cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
miR-433-3p Suppresses Bone Formation and mRNAs Critical for Osteoblast Function in Mice

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key posttranscriptional regulators of osteoblastic commitment and differentiation. miR-433-3p was previously shown to target Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and to be repressed by bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. Here, we show that miR-433-3p is progressively decreased during osteoblastic differentiation of primary mouse bone marrow stromal cells in vitro, and we confirm its negative regulation of this process. Although repressors of osteoblastic differentiation often promote adipogenesis, inhibition of miR-433-3p did not affect adipocyte differentiation in vitro. Multiple pathways regulate osteogenesis. Using luciferase-3' untranslated region (UTR) reporter assays, five novel miR-433-3p targets involved in parathyroid hormone (PTH), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Wnt, and glucocorticoid signaling pathways were validated. We show that Creb1 is a miR-433-3p target, and this transcription factor mediates key signaling downstream of PTH receptor activation. We also show that miR-433-3p targets hydroxysteroid 11-β dehydrogenase 1 (Hsd11b1), the enzyme that locally converts inactive glucocorticoids to their active form. miR-433-3p dampens glucocorticoid signaling, and targeting of Hsd11b1 could contribute to this phenomenon. Moreover, miR-433-3p targets R-spondin 3 (Rspo3), a leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor (LGR) ligand that enhances Wnt signaling. Notably, Wnt canonical signaling is also blunted by miR-433-3p activity. In vivo, expression of a miR-433-3p inhibitor or tough decoy in the osteoblastic lineage increased trabecular bone volume. Mice expressing the miR-433-3p tough decoy displayed increased bone formation without alterations in osteoblast or osteoclast numbers or surface, indicating that miR-433-3p decreases osteoblast activity. Overall, we showed that miR-433-3p is a negative regulator of bone formation in vivo, targeting key bone-anabolic pathways including those involved in PTH signaling, Wnt, and endogenous glucocorticoids. Local delivery of miR-433-3p inhibitor could present a strategy for the management of bone loss disorders and bone defect repair. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Finding a new you

In Disco Elysium, you play a detective solving a murder, but the game is more concerned with taking the opportunities to reinvent yourself – and not worrying if you fail, says Jacob Aron
Managing the challenges in transition dairy cows

The transition from late gestation to lactation is a period of many physiological changes, and a critical time to ensure cows are well prepared for a profitable and healthy lactation. There are many opportunity areas to implement management practices mitigating the risk of early lactation catabolic armageddon. Most dynamic activities will be better implemented if they are consistently measured and monitored. While comparison to external benchmarks is inherently dangerous to sound decision making, we aim to provide a framework such that a dairy can begin to internally calibrate its management metrics. Monitoring performance metrics that have little momentum, bias, and lag will help dairy farms reach their goals.
Quantitative EEG improves prediction of Sturge-Weber syndrome in infants with port-wine birthmark.

Abstract Objective Port-wine birthmark (PWB) is a common occurrence in the newborn, and general pediatricians, dermatologists, and ophthalmologists are often called on to make an assessment of risk for Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) due to workforce shortages in pediatric neurologists and MRI’s low sensitivity for SWS brain involvement in infants. We therefore aimed to develop a quantitative EEG (qEEG) approach to safely screen young infants with PWB for SWS risk and optimal timing of diagnostic MRI. Methods Forty-eight infants (prior to first birthday) underwent EEG recording. Signal processing methods compared voltage between left and right sides using a previously defined pipeline and diagnostic threshold. In this test sample, we compared sensitivity/specificity of the qEEG metric against MRI performed after the first birthday. We also used likelihood ratio testing to determine whether qEEG adds incremental information beyond topographical extent of PWB, another risk marker of brain involvement. Results qEEG helped predict SWS risk in the first year of life (p = 0.031), with a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 81%. It added about 40% incremental information beyond PWB extent alone (p = 0.042). Conclusion qEEG adds information to risk prediction in infants with facial PWB. Significance qEEG can be used to help determine whether to obtain an MRI in the first year of life. The data collected can assist in developing a predictive model risk calculator that incorporates both PWB extent and qEEG results, which can be validated and then employed in the community.
An analysis of tube nosing through rotary tool

The paper investigates the deformation mechanics of the tube during the rotational tube nosing process. Tube nosing is similar to the tube flaring process; however, its end is reduced rather than e...
Evidence for a fungal loop in shrublands

