cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paracrine potential of fibroblasts exposed to cigarette smoke extract with vascular growth factor induction.

Objectives/Hypothesis Nicotine, a major constituent of cigarette smoke, can activate the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway by binding to α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) expressed on the surface of certain cells. Here, we ask whether cigarette smoke extract induced different paracrine factors compared to the in vivo regulator of inflammation, tumor necrosis factor-α, in human vocal fold fibroblasts (hVFFs) shown to express low levels of α7nAChR. Study Design In vitro. Methods α7nAChR was detected by nested polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. γH2AX, a marker for DNA double-stand breaks, was measured by immunofluorescence. Cigarette smoke extract was prepared in accordance with investigators studying effects of cigarette smoke. hVFFs treated for 3 hours had media replaced for an additional 24 hours. Cytokine, chemokine, and growth factor levels in media were assessed by multiplex analysis. Results α7nAChR expression levels decreased with the passage number of fibroblasts. Tumor necrosis factor-α induced a significantly different profile of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factor compared to cigarette smoke extract exposure. Cigarette smoke extract at a concentration not associated with induction of γH2AX nuclear foci significantly increased vascular endothelial growth factor. Conclusions Cigarette smoke extract elicited a response important for regulation of angiogenesis and vascular permeability during inflammation, without evidence of DNA double-stand breaks associated with carcinogenesis. hVFFs are capable of participating in paracrine regulation of pathological blood vessel formation associated with cigarette smoking–related diseases (ie, Reinke edema). These cells express α7nAChR, an essential component of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway regulated by the vagus nerve in certain tissues and a target of therapeutic agents. Laryngoscope, 123:2228–2236, 2013
The BEACH is hot: a LYST of emerging roles for BEACH-domain containing proteins in human disease.

BEACH (named after ‘Beige and Chediak-Higashi’) is a conserved ~280 residue domain, present in nine human BEACH domain containing proteins (BDCPs). Most BDCPs are large, containing a PH-like domain for membrane association preceding their BEACH domain, and containing WD40 and other domains for ligand binding. Recent studies found that mutations in individual BDCPs cause several human diseases. BDCP alterations affect lysosome size (LYST and NSMAF), apoptosis (NSMAF), autophagy (LYST, WDFY3, LRBA), granule size (LYST, NBEAL2, NBEA), or synapse formation (NBEA). However, the roles of each BDCP in these membrane events remain controversial. After reviewing studies on individual BDCPs, we propose a unifying hypothesis that BDCPs act as scaffolding proteins that facilitate membrane events, including both fission and fusion, determined by their binding partners. BDCPs may also bind each other, enabling fusion or fission of vesicles that are not necessarily of the same type. Such mechanisms explain why different BDCPs may have roles in autophagy; each BDCP is specific for the cell type or the cargo, but not necessarily specific for attaching to the autophagosome. Further elucidation of these mechanisms, preferably carrying out the same experiment on multiple BDCPs, and possibly using patients’ cells, may identify potential targets for therapy.
A Framework for Parallel Composition of Protocols

In this paper, we propose a technique for parallel composition of protocols. The technique allows an interleaved execution of the component protocols at a site. We give a sound and complete proof system for composing the partial correctness proofs of the component protocols to obtain a proof of the composite protocol. We first develop the technique for the case in which the component protocols are linear sequences of events. We then apply this technique in a hierarchical fashion to combine more complex protocols. We illustrate the use of this technique by designing a new protocol for breadth-first numbering.
Sound Targets: American Soldiers and Music in the Iraq War

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Jonathan Pieslak Year: 2009 Pages: 216 Publisher: Indiana University Press ISBN: 978-0-253-35323-8 (hard cover). Prices: $55.00 USD(hard cover).
Drug-induced psychiatric disorders and their management.

Psychiatric disorders induced by drugs are of most concern when they occur in the context of therapeutic use of a drug. Such iatrogenic psychiatric disturbances may interfere considerably with the treatment of the primary illness and may cause concern to patients, their relatives and the medical staff. Because many drugs are often used simultaneously in seriously ill patients, it may be difficult to be sure which drug may have been responsible. The best procedure is to remove those drugs which are most probable causes of the psychiatric disturbances as well as any drugs that are not truly essential for the treatment of the patient.
Second-order linear differential equations

A second-order differential equation is an equation of the form $$\frac{{{d^2}y}}{{d{t^2}}} = f\left( {t,y,\frac{{dy}}{{dt}}} \right)$$ (1) .
How “The Three Rules” guide strategy and investment decisions at Deloitte Consulting LLP

