cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The multiple roles of phosphoinositide 3-kinase in mast cell biology

Mast cells play a central role in the initiation of inflammatory responses associated with asthma and other allergic disorders. Receptor-mediated mast cell growth, differentiation, homing to their target tissues, survival and activation are all controlled, to varying degrees, by phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)-driven pathways. It is not fully understood how such diverse responses can be differentially regulated by PI3K. However, recent studies have provided greater insight into the mechanisms that control, and those that are controlled by, different PI3K subunit isoforms in mast cells. In this review, we discuss how PI3K influences the mast cell processes described above. Furthermore, we describe how different mast cell receptors use alternative isoforms of PI3K for these functions and discuss potential downstream targets of these isoforms.
Enhancing performance in a parallel file system

Abstract As computer applications have become more sophisticated, they have become rather data intensive. Such applications suffer from inadequate use of parallelism for processing data stored on secondary storage devices. Devices such as database machines are useful in some applications, but many applications are too small or specialized to make use of database machine technology. To bridge this gap, we have introduced a parallel file system. The parallel file system is capable of acting as either an SIMD machine or an MIMD machine depending on the file type. In the present work, we describe two approaches to enhance performance in the parallel file system. First, we examine a strategy of initiating partial searches when full searches for concurrent file usage are not possible. As a second level, a relocation algorithm has been designed to move selected portions of files (subfiles) to improve the degree of parallelism in the multiprogramming environment. The relocation algorithm makes use of a cost function based on the level of sharing between files to determine the best place to relocate the subfiles.
The serotonin innervation of the cerebral cortex in the rat--an immunohistochemical analysis.

Abstract The serotonergic innervation of the cerebral cortex in the rat has been studied by immunohistochemistry employing an antibody directed against the neurotransmitter, serotonin. The dorsal raphe, median raphe and B9 cell groups contain intensely labelled neuronal perikarya. Bundles of large diameter axons suggestive of fibers of passage are observed in successive sections as they ascend through the midbrain tegmentum, medial forebrain bundle, diagonal band and supracallosal stria en route to the cortex. In addition, a lateral pathway to the cerebral cortex traversing the ansa peduncularis is visualized. All regions of the cerebral cortex appear to be innervated by serotonergic axons which have a distinctive morphology: they are fine (0.1–0.5 μm), varicose, and extremely convoluted. Serotonergic axons of passage are thicker and comparatively straight. Throughout the lateral neocortex, as well as in the anterior cingulate cortex, serotonergic axons form a densely arborizing plexus through all cortical layers. Contrary to earlier reports, based on histofluorescence, describing a sparse innervation of the cortex with most of the fibers found in the molecular layer, the present study reveals that the innervation is relatively uniform across all cortical layers. In most of the cortex the density of serotonin-containing axons exceeds that of noradrenergic fibers. A distinctive and different pattern of serotonin innervation is found in the posterior cingulate cortex (cytoarchitectonic field RSg): the serotonergic axons are restricted largely to lamina I and III. A restricted laminar pattern also characterizes the innervation of the hippocampus; dense axonal plexuses occur in the outer rim of the dentate hilus and in the stratum lacunosum-moleculare. The serotonergic afferents to the cortex appear to have at least two different modes of distribution, a relatively uniform pattern in the anterior cingulate and the lateral neocortex and a restricted, laminar pattern in the posterior cingulate and the hippocampus. The density and extent of the serotonin innervation is such that the raphe neurons may contact every cell in the cortex. The widespread arborization of serotonin axons contrasts with the spatially restricted termination of thalamic afferents. The distribution of serotonin-containing fibers also differs substantially from the terminal patterns of noradrenergic and dopaminergic fibers. The differences in axonal morphology and distribution amongst the monoamine afferents reflect differences in their contributions to cortical circuitry. The present findings indicate that the serotonin-containing neurons may exert a profound and global, but not necessarily uniform, influence upon cortical function.
Refraction of Fault-Zone Guided Seismic Waves

Abstract Finite-difference synthetic seismograms were computed for a surface source and a surface receiver array along and within a low-velocity fault damage zone. This survey geometry is analogous to a body-wave refraction survey along the fault trace. The synthetic data demonstrate that dispersive fault-zone guided waves are refracted by an increase in both fault-zone and crustal velocity with depth. Refraction of the guided waves allows the surface source and surface array to record waves that sample the deep fault zone. At each frequency, the observed group arrival times can be inverted for a 1D or 2D model of group velocity within the fault plane. The synthetic seismograms were successfully used to derive the fault-zone properties in the subsurface. Using multiple sources and receivers, this method can be used to derive 3D fault-zone structure to seismogenic depths, mapping variations both along strike and in depth.
A systematic framework for the dependence cycle removal in practical loops

