cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DEC1 Negatively Regulates the Expression of DEC2 through Binding to the E-box in the Proximal Promoter

Abstract Human DEC (differentiallyexpressed in chondrocytes), mouse STRA (stimulated with retinoic acid), and rat SHARP (split and hairyrelated protein) proteins constitute a new and structurally distinct class of the basic helix-loop-helix proteins. In each species, two members are identified with a sequence identity of >90% in the basic helix-loop-helix region and ∼40% in the total proteins, respectively. Recently, we have reported that DEC1 is abundantly expressed in colon carcinomas but not in the adjacent normal tissues. The present study was undertaken to extend the expression study of DEC1 and to determine whether DEC1 and DEC2 had similar expression patterns among paired cancer-normal tissues from the colon, lung, and kidney. Without exceptions, DEC1 was markedly higher in the carcinomas, whereas the opposite was true with DEC2. In stable transfectants, tetracycline-induced expression of DEC1 caused proportional decreases in the expression of DEC2. Co-transfection with DEC1 repressed the activity of a DEC2 promoter reporter by as much as 90%. The repression was observed with wild type DEC1 but not its DNA binding-defective mutants. Studies with deletion and site-directed mutants located, in the proximal promoter, an E-box motif that supported the DEC1-mediated repression. Disruption of this E-box markedly abolished the ability of the reporter to respond to DEC1. Our findings assign for DEC1 the first target gene that is regulated through direct DNA binding. DEC/STRA/SHARP proteins are highly identical in the DNA binding domain but much more diverse in other areas. DEC1-mediated repression on the expression of DEC2 provides an important mechanism that these transcription factors regulate the cellular function not only by modulating the expression of their target genes but also the expression of members within the same class.
Heterotopic heart transplantation: catheterization, endomyocardial biopsy, and coronary angiography of the donor heart.

Follow-up after heart transplantation presently requires invasive techniques to assess graft viability and function. As the heterotopic transplant technique assumes a more important therapeutic role for patients not eligible for an orthotopic allograft, an understanding of the inherent challenges associated with management of these patients is mandatory to optimize patient care. Heterotopic transplant technique was used in 19 of 135 (14%) consecutive heart transplant procedures over a 41 month period. Invasive diagnostic procedures performed in follow-up revealed (1) adequate tissue for histologic evaluation in 140/158 (89%) biopsy procedures, (2) successful pulmonary wedge pressure measurements in 142/158 (90%) right heart catheterizations, and (3) successful coronary arteriography in 18 patients undergoing angiography (both vessels in 12 and one vessel in six patients). Thus, biopsy and surveillance procedures are feasible and productive in patients who have undergone heterotopic heart transplantation. Background: Although heterotopic heart transplantation has become an increasingly utilized therapy for some patients with heart failure, there are no guidelines for routine biopsy and angiographic techniques in these patients. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of angiographic and endomyocardial biopsy procedures in heterotopic heart transplant recipients. Methods: The complete experience with heterotopic heart transplant recipients at Baylor College of Medicine and The Methodist Hospital over a 41 month period including endomyocardial biopsy, right heart catheterization, and selective coronary arteriography results were analyzed. Results: Eighteen patients underwent 310 procedures without significant complications. Of 158 biopsy procedures, 140 (89%) yielded tissue adequate for histologic evaluation. Right heart pressures were obtained in almost all patients undergoing right heart catheterization. Pulmonary wedge pressures were obtained in 137 (90%). A rapid decrease in right heart pressures was noted following transplant; however, a gradual but significant rise in mean arterial pressure occurred. Eighteen selective coronary arteriogram procedures were performed; 12 (66%) resulted in successful cannulation of both coronary arteries. Of 12 patients followed for at least 1 year, five (40%) have developed evidence of allograft arteriopathy. The 1 and 2 year survival rates were 67% and 53%, respectively. Conclusions: Invasive diagnostic techniques can be performed safely and reliably and should not preclude the use of heterotopic heart transplantation in selected patients who are otherwise unsuitable for orthotopic transplantation. © 1994 Wiley-Liss,Inc..
Mode of failure in the dentin-adhesive resin–resin composite bonded joint as determined by strength-based (μTBS) and fracture-based (CNSB) mechanical testing

