cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment Intensity of Psoriasis Decreases With Age

Background:Elderly patients have worse skin related quality of life regardless of psoriasis severity. Despite this, there may be risks to starting systemic immunosuppressant therapy, a mainstay for...
Airlines in a Post-Pandemic World: Preparing for Constant Turbulence Ahead

The COVID-19 pandemic represents an extraordinary inflection point that caught airlines worldwide unprepared, causing CEOs to recalibrate their business models. This book explains why this unprecedented pandemic is different from the past disruptions experienced by the airline industry during the past 50 years, and what airlines and related businesses now can do to adapt to the dramatically changed marketplace. This book presents two future scenarios: continuous improvements and elastic supply. These are considered in three specific contexts for the rebuilding of the airline business. These contexts, in the order of urgency with respect to change from the status quo, are the following. The first context is for airlines to become better prepared to deal with frequent and deeper disruptions that could be localized or globalized relating to such areas as climate change, geopolitics, and cybersecurity. The second context is to collaborate and integrate within the much broader travel ecosystem, possibly using platforms to innovate on new value systems. The third context, which has always been the case and drives the first two, is for airlines to offer real solutions to people’s travel needs, solutions developed with imagination and turbocharged innovation, even as we contemplate new technology airplanes and mobility as a service solutions. This book is recommended reading for all senior-level practitioners of airlines and related businesses, as well as aviation policy makers worldwide.
Pioneer factor Foxa2 enables ligand-dependent activation of type II nuclear receptors FXR and LXRα

Abstract Objective Type II nuclear hormone receptors, including farnesoid X receptors (FXR), liver X receptors (LXR), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR), which serve as drug targets for metabolic diseases, are permanently positioned in the nucleus and thought to be bound to DNA regardless of the ligand status. However, recent genome-wide location analysis showed that LXRα and PPARα binding in the liver is largely ligand-dependent. We hypothesized that pioneer factor Foxa2 evicts nucleosomes to enable ligand-dependent binding of type II nuclear receptors and performed genome-wide studies to test this hypothesis. Methods ATAC-Seq was used to profile chromatin accessibility; ChIP-Seq was performed to assess transcription factors (Foxa2, FXR, LXRα, and PPARα) binding; and RNA-Seq analysis determined differentially expressed genes in wildtype and Foxa2 mutants treated with a ligand (GW4064 for FXR, GW3965, and T09 for LXRα). Results We reveal that chromatin accessibility, FXR binding, LXRα occupancy, and ligand-responsive activation of gene expression by FXR and LXRα require Foxa2. Unexpectedly, Foxa2 occupancy is drastically increased when either receptor, FXR or LXRα, is bound by an agonist. In addition, co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate that Foxa2 interacts with either receptor in a ligand-dependent manner, suggesting that Foxa2 and the receptor, bind DNA as an interdependent complex during ligand activation. Furthermore, PPARα binding is induced in Foxa2 mutants treated with FXR and LXR ligands, leading to the activation of PPARα targets. Conclusions Our model requires pioneering activity for ligand activation that challenges the existing ligand-independent binding mechanism. We also demonstrate that Foxa2 is required to achieve activation of the proper receptor – one that binds the added ligand – by repressing the activity of a competing receptor.
Wireless Telemetry System for Long-term Real-time Subsurface Monitoring

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an effective technique to mitigate the global climate change by storing the CO 2 underground permanently. Therefore, the techniques to monitoring the CO 2 sequestration status and the potential leakage are crucial. In this paper, a novel real-time underground monitoring and wireless communication system has been developed. The system will include an array of toroidal transceivers winding around the highly conductive casing string for wireless data transfer between surface and deep subsurface, and energized casing technique is utilized to charge the toroidal transceivers and subsurface sensors. This novel wireless telemetry system will help to maintain well integrity and reduce potential leakage by eliminating the needs for perforated casing or an umbilical in the cement annulus since no direct path of fluid leakage is induced by this wireless system. The wireless signal and energy transfer rate are both enhanced significantly by the metal casing amplification. The available bandwidth and the corresponded channel capacity are calculated based on numerical simulation.
An Interesting Case of Isolated False-Reactive Hepatitis B Surface Antigen.

The standard serologic markers used to diagnose hepatitis B infection include hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), total hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), and IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (IgM anti-HBc). Different markers or combinations of markers are used to identify different phases of HBV infection and determine whether a patient has acute or chronic infection or immunity due to prior infection or vaccination or is seronegative and susceptible to future infection. Isolated HBsAg seropositivity is a peculiar serological pattern that requires investigation. Herein, we present a case of an asymptomatic female without a history of liver disease or evident risk factors for hepatitis, who underwent screening for infectious disease prior to resection of basal cell carcinoma involving her eyelid. The patient’s laboratory testing showed positivity for HBsAg and the HIV 1/2 screen. To investigate, we performed serial dilutions, utilized heterophilicantibody blocking tubes, and repeated analysis using a different commercial assay (Abbott Architect i2000), all in support of a false-positive result attributed to a heterophilic antibody. Hence, we demonstrate that heterophilic antibody interference can result in isolated HBsAg positivity and recommend considering this form of interference in the differential where there is low clinical suspicion for viral infection.
Maternal Preferences for Approach and Language Use During Antenatal Counseling at Extreme Prematurity: A Pilot Study:

