cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Secloud: A cloud-based comprehensive and lightweight security solution for smartphones

As smartphones are becoming more complex and powerful to provide better functionalities, concerns are increasing regarding security threats against their users. Since smartphones use a software architecture similar to PCs, they are vulnerable to the same classes of security risks. Unfortunately, smartphones are constrained by their limited resources that prevent the integration of advanced security monitoring solutions that work with traditional PCs. We propose Secloud, a cloud-based security solution for smartphone devices. Secloud emulates a registered smartphone device inside a designated cloud and keeps it synchronized by continuously passing the device inputs and network connections to the cloud. This allows Secloud to perform a resource-intensive security analysis on the emulated replica that would otherwise be infeasible to run on the device itself. We demonstrate the practical feasibility of Secloud through a prototype for Android devices and illustrate its resource effectiveness by comparing it with on-device solutions.
An existence result on positive solutions for a class of semilinear elliptic systems

Consider the system where λ is a positive parameter and Ω is a bounded domain in RN. We prove the existence of a large positive solution for λ large when limx → ∞ (f(Mg(x))/x) = 0 for every M > 0. In particular, we do not need any monotonicity assumptions on f, g, nor any sign conditions on f(0), g(0).
The Assessment of Non-Feminizing Estrogens for Use in Neuroprotection

Menopause is associated with a precipitous decline in circulating estrogens and a resulting loss of the neuroprotective actions of this steroid hormone. In view of the results of the Women's Health Initiative and the preceding knowledge that orally administered estrogens has a variety of adverse side effects, likely through actions on peripheral estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), we initiated a program of research to synthesis and assess a group of non-feminizing estrogens that lack ability to interact with ERs but retain much of the neuroprotective action of feminizing estrogens. This program of research is aimed at the identification of compounds which do not stimulate ERs but are potentially neuroprotective in vitro and in animal models of neuronal cell death. We discovered that the most effective non-feminizing estrogens were those with large bulky groups in the 2 and/or 4 carbon of the phenolic A ring of the steroid. These compounds were 8- to 114-fold more potent than 17 β-estradiol (βE2), but lacked ER binding capacity in vitro and feminizing effects in vivo. The success of this program of research suggests that strategies to optimize non-feminizing estrogens for use in postmenopausal women can be successful.
Drug use disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder over 25 adult years: Role of psychopathology in relational networks

Background In traumatized populations, drug use disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) persist for many years. Relational factors that mediate this persistence have rarely been systematically examined. Our aim is to examine the relative effects of psychopathology in familial and non-familial networks on the persistence of both disorders over adulthood.
History and the Public: Legacies of the Progressive Era

In 1931 Carl Becker summoned his fellow professional historians to adapt their knowledge of the past to "Mr. Everyman's" present needs. His call reflected a growing realization that the historical profession and the public had come to view history in fundamentally different ways. Contending that history in the academy and in public was "in lowest common denominator" the same, Becker attempted to counter his colleagues' perceptions of an ever-widening gap between the two genres., In the half century since Becker's address, other historians have echoed his concern, wondering why communication between professional historians and the general public has steadily diminished even while the public's "search for a usable past" remains intense. In part, the divergence between professional historians and the public in the twentieth century has been a result of specialization and the concentration of historical scholarship within colleges and universities. As universities employed more historians, advancement in the historical profession resulted from publishing articles and monographs in specialized disciplines for fellow scholar-teachers across the nation, rather than participating in a variety of local historical enterprises for a general audience.2 Professional historians employed in federal agencies since the 1930s, in the National Archives, State Department, Pentagon, and National Park Service, also came to address their work largely to fellow specialists in government, universities, and historic preservation.
Evaluation and management of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to describe the evaluation of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) and the management of dysfunctional shunts. CONCLUSION. TIPS can become dysfunctional if stenosis develops in the shunt or the hepatic vein above the shunt. Screening allows detection of stenoses before portal hypertensive–related complications recur. Revision of stenotic shunts can be easily accomplished in most cases. Techniques for screening and revision will be discussed.
Median-style filters for noise reduction in composition analyses

Abstract Several commonly applied techniques for atom probe data noise reduction are compared to signal processing techniques specifically designed to maintain interfacial integrity. A median filter and a double-window modified trimmed mean filter, along with several other filters, are applied to both a simulated atom probe composition profile and to real atom probe data. The various methods are compared using average profile compositions and variance measurements. The double-window modified trimmed mean filter is found to smooth the data in the slowly varying regions of the profile without degrading sharp interfaces.
FORMATION OF ELABORATE NETWORKS OF T-SYSTEM TUBULES IN CULTURED SKELETAL MUSCLE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE T-SYSTEM FORMATION