Purpose – This case example looks at how Deloitte Consulting applies the Three Rules synthesized by Michael Raynor and Mumtaz Ahmed based on their large-scale research project that identified patterns in the way exceptional companies think. Design/methodology/approach – The Three Rules concept is a key piece of Deloitte Consulting’s thought leadership program. So how are the three rules helping the organization perform? Now that research has shown how exceptional companies think, CEO Jim Moffatt could address the question, “Does Deloitte think like an exceptional company?” Findings – Deloitte has had success with an approach that promotes a bias towards non-price value over price and revenue over costs. Practical implications – It’s critical that all decision makers in an organization understand how decisions that are consistent with the three rules have contributed to past success as well as how they can apply the rules to difficult challenges they face today. Originality/value – This is the first case study written from a CEO’s perspective that looks at how the Three Rules approach of Michael Raynor and Mumtaz Ahmed can foster a firm’s growth and exceptional performance.
Response of Escherichia coli B/r to High Concentrations of Sucrose in a Nutrient Medium

Abstract Escherichia coli B/r was subjected to sucrose concentrations up to 1 m in the presence of Nutrient Broth. Plasmolysis seldom was evident 2 min after this treatment. The subsequent response was characterized by transient decreases in optical density as well as changes in appearance as seen under phase optics. No transient effects were detected in the synthetic rates or in the division of the survivors.
A History of the Yorùbá People – By S. Adebanji Akintoye

The Yoruba constitute, perhaps, the most studied African ethnolinguistic group. This is hardly surprising for a people known for a long history and a vibrant, enduring culture who, in precolonial t...
Fatty acid profiles of undifferentiated and differentiated white and brown adipose cell lines supplemented with alpha-linolenic acid (821.5)

Introduction. Adipose tissue is a complex endocrine organ which coordinates several crucial biological functions including fatty acid metabolism, glucose metabolism, energy homeostasis, and immune function. White adipose tissue (WAT) stores energy, while brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipates energy. Our aim was to characterize fatty acid profiles of the undifferentiated and differentiated WAT and BAT transformed cells. Methods. Mouse WAT and BAT cells were grown in regular media to confluence, and differentiation was induced. At days 10, 12 and 14, cell were supplemented with 50 μM of albumin bound alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Cells with no ALA supplementation served as controls. Twenty-four hours after supplementation, fatty acid profiles of the cells were analyzed by GC and structural mass spectrometry. Results. ALA supplementation caused increase in cellular eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) with no change in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) levels in undifferentiated and differentiated WAT cells....
How to Hunt a Very Reliable Organization

A summary of my long engagement with Todd R. LaPorte as colleague, mentor, and fellow field worker in the study of large, reliability-seeking organizations that manage risk-bearing technologies is used to explore the relationship of our fieldwork approaches and techniques to other ethnographic means of sociological research. In particular, I discuss three organizations that have been at the core of what is generally known as the ‘high reliability organization’ project: air traffic control; nuclear power plant operations; and nuclear-powered aircraft carriers at sea. In retrospect, our fieldwork was as intimate as that characterizing participant observers; yet, because of the complexity and risk involved in the sites of our study, we could only observe, and not participate.
Robustness and Fragility of Markets: Research at the Interface of Economics and Computer Science

Market behavior is the central topic of economics. Yet while economists have a good understanding of the behavior of well-functioning markets, we have little to say about market fragility, market resiliency, and market collapse. Research emerging at the frontier between computer science and economics offers new ways of addressing this important issue.
Effect of erythromycin on theophylline kinetics

Abstract The effect of erythromycin base on theophylline kinetics was studied in eight informed, nonsmoking, adult males who received a 15-min infusion of theophylline (aminophylline) 5 mg/kg, prior to (control) and after (experimental) a 7-day course of 1 gm daily ervthromycin base (E-Mycin). Each subject acted as his own control. Multiple serum samples were collected for 24 hr after each dose and were analyzed for theophylline by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The mean ± SD pharmacokinetic parameters for each phase of study were as follows: apparent volume of distribution (L/kg) 0.45 ± 0.05 (control), 0.41 ± 0.05 (experimental); clearance (ml · min/kg) 0.83 ± 0.17 (control), 0.60 ± 0.11 (experimental). elimination half-life (hr) 6.65 ± 1.88 (control), 8.10 ± 1.58 (experimental). Erythromycin significantly affected the elimination half-life and clearance of theophylline (p 0.05). Therefore patients being administered theophylline appear to be at added risk for the development of toxicity when erythromycin is added to the therapeutic regimen.
Use of cuticular hydrocarbons in bark beetle parasitoid taxonomy: A study of Roptrocerus xylophagorum (Ratzeburg) (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) from the United States, Europe and Australia

