cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wnt/β-Catenin and Retinoic Acid Receptor Signaling Pathways Interact to Regulate Chondrocyte Function and Matrix Turnover

Activation of the Wnt/β-catenin and retinoid signaling pathways is known to tilt cartilage matrix homeostasis toward catabolism. Here, we investigated possible interactions between these pathways. We found that all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) treatment of mouse epiphyseal chondrocytes in culture did increase Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the absence or presence of exogenous Wnt3a, as revealed by lymphoid enhancer factor/T-cell factor/β-catenin reporter activity and β-catenin nuclear accumulation. This stimulation was accompanied by increased gene expression of Wnt proteins and receptors and was inhibited by co-treatment with Dickkopf-related protein-1, an extracellular inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, suggesting that RA modulates Wnt signaling at Wnt cell surface receptor level. RA also enhanced matrix loss triggered by Wnt/β-catenin signaling, whereas treatment with a retinoid antagonist reduced it. Interestingly, overexpression of retinoic acid receptor γ (RARγ) strongly inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signaling in retinoid-free cultures, whereas small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of endogenous RARγ expression strongly increased it. Small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of RARα or RARβ had minimal effects. Co-immunoprecipitation and two-hybrid assays indicated that RARγ interacts with β-catenin and induces dissociation of β-catenin from lymphoid enhancer factor in retinoid-free cultures. The N-terminal domain (AF-1) of RARγ but not the C-terminal domain (AF-2) was required for association with β-catenin, whereas both AF-1 and AF-2 were necessary for inhibition of β-catenin transcriptional activity. Taken together, our data indicate that the Wnt and retinoid signaling pathways do interact in chondrocytes, and their cross-talks and cross-regulation play important roles in the regulation of cartilage matrix homeostasis.
Jupiter's internal magnetic field geometry relevant to particle trapping

Some field-geometric features of relevance to particle trapping in the inner magnetosphere and polar-cap regions of Jupiter are described using an internal-field model that includes terms up to the order of n equals 3 (octupole). Adiabatic particle parameters for detectors on Pioneers 10 and 11 during their flights through Jupiter's inner magnetosphere are determined along with the configuration of the intersections of particle drift shells with the planetary ionosphere. Possible correlations between drift-shell contours and the planet-locked characteristics of Jovian decametric radio emission are investigated, and longitudinal asymmetries of the ionospheric plasma source function are analyzed. It is shown that if the ionosphere is the main source of magnetospheric plasma, the latitude dependence of the plasma source function should have a considerable effect on the longitudinal asymmetry of the corotating plasma.
The likelihood ratio and the algebra of diagnosis.

Abstract Some simple probability calculations are described, which are based upon the likelihood ratio parameter and may be useful in diagnosis. Just as it is useful to discuss the frequency of occurrence of a given finding in a given disease, so it is useful to discuss the likelihood ratio for that finding in the given disease. The latter is perhaps the more useful of the two, for it is simply and directly related to the probability of the diagnosis even when multiple factors are involved.
Doppler flow studies: Applications to pediatric patients

Duplex and color Doppler US studies are a promising addition to the pediatric nephro-urological diagnostic armamentarium. The technique appears especially suited to differentiate multicystic kidneys from severely hydronephrotic, poorly functioning kidneys and to distinguish true pathology from vascular artifact in low-grade hydronephrosis. Doppler US offers great promise in the assessment of obstruction and long-term follow-up of children with hydronephrosis, but to date its accuracy and role in diagnosing partial obstruction need refinement and clarification. Likewise, its potential in evaluating renal parenchymal disorders and RAS in children has yet to be fulfilled, is likely to be disease dependent, and in some cases may not hold up under scrutiny, as has occurred in the diagnosis of acute rejection in children with renal allografts. Based on observations to date, duplex and color Doppler US appears to offer sufficient diagnostic advantages and enough usefulness that pediatric nephrologists and urologists should become comfortable and conversant with its relevant physiology and interpretation and to continue to explore its potential usefulness.
The analysis of incomplete data in the three-period two-treatment cross-over design for clinical trials

The additional time to complete a three-period two-treatment (3P2T) cross-over trial may cause a greater number of patient dropouts than with a two-period trial. This paper develops maximum likelihood (ML), single imputation and multiple imputation missing data analysis methods for the 3P2T cross-over designs. We use a simulation study to compare and contrast these methods with one another and with the benchmark method of missing data analysis for cross-over trials, the complete case (CC) method. Data patterns examined include those where the missingness differs between the drug types and depends on the unobserved data. Depending on the missing data mechanism and the rate of missingness of the data, one can realize substantial improvements in information recovery by using data from the partially completed patients. We recommend these approaches for the 3P2T cross-over designs.
"Hold the catheters"--renal denervation may not be the answer to the management of resistant or hard-to-treat hypertension.

