cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Dynamics Studies of the Archaeal Translocon

The translocon is a protein-conducting channel conserved over all domains of life that serves to translocate proteins across or into membranes. Although this channel has been well studied for many years, the recent discovery of a high-resolution crystal structure opens up new avenues of exploration. Taking advantage of this, we performed molecular dynamics simulations of the translocon in a fully solvated lipid bilayer, examining the translocation abilities of monomeric SecYEβ by forcing two helices comprised of different amino acid sequences to cross the channel. The simulations revealed that the so-called plug of SecYEβ swings open during translocation, closing thereafter. Likewise, it was established that the so-called pore ring region of SecYEβ forms an elastic, yet tight, seal around the translocating oligopeptides. The closed state of the channel was found to block permeation of all ions and water molecules; in the open state, ions were blocked. Our results suggest that the SecYEβ monomer is capable of forming an active channel.
Further consideration of the effect of curvature on the stability of three-dimensional flows

Abstract The effect of curvature on the stability and transition of three-dimensional incompressible flows is examined. The stability equations with and without curvature terms are solved with the temporal eigenvalue formulations used by Malik and Poll. Calculations are performed for flow over a yawed circular cylinder and results are compared with the calculations of Malik and Poll with and without curvature effects. Results show that the effect of curvature on transition is much smaller than claimed previously.
A Preliminary Study of Surgeon Stress Measures During Randomized Controlled Trials of 4-port vs. Single Incision Cholecystectomies

With various minimally invasive approaches in the field of surgery and new techniques entering rapidly, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of these different practices. Information about the impact on both patient and provider can be gained through research investigations. Since the workload placed on the surgeon may influence patient outcomes, this study measured levels of stress and fatigue for the surgeon participating in an NIH randomized control trial of single incision versus 4-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Through the administration of the SURG-TLX for 22 Single-Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies and 24 4-port cholecystectomies, physical workload was the only measure statistically different between 4-port and SILC (P=0.028). There was a significant difference in the duration (P=0.029) based on the procedure that was completed. Mental stress was highly correlated to many of the variables in the Surg-TLX and duration, degree of difficulty, and complexity were all highly correlated. This research shows how the SILC procedure can cause more stress on the surgeon. When the situation is combined with longer surgeries, higher complexity, and a higher degree of difficulty, the patient outcomes may be at risk.
An Anisotropic Hardening Rule With Non-Associated Flow Rule for Pressure-Sensitive Materials

In this paper, cyclic plastic behaviors of pressure-sensitive materials based on an anisotropic hardening rule with two non-associated flow rules are examined. The Drucker-Prager pressure-sensitive yield function and the Mises plastic potential function are adopted to explore the cyclic plastic behaviors of pressure-sensitive materials or strength-differential materials. The constitutive relations are formulated for the initial loading and unloading/reloading processes based on the anisotropic hardening rule of Choi and Pan [1]. Non-associated flow rules are employed to derive closed-form stress-plastic strain relations under uniaxial cyclic loading conditions. The stress-plastic strain curves based on a conventional non-associated flow rule do not close, and show a significant ratcheting under uniaxial cyclic loading conditions. A new non-conventional non-associated flow rule is then formulated based on observed nearly closed hysteresis loops of pressure-sensitive materials. The stress-plastic strain curves based on the non-conventional non-associated flow rule show closed hysteresis loops under uniaxial cyclic loading conditions. The results indicate that the anisotropic hardening rule with the non-conventional non-associated flow rule describes well the strength-differential effect and the asymmetric closed hysteresis loops as observed in the uniaxial cyclic loading tests of pressure-sensitive materials.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Dissociation of oxytocin, vasopressin and corticotropin secretion during different types of stress

Oxytocin (OT), vasopressin (AVP), and corticotropin (ACTH) levels were measured in peripheral plasma of male rats subjected to one of three models of stress: restraint, cold, or ether. ACTH secretion was increased in all three groups compared to unstressed controls. OT secretion was increased in rats subjected to restraint or ether but not cold. AVP secretion was increased only by ether stress. The data suggest that the hypothalamic and neurohypophysial contribution to the control of ACTH secretion may vary in response to different types of stress.
Brain Polyubiquitin Up-Regulation in Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) and Intrauterine Growth Retardation (IUGR) 1864

