cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modelling and Optimization of Vibratory Finishing Process

Abstract Vibratory finishing has been employed for final finishing of products, because of the capability of the finishing consistency with lower cost. However, it has taken the trial and error method to find a proper process set-up due to the fact that the fundamentals of vibratory finishing have not been established yet. This paper describes the fundamental principles of vibratory finishing and proposes the mathematical modelling which makes the prediction of surface roughness and stock removal possible. The validity of the modelling is discussed with experimental results, and an algorithm to design an optimum process of vibratory finishing is proposed.
Identification and Characterization of Two Distinctive RNA Binding Activities in Pea Nuclear Extracts

We have identified and purified two RNA binding factors from pea nuclear extracts. One factor (RBF-1) consisted of at least two polypeptides with molecular weights of approximately 27 and 59 kD; each of these polypeptides could be crosslinked to labelled RNA by ultraviolet light. The other factor (RBF-2) also consisted of two polypeptides (of approximately 93 and 126 kO in size) that could be crosslinked to RNA by UV. Both factors showed general preferences for single stranded RNA. However, RBF-1 displayed a preference for poly(A) and poly(U) over poly(G) or poly(C), while RBF-2 had a strong preference for poly(U) over the other three homo polymers. These properties are suggestive of possible roles for these factors in RNA metabolism in plant nuclei.
Motion-based filtering of magneto-optic imagers

Abstract The magneto-optic imager (MOI) is a powerful device for the nondestructive inspection (NDI) of aging aircraft. MOI produces analog images of magnetic flux leakage associated with eddy current distribution around surface and subsurface structures. The main advantages of using MOI are its fast inspection speed and easy interpretation compared with conventional Eddy Current NDI instruments. However, due to the magnetic domain wall structures of the sensor, the MOI images are corrupted by noise, which lowers the MOI inspection capabilities. The domain walls produce serpentine pattern noise, which can be reduced by improving the sensor or by use of image processing methods. This paper introduces a motion-based image processing method to reduce the background noise. Initial results of implementing the algorithm on real field data are presented.
THE COPEPODA AND CLADOCERA OF A MISSOURI RIVER RESERVOIR: A COMPARISON OF SAMPLING IN THE RESERVOIR AND THE DISCHARGE

An automatic plankton sampler was installed in the powerhouse of Gavins Point Dam to monitor plankton in discharges from Lewis and Clark Lake. These data and samples from the reservoir taken with tow nets indicated that the automatic sampler can be used exclusively to monitor changes in species compositions and densities of Copepoda and Cladocera. The annual discharge of Copepoda and Cladocera from Lewis and Clark Lake was estimated to be 12,619 metric tons, wet weight. Discharges of zooplankton from Lake Francis Case (Ft. Randall Reservoir), 80 km upstream, appear to have considerably more influence upon standing crops in Lewis and Clark Lake than the water exchange rates or the inflow from tributary creeks.
Resistance of the intact and reconstituted adipocyte hexose transport system to irreversible inhibition by sulfhydryl and amino reagents

Sensitivity of the adipocyte D-glucose transport system in intact plasma membranes or following solubilization and reconstitution into phospholipid vesicles to several protein-modifying reagents was investigated. When intact plasma membranes were incubated with N-ethylmaleimide (20 mM) or fluorodinitrobenzene (4 mM), D-glucose transport activity was virtually abolished. However, washing the membranes free of unreacted reagents restored transport activity, indicating that covalent interaction with the membranes did not mediate the transport inhibition. Reaction of [3H] N-ethylmaleimide with plasma membranes under similar conditions resulted in extensive labeling of all protein fractions resolved on dodecyl sulfate gels. Similarly, addition of N-ethyl-maleimide to cholate-solubilized membrane protein had no effect on transport activity in artifical phospholipid vesicles reconstituted under conditions where the membrane protein was free of unreacted N-ethylmaleimide. Transport activity in plasma membranes was also inhibited by both reduced and oxidized dithiothreitol or glutathione (15 mM) in a readily reversible manner, consistent with a noncovalent mode of inhibition. Thus, the insulin-responsive adipocyte D-glucose transport system differs from the red cell hexose transport system in its remarkable insensitivity to modulation by covalent blockade of sulfhydryal or amino groups by the reagents studied.
The Mystery of Comets

The objectives of this book are set out clearly in its preface, wherein Fred Whipple states, This book tells the story, step by step, from ancient times to the present era, of our progress in understanding comets . . . The first fourteen chapters present clues and theories developed before the twentieth century; the remaining chapters provide up-to-date information regarding the nature of comets, their origin, and their possible relation to life on Earth. Comets appear to be the most primitive bodies in the Solar System and may even have played an important role in making life on Earth possible. Later chapters center on these issues, on space missions to comets, and on the general problems and significance of comets, including the hazards they may represent.
Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies of the role of mitochondria in the disease process.

