cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New Insights into the Critical Importance of Intratubular Na+/H+ Exchanger 3 and Its Potential Therapeutic Implications in Hypertension

The sodium (Na+) and hydrogen (H+) exchanger 3 (NHE3), known as solute carrier family 9 member 3 (SLC9A3), mediates active transcellular Na+ and bicarbonate reabsorption in the small intestine of the gut and proximal tubules of the kidney. The purpose of this article is to review and discuss recent findings on the critical roles of intestinal and proximal tubule NHE3 in maintaining basal blood pressure (BP) homeostasis and their potential therapeutic implications in the development of angiotensin II (Ang II)–dependent hypertension. Recently, our and other laboratories have generated or used novel genetically modified mouse models with whole-body, kidney–specific, or proximal tubule–specific deletion of NHE3 to determine the critical roles and underlying mechanisms of NHE3 in maintaining basal BP homeostasis and the development of Ang II–induced hypertension at the whole-body, kidney, or proximal tubule levels. The new findings demonstrate that NHE3 contributes to about 10 to 15 mmHg to basal blood pressure levels, and that deletion of NHE3 at the whole-kidney or proximal tubule level, or pharmacological inhibition of NHE3 at the kidney level with an orally absorbable NHE3 inhibitor AVE-0657, attenuates ~ 50% of Ang II–induced hypertension in mice. The results support the proof-of-concept hypothesis that NHE3 plays critical roles in physiologically maintaining normal BP and in the development of Ang II–dependent hypertension. Our results also strongly suggest that NHE3 in the proximal tubules of the kidney may be therapeutically targeted to treat poorly controlled hypertension in humans.
Assessing Effectiveness of Using Internal Signals for Check-Worthy Claim Identification in Unlabeled Data for Automated Fact-Checking.

While recent work on automated fact-checking has focused mainly on verifying and explaining claims, for which the list of claims is readily available, identifying check-worthy claim sentences from a text remains challenging. Current claim identification models rely on manual annotations for each sentence in the text, which is an expensive task and challenging to conduct on a frequent basis across multiple domains. This paper explores methodology to identify check-worthy claim sentences from fake news articles, irrespective of domain, without explicit sentence-level annotations. We leverage two internal supervisory signals - headline and the abstractive summary - to rank the sentences based on semantic similarity. We hypothesize that this ranking directly correlates to the check-worthiness of the sentences. To assess the effectiveness of this hypothesis, we build pipelines that leverage the ranking of sentences based on either the headline or the abstractive summary. The top-ranked sentences are used for the downstream fact-checking tasks of evidence retrieval and the article's veracity prediction by the pipeline. Our findings suggest that the top 3 ranked sentences contain enough information for evidence-based fact-checking of a fake news article. We also show that while the headline has more gisting similarity with how a fact-checking website writes a claim, the summary-based pipeline is the most promising for an end-to-end fact-checking system.
Task scheduling and synchronization for multiprocessor real-time systems

This thesis addresses the timeliness of task execution in real-time systems by development of scheduling algorithms and by development of operating system principles and mechanisms. We first present a dynamic uniprocessor scheduling algorithm with an O(n log n) worst case complexity. The preemptive scheduling performed by our algorithm is shown to be of higher efficiency than that of other known algorithms. Furthermore, tasks may be related by precedence constraints. An experimental evaluation of the algorithm compares its average case behavior to the worst case. An analytical model also developed in this research is used for explanation of the experimental results. We then present a static multiprocessor scheduling algorithm which combines the earliest-deadline-first (EDF) scheme with the least-laxity-first (LLF) scheme. We show that our algorithm outperforms the EDF algorithm, and performs as well as the LLF algorithm when the cost of task migration is assumed 5% of the average task computation time. The static algorithm is then extended to a dynamic multiprocessor scheduling algorithm. The scheduler, as well as the relevant data structures of the algorithm, is distributed. We develop a flexible representation for shared information within a distributed scheduler that can be easily varied regarding its degree of information completeness. We show that the sharing of incomplete (vs. complete) information can lead to increased performance regarding scheduling latency with few or no losses in scheduling quality. In addition, we show that this holds for a variety of parallel machines, ranging from NUMA to distributed memory machines. The issues of operating system portability, predictability and efficiency are also addressed in this research. We develop a multiprocessor real-time threads package based on Mach cthreads interface. The package is used as an efficient and predictable base layer for building portable real-time operating system kernels. As part of the real-time threads package, a real-time locking scheme that prevents deadlocks and ensures time-bounded mutual exclusion is also developed.
Particulate organic matter export by two contrasting small mountainous rivers from the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A.