Abstract Traditionally research in dependence testing considered the most general linear subscripted DO loops permitted by standard Fortran. However, the existing program transformations are discussed in isolation without developing a unified and formal theory for the most general loops. Consequently all the available parallelism in the serial programs is not exploited by the existing techniques; for example, the existing techniques can neither completely remove the output dependence cycles nor recognize all types of reduction loops. In this paper, based on the empirical studies of Goff et al. ( Proc. ACM SIGPLAN ′91 Conference on Programming Language Design and Implementation , Toronto, Ontario, Canada, June 26-28, 1991, pp. 15-29), first we consider a DO loop model which encompasses 97% of the practical Fortran DO loops. By analyzing their dependence characteristics, we develop the formal theory for the application of various parallelizing transformations, specifically the dependence cycle breaking transformations. By this formalization, we contribute the following useful results: (1) define the scope of the existing cycle breaking techniques and illustrate the shortcomings in them; (2) present the dependence characteristics of reduction loops, which will help in designing general reduction loop recognition algorithms in contrast to the existing pattern matching techniques; and (3) propose a new transformation called node replication and prove that by applying this transformation all the output dependence cycles can be completely removed. Finally, we discuss how the most general linear subscripted DO loops can be converted into the above-mentioned loop model, showing that the results presented in this paper are applicable to all the linear subscripted DO loops permitted by standard Fortran.
Transplantation of adrenal cortical progenitor cells enriched by Nile red.

Background The adrenal cortex may contain progenitor cells useful for tissue regeneration. Currently there are no established methods to isolate these cells. Material and Methods Murine adrenal cells were sorted into a Nile-red-bright (NRbright) and a Nile-red-dim (NRdim) population of cells according to their degree of cholesterol content revealed by Nile red fluorescence. The cells were transplanted under the renal capsule to determine their ability for regeneration. Results The NRbright cells contained an abundance of lipid droplets, whereas the NRdim cells contained little. The NRbright cells expressed Sf1 and the more differentiated adrenal cortical genes, including Cyp11a1, Cyp11b1, and Cyp11b2, whereas the NRdim cells expressed Sf1 but not the more differentiated adrenal cortical genes. After 56 d of implantation in unilateral adrenalectomized mice, the NRdim cells expressed Sf1 and the more differentiated adrenal cortical genes, whereas the NRbright cells ceased to express Sf1 as well as the more differentiated adrenal cortical genes. NRdim cells also proliferated in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor. Conclusions The population of NRdim cells contained adrenal cortical progenitor cells that can proliferate and give rise to differentiated daughter cells. These cells may be useful for adrenal cortical regeneration.
Thermo-inelastic response of functionally graded composites

Abstract A recently developed micromechanical theory for the thermo-elastic response of functionally graded composites is further extended to include the inelastic and temperature-dependent response of the constituent phases. In contrast to currently employed micromechanical approaches applied to this newly emerging class of materials, which decouple the local and global effects by assuming the existence of a representative volume element at every point within the composite, the new theory explicitly couples the local and global effects. Previous thermo-elastic analysis has demonstrated that such coupling is necessary when: the temperature gradient is large with respect to the dimension of the inclusion phase; the characteristic dimension of the inclusion phase is large relative to the global dimensions of the composite; and the number of inclusions is small. In these circumstances, the concept of the representative volume element is no longer applicable and the standard micromechanical analyses based on this concept produce questionable results. Examples of composite materials that fall into this category include large-diameter fiber composites such as SiC/Ti and B/A1. Herein, we extend this new approach to include the inelastic and temperature-dependent response of the constituent phases in order to be able to realistically model functionally graded metal matrix composites in the presence of large temperature gradients. The inelastic behavior of the matrix phase is modeled using two inelastic models, namely the Bodner-Partom unified viscoplasticity theory and the classical incremental plasticity theory. Results are presented that illustrate the differences between elastic and inelastic analyses, defining under what circumstances the inclusion of inelastic effects is important. Application of the theory to composites with thermal barrier coatings demonstrates the utility of the concept of internal temperature management through functional grading of the microstructure using differently-distributed particulate inclusions.
Effect of tunicamycin on the synthesis, intracellular transport and shedding of membrane glycoproteins in BHK cells

Abstract Tunicamycin (TM) has been shown in many systems to prevent glycosylation of glycoproteins but not to inhibit synthesis of the polypeptide portions of glycoproteins. We report that TM causes selective inhibition of protein glycosylation in BHK fibroblasts as well. Data are presented which indicate that, during the first 12 h of exposure to TM, cells continue to shed proteins and glycoproteins made before the addition of TM and are able to transfer non-glycosylated polypeptides from their site of synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum to the cell surface. These data suggest: 1. 1. that cells can shed glycosylated proteins even though the supply of fully glycosylated replacement molecules is severely restricted 2. 2. that protein glycosylation and removal of cell membrane glycoproteins from the surface are not coupled 3. 3. that the oligosaccharide moities linked N -glycosidically to many membrane glycoproteins are not required for their intracellular transport.
Potential for Bioremediation of Uranium-Contaminated Aquifers with Microbial U(VI) Reduction

