cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase-mediated glutathione transport on the radiosensitivity of B16 melanoma variant cell lines

Abstract Purpose: To elucidate the role of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase-mediated glutathione transport on the radiosensitivity of B16 melanoma variant cell lines. Methods and Materials: B16 melanoma variant cell lines were examined for their levels of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGTP; E.C. 2.3.2.2), a plasma membrane-associated ectoenzyme that is involved in the transport of extracellular glutathione, by flow cytometric and biochemical analysis. B16 cell lines were examined for rates of de novo glutathione synthesis from extracellular glutathione and for their sensitivity to γ-irradiation and glutathione synthesis inhibition. The GGTP inhibitors were examined for their effect on the radiosensitivity of B16 melanoma cells. Results: B16-F10-BL6 (BL6) melanoma cells were shown to express a 20-fold higher level of GGTP than the B16-F1 melanoma variant cells. Cultures of BL6 and B16-F1 cells depleted extracellular glutathione at rates of 2.4 and 6 cells/h, respectively, and BL6 cells exported glutathione at a rate 7.2-fold higher than B16-F1 cells (710 and 98 pmol glutathione/10 6 cells/h, respectively). BL6 melanoma cells replenished exhausted intracellular glutathione levels from an extracellular glutathione source at a rate of 1.21 nmol glutathione/h (18% basal glutathione/h); however, B16-F1 cells lacked the capacity to replenish intracellular glutathione despite the presence of exogenous glutathione in the culture medium. BL6 melanoma cells were radioresistant compared to the B16-F1 cell line, exhibiting extrapolation numbers (n) of 14.9 and 1.0, respectively, and a lower surviving fraction to a wide range of radiation doses. The GGTP inhibitor combination of l-serine and sodium borate blocked the repletion of intracellular glutathione and in the presence or absence of buthionine sulfoximine-mediated depletion of glutathione reverses the radiation resistance in BL6 melanoma cells to near baseline levels observed with the B16-F1 parent clone. Serine-borate treatment of low-GGTP expressing B16-F1 cells had no effect on the n value or the surviving fraction of cells to a range of ionizing irradiation doses. Conclusions: These results suggest that GGTP plays an important role in the extracellular metabolism and transport of glutathione, which also provides radioresistance to BL6 melanoma cells in vitro .
Current concepts of mitochondrial disorders in childhood.

Respiratory chain deficiencies have long been regarded as rare neuromuscular diseases mostly originating from mutations in the mitochondrial genome. Research in the last years has created quite a different picture. The clinical sepectrum has expanded to multiorgan disease manifestation, with an estimated minimum incidence in children of 111,000. Mutations in the nuclear genome have been discovered in recent years, thereby adding mendelian genetics to the broadened spectrum of mitochondrial disease. This review summarizes recent advances in mitochondrial disorders with a special focus on childhood presentation and therapeutic approaches that may prove useful in the future.
A more singular singularly perturbed linear system

The singularly perturbed linear system A(\epsilon)\dot{x}+B(\epsilon)x=f(\epsilon, t) is studied. The matrix A(\epsilon) is allowed to be singular not only for \epsilon=0 , but for \epsilon > 0 .
Calixarenes 30. Calixquinones

Chlorine dioxide and thallium trifluoroacetate are shown to be useful reagents for the preparation of calixquinones. p-H-Calix[4]arene(1a),p-H-calix[5]arene (1b), and p-H-calix[6]arene (1c) are oxidized in modest yields by ClO2 to the fully quinonoid compounds calix[4]tetraquinone (2a), calix[5]pentaquinone (2b), and calix[6]hexaquinone (2c), respectively. Although Tl(OCOF3)3 is less effective for the oxidation of 1a-c, it proves to be the reagent of choice for converting partially etherified or esterified calixarenes carrying p-tert-butyl groups directly to partially quinonoid calixarenes. Thus, monosubstituted calix[4]arenes yield triquinones; disubstituted calix[4]arenes yield diquinones; trisubstituted calix[4]arenes yield monquinones; and tetrasubstituted calix[6]arenes yield diquinones. The structures of the calixquinones have been established by elemental analysis, 1H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and in the case of 2c by X-ray crystallography. Since the starting materials are readily accessible, the calixquinones become easily available compounds for further study.
Being Kolla: Indigenous Identity in Northwestern Argentina

AbstractUsing a case study of the Kolla in Argentina, this paper considers how indigenous identity may be constructed, practiced, and imagined in Latin America. People in the northwestern highlands have only recently begun to reclaim an identity as “indigenous” people. Reimagining their identity has been highly contested by the larger society. Nationally, the image of Argentina as a “European” nation denies the inclusion of indigenous peoples. Moreover, many of the Kolla have found being identified as an “Indio” a source of stigma rather than of pride. The debate, shrouded in “scientific” jargon on language, archaeological sites, and historical migration, has immediate and material consequences: “indigenous” peoples are entitled to specific rights in the national constitution, rights which poor white peasants do not necessarily share.
Polarization Separation by an Adaptive Filter

The technique of adaptive filtering as applied to the design of a frequency-reuse receiving antenna which can provide optimum isolation from signals of unwanted polarization.
Effects of Cn2 on a vertically pointing diffraction-limited lidar

