cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-term monitoring of a marine geologic hydrocarbon source by a coastal air pollution station in Southern California

Hourly total hydrocarbon (THC) data, spanning 1990–2008 from a California air pollution station located near the Coal Oil Point (COP) seep field, were analyzed and clearly showed geologic CH4 emissions as the dominant local source. Annual COP emissions are conservatively estimated as 0.015 Tg CH4 year−1 and represent a natural and concentrated geologic methane source (24 m3 m−2 day−1 gas flux at some active seeps, Clark et al., 2010). For a sense of the scale and potential importance to the regional Southern California methane budget, COP emits an amount equivalent to 8% of the estimated Los Angeles County anthropogenic emissions. Station THC measurements near COP showed a strong wind dependency with elevated levels closely correlated with a sonar-derived spatial distribution of seep field emissions. THC varied seasonally, with a maximum in January and minimum in July and a peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.24 ppm. The seasonal signal was more readily apparent midday (R2 = 0.69 harmonic fit), compared to nighttime and morning (R2 < 0.45). The bimodal diel THC pattern consisted of seasonally-modulated peaks in the morning and evening. THC temporal and spatial trends were consistent with both transport and source emission variations. Long-term, annual seep field emissions consistently decreased on a field-wide basis until the late 1990s, before increasing consistently, most likely as a function of underlying geologic processes. This study demonstrates the value of municipal air quality monitoring stations for insight into local greenhouse gas sources and highlights the non-negligible and variable contribution from marine geologic seepage.
Correlation between microstructure and first-order magnetization reversal in the SmCo5/α-Fe nanocomposite magnets

Abstract SmCo 5 / α -Fe nanocomposite magnets with different morphology have been fabricated by ball milling of the micrometer sized SmCo 5 and α -Fe powders. The α -Fe grains vary from elongated nano-strips to spherical nanoparticles with increasing milling time. The inter-phase exchange coupling is enhanced with increasing milling time due to reduced grain size. The first-order reversal curves (FORCs) are taken to identify optimal conditions for exchange coupling. It has been found that the stripped morphology results in weak inter-phase exchange coupling, while enhanced exchange coupling is observed with further reduction of the soft-phase grain size. Compared with the measurement of demagnetization curves, FORC analysis provides more information on the magnetostatic as well as the exchange interactions.
Functional Analysis of a Disulfide Bond in the Cardiac Na+-Ca2+ Exchanger

The electrophoretic mobility of the cardiac Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange protein is different under reducing and nonreducing conditions. This mobility shift is eliminated in a cysteine-less exchanger, suggesting that the presence or absence of an intramolecular disulfide bond alters the conformation and mobility of the exchanger. Using cysteine mutagenesis and biochemical analysis, we have identified the cysteine residues involved in the disulfide bond. Cysteine 792 in loop h of the exchanger forms a disulfide bond with either cysteine 14 or 20 near the NH(2) terminus. Because the NH(2) terminus is extracellular, the data establish that loop h must also be extracellular. A rearrangement of disulfide bonds has previously been implicated in the stimulation of exchange activity by combinations of reducing and oxidizing agents. We have investigated the role of cysteines in the stimulation of the exchanger by the combination of FeSO(4) and dithiothreitol (Fe-DTT). Using the giant excised patch technique, we find that stimulation of the wild type exchanger by Fe-DTT is primarily due to the removal of a Na(+)-dependent inactivation process. Analysis of mutated exchangers, however, indicates that cysteines are not responsible for stimulation of the exchange activity by Fe-DTT. Ca(2+) blocks modification of the exchanger by Fe-DTT. Disulfide bonds are not involved in redox stimulation of the exchanger, and the modification reaction is unknown. Modulation of Na(+)-dependent inactivation may be a general mechanism for regulation of Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchange activity and may have physiological significance.
A Novel Mechanism of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Regulation by Notch: Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor-β Expression?

See related article, pages 1483–1491 The Notch family of receptors, Notch1 to -4, are heterodimer transmembrane proteins, consisting of an extracellular domain and a noncovalently linked intracellular domain (ICD). Upon interaction with the DSL family of proteins (Jagged, Delta-like) on neighboring cells, Notch undergoes proteolytic cleavage, which frees the ICD from the plasma membrane. This results in translocation of the ICD into the nucleus, where it forms a complex with the CSL family of transcriptional repressors (CBF1/RBP-Jk), removing the repression and allowing for target gene (Hes, Hey) transcription.1,2 Tissue distribution of the Notch proteins varies widely. Notch1 and -4 are predominantly endothelial, prominent in both arteries and veins, and present in all stages of development (embryonic to adult); the expression of Notch2 is typically confined to pulmonary endothelium, but Notch3 is primarily expressed in adult arterial vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in large conduit, pulmonary, and systemic resistance arteries.3 This specific pattern of temporal and spatial distribution correlate to diverse functions of the Notch family in vascular development and physiology in vertebrates reported to date.4 In the cardiovascular system, Notch signaling plays a role in several aspects of vascular development, including vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, differentiation, vascular remodeling, and VSMC maturation. Notch1 and -4 signaling appears critical in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis during early development, when it interacts with vascular endothelial growth factor signaling to specify artery–vein differentiation of endothelial cells (ECs). Transgenic mice deficient for Notch1 fail to undergo embryonic angiogenic remodeling, and vascular development is arrested at the primitive undifferentiated plexus, resulting in an embryonic lethal phenotype. Notch2-null mutations likewise result in embryonic lethality characterized by multiple large and small vessel aneurysms. Notch4 deletion results in no obvious phenotypic alteration. Notch3−/− mice are viable; however, they fail to develop proper arterial VSMC phenotype, resulting in vein-like …
Treatment of Pregabalin Toxicity by Hemodialysis in a Patient With Kidney Failure