(2002). Potential for Bioremediation of Uranium-Contaminated Aquifers with Microbial U(VI) Reduction. Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal: Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 339-357.
Management Rights: A Topological Survey of the Terrain

Dramatic changes in both the business environment and practitioner attitudes have made many of the traditional views of management rights moribund. Based on an analysis of the pertinent literature and a series of field interviews, this article sketches the rough dimensions of a managerial perspective of the parties' respective rights that is far more specific, pragmatic, and reciprocal in nature than the erstwhile global normative views were. In the future, management rights researchers should strive for the following goals: (1) conducting both inductive and deductive studies, (2) considering both positive and normative elements, (3) achieving a better balance between global, middle range, and particularitstic theories, and (4) recognizing the diverse disciplinary approaches that can be brought to bear on the subject.
Chemical vapor deposition of ZnS: Mn electroluminescent films in a low-pressure halogen transport system

Abstract A new technique to produce a manganese-doped zinc-sulfide (ZnS) electroluminescent (EL) film has been developed using a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition system. The Mn 2+ ions are doped in the ZnS layer by controlling the flow rate of the hydrogen-chloride (HCl) carrier gas. Undoped ZnS films show 〈111〉-oriented cubic structure, whereas the Mn-doped ZnS films have hexagonal structure with 〈00·1〉 preferred orientation. The crystal structure changes from cubic to hexagonal with incorporation of the Mn-dopant. The single crystal layers are epitaxially grown on a silicon substrate at 500°C. A strong blue-light emission originating from a self-activated center is observed in the photoluminescence spectra. This blue band, however, is rapidly quenched with increasing the Mn concentration. It is clarified that a competitive adsorption phenomenon between Zn-Cl 2 and Mn-Cl 2 species on the growing surface plays an important role in the growth process and the film characteristics. A high efficiency of 4 lm/W and a steep luminance-voltage curve with a saturation luminance exceeding 3500 cd/m 2 are obtained in a device with double insulator structure under 1 kHz excitation. The crystalline properties and luminescence characteristics are discussed in terms of the effect of the Mn-doping and the growth temperature.
Fibrillar center distribution in nucleoli of PHA-stimulated human lymphocytes.

Abstract We have utilized acidic toluidine blue staining for RNA and immunofluorescence staining for RNA polymerase I to visualize the distribution of fibrillar centers (FCs) in nucleoli of PHA-stimulated human lymphocytes. At 0 h, there is a single large fibrillar center in each nucleolus which splits into smaller and more numerous FCs until the number of FCs reaches five, the number of nucleolus organizers in normal haploid human cells. With time, each FC then “unwinds” to form linear arrays of smaller FCs until the maximum number of FCs approaches the ribosomal gene copy number of 200 at 48 h in culture. It is hypothesized that in the most active state, each nucleolar FC visualized by RNA polymerase I staining actually represents a single transcription unit and the distance between adjacent FCs is occupied by the nontranscribed spacer region. We conclude that the number of fibrillar centers per nucleolus can be used as a direct quantitative measure of nucleolar transcriptional activity.
Capital market solutions to terrorism risk coverage: a feasibility study

The US insurance industry has long faced the spectrum of large unexpected losses from natural catastrophes such as hurricanes and earthquakes. However, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack clearly demonstrated a new form of catastrophic risk of man‐made origin. The damages in property and life are now well known as estimates of insured losses deriving from this event range from $40 to $54 billion. The 9/11 terrorist attacks renewed the capacity problem faced the insurance industry in the underwriting of large catastrophic risk. In that regard, this paper explores the feasibility of capital market alternatives to the conventional insurance mechanism, and analyses whether the capital market could provide extra capacity to absorb terrorism risk.
Simultaneous first metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis and sesamoidectomy with a single dorsomedial incision.

First metatarsophalangeal (MTP) arthrodesis is a well-accepted procedure for the treatment of end- stage hallux rigidus. Despite the excellent and predictable clinical results, the procedure does not address the metatarso-sesamoid joint complex. There has been one case report of arthritis of the metatarsal sesamoid joint as uncommon cause of post- arthrodesis hallux pain. Additionally, we have noted this complication in our practice as well despite the paucity of reported cases in the published literature. Resection of either the tibial or fibular sesamoid is an acceptable treatment for recalcitrant sesamoid pain; however, resection of both the tibial and fibular sesamoids as would be required for arthritic changes is not encouraged to prevent the risk of a cock-up toe deformity. Arthrodesis of the first MTP joint eliminates the possibility of this complication. Resection of the sesamoids following a first MTP fusion requires a separate incision with additional morbidity and risk to the medial plantar digital nerve. This second surgical intervention is not without morbidity and carries additional cast to the patient, which can be avoided if the pathology is appropriately identified preoperatively. We describe the surgical indications and novel technique for a first MTP arthrodesis and total sesamoid resection through a standard dorsomedial incision. The approach adds minimal surgical time and morbidity and eliminates the source of plantar first MTP pain that is present in a cohort of patients with hallux rigidus.
Atrioventricular septal defect repair in infants

