cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethanol-induced activation of myosin light chain kinase leads to dysfunction of tight junctions and blood-brain barrier compromise.

Background: Brain endothelial cells form the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that regulates solute and macromolecule flux in and out of the brain, leukocyte migration, and maintains the homeostasis of the central nervous system. BBB dysfunction is associated with disruption of tight junctions (TJ) in the brain endothelium. We propose that alcohol abuse may impair BBB permeability through TJ modification. Methods: Primary cultured bovine brain microvascular endothelial cells (BBMEC) were treated with 50 mM ethanol (EtOH), and monolayer tightness was assessed by measurement of transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER). Changes in TEER were correlated with alterations in TJ protein distribution occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), claudin-5 using immunofluorescence (IF). Expression of myosin light chain (MLC) kinase (MLCK), ZO-1, claudin-5, and phosphorylated MLC, occludin and claudin-5 were determined by immunoprecipitation and Western blot. EtOH-induced changes in monocyte migration across in vitro BBB constructs were also examined. Results: EtOH induced a decrease in TEER of BBMEC monolayers that was reversed by EtOH withdrawal. Treatment of BBMEC with EtOH or its metabolite, acetaldehyde, prior to monocyte application resulted in a 2-fold increase in monocyte migration across the BBB. IF demonstrated decrease in claudin-5 staining, occludin translocation from cell borders to cytoplasm and gap formation in EtOH-treated BBMEC monolayer. These changes paralleled significant increase in phosphorylation of MLC, occludin and claudin-5. EtOH-treated BBMEC showed reduction of total occludin and claudin-5 without changes in ZO-1 or MLC. TEER decrease, changes in occludin/claudin staining, increase in MLC, occludin and claudin-5 phosphorylation and enhanced monocyte migration across the BBB were all reversed by inhibition of MLCK. Inhibition of EtOH metabolism in BBMEC also reversed these events. Conclusion: These results suggest that EtOH activates MLCK leading to phosphorylation of MLC, occludin and claudin-5. Cytoskeletal alterations (MLC) and TJ changes (occludin and claudin-5 phosphorylation) result in BBB impairment (decrease in TEER). TJ compromise is associated with increased monocyte migration across the BBB.
Cerebellar Long-Term Synaptic Depression Requires PKC-Mediated Activation of CPI-17, a Myosin/Moesin Phosphatase Inhibitor

Abstract Cerebellar LTD requires brief activation of PKC and is expressed as a functional downregulation of AMPA receptors. Modulation of vascular smooth-muscle contraction by G protein-coupled receptors (called Ca 2+ sensitization) also involves PKC phosphorylation and activation of a specific inhibitor of myosin/moesin phosphatase (MMP). This inhibitor, called CPI-17, is also expressed in brain. Here, we tested the hypothesis that LTD, like Ca 2+ sensitization, employs a PKC/CPI-17 cascade. Introduction of activated recombinant CPI-17 into cells produced a use-dependent attenuation of glutamate-evoked responses and occluded subsequent LTD. Moreover, the requirement for endogenous CPI-17 in LTD was demonstrated with neutralizing antibodies plus gene silencing by siRNA. These interventions had no effect on basal synaptic strength but blocked LTD induction. Thus, a biochemical circuit that involves PKC-mediated activation of CPI-17 modulates the distinct physiological processes of vascular contractility and cerebellar LTD.
INTEGRATING UNCERTAINTY CONSIDERATIONS IN LEARNING ENGINEERING ECONOMY

The traditional approach to learning engineering economy in undergraduate curricula typically focuses on solving problems in a deterministic manner. Students generally have little exposure to the uncertain and stochastic nature of, as examples, project cash flows and interest rates. Unfortunately, this traditional approach does not provide students with the skills to deal with real world situations, which inherently involve uncertainty and thereby, risk. In general, engineering economy texts for undergraduate students deal with uncertainty and risk only in brief chapters, usually at the end of the book. The uncertain environment is introduced as a special case, rather than as the norm. In this paper, we propose an approach to learning engineering economy that is integrated with an understanding of uncertainty; in fact, it considers the deterministic case as a special case. The availability of computers today facilitates introducing this uncertainty approach. Computer spreadsheets and software can provide ...
Real estate franchising: The case of Coldwell Banker expansion into China☆

Abstract This article discusses the Chinese real estate market, with special reference to Shanghai, and depicts an interview with Taiwan's largest real estate company, which bought the master international franchising rights of Coldwell Banker for China. As China's real estate market only recently opened to foreign investment, and since franchising in China is in its infancy, this article provides a unique examination of international franchising into a new product market area in the country. In addition, the article highlights some practices that could be adopted by professional service firms in their international expansion and discusses post-WTO implications to real estate franchising in China.
6.3: Writable Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display and the Algorithm Used to Detect its Image