Pregabalin is prescribed for neuropathic pain. We report the first case of pregabalin toxicity in a hemodialysis patient and her successful treatment with hemodialysis. The patient was a 30-year-old woman on long-term hemodialysis therapy who experienced significant myoclonus of the arms and legs when her dose of pregabalin was mistakenly increased. The drug has 3 properties that contribute to making it amenable to removal by hemodialysis: relatively low molecular weight (159.23 Da), relatively low volume of distribution (0.5 L/kg), and not bound to plasma proteins. We achieved hemodialysis clearance of 88.8 mL/min, which was associated with resolution of symptoms immediately after hemodialysis.
Pressure dependence of the electrical resistivity and Tc of the “nearly-heavy-fermion” superconductor U2PtC2

Measurements of the temperature-dependent electrical resistivity and the superconducting transition temperature Tc of the “nearly-heavy-fermion” compound U2PtC2 subjected to large hydrostatic pressures indicate that superconductivity arises within a strongly pressure-dependent highly correlated electron system. We compare our results to observations made on other uranium based heavy-fermion materials, suggest a possible explanation for pressure-induced variations in the resistivity of U2PtC2, and discuss its relation to superconductivity.
Dehydration induces Fos, but not increased vasopressin mRNA in the supraoptic nucleus of aged rats

Abstract Dehydration induces Fos expression and increases the length of the vasopressin (VP) mRNA poly-A tail and the content of Vp mRNA in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of the hypothalamus. The current studies were performed to evaluate the effect of aging on these responses. Fischer 344 rats of 4, 14, and 28–30 months of age were either water deprived for 72 h or allowed ad libitum access to water. Fos induction in the SON and PVN was examined by immunocytochemistry in order to provide an index of cellular activation. VP mRNA content and size was examined in SON by Northern analysis as an index of VP synthetic capacity. Dehydration induced the expected increase osmolality in all three ages, however, serum VP was only increased in the 4- and 14-month-old rats. The increase in serum VP was accompanied by a decrease in VP content of the posterior pituitary (PP) in the dehydrated 4- and 14-month-old rats. PP VP content was reduced in both the hydrated and dehydrated old rats relative to the other ages (P = 0.0007). Fos was induced in both SON and PVN of all water deprived rats regardless of age. The density of Fos staining was increased in both nuclei following dehydration (SON,P = 0.002; PVN,P = 0.0001). There was also a significant increase in the number of cells expressing Fos in both nuclei in the dehydrated animals (SON,P = 0.0022; PVN,P = 0.0056). There was no significant effect of age on the density of Fos staining. In contrast, dehydration failed to elicit the expected increase in VP mRNA size and content in the SON of the aged dehydrated rats although both of these parameters were increased in the 4- a and 14-month-old rats (P
Ground Antenna for Space Communication System

The accurate tracking and telemetering of space probes requires the use of very sensitive receiving equipment and large antennas. The TRAC(E) system developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory utilizes an 85-foot-diameter, equatorially mounted, parabolic reflector. The antenna, similar to those used for radio astronomy, is located near Goldstone Lake near Barstow, Calif. The mechanical and electrical characteristics of the antenna and its subsystems are discussed, and its performance and the way it was used in tracking the lunar probe Pioneer IV are described. Limitations imposed on the space communication system by the ground antenna are discussed, and possible methods of improvement are listed.
The MASA syndrome: A new heritable mental retardation syndrome

Two Mexican-American children of West Texas are described: a brother and sister with a similar pattern of malformation. They have in common a tetrad of Mental retardation, Aphasia, Shuffling gait, and Adducted thumbs. Besides these two sibs, who were available for study, it is known that a total of seven members of this kindred, six males and one female, spanning three generations, have been similarly affected. Although all members of this family come from the same ethnic background, consanguinity has been denied. The mode of inheritance cannot be firmly established at this time. It is in our opinion most compatible with that of an X-linked recessive gene with phenotypic expression in only one female due to unfavorable Lyonization. Other possibilities exist which cannot be entirely excluded. These include an autosomal dominant mutation with incomplete penetrance in at least three obligatory carrier females. Another possible mechanism is that of an autosomal recessive gene, since all members of this pedigree are of the same Mexican ancestry (Fig. 1. II-1, III-3, III-6). Because all affected members exhibit the four cardinal features of this disorder: Mental retardation, Aphasia, Shuffling gait, and Adducted thumbs, wc wish to refer to this heritable condition as the MASA syndrome until the basic defect is further characterized.
Siboglinid evolution shaped by habitat preference and sulfide tolerance