From September 1984 through August 1989, 33 consecutive infants (mean age, 9 months; 13 male) received a single-stage intracardiac repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect. Preoperative evaluation of valvar morphology and function involved echocardiograms in 21% (7/33) and echocardiograms with cineangiograms in 79% (26/33). All infants operated on were included in the analysis. Patients with other complicating abnormalities were not excluded. All operations used a two-patch technique for closure of the atrioventricular septal defect in association with mitral valve repair. The newly formed septal leaflet of the mitral valve was repaired using unpledgeted interrupted sutures. Preoperative and postoperative echocardiograms were used to evaluate mitral valve regurgitation and left ventricular dysfunction as mild, moderate, or severe. The 30-day mortality was 6% (2/33). Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 60 months. Postoperative mitral valve insufficiency was mild in 84% versus 6% preoperatively, moderate in 3% versus 52% preoperatively, and severe in 13% versus 42% preoperatively. Mitral valve dysfunction necessitating reoperation occurred in 6% (2/31). Mitral valve function postoperatively was improved compared with preoperatively (p less than 0.001). The low 30-day operative mortality and the excellent late postoperative valvar function demonstrate the value of single-stage two-patch repair of atrioventricular septal defect early in life.
Femoral vessel injuries

Early diagnosis, expeditious vascular repair, and aggressive management of complications have resulted in an amputation rate of less than 9%. Repair rather than ligation of an associated femoral vein injury is commonly practiced by experienced trauma surgeons. In most circumstances, a reversed autogenous saphenous vein graft from the contralateral extremity is the conduit of choice; however, if a saphenous vein cannot be used because of size discrepancies, multiple associated trauma, or extensive contamination, polytetrafluoroethylene can be used with good results. If vein ligation is performed, early fasciotomy is indicated for close and meticulous monitoring of the compartmental pressures. Clearly, the most crucial components for a successful outcome are a thorough evaluation, early operation, and a flawless vascular repair.
An Open Trial of Oral Sildenafilin Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction

Background: Sildenafil is a selective inhibitor of cyclic GMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 that has been associated with greater improvement of erectile function compared to pl
An ecological analysis of environmental correlates of active commuting in urban U.S.

Abstract We conduct a cross-sectional ecological analysis to examine environmental correlates of active commuting in 39,660 urban tracts using data from the 2010 Census, 2007–2011 American Community Survey, and other sources. The five-year average (2007–2011) prevalence is 3.05% for walking, 0.63% for biking, and 7.28% for public transportation to work, with higher prevalence for all modes in lower-income tracts. Environmental factors account for more variances in public transportation to work but economic and demographic factors account for more variances in walking and biking to work. Population density, median housing age, street connectivity, tree canopy, distance to parks, air quality, and county sprawl index are associated with active commuting, but the association can vary in size and direction for different transportation mode and for higher-income and lower-income tracts.
Complement Component 3C3 and C3a Receptor Are Required in Chitin-Dependent Allergic Sensitization to Aspergillus fumigatus but Dispensable in Chitin-Induced Innate Allergic Inflammation

Levels of the anaphylatoxin C3a are increased in patients with asthma compared with those in nonasthmatics and in- crease further still during asthma exacerbations. However, the role of C3a during sensitization to allergen is poorly understood. Sensitization to fungal allergens, such as Aspergillus fumigatus, is a strong risk factor for the development of asthma. Exposure to chitin, a structural polysaccharide of the fungal cell wall, induces innate allergic inflammation and may promote sensitization to fungal allergens. Here, we found that coincubation of chitin with serum or intratracheal administration of chitin in mice re- sulted in the generation of C3a. We established a model of chitin-dependent sensitization to soluble Aspergillusantigens to test the contribution of complement to these events. C3/ and C3aR / mice were protected from chitin-dependent sensitization to Aspergillus and had reduced lung eosinophilia and type 2 cytokines and serum IgE. In contrast, complement-deficient mice were not protected against chitin-induced innate allergic inflammation. In sensitized mice, plasmacytoid dendritic cells from complement-deficient animals acquired a tolerogenic profile associated with enhanced regulatory T cell responses and sup- pressed Th2 and Th17 responses specific for Aspergillus. Thus, chitin induces the generation of C3a in the lung, and chitin- dependent allergic sensitization to Aspergillus requires C3aR signaling, which suppresses regulatory dendritic cells and T cells and induces allergy-promoting T cells. IMPORTANCE Asthma is one of the fastest growing chronic illnesses worldwide. Chitin, a ubiquitous polymer in our environment and a key component in the cell wall of fungal spores and the exoskeletons of insects, parasites, and crustaceans, triggers innate allergic inflammation. However, there is little understanding of how chitin is initially recognized by mammals and how early recognition of chitin affects sensitization to environmental allergens and development of allergic asthma. The complement sys- tem is evolutionarily one of the oldest facets of the early or innate warning systems in mammals. We studied whether and how complement components influence the recognition of chitin and shape the downstream sensitization toward fungal allergens. We show here that complement recognition of chitin plays a critical role in shaping the behavior of dendritic cells, which in turn regulate the function of T cells that mediate allergic responses to fungi.
A REPUBLIC OF CUCKOO CLOCKS: SWITZERLAND AND THE HISTORY OF LIBERTY

