cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cluster growth model for treelike structures.

We present a cluster growth model for trees (random aggregates without loops). The intrinsic dimension ${d}_{l}$ and fractal dimension ${d}_{f}$ are adjustable. We study the ``skeletons'' of trees embedded in d=2, and find that the intrinsic dimension of a skeleton is ${d}_{l}^{s}$=1 for ${d}_{l}$\ensuremath{\le}${d}_{l}^{c}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}1.65, and ${d}_{l}^{s}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}1+${d}_{l}$-${d}_{l}^{c}$ for ${d}_{l}$\ensuremath{\ge}${d}_{l}^{c}$. Thus, for 1\ensuremath{\le}${d}_{l}$\ensuremath{\le}${d}_{l}^{c}$ these trees are finitely ramified, and for ${d}_{l}^{c}$${d}_{l}$\ensuremath{\le}2 infinitely ramified. The possibility that structures are fractals in l space and compact in r space also is discussed.
Evaluation of metastatic and angiogenic potentials of human colon carcinoma cells in chick embryo model systems

Increased metastatic and angiogenic potentials of aggressive human colon carcinoma cells were verified in independent chick embryo models by comparing in vivo highly metastatic SW620 colon carcinoma cell line with its isogenic, non-metastatic SW480 cell variant. In the experimental metastasis model, both cell types rapidly arrested in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) vasculature as demonstrated by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. Live cell imaging also indicated that both SW620 and SW480 cells efficiently extravasated from the CAM capillary system. However, only few SW480 cells were present in the CAM tissue after 24–48 h. In contrast, the numbers of SW620 cells increased exponentially, indicating proliferative and survival advantages of metastatic colon carcinoma cells in vivo. Multicellular SW620 foci were identified in close proximity to CAM blood vessels. A positive correlation between increased metastatic ability and VEGF-expression of colon carcinoma SW620 cells was demonstrated by the substantial inhibitory effects of anti-VEGF treatment on the levels of metastatic colonization and density of blood vessels adjacent to tumor cell foci. Furthermore, the chick embryo angiogenesis model confirmed high levels of VEGF-dependent angiogenesis induced by SW620 cells, but not SW480 cells. Thus, chick embryo experimental metastasis and CAM angiogenesis models appear to coordinately reflect critical features of advanced colon carcinomas, i.e., the acquisition of enhanced survival and increased angiogenic potentials, both constituting critical determinants of colon cancer progression. The use of rapid and quantitative chick embryo models might provide alternative approaches to conventional mammalian model systems for screening anti-cancer agents.
Lone-pair orientation and the magnitude of one-bond CHcoupling adjacent to oxygen and sulfur☆

There is a sizeable difference in the magnitude of 1JCH for the C(2)-Ha and C(2)-He bonds of both cis-4,6-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane (1) and the analogous 1,3-dithiane (2) but, whereas 1JC-Ha 1JC-He.
Peak Travel and the Decoupling of Vehicle Travel from the Economy: A Synthesis of the Literature

Decades of growth in overall and per capita automobile use led many to believe that driving-rate increases would occur indefinitely. In the mid-2000s, driving levels in the United States and other developed countries peaked and then began to decline. Referred to as "peak travel," this international phenomenon is occurring in places with urban layouts, densities, and demographics that are quite different from one another and suggests a fundamental shift in travel behavior. Simultaneously, after 70 years of concurrent growth, the complex relationship between the economy (as measured by gross domestic product) and personal vehicle travel appears to be changing, and this change suggests a weakening connection between the two. This paper reviews the literature about the current understanding and potential causes of these revolutionary trend reversals. Although causes such as saturation of demand, aging, decline of young drivers, preference shifts, and time budget constraints all contribute to reduced automobil...
Food availability en route to school and anthropometric change in urban children.

This study examined food availability along children’s paths to and from elementary school, and associations with change in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference over 1 year. Secondary data from 319 children aged 8–13 years from the “Multiple Opportunities to Reach Excellence” Project was used. Child anthropometry and demographic variables were obtained at baseline (2007) and 1 year follow-up. Food outlet locations (n = 1,410) were obtained from the Baltimore City Health Department and validated by ground-truthing. Secondary data on healthy food availability within select food stores in Baltimore City in 2007 were obtained via a validated food environment assessment measure, the Nutrition Environments Measures Study. Multilevel models were used to examine associations between availability of healthy food and number of various food outlets along paths to school and child anthropometric change over 1 year. Controlling for individual-, neighborhood-, and school-level characteristics, results indicated that higher healthy food availability within a 100 m buffer of paths to school was associated with 0.15 kg/m2 lower BMI gain (p = 0.015) and 0.47 cm smaller waist circumference gain (p = 0.037) over 1 year. Although prior research has illuminated the importance of healthy food choices within school and home environments, the current study suggests that exposure to the food environment along paths to school should be further explored in relation to child health outcomes.
Mung bean nuclease cleavage of a dA + dT-rich sequence or an inverted repeat sequence in supercoiled PM2 DNA depends on ionic environment