Protein ubiquitination plays an important role in rapid degradation of short-lived, denatured or damaged proteins. Previous studies have postulated that ubiquitin expression is up-regulated in the brain after transient global ischemia (Caray et al, 1995). The present study was designed to compare the expression of ubiquitin mRNA level in the fetal sheep brain under conditions of acute cerebral hypoxic ischemia or IUGR induced by 4 to 5 weeks of chronic hypoxia from single umbilical artery ligation. We examined the brains from nine fetal sheep in three different groups: Group 1 (N=3), Fetuses in which single umbilical artery ligation resulted in IUGR. Group 2 (N=3), Fetuses with HIE induced by transient carotid artery occlusion. Group 3 (N=3), control intact fetuses. Haematoxylin-Eosin staining was utilized to confirm histopathologic neuronal injury. mRNA levels were measured by conventional PCR and read by phospho-imaging utilizing Cyber Green II. Statistical comparisons between groups was done by the Wilcoxon rank non-parametric test.
Evaluation of Evapotranspiration and Soil Moisture-based Irrigation Control on Turfgrass

A variety of commercially available technologies for reducing residential irrigation water use are available to homeowners. These technologies include soil moisture sensors, rain sensors and evapotranspiration (ET) based controllers. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of these various technologies based on irrigation applied and turf grass quality measurements. Testing was performed on two types of soil moisture sensors (SMS, LawnLogic® and the Acclima Digital TDT® RS500) at low, medium, and high soil moisture threshold settings. Mini-Clik® rain sensors comprised seven time-based treatments, with three treatments pre-set for 3 mm of rainfall and the remaining 4 rain sensor treatments had sensors pre-set to bypass irrigation for 6 mm of rainfall. Two ET controllers were also tested, the Toro Intelli-Sense controller and the Rain Bird® ET Manager T M . A time-based treatment with two days of irrigation per week and no rain sensor (2-WORS) was established as a comparison. SMS-based treatments resulted in 0–63% reductions in water use compared to 2-WORS. Rain sensor treatments resulted in 7–33% reductions in water use. ET-based irrigation resulted in 36% to 59% reductions in water use compared to 2-WORS. The SMS treatments at the low threshold settings resulted in high water savings, but reduced turf quality to unacceptable levels. The medium threshold setting SMS-based, time-based and both of the ET-based treatments produced good turf grass quality while reducing irrigation water use compared to 2-WORS. Savings for the medium SMS-based systems ranged from 11–28%.
Dynamics of infant habituation: infants' discrimination of musical excerpts.

Schoner and Thelen (2006) summarized the results of many habituation studies as a set of generalizations about the emergence of novelty preferences in infancy. One is that novelty preferences emerge after fewer trials for older than for younger infants. Yet in habituation studies using an infant-controlled procedure, the standard criterion of habituation is a 50% decrement in looking regardless of he ages of the participants. If younger infants require more looking to habituate than do older infants, it might follow that novelty preferences will emerge for younger infants when a more stringent criterion is imposed, e.g., a 70% decrement in looking. Our earlier investigation of infants' discrimination of musical excerpts provides a basis and an opportunity for assessing this idea. Flom et al. (2008) found that 9-month-olds, but not younger infants, unambiguously discriminate "happy" and "sad" musical excerpts. The purpose of the current study was to examine younger infants' discrimination of happy and sad musical excerpts using a more stringent, 70% habituation criterion. In Experiment 1, 5- and 7-month olds were habituated to three musical excerpts rated as happy or sad. Following habituation infants were presented with two musical excerpts from the other affect group. Infants at both ages showed significant discrimination. In Experiment 2, 5- and 7-month-olds were presented with two new excerpts from the same affective group as the habituation excerpts. The infants did not discriminate these novel, yet affectively similar excerpts. In Experiment 3, 5- and 7-month-olds discriminated individual happy and sad excerpts. These results replicate those for the older, 9-month-olds in the previous investigation. The results are important as they demonstrate that whether infants show discrimination using an infant-controlled procedure is affected by the researchers' chosen criterion of habituation.
In-Pile Measurement of the Decay Constants and Relative Abundances of Delayed Neutrons

An in-pile experimental technique to measure the decay constants and the relative abundances of the delayed neutron groups applicable for a given reactor system is presented. The method is based on a least-squares-fitting technique that simultaneously fits a series of transients produced by small reactivity perturbations to a reactor operating initially at delayed critical. The function that is least-squares fit is the analytic solution (written in terms of an arbitrary number of delayed neutron groups) as obtained by the point reactor model for the reactor response following a step change in reactivity. The application of the method does not require any knowledge of the size of the reactivity perturbations, and the method is independent of the detector efficiency. The results are based solely on the measurable quantities of relative power, time, and one measurable root of the Inhour equation.
Quantifying off-highway vehicle impacts on density and survival of a threatened dune-endemic plant

Abstract Off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation impacts species and ecosystems around the world, and is particularly prevalent in the United States. Our study examines the impact of OHVs on one of several species restricted within the United States to the Algodones Dunes, California. This dune system attracts many OHV enthusiasts annually, and interest in determining the impact of OHVs on Astragalus magdalenae var. peirsonii (Peirson’s milk-vetch) has motivated multiple investigations. Several of these investigations have arrived at seemingly contradictory conclusions. Our study objectives were to quantify the degree by which A. m. var. peirsonii densities differed between high- and low-OHV use areas and determine whether OHV impact was a plausible factor for affecting plant density. Density estimate comparisons indicated 4–5 times fewer plants occupied a study area open to OHVs relative to two nearby study areas legally closed to OHVs. A manipulative mark-resight experiment compared the survival probabilities of control plants to those purposefully struck by OHVs and found that, for plants with canopy diameters of
Visual depth from motion parallax and eye pursuit.

