cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structure–Activity Relationships in Nitro-Aromatic Compounds

Many nitro-aromatic compounds show mutagenic and carcinogenic properties, posing a potential human health risk. Despite this potential health hazard, nitro-aromatic compounds continue to be emitted into ambient air from municipal incinerators, motor vehicles, and industrial power plants. As a result, understanding the structural and electronic factors that influence mutagenicity in nitro-aromatic compounds has been a long standing objective. Progress toward this goal has accelerated over the years, in large part due to the synergistic efforts among toxicology, computational chemistry, and statistical modeling of toxicological data. The concerted influence of several structural and electronic factors in nitro-aromatic compounds makes the development of structure–activity relationships (SARs) a paramount challenge. Mathematical models that include a regression analysis show promise in predicting the mutagenic activity of nitro-aromatic compounds as well as in prioritizing compounds for which experimental data should be pursued. A major challenge of the structure–activity models developed thus far is their failure to apply beyond a subset of nitro-aromatic compounds. Most quantitative structure–activity relationship papers point to statistics as the most important confirmation of the validity of a model. However, the experimental evidence shows the importance of the chemical knowledge in the process of generating models with reasonable applicability. This chapter will concisely summarize the structural and electronic factors that influence the mutagenicity in nitro-aromatic compounds and the recent efforts to use quantitative structure–activity relationships to predict those physicochemical properties.
THERMAL ANALYSIS OF EXOTHERMIC PROCESSES IN COAL PYROLYSIS

Abstract Differential scanning calorimetery demonstrated the occurrence of exothermic processes associated with the production of volatile matter in or near the plastic region of the coal samples studied. The temperature and magnitude of the exothermic peak was observed to be strongly affected by the heating rate, sample mass and, to a lesser extent, by sample particle size. Thermal properties also were found to be influenced by oxidation or weathering effects.
Analysis of the characteristics of atmospheric turbulence in marine surface of South China Sea based on the routine meteorology factors

The indirect way using meteorology factors to estimate the atmospheric turbulence has been taken to describe the characteristic of atmospheric turbulence in marine surface layer in large spatial and temporal scale as for the limitation of direct observation method. The algorithm based on the fluctuation of temperature wind speed and humidity offered by friehe is taken into account, the data we selected relative to this research is from 10° to 21° of north latitude and 110° to 120° east longitude time span from 1965 to 1997. Firstly, we treat all the data of 33 years an average for every moment according to observing point, in this way the totally average of all the routine meteorology factors of typical marine surface layer are obtained, then we make a statistic for air sea temperature differences (ASTD) by month, and 12 groups of data about fluctuation of ASTD are obtained, We chose the maximum and minimum month (December and March) in the fluctuation of ASTD to indicate the spatial distribution of the strength of atmospheric turbulence. It turns out that the range of mean turbulence is from 10 -17 to 10 -14 , there are significant seasonal changes about atmospheric turbulence in marine surface of South China Sea, in general turbulence is much stronger in winter than it in summer, and in seacoast the turbulence is stronger than it in mare liberum, it may be related to the effect of land frontier to wind speed.
New Directions for Investigating Children′s Gender Knowledge

Abstract Does gender knowledge influence the way children behave and think? Some theorists believe it does; others question the validity of the notion. The goals of this paper are (a) to review the arguments and the evidence about whether gender knowledge provides a "cognitive underpinning" for action and thought, and (b) to propose new directions for studying gender knowledge that may increase its predictive value. In the first section of the paper, the criticisms of the cognitive underpinning argument are evaluated as they apply in two different gender knowledge domains—knowledge of gender as a category (e.g., constancy) and knowledge of stereotypic gender attributes (e.g., girls play with dolls). In the second section of the paper, several proposals are made to increase our understanding of the role of gender knowledge. The first proposal is that researchers need to reconsider how gender cognitions change with age. As a step in that direction, a new model of gender stereotypes is presented. The second proposal is that researchers need to consider other types of gender knowledge, particularly the kinds of in-depth knowledge that children acquire about how behaviors are enacted. Until we consider additional avenues for investigating gender knowledge, it is premature to conclude that it lacks predictive value.
A qualitative and quantitative electronmicroscopic study of the structure of the adenoid cystic carcinoma of human minor salivary glands

The fine structural characteristics of five adenoid cystic carcinomas of human minor salivary galnds and a quantitative assessment of the relative volumes occupied by morphologically defined cell types in these tumors are reported. We observed that the cyst-like spaces which give the characteristic cribriform pattern to the adenoid cystic carcinoma contain replicated basement membrane-like materail. Material comprisimg aggregates of fine tubules having a median diameter of 270 A, and rounded, electron dense bodies were noted within duct-like lumena of one tumor. In addition, dilatation of the intercellular spaces and squamous metaplasia were noted. From 500 electronmicrographs obtained by standardized techniques and used for the morphological part of the study, 175 were selected by a random sampling method and analyzed by the stereological technique of point counting. This method demonstrated that duct type cells occupied 75% by volume of the tumor in these glands; myoepithelial cells occupied 3%, acinar cells occupied 2%, and other tissues occupied 22% of the tumors. These proportions differ significantly (P less than 0.001) from our previously published figures for normal specimens of these glands.
Factors Influencing Chromium Elution from Labelled Red Cells in Vivo and the Effect of Elution on Red‐Cell Survival Measurements

