cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dimethylsulfoxide as a Potential Tool for Analysis of Compartmentation in Living Plant Cells

Data are presented which indicate that dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) acts selectively on the plasma membrane of cultured tobacco cells, rendering it more permeable to small molecules, while having a far smaller effect on the permeability of the vacuolar membrane. The results which support this conclusion are: (a) DMSO (5 to 10%, by volume) causes complete release of [(14)C]tryptophan newly synthesized from [(14)C]indole while causing efflux of only about 20% of the total intracellular tryptophan pool; (b) similar concentrations of DMSO do not cause substantial release from these cells of phenolic compounds or preloaded neutral red, nor of beta-cyanin from fresh beet discs; (c) kinetic studies of release of tryptophan and neutral sugars and of efflux of (86)Rb(+) show that DMSO selectively promotes rapid release of a portion of the total pool, followed by a substantially slower release of the remaining pool; (d) when tobacco cell protoplasts are incubated in the presence of 7.5% (by volume) DMSO, rapid lysis is observed concomitant with the release of intact vacuoles. These data indicate that a procedure involving a brief treatment of intact plant cells or tissues with DMSO may be used to assess the distribution of metabolites between cytoplasmic and vacuolar compartments.
Y-27632, an Inhibitor of Rho-Associated Kinases, Prevents Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Focal Adhesion Kinase and Paxillin Induced by Bombesin: Dissociation from Tyrosine Phosphorylation of p130cas

A rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), paxillin, and Crk-associated substrate (CAS) are prominent early events triggered by many G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), but the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Here, we examined whether the Rho-associated protein serine/threonine kinase family (ROCK) is a critical Rho effector in the pathway that links GPCR activation to the tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK, CAS, and paxillin. Treatment of Swiss 3T3 cells with Y-27632, a preferential inhibitor of ROCK, dramatically inhibited the formation of actin stress fibers, the assembly of focal contacts, and the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin induced by bombesin in these cells. Surprisingly, we found that treatment with Y-27632 did not produce any detectable effect on bombesin-elicited CAS tyrosine phosphorylation even at the highest concentrations of Y-27632 tested. HA-1077, a preferential inhibitor of ROCK activity structurally unrelated to Y-27632, also attenuated the increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin but did not affect the tyrosine phosphorylation of CAS induced by bombesin in Swiss 3T3 cells. The results demonstrate that ROCK-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin can be dissociated from a ROCK-independent pathway leading to tyrosine phosphorylation of CAS.
Culotte bifurcation stenting with paclitaxel drug-eluting stent

Abstract The results of using the culotte bifurcation technique have not been promising with regard to bare metal stents; however, some possible advantages with regard to drug-eluting stents (DES) must be taken into account, such as the possibility to stent provisionally, to use lower French sizes, and to completely cover the coronary wall and the new carina with a single or double stent layer. The crush technique, which aims to reach a complete coverage of the coronary wall to allow antiproliferative drugs to homogeneously distribute into the coronary walls, has been introduced. The culotte technique seems to act more physiologically, allowing the creation of a new, homogeneously covered carina, without any crushed metal inside the coronary wall. We present the case of a coronary bifurcation treated with the use of the culotte technique and paclitaxel-eluting stent deployment, with good angiographic results after 10 months of follow-up. Further data are needed to evaluate the potential utility of the culotte technique in treating bifurcation coronary lesions in the area of DES.
On the development of CNS lesions in natural canine distemper encephalomyelitis

Acute lesions within spinal cord white matter have been studied by light and electron microscopy in 3 dogs suffering from the acute form of canine distemper encephalomyelitis (CDE). Prominent features of these lesions were viral inclusions, giant cell formation, cellular degeneration, myelin breakdown and phagocytic activity by cells believed to be derived from local glia. The viral inclusions occurred in giant cells, many astrocytes, macrophages and occasional oligodendroglia. Only suggestions of active viral replication from cell membranes were present. On the basis of the above features, these CDE lesions were classed as being acute. Perivascular inflammation and parenchymal invasion by haematogenous cells were lacking. However, older, gliotic, demyelinated lesions were always associated with inflammation. The pattern of demyelination in acute CDE lesions differed from those seen in other conditions, in particular the autoimmune demyelinating diseases. In acute CDE lesions, individual fibres became separated from others by rings of cells, the processes of which systematically stripped the myelin from the outer layers of the sheath inwards until a naked segment of axon remained. Some of the macrophages were recognisable as astroglia. Elsewhere, unequivocal astrocytes containing myelin debris were common. The results suggest that inflammation in acute CDE lesions is not a primary event, and that viral invasion causes breakdown of tissue which is accompanied pari passu by myelin destruction. The latter might be related to the non-specific release of host factors (viz. hydrolytic enzymes) or humoral factors during the cellular degeneration. Local cells appeared to participate in the process of myelin phagocytosis. Overt inflammation and damage by haematogenous cells were features only of chronic lesions and have been described previously in studies on chronic CDE lesions. The results are interpreted in terms of their relevance to the study of human subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, of which CDE is considered the animal analogue, and multiple sclerosis, the paradigm of the human demyelinating diseases.
Comparison of short term metabolic effects of hydroflumethiazide and hydrochlorothiazide.