Muscle cells, cultured for 1–28 days from 11-day chick embryo breast muscles, often show elaborate, three-dimensional networks of a membranous system. The network consists of tubular units which are quite regularly arranged. The tubular units composing the network are accessible to ferritin particles suspended in the culture medium; this suggests continuity with the extracellular fluid. These networks can be regarded as a special morphological elaboration of the T-system tubules. Such network formations can be seen much more often in well-developed myotubes. The networks usually exhibit a hexagonal pattern, which is formed of tubular units of a constant diameter. However, some early myotubes contain tetragonal networks, which are composed of spherical pockets with channels of lesser diameter connecting the pockets. Networks are also observed which probably represent a transitional form between these two patterns. Myotubes show many inpocketings of the sarcolemma similar to what are commonly referred to as caveolae or micropinocytotic vesicles. The similarity in configuration and dimension of the tubular units of the network to the caveolae leads to the plausible suggestion that repeated caveola-formation from the sarcolemma or T-system tubule may result in formation of these networks. In this connection, a possible mechanism of the T-system tubule formation is discussed.
Dynactin helps target Polo‐like kinase 1 to kinetochores via its left‐handed beta‐helical p27 subunit

Dynactin is a protein complex required for the in vivo function of cytoplasmic dynein, a microtubule (MT)-based motor. Dynactin binds both dynein and MTs via its p150(Glued) subunit, but little is known about the 'pointed-end complex' that includes the protein subunits Arp11, p62 and the p27/p25 heterodimer. Here, we show that the p27/p25 heterodimer undergoes mitotic phosphorylation by cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) at a single site, p27 Thr186, to generate an anchoring site for polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) at kinetochores. Removal of p27/p25 from dynactin results in reduced levels of Plk1 and its phosphorylated substrates at kinetochores in prometaphase, which correlates with aberrant kinetochore-MT interactions, improper chromosome alignment and abbreviated mitosis. To investigate the structural implications of p27 phosphorylation, we determined the structure of human p27. This revealed an unusual left-handed β-helix domain, with the phosphorylation site located within a disordered, C-terminal segment. We conclude that dynactin plays a previously undescribed regulatory role in the spindle assembly checkpoint by recruiting Plk1 to kinetochores and facilitating phosphorylation of important downstream targets.
Kinesin spindle protein (KSP) inhibitors. Part 1: The discovery of 3,5-diaryl-4,5-dihydropyrazoles as potent and selective inhibitors of the mitotic kinesin KSP

Optimization of high-throughput screening (HTS) hits resulted in the discovery of 3,5-diaryl-4,5-dihydropyrazoles as potent and selective inhibitors of KSP. Dihydropyrazole 15 is a potent, cell-active KSP inhibitor that induces apoptosis and generates aberrant mitotic spindles in human ovarian carcinoma cells at low nanomolar concentrations. X-ray crystallographic evidence is presented which demonstrates that these inhibitors bind in an allosteric pocket of KSP distant from the nucleotide and microtubule binding sites.
Selective alteration of constitutive hepatic cytochrome P-450 enzymes in the rat during parenteral hyperalimentation.

Abstract Decreased drug metabolism and hepatic cytochrome P-450 levels have been shown previously to occur in rats receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) compared to animals receiving the same hyperalimentation solution enterally (TEN). In the present studies, animals received a 7-day infusion of a 25% glucose-2.75% crystalline amino acid solution via a catheter in the jugular vein or stomach; hepatic microsomal levels of four major constitutive cytochromes P-450 were determined subsequently by immunoquantitation and correlated with metabolism of selected substrates biotransformed by these enzymes. TPN resulted in a marked decrease in apoprotein of two constitutive cytochromes P-450, P-450 ut-a and P-450 pcn-e , compared to TEN experiments (for P-450 ut-a , 11-0 ± 1.8 vs 44.7 ± 6.5% of total cytochrome P-450 measured by CO-difference spectra, P > 0.001; for P -450 pcn-e , 15.4 ± 4.4 vs 30.2 ± 7.6%, P , but apoprotein levels of two other constitutive cytochromes P-450, P-450 pb-c and P-450 ut-f , showed relatively little change. Concordant reductions in metabolism of benzphetamine, ethylmorphine and erythromycin were seen in TPN animals. While the mechanisms responsible for these selective changes in the synthesis and function of individual cytochromes P-450 remain to be elucidated, altered gene transcription due to differences in portal blood composition elicited by intravenous versus enteral feeding is a possible hypothesis. These studies also provide information which should be valuable in designing studies to probe further the clinical question of whether TPN induces significant alterations in human drug metabolism.
Unilateral congenital glaucoma in a child with optic nerve aplasia

Unilateral optic nerve aplasia is a rare, nonhereditary defect associated with anterior chamber malformations and other ocular malformations. We report the case of an 8½-week-old boy with unilateral optic nerve aplasia who was diagnosed with glaucoma on presentation with corneal edema and an intraocular pressure of 36 mm Hg. The cornea edema cleared after a trabeculotomy, and subsequent fundus examination revealed optic nerve aplasia that was confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging. Intraocular pressure remained well-controlled with 7½ months of follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of optic nerve aplasia associated with glaucoma at presentation.
Equipment for High-Pressure Infrared Measurements

Since vibrational frequency shifts in liquids, produced by solvents and/or high liquid densities, are relatively small, precision equipment and techniques must be used. Design and operation of modified equipment, including a long path grating monochromator, a pressuring system and cells for pressures up to 5000–10000 atm are described. A static measurement technique, involving precise positioning of the grating and read out of the transmittance on a digital voltmeter, followed by computer processing of the series of points which describe the absorption peak to determine the ν0, are also described. Experimental data on C=C vibration on cis-pentene-2 are presented to illustrate results.
Deconstructing the community radio model: Applying practice to theory in East Africa:

