cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Compactness of the ∂¯-Neumann problem on domains with bounded intrinsic geometry

Abstract By considering intrinsic geometric conditions, we introduce a new class of domains in complex Euclidean space. This class is invariant under biholomorphism and includes strongly pseudoconvex domains, finite type domains in dimension two, convex domains, C -convex domains, and homogeneous domains. For this class of domains, we show that compactness of the ∂ ¯ -Neumann operator on ( 0 , q ) -forms is equivalent to the boundary not containing any q-dimensional analytic varieties (assuming only that the boundary is a topological submanifold). We also prove, for this class of domains, that the Bergman metric is equivalent to the Kobayashi metric and that the pluricomplex Green function satisfies certain local estimates in terms of the Bergman metric.
Neither Reform nor Rescue: "Woman's Work," Ordinary Culture, and the Articulation of Modern Swedish Femininities

This article examines the role of women in the construction of modern Swedish subjectivity through their participation in both quotidian activities and their networks of relations. Taking the work of Barbro Klein as a point of departure, I argue that Swedish women of the fin de siecle worked within overlapping and interconnected women’s networks through which they fashioned their own responses to the pressures of modernity within particular configurations of gender. Combining the social and political, formal and informal, labor and leisure, they created spaces for alternate cultural, commercial and social responses. These spaces from which femininity was lived as a positionality in discourse and social practice challenge the false dichotomies of past–future and tradition–modernity which have been central to the disciplinary narrative of folklore studies.
Deciphering spinal endogenous dopaminergic mechanisms that modulate micturition reflexes in rats with spinal cord injury

Spinal neuronal mechanisms regulate recovered involuntary micturition after spinal cord injury (SCI). It was recently discovered that dopamine (DA) is synthesized in the rat injured spinal cord and is involved in lower urinary tract (LUT) activity. To fully understand the role of spinal DAergic machinery in micturition, we examined urodynamic responses in female rats during pharmacological modulation of the DA pathway. Three to four weeks after complete thoracic SCI, the DA precursor L-DOPA administered intravenously during bladder cystometrogram (CMG) and external urethral sphincter (EUS) electromyography (EMG) reduced bladder overactivity and increased the duration of EUS bursting, leading to remarkably improved voiding efficiency. Apomorphine (APO), a non-selective DA receptor (DR) agonist, or quinpirole, a selective DR2 agonist, induced similar responses, whereas a specific DR2 antagonist remoxipride alone had only minimal effects. Meanwhile, administration of SCH 23390, a DR1 antagonist, reduced voiding efficiency by increasing tonic EUS activity and shortening the EUS bursting period. Unexpectedly, SKF 38393, a selective DR1 agonist, increased EUS tonic activity, implying a complicated role of DR1 in LUT function. In metabolic cage assays, subcutaneous administration of quinpirole decreased spontaneous voiding frequency and increased voiding volume; L-DOPA and APO were inactive possibly because of slow entry into the CNS. Collectively, tonically active DR1 in SCI rats inhibit urine storage and enhance voiding by differentially modulating EUS tonic and bursting patterns, respectively, while pharmacologic activation of DR2, which are normally silent, improves voiding by enhancing EUS bursting. Thus, enhancing DA signaling achieves better detrusor-sphincter coordination to facilitate micturition function in SCI rats.
A Preclinical Model of Exertional Heat Stroke in Mice.

Heat stroke is the most severe manifestation of heat-related illnesses. Classic heat stroke (CHS), also known as passive heat stroke, occurs at rest, whereas exertional heat stroke (EHS) occurs during physical activity. EHS differs from CHS in etiology, clinical presentation, and sequelae of multi-organ dysfunction. Until recently, only models of CHS have been well established. This protocol aims to provide guidelines for a refined preclinical mouse model of EHS that is free from major limiting factors such as the use of anesthesia, restraint, rectal probes, or electric shock. Male and female C57Bl/6 mice, instrumented with core temperature (Tc) telemetric probes were utilized in this model. For familiarization with the running mode, mice undergo 3 weeks of training using both voluntary and forced running wheels. Thereafter, mice run on a forced wheel inside a climatic chamber set at 37.5 °C and 40%-50% relative humidity (RH) until displaying symptom limitation (e.g., loss of consciousness) at Tc of 42.1-42.5 °C, although suitable results can be obtained at chamber temperatures between 34.5-39.5 °C and humidity between 30%-90%. Depending on the desired severity, mice are removed from the chamber immediately for recovery in ambient temperature or remain in the heated chamber for a longer duration, inducing a more severe exposure and a higher incidence of mortality. Results are compared with sham-matched exercise controls (EXC) and/or naive controls (NC). The model mirrors many of the pathophysiological outcomes observed in human EHS, including loss of consciousness, severe hyperthermia, multi-organ damage as well as inflammatory cytokine release, and acute phase responses of the immune system. This model is ideal for hypothesis-driven research to test preventative and therapeutic strategies that may delay the onset of EHS or reduce the multi-organ damage that characterizes this manifestation.
Conclusion, Suggestions, and Recommendations