The history of Swiss republicanism was memorably summed up by Orson Welles in the classic film The Third Man (1949): whereas the tumultuous and tyrannical politics of the Italian Renaissance produced a great cultural flourishing, Welles observed, “In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, they had five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.” Suggestive as it may be, Welles's contrast is as misleading as it is memorable. The Swiss were a fearsome military power at the beginning of the sixteenth century, admired by no less a Florentine than Niccolo Machiavelli, but by the eighteenth century they were no longer capable of defending themselves, and they were summarily occupied by the armies of revolutionary France in 1798. The nature of Swiss democracy was long contested, and in 1847 the Swiss fought a civil war over it. Finally, it must be said, cuckoo clocks were invented in the Black Forest region, on the other side of the Alps. As we shall see, the success of the Swiss watchmaking industry does in fact deserve a place in the history of liberty, but Jean-Jacques Rousseau turns out to be a more helpful guide for understanding its significance.
Transforming conventional PPLN-based frequency converters to cover 13–30 microns: Bridging gap between mid-infrared and terahertz regions

Transverse-pumping geometry can be utilized for efficient generation of far-infrared radiation in 13–30 μm based on difference-frequency generation in periodically-poled LiNbO 3 at its polariton resonances. High conversion efficiencies are achievable.
Outcome measures in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinical trials.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with an average survival of 3–5 years. While therapies for ALS remain limited, basic and translational ALS research has been host to numerous influential discoveries in recent years. These discoveries have led to a large pipeline of potential therapies that await testing in clinical trials. Until recently, ALS clinical trials have relied on a limited cadre of ‘traditional’ outcome measures, including survival and measures of function. These measures have proven useful, although imperfect, in Phase III ALS trials. However, their utility in early-phase ALS trials is limited. For these early trials, outcome measures focused on target engagement or biological pathway analysis might improve trial outcomes and better support the drug development process.
Conceptualizing Community: The Experience of Mental Health Consumers

In this article we describe a focus group study of the perspectives of diverse groups of mental health consumers on the concept of community. We identify the core domains that constitute the notion of community, and commonalities and differences in the perception of community along the lines of ethnicity and sexual orientation/gender identity. Seven focus groups were conducted with a total of 62 participants. Transcripts were analyzed using the grounded theory approach.Two domains-togetherness and community acceptance-emerged as common to four types of communities that were most frequently mentioned in the focus group discussion. Our findings show that identities other than those associated with mental illness and the role of service user are critical to the understanding of the psychological sense of community among persons with psychiatric disabilities. We suggest that mental health providers empower consumers to expand their "personal communities" beyond that of mental health clients using their diverse identities, and design interventions for addressing the stigma emanating from identities that are discriminated against by the wider society.
J. R. Walsh of Chicago: A Case Study in Banking and Politics, 1881–1905

The rise and fall of a “political” banker is traced here against the interaction of businessmen and machine politicians in turn-of-the-century Chicago, Illinois.
Investigation of links between Precambrian basement structure and Paleozoic strata in the Fort Worth basin, Texas, U.S.A., using high-resolution aeromagnetic (HRAM) data and seismic attributes

Effective hydraulic fracturing is critical for generating permeability within the Barnett Shale of the Fort Worth basin (FWB). Therefore, knowledge of the nature of the induced and natural fractures, faults, and collapse features that may form conduits to the underlying Ellenburger aquifer is vital. We use coherence and curvature seismic attributes, which are sensitive to faults, fractures, and collapse features, to map sedimentary features. We then integrate high-resolution aeromagnetic (HRAM) data with the seismic attributes extracted along the Ellenburger Formation and the top of basement from the north-central portion of the FWB, thereby linking features in the Precambrian basement to shallower sedimentary structures. HRAM-derived maps, designed to enhance basement structures, confirm that much of the sedimentary faulting is basement controlled. Specifically, attribute lineaments are aligned parallel to HRAM anomaly lineaments, consistent with regional tectonics. The northeast-southwest and northwest-...
The Mechanism by Which Ischemic Postconditioning Reduces Reperfusion Arrhythmias in Rats Remains Elusive

