cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aberrant expression of SOX2 upregulates MUC5AC gastric foveolar mucin in mucinous cancers of the colorectum and related lesions

Mucinous colorectal cancers are characterized by abundant production of intestinal goblet cell mucin, MUC2 and frequent ectopic expression of gastric foveolar mucin, MUC5AC. SOX2, an HMG-box transcription factor expressed in gastric mucosa but not in intestine is thought to play an important role in regulating transcription and expression of gastric differentiation related genes. Herein, we investigated the possible role of SOX2 in MUC5AC transcription and in the development of mucinous cancers. We observed good correlation between SOX2 and MUC5AC message levels in most colon cancer cell lines. SOX2 expression significantly transactivated MUC5AC promoter/reporter constructs in 3 of 5 colon cancer cell lines. We also examined SOX2 expression in normal stomach and colon, nonmucinous and mucinous colorectal cancers, serrated polyps and conventional adenomas using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. SOX2 was expressed in the nuclei of both gastric foveolar cells and fundic glands by immunohistochemistry and in the cytoplasm by in situ hybridization. SOX2 was not expressed in normal colon but was strongly expressed in serrated polyps, mucinous and signet ring cell carcinomas, but rarely in nonmucinous carcinomas and tubular adenomas. Concordant expression of SOX2 with MUC5AC was observed in these lesions. Our results suggest that SOX2 is important in the upregulation of gastric foveolar mucin, MUC5AC in colorectal mucinous and signet ring cell carcinomas. In addition, the expression of both SOX2 and MUC5AC in serrated polyps supports the hypothesis that these polyps may be predominant precursors of mucinous and signet ring cell carcinomas of the colorectum.
Targeted inhibition of type I procollagen synthesis by antisense DNA oligonucleotides

In hepatic fibrosis, the connective tissue biomatrix of the liver changes from the normal matrix, rich in basement membrane collagens, to a matrix enriched in interstitial fibrillar collagens. Type I collagen is the predominant component of thick fibrous bands found in matrix in advanced fibrosis. The aim of the current research was to determine whether a therapeutic approach could be developed that would specifically target collagen-producing cells to reduce the synthesis and accumulation of type I collagen. Antisense DNA oligonucleotides directed against specific sequences within α1(I) and α2(I) mRNA of type I procollagen were complexed to a cell-specific carrier, and screened for their effectiveness in reducing α1(I) and α2(I) mRNA levels. Two antisense DNA oligonucleotides delivered by the carrier were found to be most effective in reducing α1(I) and α2(I) mRNA and total collagen accumulation in the cells, but had no effect on reducing β-actin mRNA in the same cells. At similar concentrations, free antisense DNA oligonucleotides were not effective in inhibiting collagen synthesis, and/or in decreasing cellular concentrations of α1(I) or α2(I) mRNA. Collagen synthesis and mRNA levels in cells lacking receptors that recognize the carrier protein were not changed after treatment with complexed antisense DNA. The results indicate that antisense oligonucleotides can be targeted to cell types, and were effective inhibiting collagen synthesis in those cells.
Shared-memory parallelization of a local correlation multi-reference CI program

Abstract We present a shared-memory parallelization of our open-source, local correlation multi-reference framework, TigerCI. Benchmarks of the total parallel speedup show a reasonable scaling for typical modern computing system setups. The efficient use of available computing resources will extend simulations on this high level of theory into a new size regime. We demonstrate our framework using local-correlation multireference computations of alkyl-substituted dioxirane and solvated methyl nitrene as examples.
Seeing and Measuring Stable Isotope Tags in Subcellular Domains with Ion Microscopy

Multi-isotope Imaging Mass Spectrometry (MIMS) is the combination of an ion microscope-secondary ion mass spectrometer with tracer methods and intensive quantitative image analysis. MIMS allows one to image the distribution and to measure the accumulation of molecules labelled with stable or radioactive isotopes within subcellular domains in volume smaller than 1 cubic micron. The lateral resolution is better than 30 nm, and the depth resolution is a few atomic layers. Up to seven quantitative atomic mass images (or tags) can be recorded simultaneously. A whole cell can be studied layer-after-layer and rendered in quantitative 3D.MIMS can provide unique information in almost all fields of biomedical research, particularly in two broad areas: 1. metabolic turnover (protein, lipids and sugars in sub-cellular domains using as precursors for example 15N-labeled amino-acids or 13C labeled fatty acids) 2. cell lineage ( tracking individual cells within large populations by labelingDNA, for example with 15N thymidine for the salvage pathway and 18O for the de novo pathway).Because stable isotopes are integral part of living organisms, they are not toxic. This allows one to label DNA with a stable isotope precursors for period of time that could reach years. And, this allows applications of MIMS to human.
The Essential Oil of Schinus molle: The Terpene Hydrocarbon Fraction

