cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Akt inhibitor induces apoptosis in human cancer cells

2560 Phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase (PI3-K) and its downstream target, Akt mediate one of the most important survival signaling pathways in cancer cells. The mechanism by which PI3-K/Akt pathway affects cell survival is through its downstream target proteins such as BAD, Caspase-9, Forkhead transcription factors, IKKα and TSC1/2. Therefore, inhibition of Akt activity is expected to induce apoptotic cell death at multiple levels. In addition, down-regulation of Akt signaling pathway may sensitize cancer cells to cytotoxic oncolytics. There are enormous clinical advantages in exploring this cell survival pathway. This makes Akt among the most validated and attractive targets for the discovery of efficacious therapeutics for the treatment of human cancers. Here we report that isoquinoline sulfonamide-based Akt kinase inhibitors exert potent anti-proliferative effect on U87MG human glioblastoma cells and Jurkat human T-cell leukemia cells. Both cell lines are PTEN-null with constitutively activated Akt. We further demonstrate that these AKT inhibitors induce a robust Caspases activation and rapid phosphatidyl serine (PS) exposure on cell surface, characteristic of cells undergoing rapid apoptosis. Data will also be presented to show that down-regulation of Akt activity either by Akt-specific siRNA or small molecule inhibitors sensitize cancer cells to various oncolytics such as Gemcitabine, Camptothecin and Dexamethasone, as well as TRAIL. We conclude that treatment of U87MG and Jurkat cells with isoquinoline sulfonamide class of Akt inhibitor results in apoptotic cell death. And these results support the notion that synergistic anticancer action can be achieved by combination therapy using Akt inhibitors and conventional cytotoxic cancer therapeutics.
Government investment in mineral resource information on leasable public lands

A scheme is presented to aid the government in estimating the net benefits, in terms of itsrecovery of expected rents, of performing various levels of exploration of mineral tracts prior to leasing and making such information available to potential bidders. Conditions are identified where the government will profit by investment in geologic data that are collected and provided to potential bidders without reducing the expected returns to bidders. Expected benefits of an optimal data-collection program depend on (1) the degree of bidder risk aversion, (2) the expected degree of lease competition and (3) unique lease tract factors that determine economic rents—thickness of seams, proximity to markets, extraction costs, and the spatial correlation characteristics of data. The effects of price uncertainty and government policies affecting market stability on the value of information are also discussed.
Parallel tangent hyperplanes

Let Σ 2n be a smooth strictly convex closed hypersurface in R 2n+1 and let M 2n be any oriented smooth connected manifold immersed in R 2n+1 . Suppose that f is a continuous function from Σ 2n to M 2n . Then there is at least one point p ∈ Σ 2n such that the hyperplane tangent to Σ 2n at p is parallel to the hyperplane tangent to the immersed manifold M 2n at the point corresponding to f(p). If there did not exist at least two such points, M 2n would have to be compact and the Hurewicz homomorphism of π 2n (M 2n ) into H 2n (M 2n ) would have to be surjective. If in addition our immersion was an embedding, the Euler characteristic of M 2n would have to be equal to ±2, For any Σ 2n and any immersed M 2n we could always get maps f for which the number of points p satisfying the conditions of our theorem exactly equaled two. An example can be given in which both Σ 2n and M 2n are the unit sphere about the origin in R 2n+1 and there is only one such point p.
Healthcare Privacy: How Secure Are the VOIP/Video-Conferencing Tools for PHI Data?

There is a high-tech term called telemedicine, which uses information technologies and telecommunication for exchanging medical information among patients and health service providers from different locations. Many video conferencing tools such as WebEx, Go To Meeting, Skype, Google+ Hangouts, etc. Are commonly used these days. Even though these tools vouch for some level of privacy and secured encrypted connections, there are still security risks and vulnerabilities associated with them such as data leaks, call intrusions, identity theft, etc. The risk is even higher during medical video conferencing as there involves many protected health information (PHI) data exchanges. And, any such violations or breach of PHI data can result in civil and criminal penalties as per the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In this paper, we conduct a literature survey on the security level of such tools, associated risks and possible alternative methods or tools.
Tense and aspect assignment in narrative discourse

We describe a method for assigning English tense and aspect in a system that realizes surface text for symbolically encoded narratives. Our testbed is an encoding interface in which propositions that are attached to a timeline must be realized from several temporal viewpoints. This involves a mapping from a semantic encoding of time to a set of tense/aspect permutations. The encoding tool realizes each permutation to give a readable, precise description of the narrative so that users can check whether they have correctly encoded actions and statives in the formal representation. Our method selects tenses and aspects for individual event intervals as well as subintervals (with multiple reference points), quoted and unquoted speech (which reassign the temporal focus), and modal events such as conditionals.
Glycerol channel aquaporin-9 plays a critical role in the formation of memory CD8 T cells after viral infection (VIR4P.1006)

