cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies on pineal melatonin levels in a diurnal species, the eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus): effects of light at night, propranolol administration or superior cervical ganglionectomy.

Five experiments were carried out on the control of melatonin levels in the pineal gland of a diurnal species, the Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus). We confirmed that the exposure of chipmunks of fluorescent white light of 3,981-4,304 lux during the normal dark period does not prevent the rise in pineal melatonin levels normally associated with darkness. Also, the administration of propranolol (20 mg/kg) at 8 p.m. did not block the rise in pineal melatonin in animals exposed to either dark or light at night. Similarly, if chipmunks received propranolol 4 hours into the dark phase, pineal melatonin levels were not depressed 2 hours later. When animals were superior cervical ganglionectomized, however, the pineal content of melatonin remained low regardless of whether animals were exposed to darkness or light at night. The exposure of chipmunks acutely to light at midnight (4 hours after darkness onset) had only a slight depressive effect on pineal melatonin 30 min later; by comparison, when chipmunks were acutely exposed to light at 3 a.m. (7 hours after darkness onset) daytime pineal melatonin levels were reached within 15 min after light onset. These findings in a diurnal species, The Eastern chipmunk, differ markedly when compared to previously reported observations on nocturnal laboratory rodents.
Differentiation and the establishment of cell type during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis

Differentiation in Bacillus subtilis involves the formation of specialized cell types called the mother cell and the forespore. These differ from each other and from their parent in developmental fate. Establishment of the two cell types and their subsequent differentiation is governed by the compartmentalized action of six developmental transcription factors.
Phase I control charts for independent Bernoulli data

Phase I Shewhart p, np and runs of conforming charts are investigated. The performance of these charts are assessed using the probability of a false alarm. As with other Phase I Shewhart charts, the probability of a false alarm increases as the number, m, of samples increases for a fixed sample size, n. For a fixed value of m, the probability of at least one signal decreases as the sample size n increases. The probability of a signal for a runs of conforming chart depends on the number of samples m. Like the p and np charts, as m increases the probability of a false alarm increases. Unlike the p and np charts, the false alarm rate for a runs of conforming chart does not depend on the in-control value of p. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New alternatives to oxidative phenolic coupling in natural products total synthesis

Abstract New concepts will be presented which employ quinones in the synthesis of alkaloids and antibiotics. In many instances carbon-carbon bonds, which are constructed biogenetically via oxidative phenolic coupling, can be synthesized from quinoid precursors. The application of these concepts to the total synthesis of colchicine will be presented.
‘Them’ and ‘us’: The experiences of women with metastatic disease in mixed-stage versus stage-specific breast cancer support groups

The objective of this study was to explore the experiences of women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in mixed-stage and stage-specific groups. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to examine 15 interviews from eight women with MBC. The interviewees felt that their experiences were very much different from those of women with primary breast cancer (BC), because of their different prognoses. In mixed-stage groups, the interviewees described feeling silenced, marginalised and helpless. They did not receive support in these groups because survivors of primary BC are often afraid to face the idea of metastasis. In stage-specific MBC groups, on the other hand, women were able to talk openly and were understood by others with whom they identified. They became more informed about issues related to their illness. Seeing others living well despite MBC made them feel more hopeful. Although there are some disadvantages of participating in stage-specific groups, the findings suggest that, overall...
Blast wave formation of the extended stellar shells surrounding elliptical galaxies.

The existence of stellar shells at large distances from isolated elliptical galaxies is explained in terms of a blast wave associated with an active nucleus phase early in the history of the galaxy. The blast wave sweeps the initial interstellar medium out of the galaxy into an expanding shell which radiatively cools behind its leading shock front. Cooling of the shell following turnoff of the nucleus activity, which keeps the shell photoionized, leads to a brief epoch of star formation which is terminated by heating of the shell from supernovae and UV radiation from massive stars. The stars so formed follow similar, highly radial, bound orbits, moving in phase with each other and spending much of their time near apogalacteum, thus taking on the appearance of a shell. Multiple shells may be produced when conditions allow repeated episodes of shell cooling and supernovae heating to occur in the blast wave.
Rapid progression of combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma.

Combined hepatocellular carcinoma-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC) is a rare entity comprising 1–14.2% of all primary liver carcinomas. In this report, we present a case of rapid progression of cHCC-CC, a rare tumor in a 77-year-old Caucasian male patient with hepatitis B-induced cirrhosis, moderately elevated alpha fetoprotein, and imaging and pathologic features of a mixed liver tumor. There was no evidence of metastatic disease in the chest, abdomen or pelvis by computed tomography (CT) scan at the time of diagnosis. Needle biopsy of the segment 8 lesion revealed two discrete histologic components to the tumor: well-differentiated HCC and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, consistent with intrahepatic CC.The patient rapidly developed metastatic disease after initial local therapy with hepatic arterial chemoembolization and percutaneous cryoablation, dying within 5 months of diagnosis. Radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation and radioembolization with yttrium-90 microspheres remain possible treatment strategies for patients with cHCC-CC unable to undergo surgical resection. The diagnosis and treatment of cHCC-CC can be challenging due to clinical, imaging and histological features that overlap with pure HCC and CC.
Timing of thromboembolic events after electical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation or flutter: a retrospective analysis

