cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A mixed reality approach for interactively blending dynamic models with corresponding physical phenomena

The design, visualization, manipulation, and implementation of models for computer simulation are key parts of the discipline. Models are constructed as a means to understand physical phenomena as state changes occur over time. One issue that arises is the need to correlate models and their components with the phenomena being modeled. For example, a part of an automotive engine needs to be placed into cognitive context with the diagrammatic icon that represents that part's function. A typical solution to this problem is to display a dynamic model of the engine in one window and the engine's CAD model in another. Users are expected to, on their own, mentally blend the dynamic model and the physical phenomenon into the same context. However, this contextualization is not trivial in many applications.Our approach expands upon this form of user interaction by specifying two ways in which dynamic models and the corresponding physical phenomena may be viewed, and experimented with, within the same human interaction space. We present a methodology and implementation of contextualization for diagram-based dynamic models using an anesthesia machine, and then follow up with a human study of its effects on spatial cognition.
DNA microarray analysis of the contused spinal cord: Effect of NMDA receptor inhibition

Spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced neurodegeneration leads to irreversible and devastating motor and sensory dysfunction. Post-traumatic outcomes are determined by events occurring during the first 24 hours after SCI. An increase in extracellular glutamate concentration to neurotoxic levels is one of the earliest events after SCI. We used Affymetrix DNA oligonucleotide microarrays (with 1,322 DNA probes) analysis to measure gene expression in order to test the hypothesis that SCI-induced N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation triggers significant postinjury transcriptional changes. Here we report that SCI, 1 hour after trauma, induced change in mRNA levels of 165 genes and expression sequence tags (ESTs). SCI affected mRNA levels of those genes that regulate predominantly transcription factors, inflammation, cell survival, and membrane excitability. We also report that NMDA receptor inhibition (with -(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]-cyclohepten-5,10-imine hydrogen maleate [MK-801]) reversed the effect of SCI on about 50% of the SCI-affected mRNAs. Especially interesting is the finding that NMDA receptor activation participates in the up-regulation of inflammatory factors. Therefore, SCI-induced NMDA receptor activation is one of the dominant, early signals after trauma that leads to changes in mRNA levels of a number of genes relevant to recovery processes. The majority of MK-801 effects on the SCI-induced mRNA changes reported here are novel. Additionally, we found that the MK-801 treatment also changed the mRNA levels of 168 genes and ESTs that had not been affected by SCI alone, and that some of their gene products could have harmful effects on SCI outcome.
C. Edmund Kells.

Abstract The most prominent pioneer of dental radiology, Dr. Kells accounts for many important pages in the history of dentistry.
Dissolving metal reductions with sodium potassium alloy in the presence of 18-crown-6

Abstract The dissolving metal reduction of organic compounds can be performed in THF utilizing sodium potassium alloy in the presence of a catalytic amount of 18-crown-6.
The role of the Smad3 protein in phorbol ester-induced promoter expression.

The Sp1 transcription factor plays an important role in mediating the p53-independent activation of the p21 WAF1 (WAF1) promoter by phorbol 12-myristate13-acetate (PMA) in hematopoietic cells. Using GAL4-Sp1 fusion proteins and a luciferase reporter, PMA is shown to activate the transcriptional activity of Sp1 independent of the WAF1 promoter. This activation does not require the Ser/Thr-rich region of Sp1 and can be mediated by 41 amino acids (152–193) of Sp1 that are important for the interaction with human TAF130. Because transforming growth factor-β enhances WAF1 promoter activity through both Sp1 and Smad proteins, the role of Smads in PMA transcriptional activation was examined. PMA addition to hematopoietic cells was found to activate a GAL4/Smad-dependent promoter and the transforming growth factor-β-responsive promoter, p3TP-lux. Immunofluorescence data demonstrate that PMA addition to hematopoietic cells induces the translocation of Smad3 to the nucleus. However, Smad3 does not stimulate the WAF1 promoter, but rather slightly inhibits the PMA-mediated induction of transcription from this upstream region. Additionally, transfection of Smad3 did not enhance the activation of GAL4/Sp1 by PMA. These results demonstrate that, while PMA can activate Smad-mediated transcription, Smad proteins do not appear to play a major role in the PMA induction of the WAF1 promoter.
Evaluation of Bovine Cervical Mucus During Estrous Cycle by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Bovine cervical mucus exhibited cyclical change of nuclear magnetic resonance properties in relation to stage of estrous cycle. The spectral lineshapes, as measured by asymmetry indices calculated for widths at 20 and 50% peak height, showed an abrupt change between early and midestrus. A second transition was at 6 to 15 days postestrus. The estrus-related change is postulated as reflecting primarily increase of water content of cervical mucus, whereas the postestrus transition appeared to be the consequence of decreased mucous hydration in concert with molecular changes of structure of mucous polymers.
Fusion tyrosine kinases: a result and cause of genomic instability

