cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A critical analysis of the classifications of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

The Rappaport classification of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas was proposed almost a quarter century ago, before the advent of modern immunology. This classification, which is based entirely on morphologic features, has proved its clinical usefulness. In light of recent scientific advances, however, its terminology is not appropriate. Five new classifications have been proposed recently, each claiming to have more merit than the others. The purpose of this study is to critically analyze and evaluate these newly proposed classifications, to determine which classification is conceptually and scientifically acceptable as well as clinically useful. The results of the study show that there are more similarities than differences among the Rappaport, Lukes and Collins, Dorfman, British, and WHO classifications; the Kiel classification, however, is fundamentally different (Tables 8, 9, 11). None of these classifications can be used in its proposed form. Based on the analysis of these classifications, a compromise working classification is proposed which incorporates the relevant concepts and terminology from the Rappaport, Berard, Dorfman, WHO, and Lukes and Collins classifications (Tables 15, 16). The proposed compromise classification is an attempt to reconcile the various classifications, and to stimulate others to offer modifications which may bring about a final solution to the problem of classification of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Cancer 44:347-384, 1979.
Phase change router for nonvolatile logic

Phase change memory is moving into the main stream and this technology offers the possibility of integration of high-density high-speed non-volatile memory banks atop CMOS in the same package (Figure 1). Elimination of the memory access latencies associated with the I/O bottleneck will allow CPUs to operate more than 1000x faster and at a fraction of the energy. The two main challenges facing this major breakthrough at the present day are (1) the phase-change memory reliability, and (2) the CMOS foot-print associated with the memory cells and the access circuitry. Recent advances in phase-change materials and device research is expected to yield the desired device reliability and cross-bar arrays are expected to reduce the CMOS access circuitry (foot-print on the CMOS layer) sufficiently to integrate 100s of GB memory onto the CPU. Moving some of the logic and the memory controls to the PCM level will significantly relieve the area concerns in the underlying CMOS layer.
Suppressive effects of pyrilamine maleate and d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) on early corneal lesions produced in vitro by Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and compound 4880☆

Abstract Injection of 108 plaque-forming units (PFU) of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) into the anterior chamber of the rabbit eye causes a “toxic” reaction characterized by edema of the cornea with extensive damage of corneal endothelium. No evidence of increase of infectious virus is associated with the above reaction. Within 1 hour after injection of virus, characteristic lesions called cndothelial rosettes were seen by staining the corneal endothelium with silver nitrate. Endothelial rosettes were also produced by 1 10 or 1 100 the amount of virus required to produce a macroscopically visible toxic reaction. The number of rosettes was related to the amount of virus inoculated. The same toxic effect was obtained by injection of 25 μg of compound 48 80 , a substance with various pharmacologic effects including release of histamine. These lesions can be induced by mechanical trauma and are a relatively nonspecific manifestation of damage. The number of rosettes produced by virus in vitro was greatly reduced by pretreatment with receptor-destroying enzyme, or by inactivating the virus with specific immune serum, or by heat. Pretreatment of the eye by injection of 100 μg of an antihistamine, pyrilamine maleate, or 100 μg of the antiserotonin agent, d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), moderately reduced the number of rosettes produced by either virus or compound 48 80 . One hundred micrograms of each of the two antagonists when used together markedly reduced the number of rosettes produced by either virus or 48 80 .
STABILITY ANALYSIS OF PERIODIC SYSTEMS BY TRUNCATED POINT MAPPINGS

An approach is presented deriving analytical stability and bifurcation conditions for systems with periodically varying coefficients. The method is based on apoint mapping(period to period mapping) representation of the system's dynamics. An algorithm is employed to obtain an analytical expression for the point mapping and its dependence on the system's parameters. The algorithm is devised to derive the coefficients of a multinominal expansion of the point mapping up to an arbitrary order in terms of the state variables and of the parameters. Analytical stability and bifurcation condition are then formulated and expressed as functional relations between the parameters. To demonstrate the application of the method, the parametric stability of Mathieu's equation and of a two-degree of freedom system are investigated. The results obtained by the proposed approach are compared to those obtained by perturbation analysis and by direct integration which we considered to the “exact solution”. It is shown that, unlike perturbation analysis, the proposed method provides very accurate solution even forlarge valuesof the parameters. If an expansion of the point mapping in terms of a small parameter is performed the method is equivalent to perturbation analysis. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the method can be easily applied to multiple-degree-of-freedom systems using the same framework. This feature is an important advantage since most of the existing analysis methods apply mainly to single-degree-of-freedom systems and their extension to higher dimensions is difficult and computationally cumbersome.
The molecular and cell biology of anion transport by bacteria.