Abstract Objective: To determine the failure mode between dentin-adhesive resin–resin composite bonded joint produced with a chevron-notch short-bar (CNSB) and microtensile test methods. Methods: Forty teeth were randomly selected for microtensile and forty for CNSB specimen fabrication and stored in 0.5% chloramine T at 37°C until respective static load to failure testing at 30 and 180 days. Failure modes were categorized by SEM and tested with Fisher's exact test. Within respective mechanical testing methods the probability of failure curve distributions being significantly different were analyzed by the Wald chi-square statistic. Results: The characteristic fracture toughness at 30- and 180-day storage was 0.82 and 0.87 MPa m 1/2 , while the Weibull Modulus ( m ) for the failure distributions, was 4.60 and 4.56, respectively. No significant difference was demonstrated in the failure distributions between these groups ( p =0.45). The characteristic tensile strength (μTBS o ) at 30- and 180-day storage was 52.53 and 14.71 MPa with an m of 3.04 and 1.56, respectively. Failure distributions for μTBS groups were significantly different ( p K IvM failure modes, regardless of storage time, were within the adhesive joint with 30-day debonds primarily through the top region of the hybrid layer (THL) and after 180-days involving the bottom of the hybrid layer (BHL). The 30-day μTBS group demonstrated a propensity to debond in dentin or resin composite substrates but after 180-days storage debonds again involved the BHL. Significance: The weak links in the dentin-adhesive resin–resin composite bonded joint may be the interphase regions between the THL and the adhesive resin and the BHL and dentin.
Calculated properties for No X2 Π and A 2Σ+. II. Configuration interaction

Abstract Previous calculations on NO X 2 Π and A 2 Σ + have been extended by performing limited configuration interaction, increasing the basis set for the A state, and estimating the effect of vibrational motion. The direction of the ground state dipole moment is shown to be N - O + . For predicting spin density at the nucleus, limited C1 is shown to be an excellent approximation for states with only unpaired sigma electrons, but rather poor for states with unpaired pi electrons. For the A state, serious discrepancies are found between the theoretical and experimental values for the dipole moment and quadrupole coupling constant.
Quality assurance in the laboratory diagnosis of prostate cancer

Quality assurance in anatomic and clinical pathology plays a critical role in the management of patients with prostate cancer, integrating quality development, quality maintenance, and quality improvement to ensure valid test results. This report describes the current efforts to ensure and improve quality in the pathology laboratory as it relates to prostate cancer. Recent advances have been made by many regulatory groups to improve the quality of laboratory diagnosis in prostate cancer and other cancers. Advances include publication of practice protocols for prostate specimen handling and results reporting, comparative interlaboratory proficiency testing, and consensus on grading and diagnostic criteria. Despite these advances, numerous unsettled issues remain, including observer variability in pathologic staging and grading, lack of agreement on terminology, and interlaboratory reproducibility of assays, such as serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) determination. Current efforts in quality assurance in anatomic and clinical pathology are expected to improve the accuracy and validity of pathologic diagnosis, grading, staging, prediction of outcome in prostate cancer, and serum PSA assays. Cancer 1995 ;75 :1994-9.
Towards an understanding of the role of dopamine in the mammalian retina

The role of the neurotransmitter dopamine in visual processing in the mammalian retina is not known. We investigated the effects of the dopamine antagonists haloperidol and fluphenazine on the receptive field properties of rabbit ganglion cells. The results that we have obtained so far are limited to brisk cells and on-off directionally selective cells. The dopamine antagonists, in general, decreased the on responses of the cells while not affecting or slightly increasing the off responses. The results are described in relation to the known anatomy and pharmacology of the dopaminergic neurons of the retina.
Novel waveguide MSM photodetectors on SOI substrates using silicides

Novel Si waveguide MSM photodetector suitable for high speed/high quantum efficiency applications is proposed and demonstrated. Silicides are formed on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate through metal/Si reaction under heat treatment, in two areas separated by a narrow gap. The silicide sidewalls on the two sides of the narrow gap provide lateral waveguide confinement, and also serve as electrodes. The silicide/Si interface forms a Schottky junction, making the structure a MSM diode. The waveguide structure provides a long optical path length to increase the quantum efficiency at near infrared wavelengths. The distance between electrodes can be changed easily through photolithography, and can be made very small to reduce the transit time between electrodes for high-speed operation. Since the devices are made on SOI substrates, the drift component of the photocurrent can be eliminated, further facilitating high-speed operation. First set of photodetectors was made using PtSi on commercially available SOI substrates with 0.34micrometers Si layer. Initial experiments have demonstrated a responsivity of near 200mA/W at (lambda) equals980 nm for a detector with 486micrometers long electrodes and 2 micrometers gap size. The dark current was on the order of 0.1 nA/micrometers 2 at 5V bias.
Acidity status of surface waters in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Acid Rain Monitoring project surveyed 80.5% of the state's 5294 named water bodies between 1983 and 1985. PH and acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) were measured monthly the first 14 mo and semi-annually afterwards. Sample collection and analysis were performed by volunteers. The majority of surface waters in Massachusetts were found to be sensitive to possible long term acidification, with 63% exhibiting ANC less than 200 μeq L−1 and 22% with ANC less than 40 μeq L−1. Seasonal patterns in ANC were observed, the median ANC being 384 μeq L−1 in summer/fall and 134 μeq L−1 in winter/spring. Geographical differences were also found across the state: the streams and lakes with lowest pH and ANC were located in the southeastern and north-central parts of the state, while the most alkaline surface waters were found in the western-most part of the state, which is the only area of the state with significant limestone deposits.
Influence of elastic deformation of particles on Heckel analysis.