Dryland communities may mitigate the loss of limited resources by exchanging nutrients through subterranean fungal connections, termed fungal loops. In arid grasslands, fungal loops can influence community composition and primary productivity, yet their ecological significance across dryland systems remains unexplored. We investigated the functional role of fungal loops in nutrient translocation in a North American shrubland ecosystem. We traced the movement of ¹⁵N from moss‐dominated biocrusts to the dominant xeric shrub Larrea tridentata, and the movement of ¹³C from L. tridentata to biocrusts in plots established in situ in the Sonoran Desert. Measurements occurred at three time points spanning 1 week following a simulated 2.5 mm rainfall event, and at distances up to 1 m from tracer application. We also used ITS sequencing to investigate changes in fungal community composition in soils over the 1‐week period. We discovered movement of ¹⁵N from biocrusts into L. tridentata foliage as well as ¹⁵N movement to other spatially isolated moss‐dominated biocrust patches, yet this movement did not occur until 4–6 days post‐rainfall, when significantly higher δ¹⁵N was observed in L. tridentata and biocrusts compared to previous days. We did not observe consistent patterns of ¹³C movement from L. tridentata into neighbouring shrubs or biocrusts, suggesting differential environmental drivers for carbon movement in this system. Fungal communities exhibited a decrease in alpha diversity on the last day of the study, indicative of a delayed community response to rainfall concomitant with nutrient translocation. Fungal endophyte orders Pleosporales and Pezizales dominated all plot soils, and order Pleosporales was significantly more abundant in ¹⁵N enriched plots, suggesting that dark septate endophytic fungi were involved in nitrogen translocation. The delay in nutrient translocation may reflect a rainfall‐triggered rebuilding of mycelial networks between community members following drought. Synthesis. Our results point to fungal‐mediated nutrient exchange pathways in a previously uninvestigated vegetation type, shrublands, where nutrients are translocated between moss‐dominated biocrusts and nearby shrubs. We provide the first evidence that nutrient transfer may be delayed up to 6 days following rainfall, consistent with pulse‐dynamic responses in drylands, and that moss‐dominated biocrusts play a role in fungal loops.
Why Is Everyone Else Wrong

The discussion begins with the issue of whether human beings have a right to be wrong in what they believe and in much of what they do (that doesn’t inflict burdens on others). It moves on to a consideration of whether being wrong must always amount to something blameworthy or might it be innocent. Then the radical idea that everyone is mistaken, all of the time, as some extreme skeptics would have it, is examined. Next the matter of dealing with others who are wrong and what may and may not be done about them is considered. The oft-affirmed superiority of scientific thinking is then briefly discussed. What about philosophy—what if any role does the discipline have in these reflections? Finally the famous declaration of Socrates, that all he knows is that he knows nothing, is scrutinized.
A locking scheme for associative retrieval

The general problem of concurrency control for database systems has been studied intensively. However, the studies often ignored the underlying file systems. A locking scheme for multi-key hashed file structures is presented in this paper. First, we define a transaction model for such file structures, then we present techniques for conflict detection as well as a new locking scheme. The locking scheme combines aspects of both physical and predicate locking schemes. It places locks on buckets while guaranteeing record-level access; this results in increased concurrency with minimal overhead.
Abstract 4245: A comparative analysis of PI3K inhibitors in human tumor primary culture microspheroids

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Altered phosphoinosotide metabolism is a hallmark of many human malignances. The phosphoinsotide kinases (PI3K) of which there are several sub-classes, have been explored as targets for cancer therapy. Beyond the first generation pan-PI3K inhibitors Wortmannin & LY294002, new, clinically active agents with subclass specificity and/or dual inhibitory functions (PI3K & mTOR) have been developed, including BEZ235 (PI3K/mTOR), GDC0941(αβδ), BYL719(α) & Idelalisib (δ). To examine the activity of these agents we applied Ex Vivo Analysis of Programmed Cell Death (EVA/PCD) (Nagourney, R et al Anticancer Res., 2012)to human tumor microspheroids, isolated directly from surgical specimens. Lethal concentrations (LC50's) interpolated from 5-point dose response curves were compared for activity and for correlation by Pearson Moment. Results: Micro-molar activity favored BEZ > BYL > LY. Correlation coefficients reveal BYL vs. BEZ (N=15, R =0.69, P Solid; BEZ: Solid > Heme; BYL: Heme > Solid with preliminary evidence for Idelalisib showing Heme > Solid. Conclusions: The PI3K inhibitors are active in both Heme and Solid tumors, with relative concordance between agents, but some evidence of disease specificity. Additional comparisons with GDC 0941 and drug combination studies are being conducted to further characterize the clinical activity and combinatorial potential of this class of agents. EVA/PCD analyses, conducted in human tumor primary cultures, have the capacity to evaluate drug activity, synergy and sequence dependence offering clinically relevant insights into novel drug applications. Citation Format: Robert Alan Nagourney, Paula J. Bernard, Federico Francisco, Steven S. Evans. A comparative analysis of PI3K inhibitors in human tumor primary culture microspheroids. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4245. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4245
Rushing to Copenhagen? Is Cap-and-Trade the Answer?

