cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activation of p38 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Is Required for Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-supported Proliferation of Leukemia and Lymphoma Cell Lines

To elucidate mechanisms of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)-induced proliferation of a number of human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines, we examined the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in TNF-α signaling in Mo7e and Hut-78 cells. TNF-α-dependent p38 MAPK activation was detected in both Mo7e and Hut-78 cells and was blocked by the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB203580. Ablation of p38 MAPK activity by SB203580 abrogated TNF-α-induced Mo7e cell proliferation and TNF-α-dependent autocrine growth of Hut-78. As we have shown previously that activation of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is also required for TNF-α-induced Mo7e cell proliferation, the involvement of p38 MAPK in NF-κB activation was assessed. SB203580 did not affect TNF-α-signaled nuclear translocation and DNA-binding activity of NF-κB, and inhibition of NF-κB function did not affect TNF-α-induced p38 MAPK activation, indicating that these events are not dependent on each other. However, SB203580 depressed the expression of NF-κB-dependent genes, as monitored by a κB-driven reporter gene. Our findings demonstrate that activation of both p38 MAPK and NF-κB plays a critical role in TNF-α-mediated survival and proliferation of human leukemia and lymphoma cells, and p38 MAPK acts at least in part by facilitating the transcriptional activation function of NF-κB.
Factors contributing to the financial crisis in Korea

Abstract Korea's economic development is a well documented fact. The globalization of the Korean economy brought with it a high rate of economic growth. The Korean economy began to experience a financial crisis from late 1997. This paper inquires into the causes that led to such a crisis. It shows that there were economic indicators foretelling the crisis. Among many factors causing the crisis, the current account deficit, the inadequate cash flows of corporations and the banks' weakening finances, and the small amount of international reserves, provided conditions for a successful speculative attack on the Korean won. The government guarantees led to over-investment and excessive borrowing. Thus, the self-fulfilling hypothesis of Flood and Garbers (1984) and Obstfeld (1986) and the hypothesis of Krugman (1998) explain the causes of the Korean crisis to a great extent. This paper addresses banks' performance and the weak financial condition of corporations and concludes that to get back on the path of stable economic growth, export diversification and productivity growth, together with a sound financial system, is necessary.
Predication and extensionality

"Predication," writes W. V. Quine, "joins a general term and a singular term to form a sentence that is true or false according as the general term is true or false of the object, if any, to which the singular term refers".1 The view of predication expressed by Quine in the quoted passage is not restricted to Quine; P. F. Strawson, for example, though perhaps not a rabid supporter of Quine's choise of words, is on record as finding the theory congenial with his own views.2 Quine has also written that "so long merely as the predicated general term is true of the object named by the singular term... the substitution of a new singular term that names the same object leaves the predication true."3 Nevertheless, most of my efforts will le directed at establishing that the theory of predication expressed in Quine's words is nonextensional. To be precise about my quite limited objective, I need Quine's help just once more. He writes that "in an opaque construction you also cannot in general supplant a general term by a coextensive term (one true of the same objects)... without disturbing the truth value of the containing sentence. Such a failure is one of the failures of extensionality."4 The theory of predication under consideration is, I claim, non-extensional in the sense that it does not satisfy the extensionality principle that coextensive general terms substitute for each other salva veritate; proof of this claim is my major objective. My secondary objective is to elicit some of the implications of the claim that the theory of predication under discussion is nonextensional.
Elementary proofs of stability theorems in pro-homotopy and shape

Abstract Complete proofs are given, requiring only elementary homotopy theory as background, of certain theorems characterizing those spaces having the shape of simplicial complexes, and those pro-complexes having the pro-homotopy type of complexes.
Application of Noether's theorem to the transport equation

Abstract The Euler-Lagrange equations are derived for a variational integral whose integrand is a function of integral as well as differential operations on the field functions. An analog of Noether's theorem is then derived for the same integral. Using the derived Euler-Lagrange equations, a Lagrangian density is constructed which yields the single speed, one dimensional transport equation and its adjoint. The Lagrangian density is found to be invariant under a gauge group and Noether's theorem is then used to derive a conserved current as a consequence of this invariance.
The Clinical Spectrum of Renal Disease Associated With Human Immunodeficiency Virus

A nephrology consultation was called on 100 adult patients of 1,635 (6.1%) patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection seen between 1982 and 1987 at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. Renal disease was observed in all groups of patients with a risk factor for HIV infection with a lesser incidence, however, among homosexuals. Intravenous drug (IVD) use and possibly race appear to be important factors in the development of renal complications. Renal disease was the dominant clinical feature in eight asymptomatic HIV carriers and in 34 patients with AIDS-related complex (ARC) who had not developed the opportunistic infections and/or malignancies associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Ninety-one percent of consultations were requested for evaluation of proteinuria and/or renal failure. Nephrotic range proteinuria, in excess of 3 g/24 h, was present in 52 patients, and was less prevalent in homosexuals than in other groups at risk. Renal failure (serum creatinine ≥5 mg/dL), initially present in 32 patients, eventually developed in 69 and improved in only 18 of them. A renal biopsy, obtained for work-up of nephrotic syndrome (22 patients) or renal insufficiency (3 patients), uncovered a picture of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis in all 25 instances. Overall, 76 patients are dead, seven are lost to follow-up, and 17 are alive, of whom eight (four HIV carriers, two patients with ARC, and two with AIDS) are on maintenance hemodialysis with a mean survival time of 217 days.
US professional football: The demand for game‐day attendance in 1991