Siboglinids are tube-dwelling annelids that inhabit marine reducing habitats such as anoxic mud bottoms, seeps and hydrothermal vents. As adults, they lack a functional digestive system and rely on chemoautotrophic microbial endosymbionts. Based on morphological analyses, Siboglinidae form a clade with the Sabellariidae, Serpulidae and Sabellidae within the Annelida. The sister group to this clade is the Oweniidae. Three subgroups constitute the Siboglinidae: Frenulata typically inhabit anoxic sediments, Sclerolinium (a.k.a., Monilifera) live on decaying organic matter or reduced sediments and Vestimentifera are mostly found at hydrocarbon seeps and hydrothermal vents. Recent studies suggest that Sclerolinum is the sister group to the Vestimentifera. Within the Vestimentifera, the species inhabiting bare-rock hydrothermal vents represent a derived clade. The seep-inhabiting genus Lamellibrachia forms a basal branch within the Vestimentifera. Trends in siboglinid evolution are most notable with regard to the level of sulfide tolerance and type of substrate. Basal groups inhabit soft substrate with only slightly elevated sulfide levels, whereas more derived species colonize hard substrate and tolerate elevated temperatures and high levels of sulfide. The type of substrate correlates with tube morphology and the function of the opisthosome. The role of the symbionts in habitat selection needs further investigation.
Bidirectional millimeter-wave radio-over-fiber system based on photodiode mixing and optical heterodyning

We demonstrate a bidirectional millimeter-wave (mmW) radio-over-fiber system based on the use of a p-i-n photodiode (PD) biased in the nonlinear regime. Since frequency down-conversion and photodetection are carried out by a single photodiode, the base station (BS) architecture is simplified. Down-link transmission employs an optical heterodyning technique for mmW generation and remote local oscillator (LO) delivery to BSs. The up-link scheme uses the electrical port of the PD as an input for optoelectronic mixing with the remotely delivered LO. Up-link and down-link have been successfully demonstrated for 397 Mbps and 794 Mbps binary phase-shift keying complying with the 60 GHz ECMA 387 standard. Error vector magnitude measurements and theoretical analysis are discussed as regards optimal PD bias conditions. It is shown that PD can be used in this bidirectional system without any switching of the PD bias.
An Update of Marketing Student Perceptions of Learning Activities: Structure, Preferences, and Effectiveness:

Many changes have occurred in the context of marketing education during the past decade, including the increased use of new technology-based and experiential pedagogies. To update the understanding of how students in advanced marketing courses perceive marketing pedagogies in this new context, a replication and extension of Karns’s study of student perceptions of learning activities was performed with survey responses from 227 students at eight universities. Multidimensional scaling analysis suggests that the underlying structure of these perceptions can be described by the labels: enjoyable, challenging, and real world. Internships, class discussion, and case analyses were seen by students as the learning activities that most contribute to their learning. Course Web sites and online discussion were seen as relatively less effective in contributing to student learning. Overall, it appears that marketing educators should continue efforts to imbue all learning activities with an applied, real-world orientation.
Navigating return: the gendered geographies of skilled return migration to Ghana

In this article, I extend the literature on return migration by exploring the gendered mechanisms of return for highly skilled Ghanaian migrants. Drawing on interviews with Ghanaian women and men who returned in their prime productive years, I examine their decision-making, the strategies they implement and the challenges they negotiate in the process. While the decision to return was straightforward, the actual processes circumscribing it contained tensions and compromises that involved renegotiations of gender identities, roles and norms, which themselves intersected with class differences. The empirical analyses emphasize how skilled migrants capitalize on their class status, social networks and transnational activities as means not only to return but also, for some, to mitigate the impacts of separation for themselves and their families as they seek to accomplish specific goals.
Connecting Communications Waveforms for Combat Effectiveness

Future networks, and in particular military networks, will connect numerous types of homogeneous networks, where a homogeneous network is one that uses the same communications waveform and algorithms to inter-connect all the users of the network. There are a number of challenges in inter-networking disparate waveforms including interacting with a network that does not behave in the same manner as your home network. Examples of such features are described and quantified in this paper and two architectures for connecting heterogeneous waveforms are considered. The goal of this paper is to describe the impact, interfaces, and options for inter-connecting different waveforms.
PURIFICATION OF PROTHROMBIN AND THROMBIN BY CHROMATOGRAPHY ON CELLULOSE

A method is described for obtaining purified bovine thrombin by chromatography on phosphate cellulose, and purified bovine prothrombin by chromatography on diethylaminoethyl cellulose. Both protein...
SAL: a simulation and analysis tool for assistive living applications