[1] We investigated the export of particulate organic matter (POM) to the ocean by two contrasting small, mountainous rivers, the Umpqua and Eel Rivers, by collecting suspended sediment samples over a range of discharges and analyzing them for a variety of constituents, including organic carbon, nitrogen, biomarkers with distinct biochemical sources, and isotopic compositions (δ13C and Δ14C). Concentrations of all measured constituents in both rivers increased as a function of discharge, resulting in their export being dominated by short-lived, wintertime high-discharge events. In the Umpqua River, marked compositional contrasts between low- and high-discharge conditions were consistent with a shift in the provenance of POM from biogenic sources dominated by non-vascular plant sources at low flows to contributions from vascular plant sources of moderate 14C ages (~300 years before present) dominating at high flows. In contrast, POM from the Eel River, which was highly diluted by mineral sediment at all discharges, had significant contributions from petrogenic sources and displayed lower concentrations of recognizable biomarkers. Both rivers had comparable yields of biogenic POM, which appeared to be moderately degraded and originated primarily from surface soils in erosion prone areas of the watersheds. While tectonic/geologic differences help explain the contrasts in sediment and petrogenic POM yields between the two watersheds, ecological factors such as vegetation coverage, productivity, and soil carbon are more important in influencing the composition of biogenic POM mobilized from these systems.
Nibbling at the Plant Cell Nucleus

When plants recognize certain pathogens, an activated immune receptor moves to the nucleus where it affects transcription to initiate a successful response.
The Social Conquest of Earth

Sparking vigorous debate in the sciences, The Social Conquest of Earth upends "the famous theory that evolution naturally encourages creatures to put family first" (Discover). Refashioning the story of human evolution, Wilson draws on his remarkable knowledge of biology and social behavior to demonstrate that group selection, not kin selection, is the premier driving force of human evolution. In a work that James D. Watson calls "a monumental exploration of the biological origins of the human condition," Wilson explains how our innate drive to belong to a group is both a "great blessing and a terrible curse" (Smithsonian). Demonstrating that the sources of morality, religion, and the creative arts are fundamentally biological in nature, the renowned Harvard University biologist presents us with the clearest explanation ever produced as to the origin of the human condition and why it resulted in our domination of the Earth's biosphere.
Content Management Systems

This article summarizes the background and operation of content management systems. It discusses both traditional and emerging instances based on these ideas. It provides examples of where these applications have been or may be implemented. It also briefly discusses some of the concerns for security emergent with the development of these systems. Keywords: content management systems; education management systems; document management systems
Writing Web-based questions with Mallard

The World Wide Web has the potential to revolutionize the field of education. Not only can students have access to virtually unlimited information (text, audio and video), but true interactivity is possible. Using Mallard(TM), educators in virtually all fields have an interactive learning environment which makes writing questions and constructing quizzes a straightforward process. Correction/grading is handled automatically and instantaneously by intelligent grading programs. Administrative utilities allow an instructor to monitor student progress.
The incidence and significance of polynuclear follicles

Abstract In the treatment of pelvic disorders, ovarian tissue was surgically removed from 165 patients (divided into four age groups) and examined microscopically. This article presents the incidence of polynuclear follicles and discusses potential significance of these structures in the histogenesis of the ovarian teratoma.
Automatic Resolution of Ambiguous Terms Based on Machine Learning and Conceptual Relations in the UMLS

Motivation. The UMLS has been used in natural language processing applications such as information retrieval and information extraction systems. The mapping of free-text to UMLS concepts is important for these applications. To improve the mapping, we need a method to disambiguate terms that possess multiple UMLS concepts. In the general English domain, machine-learning techniques have been applied to sense-tagged corpora, in which senses (or concepts) of ambiguous terms have been annotated (mostly manually). Sense disambiguation classifiers are then derived to determine senses (or concepts) of those ambiguous terms automatically. However, manual annotation of a corpus is an expensive task. We propose an automatic method that constructs sense-tagged corpora for ambiguous terms in the UMLS using MEDLINE abstracts. Methods. For a term W that represents multiple UMLS concepts, a collection of MEDLINE abstracts that contain W is extracted. For each abstract in the collection, occurrences of concepts that have relations with W as defined in the UMLS are automatically identified. A sense-tagged corpus, in which senses of W are annotated, is then derived based on those identified concepts. The method was evaluated on a set of 35 frequently occurring ambiguous biomedical abbreviations using a gold standard set that was automatically derived. The quality of the derived sense-tagged corpus was measured using precision and recall. Results. The derived sense-tagged corpus had an overall precision of 92.9% and an overall recall of 47.4%. After removing rare senses and ignoring abbreviations with closely related senses, the overall precision was 96.8% and the overall recall was 50.6%. Conclusions. UMLS conceptual relations and MEDLINE abstracts can be used to automatically acquire knowledge needed for resolving ambiguity when mapping free-text to UMLS concepts.
An iterative refinement approach for data cleaning

