cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Migration of Salmonella typhi through Intestinal Epithelial Monolayers: An In Vitro Study

This study characterizes the transmigration of enteroinvasive Salmonella typhi in vitro, using a human intestinal epithelial cell line as a model of small intestinal epithelium. C2BBe cells, a subclone of CACO-2 with a highly differentiated enterocytic phenotype, were grown to maturity on Transwell filters. S. typhi Ty2 and the vaccine strain, Ty21a, the S. typhi mutant X7344 and parent strain SB130, and S. typhimurium 5771 in logarithmic phase were introduced to the upper chamber of the filter units. Numbers of bacteria in the lower chamber, TER and permeability of the monolayer to mannitol were measured over time. Monolayers were examined by light, electron and confocal microscopy to determine the pathway of bacterial transmigration, and intracellular bacteria were estimated by gentamicin assay. Epithelial cell injury was quantified by light microscopy. S. typhi transmigrated earlier and in larger numbers than S. typhimurium, inducing marked changes in electrical resistance and permeability. Unlike S. typhimurium, S. typhi selected epithelial cells in small number and caused their death and extrusion from the monolayers leaving holes through which S. typhi transmigrated. Ty2 consistently transmigrated in larger numbers and with more injury to monolayers than Ty21a. S. typhi crosses the monolayers of C2BBe cells by a paracellular route in contrast to the transcellular pathway described for other Salmonellae. This may be related to the unique pathophysiology of S. typhi infection and the restricted host specificity of this pathogen. In these assays the vaccine strain, Ty21a, is slightly less invasive than its parent, though more invasive than S. typhimurium.
ABH and related histo-blood group antigens; immunochemical differences in carrier isotypes and their distribution.

This review summarizes present knowledge of the chemistry of histo-blood group ABH and related antigens. Recent advances in analytical carbohydrate chemistry (particularly mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy) and the introduction of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) have made it possible to distinguish structural variants of histo-blood group ABH antigens. Polymorphism of ABH antigens is induced by: (i) variations in peripheral core structure, of which four (type 1, 2, 3 and 4) are known in man; (ii) variation in inner core by branching process (blood group iI), leading to variation of unbranched vs. branched ABH determinants; (iii) biosynthetic interaction with other glycosyltransferases (Lewis, P. T/Tn blood systems) capable of acting on the same substrate as the ABH-defined transferases, and finally (iv) the nature of the glycoconjugate (glycolipid, glycoprotein of N- or O-linked type). ABH variants induced by item (i) above have been clearly distinguished qualitatively by MoAbs; e.g., at least six types of A determinants can be distinguished by qualitatively different classes of antibody. The variants induced by item (ii) create mono- vs. bivalent antigens which may be responsible for observed differences in antibody-binding affinity. Detailed studies of the chemistry of these antigens have increased our insight into blood groups, providing the basis for blood group iI and A subgrouping, as well as a relation between the ABH and Lewis, P, and T/Tn systems. A survey of the literature on distribution patterns of ABH variants is presented. It has been assumed that expression of histo-blood group antigens is developmentally regulated. Relationships between histo-blood group expression, development, differentiation and maturation, as well as malignant transformation, are discussed.
Acute Renal Failure Induced by a Brazilian Variety of Propolis

Propolis is a resinous substance collected by honeybees and used in hive construction and maintenance. Cumulative evidence suggests that propolis may have anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antioxidant, antihepatotoxic, and antitumor properties. In addition to topical applications, products containing propolis have been used increasingly as dietary supplements. Although reports of allergic reactions are not uncommon, propolis is reputed to be relatively nontoxic. Its systemic toxicity is rarely reported and hence may be underestimated. This is the first report of propolis-induced acute renal failure. A 59-year-old man required hemodialysis for acute renal failure. The patient had cholangiocarcinoma and had ingested propolis for 2 weeks before presentation. Renal function improved after propolis withdrawal, deteriorated again after reexposure, and then returned to a normal level after the second propolis withdrawal. This case indicates that propolis can induce acute renal failure and emphasizes the need for vigilance and care when propolis is used as a medicine or dietary supplement.
Adjuvant versus neoadjuvant androgen deprivation with radiotherapy for prostate cancer: does sequencing matter?

Abstract Introduction/Background Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is typically provided neoadjuvantly and concurrently with radiotherapy (RT) in the management of intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer. Our objective was to compare outcomes between patients who received adjuvant ADT (ADJ), ie, immediately after the completion of RT, to those who received a neoadjuvant and concurrent regimen (NEO). Materials and Methods From 1995 to 2002, 515 patients with prostate cancer were definitively treated with RT and ADT. NEO was provided 2 to 3 months before the start of RT (n = 311). ADJ was initiated immediately after the completion of RT (n = 204). Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and overall survival (OS). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine the impact of ADT timing on outcomes. Results Ten-year bRFS, DMFS, and OS rates were 61%, 80%, and 66%, respectively. Ten-year bRFS rates for ADJ versus NEO were 63% versus 60% ( P = .98). Ten-year DMFS rates for ADJ versus NEO were both 80% ( P = .60). Ten-year OS rates for ADJ versus NEO were 65% versus 67% ( P = .98). Conclusion There was no significant difference in bRFS, DMFS, or OS between neoadjuvant versus adjuvant ADT in the setting of dose-escalated RT for localized prostate cancer. This suggests that the synergy between RT and androgen deprivation is independent of the sequencing of both modalities and that the initiation of RT does not need to be delayed for a course of neoadjuvant ADT.
Networked VAX/LSI/CAMAC Data Acquisition System Development