The incisive detection of bioenergetic insufficiency in an organ of known workload by P MRS is noninvasive and nondestructive, and in some cases the portion of the organ involved can be determined, particularly if both PCr and ATP are depleted. The fractional loss of ATP and hence the relative volumes of viable and "metabolically dead" tissue are thereby evaluated. In addition, the value of P MRS in following a therapy complements its value in diagnosis as this has been demonstrated in cases followed over 6 months to three years. The fact that deficiencies of the enzymes and substrates of oxidative metabolism can be detected by P MRS affords a global overview of energy metabolism that can be a key to rapid diagnosis. The distinction of the enzyme and/or substrate deficiency, while not directly indicated by steady state P MRS, can be identified by use of the "Crossover Theorem" and its impact upon blood and tissue levels of substrates (including oxygen). In the case of neonatal systemic hypoxia, there is no doubt about which of the equations applies, and similarly in metabolic disease, a glutaric acid urea is a direct consequence of the crossover response of metabolism and signifies that an enzyme deficiency may be involved. Furthermore, the clinical danger of a high Pi/PCr value is clarified by our observations, both from the animal models and from the theory, the high clues; i.e. 2 and over, suggest work stresses near the capability of oxidative metabolism and imminent failure of the negative feedback afforded by metabolic regulation, particularly ADP control of oxidative metabolism. This control is lost because of the fall of phosphocreatine to the point where creatine kinase is no longer in equilibrium, leading to the loss of ATP and its conversion to large amounts of ADP and its breakdown products. ATP then stimulates glycolysis and results in a massive lactic acidosis. At the same time, the low thermodynamic capability of glycolytic metabolism is unable to prevent irreversible ion disequilibration, water movements, edema, and eventually rupture of the cell membrane. The pathway of resynthesis of ATP is then tortuous, particularly as AMP is deaminated and adenosine is converted eventually to hypoxanthine. Thus, NMR reports that metabolic control is operating in the region where homeostasis of biochemical parameters is feasible. It further reports regions where the metabolic control is susceptible to failure and most aggressive clinical care is required.
Analysis of photoaffinity-labeled aryl hydrocarbon receptor heterogeneity by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

The level of charge heterogeneity in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) was examined by high-resolution denaturing two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis. Hepa 1c1c7 cell cytosolic fraction was photoaffinity-labeled with 2-azido-3-({sup 125}I)-iodo-7,8-dibromodibenzo-p-dioxin and applied to isoelectric focusing (IEF) tube gels. After optimization of focusing conditions a broad peak of radioactivity was detected in the apparent pI range of 5.2-5.7. IEF tube gels were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by visualization of the radiolabeled AhR by autoradiography; three distinct isoforms were detected. The same 2D electrophoretic isoform pattern was obtained when the AhR from Hepa 1c1c7 was photoaffinity-labeled in cell culture. BP{sup r}Cl cells, a mutant line derived from Hepa 1c1c7 cells, contain an AhR that is unable to bind to DNA. Photoaffinity-labeled BP{sup r}Cl cytosolic fractions were subjected to 2D gel electrophoretic analysis resulting in essentially the same molecular weight and isoform pattern as seen in Hepa 1c1c7 cytosol. This result would suggest that if a mutation is present in the BP{sup r}Cl AhR it has not caused a significant change in its IEF pattern, although a small shift in the pI values was observed. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of photoaffinity-labeled cytosolic fractions from HeLa cells, the rat liver tumormore » cell line McA-RH777, and buffalo rat thymus revealed three isoforms, essentially the same isoform pattern as in Hepa 1c1c7 cells. This would indicate that despite the considerable molecular weight polymorphism between species the level of charge heterogeneity is high conserved.« less
Fifty Years of Management Science

This issue marks the start of the 50th volume of Management Science . As is customary on such "round number" occasions, we will be taking time for a bit of retrospective review and soul-searching speculation. We begin here with an overall assessment of the journal's performance relative to its original mission. In subsequent articles, which will appear in issues throughout Volume 50, we will take more detailed disciplinary looks at the past, present, and future of Management Science and the management subfields it represents.
Active ERK2 is sufficient to mediate growth arrest and differentiation signaling

