cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression and clinical significance of HMGB1 in ovarian carcinoma

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of HMGB1 in ovarian carcinoma.Methods The expression levels of HMGB1 were detected by immunohistochemistry in 40 cases of ovarian carcinomas,60cases of benign ovarian tumors and 30 cases of normal ovarian tissues,and the expression levels of HMGB1 were also detected in ovarian carcinoma cells( SKOV3,A2780 and 3AO) by immunohistochemistry. Results As compared with those in benign ovarian tumors and normal ovarian tissues,the expression levels of HMGB1 in ovarian carcinoma tissues were significantly increased( P 0. 05),moreover,which were closely related with pathological classification,clinical staging and lymph node metastasis of ovarian carcinoma( P 0. 05),however,which were not correlated to histological type. The expression of HMGB1 was positive in SKOV3,A2780,3AO cells,but there were no significant differences in expression levels among them( P 0.05). Conclusion The expression levels of HMGB1 in ovarian carcinoma are up-regulated,which may be involved in the pathogenesis,development and metastasis of ovarian carcinoma.
Inconsistency in the Self-report of Chronic Diseases in Panel Surveys: Developing an Adjudication Method for the Health and Retirement Study

Objectives Chronic disease data from longitudinal health interview surveys are frequently used in epidemiologic studies. These data may be limited by inconsistencies in self-report by respondents across waves. We examined disease inconsistencies in the Health and Retirement Study and investigated a multistep method of adjudication. We hypothesized a greater likelihood of inconsistences among respondents with cognitive impairment, of underrepresented race/ethnic groups, having lower education, or having less income/wealth. Method We analyzed Waves 1995-2010, including adults 51 years and older (N = 24,156). Diseases included hypertension, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and arthritis. We used questions about the diseases to formulate a multistep adjudication method to resolve inconsistencies across waves. Results Thirty percent had inconsistency in their self-report of diseases across waves, with cognitive impairment, proxy status, age, Hispanic ethnicity, and wealth as key predictors. Arthritis and hypertension had the most frequent inconsistencies; stroke and cancer, the fewest. Using a stepwise method, we adjudicated 60%-75% of inconsistent responses. Discussion Discrepancies in the self-report of diseases across multiple waves of health interview surveys are common. Differences in prevalence between original and adjudicated data may be substantial for some diseases and for some groups, (e.g., the cognitively impaired).
Broken Heart Syndrome in a Patient on Maintenance Hemodialysis.

Context:Broken heart syndrome or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a disorder characterized by transient left ventricular apical ballooning that almost invariably precedes emotional or physical stre...
Mechanical Circulatory Support Device Utilization and Heart Transplant Waitlist Outcomes in Patients with Restrictive and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Background: Patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) generally are considered poor candidates for mechanical circulatory support devices (MCSDs) and often not able to be bridged mechanically to heart transplantation. This study characterized MCSD utilization and transplant waitlist outcomes in patients with RCM/HCM under the current allocation system and discusses changes in the era of the new donor allocation system. Methods and Results: Patients waitlisted from 2006 to 2016 in the United Network for Organ Sharing registry were stratified by RCM/HCM versus other diagnoses. MCSD utilization and waitlist duration were analyzed by propensity score models. Waitlist outcomes were assessed by cumulative incidence functions with competing events. Predictors of waitlist mortality or delisting for worsening status in patients with RCM/HCM were identified by proportional hazards model. Of 30 608 patients on the waitlist, 5.1% had RCM/HCM. Patients with RCM/HCM had 31 fewer waitlist days ( P P 2 , pulmonary capillary wedge pressure >20 mm Hg, inotrope use, and subjective frailty. Conclusions: Patients with RCM/HCM are less likely to receive MCSD but have similar waitlist mortality and slightly higher incidence of transplantation compared with other patients. The United Network for Organ Sharing RCM/HCM risk model can help identify patients who are at high risk for clinical deterioration and in need of expedited heart transplantation.
A comparison of the effects of carbon dioxide and medical air for abdominal insufflation on respiratory parameters in xylazine-sedated sheep undergoing laparoscopic artificial insemination