We have observed that ischemic postconditioning markedly reduces reperfusion-induced ventricular arrhythmias, but whether the mechanism is related to previously described pathways of preconditioning or postconditioning for infarct size reduction is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether known pathways were involved in postconditioning's protective effect on arrhythmias. Anesthetized female rats were subjected to 5 minutes of proximal coronary artery occlusion and 5 minutes of reperfusion. They were either not postconditioned or subjected to 4 cycles of 20 seconds reperfusion, 20 seconds reocclusion before final reperfusion (postconditioned). Electrocardiogram and blood pressure were monitored throughout. Alleged agonists and antagonists to postconditioning representing a number of mechanisms were evaluated. Nonpostconditioned rats treated with the suppressor of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, cyclosporine A, did not show a reduction in reperfusion-induced ventricular arrhythmias compared to control nonpostconditioned rats. Neither Wortmannin (p13-kinase inhibitor), 5 hydroxydecanoate (selective inhibitor of mitochondrial K(ATP) channel), nor 8-sulfophenyl theophylline (blocker of adenosine receptors) blocked the reduction in ventricular tachycardia of postconditioning. The mechanism by which postconditioning reduces reperfusion-induced ventricular arrhythmias may be independent of known pathways that have been implicated in the infarct sparing effects of preconditioning and postconditioning--including adenosine, mitochondrial K(ATP) channel, mitochondrial permeability transition pore, and p13-kinase-pAKt pathways. Alternative protective pathways may exist to explain the antiarrhythmic effect of postconditioning.
The role of the transcription factor SIM2 in prostate cancer.

Background Recent reports have suggested a possible involvement of Single-minded homolog 2 (SIM2) in human solid cancers, including prostate cancer. However, the exact role of SIM2 in cancer in general, and in prostate cancer in particular, remains largely unknown. This study was designed to elucidate the role of SIM2 in prostate cancer using a shRNA-based approach in the PC3 prostate cancer cell line. Methods Lentiviral shRNAs were used to inhibit SIM2 gene and protein levels in PC3 cells. Quantitative RT-PCR and branched DNA were performed to evaluate transcript expression. SIM2 protein expression level was measured by western blot. Profiling of gene expression spanning the whole genome, as well as polar metabolomics of several major metabolic pathways was performed to identify major pathway dysregulations. Results SIM2 gene and protein products were significantly downregulated by lenti-shRNA in PC3 cell line. This low expression of SIM2 affected gene expression profile, revealing significant changes in major signaling pathways, networks and functions. In addition, major metabolic pathways were affected. Conclusion Taken together, our results suggest an involvement of SIM2 in key traits of prostate tumor cell biology and might underlie a contribution of this transcription factor to prostate cancer onset and progression.
Evaluation of Different Sulfur-Free Delignification Methods for Hot-Water Extracted Hardwood

Abstract Hot-water extraction (HWE) of hardwoods may be performed as a part of sequential disintegration of hardwoods in a biorefinery system. In this study, different sulfur-free delignification methods were investigated for their respective effectiveness in lignin removal from unextracted (SM) and hot-water-extracted sugar maple (SMHWE). Peracetic acid and tetrahydrofurfural alcohol were investigated as attractive delignification agents, which may be produced on site (biorefinery products). Oxygen was used in combination with the organic solvents acetone and ethanol, designed sugar fermentation products from hydrolyzed hot-water extracts. The delignification degree and delignification selectivity were compared for SM and SMHWE. SMHWE consistently showed a higher degree of delignification. Also, a higher selectivity was observed in delignification of SMHWE with all investigated agents except peracetic acid. Oxygen delignification in an acetone:water mixture was the most selective in delignification of SM...
Spatio-temporal modeling of facial expressions using Gabor-wavelets and hierarchical hidden Markov models

As one of the key techniques for futuristic man-machine interface, facial expression analysis has received much attention in recent years. This paper proposes a hierarchical approach to facial expression recognition in image sequences by exploiting both spatial and temporal characteristics within the framework of hierarchical hidden Markov models (HHMMs). Human faces are automatically detected in the maximum likelihood sense. Gabor-wavelet based features are extracted from image sequences to capture the subtle changes of facial expressions. Four prototype emotions; i.e. happiness, anger, fear and sadness, are investigated using the Cohn-Kanade database and an average of 90.98% person-independent recognition rate is achieved. We also demonstrate that HHMMs outperform HMMs for modeling image sequences with multilevel statistical structure.
Assessment of Enamelysin(MMP-20)Selectivity to Three Peptide Bonds on Amelogenin Sequence