Introduction:Counseling families at risk for extremely preterm birth presents significant challenges to providers due to the uncertainty of infant outcomes.Aim:To determine lay-public parental pref...
Facial Recognition Meets the Fourth Amendment Test

There may be no way to address the overarching fears all new surveillance technologies raise; however, major concerns can be addressed without slowing the use of facial recognition.
Perceived Internet health literacy of HIV-positive people through the provision of a computer and Internet health education intervention.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess perceived Internet health literacy of HIV-positive people before and after an Internet health information educational intervention. Methods: We developed a 50-min educational intervention on basic computer skills and online health information evaluation. We administered a demographic survey and a validated health literacy survey (eHEALS) at baseline, immediately after, and 3 months the class. Changes in scores between the surveys were analysed. Results: Eighteen HIV-positive participants were included in the final analysis. Before the intervention, most respondents’ assessment of their ability to access Internet health information was unfavourable. Post-intervention, the majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed they were able to access and identify Internet health information resources. The increase in self-assessed skill level was statistically significant for all eight items eHEALS (P < 0.05). Scores for the 3-month follow-up survey remained higher than pre-intervention scores for most items. Conclusions: Providing an interdisciplinary brief introductory Internet health information educational intervention HIV-positive people with baseline low perceived Internet health literacy significantly improves confidence in finding and using Internet health information resources. Studies with larger numbers of participants should be undertaken to determine if brief interventions improve self-care, patient outcomes and use of emergency services.
High sensitivity detection of NO 2 using ICOS and MLIAS

Employing an external cavity QCL and using OA-ICOS and multiple line integrated absorption spectroscopy techniques, we report an effective sensitivity of detection of ∼28 ppt for NO 2 in Zero-Air.
Tracking and Explaining Neighborhood Socioeconomic Change in U.S. Metropolitan Areas Between 1990 and 2010

This article addresses four fundamental questions about neighborhood change processes and outcomes among large U.S. metropolitan areas between 1990 and 2010: (a) Is it possible using census data and other secondary sources to come up with a consistent and robust method to measure gentrification and other forms of substantial neighborhood socioeconomic change (SNSEC) across all U.S. metropolitan areas? (b) To what degree are gentrification and other forms of SNSEC the result of metropolitan-scale economic and demographic forces versus more bottom-up and neighborhood-specific forces and dynamics? (c) To what degree are gentrification and other forms of SNSEC shaped by the actions of individual, and groups of, property owners, developers, and speculators versus the neighborhood service and location preferences of households? (d) To what extent are gentrification and other forms of substantial neighborhood change always accompanied by the displacement of existing residents?
Localization of cholecystokinin A and cholecystokinin B/ gastrin receptors in the canine upper gastrointestinal tract

Abstract Background/Aims: Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a neuropeptide that exerts numerous effects in the gut. To determine the sites of action of CCK, the distribution and properties of CCK receptor subtypes were studied. Methods: CCK receptors were localized by autoradiographic analysis of 125 I-CCK binding to frozen sections of the canine upper gastrointestinal tract. Results: In the cardiac and fundic stomach, CCK-B/gastrin receptors were found in the mucosa and in a subpopulation of neuronal elements in the circular muscle. The antrum expressed CCK-B/gastrin receptors in a few neurons in the circular muscle and in the entire myenteric plexus; no receptors were observed in the antral mucosa or esophagus. The duodenum showed a high concentration of CCK-B/gastrin receptors in the myenteric plexus. The cardiac and fundic basal mucosae expressed CCK-A receptors. Two nonpeptide CCK receptor antagonists were unable to differentiate between the receptor subtypes. Conclusions: The differential expression of CCK receptor subtypes in the gastric mucosa provides a morphological basis for the separate regulatory roles of CCK and gastrin in gastric function. CCK-B/gastrin receptor expression in a subset of neurons in gastric circular muscle suggests a novel site of action for CCK and/or gastrin.
Semidefinite relaxations of equivalent optimal power flow problems: An illustrative example

Recently, there has been significant interest in convex relaxations of the optimal power flow (OPF) problem. A semidefinite relaxation globally solves many OPF problems. However, there exist practical problems for which the semidefinite relaxation fails to yield the global solution. Conditions for the success or failure of the semidefinite relaxation are valuable for determining whether the relaxation is appropriate for a given OPF problem. To move beyond existing conditions, which only apply to a limited class of problems, a typical conjecture is that failure of the semidefinite relaxation can be related to physical characteristics of the system. By presenting an example OPF problem with two equivalent formulations, this paper demonstrates that physically based conditions cannot universally explain algorithm behavior. The semidefinite relaxation fails for one formulation but succeeds in finding the global solution to the other formulation. Since these formulations represent the same system, success (or otherwise) of the semidefinite relaxation must involve factors beyond just the network physics.
Initial experimental investigations of intermodulation in a klystron amplifier

