cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fibrinogen adsorption to receptor‐like biomaterials made by pre‐adsorbing peptides to polystyrene substrates

Two peptides from the ligand-binding site of the platelet receptor GPIIb/IIIa, residues 296-306 of GPIIb, designated B12 by D'Souza et al. (1991), and 300-311 of GPIIb, designated G13 by Taylor et al., (1992), as well as two control peptides, designated C14 and C20, were adsorbed to treated polystyrene substrates, Fibrinogen adsorption to the peptide-coated substrates was characterized. The specificity of I-125 labeled fibrinogen binding to the peptide-coated substrates was investigated by measuring the amount of fibrinogen adsorbed to each substrate and the inhibition of fibrinogen binding by RGDS peptide, bovine serum albumin, a divalent ion chelator (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid disodium salt), unlabeled fibrinogen and the B12 peptide. The results show that non-specific binding of fibrinogen to the B12-coated substrate is predominant under most conditions. Binding of monoclonal antibodies to fibrinogen adsorbed to the peptide coated substrates was characterized. The failure of several antibodies to bind fibrinogen adsorbed to the B12 substrate suggested that adsorption of fibrinogen to the B12-coated substrate alters its conformation relative to fibrinogen adsorbed to the bare substrate.
Selenium binding proteins in rat tissues.

Abstract The 100,000 × g extracts of rat intestine and colon were incubated in vitro with Na2[75Se]O3. Chromatography of this material on a Sephadex G-100 column produced three radioactive peaks corresponding to molecular weights of 17,000, 68,000 and > 90,000. The 17,000 peak corresponded to a protein which sedimented in the 2S region of a 5–20% ( w v ) linear sucrose density gradient. Selenium binding to this protein was specific, stable and sensitive to thiol inhibitors such as p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid (1 mM) and iodoacetamide (2 mM). Chromatography of rat serum - [75Se] complex on Sephadex G-100 yielded only two radioactive peaks that corresponded to molecular weights of 68,000 and > 90,000. The 2S selenium binding protein of intestine and colon may mediate the biological functions of selenium in those tissues.
Planar Thin-Film Servo Write Head for Magnetic Tape Recording

We present a planar thin-film servo write head for writing timing-based servo patterns. The planar head operates at low current ( ~ 100 mA) with nanosecond switching times. The planar head can handle dc current, enabling trailing-edge writing. Magnetic force microscopy measurements of the transitions written by the planar head and a conventional commercial servo write head on longitudinal metal particle and nonoriented barium ferrite media were made to assess the quality of the written transitions. The transition response width PW50 is found to be independent of the tape velocity during write for the planar head. For the conventional head, PW50 is larger and increases with the tape write velocity. The reduced PW50 results in larger readback signal amplitude and hence an improved track-follow performance. The faster switching capability of the planar head enables formatting at higher tape velocity.
Unexpected formation of a novel divanadium(IV) monophosphine complex

While complexes of the type L[sub n]V(OC)Cl[sub 2], wherein L is a monodentate (n = 1, 2, or 3) or a bidentate neutral ligand, have been known for many years, only a few such complexes containing phosphine ligands have been reported and no reports of stable arsine or stibine adducts exist. The only reported compounds containing phosphines include (dppe)(H[sub 2]O)V(O)X[sub 2] (X = Cl, Br), (dppm)(H[sub 2]O)V(O)Br[sub 2], (Ph[sub 3]P)[sub 2]V(O)Cl[sub 2], (Ph[sub 2]MeP)[sub 2]V(O)Cl[sub 2], and (dppm)V(O)Cl[sub 2]. L[sub 2]V(O)Cl[sub 2] complexes, wherein L is NMe[sub 3] and OC(NMe[sub 2])[sub 2], have been shown by X-ray diffraction means to display a trigonal bipyramidal and a square pyramidal geometry, respectively. However, no reports of X-ray structures of the phosphine complexes were found. From IR data, the geometries of (Ph[sub 3]P)[sub 2]V(O)Cl[sub 2] and (Ph[sub 2]MeP)[sub 2]V(O)Cl[sub 2] have been deduced to be trigonal bipyramidal, while that of (dppm)V(O)Cl[sub 2] was inferred from such an analysis to be square pyramidal. The reported synthesis of the phosphine adducts all involve V(O)X[sub 2] as a starting material. During the course of attempts to recrystallize a compound which may have been Ph[sub 2]P(CH[sub 2])[sub 4] PPh[sub 2](dppb), the authors apparently inadvertently introduced an adventitiousmore » source of oxygen and moisture causing the formation of the novel oxovanadium(IV) phosphine complex (THF)Cl[sub 2](O)VPPh[sub 2](CH[sub 2])[sub 4] PRh[sub 2]V(O)Cl[sub 2](THF). The molecular structure of the green complex 2 was shown by X-ray diffraction experiments to feature a trigonal bipyramidal geometry around each vanadium, in which a phosphorus is trans to the oxygen of a THF molecule in the centrosymmetric dppb-bridged structure.« less
Spectral density-based statistical measures for image sharpness

