cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
5-HT2 receptor activation alleviates airway inflammation and structural remodeling in a chronic mouse asthma model.

Abstract Aims Although the bulk of research into the biology of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors has focused on its role in the CNS, selective activation of these receptors in peripheral tissues can produce profound anti-inflammatory effects. We previously demonstrated that the small molecule 5-HT2 receptor agonist (R)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine [(R)-DOI] inhibits TNF-α-mediated proinflammatory signaling cascades and inflammation via 5-HT2A receptor activation and prevents the development of, and inflammation associated with, acute allergic asthma in a mouse ovalbumin (OVA) model. Here, we investigated the ability of (R)-DOI to reverse inflammation and symptoms associated with established asthma in a newly developed model of chronic asthma. Methods An 18-week ovalbumin challenge period was performed to generate persistent, chronic asthma in BALB/c mice. Four once daily intranasal treatments of (R)-DOI were administered one week after allergen cessation, with respiratory parameters being measured by whole-body plethysmography (WBP). Cytokine and chemokine levels were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in homogenized lung tissue, bronchoalveolar (BALF) fluid was analyzed for chemokine modulation by multiplex assays, and Periodic Acid-Schiff and Masson's Trichrome staining was performed to determine goblet cell infiltration and overall changes to lung morphology. Key findings 5-HT2 activation via (R)-DOI attenuates elevated airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine, reduces pulmonary inflammation and mucus production, and reduces airway structural remodeling and collagen deposition by nearly 70%. Significance Overall, these data provide support for the therapeutic potential of (R)- DOI and 5-HT2 receptor activation for the treatment of asthma, and identifies (R)- DOI as a novel therapeutic compound against pulmonary fibrosis.
A novel gravity-induced blood flow restriction model augments ACC phosphorylation and PGC-1α mRNA in human skeletal muscle following aerobic exercise: a randomized crossover study

This study tested the hypothesis that a novel, gravity-induced blood flow restricted (BFR) aerobic exercise (AE) model will result in greater activation of the AMPK–PGC-1α pathway compared with wor...
Biochemical paedomorphosis and genetic assimilation in the hypoxia adaptation of Tibetan antelope

Developmental shifts in stage-specific gene expression can provide a ready mechanism of phenotypic change by altering the rate or timing of ontogenetic events. We discovered that the high-altitude Tibetan antelope (Panthelops hodgsonii) has evolved an adaptive increase in blood-oxygen affinity by truncating the ancestral ontogeny of globin gene expression such that a high-affinity juvenile hemoglobin isoform (isoHb) completely supplants the lower-affinity isoHb that is expressed in the adult red blood cells of other bovids. This juvenilization of blood properties represents a canalization of an acclimatization response to hypoxia that has been well-documented in adult goats and sheep. We also discovered the genomic mechanism underlying this regulatory isoHb switch, revealing how a reversible acclimatization response became genetically assimilated as an irreversible adaptation to chronic hypoxia.
A study to investigate the prevalence of animal plague in Horqin Right Wing Front County, Inner Mongolia,2012

Objectives To investigate the prevalence of animal plague in Horqin Right Front County and provide scientific bases for prevention and treatment of the disease.Methods Plague surveillance was carried out according to the requirements of National Plague Monitoring Programme at 3 monitoring points in Horqin Right Front County in 2012.Squirrel density,the number of small rats,rat fleas,pathogenic and serological surveillance of Yersinia pestis were included in the study.Results A total of 356 dauricus were captured,the average density was 0.88 rats/hm2; female and male ratio was 1 ∶ 1.31 and the female embryo rate was 96.46％.The captured 13 small nocturnal mice belonged to 2 species,which included 10 cricetulus barabensis and 3 cricetulus longicaudatus,and the capture rate of small nocturnal mouse was 4.33％ (13/300).A total of 98 rat fleas were collected from 25 rats; rat flea carrying rate was 100％(25/25) and flea index was 3.92.Eighty rat burrows were detected,and flea index was 0.188.Pathogen test results were negative.Indirect hemagglutination test was used to examine 356 rat sera and 1 serum was positive.Conclusions Detection of positive rat sera has proved the existence of plague epidemic in Horqin Right Front County.Therefore,the work on plague prevention and control has a long way to go. Key words: Yersinia pestis; Environmental monitoring; Data collection
Time Heals all Wounds? a Capabilities Approach for Analyzing Intimate Partner Violence

The capabilities approach has redefined what constitutes economic well-being and is now used globally to track progress in human development. Yet, its application in examining violence against wome...
Thermally Conductive Backsheets (TCB) of PV Modules: Positive Impacts on Performance, Lifetime and LCOE

