cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TNF-α-induced impairment of mitochondrial integrity and apoptosis mediated by caspase-8 in adult ventricular myocytes

Abstract Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α has been shown to induce apoptosis in a variety of cell types including cardiac myocytes. Sphingosine/ceramide and nitric oxide have been associated with apoptosis induced by TNF-α; however, signaling mechanisms of TNF-α-induced apoptosis in cardiac myocytes are not well defined. This study examined whether alterations in mitochondrial integrity are involved in TNF-α-induced apoptosis in adult ventricular myocytes (ARVM) and determined the roles of caspase-8 (an upstream mediator of TNF-α receptor-associated signaling) in this process. After incubation for 24–48 h in serum-free culture medium, ARVM underwent spontaneous apoptosis, which remained stable and was not affected by Z-IETD-FMK, a selective caspase-8 inhibitor. Meanwhile, exposure to TNF-α resulted in an increase in apoptosis that was detectable at 6 h and became significant after 12 h, when compared to time-controls. After 24-h exposure, TNF-α increased caspase-8 activities, mitochondrial cytochrome C (Cyt C) release to the cytosol, accompanied by loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm). Inhibition of caspase-8 activation in the presence of Z-IETD-FMK abolished the TNF-α-induced increases in mitochondrial Cyt C release, loss of ΔΨm and apoptosis. Therefore, these results suggest that TNF-α-induced increase in apoptosis in ARVM results from caspase-8-dependent impairment of mitochondrial integrity.
B-cell activating factor targeted therapy and lupus

B-cell activating factor (BAFF), a member of the family of TNF-like cytokines, supports the survival and differentiation of B cells. The successful development of belimumab, a human antibody targeting soluble BAFF, has marked an important milestone in the development of biologic therapy for treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), although much remains unknown regarding the clinical utility of BAFF inhibition in SLE and other autoimmune diseases. In the present review, we provide an overview of the knowledge concerning BAFF's role in murine and human B-cell development and maturation, as well as the clinical and mechanistic effects of BAFF inhibition in human SLE.
Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Autoantibodies in Murine Ileitis and Progressive Ileal Crohn's Disease

Background & Aims Genetic variations that affect innate immunity increase risk of ileal Crohn's disease (CD). However, the penetrance of susceptibility genes, including NOD2 , is low, suggesting additional risk factors. Neutralizing autoantibodies (Ab) against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF Ab) reduce neutrophil antimicrobial function in patients with primary alveolar proteinosis (PAP). We investigated whether GM-CSF Ab regulates neutrophil function in CD. Methods Serum samples from 354 adult and pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were analyzed for GM-CSF Ab and IBD markers. Levels of GM-CSF Ab were compared with patients' CD features and neutrophil function. Intestinal barrier function and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced injury were assessed in GM-CSF -null and NOD2 -null mice. Results Median GM-CSF Ab levels increased from 0.4 μg/mL in control serum to 2.4 μg/mL in pediatric CD and 11.7 μg/mL in adult CD serum and were associated with ileal involvement ( P P = .018). The positive and negative predictive values of GM-CSF Ab for stricturing/penetrating behavior were comparable with that of other IBD serum markers. CD patients with increased GM-CSF Ab had reduced neutrophil phagocytic capacity and increased accumulation of pSTAT3+ neutrophils in the affected ileum. GM-CSF -null mice and NOD2 -null mice in which GM-CSF was neutralized had defects in mucosal barrier function and developed a transmural ileitis following NSAID exposure. Conclusions GM-CSF regulates ileal homeostasis in CD and in mouse models. CD patients with increases in serum GM-CSF Ab might benefit from GM-CSF administration.
High Birefringence and Low Crossover Frequency Dual-Frequency Liquid Crystals

The dielectric relaxation and physical properties of some single and double ester compounds were investigated. Experimental results indicate that the double-ester compound has a 3X lower dielectric relaxation frequency and larger dielectric anisotropy than the single ester, but its viscosity is also higher. We have formulated three high birefringence DFLC mixtures and compared their figure-of-merit at elevated temperatures.
Dream Technology: The Mechanization of the De Quinceyan Imagination

In Suspiria De Profundis (1845), Thomas De Quincey claims that modern life and technology inhibit imagination – particularly the mind's capacity to dream. He believes that “the condition of human l...
The AGE-receptor in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications.