The Heckel equation is one of the most useful equations for describing the compaction properties of pharmaceutical powders. Important material properties (e.g., yield strength) of powders can be derived using Heckel analysis. Two types of Heckel analysis are in common use. One is the "out-of-die," or "zero-pressure" method, the other is the "in-die" or "at-pressure" method. Because particles undergo elastic deformation under pressure, which tends to lower the porosity of the powder bed, the "out-of-die" method describes powder consolidation and compaction more accurately than the "in-die" method. However, "in-die" Heckel analysis has been widely used because of the speed and ease of data collection. Using L-lysine monohydrochloride dihydrate as a model compound, this work analyzes quantitatively the effects of elastic deformation on the calculation of porosity of a tablet, and therefore on the Heckel analysis. The effects of a small change in porosity, epsilon, on Heckel analysis are presented mathematically. It is found that a decrease in porosity of 0.001, when the porosity is lower than 0.05, causes a significant increase in the value of -ln epsilon. Therefore, data at epsilon < 0.05 should be interpreted with caution when using Heckel analysis. Elastic deformation causes positive deviations in the Heckel plot, and therefore leads to a yield strength that is lower than the true value. The lower the elastic modulus of the powder, the greater is the deviation from the true value. Therefore, the "in-die" method gives values of yield strength that are significantly lower than the true values for most pharmaceutical powders.
Prolactin secretion preceding delayed pseudopregnancy in rats after electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus.

Delayed pseudopregnancy (PSP) was induced by electrical stimulation of the dorsomedial-ventromedial hypothalamus under two different experimental conditions. To induce long delay PSP, 4-day cycling rats were stimulated on the third day of pentobarbital blockade of ovulation. A similar stimulus on the afternoon of diestrus day 2 under pentobarbital resulted in short delay PSP. The parameters of electrical stimulation were as follows: biphasic 1-msec pulse pairs, 100 Hz, 200 μA peak to peak, 30/60 sec for 30 min. In animals stimulated on the third day of ovulation blockade, blood samples (<0.4 ml each; <3 samples/24 h-rat) were taken from a chronic intracardiac cannula to 0300, 0600, 0900,1200,1500,1800, or 2400 h for 3 days beginning on the morning after the stimulus. By contrast with sham-stimulated rats and stimulated rats continuing to cycle, those rats later manifesting PSP presented twice daily PRL surges similar to those of PSP at 0300–0600 and 1500–1800 h through the third day of the long delay inte...
A combined solid-state NMR and diffraction study of the structures and acidity of fluorinated aluminas: Implications for catalysis

We have investigated the structures of a series of pristine and Zn2+-impregnated aluminas following fluorination with HF, by using both solid-state NMR and X-ray powder diffraction methods. In the ...
El tema del linaje en el Estebanillo González: la ‘indignitas hominis’

El bufon, personaje al que los clasicos atribuian un origen mitologico,1 adquirio en la Edad Media europea gran importancia como elemento de la cultura popular, sobre todo como personaje caracteristico de la ‘cultura comica’,2 reflejada en el ambito carnavalesco. Su presencia, sin embargo, tambien se extiende a la Corte, donde lo hallamos ejerciendo las funciones de ‘clown’ y de consejero del rey. En la Peninsula Iberica la primera mencion del bufon se halla en el Libro de la nobleza y lealtad dedicado a Fernando III el Santo, donde el anonimo autor habla de un albardan, vocablo de origen arabe que desaparecio pronto para ser sustituido por el de truhan.3 En un contexto puramente literario-culto, poemas de escritores que alternaban su labor literaria con la de divertir al monarca y su corte fueron recogidos por vez primera en el Cancionero de Baena.4 Son varios los poeta-bufones con representacion en el Cancionero: Villasandino, Alfonso Ferrandes Semuel, el mismo Baena, entre otros. Sin embargo, la epoca ...
Farm Operator Adjustments and Neighboring at the Rural-Urban Interface

ABSTRACT This research examines how farmers are responding to some of the challenges associated with population growth and development at the rural-urban interface. A basic question is whether these challenges are associated with negative changes in the farm operation, such as land farmed or total sales. The study also examines differences in the problems experienced, adaptations, and neighboring practices of four different sets of farmers located at the interface (full-time, part-time, retiree, and hobby farmers). The analysis is based on mail survey data from 109 households in an eight-township region located in an Ohio metropolitan region. The analysis finds that farms in this region are generally adapting, and even expanding their operations, despite population growth and the difficulties of farming amidst nonfarmers. The analysis also finds that full-time operators most actively engage in neighboring with nonfarmers. Hobby farmers are least involved in neighboring. The analysis identifies several opp...
Comparison of Student Outcomes in a Campus and a Distributed Learning Class

Although interest and development of online and distributed learning (DL) has increased in recent years, the social work community has not fully embraced these formats. Many social work students are unable to commute to universities and DL education can provide degree options. A nonexperimental study using a convenience sample was done comparing student outcomes from campus and DL research methods classes with 44 students. Results indicated that final course scores did not statistically differ by course format. Results from this study confirm previous studies' conclusions that online and DL courses are an effective format for social work education.
Hypoxia and the vascular endothelium

