was appreciably lower in women with T. vaginalis than in women from whom the parasite had been eradicated and was even higher in the women who had never had such an infection. 8. 8. Grade I bacterial flora was observed in only 12 per cent of vaginal smears from patients with T. vaginalis. Lactobacillus was, however, cultured from approximately 50 per cent of such patients. 9. 9. Following cure of trichomoniasis, a great many more smears were of Grade I type but cultures with Lactobacillus were not appreciably increased. 10. 10. Cultures of vaginal secretion showed little difference between patients with T. vaginalis with minimal or absent vaginitis and women without T. vaginalis, except that the latter had a much higher proportion of Lactobacillus. Cultures from patients with T. vaginalis vaginitis, however, had a much higher proportion of nonhemolytic Staphylococcus albus and Group D Streptococcus than either of the other groups of women.
Automatic parcellation of cortical surfaces using random forests

Automatic and accurate parcellation of cortical surfaces into anatomically and functionally meaningful regions is of fundamental importance in brain mapping. In this paper, we propose a new method leveraging random forests and graph cuts methods to parcellate cortical surfaces into a set of gyral-based regions, using multiple surface atlases with manual labels by experts. Specifically, our method first takes advantage of random forests and auto-context methods to learn the optimal utilization of cortical features for rough parcellation and then the graph cuts method to further refine the parcellation for improved accuracy and spatial consistency. Particularly, to capitalize on random forests, we propose a novel definition of Haar-like features on cortical surfaces based on spherical mapping. The proposed method has been validated on cortical surfaces from 39 adult brain MR images, each with 35 regions manually labeled by a neuroanatomist, achieving the average Dice ratio of 0.902, higher than the-state-of-art methods.
The influence of normal human ageing on automatic movements

There is evidence that aged normal subjects have more difficulty in achieving automaticity than young subjects. The underlying central neural mechanism for this phenomenon is unclear. In the present study, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to investigate the effect of normal ageing on automaticity. Aged healthy subjects were asked to practice self-initiated, self-paced, memorized sequential finger movements with different complexity until they could perform the tasks automatically. Automaticity was evaluated by having subjects perform a secondary task simultaneously with the sequential movements. Although it took more time, most aged subjects eventually performed the tasks automatically at the same level as the young subjects. Functional MRI results showed that, for both groups, sequential movements activated similar brain regions before and after automaticity was achieved. No additional activity was observed in the automatic condition. While performing automatic movements, aged subjects had greater activity in the bilateral anterior lobe of cerebellum, premotor area, parietal cortex, left prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, caudate nucleus and thalamus, and recruited more areas, including the pre-supplementary motor area and the bilateral posterior lobe of cerebellum, compared to young subjects. These results indicate that most healthy aged subjects can perform some complex motor tasks automatically. However, aged subjects appear to require more brain activity to perform automatically at the same level as young subjects. This appears to be the main reason why aged subjects have more difficulty in achieving automaticity.
Permeability of human amnion and chorion membrane

Abstract The amnion and chorion taken from human term placentas have been characterized in terms of water permeability both by exchange diffusion, using tritiated water, and by bulk flow, caused by hydrostatic pressure applied to one side of the membrane. Solution of the appropriate equations yields values for an equivalent channel radius penetrating these membranes of 85 Angstrom units for the amnion and 76 Angstrom units for the chorion.
HIV and the LGBT Community: A Medical Update

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, first described in gay men over 30 years ago, remains an important medical issue to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. While HIV infection is an issue globally and nationally among all populations, in the United States, gay and bisexual men and male-to-female (MTF) transgender people are disproportionately affected. This article intends to serve as an update on the medical aspects of HIV care for the nonspecialist, including epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, with a focus on what is currently known about these aspects of HIV with respect to LGBT populations.
Characteristics of Certifying Urologists Performing Cystectomies in the United States