Glycerol channel aquaporin 9 (AQP9) has been reported to be highly expressed in memory CD8 T cells post infection, but its function in memory CD8 T cells formation remains unknown. In this study, we report that AQP9 is vitally required for survival and differentiation of memory T cells after viral infection. AQP9 imports glycerol into cells for fatty acid esterification and triglyceride storage. Loss of AQP9 substantially impaired lipid storage and caused antiviral CD8 T cells sensitive to apoptosis. Interestingly, this defect could be rescued by ectopic expression of glycerol channels or triglyceride synthases. Furthermore, IL-7 induces AQP9 expression dependent on Foxo1 pathway. This study revealed an unexpected role of glycerol in CD8 T cell fate decision by regulating energy storage.
NAIPs: Building an innate immune barrier against bacterial pathogens

The innate immune system of mammals encodes several families of immune detector proteins that monitor the cytosol for signs of pathogen invasion. One important but poorly understood family of cytosolic immunosurveillance proteins is the NLR (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat containing) proteins. Recent work has demonstrated that one subfamily of NLRs, the NAIPs (NLR family, apoptosis inhibitory proteins), are activated by specific interaction with bacterial ligands, such as flagellin. NAIP activation leads to assembly of a large multiprotein complex called the inflammasome, which initiates innate immune responses by activation of the Caspase-1 protease. NAIPs therefore appear to detect pathogen molecules via a simple and direct receptor-ligand mechanism. Interestingly, other NLR family members appear to detect pathogens indirectly, perhaps by responding to host cell "stress" caused by the pathogen. Thus, the NLR family may have evolved surprisingly diverse mechanisms for detecting pathogens.
Rhein, a selective inhibitor of the DPNH-flavin step in mitochondrial electron transport.

Previous findings in the literature that rhein inhibits DPNH-linked mitochondrial oxidations by acting in the DPNH dehydrogenase region of the respiratory chain have been confirmed and extended. In the micromolar range rhein inhibits DPNH oxidase and DPNH-ferricyanide activities and the energy-linked reduction of DPN by succinate in membrane preparations from heart, as well as the DPNH dehydrogenase and transhydrogenase activities of the soluble, purified enzyme. The inhibition of the activities of the soluble enzyme are purely competitive with respect to substrate. These facts localize the primary inhibition site of rhein between substrate and FMN. In. heart ETP a second noncompetitive inhibition is also present but is detectable only at very low (<10 μM) rhein concentrations. Rhein also inhibits DPNH dehydrogenase in Candida utilis mitochondria and the purified enzyme from liver. On conversion of the heart enzyme to the low molecular weight DPNH-cytochrome reductase the typical effect of rhein disappears and is replaced by a slight stimulation or inhibition, depending on the electron acceptor used, showing that the substrate-binding site is modified in this form of the enzyme. In beef liver mitochondria DPNH oxidation may appear insensitive to rhein, probably because of the strong binding of rhein to other proteins. To a lesser extent unspecific binding of rhein and resultant interference with the inhibition of DPNH dehydrogenase is also shown by BSA and by proteins in heart ETP. Rhein also inhibits transhydrogenations in mitochondria and at higher concentrations lactate and malate dehydrogenases but has no effect on succinate, alcohol (liver and yeast), and glucose-6-P dehydrogenases or on Neurospora DPN-ase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and amine oxidase.
Development of an Isotonic‐Isometric Rigorometer

SUMMARY— A multi-unit rigorometer has been developed to (a) make it possible to study extensibility (isotonic) and tension (isometric) changes in several muscles (red and white) simultaneously, under identical conditions, (b) make it possible to control the environment (aqueous or gaseous) around each of several muscle strips being monitored simultaneously and (c) facilitate additional biochemical studies of isotonic and isometric parameters of fresh and/or glycerinated fibers. The rigorometer is an enclosed, temperature controlled, environmental chamber designed specifically for studies on strips of parallel muscle fibers. The chamber will accommodate six muscle strips of varying sizes and has a wide adjustment for degree of sensitivity. Small cylinders have also been specially designed to facilitate separate controls of aqueous and gaseous environments surrounding each muscle strip. This multi-unit rigorometer is a further development of the rigorometer originally described by Briskey et al. (1962). The details of the design and application of this rigorometer are discussed.
Continuous spectrum near-infrared spectroscopy approach in functional activation studies in the human adult

In contrast to the conventional approaches using single wavelengths the whole spectrum approach monitors optical changes across a continuous spectrum in the near infrared. By fitting the spectra of oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin into the spectrum the changes in the concentration of these parameters can be calculated in an extension of the known near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) algorithms. By twice differentiating both chromophore and recorded attenuation spectra the offset and wavelength dependent influence of scattering (assumed to be linear) cancels out. Since oxygenated haemoglobin (oxy-Hb) and cytochrome oxidase (Cyt-02) spectra have essentially featureless second differentials a fitting procedure using the second differentials of water and deoxygenated haemoglobin (deoxy-Hb) result in a ratio of the compounds' contribution to the spectrum. This corresponds to the ratio of their concentrations in the tissue. Assuming a known and constant concentration of water (deoxy-Hb) can be quantified. On the basis of this theory previously described the paper shows that the response to a motor stimulation paradigm is consistent with data reported with a conventional NIRS monitor (n equals 8ss). Data suggest that signal to noise is greater for the new approach. A concentration of 10.5 μm is found for the adult human brain (n equals 6ss). Exploring the temporal resolution of the method the contribution of the different compounds to the optical changes evoked by the heart beat are examined (n equals 5ss).
Peripheral field stimulation suppresses flicker but not pattern detection in foveal targets.

