cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potential toxic effects of 4-OH-chlorothalonil and photodegradation product on human skin health.

Abstract Chlorothalonil (CHT) is widely used in agriculture as a fungicide and has been detected in various ecosystems along with its degradation products. A primary intermediate product of degradation, 4-hydroxychlorothalonil (4-OH-CHT) has demonstrated toxic effects on aquatic organisms. However, the toxic effects of 4-OH-CHT on human health and the impacts of environmental factors on the toxicity remain unclear. To understand the environmental modification on the toxicity of 4-OH-CHT to human health, we used a three-dimensional human skin culture model. 4-OH-CHT and irradiated 4-OH-CHT were applied to the model for the dermatoxicity analyses. Although neither the 4-OH-CHT nor the irradiated 4-OH-CHT inhibited the cell proliferation, the 4-OH-CHT significantly attenuated the keratinocyte migration by 26% at a concentration of 20 ppb and by 44 % at 100 ppb. The 4-OH-CHT also demonstrated inhibitory effects on keratinocyte differentiation at both 20 ppb and 100 ppb. In contrast, photodegraded 4-OH-CHT did not show inhibitory effects on the migration and differentiation of the keratinocytes at any concentration. Similarly, the 4-OH-CHT treated 3D keratinocyte culture dramatically activated the co-cultured dermal fibroblast cells by increasing the production of α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and pro-Collagen Iα. The mRNA levels of these two proteins were upregulated by 1.13 and 10.97 folds with the stimulation of 100 ppb 4-OH-CHT. The protein level of pro-Collagen Iα in dermal fibroblast cells was increased by 68 % with 100 ppb 4-OH-CHT. The photodegraded 4-OH-CHT failed to activate the co-cultured fibroblast cells. The 4-OH-CHT also enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in keratinocytes compared to the photodegraded products. These results suggest that exposure to environmental 4-OH-CHT could increase the risk of inflammatory skin diseases in humans.
The oncometabolite L-2-hydroxyglutarate is a common product of Dipteran larval development

The oncometabolite L-2-hydroxyglutarate (L-2HG) is considered an abnormal product of central carbon metabolism that is capable of disrupting chromatin architecture, mitochondrial metabolism, and cellular differentiation. Under most circumstances, mammalian tissues readily dispose of this compound, as aberrant L-2HG accumulation induces neurometabolic disorders and promotes renal cell carcinomas. Intriguingly, Drosophila melanogaster larvae were recently found to accumulate high L-2HG levels under normal growth conditions, raising the possibility that L-2HG plays a unique role in insect metabolism. Here we explore this hypothesis by analyzing L-2HG levels in 18 insect species. While L-2HG was present at low-to-moderate levels in most of these species ( 100 pmol/mg), with the mosquito Aedes aegypti, the blow fly Phormia regina, and three representative Drosophila species harboring concentrations that exceed 1 nmol/mg - levels comparable to those measured in mutant mice that are unable to degrade L-2HG. Overall, our findings suggest that one of the largest groups of animals on earth commonly generate high concentrations of an oncometabolite during juvenile growth, hint at a role for L-2HG in the evolution of Dipteran development, and raise the possibility that L-2HG metabolism could be targeted to restrict the growth of key disease vectors and agricultural pests.
Enabling collaboration and innovation in Denver’s smart city through a living lab: a social capital perspective

Recent information technology (IT) developments have enabled cities to collect and disseminate large amounts of data to improve their public services delivery. “Smart cities” allow the public secto...
Whole-heart, ungated, free-breathing, cardiac-phase-resolved myocardial perfusion MRI by using Continuous Radial Interleaved simultaneous Multi-slice acquisitions at sPoiled steady-state (CRIMP).

Purpose To develop a whole-heart, free-breathing, non-electrocardiograph (ECG)-gated, cardiac-phase-resolved myocardial perfusion MRI framework (CRIMP; Continuous Radial Interleaved simultaneous Multi-slice acquisitions at sPoiled steady-state) and test its quantification feasibility. Methods CRIMP used interleaved radial simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) slice groups to cover the whole heart in 9 or 12 short-axis slices. The sequence continuously acquired data without magnetization preparation, ECG gating or breath-holding, and captured multiple cardiac phases. Images were reconstructed by a motion-compensated patch-based locally low-rank reconstruction. Bloch simulations were performed to study the signal-to-noise ratio/contrast-to-noise ratio (SNR/CNR) for CRIMP and to study the steady-state signal under motion. Seven patients were scanned with CRIMP at stress and rest to develop the sequence. One human and two dogs were scanned at rest with a dual-bolus method to test the quantification feasibility of CRIMP. The dual-bolus scans were performed using both CRIMP and an ungated radial SMS saturation recovery (SMS-SR) sequence with injection dose = 0.075 mmol/kg to compare the sequences in terms of SNR, cardiac phase resolution and quantitative myocardial blood flow (MBF). Results Perfusion images with multiple cardiac phases in all image slices with a temporal resolution of 72 ms/frame were obtained. Simulations and in-vivo acquisitions showed CRIMP kept the inner slices in steady-state regardless of motion. CRIMP outperformed SMS-SR in slice coverage (9 over 6), SNR (mean 20% improvement), and provided cardiac phase resolution. CRIMP and SMS-SR sequences provided comparable MBF values (rest systolic CRIMP = 0.58 ± 0.07, SMS-SR = 0.61 ± 0.16). Conclusion CRIMP allows for whole-heart, cardiac-phase-resolved myocardial perfusion images without ECG-gating or breath-holding. The sequence can provide MBF if an accurate arterial input function is obtained separately.
Cultural and demographic correlates of dual tobacco use in a sample of Alaska Native adults who smoke cigarettes.

