cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hedge Funds are the Alternative Mainstream

This article demonstrates the profound and lasting impact of hedge funds on mainstream investing by identifying and analyzing numerous activities typically associated with hedge funds that have become an integral part of mainstream investing and financing activities. Examples include the growth of exchange-traded funds and mutual funds that follow hedge fund strategies. A number of mutual funds use leverage and sell short, hedge funds provide liquidity in the stock and Treasury bond markets, and banks follow on the footsteps of hedge funds by owning some of the mortgages they originate. Also, hedge funds make commercial loans, modify residential mortgages, and underwrite reinsurance. Hedge funds significantly influence corporate governance by playing key roles in mega acquisitions. NASDAQ OMX offers the alpha index options designed to allow investors to trade options on the relative performance of a stock or exchange-traded fund versus that of SPY.
Decreasing expulsions by a child with a feeding disorder: using a brush to present and re-present food.

Previous research has demonstrated that extinction in the form of re-presentation of expelled bites is an effective intervention for treating food expulsion. The current study compared the effectiveness of re-presenting expulsions with a spoon to re-presenting with a Nuk® brush for a 4-year-old boy with a feeding disorder. Fewer expulsions were observed when using the brush for re-presentation, and further reductions were observed when the brush was also used for initial presentations.
Useful Extensions of the statistical theory of sintering

Abstract The statistical theory of sintering is modified to account for the new concept of pore coordination number (after Lange) as well as other refinements of the original assumptions (after Kuczynski). When pores are located in the grain boundaries, the theory postulates that for a given dihedral angle, a critical pore coordination number, n crmc , exists such that when n n c , pores shrink, whereas when n > n c pores grow. A general morphological kinetic equation is developed for uniform microstructures with pores located at the grain boundaries. This equation provides for contributions of grain boundary and volume diffusion to densification and is unrestricted with respect to the type of firing schedule imposed. Using this modified model, one may evaluate the significant parameter x , a measure of ‘the path of microstructural evolution’. For reasonably uniform compacts, the equation also provides a quantitative estimate of the relative width of the pore size distribution, y , during the later stages of sintering.
Sequences in power residue classes

Using A. Well's estimates the authors have given bounds for the largest prime P0 such that all primes p>P0 have sequences of quadratic residues of length m. For m≤8 the smallest prime having m consecutive quadratic residues is ≡3(mod4) and P0≡1(mod4). The reason for this phenomenon is investigated in this paper and the theory developed is used to successfully uncover analogous phenomena for rth power residues, r≥2, r even.
A Vitronectin Receptor Antagonist Inhibits Neointimal Formation After Balloon Arterial Injury in Rabbits in Vivo

The authors have previously shown that cell-matrix interactions mediated via the matrix protein ligand vitronectin derived from serum and its cell surface αVβ3 integrin receptor regulate migration ...
Thin-layer chromatographic separation of pineal gland derivatives of serotonin-14C.

Abstract A two-dimensional TLC method has been developed which separates N -acetylserotonin, hydroxytryptophol, hydroxyindoleacetic acid, methoxyindoleacetic acid, methoxytryptophol, and melatonin.
Anticonvulsants for soman-induced seizure activity.

This report describes studies of anticonvulsants for the organophosphorus (OP) nerve agent soman: a basic research effort to understand how different pharmacological classes of compounds influence the expression of seizure produced by soman in rats, and a drug screening effort to determine whether clinically useful antiepileptics can modulate soman-induced seizures in rats. Electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings were used in these studies. Basic studies were conducted in rats pretreated with HI-6 and challenged with 1.6×LD50 soman. Antimuscarinic compounds were extremely effective in blocking (pretreatment) or terminating soman seizures when given 5 min after seizure onset. However, significantly higher doses were required when treatment was delayed for more than 10 min, and some antimuscarinic compounds lost anticonvulsant efficacy when treatment was delayed for more than 40 min. Diazepam blocked seizure onset, yet seizures could recur after an initial period of anticonvulsant effect at doses ≤2.5 mg/kg. Diazepam could terminate ongoing seizures when given 5 min after seizure onset, but doses up to 20 mg/kg were ineffective when treatment was delayed for 40 min. The GABA uptake inhibitor, tiagabine, was ineffective in blocking or terminating soman motor convulsions or seizures. The glutamate receptor antagonists, NBQX, GYKI 52466, and memantine, had weak or minimal antiseizure activity, even at doses that virtually eliminated signs of motor convulsions. The antinicotinic, mecamylamine, was ineffective in blocking or stopping seizure activity. Pretreatment with a narrow range of doses of α2-adrenergic agonist, clonidine, produced variable protection (40–60%) against seizure onset; treatment after seizure onset with clonidine was not effective. Screening studies in rats, using HI-6 pretreatment, showed that benzodiazepines (diazepam, midazolam and lorazepam) were quite effective when given 5 min after seizure onset, but lost their efficacy when given 40 min after onset. The barbiturate, pentobarbital, was modestly effective in terminating seizures when given 5 or 40 min after seizure onset, while other clinically effective antiepileptic drugs, trimethadione and valproic acid, were only slightly effective when given 5 min after onset. In contrast, phenytoin, carbamazepine, ethosuximide, magnesium sulfate, lamotrigine, primidone, felbamate, acetazolamide, and ketamine were ineffective.
What's on Your Mind? Conversation Topics Chosen by People With Degenerative Cognitive-Linguistic Disorders for Communication Boards

