cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of positron emission tomography to study the dynamics of psychostimulant-induced dopamine release.

Microdialysis studies have shown that psychostimulants act through a common neurochemical mechanism of elevating synaptic dopamine content in the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system. However, little information is available regarding the dynamics of the interaction between the elevated synaptic dopamine levels induced by a psychostimulant and postsynaptic dopamine receptors. The goal of the current investigation was to determine if positron emission tomography (PET) studies using the dopamine D 2 -selective radioligand [ 18 F]4'-fluoro-clebopride ([ 18 F]FCP) could be used to measure synaptic dopamine levels. Rhesus monkeys were used because our previous studies revealed that [ 18 F]FCP has a low test/retest variability in this species. Under control conditions, [ 18 F]FCP had a high uptake and slow rate of washout from the basal ganglia, a region of brain that expresses a high density of D 2 receptors, reaching kinetic equilibrium at ∼40 min. Challenge studies, each separated by at least 1 month, were conducted by administering an intravenous dose of (-)cocaine, d-amphetamine, methylphenidate, or d-methamphetamine (1.0 mg/kg) at 40 min post-IV injection of a no-carrier-added dose of [ 18 F]FCP. In each case, the psychostimulant caused an increase in the rate of washout of [ 18 F]FCP from the basal ganglia. Methamphetamine and amphetamine had more pronounced effects on the washout kinetics of [ 18 F]FCP relative to cocaine and methylphenidate, a result that is consistent with the ability of each drug to elevate synaptic dopamine levels. Our results indicate that challenge studies with [ 18 F]FCP may be a useful technique for studying the dynamics of the interaction between psychostimulant-induced increases in synaptic dopamine and postsynaptic D 2 receptors.
Low Noise High Power Ultra-Stable SS Laser for 1550nm Wavelength Band

The authors have developed a tunable laser technology based on optical pumping of Yb and Er doped high phosphate glass (Laporta, 2001). Er doped glass is widely used for fiber amplifiers in the 1550nm wavelengths. High phosphate glass permits very high doping of Yb and Er so that small cavity length solid-state lasers can be built. Methods for tuning these lasers include rotating glass etalon and tunable Bragg fiber. We have developed a tunable laser using piezoelectric moveable mirror for mode selection and cavity tuning. The properties of these lasers are high SMSR and low RIN
DNA Damage-induced Inhibition of Securin Expression Is Mediated by p53

Tumor suppressor p53 induces the cellular response to DNA damage mainly by regulating expression of its downstream target genes. The human securin is an anaphase inhibitor, preventing premature chromosome separation through inhibition of separase activity. It is also known as the product of the human pituitary tumor-transforming gene, pttg, a proto-oncogene. Here we report that the expression of human securin is suppressed in cells treated with the DNA-damaging drugs doxorubicin and bleomycin. This suppression requires functional p53. Analysis of the human securin promoter reveals that DNA-binding sites for Sp1 and NF-Y are both required for activation of securin expression; however, only the NF-Y site is essential for the suppression by p53. Our study indicates that securin is a p53 target gene and may play a role in p53-mediated cellular response to DNA damage.
First arrival traveltime and waveform inversion of refraction data

For CDP refraction data, does first-arrival waveform tomography provide significently better results than ray-based tomography? To answer this question, both the first-arrival ray-based traveltime method and waveform inversion are tested with synthetic and field refraction data. The synthetic results show that the waveform tomograms are much more resolved than the traveltime tomogram, but at an increase of more than 2 orders of magnitude computation time. The field data results show that this method can be used to locate salt diapirs and possible low-velocity tunnels. However, the waveform tomogram appears noisier than the ray-based traveltime tomogram. We expect that future experiments with improved regularization and modeling methods in the waveform inversion will lead to tomograms with much better resolution than the ray-based tomograms. Introduction
Parameter identifications for a rotor system based on its finite element model and with varying speeds

In order to achieve prediction for vibration of rotating machinery, an accurate finite element (FE) model and an efficient parameter identification method of the rotor system are required. In this research, a test rig is used as a prototype of a rotor system to validate a novel parameter identification technique based on an FE model. Rotor shaft vibration at varying operating speeds is measured and correlated with the FE results. Firstly, the theories of the FE modelling and identification technique are introduced. Then disk unbalance parameter, stiffness and damping coefficients of the bearing supports on the test rig are identified. The calculated responses of the FE model with identified parameters are studied in comparison with the experimental results.
Consumer driven innovation in website design: structured experimentation in landing page optimisation

The issue of identifying consumer preferences is critically important for innovation in different stages of product development and marketing. Experimentation with consumers is one of the most powerful approaches to obtain actionable consumer insights. This paper explores different approaches to optimising websites based on consumer preferences. It introduces an advanced form of landing page optimisation, multivariate landing page optimisation, and its variations. The approach tests a large number of experimentally designed web pages prototypes with consumers and finds the optimal solutions on an aggregated, segmented and individual basis. Consumer research should be a central part in planning an innovation process to optimise website experiences. Structured experimentation allows for more reliable detection of consumer preferences, particularly in web page design. The steps of fitting it into the web design are shown.
Repression and De-repression of Enzyme Synthesis as a Possible Explanation of some Aspects of Drug Action