SUMMARY Analysis by gas-liquid chromatography of the terpene hydrocarbon fraction of the essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the fruit of Schinus molle L. revealed 11 components. Capillary columns and flame ionization detection increased resolution and permitted tentative identification of 6 additional terpene hydrocarbons not hitherto reported in the oil. The compounds found were: α-pinene, β-pinene, -α-phellandrene, β-phellandrene, myrcene, D-limonene, camphene, p-cymene, and three unidentified constituents. These components were tentatively identified by calculating relative corrected retention volumes and comparing these with values for known terpene hydrocarbons. The three stationary liquid phases used yielded data that lend credence to the tentative assignment of peak identities.
Multi-agent Coalition Formation for Distributed Area Coverage: Analysis and Evaluation

In the multi-robot area coverage problem, a group of mobile robots have to cover an initially unknown environment using a sensor or coverage tool attached to each robot. Multi-robot area coverage is encountered in many applications of multi-robot systems including unmanned search and rescue, aerial reconnaissance, robotic demining, automatic lawn mowing, and inspection of engineering structures. We envisage that multi-robot coverage can be performed efficiently if robots are coordinated to form small teams while covering the environment. In this paper, we use a technique from coalitional game theory called a weighted voting game that allows each robot to dynamically identify other team members and form teams so that the efficiency of the area coverage operation is improved. We propose and evaluate a novel technique of computing the weights of a weighted voting game based on each robot’s coverage capability and finding the best minimal winning coalition(BMWC). Also we designed a greedy method and a heuristic method to find BMWC. There is a trade-off between computational time and the optimal solution.
How to make a dollar out of fifteen cents: tips for electronic collection development

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide tips for electronic collection development for libraries with a meager budget.Design/methodology/approach – The information provided in this article is based on research on electronic collection development practices and the author's experience with electronic resources at small and large university libraries.Findings – There are many useful electronic resources available for free because of the open access movement. Old ideas such as consortia and negotiating still help to keep costs at a manageable level for libraries.Practical implications – Libraries will be able to maintain or reduce the costs they are spending on electronic resources, but still retain sources that fulfill their collection needs.Originality/value – This paper combines new and old ideas and resources for electronic collection development into a short and easy‐to‐follow source.
The decision to adopt new technology—Effects on organizational size

Abstract FMS is new technology with many considerations that differ from those familiarly applied to job shop, flow shop and automated flow shop work configurations. A major obstacle to using FMS is that little is known about how to co-ordinate flexible work and transfer activities to obtain a relatively constant flow of marketable output. In the past year, articles on FMS have appeared with increasing frequency. Their emphasis highlights the reduction in variable production costs that FMS promises. This paper describes a different approach, namely, to uncover the effects of FMS technology on optimal organizational size. To achieve this end, we must consider factors other than variable production cost savings. This enlarges the scope of the decision model required to evaluate FMS configurations. The investigation proceeds along two diverse, but complementary paths. One is based on a theoretical model, using non-linear breakeven analysis. The second employs empirical data obtained from industrial users. The theoretical model indicates that FMS requires a larger total output than the system it replaces. Empirical results tend to confirm this finding. In addition, FMS alters other managerial considerations, including appropriate marketing strategies.
On Using Exponential-Golomb Codes and Subexponential Codes for System-on-a-Chip Test Data Compression

We examine the use of exponential-Golomb codes and subexponential codes can be used for the compression of scan test data in core-based system-on-a-chip (SOC) designs. These codes are well-known in the data compression domain but their application to SOC testing has not been explored before. We show that these codes often provide slighly higher compression than alternative methods that have been proposed recently.
Development of a Techno-Economic Model to Compare Ceramic and Polymeric Membranes

Ceramic materials for microfiltration and ultrafiltration have a number of potential advantages over polymeric materials including chemical and thermal stability, physical strength, and a longer operational life. In this study an alumina composite ceramic membrane was compared to a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane for the filtration of bentonite and water. The two membranes were operated under equivalent hydrodynamic conditions, described by the nominal Peclet (Pe) number, so that fouling could be attributed to the membrane material differences rather than operational differences. The alumina membrane showed gradual onset of fouling as Pe increased, evidenced by a slow increase in the rate of trans-membrane pressure (TMP) increase over the duration of the experiment. The PES membrane showed negligible TMP increase until a critical Pe was reached, after which point a dramatic increase in the rate of TMP increase was observed. A techno-economic model was used to quantify the performance differences (rate of ...
The effects of ascorbic acid on copper‐induced oxidative changes in human erythrocytes: Example of a biphasic dose‐response relationship

Abstract In an in vitro study, ascorbic acid reduced the occurrence of copper acetate‐induced oxidative stress in human erythrocytes at biologically relevant concentrations (0.06 ‐ 0.25 mM) while enhancing oxidative changes [i.e., changes in methemoglobin (METHB) and reduced glutathione (GSH)] at higher levels of exposure (> 1.0 mM).
Current integration with permanent magnet d.c. motors in controlled potential coulometric analysis

