cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tumor necrosis factor‐α at the crossroads of neuronal life and death during HIV‐associated dementia

Human immunodeficiency type-1 (HIV-1) infection is known to cause disorders of the CNS, including HIV-associated dementia (HAD). It is suspected that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) released by infected microglia and macrophages play a role in neuronal injury seen in HAD patients. Accordingly, studies suggest that the level of TNF-α mRNA increases with increasing severity of dementia in patients, and that inhibitors of TNF-α release reduces neuronal injury in murine model of HAD. However, the exact role of TNF-α in relation to neuronal dysfunction is a matter of ongoing debate. One school of thought hails TNF-α as the inducer and mediator of neurodegeneration and their evidence suggest that TNF-α kill neurons directly by recruiting caspases or may kill indirectly by various means. In sharp contrast to this, another concept theory envisages a role for TNF-α in negotiating neuroprotection during HAD. The current compilation examines these contradictory concepts, and evaluates their efficacy in the light of TNF-α signaling. It also attempts to elaborate the current consensus outlook of TNF-α’s role during HAD.
Case Study with Video Clips: Midbrain Dysfunction and Restoration in a 30 Year-Old Woman with Hydrocephalus (P3.088)

OBJECTIVE: To promote knowledge of the rare syndrome of parkinsonism following ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt placement in non-communicating hydrocephalus secondary to idiopathic aqueductal stenosis, and to illustrate response to therapy via videographic examples. BACKGROUND: The manifestation of parkinsonian-plus symptoms after placement of a VP shunt is a rare but previously reported phenomenon. The syndrome appears to involve both midbrain dysfunction as well as subsequent deficit in basal ganglia structures. DESIGN/METHODS: In this case study, we track the progress of a 30 year old female who developed increased muscle tone, bradykinesia, oculomotor palsy, and mutism six months after placement of VP shunt for the treatment of hydrocephalus. She improved with high dose Sinemet therapy, only to suffer from return of symptoms within several months. RESULTS: Based on report from prior case studies, third ventriculostomy was performed to restore flow of CSF. The procedure effectively resolved her symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This case study showcases three videos of patient MG during the course of her illness: On first presentation to our hospital, after dopaminergic therapy, and after third ventriculostomy. Theories for midbrain-basal ganglia connectivity are demonstrated by tracing chronology of MG9s symptoms. The correlation of symptoms and resolution with therapeutic approach supports the role for both pharmacokinetic therapy as well as surgical management in this rare complication of idiopathic aqueductal stenosis. Disclosure: Dr. Dolgonos has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schindler has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lovinger has nothing to disclose. Dr. Machado has nothing to disclose.
Mechanistic considerations for the use of monoclonal antibodies for cancer therapy

Since the approval of rituximab in 1997, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have become an increasingly important component of therapeutic regimens in oncology. The success of mAbs as a therapeutic class is a result of great strides that have been made in molecular biology and in biotechnology over the past several decades. Currently, there are 14 approved mAb products for oncology indications, and there are ten additional mAbs in late stages of clinical trials. Compared to traditional chemotherapeutic agents, mAbs have several advantages, including a long circulating half-life and high target specificity. Antibodies can serve as cytotoxic agents when administered alone, exerting a pharmacologic effect through several mechanisms involving the antigen binding (Fab) and/or Fc domains of the molecule, and mAbs may also be utilized as drug carriers, targeting a toxic payload to cancer cells. The extremely high affinity of mAbs for their targets, which is desirable with respect to pharmacodynamics (i.e., contributing to the high therapeutic selectivity of mAb), often leads to complex, non-linear, target-mediated pharmacokinetics. In this report, we summarize the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics of mAbs that have been approved and of mAbs that are near approval for oncology indications, with particular focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for their disposition and efficacy.
Effectiveness of Automated Function Testing with Petri Nets: A Series of Controlled Experiments

Existing work has developed techniques for automated generation of function tests from high-level Petri nets. Yet there is no empirical evidence that demonstrates the costeffectiveness of this approach. This paper presents a series of controlled experiments to evaluate the fault detection capabilities of various strategies for test generation from high-level Petri nets. We built test models and generated executable test code for three subject programs. Then we executed the test code against more than 300 mutants of the subject programs. Each mutant is a variation of the original subject program with one injected fault. The experiment results show that (a) the reachability coverage-based tests are more effective than the tests for state coverage and for transition coverage, (b) postcondition-based test oracles are more effective than state-based oracles, (c) robustness tests with invalid inputs are critical to improving fault detection capability. In particular, the reachability coverage-based tests together with robustness tests killed 99.7% of the mutants. Keywords— Software testing, model-based testing, Petri nets, fault injection, test coverage, test oracle
A review of recent developments in Fe3Al-based alloys

Fe3Al-based iron aluminides have been of interest for many years because of their excellent oxidation and sulfidation resistance. However, limited room temperature ductility (<5%) and a sharp drop in strength above 600 °C have limited their consideration for use as structural materials. Recent improvements in tensile properties, especially improvements in ductility produced through control of composition and microstructure, and advances in the understanding of environmental embrittlement in intermetallics, including iron aluminides, have resulted in renewed interest in this system for structural applications. The purpose of this paper is to summarize recent developments concerning Fe3Al-based aluminides, including alloy development efforts and environmental embrittlement studies. This report will concentrate on literature published since about 1980, and will review studies of fabrication, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance that have been conducted since that time.
Genomic and non-genomic actions of nerve growth factor in development.

