cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anxiolytic-Like Effects of Antisauvagine-30 in Mice Are Not Mediated by CRF2 Receptors

The role of brain corticotropin-releasing factor type 2 (CRF2) receptors in behavioral stress responses remains controversial. Conflicting findings suggest pro-stress, anti-stress or no effects of impeding CRF2 signaling. Previous studies have used antisauvagine-30 as a selective CRF2 antagonist. The present study tested the hypotheses that 1) potential anxiolytic-like actions of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of antisauvagine-30 also are present in mice lacking CRF2 receptors and 2) potential anxiolytic-like effects of antisauvagine-30 are not shared by the more selective CRF2 antagonist astressin2-B. Cannulated, male CRF2 receptor knockout (n = 22) and wildtype littermate mice (n = 21) backcrossed onto a C57BL/6J genetic background were tested in the marble burying, elevated plus-maze, and shock-induced freezing tests following pretreatment (i.c.v.) with vehicle, antisauvagine-30 or astressin2-B. Antisauvagine-30 reduced shock-induced freezing equally in wildtype and CRF2 knockout mice. In contrast, neither astressin2-B nor CRF2 genotype influenced shock-induced freezing. Neither CRF antagonist nor CRF2 genotype influenced anxiety-like behavior in the plus-maze or marble burying tests. A literature review showed that the typical antisauvagine-30 concentration infused in previous intracranial studies (∼1 mM) was 3 orders greater than its IC50 to block CRF1-mediated cAMP responses and 4 orders greater than its binding constants (Kd , Ki ) for CRF1 receptors. Thus, increasing, previously used doses of antisauvagine-30 also exert non-CRF2-mediated effects, perhaps via CRF1. The results do not support the hypothesis that brain CRF2 receptors tonically promote anxiogenic-like behavior. Utilization of CRF2 antagonists, such as astressin2-B, at doses that are more subtype-selective, can better clarify the significance of brain CRF2 systems in stress-related behavior.
Uveoscleral outflow using different-sized fluorescent tracers in normal and inflamed eyes

Sodium fluorescein and fluorescinated dextrans (FD) of selected molecular weights were combined and perfused into the anterior chamber of normal and inflamed eyes of cynomolgus monkeys. The eyes were dissected into iris, anterior and posterior uvea, anterior and posterior sclera, retina and intraocular fluids (excluding aqueous). Each tissue was homogenized and centrifuged and the supernatant was run through a gel-fltration column to separate the fluorescent tracers. Each of the resultant peaks was quantitated and facility of uveoscleral outflow was determined. In control eyes the calculated facility of uveoscleral outflow was very similar with all tracers (from 0·047-to 0·052 μl min−1 mmHg−1) and each tracer was found in highest concentration in the anterior sclera and anterior uvea. In inflamed eyes the calculated facility of uveoscleral outflow increased two- to five-fold with each tracer (0·12-; 0·17-; 0·29-; and 0·24 μl min−1 mmHg−1 with fluorescein, and the fluorescinated dextrans of MWs 4000, 40 000 and 150 000, respectively). Each tracer was found in the anterior sclera and uvea in inflamed eyes whereas the posterior sclera and uvea contained predominantly the higher molecular-weight tracers (MWs 40 000 and 150 000). It is concluded that iridocyclitis causes an increase in uveoscleral outflow by increasing the permeability of the anterior uvea to all tracers and fluid. Small tracers may then diffuse into uveal blood vessels or across the sclera, yielding lower values for uveoscleral outflow. Of the four tracers studied, the optimal tracer size for studying uveoscleral outflow in either normal or inflamed eyes is MW 40 000.
Gene targeting of BPAG1: Abnormalities in mechanical strength and cell migration in stratified epithelia and neurologic degeneration

Abstract BPAG1 is the major antigenic determinant of autoimmune sera of bullous pemphigoid (BP) patients. It is made by stratified squamous epithelia, where it localizes to the inner surface of specialized integrin-mediated adherens junctions (hemidesmosomes). To explore the function of BPAG1 and its relation to BP, we targeted the removal of the BPAG1 gene in mice. Hemidesmosomes are otherwise normal, but they lack the inner plate and have no cytoskeleton attached. Though not affecting cell growth or substratum adhesion, this compromises mechanical integrity and influences migration. Unexpectedly, the mice also develop severe dystonia and sensory nerve degeneration typical of dystonia musculorum (dt/df) mice. We show that in at least one other strain of dt/dt mice, BPAG1 gene is defective.
122 LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF WHOLE BONE MINERAL CONTENT (BMCt) AND BODY COMPOSITION IN VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT (VLBW) INFANTS

122 LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF WHOLE BONE MINERAL CONTENT (BMCt) AND BODY COMPOSITION IN VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT (VLBW) INFANTS
Toward an understanding of the leptoproduction R ratio

We derive an upper bound for the leptoproduction R ratio and compare it with the data. In the large Q 2 limit, the upper bound for R is 2 M 2 x 2 Q 2 and yields an average primordial transverse momentum of 335 MeV for the struck quark.
Phase relations in TiAl2-based ternary titanium aluminides of iron or nickel

