cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lithium Regulates Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: Implication in the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Background Bipolar disorder has been linked to alterations in the multifunctional enzyme glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β). The mood stabilizer lithium inhibits GSK3β in vitro and in mouse brain, and this is currently the strongest known potential therapeutic target of lithium. We tested whether lithium modified GSK3β in vivo or in vitro in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy control and bipolar disorder subjects. Methods The PBMCs were obtained from 23 healthy control subjects, 9 bipolar subjects currently treated with lithium, and 13 lithium-free bipolar subjects. Immunoblot analyses were used to measure the inhibited, serine9-phosphorylated GSK3β. Results The level of phospho-Ser9-GSK3β in PBMCs was regulated by agents that modified kinases and phosphatases acting on GSK3β and was increased by in vitro lithium treatment. More important, phospho-Ser9-GSK3β levels were eightfold higher in PBMCs from lithium-treated bipolar than healthy control subjects. Conclusions Signaling pathways regulating serine9-phosphorylation of GSK3β can be studied in human PBMCs. Both in vitro and in vivo therapeutic lithium treatment is associated with a large increase in phospho-Ser9-GSK3β in PBMCs. Therefore, the inhibitory serine9-phosphorylation of GSK3β in human PBMCs may provide a biochemical marker to evaluate the association between GSK3β inhibition and therapeutic responses to lithium treatment.
Differential effects of folic acid on water content, protein and microsomal 5′-phosphodiesterase activity of the rat kidney

Abstract The effects of folic acid administration on the weight, protein, water content and microsomal 5′-phosphodiesterase of the rat kidney were determined, to elucidate the mechanisms contributing to the renal enlargement produced by this agent. Folic acid administered ip in single doses of 100–250 mg/kg caused dose-related increases in kidney weight, water and protein content within 24 hr. Time-course studies indicated that 250 mg folic acid/kg given ip produced a progressive elevation in renal water content from 2 to 72 hr. Smaller increases in whole-kidney protein were recorded 8, 24 and 72 hr after folic acid treatment. However, a biphasic response of microsomal 5′-phosphodiesterase was produced, inhibition at 16 hr being followed by stimulation (to 140% of control) at 72 hr. In vitro studies indicated that folic acid inhibits 5′-phosphodiesterase competitively, and the early inhibition of 5′-phosphodiesterase in vivo appears to be due to a direct effect of folic acid on the enzyme.
Localized phonons in stage-disordered graphite intercalation compounds.

The effect of stage disorder on [001] L phonons in intercalated graphite is studied. The energies of localized phonons and the phonon density of states as a function of disorder are predicted for stage-4 potassium graphite.
A peptide model of a protein folding intermediate

It is difficult to determine the structures of protein folding intermediates because folding is a highly cooperative process. A disulphide-bonded peptide pair, designed to mimic the first crucial intermediate in the folding of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, contains secondary and tertiary structure similar to that found in the native protein. Peptide models like this circumvent the problem of cooperativity and permit characterization of structures of folding intermediates.
Fusicoccin Synthesis by Intramolecular [4+4] Photocycloaddition of 2-Pyridones: Stereocontrol of the Cycloaddition and Elaboration of the Pentacyclic Product

Intramolecular photocycloaddition of a three-carbon tethered pyrindinone–pyridone system yields the 5-8-5 ring system of the fusicoccin/ophiobolin/ceroplastol families. The stereoselectivity of the cycloaddition was found to be dependent on nitrogen substitution; N-methylation led to exclusively trans products while an absence of nitrogen substitution resulted in solvent-dependent stereoselectivity. Solvent and concentration effects for this cycloaddition were consistent with a hydrogen-bonded dimer that enforces a pro-cis conformation in nonpolar solvents and at higher concentrations. The cis-isomer, a fusicoccin synthesis intermediate, underwent a Cope rearrangement at ambient temperature but could be trapped efficiently as the mono epoxide, yielding a product with six new stereogenic centers. A four-step transformation of an amide carbonyl to a methyl group was achieved using a carbamoyl group to activate the amide for cleavage.
Ab initio studies of the band parameters of III–V and II–VI zinc-blende semiconductors

Electronic band-structure calculations are performed for zinc-blende III–V (AlP, AlAs, AlSb, GaP, GaAs, GaP, InP, InAs, and InSb) and II–VI (ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, and CdTe) semiconductors using an ab initio pseudopotential method within a local-density approximation (LDA). Lattice parameters, band gaps, Luttinger parameters, momentum matrix elements and effective masses are studied in detail. It is shown that LDA calculations cannot systematically give accurate band parameters. It is found that LDA band parameters calculated using experimentally determined lattice constants are more accurate than those using LDA lattice constants. We found that inclusion of the d electrons of Group-II atoms in the core gives more accurate band parameters.
Turkey Quality as Affected by Ovens of Varying Energy Costs

