cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radial infusion models for permeability measurements of compressed fibrous beds

Abstract A summary, new development on analytic solutions of models of the Darcy problem for liquid progression through porous media, and some experimental results obtained by these models are presented. Two anisotropic cases, 2D in-plane and 3D axisymetric transverse injection, are analyzed and compared with a reference case that is represented by the widely used closed-form solution of radial in-plane injection. The analytic solutions of the two analyzed models were originally interpreted as the approximate ones, since they were derived assuming that one component of pressure gradients, in the governing equations, may be neglected. It is shown that the assumption regarding pressure gradients in both cases may be released, that the original results present closed-form solutions of the imposed quasi-steady models, and through numerical experiments, that these models are not sensitive to the radius of the injection port within the range in which relevant parameters usually vary in experiments. With these findings and the results obtained experimentally, it is also show that the two models are equally accurate and reliable as the reference one. They can be employed for the evaluation of all three permeability tensor components utilizing a relatively simple apparatus and as such may be utilized as standard models.
A Molecular Dynamics Study of Ras Clustering in Membrane Domains

Ras proteins are small GTP-hydrohydrolyzing enzymes that function as conformational switches controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, and development. Ras nanolcustering on the plasma membrane and segregation of the clusters into specific membrane substructure driven by competing effects from the lipidated C-terminus and the globular catalytic domain, has attracted much interest in recent years. In this work, we study the clustering behavior of the full length H-ras protein in a model membrane using coarse-grained Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. Our model membrane is a phase-separted bilayer comprised of 3840 DPPC, 2304 DLiPC and 1536 cholesterol molecules. Initial results from the simulations suggest that the same fundamental forces that drive clustering of the minimal H-ras membrane anchor also underlie the clustering behavior of the whole protein. However, steric effects in the full-length protein modulate the size and distribution of its clusters, as well as the elastic properties of the bilayer. The results provide previously unavailable molecular insight into the nanoscale organization of lipidated proteins on the plasma membrane.
Overview of the ABL firepond active-tracking and compensation facility

ABSTRACT To support the Air Forc&s Airborne Laser (ABL) program, we have configured an adaptive-optics andtracking facility at Lincoln Laboratory's Firepond site. By using a 5.4-km horizontal propagation rangeand properly selecting the beam diameter and wavelength we are able to replicate important aspects of ABLpropagation scenarios expected at high altitude. The experimental system was configured to conductexperiments with a point-source beacon, or using active illumination for both adaptive optics and tracking.In this paper we provide an overview of the Firepond facility and include details on the parameter scalingand experimental conditions required to replicate ABL conditions. We discuss optical configurations forvarious experiments and provide details ofthe adaptive-optics, tracking, and active illumination systems. 1. INTRODUCTION In support ofthe Airborne Laser (ABL) technology program1'2 sponsored by the Air Force ResearchLaboratory, MIT Lincoln Laboratory conducted a series of scaled experiments to investigate atmosphericcompensation and tracking for the ABL. The experiments were conducted across an outdoor horizontalpath at Lincoln's Firepond facility in Westford, Massachusetts.Unlike the more familiar ground-to-space scenarios for which adaptive-optics compensation istraditionally used, the ABL propagation scenarios involve long, slant paths over which the strength ofturbulence remains relatively constant. Although the integrated strength of turbulence is often much lowerthan in ground-to-space applications, the distributed nature of the turbulence gives rise to severe intensityscintillation. In addition, for some ABL scenarios the distributed turbulence results in an isoplanatic anglethat is smaller than the diffraction-limited resolution angle. Many were concerned that adaptive-opticscompensation would fail under these unusual conditions.
Semi-batch polycondensation: a simplified polymerization model

Abstract In a previous paper the N + 1 non-linear differential equations (N → ∞) which describe unsteady reversible polycondensation in a semi-batch reactor were shown to collapse to a three equation model that is rigorously applicable to non-equilibrium reacting mixtures. The collapsed model is shown to reduce further to a single linear differential equation yielding polymer number average molecular weight directly. Analytic solution for the case of a linear reduction in reactor pressure is presented, and the validity of the unsteady model is discussed.
Copy number variation in the dosage-sensitive 16p11.2 interval accounts for only a small proportion of autism incidence: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Autism is one of the most heritable complex disorders, but the genetic etiology of autism spectrum disorders is unexplained in ∼90% of cases. Highly penetrant microdeletions and microduplications of 16p11.2 contribute to the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder, but the extent to which these variants account for the total burden of idiopathic autism spectrum disorders has not been systematically investigated. Methods: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed to determine the prevalence of these variants among individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. A planned subgroup analysis was conducted to assess prevalence differences between sporadic and familial autism spectrum disorder cases. Results: In the combined analysis of 3613 idiopathic autism spectrum disorder cases from seven studies, the meta-analytic prevalence of these microdeletions and microduplications was 0.76% (95% CI, 0.51–1.12%). When stratified by copy number variant-type, the prevalence of microdeletions was 0.50% (95% CI, 0.31–0.82%) and the prevalence of microduplications was 0.28% (95% CI, 0.14–0.56%). Sporadic autism spectrum disorder cases showed only a slightly higher prevalence than familial cases. Conclusion: The number needed to test to identify one such variant is 132 patients (95% CI, 89–198). Such information, especially as it pertains to diagnostic yield in genetic testing, should prove useful to clinicians considering chromosomal microarray analysis in subjects with autism spectrum disorders.
Observations on the elastic instability in cone-and-plate and parallel-plate flows of a polyisobutylene Boger fluid