Abstract Introduction The surgical volume and training of the surgeon performing radical cystectomy can have a significant impact on bladder cancer outcomes. We hypothesize significant variability in the training and volume of surgeons performing radical cystectomy in the United States. Methods The 6-month case log data of urologists certifying between 2003 and 2013 were obtained from the American Board of Urology. Cases specifying an ICD-9 code for bladder cancer and a CPT code for radical cystectomy were analyzed for surgeon specific variables. Results A total of 5,335 radical cystectomies in the case log system were performed by 2,102 urologists, with 289 (5.4%) performed laparoscopically or robotically. Median urologist age was 42 years (range 36 to 50). Median number of cystectomies performed was 2 (IQR 1–3) with the top 10% of urologists performing 5 or more cystectomies. Half of cystectomies were performed by a urologist who performed only 1 during the certification period. On multivariable analysis stated specialty of oncology and nonprivate practice type were associated with top 10% cystectomy volume. For minimally invasive cystectomy 54% of surgeons logged only a single minimally invasive cystectomy. Factors predictive of performing minimally invasive cystectomy on multivariable analysis were male gender, more recent certifying year and original certification year, endourology and urolithiasis specialization, and Northeast practice region. Conclusions Despite the high level of complexity associated with the surgical management of bladder cancer with radical cystectomy, the majority of cystectomies seem to be performed by low volume surgeons who have most often applied for their first certification with the American Board of Urology.
A vaccine formulated with the major outer membrane protein can protect C3H/HeN, a highly susceptible strain of mice, from a Chlamydia muridarum genital challenge.

C3H/HeN female mice were vaccinated with native Chlamydia muridarum major outer membrane protein (MOMP), using Montanide+CpG or Alum+CpG as adjuvants. Negative control groups were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) and the same adjuvants. As positive control, mice were inoculated intranasally with live Chlamydia. Mice were challenged in the ovarian bursa with 10(5) C. muridarum inclusion forming units. Six weeks after the genital challenge the animals were caged with male mice and monitored for pregnancy. Mice vaccinated with MOMP+Montanide+CpG developed high levels of C. muridarum-specific antibodies, with a high IgG2a/IgG1 ratio and neutralizing titres. Animals immunized using Alum+CpG had low antibody levels. Cellular immune responses were significantly higher in mice vaccinated with MOMP and Montanide+CpG, but not with Alum+CpG, when compared with negative controls. Following the genital challenge, only 20% (4/20) of mice vaccinated with MOMP+CpG+Montanide had positive vaginal cultures whereas 100% (9/9) of mice immunized with MOMP+CpG+Alum had positive cultures. Of the positive control animals inoculated with live Chlamydia only 15% (3/20) had positive vaginal cultures. In contrast, 100% (20/20) of mice immunized with OVA+CpG+Montanide, or minimal essential medium, had positive cultures. Following mating, 80% (16/20) of mice vaccinated with MOMP+CpG+Montanide, and 85% (17/20) of animals inoculated intranasally with live C. muridarum carried embryos in both uterine horns. No protection against infertility was observed in mice immunized with MOMP and CpG+Alum or OVA. In conclusion, this is the first time that a subunit vaccine has been shown to elicit a protective immune response in the highly susceptible C3H/HeN strain of mice against an upper genital challenge.
System Organizations for Speech Understanding: Implications of Network and Multiprocessor Computer Architectures for AI

This paper considers various factors affecting system em organization for speech understanding research. The structure of the Hearsay system based on a set of cooperating, independent processes using the hypothesize-and-test paradigm is presented. Design considerations for the effective use of multiprocessor and network achitectures in speech understanding systems ems are presented: control of processes, interprocess communication and data sharing, resource allocation, and debugging are discussed.1
Heterosis and Inbreeding Depression in Two Soybean Single Crosses

Heterosis is considered to be of little importance in soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) because the crop is produced as "pure-line" cultivars or blends of inbred lines. The F 1 generations Holladay/ Hutcheson (Cross 1) and Brim/Boggs (Cross 2) were generated by hand pollinations. Inbred generations were generated by bulk selfing. The F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , F 4 , and F 5 generations were yield-tested in replicated bordered single row plots in multiple years and locations. The average yield of Cross 1 F 1 was 16% greater than that of the highest-yielding parent and the average yield of the Cross 2 F 1 was 5% greater than the highest-yielding parent. Cross 1 showed significant inbreeding depression when regressed on percentage inbreeding which is clear evidence of dominance for yield. Possible genetic bases for heterosis in soybean include gene complementation or interaction of duplicate favorable loci in repulsion, linked dominant alleles that are inherited as a unit, a greater number of dominant alleles in the F 1 than either parent separately, multiple dosage-dependant regulatory loci, and/or overdominance. The existence of heterosis should be evidence that superior gene combinations are possible. The magnitude of yield heterosis may be a useful criterion for selection among biparental crosses.
Quantitative Trait Locus Mapping of Loci Influencing Elongation Factor 1α Content in Maize Endosperm

