cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation of Time-on-Procedure (ToP) for evaluating airline procedures

Airline Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) define the sequence of flight crew actions to handle the set of mission situations that can emerge in the execution of a commercial airline flight. Each SOP must be completed within an Allowable Operational Time Window (AOTW) to avoid a hazardous outcome. For dynamic plants (e.g. airliner) the Time on Procedure (ToP) and the AOTW are distributions that vary with the interactions between environment, plant, and operator actions. Making sure that new, or modified procedures, can be completed in a timely manner (i.e. ToP < AOTW) is a critical step in verification of SOPs. This paper describes a method to simulate the ToP distributions for SOPs based on analysis of aircraft flight data. The Monte Carlo (MC) simulation for ToP has a three-step process described as (1) generate the AOTW, (2) identify AOTW interval, (3) generate ToP. A case study analysis of the Take-off procedure is demonstrated resulting in a simulated ToP within 5% of the actual. The implications of these results for testing procedure design and limitations of this method are discussed.
Equation of State and Ionization of Dense Plasmas

In large regions of densities and temperatures the properties of plasmas are influenced by Coulombic forces. Here especially hydrogen and helium plasmas are studied. The region of nonideality is given and the main effects as screening, quantum corrections, level shifts and the cut off for the sum over states are discussed. Based on methods of classical and quantum statistics corrections to the ideal EOS are calculated. Interpolational expressions covering the whole density-temperature plane are given and phase transitions to highly ionized states are discussed. Level shifts due to nonideality are derived. Finally the ionization equilibrium and kinetics are considered theoretically focussing the attention on nonideality effects.
Is the Future of Authenticity All In Our Heads?: Moving Passthoughts From the Lab to the World

Passthoughts, in which a user thinks a secret thought to log in to services or devices, provides two factors of authentication (knowledge and inherence) in a single step. Since its proposal in 2005, passthoughts enjoyed a number of successful empirical studies. In this paper, we renew the promise of passthoughts authentication, outlining the main challenges that passthoughts must overcome in order to move from the lab to the real world. We propose two studies, which seek different angles at the fundamental questions we pose. Further, we propose it as a fruitful case study for thinking about what authentication can, and should, be expected to do, as it pushes up against questions of what sorts of "selves" authentication systems must be tasked with recognizing. Through this discussion, we raise novel possibilities for authentication broadly, such as "organic passwords" that change naturally over time, or systems that reject users who are not acting quite "like themselves."
αA-crystallin-derived minichaperone stabilizes αAG98R-crystallin by affecting its zeta potential.

Purpose The G98R mutant of αA-crystallin is associated with the development of presenile cataracts. In vitro, the recombinant mutant protein exhibits altered structural and functional characteristics, along with the propensity to aggregate by itself and precipitate. Previously, we have reported that the N-terminal aspartate substituted form of the antiaggregation peptide, D71FVIFLDVKHFSPEDLTVK88 (αA-minichaperone or mini-αA) prevented aggregation of αAG98R. However, the mechanism of stabilization of αAG98R from aggregation is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the surface charge (zeta (ζ) potential) of αAG98R in the presence of the peptide chaperone contributed to the stabilization of mutant protein, and to identify the sites of interaction between αAG98R and the peptide chaperone. Methods Wild-type αA-crystallin (αAWT) and recombinant mutant αAG98R were purified from Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)pLysS cells. The ζ potential values of αA-crystallins in the presence or absence of αA-minichaperone and purified protein-peptide complexes were estimated in a ζ potential analyzer. Potential regions within αAG98R that bind the αA-minichaperone were investigated by incubating the protein with a photoactivable minichaperone variant, followed by mass spectrometric analysis. Results Binding of the αA-minichaperone to aggregation-prone αAG98R was accompanied by an increase in the ζ potential from -15.19±0.870 mV corresponding to αAG98R alone to -28.64±1.640 mV for the purified complex. Mass spectrometric analysis identified 1MDVTIQHPWFK11, 13TLGPFYPSR21, 55TVLDSGISEVR65, and 113EFHRR117 as the αA-minichaperone-binding regions in αAG98R. The results suggest the involvement of the N-terminal region and the α-crystallin domain in the peptide-mediated stabilization of αAG98R. Conclusions The αA-crystallin-derived minichaperone stabilizes αAG98R by compensating its lost surface charge. Methods for increasing the ζ potential of aggregating proteins can be a potential approach for therapy to protein aggregation diseases.
Why Do Students Misbehave? An Initial Examination of Antecedents to Student Misbehavior

The current study utilized constant comparative thematic analysis to uncover antecedents of student misbehavior from the perspective of collegiate instructors. Results indicated nine distinct antec...
Placement, Floorplanning and Pin Assignment