Writable Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display and the algorithm used to detect its image were developed. We could use any hard tip, ex: the tip of a forefinger, to directly write an image on the surface of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Display (CHLCD). By measuring the capacitance of one pixel of test cell (12mm × 15mm/ 1×1), F-state or P-state could be detected. By measuring the capacitance of one pixel of 4.1″ CHLCD (241um × 241um/ 320×320), F-state or P-state could not be detected, due to the effect of parasitic capacitance. Therefore, high frequency measurement and the algorithm were developed to detect the image on CHLCD.
Gravity Packing of Same Size Spheres and Investigation of Wall Ordering

In the first part of the present study, Discrete Element Method (DEM) is adopted as a numerical simulation technique for studying gravity packing of randomly distributed monodispersed particles in a box of a rectangular cross section (can be thought as a fluidized bed). Packing density, coordination number distribution and radial distribution function (RDF) are calculated. Stability of the packing, spatial and temporal effects of the wall on packings are analyzed. Qualitatively and quantitatively, the results agree well with the existing literatures. Since this model uses structural reconstruction, many of the features of random packing like clear second peak split in the RDF plot have been observed. From experiments, it is well known that the confining walls impart some order in the near-wall regions. However to the best of the author’s knowledge, the actual symmetries of these orderings (of walls) have never been analyzed and these have been the focus of the second part of this study. Taking a cue from structural analysis of amorphous (glassy) atomic systems, the Honeycutt-Andersen (HA) index and Bond Order Orientation (BOO) order have been employed to study the local symmetries of both near wall and core regions. It shows that the 1551 HA index, signifying icosahedral order, is more predominate in the core part than the wall. There is also some good amount of cubic symmetries both in the wall and core regions. However the most predominate structure is distorted icosahedra, which is probably appearing because of a competing effect between the icosahedral order and cubic symmetries.
A protease-resistant PML-RARα has increased leukemogenic potential in a murine model of acute promyelocytic leukemia

Previous studies in our laboratory demonstrated that the azurophil granule protease neutrophil elastase (NE) cleaves promyelocytic leukemia–retinoic acid receptor (PML-RAR)α (PR), the fusion protein that initiates acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Further, NE deficiency reduces the penetrance of APL in a murine model of this disease. We therefore predicted that NE-mediated PR cleavage might be important for its ability to initiate APL. To test this hypothesis, we generated a mouse expressing NE-resistant PR. These mice developed APL indistinguishable from wild-type PR, but with significantly reduced latency (median leukemia-free survival of 274 days vs 473 days for wild-type PR, P < .001). Resistance to proteolysis may increase the abundance of full-length PR protein in early myeloid cells, and our previous data suggested that noncleaved PR may be less toxic to early myeloid cells. Together, these effects appear to increase the leukemogenicity of NE-resistant PR, contrary to our previous prediction. We conclude that NE deficiency may reduce APL penetrance via indirect mechanisms that are still NE dependent.
Infrared Spectrum of the Continuum and Dimer Absorption in the Vicinity of the O2 Vibrational Fundamental in O2/CO2 Mixtures

Abstract The intensities of the collision-induced absorption (CIA) bands associated with the electric-dipole forbidden O2 fundamental and the CO2 ν1/2ν2 Fermi dyad monomer vibrational bands have been studied over the temperature range 193–360 K and the frequency range 1100–2000 cm−1. As CO2 is added to a pure O2 sample, the intensity in the O2 fundamental band region increases dramatically. At the lowest temperature studied, 193 K, the band-integrated CIA coefficient for enhancement of the Fermi dyad absorption from CO2 to CO2 collisions, SCO2–CO2, is more than a factor of two larger than the band-integrated CIA coefficient for enhancement of the O2 vibrational fundamental by CO2 collisions, SO2–CO2. Moreover, the SCO2–CO2 coefficient shows a significantly larger temperature dependence, increasing by more than a factor of two from 345.6 to 193 K while SO2–CO2 increases by less than one third. The band shapes and their temperature dependence provide clear evidence for the formation of CO2–CO2 and CO2–O2 complexes. The CO2–CO2 dimer feature is most striking, contributing significantly to the infrared absorption near the expected CO2 monomer fundamentals. Evidence for the more weakly bound CO2–O2 complex is seen on the O2 CIA band, particularly at the lowest temperatures studied. The shapes for both dimer bands display sharp a-type Q branch central profiles and broad P and R branch like structure attributed to b-type Q branches for the CO2–CO2 complex and a-type P and R branch structure for the CO2–O2 complex. The present results stress the importance of including bound and metastable dimer absorption in any theoretical modeling of CIA, particularly when one of the collision partners has a large electrostatic moment, such as CO2 with its large electric quadrupole moment.
Metacontrast: Further evidence for monotonic functions

In three separate experiments three variables were examined which could be responsible for nonmonotonic metacontrast functions. Using letters as stimuli, monotonic functions were obtained for all three. Whatever the variables are, spatial uncertainty, retinal location, or spatial cueing do not seem to be involved in producing nonmonotonic functions.
Fear of falling in new long-term care enrollees.