The nutritional value of maize (Zea mays) seed is most limited by its protein quality because its storage proteins are devoid of the essential amino acid lysine (Lys). The Lys content of the kernel can be significantly increased by the opaque-2 mutation, which reduces zein synthesis and increases accumulation of proteins that contain Lys. Elongation factor 1α (eEF1A) is one of these proteins, and its concentration is highly correlated with the Lys content of the endosperm. We investigated the genetic regulation of eEF1A and the basis for its relationship with other Lys-containing proteins by analyzing the progeny of a cross between a high (Oh51Ao2) and a low (Oh545o2) eEF1A maize inbred. We identified 83 simple sequence repeat loci that are polymorphic between these inbreds; the markers are broadly distributed over the genome (1,402 cM) with an average interval of 17 cM. Genotypic analysis of the F2 progeny revealed two significant quantitative trait loci that account for 25% of the variance for eEF1A content. One of these is on the short arm of chromosome 4 and is linked with a cluster of 22-kD α-zein coding sequences; the other quantitative trait locus is on the long arm of chromosome 7. The content of α-zein and γ-zein was measured in pools of high- and low-eEF1A individuals obtained from this cross, and a higher level of α-zein was found to cosegregate with high eEF1A content. Allelic variation at the 22-kD α-zein locus may contribute to the difference of eEF1A content between Oh51Ao2 and Oh545o2 by increasing the surface area of protein bodies in the endosperm and creating a more extensive network of cytoskeletal proteins.
The Promise and Paradox of Cultural Competence

Cultural competence has become a ubiquitous and unquestioned aspect of professional formation in medicine. It has been linked to efforts to eliminate race-based health disparities and to train more compassionate and sensitive providers. In this article, I question whether the field of cultural competence lives up to its promise. I argue that it does not because it fails to grapple with the ways that race and racism work in U.S. society today. Unless we change our theoretical apparatus for dealing with diversity to one that more critically engages with the complexities of race, I suggest that unequal treatment and entrenched health disparities will remain. If the field of cultural competence incorporates the lessons of critical race scholarship, however, it would not only need to transform its theoretical foundation, it would also need to change its name.
Urinary analysis of 8-oxoguanine, 8-oxoguanosine, fapy-guanine and 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine by high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry as a measure of oxidative stress

A sensitive and specific assay aimed at measuring the oxidized nucleic acids, 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoGua), fapy-guanine (Fapy-Gua), 8-oxoguanosine (8-oxoGuo), 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) has been developed by coupling reversed phase liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry detection (MS/MS) and isotope dilution. The HPLC-MS/MS approach with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) allowed for the sensitive determination of 8-oxoGua, Fapy-Gua, 8-oxoGuo, and 8-oxodG in human urine samples. There is no sample preparation needed except for the addition of buffer and (13)C- and (15)N-labeled internal standards to the urine prior to sample injection into the HPLC-MS/MS system. This method was tested in urine samples from non-smokers, smokers, non-smokers with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and smokers with CKD, to assess the level of oxidative damage to nucleic acids. Markers of both RNA and DNA damage were significantly increased in the smokers with and without CKD compared to their respective control subjects. These findings suggest that a highly specific and sensitive analytical method such as isotope dilution HPLC-MS/MS may represent a valuable tool for the measurement of oxidative stress in human subjects.
A meta-analysis of clinical trials comparing mirtazapine with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of major depressive disorder:

Over the past few years, a number of studies have suggested that the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) with anti-depressants enhancing both noradrenergic as well as serotonergic neurotransmission may result in higher response or remission rates than treatment with anti-depressants selectively enhancing serotonergic neurotransmission. The objective of this paper was to compare response rates among patients with MDD treated with either mirtazapine, an anti-depressant thought to simultaneously enhance both noradrenergic and serotonergic neurotransmission, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Medline/Pubmed were searched. No year of publication limits were used. Double-blind, randomized clinical trials comparing mirtazapine with an SSRI for the treatment of MDD. Data were extracted with the use of a pre-coded form. Analyses were performed comparing response rates between the two anti-depressant agents. Data from 10 reports involving a total of 1904 outpatients with MDD were identified and combined using a random-effects model. Patients randomized to treatment with mirtazapine were as likely to experience clinical response as patients randomized to treatment with an SSRI (RR = 1.07; 95% CI: 0.96-1.2, P = 0.181). Simply pooling response rates between the two agents revealed a 67.1% response rate for mirtazapine and a 62.1% response rate for the SSRIs. There was no difference in overall discontinuation rates (RR = 1.1; 95% CI: 0.7-1.5; P = 0.550), discontinuation rates due to adverse events (RR = 0.9; 95% CI: 0.6-1.2; P = 0.497), or discontinuation rates due to lack of efficacy (RR = 0.9; 95% CI: 0.4-2.0; P = 0.871) between the two groups. Fewer mirtazapine-treated patients complained of insomnia (RR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3-0.9; P = 0.017), nausea (RR = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.3-0.5; P < 0.0001), whereas fewer SSRI-treated patients complained of fatigue (RR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.4; P = 0.028), excessive sleepiness (RR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1-1.7; P = 0.020), weight-gain (RR = 3.8; 95% CI: 2.3-6.4; P < 0.0001) or dry mouth (RR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3-2.4; P < 0.0001) during the course of treatment. These results suggest that mirtazapine and the SSRIs differ with respect to their side-effect profile but not their overall efficacy in the treatment of MDD.
Surface-Evoked Laryngeal Sensory Action Potential Evaluation in Neurogenic Chronic Cough