expected that after a negative study (Simplicity 3), 1 which showed that a sham operation produced similar blood pressure changes as renal denervation, the subject would have been omitted or underemphasized at the meeting. Had this been a drug study that turned out to be negative, the company and the investigators would have decided to discontinue work on the medication. Not so with renal denervation; to the uninformed, the content of the lectures made it appear that the future of renal denervation as therapy for resistant hypertension was still bright. One lead investigator noted that this approach was ‘‘safe’’ and should continue to be used in countries where it had been approved. In other words, not too much benefit but no significant harm. Fortunately, the United States Food and Drug Administration has not approved the procedure. So much has been invested in studying this procedure that efforts to prove its usefulness are not going to be dropped. Discussers commented that perhaps the operators had not achieved appropriate denervation; that was why the results were negative. Yet many of these investigators had worked on two of the early totally uncontrolled studies that showed significant results were also involved in the carefully controlled Simplicity 3 (the negative study). There were all sorts of other explanations for the failure of the trial—never an admission that perhaps the procedure was just ineffective. I trust that the radiologists and cardiologists who were waiting in the wings with their catheters for approval of denervation for the management of hypertension will now be less enthusiastic. Since the First National Guidelines for the Treatment of Hypertension in 1977, 2 we have tried to keep the management of hypertension simple and to avoid using invasive procedures that are so common in cardiology. We have kept the diagnostic workup relatively simple; pharmacologic management interventions have been extremely successful in lowering blood pressure in a large majority of patients. Yes, there are a few difficult– to–treat or resistant patients (perhaps as many as 5%–10%), 3 but most patients can achieve goal pressures by changes in medication—addition of aldosterone antagonists or increasing doses of diuretics, 4 etc. Goal blood pressure has been achieved in so– called resistant hypertensives in several studies by a change in medication, usually the addition or adjustment of the dosage of a diuretic. In several studies of ‘‘resistant hypertension,’’ this approach was effective in achieving goal blood pressures in more than 50% of cases. 5 Medical therapy has been successful in more than 80% of patients in carefully followed studies. 6
Measurement of vicinal couplings from cross peaks in COSY spectra

Abstract Vicinal proton-proton couplings can provide useful structural information on both small and large molecules. For large molecules, couplings are in principle accessible from cross-peak multiplets in two-dimensional phase-sensitive COSY spectra. Direct measurement, however, often provides unrealistically large values because of cancellation of antiphase components. A method which allows accurate calculation of scalar couplings from measurement of separations of extrema in dispersive and absorptive plots of rows through cross peaks is presented. The method is applied to both simulated and real data on a small protein and is shown to be effective in analyzing spectra with moderate to high signal-to-noise ratios.
Late survival after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: Influence of coronary artery disease

To evaluate long-term survival in relation to preoperative risk factors, we reviewed 1112 patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair from 1970 to 1975. A 6-to 12-year follow-up was obtained on 1087 patients (97.7%) by chart review, death certificates, autopsy reports, and questionnaires returned by patients and referring physicians. Preoperatively 24% of patients had a history of prior myocardial infarction, 19.9% had a history of angina, and 40.4% were hypertensive. Emergency operation for ruptured aneurysm was performed in 6.5% and for expanding aneurysm in 3.4% of patients. The survival rate at 5 years was 67.5% and at 10 years was 40.7%. Cardiac-related problems were the most frequent cause of death (38%); 23% died of myocardial infarction and 15% from other heart disease or sudden death. Other causes included neoplasm (14.6%), other ruptured aneurysm (8.2%), and stroke (6.8%). Cause of death was unknown in 19.6%. A significant correlation of reduced survival time was noted in patients with advanced age and those with evidence of heart disease or hypertension. For patients without preoperative evidence of heart disease or hypertension, the 5-year mortality rate from myocardial infarction was 3.7%, compared with 11.7% for those with a positive history of hypertension and heart disease (p = 0.0001). For patients with no preoperative evidence of hypertension or heart disease, the length of survival after AAA repair was the same as that expected for the general population with the same age and sex composition. This study supports the contention that coronary angiography and prophylactic coronary bypass grafting should be performed selectively. Decisions regarding the need for coronary revascularization should be based on symptoms, noninvasive testing, and selective coronary angiography because aneurysmal disease alone is not shown in this study to increase the risk of death from myocardial disease. For patients with clinical findings of coronary artery disease, an aggressive diagnostic approach appears to be justified.
CompactPCI based data acquisition with MDSplus

Alcator C-Mod is incorporating CompactPCI based data acquisition cards into the MDSplus data acquisition system. Each crate includes a diskless computer running the mdsip server from MDSplus under the Linux operating system, and one or more digitizer cards with onboard memory. A minimal set of software is downloaded to this computer at boot time allowing it to arm and read out the cards when requested by the host data acquisition computers. This diskless design is very attractive in our high field environment and simplifies the maintenance and configuration of the embedded computers. Separating the digitizers from the data acquisition computers allows the data acquisition to be done in a platform independent way. Ethernet provides robust, inexpensive communications. The initial digitizer cards have thirty-two 16 bit, 250 KHz digitizers, 128 Msamples of memory, two arbitrary waveform generators and eight programmable digital outputs. CompactPCI provides an attractive alternative to our aging CAMAC based data acquisition equipment.
Imager for Mars Pathfinder experiment (IMP): a multispectral stereo imaging system

