cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Approximating monotone concepts

A monotone concept is a generalization of Wille's notion of concept where disjunctions are allowed in the intent and set unions are allowed in the extent. This generalization allows an information retrieval query containing disjunctions to be understood as the intent of a monotone concept whose answer is the extent of that concept. A problem arises, though, when no monotone concept corresponds exactly to the query, In this case, we would be interested in finding monotone concepts whose intents are close to the query. In this paper, we present a general solution where we show how to find monotone concepts whose intents approximate any given disjunction of conjunctions. We also show how to find monotone concepts whrose extents approximate any given set of objects.
Red light emission properties of porous silicon

The discovery of visible luminescence from porous silicon has generated significant interest, in view of the fact that bulk silicon does not emit light in the visible part of the spectrum. This material differs from bulk silicon in one important way, that is, it consists of interconnected silicon structures, which in some cases are on the order of several nanometers, having a very large surface to volume ratios, Thus, in a material such as this, both the effect of particle size and surfaces must be examined in order to determine the optical behavior of this system. The mechanism leading to intense room temperature visible photoluminescence (PL) exhibited by porous silicon (PoSi) is still a source of controversy. Although significant data on PoSi exist, no single model has been able to consistently explain all the results. The authors discuss the competing models for the source of the luminescence.
We have the solution: now what's the problem?

The largest outbreak of the current cholera pandemic and the first to strike the Western hemisphere in this century began in Peru in January of 1991. Two hundred seventy-four thousand, seven hundred sixty-eight cases were reported as of August 7, 1991, with an average case-fatality rate of just over 1%.1 For more than 30 years cholera has served as the paradigm for watery diarrhea, fully treatable by fluid and electrolyte replacement therapy. More than 20 years of experience, including this most recent epidemic in our own hemisphere, has proven the effectiveness of this therapy when given by mouth. It is hard to imagine a more impressive benefit from a cheap and simple therapy.
The Interaction Of Three Dimensions Of Trust, Relational Selling, Team Selling And B2B Sales Success In The European Market

This study investigates the interaction of trust, relational selling behavior, team sales, and sales success in a business-to-business environment. The study data were collected in Europe for 270 different purchase situations for which business buyers rated their suppliers’ salespersons on various dimensions. This research considers the relationships among three levels of trust and relational selling behaviors and measures the interaction of successful or unsuccessful selling environment, continuing purchase conditions for the buyers and the presence of team selling circumstances. The findings indicate that the three levels of trust are related positively, that successful salespersons are rated significantly higher by buyers for all three trust scales and for relational behavior. In addition, relational selling behavior is favored by buyers in repeat purchase conditions. Further results indicate limited interaction among trust and relational behavior in team selling conditions.
Percutaneous embolization of a giant collateral vessel originating from the azygos vein via the inferior vena cava.

We present the case of a 45-year-old man with univentricular heart, small outlet chamber, and L-transposition of the great vessels. As an infant, the patient underwent multiple palliative surgical interventions. He presented with worsening dyspnea and fatigue and was found to have systemic oxygen saturation of 85% on 2 L of oxygen by nasal cannula, whereas he had chronically remained between 90 and 95% throughout most of adulthood. There was no evidence of significant valvular regurgitation or stenosis, nor was there an overt intracardiac shunt by echocardiography. Cardiac CT and cardiac MRI revealed a large serpiginous systemic to pulmonary venovenous collateral located behind the left atrium. The collateral drained into the lower right pulmonary vein as it entered the left atrium. The tributary veins to the “giant” collateral were determined by these images modalities. The patient underwent a percutaneous embolization of this giant venovenous collateral via a remnant supracardinal vein originating from the infrarenal inferior vena cava using two Amplatzer Vascular Plug II. Immediately after the procedure the patient's oxygen saturation increased to 90% on room air at rest. At 2 months follow-up the patient had a marked clinical improvement with oxygen saturation as high as 95% on room air while walking. Our case illustrates a successful embolization of a giant collateral via an embryological venous remnant connecting the IVC to the azygos system. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Clinical effectiveness of radiotherapy for breast cancer: a summary.

Abstract Abstract provided by Bazian Ltd, London. Abstracted from: Rutqvist LE, Rose C and Cavallin-Stahl E. A systematic overview of radiation therapy effects in breast cancer. Acta Oncologica 2003; 42:532–545.
O ( 4 ) Symmetry of the Hydrogen Atom and the Lamb Shift

The $O(4)$ symmetry of the nonrelativistic hydrogen atom is exploited in conjunction with Green's-function methods as a tool for the solution of Coulomb problems. The Bethe logarithm, the principal contribution to the Lamb shift, is treated by this means, and a rapidly convergent series is obtained. This is used to evaluate the Bethe logarithm of the $1S$, $2S$, and $2P$ states, and a discrepancy with the most precise previously published value for the $1S$ state is indicated. The new value is 2.9841285 with an estimated uncertainty of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3 in the last figure. The discrepancy is beyond the reach of experimental observation at present.
Deactivation of methanol synthesis catalysts - a review