Native glucose-derived glycation derivatives (advanced glycation end products, AGE) in vascular, renal and neuronal tissues contribute to organ damage. Glycation derivatives include a number of chemically and cell-reactive substances, also termed glycoxidation products or glycotoxins (GT). Cell-associated AGE-specific receptors (AGE-Rs), AGE-R1-3, RAGE, as well as the scavenger receptors ScR-II and CD-36 that are present on vascular, renal, hemopoietic, and neuronal/glial cells, serve in the regulation of AGE uptake and removal. AGE-Rs also modulate cell activation, growth-related mediators, and cell proliferation, consequently influencing organ structure/function. This occurs via oxidant stress triggered via receptor-dependent or -independent pathways, and leads to signal activation pathways, resulting in pro-inflammatory responses. In susceptible individuals, the AGE-R expression/function may be subject to environmental or gene-related modulation, which in turn may influence tissue-specific gene functions. In this context, altered expression and activity of AGE-R components has recently been found in both mouse diabetes models and humans with diabetic complications. Although several gene polymorphisms are detected in most AGE-R components, no significant correlation to diabetic complications has as yet been found. Further investigation is underway to define whether primary or secondary genetic links of pathogenic significance exist in this system. Various AGE-binding peptides or soluble receptors have emerged as potential sequestering agents for toxic AGEs as potential therapies for diabetic complications.
Roles of multiple accessory molecules in T-cell activation

Accessory molecules expressed on T cells can mediate adhesion between T cells and other cells, or the extracellular matrix. The same T-cell accessory molecules participate in a dialogue with their ligands (counter-receptors) on the antigen-presenting cells, and elicit signals that determine the specifics of activation and subsequent differentiation of the T cells and antigen-presenting cells.
Crack detection in single-crystalline silicon wafers using impact testing

This paper presents acoustic measurements obtained by mechanically exciting vibratory modes in single-crystalline silicon wafers with hairline periphery cracks of different type and location. The data presented shows a dependence of natural frequencies, peak amplitudes and damping levels of four audio vibration modes in the frequency range up to 1000 Hz on crack type and crack location. Data from defective wafers exhibit lower natural frequencies, higher damping levels, and lower peak amplitudes. The results suggest an impact test method may be useful for solar cell crack detection and quality control.
Abstract 2119: Role of annexin A6 in anchorage-independent growth of invasive breast cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Annexin A6 (AnxA6) is a member of the annexin family of Ca2+-dependent membrane binding proteins that is frequently detected in cell-derived exosomes and on the surface of some cell types. Although its extracellular functions remain unclear, AnxA6 may play important roles in cell-cell and/or cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions via its interactions with chondroitin sulfate containing proteoglycans, the serum glycoprotein fetuin-A and other undefined extracellular matrix components. In support of this notion, recent studies have shown that depletion of AnxA6 in MDA-MB-436 breast cancer cells promoted anchorage-independent cell growth. Here we show that depletion of AnxA6 in BT-549 breast carcinoma cells not only led to impaired cell-cell cohesion and cell spreading onto collagen type IV but also inhibited cell motility and invasiveness. In 3D cultures in growth factor-reduced matrigel, AnxA6-depleted BT-549 cells formed spheroid colonies as opposed to stellate colonies formed by the parental BT-549 cells. We also show that N-cadherin is up-regulated in the motility-impaired AnxA6-depleted cells, suggesting that loss of AnxA6 may uncouple cadherin-based cell-cell interactions as part of the mechanism that determines anchorage-independent cell growth and therefore tumor growth in vivo. Our data also show that the loss of contact inhibition and invasive properties in AnxA6-depleted cells may be partly due to the formation of fewer, elongated and dispersed vinculin-based focal contacts. To verify that these focal contacts may be functionally defective, we show that whereas the MAP kinase (ERK1/2) pathway remained constitutively active, Ca2+-dependent activation of focal adhesion kinase and the phosphoinositide-3 kinase/Akt pathway were strongly inhibited in the AnxA6-depleted BT-549 cells. These data suggest that loss of AnxA6 may promote breast cancer progression via anchorage-independent cell growth due to disruption of functional focal contacts that maintain cell-cell and/or cell-ECM interactions. Supported by grants: 1 SC1 CA134018-01 and DOD W81XWH-07-1-0254 Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2119. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2119
RHESSI observations of the coronal component ofsolar flare hard X-ray sources

Abstract In flares that occur behind the limb, the intense chromospheric (foot-point) part of the hard X-ray source is occulted, thus permitting good observations of the coronal component. Between 15 and 18 April 2002, RHESSI observed a series of small (GOES Class C) flares produced by the active region NOAA 9905 as it rotated behind the west limb. A preliminary analysis of the observed hard X-ray sources in the 17–18 April 2002 flares has confirmed that flare-associated sources of gradual 12–25 keV X-ray emission can exist in the corona at heights up to 27000 km.
New Algorithms for Converting LORAN Time Differences to Position

New algorithms requiring a digital computer of minimal complexity are presented for computing the position of a LORAN receiver from LORAN time differences. A total of 8 different algorithms starting from the simplest but least accurate to more accurate algorithms requiring a greater number of algebraic operation are described. These 8 algorithms provide an accuracy range from 31 N.M. to 90 feet for a LORAN receiver located an average distance of 1200 N.M. from the three LORAN transmitters. Three of the algorithms are accurate to less than 600 feet, and six of the algorithms are accurate to less than 1.5 N.M. at this distance. As the average distance from the three LORAN transmitters decreases the accuracy of the algorithms increases significantly. For example, at an average distance of 600 N.M., four of the algorithms are accurate to better than 250 feet.
Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of Instruction-Set Architecture Standardization for Military Computer Systems

