cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extracellular Sulfatases, Elements of the Wnt Signaling Pathway, Positively Regulate Growth and Tumorigenicity of Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Author(s): Nawroth, Roman; van Zante, Annemieke; Cervantes, Sara; McManus, Michael; Hebrok, Matthias; Rosen, Steven D | Abstract: BackgroundHeparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are control elements in Wnt signaling, which bind extracellularly to Wnt ligands and regulate their ability to interact with signal transduction receptors on the cell surface. Sulf-1 and Sulf-2 are novel extracellular sulfatases that act on internal glucosamine-6-sulfate (6S) modifications within HSPGs and thereby modulate HSPG interactions with various signaling molecules, including Wnt ligands. Emerging evidence indicates the importance of reactivated Wnt signaling in a number of cancers, including pancreatic adenocarcinoma.Principle findingsBoth Sulf proteins were upregulated in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma tumors and were broadly expressed in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines. Expression of human extracellular sulfatases Sulf-1 and Sulf-2 enhanced Wnt signaling in a reconstituted system. Three of four pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines tested exhibited autocrine Wnt signaling, in that extracellular Wnt ligands were required to initiate downstream Wnt signaling. Exposure of these pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells to a catalytically inactive form of Sulf-2 or siRNA-mediated silencing of endogenous Sulf-2 inhibited both Wnt signaling and cell growth. Sulf-2 silencing in two of these lines resulted in markedly reduced tumorigenesis in immunocompromised mice.Conclusions/significanceWe have identified the Sulfs as potentiators of autocrine Wnt signaling in pancreatic cancer cells and have demonstrated their contribution to the growth and tumorigenicity of these cells. Since the Sulfs are extracellular enzymes, they would be attractive targets for therapy of pancreatic cancer. Our results run counter to the prevailing view in the literature that the Sulfs are negative regulators of tumorigenesis.
Haemagglutinin of Rubella Virus

STEWART and his associates have developed a method for detecting a haemagglutinating antigen for rubella virus1 which depends on two discoveries: first, that the calf sera ordinarily incorporated into media for the maintenance of cells infected with rubella virus contain an inhibitor for haemagglutination and, second, that the best agglutination was seen with blood cells from newly hatched chicks. In their original method BHK21 cells, which have been shown to produce the virus in high titre2, were infected with rubella virus and maintained in 2 per cent kaolin-treated foetal calf serum. Although this method provided a signal advance in the serology of rubella, in our laboratory production of haemagglutinin has been variable and, when found, the peak titres observed were only 1/32 per ml.
Fast spectroscopy of energy release in nanometric explosives

Abstract A nanometric explosive containing 50–200 nm diameter Al particles and a nitrocellulose (NC) oxidizer is studied by high repetition rate picosecond laser ignition combined with time-resolved emission spectroscopy and coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) of ONO 2 stretching of the oxidizer. When the Al aggregates are flash-heated to the boiling point, 2740 K, nitro groups of the oxidizer near each hot aggregate are consumed within 500 ps. A burst of emission that indicates energy release occurs in ∼5 ns. The ignition delay is in the range of 500 ps to 3 ns. The rate-limiting step for energy release at Al-NC hot spots is vibrational relaxation of hot oxidized Al species.
Social support in smoking cessation: Reconciling theory and evidence

Introduction: The majority of smokers attempt to quit smoking on their own, but in any given year, only 5% or less are successful. To improve cessation rates, tapping social networks for social support during quitting has been recommended or tested in some interventions. Prior reviews of this research, however, have concluded that there is little to no evidence that partner support interventions are effective. Discussion: Given the theoretical importance of the concept of social support, its demonstrated value in treatments that are implicitly supportive (e.g., telephone counseling), and the general lack of a guiding conceptual framework for research on the effects of peer or partner support for cessation, we describe theoretical models that explicitly incorporate social support constructs in predicting motivation for and success in quitting. Conclusion: Better differentiation of support concepts and elucidating causal pathways will lead to studies that demonstrate the value of social relationships in improving smokers’ likelihood of cessation. The majority of smokers attempt to quit smoking on their
Undernutrition, Puberty and the Development of Estrogen Positive Feedback in the Female Rat