Abstract Experimental measurements of the shear stress and normal stresses in the viscometric flow of a well-characterized polyisobutylene/polybutene solution between a cone-and-plate and between parallel plates show the onset of an “anti-thixotropic” flow transition, which results in a time-dependent, apparent shear-thickening of the viscosity and first normal stress difference. Measurements of the critical conditions for the onset of the flow transition, made by systematically varying the plate separation in the parallel-plate geometry, demonstrate that this rotational instability is a function of the angular velocity in the flow and initially grows exponentially in time, in agreement with theoretical predictions for an Oldroyd-B model. However, experiments show that the disturbance which causes this flow transition is nonaxisymmetric, over-stable in time and subcritical in γ. Spectral analysis also shows that the nonlinear flow which ultimately develops is temporally aperiodic. These features of the flow transition do not agree with the existing theoretical analysis. The experimentally constructed flow-stability diagram shows that, for a given fluid, the instability occurs at a critical Deborah number which is insensitive to the specific geometrical parameters, temperature, and shear-rate of the flow. This interpretation of the elastic instability clarifies recent measurements of the flow stability for the Ml viscoelastic test fluid.
Novel identification of a sulfur-centered, radical-derived 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide nitrone adduct formed from the oxidation of DTT by LC/ELISA, LC/electrospray ionization-MS, and LC/tandem MS.

The detection of highly reactive free radicals generated in biological systems by an ESR spin-trapping technique is always difficult and limited due to the short lifetimes of ESR active spin-trapping radical adducts and poor structural information provided by ESR spectra. In this investigation, we have for the first time employed anti-5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) polyclonal antiserum that specifically recognizes stable, ESR silent end products of DMPO radical adducts and combined HPLC with ELISA, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to separate and characterize DMPO nitrone adducts derived from free radical metabolites. When mircoperoxidase-11 (MP-11) reacted with DTT in the presence of DMPO with or without H2O2, we detected radical-derived DMPO nitrone adducts by ELISA. Similar results were obtained when MP-11 was replaced by hemin. To identify the DMPO nitrone adducts formed in both reaction systems, LC separation was carried out, and the fr...
New Intergeneric Cross within the Pleuronectidae, Dab × Flounder

IN the Pleuronectidae (order Heterosomata, subclass Neopterygii1, class Pisces), hybrids occur in nature between plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L., and flounder2, Platichthys flesus (L.), especially in the Baltic in particular years, and presumed brill–burbot hybrids are fairly common off the Danish and Dutch coasts3. Other records of flatfish hybrids from north-west Europe are either extremely rare or of doubtful validity.
Accuracy of Four Language Analysis Procedures Performed Automatically

Most software for language analysis has relied on an interaction between the metalinguistic skills of a human coder and the calculating ability of the machine to produce reliable results. However, ...
Reducing Classification Cost through Strategic Annotation Assignment

The problem of classifying samples for which there is no definite label is a challenging one in which multiple annotators will provide a more certain input for a classifier. Unlike most of active learning scenarios that require identifying which images to be annotated, we explore how many annotations can potentially be used per instance (one annotation per instance is only the initial step) and propose a threshold-based concept of estimated instance difficulty to guide the custom label acquisition strategy. Using a lung nodule image data set, we determined that, by a simple division of cases into easy and hard to classify, the number of annotations can be distributed to significantly lower the cost (number of acquired annotations) for building a reliable classifier. We show the entire range of available tradeoffs-from a small reduction in annotation cost with no perceptible accuracy loss to a large reduction in annotation cost with a minimal sacrifice of classification accuracy.
Application of the Thermorheologically Complex Nonlinear Adam-Gibbs Model for the Glass Transition to Molecular Motion in Hydrated Proteins

The nonlinear thermorheologically complex Adam Gibbs (extended “Scherer-Hodge”) model for the glass transition is applied to enthalpy relaxation data reported by Sartor, Mayer, and Johari for hydrated methemoglobin. A sensible range in values for the average localized activation energy is obtained (100–200 kJ mol−1). The standard deviation in the inferred Gaussian distribution of activation energies, computed from the reported KWW β-parameter, is ∼30% of the average, consistent with the suggestion that some relaxation processes in hydrated proteins have exceptionally low activation energies.
Functional post-silicon diagnosis and debug for networks-on-chip