Community radio is often theorized as being (1) independent from political and economic influence and (2) a platform for the meaningful engagement of marginalized populations traditionally excluded...
Intracoronary Nitrogylcerin and Regional Coronary Blood Flow Responses During Coronary Angioplasty in Patients

To examine the direct effects of nitroglycerin (NTG) on anterior regional coronary blood flow, electrocardiographic and hemodynamic responses were measured immediately before, during, and after brief coronary occlusion in 17 patients undergoing left anterior descending coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Hemodynamic data and the time from the onset of coronary occlusion to 1.0 mm ST elevation or depression were compared for matched control and NTG occlusion periods. Ten seconds before the “NTG” occlusion, 200 μg of NTG was injected into the left coronary artery. Baseline and occlusion level great cardiac vein flow (thermodilution) was similar for both occlusion periods (93 ± 27 to 59 ± 23 mL/min for control; 95 ± 27 to 56 ± 22 mL/min for NTG occlusion). NTG reduced mean arterial pressure (91 ± 11 to 82 ± 15 mmHg, P < 0.05) during increased basal great vein flow (95 ± 27 to 127 ± 54 mL/min p < 0.01) immediately prior to occlusion. Great vein hyperemic flow after release of occlusion increased 21 ± 30% versus 36 ± 40% (P = ns) after control occlusion. There were no differences in heart rate or systolic-heart rate pressure products, time to ischemic ST-T wave changes or the maximal hyperemic responses from the control occlusion. These data suggest that during the initial minutes of coronary occlusion, the marked but transient coronary vasodilation induced by intracoronary NTG does not significantly modulate myocardial ischemia or regional coronary blood flow responses. The clinical benefits of NTG during PTCA most likely occur more through other mechanisms than direct myocardial flow augmentation. (J Interven Cardiol: 1988:1:1)
Effect of U-50488h, a selective opioid κ receptor agonist, on vascular injury after spinal cord trauma

U-50488H, a selective opioid kappa receptor agonist has been shown to be a neuroprotective agent in animal models of spinal cord injury. The mechanism of action of U-50488H is not known. Methylprednisolone, the only neuroprotective drug proven in patients with acute spinal cord injury may prevent the secondary injury after an initial trauma. Secondary vascular injury develops after experimental spinal cord trauma. In this study we examined the effects of U-50488H on post-traumatic vascular injury based on the measurement of vascular permeability, edema and neutrophil infiltration in a rat spinal cord injury model. Vascular permeability was assessed by vascular extravasation of fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated dextran (FITC-D), a macromolecular tracer. Tissue edema was determined by percentage water content and neutrophil infiltration by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, a marker enzyme for neutrophils. U-50488H at doses of 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg i.p. administered twice (0.5 h before and 0.5 h after trauma) reduced vascular permeability in a dose-dependent manner. More frequent dosing (10 mg/kg, 0.5 h before and 0.5, 2, 8 and 22 h after injury) reduced vascular permeability 24 h after injury. U-50488H also reduced edema formation but did not affect neutrophil infiltration. Results from this study raise the possibility that the neuroprotective effect of U-50488H involves a secondary vascular event.
Boundary resistance of the superconducting-normal interface

The resistances of superconductor---normal-metal---superconductor sandwiches have been measured in which the mean free path of the superconductor was greater than or comparable with the coherence length. Below about 0.5 ${T}_{c}$, the resistance was nearly independent of temperature and, to within the experimental error, equal to the estimated resistance of the normal layer, indicating that there was relatively little interface contamination. At temperatures above about 0.9 ${T}_{c}$ the resistance rose rapidly as the temperature was increased towards ${T}_{c}$. A theory for this rise, based on the normal metal-insulator-superconductor tunneling theory of Tinkham and Clarke, is used to calculate the quasiparticle charge imbalance, ${Q}^{*}$, injected into the superconductor from the normal layer. The resultant additional boundary voltage per unit current is expressed as a boundary resistance ${R}_{b}=\frac{Z(T){(D{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{{Q}^{*}})}^{\frac{1}{2}}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{S}}{A}$, where $Z(T)$ is a universal function of temperature, and $D$, ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{{Q}^{*}}$, ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{S}$, and $A$ are the electron diffusion coefficient, the charge relaxation time, the normal-state resistivity, and the cross-section area of the superconductor. Above 0.9 ${T}_{c}$, the data are an excellent fit to the theory if one takes ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{{Q}^{*}}=\frac{4{k}_{B}T{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{E=0}({T}_{c})}{\ensuremath{\pi}{\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}(T)}$, where ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{E=0}({T}_{c})$ is the inelastic-scattering time at the Fermi surface at ${T}_{c}$, and ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}(T)$ is the energy gap far from the interface. The inferred values of ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{E=0}({T}_{c})$ in ${\mathrm{Pb}}_{0.99}$${\mathrm{Bi}}_{0.01}$, Sn, ${\mathrm{Sn}}_{0.99}$${\mathrm{In}}_{0.01}$, and In, 0.25 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ s, 2.6 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ s, 1.1 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ s, and 1.1 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ s, respectively, are generally in good agreement with the computed values of Kaplan et al.
Seismic Elastic Response of Earth Dams with Canyon Interaction