To listen to the public discourse about how to control emissions, one might think there is near-unanimity that cap-and-trade is the answer. Set limits on carbon emissions, provide business with the ability to trade rights to pollute, and the market will efficiently spread the costs of pollution control. These economists beg to differ. Read why.
Modeling Perspectives in Math Education Research

Too often powerful and beautiful mathematical ideas are learned (and taught) in a procedural manner, thus depriving students of an experience in which they create and refine ideas for themselves. As a first step toward improving the current undesirable situation in undergraduate mathematics education, this chapter describes several different modeling perspectives and their implications for teaching and learning.
An investigation of adaptive beat estimation for improved data compression

The authors have investigated the use of adaptive beat estimation for ECG data compression. On selected MIT/BIH database records, they estimated QRS complexes from previous QRS complexes with simple averaging, LMS adaptive estimation, and averaging based on the mean axis direction of the QRS complex. The authors subtracted beat estimates from actual beats to produce residual beats. They calculated entropy of the first differenced residual data. Differenced residual signal entropy was reduced by adaptive estimation in thirteen of fourteen records, with a maximum reduction of 0.53%. Averaging based on mean QRS axis reduced the differenced residual signal entropy in 11 of 13 records, with a maximum entropy reduction of 4.1%.
Bootstrapping High Dimensional Time Series

We focus on the problem of conducting inference for high dimensional weakly de- pendent time series. Our results are motivated by the applications in modern high dimensional inference including (i) constructing uniform confidence band for high dimensional mean vector and (ii) specification testing on the second order property of high dimensional time series such as white noise testing and testing for bandedness of covariance matrix. In theory, we derive a Gaussian approximation result for the maximum of a sum of weakly dependent vectors by adapting Stein's method (33), where the dimension of the vectors is allowed to be exponentially larger than the sample size. Our result reveals an interesting phenomenon arising from the inter- play between the dependence and dimensionality: the more dependent of the data vectors, the slower diverging rate of the dimension is allowed for obtaining valid statistical inference. Build- ing on the Gaussian approximation result, we propose a blockwise multiplier (wild) bootstrap that is able to capture the dependence amongst and within the data vectors and thus provides high-quality distributional approximation to the distribution of the maximum of vector sum in the high dimensional context.
Tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 in allergic and anaphylactic inflammation

Protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 is an essential regulatory molecule in many different signaling pathways. The biological importance of SHP-1 is underscored by the motheaten mutant mouse strains with immunological disorders involving multiple organs and by the close association of aberrant SHP-1 expression with several human diseases. Recent studies provided some compelling evidence that supports a role of SHP-1 in regulating mast cell development and function and also in regulating type 2 allergic inflammatory responses in both innate and adaptive immune responses. In this article, we summarize the recent advancement of our understanding of this interesting phosphatase in the important area of allergic inflammation.
High pressure phases of CuI

Abstract In addition to the 14-kbar transition in CuI reported by Bridgman, there have been reports of phase transitions at 4-kbar and 5-kbar on the basis of optical observations. X-ray diffraction results using a diamond anvil cell give no indication of any structural change up to 14-kbar. This transformation is very sluggish and is not completed until a pressure of about 30-kbar is attained. Furthermore, another phase transition, not previously reported occurs at approximately 53-kbar. These results have been verified by resistivity measurements in the belt apparatus. The structures of the two high-pressure phases have not yet been completely solved, but both of them appear to require unit cells that are supercells of the starting zincblende structure.
A Si-Micromachined 162-Stage Two-Part Knudsen Pump for On-Chip Vacuum

This paper investigates a two-part architecture for a Knudsen vacuum pump with no moving parts. This type of pump exploits the thermal transpiration that results from the free-molecular flow in nonisothermal channels. For a high compression ratio, 162 stages are serially cascaded. The two-part architecture uses 54 stages designed for the pressure range from 760 to ≈ 50 Torr, and 108 stages designed for lower pressures. This approach provides greater compression ratio and speed than using a uniform design for each stage. Finite element simulations and analytical design analysis are presented. A five-mask single-wafer fabrication process is used for monolithic integration of the Knudsen pump that has a footprint of 12 × 15 mm2. The pressure levels of each stage are measured by integrated Pirani gauges. Experimental evaluation shows that, using an input power of ≈ 0.39 W, the evacuated chamber is reduced from 760 to ≈ 0.9 Torr, resulting in a compression ratio of ≈ 844. The vacuum levels are sustained during 37 days of continuous operation.
Effect of neostigmine on the tissue concentration of antibiotic in streptomycin treated rats.

Increased streptomycin levels in rat skeletal muscle tissue were observed after the administration of neostigmine methylsulfate alone and in combination with atropine. Acetylcholine and methacholine bromide were administered to determine if the increase in antibiotic concentration was due to vasodilation or to some other action of the anticholinesterase.
Diagnosis, management, and survival of patients with leptomeningeal cancer based on cerebrospinal fluid-flow status