Summary. Rates of 51Cr elution in vivo were studied after 32 transfusions of previously-frozen and liquid-preserved red cells, the survival of which was followed by measurement of the persisting radioactivity and by an automated differential agglutination (ADA) procedure. Both rapid and slow phases of chromium elution were observed; the data suggested that in-vitro labelling conditions influenced both the quantity of rapidly-eluting chromium and the rate of elution of the remaining label. Approximately 3% of the chromium label eluted rapidly from red cells that had been washed with phosphate-buffered saline prior to labelling, while less than 1% of the chromium eluted rapidly from non-washed concentrated red cells. By contrast, approximately 8.5% of the chromium label eluted rapidly from red cells washed by dilution/agglomeration, whereas approximately 11.8% of the chromium eluted rapidly from either non-washed whole blood or from red cells washed with non-buffered saline prior to chromium labelling. Moreover, with the latter labelling conditions, the 24 hr chromium survival value was at times considerably lower than the ADA value. The slow phase of in-vivo elution was significantly more rapid for red cells labelled as whole blood (non-washed) and for those washed with non-buffered sodium chloride (mean half period of elution 44.8 days), than for red cells washed by dilution/agglomeration and for non-washed concentrated red cells (mean half periods 74.2 and 75.3 days respectively). An intermediate slow rate of elution for red cells washed with phosphate-buffered sodium chloride (mean half period 63.2 days) was not significantly different from slow phase elution rates observed in the other groups.
Neck pain and head restraint position relative to the driver’s head in rear-end collisions

This two-year investigation was designed to estimate the incidence of driver neck pain in rear-struck vehicles involved in two-vehicle collisions and to determine the relationship between neck pain and specific vehicle, human, and environmental factors. Neck pain percentages were significantly higher for female (45%) than for male (28%) drivers. For female and male drivers, neck pain likelihood increased as head restraint height decreased below the head's center of gravity, although this effect was significant only for females. Head restraint backset, the horizontal distance measured from the back of the driver's head to the front of the head restraint, was not found to be related to neck pain for female drivers. Backset trends for male drivers could not be evaluated because few male drivers had head restraints that were high enough for backset to be relevant. Reported neck pain decreased for older drivers (females only), drivers in less severe crashes, and drivers in heavier cars (females only); all head restraint analyses were adjusted for these characteristics. Women, and most likely men, in the United States would benefit greatly from international harmonization to European head restraint standards. Until then, both women and men should be encouraged to adjust their adjustable head restraints, if possible, behind their heads' centers of gravity and to sit with the backs of their heads as close as possible to their head restraints.
Ocular sarcoidosis misdiagnosed as primary intraocular lymphoma

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to describe patients initially carrying a diagnosis of primary intraocular lymphoma who were ultimately diagnosed with ocular sarcoidosis.Methods:The medical records of patients evaluated between 1995 and 2007 fitting the criteria described earlier were identifi
Felt discrimination increases offensiveness of stereotyped out-group depictions

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the effects of minorities’ who experienced discrimination on perceptions of offensiveness tied to brand imagery that stereotypically depicts other minorities classified as out-group members. Design/methodology/approach – Study 1 utilizes factor analysis to develop dependent variables, and a path analysis to model relationships between the focal independent variable (IV) and dependent variable (DVs). Study 2 uses an experimental approach analyzing data with ANOVA and bootstrapping methodologies. Findings – Minorities who report experiencing more discrimination perceive more offensiveness tied to branding containing overt stereotypical depictions of out-groups. This effect is mediated through a perceived sympathy for the out-group. However, while some minorities perceive these branded logos as relatively more offensive, minorities, as a group, do not perceive these stereotyped logos as overly offensive. Research limitations/implications – Minorities not depicted in o...
An Early Chinese Calendar Chart: Kuan-Tzu, Iii, 8 (Yu Kuan ? ?) 1)

The Kuan-tzu is a collection of essays dating roughly from the fourth to the second century B.C. They were edited in their present form by Liu Hsiang about 26 B.C. This essay is composed of a seasonal calendar coupled with a treatise on military strategy. The arrangement of the text indicates it once formed the content of an early calendar chart.
The effect of compulsory participation of medical students in problem-based learning.

