cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel regulation of the synthesis and release of human placental lactogen by high density lipoproteins

Summary Although hPL has striking similarities to growth hormone and prolactin, the factors that regulate the expression of hPL are, in large part, distinct from those that regulate the expression of the pituitary hormones. Recent studies strongly suggest the release of hPL during pregnancy may be regulated by HDL and apoAI, the major apolipoprotein constituent of HDL. Binding sites for HDL and apoAI are present on placental plasma membranes, but the high affinity binding sites do not appear to be important for the stimulation of hPL release. Pharmacological studies strongly suggest that both cAMP and phosphoinositide hydrolysis second messenger systems are involved in the regulation of HDL- and apoAI-mediated hPL expression.
Palliative esophageal intubation for carcinoma. A combined push-pull method.

The use of prosthetic tubes for palliation of esophageal carcinoma can be carried out with safety using a combined push-pull method. The advantages of simultaneous endoscopy and laparotomy are illustrated in two cases. For safe durable palliation, emphasis must be placed upon seating the tube under direct vision as well as upon the firm fixation of the tube to the abdominal wall to prevent its subsequent migration.
Estimation-informed, resource-aware robot navigation for environmental monitoring applications

Environmental monitoring of spatially-distributed geo-physical processes (e.g., temperature, pressure, or humidity) requires efficient sampling schemes, particularly, when employing an autonomous mobile agent to execute the sampling task. Many approaches have considered optimal sampling strategies which specialize in minimizing estimation error, while others emphasize reducing resource usage, yet rarely are both of these performance parameters used concurrently to influence the navigation. This work discusses how a spatial estimation process and resource awareness are integrated to generate an informed navigation policy for collecting useful measurement information. We also enable a direct comparison between this informed navigation method and more common approaches using two performance metrics. We show that our informed navigation outperforms these approaches based on performance evaluation as a function of estimation error and resource usage for a useful range of coverage within the sampling area.
Autophagy enhances NFκB activity in specific tissue macrophages by sequestering A20 to boost antifungal immunity

Immune activation must be carefully tuned to respond to infection and restrained to prevent tissue damage. Here the authors show that autophagy has a role in the immune response to Candida albicans, activating NFκB in macrophages by sequestering the NFκB inhibitor A20.
Possible central adenosinergic modulation of ethanol-induced alterations in [14C]glucose utilization in mice.

The possible role of brain adenosine in acute ethanol-induced alteration in glucose utilization in the whole brain, as well as in the specific brain areas (cerebellum and brain stem), was investigated. Mice were killed 20-min postethanol, and the fresh tissue slices (300 μm) of brain and/or specific brain areas were incubated for 100 min in a 5.5 mM glucose medium in Warburg flasks using [6- 14 C]glucose as a tracer. Trapped 14 CO 2 was counted to estimate glucose utilization. Ethanol (2 g/kg, ip) markedly increased the glucose utilization in whole brain and in both motor areas of brain. Theophylline (50 mg/kg, ip), an adenosine antagonist, significantly reduced ethanol-induced increase in glucose utilization in whole brain, as well as in brain areas. However, adenosine agonist N 6 -cyclohexyladenosine (CHA ; 0.1 mg/kg, ip) on the contrary, significantly accentuated ethanol-induced increase in glucose utilization in these tissues that was nearly completely blocked by theophylline pretreatment Theophylline alone did not produce any significant change in glucose utilization, whereas CHA alone (in vivo and in vitro) significantly increased glucose utilization, as well as ethanol-induced increase in glucose utilization in an additive manner. Relevant supportive data were obtained by experiments in which adenosine deaminase (ADA), p-sulfophenyltheophylline (8-SPT), and CHA were administered in vitro to the slice preparations. Both ADA and 8-SPT were effective in almost completely blocking the ethanol-induced increase in glucose utilization, whereas CHA further enhanced the ethanol-induced increase in glucose utilization in an additive manner. Collectively, data seemed to suggest an adenosinergic modulation of ethanol-induced increase in glucose utilization in whole brain, as well as in the cerebellum and brain stem via specific adenosine receptors.
Surface kinetics and energetics from single crystal adsorption calorimetry lineshape analysis: Methyl from methyl iodide on Pt(1 1 1)

Abstract The first use of single crystal adsorption calorimetry (SCAC) to probe the kinetics of surface chemical reactions is presented. It is applied to study a common situation encountered in catalytic mechanisms, wherein a gas quickly populates a molecularly adsorbed state that then converts to more stable products on a slower timescale (10–1000 ms). We show that for such a two-step process, detailed analysis of the heat-detector signal’s time-response lineshape to a single pulse of gas provides the rate constant for the second step and the heats of reaction for both of the elementary reactions. We apply this analysis to the dissociative adsorption of methyl iodide (CH3I) on Pt(1 1 1) at 270 K, to measure the heats of reaction for the elementary steps involved and the rate constant for the slow step, all as a detailed function of coverage. At low coverage, the reaction is CH3Ig → CH3Iad → CH3,ad + Iad, followed at high coverage by CH3,ad → CHad + 2Had and CH3,ad + Had → CH4,g (above 0.08 ML total CH3,ad plus Iad). These results provide the rate constant for the dissociation of CH3Iad and the heats of formation of both CH3,ad and CHad. These two heats agree with values determined at 320 K where the rates are so fast that lineshape analysis is not needed, proving the validity of the lineshape analysis method introduced here for analyzing SCAC data.
Cancer induction in hamsters by human type 12 adenovirus. Effect of route of injection.