Abstract The negative deviation from linearity of the applied voltage-counting rate curve of a permanent magnet d.c. motor integrator (Electro Methods integrator) at small input voltages is inversely proportional to the applied voltage. Correction for this can easily be made, and when this is done such an integrator is capable of an accuracy of the order of ±0.3% over a 100: 1 range of input voltage. The Electro Methods integrator is ideally suited as a coulometer in controlled potential coulometric analysis.
Low NOx emission from radially stratified natural gas-air turbulent diffusion flames

Research oriented to establish principles of design and operation of an ultra-low-NOx burner is discussed. Gradual admixing of the burner air with the centrally injected fuel is achieved by radial stratification of the flame. This radial fuel stratification is brought about by a combination of the swirling air flow and strong positive radial density gradients in the flame. A burner capable of varying the radial distributions of the burner airflow and recirculated flue gas, and of their swirl velocities has been used to realize the idea of radial fuel stratification in experimental flames using the flame tunnel of the MIT Combustion Research Facility. Distributions of gas velocities, temperatures and major chemical species concentrations determined in one megawatt (thermal) input natural gas-air turbulent diffusion flames show high fuel concentrations on the axis of the flames and demonstrate that fuel stratification is effective in reducing NOx emission without increasing trace emissions of combustibles. The effects of stratification are manifested in two ways: firstly, they improve combustion air staging by increasing fuel residence time in the pyrolysis flame zone, and secondly, permit increased amounts of flue gas to be recirculated through the burner without an impairment of the flame stability. The NOx emission at 3% O2 reached with radial flame stratification but without flue gas recirculation was 70 ppm (56 ppm CO), and 15 ppm (
Management of mandibular trauma with rigid internal fixation

The use of rigid internal fixation has become an acceptable method for the treatment of fractures and continuity defects of the mandible. This technique has a wide variety of applications, including stabilization of mandibular segments for the application of bone grafts. The primary advantage of rigid fixation is that it obviates the need for maxillomandibular fixation associated with the treatment of mandibular trauma by traditional methods. This article reviews twenty cases in which rigid internal fixation was used for the treatment of fractures and continuity defects of the mandible. In only one case was early removal of the implant necessary as a result of infection.
Regulation of methionine-enkephalin precursor messenger RNA in rat striatum by haloperidol and lithium

Daily injections of rats with haloperidol for 21 days or lithium chloride for 5 days elevated the content of Met-enkephalin in the striatum by 86% or 66%, respectively. Poly(A) + RNA from striata of drug-treated and control rats was translated in vitro, and the amount of synthesized enkephalin precursor [35S]preproenkephalin A was determined by immunoprecipitation and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Haloperidol or lithium treatment increased the relative amount of preproenkephalin A synthesized by 67–98% or 25–29%, respectively. These results suggest that haloperidol elevates the Met-enkephalin content primarily by increasing the precursor mRNA content or activity, while lithium exerts its effect only in part by this mechanism.
Olfactory Recognition of Urine Signals in Dominance Fights Between Male Lobster, Homarus Americanus

The maintenance of dominance hierarchies in the American lobster (Homarus americanus) is based on recognition of the dominant animal by the loser of a recent fight. It is hypothesized that chemical signals are the basis of this recognition. Adult male lobsters were paired for initial boxing matches between unfamiliar animals. The same pairs were re-matched for 3 more consecutive fights. In the first experiment, treatment animals had their primary olfactory receptor cells of the lateral and medial antennules lesioned before fights 2-4 and control animals received sham lesions. The durations of fights 2-4 for control pairs were significantly shorter than the durations of fights between lesioned animals. In the second experiment, male pairs were again allowed to establish a dominance relationship in a first fight. During second fights, urine release by both animals was prevented by the use of catheters in treatment animals while control pairs wore sham catheters. Again, durations of the second fights of control animals were significantly shorter than those of treatment animals. Together, these experiments indicate that urine-carried chemical signals, perceived by the antennules, reduce the duration and aggression of male dominance fights on subsequent days because the loser of the first fight backs off almost immediately when he smells the urine of the known dominant.
Cultural Awareness and Ethnic Loyalty: Dimensions of Cultural Variability Among Mexican American College Students

This study examined the adequacy of Keefe and Padilla's (1987) model of cultural orientation on a sample of Mexican American students enrolled either in a technical college (N= 125) or a state university (N= 239) in southern Texas. Specifically, the goodness of fit of the factor model for the Cultural Awareness and Ethnic Loyalty scales was tested using confirmatory factor analyses. Results indicated an excellent fit for the model, which suggests that cultural variables among Mexican American college students may be described in terms of these two dimensions. Implications of these findings for research and counseling with Mexican American populations are discussed.
C-Terminal sequencing of peptides using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A low-flow reactor is described for the on-line monitoring of peptides digested with carboxypeptidase P by electrospray ionization. Two peptides were analyzed using this technique: glucagon (average MW 3482.8 Da), and apomyoglobin (average MW 16 951.5). Both peptides gave interpretable results. The first 19 amino acids of glucagon were successfully sequenced. Apomyoglobin yielded sequence information to the 30th amino acid with some gaps. At 300 nL/min, 50% of the first 30 amino acids were sequenced and at 1μL/min, 67% of the first 30 amino acids were observed.
Tournament-Based Reputation Models for Aggregating Relative Preferences