Energy consumption of microwave, convection, and conventional ovens was monitored as boneless turkey roasts were cooked. The microwave and convection ovens were more energy efficient than was the conventional oven. Total cooking losses and expressible moisture indices did not differ among the roasts. Shear values for microwave roasts were higher than those for convection roasts but were similar to those of conventional roasts. An experienced sensory panel found no differences in doneness, appearance, juiciness, and flavor among roasts after they had been stored in a refrigerator overnight but did find that the microwave roasts were less tender than were the others. A 72-member consumer panel did not express any preferences among the roasts in a multiple-paired comparison test.
Case Study: Summer Counseling with Disadvantaged Junior High School Students

Six secondary school counselors worked as a summer counseling team with disadvantaged junior high school students. Most of the students who received counseling were making a transition from a familiar to an unfamiliar school situation, i.e., they were entering or leaving junior high school. Counseling sessions were conducted in homes as well as in the schools. Extensive use was made of staff sessions and referral agencies. The services of the counseling team were favorably accepted by students and parents and were evaluated by the counselors and principals as worthwhile. Some problems and recommendations are described.
TETRACYCLINE LABELLING OF BONE AND THE ZONE OF DEMARCATION OF OSTEOID SEAMS

In human lamellar bone, mineralization begins in a plane, termed the zone of demarcation, which separates osteoid seams from mineralized bone. Permanently fixed tetracycline antibiotics are deposited in the zone of demarcation in vivo, and in no other locus in lamellar bone.
Evaluation of Spring Wheat Germplasm for Resistance to Bacterial Leaf Streak Caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. translucens

Abstract Bacterial leaf streak (caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. translucens) has reemerged as a potential threat in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) production areas in the northern Great Plains. As with other foliar bacterial diseases, chemical control under field situations is neither economical nor practical. Development of resistant genotypes will be needed for adequate management of the disease. There is currently limited information on sources of resistance in hard spring wheat germplasm. The main objective was to develop and apply a robust screening tool for evaluating germplasm against bacterial leaf streak, and to identify resistance sources for this disease. Inoculated field experiments were conducted in Brookings and Codington Counties, SD in 2009 and 2010 using a virulent local isolate (XctSD-017) inoculated after tillering stage. Forty-five hard red spring wheat genotypes with diverse genetic backgrounds were evaluated for disease severity, with ratings made at 7-day intervals from headi...
Bulk and surface collective excitations of electron hole plasma in semiconductor superlattices with zero valence band offset

Abstract We study bulk and surface collective excitations in a semiconductor superlattice with a very large conduction band offset and a negligible valence band offset. The electron-hole plasma is modelled by an array of quasi two-dimensional electron gas layers and a uniform, homogeneous hole gas. It is found that a gap opens in the high frequency plasmon spectrum, that the dispersion and Landau damping of acoustical plasmons is highly anisotropic and varies strongly with the mass ratio of carriers. The surface plasmons show strong wavevector dependence but can be found below the bulk plasmon band for very small wave vectors.
Predictors for lower quality of life in the HAART era among HIV-infected men.

Background In the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), maximizing health-related quality of life (QOL) has become a high priority of long-term management of HIV-infected individuals. Modifiable determinants of lower QOL should be identified for interventions specifically targeted to the HAART-using individuals to improve their QOL. Objective To identify the predictors for lower QOL among HAART-using study participants in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, a longitudinal study of HIV infection among homosexual and bisexual men in 4 cities. Methods In the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, 636 HAART-using subjects had QOL data before HAART initiation and at least 2 consecutive QOL measurements after HAART initiation to visit 40 (April 2004). Variables of sociodemographics, individual risk behaviors, social support, biological markers, HIV-related medication use and clinical outcome indicators preceding the study outcomes, the physical health summary score and the mental health summary score derived from the standard SF-36 QOL form, were assessed as possible predictors using random-effects mixed models. Results QOL before HAART initiation was a strong predictor of QOL subsequent to HAART initiation. Older age, lower socioeconomic status, less male sexual partners, no alcohol drinking, and more advanced HIV disease stage were significant predictors for lower physical health summary score. In addition, more outpatient visits, depression, amprenavir use, antiretroviral drug interruption, recreational drug use, and less social support were significantly associated with lower mental health summary score. Discussion Many predictors of lower QOL are alterable risk factors that can be effectively targeted for interventions to maximize patients' QOL. With appropriate treatment and management of HIV disease and depression, clinicians can help improve the QOL of their patients. Through modification of individual risk behaviors, HIV-infected individuals can enhance their own QOL with support from clinicians and the community. In addition, active social support can also be an effective way to improve mental health of the infected persons.
Lithium compounds as targets for (p,n) reactions

