cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evoked potential and single unit responses to olfactory nerve volleys in the isolated turtle olfactory bulb

Abstract An in vitro preparation of the whole olfactory bulb of the turtle has been investigated using extracellular evoked potentials and unitary spikes. The compound action potential has a slow conduction velocity (0.15 mm/msec), brief relatively refractory period (10 msec) and prolonged supernormality (several hundred msec). The evoked potentials undergo prolonged periods of partial and complete suppression, as tested by the responses to paired volleys in the olfactory nerves. The suppression has a complex temporal pattern, and lasts more than 4 sec. Similar periods were revealed by the unitary spike responses of presumed mitral cells to olfactory nerve volleys. The results are similar to those reported in in vivo stuides of turtle and other species. They suggest that the basic properties of mitral cells and their synaptic interactions with local interneurons are maintained in this isolated olfactory bulb preparation.
Radial velocities of giant stars in globular clusters

We report radial velocities for 303 giant stars in the globular clusters M3, M13, M15, and M92. Spectra were obtained using the 4 m Mayall and 3.5 m WIYN telescopes and the Hydra Ðber positioner between 1993 and 1997 ; most spectra were provided by the NOAO WIYN Queue Program. Observations spanned times from a few days to several months. The uncertainties in the velocity measure- ments are typically 1 km s~1 or less. Several stars show velocity variations which may result from binary companions or atmospheric motions. Mean cluster velocities were measured to be (147.0 ^ 0.3, (245.5 ^ 1.0, (106.2 ^ 0.3, and (120.3 ^ 0.3 km s~1, for M3, M13, M15, and M92, respectively. Radial velocity observations for the photometric variable V73 (vZ 1406) in M3 conÐrm that the star varies with a period of 0.67 days.
FLOATING ORBITS, SUPERRADIANT SCATTERING, AND THE BLACK-HOLE BOMB.

Penrose1 and Christodoulou2 have shown how, in principle, rotational energy can be extracted from a black hole by orbiting and fissioning particles. Recently, Misner3 has pointed out that waves can also extract rotational energy (“superradiant scattering” in which an impinging wave is amplified as it scatters off a rotating hole). As one application of super-radiant scattering, Misner has suggested the possible existence of “floating orbits”, that is, orbits in which a particle radiatively extracts energy from the hole at the same rate as it radiates energy to infinity; thereby it experiences zero net radiation reaction.
Prolonged trauma and subsequent suicidal behavior: Child abuse and combat trauma reviewed

Stressful events have long been acknowledged as important risk factors for suicidal behavior. Although suicide research has generally focused on less severe stressful events, a long-standing vulnerability for suicidal behavior may be a sequela of prolonged traumatic stressors. The present paper discusses the relationship between prolonged traumatic stress and subsequent suicidality by reviewing studies that have examined suicidal behavior in relationship to child abuse and combat trauma. Traumatic stress is conceptualized according to a person-environment interactional paradigm, and this paradigm is used to discuss the characteristics of traumatic events, recovery environments, and individuals that may contribute to subsequent suicidality.
Motivation through goal setting

Abstract We study a principal agent model where agents derive a sense of pride from accomplishing production goals. As in classical models, the principal offers a pay-per-performance wage to the agent, determining the agent’s extrinsic incentives. However, in our model, the principal uses goal setting policies as a tool to manage agents’ intrinsic motivation. To capture the idea that different agents respond differently to different goals we introduce the concept of personal standards which determine what becomes challenging and rewarding to them, and hence the intensity of their intrinsic motivation to achieve goals. We show that, at the optimal contract, the agents’ production, as well as the goals set by the principal, increase with the agents’ personal standards. Moreover, we show that an intrinsically motivated agent gets higher surplus than an agent with no intrinsic motivation in the form of informational rents but an agent with a mid-ranged standard (and hence productivity) could end up being the one most satisfied. Therefore, our model can be helpful to explain some empirical findings in the literature of job satisfaction such as the so called “paradox of happiness”.
Probability of collision during the early evolution of debris clouds

Abstract It has been a common practice in the literature to use the kinetic theory of gases, in order to obtain an estimate of the probability of collision posed to an orbital asset by the background debris population. This has been advantageous, because it features the use of the Poisson distribution to model encounters between an asset and background objects. This model yields a very simple method for computing probability of collision. It is fairly accurate in earth orbital studies over periods of several years in certain orbital regimes. It also has been the practice to use the Poisson model for debris clouds while they still are in their early evolutionary phase. However, newly formed debris clouds resulting from orbital fragmentations are characterized by fragments with relative motion that is highly correlated by the central gravitational field, thereby eliminating any resemblance to a gas. While the use of the Poisson model in this context has been criticized, it generally has been used anyway due to the lack of a well-known and accepted alternative model. A precise probabilistic assessment generally involves Monte Carlo analysis. This method is effective but often is computationally burdensome. By making some simple assumptions that hold in the vast majority of scenarios, it is shown that collision hazard for short-term debris cloud evolution can in fact be described by a Poisson model. These assumptions concern the way in which a fragmentation process is modeled and the orbital geometry between assets and a debris cloud. The derivation of this result is quite different from that used in kinetic gas theory but is nonetheless a direct application of standard probability theory. The ramification for short term debris cloud modeling is a theoretical substantiation of formulations in software like program DEBRIS. The purpose of this paper is to present the derivation and substantiation of this result.
Chemisorption and reaction of acetylene and ethylene on the α-Fe(100) clean iron surface