SummaryTumors were induced at the site of injection of human type 12 adenovirus into newborn hamsters by each of the intrapulmonary, intrapleural, intraperitoneal, intravenous and subcutaneous routes, leading to death within 29 to 108 days. Whereas at higher doses of virus the subcutaneous route of injection was as effective as the other routes, at lower doses of virus it appeared less effective. For the intracranial route of injection, no local tumors were observed but one such hamster developed multiple abdominal tumors, and 3 developed hydrocephalus.Of 35 hamsters with tumors at the site of injection by various routes, remote tumors in the liver also developed in 10. Similar liver tumors were also found in 4 intravenously injected hamsters without a tumor at the site of intravenous injection. Of 7 hamsters administered virus by intranasal instillation, none have died of tumors in approximately 9 months to date.
Internal energy deposition in electron capture dissociation measured using hydrated divalent metal ions as nanocalorimeters.

Extensively hydrated divalent metal ions are used as nanocalorimeters to measure the internal energy deposition resulting from electron capture. For M(H2O)322+, M = Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba, two dissociation pathways are observed: loss of a water molecule from the precursor (∼6%) owing to activation from blackbody photons or collisions with residual background gas, and loss of between 9 and 11 water molecules from the reduced precursor formed by electron capture. The binding energy of a water molecule to the reduced precursor ions is estimated to be approximately 10 kcal/mol. From the distribution of water molecules lost, corrected for residual activation, the average and maximum internal energy deposited into these ions is determined to be ∼4.4 and ∼4.8−5.2 eV, respectively. The average internal energy deposition does not depend significantly on metal ion size (∼0.1 eV difference for Mg to Ba) despite the large (5.0 eV) difference in second ionization energies for the isolated atoms. Similar results were obta...
Insurance exposure and investment risks: Management and regulatory implications

Abstract By exposing itself to greater risks on invested funds the company can also increase its expected returns. Because there are risks involved with both the insurance and investment operations, a major problem for an insurance company is to determine just how the two types of risks are to be balanced. In an earlier paper the authors dealt with the relationships among growth in premiums written, insurance loss and investment return. In this paper the questions are revisited from a policyholder and regulatory point of view, and suggestions are made concerning the reaction of the firm under various postures the management may take towards risk.
Upregulation of miR21 and Repression of Grhl3 by Leptin Mediates Sinusoidal Endothelial Injury in Experimental Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Sinusoidal endothelial dysfunction (SED) has been found to be an early event in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) progression but the molecular mechanisms underlying its causation remains elusive. We hypothesized that adipokine leptin worsens sinusoidal injury by decreasing functionally active nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS)3 via miR21. Using rodent models of NASH, and transgenic mice lacking leptin and leptin receptor, results showed that hyperleptinemia caused a 4–5 fold upregulation of hepatic miR21 as assessed by qRTPCR. The upregulation of miR21 led to a time-dependent repression of its target protein Grhl3 levels as shown by western blot analyses. NOS3-p/NOS3 ratio which is controlled by Grhl3 was significantly decreased in NASH models. SED markers ICAM-1, VEGFR-2, and E-selectin as assessed by immunofluorescence microscopy were significantly up regulated in the progressive phases of NASH. Lack of leptin or its receptor in vivo, reversed the upregulation of miR21 and restored the levels of Grhl3 and NOS3-p/NOS3 ratio coupled with decreased SED dysfunction markers. Interestingly, leptin supplementation in mice lacking leptin, significantly enhanced miR21 levels, decreased Grhl3 repression and NOS3 phosphorylation. Leptin supplementation in isolated primary endothelial cells, Kupffer cells and stellate cells showed increased mir21 expression in stellate cells while sinusoidal injury was significantly higher in all cell types. Finally miR21 KO mice showed increased NOS3-p/NOS3 ratio and reversed SED markers in the rodent models of NASH. The experimental results described here show a close association of leptin-induced miR21 in aiding sinusoidal injury in NASH.
Fear of Anxiety in Fearful Adults: An Analysis of Heterogeneity Among Phobia Types