This paper examines the factors which affect game-day attendance at National Football League games during the 1991 season. Using a Tobit analysis, the model includes economic as well as quality of game variables as explanatory variables. This analysis reveals that: higher ticket prices reduce attendance with the demand appearing to be inelastic; and a winning home team spurs game-day attendance.
Influence of Calcium and Magnesium on Manganese Absorption

Mutual effects between Mn, Ca, and Mg were studied during steady-state absorption experiments with excised barley roots. Calcium appeared to enhance the rate of Mn absorption; whereas, Mg had a highly depressive effect. The combination of both Ca and Mg was even more inhibitory to Mn absorption than Mg alone. Manganese had no effect on the usual negligible Ca absorption by this tissue, but effectively inhibited the absorption of Mg. Although divalent cation absorption from the Ca-Mg-Mn system was essentially nil, K absorption was greatly stimulated in the presence of these cations. These mutual effects and others reported in the literature are explained by the hypothesis that selectivity in ion absorption results from cation-induced conformational changes in the structure of the carrier molecule.
Cubic threefolds and abelian varieties of dimension five. II

This paper extends joint work with R. Friedman to show that the closure of the locus of intermediate Jacobians of smooth cubic threefolds, in the moduli space of principally polarized abelian varieties (ppavs) of dimension five, is an irreducible component of the locus of ppavs whose theta divisor has a point of multiplicity three or more. This paper also gives a sharp bound on the multiplicity of a point on the theta divisor of an indecomposable ppav of dimension less than or equal to 5; for dimensions four and five, this improves the bound due to J. Kollar, R. Smith-R. Varley, and L. Ein-R. Lazarsfeld.
Stress and Performance: Effects of Subjective Work Load and Time Urgency.

Subjective work load, time urgency, and other stress/motivation variables were measured for management personnel taking a demanding problem-solving exam at the end of a two-week training course. Comparing measures of precourse ability and final exam performance, the primary findings were that the corrected performance scores had strong negative linear (not inverted-U) relations with both subjective work load and time urgency. General state anxiety and task involvement did not substantially relate to performance. The results are discussed in terms of the nature of this particular task and the predictions of various stress/performance theories. In problem solving or other tasks requiring novel responses, these data suggest that increases in psychological stresses like subjectively high work load and time urgency uniformly impair performance across the whole range of these variables.
The 1989 morbidity and mortality meeting : How far have we come?

The Morbidity, Mortality, and Prescription of Dialysis Symposium was an international meeting held almost 9 years ago in Dallas, TX. The proceedings were subsequently published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases. This article reviews key material from that meeting and evaluates what we have accomplished in the intervening years.
Comparative efficacy of dermal fibroblast-mediated and direct adenoviral bone morphogenetic protein-2 gene therapy for bone regeneration in an equine rib model

Cell-mediated and direct adenoviral (Ad) vector gene therapies can induce bone regeneration, including dermal fibroblasts (DFbs). We compared two effective therapies, DFb-mediated and direct Ad vector delivery of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2), for relative efficacy in bone regeneration. Equine rib drill defects were treated by percutaneous injection of either DFb-BMP2 or an Ad-BMP2 vector. At week 6, both DFb-BMP2- and Ad-BMP2-treated rib defects had greater bone filling volume and mineral density, with DFb-BMP2 inducing greater bone volume and maturity in the cortical bone aspect of the defect than Ad-BMP2. The transplantation of DFb alone induced modest bone formation. Increased mineral density and bone turnover were evident in the cortical and cancellous bone directly adjacent to the healing drill defects treated with either DFb-BMP2 or Ad-BMP2. Using our cell/vector dosage and model, BMP2, whether delivered by the DFb vector or direct Ad vector, induced greater and robust bone regeneration. DFb-mediated BMP2 therapy promoted greater cortical bone regeneration than did direct gene delivery, possibly because of an increased cellularity of the bone healing site. BMP2 delivery, regardless of gene delivery method, increased the mineral density of the neighboring bone, which may be beneficial clinically in repairing or weak bone.
X-ray-transmission computed tomography

The immediate goal of clinically based x-ray-transmission computed tomography (CT) is to provide a measurement of the x-ray linear attenuation coefficient in cross section with the ultimate goal of impacting on patient management and care. To do this with the accuracy needed for clinical goals requires the careful integration of x-ray physics, detector technology, and mathematical reconstruction theory. Performance evaluation and quality assurance are necessary adjuncts to a CT scanning program. A number of investigative studies are underway.
Geomorphology: On the cusp of failure

Processes and triggers of deformation in big, slow-moving landslides are often unclear. The Slumgullion slide seems to stick and slip in tune with atmospheric tides.
Fiscal policy and stock market efficiency: Evidence for the United States ☆

