cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence for multiple generators in evoked responses using finite difference field mapping: Auditory evoked fields

Electric potential maps and magnetic field maps have been used to study brain electrical activity. During the temporal course of an evoked cortical response, the electrical activity of specific neuronal subpopulations change in a sequential manner giving rise to measurable electrical potentials and magnetic fields. For these potentials and fields, both the amplitude and rate of amplitude change have characteristic, time-dependent waveforms. Presently, amplitude waveforms from multiple locations are used to generate magnetic field and electric potential maps which have been found to be useful in understanding the activity of the neurons which give rise to these maps (Romani 1990). This paper introduces a data transformation technique which results in a derived map that we have termed a "finite difference field map" (FDFM). This mapping technique provides information associated with the rate at which the amplitude of the neuronal electric activity changes. In this paper, some advantages of FDFM analysis are illustrated by application of this technique to the study of the auditory evoked cortical field (AECF) N1m waveform. Using data obtained from normal subjects it will be demonstrated that application of the FDFM technique allows the localization of the primary N1m source at an earlier latency than is possible using the conventional waveform data. The source location determined at an early latency by FDFM analysis was identical to that obtained at later latency from the conventional field data. These data suggest that the primary N1m source is stationary. In addition, analysis of the time sequence of FDFM field maps contains evidence of a second spatially separate source which is co-active with primary N1m source.
Health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with cyclic vomiting syndrome: a comparison with published data on youth with irritable bowel syndrome and organic gastrointestinal disorders.

Objective To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) and to compare child self-reports with those of their parents and with published reports of children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), children with organic gastrointestinal disorders, and a healthy control group. Study design Sixty-eight children aged 5-18 years with CVS confirmed in a gastroenterology clinic completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Eighty-two parents completed the parent-proxy PedsQL for children aged 2-18 years. These results were compared with published data for children with IBS, organic gastrointestinal disorders, and a healthy control group using ANOVA. Intraclass correlation was used to evaluate concordance between child and parent reports of HRQoL. Results HRQoL reported on the PedsQL by children with CVS was lower than that reported by children with IBS ( P P P P P = .01). Conclusion Children with CVS reported lower HRQoL compared with those with IBS, and both parents and children reported lower HRQoL compared with healthy controls. Parent and child ratings of HRQoL converged. Improved recognition of CVS and school support might help mitigate the impact of CVS on HRQoL.
Effects of Transients in Water Chemistry, Temperature, and Loading on Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking of AISI 304 Stainless Steel

Abstract This paper presents experimental observations of the effects of dissolved oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and water purity (primarily dilute sulfuric acid) on the intergranular stress corrosion...
Experimental study of haptic information pickup in manipulation

An ecological study of haptic perception and action in tool use has been proposed. The result of such a study would be a theory of tool use to guide haptic interface, telemanipulator, and virtual environment design. As a first step in this study, we conducted an experimental study of haptic information pickup in a single degree-of-freedom positioning task. The task consisted of moving the handle of a one degree-of-freedom manipulandum to a target location using haptic perception. The manipulandum was controlled to exhibit impedances characterizing viscous drag, or damping. Damping in the target region was made to be different from the damping in the surrounding environment (ambient damping). Subjects were instructed to move to, and stop in, the target zone as rapidly as possible. The results of the experiments show that with our apparatus subjects could detect targets designated by differences in target and ambient damping greater than 2.27 N(DOT)s/m. For very large differences in target and ambient damping, subjects performed almost as well using haptic perception alone as they did when they could also see the target.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Coordinated control of splicing and translation.

A new study reveals that extracellular signals can activate a signal-transduction cascade that simultaneously alters alternative splicing and translation of the same target. These concerted efforts probably serve to increase the speed and strength of the cellular response to changes in the extracellular environment.
Nanostructured energetic materials using sol-gel methodologies