Summary form only given. The growing importance and heavy user demand for digital communications, in both Defense applications and commercial markets, is driving a need for compact, high power, efficient, microwave amplifiers with good linearity (low signal distortion). The requirement for linearity is becoming even more crucial by the desire to operate individual amplifiers under multitone excitations. An experiment has been configured to investigate the fundamental physics of intermodulation product (IMP) generation in klystron amplifiers (KLAs). A primary purpose of this experiment is to compare experimental measurements with predictions from a new general theory of IMP generation. IMPs result from multi-tone excitation of an amplifier, and are due to nonlinear beating between the drive tones and harmonics of other drive tones in the modulated current of the electron beam. The experiment employs a 1 kW CW Varian 4K35L, 4-cavity klystron amplifier, although it is run pulsed for these initial investigations. The KLA operating voltage and current are /spl sim/6 kV and 0.6 A, respectively. It is designed to amplify signals between 1.7 and 2.4 GHz, depending on mechanical tuning of the cavities. Instantaneous bandwidth is /spl sim/10 MHz. A 2 MHz-spaced, two-tone excitation is generated by two synthesizers. Measurements are made of the radiation spectrum at both the 2nd (intermediate) cavity and the output cavity. Beam-loaded cavity characteristics are determined from experimental measurements and numerical simulations.
Blood loss following tonsillectomy in children. A blind comparison of diclofenac and papaveretum.

Summary One hundred and ninety-eight children, aged 3 to 12 years, who were scheduled for tonsillectomy were randomly allocated to receive either diclofenac 1.0 mg.kg−1 or papaveretum 0.2 mg.kg−1 by intramuscular injection after induction of anaesthesia. There were no significant differences between the treatment groups in operating theatre blood loss, the frequency of bleeding on the ward, or the need for operative haemostasis. However, the incidence of above average bleeding in the recovery room was significantly higher in the diclofenac group (p < 0.05). Similarly, marked restlessness in the recovery room was more frequent in the diclofenac group (p < 0.01). In both treatment groups there was an association between bleeding and restlessness during recovery so the increased bleeding in the diclofenac group may not be a direct effect.
Proteomic responses to environmentally induced oxidative stress

Environmental (acute and chronic temperature, osmotic, hypoxic and pH) stress challenges the cellular redox balance and can lead to the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This review provides an overview of the reactions producing and scavenging ROS in the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and peroxisome. It then compares these reactions with the findings of a number of studies investigating the proteomic responses of marine organisms to environmentally induced oxidative stress. These responses indicate that the thioredoxin-peroxiredoxin system is possibly more frequently recruited to scavenge H2O2 than the glutathione system. Isoforms of superoxide dismutase (SOD) are not ubiquitously induced in parallel, suggesting that SOD scavenging activity is sometimes sufficient. The glutathione system plays an important role in some organisms and probably also contributes to protecting protein thiols during environmental stress. Synthesis pathways of cysteine and selenocysteine, building blocks for glutathione and glutathione peroxidase, also play an important role in scavenging ROS during stress. The increased abundance of glutaredoxin and DyP-type peroxidase suggests a need for regulating the deglutathionylation of proteins and scavenging of peroxynitrite. Reducing equivalents for these scavenging reactions are generated by proteins of the pentose phosphate pathway and by NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase. Furthermore, proteins representing reactions of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the electron transport system generating NADH and ROS, including those of complex I, II and III, are frequently reduced in abundance with stress. Protein maturation in the ER likely represents another source of ROS during environmental stress, as indicated by simultaneous changes in ER chaperones and antioxidant proteins. Although there are still too few proteomic analyses of non-model organisms exposed to environmental stress for a general pattern to emerge, hyposaline and low pH stress show different responses from temperature and hypoxic stress. Furthermore, comparisons of closely related congeners differing in stress tolerance start to provide insights into biochemical processes contributing to adaptive differences, but more of these comparisons are needed to draw general conclusions. To fully take advantage of a systems approach, studies with longer time courses, including several tissues and more species comparisons are needed.
Moving forward in global-change ecology: capitalizing on natural variability

