cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The application of immunocytochemistry to direct smears in the diagnosis of effusions.

Metastatic malignancy represents a common cause of effusions. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) is useful in confirming malignancy and gaining insight into the site of origin. Cell blocks are commonly utilized for this purpose; nonetheless, when the malignant cells are sparse, they may not be represented in cell blocks thereby precluding immunophenotypic characterization. Thus, we sought to investigate the utility of direct smear preparations as a platform for ICC in the diagnosis of effusions. Air-dried, unstained direct smears were prepared from 49 malignant effusions and 17 reactive effusions for comparison. ICC for EMA and MOC-31 highlighted the tumor cells in 91 and 98% of the malignant effusions tested, respectively. EMA immunoreactivity was focally observed within the calretinin-positive mesothelial cell population in 1 (6%) of the 17 reactive effusions. ICC for MOC-31 was negative in all reactive effusions. Site-specific immunomarkers were also evaluated. Immunoreactivity for Napsin-A and TTF-1 were observed in 78 and 67% of metastatic lung adenocarcinomas, respectively. ICC for PAX8 highlighted metastatic Mullerian and thyroid carcinomas in 100% of cases tested. CDX-2 immunoreactivity was observed in 25, 60, and 100% of metastatic gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal adenocarcinomas, respectively. Positivity for p63 was observed in 75% of metastatic urothelial cell carcinomas and the one case of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma examined. Calretinin ICC highlighted the tumor cells in both malignant mesothelioma cases tested as well as the benign mesothelial cells in the reactive effusions. In conclusion, direct smears represent an effective platform for the performance of ICC in the diagnosis of malignant effusions. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Toward modeling age-related changes of attentional abilities in rats: simple and choice reaction time tasks and vigilance.

Abstract Fischer-344 rats aged 4, 12, or 18 months were trained in a simple or choice reaction time task (SRTT: CRTT). Animals were required to detect a brief (50 ms), rarely, and unpredictably occurring signal that was presented either at the central panel light (SRTT) or above one of the two levers (CRTT). Animals reported detection by pressing either lever (SRTT) or the cued lever (CRTT) within 3 s. False alarm rates were obtained from a nonsignal 3-s bin. In comparison to younger animals, 18-month-old animals showed a reduced signal detectability, and this effect did not interact with practice. These results suggest that age affected vigilance and practice did not attenuate this effect. The benzodiazepine receptor agonist chlordiazepoxide (at subsedative doses; 1, 3, and 5 mg/kg) and the s-carboline ZK 93 426 (1, 3, and 5 mg/kg) failed to affect signal detectability. Scopolamine HBr and MBr impaired detectability and responsivity to a similar extent However, scopolamine MBr, unlike the tertiary compound, failed to affect response accuracy in the CRTT. It is speculated that the failure of chlordiazepoxide to affect performance was related to low processing demands of both tasks. Although these behavioral models show good face validity, they do not allow determination of the major components of attentional processes (perceptual sensitivity, response criterion, processing capacity). Animal behavioral paradigms that allow determination of such components are required for the investigation of the neuronal basis of age-related changes in attentional abilities.
The empirical significance of the real balance effect

Abstract This paper investigates the empirical significance of the real-balance effect (RBE) via a small scale econometric model with real balances included in both the investment and the consumption functions. Both the method of analysis and the results differ from previous work on the RBE which investigated its impact on consumption alone. The main conclusion is that the RBE may have a significantly stronger stabilizing effect than previous empirical work would suggest. The results also suggest that policy-induced wealth effects may play a significant role in monetary policy.
Current update in asian rhinoplasty.

Cosmetic surgery is very popular in certain parts of Asia and is becoming much more accepted by Asians in other continents as well. The tremendous growth of cosmetic surgery in the Asian population is largely due to Western influence and the strength of native economies along with globalization. Rhinoplasty and blepharoplasty are two of the most common cosmetic surgical procedures among Asians.1 Since the first report of rhinoplasty in Asians by Khoo2 in 1964, the popularity of this operation has skyrocketed and many technical refinements have occurred. This article will review various facets of Asian rhinoplasty as it is practiced today. Asia is the largest of the continents and has numerous ethnic groups.1 More than half of the world’s population resides in Asia. Although many countries use the term “Asian” referring to people living on that continent, in reality, Asian usually refers to peoples of East, Southeast, and South Asia. Inhabitants of Southwest Asia, such as Arabs and Iranians, are more commonly designated Middle Easterners.3 The term Asian as used in this article refers to people from Asia who have a Mongoloid background (Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Filipinos, Indonesians, and others). Asians tend to be stereotyped, especially by Westerners, as people with thick yellow skin, black hair, a wide nose with a low dorsum, and narrow puffy eyes.4 However, considerable ethnic nasal and facial variations exist among the people of Asia. For instance, people of Japanese ancestry tend to have noses with adequate dorsal height, angularity, and even dorsal convexity, whereas Chinese noses tend to be flatter with minimal projection.5,6 Migration of people with marriage between races has also resulted in further ethnic variations. Therefore, each Asian patient undergoing rhinoplasty must be properly evaluated as the vital components for a successful outcome will vary from patient to patient. The Asian concept of beauty has changed over the years largely due to the influence of Western culture.1 Many females, especially in East Asia, seek larger eyes, a higher nose with more definition, and a smaller face. However, they still want to preserve their ethnic identity by refining their Asian features rather than totally Westernizing their appearance.7,8 Therefore, surgeons performing Asian rhinoplasty must seek to deliver the ideals of this procedure while still maintaining the essential features of each ethnic group.
Nicotine Absorption from Smokeless Tobacco Modified to Adjust pH