Abstract Cuticular hydrocarbons of adult Roptrocerus xylophagorum (= eccoptogastri ) (Ratzeburg) from California and Georgia were isolated and characterized by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The hydrocarbon compositions of individuals from both locations were very similar with the major components of n-alkanes, midchain-methylbranched alkanes, terminally methylbranched alkanes and 3,7-dimethylbranched alkanes. Hydrocarbons of the females were shorter (average chain length 28.7) than the hydrocarbons recovered from the males (31.5). Cuticular hydrocarbons of R. xylophagorum females from Belgium, Austria and Switzerland were primarily alkenes, n-alkanes and alkadienes, whereas the major components of males from Belgium were n-alkanes, alkenes and terminally methylbranched alkanes. Cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of R. xylophagorum collected in Europe were very different from those of R. xylophagorum from the United States but very similar to Roptrocerus mirus collected in Switzerland. R. xylophagorum adults from Australia that were progeny of those introduced from the United States had cuticular lipid profiles similar to those of the parasitoids collected in North America.
Studies of the molecular motions of large penetrant molecules in solid polymers by electron paramagnetic resonance spin-probe techniques

Abstract The determination of rotational correlation times for spin probes in polymers is reviewed, with emphasis on the relationships between rotational and translational motions. Data on the behavior of three different spin-probe molecules in polyamide and polyester films and fibers are examined in detail. It is concluded that saturation phenomena make it difficult to obtain reliable rigid limit parameters in these systems, unless very low microwave power levels can be used. At very low temperatures probe rotation appears to take place in local defects or microvoids in the glassy polymers. There is an increase in activation energy of rotation at a temperature close to the T g expected from dynamic mechanical (110 Hz) measurements, but the probe molecule rotations remain strongly hindered until significantly higher temperatures are reached. In nylons, sensitivity of probe rotations to structural differences between fibers is low in dry systems, and increases with temperature and moisture content. Even in nylon fibers containing substantial amounts of water, the probe rotation is most consistent with free-volume concepts, and is inconsistent with models of probe rotation and diffusion in solvent-filled pores or channels.
Experimental observations and numerical predictions of three-dimensional fatigue crack propagation

Abstract Experimental observations of three-dimensional fatigue crack growth are compared to numerical predictions from three computer codes. For simple geometries contained in standard libraries of some codes, restricting numerically predicted crack shapes to elliptical quadrants does not adversely affect crack growth rate predictions. However, this approach is limited by the availability of pre-existing solutions. Furthermore, elliptical quadrants are not always representative of true crack shape. More general modeling capabilities allow accurate geometric representation of both the base specimen and the crack front shape for a wide range of configurations. This capability allows reasonable and/or conservative fatigue crack growth predictions for many cases not handled by geometric libraries. However, the more general modeling capability does not lead to improved fatigue life predictions for simple geometries. Further research is necessary to improve fatigue life prediction capabilities for complex geometries.
General anesthesia with remifentanil for Cesarean section in a patient with HELLP syndrome.

HELLP syndrome is a severe complication of pre-eclampsia characterised by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and a low platelet count. It is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcome for both the mother and the fetus (1). Patients with HELLP syndrome are also at greater risk of pulmonary edema, adult respiratory distress syndrome, abruptio placentae, intracerebral hemorrhage, eclamptic convulsions, disseminated intravascular coagulation, ruptured liver hematomas and acute renal failure. Perinatal mortality is equally high. Before delivery, aggressive obstetric management is directed toward stabilization of the affected organ systems, if possible, and interruption of the pregnancy in the early phase of the accelerated disease progression. Definitive therapy is delivery (2, 3). Parturients HELLP syndrome often require general anesthesia for Cesarean section delivery. The anesthetic technique is critical for these patients with a high risk of uncontrollable hypertension, bleeding and multiple organ failure (3). Remifentanil is increasingly used as a very short analgesic agent providing cardiovascular stability in high-risk patients (4, 5). We report the management of a patient presenting in labor with HELLP syndrome, and describe the successful use of remifentanil as part of the anesthetic technique for her subsequent Cesarean section.
A proximal mouse chromosome 9 linkage map that further defines linkage groups homologous with segments of human chromosomes 11, 15, and 19

Abstract A 42-cM map of proximal mouse chromosome 9, including eight loci defined by restriction fragment length variants, has been generated. Linkage was established by haplotype analyses of 114 interspecific backcross mice and indieated the following gene order: (centromere) Pvs -5.3 cM -Icam-1 Ldlr-18.4 cM- Thy -1-1.8 cM- Ncam -0.9 cM- Hexa -7.9 cM- Gsta -7.9 cM- Trf . Three of these loci, Pvs , Icam-1 , and Hexa , have not been mapped previously. Together with previous mapping studies the current results suggested that chromosomal segments of mouse chromosomes 7 and 9 and chromosomal segments of human chromosomes 11, 15, and 19 derive from a single putative primordial chromosome. The studies support the postulate that detailed analysis of chromosome organization will be useful in defining events in mammalian evolution.
Intra-industry trade and strategic interaction: Theory and evidence

Abstract We conduct a theory-based empirical study of intraindustry trade in homogeneous products. We derive an oligopolistic model of intra-industry trade, which is an extension of the segmented market model of trade, initially proposed by [Brander, J. A., 1981, Intra-industry trade in identical commodities, Journal of International Economics 11, 1–14]. The empirical implementations of the model are investigated in the context of the petrochemical industry. Our analysis employs a unique data set containing detailed product- and location-specific data on the petrochemical industries in Germany and the United States. Allowing for different empirical specifications, we find that cross-product variations in bilateral intra-industry trade of petrochemicals are well explained by the variables suggested by the theoretical model.
Cooperation and competition in a cliff-dwelling people