Although extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) have been shown to be required in Raf/MEK/ERK pathway signaling, its sufficiency for mediating the pathway signaling has not been firmly established. In an effort to address this, we evaluated previously described ERK2 mutants that exhibit enhanced autophosphorylation of TEY sites in the activation loop in terms of their ability to induce growth arrest and differentiation in LNCaP and PC12 cells. We demonstrate that expression of ERK2-L73P/S151D, containing Lys73Pro and Ser151Asp substitutions that synergistically promote ERK autophosphorylation, is sufficient to induce growth arrest and differentiation, whereas expression of ERK2-I84A and ERK2-R65S/D319N is not as effective. When compared to the constitutively active MEK1-ΔN3/S218E/S222D, expression of ERK2-L73P/S151D only mildly increased ERK kinase activity in cells, as assessed using the ERK substrates p90(RSK) and ETS domain-containing protein (ELK1). However, ERK2-L73P/S151D expression effectively induced down-regulation of androgen receptors, Retinoblastoma (Rb) protein and E2F1 transcription factor, and up-regulation of p16(INK4A) and p21(CIP1), accompanied by cell-cycle arrest and morphological differentiation in LNCaP cells and neurite-like processes in PC12 cells. These effects and the TEY site phosphorylation of ERK2-L73P/S151D were abrogated upon introduction of the active site-disabling Lys52Arg mutation, suggesting that its autoactivation drives this signaling. Moreover, introduction of mutations Asp316/319Ala or Asp319Asn, which impair the common docking site/D-domain-based physical interaction of ERK, did not significantly affect ERK2-L73P/S151D signaling, suggesting that ERK2 mediates growth arrest and differentiation independently of the conventional ERK-target interaction mechanism. Thus, our study presents convincing evidence of ERK sufficiency for Raf/MEK/ERK signaling.
Epidosembryos to the Rescue

The central controversy over embryonic stem cell research involves the sacrifice of human preimplantation stage blastocysts in order to derive human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines. From an ethical perspective, this controversy is rooted in determining whether the blastocyst stage embryo is considered a “person,” the moral equivalent of one of us, who has a right not to be killed unjustly. The philosophical literature, both ancient and contemporary, contains much discussion about what characteristics or attributes are essential to personhood: candidates include consciousness, self-consciousness, rationality, and sentience.
A comparative analysis of nurse and physician characters in the entertainment media.

The results of a large body of research have yielded findings supportive of the view that the mass media have a decisive effect on the formation of public attitudes and behaviours. This study reports the results of a content analysis of 670 nurse and 466 physician characters portrayed in novels, motion pictures and prime-time television series, published or produced from 1920 to 1980. When compared with media physicians, media nurses were consistently found to be less central to the plot, less intelligent, rational, and individualistic, less likely to value scholarliness and achievement and exercise clinical judgement. Moreover, in television series nurse characters were depicted as valuing service to others and being helpful to patients less, and as being lower in nurturance and empathy than physician characters. An analysis of these data over time points to a steady and unmistakable decline in the mass media entertainment image of nurses while physician characters have remained consistently high or shown improvement. The implications of this image gap are discussed along with the need for image reshaping efforts which might direct public demand for more collegial and productive ‘real world’ nurse-physician roles and interprofessional relationships.
Effect of degraded viewing on visual asymmetry patterns in older adults.

Abstract Twelve young adults (18–23 years) and 12 older adults (62–79 years) were tested on a discrimination task under clear and degraded viewing conditions. Stimulus quality in the degraded viewing condition was manipulated by a spatial filtering process. Discrimination judgments were significantly slower and less accurate for right visual field trials than for left and central visual field trials under the degraded viewing condition. Although older adults exhibited slower reaction times and less accuracy than did younger adults, visual field patterns were independent of age. The present results provide additional support for the spatial frequency hypothesis and also support the hypothesis that hemispheric changes in processing with age are not selective but generalized across both hemispheres.
An isolated DC/DC converter with reduced number of switches and voltage stresses for electric and hybrid electric vehicles

This paper proposes an isolated DC/DC converter to serve as an auxiliary power supply in electric and hybrid electric vehicles (EVs/HEVs), delivering power from high voltage (HV) dc bus to 12 V loads. A DC/AC circuit with a 3:1 voltage step-down ratio is proposed to serve as the front-stage circuit of the converter. Based on the proposed DC/AC circuit, an isolated DC/DC converter is proposed with a post-stage synchronous rectifying current doubler circuit. Compared with full-bridge, half-bridge, push-pull and flyback converters, the advantages of the proposed converter include: 1) the voltage stresses on HV-side switches are reduced to 2/3 of the input voltage; 2) the voltage stress on transformer is reduced to 1/3 of the input voltage; 3) reduced transformer turns ratio; 4) soft-switching capability, high efficiency and simple control. The operation principles, soft-switching analysis, simulation verifications, and experiment results of a 1 kW hard-switching prototype based on silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs on the HV side are provided.
Possible gene centers for resistance in the genusBrassica toPlasmodiophora Brassicae

There is urgent need for surveying wild populations ofBrassica spp. for additional genes for resistance to Plasmodiophora brassicae. The gene centers of the genusBrassica and of cultivatedB. oleracea are in the western Mediterranean area. Evidence from early records of the disease and the pattern of its spread indicate that the gene center of the pathogen may also be in this region. This area is suggested, therefore, as the place to search in wild Brassica populations for genes for resistance toP. brassicae. The rapid spread of the disease throughout the world has been expedited by cultivation of the turnip.
An anisotropic damage model with dilatation for concrete

