cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-6 Regulation In The Canine Myocardium After Cardiopulmonary Bypass ♦ 104

A systemic inflammatory reaction occurs in response to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Recent evidence suggests myocardial involvement in this response. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotrophic cytokine with pro-inflammatory properties, known to induce cardiac myocyte intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) production in vitro (thus supporting neutrophil-myocyte adhesion) and also known to have negative inotropic properties as well. Although plasma IL-6 levels have been shown to increase after CPB, the details of IL-6 induction and regulation after CPB are unknown. Also, tissue IL-6 levels may be physiologically more important than those in the circulation. Thus, to examine myocardial IL-6 regulation, dogs underwent 90 mins of hypothermic CPB (26-28°C) with 60 mins of cardioplegic arrest. After rewarming, dogs were reperfused open chest for either 3 hrs (n=4) or 6 hrs (n=4) at the end of which myocardial biopsies were obtained. An additional 4 dogs underwent open midline sternotomy without CPB and served as time-matched controls. Northern blot analysis of myocardial mRNA showed a marked increase in IL-6 in 3/4 dogs at 3 hrs and 3/4 dogs at 6 hrs of reperfusion when compared to sham bypass controls. Northern blots of mRNA extracted from isolated neutrophils and mononuclear leukocytes obtained from blood samples prior to CPB, at the end of CPB, and at 3 hrs of reperfusion failed to demonstrate IL-6 induction. In situ hybridization studies of the biopsied myocardium confirmed cardiac myocytes as a source of IL-6 production 3 hrs after CPB, with both sequestered monocytes and neutrophils also producing IL-6 by 6 hrs after CPB. Results of northern blots for ICAM-1 performed on the same myocardial tissue as the IL-6 studies showed ICAM-1 induction which was highly concordant with the IL-6 results. Thus, ischemia/reperfusion during CPB, despite myocardial protection with cold cardioplegic arrest, appears to be a sufficient stimulus to induce myocardial IL-6 synthesis. Myocardial IL-6 production may play a pivotal role in the development of depressed myocardial function postoperatively.
Plasma Estrone, Estradiol, Estriol and Their Precursors in Pregnancies with Anencephalic Fetuses

The plasma concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA-sulfate (DS), unconjugated estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3) were measured by radioimmunoassay in maternal peripheral vein (MPV) and umbilical vein (UV) of 10 patients at term pregnancy carrying anencephalic fetuses and in 15 normal controls. The mean maternal plasma DHEA and DS concentrations of patients carrying anencephalics (6.4 ± 1.1 (se) ng/ml and 0.75 ± 0.1 (se) μg/ml, respectively) were not significantly different from normal (P > 0.05). The mean UV plasma DHEA concentration of anencephalics of 2.2 ± 0.6 (se) ng/ml was not significantly different from that of normal infants (4.2 ± 0.7 (se) ng/ml P > 0.05), whereas umbilical vein DS concentrations of most anencephalics were undetectable ( 0.05). The mean MPV pla...
Aid and donor trust in recipient country systems

Abstract The 2005 Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness sets targets for increased use by donors of recipient country systems for managing aid. The target is premised on a view that country systems are strengthened when donors trust recipients to manage aid funds, but undermined when donors manage aid through their own separate parallel systems. This study provides an analytical framework for understanding donors' decisions to trust or bypass country systems. Empirical tests are conducted using data from three OECD-DAC surveys designed to monitor progress toward Paris Declaration goals. Tests show that use of recipient country systems is positively related to (1) the donor's reputational stake in the country's development, as proxied by the donor's share of aid provided to the recipient; (2) the trustworthiness or quality of those systems, as measured by cross-country corruption indicators; and (3) donors' risk tolerance, as proxied by public support for aid provision in donor countries. Findings are robust to corrections for potential sample selection, omitted variables or endogeneity bias.
Development and decline of serum antibody activity to Psoroptes ovis antigens in infested cattle in an endemic and nonendemic scabies area of Texas.

The serum antibody activity toPsoroptes ovis antigens, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), was monitored during the development and decline phase of scabies in cattle herds under feedlot conditions in an endemic (Bushland) and a nonendemic (Kerrville) scabies area of Texas. The infestations were initiated by exposing six calves in each of the herds toP. ovis and allowing the infestations to spread to other members of the herd. The cattle in the endemic area developed more lesions and a higher incidence of the disease than did the cattle in the nonendemic area; also, there were more cattle with specific serum antibody activity in the Bushland herd than in the Kerrville herd at the peak of the infestations (late January-early February). As infestations declined because of summer latency, the number of calves with specific serum antibody activity declined in both herds. Specific serum antibody activity disappeared in the Kerrville cattle whenP. ovis was no longer detected. However, specific serum antibody activity was still detected in some of the Bushland cattle in late summer (August) and fall (October) examinations, when low numbers ofP. ovis were detected. These results indicate that the ELISA would be very useful in detection of specific serum antibody activity in lightly infested calves, especially during the developmental and decline phases of the disease.
Excitation Dynamics of Light Harvesting Complex 2 B850 Ring