Background. The authors assessed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in patients with carcinomatous meningitis using technetium-99m-DTPA (Tc-99) ventriculography to determine the frequency of flow abnormalities, their reversibility with treatment, and the implications for successful therapy and survival. Methods. Technetium-99m-DTPA flow studies were performed in 31 patients after placement of Ommaya reservoirs (Baxter, McGaw Park, IL). Two millicuries of Tc99 were injected into the reservoir. Planar images of the head and entire spine were obtained after 10 and 30 minutes and after 1, 4, 6, and 24 hours. Follow-up studies were performed for 12 patients whose initial studies were abnormal or who developed complications of therapy. Results. In 19 of the 31 patients (61%), ventricularoutlet, spinal, or convexity blocks were identified. In '11 of these 19 patients, focal radiotherapy to the site of the block restored normal flow. Survival among patients with initially normal, abnormal but correctable, and abnormal but uncorrectable CSF flow differed significantly (6.9, 13.0, and 0.7 months respectively; P < 0.001). Some patients who were treated intrathecally despite abnormal CSF flow experienced drug-related toxicity. Conclusions. Cerebrospinal fluid-flow blocks are common in patients with carcinomatous meningitis and may occur at the skull base, in the spinal canal, and over the convexities. These flow abnormalities often can be corrected with appropriately directed radiotherapy. If untreated, CSF tumor progression (protected site effect),
A case–control study of risk factors for severe hand–foot–mouth disease among children in Ningbo, China, 2010–2011

A small fraction of hand–foot–mouth disease (HFMD) progression from the onset of severity to fatality may be remarkably rapid. Early recognition of children at risk of severity is critical to increase treatment effectiveness and reduce acute mortality. A frequency-matched case–control study was conducted between January 2010 and June 2011 in Ningbo to identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of severity in children with HFMD. Data including demographic characteristics, clinical features, and laboratory test results were collected by trained interviewers through retrospective medical record review and/or face-to-face interviews with children’s parents using a standardized questionnaire. Eighty-nine cases with severe HFMD and 267 controls with mild HFMD were recruited in this study. Palm rashes (OR = 0.004, 95%CI = 0.000–0.039, p 10.8 × 109/L (OR = 4.495, 95%CI = 1.311–15.415, p = 0.017), and human enterovirus 71 infection (OR = 39.172, 95%CI = 9.803–156.522, p < 0.001). Clinicians should pay increased attention to children diagnosed as HFMD with the independent risk factors above.
Approximation in the mean by bounded analytic functions

Let 1<p<∞ and\(\tfrac{1}{p} + \tfrac{1}{q}\). LetC q denote the Bessel capacity in the plane. Let\(M\)λ be the set of homomorphisms ϕ ofH∞(G) such that ϕ(z)=λ and letNP denote the set of points λ in ∂G for which\(M\)λ is not a peak set forH∞(G). In this note, we show that ifC q (NP)=0, thenH∞(G) is dense inL a p (G), the Bergman space overG.
Longitudinal plasma resonance shifts in gold nanoparticle aggregates

Recent interest in colloidal gold focuses on understanding the tunability of the longitudinal and transverse plasma resonance. It was reported that the reduction of HAuCl 4 by Na 2 S produces gold nanoparticles with an optical absorption in the near infrared. This absorption blue shifts during the course of the reaction. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) measurements on this system indicated that there was little sulfur present in the system. A small angle x-ray scattering (SAX) experiment was used to monitor the reaction while simultaneously the UV-VIS spectrum was measured. During the reaction the fractal dimension decreased from 4.154 ± 0.850 to 0.624 ± 0.146. The decrease in fractal dimension coincided with the blue shift in the longitudinal plasma resonance from the near IR to the visible. This suggests a change from reaction limited colloid aggregation (RLCA) to diffusion limited colloid aggregation (DLCA), caused the shift in the plasma resonance.
Adaptive grid embedding for the two-dimensional Euler equations

A numerical algorithm is presented for solving the two-dimensional flux-split Euler equations using a multigrid method with adaptive grid embedding. The method uses an unstructured data set along with a system of pointers for communication on the irregularly shaped grid topologies. An explicit two-stage time advancement scheme is implemented. A multigrid algorithm is used to provide grid level communication and to accelerate the convergence of the solution to steady state. Results are presented for an NACA 0012 airfoil in a freestream with Mach numbers of 0.95 and 1.054. Excellent resolution of the shock structures is obtained with the adaptive grid embedding method with significantly fewer grid points than the comparable structured grid.
The effects of low‐credible sources on message acceptance

(1966). The effects of low‐credible sources on message acceptance. Speech Monographs: Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 127-136.
COMPONENTS OF RELIABILITY.

As an alternative to the analysis of variance approach to reliability a multiple-factor analysis approach is illustrated. The one-factor and the multiple-factor models for reliability are compared. Tests on the latent roots associated with the principal components of intercorrelation matrices are used to determine the number of components to be retained. Conditions under which one or more of the principal components should be utilized are discussed.
Distribution of the size of random hash trees, pebbled hash trees and N-trees

Devroye (SIAM J. Comput. 28 (1999) 1215 –1224) computedthe average size of several rand om hash-basedtrees. We extend this analysis by 6nding the central limit distribution for a suitably normalized version of the size of each of random hash trees, pebbledhash trees andN-trees. Because of a strong d ency among the sizes of the subtrees, one cannot appeal to standard theorems for sums of independent random variables. Our paper probes further a saddle point method basedon expressing the characteristic generating function of the size of each tree as a coe9cient in a super characteristic generating function raisedto a large power. c 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved MSC: 05C05; 60C05; 60F05; 68P05
The Effects of Laser Peening and Shot Peening on High Cycle Fatigue in 7050-T7451 Aluminum Alloy