AIMS To determine if abdominal insufflation with medical air will improve oxygenation and ventilation parameters when compared to insufflation with CO2 in xylazine-sedated sheep undergoing laparoscopic artificial insemination (AI). METHODS Forty-seven sheep underwent oestrus synchronisation and were fasted for 24 hours prior to laparoscopic AI. Each animal was randomised to receive either CO2 or medical air for abdominal insufflation. An auricular arterial catheter was placed and utilised for serial blood sampling. Respiratory rates (RR) and arterial blood samples were collected at baseline, after xylazine (0.1 mg/kg I/V) sedation, 2 minutes after Trendelenburg positioning, 5 minutes after abdominal insufflation, and 10 minutes after being returned to a standing position. Blood samples were collected in heparinised syringes, stored on ice, and analysed for arterial pH, partial pressure of arterial O2 (PaO2), and CO2 (PaCO2). The number of ewes conceiving to AI was also determined. RESULTS Repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated temporal effects on RR, PaO2, PaCO2 and arterial pH during the laparoscopic AI procedure (p 0.01). No sheep experienced hypercapnia (PaCO2>50 mmHg) or acidaemia (pH<7.35). Hypoxaemia (PaO2<70 mmHg) was diagnosed during the procedure in 14/22 (64%) ewes in the CO2 group compared with 8/23 (35%) ewes in the medical air group (p=0.053). Overall, 15/20 (75%) ewes in the CO2 group conceived to AI compared with 16/22 (72.7%) in the medical air group (p=0.867). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE There were no statistical or clinical differences in RR, PaO2, PaCO2, pH, or conception to AI when comparing the effects of CO2 and medical air as abdominal insufflation gases. None of the sheep experienced hypercapnia or acidaemic, yet 42% (19/45) of sheep developed clinical hypoxaemia, with a higher percentage of ewes in the CO2 group developing hypoxaemia than in the medical air group. Based on the overall analysis, medical air could be utilised as a comparable alternative for abdominal insufflation during laparoscopic AI procedures.
Clinical Nononcologic Applications of PET/CT and PET/MRI in Musculoskeletal, Orthopedic, and Rheumatologic Imaging.

OBJECTIVE. With improvements in PET/CT and PET/MRI over the last decade, as well as increased understanding of the pathophysiology of musculoskeletal diseases, there is an emerging potential for PE...
Effect of Parathyroid Hormone on Phospholipid Metabolism

Until recently it has been generally assumed that the major, if not the only, role of lipids in biological membranes is to provide a semipermeable barrier between intracellular and extracellular environments. Within the concept of membrane models, such as the “fluid-mosaic” model (1), active and facilitated transport and other events vital to cell or organelle function are mediated by proteins extending into or through the lipid bilayer with the possibility that lipids surrounding these proteins play some ill-defined regulatory role. However, it now appears that the view of lipids as inert building blocks of bio-membranes is incomplete, and that lipids may participate directly in many functional processes. Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in knowledge about the physicochemistry of membrane lipids mainly due to the development of sensitive calorimetric, X-ray and neutron diffraction and a variety of spectroscopic methods. A number of reviews have appeared recently (2–6).
Mental Health and Work

This chapter provides a broad overview of our current understanding of the connection between mental health and the workplace and why work is so important to one’s mental well-being. It later highlights the essential elements of mental wellness and introduces the topic of stress and its physiological and physical effects. The reflection invites the reader to test his or her knowledge of mental health issues especially in the professinal context and to identify misperceptions about their impact on individuals, companies, and communities.
Paid Family Leave Effects on Breastfeeding: A Quasi-Experimental Study of US Policies.

Objectives. To test whether paid family leave policies in California and New Jersey improved breastfeeding practices, overall and among key subgroups.Methods. We conducted difference-in-differences...
A kinetic model for isotopologue signatures of methane generated by biotic and abiotic CO2 methanation

Abstract Methane has both biotic and abiotic origins, and the identification of its origins has important implications in understanding terrestrial processes as well as in searching for extraterrestrial life. Bulk stable isotope ratios (13C/12C and D/H) and multiply substituted isotopologues (13CH3D and 12CH2D2) have been used to distinguish methane’s origins, and kinetic models are essential to understanding and quantifying these isotopologue signatures. Although different kinetic models have been developed, inconsistencies exist within these models. Here we constructed an isotopologue-specific kinetic model to quantify isotopologue signatures of methane generated by biological- and metal-catalyzed CO2 methanation. The Monte Carlo method and data from two experiments were used to constrain the kinetic reversibility and associated isotope effects. The results show that the reversibility can be the same for the biotic and abiotic CO2 methanation pathways, and their distinct isotopic signatures depend on their respective hydrogen sources. Biotic methane sources hydrogen from carbon-hydrogen and sulfur-hydrogen bonds while abiotic methane sources from metal-hydrogen adsorption bonds. This hydrogen source difference results in abiotic methane being more depleted in 12CH2D2 relative to biotic methane. Although kinetic and dynamic complexities may prevent differentiation between biotic and abiotic methane in multiple and clumped isotope spaces, our proposed molecular-level difference in hydrogen source provides a universal basis for analyzing the isotopologue signatures of methane of diverse origins.
Electrochemical-thermal modeling of lithium plating/stripping of Li(Ni0.6Mn0.2Co0.2)O2/Carbon lithium-ion batteries at subzero ambient temperatures