A translating observer viewing a rigid environment experiences “motion parallax”, the relative movement upon the observer’s retina of variously positioned objects in the scene. This retinal movement of images provides a cue to the relative depth of objects in the environment, however retinal motion alone cannot mathematically determine relative depth of the objects. Visual perception of depth from lateral observer translation uses both retinal image motion and eye movement. In Nawrot and Stroyan (Vision Res 49:1969–1978, 2009) we showed mathematically that the ratio of the rate of retinal motion over the rate of smooth eye pursuit mathematically determines depth relative to the fixation point in central vision. We also reported on psychophysical experiments indicating that this ratio is the important quantity for perception. Here we analyze the motion/pursuit cue for the more general, and more complicated, case when objects are distributed across the horizontal viewing plane beyond central vision. We show how the mathematical motion/pursuit cue varies with different points across the plane and with time as an observer translates. If the time varying retinal motion and smooth eye pursuit are the only signals used for this visual process, it is important to know what is mathematically possible to derive about depth and structure. Our analysis shows that the motion/pursuit ratio determines an excellent description of depth and structure in these broader stimulus conditions, provides a detailed quantitative hypothesis of these visual processes for the perception of depth and structure from motion parallax, and provides a computational foundation to analyze the dynamic geometry of future experiments.
A Laboratory Study of C_3H^+ and the C_3H Radical in Three New Vibrationally Excited ^2Σ States Using a Pin-Hole Nozzle Discharge Source

Rotational lines of the positive molecular ion C_3H^+ and of the neutral C_3H radical in three new vibrationally excited states with ^2Σ symmetry have been detected in a supersonic molecular beam in the centimeter-wave band. The fundamental rotational line of the ion is quite weak, but is observed with similar intensity in a dc discharge through several different hydrocarbon gases when helium is the buffer gas. Under these conditions, the fractional abundance of C_3H^+ relative to C_3H is estimated to be of order 10^(−4), i.e., toward the lower end of the ratio (10^(−3)–10^(−4)) found for protonated ions using the same discharge nozzle. For each new ^2Σ state of the C_3H radical, spectroscopic constants, including those describing hydrogen hyperfine structure, have been determined to high precision. Lines of one ^2Σ state (B = 11271 MHz) are particularly intense in our molecular beam; for this state and a second one (B = 11306 MHz), millimeter-wave transitions have also been observed between 180 and 340 GHz using a long path dc glow absorption spectrometer. On the basis of intensity measurements with this spectrometer, the inferred rotation–vibration constant α, and theoretical calculations, the state with B = 11271 MHz is tentatively assigned to the ν_5 bending mode, predicted to lie ~300 cm^(−1) above ground.
Coverage issues and IUD acceptance: a model for managed care.

Adverse publicity about IUD-related complications and concerns about litigation have limited patients requests for and physicians recommendations of the IUD. For example the Northern California Permanente Medical Group excluded the copper T380A IUD from its drug formulary until late 1995 because of litigation concerns. At the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Francisco California use of the progesterone-releasing IUD (the only IUD available to Kaiser Foundation Health Plan members) has accounted for less than 1% of contraceptive use by members. Fees for insertion have included the acquisition cost of the device plus a small service charge and office visit registration; a sliding scale based on ability to pay has not been available. In 1996 however IUDs will be covered under the Kaiser Foundation Health Plans Supplemental Drug Plan meaning the only charge will be small co-payment for the office visit. This decision was based on acceptance of the IUD within the medical community as a safe and effective contraceptive method similarity of the IUD to other contraceptive devices covered by the Health Plan increasing employer group requests for IUD coverage and Kaiser Permanente physician support for the benefit coverage. If the IUD is to overcome its "image problem" greater efforts must be made to educate health care providers and women about the safety and effectiveness of this method.
Algorithm Specification Interface for Human Immunodefiency Virus Type 1 Genotypic Interpretation

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genotypic resistance testing is frequently done to help select therapy for HIV-1-infected persons. The manual interpretation of such assays is difficult, because a large number of reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease drug resistance mutations interact
A Perron Theorem for positive componentwise bilinear maps