Online social networks often rely on reputation values to signal trustworthiness of a participant in the network. Reputation models have traditionally focused on scenarios where raters provide an absolute value rating to those they interact with. This paper investigates an alternate scenario, where a rater provides relative preference information among multiple alternatives, indicating which participant it prefers from a given set of participants. To model such scenarios, we propose an alternative to the traditional referral graph model, in the form of tournament models. We investigate two tournament-based trust models: the power ranking model and the fair bets model. We find that tournament models outperform standard referral network models, in predicting which participant will prove to be most preferred in future transactions. We also find that, in online communities where self-selection norms are not strongly enforced, so that a participant may participate in a transaction even when it knows it is unlikely to provide a satisfactory result, the fair bets model outperforms other models by a wide margin in identifying trustworthy participants.
Flat Detectors and New Aspects of Radiation Safety

Flat detectors are the heart of high-performance imaging systems that provide new capabilities as well as new hazards. The superior image quality enables operators to work with heavier patients and steeper projections. Under these conditions, exposure control computers automatically increase the production of x-rays to compensate for absorption by body tissues. Image quality is preserved, and operators may not be aware of the very high skin doses delivered during prolonged procedures. Although it is assumed that flat detector systems are safe, the potential for radiation overexposure and skin injury is real. This article examines the unique radiation hazards of flat detector fluoroscopy and suggests practical steps that clinicians can take to protect themselves and their patients from radiation injury.
Propionibacterium shunt nephritis in two adolescents with medulloblastoma.

The anaerobic diphtheroid Propionibacterium acnes was identified as the organism responsible for “shunt” nephritis in two adolescents with ventriculoatrial shunts inserted previously for the management of medulloblastoma. Only three cases of “shunt” nephritis secondary to infection with this common skin commensal organism are known to have been reported. The rarity of such reports may be related to the lack of good anaerobic laboratories, the length of time necessary for cultures to show growth, the poor ability of certain blood culture media to support growth of this organism, and the failure of physicians to consider Propionibacterium acnes as a true pathogen in certain clinical situations. Cancer 52:330-333, 1983.
Period-one motions of a mechanical oscillator with periodically time-varying, piecewise-nonlinear stiffness

The dynamic behavior of a piecewise-nonlinear mechanical oscillator with parametric and external excitations is investigated. The viscously damped single-degree-of-freedom oscillator is subjected to a periodically time-varying, piecewise-nonlinear restoring function defined by a clearance surrounded by continuously nonlinear (quadratic and cubic) regions. Typical applications represented by this oscillator are highlighted. A multi-term harmonic balance formulation is used in conjunction with discrete Fourier transforms and a parametric continuation scheme to determine steady-state period-1 motions of the system due to both parametric and external excitations. The accuracy of the analytical solutions is demonstrated by comparing them to direct numerical integration solutions. Floquet theory is applied to determine the stability of the steady-state harmonic balance solutions. At the end, detailed parametric studies are presented to quantify the combined influence of clearance, quadratic and cubic nonlinearities within reasonable ranges of all other system parameters. A comparison between time-varying and time-invariant systems is also provided to demonstrate the influence of the parametric and external excitations on a piecewise-nonlinear system.
Design of RF feed system and cavities for standing-wave accelerator structure

Abstract We are developing a standing wave structure with an rf feed to each individual cell. This approach minimizes rf power flow and electromagnetic energy absorbed by an rf breakdown. The objective of this work is a robust high-gradient (above 100 MV/m) X-band accelerator structure.
Metformin has increased efficacy under obese conditions in a novel genetically engineered mouse model of serous ovarian cancer

respectively). A marked chemoprotective effect was observed with frequent, long-term use of both aspirin (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.24–0.95, P = 0.04) and acetaminophen (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.05–0.82, P= 0.03). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that frequent use of aspirin and acetaminophen for 5 or more years reduces the risk of cervical cancer, supporting their role in cancer prevention. The chemoprotective role of analgesics in cervical cancer opens new venue for future research elucidatingmolecular bases of carcinogenesis. Given thewidespreaduse of NSAIDs and acetaminophen worldwide, further investigation in a larger sample size with better-defined dosing regimens is warranted. Taking into account the existing data on the role of chronic inflammation in persistent high-risk HPV infection, future efforts should focus on primary and secondary prevention of cervical dysplasia.
Differential Phospholipid Binding by Site 3 and Site 4 Toxins IMPLICATIONS FOR STRUCTURAL VARIABILITY BETWEEN VOLTAGE-SENSITIVE SODIUM CHANNEL DOMAINS

