cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultraviolet Light Phototransduction Activates TRPA1 to Mediate Melanin Synthesis in Human Melanocytes

Human skin is constantly exposed to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), the most prevalent environmental carcinogen. Humans have the unique ability among mammals to respond to UVR by increasing their skin pigmentation, a protective process driven by melanin synthesis in epidermal melanocytes. However, the mechanism used by melanocytes to detect and respond to UVR is not well understood. Here we report that transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) ion channels expressed in human melanocytes are activated by UVR and mediate early melanin synthesis. We show that in human epidermal melanocytes (HEMs) physiological doses of UVR activate a retinal-dependent current mediated by TRPA1. The UVR photocurrent density was reduced by TRPA1 antagonists and abolished in HEMs expressing TRPA1-targeted miRNA. The TRPA1 photocurrent is UVA specific and requires G protein signaling, providing the first evidence for TRPA1 function in mammalian phototransduction. In HEMs, TRPA1 activation contributes to UVR-induced calcium responses to mediate downstream cellular effects. Remarkably, the UVR-induced and retinal-dependent early increase in cellular melanin content was significantly reduced in HEMs treated with TRPA1 antagonists and abolished in HEMs expressing TRPA1-targeted miRNA, suggesting that TRPA1 is required for early melanin synthesis. Our results show that TRPA1 is essential for a novel extra-ocular phototransduction pathway in human melanocytes that is activated by physiological doses of UVR and results in early melanin synthesis.
Ignorance, arrogance, and radical nationalism: A review of China can say no

Song Qiang, Zhang Zangzang, Qiao Bian et al., Zhongguo keyi shuo bu—Lengzhanhou shidai de zhengzhi yu qinggan jueze (China Can Say No—the Political and Emotional Choice in the post‐Cold War era), Beijing: Zhonghua Nonggongshang Lianhe Press, May, 1996, 19.80 RMB, 435 pages. ISBN 7–80100–243–1.
S- AND P-WAVE NEUTRON SPECTROSCOPY. XII. HIGHER RESOLUTION TECHNIQUES IN THE keV REGION WITH WINDOWLESS GAS TARGETS.

Abstract The relative total yield of the O18(p, n) reaction has been studied from threshold to 3.290 MeV with a proton resolution of about 1 11,000 . A previously unreported resonance was observed and improved values of widths and energies were obtained for the other resonances. The Q value for the reaction was determined to be −2439 ± 1 keV which places threshold at 2576 ± 1 keV. The reaction took place in the windowless cryogenic target chamber. A gas handling system was developed to allow one liter of oxygen gas, 65% enriched in O18, to be cycled through the target chamber and recovered with a minimum of loss or dilution. The O18(p, n) neutrons were used in a series of transmission measurements to test the resolution capability of the gas target as a neutron source. Results were in good agreement with resolution predictions. Total neutron energy spreads were 250 eV and 500 eV at neutron energies of 30 keV and 525 keV respectively.
Simultaneous determination of abscisic acid and jasmonic acid in plant extracts using high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the simultaneous determination of abscisic acid and jasmonic acid from plant extracts is described. The method is based on the derivatization of the plant growth regulators with a fluorescent hydrazide to give stable fluorescent products. The use of fluorescent derivatives allowed detection of abscisic acid and jasmonic acid at 5 pmol and provided a linear response to 15 nmol. The method is selective and reproducible, and yields single peaks for each compound regardless of isomer. The identity of the dansyl hydrazone plant growth regulator peaks was supported by chromatography of the N-dimethylanthranilohydrazones of the compounds. The use of two fluorescent hydrazides makes routine confirmation of peak identity a simple matter. The presence of abscisic acid and jasmonic acid in tissue extracts was also supported by chromatographic identification of corresponding methyl and ethyl esters following esterification. Chromatographic peaks corresponding to the dansyl hydrazones of abscisic and jasmonic acid were obtained from extracts of several different tissues of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus L.), and broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.).
Inhibition of in vitro and in vivo HIV replication by a distamycin analogue that interferes with chemokine receptor function : A candidate for chemotherapeutic and microbicidal application

Select chemokine receptors act as coreceptors for HIV-1 entry into human cells and represent targets for antiviral therapy. In this report we describe a distamycin analogue, 2,2'-[4, 4'-[[aminocarbonyl]amino]bis[N,4'-di[pryrrole-2-carboxamide- 1, 1'-dimethyl]]-6,8-naphthalenedisulfonic acid]hexasodium salt (NSC 651016), that selectively inhibited chemokine binding to CCR5, CCR3, CCR1, and CXCR4, but not to CXCR2 or CCR2b, and blocked chemokine-induced calcium flux. Inhibition was not due to nonspecific charge interactions at the cell surface, but was based on a specific competition for the ligand receptor interaction sites since the inhibitory effect was specific for some but not all chemoattractant receptors. NSC 651016 inhibited in vitro replication of a wide range of HIV-1 isolates, as well as HIV-2 and SIV, and exhibited in vivo anti-HIV-1 activity in a murine model. In contrast, a distamycin analogue with similar structure and charge and the monomeric form of NSC 651016 demonstrated no inhibitory effects. These data demonstrate that molecules which interfere with HIV-1 entry into cells by targeting specific chemokine coreceptors can provide a viable approach to anti-HIV-1 therapy. NSC 651016 represents an attractive candidate for the chemotherapeutic treatment of HIV-1 infection and as a microbicide to prevent the sexual transmisssion of HIV-1. Moreover, NSC 651016 can serve as a template for medicinal chemical modifications leading to more effective antivirals.
Public Relations as a Maturing Discipline: An Update on Research Networks

