cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Casualty modeling for real-time medical training

We present a model for simulating casualties in virtual environments for real-time medical training. It allows a user to choose diagnostic and therapeutic actions to carry out on a simulated casualty who will manifest appropriate physiological, behavioral, and physical responses. Currently, the user or a “stealth instructor” can specify one or more injuries that the casualty has sustained. The model responds by continuously determining the state of the casualty, responding appropriately to medical assessment and treatment procedures. So far, we have modeled four medical conditions and over 20 procedures. The model has been designed to handle the addition of other injuries and medical procedures.
Intimate Landscapes: the Social Nature of the Spaces Between

Domestic structures at Parchman Place are characterized by rectangular magnetic anomalies of high value, surrounded by haloes of low magnetic value. Site-wide magnetic gradiometer survey reveals discrete clusters of these anomalies, indicating the presence of at least three residential groups or neighbourhoods. However, the empty spaces on the map, the magnetically clean areas bounded by architecture, are also important for structuring daily interactions among individuals and groups. This paper explores the spaces between geophysical anomalies – the intimate landscapes of courtyards, plazas and paths that are common yet rarely investigated spatial components of Mississippi Period (ad 1000–1541) sites in the southeastern USA. Magnetic gradiometer data from Parchman illustrate how attributes of empty spaces – size, shape, orientation, visibility and proximity to other features – promoted different types of social interaction in the past. These data, supplemented by traditional archaeological data, indicate that early in the site's history, the focus of community members was inward – at the neighbourhood level toward courtyards and the lineages associated with them, and at the site level toward the central plaza and other social groups living at the site. Later, at least some community members became oriented away from the rest of the community and toward monumental architecture instead. As a result of this reorientation, many people were excluded from participating in mound-top activities. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antichymotrypsin interaction with chymotrypsin. Partitioning of the complex.

The interactions of bovine pancreatic chymotrypsin (Chtr) and recombinant alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (rACT) and rACT variants were studied by kinetic and gel electrophoretic analyses, leading to the formulation of a general kinetic scheme that accounts for all known results concerning this serpin-protease pair, as well as for results obtained with other such pairs. Incubation of rACT and Chtr leads rapidly to the formation of an inhibited complex, Chtr.rACT*, that is stable toward sodium dodecyl sulfate denaturation and boiling. The extent of release of active Chtr from this complex increases markedly as ionic strength, mu, is raised. The kinetic scheme quantitatively accounts for this effect on the basis of a partitioning of Chtr.rACT* between dissociation of the complex to yield active enzyme and cleaved rACT, and Chtr-catalyzed conversion of the complex to a form that is much more resistant to release of active enzyme. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analyses of reaction mixtures of rACT and Chtr are consistent with the scheme. Also consistent are the results of experiments measuring the effects of 1) Chtr.rACT* concentration, 2) uncomplexed Chtr, and 3) added alpha 2-macroglobulin on active Chtr release from Chtr.rACT*. Proteolysis of Chtr.rACT* to give a resistant complex is also catalyzed by human neutrophil elastase, a process with potential physiological relevance. Comparison of the rates of Chtr dissociation from the complexes formed with rACT and with rACT variants mutated at the P1 site suggests that such rates are more sensitive to P1 substitution at low mu than at high mu. Several equivalents of the L358R-rACT variant are required for full inhibition of Chtr. This observation is also quantitatively accounted for by the proposed kinetic scheme, on the basis of another partitioning step between L358R-rACT acting as a substrate or as an inhibitor toward Chtr.
The biosynthesis of thiamine. A yeast enzyme system which converts 2-methyl-4-amino-5-aminomethylpyrimidine to 2-methyl-4-amino-5-hydroxymethylpyrimidine.

Abstract 1. 1. An enzyme sysetm obtained from baker's yeast converted 2-methyl-4 amino-5-aminomethylpyrimidine to 2-methyl-4-amino-5-hydroxymethylpyrimidine, a known intermediate in thiamine biosynthesis. The pH optimum of the system was 7.8 and the apparent Km value for the substrate was 5·10−5 M. The enzyme system was inhibited by 2-mercaptoethanol, pyridoxal phosphate, the amine oxidase inhibitors pargyline and tranylcypromine, and by various carbonyl reagents and chelating agents. 2. 2. Enzymes systems catalyzing a similar reaction were reaction were found to be present in Neurospora crasa extracts and in a crude preparation of Bacillus thiaminolyticus thiaminase.
Low-level chemiluminescence of hydroperoxide-supplemented cytochrome c.

