cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unusual tumours of the pancreas.

All pancreatic masses are not necessarily the dismal pancreatic ductal adenocaricoma (PDA) and do not necessarily deserve a gloomy prognosis or a nihilistic attitude. We review a rarer group of pancreatic lesions and discuss their pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. A tumour specific selective surgical approach is recommended. The outcome is dependent on the tumour histology and the biological behaviour. The degree of malignancy is variable and ranges across benign, borderline and malignant entities. The prognosis is generally better than that ofPDA. Background: The advent ofmore sophisticated and ever widely employed imaging modalities has identified the presence of many unsuspected unusual masses in the pancreas. These lesions display natural histories and biological behaviours distinct from adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (PDA). Though the list is long they include neuroendocrine tumours, cystic tumours, primary pancreatic lymphoma, solid pseudopapillary tumours, connective tissue tumours, metastatic lesions to the pancreas and many others.
Formation of Salt Bridges Mediates Internal Dimerization of Myosin VI Medial Tail Domain

The unconventional motor protein, myosin VI, is known to dimerize upon cargo binding to its C-terminal end. It has been shown that one of its tail domains, called the medial tail domain, is a dimerization region. The domain contains an unusual pattern of alternating charged residues and a few hydrophobic residues. To reveal the unknown dimerization mechanism of the medial tail domain, we employed molecular dynamics and single-molecule experimental techniques. Both techniques suggest that the formation of electrostatic-based interhelical salt bridges between oppositely charged residues is a key dimerization factor. For the dimerization to occur, the two identical helices within the dimer do not bind in a symmetric fashion, but rather with an offset of about one helical repeat. Calculations of the dimer-dissociation energy find the contribution of hydrophobic residues to the dimerization process to be minor; they also find that the asymmetric homodimer state is energetically favorable over a state of separate helices.
The value of planned death

Abstract In this paper we propose a theoretical model of evaluating the economic costs and benefits of physician assisted suicide (euthanasia). The contemplation of euthanasia is modeled akin to the valuation of a real option. Our modeling of the decision shows that euthanasia is optimal when certain conditions are satisfied. The findings in this paper suggest that if more money is spent on medical research (such as pain management), the demand for Euthanasia could be reduced.
Training exercise in interpreting causal maps in tourism research

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe how to go about interpreting causal maps and provides an introduction to the literature of causal mapping.Design/methodology/approach – The paper includes two international causal maps showing the favorable antecedent conditions of Germans towards visiting Britain and the negative antecedent conditions of Brits towards visiting Germany. The paper provides training exercise questions with a solution in interpreting causal maps.Findings – The training helps make implicit, automatic, thinking explicit and provides clues for the marketing strategist of actions necessary to changing long‐term negative implicit associations that potential visitors retrieve regarding tourism destinations.Research limitations/implications – This report does not include the results of applying the exercise in executive training programs. Does completing the exercise help improve decision making?Practical implications – Executives need to experience specific training exercises to i...
Assessment of encapsulants for high-voltage, high-temperature power electronic packaging

Eight encapsulants with operating temperatures up to 250°C were surveyed for use in planar packages for wide-bandgap dice. Two of the encapsulants failed processability test because they were not able to flow, and another two failed because they induced voids or cracks after curing. The dielectric results of the remaining four encapsulants showed that both dielectric strength and permittivity decreased almost 40% when the temperature was increased to 250°C. As the three encapsulants were used to encapsulate a power module, it was proven that all of them could protect the package from early breakdown caused by the poor dielectric strength of air. The thermal aging test showed that materials were hardened during the aging process, and cracking started in the material matrix. The dielectric strength of the sample would drop 60%–70% to only around 10 kV/mm once cracking occurred.
Arteriovenous malformations of kidney.

Abstract Renal arteriovenous malformations are uncommon and maybe asymptomatic or produce hypertension and hematuria. The renal arteriogram shows either a cirsoid angioma in the renal pelvis or a small intraparenchymal arteriovenous communication. They can be readily differentiated from the acquired fistulas; nephrectomy is the treatment.
The development of a technical assistance system for residential treatment programs

Using a technical assistance model, the authors developed a University-based program to facilitate staff development among direct care personnel in a network of community-based residential treatment programs serving emotionally disturbed children and adolescents in North Carolina. The process used and the results are described, followed by the implications of this program for child and youth services professionals.
The sedimentary record of environmental lead contamination at St. Louis, Missouri (USA) area smelters