In industrial applications, such as automated on-line semiconductor production, there is a growing realization of the need for the development of a procedure for periodic performance testing of the image sharpness of the scanning electron microscope. Two statistical and comparative measures of image sharpness based on the generalized variance and bivariate kurtosis of the spectral density for a two-dimensional stationary process are proposed.
Pressure Dependence of Infrared Eigenfrequencies of KCl and KBr

Pressure dependence of the k\ensuremath{\sim}0 TO phonon frequencies of KCl and KBr is reported in the pressure range of 1 to 35 kbar. Using the $P\ensuremath{-}V$ data, the volume dependence of these modes was determined. The Gr\"uneisen parameters thus obtained compare well with those calculated from Born-Mayer-type potentials. It appears that the temperature dependence of the k\ensuremath{\sim}0 TO phonon frequency of KBr can be completely accounted for by its volume dependence. In the temperature range of 5 to 750\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, the "self-energy shift" due to anharmonicity thus seems to be small compared with the thermal-expansion part. The CsCl phase occurs in both KCl and KBr at appropriate pressures. The k\ensuremath{\sim}0 TO frequency, as expected, drops by some 10 to 12% at the transition pressure.
Evaluation of Corrosion Behavior of Coated Metals with AC Impedance Measurements

Abstract AC impedance measurements have been performed in 0.5 N NaCl for coated steel and aluminum alloys which had been subjected to different surface treatment procedures. These procedures includ...
CDM and baryons as distinct fluids in a linear approximation for the growth of structure

A single fluid approximation which treats perturbations in baryons and dark matter as equal has sometimes been used to calculate the growth of linear matter density perturbations in the Universe. We demonstrate that properly accounting for the separate growth of baryon and dark matter fluctuations can change some predictions of structure formation in the linear domain in a way that can alter conclusions about the consistency between predictions and observations for $\ensuremath{\Lambda}\mathrm{CDM}$ models vs modified gravity scenarios. Our results may also be useful for 21 cm tomography constraints on alternative cosmological models for the formation of large scale structure.
Dyslexic children lack word selectivity gradients in occipito-temporal and inferior frontal cortex

fMRI studies using a region-of-interest approach have revealed that the ventral portion of the left occipito-temporal cortex, which is specialized for orthographic processing of visually presented words (and includes the so-called "visual word form area", VWFA), is characterized by a posterior-to-anterior gradient of increasing selectivity for words in typically reading adults, adolescents, and children (e.g. Brem et al., 2006, 2009). Similarly, the left inferior frontal cortex (IFC) has been shown to exhibit a medial-to-lateral gradient of print selectivity in typically reading adults (Vinckier et al., 2007). Functional brain imaging studies of dyslexia have reported relative underactivity in left hemisphere occipito-temporal and inferior frontal regions using whole-brain analyses during word processing tasks. Hence, the question arises whether gradient sensitivities in these regions are altered in dyslexia. Indeed, a region-of-interest analysis revealed the gradient-specific functional specialization in the occipito-temporal cortex to be disrupted in dyslexic children (van der Mark et al., 2009). Building on these studies, we here (1) investigate if a word-selective gradient exists in the inferior frontal cortex in addition to the occipito-temporal cortex in normally reading children, (2) compare typically reading with dyslexic children, and (3) examine functional connections between these regions in both groups. We replicated the previously reported anterior-to-posterior gradient of increasing selectivity for words in the left occipito-temporal cortex in typically reading children, and its absence in the dyslexic children. Our novel finding is the detection of a pattern of increasing selectivity for words along the medial-to-lateral axis of the left inferior frontal cortex in typically reading children and evidence of functional connectivity between the most lateral aspect of this area and the anterior aspects of the occipito-temporal cortex. We report absence of an IFC gradient and connectivity between the lateral aspect of the IFC and the anterior occipito-temporal cortex in the dyslexic children. Together, our results provide insights into the source of the anomalies reported in previous studies of dyslexia and add to the growing evidence of an orthographic role of IFC in reading.
FDG PET imaging for grading and prediction of outcome in chondrosarcoma patients.

The aims of this study were to assess the potential of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) for tumor grading in chondrosarcoma patients and to evaluate the role of standardized uptake value (SUV) as a parameter for prediction of patient outcome. FDG PET imaging was performed in 31 patients with chondrosarcoma prior to therapy. SUV was calculated for each tumor and correlated to tumor grade and size, and to patient outcome in terms of local relapse or metastatic disease with a mean follow-up period of 48 months. Chondrosarcomas were detectable in all patients. Tumor SUV was 3.38±1.61 for grade I (n=15), 5.44±3.06 for grade II (n=13), and 7.10±2.61 for grade III (n=3). Significant differences were found between patients with and without disease progression: SUV was 6.42±2.70 (n=10) in patients developing recurrent or metastatic disease compared with 3.74±2.22 in patients without relapse (P=0.015). Using a cut-off of 4 for SUV, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for a relapse were 90%, 76%, 64%, and 94%, respectively. Combining tumor grade and SUV, these parameters improved to 90%, 95%, 90%, and 95%, respectively. Pretherapeutic tumor SUV obtained by FDG PET imaging was a useful parameter for tumor grading and prediction of outcome in chondrosarcoma patients. The combination of SUV and histopathologic tumor grade further improved prediction of outcome substantially, allowing identification of patients at high risk for local relapse or metastatic disease.
Tapered rib-waveguide for single sideband modulation at 10.6 um

