cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fibroblasts from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are resistant to cisplatin-induced cell death via enhanced CK2-dependent XRCC1 activity

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a deadly and progressive fibrotic lung disease, but the precise etiology remains elusive. IPF is characterized by the presence of apoptosis-resistant (myo)fibroblasts that relentlessly produce a collagen-rich extracellular matrix (ECM). Recent studies showed that an anti-cancer chemotherapy drug cisplatin is implicated in the development of pulmonary fibrosis, suggesting that the treatment of cancer patients with cisplatin may alter fibroblast viability. To address this possibility, we investigated the cisplatin-induced cell death mechanism in lung fibroblasts derived from IPF and non-IPF patients in response to a collagen matrix. IPF fibroblasts showed enhanced resistance to cisplatin-induced cell death compared to non-IPF fibroblasts in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Molecular study showed that the expression of γH2AX, PUMA and caspase-3/7 activity was abnormally reduced in IPF fibroblasts, suggesting that DNA damage-induced apoptosis caused by cisplatin was suppressed in IPF fibroblasts. Our study further revealed that DNA repair protein XRCC1 activity was aberrantly increased as a result of CK2 hyper-activation in cisplatin-treated IPF fibroblasts, and this alteration protected IPF fibroblasts from cisplatin-induced cell death. Our results showed that IPF fibroblasts residing in a collagen rich matrix are resistance to cisplatin-induced cell death due to the aberrantly high CK2/XRCC1-dependent DNA repair activity. This finding suggests that pulmonary fibrosis may develop and worsen due to the presence of apoptosis-resistant lung fibroblasts in cisplatin-treated cancer patients.
Insights from the OEDG program on broadening participation in the geosciences

The Opportunities for Enhancing Diversity in the Geosciences (OEDG) program, operational between the years 2001 and 2013, was a signature effort by the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for...
Characterization of Terminal Iron(III)-Oxo and Iron(III)-Hydroxo Complexes Derived from O2 Activation.

O2 activation at nonheme iron centers is a common motif in biological systems. While synthetic models have provided numerous insights into the reactivity of high-valent iron–oxo complexes related t...
The mycobacterial cell envelope — a moving target

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the leading cause of death due to infection, has a dynamic and immunomodulatory cell envelope. The cell envelope structurally and functionally varies across the length of the cell and during the infection process. This variability allows the bacterium to manipulate the human immune system, tolerate antibiotic treatment and adapt to the variable host environment. Much of what we know about the mycobacterial cell envelope has been gleaned from model actinobacterial species, or model conditions such as growth in vitro, in macrophages and in the mouse. In this Review, we combine data from different experimental systems to build a model of the dynamics of the mycobacterial cell envelope across space and time. We describe the regulatory pathways that control metabolism of the cell wall and surface lipids in M. tuberculosis during growth and stasis, and speculate about how this regulation might affect antibiotic susceptibility and interactions with the immune system. Mycobacterium tuberculosis has a distinctive cell envelope that contributes to its resistance against the human immune system and antibiotic therapy. In this Review, Dulberger, Rubin and Boutte discuss mycobacterial cell envelope dynamics and their relevance for infection and drug treatment.
Controlling the Error Probabilities of Model Selection Information Criteria Using Bootstrapping

The Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and related information criteria are powerful and increasingly popular tools for comparing multiple, non-nested models without the specification of a null mod...
Anglophilia and Sensibility in Late Eighteenth-Century Vienna: Prince Charles Antoine de Ligne's Testament and the Indissolubles

Prince Charles Antoine de Ligne, son of Prince Charles Joseph de Ligne, died fighting French revolutionary forces at Croix-au-Bois in the Argonne region on 14 September 1792. He left behind a last will and testament (a copy is held in the Kriegsarchiv in Vienna) that evoked the memory of his small circle of aristocratic Viennese friends called “les Indissolubles.” Each member received a personal legacy, and Charles directed that a “temple of friendship” be established in his rooms at Beloeil featuring portraits of group members and a bust of himself. This poignant document, in combination with Charles's correspondence with close friend and group member Prince Joseph Poniatowski (preserved in the Polish Academy library in Cracow), confirms in striking manner the group's affinity for two popular European trends: Anglophilia and sensibility. Although Charles's will was not published at the time of his death he could assume that, as with any final testament, his statements would become known to, and honored by, a limited “public” of their own.
How does art making work? Testing the hypothesized mechanisms of art making on pain experience

