cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cell Biology and Regulation of the Intestinal Folate Absorption Process

Significant progress has been made toward the understanding of the physiological and biochemical aspects of the intestinal folate absorption process and the molecular identity of the mechanism involved. It has now been established that the intestinal folate absorption process involves an acidic pH-dependent, specialized carrier-mediated system that has similar affinities for reduced, oxidized and substituted folate derivatives. The molecular identity of the system involved has also been delineated by cloning and shown to involve the reduced folate carrier (RFC). Little, however, is currently known about cell biology and regulation of the intestinal folate uptake process. Recent studies in our laboratory have begun to address these issues. Using the Xenopus oocyte as an in vitro unicellular model system, we have examined intracellular trafficking and membrane targeting of the human RFC (hRFC) to plasma membrane. In other studies, we examined adaptive regulation of the intestinal folate absorption process by folate deficiency in both rats and more recently cultured human intestinal epithelial cell models. Brief description and discussion of these studies is presented
Valproic acid inhibits superoxide dismutase activity in mouse P19 cells

Valproic Acid (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug that is also used now for many other indications, including bipolar and mood disorders. A serious drawback of VPA is that it can induce neural tube defects (NTD) to those exposed in utero. The mechanisms of VPA-induced NTD remain incomplete, but oxidative stress has been implicated. To better understand, the cause of oxidative stress, we measured the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) following VPA treatment. SOD is an antioxidant enzyme that when inhibited may also affect the intracellular ROS tone and redox status.P19 cells are embryo carcinoma cells that retain some differentative properties. In cells treated with VPA (5 mM), dichloroflouroscein (DCF) fluorescence as an indicator of ROS production was significantly increased and was similar to ROS generated in cells treated with an SOD inhibitor, LCS-1 (100 µM). In SOD activity assays, VPA caused a decrease (20%) in activity after 6 h. Loss of activity was not due to changes in SOD protein concentrations as immunoblot analysis showed SOD expression to be virtually unchanged with VPA treatment. Also at 6 h of exposure, glutathione redox states (Eh) were highly oxidized as compared to untreated controls. As such, data support that VPA inhibits SOD activity and thereby may serve as a mechanism by which exposure to increases ROS availability and alters intracellular redox states. Understanding these effects may shed some light on embryotoxicity of VPA and its role in NTD pathogenesis.
Software Architecture and Design

The activity of designing is pervasive in software development. A software system’s architecture is the set of principal design decisions made about the system. As such, architecture and design are central pillars of software engineering. This chapter provides a coherent set of definitions for architecture, highlights key techniques for designing, and illustrates their application in well-known, influential applications. The development of the central concepts is traced from early beginnings in both domain-specific and domain-independent contexts. Techniques for analysis of architectures are discussed, and particular emphasis is placed on the distinctive role that connectors play in complex systems. Cost-benefit trade-offs are examined, the importance of maintaining conceptual integrity is stressed, and future directions for the field are explored.
Abstract MP20: Ethnic Differences in Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Diagnosis Among Blacks in the United States

Introduction: African-Americans bear a disproportionate burden of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease than other racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. With current globalization trends, Black immigra...
A dielectric barrier discharge ion source increases thrust and efficiency of electroaerodynamic propulsion

Electroaerodynamic (EAD) propulsion, which produces a thrust force by electrostatic means, has been proposed as a method of electric airplane propulsion which is solid-state and nearly silent and produces no combustion emissions. Previous work demonstrated that EAD is capable of sustaining flight of heavier-than-air airplanes. The most successful EAD propulsion devices have thus far used a direct current (DC) corona discharge to produce ions and the same DC field to accelerate them. However, these corona discharge EAD devices are subject to a performance trade-off where increasing thrust reduces efficiency (thrust-to-power ratio). This is a key barrier to practical adoption. Here, we show that by using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) instead of a corona discharge to produce ions, while still using a DC field to accelerate them, higher thrust and thrust-to-power can be achieved. We identify operating regimes for this thruster, optimize the electrical characteristics of the DBD ion source, and find that the thrust-to-power can reach up to 20 N/kW at a thrust of 50 mN/m and up to 10 N/kW at 150 mN/m—in both cases, approximately twice that of the equivalent corona discharge devices. With lower power draw for the same thrust, DBD enhanced EAD propulsion devices could increase the endurance of EAD airplanes and begin to enable the design of practically useful solid-state aircraft.
Collusion and Information Exchange

Antitrust authorities view that exchange of individual firms’ sales data is more anti-competitive than that of aggregate sales data. In this paper, I survey antitrust implications of such inter-firm information exchange. I argue that both types of information exchange are anti-competitive under some circumstances. More precisely, I compare profits when each type of information exchange is allowed to that when firms can only observe their own sales (Stigler’s secret price-cutting model), and the former is bigger than the latter. I also provide a general method to bound the equilibrium profits without such information exchange.
Discriminatory Environment, Firms' Discriminatory Behavior, and Women's Employment in the Democratic Republic of Congo