It is proved that a Perron type theorem holds for positive maps with bilinear components whose defining matrices satisfy a maximality assumption with respect to certain entry ratios. The result is applied to a life history model which includes sexual reproduction.
Computer Use by School-Age Children: Trends, Patterns, and Predictors

Patterns of computer use are studied based on analysis of data from the Longitudinal Study of American Youth (LSAY) in which a cohort of students and their parents were surveyed for five consecutive years. Special attention is given to students who were heavier users of computers. Heavier use is associated with high SES as well as superiority in grades. Heavier use declined as this cohort progressed from the seventh grade to high school despite increasing access to computers at home. Parents with computers at home reported that their children used computers mostly for educational purposes. Males were significantly more likely to be heavier users until the 1992 survey when the gap with females narrowed. A substantial proportion but less than half (42%) of heavier users remained more frequent users from 1988 to 1992. Analysis suggests that computer ownership and parental interest in their children using computers exerted the biggest impacts on the likelihood of being a heavier user.
Sequence analysis of operator constitutive mutants of the tryptophan operon of Escherichia coli

The operator region of the tryptophan operon of Escherichia coli has been located by (1) protection of a restriction site near the site of initiation of transcription, (2) sequence analysis of the endpoints of relevant deletion mutants and (3) sequence analysis of the base-pair alterations in operator constitutive point mutants. The results locate the trp operator immediately preceding the transcription start site in a region exhibiting twofold symmetry. The base-pair alterations of the operator constitutive mutants examined have no significant effect on trp promoter activity.
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is often viewed as a “cousin” of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with which it shares many disease features. Some experts regard MCTD as a variant of SLE because of the considerable overlap in clinical and serological manifestations. Others consider it to be a unique disorder because of the frequency with which certain phenotypic features occur in patients classified as MCTD. Patients with MCTD by definition have antibodies directed against ribonuceoprotein, i.e., anti-RNP antibodies. Common clinical manifestations of MCTD are arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, digital ischemia progressing to fingertip ulceration, pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung disease, and gastrointestinal hypomotility. Some patients with MCTD evolve with time to a clinical phenotype that is more easily classified as SLE. Others, perhaps a majority, evolve over time to clinical syndromes most compatible with systemic sclerosis. MCTD must be distinguished from “undifferentiated” connective tissue diseases (in which a clear-cut rheumatological process may or may not emerge with time) and also from “overlap” connective tissue diseases, in which the disease features of two or more well-defined connective tissues diseases are present in the same patient. As example of an overlap connective tissue disease is the occurrence of SLE and polymyositis in the same patient. Such a patient would not be regarded as a “mixed” connective tissue disease (MCTD), but rather as the cooccurrence of two diseases in the same patient.
Lexical ambiguity resolution across languages: a theoretical and empirical review.

Words that involve completely different meanings across languages but possess significant overlap in form are referred to as homographic noncognates or interlexical homographs (e.g., red is a color word in English but means "net" in Spanish). An important question in the investigation of the processing of these words is whether or not both meaning and form are integral to their representation leading to language-specific processing of these items. In contrast, some theories have been put forth indicating that the processing of these words is nonselective with regards to language. Simply stated, when one of these words is encountered, all of the relevant meanings are accessed regardless of the specific demands of the task and the base language that is being used. In the present, critical review, evidence purported to favor each view is presented along with a discussion of the methodological and analytic constraints that moderate the reported findings. The data lead to the conclusion that there is a time course involved in the activation of multiple meanings such that a primary or dominant meaning (sometimes biased by frequency) is typically accessed more readily, followed by the opposite language meaning. These results indicated that studies should focus on manipulating the timing intervals between the presentation of these words and subsequent responses that are required by a particular task.
The Ron receptor tyrosine kinase positively regulates angiogenic chemokine production in prostate cancer cells.

The Ron receptor tyrosine kinase positively regulates angiogenic chemokine production in prostate cancer cells
Generalized Exponents and Forms

We consider generalized exponents of a finite reflection group acting on a real or complex vector space V. These integers are the degrees in which an irreducible representation of the group occurs in the coinvariant algebra. A basis for each isotypic component arises in a natural way from a basis of invariant generalized forms. We investigate twisted reflection representations (V tensor a linear character) using the theory of semi-invariant differential forms. Springer's theory of regular numbers gives a formula when the group is generated by dim V reflections. Although our arguments are case-free, we also include explicit data and give a method (using differential operators) for computing semi-invariants and basic derivations. The data give bases for certain isotypic components of the coinvariant algebra.
An association between the estrogen-dependent hypotensive effect of ethanol and an elevated brainstem c-jun mRNA in female rats

