cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aspiration Efficiency and Inlet Wall Deposition in the Fiber Sampling Cassette

The 25-mm diameter sampling cassette with a 50-mm long conductive inlet (cowl) is widely used for sampling fibers. Comprehensive testing of the sampling accuracy of this device has not been carried out. Several researchers have found significant fiber deposits in the inlet rather than on the collection filter. The sampler approaches the dimensions of a thin-walled tubular inlet, which has been studied extensively both theoretically and experimentally. A semiempirical model was used to calculate aspiration efficiency and inlet deposition for compact particles. The model was based on particle aerodynamic diameter and should apply with sufficient accuracy to fibers. This semiempirical model includes effects due to particle inertia, gravitational settling, and vena contracta deposition. The results of the model were compared to experimental measurements from a wind tunnel and from previous field studies. The laboratory measurements agree well with the model, but field measurements of fibers show higher inlet ...
Age and Sex Differences in the Cerebellum and the Ventral Pons: A Prospective MR Study of Healthy Adults

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The human brain exhibits a complex pattern of differential aging. The purpose of this study was to examine whether age differences in the volume of cerebellar regions and the ventral pons are differential or generalized, whether the age-related shrinkage is linear or exponential, and whether there are sex differences in the size of the cerebellum and pons. METHODS: The volumes of the cerebellar hemispheres (excluding the vermis and the peduncles), the vermis, and the ventral pons were estimated from the prospectively acquired MR scans of 190 healthy volunteers (aged 18–81 years). The relation between regional volumes, age, and sex was assessed while taking into account differences in body size (height). RESULTS: We found a moderate age-related reduction in the volume of the cerebellar hemispheres and the cerebellar vermis. In contrast to previous findings that suggested differential vulnerability of the posterior vermis, the age-related shrinkage of the vermian lobules was uniform—about 2% per decade. In accord with all reports in the literature, the size of the ventral pons was unrelated to age. The volume of the cerebellar hemispheres, the vermis, and the ventral pons were larger in men, even after adjustment for height. The magnitude of the sex difference was the largest in the hemispheres and the anterior vermis, and the smallest in the lobules VI–VII (declive-folium-tuber). CONCLUSION: Moderate age-related shrinkage of the cerebellum and lack of age-related differences in the ventral pons are robust phenomena. However, in all likelihood, the effects of age on the cerebellum are not differential but uniform. The cerebellum and the pons are larger in men than in women and the difference is especially pronounced in the cerebellar hemispheres and the anterior vermis.
The importance of resistance training in the treatment of sarcopenia

Utilizing individualized exercise training programs that are inclusive of appropriate resistance training protocols can attenuate the deleterious effects of sarcopenia and enhance quality of life, functional capacity and also diminish its negative effect on independence. Nurses should be educated in how the utilization of proper resistance training (RT) in individuals can be used to ameliorate the effect of sarcopenia, especially considering its relationship to Quality of Life (QoL), functional capacity and independence. In part, this educational process should include how to refer patients to an appropriate healthcare provider trained in assessing sarcopenia and the use of resistance training. However, it is especially important that the provider be an expert on RT that enhances lean muscle, muscular strength, muscular endurance, power, balance and stamina. Therefore, it is vital that nurses have an opportunity to define and recognize how resistance training can be prescribed, ultimately for primary prevention but also as an effective treatment module in enhancing the health outcomes related to QoL, functional capacity and independence.
Two‐Dimensional polymerization of supramolecular assemblies: Synthesis and bilayer polymerization of lipids containing α‐methylene‐substituted acyl chains

New lipids with reactive groups near the lipid backbone have been designed and synthesized. The main transition temperature (T m ) from gel to liquid crystalline phase of hydrated bilayers of 1-palmitoyl-2-(2-methylene) palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (1) and the disubstituted 1,2-bis(2-methylenepalmitoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (2) were 33.6 and 25.3°C, respectively. The T m of the mono-substituted 1-oleoyl-2-(2-methylene)palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine bilayers was detected in a range from -15 to -10°C by X-ray diffraction. Hydrated bilayers of each individual lipid were successfully polymerized with a water-soluble initiator.
An integrated safety-analysis methodology for emerging air-transport technologies

We demonstrate an approach to integrating reliability, performance, and operational procedures modeling into a system safety analysis. Our methodology is distinguished by its ability to merge system design information with the dynamic parameterization of a system's situation in order to measure accident statistics and reliable system operation. As an application of this methodology, we have considered the problem of simultaneous, but independent approaches of two aircraft on closely-spaced parallel runways, Independent Approaches on Parallel Runways, or IAPR. The IAPR concept presumes a flight deck based navigation, communication, surveillance, and alerting system. The potential exists for an aircraft on either runway to deviate off course toward another aircraft on the parallel runway. A variety of simulation projects have been undertaken to explore alerting systems for the parallel approach situation, but the major limitation of statistical information generated from these studies is that it represents conditional safety statistics given the flight track simulated. To remove this conditioning, we have shown how to apply the probability of flying the approach with a given flight track using Markov analysis to compute this probability. The results show how each of the probabilities of reliable operation, accidents, and false alarms vary as a function of runway spacing.
Evaluating AURA/OMI ozone profiles using ozonesonde data and EPA surface measurements for August 2006