This report examines the effects of peripheral visual stimulation on foveal target thresholds. The foveal targets were luminance-modulated sine-wave gratings (subtending 2° arc), presented with or without a phase-alternation of 1 Hz. The peripheral stimulus was a 20° black-white radial or linear, square-wave grating. The radial grating contained a 2° blank central area and appeared either at rest or in radial motion at 5°/sec. The linear grating contained either a 2° or an 8° central blank aperture and appeared either at rest or in oscillation by one-half cycle at 4 hz. Subjects always viewed the foveal target with their left eyes. The peripheral stimulus was presented to the left eye for monocular viewing but to the right eye for dichoptic viewing. For dichoptic viewing, the radial but not the linear grating increased the thresholds for counterphase but not stationary target gratings. For monocular viewing, both peripheral stimuli had threshold elevating effects on counterphase but not stationary targets. Results are discussed in terms of the binocular control of foveal monocular sensitivity.
Transgenic cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings expressing a tobacco glutathione S -transferase fail to provide improved stress tolerance

Transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) lines expressing the tobacco glutathione S-transferase (GST) Nt107 were evaluated for tolerance to chilling, salinity, and herbicides, antioxidant enzyme activity, antioxidant compound levels, and lipid peroxidation. Although transgenic seedlings exhibited ten-fold and five-fold higher GST activity under normal and salt-stress conditions, respectively, germinating seedlings did not show improved tolerance to salinity, chilling conditions, or herbicides. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in transgenic seedlings was 30% to 60% higher under normal conditions, but was not different than GPX activity in wild-type seedlings under salt-stress conditions. Glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and monodehydroascorbate reductase activities were not increased in transgenic seedlings under salt-stress conditions, while dehydroascorbate reductase activity was decreased in transgenic seedlings under salt-stress conditions. Transgenic seedlings had 50% more oxidized glutathione when exposed to salt stress. Ascorbate levels were not increased in transgenic seedlings under salt-stress conditions. Malondialdehyde content in transgenic seedlings was nearly double that of wild-type seedlings under normal conditions and did not increase under salt-stress conditions. These results show that expression of Nt107 in cotton does not provide adequate protection against oxidative stress and suggests that the endogenous antioxidant system in cotton may be disrupted by the expression of the tobacco GST.
On the prediction error for two-parameter stationary random fields

A number of Szego-type prediction error formulas are given for two-parameter stationary random fields. These give rise to an array of elementary inequalities and illustrate a general duality relation.
Conspecific odor preferences of male albino rats are reversed by intracerebral 6-hydroxydopamine

Abstract The odor of pine shavings from the nest of a female and her litter attracted sexually experienced male Sprague-Dawley rats tested in a two-choice situation. The preference persisted after surgery in controls treated with bilateral intracerebral injections of saline-ascorbic into the vicinity of the ascending noradrenergic bundle. In contrast, 7 out of 8 animals receiving bilateral injections of the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), preferred the odor of clean pine to pine nest odor after surgery, indicating preference reversal. 6-hydroxydopamine also reduced olfactory cortex norepinephrine (NE) concentrations by 85%. Pretreatment with intracerebral injection of amphetamine, a catecholamine uptake inhibitor and releaser, prevented 6-OHDA-induced preference reversal in 7 out 8 animals and limited NE reduction to 38% of concentrations measured in amphetamine-pretreated vehicle-injected controls. The data implicate central NE in the modulation of responses to conspecific odors.
In situ reduction of oxidative damage, increased cell turnover, and delay of mitochondrial injury by overexpression of manganese superoxide dismutase in a multistage skin carcinogenesis model.

To study early subcellular pathologic changes of tumorigenesis in mouse skin and possible modulation by overexpression of the mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), skin keratinocytes from nontransgenic (Ntg) and transgenic (TgH) mice overexpressing MnSOD topically treated with one dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) and a subsequent dose of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) were analyzed in situ for levels of MnSOD and the oxidative damage product 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4HNE)-modified proteins using specific antibodies and immunogold electron microscopy. At all selected time points analyzed after TPA treatment, there was more MnSOD immunoreactive protein in mitochondria of keratinocytes of TgH mice than Ntg mice. Compared with untreated groups, there was a large increase in 4HNE-modified proteins at 6-24 h after TPA treatment, and this increase was larger in Ntg than TgH mice. Indices of mitosis and apoptosis of keratinocytes were greater in DMBA/TPA-tre...
The basic law and influencing factor of DC bias distribution in AC power which is near the grounding electrode of 800kV HVDC