ACCORDING to recent theories, the induction of enzyme synthesis occurs as a result of the displacement from an enzyme-forming system of a natural repressor1. For example, the synthesis of alkaline phosphatase by E. coli is normally repressed by inorganic phosphate2. De-repression occurs when there is only a small amount of inorganic phosphate in the medium. The repressor theory is in good agreement with most of the observations which have been made on enzyme-inducing systems. The inducer need not be a substrate for the enzyme which is formed, nor need it serve as a template for the formation of new enzymes1.
Toward a framework for understanding Black male athlete social responsibility (BMASR) in big-time American sports.

Stemming from their commodification as a means for growing sport into a commercial entity, multi-million dollar professional contracts with teams and sponsors, and sometimes, socially (un)acceptable acts, current Black male professional athletes in big-time American sports face not only the pressure to perform athletically, but also to conduct themselves in a socially responsible manner. Given the above mentioned factors, this paper sees today’s Black male athlete as a business, therefore necessitating them to engage in socially responsible acts as a means of management, just as scholars have encouraged CSR initiatives, among many strategies, to manage a corporation. Answering the call of sport management scholars to further analyse and expand CSR principles in sport, the purpose of this paper is to illuminate on Black male athlete social responsibility (BMASR) as a management strategy with the intention of moving toward a framework for understanding this concept.
Flexible Launch Vehicle Stability Analysis Using Steady and Unsteady Computational Fluid Dynamics

LaunchvehiclesfrequentlyexperienceareducedstabilitymarginthroughthetransonicMachnumberrange.This reduced stability margin can be caused by the aerodynamic undamping one of the lower-frequency flexible or rigidbodymodes. Analysis of the behavior of a flexible vehicle is routinely performed with quasi-steady aerodynamic line loads derived from steady rigid aerodynamics. However, a quasi-steady aeroelastic stability analysis can be unconservative at the critical Mach numbers, where experiment or unsteady computational aeroelastic analysis showareducedorevennegativeaerodynamicdamping.Amethodofenhancingthequasi-steadyaeroelasticstability analysis of a launch vehicle with unsteady aerodynamics is developed that uses unsteady computational fluid dynamics to compute the response of selected lower-frequency modes. The response is contained in a time history of the vehicle line loads. A proper orthogonal decomposition of the unsteady aerodynamic line-load response is used to reduce the scale of data volume and system identification is used to derive the aerodynamic stiffness, damping, and mass matrices. The results are compared with the damping and frequency computed from unsteady computational aeroelasticity and from a quasi-steady analysis. The results show that incorporating unsteady aerodynamics in this way brings the enhanced quasi-steady aeroelastic stability analysis into close agreement with the unsteady computational aeroelastic results.
Liquid counterdiffusion of selected aromatic and naphthenic hydrocarbons in type Y zeolites

Rates of Counterdiffusion are markeldy affected not only by the critical molecular diameter of the diffusing molecules but also by other physicochemical properties of the liquids and the nature of the cation in the zeolite. The effective diffusivity in NaY or HY under counterdiffusion conditions is less by a factor of 10−1 to 10−3 than that for unidirectional diffusion into an initially empty pore structure.
Response of adult human volunteers to oral administration of bovine and bovine/human reassortant rotaviruses.

Abstract Small groups of adult volunteers, in sequence, were inoculated orally with inactivated purified bovine rotavirus of strain NCDV, with live NCDV purified or unpurified and with two different NCDV × human rotavirus reassortant viruses. One of five volunteers given 200 μg of ultraviolet-inactivated NCDV developed a virus-neutralizing (VN) and a binding antibody response detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Four of 10 volunteers given from 1 × 10 6 to 1 × 10 8 p.f.u. of live NCDV developed VN antibody, but nine of 10 responded when ELISA, HAI and radioimmuno-precipitation tests for serum antibody were also considered. Two different NCDV × human serotype I Wa strain virus reassortants, each containing Wa gene segment 9 and the serotype 1 neutralization phenotype, were administered orally in doses up to 10 6 p.f.u. The reassortants were relatively ineffective in eliciting a serum antibody response at the dosage level employed.
The Understanding of Word Definitions in School-Age Children

This study investigated children’s understanding of unfamiliar noun and verb definitions in tasks that were manipulated for syntactic and semantic properties of definitions. The study was also designed to examine the relation between understanding word definitions and the skills of syntactic awareness and making inferences. A total of 117 children over three upper elementary grades (3, 4, 5) participated in the study. The definitional tasks were presented in multiple choice format, with each definition followed by four context sentences. In the syntactic/semantic condition, which included nouns and verbs, the context sentences were manipulated for syntactic and semantic properties. In the semantic condition, which included only nouns, the context sentences were manipulated only for semantics. All children also completed a syntactic awareness task and a making inferences task. Results indicated that children did not make significant grade improvements in the semantic task, but did so in the syntactic/semantic task, suggesting the dependence of syntactic cues on definitional understanding. Findings further suggested that inferencing and syntactic awareness are important to children’s ability in understanding a definition for an unfamiliar word and to integrating that meaning into a context sentence.
The effect of impaired angiogenesis on intestinal function following massive small bowel resection.