Data cleaning is an important step in the data mining process. Successful data mining applications require good quality data. In this paper, we propose a data cleaning technique that smoothes out a substantial amount of attribute noise and handles missing attribute values as well. Our approach is inspired by the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm. It iteratively refines each attribute-value using a predictor constructed from the previously refined values (known values in the first iteration). We demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique in smoothing out attribute noise and corroborate the efficacy of our technique by showing improved classification accuracy on a number of real world data sets from UCI repository [2]. Moreover, we show that our technique can easily be adapted to fill up missing attribute-values in classification problems more effectively than other standard approaches.
An immunohistochemical evaluation of urinary bladder cytology using monoclonal antibodies

A total of 30 urinary bladder cytological specimens (urine and bladder washings) from 25 patients were reacted with a panel of 8 monoclonal antibodies predominantly derived from urinary bladder carcinoma, using avidin-biotin complex (ABC) immunohistochemical methodology. The clinical and epidemiological history of each of the patients evaluated was also revewed. A relatively high degree of sensitivity and specificity in the detection of malignancy was obtained in tests of urinary bladder cytological specimens with a combination of monoclonal antibodies. A role for monoclonal antibodies in the diagnosis of urinary bladder cytological specimens is discussed.
Dysregulation of circulating microRNAs and prediction of aggressive prostate cancer

BACKGROUND It is becoming increasingly evident that microRNAs (miRNAs) are associated with the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS We examined the hypothesis that plasma miRNA levels can differentiate patients by aggressiveness in 82 PCa patients. Taqman based quantitative RT-PCR assays were performed to measure copy number of target miRNAs. RESULTS miR-20a was significantly overexpressed in plasma from patients with stage 3 tumors compared to stage 2 or below (P = 0.03). The expression levels for miR-20a and miR-21 were significantly increased in patients with high risk CAPRA scores (16,623 and 1,595 copies, respectively). Significantly increased miR-21 and miR-145 expression were observed for patients with intermediate or high risk D'Amico scores compared to patients with low risk scores (P = 0.047 and 0.011, respectively). The relapse rates for CAPRA scores ranged from 1.9% for low risk to 9.5% for intermediate risk and to 22.2% for high risk patients (P = 0.023). For D'Amico scores, the relapse rates ranged from 0.0% for low risk to 7.4% for intermediate risk and 17.6% for high risk patients (P = 0.039). Expression of miR-21 and miR-221 significantly differentiated patients with intermediate risk from those with low risk CAPRA scores (AUC = 0.801, P = 0.002). Four miRNAs (miR-20a, miR-21, miR-145, and miR-221) could also distinguish high versus low risk in PCa patients by D'Amico score with an AUC of 0.824. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary data suggest that altered plasma miRNAs may be useful predictors to distinguish PCa patients with varied aggressiveness. Further larger studies to validate this promising finding are warranted. Prostate 72:1469–1477, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Perhexiline Maleate As a Cause of Reversible Parkinsonism and Peripheral Neuropathy

: In a 78-year-old woman receiving perhexiline maleate for intractable angina pectoris, a syndrome of parkinsonism and peripheral neuropathy developed. The neuropathy was confirmed by electromyographic and nerve conduction studies. The parkinsonism and peripheral neuropathy disappeared when perhexiline maleate was discontinued.
The Role of Benzyladenine in the Differentiation of Tracheary Elements in Jerusalem Artichoke Tuber Explants Cultured in vitro

The role of benzyladenine (BA) in the differentiation of tracheary elements in Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) tuber expiants was studied. For maximum differentiation of tracheary elements (25-30% of the cell population), treatment with optimal concentrations of benzyladenine (5-0 mg dm-3) in the presence of a-naphthaleneacetic acid [NAAI (1-0 mg dm~') for the first 6 d was as effective as its continued presence during the entire 14 d period of study. A majority of the differentiated tracheary element appeared between the 10th and 14th days of culture. It was further observed that concentrations of active cytokinins in the tissue were considerably reduced within 2 d after transfer from the BA-containing medium to a BA-free medium. This was shown in three different ways: (1) monitoring the amount of ethanol-soluble radioactivity at various times after transfer from [14C]-BA containing medium to BA-free medium: (2) bioassay of various cytokinin fractions from tissue extract separated by thin layer chromatography; (3) indirect assay of tissue cytokinin activity through its interaction with abscisic acid for the promotion of auxin-induced cell division in this tissue. Both gibberellic acid (5-0 mg dirr3) and abscisic acid (2-0 mg dm-3) effectively inhibited the differentiation of tracheary elements even if provided after 6 d of pre-incubation in a high tracheid inducing medium. However, the appearance of differentiated cells for the first 2 d after transfer was not significantly affected. A hypothetical scheme for the role of benzyladenine in the differentiation of tracheary elements in this tissue is discussed. It is suggested that during one or more critical cell divisions in the presence of optimal levels of benzyladenine, a proportion of cells are induced or committed for later differentiation into tracheary elements. The high concentrations of benzyladenine required during induction are not needed during the intervening cell divisions, nor for the actual differentiation of the tracheary elements.
Glassy and Crystalline States in a Model without Disorder: Spin Analog of a Structural Glass