Abstract It is known that metallic lithium has the highest thick-target neutron yield in (p,n) reactions compared with various lithium compounds. However, lithium metal is highly reactive and possesses a low melting point, which creates difficulty in target design, manufacturing and operation. As a result, lithium compounds should be considered as candidates for the target. As the stopping powers differ among lithium compounds, different compounds lead to different total neutron yields and different epithermal fluxes. This paper presents a quantitative analysis of the relative neutron yields for a series of thick targets made of lithium compounds and the corresponding achievable epithermal neutron fluxes by moderation suitable for BNCT applications. It is shown that the useful epithermal neutron flux in the 4 eV–40 keV range reaches the peak value at about 3 MeV proton energy and decreases when proton energy increases over 3 MeV. For Li3N and Li2O targets, a proton current of 5–6 mA may be sufficient for producing a beam of 109 n/cm2/s epithermal flux under ideal conditions. When other factors are considered, a proton current around 10 mA may be needed for producing a feasible BNCT beam. The results may be useful in target material selection and design and accelerator design for epithermal neutron production for BNCT.
Determinants of bone mineral density in obese premenopausal women

Despite being a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus, obesity has been thought to protect against osteoporosis. However, recent studies have demonstrated a differential impact of specific fat compartments on bone mineral density (BMD) with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) having potential detrimental effects on BMD. Visceral obesity is also associated with dysregulation of the GH/IGF-1 axis, an important regulator of bone homeostasis. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the differential effects of abdominal fat depots and muscle, vitamin D, and hormonal determinants, including insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), testosterone, and estradiol, on trabecular BMD of the lumbar spine. We studied 68 healthy obese premenopausal women (mean BMI, 36.7±4.2 kg/m(2)). Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) was used to assess body composition and lumbar trabecular BMD. There was an inverse association between BMD and VAT, independent of age and BMI (p=0.003). IGF-1 correlated positively with BMD and negatively with VAT and, in stepwise multivariate regression modeling, was the strongest predictor of BMD and procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (P1NP). Thigh muscle cross sectional area (CSA) and thigh muscle density were also associated with BMD (p<0.05), but 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], testosterone, free testosterone, and estradiol levels were not. 25(OH)D was associated inversely with BMI, total, and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (p<0.05). These findings support the hypothesis that VAT exerts detrimental effects, whereas muscle mass exerts positive effects on BMD in premenopausal obese women. Moreover, our findings suggest that IGF-1 may be a mediator of the deleterious effects of VAT on bone health through effects on bone formation.
Fluid Simulation of a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Deployment into a Patient-Specific Aortic Root

Successful transcatheter aortic valve (TAV) deployment and function are heavily reliant on the implant-host tissue interaction. Many adverse events observed clinically in TAV procedures such as impairment of coronary artery flow, paravalvular leak, and access site injury could be attributed to improper TAV deployment and interaction with the aortic root. In this study, we performed a computational analysis of the TAV-aortic root interaction, particularly the hemodynamics before and after TAV deployment. Utilizing a recently developed computational TAV model, we simulated the deployment of this TAV into a 68 year old male patient. The geometry of the patient’s aortic valve and root were extracted from clinical CT images. From the simulation results, we obtained a peak transvalvular pressure drop of 78.45 and 25.27 mmHg before and after the TAV deployment, respectively. The mean systolic ejection transvalvular pressure reduced from 45.8 to 7.55 mmHg and effective orifice area (EOA) increased from 0.53 to 1.595 cm2 following the TAV intervention. The altered flow pattern following TAV intervention resulted in a significant pressure drop in the vicinity of the sinuses of Valsalva, and a corresponding decrease in percentage of cardiac output reaching the coronary arteries from 5.14 to 4.07% from pre- to post-TAV deployment. In conclusion, the developed computational models allow for a quantitative analysis of the hemodynamics before and after TAV intervention, and thus could be an enabling tool for patient screening and TAV design improvement.
Evidence for phylogenetic congruence among sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotrophic bacterial endosymbionts and their bivalve hosts

Sulfur-oxidizing chemoautotrophic (thioautotrophic) bacteria are now known to occur as endosymbionts in phylogenetically diverse bivalve hosts found in a wide variety of marine environments. The evolutionary origins of these symbioses, however, have remained obscure. Comparative 16S rRNA sequence analysis was used to investigate whether thioautotrophic endosymbionts are monophyletic or polyphyletic in origin and to assess whether phylogenetic relationships inferred among these symbionts reflect those inferred among their hosts. 16S rRNA gene sequences determined for endosymbionts from nine newly examined bivalve species from three families (Vesicomyidae, Lucinidae, and Solemyidae) were compared with previously published 16S rRNA sequences of thioautotrophic symbionts and free-living bacteria. Distance and parsimony methods were used to infer phylogenetic relationships among these bacteria. All newly examined symbionts fall within the gamma subdivision of the Proteobacteria, in clusters containing previously examined symbiotic thioautotrophs. The closest free-living relatives of these symbionts are bacteria of the genus Thiomicrospira. Symbionts of the bivalve superfamily Lucinacea and the family Vesicomyidae each form distinct monophyletic lineages which are strongly supported by bootstrap analysis, demonstrating that host phylogenies inferred from morphological and fossil evidence are congruent with phylogenies inferred for their respective symbionts by molecular sequence analysis. The observed congruence between host and symbiont phylogenies indicates shared evolutionary history of hosts and symbiont lineages and suggests an ancient origin for these symbioses.
Silence on the stomping grounds: a case study of public communication about disability in the 1990s

