cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Segregation and recombination of Solanum brevidens synteny groups in progeny of somatic hybrids with S. tuberosum: intragenomic equals or exceeds intergenomic recombination.

The Solanum brmidens genome (2 n = 2 x = 24) was examined with randomly applied polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers in a second backcross population derived from a S. brevidens + S. tuberosum somatic hybrid. RAPD markers cosegregated into 12 different S. brevidens synteny groups. Most synteny groups were nonrecombinant. However, nearly 40% of the S. brevidens synteny groups detected in this population were recombinant deletions that carried at least one, but not all, synteny group-specific RAPD markers. All S. brevidens synteny groups (except chromosome 5) were involved in recombination, and recombination occurred within most intervals between markers. About 20% of the recombinant S. brevidens synteny groups involved a single synteny group-specific marker. The inheritance of some single-marker representatives was followed in four BC 3 families. At least nine changes in S. brevidens synteny groups had occurred during backcrossing. Six of the nine changes involved translocation of S. brevidens markers between nonhomologous S. brevidens chromosomes, and three S. brevidens markers may have been introgressed into the potato genome.
Utility of ultrasonography in the triage of patients in the disaster setting: A preliminary study

Study objectives: We determine whether focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST) might be a useful adjunct to simple triage and rapid treatment (START) in further triaging victims already classified as delayed. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of all adult trauma patients evaluated by the trauma surgery service at a Level I trauma center between January 1 and December 31, 2003. All patients requiring trauma surgery evaluation were deemed nonambulatory. Patients with initial respiratory rate greater than 30 breaths/min, systolic blood pressure less than 80 mm Hg, or Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13 or less were categorized as Immediate (Red). Individuals with a GCS score of 8 or less were categorized as Expectant (Black). All other patients were categorized as Delayed (Yellow). FAST results were obtained from the medical records. Under circumstances in which only abdominal computed tomography (CT) was obtained, results were extrapolated to a positive FAST if free fluid was noted in the abdomen, or more than a "trivial" pericardial effusion was noted. If FAST and CT results conflicted, the FAST results were used for the purpose of this study. Results: Five hundred of the 773 adult patients had either FAST, abdominal CT, or both recorded. The remainder of patients presented with isolated head injuries, orthopedic injuries, or penetrating trauma. Five of the 500 patients had data missing that precluded START classification. Forty-one (11.2%) of 367 Yellow patients had a positive FAST, whereas 11 (8.6%) of 128 Red/Black patients had a positive FAST ( P =.41, OR 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.64 to 2.86). Pulse rate 110 beats/min or greater was not significantly associated with a positive FAST in either Yellow-triaged ( P =.74, OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.28 to 2.42) or Red/Black-triaged ( P =.48, OR 1.59, 95% CI 0.36 to 6.63) patients. Conclusion: Use of FAST ultrasonography might have detected 41 patients with intra-abdominal injury, potentially changing their triage level and expediting their care. No significant difference was noted between positive FAST rates in Red/Black-triaged and Yellow-triaged patients. Tachycardia in any triage category did not predict the presence of a positive FAST examination.
Fusogenic Activity of EFF-1 Is Regulated via Dynamic Localization in Fusing Somatic Cells of C. elegans

Abstract Background: Many animal tissues form via fusion of cells. Yet in all instances of developmental cell fusion, the mechanism underlying fusion of plasma membranes remains poorly understood. EFF-1 is required for most somatic cell fusions in C. elegans , and misexpressed EFF-1 alters the normal pattern of fusing hypodermal cells. However, the autonomous activity of EFF-1, the rules governing its specificity, and the mechanism of its action have not been examined. Results: We show that EFF-1 acts as a cellular fusogen, capable of inducing fusion of virtually any somatic cells in C. elegans , yet targeted precisely to fusion-fated contacts during normal development. Misexpression of EFF-1 in early embryos causes fusion among groups of cells composed entirely of nonfusion-fated members. Measurements of cytoplasm diffusion in induced fusion events show that ectopic EFF-1 expression produces fusion pores similar to those in normal fusion events. GFP-labeled EFF-1 is specifically targeted to fusion-competent cell contacts via reciprocal localization to the touching membranes of EFF-1-expressing cells. EFF-1 function is also governed by intercellular barriers that prohibit cell fusion between distinct tissues. Analysis of mutant versions of EFF-1 indicates a novel mode of fusogenicity, employing neither a phospholipase active site nor hydrophobic fusion-peptide acting solely in pore formation. Conclusions: EFF-1 can confer potent fusogenic activity to nonfusing cell types. However, it is normally targeted only to fusion-fated cell borders via mutual interaction between EFF-1-expressing cells and relocalization to the plasma membrane. Because EFF-1 appears evolutionarily unique to nematodes, multiple mechanisms may have evolved for controlled plasma-membrane fusion in development.
A comparison of the resources and concerns of the Polish and indigenous aged in Britain

