cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GABPα and CREB1 Binding to Double Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Their Consensus Motifs and Cooperative Binding to the Composite ETS ⇔ CRE Motif (ACCGGAAGTGACGTCA).

Previously, cooperative binding of the bZIP domain of CREB1 and the ETS domain of GABPα was observed for the composite DNA ETS ⇔ CRE motif (A0C1C2G3G4A5A6G7T8G9A10C11G12T13C14A15 ). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the beginning and end of the ETS motif (ACCGGAAGT) increased cooperative binding. Here, we use an Agilent microarray of 60-mers containing all double nucleotide polymorphisms (DNPs) of the ETS ⇔ CRE motif to explore GABPα and CREB1 binding to their individual motifs and their cooperative binding. For GABPα, all DNPs were bound as if each SNP acted independently. In contrast, CREB1 binding to some DNPs was stronger or weaker than expected, depending on the locations of each SNP. CREB1 binding to DNPs where both SNPs were in the same half site, T8G9A10 or T13C14A15 , was greater than expected, indicating that an additional SNP cannot destroy binding as much as expected, suggesting that an individual SNP is enough to abolish sequence-specific DNA binding of a single bZIP monomer. If a DNP contains SNPs in each half site, binding is weaker than expected. Similar results were observed for additional ETS and bZIP family members. Cooperative binding between GABPα and CREB1 to the ETS ⇔ CRE motif was weaker than expected except for DNPs containing A7 and SNPs at the beginning of the ETS motif.
Investigation of phosphate glasses for white-light emission

Transparent Barium Phosphate glasses embedded with rare-earth ions and silver were made by the melt quenching technique. Glasses were characterized by measuring absorption, emission spectra and lifetime measurements. From the emission measurements chromaticity diagrams were generated. Color coordinates and color temperature were estimated. The glass sample with silver was subjected to heat treatment to induce nanoparticles. Effect of heat treatment on luminescence measurements was analyzed.
50 – Delay Equations

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on ordinary differential delay equations. There are several standard techniques for delay equations. The standard methods for solving delay equations are by the use of: (1) Laplace transforms, (2) Fourier transforms, (3) generating functions, (4) general expansion theorems and (5) the method of steps. For the first two methods, the technique is the same as it is for ordinary differential equations. That is, the transform is taken of the delay equation, by algebraic manipulations the transform is explicitly determined; and then an inverse transformation is taken. For a delay equation with a single delay, the method of steps consists of solving the delay equation in successive intervals, whose length is the time delay. In each interval, only an ordinary differential equation needs to be solved. The method of generating functions is frequently used when only integral values of the variables are of interest. The technique is similar to the technique for integral transforms. For generating functions the integration is replaced by a summation, and the “inverse transformation” is generally a differentiation.
Observations and Models of Turbulence During Heat Events in Complex Urban Coastal Regions Using Multiple Doppler Wind Lidars

Multiple Doppler Lidars have been co-operated in the NYC region during the summer of 2018 to provide detailed observations of the turbulent atmosphere especially during heat wave events. The co-operating Doppler Lidar observations allow for mean flows to be distinguished from complex flows so that a better understanding of the transport of air masses can be provided to investigate the fidelity of high resolution numerical weather prediction models that are being developed to interpret and model turbulence during such events.
Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is characterized by abnormal ventilation during sleep and includes a spectrum of disorders from simple snoring to repetitive or cessation of breathing. Recently, there has been an increased focus on the relationship between psychiatric disorders and SDB with growing recognition of their interplay. For example, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can negatively affect sleep quality, which may contribute to worsening symptoms of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Similarly, an increased appetite during depressive states or the use of psychotropic medications can result in obesity, which increases the risk of developing OSA. Thus, integrative management is essential for achieving excellent patient outcomes. This chapter reviews the subtypes of SDB, their management, and their overlap with psychiatric conditions.
Polysilsesquioxane-based organic-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials and their applications towards organic photovoltaics

Abstract Controlling the three-dimensional distribution with well-ordered morphology of organic semiconducting materials for a thin film device architecture is a significant challenge for the advancement of organic electronics. More evidently, the nanoscale morphology with interpenetrating network of nanoassemblies of semiconductors is required for organic photovoltaics (OPVs), wherein electrical response depends on the charge transfer and continuous pathways for charge transport. To improve the utility of organic semiconductor-based devices, the nanoscale morphology of well-defined organic-inorganic hybrid nanostructures has been investigated. In this review, we explore the developments of functional silsesquioxane-based organic-inorganic hybrid nanostructures as potential building blocks for OPVs. We discuss the synthetic advancements to make size and shape-controlled nanostructures of polysilsesquioxane family, their performance towards solar energy harvesting, and future potential roadmap to overcoming their challenges in OPVs.
Photoacoustic-guided surgery from head to toe [Invited]

