cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Porohyperelastic-transport-swelling theory, material properties and finite element models for large arteries

Abstract A porohyperelastic–transport–swelling (PHETS) model is presented in which a soft hydrated tissue material is viewed as a continuum composed of an incompressible porous solid ( fibrous matrix) that is saturated by an incompressible fluid (water) in which a mobile species (solute) is dissolved. This PHETS theoretical model is implemented using a finite element model (FEM) including inherent nonlinearity, coupled transport processes, and complicated geometry and boundary conditions associated with soft tissue structures. The PHETS material properties are clearly identified with a physical basis describing and quantifying elasticity, permeability, diffusion, convection, and osmotic properties. The equivalence between the PHETS and the triphasic (TRI) model (Lai et al., 1991) is established using the phenomenological equations, and mathematical expressions are given to relate the PHETS and TRI material properties. A principle of virtual velocities (PVV ) links Eulerian and Lagrangian PHETS formulations and provides correspondence rules between the Eulerian and the Lagrangian field variables and material properties. The PVV is also the basis for a mixed Lagrangian PHETS FEM (Kaufmann, 1996) , which was developed for the analysis of soft hydrated tissues. Selected PHETS FEM results are presented in order to demonstrate the capability of the PHETS model to simulate coupled deformation, stress, mobile water flux, and albumin flux in the arterial wall undergoing finite straining associated with pressurization, axial stretch, and changes in albumin concentration in bath solutions surrounding a segment of rabbit thoracic aorta. Values for isotropic material parameters and specific details of the experiments and data-reduction methods were obtained from Simon et al. (1997 ; 1998) .
Do patients with nonmetastatic non-small cell lung cancer demonstrate altered resting energy expenditure?

Abstract Background . The cancer cachexia syndrome occurs in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and includes elevated resting energy expenditure (REE). This increase in REE leads to weight loss, which in turn confers a poor prognosis. This study was undertaken to determine whether the cancer cachexia syndrome occurs in patients with nonmetastatic NSCLC. Methods . In this case-control study, 18 patients with nonmetastatic NSCLC (stages IA to IIIB) were matched to healthy controls on age (± 5 years), gender, and body mass index (± 3 kg/m 2 ). Only 4 cancer patients had experienced > 5% weight loss. Cancer patients and controls were compared on the basis of: (1) unadjusted REE, as measured by indirect calorimetry; (2) REE adjusted for lean body mass, as measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry; (3) REE adjusted for body cell mass, as measured by potassium-40 measurement; and (4) REE adjusted for total body water, as measured by tritiated water dilution. Results . We observed no significant difference in unadjusted REE or in REE adjusted for total body water. However, with separate adjustments for lean body mass and body cell mass, cancer patients manifested an increase in REE: mean difference ± standard error of the mean: 140 ± 35 kcal/day ( p = 0.001) and 173 ± 65 kcal/day ( p = 0.032), respectively. Further adjustment for weight loss yielded similarly significant results. Conclusions . These results suggest that the cancer cachexia syndrome occurs in patients with nonmetastatic NSCLC and raise the question of whether clinical trials that target cancer cachexia should be initiated before weight loss.
The thermal degradation of polyacrylonitrile

The volatile products that are evolved during the thermolysis of polyacrylonitrile have been studied by TGA/FTIR techniques. The complementary solid products that are not volatile have also been isolated and characterized, by means of elemental analysis and infra-red spectroscopy. Cyclization of the polymer proceeds before any mass is lost and the driving force for cyclization is the formation of aromatic rings. The extent of cyclization is controlled by the presence of head-to-head linkages within the polymer. Ammonia and hydrogen cyanide are the first gases lost and schemes are proposed to account for their formation. Oligomers are lost from the uncyclized portion of the polymer lying between the cyclized portions and the amount of non-volatile fraction is largely determined by the extent of oligomer loss. A detailed mechanism is presented to account for the observed formation of the volatile products and the structural changes that occur in the residue.
The troubled profession: is medicine's glass half full or half empty?

Abstract ▪ Abundant evidence that medicine is in trouble includes serious career dissatisfaction among practicing and would-be physicians as well as steeply declining interest in generalist careers...
Concerning Intrasubject Measurements of Successive Lingual Vibrotactile Responses

Ascending lingual vibrotactile thresholds were obtained for 110 Ss under test-retest conditions. Each condition included two different threshold criteria for frequencies 200 and 400 Hz, respectively. Although differential threshold responses were observed between frequencies, means and standard deviations remained consistent for both conditions. Reliability coefficients indicated good intra-subject consistency for successive threshold measurements.
Three trends in higher education and their potential impact on information agencies