Abstract We evaluate the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) ozone profile retrieval against ozonesonde data and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) surface measurements for August 2006. Comparison of individual OMI ozone profile with ozonesonde indicates that OMI ozone profile can explain the general vertical variation of ozone but is limited in observing the boundary layer ozone, due to weak sensitivity to boundary layer ozone and thick lowest layer (∼2.5 km). We made pair-wise comparison between OMI and ozonesondes on 24 OMI vertical layers, as well as the 39 sigma-P vertical layers of the Community Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system, respectively. OMI shows reasonable agreement with ozonesonde in the lower- to mid-troposphere. In the upper troposphere, while the bias increases, the normalized bias does not show much variation and remains below 10%. Comparison with EPA’s surface-monitoring data indicates that OMI observations at the lowest layer (surface to 2.5 km altitude) represent the mean values. While OMI underestimates elevated ozone concentrations, it explains the larger-scale spatial variation seen in the surface monitors.
Exploring Practical Estimates of the Ensemble Size Necessary for Particle Filters

AbstractParticle filtering methods for data assimilation may suffer from the “curse of dimensionality,” where the required ensemble size grows rapidly as the dimension increases. It would, therefore, be useful to know a priori whether a particle filter is feasible to implement in a given system. Previous work provides an asymptotic relation between the necessary ensemble size and an exponential function of , a statistic that depends on observation-space quantities and that is related to the system dimension when the number of observations is large; for linear, Gaussian systems, the statistic can be computed from eigenvalues of an appropriately normalized covariance matrix. Tests with a low-dimensional system show that these asymptotic results remain useful when the system is nonlinear, with either the standard or optimal proposal implementation of the particle filter. This study explores approximations to the covariance matrices that facilitate computation in high-dimensional systems, as well as different...
HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir decreases endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and increases superoxide in porcine arteries.

Objective: Although HIV Protease inhibitors significantly reduce the viral load, they are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir on vascular endothelial cell function. Methods: Porcine carotid arteries were perfusion-cultured for 24 h as controls or with 15 μM of ritonavir. Vessels were precontracted with norepinephrine followed by endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation with acetylcholine. Rings of vessels were cultured as controls or with ritonavir for 24 h and basal and NADPH-stimulated superoxide levels were determined using lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence. Superoxide levels in situ were also examined using dihydroethidium (DHE) staining, and nitrotyrosine levels were examined using a nitrotyrosine antibody. Results: Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation was significantly reduced in ritonavir-treated vessels compared to controls. There were significant increases in basal and NADPH-stimulated superoxide production in vessel rings treated with ritonavir compared to control vessels. Dihydroethidium staining and nitrotyrosine staining were also elevated in endothelial cells of ritonavir-treated vessels, indicating increased superoxide production and increased oxidative stress, respectively, in ritonavir-treated vessels compared to controls. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir causes a significant reduction in endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in cultured porcine carotid arteries. Increased oxidative stress may be a possible mechanism of HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir-induced endothelial dysfunction.
Chemopreventive Efficacy of Raloxifene, Bexarotene, and Their Combination on the Progression of Chemically Induced Colon Adenomas to Adenocarcinomas in Rats

Estrogen Receptor (ER)-β signaling is associated positively in colon tumor progression, whereas down-regulation or loss of function of retinoid X receptor (RXR)-α occurs in colon tumors. The chemopreventive efficacies of the estrogen antagonist raloxifene and the selective RXR agonist bexarotene were tested individually and in combination, during promotion and progression stages of colon tumorigenesis. Colon tumors were induced in male F344 rats with azoxymethane and at early adenoma stage, groups of rats (36 or 45/group) were fed diets containing raloxifene (1.5 or 3 ppm), bexarotene (50 or 100 ppm), or their low dose combinations for 40 weeks. Raloxifene or bexarotene alone significantly suppressed colon adenocarcinoma formation in terms of multiplicities (mean ± SE): control, 3.59 ± 0.25; 1.5 ppm raloxifene, 2.51 ± 0.29 (p<0.004); 3 ppm raloxifene, 2.14 ± 0.28 (p<0. 0001); 50 ppm bexarotene, 2.25 ± 0.32 (p<0.001); 100 ppm bexarotene, 2.1 ± 0.27 (p<0.0001) and 1.5 ppm raloxifene + 50 ppm bexarotene, 1.57 ± 0.21 (p<0.0001). The low dose combination caused significant (56 %) inhibition of adenocarcinomas as compared with control diet fed rats. Tumors exposed to raloxifene, bexarotene and/or the combination showed significant suppression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, cyclin D1 and β-catenin with an increased apoptotic cells (3-fold) and p21 expression (3.8-fold) as compared tumors of rats fed control diet. The combination of low doses of raloxifene and bexarotene significantly suppressed the progression of colonic adenomas to adenocarcinomas and may be useful for colon cancer prevention and/or treatment in high-risk individuals.
No Place to Belong Contextualizing Concepts of Mental Health Among Undocumented Immigrant Youth in the United States