Photoacoustic imaging–the combination of optics and acoustics to visualize differences in optical absorption – has recently demonstrated strong viability as a promising method to provide critical guidance of multiple surgeries and procedures. Benefits include its potential to assist with tumor resection, identify hemorrhaged and ablated tissue, visualize metal implants (e.g., needle tips, tool tips, brachytherapy seeds), track catheter tips, and avoid accidental injury to critical subsurface anatomy (e.g., major vessels and nerves hidden by tissue during surgery). These benefits are significant because they reduce surgical error, associated surgery-related complications (e.g., cancer recurrence, paralysis, excessive bleeding), and accidental patient death in the operating room. This invited review covers multiple aspects of the use of photoacoustic imaging to guide both surgical and related non-surgical interventions. Applicable organ systems span structures within the head to contents of the toes, with an eye toward surgical and interventional translation for the benefit of patients and for use in operating rooms and interventional suites worldwide. We additionally include a critical discussion of complete systems and tools needed to maximize the success of surgical and interventional applications of photoacoustic-based technology, spanning light delivery, acoustic detection, and robotic methods. Multiple enabling hardware and software integration components are also discussed, concluding with a summary and future outlook based on the current state of technological developments, recent achievements, and possible new directions.
Kinematic and Acoustic Changes to Vowels and Diphthongs in Bite Block Speech

Purpose We examined the effect of bite block insertion (BBI) on lingual movements and formant frequencies in corner vowel and diphthong production in a sentence context. Method Twenty young adults produced the corner vowels (/u/, /ɑ/, /ae/, /i/) and the diphthong /ɑɪ/ in sentence contexts before and after BBI. An electromagnetic articulograph measured the movements of the tongue back, middle, and front. Results There were significant decreases in the acoustic vowel articulation index and vowel space area following BBI. The kinematic vowel articulation index decreased significantly for the back and middle of the tongue but not for the front. There were no significant acoustic changes post-BBI for the diphthong, other than a longer transition duration. Diphthong kinematic changes after BBI included smaller movements for the back and middle of the tongue, but not the front. Conclusions BBI led to a smaller acoustic working space for the corner vowels. The adjustments made by the front of the tongue were sufficient to compensate for the BBI perturbation in the diphthong, resulting in unchanged formant trajectories. The back and middle of the tongue were likely biomechanically restricted in their displacement by the fixation of the jaw, whereas the tongue front showed greater movement flexibility.
Lentiviruses are etiological agents of chronic diseases in animals and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in humans.

Abstract Lentiviruses are species-specific, exogenously transmitted retroviruses that have a unique ability to replicate continuously but at a restricted rate in host tissues. This property is thought to be related to the retroviral nature of the replication process (RNA to DNA to RNA) and to the ability of the viruses to do this in cells of the macrophage lineage. The viral genomes are expressed only in certain populations of macrophages and this is dependent on a number of interactive factors including the genus of the host, the age of the host, maturation/differentiation factors in macrophages, the strain of virus and regulatory factors in the virus and the regulatory factors in the virus and the macrophages. Macrophages permissive for virus replication are found in specific tissues and virus replication in the cells causes development of lesions in the particular tissues. The nature of the lesions varies from virus induced necrosis to immunopathology to possible toxic infects of monokines produced by the infected macrophages. Cats and primates have further complicating diseases caused by the remarkable sensitivity of their helper T lymphocytes to infection with their lentiviruses. Elimination of these cells leads to onset of various local and systemic diseases caused by opportunistic agents. Whereas equidae and small ruminant animals develop diseases related to infection in macrophage populations, felines, macaques and humans develop diseases related to both infection in their macrophages and elimination of their T lymphocytes.
Palliative Access Through Care at Home: Experiences with an Urban, Geriatric Home Palliative Care Program

The aging of the U.S. population has resulted in a large number of persons with multiple, chronic illnesses and gradual functional decline. Many older adults with these conditions are homebound and have great difficulty accessing medical care. They are also more likely to suffer from unaddressed symptoms and end-of-life care needs. Certain groups, such as African-American patients and patients with dementia, are even less likely to access palliative care and hospice services. Although the informal caregivers attending to such persons may become overwhelmed without adequate support, palliative care, which covers a broad population, is an optimal way to address many of these needs. This article describes a unique, urban, home-based geriatrics palliative care program (Palliative Access Through Care at Home (PATCH)) designed to address some of these unmet needs. After 1 year of providing service, a mixed-methods study consisting of chart review, telephone interviews, and face-to-face interviews was conducted to assess caregiver expectations of and satisfaction with the program. Caregivers for the elderly, mostly African-American patients, more than half of whom had dementia, were overall very satisfied with their experience, despite the large amount of time necessary to provide the care that patients required. Themes extracted during qualitative analysis were the desire to remain at home, the need for easy access to a practitioner specializing in geriatrics and palliative medicine, and the challenges of transitions of care. PATCH was able to address many of these needs and provide high levels of caregiver satisfaction.
Kinetics of the two-sited enzyme: II. A method of distinguishing between anticooperative and independent active sites based on competitive inhibition☆☆☆