On Independence Day 1997 Mars Pathfinder bounced to a stop on the Ares-Tiu Vallis floodplain and began returning the first pictures from the surface of Mars in 20 years. The IMP camera took panoramas first in a stowed position (about seated height) and after day 2 from a deployed height of 1.85 m (about standing height). The eye separation of the stereoscopic camera (15 cm) allowed a humanistic view of the surrounding terrain. Months of calibration paid off in producing color images with the 5 visible filters; color was extended into the near IR with 10 additional filters three of which were doubled on each eye for stereo views. Because of low data rates from the direct transmission to Earth, the resolution was limited to 1 mrad/pixel and the FOV was fixed at 14 degrees square. The pointing motors allowed the camera to point in any direction and a complete panorama required 120 images per color. The mission lasted 83 sols (martian days of 24 hours and 39 minutes) and returned over 16,000 image frames. The science goals included contour mapping the site to study the geomorphology and multispectral imaging to sort out the mineralogy of the rocks and soils. In addition, the camera was used to help guide the Sojourner rover using virtual reality visualization techniques.
Rate constant for deuterium atom recombination calculated by the orbiting resonance theory

Thermonuclear rate constant for deuterium atom recombination, using orbiting resonance theory
Seeing Alternative Worlds Well: Three Books about Teaching Art (in the Context of a Fourth)

An essay review of Telling Pieces: Art as Literacy in Middle School Classes, by Peggy Albers and Sharon Murphy, Mahwah, NJ, Lawrence Erlbaum, 2000, Mind in Art: Cognitive Foundations in Art Education, by Charles M. Dorn, Mahwah, NJ, Lawrence Erlbaum, 1999, The Possibilities of Play in the Classroom: On the Power of Aesthetic Experience in Teaching, Learning, and Researching, by Margaret Macintyre Latta, New York, Peter Lang, 2001, and Frames within Frames: The Art Museum as Cultural Artifact, by Suzanne Oberhardt, New York, Peter Lang, 2001
Can anorexia predict patient satisfaction with quality of life in advanced cancer

Goals Anorexia is the second most common symptom after fatigue in patients with advanced cancer. We quantified the relationship between anorexia and patient satisfaction with quality of life (QoL) in advanced cancer.
A Dynamic Resource Allocation Scheme Using Nash Bargaining Game for the Uplink of Multiuser OFDM Systems

This paper proposes a dynamic resource allocation scheme based on Nash Bargaining Game (NBG) for the uplink of single-cell multiuser OFDM cellular networks. Although Nash Bargaining Solution (NBS) provides a fair and optimum approach in order to maximize the total rate of the network, there is no simple solution for the case of #36;K#36; users. NBS relates to maximizing the user utilities multiplication rather than the summation, hence, it makes the optimization problem harder to solve. Here, by decomposing the NBS problem into two sub- problems, the power allocation reduces to the well- known water-filling algorithm and the subchannel assignment leads to a simple algorithm which takes the total channel gain of each user as the fairness factor. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm keeps a balance between the Max-Min approach and the Max-Sum where Max-Min aims at maximizing the worst user rate and Max-Sum maximizes the sum of the rates by blocking the users in the poor channel conditions.
Potential impact of the proposed tax withholding on gaming operations: a utility analysis

Abstract Using utility models, this study examines the potential impact of the proposed tax withholding on winnings from slot machines, kenos and bingos on casino operations. The withholding, if imposed, will reduce players' propensity to play and hence gaming revenues. To cope with the negative impact, casinos will have to raise the value of free amenities. This implies higher operating cost and lower profitability for casinos.
DART: Directional Anypath Routing in Wireless Mesh Networks

Anypath routing is proposed to improve the performance of wireless networks by exploiting the spatial diversity and broadcast nature of the wireless medium. In this paper, we study anypath routing in wireless networks with directional antennas, and propose DART (Directional Anypath RouTing), a crosslayer design of MAC and routing layers. For the routing layer, we propose two shortest directional anypath routing algorithms based on two antenna models. Our routing algorithms are simple and fast, thus are suitable for implementation in practical protocols. For the MAC layer, we present a directional anycast MAC, which is an enhancement to the IEEE 802.11 MAC, making DART suitable for integration into current systems. Simulation results show that DART can significantly reduce the packet transmission delay.
An obstruction theory for simplicial categories

Summary This notes describes an obstruction theory for the category SO-Cat of simplicial categories with a fixed set O of objects, which will be applied (in [4]) to the problem of realizing diagrams in the homotopy category by means of simplicial diagrams of simplicial sets or, equivalently, topological diagrams of topological spaces.
Probing Variable Axial Ligation in Nickel Superoxide Dismutase Utilizing Metallopeptide-Based Models: Insight into the Superoxide Disproportionation Mechanism