Abstract We have utilized a sol–gel synthetic approach in preparing nano-sized transition metal oxide components for new energetic nanocomposites. Nanocomposites of Fe 2 O 3 /Al(s), are readily produced from a solution of Fe(III) salt by adding an organic epoxide and a powder of the fuel metal. These materials can be processed to aerogel or xerogel monolithic composite solids. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) of the dried energetic nanocomposites reveal that the metal oxide component consists of small (3–10 nm) clusters of Fe 2 O 3 that are in intimate contact with ultra fine grain (UFG) ∼25 nm diameter Al metal particles. HRTEM results also indicate that the Al particles have an oxide coating ∼5 nm thick. This value agrees well with analysis of pristine UFG Al powder and indicates that the sol–gel synthetic method and processing does not significantly perturb the fuel metal. Both qualitative and quantitative characterization has shown that these materials are indeed energetic. The materials described here are relatively insensitive to standard impact, spark, and friction tests, results of which will be presented. Qualitatively, it does appear that these energetic nanocomposites burn faster and are more sensitive to thermal ignition than their conventional counterparts and that aerogel materials are more sensitive to ignition than xerogels. We believe that the sol–gel method will at the very least provide processing advantages over conventional methods in the areas of cost, purity, homogeneity, and safety and potentially yield energetic materials with interesting and special properties.
Effect of intravenous bisphosphonates on release of basic fibroblast growth factor in serum of patients with cancer-associated hypercalcemia ☆

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent tumor angiogenesis factor and normal constituent of bone extracellular matrix which does not normally circulate in serum of nonpregnant adult humans. We examined the effects of acute administration of intravenous bisphosphonates on release of bFGF in human serum. Twenty seven men and women (mean age, 64 yr) with cancer-associated hypercalcemia, the majority of whom had osseous metastases, were treated once with an intravenous bisphosphonate. Nearly all twelve patients with elevated baseline serum bFGF ranging from 5-27 pg/mL showed significant decreases in serum bFGF (2-7 days) after iv bisphosphonate treatment. The mathematical product of the patients' initial serum bFGF and intial serum calcium concentration, the 'Ca x bFGF product', was significantly negatively (r = -0.91, P < 0.001) correlated with the acute change in serum bFGF level. No consistent relationship was observed between serum bFGF and serum parathyroid hormone related peptide (PTHrP) levels in the hypercalcemic cancer patients. In a subset of patients with non-hematological malignancies and low baseline serum bFGF, acute changes in serum bFGF were significantly negatively (r = -0.66, P < 0.01) correlated with acute change in serum calcium concentration. These results indicate that release of bFGF in serum of patients with cancer-associated hypercalcemia likely depends predominantly on increased bone resorption. Acute change in low serum levels of bFGF in patients with cancer-associated hypercalcemia treated with intravenous bisphosphonates may be physiologically inversely regulated by acute change in the serum calcium concentration.
Collagen synthesis in cultured cells: the influence of beta-aminopropionitrile.

SummaryThe exposure of 3T6 fibroblasts to the lathyrogen β-aminopropionitrile fumarate caused a reduction in proliferation of the cells but had no effect upon viability. Chemical analysis for the production of collagen as measured by free, peptide, and protein-bound hydroxyproline showed that the lathyrogen exerted a stimulative effect. The lathyrogen-treated cells produced approximately twice the amount of hydroxyproline as did the control cells. The data also indicate that the initial stages of collagen production are not altered and that the depression in proliferation signifies a change in overall metabolism rather than a direct toxic effect.
What is stochastic computation

Stochastic computation [shan-1] is a communications-inspired [shan-2] model of computation for jointly achieving robustness and energy-efficiency in systems implemented in nanoscale processes. Emerging applications, driven by societal needs in security, health and energy [jan], tend to be media/sensory data-intensive with primary emphasis on the extraction of features/models in order to enable cognitive, detection and decision-making tasks. Stochastic computation exploits the somewhat relaxed definition of "correctness" afforded by such applications by incorporating application-awareness and statistical performance metrics (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and bit error-rate (BER) in communications, probability of anomaly detection in biomedical applications and others) into the design of computational platforms. Nanoscale circuit and device fabrics exhibit artifacts such as process, voltage and temperature (PVT) variations, leakage, soft errors, and noise leading to intermittent errors and hence a reliability problem. Stochastic computation matches the error statistics of the underlying circuit fabrics to the statistical performance metrics of emerging applications in order to enhance robustness by orders-of-magnitude and simultaneously achieve significant energy-efficiency. It may seem that stochastic computation may not be applicable to small class of critical applications such as those in finance/banking, flight control systems, and others whereas precise definition of correctness is mandatory. This is until one realizes that the inherent communication mechanisms in such systems are in fact stochastic in nature.
Protect Us from Ourselves