Purpose – In this paper three technological trends are explored. While these trends are not directly related to each other, the author posits that they are all manifestations of areas where libraries and librarians could play a more active role in using the technology to further the mission of the library. Taken together, the author discusses how these trends become a call to action for libraries and librarians to more directly engage in areas of responsibility outside their traditional domain if they wish to maintain a relevant role in the academy. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, an analysis of three of the trends discussed in the “NMC Horizon Project short list: 2013 higher education edition” report is undertaken. From this analysis, the author evaluates the relevance, in both the short- and long-terms, of these trends to academic libraries. Findings – These three trends represent areas where libraries and librarians should attempt to become more directly involved in either using or exploit...
A comparison of situation tests of speech anxiety

Speech-anxious subjects talked in fron of one of either: a live audience, a one-way mirror with assumed observers, a simulated audience appearing on a TV monitor, or an audience of two people and a TV camera to record the speech. Prespeech anxiety was assessed by two self-report measures and one physiological measure. While speaking, subjects were rated for observable indicators of anxiety, and a record was made of the total silence-duration during the speech. The only significant differences found among the groups was in pulse rate, with lower scores emerging in the one-way mirror condition. The findings suggest that a live audience may not be necessary when utilizing situation test of speech anxiety.
An exploratory study into open source platform adoption

Research on open source software has focused mainly on the motivations of open source programmers and the organization of open source projects (Kogut and Metiu, 2001 and Lerner and Tirole, 2002). Some researchers portray open source as an extension of the earlier open systems movement (West and Dedrick, 2001). While there has been some research on open-systems software adoption by corporate MIS organizations (Chau and Tam, 1997) the issue of open source adoption has received little attention. We use a series of interviews with MIS managers to develop a grounded theory of open source platform adoption. We contrast this to prior academic and popular reports about the adoption of open source.
Using immunoproteomics to identify alpha-enolase as an autoantigen in liver fibrosis

Liver fibrosis results from extracellular matrix accumulation during the wound healing process when the liver is insulted with chronic viral infection, inflammation, or alcoholic diseases. The current diagnosis of liver fibrosis is mainly dependent on biopsy, which is an invasive approach. Identification of serological biomarkers has been considered as the most promising way for early detection of the disease. Although several biomarkers in liver fibrosis have been identified, the problem is that these markers can be also detected in fibrogenesis that occurred in other organs. In this study, we have identified and characterized some cellular proteins that can be recognized by autoantibodies in the sera from patients with precirrhotic stage of liver fibrosis. Among 180 sera from patients with liver fibrosis, 14.4% (26/180) of sera contained autoantibody against a protein migrating around 47 kDa on SDS-PAGE gel. Indirect immunofluorescence assay using purified autoantibody against the 47-kDa protein showed that this protein mainly localized in the cytoplasm. Using immunoproteomic approach, the 47-kDa protein was identified as alpha-enolase. In further study, the frequency of antialpha-enolase antibody in sera from patients with precirrhotic stage of liver fibrosis (21.6%, 27/125) was significantly higher than that in sera from patients with cirrhosis (9.1%, 5/55) and liver cancer (14.3%, 12/84), as well as in sera from healthy individuals (4.1%, 3/74). Therefore, alpha-enolase is an autoantigen that elicits autoimmune response in liver fibrosis and can be a potential prognostic factor for liver fibrosis diagnosis.
High-Efficiency Retrovirus-Mediated Gene Transfer into the Livers of Mice

ABSTRACT Recombinant retroviral vectors represent an attractive means of transferring genes into the liver because they integrate in the host cell genome and result in permanent gene expression. However, efficient gene transfer is limited by the requirement of active cell division for integration. Surgical partial hepatectomy has been the traditional method of inducing hepatocellular proliferation, but this invasive approach would be difficult to justify in clinical gene therapy. As an alternative, we used a recombinant adenovirus expressing a nonsecreted form of urokinase plaminogen activator (Ad.PGKmuPA), which results in liver regeneration over a period of 8 days. When a high-titer retroviral vector was continuously infused into the portal vein of mice during this period of hepatocyte proliferation, 33.5% of hepatocytes were stably transduced. In addition, high-level expression of a secreted transgene reporter was sustained for at least 48 weeks (length of experiment). We investigated the influence of ...
The Bacteriophage 434 Repressor Dimer Preferentially Undergoes Autoproteolysis by an Intramolecular Mechanism