This paper contributes to better understanding firms' discriminatory behavior in the presence of gender-based legal discrimination and its linkages with labor market outcomes for women in a developing country setting. Using data collected through the World Bank Enterprise Surveys in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the paper documents the existence of nonnegligible employer discrimination and limitations in women's autonomy in the presence of a discriminatory environment. Interestingly, these are more pervasive outside the capital city, Kinshasa, which suggests that cultural norms or differences in regulation enforcement may be at play. The paper also finds that firms' discriminatory behavior harms women's labor market outcomes, in their representation among the upper echelons of management and participation in the overall workforce. The negative relationship between restrictions from discriminatory behaviors and female employment is particularly strong in the manufacturing sector.
Physical activity in working mothers: Running low impacts quality of life:

Objectives:The transition to motherhood is associated with declines in physical activity in women. Working mothers may be particularly at-risk for low levels of physical activity, since they have t...
Adherence rates and outcomes for 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate use in women with a previous history of preterm birth.

Background Progesterone has been used for preventing preterm birth with mixed results. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommended the use of 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate for risk reduction of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth based on the results of a multicenter, randomized trial in the United States. However, recent literature lacks consensus for efficacy in the American population. In addition, partial adherence and outcomes thereof are underreported. Hence, the relationship between practical adherence to 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate and outcomes were evaluated. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the adherence to 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate, defined as receipt of greater than 80% of intended injections, at an outpatient maternal-fetal medicine center and its effect on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Study Design This retrospective cohort study included women older than 18 years with a singleton gestation, history of spontaneous preterm birth who initiated 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate weekly injections between 16 and 20 weeks’ gestational age and delivered between the years 2014 and 2017. Women receiving 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate injections outside of the clinic were excluded. The primary outcome of adherence and secondary outcomes of gestational age at delivery, birthweight, and neonatal outcomes were analyzed using descriptive data, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, and Fisher exact test, where appropriate, with a P value Results Adherence to 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate occurred in 38 of 92 (41.3%) women included in the study. At baseline, there was a difference in age between groups of adherent and nonadherent women (adherent: 30.8 years; nonadherent: 27.4 years; P=.002). The rate of spontaneous preterm birth less than 37, 35, and 32 weeks were not significantly different in those who were adherent vs nonadherent to 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate. There were no differences in gestational age at delivery (adherent: 36.8±2.6 weeks; nonadherent: 36.5±3.8 weeks; P=.66), birthweight (adherent: 2776 g; nonadherent: 2709 g; P=.68), or composite neonatal morbidity (adherent: 18.4%; nonadherent: 20.4%; P=.86) between the adherent and nonadherent groups. Neonatal intensive care unit length of stay was 15.5 days in the adherent group compared with 15 days in the nonadherent group (P=.72). Conclusion Real-world adherence to 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate is suboptimal with less than half of women adherent to in-clinic administration. Adherence to 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate was not associated with a difference in gestational age at delivery or birthweight compared with nonadherence. Further studies are needed to assess the outpatient administration and benefit of 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate therapy.
Women in Power and Decision-Making: Analysis of the Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in Finland

This case study reviewed the implementation of Section G. Women in Power and Decision-Making of the Beijing Platform for Action in Finland. The process of implementation was studied and divided into four categories to determine the Finnish Government's compliance with the Beijing Platform. Data was collected through official documents from the United Nations and the government of Finland. These documents were reviewed to determine the implementation process and the goals developed by Finland. Analysis of the government programs then determined the status of compliance. The extensive programs and continual review of the status of women by the Finnish government revealed a strong commitment to the goal of achieving gender equality. In all four categories used to determine the complete adoption of gender mainstreaming policies, the Finnish Government successfully established methods of meeting the implementation goals. While Finland has successfully begun the implementation process, evidence from analysis of the statistical data shows improvement of these policies is clearly needed. Recommendations for continued enforcement of the Beijing Platform include increased promotion of women's participation in municipalities, and public education efforts.
A Comparison of High-Tech and Low-Tech Response Modalities to Improve Student Classroom Behavior

This study compared the effects of high-tech (clickers) and low-tech (response cards and hand raising) active student responding modalities on student classroom behavior during whole-group English language arts instruction in two 1st-grade classrooms serving students with and without disabilities. The authors combined an ABAB reversal design with an alternating treatments design to compare the impact of using high-tech and low-tech modalities on academic responding, disruptive behavior, and accuracy of responding across four teacher-nominated students in two classrooms. The results of the study indicate that both clickers and response cards were equally effective in increasing student academic responding and decreasing disruptive behavior. Additionally, accuracy of responding was similar during the response cards and clickers conditions for all participants.
Efficacy of Acupuncture/Acupressure in the Prevention and Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting Across Multiple Patient Populations: Implications for Practice