The previous chapter discusses the results of interviews with insurance operators. This book examines insurance operators’ views on the practicalities of Takaful if it is offered in India. It looks at the pictures of insurance operators on the practical capabilities of Takaful. The second section provides a glance at the book. The third section discusses the contribution to the literature review, and the following section explains the future research. The last chapter provides essential recommendations.
Chapter 16 – Optics

This chapter discusses the concept and applications of diffraction and interference, largely in the context of water waves. However, these ideas apply to all types of waves, including sound waves and light waves. The chapter discusses the early views of light, which tended to think of light as a particle emitted by a source. The chapter also presents a brief history of optics. It emphasizes two of the successes of the particle emission theory: explanations of the laws of reflection and refraction, and the formation of rainbows. Modern view of light is based on a wave viewpoint. The chapter introduces Young, applies his analysis of constructive and destructive interference in numerous contexts, and analyzes his famous two-slit interference experiment.
Atomic block formation for explicit data graph execution architectures

Limits on power consumption, complexity, and on-chip latency have focused computer architects on power-efficient designs that exploit parallelism. One approach divides programs into atomic blocks of operations that execute semi-independently, which efficiently creates a large window of potentially concurrent operations. This dissertation studies the intertwined roles of the compiler, architecture, and microarchitecture in achieving efficiency and high performance with a block-atomic architecture. For such an architecture to achieve high performance the compiler must form blocks effectively. The compiler must create large blocks of instructions to amortize the per-block overhead, but control flow and content restrictions limit the compiler's options. Block formation should consider factors such of frequency of execution, block size such as selecting control-flow paths that are frequently executed, and exploiting locality of computations to reduce communication overheads. This dissertation determines what characteristics of programs influence block formation and proposes techniques to generate effective blocks. The first contribution is a method for solving phase-ordering problems inherent to block formation, mitigating the tension between block-enlarging optimizations—if-conversion, tail duplication, loop unrolling, and loop peeling—as well as scalar optimizations. Given these optimizations, analysis shows that the remaining obstacles to creating larger blocks are inherent in the control flow structure of applications, and furthermore that any fixed block size entails a sizable amount of wasted space. To eliminate this overhead, this dissertation proposes an architectural implementation of variable-size blocks that allow the compiler to dramatically improve block efficiency. We use these mechanisms to develop policies for block formation that achieve high performance on a range of applications and processor configurations. We find that the best policies differ significantly depending on the number of participating cores. Using machine learning, we discover generalized policies for particular hardware configurations and find that the best policy varies significantly between applications and based on the number of parallel resources available in the microarchitecture. These results show that effective and efficient block-atomic execution is possible when the compiler and microarchitecture are designed cooperatively.
Argument in initial group decision‐making discussions: Refinement of a coding scheme and a descriptive quantitative analysis

Studies of the function and process of interactive argument in group contexts have become increasingly prevalent in the last decade. A prominent program of research in this domain is work associated with the structurational perspective on group decision‐making. To date, much of this research has been theoretical and qualitative in nature. This investigation extends prior work in pursuing two objectives: (a) refinement of the structurational argument coding scheme, and (b) preliminary quantitative analysis of argument in decision‐making groups. Following a review of past structurational argument research, the coding scheme is evaluated and revised. Forty‐five decision‐making discussions were coded using the revised coding scheme and these results were evaluated via descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that (a) the groups’ arguments consisted mainly of Assertions, Elaborations, and Agreement, and (b) the revisions to the coding scheme provided increased conceptual clarity. Implications of each finding ...
Thiosulfate-dechlorination interference with the folin-ciocalteu reagent method for protein determination

Abstract Sodium thiosulfate is employed routinely for dechlorination of water and wastewater disinfectants. A study was conducted to evaluate the interference with the Lowry method using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent for protein determination by the dechlorination products of chlorine or monochloramine. Free chlorine, monochloramine or sodium thiosulfate alone did not cause color formation with the test. However, when the disinfectants were dechlorinated with thiosulfate, the reaction products yielded false positives for protein. These false positives were detected at disinfectant concentrations as low as 0.3 mg l−1 as available chlorine.
Major neurologic improvement following endovascular recanalization therapy for acute ischemic stroke.

Background: We aimed to identify the rate of major neurologic improvement (MNI) at 24 h following endovascular recanalization therapy (ERT) for acute ischemic stroke and its associa
An uncommon source of mitral valve regurgitation.