Purpose Conversational topics chosen by a group of adults with degenerative cognitive-linguistic disorders for personalized communication board development were examined. The patient-generated them...
Efficient objective analysis of dynamically heterogeneous and nonstationary fields via the parameter matrix

Abstract We develop a generalized approach for the objective analysis of nonstationary, heterogeneous fields. An algorithm is presented that uses an anisotropic, time-dependent correlation function with correlation parameters that vary in space/time and a time-dependent trend surface for efficient objective analysis of dynamically heterogeneous and nonstationary fields. The algorithm, which we term the “parameter matrix algorithm”, is applied to two data sets. The first is tropical Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) derived from satellite AVHRR data and Pan-Toga drifting buoys. The SST appliclication illustrates how the parameter matrix is used for the computationally efficient objective analysis of the tropical Pacific SST from 30°S to 30°N at 0.2° resolution (over 290,000 grid points) using approximately 350,000 data points from 12 2-day satellite SST composites. The second example uses data from the Anatomy of a Meander/ BIOSYNOP experiment in the Gulf Stream ring and meander region and illustrates that an objective analysis using the parameter matrix can yield a more accurate representation of oceanic features than typical objective analysis techniques.
Viromes, Not Gene Markers, for Studying Double-Stranded DNA Virus Communities

Microbes have recently been recognized as dominant forces in nature, with studies benefiting from gene markers that can be quickly, informatively, and universally surveyed. Viruses, where explored, have proven to be powerful modulators of locally and globally important microbes through mortality, horizontal gene transfer, and metabolic reprogramming. However, community-wide virus studies have been challenged by the lack of a universal marker. Here, I propose that viral metagenomics has advanced to largely take over study of double-stranded DNA viruses.
Spectrophotometric determination of copper with hydrochloric acid

Abstract A procedure is proposed whereby copper may be determined spectrophotometrically by means of the very near infrared absorption of its complex ion with hydrochloric acid. Only stannous and ferrous ions are serious interferences and they may be oxidized with nitric acid or with ammonium persulfate to avoid such interference. The method is simple and rapid and is capable of reasonably good precision and accuracy.
Effects of cholinergic drugs on tunicate smooth muscle.

Abstract 1. 1. A cine-photographic method of determining the reactions of the siphon of Ciona is described. 2. 2. For the first 48 hr after removal of the ganglion, the closure of the siphon (siphon reflex) was less sensitive to electrical stimulation and the reaction took longer. 3. 3. Forty-eight hours after removal of the ganglion, the siphon reflex returned to normal sensitivity and latency. 4. 4. Cholinergic, anticholinergic agents and anticholinesterases have no effect of the siphon reflex.
The developmental approach to alcoholism: a further investigation.

Abstract Twenty males, age 29–61, assessed as chronic alcoholics and admitted to an inpatient alcoholic treatment program, were the subjects in this study. Relations among the severity of the alcoholism problem, the individual's developmental and/or maturity level, and dysfunction due to depression were investigated. Measures employed were Number of Previous Programs, Zigler-Phillips Social Competence Index, Rudie-McGaughran Essential-Reactive Alcoholism Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Overall-Patrick Alcoholic Interview. The Overall-Patrick Scale appeared to be assessing the severity of the patient's alcoholism while the Rudie-McGaughran Scale assessed severity and an underlying maturity dimension. Contrary to the frequently reported relation between alcoholism and depression, no significant relation between the measure of depression and the measures of severity of alcoholism were found. Possible explanations for these findings were discussed, and an avenue for future research was suggested.
Particulate monitoring at US National Parks using PIXE

Abstract In order to help the United States National Park Service understand the causes of visibility impairment at various national parks throughout the United States, the Crocker Nuclear Laboratory at the University of California, Davis, has been collecting samples of coarse and fine particles at 35 sites continuously since 1982. At these remote sites most visibility impairment is due to the scattering of light by fine particles, between 0.2 and 1 μm. We are responsible for all aspects of the monitoring program, including designing and maintaining the particulate samplers, handling and analyzing the filters, and presenting and interpreting the results. A successful monitoring program requires strict adherence to carefully prepared procedures at all stages, with numerous quality assurance checks. All the samples are analyzed for mass by microbalance and for elemental composition by PIXE. PIXE is well-suited to particulate monitoring in terms of accuracy, cost, range of elements, and spatial resolution. The concentration of fine hydrogen is measured by proton elastic scattering operated simultaneously with the PIXE analysis. We also measure the optical absorption by fine soot particles using the integrating plate method. Because the sites arc remote and the sampling is almost continuous, most of the measured variables show well-defined regional patterns when averaged over the seasons of the year. The wide range of elements permits a good characterization of the fine particles. There are wide differences in the overall composition for different regions. In the eastern US the fine mass is dominated by ammonium sulfate. In some regions of the western US, fine soil and organics are important components to the aerosol. For visibility, fine sulphur is the most single important element measureable by PIXE. For most regions sulfur is largest in summer, although in some regions the maxima are in spring or fall. The average sulfur concentration varies widely over the US. with values in the east ten times those in some regions of the west. The concentrations of other variables, such as potassium, lead, zinc, copper, hydrogen, silicon are also important in understanding the composition of fine particles.
Classics in Personality and Social Psychology Older Journal Articles and Books Cited Frequently Today