Summary Objectives Neurogenic chronic cough is currently a diagnosis of exclusion. We hypothesized that surface-evoked laryngeal sensory action potential (SELSAP) testing could be used to help establish a diagnosis of laryngeal sensory neuropathy as a cause of chronic cough, based on altered SELSAP waveform morphology. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods Laryngeal electromyographic (EMG) data including SELSAP waveform testing from patients with chronic cough were directly compared with a control population without significant laryngeal symptoms, and statistical analysis of unilateral and bilateral neuropathy injury subgroups was performed. Results Thirty patients with a chief complaint of chronic cough underwent laryngeal EMG testing since January 2000 with needle EMG and surface nerve conduction studies. SELSAP waveform analysis of unilateral and bilateral laryngeal neuropathy demonstrated significantly lowered median SELSAP peak amplitude compared with controls ( P Conclusions Patients with suspected neurogenic chronic cough demonstrate statistically significant alterations in SELSAP waveform that can support a diagnosis of laryngeal sensory neuropathy.
The nonverbal communication of president Bill Clinton

Nonverbal communication offers political communication scholars the opportunity to examine public figures beyond the traditional rhetorical realm. As a way of beginning the dialogue, this essay examines the nonverbal communication of President Bill Clinton during both presidential terms. This essay argues that Clinton was on a course of developing and refining his nonverbal communication skills until the Lewinsky scandal surfaced. Previously following a personal nonverbal communication style, Clinton was suddenly forced to switch communication strategies emphasizing a public and private Clinton during the scandal. Once the scandal and subsequent impeachment trial subsided, Clinton appears to be returning to the personal approach that has become a hallmark of his presidency.
Hands‐On, Minds‐On Electric Power Education*

ABET Engineering Criteria 2000 has encouraged changes in engineering education. The deregulation of the electric power industry is also causing changes in the types of jobs power engineers take upon graduation. This paper describes efforts by power faculty at Kansas State University to provide students more hands-on active learning experience with power systems and machinery. A summary of the power curriculum is provided. The courses affected include an energy conversion course required of all electrical engineering students, and a new power laboratory course required of students taking the electric power option. Examples of student assignments are provided. Observations and discussion of the in-class experiences are provided. The paper describes work done and in progress to convert the traditional power courses into studio-type courses in which instruction can flow from lecture to laboratory to computer demonstration formats with ease. Future plans for the project are also discussed.
Win-Win Policy for Developing and Industrial Nations: Six Examples

Win-win policy analysis refers to finding alternatives to policy controversies which can enable conservatives, liberals, and other major viewpoints to all come out ahead of their best initial expectations simultaneously. Win-win policy is illustrated by examples from economic, technology, social, political, international, and legal policy. The underlying goal in choosing win-win alternatives is to promote economic growth, improved per capita income, and a better quality of life in China, Asia, and elsewhere.
Analysis of Molecular Mixing and Chemical Reaction in Mixing Layer

Abstract : This paper concerns an analytical study of molecular mixing and finite rate chemical reactions in an infinite row of vortices representing a mixing layer. Diffusion equations for reacting and non-reacting species are solved locally in the Lagrangian frame of reference following material elements. The flowfield is a given for the problem. The concentration distributions in the vortex structure are composed from these analytical solutions and presented for several cases. The probability density functions constructed from these distributions are compared with the mixing layer experiments. For the cases studied, the comparisons indicate encouraging agreement for the reacting flow case. However, some differences are present for the non-reacting flows. Keywords: Turbulent reacting flows; Molecular mixing, Reaction in vortical structures.
Characterization of Thermotoga maritima glycerol dehydrogenase for the enzymatic production of dihydroxyacetone.