Publisher Summary Chemical signals appear to play important roles in development of neural tissue. For example, they may function to spatially and temporally coordinate the differentiation of specific cell groups, to provide tropic signaling and guidance, and to mediate cell-cell communication and feedback. Moreover, because of their potential to function extracellularly, chemical signals could work either in restricted local environments, or, more diffusely, over long distances. Within the last 30 years, a number of macromolecular factors have been identified that can influence the development and differentiation of the nervous system. NGF is presently the most useful model available for studying the actions of chemical factors that regulate neural development. The aim of this chapter is to explore the role of the genome in the action of nerve growth factor.
Gay and lesbian youth : expressions of identity

Forgotten and invisible the alleged self-hatred of gays coming out research design and procedures predicting self-esteem study results predicting self-esteem predicting coming out and self-esteem gender variations moving the invisible to visibility.
The effectiveness of an altruistic appeal in the presence and absence of favors

A substantial corpus of research examining the norm of reciprocity leads to the prediction that doing a favor for another will enhance the probability that that other will comply with a subsequent request made by the favor provider. Experiments have reported data consistent with this prediction, but in these experiments the requests have been pro-social. Other dynamics may be involved, however, when the request is anti-social. Additionally, particular kinds of messages might prove more effective in gaining compliance with an anti-social request. Specifically, following research on the fundamental attribution error it is predicted that altruism messages are more likely to be effective in such circumstances. An experiment was conducted to test these ideas. No evidence of an effect of the norm of reciprocity was observed, and the altruism message was found to be more effective than a direct request message. Unexpectedly, a large sex difference emerged in a direction opposite to that reported in reviews of se...
Hydrologic Impact of Weather Modification

: Weather modification is being proposed as a routine method of augmenting agricultural water supplies in the Southern Great Plains. This paper discusses some of the potential hydrologic impacts of weather modification. Previous work in assessing hydrologic impact is covered; the conclusion is drawn that the work is insufficient. An approach based on hydrologic models is suggested that can consider uncertainties about the effect of weather modification on rainfall and some uncertainties about the effect of model error on impact conclusions.
Adequacy of exchanging the content of the anterior chamber

Perfusion studies of the anterior segment of the eye frequently involve an exchange of the contents of the anterior chamber. We here determined how much fluid was necessary to pass through the upstream tubing and anterior chamber such that the contents of the anterior chamber were adequately exchanged. We used fluorescein dextran (500 kD) to assess the adequacy of exchange of enucleated porcine eyes that were washed out with varying volumes of buffer. The results were compared with two theoretical models, one that accounted for the convective dispersion that occurs in the upstream tubing while in the other, more simple model, it was assumed that the upstream tubing and anterior chamber behave essentially as a well-mixed chamber. We found that the experiment results were bounded by these two models, with the well-mixed model giving a lower bound on the rate at which the anterior chamber can be cleared. We found that exchange of the anterior chamber to reduce the concentration of a drug or tracer by 20-fold required a perfused volume three times the combined volume of the upstream tubing and anterior chamber.
Thermodynamic Analysis of an Electrochemical Refrigeration Cycle

Electrochemical processes may be used to form thermodynamic cycles in a variety of manners. In this paper, an electrochemical cell and fuel cell are combined to form a refrigeration cycle. Water is chosen as an example for the analysis in order to show ideal performance characteristics of such a cycle. Ideally, the system is close to Carnot performance. In actual systems, the electrolyser side of the system must be operated below neutral voltage levels in order to achieve a refrigeration effect. For the water-based system results presented, water mass flow rates less than 6 kg per h are required per ‘ton’ of refrigeration effect for the ideal system. The effects of operating temperatures on cycle efficiency for the example system are also presented. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PLASMA PROTEIN PRODUCTION INFLUENCED BY AMINO ACID MIXTURES AND LACK OF ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS : A DEFICIENCY STATE RELATED TO UNKNOWN FACTORS