Author(s): Epperson, Anna E; Crouch, Maria; Skan, Jordan; Benowitz, Neal L; Schnellbaecher, Matthew; Prochaska, Judith J | Abstract: IntroductionApproximately 9 million American adults use two or more tobacco products regularly, referred to as dual or poly tobacco users. In Alaska, where tobacco is not native, approximately 20% of the population smokes cigarettes, and among smokers, 10% use two or more tobacco products. Previous research suggests that dual tobacco product use may be especially high among Alaska Native people. The current study examined cultural and demographic characteristics associated with dual tobacco use.MethodsAlaska Native adults reporting daily smoking and identified with high blood pressure or cholesterol were recruited in the Norton Sound region of Alaska between 2015-2019 as part of a treatment trial targeting cardiovascular disease risk factors. Participants reported their tribal group, level of identification with their Alaska Native heritage, speaking of their tribal language, basic demographic characteristics, and past 30-day use of tobacco products in addition to smoking cigarettes.ResultsParticipants (n=299) were 48.5% female and identified as Yup'ik (31.1%), Inupiat (60.5%), and other or multiple tribal group(s) (8.4%). Most participants (85.3%) strongly identified with their Alaska Native heritage. Past 30-day dual tobacco use was reported by 10.0%, specifically 9.0% chew/snuff, 1.3% e-cigarettes, and 0.7% Iq'mik. Multivariate regression models indicated that dual tobacco use was more likely among men (OR=3.35; 95% CI: 1.30-8.64), younger participants (OR range: 10.97-12.35; 95% CI: 2.33-57.86), those identifying as Yup'ik (OR=2.86; 95% CI: 1.13-7.19), and those who identified very little or not at all with their Alaska Native heritage (OR=2.98; 95% CI: 1.14-7.77).ConclusionsYoung men identifying as Yup'ik were more likely to use dual forms of tobacco. Stronger identification with one's Alaska Native heritage was associated with lower risk of dual tobacco use. The findings highlight cultural and demographic factors for further consideration and attention in tobacco cessation treatment interventions.
Impact of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Feeding on Tart Cherry (Rosales: Rosaceae) Quality and Yield in Utah.

Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys Stal) is an invasive and economically important agricultural and ornamental insect pest now established in 46 U.S. states. It was first detected in Utah in 2012 and began causing agricultural damage in 2017. Tart cherry (Prunus cerasus Linnaeus) is a major processed agricultural commodity in Utah; yet, its susceptibility to brown marmorated stink bug is unstudied. Limb cages with six brown marmorated stink bug adults, nymphs, or no brown marmorated stink bug were established in a randomized complete block design in a tart cherry orchard to determine feeding impact on different fruit developmental stages. After 1 wk of feeding, half of the fruits in each cage were removed to assess feeding intensity, and the remainder left through maturity to assess marketability and quality. Feeding by adults and nymphs between petal fall and fruit pit hardening, even at feeding pressures as low as 1.7-4.0 feeding sites per fruit, caused 100% abscission of fruits, significantly reducing marketability when compared with the control treatment. For fruits that escaped abscission and matured, few quality differences were detected among treatments, indicating that brown marmorated stink bug feeding caused minimal detectable quality loss to this processed tree fruit crop. We conclude that tart cherries are at risk of abscission with short-term brown marmorated stink bug feeding between petal fall and pit hardening when overwintered adults or F1 nymphs are present in orchards, and suggest that longer-term feeding may be necessary to cause quality and yield reductions after pit hardening.
An immersed phase field fracture model for fluid-infiltrating porous media with evolving Beavers-Joseph-Saffman condition

This study presents a phase field model for brittle fracture in fluid-infiltrating vuggy porous media. While the state-of-the-art in hydraulic phase field fracture considers Darcian fracture flow with enhanced permeability along the crack, in this study, the phase field not only acts as a damage variable that provides diffuse representation of cracks or cavities, but also acts as an indicator function that separates the domain into two regions where fluid flows are governed by Stokes and Darcy equations, respectively. Since the phase field and its gradient can be respectively regarded as smooth approximations of the Heaviside function and Dirac delta function, our new approach is capable of imposing interfacial transmissibility conditions without explicit interface parametrizations. In addition, the interaction between solid and fluid constituents is modeled by adopting the concept of mixture theory, where the fluid velocities in Stokes and Darcy regions are considered as relative measures compared to the solid motion. This model is particularly attractive for coupled flow analysis in geological materials with complex microstructures undergoing brittle fracture often encountered in energy geotechnics problems, since it completely eliminates the needs to generate specific enrichment function, integration scheme, or meshing algorithm tailored for complex geological features.
Tyranny and Administrative Law