Ferricytochrome c showed low-level chemiluminescence, with a light-emission measured of about 1×103–3×103 counts/s, when supplemented with organic hydroperoxides. Tertiary hydroperoxides (cumene hydroperoxide and t-butyl hydroperoxide) showed a saturation behaviour at about 5mm-hydroperoxide, whereas primary hydroperoxides showed a quadratic dependence on the hydroperoxide concentration. Chemiluminescence depended linearly on cytochrome c concentration, and optimal light-emission was observed at [t-butyl hydroperoxide]/[ferricytochrome c] ratios of 160–500. Hydroperoxide-supplemented ferricytochrome c consumed O2 at a rate of 1.0μmol/min per μmol of cytochrome c; the rate of O2 uptake was linearly related to the concentration of cytochrome c. The Soret absorption band of ferricytochrome c decreased about 64% after incubation with t-butyl hydroperoxide, whereas the 530nm band was almost totally abolished. Light-emission was (a) inhibited competitively by cyanide. (b) inhibited by singlet-oxygen quenchers (e.g. β-carotene), scavengers (e.g. dimethylfuran) and traps (e.g. histidine and tryptophan) and (c) increased by singlet-oxygen-chemiluminescence enhancer 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]-octane. Superoxide dismutase had no effect on the present system. The participation of free radicals is suggested by the effect of the radical trap 2,5-di-t-butylquinol. Singlet-oxygen dimol emission seems to be mainly responsible for the observed light-emission; a mechanism that can account for the major part of the present experimental observations is proposed.
Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Function in Psoriasis: Chemotaxis, Chemokinesis, Beta-Adrenergic Receptors, and Proteolytic Enzymes of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes in the Peripheral Blood from Psoriatic Patients

Psoriatic patients, particularly those with psoriatic arthritis, have neutrophilic and eosinophilic leukocytosis. Isolated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) from psoriatic patients have normal concentrations of proteolytic enzymes and they have beta-adrenergic receptors of normal density and affinity. PMNLs from psoriatic patients responded normally to the synthetic chemotactic peptide, f-Met-Leu-Phe (formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine). The chemotactic activities of sera from psoriatic patients were similar to those of normal sera. Sera from psoriatic patients enhanced chemokinesis of PMNLs more than normal control sera at a final concentration of 1%; no difference in chemokinetic response between psoriatic and normal sera was found at serum concentrations greater than 2.5%. This study suggests that the peripheral PMNLs from psoriatic patients are normal, but the sera of psoriatic patients has more chemokinetic activity for PMNLs than does normal serum.
A state-space formulation for optimal Hankel-norm approximations

The optimal Hankel-norm approximation problem studied in [1] is reformulated in a state-space setting. The crucial extension theorem is reestablished in this framework. The minimal degree optimal approximation is then derived in terms of state-space parameters
Group Transfer from Nickel Imido, Phosphinidene, and Carbene Complexes to Ethylene with Formation of Aziridine, Phosphirane, and Cyclopropane Products

The reactions of nickel complexes bearing terminal imido, phosphinidene, and carbene ligands with ethylene are reported. In all three cases, corresponding three-membered rings, aziridine, phosphirane, and cyclopropane, were produced in moderate to excellent yields. NMR spectra of the phosphinidene (dtbpe)Ni=P(dmp) reaction with ethylene show a [2+2] cycloaddition adduct before phosphirane formation. A labeling study with trans-ethylene-d2 shows formation of aziridine and phosphirane proceeds with net retention of relative stereochemistry.
IL‐4 is a differentiation factor for transforming growth factor‐β secreting Th3 cells and oral administration of IL‐4 enhances oral tolerance in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

We have previously shown that following oral administration of myelin basic protein (MBP), regulatory T cells are generated from gut-associated lymphoid tissue and that these cells suppress experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). These regulatory T cells produce transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) with various amounts of IL-4 and IL-10 and these TGF-β-secreting T cells have been termed Th3 cells. T cells in lymphoid organs drained by mucosal sites secrete IL-4 as a primary T cell growth factor. In the present study, we examined the role of IL-4 on oral tolerance and in the generation of TGF-β secreting cells. Treatment of (PLJ × SJL)F1 mice with intraperitoneal (i. p.) IL-4 and low-dose oral MBP (0.5 mg) given three times reduced the severity of EAE, whereas i. p. injection of IL-4 alone or oral MBP alone given in these suboptimal doses, showed no protection. Spleen cells from protected mice produced increased amounts of TGF-β and reduced IFN-γ upon stimulation with MBP in vitro. Mucosal MBP-specific IgA production was significantly increased in IL-4 plus MBP fed animals. Moreover, oral administration of IL-4 (1 μg per feeding) also enhanced the suppression of EAE by oral MBP and this protective effect was reversed by administration of anti-TGF-β antibody in vivo. Reverse transcription-PCR showed enhanced suppression of IFN-γ in Peyer's patch in animals fed MBP and IL-4 versus those fed MBP alone. We then investigated the role of IL-4 in the generation of TGF-β-secreting cells using MBP Ac1-11 TCR transgenic animals. Cells were cultured with IL-2, IL-4, or IFN-γ in the presence of MBP and limiting dilution analysis for cytokine-secreting cells performed. We found that IL-4, but not IL-2 or IFN-γ, generated TGF-β-secreting T cells from naive splenic T cells and that these cells provided help for IgA production. These findings demonstrate that IL-4 is a differentiation factor for TGF-β-secreting Th3 cells and oral IL-4 has a synergistic effect on low-dose oral tolerance that is associated with increased TGF-β secretion.
The Executive Appraisal Paradox