Abstract An anisotropic damage model for concrete is developed within the general framework of the internal variable theory of thermodynamics. The rate of change of the compliance tensor is described in terms of kinetic relations involving a damage parameter whose increment is governed by the consistency equation associated with a pressure-dependent damage surface in stress space. The use of the compliance tensor implies that damage is reflected through a fourth-order tensor. Dilatation is obtained as a consequence of damage, and permanent deformation due to damage is addressed via a simple evolution equation. The theory is capable of accommodating the anisotropy induced by microcracking and is very suitable for computer implementation.
Bibliography of plant resistance to arthropods in vegetables, 1977–1991

This bibliography includes literature on plant resistance to insects and mites in vegetables from 1977 to 1991. It is arranged by plant family and crop plant, and has references to onions, garlic, cabbage and other crucifers, carrot, parsnip, celery, sweet potato, tomato, potato, eggplant, peppers, cucumber, melons, other cucurbits, spinach, lettuce, and various peas and beans. There is an index by arthropod species, a review of the literature, and tables listing references by subject area within plant resistance: screening; mechanisms; plant characteristics correlated with resistance; inheritance and traditional breeding programs; use of biotechnology; releases of resistant germplasm; comparisons of marketable yield; stability of resistance over different locations and insect populations; interactions with cultural methods and plant phenology, insecticide efficacy, and biological control; and effect on plant disease vectored by insects.
A laser Raman study of lysozyme denaturation.

Abstract The Raman spectrum of chemically denatured lysozyme was studied. The denaturants studied included dimethyl sulfoxide, LiBr, guanidine · HCl, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and urea. Previous studies have shown that the amide I and amide III regions of the Raman spectrum are sensitive to the nature of the hydrogen bond involving the amide group. The intensity of the amide III band at 1260 cm−1 (assigned to strongly hydrogen-bonded α-helix structure) relative to the intensity of the amide III band near 1240 cm−1 (assigned to less strongly hydrogen-bonded groups) is used as a parameter for comparison with other physical parameters used to assess denaturation. The correlation between this Raman parameter and denaturation as evidenced by enzyme activity and viscosity measurements is good, leading to the conclusion that the amide III Raman spectrum is useful for assessing the degree of denaturation. The Raman spectrum clearly depends on the type of denaturant employed, suggesting that there is not one unique denatured state for lysozyme. The data, as interpreted, place constraints on the possible models for lysozyme denaturation. One of these is that the simple two-state model does not seem consistent with the observed Raman spectral changes.
Software environments workshop report

A recent workshop identified a variety of issues fundamental to advancing the state-of-the-art in software environments. In addition, activities were specified to address these issues and provide incremental improvement in the near and medium term. Even though the sets of issues and activities are incomplete, they are reported here to seed the community's thinking about what is needed to advance the state-of-the-art for software environments and assist in establishing long-range goals, identifying and defining specific projects, and identifying the coordination needed among the projects.
Bronchospastic responses to aerosolized metabisulfite in asthmatic subjects: Potential mechanisms and clinical implications

Eight asthmatic patients with a history suggestive of sulfite sensitivity were studied, six of whom had a positive oral challenge to doses from 10 mg to 50 mg. All eight patients had aerosol metabisulfite challenge; six positive tests were observed at doses of 0.5 mg/ml and 5.0 mg/ml. Aerosolizing solutions of metabisulfite at 5.0 mg/ml generated significant amounts of free sulfur dioxide. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Optically pumped NMR in CdS single crystals

Optically induced dynamic nuclear polarization in CdS (resistivity 1.8{times}10{sup 10} {Omega} cm, dark) is observed by radio-frequency detection of the {sup 113}Cd nuclear magnetic resonance signal. At 2 K, the nuclear-spin transitions are emissive when compared to the thermal polarization, and no dependence on the helicity of the pumping light is observed. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
Sensitive absorbance measurement for gas-phase analytes based on multiwave-mixing spectroscopy

Multi-wave mixing spectroscopy is presented as a simple and sensitive laser method for elemental analysis at trace- concentration levels with sub-Doppler spectral resolution. Since the signal is a coherent beam, virtually 100% of the generated signal can be directed into a photodetector. The nonlinear signal has a cubic dependence on excitation intensity, and hence, laser power requirements are low, and mW-level continuous-wave lasers and nJ-level pulsed dye lasers can be used for this multi-photon spectroscopic setup. The optical alignment and beam quality requirements are relatively less demanding compared to other multi-photon methods, and hence, compact inexpensive lasers, including laser diodes, can be used. Since the coherence time and coherence length requirements are also relatively low, many types of laser sources can be used quite conveniently in this nonlinear spectroscopic setup. Parts-per-trillion level detection sensitivity can be obtained for a wide range of fluorescing and non-fluorescing analytes and matrices using various analytical atomizers. The graphite furnace atomizer offers many advantages, including convenient sample introduction for solid, liquid or gas analytes, high atomization temperature, clean atomization environment, and minimum source and chemical interferences, resulting in lower atomizer background noise. Taking advantage of the unique features of this multi-wave mixing optical method and those of a graphite furnace atomizer, one can obtain both excellent spectral resolution and detection sensitivity.
Kleene getting lazy