The development of the positive feedback of estrogen in normally fed animals and its possible alterations in animals subjected to restricted food intake was studied. Different doses of estradiol benzoate (ES), administered s.c. as a single injection to normal prepubertal rats of different ages, resulted in an increase in uterine weight which became more prominent as the animals approached puberty. Significant gonadotropin release was induced by EB only from Day 26 on. The LH response to EB measured in the afternoon (1600 h) of the second day following the injection increased with age; the older rats showing an elevation in LH levels after the administration of doses of EB which were ineffective in younger rats. In rats injected with the highest dose of EB (5 ag/b0 g bw), gonadotropin release occurred 1 day earlier. Modification of the growth rate of rats by varying the milk supply during the nursing period, followed by normal postweaning feeding, revealed that attainment of a critical body weight is not essential for puberty to occur since animals reached puberty at the same age, but at different body weights. Other animals maintained after weaning under restricted diet did not reach puberty for as long as their access to food was restricted (Day 57). When food was made available ad libitum, vaginal opening and ovulation occurred within a week. At 42 days of age, the underfed rats had small uteri and restoration of food produced a dramatic increase in uterine weight and gonadotropin levels. At this age, the underfed rats responded to EB injection with a remarkable increase in gonadotropins which was even greater than that induced by a similar dose of EB in younger normally fed rats of similar body weight. Restoration of food followed by ES injection resulted in ovulation within 3 days. The results indicate that 1) the gonadotropin response to estrogen positive feedback develops gradually and quantitatively as the animal matures and 2) undernutrition-induced delayed puberty is not caused by inability of the hypothalamic-pituitary unit to respond to positive estrogen feedback, but rather to ovarian failure to release estrogen in amounts sufficient to trigger a gonadotropin surge. However, the fact that in underfed rats, basal gonadotropin levels were not elevated indicates that the steroid negative feedback was operative in these animals.
The epidemiology of corporate PAC formation, 1975–1984

Abstract Most work on corporate Political Action Committees (PACs) accounts for their formation or activity level in terms of market concentration and collective action dilemmas. Subsidiary concerns include the effects of regulatory burden and the firm's internal organization. However, these cross-sectional designs yield little insight into the dynamics of the process. Results of logit and event history analyses of panel data on 119 U.S. firms from 1975–1984 show that changes in corporate profitability, PAC formation by other firms in a firm's board of directors interlock network, and the degree of managerial dominance of corporate governance also affect the likelihood that a firm will form a PAC. Analyses also reveal important differences in PAC formation dynamics across different types of firms, particularly in their response to PAC formation by linked firms.
Fmoc solid phase synthesis of polyamides containing pyrrole and imidazole amino acids.

Polyamides containing N-methylimidazole (Im) and N-methylpyrrole (Py) amino acids are synthetic ligands that have an affinity and specificity for DNA comparable to those of many naturally occurring DNA binding proteins. A machine-assisted Fmoc solid phase synthesis of polyamides has been optimized to afford high stepwise coupling yields (>99%). Two monomer building blocks, Fmoc-Py acid and Fmoc-Im acid, were prepared in multigram scale. Cleavage by aminolysis followed by HPLC purification affords up to 200 mg quantities of polyamide with purities and yields greater than or equal to those reported using Boc chemistry. A broader set of reaction conditions will increase the number and complexity of minor groove binding polyamides which may be prepared and help ensure compatibility with many commercially available peptide synthesizers.
Dissipative effects in magnetohydrodynamical models with intrinsic magnetization

Abstract A unifying non-canonical Poisson bracket has been shown to describe magnetohydrodynamic models of classical and quantum–mechanical fluids with intrinsic magnetization (or spin), and the Jacobi identity for this bracket is also proven. Their corresponding Hamiltonians are presented, and some interesting features, such as the potential absence of angular momentum conservation, are pointed out. To maintain consistency with the first and second laws of thermodynamics, a metriplectic approach to these models is highlighted which involves entropy production via a hitherto unstudied term involving the magnetization. A few promising avenues and outstanding issues for future work in this area are also discussed.
What Every Economics Student Needs to Know and Doesn't Get in the Usual Principles, by John Komlos. New York, NY: Routledge, 2014. Paperback: ISBN 978-0-7656-3923-3, $49.95, 240 pages.

A colleague and good friend of mine, who is Italian, often shares Italian adages with me. One of his favorites translates to (or so he tells me): “Only a stupid donkey falls in the same hole twice....
Winter transportation in the High Sierra by sno-motor

A report on the Southern California Edison Company's operation of the Sno-Motor up to the end of 1941 was presented at the Pasadena Meeting of the Western Snow-Conference on January 16, 1942. In the last two years additional operating experience has been gained as outlined in the following paragraphs.
A framework for analyzing and interpreting differential aging patterns: Application to three measures of implicit learning

At least four distinct explanations can be proposed to account for patterns of spared and impaired performance in which the age-related effects on some variables are weaker than those on other variables. These are: (a) some variables lack sufficient reliability to exhibit relations with other variables; (b) the variables differ in their dependence on what many of the variables have in common; (c) variables with little or no age differences reflect a qualitatively different form of cognition than variables with moderate to large age differences; and (d) variables with little or no age differences have independent positive age-related influences that offset the negative age-related effects shared with other cognitive variables. These interpretations were examined with three different variables hypothesized to reflect implicit learning obtained from a sample of 183 adults ranging from 18 to 87 years of age. Only an implicit learning measure derived from a sequential reaction time task had acceptable reliabil...
Management Science in the Republic of China (Taiwan)