Abstract In order to understand the base binary titanium aluminide of the L1 2 -type ternary titanium aluminides of the composition Ti 25 X 8 Al 67 (X ≡ Ag, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pd, Zn) and Ti 2 CuAl 5 , six alloys with the composition T 34− x Fe x Al 66 and Ti 34− x Ni x Al 66 ( x = 1, 4 or 8 at.%) have been selected. The alloys were prepared by are melting and annealed at 1027 °C for 10 days. X-ray powder diffraction, differential thermal analysis (DTA), metallography and microhardness measurements were utilized to reveal the phases present and their microstructural characteristics. The ternary alloys which contain 1 at.% Fe or Ni primarily consist of r-TiAl 2 phase (HfGa 2 type) with a small amount of the L1 2 -type ternary phase of iron or nickel. An increase in the ternary alloying element to 4 at.% Fe or Ni leads to a two-phase mixture of the r-TiAl 2 + L1 2 ternary phase of iron or nickel. The alloys which contain 8 at.% Fe or Ni were found to be primarily the single-phase L1 2 -type ternary titanium aluminide of iron or nickel. The transformation temperatures of the phases are given, based on the DTA data obtained between 500 and 1440°C with a heating rate of 20°C min −1 . The results are discussed in terms of the current studies on these alloys.
Feasibility of IP restoration in a tier 1 backbone

Large IP networks usually combine protection and restoration mechanisms at various layers of the protocol stack to minimize service disruption in the event of failures. Sprint has chosen an IP-based restoration approach for building a highly available tier 1 IP backbone. This article describes the design principles of Sprint's network that makes IP-based restoration an effective and cost-efficient approach. The effectiveness of IP-based restoration is evaluated by analyzing network failure characteristics, and measuring disruptions in service availability during controlled failure experiments in the backbone. Current trends for improving the performance of IP-based restoration are also discussed.
Waddington's canalization revisited: Developmental stability and evolution

Most species maintain abundant genetic variation and experience a range of environmental conditions, yet phenotypic variation is low. That is, development is robust to changes in genotype and environment. It has been claimed that this robustness, termed canalization, evolves because of long-term natural selection for optimal phenotypes. We show that the developmental process, here modeled as a network of interacting transcriptional regulators, constrains the genetic system to produce canalization, even without selection toward an optimum. The extent of canalization, measured as the insensitivity to mutation of a network's equilibrium state, depends on the complexity of the network, such that more highly connected networks evolve to be more canalized. We argue that canalization may be an inevitable consequence of complex developmental-genetic processes and thus requires no explanation in terms of evolution to suppress phenotypic variation.
Modeling Presenilin-Dependent Familial Alzheimer's Disease: Emphasis on Presenilin Substrate-Mediated Signaling and Synaptic Function

Mutations in PSEN genes, which encode presenilin proteins, cause familial early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Transgenic mouse models based on coexpression of familial AD-associated presenilin and amyloid precursor protein variants successfully mimic characteristic pathological features of AD, including plaque formation, synaptic dysfunction, and loss of memory. Presenilins function as the catalytic subunit of gamma-secretase, the enzyme that catalyzes intramembraneous proteolysis of amyloid precursor protein to release beta-amyloid peptides. Familial AD-associated mutations in presenilins alter the site of gamma-secretase cleavage in a manner that increases the generation of longer and highly fibrillogenic beta-amyloid peptides. In addition to amyloid precursor protein, gamma-secretase catalyzes intramembrane proteolysis of many other substrates known to be important for synaptic function. This paper focuses on how various animal models have enabled us to elucidate the physiological importance of diverse gamma-secretase substrates, including amyloid precursor protein and discusses their roles in the context of cellular signaling and synaptic function.
SAT-based State Justification with Adaptive Mining of Invariants

We present a new approach to intelligently mine three types of invariants from a sequential circuit to significantly improve SAT-based state justification. We adaptively generate mining databases targeting on the hard-to-reach corner-case states, from which global invariants, target state related invariants, and observability-don't-care extended invariants are mined. Each mined invariant involves two or more signals that span across multiple time-frames, which capture the knowledge of the state spaces related to a target state. These invariants are then checked for their validity, and they can significantly increase the deductive power of the instance by pruning a larger portion of the search space. Experimental results show that more than an order of magnitude performance improvement can be obtained when justifying hard-to-justify states.
Loss of SLP-76 Expression within Myeloid Cells Confers Resistance to Neutrophil-Mediated Tissue Damage while Maintaining Effective Bacterial Killing