This article examines the consequences of undocumented immigration status for those who grow up in the United States. The aim is to examine the relationship between undocumented immigrant status and mental and emotional health. Our efforts focus on undocumented immigrants who arrive as children and spend most of their formative years in the United States. The experiences of these undocumented members of the 1.5 generation are quite different from those who migrate as adults. We are interested in better understanding the effects confusing and conflicting experiences of inclusion and exclusion have on their mental and emotional health as well as the protective factors that may shape resilience. While previous scholarship has drawn some important implications to experiences of stress among undocumented youth and young adults, to our knowledge, no work has been done to explicitly draw the link to mental and emotional health. The article concludes with some suggestions for future research on the topic.
PKC-mediated stimulation of amphibian CFTR depends on a single phosphorylation consensus site. insertion of this site confers PKC sensitivity to human CFTR.

Mutations of the CFTR, a phosphorylation-regulated Cl− channel, cause cystic fibrosis. Activation of CFTR by PKA stimulation appears to be mediated by a complex interaction between several consensus phosphorylation sites in the regulatory domain (R domain). None of these sites has a critical role in this process. Here, we show that although endogenous phosphorylation by PKC is required for the effect of PKA on CFTR, stimulation of PKC by itself has only a minor effect on human CFTR. In contrast, CFTR from the amphibians Necturus maculosus and Xenopus laevis (XCFTR) can be activated to similar degrees by stimulation of either PKA or PKC. Furthermore, the activation of XCFTR by PKC is independent of the net charge of the R domain, and mutagenesis experiments indicate that a single site (Thr665) is required for the activation of XCFTR. Human CFTR lacks the PKC phosphorylation consensus site that includes Thr665, but insertion of an equivalent site results in a large activation upon PKC stimulation. These observations establish the presence of a novel mechanism of activation of CFTR by phosphorylation of the R domain, i.e., activation by PKC requires a single consensus phosphorylation site and is unrelated to the net charge of the R domain.
Domestic Violence Across Race and Ethnicity Implications for Social Work Practice and Policy

Domestic violence occurs across all ethnic and racial groups, profoundly affecting women, who are most frequently the victims. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2050, 50% of the population will be minorities. To contribute to the growing literature on race and domestic violence, this article uses data derived from domestic violence programs in a large Midwestern state between 1990 and 1995 to focus on the experiences of victims who sought services and examine how they vary by race and ethnicity. The limitations as well as practice and policy implications of the findings are discussed.
κ2N13,N13′-Hydro-rac-2,2′-bis[2-(1-propylbenzimidazol-2yl)]biphenyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, the salt of a novel proton sponge

The title salt, C32H31N4+·CF3SO3−, contains chains of monopro­tonated rac-2,2′-bis[2-(1-propyl­benzimidazol-2yl)]­bi­phenyl cations separated by tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate anions. The cations are linked by head-to-tail π-interactions of their benz­imidazole fragments. Protonation results in a strong hydrogen bond involving the imine N atoms, which gives the cations a tweezer or U shape.
Experimental and Natural Mimetic Dolomitization of Aragonite Ooids

ABSTRACT To better understand fabrics in dolomitized carbonates, aragonitic ooids were replaced with dolomite in laboratory experiments. Recent ooids from Cat Cay were reacted in a solution of 0.5 M MgCl2 and 0.4 M CaCl2 in Teflon-lined stainless steel bombs at 200°C and equilibrium vapor pressure. X-ray diffraction and petrographic study were used to characterize compositional and textural changes during dolomitization. Reaction progressed from aragonite through unordered Ca-Mg carbonate to ordered dolomite within 180 hr. Reaction products are texturally identical irrespective of composition and order. We believe that near-stoichiometric compositions and ordering were achieved by microscale dissolution and reaction of intermediate phases. Dolomitization occurred by dissolution of aragonite concurrent with precipitation of rhombohedral Ca-Mg carbonate. Dolomitization occurs first at ooid surfaces, where microsucrosic crystals precipitated and coalesced to form a rind. With time, reaction preferentially proceeded into discrete zones of ooid microporosity, where dolomite successively replaced algal borings, outer ooid cortices, and inner ooid cortices. Precipitation and coalescence of dolomite crystals in cortical laminae closely mimics original ooid structure. Comparison of experimental fabrics with calcitized, partially dolomitized, and completely dolomitized aragonite ooids of the late Proterozoic Beck Spring Dolomite indicates that mimetic concentric fabric originates by aragonite dissolution and early dolomite precipitation within porous cortical laminae. Importantly, these experimental and natural "replacement" fabrics show that fine-scale dolomite ooid fabrics are not indicative of "primary" dolomite precipitation. Isotopic compositions of Beck Spring mimetic dolomite ooids are enriched relative to other dolomitized metastable marine components, including acicular cement (aragonite), carbonate mud (aragonite-rich), and columnar cement (magnesian calcite). These data suggest that (1) initial reaction of aragonite ooid cortices occurred early in the diagenetic history in marine-dominated fluid, and (2) selective reaction of aragonite ooid cortices was promoted by a combination of high solubility, high cortical porosity, and high reactant surface area relative to other metastable components. Accordingly, textural and chemical data gathered from mimetic concentric dolomite ooids may be useful indicators of precursor aragonite and early dolomitization events.
KCNE Peptides Differently Affect Voltage Sensor Equilibrium and Equilibration Rates in KCNQ1 K+ Channels