Examples of different Cn2 profiles lead to substantially different profiles of lidar image radius in a study of the calculated performance of a diffraction-limited lidar system. The differences in image radii indicate the usefulness of a ground-based lidar for measurement of Cn2 profiles used to predict optical propagation phenomena. We conclude that the overall strength of the Cn2 profile and its general altitude dependence can be determined from inspection of the image radius profile. Approximate calculations of available and required SNRs show that a lidar with a telescope aperture of 0.5 m and a few pulses of ~1-J total transmitted energy will provide useful image radius data to an altitude of 20 km under daytime conditions. The weighting function for sensitivity of the fractional increase in image radius to changes of Cn2 on a logarithmic altitude scale is approximately constant with height.
Língua(gem) e identidade: a estranha-familiar língua da escola

This study analyzes narratives produced by teachers of Portuguese who do not have only this language in their langagiere inscription, with the purpose of reflecting on their relationship with the language(s) at school. Our corpus is composed by 14 interviews with public basic school teachers in the region of Concordia (Santa Catarina state, Southern Brazil) whose socio-cultural history is featured by European immigration. Our analyses have shown that school practice keeps in silence a history that is remarkably plural, without allowing it becomes utterable and failing to work out its relationship with the linguistic 1 Este texto e fruto de minha tese de doutoramento, defendida em julho de 2008, no Instituto de Estudos da Linguagem, da UNICAMP, sob orientacao da profa. Dra. Maria Jose Rodrigues Faria Coracini, e contou com o apoio financeiro da FAPESP. Tambem foi apresentado no II Congresso Latino-Americano sobre F ormacao de Professores de Linguas, no Rio de Janeiro, em 2008, e uma versao alterada consta dos Anais deste.
The synthesis of 14C and 3H‐labeled N‐(2‐p‐azidophenylethyl)‐norlevorphanol

Synthetic procedures for N-(2-p–azidophenylethyl)-norlevorphanol (9) labeled with 14C and 3H at the 1-position of the 2-phenylethyl moiety are presented. A process for synthesis of p-nitrophenylacetic-1-14C acid from p-chloro-nitrobenzene and methyl cyano-14C-acetate is described. The nitro acid was converted to 9 in a six step procedure, proceeding through 2-(p-aminophenyl)ethanol (6) as a key intermediate. The alcohol (6) was also prepared with 3H label via reduction of methyl p-aminophenylacetate with sodium borotritide-aluminium chloride.
NEWER DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES AND PROBLEMS IN CUSHING'S DISEASE

The diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome are challenging clinical problems in endocrinology. Traditional approaches have failed to provide adequate sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the diagnosis of Cushing's disease. During the past decade, new diagnostic tests and procedures have emerged and improved the ability to recognize even mild hypercortisolism and have provided the means to secure an accurate differential diagnosis. Despite these advances, new problems continue to surface and challenge clinical intuition. This article reviews new tests as well as new diagnostic problems in the evaluation of patients with suspected Cushing's disease.
Ion-selective electrodes with three-dimensionally ordered macroporous carbon as the solid contact.

Electrodes with three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) carbon as the intermediate layer between an ionophore-doped solvent polymeric membrane and a metal contact are presented as a novel approach to solid-contact ion-selective electrodes (SC-ISEs). Due to the well-interconnected pore and wall structure of 3DOM carbon, filling of the 3DOM pores with an electrolyte solution results in a nanostructured material that exhibits high ionic and electric conductivity. The long-term drift of freshly prepared SC-ISEs with 3DOM carbon contacts is only 11.7 μV/h, and does not increase when in contact with solution for 1 month, making this the most stable SC-ISE reported so far. The electrodes show good resistance to the interference from oxygen. Moreover, in contrast to previously reported SC-ISEs with conducting polymers as the intermediate layer, 3DOM carbon is an electron conductor rather than a semiconductor, eliminating any light interference.
The History of the Personality of Anthropology