Recent development of the Caltech data acquisition system installed in 1981, which runs on a VAX-11/750, a Peritek Q-bus network, LSI-11s, and CAMAC, is described. In this system, the DEC VMS and RT-11 operating systems are supported on the VAX "host" and LSI-11 "front-end" computers by a VMS device driver and network host program, and a bootable RT-11 device driver. Network "utility" and "control" programs provide general purpose support for communication between front-end and host software. Data acquisition software tools are provided for writing programs to run nuclear physics experiments. A system similar to Caltech's was installed at the University of Rochester in 1982. The network has been tested for speed and real-time response. After including all software overhead required by data acquisition, it was found that the system cOutld transfer buffers and acknowledge their receipt at a net speed of 127 KB per second with a 35% load on the host computer. The network software is currently being rehosted on Ethernet hardware at Caltech in a multiple host - many front-end computer configuration. Compatibility with the current Peritek network software will be maintained.
Titanium Alloy Lattice Structures with Millimeter Scale Cell Sizes

Titanium sandwich panels with cellular cores of a uniform 1–5 mm diameter open cell size are well suited for impact energy absorption and cross flow heat exchange applications. Periodic cellular structures (lattices) made from high specific strength, high temperature alloys are preferred for these multifunctional uses. A diffusion bonding method has been applied here to make cellular lattice structures from a Ti–6A1–4V alloy. To illustrate the approach, lattice structures with both square and diamond collinear topologies, a 2 mm open cell size, and a relative density of 15% were made from 254 µm diameter titanium alloy wires. These structures were found to have a compressive strength of 40 ± 5 MPa that was controlled by plastic yield followed by buckling of the struts. The cellular structures have been brazed to titanium alloy face sheets to create sandwich panel structures that appear well suited for multifunctional applications up to 420 °C.
Lab measurements to support modeling terahertz propagation in brownout conditions

Brownout, the loss of visibility caused by dust and debris introduced into the atmosphere by the downwash of a helicopter, currently represents a serious challenge to U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, where it has been cited as a factor in the majority of helicopter accidents. Brownout not only reduces visibility, but can create visual illusions for the pilot and difficult conditions for crew beneath the aircraft. Terahertz imaging may provide one solution to this problem. Terahertz frequency radiation readily propagates through the dirt aerosols present in brownout, and therefore can provide an imaging capability to improve effective visibility for pilots, helping prevent the associated accidents. To properly model the success of such systems, it is necessary to determine the optical properties of such obscurants in the terahertz regime. This research attempts to empirically determine, and measure in the laboratory, the full complex index of refraction optical properties of dirt aerosols representative of brownout conditions. These properties are incorporated into the AFIT/CDE Laser Environmental Effects Definition and Reference (LEEDR) software, allowing this program to more accurately assess the propagation of terahertz radiation under brownout conditions than was done in the past with estimated optical properties.
Reduction of conductance-based neuron models

We present a scheme for systematically reducing the number of differential equations required for biophysically realistic neuron models. The techniques are general, are designed to be applicable to a large set of such models and retain in the reduced system as high a degree of fidelity to the original system as possible. As examples, we provide reductions of the Hodgkin-Huxley system and the A-current model of Connor et al. (1977).
Detection of African malignant catarrhal fever virus antigens in cell cultures by immunofluorescence

Abstract A fluorescent antibody (FA) test for antigens of African bovine wildebeest-derived malignant catarrhal fever virus was developed. Serum from one of the few survivors of the experimental disease in steers was used to prepare the conjugate. Both a virulent and an attenuated strain of malignant catarrhal fever virus were used to infect bovine thyroid cell cultures. Cells infected with both strains were readily detected by FA staining as early as 24 h post infection, whereas cytopathic effect could be observed by bright-field microscopy only after days 5 or 6 post infection. Controls consisting of normal bovine thyroid cells or infected cells treated with conjugated normal globulins did not show autofluorescence. The reaction was blocked by treatment of infected cells with homologous positive antisera but not by treatment with normal bovine serum or antisera to foot-and-mouth disease, rinderpest, bovine virus diarrhea, Ibaraki, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, or bovine herpes mammilitis viruses. Treated with African malgnant catarrhal fever virus conjugate did not react.
The state of global health in 2014

The global health landscape looks more promising than ever, although progress has been uneven. Here, we describe the current global burden of disease throughout the life cycle, highlighting regional differences in the unfinished agenda of communicable diseases and reproductive, maternal, and child health and the additive burden of emerging noncommunicable diseases and injuries. Understanding this changing landscape is an essential starting point for effective allocation of both domestic and international resources for health.
Raman scattering studies in the solid electrolytes of the Rb Ag 4 I 5 family