Reciprocal chromosomal translocations may arise as a result of unfaithful repair of spontaneous DNA double-strand breaks, most probably induced by oxidative stress, radiation, genotoxic chemicals and/or replication stress. Genes encoding tyrosine kinases are targeted by these mechanisms resulting in the generation of chimera genes encoding fusion tyrosine kinases (FTKs). FTKs display transforming activity owing to their constitutive kinase activity causing deregulated proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and adhesion. Moreover, FTKs are able to facilitate DNA repair, prolong activation of G2/M and S cell cycle checkpoints, and elevate expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-XL, making malignant cells less responsive to antitumor treatment. FTKs may also stimulate the generation of reactive oxygen species and enhance spontaneous DNA damage in tumor cells. Unfortunately, FTKs compromise the fidelity of DNA repair mechanisms, which contribute to the accumulation of additional genetic abnormalities leading to the resistance to inhibitors such as imatinib mesylate and malignant progression of the disease.
Linear groups containing a singer cycle

I f G induces a primitive permutation group on the set X of points (l-spaces) of the underlying vector space V, then well-known results of Burnside [I, p. 3411 and Schur [6] imply that G acts on X 2-transitively or as a regular or Frobenius group of prime degree; the theorem then follows from [2; 51. We must thus take a nontrivial block of imprimitivity d for G on X, and analyze the action of G on do. It should be noted that the proof is elementary in the same sense as in [2]: no purely group theoretic classification theorems are required.
New approaches for understanding the asymptotic complexity of A* tree searching

Previous studies of A* tree-searching have modeled heuristics as random variables. The average number of nodes expanded is expressed asymptotically in terms of distance to goal. The conclusion reached is that A* complexity is an exponential function of heuristic error: Polynomial error implies exponential complexity and logarithmic accuracy is required for polynomial complexity.
INTERPOLATIVE FORMULAS FOR PION-NUCLEON SCATTERING PHASE SHIFTS

Interpolative expiessions for the phase shifts in pi -N interactions in the energy range up to 600 Mev are considered. Each s- and p-wave phase shift is treated individually. The Fermi-type phase shifts found in individual experiments at various energies were taken as the points to be fitted by the interpolative expressions. Polynomial fits with two, three, and six parameters were calculated by a least squares fitting program for the dominant (3,3) phase shift. To indicate the behavior of the phase shift expressions that were obtained, the real parts of the forward scattering amplitudes were calculated and compared with the results of dispersion relation evaluations. (C.E.S.)
Microfluidics and Chromatography with an Atomic Force Microscope

A combined atomic force microscope (AFM) and Raman spectrometer is presented as a microfluidic device for pumping, sampling, and trace chemical analysis. The AFM tip-cantilever provides a mechanism for shear-driven pumping of fluids in microchannels. Shear-driven pumping allows rapid flow rates and avoids the limitations of conventional pumping. The AFM's ability to translate sub-femtoliter volumes of fluid also proves a mechanism for fluidic switching and sample injection. In addition, the AFM is used to image liquid surfaces in microchannels and remove samples for very sensitive spectral analysis. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy localized near the AFM tip provides chemical information of the sampled fluids. The results demonstrate the feasibility of integrating the AFM with microfluidic circuits and shear-driven chromatography and the potential for nanometer-scale chromatography.
Influence of Dietary Patterns on Stroke Risk in China

To the Editor: I read with interest the study of dietary influence on stroke risk in women reported by the Nurses’ Health Study group.1 The authors concluded their article by saying that “because dietary pattern may vary in different populations, our results need to be verified in other populations.”1 I wish to confirm that similar risk associations have been observed in China, just as in the case of coronary artery disease.2 Zhou3 reported in 2002 that the dramatic increase in mortality in coronary artery disease in China could be attributed to the observed …
Comprehensive Religious Studies in Public Education: Educating for a Religiously Literate Society

This article aims to enlarge the conversation about religion and public education by inviting readers to think about the benefits to be gained in society by providing a comprehensive religious studies curriculum in our public schools. In such a program, students will develop knowledge and understanding about various religious traditions, forge greater respect for the religious (and nonreligious) other, and think through existential concerns that have interested human beings for thousands of years. While recognizing that such a program is deeply contentious, we nevertheless reason that students, as participants in a democracy as well as members of a global community, must have the skills, tools, and knowledge to function in a religiously diverse world.
Traditio: Feminists of Color and the Torn Virtues of Democratic Engagement

Few questions of democratic theory provoke as much disagreement as those concerning the legitimate scope and modes of disagreement and difference. This paradoxical situation produces uncontrollable effects within and around all efforts to theorize democratic responses to it. The paradox usually grows as we strengthen our efforts to discover a singular paradigm within which we might resolve it. Typically, as advocates insist that they possess an uncontestable framework for regulating disagreement, they simultaneously reinforce their deafness and provoke alternative positions that sharply reveal contingencies, blindness, and exclusions that they would deny, or disclose, only in softer light. This often engenders ressentiment in those who insist they possess the best political path and loathe those who deny it. No democratic theory can entirely escape this predicament, but responding to it is part of what it means to live well, or at least less poorly. "Political liberalism" seeks to maximize space for diversity by offering universal principles and virtues to guide our political interactions, while leaving unresolved a broad range of moral, metaphysical, and philosophical questions-to be respectfully tolerated in nonpolitical spheres. Oriented by this common moral currency, we could rationally limit the scope of diversity in public life and more constructively negotiate our disagreements. Within the limits and according to the contours of this moral-political geography, our diversity would be at liberty in our private lives and often edify us in our public deliberations. Understood thus, the task of political theory would be to
Tinting strength of carbon black