Abstract We have recently demonstrated that chronic ethanol administration lowers blood pressure (BP) in female rats and this effect is significantly attenuated by ovariectomy. The present study investigated whether ethanol hypotension is estrogen dependent. Further, since estrogen regulates AP-1 activity, the study was extended to determine whether estrogen/c-jun interaction is involved in the estrogen-dependent hypotensive effect of ethanol. Changes in BP and heart rate (HR) were evaluated in radiotelemetered pair-fed sham-operated (SO), ovariectomized (OVX), and OVX estradiol (E2)-treated rats receiving liquid diet with or without ethanol (5%, w/v) for 12 weeks. The in situ hybridization technique was used to measure the c-jun mRNA expression in two brainstem areas, the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). Ethanol feeding caused significant (P
Clostridium difficile carriage and serum antitoxin responses in children with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND Adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a high prevalence of Clostridium difficile carriage, but little data exist regarding pediatric patients with IBD. Serum antibody responses to C. difficile toxins in correlation with organism carriage are not described in IBD. This study determines the prevalence of C. difficile carriage and compares serum antibody responses to C. difficile toxins in pediatric outpatients with IBD and controls. METHODS Fecal and serum samples were prospectively collected from pediatric outpatients with IBD (n = 85) and age-matched controls (n = 78). Initial and follow-up stool samples were tested using cytotoxigenic C. difficile culture and PCR to detect the toxin B gene. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis determined the strain type. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay determined serum immunoglobulin responses to C. difficile toxins. RESULTS Asymptomatic C. difficile carriage was significantly greater in IBD (17%) versus controls (3%) (P = 0.012). IBD type, disease severity, IBD therapy, recent antibiotics, and hospitalizations were not associated with carriage. Proton pump inhibitor use was significantly higher in patients with C. difficile carriage (54% versus 25%, P < 0.05). North American pulsed-field (NAP) strain carriage varied over time in patients colonized with C. difficile. A significantly greater proportion of patients with IBD had a positive serum antibody response to toxin A (69%) compared with controls (53%) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Asymptomatic toxigenic C. difficile carriage was increased in pediatric outpatients with IBD compared with controls. Proton pump inhibitor use was associated with increased carriage. Antibody responses to C. difficile toxins were increased in IBD, potentially promoting asymptomatic colonization. Future studies should identify the risk factors for symptomatic C. difficile in pediatric IBD.
Subsidized child care, maternal employment and access to quality, affordable child care

Abstract To examine whether state child care subsidy policies can combine goals of increasing maternal employment and increasing access to quality child care for children in low-income families, we studied one state's comprehensive policy, through a cross-sectional survey of 665 randomly selected families using centers, Head Starts, family child care homes, public school preschools or informal care, including a sample of families on the waitlist for child care subsidies. We found that, in Massachusetts, families receiving child care subsidies report greater access to child care, more affordable child care, and higher quality child care, than do similar families not receiving subsidies. Lower-income families not receiving subsidies can sometimes access affordable, quality child care through Head Start programs and public preschools, but, when they have to pay for care, they pay a significantly greater proportion of their income than do families receiving subsidies. We also found that families on the subsidy waitlist are at a particular disadvantage. Waitlist families have the greatest difficulty paying for care, the least access, and the poorest quality child care. While the child care subsidy policies benefited those families receiving subsidies, families outside the system still struggled to find and afford child care.
Adolescents’ reasons for tanning and appearance motives: A preliminary study

We examined adolescents' reasons for tanning and how these relate to appearance evaluation and orientation. Two hundred and sixty-four Canadian adolescents (age range 15-19 years) in grades 10, 11, and 12 completed a survey that included scales measuring their reasons for tanning, appearance evaluation, and appearance orientation. It was found that girls and boys differed on four of nine subscales measuring reasons for tanning. Girls believed more strongly than boys that tanning improved their general appearance and that friends influenced their decision to tan. Girls also expressed less concern than boys that tanning caused immediate skin damage or premature aging. The pattern of correlations between the reasons for tanning and appearance orientation was similar for girls and boys. For both, appearance reasons for tanning and sociocultural influences on tanning were positively associated with appearance orientation. Suggestions for future research with adolescents and a proposal for a guiding model are provided.
Long-time asymptotics for integrable systems. Higher order theory

The authors show how to obtain the full asymptotic expansion for solutions of integrable wave equations to all orders, as t→∞. The method is rigorous and systematic and does not rely on an a priori ansatz for the form of the solution.
Emotion and ocular responses in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects motor, cognitive, and emotional functioning. Previous studies reported reduced skin conductance responses in PD patients, compared to healthy older adults when viewing emotionally arousing pictures. Attenuated skin conductance changes in PD may reflect peripheral autonomic dysfunction (e.g., reduced nerve endings at the sweat gland) or, alternatively, a more central emotional deficit. The aim of the current study was to investigate a second measure of sympathetic arousal-change in pupil dilation. Eye movements, a motor-based correlate of emotional processing, were also assessed. Results indicated that pupil dilation was significantly greater when viewing emotional, compared to neutral pictures for both PD patients and controls. On the other hand, PD patients made fewer fixations with shorter scan paths, particularly when viewing pleasant pictures. These results suggest that PD patients show normal sympathetic arousal to affective stimuli (indexed by pupil diameter), but differences in motor correlates of emotion (eye movements).
Simulations of effusion from ISOL target/ion source systems