The current knowledge of the deactivation phenomenon of the low-temperature gasphase methanol synthesis catalyst is reviewed. Under normal operating conditions, the catalyst Cu-Zn oxide has a rather long lifetime of a few years. However, the catalyst is very sensitive to sulfur poisoning, and the sulfur content in the feed stream needs to be reduced to less than 0.5 ppm. The ZnO component in the catalyst is a scavenger for sulfur by reacting with it to form Zn sulfide and sulfate, which helps extend the catalyst life. The catalyst can also be deactivated thermally, especially at above 300°C because of the growth of the Cu crystallites and the resulting loss of catalytically active area. Deposition of Fe or Ni results in loss of activity by site blocking as well as production of hydrocarbon products as a competitive reaction, whereas Cl facilitates sintering of Cu. The catalyst for the liquid-phase synthesis is also susceptible to the same types of deactivation. Catalysts derived from Cu-rare earth alloys are very susceptible to deactivation by CO2, O2, and to a lesser extent, H2O.
Epitaxy of polar semiconductor Co3O4 (110): Growth, structure, and characterization

The (110) plane of Co3O4 spinel exhibits significantly higher rates of carbon monoxide conversion due to the presence of active Co3+ species at the surface. However, experimental studies of Co3O4 (110) surfaces and interfaces have been limited by the difficulties in growing high-quality films. We report thin (10–250 A) Co3O4 films grown by molecular beam epitaxy in the polar (110) direction on MgAl2O4 substrates. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction, atomic force microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy measurements attest to the high quality of the as-grown films. Furthermore, we investigate the electronic structure of this material by core level and valence band x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and first-principles density functional theory calculations. Ellipsometry reveals a direct band gap of 0.75 eV and other interband transitions at higher energies. A valence band offset of 3.2 eV is measured for the Co3O4/MgAl2O4 heterostructure. Magnetic measurements show the si...
Absolute Configuration of Bromochlorofluoromethane from Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Its Enantioselective Complexation by Cryptophane-C

Earlier NMR experiments (Canceill et. al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1985, 107, 6993) have shown that the inclusion of bromochlorofluoromethane (CHFClBr) 1 within the cavity of (−)-cryptophane-C 2 in chloro...
Adaptive beamforming for thermal strain imaging using a single ultrasound linear array

Ultrasound-induced thermal strain imaging (TSI) using separate heating and imaging transducers has been used to successfully identify lipids and water-based tissues in atherosclerosis plaques. However it 1) has a limited field of view due to a narrow heating beam, 2) requires physically aligning heating and imaging beams, and 3) results in a bulky setup that limits in vivo operation. This study proposes and evaluates a new design for heating beams that can be implemented on a linear array imaging transducer with improved heating area and efficiency as compared to previous implementations. The designed heating beams were implemented with a L7-4 linear array transducer connected to a commercial ultrasound platform (Verasonics). The experiment and simulation results showed that the new design resulted in an effective heating area of approximately 1 cm lateral × 1 cm axial and a heating rate of up to 0.44 °C/sec.
MATERNAL AND CORD SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF 24,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D |[lpar]|24,25-|[lpar]|OH|[rpar]|2D|[rpar]|

Increased Parathyroid hormone serum concentrations, [PTH] enhance 1,25-(OH)2D and decrease 24,25-(OH)2D synthesis from 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD). At term, pregnant women have elevated PTH and infants have low [PTH]. 16 pairs of maternal (M) and umbilical cord (C) venous sera were analyzed for 24,25-(OH)2D, 25-OHD, calcium, magnesium and PTH. Both M 24,25-(OH)2D (2.6±0.5 ng/ml) and C 24,25-(OH)2D (3.0±1.2 ng/ml) were lower than 29 adult normals (5.0±0.6 ng/ml). Normal adult 24,25-(OH)2D is correlated with 25-OHD (R=.40 P<.03) with a 24, 25/25 of .21±.02. C 24,25-(OH)2D was also correlated with C 25-OHD (R=.49 P<.05) with a 24, 25/25 of .21±.10 whereas M 24,25-(OH)2D was not correlated with M 25-OHD (R=.10, N.S.) with a 24,25/25 ratio of .13±.05. Whereas M and C 25-OHD are correlated (R=.71), M and C 24,25(OH)2D were not correlated (R=.26), with the majority of C 24,25(OH)2D higher than M 24,25(OH)2D. C-M differences were 1.79±1.04 mg% calcium and .17±.15 meq/L magnesium. C-M calcium and C-M magnesium was positively correlated (R=.87) as were M calcium and magnesium (R=.81) and C calcium and magnesium (R=.69). No significant correlations were found between C, M, or C-M calcium and magnesium and M or C 24,25-(OH)2D and 25-OHD. The decreased M 24,25-(OH)2D is consistent with the recognized increased M “PTH]. Since C [PTH] is low, the relatively low C 24, 25-(OH)2D suggests little fetal synthesis of this sterol.
Foreign Policy Making in a Democratic Society