Simulation and analysis of assistive environments are important because they provide a first step towards creating an actual application for the real world. This work details the development of simulation and analysis tools for the Assistive Living Laboratory intended for use in the design of hardware and software for an assisted living system composed of monitoring and response systems. Monitoring is accomplished using a heterogeneous array of sensors which allow determination of the patient's current condition, and assessment of whether some action or intervention is required. The response subsystem carries out any intervention and is monitored to determine the success of the action. The analysis tools consider system performance and facilitate a design capable of monitoring and responding to the needs of the patient. The simulation tool includes the physics and programmed logic of the entities involved in the problem, and allows verification of the final system design. This simulator will help the development of applications for improving the quality of life of people living in assistive environments.
Population Level Impacts of Cooling Water Withdrawals on Harvested Fish Stocks

Trillions of gallons are withdrawn every year from U.S. rivers, estuaries, lakes, and coastal waters to cool the turbines of power plants and other equipment in manufacturing facilities. In the process, large numbers of aquatic organisms die from entrainment into the plant or impingement against the outer portion of the intake structure. In this paper, we develop a generalized age-structured population model with density dependent survival of sub-adult age classes, and we use the model to perform a screening analysis of the effects of entrainment and impingement for 15 harvested fish stocks off the California and Atlantic coasts. Stock sizes are estimated to be depressed by entrainment and impingement by less than 1% in 10 of the 15 cases considered, between 1 and 3% in two cases, and between 20 and 80% in three cases. A variety of sensitivity analyses are conducted to evaluate the influence of several sources of model and parameter uncertainties.
Azithromycin Enhances Phagocytic Killing of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans Y4 by Human Neutrophils

Background: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans resists killing by neutrophils and is inhibited by azithromycin (AZM) and amoxicillin (AMX). AZM actively concentrates inside host cells, whereas AMX enters by diffusion. The present study is conducted to determine whether AZM is more effective than AMX at enhancing phagocytic killing of A. actinomycetemcomitans by neutrophils.Methods: Killing assays were conducted in the presence of either 2 μg/mL AZM or 16 μg/mL AMX (equipotent against A. actinomycetemcomitans). Neutrophils were loaded by incubation with the appropriate antibiotic. Opsonized A. actinomycetemcomitans strain Y4 was incubated with the indicated antibiotic alone, with loaded neutrophils and antibiotic, or with control neutrophils (without antibiotic) at multiplicities of infection (MOIs) of 30 and 90 bacteria per neutrophil.Results: Neutrophil incubation with 2 μg/mL AZM yielded an intracellular concentration of 10 μg/mL. At an MOI of 30, neutrophils loaded with AZM failed to kill significan...
Chaotic Motion of Shallow Arch Structures under 1:1 Internal Resonance

The present study investigates the global bifurcations present in the motion of the shallow arch structure subjected to a spatially and temporally varying load under the conditions of principal subharmonic resonance and one-to-one internal resonance near single-mode periodic motions. Unlike the case examined in a companion paper by the writers, the effect of dissipation is also included in the present study of the global dynamics. By using a perturbation technique attributed to Kovac˘ic˘ and Wiggins we show the existence of Silnikov-type homoclinic orbit to a saddle-focus fixed point in the perturbed system, and consequently the chaotic behavior. The results are also interpreted in terms of the physical dynamics of the shallow arch system.
The pollination and breeding system of Dipterocarpus obtusifolius (Dipterocarpaceae) in dry deciduous forests of Thailand

The pollination biology of Dipterocarpus obtusifolius (Teijsm.), an obligately insect-pollinated dry deciduous dipterocarp tree, is described. For the first time, the pollinators of a Dipterocarpus species are identified, and they are found to be large Lepidoptera, a new pollination syndrome for this tree family. D. obtusifolius produces relatively few large, pink, pendulous flowers that emit a strong fragrance upon opening. Flowers open at dusk and remain open for 24–36h. Nectar secretion occurs at flower opening and continues through the next day. Pollen is maximally available at night but much pollen remains available to daytime visitors. The stigma is spatially separated from the anthers but pollen presentation and stigma receptivity occur simultaneously. In artificial pollination experiments there was intense selection pressure, through abscission of young fruit, in favour of outcrossing. Pollination did not occur in the absence of insect vectors. Large moths (Sphingidae and Noctuidae) are the primar...
Poder Local na República Velha

Originalmente apresentado como dissertacao de mestrado no departamento de Historia da Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciencias Humanas da Universidade de Sao Paulo, 1975.
Innervation of the pituitary gland by supraependymal neurons

Abstract Retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used to identify supraendymal neurons projecting to the pituitary gland in the hamster. Supraependymal neurons overlying the median eminence were labeled by HRP injections into the neural and intermediate lobes of the pituitary gland; no neurons were labeled following HRP injections confined to the anterior lobe. Supraependymal neurons innervating the pituitary gland may provide a means whereby cerebrospinal fluid-borne substances modulate neuron-intermediate lobe function.
Physiological and metabolic responses of gestating Brahman cows to repeated transportation.