In animals that breed cooperatively, adult individuals will sometimes delay reproduction to act as helpers at the nest who raise young that are not their genetic offspring. It has been proposed that humans are also a cooperatively breeding species because older daughters, grandmothers, and other kin and nonkin may provide significant childcare. Through a prospective cohort study of children's (n = 1,700) growth and survival in the Dogon of Mali, I show that cooperative breeding theory is a poor fit to the family dynamics of this population. Rather than helping each other, siblings competed for resources, producing a tradeoff between the number of maternal siblings and growth and survival. It did not take a village to raise a child; children fared the same in nuclear as in extended families. Of critical importance was the degree of polygyny, which created conflicts associated with asymmetries in genetic relatedness. The risk of death was higher and the rate of growth was slower in polygynous than monogamous families. The hazard of death for Dogon children was twofold higher if the resident paternal grandmother was alive rather than dead. This finding may reflect the frailty of elderly grandmothers who become net consumers rather than net producers in this resource-poor society. Mothers were of overwhelming importance for child survival and could not be substituted by any category of kin or nonkin. The idea of cooperative breeding taken from animal studies is a poor fit to the complexity and diversity of kin interactions in humans.
The use of ion-exchange resins for studying ion transport in biological systems

Abstract A new method that involves the use of ion-exchange resins to study ion transport in biological systems is presented. The transport of organic and inorganic ions was studied in a variety of biological systems including intact cells, sub-cellular particles (Such as mitochondria and plasma membrane vesicles), and reconstituted membrane vesicles. A comparison with such conventional methods as centrifugation and washing, gel filtration, and membrane filtration suggests that the method has certain advantages with respect to reproducibility, reliability, and convenience.
Faithful Contrastive Features in Learning.

This article pursues the idea of inferring aspects of phonological underlying forms directly from surface contrasts by looking at optimality theoretic linguistic systems (Prince & Smolensky, 1993/ 2004). The main result proves that linguistic systems satisfying certain conditions have the faithful contrastive feature property: Whenever 2 distinct morphemes contrast on the surface in a particular environment, at least 1 of the underlying features on which the 2 differ must be realized faithfully on the surface. A learning procedure exploiting the faithful contrastive feature property, contrast analysis, can set the underlying values of some features, even where featural minimal pairs do not exist, but is nevertheless fundamentally limited in what it can set. This work suggests that observation of surface contrasts between pairs of words can contribute to the learning of underlying forms, while still supporting the view that interaction with the phonological mapping will be necessary to fully determine underlying forms.
Structure and correlation in liquid alloys by X-ray and neutron diffraction

Abstract A method for obtaining information about correlation in a liquid or amorphous alloy is presented. The explicit structure in a binary could in principle be determined from three independent diffraction patterns. It is relatively much simpler to measure and analyse the x-ray and neutron intensity patterns and with these alone obtain considerable correlation information, even if more than two atom types are present, by calculating the ratio of the two experimental radial distributions. For the binary the relevance of the ratio derives from the fact that each distribution is a sum of the radial distributions of the three types of atom-pairs, each term being weighted by the appropriate product of scattering amplitudes. The structure of the sample can be analysed by comparing the ratio for any interatomic distance to the values it would have for pure A-A, pure B-B, pure A-B, and random pairing. In a true liquid the results are semiquantitative. In an alloy with well-defined short-range order, the corre...
Development of Environment for Logical Process Safety Management Based on the Business Process Model

The safety of a chemical process plant can be achieved through plant-lifecycle engineering (Plant-LCE), which is performed from research and development to plant safety design, construction, and manufacturing (production and maintenance) stages, as well as at each engineering stage. To expressly provide a framework that can perform coherent decision making through the plant-lifecycle and at each stage, it is effective to develop a business process model that systematizes the activities related to engineering, production, etc. and represents the ideal and consistent business flow for each company. The safety division of the Society of Chemical Engineers Japan (SCEJ) has advanced the development of a business process model of Plant-LCE which consists of the business process models for process safety design, production management, plant maintenance, and process safety management (PSM). The original business flow for each company can be developed by referring to these business process models as reference models. This business flow can clarify what kind of activities should be performed at each stage, what kind of information on an activity should be collected, how it should be conveyed to other engineering activities, etc. In this paper, we review the challenges in developing business process models to realize a PSM environment logically.
Subordinate social adaptability and the consequences of abusive supervision perceptions in two samples

