cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simple model of large-signal properties of 1 W f.e.t. at 5 GHz

Extensive large-signal measurements performed on a 1 W microwave f.e.t. at 5 GHz verify that its added-power characteristics can be accurately predicted from a simple analytic model requiring only two large-signal measurements for each frequency of interest. This model makes possible the use of linear circuit theory to design broadband matching circuits for optimum added-power performance.
Identification of hemostatic genes expressed in human and rat leg muscles and a novel gene (LPP1/PAP2A) suppressed during prolonged physical inactivity (sitting).

Partly because of functional genomics, there has been a major paradigm shift from solely thinking of skeletal muscle as contractile machinery to an understanding that it can have roles in paracrine and endocrine functions. Physical inactivity is an established risk factor for some blood clotting disorders. The effects of inactivity during sitting are most alarming when a person develops the enigmatic condition in the legs called deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or “coach syndrome,” caused in part by muscular inactivity. The goal of this study was to determine if skeletal muscle expresses genes with roles in hemostasis and if their expression level was responsive to muscular inactivity such as occurs in prolonged sitting. Microarray analyses were performed on skeletal muscle samples from rats and humans to identify genes associated with hemostatic function that were significantly expressed above background based on multiple probe sets with perfect and mismatch sequences. Furthermore, we determined if any of these genes were responsive to models of physical inactivity. Multiple criteria were used to determine differential expression including significant expression above background, fold change, and non-parametric statistical tests. These studies demonstrate skeletal muscle tissue expresses at least 17 genes involved in hemostasis. These include the fibrinolytic factors tetranectin, annexin A2, and tPA; the anti-coagulant factors TFPI, protein C receptor, PAF acetylhydrolase; coagulation factors, and genes necessary for the posttranslational modification of these coagulation factors such as vitamin K epoxide reductase. Of special interest, lipid phosphate phosphatase-1 (LPP1/PAP2A), a key gene for degrading prothrombotic and proinflammatory lysophospholipids, was suppressed locally in muscle tissue within hours after sitting in humans; this was also observed after acute and chronic physical inactivity conditions in rats, and exercise was relatively ineffective at counteracting this effect in both species. These findings suggest that skeletal muscle may play an important role in hemostasis and that muscular inactivity may contribute to hemostatic disorders not only because of the slowing of blood flow per se, but also potentially because of the contribution from genes expressed locally in muscles, such as LPP1.
Characterization of Roundup Ready Flex Cotton, ‘MON 88913’, for Use in Ecological Risk Assessment: Evaluation of Seed Germination, Vegetative and Reproductive Growth, and Ecological Interactions

Biological and ecological data collected on a genetically modified crop and an appropriate control are useful for assessing potential ecological risk. Specific characteristics studied are selected on the basis of relevance to potential ecological effects, are well known, and are accepted by plant breeders. In these studies, germination, vegetative and reproductive growth, or ecological characteristics of Roundup Ready Flex cotton, MON 88913 were compared with a negative control, MON 88913(-). Statistically significant differences, when detected, were considered in the context of the genetic variation known to occur in cotton and their potential impact on plant pest (weed) potential (ecological risk). Experimental results revealed no effects of the genetic modification that would result in increased pest potential or ecological risk of MON 88913 compared with MON 88913(-).
Changes in Carotenoid, Physicochemical and Sensory Values of Deep-Fried Carrot Chips During Storage

.. relative humidity (Lh.) (A); 22-23 °C, 31-45% r.h. (B); and 29-31 DC, 89-93% r.h. (C) for 0-5 months. Retention of Ct- and l3-carotene content and vitamin A activity were >82% over 5 months for all conditions. Colour values (L. a, b) were unchanged over 5 months for A and B, but decreased gradually (P < 0.05) for C. No changes in moisture content, fat content, water activity, texture values and sensory values were observed over time for A and B, but changed (P < 0.05) for C. No sensory differences were observed by condition or time in colour. Carrot chips, packaged in partially vacuumed opaque pouches, can be stored for at least 5 months at 0-1 °C, 94--98% r.h. or 22-23 DC, 31-45% r.h.
CHANGES IN THE FINE STRUCTURE OF BONE CELLS AFTER THE ADMINISTRATION OF PARATHYROID EXTRACT

This paper describes the effect of parathyroid extract on the fine structure of bone cells in the proximal metaphysis of the tibia. The extract was given to rats intraperitoneally, in single or repeated doses of 1–14 units (USP) per gram body weight, over short or extended periods, and the tissue was examined between 6 and 26 hr after the commencement of injection. During this period, osteoblasts showed the greatest changes. Their mitochondria became swollen and contained dense granules; both rough- and smooth-surfaced vesicles were distended; ribosomes were separated from the membranes; and various dense bodies appeared in the cytoplasm. Osteocytes were similarly but less affected, and osteoclasts differed little from those in normal animals. Eventually after repeated injections, the fine structure of many of the cells was disrupted. These changes were accompanied by erosion of the bony trabeculae without any great increase in numbers of osteoclasts. It is possible that the alterations in fine structure were the result of damage to the cells by the parathyroid extract. However, since the extract did not seem to stimulate classical osteoclastic activity, the mitochondrial swelling and dense bodies could have been related to the removal of mineral and matrix, respectively.
Abel inversion using total-variation regularization