We have studied the dynamics of the mobile ${\mathrm{Ag}}^{+}$ ions and their surrounding tetrahedral iodine cages in the solid electrolytes $M{\mathrm{Ag}}_{4}{\mathrm{I}}_{5}$ ($M=\mathrm{Rb}, \mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{4}, \mathrm{K}$) by Raman scattering. Polarized spectra of oriented single crystals have been measured from the melting point to the second-order phase transition ${T}_{2}$ and to the first-order transition ${T}_{1}$ for K${\mathrm{Ag}}_{4}$${\mathrm{I}}_{5}$. We have observed (i) a broad peak at 105 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ of mainly ${A}_{1}$ symmetry which is believed to be due to the breathing modes of the crystalline cages of ${\mathrm{I}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ tetrahedra, (ii) a shoulder near 20 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ of nearly equal ${F}_{2}$ and $E$ components and little ${A}_{1}$, which is interpreted as being due to the attempt vibrations of the silver ions, (iii) a quasielastic peak which has been assigned to the diffusive modes of the ${\mathrm{Ag}}^{+}$ ions, (iv) a peak near 17 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ having ${A}_{1}$ symmetry, and (v) three $E$ peaks having frequencies near 50, 27, and $X$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, where $X=15, 17, \mathrm{and} 18.5$ for $M=\mathrm{Rb}, \mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{4}, \mathrm{and} K$, respectively. Except for the latter peak, the spectra are essentially identical for different $M$, and no new features appear below ${T}_{2}$.
Subpicosecond spectral gain dynamics in AlGaAs laser diodes

We present results of tunable probe measurements of ultrafast dynamics in AIGaAs diode laser amplifiers. The use of gated upconversion has allowed the observation of subpicosecond gain depletion and recovery with pump-probe separations of up to 30 nm. The data show no sign of spectral hole burning and are consistent with the mechanism of dynamic carrier heating.
Surface oxide cracking associated with oxidation-induced grain boundary sliding in the underlying alloy

When thin sections of FeCrAlY alloys having initially flat surfaces are oxidized at high temperature, the surface becomes uneven as some metal grains on the surface displace above and below the macroscopic surface. On subsequent cooling, the oxide formed by high-temperature oxidation cracks and spalls at the edges of the uplifted grains. Microstructural observations indicate that the grain uplift is associated with grain sliding and it proposed that the sliding at the oxidation temperature occurs in response to the evolving compressive growth stress in the oxide. The observed spalling patterns are consistent with a fracture mechanics model in which incipient flaws at the oxide-alloy interface, in the vicinity of the step edges, propagate in the residual stress field in the oxide.
The influence of salt on the structure and energetics of supercoiled DNA.

We present a detailed computational study of the influence of salt on the configurations, energies, and dynamics of supercoiled DNA. A potential function that includes both elastic and electrostatic energy components is employed. Specifically, the electrostatic term, with salt-dependent coefficients, is modeled after Stigter's pioneering work on the effective diameter of DNA as a function of salt concentration. Because an effective charge per unit length is used, the electrostatic formulation does not require explicit modeling of phosphates and can be used to study long DNAs at any desired resolution of charge. With explicit consideration of the electrostatic energy, an elastic bending constant corresponding to the nonelectrostatic part of the bending contribution to the persistence length is used. We show, for a series of salt concentrations ranging from 0.005 to 1.0 M sodium, how configurations and energies of supercoiled DNA (1000 and 3000 base pairs) change dramatically with the simulated salt environment. At high salt, the DNA adopts highly compact and bent interwound states, with the bending energy dominating over the other components, and the electrostatic energy playing a minor role in comparison to the bending and twisting terms. At low salt, the DNA supercoils are much more open and loosely interwound, and the electrostatic components are dominant. Over the range of three decades of salt examined, the electrostatic energy changes by a factor of 10. The buckling transition between the circle and figure-8 is highly sensitive to salt concentration: this transition is delayed as salt concentration decreases, with a particularly sharp increase below 0.1 M. For example, for a bending-to-twisting force constant ratio of A/C = 1.5, the linking number difference (delta LK) corresponding to equal energies for the circle and figure-8 increases from 2.1 to 3.25 as salt decreases from 1.0 to 0.005 M. We also present in detail a family of three-lobed supercoiled DNA configurations that are predicted by elasticity theory to be stable at low delta Lk. To our knowledge, such three-dimensional structures have not been previously presented in connection with DNA supercoiling. These branched forms have a higher bending energy than the corresponding interwound configurations at the same delta Lk but, especially at low salt, this bending energy difference is relatively small in comparison with the total energy, which is dominated by the electrostatic contributions. Significantly, the electrostatic energies of the three-lobed and (straight) interwound forms are comparable at each salt environment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Functional Distribution of Nicotinic Receptors in CA3 Region of the Hippocampus