After the circuit partitioning phase, the area occupied by each block (sub-circuit) can be calculated and the number of terminals (pins) required by each block is known. In addition, the netlist specifying the connections between the blocks is also available. In order to complete the layout, we need to arrange the blocks on the layout surface and interconnect their pins according to the netlist. The arrangement of blocks is done in the placement phase, while inter-connection is completed in the routing phase. In the placement phase, blocks are assigned a specific shape and are positioned on a layout surface, in a such a fashion that no two blocks are overlapping and enough space is left on the layout surface to complete the interconnections. The blocks are positioned so as to minimize the total area of the layout. In addition, the locations of pins on each block are also determined.
Modeling the Motion of a Single Vehicle

The movement of a single vehicle can impact significantly the performance of a traffic stream. Consider a slow-moving vehicle at the front of a long line of vehicles traveling behind it, with no-passing opportunities. The performance of this lead vehicle significantly affects the speed and travel time of the following vehicles. Understanding the characteristics, performance, and movement of each vehicle type allows us to model groups of vehicles and to evaluate the performance of the traffic stream. Furthermore, the movement of individual vehicles allows us to develop better highway design and traffic control solutions. For example, understanding the acceleration and deceleration constraints of various vehicle types can help us design more effective passing zones and to allocate appropriate yellow and all-red intervals at signalized intersections.
Regulation of seasonal occurrence in the tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann, 1901.

Published data on the seasonal occurrence ofRhipicephalus appendiculatus at 8 localities in east, central and southern Africa has been compared and an analysis of the regulatory roles of different climatic factors has been undertaken. It has been shown that the pattern of seasonal occurrence is largely dependant on the timing of the activity period of the adult stage and this is regulated by the combined influences of humidity, temperatures and daylength. By use of a simple model it is shown how the adult activity period in a given climatic regime can be predicted on the basis of easily obtainable meteorological data. The value of the model in planning tick and disease control programmes is discussed.
Characterization of senescent red cells from the rabbit.

The mammalian erythrocyte survives a multitude of insults during its circulating lifespan including oxidant attack, calcium influxes, repeated deformation and glycation among others (1). Nevertheless, the majority of red cells survive and apparently function well for the entire pre-programmed time period which represents their lifespan. Neither the mechanism which determines the time frame of the lifespan nor the signal that triggers the removal of the senescent cell by macrophages is known (1). The lack of knowledge concerning this fundamental biological process can clearly be attributed to a single underlying problem, the difficulty of reliably isolating aged red cells (2). The majority of investigators in this field have utilized a variety of physical techniques for isolating aged cells (1) based upon assumptions as to changes which may occur with red cell aging, for example, an increase in cellular density. As a result, there have been literally thousands of reports documenting the changes in red cell properties as a function of cellular density with the assumption that these findings reflect changes with age. It has now, however, become increasingly clear that density fractionation is not capable of producing a sufficiently pure population of aged erythrocytes to allow any biochemical characterization of age-dependent changes (3–6).
Technology Assessment: Energy Storage Technologies for Wind Power Generation

The problems in generation imbalance for wind power require multi-criteria analysis for the decision makers. In addition to the required multi-criteria analysis, there is also a problem of uncertainty inherent in future changes as a result of interdependence among these criteria. To counter this two problems, this paper describes a systematic approach of Bayesian causal maps and systematic probability generation method. Bayesian causal maps, which is built from causal maps, is used to develop a proposed framework on scenario-based assessment of energy storage technologies for wind power generation. Causal maps provides a rich representation of ideas, through the modeling of complex structures, representing the chain of arguments, as networks.
Mind-Body, Not a Pseudoproblem

Any serious effort toward a consistent, coherent, and synoptic account of the place of mind in nature is fraught with embarrassing perplexities. Philosophical temperaments notoriously differ in how they react to these perplexities. Some thinkers apparently like to wallow in them and finally declare the mind-body problem unsolvable: ‘Ignoramus et ignorabimus.’ Perhaps this is an expression of intellectual masochism, or a rationalization of intellectual impotence. It may of course also be an expression of genuine humility. Others, imbued with greater confidence in the powers of philosophical insight or in the promises of scientific progress, offer dogmatic solutions of the old puzzle. And still others, recognizing the speculative and precarious character of metaphysical solutions, and deeply irritated by the many bafflements, try to undercut the whole issue and declare it an imaginary problem. But the perplexities persist and provoke further efforts — often only minor variants of older ones — toward removing this perennial bone of contention from the disputes of philosophers and scientists. Wittgenstein, who tried to ‘dissolve’ the problem, admitted candidly [1953, Section 412]: “The feeling of an unbridgeable gulf between consciousness and brain-process…. This idea of a difference in kind is accompanied by slight giddiness,” but he added quickly “which occurs when we are performing a piece of logical sleight-of-hand.”
On the stability of gradient flow dynamics for a rank-one matrix approximation problem

In this paper, we examine the global stability of gradient flow dynamics associated with the problem of finding the best rank-one approximation of a given matrix. We partition the state-space into an infinite family of invariant manifolds over which the dynamics reduce to the special case of approximating a symmetric matrix. This allows us to employ a Lyapunov-based argument to explicitly characterize the region of attraction for the stable equilibrium points. This characterization proves an almost everywhere convergence for the gradient flow dynamics to the minimizers of the corresponding rank-one approximation problem.
Frequency Dependent Source Locations of Whistler Mode Waves in the Plasmasphere: A Raytracing Approach