Summary The vascular endothelium responds to a decrease in extracellular oxygen by expressing a specific set of proteins. At present, we know that this response can be erythropoietic, angiogenic and glycolytic. The cellular response to hypoxia has important implications for the medical management of cardiovascular and myocardial ischemia. Our new understanding of transcriptional regulation by hypoxia points to new opportunities for pharmacologic intervention in cardiovascular disease. Within this review, the recent discovery that hypoxia induces nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and the inducible cyclooxygenase is discussed as a template for future investigation.
Radioimmunoassay of Urinary Antidiuretic Hormone with Application to Study of the Brattleboro Rat

A sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for antidiuretic hormone (ADH) has been applied to the measurement of ADH excreted in the urine. ADH is extracted from urine and concentrated using cation exchange chromatography, with mean recovery through the procedure of 89.4% for 125I-LVP and 98.5% for unlabeled AVP. Urine specimens were collected from Long-Evans rats and rats of the Brattleboro strain which were either heterozygous or homozygous for diabetes insipidus (DI). Immunoassay and antidiuretic bioassay performed on aliquots of the same urine specimens were in excellent agreement. Under conditions of ad lib. fluid and food intake, mean urinary excretion of immunoreactive material was 4.5 mU/24 hr in normal rats, 2.3 mU/24 hr in heterozygous DI rats and 0.16 mU/24 hr in homozygous DI rats. There was a positive relationship between urinary ADH excretion and urine concentration and an inverse relationship between urinary ADH excretion and urine volume. During water deprivation, normal rats promptly incre...
Eyeglass: A color-corrected, large-aperture diffractive telescope

We demonstrate the fully color-corrected, near-diffraction limited operation of a large aperture (SO cm) diffractive telescope and present captured images of solar flares, sun spots, lunar surface and planets in the solar system using this telescope.
Geophysical characteristics of the hydrothermal systems of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii

Clues to the overall structure of Kilauea volcano can be obtained from spatial studies of gravity, magnetic, and seismic velocity variations. The rift zones and summit are underlain by dense, magnetic, high P-wave-velocity rocks at depths of about 2 km less. The gravity and seismic velocity studies indicate that the rift structures are broad, extending farther to the north than to the south of the surface features. The magnetic data give more definition to the rift structures by allowing separation into a narrow, highly-magnetized, shallow zone and broad, flanking, magnetic lows. The patterns of gravity, magnetic variations, and seismicity document the southward migration of the upper cast rift zone. Regional, hydrologic features of Kilauea can be determined from resistivity and self-potential studies. High-level groundwater exists beneath Kilauea summit to elevations of +800 m within a triangular area bounded by the west edge of the upper southwest rift zone, the east edge of the upper east rift zone, and the Koa'c fault system. High-level groundwater is present within the east rift zone beyond the triangular summit area. Self-potential mapping shows that areas of local heat produce local fluid circulation in the unconfined aquifer (water table). The dynamics of Kilauea eruptions are responsible for both the source of heat and the fracture permeability of the hydrothermal system. Shallow seismicity and surface deformation indicate that magma is intruding and that fractures are forming beneath the rift zones and summit area. Magma supply estimates are used to calculate the rate of heat input to Kilauea's hydrothermal systems. Heat flows of 370–820 mW/m2 are calculated from deep wells within the lower east rift zone. The estimated heat input rate for Kilauea of 9 gigawatts (GW) is at least 25 times higher than the conductive heat loss as estimated from the heat flow in wells extrapolated over the area of the summit caldera and rift zones. Heat must be dissipated by another mechanism, or the heat input rate estimates are much too high.
Brains, brawn and sociality: a hyaena’s tale

Theoretically intelligence should evolve to help animals solve specific types of problems posed by the environment, but it remains unclear how environmental complexity or novelty facilitates the evolutionary enhancement of cognitive abilities, or whether domain-general intelligence can evolve in response to domain-specific selection pressures. The social complexity hypothesis, which posits that intelligence evolved to cope with the labile behaviour of conspecific group-mates, has been strongly supported by work on the sociocognitive abilities of primates and other animals. Here we review the remarkable convergence in social complexity between cercopithecine primates and spotted hyaenas, and describe our tests of predictions of the social complexity hypothesis in regard to both cognition and brain size in hyaenas. Behavioural data indicate that there has been remarkable convergence between primates and hyaenas with respect to their abilities in the domain of social cognition. Furthermore, within the family Hyaenidae, our data suggest that social complexity might have contributed to enlargement of the frontal cortex. However, social complexity failed to predict either brain volume or frontal cortex volume in a larger array of mammalian carnivores. To address the question of whether or not social complexity might be able to explain the evolution of domain-general intelligence as well as social cognition in particular, we presented simple puzzle boxes, baited with food and scaled to accommodate body size, to members of 39 carnivore species housed in zoos and found that species with larger brains relative to their body mass were more innovative and more successful at opening the boxes. However, social complexity failed to predict success in solving this problem. Overall our work suggests that, although social complexity enhances social cognition, there are no unambiguous causal links between social complexity and either brain size or performance in problem-solving tasks outside the social domain in mammalian carnivores.
Design issues for a breast cancer chemoprevention trial