Abstract Background Pain is a multidimensional experience that requires a holistic pain management approach. Art making, a holistic, mind-body-spirit approach, has been used as a pain management strategy. Although findings of empirical studies point toward several potential mechanisms through which art making activity may affect the pain experience, these mechanisms have not yet been tested. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate whether perceived control, self-efficacy, spirituality, and mood mediate the effect of art making activity on pain. Materials and methods This study is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data collected in 2014 for the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Data from a national sample of 731 adults, 50 years of age or older were analyzed for the current study. Participants completed a health survey which included measures of art engagement (representing ‘effect of art making’ in this study), pain severity and interference, and proposed mediating variables (e.g., perceived control, self-efficacy, spirituality and mood). The joint significance test was used to test hypothesized mediation. Result We found that positive mood mediated the effects of art engagement on pain, but perceived control, self-efficacy, spirituality, and negative mood did not. Engagement in art making activity was associated with more positive mood (β = 0.213, p = .001). In turn, greater positive mood was associated with lower pain severity (β = -.147, p = .010) and pain interference (β = -.519, p = .034). Conclusion Results of this study provide preliminary evidence that engagement in art making activity impacts pain experience by enhancing positive mood. A large prospective study examining the hypothesized mediating relationship is necessary to confirm our findings.
Interface stability of laser powder-bed-fused AlSi12 under simulated atmospheric conditions

Abstract In this study, we characterized interfacial mechanisms to better understand the active–passive state for a laser powder-bed-fused (L-PBF) AlSi12 alloy. We compared the additive manufactured microstructures obtained via the L-PBF process vs. the traditional casting method with respect to their influence on corrosion properties. Corrosion resistance was assessed by the damage mechanism based on the corrosion initiation probability and electrochemical behavior in the AlSi12 eutectic alloy. The disconnected silicon network was identified as the vulnerable and lower-corrosion-resistance region in the L-PBF AlSi12 alloy. Without the influence of any additive on the Al-Si alloy system, the damage was correlated with microstructure distortion and mechanical fracturing of the developed oxide structure.
Ply-drop design of non-conventional laminated composites using Bayesian optimization

Abstract Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) technology enables the efficient production of large carbon fiber reinforced composite structures with complex surfaces. AFP has a wide range of tow placement angles, and the users can design layup angles so that they can tailor the performance of the structure. However, despite the design freedom, the industry generally adopts a layering of 0°, 90°, and ±45°ply-drop angles. Here, we demonstrate the optimization of ply-drop angles of non-conventional composites. Specifically, we use classical laminate theory and Bayesian optimization to achieve better layup angles in terms of stiffness, Tsai–Wu failure criteria, and manufacturing time. Our approach shows its effectiveness in designing carbon fiber composite structures using unconventional angles in their mechanical properties and production efficiency. Our method has the potential to be used for more complex scenarios, such as the production of curved surfaces and the utilization of finite element analysis.
The 21 Centimeter Forest: Radio Absorption Spectra as Probes of Minihalos before Reionization

We study the absorption along lines of sight toward high-z radio sources caused by the 21 cm transition of neutral hydrogen in the intergalactic medium (IGM) before reionization. Using semianalytic methods, we compute the number density of observable features caused by both "minihalos" (bound objects that are unable to cool efficiently because of their small virial temperatures) and protogalactic disks. We show that both sets of features should be observable by the next generation of low-frequency radio telescopes, including the Low Frequency Array and the Square Kilometer Array, provided that sufficiently bright background sources exist. The statistics of minihalo absorption features seen along lines of sight to radio-loud quasars offer a way to measure the evolution of the radiation background and the IGM temperature with cosmic time. Intersections with disks are much less common but cause significantly deeper absorption features that would be visible in the spectra of both radio-loud quasars and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). The absorption feature caused by H I in the host galaxy of a GRB should be observable, offering a route to determine spectroscopically the burst redshift.
Surfactant Deficiency: Late Presentation in a Term 2-Year-Old Male

Introduction Neonatal reactive airways disease (RDS) and childhood interstitial lung disease (chILD) include a heterogeneous spectrum of disorders. With recent advances, specific genetic mutations have been identified in disease pathogenesis: chief among these are inborn errors of surfactant metabolism. Research over the past decade has demonstrated that carrier genotypes and certain compound heterozygotes may have mild phenotypes, which remain undetected until childhood. The case herein corroborates recent data and demonstrates obstacles to final diagnosis. Case Report A 2-year-old male was admitted for persistent hypoxia following a sedated MRI brain. The patient was a term AGA male, with history of RDS, …
Canine distemper virus in chick embryo cell culture. Plaque assay, growth, and stability.

Abstract Three strains of canine distemper virus were cultivated serially in chick embryo cell cultures with the development of cytopathic effects. Following multiple passage in cell culture, the egg-adapted Onderstepoort strain demonstrated a reduced capability to form lesions on the chorioallantoic membrane. Plaques formed slowly under agar overlay, attaining 90% of final count by 10 days. A linear relationship between virus concentration and plaque number was demonstrated. Virus attached slowly to chick embryo cell monolayers at 36°. Approximately 50% of the virus was adsorbed at 30 minutes, although maximal attachment did not occur until 4 hours. Canine distemper virus was relatively thermolabile. The half-life at 21°, 37°, 45°, and 56° was 120 minutes, 60 minutes, 10 minutes, and 2–3 minutes, respectively. Growth studies revealed an eclipse period of 8–10 hours, followed by a logarithmic increase in cell-associated virus (0.3 log/hour). Virus appeared in the fluid phase 2–4 hours following the first increase in cell-associated virus. Cell-associated virus exceeded that found in the fluid phase throughout the growth cycle.
Preliminary results of 2009 pandemic influenza surveillance in the United States using the Aggregate Hospitalization and Death Reporting Activity

