cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pesticide-induced modification of hepatobiliary function: Hexachlorobenzene, DDT and toxaphene

Abstract The effect of pre-expose to hexachlorobenzene (HCB), toxaphene (TX) or DDT (100 ppm in the diet for 8 days in each case) on the excretory function of the bile was investigated using isolated perfused rat-liver preparations obtained from treated and control animals. Hepatic uptake, metabolism and biliary excretion of [ 14 C]imipramine (IMP) was examined in these studies. Biliary excretion of endogenously formed metabolites of IMP was enhanced by pre-exposure to HCB, by 18% after 2 hr of perfusion. Pre-exposure to DDT and TX resulted in a decrease in biliary excretion of endogenously formed metabolites of IMP. HCB-induced enhancement of biliary excretion was not associated with either the bile flow or the rate at which IMP was metabolized. However, DDT and TX pretreatments elicited a decrease in the rate of IMP metabolism as well as in bile production, observations commensurate with the decrease in biliary excretion. Biliary excretion of exogenously provided, readily excretable metabolites of IMP was decreased by pre-exposure to HCB as well as to DDT or TX. In the light of these observations an alternative mechanism for HCB-induced modification of biliary excretion has been proposed. This mechanism assumes the existence of a ‘synthetic’ and a ‘post-synthetic’ pool of metabolites, the biliary removal of metabolites from each of these pools being subject to modification by HCB. An enhancement of the biliary excretion of IMP metabolites from the ‘synthetic’ pool and impairment of removal from the ‘post-synthetic’ pool would be consistent with the above results.
Exploring temporal consistency for video analysis and retrieval

Temporal consistency is ubiquitous in video data, where temporally adjacent video shots usually share similar visual and semantic content.This paper presents a thorough study of temporal consistency defined with respect to semantic concepts and query topics using quantitative measures,and discusses its implications to video analysis and retrieval tasks. We further show that,in interactive settings, using temporal consistency leads to considerable improvement on the performance of semantic concept detection and retrieval of video data.Speci fically,an active learning method with temporal sampling strategy is proposed for building classifiers of semantic concepts,and a temporal reranking method is proposed for improving the efficiency of interactive video search.Both methods outperform existing methods by considerable margins on the TRECVID dataset.
The ethics of PAS: Morally relevant relationships between personal assistance services and physician-assisted suicide

Although personal assistance services would appear to have no direct connection to the national debate over legalization of physician-assisted suicide, arguments relating to personal assistance have been raised in the debate. Independent living opponents of a right to assisted suicide contend that people with disabilities who do not have access to the basic personal assistance services they need are inherently oppressed, and a society that provides a right to assisted suicide is essentially an accomplice in coercing such individuals to end their lives. Independent living proponents of the right argue that people with disabilities should have control over the assistance they need to achieve all their goals, and access to desired assistance in seeking death may allow some to decide to forgo or postpone what would otherwise be a desperate act. Both sides would agree that personal assistance services are extremely important to people with disabilities, and that universal access to such services will eliminate a major area of contention in the right-to-die debate in the United States.
A Detailed Finite-Element Approach for Performance Assessment of Corroded Reinforced Concrete Beams

Structural behavior of reinforced concrete beams with corroded reinforcement is studied in this paper. The degrading effects of corrosion on the structural response of reinforced concrete beams has been simulated considering factors such as the reduction of cross-sectional area of steel, change in steel and concrete material properties and bond deterioration. A three-dimensional, finite element model, which is capable of considering the nonlinearity in material and geometric properties, is proposed to investigate the structural performance of reinforced concrete beams with different reinforcement ratios and arrangements under varying corrosion levels. Nonlinear relationship for the bond-slip deterioration as a function of corrosion level has been developed and implemented into the finite element model. At the final stage, the results have been verified with the available experimental data.
Use of social media in health promotion: Purposes, key performance indicators, and evaluation metrics

Despite the expanding use of social media, little has been published about its appropriate role in health promotion, and even less has been written about evaluation. The purpose of this article is threefold: (a) outline purposes for social media in health promotion, (b) identify potential key performance indicators associated with these purposes, and (c) propose evaluation metrics for social media related to the key performance indicators. Process evaluation is presented in this article as an overarching evaluation strategy for social media.
Helping teachers adopt a “Less is more” model

Was the project successful in assisting teachers to reform their biology teaching? The answer appears to be a qualifiedyes. Although teachers changed how they taught biology, they did not necessarily adopt the model as originally conceived by the project. Teachers used materials they developed in ways that increased student involvement in learning and decreased direct teacher instruction. Teachers taught primarily from the units they developed, and they borrowed instructional ideas and lessons from other units which fit their instructional style and curriculum. Teachers did not, however, adopt complete instructional units developed by other teachers for use in their classroom.
Impact Assessment of Wind Generation on the Operations of a Power System