Whistler mode waves play an important role in space weather dynamics. Plasmaspheric hiss and chorus are types of whistler mode waves prevalent in the magnetosphere. The source location of whistler mode wave energy has been a topic of research for nearly half a century. We present results of warm plasma whistler mode raytracing considering three source locations at $L=2$, 3.8 and 5 in the magnetosphere. Comparison of simulation results with frequency normalized observations from the Van Allen Probes spacecraft suggest that sources within the plasmasphere (L∼2) provide a significant contribution to the observed whistler mode wave power distribution.
Mechanistic Study of TTF-1 Modulation of Cellular Sensitivity to Cisplatin

The lung lineage master regulator gene, Thyroid Transcription Factor-1 (TTF-1, also known as NKX2-1), is used as a marker by pathologists to identify lung adenocarcinomas since TTF-1 is expressed in 60 ~ 70% of lung ADs. Much research has been conducted to investigate roles of TTF-1 in lung cancer biology. But, how it modulates cellular chemosensitivity remains poorly characterized. Our study shows that TTF-1 sensitizes the KRAS-mutated A549 and NCI-H460 lung cancer cells to cisplatin, a common chemotherapy used to treat lung cancer. This chemosensitization activity does not appear to be mediated by a TTF-1-imposed alteration on nucleotide excision repair. Mechanistically, TTF-1 induced a reduction in p-AKT (S473), which in turn activated glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) and reduced β-catenin. Intriguingly, in the EGFR-mutated NCI-H1975 and HCC827 cells, TTF-1 desensitized these cells to cisplatin; concomitantly, TTF-1 conferred an increase in p-AKT. Finally, the conditioned media of TTF-1-transefected cells sensitized TTF-1- cells to cisplatin, implicating that the TTF-1-driven chemosensitization activity may be dually pronged in both intracellular and extracellular compartments. In short, this study highlights the enigmatic activities of TTF-1 in lung cancer, and calls for future research to optimally manage chemotherapy of patients with TTF-1+ lung ADs.
Research note: Development of a comprehensive plan scorecard for healthy, active rural communities

Abstract Rural environments present unique barriers and opportunities for healthy living, and yet planning-for-health research and practice guides focus primarily on urban and suburban environments. “Healthy Rural Community Design: A Scorecard for Comprehensive Plans” is a new comprehensive plan assessment tool to help rural and small town communities promote active living and healthy eating. Focus groups and workshops with rural planners and public health practitioners informed the tool’s development. This iterative, user-centered process of tool evaluation and revision continues. The scorecard can help rural planners and public health practitioners: identify strengths in planning policy and areas for improvement; engage diverse stakeholders in planning for health; start a dialogue between health and planning practitioners; and generate ideas for policy, systems, and environmental change for healthier, more prosperous, and more sustainable rural and small town communities.
Red blood cell substitutes

Abstract Red blood cell (RBC) substitutes are a promising alternative to allogenic RBC transfusions that are currently undergoing extensive development. The toxicity and nonphysiologic performance of early generation RBC substitutes has resulted in the development of strategies that aim to produce safe and effective materials. Current development of RBC substitutes focus on two classes of materials: (1) hemoglobin (Hb)-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) capable of binding oxygen and (2) emulsified perfluorocarbon (PFC) solutions capable of dissolving oxygen. To reduce the hypertension that results from Hb inhibition of nitric oxide signaling in the endothelium and improve overall performance of HBOCs, researchers have employed various strategies including chemical cross-linking, surface conjugation, encapsulation, and genetic engineering. Work has also been done to increase the solubility of oxygen in emulsified PFC solutions to match the oxygen delivering capacity of RBCs.
Bimetallic Bis-anion Cascade Complexes of Magnesium in Nonaqueous Solution.

Bimetallic magnesium(II) complexes are gaining significant interest in catalysis, yet their fundamental formation and behavior in organic media remain surprisingly unexplored relative to other diva...
Sustainable Social Entrepreneurship: Serving the Destitute, Feeding the Hungry, and Reducing the Food Waste

This chapter discusses how innovative social entrepreneurs are changing the world by serving the destitute, feeding the hungry, and reducing the food waste footprint. A social entrepreneur is one who brings about a positive change in the society by implementing innovative ideas to fulfill vital social needs. After introducing the concept of Social Entrepreneurship, this chapter will chronicle exemplary mini vignettes/studies regarding innovative social entrepreneurs who are serving the destitute and sustaining the planet in innovative ways. While most of us only dream about changing the world in a positive manner, there are people who are already busy doing so. In recent years, global food waste has emerged as a far-reaching problem, with tremendous financial, ethical, and environmental costs. The food system is the largest user of natural resources and emitter of greenhouse gases. Despite using 34% of the land, consuming 69% of the water, and being the main cause of deforestation and loss of habitat, one-third of food produced globally is wasted; that is, 1.3 billion tons of food that is never eaten. When food waste decomposes in a landfill without oxygen, it produces a large amount of methane, which is approximately 20 times more harmful to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. After discussing the horror of the negative impact of food waste on the environment, the chapter presents what strategies conscious social entrepreneurs have devised to combat this pervasive issue of global food waste.
Cell cycle regulatory roles of ER-alpha in breast cancer