A few weeks ago, a new Google Labs feature for their Gmail system made some news. They called it "mail goggles" and the tag line was "Stop sending mail you later regret". The announcement said that one of their engineers wanted to keep from sending pleas to his ex-girlfriend when he wasn't thinking straight, so he came up with a simple test. I checked my calendar — no, it wasn't April 1st — but I still couldn't help thinking this was an odd joke. Nope! Sure enough, if I go to the Labs page from my Gmail account, I see that the feature exists, with examples of simple — but not too simple — math problems it might pose.
Contested Heritage: The "Yanghwajin Controversy" and Korean Protestantism

In 2007, the Yanghwajin cemetery in Seoul, Korea became the site of a controversy between the mostly foreign Seoul Union Church and the Hundredth Anniversary Memorial Church, formed by the Committee for the Celebration of the Hundredth Anniversary of the Korean Church. The controversy, ostensibly over the care of the foreigners’ cemetery and possession of a chapel built to commemorate a century of Protestant Christianity in Korea, is also a conflict over the heritage represented by the missionaries buried in the cemetery. Though missionary graves make up less than a quarter of the graves at Yanghwajin, the cemetery has become a site of heritage for the Korean Protestant Church. As such, the narratives told there hold enormous sway. In this essay I examine the narratives emerging from the controversy, to determine what they say about the role of missionaries in Korean history, the legacy of those missionaries today, and the relationship of the church to Korea’s modernization. I argue that these narratives selectively craft the story of early missionaries in response to Korean nationalist historiography in an effort to assert the relevance of the Korean Protestant Church to Korean modernization and historical memory.
Expression and localization of aquaporin 1 and 3 in human fetal membranes.

Abstract Objectives: Aquaporins are a family of water-selective channels that facilitate fluid movement across cell membranes. Specifically, aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and aquaporin 3 (AQP3) have been found to be important in osmotic water movement across membranes. Our goal in this study was (1) to determine whether AQP1 or AQP3 messenger RNA are expressed in the chorioamniotic membrane and, if present, (2) to determine the precise membrane location of these aquaporins. Study Design: Placentas were collected from women with intact membranes not in labor who underwent elective cesarean sections at term (37-40 weeks). The membranes (amnion and chorion) directly overlying the placenta were sampled as well as the free-floating reflected membranes. RNA and protein were isolated from the amnion and chorion. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western analysis, and immunohistochemistry were used to determine expression and localization of AQP1 and AQP3. Results: AQP1 messenger RNA was found in amnion and chorion from both membrane locations. Western analysis also yielded positive results for amnion and chorion from both locations. Immunohistochemical localization of AQP1 showed it to be present on the apical aspect of the chorionic plate amnion. AQP3 protein was not found in the fetal membranes. Conclusions: AQP1 is present in the fetal membranes. AQP1 may play a role in water movement from the amniotic cavity across the placenta into the fetal circulation. Further studies are needed to clarify our understanding of the role of fetal membrane aquaporins in amniotic fluid homeostasis. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;187:902-7.)
Daytime cardiac repolarization in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Purpose Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been implicated in complications of cardiovascular disease, including arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Prolonged QT interval is associated with arrhythmias and SCD in patients with cardiovascular disease and apparently healthy humans. Apneic episodes during sleep in OSA patients are associated with QT prolongation due to increased vagal activity, but it is not understood whether chronic QT prolongation persists during normoxic daytime wakefulness.
Genetic screening for hypersusceptibles in industry

The identification of individuals at increased risk to toxic substances in the workplace has developed into a major issue amongst OSHA, industrial management, and labor. What is needed is the development of a consistent philosophy which is designed to deal with the issues of genetic screening, job placement, and protection of high risk groups with appropriate federal exposure standards. Present evidence does not justify the use of programs designed to identify individuals with hereditary conditions (e.g., G-6-PD deficiency, sickle cell trait) for job denial and/or transfer.
Information propagation on modular networks.