This exploratory research examined several aspects of quality of life of Polish and indigenous aged in Britain. Data analyzed from interviews with 33 Polish immigrants and 78 indigenous persons 65 years of age or over indicated that the salience of World War II more often lingered into later life for the former. The Polish experienced less life satisfaction, were more troubled by worries, drew confidants primarily from family, and reported poorer health. Despite these difficulties, they tended to sustain higher self-concepts. Implications for practice are noted.
Measuring change in small-scale transit accessibility with geographic information systems: Buffalo and Rochester, New York

A new method has been developed to measure directly changes in transit accessibility—the combined spatial effect of shifts in land use patterns and transit service—between metropolitan jobs and census tracts with high proportions of the people who most depend on good transit. Through focused analysis of transit routes serving one neighborhood in Buffalo and one neighborhood in Rochester, New York, two main questions are addressed. First, did transit-dependent poor people who lived in inner-city neighborhoods lose capacity to access jobs by transit during the 1990s? Second, if so, how much of the reduction in accessibility was due to changes in transit service rather than to dispersion of land use? Steps include formulating a gravity model using geographic information systems (GISs), calculating an accessibility index at two times during the 1990s at the census tract level, and disaggregating the accessibility change into subcomponents of change in land use and change in transit service by holding relevant...
The transfer of antigen-specific humoral immunity from marrow donors to marrow recipients.

This study shows that specific humoral immunity could be transferred from marrow donors to marrow recipients. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from long-term human marrow recipients produced IgG anti-tetanus toxoid antibody afterin vitro tetanus toxoid stimulation. Antitetanus toxoid antibody biosynthesis was induced using a new tetanus toxoid-specific system employing high lymphocyte numbers, many replicate microcultures, and antigen washout. Anti-tetanus toxoid antibody in 12-day culture supernatants was detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of 14 marrow recipients, 6 (5 with and 1 without chronic graft-vs-host disease) had lymphocytes that produced anti-tetanus toxoid antibody. Culturing additional numbers of marrow recipient lymphocytes increasedin vitro biosynthesis of anti-tetanus toxoid antibody. The presence of circulating serum antibodies to tetanus toxoid and the production of specific anti-tetanus toxoid antibody by peripheral blood lymphocytes from marrow recipients show that engrafted donor lymphocytes can producein vitro specific antibodies to recall antigens without postgrafting reimmunization.
Sex Pheromone Specificity: Taxonomic and Evolutionary Aspects in Lepidoptera

Sex pheromone specificity is the only obvious reproduction isolating mechanism for two tortricid species and two gelechiid species. Pheromones of the gelechiid species are cis-9-tetradecenyl acetate and trans-9-tetradecenyl acetate. Male response of one gelechiid species is inhibited by the pheromone of the other species. This could be important for sympatric evolutionary saltation.
Primary structure of a chymotryptic peptide containing the "active serine" of the thioesterase domain of fatty acid synthase.

Abstract “Active serine” of the thioesterase domain of fatty acid synthase from the goose uropygial gland was selectively labeled with [1,3- 3 H]diisopropylfluorophosphate and the chymotryptic peptide containing this active serine was purified to homogeneity by a combination of gel filtration, cation exchange chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. The primary structure of this active site peptide, Ser-Phe-Gly-Ala-Cys-Val-Ala-Phe, is remarkably homologous to the “active serine” containing peptide of human plasmin.
Formation and distribution of gas-oil accumulations in the Paleozoic subsalt deposits of the northern marginal zone of the Caspian depression

We consider the formation and distribution of the gas--oil (gas-condensate) accumulations in the upper Paleozoic subsalt deposits of the northern marginal zone of the Caspian depression. On the basis of a detailed analysis of the geological, geochemical, and other conditions of preservation and conversion of the disseminated organic matter (DOM), we conclude that the principal sources of the hydrocarbons (HC) are the Devonian--Middle Carboniferous oil-source sequences. A result of the complex (stepped) migration of the hydrocarbons from these deposits, accumulations of oil and gas (gas-condensate) were formed in the Middle Carboniferous--Lower Permian deposits. From factual geological--geophysical and geochemical data, and also the results of sampling deep exploratory wells (the West Teplovo area), there is a possibility of discovering tectonically screened deposits of oil and gas in the marginal sectors of the basin, confined to the sunken blocks of structures and associated with faults in the subsalt Paleozoic sequence.
Skeletal muscle “mitochondrial deficiency” does not mediate insulin resistance

Patients with type 2 diabetes, insulin-resistant obese individuals, and insulin-resistant offspring of patients with diabetes have approximately 30% less mitochondria in their skeletal muscles than age-matched healthy controls. It has been hypothesized that this "deficiency" of mitochondria mediates insulin resistance by impairing the ability of muscle to oxidize fatty acids (FAs). However, a 30% decrease in mitochondria should not impair the ability of muscle to oxidize FAs because the capacity of muscle to oxidize substrate is far in excess of what is needed to supply energy in the basal state, ie, in resting muscle. In pathologic states in which mitochondrial content/function is so severely impaired as to limit substrate oxidation in resting muscle, glucose uptake and insulin action are actually enhanced. Recent studies have shown that feeding rodents high-fat diets and raising FA concentrations results in muscle insulin resistance despite an increase muscle mitochondria that enhances the capacity for fat oxidation. Furthermore, it was recently shown that skeletal muscle mitochondrial capacity for oxidative phosphorylation in Asian Indians with type 2 diabetes is the same as in nondiabetic Indians and higher than in healthy European Americans. In light of this evidence, it seems highly unlikely that "mitochondrial deficiency" causes muscle insulin resistance.
Kinetic models of glycogen metabolism in normal rat liver, morris Hepatom 7787 and host liver