The impact of intermittent wind generation on the operations of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) power system is investigated. The operations of the TVA power system are outlined, and the hypothetical reconfiguration of the TVA transmission system to accommodate wind generation is described. Simulations and analyses of wind generation impacts on unit commitment, unit predispatch, and automatic control of generation are also presented.
Effects of nicotine on levels of acetylcholine and biogenic amines in rat cortex

Transcortical dialysis was employed to investigate the effects of systemic nicotine (3.6 μmol/kg, sc) administration on cortical extracellular levels of acetylcholine (ACh), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and serotonin (5-HT). Systemic administration of [–]-nicotine produced a 106% increase of cortical ACh release over basal levels that persisted for approximately 2 h. Concurrently, NE levels were increased 86% over basal values for 60 min. The effects appear to be stereoselective, as systemic injections of [+]-nicotine significantly increased cortical ACh levels only 48% over basal levels for 30 min, and NE levels in the dialysate only 43% over control levels for 60 min. No significant changes of basal dopamine (DA) or serotonin (5-HT) levels were observed, although DA did appear to increase in response to systemic nicotine. In addition, striatal total endogenous ACh increased significantly over control levels 15 min after [–]-nicotine administration (3.6 μmol/kg, sc), and then significantly declined after 3 h, suggesting that nicotine may influence synthesis as well as release. Analysis of total ACh levels in cortical tissue revealed a similar trend. At the dose utilized in this study, no changes in the cortical electroencephalogram (EEG) were observed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Glucocorticoids Stimulate Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Gene Expression in Cultured Hypothalamic Neurons

Although there is much evidence indicating that glucocorticoids (GC) inhibit the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in both rat and man in vivo, there have been no previous studies on the direct effect of GC on hypothalamic TRH neurons in vitro. In this laboratory, we developed fetal rat (day 17) diencephalic neuronal cultures in the presence of 5'-bromo-2-deoxyuridine, a cell-differentiating agent that stimulates TRH gene expression. In 12 separate experiments, dexamethasone (Dex) induced a 2.2-fold increase in TRH content vs. the control value (P < 0.01). Dex (10(-8)M) enhanced TRH messenger RNA (mRNA) 1.6-fold (n = 75 wells; P < 0.01) by nonisotopic in situ hybridization. On Northern blot analysis using a 32P-labeled complementary RNA probe, TRH mRNA was enhanced 3-fold (n = 4; P < 0.01). Nuclear run-on analysis revealed that Dex enhanced transcription 7.7 fold (n = 3; P < 0.01). We conclude that 1) Dex stimulates the expression of TRH peptide and TRH mRNA in cultured hypothalamic neurons; 2) the incr...
Network coding via skew polynomials

In 2003 it was proven independently by Kotter and Merdard, and Li et al. that linear network coding over a suitable finite field can be used to achieve the capacity of multicast networks. After this result, networks were connected to matroids. In 2007 Dougherty et al. showed how matroids can be deployed to construct matroidal networks. Gadouleau and Goupil in 2011 proved the achievability of the capacity of a multicast network by means of matroids instead of linear spaces. As a consequence of this result together with the fact that matroids can be percieved as a generalization of linear spaces, one can obtain an increase in the size of the codebooks used for communication. The ring of skew polynomials is a non commutative generalization of the classic univariate polynomial ring. The multiplication of the former obeys a non commutative multiplication rule between the variable and a scalar defined by an automorphism of the underlined field and a derivation map. The ring maintains the structure of a right Euclidean ring without zero divisors. At this point, one obtains a natural evaluation map for skew polynomials as the remainder of the right division by a monomial. It can be proven that the set of the zero locus of all of the skew polynomials using the aforementioned evaluation map, forms a matroid. Focusing on the case of skew polynomial rings over finite fields with trivial derivation map, it is possible to characterize the flats of this matroid and their sets of generators using minimal skew polynomials. We are going to explore this matroid structure and connect it to multicast communication. This is a joint work with Siyu Liu and Frank R. Kschischang.
Investigation of adhesion during operation of MEMS cantilevers

Reliability of MEMS is a major concern for the commercialization of laboratory prototypes. Surface adhesion or stiction strongly affects the reliability of MEMS devices which have sliding or rubbing contacts. Determination of adhesion energies, adhesion forces, and pull-off forces are important for predicting stiction in MEMS. We present an experimental technique to estimate the pull-off forces for MEMS surfaces. Polysilicon microcantilevers were electrostatically actuated using gradually varying voltages. A hysteresis was observed in the voltage at which the tip of the cantilevers made and broke contact with the substrate. Pull-off forces were estimated from the hysteresis in the voltage values using a strain energy formulation. The pull-off forces for microcantilevers dried out of isopropyl alcohol and repaired using laser irradiation were estimated to be in the range of 45-121 nN. The role of adhered length, variable external loading, and actuating signal on in-use stiction is also investigated. From our experimental results, we demonstrate an empirical approach to predict in-use stiction of microcantilevers.
Field Dependency: Cognitive Style or Perceptual Skill?:

This study was designed to determine which information-processing elements are embodied in the Group Embedded Figures Tests as well as other representative measures of cognitive style. An alpha factoring method indicated the presence of two major factors. It was concluded that field-dependency primarily represents individual variation in perceptual preference patterns rather than the traditionally defined behavioral styles.
Sonochemical oxidation of carbon disulfide in aqueous solutions: Reaction kinetics and pathways

The kinetics of sonochemical oxidation of CS2 and the effects of process parameters (e.g., concentration, pH, temperature, ultrasonic intensity, irradiation medium, dissolved gas and time, etc.) on the degradation rates and product distributions were studied in a batch reactor at 20 kHz. Sonochemical oxidation was found to decrease with an increase in the solution temperature, and the reaction rate order was dependent on the temperature (T) range studied: zero-order at T ≥ 10 °C [with rate constants of (0.66−3.68) × 10-5 M min-1] and first-order at T ≤ 5 °C (with rate constants of 0.037−0.266 min-1). From Arrhenius law, k = A exp(EA/RT), the activation energy, EA, for the zero-order degradation of CS2 in the presence of air as the irradiating gas was found to be 7.2 kJ/mol at the higher temperatures compared to 28.7 kJ/mol for the first-order degradation at the lower temperatures. Sonochemical oxidation pathways leading to sulfate formation are discussed. The results of this study suggest that the ultras...
Dynamic density field measurements of an explosively driven α → ϵ phase transition in iron

We provide a unique set of observations of the behavior of the α→ϵ phase transition under a complex axially symmetric loading path created by sweeping a detonation wave along the end surface of a cylindrical sample. The primary data sets are the measured mass density distributions acquired at 5 independent times during the sweep of the detonation along the surface. Shocked regions and boundaries are measured, as well as regions and boundaries of elevated density (presumed to be the ϵ−phase iron). The formation and dynamics of these regions were captured and are available for comparisons to material descriptions. We also applied 16 Photon Doppler Velocimetry probes to capture the free surface velocity along a discrete set of radially distributed points in order to compare and correlate the density measurements with previous shock wave studies. The velocimetry data are in nearly exact agreement with previous shock wave studies of the α→ϵ phase transition, the density distributions, while generally in agreem...
Quark spin content of vector mesons.

${\ensuremath{\eta}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ dominance of form factors of the topological QCD current leads to an expression for the portion of the spin of the light vector mesons that is due to quarks. Vector dominance of the radiative decays of the ${\ensuremath{\eta}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ is used to estimate the couplings of this meson to the vector ones. This results in the conclusion that only around 30% of the spin of these particles is due to quarks. Possible interpretations of this result are presented.
Electroantennogram responses of a parasitic wasp, microplitis croceipes, to host-related volatile and anthropogenic compounds

The parasitic wasp Microplitis croceipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) showed its own characteristic electroantennogram (EAG) response profiles to 13 host-related (cis-3-hexenol, a-pinene (R)-(+)-limonene (S)-(-)- limonene, trans-b-ocimene (6)-linalool, (-)-trans-caryophyllene, a-humulene, nerolidol, trans-nerolidol, cis-nerolidol, methyl jasmonate and indole) and four anthropogenic (2-diisopropylaminoethanol, 2,2¢-thiodiethanol, 2-methyl-5- nitroaniline and cyclohexanone) volatile compounds. These profiles were similar between males and females except for 2-diisopropylaminoethanol, which elicited significantly larger EAG responses in males. Among the compounds tested, cis-3-hexenol, linalool and cyclohexanone elicited the largest EAG responses. EAG responses were not influenced by the age of wasps between 1 and 13 days after emergence. EAG responses were dose-dependent, and highly EAG-active compounds elicited significant EAG responses with less than 10 mg of the compounds at source. Quantification of compounds released from an odour cartridge indicates that release rate is highly dependent on the chemical nature of stimuli, showing up to 10 000-fold differences in the amount released between different compounds when the same amount was loaded in the odour cartridge. Wasps having undergone a behavioural training regime to be attracted to either cyclohexanone or methyl jasmonate did not show any differences in EAG responses from those of untrained wasps.
Stimulation of bone resorption and inhibition of bone formation in vitro by human tumour necrosis factors

When leukocytes are exposed to mitogens or antigens in vitro, they release bone-resorbing activity into the culture supernatants which can be detected by bioassay. Like many lymphocyte-monocyte products, this activity has been difficult to purify because of its low abundance in activated leukocyte cultures and the unwieldy bioassay required to detect biological activity. Partially purified preparations of this activity inhibit bone collagen synthesis in organ cultures of fetal rat calvariae. Recent data suggest that both activated lymphocytes and monocytes release factors which could contribute to this activity. Recently, monocyte-derived tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and lymphocyte-derived tumour necrosis factor beta (TNF-beta) (previously called lymphotoxin), two multifunctional cytokines which have similar cytotoxic effects on neoplastic cell lines, have been purified to homogeneity and their complementary DNAs cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. As both of these cytokines are likely to be present in activated leukocyte supernatants, we tested purified recombinant preparations for their effects on bone resorption and bone collagen synthesis in vitro, and report here that both cytokines at 10(-7) to 10(-9) M caused osteoclastic bone resorption and inhibited bone collagen synthesis. These data suggest that at least part of the bone-resorbing activity present in activated leukocyte culture supernatants may be due to these cytokines.
Verification of literature‐derived SARs for skin irritation and corrosion