The Src homology 2 domain-containing leukocyte phosphoprotein of 76 kDa (SLP-76) is an adaptor molecule critical for immunoreceptor and integrin signaling in multiple hemopoietic lineages. We showed previously that SLP-76 is required for neutrophil function in vitro, including integrin-induced adhesion and production of reactive oxygen intermediates, and to a lesser extent, FcγR-induced calcium flux and reactive oxygen intermediate production. It has been difficult to determine whether SLP-76 regulates neutrophil responses in vivo, because Slp-76 −/− mice exhibit marked defects in thymocyte and vascular development, as well as platelet and mast cell function. To circumvent these issues, we generated mice with targeted loss of SLP-76 expression within myeloid cells. Neutrophils obtained from these animals failed to respond to integrin activation in vitro, similar to Slp-76 −/− cells. Despite these abnormalities, SLP-76-deficient neutrophils migrated normally in vivo in response to Staphylococcus aureus infection and efficiently cleared micro-organisms. Interestingly, SLP-76-deficient neutrophils did not induce a robust inflammatory response in the localized Shwartzman reaction. Collectively, these data suggest that disruption of integrin signaling via loss of SLP-76 expression differentially impairs neutrophil functions in vivo, with preservation of migration and killing of S. aureus but reduction in LPS-induced tissue damage and vascular injury.
Tax Reforms With the Oklahoma Tax Model

This article evaluates the ex ante forecasting performance of the Oklahoma tax model It is compared with that of the model-free Box-Jenkins methods. The Oklahoma model outperforms the Box-Jenkins methods in forecastings of various tax revenues. The model is also simulated to see the tax reforms and tax revenues both in a short-run and in a long-run. The model concludes that the effective way to collect the tax revenues for Oklahoma is through a tax reform on state income tax followed by the corporation income tax, general sales tax, and motor fuel tax.
Modulation of rabbit ventricular cell volume and Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransport by cGMP and atrial natriuretic factor.

Previously we showed that atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) decreases cardiac cell volume by inhibiting ion uptake by Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransport. Digital video microscopy was used to study the role of guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) in this process in rabbit ventricular myocytes. Each cell served as its own control, and relative cell volumes (volume(test)/volume(control)) were determined. Exposure to 10 microM 8-bromo-cGMP (8-Br-cGMP) reversibly decreased cell volume to 0.892 +/- 0.007; the ED50 was 0.77 +/- 0.33 microM. Activating guanylate cyclase with 100 microM sodium nitroprusside also decreased cell volume to 0.889 +/- 0.009. In contrast, 8-bromo-adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (8-Br-AMP; 0.01-100 microM) neither altered cell volume directly nor modified the response to 8-Br-cGMP. The idea that cGMP decreases cell volume by inhibiting Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransport was tested by blocking the cotransporter with 10 microM bumetanide (BUM) and removing the transported ions. After BUM treatment, 10 microM 8-Br-cGMP failed to decrease cell volume. Replacement of Na+ with N-methyl-D-glucamine or Cl- with methanesulfonate also prevented 8-Br-cGMP from shrinking cells. The data suggest that 8-Br-cGMP, like ANF, decreases ventricular cell volume by inhibiting Na+/K+/2Cl-cotransport. Evidence that ANF modulates cell volume via cGMP was also obtained. Pretreatment with 10 microM 8-Br-cGMP prevented the effect of 1 microM ANF on cell volume, and ANF suppressed 8-Br-cGMP-induced cell shrinkage. Inhibiting guanylate cyclase with the quinolinedione LY83583 (10 microM) diminished ANF-induced cell shrinkage, and inhibiting cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase with MB 100 microM) amplified the volume decrease caused by a low dose of ANF (0.01 microM) approximately fivefold. In contrast, neither 100 microM 8-Br-cAMP nor 50 microM forskolin affected the response to ANF. The effects of ANF, LY83583, and M&B29948 on cGMP levels in isolated ventricular myocytes were confirmed by 125I-cGMP radioimmunoassay. These data argue that ANF shrinks cardiac cells by increasing intracellular cGMP, thereby inhibiting Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransport. Basal cGMP levels also appear to modulate cell volume.
Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor regulates elastin and FGF-2 expression in pulmonary fibroblasts

Elastase degradation of elastin within alveolar walls is an important event in the development of pulmonary emphysema. In addition to elastolytic activities, elastases release growth factors from extracellular matrices and interstitial cell surfaces that can regulate elastogenesis and other cellular responses. In the present study, we demonstrate that brief treatment of matrix-laden rat pulmonary fibroblast cultures with pancreatic elastase results in the release of soluble heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) concomitant with a decrease in HB-EGF binding to both heparan sulfate proteoglycan and receptor sites on the cells. In undigested, matrix-laden fibroblasts, HB-EGF significantly downregulates elastin mRNA via activation of epidermal growth factor receptor. Results from nuclear run-on analyses show that HB-EGF downregulates elastin mRNA via transcriptional suppression. HBEGF treatment stimulates MAP or ERK kinase (MEK)-dependent ERK1/2 phosphorylation and leads to nuclear accumulation of Fra-1. Blocking ERK1/2 activation by MEK1/2 inhibitors (PD-98059 or U-0126) diminishes HB-EGF-induced Fra-1 accumulation and subsequent downregulation of elastin mRNA. Coaddition of two elastase-released growth factors, HB-EGF and FGF-2, results in an additive inhibitory effect on elastin mRNA levels. Furthermore, HB-EGF addition to pulmonary fibroblasts increases FGF-2 mRNA and protein levels. These data suggest that HB-EGF and FGF-2 act in concert to regulate the synthesis of elastin in injury/repair situations.
Gametophyte ecology and demography of epiphytic and terrestrial tropical ferns