This paper deals with the seismic response of earth and rockfill dams, using elastic models that consider the deformability of the surrounding medium and effects of spatial variation of the seismic excitation. A finite-element-based method has been developed in which the dam is idealized as a shear beam and the surrounding medium as a halfspace. The model can simulate canyons of arbitrary shape, oblique SH-wave seismic excitation, and inhomogeneous distribution of elastic and damping properties of the dam and the sur- rounding medium. The methodology is illustrated by simulating the upstream-downstream response of the La Villita Dam, an earth and rockfill dam located near the epicenter of the 1985 Mexico earthquake, for various conditions of the surrounding foundation material. Results show that for models that include both foundation flexibility and radiated energy, the earthquake response of the dam is, overall, only a fraction of that obtained under the assumption of a rigid canyon. Exploiting these results may have a potentially beneficial effect in the retrofit of existing dams and design of new ones.
Effects of layered sediments on the guided wave in crosswell radar data

To understand how layered sediments affect the guided wave in crosswell radar data, traces are calculated for a model representing a sand layer between two clay layers. A guided wave propagates if the wavelengths in the sand layer are similar to the thickness of the sand layer. The amplitude of the guided wave but not its initial traveltime is affected by the thickness of the sand layer. In contrast, both the amplitude and the initial traveltime are affected by the locations of the transmitting and receiving antennas, the electrical conductivity of the sand layer, and the dielectric permittivity of the sand layer. This permittivity can be estimated from the initial traveltime. The effects of the layering on the waves in these calculated traces also are observed in field traces, which were collected in layered sediments.
Reactive oxygen species levels are independent of sperm concentration, motility, and abstinence in a normal, healthy, proven fertile man: a longitudinal study

In a longitudinal study over a period of 21 months, we demonstrated that seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels are independent of sperm concentration, motility, and abstinence duration within a healthy sperm donor, although some variations were observed in ROS levels. We suggest that fluctuation in seminal ROS values may be related to physiologic or transient changes in spermatogenesis.
groEL Expression in gyrB Mutants of Borrelia burgdorferi

GroEL protein and groEL mRNA transcript were up-regulated in gyrB mutants of Borrelia burgdorferi, a causative agent of Lyme disease. Furthermore, the protein and transcript levels in gyrB mutants were greater than those in experimentally heat-shocked cultures of wild-type B. burgdorferi. Circular DNA in the gyrB mutants was more relaxed than in wild-type cells, although groEL is on the linear chromosome of B. burgdorferi. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence, albeit indirect, for the effect of DNA topology on gene expression from a linear DNA molecule in a bacterium.
Experimental evaluation of resonant clock distribution

Energy recovery (a.k.a. adiabatic) systems present an attractive alternative to conventional designs due to their significant potential for reducing power. In practical versions of these systems, flip-flops are typically synchronized by a sinusoidal power-clock waveform through a resonant clock distribution network. Understanding clock skew is particularly important in energy recovery systems, because unlike their conventional counterparts, they do not use square clock waveforms or buffers. We have performed an experimental evaluation of clock skew in resonant H-shape clock distribution networks with sinusoidal waveforms. Our results show that compared to conventional clock distribution methodologies in high performance processors, properly designed low-power resonant clocking provides comparable or better skew. Our paper is the first study to suggest a number of practical design guidelines for low-skew resonant clocking, through a systematic investigation of the impact of width, spacing, and loading of the clock tree on clock skew.
The assembly and intermolecular properties of the hsp70-Hop-hsp90 molecular chaperone complex

Abstract The highly coordinated interactions of several molecular chaperones, including hsp70 and hsp90, are required for the folding and conformational regulation of a variety of proteins in eukaryotic cells, such as steroid hormone receptors and many other signal transduction regulators. The protein called Hop serves as an adaptor protein for hsp70 and hsp90 and is thought to optimize their functional cooperation. Here we characterize the assembly of the hsp70-Hop-hsp90 complex and reveal interactions that cause conformational changes between the proteins in the complex. We found that hsp40 plays an integral role in the assembly by enhancing the binding of hsp70 to the Hop complex. This is accomplished by stimulating the conversion of hsp70-ATP to hsp70-ADP, the hsp70 conformation favored for Hop binding. The hsp70-Hop-hsp90 complex is highly dynamic, as has been observed previously for hsp90 in its interaction with client proteins. Nonetheless, hsp90 binds with high affinity to Hop (K d = 90 nm), and this binding is not affected by hsp70. hsp70 binds with lower affinity to Hop (K d = 1.3 μm) on its own, but this affinity is increased (K d = 250 nm) in the presence of hsp90. hsp90 also reduces the number of hsp70 binding sites on the Hop dimer from two sites in the absence of hsp90 to one site in its presence. Hop can inhibit the ATP binding and p23 binding activity of hsp90, yet this can be reversed if hsp70 is present in the complex. Taken together, our results suggest that the assembly of hsp70-Hop-hsp90 complexes is selective and influences the conformational state of each protein.
A million transistor systolic array graphics engine