Structural features known to irritate and corrode skin and physical properties associated with skin absorption were used to evaluate the irritation and corrosion potential of chemicals. Chemicals that irritate and corrode skin include organic acids and bases, aldehydes, halogenated esters, and chemicals with reactive groups. The activity of the reactive group decreases when sterically hindered by adjacent substituents or when electrons of the reactive group interfere with electrons of adjacent substituents. The structural features presented are a good basis for the calculation of SAR prediction rules. Also quantitative and qualitative physical conditions are given to predict skin irritation and skin corrosion.
Redox-Active Antibiotics Control Gene Expression and Community Behavior in Divergent Bacteria

It is thought that bacteria excrete redox-active pigments as antibiotics to inhibit competitors. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the endogenous antibiotic pyocyanin activates SoxR, a transcription factor conserved in Proteo- and Actinobacteria. In Escherichia coli, SoxR regulates the superoxide stress response. Bioinformatic analysis coupled with gene expression studies in P. aeruginosa and Streptomyces coelicolor revealed that the majority of SoxR regulons in bacteria lack the genes required for stress responses, despite the fact that many of these organisms still produce redox-active small molecules, which indicates that redox-active pigments play a role independent of oxidative stress. These compounds had profound effects on the structural organization of colony biofilms in both P. aeruginosa and S. coelicolor, which shows that "secondary metabolites" play important conserved roles in gene expression and development.
Transurethral collagen injections for male intrinsic sphincter deficiency: The University of Texas-Houston experience

ABSTRACTPurpose: Injectable agents are used to increase urethral coaptation for the treatment of intrinsic sphincter deficiency. We evaluated the long-term results and complications of transurethral collagen injections in males.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the charts of 322 men (mean age 67.2 years, range 40 to 91) with intrinsic sphincter deficiency after therapy for prostate carcinoma (307) or benign prostatic hyperplasia (15) who received transurethral collagen injections. The analysis included types and combinations of treatment for prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia, pre-procedure voiding symptoms, total collagen received, maximal percentage improvement and durability of effect.Results: The mean length of followup was 40.1 (±13.2) months. Overall, the mean number of injections was 4.37 (±2.09). Mean percent improvement after a series of injections was 44.59 (±38.26). Mean pad use before and after injection was statistically different (5.15 vs 2.98, p=0.0001). Mean duration of respo...
Viability of Interbasin, Interstate/International Transfers of Water

ABSTRACT The need for agricultural production provides the basic need for water resource development for agricultural irrigation in arid or semi-arid areas. Often water for urban and industrial uses in such areas is only a small proportion of total water use. If no fundamental shortage of food and fiber is foreseen and if water has already been fully appropriated for beneficial uses, then municipal and industrial needs for water can be met most efficiently by transfers out of agricultural use. Thus, no large scale inter-basin, interstate and international transfers of water are justifiable. This general thesis is examined, first, with respect to the United States where no fundamental shortage of food and fiber supplies is present or foreseen and, second, with respect to Central and North China. Food and fiber supplies in the People's Republic of China (PRC) are now inadequate and are expected to remain so in the future. In the PRC a major program of water resource development involving inter-basin, inter-...
Why people prefer pleasure to pain

Why do we dislike and wish to avoid pain and suffering? Why do we prefer pleasure to pain? There are three answers to be considered. (1) We have a reason for wanting pleasure and for shunning pain. Our normal attitudes are guided by some rational insight about the nature of pleasurable and painful experiences. (2) Pleasure and pain do not in themselves provide any reason for wanting the one and shunning the other. It is just a brute contingent fact about our constitution that we are disposed to want and seek pleasure and dislike and avoid pain. (3) That pleasure is wanted and pain unwanted is a simple tautology. The attitudes towards the experience enter into the definition of 'pleasure' and 'pain'. A 'pleasant' experience is defined as a wanted experience and a 'painful' experience is defined as an unwanted one. We will be discussing philosophers who have held the second and third positions. I defend the first position.
Practical Design Considerations or Inverter Drives

Several design features incorporated into a line of pulse-width modulated inverter drives are described. They include voltage and current protective circuits that provide SCR protection without fuses. A modified McMurray communication circuit is covered. Design considerations for high-voltage (460 V) inverters and paralleling of inverters are discussed. Finally, a modular packaging system providing good maintainability is described.
Perception of change in freshwater in remote resource-dependent Arctic communities