Abstract The presence of two active sites on an enzyme leads to downwardly curving Lineweaver-Burk plots if (A) the sites are independent, but have different Michaelis constants, or (B) if the sites interact anticooperatively to impair binding, but not catalysis, at the second site filled. Cases A and B are kinetically indistinguishable when only enzyme and substrate are present. However, equations derived by the rapid-equilibrium treatment show that the two cases have different patterns of competitive inhibition and become distinguishable in the presence of a suitable inhibitor. The inhibitor may decrease or increase the curvature of Lineweaver-Burk plots, but certain patterns have diagnostic value because they can occur only in case (B). In one type of diagnostic pattern, high concentrations of inhibitor cause the Lineweaver-Burk plots to curve upward, and cause the corresponding saturation curves to become sigmoid. The effect of the inhibitor is thus to make sites which are anticooperative appear to be cooperative. This suggests that the mere occurrence of sigmoid saturation curves is not necessarily evidence of cooperative binding effects, and may have uncertain significance in considerations of enzyme regulation.
Khatri-Rao space-time codes with maximum diversity gains over frequency-selective channels

Spatial diversity as well as multipath diversity can be exploited by Space-Time (ST) coding techniques in the presence of frequency-selective channels. A new class of linear ST codes, known as Khatri-Rao ST codes, have recently been proposed for the flat-fading channel scenario. These codes provide built-in blind channel identifiability and rate-diversity flexibility. We study the extension of these codes to the frequency-selective channel case. These codes can handle any transmit/receive antenna configuration and signal constellation. They are designed to achieve the maximum possible spatial and multipath diversity in scattering-rich frequency-selective channels, equal to the product of the number of antennas and the number of FIR channel taps. The proposed codes are shown to have desirable properties like guaranteed unique linear decodability, built-in blind channel identifiability and efficient near maximum likelihood decoding.
Behavioral Staff Training and Management in Geriatric Long-Term Care Facilities

The 1980 U.S. census estimated that 1.3 million people over 65 years of age were living in long-term care settings. These people constitute a significant minority, and if current population estimates are confirmed, their ranks will swell to 3.3 million people by the year 2040 (U.S. Census Bureau, 1980). The task of providing merely basic care for a population of this size is staggering. Providing a therapeutic environment for the elderly in long-term care will require a substantial change in the focus and orientation of these settings.
An Evaluation of Formats for Graphic Trend Displays—Experiment II1

This study was designed to determine which of three types of trend formats results in superior performance for a task requiring the subject to make complex decisions. Three commonly used formats were included in the study: line type, vertical-bar type, and horizontal-bar type. Two secondary independent variables were: number of time points and amount of missing data. Results of the study indicate that preference should be given to line-type graphs, followed closely by the vertical-bar type. A secondary finding was that irrelevant points and missing data on graphic trend displays represent important factors in the degradation of operator performance.
Entrepreneurs, Financial Risk and Wealth

Using 1989 to 2007 Survey of Consumer Finances data, this paper addresses three questions: 1) Are entrepreneurs are generally more or less financially conservative than their non-entrepreneurial counterparts? 2) Do entrepreneurs accumulate more wealth? and 3) Do entrepreneurs hold a smaller share of their financial assets in risky stock holdings? Results indicate that entrepreneurs are financially conservative based on borrowing and savings questions but are more likely to assume risk for financial gain. Consistent with earlier evidence that entrepreneurs save more, they also accumulate more wealth over time. Entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs invest similar shares of their financial portfolios in safe assets. Taken together, the results suggest that policies aimed at increasing entrepreneurship should focus on helping households identify high-value business opportunities through transparent tax, legal, and regulatory systems. Efforts to reduce entrepreneurial risk should focus on the business venture, such as full loss offsets, rather than focusing on reductions in other financial risks.
Sulfoxidation of chlorpromazine and thioridazine by bovine liver--preferential metabolic pathways.