Pasadeos, Renfro and Hanily (1999) investigated the public relations literature's most-cited works in the 1990s and identified research networks. In the present study we expand that work by examining public relations scholarship ten years later. We identify current authors and their publication outlets, taxonomize most-cited works, and draw a co-citation network. Further, we compare current findings with those of ten years earlier and speculate on the state of public relations as a scholarly discipline.
SPECIES–AREA RELATIONSHIPS AND MARINE CONSERVATION

The species–area relationship (SPAR) was the central paradigm for the emerging science of reserve design in the 1970s and early 1980s. The apparent consistency of the SPAR for natural areas suggested that it could be used to predict the number of species that would be maintained within the isolated confines of a nature reserve. This proposed use of the SPAR led to heated debates about how best to partition space among reserves. However, by the end of the 1980s, the SPAR was no longer a central issue in reserve design. There was too much uncertainty about the underlying causes of the SPAR to trust that it would hold for reserves. The SPAR was also inappropriate for the design of single-species reserves and thus did not answer the traditional needs of wildlife managers. Ecologists subsequently focused their reserve-design efforts on the management of individual populations to reduce the probability of extinction and the loss of genetic variation. Nevertheless, because the SPAR does not require detailed knowledge of the requirements of individual species, it is still used to estimate local species richness and to predict the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on biodiversity. These applications of the SPAR may be especially useful in the design of marine reserves, which often differ in purpose from conventional terrestrial reserves and may require fundamentally different approaches.
Lipophorin of female Blattella germanica (L.): characterization and relation to hemolymph titers of juvenile hormone and hydrocarbons

Abstract High density lipophorin (HDLp) from the hemolymph of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Family Blattellidae), has an apparent molecular weight of 670 kDa, with an isoelectric point of 7.0 and a density of 1.109 g/ml. It is composed of two subunits, apolipoprotein-I (212 kDa) and apolipoprotein-II (80 kDa), and consists of 51.4% lipid, 46.2% protein and 2.4% carbohydrate. Hydrocarbons constitute 42.2% of the total lipids which also contain diacylglycerol, cholesterol and phospholipid. Lipophorin is rich in the amino acids glutamic acid, aspartic acid, lysine, valine, and leucine. Specificity of a polyclonal antibody was demonstrated by Western blotting and Ouchterlony immunodiffusion: the antiserum recognized native HDLp and apolipoprotein-I, but not apolipoprotein-II, purified vitellin, or other hemolymph proteins. It also recognized a protein in the hemolymph of Supella longipalpa (Blattellidae) but did not cross-react with hemolymph proteins from Periplaneta americana (Blattidae) or Diploptera punctata (Blaberidae). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to measure the HDLp titer in the hemolymph of adult females. The titer of HDLp, a juvenile hormone binding protein, exhibited no clear relationship to the changing titer of juvenile hormone in hemolymph. The hemolymph titer of hydrocarbon, which is also carried by HDLp, showed some functional relation to the concentration of HDLp in the hemolymph. Because it concurrently serves multiple functions in insect development and reproduction, lipophorin titer might covary with the titers of lipid ligands that occur at high concentrations and require extensive shuttling through the hemolymph.
NATURAL SELECTION ON A LEAF-SHAPE POLYMORPHISM IN THE IVYLEAF MORNING GLORY (IPOMOEA HEDERACEA)

Leaf shape is one of the most variable plant traits. Previous work has provided much indirect evidence that leaf-shape variation is adaptive and that leaf shape influences thermoregulation, water balance, and resistance to natural enemies. Nevertheless, there is little direct evidence that leaf shape actually affects plant fitness. In this study, we first demonstrate that populations of the ivyleaf morning glory, Ipomoea hederacea, in North and South Carolina are frequently polymorphic at a locus that influences leaf shape. We then employ several field experiments to show that this polymorphism is subject to selection. In two of the experiments, at different sites, heterozygotes enjoyed a fitness advantage over both homozygotes. At a third site, in one year directional selection favored lobed leaves, whereas in a second year the pattern of fitnesses was consistent with similar directional selection or heterozygote superiority. Computer simulations of heterozygote advantage under the high selfing rates of I. hederacea indicate that balancing selection of the magnitude observed can by itself stabilize the polymorphism, although spatially and temporally variable selection may also contribute to its long-term maintenance.
Cholinergic receptor molecules and cholinesterase molecules at mouse skeletal muscle junctions.

