cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Driver comprehension of multiple haptic seat alerts intended for use in an integrated collision avoidance system

Previous research demonstrated that a haptic driver seat can effectively convey information to drivers, and suggests that it may be an ideal method for presenting haptic information because it maintains contact with the driver. The current study progresses this research by investigating whether a haptic seat can be used as the sole method for communicating multiple and meaningfully different alerts such that drivers quickly execute the correct response maneuver. An intuitive manner for presenting up to seven haptic alerts through the driver seat was developed based on driver performance with an earlier haptic seat design. Twenty-four drivers then participated in an on-road study that, through three experiments, investigated: (1) whether driver response performance to the alerts degrades as the number of possible alerts (one, three, or seven alerts) is increased, (2) whether driver response performance to the alerts degrades when alerts are presented through the same seat location, and (3) whether the haptic seat can effectively alert distracted drivers to a surprise barricade. In Experiment 1, despite drivers always making the correct response maneuver, their manual response time and verbal response accuracy significantly degraded as the number of alerts increased from three to seven. In Experiment 2, drivers' manual response time significantly improved when alerts were presented through unique seat locations. In Experiment 3, distracted drivers that received an alert returned their gaze to the forward roadway sooner, lifted their foot up from the throttle sooner, and pressed the brake pedal sooner than distracted drivers that did not receive an alert. Overall, the study shows that confusion and delayed responses may occur when the number of possible alerts is increased, but that the information transmitted by the haptic seat alerts can be secured if the alerts are presented through unique seat locations that are spaced far apart, and map to the desired manual response. In balancing the tradeoff between communicating a multitude of information to drivers and minimizing performance decrements, a haptic seat that conveys three alerts is recommended when quick and accurate manual responses are required and additional alert modalities are not utilized. These findings are expected to inform the design of haptic driver seats.
Chaos in a double-diffusive convection model in the presence of noise

Abstract A simple five-degree-of-freedom model for double-diffusive (thermohaline) convection is considered. The effects of thermal and solutal Rayleigh numbers on the overall behavior of the system in the absence of noise are first studied. Transition from periodic to nearly periodic and chaotic motions due to increasing thermal Rayleigh number for a fixed solutal Rayleigh number is observed. The behavior of the system in the presence of noise is also numerically studied. It is shown that the statistical features of the response do not change when the intensity of noise is small.
Conversion from pure laparoscopy to hand-assisted laparoscopy for control of bleeding in renal surgery: an attractive alternative to open conversion.

Abstract Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of conversion from pure laparoscopy to hand-assisted laparoscopy to control mild-to-moderate bleeding during renal surgery. Patients and Methods: Between August 2006 and August 2008, we performed 94 laparoscopic nephrectomies (44 partial and 50 radical). A total of three radical nephrectomies were converted from pure to hand-assisted laparoscopy for control of bleeding. The first patient was a 44-year-old man with a 14-cm cystic renal mass. The second patient was a 52-year-old man with a 3.8-cm renal mass, and the third patient was an 86-year-old woman with a 7-cm renal mass. Results: In all three procedures, the indication for conversion was bleeding from the renal hilum or the kidney parenchyma during dissection. The bleeding was difficult to control using pure laparoscopy, and therefore a hand port was inserted. Time for conversion and placement of the hand port averaged less than 7 minutes. Total estimated blood loss for the three patients was 800 mL...
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE ACTIVATES EXTRACELLULAR SIGNAL-REGULATED KINASE VIA PROTEIN KINASE C, RAF-1, AND MEK1

We have previously demonstrated that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment of bovine tracheal myocytes increases the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), serine/threonine kinases of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase superfamily thought to play a key role in the transduction of mitogenic signals to the cell nucleus. Moreover, H2O2-induced ERK activation was partially reduced by pretreatment with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, which depletes protein kinase C (PKC). In this study, we further examined the signaling intermediates responsible for ERK activation by H2O2 in airway smooth muscle, focusing on MAP kinase/ERK kinase (MEK), a dual-function kinase which is required and sufficient for ERK activation in bovine tracheal myocytes; Raf-1, a serine/threonine kinase known to activate MEK; and PKC. Pretreatment of cells with inhibitors of MEK (PD98059), Raf-1 (forskolin), and PKC (chelerythrine) each reduced H2O2-induced ERK activity. In addition, H2O2 treatment significantly increased bo...
Role of molecular oxygen in the bioluminescence of the firefly squid, Watasenia scintillans.