ABSTRACT A traveling rib-waveguide structure is proposed for single sideband (SSB) modulation. A low-loss parabolictaper is designed to transmit a large infrared laser beam (10 j.m) into a narrow channel at an optimal length of 7500 m where the taper opening is 242 m and the rib-channel width is 100 jim. The propagation loss of one taper is about 5 to 10 % , and this has been confirmed by experimental results. 1 INTRODUCTION Single sideband (SSB) modulation has been the subject of considerable attention since the early sixties dueto the possibility of obtaining 100 % carrier to sideband power conversion efficiency. Its applications are in thebroad fields of optical communication1, high-resolution spectroscopy and photochemistry, etc. Previous SSBmodulators [2J were made of bulk crystal where drive power required could be as high as 100 kW and bandwidthwere relatively narrow. However, it is possible, at least in theory, to achieve single sideband generation at nearly100 % conversion efficiency by using the linear electrooptic effect of a crystal.If a circularly polarized microwave power of frequency Wm is launched into an electrooptic crystal with aproper orientation, and a circularly polarized optical wave with frequency w0
Individual-patient meta-analysis: Daily aspirin reduces risk for incident cancer with distant metastasis

Source Citation Rothwell PM, Wilson M, Price JF, et al. Effect of daily aspirin on risk of cancer metastasis: a study of incident cancers during randomised controlled trials. Lancet. 2012;379:1591-...
Dynamic behavior of multirobot systems using lattice gas automata

Recent attention has been given to the deployment of an adaptable sensor array realized by multi-robotic systems (or swarms). Our group has been studying the collective, autonomous behavior of these such systems and their applications in the area of remote-sensing and emerging threats. To accomplish such tasks, an interdisciplinary research effort at Sandia National Laboratories are conducting tests in the fields of sensor technology, robotics, and multi- agents architectures. Our goal is to coordinate a constellation of point sensors using unmanned robotic vehicles (e.g., RATLERs, Robotic All-Terrain Lunar Exploration Rover- class vehicles) that optimizes spatial coverage and multivariate signal analysis. An overall design methodology evolves complex collective behaviors realized through local interaction (kinetic) physics and artificial intelligence. Learning objectives incorporate real-time operational responses to environmental changes. This paper focuses on our recent work understanding the dynamics of many-body systems according to the physics-based hydrodynamic model of lattice gas automata. Three design features are investigated. One, for single-speed robots, a hexagonal nearest-neighbor interaction topology is necessary to preserve standard hydrodynamic flow. Two, adaptability, defined by the swarm's rate of deformation, can be controlled through the hydrodynamic viscosity term, which, in turn, is defined by the local robotic interaction rules. Three, due to the inherent nonlinearity of the dynamical equations describing large ensembles, stability criteria ensuring convergence to equilibrium states is developed by scaling information flow rates relative to a swarm's hydrodynamic flow rate. An initial test case simulates a swarm of twenty-five robots maneuvering past an obstacle while following a moving target. A genetic algorithm optimizes applied nearest-neighbor forces in each of five spatial regions distributed over the simulation domain. Armed with this knowledge, the swarm adapts by changing state in order to avoid the obstacle. Simulation results are qualitatively similar to a lattice gas.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Random Walk Production-Inventory Policy: Rationale and Implementation

The smoothing of fluctuations in production and inventory has been handled successfully as a problem in servomechanisms: an optimal linear filter (production scheduling policy) balances costs of inventory fluctuation and costs of production fluctuation. This approach requires the system to respond (by making production rate changes) either continuously or at regular intervals: the usual assumption is that the cost of responding is proportional to the size of the response. This paper explores some reasons why the frequency of production changes may have to be controlled, and offers a new class of policies, called random walk policies, to accomplish this. One of these, the (a, b, c) policy, is investigated for stationary operating characteristics, and a specific example is provided to illustrate the technique of finding optimal values for policy parameters. Some of the characteristics of systems in which random walk inventory policies may be useful are discussed; and more general techniques for identifying ...
External perturbations on distant planetary orbits and objects in the Kuiper disk

We investigate the potential importance of molecular cloud and stellar perturbations on the orbits of Pluto and more distant (hypothetical) planets up to 500 AU from the Sun. It is found that stellar and molecular cloud-core perturbations are of roughly equal importance. It also is found that the likelihood of substantial perturbations on Pluto is not insignificant, and that numerous substantial stellar and molecular cloud perturbations are likely to have influenced the orbits of any planets beyond ∼200 AU. These perturbations may contribute to a prevalence of moderate eccentricities and inclinations for planets beyond the orbit of Neptune, and may be a characteristic of distant planetary orbits in other solar systems. Given the recent discovery of chaotic behavior in Pluto's orbit (Sussman and Wisdom 1988), the effects of external perturbations on the long-term stability of Pluto's orbit warrant continued study.
Statistical Modeling of Rate Gyros