Studies of the binding of labelled α-bungarotoxin to mouse skeletal muscle endplates have allowed the quantification of acetylcholine receptor sites at the post-synaptic membrane.
Dimensions of personality disturbance after focal brain damage: Investigation with the Iowa Scales of Personality Change

This study employed a multistep, rational-empirical approach to identify dimensions of personality disturbance in brain-damaged individuals: (a) Five dimensions were hypothesized based on empirical literature and conceptual grounds; (b) principal components analysis was performed on the Iowa Scales of Personality Change (ISPC) to determine the pattern of covariance among 30 personality characteristics; (c) when discrepancies existed between principal components analysis results and conceptually based dimensions, empirical findings and clinical considerations were weighed to determine assignment of ISPC scales to dimensions; (d) the fit of data to the refined dimensions was assessed by examination of intercorrelations; (e) differential predictions concerning the relationship of dimensions to ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) damage were tested. This process resulted in the specification of five dimensions: Disturbed Social Behavior, Executive/Decision-Making Deficits, Diminished Motivation/Hypo-Emotionality, Irascibility, and Distress. In accord with predictions, the 28 participants with vmPFC lesions, compared to 96 participants with focal lesions elsewhere in the brain, had significantly more Disturbed Social Behavior and Executive/Decision-Making Deficits and tended to have more Diminished Motivation/Hypo-Emotionality. Irascibility was not significantly higher among the vmPFC group, and the groups had very similar levels of Distress. The findings indicate that conceptually distinctive dimensions with differential relationships to vmPFC can be derived from the Iowa Scales of Personality Change.
Phase coarsening and crack growth rate during thermo-mechanical cycling of 63Sn37Pb solder joints

The effects of phase coarsening in 63Sn37Pb solder joints produced by isothermal annealing and during thermo-mechanical cycling (TMC) on the fatigue cracked area growth rate dAc/dN were investigated. The phase coarsening by isothermal annealing was in accord with the mechanism of interphase boundary diffusion; that during TMC was significantly greater than by isothermal annealing. The phase coarsening in the range considered (D=1–5 µm, N 150 cycles dAc/dN is significantly decreased by a reduction in the as-reflowed phase size. Reasonable agreement occurred between the calculated fatigue lifetime vs initial as-reflowed phase size and that measured.
Scent marking in free-ranging tigers,Panthera tigris

Abstract Data were colleted on the scent-marking patterns of radio-collared and visually identifiable tigers for 4 years in Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Five categories of marking were recorded: urine spraying; scraping with deposits of urine faeces, and anal gland secretions; clawing; cheek rubbing; and vegetation flattening. Urine spraying and scraping were the predominant forms of marking in this population. Tigers marked more heavily at territorial boundaries than in the interior of territories. Furthermore, in border areas marks were highly clumped at contact zones where major routes of travel approached territorial boundaries. This pattern appears to be a result of the density of vegetation which channels travel. The intensity of marking in these zones represented a higher frequency of marking rather than an increase in time spent in these areas. Marking was most intensive when tigers were establishing territories, and animals on adjacent territories appeared to mark in response to each other. Females marked intensively just prior to oestrus; this behaviour was reduced during oestrus. Males marked more frequently when females were in oestrus than during other stages of the females' cycle. A model is proposed where an odour field signals the risk of encountering a conspecific, thus allowing animals to compare the costs of possible encounters with the benefits of use of a given area.
Ruthenium‐incorporated, metathesis‐active polyacetylene

Two olefin metathesis methods have been developed for the preparation of metal-incorporated polyacetylene (MIPA) with high levels of covalently attached ruthenium complex. Treatment of freshly prepared, porous polyacetylene (PA) formed by polymerization of acetylene by the metathesis catalyst (H2IMes)RuCl2(CHPh)(3-bromopyridine)2 (G2B) with additional G2B resulted in the incorporation of the ruthenium complex into the solid polymer in levels up to 75% by mass, giving two-step MIPA (MIPA2). Alternatively, single-step MIPA (MIPA1) samples with similar levels (up to 79% by mass) of ruthenium incorporation were obtained by polymerization of acetylene with highly concentrated solutions of G2B, and the resulting materials formed fine suspensions in CH2Cl2. A variety of experiments confirmed that both the methods give materials with ruthenium covalently attached to PA chains. Shiny, tough MIPA films were obtained by pressing the black powders obtained by either method. Some MIPA properties were dependent on the amount of metal incorporation, but even samples with high incorporation levels mimicked untreated PA in many respects. MIPA1, but not MIPA2, was made electrically conductive by doping with iodine. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1061–1072, 2009
Shattering Silence: Women, Nationalism, and Political Subjectivity in Northern Ireland