OBJECTIVES— To measure the prevalence of fear of falling in older adults at the time of longterm care (LTC) enrollment and identify potentially treatable risk factors for low fall related selfefficacy. DESIGN— Prospective cohort study. SETTING— Three LTC programs in Upstate New York. PARTICIPANTS— 112 new enrollees in LTC, aged 55 or older, who passed a cognitive screen. MEASUREMENTS— Self-reported falls, the falls efficacy scale (FES), medical conditions, the short geriatric depression scale, and physical performance measures (Berg balance scale, hip flexor, knee extensor and grip strength, gait speed and a six-minute walk). RESULTS— Of the 54 subjects (48.2%) who reported fear of falling, 41 (75.9%) reported activity modification secondary to fear. Fearful subjects were more likely to be female (P=.003), report low back pain (P=.030) and lower extremity arthritis (P=.048). Fearful subjects were weaker at the hip (P<.001) and knee (P=.001), and had shorter six-minute walk distances. Subjects with better FES scores had better Berg scores (P<.001), had greater hip and knee strength, had faster gait speeds and walked further in six minutes (P<.001, P=.006, P=.001 and P=.001 respectively). Subjects with low FES scores and fearful subjects were more likely to have depressive symptoms (P=.003, P=.044, respectively). CONCLUSION— Falls and fear of falling are more common in new LTC enrollees than in previously described community dwelling and SNF cohorts. Attention to associated characteristics like depression, arthritis, low back pain and lower extremity weakness may identify opportunities to reduce fear and improve patient safety during this transitional period.
Biomass production from electricity using ammonia as an electron carrier in a reverse microbial fuel cell.

The storage of renewable electrical energy within chemical bonds of biofuels and other chemicals is a route to decreasing petroleum usage. A critical challenge is the efficient transfer of electrons into a biological host that can covert this energy into high energy organic compounds. In this paper, we describe an approach whereby biomass is grown using energy obtained from a soluble mediator that is regenerated electrochemically. The net result is a separate-stage reverse microbial fuel cell (rMFC) that fixes CO2 into biomass using electrical energy. We selected ammonia as a low cost, abundant, safe, and soluble redox mediator that facilitated energy transfer to biomass. Nitrosomonas europaea, a chemolithoautotroph, was used as the biocatalyst due to its inherent capability to utilize ammonia as its sole energy source for growth. An electrochemical reactor was designed for the regeneration of ammonia from nitrite, and current efficiencies of 100% were achieved. Calculations indicated that overall bioproduction efficiency could approach 2.7±0.2% under optimal electrolysis conditions. The application of chemolithoautotrophy for industrial bioproduction has been largely unexplored, and results suggest that this and related rMFC platforms may enable biofuel and related biochemical production.
Chronic Calorie Restriction Alters Glycogen Metabolism in Rhesus Monkeys

Chronic caloric restriction (CR) prevents the development of obesity and maintains health, slows aging processes, and prevents or substantially delays the development of non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Because changes in energy metabolism could be involved in all of these positive effects of CR, we examined glycogen synthase (GS) and glycogen phosphorylase (GP) activities and glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) and glycogen concentrations in skeletal muscle samples before and during a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp in 6 older aged monkeys in which CR had been continued for 10.4 ± 2.1 years. Basal GS activity (fractional velocity and independent) was significantly higher in the CR monkeys than has been previously shown in normal, hyperinsulinemic and diabetic monkeys. The normal effect of insulin to activate GS was absent in the CR group due to the paradoxical finding in some of these monkeys of a reduction in GS activity by insulin. Insulin also had the unexpected effect of increasing the independent activity of GP above basal activity (p<0.05). There was an inverse relationship between the change (insulin-stimulated minus basal) in GS fractional velocity and GP activity ratio (r=-0.91, p<0.005). The basal independent activities of GS and GP were also inversely correlated (r=-0.79, p<0.05). The insulin-stimulated concentration of G6P tended to be higher than the basal concentration (p<0.06) and was significantly higher than that previously shown in normal monkeys (p<0.05). We suggest that long-term calorie restriction (1) results in alterations in glycogen metabolism that may be important to the anti-diabetogenic and anti-aging effects of CR and (2) unmasks early defects which may indicate the likelihood of ultimately developing obesity and diabetes.
Mismatched Heteroepitaxy of Tetrahedral Semiconductors with Si via ZrB2 Templates

We demonstrate integration of cubic SiC (heterostructures and nanostructures) and assemblies of Ge nanoscale islands with Si substrates via a conductive and reflective ZrB2 buffer layer. Hexagonal ZrB2 is grown on cubic Si(111) via a coincidence-misfit mechanism in which the strain is accommodated by edge dislocations along the interface. Ge islands with uniform sizes and strain-free microstructures were grown on ZrB2/Si(111) at 500 °C via thermolysis of Ge2H6, circumventing the strain-driven (Stranski−Krastanov) island formation on Si and associated limitations. Heteroepitaxy between ZrB2(0001) and Ge(111) is obtained via alignment of four lattice rows of Ge with every five rows of ZrB2, (i.e., “magic mismatch”) despite the large difference in lattice constants. Cubic SiC layers with monocrystalline microstructures and atomically abrupt interfaces are grown on ZrB2/Si(111) via single source molecular beam epitaxy of C2(SiH3)2 at 800 °C. Nanoscale SiC islands with perfectly coherent zinc blende structures...
Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide biologic role in health and disease