In the case of radiography of a cylindrically symmetric object, the Abel transform is useful for describing the tomographic measurement operator. The inverse of this operator is unbounded, so regularization is required for the computation of satisfactory inversions. We introduce the use of the total variation seminorm for this purpose, and prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions of the corresponding variational problem. We illustrate the effectiveness of the total-variation regularization with an example and comparison with the unregularized inverse and the H1 regularized inverse.
Histidine phosphorylation of P-selectin upon stimulation of human platelets: A novel pathway for activation-dependent signal transduction

Transient phosphorylation of histidine characterizes the two-component systems in prokaryotes that control important physiological functions, but analogous events have not been implicated in signal transduction in mammalian cells. To explore histidine phosphorylation during activation of human cells, stimulated platelets were analyzed for the formation of protein phosphohistidine in a model system employing P-selectin. P-selectin, a leukocyte adhesion molecule, undergoes rapid phosphorylation and selective dephosphorylation of tyrosine, serine, and threonine. We now establish that phosphorylation following platelet activation with thrombin or collagen generates phosphohistidine at histidines on the cytoplasmic tail of P-selectin. With thrombin stimulation, the kinetics of phosphohistidine appearance and disappearance of P-selectin are very rapid. Platelets exhibit a novel ligand-induced signaling pathway to generate phosphohistidine. These results provide direct biochemical evidence for the induction of rapid and reversible histidine phosphorylation in mammalian cells upon cell activation and represent a novel paradigm for mammalian cell signaling.
Residual, recurrent, or unresectable gastrointestinal cancer. Role of radiation in single or combined modality treatment

When conventional modalities of external beam irradiation and chemotherapy +/- resection are used in the treatment of locally advanced gastrointestinal malignancies, although useful palliation can be achieved in many patients, cure and long-term survival is infrequent. Aggressive combined modality approaches have recently encorporated irradiation boost techniques with intraoperative electrons or intraoperative or transcatheter brachytherapy. Both local control and long-term survival appear to be improved when compared with results achieved with conventional treatment. Randomized trials are needed to determine if the observed differences are real or due to differences in case selection.
The development and transmission of 248-day schemes for lunar motion in ancient astronomy

Among the achievements of ancient astronomy was the invention of schemes, based on comparatively simple principles, for predicting the positions of the heavenly bodies. For example, as observed against the fixed stars, the Moon moves at a velocity that fluctuates around a mean of roughly 1 3° of longitude per day. Of the components contributing to this fluctuation, or "anomaly", the largest and most readily observed is a simple periodic variation that causes the Moon to move back and forth over a range of about 6° either way with respect to a uniformly-moving "mean Moon". The period of this "first anomaly" is the anomalistic month. Since after one anomalistic month the Moon is at the same distance from the mean Moon as it was at the start, its total motion over any whole number of anomalistic months equals the contemporaneous mean motion. This principle, in various forms, underlies every sophisticated method devised in antiquity for computing the Moon's position at specific times; it reduced the problem to one of describing the longitudinal motion over only a single anomalistic month. Even Ptolemy's discovery of the second lunar anomaly, a function of the Moon's elongation from the Sun, made necessary only an adjustment to the older procedure. A special class of methods, characterized by their use of an anomalistic month of ^ days, is familiar to students of ancient astronomy, thanks especially to Neugebauer's pioneering analyses of most of the pertinent texts, whether Babylonian, Greco-Egyptian, or Indian. Common to all the variants was a simplicity of construction and use, unavoidably entailing an imprecision in the predicted longitudes. Yet a hitherto puzzling passage in Ptolemy, as Toomer has recently shown,1 proves that even such a respected astronomer as Hipparchus employed a scheme of this sort in his computations. My intention here is to survey the evidence for the history of these methods, in such a way that the relationships of the variants may be more readily seen,
COSMOLOGY AND THEOLOGY: THE REEMERGENCE OF PATRIARCHY

. Recent developments in cosmology have enticed several thinkers to follow leads from cosmology into new possibilities in theology and philosophy. Thus, we have seen an increasing number of books and essays offering proposals for creative relations between theology and cosmology. New constructions for theology are appearing that lead us toward a new rationality in theological thinking. This rationality seems especially familiar for anyone working in feminist thought, not so much as a repristination of Enlightenment philosophy and its strongly patriarchal overtones, but rather as a new form of postmodern patriarchy that grows out of revolutions in cosmology, mathematics, and quantum physics. This sense should be tested especially by comparing these new “theologies” with other feminist visions or alternative perspectives. This comparison will not only uncover signs of a reemergence of patriarchy within the new cosmologies, but will also suggest ways in which new cosmological views can both provide a source for new creative thinking in theology and be sensitive to the best of feminist thought.
Dietary magnesium intake is inversely associated with serum C-reactive protein levels: meta-analysis and systematic review