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) modulation of a number of parameters of synaptic signaling in the brain has been demonstrated. It is likely that effects of nicotine are due to its ability to modulate network excitability as a whole. A pre-requisite to understanding the effects of nicotine on network properties is the elucidation of functional receptors. We have examined the distribution of functional nAChRs in the dentate gyrus granule cells and the CA3 region of the mammalian hippocampus using calcium imaging from acute slices. Our results demonstrate the presence of functional nAChRs containing the α7 subunit (α7-nAChRs) on mossy fiber boutons, CA3 pyramidal cells, and on astrocytes. In addition, both CA3 interneurons and granule cells show nicotinic signals. Our study suggests that functional nicotinic receptors are widespread in their distribution and that calcium imaging might be an effective technique to examine locations of these receptors in the mammalian brain.
Sensation and control of breathing: A dynamic model

A dynamic model of the CO2 respiratory control system is proposed, which can provide a qualitative basis for predicting breathing sensations. The discomfort index, which represents breathing sensations, is assumed to be composed of two sources: the arterial CO2 level and the respiratory motor command. The respiratory controller receives inhibitory neuromechanical and excitatory CO2 signals from the plant. The CO2 signal is enhanced by exercise stimuli. This dynamic multiplicative-type controller is used in simulations of key experiments: exercise and CO2 rebreathing with and without resistive loading. The dynamics of the discomfor index, the respiratory motor command, ventilation, and arterial CO2 concentration conform to the experimental data. The perceptual sensitivity to CO2 relative to respiratory effort is significantly correlated with the slope of hypercapnic ventilatory response. This result shows a clear linkage between ventilatory response and breathing sensations. Although it is shown that the automatic controller effectively minimizes the discomfort index for perturbations about an operating point under certain conditions, the discomfort index itself does not seem to be an underlying control principle of the proposed automatic controller model. Rather, breathing sensations may influence ventilatory responses by modifying the output of the automatic controller.
Mapping Invisible Work: Conceptual Tools for Social Justice Projects

Feminist scholars developed the concept of “invisible work” in the 1980s to bring sociological attention to work that was unpaid, unrecognized, or undervalued. Since then, it has become clear that the “generous” concept of work can be applied more broadly and that bringing invisible work into view may help to advance projects of social justice and inclusion. Drawing on the example of healthcare access for deaf patients, this article explores strategies for deploying the generous concept of work in institutional analysis.
A Knowledge-Based Multiple-Sequence Alignment Algorithm

A common and cost-effective mechanism to identify the functionalities, structures, or relationships between species is multiple-sequence alignment, in which DNA/RNA/protein sequences are arranged and aligned so that similarities between sequences are clustered together. Correctly identifying and aligning these sequence biological similarities help from unwinding the mystery of species evolution to drug design. We present our knowledge-based multiple sequence alignment (KB-MSA) technique that utilizes the existing knowledge databases such as SWISSPROT, GENBANK, or HOMSTRAD to provide a more realistic and reliable sequence alignment. We also provide a modified version of this algorithm (CB-MSA) that utilizes the sequence consistency information when sequence knowledge databases are not available. Our benchmark tests on BAliBASE, PREFAB, HOMSTRAD, and SABMARK references show accuracy improvements up to 10 percent on twilight data sets against many leading alignment tools such as ISPALIGN, PADT, CLUSTALW, MAFFT, PROBCONS, and T-COFFEE.
Characterization of Histidine Residues Essential for Receptor Binding and Activity of Nerve Growth Factor

The role of the four histidine residues in receptor binding and activity of mouse nerve growth factor (NGF) was investigated using both site-directed mutagenesis and chemical modification with diethyl pyrocarbonate. Replacement of His-75 or His-84 with alanine resulted in decreased biological activity and decreased affinity for p140trkA; however, with H75A only, a 5-fold increased affinity toward p75LANR was observed. The effect of simultaneous replacement of both His-75 and His-84 was neither additive nor synergistic. Slight perturbations in circular dichroism spectra and weakened self-association of the mutants indicated that His-75 and His-84 may be involved in stability, dimerization, and/or folding of NGF. Diethyl pyrocarbonate modification of His-4 and His-8 in the H75A/H84Q double mutant abolished neuritogenesis, binding to both receptors, and phosphorylation of p140trkA in PC12 cells. These chemical and mutational results confirm and clarify previous evidence for the involvement of His-75 and His-84 (Dunbar, J. C., Tregear, G. W., and Bradshaw, R. A. (1984) J. Protein Chem. 3, 349-356) or His-4 and His-8 (Shih, A., Laramee, G. R., Schmelzer, C. H., Burton, L. E., and Winslow, J. W. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 27679-27686) in receptor binding of NGF. At least three and possibly all four histidines, which are located in three spatially distinct regions, contribute to maintenance of functional sites that are essential for receptor binding and activity of NGF.
Explaining the Symptomatology of Separated and Divorced Women and Men: The Role of Material Conditions and Social Networks