The Federalist Papers define “tyranny” as “[t]he accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many.” This definition would seem to include the modern administrative agency, which exercises all three powers. To avoid tyrannical agencies and their illegitimate exercise of power, judges and academics look to administrative law. Its procedures and requirements, such as public comment, judicial review, agency reason-giving and deliberation, and executive oversight, saddle agencies with checks and balances and, therefore, legitimacy. Yet unease with the administrative state continues; indeed, it seems to be in a constant crisis of legitimacy, suggesting that administrative law’s quest for legitimacy has not succeeded. This Article argues that this crisis of legitimacy stems from the inherent conflict between the assumptions underlying those of administrative law and the Constitution. These sets of assumptions differ profoundly over political actors’ motivations and human nature, rationality in political and administrative decisionmaking, and the role of executive lawmaking in a democracy. This Article compares The Federalist Papers and administrative law and scholarship to uncover those differences. But this Article does not engage in an “originalist” critique of administrative law. Instead, it shows that administrative law’s crisis of legitimacy inevitably proceeds from its jarring discontinuity with deep assumptions underlying our constitutional structure.
A case report of simultaneous surgery for concurrent symptomatic carotid artery and cervical spinal stenosis

Abstract Symptomatic cervical spinal stenosis and carotid artery stenosis are common neurosurgical diseases, but little is known about the management of their concurrent presentation. We present a 62 year-old woman with a precipitous decline in bilateral lower extremity strength, dexterity, and gait, and a 2-year history of amaurosis fugax. She was found to have cervical stenosis at C5-C7 with cord compression, lumbar stenosis at L3-L5 with a right L4-L5 synovial cyst, and moderate right internal carotid artery stenosis of 50–70%. The patient underwent a staged procedure. Stage 1 was a simultaneous right carotid endarterectomy and C6 corpectomy with C5-C7 anterior fusion. Stage 2 was a C3-T1 posterior decompression and fusion and L3-L5 decompression with synovial cyst removal. The presentation of concurrent cervical stenosis and CAS is likely underappreciated. Deciding between simultaneous or staged CEA and spinal decompression should be based on a careful risk-benefit assessment and tailored to the relative severity of symptoms, patient anatomy and comorbidities.
A Surgical Robotic System for Long-Bone Fracture Alignment: Prototyping and Cadaver Study

In this paper, we design, develop, and validate a surgical robotic system, entitled Robossis, to assist long-bone fracture reduction, i.e., alignment, surgeries. Unlike traditional long-bone fracture surgeries, Robossis enables the surgeon to precisely align the fractured bone in the presence of large traction forces and torques. The proposed surgical system includes a novel 3-armed robot, a bone-gripping mechanism, and a master controller. The 6-DOF 3-armed wide-open parallel robot has a unique architecture, which facilitates positioning the bone inside the robot, providing a large workspace for surgical maneuvers. Kinematic analysis shows that the symmetric 3-armed mechanism provides a significant advantage over the Gough-Stewart platform, i.e., 15 times larger rotational workspace, which is a vital advantage for fracture alignment. Theoretical and experimental testing are performed to demonstrate Robossis performance, including high accuracy and force insertion capabilities. A successful cadaver test was performed using a Robossis prototype, which shows that guided by intraoperative X-ray imaging, Robossis is able to manipulate bone in all translational and rotational directions while encountering the muscle payload surrounding the femur. Robossis is designed to balance accuracy, payload, and workspace, and its innovative design presents major advantages over the existing robot designs for the reduction of long-bone fractures.
Comparison of a Positive Deviant Inquiry with a Case-Control Study to Identify Factors Associated with Nutritional Status among Afghan Refugee Children in Pakistan:

We compared the positive deviance (PD) approach in Save the Children's field guide with a case-control study (CCS) to identify behaviors associated with good nutritional status in Afghan refugee children 6 to 24 months of age in the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan. The positive deviance inquiry (PDI), utilizing observations and interviews with mothers, fathers, and secondary caregivers in eight households, identified 12 feeding, caring, and health-seeking behaviors that were not widely practiced. The CCS, using the same selection criteria and content as the PDI with 50 mother-child pairs not in the PDI, yielded six significant associations with good nutritional status. Both the PDI and CCS detected feeding behaviors. The PDI alone identified complex phenomena (active feeding and maternal affect). The CCS alone confirmed the beneficial use of health services. The PD approach was an affordable, participatory, and valid method to identify feeding behaviors and other factors associated with good nutrition in this context.
De novo protein structure determination using sparse NMR data.

