cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ASTER spectral ratioing for lithological mapping in the Arabian–Nubian shield, the Neoproterozoic Wadi Kid area, Sinai, Egypt

Abstract The Neoproterozoic Wadi Kid metamorphic belt in southeastern Sinai in Egypt represents a structurally and metamorphically complex assemblage of metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks folded into a series of ENE–WSW-trending antiforms and synforms. Geological mapping in this region is challenging, primarily due to difficult access, complexity of structures, and lack of resolution and areal integrity of lithological differentiation using conventional mapping techniques. Spectral ratioing of selected bands of Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data of the area, in synergy with geological field observation, proved effective in resolving geological mapping problems in the region. A new ASTER band-ratio image 4/7-4/6-4/10 is applied successfully for lithological mapping in the Wadi Kid area, showing improvement over previous techniques in detailing the main rock units. These are gneiss and migmatite, amphibolite, volcanogenic sediments with banded iron formation, meta-pelites, talc schist, meta-psammites, meta-acidic volcanics, meta-pyroclastics volcaniclastics, albitites and granitic rocks. Validating the use of the new ASTER band-ratio image relied on both calculating statistical optimum index factor (OIF) and matching interpreted lithological boundaries to field data and previously published geologic maps. The adopted ASTER band-ratio image demonstrates the benefit of using ASTER remote sensing data in lithological mapping of the Wadi Kid area and therefore for lithological mapping in the Arabian–Nubian shield and other arid areas.
Progress in digital color workflow understanding in the International Color Consortium (ICC) Workflow WG

The ICC Workflow WG serves as the bridge between ICC color management technologies and use of those technologies in real world color production applications. ICC color management is applicable to and is used in a wide range of color systems, from highly specialized digital cinema color special effects to high volume publications printing to home photography. The ICC Workflow WG works to align ICC technologies so that the color management needs of these diverse use case systems are addressed in an open, platform independent manner. This report provides a high level summary of the ICC Workflow WG objectives and work to date, focusing on the ways in which workflow can impact image quality and color systems performance. The 'ICC Workflow Primitives' and 'ICC Workflow Patterns and Dimensions' workflow models are covered in some detail. Consider the questions, "How much of dissatisfaction with color management today is the result of 'the wrong color transformation at the wrong time' and 'I can't get to the right conversion at the right point in my work process'?" Put another way, consider how image quality through a workflow can be negatively affected when the coordination and control level of the color management system is not sufficient.
A Relational Database for Storing Clinical Information

In medicine, we are constantly acquiring, recording, and analyzing data. Database programs give us a powerful tool to save and report our data. While spreadsheets and even word processing software can store simple datasets, the complexity of data storage needs in medicine often requires the use of a database program. Using most database software was difficult task for the casual user until recently, new, powerful programs were introduced by several developers. Microsoft Access, which is licensed for use with the purchase of many new computers, is an extremely powerful and relatively easy to use program written for the Windows operating systems. With this program, even novices to database programming can learn to construct useful database management systems.
Energy Removal in Dynamical Systems Through an Optimal Sequence of Constraint Application

A sequential application and removal of constraints can remove energy from vibrating systems. In this paper several optimization formulations are suggested, whereby maximum energy removal is achieved by selecting optimal strategies that identify where and when the constraints should be applied. The optimization process is illustrated by means of simple mass-spring and membrane systems and the corresponding problems are solved using a genetic algorithm.© 2008 ASME
The problem of transfusion-associated acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Africa: a quantitative approach.

Background: Transfusion-associated AIDS accounts for 10% of all cases of AIDS in Africa. The risk of HIV-1 contamination in transfusions continues to exist, even in countries where blood products are screened, because of limitations in test sensitivity, human error, and the window period. Furthermore, 30 African countries do not screen all of their blood products because of resource limitations. Methods: This study used decision analysis to compare the survival outcomes of severely anemic patients who are transfused with those of patients who are not transfused. Sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: When 5% of the blood supply is HIV-1 contaminated, every patient with a 6.6% or greater risk of dying from anemia should be transfused. Detailed results are provided for a wide range of HIV-1 contamination rates. Conclusions: This study provides a method for developing and evaluating locality-specific transfusion guidelines. This method can be applied to other regions, including the United States, and to other diseases transmitted by blood products.
Vapor growth of thin heteroepitaxial InP films on CdS

Abstract InP was heteroepitaxially deposited onto CdS single-crystal substrates by chemical vapor deposition using phosphine (PH 3 ), HCl and indium as reactants. Single-crystalline films were deposited at substrate temperatures as low as 450°C. Scanning Auger microscopy shows that the films are InP and that formation of solid solutions between the CdS and the InP is minimal. The as-grown films are n type with residual donor densities of 4 × 10 16 –4 × 10 17 cm -3 .
Regulation of tubulin gene expression during embryogenesis in drosophila melanogaster