Monte Carlo simulations of the low- and high-conductivity Target/Ion Source systems used at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for effusion measurements are performed. Comparisons with the corresponding experimental data for the different geometries are presented and discussed. Independent checks of the simulation using data for simple geometries and using the conductance approach well known in vacuum technology are performed. A simulation-based comparison between the low- and high-conductivity systems is also presented.
Critical care guidelines on the endovascular management of cerebral vasospasm

Cerebral vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia account for significant morbidity and mortality after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. While most patients are managed with triple-H therapy, endovascular treatments have been used when triple-H treatment cannot be used or is ineffective. An electronic literature search was conducted to identify English language articles published through October 2010 that addressed endovascular management of vasospasm. A total of 49 articles were identified, addressing endovascular treatment timing, intra-arterial treatments, and balloon angioplasty. Most of the available studies investigated intra-arterial papaverine or balloon angioplasty. Both have generally been shown to successfully treat vasospasm and improve neurological condition, with no clear benefit from one treatment compared with another. There are reports of complications with both therapies including vessel rupture during angioplasty, intracranial hypertension, and possible neurotoxicity associated with papaverine. Limited data are available evaluating nicardipine or verapamil, with positive benefits reported with nicardipine and inconsistent benefits with verapamil.
Identification of conventional and novel endothelin receptors in sheep choroid plexus cells

Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of super-high affinity endothelin receptors with apparent Kd's on the order of pM in different brain tissues. This study was designed to characterize, in detail, the receptors present in SCP cells, a non-transformed sheep choroid plexus cell line. Competitive binding assays with receptor-selective ligands indicated the presence of at least three classes of binding sites: a conventional receptor of the ETA subtype with a Kd = 0.4 nM that mediates an increase in intracellular levels of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) in response to ET-1 and two additional sites with much higher binding affinities. The latter two sites are not coupled to the common signal transduction pathways of IP3, cAMP and cGMP. Northern blot analysis confirmed the presence of only the ETA subtype mRNA in SCP cells. It remains to determined if the multiple binding sites are distinct gene products, multiple affinity states of a single receptor molecule or a result of cooperative association of one site with either the ligand or with other proteins.
Dark matter with two- and many-body decays and supernovae type Ia

We present a decaying dark matter scenario where the daughter products are a single massless relativistic particle and a single, massive but possibly relativistic particle. We calculate the velocity distribution of the massive daughter particle and its associated equation of state and derive its dynamical evolution in an expanding universe. In addition, we present a model of decaying dark matter where there are many massless relativistic daughter particles together with a massive particle at rest. We place constraints on these two models using supernovae type Ia observations. We find that for a daughter relativistic fraction of 1% and higher, lifetimes of at least less than 10 Gyrs are excluded, with larger relativistic fractions constraining longer lifetimes.
Optical spatial tracking using coherent detection in the pupil plane

Design considerations for a heterodyne spatial tracking system utilizing pupil plane processing techniques and its advantages over traditional focal plane processing are described. Noise performance bounds, optimal and suboptimal local oscillator distributions, pull-in performance, and applications other than spatial tracking are discussed. Experimental verification of a one-axis closed-loop tracking system is presented.
The effect of chronic alcohol inhalation on blood pressure and the pressor response to noradrenaline and the thromboxane-mimic U46619

Abstract Rats were exposed to alcohol vapor for 6 days and the mean blood ethanol concentration (BEC) was obtained for each subject. Blood pressure and its reactivity to noradrenaline and a thromboxane-mimic U46619 were directly measured on day 6 via a catheter implated in the tail artery of normal and ethanol-treated animals. The mean BEC for each subject correlated with mean arterial blood pressure (MAP); an increase in BEC was associated with a decrease in MAP (p
Why the look and feel of software user interfaces should not be protected by copyright law

An attorney looks at how copyright law is applied to the protection of software user interfaces and makes a strong case for reevaluating the way the law views software.
Semantic impact graphs for information valuation