Please cite this paper as: Jhung et al. (2011) Preliminary results of 2009 pandemic influenza surveillance in the United States using the Aggregate Hospitalization and Death Reporting Activity. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 5(5), 321–327. Background To augment established influenza surveillance systems in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists implemented the Aggregate Hospitalization and Death Reporting Activity (AHDRA) in August 2009. The AHDRA was designed to meet increased demands for timely and detailed information describing illness severity during the 2009 H1N1 influenza A (pH1N1) pandemic response. Objectives We describe the implementation of AHDRA and provide preliminary results from this new surveillance activity. Methods All 50 US states were asked to report influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths to AHDRA each week using either a laboratory-confirmed or syndromic surveillance definition. Aggregate counts were used to calculate age-specific weekly and cumulative rates per 100 000, and laboratory-confirmed reports were used to estimate the age distribution of pH1N1 influenza-associated hospitalizations and deaths. Results From August 30, 2009, through April 6, 2010, AHDRA identified 41 689 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations and 2096 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated deaths. Aggregate Hospitalization and Death Reporting Activity rates peaked earlier than hospitalization and death rates seen in previous influenza seasons with other surveillance systems, and the age distribution of cases revealed a tendency for hospitalizations and deaths to occur in persons <65 years for age. Conclusions Aggregate Hospitalization and Death Reporting Activity laboratory-confirmed reports provided important information during the 2009 pandemic response. Aggregate Hospitalization and Death Reporting Activity syndromic reports were marked by low representativeness and specificity and were therefore less useful. The AHDRA was implemented quickly and may be a useful surveillance system to monitor severe illness during future influenza pandemics.
Algorithmic Graph Theory

Introduction to graph theory algorithmic techniques shortest paths trees and acyclic diagraphs depth first search connectivity and routing graph colouring covers, domination, independent sets, matchings and factors, parallel algorithms computational complexity.
A Compund Decision Theory Approach to Digital Signal Reconstruction

A compound decision theory approach is described for the reconstruction of digital signals with Markov chain structure. The decision rules suggested are based on the construction of the Γk decision problem. Simulation results are provided to assess the performance of these rules when compared with MAP rules.
Aerobic Heterotrophic Bacterial Populations of Sewage and Activated Sludge I. Enumeration

Agar plating media containing solely activated sludge extracts yielded, in general, higher viable counts of activated sludge bacteria than any other culture medium tested. Activated sludge extracts made from different treatment plants varied in efficacy in evoking maximal viable counts. Frequently, homologous plating, i.e., plating inocula of activated sludges on extracts made from the same activated sludges, tended to yield lower counts than the heterologous platings tried in this investigation. The counts obtained by homologous plating of activated sludge were not significantly lower and sometimes were even significantly higher than the counts obtained on standard Nutrient Agar, which had been found by previous workers to be a good medium for counting activated sludge bacteria. The higher counts obtained with activated sludge extracts set objectives for formulating reproducible or defined culture media for the enumeration of activated sludge bacteria.
On the breakdown of a wave packet disturbance in a laminar boundary layer.

The evolution and breakdown of a point disturbance in a flat-plate boundary layer has been examined. For a weak initial disturbance intensity, the breakdown was of the wave packet type. It occurred far downstream of the excitation station, after the decay of the transient disturbance and strong nonlinear distortions of the wave packet. Instantaneous velocity disturbances in the spanwise and normal directions revealed that the breakdown first occurred roughly 3δ* away from the centerline and lδ* above the wall, in a skewed shear region where the normal and spanwise shears were both strong and comparable.
Self-consistent nonlinear simulations of high-power free-electron lasers

Two 3-D nonlinear formulations of FEL amplifiers are described which treat both planar and helical wiggler geometries. For convenience, we refer to the planar (helical) formulation and simulation code as WIGGLIN (ARACHNE). These formulations are slow-time-scale models for FEL amplifiers in which the electron dynamics are treated using the complete 3-D Lorentz force equations without recourse to a wiggler period average. The application of these codes to the description of a collective reversed-field FEL experiment and to random wiggler field errors is described.
Electromyographic diagnosis of multifocal pyomyositis

Introduction: Multifocal pyomyositis is a rare inflammatory myopathy caused by bacterial infection and abscess formation in multiple skeletal muscles. To date, electromyography (EMG) of pyomyositis has not been reported. Methods: We describe the EMG findings of a patient with pathologically proven multifocal pyomyositis. Results and Conclusions: Muscles affected by pyomyositis demonstrate EMG features similar to those of other inflammatory myopathies. Other features such as acute entrapment neuropathy may exist concomitantly due to nerve compression from muscle abscess formation. Muscle Nerve 51: 293–296, 2015
Counseling on Early Childhood Caries transmission by dentists.