Standardizing on a single efficient computer architecture can save the military billions of dollars over the next couple decades. The challenge is finding that single best candidate. An econometric model shows how.
Incorporation of the Suzuki and the Fisher interactions in the analysis of creep behavior of solid solution alloys

Abstract The earlier analysis of predicting the creep class behavior (whether viscous glide-controlled creep or climb-controlled creep) of a particular solid solution alloy is extended to take into account the situation in which the contributions of solute atom-dislocation interactions such as the Suzuki and the Fisher interactions to the dragging force acting on the dislocations during glide are significant and comparable with that provided by the Cottrell-Jaswon interaction. Calculations based on structural parameter values, such as stacking fault energies, local order coefficients and atom misfit ratios, of many solid solution systems indicate that this situation may exist in a number of alloys. Among these alloys are Fe18at.%Al, Al30at.%Zn, Ni25at.%Fe, Al10at.%Ag, Cd10at.%Mg and Ag18at.%Zl. By examining the creep data of several AlZn alloys and an Ni25at.%Fe alloy, it is shown that the class of behavior of these alloys, as inferred from the values of the stress exponent, can be accounted for by the present analysis which considers the contributions of the Suzuki and the Fisher interactions and not by the earlier analysis which assumes that solute drag forces arise only from the Cottrell-Jaswon interaction. The role of the appropriate diffusion coefficient for describing the creep behavior in the correlation between experiment and prediction is discussed in the light of very recent suggestions.
Opposite effects of glucagon and insulin on compensation for spectacle lenses in chicks.

R ESULTS.Glucagon attenuated the myopic response to negative lenses or diffusers by slowing ocular elongation and thickening the choroid; in contrast, with positive lenses, it increased ocular elongation to normal levels and reduced choroidal thickening, as did a glucagon antagonist. Insulin prevented the hyperopic response to positive lenses by speeding ocular elongation and thinning the choroid. In eyes without lenses, both insulin and IGF-1 speeded, and glucagon slowed, ocular elongation, but glucagon and insulin each increased the rate of thickening of the crystalline lens. When injected together, insulin blocked choroidal thickening by glucagon, at a dose that did not, by itself, thin the choroid. C ONCLUSIONS.Glucagon and insulin (or IGF-1) cause generally opposite modulations of eye growth, with glucagon mostly increasing choroidal thickness and insulin mostly increasing ocular elongation. These effects are mutually inhibitory and depend on the visual input. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.2009; 50:24‐36) DOI:10.1167/iovs.08-1708 I nterest in the control of eye growth has been mobilized in recent years by two factors: the increasing prevalence of myopia among the educated and the evidence from animal research that eyes use defocus to modulate their rate of elongation, resulting in a match between the eye length and the focal length of the optics. In every species studied, postnatal ocular growth is modulated by visual input with the result that the eye grows toward emmetropia—the condition of distant images being focused on the photoreceptors. When myopic defocus (image in front of the photoreceptors) is imposed by a positive lens, the rate of ocular elongation slows and the choroid thickens, thus pushing the retina forward toward the focal plane; conversely, when hyperopic defocus (image be
Uncertainty in discriminating lithology in different data domains

A major goal of geophysical analysis is to predict the lithologic and fluid content of the subsurface. Of necessity, most of the measurements are conducted remotely using seismic or electromagnetic equipment. These remote data should be calibrated with the expected properties of the subsurface, principally from well control. As a result, rock physics is a key component of the process to ensure that the appropriate geophysical response is measured and obtained.
Strategies for cache and local memory management by global program transformation

Abstract In this paper we describe a method for using data dependence analysis to estimate cache and local memory demand in highly iterative scientific codes. The estimates take the form of a family of “reference” windows for each variable that reflects the current set of elements that should be kept in cache. It is shown that, in important special cases, we can estimate the size of the window and predict a lower bound on the number of cache hits. If the machine has local memory or cache that can be managed by the compiler, these estimates can be used to guide the management of this resource. It is also shown that these estimates can be used to guide program transformations in an attempt to optimize cache performance.
Tumor necrosis factor-α antagonist use and heart failure in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Background Clinical trials have shown that tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists (TNFAs) confer little benefit, and some may cause potential harm in advanced heart failure (HF). Although TNFAs had significant benefits in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA), little is known whether the drugs pose an increased risk of HF in older patients with RA. Methods A cohort study was conducted using data from Medicare and drug benefit programs in 2 states (1994-2004). We identified patients with RA aged ≥65 who received TNFA or methotrexate (MTX). The cohort was divided into patients with and without previous HF. We considered demographic variables, cardiovascular risk factors, RA severity-related measures, and other comorbidities. The primary end point was hospitalization with HF. We used stratified Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the adjusted effect of TNFAs on HF hospitalization. Results The cohort consisted of 1,002 TNFA users and 5,593 MTX users. There were 59 HF admissions during 1,680 person-years of TNFA use and 227 HF admissions during 10,623 person-years of MTX use. Comparing TNFA with MTX users, the adjusted hazard ratio for HF hospitalization was 1.70 (95% confidence interval 1.07-2.69). We found similar results in patients with and without previous HF. Among patients with previous HF, the adjusted hazard ratio for death was 4.19 (95% confidence interval 1.48-11.89). Conclusions TNFAs may increase the risk of both first hospitalization and exacerbation of HF in elderly patients with RA. The potential for residual confounding in our study cannot be ruled out; larger and more detailed studies are needed to confirm the findings.
Relating the Internal Consistency of Scales to Rater Response Tendencies