Abstract This paper provides empirical evidence to support existing anecdotal studies regarding the mechanisms by which human communities become vulnerable to rapid changes in freshwater resources on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. We interviewed adults, stratified by age, sex, and extended family, in Inupiat communities on the Seward Peninsula. Using categorical indices as part of a semi-structured interview we elicited a respondent's perception of the availability and quality of freshwater resources in their community as well as their perception of change in the availability and quality of freshwater during the period of their lifetime in that community. Significant relationships were observed between age groups for the perception of change in the availability of the local water source and the perception of change in its quality—older generations perceiving more change than younger age groups. These perceptions of change were examined with respect to recent historic changes in precipitation and temperature on the Seward Peninsula. These findings suggest that individual perceptions are instrumental in determining whether or not change merits response. The findings also provide evidence that oral traditional knowledge systems have shifted from continuous to discontinuous transmission, distancing the users from traditional resources. We discuss the role of collective knowledge, through the transmission of knowledge from elders to subsequent generations, in aiding the development of a community's ability to note and respond to changes in critical natural resources.
Development of Sustainable Indicators for Products and Processes

Sustainable development is only a lofty goal as long as there is a lack of standard metrics and benchmark values to measure the performance of sustainable development. Measurement of sustainability has been articulated by researchers in several ways, but most definitions are based on the so-called Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach i.e., with Economic (Profit), Environment (Planet) and Social welfare (People) objectives. Individual measures were proposed by many researchers for these dimensions of sustainability using various indicators. The focus of this paper is on manufacturing processes and products, as opposed to services and organizational entities, it is meant to test the hypothesis that there is a concise subset to the wide range of indicators so far identified in the literature which could be applied to manufacturing processes and products. We wanted to address three issues: 1- What kinds of indicators can be used; 2- How often have they been used or, in other words, how relevant are they? and 3- Are there other indicators which may have been missing? Our primary approach was to look for real case studies in which the authors clearly intended their products to be officially declared as sustainable. All together we found 106 case studies which fit the purpose of our study in the Environmental Product Declaration (E.P.D., http://www.environdec.com). EPD is an organization which provides relevant, verified and comparable information to meet various customers and market needs. The categories of products in EPD range from food and beverage products to textile, wood, chemical, non-metallic mineral, basic metals, fabricated metal, machinery and equipment, and office machinery and computers. Each case study in EPD was carefully assessed with regards to the three issues indicated above, and the final result was the formation of a new set of indicators which will be more suitable for manufacturing processes and products. This new set of indicators, perhaps better described as a filtered set of indicators, was used in a case study to compare the sustainability of a Cathode Ray Tube (C.R.T.) and a Liquid Crystal Display (L.C.D.) desktop computer. Both of these products have been extensively documented by Sony Corporation and the EPA. They provided substantial quantitative data which enhance the validity of our own study. One other tangible result of our study was the determination of a “Sustainable Threshold“ for various products based on the 106 case studies indicated above. We wanted to submit the proposition that an aggregated score determined as indicated in our work can serve as a reliable measure for sustainability.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Late Prehistoric Interaction Spheres in the Mojave Desert

The delineation of ethnic units using archaeological data is always difficult. Material culture, settlement, and trade data are used to define three interaction spheres in the Mojave Desert. These units are not directly equated to ethnic groups but their boundaries roughly follow those of the ethnographic groups claiming the region. The results suggest that there may be definable archaeological differences between linguistic groups in the Mojave Desert and that such groups can be traced in antiquity.
Investigation of the Growth and Chemical Stability of Composite Metal Gates on Ultra-thin Gate Dielectrics

The growth of reactively sputtered TiNx and WNx compound metal films on ultra-thin, remote plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited SiO2 and SiO2/Si3N4 (ON) stack dielectrics is investigated from initial interface formation to bulk film by interrupted growth and on-line Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Growth of both metals occurs uniformly without a seed layer on both dielectrics. The chemical stability of these metal/dielectric interfaces is studied by sequential on-line rapid thermal annealing treatments up to 850 °C and AES. TiNx reacts with SiO2 above 850 °C but the addition of a Si3N4 dielectric top-layer makes the TiNx/ON interface chemically stable at 850 °C. WNx/SiO2 and WNx/Si3N4 interfaces are both stable below 650 °C. MOS capacitors using TiNx or WNx metal gates and thermal SiO2 gate dielectrics exhibit excellent capacitance-voltage characteristics. The work function for TiNx lies near midgap in Si while for WNx it lies closer to the valence band.
A Chemical Inhibitor Reveals the Role of Raf Kinase Inhibitor Protein in Cell Migration

Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) is a modulator of cell signaling that functions as an endogenous inhibitor of multiple kinases. We demonstrate here a positive role for RKIP in the regulation of cell locomotion. We discovered that RKIP is the relevant cellular target of locostatin, a cell migration inhibitor. Locostatin abrogates RKIP's ability to bind and inhibit Raf-1 kinase, and it acts by disrupting a protein-protein interaction, an uncommon mode of action for a small molecule. Small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of RKIP expression also reduces cell migration rate. Overexpression of RKIP converts epithelial cells to a highly migratory fibroblast-like phenotype, with dramatic reduction in the sensitivity of cells to locostatin. RKIP is therefore the compound's valid target and a key regulator of cell motility.
The effects of acute and subchronic treatment with fluoxetine and citalopram on stimulus control by DOM

Abstract Previous reports from our laboratory have provided evidence that acute, i.e., concurrent, treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) augments the stimulus effects of indoleamine and phenethylamine hallucinogens in the rat. In the present investigation, the acute effects of fluoxetine and citalopram on stimulus control induced by (−)-2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) were compared with those following subchronic, i.e., 10-day treatment with the SSRIs. Stimulus control was established using DOM (0.56 mg/kg; 75-min pretreatment time) in a group of 11 rats. A two-lever, fixed ratio 10, positively reinforced task with saline controls was employed. The effects of a range of doses of DOM when given alone were compared with those following both acute and subchronic pretreatment with fluoxetine and citalopram in combination with DOM. It was found that acute administration of fluoxetine and citalopram potentiated the stimulus effects of DOM. Furthermore, it was observed that the degree of potentiation was not diminished by treatment with either fluoxetine or citalopram for a period of 10 days. It is concluded that whatever adaptive changes may take place in response to a 10-day period of treatment with either citalopram or fluoxetine, these adaptations are independent of the mechanisms responsible for the potentiation of the stimulus effects of DOM by the SSRIs.
Multiscale asymptotic homogenization for multiphysics problems with multiple spatial and temporal scales: a coupled thermo-viscoelastic example problem

Abstract A systematic approach for analyzing multiple physical processes interacting at multiple spatial and temporal scales is developed. The proposed computational framework is applied to the coupled thermo-viscoelastic composites with microscopically periodic mechanical and thermal properties. A rapidly varying spatial and temporal scales are introduced to capture the effects of spatial and temporal fluctuations induced by spatial heterogeneities at diverse time scales. The initial-boundary value problem on the macroscale is derived by using the double scale asymptotic analysis in space and time. It is shown that an extra history-dependent long-term memory term introduced by the homogenization process in space and time can be obtained by solving a first order initial value problem. This is in contrast to the long-term memory term obtained by the classical spatial homogenization, which requires solutions of the initial-boundary value problem in the unit cell domain. The validity limits of the proposed spatial–temporal homogenized solution are established. Numerical example shows a good agreement between the proposed model and the reference solution obtained by using a finite element mesh with element size comparable to that of material heterogeneity.
Androgen effects on women's gendered behaviour

Test of the applicability of the hormonal theory of sex-dimorphic behaviour to adult women is achieved in this study by assembling measures of prenatal and adult androgen exposure, and a broad measure of gendered behaviour on a sample of white women aged 27–30. Androgen exposure in the second (and no other) trimester of fetal life, combined with and in interaction with adult androgens, masculinises women's behaviour and explains a substantial proportion of the within-sex variance in women's adult gendered behaviour.
Isolated congenital maxillomandibular synechiae.

Abstract Introduction Congenital maxillomandibular syngnathia, or fusion of the jaws, is a rare condition that has a broad spectrum of presentations. The restricted mouth opening can lead to issues with feeding, swallowing, and respiration resulting in failure to thrive and temporomandibular joint ankylosis. Early recognition and treatment is necessary for proper growth and development. Case report We report a 1-day-old male with isolated bilateral soft tissue alveolar fibrous bands. He presented with difficulty feeding secondary to trismus. No bony or muscular involvement in the synechiae was noted and the remainder of the physical exam was unremarkable. The bilateral alveolar synechiae were divided under local anesthesia using surgical scissors. The patient immediately showed improvement in mouth opening and had resolution of his feeding problems. He is now gaining weight and developing appropriately. Discussion The accompanying review of the literature demonstrates only 11 cases worldwide of isolated maxillomandibular fusion. Depending upon the composition of the synechiae, simple surgical division under local anesthesia can be curative.
Interactions of lindane, toxaphene and cyclodienes with brain-specific t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate receptor

Abstract Three major classes of chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides, i . e ., the lindane/hexachlorocyclohexane, toxaphene and aldrin/dieldrin types, are potent, competitive, and stereospecific inhibitors of t -butylbicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS) binding to brain-specific sites, thereby indicating an action at the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-regulated chloride channel. The most inhibitory and toxic of four isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane is lindane and of >188 components of toxaphene is 2,2,5- endo , 6- exo , 8,9,9,10-octachlorobornane. 12-Ketoendrin (IC50 = 36 nM) is twice as active as the most potent previously known inhibitor of TBPS binding and it is also the most inhibitory and toxic of 22 cyclodienes examined. Within each of these three series of polychlorocycloalkanes the mammalian toxicity is closely related to the potency for inhibition of TBPS binding. A modified receptor assay incorporating liver microsomes and reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate compensates in part for oxidative detoxification and bioactivation. Specific TBPS binding is reduced in a dose-dependent manner in dieldrin-poisoned rats. DDT, mirex and kepone are not inhibitors of TBPS binding, even at 10 μM.
Transmission and scanning electron microscopy studies of deformation at erosion impact sites