We describe a method for generating moderate to high-resolution protein structures using limited NMR data combined with the ab initio protein structure prediction method Rosetta. Peptide fragments are selected from proteins of known structure based on sequence similarity and consistency with chemical shift and NOE data. Models are built from these fragments by minimizing an energy function that favors hydrophobic burial, strand pairing, and satisfaction of NOE constraints. Models generated using this procedure with ∼1 NOE constraint per residue are in some cases closer to the corresponding X-ray structures than the published NMR solution structures. The method requires only the sparse constraints available during initial stages of NMR structure determination, and thus holds promise for increasing the speed with which protein solution structures can be determined.
Ten Years after “Go West”

After thirty years’ reform, China has experienced unprecedented changes and prosperity. As is known to all, China’s Reform and Opening-up Policy was initiated along the coastal region. By the end of the 1990s, the gap between the east and the west has been expanded increasingly. The eastern region had been far ahead of the west, which embedded instability for the whole society. Facing this situation, at the 4th Session of the 15th Communist Party of China Meeting in September 1999, West Development, or Xibu Da Kaifa named in Chinese, was forwarded for the first time.
TGF beta signaling in health and disease

Inactivating mutations in TGFBR2, encoding the transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) type 2 receptor, may account for up to 10% of cases of Marfan syndrome. This finding has implications for a wider spectrum of disorders, including cancer, fibrosis and inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, which are influenced by TGFβ.
Control of Tissue Reactions in Monkeys Vaccinated with Viable Coccidioides immitis by Prevaccination with Killed Coccidioides immitis.

Converse, J. L. (U.S. Army Biological Laboratories, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md.), G. A. Deauville, E. M. Snyder, J. G. Ray, and M. E. Seaquist. Control of tissue reactions in monkeys vaccinated with viable Coccidioides immitis by prevaccination with killed Coccidioides immities . J. Bacteriol. 90: 783–788. 1965.—Control of undesirable tissue reactions resulting from the subcutaneous injection of 150 viable arthrospores of Coccidioides immitis (strain D-76) was obtained by four injections of formalin-killed arthrospores 14, 12, 8, and 4 weeks (total dose, 36 mg) before injection of the viable arthrospores. Only 6 and 12% of these vaccinated animals exhibited ulceration and lymphadenopathy, respectively, as compared with 100 and 83% of the animals receiving only the viable vaccine. Agar-gel immunodiffusion precipitin titers of approximately 1:64 were evident 3 months after vaccination in animals receiving both vaccines, as compared with 1:128 in those injected with the viable vaccine alone. The above data indicated that somatic reactions to injection of a viable vaccine could be eliminated by preinjection of a killed vaccine. However, 6 months after vaccination, respiratory challenge (7,500 strain Cash arthrospores) indicated that this treatment also impaired the protective effect of the viable vaccine. All animals receiving both vaccines developed mild pulmonary coccidioidomycosis, whereas only 50% of the animals receiving only the viable vaccine were infected. In addition, the group receiving both vaccines demonstrated a more rapid and higher postchallenge precipitin titer. All vaccinated animals (those receiving the killed, the viable, or a combination of the two vaccines) survived for 4 months after challenge, as compared with 88% mortality (50% within 14 days) in the nonvaccinated controls. Images
D-instantons and universal hypermultiplet

Quantum non-perturbative geometry of the universal hypermultiplet is investigated. We consider the simple case when the D-instantons, originating from the Calabi-Yau wrapped D2-branes, preserve a U(1)xU(1) symmetry of the universal hypermultiplet moduli space. The cluster decomposition of D-instantons is proved to be valid in a curved spacetime. We find an SL(2,Z) duality-invariant quaternionic solution to the effective NLSM metric of the universal hypermultiplet, which is governed by a modular-invariant function. This function appears to be the same function found by Green and Gutperle, and describing the modular invariant completion of the R^4 term by the D-instanton effects in the type-II superstring/M-theory. We argue that our solution interpolates between the perturbative (large CY volume) region and the superconformal (Landau-Ginzburg) region in the universal hypermultiplet moduli space. We also calculate a non-perturbative scalar potential in the hyper-K\"ahler limit, when an abelian isometry of the universal hypermultiplet moduli space is gauged in the presence of D-instantons.
An investigation into the effects of damping and nonlinear geometry models in earthquake engineering analysis

Summary The growing emphasis of considering the behavior of structures at extreme performance states, such as collapse, has necessitated the characterization of the effects of varying attributes of the structural model. One source of variability that has not previously been considered is variability in the mathematical model. This study investigated the effects of changing the geometric nonlinearity approach and damping model on a four-story buckling restrained braced frame, a four-story steel moment resisting frame, and an eight-story steel moment resisting frame. The variations in behavior are quantified using the maximum interstory drift ratio as the performance metric and qualified by comparing the relative displaced shapes and component response histories at the collapse performance state. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of joint compression on inferior stability of the glenohumeral joint