The internal consistency of a scale (as indexed, for example, by coefficient alpha) is related directly to mean scale item intercorrelation. Various indices of rating scale response styles such as halo, leniency, and positive or negative response bias are also related to mean scale item intercorrelation. The nature of the consequent relationship between internal consistency and rating scale response styles is discussed.
Three-dimensional reconstruction of cells in the living lens: The relationship between cell length and volume

During terminal differentiation, lens fiber cells increase in length by 100-1000 fold. The mechanism of cellular elongation is not well understood but previous measurements on differentiating embryonic fiber cells indicated that cell volume increases in direct proportion to cell length. Fiber cells are tightly packed within the lens. Under these circumstances, a cellular volume increase might be transduced into an increase in length. Such considerations have led to the suggestion that volume increase may be the driving force for cell elongation. In the present study, we tested this model using a strain of mice in which a GFP transgene is expressed sporadically in the lens. We employed a combination of confocal microscopy, image deconvolution, and volume-rendering techniques to visualize the structure of individual GFP-expressing cells within the living lens. We examined their morphology at various stages of differentiation; from the central epithelium to young fiber cells. At each stage, cell length and volume were determined. In contrast to earlier studies, our data indicated that increases in cell length were not matched by a proportional increase in volume. Rather, the initial phase of elongation (in which cells increased in length from 150 microm) appeared to result largely from a change in cell shape. The present observations suggest that the driving force for elongation of primary and secondary fiber cells may differ fundamentally.
Proteolytic Processing Regulates Toll-like Receptor 3 Stability and Endosomal Localization

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 3, 7, and 9 are innate immune receptors that recognize nucleic acids from pathogens in endosomes and initiate signaling transductions that lead to cytokine production. Activation of TLR9 for signaling requires proteolytic processing within the ectodomain by endosome-associated proteases. Whether TLR3 requires similar proteolytic processing to become competent for signaling remains unclear. Herein we report that human TLR3 is proteolytically processed to form two fragments in endosomes. Unc93b1 is required for processing by transporting TLR3 through the Golgi complex and to the endosomes. Proteolytic cleavage requires the eight-amino acid Loop1 within leucine-rich repeat 12 of the TLR3 ectodomain. Proteolytic cleavage is not required for TLR3 signaling in response to poly(I:C), although processing could modulate the degree of response toward viral double-stranded RNAs, especially in mouse cells. Both the full-length and cleaved fragments of TLR3 can bind poly(I:C) and are present in endosomes. However, although the full-length TLR3 has a half-life in HEK293T cells of 3 h, the cleaved fragments have half-lives in excess of 7 h. Inhibition of TLR3 cleavage by either treatment with cathepsin inhibitor or by a mutation in Loop1 decreased the abundance of TLR3 in endosomes targeted for lysosomal degradation.
Terrorism's Role in Re-shaping Border Crossings: 11 September and the US Borders

This article assesses the effects of the heightened border security measures after 11 September 2001 (‘9/11’) on the primary ports of entry between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It asks: did the events of 9/11 change the region due to federal administrative response and was the socio-economic structure and high level of integration permanently disrupted? In the end, 9/11 impacts may be issues of relative impacts, the result of turbulence measurable at an economic level, but more profound on the social structure and exchanges that occur among residents of the region. The study provides an overview of crossings between the United States, Mexico and Canada, including detailed analysis on pedestrian, vehicle, vehicle passenger and cargo truck crossings to determine significant exchanges and movement as a result of the imposed terrorist watch strategy which was implemented at both US land borders.
Experimental investigation of a two-phase ejector cycle suitable for use with low-pressure refrigerants R134a and R1234yf

Abstract This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation in which the performance of the low-pressure fluids R134a and R1234yf was compared between a two-phase ejector cycle and expansion valve cycles. An alternate two-phase ejector cycle, in which the pressure lift provided by the ejector was utilized in order to provide multiple evaporation temperatures, was constructed and tested. The experimental results show that ejectors designed for low-pressure fluids were able to achieve similar but lower work recovery efficiencies compared to CO2 ejectors. When compared to a two evaporation temperature expansion valve cycle, the ejector cycle showed maximum COP improvements of 12% with R1234yf and 8% with R134a. When compared to a single evaporation temperature expansion valve cycle, the ejector cycle showed maximum COP improvements of 6% with R1234yf and 5% with R134a. The effect of evaporator design on ejector cycle COP improvement was also demonstrated experimentally.
Extrauterine müllerian adenosarcoma associated with endometriosis and rectal villotubular adenoma: report of a case and review of the literature.