Inactivation of the lambdoid phage repressor protein is necessary to induce lytic growth of a lambdoid prophage. Activated RecA, the mediator of the host SOS response to DNA damage, causes inactivation of the repressor by stimulating the repressor's nascent autocleavage activity. The repressor of bacteriophage lambda and its homolog, LexA, preferentially undergo RecA-stimulated autocleavage as free monomers, which requires that each monomer mediates its own (intramolecular) cleavage. The cI repressor of bacteriophage 434 preferentially undergoes autocleavage as a dimer specifically bound to DNA, opening the possibility that one 434 repressor subunit may catalyze proteolysis of its partner subunit (intermolecular cleavage) in the DNA-bound dimer. Here, we first identified and mutagenized the residues at the cleavage and active sites of 434 repressor. We utilized the mutant repressors to show that the DNA-bound 434 repressor dimer overwhelmingly prefers to use an intramolecular mechanism of autocleavage. Our data suggest that the 434 repressor cannot be forced to use an intermolecular cleavage mechanism. Based on these data, we propose a model in which the cleavage-competent conformation of the repressor is stabilized by operator binding.
Average case analysis of the Markov chain small-world model

Abstract An extended Markov chain small-world network model is further investigated with an average case approach. An exact formula of the average mean first passage time is developed. This new expression is shown to include relevant existing results as its special cases. Moreover, numerical outcomes seem to confirm, within the framework of the average case analysis, some recent results regarding the effect of asymmetry on the small-world phenomenon.
HRTS observations of spicular emission at transition region temperatures above the solar limb

Slit spectra and spectroheliograph observations were obtained during the fourth rocket flight of the High Resolution Telescope and Spectrograph (HRTS) on 7 March 1983. A curved slit 900 arc sec in length was placed at the solar limb on the western edge of the south polar coronal hole, giving both coronal hole and quiet region coverage. In addition, spectroheliograph images tuned to cover a passband around 1550 A (primarily C IV at 105 K) were taken over an 8 × 15 arc min field. Simultaneous Hα images were obtained at Sac Peak Observatory. The C IV spectroheliograms show general spiked emission above the limb, and also several small loo- or prominence-like events. Slit spectra along the tops of several of these structures show tilted features which could be interpreted as rotational velocities of approximately 50 km s−1.
Obstinate valour: the military service and death of Sir Victor Horsley

A leading proponent of neurological surgery at the onset of World War I, Victor Horsley's uncompromising liberalism was unpopular among the medical hierarchy. Assigned to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) his political activism proved more valuable than his surgical talent. This report will outline his military career and death in 1916. As a member of the local Territorial Force at the outbreak of the war, Horsley requested active duty on the Western Front. He was eventually posted as Director of Surgery of the 21st General Hospital and sent to Egypt for the Dardanelles Campaign in May 1915. Several months later he was promoted to colonel and appointed surgical consultant of the Army Medical Service. Although he operated electively and lectured to medical officers on Gallipoli, the chaotic medical conditions prompted him (and others) to push for re-organization of the medical services; public outcry succeeded in effecting a change. At the end of this campaign, Horsley volunteered for duty in Mes...
A model of thymocyte proliferation.

Abstract A steady-state model, based upon an analytical approach to the interpretation pf thymic radioautographic data is presented. In the model the process of cellular proliferation is represented by a feedback amplifier. It is shown by computer simulation that a model based on this conception, in which cellular flow through G 1 compartments is treated as a stochastic process and that through the S, G2 and M compartments by a sequential unidirectional process, is in reasonable agreement with the experimental data.
Toward the Identification of Coyote Scatological Faunal Accumulations in Archaeological Contexts

Abstract One of the most important and most difficult tasks in zooarchaeological inquiry is distinguishing small animal bones accumulated by natural processes from those accumulated by human subsistence activities. To assist in this difficult task, attritional characteristics and quantitative data on bones recovered from 40 Great Basin coyote ( Canis latrans ) scats are presented. Digestive attrition is evident in skeletal pitting, staining, and polishing, particularly along fracture edges. Some distinct breakage patterns are evident, especially on jackrabbit-sized long bones. The data indicate that variability in scatological body part content may be a product of density-mediated attrition and/or prey availability. We propose that bone fragment size may be employed with corrosive attributes to distinguish scatological accumulations from human subsistence refuse.
Drug absorption IV: Influence of pH on absorption kinetics of weakly acidic drugs

Abstract This paper reports the absorption kinetics of sulfaethidole and barbital from the rat stomach and rat small intestine in situ. The absorption rates varied with pH for both drugs. With both drugs, absorption from the intestines proceeded 10 times faster at a given pH than from the stomach. Rate constants for the transport of unionized and ionized drug moieties were determined from the stomach and from the intestine; in all cases, significant transport of ionized drug was noted.
Bright entangled light from two-mode cascade laser

We show that a two-mode three-level cascade laser driven by external coherent fields generate intense entangled light. It turns out that external driving fields which are at resonance with the cavity modes substantially improve the intensity of the two-mode light in the cavity in a region where the squeezing and entanglement is significant making the system under consideration a viable source of bright squeezed as well as entangled light.
Optimization of PCR conditions to amplify microsatellite loci in the bunchgrass lizard (Sceloporus slevini) genomic DNA