Pooled data from 32 studies were reviewed to assess the timing of thrombolic complications after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation or flutter. We found that 98% of embolic episodes occurred within 10 days of cardioversion.
Studies on the control of myelinogenesis. I. Myelination of regenerating axons after entry into a foreign unmyelinated nerve

The proximal stump of a predominantly myelinated nerve (sternohyoid) was anastomosed in a tube to the distal stump of a largely unmyelinated nerve (cervical sympathetic) in order to explore the role of the axon in activating Schwann cells to produce myelin. The two nerves were examined after being united for periods between 3 and 15 weeks. At these times, regenerated myelinated and nonmyelinated fibres, originating from the proximal stump, were seen within the original fascicle in the distal stump of the sympathetic trunk. There was a significant (p < 0.01) increase in the mean number of myelinated fibres in the anastomosed sympathetic nerves from the mean number of myelinated fibres in the normal sympathetic nerve. The histological and ultrastructural features of the anastomosed nerves are described and the differences between the morphology of the intratubal and extratubal regions are highlighted. The results of this study may indicate that the axon instructs the Schwann cell to produce myelin, but before this conclusion is reached, the origin of the myelinating cells has to be determined.
The limits of input-queued switch performance with future packet arrival information

This paper investigates the benefit of a hypothetical oracle that gives future packet arrival information in a fixed-size-packet switch. While future information has no effect on output-queued (OQ) switch performance, this paper shows in simulation, the input-queued (IQ) switch with no switch fabric speed up has wait-time and buffer-size performance close to that of the OQ switch even with only a few time slots of future information. This finding suggests that the performance difference between input and OQ switches may be smaller than previous studies suggest. This paper investigates the theoretical aspects of using future information and shows the following. IQ switches are proved equivalent (in number of packets sent) to OQ switches for 2 inputs and 2 outputs. A linear-time algorithm is presented for achieving this equivalence. Larger switches are strictly not equivalent, and optimally using future information is in the worst case NP-hard A heuristic that simplifies using the future information is investigated and found to be sub-optimal in rare instances for larger switches while optimal for 2 × 2 switches.
SU‐E‐T‐192: Investigating the Importance of Phantom Geometry in Intensity‐Modulated Radiation Therapy Quality Assurance

Purpose: To determine the effect of beam weighting through the phantom geometry on the error detection for phantoms used in intensity modulated radiation therapy quality assurance (IMRT QA) programs. Methods: PTW Octavius II and MapCHECK2 with MapPHAN were evaluated due to their differing phantom geometries. PTW is an octagonal phantom with its central diode at ∼15cm equivalent depth from all directions in its axial plane, whereas MapPHAN is a rectangular phantom. Beams with a field size of 10x10 cm, were delivered onto each phantom at gantry angles of 0, 20, 45, and 70 degrees for varying monitor units. The central axis reading was recorded and normalized to the reading for gantry angle at 0 and 100 monitor units. Errors of different magnitude were introduced in a beam from each gantry angle and compared to the beam with no errors. Results: This work showed that while the response at large angles for MapCHECK2 is still linear (constant response vs. monitor units delivered), the reading per monitor unit falls off by 26% from that of the enface beam. This is caused by increased attenuation because of more material in the beams path.This results in an underestimation of the error in this beam. A test on a plan involving beams from all four angles with a passing criteria of 5%/3mm, passed for an error of 25 percent introduced in the 70 degree beam for MapCheck2, while it failed for PTW. Conclusion: Phantom geometry intrinsically introduces beam weighting for IMRT QA, which might cause some errors to be undetected. A phantom with geometry similar to that of the patient should therefore be chosen when IMRT QA plans are delivered in order to minimize this effect. This will ensure that beams are weighted similarly than for the intended plan.
Dose‐dependent effect of calcium and magnesium etidronate on salicylic acid absorption in the rat

Disodium etidronate affected salicylic acid absorption from the rat small intestine, in-situ, when instilled into a jejunal segment for different exposure times before the salicylic acid absorption was measured. At low etidronate concentrations and short exposure times, the salicylic acid absorption rate was significantly increased compared with saline controls. At high etidronate concentrations and longer exposure times, the absorption rate was reduced. Etidronate precomplexed with calcium or magnesium ions at low concentrations still enhanced salicylic acid absorption but at high concentrations absorption of salicylic acid was close to saline controls. Intestinal mucosa exposed to high etidronate concentrations showed a progressive structural destruction but with the complexes, there was no visible alteration. It is proposed that a solubilized etidronate complex, formed either in-situ or administered as such, is responsible for enhancing salicylic acid absorption. This effect is hidden at high etidronate concentrations because of the deterioration of the mucosal surface and at high complex concentrations because these decrease the absorbing surface area and increase the viscosity of the lumen contents.
Impact of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition on Hepatic and Muscle Glucose Metabolism