Past research consistently finds that marital dissolution is associated with psychological distress. In this paper, we propose that the explanation for this association varies by gender. Specifically, we hypothesize that it is material conditions (income and parental obligations) that are most important in accounting for the greater symptomatology of separated and divorced women while it is dimensions of social networks (both structural and experiential) that are more important in accounting for the symptomatology of separated and divorced men. Our analyses largely support the hypotheses. Our findings suggest that marriage protects men and zwmen in very different ways. Researchers consistently find that marital dissolution is associated with psychological distress (Bachrach; Bloom et al.; Riessman and Gerstel). Compared with the married, the separated and divorced-both male and female-have higher rates of mental health symptoms as well as admission to psychiatric hospitals and outpatient clinics (Briscoe et al.; Radloff; Redick and Johnson; Somers; Warheit et al.). In this sense, marriage is protective of mental health. Various explanations have been offered for the relationship between separation and divorce and psychiatric symptoms. In general, two
Shear rheology of polymer solutions near the critical condition for elastic instability

The use of constant viscosity, highly elastic polymer solutions, so called Boger fluids, has been remarkably successful in elucidating the behavior of polymeric materials under flowing conditions. However, the behavior of these fluids is still complicated by many different physical processes occurring within a narrow window of observation time and applied shear rate. In this study, we investigate the long-time shear behavior of an ideal Boger fluid: a well characterized, athermal, dilute, binary solution of high molecular weight polystyrene in oligomeric polystyrene. Rheological measurements show that under an applied steady shear flow, this family of polymer solutions undergoes a transient decay of normal stresses on a timescale much longer than the polymer molecule's relaxation time. Rheological and flow visualization results demonstrate that the observed phenomenon is not caused by polymer degradation, phase separation, viscous heating, or secondary flows from elastic instabilities. Although the timescale is much shorter than that associated with polymer migration in the same solutions (MacDonald and Muller, 1996), the appearance of this phenomenon only at the rates where migration has been observed suggests that it may be a prerequisite for observing migration. In addition, we note that through sufficient preshearing of the sample, the normal stress decrease suppresses the elastic instability. These results show that there is considerable uncertainty in choosing the appropriate measure of the fluid relaxation time for consistently modeling the critical condition for the elastic instability, the decay of normal stresses, and the migration of polymer species.
Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization in a nursing home: eradication with mupirocin.

Recent reports have emphasized an increase in both infection and colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in institutionalized older patients. We studied whether or not local treatment with mupirocinointment could eliminate nasal colonization with S aureus. A total of 102 patients in a Veterans Administration nursing home were screened for S aureus nasal colonization. Thirty-nine patients (38.2%) were colonized, 18 with methicillin-sensitive Saureus (MSSA) and 21 with MRSA. Almost half of all colonized patients were in the most dependent functional category and there was a significant association of MRSA colonization, but not MSSA colonization, with poor functional status. Colonized patients were treated with mupirocin ointment applied to the anterior nares twice daily for seven days. After treatment, MSSA persisted in only two patients and MRSA in only one patient; thus, nasal colonization was eliminated in 91.4% of colonized patients. At one month and two months follow-up, 11 patients became transiently recolonized and three became persistently recolonized with S aureus . Mupirocin was well tolerated with no side effects noted. Mupirocin ointment may be useful in controlling nasal colonization with S aureus in the nursing home setting.
Derrick Hindery. From Enron to Evo. Pipeline Politics, Global Environmentalism, and Indigenous Rights in Bolivia

From Enron to Evo is a long-term study of Enron and Shell’s construction of the Cuiaba pipeline in eastern Bolivia. The pipeline goes through the middle of the Chiquitano forest and affects a population of about 8,000. The project also has a negative impact on four critical ecoregions; the Gran Chaco and Cerrado, which are a mixture of grasslands and scattered trees, the Chiquitano dry forest, and the Pantanal wetlands. The Cuiaba pipeline has been highly contested by the thirty-four Chiquitano and two Ayoreo communities that live in the area. After years of field research, extensive interviews and document analyses, Dr. Hindery manages to expose the murky ways in which the hydrocarbon industry works in Bolivia. This is an industry where the powerful –mainly multinational oil companies and the Bolivian government– abuse the ecoregion and the indigenous populations that live on it.
Calories and carcinogenesis: lessons learned from 30 years of calorie restriction research

Calorie restriction (CR) is arguably the most potent, broadly acting dietary regimen for suppressing the carcinogenesis process, and many of the key studies in this field have been published in Carcinogenesis. Translation of the knowledge gained from CR research in animal models to cancer prevention strategies in humans is urgently needed given the worldwide obesity epidemic and the established link between obesity and increased risk of many cancers. This review synthesizes the evidence on key biological mechanisms underlying many of the beneficial effects of CR, with particular emphasis on the impact of CR on growth factor signaling pathways and inflammatory processes and on the emerging development of pharmacological mimetics of CR. These approaches will facilitate the translation of CR research into effective strategies for cancer prevention in humans.
Analysis and design of a leaky-wave EMC dipole array