This study characterized physiological responses to repeated transportation (TRANS) of gestating cows of differing temperaments. Cows were classified as Calm (C; = 10), Intermediate (I; = 28), or Temperamental (T; = 10). Based on artificial insemination date and pregnancy confirmation, cows were TRANS for 2 h on d 60 (TRANS1), 80 (TRANS2), 100 (TRANS3), 120 (TRANS4), and 140 (TRANS5) ± 5 d of gestation. Indwelling vaginal temperature (VT) monitoring devices were inserted 24 h before each TRANS with VT recorded from 2 h before TRANS and averaged into 5-min intervals through 30 min after TRANS. Serum samples were collected before loading and on unloading from the trailer to determine concentrations of cortisol, glucose, and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA). Data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis in SAS. Serum cortisol concentrations were affected by temperament ( 0.10) with repeated TRANS events. Serum glucose concentrations were affected ( < 0.02) by a TRANS event by temperament interaction with T cows taking more TRANS events to decrease their change in glucose concentration compared to C and I cows. These results demonstrate that temperament influences physiological responses to stress in gestating Brahman cows. Although repeated transport in our study is confounded with day of gestation, seasonal changes, and learning from repeated handling and transport, repeated transport is a useful model of repeated stress in studying the effects of temperament.
When anti-G and anti-C antibodies masquerade as anti-D antibody

We describe a case of a pregnant woman with anti-C/anti-G antibodies masquerading as anti-D antibodies. Further, confirmation of anti-D antibody is recommended with adsorption-elution studies to confirm the true antibody status. This will avoid the consequence of withholding Rh immunoglobulin prophylaxis in cases when anti-D antibodies are not present.
Edge Effects of Gated and Ungated Roads on Terrestrial Salamanders

Abstract Roads through forest habitats reduce the abundance of many animal species. These reductions are often referred to as edge effects and their causes include roadkill, degradation of forest habitat, and changes in biotic interactions. Which of these causes are operating can have important implications for management. Terrestrial salamanders in the southern Appalachians have previously been shown to be subject to edge effects from forest roads that are open to traffic. In this study, I examined edge effects on red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) along forest roads that were either open or gated to prevent vehicle entry. I also included roads that varied in the width of the gravel surface, the width of the roadside verge, and the magnitude of habitat gradients at the forest edge. I found that ungated roads were associated with consistent edge effects on salamanders, whereas no detectable edge effects were found for gated roads. Road width was as good a predictor of the magnitude of edge effect...
DISCRIMINATION OF BRIGHTNESS DIFFERENCES BY RATS WITH FOOD OR BRAIN‐STIMULATION REINFORCEMENT1

Rats were trained to respond to the brighter of two keys. Four animals were trained with food pellets and four with electrical brain stimulation. Each discrimination sequence was initiated when the animal broke a light beam at the rear of the chamber, turning on the key lights and starting a 30-sec reinforcement period. An initial response on the brighter key was immediately reinforced, and further responses on the brighter key were then intermittently reinforced. Any time the dimmer key was pressed, a 30-sec timeout was introduced. During timeout, no response had any programmed consequence. When the reinforcement period or the timeout ended, a new discrimination sequence could be initiated. Daily 1-hr training sessions were conducted, and after seven or eight sessions, all animals were at or near errorless performance levels. The luminance of the brighter key was then systematically reduced, in seven steps, with two 30-min test sessions at each step. Orderly psychometric functions were generated for individual animals. Initial acquisition, once position preferences were broken, was equally rapid for food and for brain-stimulation animals, and the two reinforcement procedures yielded comparable levels of brightness discriminability.
Pavlovian conditioning of the cephalic phase of gastric acid secretion in the rat

Abstract In this experiment the potential for the stimulus control of cephalic phase visceral secretions was examined. A Pavlovian conditioning procedure was used to train one set of rats to expect food in a specific test environment. The gastric acid outputs of these animals to this signalled meal were compared to the acid responses of two other groups of rats which served as controls for associative learning effects. The results of this experiment indicated that after only two CS-US pairings cephalic phase acid output of conditioned rats prior to feeding was statistically greater than that of controls. These data reveal that cephalic gastric acid responses can be brought rapidly under stimulus control by conditioning techniques. The implications of these findings to the control of cephalic phase visceral responses and to the role of conditioning in the elaboration or natural development of these responses are discussed.
High-sensitivity absorption spectroscopy on a microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition diamond growth facility

High-sensitivity absorption spectroscopy using a multi-element detector was performed on a microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapour deposition (MPACVD) diamond growth facility. The absolute methyl radical column density and the line-of-sight average of the gas temperature were measured as functions of position in the discharge with input methane concentration 0 - 1%. The average absolute methyl radical density was nearly independent of position in the discharge and varied in the range as the input mole fraction varied in the range 0 - 1%. The gas temperature was measured using emission spectroscopy and was found to be independent of position throughout the discharge. An upper bound of was placed on the CH density, which gives an upper bound of 0.008 on the hydrogen dissociation ratio .
A simulation approach to PERT network analysis

This paper presents simulation as a useful analytical tool for project network analysis. Simulation is a powerful tool for evaluating many of the decision parameters involved in project management. A computer program, named STARC, is used to illustrate the effectiveness of computer simulation for project planning. STATGRAPHICS software is used to illustrate some of the post-simulation statistical analyses that can be conducted.
IGF-II is present in bovine corneal stroma and activates keratocytes to proliferate in vitro.

