cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A preliminary study of the effect of inhaled nitric oxide on lung mechanics in the standing horse with histamine-induced bronchoconstriction.

Summary The effect of inhaled nitric oxide on pulmonary mechanics was studied in normal standing horses with histamine-induced bronchoconstriction. The respiratory health status of 6 normal horses was established on the basis of history, clinical and bronchoalveolar lavage examination. Intrathoracic pressures were estimated using distal oesophageal pressures. Respiratory gas flows were measured using a heated pneumotachograph. Pulmonary mechanics variables were determined from these measurements on a breath by breath basis. Bronchoconstriction was induced by nebulising a 0.75% w/v solution of histamine over 5 min. Pulmonary function was assessed during 4 periods: 1) while breathing room air prior to histamine challenge; 2) 5 min post histamine challenge; 3) 10 min post histamine challenge and while breathing 5 ppm nitric oxide; and 4) 14 min post histamine challenge while breathing room air. Statistical analysis included Friedman's nonparametric repeated measures analysis of variance followed by Dunn's multiple comparisons tests, where appropriate. Criteria for demonstration of nitric oxide effect on pulmonary mechanics variables were taken as a return of the variable value following nitric oxide administration towards control value and subsequent restoration of the value toward post histamine levels with discontinuation of nitric oxide. Five variables (dynamic compliance, airway resistance, maximum developed pressure, work of breathing, and peak expiratory flow) had significant changes in response to histamine. Three variables (dynamic compliance, airway resistance, and maximum developed pressure) met the above criteria, but only dynamic compliance and airway resistance showed statistical significance (P<.05). These results suggest that nitric oxide partly dilates small airways constricted by histamine.
Conformational Characterization of Terminally Blocked l-(αMe)Val Homopeptides Using Vibrational and Electronic Circular Dichroism. 310-Helical Stabilization by Peptide−Peptide Interaction

Vibrational and electronic circular dichroism (VCD and ECD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the homo-oligopeptide series Z-[l-(αMe)Val]n-OtBu (n = 3−8) and selected Ac-[l-(αMe)Val]n-OtBu oligomers (n = 4, 6, 8) are presented. This is the first VCD study of a complete homopeptide series formed exclusively by Cα-methylated amino acids. VCD spectra were measured for the oligomers in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) and CDCl3 over the amide I and amide II spectral regions (1750−1475 cm-1). These oligopeptides, irrespective of the N-terminal group, were found to indicate formation of at least a partially 310-helical conformation for main-chain lengths as short as n = 4 and a fully developed 310-helix by n = 6 at high peptide concentrations. A 310-helical conformation for the octamer is consistent with previous spectroscopic studies and crystallographic results. The ECD spectra were measured for the oligomer series in TFE and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) over the 260−190 nm region. The ...
Update on medical complications involving the lungs.

Purpose of review Lung transplant is now an accepted treatment for end-stage lung disease with improving survival and an increasing number of transplants being performed every year. Recognition of the common medical complications after lung transplant is important for timely diagnosis and treatment. This review will highlight the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of several noninfectious pulmonary complications that are encountered in lung transplant recipients. Recent findings The review focuses on several broad areas of medical complications after lung transplant, including native lung complications, malignancies, venous thromboembolism, drug toxicity, and pleural disease. Each of these problems is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after lung transplant. We review the recent publications in these areas that have identified improved ways to diagnose and treat these complications. Summary Despite its relatively short history, the field of lung transplantation has made significant progress over the past 25 years. The medical advances surrounding lung transplant are not only related to the surgical procedure and immunosuppression, but also to the ability of physicians to diagnose and treat the common complications after transplant. Improvements in the diagnosis and management of these posttransplant medical complications will hopefully lead to even greater survival after lung transplantation in the future.
Assay of human plasma cortisone by liquid chromatography: normal plasma concentrations (between 8 and 10 a.m.) of cortisone and corticosterone.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method using ultraviolet detection to quantitate human plasma concentrations of cortisone simultaneously with cortisol and corticosterone is described. The method is based on the use of an octadecyl silica column (100 mm x 2 mm I.D., 3 microns), an ultraviolet absorbance detector (242 nm) with a 10 mm path length flow-cell, and a mobile phase composed of water-tetrahydrofuran-acetonitrile (82:10:8, v/v) containing 5 ml/l triethylamine and citric acid to adjust the pH of the buffer to 6.5. Flumethasone is used as the internal standard. The detection limit of the method for the three steroids is 300 ng/l using a 1-ml sample. The average inter-assay coefficient of variation for cortisone is 3.3% and the average recovery is 100.8%. Possible interferences from common drugs and endogenous and exogenous steroids in the method have been studied. Plasma concentrations (drawn from 8 to 10 a.m.) of cortisone and corticosterone for 43 normal volunteers have been determined.
Personal and Social Interactions Between Young Girls and Scientists: Examining Critical Aspects for Identity Construction

