cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two Peaks in the Internal Friction as a Function of Temperature in Some Soda Silicate Glasses

Measurements of the internal friction of the glasses 17% Na2O-83% SiO2, 25.6% Na2O-74.4%, SiO2, and 34% Na2O-66% SiO2 were made as a function of temperature, composition, and frequency in the range 1 to 3 cycles per second and from –90° to 500°F. The internal friction as a function of temperature revealed two distinct peaks for each glass tested. One peak occurred in the temperature range −55° to +50°F. and the other in the range 300° to 500°F. All the observed peaks were found to be best represented by an assumed Gaussian distribution of heats of activation with the high-temperature peaks exhibiting a much wider distribution than the low-temperature peaks. It was therefore concluded that none of the peaks was a manifestation of a single heat of activation. The temperatures at which all peaks occurred increased with increasing frequency. From this shift of “peak” temperatures with frequency, the most likely heats of activation associated with each peak were calculated. The temperature dependence of the dynamic shear modulus for each glass was used to calculate the “relaxation strength” of the relaxation process for each peak. An analysis of all these data strongly indicated that the high-temperature peaks as well as the low-temperature ones were related to cooperative action among sodium ions.
Selenium in aqueous solutions: The impossibility of obtaining a meaningful Eh using a platinum electrode, with implications for modeling of natural waters

Oxidation-reduction reactions are clearly one of the major controlling factors in the geochemical and environmental behavior of Se. Predictions of its solubility and aqueous speciation must include some measure of the redox status (Eh or pH) of the system. However, laboratory experiments show that even at high concentrations of Se, and over a wide range of pH, the Pt electrode is completely insensitive to the relative abundances of dissolved Se (VI) and Se (IV). For Se, as for many other multivalent elements, predictions concerning aqueous speciation cannot be based on a measured Eh and equilibrium geochemical calculations; instead, chemical analyses must be used to measure the abundances of the predominant dissolved species.
Can tapentadol cause a false-positive urine drug screen result for amphetamine?

To the Editor:Tapentadol (Nucynta®, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Raritan, NJ.), is a newer, synthetic analgesic approved in the US in 2008 (immediate-release) and 2011 (extended-relea...
The segnosaurian dinosaurs: relics of the prosauropod–ornithischian transition?

ABSTRACT Segnosaurus Perle, 1979, and Erlikosaurus Barsbold & Perle, 1980, are recently described dinosaurs of unusual form from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia. Both taxa are medium-sized herbivores with small skulls, beaks, spatulate teeth, retroverted pubes, and broad four-digit hindfeet. Barsbold and Perle consider them to be theropods. However, the feet of segnosaurs are much less derived than are the bird-like feet of theropods. Further, the segnosaurs do not show any distinctive theropod-like characters that justify their assignment to this group. They appear, instead, to be derived prosauropods with a number of early ornithischian adaptations. Notable among these ornithischian-like adaptations are their beaked jaws with cheeks. A cladistic comparison of the segnosaurs with thecodonts and early dinosaurs of the Triassic suggests that, despite their late appearance, the segnosaurs are phylogenetic intermediates between herbivorous prosauropods and early ornithischians. As such the segnosaurs strengt...
Stepwise Treatment of Asthma

Therapy for asthma has undergone substantial changes in the past three decades, prompted by a better understanding of the role of inflammation in reversible airway disease. Improved therapies and a workable algorithm of therapy guidelines have provided an improved quality of life for the patient with asthma. This article outlines the most recent revisions of the stepwise guidelines provided by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Dynamics of flux-line liquids in high-Tc superconductors

Abstract A hydrodynamic theory of the flux line lattice and the isotropic and hexatic flux line liquids in high- T c superconductors is presented. Weak microscopic pinning centers are described within the flux flow model of Bardeen and Stephen, while strong macroscopic pinning centers set the boundary conditions for the flow. A large intervortex viscosity, which we attribute to entanglement, allows the effects of a few strong pins to propagate large distances in the fluid phases. In thin films, the diverging viscosity associated with a continuous freezing transition should produce similar effects. We propose a simple experiment to observe this pinning length scale and distinguish between various theories of the resistivity drop. The hydrodynamic modes of flux line solids, hexatics and liquids are discussed. Weak pinning shows up as an elastic peak in the dynamic correlation functions. The macroscopic flow of a flux liquid driven by a uniform external current in the presence of macroscopic obstacles of specified geometry is also described.
Estrogen Receptor Expression and Sensitivity to Paclitaxel in Breast Cancer