Background Microsatellites, also called Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs), repetitions of nucleotide motifs of 1-5 bases, are currently the markers of choice due to their abundant distribution in the genomes, and suitability for high-throughput analysis. A total of five different primer pairs were optimized for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify microsatellite loci in total genomic DNA of bunchgrass lizards (Sceloporus slevini) collected from three sites in southeastern Arizona; the Sonoita Plain, Chiricahua Mountains and Huachuca Mountains.
Organizing IT to promote agility

Agility at the individual business unit and organizational levels presents a challenge for many information system (IS) departments. Business unit agility demands the ability to sense and respond to changes in local competitive environments, whereas organizational agility demands the ability to sense broader market opportunities and respond with changes that are organization-wide. The former requires experimentation and customization of system designs, while the latter demands uniformity and standardization. Although flexible and customizable software might assist organizations in adapting systems to meet these challenges simultaneously, coordination across multiple business units also demands effective organization and governance of system design and development. This paper presents a longitudinal case study of an insurance company that was effective at sensing and responding to changes in the environment at the business unit level, but less effective at sensing and responding at the organizational level. Using the platform logic as a theoretical lens, we analyze this case and offer insights into how multi-unit organizations can manage system design at the organizational and business unit levels, thereby supporting agility through the development of effective organizing and governance mechanisms. Our analysis outlines relational and integration mechanisms and explains how these arrangements helped the organization to attain greater enterprise agility and support its overall strategy.
An elevated bronchodilator response predicts large airway inflammation in mild asthma

Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) is elevated in asthmatics and is a purported marker of airway inflammation. The bronchodilator response (BDR) has also been shown to correlate with markers of airway inflammation, including eNO at 50 ml/sec (FE(NO,50)) which is comprised of NO from both the proximal and distal airways. Using eNO at multiple flows and a two-compartment model of NO exchange, the eNO signal can be partitioned into its proximal [J'aw(NO) (nl/sec)] and distal contributions [CA(NO) (ppb)]. We hypothesized that the BDR reflects the inflammatory status of the larger airways with smooth muscle, and thus would correlate with J'aw(NO). In 179 predominantly (95%) Hispanic children with mild asthma (69 steroid naive), and 21 non-asthmatic non-atopic controls, spirometry and eNO at multiple flows were measured prior and 10 min following inhalation of albuterol. A trumpet-shaped axial diffusion model of NO exchange was used to characterize J'aw(NO) and CA(NO). The BDR correlated moderately (r = 0.44) with proximal airway NO (J'aw(NO)), but weakly (r = 0.26) with distal airway/alveolar NO (CA(NO)), and only in inhaled corticosteroid naive asthmatics. A BDR cut point as low as >or=8% had a positive predictive value of 83% for predicting an elevated J'aw(NO) or FE(NO,50). We conclude that the BDR reflects inflammation in the large airways, and may be an effective clinical tool to predict elevated large airway inflammation.
The UV photochemistry of cyanoacetylene

Abstract The results of three studies relevant to the UV photochemistry of cyanoacetylene are reported. Firstly, the absorption cross-section of HC3N between 240 and 188 nm has been measured. Secondly, the heat of formation of the C3N radical has been experimentally determined to be 629 ± 17 kJ mol−1. This implies a dissociation threshold of 244 ± 8 nm for HC3N. Finally, the quantum yield for the process at 193 nm is found to be about 0.05. These three experiments point to as the major process in the UV photolysis of cyanoacetylene.
Multi‐Objective Programming Approach for Routing Hazardous Materials

This paper examines the systemwide routing, of hazardous materials as a means of reducing the threat to the population residing along the links of an entire transportation network. A multi‐objective decision‐making model is used for the mathematical formulation of the routing problem. The proposed model includes the following objectives: (1) Minimization of risk; (2) minimization of risk of special population categories; (3) minimization of travel time; and (4) minimization of property damages. A capacitated and a noncapacitated version of the multiobjective routing problem are presented. A hypothetical network is used to display the applicability of the proposed model. For the example under consideration it is shown that the imposition of capacity constraints on the links of the network tends to distribute the risk in an equitable manner while it increases the total risk by 35%.
Dissipative particle dynamics simulation of flow around spheres and cylinders at finite Reynolds numbers

Abstract Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) is a method for simulating complex fluid flows and other, colloidal phenomena. It is a mesoscopic method, in that it does not rely on a continuum-level description of matter, but nor does it completely capture molecular-level detail. As such, it offers the possibility of capturing some degree of molecular-level detail, while conforming to continuum hydrodynamics at larger length scales. We have tested the applicability of DPD to finite-Reynolds-number flows by studying a series of model problems involving flow around spheres and cylinders. Our study is the first to consider explicitly the effect of finite inertia in DPD simulations. Both flow around immobile objects and the translation and rotation of mobile objects are considered. For our test problems, we show that under computationally feasible conditions DPD simulations are quantitatively accurate up to Reynolds numbers of 50–100. Typically the physical cause of inaccuracies at higher Reynolds numbers is the onset of compressibility effects, which can be anticipated by making reference to a DPD Mach number. In addition, in our implementation of DPD, some new methods are introduced that result in the computation time scaling linearly with the number of DPD particles. It is also shown that improvements in accuracy can be realized by making use of the specular reflection boundary condition at solid–fluid interfaces.
Computational behavior dynamics: an alternative description of Nevin (1969).