Abstract To determine the relative importance of negative intraarticular pressure, capsular tension, and joint compression on inferior stability of the glenohumeral joint we studied 17 fresh, normal adult cadaver shoulders using a “3 degrees of freedom” shoulder test apparatus. Translations were measured in intact and vented shoulders while a 50-N superior and inferior directed force was applied to the shoulder. Three different joint compressive loads (22 N, 111 N, 222 N) were applied externally. Tests were performed in 3 positions of humeral abduction in the scapular plane (0°, 45°, 90°) and in 3 positions of rotation (neutral, maximal internal, and maximal external). After tests of the intact and vented shoulder, the glenohumeral ligaments were sectioned and tests were repeated. With minimal joint compression of 22 N, negative intraarticular pressure and capsular tension limited translation of the humeral head on the glenoid. Increasing the joint compressive load to 111 N resulted in a reduction of mean inferior translation from 11.0 mm to 2.0 mm at 0° abduction, from 21.5 mm to 1.4 mm at 45° abduction, and from 4.5 mm to 1.2 mm at 90° abduction. With a compressive load of 111 N, venting the capsule or sectioning of glenohumeral ligaments had no effect on inferior stability. Clinical relevance: Glenohumeral joint compression through muscle contraction provides stability against inferior translation of the humeral head, and this effect is more important than negative intraarticular pressure or ligament tension.
Roles of research scientists in natural resource decision-making

The issues surrounding natural resource decision-making in the present day are complex, varied and debated frequently and contentiously by the public. The complexity of the issues poses new challenges for scientists who are being asked to actively engage in this debate. This raises questions about what is credible scientific information and how such information is used in often emotionally or politically laden natural resource management decisions. One result has been an uncomfortable partnership among scientists and natural resource managers. Scientists are being asked to frame their research in ways that maintains scientific independence yet is responsive to management questions, at scales that often challenge existing scientific knowledge and under severe time constraints. Resource decision-makers are challenged to clarify their management goals, to fully understand and use the science, and to explicitly identify the level of acceptable risk. Using the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project as an example, lessons learned from the interaction among scientists and natural resource decision-makers is discussed and propositions for appropriate roles are presented. When properly generated, presented, and accountably used, science facilitates discussion among competing interests by helping to define the range of available choice and focusing discussions on consequences of social choice. By expanding and revealing the range of possible outcomes, scientists increase the likelihood that management decisions are understood and that those decisions can endure.
A New Species of Ephemerellomyces from North America Highlights Its Morphological Plasticity and Possible Intergeneric Similarities with Other Harpellales

During routine bioprospecting efforts in southern Idaho, we recovered a new species, Ephemerellomyces kandelii from nymphs of the mayfly genus Ephemerella (Ephemerellidae) in Dry Creek drainage, near Boise. This is the second observation of this monotypic genus since the description of Ephemerellomyces aquilonius from Norway in 2004. Ephemerellomyces was described partly on the basis of unusual developmental features at the base of the thallus. Specifically, trichospores were noted with the capacity to germinate, attach to the hindgut cuticle of the mayfly host, and produce a cell bearing a single terminal trichospore. This feature was less prominent yet noted in our collections from Idaho, but we argue that the remnant basal cell may also be a morphological feature that unites the genus and deserves further scrutinization across closely related taxa. Compared to the two Norwegian surveys, our collections extended over 1 y, a timeframe that was critical to capture the extent of the natural morphological range and plasticity of E. kandelii. Specifically, we emend the generic description to accommodate the first observation of zygospores (Type II) and E. kandelii is described with dimorphic trichospores, yet another genus of the Harpellales to include species with this feature. We also document some variability in trichospore dimensions with E. kandelii, following routine procedures, in vitro slide incubations and staining; these are discussed in light of prior reports noting morphological changes in asexual spores of certain Harpellales following such handling. Finally, we extend our discussion to include putatively closely related taxa of gut fungi in other Ephemeroptera.
Induction of apoptosis in malignant pleural mesothelioma cells by activation of the Fas (Apo-1/CD95) death-signal pathway

Abstract Objective: Although well characterized in several solid tumors, the effects of Fas/Fas ligand interactions in malignant pleural mesothelioma cells have not been defined. The present study was undertaken to examine the functional status of the Fas/Fas ligand pathway in malignant pleural mesothelioma cells and to determine the feasibility of targeting this death-signal pathway for molecular intervention in patients with mesotheliomas. Methods: Fas expression in primary normal human bronchial epithelial cells and 6 malignant pleural mesothelioma cell lines was quantified by means of flow cytometry. The caspase components of the Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway were evaluated by means of Western blot techniques. Soluble Fas ligand–mediated cytotoxicity and apoptosis were evaluated by means of MTS and TUNEL assays, respectively. Cisplatin (3 μg/mL) and lymphokine-activated killer cells were used to enhance mesothelioma sensitivity to soluble Fas ligand. An H2373 nude mouse xenograft model of malignant pleural mesothelioma was established to assess the in vivo effects of soluble Fas ligand. Results: Four of 6 malignant pleural mesothelioma lines exhibited high levels of Fas expression, and 2 of 4 were inherently susceptible to soluble Fas ligand–mediated cytotoxicity (soluble Fas ligand 50% inhibitory concentration, Conclusion: The Fas/Fas ligand pathway in mesothelioma cells is either intrinsically intact or can be rendered functional with chemotherapeutic agents or immune effector cells. These preclinical data support further evaluation of strategies to enhance Fas-mediated apoptosis in mesotheliomas.
Generating scalable multipartite entanglement and non-Gaussian states of light using nonlinear concurrences and cascades