BY PERSONALITY we mean the totality of the faculties, bent, qualities, and temperament which characterize an individual person. When the term is applied by transfer to anthropology, it continues to denote characteristic activities and propensities, but propensities now of the current of anthropological inquiry viewed as a unit or whole. It is thus plain that my title will not allow me to escape the holistic aspects of our chosen branch of science. I will seek to pinpoint the core, but cannot ignore the peripheries; and our peripheries are wide. Yet in spite of much pervasive homogeneity of the personality of anthropology, I must start, paradoxically, with a duality. When we put anthropology and sociology side by side, it is astonishing how diverse they are in most of what they specifically do and actually occupy themselves with, and yet how alike they prove to be in their general assumptions and basic theory. Sociologists and anthropologists agree in dealing with sociocultural phenomena autonomously. Sociocultural data rest on biotic and individual psychic factors, of course, and are therefore limited by them; but they are not in any serious measure derivable, constructively explicable, from them. The analysis and understanding of sociocultural phenomena must be made first of all in terms of sociocultural structure and process. Durkheim called them "social facts"; Spencer, "superorganic effects" which themselves became causes and conditions; Tylor appropriated and defined the term "culture." It is a truism, but also an inescapable fact, that man's societies always exist in association with a culture; his cultures, with a society. Particular studies can abstract from the social aspects of a situation to investigate the cultural aspects, or the reverse, or they can deal with the interaction of the social and cultural aspects. This is common doctrine of the two sciences; and it is in contrast with
Probing the interaction of bovine cytochrome P450scc (CYP11A1) with adrenodoxin: evaluating site-directed mutations by molecular modeling.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of positively charged amino acid residues proposed to reside on the proximal surface of bovine cytochrome P450 cholesterol side chain cleavage (P450scc, CYP11A1) and to determine which residues may be involved in protein−protein interactions with the electron carrier adrenodoxin (Adx). In previous studies, nine different lysine residues were identified by chemical and immunological cross-linking experiments as potentially interacting with Adx, while in the present study, two arginine residues have been identified from sequence alignments. From these 11 residues, 13 different P450scc mutants were made of which only seven were able to be expressed and characterized. Each of the seven mutants were evaluated for their ability to bind Adx, to be reduced, and for their enzymatic activity. Among these, K403Q and K405Q showed a consistent decrease in Adx binding, the ability to be reduced by Adx, and enzymatic activity, with K405Q being affected to a much grea...
Long‐Term Effects of Residue Management in Wheat‐Fallow: I. Inputs, Yield, and Soil Organic Matter

Soil organic matter (SOM) is valuable, because of both its beneficial effect on soil quality and crop productivity and its potential to sequester C. Long-term experiments provide an opportunity to identify crop management practices that enhance or degrade soil quality. This study was initiated in 1931 to determine residue management effects on crop yield and SOM (organic C and N) in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow system. The soil is a coarse-silty, mixed, mesic Typic Haploxeroll. Treatments include (units ha⁻¹ crop⁻¹) 22.4 Mg manure, 2.24 Mg pea vine residue, 0, 45, and 90 kg N with and without spring burning of straw, and 0 kg N with fall burning of straw. Yearly C and N inputs and removals have been determined since 1976, and calculated for prior periods. Soil C and N have been determined at ≈ 11-yr intervals. Manure, which supplies 111 kg N ha⁻¹ crop⁻¹, has consistently produced the highest yield and maintained the highest soil C and N contents. Other treatments initially yielded from 80 to 90% of the manure treatment, but have progressively declined in direct relation to decreasing soil N content. Low-fertility treatments currently yield from 43 to 57% of the manure treatment. The change in soil C and N with time is nearly linear for all treatments, and highly correlated with residue input. Treatment effects on soil C and N have been confined to the top 30 cm of soil, but there has been a slow steady decline in C and N in the 30- to 60-cm zone that is not related to residue management. Oregon State Univ. Agric. Exp. Stn. Technical Paper no. 10 132.
Wavelet filtering of GPS network data for identification of ionospheric disturbances associated with tsunamis

Acoustic-Gravity Waves (AGWs) in the neutral atmosphere can induce disturbances in the ionosphere that are subsequently observable in trans-ionospheric Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements. Disruptive events on the Earths surface, such as earthquakes, tsunamis and large explosions are one source of these disturbances. In this presentation, we applied wavelet decomposition to detect the presence of ionospheric disturbances in dual frequency GNSS time series collected from the GEONET (Japan) and SCIGN (Southern California) networks during the Peru tsunami on June 23 2001 and the Chile Tsunami on February 27 2010. Through use of the wavelet decomposition, we are able to find two wave trains, present in the data collected from both networks, with frequencies of approximately 0.0005–0.0011 Hz and 0.0016–0.0167 Hz. The speed and direction of arrival of the disturbances are found through cross-correlating every pair of stations in several sub-areas of each network. These were found to be compatible with the arrival direction and speed of a disturbance created from the Tsunami, with propagation speeds of 101 – 265 m/s and 559 – 1195 m/s, respectively.
Efficient sparse matrix vector multiplication using compressed graph

Scientific modeling and simulations are popularly used in science and engineering communities to explain complicate phenomena or to extract knowledge from structured or unstructured data along with theoretical analysis and physical experiments. Generally, these models are represented as partial differential equations (PDEs) which can be solved numerically using meshes and sparse matrices. Typically, matrix vector multiplication is the most dominating module in the solution of PDEs. Therefore, efficient matrix vector multiplication algorithm is a critical component in scientific computing simulations. In this paper, we proposed a sparse matrix vector multiplication using compressed graph. Our experiments show that the proposed algorithm reduces cache misses by 65% at best with a little bit of memory overhead.
An approach to benchmarking configuration complexity

Configuration is the process whereby components are assembled or adjusted to produce a functional system that operates at a specified level of performance. Today, the complexity of configuration is a major impediment to deploying and managing computer systems. We describe an approach to quantifying configuration complexity, with the ultimate goal of producing a configuration complexity benchmark. Our belief is that such a benchmark can drive progress towards self-configuring systems. Unlike traditional workload-based performance benchmarks, our approach is process-based. It generates metrics that reflect the level of human involvement in the configuration process, quantified by interaction time and probability of successful configuration. It computes the metrics using a model of a standardized human operator, calibrated in advance by a user study that measures operator behavior on a set of parameterized canonical configuration actions. The model captures the human component of configuration complexity at low cost and provides representativeness and reproducibility.
An analysis of nineteenth-century frontier populations