According to the test results of DC bias in hami AC power system when 800kV hami-zhenzhou Transmission on Transmission Line under single pole mode of earth operating way, the basic law of current distribution of AC power is conclude the system, and the influence of AC power network mode to DC bias current distribution is analyzed Suggest to chose 80km as the govern redius and configure the grounding points and grounding modes of AC transformers in AC power network, mean while, offer a proposal for the new site selection of HVDC grounding pole and design.
Motor outcomes in premature infants

Abstract Motor impairment is frequently associated with prematurity. Many of the early signs of a significant motor deficit in the premature infant will be transient and resolve during the first year of life. However, despite medical advances in the neonatal intensive care unit, the incidence of cerebral palsy is reported at 32% in infants weighing less than 1,500 grams. The developmental progression of the premature infant, including early differences between full-term and preterm infants, that affects motor examination; factors that predispose premature infants to neuromotor deficits; and the long-term implications of premature birth from a motoric perspective, will be addressed.
Blood-brain barrier disruption for the treatment of malignant brain tumors: The National Program.

Abstract:Chemotherapy delivery for the treatment of malignant brain tumors is markedly enhanced when given in conjunction with osmotic opening of the blood-brain barrier. Osmotic opening or disruption of the blood-brain barrier is achieved while the patient is under general anesthesia, by the infusi
EFFECT OF HYPERVENTILATION ON THE SPERMINE AND MAGNESIUM SITES OF THE N-METHYL-D-ASPARTATE RECEPTOR IN THE BRAINS OF NEWBORN PIGLETS. † 272

The present study tests the hypothesis that cerebral ischemia induced by severe hypocapnia results in tissue hypoxia and modifies the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor/ion channel complex in the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets. Studies were performed in a control(normoxic) group (n=4) and hypocapnic (brain tissue hypoxic) group (n=4) of anesthetized and ventilated newborn piglets. Hypocapnia was induced by hyperventilation (PaCO2 = 9-11 mmHg) for 1 hr. Brain tissue hypoxia was confirmed biochemically in the hypocapnic (ischemic) group by an 80% decrease in [phosphocreatinine]. 3[H]MK-801 binding studies, an index of NMDA receptor activation, was performed at 32°C for 3 hours in an assay medium containing 20mM HEPES (pH 7.0), 75μg protein, glycine (100μM) and glutamate (100μM). Nonspecific binding was measured in the presence of 10μM unlabeled MK-801. Spermine-dependent activation was determined by adding increasing [spermine] from 2.5 to 50μM. Mg++ dependent binding was assayed separately in the presence of [Mg2+] from 2.5 to 100 μM. Maximal spermine-dependent activation in the control and hypocapnic groups was 19.8 ± 4.3% (at 5μM) and 47.6 ± 23.7% (at 6.7μM) above baseline, respectively. Maximal 3[H]MK-801 binding in the control and hypocapnic groups occurred at a [Mg2+] of 25μM and 5.8μM, respectively (p < 0.001). The data show that hypocapnic-induced tissue hypoxia results in increased spermine-dependent maximal activation and increased sensitivity to Mg++, indicating modification of the polyamine and Mg++ sites of the NMDA receptor. We conclude that hypocapnia-induced modification of the spermine and magnesium sites leads to increased activation of the NMDA receptor, resulting in increased NMDA receptor-mediated neurotoxicity in the newborn brain. (NIH-HD20337, MOD-6FY940135, UCP-R50693).
Inhibition of terminal differentiation and matrix calcification in cultured avian growth plate chondrocytes by Rous sarcoma virus transformation

Endochondral bone formation involves the progression of epiphyseal growth plate chondrocytes through a sequence of developmental stages which include proliferation, differentiation, hypertrophy, and matrix calcification. To study this highly coordinated process, we infected growth plate chondrocytes with Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) and studied the effects of RSV transformation on cell proliferation, differentiation, matrix synthesis, and mineralization. The RSV-transformed chondrocytes exhibited a distinct bipolar, fibroblast-like morphology, while the mock-infected chondrocytes had a typical polygonal morphology. The RSV-transformed chondrocytes actively synthesized extracellular matrix proteins consisting mainly of type I collagen and fibronectin. RSV-transformed cells produced much less type X collagen than was produced by mock-transformed cells. There also was a significant reduction of proteoglycan levels secreted in both the cell-matrix layer and culture media from RSV-transformed chondrocytes. RSV-transformed chondrocytes expressed two- to- threefold more matrix metalloproteinase, while expressing only one-half to one-third of the alkaline phosphatase activity of mock infected cells. Finally, RSV-transformed chondrocytes failed to calcify the extracellular matrix, while mock-transformed cells deposited high levels of calcium and phosphate into their extracellular matrix. These results collectively indicate that RSV transformation disrupts the preprogrammed differentiation pattern of growth plate chondrocytes and inhibit chondrocyte terminal differentiation and mineralization. They also suggest that the expression of extracellular matrix proteins, type II and type X collagens, and the cartilage proteoglycans are important for chondrocyte terminal differentiation and matrix calcification.
Involvement of cellular membrane traffic proteins in poliovirus replication