It has been shown recently that polypeptide toxins that modulate the gating properties of voltage-sensitive cation channels are able to bind to phospholipid membranes, leading to the suggestion that these toxins are able to access a channel-binding site that remains membrane-restricted (Lee, S.-Y., and MacKinnon, R. (2004) Nature 430, 232–235). We therefore examined the ability of anthopleurin B (ApB), a sea anemone toxin that selectively modifies inactivation kinetics of NaV1.x channels, and ProTx-II, a spider toxin that modifies activation kinetics of the same channels, to bind to liposomes. Whereas ProTx-II can be quantitatively depleted from solution upon incubation with phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine liposomes, ApB displays no discernible phospholipid binding activity. We therefore examined the activities of structurally unrelated site 3 and site 4 toxins derived from Leiurus and Centruroides venoms, respectively, in the same assay. Like ApB, the site 3 toxin LqqV shows no lipid binding activity, whereas the site 4 toxin Centruroides toxin II, like ProTx-II, is completely bound. We conclude that toxins that modify inactivation kinetics via binding to NaV1.x site 3 lack the ability to bind phospholipids, whereas site 4 toxins, which modify activation, have this activity. This inherent difference suggests that the conformation of domain II more closely resembles that of the KVAP channel than does the conformation of domain IV.
Modeling of the human rhinovirus C capsid suggests possible causes for antiviral drug resistance

Human rhinoviruses of the RV-C species are recently discovered pathogens with greater clinical significance than isolates in the RV-A+B species. The RV-C cannot be propagated in typical culture systems; so much of the virology is necessarily derivative, relying on comparative genomics, relative to the better studied RV-A+B. We developed a bioinformatics-based structural model for a C15 isolate. The model showed the VP1–3 capsid proteins retain their fundamental cores relative to the RV-A+B, but conserved, internal RV-C residues affect the shape and charge of the VP1 hydrophobic pocket that confers antiviral drug susceptibility. When predictions of the model were tested in organ cultures or ALI systems with recombinant C15 virus, there was a resistance to capsid-binding drugs, including pleconaril, BTA-188, WIN56291, WIN52035 and WIN52084. Unique to all RV-C, the model predicts conserved amino acids within the pocket and capsid surface pore leading to the pocket may correlate with this activity.
DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI ON THE TRANSCRIPTION OF THE P55IL-2R, C-FOS, C-MYC AND CD69 GENES IN ACTIVATED HUMAN LYMPHOCYTES

Summary Mitogen-activated lymphocytes co-cultured with either purified Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes or the filtrate of trypomastigote suspensions in culture medium manifest a significant decrease in their capacities to express p55 interleukin-2 receptor molecules (p55IL-2R) on their membrane and proliferate. In this study we found that the cytoplasmic levels of p55IL-2R are also markedly reduced under these conditions. This inhibition appeared to result from altered gene transcription since the levels of p55IL-2R mRNA in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) dropped substantially in the presence of parasite suspension filtrate. The rates of decay for p55IL-2R mRNA determined in cultures lacking and containing the parasite filtrate after addition of actinomycin D to inhibit further RNA synthesis were comparable. These results indicated that decreased p55IL-2R mRNA was not due to decreased stability of this mRNA under our conditions and pointed to a transcriptional or pre-transcriptional modification as the likely mechanism by which T. cruzi affects activated lymphocytes. The parasite filtrate did not appear to affect transcription of c-fos or c-myc (known to occur in the very early stages of lymphocyte activation) or that of CD69 (which is concomitant with p55IL-2R transcription). Thus, decreased p55IL-2R gene transcription appears to be a somewhat selective effect of a T. cruzi-derived molecule(s) rather than the consequence of an overall shutdown of gene transcription.
Confidence intervals for n in the exponential order statistics problem

A simplified proof of the basic properties of the estimators in the Exponential Order Statistics (Jelinski-Moranda) Model is given. The method of constructing confidence intervals from hypothesis tests is applied to find conservative confidence intervals for the unknown parameters in the model.
EXTINCTION OF SPIN INTERACTIONS IN THE 2D KONDO LATTICE

A two-dimensional Kondo lattice with inter-site interaction is studied using a canonical transformation to eliminate interactions. Our approach is patterned on Bardeen and Pines' elimination of electron–phonon interaction. It is shown that interactions are eliminated at nonzero temperatures in the thermodynamic limit, in a manner differing radically from the case of phonons.
Nephron underdosing: a programmed cause of chronic renal allograft failure

The findings cited in this report suggest that renal allograft survival might be improved by matching nephron supply to recipient needs (analogous to prescription dialysis based on Kt/V). Methods for assessing functional graft capacity (ie, nephron number, filtration, or total microvascular surface area) are needed. Graft weights might serve as a useful alternative until better indices are devised. Measures for defining and possibly reducing recipient demands are also needed to preserve graft performance. Where gross imbalances between nephron supply and recipient demand are not likely to be corrected over the long term by engraftment of a single kidney, consideration should be given to dual kidney transplantation, currently feasible only from cadaveric, but eventually from xenogeneic sources as well. The predicted longer survival and avoidance of premature return to end-stage renal disease with the transplantation of two kidneys in certain conditions could render this approach more rational, both in clinical and economic terms, than single kidney engraftment for those at greatest risk for shortened graft survival. The dosing of larger numbers of nephrons might also lessen the risk of coexistent hypertension and thereby reduce the magnitude and tempo of immune injury to the graft.
Cell-directed localization and orientation of a functional foreign transmembrane protein within a silica nanostructure.