Recent studies have highlighted the potential role of the metalloproteinase enamelysin (MMP-20) in controlling some of the most critical stages during enamel development. This study was aimed to assess the selectivity of enamelysin to the three most abundant cleavage sites on the amelogenin sequence, and to gain insight into the factors that control the pattern of amelogenin processing during enamel mineralization. Three deca-peptides with sequences based on pig amelogenin and including the proteolytic cleavage sites W/L, S/M, and P/A were synthesized as substrates. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in the rates of cleavage among the three peptides, indicating comparable selectivity of enamelysin for these peptide bonds. Considering the selective appearance of amelogenin proteolytic products, we suggest that amelogenin folding and assembly are the primary factors in controlling the pattern of its proteolysis during the secretory stage of enamel development.
Social Capital, Social Networks, and Political Participation

Social Capital is created through the patterns of interdependence andsocial interaction that occur within a population, and we attempt to understand the participatory consequences of these patterns relative to the effects of human capital and organizational involvement. The production of social capital in personal networks was examined with the use of social network and participation data from the 1992 American study of the Cross National Election Project. The results suggest that politically relevant social capital (that is, social capital that facilitates political engagement) is generated in personal networks, that it is a by-product of the social interactions with a citizen's discussants, and that increasing levels of politically relevant social capital enhance the likelihood that a citizen will be engaged in politics. Further, the production of politically relevant social capital is a function of the political expertise within an individual's network of relations, the frequency of political interaction within the network, and the size or extensiveness of the network. These results are sustained even while taking account of a person's individual characteristics and organizational involvement. Hence, the consequences of social relations within networks are not readily explained away on the basis of either human capital effects or the effects of organizational engagement.
Decay of interplanetary coronal mass ejections and Forbush decrease recovery times

[1] We investigate the relation between Forbush cosmic ray decrease recovery time and coronal mass ejection transit time between the Sun and Earth. We identify 17 Forbush decreases from ground-based neutron count rates between 1978 and 2003 that occur during the same phase in the solar cycle and can be associated with single coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in the SOHO LASCO CME Catalog or previously published reports and with specific interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) crossing the vicinity of Earth. We find an anticorrelation between Forbush recovery times and CME transit time that contradicts the predictions of simple cosmic ray diffusive barrier models. The anticorrelation suggests that the decay rate of ICMEs is anticorrelated with their travel speed. Forbush recovery times range from seven times the transit time for the fastest disturbance to a fifth the Sun-Earth transit time for the slowest. To account for the large range of measured recovery times, we infer that the slowest disturbances must decay rapidly with radius, whereas the fastest ones must remain strong. The longest recovery times suggest that the fastest disturbances in our sample decayed less rapidly with radius than the ambient solar wind magnetic field strength.
Accounting for Individuals, Uncertainty, and Multiscale Clustering in Core Area Estimation

Core areas are important descriptors of animal space-use patterns, but current estimation methods rely on arbitrary rules and potentially lead to imprecise or erroneous area estimates. We proposed a Bayesian statistical model that incorporates an individual-based method for estimating core area boundaries. The model accounts for boundary uncertainty and multiple scales of clustering by partitioning a home range into L 2 completely spatially random point patterns defined by a kernel density isopleth. We used data from coyotes (Canis latrans), bobcats (Lynx rufus), and red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus) to estimate core areas for individual animals. We also estimated core areas from simulated point patterns with known boundaries, varying numbers of points, and relative densities of points inside core areas, and compared estimates to those obtained using the 50% isopleth. Optimal isopleths for the empirical data ranged between 18.7% and 71.5%. We found no species-specific range of core area isopleths. Across all simulated scenarios, our method outperformed the 50% isopleth-based estimate, which consistently overestimated core areas. Minta overlap values were 20-40% higher across all scenarios for our method compared to the 50% isopleth. Minta overlap values were .75% in 90% of scenarios using our method. Objectively estimating core areas using our individual-based method may lead to improved inference about which behavioral and ecological processes underlie observed space-use patterns because of greater estimate precision.
Treatment of older women with alcohol problems: meeting the challenge for a special population.

As a larger proportion of the U.S. population reaches late life, there are new challenges to providing quality health care services for this group. Record numbers of adults over 60 are seeking health care for acute and chronic conditions. Older women represent the largest single group of health care users in this country. Twelve percent of older women regularly drink in excess of recommended guidelines (no more than one drink per day or seven drinks per week) and can be considered at-risk drinkers. Problems related to alcohol use and misuse can seriously affect many of the health concerns common among older women, including chronic illnesses and depression. Older women have specific risks and vulnerabilities to alcohol use, which include a swifter progression to alcohol-related illness. However, women in later life who have alcohol problems are underscreened and underdiagnosed, have significant barriers in accessing health care, and respond differentially to standard specialized treatment protocols. To date, research on these topics has been limited. Furthermore, there is a paucity of research focused on treatment outcomes for elderly adults with alcohol problems, with almost no emphasis on women. This paper presents the state of knowledge about alcohol health services for older women and provides recommendations for necessary future health services research on this vulnerable population.
Field Evaluation of Energy and Environmental Impacts of Driver Route Choice Decisions