Four different tubulins have been identified that are expressed during embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. Two alpha-tubulin subunits (alpha 1 and alpha 2) and one beta-tubulin subunit (beta 1) are expressed throughout embryonic development. A second beta-tubulin subunit (beta 3) is expressed only for a short period in mid-embryonic development. Synthesis of beta 3-tubulin in vitro in a rabbit reticulocyte translation system is directed by RNA extracted from embryos only at the stage when the protein is expressed. Thus we conclude that the mRNA encoding beta 3-tubulin is transcribed only during the brief period of beta 3-tubulin synthesis. The expression of beta 3-tubulin is accompanied by a coordinate transient increase in the level of synthesis of the embryonic alpha-tubulins, thereby maintaining an approximately equimolar synthesis of alpha- and beta-tubulin subunits throughout embryogenesis.
Conceptions of Morality and the Doctrine of Double Effect

Whether one should accept a principle like DDE cannot be settled independent of one's more general moral theory. In this, I take it, I agree with Professor Boyle, though I do not think he has shown that DDE has a role only in his particular form of absolutism. Still, since his theory does require DDE, an important question is what the alternatives are--whether we must choose between this absolutism and either utilitarianism or intuitionism. A form of contractualism, the requirements of which derive to a large extent from institutionally or conventionally established rights, is sketched here as an attractive alternative. It does not lead, so far as I can see, to DDE.
Erforschung von Stereotypen in den Grenzgebieten Ostmitteleuropas

Book review Akulturacja / asymilacja na pograniczach kulturowych Europy Środkowo-Wschodniejw XIX i XX wieku. Tom 1: Stereotypy i pamiec. Red. naukowa R. TRABA.Warszawa: Wydawnictwo ISP PAN, 2009. – 296 [1] s. – ISBN 978-83-60580-37-0 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.15181/ahuk.v24i0.302
Acute myeloid leukemia in adults.

The treatment outcome for most adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains unacceptable. Additional agents or substitution of high-dose cytarabine for conventional-dose cytarabine during induction does not improve the remission rate or overall survival. There is substantial toxicity with high-dose cytarabine during induction. Thus, induction therapy for newly diagnosed patients with AML should consist of cytarabine (100 mg/m2 as a continuous intravenous infusion over 24 hours for 7 days) and daunorubicin, darubicin, or mitoxantrone. Meta-analysis demonstrates a modest benefit for idarubicin. Most patients who achieve a remission should receive further therapy with two to four cycles of high-dose cytarabine. Allogeneic stem cell transplant is reserved for patients with poor risk features. There is no role for autologous stem cell transplant in first remission outside a clinical trial. The majority of adults relapse. Salvage therapy usually consists of high-dose cytarabine. Allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplantation is preferred in second or subsequent remission. Uncommon diseases such as AML, for which the outcome remains poor, should be treated on clinical trials whenever possible.
The intrinsically exponential complexity of the circularity problem for attribute grammars

Attribute grammars are an extension of context-free grammars devised by Knuth as a mechanism for including the semantics of a context-free language with the syntax of the language. The circularity problem for a grammar is to determine whether the semantics for all possible sentences (programs) in fact will be well defined. It is proved that this problem is, in general, computationally intractable. Specifically, it is shown that any deterministic algorithm which solves the problem must for infinitely many cases use an exponential amount of time. An improved version of Knuth's circularity testing algorithm is also given, which actually solves the problem within exponential time.
Methods for chemical substance searching online I. The basics

This paper describes the principles behind some of the search method possibilities for online chemical databases. In a subsequent paper, the actual methods available will be described.
MHB4 Comparison of Standard Gamble, Time Trade-Off, And Visual Analog Scale Scores for Hypothetical Stroke Health States Using A Computer-Based Program

The most frequently used techniques for conducting utility assessments are the Standard Gamble (SG), the Time Trade-Off (TTO), and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to compare scores obtained on the SG, TTO, and VAS for hypothetical stroke health states; to determine the effect of age and gender on utility scores; to identify any ceiling or floor effects, and to determine the presence of interviewer effects. METHODS: Forty-nine PharmD students from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Iowa were selected as the sample, and utility assessments were conducted by two interviewers, for hypothetical stroke scenarios adapted from the Glasgow Outcomes Sale. The health states evaluated were Good Recovery, Moderate Disability, Severe Disability, and a Vegetative State. Two rounds of interviews were separated by a period of 4 months. Regresion analysis was used to identify the factors influencing utility scores. RESULTS: Mean SG scores for the four health states were 82.2, 62.7, 26.3, and 3.3, respectively. TTO scores for the four health states were 79.9, 57.3, 24.6, and 2.9, respectively. However, VAS scores were found to be higher than both TTO and SG scores. Neither age nor gender were found to be statistically significant determinants of reported utility scores. Interviewer effects were found for one out of 12 assessments in round 1, while none were observed in round 2. Floor effects were observed for all three techniques for the vegetative state. CONCLUSION: Further research using larger, more representative samples from the general population is required to establish the validity of computer-based programs for utility assessments.
Back stage on the front lines: perspectives and performance in the combat information center