Factors that influence the distribution of ferns are poorly understood and likely reflect the ecology of both the sporophyte and the gametophyte generation. Little study has been done on the ecology of the gametophyte generation, especially in regard to tropical species. The goal of this study was to examine demography and the influence of light and disturbance on the distribution of the gametophytes of several tropical epiphytic, hemiepiphytic, and terrestrial fern species. Through a series of observational and experimental studies, we found that increased terrestrial gametophyte density and richness were related to both increased light and disturbance. By contrast, increased light had no influence, and increased disturbance negatively affected epiphytic density. Over a 25-mo demographic study, epiphytic and hemiepiphytic species had significantly greater longevities and lower recruitment rates than terrestrial species. Such unique strategies may have evolved in response to different disturbance regimens between the two habitats. Terrestrial species encounter and are adapted to more frequent disturbance and have invested in rapid gametophyte growth and recruitment. Epiphytic species may be more influenced by bryophyte competition, and in habitats of relatively low disturbance, they have invested in greater size and longevities. In such systems, gametophytes are able to survive for years waiting for favorable recruitment conditions. Though the study of ferns has been fundamental to our understanding of vascular plant biology, even the most basic aspects of fern ecology have only begun to be examined. Because ferns have both independent gametophytes and sporophytes, ferns can reveal important aspects of the ecology of organisms with two free-living and fundamentally different generations. With the retention of the independent gametophyte, ferns also hold tremendous potential to teach us about the evolutionary ecology of early vascular plants. The paucity of ecological information on the ferns is surprising given that they play important roles at the ecosystem level in both temperate and tropical forests. For example, ferns have been shown to control the regeneration potential of forests throughout the world (George and Bazzaz, 1999; Coomes et al., 2005). In tropical forests, basket-forming ferns can harbor more arthropod diversity in a single individual than occurs in the entire canopy of the fern’s host tree (Ellwood and Foster, 2004). Ferns can also be critical players in ecosystem establishment (Russell and Vitousek, 1997). While we have some knowledge of the role of ferns in forests, our knowledge of the organismal ecology of ferns is phenomenally limited. This is especially true of the gametophyte generation where
The Magnetic Mechanical Analysis of Manganese Steel

One of the most interesting alloys for the study of its magnetic properties is manganese steel. The following paper is an attempt to correlate some of the magnetic and mechanical properties of manganese steel, in the hope that as such data are circulated it will eventually be possible to interpret from the magnetic behaviour of steel what the mechanical properties will be. Six manganese steel rods supplied by one of the authors were drawn from the same source, 76 cm. long and 0·95 cm. in diameter, and used “as drawn.” These rods were marked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively. The chemical analysis was made on rod No. 4 and showed:— C 1.25 per cent. Si 0.43 „ Mn 12.20 „ The record for the heat treatment was as follows:—“ All six bars were treated at 1000° C. (five minutes), and then water-quenched in ordinary cold water. Nos. 1, 5 and 6 were then enclosed in an iron pipe welded over at the ends, and annealed. The time for cooling from 550° C. to 450° C. was about eight hours. As this treatment did not make the bars sufficiently magnetic they were again annealed at 500° C. (530° C.—475° C.) for sixty hours."
Toward Low-Cost, High-Efficiency, and Scalable Organic Solar Cells with Transparent Metal Electrode and Improved Domain Morphology

We review our recent progress toward realizing future low-cost, high-efficiency, and scalable organic solar cells (OSCs). First, we show that the transparent electrodes based on metallic nanostructure is a strong candidate as a replacement of conventional indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode due to their superior properties, such as high optical transparency, good electrical conductivity, and mechanical flexibility, and the versatility that these properties can be adjusted independently by changing the linewidth and thickness of the metal grid structure. Furthermore, we exploited the unique optical properties due to the excitation of surface plasmon resonance by the metallic nanogratings to enhance the light absorption of organic semiconductors, and demonstrated enhanced power conversion efficiency than devices made using ITO electrode. In addition, we also investigated a new device fabrication process with a focus on the photoactive layer formation, which produces the most optimum bulk-heterojunction morphology compared with conventional annealing-based methods. Finally, we successfully demonstrated that these approaches are scalable to large-area and high-speed roll-to-roll processes. We believe that the works highlighted in this paper represent one step forward to realizing low-cost, high-efficiency, and large-area OSCs.
Mobile phone text message intervention to reduce binge drinking among young adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Heavy episodic (binge) drinking is common among young adults and can lead to injury and illness. Young adults who seek care in the Emergency Department (ED) may be disproportionately affected with binge drinking behavior, therefore provide an opportunity to reduce future risk through screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT). Mobile phone text messaging (SMS) is a common form of communication among young adults and has been shown to be effective at providing behavioral support to young adult drinkers after ED discharge. Efficacy of SMS programs to reduce binge drinking remains unknown. Methods/Design: We will conduct a three parallel arm, randomized trial. A convenience sample of adults aged 18 to 25 years attending three EDs in Pittsburgh, PA and willing to participate in the study will be screened for hazardous alcohol consumption. Participants identified as hazardous drinkers will then be allocated to either 12 weeks of weekly SMS drinking assessments with feedback (SA+F), SMS drinking assessments without feedback (SA), or a control group. Randomization will be via an independent and remote computerized randomization and will be stratified by study site. The SA+F group will be asked to provide pre-weekend drinking intention as well as postweekend consumption via SMS and will receive feedback messages focused on health consequences of alcohol consumption, personalized normative feedback, protective drinking strategies and goal setting. Follow-up data on alcohol use and injury related to alcohol will be collected through a password-protected website three, six and nine months later. The primary outcome for the study is binge drinking days (≥4 drinks for women; ≥5 drinks for men) during the previous month, and the main secondary outcome is the proportion of participants who report any injury related to alcohol in the prior three months. Discussion: This study will test the hypothesis that a mobile phone text-messaging program will result in immediate and durable reductions in binge drinking among at-risk young adults. By testing an intervention group to an assessment-only and control group, we will be able to separate the effect of assessment reactivity. By collecting pre-weekend drinking intentions and post-weekend consumption data in the SA+F group, we will be able to better understand mechanism of change.
Simulating vestibular compensation using recurrent back-propagation