An analysis of an electromagnetically coupled (EMC) dipole array is presented, in which a microstrip line is coupled to an infinite periodic linear array of microstrip dipoles, arranged perpendicular to the line. The spectral-domain immittance method is used to obtain the periodic Green's function for the two-layered structure, and the method of moments with a Galerkin testing procedure is then used to enforce the electric field integral equation (EFIE) on the line and the dipole within a unit cell of the structure to obtain the determinantal equation for the unknown leaky-wave propagation constant. One of the interesting features of this analysis is the path of integration in the complex plane used to compute the moment method reactions, which must be partly on the improper sheet for the m=-1 space harmonic when it radiates in the forward direction. Measured radiation patterns for a 10-element EMC dipole array are presented and compared with the corresponding theoretical ones. >
Das Arbeiten mit Koordinatensystemen und Vektoren im Mathematikunterricht — eine Übersicht über historische Entwicklungen und gegenwärtige Tendenzen sowie eine Argumentation zu seiner Weiterentwicklung an der polytechnischen Oberschule der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik

Im Mathematikunterricht der allgemeinbildenden Sohule werden etwa seit Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts Koordinatensysteme verwendet, wohingegen Vektoren und Elemente der Vektorrechnung erst um 1950 Unterrichtsgegenstand wurden. Dabei wurden kartesische Koordinatensysteme von Anfang an fur die geometrische Interpretation von Zahlen, Funktionen, Gleichungen usw. benutzt und fanden in dieser Denkrichtung einen festen Platz im Mathematikunterricht der mittleren Klassen. Das Verwenden von Koordinatensystemen und Vektoren zur analytischen Beschreibung geometrischer Objekte blieb dagegen bis vor kurzem dem Stoffgebiet Analytische Geometrie in den oberen Klassen der allgemeinbildenden Schule vorbehalten. In der Arbeit wird das Bedingungsgefuge untersucht, unter dem sich das Arbeiten mit einem Koordinatensystem bzw. mit Vektoren herausbildete und sich zu einem effektiven mathematischen Instrumentarium entfaltete. Gestutzt auf das Thema betreffende historische Untersuchungen zum Mathematikunterricht (einschlieslich internationaler Entwicklungstendenzen), vergleichende Betrachtungen zum Unterricht in den benachbarten Unterrichtsfachern sowie eine Analyse der Anforderungen der weiterfuhrenden Bildungseinrichtungen wird dargelegt, inwieweit das Arbeiten mit einem Koordinatensystem bzw. mit Vektoren zur mathematischen Allgemeinbildung eines Absolventen der zehnklassigen polytechnischen Oberschule gehort, und es werden Vorschlage unterbreitet, auf welche Weise die genannten Ziele erreicht werden konnten.
Advances toward molecular-scale electronic digital logic circuits: a review and prospectus

Molecules can be made precisely, identically, and cheaply in enormous numbers. Moreover, during the past several years there has been great progress in the development and the demonstration of such "molecular electronic" devices, individual molecules that conduct and switch electrical currents. The paper reviews and explains the recent experimental results that are establishing a foundation for building tiny powerful computational and control systems integrated on the molecular scale. Further, the author describes research at The MITRE Corporation that is building upon these experimental results to propose detailed designs for molecular electronic digital logic circuits and functions.
Cultivation of Clinically Significant Hemoflagellates

The hemoflagellates, Trypanosoma spp. and Leishmania spp., are causal agents of a number of parasitic diseases having a major impact on humans and domestic animals over vast areas of the globe. Among the diseases are some of the most pernicious and deadly of human afflictions: African sleeping sickness, Chagas' disease, kala-azar, and Oriental sore. The organisms have complex, pleomorphic life cycles typically involving a vertebrate and an invertebrate host, the latter serving as a vector. In the vertebrate host, they are primarily blood and tissue parasites. In their transition from one host to another, the hemoflagellates undergo morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes that facilitate their growth and subsequent transmission. A major goal in the study of the hemoflagellates has been the cultivation in vitro of both vertebrate and invertebrate stages of the organisms. The first types of media used in their cultivation, and still useful for establishment of cultures, were undefined and contained a complex of ingredients. These gave way to semidefined formulations which included tissue culture media as a base and, as a next step, addition of tissue culture cells as a feeder layer to promote parasite growth. More recently developed media are completely defined, having replaced the feeder cells with various supplements. Serum, a sometimes-variable component of the media, can be replaced by various serum substitutes. This review focuses on the hemoflagellates that infect humans, describing stages in the development of media leading to the fully defined formulations that are now available for the cultivation of many of these organisms.
Potassium-40/Argon-40 Age Determinations on Low-Potassium Glauconites Near Missing Cretaceous-Tertiary Transition at Littig Pit, Travis County, Texas: ABSTRACT