When blood plasma proteins are depleted by bleeding with return of red cells suspended in saline (plasmapheresis) it is possible to bring dogs to a steady state of hypoproteinemia and a constant level of plasma protein production if the diet nitrogen intake is controlled and limited. Such dogs are outwardly normal but have a lowered resistance to infection and intoxication and probably to vitamin deficiency. When the diet nitrogen is provided by certain mixtures of the ten growth essential amino acids plus glycine, given intravenously at a rapid rate, plasma protein production is good. The same mixture absorbed subcutaneously at a slower rate may be slightly better utilized. Fed orally the same mixture is better utilized and associated with a lower urinary nitrogen excretion. An ample amino acid mixture for the daily intake of a 10 kilo dog may contain in grams dl-threonine 1.4, dl-valine 3, dl-leucine 3, dl-isoleucine 2, l(+)-lysine·HCl·H2O 2.2, dl-tryptophane 0.3, dl-phenylalanine 2, dl-methionine 1.2, l(+)-histidine·HCl·H2O 1, l(+)-arginine·HCl 1, and glycine 2. Half this quantity is inadequate and not improved by addition of a mixture of alanine, serine, norleucine, proline, hydroxyproline, and tyrosine totalling 1.4 gm. Aspartic acid appears to induce vomiting when added to a mixture of amino acids. The same response has been reported for glutamic acid (8). Omission from the intake of leucine or of leucine and isoleucine results in negative nitrogen balance and rapid weight loss but plasma protein production may be temporarily maintained. It is possible that leucine may be captured from red blood cell destruction. Tryptophane deficiency causes an abrupt decline in plasma protein production. No decline occurred during 2 weeks of histidine deficiency but the urinary nitrogen increased to negative balance. Plasma protein production may be impaired during conditions of dietary deficiency not related to the protein or amino acid intake. Skin lesions and liver function impairment are described. Unidentified factors present in liver and yeast appear to be involved.
"Riemannian" Differential Geometry in Abstract Spaces.

1. Introduction. - In this note brief indications are given of a set of postulates for "Riemannian" differential geometry in abstract spaces. The detailed treatment of this geometry has been included in a comprehensive memoir that I intend to publish elsewhere. An introduction to more general abstract differential geometries with one or several linear connections has been given by me in another comprehensive memoir.(2)
Perpetrator or Victim? Relationships Between Intimate Partner Violence and Well-Being

In national surveys, around half of intimate partner violence perpetrators are also victims of partner assaults. However, data on intimate partner violence victimization and perpetration are rarely examined together. This study examines the relationships between perpetration, victimization, and three psychosocial variables—depression, self-esteem, and substance abuse—that have been constructed in prior research as both causes and consequences of partner violence. Results indicate that associations between substance abuse and self-esteem and partner violence perpetration are mediated by controlling for victimization, but depression is associated with both victimization and perpetration. Associations between mutual violence and depression and substance abuse are greater among women than men, supporting the position that gender symmetry in reported violence perpetration does not imply symmetry in outcomes.
Imaging surface atomic structure with energy dependent electron diffraction

The general concepts and approaches to extracting structural information from imaging with electron diffraction are outlined. Key issues that are addressed in the subsequent three papers are introduced in this overview article.
Development and Preliminary Standardization of the “Extended Complex Figure Test” (ECFT)

Abstract Recognition and matching trials were designed for the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCFT). Following pilot testing and expert review, they were standardized using 90 community-dwelling adults (58% female, ages 30 to 88). Recognition has 30 multiple-choice items for different figural elements; scores distributed normally with strong item-total correlations and with normally distributed item difficulties. Cronbach alphas were .84, .61, and .81 for the Total, Global, and Detail Scales. Recognition correlated .81 with ROCFT recall and .65 with Visual Reproductions. Matching has 10 multiple-choice items; scores were negatively skewed with a substantial ceiling effect. Alpha for Matching was .58, limited in part by few items. Matching correlated .68 with Judgment of Line Orientation and .74 to .90 with copy trials. Both Recognition and Matching discriminated 34 patients with intractable epilepsy from 34 matched controls. Overall, Recognition appeared to be reliable and showed evidence of validit...
CHMINF-L: the chemical information sources discussion list

Discussion lists in many disciplines have served as effective means of information dissemination over the Internet. CHMINF-L is a listserv discussion list that has been in existence since May 1991. The history of its development and its place in today's chemical information environment are presented, along with some predictions for the future role of CHMINF-L and other lists.
The humanistic psychology–positive psychology divide: Contrasts in philosophical foundations.