Objective High levels of Streptococcus mutans on teeth of young children are predictive of Early Childhood Caries (ECC). Transmission from mother-to-child is common and studies have demonstrated treatment of the mother results in less ECC. The objective of this study was to determine how dentists have adopted the practice of counseling about ECC.
Superoperator many-body theory of molecular currents: Non-equilibrium Green functions in real time

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses development of the nonequilibrium superoperator green function theory (NESGFT) and applied it to the computation of molecular current. The Liouville space-time ordering operator provides an elegant way for performing calculations in real time, thus avoiding the artificial backward and forward time evolution required in Hilbert space (Keldysh loop). Wick's theorem for superoperators is used to compute the self-energies perturbatively to the second order in phonon–electron coupling. Recently, Galperin et al. have used a fully self-consistent solution to study the influence of different interactions on molecular conductivity for a strong electron–phonon coupling. The main aim of the present work is to demonstrate that by doing calculations in Liouville space one can avoid the backward/forward time evolution (Keldysh loop) required in Hilbert space. This originates from the fact that in Liouville space both ket and bra evolve forward in time. Thus, one can couple the system with two independent, “left” and “right” fields. This property of Liouville space can be used to construct real (physical) time generating functionals for the nonperturbative calculation of the self-energies. The present model ignores electron-electron interactions. These may be treated using the GW technique formulated in terms of the superoperators and extended to nonequilibrium situations. All nonequilibrium observables can be obtained from a single generating functional in terms of “left” and “right” operators.
Women in terrorism: case of the LTTE, by Tamara Herath

Reading Tamara Herath's book brought forth a myriad of emotions and memories of researching the LTTE in Sri Lanka between the years of 2005 and 2007. The post-Tsunami period was one where some aven...
The Role of Labor and Transaction Costs in the Success of Manufacturing Offshore: Evidence from Mexico's Maquiladora Industry

The practice of shifting manufacturing activities to lower wage countries has thrived lately as firms attempt to reduce labor and other costs. However, success has been elusive for many of these firms. We investigate the determinants of offshoring success, with emphasis on the role of transaction costs in firms’ decisions to continue (or discontinue) manufacturing abroad. We hypothesize that labor constraints, supply chain frictions, and other transaction costs could impact production and potentially offset labor cost savings. We analyze labor costs and constraints and relevant transaction costs. We find that although successful plants pay a wage premium and more benefits to workers, their overall labor costs are relatively lower. These plants attract a more skilled and stable labor force, outsource non-manufacturing functions more often, and use fewer Mexican suppliers. Overall, our findings suggest that environmental frictions and transaction costs matter when shifting production offshore.
A PROOF OF SAGEEV'S THEOREM ON HYPERPLANES IN CAT(0) CUBICAL COMPLEXES

We prove that any hyperplane H in a CAT(0) cubical complex X has no self-intersections and separates X into two convex complementary components. These facts were originally proved by Sageev. Our argument shows that his theorem is a corollary of Gromov’s link condition. We also give new arguments establishing some combinatorial properties of hyperplanes. We show that these properties are sufficient to prove that the 0-skeleton of any CAT(0) cubical complex is a discrete median algebra, a fact that was previously proved by Chepoi, Gerasimov, and Roller.
Breast cancer in thyroid cancer survivors: An analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-9 database

Background We sought to further elucidate the increased risk for breast cancer among survivors of thyroid cancer. Methods Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-9 database, we conducted a retrospective cohort analysis on women ≥18 years of age with breast and thyroid cancer from 1973 to 2011. Results A total of 707,678 breast cancer patients and 53,853 thyroid cancer patients were included; 1,750 patients developed breast cancer after a preceding diagnosis of thyroid cancer (T1B). Age-specific risk for breast cancer was greater among thyroid cancer survivors. Incidence trends showed a significant age-time interaction and suggested a difference in thyroid cancer biology as well as a treatment effect. Compared with patients with thyroid cancer only, T1B patients were older with smaller cancers, had more follicular thyroid cancers, and fewer patients received radioactive iodine. T1B patients developed breast cancer earlier than the general population, had more estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor-positive and mixed invasive tumor histology, but smaller tumors, and there is no significant difference in the number of lymph nodes involved or radiation therapy. Conclusion Thyroid cancer survivors are at greater risk for developing breast cancer than the general population. These patients develop breast cancer early, have more estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor-positive tumors, and have a greater incidence of mixed invasive cancer. Recognition of this association between thyroid and breast cancer should prompt vigilant screening in thyroid cancer survivors and further investigation into the relationship of these 2 diseases.
Voicing conflict: Moral evaluation and responsibility in a Sri Lankan Muslim family's conversations