Potassium-40/Argon-40 dating on glauconites from Littig Pit, Travis Co., Texas, indicates that 4 to 6 Ma of lowermost Tertiary section are missing. The glauconite-containing samples were examined biostratigraphically. At least 1 calcareous nannofossil zone and at least 2 planktonic foraminiferal zones missing from the lowermost Tertiary limit the missing section to 2.5 to 5 Ma. These paleontologic data are fully consistent with the radiometric dates obtained on low potassium glauconites and refute the view of Odin that all low potassium glauconites are suspect. A missing nannofossil zone in the uppermost Cretaceous represents an undetermined amount of time. A strong probability exists that the Midway Group at Littig Pit and elsewhere was deposited rapidly during one of the earliest Paleocene transgressions described by Vail and others, and our data support the conclusion of Berggren and Aubert that the Midway fauna are correlatable worldwide. The iridium layer of Alvarez and others is missing at the Littig End_Page 478------------------------------ Pit, confirming missing section and illustrating how this iridium layer is proving useful as a worldwide time marker. End_of_Article - Last_Page 479------------
Chronic 17β-estradiol or cholesterol prevents stress-induced hippocampal CA3 dendritic retraction in ovariectomized female rats: Possible correspondence between CA1 spine properties and spatial acquisition

Chronic stress may have different effects on hippocampal CA3 and CA1 neuronal morphology and function depending upon hormonal status, but rarely are manipulations of stress and gonadal steroids combined. Experiment 1 investigated the effects of chronic restraint and 17beta-estradiol replacement on CA3 and CA1 dendritic morphology and spatial learning in ovariectomized (OVX) female Sprague-Dawley rats. OVX rats were implanted with 25% 17beta-estradiol, 100% cholesterol, or blank silastic capsules and then chronically restrained (6h/d/21d) or kept in home cages. 17beta-Estradiol or cholesterol prevented stress-induced CA3 dendritic retraction, increased CA1 apical spine density, and altered CA1 spine shape. The combination of chronic stress and 17beta-estradiol facilitated water maze acquisition compared to chronic stress + blank implants and nonstressed controls + 17beta-estradiol. To further investigate the interaction between 17beta-estradiol and stress on hippocampal morphology, experiment 2 was conducted on gonadally intact, cycling female rats that were chronically restrained (6h/d/21d), and then euthanized at proestrus (high ovarian hormones) or estrus (low ovarian hormones). Cycling female rats failed to show chronic stress-induced CA3 dendritic retraction at either estrous phase. Chronic stress enhanced the ratio of CA1 basal spine heads to headless spines as found in experiment 1. In addition, proestrous rats displayed increased CA1 spine density regardless of stress history. These results show that 17beta-estradiol or cholesterol protect against chronic stress-induced CA3 dendritic retraction in females. These stress- and 17beta-estradiol-induced morphological changes may provide insight into how dendritic complexity and spine properties contribute to spatial ability.
The Role of the Bone Marrow Microenvironment in the Pathophysiology of Myeloma and Its Significance in the Development of More Effective Therapies

Multiple myeloma (MM) is viewed as a prototypic disease state for the study of how neoplastic cells interact with their local bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. This interaction reflects not only the osteotropic clinical behavior of MM and the clinical impact of the lytic bone lesions caused by its tumor cells but also underlines the broadly accepted notion that nonneoplastic cells of the BM can attenuate the activity of cytotoxic chemotherapy and glucocorticoids. This article summarizes the recent progress in characterization, at the molecular and cellular levels, of how the BM milieu interacts with MM cells and modifies their biologic behavior.
Analysis of Weather Impact on Travel Speed and Travel Time Reliability

Weather conditions may have significant impact on traffic flow. Under adverse weather, traffic speed reduces and congestion emerges. The joint effects of adverse weather and recurring traffic congestion throughout the day may lead to more unpredictable travel time. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of adverse weather on traffic speed and travel time reliability in various highways. Weather data collected from Road Weather Information System (RWIS) Environmental Sensor Stations (ESS) and speed data collected by INRIX are applied. Data for various highway classifications and different time periods are selected to conduct the comparative analysis. Travel time reliability is measured by the buffer index. It was found that adverse weather reduces traffic speed and leads to less travel time reliability. The extent of influence varies with precipitation intensity. The results may assist transportation agencies for traffic management and travelers for trip planning under adverse weather.
The conjugate gradient method as applied to electromagnetic field problems

The conjugate gradient method is developed for the solution of an arbitary operator equation. The fundamental differences between the conjugate gradient method and the conventional matrix methods, denoted by the generic name "method of moments" are also outlined. One of the major advantages of the conjugate gradient method is that a clearcut exposition on the nature of convergence can be defined. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the efficiency of this method and the FFT for certain special classes of problems.
Activism with Chinese Characteristics: Navigating the Sloping, Uncertain Terrain of Civil Society in Chin

This paper examines the behavior of NGO activists in China who work on HIV-AIDS and the environment. It finds one major difference: AIDS activists sometimes use a rights-based discourse that upsets the party state, while environmentalists focus on advancing the agenda of the central government. But the paper notes that activists in both camps tend to police their behavior. They operate in a civil society characterized by political hierarchy and legal uncertainty. They try to gain the benefits that flow from the top of the pyramidal structure in which they operate and avoid the unpredictable punishment heaped upon those who step out of line.
Imperatives in medical education and training in response to demands for a sustainable workforce.