Abstract The bioluminescence system in the “firefly squid,” Watasenia scintillans, is described. The light-emitting components consist of luciferin (coelenterazine disulfate), a membrane-bound luciferase, ATP, Mg2+, and molecular oxygen. A hypothetical scheme is proposed for the light-emitting reaction.
The Mechanochemistry of Molecular Motors

A theory of molecular motors is presented that explains how the energy released in single chemical reactions can generate mechanical motion and force. In the simplest case the fluctuating movements of a motor enzyme are well described by a diffusion process on a two-dimensional potential energy surface, where one dimension is a chemical reaction coordinate and the other is the spatial displacement of the motor. The coupling between chemistry and motion results from the shape of the surface, and motor velocities and forces result from diffusion currents on this surface. This microscopic description is shown to possess an equivalent kinetic mechanism in which the rate constants depend on externally applied forces. By using this equivalence we explore the characteristic properties of several broad classes of motor mechanisms and give general expressions for motor velocity versus load force for any member of each class. We show that in some cases simple plots of 1/velocity vs. 1/concentration can distinguish between classes of motor mechanisms and may be used to determine the step at which movement occurs.
Fundamentals of computerised data acquisition in the human performance laboratory.

Researchers of the future will depend upon computer technology to address questions that previously could not be answered using traditional methods of data acquisition. Re-cent advances in computer design and software availability have eliminated many of the limitations previously associated with computer use in the laboratory setting. Although computerisation facilitates the acquisition of laboratory data, identification of errors in-troduced into the measurement is often more difficult.
Differential expression of microRNAs in mouse embryonic bladder

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in several biological processes including development, differentiation and proliferation. Analysis of miRNA expression patterns in the process of embryogenesis may have substantial value in determining the mechanism of embryonic bladder development as well as for eventual therapeutic intervention. The miRNA expression profiles are distinct among the cellular types and embryonic stages as demonstrated by microarray technology and validated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR approach. Remarkably, the miRNA expression patterns suggested that unique miRNAs from epithelial and submucosal areas are responsible for mesenchymal cellular differentiation, especially regarding bladder smooth muscle cells. Our data show that miRNA expression patterns are unique in particular cell types of mouse bladder at specific developmental stages, reflecting the apparent lineage and differentiation status within the embryonic bladder. The identification of unique miRNAs expression before and after smooth muscle differentiation in site-specific area of the bladder indicates their roles in embryogenesis and may aid in future clinical intervention.
Modeled vs. actual performance of the geosynchronous imaging Fourier transform spectrometer (GIFTS)

The NASA Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) has been completed as an Engineering Demonstration Unit (EDU) and has recently finished thermal vacuum testing and calibration. The GIFTS EDU was designed to demonstrate new and emerging sensor and data processing technologies with the goal of making revolutionary improvements in meteorological observational capability and forecasting accuracy. The GIFTS EDU includes a cooled (150 K), imaging FTS designed to provide the radiometric accuracy and atmospheric sounding precision required to meet the next generation GOES sounder requirements. This paper discusses a GIFTS sensor response model and its validation during thermal vacuum testing and calibration. The GIFTS sensor response model presented here is a component-based simulation written in IDL with the model component characteristics updated as actual hardware has become available. We discuss our calibration approach, calibration hardware used, and preliminary system performance, including NESR, spectral radiance responsivity, and instrument line shape. A comparison of the model predictions and hardware performance provides useful insight into the fidelity of the design approach.
Measurement of the effective wavelength of x-ray lithography sources

Abstract This paper describes techniques to determine the effective wavelength of x-ray lithography sources. The experimental results give information on the actual x-ray absorption of the resist materials for the x-ray source under test. Results for two beam lines of the HELIOS storage ring installed at the IBM Advanced Lithography Facility, and for one beam line at the VUV ring at the Brookhaven National Laboratory are presented, and compared to calculations.
A method for determining the microstructural changes in graphite that accompany high temperature deformation

Sequential optical and electron photomicrographs were made on the same areas of graphite specimens before and after various amounts of creep strain at 2500°C. The polished and etched surfaces of the specimen were preserved by wrapping several layers of pyrocarbon tape over the gage length, by outgassing at temperatures below 2000°C in a vacuum of less than 5 × 10−5 torr, and by using spectrograde argon when heating to temperatures above 2000°C. The strains for ZTA samples whose stress axes were parallel, or nearly parallel, to the average c-axis were caused principally by crack formation and growth.
Identity and Functional Properties of Novel Skin-Derived Fibroblast Lines (NS Series) That Support the Growth of Epidermal-Derived Dendritic Cell Lines