Abstract Electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries drops significantly at low temperatures, especially under charging, because the lithium ions are prone to deposit as lithium metal on instead of intercalating into the solid matrix of anode. At discharging, the existence of lithium stripping leads to the capacity reversed partially, whose amount is proportional to the width of extra voltage plateau displayed at the beginning. A physics-based electrochemical-thermal model considering effects of lithium plating/stripping is developed and validated to explore the degradation mechanism and behaviors of NMC/Carbon cells undergoing prolonged cycling. The temporal and spatial analyses of overpotential of lithium plating and surface concentration in solid phase at various operating conditions demonstrate that lithium plating starts to take place at the interface between composite anode and separator, and the degradation can be accelerated by the decreasing ambient temperatures and increasing charging current rates. The degradation effects including loss of recyclable lithium ions, loss of anode active material, growth of plated lithium and secondary solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and consumption of electrolyte solvents are considered. The model is capable of estimating capacity as a function of cycle number with an overall accuracy of 3% if the capacity fade is less than 30%.
Gene-diet interaction and plasma lipid response to dietary intervention

Research in the field of gene-diet interactions as determinants of plasma lipid response to dietary interventions has accumulated a substantial body of evidence during the past decade. Several candidate genes have shown some promise as potential markers of individual dietary responsiveness. Among the best characterized are the APOE, APOA4, APOB, APOC3, and LPL loci. Other genes are being continuously incorporated to this most interesting search. However, in very few cases has consensus been achieved about the usefulness of genetic markers as clinically significant predictors of dietary response. The increased ability to generate genotypic information, in combination with the knowledge from the human genome project and more comprehensive experimental designs, will dramatically improve our capacity to answer many of our current questions. It will also help to prove that knowledge of an individual's genetic background will facilitate more precise dietary counseling and intervention, and more efficacious primary and secondary coronary heart disease prevention.
STAR Experimental Geometry: Working with Mathematically Gifted Middle School Students.

Issues concerning the proper mathematics conte t for gifted students have been ad dressed by many researchers, including Harpel (1983), Hersberger and Wheatley (1980), Stanley (1980), Wavrik (1980), and Wheatley (1983). One area of agreement is that geometry is an essential and insuffi ciently covered area of mathematics content for gifted students. In this article, we de scribe a course for mathematically gifted middle school students, including the in structional approaches used, along with some exemplary materials.
Examining the utility of photovoice as an audiological counseling tool

Photovoice is a participatory action research method in which people take photographs to represent real-world experiences, so that issues of interest/concern can be documented. There are no published studies in which photovoice has been used in audiological rehabilitation (AR). The purpose of this feasibility study was to examine whether photovoice could have application in audiology. A feasibility study was designed to determine whether photovoice could be adapted for use as a clinical auditory rehabilitation tool (1) to facilitate provision of tailored communication strategy counseling, (2) as a post–hearing aid fitting counseling tool, (3) to enhance communication between partners regarding hearing loss, and (4) to provide an understanding of the emotional impacts of hearing loss. In this combined qualitative and quantitative feasibility study, a photovoice intervention was given to four groups of participants. Twenty-four individuals were recruited from a research subject data repository at the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research. The study involved two visits to the laboratory during which participants received instruction in photovoice methodology (visit 1) and then, one to two weeks later, discussed their photographs during a debriefing session (visit 2). The mean number of photographs taken by participants was 12.6 (range: 4–29); the mean duration of the debriefing sessions was 40:39 min:sec (range: 14:30–66:22 min:sec). Participants reported that participating had made them think more about their hearing problems, appreciate their hearing aids more, and be more aware of the situations in which their hearing aids did and did not help. The taking and discussion of the photographs was also described as a learning tool, and it had facilitated conversations with others about hearing problems. Participants who completed the study with their communication partner (use case 3) said it had assisted with problem-solving and gave insight into the perspective of their partner. The research team noted that photovoice facilitated highly tailored counseling and provision of evidence-based recommendations for hearing assistive technology, enhanced interaction between communication partners, provided insight into participants’ lifestyle and communication needs, and seemed to generate rapport and trust. This feasibility study indicated that participants were willing to engage in photovoice and that it could be used to guide selection of rehabilitation recommendations and for postfitting counseling. Its application in audiological practice would seem timely and valuable for improving patient-centered and family-centered AR.
Cryogenic Stress-Driven Grain Growth Observed via Microcompression with in situ Electron Backscatter Diffraction

The deformation of materials at cryogenic temperature is of interest for space, arctic, and fundamental science applications. In this work, a custom-built cooling system attached to a commercial picoindenter was used for in situ cryogenic microcompression testing of equal-channel angular-pressed copper with real-time electron backscatter diffraction. Stress-driven grain growth at cryogenic temperatures was observed during a series of elastic and plastic deformations. These results provide direct evidence for the previously predicted phenomenon, whereas previous ex situ examinations demonstrated coarsening after cryogenic loading when samples were not maintained at cryogenic temperatures between deformation and characterization.
Reduced-Order Modeling of Composite Floor Slabs in Fire. I: Heat-Transfer Analysis