A retrospective analysis of CALGB trial 9344 suggested paclitaxel administration following cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin adjuvant chemotherapy is most beneficial for patients with ERalpha negative (ERalpha-) breast cancer. Since the cytotoxic effects of paclitaxel are cell cycle dependent, we postulated that the relationship between ERalpha and the effectiveness of adjuvant paclitaxel reflects the observation that ERalpha positive (ERalpha+) breast cancers proliferate more slowly than ERalpha- breast cancers. Three in vitro models (MCF-7, T47D and ZR-75) were examined to compare growth rates and paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in ERalpha+ and ERalpha- clones of the same, originally ERalpha+ cell line. For the T47D and ZR-75 cell lines, loss of ERalpha was associated with a decrease in doubling time and an increase in paclitaxel sensitivity. However, when cell culture conditions were altered to achieve equivalent cell proliferation rates, no difference in paclitaxel sensitivity was observed. Similarly, an ERalpha- clone of MCF-7 cells that did not exhibit an enhanced growth rate compared to its ERalpha+ counterpart also did not show increased paclitaxel sensitivity. The combined apoptotic effects of tamoxifen and paclitaxel on MCF-7 cells were not synergistic or even clearly additive. In these in vitro models, the effectiveness of paclitaxel correlated more closely with growth rate than ERalpha expression. These data suggest that measurements of tumor proliferation may provide more accurate predictive markers for the benefits of adjuvant paclitaxel than ERalpha analysis.
Ontological insecurity and fears of death.

Doubts about one's existence (Lester-Thinschmidt scale) were unrelated to fears of death and dying (Collett-Lester scale) in a sample of 48 college students.
The co-evolution of life and Earth

It has long been recognized that deciphering the relationship between the history of life on Earth and the history of the planet is a profound task. Recent technological innovations in both the earth and life sciences have made this task more tractable than ever before, leading to the emergence of the discipline of geobiology — the study of how organisms have influenced, and been influenced by, the Earth's environment. Along with enthusiasm for this new field, however, has come confusion, as geobiology combines highly specialized and historically separate fields. How does a sedimentologist communicate his/her problems to a cell biologist and vice versa? The fact that geobiology derives from two disparate scientific traditions — those of natural history and experimental science — can make identification of appropriate problems challenging. As C.P. Snow [1] recognized nearly a half century ago in his famous lecture ‘The Two Cultures’, communication between different disciplines often results in “a gulf of mutual incomprehension” that can be difficult to ford. Although Snow was referring to the divide that separates the humanities from the sciences, many of his insights can be applied to the divide that until recently has separated biology from geology. In this Primer, we shall attempt to illustrate the compelling nature of geobiology by highlighting two geobiological problems. Our goal is to introduce molecular and cell biologists to this discipline, and make it clear just how much their skills can contribute to it and their questions benefit from it. We begin with a brief review of what is known about the geochemical evolution of the Earth. From there, we provide two examples of problems relevant to the co-evolution of life and Earth. The first example illustrates how a better understanding of biology — specifically, the distribution and function of sterol-like molecules in bacterial membranes — will inform our understanding of the rise of oxygen, arguably the most important event in the geochemical evolution of the Earth. The second example illustrates the counterpoint: how a better understanding of changes in the Earth's geochemistry over time can affect our interpretations of organelle evolution, specifically, the relationship between hydrogenosomes and mitochondria.
Cooler sea surface west of the Sahara Desert correlated to dust events

Atmospheric particles scatter incoming solar radiation and cause regional cooling for areas in which they increase the net backscattering. Stratospheric aerosols have been widely observed to have this cooling effect on the Earth's surface following major volcanic eruptions. A smaller effect is expected to result from the regular entrainment of aerosols in the troposphere from natural and anthropogenic surface sources. Over long time scales, even a small cooling by tropospheric aerosols could be significant in offsetting warming caused by greenhouse gases. We looked for indications of this effect at the ocean's surface, when the albedo is raised in the presence of tropospheric aerosols. To test whether a correlation exists between tropospheric aerosol outbreaks and a cooler ocean surface, we compared satellite-derived aerosol optical depth (AOD) measurements to in situ sea surface temperatures (SSTs) over a four year period. We selected a subtropical North Atlantic region where the upwind mobilization of desert dust results in an aerosol signal large enough to outweigh other factors which cause cooling of the sea surface. In this location, the differing seasonal variations of aerosol amount, mixed layer depth, and cloudiness permit a glimpse of the causal relationship between aerosols and temperature changes at the sea surface. Although we were limited by in situ SST coverage, we found temperature perturbations correlated to large aerosol outbreaks from the Sahara Desert.
Effects of growth factors (EGF, PDGF-BB and TGF-beta 1) on cultured equine epithelial cells and keratocytes: implications for wound healing.