We have established recently a series of unique cell lines (NS series) from dispase-separated mouse epidermis that promote the growth of epidermal-derived antigen-presenting cell lines (XS series). The purposes of this study were to determine the identity of NS cells and to characterize their functional properties. NS cells were distinguishable from leukocytes by the lack of typical surface markers and by the failure to respond to leukocyte growth factors. Despite their epidermal derivation, NS cells were distinct from keratinocytes by the absence of cytokeratins. On the other hand, NS cells were indistinguishable from lines of dermal fibroblasts by their a) morphology, b) surface phenotype, and c) intracellular deposits of type I collagen. Growth of the XS antigen-presenting lines has been promoted by co-culturing with γ-irradiated NS cells, and this activity could be replaced with NS cell-conditioned media alone, but not with paraformaldehyde-fixed NS cells. Each clone derived from the NS01 line secreted XS cell-growth-promoting activity, and this activity was blocked by monoclonal antibodies against colony-stimulating factor-1 receptors. Dermal fibroblasts also promoted the growth of XS cells in a colony-stimulating factor-1-dependent manner. By contrast, culture supernatants from other cell lines derived from skin (e.g., Pam 212 keratinocytes, 7-17 dendritic epidermal T cells, or XS lines) failed to promote XS cell growth. These results indicate that NS cells belong to the fibroblast lineage and that they share the intrinsic property to secrete large amounts of colony-stimulating factor-1 with dermal fibroblasts. Dermal cells may support the growth of skin-associated antigen-presenting cells in vivo .
Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Adherence in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

OBJECTIVE Although vitamin and mineral supplementation for nutritional deficiencies is a common component of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management, little is known about supplement adherence in this group. This study described adherence to multivitamin, iron, and calcium supplements among 49 youth aged 11-18 years with IBD. Additionally, the study examined relationships between supplement knowledge and adherence. METHODS Participants completed supplement adherence ratings using a validated interview. Knowledge was assessed using an open-ended question from the same interview; responses were later categorized into 1 of 3 knowledge sophistication categories (low, moderate, or high). RESULTS Mean adherence rates ranged from 32 to 44% across supplements. Youth who did not know the reason for supplementation (approximately 25% of the sample) displayed substantially poorer adherence than did those with moderate or high levels of knowledge, across all supplements. CONCLUSIONS Findings highlight the importance of evaluating and addressing nonadherence to vitamin and mineral supplements in youth with pediatric IBD.
Waveguide CO 2 laser gain: Dependence on gas kinetic and discharge properties

Using a simple rate equation approach we examine the gas kinetic and discharge properties of waveguide CO 2 lasers. We calculate the dependence of the population inversion and laser small-signal gain on gas pressure, gas mixture, pumping rate (discharge current), tube bore diameter, and wall temperature. The results indicate, for example, that at a pressure of 50 torr and a tube-bore diameter of 0.125 cm, the gain is optimized with a gas mixture in the ratio CO 2 :N 2 :He of 1:0.75: 1.5. At higher pressures the gain is optimized by using more helium-rich mixtures. We also calculate the dependence of laser tunability on the gas kinetic properties and cavity losses. We find that for low-loss cavities the laser tunability may substantially exceed the molecular full width at half-maximum. Furthermore, the more helium-rich gas mixtures give greater tunability when cavity losses are small, and less tunability when cavity losses are large. The roles of the various gases in the waveguide CO 2 laser are the same as those in conventional devices. By contrast with conventional lasers, however, the waveguide laser transition is homogeneously broadened. Thus the dependence of gain on gas pressure and other kinetic properties differs substantially from that predicted by scaling results from conventional low-pressure lasers.
Multi-agent System Service and Ontology Design Methods

This paper describes essential service and ontology design considerations for a multi-agent system. We will establish a context of basic information sharing and discovery for a combat search and rescue vignette. FIPA protocols and the OWL-S Task Model will be presented along with the associated work flow processes for our range of service options. A Protege-based ontology will convey our semantic structure and be used to drive the actual JADE-based demonstration. We will also recommend the necessary agency design requirements for effective MAS management of the work flow process. We will recommend initial ontologies for use across the entire OWL-S Task Model, as well as candidate examples of ontology mediation. We then summarize our findings and offer recommendations for MAS service and ontology design.
Effects of High Water‐Vapor Pressure on Oxidation of Silicon Carbide at 1200°C

The oxidation of SiC at 1200°C in a slowly flowing gas mixture of either air or air + 15 vol% H 2 O at 10 atm (1 MPa) was studied for extended times to examine the effects of elevated water-vapor pressure on oxidation rates and microstructural development. At a water-vapor pressure of 1.5 atm (150 kPa), distinct SiO 2 scale structures were observed on the SiC; thick, porous, nonprotective cristobalite scales formed above a thin, nearly dense vitreous SiO 2 layer, which remained constant in thickness with time as the crystalline SiO 2 continued to grow. The pore morphology of the cristobalite layer differed depending on the type of SiC on which it was grown. The crystallization and growth rates of the cristobalite layer were significantly accelerated in the presence of the high water-vapor pressure and resulted in rapid rates of SiC surface recession that were on the order of what is observed when SiO 2 volatility is rate controlling at high gas-flow velocities (30 m/s). The recession process can be described by a paralinear kinetic model controlled by the conversion of dense vitreous SiO 2 to porous, nonprotective SiO 2 .
Morphologic demonstration of receptor-mediated endocytosis of epidermal growth factor by isolated bile duct epithelial cells.