The study estimates the energy and air quality impacts of route choice decisions using various fuel consumption and emission models with second-by-second floating-car GPS data. The study investigates two routes: a faster and longer highway route and a slower and shorter arterial route. The study demonstrates that the faster highway route choice is not always the best route from an environmental and energy consumption standpoint. Specifically, the study demonstrates that significant improvements (savings of up to 63, 71, 45, and 20 percent in HC, CO, NOx, and CO2 emissions, respectively) to air quality can be achieved when motorists utilize a slower arterial route although they incur an additional 17 percent in travel time. Moreover, the study demonstrates that energy savings in the range of 23 percent can be achieved by traveling on the slower arterial route. The study also demonstrates that a small portion of the entire trip that involves high engine-load conditions has significant impacts on the total emissions, demonstrating that by minimizing high-emitting driving behavior air quality can be significantly improved.
CALCULATED RATES AND EQUILIBRIA OF THERMAL INTERCONVERSION OF TRIPLET (3g-) AND SINGLET (1Δg and g+) MOLECULAR OXYGEN

Abstract— From spectroscopic data and rate constants in the literature, equilibrium constants and rates of thermal formation of singlet oxygen (1Δg and 1Σg+) were calculated for a number of conditions. For the gas phase we estimate Keq(1Δg3Σg-) = 1.67 exp(-94.31 KJ/RT) and Keq(1Σg+/3Σg-) = 0.33 exp(-157.0 KJ/RT). The calculated rate constants for the 3Σg+→1Δg transition of O2 at 25°C varied from 2.5 × 10-11 s-1 in water to 4.8 × 10-16 s-1 in air, assuming equal solvent interactions with the ground and excited states. Physical quenchers for singlet oxygen are expected to be catalysts for its thermal formation. Equations are presented which allow one to estimate whether such catalysis by quenchers will result in a pro-oxidant effect.
One variety of quick estimation schemes for parameters in kinetic models

Quick estimation of the parameters in a process model can play a significant role in kinetic studies. This work is aimed at developing a quick estimation strategy by means of process discretization and evaluating errors engendered by the strategy. A systematic error evaluation method and guidelines to select the best discretization relation used in the strategy are described.
Efficiency and Income among the Rural Farmers in Nigeria

This study analysed the relationship between ef ficiency and income among the rural farmers in Nigeria. Farm level data from Benue State of Nigeria was used for the study. The stochastic frontier was used to obtain the efficiency estimates among the respondents, whereas the quintiles analysis and deciles analysis were used for the analysis of size distribution of household income among the respondents. Correlation analysis was used for the analysis of the relationship between efficiency and income among the respondents. The study showed that technical inefficiency is worse than allocative inefficiency, implying that the low level of overall economic ef ficiency is the result of higher technical inefficiency. The study also showed that the top most group (the richest households) in the area receives not less than 50 percent of the total income of the area because the group probably owns and controls lar ger proportion of the productive and financial resources in the area. Furthermore, improvement in both farm income and non-farm income resulted relatively more from decrease in the cost of technical ef ficiency, which in turn increased the overall economic ef ficiency relatively more and hence increase in per capita income. Decrease in the cost of technical ef ficiency among the respondents brings about relatively more improvement in the welfare of the entire household members of the respondents and hence poverty reduction.
cMET inhibitor crizotinib impairs angiogenesis and reduces tumor burden in the C3(1)-Tag model of basal-like breast cancer.

Epidemiologic studies have associated obesity with increased risk of the aggressive basal-like breast cancer (BBC) subtype. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signaling through its receptor, cMET, is elevated in obesity and is a pro-tumorigenic pathway strongly associated with BBC. We previously reported that high fat diet (HFD) elevated HGF, cMET, and phospho-cMET in normal mammary gland, with accelerated tumor development, compared to low fat diet (LFD)-fed lean controls in a murine model of BBC. We also showed that weight loss resulted in a significant reversal of HFD-induced effects on latency and elevation of HGF/cMET signaling in normal mammary and cMET in normal mammary and tumors. Here, we sought to inhibit BBC tumor progression in LFD- and HFD-fed C3(1)-Tag BBC mice using a small molecule cMET inhibitor, and began crizotinib treatment (50 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage) upon identification of the first palpable tumor. We next investigated if administering crizotinib in a window prior to tumor development would inhibit or delay BBC tumorigenesis. Treatment: Crizotinib significantly reduced mean tumor burden by 27.96 and 37.29 %, and mean tumor vascularity by 35.04 and 33.52 %, in our LFD- and HFD-fed C3(1)-Tag BBC mice, respectively. Prevention: Crizotinib significantly accelerated primary tumor progression in both diet groups but had no effect on total tumor progression or total tumor burden. In sum, cMET inhibition by crizotinib limited tumor development and microvascular density in basal-like tumor-bearing mice but did not appear to be an effective preventive agent for BBC.