Vestibular compensation is simulated as learning in a dynamic neural network model of the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). The bilateral, three-layered VOR model consists of nonlinear units representing horizontal canal afferents, vestibular nuclei (VN) neurons and eye muscle motoneurons. Dynamic processing takes place via commissural connections that link the VN bilaterally. The intact network is trained, using recurrent back-propagation, to produce the VOR with velocity storage integration. Compensation is simulated by removing vestibular afferent input from one side and retraining the network. The time course of simulated compensation matches that observed experimentally. The behavior of model VN neurons in the compensated network also matches real data, but only if connections at the motoneurons, as well as at the VN, are allowed to be plastic. The dynamic properties of real VN neurons in compensated and normal animals are found to differ when tested with sinusoidal but not with step stimuli. The model reproduces these conflicting data, and suggests that the disagreement may be due to VN neuron nonlinearity.
CB1 Receptor Antagonist SR141716A Inhibits Ca2+-Induced Relaxation in CB1 Receptor-Deficient Mice

Mesenteric branch arteries isolated from cannabinoid type 1 receptor knockout (CB(1)(-/-)) mice, their wild-type littermates (CB(1)(+/+) mice), and C57BL/J wild-type mice were studied to test the hypothesis that murine arteries undergo high sensitivity Ca(2+)-induced relaxation that is CB(1) receptor dependent. Confocal microscope analysis of mesenteric branch arteries from wild-type mice showed the presence of Ca(2+) receptor-positive periadventitial nerves. Arterial segments of C57 control mice mounted on wire myographs contracted in response to 5 micromol/L norepinephrine and responded to the cumulative addition of extracellular Ca(2+) with a concentration-dependent relaxation that reached a maximum of 72.0 +/- 6.3% of the prerelaxation tone and had an EC(50) for Ca(2+) of 2.90 +/- 0.54 mmol/L. The relaxation was antagonized by precontraction in buffer containing 100 mmol/L K(+) and by pretreatment with 10 mmol/L tetraethylammonium. Arteries from CB(1)(-/-) and CB(1)(+/+) mice also relaxed in response to extracellular Ca(2+) with no differences being detected between the knockout and their littermate controls. SR141716A, a selective CB(1) antagonist, caused concentration-dependent inhibition of Ca(2+)-induced relaxation in both the knockout and wild-type strains (60% inhibition at 1 micromol/L). O-1918, a cannabidiol analog, had a similar blocking effect in arteries of both wild-type and CB(1)(-/-) mice at 10 micromol/L. In contrast, 1 micromol/L SR144538, a cannabinoid type 2 receptor antagonist, or 50 micromol/L 18alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid, a gap junction blocker, were without effect. SR141716A (1 to 30 micromol/L) was also assessed for nonspecific actions on whole-cell K(+) currents in isolated vascular smooth muscle cells. SR141716A inhibited macroscopic K(+) currents at concentrations higher than those required to inhibit Ca(2+)-induced relaxation, and appeared to have little effect on currents through large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels. These data indicate that arteries of the mouse relax in response to cumulative addition of extracellular Ca(2+) in a hyperpolarization-dependent manner and rule out a role for CB(1) or CB(2) receptors in this effect. The possible role of a nonclassical cannabinoid receptor is discussed.
The CESR horizontal separators impedance study

The longitudinal multi-bunch beam instability significantly complicates Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR) operation. The observed dependence of the horizontal separator temperature on the space between two bunches circulating in the same direction suggested the presence of long lasting parasitic modes in the separators. The S-parameter measurement confirmed the existence of the modes and gave their frequencies and quality factors (Qs). The program URMEL was used to calculate the modes coupled to the beam, i.e. parameters R/Q. Using these characteristics the longitudinal instability growth rate and instability threshold current were computed. The calculated threshold is only 35% higher than observed. The conclusion has been made that the parasitic modes in horizontal separators are among the major factors causing longitudinal multibunch beam instability at the CESR. The multibunch beam stability at the CESR will be significantly improved if these modes are damped.
Are data on industry evolution and gross job turnover relevant for macroeconomics