This article summarizes the study of anion exchange mechanisms in bacteria. Along with defining at least two different families of anion exchange, an examination of such carrier-mediated antiport reactions has led to techniques that considerably broaden the scope of biochemical methods for examining membrane proteins. Such advances have been exploited to show that anion exchange itself forms the mechanistic base of an entirely new kind of proton pump, one which may shed light on a variety of bacterial events, including methanogenesis. Perhaps most important, the study of exchange provided the final link in a chain of evidence pointing to a structural [rhythm] that seems to characterize membrane carriers. These three issues - a biochemical tool, a new proton pump, and a common structural rhythm - are briefly examined in the context of their origins in the analysis of bacterial anion exchange.
A continuum model for hydrogen-assisted void nucleation in ductile materials

The bulk effects of hydrogen on the kinematics, thermodynamics, and kinetics of plasticity and damage evolution were derived based on the constitutive equations of the Bammann continuum plasticity and Horstemeyer damage mechanics framework. From nanoscale atomistic simulation results and existing experimental observations, the Horstemeyer–Gokhale void/crack nucleation rate was modified to account for hydrogen effects. The continuum damage framework was implemented into a user material code and applied in finite element simulations. The finite element results showed close comparisons with the experimental data from Kwon and Asaro who charged smooth and notched spheroidized 1518 steel specimens with hydrogen.
Nonimaging second-stage elements: a brief comparison.

A comparison is made between two different types of second stage reflective optical elements, specifically, the compound elliptical concentrator and the trumpet. (AIP)
Departures from quasiparticle behaviour in the de Haas-van Alphen effect

Abstract An approximate expression for departures from quasiparticle behaviour of de Haas-van Alphen amplitudes is obtained. The result involves a single parameter that is independent of temperature and field and which describes a feature of the electron-phonon interaction. A value for the parameter is obtained for the β-orbit in mercury.
Transferable Tet M in Fusobacterium nucleatum

Two tetracycline-resistant Fusobacterium nucleatum strains were able to transfer, by conjugation, tetracycline resistance and the Tet M determinant to recipient F. nucleatum, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, and Enterococcus faecalis strains at a frequency of 10(-1) to 10(-8).
Changing Conceptions of Rights in the United States and the West

Among the most pronouncedfeatures ofthe American revolutionary generation, which culminated in the writing and adoption of the Constitution of the United States, were the introduction of the idea of individual rights as the basisfor political organization and the protection of those rights as a major task ofgovernment.' This idea, which now is uncritically accepted by conventional opinion, in itself represents only one conception of rights and must be understood as such. In this article, we will examine what is a conception of rights and how rights are justified In this exploration, we have to understand how each conception of rights is shaped by a particular view of the nature of man, a particular understanding of the sources of rights, and a particular direction for the expression of rights.
A power flow model for high speed motorized spindles : Heat generation characterization

Lack of a more complete understanding of system characteristics, particularly thermal effects, severely limits the reliability of high speed spindles to support manufacturing. High speed spindles are notorious for their sudden catastrophic failures without alarming signs at high speeds due to thermal problems. In this paper, a qualitative power flow model is presented to characterize the power distribution of a high speed motorized spindle. Quantitative heat source models of the built-in motor and the bearings are then developed. These models are verified with a custom-built high performance motorized spindle of 32 KW and a maximum speed of 25,000 rpm (1.5 million DN). Several systematic test procedures are also developed to validate the models.
HISPANICS AND THE U.S. OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURE: A FOCUS ON VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in the United States, registering a twenty‐five percent increase from 1973 to 1980 (1). Of the more than thirteen million U.S. residents of Hispanic origin, the largest group is Mexicans with nearly eight million persons (2). Some of the more salient features of the Hispanic population are the following (3).
Propagation characteristics of guided waves in layered elastic orthotropic materials

The propagation of guided elastic waves in an orthotropic compressible layer imbedded in a difference orthotropic compressible material is examined. The strain energy of the two materials is otherwise arbitrary with the material constants satisfying the strong ellipticity conditions. To extract the propagation characteristics, propagation is considered along a material axis of symmetry which lies in the interfacial plane. For the two materials having common axes of symmetry, the dispersion equation is derived in explicit form. Analysis of the dispersion equation reveals the propagation characteristics and their dependence on frequency and material parameters. Low and high-frequency asymptotes are defined and their existence is discussed, the high frequency asymptote corresponding to a Stoneley wave. For low frequencies, the interfacial wave speed is derived in explicit form yielding a simple material parameter condition for the existence of interfacial waves.
Über Derivate des Phenylbutazons. II. Derivate mit einer Hydroxylgruppe in der 4‐ständigen Seitenkette

The synthesis of three derivatives of phenylbutazone with a hydroxy group in the butyl side chain is described, among them γ-hydroxy-phenylbutazone [1, 2-diphenyl-4-(γ-hydroxy-n-butyl)-pyrazolidine-3,5-dione] (IV), the laevo-rotatory isomer of which is one of the metabolites of phenylbutazone in man.
Mechanistic insights into ventricular arrhythmias from mapping studies in humans