The present investigation examined social adaptability as a moderator of the relationships between perceptions of abusive supervision and several work outcomes. Specifically, we hypothesized that individuals with lower levels of social adaptability would be more adversely affected by heightened levels of abusive supervision perceptions than employees with greater levels of social adaptability. Data from two samples offered strong support for the hypotheses. Specifically, employees with lower levels of social adaptability reported heightened job tension (i.e., Sample 1) and emotional exhaustion (Samples 1 & 2), as well as diminished job satisfaction (Samples 1 & 2) and work effort (Samples 1 & 2) as perceptions of abusive supervision increased, whereas employees with greater social adaptability skill were less strongly affected by their perceptions of abusive supervision. Contributions of the research to scholarship and practice, strengths and limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
Divalent Metal Ion-Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Phosphorothionate Ester Pesticides and Their Corresponding Oxonates

The divalent metal ion-catalyzed hydrolysis of thionate (PS) and oxonate (PO) organophosphorus pesticides has been examined in light of three possible catalysis mech anisms: (1) metal ion coordination of the thionate sulfur or oxonate oxygen to enhance the electrophilicity of the phosphorus electrophilic site; (2) metal ion coordination and induced deprotonation of water to create a reactive nucleophile; and (3) metal ion coordination of the leaving group to facilitate its exit. The effect of the following metals at a concentration of 1 mM was examined: CoII, NiII, CuII, ZnII, and PbII. These metal ions were chosen for their ability to complex organic ligands and inorganic nucleophiles. Of these metal ions, CuII possesses properties most suitable for all three catalytic mechanisms and serves as the most effective catalyst for the five thionate esters (chlorpyrifos-methyl, zinophos, diazinon, parathion-methyl, and ronnel) and the two oxonate esters (chlorpyrifos-methyl oxon and paraoxon) included in this...
Is there an alternative pathway for starch synthesis

In leaf tissue, carbon enters starch via the gluconeogenesis pathway where d-glycerate 3-phosphate formed from CO2 fixation is converted into hexose monophosphates within the chloroplast stroma. In starch-containing sink organs, evidence has been obtained indicating that the flow of carbon into starch follows a different pathway whereby hexose monophosphates formed from sucrose are transported into the amyloplast, a plastid specialized in starch accumulation. In both chloroplasts and amyloplasts, the formation of ADPglucose, the substrate for starch synthase, is controlled by the activity of ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase, a key regulatory enzyme of starch synthesis localized in the plastid. Recently, an alternative pathway of starch synthesis has been proposed in which ADPglucose is synthesized from sucrose and transported directly into the plastid compartment, where it is used for starch synthesis. On the basis of the biochemical phenotypes exhibited by various plant mutants with defined genetic lesions, it is concluded that ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase is essential for starch synthesis, whereas the alternative pathway has only a minor role in this process.
The Effect of Conductor Expressivity on Ensemble Performance Evaluation

In this study, the authors examined whether a conductor's use of high-expressivity or low-expressivity techniques affected evaluations of ensemble performances that were identical across conducting conditions. Two conductors each conducted two 1-minute parallel excerpts from Percy Grainger's Walking Tune. Each directed one excerpt using high- and one using low-expressivity techniques. After watching a video of the four conducting segments set to a single audio performance of the selection by a university wind ensemble, participants (N = 118) evaluated ensemble expressivity using a 10-point Likert-type scale. Half of the participants also rated the expressivity of the conductor using a second identical scale. Ensemble expressivity was rated significantly higher for the high-expressivity conductors; effect size was strong (partial η 2 = .57). Among participants evaluating both conductor and ensemble, there was a significant moderate correlation between ratings (r = .56).
Aerosol synthesis of gadolinium iron garnet particles

Particles of gadolinium iron garnet, Gd 3 Fe 5 O 12 , were produced primarily by an aerosol spray pyrolysis technique starting with solutions of gadolinium and iron nitrates. The as-prepared particles were polydisperse solid spheres. Average diameters in the range 0.05 to 0.8 μ could be obtained by variation of the initial solution concentration. Larger particles to 2 μ were created by direct, non-aerosol, pyrolysis of the solutions. Heat treatment caused sintering and particle coalescence and yielded ∼95% garnet phase. The reaction time to create the garnet phase scaled with the square of the particle diameter, the smallest particles transforming the quickest. Magnetic measurements showed bulk behavior for the saturation magnetization, but the coercivity could be varied with particle size with a maximum near the single domain size.
Reduction of adhesion and friction of silicon oxide surface in the presence of n -propanol vapor in the gas phase

The equilibrium adsorption of gas phase alcohol molecules has been proposed as a new means of in-use anti-stiction and lubrication for MEMS devices. Adhesion and friction of silicon oxide surfaces as a function of n-propanol vapor pressure in the ambient gas were invesitigated using atomic force microscopy. As the vapor pressure increases, the adsorbed n-propanol layer thickness increases. The adhesion and friction significantly decrease with very little addition of n-propanol vapor.
Infra-red spectra of some alkali metal uranates☆