Abstract The high cycle fatigue performance of 7050-T7451 aluminum was investigated for untreated as-machined, laser peened, and shot peened conditions. Constant amplitude, smooth (Kt = 1) fatigue tests were conducted in four-point bending at a stress ratio of R = 0.1. Results show that laser peening induces a layer of compressive residual stress more than three times deeper than for shot peening. Both treatments significantly increase fatigue performance. At a moderate level of stress, peened specimens outlast as-machined specimens, by a factor of 7.9 for laser peening and 2.9 for shot peening. At higher stress, life improvements are lower, a factor of 3.3 for laser peening and 2.1 for shot peening. At a 100,000-cycle lifetime, fatigue strength of laser peened specimens is 41% higher than as-machined specimens and the fatigue strength of shot peened specimens 30% higher than as-machined. A form of pitting was noted on the laser peened surfaces and follow-on tests assessed the effects of the pitting on fatigue performance. Results indicate that the pitting does not significantly influence fatigue performance.
The Lowrie–Fuller test: single-domain and micromagnetic theory

Lowrie and Fuller [J. Geophys. Res. 76 (1971) 6339–6349] proposed a test to distinguish between single-domain (SD) and multi-domain remanence using alternating field (AF) demagnetization. However, their criterion for SD grains, derived from experiments on nominally SD samples, seems to contradict the SD theory. A new, more general SD theory is presented that includes the effects of variations in grain shape and volume, applied stress and composition. One factor is varied at a time while the others are held fixed. If the variable is stress or grain shape, the AF demagnetization curves do not satisfy the Lowrie–Fuller criterion for SD grains, as noted in earlier work. The same is true for variable composition if the magnetic hysteresis is controlled by shape anisotropy. Grain volume affects the AF demagnetization curve through thermal fluctuations. When the variable is volume, the sample passes the Lowrie–Fuller test. If the variable is grain orientation, the outcome depends on the distribution of orientations and the direction of the field. A highly anisotropic sample will pass the Lowrie–Fuller test in one direction and fail it in another. Thus, depending on the dominant variable, an ensemble of SD grains can pass or fail the Lowrie–Fuller test. However, a full analysis of the Lowrie–Fuller test must also take into account the critical sizes for transition from SD to non-SD properties. In particular, above the critical volume VSDcoerc, the magnetization reverses by non-uniform rotation. In samples that have been used to test the SD theory, the range of volumes is broad and most of the remanence is carried by grains larger than VSDcoerc. The SD theory will only apply to samples with grain volumes concentrated near the superparamagnetic–SD boundary. Such samples will have many characteristics usually attributed to MD grains. The shapes of their AF demagnetization curves will be determined mainly by the volume distribution. Therefore, they will satisfy the Lowrie–Fuller criterion for SD grains.
Fluorescence properties of a new guanosine analog incorporated into small oligonucleotides

The fluorescence properties of 3-methyl-isoxanthopterin (3-MI) incorporated into different oligonucleotides have been determined. This highly fluorescent guanosine analog has its absorption and fluorescence spectra well resolved from those of the normal nucleotides and the aromatic amino acids. The small shifts observed in absorption and fluorescence emission spectra upon incorporation of 3-MI into these oligonucleotides are consistent with a general solvent effect and do not suggest any contribution from the position of the probe from the 5' end, the sequence of nucleotides immediately 5' or 3' to the probe, or the single- or double-stranded nature of the oligomer. However, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies indicate that the presence of a purine immediately 5' or 3' to the probe results in some dynamic but mostly static quenching in the single-stranded oligomer. Furthermore, a 3' purine is more effective than a 5' purine, and an adenine appears to be more effective than a guanine for these static quenching interactions. Formation of the double-stranded oligomer leads to an additional loss of quantum yield, which can also be ascribed primarily to static quenching. These results show that this new class of spectrally enhanced fluorescent purine analogs will be able to provide useful information concerning the perturbation of nucleic acid structures.
Reactive Deposition of Conformal Palladium Films from Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Solution

High-purity palladium films were deposited onto Si wafers and polyimide by the reduction of organopalladium compounds in supercritical CO2 solution using a batch process at temperatures between 40 and 80 °C and pressures between 100 and 140 bar. Hydrogenolysis of π-2-methylallyl(cyclopentadienyl)palladium(II) in CO2 at 60 °C is complete in less than 2 min, yielding continuous, 100−200 nm thick, reflective films and the benign, fully hydrogenated ligand decomposition products, cyclopentane and isobutane. Analysis of the deposited films by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that they are free of ligand-derived contamination. Deposition of thin films on patterned silicon wafers having feature sizes as small as 0.1 μm wide by 1.0 μm deep is strictly conformal, including uniform coverage of the lower corners and bottoms of the trenches. Deposition by hydrogenolysis of palladium(II) hexafluoroacetylacetonate also yields high-quality films while deposition using π-allyl(2,4-pentanedionato)palladium(II) i...
Absorption of air pollution by plants, and consequences for growth.