Shattering Silence: Women, Nationalism, and Political Subjectivity in Northern Ireland. Begona Aretxaga. Princeton, NJ. Princeton University Press, 1997. xiv. 211 pp., illustrations, notes, references, index.
Geodetic numerical and statistical analysis of data

The paper presents a more generalized concept of the Helmert’s method of subjecting a least squares adjustment to rigorously enforced boundary conditions through the use of weighting functions applied to both the observed data as well as their functional but unobservable parameters. The generalized concept provides: (1) the algorithm necessary for statistically correct treatment of data from hybrid measuring systems; (2) a means of obtaining optimum design of experiments and achieving unique solutions from even nearly unstable normal equations. Various numerical and statistical measures for investigating nonlinearity effects, instability and convergency conditions, and establishment of statistical confidence in the derived parameters and observed data are given. The entire concept has been successfully applied to terrestrial and celestial geodesy, and is applicable to any experimental data that can be expressed as functions of other parameters that may or may not be directly measurable.
Altered Cortical Glutamate Neurotransmission in Schizophrenia

Multiple lines of evidence from pharmacological, neuroimaging, and postmortem studies implicate disturbances in cortical glutamate neurotransmission in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Given that pyramidal neurons are the principal source of cortical glutamate neurotransmission, as well as the targets of the majority of cortical glutamate-containing axon terminals, understanding the nature of altered glutamate neurotransmission in schizophrenia requires an appreciation of both the types of pyramidal cell abnormalities and the specific class(es) of pyramidal cells that are affected in the illness. In this chapter, we review evidence indicating that a subpopulation of pyramidal neurons in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex exhibits reductions in dendritic spine density, a marker of the number of excitatory inputs, and in somal volume, a measure correlated with a neuron's dendritic and axonal architecture. Specifically, pyramidal neurons located in deep layer 3 of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and that lack immunoreactivity for nonphosphorylated neurofilament protein may be particularly involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The presence of similar changes in pyramidal neurons located in deep layer 3 of auditory association cortex suggests that a shared property, which remains to be determined, confers cell type-specific vulnerability to a subpopulation of cortical glutamatergic neurons in schizophrenia.
Cytogenetics of Ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea) 6. Chromosomes of Dermacentor species in the United States

Karyotypes, sex determination and meiosis have been studied in 5 of the 7 species of Dermacentor reported from the U. S. ( D. andersoni Stiles, D. variabilis Say, D. occidentalis Marx, D. parumapcrtus Neumann, D. hunteri Bishopp). All species show a diploid somatic chromosome number of 22 in females and 21 in males. In the latter, 10 autosomal bivalents and 1 sex univalent are found at metaphase I; reduction division, at least for the sex chromosomes, occurs at anaphase The centromere occurs terminally or nearly so in all chromosomes including the sex chromosome. The latter can be recognized easily in mitotic and meiotic nuclei by its being slightly longer than the longest autosome in the former cells and by its differential size, behavior, and sometimes staining reaction in the latter cells.
Effects of age, dietary restriction and germ-free environment on glutathione-related enzymes in Lobund-Wistar rats.

Abstract The effects of age, dietary restriction and germ-free environment on glutathione peroxidase (GP), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione- S -transferases (GT) were studied in 48 Lobund—Wistar male rats obtained through the Lobund Aging Study. The treatment design was a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial design (environment x food level x age). Four rats were killed at 6, 18 and 30 months for each of the following groups of rats: conventional ad libitum (CV-A), conventional restricted (CV-R), germ-free ad libitum (GF-A) and germ-free restricted (GF-R). The dietary restriction (DR) was 30%. The activities of the three enzymes in the liver cytosolic fraction were determined. The activities of DR and GT were not affected by age, and were significantly lower in the rats raised in the GF environment than in those raised in the CV environment. DR significantly increased GR in the GF environment. The total GP activity was not affected by age but significantly increased by DR and a GF environment, suggesting that these life prolonging conditions provide greater protection against organic hydroperoxides and low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide.
Second discovery of multiple sex chromosomes among fishes.

Bei einer bisher nicht beschriebenen mexikanischen Fischart werden 41 Autosomen beim Mannchen und 42 beim Weibchen gefunden. Die Befunde sprechen fur ein System multipler Sexualchromosomen dieser Fische.
A Pseudo-Non-Time-Splitting Method in Air Quality Modeling

This paper presents a pseudo-non-time-splitting (PN) method that combines the different processes in air quality modeling, such as advection, diffusion, and emission, with chemical reaction computations. The purpose is to reduce the errors generated by the time-splitting method by taking the advantage of the fact that the integration time steps in the chemical reaction computation are much smaller than those used in other processes. An example of a cosine hill rotation with chemical reactions is used to demonstrate this new method. We show that the PN method produces results with similar accuracy to those from the conventional time-splitting method but consumes about 20% less execution CPU time.
Impedance of pistons on a two-layer medium in a planar infinite rigid baffle.