Sudden cardiac death in patients with organic heart disease is usually due to ventricular tachycardia (VT) degenerating to ventricular fibrillation (VF).1 In many cases, implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) have been successful in treating these lethal arrhythmias. However, for the large number of at-risk patients who either do not receive ICDs or who fail to meet criteria for ICD implantation, additional treatment approaches are required. Development of novel antiarrhythmic approaches will require an understanding of the electrophysiologic (and ultimately, cellular) mechanisms that underlie VT and VF in the human heart. Progress in the understanding of VT and VF mechanisms has been made possible by recent technological innovations in cardiac mapping and advances in studying of cellular and molecular aspects of heart disease. Studies in diseased human hearts using three-dimensional electrical mapping (as well as recent optical mapping approaches) have demonstrated the complexity of mechanisms that initiate, maintain and terminate VT, as well as initiate and maintain VF in the heterogeneous myocardial architecture of the diseased human heart. Here we will focus on mechanistic insights into ventricular arrhythmias that have been obtained from such high resolution cardiac mapping studies in patients with ischemic and nonischemic heart disease.
Sodium Excretion and Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Levels During Mineralocorticoid Administration A Mechanism for the Escape from Hyperaldosteronism

Urinary sodium excretion initially decreases when mineralocorticoid levels are increased, but if high plasma levels of hormone are maintained, sodium excretion rises to again equal sodium intake. To ascertain if atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) plays a role in reestablishing sodium balance during mineralocorticoid ingestion, 0.3 to 0.5 mg per day of fludrocortisone were administered for 18 days to four healthy male subjects. The average daily intake of sodium was regulated at 180 ± 2 meq. ANP levels rose from a mean of 91.7 ± 13.0 pg/ml during the control week to 179.7 ± 39.2 pg/ml during the final week on fludrocortisone (p < 0.05). Urinary sodium excretion fell 27% immediately after fludrocortisone administration was initiated but returned to baseline levels in an average of 5 days. Levels of ANP, normalized for each subject to the mean of his control week values, correlated with the amount of sodium excreted in the subsequent 24 hours (p < 0.05).Simultaneous with the rise in ANP values, levels of plasm...
Victory in scholarship on strategy and war

When policy-makers use force to achieve political ends, they use the word ‘victory’, yet its meaning is frequently left unclear. Policy-makers are using force for new purposes (peace operations, preemption, state-building, democracy promotion, counterinsurgencies and counterterrorism), but the language and thinking on victory in these new situations has not kept pace with the times. The essential problem is that the term ‘victory’ is an imprecisely defined concept for guiding decisions about military intervention. Everyone, from scholars to policy-makers, should understand that the failure historically to develop a precise concept of victory weakens the ability of policy-makers to use force effectively and contributes to confusion when societies debate whether to use force. This article seeks to make three fundamental contributions towards reducing the ambiguity that surrounds the term ‘victory’ in the strategic studies literature. First, it establishes the renewed importance of the question: ‘what is pre...
The global nuclear safety regime

Daedalus Fall 2009 Today, there are approximately 440 nuclear power plants (npps) around the globe contributing roughly 16 percent of the world’s total supply of electrical energy, and the contribution from nuclear power is likely to grow in the years ahead.1 Energy is an essential underpinning for economic growth, and as the developing world advances, its demand for energy is projected to grow signi1⁄2cantly. At the same time, the carbon-intensive energy sources the world now relies on–chiefly coal, petroleum, and natural gas–pose a grave threat because the growing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are bringing about climate change and ocean acidi1⁄2cation. As a result, the world needs to turn to energy sources that are substantially carbon free. Nuclear power, by far the most signi1⁄2cant current source of greenhousegas-free energy, must play an important part in the world’s response to the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In addition, volatile fossil fuel prices, coupled with concerns about the security of oil and gas supplies, enhance interest in energy sources that do not pose the same costs and risks. Nuclear technology is attractive in this regard, too, because fuel costs are only a slight component to the costs of nuclear energy (most of the costs arise from the amortization of the plant) and because supplies of uranium are abundant and secure. The current widespread interest in nuclear technology has been described as a “nuclear renaissance.” Construction of new plants is under way or is contemplated around the globe. Some Asian countries have steadily pursued nuclear construction over the past few decades, and several are signi1⁄2cantly accelerating their efforts. Many European countries that had turned away from nuclear power in the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident are reconsidering their positions and are either undertaking or exploring new construction. Although no generating company in the United States has placed an order for a new plant for more than 30 years, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (nrc) has received 17 applications for combined construction-and-operating licenses for 26 plants, and it expects several more applications in the years ahead. Perhaps most important, many countries that do not currently have npps have expressed interest in acquiring one. (These countries are the soRichard A. Meserve
Determination of aircraft stall margins during takeoff

Numerical Results In numerical examples a is assumed to be 1 rad. Table 1 shows a comparison study of the total induced drag between the present method and two kinds of lifting-line theories. Two lifting-line theories are unable to predict the near-field induced drag. This result confirms the validity of the present analysis because the agreement of two kinds of induced drags is good. Figures 2a and 2b show the spanwise distributions of the sectional induced drags by the present analysis for the cases of Table 1. The sectional distributions of two methods are different near the wingtip of even the large aspect ratio elliptic wing. Figure 3 shows a comparison result of the total suction force for various values of k. Even the extended lifting-line theory will not estimate induced drag sufficiently at the values of k above about 0.25, that is, of an aspect ratio below about 6.4.
Criterion shifts in the measurement of tactile masking