Purpose Intestinal adaptation involves villus lengthening, crypt deepening, and increased capillary density following small bowel resection (SBR). Mice lacking the proangiogenic chemokine CXCL5 have normal structural adaptation but impaired angiogenesis. This work evaluates the impact of incomplete adaptive angiogenesis on the functional capacity of the intestine after SBR.
Prediction of dystrophin phenotype by DNA analysis in Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy

Allele-specific molecular diagnosis of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DMD and BMD) has been largely dependent upon muscle biopsy for dystrophin protein assay. We performed lymphocyte DNA mutation analysis by polymerase chain reaction on 14 boys presenting with a clinical picture compatible with DMD or BMD. DNA analysis revealed that 12 of 14 boys had a deletion of the dystrophin gene, thus establishing the diagnosis of DMD/BMD. Furthermore, genotypes for 9 of 12 deletion patients permitted prediction of the specific allelic disorder (i.e., DMD or BMD). Subsequent dystrophin testing confirmed all of the DNA-based diagnoses. We propose that DNA mutation analysis be included in the initial evaluation of patients suspected of having DMD/BMD, thus potentially eliminating the need for muscle biopsy in the majority of patients.
Masquerade detection using profile hidden Markov models

Abstract In this paper, we consider the problem of masquerade detection, based on user-issued UNIX commands. We present a novel detection technique based on profile hidden Markov models (PHMMs). For comparison purposes, we implement an existing modeling technique based on hidden Markov models (HMMs). We compare these approaches and show that, in general, our PHMM technique is competitive with HMMs. However, the standard test data set lacks positional information. We conjecture that such positional information would give our PHMM a significant advantage over HMM-based detection. To lend credence to this conjecture, we generate a simulated data set that includes positional information. Based on this simulated data, experimental results show that our PHMM-based approach outperforms other techniques when limited training data is available.
A stereospecific total synthesis of (±)-epipentenomycin I, (±)-epipentenomycin II and (±)-epipentenomycin III

A highly efficient, stereospecific synthesis of the epimeric pentenomycins is reported utilizing the stereospecific addition of OsO4 to substituted cyclopentenes.
Surgical anatomy for a new minimally invasive approach to harvest the flexor digitorum longus tendon: A cadaver study

Abstract Aim The purpose of this cadaver study was to test feasibility and safety of a new technique for harvesting the FDL tendon through a plantar incision placed directly overlying the FDL division and to define the relevant surgical anatomy. Methods In eight cadaver feet the FDL tendon was exposed in the midfoot through a plantar incision. In four of these feet this was done after localization of the FDL division site using a probe inserted through a wound in the hindfoot within the sheath of FDL tendon. The exact location was measured in relation to the geometry of the foot and was found to be midway between the back of the heel and the base of the second toe and about 4 cm medial to the lateral border of the foot. Using these determinants FDL was exposed on the contralateral matching four feet without use of the probe. The FDL tendon was divided and pulled proximally and the length of the tendon was determined. Results The FDL division lies midway between the back of the heel and the base of the second toe and about 3.7 cm medial to the lateral border of the foot. The medial and the lateral plantar neurovascular bundles are, respectively, about 0.43 cm and 0.86 cm away from the FDL division. The average length of the retrieved tendon was about 9 cm. Conclusions This cadaver study suggests that the FDL tendon can be safely harvested through a plantar incision. The adjacent neurovascular structures remained undamaged. Plantar surface anatomy guides placement of the plantar incision so that the incision can overlie directly over the FDL division.
The Sunday syndrome: a unique pattern of amphetamine abuse indigenous to American professional football.

(1979). The Sunday Syndrome: A Unique Pattern of Amphetamine Abuse Indigenous to American Professional Football. Clinical Toxicology: Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 225-232.
Daily, seasonal and interannual variability of sea-surface carbon and nutrient concentration in the equatorial Pacific Ocean