Liver and muscle metabolism were assessed in dogs adapted to long-term total parenteral (TPN) and enteral (TEN) nutrition. Studies were done in 13 conscious long-term catheterized dogs in which sampling (artery, portal and hepatic vein, and iliac vein), infusion catheters (inferior vena cava, duodenum), and transonic flow probes (hepatic artery, portal vein, and iliac artery) were implanted. Fourteen days after surgery dogs were grouped to receive TPN or TEN. After 5 days of TPN/TEN, substrate balances across the liver and limb were assessed. The liver was a marked net consumer of glucose in both groups (23.6 +/- 3.3 vs 22.6 +/- 2.8 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1), TPN vs TEN) despite near normoglycemia (6.5 +/- 0.3 vs 6.7 +/- 0.2 mmol/L). Arterial insulin levels were higher during TEN (96 +/- 6 vs 144 +/- 30 pmol/L; p < .05). The majority (79 +/- 13 vs 76% +/- 7%) of the glucose taken up by the liver was released as lactate. Despite higher insulin levels during TEN the nonsplanchnic tissues consumed a lessor quantity of glucose (25.9 +/- 3.3 vs 16.1 +/- 3.9 micro x mol x kg(-1) x min(-1)). In summary, the liver undergoes a profound adaptation to TPN and TEN making it a major site of glucose uptake and conversion to lactate irrespective of the route of nutrient delivery. However, the insulin requirements are higher with TEN possibly secondary to impaired peripheral glucose removal.
Scientist and policy-maker response types and times in suburban watersheds.

Differences between scientist and policy-maker response types and times, or the “how” and “when” of action, constrain effective water resource management in suburbanizing watersheds. Policy-makers are often rushed to find a single policy that can be applied across an entire, homogeneous, geopolitical region, whereas scientists undertake multiyear research projects to appreciate the complex interactions occurring within heterogeneous catchments. As a result, watershed management is often practiced with science and policy out of synch. Meanwhile, development pressures in suburban watersheds create changes in the social and physical fabric and pose a moving target for science and policy. Recent and anticipated advances in the scientific understanding of urbanized catchment hydrology and pollutant transport suggest that management should become increasingly sensitive to spatial heterogeneities in watershed features, such as soil types, terrain slopes, and seasonal watertable profiles. Toward this end, policy-makers should encourage funding scientific research that characterizes the impacts of these watershed heterogeneities within a geopolitical zoning and development framework.
Theory of lineshapes in resonance scattering spectra

Abstract The form of the emission spectrum induced by scattering of a generalised light pulse from a single resonance is calculated from the known time dependence of such scattering. It is shown that the intensity of the scattered light is given by | F (ν)| 2 = | G ai (ν)| 2 | S (ν)| 2 , where F (ν), S (ν), and G ai (ν) are the probability amplitudes of the scattered light, the excitation source and the resonance at frequency ν. The implications of this equation in the interpretation of scattering experiments is discussed. In particular, defining resonance Raman scattering as that scattering in which the scattered light has the same bandwidth as the exciting light, it is concluded that although resonance Raman and resonance fluorescence spectra correspond to limiting cases of resonance scattering spectra, spectra in intermediate cases cannot be resolved into a sum of a Raman spectrum and a resonance fluorescence spectrum.
A direct algorithm for extracting a transfer function's multiple zeros or poles

Abstract Use of the elementary symmetric and summation functions has enabled the number of distinct roots of a given polynomial to be calculated by constructing the increasing order discriminants of the polynomial. In this paper, an algorithm is provided for computing the coefficients of a divider polynomial containing only these distinct roots. By repeatedly extracting the divider polynomials from the given polynomial, the multiplicities of the roots of the given polynomial can be determined.
Induction of heme oxygenase-1 after hyperosmotic opening of the blood- brain barrier

Abstract The induction of the stress protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was studied in the rat brain after intracarotid administration of hyperosmolar mannitol. HO-1 was immunolocalized in fixed sections of brain 24 h to 7 days after injection. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) was immunolocalized in adjacent sections to demonstrate areas of breakdown of the blood–brain barrier. Induction of HO-1 was also evaluated by Western immunoblots, performed at 24 h after the insult. Immunofluorescent double labelling with monoclonal antibodies to HO-1 and either glial fibrillary acidic protein or the complement C3bi receptor was used to determine if glia/macrophages expressed HO-1. There was pronounced, widespread induction of HO-1 in the ipsilateral hemisphere and cerebellum by 24 h both by immunocytochemistry and by Western blots. This induction was markedly attenuated at later times. HO-1 was induced in astrocytes and microglia/macrophages in the ipsilateral hemisphere. In addition, the protein was induced in Bergmann glia and scattered microglia/macrophages in the cerebellum. The mechanism of induction of HO-1 in glia after opening of the blood–brain barrier could include exposure to heme proteins, denatured proteins and other plasma constituents known to induce HO-1. This glial induction may reflect a protective response of these cells.
Re-writing English Education: A Review of Robert Yagelski’s Writing as a Way of Being