Correction to: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2014) 68, 510–516; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2014.7; published online 12 February 2014 Since the publication of this article the authors have noticed an error in the first sentence of the last paragraph of the results section. The sentence should be: In addition, five Mg intervention studies (Table 2) reported on the association between Mg supplementation and serum CRP levels. The authors apologize for any inconvenience caused.
Penetrating gazes The poetics of sight and visual display in popular Indian cinema

Following a sequence of visually stunning dance routines accompanied by sounds of sung poetry, the climax for most popular Indian films is the intense exchange of gazes between the lover and beloved. This exchange of penetrating gazes not only expresses sexual desire but, in a move beyond voyeurism, signifies a physical interaction through vision. This intense and even tactile gaze relies on two different notions of vision: that of drishti, activated in Indian religious contexts, and of nazar, so essential for the exposition of love in Persianate poetry. The lyrics of film songs rely for their affectivity on these notions of drishti and nazar. Committed to memory by film viewers, this repertoire of film songs generates a poetics of sight and visual display within the film-going public. By framing and focusing in on eyes and thereby simulating moments of intense visual interaction, Bollywood film directors have poetically nuanced a modern visual genre for contemporary Indian audiences which actively employ...
Antibody transport in cultured tumor cell layers

This review summarizes our recent in vitro studies of the factors affecting the tumor penetration of immunoconjugates. The studies were designed to probe the mechanisms of diffusion and convection, using a cultured layer of mouse melanoma cells as a model tumor cell layer and an antibody to the murine transferrin receptor as a model ligand. Transport of the binding antibody was observed to be slower than that of a non-binding control, a result that is consistent with the "binding site barrier" hypothesis (Fujimori et al., J. Nucl. Med., 31: 1191-1198, 1990). Internalization of the antibody/receptor complex was necessary for this effect to be observed, implying that intracellular trafficking is a determinant of net tumor transport rates. Convective fluid flow exhibited a dependence on cell density that is consistent with a Poiseuille flow model, suggesting that convective transport occurs as laminar flow in tortuous channels. Implications for immunoconjugate therapy, limitations of the approach, and future directions of the research program are discussed.
Teaching All Children: Preparing Early Childhood Preservice Teachers in Inclusive Settings

Preparing early childhood and early childhood special education preservice teachers for inclusive settings is the focus of this article. The need for all teachers to be prepared for inclusive settings has become evident with the growing diversity of children in every classroom. Integrating inclusive content throughout the teacher preparation program sets the expectation for inclusion in the schools. The standards from the Division for Early Childhood of Council for Exceptional Children and the National Association for the Education of Young Children provide a framework to link inclusive content and fieldwork to preservice teacher experiences. The use of inclusive sites for well sequenced and focused field experiences provides the opportunity for preservice teachers to develop skills and attitudes for teaching all children. One institution's site-based methods courses, with preservice teachers in school sites for a significant portion of their coursework accompanied by their faculty members, enhanced the c...
An Interior Collocation Method for Static and Dynamic Analysis of Finite Length Gas Journal Bearings

Analyse statique et dynamique d'un palier a gaz de longueur finie par une methode de collocation interne
A THEORY FOR THE QUANTUM ACTIVATED RATE CONSTANT IN DISSIPATIVE SYSTEMS

Abstract An analytical theory is developed for the quantum activated rate constant in general systems. The theory relies on a variationally determined effective quadratic potential and is valid at all temperatures. The formalism extends previously developed theoretical approaches based on the parabolic barrier/linear response approximation.
COMMUNICATION WITHIN A DISPUTE MEDIATION: INTERACTANTS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE PROCESS

The intent of the research reported in this paper was to add to our understanding of the factors which affect a participant's beliefs concerning whether he/she has been fairly treated within a dispute mediation. A study was conducted using role‐play mediations involving peer‐mediators with undergraduate students posing as roommates experiencing a conflict. Approximately 2 weeks after the mediations, 25 of the disputant‐subjects met with one of the researchers to review a video tape of their particular mediation and discuss the communication which occurred The results of those interviews are presented and discussed in terms of their implications for procedural justice theory and the conduct of interpersonal dispute mediations.
Treatment of tinea imbricata: a randomized clinical trial using griseofulvin, terbinafine, itraconazole and fluconazole.

