cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of YKL-40 production by human articular chondrocytes.

Objective YKL-40 (human cartilage glycoprotein 39) is one of the most abundant proteins secreted by cultured chondrocytes. The objectives of the present study were to identify regulators of YKL-40 production in cartilage and chondrocytes and to map the localization of YKL-40 in chondrocytes. Methods Human articular chondrocytes and cartilage explants (obtained from subjects at autopsy, from a tissue bank, and from osteoarthritis [OA] patients undergoing total joint replacement surgery) were stimulated with cytokines, growth factors, and other agents. YKL-40 expression was analyzed by Northern blot and polymerase chain reaction. YKL-40 secretion into the media was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results YKL-40 production increased to very high levels during the early phase of chondrocyte monolayer culture and in normal cartilage explant cultures as a response to tissue injury. Spontaneous YKL-40 release was higher in OA than in normal cartilage explant cultures. In chondrocyte monolayer cultures, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) decreased the levels of secreted YKL-40, and this was associated with a reduction in YKL-40 messenger RNA levels. IL-1β, but not TGFβ, reduced YKL-40 production in cartilage explant cultures. Media from explants treated with cycloheximide had no detectable YKL-40, suggesting that the released protein was newly synthesized. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed YKL-40 staining in the Golgi system of the chondrocytes, but YKL-40 could not be detected in the extracellular matrix. Conclusion The spontaneous increase in the production of YKL-40 in the early phase of culture appears to represent a cellular response to changes in the extracellular matrix environment. This, coupled with the profound suppressive effects of IL-1β and TGFβ on YKL-40 production, identifies a novel regulatory pattern for this major chondrocyte-derived protein.
Analysis of Transcription Factor Network Underlying 3T3-L1 Adipocyte Differentiation

Lipid accumulation in adipocytes reflects a balance between enzymatic pathways leading to the formation and breakdown of esterified lipids, primarily triglycerides. This balance is extremely important, as both high and low lipid levels in adipocytes can have deleterious consequences. The enzymes responsible for lipid synthesis and breakdown (lipogenesis and lipolysis, respectively) are regulated through the coordinated actions of several transcription factors (TFs). In this study, we examined the dynamics of several key transcription factors (TFs) - PPARγ, C/EBPβ, CREB, NFAT, FoxO1, and SREBP-1c - during adipogenic differentiation (week 1) and ensuing lipid accumulation. The activation profiles of these TFs at different times following induction of adipogenic differentiation were quantified using 3T3-L1 reporter cell lines constructed to secrete the Gaussia luciferase enzyme upon binding of a TF to its DNA binding element. The dynamics of the TFs was also modeled using a combination of logical gates and ordinary differential equations, where the logical gates were used to explore different combinations of activating inputs for PPARγ, C/EBPβ, and SREBP-1c. Comparisons of the experimental profiles and model simulations suggest that SREBP-1c could be independently activated by either insulin or PPARγ, whereas PPARγ activation required both C/EBPβ as well as a putative ligand. Parameter estimation and sensitivity analysis indicate that feedback activation of SREBP-1c by PPARγ is negligible in comparison to activation of SREBP-1c by insulin. On the other hand, the production of an activating ligand could quantitatively contribute to a sustained elevation in PPARγ activity.
UV photodissociation spectroscopy of oxidized undecylenic acid films.

Oxidation of thin multilayered films of undecylenic (10-undecenoic) acid by gaseous ozone was investigated using a combination of spectroscopic and mass spectrometric techniques. The UV absorption spectrum of the oxidized undecylenic acid film is significantly red-shifted compared to that of the initial film. Photolysis of the oxidized film in the tropospheric actinic region (λ > 295 nm) readily produces formaldehyde and formic acid as gas-phase products. Photodissociation action spectra of the oxidized film suggest that organic peroxides are responsible for the observed photochemical activity. The presence of peroxides is confirmed by mass-spectrometric analysis of the oxidized sample and an iodometric test. Significant polymerization resulting from secondary reactions of Criegee radicals during ozonolysis of the film is observed. The data strongly imply the importance of photochemistry in aging of atmospheric organic aerosol particles.
Phosphonoacetic Acid Treatment Of Shope Fibroma And Vaccinia Virus Skin Infections In Rabbits

The antiviral efficacy of phosphonoacetic acid (PAA) was studied in localized skin lesions of rabbits produced by the intradermal inoculation of vaccinia virus (VV) and of Shope fibroma virus (SFV). Systemic administration of PAA by intraperitoneal injections had no significant effect on the pustular lesions induced by VV or on the benign skin tumors caused by SFV. A complete suppression of the appearance of VV-induced pustular lesions was achieved by 2% PAA ointment applied twice daily for 4 days, starting 24 hr after virus inoculation. A significant effect against SFV-induced tumors was obtained by PAA ointment applied beginning either 24 or 72 hr after virus inoculation. A complete suppression of SFV-induced tumors was observed when a dose of 10 mg PAA was injected intralesionally once daily for 5 days, beginning treatment 24 hr after virus inoculation. A significant reduction of the intensity of the tumors was seen following the same treatment schedule but with a delay of 72 hr after virus inoculation or by reducing the length of treatment to 3 days or with a dose of 1 mg injected intradermally daily for 5 days. After the healing of the lesions, PAA-treated rabbits were resistant to reinfections to the same extent as those in which spontaneous healing had occurred.
SU‐FF‐I‐16: Calibration of TLD Chips to Maximize Accuracy in Radiographic Phantom Dosimetry