Abstract A design to evaluate the efficacy of tamoxifen as a chemopreventive agent for breast cancer in healthy, high-risk women is proposed. Factors to be considered include basic incidence rates in the general population, definition of high risk, screening efforts, sample size, and compliance to protocol. Assuming a breast cancer incidence of 3/1,000/year in women 50–59 years old with a first degree relative with breast cancer, we estimate that approximately 16,000 subjects would need to be randomized into a tamoxifen-placebo controlled trial to detect a 50% reduction in incidence. This assumes a 5% (two-sided) significance level and 90% power. Such a trial would need to be multicentered and might cost $64 million over a 5-year period.
A hazardous waste siting experience

Abstract This article describes experiences in attempting to conduct hazardous waste research at the pilot scale and the difficulties in finding an acceptable setting for the research. A description of events leading up to and the selection of the site for the USEPA Combustion Research Facility is presented.
Reduced-Order Models for a Shallow Curved Beam Under Combined Loading

Future U.S. Air Force vehicles require structures that can withstand extreme combined environments. Examples include vehicles exposed to launch, sustained hypersonic velocities, reentry, and stealthy aircraft with buried engines and ducted exhaust. Two of the many conditions that a structure in these environments will experience are elevated temperatures and high acoustic loading. Computational methods are needed to rapidly explore the design space for extreme environment structures. There has been a significant amount of work toward developing reduced-order modeling to address the issue of sonic fatigue. These methods have been demonstrated to be useful for predicting the geometric nonlinear response of aircraft structures to stochastic loading. Recent work also demonstrates that these methods are able to predict the response of planar structures in these combined environments. The present study demonstrates that the implicit condensation reduced-order modeling method can also be extended to curved structures experiencing combined thermal-acoustic loading with changing thermal conditions. Successful displacement and strain comparisons for a curved beam structure are made between results from a commercial finite element code and reduced-order models, using a single random pressure load (162 dB) and varying temperature cases.
Dependence of coal liquefaction behaviour on coal characteristics. 4. Cluster analyses for characteristics of 104 coals

Abstract In an extension of earlier work, the conversion of 104 high volatile bituminous coals at 400 °C with tetralin has been determined in duplicate with the aid of a new reactor system. For the whole set of coals, volatile matter and vitrinite reflectance have the highest correlation coefficients with conversion (0.85 and −0.84, respectively). However, tests showed that the sample set contained more than one population. Cluster analysis partitioned the set into three reasonably homogeneous populations. A factor representing sulphur content was the major contributor from a set of variables in separating the coals into groups, with smaller contributions from factors related to rank and petrographic composition. Each of the groups contained samples mostly from one geological province, but 11 coals of relatively high sulphur content from the Eastern province were clustered in a group that contained also 25 coals from the Interior province. The ranges of conversion are distinctly different for the three groups, and the three regression equations developed for correlating conversion each require a different set of coal properties. The possible general significance of the clustering of coals into groups as a novel basis for classification is discussed.
Gene flow among population of a teleost (painted greenling, Oxylebius pictus) from Puget Sound to southern California

Four geographic populations of the painted greenling Oxylebius pictus, a small cryptic reef fish of the western coast of North America, were examined for biochemical evidence of genetic differentiation. Painted greenlings in Puget Sound and those in central and southern California are similar by Nei's genetic identity (I=0.966 to 0.995); Fowever, other observations argue for genetic differentiation among the 4 populations. First, there are geographic differences in allelic frequencies at two loci (Est-3 and Pgm), with a geographic cline exhibited at the latter locus. Second, and most significant, two assayable loci are uniquely present in pairs of populations below Point Conception (G3pdh-3) and above Point Conception (Idh-3), respectively. Larval dispersal patterns are inferred from breeding times for the painted greenling and on patterns of currents off the western coast of North America. We believe that gene flow in this species is less across Point Conception than between Puget Sound, Washington, and Monterey, California, on the basis of these genetic data and the patterns of dispersal.
Jackson and the frontal executive hierarchy

Abstract Executive actions are represented and hierarchically organized in the cortex of the frontal lobe. The representation and coordination of an action or series of actions have the same anatomical substrate: an executive neuronal network (cognit) in forntal cortex. That network interacts structurally and dynamically with perceptual networks of posterior cortex at the highest levels of the perception–action cycle.
Temperature Control During Fibrillogenesis Allows for Improved Magnetic Alignment of Collagen

Osteoarthritis (OA), commonly known as ‘wear and tear’ in human joints, affects over 27 million people in the United States [1]. There is currently no encompassing solution for the regeneration of damaged articular cartilage. One potential solution involves the close emulation of the native structure of articular cartilage, with special consideration given to maintaining the distinct organized zonal ultrastructure, characterized by both random and highly aligned zones of collagen fibrils, in order to preserve mechanical and cell signaling properties of the extracellular matrix [2]. Techniques such as electrospinning achieve high degrees of alignment, but do so at the cost of denaturing the collagen molecule [3] that may lead to inferior cell recognition and mechanical strength.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A highly flexible, data intensive acquisition system for characterizing low-level decay events