Abstract This article builds on literature on language and positionality to explore the role of voicing in the way individuals configure social differences. Drawing on research during the last phase of the Sri Lankan civil war, I examine how a Muslim family employs voicing to evaluate other individuals and ethnic groups in a way that pertains to morality and responsibility. I suggest that in an atmosphere of enshrouding fear, responsibility is not only an issue in terms of people's accountability for what they say and do but is also central in the way people situate themselves in relation to others.
SINGLET-TRIPLET GAP IN 1,2,3-BUTATRIENE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES ON THE MECHANISM OF ITS SPONTANEOUS POLYMERIZATION

The reactivity of 1,2,3 butatriene, C4H4, has been postulated to be due to the presence of low-lying triplet states. However, there have been no experimental or theoretical determinations of the energy separations or geometries of these states. We have examined the structures, energetics, and possible mechanisms involved in the self-polymerization of the title compound using single-determinant ab initio molecular orbital theory. We find that the magnitude of the singlet−triplet gap for the monomer and its relatively high positive heat of formation does not allow for a mechanism involving the direct formation of an isolated triplet species. We speculate on an alternative mechanism and show its relationship to recent work on related reactive monomers.
Succinct certificates for almost all subset sum problems

Given n natural numbers $a_1 , \cdots ,a_n $ and a target integer b, the SubsetSum problem is to determine whether some subset of the $a_i $; sums to b. That is, to recognize members of the following set: \[ {\text{SubsetSum}} = \left\{ \left\langle {a_1 , \cdots ,a_n ;b} \right\rangle |a_i \in {\bf N} b \in {\bf Z},{\text{ and }}\exists x \in \{ 0,1\} ^n {\text{ such that }} a \cdot x = b \right\} . \] For a given vector $a = (a_1 , \cdots ,a_n )$ and integer b, if a subset of the $a_i $ sums to b, then listing which subset provides a short proof that $\langle {a;b} \rangle \in {\text{SubsetSum}}$. However, in general there are no short (polynomial-length) proofs of nonmembership unless NP equals coNP.The main result in this paper provides a proof system that contains polynomial-length nonmembership proofs for a vast majority of the problem instances that do not belong to SubsetSum.
Effect of type and amount of dietary fat on concentration of cholesterol in blood plasma and tissues of rabbits

Abstract Rabbits were fed skim milk-based diets containing by weight either 14% soybean oil, 28% soybean oil, 14% tallow or 28% tallow. A control group was fed a commerical stock diet. Plasma cholesterol concentration was monitored for 10 weeks, after which cholesterol concentrations of liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, brain, heart, aorta, kidney, skin and intestinal mucosa were determined. Feeding soybean oil diets (relatively high content of polyunsaturated fat by acids) resulted in lesser concentrations of cholesterol in blood plasma than did feeding tallow diets (greater content of saturated fatty acids). Conversely, cholesterol contents were greater in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, heart, aorta, kidney, skin and intestinal mucosa of rabbits fed soybean oil diets. Cholesterol contents of liver and brain were unaffected by type of dietary fat. Our results demonstrate that the degree of saturation of fat in a milk-based diet of rabbits will influence the partitioning of cholesterol between the blood and several other tissues and organs.
Alumina Ceramic Bearings in Total Hip Arthroplasty: The Rationale for Patient Selection

The use of alumina ceramic bearings in total hip replacement is not new; extensive clinical outcomes have been reported since at least the past 3 decades. During that time, material advances have changed the basic composition and properties of alumina, such that femoral heads and acetabular inserts made of this material today are vastly superior in reliability, consistency, and durability than counterparts made previously. The question addressed by this article pertains to patient selection for alumina bearings during total hip surgery. To answer this question, the paper is organized to (1) present an overview of the material improvements in modern alumina bearings, (2) review the most recent clinical data related to ceramic bearing performance in total hip replacement, and (3) present practical guidelines based on literature evidence for patient selection for alumina bearings. It is hoped that this information will be of value to the hip arthroplasty surgeon.
Advancing Emotion Regulation Perspectives on Psychopathology: The Challenge of Distress Disorders.

The study of emotion regulation has impacted numerous subfields of psychology including developmental, organizational, social, cognitive, neurobiological, and health investigations (see Gross, 2014...
Wall Heat Flux Under Persistent Vortices

It is commonly perceived that turbulent flows yield turbulent wall fluxes, while laminar flows yield correspondingly laminar wall fluxes. Experiments support a recent theory that turbulent flows can yield laminar wall fluxes if the flow is “persistent.” Adding strong, stationary vortices to a turbulent boundary layer lowers the wall heat flux to a laminar value.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
A Physics-Based Iterative Method to Extract Distance-Dependent All-Atom Potentials for Protein Structure Prediction

One of the challenges in protein structure prediction is the development of an accurate scoring function that yields a global minimum free energy for the native state. Although the knowledge-based scoring function has proven to be a successful scoring approach to protein structure prediction, there exists a hurdle in deriving knowledge-based potentials. Namely, the ideal reference state is inaccessible. In this work, we have developed a general physics-based iterative method to extract distance-dependent all-atom potentials for protein structure prediction. Our method circumvented the long-standing reference state problem. The derived scoring function was extensively evaluated with three diverse test sets, and showed significant improvement over other well-known scoring functions. The results suggest the efficacy of our scoring function for protein structure prediction.
Treatment of elevated intracranial pressure in experimental intracerebral hemorrhage: comparison between mannitol and hypertonic saline.