Abstract The sulfoxidation of chlorpromazine (Thorazine), thioridazine (Mellaril), and some of their metabolites by a crude microsomal preparation from bovine liver was examined in an in vitro system which enables a rapid assessment of phenothiazine metabolism by various mammalian tissues. The enzymatic sulfoxidation of these drugs was found to require the presence of certain nicotinamide dinucleotide factors in their reduced form. Maximum activity was observed in the presence of NADPH. Preferential sulfoxidation pathways were found to differ between these two antipsychotic agents governing whether they are converted to pharmacologically active or inactive metabolites. Chlorpromazine under goes sulfoxidation to form its inactive ring-sulfoxide; in contrast, the sulfoxidation of thioridazine occurs preferentially at its side-chain sulfur residue to form mostly mesoridazine, a pharmacologically active metabolite. The ring-sulfur residue of thioridazine, unlike that of chlorpromazine, was very resistant toward this enzymatic process. In addition, various drugs including chloroquine and some of its analogues were tested for their ability to inhibit the formation of phenothiazine ring-sulfoxide.
Effect of nozzle configuration on transport in the stagnation zone of axisymmetric, impinging free-surface liquid jets: Part 1-turbulent flow structure

This study characterized the mean and fluctuating parts of the radial component of the local velocity in the stagnation region of an impinging, free-surface liquid jet striking a smooth flat plate. Four different nozzle exit conditions were studied, including fully developed pipe flow, a contoured nozzle, and turbulence-damped and undamped sharp-edged orifices. Liquid jet Reynolds numbers in the range 30,000 to 55,000 were investigated. Velocities were measured using laser-Doppler velocimetry. Mean velocities were found to vary nearly linearly with radial location, with the slope of the line being a function of distance from the impingement plate. Dimensionless mean velocity gradients, of relevance to the heat transfer, were found to be a strong function of nozzle type, but roughly independent of jet Reynolds number for a given nozzle type. Turbulence levels were also found to be strongly influenced by the nozzle exit-condition. Local heat transfer data corresponding to the flow structure measurements presented here are reported in Part 2 of this study. 22 refs., 9 figs.
Photodynamic therapy of the intact breast

Summary As breast cancer is diagnosed in over a million patients a year it is a significant oncological issue. Treatment paradigms have shifted to emphasize breast preservation protocols. However, due to a lack of equipment and facilities this option is only rarely offered to poverty stricken patients and those in the developing world. Photodynamic therapy may play a role in allowing for greater breast conservation based in part on the emerging success of partial breast radiation. This paper will review the rationale behind and technical aspects for intact breast photodynamic therapy.
Radiation damage in BaF/sub 2/ crystals

The change in optical transmission of a number of BaF/sub 2/ crystals has been measured as a function of exposure to /sup 60/Co radiation up to a dose of 4.7*10/sup 6/ rad. Although some crystals exhibited a small change in transmission, a greater change in scintillation light output was observed. Several 25-cm-long crystals which have been irradiated showed large changes in both transmission and light output. Recovery from radiation damage was studied as a function of time and exposure to UV light. A long-lived radiation-induced phosphorescence was observed in all irradiated samples which was distinct from the standard fast and slow scintillation emissions. The emission spectrum of the phosphorescence was measured and showed a peak at approximately 330 nm, near the region of the slow scintillation component. Results are given on the dependence of the decay time of the phosphorescence with dose. >
Overview Of Advances In Photomask Substrate Flatness Requirements And Flatness Measurement Techniques

The continued demand by the integrated circuit industry for larger wafers and higher device densities has placed requirements in the photolithographic manufacturing system for "superflat" substrate glass. Superflat substrates are flatter than current master grades and are primarily used in projection printing. The accurate and consistent measurement of this glass as it relates to both the vendor/purchaser and the test/use situations is examined. This is accomplished through both an overview of the industry's status as well as specific measurement and computer generated data. The study concludes that while the industry objective of much flatter substrate glass is clearly established, the procedures and equipment used to measure this flatness have not, heretofore, been well defined.
Stress and Fracture Mechanics Analyses of Boiling Water Reactor and Pressurized Water Reactor Pressure Vessel Nozzles

This paper describes stress analysis and fracture mechanics work performed to assess boiling water reactor (BWR) and pressurized water reactor (PWR) nozzles located in the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) adjacent to the core beltline region. Various RPV nozzle geometries were investigated: 1. BWR recirculation outlet nozzle; 2. BWR core spray nozzle; 3. PWR inlet nozzle; 4. PWR outlet nozzle; and 5. BWR partial penetration instrument nozzle. The above nozzle designs were selected based on their proximity to the core beltline region, i.e., those nozzle configurations that are located close enough to the core region such that they may receive sufficient fluence prior to end-of-license (EOL) to require evaluation as part of establishing the allowed limits on heatup, cooldown, and hydrotest (leak test) conditions. These nozzles analyzed represent one each of the nozzle types potentially requiring evaluation. The purpose of the analyses performed on these nozzle designs was as follows: • To model and understand differences in pressure and thermal stress results using a two-dimensional (2-D) axi-symmetric finite element model (FEM) versus a three-dimensional (3-D) FEM for all nozzle types. In particular, the ovalization (stress concentration) effect of two intersecting cylinders, which is typical of RPV nozzle configurations, was investigated; • To verify the accuracy of a selected linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) hand solution for stress intensity factor for a postulated nozzle corner crack for both thermal and pressure loading for all nozzle types; • To assess the significance of attached piping loads on the stresses in the nozzle corner region; and • To assess the significance of applying pressure on the crack face with respect to the stress intensity factor for a postulated nozzle corner crack.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Fast Kalman filtering on quasilinear dendritic trees