A series of experiments was conducted to determine the effects of method of threshold measurement on the amount of threshold shift produced by a masking stimulus. The amount of contralateral tactile masking of the fingertip was found to be much greater when thresholds were measured by the Bekesy tracking method than when measured by a forced-choice method. When the Bekesy tracking procedure was modified so that each observation interval containing a brief stimulus was followed almost immediately by a second observation interval not containing a stimulus, the amount of masking was substantially reduced for both contralateral tactile masking and auditorytactile masking and corresponded almost exactly with the amount of masking measured by the forced-choice method. No such reduction in the amount of masking was obtained by using this procedure to measure ipsilateral tactile masking or auditory masking.
Placenta previa: neonatal death after live births in the United States.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe neonatal mortality rates among live births that were complicated by placenta previa in the United States. Study Design: This was a population-based retrospective cohort study of 1997 United States singleton live births. Neonatal deaths among pregnancies that were complicated by placenta previa were compared with deaths among pregnancies with no placenta previa. Adjusted and unadjusted hazard ratios were generated from a proportional hazards regression model. Results: Of 3,773,369 live births, 9656 were complicated by placenta previa (2.6 cases per 1000). Among cases of placenta previa, 114 neonatal deaths occurred (11.8 per 1000) versus 14951 (4 per 1000) among non-placenta previa neonates (P <.0001). The adjusted relative risk of death was three times higher among placenta previa neonates (hazard ratio, 3.06; 95% CI, 2.40-3.94). Placenta previa-related death was mediated through preterm delivery rather than small for gestational age. Conclusion: Placenta previa triples the rate of neonatal mortality, which is mediated mainly through preterm birth. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:1305-9.)
Storage of large round bales of hay harvested at different moisture concentrations and treated with sodium diacetate and/or covered with plastic

Abstract The effects were examined of applying sodium diacetate (1.25 g kg−1 of hay), an individual plastic cover, or both sodium diacetate and a plastic cover on temperatures, storage characteristics and digestibility, after outdoor storage, of large round bales of alfalfa-grass hay baled at either a high (190 g water kg−1 hay) or low (156 g kg−1) moisture concentration. High-moisture bales had higher (P High-moisture bales had a higher (P Plastic covers reduced (P Sodium diacetate-treated bales had lower (P The digestibility of dry matter, CP, NDF, and ADF of bales stored outside for 24 weeks, determined in wether lambs, was not affected by hay moisture at harvest, plastic covers, or sodium diacetate treatment.
Xenograft use in reconstructive pelvic surgery: a review of the literature

Xenografts, bovine or porcine acellular collagen bioprostheses derived from dermis, pericardium, or small-intestine submucosa, were introduced to overcome synthetic mesh-related complications. Although there are eight commercially available xenografts, there is a paucity of empiric information to justify their use instead of the use of synthetic grafts. In addition, limited data are available about which graft characteristics are important and whether graft-reinforced repairs reduce recurrences and improve outcomes. To address these knowledge gaps, we conducted a Medline search of published reports on xenografts in animal and human trials. Histologic host response to implanted xenograft material depends primarily on chemical cross-linking and porosity, and it is limited to four responses: resorption, incorporation, encapsulation, and mixed. No clinical data unequivocally demonstrate an improved benefit to graft-reinforced repair.
Electronic structure calculations on RNO2 species, R = H, CH3, NH2, HO, and F

Abstract The relative singlet—triplet separations of five simple species of general formula RNO 2 has been estimated by GVB calculations with both double-zeta and polarized double-zeta basis sets. Electronegative substituents raise the calculated singlet—triplet separation. Qualitative aspects of these substituent effects are discussed.
Development and initial validation of the Hangover Symptoms Scale: prevalence and correlates of Hangover Symptoms in college students.

Background: Despite its ubiquity, hangover has received remarkably little systematic attention in alcohol research. This may be due in part to the lack of a standard measure of hangover symptoms that cleanly taps the physiologic and subjective effects commonly experienced the morning after drinking. In the present study, we developed and evaluated a new scale, the Hangover Symptoms Scale (HSS), to potentially fill this void. Methods: Participants were 1230 currently drinking college students (62% women, 91% Caucasian). They were administered a self-report inventory in which they reported the frequency of occurrence of 13 different hangover symptoms during the past 12 months. Participants also reported their history of alcohol involvement, alcohol-related problems, and family history of alcohol-related problems. Results: On average, participants experienced 5 out of 13 different hangover symptoms in the past year; the three most common symptoms were feeling extremely thirsty/dehydrated, feeling more tired than usual, and headache. Higher scores on the HSS were significantly positively associated with the frequency of drinking and getting drunk and the typical quantity of alcohol consumed when drinking, a personal history of alcohol-related problems, and a family history of alcohol-related problems. After controlling for sex differences in alcohol involvement, women had higher scores on the HSS than men. Conclusions: The HSS appears to capture a reasonably valid set of adjectives describing common hangover effects. It is hoped that the availability of a brief, valid hangover assessment such as the HSS will encourage further study of hangover's frequency, correlates, and consequences. Future research is needed to explore the performance of a re-worded HSS in laboratory settings, which may help bridge the gap between laboratory and survey investigations of hangover.
Effect of flooding on annual dormancy cycles in buried seeds of two wetland Carex species