The dynamics of excitation energy transfer within the B850 ring of light harvesting complex 2 from Rhodobacter sphaeroides and between neighboring B850 rings is investigated by means of the hierarchy equations of motion for dissipative quantum mechanics. The assumption of Boltzmann populated donor states for the calculation of inter-complex excitation transfer rates by generalized F∴"orster theory is shown to give accurate results as intra-complex exciton relaxation occurs in about 1 ps. Utilizing generalized Forster theory, the primary channels of exciton transfer between B850 rings are found to be the five lowest-lying exciton states with the non-850 nm states making significant contributions to the total transfer rate.
Non-perturbative vacua in heterotic M-theory

We present a class of N = 1 supersymmetric `standard' models of particle physics, derived directly from heterotic M-theory, that contain three families of chiral quarks and leptons coupled to the gauge group SU (3)C × SU (2)L × U (1)Y . These models are a fundamental form of `brane world' theories, with an observable and hidden sector each confined, after compactification on a Calabi-Yau 3-fold, to a BPS 3-brane separated by a higher-dimensional bulk space with size of the order of the intermediate scale. The requirement of three families, coupled to the fundamental conditions of anomaly freedom and supersymmetry, constrains these models to contain additional 5-branes located in the bulk space and wrapped around holomorphic curves in the Calabi-Yau 3-fold.
Photochemistry of NH3, CH4 and PH3. Possible applications to the Jovian planets.

Photolysis of NH3 at 185 nm in the presence of a two-fold excess of CH4 results in the loss of about 0.25 mole of CH4 per mole of NH3 decomposed (delta CH4/delta NH3). The loss arises from the abstraction of hydrogen atoms from CH4 by photolytically generated hot hydrogen atoms, the presence of which is established by the constancy of delta CH4/delta NH3 between 298 and 156 K and by the quenching of the abstraction reaction when either H2 or SF6 is added. From the latter result, it can be concluded that NH3 photolysis in the H2-abundant atmosphere of Jupiter is not responsible for the presence of the carbon compounds observed there such as ethane, acetylene, and hydrogen cyanide, but may have had a role in the early atmosphere of Titan. Photolysis of PH3 with a 206 nm light source gives P2H4, which in turn is converted to a red-brown solid (P4?). The course of the photolysis is not changed appreciably when the temperatures is lowered to 157 K except that the concentration of P2H4 increases. The presence of H2 has no effect on the P2H4 yield. Photolysis of 9:1 NH3:PH3 gives a rate of decomposition of PH3 that is comparable with that observed by the direct photolysis of PH3. Comparable amounts of P2H4 and the red-brown solid are also observed. The mechanisms of these photochemical reactions together with their implications to the atmospheric chemistry of Jupiter are discussed. The structures of the compounds responsible for the wide array of colors e.g., brown, red and white, observed in the atmosphere of Jupiter have been the subject of extensive speculation. One theory suggests that these colors are due to organic materials formed by the action of either solar ultraviolet light or electric discharges on mixtures of CH4, NH3 and NH4HS in the Jovian atmosphere (Ponnamperuma, 1976; Khare et al., 1978). An alternative hypothesis is that the colors are due to inorganic compounds resulting from the photolysis of NH4HS and PH3 (Lewis and Prinn, 1970; Prinn and Lewis, 1975). In this paper we will summarize our experiments which were designed to test some of these hypotheses.
Iron-nickel sulfides in anhydrous interplanetary dust particles

Abstract Fe,Ni-sulfide grains in nine anhydrous chondritic porous (CP) interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) and one hydrated chondritic smooth (CS) IDP were examined using 200 and 400 keV transmission electron microscopy. Crystal structures of the grains were investigated using selected area electron diffraction, electron microdiffraction, and high-resolution lattice fringe imaging. Grain compositions were measured using quantitative energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Three types of sulfide grains were examined: 10 to 100 nm diameter nanocrystals within and on the surfaces of GEMS (glass with embedded metal and sulfides), small 100 to 500 nm diameter isolated grains, and large 0.5 to 5 μm diameter grains dispersed throughout the fine-grained matrices of IDPs. Most sulfide nanocrystals within and on the surfaces of GEMS are low-Ni pyrrhotite (0 ≤ Ni ≤ 5.5 atomic %) with a hexagonal unit cell where ao = 0.34 nm and co = 0.57 nm. Small 100 to 500 nm mafic grains dispersed throughout the matrices of the IDPs include hexagonal pyrrhotite (0 ≤ Ni ≥ 20 atomic %), ordered hexagonal pyrrhotite exhibiting prominent superlattice reflections, and a cubic sulfide that appears to have a sulfur-deficient “spinel-like” (Fd3m) structure. A large (∼2 × 5 μm) grain within one anhydrous IDP is a polycrystalline mixture of hexagonal pyrrhotite and cubic sulfide. Electron diffraction and lattice fringe imaging show that hexagonal and cubic sulfide are coherently intergrown on a unit cell scale. When heated in the electron beam the cubic sulfide transforms into hexagonal pyrrhotite. Therefore, it is possible that most of the pyrrhotite, the dominant sulfide in anhydrous chondritic IDPs, is a secondary thermal alteration product of frictional heating and partial sulfur loss during atmospheric entry. Neither troilite (FeS) nor pentlandite was identified in any of the nine anhydrous IDPs. Pentlandite was identified in the single hydrated IDP, in accordance with a previous study of sulfides in chondritic IDPs.
Clay Mineral Composition and Diagenesis: Effects on the Location and Behavior of Faults in the Frontal Portions of Subduction Zones