This paper provides a description of the historical development and current status of management science in Taiwan. Since 1960, management science has gradually gained full acceptance in the academic realm, but has faltered in achieving adequate recognition from the industries. It is realized that academic acceptance without the benefit of cross-fertilization from business applications makes the rooting of this applied discipline superficial. The current status of management science in universities, private and state-owned industries, professional societies and consulting firms is portrayed from the economic, cultural and social standpoint. Factors that weaken the effective spread and causes that stifle the growth of management science are discussed. The future prospect of management science in Taiwan is bright. With most of the impediments dissipating, cultural bondage loosening, computerization and automation spreading, the demand for management science will be revitalized.
Random Sparse Bit Strings at the Threshold of Adjacency

We give a complete characterization for the limit probabilities of first order sentences over sparse random bit strings at the threshold of adjacency. For strings of length n, we let the probability that a bit is “on” be \(\tfrac{c}{{\sqrt n }}\), for a real positive number c. For every first order sentence O, we show that the limit probability function: $$f_\phi (c) = \mathop {\lim }\limits_{n \to \infty } Pr[U_{n,\tfrac{c}{{\sqrt n }}} has the property \phi ]$$ (where U n, \(\tfrac{c}{{\sqrt n }}\) is the random bit string of length n) is infinitely differentiable. Our methodology for showing this is in itself interesting. We begin with finite models, go to the infinite (via the almost sure theories) and then characterize f σ(c) as an infinite sum of products of polynomials and exponentials. We further show that if a sentence σO has limiting probability 1 for some c, then σ has limiting probability identically 1 for every c. This gives the surprising result that the almost sure theories are identical for every c.
A programming environment for a timeshared system

In 1968 the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory began to construct a programming environment from a PDP-10, a pre-TOPS-10 DEC1 timesharing system, and some innovative terminal hardware. By now this has developed into a programming environment for a KL-10 that integrates our editor with various other system functions, especially the Lisp subsystem. We use the term 'SAIL' to refer to the Stanford A. I. Lab KL-10 computer running the WAITS timesharing system. [Harvey 1982]By 'programming environment' we mean the mechanisms that allow a user to type text at his program or subsystem, and which manage output text. 2 We are talking about mechanical management of the interaction between user and program, not about any intelligent mediation. A good programming environment should be flexible enough to suit individuals, yet without requiring the mechanics of interaction to be re-learned for each new program.In this paper we describe our programming environment, what makes it unique, and why we think that it is not necessary to move to personal computers for a very usable programming environment.
Redox transformations of arsenic oxyanions in periphyton communities

Periphyton (Cladophora sp.) samples from a suburban stream lacking detectable dissolved As were able to reduce added As(V) to As(III) when incubated under anoxic conditions and, conversely, oxidized added As(III) to As(V) with aerobic incubation. Both types of activity were abolished in autoclaved controls, thereby demonstrating its biological nature. The reduction of As(V) was inhibited by chloramphenicol, indicating that it required the synthesis of new protein. Nitrate also inhibited As(V) reduction, primarily because it served as a preferred electron acceptor to which the periphyton community was already adapted. However, part of the inhibition was also caused by microbial reoxidation of As(III) linked to nitrate. Addition of [14C]glucose to anoxic samples resulted in the production of 14CO2, suggesting that the observed As(V) reduction was a respiratory process coupled to the oxidation of organic matter. The population density of As(V)-reducing bacteria within the periphyton increased with time and with the amount of As(V) added, reaching values as high as approximately 10(6) cells ml(-1) at the end of the incubation. This indicated that dissimilatory As(V) reduction in these populations was linked to growth. However, As(V)-respiring bacteria were found to be present, albeit at lower numbers (approximately 10(2) ml(-1)), in freshly sampled periphyton. These results demonstrate the presence of a bacterial population within the periphyton communities that is capable of two key arsenic redox transformations that were previously studied in As-contaminated environments, which suggests that these processes are widely distributed in nature. This assumption was reinforced by experiments with estuarine samples of Cladophora sericea in which we detected a similar capacity for anaerobic As(V) reduction and aerobic As(III) oxidation.
Behavioral research in HIV/AIDS primary and secondary prevention: Recent advances and future directions.

Great advances have been made over the past decade in behavioral research on how to help persons avoid contracting HIV infections (primary prevention) and how to reduce or alleviate adverse consequences among persons who are living with HIV disease (secondary prevention). Within the primary prevention areas, research has shown the effectiveness of risk-reduction interventions undertaken with individuals, couples, small groups, communities, and at a social policy/structural level. Advances in HIV medical care have also created important new challenges and roles for behavioral scientists in the area of HIV secondary prevention. This article concludes by identifying key emerging issues in HIV behavioral research that will require attention in the years ahead.
Evaluation of Blood Pressure on the Hampton University Campus