There is now great concern that air pollutants (especially sulfur dioxide, ozone, and oxides of nitrogen) can alter the physiological processes of plants, thereby affecting patterns of growth. Air pollutants cause damage to leaf cuticles and affect stomatal conductance. They can also have direct effects on photosynthetic systems, leaf longevity, and patterns of carbon allocation within plants. Pollutants interact with other environmental factors, and may alter plant-environment relationships on a regional scale. In this article, Winner and Atkinson summarize current knowledge of the effects of air pollutants on plant growth and physiology, and indicate the new directions of research now under way in North America and Europe.
Acoustic emission as an indicator of material-removal regime in glass micro-machining

Abstract Acoustic emission (AE) spectra were recorded during microgrinding of brittle materials. It was found that the specific AE energy (i.e., the measured AE energy divided by the material removal rate) was lower for fracture-dominated grinding than for plastic flow-dominated grinding. Two subsequent experiments were performed to measure AE energy while holding the material-removal rate constant. By controlling either the critical depth of cut (for ductile-brittle transition) of the workpiece material, or the actual depth of cut of the grinding machine, the sensitivity of AE energy to grinding regime was investigated for grinding with a constant material-removal rate. Contrary to conventional thinking about the relative contributions of plastic flow and fracture in generation of AE activity, it was found that the AE energy was larger in ductile-regime grinding than in brittle-regime grinding, for identical material removal rates. As a result of the experiments described in this paper, it can be concluded that AE energy measured during microgrinding is sensitive to changes in the mechanism of material removal. For a given volume of material removed, there is more AE energy in a plastic flow-dominated process than in a fracture-dominated process. The relationship found between AE energy and material removal regime could lead to an in-process sensing strategy for controlling grinding ductility.
Neuronal NOS inhibitor that reduces oxidative DNA lesions and neuronal sensitivity increases the expression of intact c-fos transcripts after brain injury

In response to oxidative stress, the ischemic brain induces immediate early genes when its nuclear genes contain gene damage. Antioxidant that reduces gene damage also reduces cell death. To study the mechanism of neuronal sensitivity, we investigated the transcription of the c-fos gene after brain injury of the ischemia-reperfusion type using focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in Long-Evans hooded rats. We observed a significant (p < 0.01) increase in c-fos mRNA in the ischemic cortex immediately after brain injury. However, the c-fos transcript was sensitive to RNase A protection assay (RPA) upon reperfusion. The transcript became significantly resistant to RPA (42%, p < 0.03) when 3-bromo-7-nitroindazole (25 mg/kg, i.p.), known to abolish nitric oxide, gene damage and neuronal sensitivity, was injected. Our data suggest that neuronal nitric oxide synthase and aberrant mRNA from genes with oxidative damage could be associated with neuronal sensitivity.
Central Avenue Legacies: A Walking Tour of Historic Black Tampa

The walking tour was a major part of the public program we organized about Central Avenue. The principal challenge in conducting such an excursion was the almost total absence of the physical structures that had comprised this district. Unlike the weekly guided tours of nearby Ybor City (Tampa's historic cigar-making district), where a costumed tour guide conducts visitors around brick streets lined with old buildings explaining the lives of the people who lived in the neighborhood, Central Avenue had been so completely destroyed that all that remained was a featureless grassy landscape. In one sense, this void was intrinsic to the meaning we hoped to convey. We wanted to transform perceptions of this emptiness into public understanding of what had once been in that place and, equally important, what had caused its obliteration. We decided to attempt a metaphorical reconstruction, guided by the very real memories of people who had lived this history. The overall format of the public program was planned to...
Wavelike Properties of Solar Supergranulation Detected in Doppler Shift Data

Recently, Gizon, Duvall, & Schou suggested that supergranulation has a wavelike component. In this Letter, I show that the same phenomenon can be observed using surface Doppler shift data, thereby confirming their observations, which were made using a helioseismic time-distance technique. In addition to confirming those results, I show that the wave motion is predominantly longitudinal (the fluid displacement is in the direction of propagation), and I am able to extend the results for the rotation and the meridional flow beyond ±70° latitude. The meridional flow results, which extend further than previous helioseismic measurements, appear to show no sign of a second cell.
A comparison of generalized Poisson distribution for modeling chromosome aberrations

Various models have been developed for modeling the distribution of chromosome aberrations in the literature (e. g. Consul, 1989). Generalized Poisson distribution is among the popular ones. The parameters of this distribution provide meaningful interpretation of the induction mechanism of the chromosome aberrations. In this article, we apply several estimation methods to estimate the generalized Poisson parameters for fitting the number of chromosome aberrations under different dosages of radiations. The methods compared are moment, maximum likelihood, minimum chi-square, weighted discrepancy and empirically weighted rates of change. Our study suggests that the empirically weighted rates of change method results in smallest Mean Square Error and Mean Absolute Error for most dosages of radiations. The data used for this comparison are from Janardan and Schaeffer (1977).
Stripping measurements of hydrogen peroxide based on biocatalytic accumulation at mediatorless peroxidase/carbon paste electrodes