The operating temperatures of photovoltaic (PV) modules can be impacted by the selection of specific packaging materials, e.g., backsheets and encapsulants. This research focuses on the evaluation of operating temperature reduction of one-cell modules by comparing conventional Tedlar/polyester/Tedlar (TPT) backsheet with novel thermally conductive backsheets (TCBs) materials. A large number of one-cell modules with two TCB types (TCB_A and TCB_B) and baseline TPT type were fabricated and installed in three different climatic conditions of the hot-dry desert in Arizona (high and low wind speed locations) and North Carolina (temperate with low wind speed location). In this study, these two TCBs were compared with conventional TPT backsheet in terms of performance, lifetime and levelized cost of energy (LCOE). The field results were analyzed for thermal performance of TCBs compared to TPT at three sites for two and half years. This study concludes that the thermal and electrical performances of the PV modules can be improved by using TCB_A in hot and dry climate sites and TCB_B at temperate climate sites. Therefore, the lifetime of TCB-based modules is expected to be higher than TPT-based modules. Using backsheet-specific power degradation levels and assuming the same cost for both types of backsheets, the LCOE of modules using TCBs is estimated to be lower than that of TPT.
Disruption of intestinal barrier and endotoxemia after traumatic brain injury: Implications for post-traumatic epilepsy.

Objective Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may lead to the disruption of the intestinal barrier (IB), and to the escape of products of commensal gut bacteria, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), into the bloodstream. We examined whether lateral fluid percussion injury (LFPI) and post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) are associated with the increased intestinal permeability and endotoxemia, and whether these events in turn are associated with PTE. Methods LFPI was delivered to adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Before, 1 week, and 7 months after LFPI, the IB permeability was examined by measuring plasma concentration of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran (FD4) upon its enteral administration. Plasma LPS concentration was measured in the same animals, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. PTE was examined 7 months after LFPI, with use of video-EEG (electroencephalography) monitoring. Results One week after LFPI, the IB disruption was detected in 14 of 17 and endotoxemia - in 10 of 17 rats, with a strong positive correlation between FD4 and LPS levels, and between plasma levels of each of the analytes and the severity of neuromotor deficit. Seven months after LFPI, IB disruption was detected in 13 of 15 and endotoxemia in 8 of 15 rats, with a strong positive correlation between plasma levels of the two analytes. Five of 15 LFPI rats developed PTE. Plasma levels of both FD4 and LPS were significantly higher in animals with PTE than among the animals without PTE. The analysis of seven rats, which were examined repeatedly at 1 week and at 7 months, confirmed that late IB disruption and endotoxemia were not due to lingering of impairments occurring shortly after LFPI. Significance LFPI leads to early and remote disruption of IB and a secondary endotoxemia. Early and late perturbations may occur in different subjects. Early changes reflect the severity of acute post-traumatic motor dysfunction, whereas late changes are associated with PTE.
A mixed-methods study of pharmacy instructors' early experiences with a teaching electronic medical record.

Abstract Introduction As use of electronic medical records (EMRs) increases in healthcare, multiple accreditation organizations recommend training future clinicians on EMRs as part of the academic curriculum. Therefore, some pharmacy programs now utilize an academic EMR. Our objective was to examine pharmacy instructors' early experiences with a commercially available teaching EMR (tEMR) in order to identify current and future priorities along with benefits and barriers to academic EMR use in pharmacy education. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews and a web-based survey with pharmacy instructors. Interview and survey data analyses consisted of hybrid inductive/deductive approaches to coding data and descriptive statistics, respectively. We mapped themes to the Pharmacists' Patient Care Process (PPCP). Results Seven instructors participated in interviews, and 10 completed the survey. We identified 25 interview themes that were generally congruent with survey responses. A noted benefit of the tEMR was providing a large repository of real-life patient data. Instructors' current priorities for tEMR activities primarily aligned with “collect,” “assess,” and “plan” steps of the PPCP. One reported barrier was insufficient training regarding the tEMR capabilities. Instructors offered innovative ideas for future academic EMR use, including pharmacokinetics, incident reporting, and longitudinal cases. Conclusions Study findings are most applicable to pharmacy programs in the early stages of academic EMR adoption. We identified opportunities for pharmacy programs to facilitate innovative, future use of academic EMRs, including curriculum planning, so pharmacy students gain experience using EMR functions for each PPCP step and develop more advanced EMR skills.
Preparation of fluorescent glycoconjugates for energy transfer studies.