AbstractApproximately 50 million Americans have hypertension and of this number, 15 million are unaware of their condition. This statistic may suggest that the seriousness of hypertension is still underestimated by many. Untreated hypertension predisposes a person to disease states such as cardiovascular disease and chronic renal failure. Death from stroke and coronary artery disease could be reduced dramatically by treating earlier stages of hypertension. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute determined that treatment of persons with Stages I and II hypertension could reduce deaths from all the diseases stated earlier by 20%. A diastolic pressure above 90 mmHg has been indicated in numerous studies to reduce the life expectancy in persons of all ages, male and female. This study had three objectives. The first objective of this study was to determine if the level of physical activity played a role in modifying systolic blood pressure. The second objective was to determine if those on blood pressu...
Adhesive joint design for minimizing fiber alignment shift during UV curing

In fiber-optic device packaging using UV curable adhesive bonding, the curing process often causes fiber alignment shift-distortion of the already aligned fiber-optic setups, and thus reduce the assembly yield. A new method for the adhesive joint design for minimizing fiber alignment shift during adhesive curing is reported in this paper. It is demonstrated that for any adhesive, the bonding joint can be designed to alleviate the alignment shift, regardless of adhesives used. The approach provides guideline for high yield and low-cost assembly of fiber-optic devices using adhesive bonding
Studies on beet western yellows virus in oilseed rape (Brassica napus ssp. oleifera) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris)

SUMMARY Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. ssp. oleifera) was studied as a potential overwintering host for the sugar-beet yellowing viruses, beet yellows virus (BYV) and beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV), and their principal vector, Myzus persicae. In spring 1982, plants infected with a virus which reacted positively in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with BMYV antibody globulin were found in oilseed-rape crops; none of the plants contained virus which reacted with BYV antibody globulin. This virus was subsequently identified as beet western yellows virus (BWYV). No leaf symptoms could be consistently associated with infection of oilseed rape, but the virus was reliably detected by sampling any leaf on an infected oilseed-rape plant. Some isolates from oilseed rape did infect sugar beet in glasshouse tests, but the proportions of inoculated plants which became infected were low. Apparently there is therefore little danger of much direct transmission of BWYV by M. persicae from oilseed rape to sugar beet in spring. BWYV was introduced to and spread within oilseed-rape crops in autumn by M. persicae, and autumn-sown oilseed rape proved to be a potentially important overwintering host for M. persicae. In a survey of 80 autumn-sown crops of oilseed rape in East Anglia, northern England and Scotland in spring 1983, 78 were shown to be extensively infected with BWYV. Experimental plots of oilseed rape with 100% BWYV-infection yielded approximately 13.4% less oil than plots with 18% virus infection, the result of a decrease in both seed yield and oil content.
Co-ordinated regulation of the extracytoplasmic stress factor, sigmaE, with other Escherichia coli sigma factors by (p)ppGpp and DksA may be achieved by specific regulation of individual holoenzymes

The E. coli alternative sigma factor, σ(E) , transcribes genes required to maintain the cell envelope and is activated by conditions that destabilize the envelope. σ(E) is also activated during entry into stationary phase in the absence of envelope stress by the alarmone (p)ppGpp. (p)ppGpp controls a large regulatory network, reducing expression of σ(70) -dependent genes required for rapid growth and activating σ(70) -dependent and alternative sigma factor-dependent genes required for stress survival. The DksA protein often potentiates the effects of (p)ppGpp. Here we examine regulation of σ(E) by (p)ppGpp and DksA following starvation for nutrients. We find that (p)ppGpp is required for increased σ(E) activity under all conditions tested, but the requirement for DksA varies. DksA is required during amino acid starvation, but is dispensable during phosphate starvation. In contrast, regulation of σ(S) is (p)ppGpp- and DksA-dependent under all conditions tested, while negative regulation of σ(70) is DksA- but not (p)ppGpp-dependent during phosphate starvation, yet requires both factors during amino acid starvation. These findings suggest that the mechanism of transcriptional regulation by (p)ppGpp and/or DksA cannot yet be explained by a unifying model and is specific to individual promoters, individual holoenzymes, and specific starvation conditions.
Effect of Two Row Spaces on Several Agronomic Traits in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield is responsive to changes in plant population and row spacing. The objective of this study was to compare some agronomic traits of soybean cultivated in two different row spaces in a field in St Pauls, NC. Among the traits, total seed weight showed the highest level of variation than others in both 25 cm (97.31%) and 50cm (60.23%) row space. The lowest co-efficient of variation, 5.06% at 25 cm and 11.54% at 50 cm were found for days to flowering. Mean value showed that plants grown in 25 cm row space have a higher 100-seed and total seed weight than those grown in 50 cm row space. Plants grown in 50 cm row space had a slightly increased mean plant height compared to those grown on 25 cm. Plants grown in 50 cm row space had greater pod and seed numbers compared to those grown on 25 cm. Comparisons of the agronomic parameters between 25 and 50 cm row space employed by two-tailed t test (type 2; α = 0.05) showed that there are significant differ ences in days to germination, days to flowering, number of seeds, and total seed weight between plants grown in 25 cm vs. 50 cm row space; while plant height and number of pods were not differ significantly. However, further research may reveal a system for soybeans cultivation in the future which would increase the probability of obtaining maximum yields with narrow rows.
Semiconductor Joining by the Solid‐Liquid‐Interdiffusion (SLID) Process I . The Systems Ag‐In, Au‐In, and Cu‐In

The acronym SLID is used to describe a process whereby high‐temperature phases are formed by diffusion in the presence of liquid. A technique is discussed which utilizes these phenomena in producing high‐temperature‐stable bonds which have been fabricated at low temperatures. The binary systems Ag‐In, Au‐In, Cu‐In among others exhibit these characteristics. Photomicrographs and electron probe microanalysis data are presented to identify and describe the phases formed in these bonds. Some applications for the use of this joining technique are suggested in addition to the feasibility of extending this method to the use of ternary and higher order alloy SLID systems.
Aromatic amines and hydrazines drug acetylation, and lupus erythematodes.