Since the early 1970’s, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has maintained a low-level decay, multi-channel counting facility for measuring environmental samples and for pulse distribution studies tied to the behavior of proportional and Geiger-Muller detectors. Pulses have been time stamped and sorted using a hard-wired digital logic interface to discriminate coincidence, anticoincidence, guard and test pulse events; to digitize the pulse-height and rise-time; to monitor specific characteristics of intra-channel and inter-channel events; and to measure microsecond timing between any two events. To enhance event characterization, a computer-based waveform analyzer was added in 1985 to digitize individual pulses. In 2002, a next-generation low-level counting (NG-LLC) system was developed using commercial off-the-shelf electronics. The objective of this paper is to describe the key components of the NG-LLC system. Many of the event parameters previously determined by inflexible digital logic are now calculated in software.
Analysis of food away from home expenditures by meal occasion

This study examines the effect of sociodemographic and economic factors on food away from home (FAFH) expenditures by meal occasion. Results generally suggest that Western, smaller, white, higher income households without children and with a higher number of earners spend more on breakfast away from home than do others. Larger households with higher number of earners and headed by an individual with a high school degree and of other race spend more on lunch away from home than do others. White, better educated, higher income households with higher number of earners and without children spend more on dinner away from home than do others. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Abstract 2819: Role of endothelin 3 in melanoma progression and metastasis.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC G-protein coupled receptors have been identified as important factors in melanoma progression including growth and proliferation of tumorigenic cells, as well as facilitating metastasis. Upregulation of the G-protein coupled receptor Endothelin receptor b (Ednrb) and its ligand Endothelin 3 (Edn3) has been implicated in melanoma progression in several ‘in vitro’ experiments. In this study we investigated the putative role of Edn3 over-expression in melanoma progression in vivo. Tg(Grm1) Epv mice over-expressing metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (Grm1) under the Dopachrome tautomerase promoter that spontaneously produce melanocytic lesions in the ears and tails with limited metastatic capability, were crossed with transgenic mice that over-express Edn3 under the keratin 5 promoter (K5-Edn3). The Tg(Grm1)Epv/K5-Edn3 mice tumors appeared ∼ 3 months earlier and grew at a rate 3-4 times faster than the Tg(Grm1)/Epv control mice. Ninety-five percent of Dct-Grm1/ K5-Edn3 mice also displayed pigmented lesions in distant organs such as the lungs. Real Time PCR analysis showed higher expression levels of angiogenic related genes such as Hif-1α in the Dct-Grm1/K5-Edn3mice, when compared to controls. Our studies demonstrate that Edn3 over-expression enhances melanoma progression to a fully malignant state. Our preliminary data also suggests that Edn3 may be involved in tumor angiogenesis leading to faster melanoma tumor development. Citation Format: Nikeisha L. Chin, Juan Carlos Gallegos, Rosy Cruz, Ruslan Garcia, Andrea Gonzalez, Manuel Borobia, Lidia Kos. Role of endothelin 3 in melanoma progression and metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2819. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2819 Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013 because the presenter was unable to attend.
Morbidity of Ostomy Takedown

Creation of a temporary ostomy is a surgical tool to divert stool from a more distal area of concern (anastomosis, inflammation, etc). To provide a true benefit, the morbidity/mortality from the ostomy takedown itself should be minimal. The aim of our study was therefore to evaluate our own experience and determine the complications and mortality of stoma closure in relation to the type and location of the respective ostomy. Patients undergoing an elective takedown of a temporary ostomy at our teaching institution between January 1999 and July 2005 were included in our analysis, and the medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Excluded were only patients with relevant chart deficiencies and nonelective stoma revisions/takedowns. Data collected included general demographics; the type and location of the stoma; the operative technique; and the type, timing, and impact of complications. Perioperative morbidity was defined as complications occurring within 30 days from the operation. 156 patients (median age 45 years, range 18–85) were included in the analysis: 31 loop and 59 end colostomy reversals and 56 loop and 10 end ileostomy takedowns. Mean follow-up was 6 months. The overall mortality rate was low (0.65%, 1/156 patients). However, the morbidity rate was 36.5% (57 patients), with 6 (3.8%) systemic complications and 51 (32.7%) local complications. Minor would infection (34 patients, 21.8%) and postoperative ileus (9 patients, 5.7%) were the most common surgery-related complications, but they generally resolved with conservative management. Anastomotic leak and formation/persistence of an enterocutaneous fistula (6 patients, 3.8%) were the most serious local complications and required reintervention in all of the patients. Closure of a loop colostomy accounted for half and Hartmann reversals for one third of these complications, as opposed to ileostomy takedowns, which accounted for only one sixth (1.8% absolute risk). Takedown of a temporary ostomy has a low mortality but a nonnegligible morbidity. The stoma location (large vs. small bowel) has a higher impact than the type of stoma construction (end vs. loop) on the incidence and severity of complications.
Better Codes via Fire Technology