Abstract Extracts of bovine corneal stroma have been shown to activate keratocytes in culture to proliferate. We fractionated stromal extract on a column of Sephacryl S-300 and tested the fractions for mitogenic activity using cell culture and for the presence of IGF-II and its binding protein IGFBP-2 by Western blot. We found that the mitogenic activity in the extract separated into major and minor peaks and that immunologically detectable IGF-II and IGFBP-2 co-eluted with the minor peak. We also compared the effects of 10 ng IGF-II/ml on keratocytes in culture to that of 2 ng TGF-β/ml over a 7-day culture period. We found that IGF-II and TGF-β, alone or combined, increased both 3 H-thymidine incorporation and DNA content of the cultures. The phenotype of the cells was determined by using antibodies to α-SM (smooth muscle) actin, fibronectin, SPARC, lumican and keratocan in Western blots of cell layers of media. Keratocytes cultured in IGF-II expressed no α-SM actin or fibronectin, low levels of SPARC and high levels of lumican and keratocan, indicating a native phenotype. Keratocytes in TGF-β expressed α-SM actin, fibronectin, SPARC and lumican, and expressed no or low levels of keratocan, indicating a myofibroblast phenotype. Keratocytes cultured in IGF-II plus TGF-β, however, expressed α-SM actin, fibronectin, SPARC, lumican, and keratocan by day 7 of culture. The results of this study show that IGF-II to be present in the corneal stroma, to stimulate keratocyte proliferation while maintaining native phenotype and to override the TGF-β mediated down regulation of keratocan production. The IGF-II in the stroma may serve as a mechanism to immediately activate keratocytes upon wounding and to ameliorate the scarring effects of TGF-β.
Logical rules of visual brain: From anatomy through neurophysiology to cognition

Humans can easily recognize objects as complex as faces even if they have not seen them in such conditions or context before. It seems that perceptually we are insensitive to the exact properties of an object's parts but the same parts in different configurations or contexts may introduce contradictory effects. From a computational point of view, we are often insensitive to changes of some symbols, but the same symbols may lead to different classification of the same object. In present work we are looking for the anatomical and neurophysiological basis of these perceptual effects. We describe interactions between parts and their configurations in different areas of the visual brain on the basis of a single cell electrophysiological activity in the thalamus, and cortical areas V1 and V4. Our model is based on feedforward (FF) and feedback (FB) interactions between these areas. In the retina and thalamus simple light spots are classified, V1 is the first area extracting edge orientation and V4 is the first area sensitive to simple shapes. The FF pathways combine properties extracted in each area into hypothetical objects. Area V1 presents concepts of orientations, while area V4 presents concepts of a simple shape. The FB pathways are responsible for comparison of the learned concepts with extracted object's properties - they form predictions. In each area structure related predictions are tested against hypothesis. We formulate a theory in which different visual stimuli are described through their condition attributes: responses in LGN, V1, and V4 neurons are divided into several ranges and are treated as decision attributes. Applying rough set theory [Pawlak, Z. (1991). Rough sets - theoretical aspects of reasoning about data. Boston, London, Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers] we have divided our stimuli into area dependent equivalent classes. We propose that relationships between decision rules in each area are determined by two different logical rules: ''driver logical rule'' of FF and ''modulator logical rule'' of FB pathways. These interactions are proposed to be a neurophysiological basis of the object classification.
The effects of chamfered and honed tool edge geometry in machining of three aluminum alloys

The effects of tool edge geometry in machining have received much attention in recent years due to a variety of emerging machining techniques, such as finish hard turning and micro-machining. In these techniques, the uncut chip thickness is often on the same order of magnitude as tool edge dimension. This paper presents and analyses the results of our recent experimental and theoretical study on the effects of tool edge geometry in machining. Both chamfered and honed tools are investigated covering a wide range of cutting speed and feed rate conditions. The three aluminum alloys 7075-T6, 6061-T6, and 2024-T351 are selected as work materials for particular research purposes. The cutting force, the thrust force, the ratio of the cutting force to the thrust force, and the chip thickness are measured. The similarities and differences in machining with a chamfered tool and with a honed tool are compared. A new slip-line model of chip formation for machining with a chamfered tool is proposed. Good agreement has been reached between the predicted and experimental results. The effects of different aluminum alloys and cutting speeds on the cutting forces, especially on the thrust force, are also studied.
Biosignal pattern recognition and interpretation systems. 3. Methods of classification

The following topics are discussed: Bayes/minimum distance classifiers; maximum likelihood classification estimation; k-nearest neighbor classification; entropy criteria; syntactic techniques; string matching; the Cocke-Younger-Kasami parsing algorithm; syntactic learning; finite-state automata; neural network classification techniques; learning vector quantization; cluster swapping; hierarchial clustering procedures. >
In vivo effects of a GPR30 antagonist