AbstractThis paper presents a reduced-order numerical modeling approach for the analysis of heat transfer in composite floor slabs with profiled steel decking exposed to fire effects. This approach...
Sleep and Anesthesia: The Shared Circuit Hypothesis Has Been Put to Bed

Acute activation of genetically defined sleep-promoting neurons in the preoptic hypothalamus does not facilitate anesthesia. This finding supports the notion that a mechanistic overlap between sleep and anesthesia does not explain the anesthetized brain.
β0-39 thalassemia gene: A premature termination codon causes β-mRNA deficiency without affecting cytoplasmic β-mRNA stability

The function of a β°-thalassemia globin gene with a premature termination codon at position 39 was studied in tissue culture cells using plasmid expression vectors. The thalassemic globin gene was isolated by molecular cloning from the bone marrow DNA of an Italian patient with severe thalassemia. Sequences upstream of the normal β-globin gene and the β°-39 globin gene were removed to 127 nucleotides (nt) 5' to the start site of transcription, thereby eliminating uncharacterized DNA sequences but preserving promoter function. To create a hybrid gene differing from the normal by only the single nt change in codon 39, the truncated 5' end of the β°-39 gene was recombined with the 3' end of the normal gene. The β°-39 substitution resulted in a 6-14-fold reduction in cytoplasmic RNA accumulation in transfected monkey kidney or HeLa cells. This decrease in mRNA did not appear to be due to instability, as the β-mRNA present 24-36 hours after transfection was stable for up to 24 hours in the presence of actinomycin D. In the presence of actinomycin D, the globin mRNA precursor disappeared, suggesting that globin gene transcription had been effectively blocked. We also examined a second globin mRNA with a premature termination codon; this RNA that arises from incorrect splicing of the transcript of a β+-24 thalassemia gene was as stable as the correctly spliced species. Thus, the presence of a premature termination codon does not necessarily alter cytoplasmic mRNA stability, nor does cytoplasmic instability account for the quantitative deficiency of β-globin mRNA. Our observations suggest that a premature termination codon alters intranuclear stability and/or nuclear to cytoplasmic transport of the β-globin mRNA.
Long-term Kidney Outcomes in Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex: How Patients Present as Adults.

Abstract Objective To characterize kidney function in patients with exstrophy-epispadias complex (EEC) at time of presentation for adult urologic care. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective analysis of 23 patients (ages 18-57) with EEC who presented to a single tertiary care center from 2001-2020. Kidney function was evaluated based on calculated eGFR and presence of hydronephrosis on imaging. UDS data was used to evaluate the bladder. Results Patients had undergone a variety of different surgical techniques for exstrophy or epispadias repair prior to presentation to an adult urologist. We found that 10 of the 23 patients had evidence of CKD Stage II or higher at the time of presentation and 7 patients had evidence of hydronephrosis on imaging. There was urodynamics data available for 14 patients, of which 8 patients showed poor (≤15 ml/cmH2O) or intermediate (15-20 ml/cmH2O) bladder compliance. Conclusion In conclusion, some patients with EEC have evidence of kidney dysfunction at time of presentation to an adult urologist. It is important to consider this when caring for patients with EEC as adults.
The motivational role of affect in an ecological model

Drawing from empirical literature on ecological psychology, affective neuroscience, and philosophy of mind, this article describes a model of affect-as-motivation in the intentional bond between or...
Iron Status Influences Mitochondrial Disease Progression in Complex I-Deficient Mice

Mitochondrial dysfunction caused by aberrant Complex I assembly and reduced activity of the electron transport chain is pathogenic in many genetic and age-related diseases. Mice missing the Complex I subunit NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] iron-sulfur protein 4 (NDUFS4) are a leading mammalian model of severe mitochondrial disease that exhibit many characteristic symptoms of Leigh Syndrome including oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, brain lesions, and premature death. NDUFS4 knockout mice have decreased expression of nearly every Complex I subunit. As Complex I normally contains at least 8 iron-sulfur clusters and more than 25 iron atoms, we asked whether a deficiency of Complex I may lead to intracellular iron perturbations thereby accelerating disease progression. Consistent with this, iron supplementation accelerates symptoms of brain degeneration in these mice while iron restriction delays the onset of these symptoms and increases survival. NDUFS4 knockout mice display signs of iron overload in the liver including increased expression of hepcidin, and show changes in iron responsive element-regulated proteins consistent with increased intracellular iron that were prevented by iron restriction. These results suggest that perturbed iron homeostasis may contribute to pathology in Leigh Syndrome and possibly other mitochondrial disorders.
Creative Compensation (CC): Future of Jobs with Creative Works in 3D Printing.