13-YEAR-OLD BOY was in his normal state of health when he presented with a cardiac murmur noted on routine physical examination. He had been completely asymptomatic without syncope, chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea, and had good exercise tolerance. His only ongoing medical issue was attention deficit disorder for which he was treated with methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin; Ciba-Geigy, Basel, Switzerland). The patient’s transthoracic echocardiography, completed at an outside institution, showed normal segmental anatomy of the left ventricle. The
The Metric Nearness Problem

Metric nearness refers to the problem of optimally restoring metric properties to distance measurements that happen to be nonmetric due to measurement errors or otherwise. Metric data can be important in various settings, for example, in clustering, classification, metric-based indexing, query processing, and graph theoretic approximation algorithms. This paper formulates and solves the metric nearness problem: Given a set of pairwise dissimilarities, find a “nearest” set of distances that satisfy the properties of a metric—principally the triangle inequality. For solving this problem, the paper develops efficient triangle fixing algorithms that are based on an iterative projection method. An intriguing aspect of the metric nearness problem is that a special case turns out to be equivalent to the all pairs shortest paths problem. The paper exploits this equivalence and develops a new algorithm for the latter problem using a primal-dual method. Applications to graph clustering are provided as an illustration. We include experiments that demonstrate the computational superiority of triangle fixing over general purpose convex programming software. Finally, we conclude by suggesting various useful extensions and generalizations to metric nearness.
RECONSIDERING THE BROKEN HOMES/DELINQUENCY RELATIONSHIP AND EXPLORING ITS MEDIATING MECHANISM(S)

As a result of methodological limitations, prior research may have artificially attenuated the magnitude of the broken homes/delinquency relationship. As a result of theoretical limitations, prior research has achieved only limited success in identifying the mechanism through which broken homes may promote delinquency. The present study addresses both issues using a national probability sample of 1, 725 adolescents. Results suggest that divorce/separation early in the life course may be more strongly related to delinquency than prior research implies and that remarriage during adolescence may be strongly associated with status offending. Overall, results also suggest that association with deviant peers and attitudes favorable to delinquency account for the broken homes/delinquency relationship better than do a number of alternative explanations.
Optical metrology for two large highly aspheric telescope mirrors

We describe a relatively simple, but highly effective, approach to the system design and alignment of an all-refractive Offner null corrector and phase-measuring Shack cube interferometer. In addition we outline procedures for fabricating and testing the optical components. Allowable errors for all parameters are determined by a tolerance analysis that separates axisymmetric and residual figure errors. An open construction optics frame provides a high degree of metering flexibility by incorporating simple kinematic mounts that provide adjustment of each lens while also allowing the lens to be removed and replaced with < 2-μm absolute repeatability. Nonaxisymmetric alignment errors are removed by rotating the optics on a high-precision bearing. Axial spacings are measured with contact transducers attached to both ends of an Invar metering rod. Two completed systems have guided the stressed-lap polishing of 1.8-mf/1.0 and 3.5-m f/1.5 aspheric mirrors.
Regions of microsynteny in Magnaporthe grisea and Neurospora crassa.

Abstract A bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone containing 110,467 bp of genomic DNA from Magnaporthe grisea was sequenced, annotated, and compared to the genomes of Neurospora crassa, Candida albicans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Twenty-six open reading frames (ORFs), involved in multiple biochemical pathways, were identified in the BAC sequence. A region of 53 kb, containing 18 of the 26 ORFs, was found to be syntenic to a portion of the N. crassa genome. Subregions of complete colinearity as well as interrupted colinearity were present. No synteny was evident with either C. albicans or S. cerevisiae. The identification of syntenic regions containing highly conserved genes across two genera that have been evolutionarily separated for ∼200 million years elicits many biological questions as to the function and identity of these genes.
Managing Supply Chain Disruptions

Managing Supply Chain Disruptions categorizes and reviews the substantive research contributions relating to managing supply chain disruptions. With a primary emphasis on formulating directions for future research, the authors focus on significant research and practical findings. Managing Supply Chain Disruptions reviews the general area of supply chain disruptions and examines classifications of disruptions, which can be used to provide insights into the disruption management process. It reviews the literature in the emerging field of disruption risk management, which attempts to identify specific risks associated with supply chain disruptions. This is followed by a review of conceptual/empirical research with a focus on providing general insights into how one or more organizations have managed the risk associated with disruptions. Given that designing robust supply chain networks is a key feature of managing disruption risk, the authors examine the relevant research in this domain. A detailed analysis of prior research targeted at managing specific risks (e.g., product, supply, operations/process, and transportation risks) is presented, and finally, directions for future research are discussed.
Molecular dynamics study of self-diffusion in bcc Fe