Information valuation has typically been carried out implicitly in question-answering and document retrieval systems. We argue that explicit information valuation is needed to move away from the system and process-centric nature of implicit valuation which has also hindered the theoretical study of information value under a unified and explicit framework. In this paper we present a graphical-based model for explicit information valuation. Our model caters to the subjective nature of information quality by measuring the impact a candidate piece of information may have on a knowledge base representing the recipient's world view. Our model is capable of evaluating information semantically at the statement level and is in effect basing information-valuation on information-understanding. However, information value can be computed and predicted using our causal graph model without requiring full logical inference typically needed for information-understanding.
Synthesis of some 2,4-disubstituted tetrahydropyrimido[4,5-b]quinolines as potential antitumor agents

Cyclocondensations of two 2,4-disubstituted 6-aminopyrimidines with 2-chloro-1-cyclohexenecarboxaldehyde afforded in each case a new regiospecific synthesis of tricyclic, linear disubstituted 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-pyrimido[4,5-b]quinolines 2 and 3 in excellent yields. The linear structures and hence the regiospecificity of the synthesis were established using 1H nmr and 13C nmr. The growth of leukemia L1210 cells in culture was inhibited 50% by 2 at 30 × 10−6M and 48% by 3 at 100 × 10−6M.
Assessment of coal cleanability for various beneficiation processes by SEM-based automated image analysis

Abstract Techniques employing scanning electron microscopy-based automated image analysis (SEM-AIA) are emerging as useful tools for the characterization of coal and its associated mineral matter to be used in conjunction with advanced coal conversion and coal cleaning processes. New methodology and applications have been developed at the Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University to study the nature and amount of mineral phases, their particle size distributions, and their degree of association with the organic coal matrix. Since the mineral content and composition can vary widely from coal to coal, the detailed characterization provided by these SEM-AIA techniques is quite helpful for the planning, design, testing, and evaluation of coal beneficiation and conversion processes. The methodology of SEM-AIA is described along with several illustrative applications related to coal beneficiation.
Ferroelectric Field Effect Transistor Model Using Partitioned Ferroelectric Layer and Partial Polarization

A model of an n-channel ferroelectric field effect transistor has been developed based on both theoretical and empirical data. The model is based on an existing model that incorporates partitioning of the ferroelectric layer to calculate the polarization within the ferroelectric material. The model incorporates several new aspects that are useful to the user. It takes into account the effect of a non-saturating gate voltage only partially polarizing the ferroelectric material based on the existing remnant polarization. The model also incorporates the decay of the remnant polarization based on the time history of the FFET. A gate pulse of a specific voltage; will not put the ferroelectric material into a single amount of polarization for that voltage, but instead vary with previous state of the material and the time since the last change to the gate voltage. The model also utilizes data from FFETs made from different types of ferroelectric materials to allow the user just to input the material being used and not recreate the entire model. The model also allows the user to input the quality of the ferroelectric material being used. The ferroelectric material quality can go from a theoretical perfect material with little loss and no decay to a less than perfect material with remnant losses and decay. This model is designed to be used by people who need to predict the external characteristics of a FFET before the time and expense of design and fabrication. It also allows the parametric evaluation of quality of the ferroelectric film on the overall performance of the transistor.
Low-angle tracking radars and non-linear time-delay estimation

A new approach, based on non-linear time-delay estimation, is described for estimating the elevation angle in the combined presence of specular multipath and receiver noise—a situation that is encountered in the low-angle tracking radar environment. Estimation of the elevation angle is accomplished using the time delay between the signals impinging on the antenna array elements. Thus, the accuracy in the elevation angle estimation is dependent on the accuracy of the time-delay estimation algorithm. The formulation of the problem enables one to find the desired estimates independently of the reflection coefficient, which is a significant result. In the proposed approach, a newly derived non-linear filter due to the author (1986) is used. The filter structure is estimated using the Pontryagin minimum principle and the method of invariant imbedding, and is used to find an estimate for the delayed and undelayed signal. Subsequently, the time delay and the elevation angle are estimated.
Photoinduced Electron Transfer in a Chromophore–Catalyst Assembly Anchored to TiO2

Photoinduced formation, separation, and buildup of multiple redox equivalents are an integral part of cycles for producing solar fuels in dye-sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells (DSPECs). Excitation wavelength-dependent electron injection, intra-assembly electron transfer, and pH-dependent back electron transfer on TiO2 were investigated for the molecular assembly [((PO3H2-CH2)-bpy)2Rua(bpy-NH-CO-trpy)Rub(bpy)(OH2)]4+ ([TiO2–RuaII–RubII–OH2]4+; ((PO3H2-CH2)2-bpy = ([2,2′-bipyridine]-4,4′-diylbis(methylene))diphosphonic acid); bpy-ph-NH-CO-trpy = 4-([2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridin]-4′-yl)-N-((4′-methyl-[2,2′-bipyridin]-4-yl)methyl) benzamide); bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine). This assembly combines a light-harvesting chromophore and a water oxidation catalyst linked by a synthetically flexible saturated bridge designed to enable long-lived charge-separated states. Following excitation of the chromophore, rapid electron injection into TiO2 and intra-assembly electron transfer occur on the subnanosecond time scale followed...
On the boundary conditions characterizing J-selfadjoint extensions of J-symmetric operators