A computational processing behavior-dynamic model was instantiated in the form of a computer program that "behaved" on the task developed by Nevin (1969). In this classic discrete-trials experiment, the relative frequency of choosing a response alternative matched the relative frequency of reinforcement for that alternative, the local structure of responding was opposite that predicted by momentary maximizing (i.e., the probability of a changeover decreased with run length), and absolute and relative response rates varied independently. The behavior-dynamic model developed here qualitatively reproduced these three results (but not in quantitative and specific detail) and also generated some interesting, as-yet-untested predictions about performance in Nevin's task. The model was discussed as an example of a stochastic behavior-dynamic alternative to algebraic behavior theory.
Balloon occlusion versus wedged hepatic venography using carbon dioxide for portal vein opacification during TIPS

Balloon occlusion hepatic venography using carbon dioxide (CO2) is proposed as a safer yet simpler alternative to wedged catheter techniques that have caused hepatic lacerations during the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure. The image quality of CO2 wedged catheter and balloon occlusion venograms was comparable in our small series, with no venographic-related complications occurring in the balloon occlusion group.
FREE-WAKE ANALYSIS OF A ROTOR IN HOVER

A numerical method based on the axisymmetric, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations is combined with a lifting surface code to predict the vortex wake of hovering rotors. The lifting surface code, AMI Hover, is used to obtain the circulation distribution on the blade. This circulation distribution is fed into the Navier-Stokes code to compute the vortex wake under this specified circulation distribution. An iteration approach is used between these two codes to converge the circulation distribution and the shape of the vortex wake. A relaxation scheme is developed to resolve the instability encountered among the tip vortices. A reconcentration scheme is used to solve the diffusion problem due to the strong artificial viscosity. The results from the present method are compared with experimental data obtained by smoke-flow visualization and hot-wire measurements for several rotor blade configurations. The comparisons show that the present method is able to predict the complex wake system shed by a hovering rotor.
Combinatorics and Quotients of Toric Varieties

For linear projections of polytopes and fans of cones we introduce some new objects such as: virtual chambers, virtual cones and (locally) coherent costrings. Virtual chambers (cones) generalize real chambers (cones), while (locally) coherent costrings are linear dual to (locally) coherent strings. We establish various correspondences for these objects and their connections to toric geometry.
Dynamic resource location with tropical algebra

Abstract The traditional dynamic resource location problem attempts to minimize the cost of servicing a number of sequential requests, given foreknowledge of a limited number of requests. This paper presents an algebraic framework for addressing this question in general, and relates he algebraic properties of a generating set to questions in long-term optimizability, addressing the two questions: for a given graph, is there a finite quantity of future knowledge with which a server’s relocation scheme can be completely optimized, and if not, then how does the performance of a non-omniscient optimization scheme improve as the quantity of future knowledge increases?
Coding and modulation in watermarking and data hiding

The existence of perceptual redundancy of many media carriers such as image and video allows for invisible embedding of an information sequence. Its applications include so-called watermarking and data hiding. The media carrier can be modeled as a communication channel, where noise comes from manipulation of the carrier. To maximize the robustness of the embedded data against the noise, coded modulation is used to encode the information sequence.
Do initial responses to drugs predict future use or abuse

Individuals vary in their initial reactions to drugs of abuse in ways that may contribute to the likelihood of subsequent drug use. In humans, most drugs of abuse produce positive subjective states such as euphoria and feelings of well-being, which may facilitate repeated use. In nonhumans, many drugs initially increase locomotor activity and produce discriminative stimulus effects, both of which have been considered to be models of human stimulant and subjective states. Both humans and nonhumans vary in their sensitivity to early acute drug effects in ways that may predict future use or self-administration, and some of these variations appear to be genetic in origin. However, it is not known exactly how the initial responses to drugs in either humans or nonhumans relate to subsequent use or abuse. In humans, positive effects of drugs facilitate continued use of a drug while negative effects discourage use, and in nonhumans, greater genetic risk for drug intake is predicted by reduced sensitivity to drug aversive effects; but whether these initial responses affect escalation of drug use, and the development of dependence is currently unknown. Although early use of a drug is a necessary step in the progression to abuse and dependence, other variables may be of greater importance in the transition from use to abuse. Alternatively, the same variables that predict initial acute drug effects and early use may significantly contribute to continued use, escalation and dependence. Here we review the existing evidence for relations between initial direct drug effects, early use, and continued use. Ultimately, these relations can only be determined from systematic longitudinal studies with comprehensive assessments from early drug responses to progression of problem drug use. In parallel, additional investigation of initial responses in animal models as predictors of drug use will shed light on the underlying mechanisms.
Gonadotropin receptors in human fetoplacental unit: Implications for hCG as an intracrine, paracrine and endocrine regulator of human fetoplacental function