Purpose: To develop an efficient annealing/readout protocol for TLDdosimetry that will maximize the accuracy and precision in radiographicdosimetry measurements. Method and Materials: 500 TLD chips were grouped in batches of 100 and subjected to varying annealing protocols and then irradiated to varying exposure levels. Three different annealing/readout protocols were tested. In protocol ♯1, the chips were annealed at 400 C for 1 hour followed by 2 hours at 100 C. The chips were exposed, and then allowed to rest for 24 hours before reading. In protocol ♯2, the anneal cycle was 400 C for 1 hour followed with a 30 minute cool‐down, followed by 20 hours at 80 C. Immediately after exposure, the TLD's were heated to 120 C for 10 minutes, then read. In protocol ♯3, the anneal cycle was 400 C for 1 hour followed by a 30 minute cool‐down, then 100 C for 2 hours. After exposure, the TLDs were pre‐heated and read as in protocol ♯2. Results: For protocol ♯1, the inter‐exposure uncertainty in the response (nC/mR) was approximately 4.2%. Using protocol ♯2, the intra‐batch uncertainty was reduced to 4.0%, and for protocol ♯3 the uncertainty was reduced to ∼3.7%. By using individual chip calibrations, the intra‐batch uncertainty for estimating consecutive exposures was reduced to 3.5%, 1.8%, and 1.7% for protocols ♯1, 2, and 3, respectively. By binning TLD signals over groups of 3 chips, the uncertainty in estimating exposures was reduced to ∼1.1% for protocol ♯3. Conclusion: With careful calibration and binning of results, an accuracy approaching 1% is readily obtained. The anneal/readout protocol that yielded the highest accuracy also required the least time for a complete cycle, with a batch of 100 chips being processed in <1 working day using a single furnace for annealing and a single‐chip reader.
Deformation induced degradation of thermal conductivity in cracked solids

The present work studies the overall (effective) thermal conductivity in solid media with a variable microcrack density. For a solid undergoing continuous straining, the self-consistent model is used to describe the evolution of microcrack density in the strain history. While the model established by Budiansky and O'Connell is implemented for the degradation of the load-bearing capacity due to microcracks, the micromechanical model established by Tzou and Chen is used to relate the microcrack density to strains. Degradation of thermal conductivity is then obtained by the analytical result obtained by Tzou in the same self-consistent framework.
Constructions of death and levels of death fear

Abstract Sixty students were administered the Threat Index (an instrument derived from personal construct theory) and Feifel's measures of the conscious level, the fantasy level, and the nonconscious level of fear of death in order to investigate both the relationship of the Threat Index to the various death-fear levels and to assess the extent of interrelationships among Feifel's three levels. Although the total amount of relationship was low, the Threat Index appeared to be related to all three of Feifel's levels but found its strongest relationship at the conscious and fantasy levels. In terms of the Feifel measures, there seemed to be some indication that two, not three, levels were being assessed—perhaps conscious versus nonconscious. The lowest degree of relationship was found with the below-the-level-of-awareness measures. Unexpectedly the Threat Index demonstrated a vigilance effect on the nonconscious level; high-threat students reacted faster to death words. A relatively high amount of convergen...
Flexoelectric sensing using a multilayered barium strontium titanate structure

The flexoelectric effect has been recently explored for its promise in electromechanical sensing. However, the relatively low flexoelectric coefficients of ferroelectrics inhibit the potential to develop flexoelectric sensing devices. In this paper, a multilayered structure using flexoelectric barium strontium titanate (Ba0:65Sr0:35TiO3 or BST) ceramic was fabricated in an attempt to enhance the effective flexoelectric coefficients using its inherent scale effect, and hence to improve the flexoelectric sensitivity. The performances of piezoelectric and flexoelectric cantilevers with the same dimensions and under the same conditions were compared. Owing to the flexoelectric scaling effect, under the same force input, the BST flexoelectric structure generated a higher charge output than its piezoelectric P(VDF-TrFE) and PMN-30PT counterparts when its thickness was less than 73:1 m and 1:43 m, respectively. Also, amplification of the charge output using the multilayered structure was then experimentally verified. The prototyped structure consisted of three layers of 350 m-thick BST plates with a parallel electric connection. The charge output was approximately 287% of that obtained using a single-layer structure with the same total thickness of the multilayered structure under the same end deflection input, which suggests high sensitivity sensing can be achieved using multilayer flexoelectric structures. (Some figures may appear in colour only in the online journal)
Autoignition Variation of Biodiesel Surrogates: Influence of Saturation