A description is given of a million transistor systolic array graphics engine (SAGE) that can render a horizontal 3-D span in every clock cycle at the rate of 25 million spans/s, independent of the pixel length of the span. For the average span length in the 10-32 pixel range, this translates into 250-800 million pixels/s. Assuming that the front end of the system can generate a span in every clock cycle, then in the best case SAGE polygon performance is 25,000,000 polygons/s for 100 pixel polygons and drops down to 750000 polygons/s as the average area of the polygons increases to 1000 pixels. For example, a system using the SAGE chip has the potential to interactively display the motion and time behavior of a 20000 polygon scene at a rate of 30 frames/s. In the extreme case where all spans are 1024 pixels long, SAGE operates at a peak parallel pixel-processing rate of 25000 million pixels/s. >
Raman spectra, vibrational assignment, structural parameters and ab initio calculations for ethyl nitrat

Raman spectra (4000–10 cm−1) of gas, liquid and solid ethyl nitrate were recorded. The qualitative depolarization values were obtained from the spectrum of the liquid. A vibrational assignment for the normal modes is proposed based on depolarization values, group frequencies and normal coordinate calculations. The structures for the trans and gauche conformers have been determined from ab initio Hartree-Fock gradient calculations using the Gaussian-82 program with both the 3–21G and 6–31G* basis sets. From this calculation at the 6–31G* level, the energy difference between the more stable trans conformer and the higher energy gauche conformers was found to be 474 cm−1 (1.36 kcal mol−1) with a gauche dihedral angle (CCON) of 79°. The trans to gauche and gauche to gauche barriers are 990 cm−1 (2.83 kcal mol−1) and 3152 cm−1 (9.01 kcal mol−1), respectively. Barriers to internal rotation for the CH3 and NO2 groups were also obtained from ab initio calculations. For the trans conformer the values are 1304 cm−1 (3.73 kcal mol−1) and 2702 cm−1 (7.73 kcal mol−1) and for the gauche conformer they are 1161 cm−1 (3.32 kcal mol−1) and 2758 (7.89 kcal mol−1) for the CH3 and NO2 barriers, respectively. Normal coordinate calculations were also performed for both conformers utilizing force fields calculated from the 3–21G basis set which support the vibrational assignments. The results of this investigation are compared with similar data on some corresponding molecules.
Induction of Anchorage Independent Growth by Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor (HB-EGF)

AbstractHeparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is initially synthesized as a membrane bound protein that is subsequently processed to yield an - 74 amino acid secreted product. To investigate the biological activities of HB-EGF and its role(s) in tumor formation, the full-length HB-EGF cDNA was cloned under the regulation of the mouse metallothionein promoter and stably expressed in HB-EGF deficient mouse L cells. HB-EGF immunoreactive proteins of 21 and 24 kDa were observed from transfected MLC lysates, and these lysates exhibited the ability to bind to the EGF receptor, stimulate 3H-thymidine uptake in BALB/c-3T3 cells, and induce anchorage independent growth (AIG) of normal rat kidney (NRK) cells. Furthermore, NRK cells treated with either E. coli-derived or vaccinia virus-derived HB-EGF, as well as NRK cells directly transfected with the HB-EGF construct, demonstrated AIG. We conclude that HB-EGF is a potent growth factor capable of stimulating altered cell growth and anch...
Mechanisms of estrogenic vascular protection.

cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death, the rate of which is greater in men compared with age-matched premenopausal women ([1][1]). However, the long-standing hypothesis that estrogen may contribute to this sex-based difference in disease presentation by providing “vascular protection
A BiCMOS Dual-Band Millimeter-Wave Frequency Synthesizer for Automotive Radars

Design and implementation of a millimeter-wave dual-band frequency synthesizer, operating in the 24 GHz and 77 GHz bands, are presented. All circuits except the voltage controlled oscillators are shared between the two bands. A multi-functional injection-locked circuit is used after the oscillators to simplify the reconfiguration of the division ratio inside the phase-locked loop. The 1 mm times 0.8 mm synthesizer chip is fabricated in a 0.18 mum silicon-germanium BiCMOS technology, featuring 0.15 mum emitter-width heterojunction bipolar transistors. Measurements of the prototype demonstrate a locking range of 23.8-26.95 GHz/75.67-78.5 GHz in the 24/77 GHz modes, with a low power consumption of 50/75 mW from a 2.5 V supply. The closed-loop phase noise at 1 MHz offset from the carrier is less than -100 dBc/Hz in both bands. The frequency synthesizer is suitable for integration in direct-conversion transceivers for K/W-band automotive radars and heterodyne receivers for 94 GHz imaging applications.
Acetate kinetics in normal and ketotic cows.

Abstract A solution containing acetate-1- 14 C was infused into two cows during spontaneous ketosis, then later when each was normal. A series of blood samples was taken, and radiochemical analyses were performed for plasma acetate and glucose, and blood CO 2 . The acetate entry rates were 1,900 and 3,500 g/day during ketosis, 3,100 and 4,300 g/day normal, respectively. The fraction of plasma glucose-carbon derived from plasma acetate-carbon was 6% in all four experiments. The fraction of blood CO 2 -carbon derived from plasma acetate-carbon was 33% in three experiments and 64% in one normal. The entry rates in normal cows were about 25–30% higher than previous estimates of ruminal production rates of acetate; this agrees with a previous estimate of endogenous acetate production in fed sheep. The lower entry rates during ketosis probably reflect lower ruminal production rates, as these two cows had exhibited inappetence for several days.
Mammary tumor induction and premature ovarian failure in ApcMin mice are not enhanced by Brca2 deficiency.