The references from all articles appearing in six personality and social psychology journals for the years 1975, 1976, and 1977 were culled for books and articles published before 1958. These publications dated back to the year 1620, but 80o of them were published after 1940 and 58% after 1950. Three publications (Festinger, 1957; Osgood et al., 1957; Festinger, 1954) were heavily cited and characterized as classics. Thirty-seven other books and articles were frequently cited and were considered influential.
Spectral reflectance of Picea rubens (Pinaceae) and Abies balsamea (Pinaceae) needles along an elevational gradient, Mt. Moosilauke, New Hampshire, USA.

Relationships among elevation, foliar morphology, spectral reflectance, and chlorophyll fluorescence of two co-occurring montane conifers, red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.), were investigated along two transects from 460 to 1460 m on Mt. Moosilauke in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, USA. Spectral reflectance (300-1100 nm wavelengths) and the chlorophyll fluorescence F(v)/F(m) ratio were measured on dark-adapted needles. Foliar morphology (needle size, shape, and mass) and nitrogen concentrations were measured in the laboratory. Reflectance spectra varied between species and with elevation. Two chlorophyll measures, red edge position and a chlorophyll-based difference index (Chl NDI = R750 - R705/R750 + R705), indicated more chlorophyll in fir than in spruce and decreasing chlorophyll with increasing elevation in both species. The structure-independent pigment index (SIPI = R800 - R445/R800 - R680) increased with elevation, indicating an increasing carotenoid : chlorophyll ratio. The photochemical reflectance index (PRI = R531 - R570/R531 + R570), a measure of photosynthetic radiation use efficiency, decreased with increasing elevation up to 1370 m. In the highest elevation site, within the stunted alpine krummholz at 1460 m, PRI was higher than at 1370 m, but still lower than at 1070 m. This same pattern was evident in the chlorophyll fluorescence F(v)/F(m) measurements. These independent indices indicate higher stress in spruce than fir, which may be related to the "spruce decline" reported in the northeastern USA. Results also indicate progressively increasing stress with increasing elevation up to 1370 m. Stress appears to be lower at 1460 m than at 1370 m, despite the harsher conditions at the very summit of Mt. Moosilauke. This may be a consequence of stress-tolerant physiology and/or prostrate architecture.
Vulnerability to depressive symptoms: Clarifying the role of excessive reassurance seeking and perceived social support in an interpersonal model of depression

This study investigated whether key constructs in Coyne's (1976) interpersonal theory of depression, namely excessive reassurance seeking and social support, combine to confer risk for future depressive symptoms. Consistent with hypotheses, excessive reassurance seeking interacted with changes in perceived social support to predict the prospective development of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the interaction of excessive reassurance seeking and changes in perceived social support were specific to the development of depressive symptoms, but not anxious symptoms. The implications of these results for the interpersonal theories of depression are discussed.
Substance P, like acetylcholine, augments one type of Ca2+ current in isolated smooth muscle cells.

Electrophysiological recordings from freshly-dissociated smooth muscle cells from toad stomach revealed that substance P enhances one of two types of Ca2+ currents. That is, substance P enhances the slowly inactivating, high-threshold current but not the fast inactivating, low-threshold current. Acetylcholine has the same effect, but the acetylcholine action is blocked by atropine whereas the substance P action is not, indicating that the two agents act at different receptor sites. Thus, substance P, like acetylcholine, has a dual excitatory action on the smooth muscle cells employed in these studies, enhancing a specific type of Ca2+ current, as demonstrated here, and suppressing a voltage-sensitive K+ conductance, as previously described [Sims, S.M., Walsh, J.V., Jr. & Singer, J.J. (1986) Am. J. Physiol. 251, C580-C587].
Effect of phytochemicals on cytochrome P450‐linked alkoxyresorufin O‐dealkylase activity