Abstract We have determined the nucleotide sequences around two alternative sites cleaved in supercoiled PM2 DNA by single-strand-specific mung bean nuclease in different ionic environments. In 10 mM Tris-HC1 (pH 7.0, 37 degrees C), the major site is a dA+dT-rich sequence which maps with a known early denaturation region at 0.75 map units. About 30 cleavages occurred in a 135 bp region. Cleavages were largely excluded at (dA)n . (dT)n (n = 3-7) sequences. Cleavage patterns of this type have not been previously observed in dA+dT-rich sequences. With the addition of 0.1 M NaC1 the major alternative site occurred in a hyphenated inverted repeat sequence 500 bp away (0.70 map units) and did not map to an early denaturation region. One major and 4 minor cleavages occurred in the region between the repeats, suggesting that a hairpin containing at most a 12 bp stem and 10 base loop is recognized. The basis for nuclease recognition of the dA+dT-rich sequence is not clear. The differences in the sequences and cleavage patterns at the alternative sites indicate that their secondary structures differ.
Simultaneous recognition of words and prosody in the Boston University Radio Speech Corpus

This paper describes automatic speech recognition systems that satisfy two technological objectives. First, we seek to improve the automatic labeling of prosody, in order to aid future research in automatic speech understanding. Second, we seek to apply statistical speech recognition models of prosody for the purpose of reducing the word error rate of an automatic speech recognizer. The systems described in this paper are variants of a core dynamic Bayesian network model, in which the key hidden variables are the word, the prosodic tag sequence, and the prosody-dependent allophones. Statistical models of the interaction among words and prosodic tags are trained using the Boston University Radio Speech Corpus, a database annotated using the tones and break indices (ToBI) prosodic annotation system. This paper presents both theoretical and empirical results in support of the conclusion that a prosody-dependent speech recognizer—a recognizer that simultaneously computes the most-probable word labels and prosodic tags—can provide lower word
Improved Discriminant Training and Feature Extraction for the Generation of Simulated Mass Spectra of Small Organic Molecules

An empirical method employing computerized pattern recognition techniques has been applied previously to the generation of simulated mass spectra of small organic molecules. The techniques have been improved in two ways to yield superior performance. First, a method for training adaptive binary pattern classifiers using an iterative least squares approach is used. Second, a feature extraction technique known as an attribute inclusion algorithm is used to investigate the importance of multiple features in the molecular descriptions.
Search for the standard model Higgs boson decaying to two photons with CMS at the LHC

The search for the Higgs boson is presented on 10.4 fb 1 of data recorded with CMS at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) during proton-proton interaction runs at p s = 7 and 8 TeV. The search is performed in the mass range between 110 and 150 GeV and limits are set on the cross section in the context of the Standard Model. An excess of events above the expected background is observed at about 125 GeV which is consistent with the observation of a new boson statistically compatible with the Standard Model Higgs boson hypothesis.
Clinicians' perspective of the relational processes for family and individual development during the mediation of religious and sexual identity disclosure.

Although the psychological literature regarding gay men from religious families is continually expanding, it is also limited in that few studies focus on the use of therapy in the negotiation of the interrelated systems of religion, sexuality, and family. Utilizing a cultural historical activity theory-based process of analysis, this study focuses on the narratives of 12 clinicians discussing 230 conflicts and how those conflicts are mediated in both productive (e.g., seeking secular support) and unproductive ways (e.g., bringing one’s son to an exorcist) by gay men and their religious families independent of and at the advice of their therapists.
Toward Common Sense and Common Ground? Reflections on the Shared Interests of Managers and Labor in a More Rational System of Corporate Governance

In this essay, Vice Chancellor Strine reflects on the common interests of those who manage and those who labor for American corporations. The first part of the essay examines aspects of the current corporate governance and economic environment that are putting management and labor under pressure. The concluding section of the essay identifies possible corporate governance initiatives that might - by better focusing stockholder activism in particular and corporate governance more generally on long-term, rather than short-term, corporate performance - generate a more rational system of accountability, that focuses on the durable creation by corporations of wealth through fundamentally sound, long-term business plans.
Pseudo–ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction

The current guidelines recommend that patients with suggestive symptoms of myocardial ischemia within the preceding 12 hours (even if symptoms are resolved) and have ST elevation in 2 or more anatomically adjacent electrocardiographic (ECG) leads (N0.2 mV in leads V1-V3 and N0.1 mV in all other leads, measured at the J point) should receive immediate reperfusion therapy, preferentially by primary percut aneous coronar y intervent ion. 1,2 There is a tremendous effort to shorten the time to reperfusion. The current guidelines suggest that a decision should be made within 10 minutes of arrival to the emergency department. However, nonischemic ST elevation is common, especially in the African-American and Asian populations. Many patients with baseline ST elevation due to bearly repolarizationQ or secondary to left ventricular hypertrophy and/or cardiomyopathy may present to the emergency department with chest pain. Some of them may have true ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (ST changes that are different from their baseline ECG with further evolution, such as subsequent decrease in ST elevation, T-wave inversion, and development of new Q waves), some will have positive cardiac markers, such as troponin, without further ECG changes (non-STEMI with baseline ST elevation, or bpseudo-STEMIQ), whereas in others, cardiac markers will remain negative (with or without resolution of ST elevation-no MI) (Fig. 1). Although it is well known that there are many nonischemic causes of transient ST elevation, many times, it is difficult to distinguish nonischemic from ischemic ST changes. The American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology 2004 guidelines suggest that initial errors in ECG interpretation can result in up to 12% of patients being categorized inappropriately, demonstrating a potential benefit of accurate computer-interpreted electrocardiography and wireless transmission to an expert. It is suggested that it is less likely that STEMI is present if the upwarddirected ST segment changes are concave rather than
Laser light-scattering analysis of the dimerization of transfer ribonucleic acids with complementary anticodons.