Publisher Summary The primary tool for analyzing oligosaccharide conformational heterogeneity is 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, which utilizes nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) measurements to generate interatomic distances used to predict a range of three-dimensional (3D) structures for oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharide flexibility influences the avidity of carbohydrate-protein interactions by allowing repositioning of terminal sugar residues into a three-dimensional array that is complementary to the binding site topography on carbohydrate receptors. It is primarily the underlying oligosaccharide “scaffolding” which folds at one or more of the glycosidic linkages, resulting in multiple configurations of terminal sugar residues, only one of which is recognized by the receptor.
Aqueous-core waveguides using a low-index nanoporous cladding

We have observed optical waveguiding in structures made by sandwiching an aqueous layer between two low-index nanoporous films. We report characterization of these waveguides using prism coupling and scanned fluorescence excitation
Caveant admonitus (“Let the forewarned beware”)

Purpose – This paper aims to review the performance of the flood forecasting, warning, and response system (FFWRS) during the 1997 Red River of the North flood to identify the factors that contributed to FFWRS underperformance during this flood disaster.Design/methodology/approach – The individual components of the FFWRS are reviewed – data collection, flood forecasting, forecast dissemination, decision‐making, and action implementation, as well as the communication linkages between each system category. The unique challenges and breakdowns that occurred at each system category and communication linkage are identified for this catastrophic flood event.Findings – Forecast uncertainty was poorly communicated by flood forecasters, and misunderstood by decision makers. Both forecasters and decision makers were rigidly committed to probability‐thinking based on what they thought was most likely to happen; neither group adequately considered the possibility of a worst‐case scenario.Practical implications – Fore...
Prospective Effects of Possible Selves on Alcohol Consumption in Adolescents

Possible selves, cognitions about the self that reflect hopes, fears, and expectations for the future, are reliable predictors of health risk behaviors but have not been explored as predictors of adolescents' alcohol use. In a secondary analysis of data from 137 adolescents, we examined the influence of possible selves assessed in eighth grade on alcohol consumption (yes/no and level of use) in ninth grade. Having a most important feared possible self related to academics in eighth grade predicted alcohol abstinence in ninth grade. Among those who reported alcohol use, having many hoped-for possible selves and a most important hoped-for possible self related to academics in eighth grade predicted lower level of alcohol consumption in ninth grade. Interventions that foster the personal relevance and importance of academics and lead to the development of hoped-for possible selves may reduce adolescents' alcohol consumption.
Progress in PV technology development under the New Sunshine Program JFY1997-2000-PV system technology

The second half of R&D project on photovoltaic (PV) technology under the 'New Sunshine Program' terminated at the end of JFY2000 with fruitful and satisfactory technological achievements. A variety of R&D activities on PV system technology as well as solar cells were carried out in this project technology development of measuring performance and long-term reliability of solar cells and modules, monitoring and analysis of PV system performance, development of irradiation database for designing PV systems, development of building-integrated PV modules (BIPV), technology development of durable lead-acid battery for PV system, demonstrative research on multiple PV grid connection and control technologies and so on. In this paper, outcomes of these R&D activities on PV system technology are summarized, and a new NEDO 5-year R&D project on PV system technology, which started in JFY2001 based on the fruits of the 'New Sunshine Program', is briefly introduced.
Using Film as Pedagogy to Explore Pre-Service Teachers' Beliefs

This study investigated pre-service teachers' beliefs about education through the application and analysis of Hollywood films in an undergraduate teacher education course. Hollywood films, as a genre of films, present teachers as lead characters and plots that center on classroom environments, instruction, assessment in relationship to colleagues and parents. As an instructional strategy films bring to life scenarios that can assist pre-service teachers in problematizing a wide range of issues. The study design employed initial and post surveys, class discussion, and worksheets to encourage reflection about issues relative to K-12 education. The research questions guiding the study were: What are pre-service teachers' beliefs about education? What changes may have occurred to pre-service teachers' beliefs about education over the course of a semester? What do pre-service teachers learn about education from watching Hollywood films about teaching? Data is presented through descriptive statistics and a narrative response analysis of survey data. Findings suggest watching and discussing teacher films supported that respondents demonstrated deeper awareness and a more complex understanding of teacher roles and responsibilities. Limitations of the study and recommendations for film pedagogy within teacher education courses are addressed.
Reproductive Planning and Contraception for Women with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Women with chronic medical conditions, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, are at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy outcomes for these conditions are best during stable disease remission. Unfortunately, women with inflammatory bowel disease are equally as likely as the general population to have unintended pregnancies. Patients look to their gastroenterologist for contraceptive counseling; however, the current standards for disease management do not prioritize this topic. Guidelines based on available evidence and expert opinion, such as the Centers for Disease Control U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, exist to help practitioners provide safe and effective contraception to women with chronic medical conditions. If health care providers were to educate themselves and screen women with inflammatory bowel disease for risk of unintended pregnancy, there would be a reduction in the number of unintended pregnancies and subsequent adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes.
Gradual Molding of the Hand to Object Contours

Santello, Marco and John F. Soechting. Gradual molding of the hand to object contours. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 1307–1320, 1998. Subjects were asked to reach to and to grasp 15 similarly sized objects ...
Enzymatic N-riboside scission in RNA and RNA precursors