Eight compounds of plant origin with potential chemopreventive properties were studied for their effects on hamster liver microsome-mediated alkoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activity. The phytochemicals investigated were (+)-catechin, chlorophyllin, crocetin, curcumin, diallyl sulphide, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), d-limonene and tannic acid. Each phytochemical at concentrations of 0.25 μM and 0.5 μM was incubated with 0.2 mg hamster liver microsomal protein and 0.5 μmole benzyloxyresorufin, methoxyresorufin and ethoxyresorufin. The resorufins serve as substrates for measurements of the activity of isoforms of cytochrome P450 (CYP). Benzyloxyresorufin O-dealkylase (BROD), methoxyresorufin demethylase (MROD) and ethoxyresorufin deethylase (EROD) are linked to CYP 2C11, CYP 1A2 and CYP 2C6, respectively. Chlorophyllin, curcumin, EGCG and tannic acid were all potent inhibitors of BROD, MROD and EROD activity. (+)-Catechin and diallyl sulphide inhibited BROD and EROD but not MROD activity. Crocetin and d-limonene inhibited BROD activity more than MROD and EROD. These results indicate that the enzymatic activity of cytochrome P450 isoforms 2C11, 1A2 and 2C6 can be altered by phytochemicals and that phytochemicals can affect the metabolism of substrates for these isoforms.
Fusion-Fission Transmutation Scheme—Efficient destruction of nuclear waste

Abstract A fusion-assisted transmutation system for the destruction of transuranic nuclear waste is developed by combining a subcritical fusion–fission hybrid assembly uniquely equipped to burn the worst thermal nonfissile transuranic isotopes with a new fuel cycle that uses cheaper light water reactors for most of the transmutation. The center piece of this fuel cycle, the high power density compact fusion neutron source (100 MW, outer radius
QAMO: QoS aware multipath-TCP over optical burst switching in data centers

The rapid advancement in cloud computing is leading to a promising future for shared data centers hosting diverse applications. These applications constitute a complex mix of workloads from multiple organizations. Some workloads require small predictable latency while others require large sustained throughput. Such shared data-centers are expected to provide potential service differentiation to client's individual flows. This paper addresses two important issues in shared data centers: bandwidth efficiency and service differentiation based on QoS (Quality of Service). We first evaluate the multipath-TCP (MPTCP) protocol over an OBS (Optical burst switching) network for improved bandwidth utilization in dense interconnect datacenter networks. We next present a simple and efficient ‘QoS aware MPTCP over OBS’ (QAMO) algorithm in datacenters. Our experimental results show that Multipath-TCP improves throughput over an OBS network while the QAMO algorithm achieves tangible service differentiation without impacting the throughput of the system.
Hohokam Ritual and Economic Transformation: Ceramic Evidence from the Phoenix Basin, Arizona

The Hohokam regional system in southern and central Arizona was marked by a dense network of ballcourts during the eleventh century. The ritual ballgames provided venues for social and economic interaction that probably included the barter and exchange of thousands of clay containers each year. Previous ceramic evidence has shown that pottery production was highly concentrated with far-flung distribution, although by the twelfth century the ballcourt network had collapsed. New data from Las Colinas, a ballcourt village situated near the lower Salt River, demonstrate that the organization of pottery manufacture and distribution radically changed in the lower Salt River valley just at the time the Las Colinas ballcourt was abandoned, implying that the ritual ballgames had been a central component of the Hohokam regional economy.
Neuroendocrine control of egg‐laying behavior in the nudibranch, Archidoris montereyensis

We describe a group of neurons with egg-laying bioactivity in the cerebral ganglia of an opisthobranch mollusc, the nudibranch Archidoris montereyensis. These cells, the intercerebral white cells (IWCs), share morphological, biochemical, and electrophysiological characteristics with the egg-laying neuroendocrine cells of two other molluscs, Aplysia californica (bag cells) and Lymnaea stagnalis(caudodorsal cells). The IWCs, comprising two superficial clusters of about 100 neurons each, were located immediately posterior to the intercerebral commissure in the cerebral ganglia. The somata of these cells were small ( < 20 μm) and possessed varicose, bifurcating unipolar processes that collectively formed a loop within the commissure and bilateral extensions into the cerebral ganglia. The IWC clusters and commissural processes were enveloped by a large ganglionic vascular sinus, forming a potential neurohemal release site. Homogenates of whole cerebral ganglia or isolated IWC clusters induced egg-laying behavior within hours of injection into the hemocoel of quiescent animals. The IWCs were immunoreactive for alpha bag-cell peptide, one of the neuropeptide transmitters encoded by the egg-laying hormone gene of Aplysia. Electrophysiologically, the IWCs were silent neurons with large resting potentials and appeared to be highly refractory to electrical stimulation. The similarities of the IWCs to the egg-laying neuroendocrine cells in Aplysiaand Lymnaeasuggest that they are members of a homologous group of neurons controlling egg-laying behavior in gastropod molluscs. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Kinesin-2's Role in Intracellular Cargo Transport: Navigating the Complex Microtubule Landscape