Buried seeds ofCarex comosa andC. sticta were exposed to nonflooded and flooded conditions and natural seasonal temperature changes for 30.5 and 33 mo, respectively. At 1-, 2- or 6-mo intervals, exhumed seeds were tested for germination in light and darkness over a range of daily thermoperiods. Freshly-matured seeds of both species were conditionally dormant; maximum germination was at 35/20°C, in light. Dormancy decreased in nonflooded and flooded seeds ofC. comosa during late autumn and winter, but the decrease was greater in flooded than in nonflooded seeds. Nonflooded and flooded seeds ofC. stricta gained the ability to germinate in light during the first summer of burial and in darkness during the following winter. Seeds of neither species germinated while they were buried in pots of soil under either nonflooded or flooded conditions in the nonheated greenhouse. Nonflooded and flooded seeds of both species incubated in light and flooded seeds ofC. comosa incubated in darkness had an annual conditional dormancy/nondormancy cycle, being conditionally dormant in summer and autumn and nondormant in spring. However, nonflooded seeds ofC. comosa incubated in darkness remained dormant, germinating to only 1%. Most nonflooded and flooded seeds ofC. stricta incubated in darkness had an annual dormancy/nondormancy cycle, being dormant in summer and nondormant in spring. Thus, flooding influenced the annual changes in dormancy states of buried seeds ofC. comosa, but it had no effect on seeds ofC. stricta.
Extraction of lignin from wood with supercritical alcohols

Extraction of lignin from samples of white fir sapwood with supercritical t-butanol and isopropanol is examined. Experiments were carried out with a continuous flow system to study the effect of temperature and pressure on the dynamic response of the extraction process. Plots of concentration as a function of time were obtained by measuring the absorbance of the lignin/t-butanol extract effluent at 280 nm over an extraction time of 100 minutes or longer. The total effluent was analyzed to determine the amount of lignin extracted. Increasing the temperature dramatically increased the fraction of lignin extracted. Increased pressure also showed increased yields. Subcritical temperatures resulted in very low yields compared to supercritical temperatures. Additional analysis examined changes in porosity of wood residues extracted with supercritical isopropanol and t-butanol. Porosity and pore volume increased during the extraction process. Most pores were in the range 1–20 μm, and extraction increased the number of these pores.
On the use of continued emotions for digital computer arithmetic

Recently, there has been some interest in the use of continued fractions for digital hardware calculations. We require that the coefficients of the continued fractions be integral powers of two. As a result well known continued fraction expansions of functions cannot be used. Methods of expansion of a large number of functions are presented. We show that the problem of selection of coeffiients of the continued fractions does not have practical solution in most of the cases we have considered. We conjecture that the solution of a polynomial equation is the only problem that can be solved in our formulation.
Extending Graham's result on scheduling to other heuristics

This paper considers the off-line scheduling problem where a list of jobs must be scheduled on k-parallel processors. The heuristic of Graham is relaxed to create a class of algorithms which includes many well-known algorithms such as best fit, first fit, random fit and greedy. We show that Graham's upper bound of 43-1/3k for the competitive ratios under the C"m"a"x norm applies to all algorithms of this class.
Collagen Integrin Receptors Regulate Early Osteoblast Differentiation Induced by BMP-2

Studies in several cell types indicate that the actions of integrin receptors for extracellular matrix and receptors for growth factors are synergistic in regulating cellular differentiation and function. We studied the roles of the alpha1beta1 and alpha2beta1 integrin collagen receptors in regulating the differentiation of 2T3 osteoblastic cells in response to bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2. The immortalized 2T3 cell line was established from the calvaria of mice transgenic for a BMP-2 promoter driving SV40 T-antigen. These cells require exogenous BMP-2, as well as ascorbic acid and beta-glycerolphosphate, for expression of a mature osteoblast phenotype and formation of a mineralized matrix. To determine how integrin receptors for collagen-I affect BMP-2 signaling, function-perturbing anti-rat alpha1 and/or alpha2 integrin subunit, or anti-type I collagen (Col-I), antibodies were added to human recombinant (hr)BMP-2-treated 2T3 cultures at confluence (C0) or at 4 or 8 days postconfluence (C4, C8). After 4 days of exposure to the antibodies, cultures were assayed for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) mRNA levels and enzyme activity and for cAMP production in response to parathyroid hormone. Addition of anti-collagen-I or both anti-integrin-alpha1 and -alpha2 antibodies to C0 cultures blocked expression of these early osteoblast markers by more than 90%, and also blocked mineralization (0.5-1.8% control) of these cells. In all cases, adding anti-alpha1 or anti-alpha2 antibodies separately produced partial effects, while their combined effect approached that of anti-collagen-I. When antibodies were added to more differentiated 2T3 cells, the inhibitory effects decreased. 2T3 cells carrying constitutively active BMP receptor (caBMPR-IB) showed elevated ALP activity without hrBMP-2; this constitutive activity was also suppressed by alpha1 and alpha2 integrin antibodies and by anti-Col-I antibody. Together, our data suggest that a signal(s) from collagen integrin receptors regulates the response to BMP downstream of BMPR-IB and upstream of the regulation of ALP mRNA and other early markers of osteoblast differentiation.
A comparison of the toxicology of triethylene glycol dinitrate and propylene glycol dinitrate.