Natural resources managers are being asked to follow practices that accommodate for the impact of climate change on the ecosystems they manage, while global-ecosystems modelers aim to forecast future responses under different climate scenarios. However, the lack of scientific knowledge about short-term ecosystem responses to climate change has made it difficult to define set conservation practices or to realistically inform ecosystem models. Until recently, the main goal for ecologists was to study the composition and structure of communities and their implications for ecosystem function, but due to the probable magnitude and irreversibility of climate-change effects (species extinctions and loss of ecosystem function), a shorter term focus on responses of ecosystems to climate change is needed. We highlight several underutilized approaches for studying the ecological consequences of climate change that capitalize on the natural variability of the climate system at different temporal and spatial scales. For example, studying organismal responses to extreme climatic events can inform about the resilience of populations to global warming and contribute to the assessment of local extinctions. Translocation experiments and gene expression are particular useful to quantitate a species' acclimation potential to global warming. And studies along environmental gradients can guide habitat restoration and protection programs by identifying vulnerable species and sites. These approaches identify the processes and mechanisms underlying species acclimation to changing conditions, combine different analytical approaches, and can be used to improve forecasts of the short-term impacts of climate change and thus inform conservation practices and ecosystem models in a meaningful way.
ON REPEATED-ROOT CONSTACYCLIC CODES OF LENGTH 4ps

For any odd prime p, a classification of all constacyclic codes of length 4ps over &#x1d53d;pm is obtained, which establishes the algebraic structure in term of specified polynomial generators of such codes. Among other results, all self-dual and LCD cyclic and negacylic codes of length 4ps are obtained. As an example, all constacyclic codes of length 36 over &#x1d53d;27 and &#x1d53d;81 are listed.
Publication Trends in Pediatrics in the Field of Neonatology: A Review of its First Half Century ♦ 1932

In connection with the 50th anniversary of Pediatrics, we created a database to analyze the relative contributions in neonatology, and major subdisciplines. The database was created by direct data entry (1948-65), and downloading from PubMed (1966-97). There were 14,480 original articles; 37% (5308) were judged to be neonatal. The table below lists the percent of articles in 10 subdisciplines by decade. The predominance of N/M/E and H/J in the first two decades reflect an early focus on such problems as feeding, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia and erythroblastosis. HSR was initially a major component, and has returned to the forefront in 1988-97. N/D/B and RESP have steadily risen to their current levels of interest. We have also used the database to identify landmark publications which helped to reduce infant and neonatal mortality rates over the past 50 years: exchange transfusion, infection control (1948-57), neutral thermal environment, regulation of metabolism, amniocentesis/fetal transfusion, (1958-67), antenatal steroids, NCPAP, apnea therapy (1968-77), surfactant, HFV, cryotherapy (1978-87), inhaled NO, erythropoietin and sleep position(1988-97).
Voltage gating by molecular subunits of Na+ and K+ ion channels: higher-dimensional cubic kinetics, rate constants, and temperature

The structural similarity between the primary molecules of voltage-gated Na and K channels (alpha subunits) and activation gating in the Hodgkin-Huxley model is brought into full agreement by incre...
Stuttering Treatment for Adults: An Update on Contemporary Approaches

This article provides a brief overview of historical and current approaches to stuttering treatment for adults. Treatment is discussed in terms of stuttering management approaches, fluency-shaping approaches, and combined approaches. The evidence base for these various approaches is outlined. Fluency-shaping approaches have the most robust outcome evidence. Stuttering management approaches are based more on theoretical models of stuttering, and the evidence base tends to be inferred from work using the approaches of cognitive behavior therapy and desensitization with other disorders such as anxiety. Finally, comprehensive approaches to treating stuttering are discussed, and several clinical methods are outlined. Comprehensive approaches target both improved speech fluency and stuttering management. Although it is presented that a comprehensive approach to stuttering treatment will provide the best results, no single approach to stuttering treatment can claim universal success with all adults who stutter.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 stimulates insulin secretion but not phosphoinositide hydrolysis from islets desensitized by prior exposure to high glucose or the muscarinic agonist carbachol.

Abstract In the present series of experiments, the ability of the postulated incretin factor, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), to stimulate insulin release from desensitized islets was determined. Compared with responses observed from control islets incubated for 3.5 hours with 5.6 mmol/L glucose alone, prior exposure to 10 mmol/L glucose, 20 mmol/L glucose, or 10 μmol/L carbachol reduced peak second-phase insulin release rates to a subsequent 20-mmol/L glucose stimulus by 63%, 81%, or 70%, respectively. Efflux of 3 H-inositol from prior high-glucose- or carbachol-exposed islets was abolished and accumulation of inositol phosphates (IPs) in response to 20 mmol/L glucose was reduced. Further addition of 10 nmol/L GLP-1 together with 20 mmol/L glucose significantly increased insulin output from desensitized islets. Carbachol (10 μmol/L) preexposure also abolished the subsequent insulin secretory and 3 H-inositol efflux responses to 8 mmol/L glucose plus 10 μmol/L carbachol. Inclusion of 10 nmol/L GLP-1 together with 8 mmol/L glucose plus 10 μmol/L carbachol improved but did not normalize secretion from these islets. These improvements in secretory responsiveness from high-glucose- or carbachol-desensitized islets occurred despite the lack of any apparent restorative effect of GLP-1 on agonist-induced increases in phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis. Finally, unlike the situation observed with carbachol or high-glucose preexposure, chronic exposure of islets to GLP-1 (100 nmol/L) did not desensitize islets to a subsequent 20-mmol/L glucose stimulus. We conclude from these studies that the incretin factor GLP-1 may play an important role in maintaining insulin output from islets in which phospholipase C (PLC)-mediated hydrolysis of islet PI pools is impaired. GLP-1 may prevent a further decline in β-cell function and the associated deterioration in glucose tolerance that accompanies chronic exposure of islets to one of several agonists, including high glucose.
A higher order discrete theory for laminated plates