Extrauterine mullerian adenosarcoma is rare and is thought to arise from endometriotic deposits or pluripotent mesothelial and mesenchymal cells of the pelvic cavity. Concomitant colon–rectal neoplasm was reported but the relationship between extrauterine adenosarcoma and colon tumor was not studied. We describe an extrauterine adenosarcoma with a concomitant rectal tubulovillous adenoma. The patient had a long-term history of endometriosis and unopposed estrogen therapy. Immunohistochemical study was performed to investigate the origin and nature of the adenosarcoma. Immunostaining provided the evidence to distinguish between rectal tumor and adenosarcoma. Extrauterine adenosarcoma may arise from endometriosis, and hormone replacement therapy may have some role in the malignant transformation process. Adenosarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a new pelvic tumor in a patient with a history of endometriosis
Wetting Behavior of Al Melt/C Interface and Al-Ti Melt/C Interface Assisted by AlF3-KF Salt Eutectic

This doc This paper is concerned with the wetting of Al melt/graphite (C) substrate and Al-Ti melt/graphite (C) under the action of AlF3-KF salt eutectic. The results show that the intrinsic non-wetting behavior in the Al/C system was confirmed. The reason is because the existence of oxide film of Al melt obstructs the wetting between C and Al melt. However, due to assisted wetting of AlF3-KF salt eutectic, the good wetting behavior of Al,Al-Ti/C system is attributed to the strong physics wetting and subsequent interaction wetting. During the interaction wetting, Al4C3 compound forms at the Al/C interfaces while Al4C3 and TiC compounds form at the Al-Ti/C interfaces. In the meantime, high temperature effect formed at the interfaces owing to the reaction between Al-Ti and C attains the thermodynamics transformation condition of Al4C3 into TiC.
Identifying the Barriers and Challenges to Voting by Residents in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Settings

ABSTRACT To ascertain the need for and to inform development of guidelines for voting in long-term care settings, we conducted a telephone survey of Philadelphia nursing (n = 31) and assisted living (n = 20) settings following the 2003 election. Substantial variability existed in procedures used for registration and voting, in staff attitudes, and in the estimated proportion of residents who voted (29% ± 28, range 0–100%). Residents who wanted to vote were unable to do so at nearly one-third of sites, largely due to procedural problems. Nearly two-thirds of facilities indicated they assessed residents' voting capacity before the election. However, methods differed and may have disenfranchised residents who were actually competent to vote. Current procedures in many facilities fail to protect voting rights. These data suggest that rights might be better protected if election officials took charge of registration, filing absentee ballot requests, ballot completion, and trained LTC facility staff on voters' ...
Temporal trends in the burden of chronic kidney disease in the United States

Purpose of review The public health importance of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has only recently come to be appreciated and careful examination of temporal trends is warranted. The purpose of the present review was to examine existing research on temporal trends for CKD and treated end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the United States. Recent findings When the broadly representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) datasets were compared in 1988–1994 and 1999–2002, a pronounced increase in the prevalence of abnormally low glomerular filtration rate was observed when serum creatinine was used to estimate glomerular filtration rate. In contrast, glomerular filtration rate findings were almost identical when cystatin C levels were examined. Thus, although the community-wide burden of CKD is already high, uncertainty exists as to the growth rate of this problem. For treated ESRD a dramatic increase in incidence rate occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. Changing burdens of standard risk factors for CKD do not readily explain increased rates of treated ESRD, suggesting that selection criteria for dialysis and transplant programs may underlie these secular trends. If the hypothesis that nonbiological factors are major determinants of rates of treated ESRD is valid, the latter may be a poor surrogate for true ESRD and for understanding its causes and rates of progression. Summary Given its prevalence and prognostic implications, it makes intuitive sense to monitor the burden of CKD over time; the validity of the tools used to generate an answer, however, is at least as important as the direction of the answer.
LOCUS OF CONTROL ACROSS THE ADULT LIFESPAN