Summary. Problem-based learning (PBL) is an instructional method that has attracted many advocates since its introduction in medical education almost 20 years ago. PBL features the use of student-directed tutorials, medically relevant problems to set study objectives, and independent learning. Educators have worried that not all students will do well with this method. This study compared a group of students who had chosen to be in a PBL curriculum with a group who had not, as they undertook a curriculum that contained both PBL and lecture-based courses. Academic performance was virtually identical regardless of learning method. Students slightly favoured the courses that featured the method they had originally chosen, but a significantly larger proportion of students shifted their preference from the lecture to the problem-based approach than vice versa. Students' academic performance does not appear to suffer when they are involuntarily enrolled in a PBL curriculum and many come to prefer this type of curriculum.
Migraine and Major Depression: A Longitudinal Study

SYNOPSIS Recent epidemiologic studies have reported an association between migraine and major depression. Little is known about the mechanisms that link the two disorders, or the natural history of their co-occurrence. We examined the association between migraine and major depression in a sample of young adults, using longitudinal data. Method: A random sample of 1,007 young adults (21–30 years of age) members of a large HMO in Southeast Michigan was interviewed in 1989; 97% of the sample were reinter-viewed 3.5 years later, in 1992. A structured diagnostic interview was used to elicit information on DSM-III-R major depression and IHS migraine in lifetime (in the 1989 interview) and during the 3.5 year follow-up interval (in the 1992 interview). Using Cox-proportional hazards models with time-dependent covariates, we estimated the relative risk for major depression associated with prior migraine and the relative risk for migraine associated with prior major depression. Results: In this sample of young adults, the incidence of migraine per 1,000 person years, based on the prospectively gathered data, was 5.0 in males and 22.0 in females. The estimated relative risk for major depression associated with prior migraine, adjusted for sex and education, was 3.2 (95% CI 2.3–4.6). The adjusted relative risk for migraine associated with prior major depression was 3.1 (95% CI 2.0–5.0). Conclusions: The study provides the first body of evidence that the previously observed cross-sectional association between migraine and major depression can result from bidirectional influences, with each disorder increasing the risk for first onset of the other. The explanation that major depression in persons with migraine represents a psychologic response to migraine attacks would have been more plausible had we found an influence only from migraine to depression. By diminishing the plausibility of a simple causal explanation for the migraine-depression comorbidity, the findings favor the shared mechanisms explanation.
The Effect of Oil Layers on Hydrocarbon Emissions: Low Solubility Oils

Abstract The hydrocarbon emissions from a combustion bomb were studied in the presence and absence of an oil layer coating the bottom surface of the reactor. Gas samples were analyzed by gas chromatography. Five oils (squalane, a synthetic motor oil, a petroleum-based motor oil, a polypropylene oxide oil and a polypropylene-polyethylene oxide copolymer oil) were studied in combination with three fuels (ethane, propane and butane). Glycerol was studied with propane as the fuel. The fuels were mixed with air at a fuel-lean equivalence ratio of 0.9. Under conditions ensuring saturation of the oil layer, the results show that the hydrocarbon emission is principally (>90%) initial fuel and that it varies in direct proportion to the amount of oil present in the reactor, to the initial fuel concentration and to the solubility of the specific fuel in the oil layer. The results also show that the specific composition of the oil layer can have a significant influence on the hydrocarbon emission with a polypropylene...
Change of Compressiblity at the Glass Transition and Prigogine-Defay Ratio in ZrTiCuNiBe Alloys

The change of the compressibility at the glass transition Tg is evaluated from pressure experiments in the liquid and the glassy state of the ZrTiCuNiBe bulk metallic glass forming system. Via the enthalpy recovery method, we derive an increase of Tg with pressure of 3.6 K/GPa. Comparing the changes of the compressibility, the specific heat capacity, and the thermal expansion coefficient at Tg, we estimate for the first time a Prigogine-Defay ratio in metallic systems. This ratio is about 2.4 for the present alloy and compares well with known nonmetallic glass forming systems.
Safety of cyanoacrylate-based adhesives in creating layered septal cartilage grafts during open structure septorhinoplasty.

Abstract Purpose Patients having suffered severe nasal trauma or having undergone prior septal surgery present particular problems during open structure septorhinoplasty. Septal cartilage deficient noses often require costal or conchal cartilage grafting or the use of allograft material, resulting in secondary donor site morbidity, longer operative times and variable results. The present study evaluated the utility of cyanoacrylate-based adhesives (CBA) in creating layered septal cartilage grafts from remnant septal cartilage for L-strut reconstruction during open septorhinoplasty. Study design A retrospective clinical review was performed at a university-based facial plastic and reconstructive surgical practice, identifying patients undergoing open structure septorhinoplasty performed by the senior authors. Procedures involved construction of a layered caudal or dorsal L-strut graft from at least two smaller autologous septal cartilage grafts. The grafts were adhered together with CBA with 5-0 polydioxanone suture (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ) used for reinforcement. Stability of the final construct was assessed postoperatively. Results Fifteen patients were included with mean age of thirty-nine years (range: 15–65). Fifty-three percent of the patients had undergone prior nasal surgery: Seven had undergone at least one prior external septorhinoplasty and one had undergone prior endonasal septoplasty. Median follow-up was 144 days (range: 45–405). Postoperatively, one local infection was noted and two patients complained of post-operative columellar deviation. No other complications were encountered. Conclusion CBAs provide a safe technique in the crafting of layered grafts to provide reliable tip/dorsal support when performing open structure septorhinoplasty among patients with cartilage deficient or severely traumatized septa.
Axial mass transport in liquid–liquid Taylor–Couette–Poiseuille flow