Fear of anxiety, the fear of developing physiological symptoms associated with anxiety, is investigated in this study and the extent to which fear of anxiety is differentially present in the various subtypes of specific phobias. Participants were 260 undergraduate students divided into those having fears corresponding to one of the specific phobia types and those having no reported fears. Participants completed a variety of measures including the Agoraphobic Cognitions Questionnaire and the Body Sensations Questionnaire. Results indicated fearful participants had more fear of anxiety than non-fearful participants. In addition, non-fearful participants reported significantly less frequent catastrophic cognitions than fearful participants of the situational and other types. Non-fearful control participants also reported less fear of bodily sensations than fearful participants of the animal and other subtypes. This study provides supporting evidence that the phenomenon of fear of anxiety is present in fears similar to specific phobias.
The Cleo Photon Shower Detector

We describe an electromagnetic shower detector which measures photon energies and positions, and provides charged particle tracking over a solid angle of 50% of 47? in the CLEO magnetic detector at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring. The detector is segmented into octants, each made of interleaved layers of proportional tubes and lead. The performance of the detector in an electron test beam and in initial e+e- annihilation experiments is discussed.
Application of Intelligent Algorithm to Transformer Optimal Design

The paper studies transformer optimal design, establishes optimal transformer model based on total owning cost. It adopts penalty function to process objective function with weighted coefficients. For prematurity and low speed of convergence of Simple Genetic Algorithm, improved adaptive genetic algorithm is adopted. It increases crossover and mutation rates, and improves fitness function. It is adopted to search for minimum total owning cost of transformer. The result shows that the algorithm performs well, increases converging speed and betters solution.
Nitrite distributions and dynamics at Station ALOHA

Abstract We used a chemiluminescence method to measure nitrite concentrations in the water column at the U.S. JGOFS/WOCE time-series station, ALOHA (22°45′ N, 158°W), from September 1989 to November 1993. We present a detailed time-series of nitrite in the upper 200 m in order to examine the dynamics of the primary nitrite maximum. Our results reveal a double-peaked structure to this feature that is consistent with a vertical separation of the reductive and oxidative microbial processes responsible for nitrite production. The possibility of using the nitrite content of this upper layer as an indicator of nitrogen export from the euphotic zone is explored and rejected. Midwater nitrite profiles (200–1000 m) show a supra-exponential decrease in concentration with depth and reveal month-to-month variability. Nitrite concentrations in deep waters (1000–4800 m) are in the nanomolar-subnanomolar range, and are similar to Atlantic data, arguing against significant basin-scale differences in the deep nitrite pool. Deep profiles also show measurable variability on both monthly and annual timescales. We speculate that this deep variability may be associated with nitrate reduction by sinking phytoplankton cells.
Luggage Tag Technique of Anatomic Fixation of Displaced Acromioclavicular Joint Separations

Acromioclavicular joint dislocations are common injuries in active individuals. Most of these injuries may be treated nonoperatively. However, many techniques have been described when surgical management is warranted. A recent biomechanical study favors anatomic reconstruction of the conoid and trapezoid ligaments and the acromioclavicular joint capsule, as opposed to the traditional technique of excision of the lateral end of clavicle and transfer of the coracoacromial ligament to the intramedullary canal of the distal clavicle. We present a modification of the anatomic fixation technique using a luggage tag method, which places a graft under the base of the coracoid. This procedure has been associated with few redisplacements of the distal clavicle, reliable pain relief, and minimal postoperative morbidity. We found the luggage tag technique provides anatomic fixation of the distal clavicle and restoration of coronal and sagittal plane stability to the injured acromioclavicular joint. This procedure should reduce the possibility of coracoid fracture and decreases the risk of hardware complications associated with reconstruction techniques that violate the base of the coracoid process.
The Impact of Severe Ionospheric Conditions on the Accuracy of Kinematic Position Estimation: Performance Analysis of Various Ionosphere Modeling Techniques

Reliable modeling of ionospheric delays is one of the most challenging aspects of network-based real-time kinematic GPS. Various ionospheric models derived from global, regional, and local permanently tracking networks have been developed to support positioning and ionospheric research. This paper provides an assessment of the quality and reliability of ionospheric models supporting ambiguity resolution and kinematic positioning under severe ionospheric conditions. A 24-hour data set is analyzed, with special emphasis on varying ionospheric conditions over 24 hours. The quality of the model-dependent ionospheric corrections, time required to fix the ambiguities, and quality of the resulting coordinates are discussed. It is shown that under severe ionospheric conditions the models, even those with high spatio-temporal resolution, fail to support ambiguity resolution. However, the frequency of ionospheric events of the strength comparable to the conditions tested here is very low, and reliable results were obtained using all tested models under quiet to moderate ionospheric conditions 71-99% of the time.
The conversion of leucine carbon into CO2, fatty acids and other products by adipose tissue

Abstract Epididymal adipose tissue was incubated with uniformly labeled [ 14 C]leucine, [2- 14 C]leucine, [1- 14 C]leucine, [3- 14 C]acetoacetate, or [1- 14 C]acetate. Each of these compounds is actively metabolized by adipose tissue, as evidenced by the generation of 14 CO 2 and [ 14 C]fatty acid. Conversion of leucine carbon to fatty acids (synthesis) was greatly favored over conversion to CO 2 (oxidation). Certain 14 C-labeled intermediates were isolated and identified. The acetoacetate moiety derived from leucine was found to be a more active precursor of [ 14 C]fatty acids than the acetate moiety. The metabolic pathways involved in fatty acid synthesis from leucine in adipose tissue are discussed.
Growth and characterization of nanocomposite yttria-stabilized zirconia with Ag and Mo