1273 The roles of estrogen and estrogen receptor (ER) in normal mammary gland development and in transformation to a tumor phenotype have been extensively studied. However, although the cumulative data suggests an important role for ER in breast cancer, the function of ER in regulating cell proliferation in normal and tumor tissue remains unclear. This study investigates the role of ER-alpha on the progression of the cells through phases of the cell cycle in the presence and absence of the ligand (i.e. estradiol). Experimental Design: The ER negative MDA-MB 231 and ER positive MCF-7 cell lines were used for study. Cells were synchronized with lovastatin for 36 hours in estrogen free media and subsequently released from arrest with mevalonate. Transient transfection of MDA MB 231 cells with ER-alpha as well as addition of 17-b estradiol to the cells were done at the time of release from cell cycle arrest. Cells were harvested at different time points (0-68 hrs) after the release and processed for western blot and flow cytometry analysis. Results: In MCF-7 cells, the endogenous ER is subject to cell cycle regulation with its levels peaking at the S/G2 phase of the cell cycle. Similarly, MDA-MB231 cells transiently transfected with ER-alpha demonstrate tight cell cycle periodicity similar to that seen with cyclin B. Specifically, ER-alpha is up-regulated during late S phase and early G2 phase, and is down regulated during late G2 and M phase. In contrast, in non-synchronized MDA-MB 231 cells, exogenously transfected, ER levels first appear within only 12 hours of transfection, and its expression persists for several days. Additionally when 17-b estradiol is added to synchronized populations of MCF-7 cells (endogenous ER expression) or MDA-MB231 cells (exogenous ER expression), there is a shortening of the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Our results collectively show that unliganded ER inhibits cell cycle progression during G2 and M phase in breast cancer cells, which may explain the growth inhibitory role of ER reported in the literature while liganded ER speed up the exit from G2/M phase of the cell cycle Conclusion: We conclude that the ER-alpha expression under non-liganded and liganded conditions have opposing effects on the progression of the cell cycle in G2/M phase.
Mean transport of inertial particles in viscous streaming flows

A body oscillating in a fluid can produce a steady viscous streaming flow due to mean nonlinear interactions of oscillatory flow components. Effects of the fast-scale oscillations on the slow mean transport are difficult to resolve when calculating inertial particle transport. Using asymptotic analysis and generalized Lagrangian mean theory, we develop mean transport equations for the long-time particle trajectories, skipping over the fast scales without ignoring their effect. Calculations with these transport equations are several orders of magnitude faster than was previously possible.
The provincial Flâneuse: Reimagining provincial space and narratives of womanhood in Bollywood

This essay uses the interpretive lens of the flâneuse to read Rumi, the protagonist of Anurag Kashyap’s 2018 film Manmarziyaan, as an emergent figure who exemplifies provincial confidence and aspir...
Tracking the Progression of Triple Negative Mammary Tumors over Time by Chemometric Analysis of Urinary Volatile Organic Compounds

Previous studies have shown that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are potential biomarkers of breast cancer. An unanswered question is how urinary VOCs change over time as tumors progress. To explore this, BALB/c mice were injected with 4T1.2 triple negative murine tumor cells in the tibia. This typically causes tumor progression and osteolysis in 1-2 weeks. Samples were collected prior to tumor injection and from days 2-19. Samples were analyzed by headspace solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Univariate analysis identified VOCs that were biomarkers for breast cancer; some of these varied significantly over time and others did not. Principal component analysis was used to distinguish Cancer (all Weeks) from Control and Cancer Week 1 from Cancer Week 3 with over 90% accuracy. Forward feature selection and linear discriminant analysis identified a unique panel that could identify tumor presence with 94% accuracy and distinguish progression (Cancer Week 1 from Cancer Week 3) with 97% accuracy. Principal component regression analysis also demonstrated that a VOC panel could predict number of days since tumor injection (R2 = 0.71 and adjusted R2 = 0.63). VOC biomarkers identified by these analyses were associated with metabolic pathways relevant to breast cancer.
Forward osmosis concentration of milk: Product quality and processing considerations