Summary Background Griseofulvin has been the mainstay of treatment for tinea imbricata (TI) for decades; however, there have been few reports of efficacy of newer antifungals in the treatment of this condition. Many patients with TI have several obstacles to treatment due to their remote geographical locations and the primitive nature of their societies. Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of itraconazole, terbinafine and fluconazole with that of griseofulvin after 4 weeks of therapy. Methods Patients aged 12–76 years with the clinical diagnosis of TI were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: griseofulvin 500 mg twice daily for 4 weeks, terbinafine 250 mg daily for 4 weeks, itraconazole 200 mg twice daily for 1 week or fluconazole 200 mg once weekly for 4 weeks. Disease activity was monitored weekly. Laboratory measurements included monitoring complete blood count and liver function enzymes. Fifty-nine patients were included in the efficacy analysis: 13 in the fluconazole group, 15 in the griseofulvin group, 12 in the terbinafine group and 19 in the itraconazole group. Results Significant remission was achieved in the terbinafine and griseofulvin groups, lasting up to 8 weeks after cessation of therapy. The fluconazole group experienced no significant remission, and remission was of short duration in the itraconazole group. No adverse events were reported, and non-compliance with medications or follow-up was the only reason for removal from the study. Conclusions Griseofulvin and terbinafine are effective in the treatment of TI. The decision of whether to treat at all and which medication to choose depends greatly on the extent of involvement, the social situation, and the availability of resources such as laboratory testing and follow-up.
Atrophying tinea versicolor: a clinical and histological study of 12 patients.

Background We describe 12 patients with an atrophying dermatitis in whom the biopsy findings were compatible with tinea versicolor. Design We encountered 12 skin biopsies from 12 patients in whom a clinically atrophying dermatosis was associated with light microscopic (LM) evidence of atrophy and epidermal colonization by Pityrosporum sp. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections were cut at 5 microns and stained with H&E, alcian blue-PAS and PAS-diastase preparations. Results Five men and seven women aged 17–73 years in whom lesions characterized as atrophic plaques, patches or macules prompted clinical differential diagnoses including parapsoriasis or mycosis fungoides (MF), anetoderma, lupus erythematosus, and steroid atrophy. A LM examination showed epidermal colonization with pityrosporum hyphae and spores accompanied by variable epidermal and dermal atrophy characterized by rete-ridge effacement, subepidermal fibroplasia, pigment incontinence and elastolysis. Conclusions Atrophying cutaneous lesions comprise part of the clinical spectrum of tinea versicolor for which we propose the term ‘atrophying tinea versicolor’. The pathogenetic basis is unclear but could be the sequela of delayed type hypersensitivity and the release by T-helper lymphocytes of leukotrienes which perturb collagen metabolism and/or keratinocyte growth. Lesions may be mistaken clinically for MF or other atrophying dermatoses.
Cyclin D1 repressor domain mediates proliferation and survival in prostate cancer

Regulation of the androgen receptor (AR) is critical to prostate cancer (PCa) development; therefore, AR is the first line therapeutic target for disseminated tumors. Cell cycle-dependent accumulation of cyclin D1 negatively modulates the transcriptional regulation of AR through discrete, CDK4-independent mechanisms. The transcriptional corepressor function of cyclin D1 resides within a defined motif termed repressor domain (RD), and it was hypothesized that this motif could be utilized as a platform to develop new strategies for blocking AR function. Here, we demonstrate that expression of the RD peptide is sufficient to disrupt AR transcriptional activation of multiple, prostate-specific AR target genes. Importantly, these actions are sufficient to specifically inhibit S-phase progression in AR-positive PCa cells, but not in AR-negative cells or tested AR-positive cells of other lineages. As expected, impaired cell cycle progression resulted in a suppression of cell doubling. Additionally, cell death was observed in AR-positive cells that maintain androgen dependence and in a subset of castrate-resistant PCa cells, dependent on Akt activation status. Lastly, the ability of RD to cooperate with existing hormone therapies was examined, which revealed that RD enhanced the cellular response to an AR antagonist. Together, these data demonstrate that RD is sufficient to disrupt AR-dependent transcriptional and proliferative responses in PCa, and can enhance efficacy of AR antagonists, thus establishing the impetus for development of RD-based mimetics.
Beacon-less Location Detection in Wireless Sensor Networks for Non-flat Terrain

In this paper, we develop a new beacon-less localization scheme for non-flat surfaces for wireless sensor networks. Simulations are conducted for a Gaussian distribution of nodes about the deployment points on the non-flat terrain, as well as a node deployment corresponding to the terrain surface characteristics. The localization errors for the proposed method, for a non-flat terrain with the Gaussian distribution of nodes and the terrain conforming distribution, are comparable to those in the case of the location discovery scheme in (Lei Fang et al., 2005) for the flat surface. The localization errors, when the distribution of nodes corresponds to the terrain are slightly larger than when the nodes are normally distributed. The results are applicable to localization in real life wireless sensor networks deployed over non-flat terrain.
Kinetics of nutrient regeneration in anoxic marine sediments