Abstract The effect of metal additions on the structure and properties of nanocrystalline yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thin films deposited by a hybrid magnetron sputtering/pulsed laser deposition technique was studied. The materials are candidates for use as adaptive, “chameleon” nanocomposites for tribological applications subjected to thermal cycling up to high (700 °C) temperatures. The composition, structure and mechanical properties of the films were characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron dispersive spectroscopy scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and nanoindentation. Increasing the metal content of the films by increasing the magnetron power resulted in decreased zirconia grain sizes for films with silver and/or molybdenum additions. The reduced zirconia grain size was attributed to a decrease in the ion-to-atom ratio during deposition. Unlike the YSZ–Ag films that exhibited reduced hardness with increasing metal content, YSZ–Mo film hardness increased from 12 to 17.5 GPa at 15 and 24 at.% molybdenum, respectively. Adding molybdenum to the films resulted in cracks and holes in the film surface indicative of molybdenum oxidation during processing. Adding both silver and molybdenum eliminated the undesirable surface features found in the YSZ–Mo films.
Direct aortic and subclavian access for transcatheter aortic valve replacement: decision making and technique.

can be visualized, the procedure should be undertaken cautiously, because the aorta is located in a deep place between the esophagus and thoracic vertebra. The aortas from which we harvested the adventitia were all normal tissues. Adventitia from aortas with various aortic disorders such as aortic aneurysm, aortic infection, aortic wall calcification, and rare diseases such as Marfan syndrome and Loeys-Dietz syndrome should be excluded. Constructing a no-treatment control group of patients with high BPF risk seems to be a good way to show the effectiveness of this procedure, but this is contrary to medical ethics.
Solutions to the Radiative Transport Equation for Non-uniform Media

A method for modeling the 3-D propagation of photons in non-uniform media based on the radiative transport equation is presented and demonstrated to work on homogeneous and heterogeneous tissue-like phantoms.
James 4.5 Reconsidered

Jas 4.5 poses several exegetical difficulties. Particularly elusive has been identifying the ‘scripture’ to which James refers. This article suggests a fresh translation and reading of vv. 5–6. It is argued that vv. 5b–6a constitute an indirect discourse construction. This is grammatically possible and best takes into account the paraenetic context of chapter 4. Further, the two main sections of these verses correspond functionally to the two cola of the quotation from Prov 3.34 in v. 6. Hence, vv. 5b–6a serve as an introductory gloss to the proverb designed to advance James's paraenetic aims.
Using the F-test for eigenvalue decomposition problems to find the statistically ‘optimal’ solution

A fundamental problem using linear inverse theory to solve geophysical problems using eigenvalue decomposition algorithms is to determine how many eigenvalues to include in the solution. If very small eigenvalues are included, the solution variance increases rapidly, particularly if zero-values eigenvalues are computed as positive small numbers and are misidentified. F-tests can be applied to a succession of solutions, each containing an incremental number of eigenvalues, to determine statistical significance of the data variance reduction. This methodology is widely used for multiple variable regression analysis, but has not been applied to eigenvalue problems. The F-test is a statistical criterion for choosing an ‘optimal’ solution along the trade-off curve of model resolution and model variance for a particular model parameterization.
On the Bound to the Memory of a Sequential Machine

Following Moore [1], consider a sequential machine (discrete, synchronius automata) having n states or less, m inputs, and p-possible outputs. The state that the machine is in at a given time depends only on the state at the previous time and the previous input. The output at a given time depends only on the current state. In addition the machine is strongly connected. That is to say, it is possible to take it from any state to any other state by means of some sequence of inputs. Finally, the machine is in reduced form, which may be taken to mean that it is not possible to design a sequential machine having fewer states whose behavior, in so far as its inputs and outputs are concerned, is identical with the behavior of the original machine. As a gedanken experiment, one may attempt to determine the table of state transitions and outputs of this machine (to within a renaming of its states) by applying inputs and observing the corresponding outputs. It is assumed that one does not just open up the machine and trace its circuits. What will be the length of this gedanken experiment? That is, how many inputs are needed?
Reversal of a female preference after visual exposure to a predator in the guppy,Poecilia reticulata