Abstract Photoemission electron spectroscopy in the vacuum ultraviolet range (UPS) with LEED-Auger is used to study chemisorption and reaction of acetylene and ethylene on both clean and partially deactivated single crystal α-Fe(100) surfaces. The molecular orbital valence electronic structure is used to elucidate the electronic nature of the bonding mechanism, and to infer changes in the geometrical structure of the molecule upon chemisorption. Carbon-carbon scission is induced for both acetylene and ethylene chemisorption on the highly active clean surface, even at low temperatures. Distinctive spectral features indicate molecular conversion to CHn (n = 1, 2) and other fragmented species possibly unique to surface-stabilized complexes. Under certain conditions a proposed transitional multicomponent state is observed. It is postulated that a weakly bonded molecular layer forms above the layer of chemisorbed fragments, or on surfaces which have been partially deactivated by prechemisorption of carbon or oxygen atoms. Perturbations of the nonbonding σ-levels imply geometrical distortions involving stretching and bending of the weakly chemisorbed molecules. The degree of distortion serves as a measure of the reactivity of the surface for chemisorptive phenomena involving unsaturated molecules. It is postulated that bonding patterns for olefins on transition metal surfaces are comparatively similar to those found in organometallic and cluster compounds.
Superior thermal stability of coherent twin boundaries in nanotwinned metals

Abstract We compare the thermal stability of nanotwinned metals to their nanocrystalline counterparts. The thermal stability of a coherent twin boundary is superior to that of a high-angle grain boundary as the energy stored at twin boundaries is an order of magnitude lower than at high-angle grain boundaries. The stability of nanotwins sheds light on the use of these materials for relatively higher-temperature applications, where the retention of twins can enhance the mechanical strength of metallic materials.
Direction and polarization angular correlations of gamma-ray cascades in Pb208

Polarization-direction and directional angular correlation measurements have been made on three of the most prominent gamma-ray cascades in Pb208 following the beta decay of Tl208. In combination with other information, the results lead to specific electromagnetic transition parameters and to spin and parity assignments for four of the excited levels in Pb208. The results of existing internal conversion measurements are found to agree with those computed from the present transition assignments and mixing ratios, provided finite nuclear size (without penetration effects) is taken into account.
Retinoids enhance lectin binding to gp130, a glycoprotein of NIH-3T3 cells: correlation with cell growth and adhesion.

Abstract Our previous work has shown that retinoic acid (RA) enhances fibroblast cell attachment to plastic and to laminin. The treatment of NIH-3T3 cells with RA for 2 days also caused a reproducible increase in the binding of the lectin Phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinin (PHA-L) to a glycoprotein of molecular weight 130,000 (gp130) as judged by SDS-PAGE analysis. This finding is consistent with an increased number of β-1,6-linked N -acetylglucosaminyl residues on gp130. Of the 11 additional lectins tested Ricinus communis agglutinin I (RCA), Phaseolus vulgaris erythroagglutinin (PHA-E), soybean agglutinin (SBA), and succinylated wheat germ agglutinin (sWGA) showed a significant increase in binding specifically to gp130. Similar to RA, 13- cis -RA and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-chalcone carboxylic acid, a synthetic retinoid, also increased PHA-L binding to gp130; they also enhanced cell adhesiveness and inhibited cell growth. N -(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-all- trans -retinamide and thyroxine failed to influence adhesion and did not increase PHA-L binding to gp130. Moreover these compounds also failed to inhibit cell growth and to alter the morphology of the cultured cells. Since trypsin is utilized to remove cells from the culture dishes before they are used in the attachment assay to laminin, we studied the effect of this trypsinization step on PHA-L binding to gp130. Trypsin reduced PHA-L binding thus suggesting cell surface localization of gp130. After trypsin treatment RA-treated cells still showed enhanced PHA-L binding compared to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) control. In conclusion RA-induced cell adhesiveness and growth inhibition are accompanied by an increase in the PHA-L, PHA-E, SBA, RCA, and sWGA binding to gp130. The sensitivity of gp130 to trypsin suggests that it is a cell surface glycoprotein.
Foundations of the stabilization phenomenon in photoionization

A theory of photoionization is outlined which is valid for all frequencies when the field intensity is very high. This theory is applied to explore the stabilization phenomenon, where an increase in laser intensity results in decreasing transition amplitude beyond a certain critical intensity. It is found that stabilization occurs in the monochromatic case for all frequencies for circular polarization, but it is less pronounced with linear polarization. For frequency ω>1 (atomic units), the critical intensity is associated with the threshold for peak suppression. Stabilization for ω<1 is governed by a different mechanism. Good agreement is obtained with analogous results obtained by Kramers-Henneberger techniques for the high-frequency case, but the low-frequency results are not yet available by other methods.
Improving surgical outcomes for cancer in the United States.