Summary The presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) receptors in mid and term pregnancy human placenta, amnion, chorion, and decidua was investigated by light and electron microscope immunocytochemistry using the monoclonal antibody to rat luteal hCG/LH receptors. In mid pregnancy, the hCG receptors were present in placenta, amnion, chorion, and decidua. At term pregnancy, while receptors in fetal membranes and decidua continued to be detected, no receptors were detected in placental tissue unless the tissues were pretreated with neuraminidase. Syncytiotrophoblasts contained more receptors than cytotrophoblasts in placenta, and decidua contained more receptors than amnion and chorion at mid and term pregnancy. While the receptors in decidua and chorion increased, the receptors in amnion decreased from mid to term pregnancy. Immunogold electron microscopy revealed that hCG receptors are not only present in cell membranes but also in intracellular vesicles, nuclear membranes, and the perimeter of condensed chromatin. In summary our results, demonstrating the presence of hCG receptors in human fetoplacental unit, suggest that hCG may have intracrine, paracrine, and endocrine roles.
Comparison of the radiation properfies of a sinusoidal current filament and a PEC dipole of near-zero radius

Among the relatively few problems in electromagnetics the solutions of which can be developed in closed form are the near and far fields of a sinusoidal current filament (SCF). Before the inception of computational electromagnetics, this fact led to the sinusoidal current filament being widely used as an approximation for the radiation characteristics of a thin wire, such as a center-fed dipole. The reason that this approximation proves to be useful is that the current on a PEC (perfectly electrically conducting) wire of near-zero radius (NZR) becomes a close approximation to a sinusoid, and their radiation patterns become very similar. However, as is shown here, while the sinusoidal current filament and near-zero-radius dipole are very similar in some respects, they are quite different in others. These similarities and differences are explored below, and their implications for how these two sources actually produce a far radiation field are explained
Dynamic structure - soil interaction under the action of vertical ground motion, part I: the axisymmetric problem

Abstract In the epicenter area, the acceleration for the vertical component plays an important role in the anti-seismic design. Supposing that a rod is erected on a rigid circular foundation, and the foundation is supported on the surface of the ground, the dynamic structure-soil interaction under the action of the vertical ground motion is investigated. The ground motion is typically idealized as vertically propagating, vertical steady-state motion and the ground is idealized as a linear, homogeneous, isotropic elastic half-space. For the contact between the foundation and the ground, two cases are considered: (a) the contact is perfectly smooth, namely, there is no shear stress on the contact surface; (b) the contact is assumed to be welded along the contact surface. The use of Hankel and Laplace transform methods yields respectively for the two cases dual integral equations or simultaneous dual integral equations. Both of them are solved by means of the infinite series about some orthogonal function. For the three cases of rigid ground, smooth contact, and welded contact, results are presented for the response of the structure-soil system to the incident excitation. For the cases of smooth and welded contacts, the stress distribution along the bottom surface of the foundation is investigated.
Low molecular weight analogs of coenzyme Q as hydrogen acceptors and donors in systems of the respiratory chain.

Summary 2,3-Dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-n-pentyl-, -6-n-decyl-, and -6-n-pentadecyl-1,4-benzoquinones were synthesized as analogs of coenzyme Q 1 , Q 2 , and Q 3 , respectively. The 6-substituents of the three pairs of quinones have 5, 10, and 15 carbon atoms. These analogs are more stable than the isoprenoid Q's, and have advantages in biochemical experiments. These low molecular weight analogs have inadequate lipoidal characteristics to simulate the higher molecular weight CoQ's including CoQ 10 . However, if lipoidal characteristics are not essential, the pentyl and decyl analogs are highly effective as evidenced by their functioning like CoQ 1 and Q 2 as hydrogen acceptors with ETPH particles for oxidative phosphorylation at site I, and after reduction as hydrogen donors for complex III.
The current status of titanium rapid solidification

Rapid solidification can have a variety of effects on the microstructure, constitution and mechanical properties of titanium-base alloys. Numerous processing methods can be used to form a wide range of rapidly solidified compositions. Among the alloy classes studied— conventional alloys, rare-earth systems, metalloid systems, eutectoid systems and intermetallics— rare-earth systems and intermetallics hold the greatest promise for developing improved alloys. Such alloys are intended for elevated-temperature aerospace applications.
Separation of chlordiazepoxide and selected chlordiazepoxide mixtures using capillary SFC