Abstract We present measurements of the partial pressure of CO2 in seawater (pCO2), total dissolved inorganic carbon concentration (ΣCO2) and alkalinity made during the JGOFS Survey I (TT007, February–March 1992) and Survey II (TT011, August–September 1992) expeditions. JGOFS data are compared with data from the Hawaii-Tahiti Shuttle Experiment (HTSE, February 1979–June 1980). The Survey I and II expeditions took place during and after the El Nino event of 1992, while HTSE occurred during mild El Nino to near-climatological conditions. The Survey I and II sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) are among the warmest and coldest, respectively, in the combined JGOFS and HTSE dataset, and sea-surface concentrations of the biological tracers, NO3 and pCO2, from JGOFS bracketed the HTSE data with lower concentrations during Survey I and higher values during Survey II. However, the air-sea contrast in pCO2 was diminished in 1992 due to rising atmospheric values. The variability of sea-surface concentrations of biological tracers seems to be controlled primarily by the physical structure of the water column. In a comparison of HTSE and JGOFS data (decadal timescale), or Survey I and II data (seasonal/ENSO timescale), the concentrations of the tracers on constant-density (isopycnal) surfaces is nearly time invariant, so that the variation in sea-surface concentrations is controlled by the outcropping of isopycnal surfaces. On the timescale of the station occupation (diurnal to a few days), variation in replicate measurements of pCO2 is correlated with variation in density, again indicating physical rather than biological control of pCO2 variability. These findings make an interesting contrast to JGOFS North Atlantic Bloom Experiment results. [Chipman et al. (1993) Deep-Sea Research II, 40, 151–169], where recent local biological forcing was found to dominate chemical variability. The implication of this finding is that a physical understanding of the equatorial Pacific circulation may be sufficient to make predictions of short-term variability in air-sea pCO2 fluxes in this region. Some minor exceptions to the rule of physical control of sea-surface chemical properties include a freshwater cap just south of the equator that follows the sea surface, rather than any density surface, and Si, which appears to vary seasonally independently of the other biological tracers NO3, CO2, and O2. Based on the relationship between the alkalinity and ΣCO2 in the upper 400 m of the water column, about 13% of the ΣCO2 increase with depth is due to the dissolution of CaCO3, 65% to the oxidation of biogenic debris and 23% to the increasing solubility of CO2 in colder waters. The relationship between ΣCO2 and O2 in equatorial surface waters during Survey II indicates a vigorous circulation with an overturning timescale of only a few days.
Observation of a New Creep Regime in Polycrystatiitne Ni-50(at.%)Al Intermetallic Alloy

Constant load creep tests were conducted on fine-grained ( - 23 µ m) polycrystalline Ni-50(at.%) Al in the temperature range 1000 - 1400 K. Power-law creep with an average stress exponent, n, of 6.6 and an average activation energy, Q c , of about 300 kJ mol -1 was observed above 25 MPa, while n ≈ 2 and Q c ≈ 95 kJ mol -1 for σ with the dislocations lying on the {100} and {110} planes. Although well-defined subgrains were not always observed, there was a greater tendency towards subgrain formation at stresses above 25 MPa. The deformation microstructures were inhomogeneous in the n = 2 creep regime and many grains did not reveal any dislocation activity. The observed characteristics of the low stress region suggest the dominance of an acccanmodated grain boundary sliding mechanism.
Transduction Based on Changes in the Energy Stored in an Electric Field

In Chapter 3 we discussed many transduction mechanisms associated with changes in the energy stored in an electric field. Similarly, we may build transducers in which the mechanism of energy conversion relies on changes in the energy stored in a magnetic field. These transducers are inductive devices, and are similar to the capacitive transducers described previously in many fundamental ways. The major difference between the two classes of transducers is that the magnetic field-based devices are often designed for higher power than their electric field counterparts. They are thus used quite frequently in actuation. Examples of inductive transducers include motors and moving coil disk drive heads.
Trying to become a different type of company: dynamic capability at Smith Corona

Smith Corona, formerly one of the world's leading manufacturers of typewriters, was challenged to exercise dynamic capability in the face of the dissipation of its main product category. A study of the last two decades of the life of the company shows how Smith Corona tried to alter its resource base by leveraging existing resources, creating new resources, accessing external resources, and releasing resources. Using the extended case method, this study advances dynamic capability theory by confronting it with an empirical case. The Smith Corona case provides rich insights into the resource alteration processes by which dynamic capability operates, and highlights resource cognition as a missing element in dynamic capability theory. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Integration of systems engineering best practices with DOD acquisition practices

Technological developments and requirements in a world of rapidly changing innovations and warfare dictate a high level of need for new equipment. The Defense Acquisition System is the management process by which the Department of Defense provides effective, affordable, and timely systems to the users to satisfy capability needs. Currently, this system is managed by DOD Directive 5000.1, entitled the Defense Acquisition System and DOD Instruction 5000.2, Operation of the Defense Acquisition System - which is constantly criticized for its slow, confusing, and bureaucratic nature. For this reason, this paper analyzes different systems engineering processes, and compare them to the current acquisition process, in order to improve the Defense Acquisition System.
The Relations of Parental Characteristics and Practices to Children's Vicarious Emotional Responding

We examined the relation of parental empathy-related characteristics and emotion-related child-rearing practices to third and sixth graders' vicarious emotional responding. Children's heart rate, skin conductance, facial, and self-reported reactions to a sympathy-inducing film were assessed, as were their dispositional sympathy, empathy, and self-monitoring. Parental sympathy was positively related to low levels of personal distress in same-sex children and, for both parents, with sons' dispositional sympathy or empathy. Parental emphasis on problem-focused coping strategies when their sons were anxious was positively correlated with indexes of sons' situational and dispositional sympathy. Same-sex parental restrictiveness in regard to the control of inappropriate, hurtful emotional displays was associated with sons' and daughters' dispositional and situational sympathy, whereas maternal restrictiveness in regard to emotions that are unlikely to hurt others was correlated with nonverbal indexes of personal distress and self reports of low distress. Parental emphasis on control of the child's own negative emotion was associated with children's self-monitoring.
Evaluation of pectus bar position and osseous bone formation.