Given the Cartesian influence in mainstream American education, writing instruction has come to reflect a dualistic worldview, with the writer understood as an autonomous observer/knower. As such, writing instructors have the potential to convey problematic lessons about the self as entirely separate from the world. This essay delineates a corrective to the Cartesian mindset in mainstream writing instruction: Yagelski’s ontological theory of writing as a way of being-in-the-world. In the spirit of connectedness Yagelski espouses, I consider the ways in which Yagelski’s ontological theory of writing might work in tandem with Rosenblatt’s transactional theory of reading. Together, Yagelski and Rosenblatt allow English educators to reimagine reading and writing as activities with the ethical potential to repair the rifts of a dualistic worldview, and ultimately to reimagine English education as a field that breaks the Cartesian frame.
A three-dimensional model of the Cdc2 protein kinase : localization of cyclin- and Suc1-binding regions and phosphorylation sites

Abstract The Cdc2 protein kinase requires cyclin binding for activity and also binds to a small protein, Suc1. Charged-to-alanine scanning mutagenesis of Cdc2 was used previously to localize cyclin A- and B- and Suc1-binding sites (B. Ducommun, P. Brambilla, and G. Draetta, Mol. Cell. Biol. 11:6177-6184, 1991). Those sites were mapped by building a Cdc2 model based on the crystallographic coordinates of the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (cAPK) (D. R. Knighton, J. Zheng, L. F. Ten Eyck, V. A. Ashford, N.-H. Xuong, S. S. Taylor, and J. M. Sowadski, Science 253:407-414, 1991). On the basis of this model, additional mutations were made and tested for cyclin A and Suc1 binding and for kinase activity. Mutations that interfere with cyclin A binding are localized primarily on the small lobe near its interface with the cleft and include an acidic patch on the B helix and R-50 in the highly conserved PSTAIRE sequence. Two residues in the large lobe, R-151 and T-161, influence cyclin binding, and both are at the surface of the cleft near its interface with the PSTAIRE motif. Cyclin-dependent phosphorylation of T-161 in Cdc2 is essential for activation, and the model provides insights into the importance of this site. T-161 is equivalent to T-197, a stable phosphorylation site in cAPK. On the basis of the model, cyclin binding very likely alters the surface surrounding T-161 to allow for T-161 phosphorylation. The two major ligands to T-197 in cAPK are conserved as R-127 and R-151 in Cdc2. The equivalent of the third ligand, H-87, is T-47 in the PSTAIRE sequence motif. Once phosphorylated, T-161 is predicted to play a major structural role in Cdc2, comparable to that of T-197 in cAPK, by assembling the active conformation required for peptide recognition. The inhibitory phosphorylation at Y-15 also comes close to the cleft interface and on the basis of this model would disrupt the cleft interface and the adjacent peptide recognition site rather than prevent ATP binding. In contrast to cyclin A, both lobes influence Suc1 binding; however, the Suc1-binding sites are far from the active site. Several mutants map to the surface in cAPK, which is masked in part by the N-terminal 40 residues that lie outside the conserved catalytic core. The other Suc1-binding site maps to the large lobe near a 25-residue insert and includes R-215.
Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis in dermal fibroblasts from patients with diffuse and limited systemic sclerosis reveals common and subset-specific DNA methylation aberrancies

Background The aetiology of systemic sclerosis (SSc) is not clear, but there is an emerging evidence of gene-specific epigenetic dysregulation in the pathogenesis of SSc. Methods We performed a genome-wide DNA methylation study in dermal fibroblasts in six diffuse cutaneous SSc (dSSc) patients, six limited cutaneous SSc (lSSc) patients compared with 12 age-matched, sex-matched and ethnicity-matched healthy controls. Cytosine methylation was quantified in more than 485 000 methylation sites across the genome. Differentially methylated CpG sites between patients and controls with a fold difference ≥1.2 were identified. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR was performed to assess correlation between DNA methylation changes and gene expression levels. Results We identified 2710 and 1021 differentially methylated CpG sites in dSSc and lSSc, respectively. Of the differentially methylated sites, 61% in dSSc and 90% in lSSc were hypomethylated. There were only 203 CpG sites differentially methylated in both dSSc and lSSc, representing 118 hypomethylated and 6 hypermethylated genes. Common hypomethylated genes include ITGA9, encoding an α integrin. Other relevant genes such as ADAM12, COL23A1, COL4A2 and MYO1E , and transcription factors genes RUNX1 , RUNX2 and RUNX3 were also hypomethylated in both dSSc and lSSc. Pathway analysis of differentially methylated genes in both dSSc and lSSc revealed enrichment of genes involved in extracellular matrix–receptor interaction and focal adhesion. We demonstrate significant correlation between DNA methylation status and gene expression in the majority of genes evaluated. Conclusions Our data highlight common and subset-specific aberrancies in dSSc and lSSc fibroblasts at the epigenomic levels and identify novel candidate genes in SSc.
Current status and future prospects of 4H-SiC power RF bipolar junction transistors