Introduction: Nicotine delivery from smokeless tobacco (ST) products leads to addiction and the use of ST causes pathology that is associated with increased initiation of cigarette smoking. The rapid delivery of nicotine from ST seems to be associated with the pH of the aqueous suspension of the products - high pH is associated with high nicotine absorption. However, early studies compared nicotine absorption from different commercial products that not only differed in pH but in flavoring, nicotine content, and in format-pouches and loose tobacco. Methods: The present study compared nicotine absorption from a single unflavored referent ST product (pH 7.7) that was flavored with a low level of wintergreen (2 mg/g) and the pH was amended to either high (8.3) or low (5.4) pH with sodium carbonate or citric acid, respectively. Results: In a within-subject clinical study, the higher pH products delivered more nicotine. No significant differences were seen between perceived product strengths and product experience in all conditions. Heart rate increased by 4 to 6 beats per minute after the high pH flavored and the un-amended product but did not change after the low pH flavored product. Conclusions: These results indicate that pH is a primary determinant of buccal nicotine absorption. The role of flavoring and other components of ST products in nicotine absorption remain to be determined.
Variation Analyses Using SugarCube

In this paper, we present new variation analysis features added to SugarCube. SugarCube is a novice-friendly online CAD tool for exploring the design space of compact MEMS models. Such variation analysis can help to evaluate the bounded effects of unavoidable process variations during the fabrication (such as Young’s modulus, overcut, gap asymmetry, etc.), packaging (such as variations in temperature, expansion coefficients, etc.), and operation (such as variations in voltage sources, etc.). Compared to other software tools for MEMS, the benefits of variation analysis in SugarCube include its comprehensiveness, ease of use, speed, and accessibility. In SugarCube, any geometric, material, or excitation parameter may be easily explored for its effect on device performance. Such analysis is expected to benefit feasibility analyses on process survivability, process yield, and operational robustness. For a couple of test cases, we perform our variation analysis on a micro-scale accelerometer and gyroscope.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The Taylor-Galerkin discontinuous finite element method—An explicit scheme for nonlinear hyperbolic conservation laws

Abstract A two-dimensional Taylor-Galerkin discontinuous finite element method for the computation of weak solutions of nonlinear hyperbolic conservation laws is presented. Linear stability is investigated numerically. The resulting scheme is explicit and solves the problem element by element. Extensive numerical tests show second-order convergence of the solution to the entropy one. The numerical solutions imply the total variation diminishing property when the extended flux limiter is applied.
CRACK GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT DURING CREEP OF BARRE GRANITE

Abstract Sample of Barre granite were subjected to a uniaxial stress equal to 87% of their fracture strength for various lengths of time. Crack growth and development as a function of time under load was studied with the scanning electron microscope. New stress-induced cracks appear to be continuously generated. Average crack lengths increased with time as much or more than they did upon loading, but average crack widths remained relatively unchanged, suggesting that cracks close down to an equilibrium value after the sample has been unloaded. Crack interaction with other cavities seemed to increase in time as the numbers of individual cracks increased, until near the onset of tertiary creep crack coalescence may have become more important than the slow growth of individual cracks. The tensile character of stress-induced cracks and other observatios by Tapponnier and Brace [7] were confirmed. There may be a difference in the mode of crack development between tests at constant stress and tests at constant strain rate. Differences in inelastic strain and acoustic emission generated in the two test types also suggest this.
Mu-opioid and corticotropin-releasing-factor receptors show largely postsynaptic co-expression, and separate presynaptic distributions, in the mouse central amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