An integral transform technique is used to develop a general solution for the impedance of rigid pistons acting on a two-layer medium. The medium consists of a semi-infinite acoustic fluid on a viscoelastic thick plate in a rigid infinite baffle. The stresses acting on the planar baffle, as a result of piston motion, are determined using theory of linear elasticity and are therefore unrestricted in terms of applicable frequency range. The special case of a circular piston is considered and expressions for the self-and mutual impedances are developed and evaluated numerically. Numerical results are compared with classical piston impedance functions and finite-element model results. At low frequencies (k0a<1), the self-impedances vary significantly from the classical piston impedance functions due to the shear properties of the viscoelastic medium. In the midfrequency range (1<k0a<π) the self-impedances vary from the classical piston impedance functions for moderate viscoelastic layer thicknesses (0.5<h∕a<2...
Results from a meridian chain of observatories in the Alaskan sector (I)

Abstract Some new results of auroral morphology which we obtained from a meridian chain of observatories through Central Alaska are presented. Magnetic records from the chain of stations have also confirmed an intense westward jet when a positive change of the H -component occurs at an auroral zone station in the afternoon sector.
Erratum to: The Impact of Contraceptive Counseling in Primary Care on Contraceptive Use

Erratum to: J Gen Intern Med DOI 10.1007/s11606-011-1647-3 In the original publication, the surname of the fourth author was misspelled. The correct spelling is Sonya Borrero.
A comparison of baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between major depressive disorder patients with and without diabetes: a STAR*D report.

Abstract Background Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have high rates of medical comorbidities which can impair MDD treatment. Yet little is known regarding associations between the presence of a serious comorbidity and MDD treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the baseline sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of MDD outpatients with and without diabetes mellitus to evaluate possible associations between these characteristics and the presence of comorbid diabetes. Methods We gathered baseline sociodemographic and clinical data for 4041 participants with non-psychotic MDD who enrolled in the STAR ⁎ D, a large-scale depression treatment protocol, and made comparisons between participants with and without diabetes. Results Participants with diabetes were more likely to be male, older, black, Hispanic, unemployed, and have less education, a lower income, higher mental functioning, lower physical functioning, atypical features, increased appetite, psychomotor slowing and leaden paralysis, and were less likely to have concurrent alcohol abuse/dependence, mood reactivity or problems with concentration. We found no significant differences between groups regarding depression severity. Limitations The primary limitation is the lack of a clinical diagnosis of diabetes. Conclusions We found no difference in depression severity between participants with and without diabetes. Diabetes was associated with physical symptoms of depression. Thus treatments for these participants should be directed toward these symptoms.
Topoinhibition and serum requirement of transformed and untransformed cells.

The multiplication of tissue culture cells is controlled by several different physiological characteristics, the quantities of which can be measured. Transformed cells are characterized by the values of some of these physiological parameters.
The Incidence of Intraocular Foreign Bodies and Other Intraocular Findings in Patients with Corneal Metal Foreign Bodies

Purpose To review the findings of dilated fundus examinations (DFEs) in patients with the diagnosis of corneal metal foreign body (CMFB) and to assess the likelihood of concomitant intraocular foreign body (IOFB) in this clinical setting. Design Retrospective, case review series. Participants All 288 cases with a new diagnosis of CMFB that had a documented DFE in the emergency department at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2008. In addition, all 9 separate cases of metal IOFB seen in the same time period were also reviewed. Methods The medical records of all patients were individually reviewed. Main Outcome Measures The DFE findings of each visit were analyzed in addition to mechanism of injury, visual acuity and anterior segment abnormalities. Results Of the 288 CMFB cases, all but 1 presented without corneal or conjunctival laceration. The etiologies of the injuries included low- and high-velocity impact. Best-corrected visual acuity ranged between 20/15 and 20/150. The anterior chamber (AC) reaction ranged from quiet to 4+ cells. None of the DFEs revealed an IOFB. Only 1 case had a posterior segment abnormality related to the injury—commotion retinae in the setting of an explosion. There were 14 cases with unrelated DFE findings. Among the separate 9 cases of metal IOFB reviewed, all had a history of high-velocity injury and evidence of corneal or conjunctival laceration. In 1 of the 9 cases, the IOFB was protruding from the cornea; in 2 cases, IOFBs were seen on DFE. Six cases were diagnosed by computed tomography. All documented AC examinations for this group of patients had significant findings such as 4+ cells, hyphema, or lens fragments. Conclusions The finding of IOFB on a DFE for patients with a CMFB without clinical evidence of penetrating injury is very rare. Financial Disclosure(s) The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any of the materials discussed in this article.
Periprosthetic osteolysis: Induction of vascular endothelial growth factor from human monocyte/macrophages by orthopaedic biomaterial particles