Abstract Infra-red spectra (900-240 cm−1) of twelve alkali metal uranates are presented. Uranyl stretching vibrations of the monouranates occur between 700 and 800 cm−1, and of the diuranates between 750 and 850 cm−1. The infra-red results are correlated with X-ray diffraction data, and uranyl bond lengths of the compounds have been calculated.
Estimating turning points of the failure rate of the extended Weibull distribution

Marshall and Olkin (1997) proposed a way of introducing a parameter, called the tilt parameter, to expand a family of distributions. In this paper we compare the extended distribution and the original distribution with respect to some stochastic orderings. Also we investigate thoroughly the monotonicity of the failure rate of the resulting distribution when the baseline distribution is taken as Weibull. It turns out that the failure rate is increasing, decreasing, or non-monotonic with one or two turning points depending on the parameters. For non-monotonic types, the turning points of the failure rate are estimated and their confidence intervals are provided. Simulation studies are carried out to examine the performance of these intervals. An example is provided to illustrate the procedure.
Social Support, Conflict, and Integration Among Women Living With HIV/AIDS1

The relationship between depressive symptoms and perceptions of available social support, social conflict, and subjective social integration were examined as part of a psychosocial study of Puerto Rican, African American, and non-Hispanic White women living with HIV/AIDS (N= 146) in New York City. Lower levels of subjective social integration and higher levels of social conflict were associated with more depressive symptoms. Perceived availability of social support was not significantly associated with depression in comparison with these other forms of support. No evidence was found for a stress-buffering or a stress-amplification effect. Significant ethnic differences in levels of social integration and social conflict also were noted. Results suggest that intervention efforts should go beyond addressing support to further address the conflict and lack, of integration experienced.
Memorial strategy and rated imagery value in recognition and free recall

Two studies were conducted in which rated imagery value and memorial strategy instructions were manipulated. Experiment I was a forced-choice recognition study and Experiment II was a free-recall task. The results revealed significant rated imagery effects in both studies. Neither task resulted in significant instruction effects. However, in the free-recall task, when Ss were presented with pairs of words, more pairs appeared to be recalled for interactive in contrast to separation imagery instructions, although this difference was not statistically reliable.
Reflex responses to combined hip and knee motion in human chronic spinal cord injury

The relative contributions of hip and knee proprioceptors to the origination of extensor spasms were examined in 11 subjects with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). Ramp and hold extension and combined hip and knee oscillation movements were imposed to the right leg while the ankle was held in a static position by a custom-designed robot. Isometric joint torques of the hip, knee, and ankle and surface electromyograms (EMGs) from seven leg muscles were recorded following controlled hip and knee extension. A stereotypical torque response consisting of hip flexion, knee extension, and ankle plantar flexion was observed following hip and knee perturbations. Further, the hip or knee joint posture modulated the spastic reflexes triggered by the extension movement of the other joint, with larger responses observed with the hip and knee extended. In addition, combined hip and knee oscillation movements were imposed to one leg with four different phasing conditions. The phasing between the hip and knee modulated the reflex activity triggered by hip and knee oscillations. The EMG patterns of the spastic reflexes were generally consistent with muscle timing during locomotion in human SCI. This knowledge may help identify rehabilitation strategies that produce functional movements in human SCI.
A free-electron laser pumped by the soliton laser

We propose a scheme for building a free-electron laser in the soft X-ray region pumped by the soliton laser. Making use of soliton laser wave evolution shape and single-pass small signal analysis, we find that this laser has two special advantages over the previous electromagnetic wave undulator free-electron lasers. One is a very small “mass-shift effect” because of the special characteristics of soliton laser; the other is that it has an additional “frequency tuning effect” based on the conventional free-electron laser's tunability. We also obtain the small signal gain and present some discussion.
Biosynthesis of Triglyceride and Other Fatty Acyl Esters by Developing Rat Brain

: The biosynthesis of triglyceride from 1,2-diglyceride and long-chain acyl coenzyme A (CoA) was studied in developing rat brain. Diglyceride acyltransferase activity was highest in a microsomal fraction, had a neutral pH optimum, and was stimulated by MgCl2. Palmitoyl CoA and oleoyl CoA served equally well as acyl donors. The enzyme catalyzed the acylation of both endogenous diglyceride and several naturally occurring and synthetic exogenous diglycerides. In addition, short-chain primary and secondary alcohols were found to be acylated under these conditions. A second acylation system, active at low pH, was found to catalyze esterification of ethanol and cholesterol, but not diglyceride, with free fatty acid. These results demonstrate that brain has the capacity to acylate a wide variety of physiological and nonphysiological hydroxyl compounds.
Parosteal osteoma of bones other than of the skull and face.