Southeastern Missouri has been a major Pb mining region since 1720 AD. Missouri mines produce a Pb ore that has a distinctive elevated 206Pb/207Pb isotopic ratio (>1.30) that is easily recognized in Pb-contaminated sediments. Five 210Pb dated sediment cores from Horseshoe Lake, Madison County, Illinois were examined to reconstruct Pb-contamination of the site from southeastern Missouri mines and from a local Pb smelter located adjacent to the lake. Pb concentrations increased in the cores from 5 ppm in the early 1800’s to approximately 350 ppm in the late 1940’s and 1950’s. Pb concentrations in recently deposited sediment range from 100 to 300 ppm depending on the location within the lake. Throughout the 1800’s and early 1900’s the 206Pb/207Pb ratios in the sediment cores increased indicating contamination from southeastern Missouri (mean = 1.243). After the local smelter began recycling lead-acid storage batteries in the 1950’s, the 206Pb/207Pb ratio declined (mean = 1.224) suggesting contamination of Horseshoe Lake with Pb from sources elsewhere around the world. The results of this study demonstrate how isotopic ratios of Pb can be used to reconstruct historical anthropogenic contamination.
The Early American Origins of Entitlements

There is perhaps no topic that has generated more sustained interest and controversy in the United States during the past three decades than the public policies called “entitlements.” From the Great Society innovations of the 1960s to the guaranteed income plan of the 1970s to the “health security” proposal of the early 1990s, debate over the issue of which U.S. citizens should be entitled to what kind of national-level benefits has been a constant in American political life. Though consensus has occasionally been reached, moments of accord have been fragile and fleeting. Late 1995 and early 1996 found both President William Clinton and a large, bipartisan majority of Congress targeting poor Americans and their benefits, advocating an “end to welfare as we know it.” Yet interbranch disagreement over the way that “welfare” reform should be implemented reached such heights that the annual U.S. budget development process broke down, resulting in repeated shutdowns of government agencies and the threat that, for the first time in the history of the American nation, the United States would default on its obligations to its creditors.
The use of C-13 relaxation times to investigate molecular motion of macrocyclic antibiotics upon potassium ion complex formation

Abstract 13 C spin-lattice relaxation times of protonated carbons have been used to investigate the molecular motion of the free and potassium-ion complexed cyclic antibiotics valinomycin, nonactin, and the polyethers dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 and dibenzo-18-crown-6. Valinomycin is relatively rigid and moves isotropically, irrespective of the presence of the ion. For nonactin, the motion of the free structure appears to be anisotropic, while that of the complex is isotropic, indicating a large conformational change of the drug upon ion binding. The results for the uncomplexed polyethers can be explained by segmental mobility of the ether rings with respect to the cyclohexyl or benzyl moieties; this flexibility is not present in the potassium complexes. Correlation times obtained from the T 1 's indicate that the anion is an integral part of the polyether complexes but that such ion pairing is not significant for the antibiotics.
A novel hypothalamic-dispersed pituitary co-perifusion model for the study of growth hormone secretion.

Abstract This study presents a novel, in vitro, hypothalamic-dispersed pituitary co-perifusion system (HPPS) developed to examine the influence of the hypothalamus on pituitary growth hormone (GH) secretion in a controlled environment. In this perifusion system, dispersed rat pituitary cells were loaded onto Biogel P-2 (P-2) beads in a 0.5-ml plexiglas chamber and were submerged in a 37°C water bath. After stabilization, two hypothalami were placed into each chamber on a thin layer of P-2 beads and the chamber was re-equilibrated. To test the system, pituitary cells were stimulated either directly with growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) or indirectly via the hypothalamus, with clonidine, anα2-adrenergic (α2) receptor agonist. Perifusion of HPPS or pituitary cells with GRF (40 ng/ml) induced a substantial endogenous GH surge. Clonidine (2 × 10−8M) treatment stimulated a GH surge in HPPS chambers, but not in chambers containing only pituitary cells. Thus, somatotrophs respond to hypothalamic factors released in response to clonidine and not directly toα2 stimulation. To determine if the components involved in GH feedback are present in the perifusion system, HPPS chambers were sequentially perifused with hGH, clonidine, and GRF. hGH pretreatment suppressed the clonidine but not the GRF-induced GH surge(s) observed in chambers perifused with clonidine and GRF only. In chambers only containing pituitary cells, GH was only increased in response to GRF when sequentially perifused with all three substances. This study demonstrates the dynamic interaction between the hypothalamus and pituitary in the regulation of GH secretion in vitro. The results obtained regarding the sensitivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis toα2 stimulation and GH feedback concurs with findings reported earlier. We believe that the perifusion system described in this study provides unique features that may be useful in examining hypothalamic control of pituitary hormone secretion. The specific advantages of this system are: the close proximity of the tissues which minimizes dilution of hypothalamic secretions detected by pituitary cells and the experimental design which permits sampling of the dynamic release of hormones from both the hypothalamus and pituitary simultaneously.
Representing perceived tradeoffs in defining disaster resilience

Two of the primary measures that characterize the concept of disaster resilience are the initial impact of a disaster event and the subsequent time to recovery. This paper presents a new analytic approach to representing the relationship between these two characteristics by extending a multi-dimensional approach for predicting resilience into a technique for fitting the resilience function to the preferences and priorities of a given decision maker. This allows for a more accurate representation of the perceived value of different resilience scenarios to that individual, and thus makes the concept more relevant in the context of strategic decision making.
Investigating the risk of hypertension shortly after pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.