A relatively homogeneous sample of 655 college alumni was used to examine differences in locus of control as a function of age. The mean score on the Adult Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Locus of Control Scale was significantly higher (more external) for those 65 yr. of age and older (M = 8.61) than for the younger adults (M = 7.14). Possible explanations for this apparent small increase in externality with age include physical and social changes which accompany aging. The decline in internality may not reflect an actual change in the degree of control of reinforcers but rather a more accurate or realistic assessment of the extent to which adults of all ages can actually control their lives.
Belimumab: review of use in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Abstract Background Belimumab, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits B-lymphocyte stimulating protein, was the first biologic agent approved for, and the first drug approved in 55 years for, the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Objective This article reviews the current research on belimumab and provides recommendations on its use in the treatment of SLE. Methods The Cochrane Library, EBSCO, IPA, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS were searched for research published from January 2000 to November 2011, using the search terms belimumab, Benlysta, and Lympho-Stat B . Selection criteria included peer-reviewed original research articles on the pharmacology, pharmacokinetic properties, drug interactions, and clinical efficacy and tolerability of belimumab in the treatment of SLE. Abstracts from the annual meetings of major rheumatology medical organizations and societies were searched and reviewed for new content. Additional information on belimumab was obtained from the manufacturer, from the FDA, and from other sources. MEDLINE was also used to select clinical studies and therapeutic guidelines on SLE therapy. Results The literature search identified 1 Phase II and 2 Phase III studies that compared belimumab (1, 4, and 10 mg/kg/dose IV on days 0, 14, and 28; then every 28 days) to placebo in patients with active SLE on concurrent therapies. Patients with active lupus nephritis or neuropsychiatric lupus were excluded. In a Phase II, 52-week study, 24-week mean Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment–Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) scores were decreased by 19.5% with belimumab versus 17.2% with placebo ( P = NS). Median time to first flare was 67 days with belimumab versus 83 days with placebo ( P = NS). In seropositive patients, 52-week mean SELENA-SLEDAI scores were decreased by 28.8% with belimumab versus 14.2% with placebo ( P P P P = NS and P P P = NS). The tolerability data from these studies did not suggest any overall differences between belimumab and placebo. Conclusions Based on the findings from the present review, belimumab appears to be efficacious and generally well-tolerated and in the treatment of SLE other than lupus nephritis or neuropsychiatric lupus. Additional clinical and economics studies are needed to determine the most appropriate place for belimumab in the treatment of SLE.
Determination of the position of linkage of 2-acetamido-2deoxy-D-galactose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose residues in oligosaccharides and glycoproteins. Synthesis of 2-acetamido-2deoxy-D-xylitol and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-L-threitol

Abstract A method has been studied for the determination of the position of the linkage of the 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- D -galactose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- D -glucose residues in oligosaccharides and glycoproteins that is based on the borohydride reduction of the reducing terminal residues to the corresponding alditol derivatives periodate oxidation, borohydride reduction, hydrolysis (eventually followed by borohydride reduction), separation of the fragments as per- O -(trimethylsilyl) or per- O -(trifluoroacetyl) derivatives, and identification of the fragments as derivatives of 2-acetamido-2-deoxyglycerol, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- L -threitol, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- L -arabinitol, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- D -xylitol, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- D -galactitol, and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- D -glucitol by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. New syntheses for the standard compounds 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- L -threitol and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- D -xylitol are described.
Jini-based publish and subscribe capability

This paper describes a Publish and Subscribe capability developed under the Air Force Research Laboratory s (AFRL) Joint Battlespace Infosphere (JBI) project. The paper will give a brief description of the JBI and it s core service components of publish, subscribe and query. A detailed description fo the Pub/Sub system design and implementation will then be given describing how and where Java, Jini, and XML technologies were used to describe information objects, match subscribers to appropriate dissemination nodes, and disseminate information objects to subscribing clients. Fianlly we describe a number of applications that are currently using the Pub/Sub capability.
Geothermal reservoir simulation using nonequilibrium thermodynamics

A phenomenological interpretation of the evolution of a steam/water system is proposed from a nonequilibrium mixture perspective. This type of thermodynamic behavior is structurally stable on the basis of catastrophe theory and therefore offers an unorthodox alternative approach to the simulation of geothermal reservoirs. Use of this approach in a one-dimensional (ID) finite-difference simulator yields results that can be compared with a traditional numerical scheme.
Strontium content of human bones.

Marked regional differences in the Sr content of human bones were observed as a result of the analyses of 277 human bones from a world-wide sampling. The % Sr/% Ca x 10/sup 3/ ratio was determined on bones ashed at 8000/sup 0/ for 12 to 24 hours. This ratio was not affected by bone type, age, or sex. Bones from Brazil and Liberia had high average ratios, Denmark, Italy and Japan, intermediate average ratios, and Cologne, Switzerland, and Bonn low average ratios (1.33, 1.25, 0.89, 0.71, 0.70, 0.36, 0.35, and 0.35 respectively). Analyses of bones of 9 other regions were also reported.
Forecasting the future of technology by analogy—An evaluation of two prominent cases from the 20th century