This case study describes the manner in which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – the first state-funded institution of higher education in the United States – publicly addressed the disability civil rights movement just before and after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. An analysis of archived documents, reports, and correspondence among administrators coupled with a review of news coverage in two of the most prominent news sources on campus indicated that there was no attempt to create and sustain significant public communication efforts about disability. Public communication focused on accessibility issues and rarely acknowledged the significance of the disability civil rights. The potential benefit of public communication about disability issues is discussed as it relates to higher education’s obligation to assume social leadership.
Defining Myosin Relay Domain Interactions with the Converter Domain and with the SH1-SH2 Helix Region and their Significance in Muscle Contraction

Interaction of the myosin relay domain with the converter domain and with the SH1-SH2 helix region appears to be vital for the power stroke and muscle contraction. To define involvement of specific residues in these interactions we used mutation and compensatory mutation approach. The mutant myosins were expressed transgenically in Drosophila indirect flight muscles, which allow assessment of myosin function in vitro and in vivo. We mutated residue R714 near the SH1-SH2 helix in the main body of myosin. We found that R714E myosin ATPase is reduced by ∼80% and that no in vitro motility is detected. R714E organisms show myofibril assembly defects that are exacerbated with age and these organisms cannot fly. Putative compensatory mutation E499R in the relay domain improves ATPase activity so that there is only ∼35% reduction compared to wild type. Further, R714E/E499R myosin moves actin filaments at ∼30% of wild-type velocity. Normal myofibril assembly is restored and myofibrils are more stable. We next studied mutation R759E in the converter domain. It depresses myosin ATPase activity, in vitro motility and flight ability. Although myofibrils assemble normally, they degenerate as flies age. We inserted a lysine mutation at putative interacting relay domain loop residue N509 in an attempt to suppress the R759E mutant phenotypes. N509K dramatically rescues muscle structure and function, with significant increases in ATPase rates and in vitro motility. These interactions are critical for normal ATPase activity, in vitro motility, myofibril assembly and/or stability and flight muscle function. Thus the specific residue contacts identified permit the myosin relay domain to communicate information between the nucleotide binding pocket and the converter domain and are essential for progress through the mechanochemical cycle that powers muscle contraction.
Photo-Oxidation of Pyrrhole

FRESHLY redistilled pyrrole dissolved in water, alcohol or acetone and mixed with 0.5 × 10-1 M methylene blue rapidly takes up oxygen in the light but not in the dark. Pyrrole alone is not oxidized. The rate of oxygen uptake is a linear function of light intensity. Eosin, but not fluorescein, can be used instead of methyleno blue. Tests with standard optical filters showed the effective wave-lengths to be within, the range of 5200–5800 A. On the basis of 5500 A., the energy necessary to institute the reactionis 3.4 × 10-12 ergs/molecule.
Heat conduction in an equilateral triangular rod under a step-change wall temperature

Abstract This paper examines the steady state heat conduction in an equilateral triangular homogenous rod of infinite length. The rod is composed of an isotropic heat conducting material and is subjected to a step wall temperature change on all three faces with no heat source or sink. The temperature field in the equilateral triangular rod is obtained by an approximate analytic method using Fourier integral transforms and a numerical scheme. The temperature variations in the transverse direction at various longitudinal sections are plotted, along with the temperature variations in the longitudinal direction for various points in the transverse coordinate. Also, for the same wall temperature condition, the generating lines of isothermal surfaces, which are symmetrical, are plotted. The wall heat flux variation along the longitudinal direction is obtained and plotted against the longitudinal coordinate. To present the total heat flow, a dimensionless heat flow coefficient at the cross section corresponding to the wall temperature discontinuity is defined and its value is found to be 1.83850.
Strategies to Control Batch Integrity in Size-Exclusion Simulated Moving Bed Chromatography

In pharmaceutical production, it is important to link each batch of product to its source materials and track each batch throughout the production process. Tracking and controlling each batch is more challenging in a simulated moving bed (SMB) process than in conventional batch chromatography. Solutes coming from a certain feed batch in an SMB can be mixed with solutes coming from adjacent feed batches. The mixing is due to the location of the product ports relative to the feed port, periodic port movement, internal recycle, and dispersion due to mass transfer resistances. The degree of mixing, or the size of the overlap region of the different batches in the product stream, largely depends on solute residence time. Decreasing the zone lengths, using partial feeding, or applying pinched wave operating conditions can effectively reduce residence time and therefore decrease the overlap region. To eliminate the overlap region completely (or achieve complete control of batch integrity), an eluent gap can be applied between two adjacent feed batch injections. The strategies for reducing residence time can minimize the eluent gap, thereby reducing eluent consumption and increasing productivity. One can further reduce the amount of eluent by closing the feed port during the gap period and opening the feed port only during the feed loading period.
Adaptive Interactions between Cytokines and the Hypothalamic‐Pituitary‐Gonadal Axis