While tactical command. control and communication environments might appear to be entirely instrumental in nature, they nevertheless provide a setting for social interaction. This paper describes how such interaction occurs in a particular naval tactical command and control system, focusing on the shared perspectives created by the organizational, administrative and professional aspects of the environment and on issues of self-presentation. It is argued that the complexity and multiplicity of interactional regions in this environment lead to problematic situations for key actors, and that these problems may have relevance to future computing environments.
Atmospheric oxidation mechanism of hydroxymethyl hydroperoxide.

A mechanism for the atmospheric oxidation of hydroxymethyl hydroperoxide (HMHP) by hydroxyl radicals (OH) is proposed from an ab initio study. Using CCSD(T)/6-311++G(2df,2p)//MP2/6-31G(d) level of theory, the structures and energetics of intermediates and transition states involved in the atmospheric oxidation of HMHP are examined. Critical structures also are studied by multireference techniques (CASPT2 and MR-SDCI) to ensure the reliability of the results. From these calculations, reaction enthalpies and barrier heights are presented for three different reaction pathways for the atmospheric oxidation of HMHP. The oxidation reaction can be initiated by hydrogen abstraction at three different positions. Results suggest that the hydrogen abstraction from the carbon is the dominant pathway because this is the process with the lowest entrance barrier. This H abstraction is followed by spontaneous decomposition without any stable intermediates and leads straight to the formation of formic acid and OH radicals...
From carpet bombing to cruise missiles: the ‘second-order’ mechanisms used by transcription factors to ensure specific DNA binding in vivo

Transcription factors generally have only modest specificity for their target sites, yet must find them in a sea of non-specific DNA. Some transcription factors are expressed at very high levels, to ensure that, despite losses to non-specific binding, the promoter is still occupied (the carpet-bombing strategy). Others increase their binding specificity by collaborating with other factors in a variety of ways.
Development and growth of large, calanid copepods in the Ocean Subarctic Pacific, May 1984

Stage durations of third and fourth copepodites of Neocalanus plumchrus Marukawa were determined from stage frequency changes from 2 through 21 May 1984 at 50°N, 145°W. Median durations were approximately 24.0 days for C3 and 24.8 days for C4. Advance by the population to later stages was compared with developmental progress indicated by (1) direct molting rate determinations and (2) frequency of molt cycle phases based on tooth development. All indicators showed that the population was developing and growing steadily. The growth rate for C4, determined from Growth Rate = [1n(Weight of oldest C4) - 1n(Weight of new C4)]/Stage Duration was 0.048 per day. Carbon determinations for C5 collected from the field on several dates implied growth of 0.15 per day. DAGG and WALSER (1987) have shown that phytoplankton rations consumed by this species during the same cruise were less than metabolic requirements. Therefore, nutrition for the substantial growth rates observed by our methods must come from sources other than phytoplankton.
Acid—base equilibria in clay suspension

Abstract The thermodynamics governing the equilibria of weakly basic compounds in dilute clay suspensions is developed in considerable detail. Quantities suitable for characterizing the equilibrium are shown to be: Keff, an apparent equilibrium constant for the acid—base reaction in suspension; Δ G BH + , and Δ G B , which are the changes in the partial molar Gibb's free energy for the protonated and neutral forms of the base B, respectively, which occur upon addition of clay to the system at constant T, P, and composition. The above thermodynamic treatment is then used to examine the frequently observed phenomenon that basic compounds in clay suspensions are often protonated to a much greater extent than that predicted on the basis of the pH of the bulk solution phase and the pK of the compound. It is shown that the enhanced protonation is due to the ability of the clay—water interface to significantly lower the potential of the protonated form of the molecule relative to that of the neutral form. This relative difference in stabilization of the two forms displaces the equilibrium and is shown by experiment to depend on the apparent magnitude of negative charge on the clay surface as encountered by the basic compound.
Demonstratives in Philosophy and Linguistics

Demonstrative noun phrases (e.g., that guy, this) are of interest to philosophers of language and semanticists because they are sensitive to demonstrations or speaker intentions. The interpretation of a demonstrative therefore sheds light on the role of the context in natural language semantics. This survey reviews two types of approaches to demonstratives: Kaplan's direct reference treatment of demonstratives and other indexicals, and recent challenges to Kaplan's approach that focus on less obviously context-sensitive uses of demonstratives. The survey then covers selected research on demonstratives in linguistics. This research offers new empirical puzzles and contrasting theoretical approaches to demonstratives.
Avian Osteoclast Cells are Stimulated to Resorb Calcified Matrices by and Possess Receptors for Leukotriene B4