Abstract Two new derivatives of chlorothiazide, hydroflumethiazide and hydrochlorothiazide, were given to two groups of patients affected with hypertension, with or without congestive heart failure. While patients were on low sodium diets, 24-hour urines, sodium, chloride, and potassium excretions were compared in both groups and were found to be very similar for the two drugs. There was a large diuresis of sodium and chloride, most marked on the first day of therapy, and gradually decreasing on subsequent days. Potassium excretion was found to be somewhat increased on the first day and to remain increased on subsequent days of therapy.
Comparative characteristics of μ chain and α chain transcripts expressed by individual tonsil plasma cells

Plasma cells (PCs) are one of the two major cell types generated during germinal center reactions. To test the hypothesis that PCs express a unique repertoire of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes resulting from intensive antigenic stimulation and selection, the mutational pattern and distribution of VH gene segments within 178 transcripts amplified from individual IgM and IgA secreting tonsil PCs were analyzed. The results demonstrated that both μ and α transcripts expressed repertoires with limited diversity. Moreover, both μ and α transcripts were heavily mutated, with a significantly increased mutational frequency noted for α compared to μ transcripts (5.0×10−2 vs 1.8×10−2, P<0.001). In addition, both μ and α transcripts showed significantly greater targeting of mutations to RGYW motifs (purine/guanine/pyrimidine/A or T) compared to memory B cells. Finally, clonally expanded cells were detected in α but not μ PC compartments. These results indicate that antigen driven stimulation and selection shape the entire expressed PC repertoire, but the impact is greater in α expressing PCs.
Intrinsic microvascular control of tissue oxygen delivery.

A systems analysis of intrinsic regulation of oxygen delivery in skeletal muscle is presented. The model includes the following: microvasculature divided into resistance (arteriolar), exchange (capillary) and capacitance (venous) sections; transcapillary O2 flux is a function of capillary PO2, cell PO2, and effective capillary density; resting intracellular PO2 (5 mm Hg) operating at the critical oxygen tension, i.e., cells on brink of hypoxia; nonlinear relationship between mitochondrial O2 utilization and cell PO2; nonlinear hemoglobin dissociation curve; and integral control of cell PO2 via metabolic modulation of arteriolar and precapillary sphincter tone. Basically, flow regulation by the arterioles minimizes changes in capillary PO2 when the system is stressed, whereas the precapillary sphincters regulate the number of open capillaries and thereby determine oxygen diffusion parameters (diffusion distance and surface area). In the absence of arteriolar and sphincter feedback, an important consequence of the low cell PO2 is that cellular hypoxia occurs whenever the O2 availability: demand ratio is reduced. The greater sensitivity of the sphincters to metabolic control relative to that of the arterioles is the basis for the following simulation results: (1) following slight to moderate reductions in the availability: demand ratio, tissue oxygen delivery is maintained primarily by increased extraction of O2 from blood; (2) with more severe reduction of this ratio, arteriolar flow control becomes more important in maintaining adequate tissue oxygenation; (3) in response to a step decrease in arterial pressure, the degree of blood flow autoregulation increases as the initial venous oxygen concentration decreases. These results suggest that as metabolic stresses become greater the major locus of intrinsic microvascular control moves from the normally more powerful sphincters to the upstream arterioles.
Relation Between Sex Hormones and Changes in Susceptibility of Domestic Norway Rats to Alpha-Naphthyl Thiourea.

SummaryIn order to determine whether or not actual pubertal changes are responsible for the great decrease in resistance to ANTU observed about the time of puberty, 20 domestic Norway rats were cas...
Current application of thoracoscopy in children.

ABSTRACT Background: The safety and efficacy of thoracoscopy for thoracic lesions and conditions in children is evolving. Our experience with thoracoscopy has expanded in recent years. Therefore, we reviewed our most recent 7-year experience to examine the current applications for thoracoscopy in children. Methods: A retrospective review of all patients undergoing a thoracoscopic operation at Children's Mercy Hospital (Kansas City, MO) between January 1, 2000, and June 18, 2007, was performed. Data points reviewed included patient demographics, type of operation, final diagnosis, complications, and recovery. Results: During the study period, 230 children underwent 231 thoracoscopic procedures. The mean age was 9.6 ± 6.1 years with a mean weight of 36.6 ± 24.1 kg. Fifty percent of the patients were male. The thoracoscopic approach was used for decortication and debridement for empyema in 79 patients, wedge resection for lung lesions in 37, exposure for correction of scoliosis in 26, excision or biopsy of a...
Astrocytic Calcium Signaling: The Information Currency Coupling Neuronal Activity to the Cerebral Microcirculation

