cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leading log solution for inflationary Yukawa theory

We generalize Starobinski\ifmmode \breve{\imath}\else \u{\i}\fi{}'s stochastic technique to the theory of a massless, minimally coupled scalar interacting with a massless fermion in a locally de Sitter geometry. The scalar is an ``active'' field that can engender infrared logarithms. The fermion is a passive field that cannot cause infrared logarithms but which can carry them, and which can also induce new interactions between the active fields. The procedure for dealing with passive fields is to integrate them out, then stochastically simplify the resulting effective action following Starobinski\ifmmode \breve{\imath}\else \u{\i}\fi{}. Because Yukawa theory is quadratic in the fermion this can be done explicitly using the classic solution of Candelas and Raine. We check the resulting stochastic formulation against an explicit two loop computation. We also derive a nonperturbative, leading log result for the stress tensor. Because the scalar effective potential induced by fermions is unbounded below, backreaction from this model might dynamically cancel an arbitrarily large cosmological constant.
Heregulin Negatively Regulates Transcription of ErbB2/3 Receptors via an AKT-Mediated Pathway

Despite the importance of the ErbB2/3 heterodimer in breast cancer progression, the negative regulation of these receptors is still poorly understood. We demonstrate here for the first time that the ErbB3/4 ligand Heregulin (HRG) reduced both ErbB2 and ErbB3 mRNA and protein levels in human breast cancer cell lines. In contrast, EGFR levels were unaffected by HRG treatment. The effect was rapid with a decline in steady state mRNA levels first noted two hours after HRG treatment. HRG reduced the rate of transcription of ErbB2 and ErbB3 mRNA, but did not affect ErbB2 or ErbB3 mRNA stability. To test if ErbB2 kinase activity was required for the HRG-induced downregulation, we treated cells with the ErbB2/EGFR inhibitor lapatinib. Lapatinib diminished the HRG- induced decrease in ErbB2 and ErbB3 mRNA and protein, suggesting that the kinase activity of EGFR/ErbB2 is involved in the HRG-induced receptor down-regulation. Further, HRG-mediated decreases in ErbB2/3 mRNA transcription are reversed by inhibiting the AKT but not MAPK pathway. To examine the functional consequences of HRG-mediated decreases in ErbB receptor levels, we performed cell cycle analysis. HRG blocked cell cycle progression and lapatinib reversed this block. Our findings support a role for HRG in the negative regulation of ErbB expression and suggest that inhibition of ErbB2/3 signaling by ErbB2 directed therapies may interfere with this process.
Structural determinants for transcriptional activation by cAMP-responsive DNA elements.

Abstract A transcriptional cAMP-responsive enhancer element (CRE) consisting of the 8-base pair (bp) palindrome, 5' TGACGTCA 3', is found in several eukaryotic genes. We analyzed the effects on gene transcription of point mutations within the CRE, the influence of the bases surrounding the CRE, and the requirements for transcriptional synergism of tandemly repeated CREs. When inserted as an oligonucleotide with restriction enzyme linker sites, the 8-bp CRE itself is as active in conferring cAMP responsivity on an enhancerless chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter plasmid as is a single copy of the choriogonadotropin alpha (CG alpha), twice repeated 18-bp sequence containing the CRE. Point mutations in the first (T to A), fourth (C to G), or eighth (A to T) positions of the CRE, when contained within the CG alpha 18-bp sequence, each inhibited transcriptional activity greater than 90%. However, the identical eighth position A to T mutation occurs in the cAMP-responsive sequence of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) gene, and that mutant sequence in the context of the adjacent bases of the native VIP sequence is maximally cAMP responsive when inserted in the reporter plasmid. The substantially reduced activity of the core 8-bp CRE when synthesized as a cassette including the adjacent bases of the rat glucagon or bovine parathyroid hormone gene further emphasizes the restrictive influence of particular surrounding sequences. Active oligonucleotides containing the 8-bp palindrome and different but equally permissive contexts have comparable properties in transfected reporter genes and gel mobility-shift assays. The pair of tandemly repeated 18-bp elements containing the CRE in the CG alpha gene synergistically stimulate transcription either with paired native CREs or when one native CRE is paired with one mutant CRE, suggesting the presence of cooperative interactions. Tandem insertion of more than two 18-bp sequences, or insertion of additional sequences between the two CREs, inhibits transcription. These observations indicate that the contexts of the bases adjacent to CREs exert profound influences on the transcriptional activities mediated by the cAMP-responsive elements.
The Finite Intersection Test: A New Multivariate Statistical Technique Applicable to the Evaluation of Complex Systems

In complex human-machine systems, multidimensional behavior is required of the operator. Consequently, there is no commonly-accepted, single measure of operator performance which can be utilized to determine the efficiency of the human-machine interaction. Because the behavior is multidimensional, multivariate statistics must be used to analyze the multiple measures gathered during system evaluation. While multivariate analogues to analysis of variance (ANOVA) exist, there are also a number of candidate multivariate analogues to the post-ANOVA simultaneous comparison tests. This paper describes a newly developed multivariate, simultaneous comparison test–Finite Intersection Test (FIT)–and provides an example of FIT's application to the analysis of multivariate data.
A Variational Approach to Maximum a Posteriori Estimation for Image Denoising