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is elevated in inflammatory conditions and appears to be a potential mediator of inflammation. We have recently shown that this 5-lipoxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid stimulates bone resorption in vitro and in vivo. In order to determine the mechanism whereby LTB4 causes bone resorption, avian osteoclasts were examined for the effects of LTB4 and for the presence of LTB4 receptors. Isolated avian osteoclast mononuclear precursor cells, which fuse in culture to form multinucleated cells, were chosen for receptor binding studies because this population is a morphologically similar source of osteoclasts, and large numbers of these cells can be obtained from egg-laying hens. Binding of LTB4 and activation would support the hypothesis of a direct effect of this compound on osteoclasts. LTB4 stimulated isolated avian osteoclasts to form resorption lacunae on calcified matrices and to increase their content of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), a marker of activated osteoclasts. Receptor binding studies were performed at day 1, when the cells were mononuclear, at day 4, when mononuclear precursors were actively fusing, and at day 7, when fusion has slowed. Scatchard analysis of saturation binding data showed two classes of binding sites, a high- and low-affinity binding site with dissociation constants (KD) of 0.2–0.4 nM and 5.6–24 nM. Association studies showed rapid binding of LTB4 to the cells within 10 minutes. These data show that LTB4 accelerates fusion and activates highly enriched populations of avian osteoclasts and that LTB4 receptors are present in this cell population.
Transient diffusion and reaction of ions in an electrostatic double-layer: Application to the response of potentiometric electrodes

Abstract The transport equations for unsteady diffusion and simultaneous chemical reaction in an electrostatic double-layer in series with a mass transfer boundary layer have been solved. The results are presented in terms of the transient response of a potentiometric electrode, and show hysteresis and non-first-order behavior associated with the transport phenomena in the double-layer. The double-layer effects can be reduced and even eliminated in the presence of chemical reaction, which provides an alternate mechanism for ion transport within the double-layer.
Numerical and experimental simulations as symbiotic tools for solving complex biothermal problems

In the design of medical devices, the use of numerical simulation, either with or without complementary experimentation, may lead to a more competent product. The experimentation in question may either be performed in vitro or in vivo. This paper conveys a case study in which the two methodologies, numerical simulation and in vitro experimentation used in tandem, enabled the evaluation of safety issues related to a heat-generating implant. The numerical simulation was implemented by means of ANSYS finite-element software employed in the transient mode. The experimental work provided information necessary for the execution of the simulation and, therefore, was performed as the first phase of the research. The implant is of the type that is equipped with a short-lived battery that requires intermittent recharging. The recharging is accomplished by means of an antenna that is externally mounted on the skin surface. The antenna is the primary of a transformer, and the implant contains the secondary of the transformer. During the recharging period of the battery, heat is generated in both the antenna and the implant. By the symbiotic use of the experimental results and the numerical simulation, time-dependent temperatures were determined in the tissue that is situated in the neighborhood of the implant and the antenna. These temperatures were evaluated from the standpoint of possible tissue damage.
Generating a thermal spectrum from nothing

Abstract It is shown that for a real scalar field in a Friedmann Universe, the distribution of particles generated form an initial vacuum is, at sufficiently short wavelengths, dominated by a thermal factor exp ( −k Θ ). Allowing for a weak coupling between short and long wavelengths after the epoch of particle creation, one then anticipates an ultimate relaxation towards a thermal distribution at all wavelengths.
Conjugate photoelectrons at L = 5·6 and the 6300 Å postsunset enhancement

Abstract A series of simultaneous incoherent-backscatter and 6300 A tilting-filter photometer observations were made in the winter and early spring of 1972 at Chatanika, Alaska. These observations have been combined for magnetically quiet nights to deduce the presence of excitation by two sources in addition to dissociative recombination. The first appears to be a source that is steady for at least three hours, centered about local midnight, but that varies from night to night, taking on values between 10 and 40 Rayleighs for the nights in question. It is suggested that this source may be a flux of low-energy electrons or protons. The second source is impact excitation by electrons from the magnetic conjugate point. The emission due to this source appears to be small immediately after local sunset, rises to a maximum at about 92° conjugate solar zenith angle (CSZA), and then decreases to zero in the vicinity of 105° CSZA. The deduced intensities for this source at 92° CSZA are in the region of 15–30 Rayleighs for local F -layer critical frequencies of 3−2 MHz, respectively.
Hospital Deaths in Patients With Sepsis From 2 Independent Cohorts

Sepsis, the inflammatory response to infection, affects millions of patients worldwide.1 However, its effect on overall hospital mortality has not been measured. We quantified the contribution of sepsis to mortality in 2 complementary inpatient cohorts from Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) and the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS).
Linkages of Intrinsic to Age-Specific Rates