During the past few years, there has been increasing evidence that the quality of surgical outcomes is linked to volumes of cases being done at hospital centers [1]. This has caught the attention of patients as well as payers of health care (i.e., employers, insurance groups). ‘‘Quality’’ has become the mantra of the health industry. Some payers of health care are either actively directing patients who require specific procedures to go to high-volume centers; reward good performance by hospitals with financial bonuses; or underwrite quality improvement activities by contracting with hospitals [2]. When it comes to surgical outcomes for cancer care, there has been a significant body of data that has been reported that is very compelling. These studies demonstrate that significant variations exist in cancer surgery outcomes that are associated with the volumes seen at hospital centers, the volumes seen by individual surgeons, and how cancer care is coordinated within an institution.
Trust in medical technology by patients and healthcare providers in obstetric work systems

Multiple types of users (i.e. patients and care providers) have experiences with the same technologies in healthcare environments and may have different processes for developing trust in those technologies. The objective of this study was to assess how patients and care providers make decisions about the trustworthiness of mutually used medical technology in an obstetric work system. Using a grounded theory methodology, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 25 patients who had recently given birth and 12 obstetric healthcare providers to examine the decision-making process for developing trust in technologies used in an obstetric work system. We expected the two user groups to have similar criteria for developing trust in the technologies, though we found patients and physicians differed in processes for developing trust. Trust in care providers, the technologies' characteristics and how care providers used technology were all related to trust in medical technology for the patient participant group. Trustworthiness of the system and trust in self were related to trust in medical technology for the physician participant group. Our findings show that users with different perspectives of the system have different criteria for developing trust in medical technologies.
The economics of Internet TV: new riches vs. mass audiences

Investigates TV on the Internet, acknowledging it cannot rewrite the economic rulebook, stating it will be under great pressure to syndicate entertainment to and from other media. Concludes that, so far, Internet‐original entertainment programming shows great creative promise, but the economic challenges will not be easy to overcome.
Latent Heating and Mixing due to Entrainment in Tropical Deep Convection

AbstractRecent studies have noted the role of latent heating above the freezing level in reconciling Riehl and Malkus' hot tower hypothesis (HTH) with evidence of diluted tropical deep convective cores. This study evaluates recent modifications to the HTH through Lagrangian trajectory analysis of deep convective cores in an idealized, high-resolution cloud-resolving model (CRM) simulation that uses a sophisticated two-moment microphysical scheme. A line of tropical convective cells develops within a finer nested grid whose boundary conditions are obtained from a large-domain CRM simulation approaching radiative convective equilibrium (RCE). Microphysical impacts on latent heating and equivalent potential temperature (θe) are analyzed along trajectories ascending within convective regions of the high-resolution nested grid. Changes in θe along backward trajectories are partitioned into contributions from latent heating due to ice processes and a residual term that is shown to be an approximate representati...
Applicability of Design Spaces to Utilize Current Assembly Plant Resources to Produce New Product Family Members

Utilizing available assembly resources can greatly reduce the development time and cost for platforms and new product family members. This paper presents a method to utilize existing assembly plant resources, during the development of new product family members, by comparing existing assembly plant with feasible assembly processes. An assembly sequence design space that can be used to perform new family member process and existing plant utilization trade-off study is presented in the paper. The assembly sequence design space is combinatorial in nature. This research seeks to provide a systematic method to represent and reason with combinatorial design spaces in which these assembly process combinations lie. Models that capture effects of constraints on these spaces, explicitly represent feasible regions, and efficiently enumerate designs within this space are investigated. Application of the assembly sequence space to perform assembly plant utilization trade-off study is demonstrated using a coffeemaker family.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
A semi-empirical total energy method for elemental clusters and solids: Application to the structural properties of silicon clusters

Abstract A semi-empirical pseudopotential method to determine the structural properties of small atomic clusters is presented. The method combines a linear combination of Gaussian orbitals, an atomic-like pseudopotential and a valence force field description to determine the structural energies of small clusters. This procedure is easy to implement and accurately reproduces the structural properties of silicon clusters as determined from more rigorous techniques.
Operations safety: an assessment of a commercial aviation safety program

Abstract Operations safety is an important issue in operations management. While prior studies have focused on the operational performance of various airlines and airports, few have assessed the efficacy of government airline safety programs. This empirical study evaluates a commercial aviation safety program that sanctions pilots with alcohol-related motor vehicle convictions. We compare a 5-year period prior to the implementation of the program against a 5-year period after implementation using data on over 160,000 commercial pilots. We conclude that the FAA’s handling of pilots with motor vehicle convictions has had a negligible effect on airline safety. These results have operational as well as public policy implications.
Immigration, gender and the process of occupational change in the United States, 1970-1980.