In the brain, increased neuronal synaptic activity is accompanied by an increase in local cerebral blood flow that serves to satisfy neuronal metabolic demands. This linkage between neuronal activity and local blood flow has been appreciated for more than 100 years. Although this process has been exploited clinically in the form of functional imaging techniques to map brain function, the mechanisms by which increased synaptic activity is communicated to the cerebral microcirculation to generate a vasodilatory response are poorly understood. Recent studies, however, have illuminated a central role for astrocytic calcium (Ca 2+ ) signals as mediators of this process of neurovascular coupling. This review highlights recent evidence implicating astrocytes in the regulation of intracerebral arteriolar diameter, with particular emphasis on the putative signaling molecules and pathways proposed to exert changes on arteriolar physiology.
Effect of the Tumor Promoter Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-Acetate (PMA) on Proliferation of Young and Senescent WI-38 Human Diploid Fibroblasts

The effects of the tumor promoter phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) on the proliferation, protein kinase C activity (PKC), and c-fos gene expression were examined in cultures of young and senescent (90-95% lifespan completed) WI-38 human diploid fibroblasts. We observed that, following stimulation with medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), the translocation of PKC from the cytosol to the particulate compartment was less efficient in senescent WI-38 cells than in young cells. However, when PMA was added to the medium, the intracellular distribution of PKC activity in old cells became nearly identical to that observed in young cells. The inducibility of c-fos mRNA by serum addition, which is a protein kinase C-dependent event, was significantly amplified in the presence of PMA. Moreover, the duration of peak c-fos expression, after stimulation by FBS and PMA, increased in senescent cells as compared to young cells. Our results reveal that the normal signal transduction pathway is altered in senescent, slowly proliferating human fibroblasts and that it can be partially restored in the presence of the tumor promoter PMA.
Policy transfer via Markov logic networks

We propose using a statistical-relational model, the Markov Logic Network, for knowledge transfer in reinforcement learning. Our goal is to extract relational knowledge from a source task and use it to speed up learning in a related target task. We show that Markov Logic Networks are effective models for capturing both source-task Q-functions and source-task policies. We apply them via demonstration, which involves using them for decision making in an initial stage of the target task before continuing to learn. Through experiments in the RoboCup simulated-soccer domain, we show that transfer via Markov Logic Networks can significantly improve early performance in complex tasks, and that transferring policies is more effective than transferring Q-functions.
Theoretical foundations for the collection of major power‐minor power war data

Two basic theoretical considerations underlie the collection of data on major power‐minor power conflicts. Both perspectives have major power‐minor power relations at their core, and are developed more fully in The Onset of World War (Midlarsky, 1988). First, an hierarchical equilibrium structure consists of two components: (1) two or more alliances (or other loose hierarchies such as loosely‐knit empires) of varying size and composition but clearly including a great power and a number of small powers within each, and (2) a relatively large number of small powers not formally associated with any of the great powers. Time periods during which the hierarchical equilibrium was obeyed did not experience systemic war, while those in which it was violated experienced this type of warfare. The second major theoretical basis is the overlap between great power conflicts exclusively, on the one hand, and great power‐small power conflicts on the other. This combination was a major contributor to the onset of World W...
Race, Self-Control, and Drug Problems among Jail Inmates

The main objectives of this study are to test racial differences in self-control and race-specific effects of self-control on drug-related problems. On the basis of prior research, it is hypothesized that both self-control and its effect on drug-related behavioral problems vary by race. Data collected from White, Black, and Hispanic inmates incarcerated in five local jails in the greater Philadelphia area were used to test these hypotheses. The results indicate significant racial differences in levels of self-control. However, the impact of self-control on drug problems did not differ significantly among the three racial groups. Overall, the findings support the argument of the general theory of crime that self-control maintains a constant and positive effect on deviant and criminal behavior across racial groups.
Differing adsorption behavior of environmentally important cyanophenol isomers at the air-water interface.

Vibrational sum-frequency spectroscopy and surface tensiometry have been used to study the adsorption of m- and p-cyanophenol at the air−water interface. Spectra of the cyano (CN) group under different polarization schemes are utilized to determine its hydrogen bonding environment and orientation. For both isomers, it is found that the cyano group is hydrogen bonded at the interface but that the CN orientation is independent of surface density. The average CN tilt angle (θ0), however, is found to differ between the isomers, such that the CN group points down toward the aqueous phase for m-cyanophenol (θ0 = 96−106°) but points up toward the vapor phase for the p-cyanophenol (θ0 = 65−80°). In addition, this average tilt angle is distributed over a narrow range, σ0 < 10° for the meta isomer and σ0 < 16° for the para isomer.
Characterizing Ancylostoma caninum transcriptome and exploring nematode parasitic adaptation