Estrogen is central to many physiological processes throughout the human body. We have previously shown that the G protein-coupled receptor GPR30 (also known as GPER), in addition to classical nuclear estrogen receptors (ER and ER), activates cellular signaling pathways in response to estrogen. In order to distinguish between the actions of classical estrogen receptors and GPR30, we have previously characterized G-1 (1), a selective agonist of GPR30. To complement the pharmacological properties of G-1, we sought to identify an antagonist of GPR30 that displays similar selectivity against the classical estrogen receptors. Here we describe the identification and characterization of G15 (2), a G-1 analog that binds to GPR30 with high affinity and acts as an antagonist of estrogen signaling through GPR30. In vivo administration of G15 revealed that GPR30 contributes to both uterine and neurological responses initiated by estrogen. The identification of this antagonist will accelerate the evaluation of the roles of GPR30 in human physiology.
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and brain ischemia

Abstract Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1) is a nuclear enzyme that facilitates DNA repair and may be important in neuronal cell death in a variety of diseases including cardiac arrest/cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and stroke. This chapter briefly reviews the characteristics of PARP, its activation, and its role in both focal (stroke) and global (cardiac arrest/CPR) cerebral ischemia. We demonstrate PARP deficiency to be effective in reducing neuronal reperfusion injury after stroke and cardiac arrest/CPR in mouse models. These data suggest a selective role of PARP-1 in glutamate excitotoxicity and that strategies of inhibiting PARP-1 may offer substantial neuroprotection in focal and global cerebral ischemia.
Control of brain slice respiration by (Na+ + K+)-activated adenosine triphosphatase and the effects of enzyme inhibitors

Abstract The involvement of membrane (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (Mg2+-dependent, (Na+ + K+)-activated ATP phosphohydrolase, E.C. 3.6.1.3) in the oxygen consumption of rat brain cortical slices was studied in order to determine whether (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity in intact cells can be estimated from oxygen consumption. The stimulation of brain slice respiration with K+ required the simultaneous presence of Na+. Ouabain, a specific inhibitor of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, significantly inhibited the (Na+ + K+)-stimulation of respiration. These observations suggest that the (Na+ + K+)-stimulation of brain slice respiration is related to ADP production as a result of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. However, ouabain also inhibited non-K+-stimulated respiration. Additionally, ouabain markedly reduced the stimulation of respiration by 2,4-dinitrophenol in a high (Na+ + K+)-medium. Thus, ouabain depresses brain slice respiration by reducing the availability of ADP through (Na+ + K+)-ATPase inhibition and acts additionally by increasing the intracellular Na+ concentration. These studies indicate that the use of ouabain results in an over-estimation of the respiration related to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. This fraction of the respiration can be estimated more precisely from the difference between slice respiration in high Na+ and K+ media and that in choline, K+ media. Studies were performed with two (Na+ + K+)-ATPase inhibitors to determine whether administration of these agents to intact rats would produce changes in brain respiration and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. The intraperitoneal injection of digitoxin in rats caused an inhibition of brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and related respiration, but chlorpromazine failed to alter either (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity or related respiration.
Rapamycin Inhibits IGF-1 Stimulated Cell Motility Through PP2A Pathway

Serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) has been implicated as a novel component of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Recently we have demonstrated that mTOR regulates cell motility in part through p70 S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) pathways. Little is known about the role of PP2A in the mTOR-mediated cell motility. Here we show that rapamycin inhibited the basal or insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)-induced motility of human Ewing sarcoma (Rh1) and rhabdomyosarcoma (Rh30) cells. Treatment of the cells with rapamycin activated PP2A activity, and concurrently inhibited IGF-1 stimulated phosphorylation of Erk1/2. Inhibition of Erk1/2 with PD98059 did not significantly affect the basal mobility of the cells, but dramatically inhibited IGF-1-induced cell motility. Furthermore, inhibition of PP2A with okadaic acid significantly attenuated the inhibitory effect of rapamycin on IGF-1-stimulated phosphorylation of Erk1/2 as well as cell motility. Consistently, expression of dominant negative PP2A conferred resistance to IGF-1-stimulated phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and cell motility. Expression of constitutively active MKK1 also attenuated rapamycin inhibition of IGF-1-stimulated phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and cell motility. The results suggest that rapamycin inhibits cell motility, in part by targeting PP2A-Erk1/2 pathway.
CRK SH3N Domain Diminishes Cell Invasiveness of Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