The relationship between the fields of humanistic and positive psychology has been marked by continued tension and ambivalence. This tension can be traced to extensive differences in the philosophical grounding characterizing the two perspectives within psychology. These differences exist with respect to (a) ontology, including the ways in which human nature is conceptualized regarding human potentials and well-being; (b) epistemology, specifically, the choice of research strategies for the empirical study of these concepts; and (c) practical philosophy, particularly the goals and strategies adopted when conducting therapy or undertaking counseling interventions. Because of this philosophical divide, adherents of the two perspectives may best be advised to pursue separately their shared desire to understand and promote human potentials and well-being.
Dexamethasone Suppression Testing in Chronic Renal Failure: Pharmacokinetics of Dexamethasone and Demonstration of a Normal Hypothalamic-Pituitary- Adrenal Axis

The status of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in chronic renal failure (CRF) was examined by dexamethasone suppression testing (DST) using oral overnight, oral and iv 8-h daytime, and standard 48-h oral dosage protocols. Based on data obtained after iv administration of dexamethasone, the daytime study was used to calculate pharmacokinetic parameters for dexamethasone (clearance, volume of distribution at steady state, and terminal t1/2). None of a group of seven uremic patients had suppressed plasma cortisol concentrations after administration of 1 mg dexamethasone, orally, the night before. Six normal subjects and six patients with CRF participated in the pharmacokinetic study. There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to clearance, volume of distribution at steady state, or t1/2 of dexamethasone, indicating that patients with CRF metabolize dexamethasone in a fashion similar to that of normal subjects. Daily patterns of plasma cortisol determined between 0800-1600 h on a day when dexamethasone was not administered were similar in normal subjects and CRF patients. However, the degree of suppression of plasma cortisol after dexamethasone was significantly greater in the normal subjects (P less than 0.01), possibly due to a prolonged cortisol t1/2 in CRF. Nevertheless, the CRF patients did have decreased plasma cortisol levels from 4-8 h after iv and from 4-7 h after oral dexamethasone. The bioavailability of dexamethasone was not significantly different between the groups. When 48-h oral DSTs were performed in the CRF group, four of five patients had normal responses. The one patient who did not suppress had low levels of plasma dexamethasone, presumably due to decreased gastrointestinal absorption of dexamethasone. These results indicate that the metabolism of dexamethasone is similar in CRF patients and normal subjects, that normal suppression of plasma cortisol can be achieved in uremia if the duration of dexamethasone administration is prolonged sufficiently to compensate for the prolongation of cortisol t1/2 in CRF, and that it is essential to measure plasma dexamethasone as well as cortisol levels to interpret the results of a DST in CRF patients.
Computer simulations of the transport and electromagnetic properties of MBE-grown quantum structures

Abstract We show how one can calculate the transport properties and the electromagnetic response of quantum well nano-structures in a non-equilibrium steady state, with significant injection and extraction of carriers. Such structures are becoming increasingly important for various device applications. We use a fully self-consistent computational scheme, which solves the coupled Schroedinger–Poisson equations to obtain the steady state potential, the sub-band energies and the wave functions. This scheme requires knowledge of the populations of each sub-band in the non-equilibrium steady state, which are not known a priori. These populations of the subbands are determined by rate balance equations, which employ the intersub-band carrier transfer rates, and the injection-extraction rates. These are obtained in separate calculations based on a given steady state. The injection-extraction rates are calculated by employing the transfer matrix method for complex energies. The electron–electron scattering rates are calculated from the complete diagrammatic RPA expansion of the electron self-energy, which includes both single particle (Auger), and collective (plasmon) effects. Global self-consistency is achieved, when the populations used in the Schroedinger–Poisson program agree with those calculated through the balance equation program. Once the globally self-consistent non-equilibrium steady state has been determined, the transport properties, such as current–voltage characteristics, are easily determined. The electromagnetic response of the structure is obtained by employing RPA on the self-consistent non-equilibrium steady state. This includes the absorption characteristics of the structure, as well as its emission characteristics, including spontaneous generation of photons and plasmons, and also the self-stimulated generation of plasmons (plasma instabilities). This calculational scheme allows design of quantum well structures for various purposes, including device applications. We have tested this scheme on a variety of quantum well structures, which were subsequently shown (experimentally) to have the predicted transport and response characteristics.
Quality integrated education