Hookworm infection is one of the most important neglected diseases in developing countries, with approximately 1 billion people infected worldwide. To better understand hookworm biology and nematode parasitism, the present study generated a near complete transcriptome of the canine hookworm Ancylostoma caninum to a very high coverage using high throughput technology, and compared it to those of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the parasite Brugia malayi. The generated transcripts from four developmental stages, infective L3, serum stimulated L3, adult male and adult female, covered 93% of the A. caninum transcriptome. The broad diversity among nematode transcriptomes was confirmed, and an impact of parasitic adaptation on transcriptome diversity was inferred. Intra-population analysis showed that A. caninum has higher coding sequence diversity than humans. Examining the developmental expression profiles of A. caninum revealed major transitions in gene expression from larval stages to adult. Adult males expressed the highest number of selectively expressed genes, but adult female expressed the highest number of selective parasitism-related genes. Genes related to parasitism adaptation and A. caninum specific genes exhibited more expression selectivity while those conserved in nematodes tend to be consistently expressed. Parasitism related genes were expressed more selectively in adult male and female worms. The comprehensive analysis of digital expression profiles along with transcriptome comparisons enabled identification of a set of parasitism genes encoding secretory proteins in animal parasitic nematode. This study validated the usage of deep sequencing for gene expression profiling. Parasitic adaptation of the canine hookworm is related to its diversity and developmental dynamics. This comprehensive comparative genomic and expression study substantially improves our understanding of the basic biology and parasitism of hookworms and, is expected, in the long run, to accelerate research toward development of vaccines and novel anthelmintics.
Reproduction in Female Copperhead Snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix): Plasma Steroid Profiles during Gestation and Post-Birth Periods

We investigated levels of plasma progesterone (P4), 17β-estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), and corticosterone (CORT) during gestation and post-birth periods in wild-collected female copperhead snakes (Viperidae; Agkistrodon contortrix). We also sought to determine whether CORT levels at (or near) birth dramatically increase and were correlated with duration of labor and litter size. Specifically, pregnant subjects (N = 14) were collected during early- to mid-gestation, held in the laboratory, and repeatedly bled to obtain plasma for steroid analyses. Progesterone showed significant changes during gestation, with the highest levels at the onset of sampling (circa 50 days prior to birth); P4 progressively declined up to parturition, and basal levels were observed thereafter. At the onset of sampling, E2 was at peak levels and fell sharply at circa 30 days prior to birth, a trend observed throughout the post-birth sampling period. Throughout the entire sampling period, T was undetectable. Although CORT showed no significant changes during gestation and several days following parturition, there was a highly significant peak at the time of birth. Our findings mirror the results of previous studies on pregnancy and steroid hormones of other live-bearing snakes, lizards, and mammals. As expected, there was a significant relationship between duration of labor and litter size; however, although levels of CORT did not achieve significance, there was a positive trend with litter size. We suggest that elevation of CORT at birth is involved in the mobilization and regulation of energy stores necessary for the physiological process of parturition and as a possible mechanism to trigger birth.
Cutting to the chase: taking the pulse of label-retaining cells in kidney.

ONE OF THE OLDEST ASSAYS for identifying stem cells, DNA analog pulse-chase studies date back more than 60 years (2). The concept derives from the observation that stem cells divide only rarely to preserve their proliferative potential and reduce DNA errors that occur during chromosome duplication (1). The assay consists of two parts: a pulse of DNA analog [bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) or tritiated nucleotide, for example] followed by a chase period. During the pulse, all proliferating cells are labeled. During the chase, the analog is absent, so fast cycling cells will dilute the label by half with each cell division until the label is undetectable (in practice, 3– 4 divisions for BrdU). Slow-cycling cells proliferate only rarely during the chase, retaining their label and identifiable as label-retaining cells (LRC) at the end of the chase. These label-retaining assays work very well to identify the cell cycle properties of a mixed population of cells but care is required for their proper interpretation. Most importantly, label retention itself does not define stemness; it simply identifies a cell that divided during the pulse and did not divide during the chase. Second, very slowly cycling cells may not be labeled at all during the pulse, particularly if the pulse is short. Third, the interpretation of a label retention study is different in a tissue with normally low rates of proliferation (such as adult kidney) than in one with normally high rates (such as skin or intestine). In a slow-cycling tissue, unless both the pulse and the chase are sufficiently long, there will be few cells labeled during the pulse and little subsequent dilution of label during the chase because so few cells are proliferating. To define stem cells in kidney, a number of groups employed pulse-chase approaches to identify LRC. A major problem in comparing the results of these studies has been the different pulse-chase protocols employed that have investigated different age mice and rats with variable pulse times and
Gonad-brain relationship: precocious brain maturation after estradiol in rats.