Para ilustrar con mayor precisi6n la real naturaleza demografica del movimiento migratorio de los Estados Unidos hacia el Oeste, se estudio la evolucion de la poblacion durante el periodo que abarco la rapida colonizacion de las fronteras agricolas del Noroeste y del Lejano Oeste entre 1840 y 1860, y se comparo con las caracteristicas de los Estados Unidos en conjunto y de otras regiones durante el mismo periodo. Contrariamente a lo que corrientemente se afirma en cuanto que, el movimiento migratorio haciael Oester estuvo principalmente formado por hombres jovenes, el analisis indico que fue ante todo un movimiento de familias. Los nin~os menores de 10 an~os de edad constituyeron alrededor de un tercio de las poblaciones de la frontera y las mujeres de todas las edades alcanzaron a mas del 44 por ciento, en tanto que los hombres mayores de 20 an~os de edad representaron solo 28 por ciento de la poblacion agricola media de esas regiones.
Molecular Interactions between Single-stranded DNA-binding Proteins Associated with an Essential MCAT Element in the Mouse Smooth Muscle α-Actin Promoter

Transcriptional activity of the mouse vascular smooth muscle α-actin gene in fibroblasts is regulated, in part, by a 30-base pair asymmetric polypurine-polypyrimidine tract containing an essential MCAT enhancer motif. The double-stranded form of this sequence serves as a binding site for a transcription enhancer factor 1-related protein while the separated single strands interact with two distinct DNA binding activities termed VACssBF1 and 2 (Cogan, J. G., Sun, S., Stoflet, E. S., Schmidt, L. J., Getz, M. J., and Strauch, A. R. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 11310–11321; Sun, S., Stoflet, E. S., Cogan, J. G., Strauch, A. R., and Getz, M. J. (1995) Mol. Cell. Biol. 15, 2429–2936). VACssBF2 has been recently cloned and shown to consist of two closely related proteins, Purα and Purβ (Kelm, R. J., Elder, P. K., Strauch, A. R., and Getz, M. J. (1997)J. Biol. Chem. 272, 26727–26733). In this study, we demonstrate that Purα and Purβ interact with each other via highly specific protein-protein interactions and bind to the purine-rich strand of the MCAT enhancer in the form of both homo- and heteromeric complexes. Moreover, both Pur proteins interact with MSY1, a VACssBF1-like protein cloned by virtue of its affinity for the pyrimidine-rich strand of the enhancer. Interactions between Purα, Purβ, and MSY1 do not require the participation of DNA. Combinatorial interactions between these three single-stranded DNA-binding proteins may be important in regulating activity of the smooth muscle α-actin MCAT enhancer in fibroblasts.
Components of a computer architecture education

Computer Architecture, if it is a science, is a science of tradeoffs. Thus, the more cases (computer designs) we examine and the more we understand about the components of a particular case, the better we can make those trade-offs. The reality, of course, is that computer architecture is not a science at all, but rather a, craft. This paper explores some of the training that is essential in developing the capability of the craftsman.
Differences in medication use in the Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging initiative: analysis of baseline characteristics.

Introduction The ADNI (Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative) is a large longitudinal study of patients with probable Alzheimer’s disease (AD), patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy elderly controls followed for at least 2–3 years. Many participants in the ADNI are being treated with medications, and these may have beneficial or deleterious effects. Objective The goal of the study was to characterize baseline medication use in the ADNI. Methods Diagnosis, demographics, medication status, psychometric data and MRI measures of hippocampal volume and entorhinal cortex thickness were obtained for 818 participants from the ADNI cohort. Total number of medications, Beers list (potentially dangerous) medications and AD treatments were also tabulated. ANOVA and logistic regression were used to assess associations between baseline pharmacotherapy and diagnosis, demographics, and selected clinical and MRI variables. Results Of the 818 enrolled ADNI participants, 809 were available for analysis in the present study, including 184 patients with AD, 399 patients with MCI and 226 healthy elderly controls. Significant gender differences in recruitment were observed in the MCI group. The average number of medications per participant was 8 (SD 4) and 22% reported treatment with one or more Beers list medications. For symptomatic treatment of MCI or AD, donepezil and memantine were the most commonly reported drugs. As expected, MCI and AD patients with more severe impairment were more likely to be treated. Men received treatment more frequently than women. Older subjects and those with less education were less likely to receive treatment. Conclusions AD and MCI participants from the ADNI cohort were being treated with polypharmacy and many were also taking one or more medications with the potential for adverse effects. Off-label use of cholinesterase inhibitors and/or memantine for MCI was common, with more severely affected patients most likely to receive treatment. Differences in the frequency of symptomatic treatment were also observed as a function of age, years of education, gender and disease severity.
A Trace Fossil on a Silurian Bivalve: Evidence of Predatory Boring?