ABSTRACT Concentration of milk in the dairy industry is typically achieved by thermal evaporation or reverse osmosis (RO). Heat concentration is energy intensive and leads to cooked flavor and color changes in the final product, and RO is affected by fouling, which limits the final achievable concentration of the product. The main objective of this work was to evaluate forward osmosis (FO) as an alternative method for concentrating milk. The effects of fat content and temperature on the process were evaluated, and the physicochemical properties and sensory qualities of the final product were assessed. Commercially pasteurized skim and whole milk samples were concentrated at 4, 15, and 25°C using a benchtop FO unit. The FO process was assessed by monitoring water flux and product concentration. The color of the milk concentrates was also evaluated. A sensory panel compared the FO concentrated and thermally concentrated milks, diluted to single strength, with high temperature, short time pasteurized milk. The FO experimental runs were conducted in triplicate, and data were analyzed by single-factor ANOVA. Water flux during FO decreased with time under all processing conditions. Higher temperatures led to faster concentration and higher concentration factors for both skim and whole milk. After 5.75 h of FO processing, the concentration factors achieved for skim milk were 2.68 ± 0.08 at 25°C, 2.68 ± 0.09 at 15°C, and 2.36 ± 0.08 at 4°C. For whole milk, after 5.75 h of FO processing, concentration factors of 2.32 ± 0.12 at 25°C, 2.12 ± 0.36 at 15°C, and 1.91 ± 0.15 at 4°C were obtained. Overall, maximum concentration levels of 40.15% total solids for skim milk and 40.94% total solids for whole milk were achieved. Additionally, a triangle sensory test showed no significant differences between regular milk and FO concentrated milk diluted to single strength. This work shows that FO is a viable nonthermal processing method for concentrating milk, but some technical challenges need to be overcome to facilitate commercial utilization.
Promoting Caregiver Mastery in Black American Dementia Caregivers.

Over six million older Americans live with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias; Black American older adults' prevalence is more than twice that of non-Hispanic White older adults. The Black American dementia caregiving experience can be encapsulated within the Black Family Socio-Ecological Context Model, which provides a conceptual basis for examining social determinants of health at individual, family, community, and societal levels with careful consideration for how the intersection of race, gender, and class of Black American dementia caregivers influence the multiple dimensions of their caregiving experiences. Family dynamics, community setting, and healthcare systems have a potentially bidirectional influence on these caregivers, which is shaped by historical and ongoing systemic and institutional racism and general disenfranchisement. This Forum article outlines how the Social Cognitive Theory offers ways for Black American dementia caregivers to achieve a sense of mastery within the complicated and fraught ecology within which their caregiving occurs. We propose a research agenda to create programs and interventions for enhancing a sense of mastery among Black American dementia caregivers. Two concepts in particular, "constraints" and "efficacy expectations," provide ways to create a systematic approach to developing successful coping strategies for the constraints perceived by individuals as they undertake and function in the caregiving role. The recognition of the complexity of the caregiving ecosystem and intersectionality of caregivers' experience and identity emphasize the importance of individualization: each caregiver's experience of this ecosystem- and therefore each Black American dementia caregiver's way to mastery within it- will be uniquely shaped and experienced.
Adam Smith & His Sources: The Evil of Independence

This paper explores the foundations of Adam Smith's view that the philosopher is the same as the street porter. Despite their innate similarity, Smith recognized that the role of the philosopher, someone who provides useful instruction to fellow humans, is not that of the street porter He also saw that this potentially useful employment may entail a biased perspective on human conduct. Motivated by matters too distant for ordinary people to notice, the philosopher may come to believe that he is better than those he studies and to regard himself as independent from their concerns. Instead, Smith locates the means to correct the bias of philosophers in Stoicism. He singles out Stoicism as a philosophy which, in spite of the failings of Stoic philosophers, directed its adherents toward the greatest good. Smith differs from the ancient Stoics by recognizing the motivational importance of social distance.
CHAPTER 44 – Osteomalacia and Rickets

This chapter defines the term rickets and osteomalacia, and provides the etiology for the same. Rickets and osteomalacia are diseases characterized by defective bone and cartilage mineralization in children and bone mineralization in adults, respectively. The various rachitic and osteomalacic disorders recognized to date include more than 30 subtypes, which may be divided into disease forms characterized by calciopenia, phosphopenia, or normal mineral availability. The calciopenic forms of the disease embrace disorders that affect the availability of calcium and/or vitamin D or its active metabolite. In general, these forms of the disease are marked by a low or marginally normal serum calcium level, hyperparathyroidism, and consequent increased bone turnover. While many of these calciopenic diseases are acquired or secondary to renal or gastrointestinal dysfunction, a subgroup of the disorders is due to genetic abnormalities of vitamin D metabolism. Rickets and osteomalacia occur in association with a variety of disorders in which phosphate depletion predominates. Most typically, these diseases have in common abnormal proximal renal tubular function, which results in an increased renal clearance of inorganic phosphorus and consequent hypophosphatemia. However, the biochemical abnormalities characteristic of these disorders are quite variable.
What Value for Marketability

This study compares value of small privately held firms with similarly sized, small publicly held firms when the businesses are actually sold to ascertain the liquidity discount. These results are important to better understand and estimate the value of closely held firms. The data show these liquidity discounts are non-existent for smaller firms and much less than expected for larger ones. For the larger firms in our study, $100 million to $1 billion in price, the public firms do sell for a higher value than comparable private firms. However, for the smaller firms, $20 to $100 million in price, the private firms actually have a slightly higher value than comparably sized public firms. The effect of SOX on the valuation is also considered. We find that, from the stand point of net effect on value, there is a distinct and statistically significant negative effect on the firms in our larger group and a statistically inconclusive effect on the firms in our smaller group.
Was the Younger Dryas Triggered by a Flood