With the continuous growth of online 3D printing community and the democratization of 3D printers, growing number of users start sharing their own 3D designs on open platforms, enabling a wide audience to search, download, and 3D print models for free. Although sharing is mostly for altruistic reasons at first, open platforms had also created potential job opportunities to compensate creative labors. This paper analyzes new job opportunities emerged in online 3D printing social platforms and patterns of seeking compensations, and reveals various motivations for posting creative content online. We find that offering exclusive membership through subscriptions, selling final products or printing services through web stores, and using affiliate links are primary means of earning profits, while there exist gaps between creators' expectations and realities. We show that various socio-economic promises emerged, leading to a win-win situation for both creators to gain extra income and audiences to have access to more quality content. We also discuss future challenges that need to be addressed, such as ethical use of opensource content.
How State Education Agencies Acquire and Use Research Knowledge for School Improvement

This chapter examines the organizing structures and search-incorporation processes by which research and other knowledge are acquired, spread, and used in three SEA’s school improvement strategies. Social network analyses, sociograms, and descriptive statistics using web-based survey data provide insights into broad patterns of knowledge flow, influence, and source-user connections within SEA’s knowledge networks. In-depth cognitive interviews provide rich portraits of how and why these patterns emerged. SEA staff were receptive to research and sought it from multiple external sources as well as through internal lateral connections to use in their school improvement strategies. Network connections brought different perspectives into the search, incorporation, and implementation process and created flexible structures for managing and generating knowledge more responsive to specific school improvement problems. Policy incentives and research providers should encourage more dissemination methods that go beyond transmitting research and, instead, also cultivate “core networks,” varied internal and external sources of expertise working together, to translate generalized findings into knowledge for use in specific contexts. Future research should track how the integrity of research is maintained during the social processes that we found could foster research use, to understand the trade-offs between fidelity to research principles and adaptation to contextual contingencies.
Modeling and inference of genetic interactions

The regulatory interactions in a cell form a complicated system, and an important goal of systems biology is to model and infer these interactions. The modeling and inference of genetic regulatory models requires understanding of the true biological interactions while incorporating the technological limitations on observation of the biological entities in estimation of a robust model. This review is structured as follows: (a) a brief description of the biological interactions is provided, (b) currently available technologies for measuring genomic characterizations are outlined, (c) followed by the description of the commonly used approaches for genetic regulatory network modeling, and (d) finally, some of the pertinent issues in modeling and inference of genetic interactions are discussed. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2013, 3:453–466. doi: 10.1002/widm.1103 The author has declared no conflicts of interest in relation to this article. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
The Problem of Responsibility

The purpose of the chapter is to establish the conceptual framework for, and articulate some of the pivotal assumptions of, the book. It attempts to set the stage for the analyses and arguments that follow, pointing the reader in the basic direction in which the philosophical discussion will go. It commences with some general remarks about the metaphysics of human action, and concludes with a concise sketch of what is meant by moral responsibility, a conception which, I believe, can and ought to undergird legal conceptions of criminal (liability) responsibility.
Computer-Based Education: Research, Theory, and Development

The purpose of this paper is to cause the reader to perform deep cognitive processing in the domain of computer-based education (CBE) research, theory, and development (RTD) by presenting a conceptual structure of the CBE domain, by providing references to summaries and detailed research presentations for further exploration, and by orienting the reader toward questions raised and decisions to be made during the development of CBE materials for which a theoretical base and empirical data would be useful. The term CBE, rather than computer-assisted instruction (CAI), is used purposely to encompass a broader spectrum of computer applications than CAI, which has come to mean primarily tutorial instruction. CBE, as used here, includes computer-managed instruction, interactive instruction, and instructional simulation.
Active current sheets and candidate hot flow anomalies upstream of Mercury's bow shock

Hot flow anomalies (HFAs) represent a subset of solar wind discontinuities interacting with collisionless bow shocks. They are typically formed when the normal component of the motional (convective) electric field points toward the embedded current sheet on at least one of its sides. The core region of an HFA contains hot and highly deflected ion flows and rather low and turbulent magnetic field. In this paper, we report observations of possible HFA-like events at Mercury identified over a course of two planetary years. Using data from the orbital phase of the MESSENGER mission, we identify a representative ensemble of active current sheets magnetically connected to Mercury's bow shock. We show that some of these events exhibit magnetic and particle signatures of HFAs similar to those observed at other planets, and present their key physical characteristics. Our analysis suggests that Mercury's bow shock does not only mediate the flow of supersonic solar wind plasma but also provides conditions for local particle acceleration and heating as predicted by previous numerical simulations. Together with earlier observations of HFA activity at Earth, Venus, Mars, and Saturn, our results confirm that hot flow anomalies could be a common property of planetary bow shocks and show that the characteristic size of these events is controlled by the bow shock standoff distance and/or local solar wind conditions.
Selective estrogen receptor modulators resveratrol, genistein, tamoxifen, pterostilbene and clomiphene downregulates the expression of minute-double minute2 (MDM2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) genes in SNB-19 glioblastoma cells (1148.9)