OBJECTIVE The physiologic mechanisms involving growth factors, including PDGF-BB, EGF, and TGF-beta 1, as potent mediators of fibroblasts and epithelial cells in corneal wound healing remain unknown. The goal of this study was to determine culture methods for equine epithelial cells and keratocytes and to investigate how exogenous growth factors influence proliferation of both cell types. PROCEDURES Cell cultures were established from healthy corneas harvested from horses immediately following euthanasia and maintained using standard tissue culture protocols. To determine the effects of PDGF-BB, EGF, TGF-beta 1, keratocytes (1 x 10(5)/well) and epithelial cells (2 x 10(5)/well) were each cultured in 12 well plates and exposed separately to the growth factors. The cells were exposed to concentrations of EGF between 0 and 50 ng/mL; PDGF-BB between 0 and 75 ng/mL; and TGF-beta 1 between 0 and 10 ng/mL. Cell proliferation was measured using 3H-thymidine assay and differences in growth determined using anova and Tukey's HSD test (P < 0.05). RESULTS Epithelial cell and keratocyte cultures were successfully established. EGF maximally stimulated keratocyte and epithelial cells at 25 ng/mL and 5 ng/mL, respectively. PDGF-BB maximally stimulated keratocytes and epithelial cells at 50 ng/mL and 5 ng/mL, respectively. TGF-beta 1 inhibited keratocytes at 5 ng/mL and 10 ng/mL, and epithelial cells at 1 ng/mL and 2 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS Methods were established to maintain epithelial cells and keratocytes in vitro. PDGF-BB and EGF stimulate, while TGF-beta 1 inhibits the proliferation of epithelial cells and keratocytes. These growth factors may play a role in maintenance and repair of the equine cornea.
Differences in muscle function during walking and running at the same speed

Individual muscle contributions to body segment mechanical energetics and the functional tasks of body support and forward propulsion in walking and running at the same speed were quantified using forward dynamical simulations to elucidate differences in muscle function between the two different gait modes. Simulations that emulated experimentally measured kinesiological data of young adults walking and running at the preferred walk-to-run transition speed revealed that muscles use similar biomechanical mechanisms to provide support and forward propulsion during the two tasks. The primary exception was a decreased contribution of the soleus to forward propulsion in running, which was previously found to be significant in walking. In addition, the soleus distributed its mechanical power differently to individual body segments between the two gait modes from mid- to late stance. In walking, the soleus transferred mechanical energy from the leg to the trunk to provide support, but in running it delivered energy to both the leg and trunk. In running, earlier soleus excitation resulted in it working in synergy with the hip and knee extensors near mid-stance to provide the vertical acceleration for the subsequent flight phase in running. In addition, greater power output was produced by the soleus and hip and knee extensors in running. All other muscle groups distributed mechanical power among the body segments and provided support and forward propulsion in a qualitatively similar manner in both walking and running.
Assessment of Pulmonary Photoscanning and Angiography in Experimental Pulmonary Embolism

The diagnostic reliability and specificity of pulmonary angiography and perfusion photoscanning were examined by applying both technics in two series of dogs: one subjected to multiple small pulmonary emboli; the other, to massive embolization. Interpretations of the angiograms and photoscans by two observers were correlated with each other and autopsy data. Analysis disclosed a high degree of agreement between the two technics. Application of both technics, however, led to a greater incidence and accuracy of embolic detection than either method provided alone. Both technics were subject to interpretive errors leading to false positive and false negative diagnoses. The factors promoting such errors are discussed. It is concluded that the two technics are complementary, not competitive, and that each is least reliable in detecting emboli at the extremes of size.
Increased Conductivity Affects Corticosterone Levels and Prey Consumption in Larval Amphibians

Abstract Exposure to altered conductivity can negatively impact many freshwater system inhabitants, including bacteria, plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates. Several studies have shown increased conductivity to affect amphibian behavior and ecology. Comparatively fewer studies have taken a physiological approach to understanding the effects of altered conductivity in amphibians. This study used laboratory experiments to assess conductivity effects on stress hormone (corticosterone) levels in Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum), Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica), and Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) larvae. Prey consumption (only in A. jeffersonianum) and survival (in all species) also was examined after exposure to increased conductivity (0, 2,000, 4,000, and 8,000 ppb). There was a significant positive effect of increased conductivity exposure on baseline corticosterone levels in A. jeffersonianum after 1-week exposure. Exposure to increased conductivity did not influence baseline corticosterone le...
Commentary on “Sexuality and the Midlife Woman”

In responding to Sandra Leiblum's clearly written, well-researched, and very well-balanced article, we would like to make three points about (a) the nature of language in menopause research and discussion; (b) the pathological and heterosexist bias in the scientific literature on menopause; and (c) our own research of menopausal lesbians.
Effect of Interstellar Density Fluctuations on Signal Dispersion Measure

The effect of electron number density fluctuations in the interstellar medium on signals from pulsars is studied in terms of the frequency dependent signal dispersion. It is shown that if the density fluctuations are representative of long wavelength (1∼100 pc) [or large scale length (1∼100 pc)] disturbances in the interstellar gas, then the observed signal dispersion is not a measure of the integral of the electron number density in the line of sight. Evidence has been presented elsewhere for believing that such long wavelength disturbances should exist in the interstellar gas, so this result indicated that some care must be exercised in the interpretation of signal dispersion measurements from pulsars.
Application of volumetric MR spectroscopic imaging for localization of neocortical epilepsy