Abstract The anxiolytic effects of opiates active at the mu-opioid receptor (μ-OR) may be ascribed, in part, to suppression of neurons that are responsive to the stress-associated peptide, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), in the central amygdala (CeA) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). The corticotropin releasing factor receptor (CRFr) and μ-OR are expressed in both the CeA and BNST, but their subcellular relationship to each other is not known in either region. To address this question, we used dual electron microscopic immunolabeling of μ-OR and CRFr in the mouse lateral CeA and anterolateral BNST. Immunolabeling for each receptor was detected in the same as well as in separate somatic, dendritic and axonal profiles of neurons in each region. CRFr had a plasmalemmal or cytoplasmic distribution in many dendrites, including those co-expressing μ-OR. The co-expression of CRFr and μ-OR also was seen near excitatory-type synapses on dendritic spines. In both the CeA and BNST, over 50% of the CRFr-labeled dendritic profiles (dendrites and spines) contained immunoreactivity for the μ-OR. However, less than 25% of the dendritic profiles containing the μ-OR were labeled for CRFr in either region, suggesting that opiate activation of the μ-OR affects many neurons in addition to those responsive to CRF. The dendritic profiles containing CRFr and/or μ-OR received asymmetric, excitatory-type synapses from unlabeled or CRFr-labeled axon terminals. In contrast, the μ-OR was identified in terminals forming symmetric, inhibitory-type synapses. Thus, in both the CeA and BNST, μ-OR and CRFr have strategic locations for mediation of CRF and opioid effects on the postsynaptic excitability of single neurons, and on the respective presynaptic release of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. The commonalities in the synaptic location of both receptors in the CeA and BNST suggest that this is a fundamental cellular association of relevance to both drug addiction and stress-induced disorders.
Topological insulators with commensurate antiferromagnetism

We study the topological features of noninteracting insulators subject to an antiferromangetic (AFM) Zeeman field, or AFM insulators, the period of which is commensurate with the lattice period. These insulators can be classified by the presence/absence of an emergent antiunitary symmetry: the combined operation of time reversal and a lattice translation by vector $\mathbf{D}$. For AFM insulators that preserve this combined symmetry, regardless of any details in lattice structure or magnetic structure, we show that (i) there is a new type of Kramers' degeneracy protected by the combined symmetry; (ii) a new ${Z}_{2}$ index may be defined for three-dimensional (3D) AFM insulators, but not for those in lower dimensions, and (iii) in 3D AFM insulators with a nontrivial ${Z}_{2}$ index, there are odd number of gapless surface modes if and only if the surface termination also preserves the combined symmetry, but the dispersion of surface states becomes highly anisotropic if the AFM propagation vector becomes small compared with the reciprocal lattice vectors. We numerically demonstrate the theory by calculating the spectral weight of the surface states of a 3D topological insulator in the presence of AFM fields with different propagation vectors, which may be observed by ARPES in Bi${}_{2}$Se${}_{3}$ or Bi${}_{2}$Te${}_{3}$ with induced antiferromagnetism.
A Role for T Cell CD4 in Contact Mediated T Dependent B Cell Activation

Abstract Using a monoclonal antibody to CD4 we have shown that occupation of CD4 on T cells induces a strong dose dependent inhibition of in vitro IgM plaque forming cell (PFC) response of spleen cells to the T dependent antigen (Ag), sheep red blood cells (SRBC), in Mishell–Dutton cultures. This inhibitory effect is not due simply to nonspecific perturbation or Fc binding, since F(ab) fragments of anti-CD4 are as potent as the intact antibodies, whereas antibodies to class I molecules or T cell CD5 have no effect. The anti-CD4 antibody appears to block contact dependent interaction between T and B cells and this inhibitory effect cannot be overcome by cytokines. Anti-CD4 did not inhibit the PFC response to the T independent antigen, trinitrophenylated lipopolysaccharide. The anti-CD4 antibody prevented the interaction of preactivated fixed SRBC specific T helper cells with B cells, suggesting that CD4 had a role in contact mediated interactions between T cells and B cells. Surprisingly, antibodies to CD40L failed to inhibit the SRBC specific PFC response. Thus CD4 appears to be an important molecule required for cognate interactions between T and B cells that are needed to generate an Ag specific PFC response.
Environmental regulation of oocyte growth in the bay scallop Aequipecten irradians Lamarck.

Temperatur- und Futtereinfluss auf das Gonadenwachstum von Winter- und SommerkammmuschelnAequipecten irradians Lamarck.
Combining cancer vaccines with chemotherapy

Clinical experience is now demonstrating the efficacy of combining chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Although the combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy would at first seem to be counterp...
Impact of Composition upon Ordered Membrane Domain(“Raft”) Formation by Lipids from Pathogenic Bacteria

Co-existing ordered (raft) and disordered membrane domains have been indentified in the outer membrane of the pathogenic bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium which causes Lyme disease. Co-existing ordered and disordered membranes can also be detected into B. burgdorferi lipid extracts. However, unlike eukaryotic cells, B. burgdorferi lack sphingolipids, which are crucial component of eukaryotic rafts. In order to understand the basis of domain formation in this organism we have isolated the major lipids of B. burgdorferi by thin layer chromatography, and have initiated studies of their physical properties when dispersed in aqueous solutions. We have found that mixtures of the predominant lipids found in B. burgdorferi, namely, ACGal, a lipid in which a fatty acyl chain and cholesterol are linked to galactose, monogalactosyldiglyceride (MGalD) with phosphatidylcholine (PC) can form ordered domains with thermal stabilities similar to that in whole lipid extracts. However, for individual lipid aqueous dispersions domain formation and/or stability is very different than in whole lipid extracts. Combinations of B. burgdorferi lipids are being studied to identify which lipid are necessary and sufficient for the formation of co-existing ordered and disordered domains in this bacterium and related ones.
Pure strategy equilibria in games with countable actions