Gyroscopes are integral components of inertial measurement units, which are used for guidance and stabilization of many platforms. This paper presents an algorithm for estimating the statistical parameters that govern the performance of rate gyros, i.e., the spectral densities R and Q of the angle random walk and rate random walk components, respectively. Previous work on gyro modeling is based on computing the Allan variance of a gyro signal and using a well-known formula for its mean. The algorithm in this paper uses these as well as the following quantities, which are derived in this paper: the theoretical variance of the Allan variance and the covariance between different Allan variance points. The algorithm is developed using the formulation of the best linear unbiased estimator from statistical estimation theory. The performance of the algorithm is demonstrated using simulated and experimental data. A bound on the error in the integral of the gyro output, as a function of Q and R, is also derived.
A 14 amino acid peptide derived from the amino terminus of the cleaved thrombin receptor elevates intracellular calcium and stimulates prostacyclin production in human endothelial cells.

Summary Cleavage by thrombin of the platelet thrombin receptor exposes a new N-terminal segment SFLLRNPNDKYEPF (SFLL) which acts as a tethered ligand. The free peptide activates platelets and induces platelet aggregation. We now show that SFLL can also activate human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and induce rises in both cytosolic free calcium ([Ca 2+ ] i ) and prostacyclin (PGI 2 ) production. These responses were time- and concentration-dependent and were similar to those for native thrombin except that they were not blocked by hirudin. Initial activation of HUVEC with thrombin desensitized the subsequent response to SFLL for both rises in [Ca 2+ ] i and PGI 2 production Thus, SFLL alone can activate HUVEC and elevate [Ca 2+ ] i and induce PGI 2 production suggesting that the thrombin receptors on platelet and endothelial cells are functionally and structurally similar.
Ninety‐Six Episodes of Spontaneous Ventricular Tachycardia in 1 Week: Success of Ramp Pacing by a Pacer‐Cardioverter‐Defibrillator

This case report describes the flexibility and usefulness of a pacer-cardioverter-defibrillator for the management of a 63-year-old patient with malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Ninety of 96 episodes of ventricular tachycardia were terminated successfully with ramp pacing in a 1-week period. In those patients who have frequent episodes of ventricular tachycardia that respond to antitachycardia pacing, the multifunction device can add to the patient's comfort and increase acceptance of this type of device.
A novel therapeutic approach in pulmonary arterial hypertension as a complication of adult-onset Still's disease: targeting IL-6

Adult-onset Still's Disease (AOSD), often though as the adult variant of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), has an incidence of 1-3 cases per 1 million. Cardinal manifestations include fever, arthritis, skin rash, sore throat, hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. Prolongation in diagnosing this disease results from its similarity to infectious, malignant and rheumatic diseases and lack of biomarkers. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare pulmonary complication of AOSD, and we are aware of only six cases reported in literature to date. Here we present a patient with AOSD who has developed pulmonary hypertension as a complication. We report a case of AOSD complicated by PAH treated successfully with tocilizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody to human interleukin (IL)-6 receptor. A Pubmed and Medline search for evidence of pulmonary hypertension in AOSD and use of IL-6 inhibition in management was performed. Data for this study was collected from the patient's chart records. No infectious or neoplastic cause of her disease was identified and after extensive diagnostic workup, the patient was diagnosed with AOSD fulfilling Yamaguchi criteria. After initiation of IL-6 therapy the patient was followed over time to monitor the hemodynamic changes in pulmonary vasculature. Following treatment with Tocilizumab, the patient showed dramatic improvement in her clinical symptoms and remains in remission, through combination of tocilizumab (8 mg/kg), methotrexate and prednisone. Improvement of systemic symptoms, right heart catheterization (RHC) findings and the VECTRA-DA score served as a measure of treatment response. Tocilizumab has been effective in demonstrating marked improvement in both the clinical and laboratory parameters. Tocilizumab is an effective novel treatment for AOSD with PAH. This is the first documented report of successful use of tocilizumab in AOSD patients presenting with PAH. Prospective comparative studies could help validate its efficacy and safety.
Scaling behavior at the N t =6 chiral phase transition for 2-flavor lattice QCD with massless staggered quarks, and an irrelevant 4-fermion interaction

We have simulated lattice QCD with 2 flavors of massless staggered quarks. An irrelevant chiral 4-fermion interaction was added to the standard quark action to allow us to simulate at zero quark mass. Thermodynamics was studied on lattices of temporal extent 6. Clear evidence for a second order chiral transition was observed and the critical exponents {beta}{sub mag}, {delta}, {nu} and {gamma}{sub mag} were measured. These exponents do not agree with those expected by standard universality arguments. They are, however, consistent with tricritical behavior. The {pi} and {sigma} screening masses were measured and show clear evidence for chiral symmetry restoration at this transition.
Role of aromatase in endometrial disease.