Summary Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate volumetric proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) for localization of epileptogenic foci in neocortical epilepsy. Methods Twenty-five subjects reporting seizures considered to be of neocortical origin were recruited to take part in a 3-T MR study that included high-resolution structural MRI and a whole-brain MRSI acquisition. Using a fully automated MRSI processing protocol, maps for signal intensity normalized N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine, and choline were created, together with the relative volume fraction of grey-matter, white-matter, and CSF within each MRSI voxel. Analyses were performed using visual observation of the metabolite and metabolite ratio maps; voxel-based calculation of differences in these metabolite maps relative to normal controls; comparison of average grey-matter and white-matter metabolite values over each lobar volume; and examination of relative left–right asymmetry factors by brain region. Results Data from 14 subjects were suitable for inclusion in the analysis. Eight subjects had MRI-visible pathologies that were associated with decreases in NAA/creatine, which extended beyond the volume indicated by the MRI. Five subjects demonstrated no significant metabolic alterations using any of the analysis methods, and one subject had no findings on MRI or MRSI. Conclusions This proof of principle study supports previous evidence that alterations of MR-detected brain metabolites can be detected in tissue areas affected by neocortical seizure activity, while additionally demonstrating advantages of the volumetric MRSI approach.
Verification of fluid-dynamic codes in the presence of shocks and other discontinuities

The verification that computer codes correctly solve their model equations is critical to the continued success of numerical simulation. The method of manufactured solutions (MMS) is the best method currently available for this kind of verification for differential equations. However, it cannot be used directly with discontinuous solutions, as is required for the verification of high-speed aerodynamic codes with shocks. An integrative approach can extend the applicability of MMS to both discontinuous solutions such as shocks or material interfaces, as well as integral equations. We present an implementation of integrative MMS based on intelligent subdivision of integration domains that is both highly accurate and fast, and results in a rigorous, one-step verification procedure for shock-capturing codes. Numerical integration is found to be accurate to machine precision when tested on exact solutions of the linear heat equation and the Euler equations, even in the presence of discontinuous flow features. Intelligent subdivision of integration domains also improves computational performance by approximately 60i? compared to the same algorithm without intelligent subdivisions. We demonstrate the use of MMS in the verification of the BACL-Streamer inviscid gas dynamics code. Integral MMS is found to compute convergence rates that are equivalent to those computed using differential MMS, and comparable to those computed using discontinuous, exact solutions, suggesting integral MMS is a valid method for verification of both integral and shock-capturing codes.
Testosterone induces a rapid stimulation of endocytosis, amino acid and hexose transport in mouse kidney cortex.

Abstract Testosterone induced a rapid ( tfm Y mice did not respond to testosterone. The rapid increase in endocytosis, amino acid and hexose transport may represent a direct, receptor-mediated response of the surface membrane of target cells to testosterone.
Temperature Distribution in Synthetic Diamond Cutters During Orthogonal Rock Cutting

A heat-transfer model based on the finite-element method is developed for synthetic polycrystalline-diamond-compact (PDC) cutters used in oilwell drill bits. The model is verified by comparison with single-cutter experiments. Effects of process variables, such as film coefficient and diamond thickness, on the temperature distribution in the cutter are studied.
The therapeutic role of drugs acting on cardiovascular dopamine receptors

Abstract The introduction of dopamine heralded a new era in cardiovascular pharmacology and critical care. With the advent of new selective adrenergic-receptor agonists, its role has been modified to that of adjunctive therapy, although it is still widely used as primary therapy. Efforts continue to circumvent its poor bioavailability by the use of pro-drugs or the development of orally bioavailable selective agonists. The recent development of fenoldopam is a significant advance in the role of the dopaminergic system in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Type III neuregulin 1 regulates pathfinding of sensory axons in the developing spinal cord and periphery

Sensory axons must develop appropriate connections with both central and peripheral targets. Whereas the peripheral cues have provided a classic model for neuron survival and guidance, less is known about the central cues or the coordination of central and peripheral connectivity. Here we find that type III Nrg1, in addition to its known effect on neuron survival, regulates axon pathfinding. In type III Nrg1–/– mice, death of TrkA+ nociceptive/thermoreceptive neurons was increased, and could be rescued by Bax elimination. In the Bax and type III Nrg1 double mutants, axon pathfinding abnormalities were seen for TrkA+ neurons both in cutaneous peripheral targets and in spinal cord central targets. Axon guidance phenotypes in the spinal cord included penetration of axons into ventral regions from which they would normally be repelled by Sema3A. Accordingly, sensory neurons from type III Nrg1–/– mice were unresponsive to the repellent effects of Sema3A in vitro, which might account, at least in part, for the central projection phenotype, and demonstrates an effect of type III Nrg1 on guidance cue responsiveness in neurons. Moreover, stimulation of type III Nrg1 back-signaling in cultured sensory neurons was found to regulate axonal levels of the Sema3A receptor neuropilin 1. These results reveal a molecular mechanism whereby type III Nrg1 signaling can regulate the responsiveness of neurons to a guidance cue, and show that type III Nrg1 is required for normal sensory neuron survival and axon pathfinding in both central and peripheral targets.
Global impacts of aflatoxin in maize: trade and human health