Nickel superoxide dismutase (NiSOD) is a bacterial metalloenzyme that possesses a mononuclear Ni-center and catalyzes the disproportionation of O2•- by cycling between NiII and NiIII oxidation states. Herein we present evidence from several SOD active metallopeptide maquettes ([Ni(SODM2H(1)X)]; SODM2H(1)X = H2N-XCDLPCG-COOH; X = H, D, or A) that the Ni-center of NiSOD most likely remains five-coordinate during SOD catalysis using thin-film voltammetry. N3− and CN− titration studies suggest that O2•- disproportionation by [Ni(SODM2H(1)X)] proceeds via an outersphere mechanism. Computationally derived values for the nuclear reorganization energy of the [NiII(SODM2)]/[NiIII(SODM2)] self-exchange reaction combined with the experimentally determined value for ko (∼450 s-1) suggest that axial ligation enhances the O2•- disproportionation reaction in [Ni(SODM2)] (and NiSOD by analogy) by optimizing the NiII/NiIII redox couple such that it is close to the midpoint of the O2•- reduction and oxidation couples.
Ethanol Modulates the VR-1 Variant Amiloride-insensitive Salt Taste Receptor. I. Effect on TRC Volume and Na+ Flux

The effect of ethanol on the amiloride- and benzamil (Bz)-insensitive salt taste receptor was investigated by the measurement of intracellular Na+ activity ([Na+]i) in polarized rat fungiform taste receptor cells (TRCs) using fluorescence imaging and by chorda tympani (CT) taste nerve recordings. CT responses were monitored during lingual stimulation with ethanol solutions containing NaCl or KCl. CT responses were recorded in the presence of Bz (a specific blocker of the epithelial Na+ channel [ENaC]) or the vanilloid receptor-1 (VR-1) antagonists capsazepine or SB-366791, which also block the Bz-insensitive salt taste receptor, a VR-1 variant. CT responses were recorded at 23°C or 42°C (a temperature at which the VR-1 variant salt taste receptor activity is maximally enhanced). In the absence of permeable cations, ethanol induced a transient decrease in TRC volume, and stimulating the tongue with ethanol solutions without added salt elicited only transient phasic CT responses that were insensitive to elevated temperature or SB-366791. Preshrinking TRCs in vivo with hypertonic mannitol (0.5 M) attenuated the magnitude of the phasic CT response, indicating that in the absence of mineral salts, transient phasic CT responses are related to the ethanol-induced osmotic shrinkage of TRCs. In the presence of mineral salts, ethanol increased the Bz-insensitive apical cation flux in TRCs without a change in cell volume, increased transepithelial electrical resistance across the tongue, and elicited CT responses that were similar to salt responses, consisting of both a transient phasic component and a sustained tonic component. Ethanol increased the Bz-insensitive NaCl CT response. This effect was further enhanced by elevating the temperature from 23°C to 42°C, and was blocked by SB-366791. We conclude that in the presence of mineral salts, ethanol modulates the Bz-insensitive VR-1 variant salt taste receptor.
Closed terminologies in description logics

We introduce a predictive concept recognition methodology for description logics based on a new closed terminology assumption. During knowledge engineering, our system adopts the standard open terminology assumption as it automatically classifies concept descriptions into a taxonomy via subsumption inferences. However, for applications like configuration, the terminology becomes fixed during problem solving. Then, closed terminology reasoning is more appropriate. In our interactive configuration application, a user incrementally specifies an individual computer system in collaboration with a configuration engine. Choices can be made in any order and at any level of abstraction. We distinguish between abstract and concrete concepts to formally define when an individual's description may be considered finished. We also take advantage of the closed terminology assumption, together with the terminology's subsumption-based organization, to efficiently track the types of systems and components consistent with current choices, infer additional constraints on current choices, and appropriately guide future choices. Thus, we can help focus the efforts of both user and configuration engine.
A Generalizability Study of the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale-Revised

The hyperactivity scale of the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale-Revised (CTRS-R) was investigated to compare teachers' use of this instrument to its use by independent classroom observers. Results of this study indicate that teacher ratings of children are highly stable over time. Independent observers agree with one another within an occasion both within a classroom and across classrooms; however, observations based on a one-hour period are not stable over time, but a composite score based on three occasions can be expected to be as stable as teacher ratings. Teachers and observers agree only slightly within a classroom, and teacher and observer classroom means are virtually independent of one another. The implications of these results for continued use of teachers' ratings are that the referents for teacher ratings should be determined, ratings should be made more objective, standardization across teachers should be demonstrated before norms are preferred, and the rating scale should be validated via obser...
Statistically regulated and adaptive EM reconstruction for emission computed tomography

Iterative algorithms such as MLEM are rapidly becoming the standard for reconstruction in emission computed tomography. However, such algorithms require arbitrary stopping criteria, are sensitive to noise artifacts, and require accelerated implementations that may not work well for all imaging situations. We have investigated several new iterative algorithms with likelihood-based objective functions that use the concepts of statistically adaptive subsetting and spatially adaptive updates. The resulting statistically regulated expectation maximization (StatREM) algorithms are closely related to OSEM with the following exceptions: they apply spatially adaptive regularization and use statistically adaptive subsets to accelerate convergence in a controlled manner. Projection data are processed sequentially and internal statistically adaptive subsets are formed. When accumulated statistical power merits an update, e.g., determined by paired sample t-test, then spatially adaptive updates are applied and the corresponding test statistics and subset accumulations are reset. Reconstruction continues iteratively until no further statistically significant errors remain. The following properties were observed for clinical, phantom and simulated data: (1) user-defined test levels can provide statistically based stopping criteria; (2) recovery of spatial resolution is accelerated in high-count regions while low-count regions are regulated to reduce noise artifacts; (3) notable acceleration is achieved for large, sparse datasets [such as fully 3-D positron emission tomography (PET)]; and (4) resolution and contrast are superior to conventional OSEM at much lower noise levels. Statistically regulated expectation maximization algorithms may potentially provide a new archetype for PET and SPECT reconstruction.
Regional induction of CYP1A1 in rat liver following treatment with mixtures of PCB 126 and PCB 153.