A simple procedure for introducing functional exogenous membrane-bound proteins to viable cells encapsulated within a lipid templated silica nanostructure is described. In one method, bacteriorhodopsin (bR) was added directly to a Saccharomyces cerevisiae solution along with short zwitterionic diacylphosphatidylcholines (diC6 PC) and mixed with equal volumes of a sol precursor solution. Alternatively, bR was first incorporated into liposomes (bR-proteoliposomes) and then added to an S. cerevisiae solution with diC6 PC, and this was followed by mixing with sol precursor solution. Films prepared from bR added directly to diC6 PC resulted in bR localization near S. cerevisiae cells in a disordered and diffuse fashion, while films prepared from bR-proteoliposomes added to the diC6 PC/yeast solution resulted in preferential localization of bR near yeast cell surfaces, forming bR-containing multilayer vesicles. Importantly, bR introduced via proteoliposomes was observed to modulate pH gradients developed at the...
Automated Statistical Analysis in Stochastic Project Scheduling Simulation

This paper describes a stochastic simulation-based scheduling system (S3) that: (1) integrates the deterministic critical path method (CPM), the probabilistic program evaluation and review technique (PERT), and the stochastic discrete event simulation (DES) approaches into a single system and lets the scheduler make an informed decision as to which method is better suited to the company’s risk-taking culture; (2) automatically determines the minimum number of simulation runs in DES mode and therefore optimizes the simulation process; and (3) provides a terminal method that tests the statistical significance of the differences between simulations, hence eliminating outliers and therefore increasing the accuracy of the DES process. The system is based on an earlier version of the system called stochastic project scheduling simulation and makes use of all the capabilities of this system. The study is of value to practitioners because S3 produces a realistic prediction of the probability of completing a proje...
Exchangeable magnesium in hypertension.

SummaryExchangeable magnesium, expressed per kg of body weight, was decreased in hypertensive men as compared to the controls. The serum magnesium level was also lower in hypertensive men. These changes were not found in hypertensive women. Results in hypertensive women were difficult to interpret accurately, probably because of the obesity of this group.
Monte Carlo study of glassy order in two-dimensional Lennard-Jones systems.

The presence of disordered states in quenched Lennard-Jones systems in two dimensions is investigated by use of Monte Carlo simulations. No glassy state is observed in the one-component Lennard-Jones system; for all the (N,V,T) ensembles studied, the quenched system evolves readily into the ordered solid. When the two-component Lennard-Jones fluid is quenched to a low temperature, depending on the ratios of the concentration ${N}_{A}$/${N}_{B}$ and ``sizes'' ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{AA}}$/${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{BB}}$, it may evolve into either a fairly well-ordered solid, a microcrystalline state, or a disordered solid which may or may not be glassy. The two-component glasses are highly disordered with well-localized particles and have the characteristic split-second peak in the partial pair distribution function ${g}_{\mathrm{BB}}$, which is found in scattering experiments for metallic glasses and previous three-dimensional computer simulations of glasses. The authors propose that these glasses are only metastable and the phase-separated ordered lattice is the ground state. There is no hexatic order in the two-dimensional glasses; they have only short-range bond orientational correlation.
Strong turbulence of plasma waves

This paper reviews recent work related to modulational instability and wave envelope self-focusing in dynamical and statistical systems. After introductory remarks pertinent to nonlinear optics realizations of these effects, the author summarizes the status of the subject in plasma physics, where it has come to be called 'strong Langmuir turbulence'. The paper treats the historical development of pertinent concepts, analytical theory, numerical simulations, laboratory experiments, and spacecraft observations. The role of self-similar self-focusing Langmuir envelope wave packets is emphasized, both in the Zakharov equation model for the wave dynamics and in a statistical theory based on this dynamical model.
Ubiquinone-cytochrome b electron and proton transfer: A functional pK on cytochrome b50 in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides membranes

Abstract 1. 1. A proton is involved in the oxidation and reduction of the b-type cytochromes of the photosynthetic membranes of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides throughout the physiological range. Of the three cytochromes, b155, b50 and b−90 (the subscripts refer to Em values at pH 7.2), a pK is identified on cytochrome b50. This pK is about pH 7.4 and is most likely to be associated with the reduced form such that it does not involve the proton above the pK but does at pH values below the pK. The pK appears to be functional on a time scale for electron transport such as would be encountered in vivo. 2. 2. The kinetics of cytochrome b50 reduction are modified by the state of reduction of P P + after the flash at pH values below the pK's of ubiquinone and cytochrome b50. At pH 6 and Eh 220 mV, i.e., P+ reduced immediately by cytochrome c2, the half-time is 1–2 ms; at Eh 380 mV, i.e., P+ sustained after the flash, the half-time is 25–30 ms. At pH 9, the half-time is 8–10 ms, irrespective of whether or not P+ is sustained or immediately reduced after the flash. 3. 3. The results are discussed in terms of cytochrome b50 and its functional position in the membrane and its interaction with ubiquinone and the handling of protons and in terms of energy conversion processes.
1830 EFFECT OF VARIOUS BODY POSITIONS ON THE RESPIRATORY RATE OF INFANTS WITH TACHYPNEA