Maize is one of the most important agricultural commodities worldwide in terms of amounts produced, consumed, and traded. Hence, naturally occurring aflatoxin contamination in maize has important ramifications for both global trade and health. Aflatoxin is produced by certain species of the genus Aspergillus in a variety of food crops, including maize, peanuts, and tree nuts. Over 100 nations have aflatoxin regulations, which are intended to protect human and animal health, but also incur economic losses to nations that attempt to export maize and other aflatoxin-contaminated commodities. These economic effects must be balanced against the health protection afforded by the regulations. It is important to acknowledge that, even in nations that have aflatoxin regulations, many individuals consume maize that has undergone no regulatory inspection, especially in nations where subsistence farming is widespread. Hence, aflatoxin contamination, exposure, and lack of regulation can also contribute to adverse effe...
The effects of BJT self-heating on circuit behavior

This study demonstrates the circuit and device conditions under which self-heating can significantly affect bipolar junction transistor (BJT) circuit behavior. Simple quantitative measures are supplied that allow estimation of thermally induced errors in BJT small-signal parameters, based on knowledge of the transistor geometry and its Early voltage. It is shown that errors in output admittance and reverse transadmittance can be significant without much power dissipation, especially when the base and emitter driving impedances are small. Other small-signal parameters are less affected unless the power dissipation becomes significant. Thermal effects in large-signal DC analysis can be significant in precision analog circuits that depend on close transistor matching; such circuits can also exhibit long settling-time tails due to long thermal time constants. ECL (emitter-coupled logic) delay is shown to be insensitive to self-heating. These effects are demonstrated through simulations of a variety of circuits using versions of SPICE modified to include physics-based models for thermal impedance. >
Rank order metrics for quantifying the association of sequence features with gene regulation.

Motivation: Genome sequences and transcriptome analyses allow the correlation between gene regulation and DNA sequence features to be studied at the wholegenome level. To quantify these correlations, metrics are needed that can be applied to any sequence feature, regardless of its statistical distribution. It is also desirable for the metric values to be determined objectively, that is, without the use of subjective threshold values. Results: We compare two metrics for quantifying the correlation of DNA sequence features with gene regulation. Each of the metrics is calculated from a rank-ordering of genes based on the value of the sequence feature of interest. The first metric is the area under the curve for a receiver operator characteristic plot (ROC AUC), a common way of summarizing the tradeoff between sensitivity and specificity for different values of a prediction criterion. We call the second metric the mean normalized conditional probability (MNCP). The MNCP can be thought of as the predictive value of the sequence feature averaged over all regulated genes. The statistical significance (Pvalue) of each metric can be estimated from simulations. Importantly, the P-value of the MNCP metric is less dramatically affected by the presence of false positives among the set of co-regulated genes than is the ROC AUC. This is especially useful in analyzing gene sets identified by DNA microarray analysis because such data cannot distinguish direct regulation by transcription factor binding from indirect regulation. We demonstrate that these two metrics, taken together, are useful tools for defining the binding site representation and regulatory control regions that best explain the difference between genes that are regulated by a given transcription factor and those that are not. Applications to other gene features are also described. Availability: AP ython program for calculating the ROC AUC and MNCP metric values given input rank orders is available from ftp://ftp.bs.jhmi.edu/users/nclarke/MNCP/.
Abstract 1145: Cytoplasmic p27 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor progression via Twist1 upregulation