William Brazziel Professor of Higher Education University of Connecticut Storrs, Connecticut Pestalozzi once said that education was a systematic and unsystematic process which enabled people to realize their full potentials. Quality education in this context is a process well done, an effort well made. It involves formal and informal schooling in the usual sense of the word and it involves family and community socialization and support in the service of full development of the child. Historically, black children have been developed most fully in segregated schools. Most of the achievers of this generation, scholars, generals, government officials and the like, came from black schools and colleges. The best high school blacks ever attended was the old Dunbar High in Washington, D.C. The best source for future black Ph.D. and M.D. recipients is now Morehouse College, a school which has held this honor for the last 50 years or so. The school with the highest standardized test scores in Los Angeles was Windsor Hills as of 1975, a 90 percent black school in an affluent black community. There is a real question in my mind about the ability of integrated schools in many communities to match this sort of record. Or even approach it. Indeed, integrated education as exists in many communities is actually harmful to black children and works to devastate rather than develop black talent. This is a shame because integrated education is good for the country. Donald Morrison noted in a guest editorial in Phi Delta Kappan in 1973 that white children benefit as much from integrated schools as black children. Morrison noted that in his work as president of the National Education Association he came to realize that we would never be able to build a truly integrated society with segregated schools, that white children could best learn to relate to black Americans who would increasingly be their neighbors, co-workers and sometimes their supervisors by relating to them as classmates, school club members and team mates on athletic teams. He noted that segregated schools and poorly integrated schools were surely a source of the moral confusion which plague white youth and generates the cynicism, contempt for values espoused by elders, drug abuse and other ills we see about us. To demonstrate the harmful effects of low quality and poorly integrated schools let us look at the situation at James Madison High School in Brooklyn as described in a New York Times Magazine article in 1975.1 Madison is located in one of the most liberal communities in the country and this is what happened to black students when they were assigned to the school:
Out-of-Equilibrium Performance of Three Lindahl Mechanisms: Experimental Evidence

Abstract We describe an experimental comparison of the out-of-equilibrium performance of three allocation mechanisms designed to achieve Lindahl outcomes as Nash equilibria: the mechanisms due to Walker (1981) , Kim (1993) , and Chen (2002) . We find that Chenʼs mechanism, which is supermodular, converges closest and most rapidly to its equilibrium. However, we find that the properties that move subjects toward equilibrium in Chenʼs mechanism typically generate sizeable taxes and subsidies when not in equilibrium, and correspondingly large budget surpluses and deficits, which typically far outweigh the surplus created by providing the public good. The Kim mechanism, on the other hand, converges relatively close to its equilibrium and exhibits much better out-of-equilibrium efficiency properties.
NINE COLOR ELEVEN PARAMETER IMMUNOPHENOTYPING USING THREE LASER FLOW CYTOMETRY

Background: This study describes a three laser flow cytometer, reagents, and software used to simultaneously evaluate nine distinct fluorescent parameters on one cell sample. We compare the quality of data obtained with (1) full software compensation and (2) the use of partial spectral compensation of selected pairs of parameters in analog hardware, in combination with final software compensation. An application characterizing low frequency murine B cell subpopulations is given. Methods: The fluorochromes used are: fluorescein (FITC), phycoerythrin (PE), Cy5PE and Cy7PE, excited at 488 nm by an argon laser; Texas Red (TR), allophycocyanin (APC), and Cy7APC excited at 595 nm by a pumped dye laser; and cascade blue (CB) and cascade yellow (CY) excited at 407 nm by a violet-enhanced krypton laser. Custom additions to commercial electronics and an extended optical bench allow the measurement of these nine parameters plus forward and side scatter light signals. Results: We find the use of partial analog compensation reduces the variation in the background staining levels introduced by the compensation process. Novel B cell populations with frequencies below 1% are characterized. Conclusions: Nine color flow cytometry is capable of providing measurements with high information content. The choice of reagent-dye combinations and the ability to compensate in multi-parameter measurement space are crucial to obtaining satisfactory results. Cytometry 36:36–45, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Fc εRI-mediated hydrolysis of phosphoinositides in permeable membrane vesicles

Abstract We have used hypotonic lysis of cytoplasts derived from rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells to prepare orgenelle and cytoplasm-depleted membrame vesicles called ‘RBL cell ghosts’ (Dreskin and Metzger, 1991). Unlike other membrane preparations, the RBL ghosts hydrolyze phosphoinositides (PIs) in response to aggregation of the high affinity receptor for IgE (Fc e RI) and have proven useful for studies of the molecular events involved in transduction of this signal. A significant limitation of these preparations is that they are sealed. Thus, to incorporate membrane-impermeant molecules (such as ATP) into the intravesicular space of the ghosts, they must be added as the ghosts are formed. We have now overcome this problem by permeabilizing the ghosts with α-toxin from S. aureus and find that, following permeabilization, ghosts activated via Fc e RI, hydrolyze PIs for a longer time than do non-permeabilized ghosts. As in the intact ghosts, this response is absolutely dependent upon ATP and is enhanced by the addition of either phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) or creatine phosphate (CP). This report demonstrate that we can now man3pulate the intravesicular environment of the RBL ghosts and extends the utility of these preparations as a model system for the study of signal transduction following activation via Fc e RI.
A method of objectively evaluating improvements in laparoscopic skills

Background: In this paper, we explored a quick and inexpensive method to evaluate the improvement in laparoscopic skills gained by residents after attending a formal training course in laparoscopy.
Intracellular Signaling by 8-epi-Prostaglandin F2αIs Mediated by Thromboxane A2/Prostaglandin Endoperoxide Receptors in Porcine Carotid Arteries