Abstract The analysis of chlordiazepoxide and selected chlordiazepoxide mixtures using supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) has been investigated. The separations were carried out on four different stationary phases (SB-methyl-100, SB-biphenyl-30, SB-smectic and SB-cyanopropyl-50) with carbon dioxide as the mobile phase and flame ionization detection. The relative retention data obtained using the SFC method is compared with HPLC methods.
Abstract 3154: RSK2-mediated phosphorylation of stathmin promotes microtubule polymerization, providing a pro-invasive advantage to metastatic cancer cells

Metastasis is responsible for over 90% of cancer related deaths. Breast cancer, lung cancer, and head and neck cancer commonly metastasize to vital organs resulting in poor clinical outcomes. However, the molecular processes underlying such cellular changes remain elusive. Therefore, identifying genes that induce cancer cell signaling changes and understanding how these changes control pro-metastatic mechanisms is necessary to develop molecular therapies for metastasis and to improve clinical prognosis for late-stage cancer patients. Protein kinases have been implicated in mediating pro-metastatic signaling in human cancers. We previously demonstrated that a serine/threonine kinase, p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2) promotes cancer cell invasion and migration, anoikis resistance, and tumor metastasis in human cancers, including head and neck cancer, breast cancer, and lung cancer. Here, we investigated the role of RSK2 in the regulation of microtubule dynamics and its potential implication in cancer cell invasion and tumor metastasis. SiRNA-mediated knockdown of RSK2 disrupted microtubules in diverse metastatic human cancer cell lines including lung cancer A549, breast cancer SKBR3, and head and neck cancer 212LN cells. Stathmin (STMN) is a microtubule destabilizing protein, which is an essential regulator of microtubule polymerization. We found that stable knockdown of RSK2 resulted in decreased phosphorylation of STMN at Serine 16 in the aforementioned metastatic cancer cell lines. Moreover, we found that RSK2 directly phosphorylated STMN at Ser16 in an in vitro RSK2 kinase assay using recombinant RSK2 and STMN proteins. We observed that phosphorylation of STMN by RSK2 resulted in reduced STMN-mediated microtubule depolymerization in vitro, while stable expression of phospho-deficient STMN S16A mutant but not STMN wild type (WT) led to decreased invasive potential of metastatic cancer cells. These data together suggest STMN as a potential novel RSK2 substrate/effector, which may contribute to RSK2-mediated pro-metastatic signaling. Our finding demonstrates that RSK2 signals through STMN to regulate microtubule polymerization and cancer cell invasion via direct phosphorylation of STMN at Serine 16, providing a pro-invasive and metastatic advantage to cancer cells. Therefore, the RSK2-STMN pathway represents a promising therapeutic target in the clinical prognosis and treatment of metastatic human cancers. Citation Format: Gina Alesi, Dan Li, Lingtao Jin, Georgia Z. Chen, Dong M. Shin, Fadlo Khuri, Sumin Kang. RSK2-mediated phosphorylation of stathmin promotes microtubule polymerization, providing a pro-invasive advantage to metastatic cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3154. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3154
UN Peace-Keeping: In the Interest of Community or Self?:

This article examines whether state participation in UN peace-keeping results from a state's idealistic commitment to the global community and international peace or whether participation is tied to the state's national interest. With the high profile of UN peace-keeping in this post-Cold War era, the answer to this inquiry may suggest to us whether the emerging international system will be organized on the principles of community or self. This inquiry is conducted through an examination of the eighteen UN peace-keeping operations fielded from 1948 until 1990. Specifically, this article examines the incidence of state participation and the types of contributions states have made both to observer missions and peace-keeping forces at the aggregate level. This article also explores the perception of peace-keeping successes and failures and the perceptions of the dominant peace-keepers to determine whether an idealist or a realist perspective better accounts for state participation in peace-keeping. The findi...
Using the power of developmental biology for drug discovery

Abstract With the rapid advancement of the human genome project, the race is on to identify the relatively few useful target genes for drug discovery. The power of developmental biology in this effort has recently begun to be recognized. In addition to the use of model developmental organisms for functional studies, certain pluripotent cell populations and gene products that are present during embryogenesis are candidate therapeutic tools for use in the treatment of human diseases. These agents could be used to repair diseased tissues by inducing or directing developmental programs that recapitulate embryonic processes to replace specialized cells. The direct manipulation of embryonic development by pharmaceutical agents is a unique application of developmental biology that is currently being explored in animal agriculture.
Postcolonial tourism: literature, culture, and environment

Postcolonial tourism: literature, culture, and environment, by Anthony Carrigan, New York and London, Routledge, 2011, 278 pp., £85.00/$125.00 (hbk), ISBN 9780415882736 / £85.00/$88.00 (ebk), ISBN ...
Ultrastructural analysis of pathologic lesions in sterol-deficient Nippostrongylus brasiliensis larvae.