The authors have analyzed a non-randomly frustrated spin model which exhibits behavior remarkably similar to the phenomenology of structural glasses. The high-temperature disordered phase undergoes a strong first-order transition to a long-range ordered structure. Using Monte Carlo simulations, the authors have studied the behavior of the supercooled state by quenching to temperatures below this transition temperature. For a range of supercooling, the system remains ergodic and exhibits dynamics characteristic of supercooled liquids. Below a certain characteristic temperature, however, the system freezes into a glassy phase. In this phase, the system is non-ergodic and evolves through a distribution of traps characterized by a power-law distribution of trapping times. This change in the dynamic behavior is concurrent with the appearance of a shear instability.
Capillary electrophoresis for the determination of glomerular filtration rate using nonradioactive iohexol

Abstract High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been used as an alternative to the isotopic method to calculate glomerular filtration rate (GFR). With the HPLC method, serum iohexol or iothalamate levels are measured, and the plasma clearance rate of the compound is used as a surrogate for GFR. However, HPLC is a labor-intensive procedure, which limits its usefulness in the clinical setting. Capillary electrophoresis, a newer technique in which electrophoretic separations are performed in capillary tubes, is easier and faster than HPLC. We used capillary electrophoresis for the determination of serum iohexol levels and the calculation of GFR. Patients underwent a simultaneous 125 I-iothalamate clearance test and a plasma iohexol clearance test to determine GFR. Mean GFR (±SD) was 70.9 ± 29.9 mL/min (range, 14.5 to 131 mL/min) in 52 patients as determined by standard iothalamate clearance methods. For iohexol clearance, the correlation coefficient and standard error were 0.93 and 10.9 mL/min, respectively, using capillary electrophoresis compared with the iothalamate method. Capillary electrophoresis is a simple, rapid method that can be used to calculate GFR and provides results at least as accurate as those obtained by HPLC and x-ray fluorescence.
Residual Stress Evaluation in TiN Coatings Used for Erosion Protection of Aerospace Components

A laser beam profilometry technique was used to investigate residual stress accumulation during TiN deposition and stress relaxation during post-deposition heat treatment. The test coatings were reactively sputtered on silicon and steel substrates using a UMS technique. TiN coatings, deposited at different bias and pressure levels, were evaluated for residual stress and microhardness. It was found that both the residual stress and the hardness were strongly affected by the coating deposition conditions. In addition, stress-temperature correlations were obtained by subjecting the coatings to temperature cycles up to 450°C. Stress-temperature plots revealed that the level of residual stress relaxation depended on deposition conditions and only coatings deposited at low ion bombardment could be fully annealed. The role of intrinsic and thermal stresses in the total residual stress in the coating/substrate system was also discussed.
Day-to-Day Activities of School Counselors:Alignment with New Directions in the Field and the ASCA National Model®

Role changes in the profession of school counseling take considerable time to be enacted in practice. The purpose of the study in this article is to examine whether newly hired elementary school counselors working in urban settings can implement (a) new directions for practice that have emerged in the recent school counseling literature (i.e., a programmatic, collaborative, and preventive approach), and (b) the components that reflected these new directions embedded in the Delivery System of the ASCA National Model®.
Mass spectra of organometallic compounds–XII: Tetraphenylcyclobutadiene derivatives

The mass spectra of the tetraphenylcyclobutadiene complexes (C6H5)4C4Fe(CO)3, C5H5CoC4(C6H5)4 and C9H7CoC4(C4H5)4 are reported. Evidence is presented for the loss of the tetraphenylcyclobutadiene ring by a two-step sequence involving successive losses of two (C6H5)2C2 fragments. Significant differences are observed in the fragmentations of the monopositive and dipositive molecular ions of C9H7CoC4(C6H5)4.
Seismic effects of elevating bridges with steel pedestals in the southeastern United States

Abstract Steel pedestals have been used in the southeastern parts of the United States to elevate highway bridges and decrease the likelihood of vehicle collisions with bridge decks. However, the seismic performance of bridges elevated with steel pedestals is still unknown. To investigate the effect of elevating bridges with steel pedestals, this paper uses the results of previously conducted experimental tests to model the hysteretic behavior of three types of steel pedestals in a detailed 3D finite element model of a representative bridge. One short pedestal (with a height of 500 mm) and two tall pedestals (with a height of 850 mm) are studied. The structural responses of the studied bridge with the addition of steel pedestals are compared to the structural responses of the same bridge before elevation, where elastomeric bearings support the deck. This study considers five different locations in the southeastern United States and for each of them selects 20 artificial ground motions at two hazard levels of 2% and 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years. The selected artificial ground motions are applied to the representative bridge model in four cases: one case with elastomeric bearings and three cases with three studied pedestals. Because of the large amount of resulting data, a statistical effects model is employed. The statistical effects model is a statistical tool that uses the statistics of the data to investigate the effect of each studied parameter such as bearing type, bridge location and hazard level on the structural responses. Results show that elevating bridges with the studied steel pedestals decreases longitudinal and transverse deck displacements, longitudinal shear and moment in columns, cap beam moment and pounding force. In the transverse direction, elevating the bridge leads to an increase in the abutment force. Also, results show that the studied tall steel pedestals are more effective than the studied short steel pedestal in decreasing longitudinal shear and moment in columns and decreasing transverse deck displacements while offering a height advantage. A study of the stability of the pedestals in this paper shows that the three types of studied pedestals may become unstable in earthquakes, thereby serving as a means to help determine where the installation of steel pedestals would not seem detrimental.
Simultaneous confidence intervals for comparing margins of multivariate binary data