Nausea and vomiting are complex symptoms related to many disease processes. With many pharmacologic interventions noted to have adverse effects, many patients are turning to alternative therapies, including acupuncture and acupressure. Their efficacy has been proven for nausea and vomiting related to pregnancy, in patients receiving chemotherapy, and in postoperative, pediatric, and female patients. There are minimal to no side effects with the use of acupuncture and acupressure for the treatment of nausea and vomiting. Providers should be encouraged to discuss the efficacy, benefits, and side-effect profile of acupuncture and acupressure with patients who suffer from nausea and vomiting.
The End of Passive Collecting: The Role and Responsibility of Archivists in the COVID-19 Era

Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, this article argues that it is imperative that archivists be strongly attuned to current events, both locally and worldwide, so as to best serve t...
Lead (Pb) concentrations and speciation in residential soils from an urban community impacted by multiple legacy sources.

Abstract In many urban areas, elevated soil lead (Pb) concentrations are indicators of community-level Pb exposure. Here, we examine the spatial distribution and speciation of legacy soil Pb contamination in East Chicago, Ind., an industrial center with a wide range of Pb sources including a former lead smelter. In situ X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (n = 358) revealed widespread soil Pb contamination above the Environmental Protection Agency regulatory limit for soils. This soil contamination was heterogenous across all neighborhoods, and mostly uncorrelated with distance from the former smelting site. Soil Pb levels increased with decreasing median household income in East Chicago’s nine neighborhoods (r = −0.73, p = 0.03). Extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (n = 44) indicated that the soil Pb was primarily adsorbed to iron and manganese oxides or humic acids, and as Pb hydroxycarbonate regardless of contamination levels. Crystalline insoluble forms of Pb, like pyromorphite, were not detected in significant concentrations. Thus, the unique chemical forms of potential Pb sources to soil, such as paint, ore and slag are not persistent and instead are extensively repartitioned into acid-soluble forms of Pb with greater bioavailability. These findings have implications for remediation efforts and human health as blood Pb levels in this community are significantly elevated.
Let the Water Flow: The Impact of Electrification on Agriculture

Over one billion people worldwide live in rural areas without access to electricity. In developing countries, while governments use electrification programs to stimulate non-agricultural employment, they may also have benefits for the agricultural sector. We estimate the impacts of India's large-scale rural electrification program on agricultural output using a difference-in-difference design and a combination of administrative and satellite data. We find that electrification leads to a 1.7% increase in agricultural output which is largely driven by the rain-fed summer cropping season. Agriculture in electrified villages becomes less sensitive to rainfall shocks, which is of growing importance given worsening environmental conditions. We provide suggestive evidence that this decline in sensitivity is due to an increase in the uptake of electric shallow tube wells, particularly at the intensive margin.
Beyond Low-Hanging Fruit: A Systematic Approach to Assessing Quality Improvement Needs in Healthcare Practices

Abstract Quality Improvement (QI) tools abound to help clinicians improve the quality of their care. Such tools, however, assume one knows the process that needs attention. A systematic approach is thus needed for selecting the QI activities that have the greatest impact on quality. This study applies Functional Job Analysis (FJA) to systematically identify areas in preventive care most suitable for high-impact QI efforts. Seven internal medicine practice personnel served as subject matter experts (SMEs) in multiple FJA style focus groups to identify the tasks required to ensure successful execution of eight preventive-care measures. Tasks with the greatest prevalence across measures and highest human error consequence ratings were deemed most suitable for QI. SMEs generated improvement recommendations for the identified tasks via focus groups. Tasks with greatest cross-measure prevalence centered on information gathering; tasks with the greatest potential consequence of error centered on medication management, testing and test follow-up (MMTTF). SMEs reported time, space, staffing, and equipment constraints as fundamental barriers impacting all aspects of primary care. Barriers to successful information gathering included issues with front desk staff and the electronic health record. Barriers to MMTTF included lab workflow and patient-related factors. Improvement recommendations included strategic staffing, technology-based solutions, and added in-house testing capabilities. FJA successfully identified two clear, distinct clinic workflow areas that could benefit from QI initiatives. Although our work is limited by its single-site design, results are consistent with prior multi-site FJA research. Contrary to traditional, disease-specific QI approaches, our work identified a core set of processes that, if optimized, can improve care across multiple clinical conditions, and presented a novel application of a classic HR tool to make more systematic QI decisions.
Bleeding in Cystic Fibrosis