Networks-on-chip (NoCs) have emerged as a favorable solution to provide higher bandwidth interconnects for large chip multiprocessors (CMPs). In order to enhance the inter-connect's performance, the NoC is often designed to include complex components and advanced features. Along with the increase in complexity and size, ensuring the functional correctness of the NoC can be particularly challenging This challenge pervades the entire verification effort, and particularly post-silicon validation, due to the lack of observability of the networks complex internal operation. We propose a post-silicon validation platform that enhances observability of network activity by periodically taking snapshots of the packets in flight. Each node's local cache is configured to store the snapshot logs in a temporary space allocated for post-silicon validation and released at deployment. Each snapshot log is periodically and locally analyzed by a software algorithm, running on the processor's core, in order to detect functional errors. If an error is detected, the snapshot logs are aggregated and additional debug data is extracted. This includes an overview of the traffic in the network at the time surrounding the manifestation of the error, as well as a partial reconstruction of the routes followed by the packets in flight. In our experiments, we found that this approach allows us to detect several types of functional errors, as well as observe over 50% of the network's traffic on average and reconstruct at least half of each of their routes through the network.
Effect of exogenous heparin on anchorage-independent growth of fibroblasts induced by transforming cytokines.

Abstract Heparin at concentrations below 100 μg/ml stimulated anchorage-independent growth of NRK 49F (normal rat kidney fibroblasts, American type culture collection) rat fibroblasts at suboptimal cytokine concentrations but inhibited it at higher heparin concentrations regardless of the cytokine concentration. Heparin did not stimulate growth above that seen at optimal cytokine concentrations, suggesting that it alters the cellular response to the cytokines. These data suggest natural protein-glycosaminoglycan interactions play a role in modulating or mediating the actions of transforming cytokines and suggest they may play a role in acquisition of the transformed phenotype.
Magnetic force microscopy and superconductors

Abstract If the tip of an atomic force microscope is made of a magnetic material, one obtain a magnetic force microscope that can be used to sense near-surface microfields with very high resolution (10 nm has been reported). Magnetic force microscopes (MFM) have been used to map out magnetization patters written on magnetic recording media and to st udy domain structures in magnetic materials. They might also be a tool to investigate magnetic properties of superconductors as I will show in this work. A possible advantage of MFM as compared to scanning tunneling microscopy is its robustness with resrespect to surface oxide layers etc. An example that I will consider theoretically is a domain wall in an unconventional, time-reversal breaking superconductor. I propose to use an MFM to observe the currents that flow along the wall.
A unique mode of action of ultraviolet irradiation in prophage induction.

Experiments were conducted to see whether the crossinducing effect of uv irradiation in bacterial conjugation can be superimposed on induction by other agents. Male lysogenic E. coli was subjected first to x radiation or mitomycin C and then to uv radiation before admixture with a female E. coli population (F/sup -/) for determining whether the inductive effect was transferred to the female population. The results show that x radiation or mitomycin C alone produced no transfer, but in combination with uv gave a cross-induction transfer. It is concluded that damage in lysogenic bacteria occurs at different sites in x-ray and uv induction, although phase production results in both cases. (D.L.C.)
Stimulating denitrification in a stream mesocosm with elemental sulfur as an electron donor

Abstract The heavy use of fertilizers in agricultural lands can result in significant nitrate (NO 3 − ) loadings to the aquatic environment. We hypothesized that biological denitrification in agricultural ditches and streams could be enhanced by adding elemental sulfur (S o ) to the sediment layer, where it could act as a biofilm support and electron donor. Using a bench-scale stream mesocosm with a bed of S o granules, we explored NO 3 − removal fluxes as a function of the effluent NO 3 − concentrations. With effluent NO 3 − ranging from 0.5 mg N L −1 to 4.1 mg N L −1 , NO 3 − removal fluxes ranged from 228 mg N m −2 d −1 to 708 mg N m −2 d −1 . This is as much as 100 times higher than for agricultural drainage streams. Sulfate (SO 4 2− ) production was high due to aerobic sulfur oxidation. Molecular studies demonstrated that the S o amendment selected for Thiobacillus species, and that no special inoculum was required for establishing a S o -based autotrophic denitrifying community. Modeling studies suggested that denitrification was diffusion limited, and advective flow through the bed would greatly enhance NO 3 − removal fluxes. Our results indicate that amendment with S o is an effective means to stimulate denitrification in a stream environment. To minimize SO 4 2− production, it may be better to place S o deeper in the sediment layer.
In vitro metabolism of a linear furanocoumarin (8-methoxypsoralen, xanthotoxin) by mixed-function oxidases of larvae of black swallowtail butterfly and fall armyworm