Liver enzyme induction has been shown previously to be regional with clear borders between induced and uninduced regions in vivo, and cells either fully induced or not induced in vitro. The current study examined this phenomenon in vivo by evaluating enzyme induction after exposure to PCB 126 and PCB 153 in female Fisher 344 (F344) and male Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats. IHC revealed a regional induction of CYP1A1 after exposure to PCB 126, apparent in the centrilobular region at lower doses and progressing to panlobular with higher doses. PCB 153 exposure induced CYP2B1/2 in the centrilobular region, which spread to the midzonal region as the dose increased, but never became panlobular even at the highest dosage tested. In rats treated with PCB 126 in combination with high doses of PCB 153, induction of CYP1A1 occurred preferentially in the periportal region, a reversal from the pattern seen with PCB 126 alone. This CYP1A1 induction pattern reversal is a unique example of complex biological interactions between coplanar (PCB 126) and noncoplanar (PCB 153) halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons.
Combining independent studies of a diagnostic test into a summary roc curve: Data‐analytic approaches and some additional considerations

We consider how to combine several independent studies of the same diagnostic test, where each study reports an estimated false positive rate (FPR) and an estimated true positive rate (TPR). We propose constructing a summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve by the following steps. (i) Convert each FPR to its logistic transform U and each TPR to its logistic transform V after increasing each observed frequency by adding 1/2. (ii) For each study calculate D = V - U, which is the log odds ratio of TPR and FPR, and S = V + U, an implied function of test threshold; then plot each study's point (Si, Di). (iii) Fit a robust-resistant regression line to these points (or an equally weighted least-squares regression line), with V - U as the dependent variable. (iv) Back-transform the line to ROC space. To avoid model-dependent extrapolation from irrelevant regions of ROC space we propose defining a priori a value of FPR so large that the test simply would not be used at that FPR, and a value of TPR so low that the test would not be used at that TPR. Then (a) only data points lying in the thus defined north-west rectangle of the unit square are used in the data analysis, and (b) the estimated summary ROC is depicted only within that subregion of the unit square. We illustrate the methods using simulated and real data sets, and we point to ways of comparing different tests and of taking into account the effects of covariates.
A fully-dry PECVD-oxynitride process for microGC column fabrication

This paper reports the development of a fully-dry process for fabricating ultra-low-mass separation columns for a micro gas chromatograph (/spl mu/GC). This new CMOS-compatible buried-channel technique utilizes stress-free PECVD oxynitride films having a deposition rate of about 1 /spl mu/m/min and an etch rate less than 200/spl Aring//min in SF/sub 6/ plasma to form 25cm-long 65/spl mu/m-ID semicircular columns on a 6mm square chip. In vacuum, such columns can achieve 100/spl deg/C at less than 10mW with a thermal time constant under 1 min.
Metal ion size and coordination mode in complexes of a β-diketiminate ligand with pendant quinoline arms

Abstract A suite of late first row transition metal complexes has been synthesized using a monoanionic nitrogen donor β-diketiminate ligand with quinolyl pendant arms, BDIQQH (1). BDIQQNiOTf (2), BDIQQCuCl (4), BDIQQZnCl (5) were prepared from the reaction of 1 with Ni(OTf)2, CuCl2·2H2O and ZnCl2, respectively. BDIQQNiCl (3) was synthesized from an anion exchange of 2 with nBu4NCl. Reaction of 1 and CoI2 afforded the unexpected [(BDIQQ)2Co]+I− (6). Through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, ligand geometries in BDIQQ complexes were investigated and it was found that smaller ionic radius and higher charge destabilize 1:1 metal–ligand complexes relative to alternative 1:2 complexes like 6 owing to significant conformational strain in 1:1 complexes involving metals with small ionic radii. Synthesis and characterization of these complexes, including crystal structures of 4 and 5, are reported, in addition to the results of DFT calculations.
Endogenous activation of spinal 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors contributes to the thermoregulatory activation of brown adipose tissue.