Effects of estradiol administration on infant rats were studied in relation to brain maturation as measured by electroshock seizure responses. Estradiol dipropionate (100 μg/100 g of body wt) was injected daily into newborn rats for 4 consecutive days, beginning on days 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. Electroshock was administered during infancy on alternate days until the adult pattern was established, and weekly thereafter. All rats were weighed frequently, sacrificed at approximately 70 days of age, and weights of pituitary, ovaries, adrenals and thymus were determined. After a supramaximal electroshock, the infant rat passes through a successive series of responses prior to showing the mature seizure pattern. The present results showed that all phases of response to electroshock appeared at a significantly (t-test) earlier date in the treated animals than in the controls. Similarly, estradiol induced the precocious appearance of the adult pattern of maximal seizures. Acceleration of brain development appeared to ...
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Archived U.S. Biosolids from the 2001 EPA National Sewage Sludge Survey

In response to the U.S. National Academies' call for a better assessment of chemical pollutants contained in the approximately 7 million dry tons of digested municipal sludge produced annually in the United States, the mean concentration of 72 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCP) were determined in 110 biosolids samples collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its 2001 National Sewage Sludge Survey. Composite samples of archived biosolids, collected at 94 U.S. wastewater treatment plants from 32 states and the District of Columbia, were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry using EPA Method 1694. Thirty-eight (54%) of the 72 analytes were detected in at least one composite sample at concentrations ranging from 0.002 to 48 mg kg(-1) dry weight. Triclocarban and triclosan were the most abundant analytes with mean concentrations of 36 +/- 8 and 12.6 +/- 3.8 mg kg(-1) (n = 5), respectively, accounting for 65% of the total PPCP mass found. The loading to U.S. soils from nationwide biosolids recycling was estimated at 210-250 metric tons per year for the sum of the 72 PPCPs investigated. The results of this nationwide reconnaissance of PPCPs in archived U.S. biosolids mirror in contaminant occurrences, frequencies and concentrations, those reported by the U.S. EPA for samples collected in 2006/2007. This demonstrates that PPCP releases in U.S. biosolids have been ongoing for many years and the most abundant PPCPs appear to show limited fluctuations in mass over time when assessed on a nationwide basis. The here demonstrated use of five mega composite samples holds promise for conducting cost-effective, routine monitoring on a regional and national basis.
Kinetic Analysis of Electron Transport in a Cylindrical Hall Thruster

Transport of electrons across magnetic field lines in a Hall thruster is driven by factors such as collisions with background heavy particles, plasma turbulence, and wall effects. In this paper, we analyze the influence of secondary electron emission and electron scattering with thruster walls on cross-field diffusion in cylindrical Hall thrusters.
Low‐frequency variability of South Pacific Tropical Water from Argo

Based on the Argo floats data, the low-frequency salinity variability of the South Pacific Tropical Water (SPTW) is investigated in this study. Subsurface salinity along the 24.5 σθ surface in the South Pacific subtropical gyre exhibits a trend with dipole-like structure during 2004–2012. The northern flank of the SPTW gets fresher by 0.3 practical salinity unit (psu), while the southern flank gets saltier by 0.2 psu, suggesting a poleward shift of the water mass. Salinity along the SPTW core shows a relatively weak interannual variability with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.05 psu. Such a subsurface salinity variability seems to be connected with the sea surface salinity variability in the SPTW formation region, and the dipole-like structure of the salinity trend is further linked to the decadal variability of the evaporation minus precipitation in this region.
Re-storying practice: Using stories about students to advance mathematics education reform

Abstract We apply a literary definition of story (struggle, protagonist, and resolution) to an American primary school teacher's reflections on experimenting with new teaching practices. This definition makes issues of equity explicit and revealed what the teacher saw as possible for changing her practice. By re-storying her stories – offering evidence from interviews, video, and surveys to affirm or complicate interpretations – we consider the power of storytelling to deepen commitments to reform and challenge skepticism. When done collaboratively between teacher educators and teachers, restorying could be a generative analytic process of learning from practice.
Effect of Uterine Blood Flow Occlusion on Shear Stress-Mediated Nitric Oxide Production and Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression During Ovine Pregnancy

During normal pregnancy, uterine blood flow (UBF) is increased in association with elevations of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression. Shear stress increases endothelial-derived NO production to reduce vasomotor tone. We hypothesized that decreasing in vivo UBF, and thus shear stress, will decrease NO and/or eNOS levels. In this experiment, one of the main uterine arteries of chronically instrumented late pregnant sheep (125 +/- 1 days' gestation [mean +/- SEM]; n = 15) was occluded for 24 h. Cardiovascular parameters (systemic and uterine arterial pressure, heart rate [HR], and ipsilateral and contralateral UBF) and NO(2)/NO(3) (NO(x)) levels were evaluated. Although UBF measured using Transonic flow probes was reduced unilaterally 41.5% +/- 2.1%, uterine perfusion pressure only fell 12.2% +/- 4.5%. Systemic arterial blood pressure and HR were unaltered. Using radioactive microspheres, ipsilateral UBF was reduced approximately 28% during occlusion. The redistribution of UBF to other reproductive tissues suggests that collateral circulation develops in response to occlusion. Systemic arterial and uterine venous NO(x) levels were reduced 22.1% +/- 6.7% and 22.6% +/- 7.6%, respectively, during occlusion. Treatment with microspheres produced an unexpected initial ( approximately 2.5 h) increase in systemic arterial and uterine venous NO(x) levels by 116% +/- 30% and 97% +/- 49%, respectively. Despite a decline in NO(x) levels after 6 h, no significant differences versus preocclusion NO(x) levels were detected by 24 h of occlusion in this experimental group. In contrast, NO(x), UBF, and uterine perfusion pressure levels unexpectedly failed to return to baseline values following release of occlusion. No differences in uterine artery eNOS expression were demonstrated by Western analysis from occlusion. Thus, our data suggest that shear stress may mediate in vivo vasomotor tone via production of NO(x).
ESA ExoMars: Pre-launch PanCam Geometric Modeling and Accuracy Assessment

