cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative speed of kill of sarolaner (Simparica ® ) and afoxolaner (NexGard ® ) against induced infestations of Ixodes holocyclus on dogs

The Australian paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus, causes paralysis predominantly in dogs and cats in the Eastern coastal regions of Australia. Rapid onset of effect of a parasiticide is critical to minimize the deleterious effects of these tick infestations, especially tick paralysis caused by the salivary neurotoxin. The speed of kill of a novel orally administered isoxazoline parasiticide, sarolaner chewable tablets (Simparica®), against I. holocyclus on dogs was evaluated and compared with afoxolaner (NexGard®) for 5 weeks after a single oral dose. Twenty-four (24) dogs were randomly allocated to treatment with either placebo, sarolaner (label dose of 2 to 4 mg/kg as per dosing table), or afoxolaner (label dose of 2.7 to 6.9 mg/kg) based on pre-treatment body weights. Following artificial infestation on Day -1, dogs were examined and live ticks counted at 8, 12, 24 and 48 h after treatment on Day 0, and at 12, 24 and 48 h after subsequent re-infestations on Days 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35. Efficacy was determined at each time point relative to counts for placebo dogs based on geometric means. At 8 and 12 h time points on Day 0, sarolaner-treated dogs had significantly lower geometric mean tick counts compared to the dogs treated with afoxolaner (P ≤ 0.0303). Efficacy of sarolaner against an existing infestation was 86.2 and 96.9% compared with that of afoxolaner which had efficacy of 21.3 and 85.0% at 8 and 12 h time points, respectively. Against subsequent weekly re-infestations at 12 h time points, treatment with sarolaner resulted in significantly lower geometric mean tick counts than afoxolaner-treated dogs on all days (P ≤ 0.0077) with the efficacy ranging from 60.2 to 92.2%, compared to 5.8 to 61.0% in the afoxolaner-treated dogs. Against subsequent weekly re-infestations at the 24 h time points on Days 22 and 36, efficacy of sarolaner was significantly higher at 99.2 and 97.9%, respectively, compared with afoxolaner which had efficacy of 92.4 and 91.9% (P ≤ 0.0356). At the 48 h time points following each of the five weekly re-infestations, the mean efficacy results of sarolaner and afoxolaner treated dogs were similar on most occasions. There were no adverse reactions to treatments. In this controlled laboratory evaluation, a single dose of sarolaner had a significantly faster speed of kill against an existing infestation of I. holocyclus, than afoxolaner at 8 and 12 h post-treatment. The rapid and consistent kill of ticks provided by sarolaner within 24 h after a single oral dose and following weekly re-infestations over 35 days suggests this treatment will provide highly effective, rapid and reliable control of ticks over the entire treatment interval, thereby minimizing the risk of tick paralysis in dogs.
Sponsored Search in Equilibrium: Evidence from Two Experiments

Advertising affects not only the firm that advertises, but also the platform that hosts the advertisement. Using data from a field experiment at an e-commerce platform, I demonstrate that the effects on the advertising firm and the hosting platform can differ sharply. The experiment blocks all sponsored search advertising for a small fraction of site visitors. Compared to users who are shielded from ads, users who see ads spend significantly more on sponsored listings and significantly less on organic listings. The second effect dominates, revealing that on net, sponsored search reduces total sales on the platform. Using a separate natural experiment, I also find evidence that sponsored search puts upward pressure on prices, which can exacerbate cannibalization. Together, these findings illustrate the cost of advertising from the perspective of the platform.
Causal Modeling based Fault Localization in Cloud Systems using Golden Signals

In cloud-native applications, a large fraction of operational failures, known as outages, result in violations of Service Level Objectives (SLOs). SLOs are defined around specific measurable characteristics: availability, throughput, frequency, response time, and quality. Four metrics, latency, traffic, errors, and saturation, ensure coverage for most outages of an application. These are often called golden signals. The dynamicity and complexity of cloud-native applications complicate Site Reliability Engineers’ (SREs) efforts in problem determination, in particular in its fault localization. The fault localization is often a try-and-error process in which SREs rely on their domain knowledge and experience. It is laborious and frequently results in long Mean Time To Resolution (MTTR) for outages. This paper describes a lightweight fault localization system, that establishes causal relationships among the golden signal service errors and error logs, and further leverages PageRank centrality of the derived causal graph for generating a ranked list of faulty microservices.
Scattering Resonances: Low-Energy Scattering

In the last chapter, the quantities, , Δ1, and s l, which determine the phase shift δ l for a particular V 0, are mild functions of the energy, E. If the quantity, β l , is also a mild function of E, the phase shifts, δ l , and the cross sections will be mild, smooth functions of the energy. Conversely, if a particular β l has a very strong energy dependence, particularly at low E, the corresponding δ l (k) may have an abrupt change over a short energy interval, and the cross section σ l may have a sharp peak over a small energy interval, leading to a resonance in the scattering cross section.
Stabilization of linearized Korteweg-de Vries systems with anti-diffusion by boundary feedback with non-collocated observation