NAD-dependent Thermotoga maritima glycerol dehydrogenase (TmGlyDH) converts glycerol into dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a valuable synthetic precursor and sunless tanning agent. In this work, recombinant TmGlyDH was characterized to determine if it can be used to catalyze DHA production. The pH optima for glycerol oxidation and DHA reduction at 50 °C were 7.9 and 6.0, respectively. Under the conditions tested, TmGlyDH had a linear Arrhenius plot up to 80 °C. TmGlyDH was more thermostable than other glycerol dehydrogenases, remaining over 50 % active after 7 h at 50 °C. TmGlyDH was active on racemic 1,2-propanediol and produced (R)-1,2-propanediol from hydroxyacetone with an enantiomeric excess above 99 %, suggesting that TmGlyDH can also be used for chiral synthesis. (R)-1,2-propanediol production from hydroxyacetone was demonstrated for the first time in a one-enzyme cycling reaction using glycerol as the second substrate. Negative cooperativity was observed with glycerol and DHA, but not with the cofactor. Apparent kinetic parameters for glycerol, DHA, and NAD(H) were determined over a broad pH range. TmGlyDH showed little activity with N6-carboxymethyl-NAD+ (N6-CM-NAD), an NAD+ analog modified for easy immobilization to amino groups, but the double mutation V44A/K157G increased catalytic efficiency with N6-CM-NAD+ ten-fold. Finally, we showed for the first time that a GlyDH is active with immobilized N6-CM-NAD+, suggesting that N6-CM-NAD+ can be immobilized on an electrode to allow TmGlyDH activity in a system that reoxidizes the cofactor electrocatalytically.
Apoptotic Signaling Pathways Induced by Nitric Oxide in Human Lymphoblastoid Cells Expressing Wild-Type or Mutant p53

Loss of p53 function by inactivating mutations results in abrogation of NO·-induced apoptosis in human lymphoblastoid cells. Here we report characterization of apoptotic signaling pathways activated by NO· in these cells by cDNA microarray expression and immunoblotting. A p53-mediated transcriptional response to NO· was observed in p53-wild-type TK6, but not in closely related p53-mutant WTK1, cells. Several previously characterized p53 target genes were up-regulated transcriptionally in TK6 cells, including phosphatase PPM1D (WIP1), oxidoreductase homolog PIG3 , death receptor TNFRSF6 (Fas/CD95), and BH3-only proteins BBC3 (PUMA) and PMAIP1 (NOXA). NO· also modulated levels of several gene products in the mitochondria-dependent and death-receptor-mediated apoptotic pathways. Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins X-chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis, cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-1, and survivin were significantly down-regulated in TK6 cells, but not in WTK1 cells. Smac release from mitochondria was induced in both cell types, but release of apoptosis-inducing factor and endonuclease G was detected only in TK6 cells. Fas/CD95 was increased, and levels of the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-x/L were reduced in TK6 cells. Activation of procaspases 3, 8, 9, and 10, as well as Bid and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, were observed only in TK6 cells. NO· treatment did not alter levels of death receptors 4 and 5, Fas-associated death domain or proapoptotic Bax and Bak proteins in either cell line. Collectively, these data show that NO· exposure activated a complex network of responses leading to p53-dependent apoptosis via both mitochondrial and Fas receptor pathways, which were abrogated in the presence of mutant p53.
Small amplitude sinusoidal disturbances superimposed on finite circular shear of a compressible, non-linearly elastic material

Abstract Consider a hollow concentric circular cylinder of a non-linear compressible isotropic elastic material. In its reference configuration, the cylinder is bonded to a fixed support at its inner boundary and to a rigid shell at its outer boundary. The cylinder is brought to a deformed equilibrium state in which the outer shell has been rotated through a finite angle about the axis of the cylinder. Deformation consists of the rotation of the cylindrical material surfaces, producing circumferential shear, and possibly their radial expansion or contraction. The latter effect arises from volume changes induced by the normal stresses associated with shear. The strain energy function of the material is assumed to be such that the deformation consists of circumferential shear, without radial displacement. In this case the normal stresses are self-equilibrating and no local volume change is induced. The outer shell is then subjected to a sinusoidal rotational disturbance, and the subsequent motion of the cylinder is studied. It is found that inertia causes the shearing motion to induce a radial motion. When the amplitude of the shell rotation is very small, the radial and shearing displacements of the cylinder vary sinusoidally with the same period as the disturbance. The depndence of this motion on the period of oscillation and the initial shell displacement is discussed.
Effect of Endotoxin on the S-A Node in situ in the Dog Heart