Studies were made of the comparative in vitro metabolism of [14C]xanthotoxin and [14C]aldrin by homogenate preparations of midguts and bodies (carcass minus digestive tract and head) of last-stage larvae of the black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes Fabr.) and the fall armyworm [Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith)]. The two substrates were metabolized by 10,000g supernatant microsomal preparations from both species. Evidence gained through the use of a specific inhibitor and cofactor indicated that mixed-function microsomal oxidases were major factors in the metabolism and that the specific activity of this enzyme system was considerably higher in midgut preparations fromP. polyxenes than in similar preparations fromS. frugiperda. Aldrin was metabolized 3–4 times faster byP. polyxenes, and xanthotoxin 6–6.5 times faster.
Generalized Cascade Decompositions of Automata

Incompletely specified (Mealy type) sequential machines and their generalizations to infinite machines are discussed. Convenient algebraic techniques for the study of such machines are introduced. These techniques are based on binary relations and on an extension of the usual concept of homomorphism to multivalued mappings. The first part of the paper gives a short, unified introduction to the algebraic theory of partial automata. The second part unifies and extends the algebraic approach to generalized cascade decompositions which combine conventional decomposition techniques with state-splitting procedures. The relationship between such generalized decompositions and state reductions of automata is investigated.
Chaotic behavior in piecewise continuous difference equations

A class of piecewise continuous mappings with positive slope, mapping the unit interval into itself is studied. Families of 1-1 mappings depending on some parameter have periodic orbits for most parameter values, but have an infinite invariant set which is a Cantor set for a Cantor set of parameter values. Mappings which are not 1-1 exhibit chaotic behavior in that the asymptotic behavior as measured by the rotation number covers an interval of values. The asymptotic behavior depends sensitively on initial data in that the rotation number is either a nowhere continuous function of initial data, or else it is a constant on all but a Cantor set of the unit interval.
Nonoperative management of nonvascular grade IV blunt renal trauma in children: meta-analysis and systematic review.

Objectives To evaluate nonoperative management of grade IV blunt renal trauma in pediatric patients by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were searched between January 1992 and June 2008 for studies of pediatric renal trauma management. Inclusion criteria were patient age ≤ 18 years and use of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma renal injury scale. Results A total of 95 children with grade IV injuries were identified. No intervention was required in 72% (68/95). Hemodynamic instability necessitated surgical exploration in 11% of patients (11/95). Of these, 46% (5/11) required a partial nephrectomy, 27% (3/11) underwent nephrectomy, and 27% (3/11) were salvaged. Angiographic infarction was not used for patients with delayed or persistent hemorrhage. Symptomatic urinoma developed in 17% (16/95). Of these patients, 81% (13/16) were successfully managed by percutaneous drainage or ureteral stent placement, and open intervention to manage complications became necessary in the remaining 19% (3/16). Partial renal preservation was possible in 95% of patients (90/95). Conclusions Nonoperative management of children with grade IV blunt renal injuries is highly successful, with at least partial renal preservation possible in 95% (90/95) of patients.
ULTRASTRUCTURE OF BARNACLE GIANT MUSCLE FIBERS

Increasing use of barnacle giant muscle fibers for physiological research has prompted this investigation of their fine structure. The fibers are invaginated by a multibranched system of clefts connecting to the exterior and filled with material similar to that of the basement material of the sarcolemmal complex. Tubules originate from the surface plasma membrane at irregular sites, and also from the clefts They run transversely, spirally, and longitudinally, making many diadic and some triadic contacts with cisternal sacs of the longitudinal sarcoplasmic reticulum. The contacts are not confined to any particular region of the sarcomere. The tubules are wider and their walls are thicker at points of contact with Z material. Some linking of the Z regions occurs across spaces within the fiber which contain large numbers of glycogen particles. A-band lengths are extremely variable, in the range 2.2 µm–20.3 µm (average 5.2 µm) Individual thick filaments have thin (110 A) hollow regions alternating with thick (340 A) solid ones. Bridges between thick filaments occur at random points and are not concentrated into an M band The thin:thick filament ratio is variable in different parts of a fiber, from 3:1 to 6:1. Z bands are basically perforated, but the number of perforations may increase during contraction.
Dual Role of Prostaglandins (PGE2) in Regulation of Channel Density and Open Probability of Epithelial Na+ Channels in Frog Skin (R. pipiens)

Prostaglandins are important in signaling pathways involved in modulating the rates of Na+ transport in a diverse group of tissues possessing apical membrane epithelial channels. PGE2 is known to cause either stimulation, inhibition or transient stimulatory changes of Na+ transport. We have continued our studies of frog skins that are known to respond to forskolin and PGE2 with large steady-state increases of transport and have used noninvasive methods of blocker-induced noise analysis of Na+ channels to determine their channel densities (NT) and open probabilities (Po). In the absence of exogenous hormones, baseline rates of Na+ transport are especially high in scraped skins (R. pipiens pipiens) studied in the fall of the year. Na+ transport was inhibited by indomethacin and by removal of the unstirred layers of the corium (isolated epithelia) alone suggesting that PGE2 is responsible for the sustained and elevated rates of transport in scraped skins. Changes of transport caused by indomethacin, forskolin or PGE2 were unquestionably mediated by considerably larger changes of NT than compensatory changes of Po. Since cAMP caused no change of Po in tissues pretreated with indomethacin, PGE2 appears in this tissue to serve a dual role, increasing the steady state NT by way of cAMP and decreasing Po by unknown mechanisms. Despite appreciable PGE2-related decreases of Po, the net stimulation of transport occurs by a considerably greater cAMP-mediated increase of NT.
An experience with parallelism in Ada