In neonatal disease states where lung compliance is reduced (e.g., inadequate resorption of fetal lung fluid, or, surfactant deficiency) an infant's normally low functional residual capacity (FRC) decreases even further. Tachypnea is an efficient compensatory maneuver for the newborn. We evaluated the effect of different bed and body positions on the increased respiratory rate observed in infants with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Seventeen infants were studied (TTN: n=6; RDS: n=6; BPD: n=5) in 4 different positions: supine flat, supine elevated, prone flat and prone elevated. Respiratory rate and heart rate were evaluated in each position. Analysis of variance for the three patient groups showed a lower respiratory rate when the bed was elevated compared to flat (p=.0001), in the prone posture compared to supine (p=.031), and no significant difference in heart rate. The lowest mean respiratory rate occurred when patients were in the prone elevated position. The significant improvement in tachypnea seen in the prone and elevated positions was likely related to improved FRC resulting from reduced cephalad stress on the diaphragm from the abdomen. Positioning neonatal patients with respiratory insufficiency was a simple and safe therapeutic maneuver with prompt and demonstrable benefit.
Prevention of Migraine in Women Throughout the Life Span

Migraine is a common disorder in women. The 1-year prevalence of migraine is 18% in women compared with 6% in men. Migraine most commonly occurs during the reproductive years, affecting 27% of women 30 to 49 years of age. The predominance of this disorder and its social, functional, and economic consequences make migraine an important issue in women's health. The hormonal milieu has a substantial effect on migraine in women. An understanding of these hormonal influences in the various stages of life in females is essential to the management and prevention of migraines. This article reviews migraine prevention strategies with an emphasis on specific therapies for each stage of a woman's life.
Simulation and experimental study of ArF 193 nm laser lift-off AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors

A finite element simulation was used to estimate the temperature distributions within AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) during the laser lift-off process. The time-dependent simulation showed that a thin layer of GaN at the GaN/sapphire interface was heated up to around 1600 K in less than 25 ns by a pulsed laser exposure with a duration of 25 ns and a fluence of 800 mJ/cm2 to decompose this GaN layer into Ga and nitrogen. Experimentally, there was a threshold fluence around 550 mJ/cm2, corresponding to 1300 K at the GaN/sapphire interface, for partially lifting off the HEMT structure from the sapphire. The simulated temperature at the GaN/sapphire interface with a fluence of 420 mJ/cm2 never reached above 1000 K, however, the HEMT structure was lifted-off by multiple laser exposures at this fluence. Therefore, instead of thermally induced decomposition, the lift-off mechanism could also be through the Ga–N bond breaking during the multiple lower-fluence high-energy 193 nm laser exposures.
Comparison of radiolarian/planktonic foraminiferal paleoceanography of the subantarctic Indian Ocean

A detailed paleoceanographic history of the Subantarctic region for the last million years was determined using paleomagnetic stratigraphy, radiolarian and planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy, and the oxygen isotope record from stages 1 to 13 (0.5 MY) in a deep-sea core (E45-74) from the southern Indian Ocean. Changes in the abundances of Antarctissa strelkovi and Neogloboquadrina pachyderma record 12 glacial/interglacial cycles. The paleoceanographic events based on the combined results of these siliceous and calcareous indexes agree with changes in the global ice-volume record. Calcium carbonate dissolution selectively alters the planktonic foraminiferal fauna and causes test fragmentation and increased numbers of benthic foraminifera and radiolarians. Intense periods of calcium carbonate dissolution are associated principally with glacial episodes and are probably related to increased Antarctic bottom-water activity as well as changes in surface-water mass positions.
Temperature measurements using static field magnetic particle spectroscopy

Measuring nanoparticle temperature accurately is particularly important as it could be used in hyperthermia, and whereas with the previous version of MSB the large fields of the hyperthermia apparatus would have made temperature measurements very difficult, by decoupling using the perpendicular static field, measurements perpendicular to the large field should now allow spectroscopic data including quantification of nanoparticle temperature.
Inverse methods for assessing ship-of-opportunity networks and estimating circulation and winds from tropical expendable bathythermograph data

Inverse methods for estimating the surface ciculation of the equatorial Pacific by combining a linear reduced-gravity shallow-water model with the Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere ship-of-opportunity expendable bathythermograph (TOGA SOP XBT) observing program are examined. It is demonstrated that a simple linear model of the upper circulation of the equatorial Pacific can be successfully used as a weak constraint when smoothing the TOGA SOP XBT data. A circulation is sought as the weighted least squares fit to the dynamics and the data. The solution method is an expansion in representer functions, and the generalized inverse problem is thereby reduced from a functional problem to an algebraic problem for the coefficients of the representer. A specific inverse calculation using synthetic forcing and data is presented.
Agile hardware development with rapid hardware definition language