Abstract This paper examines the extent to which fiscal policy actions affect the stock market's behavior for the US during 1968–2005. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that past budget deficits negatively affect current stock returns thus suggesting that the market is inefficient with respect to information about future fiscal policy actions. One interpretation of this ‘disturbing’ result is that market participants do not place much faith on news about the budget deficits as they do not believe that deficits could adversely impact the stock market. Instead, what the market considers most important is news about monetary policy.
GnRH pulse frequency-dependent stimulation of FSHβ transcription is mediated via activation of PKA and CREB

Expression of pituitary FSH and LH, under the control of pulsatile GnRH, is essential for fertility. cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) has been implicated in the regulation of FSHβ gene expression, but the molecular mechanisms by which pulsatile GnRH regulates CREB activation remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that CREB is activated by a distinct signaling pathway in response to pulsatile GnRH in a frequency-dependent manner to dictate the FSHβ transcriptional response. GnRH stimulation of CREB phosphorylation (pCREB) in the gonadotrope-derived LβT2 cell line was attenuated by a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H89. A dominant negative PKA (DNPKA) reduced GnRH-stimulated pCREB and markedly decreased GnRH stimulation of FSHβ mRNA and FSHβLUC activity, but had little effect on LHβLUC activity, indicating relative specificity of this pathway. In perifusion studies, FSHβ mRNA levels and FSHβLUC activities were increased by pulsatile GnRH, with significantly greater increases at low compared with high pulse frequencies. DNPKA markedly reduced these GnRH-stimulated FSHβ responses at both low and high pulse frequencies. Correlating with FSHβ activation, both PKA activity and levels of pCREB were increased to a greater extent by low compared with high GnRH pulse frequencies, and the induction of pCREB was also attenuated by overexpression of DNPKA at both low and high pulse frequencies. Taken together, these data indicate that a PKA-mediated signaling pathway mediates GnRH activation of CREB at low-pulse frequencies, playing a significant role in the decoding of the hypothalamic GnRH signal to result in frequency-dependent FSHβ activation.
Evidence that elevated plasma corticosterone levels are the cause of reduced hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone gene expression in diabetes

Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus causes both a sustained activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and reduced expression of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). To investigate the role of glucocorticoids in the regulation of CRH mRNA expression in the PVN of diabetic rats, we studied surgically adrenalectomized (ADX) and sham-operated male Sprague-Dawley rats 4 days after i.v. injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 65 mg/kg i.v.) or vehicle. Among sham-operated animals, AM plasma corticosterone levels were significantly increased in diabetic as compared to nondiabetic animals (1.46+/-0.54 vs. 0.22+/-0.05 microg/dl; P <0.05), and were positively correlated to both plasma ACTH levels (r = 0.74; P = 0.015) and adrenal gland weight (r = 0.70; P = 0.025). In contrast, CRH mRNA levels measured in the PVN by in situ hybridization were inversely related to the plasma corticosterone level (r = -0.68; P = 0.045). In a second experiment, both diabetic and nondiabetic ADX rats received a continuous subcutaneous infusion of either corticosterone at one of two doses or its vehicle for 4 days. Among vehicle-treated ADX animals, STZ diabetes raised hypothalamic CRH mRNA levels, in contrast to the tendency for diabetes to lower CRH mRNA in intact rats in the first experiment. Corticosterone administration lowered CRH mRNA comparably in both diabetic and nondiabetic ADX rats. In contrast, diabetes reduced arginine vasopressin (AVP) mRNA levels in the PVN of ADX rats and blunted the inhibitory effect of glucocorticoids on AVP mRNA levels in this setting. We conclude (1) glucocorticoids are necessary for the effect of diabetes to reduce hypothalamic CRH gene expression, since diabetes causes a paradoxical increase in CRH mRNA levels in adrenalectomized animals; (2) glucocorticoid inhibition of hypothalamic CRH gene expression is intact in diabetic rats; and (3) the activation of the HPA axis by diabetes is associated with a proportionate decrease in PVN CRH gene expression. These findings support a model in which hypothalamic factors additional to CRH activate the HPA axis in uncontrolled diabetes, and inhibit CRH gene expression indirectly by negative glucocorticoid feedback.
A note on the demographic impact of contraception in a mathematical model of human reproduction.