Objective Women with a history of preeclampsia are at increased risk for long-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study assessed whether a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia is associated with an increased prevalence of maternal hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors shortly after delivery. Study Design Seventy-nine cases and 140 controls that had been enrolled in a prospective case-control study were evaluated in this planned follow-up analysis. The presence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia were assessed by standardized questionnaire 6-13 months after delivery. Results Women with preeclampsia were significantly more likely than controls to have hypertension (adjusted odds ratio, 13.92; 95% CI, 5.17-37.4; P P Conclusion Pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, may provide opportunities to identify women at risk for cardiovascular morbidity years before the onset of disease, allowing a window for prevention and intervention.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibits Aquaporin 5 Expression in Mouse Lung Epithelial Cells

Aquaporin 5 (AQP5), the major water channel expressed in alveolar, tracheal, and upper bronchial epithelium, is significantly down-regulated during pulmonary inflammation and edema. The mechanisms that underlie this decrease in AQP5 levels are therefore of considerable interest. Here we show that AQP5 expression in cultured lung epithelial cells is decreased 2-fold at the mRNA level and 10-fold at the protein level by the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Treatment of murine lung epithelial cells (MLE-12) with TNF-alpha results in a concentration- and time-dependent decrease in AQP5 mRNA and protein expression. Activation of the p55 TNF-alpha receptor (TNFR1) with an agonist antibody is sufficient to cause decreased AQP5 expression, demonstrating that the TNF-alpha effect is mediated through TNFR1. Inhibition of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) translocation to the nucleus blocks the effect of TNF-alpha on AQP5 expression, indicating that activation of NF-kappaB is required, whereas inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases showed no effect. These data show that TNF-alpha decreases AQP5 mRNA and protein expression and that the molecular pathway for this effect involves TNFR1 and activated NF-kappaB. The ability of inflammatory cytokines to decrease aquaporin expression may help explain the connection between inflammation and edema.
Cholesterol and coronary heart disease: The 21st century

Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that reductions of serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels substantially decrease the risk for coronary heart disease. These trials confirm other lines of evidence that high levels of LDL are a critical atherogenic factor. Aggressive lowering of LDL levels in high-risk patients promises to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality from coronary heart disease in the first third of the 21st century. However, several additional measures will be required to marginalize coronary heart disease in the 21st century. Other lipoprotein abnormalities and other risk factors, eg, cigarette smoking, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, must be controlled to obtain the full benefit of LDL-lowering therapy. Moreover, the health care delivery system must be reorganized to put more emphasis on prevention. Although much can be achieved through application of current knowledge in prevention efforts, further advances through new research will be required to remove coronary heart disease as a major cause of death in the United States.
Protein structure prediction and potential energy landscape analysis using continuous global minimization

Proteins require specific three-dimensional conformations to function properly. These {open_quotes}native{close_quotes} conformations result primarily from intramolecular interactions between the atoms in the macromolecule, and also intermolecular interactions between the macromolecule and the surrounding solvent. Although the folding process can be quite complex, the instructions guiding this process are specified by the one-dimensional primary sequence of the protein or nucleic acid: external factors, such as helper (chaperone) proteins, present at the time of folding have no effect on the final state of the protein. Many denatured proteins spontaneously refold into functional conformations once denaturing conditions are removed. Indeed, the existence of a unique native conformation, in which residues distant in sequence but close in proximity exhibit a densely packed hydrophobic core, suggests that this three-dimensional structure is largely encoded within the sequential arrangement of these specific amino acids. In any case, the native structure is often the conformation at the global minimum energy. In addition to the unique native (minimum energy) structure, other less stable structures exist as well, each with a corresponding potential energy. These structures, in conjunction with the native structure, make up an energy landscape that can be used to characterize various aspects of the protein structure. 22 refs.,more » 10 figs., 2 tabs.« less
Scalable, efficient epidemiological simulation

We describe the design and implementation of a system for simulating the spread of disease among individuals in a large urban population over the course of several weeks. In contrast to traditional approaches, we do not assume uniform mixing among large sub-populations or split the population into spatial or demographic subpopulations determined a priori. Instead, we rely on empirical estimates of the social network, or contact patterns, that are produced by TRANSIMS, a large-scale simulation of transportation systems.
Electrolytic oxidation studies of 2,2′-dichlorobiphenyl using ruthenium oxide electrodes, persulfate oxidizers, and UV irradiation