KCNQ1 voltage-gated K+ channels assemble with the family of KCNE type I transmembrane peptides to afford membrane-embedded complexes with diverse channel gating properties. KCNQ1/KCNE1 complexes generate the very slowly activating cardiac IKs current, whereas assembly with KCNE3 produces a constitutively conducting complex involved in K+ recycling in epithelia. To determine whether these two KCNE peptides influence voltage sensing in KCNQ1 channels, we monitored the position of the S4 voltage sensor in KCNQ1/KCNE complexes using cysteine accessibility experiments. A panel of KCNQ1 S4 cysteine mutants was expressed in Xenopus oocytes, treated with the membrane-impermeant cysteine-specific reagent 2-(trimethylammonium) ethyl methanethiosulfonate (MTSET), and the voltage-dependent accessibility of each mutant was determined. Of these S4 cysteine mutants, three (R228C, G229C, I230C) were modified by MTSET only when KCNQ1 was depolarized. We then employed these state-dependent residues to determine how assembly with KCNE1 and KCNE3 affects KCNQ1 voltage sensor equilibrium and equilibration rates. In the presence of KCNE1, MTSET modification rates for the majority of the cysteine mutants were ∼10-fold slower, as was recently reported to indicate that the kinetics of the KCNQ1 voltage sensor are slowed by KCNE1 (Nakajo, K., and Y. Kubo. 2007 J. Gen. Physiol. 130:269–281). Since MTS modification rates reflect an amalgam of reagent accessibility, chemical reactivity, and protein conformational changes, we varied the depolarization pulse duration to determine whether KCNE1 slows the equilibration rate of the voltage sensors. Using the state-dependent cysteine mutants, we determined that MTSET modification rates were essentially independent of depolarization pulse duration. These results demonstrate that upon depolarization the voltage sensors reach equilibrium quickly in the presence of KCNE1 and the slow gating of the channel complex is not due to slowly moving voltage sensors. In contrast, all cysteine substitutions in the S4 of KCNQ1/KCNE3 complexes were freely accessible to MTSET independent of voltage, which is consistent with KCNE3 shifting the voltage sensor equilibrium to favor the active state at hyperpolarizing potentials. In total, these results suggest that KCNE peptides differently modulate the voltage sensor in KCNQ1 K+ channels.
Accommodative lag and juvenile-onset myopia progression in children wearing refractive correction

The relationship between accommodative lag and annual myopia progression was investigated using linear models in 592 myopic children wearing a full refractive correction in the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Ethnicity and Refractive Error (CLEERE) Study. The mean (± SD) age and spherical equivalent refractive error at baseline were 10.4 ± 1.8 years and -2.13 ± 1.24 D, respectively. The mean annual progression of myopia was -0.45 ± 0.32 D, and the mean accommodative lag (for a 4-D Badal stimulus) was 1.59 ± 0.63 D. Neither lag at the beginning nor at the end of a yearly progression interval was associated with annual myopia progression (all p ≥ 0.12). These data suggest that foveal hyperopic retinal blur during near viewing may not drive juvenile-onset myopia progression.
The Adam family metalloprotease Kuzbanian regulates the cleavage of the roundabout receptor to control axon repulsion at the midline

Slits and their Roundabout (Robo) receptors mediate repulsive axon guidance at the Drosophila ventral midline and in the vertebrate spinal cord. Slit is cleaved to produce fragments with distinct signaling properties. In a screen for genes involved in Slit-Robo repulsion, we have identified the Adam family metalloprotease Kuzbanian (Kuz). Kuz does not regulate midline repulsion through cleavage of Slit, nor is Slit cleavage essential for repulsion. Instead, Kuz acts in neurons to regulate repulsion and Kuz can cleave the Robo extracellular domain in Drosophila cells. Genetic rescue experiments using an uncleavable form of Robo show that this receptor does not maintain normal repellent activity. Finally, Kuz activity is required for Robo to recruit its downstream signaling partner, Son of sevenless (Sos). These observations support the model that Kuz-directed cleavage is important for Robo receptor activation.
Crime, War, and Global Trafficking: Conflict diamonds: the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme

“Diamonds are a girl's best friend,” Marilyn Monroe famously sang in the 1953 movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes . Half a century later, the phrase took on a decidedly less romantic twist, as diamonds became a rebel's best friend, helping to fund bloody conflicts in western and central Africa. In response to these conflicts, officials of interested governments, together with non-governmental organizations and industry representatives met in the old South African diamond city Kimberley in May 2000 to hammer out an internationally coordinated effort to prevent rebels from turning diamonds into arms and payment for fighters. With great speed and creativity – at least in comparison with most other international initiatives – this diverse set of actors devised the so-called Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which formulates a minimum set of trade control measures aimed at denying so-called “blood diamonds” or “conflict diamonds” access to international markets. This chapter examines whether the design of this scheme matches the particularities of the illicit trade in these tarnished stones. In contrast to the paradoxical problem constellation found in the previous chapter on money laundering, I will show that in this case all three problem attributes are of the same moderate degree, thus unanimously pointing toward a design solution in the mid-range of the soft–hard law spectrum. As I will argue below, the actual design adopted by the instigators of the Kimberley Process does indeed match this expectation. Like the FATF's Forty Recommendations, the Kimberley Process represents an international institution with a moderate degree of legalization.
Use of objective speech quality measures in selecting effective spectral estimation techniques for speech enhancement

Objective quality measures are used to determine optimal enhancement performance versus variation parameter settings for the enhancement algorithms. Issues addressed include: (1) the amount of magnitude averaging needed for highest speech quality using spectral subtracting; (2) choice of spectral estimation technique for colored noise characterization; and (3) terminating criterion for best speech quality for short-time Wiener filtering and constrained iterative enhancement algorithms. Additive white Gaussian noise and slowly varying colored aircraft cockpit noise are considered in the evaluation. Results show that constrained iterative enhancement resulted in the highest quality improvement for a white Gaussian distortion in seven iterations. Over a large number of colored noise conditions the best objective qualities resulted when Bartlett and maximum-entropy spectra were used in the enhancement algorithms. For aircraft cockpit noise, further improvement was observed when noise characterization was updated more frequently. >
Trans-California seismic profile, death Valley to Monterey Bay

abstract An experiment to investigate the major earth structure along a profile from the Nevada Test Site (NTS) to the Pacific Ocean across two sections of the Sierra Nevada, one in the Kings Canyon area and the other which includes Huntington Lake, was undertaken by the Earthquake Mechanism Laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Instrumental coverage included 35 temporary and seven permanent seismographs. Energy sources included four high-yield and 20 intermediate- to low-yield nuclear explosions under the NTS, one high-yield explosion under Amchitka Island of Alaska, two earthquakes near Santa Rosa, and one earthquake in Monterey Bay. An upper-mantle speed of 7.9 km/sec satisfied most of the observed data except under the Sierra where the velocity was somewhat lower than this. An earthquake in Monterey Bay helped to close the west end of the profile. The Sierra Nevada “root” in large part can be attributed to relatively low upper-mantle speed under the Sierras (estimated at 7.64 km/sec) which extends to an indefinite depth and which possibly may serve as lens to refract late arriving high-energy waves to coastal areas. Crustal thickness from the Sierra foothills eastward varies from 25 to 35 km, the thinner portion under the Sierra crest and Owens Valley, near Independence, and the thicker sections under the western Sierra and the basin ranges east of Owens Valley. West of Fresno, the crust thins more or less gradually to about 20 km in thickness under the western coast ranges. This profile contrasts with that from an earlier study, across the Central Valley south of Stockton, where no such thinning under the Central Valley was observed. The sub-Sierra crust east of Fresno is somewhat complicated. Low-angle thrusting toward the east is indicated.
The metric injective hulls of normed spaces

Abstract Let M denote the category of metric spaces with contractions as morphisms and N denote the category of real normed spaces with linear contractions as morphisms. Given any normed space X over the reals R , let E m(X), E n(X) denote the injective hulls of X in the categories M and N respectively. It was shown by Isbell that E m(X) “coinsides” with E n(X) but his proof had a gap. In this paper we shall fix that but also provide two other direct ways of getting at the Banach algebra structure of E n(X).
BIPHASIC PATTERN OF THYMUS REGENERATION AFTER WHOLE-BODY IRRADIATION

Whole-body irradiation of mice with 300 or 400 R causes a precipitous fall in thymus weight, followed by an increase in the mitotic index and an almost complete restoration of thymus mass. This phase is followed by a secondary fall in thymus weight and gradual recovery. This secondary fall can be prevented by intravenous injection of bone marrow or shielding of the hind limbs during irradiation. The hypothesis is proposed that the thymus depends on the migration of cells from the bone marrow to the thymus for the maintenance of its cell population. Bone marrow cells with chromosome markers injected intravenously into normal or lightly irradiated (150 R) animals do not populate the host bone marrow to any significant degree. After whole-body irradiation with heavy doses (400 R), donor cells dominate the marrow. There may be a competition between dividing cells in the bone marrow which regulates proliferation of hemic cells. Bone marrow cells with marker chromosomes do not repopulate the thymus in irradiated animals until long after repopulating the bone marrow. It is possible that these cells have to pass through the marrow or the blood-marrow barrier to acquire characteristics needed for entering the thymus. After whole-body irradiation with 500 R or more, the first phase of regeneration of the thymus, represented by an increase in the mitotic index, does not occur to a significant degree. Apparently cells in the thymus capable of proliferation have been largely eliminated, and restoration of organ mass depends chiefly on seeding from other sources, probably the bone marrow. After whole-body irradiation with 200 R, only the first phase of thymus weight loss and regeneration takes place. Probably bone marrow injury is too small to interfere with the supply of cells repopulating the thymus.
Ammonia Derived from Glutaminolysis Is a Diffusible Regulator of Autophagy