It was recently shown that intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells in situ or after isolation from rat liver have coated pits and vesicles, suggesting that they participate in receptor-mediated endocytosis. Therefore, using a morphologic approach and epidermal growth factor coupled to horseradish peroxidase or colloidal gold as probes, we studied freshly isolated or short-term cultured intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells prepared from normal rat liver to determine if they participate in receptor-mediated endocytosis. Immunoelectron microscopy using a monoclonal antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor was also used to examine for the presence of the growth factor receptor on the cells. Immediately after isolation, the cells did not internalize either epidermal growth factor-horseradish peroxidase or epidermal growth factor-colloidal gold; no growth factor receptor could be shown on these cells by immunocytochemistry, either. In contrast, cells cultured for 24 h bound and internalized both epidermal growth factor-horseradish peroxidase and epidermal growth factor-colloidal gold at 37°C and showed growth factor receptors diffusely distributed on the plasma membrane. When cultured cells exposed to epidermal growth factor-colloidal gold were fixed with glutaraldehyde containing saponin and tannic acid, colloidal gold particles were observed in coated pits and in coated and uncoated vesicles. Preincubation of cultured cells with native epidermal growth factor completely blocked the internalization of both epidermal growth factor-horseradish peroxidase and epidermal growth factor-colloidal gold. When rat liver was stained in situ for epidermal growth factor receptor, reaction product was observed by immunoelectron microscopy exclusively on the basal surface of the plasma membrane of the intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells. These results indicate that bile duct epithelial cells internalize epidermal growth factor by endocytosis via coated pits containing receptors localized in situ exclusively to the basal domain of their plasma membranes. The data demonstrate for the first time that intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells participate in receptormediated endocytosis and raise the possibility that they are a target for epidermal growth factor.
Using Three Dimensions in Catalytic Mesoporous Nanoarchitectures

Gold-titania (Au-TiO2) composite aerogels were synthesized, characterized, and tested as ambient-temperature oxidation catalysts for carbon monoxide. Adding alkanethiolate-monolayer-protected gold clusters (with 2-nm Au cores) directly to titania sol before gelation yields uniformly dispersed guests in the composite aerogel. The Au guests aggregate to 6 nm upon calcination to remove the alkanethiolate and crystallize amorphous titania to anatase. The resulting composite aerogel exhibits high catalytic activity toward CO oxidation at room temperature at Au particle sizes that are essentially inactive in prior Au-TiO2 catalysts. Transmission electron microscopy illustrates the three-dimensional nature of the catalytic nanoarchitecture in which the Au guests contact multiple anatase nanocrystallites. An extensive literature describes the ability of nanometersized gold supported on titania (Au/TiO2) to catalyze the lowtemperature oxidation of carbon monoxide. 1-11 The mechanism of oxidation (in particular the individual roles of the gold and titania) is still being elucidated. Agreement exists that oxygen is activated at either titania or the gold -titania interface, while carbon monoxide undergoes weak, reversible adsorption at the surface of the gold nanoparticle. 12 The surface diffusion of adsorbed CO on the gold to the activated oxygen sites at the interface, with possible spillover of activated oxygen to the gold, enhances oxidative turnover. Studies by Haruta and co-workers 6 show that 3-nm gold particles supported on titania optimize the effectiveness of catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide. Gold sized at 3 nm appears to balance the need for a large ratio of perimeterto-bulk (i.e., high catalyst dispersion), while still presenting enough surface area for carbon monoxide adsorption and surface diffusion. Smaller particles are thought to be partially buried in the titania support, while larger particles are thought to lose carbon monoxide to desorption before diffusion to the active perimeter permits oxidation. 6,11,13 Although 12nm Au supported on iron oxide remains active for CO oxidation, 14 which argues for a less size-dependent mechanism such as spillover involving reactive atomic oxygen, titania-supported catalysts with Au particles larger than 5 nm are reported to be less active for CO oxidation. 12
Pressure observer based servo control of pneumatic actuators

Pneumatic systems are highly non-linear by their nature. Despite their many advantages like reliability, compliance for interaction tasks requiring backdrivability, high power to weight ratio, the use of such systems is restricted primarily because of its high initial cost. This paper presents the development of a robust observer based controller to eliminate costly pressure sensors and therefore obtain a low cost pneumatic servo system. Experimental results are presented that demonstrate the effectiveness of this pressure observer based controller
Severity and duration of nausea and vomiting symptoms in pregnancy and spontaneous abortion

BACKGROUND Earlier studies have shown an inverse association between the presence of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) and spontaneous abortion (SAB), but no study to date has examined the effects of symptom duration on the risk of SAB.
Positive Kveim Test in Patients with Coexisting Sarcoidosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