Abstract An important question in macroeconomics is: how large are the aggregate effects of variation in industry evolution? We show that these effects depend critically on the nature of differences in profit functions across plants, and that if these functions are nearly identical and close to linear, the aggregate effects of industry dynamics are small. We use cross-country data on firing costs and job turnover to evaluate this hypothesis within an equilibrium model of industry dynamics. Given this hypothesis, the theory indicates that trivial differences in firing costs across countries should lead to dramatically different patterns of job turnover. Despite differences in firing costs across countries, these patterns are very similar. This provides strong evidence against the hypothesis, and suggests that observed patterns of industry evolution may play a central role in macroeconomics.
Spontaneous Frameshift Mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Accumulation During DNA Replication and Removal by Proofreading and Mismatch Repair Activities

The accumulation of frameshift mutations during DNA synthesis is determined by the rate at which frameshift intermediates are generated during DNA polymerization and the efficiency with which frameshift intermediates are removed by DNA polymerase-associated exonucleolytic proofreading activity and/or the postreplicative mismatch repair machinery. To examine the relative contributions of these factors to replication fidelity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we determined the reversion rates and spectra of the lys2 Delta Bgl +1 frameshift allele. Wild-type and homozygous mutant diploid strains with all possible combinations of defects in the exonuclease activities of DNA polymerases delta and epsilon (conferred by the pol3-01 and pol2-4 alleles, respectively) and in mismatch repair (deletion of MSH2) were analyzed. Although there was no direct correlation between homopolymer run length and frameshift accumulation in the wild-type strain, such a correlation was evident in the triple mutant strain lacking all repair capacity. Furthermore, examination of strains defective in one or two repair activities revealed distinct biases in the removal of the corresponding frameshift intermediates by exonucleolytic proofreading and/or mismatch repair. Finally, these analyses suggest that the mismatch repair machinery may be important for generating some classes of frameshift mutations in yeast.
Hospitalists on an Inpatient Tertiary Care Oncology Teaching Service

A hospitalist-led inpatient service with house staff represents a novel approach for caring for hospitalized patients with GI cancer.
Sensor placement for effective coverage and surveillance in distributed sensor networks

We present two algorithms for the efficient placement of sensors in a sensor field. The proposed approach is aimed at optimizing the number of sensors and determining their placement to support distributed sensor networks. The optimization framework is inherently probabilistic due to the uncertainty associated with sensor detections. The proposed algorithms address coverage optimization under the constraints of imprecise detections and terrain properties. These algorithms are targeted at average coverage as well as at maximizing the coverage of the most vulnerable grid points. The issue of preferential coverage of grid points (based on relative measures of security and tactical importance) is also modeled. Experimental results for an example sensor field with obstacles demonstrate the application of our approach.
Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae TWAR in Human Coronary Atherectomy Tissues

Chlamydia pneumoniae TWAR has been associated with coronary heart disease by seroepidemiologic studies and direct detection of the organism in atheromatous lesions of coronary arteries and aorta. In this study, 38 fresh tissue specimens from patients with coronary artery lesions that were treated by directional coronary atherectomy were tested for C. pneumoniae. Twenty-three specimens were from patients with primary lesions and 15 were from patients with restenoses. C. pneumoniae was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunocytochemical stain (ICC), or both in 20 of 38 specimens. Using cell identity markers, the organism was localized to macrophages. Ultrastructural evidence of the organism was found in the 2 specimens examined by transmission electron microscopy, which were also positive by both ICC and PCR. C. pneumoniae was found more frequently in tissues from restenoses than in primary lesions (P = .17). There was no relation between the frequency of detection of the organism and C. pneumoniae-specific antibody titers.
High performance InAlAs/InGaAs/InP HEMT/MSM-based OEIC photoreceivers

A high-speed, monolithically integrated photoreceiver suitable for 1.55 /spl mu/m wavelength optical communication systems is described. The tunable photoreceiver, implemented using a metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetector and InAlAs/InGaAs/InP high electron mobility transistor (HEMT)-based transimpedance amplifier, exhibits -3 dB bandwidths of up to 17 GHz. Noise measurements revealed an input-referred noise current spectral density of 8 pA/Hz/sup 1/2/ when tuned for 10 Gb/s operation, and 12 pA/Hz/sup 1/2/ when tuned for 20 Gb/s operation. This results in a projected sensitivity of -16.5 dBm and -12.3 dBm at 10 and 20 Gb/s, respectively, for a bit error rate of 1/spl times/10/sup -9/.
Dynamic traffic shaping technique for HTTP adaptive video streaming using software defined networks