Expression of viral genes results in the modulation of cellular metabolism to support virus replication. Poliovirus infection of HeLa cells induces a dramatic rearrangement of intracellular membrane structures: virtually all cellular organelles except mitochondria are converted into virus replication vesicles. Although this phenomenon is known for almost half a century, very few mechanistic details explaining this transformation are understood. Recently we found that small GTPases, Arf, key components of the secretory pathway, translocate to sites of poliovirus RNA replication in infected cells, and that two poliovirus proteins, 3A and 3CD, can independently induce such translocation in vitro. Our most recent work shows the recruitment to viral replication complexes of activators of Arf, specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Diversion of these GEFs from their normal activities in the secretory pathway provides a plausible explanation for the inhibition of protein secretion in poliovirus-infected cells as well as for the sensitivity of poliovirus infection to brefeldin A, a drug known to inhibit the secretory pathway. Identification of these cellular components defines a new class of host factors involved in virus replication complex formation and allows us to propose a hypothesis for remodeling of endoplasmic reticulum membranes into poliovirus replication complexes.
Comparison of Hydrogen Atom Abstraction Rates of Terminal and Bridging Hydrides in Triosmium Clusters: Absolute Abstraction Rate Constants for Benzyl Radical

Absolute rate constants for hydrogen atom abstraction by benzyl radical from Os3(μ-H)2(CO)9PPh3 (1), Os3(μ-H)(H)(CO)10PPh3 (2), Os3(μ-H)(CO9)(μ3-η2-C9H6N) (3), Os3(μ-H)(CO9)(μ-η2-C9H6N)(PPh3) (4), and Os3(μ-H)(CO10)(μ-η2-C9H6N) (5) were determined in benzene by competition of the abstraction reaction with the self-termination of benzyl radical. Thus, experimental values of kabs/kt1/2 were combined with rate constants for self-termination of benzyl radical in benzene from the expression ln(2kt/M-1 s-1 = 27.23 − 2952.4/RT), RT in cal/mol, to give absolute rate constants for abstraction, kabs: for Os3(μ-H)2(CO)9PPh3 (1) in benzene, log(kabs/M-1 s-1) = (9.40 ± 0.30) − (8.11 ± 0.47)/θ; for Os3(μ-H)(H)(CO)10PPh3 (2) log(kabs/M-1 s-1) = (8.08 ± 0.33) − (4.32 ± 0.1)/θ; for Os3(μ-H)(CO)9(μ3-η2-C9H6N) (3) log(kabs/M-1 s-1) = (10.1 ± 2) − (10.5 ± 3)/θ; and for Os3(μ-H)(CO9)(μ-η2-C9H6N)(PPh3) (5) log(kabs/M-1 s-1) = (7.0 ± 0.27) − (4.25 ± 0.41)/θ, θ = 2.303RT kcal/mol. The terminal hydride on the Os3 cluster 2 is ab...
Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of estrone-derived hedgehog signaling inhibitors

Abstract The design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of new analogs of the naturally occurring compound cyclopamine, a hedgehog signaling inhibitor, are described. Structure–activity relationship studies lead to an evolving model for the pharmacophore of this medically promising compound class of anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
PMMA brush-containing two-solution bone cement: preparation, characterization, and influence of composition on cement properties

Two-solution bone cement consisting of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) brushes in methyl methacrylate has been developed as an alternative to the traditional two-solution (TSBC) and powder-liquid cements. It was hypothesized that the substitution of brushes, for the entire pre-polymer phase of the cement, would permit a decrease in solution viscosity at higher polymer fractions, and allow for physical entanglements with the cement matrix. Consequently, improved cement exothermal and mechanical properties could be expected with brush addition. PMMA brushes were grafted on the surface of cross-linked PMMA nanospheres following a multi-stage synthetic strategy. Brushes exhibiting optimal molecular weight for preparation of TSBC were used for characterization of cement viscosity, flexural and compressive mechanical properties, exothermal properties and residual monomer content. Interactions between grafts and free polymer formed during free radical polymerization of the cement were evaluated based on molecular weight measurements of the cement matrix and brushes. Brush-containing cements exhibited lower viscosity at significantly higher polymer fractions in comparison to TSBC. Cements with PMMA brushes had significantly lower polymerization temperatures and residual monomer content. Measurements of molecular weight revealed the existence of a dry brush regime when using the brush compositions selected in this study, which led to a reduction in the mechanical properties of some of the compositions tested. The optimal cement viscosity and maintenance of other important cement properties achieved with addition of PMMA brushes is expected to expand the use of the two-solution cements in a range of applications.
A theoretical description of arterial pressure-flow relationships with verification in the isolated hindlimb of the dog

We developed and tested a new two-compartment serial model of the arterial vasculature which unifies the capacitance (downstream arterial compliance) and waterfall (constant downstream pressure load) theories of blood flow through the arteries. In this model, blood drains from an upstream compliance through a resistance into a downstream compliance which empties into the veins through a downstream resistance which terminates in a constant pressure load. Using transient arterial pressure data obtained from an isolated canine hindlimb preparation, we tested this model, using a stop-flow technique. Numerical parameter estimation techniques were used to estimate the physiologic parameters of the model. The downstream compliance was found to be more than ten times larger than the upstream compliance and the constant pressure load was significantly above venous pressures but decreased in response to vasodilation. Our results support the applicability of both the capacitance and waterfall theories.
An Environmental Chamber for Investigating the Evaporation of Volatile Chemicals