N-ribohydrolases and transferases act on nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides to effect base removal. Advances in mechanistic and structural analysis have established that enzymes of N-riboside scission act by combinations of leaving-group and ribosyl activation. Alternative O-riboside substrates have been developed for mechanistic diagnosis. Transition-state structures have been determined, and powerful inhibitors have been designed from structural and transition-state information.
A molecular clutch disables flagella in the Bacillus subtilis biofilm

Biofilms are multicellular aggregates of sessile bacteria encased by an extracellular matrix and are important medically as a source of drug-resistant microbes. In Bacillus subtilis, we found that an operon required for biofilm matrix biosynthesis also encoded an inhibitor of motility, EpsE. EpsE arrested flagellar rotation in a manner similar to that of a clutch, by disengaging motor force-generating elements in cells embedded in the biofilm matrix. The clutch is a simple, rapid, and potentially reversible form of motility control.
A testbed for information retrieval research: the Utah retrieval system architecture

The Utah Retrieval System Architecture provides an excellent testbed for the development and testing of new algorithms or techniques for information retrieval. URSA™ is a message-based structure capable of running on a variety of system configurations, ranging from a single mainframe processor to a system distributed across a number of dissimilar processors. It can readily support a variety of specialized backend processors, such as high-speed search engines.The architecture divides the components of a text retrieval system into two classes: servers and clients. A triple of servers (index, search, and document access) for each database provide the capabilities normally associated with a retrieval system. Possible clients for these servers include a window-based user interface, whose query language can be easily modified, a connection to a mainframe host processor, or Al-based query modification programs that wish to use the database.Any module in the system can be replaced by a new module using a different algorithm as long as the new module complies with the message formats for that function. In fact, with some care this module switch can occur while the system is running, without affecting the users. A monitor program collects statistics on all system messages, giving information regarding query complexity, processing time for each module, queueing times, and bandwidths between every module.This paper discusses the background of URSA and its structure, with particular emphasis on the features that make it a good testbed for information retrieval techniques.
Nursing Homes Appeals of Deficiencies: The Informal Dispute Resolution Process

Abstract Objective Nursing homes that are not meeting quality standards are cited for deficiencies. Before 1995, the only recourse for a nursing home was a formal appeal process, which is lengthy and costly. In 1995, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services instituted the Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) process. This study presents for the first time national statistics about the IDR process and an analysis of the factors that influence nursing homes’ decisions to request an IDR. Design Retrospective study including descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic hierarchical models. Setting US nursing homes from 2005 to 2008. Participants Participants were 15,916 Medicaid- and Medicare-certified nursing homes nationally, with 94,188 surveys and 9388 IDRs. Measures The unit of observation was an annual survey or a complaint survey that generated at least one deficiency. The dependent variable was dichotomous and indicated whether the annual or a complaint survey triggered an IDR request. Independent variables included characteristics of the nursing home, the deficiency, the market, and the state regulatory environment. Results Ten percent of all annual surveys and complaint surveys resulted in IDRs. There was substantial variation across states, which persisted over time. Multivariate results suggest that nursing homes’ decisions to request an IDR depend on their assessment of the probability of success and assessment of the benefits of the submission. Conclusions Nursing homes avail themselves of the IDR process. Their propensity to do so depends on a number of factors, including the state regulatory system and the market environment in which they operate.
XX/XO mosaicism in a girl. Report of the youngest patient.

A phenotypic female child was first seen at 2 10/12 years of age because of growth and behavioral retardation. She had an odd facies with prominent epicanthi and low-set ears. There was no webbing of the neck or lymphedema. The nipples appeared to be widely spaced. There was a soft systolic murmur over the precordium. No abnormalities of the external genitals were apparent. Less than 2 per cent of the cells from the buccal mucosa were chromatin positive although many drumstick forms were seen in the polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Chromosomal analysis of cultured peripheral leukocytes revealed XX/XO mosaicism.
Conserved enzymatic production and biological effect of O-acetyl-ADP-ribose by silent information regulator 2-like NAD+-dependent deacetylases.

Silent information regulator 2 (Sir2) family of enzymes has been implicated in many cellular processes that include histone deacetylation, gene silencing, chromosomal stability, and aging. Yeast Sir2 and several homologues have been shown to be NAD+-dependent histone/protein deacetylases. Previously, it was demonstrated that the yeast enzymes catalyze a unique reaction mechanism in which the cleavage of NAD+ and the deacetylation of substrate are coupled with the formation of O-acetyl-ADP-ribose, a novel metabolite. We demonstrate that the production of O-acetyl-ADP-ribose is evolutionarily conserved among Sir2-like enzymes from yeast,Drosophila, and human. Also, endogenous yeast Sir2 complex from telomeres was shown to generate O-acetyl-ADP-ribose. By using a quantitative microinjection assay to examine the possible biological function(s) of this newly discovered metabolite, we demonstrate that O-acetyl-ADP-ribose causes a delay/block in oocyte maturation and results in a delay/block in embryo cell division in blastomeres. This effect was mimicked by injection of low nanomolar levels of active enzyme but not with a catalytically impaired mutant, indicating that the enzymatic activity is essential for the observed effects. In cell-free oocyte extracts, we demonstrate the existence of cellular enzymes that can efficiently utilize O-acetyl-ADP-ribose.
Solubility criteria for a thermally stable polymer determined by gas–solid chromatography