Since World War II the industrial shifts from agriculture to services have transformed the nature of employment opportunities in the US and generally resulted in occupational upgrading. This reorganization of occupations which continued into the 1970s has reduced the proportion of workers employed in the least skilled manual jobs. The most important result of this trend is that immigrant women--in fact women and men-- experienced both an improvement and deterioration in their occupational position. While the national pattern involved a decrease in relative employment of native workers as laborers and farm laborers immigrant women increased their share of these jobs. Immigrant men moved into 4 occupational categories largely being abandoned by native-born workers--jobs as operatives service workers laborers and farm laborers. The shift of immigrant women into laborer jobs was made possible through changes in the organization of work within industries rather than a change in the availability of the types of employers needing them. The well-advertised promise of employment in new growth industries such as electronics and the expansion of jobs requiring greater skills is not uniformly available to all groups of women. Thus jobs requiring few skills and offering few opportunities for advancement are usually filled by migrant ethnic workers particularly women who also lack leverage for demanding and securing higher status positions. The combination of the relative increase in the proportion of immigrant men and women in the least skilled manual jobs left behind by native-born workers and the apparent concentration of specific national origin groups in these jobs renders this important segment of the labor market clearly identifiable on political and ethnic ground. It also contributes to the understanding of the on-going debate as to whether immigrant workers displace or complement native work force.
Alternate pathways of cerebroside catabolism

A search was made for new degradative pathways for glucosyl and galactosyl ceramides in an effort to explain the failure of these lipids to accumulate in the brains of children with Krabbe's or Gaucher's disease. Using various buffers and incubation conditions, we tested brain homogenates from 12 day old rats with the stearate-labeled and galactose-labeled lipids. No evidence for direct deacylation (and formation of psychosines) could be obtained, nor was there any evidence for transacylation of sphingocyl phosphoryl choline or oxidation of the 6 position of the galactose moiety. Two new derivatives of galactosyl ceramide were observed, possibly fatty acid esters of unknown polar compounds. It is tentatively proposed that the etiology of infantile Krabbe's and Gaucher's diseases involves, not an accumulation of galactosyl and glucosyl ceramides, with consequent formation of toxic products, but rather malfunction of some other role of the corresponding glycosidases.
Low dropout (LDO) voltage regulator design using split-length compensation

We explore the application of split-length compensation to the design of a three-stage low dropout (LDO) voltage regulator. Initially, we review three basic compensation techniques, Miller, cascode, and split-length, and demonstrate their use in a multi-stage amplifier. It is found that stable designs are possible using single Miller compensation, whereas both cascode and split-length compensation require a Miller compensation network in parallel. Finally, we compare the three compensation techniques in terms of quiescent current, area, dropout voltage, unity-gain frequency, line and load transient response, and power supply rejection. For the LDO architecture selected, it is found that cascode and split-length compensation offer very similar performance, with the exception of quiescent current and area. Cascode compensation required 24% less total compensation capacitance, whereas split-length compensation used 14% less quiescent current.
Dietary sodium, glomerular filtration rate autoregulation, and glomerular size distribution profiles in domestic fowl (Gallus gallus)

Mammalian glomerular filtration rate (GFR) autoregulation can be impaired by protocols that inhibit tubuloglomrular feedback, such as high sodium intake. Domestic fowl were fed diets containing either high sodium (0.39% Na: High-Na Group) or low sodium (0.03% Na: Low-Na Group). An arterial snare was used to reduce renal arterial perfusion pressure (RAPP) in a stepwise fashion to evaluate GFR autoregulation. Absolute sodium excretion, fractional sodium excretion (FENa), and ambient systemic arterial blood pressure were significantly elevated in the High-Na Group when compared with the Low-Na Group, and pressure natriuresis was abolished by the Low-Na diet. However, GFR autoregulatory profiles were identical in birds fed High-Na and Low-Na diets, suggesting that tubuloglomerular feed-back does not contribute significantly to avian GFR autoregulation. Filtering glomeruli were stained in vivo with alcian blue dye to determine if RAPP-induced reductions in GFR are associated with cessation of filtration (glomerular intermittency) by a portion of the nephron population. RAPP was held below the GFR autoregulatory range (experimental group) or was at ambient systemic arterial pressure (control group) during glomerular staining. Reducing RAPP below the autoregulatory range reduced GFR by 50%, but similar glomerular size distribution profiles were observed for experimental and control groups. These results indicate that sustained glomerular intermittency does not contribute to the decrease in GFR when RAPP is reduced below the autoregulatory range.
The independence and stability of socioeconomic predictors of morbidity in systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective. We studied the relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) morbidity and socioeconomic status (SES) at 5 centers. Methods. Ninety-nine patients who met American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE were randomly sampled at each center, balancing by race and insurance status. Subjects were interviewed for current and past SES factors, such as insurance, occupation, employment, education, and income. SLE disease activity was measured by the SLE Activity Measure (SLAM). Result. Higher education, private insurance/Medicare, and higher income were associated with less disease activity at diagnosis. Controlling for SES, race, and center, the best predictors of less active disease at diagnosis were private insurance/Medicare (P = 0.002) and higher education (P = 0.007). From the time of diagnosis to the study visit (mean 3.5 years), insurance, income, and employment status changed for a significant number of subjects (37%, 16%, and 21%, respectively). Conclusion. Private insurance or Medicare and higher education are associated with less active disease at diagnosis of SLE. Health insurance, income, and employment status are unstable measures of socio-economic status and may explain the variability in conclusions of previous studies on the role of SES in SLE.
Bayesian models for functional magnetic resonance imaging data analysis