Perrin and Sheps pioneered the application of mathematical models of human reproductive behavior as a function of contraceptive behavior in 1963 examining the birthrate as the main dependent variable. An analysis of birth intervals however is an alternative way of studying the demographic impact of contraception. A mathematical model may be formulated for the interval between successive live births. The model incorporates certain contraceptive parameters. A controlled experiment indicates that the interval between successive births is greater when th e effectiveness level exceeds the usage level than for a program in which the reverse is true. This conclusion reaffirms a similar conclusion of Perrin and Sheps through analysis of birthrates.(AUTHORS MODIFIED)
Spin-2 propagating torsion

We examine a general Lagrangian (containing terms up to bilinear in torsion and Riemann curvature tensors) and search for a choice of Lagrangian parameters that will allow massive spin-2 or massless helicity-2 torsion quanta to exist without accompanying ghosts or tachyons. We are able to rule out massless quanta by an argument at the linearized level: either there are ghosts in the propagator, or the source constraints force 2/sup +/ and 2/sup -/ torsion sources to cancel in pairs at the propagator poles. We conjecture that a difficulty of this type will arise whenever a massless boson is represented in the Lagrangian by a field transforming as a (j/sub 1/, j/sub 2/) SL(2,C) tensor with j/sub 1/not =j/sub 2/, and the components of this tensor are taken as the quantities to be varied. (In the electromagnetic case F/sub munu/ is replaced by the curl of A/sub ..mu../ and A/sub ..mu../ is varied, not F/sub munu/.) We cannot rule out massive spin-2 quanta at the linearized level, but we encounter the standard difficulties when we attempt an extension to a fully covariant theory. Unless there are further developments in our understanding of the extension to the covariant theory, then, any spin-2more » torsion force will have to be of contact type, rather than one which arises from the exchange of quanta.« less
A hierarchical fast-multipole method for stratified media

An efficient, static, fast-multipole method (FMM)-based algorithm is presented in this paper for the evaluation of the parasitic capacitance of 3-D microstrip signal lines above stratified dielectric media. A modified tree structure is used to perform the multilevel outgoing-to-local multipole translations. The algorithm, only marginally more expensive than the free-space FMM, retains its O(N) computational cost and memory use, where N is the number of conductor patches. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 27: 13–17, 2000.
Estimation of broadband acoustic power due to rib forces on a reinforced panel under turbulent boundary layer-like pressure excitation. II. Applicability and validation.

The previous paper showed that, when the attachment forces on a rib-reinforced panel subjected to turbulent boundary layer excitation can be considered to radiate independently, the rib-related acoustic power in a broad (e.g., one-third octave) frequency band can be estimated as the product of the average mean squared force, the real part of the radiation admittance of an attachment force, and the number of ribs. This paper shows that the radiation condition is always approximated when the acoustic wavelength is less than twice the rib spacing of a periodically reinforced panel, and generally applies at lower frequencies where the acoustic wavelength is less than four times the rib spacing. The procedure is used to estimate the broadband acoustic power radiated per rib of an infinite periodically reinforced membrane and plate in water, and the results are shown to agree with those of “exact” calculations.
Striking the (Im)Proper Balance between Scientific Advances and Clinical Utility: Commentary on the DSM-5 Proposal for Personality Disorders

We review briefly the contributions of Skodol, Pincus, and Widiger (this issue) describing and critiquing the proposed changes in the assessment of personality and personality disorders for the DSM-5. Despite the hard work of the DSM-5 Work Group to date, there are shortcomings and areas of controversy in the current proposal that demand further attention and change. We discuss the controversy in the broader context of the DSM over the past 30 years. In addressing specific problems, we focus on the limitations of the proposed system for assessing traits (even as we endorse the movement toward dimensional assessment of personality) and the difficulties posed by the current "hybrid" model that attempts to include both traits and types. In moving forward, we suggest greater emphasis on decision-making regarding the presence and severity of any personality disorder (understood on the basis of generalized failures in adaptation) and greater flexibility in identifying the variants of personality disorders in order to accommodate both traits and types more inclusively during this transition toward dimensional approaches to assessment.
Supersonic jet mixing enhancement by vortex generators

Experiments were conducted to explore the effects of vortex generators, in the form of tabs projecting normally into the jet, on the mixing and the far-field noise characteristics of a jet. A converging-diverging nozzle with a design Mach number of 1.36 was used in the experiments. The flow regimes from subsonic to highly underexpanded supersonic conditions were studied. One, two, and four tabs were used and some of the findings of previous investigators were examined and confirmed. The tabs eliminated screech noise from moderately overexpanded cases to highly underexpanded cases. Detailed flow visualizations and measurements showed that two tabs bifurcated the jet at all Mach numbers. While the effect of two tabs was persistent and the jet remained bifurcated, the distortions produced by one and four tabs disappeared by a streamwise distance of approximately 16 jet diameters. Two and four tabs significantly increased the entrainment of ambient air into the jet.
Sunn-hemp utilized as a legume cover crop for corn production

The benefits of winter legumes as cover crops for corn (Zea mays L.) are diminished by the earliness of corn planting in relation to biomass and N production by the legumes. Tropical legumes may offer an alternative to winter legumes because they produce adequate biomass before corn planting. We determined the suitability of 'Tropic Sunn' sunn-hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) as a cover crop for corn on a Compass loamy sand (coarse-loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Plinthic Paleudults) in central Alabama using a split-plot treatment structure in a randomized complete block design with four replications from 1991 to 1993. Main plots were winter fallow and sunn-hemp planted in mid-August, and subplots were N (0, 56, 112, and 168 kg N ha(-1)) applied to corn 3 weeks after planting (WAP). Sunn-hemp biomass production approximately 14 WAP (first frost) averaged 7.6 Mg ha(-1) with an N content of 144 kg ha(-1) in the first 2 yr of the study. Corn grain yield following sunn-hemp averaged 6.9 Mg ha(-1) whereas yield following winter fallow averaged 5.7 Mg ha(-1). Grain N averaged 16.3 kg ha(-1) greater for corn following sunn-hemp than fallow plots. Before first frost, sunn-hemp produced excellent biomass to serve as a winter cover crop in corn production while producing N equivalent to 58 kg ha(-1) of N fertilizer during the 3-yr period, based on corn yield and N response. Sunn-hemp has potential to be utilized as an alternative to winter legumes for ground cover and as an N source for a subsequent corn crop in the Southeast.
HIV and Bone Loss