This paper reviews the current status of 4H-SiC RF npn bipolar junction transistors (BJT's). Process developments including precise and uniform SiC etch and low resistance p-type ohmic contact formation on a two inch SiC wafer will be presented. The high temperature operation up to 500 °C and radiation hardness up to 1.6 Mrad, as well as RF performance promising for long-pulse UHF and L-band radar applications will be reported. Rationale and approaches to the further improvement to S-band will be discussed.
A comparison of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy depth profiles for magnesium implants

Abstract The analysis of depth profiles when magnesium is present gives rise to several analytical problems with either X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). With both techniques the relative sensitivity is low for the main transition usually employed, i.e., the 2s photoemission line in XPS and the KLL transition in electron-excited AES. With XPS, the Al X-ray-excited Mg KLL peak has a relative intensity that is greater than the 2s transition, but not with Mg radiation. The peak-to-peak height of the electron-excited AES peak can vary with the chemical state of Mg. Also, in some instances overlapping peaks can cause problems. In this study Mg was implanted into metal foils at various levels. Depth profiles were obtained with both XPS and AES, and the instrument-based quantitative analysis computer routines were used with slight modifications. It was found that each technique had its own set of advantages, and both approaches gave roughly comparable profiles. The estimated maximum amounts were below those anticipated from the implant conditions. As expected with XPS, chemical effects could easily be determined. However, a relative sensitivity factor was needed to use the X-ray-excited KLL Auger transition. With AES certain low-level contaminants were more easily detected and monitored. Overall, the XPS profiles appeared to offer better results in most respects for these systems. Other factors, e.g., time of analysis, data treatment methods, detection limits, etc., will be discussed also.
Holographic grating formation in photopolymers—Polymethylmethacrylate

Polymethylmethacrylate has been sensitized to 4880 A light and used as a holographic recording medium. The polymer is sensitized with a material which may itsel be degraded by exposure to ultraviolet light. The new process is, therefore, both self-developing and fixable without chemical processing. Holographic diffraction gratings written into this material have diffracting efficiencies as high as 70 percent. Various parameters such as angular selectivity, film thickness, variation of diffracting efficiency with writing angle etc., have been studied. The spontaneously produced diffracted intensity is so high that efficient interference between first and zero ordes is observed during the writing process.
Micronutrients and intrauterine infection, preterm birth and the fetal inflammatory response syndrome

Prematurity is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Intrauterine infection has emerged as a major cause of premature labor and delivery. It has been estimated that 25% of all preterm deliveries occur to mothers who have microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity, although these infections are mostly subclinical in nature. This article describes the pathways leading to intrauterine infection, microbiology, frequency and clinical consequences of infection. The pathophysiology of the fetal inflammatory response syndrome is reviewed, as is its relationship to long-term handicap, such as cerebral palsy and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. A possible role for two micronutrients, vitamins C and E, in the prevention of the preterm prelabor rupture of membranes and the consequences of fetal inflammation is considered. Research needs are listed.
The Reactions of Cellulose with Amic Acids and Anhydride /Ammonia: Part III: Reactivity of a, β-Amic Acids and Corresponding Anhydrides/Ammonia

Reported is the generality of two new, recently reported reactions for the esterification of cellulosic fabrics using amic acids or anhydride/ammonia in aqueous solution. A study is made of amic acid structure and extent of formation of the cellulose half-acid ester, the main reaction product. The formation of crosslinked cellulose, a minor product, is also dis cussed. A series of amic acids, including the isomer pair, maleamic and fumaramic acids, as well as several anhydrides (with ammonia) were reacted with cellulosic fabrics. The results are interpreted to support a hypothesis which requires a unique combination of structural and environmental features for reaction to occur. Effects of pH, catalyst, and pres ence of moisture on extent of reaction were also studied. Resistance to acid and basic hydrolysis as well as the relative strength retention of treated fabric was determined. Comment is made on the potential utility of the modified fabrics.
SPATIAL CONVERGENCE OF BIDIRECTIONAL REFLECTANCE MODELS