Circulating and tissue concentrations of pyrogenic cytokines, especially interleukin (IL)-1 beta, vary temporally through the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. The secretion of these cytokines in vitro by isolated human mononuclear cells is significantly influenced by exogenous gonadal steroids and gonadotropins. Reciprocally, cytokines influence gonadotropin secretion by the pituitary and steroidogenesis by the ovaries and testes. Several hypotheses have been advanced regarding the adaptive value of these interrelationships. Cytokine-induced synthesis of proteolytic enzymes and extracellular matrix proteins may be important for the tissue remodeling necessary for ovulation, implantation, and delivery. Tolerance of the fetal allograft may require downregulation of cytotoxic effector cells and reciprocal upregulation of humoral and nonspecific host defenses. The inhibitory influence of IL-1 beta on the luteinizing hormone surge may prevent inopportune conception, and the abortive influences of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and gamma interferon may terminate pregnancy during periods of infection.
Adaptive procedures for the two-stage group-testing problems based on prior distributions and costs

A Bayesian model for the classical group-testing problem is presented. Lots of size N from which all the defective items have to be removed are submitted for inspection. If the number of defectives, D, is known, then the problem of group testing is to determine the (fixed) group size that minimizes the total inspection per lot for defective rate p = D/N. In this article, we assume that the number of defectives in a lot is a random variable with a Polya distribution. We also derive an optimal two-stage group-testing plan via dynamic programming. It is shown that a variable group size based on a simple updating procedure can reduce inspection substantially compared to a fixed group size based on the mean defective rate and applied to the whole lot.
Resistance to stretch, [Ca2+]i, and activation of swine arterial smooth muscle.

Rapid stretching of smooth muscle induces a large increase in stress (resistance to stretch), and stress gradually decreases to intermediate values (stress relaxation). This study elucidated whether [Ca2+]-dependent crossbridge activation or passive mechanical structures were responsible for resistance to stretch and stress relaxation in swine carotid media, a tissue that does not exhibit a myogenic repsonse. Tissues were equilibrated at the optimal length for stress development (L0) and loaded with aequorin to estimate myoplasmic [Ca2+]. In tissues activated with contractile agonists, both resistance to stretch and the rate of stress relaxation appeared to correlate best with the stress present before stretch. Stretch-induced [Ca2+] transients had no major role in determining resistance to stretch or stress relaxation. In the unstimulated swine carotid, resistance to stretch was only slightly reduced and stress relaxation not affected by removal of extracellular Ca2+, suggesting that resistance to stretch and the rate of stress relaxation in unstimulated tissues was predominantly dependent on the passive components of smooth muscle rather than attached, Ca2+-dependent crossbridges. Incubation of tissues with tetraethylammonium ion had no measurable effect on stretch-induced [Ca2+] transients but increased resistance to stretch, suggesting that stretch-induced myogenic contractions may be mediated by an increase in the sensitivity of the contractile apparatus to [Ca2+]. Despite the ability of stretch to produce substantial increases in myoplasmic [Ca2+], the contractile apparatus of swine carotid is quite insensitive to the stretch-induced [Ca2+] elevations.
Detecting the dislocations in metal crystals from microscopic images

Studying the distribution of dislocations in metal crystalline structures has been an important subject in metallurgic science for many years. In this paper we describe a computer vision based process which automatically extracts dislocations from one type of microscopic images which contain such dislocations. In these microscopic images, dislocations appear as dark and triangularly shaped regions. However, some of them are lumped together and form regions of complex shapes. In the suggested process we first extract the boundaries of all the dark regions. Next we trace along the extracted boundaries to detect possible corners and edges of the dislocations. Lastly, we determine the existence of the dislocations and their locations by detecting properly spaced and oriented corners and edges. Our experiments have shown that this process is very effective. The approach is comprehensive and deals with many important issues in images processing and pattern recognition.
Corruption and the composition of government expenditure

Abstract This paper asks whether predatory behavior by corrupt politicians distorts the composition of government expenditure. Corruption is found to reduce government spending on education in a cross section of countries.
Performance model for a prioritized multiple-bus multiprocessor system