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), a neuropeptide with wide distribution in the central and peripheral nervous systems, has a broad spectrum of biologic actions. Usually acting as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator but sometimes also as a blood-borne hormone, it participates in the regulation of a variety of major body functions and may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of several diseases.
PRODUCT MOMENT GENERATING FUNCTION TECHNIQUE AND ITS APPLICATIONS TO MODIFIED POWER SERIES DISTRIBUTIONS

In this article, a new approach which I call a “product moment generating function” (pmgf) is introduced and explained to find mean, variance, and higher moments. An advantage in this approach is illustrated using Gupta's [1] modified power series distributions (mpsd). Finding the higher moments of mpsd was not easy and Gupta employed recurrence relations among moments for obtaining higher moments.
Characterizing extreme points as basic feasible solutions in infinite linear programs

Unlike in finite dimensions, a basic feasible solution characterization of extreme points does not hold in countably infinite linear programs. We develop regularity conditions under which such a characterization is possible. Applications to infinite network flow problems and non-stationary Markov decision processes are presented.
The feeding apparatus of the salamander Amphiuma tridactylum: Morphology and behavior

Anatomical studies of cephalic bones and muscles combined with cine and high-speed videographic analyses of feeding demonstrate that Amphiuma tridactylum uses two distinct types of suction feeding. Small or relatively immobile prey generally elicit a stationary capture mode in which mouth opening precedes buccal expansion and there is no forward movement of the head of the salamander. Actively moving prey are captured by a rapid strike during which mouth opening and buccal expansion are synchronous and the extent of buccal expansion is greater than in stationary feeding. Differences between these feeding modes may be due to differences in the timing of contraction of the rectus cervicis muscle. Synchronous hyoid and mandibular excursions during the strike are probably generated by simultaneous contractions of the depressor mandibulae and rectus cervicis, whereas delay of hyoid excursions during stationary capture suggests sequential contraction of the depressor and rectus cervicis.
Interpretation of oligonucleotide mass spectra for determination of sequence using electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry.

Procedures are described for interpretation of mass spectra from collision-induced dissociation of polycharged oligonucleotides produced by electrospray ionization. The method is intended for rapid sequencing of oligonucleotides of completely unknown structure at approximately the 15-mer level and below, from DNA or RNA. Identification of sequence-relevant ions that are produced from extensive fragmentation in the quadrupole collision cell are based primarily on (1) recognition of 3‘- and 5‘-terminal residues as initial steps in mass ladder propagation, (2) alignment of overlapping nucleotide chains that have been constructed independently from each terminus, and (3) use of experimentally measured molecular mass in rejection of incorrect sequence candidates. Algorithms for sequence derivation are embodied in a computer program that requires <2 s for execution. The interpretation procedures are demonstrated for sequence location of simple forms of modification in the base and sugar. The potential for direc...
IS-060 Treatment Of Functional Constipation

Evidence-based recommendations from ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN for functional constipation in infants and children. Childhood functional constipation has an estimated prevalence of 3% in the Western world and is probably the most common gastrointestinal complaint in children. It is characterised by infrequent painful defecation, faecal incontinence and abdominal pain. Only less than 5% of children with constipation have an underlying disease. To assist healthcare workers worldwide in the management of children with functional constipation, only recently the North American Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) and the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition ( ESPGHAN) decided to develop an evidence-based guideline as a joined effort. At present, a thorough medical history and complete physical exam are usually sufficient to confirm the diagnosis of functional constipation. Further laboratory or radiological investigations should only be performed in case of doubt, to exclude an underlying disease. Treatment of childhood constipation consists of four steps: (1) education, (2) disimpaction, (3) prevention of re-accumulation of faeces and (4) follow-up. Surprisingly, there is only limited evidence that laxative treatment is better than placebo in children with constipation. According to the available evidence, lactulose is recommended for children <1 year as first-choice treatment. For children older than 1 year, both lactulose and polyethylene glycol (PEG) with or without electrolytes can be used as first-choice treatment.
Irreversible Effects of Visible Light on the Retina: Role of Vitamin A

Diffuse retinal irradiation by visible light produces in the rat the death of visual cells and pigment epithelium. Typically, cage illumination of 1500 lux from fluorescent light through a green filter leads to severe damage when continued for 40 hours. Vitamin A deficiency protects against this damage but experiments show that retinol released by light from rhodopsin is probably not the toxic agent. Protection against light damage depends on a long-range state of cell adaptation to light itself. The normal diurnal cycle of light and dark seems to be the essential factor in controlling visual cell viability and susceptibility.
Separation of pure polychlorinated biphenyl isomers into two types of inducers on the basis of induction of cytochrome P-450 or P-448