Photon-correlation spectroscopy is a powerful technique for measuring the translational diffusion coefficient of particles and macromolecules in solution. In the study described here, this technique was used to analyze a specific dimerization process involving the association of two tRNA molecules through complementary anticodons. The tRNAs used in the analysis were E. coli tRNA and yeast tRNAPhe. The experimental data on the concentration dependence of the observed diffusion constants are shown to agree well with theoretical predictions. From these data, the equilibrium constant of the association reaction was determined for dimers formed over a wide range of temperatures and in several different solution conditions. In solutions of 0.1M ionic strength at 22°C, the equilibrium constants vary from 1 × 105M−1 in the absence of magnesium to 1.5 × 106M−1 in 10 mM Mg+2. The enthalpy and entropy changes for dimer formation in the absence and presence, 5 and 10 mM, of magnesium have been obtained from the temperature dependence of the equilibrium constant. The results show that both ΔH and ΔS contribute to the free energy of binding and that their relative contributions are similar for each solution condition evaluated.
Using Channel Hopping to Increase 802.11 Resilience to Jamming Attacks

802.11a, b, and g standards were designed for deployment in cooperative environments, and hence do not include mechanisms to protect from jamming attacks. In this paper, we explore how to protect 802.11 networks from jamming attacks by having the legitimate transmission hop among channels to hide the transmission from the jammer. Using a combination of mathematical analysis and prototype experimentation in an 802.11a environment, we explore how much throughput can be maintained in comparison to the maintainable throughput in a cooperative, jam-free environment. Our experimental and analytical results show that in today's conventional 802.11a networks, we can achieve up to 60% of the original throughput. Our mathematical analysis allows us to extrapolate the throughput that can be maintained when the constraint on the number of orthogonal channels used for both legitimate communication and for jamming is relaxed.
Effect of manganese on the hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase enzyme system in the rat.

Abstract Experiments were conducted to examine the effect of manganese on the hepatic mixed function oxidase system in the rat. Acute treatment with manganese chloride (1–10 mg Mn/kg, ip) produced a significant prolongation of hexobarbital hypnosis in male rats on Days 2 and 3 following metal administration. The threshold dose of manganese to produce this alteration in response was 5 mg Mn/kg and the altered response returned to control values by Day 5. The prolonged hexobarbital hypnosis resulted from Mn inhibition of the hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidase system, the activity of which was assessed using aniline (23%), ethylmorphine (26%), and hexobarbital (27%) as substrates. Manganese treatment also produced significantly reduced levels of cytochrome P -450 (23%) and b 5 (21%), but the substrate-induced spectral binding of all three substrates was not altered significantly by Mn when expressed as Δ A per nanomole of cytochrome P -450. The activity of NADPH cytochrome c reductase was also significantly decreased (25%) by Mn treatment. Following the in vitro addition of Mn in concentrations ranging from 1 × 10 −6 to 1 × 10 −3 m Mn to microsomes derived from naive rats, there was no decrease in the metabolism of aniline or hexobarbital or cytochrome P -450 levels. Significant inhibition in ethylmorphine metabolism was observed with Mn concentrations of 1 × 10 −4 m and greater. These experiments indicate that acute Mn treatment can alter drug response as the result of decreased hepatic biotransformation which occurs by an indirect mechanism.
Analysis of RuvABC and RecG Involvement in the Escherichia coli Response to the Covalent Topoisomerase-DNA Complex

Topoisomerases form a covalent enzyme-DNA intermediate after initial DNA cleavage. Trapping of the cleavage complex formed by type IIA topoisomerases initiates the bactericidal action of fluoroquinolones. It should be possible also to identify novel antibacterial lead compounds that act with a similar mechanism on type IA bacterial topoisomerases. The cellular response and repair pathways for trapped topoisomerase complexes remain to be fully elucidated. The RuvAB and RecG proteins could play a role in the conversion of the initial protein-DNA complex to double-strand breaks and also in the resolution of the Holliday junction during homologous recombination. Escherichia coli strains with ruvA and recG mutations are found to have increased sensitivity to low levels of norfloxacin treatment, but the mutations had more pronounced effects on survival following the accumulation of covalent complexes formed by mutant topoisomerase I defective in DNA religation. Covalent topoisomerase I and DNA gyrase complexes are converted into double-strand breaks for SOS induction by the RecBCD pathway. SOS induction following topoisomerase I complex accumulation is significantly lower in the ruvA and recG mutants than in the wild-type background, suggesting that RuvAB and RecG may play a role in converting the initial single-strand DNA-protein cleavage complex into a double-strand break prior to repair by homologous recombination. The use of a ruvB mutant proficient in homologous recombination but not in replication fork reversal demonstrated that the replication fork reversal function of RuvAB is required for SOS induction by the covalent complex formed by topoisomerase I.
Applying empowerment? A reply in the form of a corrective