Neurons in the rostral raphe pallidus (RPa) play an essential role in the regulation of sympathetically mediated metabolism and thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT). The presence of serotone...
Optical design of interferometric telescopes with wide fields of view

The performance of wide-field multiple-aperture imaging systems is dominated by easily understood, low-order errors. Each aperture produces an individual image, each pair of apertures produces a set of fringes under a diffraction envelope, and the system bandwidth produces a coherence envelope. For wide-field imaging, each of these elements must be coincident in the image plane as the field angle changes. We explore the causes of image degradation, derive first-order rules for preserving image quality across field, and give an example design that enforces some of the rules to achieve a relatively wide-field interferometric imaging telescope.
Corporate governance of IT: a framework for development

Boards of directors are beginning to look beyond the accounting roots of IT governance toward the risk of legal liability and harm to product brand and corporate reputation.
Gauge theories of microweak CP violation

We investigate systematically the condition that $\mathrm{CP}$ violation in $|\ensuremath{\Delta}S|=1$ processes is "microweak" [i.e., of order of ${G}_{F}\ensuremath{\epsilon}{(\frac{m}{{m}_{W}})}^{2}$ where $m$ is a typical hadronic mass] naturally (i.e., for all values of complex parameters of the theory) in SU(2) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} U(1) gauge theories of weak and electromagnetic interactions. We consider only those models in which $\mathrm{CP}$ violation occurs in the quark mass terms. The conditions for microweak $\mathrm{CP}$ violation in $|\ensuremath{\Delta}S|=1$ processes are that (1) quarks of charge $\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{3}$ and of a given chirality have the same weak isospin $I$ and ${I}_{3}$, and (2) quarks of charge $\frac{2}{3}$ ($\ensuremath{-}\frac{4}{3}$, if they exist) and quarks of charge $\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{3}$ do not belong to the same weak isomultiplets for at least one chirality. Special attention is given to a more restricted class of models in which (1) quarks of a given charge and chirality have the same weak isospin $I$ and ${I}_{3}$, and (2) quarks of charge $q$ and quarks of charge $q+1$ do not belong to the same isomultiplets for at least one chirality. In such models, the electric dipole moment of a quark arises only in second-order weak interactions, and is estimated to be of order of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}30}$ cm. Several examples of this class of models are given, one of which is the six-quark model of Kobayashi and Maskawa.
Noninvasive electromechanical wave imaging and conduction-relevant velocity estimation in vivo.

Electromechanical wave imaging is a novel technique for the noninvasive mapping of conduction waves in the left ventricle through the combination of ECG gating, high frame rate ultrasound imaging and radio-frequency (RF)-based displacement estimation techniques. In this paper, we describe this new technique and characterize the origin and velocity of the wave under distinct pacing schemes. First, in vivo imaging (30 MHz) was performed on anesthetized, wild-type mice (n=12) at high frame rates in order to take advantage of the transient electromechanical coupling occurring in the myocardium. The RF signal acquisition in a long-axis echocardiographic view was gated between consecutive R-wave peaks of the mouse electrocardiogram (ECG) and yielded an ultra-high RF frame rate of 8000 frames/s (fps). The ultrasound RF signals in each frame were digitized at 160 MHz. Axial, frame-to-frame displacements were estimated using 1D cross-correlation (window size of 240 microm, overlap of 90%). Three pacing protocols were sequentially applied in each mouse: (1) sinus rhythm (SR), (2) right-atrial (RA) pacing and (3) right-ventricular (RV) pacing. Pacing was performed using an eight-electrode catheter placed into the right side of the heart with the capability of pacing from any adjacent bipole. During a cardiac cycle, several waves were depicted on the electromechanical wave images that propagated transmurally and/or from base to apex, or apex to base, depending on the type of pacing and the cardiac phase. Through comparison between the cine-loops and their corresponding ECG obtained at different pacing protocols, we were able to identify and separate the electrically induced, or contraction, waves from the hemodynamic (or, blood-wall coupling) waves. In all cases, the contraction wave was best observed along the posterior wall starting at the S-wave of the ECG, which occurs after Purkinje fiber, and during myocardial, activation. The contraction wave was identified based on the fact that it changed direction only when the pacing origin changed, i.e., it propagated from the apex to the base at SR and RA pacing and from base to apex at RV pacing. This reversal in the wave propagation direction was found to be consistent in all mice scanned and the wave velocity values fell within the previously reported conduction wave range with statistically significant differences between SR/RA pacing (0.85+/-0.22 m/s and 0.84+/-0.20 m/s, respectively) and RV pacing (-0.52+/-0.31 m/s; p<0.0001). This study thus shows that imaging the electromechanical function of the heart noninvasively is feasible. It may therefore constitute a unique noninvasive method for conduction wave mapping of the entire left ventricle. Such a technology can be extended to 3D mapping and/or used for early detection of dyssynchrony, arrhythmias, left-bundle branch block, or other conduction abnormalities as well as diagnosis and treatment thereof.
Comparison of High‐Temperature Crack Growth in SiC‐Whisker‐Reinforced Mullite and Si3N4

Crack growth behavior under creep conditions was studied in SiC-whisker-reinforced mullite and silicon nitride. Tests of four-point bend specimens with indentation cracks were periodically interrupted to observe the creep behavior. At each interruption the bulk creep strain of the specimen, the growth of the indentation cracks, and the nucleation and growth of creep-induced cracks were measured. A strong linear correlation was observed in both materials between the crack growth rate and the creep strain rate. For a given strain rate, cracks in the silicon nitride composite propagated at velocities about an order of magnitude greater than those in the mullite composite. On the other hand, for similar nominal stresses, creep rates in the silicon nitride composites were about an order of magnitude less than with the mullite composite.
Winding design of a high power medium frequency transformer