Abstract Axial mass transport in immiscible liquid–liquid Taylor–Couette–Poiseuille flow was studied by using standard tracer-response techniques. Experiments were carried out using mixtures of kerosene and water that produced two basic flow patterns (a banded structure and an apparently homogeneous emulsion). Effective axial dispersion coefficients were calculated for both the disperse and continuous phases for each flow pattern by fitting the tracer-response data to one of two simple stirred tanks in series models. A comparison of axial transport in the continuous and disperse phases supports the hypotheses that the homogeneous flow pattern behaves as if the emulsion is spatially homogeneous, and the banded flow pattern consists of a disperse phase confined to the cores of Taylor vortices.
STUDIES ON LYMPHOID ACTIVITY : VII. SUPPRESSION OF INDUCED IMMUNITY TO TRANSPLANTED CANCER BY LARGE DOSES OF OLIVE OIL.

The state of potential immunity to transplanted cancer engendered in mice by an injection of homologous blood may be reversed and converted into a susceptible state by an intraperitoneal injection of olive oil prior to the cancer inoculation. The suppression of resistance is accompanied by the failure of certain cellular reactions known to develop during the establishment of immunity to transplanted cancer.
Genome size and recombination in angiosperms: a second look.

Despite dramatic differences in genome size – and thus space for recombination to occur – previous workers found no correlation between recombination rate and genome size in flowering plants. Here I re-investigate these claims using phylogenetic comparative methods to test a large data set of recombination data in angiosperms. I show that genome size is significantly correlated with recombination rate across a wide sampling of species and that change in genome size explains a meaningful proportion (∼20%) of variation in recombination rate. I show that the strength of this correlation is comparable with that of several characters previously linked to evolutionary change in recombination rate, but argue that consideration of processes of genome size change likely make the observed correlation a conservative estimate. And finally, although I find that recombination rate increases less than proportionally to change in genome size, several mechanistic and theoretical arguments suggest that this result is not unexpected.
Alloying element vaporization and weld pool temperature during laser welding of AlSl 202 stainless steel

Alloying element vaporization rates, plasma composition, and the changes in weld composition during laser welding of 202 stainless steel are discussed in this paper. Iron, manganese, and chromium were the most dominant species in the plasma. During laser welding it is always a difficult task to measure the temperature of the weld pool since this region is surrounded by hot plasma. In this paper a novel technique for the determination of weld pool temperature is presented. It is demonstrated that the relative rates of vaporization of any two elements from the molten pool can serve as an indicator of weld pool temperature, irrespective of the element pair selected. The composition of the solidified region calculated from the measured values of vaporization rate, plasma composition, and the volume of the solidified region was in good agreement with the weld composition determined by electron probe microanalyis technique.
HOLOGRAPHIC METHODS FOR X-RAY AND ELECTRON CRYSTALLOGRAPHY

Abstract It is shown how the historical origins of holographic ideas in the field of crystallography inspire a couple of modern applications. One is to the problem structure completion in the X-ray crystallography of macromolecular structures, and the other to the determination of the binding site of atomic adsorbates on surfaces by means of low energy electron diffraction (LEED). In the first example, it is shown that identification of the amplitude from the known part of the structure with a reference wave enables the recovery of the unknown part of the electron density from the diffraction intensities by means of a maximum entropy algorithm. In the second example, the atomic adsorbates act as miniature beam splitters for electrons, allowing a holographic interpretation of a diffuse LEED pattern, which in turn enables the direct computer reconstruction of the atomic adsorption sites. The possibility of a applying a similar holographic scheme to the discrete superstructure spots from an ordered overlayer is also discussed.
Cellular responses in experimental liver injury: Possible cellular origins of regenerative stem-like progenitor cells†

Background/Aims Mature hepatocytes divide to restore liver mass after injury. However, when hepatocyte division is impaired by retrorsine poisoning, regeneration proceeds from another cell type: the small hepatocyte-like progenitor cells (SHPCs). Our aim was to test whether SHPCs could originate from mature hepatocytes. Methods Mature hepatocytes were genetically labeled using retroviral vectors harboring the β-galactosidase gene. After labeling, retrorsine was administered to rats followed by partial hepatectomy to trigger regeneration. A liver biopsy was performed one month after surgery and rats were sacrificed one month later. Results We observed the proliferation of small hepatocytes arranged in clusters in liver biopsies. These cells expressed Ki67 antigen and displayed high mitotic index. At sacrifice, regeneration was completed and clusters had merged. A significant proportion of clusters also expressed β-galactosidase demonstrating their origin from labeled mature hepatocytes. Finally, the overall proportion of β-galactosidase positive cells was identical at the time of hepatectomy as well as in liver biopsy and at sacrifice. Conclusions The constant proportion of β-galactosidase positive cells during the regeneration process demonstrates that mature hepatocytes are randomly recruited to proliferate and compensate parenchyma loss in this model. Furthermore, mature hepatocytes are the source of SHPC after retrorsine injury.
Form and Function of Lungs: The Evolution of Air Breathing Mechanisms