Executive Overview Executives perform the most uncertain, unstructured, ill-defined, and often the most important work in organizations. Common wisdom would suggest that people doing such jobs should be the ones supplied with the most effective feedback about their performance, simply because good, informative feedback helps them cope with the acknowledged demands of executive work. Therefore, one would expect the level of performance feedback to rise as one progresses up the organizational hierarchy. We found almost exactly the opposite to be true in many companies. Paradoxically, the higher one rises in an organization the less likely one is to receive quality feedback about job performance. In particular, we found that the executive review and appraisal process was often infrequently and haphazardly done, and that the underlying reasons for the poorly-conducted appraisals were traceable to a number of fallacious assumptions or myths about the nature of executives and their work. These myths not only hi...
Building a Learning Community by Aligning Cognition and Affect within and Across Members

Management education programs often rely on collaborative learning, which requires high levels of openness and interpersonal support. We describe how one program accomplishes this and offer a theor...
Real-time correction of dc servo motor and controller failures using analog checksums

Recently optimal controller design for real-time systems has been a prominent research focus for their application in intelligent autonomous systems. However, in the future it will be extremely important for real-time monitoring of safety-critical applications for their reliability. In this paper, we extend the theory for real-time compensation of transient errors and permanent faults in linear control systems derived from a low-overhead error detection scheme developed for plant-controller systems. The approach is demonstrated for transient error correction and parametric fault compensation on a servo-motor control application.
Projections of diencephalic dopamine neurons into the spinal cord in mice

The aim of this study is to investigate the pathway of diencephalic dopaminergic (DA) neuronal innervating into the spinal cord in mice, the pathway is postulated relevant to clinical restless legs syndrome (RLS). Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemstry was used to identify the DA neuron. The fluorescent tracer Fluoro-Gold (FG) was sterotaxically injected into the T10–L5 spinal cord of CBL57 mice (n=20) seven days before the animals were sacrificed. The diencephalic sections were stained with TH antibody and the FG tracer present in the diencephalic DA neurons were examined under fluoresce microscope. The average number of total DA neurons per side in A11, A12, A13 and A14 was 66±8, 221±12, 350±17 and 254±21 respectively. After being injected into the spinal cord, FG reached the DA neurons within the A10 and A11 groups, but didn’t target to any other DA neuron groups including the A8 and A9 groups in substantia nigra (SN). The diencephalic A11 DA neurons possessed long axons extending over several segments and possibly traversing the entire length of the spinal cord. It is the first time to report A10 and A11 DA neuron projections into the spinal cord in mice.
Bioelectrocatalysis of a water-soluble tetrathiafulvalene2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin complex

Abstract Water-soluble 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (hp-β-CyD), a cyclic and non-reducing oligosaccharide, was used to enclose tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) to from a water-soluble complex. The molar ratio of hy-β-CyD to TTF in TTF-saturated solutions was about 2.8 and the complex was much more stable than free TTF in aqueous solutions. The cyclic voltammogram of the TTF-hp-β-CyD complex exhibited two oxidation waves with E p values of 210 mV (TTF → TTF + ) and 415 mV (TTF + → TTF 2+ ) at a glassy carbon electrode vs. Ag/AgCl. The former was relatively reversible and had a pH-independent E p , while the latter was not reversible due to the decomposition of TTF 2+ and had a strongly pH-dependent E p . Application of this novel complex as a homogeneous mediator for the enzyme-catalyzed electrooxidation of glucose, hypoxanthine and lactate, respectively at a glassy carbon electrode was successfully demonstrated. A well-defined catalytic wave was also obtained from NADH,illustrating the feasibility of the TTF-hp-β-CyD complex for bioreactions involving NADH dehydrogenases. The complex for bioelectrocatalysis was then investigated as membrane electrodes of glucose oxidase and xanthine oxidase. Fast response, high sensitivity and a large range of linearity were observed.
Overview of the regulation of metamorphosis-associated genes in Trichoplusia ni.

A review is presented of our ongoing research program on the regulation of metamorphosis-associated proteins in Trichoplusia ni. Toward the identification of mechanisms by which juvenile hormone (JH) regulates expression of metamorphosis-associated proteins, we have identified a protein that is induced by JH (juvenile hormone esterase) and a related esterase that is not JH-inducible. We have also identified three hexamerins that are suppressible by JH, and one hexamerin that is not JH-suppressible. Expression of the hexamerins is regulated at the transcriptional, translational, and posttranslational levels in T. ni. The rate of transcription of the JH esterase gene increases at the time of the prepupal peak in JH, and exogenous application of JH can cause, within 3 h, the rate of transcription to be markedly elevated above normal. Using in vitro functional transcription assay, cell line transfection functional assay, and preliminary DNase I hypersensitive site mapping we were able to identify the functional TATA box and transcription start sites of JH-sensitive genes. These methods were also observed to be powerful in the detection of regulatory DNA motifs involved in the modulation of transcriptional activity constitutively imparted by a core promoter. The experimental systems described here will also be effective in identifying those components through which JH regulatory effects are mediated. Should JH act on the genes in a primary manner, then the transcription factor mediating that action may be the (a) JH receptor. Should the JH action be in a secondary manner, then the transcription factor(s) whose activity at the JHE gene is regulated by JH will provide the tool to track back to the location and nature of the primary JH action. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Optimal discounted linear control of the wiener process

