cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infinite-randomness quantum Ising critical fixed points

We examine the ground state of the random quantum Ising model in a transverse field using a generalization of the Ma-Dasgupta-Hu renormalization group (RG) scheme. For spatial dimensionality d=2, we find that at strong randomness the RG flow for the quantum critical point is towards an infinite-randomness fixed point, as in one dimension. This is consistent with the results of a recent quantum Monte Carlo study by Pich et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 5916 (1998)], including estimates of the critical exponents from our RG that agree well with those from the quantum Monte Carlo. The same qualitative behavior appears to occur for three dimensions; we have not yet been able to determine whether or not it persists to arbitrarily high d. Some consequences of the infinite-randomness fixed point for the quantum critical scaling behavior are discussed. Because frustration is irrelevant in the infinite-randomness limit, the same fixed point should govern both ferromagnetic and spin-glass quantum critical points. This RG maps the random quantum Ising model with strong disorder onto a novel type of percolation/aggregation process.
Extracellular potassium concentration changes during propagated seizures in neocortex.

Cortical surface and intracortical, extracellular K+ selective microelectrode recording was carried out in the pericruciate cortex of cats during propagated seizures produced by repetitive stimulation of the surface of the contralateral homotopic neocortex. The K+ selective microelectrode consistently recorded a potential change which corresponded to an increase in [K+]0 which was directly related to the seizure amplitude × duration. The interictal [K+]0 in neocortical extracellular fluid was determined to be 4 meq/liter. The maximum increase of [K+]0 during propagated seizures in these experiments was 7 meq/liter which correlates lates well with increases in [K+]0 calculated from neuroglial depolarizations during similar propagated seizures.
The membrane-recruitment-and-recycling hypothesis of gastric HCl secretion.

Abstract In the unstimulated oxyntic (or parietal) cell, the primary pump for gastric HCl secretion, the H + /K + -ATPase, is retained within the cytoplasm in a membranous compartment of tubulovesicles. Neural or hormonal stimulation of acid secretion induces extensive membrane transformations consistent with a fusion and recruitment of tubulovesicles to the apical plasma membrane. The consequent placement of H + /K + -ATPase in parallel with K + and Cl − channels provides the necessary ionic flow and ATP-driven exchange for net HCl secretion. Current evidence is consistent with a recruitment and recycling of membrane transporters, such as H + /K + -ATPase, through docking/fusion machinery analogous to that in many other systems.
Spacer chain length dependence in hydraphile channels

Abstract Five benzyl-terminal tris(macrocycle)s were prepared in an effort to determine the optimal length for hydraphile channels. They are represented in shorthand as PhCH 2 C n C n CH 2 Ph, in which is diaza-18-crown-6 and n is 8 ( 3 ), 10 ( 4 ), 12 ( 5 ), 14 ( 6 ), or 16 ( 7 ). As the length increased by ∼5 A for 6 and 7 (10 A) compared to 5 , it was expected that flux would eventually diminish owing to excessive conformational flexibility. Shortening of the spacer chains by a corresponding increment ( 3 , 4 ) was expected to lead eventually to a compound that was too short and thus incapable of transporting Na + on the timescale of the analytical method. Cation transport rates were measured by dynamic 23 Na NMR and normalized to the activity of Dn C 12 C 12 Dn ( 2 , Dn=dansyl), used as a standard. The observed activity was in the order 5 (C 12 ) ∼ 6 (C 14 )> 4 (C 10 ) ∼ 7 (C 16 ). No cation transport activity was observed for 3 (C 8 ). We estimate the optimal channel length to be ∼45 A, the same as reported for the pore of the KcsA K1 channel.
Ventilatory response to hypoxia in turtles at various temperatures.

Abstract Respiratory minute volume (/.V e ) and respiratory gas exchange (/.V o 2 and /.V co 2 ) of fresh water turtles, Pseudemys scripta elegans , were measured at 10°, 20° and 30 °C while the turtles breathed either air, 10%, 5% or 3% O 2 . The Pi o 2 , values at 10 °C were 155, 73, 38 and 23 torr, respectively. Hyperventilation was evaluated by 1) the peak increase in /.V e over the air-breathing value and by 2) the increase in the /.V e //.V co 2 ratio when the response to the hypoxic gas reached a steady-state level. By both criteria, hypoxia-induced hyperventilation was observed at a higher Pl o 2 when body temperature was higher. At 30 °C, turtles hyperventilated breathing 10% O 2 , at 20 °C breathing 5% O 2 , while at 10 °C, only slight hyperventilation occurred even when turtles breathed 3% O 2 . When hyperventilation was observed, it was due to increases both in f and Vt. Three factors are suggested to account for the greater response at high temperature: 1) increased /.V o 2 due to Q 10 effect, 2) lower relative ventilation, /.V e //.V o 2 , of air breathing turtles which amounts to hypoventilation with increased temperature, and 3) reduced affinity of hemoglobin for O 2 .
Kinematics of the fingers and hands during computer keyboard use