American Foreign Policy and the Politics of Fear: Threat Inflation since 9/11. Edited by A. Trevor Thrall, Jane K. Cramer. London and New York: Routledge, 2009. xvii + 235 pp. $39.95 paperback (ISBN 978-0-415-77769-8). Avoiding Trivia: The Role of Strategic Planning in American Foreign Policy. Edited by Daniel W. Drezner. Washington: Brookings Institution Press, 2009. viii + 190 pp. $24.95 paperback (ISBN 978-0-8157-0306-8). Treaty Politics and the Rise of Executive Agreements: International Commitments in a System of Shared Powers. By Glen S. Krutz, Jeffrey S. Peake. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2009. xi + 252 pp. $75.00 hardcover (ISBN 978-0-472-11687-4). The majority of the published studies of US foreign policy focus on the implementation of policy—on American policy in a region, US relations with a country or policy concerning a particular issue. The three books under review here, however, concern the making of US foreign policy in the domestic political system rather than with its implementation. At first glance these volumes appear to deal with quite disparate topics—strategic planning in US foreign policy making, the expanding role of executive agreements in US relations with other countries, and the importance of fear and threat inflation in foreign policy making, especially since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington in September 2001. But on further examination, all three of these important publications examine aspects of foreign policy decision making in the complex environment that is the US political system with its numerous checks and balances and its unique political culture. Treaty Politics and the Rise of Executive Agreements and American Foreign Policy and the Politics of Fear both focus on the means employed by the executive branch of government in building support for what it views as important policy decisions, while Avoiding Trivia represents a call for greater planning and forethought, rather than mere reaction to ongoing events, as the foundation for US foreign policy. In other words, all three volumes deal with the complex problem of foreign policy decision making in a political system in which political authority is distributed across different branches and levels of government. Although the three books all examine aspects of the decision-making process in US foreign policy, their respective areas of focus are distinct enough that I will discuss them individually rather than attempt to force them into a common mold or framework for comparative purposes. In discussing the three books, however, I will point …
Integration of cellulases into bacterial cellulose: Toward bioabsorbable cellulose composites

Cellulose biodegradation resulting from enzymolysis generally occurs in nature rather than in the human body because of the absence of cellulose degrading enzymes. In order to achieve in-vivo degradation in human body for in-vivo tissue regeneration applications, we developed a bioaborbable bacterial cellulose (BBC) material, which integrates one or more cellulose degrading enzymes (cellulases), and demonstrated its degradability in vitro using buffers with pH values relevant to wound environments. We introduced a double lyophilizing process to retain the microstructure of the bacterial cellulose as well as the activity of embedded enzymes allowing for long-term storage of the material, which only requires hydration before use. Enzymes and their combinations have been examined to optimize the in-vitro degradation of the BBC material. In-vitro studies revealed that acidic cellulases from Trichoderma viride showed reasonable activity for pH values ranging from 4.5 to 6.0. A commercial cellulase (cellulase-5000) did not show good activity at pH 7.4, but its degrading ability increased when used in conjunction with a β-glucosidase from Bacillus subtilis or a β-glucosidase from Trichoderma sp. Given the harmless glucose product of the enzymatic degradation of cellulose, the BBC material may be ideal for many wound care and tissue engineering applications for the bioabsorbable purpose.
Advances in Atomic-Level Simulations of Large-Scale Functional Motions of Membrane Transporters

Membrane transporters are specialized molecular devices that use various forms of cellular energy to drive active transport of their specific substrates across the membrane. Their fundamental role in diverse key biological processes has placed them among central drug targets, furthering widespread interest in their biophysical and mechanistic studies at a molecular level. Large-scale conformational changes are central to the function of membrane transporters. Description of these structural changes, however, requires sampling high-dimensional free energy landscapes that are inaccessible to conventional sampling techniques such as regular molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We have recently developed a novel computational approach that, while being numerically expensive, has been the most efficient way to describe large-scale structural transitions in membrane transporters (as well as for any other macromolecular systems) using non-equilibrium methods employing system-specific collective variables, and a novel combination of several state-of-the-art sampling techniques [Moradi and Tajkhorshid, PNAS 110:18916-21 (2013); JCTC 10: 2866-80, 2014]. The approach is based on loosely coupled, multiple-copy MD simulations of large macromolecular systems preserving realistic representations of the systems in explicit membranes, and therefore relies on massive computing resources. Here we describe the application of the methodology to the study of several classes of membrane transporters, in order to characterize the inter-conversion of these molecular devices between the major conformational states necessary for their function, to characterize the free energy profiles associated with these transitions, and more importantly how chemical details such as ion/substrate binding drastically modulate the energy landscapes. The results of these simulations elucidate highly relevant mechanistic details of the function of membrane transporters providing a detailed structural basis for the experimentally observed phenomena.
Plasmic degradation modulates activity of fibrinogen-bound fibroblast growth factor-2.