One of the more ambitious goals of the Seismogenic Zone Experiment (SEIZE) is to discriminate between the effects of changing intrinsic frictional strength (i.e., gouge versus wall-rock) and the effects of gradual or transient increases in pore pressure within fault zones. In subduction zones, both variables are likely to change with increasing distance down the plate boundary. In addition to sediment’s cohesion and coefficient of internal friction, the shear strength of any given stratigraphic interval depends upon fluid pressure and total normal stress. The release of fluids from mudstones during diagenesis (including volatiles generated from organic matter) is modulated by a combination of mechanical compaction, tectonic consolidation, and mineral reactions. Thus, it is essential to determine how permeability, sedimentderived fluid sources, and fluid flow contribute to overpressure conditions within the subduction inputs, beginning seaward of the subduction front at depths of 2500 m or less.
Recent results with the high intensity γ-ray facility

Abstract In this paper, we present selected recent results at High Intensity γ-ray Source (HIγS) facility. The HIγS, based on the OK-4/Duke storage ring FEL, generates polarized γ-ray beams of unmatched quality and intensity. These features of the HIγS were used for a number of key experiments in nuclear resonance fluorescence, photo-disintegration of the deuteron, precise measurements of photon attenuation cross-section to mention few. We present the advances in HIγS performance illustrated by selected experimental results. We briefly discuss the up-grades of the HIγS facility.
Integrating verbal quantitative information in linear orderings.

Subjects learned and answered questions about four-term linear orderings described in paragraphs of text. Spacing along the dimension employed was varied by using verbal quantifiers (“just barely,” “moderately,” and “very much”). After learning the quantitative information, performance on ordinal information varied as a function of the quantitative difference between terms in the ordering. Reaction time was faster for large quantitative differences than for small quantitative differences. This result indicates that vague verbal quantitative information is integrated into the memory representation for an ordering and that such quantitative information does affect test performance.
What Have We Accomplished in the Education of Persons with Severe Challenges

This article examines the interpersonal relationships, community participation, and employment of five individuals with severe educational challenges who had exited from public school programs mandated by PL 94-142. Observations of participants in their residences as well as their day activity centers and interviews with key informants formed the basis of the data collected. The results indicated that their lives were oversimplified by rigidly controlled routines and schedules that fostered passivity and dependency. Several unresolved issues emerged: (a) the parameters of appropriate treatment and quality of life, (b) the contrast between serving the letter versus the spirit of the law, and (c) the role of best practices in guiding the content of services for individuals with severe handicaps. Implications for special and regular teacher educators are discussed.
Some improved estimators in the case of possible heteroscedasticity

Abstract Under a two-sample linear statistical model with a common location vector but possibly different scale parameters and a squared error loss measure of performance, the sampling properties of traditional and Stein-like estimators are compared and analytically evaluated. The corresponding pre-test estimator under possible heteroscedasticity is analyzed and its inadmissibility under squared error loss is demonstrated.
Attosecond photonics for optical communications

Recent experiments have demonstrated that low-jitter mode locked lasers enable unprecedented high-resolution high-speed analog to digital conversion. That capability may be leveraged to bring spectral efficiency of optical transport systems to its Shannon limit.
Lubricants can make a big difference

FOR WIND turbine operators, choosing the right lubricants can make a big difference. Michael Hawkins, global brand manager for ExxonMobil's Mobil SHC brand of synthetic lubricants details how ExxonMobil's flagship lubricants and application expertise is helping the wind energy sector to expand and become more cost competitive.
Trading Partner Trust in B2B E-Commerce: A Case Study

Abstract Trust is key in any relationship and it is especially vital in the one between trading partners. E-commerce technology can be used to foster trust in B2B partnerships, but it cannot guarantee it. As this case study reveals, “soft skills” are just as crucial in cultivating trading partner trust.
Contributions of Tyrosine Residues to the Stability of Human γD-Crystallin