Abstract Background Although there has been extensive research about the kinematics of the neck, arm, and wrist during computer keyboarding, there is almost no information concerning the kinematics of the fingers, thumbs, and hands. The purpose of this descriptive study was to establish normative values of the kinematics of the fingers and hands during computer keyboard use. Methods This study describes the angles, angular velocities, and angular accelerations of the metacarpophalangeal joints and proximal interphalangeal joints for the right and left hands of 20 computer keyboard users during a word-processing task. A new kinematic variable for computer keyboard use, hand/wrist displacement, is also defined and examined. Hand/wrist displacement refers to the translational movements of the hands in which the entire hand is repositioned to strike the keys. Kinematics of both hands of the keyboard users were captured using a three-dimensional motion capture system. Findings Metacarpophalangeal joint kinematics in flexion/extension and abduction/adduction are reported during typing. Proximal interphalangeal joint kinematics in flexion/extension are also reported. The means and standard deviations for finger postures, velocities and acceleration were generally not significantly different between the right and left hands, with the exception of the 1st digit (thumb). Hand/wrist displacement was significantly different between the right and left hands for side to side movements. Differences in kinematics among the fingers are discussed in view of their potential to be a risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders. Interpretation This study establishes baseline understanding of the kinematics of computer keyboard use. This information will be useful in future studies of potential risk factors associated with keyboard use.
Social factors in the etiology of multiple outcomes: The case of blood pressure and alcohol consumption patterns

Abstract The literature addressing the relationships between biological and social factors in the etiology of multiple chronic diseases occuring simultaneously is presented. The rationale for studying such multiple outcomes is presented in terms of providing a realistic appraisal of the development of chronic diseases from a clinical perspective; i.e. persons with chronic illnesses often have more than one illness at the same time. Social processes related to the development of one joint disease outcome, namely clinically elevated blood pressure and heavy alcohol consumption patterns, are discussed, and emphasis is given to elaborating the role of stress and social support in the etiologic process. Several alternative models are presented to account for the etiology of the joint outcome, and a research agenda is suggested.
Fast Measurement of Blood T1 in the Human Jugular Vein at 3 Tesla

Current T(1) values for blood at 3T largely came from in vitro studies on animal blood or freshly drawn human blood. Measurement of blood T(1) in vivo could provide more specific information, e.g., for individuals with abnormal blood composition. Here, blood T(1) at 3T was measured rapidly (<1 min) in the internal jugular vein using a fast inversion-recovery technique in which multiple inversion time can be acquired rapidly due to constant refreshing of blood. Multishot EPI acquisition with flow compensation yielded high resolution images with minimum partial volume effect. Results showed T(1) = 1852 ± 104 msec among 24 healthy adults, a value higher than for bovine blood phantoms (1584 msec at Hct of 42%). A second finding was that of a significant difference (P < 0.01) between men and women, namely T(1) = 1780 ± 89 msec (n = 12) and T(1) = 1924 ± 58 msec (n = 12), respectively. This difference in normal subjects is tentatively explained by the difference in Hct between genders. Interestingly, however, studies done on sickle cell anemia patients with much lower Hct (23 ± 3%, n = 10) revealed similar venous blood T(1) = 1924 ± 82 msec, indicating other possible physical influences affecting blood T(1).
Bounds on the Number of Threshold Functions

It has been conjectured [1] that the number R n of threshold functions of n arguments has the limiting form: Lim n?? log 2 R n /n2 = const. Bounds previously obtained [2], [3] show that such a constant would have to lie between ? and one. In the present note this constant is shown to have a lower bound of ?.1 The result is extended to the number R n m of threshold functions defined on m minterms of n arguments and suggests the more general form in the limit of large n, m/n. {log m/n R n m/n} = const. with the same limits for the constant, providing that the minterms are spread out in a certain sense.
Ring substituent effects on decylpyridinium bromide micellization

Abstract Micellar aggregation numbers of decylpyridinium bromide and 18 structurally related surfactants were determined by conventional light scattering in 0.5 m NaBr and/or 0.5 m NaCl. A few measurements were also made in 0.5 m HBr and in 0.5 m HCl. Two trends were observed. The attachment of a methyl or an ethyl group to the pyridinium ring lowered the aggregation number. Replacement of an alkyl group on the ring with the corresponding alkanol group raised it. In a number of cases, the contribution of a ring substituent to the effective dielectric constant in the Stern layer seems to be a factor in determining micelle size.
Efficient conversion of light from sparse laser arrays into single-lobed far field using phase structures

An efficient beam-combining technique based on aperture filling is introduced to direct virtually all the energy of a mutually coherent laser array to the far-field main lobe. A comparison between this method and the Dammann grating method for beam superposition reveals the connection between the two and suggests specific applications for each.
H-guide with laminated dielectric

A method is presented for computing the field distribution and the characteristics of an H-guide with a laminated dielectric slab composed of an arbitrary number of dielectric strips separated by air layers.
Profiling Hsp90 differential expression and the molecular effects of the Hsp90 inhibitor IPI-504 in high-grade glioma models