Scalable multipartite entanglement and non-Gaussian states are essential for quantum computing. Second order concurrent nonlinearities can aid with scalability, while cascaded nonlinearities can be used to produce an effective third-order Hamiltonian resulting in non-Gaussian states.
Ligand-dependent ubiquitination of Smad3 is regulated by casein kinase 1 gamma 2, an inhibitor of TGF-beta signaling.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) elicits a variety of cellular activities primarily through a signaling cascade mediated by two key transcription factors, Smad2 and Smad3. Numerous regulatory mechanisms exist to control the activity of Smad3, thereby modulating the strength and specificity of TGF-β responses. In search for potential regulators of Smad3 through a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified casein kinase 1 gamma 2 (CKIγ2) as a novel Smad3-interacting protein. In mammalian cells, CKIγ2 selectively and constitutively binds Smad3 but not Smad1, -2 or -4. Functionally, CKIγ2 inhibits Smad3-mediated TGF-β responses including induction of target genes and cell growth arrest, and this inhibition is dependent on CKIγ2 kinase activity. Mechanistically, CKIγ2 does not affect the basal levels of Smad proteins or activity of the receptors. Rather, CKIγ2 preferentially promotes the ubiquitination and degradation of activated Smad3 through direct phosphorylation of its MH2 domain at Ser418. Importantly, mutation of Ser418 to alanine or aspartic acid causes an increase or decrease of Smad3 activity, respectively, in the presence of TGF-β. CKIγ2 is the first kinase known to mark activated Smad3 for destruction. Given its negative function in TGF-β signaling and its reported overexpression in human cancers, CKIγ2 may act as an oncoprotein during tumorigenesis.
Pulsed laser powered homogenous pyrolysis for reaction kinetics studies: Probe laser measurement of reaction time and temperature

Pulsed laser powered homogeneous pyrolysis ( LPHP) is a technique which can be used to measure rate parameters for purely homogeneous unimolecular decomposition reactions at high temperatures (600- 1500 K). The reaction temperature in pulsed LPHP may be obtained from the speed of sound in the reacting gas, which may be measured by observing the thermal lens eFfect of the gas on a probe laser beam. The reaction time may be obtained directly from the thermal lens measurements. In this work experiments were performed using ethyl acetate (EtAc) and isopropyl chloride (2-CIPr). two reactants whose unimolecular decomposition rate parameters are well established This allowed us to assess the accuracy and precision attainable with this technique. Pulsed LPHP proved capable of providing rate parameters in good agreement with those in the literature The results for which the measured activation energies were closest to the literature values gave the temperature dependence of the rate constants as log(k,,,) = (1 2.0 -t 0 9) - 47 7 2 4.4(kcal/mo1)/2.?0?RT and log(k,~,,,,) - (13.3 ? LO) - 50.8 ? 4.8(kcal/mol)/2.?0?RT. These may be compared with the literature recommendations, log(&,,,,) = 12.6 - 48.0(kcal/mo1)/2.?0?RT and log(k,~,,,,) = 13.6 - 51 I (kcaI/rnol)/2.?03RT. In all cases the measured rate parameters agreed with the recommended values to within the error limits of the measured values Potential sources of error in the temperature measurement and the kinetic parameters are explored The expected accuracy of the experiments is assessed, and possible improvements in the experiment are suggested. 0 1996 lohn Wiley & Sons. Inc
Factors Related to Angler Catch of Trophy Largemouth Bass in Texas Reservoirs

Abstract We used angler catch reports of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department angler recognition programs to determine if catch occurrence of trophy fish (≥5.9 kg) was greater in reservoirs stocked with fingerling Florida largemouth bass M. s. floridanus (FLMB) than in non-stocked reservoirs. We also compared trophy fish catch occurrence between reservoirs having the standard 356-mm minimum length harvest limit to reservoirs having a more restrictive length limit, and evaluated the relation of catch occurrence to reservoir age, surface area, shoreline development index (SDI), latitude, longitude, FLMB stocking frequency and density. Catch occurrence of trophy fish was significantly greater in FLMB-stocked reservoirs (29%) than in non-stocked reservoirs (4%). Probability of trophy largemouth bass catch occurrence in FLMB-stocked reservoirs increased with reservoir SDI, decreased with reservoir age, and was greater for reservoirs managed with special harvest regulat...
Steady natural convection in a double layer of immiscible liquids with density inversion