Draining of a huge lake into the Northern Atlantic may have triggered a cold period ~12,900 years ago. The route taken by the flood waters remains unknown.
Ad-FRNK and Ad-p53 Cooperate to Augment Drug-induced Death of a Transformed Cell Line

Background Transformed cells have abnormalities in the survival pathways contributing to drug resistance. These abnormalities include p53 mutations and increased focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression. Because FAK regulates cell survival via p53-dependent and -independent pathways, it was hypothesized that combined therapy using wild-type p53 and an inhibitor of FAK (FRNK) would sensitize cells to anticancer drugs. Materials and methods RPMI 2650 cells were infected with recombinant adenoviruses causing overexpression of p53 (Ad-p53) and FRNK (Ad-FRNK). Cell viability and apoptosis were measured using in vitro assays, whereas protein expression was determined by Western blotting. Results Co-infection of cells with Ad-p53 and Ad-FRNK induced more cellular apoptosis than transfection with either agent alone. Likewise, the co-transfection of cells with Ad-FRNK and Ad-p53 improved the cytotoxic response to four commonly used anticancer drugs relative to cells transfected with Ad-FRNK alone, Ad-p53 alone, or the equivalent amount of control adenovirus. This effect was associated with loss of endogenous FAK protein.
Nonspecific Factors in Monkey Tissues and Serum Causing Inhibition of Plaque Formation and Hemagglutination by Dengue Viruses

Normal monkey serum and the supernatant fluid from different triturated monkey tissues have been studied for the presence of nonspecific arbovirus hemagglutination and plaque forming inhibitors of dengue viruses types 1, 2, 3, and 4. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) activity was present in most tissue specimens and demonstrated a significant gradient of effectiveness starting with, respectively, serum, spleen, adrenal, and lung having a high degree of activity, whereas skin, heart, muscle, brain, and liver demonstrated low HI titers. A slightly reversed gradient of effectiveness was obtained for the case of dengue virus inhibition of plaque formation with bile, liver, thymus, spleen, and adrenal giving high 50% plaque reduction titers and heart, muscle, serum, skin, and fat demonstrating little or no activity. Analysis by Sephadex G-200 chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation suggests that HI and plaque formation inhibition are independent activities of normal serum or tissue constituents or both. Also, in addition to the physical methods of characterization, chemical treatment by absorption with kaolin or acetone extraction indicate both phenomena to be the result of the action of lipids or lipoproteins.
Innovation and education: unlimited potential for the teaching library.

Abstract The information age demands that health sciences librarians take active roles in the educational process. Librarians have traditionally taught users how to access information. Now, with the proliferation of information, librarians must accept new roles and teach the user efficient techniques for evaluating and processing information as well. Innovative roles for librarians at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center include teaching users to use technology for information management, to appraise literature critically for quality, and to develop skills for lifelong learning. This paper reviews the history of educational activities in health sciences libraries and describes the teaching programs at Texas Tech.
The Total Cross Section of the He 3 Nucleus for Slow Neutrons

Using the slow neutrons available from the thermal column of the enriched uranium pile of this Laboratory, the total cross section of the ${\mathrm{He}}_{3}$ nucleus was determined by the transmission method. To the precision of the data, this cross section obeys the $\frac{1}{v}$ law in the range of averaged neutron energies extending from about 0.001 to 0.03 electron volt. The product ($\ensuremath{\sigma}{\mathrm{He}}_{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}v$) is found to be (11.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{6}$ barns\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}meters\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${\mathrm{sec}.}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The possible theoretical implications of these results are briefly discussed in connection with the properties of the compound ${\mathrm{He}}_{4}$ nucleus.
Precision Measurements of 〈 111 〉 de Haas-van Alphen Frequencies in Copper, Silver, and Gold

Precise measurements have been made of $〈111〉$ neck de Haas-van Alphen frequencies and belly/neck ratios in copper, silver, and gold, using deuterium resonance for magnetic field calibration. All three metals were studied in a superconducting solenoid using a field-modulation technique; the neck in gold was also measured by the torque method in a conventional electromagnet. The results are believed to have an absolute accuracy of better than \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2%, and show discrepancies of up to 1.6% when compared with earlier published figures.
Two-step nucleation of the γ-phase in a Ti-45Al-18Nb alloy

Abstract Phase transformations in a high Nb Ti–Al–Nb alloy (Ti-45Al-18Nb at%) upon cooling were studied. This alloy solidifies as single β-phase, which upon cooling under equilibrium conditions, is expected to follow the β → β + γ → β + γ + σ → γ + σ transformation path. The DTA analysis confirmed two transformation events as manifested by two peaks upon cooling. However, compositional and structural characterization of samples with different heat treatment schedules, including slow cooling (9 °C/min), revealed that the σ-phase did not form upon cooling. The two DTA peaks observed in the cooling cycle of the alloy are proven to be associated with the two-stage formation of the γ-phase. Detailed microstructural evaluations showed that the γ-phase nucleated in two discrete stages and exhibited two different morphologies. The absence of the σ-phase is believed to be due to the lack of enough driving force at high temperatures. The aging of a fast cooled sample, yielding an equilibrated microstructure, substantiated the presence of the σ-phase.
Letter by Williams and Tabas regarding article "atherosclerosis 2005: recent discoveries and novel hypotheses".