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA p27 is a cell cycle regulator that acts largely to restrain normal cell growth. It is rarely mutated or deleted in human cancers, but is often degraded or mislocalized to the cytoplasm in aggressive tumors. Phosphorylation at T157 or T198 by different PI3K effector kinases leads to p27 cytoplasmic accumulation and enhanced cell motility and invasion in part via effects on the actin cytoskeleton, which are independent of its cell cycle role. However, the functional contributions of C-terminally phosphorylated, cytoplasmic p27 to cancer progression remain poorly understood. Targeted inhibition of PI3K/mTOR impaired tumor cell motility and metastasis via modulation of p27 in a bone metastatic model (Wander, S. et al. BCRT 2013). We observed that p27 knockdown in highly metastatic cancer lines with high levels of cytoplasmic p27pT157pT198 reverted EMT and impaired tumor cell invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo. This led us to investigate whether PI3K-activated, phosphorylated p27 may function as a novel EMT regulator. A cell cycle defective (CK-) and double phosphomimetic p27 mutant (T157D/T198D or DD) was introduced into immortal human mammary epithelial cells with low PI3K activity. This revealed a novel, oncogenic function of p27 in regulating tumor progression, in that p27CK-DD induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and soft agar colony formation. p27CK-DD also increased motility, invasion and formation of metastasis in bladder and breast cancer models. A RT-PCR screen for potential p27-induced EMT mediators revealed a 20-fold increase in expression of the Twist1 transcription factor in p27CK-DD-transduced cells. Knockdown of Twist reversed the p27CK-DD-mediated increase in EMT marker expression. p27 knockdown rapidly attenuated Twist1-promoter activity and reduced Twist1 mRNA levels and also increased E-cadherin expression in metastatic cells, suggesting that Twist1 may play a critical role in p27CK-DD-induced EMT. These data extend our understanding of p27 function in human cancer and suggest that PI3K deregulated p27 may promote EMT and tumor metastasis through transcriptional activation of TWIST1. Citation Format: Dekuang Zhao, Alexandra H. Besser, Wen Zhou, Seth A. Wander, Jun Sun, Michael Durante, Feng Hong, Bin Wang, Tan Ince, Karoline Briegel, Joyce M. Slingerland. Cytoplasmic p27 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor progression via Twist1 upregulation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1145. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1145
Near-Quantum-Limited Operation of a Charge-Sensitive Electrical Amplifier

Here, we report the operation of a superconducting single-electron transistor (S-SET) as a fast and nearly quantum-limited charge-sensitive amplifier. By operating the S-SET such that Cooper pair tunneling is resonant across both of its tunnel junctions, we are able to achieve an excellent charge sensitivity of δq = 1.6 × 10-6 e/√(Hz), while also minimizing back action. We find that near its optimal operating point, the S-SET can have both a very low noise temperature Tn ≈ 50 mK and a large power gain ASET >;>; 1. These results indicate that our S-SET operates within a factor of 2 of the quantum limit.
Defining Audio/Video Redundancy From a Limited- Capacity Information Processing Perspective

This article applies a limited-capacity information processing approach to the question of whether audio / video redundancy improves memory for television messages. Audio / video redundancy is defined as a continuum. Four different types of stimuli frequently used to operationalize redundancy are considered in terms of: (a) how much capacity they require to be fully processed; (b) how complex they are; and, (c) how much audio and video information they contain. Predictions based on these considerations are made about relative memory for each type of stimulus at three levels of processing (encoding, storage, and retrieval). The three major memory measures are conceptualized as providing information about different aspects of the information processing of a message. Specifically, recognition measures index how much information was encoded, cued recall indexes how much information has been stored, and free recall indexes the information available for retrieval. The predictions made using this theoretical app...
Simplifying and extending a useful class of signals and impulse responses

Mathematics is an essential tool for studying science and engineering, and calculus is one of the most important branches of mathematics for engineering. In this paper a new formula for evaluating /spl int/x/sup n/e/sup ax/dx and a more generally applicable extension to polynomials are developed. This new approach illustrates the intimate relationship between differentiation and integration, and is simple enough for a freshman taking the first course in calculus to derive it. Although a closed-form expression for this integral exists, it is cumbersome and relatively more difficult to remember than the forms proposed in the paper. Also, the proposed formula readily generalizes to a larger class of polynomials, thus becoming much more useful. We show that these formulae are particularly important for the analysis and use of a broad class of signals commonly encountered in the classroom and in practical situations. The proposed formulae are applied to Fourier Series, Fourier Transforms, Laplace Transforms, and time domain convolution. >
Is the apical soft tissue margin a better predictor of biochemical recurrence than the surgical specimen

Abstract Purpose To identify predictors of apical surgical margin (ASM) and apical soft tissue margin (ASTM), determine if the ASTM is a better predictor of biochemical recurrence (BR) than the ASM, and ascertain the impact of apical biopsies on BR rates. Materials and methods One thousand three hundred eight consecutive men underwent open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP) between October 2000 and December 2006. Circumferential biopsies of the ASTM were obtained intraoperatively and submitted for frozen section analysis. Logistic regression models were utilized to identify the factors associated with the presence of positive ASMs and ASTMs. The estimated 5-year risk of BR was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Overall, 43 (3.3%) and 86 (6.6%) of cases exhibited positive ASM and ASTM, respectively. ASM was significantly associated with higher mean serum prostate-specific antigen levels, presence of perineural invasion, and greater volume of tumor in the biopsy specimen. None of these factors were observed to be associated with the presence of cancer in the ASTMs. In the multivariate analysis, only the presence of perineural invasion was a significant independent predictor of ASMs. The estimated 5-year BR rates in the positive ASMs only, ASTMs only, and both positive ASMs and ASTMs groups were 48.6%, 4.7%, and 38.8%, respectively. Conclusions A positive ASM was associated with a significantly greater risk of BR compared with a positive ASTM. The very low estimated risk of BR at 5 years in cases with ASTM suggests that performing the ASTM biopsies may increase the cure rates achieved with RP.
Weak solution theory for Maxwell's equations in the semistatic limit case