Abstract : Concentrations of endotoxin equivalent to those producing shock when given intravenously did not affect the S-A pacemaker activity of the dog in situ. Larger amounts of endotoxin, 100 micrograms to 1 mg, directly induced a negative chronotropic response, which was not blocked by atropine treatment. Endotoxin did not influence the effect of vagal stimulation and responses to acetylcholine and norepinephrine injected into the sinus node artery.
THE EQUISYMMETRIC STRATIFICATION OF THE MODULI SPACE AND THE KRULL DIMENSION OF MAPPING CLASS GROUPS

Abstract A stratification of the moduli space into strata consisting of the Riemann surfaces of the same symmetry type is discussed. The stratification is then employed to determine the Krull dimension of the mod p cohomology algebras of mapping class groups.
Meteorological characteristics of dust storm events in the eastern Great Basin of Utah, U.S.A.

Abstract We assess the mesoscale climatology of dust storm events affecting Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC) since the 1930s, and document the ascendant controls on atmospheric dust generation and transport in the semi-arid Great Basin. Records indicate a seasonal and diurnal pattern, with dust storms typically occurring in spring months during the afternoon. Since 1930, SLC had 379 dust event days (DEDs), averaging 4.7 per year. Air quality station data from populated regions in Utah indicate that dust events produced elevated PM10 exceeding NAAQS on 16 days since 1993, or 0.9 per year. Analysis of DEDs over the period 1948–2010 (n = 331) indicates that approaching mid-level troughs caused 68% of these dust outbreaks and storms. We analyzed two significant DEDs occurring on 19 April 2008 and 4 March 2009, both of which produced elevated particulate matter (PM) levels in the populated region surrounding SLC. Strengthening cyclonic systems are the primary producer of dust outbreaks and storms; the Great Basin Confluence Zone (GBCZ) in the lee of the Sierra Nevada is a known region of cyclogenesis. These cyclonic systems produce strong southwesterly winds in the eastern Great Basin of Utah - termed “hatu winds” – that exceed threshold friction velocities, entrain sediments and loft them into the atmosphere. Plumes identified in MODIS satellite imagery on case study DEDs indicate specific dust source areas, not widespread sediment mobilization. These “hotspots” include playa surfaces at Sevier Dry Lake, Tule Dry Lake, and the Great Salt Lake Desert, as well as Milford Flat, an area burned by Utah's largest wildfire in 2007. The characteristic mountain-valley topography in the Basin & Range physiographic province creates terrain channeling that enhances deflation and funnels dust-bearing winds toward SLC, a growing urban center.
Reversible Intercalation of Charged Iodine Chains into Carbon Nanotube Ropes

We report intercalation of charged polyiodide chains into the interstitial channels in a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) rope lattice, suggesting a new carbon chemistry for nanotubes, distinctly different from that of graphite and ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$. This structural model is supported by results from Raman spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, $Z$-contrast electron microscopy, and electrical transport data. Iodine-doped SWNTs are found to be air stable, permitting the use of a variety of techniques to explore the effect of charge transfer on the physical properties of these novel quantum wires.
pN collagen type III within tendon grafts used for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

This study measured the amount of immature collagen type III present in tendon rafts obtained from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions. These values were compared with those obtained from control grafts typically used for reconstruction--Achilles, patellar, and fascia lata--and also to the normal ACL. Analyses were performed using a commercially available radioimmunoassay (RIA). The RIA made use of a rabbit polyclonal antibody specific to the amino terminus of procollagen type III. The specificity of the Ab was confirmed by a western blot. Fibril diameter of each of the above samples was measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We thus were able to determine if there was a relationship between pN collagen III content and fibril diameter. The mean amount of pN collagen type III in the normal tendon control group was 0.8 +/- 0.3 ng/microg total protein (range 0.0-2.5 ng/microg). There was significantly greater pN collagen III (16 +/- 3.7 ng/microg total protein) in the grafts containing an average fibril diameter 55 nm had similar levels of pN collagen III (1.0 +/- 0.79 ng/microg) as the controls. There was also significantly less pN-collagen III within the functional grafts (5.3 +/- 1.9 ng/microg) as compared to failed grafts, (21.6 +/- 5.1 ng/microg, P < 0.05). These results indicate that incomplete processing of procollagen III may be responsible for some of the ultrastructural alterations seen in tendon grafts. Since ultrastructural organization is believed to influence mechanical properties of these tissues. pN collagen III levels may be a possible indicator of ligament or tendon weakness.
The mathematical modeling of phase transformation of steel during quenching