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a noninvasive neuroimaging method that provides an indirect measure of neuronal activity by detecting blood flow changes, has experienced an explosive growth in the past years. Statistical methods play a crucial role in understanding and analyzing fMRI data. Bayesian approaches, in particular, have shown great promise in applications. A remarkable feature of fully Bayesian approaches is that they allow a flexible modeling of spatial and temporal correlations in the data. This paper provides a review of the most relevant models developed in recent years. We divide methods according to the objective of the analysis. We start from spatio-temporal models for fMRI data that detect task-related activation patterns. We then address the very important problem of estimating brain connectivity. We also touch upon methods that focus on making predictions of an individual's brain activity or a clinical or behavioral response. We conclude with a discussion of recent integrative models that aim at combining fMRI data with other imaging modalities, such as EEG/MEG and DTI data, measured on the same subjects. We also briefly discuss the emerging field of imaging genetics.
Multifunctional Tunable Optical Filter Using MEMS Spatial Light Modulator

In this paper, we introduce a multifunctional tunable microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) optical bandpass filter that can continuously and independently tune the center wavelength and the passband spectral width. The filter function is achieved by dispersing the input light on a MEMS spatial light modulator (SLM) that is implemented with gold-coated mirrors microassembled on a MEMS platform. The mirrors are actuated by electrostatic combdrives that are bidirectional and have a maximum stable displacement of 44 ?m in both directions for a total range of 88 ?m. By actuating the SLM, the 1-dB bandwidth of the filter can be continuously tuned from 0.1 to 1.3 nm, and the 3-dB bandwidth can be tuned from 0.3 to 1.5 nm. In addition, the center wavelength can be fine tuned by actuating the movable blocking mirrors and coarsely tuned over a large spectral range by rotating the grating.
Minimum-energy broadcast routing in wireless multi-hop networks

Energy conservation is a critical issue in wireless multi-hop networks since the nodes are powered by batteries only. One major metric for energy conservation is to route a communication session along the routes which requires the lowest total energy consumption. In this paper, based on the concepts of virtual relay, we present a constraint formulation for the minimum-energy broadcast routing problem in terms of mixed integer linear programming (MIP). Moreover the model extends its analytical capability into more general scenarios in asymmetric networks, where few studies have addressed the broadcast routing problem before. The experiment results show that in a typical multi-hop network with node less than 50, optimal solution can be always solved in a timely manner, and save up to 30% power consumption compared to the most efficient heuristic algorithm BIP known so far.
Do-It-Yourself Security: Safety, Gender, and the Home Fallout Shelter in Cold War America

At the height of the cold war, from the 1950s to the early 1960s, the United States government embarked on a series of civil defence initiatives centred on the home fallout shelter. Calling on 'American' traits of enterprise and independence, shelter advocates sought an accessible and pleasurable way to help citizens preparefor nuclear war by transforming the home fallout shelter into an ideologically charged national do-it-yourself project. The government requested citizens to furnish their own security, and fallout shelters presented homeowners with a do-it-yourself activity that combined home improvement with family safety. Do-it-yourself provided both men and women with traditionally gender-appropriate tasks that strengthened domestic identity and offered a sense of contained purpose and control in increasingly uncertain times. Such expectations were carried into the construction of the home fallout shelter and perpetuated gender stereotypes in the post-nuclear world-literally building them into a concrete form. Despite public and private initiatives, however, fallout shelters permeated America's post-war consciousness more than its physical landscape; few Americans actually built shelters. Nevertheless, do-it-yourself helped promote the idea of security, while revealing larger cold war insecurities of daily life.
Non-plume magmatism and rifting during the opening of the central Atlantic Ocean