The autoignition of three biodiesel surrogates (methyl decanoate, methyl 9-decenoate, and a mixture of methyl 5-decenoate and methyl 6-decenoate), representative of the organic structures found in fatty-acid methyl ester (FAME) biodiesels, has been studied using the reflected shock technique. Measurements of ignition delay times were carried out at 20 atm for temperatures ranging from 700 to 1300 K, spanning all three regimes of reactivity of interest to diesel engines. At high temperatures (> 900 K) the three surrogate components have indistinguishable ignition delay. While in the negative-temperature-coefficient (NTC) and low-temperature regimes (< 900 K) the deviation in ignition delay based on the location of the double bond with the methyl decenoate carbon chain is around a factor of two. The results show that location of double bonds within FAME biodiesel components will have an important role in governing the NTC and low-temperature reactivity for FAME biodiesels but is unimportant at high-temperatures, of significance for the development of biodiesel surrogates and modeling strategies for diesel engine simulations.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Inhibition of thrombin's clotting activity by synthetic peptide segments of its inhibitors and substrates.

Abstract Synthetic peptides corresponding to segments of heparin cofactor II, fibrinogen, thrombomodulin, and hirudin were identified that inhibit thrombin's clotting of fibrinogen without blocking the enzyme's active site. Thrombin activity was inhibited 50% by the following peptide concentrations, with numbers in parentheses indicating residues in the protein sequence: heparin cofactor II(54–75), 38 μM; heparin cofactor II(49–75), 28 μM; fibrinogen γB-chain(410–427), 130 μM; thrombomodulin(426–444), 140 μM; hirudin(54–65), 1.3 μM; hirudin(54–75)SO4, 0.17 μM. All of these peptides are likely to bind to thrombin's anion-binding exosite, suggesting that this site has broad sequence specificity such that it may participate in many of thrombin's interactions with physiological substrates and inhibitors.
The social impact of research at the University for Peace

The University for Peace (UPEACE) was established in 1980 within the UN framework, with the mission to undertake postgraduate education, training and research on issues related to conflict prevention, security and peace. The Department for Gender and Peace Studies at UPEACE is motivated by the idea that peace, gender equality and gender equity are inextricably linked. Through gender mainstreaming, the Department aims to inspire decision-makers to use a gender perspective as an instrument of analysis to avoid gender-based discrimination, injustice and inequality and to take advantage of the particular qualities that men and women possess when working to prevent violence, transform conflicts or influence post-conflict environments.
Purification of a novel enzyme involved in catechin degradation by Calvatia gigantea

A novel enzyme, involved in the degradation of catechin by Calvatia gigantea, was purified 114-fold over the crude extract yielding 24% purified enzyme with a specific activity 16.1 U/mg protein. Two isozymic forms (I and II) were isolated, both exhibiting the same kinetic characteristics with maximum activity at pH 8 and 35°C. SDS electrophoresis of I and II revealed the presence of two identical components in each form with molecular weights 50 500 and 49 500.
QUEEN VICTORIA AND THE CHALLENGE OF ROMAN CATHOLICISM

(1995). Queen Victoria and the Challenge of Roman Catholicism. The Historian: Vol. 58, No. 2, pp. 295-314.
Electrically induced pore pressures in high salt content clay slurry

Abstract The development of stagnant pore water pressures due to non-uniform and non-steady distribution of voltage gradients were investigated in high water and salt content clay slurry using a floor-scale apparatus. The experiment was intended to simulate electrically enhanced dewatering of sea harbor sediments by horizontal drainage towards vertically installed electrodes. The scale of the test apparatus allowed for accurate measurements of the spatial and temporal variations of water pressure head, temperature, electrical potential and current throughout the test duration of 5 weeks. The pore water pressure dissipation measured at one-third the depth of the clay bed from mud-line appeared to alternate in rate and magnitude between the equally separated adjacent probe-stations, before it ceased completely. The voltage gradients between these stations fluctuated in the similar alternating manner indicative of significant variations in the local electro-osmotic water mass transport rates among the regions. It is postulated that the non-uniform voltage gradients give rise to competing pressure gradients; and the electrical potential applied orthogonal to the settling direction polarize clay particles hence disrupting the dewatering process by pore water pressure dissipation and compaction in high salt content clay sediments.
Systolic hypertension: occurrence and treatment in a defined community.