Natural convection of a layered fluid system composed of two immiscible liquids, silicone oil on top of water, is studied numerically. The flow in the two layers is viscously and thermally coupled. Two counter-rotating natural convection roll cells of opposite vorticity develop when one side wall temperature in the density inversion fluid is above and the other below the density inversion temperature. In contrast, only one roll cell develops in a liquid layer with Boussinesq properties. The viscous coupling between both immiscible layers strengthens the roll cell with opposite vorticity in the density inversion layer. At large Rayleigh number the flow pattern in the density inversion layer becomes very complex. The largest heat transport occurs in the upper Boussinesq layer. The two-roll cell pattern in the density inversion layer is impeding the total horizontal heat transfer. A vertical heat transport exists across the interface from the density inversion layer into the encapsulating upper layer. The moving interface between the immiscible liquids improves the heat transfer in each layer when compared to the cavity cases.
The public policy issue of homelessness: A review and synthesis of existing research

Abstract The problem of homelessness has become one of the most urgent social and political problems of our time. In order to address this public policy issue from a consumer-behavior perspective, this paper provides an historical overview of the homeless, discusses the current status of the homeless, and summarizes recent consumer-behavior research on their dilemma. From this literature review and synthesis, a profile of the homeless emerges that helps us visualize their plight as consumers. Then, public policy implications are described involving two distinct subgroups identified in these investigations, and the paper concludes with a call for future research.
Oxytocin Levels and Disappearance Rate and Plasma Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone after Oxytocin Infusion in Men

Plasma oxytocin (OT), FSH, and LH were measured by specific RIA in eight healthy adult males before, during, and after stopping iv infusions of OT. With a constant infusion of 132 mU OT/min for 60 min, plasma OT reached a steady state concentration of 228-241 pg/ml at 30-60 min. When the dose of oxytocin infused was doubled every 15 min, plasma OT increased from 81.0 +/- 17.9 pg/ml (mean +/- SE) with 32 mU/min to reach a steady state concentration of 378 +/- 73.4 pg/ml with 256 mU/min (1 muU = 2 pg OT). The curve of disappearance of plasma OT could be resolved into a single exponential curve in all of the subjects, with a mean calculated half-life of 10.3 +/- 1.6 min (range, 5.3-17.3 min). The mean MCR of OT was 21.5 +/- 3.3 ml/kg.min, and the mean apparent volume of distribution was 305 +/- 46 ml/kg. Plasma FSH and LH showed no significant change throughout OT infusion and for up to 60 min after stopping the OT infusion. The findings demonstrate that in man 1) plasma OT concentration achieved is closely related to the infusion rate, 2) OT infusion does not affect plasma FSH and LH, and 3) the apparent volume of distribution of OT suggests that infused OT is distributed into space or spaces other than the circulating plasma volume.
Biochemical characterization of the fidelity of poliovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

Putative high mutation rates of RNA viruses are believed to mediate undesirable phenomena, such as emergence of drug resistance. However, very little is known about biochemical fidelity rates for viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases. Using a recently developed in vitro polymerase assay for poliovirus polymerase 3Dpol [Arnold and Cameron (2000) JBC 275:5329], we measured fidelity for each possible mismatch. Polymerase fidelity, in contrast to sequence error rate, is biochemically defined as k pol /K d of {(correct plus incorrect) divided by incorrect} incorporations, such that a larger value connotes higher fidelity. To derive k pol /K d for correct base incorporation, we performed conventional pre-steady state single turnover measurements, yielding values that range from 0.62 to 9.4 μM-1 sec-1. Pre-steady state measurements for incorrect base incorporation were less straightforward: several anomalous phenomena interfered with data collection. To obtain pre-steady state kinetic data for incorrect base incorporation, three strategies were employed. (1) For some incorrect bases, a conventional approach was feasible, although care was taken to ensure that only single turnovers were being assessed. (2) Heparin or unlabeled RNA traps were used to simulate single turnover conditions. (3) Finally, for some incorrect bases, incorporation was so poor that single datapoints were used to provide kinetic estimates. Overall, we found that fidelity for poliovirus polymerase 3Dpol ranges from 1.2 × 104 to 1.0 × 106 for transition mutations and 3.2 × 105 to 4.3 × 107 for transversion mutations. These values are unexpectedly high showing that high RNA virus sequence variation is not due to intrinsically low polymerase fidelity. Based on unusual enzyme behavior that we observed, we speculate that RNA mismatches either directly or indirectly cause enzyme RNA dissociation. If so, high sequence variation of RNA viruses may be due to template-switch RNA recombination and/or unknown fitness/selection phenomena. These findings may lead to a mechanistic understanding of RNA virus error catastrophe and improved anti-viral strategies.
Automated visual inspection techniques and applications: A bibliography

Abstract This bibliography lists publications, reports and articles dealing with automated visual inspection for industry, arranged in categories by subject matter. Publications as overviews and general discussions are listed first. Topics on rationales for automating the inspection process, visual inspection system components and design considerations follow. Commercially available visual inspection equipment are presented as a list of selectively annotated references. Publications on various inspection applications and their inspection methodologies are organized into 9 groups. They include the visual inspection of printed circuit boards, IC chips, semiconduction photomasks, automobile parts, fabric and other electrical assemblies, and inspection in the metal processing industry, lumber industry and food processing industry. A set of key words is also provided at the beginning of each category.
Cannan and Veblen as Institutionalists

A SHORT TIME after Edwin Cannan's death T. E. Gregory wrote an article in which he placed Cannan among the institutionalist economists. He said that Cannan's treatment of institutions was original, of permanent significance, and should be considered one of Cannan's main contributions to economics.1 Gregory pointed out that Cannan was interested in the relation of institutions to economic life and considered their study an important strand in the treatment of distribution. Cannan held that the ideal distri-
On needless words.