Abstract A change in the birth rate or the death rate at a particular age of women affects the overall increase of a population, its age distribution, and other features; the article finds simple formulas for the amount of effect. It implicitly compares two populations in which fertility and mortality remain constant for a long period of time, the two differing only in respect to the birth or death rate at one age. The appendix table displays all results.
Modifications to the properties of the Higgs boson

Abstract We explore the impact of new SU ( 3 ) × SU ( 2 ) × U ( 1 ) invariant interactions characterized by a scale of order a TeV on Higgs boson properties. The Higgs production rate and branching ratios can be very different from their standard model values. We also discuss the possibility that these new interactions contribute to acceptable unification of the gauge couplings.
Flexible nanostructure of MFI zeolite membranes

Abstract Pervaporation and vapor permeation of hydrocarbons were used to characterize three MFI zeolite membranes that had significant fluxes through non-zeolitic pores. The single-component pervaporation fluxes of n-hexane were only 5–55% of the fluxes of larger molecules (2,2-dimethylbutane (DMB), isooctane, and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (TMB)) at ∼300 K, all of which did not adsorb in the MFI pores under the conditions used. In spite of this behavior, these membranes were selective for C6 isomer separation, and the n-hexane/DMB vapor-phase separation factor was 3200 for one membrane at low hydrocarbon partial pressures. The pervaporation behavior was consistent with the explanation that MFI membrane structures are flexible; MFI crystals increase in size when n-hexane adsorbs, and this expansion dramatically decreases the non-zeolitic pore sizes. Thus, less than 0.8 mol% n-hexane reduced DMB and TMB pervaporation fluxes to ∼5% of their single-component fluxes for one membrane. At high vapor concentrations, molecules condensed in the non-zeolitic pores, which had almost no selectivity, and this capillary condensation decreased the n-hexane/DMB separation factor. Non-zeolitic pores were shown to increase in size after a membrane was calcined at 1000 K.
An Escherichia coli aer mutant exhibits a reduced ability to colonize the streptomycin-treated mouse large intestine.

The oxygen sensor Aer of Escherichia coli affects the expression level of genes that are involved in sugar acid degradation. Phenotypes of Aer mediated gene regulation, namely growth on sugar acids was tested ‘in vitro’ with Phenotype MicroArrays and colonization of the mouse large intestine was tested ‘in vivo’. The aer mutant did not grow on the sugar acids d-gluconate, d-glucuronate, d-galacturonate, as well as the sugar alcohol d-mannitol. Since sugar acids are the predominant carbon source for E. coli in the intestinal mucosa, the ability of the aer mutant to colonize the streptomycin-treated mouse large intestine was tested. The mutant exhibited a decreased ability to colonize the intestine when compared to wild-type cells. This effect was more pronounced under competitive conditions. The colonization phenotype of the aer mutant was complemented with either of two plasmids. One of them expressed the Aer protein, whereas the other one expressed the sugar acid degradation enzymes that are encoded by edd and eda. The data support the interpretation that decreased expression of edd and eda along with the decreased ability to grow on sugar acids may contribute to the reduced capacity of the aer mutant to colonize the mouse intestine. While Aer seems to be important during the initiation phase of colonization, FlhD/FlhC appears to be of disadvantage during maintenance phase. FlhD/FlhC is the master regulator of all flagellar genes and required for Aer expression. Mutants in flhD exhibited an initial competitive disadvantage during the first 3 days of colonization, but recovered lateron.
Mixed PbSi dimer chains on Si(100): a first-principles study

Abstract It has been a common belief that the one-dimensional structures observed by STM at low coverage of Pb on Si(1 0 0) are buckled Pb–Pb dimer chains. However, using first-principles density functional calculations, we found that it is energetically favorable for Pb adatoms to intermix with Si atoms to form mixed dimer chains on Si(1 0 0), instead of Pb–Pb dimer chains as assumed in previous studies. Up to a Pb coverage of 0.125 ML, mixed PbSi dimer chain is 0.19 eV per Pb atom lower in energy than Pb dimer chain.
Remembering Yoshifumi Ninomiya