In Reply.— We agree with Rosenstein that the possibility of fat malabsorption should be considered in any infant with vitamin K deficiency. In addition to cystic fibrosis, biliary atresia,1 α-1-antitrypsin deficiency,2 and abetalipoproteinemia3 have all been seen in infancy with vitamin K deficient hemorrhage. Certainly, a sweat chloride test, fractionated bilirubin determination, and review of the peripheral blood smear for acanthocytes would be important in the evaluation of such patients. Our patient had no acanthocytes, a normal α-1-antitrypsin level, and no evidence of biliary atresia or cystic fibrosis at autopsy.
Arthropod Transmission of Vertebrate Parasites

Survival and reproduction of vertebrate parasites depend on a reliable mechanism for their movement from one host animal to another. Transmission is accomplished more easily by vertebrate ectoparasites that live on or near the surface of the host than by endoparasites that must penetrate exterior defenses and get inside their host. There are three basic channels for infectious agents to get on or inside their vertebrate hosts: (1) direct contact, (2) ingestion of contaminated water or food and (3) inhalation of contaminated air. Direct contact includes physical contact with contaminated surfaces or infected individuals (including sexual contact), active penetration (usually in water) by invasive stages of parasites, and contact via infected vectors as a result of their feeding or defecation behavior. Therefore, vectors are agents of parasite infection and represent a unique route of direct transmission.
Jorgensen: A Familiar FLP Story

Jorgensen provides a common FLP story with a familiar conclusion. Under section 2036, the estate did not receive those coveted FLP discounts and paid taxes on the full value of the assets transferred to their FLPs. The court presents a careful, logical, and well-reasoned decision that should provide guidance in the FLP area to taxpayers.
Inquiry into mediated action: the implementation of an innovative online problem-based unit into K-12 classrooms

The purpose of this study was to understand how teachers implement an innovation cluster that included an online workspace and a framework for a problem-based learning environment. The researcher focused on three progressive research issues during data structuring: 1) What factors in a teacher's school environments influence the implementation of an innovation cluster? 2) How does a teacher's participation in collaborative professional development influence the implementation of an innovation cluster? 3) How does a teacher's belief about learning and technology influence the implementation of an innovation cluster? Using Activity Theory for apriori structuring of the data set and these three progressive issues for invivo analysis, the researcher found that the teachers implemented the innovation cluster in relation to their ability to identify and overcome contradictions in their work activity.
Luminescence bands of molecular oxygen from a tungsten lamp.: The possible role of singlet molecular oxygen in surface catalyzed oxidation

Abstract Sharp emission bands superimposed on ordinary incandescent tungsten lamp output have been observed. These definite spectroscopic bands have been tentatively assigned to Single and Simultaneous Transitions in molecular oxygen. An alternative explanation of a perturbed molecular oxygen, [W·O2], has not been completely ruled out. A possible relation of this novel method of generation of Singlet Molecular Oxygen to heterogeneous catalysis has been pointed out.
Measure Theory and Integration

The Riemann integral Lebesgue measure on the line Integration on measure spaces $L^p$ spaces The Caratheodory construction of measures Product measures Lebesgue measure on $\mathbb{R}^n$ and on manifolds Signed measures and complex measures $L^p$ spaces, II Sobolev spaces Maximal functions and a.e. phenomena Hausdorff's $r$-dimensional measures Radon measures Ergodic theory Probability spaces and random variables Wiener measure and Brownian motion Conditional expectation and martingales Metric spaces, topological spaces, and compactness Derivatives, diffeomorphisms, and manifolds The Whitney Extension Theorem The Marcinkiewicz Interpolation Theorem Sard's Theorem A change of variable theorem for many-to-one maps Integration of differential forms Change of variables revisited The Gauss-Green formula on Lipschitz domains Bibliography Symbol index Subject index.
Immunohistologic labeling as an indicator of liver allograft rejection.

Marquage au moyen d'anticorps monoclonaux des cellules T auxiliaires et des cellules T suppressives-cytotoxiques, dans des biopsies en serie (jours 7, 21, 90, 180, 365 et au cours d'episodes de troubles fonctionnels du greffon). Moyen de detection precoce du rejet
Data display techniques

The way data are displayed is as important as the data. The reader's ability to perceive, comprehend, and recall the information contained within the data is affected by how the data are presented. Multiple factors must be considered when designing data displays. Characteristics of the data and the intended use of the data should drive the choice of the display format. Formats for data displays can be words or numbers. Numbers can be displayed as specific values, tables, or graphs. Advantages and limitations of different types of data formats are presented. Techniques for the use of color are also included.
Grid scheduling divisible loads from two sources

To date closed form solutions for optimal finish time and job allocation are largely obtained only for network topologies with a single load originating (root) processor. However in large-scale data intensive problems with geographically distributed resources, load is generated from multiple sources. This paper introduces a new divisible load scheduling strategy for single level tree networks with two load originating processors. Solutions for an optimal allocation of fractions of load to nodes in single level tree networks are obtained via linear programming. A unique scheduling strategy that allows one to obtain closed form solutions for the optimal finish time and load allocation for each processor in the network is also presented. The tradeoff between linear programming and closed form solutions in terms of underlying assumptions is examined. Finally, a performance evaluation of a two source homogeneous single level tree network with concurrent communication strategy is presented.
From Entry Barriers to Mobility Barriers: Conjectural Decisions and Contrived Deterrence to New Competition

I. Interdependence and conjecture in entry, 242.—II. Barriers to mobility, 249.—III. Diversification by established firms and intergroup mobility, 257.—IV. Conclusion, 261.
Cholesterol ester concentration and corticosterone production in adrenals of the C57BL-10 and DBA-2 strains in relation to adrenal lipid depletion.