Abstract A number of isomerically pure polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were tested as inducers of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes in the rat. The chlorinated biphenyl isomers can be categorized into two distinct groups of inducers, while commercial PCB mixtures have characteristics of both groups. Biphenyls chlorinated symmetrically in both the meta and para positions (3,4,3′,4′- and 3,4,5,3′,4′,5′-) increase the formation of cytochrome P-448, the ratio of the 455 to 430 peaks of the ethyl isocyanide difference spectrum, and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and glucuronyl transferase activities, but decrease aminopyrine N-demethylase activity. These isomers are also the most toxic, as measured by weight loss. Biphenyl isomers chlorinated in both the para and ortho positions induce the formation of cytochrome P-450 rather than P-448, regardless of the chlorination of the meta position. These isomers, which include 2,4,2′,4′-tetra- and 2,4,5,2′,4′,5′-, 2,3,4,2′,3′,4′- and 2,4,6,2′,4′,6′-hexachlorobiphenyls, increase cytochrome P-450 and N-demethylase activity, but produce only a slight increase in aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity, and do not alter the peak of the CO-difference spectrum or the ratio of the 455/430 peaks of the ethyl isocyanide difference spectrum. Isomers which are chlorinated in only one ring, or are chlorinated in both rings but not in the para positions, have very little activity as inducers of liver enzymes. Of the dichlorobiphenyls tested, 3,3′- and 4,4′-dichlorobiphenyls have very slight activity at extremely high doses.
The optical and magnetic properties of copper in Chenopodium album plastocyanin.

1. 1. The visible and near-ultraviolet optical absorption and optical rotary dispersion spectra of Chenopodium album plastocyanin were examined. Cotton effects were observed for the optical peaks in this region indicating the asymmetry of the copper chromophoric site. 2. 2. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra showed that the two copper atoms in the protein are divalent and both are in equivalent sites. 3. 3. Proton relaxation rate studies showed that the copper is not on the surface of the molecule.
A Conceptual Framework for Combining Artificial Intelligence and Optimization in Engineering Design

Research in artificial intelligence and optimization (OR) has had significant impact on the formulation and solution of computational methods in engineering design. This paper presents a conceptual framework for understanding a more powerful technology that is evolving from a combination of these approaches. The paper first proposes generalized representations of engineering design models that involve quantitative and qualitative aspects. Second, it presents a general classification of AI and OR models in terms of model attributes, in order to establish mappings with generic solution techniques. Third, the requirements of solution methods are discussed, as well as several schemes for the integration of AI and optimization to identify future research directions. Several specific approaches are included to illustrate various ways in which AI and optimization can be combined for tackling computational design models.
13C NMR Analysis of Soot Produced from Model Compounds and a Coal

Soot samples, including the associated organics, produced from an Illinois No. 6 coal (five samples) and two model compounds, biphenyl (three samples) and pyrene (two samples), have been studied by...
Lysine-313 of 5-Aminolevulinate Synthase Acts as a General Base during Formation of the Quinonoid Reaction Intermediates

5-Aminolevulinate synthase catalyzes the condensation of glycine and succinyl-CoA to form CoA, carbon dioxide, and 5-aminolevulinate. This represents the first committed step of heme biosynthesis in animals and some bacteria. Lysine 313 (K313) of mature murine erythroid 5-aminolevulinate synthase forms a Schiff base linkage to the pyridoxal 5‘-phosphate cofactor. In the presence of glycine and succinyl-CoA, a quinonoid intermediate absorption is transiently observed in the visible spectrum of purified murine erythroid ALAS. Mutant enzymes with K313 replaced by glycine, histidine, or arginine exhibit no spectral evidence of quinonoid intermediate formation in the presence of glycine and succinyl-CoA. The wild-type 5-aminolevulinate synthase additionally forms a stable quinonoid intermediate in the presence of the product, 5-aminolevulinate. Only conservative mutation of K313 to histidine or arginine produces a variant that forms a quinonoid intermediate with 5-aminolevulinate. The quinonoid intermediate ab...
Using frequency-labeled exchange transfer to separate out conventional magnetization transfer effects from exchange transfer effects when detecting ParaCEST agents.

Paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer agents combine the benefits of a large chemical shift difference and a fast exchange rate for sensitive MRI detection. However, the in vivo detection of these agents is hampered by the need for high B1 fields to allow sufficiently fast saturation before exchange occurs, thus causing interference of large magnetization transfer effects from semisolid macromolecules. A recently developed approach named frequency-labeled exchange transfer utilizes excitation pulses instead of saturation pulses for detecting the exchanging protons. Using solutions and gel phantoms containing the europium (III) complex of DOTA tetraglycinate (EuDOTA-(gly)−4), it is shown that frequency-labeled exchange transfer allows the separation of chemical exchange effects and magnetization transfer (MT) effects in the time domain, therefore allowing the study of the individual resonance of rapidly exchanging water molecules (kex >104 s−1) without interference from conventional broad-band MT. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reducing Artemia use in the culture of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