Abstract A three probe potentiostat was used to control the potential to a catalytic ruthenium oxide anode in oxidation studies of 2,2′-dichlorobiphenyl (2,2′). Voltages applied varied in one volt increments from 2.0 to 4.0 volts. Studies involved determination of the optimum voltage operating in conjunction with added sodium persulfate oxidizers (0.002 M and 0.018 M) and various exposure times (1 and 8 h) to ultra-violet (254.7 nm) provided by a General Electric BH-6 high pressure mercury arc lamp. The oxidation products of 2,2′ consisted of four compounds. The primary product was 2-chloro, 2′-hydroxyl biphenyl. Other products included: 2-acetoxy, 2′chlorobiphenyl (as previously observed by Laule et al, Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry , 213 : 329–332 (1986)), and dibenzofuran and 5,5′ dichlorodibenzofuran. All products were confirmed using a combination of GC and GC/MS. No reduction in 2,2′ concentration was observed in any of the control solutions in the absence of an applied voltage. Additionally, the presence of an oxidizer and UV irradiation aided the oxidation of 2,2′-dichlorobiphenyl. The oxidation percentage of the 2,2′ at 5 ppm was in the range of 70% under the optimum conditions of applied potential (3.0 volts), persulfate concentration (0.018 M), and UV exposure time (8 h). All reaction conditions and analysis procedures are described.
Synthesis and characterization of (Sr1?x?K2x)Zr4(PO4)6 ceramics

Single phase (Sr1−x′ K2x)Zr4(PO4)6, where x lies between 0.0 and 1.0, ceramic powder with a submicron scale particle size has been synthesized successfully at calcination temperatures as low as 650–750°C by a sol-gel technique. The formation of the powder strongly depends on calcination temperature, but is independent of solution pH in the studied range. Dilatometric measurement shows an ultra-low linear coefficient of thermal expansion of 0.1×10−6°C−1 when x=0.5 at temperature intervals of 25–1000°C. Thermal conductivity and flexural strength of the materials were determined at ambient temperature to be 1.0 Wm−1K−1 and as high as 280 MPa, respectively, indicating that this material can be an excellent candidate in many applications, especially those subjected directly to severe environments.
Mechanisms of platelet activation: need for new strategies to protect against platelet-mediated atherothrombosis.

Platelets are central mediators of haemostasis at sites of vascular injury, but they also mediate pathologic thrombosis. Activated platelets stimulate thrombus formation in response to rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque or endothelial cell erosion, promoting atherothrombotic disease. They also interact with endothelial cells and leukocytes to promote inflammation, which contributes to atherosclerosis. Multiple pathways contribute to platelet activation, and current oral antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and a P2Y12 adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor antagonist target the thromboxane A2 and ADP pathways, respectively. Both can diminish activation by other factors, but the extent of their effects depends upon the agonist, agonist strength, and platelet reactivity status. Although these agents have demonstrated significant clinical benefit, residual morbidity and mortality remain high. Neither agent is effective in inhibiting thrombin, the most potent platelet activator. This lack of comprehensive inhibition of platelet function allows continued thrombus formation and exposes patients to risk for recurrent thrombotic events. Moreover, bleeding risk is a substantial limitation of antiplatelet therapy, because these agents target platelet activation pathways critical for both protective haemostasis and pathologic thrombosis. Novel antiplatelet therapies that provide more complete inhibition of platelet activation without increasing bleeding risk could considerably decrease residual risk for ischemic events. Inhibition of the protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1 platelet activation pathway stimulated by thrombin is a novel, emerging approach to achieve more comprehensive inhibition of platelet activation when used in combination with current oral antiplatelet agents. PAR-1 inhibition is not expected to increase bleeding risk, as this pathway does not interfere with haemostasis.
Projections of the medial and lateral prefrontal cortices to the amygdala: a Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin study in the rat

The projections of different subfields of the medial and lateral prefrontal cortices to the amygdala were studied in the rat using the sensitive Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin anterograde tract tracing technique. Injections into the infralimbic cortex produced anterograde labeling in the lateral capsular subdivision of the central nucleus, superficial (corticomedial) amygdaloid nuclei, lateral and accessory basal nuclei, and the anterior amygdaloid area. Injections into the caudal portion of the infralimbic cortex produced additional labeling in the intermediate subdivision of the central nucleus. The prelimbic cortex had projections to the medial portion of the magnocellular basal nucleus and adjacent portions of the lateral nucleus and lateral capsular subdivision of the central nucleus. The medial precentral cortex had projections to the rostromedial part of the magnocellular basal nucleus and adjacent portions of the lateral capsular subdivision of the central nucleus. Injections into the lateral orbital and ventral agranular insular cortices produced labeled fibers in the rostral part of the superficial amygdala, lateral capsular subdivision of the central nucleus, and the lateral and accessory basal nuclei. The dorsal agranular insular area had projections to several different subdivisions of the central nucleus as well as to the rostrolateral magnocellular basal nucleus; the latter projections were complementary to those originating in the prelimbic area. The present study indicates that each portion of the prefrontal cortex has a distinctive projection to the amygdala. The ventral areas of the lateral and medial prefrontal cortices, which receive olfactory projections, are the only prefrontal cortical areas with projections to the olfactory-related superficial amygdaloid nuclei. The more dorsally situated prefrontal areas, the dorsal agranular insular area and prelimbic cortex, have complementary projections to the basal nucleus, suggesting that they modulate separate prefrontal cortico-striatal-pallid circuits. The specificity of prefrontal cortico-amygdaloid projections is indicative of their involvement in discrete functions.
Energy management design for smart homes using green technology