Autophagy is a tightly regulated catabolic process that plays key roles in normal cellular homeostasis and survival during periods of extracellular nutrient limitation and stress. The environmental signals that regulate autophagic activity are only partially understood. Here, we report a direct link between glutamine (Gln) metabolism and autophagic activity in both transformed and nontransformed human cells. Cells cultured for more than 2 days in Gln-containing medium showed increases in autophagy that were not attributable to nutrient depletion or to inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin. Conditioned medium from these cells contained a volatile factor that triggered autophagy in secondary cell cultures. We identified this factor as ammonia derived from the deamination of Gln by glutaminolysis. Gln-dependent ammonia production supported basal autophagy and protected cells from tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced cell death. Thus, Gln metabolism not only fuels cell growth but also generates an autocrine- and paracrine-acting regulator of autophagic flux in proliferating cells.
Cytologically negative carcinomatous meningitis: Usefulness of CSF biochemical markers

Eighteen patients (age range, 28 to 62 years; median, 58) with carcinomatous meningitis defined clinically (100%) and neuroradiographically (39%) with negative CSF cytology were evaluated with CSF biochemical markers. In only four patients (22%), CSF biochemical markers corroborated a diagnosis of carcinomatous meningitis.
The function of intragenic DNA methylation: insights from insect epigenomes.

Synopsis Epigenetic inheritance plays a fundamentally important role in mediating gene regulation and phenotypic plasticity. DNA methylation, in particular, has been the focus of many recent studies aimed at understanding the function of epigenetic information in insects. An understanding of DNA methylation, however, requires knowledge of its context in relation to other epigenetic modifications. Here, we review recent insights into the localization of DNA methylation in insect genomes and further discuss the functional significance of these insights in the context of the greater eukaryotic epigenome. In particular, we highlight the complementarity of the eukaryotic epigenetic landscape. We focus on the importance of DNA methylation to nucleosome stability, which may explain the context-dependent associations of DNA methylation with gene expression. Ultimately, we suggest that the integration of diverse epigenetic modifications in studies of insects will greatly advance our understanding of the evolution of epigenetic systems and epigenetic contributions to developmental regulation.
Approximate Decoupling Flight Control Design with Output Feedback

Theproblem ofapproximatedecoupling of nonlinear systemsby outputfeedback is considered. The structure of the controller is high-gain proportional plus integral. Linearization of the nonlinear closed-loop equations results in the standard singular perturbation form. Based on the singular perturbation concept, a control law is found that accomplishes approximate decoupling with stability for nonlinear systems. Application oftheproposed design schemeto thefullsix-degree-of-freedomnonlinearaircraftdynamicsmodelispresented,demonstrating itsvalidity. I. Introduction A SYSTEM is said to be decoupled if each component of the output depends only on the corresponding component of the input. The problem of decoupling a multivariable system has been extensively treated in the literature in the past 30 years. The necessary and sufe cient conditions were developed for linear 1;2 and nonlinear 3i6 systems. However, no systematic procedures for the controller design were considered. Nonlinear system controller design is typically approached by linearizing the system about a nominal operating point and applying linear system design methods. This will provide a linear control law that yields approximate noninteracting control and satisfy design objectives in the neighborhood of the constant operating point. For the purpose of this work, the design objectives for this highly coupled system of e ight dynamics are to closely track individual desired outputs, with zero steady-state response from others. However, the problem of computing the decoupling feedback control laws for a nonlinear system is quite dife cult. Approximate decoupling control for nonlinear systems is based onsingularperturbationconcepts.Thestructureofcontrollerishighgain output feedback with proportional plus integral (PI) control.It will be shown that the linearization of nonlinear closed-loop system about the nominal operating point yields the standard singular perturbation equation form when a scalar gain weighting g ! 1. Then,thesingularperturbationconcept,i.e.,necessaryandsufe cient conditions, is utilized to e nd a decoupling control law. This approach is a new, conceptually simple, but practically useful design method for approximate noninteracting control law design with stability for nonlinear systems. The results developed are easy to follow and are easily applicable to aircraft control decoupling problems. This paper introduces the application of this design method to approximate noninteracting e ight control system design.
Generalized Signal Richness Preservation Problem and Vandermonde-Form Preserving Matrices