Intracellular cargo transport is a complex and highly regulated process. Molecular motors are responsible for trafficking these cargos to their final destination along a complex microtubule path containing microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs). Cargo regulation has focused intensely on two oppositely moving microtubule motors, dynein and kinesin. However, many cargos contain more than one directionally similar motor, i.e., kinesin-1 and kinesin-2, and the reason for having this combination on a cargo is not well understood. It is equally important to understand how directionally similar teams of motors work together. We have previously shown, in vitro, that kinesin-2's motility is insensitive to a neuronal MAP called Tau, unlike kinesin-1 which is strongly inhibited by Tau. Kinesin-2's longer neck-linker was demonstrated to be essential to its ability to successfully navigate Tau obstacles when compared to kinesin-1's shorter neck-linker. However, the mechanism by which kinesin-2 efficiently navigates microtubule obstacles, such as Tau, is presently unknown. Based on our previous work, we hypothesize that kinesin-2 side-steps to adjacent protofilaments to maneuver around MAPs. To test this, we use single-molecule imaging to track the rotation of microtubules, from the rotation of quantum dots attached to the microtubule surface, in the gliding filament assay to observe torque generation (i.e., side-stepping behavior) in the absence and presence of microtubule obstacles. Understanding kinesin-2's mechanism of navigation on the crowded microtubule surface will elucidate a previously unappreciated and unique contribution to understanding how teams of directionally-similar motors, i.e., kinesin-1 and kinesin-2, facilitate long range cargo transport in a complex intracellular environment.
Tumor Targeting and Imaging in Live Animals with Functionalized Semiconductor Quantum Rods

In this contribution, we demonstrate that highly luminescent CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum rods (QRs) coated with PEGylated phospholipids and conjugated with cyclic RGD peptide can be successfully used for tumor targeting and imaging in live animals. The design of these targeted luminescent probes involves encapsulation of hydrophobic CdSe/CdS/ZnS QRs with PEGylated phospholipids, followed by conjugation of these PEGylated phospholipids to ligands that specifically target the tumor vasculature. In vivo optical imaging studies in nude mice bearing pancreatic cancer xenografts, both subcutaneous and orthotopic, indicate that the QR probes accumulate at tumor sites via the cyclic RGD peptides on the QR surface binding to the αVβ3 integrins overexpressed in the tumor vasculature, following systemic injection. In vivo tumor detection studies showed no adverse effects even at a dose roughly 6.5 times higher than has been reported for in vivo imaging studies using quantum dots. Cytotoxicity studies indicated the absence ...
Actuation of fluidic flexible matrix composites in structural media

Fluidic flexible matrix composite (F2MC) tubes have been shown to provide actuation and stiffness change in applications that require isolated tubes or multiple tubes embedded in a soft matrix. Structural applications often require stiff and strong composites, however, so this article addresses the actuation performance of F2MC tubes embedded in structural media. Two analytical models are developed based on Lekhnitskii’s solutions for a homogeneous orthotropic cylinder with axial force and pressure loading. These unit cell models are cylindrical and bilayer with the inner layer being a thick-walled F2MC tube and the outer layer representing the surrounding rigid composite and are composed of either homogeneous epoxy or a second FMC layer made with stiffer matrix material. The models are validated using ABAQUS. Free strain and blocked force are calculated for a variety of unit cell designs. The analytical results show that actuation performance is generally reduced compared to that of an isolated F2MC tube...
X-ray studies of the thickness and roughness of thin adsorbed fluid layers

This paper is a brief summary of a talk delivered at the “Discussion Meeting on Phase Transitions at Interfaces”, Bad Herrenalb, Germany in September 1993 on the application of synchrotron X-ray scattering to the study of liquid surfaces. More complete discussion of much of this material can be found in the publications cited in the manuscript. The oral presentation was concerned with the application of X-ray specular reflectivity to study structure of the liquid/vapor interface for various liquids, including superfluid 4He, liquid gallium and thin liquid wetting layers of classical liquids adsorbed on solid surfaces. The effects that correlations between the height fluctuations on the top and bottom surfaces of thin adsorbed liquids have on the reflectivity and diffuse scattering from thin films will be discussed.
Kinetics of fibronectin release from fibroblasts in response to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and retinoic acid

We have studied the effects of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and its in vivo and in vitro antagonist retinoic acid (RA) on the synthesis and release of a major extracellular glycoprotein, fibronectin (FN), in human lung fibroblasts (HLF). The studies reported here investigate the question of whether the increased amounts of FN released by TPA treatment are cell-surface derived or require de novo synthesis of FN. Untransformed HLF continuously released FN into the medium. Addition of TPA rapidly enhanced this release of FN into the culture medium, as shown with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RA, given simultaneously with TPA, prevented the increased release and resulted in a normal FN accumulation in the medium. RA alone did not influence FN release. To study the effect of TPA or RA on synthesis rates of FN, HLF were labeled metabolically: FN synthesis rates with or without TPA, RA, or with TPA and RA were similar, as judged by assaying cell-layer-associated and medium [3H]FN. Pre-existing (unlabeled) FN accumulated in the medium as a result of TPA treatment at a time when newly synthesized (labeled) FN was still intracellular. Cycloheximide, in concentrations which inhibited protein synthesis by 95%, did not prevent but only reduced the normal FN release, nor did it prevent the effect of TPA at this reduced level. We conclude that phorbol ester action and RA counteraction on the release of FN takes place on a cell-surface target; that FN which is released into the medium by TPA is derived from pre-existing FN; that RA specifically antagonizes TPA action. No protein synthesis is required to release FN, to mediate enhanced FN release by TPA, or to counteract the enhanced release by RA.
Role of third order statistics in discriminating among models of fatigue crack growth in metals