Abstract The tinting strength of carbon black (i.e., its efficiency in decreasing reflectance when mixed with a white pigment) is of practical importance in the paint industry and is also used in quality control of carbon black manufactured for use in rubber. The relative tinting strength of a carbon black is proportional to its specific absorbance, which we calculate by Mie theory from the refractive index of carbon black and the size of the independent structural units; namely, the fused aggregates, which as a first approximation are treated as solid spheres containing the same volume of carbon. This volume depends primarily on the particle size, and to a lesser but significant extent on the “structure” or number of particles per aggregate, which is calculated from the vehicle absorption at the critical pigment volume concentration. The refractive index of carbon black is estimated from various published data as m = 1.84 (1− 0.46i). The Mie calculations show that the tinting strength is virtually independent of solid-sphere size below a certain value (approximately at a size parameter of α = 0.7); at larger sizes, the tinting strength diminishes gradually, and eventually becomes nearly proportional to 1/α. The calculated behavior is in good agreement with experimental findings. Calculations of the wavelength dependence of tinting strength show that carbon blacks of small solid-sphere size are of brownish tint “tone,” while those of large size are bluish, in agreement with experimental data. The effect of aggregate size distribution is discussed.
Optimality of log Hölder continuity of the integrated density of states

We construct examples that log Holder continuity of the integrated density of states cannot be improved. Our examples are limit-periodic. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Evaluation of optical security features in ID documents, currency, and stamps

Optical security features have been increasingly used to protect and ensure the integrity of value documents. The types of optical features and their purposes are discussed. The application of these optical features to ID documents, currency and postage stamps are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the fraud and counterfeit resistance of the features in relation to the specific document.
Smith normal form of dense integer matrices fast algorithms into practice

We present a variation of the fast Monte Carlo algorithm of Eberly, Giesbrecht and Villard for computing the Smith form of an integer matrix. It is faster in practice, but with the same asymptotic complexity, and it also handles the singular case. Then we will apply the key principle to improve Storjohann's algorithm and Iliopoulos' algorithm. We have a soft linear time algorithm for the special case of a diagonal matrix. A local Smith form Algorithm is also considered.We offer analysis and experimental results regarding these algorithms, with a view to the construction of an adaptive algorithm exploiting each algorithm at it's best range of performance. Finally, based on this information, we sketch the proposed structure of an adaptive Smith form algorithm for matrices over the integers. Our experiments use implementations in LinBox, a library for exact computational linear algebra available at linalg.org.
Direct activation in vitro of mouse peritoneal macrophages by pyran copolymer (NSC 46015)

Abstract Normal resting macrophages were transformed to cytostatic effector cells in the presence of pyran copolymer (NSC 46015) in the culture medium. Macrophage “activation” to inhibit MBL-2 leukemia cell growth was sharply dose-dependent and required >24 hr after exposure to pyran. The observed growth inhibition appeared to result from a modification of the macrophages themselves, since neither allogeneic macrophages nor drug alone interfered with MBL-2 cell growth. The primary mechanism of cytostasis did not involve phagocytosis or soluble macrophage product(s). Similar activation was observed for poly(I)·poly(C) and to a lesser extent for dextran sulfate. It is suggested that the antitumor activity of these polyanions is due to their function as direct macrophage stimulants.
MR imaging of the kidneys and adrenal glands

MR imaging has proven to be a versatile modality in evaluation of the kidneys, collecting system, and adrenal glands. By performing a comprehensive MR examination, it is not only possible to accurately characterize cystic and solid lesions of the kidneys, as well as urothelial masses, but also to provide important preoperative information to the surgeon. In addition, MR imaging can characterize many adrenal lesions and can frequently obviate biopsy. The continued development and growth of MR technology combined with the current trend toward minimally invasive surgery will expand the role of MR imaging in the future.
Dependency, subordination, and recognition: On Judith Butler's theory of subjection

Judith Butler's recent work expands the Foucaultian notion of subjection to encompass an analysis of the ways in which subordinated individuals becomes passionately attached to, and thus come to be psychically invested in, their own subordination. I argue that Butler's psychoanalytically grounded account of subjection offers a compelling diagnosis of how and why an attachment to oppressive norms – of femininity, for example – can persist in the face of rational critique of those norms. However, I also argue that her account of individual and collective resistance to subjection is plagued by familiar problems concerning the normative criteria and motivation for resistance that emerge in her recent work in new and arguably more intractable forms, and by new concerns about her conceptions of dependency, subordination and recognition.
Thermal Properties of Sorghum Starch