Using first principles, we establish in this paper a connection between the maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimator and the variational formulation of optimizing a given functional subject to some noise constraints. A MAP estimator which uses a Markov or a maximum entropy random field model for a prior distribution can be viewed as a minimizer of a variational problem. Using notions from robust statistics, a variational filter called Huber gradient descent flow is proposed. It yields the solution to a Huber type functional subject to some noise constraints, and the resulting filter behaves like a total variation anisotropic diffusion for large gradient magnitudes and like an isotropic diffusion for small gradient magnitudes. Using some of the gained insight, we are also able to propose an information-theoretic gradient descent flow whose functional turns out to be a compromise between a neg-entropy variational integral and a total variation. Illustrating examples demonstrate a much improved performance of the proposed filters in the presence of Gaussian and heavy tailed noise.
Migration and Inequality

Part I: Overview 1. Migration and Inequality: An introduction Tanja Bastia 2. Immigration and Global Inequality: A cross-national analysis Matthew Sanderson Part II: Governance and Migrants' Rights 3. Resisting Inequality: The rise of global migrants rights activism Nicola Piper 4. International Labour Migration: Dynamics in Southeast Asia migration and inequality Amarjit Kaur Part III: Internal and Cross-Border Migration 5. Ghanaian Mobilities, Interstecting Inequalities and Transnational Activities Leander Kandilige 6. Migration, Urban Health and Inequality in Johannesburg Jo Vearey Part IV: Migration, Gender and Intersectionality 7. Migration as Protest? Negotiating gender, class and ethnicity in urban Bolivia Tanja Bastia 8. Mobility as Enabling Gender Equality? The case of international aid workers Anne-Meike Fechter 9. Migration, Health and Inequalities: Reflections on the experience of Latin American migrants in London Jasmine Gideon
Mapping as a Method: History and Theoretical Commitments

Billig (2008) argues “some of the ideas in today's critical psychology have a longer history than is often supposed” (p. 195). We begin with that premise by excavating the theoretical history of psychological mapping methods in social psychology (including, but not limited to, place/space mapping). We have found deep theoretical linkages between our uses of mapping and the development of social psychological theory over the last 50 years and also see mapping as holding great promise for interrogating the terrain between individual experience and social reality. We highlight three specific studies in which we have used mapping to discuss these theoretical connections, and we explore the possibilities and dilemmas inherent in such a visual and creative method. We conclude by suggesting ways to improve the method in the future. Then, we call on social-personality psychology to consider the increasing importance of methods that are able to resist the hegemony of the written word and draw on the complexities o...
Space Interferometry Mission: Recent instrument configuration developments

About a year ago, NASA Headquarters requested the SIM project to develop a less costly approach to performing micro-arc-second astrometry. The SIM Team responded by forming a Tiger Team and attacking the problem with vigor. Eliminating two secondary objectives (nulling and imaging) opened up several options that led to a new configuration that met the cost target. Another simplification came about when it was decided to launch using the Space Shuttle. The very large payload bay allowed us to eliminate the hinge in the middle of the precision structure supporting the optical elements. In this paper, we discuss the current reference design of the SIM instrument, and illustrate some of the tradeoffs that led to this arrangement.
Designing drug-delivery systems for the nervous system using nanotechnology: opportunities and challenges

SPION: Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.Nanotechnology has been developed extensively for biomedical applications over the last few years. The designing of drug-delivery systems for the n...
PS2-35: Adaptation of a Disease-Specific Research Instrument for Quality of Life Assessments in Emergency Department Patients with Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter

Background/Aims The Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy-of-life (AFEQT) is a novel disease-specific quality-of-life (QoL) instrument for patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/F). The AFEQT, which evaluates a patient’s perception of their AF/F symptoms, physical function, and emotional health, can serve as a marker of quality of care. To date, there are no reports of its practical performance. We describe the feasibility of simplifying the AFEQT for short-term QoL assessments via phone within a diverse population of AF/F patients receiving Emergency Department (ED) care across seven community hospitals.
On a moderate rotation theory of laminated anisotropic shells—Part 1. Theory☆

Abstract A moderate rotation theory of laminated anisotropic shells, proposed by Schmidt and Reddy [ J. appl. Mech . 55 , 611–617.1988], is developed and its application is presented. All aspects of the derivations are explicitly developed and specific forms of the equations are derived in this part. The finite-element formulation and its applications are presented in Part 2 of the paper.
Soft phonons and the central mode at structural phase transitions

Abstract Applying Landau's quasi-particle picture to an interacting phonon system it is shown that the softening of phonon modes is connected with an enhancement of the quasi-particle interaction. This in turn leads to a critical slowing-down of fluctuations around local equilibrium which may give rise to an additional central peak in the scattering function.
Central venous catheter use in low-risk coronary artery bypass grafting