Abstract In this paper, we extend the Radner–Rosenthal theorem with finite action spaces on the existence of a pure strategy equilibrium for a finite game to the case that the action space is countable and complete. We also prove the existence of a pure strategy equilibrium for a game with a continuum of players of finite types and with a countable and complete action space. To work with the countably infinite action spaces, we prove some regularity properties on the set of distributions induced by the measurable selections of a correspondence with a countable range by using the Bollobas–Varopoulos extension of the marriage lemma.
Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of (Meth)acrylates from Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Macroinitiators

The atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of (meth)acrylates from poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) macroinitiators is described. Hydrosilylation of commercially available difunctional hydrosilyl terminal PDMS (Mw/Mn > 1.3) with allyl- or 3-butenyl 2-bromoisobutyrate resulted in the macroinitiators. Linear semilogarithmic kinetic plots were obtained for the ATRP of acrylates and methacrylates. A nonlinear dependence of molecular weight on conversion was ascribed to a high concentration of low molecular weight chains not readily observed in the size exclusion chromatograph using THF as eluent. Well-defined monofunctional, low-polydispersity PDMS macroinitiators were synthesized by the anionic ring-opening polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane. ATRP of acrylates and methacrylates from those compounds showed linear increases in Mn with conversion, demonstrating the effectiveness of ATRP to synthesize a variety of inorganic/organic polymer hybrids. A monofunctional poly(styrene-b-dimethylsiloxane) ma...
Immortalization phenotype dissociated from the preneoplastic phenotype in mouse mammary epithelial outgrowths in vivo

Mouse mammary epithelial cells (MMEC) isolated from normal virgin BALB/c female mice and grown in cell culture for various lengths of time were injected into the mammary fat pads of syngenic mice. Of the ductal outgrowths which resulted from the injected MMEC, four gave rise to outgrowths that were serially transplanted beyond the lifetime of normal ductal outgrowths. The lifetime of normal ducts is five or six transplant generations. The four ductal outgrowth lines, termed EL for 'extended life', have been serially transplanted for 7, 9, 13 and 14 transplant generations. The outgrowths are predominantly ductal in morphology, do not exhibit intraductal epitheliosis characteristic of ductal hyperplasias, are ovarian dependent for growth and are responsive to prolactin-mediated alveolar differentiation. Three of the EL lines, EL5, 7 and 11 have not produced any tumors spontaneously (0/64) and only one tumor after dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) treatment (1/30). The fourth line, EL12, differs from the other three in the presence of a limited degree of alveolar differentiation. The EL12 line has not produced any spontaneous tumors (0/23) but is somewhat more responsive to DMBA (3/10). We interpret the EL lines (at least EL11 and EL12) to represent cell populations where the immortalized phenotype is dissociated from the hyperplastic phenotype which is characteristic of mouse mammary preneoplastic populations. The tumor suppressor gene, p53, is not overexpressed in the EL ductal outgrowths. To our knowledge, this is the first example of cell populations in vivo that are immortalized but otherwise normal. As such, they may represent the earliest stage observable in the genesis of mouse mammary tumors and provide unique cell populations to examine molecular alterations associated with the property of immortality.
Order release planning in a job shop using a bi-directional simulation algorithm

Order release is an important job shop scheduling function that plans and controls the release of jobs to the shop floor. Deterministic simulation has been proposed to determine order release times with either a forward or a reversed approach. We develop a bi-directional algorithm that always starts and ends with a forward simulation run, and the algorithm includes a number of additional reversed and forward runs in between the first and last runs. A reversed simulation run determines potential job release times, and these potential times become actual release times when they are all non-negative. When one or more potential release times are negative, the algorithm modifies them to specify job release times for the succeeding forward simulation run. The last forward simulation run determines the job completion times. Experimental results show that the bi-directional simulation algorithm produces a significantly improved mean flow time, and the algorithm can improve mean tardiness in some cases.
The Mughals, the Sufi Shaikhs and the Formation of the Akbari Dispensation

This essay places Mughal–Sufi relationship within a larger sixteenth century context, focusing on the strategies the early Mughals adopted to build their power in India. It reviews the positions of the two important sufi groups, the Indian Chishtis and the Central Asian Naqshbandis, juxtaposing the political benefits or the loss that the Mughals saw in their associations with them. While the Naqshbandi worldview and the legacy of the legendary Ubaid Allah Ahrar clashed with their vision of power, in the Chishti ideology, on the other hand, they found a strong support for themselves. The Chishtis then had an edge at the time of Akbar. But the Naqshbandis under Khwaja Baqi Billah (d. 1603) continued in their endeavour to reinstate their place in Mughal India. The paper thus provides a backdrop and makes a plea for re-evaluating the debate on the ideology and politics of Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi (d. 1624).
Initial Phase Formation During Interdiffusion