Biocatalytic accumulation, followed by chronoamperometric detection, is shown to greatly enhance the sensitivity of mediatorless biosensing of hydrogen peroxide at horseradish peroxidase (HRP)/carbon paste bioelectrodes. The mixed carbon paste, with its close proximity between the biocatalytic and graphite sensing sites, promotes the mediatorless accumulation of the oxidized form of HRP. Hence, a 28-fold enhancement of the response for 10 μM hydrogen peroxide is obtained following 3-minute preconcentration. The relative standard deviation (surface-to-surface) at the 10 μM level is 3.3%. The effect of experimental variables, such as the preconcentration time, measuring potential, or paste composition, are explored. Analogous observations are reported for tissue (horseradish root)-based carbon pastes, for mediated HRP detection, and for monitoring of organic peroxides. Future prospects of the bioamplification approach are discussed.
Expression of MC-R, POMC and POMC peptides and evidence for a immunoregulatory role of α-MSH in human dermal papilla cells

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides are well-known regulators of pigmentation and proliferation of epidermal and hair follicle-derived melanocytes. We demonstrated that human dermal papilla cells (DPCs), a distinct myofibroblastic cell population of the hair follicle, participate in the cutaneous POMC system. DPCs in vitro and in situ expressed the melanocortin receptor-1 (MC-1R) as well as MC-4R as shown by RT-PCR, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Expression of POMC but not agouti signalling protein, a natural MC-1R/MC-4R antagonist, was also detectable in DPC. Generation of POMC peptides by DPCs in vitro was demonstrated by immunofluorescence and ELISA studies revealing the expression of both adrenocorticotropin and β-endorphin. To investigate the functional relevance of MC-R expression in DPCs, we examined the effect of α-MSH on interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), an adhesion molecule upregulated in inflammatory disorders of the hair follicle such as alopecia areata. α-MSH markedly suppressed the IFN-γ-mediated upregulation of ICAM-1 in DPCs as shown by real-time PCR studies, while α-MSH alone did not have any effect. Our data suggest that melanocortins such as α-MSH mediate paracrine and autocrine effect in the dermal papilla whose disruption may contribute to inflammatory diseases of the hair follicle.
Interleukin-12 transduced dendritic cells induce regression of established murine neuroblastoma

Abstract Background/Purpose: Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is a potent proinflammatory cytokine that enhances cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cell activity. The goal of these experiments was to assess whether adenoviral-mediated IL-12 expression by dendritic cells (DC) could induce an antitumor immune response in a murine model of neuroblastoma. Methods: Syngeneic A/J mice were inoculated subcutaneously with 1 × 10 6 cells from a murine neuroblastoma-derived cell line (TBJ). Murine DC were transduced in vitro with adCMV-mIL-12, and 1 × 10 6 cells were injected intratumorally. Tumor growth in these mice was compared with control animals injected with enhanced green-filled protein (EGFP) transduced DC or saline. The role of CTL was evaluated through cytotoxicity assays. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor, spleen, and lymph node was performed to characterize the behavior and fate of various populations of immune effector cells in these tissues. Results: The tumors of mice injected with adIL-12 transduced DC all underwent complete regression over a 3-week period. Splenocytes isolated from mice 7 days after intratumoral injection of adIL-12 DC showed increased cytolytic activity relative to control animals in vitro. Immunohistochemistry of tumor and lymph tissue showed increased amounts of DC and T lymphocyte infiltration and a slight decrease in apoptosis relative to the control groups. Conclusions: Increased IL-12 production by DC induced a significant antitumor response in a poorly immunogenic murine neuroblastoma model. These results show the vital role of DC in the immunobiology of the disease, and that protection of these cells from tumor induced apoptosis is a critical aspect for immunotherapies treating this aggressive tumor. J Pediatr Surg 36:1285-1292. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Application of Sedimentation Field-Flow Fractionation to Biological Particles: Molecular Weights and Separation

Abstract Sedimentation field-flow fractionation (SFFF) is an elution-centrifugation method which operates with an equilibrium solute layer thickness of the order of 10 μ. Retention is a function of molecular weight and density, thereby making it possible to obtain both fractionation and molecular weight values for particles and macromolecules. Equations for the characteristics of this method are given. Experimental data are obtained for bacteriophage T2 and compared with theoretical predictions. The molecular weight determined from these data are (227 ± 11) × 106 and (236 ± 7) × 106 for two different dilutions. Finally, it is noted that the potential speed and accuracy of the method are attractive, and are based largely on the small sedimentation layer thickness.
Investigating the Effects of Gender on Consumers' Moral Philosophies and Ethical Intentions

Using information collected from a convenience sample of graduate and undergraduate students affiliated with a Midwestern university in the United States, this study determined the extent to which gender (defined as sex differences) is related to consumers’ moral philosophies and ethical intentions. Multivariate and univariate results indicated that women were more inclined than men to utilize both consequence-based and rule-based moral philosophies in questionable consumption situations. In addition, women placed more importance on an overall moral philosophy than did men, and women had higher intentions to behave ethically. The marketing and practical implications of these findings are discussed, and the limitations of the research are presented along with several suggestions for future inquiry, which could advance current understanding of consumer ethics.
Oxyfuel in Alaska: use of interleukins to monitor effects on the immune system.