To test the hypothesis that female choice has been subject to direct selection by predators, it was investigated whether female guppies would switch their choice of mate from more to less conspicuous males after observing a potential predator. Social and sexual preferences of virgin females for each of two males differing in amount of carotenoid pigmentation (an ornamental trait) were measured both before and after visual exposure to a novel predatory cichlid. Females initially showed strong social and sexual preferences for the brighter of the two males. Preferred males also showed lower levels of fluctuating asymmetry in the area of carotenoid pigmentation and displayed at higher rates. After exposure to the cichlid, almost half of the females became sexually unreceptive, and the remainder showed a nearly unanimous sexual preference for the duller male. Control females that did not see the cichlid continued to prefer the brighter male. These results imply that predators have selected against females that mate with conspicuous males. They also suggest that predators can influence sexual selection on male ornaments proximately through their effects on female choice as well as by imposing mortality on conspicuous males. Both conclusions suggest that indirect selection on female preferences may not play a dominant role in this system.
Real-time thermal design of integrated circuit devices

A novel method for real-time thermal design of integrated circuits is presented. The method uses a multiple regression technique whose input is the thermal profile due to a unit heat source over an infinite multi-layered plate structure. The unit profile in two dimensions is calculated using the Fourier integral solution and matched to an equation having several parameters. The temperature profiles of rectangular device structures having the same layered composition are computed by superposing the profiles generated by the matched equation, shifted in position according to the source location and weighted by the source power. By using the proposed approach, it is possible to reduce the CPU time required by a factor of several hundred thousand compared to analytical approaches and numerical techniques. As a result, it is possible to perform IC (integrated circuit) thermal design at the chip level. >
Monolithic three-dimensional integrated circuits using carbon nanotube FETs and interconnects

We experimentally demonstrate, for the first time, monolithic three-dimensional integrated circuits consisting of multiple (up to three) layers of monolithically integrated circuits consisting of carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNFET) circuits and carbon nanotube (CNT) interconnects. These experimental demonstrations are made possible through a low-temperature (≪ 250°C) process, presented in this paper, for monolithic three-dimensional integration of CNFETs and CNT interconnects. Such a low-temperature process is enabled by low-temperature wafer-scale transfer of CNTs which decouples high-temperature CNT growth from low-temperature monolithic 3D integration.
Effect of soft contact lenses on limbal wound healing

Abstract Bilateral, 60° limbal wounds were made and sutured in 51 albino rabbits. A soft contact lens was then placed on the right eye post-operatively. Corneal wound strength studies were performed, after suture removal, on post-operative days 3, 5, 7, 8 and 14. Wounds in the eye wearing the contact lens were 35% stronger on post-operative day 3, and 136% stronger on post-operative day 5. However, this increase in wound strength was neutralized if sector iridectomies were performed at the wound site.
Fas-activated serine/threonine phosphoprotein (FAST) is a regulator of alternative splicing

Fas-activated serine/threonine phosphoprotein (FAST) is a survival protein that is tethered to the outer mitochondrial membrane. In cells subjected to environmental stress, FAST moves to stress granules, where it interacts with TIA1 to modulate the process of stress-induced translational silencing. Both FAST and TIA1 are also found in the nucleus, where TIA1 promotes the inclusion of exons flanked by weak splice recognition sites such as exon IIIb of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) mRNA. Two-hybrid interaction screens and biochemical analysis reveal that FAST binds to several alternative and constitutive splicing regulators, suggesting that FAST might participate in this process. The finding that FAST is concentrated at nuclear speckles also supports this contention. We show that FAST, like TIA1, promotes the inclusion of exon IIIb of the FGFR2 mRNA. Both FAST and TIA1 target a U-rich intronic sequence (IAS1) adjacent the 5′ splice site of exon IIIb. However, unlike TIA1, FAST does not bind to the IAS1 sequence. Surprisingly, knockdown experiments reveal that FAST and TIA1 act independently of one another to promote the inclusion of exon IIIb. Mutational analysis reveals that FAST-mediated alternative splicing is separable from the survival effects of FAST. Our data reveal that nuclear FAST can regulate the splicing of FGFR2 transcripts.
Binding of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac toxin to Manduca sexta aminopeptidase-N receptor is not directly related to toxicity.

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac δ-endotoxin specifically binds a 115-kDa aminopeptidase-N purified from Manduca sexta midgut. Cry1Ac domain III mutations were constructed around a putative sugar-binding pocket and binding to purified aminopeptidase-N and brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) was compared to toxicity. Q509A, R511A, Y513A, and 509–511 (QNR-AAA) eliminated aminopeptidase-N binding and reduced binding to BBMV. However, toxicity decreased no more than two-fold, indicating activity is not directly correlated with aminopeptidase-N binding. Analysis of toxin binding to aminopeptidase-N in M. sexta is therefore insufficient for predicting toxicity. Mutants retained binding, however, to another BBMV site, suggesting alternative receptors may compensate in vivo.
Turning students into ethical professionals

At the engineering school of the University of Virginia, a primary responsibility is turning students into ethical professionals, Three Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Engineering Criteria (EC 2000 outcomes are a primary focus of this effort. The three relevant ABET EC 2000 outcomes are: "f", which requires students to demonstrate an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility; "h", which requires an understanding the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context; and "j", which asks for knowledge contemporary issues. These outcomes are broad. In order to create more specific outcomes, it is important to talk about the types of knowledge and skills students need to acquire in order to become ethical practitioners. The work presented establishes a framework, dividing the knowledge that engineering students need into four categories, based loosely on M. Adler's Paiadeia principles (1982).
The accelerated corrosion of CuNi alloys in sulphide-polluted seawater: Mechanism no. 2