Retaspimycin hydrochloride (IPI-504), an Hsp90 (heat shock protein 90) inhibitor, has shown activity in multiple preclinical cancer models, such as lung, breast and ovarian cancers. However, its biological effects in gliomas and normal brain derived cellular populations remain unknown. In this study, we profiled the expression pattern of Hsp90α/β mRNA in stable glioma cell lines, multiple glioma-derived primary cultures and human neural stem/progenitor cells. The effects of IPI-504 on cell proliferation, apoptosis, motility and expression of Hsp90 client proteins were evaluated in glioma cell lines. In vivo activity of IPI-504 was investigated in subcutaneous glioma xenografts. Our results showed Hsp90α and Hsp90β expression levels to be patient-specific, higher in high-grade glioma-derived primary cells than in low-grade glioma-derived primary cells, and strongly correlated with CD133 expression and differentiation status of cells. Hsp90 inhibition by IPI-504 induced apoptosis, blocked migration and invasion, and significantly decreased epidermal growth factor receptor levels, mitogen-activated protein kinase and/or Akt activities, and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor in glioma cell lines. In vivo study showed that IPI-504 could mildly attenuate tumor growth in immunocompromised mice. These findings suggest that targeting Hsp90 by IPI-504 has the potential to become an active therapeutic strategy in gliomas in a selective group of patients, but further research into combination therapies is still needed.
Phototriggering of caged fluorescent oligodeoxynucleotides.

We describe a synthetic route for incorporating a photocleavable (PC) DABSYL moiety and fluorescein at adjacent cytidines in the middle of a 25-mer oligodeoxynucleotide. In hybridization studies, both fluorescein and the photocleavable DABSYL reduced the Tm about 6 °C separately. UV irradiation (355 nm, 2 min) removed the PC-DABSYL moiety, which increased the fluorescence intensity 51-fold and restored the melting temperature. Caged fluorescent oligodeoxynucleotides (CFOs) will allow many DNA processes to be controlled with light.
Direct Observation of Nucleus Structure and Nucleation Pathways in Apoferritin Crystallization

Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in situ during the crystallization of the protein apoferritin from its solution, we imaged the arrangement of the molecules in near-critical clusters, larger or smaller than the crystal nucleus, that are representative of the nucleus structure. At supersaturations Delta mu/k(B)T of 1.1 -- 1.6 -- 2.3, the nuclei contain about 50 -- 20 -- 10 molecules. The molecular arrangement within the nuclei is similar to that in the crystal bulk. Contrary to the general belief, the observed nuclei are not compact molecular clusters, but are planar arrays of several rods of 4--7 molecules set in one or two monomolecular layers. Similarly unexpected nuclei structures might be common, especially for anisotropic molecules. Hence, the nucleus structure should be considered as a variable by advanced theoretical treatments.
Effect of endogenous attention on detection of weak gustatory and olfactory flavors

The effect of endogenous attention on the detectability of weak flavorants was examined in an absolute detection (two-alternative forced-choice) task. Attention to sucrose improved the detectability of sucrose, a gustation-based flavorant, both when the alternative was water and when it was vanillin. But attention to vanillin did not improve the detectability of vanillin, an olfaction-based flavorant, either when the alternative was water or when it was sucrose. Nor did attention improve the detectability of vanillin when the alternative was citric acid, a tastant that is qualitatively less similar to vanillin than is sucrose. Attention had no positive effect on the detection of either sucrose or vanillin when it was mixed with the other substance. These findings suggest that although it is possible to attend selectively to gustatory flavors, it may be more difficult to attend selectively to olfactory flavors—perhaps because attention to flavors, which are taken in the mouth, is directed spatially toward the tongue, where gustatory, but not olfactory, receptors are located.
A Cell Culture System for Study of the Development of Toxoplasma gondii Bradyzoites

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous apicomplexan parasite and a major opportunistic pathogen under AIDS-induced conditions, where it causes encephalitis when the bradyzoite (cyst) stage is reactivated. A bradyzoite-specific Mab, 74.1.8, reacting with a 28 kDa antigen, was used to study bradyzoite development in vitro by immuno-electron microscopy and immunofluorescence in human fibroblasts infected with ME49 strain T. gondii. Bradyzoites were detected in tissue culture within 3 days of infection. Free floating cyst-like structures were also identified. Western blotting demonstrated the expression of bradyzoite antigens in these free-floating cysts as well as in the monolayer. Bradyzoite development was increased by using media adjusted to pH 6.8 or 8.2. The addition of gamma-interferon at day 3 of culture while decreasing the total number of cysts formed prevented tachyzoite overgrowth and enabled study of in vitro bradyzoites for up to 25 days. The addition of IL-6 increased the number of cysts released into the medium and increased the number of cysts formed at pH 7.2. Confirmation of bradyzoite development in vitro was provided by electron microscopy. It is possible that the induction of an acute phase response in the host cell may be important for bradyzoite differentiation. This system should allow further studies on the effect of various agents on the development of bradyzoites.
Playhouse Calls: Folk Play Doctors on the Elizabethan Stage

The English mumming play (formerly "Saint George play"), though of uncertain age, has many analogues in European countries, some dating before 1500. The doctor with his cure recurs in these analogues and in some plays of the Tudor era. Plays by Dekker, Chapman, and Middleton-Rowley are added to the list, as well as plays by Shakespeare with doctor and cure. The cure perhaps evokes a ritual of social healing linked to a folk doctor of English oral tradition.
Security and privacy challenges in open and dynamic environments