At a 5-day summer camp designed for middle-school girls (N = 50), fifth through ninth-grade students were able to identify with individual scientists and learn more about the science field. Data from the girls’ journals, pictorial representations, and field notes demonstrated that these young women related to scientists who actively engaged them in hands-on, problem-based activities and had a sense of humor while doing so. Girls closely identified with science fields that offer an opportunity for travel and for interaction with animals. In addition, it is evident that the girls’ personal and social interactions shaped their perceptions of scientists and helped them internalize their experiences as members of a science community in relation to their overall science identities.
Computer performance evaluation with GIST: a tool for specifying extended queueing network models

GIST (Graphical Input Simulation Tool) is a powerful and user-friendly performance evaluation tool for the specification and simulation of Extended Queueing Network models of computer and other systems. It includes a number of modeling abstractions for active and passive resource management, job creation and destruction, synchronization, routing, and statistics collection. Two interfaces are provided: a graphical interface (GUIDE) that allows the user to describe much of the simulation model pictorially; and a textual interface (TIDE) that has the same modeling capabilities but uses a menu-driven, window-oriented approach for use on non-graphics terminals. Object and run-time parameters in both interfaces are specified through menus that reduce the probability of specification-time errors. A number of extensions planned for GIST are also described.
Quantification of hydrochloric acid and particulate deposition resulting from space shuttle launches at John F. Kennedy space center, Florida, USA

Results are presented from studies designed to identify deposition patterns and quantify the ecosystem loading rates of exhaust constituents (which are primarily Al2O3 and HCl) from the Space Shuttle solid rocket motors in the area of the Kennedy Space Center launch pad. Results of measurements indicate that, under certain meteorological conditions, as much as 7.1 x 10 exp 3 kg of particulates and 3.4 x 10 exp 3 kg HCL can be deposited to the near-field environment beyond the launch pad perimeter fence during one STS launch.
Clinical use of genotypic and phenotypic drug resistance testing to monitor antiretroviral chemotherapy.

Assays that detect antiretroviral drug resistance in human immunodeficiency virus have recently become available to clinicians. Phenotypic assays measure the drug susceptibility of the virus by determining the concentration of drug that inhibits viral replication in tissue culture. Genotypic assays determine the presence of mutations that are known to confer decreased drug susceptibility. Although each type of assay has specific advantages, limitations associated with these tests often complicate the interpretation of results. Several retrospective clinical trials have suggested that resistance testing may be useful in the assessment of the success of salvage antiretroviral therapy. Prospective, controlled trials have demonstrated that resistance testing improves short-term virological response. Resistance testing is currently recommended to help guide the choice of new drugs for patients after treatment has failed and for pregnant women. Resistance testing should also be considered for treatment-naive patients, to detect transmission of resistant virus.
Degradation of leaf blades and stems by monocentric and polycentric isolates of ruminal fungi

Abstract Degradation of lignified tissues in leaf blades and stems and reduction in textural strength of stems of bermuda grass by axenic cultures of ruminal fungi was investigated. Fungal isolates were evaluated that demonstrated monocentric growth ( Piromyces MC-1 and Neocallimastix MC-2) or polycentric growth (unnamed PC-1 and Orpinomyces PC-2 and PC-3). In in vitro digestion studies over a period of 9 days, all isolates eventually degraded ∼ 70% of the leaf dry matter, but the rate of digestion varied from fastest to slowest as follows: MC-2 > PC-2, PC-3 > PC-1 > MC-1. For stems, all isolates except MC-1 degraded about the same amount of dry matter (∼ 45%) with following order of fastest to slowest: PC-3 > PC-2 > MC-2 > PC1 > MC-1. Isolate MC-1 did not grow well on bermuda-grass stems. The reduction in textural strength of bermuda grass stems after incubation with ruminal fungi was similar for all isolates (∼ 45%) except MC-1. All polycentric isolates reduced the strength of stems at a faster rate than the monocentric ones, with PC-3 the fastest of all cultures. Specific activities for enzymes involved in degradation of stems (cellulase, xylanase, β-glucosidase, and β-xylosidase) increased with time of incubation. PC-3 produced the highest activities and PC-1 the lowest (MC-1 was not tested as it grew poorly on stems). Ultrastructural studies of plant cell wall degradation by fungal isolates showed that they all had the ability to degrade the most limiting structural barrier to digestion (i.e. xylem and mestome sheath in leaves and sclerenchyma ring in stems), and could disrupt and penetrate the cuticular barrier of the leaves. The ability of anaerobic fungi to fully or partially degrade the most recalcitrant tissues to digestion resulted in a residue that would likely be more easily broken down by subsequent chewing by ruminants, thus possibly contributing to enhanced fiber flow. Substantial variations existed among fungal isolates in their ability to degrade and weaken fiber, and future work to enhance lignocellulose utilization should take into account such variations.
Comparison of quantitative imaging of cartilage for osteoarthritis: T2, T1ρ, dGEMRIC and contrast-enhanced computed tomography ☆