Abstract Major Early Jurassic basaltic magmatism accompanied Pangaean rifting during the formation of the central North Atlantic Ocean. Some geodynamic models attribute Early Mesozoic Atlantic rifting and magmatism to a large mantle plume. However, the central Atlantic basalts occur in overlapping provinces of distinct dike trends and compositional types, not as magmas generated from a single plume-style source. Continental rifting was active for 25 m.y. before and after the magmatic event, during which rifting and magmatism evolved into a spreading ocean crust. Rift basalts within the continents may be contemporaneous with a large basalt wedge that marks the eastern North American margin at the start of ocean-crust production, but there are no Jurassic hotspot tracks in the Atlantic Ocean crust, and the much younger alkalic ‘hotspots’ in the eastern Atlantic Ocean cannot be linked to the rift basalts. Thus, there is no physical evidence of a plume mechanism for Early Mesozoic Pangaean rifting and magmatism. Several convection cells beneath the rift zone may be responsible for both tectonic basins and basaltic magmas, as influenced by pre-existing lithospheric structures.
BMRP is a Bcl-2 binding protein that induces apoptosis

Members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins play important roles in the regulation of cell death by apoptosis. The yeast Two-Hybrid system was utilized to identify a protein that interacts with the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, designated BMRP. This protein corresponds to a previously known mitochondrial ribosomal protein (MRPL41). Binding experiments confirmed the interaction of BMRP to Bcl-2 in mammalian cells. Subcellular fractionation by differential centrifugation studies showed that both Bcl-2 and BMRP are localized to the same fractions (fractions that are rich in mitochondria). Northern blot analysis revealed a major bmrp mRNA band of approximately 0.8 kb in several human tissues. Additionally, a larger 2.2 kb mRNA species was also observed in some tissues. Western blot analysis showed that endogenous BMRP runs as a band of 16-17 kDa in SDS-PAGE. Overexpression of BMRP induced cell death in primary embryonic fibroblasts and NIH/3T3 cells. Transfection of BMRP showed similar effects to those observed by overexpression of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax or Bad. BMRP-stimulated cell death was counteracted by co-expression of Bcl-2. The baculoviral caspase inhibitor p35 also protected cells from BMRP-induced cell death. These findings suggest that BMRP is a mitochondrial ribosomal protein involved in the regulation of cell death by apoptosis, probably affecting pathways mediated by Bcl-2 and caspases.
Comparative impact of continent and incontinent urinary diversion on long-term renal function after radical cystectomy in patients with preoperative chronic kidney disease 2 and chronic kidney disease 3a.

Objectives To evaluate the differences in estimated glomerular filtration rate decline by urinary diversion type (incontinent diversion vs continent diversion) and preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate among patients undergoing radical cystectomy and urinary diversion. Methods We evaluated 1383 patients treated with radical cystectomy between 1980–2006 who had a preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate of 45-89 mL/min/1.73 m2. Estimated glomerular filtration rate was estimated using Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equations, and patients were stratified by preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate into chronic kidney disease 2 (estimated glomerular filtration rate 60–89 mL/min/1.73 m2) and chronic kidney disease 3a (estimated glomerular filtration rate 45–59 mL/min/1.73 m2). Multiple definitions of estimated glomerular filtration rate decline were evaluated: (i) 10-point decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate; (ii) 20% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate; and (iii) 10% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate. Time to estimated glomerular filtration rate decline was compared using the Kaplan–Meier method stratified by diversion type. Cox regression models were used to evaluate the association of diversion type with estimated glomerular filtration rate decline risk. Results In total, 74% (1021/1383) of patients underwent incontinent diversion and 26% (362/1383) underwent continent diversion. Preoperative chronic kidney disease 2 and chronic kidney disease 3a were noted among 59% and 41% of patients who underwent incontinent diversion, versus 74% and 26% with continent diversion. Median follow up after RC was 11.2 years. The rate of estimated glomerular filtration rate decline in patients with incontinent diversion versus continent diversion was similar when stratified by preoperative chronic kidney disease 2 and preoperative chronic kidney disease 3a, regardless of estimated glomerular filtration rate decline definition. On multivariable analysis, continent diversion was not associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate decline for patients with preoperative chronic kidney disease 3a. Conclusions The risk of estimated glomerular filtration rate decline over 10 years was not significantly different after incontinent diversion versus continent diversion among patients with preoperative chronic kidney disease 2 or chronic kidney disease 3a. Continent diversion does not appear to confer an independently increased risk of estimated glomerular filtration rate decline in patients with preoperative chronic kidney disease 3a.
Enhancing Neural Transmission in Multiple Sclerosis (4-Aminopyridine Therapy)