This paper addresses the problem of stabilizing a class of one-dimensional linearized Korteweg-de Vries systems with possible anti-diffusion (LKdVA for short), through control at one end and non-collocated observation at the other end. An exponentially convergent observer is designed, and then a dynamical stabilizing output feedback boundary controller is constructed based on the observer. The resulting closed-loop systems can achieve arbitrary exponential decay rate. In order to derive invertibility of the kernel function in the backstepping transformation between the observer error systems and its corresponding target systems, stabilizing of a critical case of LKdVA is considered in the Appendix, which can also be treated as a preliminary problem for the main part of this paper.
Improvement of Fourier-based unconditional and conditional simulations for band limited fractal (von Kármán) statistical models

We evaluate the performance and statistical accuracy of the fast Fourier transform method for unconditional and conditional simulation. The method is applied under difficult but realistic circumstances of a large field (1001 by 1001 points) with abundant conditioning criteria and a band limited, anisotropic, fractal-based statistical characterization (the von Karman model). The simple Fourier unconditional simulation is conducted by Fourier transform of the amplitude spectrum model, sampled on a discrete grid, multiplied by a random phase spectrum. Although computationally efficient, this method failed to adequately match the intended statistical model at small scales because of sinc-function convolution. Attempts to alleviate this problem through the “covariance” method (computing the amplitude spectrum by taking the square root of the discrete Fourier transform of the covariance function) created artifacts and spurious high wavenumber content. A modified Fourier method, consisting of pre-aliasing the wavenumber spectrum, satisfactorily remedies sinc smoothing. Conditional simulations using Fourier-based methods require several processing stages, including a smooth interpolation of the differential between conditioning data and an unconditional simulation. Although kriging is the ideal method for this step, it can take prohibitively long where the number of conditions is large. Here we develop a fast, approximate kriging methodology, consisting of coarse kriging followed by faster methods of interpolation. Though less accurate than full kriging, this fast kriging does not produce visually evident artifacts or adversely affect the a posteriori statistics of the Fourier conditional simulation.
Visual Data Mining of Symbolic Knowledge using Rough Sets, Virtual Reality and Fuzzy Techniques: An Application in Geophysical Prospecting

Visual data mining using nonlinear virtual reality spaces (VR) is ap- plied to symbolic knowledge in the form of production rules obtained by rough sets methods in a classification problem with partially defined and imprecise classes. In the context of a geophysical prospecting problem aiming at finding underground caves, a virtual reality nonlinear space for production rules is constructed. The distribution of the rough sets derived rules is characterized by a fuzzy model in both the original 5D space and in the 3D VR space. The membership function of the target class (the presence of a cave) is transferred from the rules to the data objects covered by the corresponding rules and mapped back to the original physical space. The fuzzy model built in the VR space predicted sites where new caves could be expected and one of them was confirmed.
Cactus alkaloids : XL. Identification of mescaline and other β-phenethylamines in Pereskia, Pereskiopsis and Islaya by use of fluorescamine conjugates

Abstract The combined methods of analytical thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance TLC, and gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) have been used to identify specific alkaloids in twelve cactus species. TLC of fluorescamine conjugates, prepared from primary amines in the alkaloid extracts, served to substantiate results from the other chromatographic identifications. Traces of the hallucinogen, mescaline, were identified and quantitated by GLC in Islaya minor Backbg., Pereskia corrugata Cutak, Pereskia tampicana Weber, and Pereskiopsis scandens Br. and R., demonstrating that this alkaloid is distributed through all three cactus tribes.
Synchronization and anti-synchronization of Chua's oscillators via a piecewise linear coupling circuit

A chaotic associative memory may be constructed by coupling a network of Chua's circuits via piecewise linear conductances. Synchronization and anti-synchronization states are used to represent binary memory patterns. The chaotic network dynamics enable the memory to wander among patterns which have non-zero correlations with the input pattern. This paper describes two discrete circuits which may be used as the basis for implementing the coupling element as proposed in Jankowski et al. (1995). Initial coupling experiments support the proposed design approaches,.
Apoptosis-inducing Factor (AIF) and Its Family Member Protein, AMID, Are Rotenone-sensitive NADH:Ubiquinone Oxidoreductases (NDH-2)

Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and AMID (AIF-homologous mitochondrion-associated inducer of death) are flavoproteins. Although AIF was originally discovered as a caspase-independent cell death effector, bioenergetic roles of AIF, particularly relating to complex I functions, have since emerged. However, the role of AIF in mitochondrial respiration and redox metabolism has remained unknown. Here, we investigated the redox properties of human AIF and AMID by comparing them with yeast Ndi1, a type 2 NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (NDH-2) regarded as alternative complex I. Isolated AIF and AMID containing naturally incorporated FAD displayed no NADH oxidase activities. However, after reconstituting isolated AIF or AMID into bacterial or mitochondrial membranes, N-terminally tagged AIF and AMID displayed substantial NADH:O2 activities and supported NADH-linked proton pumping activities in the host membranes almost as efficiently as Ndi1. NADH:ubiquinone-1 activities in the reconstituted membranes were highly sensitive to 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide (IC50 = ∼1 μm), a quinone-binding inhibitor. Overexpressing N-terminally tagged AIF and AMID enhanced the growth of a double knock-out Escherichia coli strain lacking complex I and NDH-2. In contrast, C-terminally tagged AIF and NADH-binding site mutants of N-terminally tagged AIF and AMID failed to show both NADH:O2 activity and the growth-enhancing effect. The disease mutant AIFΔR201 showed decreased NADH:O2 activity and growth-enhancing effect. Furthermore, we surprisingly found that the redox activities of N-terminally tagged AIF and AMID were sensitive to rotenone, a well known complex I inhibitor. We propose that AIF and AMID are previously unidentified mammalian NDH-2 enzymes, whose bioenergetic function could be supplemental NADH oxidation in cells.
U.S. Lotto Markets

Abstract Lotteries as sources of public funding are of particular interest because they combine elements of both public finance and gambling in an often controversial mix. Proponents of lotteries point to the popularity of such games and justify their use because of the voluntary nature of participation rather than the reliance on compulsory taxation. Whether lotteries are efficient or not can have the usual concerns related to public finance and providing support for public spending, but there are also concerns about the efficiency of the market for the lottery products as well, especially if the voluntary participants are not behaving rationally. These concerns can be addressed through an examination of the U.S. experience with lotteries as sources of government revenues. State lotteries in the U.S. are compared to those in Europe to provide context on the use of such funding and the diversity of options available to public officials. While the efficiency of lotteries in raising funds for public programs can be addressed in a number of ways, one method is to consider whether the funds that are raised are supplementing other sources of funding or substituting for them. If lottery profits are fungible or substituting for other sources that would have been used in the absence of such profits, then the issues of equity and efficiency of lotteries relative to other sources are certainly heightened. The literature suggests that some degree of fungibility does exist, bringing these very concerns into question. Whether the lottery markets are efficient can be addressed, in part, by examining the rationality of its participants. This can be done by considering how consumers participate in the market, how they respond to changing prices (or effective prices in the case of lotteries), and whether the market ever provides its participants with a “fair bet,” a gamble in which there is a positive expected value from participating. While empirical studies provide somewhat mixed results, there are indications that consumers of lottery products are relatively rational and that lottery markets seldom provide “fair bets,” both indicators of efficient markets.
Multimodal Measures of Mental Workload during Dual-Task Performance: Energetic Demands of Cognitive Processes

Fifteen male volunteers participated in a dual-task study in which the central processing load of visual memory and tracking tasks and the physical load of the tracking task were orthogonally manipulated to produce varying levels of task difficulty. Multiple modes of assessment were used to measure mental workload (MWL) across difficulty levels, including: performance, subjective, cardiovascular, and metabolic. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate metabolic change with manipulations of cognitive task difficulty; others have found only baseline-to-task changes. The relation of the metabolic demands of the task to central processing resource utilization provided support for a structural energetic model of attention that may help to explain measure dissociations. The results of the present study indicated that heart period was only sensitive to central manipulations of task difficulty that affected energetic resources. Performance and subjective MWL were sensitive to all cognitive compone...
A Comprehensive Approach to Multidimensional Operations

Peacekeeping and crisis response missions face novel challenges in the modern era. Disruptive changes, including economic globalization, mass communications and access to information, and the emergence of powerful and influential non-state agents require a better understanding of the mission space and the political, economic, and social conditions that impact stabilization efforts. The comprehensive approach is among the most recent functional models for coordinating the efforts of the broad assortment of actors involved in addressing complex crises or conflicts. The principles of a comprehensive approach are widely accepted, but mechanisms for practical application are still evolving. Moreover, the benefits realized through coordinated efforts may be limited by organizational constraints. In some cases, mission conditions may also restrict comprehensive approaches. For example robust military engagement in conflict zones may compromise humanitarian access to vulnerable populations; or neutral administration of aid to factional groups might run counter to military actions against named threats. Despite these challenges, mission leaders agree that a comprehensive approach is vital to mission success. Multidimensional peacekeeping, campaigns to combat piracy, and energy security provide useful models for achieving better situational understanding and mission effectiveness via a comprehensive approach. Each of these examples demands political leadership, protection and advocacy for affected or underserved populations, enhanced development, and military intervention to guarantee security.
Single-turn beam position monitor for the NSLS VUV electron storage ring

A "fast" beam position monitor capable of measuring the position of a circulating bunch in the VUV electron storage ring is presently under development. This monitor will collect data at a rate of about 6/spl times/10/sup 6/ measurements/sec per channel. We describe the design and operation of the monitor and the processing of the acquired data.
Development of binocular fixation in human infants