Abstract. ExoMars is the flagship mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) Aurora Programme. The mobile scientific platform, or rover, will carry a drill and a suite of instruments dedicated to exobiology and geochemistry research. As the ExoMars rover is designed to travel kilometres over the Martian surface, high-precision rover localization and topographic mapping will be critical for traverse path planning and safe planetary surface operations. For such purposes, the ExoMars rover Panoramic Camera system (PanCam) will acquire images that are processed into an imagery network providing vision information for photogrammetric algorithms to localize the rover and generate 3-D mapping products. Since the design of the ExoMars PanCam will influence localization and mapping accuracy, quantitative error analysis of the PanCam design will improve scientists’ awareness of the achievable level of accuracy, and enable the PanCam design team to optimize its design to achieve the highest possible level of localization and mapping accuracy. Based on photogrammetric principles and uncertainty propagation theory, we have developed a method to theoretically analyze how mapping and localization accuracy would be affected by various factors, such as length of stereo hard-baseline, focal length, and pixel size, etc.
Co‐opting the academy: On the urgency of reframing “applied”

(1991). Co‐opting the academy: On the urgency of reframing “applied”. Journal of Applied Communication Research: Vol. 19, The Agenda for Applied Communication Research, pp. 123-128.
The E2 glycoprotein of classical swine fever virus is a virulence determinant in swine

To identify genetic determinants of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) virulence and host range, chimeras of the highly pathogenic Brescia strain and the attenuated vaccine strain CS were constructed and evaluated for viral virulence in swine. Upon initial screening, only chimeras 138.8v and 337.14v, the only chimeras containing the E2 glycoprotein of CS, were attenuated in swine despite exhibiting unaltered growth characteristics in primary porcine macrophage cell cultures. Additional viral chimeras were constructed to confirm the role of E2 in virulence. Chimeric virus 319.1v, which contained only the CS E2 glycoprotein in the Brescia background, was markedly attenuated in pigs, exhibiting significantly decreased virus replication in tonsils, a transient viremia, limited generalization of infection, and decreased virus shedding. Chimeras encoding all Brescia structural proteins in a CS genetic background remained attenuated, indicating that additional mutations outside the structural region are important for CS vaccine virus attenuation. These results demonstrate that CS E2 alone is sufficient for attenuating Brescia, indicating a significant role for the CSFV E2 glycoprotein in swine virulence.
Determination of ion and neutral loss compositions and deconvolution of product ion mass spectra using an orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer and an ion correlation program.

Exact masses of monoisotopic ions, and the relative isotopic abundances (RIAs) of ions greater in mass by 1 and 2 Da than the monoisotopic ion, are independent and complementary physical properties useful for distinguishing among elemental compositions of ions possible for a given nominal mass. Using these properties to determine elemental compositions of product ions and neutral losses increases the masses of precursor ions for which unique compositions can be determined. Compositions of the precursor ion, product ion, and neutral loss aid mass spectral interpretation and guide modest chemical literature searches for candidate standards to be obtained for confirmation of tentative compound identifications. This approach is essential for compound characterization or identification due to the absence of commercial libraries of electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) product ion spectra. For a series of 34 exact mass measurements, an orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer provided 34 and 29 values accurate to within 2 and 1 mDa, respectively, for ions from eight simulated unknowns with [M+H]+ ion masses between 166 and 319 Da. Of 36 RIA measurements for +1 Da or +2 Da ions, 35 were accurate to within 20% of their predicted values (or to within 0.4 RIA % when the RIA value was less than 1%) in the absence of obvious interferences, in cases where the monoisotopic ion peak areas were at least 1.7 × 105 counts and the ion masses exceeded 141 Da. An ion correlation program (ICP) provided the unique and correct compositions for all but three of the 34 ions studied. Manual inspection of the data eliminated the incorrect compositions. To test the utility of the ICP for deconvoluting composite product ion spectra, all 34 ions were tested for correlation. Six of eight precursor ions were identified as such, while two were compositional subsets of others and were not properly identified. The six precursor ion compositions were still found by the ICP even though ions with masses less than 158 Da were not considered since they could no longer be correlated with a single precursor ion. Finally, two unidentified analytes were characterized, based on data published by others and using the ICP together with mass spectral interpretation. Published in 2005 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Low Complexity Interference Rejection Combining for MLSE