Information system security and privacy, once narrow topics primarily of interest to IS designers, have become critically important to society at large. The scope of associated challenges and applications is broadening accordingly, leading to new requirements and approaches. Information networks are evolving into more open and dynamic systems. Security and privacy enforcement is problematic in these systems due to the lack of a common understanding of requirements and information as well as user unpredictability. Shared ontologies, declarative policies, and trust models offer the most promising approaches to meet these challenges
Reactions of conjugate bases of metal carbene complexes with expoxides and with α-bromo esters

Abstract The reactions of the conjugate base of (methylmethoxycarbene)pentacarbonylchromium(0) with epoxides and with methyl bromoacetate give alkylated carbene complexes which cannot be obtained by previous synthetic routes.
Intramolecular disulfide bonds enhance the antimicrobial and lytic activities of protegrins at physiological sodium chloride concentrations.

Protegrins are 2-kDa antimicrobial peptides that contain 16–18 amino acid residues and two intramolecular disulfide bonds. We studied the contribution of these disulfide bonds to the bactericidal activity of protegrins in physiological concentrations of NaCl by comparing protegrin PG-1 with variants that lacked one or both cysteine disulfides. Whereas the bactericidal and liposome-lytic properties of protegrin PG-1 were enhanced by adding 100 mM NaCl to the phosphate-buffered medium, NaCl addition strongly inhibited the effects of its linearized, disulfide-free variant, [A6, A8, A13, A15]protegrin-1. Whereas protegrin PG-1 manifested β-sheet structure by CD (circular dichroism) and ATR-FTIR (attenuated-total-reflectance-Fourier-transform-infrared) spectroscopy in buffer or membrane-mimetic environments, [A6, A8, A13, A15]protegrin-1 manifested disordered structure in phosphate buffer and α-helical characteristics in membrane-mimetic environments. Both single-disulfide protegrin variants, [A8, A13]protegrin-1 and [A6, A15]protegrin-1, assumed β-sheet conformations with liposomes that simulated bacterial membranes, and both retained substantial bactericidal activity when 100 mM NaCl was present. These findings demonstrate that the intramolecular disulfide bonds of protegrins are required for their antiparallel β-sheet conformation in membrane-mimetic environments and for their potent antimicrobial activity in media containing NaCl concentrations comparable to those found in serum and extracellular fluids.
The Energetic Contribution of Water in the Binding of Ribonuclease a and UMP

In most treatments of aqueous binding reactions, the energetic contribution of water is not addressed explicitly by the governing equation. The classical equation for a binding equilibrium (ΔG° = -RTlnK) may be appropriate at infinite dilution but not under experimental conditions, especially in "nonideal" solutions containing other solutes. Resolving this issue is paramount to understanding the thermodynamics of molecular interactions in the context of a living cell. In the current study, we test a new equation that treats water as a co-reactant and co-product of the balanced reaction. The binding affinity of ribonuclease A (RNase A) with an inhibitor molecule, uridine-3'-monophosphate (UMP), is quantified using isothermal titration calorimetry. The results indicate that the equilibrium "constant," K, is dependent on reactant concentration and that the desolvation energy of binding is unfavorable for this specific protein-ligand interaction. These observations are consistent with published findings for another model binding system, the chelation of calcium by EDTA (J. Phys. Chem. B 2013, 117, 8180).View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Hydrogen bonding in redox-modulated molecular recognition. An experimental and theoretical investigation.

Two receptors, a diaminotriazine derivative (DAT) and diamidopyridine (DAP), are complementary to the electroactive naphthalimide (N) through three-point hydrogen bonding. The association constants of the two receptors were evaluated for both the fully oxidized and the radical anion forms of N. In the oxidized state, the two receptors displayed identical binding constants. Diamidopyridine, however, lowers the reduction potential of naphthalimide to a far greater extent than does diaminotriazine, indicating a greater affinity for diamidopyridine by naphthalimide in the radical anion form. This behavior was mirrored by EPR experiments that showed small deviations from the hyperfine coupling pattern of Nred in the presence of DAT, with greater effects seen for the Nred·DAP complex. Computational simulations using the UB3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)//UHF/6-31G(d) hybrid gave theoretical hyperfine constants in good quantitative agreement with the experimental results. Using this correlation, we determined that electrostat...
An Experimental Testbed for Multi-Robot Tracking of Manifolds and Coherent Structures in Flows

In this paper, we describe the development of an experimental testbed capable of producing controllable ocean-like flows in a laboratory setting. The objective is to develop a testbed to evaluate multi-robot strategies for tracking manifolds and Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) in the ocean. Recent theoretical results have shown that LCS coincide with minimum energy and minimum time optimal paths for autonomous vehicles in the ocean. Furthermore, knowledge of these structures enables the prediction and estimation of the underlying fluid dynamics. The testbed is a scaled flow tank capable of generating complex and controlled quasi-2D flow fields that exhibit wind-driven double-gyre flows. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) is used to extract the 2D surface velocities and the data is then processed to verify the existence of manifolds and Lagrangian coherent structures in the flow. The velocity data is then used to evaluate our previously proposed multi-robot LCS tracking strategy in simulation.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Dimensional Crossovers in A + B → 0 Reaction in Tubular Geometries