Abstract Two experiments measured changes in binocular eye alignment from 1- to 6-month-old human infants. In Experiment 1 changes in binocular eye alignment were recorded from 1, 2, and 3 month olds using corneal photography. A luminous target was moved along the infant's midline at one of two constant speeds. Infants at all three ages showed some evidence of appropriate changes in binocular eye alignment (convergence as the target approached and divergence as the target receded). The likelihood of appropriate convergence and divergence increased with age, as did the ability to respond appropriately to the faster target motion. A measure of convergence lag (further decrease in interpupillary distance after target motion had ended) was obtained for trials on which the target approached the infant. Convergence lag decreased with age and was greater on trials at the faster target speed until 3 months of age. Experiment 2 measured the responses of 3, 4 1 2 , and 6 month olds as a wedge prism was placed alternately in front of each eye. The prism displaced the image nasally (either 2.5° or 5°), creating inappropriate binocular eye alignment. A refixation eye movement in response to the prism was not present consistently until 6 months of age. Hypotheses as to the mechanism controlling infant binocular eye alignment are discussed with respect both to the present findings and to findings from human adults and animals.
Adolescent pragmatic skills: A comparison of Latino students in English as a second language and speech and language programs.

The purpose of this study was to compare the pragmatic performance of students from two adolescent groups—students receiving. English as a second language (ESL) instruction versus bilingual student...
The Glaciating Behavior of Small Cumulonimbus Clouds

Abstract Data gathered during consecutive traverses through summer clouds in southern Missouri have been interpreted to indicate that: (1) the glaciating characteristics of commonly occurring small cumulonimbus clouds in this region are dependent upon the size distribution of the liquid phase prior to the inception of glaciation; (2) clouds having large liquid-water drops rapidly form high concentrations of ice particles regardless of the concentrations of foreign ice-forming nuclei; (3) the ice phase within the clouds does not begin anew; it builds upon the size distribution that has been achieved by the liquid phase and consequently a continuous modification of the particle size distribution within the cloud occurs; and (4) coalescence continues to be a dominant growth mechanism and growth by sublimation essentially is by-passed. The data appear to he compatible with a chain reaction process propagated by the formation of satellite ice particles during the solidification of water drops.
Intermittent Kalman filtering with adversarial erasures: Eigenvalue cycles again

We consider intermittent Kalman filtering with adversarial erasures, and characterize the observability condition. Like intermittent Kalman filtering with random erasures, the concept of eigenvalue cycles turns out to be crucial in the characterization. Moreover, the nonuniform sampling which breaks the eigenvalue cycles can also dramatically increase Kalman filtering robustness against adversarial erasures. Precisely, the system becomes observable as long as the ratio of erasures is strictly less than 1.
A Role for BRCA1 in Uterine Leiomyosarcoma

Uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS) is a rare gynecologic malignancy with a low survival rate. Currently, there is no effective treatment for ULMS. Infrequent occurrences of human ULMS hamper the understanding of the initiation and progression of the disease, thereby limiting the ability to develop efficient therapies. In order to elucidate the roles of the p53 and BRCA1 tumor suppressor genes in gynecologic malignancies, we generated mice in which p53 and/or BRCA1 can be conditionally deleted using anti-Mullerian hormone type II receptor (Amhr2)-driven Cre recombinase. We showed that conditional deletion of p53 in mice results in the development of uterine tumors that resemble human ULMS and that concurrent deletion of p53 and BRCA1 significantly accelerates the progression of these tumors. This finding led to our hypothesis that BRCA1 may play a role in human ULMS development. Consistent with this hypothesis, we demonstrated that the BRCA1 protein is absent in 29% of human ULMS and that BRCA1 promoter methylation is the likely mechanism of BRCA1 downregulation. These data indicate that the loss of BRCA1 function may be an important step in the progression of ULMS. Our findings provide a rationale for investigating therapies that target BRCA1 deficiency in ULMS.
6 Vaginal hysterectomy

Hysterectomy is the most common non-pregnancy-related surgical procedure performed in the USA. The ratio of abdominal operations to vaginal operations is 3:1, which probably reflects surgeon's experience and practice styles, the absence of clear guidelines for selecting a surgical route, lack of patient knowledge about the options, and inappropriate decision-making. With the trend toward evidence-based and outcome-based practice, the indications and contraindications for abdominal, vaginal, and laparoscopically-assisted hysterectomy must be examined critically. In the author's extensive experience the rates of abdominal, vaginal, and laparoscopically-assisted procedures are 1.9, 88.7, and 9.4%, respectively. Techniques useful in vaginal hysterectomy with or without simultaneous oophorectomy, the pros and cons of simultaneous incidental appendectomy, and methods of protecting the ureter are discussed.
Self-employment: the new solution for balancing family and career?