Co-channel interference and inter-symbol interference (ISI) are common problems encountered by modern wireless communication systems. To mitigate these challenges, diversity antennas with optimum combining can be used in conjunction with the maximum likelihood sequence estimator (MLSE) to achieve the optimum receiver in a time dispersive propagation environment. We derive a simple multi- antenna MLSE receiver structure that is optimum in diversity combining and equalization given the spatial correlation of the interference and noise. The Viterbi sequence estimation within the multi- antenna receiver has the same complexity as a single-antenna receiver. Since the spatial covariance of the noise is taken into account in the ML sequence estimate, strong co-channel interference can be effectively suppressed. The receiver's robust interference rejection capability is validated in simulations of the GMSK-modulated GSM signal.
Large in-memory cyber-physical security-related analytics via scalable coherent shared memory architectures

Cyber-physical security-related queries and analytics run on traditional relational databases can take many hours to return. Furthermore, programming analytics on distributed databases requires great skill, and there is a shortage of such talent worldwide. In this talk on computational intelligence within cyber security, we will review developments of processing large datasets in-memory using a coherent shared memory approach. The coherent shared memory approach allows programmers to view a cluster of servers as a system with a single large RAM. By hiding the actual system architecture under a software layer, we proffer a more intuitive programming model. Furthermore, the design of applications is “timeless” since hardware upgrades require no changes to the software. The advantages of shared memory are countered by some disadvantages in that race conditions can occur; however, in many of these cases, we can provide models that protect us against such problems. Exemplars include sensemaking of Twitter feeds, the processing of Smart Meter datasets, and the large scale simulation of the caching of files at disparate points around the globe.
Ecologically Unequal Exchange and Deforestation: A Cross-National Analysis of Forestry Export Flows:

The theory of ecologically unequal exchange suggests that rich nations are able to externalize their resource demands and environmental degradation onto the poor nations of the world through the vertical flow of exports. However, there has been no cross-national research that examines if forestry export flows from poor to rich nations is associated with higher rates of deforestation in poor nations. As such, we seek to address this gap in the literature by constructing cross-national regression models of forest loss from 1990 to 2005 for a sample of 60 poor nations. In doing so, we find substantial support for ecologically unequal exchange theory that poor nations with higher levels of forestry export flows to rich nations tend to have higher rates of deforestation.We also find that a number of other factors are related to deforestation. These include international nongovernmental organizations, democracy, total forestry production, total population growth, rural population growth, and tropical climate. W...
Mammal-eating killer whales and their prey—trend data for pinnipeds and sea otters in the North Pacific Ocean do not support the sequential megafaunal collapse hypothesis

Springer et al. (2003) proposed a sequential megafauna collapse hypothesis to explain the decline of pinniped species and northern sea otters in the North Pacific. This hypothesis has been critiqued at length by DeMaster et al. (2006), Mizroch and Rice (2006), Trites et al. (2007), and Wade et al. (2007). At the core of the sequential megafauna collapse (SMC) hypothesis is the idea that predation by killer whales caused the sequential declines of four prey species (Springer et al. 2003) in the vicinity of the Aleutian Islands, Bering Sea, and Gulf of Alaska. Wade et al. (2007) plotted trends regionally and argued that the declines of pinnipeds appeared to be concurrent rather than sequential. DeMaster et al. (2006) statistically analyzed the available data and concluded that the data did not support the hypothesis that the declines of populations of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus), Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) were sequential. In response, Springer et al. (2008) have fit a model similar to that used in DeMaster et al. (2006) and noted that the midpoints of the declines (the inflection points, representing the year in which 50% of the decline had occurred) are, in many cases, significantly different by their calculations. From this they conclude that the pinniped declines are sequential. The objectives of this letter are to clarify issues of statistical modeling in DeMaster et al. (2006) and Springer et al. (2008) and include further data and analyses. Springer et al. (2008) extended their work by selecting and analyzing several subseries of the Steller sea lion and sea otter (Enhydra lutris) count data. To respond to Point 2 of Springer et al. (2008), here we reanalyze subseries
Breakfast at Ebay’s (Or How Ebay Ate Tiffany’s Lunch)