Abstract A higher order layer-wise laminated theory based on quadratic ‘inplane’ displacement variation and linear transverse displacement variation over the thickness of each layer is presented. A generalization of Reissner's variational theory is employed to set up consistent coupled constitutive equations for force resultants in the lamina. Continuity of tractions as well as displacements across interfaces is enforced. The theory is able to represent the distribution of stress over the thickness much better than the lower order discrete laminate theories currently available. As an illustration, the theory is applied to stress analysis of free-edge delamination specimens.
(In)tolerance of Diversity and School Governance: Perceptions and Experiences of Parents in Soweto Secondary Schools

A qualitative multi case study on shared decision-making in School Governing Bodies (SGBs) was conducted in five secondary schools in Soweto, South Africa. This article is restricted to the research question: how do parent members of the SGB perceive and experience respect and tolerance of diversity within the SGB. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured individual and group interviews. Tesch’s steps for open coding were followed for data analysis. Findings indicate that parents perceive and experience SGBs as discriminative, divisive, and intolerant of their “otherness”. Dimensions of diversity, notably socio-economic background and opinions-held, are used as the basis for suppression and marginalisation. The article argues for the introduction of school-level policies and relevant capacity building initiatives on democracy and social justice issues, as a means of improving the situation. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n4p101
Effects of hemoglobin-based oxygen-carrying solutions in anesthetized rats with acute ischemic renal failure

Abstract The effects of three hemoglobin solutions were compared with those of iso-oncotic human serum albumin in rats with ischemic renal failure and sham-operated controls. Unmodified and α-α cross-linked hemoglobins both increase mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance and reduce cardiac output substantially and to a comparable extent. In contrast, o -raffinose cross-linked hemoglobin has no deleterious effect on any of these parameters. In sham-operated rats unmodified hemoglobin reduces the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by approximately 30%, whereas neither of the two cross-linked hemoglobins has any adverse effect on GFR in this group. None of the three hemoglobin solutions exacerbated the degree to which GFR was reduced by ischemia-reperfusion injury. Also, the degree of tubular necrosis induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury was also comparable in all groups. We conclude the following: (1) o -raffinose cross-linking, but not α-α cross-linking, ameliorates the effects of unmodified hemoglobin on vascular resistance and cardiac output; (2) both forms of cross-linking reduce the nephrotoxicity exhibited by unmodified hemoglobin in sham-operated rats; and (3) none of the hemoglobin solutions exacerbate renal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion. (J Lab Clin Med 2000;135:73-81)
GAP-43 expression in the medulla of macaque monkeys: changes during postnatal development and the effects of early median nerve repair.

Abstract Expression of GAP-43, a neuronal specific growth associated phosphoprotein, has been highly correlated with the growth and remodeling of the nervous system during development and regeneration. As part of an effort to understand mechanisms of developmental plasticity in the somatosensory system, we determined how the expression of GAP-43 is affected by prenatal and early postnatal nerve cut and repair in macaque monkeys. We also observed normal developmental changes in the expression of GAP-43 during early postnatal life in macaque monkeys. The normal cuneate nucleus, as well as other nuclei of the ascending somatosensory pathways, had low levels of GAP-43 at birth that increased by 3 months and declined thereafter to reach adult levels between 8 and 15 months of age. Fiber tracts expressed low levels of GAP-43 at all postnatal ages, except the pyramidal tract which demonstrated high levels at birth that decreased over the first year. These observations suggest a gradual but differential synaptic maturation in lower brain stem nuclei as macaque monkeys mature. Greatly increased levels of GAP-43 were observed at the time of birth in the cuneate nucleus of two macaque monkeys with prenatal (E94 and E114) nerve repair. Such an increase was not found after prenatal nerve repair with a postnatal survival time of 15 months, or after early postnatal nerve repair with short (80 days) or long (20 months) survivals. The results suggest that reorganization mechanisms at central terminals of peripheral nerves are very different following prenatal than postnatal nerve damage.
Effect of benzo(a)pyrene and chlorpromazine on aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity from rat tissues.