Enhancing neural transmission by improving axonal conduction and synaptic neurotransmitter release is a novel strategy to improve symptoms in multiple sclerosis. Dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine extended-release) is a first-in-class medication that targets the damaged nervous system through blockage of voltage-gated potassium channels. Through a series of clinical trials, dalfampridine (dosed at 10 mg twice daily) has been found to improve walking speed by approximately 25 % on average in one third of individuals with multiple sclerosis regardless of disease stage. Furthermore, it significantly improves patients' perception of their ambulatory disability and may improve lower extremity strength. Given the mechanism of action, the most serious adverse effect is its pro-convulsant property, which occurs more frequently at high serum concentrations. The most common adverse events include increased falls, urinary tract infections, dizziness, insomnia, and headaches. Despite these potential side-effects, the vast majority of individuals who derive benefit continue on the treatment. The exact mechanism of action is uncertain, as is the reason for response variability. The medication serves as proof-of-concept that targeting axonal transmission can improve disability in multiple sclerosis.
Spontaneous Renal Lesions in Five Rat Strains

A survey of non-neoplastic and neoplastic renal lesions found in 5 rat strains, namely, ACI (August x Copenhagen Irish), A22807 (August), F344 (Fischer), M520 (Marshall), and OM (Osborne-Mendel) is given. The results from this survey indicate that the OM, M520, and ACI rat strains have major disadvantages for their use in long-term toxicology and carcinogenesis studies. Male OM rats had a high incidence of renovascular lesions which consisted of necrotizing arteritis or arteriolitis and intimal thickening of small arteries, and resembled renal lesions described in hypertensive rats and human patients. Predominant renal lesions in the M520 and ACI rat strains included extensive calculus formation at the pyramido-pelvic junction, which was often associated with proliferative pelvic transitional cell lesions and hydronephrosis. The ACI rat strain also had unilateral congenital renal agenesis in about 12% of the animals of either sex. Based on the spectrum of renal lesions observed in the 2 remaining rat strains, namely A28807 and F344, it is difficult to determine which one of the two should be preferred for long-term studies. The A28807 rat strain had less severe chronic renal disease than the F344 but had a higher incidence of pelvic transitional cell hyperplasia. The ultimate choice should be based on the spectrum, incidence, and severity of extra-renal lesions.
Automating the design of graphical presentations of relational information

The goal of the research described in this paper is to develop an application-independent presentation tool that automatically designs effective graphical presentations (such as bar charts, scatter plots, and connected graphs) of relational information. Two problems are raised by this goal: The codification of graphic design criteria in a form that can be used by the presentation tool, and the generation of a wide variety of designs so that the presentation tool can accommodate a wide variety of information. The approach described in this paper is based on the view that graphical presentations are sentences of graphical languages. The graphic design issues are codified as expressiveness and effectiveness criteria for graphical languages. Expressiveness criteria determine whether a graphical language can express the desired information. Effectiveness criteria determine whether a graphical language exploits the capabilities of the output medium and the human visual system. A wide variety of designs can be systematically generated by using a composition algebra that composes a small set of primitive graphical languages. Artificial intelligence techniques are used to implement a prototype presentation tool called APT (A Presentation Tool), which is based on the composition algebra and the graphic design criteria.
Bacterial endocarditis following cardiac surgery.

Intracardiac surgery for rheumatic and congenital heart disease entails direct trauma to both normal and abnormal endocardium. This communication inquires into the incidence and nature of the endocardial infections that develop subsequent to this injury. On the basis of an examination of 2,263 patients operated upon for acquired and congenital heart disease during a 5-year period terminating in November 1955, bacterial endocarditis appears to be an infrequent complication of surgery, is caused by organisms not so commonly encountered in unoperated patients, and is characterized by a clinical pattern quite different from that ordinarily associated with bacterial endocarditis. The rate of attrition in this group of patients is high, and unquestionably is related to the antibiotic resistance of the unusual organisms and the severity of the basic heart disease.
The MORENA model for hypermedia authoring and browsing

This paper describes MORENA (Multimedia ORganization Employing a Network Approach), a Petri-net based platform for the description and execution of hypermedia applications. All the parts that compose the application, such as sound, video, text and buttons are described in this model and the browsing semantics are also specified. The MORENA model provides support for dynamic data, such as video or audio. It also provides structured authoring, fine-grained synchronization of media, flexibility and adaptability through message passing, user interaction, easy prototyping and simulation, and the ability to reuse logical specifications. MORENA's parent is Trellis, but it was influenced by many other systems, merging their features in a coherent and consistent framework. Applications written based on the MORENA model are compact and platform independent.
The CREB-Binding Protein Inhibitor ICG-001 Suppresses Pancreatic Cancer Growth