A semiempirical interatomic potential for Fe was used to calculate the diffusivity in bcc Fe assuming the vacancy and interstitial mechanisms of self-diffusion. Point-defect concentrations and diffusivities were obtained directly from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. It was found that self-diffusion in bcc Fe is controlled by the vacancy mechanism at all temperatures. This result is due to the fact that the equilibrium vacancy concentration is always much larger than the equilibrium interstitial concentration. The predominance of the equilibrium vacancy concentration over the interstitial concentration is explained by the lower vacancy-formation energy at low temperatures and high vacancy-formation entropy at high temperatures. The calculated diffusivity is in good agreement with experimental data. The MD simulations were also used to test the quasiharmonic (QH) approximation for point-defect calculations. It was found that the QH approximation can considerably underestimate variations in point-defect characteristics with temperature.
Enriching Student Experiences: Multi-disciplinary Exercises in Service-learning

This paper offers two unique service-learning approaches to developself-efficacy toward service and motivation for civic participation incollege business students. The exercises utilize methodologies providinghands-on experiences for students to meet social needs. They alsoprovide real-world settings for students to develop skills and personalgrowth relevant to their business careers. One exercise was used in anorganizational behavior course and the other in a legal environment ofbusiness course. Instructors may easily adapt either methodology toother business courses.
Anticipatory contrast as a measure of time horizons in the rat: Some methodological determinants

In three experiments, the time horizon over which the rat evaluates alternative feeding sources was investigated. The time horizon was measured by the suppression of intake of one incentive (a 0.15% saccharin solution) when a preferred alternative incentive (a 32% sucrose solution) was available but delayed. In Experiment 1, we found a direct function between the amount of saccharin intake and the delay time before access to 32% sucrose. Compared with intake for a saccharin-only control, saccharin intake was suppressed before 4-min and 16-min sucrose delays, but not before a 32-min delay. Because previous work (Flaherty & Checke, 1982) had reported suppression before a delay of nearly 32 min, in the subsequent experiments we examined factors that might account for this difference. In Experiment 2, we found that saccharin intake was suppressed before a 32-min delay interval when saccharin and sucrose solutions were presented in a bright-novel test environment but not when the same solutions were presented in the home cage. In Experiment 3, we found that the time between testing and subsequent postsession feeding could also affect the suppression of saccharin intake. Saccharin intake was suppressed when access to 32% sucrose was delayed by 32 min and the test situation was followed by immediate postsession feeding, but not when postsession feeding was delayed by 90 min. These results thus extend estimates of the rat’s time horizon to at least 32 min, but indicate that the effective time horizon can vary, depending on the test situation.
The Measurement of the Effect of Social Work on the Enhancement of Dental Student Training

This series of studies measures the impact of social work involvement in two areas of dental training clinics. In the first, social worker to dental student one-to-one feedback significantly increased appropriate dental student in-operatory behaviors. In the second study, an innovative program for patient procurement was developed and tested by the social worker.
The Limiting Spectral Measure for Ensembles of Symmetric Block Circulant Matrices

Given an ensemble of N×N random matrices, a natural question to ask is whether or not the empirical spectral measures of typical matrices converge to a limiting spectral measure as N→∞. While this has been proved for many thin patterned ensembles sitting inside all real symmetric matrices, frequently there is no nice closed form expression for the limiting measure. Further, current theorems provide few pictures of transitions between ensembles. We consider the ensemble of symmetric m-block circulant matrices with entries i.i.d.r.v. These matrices have toroidal diagonals periodic of period m. We view m as a “dial” we can “turn” from the thin ensemble of symmetric circulant matrices, whose limiting eigenvalue density is a Gaussian, to all real symmetric matrices, whose limiting eigenvalue density is a semi-circle. The limiting eigenvalue densities f m show a visually stunning convergence to the semi-circle as m→∞, which we prove. In contrast to most studies of patterned matrix ensembles, our paper gives explicit closed form expressions for the densities. We prove that f m is the product of a Gaussian and a certain even polynomial of degree 2m−2; the formula is the same as that for the m×m Gaussian Unitary Ensemble (GUE). The proof is by derivation of the moments from the eigenvalue trace formula. The new feature, which allows us to obtain closed form expressions, is converting the central combinatorial problem in the moment calculation into an equivalent counting problem in algebraic topology. We end with a generalization of the m-block circulant pattern, dropping the assumption that the m random variables be distinct. We prove that the limiting spectral distribution exists and is determined by the pattern of the independent elements within an m-period, depending not only on the frequency at which each element appears, but also on the way the elements are arranged.
The structure and activity of chromium oxide catalysts: II. Influence of catalyst structure on activity for reactions of cyclopropane

Abstract The initial rates for cyclopropane isomerization and hydrogenolysis on amorphous (catalyst A) and crystalline (catalyst C) chromium oxide are reported. Based on the overall specific rates or turnover numbers, cyclopropane hydrogenolysis is sensitive and isomerization insensitive to the catalyst structure. The activation energies for both reactions are greater on catalyst C than on A, but a strong compensation effect is operative. The changes in activity which accompany catalyst structural changes do not appear to be closely related to changes in pore size, site density or mechanism, but are interpreted in terms of the influence of catalyst structure on site activity.
Bridging the gap between micro - and macro-scale perspectives on the role of microbial communities in global change ecology