This paper provides an illustration of the concept of how fire tech nology may be used to determine the combustion characteristics of building products in laboratory-scale tests and, in turn, through the use of computer models, to predict the hazard that such products could generate in a specific fire scenario. By using this technology, building code requirements may be written which better differentiate a group of building products and provide a greater degree of protection for life and property in a given occupancy.The products chosen for this study are used for internal wall coverings and in clude four varieties of molded plastic panels and one woven fabric. The fire hazard assessment model was validated by comparing results predicted from the assessment model with observed results from a full-scale test. An example is given of how new building code requirements may be written for these prod ucts, reflecting the new technology.
Pubertal augmentation in juvenile rhesus monkey testosterone production induced by invariant gonadotropin stimulation is inhibited by estrogen.

Context: Experimental and epidemiological studies have indicated the adverse impact of changing estrogen [17-estradiol (E2)] milieu or of endocrine disrupters on testis development and function. Objective: This study examines the direct impact of elevated E2 levelsongonadotropin-inducedpubertaltestisdevelopmentandfunction in the primate. Design: Juvenile monkeys, which have characteristically little endogenous gonadotropin secretion, were treated with pulsatile infusions of recombinant monkey (rm) FSH (rmFSH) and LH (rmLH) in the presence (experiment 1, 100 pg/ml for about 15–20 wk; experiment 2, 400 pg/ml for about 5 wk) or absence (control group) of elevated E2 in the circulation. Changes in circulating concentrations of E2, gonadotropins, testosterone (T), and inhibin B were monitored throughout the study. The number of Leydig cells per testis was determined after immunohistochemical staining for 3- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in experiment 2. Results: Exogenous gonadotropin treatment produced physiological, episodic, and similar circulating concentrations of FSH and LH in both groups. Exposure to approximately 100 pg/ml of E2 appeared to blunt testicular T production. Exposure to approximately 400 pg/ml of E2 led to a significant (75%) inhibition of T production together with a marked (40%) decrease in Leydig cell numbers per testis and a notable inhibition in the growth of the testis. In contrast, E2 exposure had little effect on inhibin B production. Conclusions:ThedirecttesticularimpactofelevatedE2isonLeydig cell number, T production, and testicular growth, but not on inhibin B production. This experimental paradigm provides a powerful primate model for the examination of the direct impact of E2 or other endocrine disrupters on pubertal testicular development. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90: 5866–5875, 2005)
Thrombospondin-1 supports blood pressure by limiting eNOS activation and endothelial-dependent vasorelaxation.

Aims Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1), via its necessary receptor CD47, inhibits nitric oxide (NO)-stimulated soluble guanylate cyclase activation in vascular smooth muscle cells, and TSP1-null mice have increased shear-dependent blood flow compared with wild-type mice. Yet, the endothelial basement membrane should in theory function as a barrier to diffusion of soluble TSP1 into the arterial smooth muscle cell layer. These findings suggested that endothelial-dependent differences in blood flow in TSP1-null mice may be the result of direct modulation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) activation by circulating TSP1. Here we tested the hypothesis that TSP1 inhibits eNOS activation and endothelial-dependent arterial relaxation. Methods and results Acetylcholine (ACh)-stimulated activation of eNOS and agonist-driven calcium transients in endothelial cells were inhibited by TSP1. TSP1 also inhibited eNOS phosphorylation at serine1177. TSP1 treatment of the endothelium of wild-type and TSP1-null but not CD47-null arteries inhibited ACh-stimulated relaxation. TSP1-null vessels demonstrated greater endothelial-dependent vasorelaxation compared with the wild type. Conversely, TSP1-null arteries demonstrated less vasoconstriction to phenylephrine compared with the wild type, which was corrected upon inhibition of eNOS. In TSP1-null mice, intravenous TSP1 blocked ACh-stimulated decreases in blood pressure, and both intravenous TSP1 and a CD47 agonist antibody acutely elevated blood pressure in mice. Conclusion TSP1, via CD47, inhibits eNOS activation and endothelial-dependent arterial relaxation and limits ACh-driven decreases in blood pressure. Conversely, intravenous TSP1 and a CD47 antibody increase blood pressure. These findings suggest that circulating TSP1, by limiting endogenous NO production, functions as a pressor agent supporting blood pressure.
Effects of isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, and polyethylene glycol/industrial methylated spirits in the treatment of acute phenol burns.