Abstract It seems natural to assume that the more similar two events are, the more likely they are to turn out similarly. When the topic involves emerging technologies that means a technology that has already followed a particular diffusion path might be useful in ascertaining the diffusion path of a subsequent technology. Based on an historical analysis, this paper identifies two of the longest running examples of forecasting by analogy in the 20th century and analyzes how they turned out. In these two cases, at least, forecasting by analogy served more to misdirect than to accurately gauge future demand.
Monitoring the Heterogeneously Catalyzed Conversion of Quadricyclane to Norbornadiene by Raman Spectroscopy

The utility of fiber-optic Raman spectroscopy for monitoring a heterogeneous catalysis reaction has been examined. The conversion of quadricyclane to norbornadiene in the presence of CuSO4 in chloroform has been followed by an automated procedure. Concentrations of both species have been measured at 5-min intervals over a period of several hours with the use of a solvent line as an internal standard. The nondestructive procedure is shown to be easily implemented. Limits of detection are about 0.003 M.
A stackable switched-capacitor DC/DC converter IC for LED drivers with 90% efficiency

A stackable switched-capacitor (SC) converter IC for a hybrid-SC-resonant LED driver using off-chip ceramic capacitors is presented in this paper. The IC can be configured to handle a range of input voltages through chip-stacking in the voltage domain. The tested driver delivers 17.6W at 470mA to the LED load with 90% peak efficiency from a rectified 120VAC line (170VDC) and maintains >85% efficiency over a rectified voltage range from 16VDC to 180VDC.
Marking Mormon Difference: How Western Perceptions of Islam Defined the "Mormon Menace"

Abstract: This article argues that inaccurate perceptions of Muslim and Mormon sexual and political deviance merged to help fuel a sustained anti-Mormon campaign in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century America. The inflammatory rhetoric of slavery and defilement that anti-Mormon writers deployed to equate the violation of the individual female body in plural marriage with the violation of the social body through Mormon treachery and authoritarianism relied largely on anti-Muslim caricatures for both its venom and its meaning. Only when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints embraced a model of the church that fit within the framework of American denominationalism did the Mormon menace begin to recede and anti-Muslim vitriol begin to fade from anti-Mormon discourse. This article further contends that the political compromise that allowed Mormonism to survive—indeed, to flourish within the United States—helped demonstrate the boundaries of religious and political freedom not just for Mormons but...
A LAGRANGIAN-EULERIAN FINITE-ELEMENT FORMULATION FOR STEADY-STATE SOLIDIFICATION PROBLEMS

Abstract An accurate finite-element methodology is developed to solve a steady-state solidification problem for pure materials. Generally, this type of problem is governed by a set of conduction-advection differential equations. We consider a solidifying body moving at a constant velocity. At a steady state, the solid/liquid interface is fixed to an observer in a Eulerian frame, and the movement of the interface to an observer in a Lagrangian frame is determined by an energy balance equation at the interface. To determine the interface position in the Eulerian frame, we use the composition of the steady-state velocity of the moving body and the solid/liquid interface velocity in the Lagrangian frame through an iterative process. Meanwhile, the finite-element mesh is updated with a transfinite mapping scheme. In this new methodology, a weak formulation is applied to the interface energy balance equation to calculate the interface velocity in the Lagrangian frame. Numerical results are compared with analyti...
Proton hydrates as soft ion/ion proton transfer reagents for multiply deprotonated biomolecules

Abstract Ion/ion proton transfer from protonated strong gaseous bases such as pyridine and 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene (i.e., the proton sponge), to multiply charged anions derived from a sulfated pentasaccharide drug, Arixtra™, gives rise to extensive fragmentation of the oligosaccharide. This drug serves as a model for sulfated glycosaminoglycans, an important class of polymers in glycobiology. The extent of fragmentation appears to correlate with the proton affinity of the molecule used to transfer the proton, which in turn correlates with the reaction exothermicity. Consistent with tandem mass spectrometry results, anions with sodium counter-ions are more stable with respect to fragmentation under ion/ion proton transfer conditions than ions of the same charge state with protons counter-ions. Proton hydrates were found to give rise to much less anion fragmentation and constitute the softest protonation agents thus far identified for manipulating the charge states of multiply charged biopolymer anions. The reaction exothermicities associated with proton hydrates comprised of five or more water molecules are lower than that for protonated proton sponge, which is among the softest reagents thus far examined for ion/ion proton transfer reactions. The partitioning of ion/ion reaction exothermicity among all of the degrees of freedom of the products may also differ for proton hydrates relative to protonated molecules. However, a difference in energy partitioning need not be invoked to rationalize the results reported here.
The use of standard reference materials in spectrometric and electroanalytical quality assurance programs