Diffusion-controlled A + B → 0 reactions in constrained geometries are well-known to obey nonconventional dimension-dependent kinetics. We investigate these kinetics in narrow d-dimensional tubes to study the crossovers from early time d-dimensional kinetics to eventual one-dimensional kinetics. We rely on a reaction−diffusion model that leads to analytically verifiable quantitative results. The crossover times are identified as those times at which the kinetic exponent exhibits maximum curvature and are shown to be universally given by tc = 0.034W2/D where W is the width of the tube along a narrow direction and D is the diffusion coefficient of both species. Our procedure overcomes many of the statistical difficulties inherent in Monte Carlo simulations of this problem [Ahn, J.; Kopelman, R.; Argyrakis, P. J. Chem. Phys. 1999, 110, 2116].
Radially expanding laparoscopic access for renal/adrenal surgery.

Abstract Objectives. To use a radially expanding system (Step) and a modified port location for intra-abdominal access to decrease the access-related complications in renal and adrenal surgery. Access-related complications during laparoscopic renal surgery are frustrating and are more common in patients with previous abdominal surgery and associated adhesions. Methods. Laparoscopic upper tract procedures were performed in 62 patients using radially expanding trocars, and the results were reviewed with regard to access, port placement, and associated complications. For initial access, a Veress needle was placed subcostally in the midclavicular line. An expandable mesh sleeve trocar was used for trocar insertion after a pneumoperitoneum was established. A blunt-tipped fascial dilator was used to dilate to 10 or 12 mm. Additional ports were placed in an L shape (nephrectomy) or a subcostal configuration (adrenalectomy) under direct vision using the Step ports. Results. Of 62 patients, 24 had had prior abdominal surgery. Open insertion of the mesh sleeve was necessary in 20%, of whom 60% had had prior abdominal surgery. In 9% of cases, the liver was punctured with the initial pass of the Veress needle. Only minimal bleeding from the injury site was noticed. The liver punctures did not require cauterization and did not result in conversion to an open procedure. At a mean follow-up of 12 months, no access-related complications or port-site hernias were noted. Conclusions. Placement of the initial access subcostally at the level of the midclavicular line helps to prevent visceral injury, especially in patients with previous abdominal surgery. The use of the radially expanding access system with the modification of port location allows safe and rapid laparoscopic access for upper urinary tract surgery. This trocar system is an excellent alternative to the standard laparoscopic trocars.
Agonism with the omega-3 fatty acids α-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid mediates phosphorylation of both the short and long isoforms of the human GPR120 receptor.

The newly discovered G protein-coupled receptor GPR120 has recently been shown to stimulate secretion of the gut hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 and cholecystokinin upon binding of free fatty acids, thrusting it to the forefront of drug discovery efforts for treatment of type 2 diabetes as well as satiety and obesity. Although sequences for two alternative splice variants of the human GPR120 receptor have been reported, there have been no studies which directly compare the signaling of these isoforms. We have identified an additional 16 amino acid gap containing four phospho-labile serine/threonine residues which is localized to the third intracellular loop of the GPR120-long (GPR120-L) isoform. Based on this finding, we hypothesized that the agonist-stimulated phosphorylation profiles of this isoform would be distinct from that of the short isoform (GPR120-S). Using a clonal HEK293 cell model, we examined agonist-mediated phosphorylation of GPR120-S and GPR120-L with the omega-3 fatty acids α-linolenic acid (ALA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Our results show rapid phosphorylation of both isoforms following agonism by either ALA or DHA. Moreover, we show no significant difference in the degree or rate of phosphorylation of both isoforms upon agonism with either ALA or DHA, suggesting that the additional gap in the longer variant is not phosphorylated. Importantly, our results demonstrate that the shorter variant exhibits significantly more pronounced basal phosphorylation in the absence of agonist, suggesting that the additional gap in the long variant may contribute to masking of constitutive phosphorylation sites. These are the first results which demonstrate specific phosphorylation of GPR120 isoforms upon agonism by free fatty acids and the first which distinguish the phosphorylation profiles of the two GPR120 isoforms.
Anti-inflammatory effect of MAPK phosphatase-1 local gene transfer in inflammatory bone loss

Alveolar bone loss associated with periodontal diseases is the result of osteoclastogenesis induced by bacterial pathogens. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 1 (MKP-1) is a critical negative regulator of immune response as a key phosphatase capable of dephosphorylating activated MAPKs. In this study, rat macrophages transduced with recombinant adenovirus (Ad.)MKP-1 specifically dephosphorylated activated MAPKs induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) compared with control cells. Bone marrow macrophages from MKP-1 knockout (KO) mice exhibited higher interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and select chemokine compared with wild-type (WT) mice when stimulated by LPS. In addition, bone marrow cultures from MKP-1 KO mice exhibited significantly more osteoclastogenesis induced by LPS than when compared with WT mice. Importantly, MKP-1 gene transfer in bone marrow cells of MKP-1 KO mice significantly decreased IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and chemokine levels, and formed fewer osteoclasts induced by LPS than compared with control group of cells. Furthermore, MKP-1 gene transfer in an experimental periodontal disease model attenuated bone resorption induced by LPS. Histological analysis confirmed that periodontal tissues transduced with Ad. MKP-1 exhibited less infiltrated inflammatory cells, less osteoclasts and less IL-6 than compared with rats of control groups. These studies indicate that MKP-1 is a key therapeutic target to control of inflammation-induced bone loss.
Oxidized lipoprotein regulation of tissue factor in smooth muscle cells