The use of antiretroviral therapy has significantly reduced the number of deaths due to HIV/AIDS. However, no current therapy can suppress the virus completely, and as the HIV-infected population continues to live longer new complications are emerging from the persistence of the virus and use of antiretroviral therapy. This review summarizes the clinical evidence linking HIV-associated osteoporosis to direct infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) use. The purported molecular mechanisms involved in bone loss are also reviewed. Additionally, recommendations regarding the pharmacologic management of HIV/ART-related osteoporosis are given.
Implementing a tablet circulation program on a shoestring

Increasingly, medical schools and other schools offering degrees in the health sciences are launching initiatives incorporating tablet computers as an educational tool, as evidenced by information gathered from academic health sciences center websites and informal conversations with colleagues 1–3. To help support such efforts and to keep up with the increasing interest in accessing health-related information and resources via mobile devices such as tablet computers like iPads, academic health sciences center libraries have also been investigating interest in or piloting the development of tablet circulation programs 4. There is also literature mentioning circulating tablet computers in an academic library setting 5, 6 and literature specific to academic health sciences libraries on circulating other technological devices 7, including e-readers 8 and personal digital assistants 9. This brief communication addresses the planning, implementation, experiences, and preliminary outcomes of the Arizona Health Sciences Library (AHSL) in starting a program to circulate tablet computers in order to support the increasingly mobile information-seeking behavior of its users.
Gene therapy utilizing drug resistance genes: A review

The generation of drug resistant bone marrow may facilitate the development of aggressive chemotherapeutic regimens that might otherwise be lethal due to marrow toxicity. With the availability of technology that permits in vitro manipulation of human marrow and peripheral blood stem cells, it is now possible to introduce genes that confer drug resistance to these hematopoietic progenitors. Animal models and in vitro work with human progenitors using drug resistance genes are reviewed.
The generalized P-value in one-sided testing in two sample multivariate normal populations

Abstract In this paper we develop a new test procedure for the one-sided testing problem in two sample multivariate normal populations, i.e., whether one mean vector dominates the other. The main idea of the proposed test relies on a combination of the generalized P-value and Roy's union–intersection principle. Depending on the structure of covariance matrices V 1 and V 2 , three different situations are considered: case (I): V i = σ 2 V 0 i for known V 0 i and an unknown common σ 2 , case (II): V i = σ i 2 V 0 i for known V 0 i and unknown σ 1 2 ≠ σ 2 2 , and case (III): completely unknown V i . We calculate the generalized P-value using a resampling technique and compare with the existing methods via numerical studies. We show that our proposed tests based on the generalized P-value control the nominal size and achieve more power than some existing test procedures.
Expression of poplar chitinase in tomato leads to inhibition of development in Colorado potato beetle

The previously described poplar chitinase, WIN6, is induced during infestation by gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) larvae, thus suggesting a role in defense against insect pests. To test this hypothesis, we produced tomato seedlings infected with a recombinant potato virus X (PVX), which produces WIN6, and tested its insecticidal properties on Colorado potato beetle [CPB; Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)], which is a serious pest of tomatoes and other crops. The advantage of PVX is that plant material is ready for insect bioassay within 3-4 weeks of constructing the recombinant virus. Considering that production of transgenic tomato seedlings using Agrobacterium takes at least 6 months, this hastens the rate at which genes can be examined. Upon insect bioassay, only 47% CPB neonates feeding on leaves containing >0.3% w/w WIN6 developed to 2nd instar while 93% of controls reached 2nd instar. To our knowledge this is the first plant chitinase that retards development of an insect pest.
(2,3,4,4-Tetramethylcyclopentyl)methyl acetate, a sex pheromone from the obscure mealybug: first example of a new structural class of monoterpenes.