VEGF and VEGF receptor, Flt-1, expression was observed in periprosthetic tissues surrounding loosened total joint implants. Exposure of monocyte/macrophages to titanium particles resulted in increased VEGF expression, p44/42 MAPK activation, and VEGF-dependent macrophage chemotaxis. Increased levels of angiogenic factors, such as VEGF, may be critically important in wear debris-induced implant loosening after total joint arthroplasty. Introduction: Periprosthetic osteolysis after total hip arthroplasty occurs in association with formation of a vascularized granulomatous tissue in response to particulate debris. Materials and Methods: This study examined expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the VEGF receptor in 10 periprosthetic tissues from loosened prostheses and quantified effects of titanium particles on VEGF release, intracellular signaling, and VEGF-dependent chemotaxis in primary cultures of human monocyte/macrophages. Results: Double immunofluorescent staining showed that VEGF and Flt-1 co-localized with cells positive for the macrophage marker, CD11b, in the periprosthetic tissues. Monocyte/macrophages challenged with titanium particles showed a dose- and time-dependent release of VEGF ranging from 2.8- to 3.1-fold and exhibited increased expression of VEGF121 and VEGF165 mRNAs, reaching levels up to 5.0- and 8.6-fold, respectively, by 48 h (p < 0.01). Exposure of monocyte/macrophages to titanium particles upregulated phosphorylated-p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) within 30 minutes. Particle-induced activation of p44/42 MAPK and release of VEGF were dose-dependently suppressed by pretreatment of cells with PD98059, a specific inhibitor of p44/42 MAPK. Monocyte/macrophages challenged with titanium particles also showed a time-dependent activation of AP-1, a transcription factor associated with VEGF expression (p < 0.01). Supernatants from particle-challenged monocyte/macrophages increased macrophage chemotactic activity by 30%, which was significantly inhibited by anti-VEGF neutralizing antibody (p < 0.01). Conclusions: This study suggests that induction of VEGF release from monocyte/macrophages in response to orthopaedic biomaterial wear debris may contribute to periprosthetic osteolysis and implant loosening.
Millstones or milestones? The journey of a South African bastard

In this article, the renowned South African playwright, Athol Fugard, offers an overview of his writing life and of the experiences and attitudes which gave birth to his plays. He reflects back on his career which, to date, spans just over five decades, in terms of a ‘Literary journey’ marked by ‘milestones’, a concept that he uses to denote his plays. The millstones are a loose metaphor for the rulings of the apartheid dispensation that drew lines between South African citizens in terms of ‘colour’, but the article is quick to qualify this metaphor, when viewed retrospectively.
Calculated electron affinities of a selected series of hexafluorides

Abstract Using the multiple-scattering (MS) Xα method the electron affinities of SF 6 , SeF 6 , TeF 6 , and UF 6 in the gas phase have been calculated. We find that although the ionization potentials of this series of molecules are similar, the electron affinities vary from 0.7 eV for SF 6 to 5.0 for UF 6 . These results are in agreement with recent experimental data. We also tested the sensitivity of the calculated values to the parameters used in the model and give a discussion of that aspect of the problem.
Strategic analysis for digital library development

Purpose – This paper aims to introduce a methodology for strategic analysis which can used in digital library development. This methodology can be used as a precursor process that assists in developing successful business cases to implement the strategies of a digital library development plan.Design/methodology/approach – Using theory and practice from information technology in both profit and non‐profit organizations, the paper relates the use of strategic analysis to the development of a successful business case for digital library development.Findings – One of the major tasks a digital library project manager faces is getting the project approved and in the queue for development. By exploiting the full potential of the planning phase of the systems development lifecycle (SDLC), a digital project manager can develop a compelling business case for the proposed project. By using SWOT analysis as well as additional considerations, the project manager should identify how the project will address critical or...
Neurologic Complications of Plasma Cell Disorders

Plasma cell disorders are associated with a wide spectrum of neurologic complications that predominantly involve the peripheral nervous system. Distinct clinical syndromes have been recognized, and antibodies to several glycoproteins of the peripheral nervous system have been identified. The main clinical, laboratory, immunologic, and pathologic features of neurologic complications that occur in patients with monoclonal gammopathies of unknown significance, multiple myeloma, plasmacytoma, plasma cell leukemia, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, and immunoglobulin-related amyloidosis are summarized in this review. Knowledge of the pathogenesis in this group of disorders has increased in recent years, allowing better diagnosis and treatment.
The effects of meaningfulness, awareness, and type of design in verbal mediation

Summary Two three-stage mediation paradigms, simple chaining and response equivalence, were used to investigate the effects of meaningfulness of the common element, type of design, and learning ability of the Ss on mediate association and awareness of the mediational relations. The results indicated that all of the experimental variables (except paradigm) were related to awareness and that variations in meaningfulness, type of design, and awareness were also related to the mediation effect. The results were discussed in terms of the relative independence of these variables in mediation and the issue of learning without awareness.
Acetaldehyde-collagen adducts in N-nitrosodimethylamine-induced liver cirrhosis in rats.