Rapid HDL is a hardware definition language developed in C# for the Microsoft .Net platform. Rapid HDL unifies digital FPGA hardware development and co-software integration. Hardware is scripted using reusable software objects, communication between hardware and software is automatic, and synthesis is automated using a free tool chain. Rapid HDL represents 18,000 lines of code and is freely available under the MIT license.
Entre Sócrates y Descartes: hablar, leer y la naturaleza de la filosofía

In his Meditations, Descartes isolates himself from the world as the indispensable precondition for undertaking philosophical investigation. Nothing could be further from scene of classical philosophy, which is always that of a conversation —and not just in Plato’s dialogues. In this article, I explore some differences between classical and Cartesian philosophy as a consequence of reading practices: the engaged, active style of reading in antiquity versus the modern sense of being removed from the world and alone with the text.
Techniques in Skin Grafting

Free skin grafting, defined as the severing of a piece of skin from its local blood supply and transfer to another location, is thought to have originated in India approximately 2,500 years ago. However, it was not until the nineteenth century that the first accounts appeared in Western literature.
C11ORF95-RELA FUSIONS DRIVE ONCOGENIC NF-KB SIGNALING IN EPENDYMOMA.

BACKGROUND: The nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) family of transcriptional regulators are central mediators of the cellular inflammatory response. Although constitutive NF-kB signaling is present in most human tumours, mutations in pathway members are rare, complicating efforts to understand and block aberrant NF-kB activity in cancer. METHODS: To identify additional genetic alterations that drive ependymoma, we sequenced the whole genomes (WGS) of 41 tumours and matched normal blood, and the transcriptomes (RNAseq) of 77 tumours. The transforming significance of alterations were tested in mouse NSCs that we showed previously to be cells of origin of ependymoma. RESULTS: Here, we show that more than two thirds of supratentorial ependymomas contain oncogenic fusions between RELA, the principal effector of canonical NF-kB signalling, and an uncharacterized gene, C11orf95. In each case, C11orf95-RELA fusions resulted from chromothripsis involving chromosome 11q13.1. C11orf95-RELA fusion proteins translocated spontaneously to the nucleus to activate NF-kB target genes, and rapidly transformed neural stem cells—the cell of origin of ependymoma—to form these tumours in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our data identify the first highly recurrent genetic alteration of RELA in human cancer, and the C11orf95-RELA fusion protein as a potential therapeutic target in supratentorial ependymoma. SECONDARY CATEGORY: Neuropathology & Tumor Biomarkers.
Simulation Of Dislocations In Ordered Ni3Al By Atomic Stiffness Matrix Method

A simulation of structure and motion of edge dislocations in ordered Ni3Al was performed by atomic stiffness matrix method. In this method the equilibrium positions of the atoms were obtained by solving a set of linear equations formed by a stiffness matrix, whose terms consisted of derivatives of the interaction potential of EAM (embedded atom method) type. The superpartial dislocations, separated by an antiphase boundary (APB) on (111), dissociated into Shockley partials with complex stacking faults (CSF) on (111) plane. The core structure, represented by the Burgers vector density distribution and iso-strain contours, changed under applied stresses as well as upon addition of boron. The separation between the superpartials changed with the addition of B and antisite Ni. As one Shockley partial moved out to the surface, a Shockley partial in the interior moved a large distance to join the lone one near the surface, leaving behind a long CSF strip. The decrease in the width of the APB upon addition of B and antisite Ni has been explained by a reduction of the strength of directional bonding between Ni and Al as well as by the dragging of B atmosphere by the superpartials.
The historic influence of dams on diadromous fish habitat with a focus on river herring and hydrologic longitudinal connectivity

The erection of dams alters habitat and longitudinal stream connectivity for migratory diadromous and potamodromous fish species and interrupts much of organismal exchange between freshwater and marine ecosystems. In the US, this disruption began with colonial settlement in the seventeenth century but little quantitative assessment of historical impact on accessible habitat and population size has been conducted. We used published surveys, GIS layers and historical documents to create a database of 1356 dams, which was then analyzed to determine the historical timeline of construction, use and resultant fragmentation of watersheds in Maine, US. Historical information on the anadromous river herring was used to determine natural upstream boundaries to migration and establish total potential alewife spawning habitat in nine watersheds with historic populations. Dams in Maine were constructed beginning in 1634 and by 1850 had reduced accessible lake area to less than 5% of the virgin 892 km2 habitat and 20% of virgin stream habitat. There is a near total loss of accessible habitat by 1860 that followed a west-east pattern of European migration and settlement. Understanding historic trends allows current restoration targets to be assessed and prioritized within an ecosystem-based perspective and may inform expectations for future management of oceanic and freshwater living resources.