SYNOPSIS. Structural evolution of the vertebrate lung illustrates the principle that the emergence of seemingly new structures such as the mammalian lung is due to intensification of one of the functions of the original piscine lung. The configuration of the mechanical support of the lung in which elastic and collagen fibers form a continuous framework is well matched with the functional demands. The design of the mammalian gas exchange cells is an ingenious solution to meet the functional demands of optimizing maintenance pathways from nucleus to the cytoplasm while simultaneously providing minimal barrier thickness. Surfactant is found in the most primitive lungs providing a protective continuous film of fluid over the delicate epithelium. As the lung became profusely partitioned, surfactant became a functionally new surface-tension reduction device to prevent the collapse of the super-thin foam-like respiratory surface. Experimental analyses have established that in lower vertebrates lungs are ventilated with a buccal pulse pump, which is driven by identical sets of muscles acting in identical patterns in fishes and frogs. In the aquatic habitats suction is the dominant mode of feeding generating buccal pressure changes far exceeding those recorded during air ventilation. From the perspective of air ventilation the buccal pulse pump is overdesigned. However in terrestrial habitats vertebrates must operate with higher metabolic demands and the lung became subdivided into long narrow airways and progressively smaller air spaces, rendering the pulse pump inefficient. With the placement of the lungs inside a pump, the aspiration pump was established. In mammals, the muscular diaphragm represents a key evolutionary innovation since it led to an energetically most efficient aspiration pump. Apparently the potential energy created by contraction of the diaphragm during inhalation is stored in the elastic tissues of the thoracic unit and lung. This energy is released when lung and thorax recoil to bring about exhalation. It is further determined experimentally that respiratory and locomotory patterns are coupled, further maximizing the efficiency of mammalian respiration. Symmorphosis is exhibited in the avian breathing apparatus, which is endowed with a key evolutionary innovation by having the highly specialized lung continuously ventilated by multiple air sacs that function as bellows. Functional morphologists directly deal with these kinds of functional and structural complexities that provide an enormous potential upon simple changes in underlying mechanisms.
A Follow-Up Study of the Effects of Early Malnutrition on Subsequent Development. II. Fine Motor Skills in Adolescence

One hundred nine children, aged 8 through 15 yr, who suffered from malnutrition in the 1st yr of life and 107 well-nourished comparison children were tested for fine motor skills by the Purdue Pegboard test. The performance of index children was impaired on three of the four test measures. IQ measured concurrently showed a reduction in the index group; when the effects of IQ were eliminated, there was no longer any significant difference between index and comparison groups. The data suggest that the effects of early malnutrition on Pegboard performance are largely mediated by deficits in IQ. The presence of soft neurologic signs measured 4 yr earlier in the same children was highly correlated with reduced Pegboard performance, implying that early malnutrition has effects on nervous system function that are evident at least through 15 yr of age.
Identification and Characterization of Subpopulations of the Free α-Subunit That Vary in Their Ability to Combine with Chorionic Gonadotropin-β*

The free (uncombined) α-subunit of hCG is secreted in excess over αβ dimer from both malignant and nonmalignant trophoblast cells and is secreted ectopically from a variety of other malignant cell types. The free α-subunits from various sources are distinguishable from those that combine because they migrate more heterogeneously and more slowly on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) than dimer α. We have previously identified three posttranslational modifications that may contribute to the altered mobility of the free α-subunit and to its inability to combine with the β-subunit: 1) preferential phosphorylation of the free α-subunit, 2) O-glycosylation of free α, and 3) differences in the processing of the asparagine-linked oligosaccharides between the free and combinable forms. We have purified three populations of the α-subunit from the JAR choriocarcinoma cell line and from ChaGo, a bronchogenic carcinoma cell line that ectopically synthesizes only the α-subunit, in orde...
Solubilities of long-chain hydrocarbons in carbon dioxide