Summary Increased acetaldehyde levels have been found in non-alcoholic liver diseases and an acetaldehyde-collagen adduct has been reported in rats with CCl 4 -induced cirrhosis. In cytosol and microsomes of rats with cirrhosis produced by N -nitrosodimethylamine, a similar acetaldehyde-protein adduct of approximately 200 kD was recognized by rabbit IgG raised against either an in vitro produced hemocyanin-acetaldehyde adduct or an in vivo occurring P4502E1-acetaldehyde adduct isolated from alcohol-fed rats, as well as by anti-rat collagen (I) IgG. Its immune complexes contained 3 proteins that reacted with the anti-collagen IgG and were digested by collagenase: 2 proteins with molecular weights similar to procollagens α1 and α2, and a β1,2(I)-like protein which was readily produced by in vitro modification of cytosol with acetaldehyde.
Serum immunoglobulin levels in newborn infants. II. Survey of cord and follow-up sera from 123 infants with congenital rubella

The value of determining serum immunoglobulin levels as a screening test for intrauterine infection was evaluated in 123 infants with documented congenital rubella and in control subjects. Data collected from cord blood and from specimens obtained during the first 36 months of life were submitted to statistical analysis. Elevation of cord IgM values (20 mg. per cent or above) was noted in only 18 per cent of infants with rubella, and principally in those who had the more severe and usually clinically recognized manifestations of congenital rubella. Immunoglobulin values in sera collected during the first 6 months of life were elevated in approximately half of the infants tested and in those with mild illness as commonly as those with severe illness.
Human-Centered Network Visualizer: Visual abstractions of network operations in a tactical environment

We present visualization requirements and designs for the Human-Centered Network Visualizer (NetViz) to assist the US Army Brigade Signals Officer (S6) soldiers with their daily activities. These are based on interactions with both retired and active duty S6 soldiers. To assure information dominance it is increasingly important for the Army that the S6 and Network Operations Group are able to obtain and provide an accurate situational awareness from data received over the network. This paper addresses three challenges faced by the S6: (1) mentally integrating and correlating information from disparate tools, (2) processing and interpreting that information for a commander who may have limited technical knowledge, and (3) reducing the amount of downtime resulting from any disruption through the creation of a contingency plan. The NetViz designs abstract and unify data required by an S6 into a single view. They allow for the visualization of data to support S6 reporting during an update brief. Visual designs for “what if” scenarios and future events also facilitate planning for both the expected and the unexpected. This paper describes our interactions with S6 soldiers along with the resultant visualization enhancement based upon information provided. We also present sample visual abstractions based on these interactions along with definitions of their importance and illustrations of their potential use in field.
Large diameter thin superconducting solenoid magnets

Abstract High energy physics experiments on the latest generation colliding beam machines require large superconducting solenoid magnets. The Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory is developing a new generation of high current density (∼ 109 A m−2) superconducting solenoid magnets which are thin from a radion standpoint. To meet our design objectives, an integrated magnet and cryostat design has been evolved. Recent tests of one metre diameter prototype magnets show that our design concepts are technically viable. The results of the one metre magnet test are reported here.
Unitary Spherical Spectrum for p-Adic Classical Groups

Let G be a split reductive p-adic group. Then the determination of the unitary representations with nontrivial Iwahori fixed vectors can be reduced to the determination of the unitary dual of the corresponding Iwahori-Hecke algebra. In this paper we study the unitary dual of the Iwahori-Hecke algebras corresponding to the classical groups. We determine all the unitary spherical representations.
Construction Of Diffractive Optical Elements In Non-Coherent Light

Methods are described for producing optical elements, such as grating and lenses, in light of reduced temporal or spatial coherence. The preferred interferometer for producing fringes in light of low coherence is one formed from diffraction gratings. Considerable more noise reduction is achieved.
Hyperprolinemia and lactatemia in alcoholic liver disease: relationships to abstinence and histological findings.

It has not yet been established whether serum proline and blood lactate levels are increased in alcoholic liver disease. We measured serum proline and blood lactate in controls and in patients with different stages of alcoholic liver disease in the absence of hepatic failure. Samplings were done in both abstinent and drinking alcoholics. Compared to controls, there was a striking increase in serum proline levels in 52 abstinent alcoholics with little or no hepatic fibrosis by histological assessment (0.10 ± 0.01 vs. 0.155 ± 0.008; p < 0.005). Blood lactate levels were within the normal range and did not correlate with serum proline levels. On the other hand, serum proline and blood lactate levels were independent of hepatic necrosis and inflammation scores. In addition, in 10 patients with blood alcohol concentrations between 0.3 mg/ml and 7.8 mg/ml, serum lactate and proline were significantly elevated (2.42 ± 0.29 mg/ml and 0.275 ± 0.0026 mg/ml, respectively; p < 0.005). These results show that there is an association between serum proline levels and the abstinence period in alcoholic patients. They further suggest that in alcoholic patients neither serum proline nor blood lactate concentrations are reliable markers for liver histological activity (necrosis and Inflammation) or fibrosis.
Working with the Resources at Hand: Constraints on Internet Institutional Design