Abstract 1. 1. Consistent with data on metabolite concentration and flux, kinetic models have been constructed for normal rat liver, well differentiated Hepatoma 7787 and host liver. 2. 2. To mimic the experimental conditions (feeding), an external flux of glucose was imposed on the models in order to produce the metabolite accumulation patterns observed. 3. 3. Glycogen synthetase is the critical enzyme which it is both necessary and sufficient to perturb in order to change the model of normal liver into the models of host liver and Hepatoma 7787. 4. 4. A decrease of 12-fold and 62-fold, respectively, in the activity of this enzyme gives output simulating the data for host liver and Hepatoma 7787. 5. 5. Such a decreased activity of glycogen synthetase in the hepatoma model is consistent with the literature. 6. 6. However, other changes have also been observed in this and other slowly growing tumors: (a) a decrease in glucokinase activity and an increase in hexokinase activity: (b) a lack of response of glycogen levels to feeding; (c) an increase in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and (d) a decrease in glycogen phosphorylase activity. 7. 7. Incorporation of the first three changes in the hepatoma model made remarkably little difference in the output. However, the rate of glycogen degradation, catalyzed by glycogen phosphorylase, must remain unchanged (assuming a 3-fold increase in glycogen levels on feeding) or be increased 50-fold (assuming no response to feeding). 8. 8. Hence, the flux of glycogen degradation appears to be the same or higher in the hepatoma as compared to normal liver.
Emigration Dynamics In South Asia.

This paper describes the six research monographs that were presented at the Emigration Dynamic Workshops in South Asia in September 1996. Research reports were presented by Associate Professor Nasra Shah on an overview of emigration dynamics Dr. Godfrey Gunatilleke on the role of networks and community structures in migration from Sri Lanka Dr. Raisul Awal Mahmood on illegal migration from Bangladesh to Singapore Kuala Lumpur Bangkok and Delhi due to desperate poverty Dr. Farooq-i-Azam on high and low labor-sending migration districts in Pakistan Dr. Mahendra K. Premi on the impact of internal Indian migration on international migration and Dr. P.R. Gopinathan Nair on emigration from Kerala India to the Middle East. Representatives of South Asian governments discussed the implications of the research findings. Pakistans representative urged cooperation and joint strategies among labor-sending countries. He cautioned that income and remittance estimates were unstable and unrealistic for inclusion in economic development plans. The Indian representative noted that although Indian emigration is low it is highly visible in the press. He agreed with the suggestion for greater cooperation between sending countries. The Bangladesh representative stated that the country needed to locate new markets for Bangladeshi emigrants to guarantee the rights of emigrant workers and to prevent trafficking in illegal migrant workers. Three major topics were discussed in the workshop session on the implementation of programs based on research findings. Workshop participants recommended updated information on migration trends updated information on labor markets in receiving countries formal and regular policy dialogue between sending countries and promotion of continuing research by the International Organization on Migration.
The Guru in Hindu Tradition

A striking perception for a student of religions is the universal insistence that instruction by an adept teacher is necessary for development in the spiritual life. This insistence is especially vivid with regard to the guru in the traditions of Hinduism. With the variety implicit in Hindu social and religious life and with the lack of an unified hierarchical organization, the individual guru as religious teacher plays an important role in the transmission and development of the Hindu religious tradition, from the passing on of religious knowledge to being himself a locus for worship. It is a general Hindu belief that only through evolution (karma and reincarnation) and through education within the guru system is a person perfectible. For Hindus, religion is manifested or embodied in the continuing, successive presence of the guru. It is the guru who reveals the meaning of life; he is the immediate, incarnate exemplar in life, and as such, the guru is an inspirational source for the Hindu. The basic strengths of the guru's role are such that guruhood is the oldest form of religious education still extant. An understanding of guruhood, therefore, is of paramount importance in any consideration of the Hindu traditions. The pan-Indian, Sanskrit term "guru" has a cluster of meanings with significance beyond that of the English translation, "teacher." Gu means "ignorance" and ru, "dispeller." The guru is a dispeller of ignorance, all kinds of ignorance; thus, there are gurus not only for specifically spiritual development but also for dancing, music, wrestling, and other skills. The term "guru" also means "heavy" or "weighty" and might well illustrate the belief that accomplished or holy persons are characterized by an uncommon weight. Jan Gonda states that "it must primarily have described the man who on account of his
Expansions and Contractions of Major US Shopping Centers