The sex pheromone of the obscure mealybug, Pseudococcus viburni, consists of (1R*,2R*,3S*)-(2,3,4,4-tetramethylcyclopentyl)methyl acetate, the first example of a new monoterpenoid structural motif in which the two isoprene units forming the carbon skeleton are joined by 2′–2 and 3′–4 connections rather than the usual 1′–4, head-to-tail connections. This highly irregular terpenoid structure, and the irregular terpenoid structures of related mealybug species, suggest that these insects may have unique terpenoid biosynthetic pathways.
Molecular weight–viscosity relationship of gamma‐irradiated octadecyl vinyl ether and octadecyl methacrylate

Octadecyl vinyl ether and octadecyl methacrylate monomer were polymerized by means of gamma radiation from a cobalt-60 source. The weight-average molecular weight and the intrinsic viscosity of the resulting polymers were determined. The constants K′ and a were 0.25 × 10−4 and 0.75, respectively, for poly(octadecyl methacrlylate) and 22.4 × 10−4 and 0.35, respectively, for poly(octadecyl vinyl other).
Passivity and Anodic Protection

Abstract The possibility for anodically protecting metals is described in terms of degrees of passivity, passivation diagrams, a passivity index, and a passivating parameter. The effects of material and environmental variables are outlined. The passive state of iron is expressed in terms of a variable-composition Fe3O4-γ-Fe2 O3 spinel phase and also in terms of water in the double layer being oxidized to hydroxy- and oxyligands.
Understanding cultural influence on price perception: empirical insights from a SEM application

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review and understand the underlying structure of price perception, to recognize how cultural factors influence price perception, and to develop and empirically test a model of cultural differences and price perception.Design/methodology/approach – This project gathered data from both China and the USA. Using the LISREL 8.52 program, a proposed model was tested and modified in order to obtain a parsimonious underlying structure explaining cultural influences on consumers' price perceptions.Findings – Results of the data analysis show that culture factors do have significant effects on price perception. Internal reference price has a consistent and negative effect on the overall price perception of both goods and services purchase and durable and non‐durable goods purchase. However, the significant associations between price perception factors and overall price perception were only found in the services and non‐durable goods purchase but not in the durable goods pu...
Early Silurian paired δ13Ccarb and δ13Corg analyses from the Midcontinent of North America: Implications for paleoceanography and paleoclimate

Abstract Paired δ13Ccarb and δ13Corg samples from well-preserved marine carbonates of the Wayne Formation in central Tennessee were analyzed to test a previously proposed model of relative changes in atmospheric pCO2 during the well-known Ireviken (early Wenlock) positive carbon isotope (δ13Ccarb) excursion. Our investigation provides the first detailed δ13Corg stratigraphy through this interval and documents a negative excursion in δ13Corg associated with the positive δ13Ccarb excursion. This is consistent with the notion that the Ireviken positive δ13Ccarb excursion was associated with elevated global temperatures that began during an icehouse–greenhouse transition. Although our data are consistent with predictions made by the Silurian oceanographic model [Jeppsson, L., 1990. An oceanic model for lithological and faunal changes tested on the Silurian record. J. Geol. Soc. (Lond.) 147, 663–674], a link to global changes in atmospheric pCO2 remains tenuous until it can be shown that the δ13Corg trends shown herein can be reproduced globally.
A leap in faith: the impact of removing the surgeon from the level II trauma response.

Abstract Background Limitation of resident work hours has created the need to explore alternatives to surgeon presence during initial assessment and resuscitation for selected life-threatening injuries in children. We recently eliminated the requirement for surgeon presence during Level II alerts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of this change on patient care. Methods A retrospective analysis of trauma alert activity was performed using data from our trauma registry. In March 2003, responsibility for level II alerts was transferred from the pediatric surgeons (PSs) to the Emergency Department (ED) physicians. We compared the activity in the 18-month period before this change (period 1; n=627) to that afterward (period 2; n=587). Outcome measures included injury severity score, emergency department length of stay, missed injuries, abdominal computed tomography use, and mortality. Data were analyzed using log-rank statistic, χ 2 , or t test, where appropriate, with significance level at P Results During the entire study period, 1499 patients met the trauma alert activation criteria of which 1214 (81%) were level II alerts. The mean injury severity score for period 1 (8.5 ± 7.3 SD) was similar to period 2 (9.0 ± 7.1 SD). When ED physicians replaced PS for Level II alerts, ED length of stay increased from 135 minutes to 165 minutes ( P P Conclusions When ED physicians replaced PS for Level II alerts, trauma room length of stay was increased, but use of abdominal imaging was decreased with no differences in rate of missed injury or mortality. Emergency Department physicians can safely replace PS during Level II alerts. These findings may be useful to institutions experiencing surgical workforce limitations for trauma alerts.
179 POST-OPERATIVE ASSESSMENT OF FONTAN OPERATION

From 1975 to 1980, 10 patients (pts.) age 2.5-24 years (y)(mean 13.6±6y) had modified Fontan operation for tricuspid atresia (7), univentricular heart (2), and transposed great vessels (1). Six had right atrial (RA) to pulmonary artery (PA) anastomosis (ANS), 4 with valved conduit and 2 direct ANS. Four had RA to right ventricular (RV) ANS, 1 with a non-valved conduit and 3 direct ANS. Eight pts. also had Glenn shunts. All 9 survivors are in normal sinus rhythm. Seven pts. had cardiac catheterization 2-60 months (m) post-operatively (post-op)(median 8m). RA mean pressures (p) were 3-19mmHg with RA ‘a’ waves of 10-25mmHg. Pts. with RA-PA ANS had narrow PA pulse p of 2-3mmHg, while pts. with RA-RV ANS had wider, biphasic PA pulse p due to RV contractions. No RA-PA p gradients were present. Aortic saturation was 79%±9 pre-operatively (pre-op) and 95%±3 post-op; left ventricular (LV) end diastolic p was 7.0±5.8mmHg pre-op and 6.7±1.9 post-op. RA regurgitation into hepatic veins and coronary sinus was more marked in pts. with RA-PA ANS. Post-op LV contractility was decreased in all (average LV ejection fraction 53.2%±12) except the youngest pt. While all pts. had improved exercise tolerance post-op, treadmill testing in 5 was impaired with average duration of 6.9 minutes, and maximal endurance index of 238±49 (normal 344±65). These data suggest that RA-RV ANS results in better forward flow and less regurgitation than RA-PA ANS. Exercise tolerance and oxygenation improved post-op but most pts. have clinical and angiographic evidence of decreased cardiac function.
Streaming Potential Hypothesis for Ionic Polymer Transducers in Sensing: Roles of Ionomer State and Morphology:

To date, consensus has not been reached on the underlying physical mechanism responsible for the experimentally observed sensing response of ionic polymer transducers, sometimes referred to as ioni...
Lasetron: A Proposed Source of Powerful Nuclear-Time-Scale Electromagnetic Bursts

Electromagnetic bursts of substantial energy on a nuclear time scale of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}21}--{10}^{\ensuremath{-}22}\mathrm{s}$ [zeptosecond (zs) to sub-zs] can theoretically be generated by a perawatt or multiterawatt laser beam focused on a subwavelength-size solid particle or thin wire. Terawatt laser in a similar setup could be instrumental in reaching the subattosecond domain. The system may also generate a half-cycle pulse magnetic field on astrophysical scale up to $\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{6}\mathrm{T}$.
National Parliaments and the ECJ: A View from the Bundestag

The German government largely disregards impending decisions of the ECJ, even if those decisions have far-reaching implications for Germany. Decisions of the Court may, however, be useful for the opposition in securing its policy preferences. Equal treatment decisions are used to evaluate expectations about legislative anticipation of Court decisions.
Regulation of Ci-tropomyosin-like, a Brachyury target gene in the ascidian, Ciona intestinalis.

Brachyury is a sequence-specific transcriptional activator that is essential for notochord differentiation in a variety of chordates. In vertebrates, Brachyury is expressed throughout the presumptive mesoderm, but becomes restricted to the notochord at later stages of development. In ascidians, such as Ciona intestinalis, Brachyury is expressed exclusively in the notochord and does not exhibit an early pan-mesodermal pattern. Subtractive hybridization screens were recently used to identify potential Ciona Brachyury (Ci-Bra) target genes (Takahashi, H., Hotta, K., Erives, A., Di Gregorio, A., Zeller, R. W., Levine, M. and Satoh, N. (1999). Genes Dev. 13, 1519–1523). Of the genes that were identified in this screen, one corresponds to a new member of the tropomyosin superfamily, Ciona tropomyosin (Ci-trop). Here we show that Ci-trop is specifically expressed in the developing notochord beginning at gastrulation, and expression persists in the notochord during tailbud and tadpole stages. A 3 kb region of the Ci-trop 5′-flanking sequence was characterized via electroporation of lacZ fusion genes into fertilized Ciona eggs. A minimal, 114 bp enhancer was identified that is sufficient to direct the expression of a heterologous promoter in the notochord. DNA binding assays indicate that this enhancer contains two sets of low-affinity Brachyury half-sites, which are bound in vitro by a GST/Ci-Bra fusion protein. Deletion of the distal sites inactivates the notochord-specific staining pattern mediated by an otherwise normal Ci-trop/lacZ transgene. These results suggest that Ci-trop is a direct target gene of Ci-Bra and that Brachyury plays an immediate role in the cellular morphogenesis of the notochord.
Diagnostic Pitfalls in Atypical Coronary-subclavian Steal Syndrome

We present a case of a 63-year-old patient with crescendo angina 12 years after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Angiography demonstrated coronary-subclavian steal caused by severe left subclavian artery stenosis with collateral flow from an anomalous left vertebral artery, arising from the aorta. We discuss the unique angiographic features of this atypical case of coronary-subclavian steal syndrome along with its treatment.
Routing between Subcubes in a Hypercube

As hypercube sizes and node capabilities increase, applications such as database processing and task management which utilize parallelism within a task and between tasks are becoming important. These applications require a new routing paradigm, where data (or programs) residing an a subcube are transferred to another subcube. In this paper, we describe and analyze an algorithm for routing data from the nodes of a k-dimension subcube to the nodes of any other kdimension subcube in the hypercube. We show that the algorithm enables data transfer between the iwo subcubes to be performed optimally in the current generatie:% direct-connect hypercubes. Also, the algorithm is very simple and can be executed in @(n) steps, where n is the dimension of the hypercube.
Disaster News and Subsequent Information Seeking: Exploring the Role of Spatial Presence and Perceptual Realism:

A body of previous research has indicated that in times of crisis and extreme duress, individuals engage in information seeking, consistent with the axioms of Uncertainty Reduction Theory. Using an...
A Cross-domain Survey of Metrics for Modelling and Evaluating Collisions