Fatigue crack growth is looked upon as an irreversible nondecreasing stochastic process. The suitability of several well-known distributions for describing the time for a crack to progress a specified amount is discussed relative to the coefficient of skewness. Based upon available data, it is shown that “weakest link” distributions that have appeared in the literature are not suitable. Further, it is demonstrated that to the contrary, “strongest link” distributions are consistent with the data. Finally, implications for stochastic models of fatigue crack growth are discussed.
Twist conformation for the cis N,N-dimethylphosphoramidate of thymidine 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate

Abstract PMR analysis assigns twist and chair predominant conformations to the Rp and Sp diastereomers, respectively ( 3 a and 3 b ), of thymidine 3′,5′-cyclic N,N-dimethylphosphoramidate, 3 . The twist conformer population of 3 a is about 64 (acetone) to 75% (toluene).
Appreciation of indirect requests by left- and right-brain-damaged patients: The effects of verbal context and conventionality of wording☆

Unilaterally right (RHD)- and left (LHD)-hemisphere-damaged patients were tested on their ability to discern the correct, nonliteral interpretation of indirect requests (e.g., "Can you open the door?") embedded in short vignettes and presented without any pictorial support. Each stimulus vignette incorporated two verbal cues--context and conventionality of form--designed to influence interpretations of a critical utterance located at the end of each vignette. Contexts were biased to encourage either the direct, literal reading of critical utterances as a question, or the indirect meaning of the utterance as a request for action. The critical utterances themselves were either high in conventionality (e.g., "Can you ...?") which encouraged an indirect interpretation, or low in conventionality (e.g., "Is it possible for you to ...?") which encouraged a direct interpretation. Results indicated that RHD patients were significantly impaired, relative to controls, in their ability to make judgments based on contextual information. RHD patients performed comparably to the aphasic, LHD group in the use of both context and conventionality. These results replicate earlier findings of disrupted indirect request comprehension by RHD patients tested in pictorially supported paradigms.
The multivariate detection limit for Mycoplasma pneumoniae as determined by nanorod array-surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and comparison with limit of detection by qPCR

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a cell wall-less bacterial pathogen of the human respiratory tract that accounts for up to 20% of community-acquired pneumonia. At present, the standard for detection and genotyping is quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), which can exhibit excellent sensitivity but lacks standardization and has limited practicality for widespread, point-of-care use. We previously described a Ag nanorod array-surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (NA-SERS) biosensing platform capable of detecting M. pneumoniae in simulated and true clinical throat swab samples with statistically significant specificity and sensitivity. We report here that differences in sample preparation influence the integrity of mycoplasma cells for NA-SERS analysis, which in turn impacts the resulting spectra. We have established a multivariate detection limit (MDL) using NA-SERS for M. pneumoniae intact-cell sample preparations. Using an adaptation of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)-recommended methods for analyzing multivariate data sets, we found that qPCR had roughly 10× better detection limits than NA-SERS when expressed in CFU ml−1 and DNA concentration (fg). However, the NA-SERS MDL for intact M. pneumoniae was 5.3 ± 1.0 genome equivalents (cells per μl). By comparison, qPCR of a parallel set of samples yielded a limit of detection of 2.5 ± 0.25 cells per μl. Therefore, for certain standard metrics NA-SERS provides a multivariate detection limit for M. pneumoniae that is essentially identical to that determined via qPCR.
A comparison of the biochemical changes induced in mouse brain by cuprizone toxicity and by scrapie infection

Abstract Studies were made of the activity of acid deoxyribonuclease and eleven glycoside hydrolases, and the rate of incorporation of DNA and glycoprotein precursors in the brains of mice fed on a diet containing 0·5 per cent. cuprizone (biscyclohexanoneoxaldihydrazone) for up to 16 weeks. The profile of changes observed was very similar to that found in the brains of mice infected with the Chandler strain of scrapie agent. The biochemical lesions of cuprizone toxicity in brain could be reversed by withdrawing cuprizone from the diet. It is concluded that many of the biochemical changes seen in Chandler scrapie are not specific for the disease and that cuprizone toxicity may be a useful control for certain types of scrapie experiment.
Effects of octopamine on fluid secretion by isolated salivary glands of a feeding ixodid tick

Octopamine elicited a dose-related secretory response by salivary glands isolated from the feeding female tick Amblyomma americanum. Half-maximal stimulation occurred at about 60 μM. Phentolamine (10 μM) failed to inhibit the octopamine-mediated response; however, thioridazine (50 μM) inhibited both octopamine (1,000 μM) and dopamine-stimulated (0.1 μM) secretion. Maximal stimulation by dopamine (1.0 μM) showed no further increase in the rate of secretion after adding octopamine (1,000 or 0.1 μM). Glands responded to octopamine (100 μM) with rates significantly lower than controls following exposure to amphetamine (1,000 μM). Octopamine receptors do not appear to mediate the secretory response, and octopamine may stimulate secretion by releasing catecholamines from presynaptic neurons. These results support the hypothesis that dopamine is the natural transmitter mediating fluid secretion in the feeding tick salivary gland.
Long-term oral ciprofloxacin: Experience in the treatment of incurable infective endocarditis