The study of boundary value problems involving linear differentiai equations with real-valued coefficients is by now a well-established area of analysis. On the other hand, much less is known about the solvability of such problems when the coefficients (or boundary conditions) are known to be complex. Examples of this latter type arise naturally, for example, in nuclear physics (e.g., the so-called optical mode1 for low energy scattering [ 1, p. IjO]), electromagnetic field theory (dielectric waveguides with heat loss (c.f. 19 I), or the propagation of radio waves through inhomogeneous media [S]), and elsewhere. In cases like these, the relevant differential expressions are no longer formally symmetric, and hence the powerful methods associated with the spectral theory of selfadjoint operators are not available. To facilitate the study of such problems, Glazman introduced in [4] the concept of a J-symmetric operator: In a complex Hilbert space R, let J be a given conjugation operator on 2’ (i.e., J is a conjugate-linear involution with (Jx, 3~) = (u, x) for all x and y in 2). A closed, densely defined linear operator T in 3’ is said to be J-symmetric if
Circulating fibrocytes correlate with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome development after lung transplantation: a novel clinical biomarker.

Background Development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after lung transplantation confers increased patient morbidity and mortality. Fibrocytes are circulating bone marrow–derived mesenchymal cell progenitors that influence tissue repair and fibrosis. Fibrocytes have been implicated in chronic pulmonary inflammatory processes. We investigated the correlation of circulating fibrocyte number with BOS development in lung transplant patients. Methods We prospectively quantified circulating fibrocyte levels among lung transplant patients. Patients were stratified according to the development of BOS as indicated by predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Fibrocyte activity was analyzed by flow cytometry (cluster of differentiation 45 + , collagen 1 + ) in a blinded manner related to clinical presentation. Results Thirty-nine patients (61.5% men) underwent double (33.3%), left (25.6%), or right (41.0%) lung transplantation. Average patient age was similar between BOS and non-BOS patients (58.3 ± 3.9 vs 60.3 ± 2.0 years, p = 0.67). Chronic obstructive lung disease was the most common indication for lung transplantation (41.0%). Median forced expiratory volume in 1 second was lower among BOS patients compared with non-BOS patients (1.08 vs. 2.18 L/s, p = 0.001). Importantly, circulating fibrocyte numbers were increased in BOS patients compared with non-BOS patients (8.91 vs 2.96 × 10 5 cells/mL, p = 0.03) by flow cytometry and were incrementally increased with advancing BOS stage ( p = 0.02). Conclusions Increased circulating fibrocyte levels correlate with the development of BOS after lung transplantation and positively correlate with advancing BOS stage. Quantification of circulating fibrocytes could serve as a novel biomarker and possible therapeutic target for BOS development in lung transplant patients.
Multiplicity reactivation of bacteriophage T1

Abstract Multiplicity reactivation of ultraviolet-inactivated T1 can be detected using suitably irradiated bacteria as host cells. Under certain conditions the amount of multiplicity reactivation is independent of the dose on the bacteria, even when the dose is reduced to zero so that normal cells are infected. The results are consistent with the idea that in normal cells some other reactivation phenomenon masks multiplicity reactivation of T1.
Constitution, and Multiple Constitution, in the Sciences: Using the Neuron to Construct a Starting Framework

Inter-level mechanistic explanations in the sciences have long been a focus of philosophical interest, but attention has recently turned to the compositional character of these explanations which work by explaining higher level entities, whether processes, individuals or properties, using the lower level entities they take to compose them. However, we still have no theoretical account of the constitution or parthood relations between individuals deployed in such explanations, nor any accounts of multiple constitution. My primary focus in this paper is to outline a positive account of the constitution/part-whole relations between individuals posited in inter-level mechanistic explanations that takes constituents in the sciences to be `working parts'. Using this account, I then go on to illuminate the nature, and varieties, of multiple constitution that we find in the sciences and provide a starting theoretical framework for multiple constitution as well.
The elusive “crime” of emotional abuse

Theorists and practitioners alike believe that emotional abuse exists. Despite this belief, we have made little progress in conceptually and operationally defining emotional abuse. We can make progress in this area by adopting a developmental approach. In this view, emotional abuse is deliberate behavior that seriously undermines the development of competence. Operationally, this means punishing an infant's operant social behavior (including attachment), punishing a child's manifestations of self-esteem and punishing the behaviors needed for normal interaction in extra-familial settings. To apply these standards to specific cases, we must have reliable and valid information about interaction patterns with the family.