A number of drugs have been implicated as causes of a syndrome similar to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Procainamide and hydralazine are drugs causing the highest incidence of this syndrome (Lee and Chase, 1975; Alarcon-Segovia, 1969). Other drugs clearly capable of causing SLE include practolol, penicillamine, isoniazid, the thiouracils, and anticonvulsants (Lee and Chase, 1975). A number of these drugs are either amines or hydrazines and are subject to metabolic acetylation in the body. The role of individual variation in acetylation rate contributing to individual susceptibility to SLE will be reviewed in this paper. The general problem of the clinical effects of polymorphic acetylation on drug response has recently been reviewed (Drayer and Reidenberg, 1977).
Target Cell Contact Modulates Spontaneous Quantal and Non-Quantal Acetylcholine Release by Xenopus Spinal Neurons

Xenopus nerve-muscle cell culture has proved to be an excellent preparation for study of the development of neuronal ion channel and membrane properties (Spitzer, 1976; Spitzer and Lamborghini, 1976; Willard, 1980) and for studies of synaptogenesis. Much is already known about the properties of the synapses formed in culture, and the changes that take place during maturation, particularly post-synaptically. At synapses formed by growing neurites on muscle cells in 1–2 day old cultures, there are quantal miniature endplate potentials (mEPPs) at frequencies ranging from 0.5 — 4 Hz, with skewed amplitude histograms (Kidokoro et al., 1980; Chow and Poo, 1985). It appears that, at the time of initial synaptic contact, there is no postsynaptic specialization at the site of release—the responses are mediated simply by the acetylcholine (ACh) receptors spread diffusely over the muscle cell’s surface. Only after a time course of hours to days, does the sub-synaptic site develop a high concentration of ACh receptors and other specializations (Anderson and Cohen, 1977; Anderson et al., 1977; Weldon and Cohen, 1979; Kidokoro et al., 1980; Cohen and Weldon, 1980; Takahashi et al., 1987; Chow et al., 1987).
Load partitioning during compressive loading of a Mg/MgB2 composite

A composite, consisting of 68 vol.% superconducting continuous MgB2 fibers aligned within a ductile Mg matrix, was loaded in uniaxial compression and the volume-averaged lattice strains in the matrix and fiber were measured in situ by synchrotron X-ray diffraction as a function of applied stress. In the elastic range of the composite, both phases exhibit the same strain, indicating that the matrix is transferring load to the fibers according to a simple iso-strain model. In the plastic range of the composite, the matrix is carrying proportionally less load. Plastic load transfer from matrix to fibers is complex due to presence in the fibers of a stiff WB4 core and of cracks produced during the in situ synthesis of the MgB2 fibers from B fibers. Also, load transfer behavior was observed to be different in bulk and near-surface regions, indicating that surface measurements are prone to error.
Packet Reordering Metrics: Some Methodological Considerations

Characterizing what makes a packet reordering metric meaningful is a problem that has attracted significant interest, but it still lacks a universally accepted solution. We contribute to this discussion by investigating some theoretical concepts that make the following simple intuitions precise: (1) a metric that is inconsistent, i.e., gives different values on two similar TCP traces, should not be regarded as useful; (2) we formalize the notion of two traces being "identical modulo unimportant details" using similarity relations; (3) if "real-life" traces differ from random sequences by always satisfying certain reorder invariants, then we should only use traces satisfying these invariants when investigating the consistency of a reordering metric. We illustrate these concepts in the context of RESTORED, an approach to semantic compression of TCP traces. In particular, we discuss the consistency of two metrics defined by Jayasumana et al. (2002, http://cnrl.colostate.edu/Reorder/draft-jayasumana-reorder-density-06.txt ) with respect to the similarity notions defined in A. Hansson et al., (2006, 2005)
EFFECT OF FIRING ATMOSPHERE ON DEVELOPMENT OF COLORS IN CERAMIC GLAZES

The effect of systematic variations in atmosphere between 100% oxidizing and 100% neutral was noted. The principles and definitions of color designation are given and possible physicochemical changes which result in color variation are considered. Experimental data indicate the relative stability of typical colors under atmospheric variations.
Expert system techniques applied to the in situ cytophotometric detection of AIDS viral nucleic acid