Study objective: To compare the effects of water rinse with those of isopropyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol with industrial methylated spirits, or ethanol on cutaneous phenol burns. Design: Controlled trial with all animals receiving all treatments applied to different cutaneous phenol burn sites. Type of participants: Swine weighing 9 to 18 kg. Interventions: In phase 1, each burn site was treated with water rinse for zero, one, or five minutes combined with either isopropyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol with industrial methylated spirits, ethanol, or no other treatment. Biopsies of treatment sites were done at 30 minutes and at 48 hours. In phase 2, a pilot study, the effect of isopropyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol with industrial methylated spirits, or water treatment on serum phenol levels was noted in animals with 5%, 10%, and 15% body surface area burns. Measurements and main results: In phase 1, on histological examination of biopsy specimens, significant differences in tissue damage occurred among the groups ( P Conclusion: Isopropyl alcohol and polyethylene glycol with industrial methylated spirits are equally effective in the amelioration of phenol burns of less than 5% total surface area. The wider availability of isopropyl alcohol makes it potentially the most useful treatment for these small burns. Further studies of its risks are needed.
Yokonolide B, a Novel Inhibitor of Auxin Action, Blocks Degradation of AUX/IAA Factors

Yokonolide B (YkB; also known as A82548A), a spiroketal-macrolide, was isolated from Streptomyces diastatochromogenes B59 in a screen for inhibitors of β-glucoronidase expression under the control of an auxin-responsive promoter in Arabidopsis. YkB inhibits the expression of auxin-inducible genes as shown using native and synthetic auxin promoters as well as using expression profiling of 8,300 Arabidopsis gene probes but does not affect expression of an abscisic acid- and a gibberellin A3-inducible gene. The mechanism of action of YkB is to block AUX/IAA protein degradation; however, YkB is not a general proteasome inhibitor. YkB blocks auxin-dependent cell division and auxin-regulated epinastic growth mediated by auxin-binding protein 1. Gain of function mutants such as shy2-2, slr1, and axr2-1 encoding AUX/IAA transcriptional repressors and loss of function mutants encoding components of the ubiquitin-proteolytic pathway such as axr1-3 and tir1-1, which display increased AUX/IAAs protein stability, are less sensitive to YkB, although axr1 and tir1 mutants were sensitive to MG132, a general proteasome inhibitor, consistent with a site of action downstream of AXR1 and TIR. YkB-treated seedlings displayed similar phenotypes as dominant AUX/IAA mutants. Taken together, these results indicate that YkB acts to block AUX/IAA protein degradation upstream of AXR and TIR, links a shared element upstream of AUX/IAA protein stability to auxin-induced cell division/elongation and to auxin-binding protein 1, and provides a new tool to dissect auxin signal transduction.
Efficient detection of a locally stable predicate in a distributed system

We present an efficient approach to detect a locally stable predicate in a distributed computation. Examples of properties that can be formulated as locally stable predicates include termination and deadlock of a subset of processes. Our algorithm does not require application messages to be modified to carry control information (e.g., vector timestamps), nor does it inhibit events (or actions) of the underlying computation. The worst-case message complexity of our algorithm is O(n(m+1)), where n is the number of processes in the system and m is the number of events executed by the underlying computation. We show that, in practice, its message complexity should be much lower than its worst-case message complexity. The detection latency of our algorithm is O(d) time units, where d is the diameter of communication topology. Our approach also unifies several known algorithms for detecting termination and deadlock. We also show that our algorithm for detecting a locally stable predicate can be used to efficiently detect a stable predicate that is a monotonic function of other locally stable predicates.
Using Multiclass Machine Learning Methods to Classify Malicious Behaviors Aimed at Web Systems

The number of vulnerabilities and attacks on Web systems show an increasing trend and tend to dominate on the Internet. Furthermore, due to their popularity and users ability to create content, Web 2.0 applications have become particularly attractive targets. These trends clearly illustrate the need for better understanding of malicious cyber activities based on both qualitative and quantitative analysis. This paper is focused on multiclass classification of malicious Web activities using three supervised machine learning methods: J48, PART, and Support Vector Machines (SVM). The empirical analysis is based on data collected in duration of nine months by a high interaction honey pot consisting of a three-tier Web system, which included Web 2.0 applications (i.e., a blog and wiki). Our results show that supervised learning methods can be used to efficiently distinguish among multiple vulnerability scan and attack classes, with high recall and precision values for all but several very small classes. For our dataset, decision tree based methods J48 and PART perform slightly better than SVM in terms of overall accuracy and weighted recall. Additionally, J48 and PART require less than half of the features (i.e., session attributes) used by SVM, as well as they execute much faster. Therefore, they seem to be clear methods of choice.
Length scale dependence of the dynamic properties of hyaluronic acid solutions in the presence of salt.

In solutions of the charged semirigid biopolymer hyaluronic acid in salt-free conditions, the diffusion coefficient D{sub NSE} measured at high transfer momentum q by neutron spin echo is more than an order of magnitude smaller than that determined by dynamic light scattering, D{sub DLS}. This behavior contrasts with neutral polymer solutions. With increasing salt content, D{sub DLS} approaches D{sub NSE}, which is independent of ionic strength. Contrary to theoretical expectation, the ion-polymer coupling, which dominates the low q dynamics of polyelectrolyte solutions, already breaks down at distance scales greater than the Debye-Hueckel length.