Acute septic infective endocarditis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in two patients with conditions that made it incurable, was treated with long-term orally administered ciprofloxacin. Bacteremia and symptoms cleared, resulting in subjective well-being without cure for three and one half and 22 months, respectively. Large amounts of ciprofloxacin, 150 and 1,440 g, respectively, were given continuously without apparent adverse reactions. Blood isolates of P. aeruginosa after treatment had limited progression of resistance to ciprofloxacin. Use of orally administered ciprofloxacin provides new opportunities for the long-term treatment of serious infections with restricted risk of bacterial drug resistance and no appreciable side effects.
Mutations of PIK3CA in anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, high-grade astrocytomas, and medulloblastomas

The phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase pathway is activated in multiple advanced cancers, including glioblastomas, through inactivation of the PTEN tumor suppressor gene. Recently, mutations in PIK3CA, a member of the family of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase catalytic subunits, were identified in a significant fraction (25-30%) of colorectal cancers, gastric cancers, and glioblastomas and in a smaller fraction of breast and lung cancers. These mutations were found to cluster into two major "hot spots" located in the helical and catalytic domains. To determine whether PIK3CA is genetically altered in brain tumors, we performed a large-scale mutational analysis of the helical and catalytic domains. A total of 13 mutations of PIK3CA within these specific domains were identified in anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, anaplastic astrocytomas, glioblastoma multiforme, and medulloblastomas, whereas no mutations were identified in ependymomas or low-grade astrocytomas. These observations implicate PIK3CA as an oncogene in a wider spectrum of adult and pediatric brain tumors and suggest that PIK3CA may be a useful diagnostic marker or a therapeutic target in these cancers.
The p53 – microRNA-34a axis regulates cellular entry receptors for tumor-associated human herpes viruses

A growing number of reports indicate the frequent presence of DNA sequences and gene products of human cytomegalovirus in various tumors as compared to adjacent normal tissues, the brain tumors being studied most intensely. The mechanisms underlying the tropism of human cytomegalovirus to the tumor cells or to the cells of tumor origin, as well as the role of the host’s genetic background in virus-associated oncogenesis are not well understood. It is also not clear why cytomegalovirus can be detected in many but not in all tumor specimens. Our in silico prediction results indicate that microRNA-34a may be involved in replication of some human DNA viruses by targeting and downregulating the genes encoding a diverse group of proteins, such as platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha, complement component receptor 2, herpes simplex virus entry mediators A, B, and C, and CD46. Notably, while their functions vary, these surface molecules have one feature in common: they serve as cellular entry receptors for human DNA viruses (cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr virus, human herpes virus 6, herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, and adenoviruses) that are either proven or suspected to be linked with malignancies. MicroRNA-34a is strictly dependent on its transcriptional activator tumor suppressor protein p53, and both p53 and microRNA-34a are frequently mutated or downregulated in various cancers. We hypothesize that p53–microRNA-34a axis may alter susceptibility of cells to infection with some viruses that are detected in tumors and either proven or suspected to be associated with tumor initiation and progression.
Exogenous and endogenous γ-aminobutyric acid of mouse brain particulates in a binding system in vitro☆

Abstract A study was made of the distribution of endogenous γ-aminobutyric acid (γABA) among different centrifugal fractions from sucrose homogenates of mouse brains. “Mitochondrial” and “microsomal” resuspensions in buffered saline were used to bind 14 C-labeled γABA. It was shown that both the suspending fluid and the particulate matter of the 14 C-γABA binding test systems contained a much larger quantity of γABA than that of the radioactive γABA added. The specific activity of the bound γABA at the end of the experiment was considerably smaller than that of the free γABA in the suspending fluid, indicating that only part of the finally bound γABA participated in the binding process. Thus the occurrence of two “pools” of bound γABA in the final particulates was established. The increase in total amount of bound γABA from the onset to the end of the binding procedure was smaller than was calculated from the specific activity of the free γABA and the 14 C-γABA content of the particles at the end of the procedure. These results suggest either that some exchange occurs between bound and free γABA or that appreciable amounts of endogenous γABA are lost by the particulate in the course of the procedure.
RELEASE OF PHOSPHATE BY FERMENTING BREWER'S YEAST

When brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces carisbergensis) was pitched into a solution of fermentable sugar, phosphate, potassium and magnesium ions were rapidly released into the medium. On further incubation the released phosphate was re-absorbed. In the presence of fermentable sugar, n-butanol markedly increased release of phosphate and calcium ions inhibited the leakage, but these reagents had little effect when yeast was suspended in water. Yeast cells grown on a medium deficient in inositol or biotin and inositol, when subsequently exposed to fermentable sugar, released more phosphate than did cells grown on a sufficient medium. Leakage was dependent upon sugar uptake and fermentation; leakage was not inhibited by sodium azide or by 2,4, dinitrophenol, but was inhibited by fluoride, iodo-acetate or uranyl ions. From these results it was concluded that the leakage of inorganic ions was dependent on an increase in the permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane during sugar utilization.
Prediction of Excess Enthalpies Using a Gex/EOS Model