Abstract Background . To assess the impact of central venous pressure catheter monitoring in low-risk coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), we compared the hospital course of patients undergoing CABG with central venous pressure catheter monitoring with that of similar patients undergoing CABG with pulmonary artery catheter monitoring. Methods . All isolated primary CABG procedures (n = 312) performed between April 22 and October 31, 1996, were evaluated, and 194 patients meeting six central venous pressure catheter use criteria were identified. Of these 194 patients, 133 (68%) underwent CABG with central venous pressure catheter monitoring, and 61 (32%) had pulmonary artery catheter monitoring owing to surgeon or anesthesiologist preference. Results . In-hospital mortality was similar. A trend toward increased overall complications was seen in the pulmonary artery catheter group. The total volume infused in the first 12 hours, the 24-hour weight gain, and the intubation time were significantly greater in the pulmonary artery catheter group. Increases in intensive care unit length of stay and in total hospital charges trended toward statistical significance in the pulmonary artery catheter group. Conclusions . Pulmonary artery catheter use in low-risk patients undergoing CABG was associated with greater weight gain and longer intubation time and may be associated with increased morbidity and utilization of hospital resources.
Knowledge and Beliefs About Guidelines for Exclusion of Ill Children From Child Care

Background.—The American Academy of Pediatrics published national child care illness exclusion guidelines in 1992 and 2002. To our knowledge, no published studies have examined child care providers', parents', and pediatricians' knowledge or beliefs about these guidelines. Objective.—To compare parents', pediatricians', and center-based child care providers' (CCPs) knowledge and beliefs about exclusion guidelines. Design.—Cross-sectional survey conducted in 2000 of 80 CCPs, 142 parents, and 36 pediatricians in Baltimore City. Main outcome measures included familiarity with and knowledge of exclusion guidelines and beliefs about exclusion effectiveness among these groups. Results.—Response rates were 58% for parents, 59% for pediatricians, 85% for CCPs. Sixteen percent of child care providers (CCPs), 39% of parents, and 53% of pediatricians had not seen any written exclusion guidelines. Compared with national guidelines for 12 common symptoms, responses from CCPs and parents indicated overexclusion, while pediatricians indicated underexclusion. The groups scored similarly in number of correct answers on knowledge items (CCPs 63%, parents 64%, pediatricians 61%, P = .44). More CCPs and parents than pediatricians believed that exclusion effectively controlled infection spread and that sick children should be excluded because they spread disease, would be more comfortable, and recover faster at home (P Conclusions.—This survey found CCPs, parents, and pediatricians all failed to recognize how national guidelines recommended managing 4 out of 10 common conditions on average. CCPs were more likely than pediatricians to believe that exclusion was warranted to control infection or for the child's personal needs.
Grain size and temperature dependence of superplastic deformation in an Al–Mg alloy under isostructural condition

Abstract The mechanical behavior of a superplastic Al–4.7% Mg–0.8% Mn–0.4% Cu alloy has been characterized by a new type of step strain-rate test which preserves the initial microstructure of the alloy (i.e. an isostructural test). Four different grain sizes of the alloy (8–30 μm), prepared by variations in thermomechanical processing practice, were examined. A sigmoidal relationship between log σ and log e is observed for each isostructural condition. The value of maximum m ( = dlog σ/ dlog e ) increased with increasing temperature and with decreasing grain size. The isostructural log σ vs log e data are evaluated using the grain mantle based quantitative model proposed by Ghosh. In the dislocation creep region ( e >10 −1 / s ), the stress exponent is 4.55 and activation energy is close to that for lattice self-diffusion, but the grain size exponent is non-zero (∼0.37). In the grain mantle deformation region ( e −3 / s ), the value of the stress exponent based on effective stress ( σ − σ 0 , where σ 0 is threshold stress) is ∼1.7, and the grain size exponent is 2.3; but interestingly activation energy is the same as that for dislocation creep. Grain mantle creep is now also believed to be controlled by dislocation glide and climb processes, but its rate is enhanced many times due to a high concentration of vacancies near grain boundaries. σ 0 computed based on the model shows that it increases with increasing grain size and with decreasing temperature.
Defining family engagement among Latino Head Start parents: A mixed-methods measurement development study

Abstract Given the increasing numbers of Latino children and, specifically, of dual-language learning Latino children, entering the U.S. educational system, culturally contextualized models are needed to understand how parents construct their involvement roles and support their children’s educational experiences. Current measures of parenting and family engagement have been developed primarily with European American families and, thus, might not capture engagement behaviors unique to other ethnic groups. Lacking culture-appropriate measurement limits our ability to construct programs that adequately incorporate protective factors to promote children’s successful development. The present mixed-methods investigation employed an emic approach to understand family engagement conceptualizations for a pan-Latino population. One hundred thirteen parents from 14 Head Start programs in a large, northeastern city participated in the first study, in which domains of family engagement were identified and specific items were co-constructed to capture family engagement behaviors. Then, 650 caregivers participated in a second study examining the construct validity of the resulting 65-item measure across two language versions: Parental Engagement of Families from Latino Backgrounds (PEFL-English) and Participacion Educativa de Familias Latinas (PEFL-Spanish). Four theoretically meaningful dimensions of family engagement among Latino Head Start families were identified empirically. The measure was then validated with teacher report of family involvement and parent report of satisfaction with their experiences in Head Start.
Toxic effects of long-term intratracheal administration of vanadium pentoxide in rats