Objective Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is related to mortality after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). To develop effective strategies for the medical treatment of ICP in cases of ICH, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of mannitol and hypertonic saline in a canine model of ICH. Methods We introduced ICH in three groups of anesthetized mongrel dogs, consisting of seven animals each, by autologous blood injection (5.5-7.5 ml) under arterial pressure in the deep white matter adjacent to the left basal ganglia. We evaluated the effect of iso-osmolar doses (5.5 mOsm/kg) of intravenously administered mannitol (1 gm/kg), 3% NaCl (5.3 ml/kg), or 23.4% NaCl (0.7 ml/kg) administered 2 hours after the introduction of hematoma, on the following: ICP, cerebral perfusion pressure, cerebral oxygen extraction and oxygen consumption, and regional cerebral blood flow in regions around and distant to the hematoma. All measurements were recorded at baseline, before treatment, and 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes after treatment. We also evaluated the water content (wet/dry weight) and blood-brain barrier permeability (Evans blue method) in pathologically demarcated regions of brain. Results There was an immediate reduction in ICP (mm Hg +/- standard error of the mean) in the 23.4% NaCl (27.6+/-4 to 11.0+/-2 mm Hg, P = 0.001), 3% NaCl (23.7+/-3 to 14.7+/-2 mm Hg, P = 0.009), and mannitol (25.6+/-3 to 15.9+/-4 mm Hg, P = 0.02) groups. Compared with pretreatment values, ICP was significantly lower in both the 23.4% NaCl (12.3+/-2 mm Hg, P = 0.002) and 3% NaCl (17.6+/-2 mm Hg, P = 0.008) groups but not in the mannitol group (18.7+/-4 mm Hg, P = 0.08) 15 minutes after the administration of treatment. There was a gradual rise in ICP observed in the 23.4% NaCl and mannitol groups with time. Only in the 3% NaCl group was the ICP significantly lower than the pretreatment value at 120 minutes (18.0+/-2 mm Hg, P = 0.02). A significantly higher cerebral perfusion pressure (108.4+/-4 versus 79.6+/-10 mm Hg, P = 0.048) and lower water content in the lesioned white matter (65.5+/-1% versus 67.9+/-1%, P = 0.07) was observed 2 hours after treatment in animals receiving 3% NaCl compared with animals receiving mannitol. There were no significant differences observed in regional cerebral blood flow, oxygen extraction, or oxygen consumption at any time point among the three groups. Conclusion Hypertonic saline, in both 3 and 23.4% concentrations, is as effective as mannitol in the treatment of intracranial hypertension observed in association with ICH. Hypertonic saline may have a longer duration of action, particularly when used in 3% solution. None of three treatment regimens influence regional cerebral blood flow or cerebral metabolism.
Microparticles: markers and mediators of sepsis-induced microvascular dysfunction, immunosuppression, and AKI.

Sepsis is a severe and complex syndrome that lacks effective prevention or therapeutics. The effects of sepsis on the microvasculature have become an attractive area for possible new targets and therapeutics. Microparticles (MPs) are cell membrane–derived particles that can promote coagulation, inflammation, and angiogenesis, and they can participate in cell-to-cell communication. MPs retain cell membrane and cytoplasmic constituents of their parental cells, including two procoagulants: phosphatidylserine and tissue factor. We highlight the role of microparticles released by endothelial and circulating cells after sepsis-induced microvascular injury, and we discuss possible mechanisms by which microparticles can contribute to endothelial dysfunction, immunosuppression, and multiorgan dysfunction—including sepsis-AKI. Once viewed as cellular byproducts, microparticles are emerging as a new class of markers and mediators in the pathogenesis of sepsis.
The effect of channel hot-carrier stressing on gate-oxide integrity in MOSFETs

The correlation between channel hot-carrier stressing and gate-oxide integrity is studied. It is found that channel hot carriers have no detectable effect on gate-oxide integrity even when other parameters (e.g., Delta V/sub T/ and Delta I/sub D/) have become intolerably degraded. In the extreme cases of stressing at V/sub G/ approximately=V/sub T/ with measurable hole injection current, however, the oxide charge to breakdown decreases linearly with the amount of hole fluence injected during the channel hot-hole stressing. This may limit the endurance of a nonvolatile memory using hot holes for erasing. This can also explain the gate-to-drain breakdown of a device biased in the snap-back region, since snap-back at low gate voltage is favorable for hole injection. Snap-back-induced oxide breakdown could be an ESD (electrostatic discharge) failure mechanism. >
Minimal circuit and state space realization of 2D all-pole systems with coefficient symmetry