One of the more interesting and controversial features of Ada is the tasking structure. The Ada tasking facility provides high level mechanisms for communication and synchronization among tasks executing in parallel. The open question about these mechanisms is whether they provide programmers with both the appropriate level of abstraction and also the necessary level of control.This paper describes in detail the implementation of a system using parallelism that was written during the Ada test and evaluation process.
Detection of inositol trisphosphate and other organic phosphates by high-performance liquid chromatography using an enzyme-loaded post-column reactor

Abstract A technique is described which permits detectionof inositol bis- and trisphos-phates (and other organic phosphates) by high-performance liquid chromatography. After separationof the compounds by anion-exchange chromatography, the column effluent is first passed through a column of immobilized alkaline phosphatase to hydrolyse the phosphate esters. Then, the stream is continuously mixed with a molybdate solution to allow detectionof the inorganic phosphate formed. The enzyme can be immobilized simply by adsorbing it to a moderately hydrophobic support. The limit of detection is less than 1 nmol. Separations are made using sodium sulfate gradients at pH 7.4 on polymeric stationary phases. Addition of calcium ions (5mM) to the mobile phase improves separation of positional isomers, and changes retention relative to adenine nucleotides which are among the main interferences in tissues.
Propofol block of Ih contributes to the suppression of neuronal excitability and rhythmic burst firing in thalamocortical neurons

Although the depressant effects of the general anesthetic propofol on thalamocortical relay neurons clearly involve gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)(A) receptors, other mechanisms may be involved. The hyperpolarization-activated cation current (I(h)) regulates excitability and rhythmic firing in thalamocortical relay neurons in the ventrobasal (VB) complex of the thalamus. Here we investigated the effects of propofol on I(h)-related function in vitro and in vivo. In whole-cell current-clamp recordings from VB neurons in mouse (P23-35) brain slices, propofol markedly reduced the voltage sag and low-threshold rebound excitation that are characteristic of the activation of I(h). In whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings, propofol suppressed the I(h) conductance and slowed the kinetics of activation. The block of I(h) by propofol was associated with decreased regularity and frequency of delta-oscillations in VB neurons. The principal source of the I(h) current in these neurons is the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) type 2 channel. In human embryonic kidney (HEK)293 cells expressing recombinant mouse HCN2 channels, propofol decreased I(h) and slowed the rate of channel activation. We also investigated whether propofol might have persistent effects on thalamic excitability in the mouse. Three hours following an injection of propofol sufficient to produce loss-of-righting reflex in mice (P35), I(h) was decreased, and this was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in HCN2 and HCN4 immunoreactivity in thalamocortical neurons in vivo. These results suggest that suppression of I(h) may contribute to the inhibition of thalamocortical activity during propofol anesthesia. Longer-term effects represent a novel form of propofol-mediated regulation of I(h).
Disbelief, lies, and manipulations in a transactional discourse model

Disbelief, lies, and manipulations have been objects of scholarly consideration from widely different perspectives: historical, sociological, philosophical, ethical, logical, and pragmatic. In this paper, these notions are re-examined in the framework of a Transactional Discourse Model which operates in terms of the location and relocation of various knowledge items within two sets of knowledge, A and B, representing two interlocators A and B, and two of their subsets Ca and Cb, which constitute the sets of the matters of A's and B's current concern. This approach reveals certain formal features shared by lies, disbelief, and manipulations that indicate that these three types of discourse behavior constitute a deviation from successful interpersonal communication as defined in the proposed model. The model, moreover, enables us to explicitly capture both the similarities and the differences of lies and manipulations with other pragmatic phenomena, such as jokes, impersonating, role-acting, memory failure, politeness expressions, and tact; the comparison suggests that certain modifications of Gricean conversational maxims may be in order.
Query processing for SQL updates

A rich set of concepts and techniques has been developed in the context of query processing for the efficient and robust execution of queries. So far, this work has mostly focused on issues related to data-retrieval queries, with a strong backing on relational algebra. However, update operations can also exhibit a number of query processing issues, depending on the complexity of the operations and the volume of data to process. Such issues include lookup and matching of values, navigational vs. set-oriented algorithms and trade-offs between plans that do serial or random I/Os.In this paper we present an overview of the basic techniques used to support SQL DML (Data Manipulation Language) in Microsoft SQL Server. Our focus is on the integration of update operations into the query processor, the query execution primitives required to support updates, and the update-specific considerations to analyze and execute update plans. Full integration of update processing in the query processor provides a robust and flexible framework and leverages existing query processing techniques.
Ovarian Carcinoma Cell Cultures Are Resistant to TGF-β1-Mediated Growth Inhibition Despite Expression of Functional Receptors