We propose a relaxation of Kleene algebra by giving up strictness and right-distributivity of composition. This allows the subsumption of Dijkstra's computation calculus, Cohen's omega algebra and von Wright's demonic refinement algebra. Moreover, by adding domain and codomain operators we can also incorporate modal operators. We show that predicate transformers form lazy Kleene algebras, the disjunctive and conjunctive ones even lazy omega Kleene algebras. We also briefly sketch two further applications: a modal lazy Kleene algebra of commands modelling total correctness and another one that abstractly characterizes sets of trajectories as used in the description of reactive and hybrid systems.
Naphthalenediimide dimers and trimers form self-assembling hydrogen-bonded nanotubes of enhanced stability

Covalent linkage of amino acid-functionalised naphthalenediimides (NDIs) produced a dimer and a trimer that form helical, hydrogen-bonded nanotubes in CHCl3 solutions and that are more resistant than an analogous monomer to the hydrogen-bond disrupting effects of tetrahydrofuran, methanol and heat.
Automated dynamic mode multidirectional UV lithography for complex 3-D microstructures

Automated multidirectional UV exposure has been demonstrated using a collimated UV source and a movable stage equipped with two computer controlled motors and a microcontroller for complex three dimensional (3-D) microstructures. The stage is tilted and rotated using independently controlled motors during UV exposure as programmed by the user. Various dynamic operations with the synchronized angular velocities of tilting and rotation have been performed using an SU-8 substrate and a reverse-side exposure scheme. Fabricated structures using the dynamic mode include a vertical reverse triangular slab, a quadruple reverse triangular slab, a cardiac horn, screwed wind vane shapes with double blades and quadruple blades. Ray tracing simulation using mathematical equations has been performed to analytically confirm the shapes of resultant structures.
Guided Imagery A Psychoneuroimmunological Intervention in Holistic Nursing Practice

Guided imagery is an independent nursing intervention that uses psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) principles to assist an individual in the management of distressing symptoms. The purpose of this article is to discuss the use of guided imagery in holistic nursing practice. The concepts of PNI are described and the basic steps of guided imagery are presented. PNI research and nursing research on guided imagery as an intervention are reviewed. The principles of guided imagery and PNI are applied to holistic nursing practice. Suggestions for future research methodologies, including psychological, neuroendocrine, and immunological measurements to evaluate the effectiveness of guided imagery, are offered. Rationale for using human immunodeficiency virus infection as a disease model to study the effectiveness of guided imagery is provided.
Lyapunov redesign approach to output regulation of nonlinear systems using conditional servocompensators

This paper studies the output regulation of nonlinear systems using conditional servocompensators. Previous work introduced the conditional servocompensator that acts as a traditional servocompensator in a neighborhood of the zero-error manifold, while acting as a stable system outside a boundary layer, leading to improvement in the transient response while achieving zero steady-state tracking error in the presence of time-varying exogenous signals. The conditional servocompensator tool was introduced for sliding-mode feedback controllers. This paper extends the technique to more general feedback controllers by using Lyapunov redesign and saturated high-gain feedback.
Alterations of T cell activation signalling and cytokine production by postmenopausal estrogen levels.

Immunosenescence is an age-associated disorder occurring primarily in T cell compartments, including altered subset composition, functions, and activation. In women, evidence implicates diminished estrogen in the postmenopausal period as a contributing factor to diminished T cell responsiveness. Since hypoestrogenism is present in postmenopausal women, our objective focused on whether T cell activation, defined as signalling molecule expressions and activation, and function, identified as IL-2 production, were affected by low estrogen. Using Jurkat 6.1 T cells, consequences of 4 pg/ml (corresponding to postmenopausal levels) or 40 pg/ml (premenopausal levels) of estradiol (E2) were analyzed on signalling proteins, CD3-zeta, JAK2, and JAK3, determined by Western immunoblotting. These consequences were correlated with corresponding gene expressions, quantified by real time-polymerase chain reaction. Tyrosine phosphorylation of CD3-zeta was defined by immunoprecipitation and western immunoblotting following activation by T cell receptor (TcR) cross-linking. CD3-zeta expression and modulation was also confirmed in T cells from pre- and postmenopausal women. To assess functional consequences, IL-2 production, induced by PMA and ionomycin, was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay (ELISpot). At 40 pg/ml E2, the level of signalling protein CD3-zeta was elevated 1.57-fold, compared with cells exposed to 4 pg/ml E2. The CD3-zeta proteins also exhibited altered levels of activation-induced phosphorylation in the presence of 40 pg/ml E2 versus 4 pg/ml: 23 kD phosphorylated form increased 2.64-fold and the 21 kD form was elevated 2.95-fold. Examination of kinases associated with activation signalling also demonstrated that, in the presence of 40 pg/ml E2, JAK2 protein expression was increased 1.64-fold (p < 0.001) and JAK3 enhanced 1.79-fold (p < 0.001) compared to 4 pg/ml. mRNA levels for CD3-zeta, JAK2, and JAK3 were significantly increased following exposure to 40 pg/ml E2 (2.39, 2.01, and 2.21 fold, respectively) versus 4 pg/ml. These findings were confirmed in vivo, since T cells from postmenopausal women exhibited 7.2-fold diminished CD3-zeta expression, compared to pre-menopausal controls and this expression was elevated 3.8-fold by addition of 40 pg/ml E2. Functionally, Jurkat cells exposed to 40 pg/ml E2 and activated exhibited significantly elevated numbers of IL-2 producing colonies compared to 4 pg/ml (75.3 ± 2.2 versus 55.7 ± 2.1 colonies, p < 0.0001). Jurkat T cells exposed to 4 pg/ml E2 expressed significantly diminished activation signalling proteins, correlating with reduced IL-2 production. Lower signalling protein levels appear to result from decreased CD3-zeta, JAK2, and JAK3 gene expressions. These findings may provide a molecular basis for immunosenescence associated with the postmenopausal state.
THE BIOLOGY OF AMBROSIA TRIFIDA L.