We analyze the determinants of expansions and contractions of shopping centers using a unique dataset of property level data for shopping centers in eleven metropolitan areas over the period from 1995 through 2005. We find that shopping centers with large operating costs are less likely to expand and are more likely to contract. Higher expected revenue per square foot increases the likelihood of expansion and decreases the likelihood of contraction. For small shopping centers the decision to change gross leasable area (GLA) is largely driven by potential revenue, while the decision to change the number of stores is largely a function of cost. We find some support for Grenadier’s theory that a larger number of competitors reduces the value of option to wait and increases the likelihood of both expansion and contraction. The market share of competitors reduces the likelihood of increasing the number of stores as suggested by the theory of strategic positioning. Our hypotheses best explain contraction decisions of large shopping centers and expansion decisions of small shopping centers. We find that both expansions and contractions of GLA are less likely for large shopping centers in MSAs with greater uncertainty about real estate prices, indicating that the option to delay has value. Moreover, small centers are significantly less sensitive to cost and revenue; since small centers are likely to have greater idiosyncratic risk than large; this provides indirect evidence for a significant delay option.
A COMPARISON OF PLASMA MEMBRANE, CYTOMEMBRANES, AND MITOCHONDRIAL MEMBRANE ELEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO ULTRASTRUCTURAL FEATURES.

The dimensions and structural patterns of certain cellular membranes have been compared both in osmium-fixed and potassium permanganate-fixed, Vestopal-embedded mouse kidney and pancreas tissue. The cellular membranes analyzed so far can be grouped into three different classes with respect to dimensions. The thinnest membranes measured 50 A in total thickness in osmium-fixed material and 60 A in potassium permanganate-fixed tissue. The mitochondrial membrane elements and the α -cytomembranes belong to this category of membranes. The thickest membranes measure 90–100 A in thickness and are represented by the plasma membrane and the membrane surrounding the zymogen granules. Smooth-surfaced cytomembranes in the kidney and Golgi membranes belong to a category of membranes measuring 60 A in osmium-fixed and 70–80 A in potassium permanganate-fixed tissue. The relative thicknesses of the membranes were estimated in pictures where different membranes were located side by side, and the differences were expressed as percentages. The geometrically asymmetric pattern of the plasma membrane and the globular pattern in mitochondrial membrane elements and in smooth-surfaced cytomembranes are interpreted to indicate structural differences between these types of membranes. It is concluded that various types of membranes can differ basically with respect to structure as well as chemical composition.
An improved method for determining the wear of polymeric coatings

Abstract A modification on the Taber Abrader is described in which a 1 4 in steel ball is substituted for the conventional sandpaper wheel. As a result, the endpoint of the test becomes much clearer and the test data are suitable for quantitative interpretation. The modified test is applicable not only to high pressure laminates but also to a wide variety of plastics and coatings. Further modifications are proposed to convert the wear path to a straight line instead of the circle found on the Taber Abrader and to increase the load on the ball. These changes are expected to make the testing time comparable to the present sandpaper wheel method.
Anti-carcinogenic properties of omeprazole against human colon cancer cells and azoxymethane-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci formation in rats.

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor, a widely used drug to treat ulcers and gastroesophageal refluxdisease. We have evaluated colon cancer chemopreventive properties of omeprazole using azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in male F344 rats and analyzed cell growth inhibition and apoptosis induction in human colon cancer cells. Five-week-old male F344 rats were fed a control or experimental diet containing two doses of omeprazole (200 and 400 ppm). After one week, all animals were s.c. injected with AOM (15 mg/kg body weight, once weekly for two weeks). Rats continued on experimental diets for seven more weeks before being sacrificed. Colons were histopathologically evaluated for ACF. Human colon cancer HCT-116 and HCA-7 cells treated with omeprazole were evaluated for different markers associated with proliferation and apoptotic markers using Western blot technique. Rats fed with 200 and 400 ppm of omeprazole significantly suppressed total colonic ACF formation (~30%, P<0.001) and showed significant suppression of multi-crypt foci (~30-50%, P<0.05-0.001). Omeprazole produced significant dose-response effects on inhibition of multi-crypt foci (≥4). Omeprazole treatment in human colon cancer cell lines HCT-116 and HCA-7 cells resulted in induction of p21waf1/cip1 and decreased the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Bcl-XL and survivin in a dose-dependent manner. Anticancer properties observed in colon cancer cell lines suggest that omeprazole may induce key signaling molecules of antiproliferation and inhibition of anti-apoptotic proteins.
On an internal wave equation describing a stratified fluid with finite depth

Abstract In this note we give a Backlund transformation, a recursion scheme for the infinite number of conservation laws and an inverse scattering problem for an integro-differential equation governing long internal gravity waves in a stratified fluid of finite total depth. They are shown to reduce to those of the Korteweg—de Vries equation in the shallow water limit and those of the Benjamin—Ono equation in the deep water limit.
Factors affecting nitrogen loss in experimental wetlands with different hydrologic loads