Abstract The acquisition and production of Artemia for the feeding of larval marine fish can constitute a significant portion of total fry culturing costs. The availability and price of Artemia can vary widely from year to year and, recently, Artemia cysts attained record high prices. This experiment was conducted to examine early weaning of cod ( Gadus morhua ) larvae followed by supplementing microparticulate diet (MPD) with reduced Artemia rations. The objective was to determine whether Artemia use could be minimized while maintaining high growth and survival through supplementation of the MPD diet. Eggs were volumetrically counted to achieve a stocking density of 75 larvae l −1 . The experiment consisted of a control group (100% A), which was fed live food during the experimental period, and three experimental treatments. All treatments were run in triplicate. The three experimental treatments received MPD and 50% of the amount Artemia in the 100% A treatment (50% A), MPD and 25% of the amount Artemia in the 100% A treatment (25% A), and MPD only (MPD). Standard lengths and dry weights were collected at hatch, 8, 22, 36, 50 and 64 days post-hatch (dph). Survival was calculated by counting all remaining fish at the conclusion of the experiment. The results indicate that the 100% A, 50% A and 25% A treatments did not differ significantly in standard length, dry weight, specific growth rate or survival. The MPD treatment had lower growth and survival than any of the treatments receiving Artemia . This study supports that, when Artemia prices are high (>US$50/kg), significant savings are possible for marine larval fish culture by using co-feeding strategies similar to those presented here.
Study on the Relationship between Transition Curve and Neighbor Point

In order to satisfy tunnel engineering survey and rapid transit railway engineering survey, this paper makes a study of the relationship between transition curve and neighbor point, and puts forward precise bisection method solution and approximate correction method solution which is suited to calculator. Besides, correction method is verified through comparing with bisection method to prove that its accuracy can meet engineering survey requirement.
Clinical outcomes of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients treated with oral diltiazem and limited intensive care management.

BACKGROUND Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients are frequently treated with prophylactic nimodipine and undergo invasive monitoring of blood pressure and volume status in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting to decrease the incidence of delayed ischemic neurological deficit (DIND) and improve functional outcomes. The goal of this study was to examine the incidence of DIND and poor functional outcomes in a consecutive series of SAH patients treated with a different regimen of prophylactic oral diltiazem and limited use of intensive care monitoring. METHODS The study involved a consecutive series of 123 aneurysmal SAH patients treated by the senior author who were admitted within 72 hours of hemorrhage and who never received nimodipine or nicardipine. Functional outcomes were graded using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). RESULTS Of the 123 patients identified, favorable outcomes (GOS 4 and 5) were achieved in 74.8%. The incidence of DIND was 19.5%. Hypertensive, hypervolemic, hemodilutional (HHH) therapy was used in 10 patients (8.1%) and no patients were treated for DIND by endovascular means. Seven patients (5.7%) had a poor functional outcome or death because of DIND and two of these were related to complications of HHH therapy. These results were compared to contemporary series of SAH patients managed with other treatment protocols. CONCLUSIONS Functional outcomes of patients treated with a regimen of oral diltiazem, limited use of ICU monitoring and HHH therapy for DIND compare favorably with other contemporary series of SAH patients.
Dynamic service-oriented architectures for tactical edge networks

Service-oriented Architectures (SoAs) have established themselves as a popular approach to building large-scale systems. They were initially motivated by organizations desiring dynamically coupled systems that would support rapid configuration, deployment, and reconfiguration. SoAs support multi-tiered architectures for enterprise backends as well as integration of multiple organizations via well defined interfaces. The success and popularity of SoAs in the Internet has driven the consideration of SoAs for tactical edge networks. However, tactical edge networks are considerably different from the Internet in terms of the type and number of nodes as well as the connectivity between the nodes. Nodes may be transient and resource constrained -- battery operated and with limited processing and storage. The communications between nodes may be wireless and ad-hoc, resulting in network partitioning and unreliable, bandwidth constrained, and variable latency links. This paper describes some observations of the target environments, requirements for SoAs for such environments, and experiences with developing SoAs for tactical edge networks.
Extreme water velocities: Topographical amplification of wave-induced flow in the surf zone of rocky shores

Water velocities as high as 25 m s 21 have been recorded in the surf zone of wave-swept rocky shores—velocities more than twice the phase speed of the breaking waves with which they are associated. How can water travel twice as fast as the waveform that initially induces its velocity? We explore the possibility that the interaction of a wave with the local topography of the shore can greatly amplify the water velocities imposed on intertidal plants and animals. Experiments in a laboratory wave tank show that interactions between bores refracted by a prowlike beach can produce jets in which the velocity is nearly twice the bore’s phase speed. This velocity can be further amplified by a factor of 1.3‐1.6 if the jet strikes a vertical wall. This type of topographically induced amplification of water velocity could result in substantial spatial variation in wave-induced hydrodynamic forces and might thereby help to explain the patchwork nature of disturbance that is characteristic of intertidal communities.
Development of instructional courseware in thermodynamics education