In most species the LD50 of triethylene glycol dinitrate (TEGDN) is two to five times as high as that of propylene glycol dinitrate (PGDN). Both compounds produce methemoglobinemia and hypotension in rats. However, TEGDN-poisoned rats tremor violently and expire, apparently in respiratory arrest, after acute convulsive episodes. PDGN-poisoned rats are lethargic and do not convulse. In Vitro TEGDN at concentrations above 1.5mM blocks nerve-stimulated contraction of a phrenic nervediaphragm preparation, and this interference with nerve-muscle communication appears to be the cause of the tremoring. Chronic daily dermal applications to rabbits of 21 mmoles/kg of both dinitrates cause death in 2 to 3 weeks. PGDN-treated rabbits gain weight normally, while those treated with TEGDN lose 20 to 30% of their body weight. Guinea pigs receiving as little as 100 nig/kg of TEGDN ip daily have decreased food intake and retarded weight gain. The toxic responses 0 these two dinitrates are therefore sufficiently different ...
Heat capacities, third-law entropies and thermodynamic functions of the negative thermal expansion material Zn2GeO4 from T=(0 to 400) K

Abstract The molar heat capacity of Zn2GeO4, a material which exhibits negative thermal expansion below ambient temperatures, has been measured in the temperature range 0.5⩽(T/K)⩽400. At T=298.15 K, the standard molar heat capacity is (131.86 ± 0.26) J · K−1 · mol−1. Thermodynamic functions have been generated from smoothed fits of the experimental results. The standard molar entropy at T=298.15 K is (145.12 ± 0.29) J · K−1 · mol−1. The existence of low-energy modes is supported by the excess heat capacity in Zn2GeO4 compared to the sums of the constituent binary oxides.
An Extended Version of a Novel Method for the Estimation of Partition Coefficients

Using the semi-empirical AM1 method, 302 compounds have been studied and equilibrium properties calculated. Functions based on linear combinations of subsets of calculated properties have been fit to the 1-octanol-water partition coefficients. The best such semi-empirical approach function has 18 parameters, has a standard deviation of 0.306, and seems to describe the partition coefficients of the 302 compounds. The predictive power of the function was tested and found to be good. Since this new version is based on a much larger number of, and structurally more varied, compounds and uses an improved, new function, we expect it to be a very useful method to predict partition properties of a wide variety of compounds.
Advantages of Modal Dispersion Phase-Matching and Materials Requirements for Polymeric Devices Using Efficient Second Harmonic Generation at Telecommunication Wavelength

Modal Dispersion Phase Matching appears to be currently much better adapted to parametric mixing in polymeric material waveguides than Quasi Phase Matching. For second harmonic generation at telecommunication wavelengths, using organic materials should allow better performance than with ferroelectric crystals. Promising results are expected in view of theoretical expectations and continuously improving experimental past and current results.
Crystallization of protein–protein complexes

Crystallizing protein–protein complexes remains a rate-limiting step in their structure characterization. Crystallization conditions for the known protein–protein complexes have been surveyed in both the Protein Data Bank and the BMCD database. Compared with non-complexed proteins, crystallization conditions for protein–protein complexes are less diverse and heavily favor (71% versus 27%) polyethylene glycols (PEG) rather than ammonium sulfate or other high-salt crystallization conditions. The results suggest that the stability of protein complexes limits their available crystallization configuration space. Based on the survey, a set of sparse-matrix screen conditions was designed.
Finite-time consensus of multi-agent networks with inherent nonlinear dynamics under an undirected interaction graph

This paper studies finite-time consensus of multi-agent networks with inherent nonlinear dynamics where each agent is driven by a nonlinear term based on its state under an undirected interaction graph. We propose two distributed nonlinear algorithms to guarantee finite-time consensus. To facilitate the stability analysis of the closed-loop system using the proposed nonlinear algorithms, we present a general comparison lemma. The general comparison lemma provides an important tool in the stability analysis of linear/nonlinear closed-loop systems by making use of known results in linear/nonlinear systems. With the aid of the general comparison lemma, the two nonlinear algorithms are shown to guarantee finite-time consensus by comparing the original closed-loop systems with one or more predesigned closed-loop systems that can guarantee finite-time consensus.
Computer modeling of the combined effects of perfusion, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity on tissue heating patterns in radiofrequency tumor ablation.