Abstract We examine the hypothesis that white married women, particularly more educated women, are increasingly choosing self-employment as a strategy to balance family and career. We test two models using data from the CPS, NLS and NLSY, to examine the determinants of self-employment for women in the late 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Our findings suggest that married women with greater family responsibilities are more likely to be self-employed, and these impacts are stronger for more educated women. However, we find little support for the hypothesis that women are more likely in recent years to choose self-employment in response to family demands.
High performance computing in biomedical imaging research

Abstract The Mayo Biomedical Imaging Resource (BIR) conducts research into and development of image analysis, visualization, and measurement capabilities and software tools for biomedical imaging applications. The design goal for these tools includes full interactivity, yet some tools are both compute bound and time sensitive. Therefore, effective use of these capabilities requires that they be executed on high performance computers. This paper provides an overview of the high performance computing activities in the BIR, including resources, algorithms and applications.
Anomaly in dependence of radiation-induced vacancy accumulation on grain size

According to conventional steady-state rate theory predictions of displacement damage evolution in irradiated materials, the accumulation of vacancies decreases as grain size decreases. Using atomistic simulations, the authors report a transient anomaly in the dependence of radiation produced vacancy accumulation on grain size. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, the accumulation of vacancies can be higher in smaller grains than in larger grains during a transient stage. The anomaly is a result of competition between two atomic-level processes: grain boundary absorption and bulk recombination of point defects, each of which has characteristic length and time scales. Copper is used as the prototype of face-centered-cubic material and Frenkel pair production mimicking electron radiation is the source of non-cascade defect introduction, both choices aiming at clarity for identifying physical mechanisms.
Patterns and operative treatment of recurrent Crohn’s disease: a prospective longitudinal study

Background It is believed commonly that Crohn’s recurrences always occur at the site of a previous intestinal anastomosis; yet this concept is probably inaccurate and not mindful of the panintestinal nature of the disease. Materials and Methods Between October, 1984 and March, 2003, we carried out 1,132 procedures (464 for primary and 668 for recurrent disease) on 981 consecutive patients. Patients in whom we carried out both the original procedure as well as the procedure for recurrent disease constitute this study population. Operative procedures for perineal complications were excluded from this analysis. Data were accrued prospectively. Results Seventy-eight patients met the study inclusion criteria. They had a total of 149 sites of disease (duodenum, n = 3; jejunum/ileum, n = 53; terminal ileum/neo terminal ileum, n = 67; colon and rectum, n = 26). One hundred thirty-four sites required operative intervention (85 resections and 49 strictureplasties) and 15 did not. Crohn’s disease recurred in 79 sites after a mean of 48.4 months (range, 1–161 months, median, 41 months). Site of operative intervention and operative technique influenced patterns of recurrence: when an anastomosis or strictureplasty was constructed with small bowel, the majority of recurrences were limited to the anastomotic line (17/29, 59%); when it was constructed with small bowel and colon, the majority of recurrences extended to the proximal limb (29/35, 83%). The difference in recurrence pattern is significant (P Conclusions The site of the original operative intervention is the most common site for recurrence, although as many as one-third of recurrences occur separate from it. Pattern of recurrence is influenced by site of the operative intervention (anastomotic for small bowel, proximal limb for ileocolonic) and by operative technique (fewer recurrences occurred at strictureplasty than resection sites). Disease progression occurred in 25% of the sites not addressed operatively at the original procedure. The operative strategy applied to Crohn’s complications in different intestinal sites was similar for primary and recurrent disease.
Municipal property asset management – a comparative study of UK and Russia

ABSTRACT Property asset management is a discipline of growing significance for local government across the world. The perceived wisdom of transition countries lagging behind developed countries in the maturity of asset managent has not been tested with empirical data. An analytical framework was developed comprising models to measure why councils do asset management (rationale); how they do it (practice) and what they achieve (outcomes) and applied through a comparative study of municipalities in the UK and Russia. A weak but discernable link was found between rationale and practice but the link between practice and outcomes was unproven. Russia appeared to lag UK in its development of asset management and case studies in both countries had a consistent view of the critical success factors for effective asset management. These were strategic focus, organisation will, portfolio intelligence and an entrepreneurial culture. The research used the strength of these factors with the analysis of rational, practi...
Equalization filters for multiple-channel electromyogram arrays

Abstract Multiple-channels of electromyogram activity are frequently transduced via electrodes, then combined electronically to form one electrophysiologic recording, e.g. bipolar, linear double difference and Laplacian montages. For high quality recordings, precise gain and frequency response matching of the individual electrode potentials is achieved in hardware (e.g., an instrumentation amplifier for bipolar recordings). This technique works well when the number of derived signals is small and the montages are pre-determined. However, for array electrodes employing a variety of montages, hardware channel matching can be expensive and tedious, and limits the number of derived signals monitored. This report describes a method for channel matching based on the concept of equalization filters. Monopolar potentials are recorded from each site without precise hardware matching. During a calibration phase, a time-varying linear chirp voltage is applied simultaneously to each site and recorded. Based on the calibration recording, each monopolar channel is digitally filtered to “correct” for (equalize) differences in the individual channels, and then any derived montages subsequently created. In a hardware demonstration system, the common mode rejection ratio (at 60 Hz) of bipolar montages improved from 35.2 ± 5.0 dB (prior to channel equalization) to 69.0 ± 5.0 dB (after equalization).
Effects of dopaminergic modulation of persistent sodium currents on the excitability of prefrontal cortical neurons: A computational study