In this paper two dimensional (2D) minimal circuit and state space realizations are presented for 2D all-pole systems with coefficient symmetry. The proposed state space realization is based on the corresponding circuit implementation. For the state space realization the classical 2D model of the Roesser type is used. The dimension of the state vector and the number of delay elements are minimal. Two examples are presented to illustrate the proposed results.
A flow device for tailored velocity profiles

A velocity profile with alternate highand low-peaks has many technological applications. Such a velocity profile can be obtained in a two dimensional tes t section by dividing the flow into a diverging (converging) section in the middle and converging (diverging) sections a t the top and bottom by inclined divider plates. The geometry of the velocity profile is controlled by the geometry of the test section. Experimental results from twelve different tes t section geometries a re presented and the effect of the test section geometry on the velocity profile is discussed.
π - Pulse propagation in nonlinear amplifiers

Abstract The steady state π-pulse in a homogeneously broadened amplifier becomes frequency modulated in the presence of a nonlinear host material. A first order theory of this effect is presented and discussed.
Gap-phase regeneration in longleaf pine wiregrass ecosystems

Abstract Naturally regenerated seedlings of longleaf pine are typically observed to cluster in the center of tree fall canopy gaps and be encircled by a wide zone from which they are generally excluded. Twelve representative canopy gaps distributed across 600 ha of a naturally regenerated uneven-aged longleaf pine forest in the sandhills of north central Florida were examined to determine which aboveground and belowground factors are responsible for development of this seedling exclusionary zone. Within 12 m of adult trees growing along the gap edge, significantly fewer longleaf pine seedlings were present. The canopy of overstory trees, however, extended only 4–5 m into the gap. The relatively open structure of the longleaf pine canopy (57% cover) allowed photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) to be evenly distributed upon the forest floor across each canopy gap. Thus, light availability was not related to pine seedling clustering near gap centers. Significantly greater forest litter mass beneath adult trees (5 Mg ha −1 ) could result in fires more intense than would be supported by the litter mass near gap centers (2.5 Mg ha −1 ). However, litter mass was significantly elevated only within 4 m of the gap edge. The fine root biomass within 12 m of the gap edge (3–4.5 Mg ha −1 ) was two to six times that measured near the gap center and most closely coincided with the width of the seedling exclusionary zone along the margin of each gap. Thus, while the canopy of adjacent adult trees may indirectly influence seedling mortality through deposition of needle litter and greater fire intensity within 4 m of the gap edge, the root systems of these adults also appear to directly compete with seedlings within 12–16 m of the gap edge for limited site resources. To effectively regenerate and sustain longleaf pine wiregrass ecosystems, caution should be used in prescribing single-tree selection harvest methods so as not to create gap openings so small (
Emphasizing Conceptualization and Innovation in the Product Realization Process

This paper outlines many of our experiences in the implementation of the Product Realization Process (PRP) in industry sponsored team design projects. There are two areas of emphasis. The first part reviews the Product Realization Process as implemented in our senior design courses. The second examines the concept development process in light of the implementation of “innovation” projects and conceptualization techniques. This is important on an international level to stimulate discussion on how ideas and concepts are generated around the world and how new ideas are carried to the marketing and business phases. The objective is to emphasize the ability of a company to compete effectively in a global economy.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Effects of combination cholestyramine-neomycin treatment on plasma lipoprotein concentrations in type II hyperlipoproteinemia

Recent prospective clinical trials have established that cholesterol reduction in patients with elevated (upper 90th percentile) concentrations of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) reduces the incidence of myocardial infarction and sudden death. Because the level of protection from these cardiovascular sequelae is directly related to the degree of LDL reduction, combination therapy using different hypolipidemic agents has been used in patients with type II hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP). Neomycin is as effective as cholestyramine in reducing LDL levels and combination neomycin-niacin treatment normalizes the plasma lipoproteins in 92% of patients with type II HLP. Because neomycin could theoretically ameliorate some of the gastrointestinal side effects of cholestyramine in addition to further affecting cholesterol levels, the effects of combination cholestyramine-neomycin treatment on the plasma lipoprotein were assessed in 18 patients with type II HLP in a 9-month clinical trial. Compared with diet-only treatment, cholestyramine reduced total and LDL cholesterol levels by 77 mg/dl (22%) and 78 mg/dl (31%), respectively. In addition to relieving cholestyramine-induced constipation, neomycin further reduced the total cholesterol level by 20 mg/dl (6%). However, this further reduction in total cholesterol concentration was the result of a decrease in the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. These findings indicate that combination therapy does not have an additive LDL cholesterol-lowering effect and that neomycin and cholestyramine is not a useful drug combination. In addition, these results illustrate the importance of determining the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration to fully interpret the effects of hypolipidemic treatment.
Value Dilemmas and Public Health: A Psychologist's Perspective