In many applications two groups are compared simultaneously on several correlated binary variables for a more comprehensive assessment of group differences. Although the response is multivariate, the main interest is in comparing the marginal probabilities between the groups. Estimating the size of these differences under strong error control allows for a better evaluation of effects than can be provided by multiplicity adjusted P-values. Simultaneous confidence intervals for the differences in marginal probabilities are developed through inverting the maximum of correlated Wald, score or quasi-score statistics. Taking advantage of the available correlation information leads to improvements in the joint coverage probability and power compared to straightforward Bonferroni adjustments. Estimating the correlation under the null is also explored. While computationally complex even in small dimensions, it does not result in marked improvements. Based on extensive simulation results, a simple approach that uses univariate score statistics together with their estimated correlation is proposed and recommended. All methods are illustrated using data from a vaccine trial that investigated the incidence of four pre-specified adverse events between two groups and with data from the General Social Survey.
Evolved nonlinear predictor functions for lossless image compression

Due to the increased quantity of digital data, especially in the form of digital images, the need for effective image compression techniques is greater than ever. The JPEG lossless mode relies on predictive coding, in which accurate predictive models are critical. This study presents an efficient method of generating predictor models for input images via genetic programming. It is shown to always produce error images with entropy equal to or lower than those produced by the JPEG lossless mode. This method is demonstrated to have practical use as a real-time asymetric image compression algorithm due to its ability to quickly and reliably derive prediction models.
Pulmonary alveolar and vascular morphometry after gel plug occlusion of the trachea in a fetal rabbit model of CDH

Abstract Purpose Tracheal occlusion (TO) induces lung growth in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) but is also associated with drawbacks. We devised a temporary gel plug that induced lung growth when placed in the fetal trachea. This study evaluates the effects of temporary versus permanent TO on histologic radial alveolar count (RAC) and vascular morphometrics. Methods Experimental CDH was created surgically in 64 New Zealand White rabbit fetuses on gestational day (GD) 24. On GD 27, these fetuses were randomized to intratracheal instillation of a fibrin gel plug (GP), tracheal suture ligation (SL), intratracheal instillation of normal saline (NS), or sham amniotomy (SH). Non-manipulated fetuses served as controls (NM). Histologic lung sections were assessed blindly for RAC and relative arterial adventitial thickness (%AT) as a variable for vascular remodelling. Results were statistically compared. Results RAC was significantly lower in the ipsilateral lung of SH fetuses than in the contralateral lung ( p = 0.011). Mean RAC was higher after SL ( p p = 0.03) compared to SH. Furthermore, %AT was higher in GP (50 ± 28, p p = 0.003) fetuses than in controls (36 ± 19). Conclusion Temporary and permanent TO leads to increased RAC; this effect was more pronounced with permanent TO. Both interventions were associated with an increased %AT. These findings may explain the adverse clinical effects of TO, despite causing accelerated lung growth.
Measurements of radar backscatter from an artificial tree: An indication of azimuthal variations and polarization sensitivity of trees

Abstract Measurements of radar backscatter from an artificial tree were made in the laboratory at 6 and 10 GHz at horizontal incidence. The system had a resolution cylinder 18 cm in diameter and 11 cm long, so about half of the tree (30.5 cm high) was within the beam. The mean returned power from the target with leaves was always higher than that from the target without leaves, as expected. The signal faded with an exponential distribution when the artificial tree was rotated about its trunk, with no angular trend apparent. When the leaves were present, tilted polarizations gave results favouring an angle corresponding with that of the branches. When leaves were absent, the trunk of the tree dominated the radar backscatter at all polarizations.
Improving Watchlist Screening By Combining Evidence From Multiple Search Algorithms

In this paper, we describe a metasearch tool resulting from experiments in aggregating the results of different name matching algorithms on a knowledge- intensive multicultural name matching task. Three retrieval engines that match Romanized names were tested on a noisy and predominantly Arabic dataset. One is based on a generic string matching algorithm; another is designed specifically for Arabic names; and the third makes use of culturally-specific matching strategies for multiple cultures. We show that even a relatively naive method for aggregating results significantly increased effectiveness over each of the individual algorithms, resulting in nearly tripling the F-score of the worst-performing algorithm included in the aggregate, and in a 6 point improvement in F-score over the single best-performing algorithm included.
Object-oriented requirements to object-oriented design: an easy transition?