During incubations in vitro for 2 hr in the presence of ACTH, adrenals of adult male C57BL/1OJ mice synthesized significantly more corticosterone from endogenous precursors than did adrenals of adult male DBA/2 J mice. Characteristically the amount of steroid produced by the latter strain fell during the second hour while that of the former continued to rise or remained constant. The concentration of cholesterol ester in the adrenal of the C57 was seven times as high as that of the DBA but unesterified cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were the same in both. Histological studies with Sudan IV staining showed the adrenal cortex of the C57 to be lipidrich and that of the adult DBA to be lipid-poor. The adrenals of two strains known to carry the adrenal lipid depletion gene (ald) were shown to have cholesterol ester levels close to that of the DBA. There is a marked decline both in sudanophilia and in the cholesterol ester content of the adrenals at puberty in DBA mice but not in C57 mice. As in th...
Optically active defects in Si O 2 : The nonbridging oxygen center and the interstitial OH molecule

Irradiation of high-OH containing amorphous $\mathrm{Si}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ is known to introduce a broad absorption band at $4.8\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ and an associated sharp photoluminescence band in the visible red domain, at $1.9\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$. Both absorption and luminescence bands have been unambigously attributed to the nonbridging oxygen (NBO) center, a common defect in irradiated $\mathrm{Si}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$. Using results of first-principles calculations we show that the NBO center and the interstitial OH molecule $(\mathrm{O}{\mathrm{H}}_{i})$ may both be responsible for the observed absorption and luminescence bands. Although the absorption spectra of the two defects are very similar, their luminescence spectra are different, but overlapping. We found that the NBO center has a sharp luminescence line centered around $1.8\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$ in the visible red, whereas $\mathrm{O}{\mathrm{H}}_{i}$ molecules have a wide emission spectrum ranging from the infrared $(0.8\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV})$ to visible red $(1.8\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV})$. Investigation of the results show that the difference in the emission spectra is due to the different extent of atomic and electronic relaxations around the two defects: in the case of the NBO, site-independent electronic relaxations are responsible for the defect emitting a photon only at a particular energy, whereas in the case of $\mathrm{O}{\mathrm{H}}_{i}$ molecules an interplay between site-dependent atomic and (therefore site-dependent) electronic relaxations result in a wide emission spectrum. A further, intriguing result is that both defects show similar vibrational and polarization properties, therefore their contribution to the red luminescence band of irradiated amorphous $\mathrm{Si}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ may not have been decoupled in previous studies.
Signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibits transcription of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene by interacting with nuclear factor κB

Prolific generation of NO by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) can cause unintended injury to host cells during glomerulonephritis and other inflammatory diseases. While much is known about the mechanisms of iNOS induction, few transcriptional repressors have been found. We explored the role of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) proteins in interleukin (IL)-1beta- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)+interferon (IFN)-gamma-mediated iNOS induction in murine mesangial cells. Both stimuli induced rapid phosphorylation of STAT3 and sequence-specific STAT3 DNA-binding activity. Supershift assays with a STAT3 element probe demonstrated that nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) p65 and p50 complexed with STAT3 in the DNA-protein complex. The direct interaction of STAT3 and NF-kappaB p65 was verified in vivo by co-immunoprecipitation and in vitro by pull-down assays with glutathione S-transferase-NF-kappaB p65 fusion protein and in vitro -translated STAT3alpha. Overexpression of STAT3 dramatically inhibited IL-1beta- or LPS+IFN-gamma-mediated induction of iNOS promoter-luciferase constructs that contained the wild-type iNOS promoter or ones harbouring mutated STAT-binding elements. In tests of indirect inhibitory effects of STAT3, overexpression of STAT3 dramatically inhibited the activity of an NF-kappaB-dependent promoter devoid of STAT-binding elements without affecting NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity. Thus STAT3, via direct interactions with NF-kappaB p65, serves as a dominant-negative inhibitor of NF-kappaB activity to suppress indirectly cytokine induction of the iNOS promoter in mesangial cells. These results provide a new model for the termination of NO production by activated iNOS following exposure to pro-inflammatory stimuli.
Human T lymphocyte mitogenesis in response to the B oligomer of pertussis toxin is associated with an early elevation in cytosolic calcium concentrations