The effects of 34-benzo(a)pyrene (BP) and chlorpromazine (CP) on th e distribution and relative levels of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) in rat tissue were studied in vitro. The metabolism of AHH in BP-treated lymph node lung prostate kidney salivary glands liver spleen and mammary gland was markedly increased while only lung liver and kidney tissue showed a marked increase in CP experiments. Prior to treatment the metabolism of polycyclic hydrocarbons occurred primarily in the liver. However kidney and lung tissues became much more important in metabolizing these hydrocarbons after exposure to BP or CP. The importance of AHH activity in protective tissues of entry into the body is discussed.
Potential roles of 3′-5′exonuclease activity of NM23-H1 in DNA repair and malignant progression

NM23-H1 is a metastasis suppressor protein that exhibits 3′-5′exonuclease activity in vitro. As 3′-5′exonucleases are generally required for maintenance of genome integrity, this activity represents a plausible candidate mediator of the metastasis suppressor properties of the NM23-H1 molecule. Consistent with an antimutator function, ablation of the yeast NM23 homolog, YNK1, results in increased mutation rates following exposure to UV irradiation and exposure to the DNA damaging agents etoposide, cisplatin, and MMS. In human cells, a DNA repair function is further suggested by increased NM23-H1 expression and nuclear translocation following DNA damage. Also, forced expression of NM23-H1 in NM23-deficient and metastatic cell lines results in coordinate downregulation of multiple DNA repair genes, possibly reflecting genomic instability associated with the NM23-deficient state. To assess the relevance of the 3′-5′exonuclease activity of NM23-H1 to its antimutator and metastasis suppressor functions, a panel of mutants harboring defects in the 3′-5′exonuclease and other enzymatic activities of the molecule (NDPK, histidine kinase) have been expressed by stable transfection in the melanoma cell line, 1205Lu. Pilot in vivo metastasis assays indicate 1205Lu cells are highly responsive to the metastasis suppressor effects of NM23-H1, thus providing a valuable model for measuring the extent to which the nuclease function opposes metastasis and metastatic progression.
Spike-timing dependent plasticity as a mechanism for ocular dominance shift

Spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) has been implicated in visual cortex modification. We created a model of ocular dominance (OD) shift based on STDP rules and compared it to experimental results. Although STDP proved to be a powerful mechanism for OD shift in our model, we found that it was unable to account for more subtle effects of monocular deprivation.
Tales From the Code Front: Translating Modularity

In translating modular Antimony models to and from CellML, two differences appeared: CellML's 'black box' approach vs. Antimony's 'model composition' approach, and CellML's math-based encoding vs. Antimony's object and rule-based encoding. The latter turned out to have a much larger impact on the translation than anticipated.
What's New in Public Services?

That's right, OCLC has added five new databases to The FirstSearch Catalog and EPIC service. Now available on The First‐Search Catalog and the EPIC service are Contents‐First, ArticleFirst, Social Sciences Index, General Science Index, and Event‐Line.
A Laser Communication Experiment Utilizing The ACT Satellite And An Airborne Laser Transceiver

The launch of a laser communication transmitter package into geosynchronous Earth orbit onboard the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) will present an excellent opportunity for the experimental reception of laser communication signals transmitted from a space orbit. The ACTS laser package includes both a heterodyne transmitter (Lincoln Labs design) and a direct detection transmitter (Goddard Space Flight Center design) with both sharing some common optical components. NASA Lewis Research Center's Space Electronics Division is planning to perform a space communication experiment utilizing the GSFC direct detection laser transceiver. The laser receiver will be installed within an aircraft provided with a glass port for the reception of the signal. This paper describes the experiment and the approach to performing such an experiment. Described are the constraints placed on the NASA Lewis experiment by the performance parameters of the laser transmitter and by the ACTS spacecraft operations. The conceptual design of the receiving terminal is given; also included is the anticipated capability of the detector.
A Functional LIL for d-Dimensional Stable Processes; Invariance for Lévy- and Other Weakly Convergent Processes

We establish a functional LIL for the maximal process M(t) :=sup 0≤s≤t ‖X(s)‖ of an ℝ d -valued α-stable Levy process X, provided X(1) has density bounded away from zero over some neighborhood of the origin. We also provide a broad invariance result governing a class independent-increment processes related to the domain of attraction of X(1). This breadth is particularly notable for two types of processes captured: First, it not only describes any partial sum process built from iid summands in the domain of normal attraction of X(1), but also addresses those with arbitrary iid summands in the full domain of attraction (here we give a technical condition necessary and sufficient for the partial sum process to share the exact LIL we prove for X). Second, it reveals that any Levy process L such that L(1) satisfies the technical condition just mentioned will also share the LIL of X.
Simulation of damage to tokamaks plasma facing components during intense abnormal power deposition

Abstract Intense power deposition on plasma facing components (PFC) is expected in tokamaks during loss of confinement events such as disruptions, vertical displacement events (VDE), runaway electrons (RE), or during normal operating conditions such as edge-localized modes (ELM). These highly energetic events are damaging enough to hinder long term operation and may not be easily mitigated without loss of structural or functional performance of the PFC. Surface erosion, melted/ablated-vaporized material splashing, and material transport into the bulk plasma are reliability-threatening for the machine and system performance. A novel particle-in-cell (PIC) technique has been developed and integrated into the existing HEIGHTS package in order to obtain a global view of the plasma evolution upon energy impingement. This newly developed PIC technique is benchmarked against plasma gun experimental data, the original HEIGHTS computer package, and laser experiments. Benchmarking results are shown in this paper for various relevant reactor and experimental devices. The evolution of the plasma vapor cloud is followed temporally and results are explained and commented as a function of the computational time needed and the accuracy of the calculation.
Synthesis and evaluation of duocarmycin and CC-1065 analogues incorporating the 1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]benz[e]-3-azaindol-4-one (CBA) alkylation subunit.