Abstract Yang and Seamans (J. Neurosci. 16 (5) (1996) 1922–1935) have recently shown that pyramidal cells in rat prefrontal cortex respond to a brief current injection with a plateau potential that is mediated by slowly inactivating voltage-dependent sodium currents. They also report that dopamine receptor activation increases plateau duration and shifts its activation to more negative potentials. We model persistent sodium currents by including an additional slow inactivation parameter in the standard spike-generating sodium channel model. Our model reproduces the voltage plateau and the dopamine-induced increase in plateau duration. We extend the model by including a set of potassium currents and examine the effect of dopaminergic modulation of sodium current on neuronal excitability. We find that dopamine increases the gain of the current to firing frequency relationship. However, modulation of sodium current has minimal effects on the amplitude of subthreshold EPSPs.
Adhesion Forces in Conducting Probe Atomic Force Microscopy

This paper examines how the adhesion force between a conducting probe and a conductive surface influences the electrical properties of conductive polymers. Conducting probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM) was employed. When a voltage is applied between the sample and the tip, an attractive electrostatic capacitance force is added to the adhesion force. The tip−sample capacitance force in the CP-AFM of polythiophene monolayers is described through theoretical modeling and compared with experiment. Experiments were performed in insulating organic solvent that decreased the adhesion force by approximately 10 times relative to measurements in air. The results for the adhesion force measurements as a function of applied bias show good agreement with the theoretical prediction. On the basis of the dependence of the adhesion force versus applied bias and the current−voltage characteristics of polythiophene, we conclude that characterization of electrical properties of conducting polymers using CP-AFM at a desir...
Hypocretins in the Control of Sleep and Wakefulness

During the past 10 years since the discovery of hypocretins (Hcrt, also called orexins), the list of their physiologic implications has been growing, from their primary roles in the sleep-wake cycle and feeding to the control of the cardiovascular system, pain, locomotion, stress, and addiction as well as their involvement in psychiatric disorders such as panic, anxiety, and depression. This diverse set of functions is consistent with the localization of Hcrt neurons in the lateral hypothalamus, a major integrating center of sensory inputs and emotional processes, and their widespread excitatory projections throughout the brain. Newly developed optical tools allow us to manipulate the activity of genetically identified neurons with millisecond precision in vivo and to test specific hypotheses about the causal relationships between Hcrt cells and specific behaviors. Here, we review the basic roles of the Hcrt peptides and discuss how these new technologies increase our understanding of the underpinnings of alertness and arousal.
Experimental aspects of the high-speed membrane osmometer☆

Abstract Because several different workers in our laboratory have found the Mechrolab model 503 high-speed membrane osmometer 3 to be an instrument which is extremely sensitive to some seemingly unimportant steps in the experimental procedure used, we wish to communicate the experience obtained while working with aqueous solvents in this machine. We feel that this may help other workers who are, or will be, working with the osmometer. In our opinion, the steps outlined below represent the most efficient procedure for obtaining meaningful and reproducible data with the instrument.
Operator product expansion for Wilson loops and surfaces in the large N limit

The operator product expansion for {open_quotes}small{close_quotes} Wilson loops in N=4, d=4 SYM theory is studied. The OPE coefficients are calculated in the large {ital N} and g{sub YM}{sup 2}N limit by exploiting the AdS-CFT correspondence. We also consider Wilson surfaces in the (0,2), d=6 superconformal theory. In this case, we find that the UV divergent terms include a term proportional to the rigid string action. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
Effects of pre-existing left ventricular hypertrophy on ventricular dysfunction and remodeling following myocardial infarction in rats.

Abstract Background: Myocardial hypertrophy is a characteristic component of left ventricular (LV) remodeling that may, at least initially, have a beneficial effect on LV function following myocardial infarction (MI). In the present study, we examine the effects of pre-existing left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) on LV function and chamber enlargement following MI in inbred Lewis rats. Methods: The one-kidney, one-clip model (1K1C) of hypertension was used to produce LVH. Four weeks after 1K1C, rats were randomized to left anterior descending coronary artery ligation (LVH + MI group, n = 8) or sham ligation (LVH group, n = 11). Another group of rats underwent sham 1K1C. Four weeks later, they were randomized to coronary ligation (MI group, n = 12) or sham ligation (Sham group, n = 12). LV end-diastolic pressure (EDP, mm Hg), end-diastolic volume (EDV, ml), end-systolic volume (ESV, ml) and ejection fraction (EF) (determined by angiography) were measured in all groups 2 months after MI. Results: LV EDP was 20 ± 2 mm Hg in the LVH + MI group compared with 9 ± 1 mm Hg in the MI group ( p p p Conclusions: Pre-existing LVH is an important determinant of progressive LV dysfunction and remodeling following MI in Lewis inbred rats.
Administrative evaluation of intrusion detection system