Abstract Cell surface tissue factor (TF), which can initiate local coagulation, is upregulated in cells within atherosclerotic plaques, including macrophages, endothelial cells (EC) and smooth muscle cells (SMC). TF binds coagulation factors VIIa and Xa to make a catalytically active complex that produces thrombin and ultimately fibrin, leading to inflammation and coagulation. Using rat SMC, we have shown that lipids of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidized LDL (oxLDL) differentially regulate TF gene expression and TF activity. Unknown lipids of LDL induced the gene, but did not enhance activity. In contrast, oxLDL or its extracted lipids induced both the TF gene and TF activity. Specific lipids of oxLDL, e.g., lipid hydroperoxides, and H 2 O 2 increased TF activity without enhancing TF gene or protein. The effects of lipid hydroperoxides were antioxidant-inhibitable. Lysophosphatidic acid (lysoPA) and lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), important lipid mediators of many cellular processes and formed during LDL oxidation, increased TF mRNA, protein and activity. LysoPA induced the TF gene via a Gi-protein-coupled signaling process. Thus, different lipoprotein-borne lipids in atherosclerotic lesions enhance TF gene expression and TF activity through distinct mechanisms. These effects may contribute to lesion development and subsequent complications.
A model of piracy

Abstract This paper develops a simple model of software piracy to analyze the short-run effects of piracy on software usage and the long-run effects on development incentives. We consider two types of costs associated with piracy: the reproduction cost that is constant across users and the degradation cost that is proportional to consumers’ valuation of the original product. We show that the effects of piracy depend crucially on the nature of piracy costs. Policy implications concerning copyright protection are also discussed.
Analyzing and accelerating web access in a school in peri-urban India

While computers and Internet access have growing penetration amongst schools in the developing world, intermittent connectivity and limited bandwidth often prevent them from being fully utilized by students and teachers. In this paper, we make two contributions to help address this problem. First, we characterize six weeks of HTTP traffic from a primary school outside of Bangalore, India, illuminating opportunities and constraints for improving performance in such settings. Second, we deploy an aggressive caching and prefetching engine and show that it accelerates a user's overall browsing experience (apart from video content) by 2.8x. Our accelerator leverages innovative techniques that have been proposed, but not evaluated in detail, including the effectiveness of serving stale pages, cached page highlighting, and client-side prefetching. Unlike proxy-based techniques, our system is bundled as an open-source Firefox plugin and runs directly on client machines. This allows easy installation and configuration by end users, which is especially important in developing regions where a lack of permissions or technical expertise often prevents modification of internal network settings.
Depth Distribution of Adult Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Relation to Season and Gas-Supersaturated Water

Abstract Pressure-sensitive radio transmitters were used to determine swimming depths of adult chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in relation to season and gas-supersaturated water in the lower Snake River, southeastern Washington. Thirty radio-tagged fish, 15 with external and 15 with internal transmitters, were monitored in supersaturated water in spring 1976. Nine fish with internal and 30 with external transmitters were monitored in the absence of supersaturation in fall 1976 and spring 1977 respectively. Spring chinook salmon spent about 89% of their time below the critical supersaturation zone in 1976. Swimming depths of fall 1976 and spring 1977 chinook, migrating in normally saturated water, were shallower and differed significantly from those of fish migrating in supersaturated water in spring 1976.
Hyperspectral fluorescence image analysis for use in medical diagnostics

This paper presents hyperspectral fluorescence imaging and a support vector machine for detecting skin tumors. Skin cancers may not be visually obvious since the visual signature appears as shape distortion rather than discoloration. As a definitive test for cancer diagnosis, skin biopsy requires both trained professionals and significant waiting time. Hyperspectral fluorescence imaging offers an instant, non-invasive diagnostic procedure based on the analysis of the spectral signatures of skin tissue. A hyperspectral image contains spatial information measured at a sequence of individual wavelength across a sufficiently broad spectral band at high-resolution spectrum. Fluorescence is a phenomenon where light is absorbed at a given wavelength and then is normally followed by the emission of light at a longer wavelength. Fluorescence generated by the skin tissue is collected and analyzed to determine whether cancer exists. Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed an endoscopic hyperspectral imaging system capable of fluorescence imaging for skin cancer detection. This hyperspectral imaging system captures hyperspectral images of 21 spectral bands of wavelength ranging from 440 nm to 640 nm. Each band image is spatially co-registered to eliminate the spectral offset caused during the image capture procedure. Image smoothing by means of a local spatial filter with Gaussian kernel increases the classification accuracy and reduces false positives. Experiments show that the SVM classification with spatial filtering achieves high skin tumor detection accuracies.
Perturbative approximations to the effective hamiltonian in the presence of an intruder state