The performance of a shared memory multiprocessor system with a multiple-bus interconnection network is studied in this paper. The effect of bus and memory contention is modeled using a probabilistic model and a closed form solution for the acceptance probability of each processor is presented. It is assumed that each processor in the system has a distinct priority assigned to it and that arbitration is based on priority. Whenever a request from a processor is rejected due to bus or memory conflicts, the request is resubmitted until granted. Based on the model, individual processor acceptance probabilities are first estimated, from which the effective memory bandwidth is computed. The accuracy of the analytical model is verified based on simulation results. Results from the model are compared against other approximate models previously reported in literature. It is observed that the inaccuracy of the model measured in terms of error from simulation results is less than that in previously reported studies.
Expression and function of beta 1 integrins on human eosinophils

Eosinophils preferentially accumulate at sites of chronic allergic diseases such as bronchial asthma. The mechanisms by which selective eosinophil migration occurs are not fully understood. However, interactions of cell-surface adhesion molecules on the eosinophil with molecular counterligands on endothelial and epithelial cells, and on extracellular matrix proteins, are likely to be critical during the recruitment process. One possible mechanism for selective eosinophil recruitment involves the a4b 1 (VLA-4) integrin which is not expressed on neutrophils. Correlations have been found between infiltration of eosinophils and endothelial expression of VCAM-1, the ligand for VLA-4, in the lungs of asthmatic individuals as well as in late phase reactions in the lungs, nose and skin. Epithelial and endothelial cells respond to the Th2-type cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 with selective de novo expression of VCAM-1, consistent with the possible role of VCAM-1/VLA-4 interactions in eosinophil influx during allergic inflammation. Both b 1 and b 2 integrins on eosinophils exist in a state of partial activation. For example, eosinophils can be maximally activated for adhesion to VCAM-1 or fibronectin after exposure to b 1 integrin-activating antibodies or divalent cations, conditions that do not necessarily affect the total cell surface expression of b 1 integrins. In contrast, cytokines like IL-5 prevent b 1 integrin activation while promoting b 2 integrin function. Furthermore, ligation of integrins can regulate the effector functions of the cell. For example, eosinophil adhesion via b 1 and/or b 2 integrins has been shown to alter a variety of functional responses including degranulation and apoptosis. Thus, integrins appear to be important in mediating eosinophil migration and activation in allergic inflammation. Strategies that interfere with these processes may prove to be useful for treatment of allergic diseases.
Permanent anatomic closure of the ductus arteriosus in newborn baboons: the roles of postnatal constriction, hypoxia, and gestation.

Permanent closure of the ductus arteriosus require loss of cells from the muscle media and development of neointimal mounds, composed in part of proliferating endothelial cells. We hypothesized that postnatal ductus constriction produces hypoxia of the inner vessel wall; we also hypothesized that hypoxia might lead to cell death and the production of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), a hypoxia-inducible growth factor that stimulates endothelial proliferation. We mapped the distribution of hypoxia in newborn baboons and correlated it with the appearance of cell death (TUNEL technique), VEGF expression, and endothelial proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression). In the full-term baboon (n = 10), the ductus was functionally closed on Doppler examination by 24 h after delivery. Regions of the ductus where the lumen was most constricted were associated with moderate/intense hypoxia; VEGF expression was increased in the hypoxic muscle media, and luminal endothelial cells, adjacent to the hypoxic media, were proliferating. Cells in the most hypoxic regions of the ductus wall were undergoing DNA fragmentation. In contrast, regions of the ductus with mild degrees of hypoxia had no evidence of cell death, VEGF expression, or endothelial proliferation. Cell death and endothelial proliferation seemed to be limited to regions of the full-term ductus experiencing moderate/intense hypoxia. In the premature baboon (67% gestation) (n = 24), only 29% closed their ductus by Doppler examination before d 6. None of the premature baboons, including those with a closed ductus by Doppler, had evidence of moderate/intense hypoxia; also, there was no evidence of cell death, VEGF expression, endothelial proliferation, or neointima formation by d 6. Therefore, the premature ductus is resistant to developing hypoxia, even when its lumen is constricted; this may make it susceptible to later reopening.
Thermal and Fickian diffusion of sodium chloride in a solution of oceanic concentration

Abstract Measurements of the thermal diffusion (Soret) coefficient of sodium chloride in 0·5 normal (28·5%) aqueous solution at atmospheric pressure show a reversal in direction of the Soret flow relative to the heat flux at 12°C. Below this temperature, thermal diffusion is up the thermal gradient, the salt flowing from cold to hot. The thermal diffusion coefficient can be represented as a function of temperature as S T = 10 −3 [−1·232 + 0·1128 T −0·000870 T 2 ]° C −1 . The ordinary (Fickian) diffusivity of NaClv in this solution can be expressed as D = 10 −5 [0·44 + 0·0423 T ] cm 2 /sec. These effects will be significant in the diffusive interfaces recently found in the ocean.
Remarks on an s-wave Kπ resonance at 1360 MeV☆