In multiphase materials systems involved in coatings, composites or multilayered structures, diffusion treatments often results in the development of intermediate phases at the reaction interfaces. While diffusional growth of phases has received much attention, the initial phase evolution involves a nucleation stage as well. The development of metastable phases during solid state interdiffusion demonstrates that the nucleation reaction can be controlling in some cases. For alloy systems with extensive solubility, intermediate phase nucleation is proceeded by interdiffusional mixing in order to achieve the required supersaturation. This leads to the identification of a critical concentration gradient for the onset of phase nucleation.The concentration gradient and the relative magnitudes of the component diffusivities provide a basis for a phase selection strategy and the application of a kinetic bias to modify the phase selection. For multicomponent alloy systems, the identification of the operative diffusion pathway is central to the control of phase formation. Experimental access to the nucleation stage of reaction is facilitated in thin film multilayer samples where the results from systems with both extensive and limited solubility offer new insight into the phase formation kinetics.
Effect of light on the weight of the pineal organ in hypophysectomized, gonadectomized, adrenalectomized or thiouracil-fed rats.

A study of the effect of continuous light on the weight of the pineal organ in rats following gonadectomy, hypophysectomy or adrenalectomy, and in animals fed thiouracil, was undertaken in an effort to determine whether or not the reduction in pineal weight induced by light is hormone-dependent. Immediately after the removal of their gonads, adrenals or pituitaries, or with the institution of a thiouracil diet, 307 22-day-old male and/or female rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain were placed in continuous light or under usual day-night conditions. Nine to 10 weeks later, body and pineal weights were taken, as well as thyroid weights in the thiouracil series. The weight of the pineal body was found to be reduced significantly in all animals housed in continuous light, indicating that this change is mediated through the central nervous system and is not dependent upon secretions of the pituitary, the gonads, the adrenals or the thyroid. A slight increase in the pineal weight of gonadectomized animals under us...
Effect of Obesity on Cardiac Function in Children and Adolescents: A Review

Increases in cardiac mass, ventricular dimensions, and stroke volume are typically observed in obese adults, accompanied by evidence of diminished ventricular systolic and diastolic function. Given sufficient severity and duration of excessive body fat, signs of overt congestive heart failure may ensue (cardiomyopathy of obesity). This review of cardiac findings in obese children and adolescents indicates similar anatomic features as well as early subclinical findings of ventricular dysfunction. However, cardiac functional reserve (cardiovascular fitness) appears to be preserved even in those with morbid levels of obesity.
Use of Dissolved Helium as an Environmental Water Tracer

This study deals with the development, calibration, and testing of an automated technology for using helium as a water tracer in continuous real-time monitoring. The instrument combines a gas extraction system and a helium mass spectrometer. The technology was tested in laboratory pipe, open-water, and porous- media experiments, and the results were used to test helium breakthrough curves against those for salinity expressed by electrical conductivity. The instrument promptly responds to concentration changes. In general, accurate results were obtained for first arrival times and peaks of solutes, as well as for the dispersive characteristics of the breakthrough curves. The accuracy of the elution curves needs some improvement due to limitations of the helium extraction system. In addition, the developed method is sensitive to the water flow rate and nitrogen pressure used in extracting helium from the solution. These issues can be addressed through calibration. Potential improvements are possible through the use of more precise helium concentration quantification equipment and through enhancement of the extraction method. The success of the methodology makes helium an attractive tracer for use near drinking water sources, in environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands and fish farms, and near recreational or other areas where a esthetics are a concern.
Phosphodiesterase inhibitors suppress proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and interleukin-4 and -5 secretion by human T-helper type 2 cells

It has been suggested that interleukin-4 and -5 (IL-4 and IL-5) are instrumental in the control of allergic disease. Elevated levels of IL-4 messenger RNA (mRNA) have been detected in numerous foci of atopic activity, including bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from atopic asthmatics and skin of atopic dermatitis patients. IL-5 is important in eosinophil activation, which is a common feature of atopic disease. IL-5 mRNA has been detected in BAL fluid from both atopic and non-atopic asthmatics, indicating that IL-5 may be a common feature of the two disease states. Production of IL-4 and IL-5 by T cells appears to be associated with a high affinity cyclic AMP (cAMP) phosphodiesterase (PDE). This study was designed to compare the effects of PDE inhibitors Ro20-1724 and theophylline on (1) the mitogenic response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from atopic and non-atopic individuals and (2) secretion of IL-4 and IL-5 by TH(2) cells after activation with PMA and anti-CD3. Both Ro20-1724 and theophylline inhibited proliferation of PBMC in a dose-dependent manner. There was no significant difference between proliferation of PBMC from atopic versus non-atopic donors, but Ro20-1724, a specific PDE IV inhibitor, was more potent at a concentration of 10(-5)M than theophylline in suppressing lymphocyte proliferation. Similarly, both PDE inhibitors suppressed secretion of IL-4 and IL-5 from TH(2)-like cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, as Ro20-1724 and theophylline inhibit proliferation of PBMC and secretion of IL-4 and IL-5 from human TH(2) cell lines, the development of a selective cyclic nucleotide PDE IV inhibitor may provide a promising new approach for asthma prophylaxis.
Are melanized feather barbs stronger