In response to the rapid growth of mobile video traffic, major video providers such as YouTube and Netflix have recently adopted HTTP adaptive streaming protocol for video delivery. However, the possible degradation and instability in the perceived video quality are still the major issues with this protocol. Moreover, this protocol can cause unfairness among competing players in addition to bandwidth inefficiency. In fact, these issues are more common on mobile devices due to the instability nature of wireless links. In this paper, we present a dynamic SDN-based traffic shaping technique (DASH-SDN) that aims to address all the aforementioned issues. DASH-SDN is different from the existing shaping techniques in that it utilizes the long OFF periods of the most commercial adaptive video players to increase the throughputs for all traversing streams. Consequently, the video playback buffer can be proactively filled and the possible fluctuation in wireless link throughput can be effectively countered. Furthermore, DASH-SDN takes into consideration, in managing the bandwidth, the heterogeneity of the clients in terms of wireless channel qualities, round trip delays, and battery levels. Our initial results have shown great improvement in video QoE, bandwidth utilization, and power consumption.
Introduction and Implementation of Cooperative Learning in the Heterogeneous Classroom: Middle School Teachers' Perspectives

AbstractSchools have traditionally dealt with cultural and academic diversity through pullout and alternative programs. Recent attempts at inclusive education are grounded in the philosophy of changing the nature of the structure of schools and classrooms such that all students can be accommodated within the mainstream of school life. This qualitative study identifies and describes six middle school teachers' perspectives on the introduction and implementation of cooperative learning instructional adaptations in their classrooms. The teacher voices provide insight into the evolution of cooperative behavior among young adolescents, strategies that teachers used to encourage students to support one another, and the kinds of activities that facilitated the attainment of both academic and social goals to meet young adolescent needs. Teachers' voices, particularly their explanations of successes and failures, reinforce the need to modify the school experiences of young adolescents to meet the challenges posed ...
Vespucci: A Free, Cross-Platform Tool for Spectroscopic Data Analysis and Imaging

Vespucci is a software application developed for imaging and analysis of hyperspectral datasets. Vespucci offers several advantages over other software packages, including a simple user interface with a small learning curve, no cost, and less restrictive licensing. Vespucci expands several analysis techniques including univariate imaging, principal components analysis, partial-least-squares regression, and vertex components analysis with endmember extraction, and k-means clustering. Additionally, Vespucci can perform a number of useful data-processing operations, including filtering, normalization, baseline correction, and background subtraction. Datasets that consist of spatial or temporal data with a corresponding digital signal, including spectroscopic images, mass spectrometric images, and X-ray diffraction data can be processed in this software. A few use cases for Raman and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopies are provided. Vespucci is written in C++ and makes use of the MLPACK [3], Armadillo [9], Qt, and QCustomPlot libraries. Vespucci is a graphically-driven package that is designed with ease-of-use in mind and is equally capable to other available tools. Vespucci’s capabilities are extended by interfaces to Octave and R to allow existing research code to be run from a common environment. Additionally, Vespucci’s C++ classes can be used to construct more specialized programs when an application programming interface (API) is desired. The source code and a Windows binary distribution can be accessed at https://github.com/dpfoose/Vespucci .
Probabilistic multi-resolution scanning for two-sample differences

Summary We propose a multi-resolution scanning approach to identifying two-sample differences. Windows of multiple scales are constructed through nested dyadic partitioning on the sample space and a hypothesis regarding the two-sample difference is defined on each window. Instead of testing the hypotheses on different windows independently, we adopt a joint graphical model, namely a Markov tree, on the null or alternative states of these hypotheses to incorporate spatial correlation across windows. The induced dependence allows borrowing strength across nearby and nested windows, which we show is critical for detecting high resolution local differences. We evaluate the performance of the method through simulation and show that it substantially outperforms other state of the art two-sample tests when the two-sample difference is local, involving only a small subset of the data. We then apply it to a flow cytometry data set from immunology, in which it successfully identifies highly local differences. In addition, we show how to control properly for multiple testing in a decision theoretic approach as well as how to summarize and report the inferred two-sample difference. We also construct hierarchical extensions of the framework to incorporate adaptivity into the construction of the scanning windows to improve inference further.
Comparative and Functional Morphology of Wing Coupling Structures in Trichoptera: Integripalpia

Trichoptera and several other insect orders have evolved functional diptery while retaining four wings (morphological tetraptery), which results from the interaction of specialized structures that unite the wings. In this contribution, the comparative and functional morphology of the forewing-hindwing coupling apparatuses and related structures in the suborder Integripalpia are presented. The components of the wing coupling apparatuses have varied and complex morphologies and interaction modes, that result in partial to complete wing coupling. Wing coupling has evolved repeatedly within the infraorders Brevitentoria and Plenitentoria, and the morphologies of the wing coupling apparatuses are synapomorphies for several families. Phylogenetic trends are discussed that relate to the evolution of functional diptery, such as the diminution of forewing jugal lobes and hindwing prehumeral setae, reinforcement of wing veins, changes in vein topology and elaboration of wing surface features. A novel at-rest forewi...
Accountable for Care: Cultivating Caring School Communities in Urban High Schools

ABSTRACTThis comparative case study examines the prevalence of caring practices in two higher performing and two lower performing urban high schools and the contextual factors that helped or hindered the extent to which students felt cared for. We found that higher performing schools demonstrated caring communities, where interpersonal relationships and high academic expectations were prevalent throughout the school. Strong leadership support, caring as a core school value, and abundant curricular and extracurricular structures facilitated relationships in caring school communities; these contextual factors were less prevalent in lower performing schools with isolated instances of care. Implications for school leaders are discussed.
Correlation between calponin and myosin subfragment 1 binding to F-actin and ATPase inhibition.