CRK (c-Crk) as an adaptor protein is involved in several oncogenic signal transduction pathways, conveying oncogenic signals to its downstream effectors and thereby affecting multiple cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, and migration. For example, we have observed that CRK expression and phosphorylation influence the invasiveness of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. To intervene in CRK signaling pathway, we examined whether CRK protein domains can be used as therapeutic tools to interrupt CRK signaling, thus influencing the biological behavior of NSCLC cells. For this purpose, Src Homology domains of CRK-I (i.e., SH2 and SH3N domains) were overexpressed in H157, Rh2, and A549 cells. CRK-SH3N domain expression induced epithelial morphology in H157 cells and enhanced epithelial morphology of A549 and Rh2 cells as compared to cells transfected with CRK-SH2 domain or empty vector. In addition, CRK-SH3N domain expression significantly decreased the motility and invasiveness of A549 and H157 cells. Furthermore, CRK-SH3N domain expression disrupted the interaction of CRK-II with DOCK180. In summary, these data provide evidence that the CRK-SH3N domain can be used to influence the malignant phenotype of NSCLC cells and also reduce the metastatic potential of these cells.
Integrated product and process design: a capstone course in mechanical and manufacturing engineering

A senior capstone design course entitled Integrated Product and Process Design has been jointly developed and taught at Brigham Young University by faculty from the departments of both mechanical and manufacturing engineering. The course features a structured approach to product and process design based on the Quality Function Deployment system. Teams of four to five students from both mechanical and manufacturing engineering work on selected, industrially sponsored design projects. These projects require both design and manufacturing solutions. The students are required to develop both functional prototypes and manufacturable production samples. An industrial environment is fostered in the course. The content of the course and an evaluation of its effectiveness are discussed. >
Dopamine effects on infant pulmonary and systemic vasculature

The effects of dopamine on pulmonary and systematic vascular beds were investigated in 8 anesthetized goats (mean age 5+or-1 weeks). Pulmonary artery, aortic, left atrial, and central venous pressures and pulmonary and aortic flows were recorded simultaneously during a 10-minute baseline period and while infusion dopamine at 5, 10, 20, 40 160, and 320 mu g/kg/min. Pulmonary vascular resistance increased significantly at the 20 and 40 mu /kg/min infusion rates, while systemic vascular resistance decreased significantly at these rates. Characteristic impedances indicate generally increased trends. The pulmonary global reflection index indicates increased impedance mismatch at the high infusion rates, while the opposite is true for the systemic reflection index. Right heart work and the energy costs of transporting 1 cm/sup 3/ blood exceed systemic work and energy costs at the high rates of increase the resting tone of the pulmonary vascular bed, while the effect on systemic vascular tone remains unclear. The finding that the work and energy requirements of the heart are substantially increased at the higher infusion rates could affect the therapeutic value of dopamine use at these rates. >
The Personal Problems of College Students

What are some of the problems which disturb college students? Are these problems related to their academic standing? These are some of the questions answered in this study which was made of three hundred and four freshmen in the College of Education, Ohio State University. The technique of procedure and the tabulation and interpretation of results will be of interest to counselors and personnel workers.
Prediction Outcome History-based Confidence Estimation for Load Value Prediction

Load instructions occasionally incur very long latencies that can significantly affect system performance. Load value prediction alleviates this problem by allowing the CPU to speculatively continue processing without having to wait for the slow memory access to complete. Current load value predictors can only correctly predict about forty to seventy percent of the fetched load values. To avoid the cycle-penalty for mispredictions in the remaining cases, confidence estimators are employed. They inhibit all predictions that are not likely to be correct. In this paper we present a novel confidence estimator that is based on prediction outcome histories. Profiles are used to identify the high-confidence history patterns. Our confidence estimator is able to trade off coverage for accuracy and vice-versa with great flexibility and reaches an average prediction accuracy over SPECint95 of as high as 99.3%. Cycle-accurate pipeline-level simulations show that a simple last value predictor combined with our confidence estimator outperforms other predictors, sometimes by over 100%. Furthermore, this predictor is one of two predictors that yield a genuine speedup for all eight SPECint95 programs.
Fine mapping of the latency-related gene of herpes simplex virus type 1: alternative splicing produces distinct latency-related RNAs containing open reading frames.

Abstract The latency-related (LR) gene of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is transcriptionally active during HSV-1 latency, producing at least two LR-RNAs. The LR gene partially overlaps the immediate-early gene ICP0 and is transcribed in the opposite direction from ICP0, producing LR-RNAs that are complementary (antisense) to ICP0 mRNA. The LR gene is thought to be involved in HSV-1 latency. We report here the fine mapping and partial sequence analysis of this HSV-1 LR gene. 32P-labeled genomic DNA restriction fragments and synthetic oligonucleotides were used as probes for in situ hybridizations and Northern (RNA) blot hybridizations of RNA from trigeminal ganglia of rabbits latently infected with HSV-1. The two most abundant LR-RNAs appeared to share their 5' and 3' ends and to be produced by alternative splicing. These LR-RNAs were approximately 2 and 1.3 to 1.5 kilobases in length and were designated LR-RNA 1 and LR-RNA 2, respectively. Their 5' ends started approximately 1,210 nucleotides downstream from the 3' end of the ICP0 mRNA. Their 3' ends overlapped ICP0 by nearly 1,000 nucleotides. LR-RNA 1 appeared to have at least one intron removed, while LR-RNA 2 appeared to have at least two introns removed. The LR-RNAs contained two potential long open reading frames, suggesting the possibility that one or more of the LR-RNAs may be a functional mRNA.