Networks with a community (or modular) structure underlie many social and biological phenomena. In such a network individuals tend to form sparsely linked local communities, each having dense internal connections. We investigate the dynamics of information propagation on modular networks by using a three-state epidemic model with a unit spreading rate (i.e., the probability for a susceptible individual to be ``infected'' with the information is one). We find a surprising, resonancelike phenomenon: the information lifetime on the network can be maximized by the number of modules. The result can be useful for optimizing or controlling information spread on social or biological networks.
RIM Proteins Activate Vesicle Priming by Reversing Autoinhibitory Homodimerization of Munc13

At a synapse, the presynaptic active zone mediates synaptic vesicle exocytosis. RIM proteins are active zone scaffolding molecules that--among others--mediate vesicle priming and directly or indirectly interact with most other essential presynaptic proteins. In particular, the Zn²+ finger domain of RIMs binds to the C₂A domain of the priming factor Munc13, which forms a homodimer in the absence of RIM but a heterodimer with it. Here, we show that RIMs mediate vesicle priming not by coupling Munc13 to other active zone proteins as thought but by directly activating Munc13. Specifically, we found that the isolated Zn²+ finger domain of RIMs autonomously promoted vesicle priming by binding to Munc13, thereby relieving Munc13 homodimerization. Strikingly, constitutively monomeric mutants of Munc13 rescued priming in RIM-deficient synapses, whereas wild-type Munc13 did not. Both mutant and wild-type Munc13, however, rescued priming in Munc13-deficient synapses. Thus, homodimerization of Munc13 inhibits its priming function, and RIMs activate priming by disrupting Munc13 homodimerization.
Environmental factors and health information technology management strategy.

Background: Previous studies have provided theoretical and empirical evidence that environmental forces influence hospital strategy. Purposes: Rooted in resource dependence theory and the information uncertainty perspective, this study examined the relationship between environmental market characteristics and hospitals' selection of a health information technology (HIT) management strategy. Methodology/Approach: A cross-sectional design is used to analyze secondary data from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Analytics Database, and the Area Resource File. Univariate and multinomial logistic regression analyses are used. Findings: Overall, 3,221 hospitals were studied, of which 60.9% pursed a single-vendor HIT management strategy, 28.9% pursued a best-of-suite strategy, and 10.2% used a best-of-breed strategy. Multivariate analyses controlling for hospital characteristics found that measures of environmental factors representing munificence, dynamism, and/or complexity were systematically associated with various hospital HIT management strategy use. Specifically, the number of generalist physicians per capita was positively associated with the single-vendor strategy (B = -5.64, p = .10). Hospitals in urban markets were more likely to pursue the best-of-suite strategy (B = 0.622, p < .001). Dynamism, measured as the number of managed care contracts for a given hospital, was negatively associated with the single-vendor strategy (B = 0.004, p = .049). Lastly, complexity, measured as market competition, was positively associated with the best-of-breed strategy (B = 0.623, p = .042). Practice Implications: By and large, environmental factors are associated with hospital HIT management strategies in mostly theoretically supported ways. Hospital leaders and policy makers interested in influencing the adoption of hospital HIT should consider how market conditions influence HIT management decisions as part of programs to promote meaningful use.
Applying the Direct and Indirect Methods of Purchase Intentions to Assess Interest in a Proposed Graduate Student Association

One purported means for reducing the social desirability inherent in stated purchase intentions is indirect questioning, whereby the respondent is asked to comment about the probable buying behavior of another abstract individual. The contention is that respondents will project their own predilections unto the other person, thereby allowing for a more valid expression of their own purchase intentions. The 343 respondents to a survey intended to gauge interest in the creation of a graduate student association provided ratings of participation likelihood (very unlikely, somewhat unlikely, not sure, somewhat likely, very likely) for both themselves and for â€œother graduate studentsâ€ in four potential functions: academic, social, advocacy, and community service. The perceived likelihood of othersâ€™ participation did correlate with oneâ€™s own stated level of likelihood in all four functions (r = .47 to .51), which is consistent with projection. However, counter to expectations, on only one function â€” academic â€” was the self rating higher than the rating of othersâ€™ interest, and notably, this was the function for which the expressed self interest was the highest. On all four functions, there was a systematic difference such that (1) other studentsâ€™ likelihood is rated lower than oneâ€™s own likelihood when oneâ€™s own interest is high, and (2) other studentsâ€™ likelihood is rated to be higher than oneâ€™s own likelihood when oneâ€™s stated likelihood is low. An anchoring and adjustment mechanism with regressive tendencies appears to be operating. The main implication of the results is that ratings of othersâ€™ interest are not necessarily going to be lower than the respondentâ€™s own stated interest, even on socially desirable behaviors. Whether the interest rating assigned to others will be higher or lower than the respondentâ€™s own interest depends on whether the self rating is low or high.
Indoor pollutants emitted by office equipment: A review of reported data and information needs