Abstract The K O π − and K − π + mass distributions obtained from a K−p experiment at 5.5 GeV/c are used to study the recent suggestion of an s-wave Kπ resonance at 1360 MeV. Using a model including I = 3 2 s- and p- wave and I = 1 2 , s-, p- and d-wave amplitudes, we analyze the spherical harmonic moments 〈Yl0〉 of the Kπ decay angular distribution in the K∗ (1420) mass region and obtain the result that the reported mass of 1360 MeV does not necessarily represent the resonance position and is influenced by cuts made in the Kπ decay angle.
Multispectral infrared bidirectional reflectance distribution function forward-scatter measurements of common infrared black surface preparations and materials

Fundamental to the design of an infrared sensor is controlling the stray light and internal radiation emission. A series of bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) measurements at two infrared bandpasses in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) are acquired. Incident beams were oriented 10 and 60 deg from normal. Forward-scatter (key to baffles and cold shields) data are presented for infrared black surface preparations, including: anodizing, copper oxide, nickel oxide, black paints, and trademarked black surfaces. Comparison is also made between selected surfaces before and after exposure to 78 K (LN 2 ) thermal cycles. This work also includes scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and discrete Fourier transform (DFT) measurements for selected black surfaces, including comparisons of damaged and undamaged nickel oxide.
Fundamental Research of Sintering Process on Improving the Tumbler Strength of Low SiO2 Sinter

In the laboratory condition, a series of experiments were carried out in a sintering pot in order to improve the tumbler strength of low SiO2 sinter. The results shows that the content of SiO2 is decreased from 4.4wt% to 3.9wt% when the ratio of serpentine is decreased from 2.2wt% to 1.0wt%, as a result, the tumbler strength and the reduction degradation index of sinter all fall down. When the ratio of serpentine is further decreased, all kinds of sintering indexes fall down rapidly. If the basicity of sinter is increased from 1.75 to 1.85, and 5wt% iron concentrate is added in sintering mixture, the content of SiO2 can be decreased to 3.9wt%~4.0wt%, meanwhile, the tumbler strength of sinter is the same as that of the reference sinter with 4.4wt% SiO2. When Niuman iron ore, Hainan iron ore and Hamosili iron ore are used as the hearth layer instead of sinter, and the basicity of sinter is increased to 1.85, the tumbler strength of sinter with 3.9wt%~4.0wt%SiO2 is the same as that of the reference sinter with 4.4wt% SiO2.
Rule-based forecasting and production control system design utilizing a feedback control architecture

Forecasting and production control systems typically rely on operational rules that have been accumulated and refined from enterprise experts. Designing a rule-based system is a challenging task. In this article, a new rule-based system design methodology for forecasting and production control is proposed. The methodology first represents the rule-based system as a finite state automaton (a Moore machine) and then formulates an optimal control problem in a feedback control architecture. The solution to the optimal control problem provides action rules for forecasting and production that minimize cost over a given time horizon. The proposed methodology provides a systematic tool for rule-based system design that gives robust and realistic solutions.
Shadow Removal for Illumination Invariant Face Detection in Hyperspectral Imagery

We present an adaptive visibility improvement technique that leverages the hyperspectral-bands to improve the local contrast and spatial resolution of shadow regions. The proposed technique is evaluated by determining the face-detection rate under various illuminations.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: Linkage to HLA demonstrated by allele sharing in affected sibpairs

Objective To test for linkage between the HLA region and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), with stratification by onset and course types, in a cohort of affected sibling pairs (ASPs). Methods Eighty pairs of siblings with JRA who were registered with the Research Registry for JRA ASPs (sponsored by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) were typed for HLA–DR. The observed ratio of sharing of none, one, or both parental DR alleles was compared against the expected ratio of 1:2:1 by goodness-of-fit chi-square tests. A group of 265 unrelated control subjects served as a comparison population for HLA–DR allele frequencies among patients, by Fisher's exact test. Results Overall, there was excess sharing of 2 DR alleles among ASPs with JRA. The observed ratio of sharing 0, 1, or 2 DR alleles was 8:40:32, instead of the expected ratio of 20:40:20 (P < 0.001). When stratified by JRA onset type, excess allele sharing was demonstrated among ASPs who were concordant for onset type (P = 0.002). This was true for both pauciarticular and polyarticular onset. When stratified by disease course, excess allele sharing was also demonstrated among ASPs who were concordant for disease course (P < 0.001). This was true for both the pauciarticular and the polyarticular course. Among the 32 ASPs who shared two DR alleles, 5 pairs had both DR8 and DR11, which was significantly more frequent (P < 0.0001) than the incidence in the control group (n = 0). Conclusion This study of an independent cohort of multiplex families confirms the previously reported linkage between pauciarticular JRA and the HLA–DR region that was identified using a different analytic method in a cohort of simplex families. Additionally, this study establishes evidence for linkage between polyarticular JRA and the HLA–DR region.
The art of expectations management