The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was used to measure thermal properties of sorghum starch and flour. DSC gelatinization temperatures of 24 nonwaxy sorghum varieties were: To (onset temperature): 71.0 ± 1.0°C; Tp (peak temperature): 75.6 ± 0.9°C and Te (end temperature): 81.1 ± 1.1°C, respectively. The gelatinization energies ranged from 2.51 to 3.96 cal/g. There were no consistent relationships between DSC gelatinization temperatures or gelatinization energies and grain characteristics or physicochemical starch properties. DSC gelatinization temperature for nonwaxy, heterowaxy and waxy sorghum tended to increase as the number of waxy alleles (wx) increased. However, it appeared that at least a difference of two waxy alleles was required before differences in thermal properties of the samples were significant.
Accumulation of the lipid A precursor UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine in an Escherichia coli mutant lacking the lpxH gene.

The lpxH gene encodes the UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine-specific pyrophosphatase that catalyzes the fourth step of lipid A biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. To confirm the function of lpxH, we constructed KB21/pKJB5. This strain contains a kanamycin insertion element in the chromosomal copy of lpxH, complemented by plasmid pKJB5, which is temperature-sensitive for replication and harborslpxH+ . KB21/pKJB5 grows at 30 °C but loses viability at 44 °C, demonstrating that lpxH is essential. CDP-diglyceride hydrolase (Cdh) catalyzes the same reaction as LpxH in vitro but is non-essential and cannot compensate for the absence of LpxH. The presence of Cdh in cell extracts interferes with the LpxH assay. We therefore constructed KB25/pKJB5, which contains both an in-frame deletion of cdh and a kanamycin insertion mutation in lpxH, covered by pKJB5. When KB25/pKJB5 cells are grown at 44 °C, viability is lost, and allin vitro LpxH activity is eliminated. A lipid migrating with synthetic UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine accumulates in KB25/pKJB5 following loss of the covering plasmid at 44 °C. This material was converted to the expected products, 2,3-diacylglucosamine 1-phosphate and UMP, by LpxH. Pseudomonas aeruginosa contains two proteins with sequence similarity to E. coli LpxH. The more homologous protein catalyzes UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine hydrolysisin vitro. The corresponding gene complements KB25/pKJB5 at 44 °C, but the less homologous gene does not. The accumulation of UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine in our lpxH mutant is consistent with the observation that the lipid A disaccharide synthase LpxB, the next enzyme in the pathway, cannot condense two UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine molecules, but instead utilizes UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine as its donor and 2,3-diacylglucosamine 1-phosphate as its acceptor.
A New Approach to Business-Communication Education: Integrating Business Research Methods and Communication Skills

This article describes an innovative method of teaching business communica tion. This method, which involves integrating business research methods and communication skills, has been employed and favorably received at the MBA level, especially by managers of technical and scientific personnel and by stu dents who anticipate careers in managing such personnel. This article offers a theoretical justification for such an integration, discusses the premises and benefits of a course based on this integration, and describes this course in de tail. The article also evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the course and suggests when and why this course might be offered to undergraduates.
Clinical significance of coronary arterial ectasia

In a study group of 2,457 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac catheterization, 30 patients had coronary arterial ectasia, an irregular dilatation of major vessels up to seven times the diameter of branch vessels. The frequency of hypertension, abnormal electrocardiogram and history of myocardial infarction was greater than that in a control group with obstructive coronary artery disease. Patients with ectasia did not differ from patients with obstructive disease in sex, age, prevalence of angina or presence of metabolic abnormalities. Six deaths occurred in the group with ectasia during a mean follow-up period of 24 months (annual rate of 15 percent). Extensive destruction of the musculoelastic elements was evident, resulting in marked attenuation of the vessel wall. The short-term prognosis in this group is the same as in medically treated patients with three vessel obstructive coronary artery disease.
Novel roles for GlcNAc in cell signaling

N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) has long been known to play important roles in cell surface structure. Recent studies are now revealing new functions for GlcNAc in cell signaling. Exposure to GlcNAc regulates virulence functions in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans and in pathogenic bacteria. These signaling pathways sense exogenous GlcNAc and are distinct from the O-GlcNAc signaling pathways in mammalian cells in which increased levels of intracellular GlcNAc synthesis leads to post-translational modification of proteins by attachment of O-GlcNAc. The novel roles of GlcNAc in cell signaling will be the subject of this mini-review.
Electric dipole moment of the electron and of the neutron

It is shown that if Higgs-boson exchange mediates CP violation a significant electric dipole moment for the electron can result. Analogous effects can contribute to the neutron's electric dipole moment at a level competitive with Weinberg's three-gluon operator.
Multiphoton ionization of molecular hydrogen by single-cycle pulses