Pertussis toxin was found to serve as a mitogen in the human T lymphocyte, an effect which could be mimicked by its resolved binding component, the B oligomer. The mechanism of action of this component appeared to involve a rapid and sustained elevation of cytosolic calcium levels, as monitored by fura-2 fluorescence. The source of mobilized calcium was predominantly extracellular, suggesting that the binding of the B oligomer to the T cell plasma membrane in some way elicited calcium channel activation. Notably, the influx of calcium was not observed with cholera toxin, an AB toxin lacking mitogenic effects on the human T lymphocyte.
Folate receptor α regulates cell proliferation in mouse gonadotroph αT3-1 cells

Abstract We have previously found that the mRNA and protein levels of the folate receptor alpha (FRα) are uniquely over-expressed in clinically human nonfunctional (NF) pituitary adenomas, but the mechanistic role of FRα has not fully been determined. We investigated the effect of FRα over-expression in the mouse gonadotroph αT3-1 cell line as a model for NF pituitary adenomas. We found that the expression and function of FRα were strongly up-regulated, by Western blotting and folic acid binding assay. Furthermore, we found a higher cell growth rate, an enhanced percentage of cells in S-phase by BrdU assay, and a higher PCNA staining. These observations indicate that over-expression of FRα promotes cell proliferation. These effects were abrogated in the same αT3-1 cells when transfected with a mutant FRα cDNA that confers a dominant-negative phenotype by inhibiting folic acid binding. Finally, by real-time quantitative PCR, we found that mRNA expression of NOTCH3 was up-regulated in FRα over-expressing cells. In summary, our data suggests that FRα regulates pituitary tumor cell proliferation and mechanistically may involve the NOTCH pathway. Potentially, this finding could be exploited to develop new, innovative molecular targeted treatment for human NF pituitary adenomas.
Mutation affecting peptide bond formation in nikkomycin biosynthesis

Nikkomycin, a nucleoside-peptide analog of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, is a potent chitin synthase inhibitor produced by the bacterium Streptomyces tendae. The HPLC profile of fermentation products in culture broths of a non-producing mutant, Nik 15, was compared with nikkomycin standards. Nikkomycin C and D, the glycone and aglycone moieties, respectively, of nikkomycin Z accumulated. This indicates the mutation affects the capacity to form a peptide bond between nikkomycin C and D, which is here proposed to be the terminal step in the synthesis of the biologically active nikkomycin Z. This is also the first documented case of a mutation affecting a specific step in nikkomycin biosynthesis.
An Overview of Chemotherapy for Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is an extraordinarily challenging disease to treat. While numerous clinical trials testing various chemotherapeutic agents have been conducted over the last several decades, only recently have larger studies proven the efficacy of newer chemotherapy regimens. This article reviews the data regarding specific classes of chemotherapeutic agents. The role of treatment in various disease settings and the difficulty in assessing the benefit of that therapy is discussed. Finally, an update is provided on novel therapeutics being testing in mesothelioma.
Orientation by hatchling loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta L. in a wave tank

Abstract Within minutes after emerging from underground nests, sea turtle hatchlings Caretta caretta L. locate and crawl to the ocean, enter the surf, then maintain oriented courses that lead them out to sea even after they no longer detect land. The cues hatchlings use, while the subject of some speculation, were unknown. Recent field studies show that hatchlings orient toward surface waves. Our experiments, conducted in a wave tank, demonstrate that loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings maintain headings toward oncoming waves. The response does not depend upon visual cues as it persists in the absence of visible light.
Formulating middle-phase microemulsions using mixed anionic and cationic surfactant systems

Although mixtures of anionic and cationic surfactants can show great synergism, their potential to precipitate and form liquid crystals has limited their use. Previous studies have shown that alcohol addition can prevent liquid crystal formation, thereby allowing formation of middle-phase microemulsions with mixed anionic-cationic systems. This research investigates the role of surfactant selection in designing alcohol-free anionic-cationic microemulsions. Microemulsion phase behavior was studied for three anionic-cationic surfactant systems and three oils of widely varying hydrophobicity [trichloroethylene (TCE), hexane, and n-hexadecane]. Consistent with our hypothesis, using a branched surfactant and surfactants with varying tail length allowed us to form alcohol-free middle-phase microemulsion using mixed anionic-cationic systems (i.e., liquid crystals did not form). The anionic to cationic molar ratio required to form middle-phase microemulsions approached 1∶1 for univalent surfactants as oil hydrophobicity increased (i.e., TCE to hexane to n-hexadecane); even for these equimolar systems, liquid crystal formation was avoided. To test the use of these anionic-cationic surfactant mixtures in surfactant-enhanced subsurface remediation, we performed soil column studies: Greater than 95% of the oil was extracted in 2.5 pore volumes using an anionic-rich surfactant system. By contrast, cationic-rich systems performed very poorly (<1% oil removal), reflecting significant losses of the cationic-rich surfactant system in the porous media. The results thus suggest that, when properly designed, anionic-rich mixtures of anionic and cationic surfactants can be efficient for environmental remediation. By corollary, other industrial applications and consumer products should also find these mixtures advantageous.
Evaluation of molecular integrals involving continuum orbitals