The lens protein human γD-crystallin (HγD-Crys) belongs to the βγ-crystallin family and exhibits two homologous Greek key domains, each containing eight β-strands. HγD-Crys must remain soluble and folded throughout the human lifetime. Aggregation of crystallins leads to cataract.14 of the 173 amino acids in HγD-Crys are tyrosines. The “tyrosine corner” is a conserved structural element of the Greek key, which bridges β-strands, by hydrogen bond between tyrosine hydroxyl group and a backbone carboxyl group. Interacting tyrosine pairs at the turns of β-strands are also involved in an extensive aromatic network throughout HγD-Crys. These tyrosine corners and tyrosines pairs may be important in the mature stability and/or folding pathways.Site-specific mutants of four of the relevant tyrosines to alanines or phenylalanines were constructed. All mutant proteins adopted a native-like conformation by circular dichroism (CD). Thus the tyrosine side chains do not appear to be essential in directing the β-sheet fold.To assess stability, equilibrium unfolding/refolding experiments were performed in guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) at pH 7.0, 37°C. For the tyrosine corner mutants, Y62F and Y62A both had a destabilized N-terminal domain (N-td), but unaffected C-terminal domain (C-td), with increased population of the single folded domain intermediate. Y150F and Y150A had a destabilized C-td and showed a more cooperative folding process. The double mutant Y62F/Y150F had both N-td and C-td destabilized. These results indicated that the hydroxyl groups on tyrosine corners are important in the thermodynamic stability of HγD-Crys. For the tyrosine pair mutants, Y45A and Y50A both had a destabilized N-td, but unaffected C-td. In contrast, Y45F and Y50F had no significant difference in stability compared with the wildtype. Thus the tyrosine pairs contribute to the stability of mature HγD-Crys largely through their aromatic rings.
Uncertainties in Supernova Yields. I. One-dimensional Explosions

Theoretical nucleosynthetic yields from supernovae are sensitive to both the details of the progenitor star and the explosion calculation. We attempt to comprehensively identify the sources of uncertainties in these yields. In this paper we concentrate on the variations in yields from a single progenitor arising from common 1D methods of approximating a supernova explosion. Subsequent papers will examine 3D effects in the explosion and the progenitor, and trends in mass and composition. For the 1D explosions we find that both elemental and isotopic yields for Si and heavier elements are a sensitive function of explosion energy. Also, piston-driven and thermal bomb-type explosions have different yields for the same explosion energy. Yields derived from 1D explosions are nonunique.
Interaction between lck and syk Family Tyrosine Kinases in Fcγ Receptor-initiated Activation of Natural Killer Cells

Ligation of the Fc gamma R on natural killer (NK) cells results in the tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple substrates critical for intracellular signaling and activation of NK cell effector functions. However, it remains unclear which nonreceptor protein-tyrosine kinases (PTK) participate in this process. In this report we demonstrate that Fc gamma R ligation induced the tyrosine phosphorylation and increased the catalytic activities of both syk family PTKs, ZAP-70, and syk. The phosphorylation of ZAP-70 and syk was enhanced markedly by overexpression of wild-type lck but not by a kinase-inactive mutant, suggesting that early Fc gamma R-initiated activation of lck results in the subsequent regulation of syk family PTKs. The regulatory interplay between src and syk family PTKs was emphasized further by the observation that lck overexpression enhanced the association of ZAP-70 with the zeta chain of the Fc gamma R complex. Additional analyses indicated that lck induced the subsequent tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma 2. Interestingly, the regulatory effects of lck on ZAP-70, syk, and PLC-gamma 2 could not be replaced by overexpression of either fyn or src, demonstrating a selective role for lck in effectively coupling Fc gamma R stimulation to critical downstream signaling events. Taken together, our results suggest not only that Fc gamma R stimulation on NK cells is coupled to the intracellular activation of both ZAP-70 and syk, but that the src family member, lck, can selectively regulate this tyrosine kinase cascade.
Self-consistent Hartree description of deformed nuclei in a relativistic quantum field theory

Relativistic Hartree orbitals for nonspherical (even-even) nuclei have been calculated self-consistently from a Lagrangian field theory using the mean field approximation. All parameters in this model are determined from the properties of infinite nuclear matter, so there are no parameters which can be adjusted in the calculation of the orbitals. The energy levels, rms radii, and quadrupole moments are in qualitative agreement with earlier nonrelativistic calculations and with experiment; however, the overall deformations (which are fixed by the self-consistency) are somewhat smaller than those obtained experimentally and from nonrelativistic calculations. The difference may be due to the large compressibility characteristic of relativistic mean field calculations. These orbitals and the self-consistently determined mean fields provide a framework for a detailed investigation of the compressibility as well as other relativistic effects.
The management of sea-level rise

Man can regulate the hydrological cycle by diverting ocean-bound fresh water into reservoirs, subsurface storage and interior basins, and by diverting sea water into continental depressions. Between 1957 and 1982, human intervention stored as much as 0.75 mm yr−1 of sea level rise potential in reservoirs and irrigation projects.
Consequences of forest fragmentation for juvenile survival in spotted (Ambystoma maculatum) and marbled (Ambystoma opacum) salamanders

We compared demographic traits of postmetamorphic salamanders among old fields, forest interior, and edge habitats over 2 years. Recently metamorphosed spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum (Sha...
POESIA AMERICANA, 1913-1973: AS DUAS REVOLUÇÕES