Abstract Anoxic sediments undergoing bacterial sulfate reduction, because of the buildup in them of dissolved ammonia and phosphate from the decomposition of organic matter, may serve as important sources of these nutrients for the oceans. This paper demonstrates how pore water concentration-vs-depth data, along with laboratory measurements, can be combined with theoretical models to deduce rates and rate laws for nutrient release and bacterial sulfate reduction in sediments. Further application of the models enables determination of the stoichiometric C:N:P composition of the organic matter undergoing decomposition and the fraction of liberated nutrient which is returned to the overlying water. For an anoxic sediment from Long Island Sound, U.S.A., diagenetic modeling of pore water data has led to the conclusion that rates of organic nitrogen and phosphorus decomposition and of sulfate reduction by micro-organisms, below the top few cm of sediment, is first order with respect to the organic matter being decomposed. Application of the first-order rate law to a variety of other sediments has led to the discovery of a direct proportionality between the rate constant for sulfate reduction and the square of the rate of deposition. Also, decomposition rates calculated from modeling are in good agreement with rates measured in the laboratory using the same sediment. The calculated and measured rates have been used, by means of further modeling, to show that in a Long Island Sound sediment about 70% of the ammonia liberated below 10 cm and about 50% of the sulfide liberated above 10 cm is lost from the sediment by diffusion and mixing. In the upper portion of anoxic sediments overlain by oxygenated water, higher concentrations of more readily metabolized organic matter are found, and migration of dissolved constituents is enhanced due to irrigation and other models of mixing by benthic organisms (bioturbation). This results in much faster nutrient regeneration rates than in the underlying sediment.
Microbiological Assay with Lactobacillus arabinosus after Storage for Three Years Lyophilized and in Conservation Medium.

SummaryCultures of Lactobacillus arab-inous have been stored at room temperature for 32 months lyophilized and for 38 months in Bacto-cooked meat medium (Difco product) . The assay performance of the cultures was not impaired by this treatment, although acid production in the cooked meat medium culture was reduced. It was concluded that these methods of storage may be substituted successfully for frequent subculture with Lactobacillus arabinosus and perhaps other lactic acid bacteria.
Stem cells for the treatment of spinal cord injury

This article reviews stem cell-based strategies for spinal cord injury repair, and practical issues concerning their translation to the clinic. Recent progress in the stem cell field includes clinically compliant culture conditions and directed differentiation of both embryonic stem cells and somatic stem cells. We provide a brief overview of the types of stem cells under evaluation, comparing their advantages and disadvantages for use in human clinical trials. We review the practical considerations and risks that must be addressed before human treatments can begin. With a growing understanding of these practical issues, stem cell biology, and spinal cord injury pathophysiology, stem cell-based therapies are moving closer to clinical application.
Low‐dose corticosteroids in rheumatoid arthritis. A meta‐analysis of their moderate‐term effectiveness

Objective. To perform a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of low-dose corticosteroids in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. After identifying all relevant studies meeting preselected inclusion criteria, we performed 2 meta-analyses. First, we compared the effectiveness of prednisone to placebo and active drug controls (aspirin, chloroquine, or deflazacort) using standard meta-analysis methods for continuous data. Then, to compare the relative effectiveness of prednisone to second-line agents, we used methods similar to prior meta-analyses of second-line agents for RA treatment. Outcomes assessed were the number of tender and swollen joints, grip strength, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Results. Very few studies directly assessed the effectiveness of corticosteroids for RA treatment, and many were of poor methodologic quality. Only 9 of 34 studies identified by our search met criteria for inclusion. The results of our standard meta-analysis indicated that corticosteroids appeared to be more effective than either placebo or active drug controls in improving most conventional outcome measures (effect size 0.90 for the number of tender joints, 1.05 for the number of swollen joints, and 1.20 for the ESR). In our second comparative meta-analysis, corticosteroids were nearly equivalent to second-line agents previously examined in meta-analyses (combined effect size 0.82). Conclusion. Based on the limited data available, during moderate-term treatment periods averaging slightly over 7 months, corticosteroids appeared to be as effective or more effective than alternative therapies in improving several common RA disease activity measures.
Allele and isozyme patterns of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase as a marker for cold-sweetening resistance in potatoes

Uridine-5-’diphosphoglucose pyrophosphorylase (UTP α-D-glucose-l-phosphate uridylyltransferase, E.C. 2.7.7.9) (UGPase) was cloned from 16 potato cultivars(Solanum tuberosum L.) that differed in their ability to accumulate reducing sugars in cold storage (3 C) using RT-PCR. Two UGPase-alleles designatedas UgpA (minus a BamHl site) and UgpB (containing oneBamHl site), were present in most cultivars. Cultivars that were cold-resistant (CR) to sweetening demonstrated an UgpA:UgpB ratio favoring the UgpA allele (4:0 or 3:1), while cultivars that were cold-sensitive (CS) exhibited a predominance for the UgpB allele (1:3 or 0:4). Following cold-storage at 3 C for two months, the CR and CS clones accumulated 10.3 ± 2.1 and 31.2 ± 2.2 umol glucose/g FW, respectively. The glucose content and chip color between the CR and CS clones were significantly different at the 99% level of confidence. Staining for UGPase activity in nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels of proteins extracted from CS potatoes revealed up to three acidic isozymes of UGPase (i.e., UGP1, UGP2, UGP3) with UGP3 being the most abundant. Activity staining using CR cultivars demonstrated two additional isozymes of UGPase with greater electrophoretic mobility (more basic in charge) which were designated UGP4 and UGP5. The potential for using UGPase allelic ratios and/or UGPase isozymic patterns as a selective tool to screen segregating progeny in a potato breeding program for cold-sweetening-resistant germplasm is discussed.
Role of endogenous TGF-β in glucocorticoid-induced lung type II cell differentiation