Abstract Analyses of bidirectional reflectance data are presented with implications regarding the spatial scales appropriate for inferring irradiances from radiances reflected by various surface–atmosphere scenes. Multiple-angle radiance data collected in a nearly simultaneous manner during the 1979 Summer Monsoon Experiment are analyzed using the squared coherency statistic to suggest a method to deduce the minimum spatial scale appropriate for irradiance inferences. Spatial convergence of the irradiances inferred from the component radiances is presented as a function of averaging distance to imply magnitudes of errors that may result from use of“similar scene” bidirectional reflectance models. The reduction in the inference errors with an increasing number of angular viewing positions is also presented. The data are analyzed in search of preferred viewing directions with the result that little improvement is imparted to the inference by viewing the scenes from any specific view direction.
A computational study on the effects of pre-ignition processes on diesel engine combustion and emissions

There has been significant progress in reducing NOx and particulate emissions from diesel engines. However, many challenges remain particularly in view of the global energy issues and increasingly stringent emission regulations. Several recent efforts have focused on achieving low-temperature, premixed combustion for simultaneously reducing NOx and PM emissions, but without any detrimental effect on fuel consumption and energy density. Various strategies being explored include homogeneously charged compression ignition (HCCI), reducing flame temperature through excessive EGR, enhancing premixed combustion by controlling injection parameters, and promoting premixing by using early injection and low cetane number fuels. The present study is aimed at examining the effects of injection timing, initial gas temperature, and cylinder and piston wall temperatures on the spray processes, and thereby on the ignition, combustion and emission characteristics in a diesel engine. The reacting two-phase flow field in a 1.9L, 4-cylinder GM diesel engine is simulated using a CFD code ‘CONVERGE’, which employs an innovative cut-cell Cartesian method for grid generation, and a semi-detailed reaction mechanism for n-heptane combustion. A 51.430 sector with a single hole is considered to simulate the 7-hole common-rail injector. Results indicate that while the initial gas temperature does not affect the spray and combustion behavior qualitatively, it modifies combustion temperatures and thus NOx emissions noticeably. On the other hand, the piston and cylinder wall temperatures qualitatively influence the spray behavior and thereby the combustion and emission behavior. The injection timing has a strong influence on the spray and mixture formation processes, and thus on the combustion and emission characteristics. Delaying the start of injection (SOI) can lead to a significant reduction in NOx formation with only a moderate increase in soot formation. A detailed analysis of the spray and combustion processes indicated two main fuel consumption regions, one near the piston bowl wall and the other in the main spray near the injector. Fuel consumption in the first region mainly follows the conventional diesel combustion model involving rich premixed burning and diffusion burning, while that in the second region involves premixed combustion. As the SOI is delayed, the spray impingement on the piston bowl wall increases, causing more fuel consumption in the first region, which leads to reduction in NOx but increase in soot formation, indicating a tradeoff between NOx and soot emissions. However, with further delay in the SOI, the amount of fuel consumption in the first region increases significantly, while that in the main spray region involves lean premixed combustion. The net effect is a significant reduction in NOx with only a moderate increase in soot emission. Future studies will focus on the effects of modifying the level of premixing and the ignition delay on diesel engine combustion and emission.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Sp1 Sites Mediate Activation of the Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Promoter by Glucose in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Abstract This study was designed to characterize the direct effects of hyperglycemia on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. Glucose induced dose- and time-dependent increases of PAI-1 mRNA expression in rat aortic smooth muscle (RASM) cells in vitro. Using a series of luciferase reporter gene constructs containing PAI-1 5′-flanking sequence (from −6.4 kilobase to −42 base pairs (bp)) transfected into RASM, we found that glucose (25 mm) consistently induced a 4-fold increase in luciferase activity, with the response localized to sequence between −85 and −42 bp. Mutagenesis of two putative Sp1-binding sites located in the region of interest essentially obliterated the glucose-response. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with radiolabeled oligonucleotides containing the two putative Sp1-binding sites from PAI-1 promoter and nuclear extracts from RASM cells revealed that glucose treatment markedly changed the mobility pattern of the major protein-DNA complexes. Supershift assay showed that transcription factor Sp1 was present in the complexes under control and hyperglycemic conditions. These results suggest that glucose regulates PAI-1 gene expression in RASM cells through an effect on two adjacent Sp1 sites located between −85 and −42 bp of the PAI-1 5′-flanking region and that the release of a transcriptional repressor from the Sp1 complexes may explain the activation of the PAI-1 gene under high glucose conditions in RASM cells.
Clear Skies and Grey Areas: Flight Attendants' Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Attitudes toward Smoke-Free Policy 25 Years since Smoking was Banned on Airplanes.