This paper provides a brief survey of the metrics for measuring probability, degree, and severity of collisions as applied to autonomous and intelligent systems. Though not exhaustive, this survey evaluates the state-of-the-art of collision metrics, and assesses which are likely to aid in the establishment and support of autonomous system collision modelling. The survey includes metrics for 1) robot arms; 2) mobile robot platforms; 3) nonholonomic physical systems such as ground vehicles, aircraft, and naval vessels, and; 4) virtual and mathematical models.
Online solutions: looking to the future of knowledgeBase management

The Princeton University Help Desk KnowledgeBase (KB) is a searchable online information system that publishes Princeton-specific computer solutions to better serve the University community. Heavily used internally by all Office of Information Technology (OIT) support staff, the KB is also marketed and publicized to the entire University community to promote online self-help. Over the past six years the KnowledgeBase has been molded to consolidate and streamline the documentation provided by OIT, gaining recognition and respect for its usefulness. The Help Desk has been able to increase productivity and its success rate of solving customer problems, with quantifiable results in the numbers of users serviced via the Help Desk web site. This presentation will provide a current look at the Help Desk KnowledgeBase, how it is used, and the plans for future development.
ZEB1 Enhances Transendothelial Migration and Represses the Epithelial Phenotype of Prostate Cancer Cells

Metastatic colonization involves cancer cell lodgment or adherence in the microvasculature and subsequent migration of those cells across the endothelium into a secondary organ site. To study this process further, we analyzed transendothelial migration of human PC-3 prostate cancer cells in vitro. We isolated a subpopulation of cells, TEM4-18, that crossed an endothelial barrier more efficiently, but surprisingly, were less invasive than parental PC-3 cells in other contexts in vitro. Importantly, TEM4-18 cells were more aggressive than PC-3 cells in a murine metastatic colonization model. Microarray and FACS analysis of these cells showed that the expression of many genes previously associated with leukocyte trafficking and cancer cell extravasation were either unchanged or down-regulated. Instead, TEM4-18 cells exhibited characteristic molecular markers of an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), including frank loss of E-cadherin expression and up-regulation of the E-cadherin repressor ZEB1. Silencing ZEB1 in TEM4-18 cells resulted in increased E-cadherin and reduced transendothelial migration. TEM4-18 cells also express N-cadherin, which was found to be necessary, but not sufficient for increased transendothelial migration. Our results extend the role of EMT in metastasis to transendothelial migration and implicate ZEB1 and N-cadherin in this process in prostate cancer cells.
A Pterin-Dependent Signaling Pathway Regulates a Dual-Function Diguanylate Cyclase-Phosphodiesterase Controlling Surface Attachment in Agrobacterium tumefaciens

ABSTRACT The motile-to-sessile transition is an important lifestyle switch in diverse bacteria and is often regulated by the intracellular second messenger cyclic diguanylate monophosphate (c-di-GMP). In general, high c-di-GMP concentrations promote attachment to surfaces, whereas cells with low levels of signal remain motile. In the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens, c-di-GMP controls attachment and biofilm formation via regulation of a unipolar polysaccharide (UPP) adhesin. The levels of c-di-GMP in A. tumefaciens are controlled in part by the dual-function diguanylate cyclase-phosphodiesterase (DGC-PDE) protein DcpA. In this study, we report that DcpA possesses both c-di-GMP synthesizing and degrading activities in heterologous and native genetic backgrounds, a binary capability that is unusual among GGDEF-EAL domain-containing proteins. DcpA activity is modulated by a pteridine reductase called PruA, with DcpA acting as a PDE in the presence of PruA and a DGC in its absence. PruA enzymatic activity is required for the control of DcpA and through this control, attachment and biofilm formation. Intracellular pterin analysis demonstrates that PruA is responsible for the production of a novel pterin species. In addition, the control of DcpA activity also requires PruR, a protein encoded directly upstream of DcpA with a predicted molybdopterin-binding domain. PruR is hypothesized to be a potential signaling intermediate between PruA and DcpA through an as-yet-unidentified mechanism. This study provides the first prokaryotic example of a pterin-mediated signaling pathway and a new model for the regulation of dual-function DGC-PDE proteins. IMPORTANCE Pathogenic bacteria often attach to surfaces and form multicellular communities called biofilms. Biofilms are inherently resilient and can be difficult to treat, resisting common antimicrobials. Understanding how bacterial cells transition to the biofilm lifestyle is essential in developing new therapeutic strategies. We have characterized a novel signaling pathway that plays a dominant role in the regulation of biofilm formation in the model pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This control pathway involves small metabolites called pterins, well studied in eukaryotes, but this is the first example of pterin-dependent signaling in bacteria. The described pathway controls levels of an important intracellular second messenger (cyclic diguanylate monophosphate) that regulates key bacterial processes such as biofilm formation, motility, and virulence. Pterins control the balance of activity for an enzyme that both synthesizes and degrades the second messenger. These findings reveal a complex, multistep pathway that modulates this enzyme, possibly identifying new targets for antibacterial intervention.