Inherited BRCA2 mutations predispose individuals to breast cancer and increase risk at other sites. Recent studies have suggested a role for the APC I1307K allele as a low-penetrance breast cancer susceptibility gene that enhances the phenotypic effects of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. To model the consequences of inheriting mutant alleles of the BRCA2 and APC tumor suppressor genes, we examined tumor outcome in C57BL/6 mice with mutations in the Brca2 and Apc genes. We hypothesized that if the Brca2 and Apc genes were interacting to ine uence mammary tumor susceptibility, then mammary tumor incidence and/or multiplicity would be altered in mice that had inherited mutations in both genes. Female and male offspring treated with a single IP injection of 50 mg/kg N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) at 35 days of age developed mammary adenoacanthomas by 100 days of age. The female Apc-mutant and Brca2/Apc double-mutant progeny had mean mammary tumor multiplicities of 6.7 2.8 and 7.2 2.7, respectively, compared to wild-type and Brca2-mutant females, which had mean mammary tumor multiplicities of 0.1 0.4 and 0.3 0.5, respectively. Female ENU-treated Apc-mutant and Brca2/Apc double heterozygotes were also susceptible to premature ovarian failure. Thus, the inheritance of an Apc mutation predisposes ENU-treated female and male mice to mammary tumors and, in the case of female mice, to ovarian failure. These results indicate that mammary tumor development in Apc-mutant mice can progress independently of ovarian hormones. The Apc mutation-driven phenotypes were not modie ed by mutation of Brca2, perhaps because Brca2 acts in a hormonally dependent pathway of mammary carcinogenesis.
Cardiovascular Biology of Microsomal Prostaglandin E Synthase-1

Both traditional and purpose-designed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, selective for inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, alleviate pain and inflammation but confer a cardiovascular hazard attributable to inhibition of COX-2–derived prostacyclin (PGI 2 ). Deletion of microsomal PGE synthase-1 (mPGES-1), the dominant enzyme that converts the COX-derived intermediate product PGH 2 to PGE 2 , modulates inflammatory pain in rodents. In contrast with COX-2 deletion or inhibition, PGI 2 formation is augmented in mPGES-1 −/− mice—an effect that may confer cardiovascular benefit but may undermine the analgesic potential of inhibitors of this enzyme. This review considers the cardiovascular biology of mPGES1 and the complex challenge of developing inhibitors of this enzyme.
Tuning of HOMO energy levels and open circuit voltages in solar cells based on statistical copolymers prepared by ADMET polymerization

A series of donor–acceptor statistical copolymers based on a 2,7-divinyl-9,9′-di-n-hexylfluorene (FV) donor and 4,7-bis(4-hexadecyl-5-propenyl-2-thienyl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (TBTV) acceptor were prepared to investigate the relationship between copolymer donor–acceptor ratio and organic solar cell (OSC) performance. Homopolymers of the donor and acceptor moieties were prepared by acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) methods. Five copolymers with systematically varied donor–acceptor ratios spanning the entire composition range were also prepared. All homopolymers and copolymers were characterized using size exclusion chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and electrochemical cyclic voltammetry. Additionally, each polymer was incorporated into thin film field effect transistor and photovoltaic devices to investigate optoelectronic properties. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level was found to be tunable over a 600 meV range through systematic variation of the copolymer donor–acceptor ratio. This same tunability manifested in the solar cell open circuit voltage (Voc), which also varied over a 600 mV range. Short circuit current density (Jsc) correlated well with field effect hole mobility. This series exemplifies the relationship between copolymer composition, HOMO energy level, and Voc, and demonstrates that peak solar cell performance can be achieved at non-stoichiometric donor–acceptor compositions.
Soft adaptive gradient angle interpolation of grayscale images

We introduce a new edge-directed interpolator based on locally defined, straight line approximations to image isophotes. The first spatial derivatives of image intensity are used to describe the behavior of pixel-intersecting isophotes in terms of their slopes. Slopes are determined by inverting a tridiagonal matrix and are forced to vary linearly from pixel to pixel. Image resizing is performed using standard, 1D interpolators along the approximated isophotes. The proposed method can accommodate arbitrary scaling factors, provides state-of-the-art results in terms of PSNR as well as other quantitative quality metrics, and has the advantage of computational complexity that is directly proportional to the number of pixels.
Beta Sic Powders Produced by Carbothermic Reduction of Silica in a High-Temperature Rotary Furnace

Sinterable β-Sic powders were synthesized by carbothermic reduction of silica with carbon in a high-temperature rotary furnace. The powders were character ized as to sinterability, surface area, particle size, and morphology.
Expression of glia maturation factor in neuropathological lesions of Alzheimer's disease.