Summary. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) binds to fibrin(ogen) with high affinity, and fibrinogen potentiates FGF-2-stimulated proliferation of endothelial cells. Because plasmin degrades fibrin(ogen) physiologically and could liberate growth factor from fibrin deposits or alter its activity, we have now investigated the effect of plasmic degradation on the activity of fibrin(ogen)-bound FGF-2. Fibrinogen with bound FGF-2 was incubated with plasmin, the products characterized by SDS–PAGE, and the proliferative activity determined by 3H-thymidine incorporation into endothelial cells. Before plasmin exposure, proliferation was increased 3.7 ± 0.6-fold with fibrinogen-bound FGF-2 compared with medium alone (P < 0.005). Plasmic degradation resulted in progressive decrease in the proliferative capacity, with the 60-min digest showing predominantly fragment D1 and E and 3H-thymidine uptake of only 1.2 ± 0.2-fold, significantly less than the activity of an equal concentration of free FGF-2 (P < 0.02). However, further degradation increased activity, and proliferation with a 90-min digest increased to 2.6 ± 0.5-fold, significantly greater than the 60-min digest (P < 0.02). Plasmic degradation in the presence of 10 mm calcium chloride prevented degradation of D1 to D2 and D3, and the activity did not increase with extended degradation. Immunoprecipitation of the digests with antifibrinogen antibody showed 70 ± 8% of fibrinogen-bound FGF-2 in the presence of calcium but only 15 ± 4% in its absence, indicating that cleavage of D1 to D2 and D3 is critical in binding. Fragment D1 and D2, but not D3, bound to a column containing immobilized FGF-2, indicating that a binding site is lost upon degradation to D3. The results demonstrate that plasmic degradation of fibrinogen modulates the activity and binding of FGF-2 that involves a site near the carboxyl terminus of the γ chain.
Overlap in Offshore Habitat Use by Double-crested Cormorants and Boaters in Western Lake Erie

Double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) and boats of 2 length classes (≤ 8 m and > 8 m) were counted from a boat along 31 established strip transects in western Lake Erie from 24 April to 1 September 2000. Each transect included only one of the following habitats: (1) offshore of a breeding island or roosting/loafing area for cormorants (“refuge”), (2) reefs or shoals, (3) open water, or (4) offshore of an island shoreline that had evidence of development by humans. Foraging cormorants were recorded most often offshore of refuges and least often on open water. There was no difference between the numbers of foraging cormorants/km2 recorded offshore of developed shorelines and on reefs and shoals. More than half of all boats recorded were on transects that were within 1 km of developed shorelines. Among those transects > 1 km from developed shorelines, there were no differences among the habitats for the number of boats of either length class. The respective ranks of the 31 transect means of the numbers of cormorants/km2 and the numbers of boats/km2 in either length class were uncorrelated. The results suggest that (1) cormorants select foraging habitats based mainly on shoreline type, distance from shoreline, and depth, and (2) the amount of boat traffic is influenced by proximity to port and trip objectives, including sport angling and recreational boating. Although there is overlap in habitat use by cormorants and humans, this overlap is not complete. The perception of cormorants as a threat to fish populations may in part be due to this overlap.
The HIγS Facility: A Free-Electron Laser Generated Gamma-Ray Beam for Research in Nuclear Physics

The High Intensity Gamma-ray Source (HIγS) is a joint project between Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL) and the Duke Free Electron Laser Laboratory (DFELL). This facility utilizes intra-cavity back-scattering of the FEL photons in order to produce a γ-flux enhancement of approximately 103 over the existing sources. At present, gamma-ray beams with energies ranging from 2 to 50 MeV are available with intensities of 105–107 γ/s, energy spreads of 1% or better (with lower intensities), and 100% linear polarization. An upgrade is presently underway which will allow for the production of γ rays up to an energy of about 225 MeV having intensities in excess of 108 γ/sec. The primary component of the upgrade is a 1.2 GeV booster-injector which will provide for efficient injection at any chosen operating energy of the storage ring from 300 MeV to 1.2 GeV. In addition, an upgrade of the present OK-4 FEL to a helical undulator system (OK-5) is underway. This new system has many advantages over the pres...
Evaluation of intranuclear brdu detection procedures for use in multicolor flow cytometry

Background: Measurement of cell proliferation via BrdU incorporation in combination with multicolor cell surface staining would facilitate studies on cell subsets that require multiple markers for their identification. However, the extent to which the often harsh cell preparation procedures required affect the staining quality of more recently developed fluorescent dyes has not been assessed. Methods: Three cell preparation protocols for BrdU measurement were compared for their ability to maintain fluorescent surface staining and scatter parameters of in vivo BrdU-labeled cells by flow cytometry. A 10-color fluorescent panel was developed to test the quality of surface staining, following cell treatment and the ability to perform BrdU measurements on even small B lymphocyte subsets. Results: All cell preparation procedures affected the quality of fluorescent and/or scatter parameters to varying degrees. Paraformaldehyde/saponin-based procedures preserved sufficient fluorescent surface staining to determine BrdU incorporation rates among all splenic B cell subsets, including B-1a cells, which constitute roughly 0.5% of cells. Turnover rates of B-1a cells were similar to immature B cells and higher than those of the other mature B cell subsets. Conclusion: Paraformaldehyde/saponin-based cell preparation procedures facilitate detailed cell turnover studies on small cell subsets in vivo, revealing new functional information on rare cell populations. © 2006 International Society for Analytical Cytology
Entropy: A Conceptual Approach to Measuring Situation-level Workload Within Emergency Care and its Relationship to Emergency Department Crowding