Melanin has been associated with increased resistance to abrasion, decreased wear and lowered barb breakage in feathers. But, this association was inferred without considering barb position along the rachis as a potentially confounding variable. We examined the cross-sectional area, breaking force, breaking stress, breaking strain and toughness of melanized and unmelanized barbs along the entire rachis of a primary feather from an osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Although breaking force was higher for melanized barbs, breaking stress (force divided by cross-sectional area) was greater for unmelanized barbs. But when position was considered, all mechanical differences between melanized and unmelanized barbs disappeared. Barb breaking stress, breaking strain and toughness decreased, and breaking stiffness increased, distally along the rachis. These proximal-distal material property changes are small and seem unlikely to affect flight performance of barbs. Our observations of barb bending, breaking and morphology, however, lead us to propose a design principle for barbs. We propose that, by being thicker-walled dorso-ventrally, the barb's flexural stiffness is increased during flight; but, by allowing for twisting when loaded with dangerously high forces, barbs firstly avoid failure by bending and secondly avoid complete failure by buckling rather than rupturing.
Virtual Retrospectives for Geographically Dispersed Software Teams

One of the biggest challenges that organizations face today in holding and learning from retrospectives is the issue of distributed teams. Although we know that face-to-face meetings are better, we often deal with budget constraints and time pressure. The author was happy to meet John at the 2009 Better Software Conference and learn of his experience at Intel. He has a good, useful story to share and, after all, learning from the past is what retrospectives are all about!
Evolution of iceberg melting, biological productivity, and the record of Icelandic volcanism in the Irminger basin since 630 ka

Abstract Planktic δ 18 O and δ 13 C records and point count records of biogenic, volcanic, and nonvolcanic terrigenous [ice-rafted debris (IRD)] sediment components from Hole 919A in the Irminger basin, northern North Atlantic provide a comprehensive dataset from which a paleoceanographic reconstruction for the last 630 kyr has been developed. The paleoceanographic evolution of the Irminger basin during this time contains both long-term patterns and significant developmental steps. One long-term pattern observed is the persistent deposition of hematite-stained ice-rafted debris. This record suggests that the modern and late Pleistocene discharges of icebergs from northern redbed regions to the Irminger Sea lie in the low end of the range observed over the last 630 kyr. In addition, Arctic front fluctuations appear to have been the main controlling factor on the long-term accumulation patterns of IRD and planktic biogenic groups. The Hole 919A sediment record also contains a long-term association between felsic volcanic ash abundances and light δ 18 O excursions in both interglacial and glacial stages, which suggests a causal link between deglaciations and explosive Icelandic eruptions. A significant developmental step in the paleoceanographic reconstruction based on benthic evidence was for diminished supply of Denmark Strait Overflow Water (DSOW) beginning at ∼380 ka, possibly initiated by the influx of meltwater from broad-scale iceberg discharges along the east Greenland coast. There is also planktic evidence of a two-step cooling of sea surface conditions in the Irminger basin, first at ∼338–309 ka and later at ∼211–190 ka, after which both glacials and interglacials were colder as the Arctic front migrated southeast of Site 919. In addition to offering these findings, this reconstruction provides a longer-term geologic context for the interpretation of more recent paleoceanographic events and patterns of deposition from this region.
Carriers, Courts, and the Commodities Clause

The contradictory and inconsistent history of the origin, interpretation, and enforcement of the “commodities clause” of the Hepburn Act of 1906 is the basis for this analysis of one aspect of government-business relations in the American transportation industry.
Rural Electrification Makes Jobs

A new standard of living, new opportunities for jobs—these are but a few of the direct results of the Federal Rural Electrification Program. What it means to youth, to schools, and to vocational counselors in rural areas is discussed here.
Medieval Heresies in the Reformation

The problem of a possible continuity of late medieval heresies and sixteenth century sects in Switzerland and Germany has not been thoroughly investigated yet. Of course some historians have touched upon the problem. Thus in 1886 Ludwig Keller advanced the thesis that Anabaptism was closely connected with the Waldensian tradition.' Recently a Marxist historian, Gerhard Zschabitz, pointed out that certain ideas of the Hussite tradition had infiltrated Anabaptism in Thuringia.2 On the whole, however, it is assumed that medieval heresies did not survive the fifteenth century. The sixteenth century German sects are considered a product of the Reformation. This is implying that the Reformation constituted a complete break with the past and opened an altogether new age. It hardly needs pointing out that this is a hazardous assumption. It is rather hard to believe that heresies, which had secretly lived on in certain towns and villages for one or two hundred years should suddenly have died out by 1500. After all, why should they have disappeared? It is quite unlikely that the inquisition discovered all heretics. Probably they tracked down only a few cases. Let us also remember the surprising pertinacity of ideas within families. Anyone who has ever investigated, for example, the spread of modern anti-semitism, will immediately have come across the enormous influence exercised within families on the young generation. So there is a good chance that once heretical ideas have taken hold in a family, they might live on for generations. G. H. Williams has recently pointed to the decisive role played by late medieval sacramentarian heresies in the religious evolution of the Netherlands in the sixteenth century.3 Studies in England have also revealed that in Yorkshire Lollard groups lived on far into the sixteenth century.4 Thus there is a good possibility that in Germany or Switzerland, too, medieval heresies might have survived.
Ionization Enhanced Solid Phase Epitaxy of Amorphous Silicon with Aluminum Impurities