Abstract During a 4-week period in late November and early December 1992, blood samples from individuals exposed to auto emissions derived from oxyfuel were analyzed. Effects on the immune system were measured by monitoring plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in a total of 22 subjects at the beginning and the end of the workday. After ∼ 8 h of workplace exposure, mean levels of IL-6 of 2.5 pg/ml were obtained. While some subjects showed increasing levels at the end of the workday, there was no difference between morning and evening IL-6 means. Our conclusion is that single day exposures to oxyfuel and its combustion products does not show an immediate effect on the immune system as judged by serum IL-6 levels.
Poly(galactaramidoamine) is an efficient cationic polymeric non-viral vector with low cytotoxicity for transfecting human embryonic kidney (HEK293) and murine macrophage (RAW264.7) cells

Poly(galactaramidoamine) (PGAA) is a cationic co-polymer of dimethyl-meso-galactarate and pentaethylenehexamine. PGAA electrostatically complexes with plasmid DNA (pDNA) to form nano-sized particles. In this study, we show that PGAA-pDNA polyplexes generate high transfection efficiencies in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) and murine macrophage-like (RAW264.7) cell lines. PGAA-pDNA mediated transfection is a function of the amine:phosphate (N/P) ratio at which the polyplexes are prepared. The maximum expression of luciferase was obtained using polyplexes prepared at an N/P ratio of 40. Polyplexes prepared at increasing N/P ratios did not significantly increase in size but did result in decreasing luciferase expression. Cellular toxicity increased as the N/P ratios at which the polyplexes were prepared increased.
Role of Electron Microscopy in the Diagnosis of Nonneoplastic Renal Disease in Children

To assess the role of electron microscopy in the evaluation of pediatric renal biopsies, all native kidney biopsies performed in children for nonneoplastic renal disease over a 2-year period were reviewed. Of 80 biopsies, the role of electron microscopy was classified as “essential” in 50 (63%), “supportive or confirmatory” in 18 (23%), and “noncontributory” in 9 (11%), with no glomeruli available for study in 3 (4%). The role of electron microscopy with respect to indication for biopsy and final diagnosis is discussed. This study confirms the continued importance of electron microscopy in the evaluation of pediatric renal biopsies.
Iodide-catalysed self-assembly of donor-acceptor [3]catenanes

Charged donor–acceptor [3]catenanes comprising the π-accepting cyclobis(paraquat-4,4′-biphenylene) and π-donating aromatic crownether macrocycles have been prepared in high yields using thermodynamically controlled dynamic nucleophilic substitution.
Monte Carlo calculation of source-to-detector geometry, II☆

Abstract An outline is given of numerical integration by the Monte Carlo method for calculating the transmission of an ion-optical system. The technique is extended to determine an intensity map of the image.
Multifocal Oral Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), previously known as histiocytosis X, is a rare disorder in which bone marrow– derived pathologic cells infiltrate and destroy tissue. It has traditionally been recognized to present as Letterer-Siwe disease (acute disseminated multisystem disease occurring in infants), Hand-Schuller-Christian disease (chronic disseminated disease arising in children), and eosinophilic granuloma (disease limited to bones, occurring in adolescents and young adults). 1 This schema remains useful, but it is an oversimplification because infants can have single-system self-healing skin disease and adults can have multisystem life-threatening disease. 2,3 We report the case of a 22-month-old boy with disease simultaneously presenting in the maxilla and mandible.
NEW TASKS FOR THE UNITED NATIONS—THE ENVIRONMENT, POPULATION, SPACE, AND SEABEDS*

A discussion of the United Nations activity in relation to the environment population outer space and the seabeds is presented. In regard to the population problem an international multilateral approach is recommended. International agencies can be particularly useful in meeting the problem by promoting a consensus on the nature of the population problem and what directions should be taken by helping to assuage domestic interests that oppose controversial national population policies and by helping to prevent family planning from becoming an ideological or cold war issue. Recommendations of a report issued by the United Nations Association on world population and the United Nations role are summarized: 1) the present Trust Fund for Population should be increased to $100 million a year in voluntary contributions; 2) a Commissioner for Population should be established to administer the fund implement population projects and represent the United Nations: 3) the Commissioner should be prepared to sponsor projects extending across the entire spectrum of population and family planning programs; and 4) substantial resources should be devoted to the support of research into improved fertility control into the operation of family planning programs and into the relationship between population policy and development policy. It is estimated that $2 billion a year will be required to provide family planning services for all women in the world who want them.