In the fetal lung, endogenous transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta inhibits early morphogenesis and blocks hormone-induced type II cell differentiation. We hypothesized that endogenous TGF-beta inhibits type II cell differentiation and that the stimulatory effects of glucocorticoids result in part from suppression of TGF-beta. Epithelial cells were isolated from human fetal lung and cultured under defined conditions with and without dexamethasone plus cAMP to promote type II cell differentiation. Control cells produced TGF-beta, which was activated in part by alpha(V)beta(6)-integrin. Treatment with dexamethasone, but not cAMP, reduced TGF-beta1 and -beta2 transcripts and TGF-beta bioactivity in culture medium. To examine the effects of decreased TGF-beta in the absence of glucocorticoid, cells were treated with antibodies to TGF-beta and its receptors. By real-time RT-PCR, antibody blockade of TGF-beta reduced serpine1, a TGF-beta-inducible gene, and increased gene expression for sftpa, sftpb, sftpc, and titf1, mimicking the response to hormone treatment. By microarray analysis, 29 additional genes were induced by both TGF-beta antibody and hormone treatment, and 20 other genes were repressed by both treatments. For some genes, the fold response was comparable for antibody and hormone treatment. We conclude that endogenous TGF-beta suppresses expression of surfactant proteins and selected other type II cell genes in fetal lung, in part secondary to increased expression of titf1, and we propose that the mechanism of glucocorticoid-induced type II cell differentiation includes antagonism of TGF-beta gene suppression. Surfactant production during fetal development is likely influenced by relative levels of TGF-beta and glucocorticoids.
Probability Density Function Method for Langevin Equations with Colored Noise

Understanding the mesoscopic behavior of dynamical systems described by Langevin equations with colored noise is a fundamental challenge in a variety of fields. We propose a new approach to derive closed-form equations for joint and marginal probability density functions of state variables. This approach is based on a so-called large-eddy-diffusivity closure and can be used to model a wide class of non-Markovian processes described by the noise with an arbitrary correlation function. We demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed probability density function method for several linear and nonlinear Langevin equations.
The effect of molar sodium lactate in quinidine intoxication.

Abstract Quinidine is widely used in the therapy of various cardiac arrhythmias. Toxic effects, while well documented, are relatively uncommon. Contraindications to the use of quinidine have, however, limited clinical application. Quinidine depresses cardiac rhythmicity and conduction. This appears to be a direct effect on the myocardium, with little if any effect being mediated through the autonomic nervous system. At the present time there is no method of therapy which will reverse cardiotoxic quinidine effects. Molar sodium lactate appears to promptly reverse moderately severe cardiotoxic electrocardiographic effects, and to correct the hypotension secondary to quinidine intoxication, restoring the blood pressure to normotensive levels. These preliminary observations suggest that molar sodium lactate may be effective clinically in treating quinidine intoxication in man. Serum electrolyte and pH determinations revealed that the animals developed a moderately severe acidosis which was promptly restored to normal by molar sodium lactate. The possible mechanisms of action are discussed.
In situ scanning tunneling microscopy characterization of step bunching on miscut Si(111) surfaces in fluoride solutions

The immersion of Si surfaces in fluoride solutions results in the formation of a hydrogen passivated surface. The resulting surface morphology is dependent on the solution composition and the crystallographic orientation of the surface. Etching of miscut Si(111) in fluoride solutions can lead to the formation of mesa-like features. In this article we show that these features are due to the formation of step bunches during the etching process. The density of these features is dependent on the etch rate, the applied potential, and the fluoride ion concentration of the etching solution.
Localizing Overlapping Parts by Searching the Interpretation Tree

This paper discusses how local measurements of positions and surface normals may be used to identify and locate overlapping objects. The objects are modeled as polyhedra (or polygons) having up to six degrees of positional freedom relative to the sensors. The approach operates by examining all hypotheses about pairings between sensed data and object surfaces and efficiently discarding inconsistent ones by using local constraints on: distances between faces, angles between face normals, and angles (relative to the surface normals) of vectors between sensed points. The method described here is an extension of a method for recognition and localization of nonoverlapping parts previously described in [18] and [15].
Decay of solutions of some nonlinear wave equations

Abstract We study the large-time behaviour of solutions to the initial-value problem for the Korteweg-de Vries equation and for the regularized long-wave equation, with a dissipative term appended. Using energy estimates, a maximum principle, and a transformation of Cole-Hopf type, sharp rates of temporal decay of certain norms of the solution are obtained.
Understanding thermal properties of oil shales at high temperature toward application of nuclear energy in extraction of natural hydrocarbons

In-situ conversion process for recovery of hydrocarbons from shales requires heating the rock formation to 320 °C in order to break down kerogen polymer into fragments small enough to permeate toward collection facility. Thermal analysis is essential for understanding the properties of shales as they change during heating to the target temperature as well as during the production cycle. This paper discusses the application of a variety of thermal techniques and methods to study properties of oil shales in the contexts of using heat generated by a nuclear power plant during and after the life cycle of nuclear fuel.
Heparin-binding keratinocyte growth factor is a candidate stromal-to-epithelial-cell andromedin.