To investigate the mechanisms for intracellular signaling and increased vascular tone by 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α(8-epi-PGF2α), we measured mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity and myosin regulatory light chain (LC20) phosphorylation in porcine carotid arteries incubated with 8-epi-PGF2αor PGF2α. With stimulation by either 8-epi-PGF2αor PGF2α, MAPK activity and the force of contraction rose in parallel and were maintained during the time of exposure to agonist (2 hours). LC20phosphorylation levels rose and then partially declined during stimulation with either agonist. The effects of 8-epi-PGF2αon contraction, MAPK activity, and myosin light chain phosphorylation were completely inhibited by the receptor antagonists, SQ-29548 and BMS-180291; the effects of PGF2αwere only partially inhibited by these compounds. Thus, intracellular signaling by 8-epi-PGF2αin fully differentiated vascular smooth muscle, resulting in MAPK activation and increased myosin phosphorylation, is specifically mediated by an activation of thromboxane A2/prostaglandin endoperoxide receptors. Lipid peroxidation and 8-epi-PGF2αproduction, resulting from such vascular pathological processes as atherosclerosis, lead to an activation of two intracellular signaling pathways in smooth muscle: one pathway results in the activation of MAPK, while the other results in myosin light chain phosphorylation.
Rigid 2D space-filling folds of unbroken linear chains

This paper presents an algorithm for folding a serial revolute chain into a rigid structure of essentially any desired planar shape. The algorithm is fast (linear in the number of links), and the constructed folding plan only requires an actuation method that sequentially folds triangles as the pattern is laid out, maintaining incremental rigidity of the structure during folding.
Self-field quantum electrodynamics without infinities. A new calculation of vacuum polarization☆

Abstract We have reevaluated analytically the vacuum polarization in Coulomb field using relativistic Coulomb wave functions by a new regularization method. The result is finite giving the standard result in the lowest order of iteration. The formalism of self-field quantumelectrodynamics used here needs neither field quantization, nor renormalization. There are no infrared or ultraviolet divergences.
Comparative study on oxygen permeation and oxidative coupling of methane on disk-shaped and tubular dense ceramic membrane reactors

Oxygen permeation and oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) on fluorite-structured Bi 1.5 Y 0.3 Sm 0.2 O 3-δ (BYS) membrane reactors of disk-shaped and tubular geometries were studied at high temperatures (800-900°C). Their oxygen fluxes under an oxygen partial pressure gradient of air/helium are similar and in the range of (1-3)x10 -8 mol/cm 2 .s at 900°C. The highest C 2 yields obtained in the tubular and disk-shaped BYS membranes are 22% and 10.4%, respectively. The oxygen permeation fluxes through both the disk-shaped and tubular BYS membrane reactors under OCM reaction conditions are 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than those under oxygen permeation conditions with He as the purge. Oxygen permeation flux through the tubular BYS membrane is an order of magnitude smaller than that through the disk-shaped membrane under the OCM reaction conditions. The results show that the membrane geometry and downstream flow conditions have a significant effect on the reaction results. The tubular geometry gives more favorable results in terms of C 2 yield and selectivity.
Investigation of two square-to-round multipass rolling sequences by the slab-finite element method

Abstract With the spread and elongation taking place simultaneously in the roll gap, roll pass designs for shape rolling are difficult to analyze. In the past, a few three dimensional analyses have been attempted but due to the large computational effort required, even for simulating a single pass, they have not been applied to multipass rolling. This paper presents the simulation of square-to-round six pass hot rolling of stainless steel billet on a continuous mill by a finite-slab element computer code TASKS. Results are compared with an earlier TASKS simulation of square-to-round seven pass sequence. Even though the six pass sequence involves larger reduction in area than the seven pass sequence, it provides for a more uniform distribution in effective strains in the final product. Comparisons also indicate that the uniformity of area reduction in the roll gap of a pass and from pass to pass can be used as a criterion for roll pass design evaluation and improvement.
Determination of the Differential Effects of Hydrogen Bonding and Water Release on the Binding of FK506 to Native and Tyr82→Phe82 FKBP-12 Proteins using Free Energy Simulations

Abstract We use the thermodynamic integration technique to calculate the free energy associated with the Tyr82→Phe82 mutation (Y82F) in the protein FKBP-12, both free and bound to known inhibitor FK506 (tacrolimis). We find that the net difference in free energy for the two changes is 0.85 kcal/mol, with the binding of FK506 relatively more favorable for the native protein than the mutant. This net energy compares very favorably with the experimentally measured value of 0.60 kcal/mol. The results indicate that the relatively better binding of FK506 to the native protein is driven by the favorable entropy associated with the release of water molecules from the protein when the ligand binds. For a variety of reasons, modest size of the system, smallness of the change being examined, rapid convergence of the ensemble that needs to be determined as use of statistical estimates to control sampling, we have been able to carry out atypically reliable and reproducible free energy calculations for this protein system. Free energy changes for the two simulations (Y82F FKBP-12/FK506 and Y82F FKBP-12) have been calculated a total of eight times each, to compare a variety of different methodological choices and to ensure that the results are statistically significant. Detailed analysis of the free energy results has been carried out, and indicates that even when applicable, deconvolution of the total free energy into components can be very difficult, that the statistical error estimates can give a reasonable bound on the error in a simulation, and that one must be careful to use the same simulation protocol in all simulations being compared.
Virtual memory for a hypercube multiprocessor