Multiphoton ionization, first observed by N.B. Delone in 1965, has been a subject of intense studies ever since. In this paper we consider multiphoton ionization of molecules in the limit of subopticalcycle pulse duration. Moreover, we study the regime where the molecules are first prepared in a coherent vibrational superposition state, and then are subjected to sub-cycle laser pulses synchronized with respect to the phase of the coherent molecular motion. The present approach is based on the Keldysh formalism, which assumes that the final free electron’s state is much more sensitive to the pulse than the bound initial wavefunction [1]. We find that the ionization rate depends not only on the sub-cycle shape of the laser pulses, but also on the time delay between the arrival of pulses and molecular motion.
Evaluation and the political appointee

To meet the needs of politically appointed program managers, evaluators need to overcome organizational and evaluation-related barriers.
Accounting control systems and business strategy: An empirical analysis

Abstract Accounting theoreticians have argued that control systems should be modified in accordance with the business strategy of a firm. This study tests this hypothesis by examining differences in accounting control system attributes between two groups of firms following distinctly different strategies. Interview data and questionnaire data are used to provide evidence of the ways in which firms align their control systems and strategy. In addition, prelimenary evidence is discussed which suggests a relationship between accounting control systems, business strategy and firm performance.
Microbody Enzymes and Carboxylases in Sequential Extracts from C4 and C3 Leaves

A seven-step sequential grinding procedure was applied to leaves of Atriplex rosea, Sorghum sudanense, and Spinacia oleracea to study the distribution of carboxylases and microbody enzymes. In the extracts from C4 species there were 7- to 10-fold reciprocal changes in specific activities of ribulose-1, 5-diphosphate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. No such changes occurred in sequential extracts from spinach. No inhibitors of ribulose-1, 5-diphosphate carboxylase were detected when the mesophyll extracts of Sorghum were assayed together with spinach extracts. These results reaffirm the conclusion of others that phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase is largely confined to the mesophyll in these species and ribulose-1, 5-diphosphate carboxylase to the bundle sheath. The specific activities of glycolate oxidase and hydroxypyruvate reductase in bundle sheath extracts were two to three times those in mesophyll fractions. Catalase behaved similarly in Atriplex rosea but in Sorghum the specific activity was virtually the same in all fractions. From the relative amounts of these enzymes present, and comparison with the data obtained from spinach, it is concluded that typical leaf peroxisomes are present in the bundle sheaths of both C4 species and in the mesophyll of Atriplex rosea. The relative enzyme activities in the mesophyll of Sorghum suggest that the microbodies there are of the non-specialized type found in many nongreen tissues. The activities of the microbody enzymes in the bundle sheath of Sorghum seem quite inadequate to support photorespiration.
The domains of the quality of life

Les domaines de la qualite de la vie (QOL). Les valeurs culturelles definissent "la bonne vie" mesuree dans le domaine subjectif et dans le domaine objectif. Ces domaines sont identifies de manieres diverses par: (a) la definition academique et "elitiste" des valeurs universelles; (b) les enquetes par questionnaire de repondants de cultures differentes qui decrivent leur QOL (Quality of Life); (c) les dimensions psychologiques du bien-etre; (d) les dimensions du bien-etre social; et, (e) la satisfaction avec des secteurs de la vie quotidienne par rapport aux institutions sociales. Ces nomenclatures diverses sont combinees pour former un ensemble de dix domaines qui identifient les secteur majeurs de "la bonne vie". Des hypotheses sont proposees pour l'amelioration de plusieurs domaines QOL specifiques.
Synaptosomal Calcium Influx in the Cortex of the Hypoxic Guinea Pig Fetus. 258

Background: Hypoxia modifies the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor ion-channel in the brain of the guinea pig fetus and newborn piglet. Hypothesis: Agonist stimulation of the NMDA receptor with glycine, NMDA and glutamate will result in a higher increase of intrasynaptosomal free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in hypoxia as compared to normoxia. Subjects: 58 days guinea pig fetuses: normoxic (N,n=6) and hypoxic(H,n=6). Method: Tissue hypoxia was documented by measuring ATP and phosphocreatine levels. Cortical synaptosomes were prepared from fetal brain tissue. [Ca2+]i was measured fluorometrically, with the dye Fura-2, after the addition of glycine, NMDA and glutamate (100μM each).Results: The [Ca2+]i at baseline was 305 ± 132 nM (N) and 481 ± 100 nM (H). Addition of glycine, NMDA and glutamate raised the [Ca2+]i to 387 ± 142 nM (N) and 630 ± 84 nM (H); 448± 139 nM (N) and 729 ± 98 nM (H); 493 ± 138 nM (N) and 815 ± 132 nM (H), respectively. [Ca2+]i at baseline was significantly higher in H vs N (p<0.05). Similarly, following addition of the agonist the [Ca2+]i, was significantly higher in H vs N(p<0.01 for each agonist). Furthermore, the agonist dependent increase in [Ca2+]i was significantly higher in N vs H(p<0.05 for each agonist). Conclusions: Hypoxia-induced modification of the NMDA receptor results in a higher increase in[Ca2+]i, presumably leading to Ca2+-mediated activation of both phospholipase A2 and nitric oxide synthase, resulting in free radical-induced neuronal injury. (Funded by NIH-HD-20337).
Estrogen receptor beta in the brain: From form to function