Summary Ambrosia trifida L. is a fast growing annual colonizer of disturbed ground. When present it drastically reduces kinds, numbers and growth of other annuals. Its seedlings emerge before any other annual in early spring. We studied seed germination in relation to temperature, moisture, depth of sowing, and seedling emergence, survivorship and performance of mature plants in relation to time and depth of sowing and seed size. Seeds germinated under a wide range of temperature (8 to 41°C) with an optimum between 10 to 24 °C. Further germination occurred after restratification suggesting germination polymorphism. The seeds also germinated under a wide range of soil moisture conditions (17 to 55 % dry wt) but highest germination occurred at 20 to 33 % soil moisture. Optimum depth of sowing was 2 cm; very little germination occurred very close to soil surface, and some occurred at the 16 cm depth. In the field seedlings emerged from shallow depths first and then from progressively deeper parts of the soil bank. There was positive correlation between seed size and maximum depth from which seeds of this species and those of five other associated annuals emerge. Time required for seedlings to emerge after germination was directly related to depth. Seedlings that emerged first had the highest probability of survival and those that emerged late suffered progressively higher mortality, irrespective of whether late emergence was caused by late germination or deep germination. Among the survivors that reached maturity, plant weight, height, and number of seeds per plant declined with delayed emergence. However, experimental manipulation showed that delayed emergence per se was not the cause of the mortality but rather competition with individuals which emerged earlier. Furthermore, delayed emergence of cohorts in separate plots did not significantly reduce plant height, weight and number of seeds per plant. Thus in the field and within a patch there may be strong selection for early germination and emergence. However, this selection may be opposed by the unpredictability of the time of disturbance, the spatial patchiness of disturbance, and the longevity and induced dormancy of Ambrosia seeds. Compared to its associated annuals, A. trifida has the largest seeds and seedlings, the earliest germination and emergence and a very high photosynthetic rates. These properties give A. trifida a decisive advantage over the other species.
Size and mechanics effects in surface-induced melting of nanoparticles

Various melting-related phenomena (like surface melting, size dependence of melting temperature, melting of few nm-size particles and overheating at a very fast heating rate) are of great fundamental and applied interest, although the corresponding theory is still lacking. Here we develop an advanced phase-field theory of melting coupled to mechanics, which resolves numerous existing contradictions and allowed us to reveal exciting features of melting problems. The necessity of introducing an unexpected concept, namely, coherent solid-melt interface with uniaxial transformation strain, is demonstrated. A crossover in temperature dependence of interface energy for radii below 20 nm is found. Surface-induced premelting and barrierless melt nucleation for nanoparticles down to 1 nm radius is studied, and the importance of advanced mechanics is demonstrated. Our model describes well experimental data on the width of the molten layer versus temperature for the Al plane surface and on melting temperature versus particle radius.
Performance analysis of Space Station communications protocols

The Space Station Freedom communications architecture, the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) advanced orbiting system (AOS) protocols, and the design of the protocol simulator prototype are discussed. The results from an initial performance analysis of the CCSDS AOS protocols based on processing time and throughput measurements from the protocol simulator are presented. These results illustrate how CCSDS AOS protocol processing is affected by packet size, CCSDS grades of service, and data type. It is demonstrated that neither procedure processing times nor throughput are noticeably affected by CCSDS grade of service. However, the inclusion of processing times for Reed-Solomon and CRC error coding and retransmission effects will change this result. It was found that the multiplexer procedure is the primary bottleneck point of the CCSDS procedures studied. Improved multiplexer performance can be achieved using packet sizes in which segmentation does not occur. It was also found that larger packet sizes provide a higher rate of throughput. However, when the effect of retransmission is considered, larger packet sizes may not provide the highest throughput. >
Nanocircuit elements, nano-transmission lines and nano-antennas using plasmonic materials in the optical domain