Abstract Purpose Minimally invasive repair has become a popular approach for pectus excavatum (PE). The bar is secured to the thoracic wall and left for approximately 2 years. The authors have noticed an intense bone formation (BF) around some of these bars at removal. A review of children undergoing bar removal was performed to better understand this BF in relation to bar placement. Methods A retrospective review of children undergoing bar removal after PE repair since January 1998 was performed. Chart review included age at bar insertion and removal, bar insertion position (subcutaneous [SC] v submuscular [SM]), BF on Chest x-ray and at bar removal, operating time, and estimated blood loss (EBL). Results Thirty-six patients underwent bar removal during the study period (16 SC and 20 SM). Chest x-ray evaluation was possible in 27 patients (16 SM, 11 SC). No difference existed for length of time the bar was in place or age at insertion/removal between groups. EBL was higher in the SM (18.3 v 8.8 mL, not significant). BF was seen radiographically in 15 SM and 3 SC patients ( P P P v 15.6 min). Conclusions Bar position during repair of PE is important. SM positioning virtually always results in BF with increased EBL and statistically longer operating time at removal. Careful placement of the bar in the SC position without violating the fascia should be used to avoid these undesirable effects.
Application of the Sperm Mobility Assay to Primary Broiler Breeder Stock

Abstract A new quantitative trait affecting male fertility was discovered in the 1990s. The term sperm mobility denotes the net movement of a sperm cell population against resistance at body temperature. Even though sperm cells are self-propelled DNA delivery vehicles, their self-propulsive nature is neither uniform among sperm within an ejaculate nor among males within flocks. Such variation is evident when semen quality is evaluated by sperm penetration of an Accudenz solution, hence the term sperm mobility assay. It is noteworthy that populations showing modest variation with respect to semen volume or sperm concentration often show considerable variation with respect to sperm mobility. Likewise, it is noteworthy that broiler breeder fertility is a function of sperm mobility phenotype when hens are inseminated artificially. This article outlines the following: 1) a series of experiments in which the sensitivity of the commercial sperm mobility assay was improved using semen donors from lines of chickens selected for either low or high sperm mobility and 2) the application of the improved technique to pedigree broiler breeders. Male fertility is subject to genetic selection when sperm mobility is the selection criterion. Therefore, sperm mobility may be a useful trait for improving broiler breeder reproductive efficiency.
Reasons for Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Arrested Women

There are limited empirical data regarding the reasons or motives for the perpetration of intimate partner violence among women arrested for domestic violence and court referred to violence intervention programs. The present study examined arrested women's self-report reasons for partner violence perpetration and investigated whether women who were victims of severe intimate partner violence were more likely than were women who were victims of minor partner violence to report self-defense as a reason for their behavior. In all, 87 women in violence intervention programs completed a measure of violence perpetration and victimization and a questionnaire assessing 29 reasons for violence perpetration. Self-defense, poor emotion regulation, provocation by the partner, and retaliation for past abuse were the most common reasons for violence perpetration. Victims of severe partner violence were significantly more likely than were victims of minor partner violence to report self-defense as a reason for their violence perpetration. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Hyaluronan oligosaccharide treatment of chondrocytes stimulates expression of both HAS-2 and MMP-3, but by different signaling pathways

Summary Objective Small hyaluronan (HA) oligosaccharides displace HA from the cell surface and induce cell signaling events. In articular chondrocytes this cell signaling is mediated by the HA receptor CD44 and includes stimulation of genes involved in matrix degradation such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as well as matrix repair genes including collagen type II, aggrecan and HA synthase-2 (HAS-2). The objective of this study was to determine whether stimulation of HAS-2 and MMP-3 by HA oligosaccharides is due to the activation of a single, cascading pathway or multiple signaling pathways. Method Bovine articular chondrocytes were pre-treated with a variety of inhibitors of major signaling pathways prior to the addition of HA oligosaccharides. Changes in HA were monitored by real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of HAS-2 mRNA, HA ELISA and HA accumulation at the cell surface. A 1900 base pair sequence containing the proximal promoter of HAS-2 was inserted into a luciferase reporter construct, transfected into human immortalized chondrocytes and assayed in a similar fashion. Results While our previous studies demonstrated that HA oligosaccharides stimulate MMP-13 activity via activation of p38 MAP kinase and NF-κB, inhibitors of these pathways did not affect the stimulation of HAS-2 mRNA expression. However, inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase pathway blocked HA oligosaccharide-mediated stimulation of HAS-2 yet had no effect on MMP-3. Wortmannin and LY294002 also blocked HA oligosaccharide-induced serine and threonine Akt phosphorylation. Treatment of transfected immortalized chondrocytes with HA oligosaccharides resulted in stimulation of HAS-2 mRNA, activation of Akt and enhanced luciferase activity—activity that was blocked by inhibitors of Akt phosphorylation. Conclusions Changes in chondrocyte–matrix interactions by HA oligosaccharides induce altered matrix metabolism by the activation of least two distinct signaling pathways.
Design of a Catheter-Based Device for Performing Percutaneous Chordal-Cutting Procedures