Abstract Constructed or restored wetlands have great potential for reducing nonpoint source contamination of surface and ground waters by agricultural chemical contaminants. The work reported here combines field and experimental studies of factors affecting nitrogen loss in the Des Plaines River Experimental Wetlands, northeastern Illinois, USA. These wetlands receive approximately 5–36 cm/week of pumped river water with significant but seasonally variable loads of nitrate and organic nitrogen. On an annual basis, the wetlands removed 78–95% of the nitrate and 54–75% of the total nitrogen received. At the low hydrologic loading rate, organic nitrogen exports approximately equalled imports. However at the higher hydrologic loading rate, the wetlands exported 22–31% more organic nitrogen than received. Seasonal variation in nitrate and organic nitrogen loads had significant effects on the effectiveness of the wetlands as sinks for total nitrogen. The wetlands were nitrogen sinks during periods of the nitrate loading and nitrogen sources during periods of low nitrate loading. Experimental studies demonstrated the effects of nitrate concentration, temperature, and location on rates of nitrate loss. Results suggest that nitrite loading rates might influence not only nitrate loss rates but also loss rate coefficients.
Investigating a Multimodal Intervention for Children With Limited Expressive Vocabularies Associated With Autism

Purpose This study investigated a new intervention package aimed at increasing expressive word learning by school-age children with autism who have limited expressive vocabularies. This pilot inves...
Communication with the handicapped: A three year study of the effectiveness of mainstreaming

Two of the consequences of mainstreaming were examined in this three year study of grade school children: communication patterns and children's abilities to communicate with the handicapped. The results indicate some improvement caused by mainstreaming in abilities to communicate with the handicapped. Disabled children, however, are not well integrated into communication networks.
EFFICACY OF HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZA TYPE B (b-CAPSA 1) POLYSACCHARIDE VACCINE IN 87,541 CHILDREN

During the 13 months between June 1985 & June 1986 we immunized 87, 541 children ages 2-5 yrs of age with b-CAPSA 1 vaccine. We have conducted extensive surveillance for cases of invasive disease due to Hib in vaccinated and unvaccinated cohorts using multiple modality surveillance techniques:active and retrospective review of microbiology records, an active and retrospective review of pediatric ward records, a computerized review of all hospitalized patients for diagnoses possibly compatible with Hib disease and a review of all patients hospitalized outside our HMO. We have seen two cases of vaccine failure and 21 cases of culture positive disease in unvaccinated children. We calculate 3.49 cases per 100,000 patient years of observation in the vaccinated group and 25.61 cases per 100,000 patient years in the unvaccinated cohort. Efficacy is thus estimated to be 86.4% for b-CAPSA 1. Studies are ongoing at this time.
Effects of Heat Treatment on Thermal Conductivity of Highly Porous Copper/Silver Systems

The phenomenon of sintering has a significant impact on the thermal conductivity of a highly porous material. Particle diffusion greatly reduces the number of grain boundaries that are normally present in porous materials. In turn, fewer grain boundaries imply fewer sites for phonon scattering during conductive heat transfer. Therefore, during heat treatment of a highly porous material, particle diffusion accounts for a changing thermal conductivity. This occurs with no bulk densificiation of the material. In fact, SEM images show that the microstructure of a porous material changes from many individual particles with small pores between the particles to diffused particles with large pores in between large chunks of material. To model such a phenomenon, standard equations were scaled with unitless weighting functions to account for variable microstructures during heating. By weighting standard equations, the effects of microstructure could be more accurately described as a function of porosity and time.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
An Adaptive Systems Theory: Toward Reductionism*

An attempt is made to unite diverse principles of contemporary sociology by viewing social systems as adaptive systems whose members are also adaptive systems, the general class of systems that attempt to maximize internal values by modifying their behavior and/or structure. Large numbers of sociological and behavioral propositions were examined and those that met criteria of relevance, clarity, and empirical support were restated in a standardized format. A systems-theoretical reductionist perspective was applied to these selected propositions with the aid of a theorem-generating computer program developed as part of the research, in order to identify the subset that, as axioms, would most efficiently generate those remaining as theorems. The resulting axiomatic theory appears to satisfy the scientific criteria of generality and parsimony, as well as the additional design goals of ready comprehension and application, the latter tested in part by social-system simulations. Among the nontrivial derivatives illustrated are principal propositions related to learning, values, economic models of decision making, social exchange, arms races, coalition formation, segregation, and cultural evolution.
Getting Beyond the “God Trick”: Toward Service Research

Recent calls for more discussion about “public geographies” highlight the need to understand the epistemologies and methodologies that shape the production of public geographic knowledge. Feminist theory and participatory and activist research methodologies have been used to provide a framework for undertaking the work of the public through research and practice. While engaging in our own public geographies, however, we realized some epistemological and methodological tensions in these frameworks. In this article we draw on Haraway's (1988) critique of the “god trick” to interrogate these frameworks and propose new ways of positioning ourselves within the research context, which we call “service” research.
Influence of end-conditions during tube hydroforming of aluminum extrusions