Computers, printers, copier machines and other electronic equipment are a common part of the home and office environments. However, human exposure to potentially harmful pollutants emitted from office equipment has not been systematically evaluated, and is currently not well understood. In this review, we summarize available information on emission rates and/or indoor concentrations of various pollutants that are related to office equipment use, briefly describe experimental methods used to characterize emissions and identify critical research needs in this field. The office equipment evaluated in this review includes computers (desktops and notebooks), printers (laser, ink-jet and all-in-one machines) and photocopy machines. We summarize reported emission rates for the following pollutant groups: volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), ozone, particulate matter and several semivolatile organic chemicals (SVOCs). The latter includes phthalate esters, brominated flame retardants, organophosphate flame retardants, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We also review studies reporting airborne concentrations in indoor environments (offices, residences, schools, electronics recycling plants) where office equipment was present and deemed to be a significant contributor to the total pollutant burden. We find that for some pollutants, such as organophosphate flame retardants, the link between office-equipment emissions and indoor air concentrations is relatively well established. However, indoor VOCs, ozone, PAHs and phthalate esters can originate from a variety of sources, and their source apportionment is less straightforward. We then observe that personal exposures may be significantly larger than those estimated through average pollutant indoor concentrations, due to proximity of users to the sources over extended periods of time. Finally, we observe that the magnitude of emissions, the link from emissions to personal exposure, the toxicological significance of the chemicals emitted, and the costs and impacts of alternate materials should all be considered in order to evaluate potential importance of human exposures and health risks.
Motorist Information Systems in Minnesota

Minnesota has launched a broad program for the rapid implementation of congestion reduction measures. This program consists of both the rapid deployment of current technology in the area of freeway operations and traffic management and also an intensive new effort to develop and implement new technologies called GuideSTAR that is Minnesota's part of the national Intelligent Vehicle Highway System (IVHS) effort. A key part of both the traffic management and IVHS efforts is the collection, processing, and dissemination of information to motorists. This paper focuses on the data collection improvements, data analysis improvements, and motorist information improvements.
A Critical Analysis of Image Management within the Environmental Movement

Abstract This qualitative critical analysis examined how competing identities are managed within the environmental movement. Both mass media and in-house publications of environmental organizations served as data. Primary identity problems and strategies used to manage them were identified and assessed for each activist constituency. The essay concludes with a discussion of the implications that these efforts to reconstitute public identities have on the study of movement communication.
Computer simulation of a water/membrane interface

A molecular dynamics computer simulation on a system composed of water molecules embedded between surfaces of dilauroylphosphatidylethanolamine molecules was performed.
Surface tension, percolation, and roughening

We describe inequalities relating to the interface between coexisting phases of Ising ferromagnets. Some implications for the nature of the roughening transition are discussed.
Vapor pressure and water activity measurements of saturated salt solutions made with D2O at 20°C

Abstract The water activity ( a w ) values of 10 saturated salt solutions made with D 2 O were measured in this study at 20°C: MgCl 2 , K 2 CO 3 , Mg(NO 3 ) 2 , KI, NaCl, KCl, ZnSO 4 , BaCl 2 , KNO 3 , and K 2 SO 4 . These salts were selected because they represent a wide range of water activity values, from approximately 0.33 to 0.98. The a w values were measured using two methods: (1) a vapor pressure manometer, and (2) an electronic chilled-mirror (AquaLab) instrument. The a w values obtained by the manometer method were slightly, but consistently, higher than the a w values obtained by the electronic chilled-mirror instrument. The a w values of the saturated salt solutions made with D 2 O (as measured by both methods) were also slightly, but consistently, higher than the a w values of the same saturated salt solutions made with H 2 O at 20°C. ©
GLOBAL STRUCTURES OF COMMON DIFFERENCE, CULTURAL OBJECTIFICATION, AND THEIR SUBVERSIONS: CULTURAL POLITICS IN AN AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL

This article adds to Richard Wilk's work on the emergence of “global structures of common difference,” that organize diversity through objectification of culture. Using cases from an Aotearoa/New Zealand school in 1997–1998, this article reveals a limit to the hegemony of global structures of common difference in daily life. By focusing on the indigenous Māori culture and newly arrived Asian's culture, this article shows (1) how variously positioned individuals did not necessarily subscribe to global structures of common difference—defying, evading, critiquing, ignoring, and circumventing them—and (2) to what degrees people objectified cultural differences and with what effects when global structures of common difference shaped cultural differences.
Increased expression of the β4 and α5 integrin subunits in cerebral blood vessels of transgenic mice chronically producing the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 or IFN-α in the central nervous system

Abstract Evidence suggests that vascular function is strongly regulated by extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins via integrin-mediated signaling. To determine whether integrin expression on cerebral blood vessels is altered during chronic neuroinflammation, we examined β1 and β4 integrin expression in transgenic mice with astrocyte production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) or interferon-α (IFN-α). Chronic production of IL-6 or IFN-α in the CNS promoted vascular expression of the β4 and α5 integrin subunits, and this was contributed mostly by astrocytes. Vascular expression of the ECM ligands laminin and fibronectin was also increased. Cell culture studies showed that astrocyte expression of the β4 and α5 integrins was significantly upregulated by IL-6 and IFN-α, respectively, while endothelial expression of these integrins was unchanged. These results show that astrocytes respond to IL-6 and IFN-α by upregulating integrin expression. We propose that during neuroinflammation, astrocytes attempt to increase adhesive interactions at the blood–brain barrier (BBB), in order to increase barrier integrity.
Novel, high-intensity exercise prescription improves muscle mass, mitochondrial function, and physical capacity in individuals with Parkinson's disease

We conducted, in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD), a thorough assessment of neuromotor function and performance in conjunction with phenotypic analyses of skeletal muscle tissue, and further t...
Control of rat glomerular epithelial cell growth in vitro

The interaction of cultured rat GEC1 with several growth factors was explored in order to obtain a better understanding of in vivo factors which might stimulate GEC proliferation. GEC proliferated in response to EGF but not IGF-1, MSA or PDGF. Specific, saturable receptors for EGF were detected in saturation and competition binding studies utilizing 125I-EGF with an approximate Kd of 1.7 nM and 86,000 binding sites per cell. TGF-beta inhibited GEC growth in a time and dose dependent manner with a brief early exposure resulting in prolonged growth inhibition which was not reversible by EGF. Exposure to TGF-beta sufficient to maximally inhibit growth had no effect on EGF binding to GEC. More prolonged exposure to TGF-beta, however, did result in an increase in the apparent number of EGF receptors on GEC but no change in Kd. These studies suggest that EGF and TGF-beta released by inflammatory cells or platelets during the course of glomerular injury may play a role in modulating glomerular cell proliferation.
Evidence of Aggregate Formation for 2,5-Dialkylpoly(p-phenyleneethynylenes) in Solution and Thin Films

The absorptive and emissive behavior of four highly fluorescent bisalkyl-substituted poly(p-phenyleneethynylenes) (R = hexyl, dodecyl, 2-(ethyl)hexyl, and 3,5,5-trimethylhexyl) was examined. Aggregate and excimer formation was seen in solution and in the solid state by a combination of absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy in solvent/nonsolvent (chloroform/methanol) mixtures and in thin films. The aggregates were identified by the occurrence of a sharp absorption centered at 440 nm, undetectable in dilute chloroform solution, and a broad emission at 504 nm. The average size of the aggregate formed in chloroform/methanol solvent mixtures must exceed 1.5 μm, as was evidenced in filtering-experiments utilizing a set of membranes with different pore sizes to successively remove smaller aggregates.
Agrin released by motor neurons induces the aggregation of acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junctions

To test the hypothesis that agrin mediates motor neuron-induced aggregation of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) in skeletal muscle fibers and to determine whether the agrin active in this process is released by motor neurons, we raised polyclonal antibodies to purified ray agrin that blocked its receptor aggregating activity. When the antibodies were applied to chick motor neuron--chick myotube cocultures, they inhibited the formation of AChR aggregates at and near neuromuscular contacts, demonstrating that agrin plays a role in the induction of the aggregates. Rat motor neurons, like chick motor neurons, induce AChR aggregates on chick myotubes. This effect was not inhibited by our antibodies, indicating that, although the antibodies inhibited the activity of chick agrin, they did not have a similar effect on rat agrin. We conclude that agrin released by rat motor neurons induced the chick myotubes to aggregate AChRs.
Nano/Micro Robotic Systems for Directing Cellular Functions