Evaluation of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) concentration in articular cartilage is of particular interest to the study of degenerative joint diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA). Noninvasive imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) have demonstrated the potential to assess biochemical markers of cartilage integrity such as GAG content; however, many imaging techniques are available and the optimization of particular techniques in the diagnosis of joint disease remains an active area of research. In order to highlight the differences between these various approaches, this work compares MRI (T1, T2 and T1rho) and contrast-enhanced CT in human articular cartilage, in both the presence and absence of gadolinium-based contrast agent. Pre- and postcontrast T2 values were found to be similar on a regional level and correlated with each other. As expected, T1 values were shortened significantly on both a global and a spatial basis in the presence of gadolinium (Gd); similar results were found for T1rho. T2 values were found to correlate mildly with postcontrast T1, T1(Gd) and with precontrast T1rho values. In addition, contrast-enhanced CT values correlated with both precontrast T1rho and T1(Gd) more strongly than with precontrast T2. Finally, T1(Gd) and precontrast T1rho were found to be moderately correlated with CT data. However, T1(Gd) and precontrast T1rho were found to be almost completely uncorrelated. Together, these results indicate that T1rho, T2 and contrast-enhanced techniques may provide complementary information about the molecular environment in cartilage during the evolution of OA.
Natural Organic Matter Transport Modeling with a Continuous Time Random Walk Approach.

In transport experiments through columns packed with naturally Fe/Al oxide-coated quartz sand, breakthrough curves (BTCs) of natural organic matter (NOM) displayed strong and persistent power law tailing that could not be described by the classical advection–dispersion equation. Tailing was not observed in BTCs for a nonreactive tracer (sulforhodamine B); therefore, the anomalous transport is attributed to diverse adsorptive behavior of the polydisperse NOM sample rather than to physical heterogeneity of the porous medium. NOM BTC tailing became more pronounced with decreases in pH and increases in ionic strength, conditions previously shown to be associated with enhanced preferential adsorption of intermediate to high molecular weight NOM components. Drawing from previous work on anomalous solute transport, we develop an approach to model NOM transport within the framework of a continuous time random walk (CTRW) and show that under all conditions examined, the CTRW model is able to capture tailing of NOM BTCs by accounting for differences in transport rates of NOM fractions through a distribution of effective retardation factors. These results demonstrate the importance of considering effects of adsorptive fractionation on NOM mobility, and illustrate the ability of the CTRW model to describe transport of a multicomponent solute.
Physical properties of quaternary ammonium salts of phenothiazine derivatives.

Physical constants, including melting points and IR and NMR spectra, and analytical data of the quaternary ammonium salts of nine clinically used phenothiazines are presented. Assignments for the spectral peaks were made and are discussed. These compounds were prepared in good yields, so the formation of quaternary ammonium salt may serve as a convenient method for the isolation and identification of these phenothiazines.
Structural Basis of Regulation of von Willebrand Factor Binding to Glycoprotein Ib

Activation by elongational flow of von Willebrand factor (VWF) is critical for primary hemostasis. Mutations causing type 2B von Willebrand disease (VWD), platelet-type VWD (PT-VWD), and tensile force each increase affinity of the VWF A1 domain and platelet glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα) for one another; however, the structural basis for these observations remains elusive. Directed evolution was used to discover a further gain-of-function mutation in A1 that shifts the long range disulfide bond by one residue. We solved multiple crystal structures of this mutant A1 and A1 containing two VWD mutations complexed with GPIbα containing two PT-VWD mutations. We observed a gained interaction between A1 and the central leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) of GPIbα, previously shown to be important at high shear stress, and verified its importance mutationally. These findings suggest that structural changes, including central GPIbα LRR-A1 contact, contribute to VWF affinity regulation. Among the mutant complexes, variation in contacts and poor complementarity between the GPIbα β-finger and the region of A1 harboring VWD mutations lead us to hypothesize that the structures are on a pathway to, but have not yet reached, a force-induced super high affinity state.
Volcanic geology of Hadriaca Patera and the eastern Hellas region of Mars

A detailed examination of the geomorphology of Hadriaca Patera, a low-relief volcano in the southern highlands of Mars northeast of the Hellas basin, is presented, and the surrounding eastern Hellas region is considered in order to assess whether the volcanic geology of Hadriaca Patera is consistent with previous characterizations and highland paterae. The morphologic characteristics of the channels suggest erosion by groundwater sapping and surface runoff. The erosional morphology of the volcano, the lack of lava flow features, and the friable nature of the flank materials indicate that Hadriaca Patera consists predominantly of pyroclastic deposits. From the predominance of hydrovolcanic eruptions in the development of Hadriaca and Tyrrhena patera, it is inferred that the transition in volcanic eruption style can be attributed to a volatile depletion of the crust, whereas magmatic eruptions at the paterae would be indicative of temporal changes in Martian magmas.
Reductive activation of the prodrug 1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)-2-[[1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxy]carbonyl]hydrazine (KS119) selectively occurs in oxygen-deficient cells and overcomes O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase mediated KS119 tumor cell resistance