Heavy hydrocarbons are becoming an increasingly important problem for the natural gas industry as it develops more costly gas reserves, such as those in the deep Gulf of Mexico. The waxy substances precipiate during natural gas processing, causing blockage of transmission pipelines. Knowledge of the solubility behavior of these hydrocarbon solids is therefore necessary to develop solutions to the solid deposition problem. This work reports solid-supercritical fluid equilibrum data for long-chain n-alkanes in carbon dioxide, a component of natural gas, over a range of temperatures and pressures that are typical of natural gas processing. A flow apparatus was used to measure the solubility, and the data were correlated by the Patel-Teja equation of state. Satisfactory agreement was obtained between calculated and experimental values, so the equation of state may be used to estimate the conditions for solid deposition and the amounts of solids formed at typical processing conditions.
STAT4 is required for interleukin-12-induced chromatin remodeling of the CD25 locus.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) is a critical mediator of interleukin-12 (IL-12)-stimulated inflammatory immune responses. Despite extensive analysis of the immune responses of STAT4-deficient mice, there is still very little understood about STAT4-dependent gene induction. IL-12 stimulated increases in IL-2 receptor α chain gene (CD25) mRNA levels and surface expression require STAT4. In this report, we utilize chromatin immunoprecipitation assays to analyze IL-12-stimulated and STAT4-dependent changes in chromatin remodeling of the CD25 gene. Gene activation requires binding of STAT4 to the PRRIII upstream regulatory element, the recruitment of the CREB-binding protein (CBP), and chromatin remodeling including increased acetylation and decreased methylation of histones within the CD25 promoter. Evidence suggests that STAT4 also facilitates binding of other factors to the CD25 promoter including c-Jun. Thus, these results provide a model for STAT4-dependent gene induction and a mechanism for cytokine-induced expression of the CD25 gene.
Statistical Estimation of Software Reliability

When a new computer software package is developed, a testing procedure is often put into effect to eliminate the faults, or bugs, in the package. One common procedure is to try the package on a set of well-known problems to try to see if any errors result. This goes for some fixed time with all detected errors being noted. Then the testing stops and the package is carefully checked to determine the specific bugs that were responsible for the observed errors, and the package is then altered to remove these bugs. A problem of great importance is the estimation of the error rate of this revised software package.
Purified mouse egg zona pellucida glycoproteins polymerize into homomeric fibrils under non-denaturing conditions.

The mouse egg's zona pellucida (ZP) is composed of three glycoproteins, called ZP1, ZP2, and ZP3, that migrate as relatively broad, single bands on SDS–PAGE. The glycoproteins are organized within the ZP as a network of long interconnected fibrils that exhibit a structural periodicity. Here, ZP2 and ZP3 were purified by HPLC to homogeneity and analyzed by Blue Native- (BN-) PAGE and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), as well as by SDS–PAGE. As opposed to SDS–PAGE, BN–PAGE, and TEM permit analysis of ZP2 and ZP3 under non-denaturing conditions. ZP2 and ZP3 migrate on BN–PAGE, not as single bands, but as several discrete oligomers that give rise to larger structures which remain at the origin of the gel. Consistent with this, ZP2 and ZP3 are visualized by TEM as long interconnected fibrils that consist of contiguous beads. Therefore, under non-denaturing conditions both purified ZP2 and ZP3 polymerize into higher order structures. These findings are of interest since purified ZP3 inhibits binding of mouse sperm to eggs and induces sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction in vitro. Results presented here suggest that these biological effects of ZP3 are due to binding of homomeric fibrils of ZP3 to sperm. J. Cell. Physiol. 214:153–157, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Thermal Conductivity Measurement of Graphene Composite

Graphene composites (GCs) have attracted much attention recently. It is interesting to explore thermal properties of GCs in which graphene filler concentrations are tunable. Here, we use 3ω method to measure the thermal conductivity of GCs synthesized from reduced graphene oxide (RGO) dispersed in polystyrene. To avoid the detrimental effect of lithography processes to GCs, we have developed a novel method employing polyvinyl alcohol and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a holder film to transfer micrometer-sized metal heaters/sensors onto GC surface. Room temperature measurements of the thermal conductivity of GCs are performed. The thermal conductivity is enhanced by ~ 35 % when adding 5 vol.% of RGO filler concentration. Our measurements will be helpful to probe and understand the thermal transport properties of graphene based composites.
Multidimensional control using a mobile-phone based brain-muscle-computer interface

Many well-known brain-computer interfaces measure signals at the brain, and then rely on the brain's ability to learn via operant conditioning in order to control objects in the environment. In our lab, we have been developing brain-muscle-computer interfaces, which measure signals at a single muscle and then rely on the brain's ability to learn neuromuscular skills via operant conditioning. Here, we report a new mobile-phone based brain-muscle-computer interface prototype for severely paralyzed persons, based on previous results from our group showing that humans may actively create specified power levels in two separate frequency bands of a single sEMG signal. Electromyographic activity on the surface of a single face muscle (Auricularis superior) is recorded with a standard electrode. This analog electrical signal is imported into an Android-based mobile phone. User-modulated power in two separate frequency band serves as two separate and simultaneous control channels for machine control. After signal processing, the Android phone sends commands to external devices via Bluetooth. Users are trained to use the device via biofeedback, with simple cursor-to-target activities on the phone screen.
Tide-induced vertical circulation in a bay with homogeneous water: Theory and experiment