This paper presents a concise computer courseware for solving three types of fundamental thermodynamic problems: determine gas status after specified processes; evaluate a pure substance's thermodynamic properties at given state; and analysis of basic thermodynamic cycles, including power cycle, refrigeration cycle, and heat pump cycle. Common programming language C# is selected to develop the courseware and interfaces. The application of the developed courseware in teaching thermodynamic courses can efficiently help students to improve their problem-solving skills and make them better understand basic thermodynamic laws. The presented teaching approach can be expansively applied in thermodynamics education. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 19: 115–124, 2011
The Origins of the Twelfth Amendment: The Electoral College in the Early Republic, 1787-1804

Preface Introduction A New Hand: No Kings, No Queens Origins of the Electoral College The Ratification Debate The First Presidential Election New York Abstains Learning To Play New Rules for the Game in 1792 An Election without Washington Preparations for 1800 The Election of 1800 The Contingency Election of 1801 The Electoral College in 1801 Shuffling the Deck Partisan Principles and Interests The House Initiates an Amendment The Senate Adopts a Different Plan The House Concurs Winner Take All Ratification of the Twelfth Amendment The Election of 1804 Epilogue Appendices Notes Bibliography Index
Analysis of model parameters for a polymer filtration simulator

We examine a simulation model for polymer extrusion filters and determine its sensitivity to filter parameters. The simulator is a three-dimensional, time-dependent discretization of a coupled system of nonlinear partial differential equations used to model fluid flow and debris transport, along with statistical relationships that define debris distributions and retention probabilities. The flow of polymer fluid, and suspended debris particles, is tracked to determine how well a filter performs and how long it operates before clogging. A filter may have multiple layers, characterized by thickness, porosity, and average pore diameter. In this work, the thickness of each layer is fixed, while the porosities and pore diameters vary for a two-layer and three-layer study. The effects of porosity and average pore diameter on the measures of filter quality are calculated. For the three layer model, these effects are tested for statistical significance using analysis of variance. Furthermore, the effects of each pair of interacting parameters are considered. This allows the detection of complexity, where in changing two aspects of a filter together may generate results substantially different from what occurs when those same aspects change separately. The principal findings indicate that the first layer of a filter is the most important.
Supersymmetric Quantum Fields and Infinite Dimensional Analysis

Supersymmetric quantum fields are interesting from the point of view both of physics and of mathematics. Their interest for physics (see, e g. [35]) stems primarily from the fact that they may provide a natural framework for a unified theory of elementary interactions. In particular, recent developments in superstring theory [15] suggest that such a theory has the potential to unify gravitational forces with the strong, weak and electromagnetic forces.
Kinetically Controlled Growth and Shape Formation Mechanism of Platinum Nanoparticles

Recently, we have been able to synthesize platinum colloidal nanoparticles of different shapes (Science, 1996, 272, 1924). In this report, we present transmission electron microscopic (TEM) results on the time-dependent shape distribution of platinum nanoparticles during the growth period and its dependence on the concentration of the capping polymer as well as the pH of the solution. The results suggest a shape-controlled growth mechanism in which the difference between the rate of the catalytic reduction process of Pt2+ on the {111} and {100} faces, the competition between the Pt2+ reduction and the capping process on the different nanoparticle surfaces, and the concentration-dependent buffer action of the polymer itself all control the final distribution of the different shapes observed.
The TimberWolf placement and routing package

TimberWolf is an integrated set of placement and routing optimization programs. The general combinatorial optimization technique known as simulated annealing is used by each program. Programs for standard cell, macro/custom cell, and gate-array placement, as well as standard cell global routing, have been developed. Experimental results on industrial circuits show that area savings over existing layout programs ranging from 15 to 62% are possible.
Quality of health answers in social Q&A

The purpose of the current study is to investigate perceptions regarding the quality of online health answers in social Q&A. The current study differs from previous studies by focusing on the topic of health, comparing the evaluations of users against experts. Three groups of participants -- librarians, nurses, and users of Yahoo! Answers -- were invited to assess the quality of health answers posted in Yahoo! Answers. Forty participants from each group reviewed a total of 400 health answers, rating them with a 5-points Likert scale according to 10 evaluation criteria: accuracy, completeness, relevance, objectivity, source credibility, readability, politeness, confidence, knowledge, and efforts. Findings indicated that there was no significant difference of the quality ratings between librarians and nurses. There was, however, significant difference between those two expert groups (librarians and nurses) and users. Librarians and nurses rated the quality of answers lower on most of the evaluation criteria than users. This research will help librarians and nurses better understand how laypeople, such as their patrons and patients, evaluate online health information in social contexts, leading to the offering of better health information services to these audiences.
The case for a contemplative philosophy of education

This chapter introduces contemplative practices, studies, and pedagogy and argues in support of a contemplative pedagogy.
Automatic Camera Network Localization using Object Image Tracks