We are gathered in memory of our valued colleague Andie Knutson, and I feel particularly honored to have been chosen to speak on this occasion. Andie was a few years older than I, but our lives shared many links. We both had had Social Science Research Council Demobilization Awards following World War II experience, and we had both been involved in the early days of public opinion research. After the war, Andie took his Ph.D. at Princeton with Hadley Cantril, whose holistic and phenomenological orientation in psychology was much influenced by his own doctoral mentor, Gordon Allport, who was also mine. (Our common intellectual heritage made me find Andie's research concerns especially congenial.) After directing research and evaluation and behavioral studies in the U.S. Public Health Service with distinction, Andie came to Berkeley in 1957 (just two years before me) to initiate the program in behavioral sciences in the School of Public Health. He joined the Institute of Human Development as Research Associ...
FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS ON SOLID SURFACES

— One of the recent uses of fluorescence has been in the assay of substances directly on solid surfaces such as paper chromatograms, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plates, potassium bromide disks, electrophoresis strips, and silicone-rubber pads. Chromatography and electrophoresis are widely used analytical techniques and it is not surprising that fluorometric methods are used in conjunction with them. Advantages are increased sensitivity and rapidity of analysis. In this paper the use of fluorescence in the assay of substances after separation on paper and TLC chromatograms, as well as the direct assay of substances on a solid surface placed directly in a commercial fluorometer, are discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on the direct analysis of enzymatic reactions.
THERE ARE NO STRICT GREAT x-CYCLES AFTER A REDUCING OR P2 SURGERY ON A KNOT

The Cabling conjecture states that Dehn surgery on a nontrivial knot K in S3 yields a reducible manifold only when K is a nontrivial cabled knot. One idea is to attack this problem with the techniques used by Gordon and Luecke in the Knot Complement Problem. This involves a combinatorial analysis of two intersecting planar graphs. In the context of reducible surgery, one of the two planar graphs will necessarily contain a Scharlemann cycle. So, we define a strict x-cycle to be any x-cycle which is not a Scharlemann cycle; likewise, for strict great x-cycles. We show that if the reducing sphere meets the core of the Dehn filling minimally, then strict great x-cycles are not permitted. Thus, strict great x-cycles can play a role similar to that of the Scharlemann cycle in the Knot Complement Problem. The obstruction of finding strict great x-cycles is considered an essential step in the program. A second conjecture states that Dehn surgery on a nontrivial knot K in S3 yields a manifold containing an embedded projective plane only when K is a nontrivial cabled knot. We show how the Gordon and Luecke technique can be applied towards this conjecture by considering the spherical boundary of a regular neighborhood of the projective plane. And if the projective plane is chosen to meet the core of the Dehn filling minimally, we show that strict great x-cycles are not permitted.
Degree of polarization surfaces and maps for analysis of depolarization

The concept of degree of polarization surfaces is introduced as an aid to classifying the depolarization properties of Mueller matrices. Degree of polarization surfaces provide a visualization of the dependence of depolarization on incident polarization state. The surfaces result from a non-uniform contraction of the Poincare sphere corresponding to the depolarization properties encoded in a Mueller matrix. For a given Mueller matrix, the degree of polarization surface is defined by moving each point on the unit Poincare sphere radially inward until its distance from the origin equals the output state degree of polarization for the corresponding input state. Of the sixteen elements in a Mueller matrix, twelve contribute to the shape of the degree of polarization surface, yielding a complex family of surfaces. The surface shapes associated with the numerator and denominator of the degree of polarization function are analyzed separately. Protrusion of the numerator surface through the denominator surface at any point indicates non-physical Mueller matrices. Degree of polarization maps are plots of the degree of polarization on flat projections of the sphere. These maps reveal depolarization patterns in a manner well suited for quantifying the degree of polarization variations, making degree of polarization surfaces and maps valuable tools for categorizing and classifying the depolarization properties of Mueller matrices.
Jak2 Tyrosine Kinase Mediates Angiotensin II-dependent Inactivation of ERK2 via Induction of Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Phosphatase 1

Previous work has shown that inhibition of Jak2 via the pharmacological compound AG490 blocks the angiotensin II (Ang II)-dependent activation of ERK2, thereby suggesting an essential role of Jak2 in ERK activation. However, recent studies have thrown into question the specificity of AG490 and therefore the role of Jak2 in ERK activation. To address this, we reconstituted an Ang II signaling system in a Jak2-/-cell line and measured the ability of Ang II to activate ERK2 in these cells. Controls for this study were the same cells expressing Jak2 via the addition of a Jak2 expression plasmid. In the cells expressing Jak2, Ang II induced a marked increase in ERK2 activity as measured by Western blot analysis and in vitro kinase assays. ERK2 activity returned to basal levels within 30 min. However, in the cells lacking Jak2, Ang II treatment resulted in ERK2 activation that did not return to basal levels until 120 min after ligand addition. Analysis of phosphatase gene expression revealed that Ang II induced mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) expression in cells expressing Jak2 but failed to induce MKP-1 expression in cells lacking Jak2. Therefore, our results suggest that Jak2 is not required for Ang II-induced ERK2 activation. Rather Jak2 is required for Ang II-induced ERK2 inactivation via induction of MKP-1 gene expression.