Optimal filtering of noisy voltage signals on dendritic trees is a key problem in computational cellular neuroscience. However, the state variable in this problem—the vector of voltages at every compartment—is very high-dimensional: realistic multicompartmental models often have on the order of N = 104 compartments. Standard implementations of the Kalman filter require O(N 3) time and O(N 2) space, and are therefore impractical. Here we take advantage of three special features of the dendritic filtering problem to construct an efficient filter: (1) dendritic dynamics are governed by a cable equation on a tree, which may be solved using sparse matrix methods in O(N) time; and current methods for observing dendritic voltage (2) provide low SNR observations and (3) only image a relatively small number of compartments at a time. The idea is to approximate the Kalman equations in terms of a low-rank perturbation of the steady-state (zero-SNR) solution, which may be obtained in O(N) time using methods that exploit the sparse tree structure of dendritic dynamics. The resulting methods give a very good approximation to the exact Kalman solution, but only require O(N) time and space. We illustrate the method with applications to real and simulated dendritic branching structures, and describe how to extend the techniques to incorporate spatially subsampled, temporally filtered, and nonlinearly transformed observations.
Reward and reward omission: Time-dependent aftereffects in rats and fish

Both goldfish and rats responded faster on a trial following shortly after reward omission than on trials at longer intervals. On trials shortly after a reward, responding was slower than on similar trials presented at longer intervals. These reward omission effects are similar to the invigorating effects of frustrative nonreward.
Comparison of two stents in modifying cerebral aneurysm hemodynamics.

There is a general lack of quantitative understanding about how specific design features of endovascular stents (struts and mesh design, porosity) affect the hemodynamics in intracranial aneurysms. To shed light on this issue, we studied two commercial high-porosity stents (Tristar stent™ and Wallstent®) in aneurysm models of varying vessel curvature as well as in a patient-specific model using Computational Fluid Dynamics. We investigated how these stents modify hemodynamic parameters such as aneurysmal inflow rate, stasis, and wall shear stress, and how such changes are related to the specific designs. We found that the flow damping effect of stents and resulting aneurysmal stasis and wall shear stress are strongly influenced by stent porosity, strut design, and mesh hole shape. We also confirmed that the damping effect is significantly reduced at higher vessel curvatures, which indicates limited usefulness of high-porosity stents as a stand-alone treatment. Finally, we showed that the stasis-inducing performance of stents in 3D geometries can be predicted from the hydraulic resistance of their flat mesh screens. From this, we propose a methodology to cost-effectively compare different stent designs before running a full 3D simulation.
Can Young Children Use Mnemonics

Most studies of mnemonic techniques have involved learning of artificially constructed lists of nouns by adults. This study is not a controlled experiment, but is an exploratory investigation into the feasibility of the use of mnemonic techniques in practical learning tasks by young children. Two girls, ages 7 yr., 2 mo., and 5 yr., 3 mo., used a well-known pegword system to learn the Ten Commandments. The first step was to teach the children the pegword system, in which each number from 1-10 is paired with a noun (one-bun, two-shoe, three-tree, etc.). Boch girls were able to recall all the peg words after two times through the list. The second step was to teach the children how to use the peg words. They were given a list of 10 items to memorize and were coached in forming visual associations between the peg words and the items. Both girls recalled all 10 items after the list was presented and recalled 9 of the 10 the following day. They were given additional practice with a second list of 10 items and again recalled all 10 items on immediate recall. When tested the next day, they each needed prodding [What is the peg word? What is (peg word) doing?] on two items. The final step was to use the peg words to learn the Ten Commandments. A concrete item representing each commandment was associated visually with the corresponding peg word. For example, a thief stealing a gate (eight-gate) represented the eighth commandment-Thou shalt not steal. Both girls were successful in learning to tell the meaning of all 10 commandments in order and out of order. They were able to recall rhem in a surprise test 2 mo. later. This study was spread out over a period of several weeks but could have been done much more quickly if necessary. It provides support for suggestions that mnemonic techniques might be used by children in practical learning tasks such as in school (e.g., Bower, 1973). Visual associations not only help to learn certain kinds of material, but, perhaps equally important, they also make learning fun. Boch girls enjoyed the experience and were anxious to apply the peg words to new learning tasks.
Corn Recovery from Early-Season Frost