In order to understand the role microbial communities play in mediating ecosystem response to disturbances it is essential to address the methodological and conceptual gap that exists between micro- and macro-scale perspectives in ecology. While there is little doubt microorganisms play a central role in ecosystem functioning and therefore in ecosystem response to global change-induced disturbance, our ability to investigate the exact nature of that role is limited by disciplinary and methodological differences among microbial and ecosystem ecologists. In this paper we present results from an interdisciplinary graduate-level seminar class focused on this topic. Through the medium of case studies in global change ecology (soil respiration, nitrogen cycling, plant species invasion and land use/cover change) we highlight differences in our respective approach to ecology and give examples where disciplinary perspective influences our interpretation of the system under study. Finally, we suggest a model for integrating perspectives that may lead to greater interdisciplinary collaboration and enhanced conceptual and mechanistic modeling of ecosystem response to disturbance.
Alterations in the estrogen sensitivity of hypothalamic proenkephalin mRNA expression with age and prenatal exposure to alcohol

Studies suggest that exposure to alcohol in utero causes reproductive and neuroendocrine deficits in adult female rats. The ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN) is an estrogen-sensitive brain region which is regarded as a primary locus for modulating female reproduction. Proenkephalin (PE) mRNA expression in the VMN is dramatically increased by estrogen and this elevation is thought to be involved in modulating female reproductive behavior and neuroendocrine function. To examine whether prenatal alcohol exposure has long-term effects on the ability of estrogen to influence hypothalamic PE mRNA levels, female rats at 2-3, 6-7 or 15-18 months of age, derived from alcohol- or control-fed dams, were studied. 7 days following ovariectomy, animals received either estrogen or sham treatment for 2 days prior to sacrifice. PE mRNA levels in the VMN and striatum were determined by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Film autoradiogram density, numbers of PE mRNA-expressing cells and exposed silver grains/cell were analyzed. Estrogen treatment increased hybridization density, the number of PE mRNA-expressing cells and PE mRNA (grains) level/cell in the VMN of normal adult female rats. In old rats, estrogen increased the number of PE mRNA-expressing cells without up-regulating PE mRNA grain density/cell. In fetal alcohol-exposed (FAE) female rats, the number of cells that expressed PE mRNA did not increase following estrogen treatment at any age. Elevation of grain density/cell following estrogen was observed in FAE animals but only at 7-8 months of age. Overall, these data indicate that the estrogen responsiveness of PE mRNA expression in the VMN declines with age and, furthermore, prenatal exposure to alcohol blunts estrogen's effects on PE mRNA expression in the adult VMN. These finding may help to explain the mechanisms underlying the loss of reproductive function observed in FAE females.
An RKHS framework for functional data analysis

Abstract Linear combinations of random variables play a crucial role in multivariate analysis. Two extension of this concept are considered for functional data and shown to coincide using the Loeve–Parzen reproducing kernel Hilbert space representation of a stochastic process. This theory is then used to provide an extension of the multivariate concept of canonical correlation. A solution to the regression problem of best linear unbiased prediction is obtained from this abstract canonical correlation formulation. The classical identities of Lawley and Rao that lead to canonical factor analysis are also generalized to the functional data setting. Finally, the relationship between Fisher's linear discriminant analysis and canonical correlation analysis for random vectors is extended to include situations with function-valued random elements. This allows for classification using the canonical Y scores and related distance measures.
On the structure of β-Ga2O3

Abstract The deviation from the symmetry 2 m to 1 of β-Ga2O3 as reported by Wolten and Chase must be very small. It is apparently not measurable by X-ray intensity differences, by EPR of both Fe3+-and Cr3+-doped β-Ga2O3, by Mossbauer effect spectroscopy of Fe3+-substituted β-Ga2O3, or by optical and microwave resonance spectroscopy. Second harmonic generation, as measured by the Kurtz-Perry technique, and pyroelectricity are absent. It is pointed out also that single crystals of high-pressure phase Ga2−xInxO3 have been reported to be isostructural with the monoclinic β-Ga2O3.
Ventricular arrhythmias after precordial electric shock