Due to the complexity of intrusion detection systems and their application in security architectures, there is a need to objectively assess intrusion detection systems in the perspective of system and network administration in order to select a right product which is a good fit to a specific design. In this research, we have developed a methodology to evaluate intrusion detection systems in a simulated environment. The environment is built with a combination of physical and virtual machines. Network traffic is simulated with baseline activities, which is characterized with web browsing and normal user activities, benchmark and actual intrusion attacks. Different tools are employed to measure CPU load, memory need, bandwidth constraint and computer memory input/output. Results show considerable differences among tested intrusion detection systems.
The role of antiplatelet therapy in aneurysm coiling

Neurointerventional surgery offers the potential to deliver remarkable intravascular therapies for various neurovascular diseases and stroke. This approach, however, carries a risk of complications that need to be kept to a minimum. Thromboembolism is one of the most consequential complications of neurointerventional surgery in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Both antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies have shown to reduce the risk of thromboembolism in this setting. In this paper, we review the role of antiplatelet therapy in the endovascular management of intracranial aneurysms. For unruptured aneurysms, the use of antiplatelet agents to pre-medicate patients before and during the procedure appears safe and effective in reducing the thrombotic risk. Abciximab has not been extensively studied, but seems to be safe as a salvage maneuver in the case of thrombus formation even in ruptured aneurysms (when the dome is relatively secure) with low rates of intraprocedure and procedure hemorrhagic complications. Further innovation and research are needed to further reduce thromboembolic risks of aneurysm coiling.
Developing a rational method for returning dust extracted from rotary furnaces

It is possible to introduce dust into the briquette for firing into grog in amounts of not more than 10–20% depending on the plasticity of the raw materials. It is possible to use clay-slip moistening to obtain higher strength briquettes. Short grinding of the dust in a vibromill improves the sintering, and increases the bonding capacity.
Response patterns to noxious and non-noxious stimuli in rostral trigeminal relay nuclei

Postimulus time histogram analysis of second-order neuron responses in rostral trigeminal relay nuclei of cat demonstrated characteristic firing patterns after noxious (tooth pulp) and non-noxious (tooth tap) stimuli. The response to noxious stimulation was prolonged and frequently bimodal while the response to non-noxious stimulation was brief. The same neurons were fired by electrical stimuli applied directly to nucleus caudalis but with longer latencies suggesting a contributory role of nucleus caudalis to the characteristic prolonged bimodal response pattern to noxious stimuli. Interacting noxious and non-noxious stimuli using condition-test sequences demonstrated further stimulus mode-related changes in firing patterns. Electrical conditioning stimuli in nucleus caudalis reduced some responses while strychnine sulfate applied into nucleus caudalis augmented the responses evoked in rostral nuclei by both noxious and non-noxious peripheral stimuli. Nucleus caudalis appeared to contain elements which may modulate activity in rostral trigeminal nuclei by either augmenting or reducing specific firing patterns of second-order neurons in rostral relay nuclei.
On the feasibility of a neutron Hanbury Brown—Twiss experiment with gravitationally-induced phase shift

Abstract It is shown that a gravitational potential difference between the two components of a split fermion beam in a Mach—Zehnder type interferometer can influence the fermion second-order, one-point correlation function and hence the conditional probability of fermion arrivals at one output port. Manifestation of the effect requires use of two statistically-inequivalent input beams. The configuration is a particle analogue of the optical Hanbury Brown—Twiss experiments. Contrary to previous report of a signal-to-noise performance orders of magnitude higher than that characterising the cross-correlation of particle fluctuations in two beams, it is shown that both types of measurements are characterised by comparable signal-to-noise expressions. The implications for observation of neutron antibunching are discussed.
UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF READING AND WRITING DIFFICULTIES: AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW

A case study of a 9‐year‐old boy's reading and writing difficulties is presented. The learner's written language concepts, strategies, attitudes, and perceptions of himself as a reader and writer were observed and documented over a period of 3#fr1/2> months while he attended a literacy center in an urban university near his school. Quantitative and qualitative analysis revealed that the learner lacked clear concepts about the functional nature of reading and writing. The diagnosis was based on an alternative model of understanding written language difficulties. Instruction grounded in sociopsycholinguistics, whole language, and emergent literacy helped the learner overcome his difficulties. This article provides an account of (a) alternative approaches in assessing written language difficulties and (b) the important role of the reader's belief system or written language concepts in literacy learning.
Recent studies on phosphorus-bridging carbonyl derivatives: organophosphorus analogs of aldehydes and ketones