Factors to be considered in planning our medical workforce to meet future needs include: ○ Need for outcomes-based curricular designs in medical schools and postgraduate training. ○ Shortening the length of medical training. ○ Improving career flexibility to permit professional reinvention. ○ Developing awareness within the profession about how innovation happens.
GHG emissions inventory at urban scale: the Sassari case study

Within current initiatives dedicated to provide information on the status of greenhouse gases emissions, the town of Sassari represents a pilot site for estimating the net exchange of carbon dioxide (emissions and sinks) at municipal level in Sardinia (Italy). A spatial and temporal high resolution greenhouse gas emissions inventory for the urban area of Sassari is currently under construction in line with European and international standard protocols to establish a baseline for tracking emission trends. This paper presents the preliminary results of the development of a simplified local emissions inventory where estimates of the atmospheric emissions are collected and cataloged by type of greenhouse gases, productive activity and emissive source on annual basis.
Decellularized liver matrix as a carrier for the transplantation of human fetal and primary hepatocytes in mice

The transplantation of primary hepatocytes has been shown to augment the function of damaged livers and to bridge patients to liver transplantation. However, primary hepatocytes often have low levels of engraftment and survive for only a short time after transplantation. To explore the potential benefits of using decellularized liver matrix (DLM) as a carrier for hepatocyte transplantation, DLM from whole mouse livers was generated. Human fetal hepatocytes immortalized by telomerase reconstitution (FH-hTERTs) or primary human hepatocytes were infused into the DLM, which was then implanted into the omenta of immunodeficient nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient/interleukin-2 receptor γ-deficient mice or nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient/mucopolysaccharidosis type VII mice. The removal of endogenous cellular components and the preservation of the extracellular matrix proteins and vasculature were demonstrated in the resulting DLM. Bioluminescent imaging revealed that FH-hTERTs transduced with a lentiviral vector expressing firefly luciferase survived in the DLM for 8 weeks after peritoneal implantation, whereas the luciferase signal from FH-hTERTs rapidly declined in control mice 3 to 4 weeks after transplantation via splenic injection or omental implantation after Matrigel encapsulation. Furthermore, primary human hepatocytes that were reconstituted in the DLM not only survived 6 weeks after transplantation but also maintained their function, as demonstrated by messenger RNA levels of albumin and cytochrome P450 (CYP) subtypes (CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP1A1) similar to the levels in freshly isolated human primary hepatocytes (hPHs). In contrast, when hPHs were transplanted into mice via splenic injection, they failed to express CYP3A4, although they expressed albumin. In conclusion, DLM provides an excellent environment for long-term survival and maintenance of the hepatocyte phenotype after transplantation.
Manufacturing Industry in Nigeria's Third Development Plan

Nigeria's Third National Development Plan is based on the proposition that judicious use of current oil revenues to build social and economic infrastructures, and to radically transform the nature of economic activity, represents the quickest and most effective means of development. 1 Top priority is to be given during the period 1975 to 1980 to manufacturing in the belief that an industrial base is the firmest foundation for self-sustained growth.
Reconfiguration in the Enterprise JavaBean Component Model

Reconfiguration is the process of applying planned changes to the communication, interconnection, componentization, or functionality of a deployed system. It is a powerful tool for achieving a variety of desirable properties of large-scale, distributed systems, including evolvability, adaptability, survivability, and continuous availability. Current approaches to reconfiguration are inadequate: some allow one to describe a system's range of configurations for a relatively broad class of system architectures, but do not provide a mechanism for actually carrying out a reconfiguration; others provide a mechanism for carrying out certain kinds of limited reconfigurations, but assume a specialized system architecture in order to do so. This paper describes our attempt at devising a reconfiguration mechanism for use with the popular and widely available Enterprise JavaBean (EJB) component container model. We describe extensions to the basic services provided by EJB to support the mechanism, a prototype implementation, and a case study of its application to a representative component-based distributed system.
Cell-cell interactions regulate skeleton formation in the sea urchin embryo

In the sea urchin embryo, the primary mesenchyme cells (PMCs) make extensive contact with the ectoderm of the blastula wall. This contact is shown to influence production of the larval skeleton by the PMCs. A previous observation showed that treatment of embryos with NiCl2 can alter spicule number and skeletal pattern (Hardin et al. (1992) Development, 116, 671–685). Here, to explore the tissue sensitivity to NiCl2, experiments recombined normal or NiCl2-treated PMCs with either normal or NiCl2-treated PMC-less host embryos. We find that NiCl2 alters skeleton production by influencing the ectoderm of the blastula wall with which the PMCs interact. The ectoderm is responsible for specifying the number of spicules made by the PMCs. In addition, experiments examining skeleton production in vitro and in half- and quarter-sized embryos shows that cell interactions also influence skeleton size. PMCs grown in vitro away from interactions with the rest of the embryo, can produce larger spicules than in vivo. Thus, the epithelium of the blastula wall appears to provide spatial and scalar information that regulates skeleton production by the PMCs.