Abstract Tube hydroforming experiments were conducted to develop the forming limit diagram of AA6082-T4 by utilizing three types of end-conditions: (i) “free-end”, (ii) “pinched-end” or “fixed-end” and (iii) “forced-end”. It was found that “free-end” hydroforming gives the lowest forming limits followed by “pinched-end” and “forced-end” hydroforming. It was noticed that the tube failure occurs within 5° to the extrusion weld in the “free-end” experiments, within 7° in the “pinched-end” condition and extended up to 10° in the “forced-end” hydroforming experiments. Finite element simulations were carried out to capture the effects of the weld geometry, weld mechanical properties and the end-conditions of the extruded tube on the maximum induced stress and location of the maximum von Mises stress. It was found that the anisotropy of the weld material and the end-condition used during hydroforming experiments have the largest influence on the failure location with respect to the weld center.
Ionospheric distortion mitigation techniques for over-the-horizon radar

High-Frequency radar detects targets at thousands of kilometers over the horizon by refracting its beam from the ionosphere. A disturbed ionosphere may distort the signal severely, especially in auroral and equatorial regions. The powerful ground clutter spreads in doppler and masks targets. This distortion is sometimes assumed to take the form of a random complex time-varying distortion function multiplying the time-domain signal. Simple and effective techniques have been developed to mitigate this distortion provided that either the amplitude or the phase of the distortion predominates. The general case of severe amplitude and phase distortion is much more difficult. The techniques are highly model- dependent but are sometimes reasonable for HF radar signals. An emphasis is placed on making the algorithms efficient, so that they can run in real time and keep up with the flood of radar data. The distortion model is first analyzed by phase-screen concepts that model the physics of the electromagnetic propagation through the turbulent ionosphere. To date the techniques have been tested on simulations, since the I/Q data collected thus far do not exhibit the kind of distortions for which these techniques are applicable.
Correction to "Tensor Products of Modules and the Rigidity of Tor", Math. Annalen, 299 (1994), 449-476.

This note makes a correction to the paper “Tensor products of modules and the ridigity of Tor”, a correction which is needed due to an incorrect convention for the depth of the zero module.
Effects of gamma rays and neutron irradiation on the glucose response of boronic acid-containing “smart” hydrogels

Abstract If a biomaterial is to be implanted in the body, it must be subjected to a sterilization procedure which often involves gamma irradiation. We report results for the effects of γ-irradiation on the glucose response of a hydrogel with glucose-binding boronic acid moieties. This ‘smart” hydrogel is of a type suitable for use in non-enzymatic glucose sensors. In addition, the effect of neutron irradiation on the glucose response of these hydrogels is also of interest, because the hydrogels could be used with minor modification to deliver boron to tumors during boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). We show that the glucose response of the smart hydrogels is unaffected by exposure to neutrons in the dose range typical for BNCT. The effect of gamma rays on the glucose response depends on the method used to cure the smart hydrogel. If the hydrogel is cured with a thermal free-radical-initiator, then the hydrogel can be sterilized by gamma irradiation with no adverse effects upon the glucose response. However, if the hydrogel is cured with a UV-initiated free radical initiator, then the glucose response decreases in magnitude with increase in the gamma radiation dose.
The effects of opiate antagonists on the discriminative stimulus properties of ethanol

Abstract The effects of naloxone HCl (1.0 mg/kg, 10.0 mg/kg) and naltrexone HCl (1.0 mg/kg, 10.0 mg/kg) on the discriminative stimulus properties of ethanol were measured in order to assess the role of opiate pathways in that behavioral property of ethanol. Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to perform ethanol: saline discriminations on a DRL 10″ schedule of reinforcement in a double lever operant paradigm. Discrimination training for 170 days established 0.6 mg/kg IP ethanol doses as a discriminative stimulus producing at least 80% of all responses as drug appropriate lever choices during 10 min test sessions. After that performance criterion was achieved the effects of the opiate antagonists on the discrimination were assessed by administering naloxone (1.0 mg/kg, IM, 10.0 mg/kg IM) or naltrexone (1.0 mg/kg, IM, 10.0 mg/kg, IM) 15–30 min before the ethanol test dose. Neither antagonist produced significant changes in the performance of the ethanol-saline discrimination. These data demonstrate that the discriminative stimulus properties of ethanol do not require intact opiate pathways. That result implies that the neuropharmacological mechanisms mediating ethanol's stimulus properties in rodents are different from the mechanisms mediating many other behavioral actions of ethanol, including its reinforcing properties.
Predictors of tumor response and downstaging in patients who receive preoperative chemoradiation for rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to identify predictive factors for pathologic complete response and tumor downstaging after preoperative chemoradiation for rectal cancer. METHODS Between 1989 and 2004, 562 patients with nonmetastatic rectal adenocarcinoma received preoperative chemoradiation and underwent mesorectal excision. The median radiation dose was 45 Gray (Gy) (range, 19.8–58.6 Gy), 77% of patients received concurrent infusional 5-fluorouracil, 20% of patients received concurrent capecitabine, and 3% of patients received other regimens. RESULTS Nineteen percent of patients achieved a pathologic complete response (CR), whereas 20% of patients had only microscopic residual disease at surgery, and 61% of patients had macroscopic residual disease at surgery. Downstaging of the tumor stage occurred in 57% of patients. The results from a univariate analysis indicated that tumor circumferential extent >60% (P = .033) and pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level >2.5 ng/mL (P = .015) were associated significantly with lower pathologic CR rates. The univariate analysis also indicated that tumor circumferential extent >60% (P = .001), pretreatment CEA level >2.5 ng/mL (P = .006), and distance from the anal verge >5 cm (P = .035) were associated significantly with lower downstaging rates. The results from a multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that greater circumferential extent of tumor (odds ratio [OR], 0.43; P = .033) independently predicted a lower pathologic CR rate. The multivariate logistic regression analysis also indicated that greater circumferential extent of tumor (OR, 0.49; P = .020) and greater distance from the anal verge (OR, 0.46; P = .010) independently predicted a lower downstaging rate. CONCLUSIONS Circumferential extent of tumor, CEA level, and distance from the anal verge predicted for the pathologic response to preoperative chemoradiation for patients with rectal cancer. Therefore, these factors may be used to predict outcomes for patients, to develop risk-adapted treatment strategies, and to target patients who participate in trials of newer therapies. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
The Escherichia coli Clamp Loader Can Actively Pry Open the β-Sliding Clamp