This paper focuses on the design and implementation of a percutaneous catheter-based device to provide physicians with an externally controlled tool capable of manipulating and cutting specific chordae tendinae within the hear to alleviate problems associated with some forms of mitral valve regurgitationt. In the United States alone, approximately 500,000 people develop ischemic or functional MR per year, and the chordae tendinae cutting procedure and device are needed because many patients do not have the required level of health necessary to survive open-heart surgery. A deterministic design process was used to generate several design concepts and then evaluate and compare each concept based on a set of functional requirements. A final concept to be alpha prototyped was then chosen, further developed, and fabricated. Experiments showed that the design was capable of locating and grabbing a chord and that ultrasound imaging is a viable method for navigating the device inside of the human body. Once contact between the chord and an RF ablator tip was confirmed, the chord was successfully ablated.
A Technique for Efficiently Modeling Long-Path Propagation for Use in Both FDFD and FDTD

A technique is developed for the efficient modeling of propagation over long paths (hundreds of lambda) by breaking the path up into segments and appropriately applying the perfectly matched layer (PML) absorbing boundary condition and the total field/scattered field boundary condition. For finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations the new technique is well suited to model both slow- and fast-wave modes as well as scattering inhomogeneities along the path. In addition, the new technique is directly applicable to finite-difference frequency-domain (FDFD) simulations. Both FDTD and FDFD numerical simulations of propagation within the Earth-ionosphere waveguide are performed to validate the new technique
A search for thermal isomerization of olefins to carbenes: Thermal generations of the silicon-nitrogen double bond

The first part of this thesis will search for the thermal isomerization of olefins to carbenes which is predicted to be a high energy process by calculations and has only been observed in a few strained olefins. The possibility of thermal isomerization of simple olefins to carbenes will be explored. Substitution of a silyl group on the double bond of an olefin allows a potential intermediate which has a {beta}-radical to the silyl group during the cis-trans isomerization. The effects of a trimethylsilyl group on this isomerization are the subject of this study. The second part of this thesis will include the generation and chemistry of intermediates containing a silicon-nitrogen double bond. The isomerization of parent silanimine to the aminosilylene was calculated to be a high energy process. New approaches to the silicon-nitrogen double bond will also be presented. 92 refs., 12 figs., 11 tabs.
Scaling of spike-timing based neuron model for mammalian olfaction with network size

We investigate extensions to the model put forward by Brody and Hopfield [1] for spike-timing based pattern recognition applied to mammalian olfaction. Their model implements a pattern recognition algorithm realized in the dynamics of a network of coupled IF neurons subject to a sine-wave rhythm. Subsets of these neurons can synchronize through the principle of one-to-one mode locking. Their network represents 3 layers of neural activity, the first two of which are inspired by the connectivity of glomeruli and mitral cells in mammalian olfactory circuits and the gamma-rhythm activity observed in the olfactory bulb. Specifically in this model a pattern of glomerular activity representing a given odor causes a particular subset of model mitral cells to synchronize and this synchronous activity can drive a "grandmother" model cortical cell through threshold triggering a recognition event. In this study we quantify the performance of their original model and compare it to our extensions of the model such as using a network-generated rhythm rather than a sine-wave, introducing inhibitive feedback and generalizing to p-q mode locking strategies. We compute the scaling with respect to the number of mitral neurons of a measure of the number of odor patterns the model can recognize. Quite remarkably we find this performance can increase very fast with increasing network size -- consistent with exponential scaling.
Physics of Resonant Tunneling in Semiconductors

The concept of tunneling through a potential barrier lies at the core of quantum mechanics, and its experimental observation is a manifestation of the wave-like behavior of matter. Since the early days of quantum mechanics, tunneling models have been used to explain fundamental experiments such as the ionization of hydrogen by an electric field and the emission of alpha particles by heavy nuclei. The idea of tunneling was also incorporated very soon into solid-state physics, and, thus, was used in 1928 by Fowler and Nordheim to describe field emission from metals, and by Zener in 1,934 to account for internal field emission in semiconductors.
Identification and inhibitory properties of a novel Ca(2+)/calmodulin antagonist.