: Systolic hypertension, a disorder occurring predominantly in the elderly, is associated with an increased incidence of stroke and coronary artery disease. Based on the supposition that it is a risk factor, many authorities have urged that it be treated. This report concerns an experience in treating systolic hypertension in a defined ambulatory population of 898 hypertensive subjects in a work-site program. The systolic hypertension group (N = 39) was compared with a matched diastolic hypertension group and with a matched systolic/diastolic hypertension group (N = 39 each). The patients with systolic hypertension responded to standard treatment (chiefly with diuretics), but less satisfactorily than did the patients with diastolic hypertension. Side effects or toxicity were uncommon and did not interfere with the therapeutic regimen. However, the ultimate value of such therapy in the prevention of vascular complications remains to be determined.
Around the World: Campus Library on the High Seas

Focuses on the author’s experiences during the Summer 2004 voyage of the Semester at Sea program when she sailed as the ship’s librarian. The program, run by the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE) and academically based at the University of Pittsburgh, provides a floating college campus to students and faculty on a ship that sails around the world with stops in several countries on each voyage. The question of what is the essence of a library was of particular concern because ISE acquired a new ship about three weeks prior to the voyage, and, since this did not have an academic library on board, much work was needed in a very short period of time to create one – an opportunity to see a library set up from scratch and to ponder the essentials of service and practice.
Motorization of China implies changes in Pacific air chemistry and primary production

The People's Republic of China, the world's most populous nation, is considering extensive development of its automotive transportation infrastructure. Upper limits to the associated pollution increases can be defined through scenarios with Western style vehicles and vehicle-to-person ratios. Here we construct estimates of fundamental changes to chemistry of the Pacific ocean/atmosphere system through simple budgeting procedures. Regional increases in tropospheric ozone could reach tens of parts per billion. Observations/experiments suggest that enhanced nitrogen oxides will react with sea salt aerosols to yield chlorine atoms in the marine boundary layer. Nitrate deposition onto the open sea surface would support several percent of exported North Pacific carbon production. Transport of biologically active iron to surface waters may follow from increases in mineral dust and acid sulfate aerosols. Altered plankton ecodynamics will feed back into climate processes through sea to air flux of reduced sulfur gases and through carbon dioxide drawdown.
Hyperpneumatization of the skull base: case report.

Background and importance Temporal bone and skull base pneumatization is a naturally occurring process that begins before birth and continues into early adulthood. Occasionally this process surpasses normal limits, resulting in hyperpneumatization, which is usually obvious, but on rare occasions may mimic more aggressive skull base disorders. An awareness of this rare anatomical variant may help clinicians avoid more extensive investigations. Clinical presentation We present the case of a 37-year-old man with severe headache and multiple, partially opacified lytic lesions in the skull base noted after minor head trauma. At presentation, a computed tomographic (CT) head scan revealed multiple lucent areas in the skull base after which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) further suggested the diagnosis of an extensive lytic skull base process associated with a small clival fracture. Needle biopsy revealed nonspecific inflammation. An earlier head CT, not available at the time of admission, demonstrated extensive pneumatized air cells in the basiocciput. During the course of the 2-year follow-up, the originally pneumatized skull base was noted to become permanently opacified with areas of new bone growth. Conclusion We concluded that the skull base abnormality was an anatomical variant associated with a clival fracture and hemorrhage, which led to opacification of the pneumatized air cells. No specific treatment was offered and symptoms resolved completely. Long-term follow-up CT demonstrated opacification of the skull base. This is one of very few cases in the literature reporting the clinical course of a patient with a hyperpneumatized skull base and the subsequent evolution of the disorder after minor head trauma.
Gender-related long-term effects in adult rats by perinatal dietary ratio of n-6/n-3 fatty acids

Epidemiological studies in humans have shown that perinatal nutrition affects health later in life. We have previously shown that the ratio of n-6 to n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the maternal diet affects serum leptin levels and growth of the suckling pups. The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term effects of various ratios of the dietary n-6 and n-3 PUFA during the perinatal period on serum leptin, insulin, and triacylglycerol, as well as body growth in the adult offspring. During late gestation and throughout lactation, rats were fed an isocaloric diet containing 7 wt% fat, either as linseed oil (n-3 diet), soybean oil (n-6/n-3 diet), or sunflower oil (n-6 diet). At 3 wk of age, the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios in the serum phospholipids of the offspring were 2.5, 8.3, and 17.5, respectively. After weaning, all pups were given a standard chow. At the 28th postnatal wk, mean body weight and fasting insulin levels were significantly increased in the rats fed the n-6/n-3 diet perinatally compared with the other groups. The systolic blood pressure and serum triacylglycerol levels were only increased in adult male rats of the same group. These data suggest that the balance between n-6 and n-3 PUFA during perinatal development affects several metabolic parameters in adulthood, especially in the male animals.
Involvement of Protein Kinase D in Expression and Trafficking of ATP7B (Copper ATPase)