Background. Osteoma of the skull and facial bones is not uncommon, is usually asymptomatic, and may be associated with Gardner's syndrome. Osteomas involving other bones are unusual. Methods. The authors describe 14 cases (eight men and six women from age 21-66 years) of parosteal osteoma of bones other than of the skull and face. Results. Thirteen lesions involved long bones, and one involved the clavicle. A long-standing (18 months to 31 years) mass was reported in seven patients. Symptoms of pain, a mass, or both were present in all except three patients who were asymptomatic. Lesions ranged from 2.5 to 20 cm in greatest dimension. Histologically, they blended with the cortex, did not infiltrate the medullary cavity, and consisted of dense sclerotic lamellar bone with haversian systems, similar to the architecture of normal cortical bone. There was no spindle cell proliferation. Nine patients underwent resection, four had biopsy, and one had debulking. With a follow-up of 1-23 years, no recurrence or metastasis was reported. Conclusions. Parosteal osteoma must be distinguished from parosteal osteosarcoma, a low grade malignant neoplasm. If radiographs do not identify areas of radiolucency and sections do not contain spindle cells, the diagnosis of parosteal osteoma is justified. Cancer 1995 ;75 :2466-73.
Improvement of photocatalytic activity of titanium (IV) oxide by dispersion of Au on TiO2

Abstract TiO2 samples were prepared by two procedures and their catalytic activities were compared to samples of commercial TiO2 (P25). The addition of gold to all of these samples increased their photocatalytic activity.
Hydromechanical Fuel Control for Portable Gas Turbine Generator Sets

Controls for small lightweight gas turbines present some unique design problems. The requirements for small size, light weight, ability to rotate at high speeds to save reduction gearing, and low production cost conflict with the requirements for reasonably accurate control of very small fuel flows and the scheduling of a wide range of hydrocarbon fuels over a wide range of ambient temperatures. This paper discusses in some detail the design of such a control and the satisfactory results obtained.Copyright © 1968 by ASME
Autoimmune Disease Induced by Oral Administration of Mercuric Chloride in Brown-Norway Rats

Only few reports are available on the consequences of chronic oral administration of low doses of mercuric chloride (HgCl2). Forty Brown-Norway rats received 150 μg HgCl2/100 g body weight 3 times a week by gavage or by i.m. injection with 100 μg twice per week. After 2 weeks of oral HgCl2 administration, the rats lost weight and hair. Phases of proteinuria were observed in weeks 5–8 and then continuously from week 12 until the end of the experiment at week 39. Antibodies binding to renal, intestinal, and vascular basement membrane developed after 2 weeks; circulating immune complexes were detectable in increasing titers starting at week 3. There were linear deposits of IgG, IgM, and IgA in the glomerular basement membrane and tubular basement membrane, and along the intestinal basement membrane. After week 11, the first granular immune deposits were observed in renal and intestinal basement membranes. Light microscopy showed thickening of glomerular basement membrane, mesangial matrix, and tubular baseme...
preDicting DiFFiculties controlling overeating anD Drinking When experiencing negative aFFect in unDergraDuate Women

Negative affect has been associated with both binge eating and problem drinking; thus, a better understanding of factors related to difficulties controlling overeating and drinking when experiencing negative affect is warranted. In this study, we examined interactive models of perfectionism and stress as predictors of difficulties controlling overeating and drinking when experiencing negative affect, using two dimensions of perfectionism, self-oriented and socially prescribed, and three domains of stress: academic, interpersonal, and weight/shape. A sample of 406 undergraduate females participated in a brief longitudinal study by completing surveys assessing perfectionism (Time 1), stress (weekly between Times 1 and 2), and the degree of difficulty controlling overeating and drinking when experiencing negative affect (Time 2). Socially prescribed perfectionism interacted with academic stress to predict difficulty controlling overeating when experiencing negative affect. Socially prescribed perfectionism a...
A Frontal Challenge for Climate Models

The ocean surface is filled with a convoluted web of “fronts” that separate waters of different temperatures and salinities (see the figure). Just as thin ducts in the lung called alveoli facilitate the rapid exchange of gases when breathing, fronts are the ducts through which heat, carbon, oxygen, and other climatically important gases enter into the deep ocean. A lack of observations, however, has hampered progress in understanding the dynamics of fronts, which can be as narrow as hundreds of meters and as wide as tens of kilometers. Global satellite measurements of ocean-surface velocities and air-sea fluxes, for instance, are only available at resolutions of a few hundred kilometers. Although shipboard researchers can sample vertical ocean profiles down to centimeter scales, only rarely do they collect profiles that are less than 100 km apart. On page 318 of this issue, D'Asaro et al. ( 1 ) present a breakthrough in observing ocean fronts, providing direct observations of the workings of the Kuroshio front off Japan on scales from kilometers to millimeters. This detailed and wide-ranging portrait was made possible by the development of towed instruments that continuously sample the waters behind a steaming ship, the deployment of freely drifting instruments that follow ocean currents, and the exercising of a great deal of ingenuity in keeping all these tools along the front for a few weeks in 2007.
A branching process for the early spread of a transposable element in a diploid population