Optical wave interaction with metallic nanoparticles is one of the interesting problems in nanotechnology and nanophotonics. For certain noble metals, the plasma frequency is in the visible or ultraviolet wavelengths, and therefore their permittivity have negative real parts in the optical frequencies. These metals behave as plasmonic materials, and as a result, their interaction with optical signals involves surface plasmon resonances. Using such plasmonic materials as nanocircuit elements, this paper describes a nano-transmission line provide a guided-wave structure in the optical regime with a lateral cross section far less than the operating wavelength, analogous to the conventional transmission line in the microwave regime. Nano-antennas, which are nanometer-sized transmitting and receiving systems, are also discussed.
Fighting healthcare fraud with statistics

Bradford Woodard explains how sampling and extrapolation is used by the US Medicaid programme to uncover and reclaim overpayments
An atypical presentation of pulmonary air-leak syndrome and multisystem toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare and potentially fatal mucocutaneous condition that may affect both children and adults. TEN mortality rates vary greatly between both patient populations, but multisystem involvement is common. Management presents many challenges as there is no specific therapy for TEN, and patients often require the expertise of burn units. We report a child who survived TEN with multisystem involvement including the rare but life threatening occurrence of a pulmonary air-leak syndrome while also reviewing controversies surrounding TEN's pathophysiology, sequelae, and multidisciplinary approach to management.
Finely tuned response of native prey to an invasive predator in a freshwater system

Lack of shared evolutionary history reduces the expectation that native prey will detect and respond to invasive predators. Four mechanisms may explain the adaptive response that is nevertheless seen in various systems: prey may perceive the invasive predator through cue similarity with preexisting predators, cues of conspecifics eaten by the invasive predator, a learned response based on experience with the invasive predator (e.g., cue association), and cues from the invasive predator that are specific to it. We performed laboratory experiments in which zooplankton (Daphnia mendotae) responded adaptively to the zooplanktivore Bythotrephes longimanus (migrating downward), showed no response to taxonomically similar predatory cladocerans, and responded adaptively to more taxonomically distant native fish (migrating downward) and native shrimp (migrating upward). Conspecific cues associated with Bythotrephes predation actually reduced the response of D. mendotae to Bythotrephes. Combined with previous experiments that rule out learning, our experiments rule out the first three mechanisms above, demonstrating that D. mendotae respond to cues specific to and produced directly by Bythotrephes. This finely tuned response may be retained from an ancestral species that coevolved with Bythotrephes in its native range, or may have rapidly evolved due to strong selection by the invasive predator.
Mobility-Assisted Location Management for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANETs) are gaining importance for inter-vehicle communication, because they allow for the local communication between vehicles without any infrastructure, configuration effort, and without the expensive cellular networks. As geographic routing can be used to achieve efficient data delivery in VANETs, how to provide location management service in VANETs to facilitate geographic routing remains a fundamental issue. In this paper we will present a novel location management protocol, call MALM, to provide location service to vehicles in VANETs. In MALM, a vehicle calculates the current location of other vehicles by using Kalman filtering based on the historical location information of other nodes. Theoretical analysis is provided to show that MALM is able to achieve high location information availability in the network. We evaluate the performance of MALM via extensive simulations. The simulation results show that MALM works efficiently in VANETs.
Between Horizons: Traveling the Great Central Valley

Over a dozen years, frequent driving trips between Los Angeles and San Francisco cultivated and seasoned the historian9s esteem for California9s Great Central Valley and ripened her curiosity about how authentic travelers—witnesses of the land—understood the Valley9s topographic variety, hydrology, ecosystems, and human cultures as they journeyed and documented what they saw. With quotations from a variety of observations, recollections, and meditations exposing the promise of place, the article points to an under-appreciated past, directing attention to changes wrought by humans, nature, and the passage of time.
Hypoxia induces the overexpression of microRNA-21 in pancreatic cancer cells.

Abstract Background Pancreatic cancer cells exist in a hypoxic microenvironment containing numerous factors that impact tumor survival, proliferation, and metastasis. MicroRNAs (miRs) are differentially expressed in cancer but also altered by hypoxia. We hypothesized that hypoxia could induce expression of miR-21, an oncomir in pancreatic cancer cells. Materials and methods We examined how hypoxia regulates miR-21 expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines (BxPC-3, AsPC-1) by stem-loop RT-PCR. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to study how hypoxia alters hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α binding to the hypoxia response element of miR-21. BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 cells were transfected with a constitutively stable HIF-1α subunit or vector control (pcDNA3.1) to determine the influence of miR-21 in normoxia. The effect of mature miR-21 sense and antisense oligonucleotides on proliferation and apoptosis in hypoxic and normoxic conditions was assessed via WST-1 assay and flow cytometry. Results MiR-21 levels increased in all cell lines grown in hypoxic conditions versus normoxia, whereas siRNA targeting HIF-1α reduced miR-21 expression. Hypoxic conditions resulted in direct binding of HIF-1α to the predicted binding site in miR-21. Transfection with a constitutively stable HIF-1α expression plasmid in normoxia resulted in upregulated miR-21, similar to that seen in hypoxia. Cells transfected with antisense constructs targeting miR-21 had reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis in normoxia, whereas miR-21 overexpression abrogated hypoxia-associated reductions in proliferation. Conclusions MiR-21 is induced by hypoxia in pancreatic cancer cells via HIF-1α upregulation. MiR-21 overexpression allows cells to avoid apoptosis in a hypoxic microenvironment. Inhibition of miR-21 expression may increase cellular susceptibility to hypoxia in pancreatic cancer.
Does bill size polymorphism affect courtship song characteristics in the African finch Pyrenestes ostrinus