Calponin is a thin-filament-associated protein that has been implicated in the regulation of smooth-muscle contractility. It binds to F-actin and inhibits the MgATPase activity of actomyosin. In the present work we have examined the effect of recombinant chicken gizzard α-calponin (RαCaP) on the binding of rabbit skeletal-muscle myosin subfragment 1 (S1) to F-actin and on the inhibition of its actin-activated MgATPase. We have found that binding of one RαCaP molecule to every three to four actin monomers is sufficient for maximal inhibition of actoŐS1 ATPase. At this RαCaP/actin ratio RαCaP does not interfere with S1 binding to F-actin. At higher concentrations, RαCaP displaces S1 from F-actin and a 1:1 RαCaPŐactin monomer complex is formed. RαCaP is also able to displace troponin I from its complex with F-actin which may reflect the amino acid sequence similarity between RαCaP and troponin I in their actin-binding regions.
A low-protein, low-phenylalanine vegetable casserole.

Here is an entree casserole, low in protein and phenylalanine, which is suitable and acceptable to the entire family, not just the phenylketonuric child.
Depression in university students: associations with impulse control disorders

AbstractObjective: The purpose of this study was to assess the implications of depression in a sample of university students, particularly relating to impulse control disorders. While previous studies have shown high rates of depression among university students, no study to date has assessed whether levels of depression show associations with the incidence of impulse control disorders in this population.Methods: In all, 6000 students participated in the College Student Computer Use Survey. A total of 1717 students completed the scales of interest for this analysis. Participants were assigned to groups based on depression scores: severe (N = 75), mild/moderate (N = 647) and none (N = 995). The three groups were assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) or chi-square test. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to elucidate associations between depression and impulse control disorder diagnoses.Results: Groups differed across demographic, health and academic variables. The severe depression g...
Designing Information as a By-Product

Much of IS design theory makes an assumption that if data is required by data consumers, it needs to be captured by the information systems IS explicitly and directly. With the pervasiveness of direct representation in IS development and research, academia has offered little support for cases where not all data elements required by data consumers are collected and stored directly. With the explosive proliferation of business analytics, it is becoming increasingly effective to mine existing data sources for unanticipated and novel insights. We developed and implemented GroceryBer - an online prototype for the crowdsourcing grocery delivery service in which we intentionally designed information as a by-product of the grocery delivery process.
Investigating effect of amine based additives on asphalt rubber rheological properties

ABSTRACT: Based on the failure mechanism under the limit load of the pavement and long-term aging mechanism of the asphalt mixture, taking the residual value as the constraint condition for termination, the decay law of road performances of Cement-Emulsified-Asphalt-Cold-Recycled Mixture (CEACRM) in the recycling process by comprehensive tests of mechanical properties, water stability, high and low temperature performance, modulus performance, and fatigue performance were studied. Results showed: 1) The decay of road performance of cold recycled mixture caused by circulatory recycling is nonlinear; 2) Newaged asphalt membranes generated in the multiple recycling sharply lower the cohesion of the binder, which leads to a negative effect on mechanical properties and the modulus performance of the mixture; 3) The adding of the cement reduces the sensitivity of the recycled mixture to water and temperature. Though the water stability and high temperature performance is obviously attenuated, it can still meet application requirements. 4) With the increase of the cement and the aging of the asphalt, the attenuation of the low temperature crack resistance of the mixture is obvious. 5) As asphalt membranes and cement slurries generated in the multiple recycling are stress concentration positions for fatigue failure, the decay of the fatigue life is the most remarkable in road performances. The research defined a relation between the cycle period of recycled mixture and the performance decay, which laid foundation for sustainable reusing of the recycled mixture in the future.
Comparison of treatment outcomes between intracapsular and total tonsillectomy for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.

Abstract Background Intracapsular tonsillectomy (IT) has been advocated as a treatment for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, evidence in the literature utilizing polysomnography (PSG) is limited. Objective To examine the experience at a tertiary children's hospital to evaluate the effectiveness and risks of intracapsular tonsillectomy compared to total tonsillectomy (TT) for treating pediatric OSA. Methods A retrospective study was undertaken of pediatric tonsillectomy cases performed for OSA at a tertiary children's hospital from 2005 to 2010. Patients with recurrent tonsillitis, craniofacial abnormalities, chromosomal abnormalities, neuromuscular disease, and congenital malformations were excluded. Main outcome measures were apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), minimum oxygen saturation (minO2), and surgical complications. Results Of the 1583 patients reviewed in this study, there were 75 IT and 93 TT patients with pre- and post-operative PSG results. The IT patients were younger, had lower BMI, larger tonsil size, lower pre-operative (AHI) and lower post-operative AHI (p Conclusions Intracapsular tonsillectomy, like total tonsillectomy, is effective in improving polysomnogram results in appropriately selected children. Intracapsular tonsillectomy is a suitable option for the surgical treatment of pediatric OSA consequent to its demonstrated efficacy in relieving OSA and its favorable safety profile.