In the past 10 years, numerous treatises have been written on both object-oriented requirements techniques and object-oriented design techniques. With our ever growing thirst for simple solutions to our software productivity problems, many proponents of object orientation are describing the transition between object-oriented requirements and object-oriented design as straightforward. The purpose of this article is to analyze the incredible differences between object-oriented requirements and object-oriented design, explain why the transition between them is not and should not be easy, and provide guidance concerning how the transition should be made.
The Effects of Magnesium on Hydroxyapatite Formation In Vitro from CaHPO4 and Ca4(PO4)2O at 37.4°C.

The effects of magnesium ion on the formation of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite [Ca9HPO4(PO4)5OH, CDHAp] from CaHPO4 and Ca4(PO4)2O dissolution were investigated using two magnesium sources: Mg3(PO4)2 (chemical system 1) or MgCl2· H2O (chemical system 2) solutions. Because chloroapatite does not form from aqueous solutions, the use of two magnesium sources facilitated the determination of magnesium's role during synthetic hydroxyapatite formation in vitro and possible related effects during biomineralization. Isothermal calorimetry determined the progress of reactions. Two peaks are observed as heat is evolved during the formation of CDHAp in water at 37.4°C. The nucleation and growth of CDHAp are the corresponding mechanisms. Although the time for complete reaction and total heat-of-reaction ΔHr remain constant, the height of the first peak is reduced as the concentration of magnesium ion approaches 4 mM in either chemical system. Magnesium does not substitute into CDHAp even though there are calcium vacancies available. Subsequent increases cause the remaining heat peak to broaden and the time required for complete reaction to approach 24 hours as the initial MgCl2 concentration reaches 100 mM. Supersaturation limits chemical system 1 to Mg3(PO4)2 concentrations below 10 mM. A MgCl2 concentration of 3.16 M precludes CDHAp from forming for over 3 months; rather newberyite, MgHPO4· 3H2O, precipitates. The morphology and surface area of the CDHAp formed in 100 mM MgCl2 solution are comparable to those of CDHAp formed in water. The surface areas are approximately 80 m2/g. Magnesium concentrations below 4 mM only inhibit nucleation whereas those above 4 mM inhibit growth as well. Magnesium phosphate complexes are more inhibitory than magnesium chloride complexes. Increasing the liquid-to-solids ratio or agitation significantly increases the induction period before reaction initiates. Increasing the liquid-to-solids ratio increases the time span for growth whereas increasing agitation decreases the time span for growth. The large inhibitory effect of agitation suggests quiescent systems are more suitable for determining the kinetics of HAp formation. A magnesium inorganic chemical activity (αMg=γMg[Mg2+]) many times greater than that in biological fluids is required before inhibition of hydroxyapatite formation is realized.
P140 MicroRNA-29 regulation of RNase-L reveals a novel function in oncogenesis

Introduction The endoribonuclease RNase-L is the terminal component of an interferon-regulated RNA cleavage pathway known as the 2′-5′-oligoadenylate (2-5A) system whose established functions include antimicrobial and tumor suppressive activities. RNase-L enzymatic activation requires the binding of the small molecule 2-5A, leading to RNase-L dimerization and cleavage of single-stranded RNA. RNase-L expression is controlled post-transcriptionally by its 3′-untranslated region (3′UTR), which exerts a strong negative regulatory effect on RNase-L levels. miRNAs are a class of small noncoding RNAs that repress expression of target genes by binding to regions of complementarity in their 3′UTRs. The miR-29 family has been shown play a tumor suppressive role in several cancers, including acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), and has many known oncogenic targets. Methods miR-29 dependent regulation of endogenous RNase-L and a 3′UTR-luciferase reporter was examined following manipulation of miR-29 expression. The biological consequences of RNase-L regulation by miR-29 were analyzed by measuring proliferation and tumorigenesis in control or RNase-L knockdown K562 CML cells. Results Here, we report that the miR-29 family represses expression of RNase-L protein across several cell types. Repression occurs with no change in RNASEL mRNA. Using a luciferase reporter, we showed that miR-29 acts via four target sites within the RNASEL 3′UTR. Mutation of all sites is required for abrogation of miR-29 repression. In light of the reported tumor suppressive role of miR-29 in K562 CML cells and miR-29 repression of RNase-L in these cells, we generated K562 cells with stable RNase-L knockdown and demonstrated that loss of RNase-L expression inhibits proliferation in vitro as well as tumor growth in a nude mouse xenograft model. Conclusion Our findings identify a previously unknown miRNA regulator of RNase-L expression and support a novel oncogenic role for RNase-L in CML and potentially other hematopoietic malignancies.
Simulation of flow and mercury transport in Upper East Fork Poplar Creek, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