A Silurian bivalve steinkern, collected from northwestern Ohio, USA, preserves a trace indicative of parasitic or predatory attack. More than 200 steinkerns of Megalomoidea Cox, were visually inspected for evidence of biotic interaction. Of these specimens, one steinkern preserves a trace fossil, as a single, small cylindrical protrusion on its surface. After reconstructing the bivalve shell, the trace fossil is shown to represent a cylindrical hole, of sufficient depth to have penetrated the shell. Preserved morphological characters allow assignment of this trace to Oichnus simplexBromley. The trace represents either predation or parasitism on this epifaunal bivalve. While evidence of shell boring is common among post-Paleozoic bivalves, this example represents one of only a handful of cases found in older bivalves. Undoubtedly, there are evolutionary explanations for this pattern, but the low frequency of preserved Paleozoic aragonitic shells indicates that preservational biases may play an important ro...
Alteration of phosphorylation of ribosomal proteins as a function of variation of growth conditions of primary cells.

Abstract In vitro phosphorylation of ribosomal proteins by a ribosomal protein kinase has revealed that the initial rate and the final level of phosphorylation vary with conditions under which the cells are cultivated. Cells grown in medium containing serum yield the most active ribosomes, while those maintained in protein-free medium are least active. Cells exposed to insulin as the sole protein produce ribosomes intermediate in phosphorylating activity. The shift in phosphorylating activity occurs within 2 hours after the modification of the growth conditions. The protein kinase and the substrate proteins can be resolved by a difference in heat stability, by detergent and high salt elution and by column fractionation.
Platelets protect from septic shock by inhibiting macrophage-dependent inflammation via the cyclooxygenase 1 signalling pathway

Although it has long been known that patients with sepsis often have thrombocytopenia and that septic patients with severe thrombocytopenia have a poor prognosis and higher mortality, the role of platelets in the pathogenesis of sepsis is poorly understood. Here we report a protective role of platelets in septic shock. We show that experimental thrombocytopenia induced by intraperitoneal injection of an anti-glycoprotein Ibα monoclonal antibody increases mortality and aggravates organ failure, whereas transfusion of platelets reduces mortality in lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia and a bacterial infusion mouse sepsis model. Plasma concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 are elevated by thrombocytopenia and decreased by platelet transfusion in septic mice. Furthermore, we identify that platelets protect from septic shock by inhibiting macrophage-dependent inflammation via the COX1/PGE₂/EP4-dependent pathway. Thus, these findings demonstrate a previously unappreciated role for platelets in septic shock and suggest that platelet transfusion may be effective in treating severely septic patients.
Bounded rigidity of manifolds and asymptotic dimension growth

We provide a bounded rigidity result for uniformly contractible manifolds with bounded geometry and sufficiently slow asymptotic dimension growth. This notion of asymptotic growth is a generalization of Gromov's definition of asymptotic dimension. In particular for these manifolds we prove that the bounded assembly map is an isomorphism. Our result is inspired by the coarse Baum-Connes results of Yu and the development of squeezing structures.
Dual-Bandpass Filters With Individually Controllable Passbands

A novel dual-band filter based on split-ring resonators (SRRs) and double-slit complementary SRRs is presented. The size of the filter is small and the two passbands can be individually designed. The basic cell of the filter is presented and analyzed, and then the multistage dual-passband filter is achieved by cascading basic cells. The design graphs for external quality factors of the resonators at input and output stages and the coupling coefficient between the adjacent resonators are constructed. The design graphs are utilized to determine the proper geometric parameters of each filter stage for a given filter specification. As an example, a prototype three-stage Chebyshev filter with a fractional bandwidth (FBW) of 2% at 0.9 GHz and a FBW of 3% at 1.3 GHz is demonstrated. The prototyped filter has an equal ripple of 0.4 dB at both passbands. The measurements of the prototyped filter agree well with the simulation results. The center frequencies and the FBWs of the two passbands of the prototyped filter can be individually designed with more flexibility compared to dual-band filters that utilize resonances of higher order modes. The overall size reduction of the proposed filter can be as high as by a factor of 3 compared to that of edge-coupled microstrip filters.
Microglia serve as a neuroimmune substrate for stress-induced potentiation of CNS pro-inflammatory cytokine responses.

Prior exposure to a stressor can potentiate CNS pro-inflammatory immune responses to a peripheral immune challenge. However, the neuroimmune substrate(s) mediating this effect has not been determined. The present investigation examined whether microglia serve as this neuroimmune substrate given that microglia are the primary immune effector cell in the CNS. The effect of inescapable shock (IS) on glial activation (MHC II, CD11b, Iba-1, and GFAP) and regulatory markers (CD200) in vivo, and microglia pro-inflammatory responses (interleukin-1β; IL-1β) to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) ex vivo, were assessed in rat hippocampus. IS upregulated the microglia activation marker MHC II 24 h post-IS, while the astroglia marker GFAP was unaffected. IS also downregulated the neuronal glycoprotein CD200, which functions to hold microglia in a quiescent state. Moreover, IS potentiated the pro-inflammatory response to LPS ex vivo 24 h post-IS in isolated hippocampal microglia. Finally, the behavioral controllability of shock was manipulated and the effect of escapable (controllable) shock was comparable to the effect of IS on hippocampal microglia responses to LPS ex vivo. The present results suggest that stress can activate microglia, thereby sensitizing the pro-inflammatory reactivity of microglia to immunogenic stimuli.
Single-Fiber Push-In vs. Single-Fiber Push-Out: A Comparison Between Two Test Methods to Determine the Interfacial Properties of Brittle Matrix Composites