In this work we measured the functional dependence of the solid phase epitaxial regrowth (SPER) of amorphous silicon on NAI, the concentration of implanted aluminum (p-type). The SPER rates of self-ion amorphized layers in silicon wafers with (100) substrate orientation were measured by in situ high precision, isothermal, cw laser interferometry for temperatures from 470 °C to 550 °C, and concentrations in the range 3×1018 cm−3 ≤NAI≤ 4.7×1020 cm−3 obtained from samples implanted with three different doses. In the concentration range 3×1018 cm−3 ≤NAI≤ 2.3×1019 cm−3, we observed a “compensation effect” in which, with increasing NAI, the SPER rate decreased below the regrowth rate in intrinsic silicon and the activation energy of SPER increased to 2.85 eV, compared to 2.72 eV for intrinsic silicon. In the range 3.3×1019 cm−3 ≤NAI≤ 5.6×1019 cm−3, the regrowth rate increased linearly with NAI as previously observed for SPER in boron, phosphorus, and arsenic implanted samples. However, due to the compensation effect, the aluminum data could not be fit to the normalized equation; V/Vi = 1 + N/Ni, as was done previously for data obtained for boron, phosphorus, and arsenic. The regrowth rate increased nonlinearly to the maximum implanted concentration of 4.7× 1020 cm−3 at which the regrowth rate was more than double the previously observed maximum rate in boron doped silicon. In the high concentration range, the SPER rate enhancement could be fit by a quadratic equation whose curvature was positive as was the case for boron. This contrasts with the negative curvature required to fit the nonlinear dependence of the SPER rate on the concentration of donor impurities such as phosphorus and arsenic.
The environmental representative program

As new pollution regulations are created and existing regulations are made more complex, it is becoming more important for plant personnel to have a knowlege of the environment. The Environmental Representative Program is designed to train plant personnel and is aimed at preventing fines, citations, and negative publicity. The goal of the program is on-going daily compliance assurance, and is divided into two segments: 1) program initiation (general considerations, representative selection, and authorization by management); and 2) program implementation (requirements training, responsibilities development, incorporation into annual goals, and program maintenance). A discussion of how each part of the program is accomplished is presented.
REFLECTIONS ON THE DISTINCTNESS OF JUDAISM AND THE SCIENCES

. The object of this essay is to explain what there is about discussions of Judaism and the sciences that is distinctive from discussions about religion in general and the sciences. The description draws primarily but not exclusively from recent meetings of the Judaism, Medicine, and Science Group in Tempe, Arizona. The author's Jewish Faith and Modern Science, together with a selective bibliography of writings in this subfield, are used to generate a list of science issues—focused around the religious doctrines of creation, revelation, and redemption in Judaism—that raise specific challenges to Jewish faith. Special attention is given to Leon Kass's The Hungry Soul as an example of a distinctive way to integration knowledge of both science and rabbinic Judaism on a philosophical issue.
Externalities of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Programs: A Systematic Review

There has been considerable debate about the effects of targeted global health assistance in low- and middle-income countries on health systems, specifically HIV/AIDS funding. Recently, a handful of studies have emerged that describe the implementation of PMTCT programs, which have many theoretical links to maternal and child health. Through a systematic review of research published between January 2000 and March 2011, this paper synthesizes evidence evaluating the impact of these programs. We assessed 5,855 papers, reviewed 154, and included 21 articles. They offer evidence of beneficial synergies between PMTCT programs and both STI prevention and early childhood immunization. Other data, including information about antenatal and delivery care, family planning, and nutrition supplementation varied considerably across studies demonstrating both positive and negative effects of PMTCT. More research is needed to allow countries and funders to make informed decisions regarding allocation of limited funds to targeted versus broad categories of health care.
Expression of Low Molecular Weight Heat-Shock Proteins under Field Conditions'

Heat-shock proteins (HSPs) are known to be expressed in plants experiencing high-temperature stress. We have examined the expression of class I cytoplasmic low molecular weight (LMW) HSPs and find that these HSPs also frequently accumulate in seeds, seed pods, and flowers during a normal growing season. We first examined the expression of class I cytoplasmic LMW HSPs by western blot analysis in a range of seed samples from both commercially grown and wild legumes. LMW HSPs were present in all seed samples, indicating that these HSPs are regularly expressed in these tissues. To examine more specifically conditions under which LMW HSPs were produced during an average growing season, additional studies of Medicago sativa were carried out during the fall season in Tucson, AZ. Plants were irrigated to avoid conditions of water stress, and canopy temperature was monitored throughout the study period. LMW HSP expression in leaves, flowers, and developing seed pods was analyzed by western blotting. Results show that in the field HSPs are frequently produced in flowers and seed pods, even in plants that show no HSP expression in leaves. Parallel greenhouse studies indicate that HSP expression in seeds is in part developmentally regulated. In total our data suggest a more widespread occurrence of HSPs in optimal growth environments and emphasize their potential role during reproduction.
Perfluorooctyl Bromide (Perflubron) Stimulates Mucin Secretion in the Ferret Trachea