Legitimacy has emerged as a major issue in debates over global governanceinstitutions. The growth of border-crossing systems in business, ﬁnance, trade,communications and other areas has led to the creation of supra-national governanceinstitutions to deﬁne common rules and to perform system coordination. While mostdecisions made by these governance institutions are administrative in nature, theyoften have a public policy component as well, affecting the well-being of people, theenvironment, and private ﬁrms. As awareness has grown of these institutions’ role inpolicy making, questions have arisen about who are the policy makers. Who is makingglobal public policy? From whence do they derive their authority? Do globalgovernance institutions possess legitimacy commensurate with their decision-makingpowers?In what follows I examine this question of legitimacy as it plays out in processes ofinstitutional design. To the extent that a legitimacy deﬁcit is recognized and attemptsare made to correct it, it becomes important to understand factors that inﬂuenceinstitutional design for legitimacy. My thesis is that designers of institutions do notoperate in a vacuum but must construct institutions from the resources available tothem. When designing for legitimacy, they often must choose from the existing set oflegitimacy-giving bodies. With the set of building blocks thus given, design choices are‘chunky’, allowing for fewer bases of legitimacy to be realized in practice than might bepossible in theory. As a result, the outcomes of institutional design may be differentfrom might be predicted. By identifying such constraints on institutional design,students of global governance can better understand outcomes of design processes,while policy makers can better formulate strategies for realizing their goals.
Strengthening Knowledge Co-Production Capacity: Examining Interest in Community-University Partnerships

Building successful, enduring research partnerships is essential for improving links between knowledge and action to address sustainability challenges. Communication research can play a critical role in fostering more effective research partnerships, especially those concerned with knowledge co-production processes. This article focuses on community-university research partnerships and factors that influence participation in the co-production process. We identify specific pathways for improving partnership development through a prospective analytical approach that examines community officials’ interest in partnering with university researchers. Using survey responses from a statewide sample of Maine municipal officials, we conduct a statistical analysis of community-university partnership potential to test a conceptual model of partnership interest grounded in natural resource management theory and environmental communication. Our findings both support and advance prior research on collaborations. Results reveal that belief in the helpfulness of the collaborator to solve problems, institutional proximity, familiarity, perceived problem severity and problem type and trust influence interest in developing community-university partnerships. These findings underscore the benefits of proactively assessing partnership potential prior to forming partnerships and the important roles for communication research within sustainability science, especially with regard to strengthening partnership formation and knowledge co-production processes.
The impact of ApoE alleles on age-related myelin breakdown

Background: By shifting the age at onset of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype is the most influential AD risk factor after age itself. ApoE4 alleles decrease while ApoE2 alleles increase age at onset. Human and non-human primate data suggest that in middle age, the structural integrity of myelin sheaths begins breaking down with an accelerating age-related trajectory most evident in the brain’s later-myelinating association regions. This results in a progressive “disconnection” of widely distributed neural networks that may underlie the age risk factor for AD. Objective: Assess whether ApoE genotype shifts the age at onset of AD by altering the trajectory of age-related myelin breakdown.Methods: Healthy individuals (N 104) between 55 and 75 years of age were ApoE genotyped. The late-myelinating frontal lobe white matter (Fwm) as well as earlyand later-myelinating regions of the corpus callosum, the splenium (Swm) and genu (Gwm) respectively, were assessed using MRI and transverse relaxation rates (R2) were calculated. R2 is an indirect measure of white matter structural integrity; it declines with age-related myelin breakdown and is significantly lower in AD. As hypothesized, presence of the protective ApoE2 allele was associated with significantly higher R2 values in Fwm and Gwm, but not in Swm. Furthermore, ApoE status impacted the trajectory of age-related myelin breakdown in late-myelinating regions (Fwm and Gwm) but not in the Swm. In the Fwm and Gwm ApoE4 individuals had a steeper slope of decline in R2 with age than ApoE2 individuals, while Apoe3 individuals had an intermediate slope. Conclusions: These data suggest that the severity and rate of myelin breakdown in healthy older individuals is associated with ApoE status. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that later-myelinating regions are more susceptible to the myelin breakdown process and that this process may determine the age at onset of AD. Combining ApoE status with non-invasive measures of myelin breakdown may be useful in designing treatment studies directed at primary prevention of AD.
Estimating allelic richness: Effects of sample size and bottlenecks

Although differences in sampling intensity can bias comparisons of allelic richness (A) among populations, investigators often fail to correct estimates of A for differences in sample size. Methods that standardize A on the basis of the size of the smallest number of samples in a comparison are preferable to other approaches. Rarefaction and repeated random subsampling provide unbiased estimates of A with the greatest precision and thus provide greatest statistical power to detect differences in variation. Less promising approaches, in terms of bias or precision, include single random subsampling, eliminating very small samples, using sample size as a covariate or extrapolating estimates obtained from small samples to a larger number of individuals.