Early season frost injury can be devastating to corn (Zea mays L.). Such an incident occurred on 28 May 1992 injuring thousands of acres of 3- to 4-leaf corn in south central Nebraska. Damage ranged from slight to complete defoliation. Since there was limited information available on management options to make recommendations, we compared three alternatives: control (no treatment), clipping the plants above the undamaged stalk (2.4 to 3 in.), and replanting. Three field sites with different levels of defoliation (55, 70, 100 %) were selected to compare these options. Unfavorable weather conditions for plant recovery prevailed for several days following the frost. Plants continued to die for several weeks at two of the sites. Plant death was associated with the development of soft rot at or just above the growing point. A bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, was isolated from affected tissue and was used in greenhouse studies to successfully carry out Koch's postulates demonstrating this organism as the causal agent of the disease. Pseudomonas fluorescens is not considered a pathogen of corn but environmental conditions following the frost apparently allowed it to become opportunistic and behave as a facultative parasite. All treatments yielded similarly at the site with intermediate damage (70 % defoliated). Replanting corn yielded 22 to 92 % more than the other treatments at the 100 % defoliated site, but decreased yield by nearly 30 % at the 55 % defoliated site. Clipping corn did not affect yields at the 55 % defoliated site, but reduced yield 37 % at the 100 % defoliated site. Clipping corn plants after frost proved an unreliable method of promoting recovery from early-season frost. Our field-by-field estimates of final corn stand potential on 4 June were fairly accurate. These assessments must be made to choose between replanting or leaving the plants alone
The Effects of Age and the Expression of SPARC on Extracellular Matrix Production by Cardiac Fibroblasts in 3-D Cultures

Fibrillar collagen is the primary component of the cardiac interstitial extracellular matrix. This extracellular matrix undergoes dramatic changes from birth to adulthood and then into advanced age. As evidence, fibrillar collagen content was compared in sections from neonates, adult, and old hearts and was found to increase at each respective age. Cardiac fibroblasts are the principle cell type that produce and control fibrillar collagen content. To determine whether fibroblast production, processing, and deposition of collagen differed with age, primary cardiac fibroblasts from neonate, adult, and old mice were isolated and cultured in 3-dimensional (3D) fibrin gels. Fibroblasts from each age aligned in fibrin gels along points of tension and deposited extracellular matrix. By confocal microscopy, wild-type neonate fibroblasts appeared to deposit less collagen into fibrillar structures than fibroblasts from adults. However, by immunoblot analysis, differences in procollagen production and processing of collagen I were not detected in neonate versus adult fibroblasts. In contrast, fibroblasts from old mice demonstrated increased efficiency of procollagen processing coupled with decreased production of total collagen. SPARC is a collagen-binding protein previously shown to affect cardiac collagen deposition. Accordingly, in the absence of SPARC, less collagen appeared to be associated with fibroblasts of each age grown in fibrin gels. In addition, the increased efficiency of procollagen alpha 1(I) processing in old wild-type fibroblasts was not detected in old SPARC-null fibroblasts. Increased levels of fibronectin were detected in wild-type neonate fibroblasts over that of adult and old fibroblasts but not in SPARC-null neonate fibroblasts versus older ages. Immunostaining of SPARC overlapped with that of collagen I but not to that of fibronectin in 3D cultures. Hence, whereas increases in procollagen processing, influenced by SPARC expression, plausibly contribute to increased collagen deposition in old hearts, other cellular mechanisms likely affect differential collagen deposition by neonate fibroblasts.
A response to “tradition in modern dress”

The problem of preserving Judaic tradition within the folds of modernity struck this respondent rather forcefully a few years ago when I discovered that one of my students was from Tokyo. Before Minako Sakai arrived on the campus, an international exchange program had deposited her in a small Indiana town to facilitate her orientation to inscrutable American culture. When the family that put Minako up in its home learned which university she would be attending, her hosts thoughtfully sought to prepare her for the impending encounter with American Jewry by renting a couple of cassettes from the local video store for her. The movies that the family selected were Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments (1956) and the 1981 adaptation of Chaim Potok's The Chosen. Her account led me to wonder whether this is what a sample gentile family in a heartland hamlet imagines is typical of American Jewish life. I also momentarily
Inflammation and the Microcirculation

Abstract The microcirculation is highly responsive to, and a vital participant in, the inflammatory response. All segments of the microvasculature (arterioles, capillaries, and venules) exhibit characteristic phenotypic changes during inflammation that appear to be directed toward enhancing the delivery of inflammatory cells to the injured/infected tissue, isolating the region from healthy tissue and the systemic circulation, and setting the stage for tissue repair and regeneration. The best characterized responses of the microcirculation to inflammation include impaired vasomotor function, reduced capillary perfusion, adhesion of leukocytes and platelets, activation of the coagulation cascade, and enhanced thrombosis, increased vascular permeability, and an increase in the rate of proliferation of blood and lymphatic vessels. A variety of cells that normally circulate in blood (leukocytes, platelets) or reside within the vessel wall (endothelial cells, pericytes) or in the perivascular space (mast cells,...
Optimum data reduction of complex Mössbauer spectra: 129I2