Perturbative approximations to the effective Hamiltonian for J/sup pi / = 0/sup +/ T = 1 states in /sup 18/RO are studied through 4th order, in the context of an 8 x 8 Hamiltonian matrix. Comparison of the results with exact effective matrix elemerts indicates that low-order perturbation theory provides a good approximation, even though the perturbation series is divergent. This success was explained by showing that the singularity which causes the divergence has a negligible influence on low-order perturbation theory, because the intruder state and the uppermost model state interact weakly. (auth)
Plasmonic photoconductive terahertz emitters based on logarithmic spiral antenna arrays

We present an efficient photoconductive terahertz emitter based on a logarithmic spiral antenna array that incorporates plasmonic contact electrodes on a LT-GaAs substrate. Under a 400 mW optical pump power, the emitter generates 1.9 mW of terahertz radiation in the 0.1 - 2 THz range.
A Novel β-Lactamase Activity from a Penicillin-binding Protein of Treponema pallidum and Why Syphilis Is Still Treatable with Penicillin

Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, is sensitive to penicillins. Yet, an abundant membrane-bound protein of this organism, Tp47, turns over penicillins. It is shown herein that the turnover process is a hydrolytic reaction that results in the corresponding penicilloates, products that have their β-lactam bonds hydrolyzed. This is the reaction of β-lactamases, bona fide resistance enzymes to β-lactam antibiotics. Remarkably, the x-ray structure of Tp47 bears no resemblance to any other β-lactamases or the related penicillin-binding proteins. Furthermore, evidence is presented that the reaction of Tp47 takes place in the absence of the zinc ion and does not involve intermediary acyl enzyme species. Hence, the β-lactamase activity of Tp47 is the fifth known mechanism for turnover of β-lactam antibiotics. Tp47 also exhibits a penicillin binding reaction, in the process of which the enzyme is covalently modified in the active site. The two reactions take place in two different active sites, and the events of the β-lactamase activity are over 2,000-fold more rapid than the penicillin binding reaction. The level of β-lactamase activity is high and is held back only by a strong product-inhibition component to the catalytic process. If natural selection would result in a mutant variant of Tp47 that overcomes product inhibition for the β-lactamase activity, a novel bona fide resistance to penicillins will emerge in Treponema, which will be a disconcerting clinical development. The physiological functions of Tp47 are not known, but it is likely that this is at least a bifunctional enzyme involved in the processing of the Treponema peptidoglycan as a substrate.
QUANTITY PRODUCTION OF SYNCHRONIZED MAMMALIAN CELLS IN SUSPENSION CULTURE.

SYNCHRONIZED cultures offer advantages in investigations of the sequence of biochemical changes occurring during the life-cycle of the mammalian cell. Such investigations suffer generally because present methods of producing synchronized cells do not provide immediately sufficient material to permit the use of classical analytical techniques. This communication describes a method by which gram quantities of synchronized cells representing a predetermined segment of the life-cycle can be produced.
Missing lincs in the transcriptome.

Abstract Are long, intervening noncoding (linc) RNAs a new class of functional transcripts?
X-Ray Microbeam Laue Pattern Studies of the Spreading of Orientation in OFHC Copper at Large Strains

This paper assesses, via X-ray microbeam diffraction, the effects of development of dislocation substructure on the distribution of sub-grain misorientations in annealed OFHC copper deformed to large strains for compression, for shear, and for sequences of compression followed by shear. Polychromatic synchrotron x-radiation was used to study samples from four strain histories: virgin specimens, 50% effective strain in compression 100% effective strain in torsion, and 50% compressive strain followed by 50% torsion. A very narrow beam illuminated an approximately 15 μm diameter column through the sample, and the microstructure of the specimens was mapped by translating the sample along two orthogonal axes perpendicular to the beam by increments of 10 μm. The beam diameter was considerably smaller than the average grain size in the virgin material. Both the degree of substructure formation and the nature of the distributed microstructure were quantified from the resulting Laue diffraction patterns. The polychromatic diffraction patterns of the polycrystalline samples consisted of well-defined streaks, and the azimuthal angular width of the streaks increased with plastic strain in a manner consistent with the scaling of the misorientation distribution of high angle boundaries for sub-grains reported recently using electron microscopy techniques limited to thin foils or thin surface layers. A lattice spin correction is introduced based on this scaling law in a simple extended Taylor scheme of polycrystal plasticity to achieve a retardation of texture development that is consistent with experimental results.
Reversible coordination change of chromium in Cr-MCM-41 and Cr-MCM-48 studied by X-ray absorption near edge structure

Chromium-substituted MCM-41 and MCM-48 mesoporous molecular sieves have been prepared via a direct hydrothermal synthesis. A change of structure of mesoporous molecular sieves and coordination of chromium was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption and X-ray absorption measurements after various redox gas treatments at high temperature. It was determined from the XRD patterns that the Cr containing material has a hexagonal MCM-41 and a cubic MCM-48 structure, respectively, and the structure is not affected significantly by redox gas treatments. The pore structure and surface area, analyzed from nitrogen isotherms, of Cr-substituted MCM-41 and MCM-48 are maintained after reduction and re-oxidation, which were performed sequentially after calcination. It is suggested from X-ray absorption near edge structure that the local environment of Cr in the MCM-41 and MCM-48 structures was transformed from tetrahedral to octahedral coordination by reduction, and vice versa by re-oxidation.
Freeze-protection of overwintering monarch butterflies in Mexico: critical role of the forest as a blanket and an umbrella