Camera networks are being used in more applications as different types of sensor networks are used to instrument large spaces. Here we show a method for localizing the cameras in a camera network to recover the orientation and position up to scale of each camera, even when cameras are wide-baseline or have different photometric properties. Using moving objects in the scene, we use an intra-camera step and an inter-camera step in order to localize. The intra-camera step compares frames from a single camera to build the tracks of the objects in the image plane of the camera. The inter-camera step uses these object image tracks from each camera as features for correspondence between cameras. We demonstrate this idea on both simulated and real data.
Normalized LMS Algorithm

This chapter contains sections titled: Instantaneous Approximation Computational Cost Power Normalization Least-Perturbation Property
Sapling growth and survivorship as affected by light and flooding in a river floodplain forest of southeast Texas

We investigated the effects of light and flooding on growth and survivorship of saplings in a river floodplain forest of southeast Texas. Growth responses to light were consistent with the expectation that shade-intolerant species grow faster than shade-tolerant species in high light, and vice versa. Mortality risk was not associated with shade tolerance level unless high mortality risks associated with a period of high flooding were removed. These results support the hypothesis that shade-tolerant species in floodplains may be limited by flooding as previous studies suggested. Also, compared to their performance at a nearby mesic site, common species showed little intraspecific difference in shade tolerance, especially for shade-intolerant species. Finally, the positive correlation between low-light growth and survivorship suggests that carbon allocation to continued growth may be favored as a sapling strategy in floodplains.
Intracephalic Embryonic Transplants

The purpose of the present review is to explore the possible use of “intracephalic” embryonic neural transplants to neonatal and adult recipients as model systems for analyzing various aspects of CNS development. Transplants of embryonic brain tissue into the CNS milieu of immature or adult recipients provide a unique opportunity to analyze both the subsequent development of the embryonic CNS tissue and the interaction of its immature constituent cells with cellular elements and products present in the CNS environment and circulatory system of the host animal.
Properties of Ion Implanted and UHV-CVD Grown Si:Er

We have fabricated Si:Er films by ion implantation and ultra-high vacuum chemical vapor deposition (UHV-CVD). The energy of the ion implantation was varied from 200 keV to 4.5 MeV. Oxygen was co-implanted to overlap the erbium profile. At implant energies of 400 keV, we found that the luminescence was optimized at a lower annealing temperature (800° C, 30 minutes) than that needed for the 4.5 MeV implant (900°C, 30 minutes). The light intensity per erbium atom is critically dependent on the implantation energy. However, spreading resistance measurements show that the donor activity of the implanted erbium is independent of energy. We have correlated the donor activity with quantum efficiency by varying the donor spatial distribution and concentration through post implantation heat treatments. For the UHV-CVD grown Si:Er films, two erbium metallorganic precursors, Er(TMHD) 3 and Er(FOD) 3 . have been used for growths from 550–620°C. The thickness of the erbium layers are similar to that of implanted devices but the Er concentration of 4 × 10 21 /cm 3 exceeded the implanted material by two orders of magnitude.
Participatory Rural Appraisal as an Approach to Environmental Education in Urban Community Gardens

Through the Cornell University Garden Mosaics program, youth learn about ethnic gardening practices in urban community gardens using research methods adapted from Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). We conducted a study to determine whether youth could effectively facilitate PRA activities with gardeners, and to document any social and learning outcomes of the youths' research projects. The PRA activities engaged and promoted positive interactions among educators, youth, and gardeners, particularly where educators felt comfortable facilitating the activities and were able to present the methods to youth and gardeners in familiar terms (e.g. interviews and garden histories). Although youth and educators experienced a number of challenges in facilitating the more hands-on activities (e.g. participatory mapping, drawing diagrams of resource flows), the PRA approach does offer valuable insights for environmental educators whose goals include incorporating ethnic diversity and engaging youth in research leadi...
Adiabatic beam buncher for plasma accelerators

An adiabatic free-electron laser wiggler for electron beam bunching is described. A free-electron laser naturally bunches an electron beam. When the beam is trapped adiabatically, the emittance of the bunched beam is decreased significantly compared with abrupt trapping. For a 57-period two-meter buncher having poleface magnetic field of 2 T and 10 GW of 100 /spl mu/m radiation, adiabatic trapping reduces the final emittance by a factor of three.
Congress targets education in NSF budget

Education was overwhelmingly on the minds of the House Science Committee's Subcommittee on Science as it examined the National Science Foundation's budget at a hearing February 20. “Science and engineering education continues to be a focus of particular interest to this subcommittee,” said the new chairman, Rick Boucher (D-Va.). “We are pleased to note a 21% increase in the FY 1992 budget request for the NSF education directorate.” The subcommittee directed most of its questions at how NSF will spend this increase. Ron Packard (R-Calif.), the subcommittee's ranking minority member, asked about NSF's math and science education initiative, particularly the agency's plans for undergraduate education and teacher training. Luther Williams, NSF assistant director for education and human resources, sketched the agency's plans to improve teacher competency, to train the next generation of teachers, and to foster teacher networking. Frederick M. Bernthal, NSF acting director, said the agency's high performance computing initiative could “revolutionize” math and science teaching.