We consider the quasilinear, semistatic system of the reduced Maxwell′s equations curl H = j, curl E + B = 0, div B = 0 for the electromagnetic field given by the electric field E and the magnetic induction B in a bounded domain Ω. These equations result from the usual system of Maxwell′s equations by neglecting displacement currents. The domain Ω is permitted to have arbitrary topological genus and a nonsmooth (Lipschitz type) boundary. The constituent relations for the underlying medium occupying Ω are j = σE (linear), H = ζ(B) (nonlinear). Here ζ is a strongly monotone and Lipschitz continuous map in the Hilbert space of vector-valued functions with components in L2(Ω). The electromagnetic field is subject to generalized boundary conditions associated with the classical form n · E = n · B = 0 on ∂Ω. We show global existence and uniqueness, and continuous dependence on the data, of the weak solution of the associated initial-boundary value problem in a suitable space-time Hilbert space setting. Uniqueness is proven directly; the existence result is derived by reduction to an abstract evolution equation of monotone type in an appropriately constructed Gelfand triplet via the introduction of electromagnetic potentials. We solve the evolution by means of a classical Galerkin approximation method and then show that the potentials so obtained do define the desired solution of the original equations. Finally, we prove the continuous dependence of the solutions to the original problem from their initial data.
Sensitizers and protectors in radiotherapy

The rationale for hypoxic cell radiosensitizers, of which misonidazole (MISO) is the most widely used drug, is based on the premise that hypoxic cells limit the cure rate of tumors to conventional radiotherapy. There is evidence that this is the case for tumors of the head and neck and possibly also for carcinoma of the cervix and lung. Despite numerous trials, however, MISO has not shown a significant clinical benefit. However, it can be demonstrated that little or no effect would have been expected at the doses of MISO used. New and more efficient radiosensitizers are now available which are more likely to produce significant improvements in local control with radiotherapy. The sulfhydryl radioprotector WR-2721 protects normal more than malignant tissues in animals from damage by radiation and chemotherapy agents. Evidence for protection of bone marrow and kidney has now been obtained for cyclophosphamide and cisplatin, respectively, in Phase I clinical trials. Sensitizers and protectors demonstrate that chemical modification of the therapeutic index is possible for both radiation and chemotherapy treatment of cancer.
Interspecies cross-reactivity of monoclonal antibodies directed against human sperm antigens.

Monoclonal antihuman sperm antibodies were used to study the surface antigens of sperm from man, monkey (Macaca mulatta), dog, rabbit, bull and mouse. Quantitative absorption results indicate some of the antibodies cross-react with sperm of all the species tested while three recognized determinants were unique to the human sperm. These reactions were sperm-specific since no cross-reactivity was observed with somatic tissue from human and mouse. In the indirect immunofluorescence test, monoclonal antibodies MA1 and MA4 recognize antigenic determinants which appear within the mouse testis during spermatogenesis and are present on the acrosome and mid-piece sperm regions, respectively, of the species tested. MA2 reacted diffusely with the acrosome of human and monkey sperm only. In contrast, MA3 had a speckled acrosomal staining pattern reacting only with human sperm. Antibodies MA5 and MA6 were also specific for human sperm, binding to the equatorial and tail regions. Live human and monkey sperm were agglutinated and immobilized by MA1 but only immobilized by MA2 . With the Western blot technique, human sperm antigens of approximately 84,000, 240,000, 30,000 and 71,000 daltons were identified by antibodies MA1 , MA3 , MA4 and MA5 , respectively. An acrosomal antigen of approximately 82,000 daltons present on both bull and mouse sperm was identified by MA1 . Antibody MA4 , in turn, identified at 28,000-dalton mouse sperm antigen and a 35,000- to 37,000-dalton antigen present on the midpiece of bull sperm.
Sovereignty Regimes: Territoriality and State Authority in Contemporary World Politics

Abstract I propose a concept of effective sovereignty to argue that states participate in sovereignty regimes that exhibit distinctive combinations of central state authority and political territoriality. Two basic conclusions, drawing from recent research in political geography and other fields, are that sovereignty is neither inherently territorial nor is it exclusively organized on a state-by-state basis. This matters because so much political energy has been invested in organizing politics in general and democracy in particular in relation to states. Typically, writing about sovereignty regards sovereignty as providing a norm that legitimizes central state authority. Unfortunately, little or no attention is given as to why this should always entail a territorial definition of political authority and to why states are thereby its sole proprietors. The dominant approach continues to privilege the state as the singular font of authority even when a state's sovereignty may be decried as hypocrisy and seen...
Imaging From Sparse Measurements