Transposable elements (TEs) face significant challenges upon transfer into a new host population, invariably beginning their invasion with only a single element. The fate of this element is a product of its internal properties, the population dynamics of the host species, and genetic drift. We present a continuous-time multi-type branching process to model the early stages of TE spread. The model incorporates seasonal population size changes and is applicable to diploid hosts for prevalences up to 10%. We reproduce standard results of TE population dynamics and show that population growth may have a greater influence on reducing TE loss probability than a transpositional burst. These results are applied to the planned use of a TE to drive an antimalarial gene into an Anopheles gambiae population. The model favors a transgenic release immediately following the dry season when the An. gambiae population begins to grow. Increasing the number of transgenic hosts released has the greatest influence on reducing the probability of TE loss. Following release, the rate at which the TE increases its proportion in the population is most sensitive to its replicative transposition rate. The model recommends a replicative transposition rate greater than 0.1 per TE per generation to satisfy public health goals.
Epidemiological evidence of relationships between dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and mortality in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial

This evaluation of the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial database investigated the effects of dietary PUFA on disease outcomes that may relate to polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biochemistry. The Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial was a randomized clinical trial in coronary heart disease (CHD) primary prevention involving 12,866 middle-aged men determined to be at high risk of CHD. They were assigned to either a special intervention group or a usual care group and returned to clinics on an annual basis for assessment of risk factor status. Only data on the usual care men (n = 6,250) are presented, since the multi-intervention effects on the special intervention group introduce considerable analytic complexities. Mean PUFA intake estimates were calculated from four dietary recall interviews at baseline and follow-up Years 1, 2, and 3 and estimates for PUFA were established using absolute grams, percentage of total kilocalories, and ratios. Proportional hazards regression analysis controlling for age, race and baseline diastolic blood pressure, smoking, high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and alcohol was used to analyze dietary PUFA intakes on 10.5-year mortality rates. Results were more significant when PUFA were expressed as percentage of total kilocalories. No significant associations with mortality were detected for linoleic acid (18:2n-6), the predominant dietary PUFA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Energetic and structural heterogeneity of synthetic microporous carbons

Energetic and structural heterogeneity of three synthetic carbons was studied on the basis of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption isotherms measured over the entire pressure range. A special emphasis was placed on the measurement and analysis of adsorption data at very low pressures. The resulting adsorption isotherms were used to perform the standard characterization of the carbons studied, which included the evaluation of the BET specific surface area, the external surface area, the total pore volume, and the micropore volume. The primary objective was to determine the adsorption energy distribution and the micropore size distribution from the low-pressure adsorption data for the synthetic carbons studied and compare them with the corresponding distributions for a regular active carbon.
Increased sensitivity to chromatid aberration induction by bleomycin and neocarzinostatin results from alterations in a DNA damage response pathway.

Abstract DNA damage response pathways coordinate the cellular response to DNA damage. To investigate the roles of tumor suppressor genes in these pathways, human lymphoblastoid cells (wild-type, p53−/− , ATM−/− ) were treated for 1 h with 0–3 μg/ml of the radiomimetic compound bleomycin (BLM), and cells treated in G 2 were analyzed for chromatid aberrations. BLM-induced aberration frequencies were significantly increased, to the greatest extent in the ATM−/− cells and, to a lesser extent, in the p53−/− cells compared to wild-type cells. These observations are consistent with p53 and ATM acting in a damage response pathway activated by DNA strand breaks. The consequences of disrupting this pathway were further investigated by studies using wortmannin, a PI-3 kinase and DNA repair inhibitor. Wortmannin significantly increased the BLM-induced aberration frequencies in all but the ATM−/− cells, elevating the sensitivity of p53−/− cells to ATM−/− levels and that of wild-type cells to intermediate levels. These differential sensitivities suggest that the ATM phenotype is the result of dual cellular defects, one involving p53 and the other a wortmannin-sensitive component. Similar studies in Brca1+/− and Brca2+/− human lymphoblasts showed no increased sensitization to BLM in the absence of inhibitor, and differential sensitization by wortmannin. To determine if there was any substrate specificity for p53- and ATM-mediated DNA damage responses, chromatid aberrations were assessed in wild-type, p53−/− , and ATM−/− cells exposed to 0–0.4 μg/ml neocarzinostatin (NCS) for 1 h. In contrast to results with BLM, the p53−/− cells exhibited a low sensitivity to NCS-induced aberrations, similar to wild-type, while ATM−/− cells remained highly sensitive. This suggests that the response to BLM- and NCS-induced lesions involves different mechanisms.
Polyrotaxanes and related structures: synthesis and properties

Abstract Significant advances in the polyrotaxane field have been made in the past year, in terms of understanding information mechanisms and the development of new materials. The highlights include the recognition of hydrogen-bonding as a driving force for the formation of crown ether-based polyrotaxanes, preparation of mechanically-linked branched and crosslinked polymers, and the development of polyrotaxanes with new architectures.