Estrogens have numerous effects on the brain, both in adulthood and during development. These actions of estrogen are mediated by two distinct estrogen receptor (ER) systems, ER alpha (ERalpha) and ER beta (ERbeta). In brain, ERalpha plays a critical role in regulating reproductive neuroendocrine function and behavior, however, a definitive role for ERbeta in any neurobiological function has been slow in forthcoming. Clues to the function of ERbeta in the central nervous system can be gleaned from the neuroanatomical distribution of ERbeta and the phenotypes of neurons that express ERbeta. ERbeta immunoreactivity has been found in populations of GnRH, CRH, vasopressin, oxytocin and prolactin containing neurons in the hypothalamus. Utilizing subtype-selective estrogen receptor agonists can help determine the roles for ERbeta in non-reproductive behaviors in rat models. ERbeta-selective agonists exert potent anxiolytic activity when animals were tested in a number of behavioral paradigms. Consistent with this, ERbeta-selective agonists also inhibited the ACTH and corticosterone response to stress. In contrast, ERalpha selective agonists were found to be anxiogenic and correspondingly increased the hormonal stress response. Taken together, our studies implicate ERbeta as an important modulator of some non-reproductive neurobiological systems. The molecular and neuroanatomical targets of estrogen that are mediated by ERbeta remain to be determined. A number of splice variants of ERbeta mRNA have been reported in brain tissue. Imaging of eGFP labeled chimeric receptor proteins transfected into cell lines shows that ERbeta splice variation can alter trafficking patterns and function. The originally described ERbeta (herein termed ERbeta1) is characterized by possessing a high affinity for estradiol. Similar to ERalpha, it is localized in the nucleus and is trafficked to nuclear sites termed "hyperspeckles" following ligand binding. In contrast, ERbeta2 contains an 18 amino acid insert within the ligand-binding domain and as a result can be best described as a low affinity form of ERbeta. A delta3 (delta3) variant of ERbeta has a deletion of the 3rd exon (coding for the second half of the DNA-binding domain) and as a result does not bind an estrogen response element in DNA. delta3 variants are trafficked to a unique low abundance and larger nuclear site following ligand binding. A delta4 (delta4) variant lacks exon 4 and as a result is localized to the cytoplasm. The amount of individual splice variant mRNAs varies depending upon brain region. Examination of neuropeptide promoter regulation by ERbeta splice variants demonstrates that ERbeta functions as a constitutively active transcription factor. Moreover, it appears that splice variation of ERbeta alters its ability to regulate transcription in a promoter-dependent and ligand-dependent fashion.
Measurement of Porosity in Granular Particle Distributions Using Adaptive Thresholding

It has been shown that the flow and shear characteristics of granular particles such as soils are significantly dependent on the shape of the particles. This is important from a practical viewpoint because a fundamental understanding of granular behavior will lead to an improved understanding of soil stability and influence the design of structural foundations. Furthermore, the calculation of soil stability and, consequently, structural stability is particularly useful during earthquake events. In previous work, we have demonstrated the applicability of X-ray and optical tomography measurements for characterizing 3-D shapes of natural sands and manufactured granular particles. In this paper, we extend the work to measure the arrangement and the orientation of an assemblage of such particles. A combination of X-ray computed tomography (CT) for measuring the coordinates of the individual particles and an iterative adaptive thresholding technique for computing the local variations in porosity is employed to generate porosity maps. Such maps can be used to gain a more fundamental understanding of the shear characteristics of granular particles. In this paper, we demonstrate the success of our technique by exercising the method on several sets of granular particles-glass beads (used as a control), natural Michigan Dune and Daytona Beach sand, and processed Dry #1 sand.
Biological kinetic behaviors and operational performances in aerated and oxygenated systems

Biological kinetic behaviors of the oxygenated and aerated activated sludge process were studied and compared in both once-through and constant sludge recycle systems. The models derived by Herbert, Elsworth, and Telling [J. Gen. Microbiol., 14, 601 (1956)] and Ramanathan and Gaudy [Biotechnol. Bioeng., 11, 207 (1969)] were used for the studies of once-through and constant sludge recycle systems, respectively. Soft drink waste water was used for the growth limiting substrate. Temperature was controlled within 30 ± 2°C. The influent substrate concentration was maintained at 1,000 mg/liter. The experiments were conducted at various dilution rates (from to 1/1.0 hr−1), and recycle solids concentration values (from 5,000 to 10,000 mg/liter), with hydraulic recycle ratio, α, at 0.3. Biological kinetic constants were evaluated and compared. It was found that these constants were different for the aerated and oxygenated systems within a certain range of dilution rates studied. The critical dilution rates for diluting out effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD) occurred at 0.1 and 0.2 hr−1in the once-through operation, and 0.2 and 0.4 hr−1in the sludge recycle operation for aerated and oxygenated systems, respectively. Observed sludge yield values and specific growth rate were varied with the type of aeration and with and without constant sludge recycle concentration applied. Sludge carbohydrates and proteins content in the oxygenation system (cell recycle) were 10.1–21.6% and 35.6–52.2%. Sludge volume index in the air and oxygenation systems varied from 41.4 to 354 and 31.9 to 58.5, respectively.
Presence of tungsten-containing fibers in tungsten refining and manufacturing processes.