The presentation began. She described a 62-year-old male with a UGIB whose history included CAD S/P CABG x 2, NAFLD, DM, HT, PUD, and BPH. I looked around as the barrage mounted. Four residents and...
Effect of Tween‐80 on the Control of Particle Size and Shrinkage Properties of Nanoscale α‐Alumina Synthesized by Sol–Gel Processing

The concept of tailored interfaces has been applied to the synthesis of nanoscale α-Al 2 O 3 . Tween-80 (poly-oxyethylene(20) sorbitan monooleate, T-80) was used as a surface modifier in the sol-gel process for this purpose. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy study of the powder obtained with T-80 confirmed the particle size of α-Al 2 O 3 (∼55 nm) and morphology (spherical). The exothermic peak temperature in the differential thermal analysis was shifted to a lower temperature (∼917°C) when the powder was derived from a T-80 modifier content of 10 wt%. X-ray diffraction showed that the α-Al 2 O 3 phase was the major phase that existed in modifier-derived powder that was sintered at 1000°C. The experiments, based on linear shrinkage, indicated that the powder with T-80 (10 wt%) could be densified at a low temperature.
Multivariate adaptive splines for analysing longitudinal data

the observations from the same unit or subject. Two-stage random-effects linear models are commonly used to analyze longitudinal data. These models are not flexible enough, however, for exploring the underlying data structures and, especially, for describing time trends. Semi-parametric models have been proposed recently to accommodate general time trends. But these semi-parametric models do not provide a convenient way to explore interactions among time and other covariates although such interactions exist in many applications. Moreover, semi-parametric models require specifying the design matrix of the covariates (time excluded). We propose nonparametric models to resolve these issues. To fit nonparametric models, we use the novel technique of the multivariate adaptive regression splines for the estimation of mean curve and then apply an EM-like iterative procedure for covariance estimation. After giving a general algorithm of model building, we show how to design a fast algorithm. We use both simulated and published data to illustrate the use of our proposed method.
Circulating thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and hypothyroid status and the risk of prostate cancer

Background Thyroid hormones may influence risk of cancer through their role in cell differentiation, growth, and metabolism. One study of circulating thyroid hormones supports this hypothesis with respect to prostate cancer. We undertook a prospective analysis of thyroid hormones and prostate cancer risk in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study. Methods Within the ATBC Study, a randomized controlled trial of α-tocopherol and β-carotene supplements and cancer incidence in male smokers, 402 prostate cancer cases were sampled. Controls were matched 2∶1 to cases on age and date of blood collection. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of prostate cancer were estimated for quintiles of serum total and free thyroxine (T4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid-binding globulin (TBG), and by categories of thyroid status. Results Men with serum higher TSH had a decreased risk of prostate cancer compared to men with lower TSH (Q5 vs. Q1–4: OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.51–0.97, p = 0.03). When the T4 and TSH measurements were combined to define men as hypothyroid, euthyroid or hyperthyroid, hypothyroid men had a lower risk of prostate cancer compared to euthyroid men (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.28–0.81, p = 0.006). We observed no association between hyperthyroid status and risk, although the number of hyperthyroid men with prostate cancer was small (n = 9). Conclusions In this prospective study of smokers, men with elevated TSH and those classified as being in a hypothyroid state were at decreased risk of prostate cancer. Future studies should examine the association in other populations, particularly non-smokers and other racial/ethnic groups.
What does Pirahã grammar have to teach us about human language and the mind

Piraha is a language isolate of the Brazilian Amazon. Among the lessons it has to teach us about human language and the mind, two are highlighted here. The first is that recursion is not a necessary condition for human syntax, because there is no evidence for recursive sentential syntax in the language. This is a stark counterexample to the claims of Chomsky and others. The second lesson is that the influence of culture on Piraha grammar, coupled with much established and newer research, indicates that the idea of an innate, universal grammar has little if any role to play in our understanding of the nature, origins, and use of human language. WIREs Cogn Sci 2012 doi: 10.1002/wcs.1195 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Mass spectra and bond energies of lanthanide tricyclopentadienyl complexes

Abstract Ionization potentials and appearance potentials for Cp3Nd, Cp3Sm, Cp3Yb, and Cp2Yb are reported. Using this information, the first bond dissociation energy of Cp3Yb is calculated to be 58 ± 5 kcal. Also, fragmentation patterns of these compounds are discussed in relationship to the type of bonding involved.
Introduction to: A k-space analysis of small-tip-angle excitation.

Abstract The article “A k-space analysis of small-tip-angle excitation” introduced a spatial frequency interpretation of the effect of RF excitation pulses. This introduction describes where the initial ideas for this paper came from, and traces out some of the applications that have been developed using this perspective.