Este artigo trata das duas revolucoes poeticas ocorridas nas letras norte-americanas no periodo entre 1913 e 1973. A primeira foi mais uma revolucao na tecnica poetica, em que se procurou libertar a poesia norte-americana da tradicao inglesa; passou-se a escrever na lingua vernacula, sem rima e sem metrica, e tambem se buscou conteudos diferentes. A segunda foi uma revolucao no proprio conteudo poetico, buscando-se tanto uma poesia mistica e surrealista como uma poesia imagista, destacando-se nesta ultima a obra de William Carlos Willams.
Approximate activity-composition relations in the system MgOZnO at 1205±5°C

Abstract Activity-composition relations in the system MgOZnO were derived from the direction of conjugation lines between oxide and spinel phases in the ternary system MgOZnOAl2O3 at 1205±5°C in air, under the assumption that the spinel phase behaves ideally. The activity curves in the rocksalt region appear more complex than for the CoOZnO and NiOZnO systems studied previously. For the transformation: MgO (rocksalt) = MgO (zincite), ΔG = 9·6 kcal.
Optimal control of Goursat–Darboux systems with discontinuous co-state

Abstract We study an optimal control problem for Goursat–Darboux systems over domains that are more general than rectangles, with costs that include integral terms supported in the two-dimensional domain as well as terms with singular one-dimensional and zero-dimensional support. We prove that the co-state satisfies a system of Hamiltonian equations and a set of side conditions that involves jump discontinuities across a network of characteristic curves. We present a method of solution of the Hamiltonian equations, and in the process of doing so we establish the unique solvability of these equations.
Responding to the demands of curriculum 2000

(2000). Responding to the demands of curriculum 2000. The Law Teacher: Vol. 34, No. 3, pp. 271-288.
Prohibitin mutations are uncommon in prostate cancer families linked to chromosome 17q

Background: Linkage studies have provided evidence for a prostate cancer susceptibility locus on chromosome 17q. The mitochondrial protein prohibitin (PHB) is a plausible candidate gene based on its chromosomal location (17q21) and known function. Methods: All coding regions and intron/exon junctions of the PHB gene were sequenced in 32 men from families participating in the University of Michigan Prostate Cancer Genetics Project that demonstrated evidence of linkage to 17q markers. Results: Although a number of nucleotide variants were identified, no coding region substitutions were identified in any of the 32 men with prostate cancer from 32 unrelated multiplex prostate cancer families. Conclusions: PHB mutations do not appear to account for the linkage signal on 17q21–22 detected in PCGP families. Fine mapping of this region is in progress to refine the candidate region and highlight additional candidate prostate cancer susceptibility genes for sequence analysis.
Perception of dichotic chords by normal and commisurotomized human subjects.

Summary A perceptual suppression of an ipsilateral by a concurrent contralateral auditory signal occurs in commissurotomized subjects and probably in normal subjects. This suppression of the ipsilateral signal depends on the nature of the auditory stimuli. For dichotic speech sounds the suppression of the ipsilateral signal is overwhelming; for dichotically presented pure tones it is not present. For dichotically presented pure tones, unlike speech signals, a subcortical central.pitch processor determines the contribution to the perceptual experience of the right and left ear signals in both normal as well as commissurotomized subjects.
Th e Decision to Contract Out: A Study of Contracting for E‐Government Services in State Governments

Government contracting, especially for information technology products and services, has accelerated in recent years in the United States. Drawing on the insights of privatization studies, the authors examine the economic and political rationales underpinning government decisions to contract out e-government services. This article tests the extent to which economic and political rationality influence governments’ contracting decisions using data from multiple sources: a survey conducted by National Association of State Chief Information Officers, a survey by the National Association of State Procurement Officers, the Council of State Legislatures, and macro-level state data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Important factors affecting the state-level contracting decision are population size, market size, the competitiveness of the bidding process, the professional management of contracts, the partisan composition of legislatures, and political competition. Political rationales appear to play a major role in state contracting decisions. Some arguments associated with markets and economic rationality are clearly politically motivated.
Effective Cut-elimination for a Fragment of Modal mu-calculus

A non-effective cut-elimination proof for modal mu-calculus has been given by G. Jager, M. Kretz and T. Studer. Later an effective proof has been given for a subsystem M 1 with non-iterated fixpoints and positive endsequents. Using a new device we give an effective cut-elimination proof for M 1 without restriction to positive sequents.
Transient analysis of stochastic switches and trajectories with applications to gene regulatory networks

Many gene regulatory networks are modelled at the mesoscopic scale, where chemical populations change according to a discrete state (jump) Markov process. The chemical master equation (CME) for such a process is typically infinite dimensional and unlikely to be computationally tractable without reduction. The recently proposed finite state projection (FSP) technique allows for a bulk reduction of the CME while explicitly keeping track of its own approximation error. In previous work, this error has been reduced in order to obtain more accurate CME solutions for many biological examples. Here, it is shown that this ‘error’ has far more significance than simply the distance between the approximate and exact solutions of the CME. In particular, the original FSP error term serves as an exact measure of the rate of first transition from one system region to another. As such, this term enables one to (i) directly determine the statistical distributions for stochastic switch rates, escape times, trajectory periods and trajectory bifurcations, and (ii) evaluate how likely it is that a system will express certain behaviours during certain intervals of time. This article also presents two systems-theory based FSP model reduction approaches that are particularly useful in such studies. The benefits of these approaches are illustrated in the analysis of the stochastic switching behaviour of Gardner's genetic toggle switch. [Includes supplementary material]
A fingerprint and timing-based snooping attack on residential sensor systems