Abstract To ensure that a chemical measurement process yields accurate results, well-characterized materials such as standard reference materials (SRMs) should be used. SRMs, which are characterized for their chemical composition, fall into two general categories: those used as primary calibration materials and those used as control materials. SRMs intended to be used as calibration materials include primary chemicals such as potassium dichromate and benzoic acid, pH buffers, spectrometric standard solutions, and some of the metal SRMs. Control materials are chemical matrix materials such as bovine liver, citrus leaves, river sediment, and coal. The use of SRMs is discussed with reference to these categories in the context of quality assurance in both spectrochemical and electrochemical analysis programs. Guidelines on how to choose the appropriate material for a given situation are presented, and some problems associated with making inappropriate choices are discussed.
Crystal engineering, structure–function relationships, and the future of metal–organic frameworks

Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a rapidly expanding class of hybrid organic–inorganic materials that can be rationally designed and assembled through crystal engineering. The explosion of interest in this subclass of coordination polymers results from their outstanding properties and myriad possible applications, which include traditional uses of microporous materials, such as gas storage, separations, and catalysis, as well as new realms in biomedicine, electronic devices, and information storage. The objective of this Highlight article is to provide the reader with a sense of where the field stands after roughly fifteen years of research. Remarkable progress has been made, but the barriers to practical and commercial advances are also evident. We discuss the basic elements of MOF assembly and present a conceptual hierarchy of structural elements that assists in understanding how unique properties in these materials can be achieved. Structure–function relationships are then discussed; several are now well understood, as a result of the focused efforts of many research groups over the past decade. Prospects for the use of MOFs in membranes, catalysis, biomedicine, and as active components in electronic and photonic devices are also discussed. Finally, we identify the most pressing challenges in our view that must be addressed for these materials to realize their full potential in the marketplace.
The photodecomposition of aminopterin

Aminopterin is used in cell fusion experiments to select for hybrid cells by killing unfused cells which are deficient in enzymes for nucleotide salvage pathways. Aqueous aminopterin solutions exposed to fluorescent room light (wavelength greater than 300 nm) were found to lose cytotoxicity. Inactivation was accompanied by changes in the ultraviolet absorption spectra of the solutions. The ultraviolet spectrum of an irradiated aminopterin solution is used to provide a quantitative measure of its cytotoxicity. Aminopterin appears to be photolytically cleaved at the C9-N10 methylene-anilino bond in a reaction analogous to that known for the photolysis of folic acid irradiated at 365 nm (Lowry et al., 1949).
Combinatorial network optimization with unknown variables: multi-armed bandits with linear rewards and individual observations

We formulate the following combinatorial multi-armed bandit (MAB) problem: There are N random variables with unknown mean that are each instantiated in an i.i.d. fashion over time. At each time multiple random variables can be selected, subject to an arbitrary constraint on weights associated with the selected variables. All of the selected individual random variables are observed at that time, and a linearly weighted combination of these selected variables is yielded as the reward. The goal is to find a policy that minimizes regret, defined as the difference between the reward obtained by a genie that knows the mean of each random variable, and that obtained by the given policy. This formulation is broadly applicable and useful for stochastic online versions of many interesting tasks in networks that can be formulated as tractable combinatorial optimization problems with linear objective functions, such as maximum weighted matching, shortest path, and minimum spanning tree computations. Prior work on multi-armed bandits with multiple plays cannot be applied to this formulation because of the general nature of the constraint. On the other hand, the mapping of all feasible combinations to arms allows for the use of prior work on MAB with single-play, but results in regret, storage, and computation growing exponentially in the number of unknown variables. We present new efficient policies for this problem that are shown to achieve regret that grows logarithmically with time, and polynomially in the number of unknown variables. Furthermore, these policies only require storage that grows linearly in the number of unknown parameters. For problems where the underlying deterministic problem is tractable, these policies further require only polynomial computation. For computationally intractable problems, we also present results on a different notion of regret that is suitable when a polynomial-time approximation algorithm is used.
Arpeggio: metadata searching and content sharing with chord

Arpeggio is a peer-to-peer file-sharing network based on the Chord lookup primitive. Queries for data whose metadata matches a certain criterion are performed efficiently by using a distributed keyword-set index, augmented with index-side filtering. We introduce index gateways, a technique for minimizing index maintenance overhead. Because file data is large, Arpeggio employs subrings to track live source peers without the cost of inserting the data itself into the network. Finally, we introduce postfetching, a technique that uses information in the index to improve the availability of rare files. The result is a system that provides efficient query operations with the scalability and reliability advantages of full decentralization, and a content distribution system tuned to the requirements and capabilities of a peer-to-peer network.
Ion Beam Surface Modification for Achieving Rectification in Gold-Aluminum Nitride-Silicon Junctions

Low energy ion bombardment has been utilized to fabricate rectifying contacts on aluminum nitride grown on single crystal silicon substrates. Bombardment of aluminum nitride with methane was followed by sputter deposition of gold contacts. To our knowledge, this is the First report of rectifying contact formation on aluminum nitride. Scanning electron micrographs show that the initially ordered aluminum nitride surface is significantly altered with low energy methane ion beam exposure. Electrical measurements made on samples which had been partially masked during implantation indicate that rectification is a result of the ion bombardment.