An efficient eight-step synthesis (53% overall) and the evaluation of 1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[c]benz[e]-3-azaindol-4-one (CBA) and its derivatives containing an aza variant of the CC-1065/duocarmycin alkylation subunit are detailed. This unique deep-seated aza modification provided an unprecedented 2-aza-4,4-spirocyclopropacyclohexadienone that was characterized chemically and structurally (X-ray). CBA proved structurally identical with CBI, the carbon analogue, including the stereoelectronic alignment of the key cyclopropane, its bond lengths, and the bond length of the diagnostic C3a−N2 bond, reflecting the extent of vinylogous amide (amidine) conjugation. Despite these structural similarities, CBA and its derivatives were found to be much more reactive toward solvolysis and hydrolysis, much less effective DNA alkylating agents (1000-fold), and biologically much less potent (100- to 1000-fold) than the corresponding CBI derivatives.
Estradiol-17β receptors in the immature rat ovary

Abstract Estradiol binding components in the cytosol and nuclear fractions of the ovary from immature rats (22–28 days old) were characterized by in vitro methods. Several of the biochemical characteristics of the estradiol binding components in the ovarian tissue were compared with the estradiol receptor from the uterus. The results suggest that the ovarian estradiol binding components are similar to the specific high affinity estradiol receptors in the uterus. In the cytosol of intact rat ovary a significant fraction of the total binding sites was found to be occupied, presumably by the endogenous estrogen. Following hypophysectomy there was a significant increase in the available cytosol binding sites. Evidence for translocation of cytosol receptor-estrogen (RE) complex to the nucleus was obtained for the ovary. The sedimentation properties of the RE complex of the ovary and the uterus are similar. The ovarian cytosol RE complex sediments at 7-8S in glycerol gradients at low ionic strength and at 4S in sucrose gradients at high ionic strength. Following extraction with 0.4 M KCl the ovarain nuclear RE complex sediments at 5S in sucrose gradients which is identical to that of the uterine nuclear receptor.
A lightweight authentication protocol for mobile ad hoc networks

The characteristics of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) determine that the authentication approaches to protect routing and data packet transmission in MANETs should be lightweight and scalable. In this paper, we propose a lightweight authentication protocol, which utilizes one-way hash chain to provide effective and efficient authentication for communications between neighboring nodes in MANETs. The security properties and performance are also analyzed in the paper. The analysis shows that the protocol incurs low overhead penalty and achieves a tradeoff between security and performance.
Cigarette smoke induces MUC5AC protein expression through the activation of Sp1.

Cigarette smoke (CS) exposure is associated with increased mucus production and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MUC5AC is the major inducible mucus gene in the airway. The purpose of this investigation was to elucidate the mechanisms of CS-induced activation of MUC5AC gene transcription. We observed that the region −3724/−3224 of the MUC5AC promoter is critical for CS-induced gene transcriptional activity and that this region contains two Sp1 binding sites. Using a lung-relevant model, we observed that CS increased nuclear Sp1 protein expression. Consequently, CS exposure resulted in enhanced Sp1-DNA binding activity and Sp1 trans-activation. Co-transfection of the MUC5AC-luc reporter with Sp1 expression plasmids resulted in significantly increased MUC5AC-luc activity, whereas co-treatment with mithramycin A, a Sp1 inhibitor, abolished CS-induced MUC5AC promoter activity. Using mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation, we demonstrated that two Sp1 binding sites in the MUC5AC promoter are functional and responsive to CS exposure. A mutation of either Sp1 binding site in the MUC5AC promoter significantly decreased CS-induced promoter activity. Together, these data indicate that CS induces MUC5AC gene transcription predominantly through increased Sp1 nuclear protein levels and increased Sp1 binding to its promoter region.
Diffraction characteristics of planar absorption gratings

Planar (co)sinusoidal conductivity (absorption) transmission gratings are analyzed using rigorous coupled-wave theory. The first-order and higher-order diffraction efficiencies are determined over the entire range of possible conductivities and Bragg angles of incidence (or equivalently, grating periods) for H-mode polarization incident plane waves. The maximum possible first diffracted order efficiency is found to be 5.26%. Rigorous results are compared to approximate results from the Raman-Nath theory and the two-wave first-order coupled-wave (Kogelnik) theory. A regime parameter, ϱσ, is defined which delineates the regions of Raman-Nath diffraction behavior (ϱσ 1). Likewise, the angular selectivity characteristics of conductivity gratings are determined from rigorous theory and are compared with corresponding results from approximate theory.
Synthesis and accumulation of low molecular weight RNA during embryogenesis of Xenopus laevis.