Our objective was to provide descriptive data on flight attendant secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in the work environment, and to examine attitudes toward SHS exposure, personal health, and smoke-free policy in the workplace and public places. Flight attendants completed a web-based survey of self-reported SHS exposure and air quality in the work environment. We assessed the frequency and duration of SHS exposure in distinct areas of the workplace, attitudes toward SHS exposure and its health effects, and attitudes toward smoke-free policy in the workplace as well as general public places. A total of 723 flight attendants participated in the survey, and 591 responded to all survey questions. The mean level of exposure per flight attendant over the past month was 249 min. The majority of participants reported being exposed to SHS always/often in outdoor areas of an airport (57.7%). Participants who worked before the in-flight smoking ban (n = 240) were more likely to support further smoking policies in airports compared to participants who were employed after the ban (n = 346) (76.7% versus 60.4%, p-value < 0.01). Flight attendants are still being exposed to SHS in the workplace, sometimes at concerning levels during the non-flight portions of their travel. Flight attendants favor smoke-free policies and want to see further restrictions in airports and public places.
A Formula-based Classification of Learning Disabled Children: An Examination of the Issues

With the passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, the Bureau of Education of the Handicapped (BEH) was charged with the task of establishing regulations for enactment of the new law. The Federal Register (December 29,1977) reporting the final LD regulations notes that an analysis was made of all comments and testimony regarding the proposed regulations of November 1976. This report, prepared by two BEH scientists, first analyzes the numerous comments, and second describes some BEH in-house research which, along with the comments, prompted the bureau to drop the IQachievement formula in the final regulations. —G.M.S.
Parametric study of alternative EV1 powertrains

The General Motors (GM) EV1 is an electric vehicle originally powered by either a PbA or NiMh battery pack. This paper examines the possibility of alternative powertrain configurations. These alternatives include an ultracapacitor (UC) storage system, fuel cell system with UC storage, and a fuel cell system with a NiMh battery pack. The configurations were simulated using ADVISOR. Parametric tests were performed by varying the size of the energy storage systems. The study of these combinations is followed by an examination of the current art of the hybrid energy storage topologies used to combine battery and ultracapacitor storage. These topologies include passive parallel, active parallel, cascade parallel, and multi-input bidirectional converter.
Hypertonic induction of COX-2 expression in renal medullary epithelial cells requires transactivation of the EGFR

Hypertonic stress increases expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in renal medullary epithelial and interstitial cells. Because hypertonic COX-2 expression is, in part, sensitive to inhibition of ...
Economic injury levels for southern green stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in R7 growth stage soybeans

Abstract Stink bugs, primarily southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), are a major pest complex of soybeans (Glycine max) throughout the southern United States. Densities sometimes peak during late R6 and R7 soybean growth stages when soybeans are approaching physiology maturity and the rate of injury from stink bugs is reduced. Field cage trials were conducted from 2005 to 2008 to examine the type and extent of soybean damage caused by southern green stink bugs during the R7 growth stage. The yield response was variable, but overall was not significant. The impact of southern green stink bugs on quality was more consistent. Test weight decreased, and heat damage and total damage increased as stink bug density increased. Based on these data, three economic injury models were developed using different assumptions. The model that assumes no yield loss, does not predict economic injury within the range of stink bug densities tested. However, if the statistically non-significant yield losses are accepted as real, then the models suggest that the southern green stink bug economic injury level and action threshold for soybeans during R7 stage is generally between nine and 15 stink bugs per row m.
Radiation equation of state and loop quantum gravity corrections

The equation of state for radiation is derived in a canonical formulation of the electromagnetic field. This allows one to include correction terms expected from canonical quantum gravity and to infer implications to the universe evolution in radiation dominated epochs. Corrections implied by quantum geometry can be interpreted in physically appealing ways, relating to the conformal invariance of the classical equations.
Standard management of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

The successful introduction of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has revolutionized the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Imatinib therapy induces high rates of complete cytogenetic and major molecular responses, and improves survival in CML. Following imatinib treatment, more than 90% of patients obtain complete hematologic response, and over 80% achieve a complete cytogenetic response. With 7 years of follow-up, the results are still very favorable, resulting in a major change in the natural history of the disease. Resistance to imatinib represents a clinical challenge. Although some clinical and biologic features have been found to be associated with a lower probability of response to imatinib, at present no precise markers allowing for the prediction of outcome for individual patients exist. The most common mechanisms of resistance to imatinib include BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations, amplification, and overexpression of the BCR-ABL oncogene, and clonal evolution with activation of additional transformation pathways. These mechanisms are eventually caused by the genomic instability, which characterizes the Philadelphia chromosome-positive clone. Several approaches to overcome resistance have been proposed. The understanding of at least some of the mechanisms of resistance to imatinib has led to a rapid development of new therapeutic agents that might overcome this resistance. Novel targeted agents designed to overcome imatinib resistance include second-generation TKIs such as dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib, bafetinib, and others. Other approaches are exploring combination therapy, with agents affecting different oncogenic pathways, and immune modulation. Herein, we review some of these targeted therapies, particularly those for which clinical data are already available.
Electron Microscope Studies of Somatotrophs of Rat Pituitary After Injection of Purified Growth Hormone Releasing Factor (GRF)