Most hypercube programs are structured so that all nodes contain an identical copy of the node program, as well as a complete copy of the node operating system program. This is a tremendous waste of memory, which ends up limiting the size and complexity of hypercube application programs. One way around this problem is to implement a virtual memory on the hypercube, whereby one copy of the node and operating system program is distributed among all the nodes of the hypercube and each node performs demand paging for the pages not resident in that node. Since almost none of the existing hypercubes have the hardware to support a virtual memory, this must be done in software. In this paper, we discuss a feasibility study of a hypercube virtual memory for executable code based on an implementation which requires no hardware support. We also explain the general principles involved in this type of virtual memory, and discuss how the features and restrictions of a hypercube architecture affect the implementation. In particular we show, via simulation results from real hypercube applications, ways to reduce the paging traffic in the hypercube.
The ECAETC evaluation study

Abstract This paper provides an overview of the East Central AIDS Education and Training Center (ECAETC) project and associated evaluation study. It outlines the key ECAETC program goals, defined as an organization function, materials development function, education and training function, information dissemination function, and undergraduate and curriculum infusion function. It also describes evaluation procedures related to administrative accounting and an evaluative case study designed to provide an interpretive description of the project's year 1 efforts. The purpose of this paper is to provide a description of the project and associated evaluation study, which was reviewed by an external team of evaluators intent on providing a formative evaluation audit.
Hemangiopericytoma arising in a solitary plexiform neurofibroma: Report of a case and review of the literature

A 71-year-old black woman with no known stigmata of neurofibromatosis developed a left buccal mass of 2 years duration. Histologic findings revealed a hemangiopericytoma and a plexiform neurofibroma in the same tumor. Cells with features of both tumor components were demonstrated ultrastructurally.
Thermal conductivity of simple gases at normal pressures

Thermal conductivity measurements available in the literature for simple gases at normal pressures (approximately 1 atmosphere) were used to obtain the product k*λ, where the parameter, λ =M1/2Tc1/6/Pc2/3. Separate relationships between k*λ and TR resulted for monatomic, diatomic and triatomic gases. The relationships for monatomic gases can be expressed as follows For the diatomic and triatomic gases, linear relationships resulted, when at the same reduced temperatures, their k*λ values were plotted against (k*λ)m on log-log coordinates. These relationships can be expressed in equation form as follows and Thermal conductivities calculated with these relationships have been compared with experimental values and produce an average deviation of 2.8% for the monatomic gases (219 points), 4.3% for the diatomic gases (282 points) and 4.6% for the triatomic gases (242 points). In this treatment, helium and hydrogen do not follow the general pattern and consequently these substances have been treated separately.
Human Movement Training With a Cable Driven ARm EXoskeleton (CAREX)

In recent years, the authors have proposed lightweight exoskeleton designs for upper arm rehabilitation using multi-stage cable-driven parallel mechanism. Previously, the authors have demonstrated via experiments that it is possible to apply “assist-as-needed” forces in all directions at the end-effector with such an exoskeleton acting on an anthropomorphic machine arm. A human–exoskeleton interface was also presented to show the feasibility of CAREX on human subjects. The goals of this paper are to 1) further address issues when CAREX is mounted on human subjects, e.g., generation of continuous cable tension trajectories 2) demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of CAREX on movement training of healthy human subjects and a stroke patient. In this research, CAREX is rigidly attached to an arm orthosis worn by human subjects. The cable routing points are optimized to achieve a relatively large “tensioned” static workspace. A new cable tension planner based on quadratic programming is used to generate continuous cable tension trajectory for smooth motion. Experiments were carried out on eight healthy subjects. The experimental results show that CAREX can help the subjects move closer to a prescribed circular path using the force fields generated by the exoskeleton. The subjects also adapt to the path shortly after training. CAREX was also evaluated on a stroke patient to test the feasibility of its use on patients with neural impairment. The results show that the patient was able to move closer to a prescribed straight line path with the “assist-as-needed” force field.
Analysis of essential Arabidopsis nuclear genes encoding plastid-targeted proteins.