The availability of improved magnetic materials and higher voltage rating semiconductor devices have made the design of high power medium frequency transformers feasible. The paper presents a simple design procedure to determine the core dimensions based on the area product method. A winding design procedure to use foil conductors in the high voltage side to achieve ac-to-dc resistance ratio close to 1 is also shown, providing a possible replacement to the litz wires having low window utilization factor. The paper demonstrates a design example of 13.8kV/690V, 10kHz, 50kVA transformer to validate the design methodology and the winding losses are validated using 2-D FEM.
The anticancer effect of probiotic Bacillus polyfermenticus on human colon cancer cells is mediated through ErbB2 and ErbB3 inhibition

A wealth of data implicates that ErbB receptors have essential roles in tumor development. Probiotic bacteria are known to exert an anticancer activity in animal studies. Bacillus polyfermenticus (B.P.), a probiotic bacterium, has been clinically used for a variety of gastrointestinal disorders in East Asia. Here, we investigated the effect of B.P. on the growth of tumors and its putative mechanism of actions. Conditioned medium of B.P. cultures (B.P. CM) inhibited the growth of human colon cancer cells including HT-29, DLD-1 and Caco-2 cells. Moreover, B.P. CM suppressed colony formation of HT-29 cells cultured on soft agar and reduced carcinogen-induced colony formation of normal colonocytes. Furthermore, data from the mouse xenograft model of human colon cancer cells showed reduced tumor size in B.P. CM-injected mice when compared to E. coli conditioned medium-injected mice. Exposure of B.P. CM to HT-29 cells for 24 hr, 48 hr and 2 weeks reduced ErbB2 and ErbB3 protein expression as well as mRNA levels. Moreover, cyclin D1 expression that is required for ErbB-dependent cell transformation was decreased by B.P. CM. Furthermore, transcription factor E2F-1 that regulates cyclin D1 expression was also decreased by B.P. CM. These results show that B.P. inhibits tumor growth and its anticancer activity occurs, at least in part, through suppressing ErbB2 and ErbB3. Taken together, our study suggests that this probiotic may be clinically used as a prophylactic treatment to prevent colon cancer development.
American Indians in the Political Kingdom A Note on the Bureau of Indian Affairs

This note uses information collected by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to assess the quantity and quality of employment of American Indians in that agency. There is a clear-cut pattern of stratification within the BIA, with Indians restricted largely to lower-status positions. Analysis reveals that this stratification is not imply a result of application of merit standards for advancement, for Indian employees are approximately two employment grade levels below non-Indian employees with the same amounts of education and agency experience.
Breakthrough Drugs and Turtle Soup.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) category of Breakthrough Therapy drugs was established in 2012, fostered by collaboration between legislators, researchers, industry representatives, and cancer research advocates. This category allows the FDA to designate certain lifesaving drugs for expedited review, and it has been successful in speeding the approval of several new drugs.
Nucleophosmin deposition during mRNA 3' end processing influences poly(A) tail length.

During polyadenylation, the multi-functional protein nucleophosmin (NPM1) is deposited onto all cellular mRNAs analysed to date. Premature termination of poly(A) tail synthesis in the presence of cordycepin abrogates deposition of the protein onto the mRNA, indicating natural termination of poly(A) addition is required for NPM1 binding. NPM1 appears to be a bona fide member of the complex involved in 3′ end processing as it is associated with the AAUAAA-binding CPSF factor and can be co-immunoprecipitated with other polyadenylation factors. Furthermore, reduction in the levels of NPM1 results in hyperadenylation of mRNAs, consistent with alterations in poly(A) tail chain termination. Finally, knockdown of NPM1 results in retention of poly(A)+ RNAs in the cell nucleus, indicating that NPM1 influences mRNA export. Collectively, these data suggest that NPM1 has an important role in poly(A) tail length determination and may help network 3′ end processing with other aspects of nuclear mRNA maturation.
Release of thyrotropin receptor from thyroid plasma membranes: effect of hydrocortisone, propranolol, and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate.

Soluble TSH receptors were released into the medium when bovine thyroid plasma membranes were incubated in 0.01 m Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, at 0 or 20 C. This is a conventional hypotonic medium used in binding assays. The characteristics of binding of bovine [125I]TSH to the released TSH receptor were almost the same as those of binding to TSH receptors solubilized by lithium 3,5-diiodosalicylate or to the original plasma membrane. Released TSH receptor had two binding sites with Ka values of 0.7 × 1010 and 0.1 × 108 M−1. T3, T4, KI, methimazole, and propylthiouracil had no effect on spontaneous TSH receptor release or on bovine [125I]TSH binding to solubilized TSH receptor. Hydrocortisone (10−5-10−3 m) and d,l-propranolol (10−3 m) inhibited receptor release. cAMP increased the release of TSH receptor. Hydrocortisone, d,l-propranolol, and cAMP had no effect on bovine [125I]TSH binding to solubilized or released TSH receptor. d,l-Propranolol and hydrocortisone may act as membranestabilizing agents. cAMP stimulatio...
Antecedents and Evolution of the Green Supply Chain