The toxic effects of vanadium pentoxide were investigated following chronic exposure. Rats were exposed intratracheally once a month (0.56 mg V2O5/kg) for 12 months. Body weight gain of exposed animals slowed down following the 10th treatment when compared to the corresponding controls. Lung weights were significantly greater than controls; however, other organ weights were not changed. Blood glucose of treated animals was slightly decreased whereas blood total cholesterol was reduced markedly. Thein vitro experiments were performed to explain the mechanism of chronic toxic effects. The results of these experiments confirmed that vanadium(V) undergoes one-electron redox cycling in rat lung biomembranes and that reoxidation of vanadium(IV) initiates lipid peroxidation under aerobic conditions. The lung is the primary target organ during the intratracheal exposure to V2O5. It is postulated that free-radical redox cycling of vanadium may be responsible for the observed pulmonary toxicity.
The diabetogenic antibiotic streptozotocin modifies the tryptic digest pattern for peptides of the enzyme O-GlcNAc-selective N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase that contain amino acid residues essential for enzymatic activity

Streptozotocin (STZ) inhibits O-GlcNAc-selective N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (O-GlcNAcase), the enzyme that removes O-GlcNAc from proteins. The active site of the enzyme was recently proposed to include aspartates 174, 175, and 177, with STZ inhibition via a transition state analog. We explored the effect of STZ on the tryptic peptide digest pattern of O-GlcNAcase. LC/MS/MS analysis demonstrated that STZ modified two areas of the enzyme. One peptide, LGCFEIAK (894-901), in a C-terminal region previously proposed to possess O-GlcNAcase activity, was methylated by STZ. Another peptide, EYEIEFIYIASPGLDITFSNPK (128-149), was detected only after treatment with STZ and was in an N-terminal region, overlapping a glutamate-rich area containing an adjacent phenylalanine residue. No covalent modification of this peptide could be demonstrated. Detection of this peptide after treatment with STZ was accompanied by the simultaneous inability to detect the nearby peptide KLDQVSQFGCR (157-167), which contains a cysteine residue recently shown to be essential for enzymatic activity. To determine which of the first two peptides might also be important for O-GlcNAcase activity, site-specific mutagenesis was performed. Mutation of the N-terminal phenylalanine and serine residues resulted in almost complete inhibition of activity. In contrast, mutation of conserved C-terminal glycine and cysteine residues caused little inhibition of enzymatic activity. Together, these data extend the region of the active site N-terminally and give independent evidence to support the idea that STZ inhibits O-GlcNAcase through formation of a transition state analog that resides in the active site of the enzyme and in doing so alters its conformation and ensuing tryptic digest pattern.
Pseudoprecession of triatomic systems by electron nuclear dynamics theory

A variety of dynamic effects related to the pseudorotation of triatomic singly charged species is explored using the electron nuclear dynamics (END) theory. The concepts relevant to the motion studied are developed through the analysis of the simplest molecular species capable of pseudorotation, namely H. It is shown that the wave function for this system leads to anharmonicities in the ground-state potential surface, which make the limiting case of circular pseudorotation unattainable. Initial asymmetries between the vibrational modes of the molecule are demonstrated to induce a rotational mode that in turn couples the vibrational degrees of freedom by action of the Coriolis force. Two different dissociation channels open up for the case of large initial momenta: and . The latter mechanism is associated with periodic spin exchange between the two bonding H atoms, which introduces a purely electronic time scale into the process besides the nuclear one and thus represents a typical nonadiabatic process. The Jahn–Teller system C exhibits a range of new motional phenomena. In particular, a characteristic frequency shift between the two orthogonal vibrational coordinates is observed, resulting from the anisotropy in the curvature of the C2v minimum of C. It is shown that the Jahn–Teller parameters of the system can in principle be determined from electron nuclear dynamics simulations. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 80: 966–988, 2000
Social Conformity and the Type a Behavior Pattern

The relation between the Type A behavior pattern and social conformity was examined on a perceptual skill task. 23 extreme Type A and B persons participated in an experiment based on the Asch conformity paradigm. Type B subjects conformed twice as often as Type A persons (p < .02). The same task administered to a subset of the sample and a larger normative sample indicated that social pressure to conform was responsible for differences in judgmental accuracy of stimuli (the conformity measure). The results suggest that Type A persons' resistance to subtle social coercion to conform may reflect their increased sensitivity to threats to their personal control. The findings are discussed in the context of reactance and control theories of Type A behavior.
Nonlinear electrodynamics in space-times with torsion