Abstract We describe in detail the evaluation of two-electron (1/ r 12 ) integrals for diatomic molecules for the case in which one orbital is a continuum function. The numerically oriented method employs a single center expansion of the bound molecular orbitals, which may be composed of either Slater or gaussian basis functions, around the origin of the Coulomb function. The accuracy and efficiency of the method is discussed.
Modeling of depolarization in ferroelectric thin films

Abstract A mathematical model with a simple log-time dependence has been developed using a theoretical approach to describe the complicated depolarization effect (ΔP) observed in ferroelectric thin films. The model includes two driving forces responsible for ΔP. One is the depolarization field due to incomplete compensation of ferroelectric polarization at the interfaces. This leads to the polarity independent depolarization effect characterized by a symmetric ΔP. Another one is the internal bias which can be parallel or antiparallel to the applied field, leading to a polarity dependent or asymmetric ΔP. The model successfully predicts the changing ΔP with time. Two important parameters are estimated by analyzing the results of the model. One is the internal bias field, responsible for asymmetric retention of polarization. Another one is the size of back switched domains. The values obtained are comparable to the field near the surface and the surface layer thickness predicted by earlier models. The model...
Fine-structure splitting of a localized moment in a metal: A diagrammatic analysis

Beginning with a generalized $s\ensuremath{-}d$ Hamiltonian and including a term which induces electron-lattice relaxation, the Abrikosov fermion representation of spins and the Feynman-diagram technique are used to investigate the dynamics of localized moments. The analysis is performed for arbitrary spin, and in the presence of a fine-structure splitting of the localized-moment resonance by the crystalline field. A set of coupled linear equations is obtained which determines the macroscopic dynamic transverse susceptibility and which, under certain circumstances, is equivalent to a set of $2S+1$ coupled Bloch-type equations. These equations are analyzed in some detail for the high-temperature regime $\mathrm{kT}\ensuremath{\gg}S{g}_{s}{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}{H}_{0}$. In contrast to the case of the hyperfine splitting of a localized moment, it is found that the Korringa process alone leads to a narrowing of the resonance linewidth, even in the absence of a bottleneck. However, when the bottleneck is present, these narrowing processes are even larger. For a reasonable value of the exchange constant, it is at least qualitatively possible to explain the anisotropic behavior observed in recent electron-spin-resonance experiments of Mg:Gd alloys in terms of unresolved fine structure.
Surface-to-volume wave conversion in shallow water with a gently sloping bottom

Marine sediments support seismoacoustic surface waves, which can propagate along the seafloor, in deep and shallow water, and even onshore. Because of the strong attenuation of compressional and especially shear waves in the sediments, the surface waves can significantly contribute to the acoustic field far from the shore only through their coupling with volume waves in the water. We theoretically study the excitation of acoustic normal modes by seismoacoustic surface waves in a shallow-water waveguide with a sloping bottom consisting of unconsolidated marine sediments. It is found that the coupling primarily occurs in the vicinity of a modal cutoff. The effects of geoacoustic parameters and stratification of soft marine sediments on the efficiency of surface-to-volume conversion are investigated.
Research at the Auction Block: Problems for the Fair Benefits Approach to International Research

The “fair benefits” approach to international research is designed to produce results that all can agree are fair without taking a stand on divisive questions of justice. But its appealing veneer of collaboration masks ambiguities at both a conceptual and an operational level. An attempt to put it into practice would look a lot like an auction, leaving little reason to think the outcomes will satisfy even minimal conditions of fairness.
Chlorophyll organization in green photosynthetic bacteria

Light-harvesting BChl c, d or e is thought to be located inside the rod elements which fill the chlorosome appressed to the inside of the cytoplasmic membrane of green photosynthetic bacteria. BChl a is known to be part of a BChl a-protein which forms a crystal-line baseplate between the rod elements in the chlorosome and the inside of the cytoplasmic membrane. Reaction-center complexes are most probably buried under the base-plate inside the membrane. Energy transfer is from BChl c, d, or e in the rod elements to BChl a in the baseplate and then to BChl a in the reaction-center complexes. The rod elements in green sulfur bacteria are thought to be composed of approx. 15-kdalton protein subunits, each associated with 12 to 14 BChl c, d or e molecules. Six subunits would be required to form a 10-nm ring, and about 35 rings would be necessary to form a 100-nm rod element. The baseplate appears to be a two-dimensional crystal (trigonal space group P3/sub 1/) of BChl a-protein trimers with the 3/sub 1/ screw axis tilted 25/sup 0/ out of the plane of the membrane. The reaction-center complex is thought to be made up of a 100-kdalton carotenoid reaction-center core and five 50-kdalton subunits, each containing seven BChl a molecules. Each reaction-center complex is apparently linked directly to two BChl a-protein trimers in the baseplate. The reaction centers in green sulfur bacteria may be of one type (containing P-840), or of two types (containing P-830 or P-842). In filamentous gliding bacteria the reaction center appear to contain only P-865. The number of BChl a molecules in these reaction centers is not known, but is assumed to be at least two.
Promoter proximal pausing and the control of gene expression