1,2-Bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)-2-[[1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxy]carbonyl]hydrazine (KS119) is a prodrug of the 1,2-bis(sulfonyl)hydrazine class of antineoplastic agents designed to exploit the oxygen-deficient regions of cancerous tissue. Thus, under reductive conditions in hypoxic cells this agent decomposes to produce the reactive intermediate 1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)hydrazine (90CE), which in turn generates products that alkylate the O6-position of guanine in DNA. Comparison of the cytotoxicity of KS119 in cultured cells lacking O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) to an agent such as Onrigin™, which through base catalyzed activation produces the same critical DNA G-C cross-link lesions by the generation of 90CE, indicates that KS119 is substantially more potent than Onrigin™ under conditions of oxygen deficiency, despite being incompletely activated. In cell lines expressing relatively large amounts of AGT, the design of the prodrug KS119, which requires intracellular activation by reductase enzymes to produce a cytotoxic effect, results in an ability to overcome resistance derived from the expression of AGT. This appears to derive from the ability of a small portion of the chloroethylating species produced by the activation of KS119 to slip through the cellular protection afforded by AGT to generate the few DNA G-C cross-links that are required for tumor cell lethality. The findings also demonstrate that activation of KS119 under oxygen-deficient conditions is ubiquitous, occurring in all of the cell lines tested thus far, suggesting that the enzymes required for reductive activation of this agent are widely distributed in many different tumor types.
Self estimates of general, crystallized, and fluid intelligences in an ethnically diverse population ☆

Abstract Self-estimated intelligence is a quick way to assess people's conceptions of their own abilities. Furnham (2001) and colleagues have used this technique to make comparisons across culture and gender and different approaches to intelligence (such as g or Multiple Intelligences). This study seeks to build on past work in two ways. First, a large, diverse sample (N = 2309) enables the study of self-estimated intelligence across ethnicity. Second, one of the most prominent accepted intelligence theories is the Cattell–Horn–Carroll (CHC) theory. Can laypeople distinguish between general, fluid, and crystallized intelligence? This study finds evidence for a “modesty bias” in Hispanic Americans. In addition, fluid and crystallized intelligences may simply be seen as general intelligence (particularly by Caucasians and males).
Transition Metal FRET to Study Conformational Changes in Glutamate Transporter

Crystal structures of the bacterial glutamate transporter homologue GltPh developed show a series of different states of the transporter: an outward state with HP2 open, an outward state with HP2 closed, an inward occluded state and a recently reported intermediate conformation between outward and inward state. These crystal structures suggest that glutamate transporters undergo a series of conformational changes during substrate binding and transport. Previously we have used classical FRET methods to measure these conformational changes in human glutamate transporters EAAT3 during the glutamate transport cycle. But due to the long R0 value of most FRET pairs, their large sizes and long flexible linkers, classical FRET methods are not always well-suited for mapping intramolecular movements in proteins. Here we used a new transition metal ion FRET method, which enables us to measure distance change within a very short range to better study the conformation change during the transport cycle. By labeling the FRET donor fluorophore and the transition metal ion acceptor at different positions of glutamate transporter EAAT3, we will be able to measure intrasubunit distance changes during Na+, glutamate binding and transport.
An experimental comparison of block matching techniques for detection of moving objects

The detection of moving objects in complex scenes is the basis of many applications in surveillance, event detection, and tracking. Complex scenes are difficult to analyze due to camera noise and lighting conditions. Currently, moving objects are detected primarily using background subtraction algorithms, with block matching techniques as an alternative. In this paper, we complement our earlier work on the comparison of background subtraction methods by performing a similar study of block matching techniques. Block matching techniques first divide a frame of a video into blocks and then determine where each block has moved from in the preceding frame. These techniques are composed of three main components: block determination, which specifies the blocks; search methods, which specify where to look for a match; and, the matching criteria, which determine when a good match has been found. In our study, we compare various options for each component using publicly available video sequences of a traffic intersection taken under different traffic and weather conditions. Our results indicate that a simple block determination approach is significantly faster with minimum performance reduction, the three step search method detects more moving objects, and the mean-squared-difference matching criteria provides the best performance overall.
Steel industry electrification trends

The steel industry has been quick to recognize the advantages of using electricity in many of its manufacturing processes. The progress made along these lines during the last 25 years indicates that this trend will continue.
Catalytic dehydrogenation condensation of silyl hydrides and amines: thermal decomposition of silazanes and polysilazanes

s hydrogen to produce propene. It is difficult to estimate how much of each mechanism is contributing to the overall decomposition, since trapping of the allyl radical is not an efficient process. Likewise most likely decomposes by the two mechanisms outlined above. This conclusion is based on similar 99 SFR ^ C3H6 + 101 E a = 54.5 ± 0.5 Kcal/mol log A = 12.9 ±0.1 evidence. Silazane 22 decomposed largely by the concerted mechanism. The only evidence for this conclusion is that the Arrhenius parameters for its decomposition are similar 37f to those reported by Barton and Bain. SFR » C3H6 + D4 OSiMexH ^. 665 °C E ^ = 54.3 ± 0.4 Kcal/mol — D3 log A = 12.5 ±0.1 One aspect of this work that has not been discussed is the origin of butene in the product mixture. The most
Entrepreneurial Financing and Costly Due Diligence