To the Editor: Although the ideas put forth by Goldschmidt-Clermont et al1 are intriguing, we believe that their article underplays a large body of work, much of it from the past 2 decades, that has clarified how normal arteries become atherosclerotic.2–5 Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is not mysteriously injurious. Instead, as experimentally demonstrated by Skalen et al,4 LDL causes harm only if it becomes retained, or trapped, within the arterial wall. Moreover, …
Auditory recognition without identification

When visual recognition test items are unidentifiable—through fragmentation, for example—participants can discriminate between unidentifiable items that were presented recently and those that were not. The present study extends this recognition without identification phenomenon to the auditory modality. In several experiments, participants listened to words and were then presented with spoken recognition test items that were embedded in white noise. Participants attempted to identify each spoken word through the white noise, then rated the likelihood that the word was studied. Auditory recognition without identification was found: Participants discriminated between studied and unstudied words in the absence of an ability to identify them through white noise, even when the voice changed from male to female and when the study list was presented visually. The effect was also found when identification was hindered through the isolation of particular phonemes, suggesting that phoneme information may be present in memory traces for recently spoken words.
Quadriceps Femoris Muscle Weakness and Activation Failure in Patients with Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis

PURPOSE Quadriceps strength deficits are common in patients with knee osteoarthritis, and have been attributed to central activation failure. Methodological differences may have contributed to previous reports of extensive central activation failure. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of quadriceps muscle strength deficits and activation failure in middle aged patients with symptomatic medial knee osteoarthritis.
Structure-Based Design of Potent and Selective Cell-Permeable Inhibitors of Human β-Secretase (BACE-1)

We describe the development of cell-permeable β-secretase inhibitors that demonstratively inhibit the production of the secreted amino terminal fragment of an artificial amyloid precursor protein in cell culture. In addition to potent inhibition in a cell-based assay (IC50 < 100 nM), these inhibitors display impressive selectivity against other biologically relevant aspartyl proteases.
Interaction energies of vacancies in transition metal oxides with large concentration of vacancies

Abstract Equations are derived from statistical considerations to obtain vacancy interaction energies, E 11 , E 22 (for vacancies with same sign), and E 12 (with opposite sign), from the variation of oxygen partial free energy with composition for FeO, TiO, and NbO. The oxygen partial free energy was determined through electromotive force measurements with solid electrolytes. Cells of the type Nb, NbO/electrolyte (0·8 ZrO 2 0·2 CaO)/NbO, NbO 2 were studied. The measurements were carried out in vacuum, with tungsten electrodes and induction heating. In FeO, E 22 = 2·74 ± 0·10 kcal/mole. In TiO, E 11 = E 22 = 2·10 ± 0·03 kcal/mole, E 12 = -2·97 ± 0·04 kcal/mole. In NbO, E 11 = E 22 = 17·9 kcal/mole, E 12 = - 25.3 kcal/mole. The constancy of the vacancy interaction energies permitted the accurate placement of the boundaries of the TiO phase. The entropy of TiO should be increased by l·68 e.u. to account for the randomness of vacant titanium and oxygen sites.
Identification of an antennapedia-like homeobox gene in the ascidians Styela clava and S. plicata

Abstract Homeobox genes from the urochordates Styela clava (AHox2) and S. plicata (AHox3) were cloned and analyzed. The two genes are homologous and Antennapedia-like. The homeobox regions have 87% identity at the nucleotide level and are identical at the amino-acid level. No introns are present in the homeobox region of AHoxB, and AHox3 is represented at a low copy number per haploid genome. AHox2 and AHoxB represent the second type of homeobox gene found in this evolutionarily and developmentally important group of organisms.
Theory of plasmonic Fabry-Perot bowtie nanolasers

We present the theory and design rules of a plasmonic Fabry-Perot bowtie nanocavity. Significant effects of the geometrical parameters on the physical characteristics of the nanolaser are discussed.
A computational study of the OH(OD) + CO reactions: Effects of pressure, temperature, and quantum-mechanical tunneling on product formation

The effects of pressure, temperature, and quantum-mechanical tunneling on the formation of CO2 and H(D) atoms in the OH(OD) + CO reactions have been investigated by a multichannel RRKM calculation using the potential energy surface obtained by various high-level computational techniques including the G2 and modified G2 (G2M) methods. The strong non-Arrhenius behavior of the bimolecular rate constant for the OH + CO reaction was found to result from the combination of temperature, pressure, and quantum-mechanical tunneling. The effects of the latter two factors dominate at low temperatures, resulting in the significant leveling-off of the Arrhenius plot. The rapid increase in the rate constant above 1000 K was found to result from the sharp increase in the vibrational partition function of the transition state leading to CO2 product formation. The observed strong isotope effect (kH/kD) can also be reasonably accounted for by the combined T, P and tunneling effects. The absolute values of the total rate con...
Successful dietary changes in a cardiovascular risk reduction intervention are differentially predicted by biopsychosocial characteristics.