Abstract Background Emergency department (ED) crowding correlates with patient safety. Difficulties quantifying crowding and providing solutions were highlighted in the recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report calling for the application of advanced industrial engineering (IE) research techniques to evaluate ED crowding. ED personnel workload is a related concept, with potential reciprocal effects between the two. Collaboration between emergency medicine and IE is needed to address crowding and ED personnel workload. Objective We review ED crowding and workload literature, relationships between workload and ED crowding, and the potential application of information theory as implemented in IE frameworks entitled “entropy” in evaluating both topics. Discussion IE techniques have applications for emergency medicine and have been successful in helping improve ED operations. Lean and Six Sigma applications are some of these techniques. Existing ED workload measures don't account for all aspects of work in the ED (acuity, efficiency, tasks, etc.) Crowding scales, such as NEDOCS (National ED Overcrowding Study) and EDWIN (ED Work Index), fail to predict ED crowding. A new measurement “entropy” may provide a more comprehensive evaluation of ED workload and may predict work overload seen with crowding. Entropy measures task-based work and the information flow involved. By assigning an entropy value to patient type-specific tasks, we might predict when the ED is overwhelmed, and crowded. Conclusions IE techniques provide solutions to the ED crowding problem and improve ED workload. We propose a technique novel to medicine: “Entropy,” derived from information theory, which may provide insight into ED personnel workload, its potential for measuring ED crowding, and possibly, in predicting an overwhelming situation.
The Immediate-Early Protein, ICP0, Is Essential for the Resistance of Herpes Simplex Virus to Interferon-α/β

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is resistant to the antiviral effects of interferon (IFN)-alpha, -beta, or -gamma. The fact that ICP0(-) mutants replicate like wild-type virus in IFN-alpha/beta receptor knockout mice (Leib et al., 1999, J. Exp. Med. 189, 663) suggested that ICP0 may serve a direct role in the resistance of HSV-1 to IFN. To test this hypothesis, the effects of IFN-alpha, -beta, and -gamma were compared against wild-type HSV-1 and an ICP0(-) mutant virus, 7134. In Vero cells, 7134 was more sensitive to inhibition by low doses of type I IFN (-alpha/beta) or type II IFN (-gamma) than vesicular stomatitis virus, a well-studied IFN-sensitive virus. At a concentration of 100 U/ml, IFN-alpha, -beta, or -gamma reduced the efficiency of 7134 plaque formation by 120-, 560-, and 45-fold, respectively. In contrast, none of the IFNs reduced wild-type HSV-1 plaque formation by more than 3-fold. Even when Vero cells were infected with 10 pfu per cell, IFN-alpha and -beta inhibited 7134 replication by over 100-fold, but inhibition by IFN-gamma decreased to less than 10-fold. While IFN-beta efficiently inhibited 7134 replication in primary mouse kidney and SK-N-SH cells, IFN-gamma did not inhibit 7134 to a comparable extent in these cells. ICP0 provided in trans from an adenovirus vector allowed 7134 to replicate efficiently in Vero cells in the presence of IFN-alpha, -beta, or -gamma. While IFN-beta or -gamma efficiently repressed the ICP0 promoter-lacZ reporter gene in 7134 (i.e., approximately 60-fold reduction in beta-galactosidase activity), ICP0 provided in trans almost completely reversed IFN-mediated repression of the lacZ gene in 7134. The results suggest that the rate of ICP0 expression in infected cells in vivo may be critical in determining whether host IFNs repress the HSV-1 genome. This concept is discussed in light of its potential relevance to the establishment of latent HSV-1 infections.
Behavioral effects of intracerebral injections of renin and captopril in intact and brain-damaged rats

Rats with, or without, bilateral lesions of the caudate nucleus received intracaudate injection of either renin or renin plus Captopril (SQ 14225). Following such treatment, animals were impaired on a spatial reversal task compared to controls. We concluded that the putative renin contaminant of nerve growth factor (NGF) does not contribute to behavioral recovery from brain damage observed after NGF injections in other studies. Furthermore, angiotensin II might play a possible role in mediating footshock learning and spatial reversal performance.
UVB-Induced Activation of NF-κB is Regulated by the IGF-1R and Dependent on p38 MAPK

To manage the frequent exposure to carcinogenic UVB wavelengths found in sunlight, keratinocytes have extensive protective measures to handle UVB-induced DNA damage. Recent in vitro evidence and epidemiological data suggest that one possible protective mechanism is dependent on the functional status of the IGF-1R signaling network. A second important signaling pathway regulating the response of keratinocytes to UVB involves the activation of the NF-κB transcription factor. Although it is clear that proper functioning of both the IGF-1R and NF-κB signaling networks are critical for the appropriate response of keratinocytes to UVB irradiation, it is currently uncertain if these two pathways interact. We now demonstrate that the activation of the NF-κB transcription factor by UVB is altered by the functional status of the IGF-1R. In the absence of ligand-activated IGF-1R, UVB-induced NF-κB consisted primarily of p50:p50 homodimers. Furthermore, the p38 kinase MAPK directs the subunit composition of NF-κB following UVB irradiation, most likely in an IGF-1R-dependent manner. We hypothesize that UVB irradiation leads to an activated p38 MAPK that is regulated in an IGF-1R-dependent manner, leading to NF-κB p50:RelA/p65 activation and a survival phenotype. In the absence of ligand-activated IGF-1R, UVB irradiation leads to the induction of NF-κB p50:p50 homodimers and a p38-dependent increased susceptibility to apoptosis.
Ultrastructure of the gingiva of rabbits.