Purpose. To use an established computer simulation model of radiofrequency (RF) ablation to characterize the combined effects of varying perfusion, and electrical and thermal conductivity on RF heating.Methods. Two-compartment computer simulation of RF heating using 2-D and 3-D finite element analysis (ETherm) was performed in three phases (n = 88 matrices, 144 data points each). In each phase, RF application was systematically modeled on a clinically relevant template of application parameters (i.e., varying tumor and surrounding tissue perfusion: 0–5 kg/m3-s) for internally cooled 3 cm single and 2.5 cm cluster electrodes for tumor diameters ranging from 2–5 cm, and RF application times (6–20 min). In the first phase, outer thermal conductivity was changed to reflect three common clinical scenarios: soft tissue, fat, and ascites (0.5, 0.23, and 0.7 W/m-°C, respectively). In the second phase, electrical conductivity was changed to reflect different tumor electrical conductivities (0.5 and 4.0 S/m, repres...
Efficiency Drivers of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs): The Case of Operating Costs

The main goal of this paper is to explore potential drivers of costs including MFI characteristics, country infrastructure (both physical and institutional), prices and availability of inputs, doing business environment and macroeconomic variables. This research is based on a sample of 1,003 MFIs in 84 countries reporting data to the Microfinance Information Exchange, Inc. (MIX), mainly in the period 1999-2006. These MFIs represent 44 million borrowers with 21 billion USD in loan portfolio in 2006. Based on the analysis of MFIs characteristics, we found that the three main drivers of operating expense ratio (OER) are relative loan sizes, ages and scale. However, we are surprised by how quickly reductions in cost disappear after MFIs grow beyond 2,000 borrowers. For example, one of the conclusions of the paper is that in the predicted relationship between relative loan size and OER is statistically significant, strong, but decreasing for larger loan sizes as expected. In particular, an increase in the relative loan size from 10 to 20 percent of GNI per capita is expected to reduce OER over 7 percentage points, but a increase in relative loan size from 30 to 40 percent (just around the median) is expected to reduce OER just around 3 percentage points.
Nucleoporin NUP153 phenylalanine-glycine motifs engage a common binding pocket within the HIV-1 capsid protein to mediate lentiviral infectivity.

Lentiviruses can infect non-dividing cells, and various cellular transport proteins provide crucial functions for lentiviral nuclear entry and integration. We previously showed that the viral capsid (CA) protein mediated the dependency on cellular nucleoporin (NUP) 153 during HIV-1 infection, and now demonstrate a direct interaction between the CA N-terminal domain and the phenylalanine-glycine (FG)-repeat enriched NUP153 C-terminal domain (NUP153C). NUP153C fused to the effector domains of the rhesus Trim5α restriction factor (Trim-NUP153C) potently restricted HIV-1, providing an intracellular readout for the NUP153C-CA interaction during retroviral infection. Primate lentiviruses and equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) bound NUP153C under these conditions, results that correlated with direct binding between purified proteins in vitro. These binding phenotypes moreover correlated with the requirement for endogenous NUP153 protein during virus infection. Mutagenesis experiments concordantly identified NUP153C and CA residues important for binding and lentiviral infectivity. Different FG motifs within NUP153C mediated binding to HIV-1 versus EIAV capsids. HIV-1 CA binding mapped to residues that line the common alpha helix 3/4 hydrophobic pocket that also mediates binding to the small molecule PF-3450074 (PF74) inhibitor and cleavage and polyadenylation specific factor 6 (CPSF6) protein, with Asn57 (Asp58 in EIAV) playing a particularly important role. PF74 and CPSF6 accordingly each competed with NUP153C for binding to the HIV-1 CA pocket, and significantly higher concentrations of PF74 were needed to inhibit HIV-1 infection in the face of Trim-NUP153C expression or NUP153 knockdown. Correlation between CA mutant viral cell cycle and NUP153 dependencies moreover indicates that the NUP153C-CA interaction underlies the ability of HIV-1 to infect non-dividing cells. Our results highlight similar mechanisms of binding for disparate host factors to the same region of HIV-1 CA during viral ingress. We conclude that a subset of lentiviral CA proteins directly engage FG-motifs present on NUP153 to affect viral nuclear import.
Chronic low back pain among older adults: A population-based perspective