Abstract An optimal method of extraction of hyperfine parameters from complex Mossbauer spectra is pressented for 129I2. Rather than fit the data to twelve line positrons, and then fit these line positions to theory to derive the hyperfine parameters, we proceed directly to calculate a theoretical spectrum from an initial guess of the parameters. The parameters are then optimized simultaneously by a least-squares fit to the data, with the required derivatives with respect to each parameter determined numerically rather than analytically. Data for 129I2, obtained at 77 K on a laser-calibrated spectrometer, are used to illustrate the method. The results are: at 77 K, e2qQ = −1526 ± 4 MHz, isomer shift= +1.019±0.011 mm/s relative to ZnTe at 77K, η = 0.180 ±0.006, Γ 1 2 = 1.385 ± 0.0022 mm/s , and Q ∗ /Q = 1.2385 ± 0.0011 . For 127I2, e2qQ translates to −2180 ± 7 MHz.
The Role of Corticosteroids in the Treatment of Croup

Since the 1960s, corticosteroids have been used in the treatment of laryngotracheobronchitis, commonly called croup. Initially, their use for croup was controversial and highly debated in the literature. The evidence over the last 2 decades has strongly favored corticosteroid use in croup management. It has now become the standard of care to use corticosteroids in moderate-to-severe croup. Corticosteroid use in these patients has been shown to reduce hospitalizations, length of illness, and subsequent treatments when compared with placebo. By extrapolation, corticosteroids may even play a role in patients with milder croup presenting for medical assessment. The current recommendation is to treat patients with moderate-to-severe croup with oral dexamethasone in a dose of 0.6 mg/kg (maximum 10–12mg) because of its ease of administration, easy availability, and low cost. Intramuscular dexamethasone is reserved for patients who are vomiting or who are in severe respiratory distress and unable to tolerate oral medication. Nebulized budesonide, used commonly in some geographic locations, has been found to be effective, but is often not used in favor of the oral corticosteroids. Controversy still exists over the use of corticosteroids in mild and potentially self-limiting disease. Some evidence exists for treating these patients; some clinicians use corticosteroids for all patients with croup who seek care regardless of the severity of the illness. Patients with mild disease may be candidates for lower doses of dexamethasone such as 0.15–0.3 mg/kg. Corticosteroid-induced complications in croup are rare. Overall, corticosteroids have gained universal acceptance for the treatment of croup and have been found to be effective, well tolerated, and inexpensive.
Stock price movement around the merger announcements: insider trading or market anticipation?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the stock price movements for existence of informed trading prior to a merger announcement for the companies listed on the emerging markets of India for the period from 1996 to 2010. Design/methodology/approach – This study applies several event study methodologies and regression analyses to analyze the stock price movement surrounding a merger announcement. The paper divides mergers in two different types: industry merger cases and non-industry merger cases and in two different time periods: recession and boom. Findings – The results show that the information held only by insiders’ works its way into prices. The paper finds strong evidence of insider trading in the case of industry mergers and mergers during recessions. Practical implications – The results from this study have immediate policy implications for India and other developing markets as the paper provides the type of mergers and time periods when merger announcements are more susceptible to ins...
Determination of the cell doubling-time distribution from culture growth-rate data.

Abstract The fundamental integral equation governing the growth of a cell culture is solved for the cell doubling-time distribution with the use of Laplace transform methods. Both analytic and numerical solutions are discussed. The statistical moments of the doubling-time distribution are obtained without inverting the Laplace transform of the distribution. A very simple equation makes it possible to calculate the standard deviation of the doubling-time distribution from the decay of synchronization of a synchronized cell culture.
Alternative reproductive tactics and status-dependent selection

The status-dependent selection model on alternative reproductive tactics predicts a single switch-point in status: usually all players above some status (e.g., competitive ability) should practice the tactic with the higher average payoff, while those below that point should make the "best of a bad job" by practicing the alternative, lower payoff tactic. Many empirical studies indeed show a relationship between status and tactic choice, but they do not conform to this single switch-point prediction. I modify the status-dependent selection model by considering status-dependent fitness that is mediated, at least in part, by resource acquisition (e.g., status-based competition for territories or nuptial gifts). With variation in resource quality, predicted tactic-choice distributions change: a high-status male may be territorial on a high-quality territory, a lower status male may practice an alternative tactic, and an even lower status male may be territorial on a low-quality territory. Tactic choice thus alternates as in many empirical studies and can appear to be but is not actually stochastic. As the number of theoretically predicted switch-points increases, however, mixed or mixed-conditional strategies should become more prevalent. While alternative tactics will likely usually differ in mean payoff, viewing alternative reproductive tactics as inherently "better" or "worse" (e.g., viewing cuckoldry as "worse"--the best of a bad job) is misleading if not tempered with awareness that payoff can vary greatly within tactics and overlap between tactics. Copyright 2005.
Caloric Restriction Mimetic 2-Deoxyglucose Antagonizes Doxorubicin-induced Cardiomyocyte Death by Multiple Mechanisms *