Summary form only given. Rule-based expert system techniques for use with an interactive cytophotometry system have been developed and tested. The application for this system was the detection and measurement of individual cells and chromosome spreads stained specifically for the virus that causes AIDS. A microscopic cytophotometry system was used to acquire digitized images of labeled cells and chromosomes. The expert system controlled a set of program modules that processed the digitized video image through several data transduction phases to the final state of measurement and identification. >
Behavioral science theory and principles for practice in health education

The value of health education practice lies in its effectiveness. Behavioral science theories have greater potential to enhance the effectiveness of practice than is currently realized. Many have called for development of strategies to overcome current barriers to the use of theory in the field. Such strategies should explicate the potential of commonly taught behavioral science theories to facilitate practice and assist practitioners in using such theories. This paper presents one such strategy: a set of principles for practice, derived from multiple behavioral science theories and having many direct implications for practice. Health educators who are knowledgeable of these principles may be better prepared to consolidate their knowledge of multiple theories and better prepared to derive implications for practice from their theoretical knowledge. To the extent that health educators are proficient at synthesizing theoretical information and distilling from this information implications for practice, the utility of theory in practice should be enhanced.
Localized gene-specific induction of accessibility to V(D)J recombination induced by E2A and early B cell factor in nonlymphoid cells.

Accessibility of immunoglobulin (Ig) gene segments to V(D)J recombination is highly regulated and is normally only achieved in B cell precursors. We previously showed that ectopic expression of E2A or early B cell factor (EBF) with recombination activating gene (RAG) induces rearrangement of IgH and IgL genes in nonlymphoid cells. VκI genes throughout the locus were induced to rearrange after transfection with E2A, suggesting that the entire Vκ locus was accessible. However, here we show that Ig loci are not opened globally but that recombination is localized. Gene families are interspersed in the DH, Vκ, and Vλ loci, and we show that certain families and individual genes undergo high levels of recombination after ectopic expression of E2A or EBF, while other families within the same locus are not induced to rearrange. Furthermore, in some families, induction of germline transcription correlates with the level of induced recombination, while in others there is no correlation, suggesting that recombination is not simply initiated by induction of germline transcription. The induced repertoire seen at 24 hours does not change significantly over time indicating the absence of many secondary rearrangements and also suggesting a direct targeting mechanism. We propose that accessibility occurs in a local manner, and that binding sites for factors facilitating accessibility are therefore likely to be associated with individual gene segments.
A Small Molecule Inverse Agonist for the Human Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Receptor

Small molecule inverse agonists for the TSH receptor (TSHR) may be used as probes of the role of basal (or agonist-independent or constitutive) signaling and may have therapeutic potential as orally active drugs to inhibit basal signaling in patients with thyroid cancer and in some patients with hyperthyroidism. We describe the first small-molecule ligand [1;2-(3-((2,6-dimethylphenoxy)methyl)-4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(furan-2-ylmethyl)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one] that exhibits inverse agonist properties at TSHR. 1 inhibits basal and TSH-stimulated signaling, measured as cAMP production, by TSHRs in HEK-EM 293 cells stably expressing wild-type TSHRs; the antagonism of TSH-mediated signaling is competitive. 1 also inhibits basal signaling by wild-type TSHRs, and four constitutively active mutants of TSHR expressed transiently in HEK-EM 293 cells. 1 was active under more physiologically relevant conditions in primary cultures of human thyrocytes expressing endogenous TSHRs where it inhibited basal levels of mRNA transcripts for thyroglobulin, thyroperoxidase, sodium iodide symporter, and TSHR. These data serve as proof of principle that small, drug-like molecules can inhibit basal signaling by TSHR. We suggest that this small molecule is a lead compound for the development of higher-potency inverse agonists that can be used as probes of TSHR biology with therapeutic potential.
PROVIDE: a process visualization and debugging environment

The author introduces PROVIDE, a source-level process visualization and debugging environment currently under development at the University of Illinois at Chicago. PROVIDE is a modern coding and debugging environment that is designed to allow the user to configure interaction at a desired level of abstraction. It emphasizes the use of interactive computer graphics for the illustration of program execution, with special attention to the requirements of program debugging. The major features of PROVIDE are presented, especially the concepts of deferred-binding program animation, which allows users to interactively change the depiction of program execution during the debugging task, and process history consistency maintenance, which guarantees a consistent (automatically updated) record of program execution in the face of changes to program instructions and run-time data values. The current PROVIDE prototype is implemented on Macintosh workstations networked to a VAX 11/780 running 4.2 BSD Unix. >
Power and performance characterization, analysis and tuning for energy-efficient edge detection on atom and ARM based platforms