The following stochastic control problem is considered: to minimize the discounted expected total cost $$J(x;u) = E\int_0^\infty {\exp ( - at)[\phi } (x_l ) + |u_l (x)|]dt,$$ subject todx t =u t (x)dt+dw t ,x 0=x, |u t |≤1, (w t ) a Wiener process, α>0. All bounded by unity, measurable, and nonanticipative functionalsu t (x) of the state processx t are admissible as controls. It is proved that the optimal law is of the form $$\begin{gathered} u_t^* (x) = - 1,x_t > b, \hfill \\ u_t^* (x) = 0,|x_t | \leqslant b, \hfill \\ u_t^* (x) = 1,x_t< - b, \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$ for some switching pointb > 0, characterized in terms of the function o(·) through a transcendental equation.
Valuing habitat regime models for the red-cockaded woodpecker in Mississippi.

Managing Mississippi's forest lands to produce both quality wildlife habitat as well as merchantable timber can be a daunting challenge for forest managers and a source of great concern for the public. In some cases, producing both the quantity and quality of habitat needed and the timber desired is all but impossible. In other cases, a delicate balance that achieves both objectives can be struck. The objective of this study was to quantitatively estimate monetary gains and losses and changes in timber inventories relative to the timber growing stock when producing more or less habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) (Picoides borealis). USDA Forest Service vegetation data, habitat ratings, and economic variables were compiled for those regions of Mississippi best suited for RCWs. Data was then analyzed with Spectrum, the USDA Forest Service-based forest planning software. Models maximizing such objectives as net present value (NPV) alone as well as five different levels of RCW habitat quality over a 50-year rotation were developed. Revenue foregone, acres and volumes harvested, land expectation value (LEV), and equivalent annual income (EAI) were compared for all objectives for the South Central Hills and Pine Belt regions of Mississippi (1,036,208 acres) for three ownership types. As expected, when maximizing for any quality level of RCW habitat, revenue forgone was higher ($0.11–$49/acre/year) than for NPV alone. Volume harvested for high-quality habitat ranged from 152,296 to 10,237,649 cunits, while harvests from low-quality habitat ranged from 637,491 to 116,357,673 cunits. Lower levels of habitat management allowed for an increased emphasis on timber harvesting. In general, we determined that increases in habitat quality resulted in lower timber harvest levels and increased revenue forgone than regimes maximizing NPVs. While this result may be expected, of greater importance are the relative differences between regimes and the ability to use these values for policy decisions.
Multiple conformations of benzil in resorcinarene-based supramolecular host matrixes

Six supramolecular complexes incorporating benzil as a guest, CMCR·bipy·benzil (α) 1 (CMCR = C-methylcalix[4]resorcinarene), CMCR·bipy·benzil (β) 2, CMCR·2bpe·benzil·ethanol 3 (bpe = trans-1,4-bis(...
The determination of calcium and magnesium by atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Abstract An examination of the atomic absorption spectroscopy of calcium and magnesium has been made and the results confirm that several anions and cations interfere. Simple and reliable means are suggested for overcoming these interferences. The possibility of the use of a 2% isopropanol medium for overcoming several interferences on magnesium is also presented.
GEOMETRY OF DAMAGE IN SHOCK LOADED COPPER AND TANTALUM

Cavities of coalesced voids have been found in recovered samples of Tantalum in high‐explosive‐driven experiments. The boundaries of these cavities are imprinted with details of the coalescence and void growth processes. One way of quantifying these details is to measure the roughness of the surfaces. In this work, we calculate the roughness of 2D cross sections of such cavity surfaces from micrographs by analyzing the images with the box counting technique. Spall plane damage driven by flyer plates in Copper samples is also analyzed. The different length scale regimes found will be discussed.
Welcome changes in cubanology

Rural Women and State Policy: Feminist Perspectives on Latin American Agricultural Development. Carmen Diana Deere and Magdalena Leon, eds. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1987. Managing Socialism: From Old Cadres to New Professionals in Revolutionary Cuba. Frank T. Fitzgerald. New York: Greenwood Press, 1990. Transformation and Struggle: Cuba Faces the 1990s. Sandor Halebsky and John M. Kirk, eds. New York: Praeger, 1990. Cuba: The Shaping of Revolutionary Consciousness. Tzvi Medin. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 1990. Che Guevara: Economics and Politics in the Transition to Socialism. Carlos Tablada. Sydney: Pathfinder, 1989. Cuban Political Economy: Controversies in Cubanology. Andrew Zimbalist, ed. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1988. Cuba's Socialist Economy Toward the 1990's. Andrew Zimbalist, ed. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1987.
Surface structure of virions budding from L1210(V) gln− mouse leukemia cells