In this brief paper, the author reviews and critiques the recent Tiffany v. Ebay case in regard to the selling of counterfeit goods on Internet sites, and makes an argument as to when Internet sites selling such goods should or should not be held liable. Mentioned in this context are also rulings against Ebay in overseas courts.
Pain Prevalence and Treatment Patterns in a US Children's Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: Hospitalized children experience significant pain despite improvement efforts. This study was undertaken to better understand the epidemiology of acute pain in hospitalized children and the extent to which existing measures reveal targets for improving pain management. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was used to audit pain assessment, intensity, prevalence, source, and treatment hospital-wide on a single day in 2011. Chart audits were performed on patients aged 0 to 21 years. All patients had the option to participate in a structured interview about their pain experience. RESULTS: The audit included 112 children, 47 of whom were interviewed. Pain prevalence obtained by child/parent interview (72%) was more than twice that documented by nurses (30%). Infants, but not cognitively impaired children, had significantly lower rates of pain detection and analgesic ordering than older age groups. Procedural pain was the most frequently cited source of pain among interviewed patients and was poorly addressed in the medical record. Fifty percent of children with documented moderate-to-severe pain received scheduled pain medications. More than one-third of interviewed patients would have wanted more pain medication if it could have been safely given. CONCLUSIONS: Specific gaps remain in the quality of pain management provided to hospitalized children. Focus on infant pain detection, assessment and management of procedural pain, and scheduled analgesic ordering are sensible targets for future process improvement efforts.
Polymer-Assisted Synthesis of Colloidal Germanium Telluride Nano-Octahedra, Nanospheres, and Nanosheets

Germanium telluride (GeTe) nanostructures are a demonstrated platform for studying the effects of scaling on reversible, amorphous-to-crystalline phase transitions that are important for data storage and computing applications, and for understanding ferroelectric behavior at the nanometer scale. Despite the interest in GeTe, and the apparent advantages of solution-phase processing, there is a dearth of information related to the synthesis of high-quality, morphology-controlled, colloidal GeTe. This paper describes the preparation of colloidal GeTe nanostructures in the presence of surface-stabilizing polymers, which mediate particle–particle interactions and prevent aggregation of GeTe crystallites more effectively than conventional molecular stabilizers. As a result, several novel GeTe nanostructures are formed, including faceted octahedral nanoparticles, amorphous GexTe1–x alloy nanospheres and single-crystal two-dimensional (2D) GeTe nanosheets. The colloidal stability conferred by the polymer may prov...
Influence Factors and Countermeasures of Rice Quality and Safety

Rice is the largest food crop in China. It will be suffered from kinds of pests and diseases damage and pollution, including pesticides, chemical fertilizers, heavy metals, toxic substances and microorganism in planting and processing. Based on the analysis of the influencing factors, countermeasures for improvement of rice quality and safety were provided.
Retrieval of Cloud Parameters Using Infrared Hyperspectral Observations

This paper describes the theory and application of Minimum Local Emissivity Variance(MLEV) technique for simultaneous retrieval of cloud pressure level and effective spectral emissivity from high-spectral resolution radiances,for the case of single-layer clouds.The MLEV algorithm uses a physical approach,in which the local spectral variances of cloud emissivity are calculated for a number of cloud pressure levels.The optimal solution for the single-layer cloud emissivity spectrum is that having the "minimum local emissivity variance" among the retrieved emissivity spectra associated with different first-guess cloud pressure levels.This is due to the fact that the absorption,reflection,and scattering processes of clouds exhibit relatively limited localized spectral emissivity structure in the infrared long wave region.Validation with cloud lidar observations and MODIS cloud products indicates the MLEV algorithm is very effective,especially to mid-high clouds.
Total 24-hour gastric acid secretion in patients with duodenal ulcer. Comparison with normal subjects and effects of cimetidine and parietal cell vagotomy.

The purposes of these studies were as follows; (a) to compare gastric acid secretion throughout an entire 24-h period in 8 patients with duodenal ulcer disease and in 7 normal subjects, and (b) to determine in duodenal ulcer patients to what extent total, 24-h acid secretion was reduced by oral cimetidine (n = 7) or parietal cell vagotomy (n = 7). Basal, interprandial, and nocturnal acid secretion were measured by gastric aspiration, whereas acid secretion in response to breakfast, lunch, and dinner was measured by in vivo intragastric titration. Total, 24-h acid secretion averaged 408.3 - 61.7 mmol in duodenal ulcer patients and 208.3 ± 18.5 mmol in normal subjects (p
The dynamics of formation flight about a stable trajectory

This paper investigates the dynamics of a formation of spacecraft traveling in the center manifold about a stable periodic orbit. We consider a halo orbit in the Hill problem that has been stabilized by a closed-loop control. The monodromy matrix of the resulting orbit has all of its eigenvalues of the unit circle with nonzero imaginary parts. Furthermore, by adjusting the feedback control gain it is possible to induce large winding numbers, leading to high frequency oscillations about the orbit with periods much shorter than the period of the orbit. The description of motion in this system over relatively short time spans is investigated using the theory of linear dynamical systems. To describe the motion we approximate the time-varying linear dynamics with a “local” time-invariant system. The “orbital elements” of these linear solutions are defined and used to describe the possible motions for a formation of spacecraft. The error introduced by this approximation is evaluated and shown to be relatively small. Applications of the theory to spacecraft interferometry are noted.