The de facto standard for embedded platforms with medium to low computing demands are ARM with Thumb ISA and Intel Atom with the X86 ISA with multiple cores. Operating these architectures in the milliwatts range while running realtime computer vision corner detection algorithms is a challenging problem. We present the analysis of power, performance and energy-efficiency measurements of Harris corner detection across a wide range of voltage and frequency settings, multicore/multithreading strategies, and compiler and application optimization parameters to find how the interplay of these parameters affect the power, performance and energy-efficiency. Our measurement of results on state-of-the-art embedded platforms demonstrate that a systematic cross-layer optimization at the application level (Sobel filter type, aperture size, number of image tiles), compiler level (branch prediction, function inlining) and system level (voltage and frequency setting, single core vs multicore implementation) significantly improves the energy-efficiency of corner detection, while meeting its real-time performance constraints. This cross-layer optimization improves the energy-efficiency of Harris corner on Atom and ARM by 89.5% and 87.2%, respectively.
Quality Assurance of Analysis of Inorganic Nutrients in Foods

The most important aspects of any analytical method are the steps taken to ensure the quality of the results. Quality assurance is the system of activities whose purpose is to provide assurance that the overall quality control limits are being met (Taylor 1981). The quality control limits (established by the analytical laboratory, or an outside organization) define the expected accuracy and precision of the results. Quality assurance must cover all aspects of the analytical process, from sampling, through sample treatment, standards preparation, and method validation, to the data handling and evaluation. Without a defined quality assurance program, all analytical results must be suspect.
Fast contact force computation for nonpenetrating rigid bodies

A new algorithm for computing contact forces between solid objects with friction is presented. The algorithm allows a mix of contact points with static and dynamic friction. In contrast to previous approaches, the problem of computing contact forces is not transformed into an optimization problem. Because of this, the need for sophisticated optimization software packages is eliminated. For both systems with and without friction, the algorithm has proven to be considerably faster, simple, and more reliable than previous approaches to the problem. In particular, implementation of the algorithm by nonspecialists in numerical programming is quite feasible.
Abstract 581: Lipid Peroxide Derived Dicarboxylic Acids Induce Atherosclerotic Calcification

Background: Cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, are the leading cause of death in the United States. Atherosclerotic lesions are formed by deposition of lipids in the intima of arteries. Upon exposure to oxidative stresses, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is converted to highly atherogenic oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) particles, which contribute to disease development and progression. Advanced disease stages may result in calcification of lesions. This calcification process is important, as it has been shown to be associated with stable plaques that are less prone to rupture. Calcification is present in lipid rich domains of lesions, however neither the composition of the mineralized calcium deposits nor its relationship to lipid peroxidation is known. Hypothesis: Lipid peroxide derived AZA induces calcification of smooth muscle cells thereby providing the link between calcification and overall plaque burden, and association of calcification with the lipophilic region of the lesion. Methods: In thi...
A control chart for severity index to detect drought compares favourably to logistic regression

We describe the discovery of how a traditional control chart for the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) to detect drought compares favourably to a theoretically appropriate statistical (logistic regression) model of drought as a function of PDSI. Our empirical results are based on monthly observations of PDSI, precipitation and temperature made in Kansas since 1895. Results from the study suggest that a relatively simple statistical approach based on Shewhart control charts may provide a more accessible method for relevant government agencies to predict droughts, improving resource management and preparation. Moreover, utilizing such an approach over more sophisticated methods may come at little expense regarding prediction errors.
The relationship between depressive symptoms and BMI in adolescents enrolled in a weight management program

AbstractExtant literature is inconsistent regarding the relationship between depression and adolescent obesity. Most studies include community samples and compare obese individuals to normal weight...
Pollen Germination and Tube Elongation in Petunia Inhibited or Reduced by Commercial Formulations of Pesticides in Vitro

Thirty-two commercial formulations of pesticides (insecticides, acaricides, and fungicides) were tested for their effect on the germination and tube elongation of petunia pollen on an artificial medium. The degree of inhibition of germination caused by 1000 ppm of actual material of the formulations ranged from total to no inhibition. The spray adjuvant DuPont Spreader Sticker at 1000 ppm caused total inhibition of germination and accentuated markedly the toxicity of those pesticides with which it was combined. Xylene at 1000 ppm was not injurious to pollen. The strong inhibiting effect of naled on pollen germination was slightly mitigated by rinsing the treated pollen with a calcium chloride-boric acid solution.
An Automatic Method of Marking Cabbage Looper Moths for Release―Recovery Identification

A rapid automated method of code marking moths of Trichoplusia ni (Hubner) was devised and tested. Up to 1500 moths can be spray marked individually per hour by using 1 to 4 permanent colors in various combinations. Treated moths were tested for longevity and mating in the laboratory and for pheromone response in the field. Evidence from these tests indicated that the marking treatment did not affect the moths adversely.
Ingestion and Destruction of Influenza Virus by Free Living Ciliate Tetrahymena pyrifortnis

SummaryThe hemagglutinin and complement fixing antigen of influenza B virus were inactivated at approximately the same rate by T. pyriformis. Inactivation of virus was inversely related to the increase in protozoal population. Hemagglutinin was recoverable in low concentration from washed protozoa. The presence of additional nutrients delayed but did not prevent reduction of the viral hemagglutinin content. The hemagglutinins of influenza A virus and of Newcastle disease virus were also inactivated by actively growing cultures of T. pyriformis. The flagellates Euglena gracilis and Astasia klebsii and the ciliate Glaucoma scintillans failed to affect influenza B viral hemagglutinin.
Nanoporous Polyethylene Thin Films Templated by Polymeric Bicontinuous Microemulsions: Evolution of Morphology on Non-neutral Substrates