In this paper, a theoretical problem arising in digital communications, namely the generalized signal richness preservation problem, is addressed and studied. In order to solve the problem, a special class of square matrices, namely the "Vandermonde-form preserving" (VFP) matrices, is introduced and found to be highly relevant to the problem. Several properties of VFP matrices are studied in detail. The necessary and sufficient conditions of the problem have been found, and a systematic proof is also presented
BAC-end sequence-based SNP mining in allotetraploid cotton (Gossypium) utilizing resequencing data, phylogenetic inferences, and perspectives for genetic mapping

A bacterial artificial chromosome library and BAC-end sequences for cultivated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) have recently been developed. This report presents genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mining utilizing resequencing data with BAC-end sequences as a reference by alignment of 12 G. hirsutum L. lines, one G. barbadense L. line, and one G. longicalyx Hutch and Lee line. A total of 132,262 intraspecific SNPs have been developed for G. hirsutum, whereas 223,138 and 470,631 interspecific SNPs have been developed for G. barbadense and G. longicalyx, respectively. Using a set of interspecific SNPs, 11 randomly selected and 77 SNPs that are putatively associated with the homeologous chromosome pair 12 and 26, we mapped 77 SNPs into two linkage groups representing these chromosomes, spanning a total of 236.2 cM in an interspecific F2 population (G. barbadense 3-79 × G. hirsutum TM-1). The mapping results validated the approach for reliably producing large numbers of both intraspecific and interspecific SNPs aligned to BAC-ends. This will allow for future construction of high-density integrated physical and genetic maps for cotton and other complex polyploid genomes. The methods developed will allow for future Gossypium resequencing data to be automatically genotyped for identified SNPs along the BAC-end sequence reference for anchoring sequence assemblies and comparative studies.
Cytokines in the host-tumor interaction

Understanding the cellular, biochemical and immunological ramifications of the host-tumor interaction at both the local tumor level and the systemic level is key to the design of successful therapeutic modalities for human cancers. The participation of cytokines in both the local and systemic aspects of the host-tumor interaction has been extensively established. Indeed, there is now not only a vast literature on the involvement of cytokines in the biology of host-tumor interaction, but also on the therapeutic use in human cancer of cytokines such as the various interferons, interleu-kins, hematopoietic growth factors, and an ever-increasing list of new cytokines. These cytokines (or ‘biological response modifiers’) have been introduced into anti-cancer regimens, either for their direct anti-tumor effects on neoplastic cell elements, or for their indirect anti-tumor effects through enhancement of the host’s immunological response to cancer or through enhancement of the recovery of the host after the use of other bone marrow suppressive anti-cancer agents. Effective therapeutic use of cytokines in human cancer (for example of interferon-a) is now definitely established.
Planning a Gymnasium

(1973). Planning a Gymnasium. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation: Vol. 44, No. 8, pp. 58-62.
Speech, Association, Conscience, and the First Amendment's Orientation

This Article discusses a variety of cases that are often thought to implicate matters of conscience -- compelled speech, symbolic conduct, conscientious objection -- as well as several unemployment benefits and right of association cases, concluding that these cases do not provide much protection to conscience-based refusals to engage in allegedly symbolic activities that themselves might be interpreted in a number of ways, especially if these refusals occur in a commercial context. The Article then focuses on Elane Photography v. Willock, explaining why it was decided correctly and why a different decision might have been difficult if not impossible to cabin and would likely have had a variety of regrettable consequences.
Amyloid Properties of Asparagine and Glutamine in Prion-like Proteins

Sequences rich in glutamine (Q) and asparagine (N) are intrinsically disordered in monomeric form, but can aggregate into highly ordered amyloids, as seen in Q/N-rich prion domains (PrDs). Amyloids are fibrillar protein aggregates rich in β-sheet structures that can self-propagate through protein-conformational chain reactions. Here, we present a comprehensive theoretical study of N/Q-rich peptides, including sequences found in the yeast Sup35 PrD, in parallel and antiparallel β-sheet aggregates, and probe via fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations all their possible steric-zipper interfaces in order to determine their protofibril structure and their relative stability. Our results show that polyglutamine aggregates are more stable than polyasparagine aggregates. Enthalpic contributions to the free energy favor the formation of polyQ protofibrils, while entropic contributions favor the formation of polyN protofibrils. The considerably larger phase space that disordered polyQ must sample on its way...
Oxygen/Sulfur Scrambling During the Copolymerization of Cyclopentene Oxide and Carbon Disulfide: Selectivity for Copolymer vs Cyclic [Thio]carbonates

The catalytic coupling of cyclopentene oxide with carbon disulfide has been investigated utilizing (salen)CrCl in the presence of added onium salts. Both polymeric and cyclic materials were produced, with oxygen/sulfur atom scrambling observed in both instances. This atom redistribution process was found to require (salen)CrCl and excess epoxide, though an increase in the rate of atom scrambling was noted upon the addition of the onium salt. Cyclopentene sulfide was observed as a side product of the coupling reaction and was found to be unreactive toward both CS2 and CO2, instead undergoing desulfurization to cyclopentene under the conditions of the reaction. Of the 12 cyclic cyclopentene [thio]carbonates possibly produced by this coupling reaction, eight were observed, and the crystal structure of trans-cyclopentene trithiocarbonate is reported herein. Computational studies reveal that the cis- cyclic materials are more stable than their trans-counterparts by >5 kcal/mol of enthalpy, and there is a 10–25...
Survey of contamination of 15 kinds of supermarket foods with food- borne pathogenic bacteria in Fengtai Distirct of Beijing city from 2009～2013