As a result of nuclear processing activities started back in the 1950s, the environment in the vicinity of the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12 NSC) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and surrounding watersheds has been contaminated by nearly 1,000 tons of elementary mercury. To comply with the state and federal surface water quality standards, a significant reduction in mercury concentration to parts-per-trillion levels has been proposed. In order to analyze the mercury cycle in the environment and provide forecasting capabilities for the flow and transport of mercury within the Upper East Fork Poplar Creek (UEFPC) watershed, an integrated surface and subsurface flow and transport model has been developed using the hydrodynamic and transport numerical package, MIKE, developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute. The model has been constructed and calibrated using an extensive collection of historical records (i.e., hydrological data, and mercury concentration measurements in groundwater, soil, and sediment) obtained from the Oak Ridge Environmental Information System database. Daily fluctuations in stream flow, as a result of scattered rainfall, flooding, and flow augmentation, resuspend the contaminated streambed sediments and/or erode the polluted streambank soil and provide a secondary source of mercury to the creek. In order to investigate the significance of sediment-mercury interactions on the fate and transport of mercury within the UEFPC study domain, simulations were performed for two different cases (i.e., with and without consideration of sediment-mercury interactions). Computed total suspended solids and mercury concentrations at the integration point of the creek are compared with the corresponding historical records in both cases. As confirmed by the numerical simulations, a substantial portion of the mercury detected in the river is likely in the form of sediment particle–bound mercury (i.e., mercury particulates). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
3-D Simulation of high-latitude interaction regions: Comparison with Ulysses results

A three-dimensional (3-D) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical model is used to simulate the global evolution of a steady, tilted-dipole solar wind flow configuration similar to that prevalent in interplanetary space in 1993. Systematic latitudinal changes in the structure of a corotating interaction region (CIR) near 5 AU is shown to agree well with recent Ulysses observations. The abrupt disappearance of forward shocks and continued persistence of reverse shocks poleward of the latitude where Ulysses crossed the southern edge of the coronal streamer belt is explained as a natural consequence of the 3-D flow geometry.
Amperometric determination of hydralazine hydrochloride in a flowing stream at the glassy carbon electrode

A flow-injection method for the determination of hydralazine hydrochloride based on electrochemical oxidation at the glassy carbon electrode is presented. The amperometric method is highly specific and may be used to determine hydralazine hydrochloride in the presence of other drugs commonly found in its pharmaceutical dosage forms or administered concurrently in therapeutic situations. By using an electrode potential of +650 mV versus an Ag/AgCl reference electrode, a calibration curve was found to be linear in the 1–50 μg/mL concentration range, with minimum detectability at 10 ng (signal-to-noise ratio, 2). When the method was applied to the analysis of hydralazine hydrochloride in selected pharmaceutical dosage forms, it showed good accuracy and precision. Although automation was not used in this study, the method could readily be incorporated in automated systems because it employs the technique of continuous analysis in a flowing stream.
Angular correlation functions of polarized intensities scattered from a one-dimensionally rough surface

Experimental results are presented for the angular correlation functions of far-field intensity scattered by a conducting, one-dimensionally rough surface that produces backscattering enhancement. A detailed study of the special case of equal incident and scattering angles is presented, in which it is found that the intensity correlation functions exhibit two distinct and equal maxima, both of which imply perfect correlation within experimental accuracies. One of these is an autocorrelation peak, and the second peak arises from the cross correlation between two distinct intensities related by a reciprocity condition. It is found that, if the rough surface is illuminated by a +45° polarization state, the angular correlation functions of scattered intensity polarized at −45° have broad structures that are interpreted as arising from single-scattering processes. The scattered intensity polarized at +45° has quite different correlation functions whose properties are attributed to multiple-scattering processes; this interpretation is based on generalizations of arguments presented in previous studies of backscattering enhancement. In support of these conclusions, rigorous theoretical results for the angular correlation functions of scattered amplitude are presented.
Signatures of solar wind latitudinal structure in interplanetary Lyman-alpha emissions - Mariner 10 observations

A detailed analysis is conducted which shows that signatures in the interplanetary Lyman-alpha emissions observed in three different data sets from Mariner 10 (corresponding to different locations of the spacecraft) provide firm evidence that the intensity departures are correlated with a decrease in solar wind flux with increasing latitude. It is suggested that observations of the interplanetary emission can be used to monitor average solar wind activity at high latitudes. The asymmetry in the solar radiation field as a source of observed departures in L-alpha data is considered and attention is given to the interstellar hydrogen and helium density.
Priority setting for evidence-based health outreach in community-based organizations: a mixed-methods study in three Massachusetts communities