Abstract The surface structure of virions budding from L1210(V) gln− murine leukemia cells was studied by freeze-drying intact cells, and two types of virus particles were detected. One type possessed random 10-nm surface projections, similar to budding viruses on cells producing only murine leukemia virus (MuLV). The other type possessed regularly arranged 5-nm projections, similar to budding viruses on cells producing only murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV). Results of double antibody labeling are in agreement with the indication that individual viral envelopes on L1210(V) gln− cell viruses are homogeneous in their surface structure.
Multiple regions of metabolic activation of carcinogenic hydrocarbons

SEVERAL lines of evidence have strongly implicated the bay region anti-diolepoxide of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) (Fig. 1) as the principal metabolically activated form of this potent environmental carcinogen1. A bay region is defined simply as a molecular region such as the 4,5-positions of phenanthrene. Recent studies indicate the bay region diolepoxides of 3-methyl-cholanthrene (3-MC) (refs 2, 3), benz(a)anthracene4,5, 7-methylbenz(a)anthracene (MBA) (ref. 6), 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)-anthracene (DMBA) (refs 7, 8), and dibenz(a, h)anthracene9 as the ultimate carcinogenic forms of these hydrocarbons. (In the cases of 3-MC, 7-MB A and 7,12-DMBA there is evidence for an additional benzylic hydroxyl group.) Jerina and Daly10 suggest, on the basis of simple molecular orbital calculations, that the bay region diolepoxides of carcinogenic polycyclic arenes are generally distinguished by exceptional reactivity and are the ultimately active forms of this class of carcinogen. We report here evidence for metabolites other than bay region diolepoxides as the active forms of at least some carcinogenic hydrocarbons.
Cleistogamy and Hybridization in Two Subspecies of Triodanis perfoliata (Campanulaceae)

Abstract The adaptive value of cleistogamous (closed and obligately selfing) flowers has been explored in theoretical and empirical studies, yet the effects of cleistogamy on reproductive isolation between diverging taxa has previously received little consideration. Two subspecies of the annual plant Triodanis perfoliata have diverged in their relative allocation to cleistogamous (CL) versus open or chasmogamous (CH) flowers. The subspecies have widely overlapping geographic distributions and produce viable hybrid offspring. Here, we use morphological diagnostic traits of T. perfoliata subsp. biflora and subsp. perfoliata to characterize their spatial distribution and test for evidence of hybridization at a site in Pitt County, NC. Sampling along a transect in the zone of contact revealed the presence of two distinct morphological types that were spatially mixed. In a separate study, offspring of CL and CH flowers from both subspecies were raised in a growth room, and diagnostic morphological traits were ...
Determination of hydroxyls in mono- and diglycerides

A method for the analysis of hydroxyls employing esterification with 3,5-dinitrobenzoyl chloride, followed by titration with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, has been applied to mono- and diglycerides. Pure mono- and dipalmitins were recovered quantitatively. A commercial glyceryl dioleate was analyzed by this method and the A.O.C.S. pyridine-acetic anhydride procedure with similar results.
Preference for Urban Buildings as a Function of Age and Nature Context

Preferences for urban buildings were studied as a function of building age and nature context. The primary finding was that old buildings were preferred over contemporary buildings when building care was equated statistically, but the reverse was true in the absence of such control. Thus, when older buildings are disliked, poor maintenance is likely to be a contributing factor. A natural context enhanced building preference, but only when it was well maintained. In general, rated building care and nature care were positively related to preference and to each other. Thus the results highlighted the substantial impact of building age and both building and nature care on building preference. Other analyses suggested that the positive impacts of age and nature context on preference were at least party mediated by their generally positive impacts on variables such as complexity, mystery, and coherence.
Evidence for cocaine and methylecgonidine stimulation of M2 muscarinic receptors in cultured human embryonic lung cells

1. Muscarinic cholinoceptor stimulation leads to an increase in guanylyl cyclase activity and to a decrease in adenylyl cyclase activity. This study examined the effects of cocaine and methylecgonidine (MEG) on muscarinic receptors by measurement of cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP content in cultured human embryonic lung (HEL299) cells which specifically express M(2) muscarinic receptors. 2. A concentration-dependent increase in cyclic GMP production was observed in HEL299 cells incubated with carbachol, cocaine, or MEG for 24 h. The increase in cyclic GMP content was 3.6 fold for 1 microM carbachol (P < 0.01), 3.1 fold for 1 microM cocaine (P < 0.01), and 7.8 fold for 1 microM MEG (P < 0.001), respectively. This increase in cyclic GMP content was significantly attenuated or abolished by the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine or the M(2) blocker methoctramine. 3. In contrast, cocaine, MEG, and carbachol produced a significant inhibition of cyclic AMP production in HEL299 cells. Compared to the control, HEL299 cells treated with 1 microM cocaine decreased cyclic AMP production by 30%. MEG and carbachol at 1 microM decreased cyclic AMP production by 37 and 38%, respectively. Atropine or methoctramine at 1 or 10 microM significantly attenuated or abolished the cocaine-induced decrease in cyclic AMP production. However, the antagonists alone had neither an effect on cyclic GMP nor cyclic AMP production. Pretreatment of HEL299 cells with pertussis toxin prevented the cocaine-induced reduction of cyclic AMP production. 4. Western blot analysis showed that HEL299 cells specifically express M(2) muscarinic receptors without detectable M(1) and M(3). Incubation of HEL299 cells with cocaine, carbachol, and atropine did not alter the expression of M(2) protein levels. However, the inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was induced in the presence of cocaine or carbachol and this induction was significantly attenuated after addition of atropine or methoctramine. 5. The present data show that cocaine and MEG significantly affect cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP production in cultured HEL299 cells. Our results also show that these effects result from the drug-induced stimulation of M(2) muscarinic receptors accompanied with no alterations of receptor expression. However, the induction of iNOS by cocaine may result in the increase in cyclic GMP production.
Low-complexity motion estimation for long-term memory motion compensation