Abstract New cardiac arrhythmias occurred 43 times in 50 patients who underwent 55 elective precordial applications of synchronized D.C. shock for the control of cardiac arrhythmias. Ventricular arrhythmias were seen after 27 procedures. There were unifocal ventricular premature systoles in 11, multifocal ventricular premature systoles in 15, and ventricular bigeminy in 17. Three of these patients developed runs of ventricular tachycardia, and 2 developed ventricular fibrillation. One patient with ventricular fibrillation received additional D.C. shock to control this arrhythmia. Except for this one patient, all arrhythmias were transient and self-limited. All patients survived the procedure, and there were no complications due to the new arrhythmias. Although there were only 7 patients who were not receiving digitalis, 3 of these 7 patients developed new ventricular arrhythmias (bigeminy, unifocal and multifocal premature systoles). This suggests that, in these patients, electric shock acted to increase ventricular irritability, even though there were no cases of ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia in this small group. Furthermore, in those patients who were not receiving toxic doses of digitalis, the dose of digitalis being used did not appear to be an important factor in determining which patients would develop new ventricular arrhythmias. Ventricular arrhythmias were more frequent after multiple shocks and high levels of energy. This may have been due either to a dose-dependent pro-arrhythmic effect of electric shock or to the severity of the underlying heart disease that necessitated multiple shocks of high energy, or to both.
Transcription factor GATA-3 is differentially expressed in murine Th1 and Th2 cells and controls Th2-specific expression of the interleukin-5 gene.

Interleukin-5 (IL-5), which is produced by CD4+ T helper 2 (Th2) cells, but not by Th1 cells, plays a key role in the development of eosinophilia in asthma. Despite increasing evidence that the outcome of many diseases is determined by the ratio of the two subsets of CD4+ T helper cells, Th1 and Th2, the molecular basis for Th1- and Th2-specific gene expression remains to be elucidated. We previously established a critical role for the transcription factor GATA-3 in IL-5 promoter activation in EL-4 cells, which express both Th1- and Th2-type cytokines. Our studies reported here demonstrate that GATA-3 is critical for expression of the IL-5 gene in bona fide Th2 cells. Whereas mutations in the GATA-3 site abolished antigen- or cAMP-stimulated IL-5 promoter activation in Th2 cells, ectopic expression of GATA-3 in Th1 cells or in a non-lymphoid, non-IL-5-producing cell line activated the IL-5 promoter. During the differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells isolated from T cell receptor transgenic mice, GATA-3 gene expression was up-regulated in developing Th2 cells, but was down-regulated in Th1 cells, and antigen- or cAMP-activated Th2 cells (but not Th1 cells) expressed the GATA-3 protein. Thus, GATA-3 may play an important role in the balance between Th1 and Th2 subsets in immune responses. Inhibition of GATA-3 activity has therapeutic potential in the treatment of asthma and other hypereosinophilic diseases.
Obligatory free radical intermediate in the oxidative activation of the carcinogen N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene.

Abstract We have demonstrated that the nitroxyl free radical form of the carcinogen N -hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (OH-AAF) is an obligatory intermediate in the cumene hydroperoxide-hematin-induced oxidative activation of this carcinogen into 2-nitrosofluorene and N -acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene. Both the rate of N -OH-2-acetylaminofluorene oxidation and the amount of its nitroxyl free radical were experimently observed as a function of reaction time. Rate equations were derived for a model in which the nitroxyl free radical form of OH-AAF was an obligatory intermediate in the reaction. Using this theory it was possible to compute one experimental variable, the rate of OH-AAF oxidation, utilizing the other experimental variable, the amount of nitroxyl free radical present at any time during the reaction. The theory also predicts a linear relationship between the rate of OH-AAF oxidation and the square of the free radical content; and this was found to be true experimentally. The dismutation rate of constant of the nitroxyl free radical of OH-AAF was found to be 2.7 · 10 5 M −1 · s −1 .
Tracing Contributions of Benzene from Outdoor to Indoor Air

Regulatory action levels for benzene in indoor air are typically unrealistic because they are commonly less than ambient outdoor concentrations. To trace potential benzene contributions to indoor air from outdoor sources, we evaluated data from 66 air samples collected at three sites with known subsurface impacts. Comparison of benzene:tracer ratios from indoor air, outdoor air, and soil gas samples demonstrated that indoor air benzene was primarily contributed by outdoor air and not by soil-vapor intrusion. Principal components analysis also demonstrated that soil gas had a distinctly different volatiles signature than both indoor and outdoor air. Ignoring ambient outdoor benzene contributions may lead to the erroneous conclusion that soil gas is the source of indoor air benzene.
Differential effects of antimitotic agents on the stability and behavior of cytoplasmic and ciliary microtubules.