Priority setting, or determining how to best allocate limited resources, is an important first step for evidence-based public health approaches in community-based organizations (CBOs), but guidance for such work is limited. This study aims to study drivers of priority setting and the way CBOs use data for this work. Data come from PLANET MassCONECT, a Community-Based Participatory Research project focused on knowledge translation among CBOs targeting the underserved in Boston, Lawrence, and Worcester, MA. We conducted four focus group discussions with CBO staff members (31 participants) in 2008 and a survey of 214 CBO staff members in 2009. Multiple, often competing factors appear to drive priority setting, including data, funding, partnerships, and community preferences. The process may be hindered by challenges related to finding, evaluating, and utilizing data for priority setting. Supporting CBOs in efforts to use data effectively and incorporate context into systematic priority-setting processes is vital.
Autophagy genes as tumor suppressors

Autophagy, originally described as a universal lysosome-dependent bulk degradation of cytoplasmic components upon nutrient deprivation, has since been shown to influence diverse aspects of homeostasis and is implicated in a wide variety of pathological conditions, including cancer. The list of autophagy-related (Atg) genes associated with the initiation and progression of human cancer as well as with responses to cancer therapy continues to grow as these genes are being discovered. However, whether Atg genes work through their expected mechanisms of autophagy regulation and/or through as-yet-undefined functions in the development of cancer remains to be further clarified. Here we review recent advances in the knowledge of the molecular basis of autophagy genes and their biological outputs during tumor development. A better understanding of the mechanistic link between cellular autophagy and tumor growth control may ultimately better human cancer treatments.
Weak saturation numbers for multiple copies

For a fixed graph F , a graph G is F -saturated if there is no copy of F in G , but for any edge e ? G , there is a copy of F in G + e . The minimum number of edges in an F -saturated graph of order n will be denoted by sat ( n , F ) . A graph G is weakly F -saturated if G contains no copy of F and there is an ordering of the missing edges of G so that if they are added one at a time, each edge added creates a new copy of F . The minimum size of a weakly F -saturated graph G of order n will be denoted by wsat ( n , F ) . The graphs of order n that are weakly F -saturated will be denoted by wSAT ( n , F ) , and those graphs in wSAT ( n , F ) with wsat ( n , F ) edges will be denoted by wSAT ? ( n , F ) . The precise value of wsat ( n , F ) for many families of vertex disjoint copies of connected graphs such as small order graphs, trees, cycles, and complete graphs will be determined.
Homology of the d-galactose-specific lectins from Artocarpus integrifolia and Maclura pomifera and the role of an unusual small polypeptide subunit

Abstract The Maclura pomifera agglutinin (MPA) was purified by affinity chromatography from a seed extract and its properties were compared with those of the Artocarpus integrifolia lectin, jacalin. Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography showed both proteins had multiple forms of a small ~20-residue polypeptide chain in addition to the major 12,000 Mr subunit. The amino acid sequences of the small chains and the N-terminal sequences of the large subunits showed considerable similarity between the two proteins, ~60% identical residues. The homology of the proteins was confirmed by the similarity of their circular dichroism and fluorescence emission spectra. MPA showed much greater spectral changes upon binding methyl α- d -galactoside, suggesting it has complete activity rather than the partial activity found for jacalin. The binding of methyl α- d -galactoside by MPA was measured by fluorescence titration; the KA was 1.9 × 104 m −1 compared to 3.4 × 104 m −1 for jacalin. MPA also precipitated human IgA1 in the same manner as jacalin. The spectra indicate the involvement of tryptophan and tyrosine residues in the binding site of these lectins. Since a tryptophan residue is conserved in all the small subunits, they may form part of the binding site.
Some visual relation judgments are limited to a single dimension at a time

(1) Hummel, J. E., & Biederman, I. (1992). Dynamic binding in a neural network for shape recognition. Psychological Review, 99, 480-517. (2) Kroger, J.K., Holyoak, K.J., & Hummel, J.E. (2004). Varieties of sameness: the impact of relational complexity on perceptual comparisons. Cognitive Science, 28, 335 – 358. (3) Santee, J.L., & Egeth, H.E. (1980). Selective attention in the speeded classification and comparison of multidimensional stimuli. Perception & Psychophysics, 28(3), 191-204. (4) Franconeri, S.L., Scimeca, J.M., Roth, J.C., Helseth, J.A., & Kahn, L.A. (2012). Flexible visual processing of spatial relationships. Cognition, 122, 210-227. (5) Treisman, A. M., & Gelade, G. (1980). A feature-integration theory of attention. Cognitive Psychology, 12, 97–136. Some visual relation judgments are limited to a single dimension at a time
Bistability and self-pulsation in quantum-dot lasers with intracavity quantum-dot saturable absorbers

Self-organized In0.4Ga0.6As/GaAs quantum-dot single-mode ridge waveguide lasers with intracavity absorber were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Bistability in the light–current characteristics of 3 μm single-mode edge-emitting laser was obtained by controlling the intracavity absorber voltage. Self-pulsation was also observed with a center frequency of 1.6 GHz and linewidth <10 MHz.