One of the most valuable skills a software professional can develop, expectations management is something surprisingly few people know or practice. The author has witnessed more than 100 stakeholder software requirements negotiations in which inflated expectations about the simplicity of the problem or ease of providing a solution have caused the most difficulty. Expectations management holds the key to providing winwin solutions to these situations. The author explains how clear communication, careful estimation, and precise planning can help you shape and meet realistic expectations.
Time Resolved Spectroscopy of Some Aromatic N-Oxide Triplets, Radical Anions, and Related Radicals

Laser flash photolysis (LFP) and time-resolved infrared spectroscopy (TRIR) techniques and density function theory (DFT) calculations were used to investigate the electron-transfer chemistry of the triplet excited states of isoquinoline N-oxide (1), benzocinnoline N-oxide (2), and 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide (3). It was found that neither triplet 1 nor triplet 2 undergoes electron-transfer reactions with typical donors. Rather, they undergo net hydrogen atom transfer (proton-coupled electron transfer) with hydroquinone. Triplet 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide readily undergoes electron-transfer reactions as previously reported, to form the analogous radical anion and hydroradical. The structures of these species were identified by LFP and TRIR techniques with the aid of DFT calculations. The oxygen atom on the N-oxide group was found to be the protonation site of the radical anion of 3.
Absorption and circular dichroism spectra of different forms of mushroom tyrosinase.

The circular dichroism spectrum of resting mushroom tyrosinase between 800 and 400 nm showed two bands at 755, and 653 nm. The CD spectrum of resting tyrosinase between 400 and 250 nm showed oxygen-sensitive changes at 350 nm upon treatment of tyrosinase with hydroxylamine or hydrogen peroxide. These were similar to changes observed on regeneration of aged hemocyanin by similar procedures. A structural relationship between the active sites of hydroxylamine- or hydrogen peroxide-treated tyrosinase and hemocyanin is suggested by these observations, confirming inferences based upon other studies (Jolly, Jr., R.L., Evans, L.H., Makino, N. and Mason, H.S. (1974) J. Biol. Chem. 249, 335-345 and Schoot Uiterkamp, A.J.M. and Mason, H.S. (1973) Proc. Natl. Acad, Sci. U.S. 70, 993-996).
A phase I study of sorafenib and vorinostat in patients with advanced solid tumors with expanded cohorts in renal cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer

Background This phase I study evaluated the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of sorafenib combined with vorinostat in patients with solid tumors. Patients and methods Patients were treated with sorafenib 400 mg po bid daily and vorinostat 200–400 mg po days 1–14 of a 21 day cycle to establish the recommended phase II dose (RP2D). The tolerability and efficacy of the RP2D was further tested in two cohorts of 6–12 patients each with advanced RCC and NSCLC. Results 17 patients were treated in the dose escalation phase that established the RP2D at sorafenib 400 mg po bid daily, vorinostat 300 mg po days 1–14. Dose limiting toxicities (DLT) included intolerable grade 2 hand-foot syndrome and multiple grade 1 toxicities causing dose interruption for more than 14 days. Despite good tolerance in the all-comers population, the RP2D was poorly tolerated in the RCC and NSCLC cohorts with the majority being unable to finish 2 full cycles of therapy. Although there were no confirmed responses, 1 patient each with NSCLC adenocarcinoma and renal sarcoma had unconfirmed partial responses and 5 of 8 patients with RCC having durable minor responses (11–26 %), including 2 who were on treatment for nearly a year. Conclusions Although tolerable in other tumor types, sorafenib 400 mg po bid with vorinostat 300 mg po daily days 1–14 of a 21-day cycle is not tolerable without dose reductions/delays in RCC and NSCLC patients. These patients may require lower doses than the RP2D explored within this study. No confirmed responses were seen but minor responses particularly in RCC were observed.
A SURGICAL ALGORITHM FOR THE TREATMENT OF PEYRONIE'S DISEASE

AbstractPurpose: When conservative treatment of Peyronie's disease fails, the optimal surgical approach is not well defined. Multiple factors, including penile rigidity, degree of curvature, shaft narrowing with hinge effect and erectile response to vasoactive penile injections, indicate that no single approach is likely to solve the problem in all patients.Materials and Methods: A surgical algorithm was developed for the treatment of Peyronie's Disease based on our previous surgical experience, which was used prospectively in 103 consecutive men. Penile straightening without prosthesis was offered to patients with adequate rigidity for coitus. Specifically, for mild to moderate curvature less than 60 degrees without hourglass or hinge effect deformity the less complicated tunica albuginea plication procedure was performed. For those men with more severe, complex curvature greater than 60 degrees and/or significant hourglass or hinge effect deformity plaque incision or partial excision with dermal graftin...
Unsuspected sublingual mass causing difficult intubation in an infant

A case is described of a difficult intubation in an infant presenting for cleft palate closure, due to an unsuspected sublingual mass. The report stresses the fact that multiple anomalies can coexist in an infant and contribute to difficult intubation through different mechanisms. Various airway management strategies are explored.