Abstract The corrosion behaviour of copper-nickel alloys in unpolluted and sulphide-polluted seawater has been investigated. It was demonstrated that the co-presence of sulphide and oxygen in seawater results in corrosion rates much higher than those measured when the alloy is exposed alternately to sulphide and oxygen. These high corrosion rates are comparable to the rates reported for the accelerated attack of these alloys in actual polluted estuary environments. This corrosion behavior could be modeled by considering the effect of oxygen and sulphide on the corrosion product. In aerated sulphide-polluted seawater accelerated corrosion appears to be the result of the sulphide preventing the formation of a protective oxide corrosion product layer. In the absence of a passive corrosion product, the anodic process proceeds unabated, supported by the cathodic reduction of oxygen, and extremely high corrosion rates result.
Mouse mast cell cytokine production: rôle in cutaneous inflammatory and immunological responses.

The role of mast cells in cutaneous physiology and pathology has long been a subject of intense speculation and great clinical interest. In this brief review, which is focused primarily on murine systems, we outline certain important aspects of the biology of the mast cell, including their ability to produce a variety of cytokines, describe the development of a model system (the "mast cell knock-in mouse") for studying the roles of cutaneous mast cells in biological responses in vivo, and illustrate a few examples of how this approach has been used to investigate the contributions of mast cells and their cytokines to cutaneous inflammatory or immune responses.
Lattice thermal conductivity in copper alloys

Abstract The thermal conductivity has been measured of a series of copper-zinc alloys in the range 4.2-1.1°K and the lattice part of the conductivity was determined. The value obtained for K ge is 1.1 × 10 −3 T 2 W/cm -deg, which is compared with the lattice thermal conductivity that can be deduced from ultrasonic measurements in pure copper. From this it is estimated that the shear thermal modes carry about 25 times as much heat as the longitudinal one. As expected theoretically, the shear wave interaction with electrons is found to be much smaller for thermal phonons than with ultrasonic waves. The residual electrical resistance was also measured in the same copper-zinc alloys.
Effects of veratridine and high potassium on micro-opioid receptor internalization in the rat spinal cord: stimulation of opioid release versus inhibition of internalization

Veratridine and high K+-induced micro-opioid receptor (MOR) internalization in rat spinal cord slices by evoking opioid release. Veratridine induced up to 75% MOR internalization but showed an atypical concentration-response: its effect increased steeply from 5 microM to 10 microM, and declined thereafter to disappear at 100 microM. At 100 microM, veratridine also inhibited of MOR internalization induced by exogenous endomorphin-2. This inhibition was caused by Na+ entry, since the Na+ ionophore monensin (50 microM) also inhibited endomorphin-induced MOR internalization. In contrast, veratridine induced neurokinin 1 receptor internalization (by evoking substance P release) without any inhibition at high concentrations. KCl evoked up to 80% MOR internalization, which disappeared in the presence of lidocaine or in the absence of peptidase inhibitors, indicating that it involved neuronal firing and peptide release. Unlike veratridine, KCl did not inhibit MOR internalization at high concentrations. However, both KCl and veratridine evoked more MOR internalization when applied for 2 min than for 20 min because of a direct inhibition of MOR internalization with the longer incubation times. These results show that short incubations with 20 microM veratridine or 30 mM KCl are optimal stimuli to evoke opioid release and MOR internalization in the spinal cord.
Spillover Between Work Attitudes and Overall Life Attitudes: Myth or Reality?

It is widely believed that work attitudes influence attitudes toward life overall. We investigated a multivariate model of work attitudes and overall life attitudes using survey data from two nationally representative (U.S.) data sets, one cross-sectional and one longitudinal. Including a comprehensive set of control variables, we found only weak support for the “attitudes spillover” perspective, suggesting that employees often compartmentalize or “segregate” their work and nonwork lives. We consider theoretical and practical implications of these findings.
Urinary Tract Infections: From Pathogenesis to Treatment