Aromatase is the key enzyme for estrogen biosynthesis. It is normally expressed in the human ovary, skin, adipose tissue and brain. Aromatase activity is not detectable in normal endometrium. In contrast, aromatase is expressed aberrantly in endometriosis and is stimulated by PGE2. This results in local production of estrogen, which induces PGE2 formation and establishes a positive feedback cycle. Another abnormality in endometriosis, i.e. deficient 17β-hyroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) type 2 expression, impairs the inactivation of estradiol to estrone. These molecular aberrations collectively favor accumulation of increasing quantities of estradiol and PGE2 in endometriosis. The clinical relevance of these findings was exemplified by the successful treatment of an unusually aggressive case of post-menopausal endometriosis using an aromatase inhibitor.
Effect of mechanical ventilation and barotrauma on pulmonary clearance of 99mtechnetium diethylenetriamine pentaacetate in lambs

We studied the effect of positive pressure mechanical ventilation on the pulmonary clearance (k) of 99mtechnetium diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (99mTc-DTPA) in lambs. Twelve lambs were anesthetized and ventilated with air at 25 breaths/min and with end expiratory airway pressure at 2 cm H2O for a minimum period of 8 h. Four lambs received normal pressure ventilation with peak airway pressure at 17 +/- 3 cm H2O and eight received high pressure ventilation with peak airway pressure at 41 +/- 2 cm H2O. Three 99mTc-DTPA clearance studies were done in each lamb; at the start and after 4 and 8 h of mechanical ventilation. All clearance measurements were made at normal peak airway pressure 16 +/- 3 cm H2O. Baseline clearance rate, k, (n = 12) was 1.2 +/- 0.5% (SD). During normal pressure ventilation, k increased from 1.0 +/- 0.5 to 2.2 +/- 0.8% after 4 h and to 2.7 +/- 0.8% after 8 h. During high pressure ventilation, k increased from 1.4 +/- 0.4 to 3.6 +/- 1.3% after 4 h and to 4.8 +/- 1.2% after 8 h. To see if 8 h of mechanical ventilation was associated with other evidence of lung epithelial injury, we determined the movement of I125 labeled albumin from the interstitium into the airspace, lung water content, lung histology, and lung lavage constituents in the lambs at the end of the study. All variables were similar between ventilated and four unventilated lambs, except the percentage of alveolar macrophages recovered by lavage, which was more in the ventilated lambs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Building Trust in Natural Resource Management Within Local Communities: A Case Study of the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Communities neighboring federally pro- tected natural areas regularly weigh the costs and benefits of the administering agency's programs and policies. While most agencies integrate public opinion into decision making, efforts to standardize and formalize public involvement have left many local communities feeling marginalized, spurring acrimony and opposition. A significant body of research has examined barriers to effective public participation as well as strategies for relationship building in planning processes; many of which point to trust as a key factor. Trust is especially tenuous in local communities. This paper explores perceptions of trust, expectations for management, as well as constraints to building trust. In-depth interviews were conducted with 21 commu- nity members and USDA Forest Service personnel at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in northeastern Illinois. The interviews revealed that trust is perceived as important to effective management. Distinct expec- tations for management outcomes and processes emerged, including the values, knowledge, and capac- ity demonstrated in management decisions and actions and opportunities provided for communication, collab- oration, and cooperation within the agency-community relationship. The case study identified several con- straints to building trust, including competing values, knowledge gaps, limited community engagement, and staff turnover.
Factors Influencing the Implementation of Organized Physical Activity and Fruit and Vegetable Snacks in the HOP'N After-School Obesity Prevention Program

Abstract Objective To identify barriers and facilitators for improving the after-school organized physical activity (PA) and snack quality. Methods After-school staff (Year 1, n = 20; Year 2, n = 17) participated in qualitative, semistructured interviews about the implementation of an after-school obesity prevention intervention. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded for common themes, and analyzed using NVivo software. Results Several factors influencing implementation of PA and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption were revealed. Facilitators for PA included: staff training, equipment/gym space, and scheduling organized PA. Physical activity barriers included prioritizing PA and lack of school administration support. Fruit and vegetable facilitators included requesting healthier snacks. Fruit and vegetable barriers included cost and low priority of snack. Conclusions and Implications The success of improving after-school PA and FV snack quality is dependent on many factors, including several organizational system and staff variables. Future research should focus on systemic changes in the after-school environment to increase the priority of daily PA and a healthy snack.
Nonstoichiometry in line compounds

Phases having compositional fields narrower than about 1 at.% and appearing as lines in binary phase diagrams often are assumed to have properties independent of composition. That such an assumption can be seriously in error is illustrated by recent measurements on pairs of samples prepared to have compositions at opposing phase boundaries. Two microscopic properties, lattice locations of highly dilute solutes and diffusional jump frequencies, were studied, respectively, through measurement of static and dynamic nuclear quadrupole interactions using the method of perturbed angular correlation of gamma rays (PAC). At opposing boundary compositions, PAC probe atoms have been observed to occupy different lattice sites or to have jump frequencies differing by a factor of 100. Such gross differences suggest measurements of other properties of line compounds should be made on pairs of samples having the opposing boundary compositions in order to avoid inconsistent or unreproducible results.
The Interaction of Age and Hormone Replacement Therapy on Colon Adenoma Risk