Clamp loaders load ring-shaped sliding clamps onto DNA. Once loaded onto DNA, sliding clamps bind to DNA polymerases to increase the processivity of DNA synthesis. To load clamps onto DNA, an open clamp loader-clamp complex must form. An unresolved question is whether clamp loaders capture clamps that have transiently opened or whether clamp loaders bind closed clamps and actively open clamps. A simple fluorescence-based clamp opening assay was developed to address this question and to determine how ATP binding contributes to clamp opening. A direct comparison of real time binding and opening reactions revealed that the Escherichia coli γ complex binds β first and then opens the clamp. Mutation of conserved "arginine fingers" in the γ complex that interact with bound ATP decreased clamp opening activity showing that arginine fingers make an important contribution to the ATP-induced conformational changes that allow the clamp loader to pry open the clamp.
B cells and their Mediators as Targets for Therapy in Solid Tumors

B cells have recently been appreciated as paracrine mediators of solid tumor development. Their ability to influence various hallmarks of cancer development, aside from antigen presentation, can be attributed to the diversity of soluble mediators they express, including cytokines and immunoglobulins, that can act directly and indirectly on the diversity of leukocyte subsets that infiltrate developing tumors, evolving neoplastic cells, as well as select T cell populations in secondary lymphoid organs and within tumor stroma. Herein, we review the literature supporting these interactions and discuss novel approaches to ameliorate protumoral B cell effects for anti-cancer therapy.
JAK2/STAT3, Not ERK1/2, Mediates Interleukin-6-induced Activation of Inducible Nitric-oxide Synthase and Decrease in Contractility of Adult Ventricular Myocytes

Interleukin (IL)-6 decreases cardiac contractility via a nitric oxide (NO)-dependent pathway. However, mechanisms underlying IL-6-induced NO production remain unclear. JAK2/STAT3 and ERK1/2 are two well known signaling pathways activated by IL-6 in non-cardiac cells. However, these IL-6-activated pathways have not been identified in adult cardiac myocytes. In this study, we identified activation of these two pathways during IL-6 stimulation and examined their roles in IL-6-induced NO production and decrease in contractility of adult ventricular myocytes. IL-6 increased phosphorylation of STAT3 (at Tyr705) and ERK1/2 (at Tyr204) within 5 min that peaked at 15–30 min and returned to basal levels at 2 h. Phosphorylation of STAT3 was blocked by genistein, a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and AG490, a JAK2 inhibitor, but not PD98059, an ERK1/2 kinase inhibitor. The phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was blocked by PD98059 and genistein but not AG490. Furthermore, IL-6 enhanced de novo synthesis of iNOS protein, increased NO production, and decreased cardiac contractility after 2 h of incubation. These effects were blocked by genistein and AG490 but not PD98059. We conclude that IL-6 activated independently the JAK2/STAT3 and ERK1/2 pathways, but only JAK2/STAT3 signaling mediated the NO-associated decrease in contractility.
REGULATION OF CHEMOKINE EXPRESSION BY IL-10 IN LUNG INFLAMMATION