Community-acquired urinary tract infections in young sexually active women are discussed with respect to classification etiology pathogenesis both host and bacterial factors and treatment. About 6-7 million physician office visits and 250000 hospitalizations occur annually in the U.S. in this group. 20% of women have 3-6 re-infections. Those with over 10 cfu/ml are called acute cystitis and those with lower counts are referred to as acute urethral syndrome. Clinical presentation is often identical in the 2 subgroups. 10-50% also have occult pyelonephritis evidenced by positive ABC test. The acute dysuria cases are most common in women with more than 1 partner. E. coli strains originating from fecal contamination typically cause the infection; anatomic abnormalities occur in <5%. E. coli strains with bacterial virulence factors such as fimbrial adhesions hemolysin and aerobactin tend to be found in normal women with no predisposing host factors. E. coli without virulence factors are more often isolated from women who are compromised urologically or immunologically and those using vaginal diaphragms and spermicides or spermicides alone. Possibly spermicides raise the pH of the vaginal fluid destroy normal protective bacterial flora or affect the uroepithelial cell surfaces facilitating adhesion of E. coli. The only inherited host-specific factor associated with increased infection was non-blood-group-secretor status; secretors seem to resist adherence of E. coli to uroepithelium. Treatment is intended to reach therapeutic concentrations of antimicrobial in the urine for sufficient time without affecting the vaginal flora unless the vagina is also colonized by the organism. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for 10 days was more effective than single dose therapy. Treatment failure was correlated with diaphragm use and history of urinary infection within the preceding 6 weeks. 3 days of iv therapy initially in a 2-week course of therapy was effective for pyelonephritis.
‘Imperium in Imperio': Irish Episcopal Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century

The heavily Irish character of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, United Kingdom, and much of the former British Empire is evident. This was not, however, the necessary consequence of large-scale Irish emigration in the nineteenth-century. Rather, it was the result of a carefully-planned campaign to install Irish bishops in the several national hierarchies, a campaign which began in earnest in the United States from 1830, before effecting the Maritime provinces of British North America, the Cape of Good Hope, Australia, and New Zealand. Only Scotland was able - temporarily - to repel the Irish. This phenomenon was directed by Paul Cullen, in his successive roles as rector of the Irish College, Rome, archbishop of Armagh, and, from 1852, archbishop of Dublin. Cullen was able to use his influence at Rome to manipulate and control information regarding English-language conflicts. This allowed him to secure the appointment as bishops of a substantial number of his relatives, former students, and diocesan priests around the world. In every case save the Cape of Good Hope, this occurred in the face of determined opposition on the part of a pre-existing national hierarchy: French and German in the United States, Scots in Maritime Canada (and Scotland), English Benedictines in Australia, French Marists in New Zealand. Excepting Scotland, Cullen's bishops largely supplanted their predecessors. More than merely ethnically Irish, these bishops and many of their successors shared a distinctive Hiberno-Roman devotional and disciplinary model of Catholicism that became normative in the areas to which they were sent.
Effect of oxygen plasma and thermal oxidation on shallow nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond

We investigate the effect of two different surface treatments on shallow nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond. Short duration oxygen plasma exposure is found to damage near-surface NV centers, resulting in their disappearance in fluorescence images. Subsequent annealing creates large numbers of new NV centers, attributed to plasma-induced vacancy creation. By tracking individual NV centers during thermal oxidation, we show that oxidation at 550 °C results in modest improvement of spin coherence. Higher temperature oxidations correlate with gradual decline in spin coherence and eventual instability of NV centers before ultimate disappearance. This is indicative of a reduction of the NV-to-surface distance due to oxidative etching. Thermal oxidation can offer controlled access to near-surface NV spins at the nanometer scale, an important requirement for many applications of NV-based nanomagnetometry.
Tissue polarity genes of Drosophila regulate the subcellular location for prehair initiation in pupal wing cells

The Drosophila wing is decorated with a regular array of distally pointing hairs. In the pupal wing, the hairs are formed from micro-villus like prehairs that contain large bundles of actin filaments. The distal orientation of the actin bundles reveals the proximal-distal polarity within the pupal wing epithelium. We have used F-actin staining to examine early stages of prehair development in both wild-type and mutant pupal wings. We have found a striking correlation between hair polarity and the subcellular location for assembly of the prehair. In a wild-type wing, all of the distally pointing hairs are derived from prehairs that are formed at the distal vertex of the hexagonally shaped pupal wing cells. Mutations in six tissue polarity genes result in abnormal hair polarity on the adult wing, and all also alter the subcellular location for prehair initiation. Based on their cellular phenotypes, we can place these six genes into three phenotypic groups. Double mutant analysis indicates that these phenotypic groups correspond to epistasis groups. This suggests that the tissue polarity genes function in or on a pathway that controls hair polarity by regulating the subcellular location for prehair formation.
Hexagonally Patterned Lamellar Morphology in ABC Triblock Copolymer/Aluminosilicate Nanocomposites

X-ray scattering and electron microscopy were used to characterize the structure of poly(ethylene-alt-propylene-block-ethylene oxide-block-n-hexyl methacrylate) (PEP-b-PEO-b-PHMA) triblock copolyme...
The effect of dissociation energies on thin film nucleation kinetics

Abstract Dissociation energies of small clusters have for the first time been incorporated into a set of rate equations to calculate nucleation rate, cluster density and condensation coefficients for thin film nucleation. Without considering dimers and larger clusters to be mobile, good quantitative agreement was obtained between the theoretical predictions described in this paper and the experimental results of Velfe et al. for Au deposition on NaCl [Thin Solid Films 98 (1982) 115]. The major findings of this study are: (1) the Au dimer dissociation energy is much smaller than has previously been assumed and (2) steady state with equilibrium monomer density is generally not a valid assumption for condensation on a defect-free substrate. It is also found that current use of rate equations violates the mass balance law.
Risk and protective factors associated with symptoms of post-traumatic stress, depression, and alcohol misuse in OEF/OIF veterans.