Interfacial properties of Nicalon{trademark}-reinforced brittle matrix composites were determined from single-fiber load-controlled push-in tests using a Mechanical Properties Microprobe (Nanoindenter) and single-fiber displacement-controlled push-out tests using the Interfacial Test System (ITS). A comparison between the results from these two tests is presented along with a discussion of data analysis techniques.
A unified approach for simplifying polygonal and spline models

We present a new approach for simplifying models composed of polygons or spline patches. Given an input model, the algorithm computes a new representation of the model in terms of triangular Bezier patches. It performs a series of geometric operations, consisting of patch merging and swapping diagonals, and makes use of batch connectivity information to generate C-LODs (curved levels-of-detail). Each C-LOD is represented using cubic triangular Bezier patches. The C-LODs provide a compact representation for storing the model. The algorithm tries to minimize the surface deviation error and maintains continuity at patch boundaries. Given the CLODs, the algorithm can generate their polygonal approximations using static and dynamic tessellation schemes. It has been implemented and we highlight its performance on a number of polygonal and spline models.
ADP-Ribosylation of NLRP3 by Mycoplasma pneumoniae CARDS Toxin Regulates Inflammasome Activity

ABSTRACT The inflammasome is a major regulator of inflammation through its activation of procaspase-1, which cleaves prointerleukin-1β (pro-IL-1β) into its mature form. IL-1β is a critical proinflammatory cytokine that dictates the severity of inflammation associated with a wide spectrum of inflammatory diseases. NLRP3 is a key component of the inflammasome complex, and multiple signals and stimuli trigger formation of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex. In the current study, we uncovered a yet unknown mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome activation by a pathogen-derived factor. We show that the unique bacterial ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating toxin produced by Mycoplasma pneumoniae and designated community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) toxin activates the NLRP3 inflammasome by colocalizing with the NLRP3 inflammasome and catalyzing the ADP-ribosylation of NLRP3. Mutant full-length CARDS toxin lacking ADP-ribosyltransferase (ADPRT) activity and truncated CARDS toxins unable to bind to macrophages and be internalized failed to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome. These studies demonstrate that CARDS toxin-mediated ADP-ribosylation constitutes an important posttranslational modification of NLRP3, that ADPRT activity of CARDS toxin is essential for NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and that posttranslational ADPRT-mediated modification of the inflammasome is a newly discovered mechanism for inflammasome activation with subsequent release of IL-1β and associated pathologies. IMPORTANCE Inflammation is a fundamental innate immune response to environmental factors, including infections. The inflammasome represents a multiprotein complex that regulates inflammation via its ability to activate specific proinflammatory cytokines, resulting in an effective host protective response. However, excessive release of proinflammatory cytokines can occur following infection that skews the host response to “hyperinflammation” with exaggerated tissue damage. Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a common bacterial airway pathogen, possesses a unique protein toxin with ADP-ribosyltransferase and vacuolating properties capable of reproducing the robust inflammation and cytopathology associated with mycoplasma infection. Here, we show that the toxin uniquely activates the NLRP3 inflammasome by colocalizing with and ADP-ribosylating NLRP3, possibly leading to “hyperinflammation” and thus uncovering a novel target for therapeutic intervention.
Hormonal expression through genetic mechanisms.

Hormones may act at the molecular level (1) by changing the properties of the cell membrane or the membrane of some intracellular organelle, (2) by inducing an allosteric change in the conformation of a protein molecule so as to alter its enzymatic activity, (3) by altering the rate of synthesis of a specific protein, (4) by serving as a co-substrate in a specific enzymatic reaction, or (5) by initiating the transcription of a specific section of DNA and producing a specific messenger RNA for the production of a specific protein. The last mechanism appears to be involved in the response of the larva of the blowfly to the hormone, ecdysone. These theories are not mutually exclusive, and a given hormone may have more than one mechanism of action. The effects of androgens on the ventral prostate of the rat and the effects of estrogens on the endometrium of the rat's uterus appear to be mediated by the production of the specific kind of RNA. Testosterone increases the weight of the seminal vesicle and prostate of the rat by increasing the synthesis of a specific kind of RNA. RNA extracted from the seminal vesicle of one rat can be instilled into the lumen of the seminal vesicle of another rat and lead to growth similar to that induced by the injection of testosterone. Treatment of the RNA with ribonuclease or by heating destroys this activity. Experiments with luteinizing hormone show that it has three clearly distinct effects on ovarian metabolism and three different mechanisms of action in this one tissue.
Chemosensory transduction in eukaryotic microorganisms.