It is with great sadness that I sit down at my desk to write about Yoshifumi (Yoshi) Ninomiya, but when I see him in my mind’s eye, the view is filled with sunshine. I believe this is the light in which he wanted us to see him: Someone who was as excited about research in matrix biology when he was close to retirement as when he was a postdoctoral fellow; the professor of biochemistry who inspired medical students to seriously consider a life filled with science; the scientist and mentor who stimulated his graduate students and junior investigators to tackle scientific problems of substance. Dr. Yoshifumi Ninomiya. This is the Yoshi that those who met and knew him will remember, but for me there is more. In 1980 he traveled from Japan to the United States with his family and arrived at Rutgers Medical School in New Jersey as my first postdoctoral fellow. He had received his MD degree and completed his residency at Okayama University Medical School, and he had graduated from the Tokyo Medical and Dental University PhD program. Dr. Yutaka Nagai had been his advisor so I took it for granted that the new postdoctoral fellow would be well trained in collagen biochemistry. What I had not foreseen was that Yoshi’s presence in my laboratory would turn out to be a life-changing event that established strong bonds between our families and profoundly affected our research directions and professional careers. It started an exciting journey that took us through discoveries of non-fibrillar collagens, changing our view of the roles of collagenous proteins in extracellular matrix architecture, and led us from matrix biochemistry to cell and developmental biology and genetics after we moved to Harvard Medical School in 1985. Remarkably, our journey together did not come to an end when Yoshi left his Associate Professorship at Harvard and returned to Okayama University Medical School as Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry in 1991. Our interactions continued through multiple meetings in Okayama while Yoshi built a strong department and put his stamp on extracellular matrix biology in Japan. Having one of his outstanding graduate students join my laboratory as a postdoctoral trainee also contributed to keeping our professional relationship strong. Finally, Yoshi started a very successful research internship program for medical students, and having 3rd year students in the program join my laboratory for 3 months in the Fall semester became an annual reminder of Yoshi’s joyful approach to doing and teaching science. I have often told my students and postdoctoral fellows that science is a marathon; not a sprint. Now the run of Yoshifumi Ninomiya, my collaborator and friend for the past 35 years, has come to an end. However, having seen the excited faces of Okayama students describing their research projects and sensed the pride and joy of Yoshi’s trainees presenting their findings, I know for sure that this marathon has not reached a finish line and that runners inspired by Yoshi will continue to run.
TGF-βs and TGF-β receptors in atherosclerosis

Abstract Based on diverse evidence in animals and humans, it has been hypothesized that atherosclerosis, and other injury-induced hyperplasias such as restenosis, may result from a failure in endogenous inhibitory systems that normally limit wound repair and induce regression of wound repair cells. A key defect in one of these inhibitory pathways, the TGF-β system, has been identified and characterized in both animal models and in human lesions and lesion-derived cells. Cells derived from human lesions are resistant to the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of TGF-β, while their normal counterparts from the vascular media are potently inhibited and killed. Both cell types increase PAI-1 production, switch actin phenotypes in response to TGF-β1, and produce similar levels of TGF-β activity. Membrane cross-linking of 125 I-TGF-β1 indicates that normal human SMC express Type I, II and III receptors. The Type II receptor is strikingly decreased in lesion cells, with little change in the Type I or III receptors. RT–PCR confirmed that the Type II TGF-β1 receptor mRNA is reduced in lesion cells. Subsequent analysis of human lesion vs normal tissues confirmed that the Type I receptor was consistently present in the lesion, while the Type II receptor was much more variable, and commonly absent in both coronary artery and carotid artery lesions. Transfection of the Type II receptor into lesion cells partially restores the growth inhibitory response to TGF-β1, implying that signaling remains intact. A subset of patients, and cells derived from their lesions, exhibit acquired mutations in the Type II receptor that would explain their resistance, though the majority of cells are resistant without obvious mutational defects. Thus, it is currently being tested whether transcriptional defects or abnormalities in receptor processing may explain the low levels of the Type II receptor. Because TGF-β1 is overexpressed in fibroproliferative vascular lesions, receptor-negative cells would be allowed to grow in a slow, but uncontrolled fashion, while overproducing extracellular matrix components.
Investigation of a central nucleus of the amygdala/dorsal raphe nucleus serotonergic circuit implicated in fear-potentiated startle

Serotonergic systems are thought to play an important role in control of motor activity and emotional states. We used a fear-potentiated startle paradigm to investigate the effects of a motor-eliciting stimulus in the presence or absence of induction of an acute fear state on serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR) and cells in subdivisions of the central amygdaloid nucleus (CE), a structure that plays an important role in fear responses, using induction of the protein product of the immediate-early gene, c-Fos. In Experiment 1 we investigated the effects of fear conditioning training, by training rats to associate a light cue (conditioned stimulus, CS; 1000 lx, 2 s) with foot shock (0.5 s, 0.5 mA) in a single session. In Experiment 2 rats were given two training sessions identical to Experiment 1 on days 1 and 2, then tested in one of four conditions on day 3: (1) placement in the training context without exposure to either the CS or acoustic startle (AS), (2) exposure to 10 trials of the 2 s CS, (3) exposure to 40 110 dB AS trials, or (4) exposure to 40 110 dB AS trials with 10 of the trials preceded by and co-terminating with the CS. All treatments were conducted during a 20 min session. Fear conditioning training, by itself, increased c-Fos expression in multiple subdivisions of the CE and throughout the DR. In contrast, fear-potentiated startle selectively increased c-Fos expression in the medial subdivision of the CE and in serotonergic neurons in the dorsal part of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRD). These data are consistent with previous studies demonstrating that fear-related stimuli selectively activate DRD serotonergic neurons. Further studies of this mesolimbocortical serotonergic system could have important implications for understanding mechanisms underlying vulnerability to stress-related psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and affective disorders.
Superconducting thin films of Y-Ba-Cu-oxide by sol-gel and CVD methods