We demonstrate a Fingerprint and Timing-based Snooping (FATS) attack in which private resident information is inferred from the wireless transmissions of sensors in a home, even when all of the transmissions are encrypted. This attack can already be carried out on millions of homes today, and will become more important as ubiquitous computing environments become more prevalent. We address this problem using a suite of privacy solutions and argue that privacy of monitored individuals must be addressed in all design layers in future cyber-physical systems.
Strontium, lead and oxygen isotopic investigation of the Skaergard intrusion, East Greenland

Abstract New Pb, Sr and O isotopic analyses of rocks from the Skaergard intrusion indicate the following: (1) initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of the gabbroic magma was less than or equal to 0.7041; (2) limited contamination of magma with crustal Sr and Pb may have occurred in a deep reservoir below the presently exposed parts of the intrusion; (3) marked crustal contamination occurred at high level in marginal border group rocks, but these rocks effectively shielded the main magma body from further interaction with country rock gneisses; (4) subsolidus interaction between Skaergard gabbros and hydrothermal fluids modified δ 18 O values but had little effect on Sr and perhaps Pb isotopic ratios; (5) late-stage melanogranophyres may be comagmatic with the Skaergard magma, but silicic granophyres are not; (6) silicic granophyres contain large and varied proportions of crustal Sr and Pb; some may be largely anatectic melts derived from the deep crust whereas others may represent mixing of such anatectic melts with late-stage differentiated liquids of the Skaergard intrusion (e.g. Sydtoppen sill).
Feasibility Of Superresolving Image Restoration For Differential-Interference-Contrast Microscopy

ABSTRACT The feasibility of implementing superresolving image restoration fordifferential-interference-contrast (DIG) microscopy has been studied. This study has involved the computer simulation of DIG optics using the modeling methods of Fourier optics and using random-number-generation software to simulate noise introduced by video instrumentation. The initial results of this modeling and simulation have been reported in earlier papers, with recent extensions of this work and its results presented herein. In particular, images resulting from extensions and improvements to the iterative image-restoration algorithm are presented. Also presented are the tabulations of mean-square error as a function of iteration number which give a quantitative measure of convergence properties and show some of the measurable effects of implementing certain extensions. 1. INTRODUCTION Standard optical microscopes, which are available from a number of manufacturers, are typically delivered with various options in their optical components which can be specified by the buyer. One such option is to have various prisms, polarizers, lamps and objective lenses delivered such that the microscope can be configured in a form known as Nomarski optics1, in which case it said to operate in the DIG mode. One advantage of operating in this mode is that very small, nearly transparent biological specimens, with sizes near or below the classical diffraction limitation, can be viewed. However, although small objects can be detected in this way, their images are distorted from what would be a true representation and the resolution of these images is still limited by the diffraction of light through a finite-size lens. If it were desired to quantify for instance the thickness of such an object, or to better see its morphology, then some form of image-restoration algorithm would be helpful.We have begun studying and developing such an algorithm with initial results reported in 2>3 . We refer the reader to 2 for the derivations of the imaging equations for DIG along with the resulting iterative image-restoration algorithm, and to 3 for the simulated restoration of images in the presence of noise. In Section 3 below, for the sake of clarity, we repeat only the main results of these earlier studies along with the preliminary results of extensions to this work.
Electronic structure and geometry of bis(dimethyl ether)allyllithium

Abstract The geometry-optimized structure of bis(dimethyl ether)allyllithium has been calculated by the INDO method. The metalcarbanion interaction involves both σ and π bonding. Approximately 0.82 electrons are transferred from the allyl anion to the solvated lithium moiety upon formation of the lithiumcarbanion bond.
Linearized free maxicircle DNA in Crithidia fasciculata is a product of topoisomerase II-mediated cleavage.