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common primary neoplasm of the brain. Our studies using SNB-19 glioma cells have shown that selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) at pharmacological concentrations modulate the expression of minute double minute (mdm2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) genes. The SNB-19 glioblastoma cells were treated with increasing concentrations of SERMs such as resveratrol, genistein, tamoxifen, pterostilbene and clomiphene, and their effects were studied using RNA and protein analyses. The cell viability studies on cells exposed to the above SERMs showed a concentration dependent cell growth arrest and cell death by apoptosis. Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) studies indicated decreased levels of transcription of mdm2 and VEGF mRNA. Western blot analysis showed a corresponding decrease in the expression of the VEGF protein. The above results show the down-regulation of the mdm2 and VEGF expression and the induction of cell death in SNB-1...
Frequency-damping resolution of the unit disc: a wavelet idea

In this paper we introduce the numerical Laplace transform, a local time-frequency analysis method which applies to causal signals. The numerical Laplace transform resolves the identity, has good time frequency resolution, and adapts resolution windows according to the time delay. The numerical Laplace transform is equivalent to a wavelet transform in the frequency domain. The discretized version of the numerical Laplace transform is invertible. The kernel vectors of the transform are frame vectors that are nearly tight over a fairly wide range of parameters. We demonstrate this with several numerical experiments. The numerical Laplace transform resolves a causal signal onto the s-plane. With a suitable mapping, the signal is resolved into the frequency-damping unit disc.
The influence of periodicity on the structures and properties of annealed [Fe/Pt]n multilayer films

Abstract The heat treatment of [Fe/Pt] n multilayer films is a promising approach to form the L1 0 FePt phase at a reduced temperature, which is of interest for applications as high-density magnetic recording media and high-energy permanent magnets. This paper reports the influence of the bilayer period in the range of 1–18 nm on the microstructure and magnetic properties of annealed polycrystalline [Fe/Pt] n films sputtered onto thermally oxidized Si substrates. The microstructures were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and dynamical conical annular dark field imaging was used to identify the L1 0 phase grains present in the sample. This ordered phase was only observed in samples annealed at or above 300 °C and was found to have a typical grain size smaller than that of the mostly A1 (fcc) matrix. The majority of the L1 0 grains were relatively small and located at boundaries between larger grains. Measurements of c / a ratio of the L1 0 phase indicated an increase in the degree of chemical ordering with as-deposited film period. We also found the coercivity of the annealed polycrystalline multilayer films to increase with the as-deposited period, which is contrary to previous reports in which epitaxial [Fe/Pt] n films were studied.
Pupal Deposition and Ecology of Bat Flies (Diptera: Streblidae): Trichobius sp. (Caecus Group) in a Mexican Cave Habitat

We studied the deposition of pupae of the winged bat fly Trichobius sp. (caecus group; Diptera), an ectoparasite of Natalus stramineus (Chiroptera, Natalidae), in a natural cave in Tamaulipas, Mexico. For the first time, we show a strong spatial segregation of populations of a streblid bat fly at different stages of development. Using molecular techniques we were able to match developmental stages to adults. Only 5 pupae were present in the main bat roosts. The overwhelming majority occurred exclusively in the bat flyway passages at a considerable distance from roosting bats. Pupal density corresponded positively with the average flight height of bats in the cave passage. Taken together, observations suggest that these ectoparasites must actively seek out their hosts by moving onto passing or roosting bats. The scarceness of pupae in the main roost may be dictated by environmental constraints for their development. The estimated population of viable pupae far exceeds the population of imagoes on the bats, and predation on adults by spiders is common.
Numbers and Nationhood: Writing Statistics in Nineteenth-Century Italy

1. Introduction: the history of statistics between state making and objectifications 2. A science for 'civilized' countries: practitioners, audiences and theories of statistics, 1820s-50s 3. Statistical description: between epistemology and politics 4. Making public numbers: official statistics in the pre-unification monarchies 5. Building the nation's body: 'patriotic statistics' representation of Italy 6. The identity of the Italians, or the ambiguities of moral statistics 7. Representing the new nation (1861-71) 8. A nation of Communes in a Europe of nationalities: the statistical Congress of Florence Epilogue: measurable and unmeasurable things.
Fermentation, hydrogen, and sulfur metabolism in multiple uncultivated bacterial phyla.

BD1-5, OP11, and OD1 bacteria have been widely detected in anaerobic environments, but their metabolisms remain unclear owing to lack of cultivated representatives and minimal genomic sampling. We uncovered metabolic characteristics for members of these phyla, and a new lineage, PER, via cultivation-independent recovery of 49 partial to near-complete genomes from an acetate-amended aquifer. All organisms were nonrespiring anaerobes predicted to ferment. Three augment fermentation with archaeal-like hybrid type II/III ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (RuBisCO) that couples adenosine monophosphate salvage with CO2 fixation, a pathway not previously described in Bacteria. Members of OD1 reduce sulfur and may pump protons using archaeal-type hydrogenases. For six organisms, the UGA stop codon is translated as tryptophan. All bacteria studied here may play previously unrecognized roles in hydrogen production, sulfur cycling, and fermentation of refractory sedimentary carbon.
A study of seeded rotating arcs.