Electron microscope studies of pituitary somatotrophs of female Sprague-Dawley rats were conducted following intracarotid injection of 2 μg of highly purified pig GRF. Animals were sacrificed by decapitation 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5 and 15 min after GRF injection. Saline-injected control animals were sacrificed according to the same schedule. Tissues were fixed in phosphate-buffered osmium tetroxide. A marked increase in the number of secretory granules undergoing extrusion into the perivascular space from the somatotroph, as compared to controls, was found to occur as early as 2.5 min after GRF injection. In mammotrophs, the number of granules undergoing extrusion also seemed somewhat larger in the GRF-injected groups. These observations corroborate the accepted morphologic identification of the somatotrophs and provide evidence that GRF acts on these cells. (Endocrinology 85: 1084, 1969)
Validation of Shear-Wave Velocity Models of the Pacific Northwest

Four surface-wave tomographic models in the Pacific Northwest and a combined CRUST2.0 and AK135 model are tested and validated systematically. Syn- thetic Green's functions calculated with the models using a finite-difference method are compared with empirical Green's functions at periods of 7-50 s. To ensure high- quality signals, empirical Green's functions are extracted from the ambient noise cross correlation of vertical-to-vertical components between station pairs that have up to a decade of recorded data. The observed and synthetic Green's functions are cross correlated at multiple frequency bands to determine phase delay times and cross- correlation coefficients. The delay time predicted by the CRUST2.0 and AK135 model is predominantly positive and is linearly dependent on interstation distance, indicating that the combined model is, on average, too fast for the Pacific Northwest. Among the four shear-wave velocity models, CUB and one model derived from re- gional tomography exhibit moderately and weakly negative linear trends, respectively, between the delay time and interstation distance, a result indicative of a slower-than- actual velocity. The delay times of the other two models are normally distributed with an approximately zero mean and without any apparent relationship with interstation distance. The cross-correlation coefficients are more scattered at short periods, reflect- ing unresolved heterogeneities of the crust structure in these models. The misfit be- tween the empirical Green's functions and synthetic waveforms suggests the need for a better-resolved crust and uppermost mantle velocity model, which is critical for the precise estimate of ground motion for seismic hazard evaluation and understanding of the tectonic processes of the Pacific Northwest.
Abstract 15: Proteomic Analysis of HDL from Inbred Strains of Mice Implicates APOE in Reduced Cholesterol Efflux Capacity via the ABCA1 Pathway

Background: Human HDL’s efflux capacity-the ability to promote cholesterol efflux from macrophages-associates strongly and negatively with risk of future cardiac events. However, the molecular factors that regulate efflux capacity remain poorly understood. Methods and Results: We investigated the relationships between HDL’s size, protein cargo, and sterol efflux capacity, using HDLs from five inbred mouse strains with different HDL-cholesterol levels and susceptibilities to atherosclerosis. Like human HDL, mouse HDL carried >70 proteins linked to lipid metabolism, the acute-phase response, proteinase inhibition, and the immune system. Hierarchical cluster analysis recapitulated the genealogy of the mouse strains, indicating that the HDL proteome is under genetic control. HDL particle size from the different strains correlated strongly and positively with APOA2 content. Analysis of HDL isolated from Apoa2-/- or Apoa2transgenic mice confirmed that APOA2 is a major determinant of HDL particle size. Unexpecte...
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: current concepts.

Tissue from an eosinophilic granuloma of bone was examined with the electron microscope. In several of the histiocytes were rod-shaped structures, one end of which was frequently distended into a sac. The structures are identical to granules which have been described in Langerhan cells of skin. We believe that the granules originate from an infolding of plasma membrane and that their presence in both Langerhans cells and histiocytes indicates that the two cell types have some functions in common.
Detecting gene-gene interactions using a permutation-based random forest method

Identifying gene-gene interactions is essential to understand disease susceptibility and to detect genetic architectures underlying complex diseases. Here, we aimed at developing a permutation-based methodology relying on a machine learning method, random forest (RF), to detect gene-gene interactions. Our approach called permuted random forest (pRF) which identified the top interacting single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) pairs by estimating how much the power of a random forest classification model is influenced by removing pairwise interactions. We systematically tested our approach on a simulation study with datasets possessing various genetic constraints including heritability, number of SNPs, sample size, etc. Our methodology showed high success rates for detecting the interaction SNP pair. We also applied our approach to two bladder cancer datasets, which showed consistent results with well-studied methodologies, such as multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) and statistical epistasis network (SEN). Furthermore, we built permuted random forest networks (PRFN), in which we used nodes to represent SNPs and edges to indicate interactions. We successfully developed a scale-invariant methodology to detect pure gene-gene interactions based on permutation strategies and the machine learning method random forest. This methodology showed great potential to be used for detecting gene-gene interactions to study underlying genetic architectures in a scale-free way, which could be benefit to uncover the complex disease mechanisms.