The Peng-Robinson equation of state (as modified by Stryjek and Vera), combined with the Wong-Sandler mixing rule, was used for the prediction of excess enthalpies of highly nonideal mixtures at both low and high pressures, and with supercritical components included. In this work, the model parameters were fitted only to experimental vapor-liquid equilibrium data and were then used to obtain simultaneous representation of both vapor-liquid equilibria and excess enthalpy data. The results show that this equation of state model is able to yield not only qualitative, but also reasonably quantitative, predictions of the thermodynamic properties of nonideal systems of varying complexity.
Thermodynamics and nucleation phenomena — A set of experimental observations

Abstract Classical nucleation theory assumes that the nucleus of a phase transformation is of the equilibrium composition and structure and that the undercooling to formation of this nucleus is a kinetically determined quantity. No relationship between the nucleation temperature and the corresponding equilibrium temperature is expected. Nonclassical theories of nucleation, notably the theory of a physical spinodal by the author, predict the nucleus is not necessarily of the equilibrium composition and structure and that there must be a relationship between maximum undercooling of a parent phase and the equilibrium temperature at the corresponding composition. These predictions are compared with experimental results on vapor to liquid condensation, liquid-liquid demixing, and nucleation of crystals from the melt and from solution. The experimental results support the view that a thermodynamic limit to undercooling exists and that nucleation at maximum undercooling in these three transitions corresponds to nucleation near this thermodynamic limit.
A biological programming model for self-healing

Biological systems exhibit remarkable adaptation and robustness in the face of widely changing environments. By adopting properties of biological systems, we hope to design systems that operate adequately even in the presence of catastrophic failures and large scale attacks. We describe a programming paradigm based on the actions of biological cells and demonstrate the ability of systems built using our model to survive massive failures. Traditional methods of system design require explicit programming for fault tolerance, which adds substantial costs and complexity to the design, implementation and testing phases. Our approach provides implicit fault tolerance by using simple programs constructed following guiding principles derived from observing nature. We illustrate our model with experiments producing simple structures and apply it to design a distributed wireless file service for ad hoc wireless networks.
Coming to terms with neopatrimonialism: Soviet and American nation-building projects in Afghanistan

The author examines how patrimonial forms of domination, as conceived in a Weberian sense, came to pervade the formal bureaucratic apparatuses developed under both Soviet Marxist–Leninist (from the late 1970s) and American-coalition liberal designs (since 2001), creating hybrid states defined by neopatrimonialism. Drawing lessons from the survival and eventual collapse of the Najibullah regime following the 1989 withdrawal of Soviet forces, the article finds that the continued extension of aid and arms, and not the presence of foreign military forces, proved most effectual in sustaining the Afghan leader's patronage-based grip on power. Arguing that the contemporary regime of Hamid Karzai has likewise adopted a neopatrimonial-type rule, these findings have clear implications for current American policy in Afghanistan. America, Afghanistan's ultimate patron, can better ensure stability in the region by extending aid to Karzai than by continuing a large and costly military occupation of the region.
Role of ligand bending in the photodissociation of O2 vs CO-heme: a time-dependent density functional study.

Time-dependent DFT calculations reveal a strong dependence of low-lying excited states on the <Fe−O−O angle of a model O2-heme adduct and ready access to a metastable side-on isomer. The predicted state crossings provide a pathway for internal conversion to the ground state and account for the low quantum yield for O2 dissociation, while the side-on isomer can account for the observation of an unphotolyzable fraction at low temperature. For CO-heme, the angle-sensitive states lie above the photoaccessed Q state and do not participate in photodissociation.
TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT: ADULT STEM CELLS IN CARTILAGE REGENERATION AND TISSUE ENGINEERING

Articular cartilage, the load-bearing tissue of the joint, has limited repair and regeneration potential. The scarcity of treatment modalities for large chondral defects has motivated attempts to engineer cartilage tissue constructs that can meet the functional demands of this tissue in vivo. Cartilage tissue engineering requires three components: cells, scaffold, and environment. Adult stem cells, specifically multipotent mesenchymal stem cells, are considered the cell type of choice for tissue engineering, because of the ease with which they can be isolated and expanded and their multilineage differentiation capabilities. Successful outcome of cell-based cartilage tissue engineering ultimately depends on the proper differentiation of stem cells into chondrocytes and the assembly of the appropriate cartilaginous matrix to achieve the load-bearing capabilities of the natural articular cartilage. Multiple requirements, including growth factors, signaling molecules, and physical influences, need to be met. Adult mesenchymal stem-cell-based tissue engineering is a promising technology for the development of a transplantable cartilage replacement to improve joint function.