This paper is written as a reply to the paper “Applying empowerment: organizational model” written by Baruch. The paper argues that Baruch’s account of empowerment, in spite of its attempts to educate managers actually works to obscure understanding. Mounting a challenge to Baruch a three‐fold critique is developed. Examining the treatment of history, process and context in Baruch’s work, this paper concludes that Baruch’s analysis lacks, rejects or mis‐reads a range of contextual and conceptual issues which should be of central importance.
Cold-induced potentiation of alpha 2-adrenergic vasoconstriction in primary Raynaud's disease.

Objective. To determine the effects of local cooling on α-adrenergic responses in the fingers of patients with idiopathic Raynaud's disease. Methods. Clonidine HCl and phenylephrine HCl were administered through a brachial artery catheter while blood flow was measured by plethysmography in cooled and uncooled fingers. Results. Cooling potentiated α2-adrenergic vasoconstriction in the patients but depressed this response in the controls. Vasoconstrictive responses to phenylephrine were not significantly affected by cooling but were significantly greater in the patients than in the controls. Conclusion. Cold-induced sensitization of peripheral vascular α2-adrenoceptors may be involved in the mechanism by which cooling triggers the vasospastic attacks of Raynaud's disease.
Evaluation of secure peer-to-peer overlay routing for survivable SCADA systems

Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems gather and analyze data for real-time control. SCADA systems are used extensively, in applications such as electrical power distribution, telecommunications, and energy refining. SCADA systems are obvious targets for cyber-attacks that would seek to disrupt the physical complexities governed by a SCADA system. This paper uses a discrete-event simulation to begin to investigate the characteristics of one potential means of hardening SCADA systems against a cyber-attack. When it appears that real-time message delivery constraints are hot being met (due, for example, to a denial of service attack), a peer-to-peer overlay network is used to route message floods in an effort to ensure delivery. The SCADA system, and peer-to-peer nodes all use strong hardware-based authentication techniques to prevent injection of false data or commands, and to harden the routing overlay. Our simulations help to quantify the anticipated tradeoffs of message survivability and latency minimization.
The Origin of Pyrophyllite Rectorite in Shales of North Central Utah

Pyrophyllite is widespread in pelitic rocks of the Manning Canyon Shale in north central Utah, and the association of this mineral with other clay minerals, especially rectorite is related to the origin. The regular mixed-layer clay mineral rectorite seems to form as a result of the alteration of muscovite-paragonite during late stages of diagenesis and represents an intermediate metastable phase in the mineral paragenetic sequence. Pyrophyllite subsequently formed from the alteration of rectorite during advancing metamorphism and is the stable end member of the clay mineral assemblage. Structural interpretations of rectorite found in the Manning Canyon Shale shows a regular, alter- nating sequence which consists of a fixed layer of 9.6 ,~ and an expandable layer, varying from 10 A to 17 A. With ethylene glycol saturation in the natural state a basal reflection of 26-60 A is recorded.
An adaptive data association for robotic SLAM in search and rescue operation

Data Association has been considered a difficult task in robotic SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping), especially operating in deformed and unstructured environment with time variant objects such as earthquake shattered ruins. This paper proposes a SLAM data association and feature classification algorithm to identify the useful geometric features as landmarks even in case of deformation, by adapting the most likely discriminant function based on Bayesian analysis learning and a linear discriminant classification which works with any feature-based SLAM such as various Kalman filters, and particle filters. Due to the cost effectiveness in computation and complexity, this method can be applied for real-time SLAM applications. Simulation is performed to verify the effectiveness of method.
Output Tracking of Non-Minimum Phase Dynamics

This paper develops a general control algorithm for the exact output tracking of nonlinear systems with non-minimum phase dynamics. The control technique is causal and does not require preview or knowledge of the desired reference beforehand. Additionally, the control is independent of the operating condition and the desired reference. The main idea of the paper is to convert the output tracking problem into a slow state tracking problem for singularly perturbed systems. Previous work on singularly perturbed systems have shown asymptotic tracking of slow states only for a class of nonlinear systems that are linear in the fast states. However, this paper develops a control technique that does not have this restriction and is applicable to a general class of nonlinear singularly perturbed systems. The procedure is to compute the desired internal state trajectory and the control scheme that stabilizes the nonlinear system online, thereby guaranteeing asymptotic output tracking. Performance of this approach is demonstrated in simulation for two benchmark problems: the beam-ball example that is slightly non-minimum phase and fails to have a well-dened relative degree, and the Conventional Take-o and Landing (CTOL) non-minimum phase aircraft. Results presented in the paper show that the approach is able to accomplish perfect tracking while stabilizing the closed-loop system, while keeping all closed-loop signals bounded.
The de Rham theorem for the noncommutative complex of Cenkl and Porter