Abstract Background: Several studies have identified a possible interaction between age and hormone replacement therapy on colon neoplasm risk. We re-evaluated this interaction and determined if this interaction may be explained by the longer duration of estrogen use in older, rather than younger, women. Methods: Included in the case-control study were 755 women (169 cases and 586 controls.) who were recruited from patients with no prior history of colorectal neoplasm and undergoing an elective colonoscopy examination. Results: There was a significant interaction between age and hormone replacement therapy use ( P =0.03) with current estrogen users who were over 56 years of age having a reduced odds of colon adenoma (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.16–0.98) when compared to never users. Both older women who had used hormone replacement therapy for 3 or less years (OR, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.006–0.81) and those reporting greater than 10 years of use (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.09–0.80) had a reduced adjusted odds for adenomas when compared to non-users. No apparent association with estrogen replacement therapy was found among younger women ( Conclusions: Duration of use is not likely to explain the stronger association of hormone replacement therapy use with colon neoplasm in older women. Additional work is needed to better characterize the underlying mechanisms associated with this interaction.
The Hyb Hydrogenase Permits Hydrogen-Dependent Respiratory Growth of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium contains three distinct respiratory hydrogenases, all of which contribute to virulence. Addition of H 2 significantly enhanced the growth rate and yield of S. Typhimurium in an amino acid-containing medium; this occurred with three different terminal respiratory electron acceptors. Based on studies with site-specific double-hydrogenase mutant strains, most of this H 2 -dependent growth increase was attributed to the Hyb hydrogenase, rather than to the Hya or Hyd respiratory H 2 -oxidizing enzymes. The wild type strain with H 2 had 4.0-fold greater uptake of 14 C-labeled amino acids over a period of minutes than did cells incubated without H 2 . The double-uptake hydrogenase mutant containing only the Hyb hydrogenase transported amino acids H 2 dependently like the wild type. The Hyb-only-containing strain produced a membrane potential comparable to that of the wild type. The H 2 -stimulated amino acid uptake of the wild type and the Hyb-only strain was inhibited by the protonophore carbonyl cyanide m -chlorophenylhydrazone but was less affected by the ATP synthase inhibitor sodium orthovanadate. In the wild type, proteins TonB and ExbD, which are known to couple proton motive force (PMF) to transport processes, were induced by H 2 exposure, as were the genes corresponding to these periplasmic PMF-coupling factors. However, studies on tonB and exbD single mutant strains could not confirm a major role for these proteins in amino acid transport. The results link H 2 oxidation via the Hyb enzyme to growth, amino acid transport, and expression of periplasmic proteins that facilitate PMF-mediated transport across the outer membrane. IMPORTANCE Complex carbohydrates consumed by animals are fermented by intestinal microflora, and this leads to molecular hydrogen production. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium can utilize this gas via three distinct respiratory hydrogenases, all of which contribute to virulence. Since H 2 oxidation can be used to conserve energy, we predicted that its use may augment bacterial growth in nutrient-poor media or in competitive environments within H 2 -containing host tissues. We thus investigated the effect of added H 2 on the growth of Salmonella Typhimurium in carbon-poor media with various terminal respiratory electron acceptors. The positive effects of H 2 on growth led to the realization that Salmonella has mechanisms to increase carbon acquisition when oxidizing H 2 . We found that H 2 oxidation via one of the respiration-linked enzymes, the Hyb hydrogenase, led to increased growth, amino acid transport, and expression of periplasmic proteins that facilitate proton motive force-mediated transport across the outer membrane.
Video image stereo matching using phase-locked loop techniques

A hardware system for performing video image stereo matching is proposed which utilizes phase-locked loop techniques to eliminate the intensive computations characteristic of many stereo matching algorithms. An initial evaluation of the technique is presented. The proposed hardware system is simulated in software on a VAX-II/730 minicomputer and is used to determine the disparity between a stereo pair of digitized video images. Potential hardware design problems and their possible solutions are discussed. The proposed stereo image matching technique promises to provide stereo disparity information at standard video frame rates using currently available integrated circuits.
Phylogenetic reconstruction using four low-copy nuclear loci strongly supports a polyphyletic origin of the genus Sorghum

Background and Aims Sorghum is an essential grain crop whose evolutionary placement within the Andropogoneae has been the subject of scrutiny for decades. Early studies using cytogenetic and morphological data point to a poly- or paraphyletic origin of the genus; however, acceptance of poly- or paraphyly has been met with resistance. This study aimed to address the species relationships within Sorghum, in addition to the placement of Sorghum within the tribe, using a phylogenetic approach and employing broad taxon sampling. Methods From 16 diverse Sorghum species, eight low-copy nuclear loci were sequenced that are known to play a role in morphological diversity and have been previously used to study evolutionary relationships in grasses. Further, the data for four of these loci were combined with those from 57 members of the Andropogoneae in order to determine the placement of Sorghum within the tribe. Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses were performed on multilocus concatenated data matrices. Key Results The Sorghum-specific topology provides strong support for two major lineages, in alignment with earlier studies employing chloroplast and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) markers. Clade I is composed of the Eu-, Chaeto- and Heterosorghum, while clade II contains the Stipo- and Parasorghum. When combined with data from the Andropogoneae, Clade II resolves as sister to a clade containing Miscanthus and Saccharum with high posterior probability and bootstrap support, and to the exclusion of Clade I. Conclusions The results provide compelling evidence for a two-lineage polyphyletic ancestry of Sorghum within the larger Andropogoneae, i.e. the derivation of the two major Sorghum clades from a unique common ancestor. Rejection of monophyly in previous molecular studies is probably due to limited taxon sampling outside of the genus. The clade consisting of Para- and Stiposorghum resolves as sister to Miscanthus and Saccharum with strong node support.
Epigenetic dynamics during preimplantation development