Reactions of disodium tetracarbonylferrate, Na2Fe(CO)4, with sterically hindered dialkylaminodichlorophosphines, R2NPCl2 (R2N=diisopropylamino, dicyclohexylamino, and 2,2, 6, 6-tetramethylpiperidino) in diethyl ether lead to the air-stable phosphorus-bridging carbonyl derivatives (R2NP)2COFe2(CO)6 as the major products. The phosphorus-bridging carbonyl group in (i-Pr2NP)2COFe2(CO)6 has been found to undergo the following types of reactions: 1)Reduction, 2)Acylation, 3)Extrusion of the carbonyl group. The mechanisms of the reactions have been considered.
Discovery of boric acid as cause of low frequency sound absorption in the ocean

Laboratory measurements of sound absorption using the resonator technique have confirmed that sound absorption in sea water is about ten times greater than the predicted value and that it is due to boric acid. In conjunction with the acoustic measurements done in a 200 liter spherical glass resonator, the relaxation frequency of the boric acid was measured using the temperature-jump technique for chemical kinetic studies. A three state chemical reaction is required for a quantitative explanation of the observed absorption and relaxation frequency. Besides providing confirmation of effect discovered by long range sound propagation work at sea, it has revealed a new aspect of boron chemistry.
Laser Absorption Spectroscopy of TiCl+: Analysis of the [17.9]3Δ–X3Φ (0,0) Band

Abstract The laser absorption spectrum of the TiCl + molecular ion has been observed for the first time in a hollow cathode discharge. The discharge was driven at 25 kHz at powers in the 80–100 W range. Flowing samples of TiCl 4 in Ar were discharged. A total of 235 lines of the 48 Ti 35 Cl + [17.9] 3 Δ– X 3 Φ (0,0) band and 122 lines of the 48 Ti 37 Cl + [17.9] 3 Δ– X 3 Φ (0,0) band were recorded at resolution 0.02 cm −1 . Rotational constants for the [17.9] 3 Δ ( v = 0) and X 3 Φ ( v = 0) states of the 48 Ti 35 Cl + and 48 Ti 37 Cl + isotopomers are reported. This band system was observed previously in the emission spectrum of TiCl + (W. J. Balfour and K. S. Chandrasekhar, 1990, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 139, 245–252) but the electronic assignments for the lower and upper states of the transition are revised here. The present experimental results are in excellent agreement with predictions based on ligand field theory models (L. A. Kaledin, J. E. McCord, and M. C. Heaven, 1995, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 173, 499–509). The symmetry for the ground state of the TiCl + molecular ion was determined to be X 3 Φ.
Modulation of dendritic cell functions by HTLV-1 with DCs able to direct the presentation of Tax through infected T cells, live virus, and the Tax protein

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the etiologic agent of a debilitating neurologic disorder, HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). This disease features a robust immune response including the oligoclonal expansion of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific for the viral oncoprotein Tax. The key pathogenic process resulting in the proliferation of CTLs and the presentation of Tax peptide remains uncharacterized. We have investigated the role of APCs, particularly dendritic cells (DCs), in priming of the anti-Tax CTL response under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. We investigated 2 routes (direct versus indirect) of Tax presentation using live virus, infected primary CD4+/CD25+ T cells, and the CD4+ T-cell line (C8166, an HTLV-1-mutated line that only expresses Tax). Our results indicated that DCs are capable of priming a pronounced Tax-specific CTL response in cell cultures consisting of naive PBLs as well as in HLA-A*0201 transgenic mice (line HHD II). DCs were able to successfully direct the presentation of Tax through infected T cells, live virus, and cell-free Tax. These observations were comparable to those made with a known stimulant of DC maturation - a combination of CD40L and IFN-γ. Our studies clearly establish a role for this important immune cell component in HTLV-1 immuno/neuropathogenesis and suggest that modulation of DC functions could be an important tool for therapeutic interventions.
Decoding the Role of Receptor Dimerization in Plexin-Semaphorin Signaling

Plexin-semaphorin signaling plays an important role in the formation of neural networks by acting as the guidance cue for axon growth or retraction. The plexin receptor is a single-pass transmembrane protein with a sema domain at the extracellular N-terminus and a GTP-ase activating protein domain on the cytoplasmic C-terminus. Binding of semaphorin is known to activate the plexin receptor, but the mechanism of how that binding event leads to activation is not understood. We will present our recent work using pulsed interleaved excitation fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (PIE-FCCS) to measure plexin protein-protein interactions in live cells. PIE-FCCS transforms fluctuations in fluorescence intensity (arising mainly from diffusion) into information about a protein's mobility and concentration. By cross-correlating the fluorescence fluctuations in two color channels, PIE-FCCS also quantifies co-localization and co-diffusion with high accuracy. This method has been used to resolve the mechanism of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation and inhibition, as well as the dimerization constant of the opsin G protein-coupled receptor. In this work we measure the ligand-free dimerization of plexin receptors in live cell membranes and the response of the receptor to semaphorin-induced activation.