In the heat treatment of steel, uneven cooling invariably introduces residual stresses in the workpiece. These residual stresses can combine with the thermomechanical stresses encountered in operation to cause premature fatigue failure of the material. A prediction of the residual and thermoelastoplastic stresses developed during heat treatment would be beneficial for component design. In this article a numerical model is developed to predict the thermoelastoplastic and residual stresses during rapid cooling of a long solid cylinder. The total strains developed during cooling of the cylinder comprise elastic, thermal, and plastic strains and strains due to phase transformation. For plastic deformation an extension of Jiang`s constitutive equations developed by Jahanian is adopted. The properties of the material are assumed to be temperature dependent and characterized by nonlinear strain hardening. For phase transformation two parts are considered: nucleation according to Scheil`s method and phase growth according to Johnson and Mehl`s law. For martensitic transformation, a law established by Koisteinin and Marburger is used. Non-additivity of pearlitic and bainitic nucleation suggested by Manning and Lorig is taken into account by means of a correction factor to Scheil`s summation of the transition from pearlitic to bainitic. The effect of phase transformation and temperature dependencemore » of material properties is investigated. It is shown that by neglecting the temperature dependency and phase transformation in numerical calculations, the results are underestimated. The numerical results are compared with the available experimental data in the literature, and good agreement is observed.« less
Instrumental esophageal perforation: a possible complication of bougienage following Quinton-Rubin esophageal biopsy.

A patient with a perforation following dilatation of the esophagus is presented. The temporal relationship between earlier Quinton-Rubin esophageal biopsies obtained by the use of the multipurpose Quinton-Rubin tube and subsequent perforation is noted. The possibility of these events being causally related is discussed.
Comparative Host-Seeking Activity of Culicdides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Attracted to Pastured Livestock in Central New York State, USA

Populations of host-seeking Culicoides spp. attracted to calves, ponies and sheep were sampled to characterize and compare host attraction rates, landing patterns, seasonal activity periods and parity profiles. A customized vacuum aspirator was used to take samples from the belly, brisket, back and neck regions of animals positioned in paired combinations on open pasture. Sample dates were 18 evenings from June through September 1976. Culicoides biguttatus, C. obsoletus , and C. stellifer were captured in large numbers, and from each animal. Culicoides spinostus, C. venustus, C. sanguisuga and C. variipennis , in order of abundance, were captured less frequently; the capture of C. venustus from calves and sheep is the first record of attraction to a potential blood meal source. With the exception of C. spinosus , which was attracted to dorsal regions of animals, each species was attracted in greatest numbers to the belly region. Female C. biguttatus and C. stellifer were captured in significantly greater numbers from calves than sheep, and in similar numbers from calves and ponies. In contrast, C. obsoletus was captured in comparable numbers from calves and sheep, and in significantly greater numbers from calves than ponies. These observations show that pastured livestock in central New York State are exposed to previously unappreciated levels of Culicoides blood-feeding activity throughout the summer months.
Depth-resolved imaging of functional activation in the rat cerebral cortex using optical coherence tomography

Co-registered optical coherence tomography (OCT) and video microscopy of the rat somatosensory cortex were acquired simultaneously through a thinned skull during forepaw electrical stimulation. Fractional signal change measured by OCT revealed a functional signal time course corresponding to the hemodynamic signal measurement made with video microscopy. OCT can provide high-resolution, cross-sectional images of functional neurovascular activation and may offer a new tool for basic neuroscience research in the important rat cerebral cortex model.
Operation for ventricular tachyarrhythmias: Refining current treatment strategies