We use noncommutative differential forms (which were first introduced by Connes) to construct a noncommutative version of the complex of Cenkl and Porter &#x3A9;&#x2217;,&#x2217;(X) for a simplicial set X. The algebra &#x3A9;&#x2217;,&#x2217;(X) is a differential graded algebra with a filtration &#x3A9;&#x2217;,q(X)&#x2282;&#x3A9;&#x2217;,q
A New Genus of New World Tropidocephalini (Hemiptera: Delphacidae: Delphacinae), with the Description of Two New Species

ABSTRACT: The genus Procidelphax, gen. nov., is described to accommodate two unusual new Tropidocephalini, P. depressa, n. sp. and P. dejecta, n. sp., from Peru and Bolivia, respectively. Procidelphax, gen. nov., is easily distinguished from all other New World Tropidocephalini by being strongly dorsoventrally flattened, and having the median carina of the frons broadly forked ventrad. The New World Tropidocephalini is briefly reviewed and a provisional key to the five genera provided.
Environmental factors preceding illness onset differ in phenotypes of the juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Objective. To assess whether certain environmental factors temporally associated with the onset of juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (JIIMs) differ between phenotypes. Methods. Physicians completed questionnaires regarding documented infections, medications, immunizations and an open-ended question about other noted exposures within 6 months before illness onset for 285 patients with probable or definite JIIM. Medical records were reviewed for 81% of the patients. Phenotypes were defined by standard clinical and laboratory measures. Results. Sixty per cent of JIIM patients had a reported exposure within 6 months before illness onset. Most patients (62%) had one recorded exposure, 26% had two and 12% had three to five exposures. Patients older than the median age at diagnosis, those with a longer delay to diagnosis and those with anti-signal recognition particle autoantibodies had a higher frequency of documented exposures [odds ratios (ORs) 95% CI 3.4, 31]. Infections were the most common exposure and represented 44% of the total number of reported exposures. Non-infectious exposures included medications (18%), immunizations (11%), stressful life events (11%) and unusual sun exposure (7%). Exposures varied by age at diagnosis, race, disease course and the presence of certain myositis autoantibodies. Conclusion. The JIIMs may be related to multiple exposures and these appear to vary among phenotypes.
Asymmetry between the sidebands used for detecting gravitational waves in laser interferometric antennas

We develop an analytical approach in order to understand the causes of sidebands imbalance. The results have been tested by two different and more sophisticated numerical tools. The main static perturbations that can generate sidebands imbalance are described and fully analyzed, with a special attention to the design of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory I, whose typical parameters have been used for numerical estimations of this phenomenon.
Comparative pharmacology of rat and human α7 nAChR conducted with net charge analysis

1. Pharmacological studies of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are confounded by the fact that rapid desensitization to high agonist concentration causes alpha7 peak responses to occur well in advance of complete solution exchange. For this reason, peak currents are an invalid measure of response to applied agonist concentrations. We show that results comparable to those that have been corrected for instantaneous concentration are obtained if net charge is used as the measure of receptor response. 2. Dose response curves obtained with these methods indicate that alpha7 receptors are approximately 10 fold more sensitive to agonist than previously reported. The agonists, ACh, choline, cytisine, GTS-21, 4OH-GTS-21 and 4-MeO-CA have the same rank order potency for both human and rat receptors: 4-MeO-CA > 4OH-GTS-21 > GTS-21 > cytisine > ACh > choline. However, differences in efficacy exist between rat and human receptors. GTS-21 is more efficacious for rat than human alpha7 receptors and cytosine more efficacious for human than rat alpha7 receptors. 3. Choline is the least potent agonist for both human and rat alpha7, with a potency approximately 10 fold lower than that of ACh. While the EC50 for the activation of alpha7 receptors by choline (400-500 microM) is outside the normal physiological range (10-100 microM), choline can nonetheless produce detectable levels of channel activation in the physiological concentration range. Since these concentrations are relatively non-desensitizing, the contribution of choline-activated alpha7 receptor current may play a significant role in the regulation of calcium homeostasis in alpha7-expressing neurons.
Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor regulates human extravillous cytotrophoblast development during conversion to the invasive phenotype