Neutral carrier gas and slightly ionized plasma binary mixture model for nonhomogeneous seeding effects on rotating arc performance
Vibrational-mode shifts in inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy: Effects due to superconductivity and surface interactions.

Measurements of the effect of the top metal electrode on the vibrational-mode energies of benzoic acid on aluminum oxide with Pb, Sn, and Ag top metal electrodes are described. Peak shifts of approximately 15 meV for the O-H stretch modes of hydroxyl ions, 0.5 meV for the C-H bending modes, and less than 0.2 meV for the C-C ring stretch and bend modes of benzoate molecules were found. These measurements are discussed in terms of a simple image model. For junctions with superconducting electrodes a modulation-dependent correction must be made to the measured peak positions. A theory is developed for the line shapes and peak positions of both the second and third harmonic signals and compared with experiment.
Analysis of Application of Pressure Exchange Device in Thermal Vapor Compression Desalination System

Recent advances in direct fluid-fluid flow induction provide potential for major improvement in performance of thermal distillation systems based on the pressure exchange phenomenon compared to the conventional turbulent mixing controlled ejectors. Pressure exchange devices utilize the work of nonsteady pressure forces acting across moving interfaces. Optimal performances of such devices can be determined through the use of the ideal turbomachinery analog. The analog is configured as a turbine-compressor unit, where the high energy primary fluid expands through the turbine that drives a compressor which compresses the low energy secondary fluid and the two then discharges in a common mixing chamber at a common intermediate pressure. The overall functioning of the turbomachinery analog is similar to the conventional ejector. Thus the turbomachinery analog provides the highest possible performance that an ejector can achieve ideally. An analytical single effect thermal vapor compression (TVC) desalination model is developed. The turbomachinery analog which is the simplest kind of pressure exchange device is simulated in place of the conventional ejector. The objective of the research is to investigate the performance of the system for various ejector efficiencies, so as to achieve the minimum production cost of distilled water. Such a development would make the process comparable with reverse osmosis and mechanical vapor compression desalination system. The system performance is expressed in the form of thermal performance ratio. For similar systems employing conventional steady-state ejectors, thermal performance ratios as high as 2 has been achieved for low compression ratio and low boiling temperature but at a price of high pressure primary steam. This paper reveals that the application of pressure exchange device can achieve even greater performance ratios for lower primary pressure and temperatures, contributing to a significant decrease in production cost. The model is designed for 5m3 /day capacity, with an aim of achieving highest possible thermal efficiency. The system is analyzed by varying the critical operating parameters, like compression ratio, top brine temperature, primary pressure and ejector efficiency. The results show that with increase in primary pressure, the required primary temperature goes down. Also the application of pressure exchange device results in a phenomenal 3 fold rise in thermal performance ratio, as compared to conventional ejectors. The results achieved from the simulations are quite encouraging and promising for the future development of more efficient and compact device called the supersonic pressure exchange ejector.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Influence of yield surface curvature on flow localization in dilatant plasticity

Abstract In this paper a family of dilatant plasticity theories is introduced by considering yield surfaces which change according to a combination of isotropic expansion and kinematic translation. One limiting member of the family is Gurson's (1977) isotropic hardening model, and the other limiting member is a pure kinematic hardening version. The family of constitutive laws is constructed such that all versions coincide for proportional stressing histories. The differences between any two versions show up only under nonproportional stressing histories, such as those encountered in many plastic instability phenomena. Under nonproportional stressing, the kinematic version is significantly “less stiff” than Gurson's isotropic hardening model due to the relatively higher curvature of the kinematic yield surface. This effect is explored in some basic shear localization calculations and is found to have substantial influence on the localization predictions.
Juxtamembrane basic residues in glycoprotein Ibβ cytoplasmic domain are required for assembly and surface expression of glycoprotein Ib-IX complex

Abstract Platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX complex requires all its three subunits for efficient expression on the cell surface, but the underlying molecular basis is not fully clear. Using transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells as the model system, we demonstrate that juxtamembrane residues 149–154 in the cytoplasmic domain of the GPIbβ subunit is required for assembly and surface expression of the GPIb-IX complex. The complex, or GPIbβ by itself, lacking these residues is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum. Our results thus have illustrated an important role of the GPIbβ cytoplasmic domain in biosynthesis of the GPIb-IX complex. Structured summary MINT- 6742751 , MINT- 6742907 : GPIX (uniprotkb: P14770 ), GPIbalpha (uniprotkb: P07359 ) and GPIbbeta (uniprotkb: P13224 ) physically interact (MI: 0218 ) by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (MI: 0054 )
A framework of an anisotropic elastoplastic model for clays