We present two cases of sarcoidosis complicated by HIV infection. Each case had a different level of sarcoidosis activity and coexisted with either an AIDS-related infection or a HIV-positive state. Manifestations of sarcoidosis were not apparent in the patient with the AIDS-defining opportunistic infection, but were active in the patient with asymptomatic HIV infection. Both patients had granulomatous reactions to Kveim antigen, and one had such a reaction following an AIDS-defining infection. These findings suggest that non-T-cell mechanisms may be involved in granuloma formation in sarcoidosis.
Morphometry, histopathology, and tomography of cerebral atrophy in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) commonly display evidence of gross cerebral atrophy, but its true incidence and pathophysiology in the general AIDS population are unknown. In this study, we measured cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces in 64 consecutively autopsied patients with AIDS, compared them with age-matched non-AIDS subjects, and correlated them with the microscopic neuropathology at autopsy. Thirty-seven of the patients with AIDS (58%) had a CSF space index greater than two standard deviations above the mean of the age-matched control subjects. CSF spaces were expanded the most in frontal and temporal lobes; ventricular spaces were expanded more than sulcal spaces. Regression analysis between age and the measured CSF indexes showed that practically none of the deviation in patients with AIDS could be explained by age-related atrophy. Patients with atrophy were much more likely to have human immunodeficiency virus type 1-associated histopathological changes in their brains, but the relationships were too weak to establish the microscopic cause of the atrophy. Measurement of CSF spaces in antemortem computed tomographic (CT) scans from 47 of the patients with AIDS revealed the same regional pattern of brain wasting. CT diagnosis of cerebral atrophy was strongly concordant with the postmortem diagnosis, but its severity was diagnosed slightly more conservatively at autopsy. Thus, quantitative analysis of CSF spaces in a robust sampling of patients with AIDS confirms that cerebral atrophy is a sensitive, common, and frequently subtle indication of central nervous system human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection that may occur independently from any single specific microscopic abnormality. Its presence, severity, and regional pattern are detected with reasonable consistency using CT scanning.
Sensitivity of survival to migration routes used by juvenile Chinook salmon to negotiate the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta

Populations of juvenile salmon emigrating from natal rivers to the ocean must often traverse different migratory pathways that may influence survival. In regulated rivers, migration routes may consist of a network of channels such as in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, or of different passage structures at hydroelectric dams (e.g., turbines or spillways). To increase overall survival, management actions in such systems often focus on altering the migration routing of fish to divert them away from low-survival routes and towards high-survival routes. Here, we use a 3-year data set of route-specific survival and movement of juvenile Chinook salmon in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to quantify the sensitivity of survival to changes in migration routing at two major river junctions in the Sacramento River. Our analysis revealed that changes in overall survival in response to migration routing at one river junction depended not only differences in survival among alternative routes, but also on migration routing at the other river junction. Diverting fish away from a low-survival route at the downstream river junction increased population survival by less than expected, given the difference in survival among routes, because part of the population used an alternative migration route at the upstream river junction. We also show that management actions that influence only migration routing will likely increase survival by less than actions that alter both migration routing and route-specific survival. Our analysis provides an analytical framework to help fisheries managers quantify the suite of management actions likely to maximize increases in population level survival.
The Structural Wedge Domain of the Receptor-like Tyrosine Phosphatase CD45 Enforces B Cell Tolerance by Regulating Substrate Specificity

CD45 is a receptor-like tyrosine phosphatase that positively regulates BCR signaling by dephosphorylating the inhibitory tyrosine of the Src family kinases. We showed previously that a single point mutation, E613R, introduced into the cytoplasmic membrane-proximal "wedge" domain of CD45 is sufficient to drive a lupus-like autoimmune disease on a susceptible genetic background. To clarify the molecular mechanism of this disease, we took advantage of a unique allelic series of mice in which the expression of CD45 is varied across a broad range. Although both E613R B cells and those with supraphysiologic CD45 expression exhibited hyperresponsive BCR signaling, they did so by opposite regulation of the Src family kinase Lyn. We demonstrated that the E613R allele of CD45 does not function as a hyper- or hypomorphic allele but rather alters the substrate specificity of CD45 for Lyn. Despite similarly enhancing BCR signaling, only B cells with supraphysiologic CD45 expression became anergic, whereas only mice harboring the E613R mutation developed frank autoimmunity on a susceptible genetic background. We showed that selective impairment of a Lyn-dependent negative-regulatory circuit in E613R B cells drove autoimmunity in E613R mice. This demonstrates that relaxing negative regulation of BCR signaling, rather than enhancing positive regulation, is critical for driving autoimmunity in this system.
Disclosure of HIV Serostatus and Household Well-Being in Kenya

These authors explore the use of self-disclosure and third-party disclosure of positive HIV serostatus among low-income parents. Using a grounded theory approach, face-to-face interviews were conducted with participants from Nairobi and Central provinces in Kenya. The findings indicate that disclosure is effective in procuring resources related with formal social services in such a way as to mitigate, if not counteract, the deleterious effect of HIV/AIDS on household wealth and intergenerational educational attainment. The findings suggest the encouragement of disclosure as a way to access services designed to enhance the capacities of low-income families impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Characteristics of the frequency spectrum in the normal electrocardiogram and in subjects following myocardial infarction.