In the traditional solution to the adverse selection problem, entrepreneurs indirectly signal quality via security choice, typically debt. This paper models an alternative solution. The costly due diligence of venture capitalists directly reveals the quality of projects, thereby reducing information asymmetry. It is shown that this mechanism necessitates profit-sharing, a contractual feature usually associated in the literature with managerial agency costs rather than adverse selection.
A comparison of ELISA and flow microsphere-based assays for quantification of immunoglobulins

An automated microsphere-based flow cytometric assay (FlowMetrix system) was compared with a conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantifying Ig classes in serum and stool samples. The reproducibility of the process of coupling capture antibodies to microspheres was tested. The use of independently coupled microspheres did not increase the variation of assay results relative to using the same bead set in repeated assays. However, it is necessary to ensure quality control of the coupling process since slight variations in the coupling procedures can profoundly affect the density of capture reagents coupled to the microspheres and consequently adversely affect assay precision. Although the ELISA was more sensitive and did not have the problems with instrument performance encountered with the FlowMetrix assay, the latter was more reproducible, had a greater dynamic range of measurement, and took considerably less preparation time than the ELISA. Greater reproducibility is especially important for measurement of fecal Ig, which is typically highly variable. Thus, in addition to its multi-analyte capability, the FlowMetrix assay system has definite advantages over a conventional ELISA. Mechanical problems such as microspheres settling to the bottom of wells during analysis by an automated plate reader will likely be overcome, and sensitivity improved as this technology develops.
Enabling Supply Chain Collaboration in a Hybrid Cloud

Social networking based collaboration applications or platforms are the most likely use cases to adopt cloud models as per IDC market research survey. Extending social networking concepts to enable collaboration among users in large enterprises and their partners is on the rise. Collaboration among extended partners has been one of the top challenges of large supply chain companies while security is the top most concern for cloud adoption. This paper discusses the successful enablement of collaboration among several supply chain partners using Cisco's enterprise collaboration platform, Quad at an Infrastructure-as-a-Service public cloud provider, Savvis. Several defense-in-depth security mechanisms are implemented including federated authentication a authorization, data level security, user to site SSL-VPN, web application vulnerability assessment, multiple level firewalls, host hardening, end-to-end transport layer security in order to enhance security posture of collaboration among supply chain communities in a hybrid cloud deployment model.
Money resources, time demands, and situational factors as predictors of shopping time

Shopping is a major household activity; time spent shopping has opportunity costs. Linder proposed that, as income rose, time would be allocated away from shopping to more productive activities, resulting in purchase deciriom being made with less information. This paper tests money resources, time demands and situational and demographic factors as predictors of shopping time. Data from 420 family time schedules and accompanying questionnaires were analysed using Tobit analysis. Findings indicated that situational factors were the best predictors of shopping time; money resources and time-demand factors had limited predictive power; and time allocated to shopping was quite inelastic. Conclusions and implications are drawn.
WATER CONTENT OF PAPER AS A VARIABLE IN PAPER CHROMATOGRAPHY

Abstract A simple procedure is described for improving the reproducibility of two-dimensional papergrams made by the solvent systems: phenol—water followed by butanol—propionic acid—water. The procedure involves control of the water content of the chromatographic paper prior to the addition of solvent. Some effects noted upon the variation of the water content of paper are described for some chromatographic patters of biochemical interest.
Mitochondrial dynamics–fusion, fission, movement, and mitophagy–in neurodegenerative diseases

Neurons are metabolically active cells with high energy demands at locations distant from the cell body. As a result, these cells are particularly dependent on mitochondrial function, as reflected by the observation that diseases of mitochondrial dysfunction often have a neurodegenerative component. Recent discoveries have highlighted that neurons are reliant particularly on the dynamic properties of mitochondria. Mitochondria are dynamic organelles by several criteria. They engage in repeated cycles of fusion and fission, which serve to intermix the lipids and contents of a population of mitochondria. In addition, mitochondria are actively recruited to subcellular sites, such as the axonal and dendritic processes of neurons. Finally, the quality of a mitochondrial population is maintained through mitophagy, a form of autophagy in which defective mitochondria are selectively degraded. We review the general features of mitochondrial dynamics, incorporating recent findings on mitochondrial fusion, fission, transport and mitophagy. Defects in these key features are associated with neurodegenerative disease. Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2A, a peripheral neuropathy, and dominant optic atrophy, an inherited optic neuropathy, result from a primary deficiency of mitochondrial fusion. Moreover, several major neurodegenerative diseases—including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease—involve disruption of mitochondrial dynamics. Remarkably, in several disease models, the manipulation of mitochondrial fusion or fission can partially rescue disease phenotypes. We review how mitochondrial dynamics is altered in these neurodegenerative diseases and discuss the reciprocal interactions between mitochondrial fusion, fission, transport and mitophagy.
Energy expenditure during barbiturate coma.