The sol-gel (SG) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques are explored to deposit Y-Ba-Cu-oxide superconductive films onto a variety of substrates. The SG-dip coated layers (1500 A in thickness) onto silica substrates are uniform and partially crystalline after heat treatments at 750°C under O 2 atmosphere. These films contain non-negligible amounts of the superconducting YBa 2 CU 3 O 7 crystals. Preliminary CVD depositions from organometallic precursors onto ZrO 2 substrates at 900°C so far resulted in the formation of layers containing oxides of Cu and Y as well as BaF 2 . Further research is carried out to determine experimental conditions yielding YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 .
Estimates of Heritability for Plasma Very Low Density Lipoprotein Concentration and Genetic Correlations with Lipid Content, Body Volume, and Density in Coturnix coturnix japonica

Abstract Genetic parameters associated with very low density lipoprotein concentration (VLDL) in a randombred population of Coturnix were estimated. Associated traits were: body density, volume, and weight of the live bird, and lipid content of the whole carcass. A total of 739 progeny by 50 sires and 126 dams was the basis of the data. The VLDL was highly heritable (.52) and highly correlated with lipid content (>.50) but correlated to lesser degrees with body density (.24) and body volume (.20). The genetic correlation estimates between VLDL and body weight were small relative to their standard errors.
Untangling Web 2.0's Influences on Student Learning

Today's college students are wired. Are we ready to harness the power of this connectedness to support their learning?
Effect of macromer synthesis time on the properties of the resulting poly(β-amino ester) degradable hydrogel

Poly(β-amino ester) biodegradable hydrogels are common in biomedical applications because of their tunable properties and similarities to natural soft tissue. Previous work has shown property adjustments through the choice of monomers, the ratio between monomers and the addition of a crosslinking component. Here, we show that the reaction time for the creation of the macromer can affect the resulting hydrogel properties, and thus provides another method of tuning properties. Macromer was created through the reaction of isobutylamine with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (n = 400). The reaction progress was analyzed using IR and GPC analysis. Hydrogels were created through UV photopolymerization from macromers synthesized for 24, 36, and 48 h. The degradation, compressive moduli, and swelling were measured in an aqueous solution. All showed significant differences between hydrogels of different macromer synthesis times. These differences likely stem from the incomplete macromer synthesis reaction and resulting PEG-rich regions in hydrogels from shorter synthesis times. These regions will not readily degrade, but do increase the mechanical properties and extent of swelling. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Isomerization and Dissociation in Competition: The Two-Component Dissociation Rates of Energy Selected Methyl Formate Ions

Threshold photoelectron−photoion coincidence (TPEPICO) spectroscopy has been used to investigate the unimolecular chemistry of gas-phase, energy-selected methyl formate ions, CH3OCHO•+. The 0 K dissociation onsets for CO loss from CH3OCHO•+ and CH3OCDO•+ were 11.550 ± 0.020 and 11.582 ± 0.020 eV, respectively. The two-component dissociation rates are interpreted in terms of competitive fast dissociation and isomerization steps, followed by a slow dissociation from the lower energy isomer, a distonic ion with the structure CH2OCHOH•+. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations (G2 theory) are used to obtain energies and vibrational frequencies of various ion structures and transition states. The experimental rate constants are then modeled with the RRKM statistical theory for dissociation of both CH3OCHO•+ and CH2OCHOH•+. From the RRKM analysis, we found that the distonic ion CH2OCHOH•+ lies 16.2 ± 1.5 kcal/mol lower than the methyl formate ion. Rearrangement of CH3OCHO•+ to its distonic isomer requires 15.2...
Comparison of two output-coding strategies for multi-class tumor classification using gene expression data and Latent Variable Model as binary classifier.

Multi-class cancer classification based on microarray data is described. A generalized output-coding scheme based on One Versus One (OVO) combined with Latent Variable Model (LVM) is used. Results from the proposed One Versus One (OVO) output- coding strategy is compared with the results obtained from the generalized One Versus All (OVA) method and their efficiencies of using them for multi-class tumor classification have been studied. This comparative study was done using two microarray gene expression data: Global Cancer Map (GCM) dataset and brain cancer (BC) dataset. Primary feature selection was based on fold change and penalized t-statistics. Evaluation was conducted with varying feature numbers. The OVO coding strategy worked quite well with the BC data, while both OVO and OVA results seemed to be similar for the GCM data. The selection of output coding methods for combining binary classifiers for multi-class tumor classification depends on the number of tumor types considered, the discrepancies between the tumor samples used for training as well as the heterogeneity of expression within the cancer subtypes used as training data.
A histopathologic study of extraction wounds in dogs

Abstract The healing of forty-one extraction sites in dogs was interfered with by the use of gauze packs. The healing of these wounds was compared histopathologically at various postoperative intervals with healing in the same number of normal or undisturbed extraction wounds.
Melatonin response to exercise training in women.