Abstract Linearized free maxicircle DNA, present in detergent lysates of Crithidia fasciculata mitochondria, was thought to be a replication intermediate formed during rolling circle replication of maxicircle DNA. Gel electrophoresis of the linearized free maxicircles indicated that they were slightly larger than the maxicircle genome, raising the possibility of the presence of terminal repetitions (Hajduk, S.L., Klein, V.A. and Englund, P.T. (1984) Cell 36, 483–492). We recently found, however, that maxicircles replicate by a θ-mechanism, and not as rolling circles (Carpenter, L.R. and Englund, P.T. (1995) Mol. Cell Biol. 15, 6794–6803). Given that θ-replication does not easily explain the presence of linearized free maxicircles, we investigated alternative explanations for their existence. We present evidence that this DNA species results from the double-strand cleavage of maxicircles due to detergent denaturation of intracellular topoisomerase II cleavable complexes. As expected for a topoisomerase II cleavage product, the linearized free maxicircle DNA is covalently bound to protein at both 5′ ends. In addition, the slightly larger apparent size of linearized free maxicircle DNA or maxicircles linearized by a restriction enzyme can be explained by anomalous electrophoretic migration during conventional or pulsed-field agarose gel electrophoresis. This anomalous migration is presumably due to bends or other unusual structures in the DNA.
Efficient regioselective isoprenylation of peptides in acidic aqueous solution using zinc acetate as catalyst

Abstract Convenient and efficient isoprenylation of the cysteine sulfhydryl in peptides was accomplished in acidic aqueous solution using zinc acetate as a highly regioselective catalyst.
Elevations in preoperative monocyte count predispose to acute neurocognitive decline after carotid endarterectomy for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis.

Background and Purpose— Although the incidence of major stroke attributable to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is low (1% to 2%), ≈25% of patients experience subtle postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction. This study examines whether preoperative leukocyte profiles predict cognitive outcome in asymptomatic CEA patients. Methods— Sixty-nine asymptomatic CEA patients underwent neuropsychometric testing preoperatively and on postoperative day 1 (POD1). Preoperative white blood cell counts and differentials were obtained. Logistic regression was performed for risk factors for neurocognitive decline. Variables achieving univariate P<0.10 were included in multivariate analysis. Results— Eighteen (26%) patients experienced neurocognitive decline on POD1; multivariate analysis demonstrated that preoperative monocyte count (P=0.011) and age (P=0.02) independently predicted outcome. Conclusions— Preoperative monocyte count and age are independently associated with acute neurocognitive decline after CEA for asymptomat...
COUP-TF (chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor)-interacting protein 1 (CTIP1) is a sequence-specific DNA binding protein

Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor (COUP-TF)-interacting proteins 1 and 2 [CTIP1/Evi9/B cell leukaemia (Bcl) l1a and CTIP2/Bcl11b respectively] are highly related C(2)H(2) zinc finger proteins that are abundantly expressed in brain and the immune system, and are associated with immune system malignancies. A selection procedure was employed to isolate high-affinity DNA binding sites for CTIP1. The core binding site on DNA identified in these studies, 5'-GGCCGG-3' (upper strand), is highly related to the canonical GC box and was bound by a CTIP1 oligomeric complex(es) in vitro. Furthermore, both CTIP1 and CTIP2 repressed transcription of a reporter gene harbouring a multimerized CTIP binding site, and this repression was neither reversed by trichostatin A (an inhibitor of known class I and II histone deacetylases) nor stimulated by co-transfection of a COUP-TF family member. These results demonstrate that CTIP1 is a sequence-specific DNA binding protein and a bona fide transcriptional repressor that is capable of functioning independently of COUP-TF family members. These findings may be relevant to the physiological and/or pathological action(s) of CTIPs in cells that do not express COUP-TF family members, such as cells of the haematopoietic and immune systems.
Systematical identification of splicing regulatory cis-elements and cognate trans-factors

The majority of human genes undergo alternative splicing to generate multiple isoforms with distinct functions. This process is generally controlled by cis-acting splicing regulatory elements (SREs) that recruit trans-acting factors to promote or inhibit the use of nearby splice sites. The growing interest in understanding the regulatory rules of splicing necessitates the systematic identification of these SREs and their cognate protein factors using experimental and computational approaches. Here we describe a strategy to identify and analyze both cis-acting SREs and trans-acting splicing factors. This strategy involves a cell-based screen to identify SREs from a random sequences library and a modified RNA affinity purification approach to unbiasedly identify the splicing factors. These methods can be adopted to identify splicing enhancers or silencers in both exons and introns, and can be extended to different cultured cells. The resulting SREs and splicing factors can be further analyzed with a series of computational and experimental approaches. This approach will help us to collect a molecular part-list for splicing regulation, providing a rich data source that enables a better understanding of the “splicing code”.
Character sums over norm groups

In this paper, we give estimates of character sums of Weil type. They are associated with polynomials and rational functions with coefficients in a quadratic extension k"2 of a finite field k of q elements, additive and multiplicative characters of k"2, and summed over the kernel of the norm map from k"2^x to k^x. The bounds are of the magnitude O(q) with the implied constant depending on the degree of the polynomial and the total degree of the support of the rational function, similar to Weil's estimates over k.
Elemental and morphological identification of third-body particulate and calcium stearate inclusions in polyethylene components