. 1. At their high-altitude overwintering sites in Mexico, monarch butterflies frequently are subjected to sub-zero°C temperatures during December-March. Although monarchs have moderate supercooling ability, two ecological factors strongly influence their capacity to resist freezing: wetting and exposure to the clear night sky. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, 50% of a population of butterflies with water on their body surfaces freeze at warmer sub-zero temperatures (-4.2°C) compared to butterflies with no water on their bodies (-7.7°C). 100% mortality occurs, respectively, at −7.7°C and −15°C. 3. Comparative measurements of rainfall within a large overwintering colony in Mexico indicated that the intact canopy acts as an umbrella that reduces butterfly wetting during winter storms. 4. Variable experimental exposure of butterflies to the clear night sky indicated that openings in the forest canopy increases radiational cooling and causes monarch body temperatures to drop as much as 4°C below ambient air temperature. Monarchs under dense cover had body temperatures approximately the same as the ambient air temperature, but more exposed individuals had body temperatures below ambient in direct proportion to the degree of exposure. Consequently, forest thinning increases the probability that the butterflies will freeze to death. 5. Whereas both wetting and exposure are increased by disturbance of the forest canopy, the interaction of these two factors exacerbates freezing mortality during winter storms: 50% of dry and unexposed butterflies froze at −8°C, whereas wetted and fully exposed butterflies froze at only −0.5°C. 6. Butterflies inside and on the bottom of the fir bough clusters are better protected from wetting than those on the outside. This supports the hypothesis that the structure of the butterfly clusters has evolved through individual selection to avoid wetting. 7. The data strongly reinforce previous evidence that forest thinning should be totally prevented within and adjacent to the overwintering sites in order to minimize both wetting and exposure of the butterflies that synergistically increase winter mortality at the overwintering sites in Mexico.
Electric Locomotive Application

ELECTRIC locomotives were first used for the movement of main-line traffic over 45 years ago. This early application was for tunnel work but it may be taken as the beginning of a new era in main-line transportation. In this era the steam locomotive has been transformed in appearance and characteristics. More recently the Diesel engine has been applied to passenger and freight trains. During all this period of development the characteristics of the electric locomotive have continued to be superior to those of either the steam or the diesel-electric locomotive. Many of the early ideas with regard to the application of electric locomotives are still valid today, but progress in transportation engineering has become so accelerated that a periodic review of each type of motive power must be made by those who are responsible for their application. A discussion of the engineering fundamentals which enter into the selection of an electric motive power unit for main-line work will be presented. An understanding of these fundamentals is essential to the specification of a balanced design. A locomotive which is specified on this basis will give all of the advantages of momentum operation augmented by high electrical horsepower at high speed. This is one of the unique advantages of the electric locomotive.
Air Motions Accompanying the Development of a Planetary Wave Critical Layer

The horizontal air motions accompanying the development of a planetary wave critical layer are presently investigated on the sphere, in terms of wave amplitude, the characteristics of the zonal flow, and dissipation. While attention is given to adiabatic motions, which should furnish an upper bound on the redistribution of conserved quantities by eddy stirring, nonconservative processes may be important in determining how large a role eddy stirring actually plays in the redistribution of atmospheric constituents. Nonconservative processes may also influence tracer distributions by directly affecting dynamics.
Metabolism of Equilenin in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Human Breast Cancer Cells

Sulfate conjugates of the B-ring unsaturated estrogens, equilin, equilenin, and 8-dehydroestrone, and their 17α- and 17β-dihydro analogues, constitute about 54% of Premarin (Wyeth-Ayerst), the most...
Centroid-moment tensor solutions for April-June 1991

Centroid-moment tensor solutions are presented for 169 earthquakes that occurred during the second quarter of 1991. The solutions are obtained using corrections for aspherical Earth structure.
The Effect of Feeding Menhaden (Fish) Oil on the Secretion of Milk and the Composition of Butter Fat in the Dairy Cow

Summary 1.The feeding of menhaden oil to a dairy cow lowered milk production, the percentage of butter fat, and total butter fat. After resumption of control diet recovery to normal took place slowly. There was a tendency toward drying off the animal. 2.The characteristic highly unsaturated acids of the menhaden oil passed into the butter fat in small amounts. 3.The analytical constants of the butter changed to those of a mixture of butter with menhaden oil. 4.Several specimens of normal butter have been shown to contain small quantities (0.3 per cent) of a highly unsaturated fatty acid similar to arachidonic acid.
Renormalization-Group Transformation for the Anderson Transition

A lattice model of a $d$-dimensional disordered system is considered. The model is studied by a Migdal-Kadanoff renormalization-group transformation. In particular, localization in a macroscopically inhomogeneous medium is considered, and it is demonstrated that macroscopic disorder (above the percolation threshold) does not affect the critical exponents of the Anderson transition.