Abstract An egg of Xenopus laevis contains about 1% of its total RNA as 4 s RNA and approximately 1.5 to 2% as 5 s RNA. All 5 s RNA is bound to ribosomes, whereas less than 10% of the 4 s RNA is associated with ribosomes. Although the content of 4 s RNA in the unfertilized egg is high for a single cell, it is low relative to the egg's content of ribosomal RNA representing less than one molecule of transfer RNA for each ribosome in the whole egg. Since the 4 s RNA which is made during oogenesis is as stable as ribosomal RNA, the high content of the latter relative to the former in the egg reflects the remarkably high synthetic rate of ribosomal RNA which occurs during oogenesis. During ovulation and early cleavage, when there is no detectable synthesis of 4 s RNA, terminal addition of CCA groups to transfer RNA takes place. New synthesis of 4 s RNA begins at the late blastula stage, after which the embryo doubles its content of 4 s RNA with each doubling of the cell number. By the time the embryo has developed to early swimming stage, about 15% of its total RNA is 4 s RNA. At each developmental stage, about 10% of the total 4 s RNA of the embryo is associated with ribosomes. In contrast to 4 s RNA, the amount of 5 s RNA per ribosome remains constant throughout early development, and there is no detectable synthesis of 5 s RNA at early stages. The synthesis of 5 s RNA may be coordinated with that of ribosomal RNA.
National, holistic, watershed-scale approach to understand the sources, transport, and fate of agricultural chemicals

This paper is an introduction to the following series of papers that report on in-depth investigations that have been conducted at five agricultural study areas across the United States in order to gain insights into how environmental processes and agricultural practices interact to determine the transport and fate of agricultural chemicals in the environment. These are the first study areas in an ongoing national study. The study areas were selected, based on the combination of cropping patterns and hydrologic setting, as representative of nationally important agricultural settings to form a basis for extrapolation to unstudied areas. The holistic, watershed-scale study design that involves multiple environmental compartments and that employs both field observations and simulation modeling is presented. This paper introduces the overall study design and presents an overview of the hydrology of the five study areas.
Prospects for CP violation at hadron colliders

Abstract Prospects for CP Violation at hadron colliders is discussed. B -Physics initiatives at CERN, Fermilab and DESY are underway. These efforts represent a significant challenge to the e + e − B -factories at KEK and SLAC as well as a complimentary program that studies B s , B c mesons, B -baryons and rare B -decays. results from CDF indicate the prospects for observing CP violation this decade at Fermilab in the decay B → J / φ K S is quit plausible. Tests of contributions to CP violation from beyond the CKM matrix will be possible by CDF with the decay mode B s → J / ψφ . A brief overview is presented with emphasis on the CDF exclusive B -decays to J / ψ and future plans. A performance comparison is made for sin 2β of the unitarity triangle.
The Influence of Sliding Velocity on Wear of Total Knee Arthroplasties

Polyethylene wear remains a major cause of aseptic loosening and subsequent revision of total knee arthroplasties (TKA). During implant development and evaluation, simulator wear tests provide valuable information on material and design performance of TKA but have not yet replicated the wear patterns seen in vivo. Recent studies indicate that the combination of contact forces, sliding velocity, and distance, impacts the wear outcome [1, 2]. However, the detailed role of sliding velocity between condyle and tibial plateau, in combination with axial loading, remained unresolved. We hypothesize that implant wear can be strongly correlated with the so-called FV-factor, the product of applied axial force and sliding velocity of the condyle on its tibial counterpart. The aim of this study was to look at wear pattern formation and overall volumetric material loss versus varying FV-factors.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Levels and location of expression of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens pTiA6 ipt gene promoter in transgenic tobacco

The location of gene expression of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens ipt gene promoter in transgenic tobacco plants was examined using the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene. Expression of GUS was detected in every organ and most cell types examined. The highest levels of GUS activity were found in roots. To further examine the transcriptional basis of this broad expression pattern, deletions in the 5′ noncoding region of the gene were translationally fused to two promoterless reporter genes, encoding the enzymes chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) and β-glucuronidase (GUS). Reporter enzyme assays revealed the existence of an upstream segment required for maximal promoter function, the 5′ end of which is between-442 and-408 of the Pipt ATG codon. This upstream segment is required for maximal levels of GUS expression in roots, but not in other organs, and a tobacco suspension-cultured cell line. The implications of broad ipt expression on the process of crown gall tumorigenesis are discussed.
Average Triton Energy Deposited in Silicon per Electron-Hole Pair Produced

Average triton energy required to produce electron-hole pair in silicon measured, describing precision charge calibration of amplifier system