Background: Barbiturate coma may have a significant effect on metabolic rate, but the phenomenon is not extensively studied. The primary purpose of the current study was to compare the metabolic rate of general critical care patients with those requiring barbiturate coma. A secondary purpose was to evaluate the accuracy of the Penn State prediction equation between these 2 groups of patients. Materials and Methods: Indirect calorimetry was used to measure the resting metabolic rate of mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients in a barbiturate coma and those of similar height, weight, and age but not in a barbiturate coma. Measurements of resting metabolic rate were compared with predictions using the Penn State equation accounting for body size, body temperature, and minute ventilation. Results: The barbiturate coma group had a lower resting metabolic rate than the control group that remained lower even after adjustment for predicted healthy metabolic rate and maximum body temperature (1859 ± 290 v...
On Suspending and Resuming Dataflows

Consider a long-running, resource-intensive query Q running on a database management system (DBMS). Suppose another task T with much higher priority arrives, and we need to process T as quickly as possible and with all available resources. Ideally, the system should suspend the execution of Q, quickly release all resources held by Q, and start T using all resources. Query Q can be resumed once T finishes execution, ideally without losing any significant fraction of the work that Q had done prior to suspend. Beyond supporting mixed-priority DBMS workloads, suspend/resume of queries, or dataflows in general, is important in many other settings: Utility and grid: Dataflows now run frequently on computational utilities and grids composed of autonomous resources. When the owner of resources wants to use them, dataflows running on these resources must release control quickly, and migrate to other resources. Software rejuvenation: Benefits of software rejuvenation, the practice of rebooting enterprise computing systems regularly, are now recognized widely. Reboot is critical when performance degrades due to resource exhaustion caused by resource leaks. Suspend and resume is important in this setting because (1) the challenge of predicting completion times accurately makes it difficult to schedule task completion to match a rejuvenation schedule; (2) when performance degrades, it may not be cost-effective to wait for all dataflows to complete before rebooting.
Synthesis and evaluation of 3-aminopropionyl substituted fentanyl analogues for opioid activity

An enkephalin analogue coupled to 'aminofentanyl' has been synthesized and tested for biological activities at the mu and delta opioid receptors. Aminofentanyl which represents a structural derivative of fentanyl has been synthesized by acylation of 1-(2-phenethyl)-4-(N-anilino)piperidine with phthaloyl protected beta-alaninyl chloride in the presence of DIPEA, followed by deprotection with hydrazine hydrate. Aminofentanyl has also been successfully acylated with ethyl isocyanate, various acid anhydrides, to further investigate structure-activity relationships of these new fentanyl derivatives. Among the new derivatives compound 7 which carries a Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe opioid message sequence showed good opioid affinity (1 nM at both delta and mu opioid receptors) and bioactivity (34.9 nM in MVD and 42 nM in GPI/LMMP bioassays).
Single-Crystal PMN-PT MEMS Deformable Mirrors

This paper describes microelectromechanical systems deformable mirrors (DMs) fabricated from Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 single crystal (PMN-PT) for use in ocular adaptive optics. The DM is a piezoelectric unimorph with 35 actuators on a 13-mm circular membrane. Each actuator inside the 8-mm pupil achieves a static stroke of over 5 μm at 10 V. Dynamic measurements prove that the DM can be operated up to a 2.27-kHz bandwidth. The large stroke with low driving voltage and high operating bandwidth confirm that the DM is a promising candidate for use as a wavefront corrector in vision science applications. The measured piezoelectric properties of the PMN-PT are in close agreement with factory specifications, demonstrating that the piezoelectric properties of single-crystal PMN-PT are not degraded by the bonding and lapping process used here. The large 13-mm-diameter 30-μm-thick membrane is produced by constructing silicon rings to protect the membrane from the considerable compressive stress present in the SiO2 layer of a silicon-on-insulator wafer. In the prototype mirror, residual stress in the electrode metal results in an initial peak-to-valley surface flatness of 3.3 μm which is reduced to 0.7 μm by iterative computation of the control voltages applied to the electrodes.
Low Third-Trimester Serum Levels of Lamivudine/Zidovudine and Lopinavir/Ritonavir in an HIV-Infected Pregnant Woman with Gastric Bypass:

Pharmacokinetics of lamivudine (3TC)/zidovudine (ZDV) and lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) are described in a gravid 27-year-old HIV-infected woman with gastric bypass. Blood levels were obtained for these medications at time points 0 (predose) and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 hours postdose. For these times, the levels (µg/mL) of 3TC were 0.0801, 0.69, 0.339, 0.237, 0.202, 0.108, and 0.0461; the levels of ZDV were 0.0153, 0.433, 0.0717, 0.0481, 0.0107, 0.0214, and 0.00864; the levels of lopinavir (LPV) were 2.45, 2.64, 1.95, 2.78, 3.83, 3.20, and 1.92; and the levels of ritonavir (RTV) were 0.09, 0.10, 0.07, 0.11, 0.15, 0.15, and 0.06. These data suggest that gastric bypass affected these antiretroviral drug levels. A functional, intact small bowel is responsible for absorption of these medications.
Knowledge-based repository scheme for storing and retrieving business components: a theoretical design and an empirical analysis

Component-based development (CDB) promises to reduce complexity and cost of software development and maintenance through reuse. For CBD to be successful, a vibrant market for commercial business components is essential. One of the key requirements of an active market for business components is an effective scheme for classifying and describing them at various levels of detail, as well as a corresponding repository for storing and retrieving these components. Such a scheme needs to support various constituents such as business users, managers, and application assemblers. The scheme and repository should help users and managers to select components that match their requirements and aid application assemblers in identifying components most compatible with their deployment environment (such as the platform) and system inputs (such as data types). Drawing from the concepts of group technology and software reuse paradigm, this paper proposes a scheme for classifying and describing business components and the design of a knowledge-based repository for their storage and retrieval. The proposed scheme is implemented in a prototype repository. The effectiveness of the prototype and the underlying classification and coding scheme is assessed empirically through controlled experiments. Results support the assertion that the scheme is effective in enhancing the users' and analysts' ability to find the needed business components.
Business Improvement Districts in New York City’s Low-Income and High-Income Neighborhoods:

Business improvement districts (BIDs) have become popular commercial revitalization tools. To date, the literature has focused on the experiences of large BIDs in the wealthiest parts of the city. The author offers qualitative and quantitative data on 41 of New York City’s BIDs in an effort to reveal differences in the form, function, and operating practices of large and small BIDs and the roles they play in urban development processes. Her key findings suggest that large and small BIDs fulfill different development functions. Small BIDs attend to the physical maintenance of an area. Midsized BIDs concentrate on marketing and promotional activities. Large BIDs, in addition to maintenance and promotion, engage in capital improvement activities. BID behavior appears to vary in relation to its resource base, type of commercial property represented, the composition and balance of power among key stakeholders, and the wealth of the community in which it is located.
Toward a Continuum of Intersectionality Theorizing for Feminist Social Work Scholarship

In interdisciplinary feminist scholarship, intersectionality has been a primary framework for thinking about multiple identities and the interconnectedness of various systems of oppression in women...
Cosmological solutions of supercritical string theory

We study quintessence-driven, spatially flat, expanding Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmologies that arise naturally from string theory formulated in a supercritical number of spacetime dimensions. The tree-level potential of the string theory produces an equation of state at the threshold between accelerating and decelerating cosmologies, and the resulting spacetime is globally conformally equivalent to Minkowski space. We demonstrate that exact solutions exist with a condensate of the closed-string tachyon, the simplest of which is a Liouville wall moving at the speed of light. We rely on the existence of this solution to derive constraints on the couplings of the tachyon to the dilaton and metric in the string theory effective action. In particular, we show that the tachyon dependence of the Einstein term must be nontrivial.
Adaptively controlled explicit simulation

Adaptively Controlled Explicit Simulation (ACES) is a timing simulation methodology for the verification of the transient behavior of integrated circuits. A new adaptively controlled explicit integration approximation is used that overcomes stability problems encountered in earlier explicit techniques. Circuit partitioning is employed, which allows event driven simulation and exploitation of circuit latency. Piecewise linear models are used for nonlinear devices, allowing efficient simulation of MOS, bipolar, and BiMOS circuits. Simulation accuracy in ACES can be varied by controlling the accuracy of either the integration approximation or the piecewise linear device models. With the combination of generality, exploitation of circuit latency, and ability to vary accuracy effectively, ACES provides an efficient environment for transient simulation of integrated circuits and systems. >
Operation of a voltage source converter at increased utility voltage

The operation of a voltage source converter (VSC) with regeneration capability, controllable power factor, and low distortion of utility currents is analyzed at increased utility voltage. Increase in the utility voltage causes a VSC to saturate and enter a nonlinear mode of operation. To operate under elevated utility, two steps are taken: (1) a pulse width modulation (PWM) algorithm is implemented which extends the linear region of operation by 15%, and (2) a PWM saturation regulator is used to control the reactive current at higher utility voltages. The PWM algorithm reduces the switching losses by at least 33% and the effect of blanking time by one-third. All analytical results are experimentally verified on a 100 kW three-phase VSC.
INVERTEBRATE EGG BANKS OF RESTORED, NATURAL, AND DRAINED WETLANDS IN THE PRAIRIE POTHOLE REGION OF THE UNITED STATES