The Gibbs energy of adsorption, the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter χ, and a specific interaction parameter A, based on hydrogen-bonding and charge-transfer complexing properties of solvents, are obtained by gas—solid chromatography for a type of polyquinoxaline denoted as PQF. Interactions between 40 organic solvents and PQF have been determined at 176.35° and 200.85°C. PQF is an aromatic, heterocyclic polymer which is at least partially soluble in several organic solvents. The parameters χ and Λ and the solubility parameters of solvents are proposed to be the determining factors for miscibility of a PQF—solvent pair.
Axial propagation of helicon waves

Traveling‐ and standing‐wave characteristics of the wave fields have been measured in a helicon discharge using a five‐turn, balanced magnetic probe movable along the discharge axis z. Helical and plane‐polarized antennas were used, and the magnitude and direction of the static magnetic field were varied, yielding three primary results. (1) As the density varies along z, the local wavelength agrees with the local dispersion relation. (2) Beats in the z variation of the wave intensity do not indicate standing waves, but instead are caused by the simultaneous excitation of two radial eigenmodes. Quantitative agreement with theory is obtained. (3) The damping rate of the helicon wave is consistent with theoretical predictions based on collisions alone.
Trauma-induced proliferation of astrocytes in the brains of young and aged rats.

The time-course and magnitude of astrocyte proliferation following neural trauma was evaluated in young adult (3 months) and mid-aged (16-19 months) male Fischer 344 rats. One to 4 days after a needle wound was made through the cortex and the hippocampus, rats received three intraperitoneal injections of 3H-thymidine at 8 hour intervals and were sacrificed 1 hour after the last injection. For astrocyte quantification, 3H-thymidine autoradiography was combined with immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein followed by semithin sectioning. In areas of the cortex and hippocampus adjacent to the wound, astrocytes were categorized as unlabeled or labeled with silver grains over the nuclei. Labeling index and numerical density of astrocytes were determined using stereological methods. The results showed that in both young and older rats, astrocyte proliferation is an early glial response to neural trauma, occurring during the first 4 postlesion days and contributing to an increase in astrocyte population. Regional differences in labeling index and numerical density suggest heterogeneity in the proliferative capacity of astrocyte subpopulations in the rat brain. Compared with young animals, older rats demonstrated greater labeling in the cortex but not in the hippocampus. Thus, aging is associated with region-specific increase in astrocyte reactivity to trauma possibly due to increased availability of mitogens or enhanced sensitivity of astrocytes to mitogenic signals. Language: en
View through MetaLens: usage patterns for a meta-recommendation system

In a world where a person's number of choices can be overwhelming, recommender systems help users find and evaluate items of interest. They do so by connecting users with information regarding the content of recommended items or the opinions of other individuals. Such systems have become powerful tools in domains such as electronic commerce, digital libraries and knowledge management. The authors address such systems, as well as a relatively new class of recommender system called meta-recommenders. Meta-recommenders provide users with personalised control over the generation of a single recommendation list formed from a combination of rich data using multiple information sources and recommendation techniques. They discuss observations made from the public trial of a meta-recommender system in the domain of movies and lessons learned from the incorporation of features that allow persistent personalisation of the system. Finally, they consider the challenges of building real-world, usable meta-recommenders across a variety of domains.
Moving Towards Gray: Art Therapy and Ambivalence in Substance Abuse Treatment

Although some consider the 12-step method of Alcoholics Anonymous to be the treatment of choice for people struggling with substance abuse, differing approaches have been developed within the area of addictions. Motivational interviewing (Miller & Rollnick, 2002), enacted within a stages-ofchange model (DiClemente & Velasquez, 2002), seeks to explore ambivalence and promote self-efficacy throughout the initial stages of substance abuse treatment rather than confront denial or highlight one's powerlessness over drugs. Theoretical and applied strategies are explored in an attempt to effectively connect these newer models of substance abuse treatment with therapeutic artmaking. A case presentation is offered to illustrate how supporting a client's emergent ambivalent thoughts may strengthen both continued recovery and maintained sobriety.
Alveolar liquid pressure measured using micropipets in isolated rabbit lungs