Successful mammalian development requires descendants of single-cell zygotes to differentiate into diverse cell types even though they contain the same genetic material. Preimplantation dynamics are first driven by the necessity of reprogramming haploid parental epigenomes to reach a totipotent state. This process requires extensive erasure of epigenetic marks shortly after fertilization. During the few short days after formation of the zygote, epigenetic programs are established and are essential for the first lineage decisions and differentiation. Here we review the current understanding of DNA methylation and histone modification dynamics responsible for these early changes during mammalian preimplantation development. In particular, we highlight insights that have been gained through next-generation sequencing technologies comparing human embryos to other models as well as the recent discoveries of active DNA demethylation mechanisms at play during preimplantation.
A Novel Procedure for Assessing the Accuracy of Hyperbolic Multilateration Systems

This paper describes a novel procedure for determing the accuracy of hyperbolic multilateration systems. Basically, the procedure links the conventional accuracy measures (e. g., GDOP) to the moments and products of inertia of a mass configuration that is easily derived from the system geometry. Thus, the problem of determining accuracy measures is reduced to that of calculating simple moments and products of inertia. The insight provided by the procedure makes it possible to derive a variety of useful approximations for GDOP and other accuracy measures.
Androgen Receptor as a Driver of Therapeutic Resistance in Advanced Prostate Cancer

The role of the androgen receptor (AR) signaling axis in the progression of prostate cancer is a cornerstone to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms causing castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Resistance of advanced prostate cancer to available treatment options makes it a clinical challenge that results in approximately 30,000 deaths of American men every year. Since the historic discovery by Dr. Huggins more than 70 years ago, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been the principal treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Initially, ADT induces apoptosis of androgen-dependent prostate cancer epithelial cells and regression of androgen-dependent tumors. However, the majority of patients with advanced prostate cancer progress and become refractory to ADT due to emergence of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells driven by aberrant AR activation. Microtubule-targeting agents such as taxanes, docetaxel and paclitaxel, have enjoyed success in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer; although new, recently designed mitosis-specific agents, such as the polo-kinase and kinesin-inhibitors, have yielded clinically disappointing results. Docetaxel, as a first-line chemotherapy, improves prostate cancer patient survival by months, but tumor resistance to these therapeutic agents inevitably develops. On a molecular level, progression to CRPC is characterized by aberrant AR expression, de novo intraprostatic androgen production, and cross talk with other oncogenic pathways. Emerging evidence suggests that reactivation of epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) processes may facilitate the development of not only prostate cancer but also prostate cancer metastases. EMT is characterized by gain of mesenchymal characteristics and invasiveness accompanied by loss of cell polarity, with an increasing number of studies focusing on the direct involvement of androgen-AR signaling axis in EMT, tumor progression, and therapeutic resistance. In this article, we discuss the current knowledge of mechanisms via which the AR signaling drives therapeutic resistance in prostate cancer metastatic progression and the novel therapeutic interventions targeting AR in CRPC.
Three Game Changing Discoveries: A Simpler Fusion Concept?

This paper encourages exploration of a broad range of magnetic fusion concepts in parallel with mainline tokamak development. Such exploration will certainly lead to increased understanding of fusion science and possibly to an attractive fusion energy concept. As an example, this paper describes three discoveries which greatly increase the attractiveness of the magnetic mirror plasma confinement concept. The mirror concept is thought to have three unattractive characteristics. The magnets are complex, the plasma is plagued with micro-instabilities and the electron temperature would never approach required keV levels. Persistent research on the gas dynamic trap device at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics in Russia and elsewhere have overcome these three deficiencies. Stable high energy density plasma can be confined with simple circular magnets, micro-instabilities can be tamed, and electron temperatures reaching a keV have been measured. These three accomplishments provide a basis to reconsider the mirror concept as a neutron source for medical applications, fusion materials development, nuclear fuel production, and fusion energy production.
Pharmacologic resuscitation: cell protective mechanisms of histone deacetylase inhibition in lethal hemorrhagic shock.