A nonminimal and nongauge invariant descirption of nonlinear electrodynamics in space-times with torsion is given. It is shown that in the case of the Weitzenbock teleparallel space-time, massive photons are produced by a mechanism which involves the nonminimal coupling constant and the divergence of the torsion vector.
Labyrinthitis ossificans in a child with sickle cell disease: CT and MRI findings

The association between sensorineural hearing loss and sickle cell disease has been described, and labyrinthine hemorrhage has been reported with sickle cell disease. We report the CT and MRI findings of labyrinthitis ossificans in a child with sickle cell disease who presented with sensorineural hearing loss. Labyrinthitis ossificans is associated with an infectious, inflammatory, or destructive insult to the membranous labyrinth; however, it has not been specifically described with sickle cell disease. Recognition of this condition is important because it affects both management and prognosis of this disease.
Misreading of the argI message in Escherichia coli

It has previously been shown that either phenylalaninee codon, UUU or UUC, could be misread as leucine during phenylalanine starvation, if the codons encoded residue 8 of the Escherichia coli argI gene product, ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC). However, no leucine misincorporation was detected when either of these same codons encoded residue 3. Here we report that leucine misincorporation can be directed by a UUU codon for residue 3 of OTC during phenylalanine starvation, if the argI gene has been mutated so that the codon preceding the UUU has been changed from the rarely used glycine codon GGG to the more commonly used GGC.
Artificial Recharge at Valley City, North Dakota, 1932 to 1965a

Valley City, North Dakota, has an average daily water use of 750,000 gallons, which is obtained from wells tapping pattly confined gravel deposits in the Sheyenne River valley. These deposits at Valley City have a maximum thickness of more than 50 feet and an areal extent of approximately 1 square mile. The aquifer has been artificially recharged successfully since 1932 by diversion of water from the Sheyenne River to an abandoned gravel pit. During this time the piezometric surface in the aquifer has been raised more than 22 feet. Prior to 1958, the recharge system was operated from January until June; however, when the piezometric surface rose to within about 8 feet of the surface, the recharge operation was discontinued. Between June and January the piezometric surface declined as ground water was withdrawn. During the recharge-discharge cycle, the average annual fluctuation of the piezometric surface was 10 feet, amounting to a change in storage of about 1,000 acre-feet of water. Since 1958, the recharge system has been operated throughout the year. There has been a gradual improvement in the quality of the water in the aquifer since the installation of the recharge system.
Estimation of Henry's constants for aqueous systems at elevated temperatures

Abstract The treatment and removal of dilute organic contaminants from water require methods for estimating the vapor–liquid equilibrium behavior of these mixtures. Highly hydrophobic solutes may exhibit a maximum in Henry's law constant that is difficult to predict using traditional activity coefficient models. This paper examines the application of an activity coefficient model fitted specifically for dilute aqueous systems (UNIFAC-ENV) to make predictions for the infinite dilution activity coefficients at ambient conditions. The use of activity coefficient based mixing rules for equations of state to extend the range of the UNIFAC-ENV predictions to the temperatures typical for steam stripping conditions (80–140°C) is also evaluated. Application of this approach to Henry's law data for trichloroethylene in water indicates that these models require temperature dependent interaction coefficients to accurately predict the highly non-ideal solution behavior observed.
The small group: Core of the community mental health center

Small group theory and the application of a variety of therapeutic group techniques are essential components to the planning and operation of a comprehensive community mental health center. Particularly relevant is the small group's potential for studying and facilitating those aspects of individual and group behavior that pertain to mental health. The group gives the clinician access to pertinent aspects of the patient's social milieu in a way that can he integrated with a view of the individual's functioning within the social system. These characteristics of small groups may be utilized in assisting a community mental health program to provide services, training, research and to participate in the overall development of the community.
A directional switch of integrin signalling and a new anti-thrombotic strategy

Integrins have a critical role in thrombosis and haemostasis. Antagonists of the platelet integrin αIIbβ3 are potent anti-thrombotic drugs, but also have the life-threatening adverse effect of causing bleeding. It is therefore desirable to develop new antagonists that do not cause bleeding. Integrins transmit signals bidirectionally. Inside-out signalling activates integrins through a talin-dependent mechanism. Integrin ligation mediates thrombus formation and outside-in signalling, which requires Gα13 and greatly expands thrombi. Here we show that Gα13 and talin bind to mutually exclusive but distinct sites within the integrin β3 cytoplasmic domain in opposing waves. The first talin-binding wave mediates inside-out signalling and also ligand-induced integrin activation, but is not required for outside-in signalling. Integrin ligation induces transient talin dissociation and Gα13 binding to an EXE motif (in which X denotes any residue), which selectively mediates outside-in signalling and platelet spreading. The second talin-binding wave is associated with clot retraction. An EXE-motif-based inhibitor of Gα13-integrin interaction selectively abolishes outside-in signalling without affecting integrin ligation, and suppresses occlusive arterial thrombosis without affecting bleeding time. Thus, we have discovered a new mechanism for the directional switch of integrin signalling and, on the basis of this mechanism, designed a potent new anti-thrombotic drug that does not cause bleeding.
Estrogen receptor α and β mRNA expressions by proliferating and differentiating cells in the adult rat dentate gyrus and subventricular zone