ATP7B is a P-type ATPase involved in copper transport and homeostasis. In experiments with microsomes isolated from COS-1 cells or HepG2 hepatocytes sustaining ATP7B heterologous expression, we found that ATP7B utilization of ATP includes autophosphorylation of an aspartyl residue serving as ATPase catalytic intermediate as well as phosphorylation of serine residues by protein kinase D (PKD). The latter was abolished by specific PKD inhibition with CID755673. The presence of PKD protein in the microsomal fraction was demonstrated by Western blotting. PKD is a serine/threonine kinase that associates with the trans-Golgi network, regulating fission of transport carriers destined to the cell surface. Parallel studies on cultured cells showed that nascent WT ATP7B transits to the Golgi complex where it undergoes serine phosphorylation by PKD. Misfolded ATP7B protein (especially if subjected to deletions) underwent proteasome-mediated degradation, which provides effective quality control. Inhibition of proteasome-mediated degradation with MG132 yielded additional, but nonfunctional protein. On the other hand, serine phosphorylation protected WT ATP7B from degradation. Protection was enhanced by PKD activation with phorbol esters and limited by PKD inhibition with CID75673. As a final step, phosphorylated ATP7B was transferred from the Golgi complex to cytosolic trafficking vesicles. Phosphorylation and trafficking were completely prevented by mutations of critical copper binding sites, demonstrating copper dependence of both PKD-assisted phosphorylation and trafficking. ATP7B trafficking was markedly reduced by the Ser-478/481/1121/1453 to Ala mutation. We conclude that PKD plays a key role in copper-dependent serine phosphorylation, permitting high levels of ATP7B protein expression and trafficking.
Phase diagram for excess electrons in simple fluids

We analyze a model for a thermally equilibrated electron in a static disordered environment. The model provides a caricature of excess electrons in simple liquids. We show that the self-consistent Gaussian approximation to the model can be treated analytically in the different limits of weak and strong coupling to the disorder. In cases of strong coupling, the treatment predicts electron localization consistent with Lifshitz trap scaling. This behavior can be the result of either excluded volume interactions or attractive interactions between the electron and the random sites (i.e., atoms) in the system. In the former case, the Lifshitz traps are voids; in the latter, they are local regions with atomic density in excess of the mean. In the case of weak coupling, the electronic behavior is dominated by extended states, and our treatment is consistent with standard perturbation theory. The theory thus correctly interpolates between different regimes. As a result, it provides a means to examine the competition between different electron-solvent interactions, and the resulting changes from one regime to another. We derive a phase diagram for the regions of crossover between weak coupling and strong coupling. The phase diagram is of a re-entrant form where the weak-coupling regime can result from a competition between repulsive and attractive interactions. Within this regime, over a narrow range of atomic densities, it is shown that the electron mobility can be extremely high.
Use of a Salmonella microsuspension bioassay to detect the mutagenicity of munitions compounds at low concentrations.

Abstract Past production and handling of munitions has resulted in soil contamination at various military facilities. Depending on the concentrations present, these soils pose both a reactivity and toxicity hazard and the potential for groundwater contamination. Many munitions-related chemicals have been examined for mutagenicity in the Ames test, but because the metabolites may be present in low environmental concentrations, a more sensitive method is needed to elucidate the associated mutagenicity. RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine), TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene), tetryl (N-methyl-N-2,4,6-tetranitroaniline), TNB (1,3,5-trinitrobenzene) and metabolites were examined for mutagenicity in a microsuspension modification of the Salmonella histidine reversion assay with and without metabolic activation. TNB and tetryl were positive in TA98 (32.5, 5.2 revertants/nmole) and TA100 (7.4, 9.5 revertants/nmole) without metabolic activation and were more potent than TNT (TA98, 0.3 revertants/nmole; TA100, 2.4 revertants/nmole). With the exception of the tetranitroazoxytoluene derivatives, TNT metabolites were less mutagenic than TNT. RDX and two metabolites were negative in both strains, however, hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitroso-1,3,5-triazine was positive in TA100 with and without S9. Microsuspension bioassay results tend to correlate well with published Ames test data, however, there are discrepancies among the published data sets and the microsuspension assay results.
Postoperative Delirium: A Review of Risk Factors and Tools of Prediction

Over one-third of the surgeries in the United States are performed on patients aged 65 and older, and delirium is one of the most common postoperative complications in this population. Postoperative delirium is a heterogeneous disorder, and as such it is not surprising that the reported predisposing and precipitating factors are widely variable. Knowledge of the risk factors that predict postoperative delirium will aid in early identification of patients at highest risk in order to allow targeted use of resources including geriatric consults, specialized units, and nonpharmacologic interventions.
Black Holes, Accretion Disks and Relativistic Jets in Active Galactic Nucleia.

As the conference logo clearly portrays, galaxies have "radio-active" nuclei. Indeed it was the remarkable discovery, that distant galaxies are sometimes accompanied by prodigiously energetic radio sources, that led to the convening of the first Texas conference on relativistic astrophysics, in 1964, 1 just in time for the even more noteworthy discovery of quasars. We now know that most galaxies, including our own, have definite nuclei and exhibit non-stellar activity at some level. At its weakest, this takes the form of barely discernible spectral lines; at its most dramatic it involves emission throughout the electromagnetic spectrum with luminosity far in excess of that of the host galaxy, most of it originating from a region smaller than our solar system. It is my task to provide a general summary of what astrophysicists think is happening in active galactic nuclei (AGN, henceforth), emphasizing recent developments.
Dynamic analysis of multi-body systems using tangent coordinates