With today's drastic increase in energy demand, it becomes more and more important to use alternative green technologies. Solar, wind, and hydroelectricity are popular choices, because they are abundant and cause low pollution. One big challenge however is how to manage these new energy resources within the traditional electricity grid. Today's smart home technologies and devices offer a variety of house appliances with embedded sensors. Through Internet websites or ad hoc applications, customers are able to monitor household appliances and receive data from the sensors in real time. However, users are not suggested what measures to take to save energy and money. This paper discusses the design of a new power management system. A new hardware design is developed to implement the proposed management energy solution. The new design consists of a bidirectional DC-DC converter and a battery charger/discharger circuit. By adopting this approach for smart grid systems, we provide a management solution to optimized energy distribution and usage.
Elastic thermal stresses in a hollow circular overlay/substrate system

Abstract This paper investigates the thermal elastic fields in the hollow circular overlay fully bonded to a rigid substrate, which is subjected to a temperature change. Following our previous work for a solid circular overlay/substrate system (Yuan and Yin, Mech. Res. Commun. 38, 283–287, 2011), this paper presents a closed form approximate solution to the axisymmetric boundary value problem using the plane assumption, whose accuracy is verified by the finite element models. When the inner radius is reduced to zero, the present solution recovers the previous solution. When the outer radius approaches infinite, the solution provides the elastic fields for a tiny hole in the overlay. The effects of thickness and width of the overlay are investigated and discussed. When a circular crack initiates in a solid circular overlay, the fracture energy release rate is investigated. This solution is useful for thermal stress analysis of hollow circular thin film/substrate systems and for fracture analysis of spiral cracking in the similar structures.
Scatterometry for 0.24- to 0.70-μm developed photoresist metrology

Scatterometry, the characterization of periodic structures via diffracted light analysis, is shown to be a viable and versatile metrology for critical dimensions as small as 0.24 micrometers . Scatterometry is rapid, nondestructive, inexpensive, and potentially useful for on- line control during several microlithographic processing steps. This paper discusses two recent studies in which scatterometry was applied to the measurement of developed photoresist patterns. First, scatterometric measurements of developed resist lines in the 0.38 micrometers to 0.70 micrometers range will be presented. Results from four sample wafers are shown to be consistent with SEM measurements. For one wafer, the average deviation of scatterometry linewidth measurements form top-down SEM measurements, over a broad exposure range, is 14.5 nm. Moreover, our scatterometer is shown to be highly linear with the SEM; linearity coefficients have typically been above 0.99. The goal of our second project has been to determine whether scatterometry measurements are affected by variations in the integrated circuit production process. A set of twenty-five wafers was fabricated with deliberate variations in the exposure dose and the underlying film thicknesses. We are presently investigating the effects of the film thicknesses on the measurements of critical dimensions (CDs) as small as 0.24 micrometers . Preliminary results indicate that CDs and multiple thin films can be simultaneously measured by applying multi-parameter prediction algorithms to the scattered light data. Results from four different prediction algorithms are given. Finally, the repeatability of the scatterometer is shown to be excellent: 0.5 nm for consecutive measurements and 0.8 nm for day-to-day measurements. The results of an extensive repeatability/precision experiment are presented.
Iron regulates L-cystine uptake and glutathione levels in lens epithelial and retinal pigment epithelial cells by its effect on cytosolic aconitase.

PURPOSE. The authors previously published the novel finding that iron regulates L-glutamate synthesis and accumulation in the cell-conditioned medium (CCM) by increasing cytosolic aconitase activity in cultured lens epithelial cells (LECs), retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, and neurons. The present study was designed to determine whether iron-induced L-glutamate accumulation in the CCM regulates L-cystine uptake and glutathione (GSH) levels through the aconitase pathway in LECs and RPE cells. METHODS. The presence of xCT, the light chain of Xc ,a glutamate/cystine antiporter, was analyzed by RT-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunocytochemistry. Uptake of L-[ 35 S]cystine and L-[ 3 H]glutamate was measured in the presence or absence of transporter inhibitors. L-cystine uptake and intracellular GSH concentration were measured in the presence or absence of iron-saturated transferrin, the iron chelator dipyridyl (DP), or oxalomalic acid (OMA), an aconitase inhibitor. RESULTS. LECs and RPE cells express xCT, as evidenced by RT-PCR analysis and immunoblotting. xCT was localized by immunocytochemistry. The authors found that the iron-induced increase in L-glutamate availability increased L-cystine uptake, with subsequent increases in GSH levels. In addition, L-glutamate production, L-cystine uptake, and GSH concentration were inhibited by OMA and DP, indicating a central role for iron-regulated aconitase activity in GSH synthesis in LECs and RPE cells. CONCLUSIONS. These results demonstrate for the first time that iron regulates L-cystine uptake and the downstream production of GSH in two mammalian cell types. It is possible that the increase in intracellular antioxidant concentration induced by iron serves as a protective mechanism against the well-established capacity of iron to induce oxidative damage. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008;49:310‐319) DOI:10.1167/iovs.07-1041
Simultaneous inference of activity, pose and object