Abstract Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the response of ovarian carcinoma cells to TGF-β1 and to examine components of the TGF-β signaling pathway. Methods. Twenty-three primary ovarian cancer cell (CSOC) cultures established from solid ovarian carcinomas were treated with TGF-β1 and assayed for growth response by MTT assay. Expression of TGF-β receptor I (TβR-I) and receptor II (TβR-II), essential for effective signaling, was determined by Western analysis of CSOC cultures. TGF-β1 ligand-induced phosphorylation of TβR-I was determined by immunoprecipitation of TβR-I followed by a protein kinase assay to assess TβR-I phosphorylation, an essential first step in TGF-β signal transduction. Gelatin zymography performed on 5 CSOC cultures incubated with TGF-β1 was used to determine TGF-β's effect on matrix metalloproteinase production. Normal ovarian surface epithelial cells were used for comparison. Results. Eighteen of twenty-three (78%) CSOC cultures demonstrated no significant growth inhibition in response to TGF-β1 treatment. All cell cultures expressed TβR-I and TβR-II and exhibited TβR-I phosphorylation following TGF-β1 treatment. CSOC cultures produced significantly higher levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) than normal ovarian surface epithelial cells; however, the level of MMP-2 expression was not regulated by TGF-β1. Conclusion. These results indicate that TGF-β1 resistance and higher levels of MMP-2 production may be inherent properties of the ovarian cancer phenotype. The initial steps in the TGF-β signaling pathway, receptor expression, ligand binding, and TβR-I phosphorylation, appear to be functional in primary ovarian cancer cell cultures. Therefore, the mechanism of growth resistance is downstream of TβR-I phosphorylation.
Family Culture in Mental Health Help-Seeking and Utilization in a Nationally Representative Sample of Latinos in the United States: The NLAAS

Considering the central role of familismo in Latino culture, it is important to assess the extent to which familismo affects mental health help-seeking. This study examined the role of behavioral familismo, the level of perceived family support, in the use of mental health services of Latinos in the United States. Data come from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS), a representative household survey examining the prevalence of mental disorders and services utilization among Latinos and Asian Americans. Analyses were limited to Latino adults with a clinical need for mental health services, indexed by meeting DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for any mood, anxiety, or substance use disorder during the past 12 months (N = 527). One-third of Latinos with a clinical need used any type of service in the past year, including specialty mental health, general medical, and informal or religious services. High behavioral familismo was significantly associated with increased odds of using informal or religious services, but not specialty or medical services. Self-perceived need and social perceptions of need for care within close networks (i.e., told by family/friends to seek professional help) also were significant predictors of service use. These results carry important implications toward expansions of the mental health workforce in the informal and religious services settings.
Bacterial cellulose IV. Application to processed foods

Abstract A new form of cellulose, bacterial cellulose (BC), features smooth texture and high water-holding capacity. These properties function positively in food systems: BC functions as a heat-stable suspending agent as well as a filler to reinforce the body of fragile food hydrogels, improved the quality of pasty foods by reducing their stickiness, could be applied to meat products as a fat substitute and to jam as a noncaloric bulking agent. These results show that BC will be widely applicable to processed foods to improve their quality.
Calculation of the 13C NMR chemical shift of ether linkages in lignin derived geopolymers

Abstract Methodology for the calculation of 13C NMR shieldings on molecular organic fragments, representative of monomers in a type III kerogen, is presented. Geometry optimization of each molecular fragment was carried out using Density Functional Theory employing the generalized gradient approximation. NMR shieldings were calculated using the Individual Gauge for Localized Orbital Method. Convincing agreement was obtained between calculated and experimentally derived isotropic chemical shielding values over a broad frequency range. Shielding calculations employing the localized orbitals/local origin method resulted in nearly identical results. NMR chemical shift static powder patterns also exhibit excellent agreement with experimental values. These quantum mechanical calculations were applied to determine the extent of lignin primary structure preservation with diagenesis. Specifically, the calculations were used to assess whether inhomogeneous spectral broadening due to both functional group variation and local configurational variability may inhibit the detection of otherwise significant quantities of alkyl-aryl ethers in lignin derived geopolymers. Determination of the chemical-shielding tensor principle axis values reveals a strong correlation between anisotropy and asymmetry with local configuration effects such as dihedral rotation, phenyl group rotation, and bond angle variation. These results indicate that a range of 9 ppm in the isotropic chemical shift can be ascribed to local configuration. Consequently, an upper limit of 5% alkyl-aryl-linkages may go undetected using NMR spectroscopy on lignin-derived geopolymers at the liginite–sub-bituminous transition. It is concluded that the primary structure of lignin does not persist in kerogens even at relatively low thermal maturities.
An explicit fourth‐order compact finite difference scheme for three‐dimensional convection–diffusion equation