The results of a study of the sealar electrocardiogram, utilizing a wide-band recorder, expanded time scale and a low-pass filter, indicate that a recorder flat to at least 500 c.p.s. is required for faithful reproduction. With a high-pass filter, measurable residual signals are present at a cut-off frequency of 1,000 c.p.s., or higher. Therefore, to record these, an adequate response at 1,000 c.p.s. or more is reqnired. The high frequency energy of the electrocardiographic spectrum arises from the fast deflections contained in the original waveform. These may occur in a single fast deflection, notching, or both. Whereas, in the normal individual, high frequency energy usually arises from a relatively smooth, fast deflection, in abnormals the fast events may occur in conjunction with notching, and other deformities. Judging from the technic used in this experiment, a variable band-pass filter is valuable as an aid for studying the high frequency components of the electrocardiogram and establishing equipment requirements. Measurement of peak-to-peak voltage of residual signals gives partial but lot clear-cut separation of normal and abnormal subjects and would not seem to add to the value of high-fidelity electrocardiography per se in routine clinical diagnosis. It is possible that root mean square readings, reflecting the total energy content, might give a better separation between normal and abnormal subjects than peak-to-peak amplitude alone.
A Practical Screening Tool for Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Chronic Breathing Disorders

Obstructive lung diseases are associated with high rates of depression and anxiety, yet many patients are never screened or treated. This study evaluated the five-question Depression and Anxiety modules of the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD) Patient Questionnaire as a telephone screen in 1,632 patients with chronic breathing disorders at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, TX. Subsequent testing of 828 patients with the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the Beck Anxiety Inventory showed that the sensitivity and specificity, respectively, of the Depression and Anxiety modules of the PRIME-MD Patient Questionnaire screening were 94.6% and 49.5% (Depression); 93.7% and 32.2% (Anxiety); and 97.7%, and 36.0% (combined screen), with an overall accuracy of 80.7%. In such populations, these two modules of the PRIME-MD Patient Questionnaire may be a useful screening tool.
hnRNP A1 and hnRNP F Modulate the Alternative Splicing of Exon 11 of the Insulin Receptor Gene

Exon 11 of the insulin receptor gene (INSR) is alternatively spliced in a developmentally and tissue-specific manner. Linker scanning mutations in a 5′ GA-rich enhancer in intron 10 identified AGGGA sequences that are important for enhancer function. Using RNA-affinity purification and mass spectrometry, we identified hnRNP F and hnRNP A1 binding to these AGGGA sites and also to similar motifs at the 3′ end of the intron. The hnRNPs have opposite functional effects with hnRNP F promoting and hnRNP A1 inhibiting exon 11 inclusion, and deletion of the GA-rich elements eliminates both effects. We also observed specific binding of hnRNP A1 to the 5′ splice site of intron 11. The SR protein SRSF1 (SF2/ASF) co-purified on the GA-rich enhancer and, interestingly, also competes with hnRNP A1 for binding to the splice site. A point mutation -3U→C decreases hnRNP A1 binding, increases SRSF1 binding and renders the exon constitutive. Lastly, our data point to a functional interaction between hnRNP F and SRSF1 as a mutant that eliminates SRSF1 binding to exon 11, or a SRSF1 knockdown, which prevents the stimulatory effect of hnRNP F over expression.
Complete Rupture of the Pectoralis Major Tendon: Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Intraoperative Images.

The pectoralis major (PM) is an intricate anatomic structure. The muscle is divided anatomically into a clavicular and sternal head [1]. Notably, some authors describe a small, third abdominal head arising from the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle [2] or from the fifth through seventh costal cartilages [3]. The clavicular head is composed of a single muscle segment, whereas the sternal head is composed of 6-7 separate muscle segments [1]. The sternal head constitutes approximately 80% of the PM muscle [1] (Figure 1). In addition to having complex muscle architecture, the tendon is bilaminar, with anterior and posterior layers/lamina [1,2]. The anterior layer/lamina is formed by contributions from the entire clavicular head and upper sternal muscle fibers and inserts onto the humerus slightly more distal than the posterior layer/ lamina [1,2]. The posterior layer is formed by contributions from the short, lowermost sternal fibers and inserts onto the humerus slightly more proximal than
How to Construct a Subjective Index

We present a method of constructing quantitative indices, which is based on the subjective opinions of a panel of experts, and discuss how a Bayesian probability model and panel opinions can be used together to produce an index. Among the advantages of the method are its face validity and ease of construction. Research shows that when expert opinions are solicited according to certain guidelines, subjective methods may be as accurate as the more objective ones. Guidelines along with a brief report of a recent application are also discussed.
The kinetics of crystallization of hopeite