Abstract The gingival sulcus wall of Dutch Belted rabbits was used to study vascular transudation and exudation with Pelikan ink as a tracer for light microscopy and saccharated iron oxide as an electron microscopic tracer. The marker was apparently transported by numerous plasmalemmal vesicles, and also passed through the interendothelial junctions. The sulcular fluid was an inflammatory exudate rather than a transudate. Ultrastructural alterations of the gingiva following inflammation were studied. The interepithelial space increased more on the sulcular than the attached gingival side. The wider interepithelial space in the sulcular area and the non-keratinizing nature of this tissue may have contributed to the ease of passage of the gingival fluid in that region.
Annealing studies on Hg-containing materials

Abstract The superconductors, HgBa 2 Ca n Cu n +1 O 4+2 n +δ , with n =1,2 and 3 were prepared and annealed under a variety of conditions including high-pressure oxygen. Superconducting transition temperatures T c are determined as a function of oxygen annealing pressure. These results show that the n = 1 and 2 materials will overdope when annealed at pressures in excess of 1 bar while n =3 requires tens of bars.
Using Protein Interaction Networks to Understand Complex Diseases

Recent developments in biotechnology have enabled interrogation of the cell at various levels, leading to many types of "omic" data that provide valuable information on multiple genetic and environmental factors and their interactions. The featured Web extra is a video interview with Mehmet Koyuturk of Case Western Reserve about how biotechnology can track genetic markers to advance cancer research.
On the organization of higher chromosomes.

OHTA and Kimura1 have argued that only about 6% of the sequences in mammalian DNA can be under the intense selection that has characterized the evolutionary history of the cytochromes c, the globin chains and the histones. From the calculated mutation rate of fibrinopeptides A and B they show that if all genes are subjected to the same mutation rate 8.3 mutations would accumulate per genome per generation. Because 0,5 deleterious mutations per genome per generation is the maximum allowable in an equilibrium population2, they conclude that the amount of DNA that codes for informational sequences such as the cytochromes, globins and histones must be no more than 0.5/8.3, or 6%. We are therefore left with the interesting observation that 94% of mammalian nuclear DNA serves a function not under strong selection. These authors make several assumptions, one of which is that the spontaneous mutation rate characteristic of a species is constant over all nucleotide sequences. I suggest here that this assumption is incorrect, for a variety of reasons and that by assuming that spontaneous mutation rates vary sequence by sequence, one can arrive at a plausible organizing principle for the structure of higher chromosomes.
Photoionization of the M Shell of Xenon

New measurements of the continuum photoionization cross sections of xenon in the region 670-800 eV are reported which reveal, in the region of the ${M}_{\mathrm{IV}}$ and ${M}_{\mathrm{V}}$ edges, extreme nonhydrogenic behavior previously observed only at longer wavelengths.
The duration of the censorship of Vespasian and Titus

The censorship of Vespasian and Titus ended in 74 and not in 79 as has been argued by Professor Armando Torrent. Inscriptions naming Vespasian censor after 74 do not prove that he had become censor perpetuus, but rather show that Vespasian felt it enhanced his personal dignitas to be called censor.
MEG source detection revisited

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a multi-channel imaging technique. It uses an array composed of a large number of Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) to measure the magnetic fields produced by the primary electric currents inside the brain. The measured spatio-temporal magnetic fields are then used to estimate the locations and strengths of these electric currents, often known as MEG sources. The estimated quantities are finally superimposed with the images generated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The combination of information from MEG and MRI forms the magnetic source image (MSI). A great variety of signal processing and modeling techniques such as Inverse problem, Subspace approach, Independent component analysis (ICA) method, and Beamforming (BF) are used to estimate these sources. The first three approaches require the number of sources be detected a priori. Several shortcomings exist in the currently used methods for detecting the source number. First, the source detection is completed only after - not before - MSI is generated. Secondly, the detection methods are somewhat subjective. In order to provide a solution to the problem of detecting MEG source number for all these approaches, a novel method is developed. The covariance matrix of MEG measurements over all channels is decomposed into the signal and the noise subspaces. The number of sources is shown to be equal to the dimension of the signal subspace. The selection of this dimension is translated into a problem of determining the order of the underlying statistics. This statistical identification is resolved by using Information theoretic criteria which are derived based on Kullback-Leibler divergence. Because the method utilizes originally acquired MEG measurements and implemented before magnetic source images are generated, it is an entirely data-driven approach, more efficient, and less likely to be subjective.
A comparative survey of petroleum hydrocarbons in lake sediments