Abstract This paper presents an efficient method for the dynamic analysis of multi-body systems subjected to constraints. The solution of the dynamic system lies on a manifold of lower dimensions. This information is used to develop the equations of motion in tangent space. Using this approach, only the minimum number of coordinates defining the response of the system are required to be integrated. This leads to a reduction in the computer time and memory requirements. The system equations of motion are integrated using the predictor-corrector method. The invariance property of the distance between two points is used to check if the tangent space needs to be redefined. Two numerical examples, one that has a fixed number of constraints and another that has a variable kinematic topology, are presented to demonstrate the versatility and efficiency of the present method.
Ionic control of renal gluconeogenesis. II. The effects of Ca2+ and H+ upon the response to parathyroid hormone and cyclic AMP.

Abstract The effects of both parathyroid hormone and exogenous cyclic AMP upon renal gluconeogenesis were altered by changes in extracellular pH and Ca2+ concentration. PTH had no effect upon glucose formation from a variety of substrates in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, and its effects were less marked at pH 7.0 than at pH 7.4. The maximal effects of cyclic AMP and PTH upon glucose formation from succinate, α-ketoglutarate, malate, and citrate were comparable, but cylcic AMP had a more marked effect than PTH upon glucose formation from pyruvate, lactate, and glutamine. In addition, cyclic AMP induced an increase in glucose formation from these substrates in the absence of extracellular Ca2+.
Tracing Bodylines: The Body in Feminist Poststructural Research.

This paper traces body lines in feminist poststructural research by identifying the conditions under which research into the lived body can be brought into discursive relation with contemporary theoretical formulations of the body. It begins by identifying the erasure of the corporeal body in the somatophobia of essentialism and the exclusive focus of poststructural research on the constitution of bodies in language. Potential methodologies for researching the lived body are suggested and the problems of phenomenological research identified. The theoretical conditions, methodological gestures, and analytical strategies for researching the body in body/place relations are explored in relation to the author's own work in Body/landscape journals (Somerville, 1999) and the work of other Australian researchers. These are brought together in relation to a small sample of the author's current research into safe bodies in the mining industry.
Hydrothermal pyrite concretions from the Romanche trench (equatorial Atlantic): metallogenesis in oceanic fracture zones

Abstract Pyrite concretions a few centimeters in diameter were recovered from within the east-west valley of the Romanche fracture zone (equatorial Atlantic). Unconsolidated sediments are scarce or absent in this area of the Romanche Valley. Some of the sulfide concretions were transformed into Fe hydroxides by the action of seawater. The major element, trace metal, rare earth element and sulfur isotopic chemistry of these concretions suggest that they were deposited from Fe- and S-bearing hydrothermal solutions at or beneath the seafloor. These findings support the hypothesis that oceanic fracture zones are the locus of metallogenesis. Heat flow patterns suggest deep sub-seafloor hydrothermal circulation in the highly fractured offset zones. Metals and sulfur can be extracted by the hydrothermal waters from rocks present beneath the fracture zone (basalt, gabbro and serpentinite) and can also be supplied by mantle volatile sources. Important metal deposits appear to be aligned along the predrift land extension of some oceanic fracture zones.
Multiscale Thermal Transport Across Solid-Solid Interfaces

We propose a novel multiscale model in order to better understand thermal transport across solid-solid interfaces in a mesoscale system. While Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations tend to be very accurate, they are also computationally rather expensive. Continuum simulations such as Symmetric Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SSPH), cannot take temperature discontinuities that may occur across interfaces into account, which can cause erroneous results. As such, we develop a multiscale model in which we run MD simulations over the region containing the interface, while running SSPH simulations over the remainder of the domain. This drastically reduces the number of molecules simulated by MD, reducing computational time, while hopefully still maintaining the accuracy provided by a “pure” MD run. Results from the simulation indicate that when boundary temperatures are specified, the data from the multiscale model is highly similar to the data from the pure MD run. However, when boundary fluxes are specified, the multiscale model tends to predict higher temperatures than does MD. We believe that this may be due to continuum SSPH simulations being unable to take into account phonon scattering with non-periodic boundary conditions.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Effects of Packing and Aspect Ratio on Mixing and Heterogeneous Catalysis in Microchannels