The growth of isolated epithelial and stromal cells from both androgen-dependent normal rat prostate and an androgen-responsive model rat prostate tumor is androgen-independent. When added to co-cultures of epithelial and stromal cells separated by a semipermeable membrane, androgen stimulated epithelial cell growth without an effect on stromal cell growth. Northern blot and nuclease protection analysis of mRNA revealed that stromal cells specifically expressed an androgen-sensitive secreted member of the heparin-binding fibroblast growth factor family [keratinocyte growth factor (KGF)/fibroblast growth factor-7]. KGF was mitogenic for epithelial cells, but not for stromal cells. Epithelial cells expressed specifically a splice variant of the bek receptor gene that specifically binds KGF. Expression of the bek receptor gene in stromal cells was undetectable by Northern blot and nuclease protection analyses. The results suggest that stromal cell-derived KGF has the properties of an andromedin, which mediat...
Nucleation and growth mechanisms in ion-plated TiN films on steel substrates

Abstract Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the nucleation and growth characteristics of TiN films, ion plated on tool steel substrates with an α-Ti underlayer (about 100 nm thick). It was found that (1) at 100 °C, the underlayer α-Ti remains unchanged and exhibits a layer and island growth mode; (2) at 300 and 500 °C, the underlayer may tranform into a TiC phase on M50 steel, and (3) the growth behavior of TiN films was controlled primarily by the reaction thermodynamics and diffusion rates of titanium and nitrogen adatoms. Model relationships based on microscopic evidence together with kinetic and thermodynamic considerations were established to describe the nucleation and growth mechanisms of ion-plated TiN films under the deposition conditions explored in this study.
Relational Continuity Constructional Units and the Maintenance of Relationships

Sigman (1991) proposed that relationships are continuous despite discontinuous periods of physical and interactional co-presence and that couples manage the discontinuous aspects of social relationships by using Relational Continuity Constructional Units (RCCUs). RCCUs are actions or behaviors that couples do before, during, or after an absence to bridge the gap in the relationship caused by the absence. Our study examined the relationship between time spent apart, RCCUs, and relational satisfaction. A total of 112 partners from 56 married or cohabiting couples completed measures of time spent apart, their use of prospective, introspective and retrospective RCCUs, and relational satisfaction. The results were as follows. Co-presence was positively related to relational satisfaction. Female prospective, introspective and retrospective RCCUs were positively related to female relational satisfaction, and female prospective and retrospective RCCUs were positively related to male relational satisfaction. Femal...
Semiparametric Pseudo-Likelihoods in Generalized Linear Models With Nonignorable Missing Data

We consider identifiability and estimation in a generalized linear model in which the response variable and some covariates have missing values and the missing data mechanism is nonignorable and unspecified. We adopt a pseudo-likelihood approach that makes use of an instrumental variable to help identifying unknown parameters in the presence of nonignorable missing data. Explicit conditions for the identifiability of parameters are given. Some asymptotic properties of the parameter estimators based on maximizing the pseudo-likelihood are established. Explicit asymptotic covariance matrix and its estimator are also derived in some cases. For the numerical maximization of the pseudo-likelihood, we develop a two-step iteration algorithm that decomposes a nonconcave maximization problem into two problems of maximizing concave functions. Some simulation results and an application to a dataset from cotton factory workers are also presented.
Declining enrollments of sociology majors: Department responses

Although the number of social science majors is purported to have slightly increased since 1988, in the period immediately prior to that year the figure was declining. Sociology was one of the disciplines to experience this decline. The possible reasons for the reduction include the quality of the subject matter presentation, an increase in career-oriented students, and the loss of those students now majoring in social work and criminal justice who might otherwise have majored in sociology. University administrations facing reduction decisions in the coming years are not likely to look favorably on sociology departments unless those units can position themselves more favorably. Undergraduate sociology departments need to examine ways to strengthen their political positions on campus, such as developing service courses and cooperative arrangements with other programs; generating activities that are associated with public constituencies; and most important of all, learning to do something that university administrations need and perceive to be essential, and therefore are likely to protect.
Females in charge: Effects of sex of subordinate and romantic attachment status upon self-ratings of dominance