Abstract Hydrocarbon distribution in sediments from three lakes are related to the level of human activity in the respective drainage basins. Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination is found in surface sediments of a lake surrounded by a major city, compared to no detectable contamination in a lake located in a National Park.
Application of Green Chemistry Techniques to Prepare Electrocatalysts for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

A series of green techniques for synthesizing carbon nanotube-supported platinum nanoparticles and their high electrocatalytic activity toward methanol fuel cell applications are reported. The techniques utilize either the supercritical fluid carbon dioxide or water as a medium for depositing platinum nanoparticles on surfaces of multiwalled or single-walled carbon nanotubes. The catalytic properties of the carbon nanotubes-supported Pt nanoparticle catalysts prepared by four different techniques are compared for anodic oxidation of methanol and cathodic reduction of oxygen using cyclic voltammetry. One technique using galvanic exchange of Pt2+ in water with zerovalent iron present on the surfaces of as-grown single-walled carbon nanotubes produces a Pt catalyst that shows an unusually high catalytic activity for reduction of oxygen but a negligible activity for oxidation of methanol. This fuel-selective catalyst may have a unique application as a cathode catalyst in methanol fuel cells to alleviate the p...
Relationship of School-Based Attributions to Depression

Relationships among attributions for success and failure and depression were investigated for 63 5th-grade students. Significant relationships were found among school-based attributions, as measured by global scale scores from the Student Academic Attribution Scale (SAAS) and the Student Social Attribution Scale (SSAS), general attributions as measured by the Children's Attributional Style Questionnaire (CASQ), and depression as measured by the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC). Scores from the SAAS and SSAS tend to be more strongly related to depression than do those from the CASQ. When scores from the SAAS, SSAS, and the CASQ were entered into a stepwise multiple regression, only global scores from the SAAS and the SSAS explained significant proportions of the variance in the BASC depression score. Results suggest that school-related attributions are more highly related to depression in nonclinical intermediate-grade students than are general attributions.
Magnetic Studies of Solid Solutions. I. Methods of Observations and Preliminary Results on the Precipitation of Iron from Copper

This paper represents the first step in an extended program whose aim is the investigation of solid solutions with special reference to the structures that may be formed by heat treatment and plastic deformation. It is hoped to include eventually observations in high fields (100,000 gauss) and at low temperatures. The present work deals with observations up to 40,000 gauss and temperatures ranging from 20 to 1000\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The manner of observation and reliability of the results is described in some detail. A series of observations on alloys of copper containing up to 0.7 percent iron are reported. Up to about 4 percent of iron can be put into solution in copper at high temperatures, but the solubility decreases to an exceedingly small value at room temperature. Our observations indicate that iron atoms in solution in copper retain a permanent magnetic moment of approximately 3.5 Bohr magnetons, and obey a Curie-Weiss law at high temperatures, the Curie temperature of an alloy containing 0.7 percent iron by weight being 150\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The solution seems to be sluggish and can be greatly supercooled. The manner of precipitation from solution appears to be fairly complex, and the results are being tentatively interpreted as follows: First there is a rearrangement of the atoms in the solution followed by the precipitation of a nonmagnetic phase which can be converted into a ferromagnetic phase by cold work. This ferromagnetic phase can be made to grow thermally, but apparently does not form readily of its own accord.
Hemolytic activity of pH-responsive polymer-streptavidin bioconjugates.

Drug delivery systems that increase the rate and/or quantity of drug release to the cytoplasm are needed to enhance cytosolic delivery and to circumvent nonproductive cell trafficking routes. We have previously demonstrated that poly(2-ethylacrylic acid) (PEAAc) has pH-dependent hemolytic properties, and more recently, we have found that poly(2-propylacrylic acid) (PPAAc) displays even greater pH-responsive hemolytic activity than PEAAc at the acidic pHs of the early endosome. Thus, these polymers could potentially serve as endosomal releasing agents in immunotoxin therapies. In this paper, we have investigated whether the pH-dependent membrane disruptive activity of PPAAc is retained after binding to a protein. We did this by measuring the hemolytic activity of PPAAc−streptavidin model complexes with different protein to polymer stoichiometries. Biotin was conjugated to amine-terminated PPAAc, which was subsequently bound to streptavidin by biotin complexation. The ability of these samples to disrupt red blood cell membranes was investigated for a range of polymer concentrations, a range of pH values, and two polymer-to-streptavidin ratios of 3:1 and 1:1. The results demonstrate that (a) the PPAAc−streptavidin complex retains the ability to lyse the RBC lipid bilayers at low pHs, such as those existing in endosomes, and (b) the hemolytic ability of the PPAAc−streptavidin complex is similar to that of the free PPAAc.
An analysis of ELF sferics produced by rocket-triggered lightning