In tungsten refining and manufacturing processes, a series of tungsten oxides are typically formed as intermediates in the production of tungsten powder. The present study was conducted to characterize airborne tungsten-containing fiber dimensions, elemental composition and concentrations in the US tungsten refining and manufacturing industry. During the course of normal employee work activities, seven personal breathing zone and 62 area air samples were collected and analyzed using National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) fiber sampling and counting methods to determine dimensions, composition and airborne concentrations of fibers. Mixed models were used to identify relationships between potential determinants and airborne fiber concentrations. Results from transmission electron microscopy analyses indicated that airborne fibers with length >0.5 μm, diameter >0.01 μm and aspect ratios ≥3:1 were present on 35 of the 69 air samples collected. Overall, the airborne fibers detected had a geometric mean length ≈3 μm and diameter ≈0.3 μm. Ninety-seven percent of the airborne fibers identified were in the thoracic fraction (i.e. aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm). Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry results indicated that airborne fibers prior to the carburization process consisted primarily of tungsten and oxygen, with other elements being detected in trace quantities. Based on NIOSH fiber counting ‘B’ rules (length > 5 μm, diameter < 3 μm and aspect ratio ≥ 5:1), airborne fiber concentrations ranged from below the limit of detection to 0.085 fibers cm−3, with calcining being associated with the highest airborne concentrations. The mixed model procedure indicated that process temperature had a marginally significant relationship to airborne fiber concentration. This finding was expected since heated processes such as calcining created the highest airborne fiber concentrations. The finding of airborne tungsten-containing fibers in this occupational setting needs to be confirmed in similar settings and demonstrates the need to obtain information on the durability and associated health effects of these fibers.
Affective response to exercise as a component of exercise motivation: Attitudes, norms, self-efficacy, and temporal stability of intentions.

Abstract Problem A positive affective response is associated with increased participation in voluntary exercise, but the mechanisms by which this occurs are not well known. Consistent with a Theory of Planned Behavior perspective, we tested whether affective response to exercise leads to greater motivation in terms of attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy and intentions to exercise. We were also specifically interested in whether a positive affective response leads to more temporally stable intentions. Method Participants ( N = 127) self-reported Theory of Planned Behavior constructs and exercise behavior at baseline and three months later, and provided reports of exercise-related affect during a 30-minute bout of moderate intensity treadmill exercise at baseline. Results We show that participants who experience greater improvements in positive affect, negative affect and fatigue during exercise tended to report more positive attitudes, exercise self-efficacy and intentions to exercise three months later. Affective response was not predictive of subjective norms. As hypothesized, positive affective response was associated with more stable intentions over time. Conclusions We conclude that a positive affective response to acute bouts of exercise can aid in building and sustaining exercise motivation over time.
Magmatic fractionation of Hf and W: constraints on the timing of core formation and differentiation in the Moon and Mars

Abstract Excesses of 182W have previously been measured in samples from the Moon and Mars, and can be derived from high Hf/W regions in their interiors during their early histories. Although planetary mantles will have superchondritic Hf/W after core formation, the extent to which high Hf/W regions could be generated by magmatic fractionation has not been evaluated. In order to address the latter possibility, we have carried out experiments from 100 MPa to 10.0 GPa, 1150 to 1850°C, at oxygen fugacities near the IW (iron-wustite) buffer, and measured partition coefficients for W and Hf for plagioclase-liquid, olivine-liquid, orthopyroxene-liquid, clinopyroxene-liquid, garnet-liquid, and metal-liquid pairs. Clinopyroxene and garnet are both capable of fractionating Hf from W during magmatic crystallization or mantle melting, and minor variations in the measured D’s can be attributed to crystal chemical effects. Excesses of 182W and 142Nd in lunar samples can be explained by fractionation of Hf from W, and Sm from Nd (by ilmenite and clinopyroxene) during crystallization of the latest stages of a lunar magma ocean. Correlations of eW with eNd in martian samples could be a result of early silicate fractionation in the martian mantle (clinopyroxene and/or garnet).
Can the WPPSI be of Aid in Identifying Young Children at Risk for Reading Disability

WPPSI and screening test scores of 72 children, who appeared at risk for learning disability at age 5, were examined 3 years later, on average. At follow-up there were 32 poor and 40 good readers. Both groups had average intelligence at age 5, and had received similar special help. Poor readers were superior in WPPSI Conceptual and Acquired Knowledge factors, and Verbal IQ. Good readers were superior only on five screening tests. Profiles were Conceptual>Spatial>Sequential for poor readers, and Spatial>Sequential>Conceptual for good readers. As abilities important in the acquisition of reading skills differ from those associated with later good reading, educators should not expect young high risk children to show the Spatial>Conceptual>Sequential profile, reported for older children with reading disability in WISC-R research. No boys who became poor readers showed this profile at age 5, although nearly half the small number of girls did.
Adenosine-induced flow arrest to facilitate intracranial aneurysm clip ligation: dose-response data and safety profile.