Analogous to ‘seed banks,’ ‘egg banks’ are important for seasonal succession and maintenance of invertebrate species diversity throughout wet and dry cycles in the prairie pothole region. Further, recruitment of invertebrates from relic egg banks in the sediments and dispersal of eggs into wetlands is believed to be important for reestablishment of invertebrates in recently restored wetlands. Although tens-of-thousands of wetlands have been restored in the prairie pothole region of the United States, studies have not been conducted to evaluate the recovery of invertebrate egg banks in restored wetlands. We used taxon richness and abundance as indicators of potential egg bank recovery and compared these parameters in restored wetlands to those of non-drained and drained wetlands with a history of cultivation and also to reference wetlands with no history of cultivation. We found few significant differences among wetland categories within three physiographic regions (Glaciated Plains, Missouri Coteau, and Prairie Coteau). Most statistical comparisons indicated that restored wetlands had invertebrate egg banks similar to reference, nondrained, and drained wetlands. The one exception was drained seasonal wetlands in the Glaciated Plains, which had significantly lower taxon richness and invertebrate abundance than the other wetland categories. Trends did suggest that invertebrate egg bank taxon richness and abundance are increasing in restored seasonal wetlands relative to their drained analogues, whereas a similar trend was not observed for restored semi-permanent wetlands. Although recovery was not related to years since restoration, comparisons of restored wetlands with reference wetlands suggest that recovery potential may be inversely related to the extent of wetland drainage and intensive agriculture that varies spatially in the prairie pothole region. Our research suggests that periodic drawdowns of semi-permanent restored wetlands may be needed to promote production and development of invertebrate egg banks. Inoculation of restored wetlands may also be needed in areas where extensive wetland drainage has resulted in fewer wetland habitats to provide sources of passively dispersed eggs to newly restored wetlands.
Broadleaf signalgrass (Brachiaria platyphylla) interference in corn

Abstract Field research was conducted in Tennessee at two locations over 3 yr under no-tillage conditions to examine the interaction of broadleaf signalgrass and corn yield. Broadleaf signalgrass was killed at various time intervals during the growing season by applying postemergent glyphosate. Corn injury was avoided by the use of a glyphosate-tolerant variety. Yield reductions because of broadleaf signalgrass interference occurred with weed densities > 150 plants m−2 and when the corn and weeds emerged simultaneously. Corn had the ability to withstand broadleaf signalgrass presence up to 28 d after planting with no yield loss at all locations. Nomenclature: Glyphosate; broadleaf signalgrass, Brachiaria platyphylla (Griseb.) Nash BRAPP; corn, Zea mays.
TRANSFORMATIONS OF HIGH TECH LABOR MARKETS AND SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES

In this paper we examine the reorganization of work in labor markets dominated by the presence of high-technology industries from 1980 to 1990. Using Public Use Microdata Samples, we identify trends in spatial, industrial, occupational, gender, and racial divisions of labor and their effects on earnings inequality. Patterns in these changing work structures are linked to both general and specific theories of labor market development, structures, and processes. We find that centers of high-tech employment exhibit varied patterns of agglomeration, decline, and dispersion over the decade. Moreover, industrial and occupational divisions embedded within these high-tech spaces show variation across labor market areas as well. We identify some general trends, including the increasing dominance of upper-tier workers (professional, technical, and managerial) across most high-tech areas and the effects of Reagan's defense-related policies in the generation of new high-tech areas in certain locales. An analysis of the processes of earnings generation in high-tech labor
Susceptibility of Arabidopsis Ecotypes to Infection by Iris yellow spot virus

Abstract Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV; genus Tospovirus, family Bunyaviridae) is a serious constraint for onion production in the United States and several other parts of the world. A few experimental indicator hosts were reported for IYSV but there is no report of infection of Arabidopsis by IYSV. Establishing IYSV infection in onion by mechanical inoculation has so far proven to be inefficient resulting in numerous escapes. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as a host for studies on the biology and tospovirus-host interactions has an advantage of the plant's small genome size, short life cycle, and a genome that has been sequenced. Several ecotypes were evaluated for their susceptibility to IYSV and identified some where IYSV produces localized infection. Together with wild type and various mutants, the IYSV-Arabidopsis system could be useful for studying host-tospovirus interactions. Accepted for publication 12 June 2012. Published 14 July 2012.
Population growth dynamics of carbon nanotubes.

Understanding the population growth behavior of filamentary nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), is hampered by the lack of characterization techniques capable of probing statistical variations with high spatial resolution. We present a comprehensive methodology for studying the population growth dynamics of vertically aligned CNT forests, utilizing high-resolution spatial mapping of synchrotron X-ray scattering and attenuation, along with real-time height kinetics. We map the CNT alignment and dimensions within CNT forests, revealing broadening and focusing of size distributions during different stages of the process. Then, we calculate the number density and mass density of the CNT population versus time, which are true measures of the reaction kinetics. We find that the mass-based kinetics of a CNT population is accurately represented by the S-shaped Gompertz model of population growth, although the forest height and CNT length kinetics are essentially linear. Competition between catalyst a...