Abstract The relationships among alveolar liquid pressure (Pliq), transpulmonary pressure (Ptp), and alveolar edema were studied in isolated rabbit lungs. Different amounts of edema were induced by instilling measured amounts of normal saline via the trachea. Micropipets wre used in conjunction with a servonulling pressure measuring system to measure Pliq. Pliq was −1 cm H 2 O relative to alveolar air pressure (Plav) at Ptp of 3 cm H 2 O and decreased to −16 cm H 2 O at Ptp of 25 cm H 2 O. Pliq increased slightly as wet-to-dry weight ratio (W/D) of the lungs increased from 5.8 to 16. Alveolar surface tension estimated from these values of Pliq - Plav using an alveolar radius of curvature of 40 μm at Ptp of 25 cm H 2 O was consistent with the direct measurements of Schurch. In lungs made edmatous by treating with oleic acid, values of Pliq were not different from those measured in lungs made edmatous by normal saline instillation (control). Pressure-volume behaviour of the oleic acid treated lungs showed a marked reduction in lung volume at each Ptp value compared to the behavior in the control lungs. Most of this reduction in lung volume was removed by washing the airways with the bronchodilator, isoprotenol. We conclude the alveolar surface tension was not increased in the oleic acid treated lungs. The apparent increase in lung static recoil was not most likely caused by the constriction of small airways.
An Undergraduate Gas Turbine Engine Program Enhanced by Design and Research Threads

This paper describes an undergraduate program at the USAF Academy that uses the threads of engine design and research to teach and reinforce the fundamentals of gas turbine engines. Each year approximately twelve cadets who have chosen to specialize in the propulsion track of the Aeronautical Engineering major enter a five-course sequence that includes 1.) engineering thermodynamics, 2.) intro to propulsion (advanced cycle analysis), 3.) advanced propulsion (focus on engine component performance), 4.) intro to aircraft and propulsion system design, and 5.) aircraft engine design. During the fifth course, the cadets perform a preliminary engine design to meet various specified performance requirements unique to that semester. The cadets must select the engine cycle, size the engine considering installation effects, design the major components, select the materials, and consider safety, reliability, maintainability, and cost issues. The cadets then make an oral and written design presentation to a group from government and industry. In addition to the course work and the detailed design project, the cadets take a course in experimental methodology that is centered around an actual ongoing research project. The cadets are teamed up with experienced faculty researchers who lead them through each step in the research process. Examples of past research projects include: boundary layer separation on linear cascade blades, enhanced heat transfer in internal blade passages, and high-cycle fatigue forcing functions. Facilities that are available for cadet propulsion research include: a linear cascade wind tunnel, a Garrett F109 turbofan engine, a Continental J69 turbojet engine, and an Allison T63 turboshaft engine. Cadets are also encouraged to participate in a six-week research experience at one of several government, industry, or university laboratories. Finally, cadets can continue their participation with an independent study project. The design and research threads that are woven through the course work equip the cadets for success in graduate school or for making immediate contributions in the USAF propulsion community.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Virtual chunks: On supporting random accesses to scientific data in compressible storage systems

Data compression could ameliorate the I/O pressure of scientific applications on high-performance computing systems. Unfortunately, the conventional wisdom of naively applying data compression to the file or block brings the dilemma between efficient random accesses and high compression ratios. Filelevel compression can barely support efficient random accesses to the compressed data: any retrieval request need trigger the decompression from the beginning of the compressed file. Block-level compression provides flexible random accesses to the compressed data, but introduces extra overhead when applying the compressor to each every block that results in a degraded overall compression ratio. This paper introduces a concept called virtual chunks aiming to support efficient random accesses to the compressed scientific data without sacrificing its compression ratio. In essence, virtual chunks are logical blocks identified by appended references without breaking the physical continuity of the file content. These additional references allow the decompression to start from an arbitrary position (efficient random access), and retain the file's physical entirety to achieve high compression ratio on par with file-level compression. One potential concern of virtual chunks lies on its space overhead (from the additional references) that degrades the compression ratio, but our analytic study and experimental results demonstrate that such overhead is negligible. We have implemented virtual chunks in two forms: a middleware to the GPFS parallel file system, and a module in the FusionFS distributed file system. Large-scale evaluations on up to 1,024 cores showed that virtual chunks could help improve the I/O throughput by 2X speedup.
Model Predictive Control-Based Optimal Coordination of Distributed Energy Resources

Distributed energy resources, such as renewable energy resources (wind, solar), energy storage and demand response, can be used to complement conventional generators. The uncertainty and variability due to high penetration of wind makes reliable system operations and controls challenging, especially in isolated systems. In this paper, an optimal control strategy is proposed to coordinate energy storage and diesel generators to maximize wind penetration while maintaining system economics and normal operation performance. The goals of the optimization problem are to minimize fuel costs and maximize the utilization of wind while considering equipment life of generators and energy storage. Model predictive control (MPC) is used to solve a look-ahead dispatch optimization problem and the performance is compared to an open loop look-ahead dispatch problem. Simulation studies are performed to demonstrate the efficacy of the closed loop MPC in compensating for uncertainties and variability caused in the system.
An analysis of the time-dependent aspect of short-term memory in mice.