We present an explicit fourth-order compact finite difference scheme for approximating the three-dimensional convection diffusion equation with variable coefficients. This 19-point formula is defined on a uniform cubic grid. We compare the advantages and implementation costs of the new scheme with the standard 7-point scheme in the context of basic iterative methods. Numerical examples are used to verify the fourth-order convergence rate of the scheme and to show that the Gauss Seidel iterative method converges for large values of the convection coefficients. Some algebraic properties of the coefficient matrices arising from different discretization schemes are compared. We also comment on the potential use of the fourth-order compact scheme with multilevel iterative methods
Laboratory studies of water transport in rock salt

Abstract The transport of water through rock salt as a result of heating is examined experimentally and a new model proposed to explain the data. The experiment consists of the measurement of water loss rate as a function of time for three 1 kg blocks of Southeastern New Mexico rock salt. Each block was heated for approximately three days with maximum temperatures ranging from 165 to 250°C. The resulting data is qualitatively explained by a continuum model of Darcian flow of water vapor from a receding evaporation front. The model includes the prediction of thermal stresses which are calculated to crack the specimens during heater shutdown giving an anomalously high water loss spike in agreement with the data.
Ovarian hormones influence olfactory cue effects on reentrainment in the diurnal rodent, Octodon degus

Octodon degus, a social hystricomorph rodent, responds to olfactory cues from a gonadally intact female entrained to a light-dark cycle (LD) by accelerating reentrainment of running wheel activity following a 6-h phase advance of the LD cycle. In this study, we examined the role of ovarian hormones in the production of and responsiveness to olfactory social cues in females. Experiment 1: intact females were sequentially phase-advanced 6 h with photic cues alone, or in the presence of an intact female donor, ovariectomized (OVX) donor, a castrated male, or a castrated male with testosterone replacement. Acceleration of reentrainment occurred only in the presence of the intact female donor while reentrainment was delayed by OVX donors. Experiment 2: OVX females undergoing a 6-h phase advance did not accelerate reentrainment in the presence of an intact female donor compared to reentrainment with photic cues alone. Thus, ovarian hormones are necessary for both the production of and responsiveness to olfactory cues. Experiment 3: OVX females implanted with estrogen-filled Silastic capsules did not accelerate reentrainment following the 6-h phase advance in the presence of an intact donor, whereas animals implanted with a combination of estrogen- and progesterone-filled capsules (Experiment 4) reduced the length of time needed to reentrain in the presence of an intact donor. Therefore, combined progesterone and estrogen are sufficient for responsiveness to the effective olfactory cue in intact donor females. These data clarify that the sex difference in sensitivity to non-photic odor effects on circadian reentrainment is caused by both the testosterone's inhibitory effects (Octodon degus. J. Biol. Rhythms 18 (2003) 43-50) and the enhancing effects of progesterone and estrogen.
An Improvement of an Inequality Linking Packing and Covering Densities in 3-space

It is shown that if K is a compact convex set which is centrally symmetric and has a nonempty interior, then the density of the tightest lattice packing with copies of K in Euclidean 3-space divided by the density of the thinnest lattice covering of Euclidean 3-space with copies of K is greater than or equal to 1/3. This improves the previous bound in [5] of 1/4. It is possible this bound will be improved in the future, though not beyond approximately 1/2
Regulation of the HumanO 6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase Gene by Transcriptional Coactivators cAMP Response Element-binding Protein-binding Protein and p300

O 6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT)1, a ubiquitous DNA repair protein, removes O 6-alkylguanine from DNA, including cytotoxic O 6-chloroethylguanine induced by chemotherapeutic N-alkylN-nitrosourea-type drugs, e.g.1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. Treating the pancreatic carcinoma cell line MIA PaCa-2 with trichostatin A (TSA), a specific inhibitor of histone deacetylase, increased MGMT mRNA and protein levels by 2–3-fold. Surprisingly, TSA treatment increased MGMT promoter-dependent luciferase activity by some 40-fold in a transient reporter expression assay. Deletion and point mutation analysis showed that two AP-1 binding sites in the MGMT promoter are involved in activation by TSA. Ectopic expression of the transcriptional coactivators cAMP response element-binding protein-binding protein (CBP) and p300, which have intrinsic histone acetyltransferase activity, enhanced luciferase expression. Overexpression of adenovirus E1A, which binds CBP/p300, strongly inhibited both basal and TSA-inducible MGMT promoter activity, while a mutant E1A, defective in binding CBP/p300, did not. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that TSA treatment increased histone acetylation in the endogenous MGMT promoter region, which also showed association with CBP/p300. Taken together, our results indicate that targeted histone acetylation results in the remodeling of chromatin by recruitment of the coactivator CBP/p300, and constitutes an important step in regulating MGMT expression.
Age-Dependent Loss of Sensitivity of Female Urogenital Sinus to Androgenic Conditions as a Function of the Epithelial-Stromal Interaction in Mice