Female, male, and mixed-sex dyads in which one member was assigned the leader role interacted and rated their own dominance throughout the interaction. The effects of gender and romantic attachment status (whether one has an exclusive dating partner or is “unattached” and free to go out with someone new) upon these self-ratings of dominance within the interaction were examined. The results showed that both leaders and subordinates perceived female leaders to be less dominant than male leaders. In addition, members of mixed-sex pairs rated themselves as less dominant than did those in same-sex pairs. Female leaders paired with males rated themselves least dominant and unattached female leaders interacting with males rated themselves least dominant of all. Female subordinates rated themselves as less dominant when with male leaders than when with female leaders, while the effect of the gender of the leader was insignificant for male subordinates. The results are discussed as evidence of a role conflict created by the contradictory roles of “dominant” leader and “subordinate” female, roles described by the sex role stereotypes prevalent in our culture.
The Uniqueness of EFL Teachers: Perceptions of Japanese Learners

Building on the work of Borg (2006), this article reports on a study of Japanese English as a foreign language (EFL) learners' perceptions of some of the unique characteristics of EFL teachers that distinguish them from teachers of other subjects. The data were collected by means of a questionnaire to which 163 college-level EFL students in Japan responded. Their responses were analyzed to identify the characteristics that are exclusive to the province of EFL teachers. The results of the study indicate that these learners perceive EFL teachers to be unique along four central dimensions: the complex nature of the subject matter, the content of teaching, teaching approach, and teacher personality. The findings also suggest that the particularity of the socio-cultural and educational context may ultimately influence how EFL teachers and their work are conceptualized by learners in crucial ways. I conclude by arguing that if language teacher education is to provide a more nuanced explanation of the uniqueness of EFL teachers and teaching that may be meaningful and relevant to teachers and students working within particular contexts, the voices of all stakeholders involved in EFL education need to be included in the dialogue on what it means to be an EFL teacher.
Patterns of regional recurrence after definitive radiotherapy for cervical cancer.

Purpose To determine the patterns of regional recurrence in patients treated with definitive radiotherapy (RT) for cervical cancer. Methods and Materials The records of 198 patients treated with definitive RT for cervical cancer between 1980 and 2000 who experienced a regional recurrence without a central or distal vaginal recurrence were reviewed. All patients received a combination of external-beam RT and intracavitary brachytherapy. In the 180 patients with a documented location of regional recurrence, the relationship between the recurrence and the radiation fields was determined. Results The median time to regional recurrence was 13 months (range, 2–85 months). Of the 180 patients who had an evaluable regional recurrence, 119 (66%) had a component of marginal failure; 71 patients recurred above-the-field, 2 patients occurred in the inguinal nodes, and 2 patients recurred above-the-field and in the inguinal nodes. In addition, 105 patients (58%) had a component of in-field failure; 59 patients recurred in-field only, 39 patients recurred in-field and above-the-field, 2 patients recurred in-field, above-the-field, and in the inguinal nodes, and 5 patients recurred in-field and in the inguinal nodes. The median survival after regional recurrence was 8 months (range, 0–194 months). Conclusions Most regional recurrences after definitive RT for cervical cancer include a component of marginal failure, usually immediately superior to the radiation field. These recurrences suggest a deficiency in target volume. Recurrences also occur in-field, suggesting a deficiency in dose. Developments in pretreatment staging, field delineation, dose escalation, and posttreatment surveillance may help to improve outcome in these patients.
Site-Directed Mutagenesis of the Virion Host Shutoff Gene (UL41) of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV): Analysis of Functional Differences between HSV Type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 Alleles

During lytic herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections, the HSV virion host shutoff protein (UL41) accelerates the turnover of host and viral mRNAs. Although the UL41 polypeptides from HSV type 1 (HSV-1) strain KOS and HSV-2 strain 333 are 87% identical, HSV-2 strains generally shut off the host more rapidly and completely than HSV-1 strains. In a previous study, we identified three regions of the HSV-2 UL41 polypeptide (amino acids 1 to 135, 208 to 243, and 365 to 492) that enhance the activity of KOS when substituted for the corresponding portions of the KOS protein (D. N. Everly, Jr., and G. S. Read, J. Virol. 71:7157–7166, 1997). These results have been extended through the analysis of more than 50 site-directed mutants of UL41 in which selected HSV-2 amino acids were introduced into an HSV-1 background and HSV-1 amino acids were introduced into the HSV-2 allele. The HSV-2 amino acids R22 and E25 were found to contribute dramatically to the greater activity of the HSV-2 allele, as did the HSV-2 amino acids A396 and S423. The substitution of six HSV-2 amino acids between residues 210 and 242 enhanced the HSV-1 activity to a lesser extent. In most cases, individual substitutions or the substitution of combinations of fewer than all six amino acids reduced the UL41 activity to less than that of KOS. The results pinpoint several type-specific amino acids that are largely responsible for the greater activity of the UL41 polypeptide of HSV-2. In addition, several spontaneous mutations that abolish detectable UL41 activity were identified.