It has been shown that inbred mice perform poorly on a delayed-response paradigm when tested with no delay between trials. Mice were tested to determine if procedural or performance factors could account for this performance decrement. Male C57BL/6 mice were trained with a 0-delay procedure to develop a successive reversal learning set. After obtaining the set, tests were conducted at the immediate interval to determine if punishing aspects of the procedure or reactive inhibition caused the performance decrement. Results indicated that poor performance at the 0-delay was due to incomplete memory processing and not procedural or performance variables.
Planning and learning in security games

We present two new critical domains where security games are applied to generate randomized patrol schedules. For each setting, we present the current research that we have produced. We then propose two new challenges to build accurate schedules that can be deployed effectively in the real world. The first is a planning challenge. Current schedules cannot handle interruptions. Thus, more expressive models, that allow for reasoning over stochastic actions, are needed. The second is a learning challenge. In several security domains, data can be used to extract information about both the environment and the attacker. This information can then be used to improve the defender's strategies.
SIDS and chaos

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome may exhibit chaotic behavior because it fits common characteristics of chaotic systems including unpredictability, sensitivity to initial conditions, dependence on parameters, and coupling. Chaos theory suggests that preventive efforts should be added to those directed toward a 'cure'.
Phagocytic functions of pulmonary alveolar macrophages in genetically selected lean and obese swine and the effects of exogenous linolenic acid upon cell function.

Alveolar macrophages from genetically selected obese and lean swine were compared for in vitro phagocytic capabilities, using Fc(γ)- and C3-mediated phagocytosis. Cells from obese pigs were significantly more effective at Fc(γ)-mediated phagocytosis than those from lean pigs, both for percentage of total cells phagocytosing (P<0.044) and for the average number of opsonized sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) ingested per phagocyte (P<0.045). A seasonal interaction was noted for average number of SRBC ingested per phagocyte: the relative difference in macrophage responses between obese and lean groups became significantly more pronounced during winter and spring months (P<0.080). Macrophages from obese pigs also exhibited higher phagocytic activities at C3-mediated phagocytosis than did cells from lean pigs, but these differences were significant only for average number of SRBC ingested per phagocyte (P<0.080). Exogenous linolenic acid was added to selected cultures undergoing Fc(γ)-mediated phagocytosis. Addition of the fatty acid frequently caused enhanced phagocytosis. Macrophages from obese pigs were stimulated by fatty acid treatment more frequently than cells from lean pigs (P<0.05). Relatively greater enhancement was also seen in cells from obese pigs, when compared with those from lean swine (P<0.025). These results suggest that genetically transferred factors are of primary importance in alveolar macrophage phagocytic responses and that linolenic acid can induce increased phagocytic activity by porcine alveolar macrophages in vitro.
Laparoscopic Heminephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma in Cross-Fused Ectopic Kidney

Crossed renal ectopia is a rare congenital malformation. We report a case of renal cell carcinoma in a 51-year-old man with right-to-left crossed fused renal ectopia. The patient was treated with ultrasound-guided laparoscopic heminephrectomy. Postoperative three-dimensional computed tomography showed normal perfusion of the remaining part of the kidney, with good excretion of contrast from both units of the cross-fused kidney.
Resolution of acid-soluble protein component of yolk platelets from Xenopus laevis eggs on polyacrylamide gels

The “main body” of yolk platelets contains a number of acid-soluble polypeptides associated with the lipovitellin molecule. These proteins are resolved into four main bands when electrophoresed in urea-polyacrylamide gels and at least six bands when electrophoresed in SDS-polyacrylamide gels. These yolk-associated acid-soluble proteins are neither histones nor cytosol-derived proteins.
Young Children's Changing Conceptualizations of Brain Function: Implications for Teaching Neuroscience in Early Elementary Settings

Research Findings: Two exploratory studies explored young children's views of brain function and whether these views can be modified through exposure to a brief classroom intervention. In Study 1, children aged 4–13 years reported that the brain is used for “thinking,” although older children were more likely than younger children to also endorse a role for the brain in sensory activities such as seeing, smelling, or tasting. This replicates prior findings that young children view brain functioning as being limited to a role in intellectual activities. Study 2 showed that this narrow view of brain function could be broadened through a brief classroom intervention with 1st graders that emphasized connections between the brain and body. Compared with a control condition, the intervention significantly increased awareness of the brain's involvement in sensory experiences, although it had no effect on children's responses to stories involving the magical transformation of a protagonist's brain. Practice or Po...
An Unusual Case of Nephrotic Syndrome and Glucosuria

We report a case of a 57-year-old man with hypertension and smoking history who presented with decreased glomerular filtration rate, nephrotic-range proteinuria, and persistent glucosuria. He underwent a kidney biopsy that showed nodular glomerulosclerosis. We discuss the clinicopathologic entities of idiopathic nodular glomerulosclerosis and primary renal glucosuria.
Induced charge electroosmosis micropumps using arrays of Janus micropillars.