Cytotrophoblasts of the anchoring villi convert during human placentation from a transporting epithelium to an invasive, extravillous phenotype that expresses a distinct repertoire of adhesion molecules. Developing extravillous trophoblasts accumulate heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), a multifunctional cytokine, which binds HER1 and HER4 of the human EGF receptor (HER/ErbB) family. HB-EGF is downregulated in placentae of women with preeclampsia, a disorder associated with deficient trophoblast invasion, raising important questions about its physiological impact on cytotrophoblasts. Addition of HB-EGF during explant culture of first-trimester chorionic villi enhanced extravillous trophoblast differentiation and invasive activity. Using a first-trimester human cytotrophoblast line, the potential for autocrine and paracrine regulation of the developing trophoblast was established based on the expression of all four HER isoforms, as well as HB-EGF and related growth factors. HB-EGF did not alter proliferation, but initiated extravillous differentiation, with decreased alpha6 integrin expression, increased alpha1, and elevated cell migration. Function-blocking antibodies against EGF family members reduced basal cell motility and antibody inhibition of either HER1 or HER4 ligation prevented HB-EGF-induced integrin switching. We conclude that HER-mediated autocrine and paracrine signaling by HB-EGF or other EGF family members induces cytotrophoblast differentiation to an invasive phenotype.
Hysteresis of noninteracting and spin-orbit coupled atomic Fermi gases with relaxation

Hysteresis can be found in driven many-body systems such as magnets and superfluids. Rate-dependent hysteresis arises when a system is driven periodically while relaxing towards equilibrium. A two-state paramagnet driven by an oscillating magnetic field in the relaxation approximation clearly demonstrates rate-dependent hysteresis. A noninteracting atomic Fermi gas in an optical ring potential, when driven by a periodic artificial gauge field and subjected to dissipation, is shown to exhibit hysteresis loops of atomic current due to a competition of the driving time and the relaxation time. This is in contrast to electronic systems exhibiting equilibrium persistent current driven by magnetic flux due to rapid relaxation. Universal behavior of the dissipated energy in one hysteresis loop is observed in both the magnetic and atomic systems, showing linear and inverse-linear dependence on the relaxation time in the strong and weak dissipation regimes. While interactions in general invalidate the framework for rate-dependent hysteresis, an atomic Fermi gas with artificial spin-orbit coupling exhibits hysteresis loops of atomic currents. Cold-atoms in ring-shape potentials are thus promising in demonstrating rate-dependent hysteresis and its associated phenomena.
PBS Satellite Interconnection Technical Operations and Maintenance

A series of satellite earth terminals and Western Union's Westar 1 satellite will, by the end of 1978, largely replace the terrestrial microwave system which previously comprised the Public Television Interconnection. Over the past year or so much has been done to ensure that the transition to the new interconnection would be as smooth as possible and that the service provided to the Public Television stations would be equal to or better than that previously provided by the terrestrial carriers. Operation and maintenance activities such as personnel training, identification of spares, development of interim operating procedures and the provision of a repair service, all of which are necessary to ensure the orderly turn-up of a new telecommunications system, received special attention. Although very much involved with the completion of the installation and acceptance of the new interconnection, public television is looking to the future and is developing measurement and control techniques designed to further refine the operation of the system.
Divergent influence of microRNA-21 deletion on murine colitis phenotypes.

Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) acting as negative regulators of gene expression are differentially expressed in intestinal tissues of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Assessing the functions of miRNAs in murine colitis facilitates elucidating the role of specific miRNAs in human IBD. We aimed to determine the miRNA signature of several models of colitis and to assess the influence of miR-21 on intestinal inflammation. Methods miR-21-deficient mouse and littermate controls were assessed in the standard DSS, TNBS, and CD4+ T-cell transfer models of colitis. RNAs of mouse colon and CD4+CD45RB High cells were analyzed by miRNA and mRNA microarray, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. T helper (Th) cell polarization was accessed by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Alterations in miRNA expression were identified for acute and chronic DSS and TNBS colitis, respectively. The expression of miRs-21, -142-3p, and -223 were distinct between DSS and TNBS models while overlap of numerous miRNAs was found. Importantly, miRs-19b, -192, and -215, that are decreased in IBD, were decreased in these models of colitis. miR-21, which is increased in IBD, was increased in TNBS colitis. Furthermore, the deletion of miR-21 resulted in the exacerbation of both the TNBS and T-cell transfer models of colitis. CD4+CD45RB High T cells from miR-21 mice were prone to Th1 polarization. Conclusions MiRNAs are differentially expressed in both human IBD and murine colitis, with overlap of several IBD-associated miRNAs. The demonstration that miR-21-/- deletion exacerbated CD4+ T-cell-mediated models of colitis provide further evidence that miRNAs play significant roles in the pathogenesis of IBD.
On the Measurements of Rigidity Modulus of Soft Materials in Nanoindentation Experiments at Small Depth

It is of interest to measure the modulus of rigidity at small indentation depths for many systems, such as thin films, nanocomposites, biomaterials, etc. Depth-dependence of the rigidity modulus of...
Is physical exercise a multiple sclerosis disease modifying treatment

ABSTRACTIntroduction: There is consensus that exercise represents a behavioral approach for the restoration of function and management of symptoms among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). The current paper provides a review on the topic of exercise and physical activity as MS-disease modifying treatments.Areas covered: Firstly, metrics for evaluating disease modification and progression in MS are described. Secondly, evidence for exercise as a MS-disease modifying therapy based on individual studies, literature reviews, and meta-analyses is summarized. Finally, the paper focuses on major limitations of the existing body of research.Expert commentary: Exercise and physical activity have been associated with reduced relapse rate, mobility disability and its progression, and lesion volume, and improved neuroperformance, particularly walking outcomes. This evidence provides a positive, yet preliminary, picture for exercise having possible effects on markers of disease modification and progression in MS.
Pulmonic Valve: Pulmonic Regurgitation