A variety of cellular lesions were manifested by the free-living larval stages of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis cultured axenically in medium lacking cholesterol. Pathologic changes developed rapidly and were most apparent in intestinal cells which displayed generalized degradation of membranous organelles. Mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi complexes became disassociated and vacuolated. Autophagosomes appeared within intestinal cells and contained a wide variety of cellular components. By the 5th day gross vacuolization and degeneration of intestinal cells occurred and the hypodermis and lateral cords displayed lysed cytoplasmic regions. The latter structures are concerned with synthesis of cuticle and their degeneration correlates with the suppression of molting and the abnormal molts that occurred.
Opsin expression in human epidermal skin.

Human skin is constantly exposed to solar light containing visible and ultraviolet radiation (UVR), a powerful skin carcinogen. UVR elicits cellular responses in epidermal cells via several mechanisms: direct absorption of short-wavelength UVR photons by DNA, oxidative damage caused by long-wavelength UVR, and, as we recently demonstrated, via a retinal-dependent G protein-coupled signaling pathway. Because the human epidermis is exposed to a wide range of light wavelengths, we investigated whether opsins, light-activated receptors that mediate photoreception in the eye, are expressed in epidermal skin to potentially serve as photosensors. Here we show that four opsins—OPN1-SW, OPN2, OPN3 and OPN5—are expressed in the two major human epidermal cell types, melanocytes and keratinocytes, and the mRNA expression profile of these opsins does not change in response to physiological UVR doses. We detected two OPN3 splice variants present in similar amounts in both cell types and three OPN5 splice isoforms, two of which encode truncated proteins. Notably, OPN2 and OPN3 mRNA were significantly more abundant than other opsins and encoded full-length proteins. Our results demonstrate that opsins are expressed in epidermal skin cells and suggest that they might initiate light–induced signaling pathways, possibly contributing to UVR phototransduction.
Low temperature creep of titanium

Abstract Strain hardening and the deformation dynamics of polycrystalline titanium with 0.2% O eq. total interstitial content were investigated over the range of 77° K to 350° K by incremental loading and temperature-change creep tests. The stress-strain curves, thermal activation parameters and force-distance curve derived from the creep tests agree dwith those obtained from constant strain rate and stress relaxation tests, indicating the equivalence of the three types of test. The present results provide additional support to the concept that the rate controlling process during the low temperature deformation of α-titanium is thermally activated overcoming of interstitial solute obstacles.
The distal lacrimal ductal system and traumatic epiphora

While transient epiphora is well documented in the literature, the incidence of permanent epiphora associated with maxillofacial procedures (Le Fort I, II, III, osteotomies, nasal atrostomies and mid-face fractures) is rare. However, little attention has been paid to the distal lacrimal ductal system and its relationship to permanent epiphora. The distal nasolacrimal ductal system was studied in adult dry skulls and cadaver specimens. These findings were correlated by clinical observation. Specific areas of emphasis within this complex include the length, width, and angulation of this system. Clinical applications are discussed based on an anatomical rationale for the limitation of the superior repositioning of the maxilla as well as for proper placement of the antral window in nasal antrostomy procedures and what anticipated post-residual effects of mid-facial trauma are on the ductal system.
Cytosolic free calcium and gene expression during chemical hypoxia.

Understanding the cellular response to hypoxia may help elucidate the role of altered oxidation in neuronal death or abnormal cell function. In PC12 cells, 30 min of chemical hypoxia (i.e., KCN) reduced ATP concentrations by 92%, but diminished viability by only 10%. Ten minutes of hypoxia increased cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) 2.5-fold above control, but after 30 min of hypoxia, [Ca2+]i was slightly below that of nonhypoxic cells. Short periods of hypoxia also exaggerated the K(+)-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i, but by 30 min these ATP-depleted cells reestablished a calcium gradient that was equal to nonhypoxic, K(+)-depolarized cells. Thus, 30 min of severe ATP depletion left [Ca2+]i and viability relatively unaffected. Nerve growth factor caused slight, but significant, improvements in ATP and viability of hypoxic cells, but had no effect on [Ca2+]i. Although [Ca2+]i was equivalent in control and hypoxic cells after 30 or 60 min, hypoxia abolished the K(+)-stimulated elevation of [Ca2+]i. The nerve growth factor induction of c-fos, an indicator of the genomic response, was diminished by approximately 80%. Thus, hypoxic PC12 cells with greatly reduced ATP stores maintained normal [Ca2+]i, but their ability to respond to external stimulation was impaired. Further, the reduced oxidation that occurs in the brain in a variety of pathological conditions may interfere with the cellular response to stimulation and growth factors.