Vocal characteristics of bill morphs of the African finch Pyrenestes ostrinus were investigated to see whether there were differences between the morphs that could potentially lead to assortative mating. Morphological differences between bill morphs are of a scale that could change resonance characteristics, with as a physical consequence, a change in acoustic characteristics. Song and variation in acoustic characteristics are very likely to be an important factor in mate choice. We analysed recordings of large and small-billed birds, and measured 11 acoustic characteristics focusing on frequency use and possibly correlated temporal features. In addition, we investigated in more detail the energy distribution within the frequency limits. We found no differences between bill morphs in acoustic characteristics of courtship song. Our findings contrast with other empirical studies which show an impact of the suprasyringeal vocal tract on song output. One possible explanation could be that the morphological changes affect resonance characteristics in multiple ways which do not operate in concert. Beside proximate aspects, we discuss the role of song and the bill polymorphism in the context of sympatric speciation.
Emotion and Emotion Regulation: A Map for Psychotherapy Researchers

Never before has the pace of research on emotion and emotion regulation been as vigorous as it is today. This news is welcomed by researchers who study psychological therapies and who believe that emotion and emotion regulation processes are fundamental to normal and abnormal functioning. However, one unwelcome consequence of this otherwise happy state of affairs is that therapy researchers now face an array of bewildering decisions about what to measure and why. What is needed is a map that will help researchers make wise decisions in this domain. In this spirit, we locate Sloan and Kring's (2007) important review of available emotion and emotion regulation measures within the wider field of affective constructs and the broader problem space of psychotherapy research. Where appropriate, we illustrate our points with examples from our own work, and highlight the payoffs and challenges of integrating affective and clinical science.
Life history evolution of seed-bank annuals in response to seed predation

Summary We present a model of life history evolution for seed-bank annuals in temporally varying environments in which both the seed bank and the distribution of fecundity across year types evolve in response to seed predation. The fecundity distribution refers to the expected reproductive success of germinating seeds across a range of different year types. We assume that it is a function of traits pertaining to growth and survival under different environmental circumstances. Such traits are assumed to result in a trade-off between reproduction in favourable and less favourable years. The model is used to explore how seed predation selects for changes in the seed bank and fecundity distribution and how changes in each of these further select for changes in the other. The direction of selection is contingent upon: whether or not a seed bank exists; whether predation has a greater effect on fresh or buried seed; whether the predation rate differs in different year types, and if so, if it is positively or negatively density-dependent; whether or not predation rate is sensitive to individual variation in seed yield, and if so, whether and how such dependency varies in different kinds of year. Under a variety of predation regimes, seed predators select for a temporal clumping of reproduction; i.e. a specialisation on a favourable subset of year types. This effect usually requires negatively density-dependent seed predation of the sort created by predator satiation. In fact, the classic scenario favouring masting in perennials creates the strongest such effect in our model. Yet unlike the masting of perennial plants, this effect is favoured in a seed-bank annual. It can even occur in a strict annual without a seed bank, and it can occur in a seed-bank annual even if seed predation is density-independent.
Surface wave dispersion from small vertical scatterers

[1] Heterogeneity in the subsurface creates conflicting types of dispersion of seismic waves. A laboratory and numerical experiment show that multiple scattering of elastic waves from isolated heterogeneities near the surface not only attenuates, but also delays coherent events. Because scattering off these impedance contrasts is frequency dependent, multiple scattering is a source of dispersion. If ignored, multiple scattering dispersion could be erroneously attributed to a model with horizontal homogeneous layers of different wave speeds.
Atomic Structure Studies of Zirconia Solid Solutions by EXAFS

We have investigated, using EXAFS, the local atomic structures of four zirconia polymorphs and their solid solutions with Ca2+, Ga3+, Fe3+, Y3+, Gd3+, Ge4+, Ti4+, Ce4+ and Nb5+. Structural information up to 9A, and in one special case up to 10.9A, from the absorbing atom has been obtained. The characteristic features of local environments of both the host Zr and the dopant cations, and their variations leading to cation ordering and symmetry evolutions, are elucidated in terms of a dopant size effect and an oxygen vacancy effect. The dynamic aspects of the EXAFS Debye-Waller factor are used to shed light on the connection between phase transition, dopant stabilization, and cation-anion correlation.