The advent of methods for mapping the location of specific proteins across genomes is substantially enlightening our understanding of gene regulation. One recent discovery is that Pol II is concentrated at the 5′ end of thousands of genes in mammalian and Drosophila cells. Before this, much research had focused on understanding how sequence-specific, DNA-binding proteins orchestrate the actions of regulators of chromatin structure and the general transcriptional machinery to control transcription initiation. The concentration of Pol II at the 5′ ends of genes indicates that key steps regulating transcription occur after Pol II has associated with a gene's promoter.
Metal Fabrication by Additive Manufacturing Using Laser and Electron Beam Melting Technologies

Selective laser melting (SLM) and electron beam melting (EBM) are relatively new rapid, additive manufacturing technologies which can allow for the fabrication of complex, multi-functional metal or alloy monoliths by CAD-directed, selective melting of precursor powder beds. By altering the beam parameters and scan strategies, new and unusual, even non-equilibrium microstructures can be produced; including controlled microstructural architectures which ideally extend the contemporary materials science and engineering paradigm relating structure-properties-processing-performance. In this study, comparative examples for SLM and EBM fabricated components from pre-alloyed, atomized precursor powders are presented. These include Cu, Ti-6Al-4V, alloy 625 (a Ni-base superalloy), a Co-base superalloy, and 17-4 PH stainless steel. These systems are characterized by optical metallography, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction.
Fabrication of Cobalt Silicide Nanowire Contacts to Silicon Nanowires

A novel method to fabricate cobalt silicide nanowire contacts to silicon nanowires is described. Nanoporous anodized alumina membranes were used to define the wires' dimensions. Cobalt was deposited electrochemically within the pores of the membranes. On top of the cobalt, gold was deposited electrochemically to catalyze the growth of the silicon nanowires. The well-known vapor-liquid-solid mechanism was used to grow the silicon nanowires. During the growth of silicon, cobalt reacts with the growing silicon nanowire, forming cobalt silicide, and under certain conditions, all of the Au used to catalyze the growth of the silicon nanowire travels along the tip of the growing wire, away from the cobalt silicide/Si interface. We also discuss the influence of the amount of Au catalyst on the structural quality of the wires.
Laser studies of the reactivity of SiO with the surface of a depositing film

The reactivity of SiO produced in a SiCl4/O2 plasma with the surface of a depositing silicon oxide film has been measured to be near zero for surface temperatures of 25–500 °C using the IRIS technique (imaging of radicals interacting with surfaces). This method combines spatially resolved laser-induced fluorescence with molecular beam techniques. The SiO desorbs from the surface with a spatial distribution consistent with a cosine angular distribution.
Faster exact algorithms for steiner trees in planar networks

We improve the time and space complexities of dynamic programming algorithms that compute optimal Steiner trees spanning nodes in planar networks. Our algorithms have special application to the rectilinear Steiner problem.
Universal Newborn Screening for Hearing Loss: Ideal vs. Reality and the Role of Otolaryngologists

In 1993 the National Institutes of Health Consensus Statement, Early Identification of Hearing Impairment in Infants and Young Children, recommended "universal screening for hearing impairment prior to three months of age." However, the decision to invoke screening programs that include all newborns remains highly controversial, even though such programs now exist in at least 60 hospitals in 18 states. Unfortunately, otolaryngologists in the United States have not been actively involved in this ongoing debate, despite the role of those in our specialty as "gatekeepers" of hearing loss in patients of all ages. In relation to identification of hearing loss in the neonatal period, we have abrogated our responsibility to other health care professionals. Otolaryngologists, this is your "wake up call."
Ultra-thin intrinsic amorphous silicon/organic hybrid structure for decorative photovoltaic applications

We investigate ultra-thin (6 to 31 nm) intrinsic amorphous silicon (a-Si)/organic hybrid photovoltaic (PV) structures that can produce transmissive or reflective colors, which are insensitive to incidence angle of up to ±70° regardless of polarization. The distinct colors are based on efficient photon manipulation aided by optical resonance in the ultra-thin a-Si photoactive layer. Up to 3% of power conversion efficiency is achieved by using a few tens of nanometer thick a-Si. The proposed hybrid PV structure can be universally applied to other photoactive material systems for higher power efficiency, addressing decorative applications as well.