An inexpensive test chamber has been constructed that provides an environment appropriate for testing the effects of temperature and chemical interactions on gaseous emissions from test solutions. Temperature, relative humidity, and ventilation rate can be controlled and a well-mixed atmosphere can be maintained. The system is relatively simple and relies on heated tap water or ice to adjust the temperature. Temperatures ranging from 9 to 21°C have been maintained. At an average temperature of 15.1°C, temperatures at any location within the chamber vary by no more than 0.5°C, and the temperature of the test solution within the chamber varies by no more than 0.1°C. The temperatures within the chamber are stable enough to generate precise steady-state concentrations. The wind velocities within the chamber are reproducible from run to run. Consequently, the effect of velocity on the rate of evaporation of a test chemical is expected to be uniform from run to run. Steady-state concentrations can be attained i...
A first principles analysis of the hydrogenation of C1C4 aldehydes and ketones over Ru(0001)

Abstract The structure and degree of substitution of C 1 C 4 oxygenate molecules can influence their chemisorption and reactivity on metal surfaces. Gradient-corrected periodic density functional theory calculations were carried out to analyze alkyl substituent effects on the hydrogenation of C 1 C 4 aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding alcohols. All of these aldehydes along with acetone were found to adsorb in a di-σ η 1 η 2 (C, O) mode onto the Ru(0 0 0 1) surface and result in rehybridization of the C O bond. Steric hindrance from two alkyl substituents on the carbonyl backbone of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), however, prevents it from binding di-σ η 1 η 2 (C, O). It adsorbs instead atop a Ru atom in an η 1 (O) configuration through its oxygen atom. Hydrogenation of both aldehydes and ketones can occur through either a hydroxy or an alkoxy mechanism. The hydroxy route proceeds via the formation of the hydroxyalkyl intermediate (R 1 R 2 C * OH) by the addition of hydrogen to the oxygen of the carbonyl, whereas the alkoxy mechanism proceeds by the addition of hydrogen to the carbon end to form the alkoxy intermediate (R 1 R 2 CHO * ). DFT calculations indicate that the activation barrier for the initial addition of hydrogen to the carbon to form the C H bond in the alkoxy mechanism is independent of the substituent groups that are attached to the carbon center as these groups are oriented away from the surface in the transition state and thus have little influence on the activation energies. The activation barriers for the addition of hydrogen to the oxygen of the carbonyl to form the O H bond in the hydroxy mechanism, however, was found to linearly correlate with the binding energy of the hydroxyalkyl intermediate that forms. This trend can be explained through the Bronsted–Evans–Polanyi relationship and the fact that both the hydroxyalkyl products and carbonyl reactants interact via their carbon centers and are correlated with one another. All of the carbonyls follow a similar trend in that the addition of hydrogen to the carbon of the carbonyl has a much lower barrier on Ru(0 0 0 1) than the addition of hydrogen to the oxygen. The carbonyls thus readily react to form their alkoxy intermediates. Simple kinetic analyses and first-principle-based kinetic Monte Carlo simulations for formaldehyde over Ru(0 0 0 1) show that the alkoxy is the most abundant surface intermediate and that the alkoxy route is more favorable than the hydroxy route.
Politics and the Evolution of Inter-firm Networks: A Post-Communist Lesson

This article attempts to account for both continuity and change in network structures and relationships by analyzing how a country's political approach to institution building shapes the reproduction of industrial networks. While firm-level actors may develop tenacious socio-economic relationships, the authority structure of a network emerges from the ways certain constituent firms align themselves with public institutions. I empirically examine this approach by analyzing the evolution of Czech industrial networks during and after communism. The fragility, eventual stability, and subsequent changes in networks come not from purely `intra-network' factors, but rather from the political approaches of the government toward institution building. In short, this article aims to renew our focus on the origin and evolution of social capital and networks by enjoining network analysis with recent work in political economy.
Hepatitis B: liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Summary Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is estimated to be the cause of 55–60% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the world. It has been estimated that up to 40% of HBV-related HCC occur in persons who do not have cirrhosis while almost all cases of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC occur in the setting of cirrhosis. Data on the performance of non-invasive tests for liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B are limited. FibroTest may be superior to the Forns index, APRI, Goteborg University Cirrhosis Index (GUCI) and Hui model in detecting significant fibrosis (Metavir > F2) or cirrhosis (Metavir F4) but an algorithm that uses APRI for screening, FibroTest for confirmation, and biopsy for indeterminate cases has the greatest accuracy. Liver stiffness correlates with fibrosis stages but may be influenced by necroinflammatory activity with falsely high values in patients with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) flares and falsely low values in patients with viral suppression and ALT normalization during antiviral therapy. Therefore, additional studies are needed to determine the clinical settings in which liver stiffness measurement can accurately predict liver fibrosis and to establish cutoff values for differentiating different stages of fibrosis or cirrhosis. These studies should also compare the performance of liver stiffness measurement with serum markers of fibrosis in patients with varying degrees of necroinflammation and in untreated patients as well as patients receiving antiviral therapy. Until recently, older age, male gender and cirrhosis were the major risk factors associated with HCC development. Recent studies showed that HBV replication status, HBV genotype and mutations in the basal core promoter region play an important role in HCC development. These data indicate that algorithms incorporating demographics, viral factors, degree of necroinflammation and extent of fibrosis may be more accurate in predicting the risk of HBV-related HCC than fibrosis staging alone.
Work in progress: Using writing-to-learn methods to improve conceptual knowledge in engineering statics