Objectives: Partial liquid ventilation with perfluorooctyl bromide (perflubron) has been shown to be safe and effective in animal models with respiratory failure. However, airway mucus accumulation has been reported to be a problem in human trials. We hypothesized that this might be because perflubron directly affects mucociliary clearance or stimulates mucus secretion. Methods and results: We first measured the mucociliary transportability of secretions on the mucus-depleted frog palate exposed to perflubron and demonstrated that the ciliated epithelium remained intact with preservation of mucociliary transport. We then measured mucin and lysozyme secretion from isolated ferret tracheal segments to evaluate the secretagogue potential of perflubron. There was an 86% increase in mucin secretion with perflubron incubation at 40 min (n 5 19; p < 0.01) and a 52% increase afte r4ho fexposure followed by evaporation of perflubron (n 5 19; p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in lysozyme secretion at any time between perflubronexposed or buffer-exposed tissue (n 5 4). The secretagogue effect was completely blocked by nordihydroguaiaretic acid, an inhibitor of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. Conclusion: These data suggest that although perflubron does not seem to be harmful to the airway, it induces mucus secretion in a noninflamed airway, and that this can be modulated by inhibitors of AA metabolism. (CHEST 1999; 115:823‐828)
Multi-objective Cultural Algorithms

Multi-objective optimization is a widely applicable technique in Engineering and Computer Science. In the past, Cultural Algorithms have been used to solve complex optimization and design problems with success. In this paper, we extend the Cultural Algorithm Framework to handle multi-objective problems. The resultant system, Multi-Objective Cultural Algorithms (MOCA), can be used independently or as a supplement to other MO optimization methods. We compare the performance of our algorithm with NSGA-II using problems from the DTLZ test suite, a popular MOEA test suite and found that Cultural Algorithms are a promising technique for solving multi-objective problems.
Identification of Mammalian Protein Quality Control Factors by High-Throughput Cellular Imaging

Protein Quality Control (PQC) pathways are essential to maintain the equilibrium between protein folding and the clearance of misfolded proteins. In order to discover novel human PQC factors, we developed a high-content, high-throughput cell-based assay to assess PQC activity. The assay is based on a fluorescently tagged, temperature sensitive PQC substrate and measures its degradation relative to a temperature insensitive internal control. In a targeted screen of 1591 siRNA genes involved in the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS) we identified 25 of the 33 genes encoding for 26S proteasome subunits and discovered several novel PQC factors. An unbiased genome-wide siRNA screen revealed the protein translation machinery, and in particular the EIF3 translation initiation complex, as a novel key modulator of misfolded protein stability. These results represent a comprehensive unbiased survey of human PQC components and establish an experimental tool for the discovery of genes that are required for the degradation of misfolded proteins under conditions of proteotoxic stress.
Qualitative and Quantitative Determination of Methaqualone in Serum by Gas Chromatography

A rapid, simple, accurate, and precise isothermal gas-chromatographic method is introduced for determination of methaqualone (2-methyl-3- o -tolyl-4(3H)-quinazolinone) in serum. A single extraction of 2 ml of serum, without derivative formation, will give adequate sensitivity for quantitation of therapeutic serum concentrations of the drug within 15 min. The method is free of interferences from biological substances, as well as from commonly used drugs. A non-drug internal standard compensates for variables in extraction, injection, and instrumental changes during analysis. The coefficient of variation, day-to-day, is 5.6%. Mean recovery of added methaqualone was 80%. To compensate for the nonquantitative yield and ensure accurate results, we prepared all analytical methaqualone standards in serum.
Dynamic Velocity Profiles on Simple Elements — Model Design and Testing

Enormous progress has been made over the past eight years in the simulation of vertically homogeneous tidal circulation. problems. It is in this 2-D, horizontal context that the geometric flexibility of finite elements holds the greatest promise, and yet historically this advantage had been overshadowed by several seemingly insurmountable problems: unexplained instabilities even for small-amplitude motions, uncontrollable parasitic modes in the solutions, and economic disadvantages associated with mass matrix inversion. Fundamental to our present sense of confidence in this arena is a new understanding of the importance of the form of the shallow water equations which is to be implemented on finite elements. Today very efficient explicit and implicit algorithms are available which are free of parasitic gravity waves and which accurately propagate the real, physical waves (Lynch and Gray, 1979; Lynch, 1984). While many detailed and important questions remain, we assert that finite elements have finally become a realistic and competitive alternative in vertically averaged simulation.