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal cancer due in part to a lack of highly robust cytotoxic or molecular-based therapies. Recent studies investigating ligand-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling have highlighted its importance in pancreatic cancer initiation and progression, as well as its potential as a therapeutic target in PDAC. The small-molecule ICG-001 binds cAMP-responsive element binding (CREB)-binding protein (CBP) to disrupt its interaction with β-catenin and inhibit CBP function as a coactivator of Wnt/β-catenin-mediated transcription. Given its ability to inhibit Wnt/β-catenin-mediated transcription in vitro and in vivo, as well as its efficacy in preclinical models of colorectal cancer and other Wnt-driven diseases, we examined ICG-001 and its potential role as a therapeutic in PDAC. ICG-001 alone significantly inhibited anchorage-dependent and -independent growth of multiple PDAC lines, and augmented in vitro growth inhibition when used in combination with gemcitabine. ICG-001 had only variable modest effects on PDAC apoptosis and instead mediated PDAC growth inhibition primarily through robust induction of G₁ cell-cycle arrest. These effects, however, seemed decoupled from its inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin-mediated transcription. DNA microarrays performed on PDAC cells in the context of ICG-001 treatment revealed ICG-001 altered the expression of several genes with well-established roles in DNA replication and cell-cycle progression, including direct actions on SKP2 and CDKN1A. ICG-001 also significantly prolonged survival in an in vivo orthotopic xenograft model of PDAC, indicating ICG-001 or derived compounds that disrupt CBP activity are potentially useful small-molecule therapeutics for pancreatic cancer.
The RING Finger Domain of Varicella-Zoster Virus ORF61p Has E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Activity That Is Essential for Efficient Autoubiquitination and Dispersion of Sp100-Containing Nuclear Bodies

Varicella zoster virus encodes an immediate-early (IE) protein termed ORF61p that is orthologous to the herpes simplex virus IE protein ICP0. Although these proteins share several functional properties, ORF61p does not fully substitute for ICP0. The greatest region of similarity between these proteins is a RING finger domain. We demonstrate that disruption of the ORF61p RING finger domain by amino acid substitution (Cys19Gly) alters ORF61p intranuclear distribution and abolishes ORF61p-mediated dispersion of Sp100-containing nuclear bodies. In addition, we demonstrate that an intact ORF61p RING finger domain is necessary for E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and is required for autoubiquitination and regulation of protein stability.
Epidemiology, trends, and outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of non-cardiac origin

Summary Introduction The majority of victims who experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) have ventricular fibrillation (VF) as the presenting rhythm and are thought to have a cardiac etiology for their arrest. Over the past decade, the incidence of VF OHCA has declined. The aims of this study were to describe the epidemiology of OHCA of non-cardiac origin in Olmsted County MN and to determine the trends that have occurred over time. Methods All residents with a traumatic OHCA from 1995 to 2005 were included for analysis. OHCA data were collected prospectively according to the Utstein method. Cardiac arrests were classified as cardiac or non-cardiac in origin and the etiology determined based on autopsy reports, electronic medical records, and/or emergency medical services reports. Results During the study period, 414 OHCAs were identified, 90 (21.7%) of which were classified as non-cardiac. Mean age was 61.5 ± 19.7 years. Response time was 7.73 ± 2.9 min, and 40 (44.4%) were bystander-witnessed. Sixty-eight (75.6%) arrests occurred at home, 13 (14.4%) in a public place, and 9 (10%) in other locations. Bystander CPR was performed in 17 (18.9%) cases. The presenting rhythm was VF in 2 (2.2%) cases, PEA in 54 (60%), and asystole in 34 (37.8%). Eight (8.9%) patients survived to hospital discharge. Respiratory failure (35.6%), unknown (15.6%), and pulmonary embolism (13.3%) were the most common etiologies. The mean percentage of arrests due to a non-cardiac cause in three sequential time-periods (1995–1999, 2000–2002, 2003–2005) was 9.4%, 20.1% and 37.7%, respectively. Conclusions Over the study period, 21.7% of OHCAs were non-cardiac in origin. PEA was the most common presenting rhythm and respiratory failure the most common etiology. 8.9% of patients survived. The decreasing number of VF arrests may be a contributing factor to the increasing proportion of OHCAs of non-cardiac etiology observed in the out-of-hospital setting.
Reconfigurable hardware acceleration for a cryptographically inspired pseudo-random sequence generation engine

This paper describes the design and implementation of an encryption based algorithm for random sequence generation on reconfigurable hardware. This engine is designed using a nonlinear bit-mixing function that is derived from the data encryption algorithm used in the data encryption standard (DES). By exploiting the parallel processing scheme that is inherent to field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for hardware-based algorithmic acceleration, more efficient systems have been designed. The fastest hardware implementation is capable of processing the random sequence generation algorithm more than 40x faster than the conventional, microprocessor implementation.
Surface Notches in Composites

Simple mechanics of materials analyses for predicting the static strength of surface notched (scratched) resin-matrix composite laminates are presented. The strength predictions are compared with and are found to be in excellent agreement with the available experimental data.