Previous human studies have indicated that daytime melatonin levels increase when the organism is subjected to the stress of fasting and exercise. Melatonin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine levels were measured during a mock run and in the course of treadmill exercise performed before (T-1), during (T-2), and following (T-3) a progressive conditioning (running) program. Hormonal responses to the training program were determined by comparing values at T-1 and T-3. Plasma melatonin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine levels rose significantly (P less than .01) from baseline values for each exercise intensity during all three treadmill runs. While a dose-response trend was observed in each of the norepinephrine and epinephrine trials, there appeared to be a progressive diminution of this relationship in melatonin between intensities. Further, as training progressed, the peak melatonin concentration was decreased by 52% from T-1 to T-3, while peak epinephrine and norepinephrine values diminished only 19% and 8%, respectively. These results suggest that vigorous exercise training may attenuate rather than augment the secretion of pineal melatonin. Development of a human model of pineal responsiveness to exercise may contribute to the elucidation of exercise-associated reproductive disorders.
Knowledge-based automated road network extraction system using multispectral images

A novel approach for automated road network extraction from multispectral WorldView-2 imagery using a knowledge-based system is presented. This approach uses a multispectral flood-fill technique to extract asphalt pixels from satellite images; it follows by identifying prominent curvilinear structures using template matching. The extracted curvilinear structures provide an initial estimate of the road network, which is refined by the knowledge-based system. This system breaks the curvilinear structures into small segments and then groups them using a set of well-defined rules; a saliency check is then performed to prune the road segments. As a final step, these segments, carrying road width and orientation information, can be reconstructed to generate a proper road map. The approach is shown to perform well with various urban and suburban scenes. It can also be deployed to extract the road network in large-scale scenes.
Structure and Energetics of Ground-State Hypericin: Comparison of Experiment and Theory

Calculations of the energies of the ground-state un-ionized tautomers of hypericin have been performed at the RMP2/6-31G(d) level of theory, using geometries obtained with the 3-21G basis set and Hartree−Fock wave functions. It is found that only the so-called normal form is likely to be populated at room temperature and that only two of the three possible double tautomers correspond to minima on the potential energy surface. The effect of continuum aqueous solvation on the tautomer energies is negligible. The O---O distances between which the proton is transferred are reported and are consistent with that required for an adiabatic proton transfer, i.e., ∼2.5 A. All 156 vibrational frequencies are tabulated and may be viewed at www.msg.ameslab.gov. For example, the vibrations in the range 320−660 cm-1 are coupled with O---O vibrations. The vibrations that are most clearly O---O vibrations occur in the range 400−500 cm-1. Twisting of the backbone occurs in a wide range of frequencies, from 230 to 1150 cm-1...
Ca2+ Signaling and Regulation of Fluid Secretion in Salivary Gland Acinar Cells

Neurotransmitter stimulation of plasma membrane receptors stimulates salivary gland fluid secretion via a complex process that is determined by coordinated temporal and spatial regulation of several Ca(2+) signaling processes as well as ion flux systems. Studies over the past four decades have demonstrated that Ca(2+) is a critical factor in the control of salivary gland function. Importantly, critical components of this process have now been identified, including plasma membrane receptors, calcium channels, and regulatory proteins. The key event in activation of fluid secretion is an increase in intracellular [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)]i) triggered by IP3-induced release of Ca(2+) from ER via the IP3R. This increase regulates the ion fluxes required to drive vectorial fluid secretion. IP3Rs determine the site of initiation and the pattern of [Ca(2+)]i signal in the cell. However, Ca(2+) entry into the cell is required to sustain the elevation of [Ca(2+)]i and fluid secretion. This Ca(2+) influx pathway, store-operated calcium influx pathway (SOCE), has been studied in great detail and the regulatory mechanisms as well as key molecular components have now been identified. Orai1, TRPC1, and STIM1 are critical components of SOCE and among these, Ca(2+) entry via TRPC1 is a major determinant of fluid secretion. The receptor-evoked Ca(2+) signal in salivary gland acinar cells is unique in that it starts at the apical pole and then rapidly increases across the cell. The basis for the polarized Ca(2+) signal can be ascribed to the polarized arrangement of the Ca(2+) channels, transporters, and signaling proteins. Distinct localization of these proteins in the cell suggests compartmentalization of Ca(2+) signals during regulation of fluid secretion. This chapter will discuss new concepts and findings regarding the polarization and control of Ca(2+) signals in the regulation of fluid secretion.