BACKGROUND: Adenosine-induced transient flow arrest has been used to facilitate clip ligation of intracranial aneurysms. However, the starting dose that is most likely to produce an adequate duration of profound hypotension remains unclear. We reviewed our experience to determine the dose-response relationship and apparent perioperative safety profile of adenosine in intracranial aneurysm patients. METHODS: This case series describes 24 aneurysm clip ligation procedures performed under an anesthetic consisting of remifentanil, low-dose volatile anesthetic, and propofol in which adenosine was used. The report focuses on the doses administered; duration of systolic blood pressure 60 mm Hg (SBP60 mm Hg); and any cardiovascular, neurologic, or pulmonary complications observed in the perioperative period. RESULTS: A median dose of 0.34 mg/kg ideal body weight (range: 0.29‐0.44 mg/kg) resulted in a SBP60 mm Hg for a median of 57 seconds (range: 26‐105 seconds). There was a linear relationship between the log-transformed dose of adenosine and the duration of a SBP60 mm Hg (R 2 0.38). Two patients developed transient, hemodynamically stable atrial fibrillation, 2 had postoperative troponin levels 0.03 ng/mL without any evidence of cardiac dysfunction, and 3 had postoperative neurologic changes. CONCLUSIONS: For intracranial aneurysms in which temporary occlusion is impractical or difficult, adenosine is capable of providing brief periods of profound systemic hypotension with low perioperative morbidity. On the basis of these data, a dose of 0.3 to 0.4 mg/kg ideal body weight may be the recommended starting dose to achieve approximately 45 seconds of profound systemic hypotension during a remifentanil/low-dose volatile anesthetic with propofol induced burst suppression. (Anesth Analg 2010;110:1406‐11)
Parallel parsing of MPEG video on a shared-memory symmetric multiprocessor

Video parsing refers to the detection and classification of abrupt and gradual scene changes in a video stream. The detection of these changes forms an important preprocessing step in applications that treat videos as sources of information. The parsed video is subsequently indexed to support content-based retrieval, navigation and browsing. Analysis of video streams is computationally intensive with high data processing bandwidth requirements. Shared-memory symmetric multiprocessors (SMPs) have become increasingly ubiquitous and affordable. Parallel processing on an shared-memory symmetric multiprocessor is hence proposed as a means of dealing with the computational demands of video parsing. Parallel versions of two algorithms that detect scene transitions in compressed video streams are proposed. Both algorithms entail minimal decompression of the MPEG video. Three granularities of parallelism based on data decomposition and task decomposition are investigated; Group of Pictures (GOP), Frame and Slice. Results of an SMP implementation show that the GOP-level implementation, which represents the coarsest granularity of task and data decomposition, performs the best in terms of speedup and synchronization overhead. The slice and frame levels of granularity take second and third place, respectively. The speedup is observed to be almost linear in the case of the GOP level of granularity, whereas the synchronization overheads are observed to be high for the flame and slice levels of granularity.
Fluid and Solute Transport from a Conduit to the Matrix in a Carbonate Aquifer System

Within carbonate systems, the working hypothesis suggests that when a conduit is flooded fluid and solute migrate from the conduit into the matrix. This flux of fluid and solute into the matrix creates a reservoir that can be slowly released once the flooding recedes. Although hypothesized, these fluxes have never been measured. To quantify the distance that a fluid and solute would move into a matrix, the fluxes of fluid and solute from a conduit into a matrix were simulated for nine different carbonate aquifer systems. Two independent numerical approaches were used to simulate (1) fluid flux into the matrix and (2) solute flux into the matrix during a flooding event. When flooding occurs within the conduit, the volume of water transported into and stored in the matrix with a high porosity and high hydraulic conductivity (Floridan Aquifer) was less than 0.34 m3 along a 1 m length of conduit, resulting in a penetration depth of 7.2×10−2 m into the matrix. In a low porosity and low hydraulic conductivity matrix (Ozark Plateau), the volume of water transported into and stored in the matrix was less than 6.85×10−5 m3 along a 1 m length of conduit, resulting in a penetration depth of 2.0×10−4 m into the matrix. Simulated solute flow shows that less than 0.1% of the solute moves in to the matrix. The two approaches demonstrate that during high flow conditions fluid and solute are forced through the conduits, with very little moving into the carbonate matrix. Once the fluid and solute enter a conduit and are moving, they will remain in the conduit until they are discharged at an outlet. Thus, a carbonate matrix does not become a reservoir for solute and fluid during a high-flow event.