Abstract The kinetics of crystallization of α-trizinc phosphate tetrahydrate (hopeite) has been investigated over a range of supersaturation under conditions of constant solution composition. Following inoculation of supersaturated solutions with well characterized seed crystals, the activities of ion species in the supersaturated solutions were maintained constant by the potentiometrically controlled addition of solutions containing the lattice ions. Hopeite was precipitated, without participation of precursor phases, at a pH of 5.0, with a rate proportional to the square of the relative supersaturation. The effective activation energy for growth was 26 kJ mol-1. The results suggest a surface controlled growth mechanism involving factors such as exchange of a water molecule at a zinc ion or incorporation of growth units at spiral dislocations on the crystal surfaces.
An Examination of Scale-Dependent Dispersion Coefficients

Many hydrologists have observed that dispersion coefficients, when measured in the field, turn out to be scale-dependent. That is, the greater the travel distance in a tracer test used to measure dispersivity, the larger the dispersivity value that is calculated. Recently, Guven et al.(1983) presented a study which contains a basis for understanding the phenomenon of scale-dependent dispersion within a deterministic framework. The results of that study are used as a basis for defining a scale-dependent macro- dispersion coefficient for unidirectional flow in a stratified aquifer. Theoretical expressions are then obtained for the macrodispersivity, its various components, and its small time and large time limits. Using the data of Pickens and Grisak (1981a, b), numerical values are calculated for the macrodispersivity, and estimates are made of the travel distance required in order to reach Fickian conditions. Asymptotic large time macrodispersivity values of 49.5 m to 990 m and travel distances of 5.4 km to 109 km result for the particular aquifer studied. Based on these results it appears that Fickian conditions will seldom apply in practice to porous media flow. This study and previous studies show that the primary physical mechanism that causes spreading of a solute near the source is different advection rates at different elevations in the aquifer. Present results and comparisons with field data indicate that this phenomenon is not represented well by a scale- dependent dispersion coefficient. In modeling dispersion phenomena, it appears that more emphasis should be placed on field study and the accurate determination of hydraulic conductivity variations and other nonhomogeneities, and less on incorporating somewhat arbitrary dispersion coefficients into complex mathematical models.
Alternative mitochondrial electron transfer for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and cancers: Methylene blue connects the dots

Brain has exceptional high requirement for energy metabolism with glucose as the exclusive energy source. Decrease of brain energy metabolism and glucose uptake has been found in patients of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases, providing a clear link between neurodegenerative disorders and energy metabolism. On the other hand, cancers, including glioblastoma, have increased glucose uptake and rely on aerobic glycolysis for energy metabolism. The switch of high efficient oxidative phosphorylation to low efficient aerobic glycolysis pathway (Warburg effect) provides macromolecule for biosynthesis and proliferation. Current research indicates that methylene blue, a century old drug, can receive electron from NADH in the presence of complex I and donates it to cytochrome c, providing an alternative electron transfer pathway. Methylene blue increases oxygen consumption, decrease glycolysis, and increases glucose uptake in vitro. Methylene blue enhances glucose uptake and regional cerebral blood flow in rats upon acute treatment. In addition, methylene blue provides protective effect in neuron and astrocyte against various insults in vitro and in rodent models of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease. In glioblastoma cells, methylene blue reverses Warburg effect by enhancing mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, arrests glioma cell cycle at s-phase, and inhibits glioma cell proliferation. Accordingly, methylene blue activates AMP-activated protein kinase, inhibits downstream acetyl-coA carboxylase and cyclin-dependent kinases. In summary, there is accumulating evidence providing a proof of concept that enhancement of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation via alternative mitochondrial electron transfer may offer protective action against neurodegenerative diseases and inhibit cancers proliferation.
Total Quality Management, Just-In-Time, and Their Effect on Small Manufacturers

This paper examines components of TQM /JIT as they relate to small manufacturers. Particularly, those components that specificall y relate to small volume manufacturing firms are discussed within the framework of the authors' experiences with small manufacturers in Southern California. Common difficulties encountered in small businesses in their effort to implement TQM /]IT are examined .
Defining Competence and Identifying Target Skills

It is fitting that we begin this volume with an attempt to define social competence. A definition should bring us further toward operationalization and the identification of critical skills to be targeted in assessment and intervention. As it stands, however, there is no agreed upon definition of social competence. Though understandable given the overarching and complex nature of such competence, this lack of agreement has caused problems for both assessment and intervention and has limited the overall utility of the construct. Proposed requisite skills for socially competent responding range from cognitive (e.g., fund of information, skills for processing/acquisition, perspective taking), emotional (e.g., affect regulation), and behavioral (e.g., conversation skills, prosocial behavior) skills and abilities, as well as motivational and expectancy sets (e.g., moral development, self-efficacy; Dubois & Felner, 1996).
Enhancing Due Process in Targeted Killing