Numerous factors modulate neurogenesis in the adult dentate gyrus and subventricular zone, but it is often not clear if the modulation is mediated by direct effects on the proliferating and differentiating cells or secondary to effects on other cells. Also, while some factors selectively affect neurogenesis in one of the neurogenetic zones, it is not clear how selectivity is achieved. Estrogen is a hormonal modulator of neurogenesis. To address the issues of direct versus indirect control and regional specificity we investigated the colocalization of immunoreactivity for a proliferating cell marker, Ki-67, and a marker for migrating and differentiating cells with a neuronal phenotype, doublecortin, with the expressions of mRNA for estrogen receptors alpha and beta. We found an extensive colocalization of estrogen receptor alpha with both markers in the dentate gyrus and only with Ki-67 in the subventricular zone. An extensive colocalization of estrogen receptor beta with both markers was found in the dentate gyrus, but only a few Ki-67-immunoreactive and no doublecortin-immunoreactive cells of the subventricular zone expressed estrogen receptor beta mRNA. Estrogen receptor alpha and beta mRNAs were not expressed in other telencephalic Ki-67-immunoreactive cells or in constitutively doublecortin-immunoreactive cells of the piriform cortex. The extensive colocalization of immunoreactive markers for cell proliferation and differentiation with mRNAs for estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta points to the direct modulation of dentate cell proliferation, differentiation and survival by estrogen, while direct effects of estrogen in the subventricular zone appear restricted to estrogen receptor alpha-mediated effects operating at the time of cell proliferation.
Finite deformations of a viscoelastic roll cover contacting a rigid plane surface

Steady-state finite plane strain deformations of a uniformly rotating rubber-covered roll contacting a rigid plane surface have been studied by the finite element method. The rubberlike material has been modelled by a constitutive relation recently proposed by Christensen. Both the hydrostatic pressure within an element and the nodal displacements are taken as independent variables. For a constant indentation of the roll cover, the effect of the change in the thickness of the rubberlike layer, the speed of rotation and the values of the material moduli on the total load required to cause the indentation are presented.
Dispersion of dense gas puffs released in the atmosphere at ground level

Abstract Field experiments have been carried out employing clouds of dense gas, 40 m3 in volume, released into the atmosphere suddenly but with a minimum of disturbance. The clouds had densities in the range 1.03–4.2 relative to air, and were made visible by coloured smoke. Various conditions of ground roughness, slope and wind speed were utilised, including calm conditions on flat ground. Cloud dispersion was monitored by side-view and plan-view photography, by gas dosage measurement and by continuous measurement of gas concentration. Detailed results of the 42 experiments have had to be omitted, but the present paper gives full experimental information, a review of results, and a discussion of the observed behaviour of the dense clouds, including details of the distinctive features of dense gas dispersion. The interpretation of the experimental results in terms of expected hazard ranges with chlorine and butane clouds is presented.
A rationale for mTOR inhibitors as chemoprevention agents in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Peutz-Jeghers patients frequently develop clinically significant complications, namely hemorrhage and bowel obstruction, from small intestinal hamartomatous polyps that frequently require surgery. In addition, many PJS patients develop epithelial malignancies in a variety of organs. The vast majority of PJS is due to germline alterations in the STK11 gene that encodes a protein that modulates PI3-kinase signaling, a key regulator of cell survival and growth. One of the major downstream mediators of PI3-kinase signaling is mTOR, the mammalian target of rapamycin. Several drugs that inhibit the PI3-kinase signal transduction pathway are in development and one, RAD001 (everolimus), an mTOR inhibitor, was recently approved for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Effective chemoprevention of intestinal polyps would be a first step in simplifying and improving the management of PJS patients. We present here, the rationale for the first human PJS chemoprevention trial using an mTOR inhibitor.
A comparison of the Cassegrain and other beam expanders in high-power pulsed dye lasers

We have constructed and compared high peak power YAG-pumped dye lasers using a variety of beam expansion methods, particularly the Cassegrainian telescope, grazing-incidence, and achromaticprism beam expander designs. We find that the Cassegrainian design offers a modest advantage over the conventional Hansch or refractive telescope design in larger magnification and hence, narrower linewidth, while retaining several inherent drawbacks in cost, alignment difficulty, and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) problems. New problems specific to the Cassegrainian design in high-power operation include limited wavelength range of the telescope secondary and a severe diffraction grating damage mechanism during alignment. We conclude that, on the whole, the Hansch and Cassegrainian designs offer roughly equal performance. By comparison, the grazing-incidence design offers significant advantages in cost, ease of alignment, and linewidth without an etalon, but with reductions in efficiency, power output, and in some cases, wavelength stability. Our final judgment is that for high-power multimode operation, the four-prism achromatic beam expander is generally superior to the other designs. For single-mode operation, however, the prism design is rivaled by several ingenious grazing-incidence variations.
SPECTRAL REPRESENTATIONS FOR SYMMETRY-BREAKING PARAMETERS.