Abstract Background . Psychosocial factors have demonstrated associations with both prognosis of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) as well as the development of CVD. Psychosocial distress may influence health behaviors (such as eating behavior) that increase cardiovascular risk. Method . The purpose of this research was to evaluate the role of psychosocial distress on intake of high-fat snacks and fruits and vegetables in 740 men and women, identified as high risk for cardiovascular disease, who took part in a 1-year cardiovascular risk factor reduction program. Results . Participants who were more successful at decreasing or staying at an optimal level of high-fat food intake had lower levels of baseline total psychosocial distress and worry and decreases in total psychosocial distress. A greater success rate at increasing fruit and vegetable intake or staying at an optimal level of fruit and vegetable intake was associated with changes in Type A and competing behaviors. Conclusions . Results from these analyses suggest that baseline levels and changes in psychosocial variables, particularly decreased psychosocial distress, were associated with improvements in healthful eating behaviors. Further work may provide information that could be useful in tailoring health behavior interventions to specific subgroups based on psychosocial characteristics, initial health behaviors, and demographic characteristics.
Which Method of Rotator Cuff Repair Leads to the Highest Rate of Structural Healing? A Systematic Review

BackgroundThe purpose of rotator cuff repair is to diminish pain and restore function, and this most predictably occurs when the tendon is demonstrated to heal. Recent improvements in repair methods have led to improved biomechanical performance, but this has not yet been demonstrated to result in higher healing rates. The purpose of our study was to determine whether different repair methods resulted in different rates of recurrent tearing after surgery.HypothesesWe hypothesized that (1) the rotator cuff repair method will not affect retear rate, and (2) the surgical approach will not affect the retear rate for a given repair method.Study DesignSystematic review of the literature.MethodsThe literature was systematically searched to find articles reporting imaging study assessment of structural healing rates after rotator cuff repair, with data stratified according to tear size. Retear rates were compared for transosseous (TO), single-row suture anchor (SA), double-row suture anchor (DA), and suture bridg...
Top-down and bottom-up approaches in production of aqueous nanocolloids of low solubility drug paclitaxel

Nano-encapsulation of a poorly soluble anticancer drug was demonstrated with a sonication assisted layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte coating (SLbL). We changed the strategy of LbL-encapsulation from making microcapsules with many layers in the walls for encasing highly soluble materials to using a very thin polycation/polyanion coating on low solubility nanoparticles to provide them with good colloidal stability. SLbL encapsulation of paclitaxel resulted in stable 100-200 nm diameter colloids with a high electrical surface ξ-potential (of -45 mV) and drug content in the nanoparticles of 90 wt%. In the top-down approach, nanocolloids were prepared by rupturing a powder of paclitaxel using ultrasonication and simultaneous sequential adsorption of oppositely charged biocompatible polyelectrolytes. In the bottom-up approach paclitaxel was dissolved in organic solvent (ethanol or acetone), and drug nucleation was initiated by the addition of aqueous polyelectrolyte assisted by ultrasonication. Paclitaxel release rates from such nanocapsules were controlled by assembling multilayer shells with variable thicknesses and were in the range of 10-20 h.
Diaphragmatic function following cervical cord injury: Neurally mediated improvement

Abstract Vital capacity measurements from 36 people rendered quadriplegic by traumatic cervical cord injuries generally increased during the first ten months after injury, indicating spontaneous improvement in respiratory muscle function. Reasoning that a renewal of neural supply to the diaphragm would probably be accompanied by a parallel renewal of neural supply to other muscles having adjacent motor pathways, the present study compared vital capacity measurements with concomitant muscle function evaluations from 20 of these people. Qualitatively, increases in vital capacity were invariably accompanied by increases in the function of a group of muscles (primarily of the shoulder and upper arm) having some segmental innervation in common with the diaphragm (C3C5) but were only sometimes accompanied by increases in the function of a group of muscles (primarily of the forearm and wrist) having segmental innervation below that of the diaphragm (C6C8). These findings suggest that the spontaneous improvement in vital capacity observed in quadriplegic people is mediated in part by corresponding improvement in the neural supply to the diaphragm. Quantitatively, however, linear regression analysis indicated that neither the rate nor the absolute amount of improvement in vital capacity could be predicted with any reliability from pulmonary function tests, neurologic examinations, or muscle function evaluations performed in the early stage of recovery.