Abstract We have been interested in understanding the mechanisms regulating the inflammatory process underlying acute lung injury. The current studies have employed a model of acute lung inflammation in mice triggered by bacterial lipopolysaccharide. The development of this injury was associated with increased expression of the chemokines, MIP-1α and MIP-2, that coordinate recruitment of neutrophils to the lung. IL-10 is a potent, endogenous anti-inflammatory molecule that has been shown to decrease lung inflammation partly on the basis of TNF-α and IL-1β inhibition. In these studies we tested the hypothesis that endogenous IL-10 modulates chemokine expression using the IL-10 knock-out mouse, and then explored the molecular mechanisms by which IL-10 might do so. The results demonstrate that significant elevations in both chemokines were observed in the absence of IL-10 and that these findings were associated with significant increases in lung neutrophil accumulation. In vitro studies defined two, gene-specific, mechanisms by which IL-10 regulated chemokine expression: mRNA destabilization and NF-κB inhibition. These results suggested that IL-10 is an important, endogenous regulator of chemokine expression in acute lung inflammation.
A Model of Driver Behavior at High Speed Signalized Intersections

Driver behavior at high speed signalized intersections is modeled in this paper as a binary decision stop or go. A driver is assumed to stop if the time to arrive at the stop bar, at the onset of amber, is smaller than some critical time. Assuming that time perception and the critical time are normally distributed among drivers, the model's parameters are estimated using a probit calibration routine. The approach is shown to significantly reduce the sample size needed for estimating dilemma zone boundaries and therefore it represents a significant cost saving. As shown in the paper, the dilemma zone boundaries can be directly estimated analytically from the model without using stopping probability curves and the implied prior aggregation by speed. The efficient use of the data is a key to the reduced sample sizes needed for estimating the model.
Social cognitive models of health and exercise behavior: An introduction and review of conceptual issues

Abstract This article reviews the major social cognitive models of adherence or compliance in health and exercise behavior and attempts to show that these models are more similar to each other than different from each other. Self-efficacy theory and the theory of reasoned action/planned behavior have guided most of the theory-based research on exercise behavior. Two other models, protection motivation theory and the health belief model, have guided much research on the role of social cognitive factors in other health behaviors. These models are comprised largely of the same basic set of social cognitive variables: self-efficacy expectancy, outcome expectancy, outcome value, and intention. Two other factors, situational cues and habits, although not common to all the models, round out the theoretical picture by explaining how the relationship between the major social cognitive variables and behavior may change with repeated performance of a behavior over time.An integration of these models is offered using...
Electron Spectroscopy of Strongly Correlated Electron MATERIALS—RECENT Issues and Results

An overview is given of some recent issues and results concerning the single-particle electronic structure of strongly correlated electron systems. Specific topics include (i) the α−γ transition in cerium metal, (ii) the Kondo resonance in Y1−xUxPd3 and (iii) the insulator-to-metal transition in superconducting cuprates.
An approach for evaluating FOSS projects for student participation

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) offers a transparent development environment and community in which to involve students. Students can learn much about software development and professionalism by contributing to an on-going project. However, the number of FOSS projects is very large and there is a wide range of size, complexity, domains, and communities, making selection of an ideal project for students difficult. This paper addresses the need for guidance when selecting a FOSS project for student involvement by presenting an approach for FOSS project selection based on clearly identified criteria. The approach is based on several years of experience involving students in FOSS projects.
The way the ball bounces: Visual and auditory perception of elasticity and control of the bounce pass.

Human observers may perceive not only spatial and temporal dimensions of the environment, but also dynamic physical properties that are useful for the control of behavior. A study is presented in which visual and auditory perception of elasticity in bouncing objects, which was specified by kinematic (spatiotemporaI) patterns of object motion, were examined. In experiment 1, observers could perceive the elasticity of a bouncing ball and were able to regulate the impulse applied to the ball in a bounce pass. In experiments 2 and 3, it was demonstrated that visual perception of elasticity was based on relative height information, when it was available, and on the duration of a single period under other conditions. Observers did not make effective use of velocity information. In experiment 4, visual and auditory period information were compared and equivalent performance in both modalities was found. The results are interpreted as support for the view that dynamic properties of environmental events are perceived by means of kinematic information.
THE ROLE OF ARREST IN DOMESTIC ASSAULT: THE OMAHA POLICE EXPERIMENT *

This paper reports on a replication of the Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment in Omaha, Nebraska. Suspects who were eligible for the experiment were randomly assigned to one of three police dispositions: mediation, separation, or arrest. No differences by disposition were found in prevalence or frequency of repeat offending, using jive measures of recidivism to assess outcome six months after police intervention. A survival analysis, using three of the measures for which dates of failure were available, also produced no differences by disposition
Altered brain activation during cognitive control in patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.

Background. Persistent deficits in cognitive control have been documented following traumatic brain injury (TBI) but are inconsistently related to the presence and location of focal lesions.Objective. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to examine brain activation during a cognitive control task in patients with moderate to severe TBI or orthopedic injury (OI).Methods. Fourteen TBI patients and 10 OI patients underwent fMRI at 3 months postinjury using a stimulus-response compatibility task in which response accuracy and reaction time were measured. Performance between the groups was equated by individually adjusting the amount of training. Groups did not differ in age, gender, or education.Results. Brain activation during stimulus-response incompatibility was greater in TBI patients than in OI patients within the cingulate, medial frontal, middle frontal, and superior frontal gyri. However, the positive regression of activation with response accuracy during stimulus-response incompatibi...