Lightning regularly generates ELF radio atmospherics (sferics) in the 5–500 Hz frequency range. The processes that produce ELF sferics have been studied for more than 50 years. Rocket-triggered lightning experiments at the International Center for Lightning Research and Testing (ICLRT) located at Camp Blanding, Florida provide a unique data set for comparing the source characteristics of a lightning return stroke to the ELF sferic measured at great (>3,000 km) distances. In this paper, we present experimental observations of rocket-triggered lightning observed at the ICLRT, including the lightning channel-base current and lightning mapping array sources, together with observations of the ELF sferics detected at Sondrestromfjord, Greenland and at Stanford, California. These observations are critically compared with model predictions (using a modified version of the Long Wavelength Propagation Capability code). We demonstrate that the effective length of the lightning channel varies between return strokes and has a detectable influence on the amplitude of the ELF sferic observed at great distances. Additionally, we demonstrate that the lateral distribution of vertical sources (within the cloud) can reproduce the relative differences in sferic amplitudes observed at Sondrestromfjord and Stanford.
Preservice early childhood educators’ perceptions of outdoor settings as learning environments

In the context of encouraging the use of natural settings for educational experiences with young children, an exploratory study using survey research and photographs of outdoor settings was conducted to understand how preservice early childhood educators perceive these settings and what educational opportunities, motivations, and barriers they associate with them. Based on the results of 110 participants, this study suggests preservice early childhood educators perceive parks as the most conducive outdoor setting for achieving educational outcomes, specifically structured learning about nature, and that they are more inclined to use maintained outdoor settings than natural outdoor settings. The strongest predictors of intention to use natural outdoor settings were perceived difficulty in using natural settings, participants’ level of nature relatedness, and the degree to which they agreed that experiences in nature were important for young children’s health and wellness. Barriers to address include percei...
Ethics and deterrence

The Bishops and Nuclear Weapons: The Catholic Pastoral Letter on War and Peace By James E. Dougherty. Hamden, CT: Archon Books, 1984. 225 pp. £21.60. Morality and the Bomb By David Fisher. London and Sydney: Croom Helm, 1985, 136 pp. £15.95. Nuclear Deterrence: Ethics and Strategy Edited by Russell Hardin. Chicago, Il and London: University of Chicago Press, 1985. 395 pp. £9.25 pbk. The Logic of Deterrence By Anthony Kenny. London: Firethorn Press, 1985. 103 pp. £4.95. Nuclear Arms: Ethics, Strategy, Politics Edited by R. James Woolsey. San Francisco, CA: Institute for Contemporary Studies, 1984. 289 pp. £22.95.
Interleukin-17 levels in rat models of nerve damage and neuropathic pain.

In the present study, we assessed IL-17 levels at 3 and 8 days following various forms of injuries to the sciatic nerve and related the cytokine levels to the pain behaviors associated with the injuries. The four experimental models employed were chronic constriction injury (CCI), partial sciatic ligation (PSL), complete sciatic transection (CST) and perineural inflammation (Neuritis). Behavior withdrawal thresholds for mechanical stimulus and withdrawal latency for thermal stimulation were used to measure mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. IL-17 levels of the affected, contralateral and naive rats' sciatic nerve were assessed employing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Rats exposed to CCI and Neuritis displayed significant mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia 3, 5 and 8 days following the procedure, rats exposed to PSL displayed significant mechanical allodynia 5 and 8 days following the procedure and rats exposed to CST developed significant hypoesthesia. Three days following the procedure, IL-17 levels increased significantly compared to naive rats only in the PSL model. Eight days following the procedure, IL-17 levels in nerves exposed to CCI, CST, PSL and Neuritis were significantly elevated compare to intact nerve levels. It is likely that IL-17 has a limited role in the acute phase of nerve injury and the associated acute pain, but may have a role in later phases of the processes of the development of neuropathic pain.
Diagnostic analyses of a regional air quality model : Changes in modeled processes affecting ozone and chemical-transport indicators from NOxpoint source emission reductions

[1] The impact of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission reductions from major point sources on the key physical and chemical processes contributing to ozone formation and accumulation is studied, and the extent of change in the chemical regime is examined using selected photochemical indicators in the eastern United States. The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) chemical-transport model, equipped with the process analysis technique, was applied in modeling scenarios involving 2002 base case emissions and an emissions scenario containing real-world point source NOx reductions implemented before the summer ozone season of 2004. Spatial patterns and temporal variations in process rates and changes in chemical-transport indicators are highlighted from results of summer 2002 days, representative of generally southwesterly wind flows across the Midwestern source region with ozone transport toward the northeastern states. Substantial decreases exceeding 50% in O3 chemical production rates were associated with the largest NOx point source emission reductions, causing declines in ozone concentrations at the surface and aloft in downwind areas. The decreases in the various physical processes and their spatial difference patterns closely resembled the change in maximum O3 concentrations. The net ozone production efficiency was found to increase, since the decline in O3 concentrations was less than the decrease in reactive nitrogen products (NOz). The O3/NOx ratio also increased between the base case and NOx reduction scenario results, indicating a noticeable shift in the chemical regime toward more NOx-limited conditions in plume-impacted areas downwind of the sources. The drop in surface NOx concentrations in modeled and observed results at a location just downwind of the Ohio River Valley source region is attributable to the point source NOx emission reductions.