When sea urchin gastrulae are treated with colchicine or hydrostatic pressure the cytoplasmic microtubules disappear, but the ciliary microtubules which make up the ciliary axoneme (9+2) remain. With calcium-free sea water the cytoplasmic microtubules are reduced in number yet the 9+2 complex in the cilia is unaffected. Furthermore during the administration of any of these agents the cilia continue to beat so that functionally as well as morphologically the ciliary microtubules are normal even though the cytoplasmic microtubules are broken down and their presumed function in development is interrupted.
Clinical utility of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and plasma protein analysis in the elderly

The utilization and interpretation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the elderly have been surrounded by controversy and confusion. To improve the understanding of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and its determinants in the aged, a defined population of 111 ambulatory, retirement-home residents underwent thorough clinical and laboratory evaluation. Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Wintrobe erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and plasma viscosity measurements were all significantly correlated with one another as well as with plasma proteins, particularly fibrinogen and globulins. Age per se had no influence on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the study population. On the basis of standard upper limits of normal for younger populations, the Wintrobe sedimentation rate was most commonly abnormal and plasma viscosity least commonly abnormal. The "normal" upper limit of 20 mm/hour for Westergren sedimentation rate was also the optimal limit of normal by receiver operating characteristic analysis of the study population. Although the sensitivity of the Westergren sedimentation rate for the presence of an inflammatory condition or monoclonal gammopathy was only 0.55, the specificity was 0.96, and the positive predictive value of an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate being associated with a clinical disorder was 0.93. The enhanced clinical utility of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate in this population compared with other elderly populations may be due to a low prevalence of anemia and hypoalbuminemia. In such populations, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate may remain a useful clinical test, regardless of patient age.
α-L-fucosidase variant and lipid-associated sialic acid in hereditary ovarian cancer

In a previous study of alpha-L-fucosidase (ALF) activities in plasma samples from three ovarian cancer-prone kindreds, we observed a significant inverse correlation of cancer susceptibility and enzyme activity. Because a low level of plasma ALF activity is an inherited characteristic that has been termed the "fucosidase variant," the above demonstration has provoked great interest in the fucosidase variant relative to the genetic transmission of ovarian cancer susceptibility. We have now observed in these same plasma samples that the concentrations of lipid-associated sialic acid (LAS) are also inversely correlated with the ALF activities and, therefore, directly correlated with ovarian cancer susceptibility. In the fucosidase variant individual, the ALF is modified intracellularly, but the modified enzyme only exhibits decreased activity in the plasma. For this reason, ALF cannot be involved in tumorigenesis. Rather, the factor that modifies ALF is probably involved and is the inherited character. Therefore, we hypothesize that this modifier is responsible not only for the "fucosidase variant" but also for the elevated concentration of LAS and plays a role in hereditary ovarian cancer.
Development of hamster tracheal epithelium: III. Illustration of statistical methods for proportional data in biology.

The data in the two companion papers (McDowell et al., 1985a,b) are of a commonly occurring type in which the dependent variable takes on one of a small number of distinct values; we wish to compare the relative proportions in which these values occur. Student's t test is inapplicable. We explain here in detail the linear logistic model that is appropriate, using our data as an example. Several reasonable models must first be fit. We did this by the maximum likelihood method, using a computer. We then used a x2 test to decide statistically between models. This process amounts to deciding directly which of the independent variables are important in determining the outcome, and thus it is the center of physiologic interest. The outcome depends on the initial choice of parameterization of the model. Generalizations are required in more complicated, but still commonly occurring, types of data.
Raphe unit activity in freely moving cats: Effects of quipazine

Abstract Quipazine produced a dose-dependent decrease in the discharge rate of serotonin-containing neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus of freely-moving cats. This ranged from a 10% decrease at 0.5 mg/kg, (i.p.), to a virtually complete depression of activity at 5.0 mg/kg. The effects of quipazine on raphe units occurred with a short latency (5–10 min) and its duration of action was dose-dependent and lasted from 1 to 6 hr. The degree of depression of raphe unit activity was directly related to the frequency of occurrence of a number of behaviors such as limb flicking and abortive grooming. There was a close temporal correlation between the depression of raphe unit activity and the occurrence of these behaviors. These data reveal that quipazine produces behavioral and raphe unit changes similar to those observed after administration of hallucinogens with an indole nucleus.
Why do children perseverate when they seem to know better: graded working memory, or directed inhibition?

Children sometimes have trouble switching from one task to another, despite demonstrating an awareness of current task demands. This behavior could reflect problems either directly inhibiting previously relevant information or sufficiently activating graded working memory representations for the current task. We tested competing predictions from each account, using a computerized card-sorting task in which we assessed children’s task switching abilities and their response speed to simple questions about current task demands. All children answered these questions correctly, but children who successfully switched tasks responded more quickly to questions than did children who perseverated on previous tasks, even after factoring out processing speed and age. This reaction time difference supports graded working memory accounts, with stronger representations of current task demands aiding both task-switching and responses to questions. This result poses a challenge for directed inhibition accounts, because nothing needs to be inhibited to answer simple questions that lack conflicting information.
Child Abuse, Social Support, and Social Functioning in African American Children