Signal transduction is a topic that pervades the current literature, and well it should, since it encompasses studies from mitogenesis to synaptic transmis­ sion (1,19,124), Recent years have seen pieces of many cell and physiolog­ ical puzzles fall into place, and the pieces repeatedly are cell surface receptors (30, 130), G proteins (12, 13,49,63,82), second messengers (3, 6, 7, 78b, 90), and protein kinases and phosphatases (33, 43, 58, 65, 72, 97). The excitement of the plot unraveling is being felt in the studies of the chemical senses, in which the primary signals, i.e. ligands for receptors, are chemicals from the outside environment, and the end response can be the sensations of taste or smell in metazoa or the motile or mating responses of unicellular organisms. Here too, at the receptor cell level, the puzzle parts of receptors and signal transduction are being teased out of cells' proteins and genes (16, 24, 67, 78, 105, 141, 147). One chapter in this volume (J. Armitage) describes the intricate detail into which the bacterial chemoresponse system can be dissected (see also 14). Other chapters concentrate on vertebrate taste and insect olfaction. This chapter focuses on chemosensory transduction in eukaryotic microorganisms. These organisms have proven to be useful in making steady progress in the field of chemical sensing, while technical advances are only now allowing the
The Association of Alcohol and Drug Use with Persistence of Violent Offending in Young Adulthood

Purpose This study expanded upon an earlier study, which examined the associations between heavy drinking and persistence of serious violent offending through emerging adulthood (approximate age 25), by examining associations between alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use and disorders and persistence of serious violent offending through young adulthood (approximate age 36).
Regulation of 25 hydroxyvitamin D3 1-hydroxylase in serum-free monolayer culture of mouse kidney.

Primary monolayer cultures of cells from normal mouse kidney were initiated and maintained in serum-free medium supplemented with insulin, transferrin and prostaglandin E1. Renal epithelial cells grow to confluence without detectable growth of fibroblasts. These cells contain an active 25(OH)D 3 1-hydroxylase with half-maximal formation of 1,25(OH>2D3 achieved at a substrate concentration of 13.3 nM. Activity of this enzyme is increased by low calcium medium or parathyroid hormone and decreased by high calcium medium, high phosphate medium or 1,25(HO)2D3
The 1999 (Mw 7.1) Hector Mine, California, Earthquake: Near-Field Postseismic Deformation from ERS Interferometry

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data over the area of the Hector Mine earthquake (Mw 7.1, 16 October 1999) reveal postseismic deformation of several centimeters over a spatial scale of 0.5 to 50 km. We analyzed seven SAR acquisitions to form interferograms over four time periods after the event. The main deformations seen in the line-of-sight (LOS) displacement maps are a region of subsidence (60 mm LOS increase) on the northern end of the fault, a region of uplift (45 mm LOS decrease) located to the northeast of the primary fault bend, and a linear trough running along the main rupture having a depth of up to 15 mm and a width of about 2 km. We correlate these features with a double left-bending, rightlateral, strike-slip fault that exhibits contraction on the restraining side and extension along the releasing side of the fault bends. The temporal variations in the near-fault postseismic deformation are consistent with a characteristic time scale of 135 + 42 or - 25 days, which is similar to the relaxation times following the 1992 Landers earthquake. High gradients in the LOS displacements occur on the fault trace, consistent with afterslip on the earthquake rupture. We derive an afterslip model by inverting the LOS data from both the ascending and descending orbits. Our model indicates that much of the afterslip occurs at depths of less than 3 to 4 km.
Plug and play information sharing architecture and its application in green supply chain management

Current consciousness in environment protection requires manufactures to green their supply chain. To do this, more business units and more complicated information and material flows will be involved. Another parameter is related to environment information, which is most important to green the supply chain. This brings new requirements and function to the information systems. In this paper we presented a new architecture for information sharing. Its application in green supply chain management (GSCM) is discussed. A special software entity called PMM (product material management) which was developed in a previous project based on this strategy is also introduced.
Reactive oxygen species mediate arachidonic acid-induced dilation in porcine coronary microvessels.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been proposed to mediate vasodilation in the microcirculation. We investigated the role of ROS in arachidonic acid (AA)-induced coronary microvascular dilation. P...
Synthesis of 2H-, 3H- and 14C-labelled CP-45,634 (sorbinil)

The syntheses of 3H- and 14C-label led S-(+)-6-fluoro-2,3-dihydrospiro-[4H-1-benzopyran-4,4′-imidazolidin]-2′,5′-dione (sorbinil, CP-45,634), an aldose reductase inhibitor with potential utility in the treatment of chronic diabetic complications, are described. Tritiated sorbinil was prepared by a reductive dehalogenation of the 8-chloro substituted analog with 3H2. 14C-labelled CP-45,634 was prepared using a Bucherer-Bergs synthesis of the racemic hydanto in beginning with 2,3-dihydro-6-fluoro-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one and 14C-potassium cyanide, followed by brucine resolution to isolate the pharmacologically active S-(+)-enantiomer.
Development of a Flexible Manufacturing Laboratory

The author describes the design of the Flexible Manufacturing Laboratory (FML) in the School of Technology, Purdue University. Presently, FML is in the conceptual design stage. It covers over 5000 sq. ft. of bay area and spans four manufacturing areas. The needs and contents of the FML are assessed through collaboration betwen faculty members involved in differnt aspects of the manufacturing process. FML will be a full-scale manufacturing facility, an extension of the existing smaller-scale Computer Integrated Manufacturing Laboratory. As opposed to this small-scale system, the proposed FML will have regular-size computer-numerical-control (CNC) machines, and transport and storage systems. >
Effects of initial form of chromium on electrokinetic remediation in clays