Writing assignments were implemented in a statics course to improve conceptual understanding. The assignments required students to explain in words their solution process for specific homework problems. Quantitative analyses of Statics Concept Inventory (SCI) and course exams data showed significant improvements on the SCI in the experimental section; however, scores on course exams did not significantly improve. Qualitative data indicate that students who were dissatisfied with the process problems cite unfair grading, rather than the work, as cause, highlighting a key area for enhanced collaboration between engineering and writing faculty. These results provide empirical validation for the use of writing-to-learn assignments and validated discipline-based assessment tools such as concept inventories as a means to engage content faculty in writing assignments that support conceptual learning.
Characterization of a 40 residue peptide from a human pancreatic tumor with growth hormone releasing activity.

Abstract Structural characterization of a 40 amino acid peptide with high intrinsic growth hormone releasing activity isolated from a human pancreatic tumor which had caused acromegaly was accomplished by gas phase sequence analyses of the intact peptide and its carboxy terminal cyanogen bromide digestion fragment. High pressure liquid chromatography of the native peptide and synthetic replicates showed that the molecule possessed a free acid rather than an amidated carboxy terminus. The structure of the peptide was established as: Tyr-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys- Val-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Met-Ser-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly- Glu-Ser-Asn-Gln-Glu-Arg-Gly-Ala-OH using 1.8 nmoles of material. The structural identity of this material with a previously characterized fragment of a larger growth hormone releasing peptide isolated from a different human tumor is discussed.
Response of aluminium-infiltrated boron carbide cermets to shock wave loading

Shock-recovery and shock-spallation experiments were performed on two compositions of aluminium-infiltrated B4C cermets as a function of shock pressure. Sixty-five per cent volume B4C-Al cermets were recovered largely intact after shock loading up to pressures of ca. 12 GPa which permitted a critical study of the microstructural changes produced by the shock. Significantly, shock loading to between 12 and 13 GPa produced a combination of dislocation debris, stacking faults and deformation twins in a small fraction of the B4C grains. Fragmentation of shock-loaded 80% B4C-Al samples prevented meaningful microstructural investigation. Spall-strength testing also provided indirect evidence for the Hugoniot elastic limits (HEL) of these composites. Spall-strength calculations based on an elastic equation of state for 65% B4C-Al indicated that the elastic regime extended up to shock pressures of ca. 10 GPa, or approximately 65% of the HEL of polycrystalline B4C. A complete loss of spall strength was then observed at the transition to a plastic equation of state at a pressure of 12 GPa which coincided with observations of plasticity within the B4C-substructure. This study demonstrated that composites containing a highly ductile phase combined with a high compressive strength ceramic phase could support high dynamic tensile stresses by resisting the propagation of catastrophic cracks through the brittle ceramic substructure.
Gottfried Haberler's Contributions to International Trade Theory and Policy

Gottfried Haberler has played a central role in the formulation and development of the modern pure theory of international trade. He helped to establish this theory fifty years ago by reinterpreting the doctrine of comparative costs in opportunity-cost terms, and he later [1950] touched off a still-continuing surge of major theoretical activity by expanding upon his earlier analysis of trade under distorted domestic market conditions. Haberler has also always been very much concerned with trade policy as well as trade theory. Not only was he instrumental in shifting welfare evolutions of alternative trade policies away from the sterile real-cost approach, but also his systematic evaluations of the arguments for protection are still unexcelled in perception, clarity, and completeness. As the following elaboration of these points will further indicate, few scholars in the last fifty years have had a greater impact on any field of economics than Gottfried Haberler has had on international economics.
Iron alloy Fischer-Tropsch catalysts: IV. Reaction and selectivity studies of the FeCo system

Abstract Iron—cobalt alloys have been reported to have enhanced C2C3 selectivity in the synthesis reaction for both supported and unsupported materials. Much of the available data are, however, at total pressures of 1 atm and low conversions. This study presents results obtained with a representative FeCo SiO 2 catalyst in comparison with the supported pure metal components at 523 °K and pressures up to 14 atm. Major results are that the conversion dependence of selectivity noted at 1 atm is suppressed at higher pressures and the iron-containing materials become good methanol producers at higher pressures, largely at the expense of methane formation. In terms of CO conversion the alloy catalyst resembles Fe SiO 2 at atmospheric pressure and Co SiO 2 at higher pressure; however, for oxygenate production just the opposite pertains. The enhanced olefin selectivity for FeCo SiO 2 , observed previously in experiments at atmospheric pressure, is not maintained at higher pressures.
The e‐book industry today: a bumpy road becomes an evolutionary path to market maturity