The Chloroplast 2010 Project (http://www.plastid.msu.edu/) identified and phenotypically characterized homozygous mutants in over three thousand genes, the majority of which encode plastid-targeted proteins. Despite extensive screening by the community, no homozygous mutant alleles were available for several hundred genes, suggesting that these might be enriched for genes of essential function. Attempts were made to generate homozygotes in ∼1200 of these lines and 521 of the homozygous viable lines obtained were deposited in the Arabidopsis Biological Resource Center (http://abrc.osu.edu/). Lines that did not yield a homozygote in soil were tested as potentially homozygous lethal due to defects either in seed or seedling development. Mutants were characterized at four stages of development: developing seed, mature seed, at germination, and developing seedlings. To distinguish seed development or seed pigment-defective mutants from seedling development mutants, development of seeds was assayed in siliques from heterozygous plants. Segregating seeds from heterozygous parents were sown on supplemented media in an attempt to rescue homozygous seedlings that could not germinate or survive in soil. Growth of segregating seeds in air and air enriched to 0.3% carbon dioxide was compared to discover mutants potentially impaired in photorespiration or otherwise responsive to CO2 supplementation. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements identified CO2-responsive mutants with altered photosynthetic parameters. Examples of genes with a viable mutant allele and one or more putative homozygous-lethal alleles were documented. RT-PCR of homozygotes for potentially weak alleles revealed that essential genes may remain undiscovered because of the lack of a true null mutant allele. This work revealed 33 genes with two or more lethal alleles and 73 genes whose essentiality was not confirmed with an independent lethal mutation, although in some cases second leaky alleles were identified.
High-pressure liquid chromatography of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and some of their derivatives.

Abstract The separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives by means of high-pressure liquid chromatography on Permaphase ODS is described. The method consists of the (isocratic) elution of compounds from the column with a methanol-water mixture of constant composition and is particularly suited to the identification of metabolic products of polycyclic hydrocarbons.
The challenges for early childhood education policy in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract This paper aims to stimulate debate about the need to have national policies of early childhood education in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The paper justifies the need for early childhood education policies on two grounds: social demand, linked to the increase of women participating in the labor force, and educational efficiency, linked to the contribution of early childhood education to learning in primary school. The last section examines the role of resources and political commitment in the expansion of pre-school education and discusses some options to expand services in this field.
Nucleotide sequence of the gene coding for the major protein of hepatitis B virus surface antigen

DNA extracted from hepatitis B virus Dane particles has been cloned in bacteria using a plasmid vector. A full-length clone has been examined by restriction endonuclease analysis, and the nucleotide sequence of an 892-base pair fragment from cloned hepatitis B viral DNA encoding the surface antigen gene is reported. The amino acid sequence deduced from the DNA indicates that the surface antigen is a protein consisting of 226 amino acids and with a molecular weight of 25,398. The portion of the gene coding for this protein apparently contains no intervening sequences.
An adaptive observer and identifier with an arbitrarily fast rate of convergence

Based on the implementation and the method of approach, the adaptive observers are herein classified as explicit and implicit observers. Both types are discussed from a convergence point of view, and a geometrical interpretation of the adaptive algorithms is given in order to account for their slow rate of convergence. Finally, an improved adaptive observer is formulated for nth order, linear, single-output, observable and time invariant systems. The proposed scheme uses only input and output measurements, is globally asymptotically stable and has an arbitrarily fast rate of convergence for both the system state and the system parameters. Simulation results are included.
Verification of Quantitative Precipitation Reforecasts over the Southeastern United States

AbstractNOAA’s second-generation reforecasts are approximately consistent with the operational version of the 2012 NOAA Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS). The reforecasts allow verification to be performed across a multidecadal time period using a static model, in contrast to verifications performed using an ever-evolving operational modeling system. This contribution examines three commonly used verification metrics for reforecasts of precipitation over the southeastern United States: equitable threat score, bias, and ranked probability skill score. Analysis of the verification metrics highlights the variation in the ability of the GEFS to predict precipitation across amount, season, forecast lead time, and location. Beyond day 5.5, there is little useful skill in quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPFs) or probabilistic QPFs. For lighter precipitation thresholds [e.g., 5 and 10 mm (24 h)−1], use of the ensemble mean adds about 10% to the forecast skill over the deterministic control. QPFs have i...
Preparation and stability of a new series of sterically hindered esters of vitamin A. I

A series of α , α -dialkyl substituted aliphatic esters of vitamin A was prepared. The stability of these compounds was compared with vitamin A palmitate in hydroalcoholic acidic media, alkaline media, and under oxidative conditions. In all cases steric hindrance on the α -carbon of the fatty acid group increased the stability of the esters in solution. Under oxidative conditions it appeared that a long aliphatic chain was necessary for maximal stability. These results indicate that an ester such as vitamin A α , α -dimethylpalmitate could demonstrate optimal stability under all the conditions examined.