Human movements are important cues for recognizing human actions, which can be captured by explicit modeling and tracking of actor or through space-time low-level features. However, relying solely on human dynamics is not enough to discriminate between actions which have similar human dynamics, such as smoking and drinking, irrespective of the modeling method. Object perception plays an important role in such cases. Conversely, human movements are indicative of type of object used for the action. These two processes of object perception and action understanding are thus not independent. Consequently, action recognition improves when human movements and object perception are used in conjunction. Therefore, we propose a probabilistic approach to simultaneously infer what action was performed, what object was used and what poses the actor went through. This joint inference framework can better discriminate between actions and objects which are too similar and lack discriminative features.
Role of Propagule Size in the Success of Incipient Colonies of the Invasive Argentine Ant

: Factors that contribute to the successful establishment of invasive species are often poorly understood. Propagule size is considered a key determinant of establishment success, but experimental tests of its importance are rare. We used experimental colonies of the invasive Argentine ant ( Linepithema humile) that differed both in worker and queen number to test how these attributes influence the survivorship and growth of incipient colonies. All propagules without workers experienced queen mortality, in contrast to only 6% of propagules with workers. In small propagules (10–1,000 workers), brood production increased with worker number but not queen number. In contrast, per capita measures of colony growth decreased with worker number over these colony sizes. In larger propagules ( 1,000–11,000 workers), brood production also increased with increasing worker number, but per capita brood production appeared independent of colony size. Our results suggest that queens need workers to establish successfully but that propagules with as few as 10 workers can grow quickly. Given the requirements for propagule success in Argentine ants, it is not surprising how easily they spread via human commerce. Resumen: Los factores que contribuyen al establecimiento exitoso de especies invasoras son frecuentemente poco entendido. El tamano del propagulo es considerado un factor clave del exito del establecimiento, pero se han realizado pocas pruebas experimentales para determinar la importancia de este factor. Para estudiar como influyen estos atributos en la supervivencia y el crecimiento de colonias incipientes utilizamos colonias experimentales de la hormiga invasora argentina ( Linepithema humile) distintas en cuanto al numero de hormigas obreras como de reinas. Hubo mortalidad de reinas en todos los propagulos sin obreras y, en contraste, en solo 6% de los propagulos con obreras. En propagulos pequenos (10–1,000 obreras) la produccion de crias incremento con el numero de obreras, pero no con el numero de reinas. En contraste, las mediciones per capita del crecimiento de la colonia disminuyeron para estos tamanos de colonia. En propagulos grandes (1,000-11,000 obreras), la produccion de crias tambien incremento con el numero de obreras, pero la produccion de crias per capita parece ser independiente del tamano de la colonia. Nuestros resultados sugieren que las reinas necesitan obreras para establecerse exitosamente, pero los propagulos con tan poco como 10 obreras pueden crecer rapidamente. Dado que son los requerimientos para el exito de los propagulos de hormigas argentinas, no nos sorprende la facilidad con la cual estas hormigas se dispersan como resultado del comercio humano.
Restoring provenance to a Native American feather blanket

Abstract A technical examination of an unprovenanced feather blanket in the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum in California found turkey feathers, yucca fiber cordage, human hair, associated botanicals, and a documented twining technique indicating that the blanket likely derives from the prehistoric Southwest, possibly Basketmaker III–Pueblo I (ca. 700–950 AD), rather than from eighteenth to nineteenth century California as originally believed. Sources on excavated Southwest prehistoric fur and feather blankets, revival practices by contemporary Pueblo weavers, and physical examination of two historic California feather blankets indicate similarities and differences in materials and construction methods, and vastly different contemporary attitudes toward feather blankets in museums. This case study is an example of how conservation methods can be used in support of post-Colonial museum goals, benefiting traditional owners and indigenous communities. Reattribution from historic California to a Pueblo child bu...
Direct production of OH radicals upon CH overtone activation of (CH3)2COO Criegee intermediates