Third-body particulate such as human bone chips, hydroxyapatite, and bone cement are considered contributing factors in accelerated wear in total joint replacement. Particulate wear debris is now considered the major contributing factor in aseptic loosening of total joint replacements. The ability to distinguish between different third-body particulate is necessary to better understand wear mechanisms when conducting implant retrieval analysis. The objective of this investigation is to demonstrate that backscattered electron imaging with correlated energy dispersive X-ray analysis can accurately identify third-body particulate in retrieved polyethylene components. It is important that this technique can also distinguish between third-body particulate and normal inclusions in the polyethylene such as calcium stearate, based on the distinct morphology and elemental composition of each material. Therefore, the ability to distinguish third-body particulate from calcium stearate inclusions is essential in gaining a better understanding of the contributing factors associated with coating separation and accelerated wear observed in clinically retrieved polyethylene components.
Topological 1-SOLITON Solution of the Generalized Radhakrishnan, Kundu, Lakshmanan Equation with Nonlinear Dispersion

This paper talks about obtaining an exact 1-soliton solution of the generalized Radhakrishnan, Kundu, Lakshmanan equation with nonlinear dispersion. The solitary wave ansatz will be used to carry out the integration. It will be proved that dark optical solitons can exist only when the power law nonlinearity reduces to Kerr law.
Observations on induced amitosis in Acanthamoeba.

Abstract Methods are described for the induction of amitotic cell division in Acanthamoeba rhysodes . Induced amitotic cell division in this organism is similar to normal cytokinesis in many respects, however, the nucleus is partitioned during its interphase state so that the daughter products of amitosis are not viable. It is proposed that the induction of amitotic cell division causes the amoeba to produce the normal cytoplasmic components responsible for cell division in the absence of nuclear mitosis. This is not a normal stage in the amoeba's life cycle and it appears to be a genetic defect unique to this strain of Acanthamoeba . Evidence is presented that induction of amitotic cell division requires protein synthesis but not ribonucleic acid synthesis. Further, induced amoebae require a period of adhesion to a foreign substrate before they are capable of amitosis. The pattern of amitotic cell division could be interpreted as a segregation of discrete cytoplasmic units, generated during induction.
Commentary on Haberstick et al. (2011): Dizziness upon initial experimentation with cigarettes - implications for smoking persistence.

Haberstick and colleagues [1], in a study published elsewhere in this issue, utilized a genetically informative same-andopposite-sextwinandsiblingsampleinvolving 2482 subjects in an attempt to tease out environmental and heritable differences in susceptibility for smoking and nicotine dependence. The focus was upon subjective responses to initial exposure to tobacco smoke using the Early Smoking Experiences (ESE) questionnaire [2,3], a nine-item self-report instrument thatasksparticipantstorateretrospectivelythefollowing responses: global pleasant sensations, global unpleasant sensations, nausea, relaxation, dizziness, buzz/rush, coughing, difficulty inhaling and heart pounding. Responses were dichotomized as present or absent.
Reactive ion etching of Nb/A1Ox/Nb for Josephson technology

Abstract We describe a process for defining and etching Nb/A1Ox/Nb Josephson junctions on 125 mm wafers using standard optical lithographic stencils and low pressure chlorine plasma in a single wafer reactive ion etching tool. The process exhibits selectivities to SiO2 in excess of 10:1 and can be tailored to produce niobium lines with either sloped or vertical profiles. During the etch, the chlorine plasma emission intensity is monitored, providing a distinct signature when etching through the thin AlOx layer and a sharp indication of endpoint as the underlying SiO2 is reached. The etch sequence is programmed to maintain the wafer temperature below 100°C at all times. This process has been used to fabricate a variety of Josephson devices using 2.0 μm groundrules and high quality Josephson junctions as small as 0.5 μm2 in area. In a variation on this process, using direct write electron-beam lithography, we have fabricated niobium features as small as 0.15 μm.
Comparative Effectiveness Research: The View From the NHLBI

“Let me tell you how I like to \_\_\_|\\_\_\_|\\_\_\_|\\_\__|.” Cardiovascular medicine trainees hear their faculty utter this phrase often. Let me tell you how I decide when, how, or whether to prescribe statins, or to order some type of noninvasive test, or to send a patient to the
Optimal interface for the Bridgman crystallization process

An optimal design strategy is developed for the Bridgman crystallization process through the formulation of a nonlinear program. The objective function and constraints are designed to optimize the conditions for the growth of crystals with nearly flat melt-crystal interfaces. The decision variables are the temperatures of the hot and cold zones, the size of the thermal barrier, and the thickness of the crucible. The equations for momentum and energy transport in the melt, for conduction in the crystal and crucible, and the energy balance at the melt-crystal interface are solved using finite elements. The nonlinear program is solved using the controlled random search technique. Results are presented for the growth of GaAs crystals.
Bodyweight and food and water consumption in septal lesioned and operated control rats.

Food and water consumption were measured daily for 10 wk. in both light (60 day) and heavy (90 day) septal and control rats. Septal lesions increased water consumption and both the water/bodyweight and food/bodyweight measures but decreased the food/water ratio. These effects persisted in both heavy and light groups although lesion-control differences remained most marked in light animals. Despite these results, the rate at which weight was gained was similar for both lesioned and control rats. Finally, light Ss, regardless of surgical group, consumed more food/bodyweight and water/bodyweight than heavy rats.