R. Thangavel, D. Stolmeier, X. Yang, P. Anantharam and A. Zaheer (2012) Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology38, 572–581 Expression of glia maturation factor in neuropathological lesions of Alzheimer's disease Aims: The pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of amyloid plaques (APs), neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), degenerating neurones, and an abundance of reactive astrocytes and microglia. We aim to examine the association between glia maturation factor (GMF) expression, activated astrocytes/microglia, APs and NFTs in AD-affected brain regions. Methods: Brain sections were stained with Thioflavin-S to study AD pathology and sequentially immunolabeled with antibodies against GMF, glial fibrillary acidic protein (marker for reactive astrocytes), and Ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1, marker for activated microglia) followed by visualization with avidin-biotin peroxidase complex. Results: Our double immunofluorescence labelling with cell-specific markers demonstrated the glial localization of GMF. The immunohistochemical data showed that APs and NFTs are associated with increased expression of GMF in reactive glia of AD brains compared with non-AD controls. Conclusions: This is the first report that shows GMF, a mediator of central nervous system inflammation, is expressed in the brain regions affected in AD and that GMF is mainly localized in reactive astrocytes surrounding APs/NFTs. The distribution of GMF-immunoreactive cells in and around Thioflavin-S stained APs and NFTs suggests involvement of GMF in inflammatory responses through reactive glia and a role of GMF in AD pathology.
Magnetic phase transitions in epitaxial Fe/Cr superlattices

Fe/Cr superlattices exhibit a variety of intriguing magnetic properties not observed in bulk materials. Examples include oscillatory interlayer coupling and giant magnetoresistance. Growth of epitaxial superlattices allows the interlayer coupling and magnetic anisotropy to be tailored to probe rather subtle magnetic ordering transitions of thin-film antiferromagnets. The author discusses two such transitions, the surface spin-flop transition in Fe/Cr(211) superlattices and the Neel transition of thin Cr layers in proximity with Fe in Fe/Cr(001) superlattices. The surface spin-flop transition is a first-order, field-induced phase transition in antiferromagnets with uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and the field applied along the easy direction. In Fe/Cr(100) superlattices, the antiferromagnetic ordering of the Cr spacers results in anomalies in a variety of physical properties. The transition temperature is strongly Cr thickness dependent. A `transition-temperature shift exponent` is extracted from the data in the thick Cr regime (< 160 {angstrom}) and discussed in terms of a combination of finite-size and spin-frustration effects.
A model for repair of radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks in the extreme radiophile Deinococcus radiodurans.

Summary The bacterium Deinococcus (former I y Micrococcus) radiodurans and other members of the eubacterial family Deinococaceae are extremely resistant to ionizing radiation and many other agents that damage DNA. Stationary phase D. radiodurans exposed to 1 .O-1.5 Mrad y-irradiation sustains >120 DNA double-strand breaks (dsbs) per chromosome; these dsbs are mended over a period of hours with 100% survival and virtually no mutagenesis. This contrasts with nearly all other organisms in which just a few ionizing radiation induced-dsbs per chromosome are lethal. In this article we present an hypothesis that resistance of D. radiodurans to ionizing radiation and its ability to mend radiation-induced dsbs are due to a special form of redundancy wherein chromosomes exist in pairs, linked to each other by thousands of four-stranded (Holliday) junctions. Thus, a dsb is not a lethal event because the identical undamaged duplex is nearby, providing an accurate repair template. As addressed in this article, much of what is known about D. radiodurans suggests that it is particularly suited for this proposed Accepted novel form of DNA repair What is Deinococcus radiodurans?
The UDPase activity of the Kluyveromyces lactis Golgi GDPase has a role in uridine nucleotide sugar transport into Golgi vesicles

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae a Golgi lumenal GDPase (ScGda1p) generates GMP, the antiporter required for entry of GDP-mannose, from the cytosol, into the Golgi lumen. Scgda1 deletion strains have severe defects in N- and O-mannosylation of proteins and glycosphingolipids. ScGda1p has also significant UDPase activity even though S. cerevisiae does not utilize uridine nucleotide sugars in its Golgi lumen. Kluyveromyces lactis, a species closely related to S. cerevisiae, transports UDP-N-acetylglucosamine into its Golgi lumen, where it is the sugar donor for terminal N-acetylglucosamine of the mannan chains. We have identified and cloned a K. lactis orthologue of ScGda1p. KlGda1p is 65% identical to ScGda1p and shares four apyrase conserved regions with other nucleoside diphosphatases. KlGda1p has UDPase activity as ScGda1p. Transport of both GDP-mannose, and UDP-GlcNAc was decreased into Golgi vesicles from Klgda1 null mutants, demonstrating that KlGda1p generates both GMP and UMP required as antiporters for guanosine and uridine nucleotide sugar transport into the Golgi lumen. Membranes from Klgda1 null mutants showed inhibition of glycosyltransferases utilizing uridine- and guanosine-nucleotide sugars, presumably due to accumulation of nucleoside diphosphates because the inhibition could be relieved by addition of apyrase to the incubations. KlGDA1 and ScGDA1 restore the wild-type phenotype of the other yeast gda1 deletion mutant. Surprisingly, KlGDA1 has only a role in O-glycosylation in K. lactis but also complements N-glycosylation defects in S. cerevisiae. Deletion mutants of both genes have altered cell wall stability and composition, demonstrating a broader role for the above enzymes.
Capital, Competition, and Discrimination: A Reconsideration of Racial Earnings Inequality:

Where as neoclassical economists have responded to the theoretical irreconcilability of competition and discrimination by abandoning serious consideration of the latter, radical political economist...
A clinical refresher course for medical scientist trainees

Introduction: MD–PhD students experience a prolonged hiatus away from clinical medicine during their laboratory research phase and some have experienced difficulty transitioning back to clinical medicine during clerkship years. We developed a clinical refresher program that serves to rebuild clinical skills prior to re-entering the clinical clerkship years. Methods: A nine-week program includes a combination of didactic and practical review in history, physical exam, presentation and clinical reasoning skills. The program uses multiple modalities from classroom-based activities to patient care encounters and includes a final assessment using standardized patients. Results: After seven years of experience, we have made modifications that result in our students scoring comparably well on a standardized patient exam to their second-year medical student colleagues. By the end of the course, all students reported feeling more comfortable completing a history and physical examination and some improvement in preclinical knowledge base. Review of clerkship scores showed a higher percentage of MD–PhD students scoring Honors in a clerkship in years after course implementation as compared to years prior to course implementation. Conclusion: We describe a clinical refresher course for successfully retraining MD–PhD students to re-enter clinical medical training. It is effective at restoring clinical skills to a level comparable to their medical student contemporaries and prepares them to rejoin the medical student class at the conclusion of their research phase.
Evaluation of silica gel packages for transport of Neisseria meningitidis.

Eight Neisseria meningitidis reference strains, representing six different serogroups, were plated on 57 blood agar plates each. The growth was harvested and stored in silica gel packages at different temperatures for up to 90 days. When held at 4°C, all strains were recovered after 90 days of storage. Strains held at room temperature or alternately at 4°C and room temperature survived for at least 10 and 17 days, respectively.
The Prediction of the Performance of a Nested Barotropic Hurricane Track Forecast Model

Abstract Linear multiple regression and discriminant analyses provide estimates of the errors of track forecasts from a nested barotropic hurricane track forecast model (VICBAR), which was run in the North Atlantic Basin during the 1989–94 hurricane seasons. Predictors are determined from the synoptic situation, the magnitude of atmospheric changes in the environment of the tropical cyclone, the consistency between current and past predictions, and the past performance of the model for each particular storm. This technique distinguishes cases in which VICBAR performs well from those for which it performs poorly and can provide skillful operational predictions of model performance to forecasters.
The role of language in fraction performance: A synthesis of literature

Abstract The purpose of this review was to examine the role of oral language in fraction outcomes for school-age students. A comprehensive literature search yielded three studies conducted in the United States for synthesis from which conclusions were drawn. The studies included elementary students in first through fifth grade. Overall, findings suggest that oral language plays a meaningful role in fraction performance. However, heterogeneity across included studies and measurement concerns limit comparisons and conclusions. Differences in measures and other potential confounding variables are discussed. Future research is needed to determine the causal role of language in fraction performance and the extent to which subconstructs of language impact student learning, and the cognitive load of instructional language warrants consideration.
High-temperature shock tube and modeling studies on the reactions of methanol with D-atoms and CH3-radicals.

The shock tube technique has been used to study the hydrogen abstraction reactions D + CH3OH → CH2O + H + HD (A) and CH3 + CH3OH → CH2O + H + CH4 (B). For reaction A, the experiments span a T-range of 1016 K ≤ T ≤ 1325 K, at pressures 0.25 bar ≤ P ≤ 0.46 bar. The experiments on reaction B, CH3 + CH3OH, cover a T-range of 1138 K ≤ T ≤ 1270 K, at pressures around 0.40 bar. Reflected shock tube experiments, monitoring the depletion of D-atoms by applying D-atom atomic resonance absorption spectrometry (ARAS), were performed on reaction A using gas mixtures of C2D5I and CH3OH in Kr bath gas. C2D5I was used as precursor for D-atoms. For reaction B, reflected shock tube experiments monitoring H-atom formation with H-ARAS, were carried out using gas mixtures of diacetyl ((CH3CO)2) and CH3OH in Kr bath gas. (CH3CO)2 was used as the source of CH3-radicals. Detailed reaction models were assembled to fit the D-atom and H-atom time profiles in order to obtain experimental rate constants for reactions A and B. Total r...
Pumping of H2O Megamasers

Strong H2O maser emission is detected from active galactic nuclei (AGN) as well as Galactic objects such as star-forming regions and late-type stars. In spite of the widely different luminosities of the different masers, a common pump mechanism seems adequate: neutral collisions at densities of ~ 108-1010 cm-3 and temperatures of ~ 250-500 K. The different properties of the various masers can be attributed to geometry. Although disk rotation controls the AGN maser geometry it does not directly determine the dimensions. X-ray radiation and spiral shocks have been suggested as the heating sources of H2O megamasers. Both are capable of explaining the observations, and the radiative scenario seems best understood in terms of chance alignment of standard broad-line-region clouds. It is not yet clear whether these different proposals produce distinct maser signatures.