The legality and wisdom of U.S. targeted killing operations in areas outside of active hostilities has been the subject of vigorous debate for more than a decade. While there is broad agreement that there are at least some circumstances in which targeted killing may be lawful – in an armed conflict, or in national self defense – there remains a world of dispute over how those operations can be conducted in a way that complies with domestic and international law. Among those requirements, at the least for U.S. citizens, the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits the government from depriving any "person" of "life, liberty, or property without due process of law." While the application of procedural due process in this context carries multiple important objections, the argument that it is never possible to provide advance process in lethal targeting operations is false. Targets in the current environment are often identified, vetted, and reviewed over days or even months – more than enough time for some pre-targeting process to be followed. Notably, there may well be adequate time for deliberate process even when the legal justification for the U.S. use of force is the exercise of national self defense. This Issue Brief examines the procedural requirements of the Due Process Clause when the United States uses lethal force in areas outside of active hostilities abroad. Among the Issue Brief’s conclusions: (1) it advances constitutional due process to provide clear and public notice of those particular nations or organizations with which the United States considers itself at war; (2) the inclusion of an opposition advocate – a military professional tasked with advancing arguments in opposition to any targeting decision – may reduce the risk of error in deliberate targeting settings; (3) the recently released "U.S. Policy Standards and Procedures for the Use of Force in Counterterrorism Operations Outside the U.S. and Areas of Active Hostilities," announcing that targeters must possess a "near certainty that the terrorist target is present," brings the burden of proof for deliberate targeting in these settings more in line with constitutional due process than existing military doctrine; (4) where adequate pre-deprivation process is not possible (as in exigent circumstances), a post-deprivation hearing is required.
Identification of a binding site of the human immunodeficiency virus envelope protein gp120 to neuronal specific tubulin

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) promotes synaptic simplification and neuronal apoptosis, and causes neurological impairments termed HIV-associated neurological disorders. HIV-associated neurotoxicity may be brought about by acute and chronic mechanisms that still remain to be fully characterized. The HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120 causes neuronal degeneration similar to that observed in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders subjects. This study was undertaken to discover novel mechanisms of gp120 neurotoxicity that could explain how the envelope protein promotes neurite pruning. Gp120 has been shown to associate with various intracellular organelles as well as microtubules in neurons. We then analyzed lysates of neurons exposed to gp120 with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry for potential protein interactors. We found that one of the proteins interacting with gp120 is tubulin β-3 (TUBB3), a major component of neuronal microtubules. We then tested the hypothesis that gp120 binds to neuronal microtubules. Using surface plasmon resonance, we confirmed that gp120 binds with high affinity to neuronal-specific TUBB3. We have also identified the binding site of gp120 to TUBB3. We then designed a small peptide (Helix-A) that displaced gp120 from binding to TUBB3. To determine whether this peptide could prevent gp120-mediated neurotoxicity, we cross-linked Helix-A to mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Helix-A nano) to enhance the intracellular delivery of the peptide. We then tested the neuroprotective property of Helix-A nano against three strains of gp120 in rat cortical neurons. Helix-A nano prevented gp120-mediated neurite simplification as well as neuronal loss. These data propose that gp120 binding to TUBB3 could be another mechanism of gp120 neurotoxicity. We propose a novel direct mechanism of human immunodeficiency virus neurotoxicity. Our data show that the viral protein gp120 binds to neuronal specific tubulin β-3 and blocks microtubule transport. Displacing gp120 from binding to tubulin by a small peptide prevents gp120-mediated neuronal loss. Our study reveals a novel target for developing adjunct therapies against viral infection that promotes neurocognitive disorders.
Probabilistic modeling of shale gas containment pits for environmental and safety management

ABSTRACTThe Marcellus Shale formation contains large natural gas reserves, which are increasingly being extracted using horizontal drilling techniques. Concerns about environmental effects have prompted studies regarding Marcellus operations, including the safety of pits and impoundments containing frac fluids and freshwater. A subset of these structures in West Virginia was evaluated using a risk-based field data collection tool, which revealed recurring problems. A probability-based method was developed to determine the likelihood of these problems occurring in larger sample sizes. Applying this method to portfolios of pits and impoundments would benefit the industry by identifying areas of improvement for construction and inspection.
Biological and Control Studies on the Clover Leafhopper

The clover leafhopper, Aceratagallia sanguinolenta Prov., has for some years been recognized as a pest on clover. Since the discovery by Black (1934) that it is certainly one, if not the only, vector of the yellow dwarf virus of potato it has been the subject of further studies in a project conducted jointly by the departments of Plant Pathology and Entomology at Cornell University. Since potato yellow dwarf caused considerable losses in New York in the early years of the present decade it was decided that the life history of the vector should be determined for this region and experiments conducted in artificial control. The present writing is therefore a brief summary of experiments along these lines as conducted in western New York during the past four summers.