Abstract A framework of an anisotropic elastoplastic model is proposed that has potential applications to different types of clays. The model adopted the form of work dissipation based yield surface of Dafalias. A surface configuration parameter is introduced to the yield surface in addition to that of the plastic potential surface. This idea was motivated by the fact that different types of clays may have a reasonably close slope of critical state line in stress space but different shear strengths. The resulting yield surface is compared with yield surface data for 17 natural clays. The overall level of agreement is satisfactory.
Determination of free ellagic acid by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

The amount of total ellagic acid in the whole dry plant was as follows: Eucalyptus cinerea: 12.0 mg/g; black grapes: 7.0 mg/g; green grapes: 3.5 mg/g. The averages of five, six or seven samples showed a variation of ±2%. The minimum quantity of the ellagic acid which could be detected with this method was 4 ng. The response of the detector was linear over a 10 6 -fold range of concentration. From the results described here, our method offers a fast, simple way of determining ellagic acid
The asymmetric arrangement of phospholipids in the human erythrocyte membrane

Abstract In erythrocytes treated with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonate (a non-penetrating probe) for 24 hours, a maximum of 33% of the phosphatidylethanolamine and none of the phosphatidylserine reacts with this reagent. In erythrocyte ghosts, however, 95% of the phosphatidylethanolamine and over 50% of the phosphatidylserine reacts in 90 minutes under the same conditions. When extracted erythrocyte lipids are treated with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonate in either a chloroform-methanolbicarbonate or a sonicated aqueous bicarbonate system, both phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine react essentially to completion within minutes. We interpret these results to indicate the localization of nearly all of the phosphatidylserine on the interior surface of the membrane thus demonstrating an asymmetric distribution of phospholipids in the erythrocyte membrane.
Actin and Bacterial Actin-Like Proteins: Insights Into Evolution

Protein polymers are ubiquitous in biology, from cytoskeletal filaments to bacterial pili, and in many cases contain most of the protein in the cell. While it has been assumed that each polymer has a defined structure, we can show that many polymers exist in a multiplicity of states. Conserved subunits, such as bacterial flagellin or Type IV pilin, can be assembled in different ways, giving rise to abrupt changes in quaternary structure. As new quaternary structures emerge, these can have very new functions. For example, the bacterial ParM protein, a homolog of eukaryotic actin, forms filaments that are very different in structure than F-actin, and have a very different function, being involved in DNA segregation. New insights have emerged about the structural plasticity within F-actin, which may help explain the exquisite conservation of actin's sequence. We can show at better than 10 A resolution that within the actin filament subdomain 2 can undergo significant structural alterations from an ordered position to complete disorder. We show that the DNase I-binding loop of actin can exist in multiple conformations, as can the N-terminal region of actin.Overall, these insights into structural polymorphism within protein polymers suggest an under-appreciated mechanism for evolutionary divergence.
Characterization of catecholamine-polypeptide conjugates

Abstract The chemical nature of the biologically active species in previously-prepared polypeptide-bound isoproterenol derivatives has been carefully investigated. Cleavage studies with dithionite and the inactivity in a α-adrenergic assay of several azo model compounds suggest that the linkage to catecholamines did not proceed via an azo bond as had been previously supposed. 2-Phenylisoproterenol (27) and 6-phenylisoproterenol (21) were synthesized as models for the Gomberg arylation products in the polymer-drug coupling reaction. 2-Phenylisoproterenol (27) is biologically active to approximately the same extent as the random copolypeptide-isoproterenol conjugates. Arylation at the 2-position of isoproterenol could therefore have resulted in the species responsible for the biological activity.
Analysis and classification of vegetation based on family composition

The distributions of 54 plant families in 105 samples were studied to determine their indicator value in the vegetation of the Pacific Northwest. Families may be characteristic of particular environments or geographic conditions or they may distinguish between sets of samples. Principal components analysis, numerical classification, and stepwise discriminant analysis were used in this study. Principal components analysis identifies a family if it is common or dominant and has a distribution concentrated at one extreme of an axis of variation. Families with consistent patterns of distribution are useful in distinguishing between groups of samples previously created by numerical classification methods. Twenty-three families that contain environmental, successional, or geographical information were identified according to one or more methods.
A new spin on hESC differentiation

Comment on Ng et al, page [1601][1] Using round-bottom wells, a brief centrifugation step of a defined number of human embryonic stem cells reproducibly yields embryoid bodies termed “spin EBs” and efficient hematopoiesis. The potential of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) for future use in
Evidence for rolling circle replication of Autographa californica M nucleopolyhedrovirus genomic DNA

Autographa californica M nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) is a large ds DNA virus restricted to larval lepidopteran insect hosts. Using field inversion gel electrophoresis and digestion with a restriction enzyme which cuts the AcMNPV genome once, we detected multiple unit-length genome fragments from replicating viral DNA. Our data suggest that AcMNPV replicates in a head-to-tail manner via rolling circle replication.