We developed a high-throughput yeast-based assay to screen for chemical inhibitors of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase pathways. After screening two small libraries, we identified the novel antagonist 125-C9, a substituted ethyleneamine. In vitro kinase assays confirmed that 125-C9 inhibited several calmodulin-dependent kinases (CaMKs) competitively with Ca2+/calmodulin (Ca2+/CaM). This suggested that 125-C9 acted as an antagonist for Ca2+/CaM rather than for CaMKs. We confirmed this hypothesis by showing that 125-C9 binds directly to Ca2+/CaM using isothermal titration calorimetry. We further characterized binding of 125-C9 to Ca2+/CaM and compared its properties with those of two well-studied CaM antagonists: trifluoperazine (TFP) and W-13. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that binding of 125-C9 to CaM is absolutely Ca2+-dependent, likely occurs with a stoichiometry of five 125-C9 molecules to one CaM molecule, and involves an exchange of two protons at pH 7.0. Binding of 125-C9 is driven overa...
Controlling dissociation of alkyl phenyl ketone radical cations in the strong-field regime through hydroxyl substitution position.

The hydroxy-substituted alkyl phenyl ketones 2'-, 3'- and 4'- (ortho, meta, and para) hydroxyacetophenone were excited in the strong-field regime with wavelengths ranging from 1200−1500 nm to produce the respective radical cations. For 2'- and 3'-hydroxyacetophenone, the parent molecular ion dominated the mass spectrum, and the intensity of the fragment ions remained unchanged as a function of excitation wavelength. In contrast, 4'-hydroxyacetophenone exhibited depletion of the parent molecular ion with corresponding enhanced formation of the benzoyl fragment ion upon excitation with 1370 nm as compared with other excitation wavelengths. Density functional (DFT) calculations suggest that dissociation occurs when the acetyl group in 4'-hydroxyacetophenone radical cation twists out-of-plane with respect to the phenyl ring, enabling a one-photon transition between the ground cation state D0 and the excited cation state D2 to occur. The DFT calculations also suggest that the lack of dissociation in the wavelength-resolved strong-field excitation measure- ments for 2'- and 3'-hydroxyacetophenone arises because both isomers have a barrier to rotation about the carbon−carbon bond connecting the phenyl and acetyl groups. These results help elucidate the effects of substituents on the torsional motion of radical cations and illustrate the potential for controlling molecular dissociation through the addition of substituents.
The Relationship Between Child Sexual Abuse And Female Delinquency And Crime: A Prospective Study

Child sexual abuse has been hypothesized to be an especially significant factor in the etiology of girls’ delinquency and women’s crime. This article reports on a prospective study of 206 women who, in the period from 1973 to 1975, were treated in a hospital emergency room in a major city following a report of sexual abuse. Their subsequent juvenile and adult criminal records were compared to a matched comparison group. Child sexual abuse was a statistically significant predictor of certain types of offenses, but other indicators of familial neglect and abuse were significant factors as well.
Hurricane Evacuation Expectations and Actual Behavior in Hurricane Lili

This study compared respondents' hurricane evacuation expectations with their actual behavior 2 years later during Hurricane Lili. Respondents were found to have accurate expectations about their information sources, evacuation transportation modes, number of vehicles taken, and evacuation shelter types. They also had generally accurate expectations about the time it would take them to implement some, but not all, evacuation preparation tasks. These results extend contemporary attitude-behavior models by demonstrating a significant degree of correspondence between behavioral expectations and much later behavior under quite stressful conditions and suggest emergency planners can use many, but not all, aspects of coastal residents' evacuation expectations as a satisfactory basis for evacuation planning.
THE IMPACT OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE ON BUSINESS-LEVEL STRATEGIES

This paper examines the impact of electronic commerce on business-level strategies. The paper examines electronic commerce (E.C) from the perspective of intra-business E.C., business-to-business E.C., business-toconsumer E.C., and value/supply chain management. Business-level strategies are considered to include: addedvalue, differentiation, cost leadership, focus, and growth source. The paper concludes that E-commerce will have significant impacts on each of the business-level strategic areas.
Different signaling pathways of induced resistance by rhizobacteria in Arabidopsis thaliana against two pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae

Summary • The mechanisms by which plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) mediate induced systemic resistance are currently being intensively investigated from the viewpoint of signal transduction pathways within plants. • Here, we determined whether our well-characterized PGPR strains, which have demonstrated induced resistance on various plants, also elicit induced resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Nine different PGPR strains were evaluated for their capacity to cause induced resistance on Arabidopsis against two pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae. Six strains significantly reduced severity of P. syringae pv. tomato, whereas seven strains reduced severity of P. syringae pv. maculicola. • From the initial screenings, four strains (90-166, SE34, 89B61 and T4) were selected because of their consistent induced resistance capacity. Elicitation of induced resistance with these strains depended on how disease severity was measured. Three strains (90-166, 89B61 and T4) induced resistance in NahG plants (SA-deficient), indicating a salicylic acid-independent pathway, which agrees with the previously reported pathway for induced resistance by PGPR. However, differences from the reported pathway were noted with strain 89B61, which did not require jasmonic acid or ethylene signaling pathways for induced resistance, and with strain T4, which induced resistance in npr1 plants. • These results indicate that strains 89B61 and T4 induce resistance via a new pathway or possibly a variation of the previously reported pathway. This information will broaden our understanding of ways in which microorganisms can signal physiological changes in plants.
Regulatory role of FGF-2 on type I collagen expression during endothelial mesenchymal transformation.