This study examined the relationship among child abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual), social support from friends and family, and social functioning in a sample of low-income African American children (N = 152). With the exception of the association between sexual abuse and peer support, all of the correlations among study variables were significant. The relationship between child physical and emotional abuse and social functioning were mediated by both family and peer support; however, only family (not peer) support was a significant mediator in the sexual abuse-social functioning link. Additionally, there was no difference found in the strength of mediation via family support versus peer support. Results suggest that mental health professionals should inquire about and attempt to increase children’s levels of social support from family and peers when working with abused youth in order to promote healthy psychological and psychosocial outcomes.
HPV-associated head and neck cancer: a virus-related cancer epidemic

Summary A rise in incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer—specifically of the lingual and palatine tonsils—in white men younger than age 50 years who have no history of alcohol or tobacco use has been recorded over the past decade. This malignant disease is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 infection. The biology of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer is distinct with P53 degradation, retinoblastoma RB pathway inactivation, and P16 upregulation. By contrast, tobacco-related oropharyngeal cancer is characterised by TP53 mutation and downregulation of CDKN2A (encoding P16). The best method to detect virus in tumour is controversial, and both in-situ hybridisation and PCR are commonly used; P16 immunohistochemistry could serve as a potential surrogate marker. HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer seems to be more responsive to chemotherapy and radiation than HPV-negative disease. HPV 16 is a prognostic marker for enhanced overall and disease-free survival, but its use as a predictive marker has not yet been proven. Many questions about the natural history of oral HPV infection remain under investigation. For example, why does the increase in HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer dominate in men? What is the potential of HPV vaccines for primary prevention? Could an accurate method to detect HPV in tumour be developed? Which treatment strategies reduce toxic effects without compromising survival? Our aim with this review is to highlight current understanding of the epidemiology, biology, detection, and management of HPV-related oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and to describe unresolved issues.
NMDA receptors: from genes to channels

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors belong to the family of ionotropic glutamate receptors. NMDA receptors were named after the specific glutamate-like synthetic agonist N-methyl-D-aspartate. In the past decade, an increasing number of functional sites have been discovered and used to refine the operational definition of NMDA receptors. The goal to characterize the molecular substrate underlying the heretofore strictly operationally defined NMDA receptors has come into reach following the cloning of a number of cDNAs coding for NMDA receptor subunits. However, in their review, Nikolaus Sucher and colleagues show that caution should be exercised in comparing the pharmacological properties of recombinant NMDA receptors to those of native neurones. Future work on NMDA receptors will be challenged to reconcile disparate effects obtained with recombinant versus native receptors.
Induction of Mixed Chimerism Depletes Pre-Existing and De Novo Developed Autoreactive B cells in Autoimmune NOD Mice

Destruction of pancreatic islet β-cells in type 1 diabetes (T1D) is mainly mediated by autoimmune T and B lymphocytes. We reported that induction of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)–mismatched mixed chimerism reversed autoimmunity and reestablished thymic negative selection of autoreactive T cells in NOD mice, but it is still unclear how mixed chimerism tolerizes autoreactive B cells. The current studies were designed to reveal the mechanisms on how mixed chimerism tolerizes autoreactive B cells in T1D. Accordingly, mixed chimerism was induced in NOD mice through radiation-free nonmyeloablative anti-CD3/CD8 conditioning and infusion of donor CD4 + T cell–depleted spleen and whole bone marrow (BM) cells or through myeloablative total body irradiation conditioning and reconstitution with T cell–depleted BM cells from donor and host. Kinetic analysis of percentage and yield of preplasma and plasma B cells, newly developed B-cell subsets, and their apoptosis was performed 30–60 days after transplantation. Induction of MHC-mismatched mixed chimerism results in depleting host-type pre-existing preplasma and plasma B cells as well as augmenting apoptosis of immature transitional T1 B cells, including insulin-specific B cells in a donor B cell–dependent manner. Therefore, induction of MHC-mismatched mixed chimerism depletes pre-existing and de novo–developed autoreactive B cells.
Dissolution Dynamics of Sub-Critical Clusters in Liquid Silicon

Previous attempts to simulate by Molecular Dynamics the spontaneous nucleation and growth of a crystalline Stillinger-Weber ‘silicon’ from the liquid have been essentially impossible because of constraints on system size and time scales. We have overcome these limitations by studying the related problem of the disintegration of crystalline ‘embryos’ into the liquid phase at temperatures slightly above the melting point. Molecular Dynamics simulations using the Stillinger-Weber potential were performed by embedding crystallites of 400 atoms in a liquid consisting of approximately 3600 atoms. During each simulation, the time-evolution of the size and shape of the embryo was followed until it became indistinguishable from the liquid. These simulations provide intriguing new information on the atomic processes involved in dissolution and on the macroscopic kinetics of small clusters. Comparisons of results at different temperatures, system sizes and initial configurations are shown and the implications of these cluster dynamics for crystal growth in supercooled liquids, homogeneous nucleation, and transient nucleation are discussed.