Many industrial chemical processes involve the mixing of two or more liquids. By reducing chemical reactors to microscale dimensions, engineers seek to take advantage of decreased diffusion lengths, leading to increased effectiveness (e.g., higher purity of product) over larger process components. In this study, computational models developed using the commercial multiphysics code CFD-ACE+ are used to predict flow within microreactor channels. Two aqueous streams enter a channel—one containing a contaminant and the other devoid of the contaminant. Changes in two geometric attributes are investigated with respect to their effect on mixing of the streams: 1) packing feature layout within the channel and 2) channel aspect ratio. Reynolds numbers (Re) for the simulations range between 0.1 and 100. Results indicate that both packing feature position within the channel and channel aspect ratio can have a substantial impact on mixing. Between Re = 0.1 and Re = 1, mixing efficiency generally decreases with increasing Re; however, as the Re is increased from 1 to 100, fluid flow patterns in the channel are altered, and wake regions and streamline changes created by the packing features lead to improved mixing. Examples showing enhanced chemical conversion during heterogeneous catalysis as a result of better mixing are also presented.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Titration of Inhaled Human Insulin (Exubera) in a Treat-to-Target Regimen for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract Objective: This study assessed the feasibility of safely achieving target glycated hemoglobin (A1C) of ≤7% by intensifying structured insulin titration regimens using inhaled human insulin (Exubera® [EXU] [Pfizer Inc., New York, NY] [insulin human (recombinant DNA origin)] inhalation powder) in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on combination oral antidiabetes agents (OADs). Methods: In a randomized, open-label, parallel, 24-week multicenter trial, 107 type 2 diabetes patients with mean baseline A1C of 8.6% taking two or more OADs were randomized to adjust EXU before meals following either weekly office visits or more intense twice-weekly telephone/office consultations, using a simple but structured insulin titration algorithm seeking to attain specific premeal glucose levels. Primary outcome was the percentage of patients reaching A1C ≤7%; secondary measures were changes in A1C, eight-point self-monitored blood glucose values, postprandial glucose levels during a meal toleran...
Higher-order gravitational perturbations of the cosmic microwave background.

We study the behavior of light rays in perturbed Robertson-Walker cosmologies, calculating the redshift between an observer and the surface of last scattering to second order in the metric perturbation. At first order we recover the classic results of Sachs and Wolfe, and at second order we delineate the various new effects which appear; there is no a priori guarantee that these effects are significantly smaller than those at first order, since there are large length scales in the problem which could lead to sizable prefactors. We find that secondorder terms of potential observational interest may be interpreted as transverse and longitudinal lensing by foreground density perturbations, and a correction to the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect.
Metal deposition for optoelectronic devices using a low vacuum vapor phase deposition (VPD) system

Abstract A vapor phase deposition (VPD) system has been used to deposit magnesium and zinc films and prepare optoelectronic devices under low vacuum conditions, i.e. 1 torr. An analysis of the metal films via SEM, AFM, XRD and four-point probe resistivity measurements revealed comparable characteristics to metal films deposited in a vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE) system. Magnesium cathodes were fabricated for organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. OLEDs were fully made in either the VPD or VTE system employing aluminum tris-(8 hydroxyquinoline) [Alq3] as the green fluorescent emitter or fac-tris(2-phenylpyridine)iridium [Ir(ppy)3] as the green emitting phosphor. Analysis of the OLED devices made in the VPD system showed external quantum efficiencies (EQE = 0.9 ± 0.1%) and (EQE = 7.6 ± 0.6%) at a luminance of 100 cd/m2 for the fluorescent and phosphorescent devices, respectively. In addition, organic photovoltaics (OPVs) were fully fabricated by both methods employing copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and C60 as the donor/acceptor materials. Analysis of the OPV devices made in the VPD system showed a power efficiency of 0.5 ± 0.1%, an open circuit voltage of 0.45 ± 0.05% and a fill factor of 0.50 ± 0.05%.
Lifetime, surface tension, and impurity effects in electron-hole condensation

A theory of electron-hole condensation in germanium and silicon is developed in which recombination, evaporation, and exciton collection are treated as random processes. An expression is derived for the probability distribution of the number of electron-hole pairs bound to a nucleation center. Consideration of the effects of lifetime, surface tension, and nucleation center leads to: (i) the relation of multiexciton complexes to electron-hole droplets; (ii) stable droplet sizes which are strong functions of temperature but only weak functions of pair-generation rate; (iii) the possibility of determining the surface tension from size measurements; and (iv) deviations from the usual phase diagram for a liquid-gas transition at very low temperatures. Detailed numerical calculations are carried out for uniform excitation of germanium and compared to data available from laser excitation experiments.
Metabolic Epidermal Necrosis-Hepatocutaneous Syndrome

Cutaneous lesions with histopathologic evidence of metabolic epidermal necrosis in the dog are commonly associated with a significant derangement in hepatic function and occasionally associated with abnormalities in endocrine pancreatic function such as a glucagon-secreting tumor. Hyperglycemia or frank diabetes mellitus is a common finding in both the hepatocutaneous syndrome and the glucagonoma syndrome. The long-term prognosis for dogs with hepatocutaneous syndrome is poor, while the prognosis for dogs with a localized pancreatic tumor may be favorable only if postoperative complications are minimal.
In a different position: conceptualizing female adolescent sexuality development within compulsory heterosexuality.