Abstract Scanning and transmission electron microscopy methods have been employed to study topographic features and subsurface damage associated with erosive-particle impact craters in annealed 310 stainless steel surfaces. Angular Al2O3 and spherical glass particles approximately 50 μm in diameter were projected at a velocity of 59 m s−1 to impact the surface at attack angles of 90° and 20°. Under these conditions, material was found to be displaced but not removed from the surface at isolated impact sites. A comparison was made with damage produced at diamond pyramid hardness indentations. Substantial differences were not observed. In general, a high dislocation density zone a few microns wide was found to surround both impact craters and hardness indentations. The width of this zone varied according to the size and shape of the crater and the direction of particle motion. Deformation twinning occurred at some impact sites. The plastic strain associated with impact craters in 310 stainless steel and copper was also determined by a method that is based on an analysis of selected-area electron channelling patterns.
Effect of char yield and specific toxicants on toxicity of pyrolysis gases from synthetic polymers

The char yields of various synthetic polymers associated with lethal doses of their pyrolysis gases to laboratory animals were investigated. The results appear compatible with the hypothesis that hydrogen cyanide and carbonyl sulfide are evolved in the pyrolysis gases from the high-char-yield polymers and are an order of magnitude more toxic than carbon monoxide.
Effect of monensin on postpartum interval to first estrus and serum LH response to 0, 1, 2 or 4 mg estradiol-17β at 21 days postpartum

Abstract A 2×4 factorial design was used to evaluate the effects of monensin (0 vs 200 mg) and estradiol-17β (E2) dose (0, 1, 2 vs 4 mg) on postpartum interval (PPI) to first estrus and on serum LH release at 21 days postpartum. Forty-eight spring calving Brangus cows were randomly stratified by calving date and sex of calf into two feeding groups within 24 hr of calving. Each group received 2.7 kg/head/day of a milo:cottonseed meal (4:1) mixture containing either 0 or 200 mg monensin. Coastal bermuda grass hay and water were available ad libitum . During the period of E2 treatment and bi-hourly blood sampling, suckling was controlled at 6-hr intervals. Mean cow weight and body condition score within cell changed less than 23 kg and 0.5 points, respectively, from day 1 to day 21 postpartum and were unaffected by treatment (P>0.10). PPI was reduced (P 0.10) on LH variables at 0, 1 or 2 mg E2.
The stabilization of extracts of cabbage leaf proteins by polyhydroxy compounds for electrophoretic and immunological studies.

Abstract Addition of polyhydroxy compounds, such as sugars, sugar alcohols, or glycerol, prevented precipitation and hydrolysis of cabbage-leaf proteins during storage at low temperatures. These compounds increased the number of protein components detectable by starch electrophoresis and facilitated immunochemical studies. Evidence that polyhydroxy compounds prevent or reverse aggregation of proteins is presented.
Iodine speciation studies in commercially available seaweed by coupling different chromatographic techniques with UV and ICP-MS detection

Speciation of iodine in commercially available commonly consumed seaweed samples was performed using a multidimensional chromatographic approach coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for element specific detection. Analysis of alkaline extract (0.1 mol l−1 NaOH) by size-exclusion chromatography coupled to ICP-MS (0.03 mol l−1 Tris-HCl, pH 8.0) indicated the association of iodine with both high as well as low molecular weight fractions in Wakame, while in case of Kombu, only low molecular weight iodine species were found. Likely association of iodine with protein as well as polyphenolic species was indicated in the case of Wakame. Anion-exchange chromatography coupled to ICP-MS (0.005 mol l−1 NaOH) confirmed that the most predominant inorganic iodine species present in both type of seaweeds is iodide. Protein bound iodinated species were hydrolyzed by enzymatic digestion using Proteinase K. Analysis of the hydrolysate using reversed-phase HPLC-ICP-MS (0.01 mol l−1 Tris-HCl pH 7.3 ∶ 0.01 mol l−1 Tris-HCl pH 7.3 and 50% MeOH) revealed the presence of monoiodotyrosine and di-iodotyrosine in Wakame, which was later identified by matching the chromatographic retention time with the retention time of commercially available standards.
Uptake of ferritin by the mosaic egg surface of Brachydanio.