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of chronic low back pain (LBP) in older North Carolinians, describe their health and health care utilization, and compare these findings with younger subgroups. Method: A cross-sectional, telephone survey of 5,357 households was conducted to identify 732 adults with chronic, impairing LBP. Results: Chronic LBP prevalence in older adults was significantly higher than the 21-to-44-year age group (12.3% vs. 6.5%, p < .001). Older adults were more disabled, had longer symptom duration, and were less depressed. Chronic LBP care seeking in older adults was significantly lower than the 45-to-64-year age group (80.6% vs. 88.6%, p = .02). Older adults were less likely to receive bed rest, spinal manipulation, heat/cold treatments, electrical stimulation, and massage therapy. Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, strong narcotics, and antidepressants was significantly lower in the older age group. Discussion: There are age-related differences...
Lebesgue measure on R∞, II

Let R be the set of real numbers, and define R∞ = R∞ i=1 . We construct a complete measure space (R∞, £, λ) where the σ-algebra £ contains the Borel subsets of R∞, and A is a translation-invariant measure such that for any measurable rectangle R = Π∞ i=1 R i , if 0 ≤ Π∞ i=1 m(R i ) < +∞, then λ(R) = Π∞ i=1 m(R i ), where m is Lebesgue measure on R. The measure λ is not σ-finite. We prove three Fubini theorems, namely, the Fubini theorem, the mean Fubini-Jensen theorem, and the pointwise Fubini-Jensen theorem. Finally, as an application of the measure λ, we construct, via selfadjoint operators on L 2 (R∞, L, λ), a Schrodinger model of the canonical commutation relations: [P j , P k ] = [Q j ,Q k ] = 0, [P j ,Q k ] = iδ jk , l ≤ j, k < +∞.
Using Random Perturbation Method to Improve Efficacy Prediction of siRNA Sequences

Short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can be used to silence gene expression. The potential application of this research opens the door for the development of the future generations of effective drugs. The question of how to design effective siRNAs is still under intense study. Our motivation is to improve the accuracy of the simple linear model studied in [1]. We propose a new random perturbation method that predicts most active siRNA candidates with high accuracy. The contribution of this paper is two-fold. First, we developed the random perturbation method which improved the prediction of siRNA sequence efficacy in [1]. Our method is easy to implement and runs efficiently. Second, we developed a new method; we named it alpha method that can linearly optimize different contributions from different weight sets.
Evaluation of critical exponents from raman intensities

Abstract Theory and experiment are compared for Raman intensities near continuous structural phase transitions. Situations in which the order parameter couples linearly to light or quadratically are considered. Both cases are easily analyzed for the soft modes in ferroelastic LnP5O14 (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Tb). The trace polarizability tensor yields β = 0.49 ± 0.02; off-diagonal terms give γ’ = 1.16 ± 0.15 and γ = 1.07 ± 0.10. Mean field results are also obtained for barium sodium niobate near T (incommensurate) = 582 K and for tris-sarcosine calcium chloride near T c = 128 K.
Selective Epoxidation of Terminal Double Bonds: 10,11‐Epoxyfarnesyl Acetate

Selective epoxidation of terminal double bonds: 10,11-epoxyfarnesyl acetate intermediate: Farnesyl acetate solvent: 100-ml. portions of petroleum ether intermediate: 10-Bromo-11-hydroxy-10,11-dihydrofarnesyl acetate product: 10,11-Epoxyfarnesyl acetate Keywords: acylation; addition, to CC; annulation, heterocyclic-[3]; epoxide formation; esterification, of substituted monobasic acids; halogenation, bromination; hydrolysis, esters and lactones; pyridine; benzene
icmT Is Essential for Pore Formation-Mediated Egress of Legionella pneumophila from Mammalian and Protozoan Cells

The final step of the intracellular life cycle of Legionella pneumophila and other intracellular pathogens is their egress from the host cell after termination of intracellular replication. We have previously isolated five spontaneous mutants of L. pneumophila that replicate intracellularly similar to the wild-type strain but are defective in pore formation-mediated cytolysis and egress from mammalian and protozoan cells, and the mutants have been designated rib (release of intracellular bacteria). Here, we show that the rib mutants are not defective in the activity of enzymes secreted through the type II secretion system, including phospholipase A, lysophospholipase A, and monoacylglycerol lipase, although they are potential candidates for factors that lyse host cell membranes. In addition, the pilD and lspG mutants, which are defective in the type II secretion system, are not defective in the pore-forming toxin. We show that all five rib mutants have an identical point mutation (deletion) following a stretch of poly(T) in the icmT gene. Spontaneous revertants of the rib mutants, due to an insertion of a nucleotide following the poly(T) stretch in icmT, have been isolated and shown to have regained the wild-type phenotype. We constructed an icmT insertion mutant (AA100kmT) in the chromosome of the wild-type strain by allelic exchange. The AA100kmT mutant was as defective as the rib mutant in pore formation-mediated cytolysis and egress from mammalian and protozoan cells. Both the rib mutant and the AA100kmT mutant were complemented by the icmT gene for their phenotypic defect. rtxA, a gene that is thought to have a minor role in pore formation, was not involved in pore formation-mediated cytolysis and egress from mammalian and protozoan cells. We conclude that the icmT gene is essential for pore formation-mediated lysis of mammalian and protozoan cells and the subsequent bacterial egress.