For many patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias, the optimal choice of palliative or curative therapies is not yet well established. To refine optimal current treatment strategies, baseline patient characteristics were studied in relation to likelihood of successful outcome in 240 consecutive patients undergoing operation for treatment of ventricular tachyarrhythmias from 1981 to 1991. Indications for operation were sudden cardiac death or inducible ventricular tachyarrhythmias refractory to medical therapy (or both). Treatment was directed endocardial procedures in 77 patients (32%), other cardiac procedures in 57 patients (24%) (coronary artery bypass grafting in 94% and valve procedure in 14%, either with [35%] or without [65%] concomitant implantable cardioverter-defibrillator), and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator alone in 106 patients (44%). Overall 30-day operative mortality was 5% (70% confidence interval, 4%-7%) and 2-year survival was 74% (70% confidence interval, 71%-77%). Overall 2-year freedom from sudden cardiac death was 97% (70% confidence interval, 96%-98%) and was similar (p = not significant) for all treatment modalities. For each treatment modality, multivariate analysis identified independent risk factors for operative mortality and 2-year tachyarrhythmia recurrence, advanced angina and congestive heart failure New York Heart Association classes, and overall mortality. To characterize better the use and benefit of coronary artery bypass grafting, risk factors related to outcome also were identified for patients stratified according to absence (44 patients) or presence (119 patients) of coronary artery disease excluding patients treated by directed endocardial procedures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Structural consequences of chromophore formation and exploration of conserved lid residues amongst naturally occurring fluorescent proteins

Abstract Computational methods were used to generate the lowest energy conformations of the immature precyclized forms of the 28 naturally occurring GFP-like proteins deposited in the pdb. In all 28 GFP-like proteins, the beta-barrel contracts upon chromophore formation and becomes more rigid. Our prior analysis of over 260 distinct naturally occurring GFP-like proteins revealed that most of the conserved residues are located in the top and bottom of the barrel in the turns between the β-sheets (Ong et al. 2011) [1]. Structural analyses, molecular dynamics simulations and the Anisotropic Network Model were used to explore the role of these conserved lid residues as possible folding nuclei. Our results are internally consistent and show that the conserved residues in the top and bottom lids undergo relatively less translational movement than other lid residues, and a number of these residues may play an important role as hinges or folding nuclei in the fluorescent proteins.
THE STRUCTURE OF UNEMPLOYMENT

We test for a unit root in postwar unemployment rates for sixteen OECD countries. When a one-time structural break is incorporated, the unit root hypothesis can be rejected for most of the countries and the measured persistence of unemployment falls dramatically. We then test for multiple structural changes and find evidence of one or two breaks for those countries for which the unit root hypothesis could be rejected. Almost all of the breaks are positive, reflecting the sustained rise in European unemployment. The major exception is the United States, where long-term unemployment rose in the 1970s and fell in the 1980s.
Early growth response transcription factors: key mediators of fibrosis and novel targets for anti-fibrotic therapy

Abstract Fibrosis is a deregulated and ultimately defective form of tissue repair that underlies a large number of chronic human diseases, as well as obesity and aging. The pathogenesis of fibrosis involves multiple cell types and extracellular signals, of which transforming growth factor-s (TGF-s) is pre-eminent. The prevalence of fibrosis is rising worldwide, and to date no agents has shown clinical efficacy in the attenuating or reversing the process. Recent studies implicate the immediate–early response transcription factor Egr-1 in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. Egr-1 couples acute changes in the cellular environment to sustained alterations in gene expression, and mediates a broad spectrum of biological responses to injury and stress. In contrast to other ligand-activated transcription factors such as NF-κB, c-jun and Smad2/3 that undergo post-translational modification such as phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, Egr-1 activity is regulated via its biosynthesis. Aberrant Egr-1 expression or activity is implicated in cancer, inflammation, atherosclerosis, and ischemic injury and recent studies now indicate an important role for Egr-1 in TGF-s-dependent profibrotic responses. Fibrosis in various animal models and human diseases such as scleroderma (SSc) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is accompanied by aberrant Egr-1 expression. Moreover Egr-1 appears to be required for physiologic and pathological connective tissue remodeling, and Egr-1-null mice are protected from fibrosis. As a novel profibrotic mediator, Egr-1 thus appears to be a promising potential target for the development of anti-fibrotic therapies.
Semiclassical approach to multiparticle production

Abstract We use singular euclidean solutions to calculate semiclassically the cross sections for the production of some coherent multiparticle states in quantum field theories. In the weakly coupled λφ4 theory, at low energies E«E 0 ∼m/λ and multiplicity n≈E/m, where m is the particle mass, the cross section decreases with energy as exp [−(E/m) log (E0/E)]. In the opposite limit 2 > E0 for multiplicities n∼1/λ we find that the cross section approaches a constant magnitude of the form exp (−const./gl), controlled by the massless theory (m=0). We argue that similar high-energy limits, determined within the massless SU (2) × U (1) gauge theory with scalars and pure SU (3) gauge theory, apply to some coherent multi-W events in the electroweak theory and multiparticle events in QCD, respectively.