Long term memory motion compensation (LTMC) is an approach to extend the temporal motion search range by using multiple decoded frames as reference frames. By employing multiple reference frames, LTMC reduces the residual frame energy significantly. However the computational complexity of motion estimation for LTMC increases significantly as well. Therefore reduction of the required computational complexity is one of the most challenging issues for LTMC. Also, if we locate motion search windows at fixed locations in a frame buffer for a given macro-block, it is highly possible that the oldest frames in a frame buffer do not contain matching blocks due to the reduced correlation between the current frame and the reference frames located further in the frame buffer. Therefore, if we can locate the motion search window at a good position adaptively in a frame buffer, we can enhance the gain performance of LTMS. In this paper, we propose a novel motion estimation algorithm for LTMC to reduce significantly the required computation complexity, and to enhance the performance of LTMC. For the proposed motion estimation algorithm, we introduce a directed search strategy. Also, we propose to employ hypothesis testing fast matching (HTFM) as a fast matching criterion. The goal of a directed search strategy is to let the location of the motion search windows change adaptively as the search proceeds to older frames in the frame buffer. The main benefit over standard, fixed window, approaches is that the algorithm can track larger motion and therefore, we can reduce the residual frame energy. In addition, because the directed search strategy keeps track of best matched blocks, we can reduce the computational complexity significantly by reducing the motion search window area in a frame buffer. Simulation results show that by employing the directed search with reduced motion search window, we can reduce the computational complexity approximately 30%-40%, and that by employing HTFM, we can reduce the computational complexity as additional 40%-50% as compared to the result of a full search algorithm which employs a non-directed search strategy for LTMC. The proposed algorithm provides particularly significant gains for video sequences which contain large motions. In the case of high motion sequences directed search also results in slight gains in PSNR over non-directed search.
Resolving the property right of transportation emissions through public–private partnerships

The application of public–private partnerships (P3’s) in the transportation sector has grown in popularity worldwide. Despite this important shift in the provision of transportation service, there are clear gaps in knowledge about the impacts of P3 projects, especially on emissions from transportation systems as a whole. Not only should policy makers evaluate the emissions impacts from P3 projects, but they should also think about innovative models that address or charge for emissions into P3 contracts. This addition to P3 contracts could provide a new solution to the long-existing property right paradox: who owns (is responsible for) emissions from transportation systems? This study attempts to fill the research gap by analyzing these innovative models. Using the road network of Fresno, California, as the authors' case study, they offer a number of interesting insights for policy makers. First, average peak emissions costs range from 1.37 cents per mile (the do-nothing case) to 1.20 cents per mile (profit-maximizing cases) per vehicle. Although emissions costs from the P3 projects are lowest for the profit-maximizing cases, the system-wide emissions costs of these cases are highest because of spillover effects. Second, charging project owners for the emissions costs of P3 projects is not an effective way to reduce emissions or the total costs of travel, especially on a vehicle miles of travel (VMT) basis. Instead, the public sector should implement emissions-included social cost-based price ceilings. When employing these limits, project owners could still be charged for the emissions costs. Finally, using total travel time as the only objective function for evaluating P3 projects can be misleading. Several P3 projects have shown better outcomes using total travel cost with the inclusion of emissions and fuel consumption costs, instead of using total travel time as the only objective function.
The Assessment and Potential Implications of the Myocardial Performance Index Post Exercise in an at Risk Population

Background: The myocardial performance index (MPI) first described by Chuwa Tei in 1995 is a relatively new echocardiographic variable used for assessment of overall cardiac function. Previous studies have demonstrated the MPI to be a sum representation of both left ventricular systolic and diastolic function with prognostic value in patients with coronary artery disease as well as symptomatic heart failure. Methods: Ninety patients with either established coronary artery disease (CAD) or CAD risk factors underwent routine treadmill exercise stress testing with two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography using the standard Bruce protocol. Both resting and stress MPI values were measured for all 90 of the patients. Results: Using a normal MPI cut off of ≤ 0.47, the prevalence of an abnormal resting MPI in our 90 subjects was 72/90 or 80% and the prevalence of an abnormal stress MPI in our 90 subjects was 48/90 or 53.33%. The average MPI observed in the resting portion of the stress test for the cohort was: 0.636 with a standard deviation of 0.182. The average MPI in the stress portion of the stress test for the cohort was 0.530 with a standard deviation of 0.250. The P value with the use of a one-tailed dependent T test was calculated to be < 0.05. Conclusion: We postulate that these findings reflect that the MPI (Tei) index assessed during exercise may be a sensitive indicator of occult coronary disease in an at risk group independent of wall motion assessment. Cardiol Res. 2013;4(6):173-177 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/ cr296w
The sense of movement in Georgii Daneliia's Walking the Streets of Moscow