Ozonolysis of alkenes, a principle non-photolytic source of atmospheric OH radicals, proceeds through unimolecular decay of energized carbonyl oxide intermediates, known as Criegee intermediates. In this work, cold dimethyl-substituted Criegee intermediates are vibrationally activated in the CH stretch overtone region to drive the 1,4 hydrogen transfer reaction that leads to OH radical products. IR excitation of (CH3)2COO reveals the vibrational states with sufficient oscillator strength, coupling to the reaction coordinate, and energy to surmount the effective barrier (≤ 16.0 kcal mol−1) to reaction. Insight on the dissociation dynamics is gleaned from homogeneous broadening of the spectral features, indicative of rapid intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution and/or reaction, as well as the quantum state distribution of the OH X2Π (v = 0) products. The experimental results are compared with complementary electronic structure calculations, which provide the IR absorption spectrum and geometric changes along the intrinsic reaction coordinate. Additional theoretical analysis reveals the vibrational modes and couplings that permit (CH3)2COO to access to the transition state region for reaction. The experimental and theoretical results are compared with an analogous recent study of the IR activation of syn-CH3CHOO and its unimolecular decay to OH products
Patterns of estrous cycles, estrous behavior, and circulating prolactin in spring and summer in ewes selected for autumn lambing and exposed to ambient or long-day photoperiods

Abstract Estrous behavior in response to ambient and long-day photoperiods was evaluated in ewes developed by 10 years of selection for ability to lamb in autumn. Following October lambing, 67 ewes were moved indoors and exposed to long-day (16L:8D) or ambient photoperiods from February 2 until July 6. Two vasectomized rams with marking harnesses were housed with each group. Estrous behavior was monitored twice weekly. Ewes from the selection line were unresponsive to long days, with no effects on estrous behavior, frequency of ovulation, or circulating prolactin. Adult ewes were anestrus for only 34±3d, but 2- and 3-years-old ewes were anestrus for 72±7 and 57±10d, respectively. Frequencies of ovulation based on circulating progesterone concentrations in March, May, and June were 97%, 95% and 52%, respectively, indicating that many ewes that did not exhibit estrus still ovulated. Prolactin concentrations increased from 10ng/ml in February to 27ng/ml in March and 173ng/ml in June but were not affected by light treatment. Ten ewes that failed to exhibit estrus behavior for at most 24d during the main study were then monitored for 74 additional long days. Nine of 10 ewes did not exhibit estrus for periods similar to 1 or 2 estrus cycles during this period, but eight ewes re-initiated cycles by the end of the study on September 18. Selection for ability to lamb in autumn thus resulted in ewes with an abbreviated seasonal anestrus and reduced sensitivity to long days.
Mapping Internationalization: Domestic and Regional Impacts

This article introduces a conceptual design for mapping the domestic impact of internationalization. It proposes that internationalization leads to a trimodal domestic coalitional profile and advances a set of expectations about the regional effects of each profile. Aggregate data from ninety-eight coalitions in nineteen states over five regions suggests that between 1948 and 1993 the three coalitional types differed in their international behavior. Internationalizing coalitions deepened trade openness, expanded exports, attracted foreign investments, restrained military-industrial complexes, initiated fewer international crises, eschewed weapons of mass destruction, deferred to international economic and security regimes, and strove for regional cooperative orders that reinforced those objectives. Backlash coalitions restricted or reduced trade openness and reliance on exports, curbed foreign investment, built expansive military complexes, developed weapons of mass destruction, challenged international regimes, exacerbated civic-nationalist, religious, or ethnic differentiation within their region, and were prone to initiate international crises. Hybrids straddled the grand strategies of their purer types, intermittently striving for economic openness, contracting the military complex, initiating international crises, and cooperating regionally and internationally, but neither forcefully nor coherently. These findings have significant implications for international relations theory and our incipient understanding of internationalization. Further extensions of the conceptual framework can help capture international effects that are yet to be fully integrated into the study of the domestic politics of coalition formation.
Clinicopathologic evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation in horses with acute colitis.

Objective—To detect subclinical disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in horses with colitis and to determine any association between the diagnosis of subclinical DIC and outcome or occurrence of complications in horses with colitis. Design—Prospective study. Animals—37 horses admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital for treatment of acute colitis. Procedure—Coagulation profiles were obtained on each horse 0, 24, and 48 hours after admission. Six tests were performed: platelet count, plasma fibrinogen concentration, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, antithrombin activity, and serum fibrin degradation products concentration. Results—A clinicopathologic diagnosis of subclinical DIC was made if 3 of the 6 tests had abnormal results at any 1 sample period. No horse had clinical signs of DIC at the time of sampling. Twelve of 37 (32%) horses met the criteria for diagnosis of subclinical DIC within a 1-year period. Outcome was defined as survival or nonsurvival. Five of 12 horses...
Relationship between nociceptin/orphanin FQ and cerebral hemodynamics after hypoxia-ischemia in piglets

This study was designed to characterize the role of the newly described endogenous opioid nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOC/oFQ) in reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) observed after ischemia-reperfusion (...
Amphotericin B: How Much Is Enough?