The cell is an adaptive and complex system that drives the basic processes of life. These intricately efficient systems function independently, or coalesce with other cells in our bodies to produce higher-order intelligent functionalities and structures. In fact, the cell is one of the most efficient autonomous microscale "robotic systems" and is comprised of millions of nanoscale molecular machineries, i.e. hardware, such as DNA/RNA and proteins. Furthermore, the cellular processes are results of these molecular machines working in concert governed by complex regulatory circuitry, i.e. software. Interacting synergistically among the hardware and software, the cell functions continuously over a broad range of time scales and span length scales by three orders of magnitude, nanometers to microns. For therapeutic or basic research purposes, it is necessary to manipulate cellular functions. The challenge obviously lies in the complexity of the system, millions of various types of nanoscale machineries and regulatory circuitries still beyond comprehension. The recently developed nano/micro technology based transducers can match the length scale of molecules and cells. As such, the direct interrogation and manipulation of these cellular functions in real-time has become possible. We have demonstrated that properly designed micro/nano robotic systems can direct the cellular functionalities across multiple length scales to efficiently reach the desired control state. This may yield new insight into unlocking and acquiring novel control modalities of the underlying mechanisms that drive the natural processes of life.
A digital computer simulation and study of a direct-energy-transfer power-conditioning system

Because of the many complex subsystem interactions which occur within modern electronic power-processing systems, it is often quite difficult to accurately predict total system performance. A digital computer simulation technique, which can be used to study such composite power-conditioning systems, is applied to a spacecraft direct-energy-transfer power-processing system. The results obtained duplicate actual system performance with considerable accuracy. The validity of the approach and its usefulness in studying various aspects of system performance such as steady-state characteristics and transient responses to severely varying operating conditions are demonstrated experimentally.
Campylobacter jejuni enteritis in honolulu, hawaii

Abstract The incidence of Campylobacter jejuni in patients with acute diarrhoea was studied in Honolulu, Hawaii. C. jejuni was recovered from 8·7% of diarrhoeal stools, compared to isolation rates of 4·2% for Salmonella and 3·8% for Shigella. C. jejuni occurred mainly in the summer and autumn, and in all age and racial groups. There was a significantly higher incidence of abdominal pain, fever history, bloody stools and faecal leucocytes in patients with Campylobacter enteritis.
Bicuculline induces free fatty acid release from phospholipids in neuro-2A cells in culture.

This study characterizes free fatty acid release in a neuroblastoma cell line (Neuro-2A), a potential model system for the study of factors that control phospholipase A2 in neurons. Two compounds, bicuculline (an antagonist at γ-aminobutyric acid receptors), and A23187 (a Ca2+ ionophore), were examined. The release of endogenous fatty acids and the turnover of radiolabeled arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids were measured. The cells actively incorporated radiolabeled fatty acids into various glycerolipid pools. Both endogenous fatty acids and radiolabeled fatty acids were released from glycerolipids in a time-dependent manner. Phosphatidylcholine was a major source of released fatty acids. Release of free fatty acids was markedly stimulated by both bicuculline and A23187. We conclude that the Neuro-2A cell contain phospholipase activity that is sensitive to Ca2+ ionophore and bicuculline, and may provide a good system for further studies on the regulation of phospholipase A2 in neurons.
Metabolism of androgens by human skin in acne

SUMMARY Shoulder skin from young men with and without acne was incubated in vitro in Krebs Improved Ringer I medium with 7α-3Hdehydroepiandrosterone,7α-3Handrostenedione and 7α-3Htestosterone. There were no marked differences in steroid metabolism between the acne and control groups but skin from acne patients did form rather more 5α-dihydrotestosterone from testosterone than did skin from control subjects. Skin from the shoulder (acne area) of acne and control subjects metabolized dehydroepiandrosterone more rapidly than did skin from the thigh (non-acne area); this appeared to be due to higher activity of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Δ4-5 isomerase in shoulder than thigh skin. A comparison of steroid metabolism in skin incubated in Krebs Ringer medium with that in cryostat sections of skin incubated in a tris-buffered medium showed that the method of incubation could affect the quantitative pattern of steroid metabolism in vitro.
Acoustooptic linear algebra processors: Architectures, algorithms, and applications