This chapter will discuss the auscultatory manifestations of pulmonary regurgitation (PR). PR can be caused by a variety of conditions (e.g. pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary valve trauma, and pulmonary artery dilatation), and may be difficult to differentiate from aortic regurgitation. The chapter will also discuss the prognostic implications of pulmonary regurgitation.
Study on the authenticity of immunization coverage on the routine immunization coverage surveillance system of Fujian province

常规免疫监测接种数据的真实性始终是困扰常规免疫监测的重要问题。本研究通过福建省18个县儿童疫苗接种率现场审评，分析评价常规免疫监测接种数据真实性，为提高监测数据的分析、利用提供依据。 关键词：常规免疫；接种率；真实性
Distinctively Christian engineering: An evaluation of our civil curriculum

Abstract As professors in an engineering program developed with the intention of being Christ-centred and holistic, one of our responsibilities is to equip our students to serve the Lord obediently in all that they do—especially in engineering. To serve as the foundation of this preparation, we used a previous publication which set out five distinctively Christian guiding principles for engineering. Our intent is that these principles will be used to direct the development and modification of our engineering curriculum. Directing these efforts requires a grounding point. Therefore, this paper evaluates the extent to which these principles are already emphasized in the program’s civil engineering curriculum. Comparing this evaluation to benchmarks for each of the five principles revealed that the curriculum fell short. This result was expected because the curriculum does not contain a formal process to introduce, emphasize, and apply these principles. The evaluation determined that the first principle, which recognizes that the world and everything in it was created for God’s glory, fell the farthest from its benchmark. Since this principle is foundational to all the other principles, efforts to increase the emphasis of this principle should be given the highest priority. Opsomming As professore in ‘n ingenieursprogram wat ontwikkel is met die doel on Christo-sentries en holisties te wees, was een van ons verantwoordelikhede om ons studente toe te rus om die Here met gehoorsaamheid te dien in alles wat hulle doen – veral in ingenieurswese. As ‘n fondasie vir hierdie voorbereiding, het ons ‘n vorige publikasie gebruik waarin vyf duidelike Christelike rigtinggewende beginsels vir ingeneiurswese uiteengesit word. Ons bedoeling is dat hierdie beginsels gebruik sal word om die ontwikkeling en wysiging van ons ingenieurskurrikulum te onderle. Om rigting te gee aan hierdie poging moet ons die proses anker, en daarom sal hierdie artikel die omvang evalueer van die bereiking van hierdie beginsels in die program se siviele ingenieurswesekrrikulum. As mens hierdie evaluering vergelyk met doelwitte wat gestel is vir elkeen van die vyf beginsels, it is duidelik dat die kurrikulum tekortskiet. Hierdie uitkoms was te verwagte omdat die kurrikulum nie ‘n formele proses bevat om hierdie beginsels bekend te stel, te onderstreep en toe te pas nie. Die evaluering het bepaal dat die eerste beginsel, wat is dat alles geskep is tot die eer van God, en hierdie beginsel het die meeste tekort geskiet. Aangesien hierdie beginsel die fondasie is vir al die ander beginsels, moet pogings aangewend word om die belang van en onderstreping van hierdie beginsel die hoogste prioriteit te gee. https://doi.org/10.19108/KOERS.80.3.2239
The practical stereocontrolled synthesis of vicinal halohydrins and haloamines from vinyl epoxides and vinyl aziridines

Abstract A new metal-free method is reported for the stereocontrolled opening of vinyl epoxides using boron trichloride or tribromide to yield the corresponding vicinal chlorohydrins and bromohydrins with high regioselectivities and exclusive diastereoselectivity. Synthesis of vicinal haloamines from vinyl aziridines was also demonstrated under the same conditions.
Feminist Movements in Historical and Comparative Perspective

Originating in the late eighteenth century in the nascent democracies of the West, the feminist movement has grown and spread exponentially over the past two centuries, both socially and geographically. At its core, the movement has always been committed to improving the social conditions that bring hardship to women and prevent women from determining the contours of their own lives. But, given the extensive variations in women's experiences across time and place, there are significant differences in the concerns that propel women to mobilize and act. At the same time as these variations and differences have introduced tensions and conflicts among feminist movements, they have also inspired efforts to build coalitions across social and geographical divides. Keywords: feminisms; gender politics; gender equality; globalization; women's movements
Solder Joint Reliability: An integrated study of Electromigration, Thermal Migration and thermo-mechanical effects

Solder Joint Reliability (SJR) is the ability of solder joints to remain in conformance to their visual, mechanical and electrical specifications over a given period of time, under a specified set of operating conditions. There are various accelerated tests that can be performed to assess this. The focus of this research paper is confined to Electromigration, Thermal Migration and Temperature Cycling for Wafer Level Chip Scale Packaging (WLCSP). The goal of this study was to investigate what material sets gave the best SJR performance. It was discovered that a thicker UBM resulted in greater electrical and thermo-mechanical performance.
The Southern Manifesto: Massive Resistance, Growth Liberalism, and the Interpretation of Brown II