The ability of the female urogenital sinus to respond to androgens in forming prostate was determined by growing 13- to 18-day old embryonic female urogenital sinuses and vaginas from 1- to 30-day old mice as grafts to male hosts. All embryonic unrogenital sinuses as well as vaginas from 1-day old mice were responsive to androgens and formed prostate, whereas vaginas from mice 5- or more days old never formed prostate. To determine which tissue, the epithelium or stroma, accounts for the age-dependent loss in responsiveness of the vagina to androgens in forming prostate, recombinations composed of epithelium and stroma from 16-day old embryonic urogenital sinuses and vaginas from 1- to 20-day old mice were grown as grafts to male hosts. The developmental response of these recombinants demonstrated that the age-dependent loss in responsiveness of the intact vagina to androgens results from an age-dependent loss in the ability of vaginal stroma to participate in prostatic morphogenesis. These data emphasize the importance of stromal factors during prostatic morphogenesis and the relationship of temporal factors to developmental properties of urogenital stroma.
Thickness shear mode acoustic wave sensors for characterizing the viscoelastic properties of cell monolayer

The thickness shear mode (TSM) quartz crystal resonator attached with living cells has been shown to be an effective functional biosensing device to monitor the process of cell adhesion to a surface in real time. In this study, a multilayer acoustic wave sensor model including a quartz resonator substrate, a cell-substrate interfacial layer and a cell layer has been developed based on the state of cell adhesion to the quartz resonator substrate. In order to obtain comprehensive and detailed information on the resonator oscillation, the electrical admittance spectrum of the resonator sensor over a range of frequencies near resonance is measured by an impedance analyzer instead of only measuring the resonance frequency and motional resistance with an oscillator circuit. After cells are fully spread to form a monolayer on the surface, the admittance spectrum of the multilayer loaded acoustic wave sensor was recorded and used to extract the viscoelastic properties of the cell layer by fitting experimental spectrum curve with those obtained from the theoretical model through a curve-fitting algorithm. It is found that the viscoelastic properties of the cell layer are consistent with those measured by other techniques, indicating the quartz acoustic wave sensor can be used as a non-invasive device for characterizing the mechanical properties of cell layers.
Eigenvectors of a slightly asymmetric rotator

Abstract The normalized eigenvectors of a slightly asymmetric rotator are obtained through fourth order in the asymmetry parameter. The perturbation method is described in a previous paper. The commutator relations which are developed in connection with the asymmetric rotator should be useful for calculating the corrections to the energy eigenvalues which arise from the higher order angular momentum terms in the vibration-rotation Hamiltonian for a molecule.
Counterparts: Co-presence and ritual intersubjectivity

Abstract Taking Schutz’s analysis of interaction relations as a point of departure, this paper examines intersubjectivity through the lens of shamanic divination and exorcism in Yucatec Maya. Shamanic practice alters and in some ways contradicts the principles of reciprocity, mutuality and congruence that lie at the heart of intersubjectivity as Schutz defined it. The co-engagement of shaman with patient is mediated by ritual objects on the altar, the intercorporeal space of performance and legions of spirits who though invisible are nonetheless made present. Intersubjectivity is effectively dismantled and reorganized, not as the universal foundation of co-engagement, but its occasional by-product.
Antiproliferative Agents Alter Vascular Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Expression A Potential Prothrombotic Mechanism of Drug-Eluting Stents

Objectives— Drug eluting stents (DES) reduce the incidence of restenosis after coronary angioplasty. Enthusiasm has been tempered by a possible increased risk of in-stent thrombosis. We examined the effects of paclitaxel and rapamycin on the endothelial transcriptome to identify alterations in gene expression associated with thrombosis. Methods and Results— Gene expression profiling was performed on human coronary artery endothelial cells treated with rapamycin or paclitaxel. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) was the most consistently induced transcript in rapamycin-treated human coronary artery endothelial cells. RT-PCR and ELISA were performed to confirm positive findings. Transgenic mice engineered to express enhanced green fluorescent protein under control of the human PAI-1 promoter were also treated. Rapamycin and paclitaxel treated endothelial cells produced dose-dependent increases in PAI-1. There was a variable effect on endothelial tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) expression. Enhanced expression of PAI-1 and enhanced green fluorescent protein were detected in coronary arteries, the aorta, and kidney of the mice. Conclusion— Antiproliferative agents stimulate the expression of prothrombotic genes. PAI-1 expression may also play a role in the prevention of restenosis through an antimigratory mechanism. The effects of antiproliferatives on vascular gene expression deserve further scrutiny in view of the increasing utilization of drug-eluting stents.
Q‐band to V‐band 1D and 2D elliptical lens antenna arrays

An investigation of the receiving properties of both 1D 13-element and 2D 8 × 4-element dual dipole antenna arrays on an elliptical MACOR lens from Q- to V-band is reported. Theoretical and measurement results agree well. The intended application is for millimeter wave plasma radar reflectometric imaging, although the results have broader applicability (Munsat et al., Rev Sci Instrum 74 (2003) 1426–1432). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 1798–1801, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22620