Supply chains have been developing over time since the inception of commercial trade and barter. The purpose of this paper is to describe the emergence of the Green Supply Chain, the newest entry in supply chain evolution. As a foundation for this, historical perspectives of manufacturing chronology, along with supply chain modifications resulting from changing market conditions are discussed. Managerial implications are offered reflecting pathways towards sustainability.As production power shifted from manual operation to steam, technology became the main driver for supply chain development leading to a variety of types seen in industry today. Today's supply chain types emerged due to increasing market complexity and competitive pressure. More recently, an additional driver occurred catalyzing the Green Supply Chain - the Environmental Movement. This chain is positioned as the next step in today's supply chain evolution, balancing environmental, economic, and societal needs with customer growth.
Fault localization using visualization of test information

Attempts to reduce the number of delivered faults in software are estimated to consume 50% to 80% of the development and maintenance effort according to J.S. Collofello ans S.N. Woodfield (1989). Among the tasks required to reduce the number of delivered faults, debugging is one of the most time-consuming according to T. Ball and S.G. Eick and Telcordia Technologies, and locating the errors is the most difficult component of this debugging task according to I. Vessey (1985). Clearly, techniques that can reduce the time required to locate faults can have a significant impact on the cost and quality of software development and maintenance.
Conceptualizing and articulating pregnancy loss through embodiment in peer interaction

Abstract This article examines recipient-oriented narratives of pregnancy loss in the context of peer communication, focusing on the importance of face-to-face interaction to facilitate embodiment and advance the grieving process. The data revealed how representational gestures embedded in the discourse play a significant role in the sense-making process of unresolved experiences; narrators can involve recipients through their shared knowledge of lived similar experiences, and together they can analyze and interpret past emotions and events, facilitating the narrator's language processing and articulation of the loss. Furthermore, the complex interdependence between gestures and language illustrated the convoluted internal process of grieving and making sense of an unresolved loss.
Abstract 297: Paroxysmal And Sustained Atrial Fibrillation In A New Large Animal Model Of Nonischemic Heart Failure

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation is common in heart failure (HF). Understanding of the mechanisms of atrial fibrillation (AF) is limited by the paucity of large animal AF models, especially in the failing heart. We developed a large animal model of nonischemic heart failure (HF) in dogs by combined aortic insufficiency and aortic constriction and observed that a number of HF dogs developed paroxysmal AF on holter monitor. Here we characterize the spontaneously-occurring pAF in these HF dogs and perform electrophysiologic (EP) assessment of atrial refractoriness and AF inducibility along with echocardiographic imaging of left ventricle (LV) and left atrium (LA). Methods: HF was induced in dogs by aortic insufficiency and aortic constriction, and serial echocardiography (for LV fractional shortening (FS) and LA size) and Holter monitoring was performed. In control and HF dogs, EP study of atrial refractory period (AERP) and AF inducibility (duration and atrial cycle length (CL)) was performed. Results: By Holter monitoring, paroxysmal AF was noted in 5 dogs with episodes ranging from 15 to 94 beats long (mean of 49±27 beats, n=12). In EP studies, control dogs (N=3) exhibited AERP of 176±8 ms. Burst pacing resulted in AF of very brief duration (mean 32±24 sec) and a mean AF CL of 138±6 ms. LV FS averaged 37% and LA size averaged 4.3 cm2. HF dogs (N=5) exhibited RAERP of 150±8 (p=0.05 vs control). Two of these dogs had sustained AF with ventricular response up to 230 bpm on Holter monitor. In the other 3 HF dogs, burst pacing induced AF with a mean duration of 232±185 sec (at times with conversion to atrial flutter) and with a mean AF CL = 110±4 ms (p=0.002 vs control). Echo data showed LVFS averaged 30% and LA area of 14.9 cm2 (p=0.05 vs control). Conclusion: Thus we have developed a novel large animal model of HF that exhibits paroxysmal and sustained AF. This model will provide an opportunity for the study of underlying AF mechanisms, the progression of remodeling in HF hearts leading to AF, and the assessment of human-scale interventions to better treat and prevent this arrhythmia.
ISO 14001: greening management systems

This study brings to the fore many issues that have been widely speculated regarding facilities that adopt ISO 14001 EMSs, and validates as well as dispels some of the rhetoric associated with ISO 14001-certified facilities. It discusses three very different manufacturing facilities that have adopted ISO 14001 EMSs, what factors led to the decisions to certify their EMSs, and the internal and external outcomes they have experienced as a result of ISO 14001 certification. The cases illustrate that internal outcomes are surprisingly similar for all three facilities. All of the facilities have increased their employee involvement in environmental management, improved document control and manufacturing efficiency, and increased their focus on non-regulated impacts. Interestingly, the external outcomes due to ISO 14001 adoption have varied more widely across the case facilities, but include improved vendor contracts, increased customer satisfaction, increased ability to market products domestically, increased access to international markets, and some regulatory benefits.