The structure of the tidal residual current due to vertical viscosity is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. It is found that the interaction between the vertical component of the oscillatory current and vorticity,wT1ξT1, induces a strong residual constituent outside the boundary layer and forms a circulation which is quite similar to gravitational circulation and that the vertical profile of the oscillatory current not only affects the magnitude of the residual constituent but also decides the direction of the circulation. In the hydraulic experiment, the residual constituent is larger than the theoretical prediction and a phase difference in the oscillatory constituent between the upper and lower layer is observed. The amplitude difference is caused by the strong nonlinear effect of the residual constituent and the phase difference is caused by the interaction between the residual current and the basic oscillatory current. The principal generating force of the residual constituent outside the boundary layer,wT1ξT1, is observed in a bay where the tide is nearly a standing wave.
A short account of the theory of lubrication. IV. Temperature rise and temperature distribution in bearings

Abstract The modern understanding of lubrication is based on the equations of the hydrodynamic theory. These equations, as has been seen, describe the performance of a bearing in terms of the actual film viscosity but, of course, this depends on the temperature of the film, which in general is unknown. We have next to consider whether there is any way of calculating or predicting the steady running temperature of a bearing.It is not commonly realized that there is a rational solution for this problem.The solution depends both on the rate of generating heat by friction, and on the rate of heat transfer from the bearing to its surroundings.
Effects of baclofen on maintenance and reinstatement of intravenous cocaine self-administration in rats.

Rationale: Recent studies suggest that the GABAB receptor agonist, baclofen, may be a useful pharmacotherapy for cocaine abuse. Objectives: To investigate further the effects of baclofen on maintenance and reinstatement of cocaine-reinforced behavior in rats. Methods: Two groups of rats were trained to self-administer IV cocaine (0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg per infusion) during daily 7-h sessions under a fixed-ratio 1 schedule. Rats were pretreated with baclofen (1.25, 2.5 or 5 mg/kg IP) or saline before the session for 5 consecutive days. An additional group of rats was trained to self-administer IV cocaine (0.4 mg/kg per infusion) during the first 2 h of daily 7-h sessions. Cocaine was replaced by saline for the remaining 5 h of the session. Once behavior had stabilized over the 7-h period, priming injections of saline (IV), cocaine (3.2 mg/kg IV) or baclofen (1.25 or 2.5 mg/kg IP) were administered prior to hour 4. Injections of baclofen (1.25 or 2.5 mg/kg IP) or saline were also given before priming injections of cocaine. Results: Pretreatment with the two higher doses of baclofen (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) decreased the number of cocaine infusions in both maintenance groups (0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg) over the 5-day treatment period. Baclofen had a greater suppressant effect on responding maintained by the lower dose of cocaine. Priming injections of baclofen (1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg) or saline did not reinstate responding. However, these same doses of baclofen dose-dependently reduced the reinstatement of responding produced by priming injections of cocaine. Conclusions: 1) The magnitude of the suppressant effects of baclofen on maintenance of cocaine self-administration depends upon the maintenance dose, 2) baclofen may be useful in preventing reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior, and 3) compared to maintenance, reinstatement of responding is more sensitive to the suppressant effects of baclofen.
Sampling from a Triangular Population

Abstract The distributions of midrange, half-range, median and geometric mean of samples from a triangular population are derived. Mean, median, and midrange are compared as to their efficiency in estimating the single parameter of the population, which is the upper end of the range of the distribution. The best estimator of the parameter, however, is based on the maximum value in the sample, since it is derived from the likelihood function and is a sufficient statistic.
Implications of capacity reduction and entry in many-to-one stable matching

In two-sided many-to-one matching markets some mechanisms induce worse allocations for one side of the market following a capacity reduction on the other side. This prediction, however, is not true for all matching mechanisms. Assuming preferences are strict and responsive, we are able to provide comparative statistics involving subsets of agents on both sides of the market for all stable mechanisms. Within the larger domain of substitutable preferences capacity reductions may have ambiguous consequences. Nevertheless, if preferences satisfy the law of aggregate demand a similar result does hold. These results are an extension of the one-to-one results on entry of Roth and Sotomayor (Econometric Society Monographs No. 18, 1990) to many-to-one environments. Finally, we consider truncation strategies, and describe how agents may manipulate the matching process to their advantage, without knowing which stable mechanism is being used either by reporting a truncated preference or by shading capacity.
Ecological differentiation and local adaptation in two sister species of Neotropical Costus (Costaceae)