Abstract This paper presents the results of a laboratory investigation performed to evaluate the effects of the initial form of chromium on the electrokinetic remedial efficiency for contaminated clays. Electrokinetic experiments were conducted by contaminating clays with chromium in three different forms: Cr(III) alone, Cr(VI) alone, and a combination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI). The same total chromium concentration of 1000 mg/kg was maintained in all cases. Ni(II) and Cd(II) in concentrations of 500 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg, respectively, were also introduced into the clays as co-contaminants to simulate typical electroplating waste constituents. Two different clays, kaolin, a typical low buffering clay and glacial till, a typical high buffering clay, were tested. All tests were conducted with a constant voltage gradient of 1.0 VDC/cm. The test results showed that chromium migration was highest when it was present in kaolin in the Cr(III) form and in glacial till in the Cr(VI) form. When chromium was present in Cr(III) form, migration occurred towards the cathode due to the existence of Cr(III) as cation and cationic hydroxide complexes. Cr(III) migration was not observed in glacial till because of precipitation that resulted from high pH conditions that existed throughout the glacial till. However, when chromium was present in Cr(VI) form, the migration occurred towards the anode, due to the existence of Cr(VI) as soluble oxyanions. The migration of Cr(VI) was higher in glacial till as compared to kaolin due to alkaline conditions that existed in the glacial till, resulting in negligible Cr(VI) adsorption to soil solids. When chromium was present as a combination of Cr(VI) and Cr(III), Cr(VI) migrated towards the anode, while Cr(III) migrated towards the cathode. For these cases, the total chromium migration was lower than the migration observed when only Cr(III) was present in kaolin or when only Cr(VI) was present in glacial till. No migration was observed for the co-contaminants, Ni(II) and Cd(II), in glacial till due to precipitation as a result of alkaline conditions. In kaolin, however, Ni(II) and Cd(II) migrated towards the cathode. Overall, the test results show that significant removal of contaminants from the soils was not achieved for the processing periods utilized. This study clearly demonstrated that the efficiency of the electrokinetic removal of chromium, nickel and cadmium from the contaminated clays depends on the initial form of chromium as well as the soil chemistry. Enhancement strategies should be investigated in order to enhance contaminant migration and to achieve high removal efficiencies.
Toddlers with Developmental Delays and Challenging Behaviors

Behavior problems and parental expectations and practices were studied in a sample of 58 toddlers with developmental disabilities who were consecutively referred to a mental health clinic. The majority of children (70.7%) exceeded the clinical cut‐off score for significant behavior problems including tantrums, aggression, defiance, and hyperactivity, and 77.6% met the DSM‐IV criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis with oppositional defiant disorder being the most common. Consistent with previous research, child behavior problems were related to parental use of verbal and corporal punishment and were detrimental to the quality of the parent–child relationship. A new finding was that parental expectations also were positively related to the emergence of early child behavior problems.
Relationship of Accelerated Test Methods for Exfoliation Resistance in 7XXX Series Aluminum Alloys with Exposure to a Seacoast Atmosphere

Accelerated corrosion tests are necessary and an invaluable aid to research and quality control engineers; provided that the test has adequate discriminatory ability and the test results relate to serviceability of the metal. An inherent problem associated with accelerated exfoliation tests is the definition of different degrees of susceptibility and the interpretation of borderline performances. The concern in the present instance is that truly insignificant exfoliation tendencies may be magnified out of proportion by the very rapid exfoliation tests now being used in materials specifications for exfoliation resistant 7XXX-T7 alloy products. Correlation of accelerated tests with service environments or the equivalent is necessary, and it'is highly desirable that the range of performances observed in the accelerated test be related to a similar range of performances under service conditions. This paper contains the results of relatively long exposures of test panels to the salt atmosphere at a location about 100 yd from a stony beach at Point Judith, Rhode Island, where the corrosive conditions are representative of other very corrosive environments. These extended exposures are of particular interest because they furnish a basis of evaluating indications of borderline susceptibility to exfoliation revealed in the accelerated corrosion tests. Four- to eight-year exposures to this aggressive seacoast atmosphere have demonstrated the excellent resistance to exfoliation of 7075-T73 and T76 and 7178-T76 products, whereas exfoliation susceptible T6 temper materials displayed considerable exfoliation after short exposures, sometimes after only three to six months. Both the EXCO immersion test (ASTM G 34-72) and the salt spray test (modified ASTM acetic acid salt intermittent spray) developed the same basic type of corrosion that occurred in the seacoast atmosphere. It was shown, however, that the accelerated tests, especially the spray test, tend to magnify slight indications of susceptibility to exfoliation that are of doubtful practical consequence. Suggestions are made for determining more realistic visual acceptance criteria in 7XXX-T7X materials specifications.
Selection of patients for drug-eluting stents based on insurance coverage: pay or don't play.

The introduction of coronary artery stents revolutionized percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Once the problem of early thrombosis was successfully attacked with the use of more aggressive dilation ([1][1]) and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) ([2][2]), then stents became used routinely,