ABSTRACTThis article examines Georgii Daneliia's 1964 film Walking the Streets of Moscow through its focus on space, movement and the built environment. A primary concern of the film, the article argues, is to explore the idea of a dialogical interaction between bodies and urban space, specifically within the changing architectural and cultural landscape of the Soviet Union in the immediate wake of Stalin's death. The film examines the body and its movement through Moscow's urban environment within three distinct frameworks: its passage through contemporary architectural structures; its aimless walking through exterior and interior spaces; and its sensory appropriation of the urban environment. The article further argues that the film deeps our understanding of both the debates around architecture and urbanism in the post-Stalinist Soviet Union, and the broader rethinking of issues of space, subjectivity and urban development in post-war Europe, as exemplified in such works as Jacques Tati's 1967 film Pla...
Landfill Gas Application Development of the Caterpillar G3600 Spark-Ignited Gas Engine

A G3600 engine was developed to operate on landfill gas to demonstrate engine performance and identify any operational problems caused by this application. Fuel system and engine performance development were completed using simulated landfill gas containing carbon dioxide and natural gas at the Caterpillar Technical Center. The engine was packaged as a generator set and has operated for 12,000 hours on landfill gas. Engine performance goals similar to those for G3600 natural gas applications were achieved during development and were attained during the field test. Development work and field test endurance results are presented in this paper.
Role of 4-hydroxynonenal in epidermal growth factor receptor-mediated signaling in retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Lipid peroxidation (LPO) end-product 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) has been implicated in the mechanism of retinopathy. Lately it has been shown that besides being cytotoxic, 4-HNE plays an important role in oxidative stress-induced signaling. In this study, we have investigated the effect of 4-HNE on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated signaling, its potential functional consequences, and the regulatory role of the 4-HNE metabolizing isozymes, glutathione S-transferase A4-4 (GSTA4-4) on this signaling in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Our results showed that consistent with its known toxicity at relatively higher concentrations, 4-HNE induced cell death in RPE. However, at lower concentrations (as low as 0.1 μM) 4-HNE triggered phosphorylation of EGFR and activation of its down stream signaling components ERK1/2 and Akt that are known to be involved in cell proliferation. These effects of 4-HNE on EGFR could be attenuated by the over expression of GSTA4-4 that reduces intracellular levels of 4-HNE. Our results also indicated that 4-HNE-induced activation of EGFR is a protective mechanism against oxidative stress because EGFR, MEK, and PI3K inhibitors potentiated the toxicity of 4-HNE and also inhibited wound healing in a RPE cell model. These studies suggest that as an initial response to oxidative stress, 4-HNE induces protective mechanism(s) in RPE cells through EGFR-mediated signaling.
Increased resorption of embryos in o.o.5-trimethyl phosphorothioate-treated rats

Abstract Pregnant rats (N = 7) were dosed p.o. with O.O.S-trimethyl phosphorothioate (OOS-TMP) (LD50 = 85) at 20 mg/kg on days G8 and G10. Seven animals were treated with corn oil and pair-fed. Five control animals were treated with corn oil. The abdomen was palpated on day G15 and in 4 animals out of 7 treated with OOS-TMP, complete resorption was observed. All pair-fed and control animals maintained pregnancy until day G21. Total number of resorption/number of implants [5] was 60/95 (63.2%) in OOS-TMP animals, 21 82 (25.6%) in pair-fed animals and 4 65 (6.5%) in control animals. Incidence of complete resorption and % resorption were significantly higher (P
Effects of irradiation conditions on the weathering of engineering thermoplastics

Abstract The nature of the light source and its intensity can be important variables in accelerated weathering of aromatic engineering thermoplastics. Activation spectra show that BPA polycarbonate (PC) and its blends are very sensitive to UV with wavelengths
Trends in fatal occupational injuries and industrial restructuring in North Carolina in the 1980s.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between changes in employment in North Carolina in the 1980s and fatal occupational injury rates. METHODS: Unintentional fatal occupational injuries (n = 1989) in North Carolina between 1978 and 1991 were identified via the medical examiner's system. RESULTS: Overall fatal injury rates declined during the 1980s, but rates increased 9.6% per year among manufacturing industries that declined in employment size; rates fell among service sector and manufacturing industries that grew. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing occupational fatal injury rates accompanied the decline in workforce in North Carolina's traditional, labor-intensive manufacturing industries during the 1980s, while service sector and expanding manufacturing industries have experienced declining fatal injury rates.
Mechanism of the γ-hydroxybutyrate-induced increase in brain dopamine and its relationship to “sleep”