ABSTRACTThe United States Congress’ Southern Congressional Delegation promulgated the Declaration of Constitutional Principles, popularly known as the Southern Manifesto, on March 12, 1956. The Southern Manifesto was the South’s primary means to effectively delay implementation of public school desegregation as ordered by the United States Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Topeka, Kansas (1954; as cited in Day, 2014). This essay places the desegregation of American public school system within the larger context of the time period in which it transpired, and explains how racial disparity in public education was perpetuated after the Jim Crow caste system was dismantled in the 1960s. Ironically, while de jure desegregation of American public schools was effectively accomplished by the early 1970s under the administration of President Richard M. Nixon, government spending during the era after World War II, perpetuated racial and economic disparity in America’s public schools that prevails up to the p...
Effects of Direct-Fed Microbials on Feed Intake, Milk Yield, Milk Composition, Feed Conversion, and Health Condition of Dairy Cows

Direct-fed microbials (DFMs) are dietary supplementations for ruminants that alter rumen fermentation, improve the microbe balance, and limit nutritional disorders such as subacute ruminal acidosis. Many microorganisms may be fed as DFMs including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium , Enterococcus , Streptococcus , Bacillus , Saccharomyces , Aspergillus , and Propionibacterium . To further understand the mechanisms of microorganisms, species can further be split into subgroups based on mode of action within the rumen and if traditionally found within the rumen or outside, which include: lactic acid producing, lactic acid utilizing, fungi, yeast, and bacterial spores. Including DFMs in the diets of calves and dairy cows has been reported to positively influence animal performance, milk components, feed conversion, reduction in methane emission, improvements in general animal and human health, reductions in nutritional disorders, and stimulation of the immune system. While initially inclusion of DFMs in the diet may be monetary cost preventative for some herds, the possible return on investment of feeding one or more microorganisms to dairy cows is beneficial for both the producer and the animal, helping to recover the inclusion cost and improve animal health. Within this chapter, recent research studies will highlight the great potential benefit of adding DFMs into the diet.
A neglected nexus: Human rights and public perceptions

ABSTRACTAlthough human rights scholars have extensively focused on the origins of human rights, research is underdeveloped that attends to the origins of public perceptions of human rights. We expand our knowledge of state-level and individual-level determinants of human rights perceptions. Unlike prior work that ignores within-country variation, we take advantage of state-level variation within Mexico to explore the extent to which human rights perceptions are influenced by context. Specifically, we examine whether the public's human rights perceptions are influenced by violence levels and human rights organizational activities at the state level. Additionally, we assess whether the public's human rights perceptions are related to trust in domestic institutions and security forces and whether sharing partisan ties with the current administration is a contributing factor. Finally, we assess how education levels moderate human rights perceptions. Our results show that human rights perceptions are linked to...
Bioderived Muconates by Cross-Metathesis and Their Conversion into Terephthalates.

Polyethylene terephthalate that is 100 % bioderived is in high demand in the market guided by the ever-more exigent sustainability regulations with the challenge of producing renewable terephthalic acid remaining. Renewable terephthalic acid or its precursors can be obtained by Diels-Alder cycloaddition and further dehydrogenation of biomass-derived muconic acid. The cis,cis isomer of the dicarboxylic acid is typically synthesized by fermentation with genetically modified microorganisms, a process that requires complex separations to obtain a high yield of the pure product. Furthermore, the cis isomer has to be transformed into the trans,trans form and has to be esterified before it is suitable for terephthalate synthesis. To overcome these challenges, we investigated the synthesis of dialkyl muconates by cross-metathesis. The Ru-catalyzed cross-coupling of sorbates with acrylates, which can be bioderived, proceeded selectively to yield diester muconates in up to 41 % yield by using very low catalyst amounts (0.5-3.0 mol %) and no solvent. In the optimized procedure, the muconate precipitated as a solid and was easily recovered from the reaction medium. Analysis by GC-MS and NMR spectroscopy showed that this method delivered exclusively the trans,trans isomer of dimethyl muconate. The Diels-Alder reaction of dimethyl muconate with ethylene was studied in various solvents to obtain 1,4-bis(carbomethoxy)cyclohexene. The cycloaddition proceeded with very high conversions (77-100 %) and yields (70-98 %) in all of the solvents investigated, and methanol and tetrahydrofuran were the best choices. Next, the aromatization of 1,4-bis(carbomethoxy)cyclohexene to dimethyl terephthalate over a Pd/C catalyst resulted in up to 70 % yield in tetrahydrofuran under an air atmosphere. Owing to the high yield of the reaction of dimethyl muconate to 1,4-bis(carbomethoxy)cyclohexene, no separation step was needed before the aromatization. This is the first time that cross-metathesis is used to produce bioderived trans,trans-muconates as precursors to renewable terephthalates, important building blocks in the polymer industry.