Reciprocal transplant experiments have often provided evidence of local adaptation in temperate plants, but few such studies have been conducted in the tropics. To enhance our knowledge of local adaptation in tropical plants, we studied natural populations of two recently diverged Neotropical plant species, Costus allenii and C. villosissimus, in central Panama. We found that these species display a parapatric distribution that reflects local environmental differences on a fine geographic scale: C. allenii is found along ravines in the understory of primary forest, while C. villosissimus is found along forest edges. Light availability was lower in C. allenii habitats, while precipitation and soil moisture were lower in C. villosissimus habitats. We carried out reciprocal transplant experiments with seeds and clones of mature plants to test the hypothesis that the parapatric distribution of these species is due to divergent adaptation to their local habitats. We found strong evidence of local adaptation, i...
Solution behavior of +4 cations in high silica melts: petrologic and geochemical implications

The saturation surfaces of rutile (TiO2), zircon (ZrSiO4), and hafnon (HfSiO4) were determined in anhydrous, peraluminous, high silica liquids of the system SiO2-Al2O3-Na2O-K2O as functions of silica concentration at 1,400° C in air. The saturation concentrations of TiO2, ZrO2, and HfO2 in rutile, zircon, and hafnon-saturated liquids, respectively, decrease smoothly and gradually as functions of increasing silica concentration. Thermodynamic analyses of the data demonstrate that the activity coefficients of TiO2, ZrO2, and HfO2 increase smoothly and gradually as silica concentration is increased from 67 wt-% to 80 wt-%, and that changes in SiO2 of 1 or 2 wt-% result in small changes in the saturation concentrations and activity coefficients of +4 cations. Because the solution behavior of +4 cations in highly siliceous liquids (>75 wt-% SiO2) is predictably different than in less siliceous liquids (70 to 75 wt-% SiO2), classification of highly-siliceous igneous rocks on the basis of silica concentration alone should not be interpreted to mean that their solution chemistry differs significantly from that of less siliceous rocks. The results of this study are compared with other studies of +4 cation solution behavior. From this it is concluded that variations in liquid compositions observed in cogenetic suites of high silica rhyolites cannot cause the observed changes in +4 cation concentrations. Thus, even if a large change in solution behavior of +4 cations is inferred from the large variations in their concentrations, it cannot be due to changes in bulk composition of the parental liquid. In addition, the similarity in the solution behavior of Zr and Hf seen in this study suggests that their solution mechanisms are similar. It is thus unlikely that liquid-state processes can fractionate one with respect to another, and variations in Zr/Hf ratios in suites of extrusive rocks are likely due to crystal-liquid equilibria, e.g., zircon fractionation.
Hierarchically constructed metal foam/polymer composite for high thermal conductivity

Abstract Most polymeric tribological components are inherently insulative, resulting in susceptibility to failure from frictional heating at the PV limit, which is typically reported as a product of the heat flux terms pressure (P) and sliding speed (V). This letter reports on the design of a tribological composite for increased thermal conductivity and PV limit. The control sample is an unfilled compositionally graded sample, consisting of a PEEK bulk with an integral PEEK/PTFE tribological solid lubricant surface layer. One composite sample is a compositionally graded PEEK bulk containing 10 vol.% aluminum foam, and the other is a 10 vol.% indium filled PEEK/PTFE bulk sample. Tribological experiments are conducted on a thrust washer tribometer instrumented with 13 thermocouples. At failure, the unfilled sample had a temperature rise of 170 K. Under the same conditions, the aluminum and indium filled samples had temperature rises of 37 K and 115 K, respectively. They also had 250% and 40% higher PV limits, respectively than the unfilled sample. As designed, the continuity of the aluminum foam was found to be substantially more effective than the particle dispersion of the indium at dissipating thermal energy.
The benefits of remote sensing for energy policy

Abstract A strong remote sensing regime is a necessary component of any contemporary national or international energy policy. Energy is essential to the functioning of modern industrial society, and as such it is the responsibility of governments to produce sound national energy policies in order to ensure stable economic growth, ecologically responsible use of energy resources and the health and safety of citizens. Comprehensive, accurate and timely remote sensing data can aid decision making on energy matters in several areas. This paper looks at the benefits that can be realized in resource exploration, weather forecasting and environmental monitoring. Improvements in the technology of remote sensing platforms would be of great value to buyers of energy, sellers of energy and the environment. Furthermore, the utility of such information could be enhanced by efforts of government agencies to communicate it more effectively to the end-user. National energy policies should thus include investments not only in satellite system hardware to collect data, but also in the services required to interpret and distribute the data.
Simultaneous determination of 5-fluorouracil and uracil by high-performance liquid chromatography using four serial columns

Abstract A sensitive assay was developed for the quantitation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and uracil using liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) and HPLC with UV detection. Analyses were performed with four μBondapak C18 columns connected in series using 20 mM acetic acid with 1% ACN as mobile phase. The calibration curves were linear across the range of 26–1000 ng ml−1 (0.21–7.8 μM) for 5-FU and 1.0–14.0 μg ml−1 (0.01–110 μM) for uracil. This assay has been implemented to determine the plasma concentrations for pharmacokinetic studies for 5-FU and uracil in conjunction with clinical trials.