Objective To understand the contmination status of 15 kinds supermarket foods with food-borne pathogenic bacteria in Fengtai Distirct of Beijing city. Methods The 15 kinds of foods samples randomly collected from supermarkets of Fengtai District in 2009~2013 were detected for present of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella, Enterobacter sakazakii and Bacillus cereus based on the GB4789. Results A total of 9 foodborne pathogens were isolated from 585 supermarket food samples of with a positive rate of 1.5%. The Infant formula food, milk powder, non fermented bean products, cooked meat products, raw chicken, raw aquatic products and frozen aquatic food were contaminated. Conclusion The supermarket foods are,to a varied extent, contaminated with food-born pathogenic bacteria. It is suggested that the supermarket and the relevant monitoring department should strengthen the supervision of the food safety and the management of staff members to prevent the occurrence of food-borne disease.
Electrophysiological effects of mucosal Cl- removal in Necturus gallbladder epithelium.

The factors responsible for the cell membrane hyperpolarization elicited in Necturus gallbladder epithelium on Cl- removal from the mucosal bathing solution were evaluated with conventional and ion-sensitive microelectrode techniques. Cl- removal causes reversal of apical Cl- -HCO3- exchange, resulting in a fall in intracellular Cl- activity (aiCl) and an increase in intracellular pH (pHi). Concomitantly, the cell membranes hyperpolarize to values close to the K+ equilibrium potential (EK), aiNa falls, and aiK rises. The observed changes in membrane voltage are not attributable to a pHi-dependent increase in cell membrane K+ permeability (PK), because 1) the cell membrane resistances increased and 2) elevating solution partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2) to counterbalance the cellular alkalinization on mucosal Cl- removal caused a further hyperpolarization of the cell membranes to values greater than EK. This additional hyperpolarization was related to the activity of the Na+ pump, inasmuch as it was accompani...
Reanalyzing Environmental Lidar Data for Archaeology: Mesoamerican Applications and Implications

This paper presents a preliminary archaeological assessment of extensive transects of lidar recently collected by environmental scientists over southern Mexico using the G-LiHT system of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. In particular, this article offers the results of a first phase of research, consisting of: 1) characterization and classification of the cultural and ecological context of the samples, and 2) bare earth processing and visual inspection of a sample of the flight paths for identification of probable anthropogenic Precolumbian features. These initial results demonstrate that significant contributions to understanding variations in Precolumbian land-use and settlement patterns and change is possible with truly multi-regional lidar surveys not originally captured for archaeological prospection. We point to future directions for the development of archaeological applications of this robust data set. Finally, we offer the potential for enriching archaeological research through tightly coupled collaborations with environmental science and monitoring. Archaeologists in the neotropics can acquire more data, better realize the full potential of lidar surveys, and better contribute to interdisciplinary studies of human-environmental dynamic systems through regionally focused and collaborative scientific research.
Influence of Trace Nitrogen Oxides on Natural Gas Oxidation: Flow Reactor Measurements and Kinetic Modeling

The reactivity-promoting effect of trace nitrogen oxides (NOx) on post-induction oxidation of a synthetic natural gas (2% ethane in methane) has been experimentally studied in a high-pressure laminar flow reactor (HPLFR) at 10 ± 0.1 atm, nominal reaction temperature of 818 ± 5 K, and several equivalence ratios (φ ∼ 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0). Each set of experimental measurements was simulated using several literature C0–C2 + NOx kinetic models, both recent and legacy, using approaches shown to lead to robust interpretation of present experimental conditions. Coupling between the NOx and C0–C2 submodel components of these models varies significantly in both qualitative (mechanistic) and quantitative character. A comparison among the experimental measurements and modeling results serves to highlight important kinetic features particular to application-relevant natural gas oxidation in presence of trace (∼25 ppm) NOx. Additional insight is offered by a baseline experiment with no NOx perturbation, which shows that ...
Phase I/II: The oral isotype-selective HDAC inhibitor MGCD0103 in combination with gemcitabine in patients with refractory solid tumors

B139 Purpose: The primary objective of the phase I portion of this trial was to determine the MTD of MGCD0103 in combination with gemcitabine (gem) and for the phase II portion, to assess the combination in pancreatic cancer patients (pts). Methods: Multicenter, open-label, phase I/II, dose-escalation trial in adults (≥18 yrs) with refractory solid tumors. Pts (3-6 per cohort) received oral MGCD0103 3x per wk in 28-day cycles at sequential ascending doses using a 3+3 design targeting a DLT rate of