ABSTRACTMilitary personnel returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan commonly experience mental health problems and efforts are underway to determine risk and protective factors associated with postdeployment mental health concerns. This study examined the contribution of trait neuroticism, predeployment life events, combat experience, perceptions of threat, and postdeployment social support on mental health symptoms at 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months postdeployment. Two hundred seventy-one veterans completed self-report measures. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that neuroticism predicted post-traumatic stress and depressive symptoms at all 3 time points; perceived threat predicted post-traumatic stress symptoms at Time 1 and Time 2 and depressive symptoms at Time 2. Social support was a strong negative predictor of post-traumatic stress and depressive symptoms. Alcohol misuse was not significantly predicted by any of the variables. The present study highlights the role of perc...
α-6-deoxyoxytetracycline. III. Total and unbound antibiotic serum concentrations after oral administration to mice.

Summary1. The results of mouse serum level studies are presented in terms of total and unbound antibiotic concentrations. DOOTC administered at one-half the oral dosage of MOTC, TC, and DMCT produced higher and longer lasting total and unbound drug concentrations than the latter antibiotics. 2. It is suggested that the previously reported chemotherapeutic superiority of DOOTC over these drugs results from the achievement and maintenance of superior unbound drug levels. 3. The more efficient oral absorption of DOOTC over the other tetracyclines (3.5-4.5 times) in the mouse was demonstrated by comparing cummulative urinary excretion ratios obtained after oral and intravenous drug administration.
The Reluctant Retained Witness: Alleged Sexual Misconduct in the Doctor/Patient Relationship

Testifying as an expert ethics witness raises a number of important issues. These include: the prospect of generating adverse publicity for oneself and one's institution, avoiding bias, giving testimony that is at odds with testimony given by colleagues, potential conflicts of interest introduced by reimbursement, the need of those who hear the testimony of bioethicists to appreciate the nature of moral expertise, the difficulty of assessing the quality of legal evidence which emerges from adversarial legal proceedings, and the need to consider what weight should be assigned to expert ethics testimony. Along with these issues, what might constitute sexual misconduct is addressed in the essay so that readers can review the decision-making of the author in two cases.
News use of mobile media: A contingency model

A mobile contingency model is introduced and used to guide hypotheses about how the strength of people’s habits for using an incumbent medium (here, print newspapers), their degree of adoption of a...
Segmented PCA and JPEG2000 for hyperspectral image compression

Principal component analysis (PCA) is the most efficient spectral decorrelation approach for hyperspectral imagery. In conjunction with JPEG2000 for optimal bit allocation and spatial coding, the resulting PCA+JPEG2000 can yield superior rate-distortion performance and the following data analysis performance. However, the involved overhead bits consumed by the large transformation matrix may affect the performance at low bitrates, particularly when the image spatial size is relatively small compared to the spectral dimension. In this paper, we propose to apply the segmented principal component analysis (SPCA) to mitigate this effect. The resulting SPCA+JPEG200 may improve the compression performance even when PCA+JPEG2000 is applicable.
Genetic variation in salt tolerance at the seedling stage in an interspecific backcross inbred line population of cultivated tetraploid cotton

Soil salinity reduces cotton growth, yield, and fiber quality and has become a serious problem in the arid southwestern region of the Unites States. Development and planting of salt-tolerant cultivars could ameliorate the deleterious effects. The objective of this study was to assess the genetic variation of salt tolerance and identify salt tolerant genotypes in a backcross inbred line (BIL) population of 142 lines from a cross of Upland (Gossypium hirsutum) × Pima cotton (G. barbadense) at the seedling growth stage. As compared with the non-saline (control) conditions, seedlings under the salinity stress (200 mM NaCl) showed a significant reduction in all the plant growth characteristics measured, as expected. Even though the two parents did not differ in salt response as measured by percent reduction, significant genotype variations in the BIL population were detected for all traits except for leaf number. Based on percent reduction of the traits measured, several BILs were more salt tolerant than both parents. The results indicate that transgressive segregation occurred during the process of backcrossing and selfing even though both parents were not salt tolerant during seedling growth. Coefficients of correlation between all the traits were significantly positive, indicating an association between the traits measured. The estimates of broad-sense heritability were 0.69, 0.46, 0.47, 0.43, and 0.49 for plant height, fresh weight of shoot and root, and dry weight of shoot and root, respectively, indicating that salt tolerance during cotton seedling growth is moderately heritable and environmental variation plays an equally important role. The overall results demonstrate that backcrossing followed by repeated self-pollination is a successful strategy to enhance salt tolerance at the seedling stage by transferring genetic factors from Pima to Upland cotton.