This chapter challenges forthcoming research on adolescent female sexuality to take more seriously the role of dominant cultural ideologies regarding heterosexuality and to consider its theoretical and methodological implications.
Renal growth hormone—Insulin-like growth factor-I system in acute renal failure

Renal growth hormone—insulin-like growth factor-I system in acute renal failure. The renal growth hormone—insulin-like growth factor-I system in acute ischemic renal failure. Recovery from acute tubular necrosis (ATN) is accelerated by IGF-I therapy. Furthermore, the local renal growth hormone-IGF-I system may participate in the natural repair. We examined the IGF-I system in rat kidneys subjected to 60 minute ischemia compared to sham operated controls. Two days after injury, growth hormone receptor mRNA and IGF-I mRNA levels fell ∼9 to 33% of control values. This was associated with a reduction in kidney immunoreactive IGF-I levels. In contrast, IGF-I receptor mRNA abundance was unchanged. However, plasma membrane IGF-I receptor binding on day 2 and day 7 was near double the control values (P
Integrated fuzzy filter for distribution outage information

Abstract In many distribution management systems, customer trouble calls have been used as the main data source for low-level outage handling. Increased distribution supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and recent developments in automated meter reading (AMR) systems are providing more metering information about the distribution system below the feeder breaker. However, the distribution system is so complex that no single data source can provide consistently errorless outage information for fast and accurate outage location determination. In this paper, an outage data processing algorithm is introduced, which provides more accurate outage information for the distribution outage management system by combining data from trouble call, AMR and distribution SCADA. Fuzzy logic is used in this algorithm to model the uncertainty of the outage information and to reconcile conflicting data. The filtered outage data include a reduced amount of accurate information for use in the outage location and system restoration algorithm.
“What does your building compute, Mr. Foster?” How computer science students can learn from architecture and the built environment

The buildings in which we live and work represent a repository of design inspiration for computer scientists. There is much to learn from the many problems and solutions that these buildings embody. This paper presents an approach for computer scientists and computer science students to find inspiration in the architecture around them. It discusses how a computational view can be taken when experiencing architecture. It then shows how this can be used in the computer science curriculum to provide students with a broader view of what it means to compute. A fieldwork approach is described in which students get away from their desks and enter the world around them to look for inspiration.
Complete folding of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor with only a single disulfide bond.

Abstract In the oxidative folding of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) at neutral pH, only two one-disulfide intermediates accumulate to a significant extent, namely [5-55] and [30-51]. In this paper we describe a recombinant model of [5-55], designated [5-55]Ala, which was made by replacing the cysteine residues not involved in the disulfide bond with alanine. As judged by two-dimensional NMR, [5-55]Ala folds into essentially the same conformation as native BPTI. Moreover, like native BPTI, [5-55]Ala inhibits trypsin stoichiometrically. Thus, the disulfide-bonded intermediate [5-55] corresponds not to a partially folded protein folding intermediate but rather to an essentially completely folded protein. This conclusion provides an explanation for many of the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of [5-55] in the folding pathway of BPTI.
Shield water system design options to improve the safety of fusion reactor blankets

Abstract This paper examines the potential of the shield and the shield cooling system of a fusion reactor to be an effective heat sink inside the reactor vacuum vessel, thereby improving the performance of the fusion reactor blanket during an undercooling accident such as a loss of cooling accident (LOCA) or loss of flow accident (LOFA). The paper demonstrates that having a shield cooling system capable of natural circulation during such an accident can make the difference between a blanket surviving the accident or not. The paper also demonstrates that it is inexpensive to add natural circulation capability to a shield cooling system.
Determination of agglomerate strength distributions, Part 4. Analysis of multimodal particle size distributions

Abstract An agglomerate strength determination technique, consisting of exposing sample dispersions to a calibratedultrasonic field and following the resultant changes via particle size analysis, has been previously developed in this laboratory. However, the multimodal nature of the resultant particle size distribution did not allow for the determination of breakdown mechanisms for the agglomerates. A numerical procedure has been prepared to deconvolute the multimodal particle size distribution into several constituents each with a log-normal distribution. By doing so, it becomes possible to follow variations in the particle size distribution with respect to the change in mass fraction of a specific constituent due to different irradiating conditions. This information is then used to relate particle degradation to the particle strength distribution and the mechanism of breakage.
Evaluation of personality measures for the selection of textile employees

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of a measure of personality constructs for the selection of operating employees in the textile industry. A commercial paper-and-pencil test measuring ten personality dimensions was used. Two measures of performance were obtained: an objective measure of performance based on individual output, and subjective ratings of performance by supervisors. The results indicated that two personality dimensions measured by the test were significantly related to employee performance. The results are discussed in relation to the potential of personality dimensions for predicting employee performance.
The Death of Princess Diana: The Effects of Memory Enhancement Procedures on Flashbulb Memories

This study examined the effects of memory enhancement procedures (i.e., hypnosis, n = 19; context reinstatement/reverse order recall(CR/RO), n = 19; task motivation instructions (TMIs), n = 20) on ...
Ion Channels Set Spike Timing Regularity of Mammalian Vestibular Afferent Neurons

In the mammalian vestibular nerve, some afferents have highly irregular interspike intervals and others have highly regular intervals. To investigate whether spike timing is determined by the affer...