Background We have demonstrated that valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI), can improve animal survival after hemorrhagic shock, and protect neurons from hypoxia-induced apoptosis. This study investigated whether VPA treatment works through the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/Caspase-3 survival pathways. Methods Wistar-Kyoto rats underwent hemorrhagic shock (60% blood loss over 60 min) followed by post-shock treatment with VPA (300 mg/kg), without any additional resuscitation fluids. The experimental groups were: (1) Sham (no hemorrhage, no resuscitation), (2) no resuscitation (hemorrhage, no resuscitation), and (3) VPA treatment. The animals were sacrificed at 1, 6, or 24 h (n = 3/timepoint), and liver tissue was harvested. Cytosolic and nuclear proteins were isolated and analyzed for acetylated histone-H3 at lysine-9 (Ac-H3K9), total and phosphorylated JNK, and activated caspase-3 by Western blot. Results Hemorrhaged animals were in severe shock, with mean arterial pressures of 25–30 mmHg and lactic acid 7–9 mg/dL. As expected, only the VPA treated animals survived to the 6- and 24-h timepoints; none of the non-resuscitated animals survived to these time points. Treatment of hemorrhaged animals with VPA induced acetylation of histone H3K9, which peaked at 1 h and returned back to normal by 24 h. Hemorrhage induced phosphorylation of JNK (active form) and increased activated caspase-3 levels, representing a commitment to subsequent cell death. Treatment with VPA decreased the phospho-JNK (P = 0.06) expression at 24 h, without changing the total levels of JNK (P = 0.89), and this correlated with attenuation of activated caspase-3 at 24 h (P = 0.04), compared with the non-resuscitated animals. Conclusion Treatment with HDACI, induces acetylation of histone H3K9, and reduces JNK phosphorylation and subsequent caspase-3 activation. This discovery establishes for the first time that HDACI may protect cells after severe hemorrhage through modulation of the JNK/caspase-3 apoptotic pathway.
A simple absorbing boundary condition for FDTD modeling of lossy, dispersive media based on the one-way wave equation

Motivated by previous work on modeling dispersive media with a single pole, Z-transform conductivity model, we present an absorbing boundary condition (ABC) for such media, based on the one-way wave equation. The applicability of the method is tested on a three dimensional (3-D) finite-difference time-domain grid excited with a broadband Gaussian pulse, modulated at 2 GHz. For such media and this high frequency range, the resulting reflection ratio for normal incidence is less than 1%. A comparison in 2-D grids with the original perfectly matched layer (PML) ABC for dispersive media shows that for small angles of incidence, this Mur-type ABC is superior. In addition, it requires no additional storage of field components, is easy to implement, and is readily parallelizable. Therefore, despite its limitations, it can be a good alternative to other PML-based ABCs for lossy dispersive media, in high frequency applications such as underground radar or microwave imaging.
Increased aging in primary muscle cultures of sporadic inclusion-body myositis.

Abstract Ageing is thought to participate to the pathogenesis of sporadic inclusion-body myositis (s-IBM). Although the regenerative potential of s-IBM muscle is reduced in vivo, age-related abnormalities of satellite cells possibly accounting for the decline of muscle repair have not been demonstrated. Here we show that proliferation rate and clonogenicity of s-IBM myoblasts are significantly lower and doubling time is longer than normal age-matched controls, indicating that proliferative capacity of s-IBM muscles becomes exhausted earlier. Telomere shortening is detected in s-IBM cells suggesting premature senescence. Differently from controls, s-IBM myoblasts show increased active β-catenin mainly localized within myonuclei, indicating active Wnt stimulation. After many rounds of muscle growth, only s-IBM myoblasts accumulate congophilic inclusions and immunoreactive Aβ 1–40 deposits. Therefore, s-IBM myoblasts seem to have a constitutively impaired regenerative capacity and the intrinsic property, upon sufficient aging in vitro, to accumulate Aβ. Our results might be valuable in understanding molecular mechanisms associated with muscle aging underlying the defective regeneration of s-IBM muscle and provide new clues for future therapeutic strategies.
Glucose Metabolism Attenuates p53 and Puma-dependent Cell Death upon Growth Factor Deprivation

Growth factor stimulation and oncogenic transformation lead to increased glucose metabolism that may provide resistance to cell death. We have previously demonstrated that elevated glucose metabolism characteristic of stimulated or cancerous cells can stabilize the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein Mcl-1 through inhibition of GSK-3. Here we show that the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein, Puma, is also metabolically regulated. Growth factor deprivation led to the loss of glucose uptake and induction of Puma. Maintenance of glucose uptake after growth factor withdrawal by expression of the glucose transporter, Glut1, however, suppressed Puma up-regulation and attenuated growth factor withdrawal-induced activation of Bax, DNA fragmentation, and cell death. Conversely, glucose deprivation led to Puma induction even in the presence of growth factor. This regulation of Puma expression was a central component in cell death as a consequence of growth factor or glucose deprivation because Puma deficiency suppressed both of these cell death pathways. Puma induction in growth factor or glucose withdrawal was dependent on p53 in cell lines and in activated primary T lymphocytes because p53 deficiency suppressed Puma induction and delayed Bax and caspase activation, DNA fragmentation, and loss of clonogenic survival. Importantly, although p53 levels did not change or were slightly reduced, p53 activity was suppressed by elevated glucose metabolism to inhibit Puma induction after growth factor withdrawal. These data show that p53 is metabolically regulated and that glucose metabolism initiates a signaling mechanism to inhibit p53 activation and suppress Puma induction, thus promoting an anti-apoptotic balance to Bcl-2 family protein expression that supports cell survival.