Caloric restriction (CR) is a dietary intervention known to enhance cardiovascular health. The glucose analog 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) mimics CR effects in several animal models. However, whether 2-DG is beneficial to the heart remains obscure. Here, we tested the ability of 2-DG to reduce cardiomyocyte death triggered by doxorubicin (DOX, 1 μm), an antitumor drug that can cause heart failure. Treatment of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes with 0.5 mm 2-DG dramatically suppressed DOX cytotoxicity as indicated by a decreased number of cells that stained positive for propidium iodide and reduced apoptotic markers. 2-DG decreased intracellular ATP levels by 17.9%, but it prevented DOX-induced severe depletion of ATP, which may contribute to 2-DG-mediated cytoprotection. Also, 2-DG increased the activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Blocking AMPK signaling with compound C or small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of the catalytic subunit markedly attenuated the protective effects of 2-DG. Conversely, AMPK activation by pharmacological or genetic approach reduced DOX cardiotoxicity but did not produce additive effects when used together with 2-DG. In addition, 2-DG induced autophagy, a cellular degradation pathway whose activation could be either protective or detrimental depending on the context. Paradoxically, despite its ability to activate autophagy, 2-DG prevented DOX-induced detrimental autophagy. Together, these results suggest that the CR mimetic 2-DG can antagonize DOX-induced cardiomyocyte death, which is mediated through multiple mechanisms, including the preservation of ATP content, the activation of AMPK, and the inhibition of autophagy.
Tamil Love Poetry and Poetics

It is generally believed in India that works of art are made on the basis of the normative works. The same is true in the case of Tamil literature of South India: especially the case between the oldest grammar and poetics, Tolkāppiyam, and the ancient literature ( Sangam literature) of the 1st-3rd Century A.D., consisting of about 2400 poems of love and war. This book deals with the relationship between them with special focus on love poetry, investigating a large number of its technical terms concerning their original meanings and historical changes. The ancient love poems had a considerable influence on later literature, such as Bhakti literature, epics, and purāṇas. This is an indispensable work of reference for Tamil love poetry and is also useful for Tamil and Indian literatures.
GPS-based microenvironment tracker (MicroTrac) model to estimate time–location of individuals for air pollution exposure assessments: Model evaluation in central North Carolina

A critical aspect of air pollution exposure assessment is the estimation of the time spent by individuals in various microenvironments (ME). Accounting for the time spent in different ME with different pollutant concentrations can reduce exposure misclassifications, while failure to do so can add uncertainty and bias to risk estimates. In this study, a classification model, called MicroTrac, was developed to estimate time of day and duration spent in eight ME (indoors and outdoors at home, work, school; inside vehicles; other locations) from global positioning system (GPS) data and geocoded building boundaries. Based on a panel study, MicroTrac estimates were compared with 24-h diary data from nine participants, with corresponding GPS data and building boundaries of home, school, and work. MicroTrac correctly classified the ME for 99.5% of the daily time spent by the participants. The capability of MicroTrac could help to reduce the time–location uncertainty in air pollution exposure models and exposure metrics for individuals in health studies.
The application of systems engineering principles to the prioritization of sustainable nuclear fuel cycle options

Abstract We investigate the implementation of the principles of systems engineering in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fuel Cycle Technologies (FCT) Program to provide a framework for achieving its long-term mission of demonstrating and deploying sustainable nuclear fuel cycle options. A fuel cycle “screening” methodology is introduced that provides a systematic, objective, and traceable method for evaluating and categorizing nuclear fuel cycles according to their performance in meeting sustainability objectives. The goal of the systems engineering approach is to transparently define and justify the research and development (R&D) necessary to deploy sustainable fuel cycle technologies for a given set of national policy objectives. The approach provides a path for more efficient use of limited R&D resources and facilitates dialog among a variety of stakeholder groups interested in U.S. energy policy. Furthermore, the use of systems engineering principles will allow the FCT Program to more rapidly adapt to future policy changes, including any decisions based on recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future. Specifically, if the relative importance of policy objectives changes, the FCT Program will have a structured process to rapidly determine how this impacts potential fuel cycle performance and the prioritization of needed R&D for associated technologies.