The total curative dose of amphotericin B for any given fungal infection or specific patient is not precisely known. Prior to the availability of lipid formulations of amphotericin B (LFAB), dosing of amphotericin B was dictated by its associated toxicity. The unique pharmacokinetic features of each LFAB have led to differences in their recommended doses. Most published data have evaluated doses of 3–5 mg/kg/day, although niches exist for both higher and lower doses. Low-dose LFAB allows for intravenous broad-spectrum antifungal coverage without drug-drug interactions and with reduced toxicity. High-dose LFAB demonstrates increased fungal clearance in animal models, although this has not translated to improved clinical outcomes for most invasive fungal infections. Although available data do not demonstrate significant benefit associated with high-dose therapy, for liposomal amphotericin B, the data also demonstrate no significant harm. As such, the use of high-dose liposomal amphotericin B for salvage therapy may be a consideration.
Integration of what and where in the primate prefrontal cortex.

The visual system separates processing of an object’s form and color (“what”) from its spatial location (“where”). In order to direct action to objects, the identity and location of those objects must somehow be integrated. To examine whether this process occurs within the prefrontal (PF) cortex, the activity of 195 PF neurons was recorded during a task that engaged both what and where working memory. Some neurons showed either object-tuned (what) or location-tuned (where) delay activity. However, over half (52 percent, or 64/123) of the PF neurons with delay activity showed both what and where tuning. These neurons may contribute to the linking of object information with the spatial information needed to guide behavior.
Quantitative Freezing and Thawing Parameters for Composite Roof Decks

Frost action parameters (cooling rate, freezing temperature, duration of freezing, warming rate, thawing temperature, and duration of thawing) for composite roof deck systems composed of structural concrete and asphalt-gravel surface materials, with and without insulating layers, were developed using climatic data from Chicago, Illinois. All calculations were accomplished by use of a multilayered, transient, heat-transfer model developed at the University of Illinois. An idealized freeze-thaw cycle was established for analysis purposes. The frost action parameter data showed substantial variability as related to the effects of position in the composite section and time of year. Comparisons of the data with standard freeze-thaw testing procedures indicate that the standard procedures many times do not adequately simulate field service conditions. It is indicated that frost action parameter data, similar to those generated in this study, should be considered in the development of realistic and rational freeze-thaw durability testing procedures. From the results of this study, it would appear that testing procedures developed from quantitative freezing and thawing parameters should be used to assess the durability of composite roof deck systems.
DMD reliability: a MEMS success story

The Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) developed by Texas Instruments (TI) has made tremendous progress in both performance and reliability since it was first invented in 1987. From the first working concept of a bistable mirror, the DMD is now providing high-brightness, high-contrast, and high-reliability in over 1,500,000 projectors using Digital Light Processing TM technology. In early 2000, TI introduced the first DMD chip with a smaller mirror (14-micron pitch versus 17-micron pitch). This allowed a greater number of high-resolution DMD chips per wafer, thus providing an increased output capacity as well as the flexibility to use existing package designs. By using existing package designs, subsequent DMDs cost less as well as met our customers' demand for faster time to market. In recent years, the DMD achieved the status of being a commercially successful MEMS device. It reached this status by the efforts of hundreds of individuals working toward a common goal over many years. Neither textbooks nor design guidelines existed at the time. There was little infrastructure in place to support such a large endeavor. The knowledge we gained through our characterization and testing was all we had available to us through the first few years of development. Reliability was only a goal in 1992 when production development activity started; a goal that many throughout the industry and even within Texas Instruments doubted the DMD could achieve. The results presented in this paper demonstrate that we succeeded by exceeding the reliability goals.
The Slice Select Gradient

Of the three gradients, we will begin with the slice select gradient. Since it is in the z axis direction, we will call it the “z gradient”. The z gradient imposes a gradual change in the main magnetic field from the head to the foot end of the patient. If we graph the z gradient with the magnitude of the magnetic field on the y axis and the position along the long axis of the body on the x axis, then we obtain the straight line shown in the graph in fig. 8.1 below.
2011 Mars Science Laboratory Mission Design Overview

Scheduled to launch in the fall of 2011 with arrival at Mars occurring in the summer of 2012, NASA's Mars Science Laboratory will explore and assess whether Mars ever had conditions capable of supporting microbial life. In order to achieve its science objectives, the Mars Science Laboratory will be equipped with the most advanced suite of instruments ever sent to the surface of the Red Planet. Delivering the next mobile science laboratory safely to the surface of Mars has various key challenges derived from a strict set of requirements which include launch vehicle performance, spacecraft mass, communications coverage during Entry, Descent, and Landing, atmosphere-relative entry speeds, latitude accessibility, and dust storm season avoidance among others. The Mars Science Laboratory launch/arrival strategy selected after careful review satisfies all these mission requirements.