SUMMARY We consider the problem of using scattered waves to recover an image of the medium in which the waves propagate. We address the case of scalar waves when the sources and receivers are sparse and irregularly spaced. Our approach is based on the single-scattering (Born) approximation and the generalized Radon transform. The key to handling sparse sources and receivers is the development of a data-weighting scheme that compensates for non-uniform sampling. To determine the appropriate weights, we formulate a criterion for measuring the optimality of the point-spread function, and solve the resulting optimization problem using regularized least squares. Once the weights are determined, they can be used to compute the point-spread function and thus determine resolution, and they can also be applied to the measured data to form an image. Tests of our minimization scheme with different regularization parameters show that, with appropriate weighting, individual scatterers can be resolved at subwavelength scales even when data is noisy and the locations of both sources and receivers are uncertain. We show an example in which the source–receiver geometry and frequency bandwidths correspond to seismic imaging from multiple local earthquakes (passive seismic imaging). The example shows that the weights determined by our method improve the resolution relative to reconstructions with constant weights.
Calving date and wintering system effects on cow and calf performance I: A systems approach to beef production in the Nebraska Sandhills 1

A 4-yr study using 217 cows/yr (3/4 Red Angus, 1/4 Simmental) evaluated effects of calving date and wintering sys
An Elephant Named Morality

Arguments over the don't ask, don't tell policy (10 USC 654) which bans homosexuals from service in the United States military often ignore the most fundamental issue: morality. The argument is straightforward: (1) Sexual misconduct is a matter of choice; (2) acts of sexual misconduct are immoral; (3) those who commit immoral acts are themselves, immoral; and, (4) immoral individuals aren't fit for military service. Military leaders can no longer ignore the moral argument – the elephant in the room – when debating the merits of adopting new policies governing the rights of gay and lesbian military members to serve.
Activation of Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) Attenuates Adaptive Thermogenesis via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Adaptive thermogenesis is the cellular process transforming chemical energy into heat in response to cold. A decrease in adaptive thermogenesis is a contributing factor to obesity. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the compromised adaptive thermogenesis in obese subjects have not yet been elucidated. In this study we hypothesized that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation and subsequent inflammatory responses are key regulators to suppress adaptive thermogenesis. To test this hypothesis, C57BL/6 mice were either fed a palmitate-enriched high fat diet or administered with chronic low-dose LPS before cold acclimation. TLR4 stimulation by a high fat diet or LPS were both associated with reduced core body temperature and heat release. Impairment of thermogenic activation was correlated with diminished expression of brown-specific markers and mitochondrial dysfunction in subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT). Defective sWAT browning was concomitant with elevated levels of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy. Consistently, TLR4 activation by LPS abolished cAMP-induced up-regulation of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in primary human adipocytes, which was reversed by silencing of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). Moreover, the inactivation of ER stress by genetic deletion of CHOP or chemical chaperone conferred a resistance to the LPS-induced suppression of adaptive thermogenesis. Collectively, our data indicate the existence of a novel signaling network that links TLR4 activation, ER stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, thereby antagonizing thermogenic activation of sWAT. Our results also suggest that TLR4/ER stress axis activation may be a responsible mechanism for obesity-mediated defective brown adipose tissue activation.
Seismological studies at Parkfield IV: Variations in controlled-source waveform parameters and their correlation with seismicity, 1987 to 1995

Since June 1987 at Parkfield, California, the 10-station borehole network of three-component sensors has been illuminated 52 times using a shear-wave vibrator in three orientations at up to eight source points, in a search for temporal changes in elastic wave P and S velocities, anisotropy, or attenuation. The monitoring interval includes the beginning and end of a severe 3-yr drought and four earthquake sequences, two of which produced the only A-level alerts to date in the Parkfield Prediction Experiment. A comprehensive study of the entire data set reveals a progressive travel-time advance in the coda of S waves propagating in a localized region southeast of Middle Mountain. The anomalous wave field exhibits high apparent velocities, suggesting deep penetration of the fault zone, although similar changes are not seen in waveforms from repeating similar microearthquakes. Accompanying the changes in travel time were systematic variations in spectral content and polarization of the same segments of the wave field. These variations correlate well in time and space with significant features of seismicity, fault creep, and water levels at Parkfield. A preferred mechanism for the phenomenon is changing hydrologic conditions along the affected stretch of the fault zone, possibly deformation-induced, that perturb the shallow-propagating S coda in the upper few hundred meters of section.
Bridging Domain Multiscale Method

A bridging domain method for coupling continuum models with molecular models is described. In this method, the continuum and molecular domains are overlapped in a bridging subdomain, where the Hamiltonian is taken to be a linear combination of the continuum and molecular Hamiltonians. We enforce the compatibility in the bridging domain by Lagrange multipliers or by the augmented Lagrangian method. An explicit algorithm for dynamic solutions is developed. In this paper, the bridging domain multiscale method is employed to study nanotube-based composites.