We report on a microfluidic AC-driven electrokinetic pump that uses Induced Charge Electro-Osmosis (ICEO) to generate on-chip pressures. ICEO flows occur when a bulk electric field polarizes a metal object to induce double layer formation, then drives electroosmotic flow. A microfabricated array of metal–dielectric Janus micropillars breaks the symmetry of ICEO flow, so that an AC electric field applied across the array drives ICEO flow along the length of the pump. When pumping against an external load, a pressure gradient forms along the pump length. The design was analyzed theoretically with the reciprocal theorem. The analysis reveals a maximum pressure and flow rate that depend on the ICEO slip velocity and micropillar geometry. We then fabricate and test the pump, validating our design concept by demonstrating non-local pressure driven flow using local ICEO slip flows. We varied the voltage, frequency, and electrolyte composition, measuring pump pressures of 15–150 Pa. We use the pump to drive flows through a high-resistance microfluidic channel. We conclude by discussing optimization routes suggested by our theoretical analysis to enhance the pump pressure.
Abstract 1251: Repurposing antipsychotic drug Penfluridol for cancer treatment

Repurposing of old drugs as new anti-cancer drugs is important as it can save time and cost of drug development. Penfluridol is a first generation, highly potent antipsychotic drug. In this study, we determined the anticancer effects of Penfluridol in pancreatic cancer cells. Penfluridol treatment inhibited the growth of Panc-1, BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 pancreatic cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Panc-1 , BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 cells treated with Penfluridol exhibited apoptosis as evaluated by Annexin/FITC assay and cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP. Our results showed that Penfluridol treatment induced ER stress in pancreatic cancer cells through the up regulation of ER stress markers like Bip/Grp78, CHOP and IRE. Penfluridol treatment also induced autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells as observed by acridine orange assay. Western blot analysis of Panc-1, BxPC-3 and AsPC-1 cells treated with Penfluridol exhibited up regulation of autophagy markers like LC3B, and p62. Microscopic analysis revealed punctate LC3B after Penfluridol treatment in pancreatic cancer cells confirming autophagy. Further mechanistic studies are in progress to establish the role of ER stress and autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells and correlate it with cell growth suppression. [Supported in part by R01 grant CA129038 awarded by NIH.] Citation Format: Alok Ranjan, Sanjay K. Srivastava. Repurposing antipsychotic drug Penfluridol for cancer treatment. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1251. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1251
Ascorbate protects endothelial barrier function during septic insult: Role of protein phosphatase type 2A.

Endothelial barrier dysfunction contributes to morbidity in sepsis. We tested the hypothesis that raising the intracellular ascorbate concentration protects the endothelial barrier from septic insult by inhibiting protein phosphatase type 2A. Monolayer cultures of microvascular endothelial cells were incubated with ascorbate, dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA), the NADPH oxidase inhibitors apocynin and diphenyliodonium, or the PP2A inhibitor okadaic acid and then were exposed to septic insult (lipopolysaccharide and interferon-γ). Under standard culture conditions that depleted intracellular ascorbate, septic insult stimulated oxidant production and PP2A activity, dephosphorylated phosphoserine and phosphothreonine residues in the tight junction-associated protein occludin, decreased the abundance of occludin at cell borders, and increased monolayer permeability to albumin. NADPH oxidase inhibitors prevented PP2A activation and monolayer leak, showing that these changes required reactive oxygen species. Okadaic acid, at a concentration that inhibited PP2A activity and monolayer leak, prevented occludin dephosphorylation and redistribution, implicating PP2A in the response of occludin to septic insult. Incubation with ascorbate or DHAA raised intracellular ascorbate concentrations and mitigated the effects of septic insult. In conclusion, ascorbate acts within microvascular endothelial cells to inhibit septic stimulation of oxidant production by NADPH oxidase and thereby prevents PP2A activation, PP2A-dependent dephosphorylation and redistribution of occludin, and disruption of the endothelial barrier.
Vision System That Learns How To Inspect Parts

By viewing samples of good and bad parts (gray-scale picture data), the computer vision system forms a model that allows it to distinguish between good and bad parts. The model contains a set of feature points which are used for determining part location and a set of inspection tests which apply to pertinent regions of the part. The location of parts relative to the camera can vary as the system brings all subsequent images into registration with the first image. Using registered picture data, the system determines regions that differ significantly in intensity or edge distribution between good and bad parts. The system then determines (for each of these regions) test parameters which allow it to distinguish between good parts and bad parts with an arbitrary number of defects.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.