Purpose – To provide a snapshot picture of the current e‐book industry from the perspectives of various key individuals in the industry.Design/methodology/approach – Over 20 interviews were conducted following an extensive review of the published literature and examination of product/technical information.Findings – The interviews revealed varying opinions on the current state of the industry and even on the definition of the e‐book industry itself. Key issues identified include: standards, digital rights management, content availability, pricing, device/reader technology, integration and market development.Research limitations/implications – This industry is still relatively young, generally marking its beginnings in 2000; however, its early years have been marked by market hype, investor fallout and slow market development. Today's industry is at a pivotal point: can obstacles to maturity be overcome or will the industry be either subsumed by the larger consumer electronics or web‐based industries?Pract...
Variable‐Rate Nitrogen Management Creates Opportunities and Challenges for Corn Producers

Adoption of variable-rate N management by North American corn (Zea mays L.) producers is low, despite the potential economic and environmental benefits of this practice. A major obstacle is that recommended N fertilizer rates based on yield goal are often poorly correlated with actual economically optimum N rates. Nitrogen response patterns are often field- and season-specific and can vary widely within the same field, further complicating adoption. Side-by-side comparisons of uniform- and variable-rate N management have revealed no consistent advantages for either strategy in yields achieved, profitability, whole-field N usage, or N-use efficiency by plants. In the future, a better understanding of temporal variation in N soil test levels, better crop simulation models, and improved N sensing and application equipment may assist growers in capturing the benefits of site-specific N management.
Boundary element analysis of fracture mechanics in anisotropic bimaterials

Abstract This paper presents a boundary element formulation for the analysis of linear elastic fracture mechanics problems involving anisotropic bimaterials. The most important feature associated with the present formulation is that it is a single domain method, and yet it is accurate, efficient and versatile. In this formulation, the displacement integral equation is collocated on the uncracked boundary only, and the traction integral equation is collocated on one side of the crack surface only. The complete Green's functions for anisotropic bimaterials are also derived and implemented into the boundary integral formulation so that discretization along the interface can be avoided except for the interfacial crack part. A special crack-tip element is introduced to capture exactly the crack-tip behavior. Numerical examples are presented for the calculations of stress intensity factors for a straight crack with various locations in infinite bimaterials. It is found that very accurate results can be obtained by the proposed method even with relatively coarse discretization. Numerical results also show that material anisotropy can greatly affect the stress intensity factor.
Constructive Packings by Linear Hypergraphs

For k -graphs F 0 and H , an F 0 -packing of H is a family $\mathscr{F}$ of pairwise edge-disjoint copies of F 0 in H . Let ν F 0 ( H ) denote the maximum size | $\mathscr{F}$ | of an F 0 -packing of H . Already in the case of graphs, computing ν F 0 ( H ) is NP-hard for most fixed F 0 (Dor and Tarsi [6]). In this paper, we consider the case when F 0 is a fixed linear k -graph. We establish an algorithm which, for ζ > 0 and a given k -graph H , constructs in time polynomial in | V(H) | an F 0 -packing of H of size at least ν F 0 ( H ) − ζ | V(H) | k . Our result extends one of Haxell and Rodl, who established the analogous algorithm for graphs.
Platelet activity of high‐dose factor VIIa is independent of tissue factor

High-dose recombinant factor VIIa has been successfully used as therapy for haemophiliacs with inhibitors. The mechanism by which high-dose factor VIIa supports haemostasis is the subject of some controversy. Postulating a mechanism in which activity is dependent on tissue factor at the site of injury explains the localization of activity but not the requirement for high doses. Postulating a mechanism in which factor VIIa acts on available lipid independently of tissue factor explains the requirement for high doses but not the lack of systemic procoagulant activity. We report that factor VIIa bound weakly to activated platelets (Kd approximately 90 nM). This factor VIIa was functionally active and could initiate thrombin generation in the presence of plasma concentrations of prothrombin, factor X, factor V, antithrombin III and tissue factor pathway inhibitor. The activity was not dependent on tissue factor. The concentration of factor VIIa required for detectable thrombin generation agreed well with the lowest concentration of factor VIIa required for efficacy in patients. High-dose factor VIIa may function on the activated platelets that form the initial haemostatic plug in haemophilic patients. These observations are in agreement with clinical trials which have shown that high-dose factor VIIa was haemostatically effective without causing systemic activation of coagulation.
Millimeter wave hexagonal nano-ferrite circulator on silicon CMOS substrate

Hexagonal ferrites such as BaFe 12 O 19 have very strong uniaxial anisotropic magnetic field and remanent magnetism. By employing these properties, magnetic devices can work in the tens of GHz frequency range without strong external magnetic field. The micro- and nano-sized hexagonal ferrite can be conveniently utilized to fabricate magnetic components integrated in CMOS integrated circuits. A circulator working at 60 GHz is designed and integrated into the commercial CMOS process.