Polymeric bicontinuous microemulsions (BμE), found in well-designed ternary blends of two homopolymers and a diblock copolymer, have been extensively studied in the bulk, for example, as versatile templates for the synthesis of nanoporous materials. However, there have been few reports regarding BμE-forming blends as films and the potential impact of confinement on the morphology of such blends. We have investigated the morphology of ternary blends of polyethylene (PE), poly(ethylene-alt-propylene) (PEP), and poly(ethylene-b-ethylene-alt-propylene) (PE–PEP) on a variety of substrates. The films were rendered nanoporous by selective extraction of the PEP component, which also created contrast for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Blends that form BμEs in the bulk were found to undergo an evolution of morphology from a BμE to a macro-phase separated state, induced by the segregation of blend components to the film interfaces. The dynamics of the transformation are accelerated by decreasing film thickness....
Investigation of the electronic structure and phonon anharmonicity in beta - and gamma -NbH.

First-principles electronic-structure and total-energy calculations have been performed for NbH in the \ensuremath{\beta}- and \ensuremath{\gamma}-phase structures. Lattice constants, bulk moduli, and heats of formation have been calculated and found to be in excellent agreement with measured values. We have made detailed ``frozen-phonon'' calculations investigating the effect of anharmonic couplings on the optical vibrations of hydrogen and its isotopes in NbH.
Maintaining Abstinence in College: Temptations and Tactics

As the previous chapter notes, the Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC) at Texas Tech University maintains an impressive relapse rate of only 4.4% per semester, which means that more than 95% of the community members continue their successful recovery each semester. Although one of bedrock beliefs of the Center for Study of Addiction and Recovery is that young men and women who are part of the Collegiate Recovery Community that the center supports should be striving for a “recovery” that goes far beyond day-to-day sobriety, it is important to recognize that in the midst of building a higher level of recovery, members must sometimes draw upon various strategies, ranging from the psychological to the physical to make it through their day, and their hard-won states of sobriety have to be defended against temptations that differ from member to member.
Gastric Adenocarcinoma in a Patient with X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia and HIV: Case Report and Review of the Literature

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is an X-linked inherited disease usually caused by a germline mutation in the BTK gene leading to Bruton’s tyrosine kinase deficiency, which results in the impaired development of B-lymphocytes and a subsequent lack of immunoglobulin production. Patients with XLA have an increased susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections, and multiple case reports have been published regarding an association between XLA and gastrointestinal (GI) malignancy. Here, we describe a case of a 25-year-old man with XLA and HIV, who developed gastric adenocarcinoma. Previously reported cases of XLA and GI malignancy are also reviewed and summarized.
Translational and transcriptional components of repression by arginine in Escherichia coli

The formation and decay of mRNA's corresponding to the argECBH genes of Escherichia coli have been studied by hybridization methods. Such messages, accumulated in strain 39A–23R3, disappear with half-lives of about 1.3 min under repression and 5.3 min under derepression. Total-message half-life is 1.6 min, regardless of regulatory conditions. The 1.3 min half-life is associated with the translational component of repression. The transcriptional component was demonstrated in experiments (with rifampicin and 3H-uridine) on the completion of initiated mRNA's and (with pulses of 3H-uridine) on the rate of formation of mRNA's, under repression, derepression, or transitions between these control states. The ratio of the derepressed formation rate of the mRNA's to the repressed one is approximately 5.
Creative Agreements in Negotiation: When and Why Negotiators Redefine the Issues under Discussion

Parties can do more than select known options to create value, they can also redefine the issues under discussion. We expand the interlocking self-regulation model of when and why negotiators redef...
Silicon-package co-design of a 45nm 200MHz bandwidth CMOS RF-to-Serdes transceiver system on chip (SoC)

In this paper we detail the silicon-package electrical co-design of a 45nm CMOS, 400MHz to 4GHz, 3GPP TDD & FDD, RF-to-Serdes base station transceiver system on chip (SoC). Electrical optimization of the silicon-package RF paths, to achieve desired performance, was achieved through a coupled circuit-to-electromagnetic co-design modeling and simulation flow. Laboratory measurements, on a real SoC system, are presented that validate the integrity of the modeling and simulation methodology.
Recognizing and Managing Geriatric Depression: A Two-Part Self-Learning Module Set

Introduction The number of geriatric patients will increase dramatically over the next 2 decades, and providers across all specialties will need skills in diagnosis and management of common geriatr...
Levi Ben Gerson and the Brightness of Mars

Levi ben Gerson, astronome du Moyen Age, observa que l'eclat de la planete Mars variait en fonction de sa taille et de sa position par rapport au soleil