The internalization of membrane from the mosaic egg surface of the zebra fish, Brachydanio, was investigated using anionic ferritin and transmission electron microscopy. The cortical cytoplasm of the 5-min activated egg showed numerous membrane-bound vesicles not found in the unactivated egg cortex. Two types of vesicles were identified: uncoated (smooth) and coated. Coated vesicles measured about 0.7 to 0.9 μm in diameter. Coated pits, considered to be precursors to the formation of coated vesicles, were frequently observed at the base of membrane-lined cortical granule crypts. Anionic ferritin was localized over coated pits and in both smooth and coated vesicles. The absence of any morphological evidence of a surface origin for smooth vesicles suggested these ferritin-labeled organelles might be formed by coated vesicle fusion. Our results indicate that the plasma membrane redundancy created by the exocytosis of cortical granules in Brachydanio appears to be resolved in part by the internalization of membrane through endocytosis.
Tablet Interaction Accuracy and Precision Seated vs. Walking

Smart phone and tablet mobile devices have changed the way individuals interact with computers. Users can complete tasks efficiently “on the go” using a mobile device’s touch screen; therefore, it is important to investigate touch interaction as it pertains to a mobile (i.e., walking) user. A user evaluation was conducted using a tablet to present a target selection task within a map-based interface. Participants interacted with the mobile device while seated or while walking in an uncontrolled indoor environment. As expected, the mobile target selection error is significantly higher for the mobile users; thus requiring the targets’ effective widths to be significantly larger for mobile users. A primary contribution of this paper is a recommended target width model for mobile users. A further contribution finds that target selection offsets with tablets are consistent with those of mobile phones, in spite of differences in form factor and finger used.
Surface roughness effects on the heat transfer due to turbulent round jet impingement on convex hemispherical surfaces

Abstract The effect of surface roughness on the convective heat transfer from a heated convex hemispherical surface due to a turbulent round cold air jet impingement has been investigated numerically using the ANSYS FLUENT CFD code. Initially, the performance of a few turbulence models, namely, the RNG k–ɛ model, the realizable k–ɛ model, the standard k–ω model, and the SST k–ω model, in the prediction of the convective heat transfer for such a flow configuration, is evaluated against experimental data. Based on this evaluation, the SST k–ω model is chosen and employed to further investigate the surface roughness effect on the jet impingement heat transfer process for the above mentioned configuration. The flow and geometric parameters for this study are the jet exit Reynolds number (Re), the jet diameter (d), the diameter of the hemispherical surface (D), the distance of the impingement surface from the jet exit (L), and the equivalent average sand grain roughness height of the hemispherical surface (ks). Computations have been performed for various combinations of these parameters for a range of their values. It is observed from the results that, the local and average Nusselt number at the hemisphere surface is enhanced with increasing surface roughness height. Thus it is concluded that the impinging jet heat transfer will be augmented if roughness is added to the hemispherical surface.
Anderson testifies on Planet Earth

AGU president Don Anderson joined former astronaut Sally Ride and National Aeronautics and Space Administration official Lennard Fisk March 8 in testifying before the Senate committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The three had been asked to speak on the future of the Mission to Planet Earth, proposed both in a National Academy of Sciences report and a NASA study. Anderson was chairman of the National Academy of Science's Task Group on Earth Sciences, which prepared the report Mission to Planet Earth as part of the series Space Science in the Twenty-First Century. In his testimony, Anderson highlighted parts of the report and quoted the frontispiece “We now have the technology and the incentive to move boldly forward on a Mission to Planet Earth. We call on the nation to implement an integrated global program using both spaceborne and earth-based instrumentation for fundamental research on the origin, evolution and nature of our planet, its place in our solar system, and its interaction with living things, including mankind.”
Building an information security education program

Information and computer security is a topic that has grown significantly in popularity in the last few years. With the increased level of funding for IT security research, and the support of information assurance education through the Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP) and the Scholarship for Service (SFS) program, information assurance education is enjoying a great period of growth in the U.S. Mississippi State University has embraced these programs and is responding with a slate of new information security courses designed to prepare students to serve as security engineers in either government service or in private industry.
Voltage-dependent Block of Cardiac Inward-Rectifying Potassium Current by Monovalent Cations

The inward-rectifying K+ current (IK1) in cat ventricular myocytes, like inward-rectifying K+ currents in many other preparations, exhibited a negative slope conductance region at hyperpolarized membrane potentials that was time-dependent. This was evident as an inactivation of inward current elicited by hyperpolarizing voltage-clamp pulses resulting in a negative slope region of the steady-state current-voltage relationship at potentials negative to -140 mV. Removing extracellular Na+ prevented the development of the negative slope in this voltage region, suggesting that Na+ can block IK1 channels in a time- and voltage-dependent manner. The time and voltage dependence of Cs+-induced block of IK1 was also examined. Cs+ blocked inward current in a manner similar to that of Na+, but the former was much more potent. The fraction of current blocked by Cs+ in the presence of Na+ was reduced in a time- and voltage-dependent manner, which suggested that these blocking ions compete for a common or at least similar site of action. In the absence of Na+, inactivation of IK1 could also be induced by both Cs+ and Li+. However, Li+ was less potent than Na+ in this respect. Calculation of the voltage sensitivity of current block by each of these ions suggests that the mechanism of block by each is similar.