Purpose To investigate the regulatory role of FGF-2 on type I collagen expression during endothelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT). Methods Corneal endothelial cells (CECs) treated with FGF-2 from the primary culture to the third passage were transformed and designated as fibroblastic CECs (fCECs). Steady state levels of both type I collagen RNAs were measured using reverse transcription-real-time PCR, and their half lives were determined in the presence of inhibitor of RNA synthesis. Limited proteolysis with pepsin was used to determine secretion of type I collagen. Protein-protein interaction was determined by coimmunoprecipitation, and subcellular localization was studied by immunofluorescence. Results fCECs were characterized by greatly stimulated proliferative potential, loss of contact inhibition, and multilayer fibroblastic cells. The steady state level of alpha1(I) collagen RNA was greatly upregulated through stabilization of the message in fCECs, whereas steady state level and half-life of the alpha2(I) collagen RNA were slightly increased compared with the corresponding levels in normal CECs. Of interest, fCECs predominantly secreted homotrimeric type I collagen, [alpha1(I)](3), with heterotrimeric type I collagen as a minor species. Type I collagen in fCECs was preferentially associated and colocalized with Hsp47 at Golgi apparatus as opposed to its association with protein disulfide isomerase in CECs. LY294002 (a specific PI 3-kinase inhibitor) greatly reduced the steady state levels and stability of alpha1(I) and alpha2(I) collagen RNAs and the secretion of type I collagen. Conclusions FGF-2 directly mediates corneal EMT through the action of PI 3-kinase, which acts on posttranscriptional regulation by affecting the stability of type I collagen RNA.
Three-dimensional tumor perfusion reconstruction using fractal interpolation functions

It has been shown that the perfusion of blood in tumor tissue can be approximated using the relative perfusion index determined from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) of the tumor blood pool. Also, it was concluded in a previous report that the blood perfusion in a two-dimensional (2-D) tumor vessel network has a fractal structure and that the evolution of the perfusion front can be characterized using invasion percolation. Here, the three-dimensional (3-D) tumor perfusion is reconstructed from the 2-D slices using the method of fractal interpolation functions (FIF), i.e., the piecewise self-affine fractal interpolation model (PSAFIM) and the piecewise hidden variable fractal interpolation model (PHVFIM). The fractal models are compared to classical interpolatlon techniques (linear, spline, polynomial) by means of determining the 2-D fractal dimension of the reconstructed slices. Using FIFs instead of classical interpolation techniques better conserves the fractal-like structure of the perfusion data. Among the two FIF methods, PHVFIM conserves the 3-D fractality better due to the cross correlation that exists between the data in the 2-D slices and the data along the reconstructed direction. The 3-D structures resulting from PHVFIM have a fractal dimension within 3%-5% of the one reported in literature for 3-D percolation. It is, thus, concluded that the reconstructed 3-D perfusion has a percolation-like scaling. As the perfusion term from bio-heat equation is possibly better described by reconstruction via fractal interpolation, a more suitable computation of the temperature field induced during hyperthermia treatments is expected.
Effect of Selection for Delayed Amelanosis on Immune Response in Chickens 2. Cell-Mediated Immunity

Abstract Studies were conducted to compare the cell-mediated immune response of the Delayed Amelanotic (DAM) line of chickens with that of the line from which it originated, the Brown (BR) line, and a distantly related environmental control, the Light Brown Leghorn (LBL) line. Assays used to evaluate cell-mediated immunity were graft versus host (GvH) splenomegaly and the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin response. The three genetic stocks showed different responses to both tests with a variation in ranking between the tests. The GvH response of BR birds was significantly greater (P
Piezoelectric-Based Systems Modeling

Building upon the preceding chapters in this part, we present a comprehensive treatment of piezoelectric-based systems modeling including lumped-parameters and distributed-parameters representations for both stacked and laminar configurations. The materials given in this chapter shall prepare the readers for vibration-control systems using piezoelectric actuators and sensors discussed extensively in Chap. 9.
Hospital construction and postpartum anxiety.

Objective: To explore the hypothesis that environmental stress in the form of construction on a postpartum ward may be associated with enhanced maternal anxiety. Methods: Four hundred twenty-two mothers delivering at a university hospital were screened prior to discharge for anxiety using the State Scale of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Recent medical life events, perceived stress, mastery, marital satisfaction and discharge readiness were assessed by questionnaire and medical record review. During the latter part of the study, 9.5% of the women were subjected to construction on the postpartum ward. Results: STAI scores were significantly higher among women hospitalized during construction compared to those hospitalized prior to construction (37.03±1.83 vs. 33.34±0.51, P=.030). In a multivariate analysis controlling for other covariates associated with anxiety, construction remained a significant independent predictor of the STAI score. Conclusions: Construction on a postpartum ward may be associated with increased maternal anxiety. This finding suggests that maternal anxiety at this sensitive time may be influenced by environmental factors.