The naturally occurring central nervous system depressant γ-hydroxy-butyrate (GHB) and its lactone precursor, γ-butyrolactone (GBL) cause a marked and selective increase in brain dopamine. Concomitant with the increase in brain dopamine, homovanillic acid, a metabolite of brain dopamine, is decreased. GBL also causes a selective increase in the specific activity of brain dopamine but not of brain norepinephrine when rats are injected with 14C-tyrosine. This is probably the result of a compensatory activation of dopaminergic neurons because of a blockade in dopamine release induced by GHB. When catecholamine biosynthesis is inhibited by administration of α-methyl-p-tyrosine, GBL completely blocks the disappearance of subcortical dopamine but exerts no antagonism on the disappearance of subcortical norepinephrine. These observations are suggestive that GBL increases brain dopamine primarily by selectively blocking the release of this monoamine from dopamine containing neurons. Indirect evidence is also presented which suggests that the central nervous system depressant properties of GHB may be related to this block in the release of brain dopamine.
Mediator-assisted electrochemical hydrogenation of soybean oil

Abstract In this study, formate ion was used as a shuttle for transferring hydrogen to the surface of a hydrogenation catalyst (7% Ni/SiO 2 ), where the soybean oil was reduced in such a way that the production of deleterious trans fatty acid was greatly reduced. The formate ion was regenerated at the cathode and thus acted as a mediator for the hydrogenation process. The effect of temperature, pH, and applied potential (current) on the fatty acid profile of the hydrogenated soybean oil was determined. The effects of oil and catalyst loadings on the final product quality were also determined. The application of a current density of 10 mA / cm 2 resulted in hydrogenated product with desired fatty acid composition. Kinetic studies were also performed for experiments conducted at constant potential conditions. A model that assumes: (i) the rate of regeneration of formate from its oxidized form (bicarbonate ion) is limited by the mass transport effects, and (ii) second-order elementary reaction rate expression was developed to describe the hydrogenation reaction was developed and tested. A good correlation between the model predictions and experimental data was observed.
Variation in motor activity on different time scales and responsiveness to oral stimulation in the rat fetus

The near-term rat fetus exhibits brief oral grasp responses to discrete presentations of an artificial nipple. In the present experiment, an artificial nipple was presented to individual fetal subjects 10 times. Five of the presentations were timed to occur when spontaneous fetal motor activity was low and five while activity was high, as determined by the baseline activity for the individual fetus. The likelihood of responding to the artificial nipple was increased when the fetus was relatively inactive at the moment of stimulus presentation. Furthermore, stimulus presentations that resulted in oral grasping of the artificial nipple were associated with greater point-to-point variability (2-s intervals) in motor activity during the 30-s period preceding the presentation of the artificial nipple. This pattern of results indicates that the recent history of general motor activity as well as the level of activity at the instant of stimulus presentation may contribute to variation in responding to biologically relevant stimuli early in development.
Full integration of the beam's eye view concept into computerized treatment planning.

Abstract A complete set of beam's eye view (BEV) and beam portal design features have been integrated into a computerized 3-dimensional radiotherapy treatment planning system. Among the features implemented is the ability to mix BEV graphics with gray-scale images such as simulator and verification radiographs, and digital reconstructed radiographs. Image processing techniques have been developed to both enhance verification images and to detect radiation field boundaries. These portal simulation and presentation techniques are being used clinically to design and verify radiation fields with manual or automatically-designed field shaping blocks. The ability to perform computer dose calculations for planes which are parallel or perpendicular to a specified beam's central axis is available and this feature has also proven useful for treatment plan evaluation and optimization. Finally, direct comparison of computer-generated portal images with actual simulation and verification radiographs is also possible. These techniques allow the direct integration of “CT-directed treatment planning” with block design, simulator films and port films, and other Beam's Eye View-type displays.
Air medical transport for the trauma patient requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A 10-year experience

Abstract Introduction: Air medical response and transport for the injured patient in cardiopulmonary arrest remain controversial. This study is a large, single-program experience. Methods: A retrospective chart review and descriptive study of all injured patients requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately before or during air medical transport. The crew functioned under advanced cardiac life support/advanced trauma life support protocols. Setting: The patients, when transported, went to a variety of facilities, with the majority of patients transported to a level-I trauma center. The service area was primarily rural. Results: During 1985 to 1994, inclusive, there were 12,518 completed missions. A total of 320 injured patients required CPR (284 with blunt injury and 36 with penetrating injury), six of the 320 patients (1.9%) survived. Survivors and nonsurvivors did not differ significantly in age, mechanism of injury, time from initiation of CPR to arrival in the emergency department (ED), year of injury or initial cardiac rhythm. All survivors did, however, present to the ED in normal sinus rhythm with a palpable blood pressure. Conclusion: Air medical transport for the injured patient without signs of life following prehospital intervention appears futile.
Ranks of tensors and change of base field

Abstract If M is a subspace of a tensor product of vector spaces, A ⊕ B , we define r ( M ) = inf rank x ( x ϵ M — {0}). (Several characterizations of the rank of a tensor are recalled in Section 1.) The main point of this note is to introduce this function r , and establish its basic properties under change of base field. We were originally led to the subject by a problem in the construction of some rather esoteric noncommutative rings ([ 1 ], Section 7), but in Section 3 we shall indicate a relation with the study of finite-dimensional algebras over a field. Perhaps this function will be found useful in still other areas.