Spectral representations are obtained for the $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ and chiral symmetry-breaking parameters. Some relations among integrals of scalar and pseudosclar spectral functions are also obtained.
Thermodynamic, transport, and excitation properties of Ce impurities in a model metal: Kondo resonance and universality in the mixed-valent regime.

A unified view of the mixed-valence system of Ce impurities in a metal results from a comprehensive calculation of its properties. The peak position ${T}_{0}$ of the Kondo resonance in the photoemission spectrum sets the scale for the universal functions describing the specific heat, susceptibility, resistivity, thermopower, thermal conductivity, and neutron-scattering function. Deviations from universality arise when ${T}_{0}$ becomes comparable to the hybridization width $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ or the spin-orbit splitting $\ensuremath{\Delta}$.
Comment: An Algebra-Based Complement to “Demonstrating the Equivalence Between Two Methods of Measuring Excess Burden”

Trandel (2002) strives to convince mathematically challenged students of the equivalence of geometric and algebraic representations of excess burden by demonstrating geometrically that changes in excess burden are equivalent under the two representations. Some of the examples involve complicated interpretations of the ceteris paribus conditions (e.g., changing slope of the demand curve) appropriate to the thought experiment in the example. For mathematically challenged students who find simple algebra no more daunting than geometry, a straightforward complement to this approach is available. Before moving on to demonstrating geometrically that changes in excess burden are equivalent under the two representations, one can demonstrate algebraically that the levels of excess burden are equivalent. This requires nothing more than the formula for the area of a triangle and the definition of elasticity. (The supply curve is assumed to be perfectly elastic.) The geometric representation of excess burden is the area of a triangle under a (linear) demand curve:
Humanitarian reframing of nuclear weapons and the logic of a ban

The achievement of past international treaties prohibiting anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions showed that unpropitious political situations for dealing with the effects of problematic weapons could be transformed into concrete, legally binding actions through humanitarian-inspired initiatives. Although there is now renewed concern about the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, some policy makers dispute the relevance of these past processes. This article examines how and why cluster munitions became widely reframed as unacceptable weapons, and the nature and significance of functional similarities with contemporary efforts of civil society activists to instigate humanitarian reframing of nuclear weapons and promote the logic of a ban treaty in view of its norm-setting value among states. In the case of cluster munitions, the weapon in question was signified as unacceptable in moral and humanitarian law terms because of its pattern of harm to civilians with reference to demonstrable evidence of the consequences of use. Ideational reframing was instigated by civil society actors, and introduced doubts into the minds of some policy-makers about weapons they had previously considered as unproblematic. This is relevant to the current discourse on managing and eliminating nuclear weapons in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, in which there is dissonance between the rhetoric of those states claiming to be responsible humanitarian powers and their continued dependence on nuclear weapons despite questions about the utility or acceptability of these arms.
The modified barrier function approach for large-scale optimization

Abstract This paper studies the modified barrier function approach for large-scale nonlinear constrained optimization. Following a review of the recent literature on modified barrier function approaches for nonlinear optimization, the steps of a proposed algorithm are examined in full detail. The basis steps of this algorithm comprise an outer iteration, in which the Lagrange multipliers and various penalty parameters are updated, and an inner iteration, in which an unconstrained nonlinear optimization problem is solved. The algorithm presented has been implemented in a general-purpose routine which is denoted as MBFSOL. Numerical results are presented for a variety of problems, from small to very large-scale. The examples show the effectiveness of the algorithm in very large problems, particularly in bound constrained case studies of up to many thousands of variables and severe illconditioning.
TH‐C‐352‐04: Acceptance Testing, Commissioning, Data Entry, and QA for Brachytherapy Treatment Planning Systems

Clinical medical physicists are compelled to concern with accuracy of brachytherapytreatment planning systems as the basis for treatment delivery. The role of the medical physicist in brachytherapy is key — close interactions with physicians are needed, and often a radiation therapist may not be present. In comparison to external beam, dose gradients are steeper, record‐and‐verify is not typically used, and treatment fraction dose is usually higher. Thus, the importance of our input. The role of brachytherapy for cancertreatment has expanded in recent years. Many of these new modalities push the limits of the conventional brachytherapytreatment planningdose calculation algorithm. A solid understanding of these systems and their clinical role is crucial towards ensuring success. This tenet holds true for both the newer modalities and the more established brachytherapy procedures. This continuing education lecture will provide a quasi‐chronological overview of the resources and actions required of a clinical medical physicist Educational Objectives: 1. Acceptance Testing and Commissioning recommendations. 2. Data Entry of brachytherapydosimetry parameters based on AAPM‐, manufacturer‐, and user‐provided data. 3. Quality Assurance, including startup and on‐going efforts, towards ensuring a safe and accurate environment.
Hepatic regulation of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase and lecithin: Cholesterol acyltransferase biliary and plasma output in rats exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide

Normal rat bile contains secretory platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH), the enzyme capable of hydrolyzing the inflammatory mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF), and phospholipids containing oxidized truncated fatty acids. Because lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) possesses intrinsic PAF-AH-like activity, it also may represent a potential anti-inflammatory enzyme. The behavior of PAF-AH and LCAT in hepatobiliary inflammatory responses in vivo has not been characterized. We therefore investigated the biliary and plasma secretion and pharmacological characteristics of these enzymes in rats subjected to intraportal bacterial endotoxin exposure (lipopolysaccharide [LPS], Escherichia coli, 055:B5). Portal vein LPS infusion (1 mg/kg, bolus) resulted in a maximal 4- to 5-fold increase in bile PAF-AH-specific activity with a gradual decline to baseline by 18 hours. Biliary PAF-AH hydrolyzed also the truncated sn-2-succinoyl and sn-2-glutaroyl analogs of PAF, indicating a broader activity of PAF-AH in bile toward byproducts of glycerophospholipid peroxidation. Plasma PAF-AH activity was not altered 5 hours after LPS injection compared with saline injection, but it was significantly elevated 18 hours after endotoxin exposure. The levels of LCAT in bile were low and declined to nearly undetectable values by 5 hours after cannulation in both control and LPS-exposed rats. Plasma LCAT activity was significantly increased after 5 hours and decreased 18 hours after LPS injection. In summary, hepatic exposure to endotoxin results in a rapid increase in biliary secretion of PAF-AH followed by elevation of LCAT and PAF-AH levels in plasma. We propose that biliary secretion of PAF-AH may be involved in the hepatic response to endotoxic insult by counteracting potential inflammatory damage in the biliary tree and gastrointestinal tract, whereas plasma increases in LCAT and PAF-AH may promote elimination of excess PAF and oxidized phospholipids in the circulation.
Environmental evaluation of subdivision site developments.

An environmental evaluation was performed at 16 subdivision sites within four communities in east-central Michigan. The primary objective was to evaluate the fit between environmental ordinances and the physical/environmental conditions to which they were applied. An environmental response index was developed with indicators to assess water, soil, slope, development density, roads, vegetation, and ecology. Water-related indicators achieved the highest scores, while soil-related indicators scored the poorest, with generally poor performance across all indicators. The poor performance indicates there are problems in the ability of environmental ordinances developed at broader jurisdictional scales (e.g., the state) to address the existing environmental conditions at smaller geographic scales (subdivisions within communities). Two key problems include the lack of scientific specificity in the broader state-level ordinances and the lack of local expertise and/or resources to monitor the environment.
High-viscosity fluid threads in weakly diffusive microfluidic systems

We provide an overview of the flow dynamics of highly viscous miscible liquids in microfluidic geometries. We focus on the lubricated transport of high-viscosity fluids interacting with less viscous fluids, and we review methods for producing and manipulating single and multiple core-annular flows, i.e. viscous threads, in compact and plane microgeometries. In diverging slit microchannels, a thread's buckling instabilities can be employed for generating ordered and disordered miscible microstructures, as well as for partially blending low- and high-viscosity materials. The shear-induced destabilization of a thread that flows off-center in a square microchannel is examined as a means for continuously producing miscible dispersions. We show original compound threads and viscous dendrites that are generated using three fluids, each of which has a large viscosity contrast with the others. Thread motions in zones of microchannel extensions are examined in both miscible and immiscible environments. We demonstrate that high-viscosity fluid threads in weakly diffusive microfluidic systems correspond to the viscous primary flow and can be used as a starting point for studying and understanding the destabilizing effects of interfacial tension as well as diffusion. Characteristic of lubricated transport, threads facilitate the transport of very viscous materials in small fluidic passages, while mitigating dissipation. Threads are also potentially promising for soft material synthesis and diagnostics with independent control of the thread specific surface and residence time in micro-flow reactors.
Microbial characteristics of three formulations of precooked, vacuum-packaged restructured beef steaks.

Restructured steaks were manufactured with hot or cold boned beef using alginate, alginate + dried egg albumin, or salt/phosphate formulations. Raw steaks were sampled for aerobic (26° and 35°C), and gram-negative enteric counts. Cooked vacuum-packaged steaks were sampled for aerobic, gram-negative enteric, lactobacilli and staphylococci and for the presence of Salmonella, Aeromonas, Yersinia, and Listeria during 7 wk storage (2°C). No differences in counts due to formulation were found for raw or cooked steaks. Higher aerobic counts (P<0.10) were observed for raw steaks manufactured from hot-boned sides than from cold-boned sides. Aerobic counts increased (P<0.01) with storage time. Staphylococcus aureus was the only pathogen isolated from cooked steaks.