Architectures, algorithms, and applications for systolic processors are described with attention to the realization of parallel algorithms on various optical systolic array processors. Systolic processors for matrices with special structure and matrices of general structure, and the realization of matrix-vector, matrix-matrix, and triple-matrix products and such architectures are described. Parallel algorithms for direct and indirect solutions to systems of linear algebraic equations and their implementation on optical systolic processors are detailed with attention to the pipelining and flow of data and operations. Parallel algorithms and their optical realization for LU and QR matrix decomposition are specifically detailed. These represent the fundamental operations necessary in the implementation of least squares, eigenvalue, and SVD solutions. Specific applications (e.g., the solution of partial differential equations, adaptive noise cancellation, and optimal control) are described to typify the use of matrix processors in modern advanced signal processing.
Deterministic or Stochastic Choices in Retinal Neuron Specification

There are two views on vertebrate retinogenesis: a deterministic model dependent on fixed lineages and a stochastic model in which choices of division modes and cell fates cannot be predicted. In this issue of Neuron, He et al. (2012) address this question in zebrafish using live imaging and mathematical modeling.
Beyond an Apple a Day

In my last column, I discussed herbaria and my newfound interest in them (Flannery, 2011). Even though this month's theme is human health, I'm not ready to leave my new love yet, and I think I can justify sticking with the topic, at least peripherally. After all, it was human health that for centuries drove the study of plants, and to a certain extent it still does, as botanists travel the world seeking plants with medicinal properties. The first herbaria were tied to medical schools. Helen Hewson (1999) noted that botanical illustration, botanical gardens, and herbaria all developed at about the same time in the mid-16th century and all met the need of helping botanists compare species from different localities. As printed tomes on medicine became available, there was the concomitant need to ensure that two authors were talking about the same plant. Nomenclature had yet to be regularized, so drawings, dried specimens, and growing plants were a big help in identifying species. But drawings didn't become useful until the publication of the first great printed and illustrated herbals of Brunfels in 1530 and Fuchs in 1542 (Arber, 1912). The first botanical garden was established in Pisa in 1544 by Luca Ghini, who is also credited with creating the first herbarium of pressed plants and with founding the second botanical garden at Padua in 1545. So the mid-16th century was a very exciting time for botany — and for medicine. Anatomy and botany were the two major areas of study in medical schools of that time, and it was at Padua in 1544 that Vesalius published his On the Fabric of the Body , with the amazing illustrations that are still reproduced so frequently today. Anatomy aided in understanding what was going on inside the body, and botany aided in …
Goldilocks Loses Her Paradigm

The ongoing conversation among the public management and public administration is given a slightly more complex twist in this sequel to the story of Goldilocks and paradigms first published in Administration & Society in 1989.
Experimental and computational studies of nuclear substituted 1,1'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridinium tetrafluoroborates.

The synthesis and spectral properties of a new 2,2‘-bipyridinium ion, 1,1‘-dimethyl-4,4‘-(dimethylamino)-2,2‘-bipyridinium bis(tetrafluoroborate) are reported. Rotation of the dimethylamino group is slow at room temperature on the 400 MHz 1H and 100 MHz 13C NMR time scales. Complete line shape fit of the dynamically broadened NMR spectra was used to determine the activation barriers for this process. The first complete set of UV−vis spectra for a 2,2‘-bipyridinium dication and its one- and two-electron reduced products was reported. TD−DFT calculations were used to help assign the origin of the long wavelength absorptions in these species. The effect of substituents on the energies and conformational potential energy surfaces of all three species were also examined using the B3LYP/6-31G(d) computational method.
Phylogeography of swine influenza H3N2 in the United States: Translational public health for zoonotic disease surveillance

The field of phylogeography has received a lot of attention for its application to molecular evolution and geographic migration of species. More recent work has included infectious diseases especially zoonotic RNA viruses like influenza and rabies. Phylogeography of viruses has the potential to advance surveillance at agencies such as public health departments, agriculture departments, and wildlife agencies. However, little is known about how these agencies could use phylogeography for applied surveillance and the integration of animal and human sequence data. Here, we highlight its potential to support 'translational public health' that could bring sequence data to the forefront of surveillance. We focus on swine influenza H3N2 because of the recent link to a variant form that has also infected humans. We discuss the implications to applied surveillance and the need for an integrated biomedical informatics approach for adoption at agencies of animal and public health.
High accuracy interpolation of diatomic pseudo-potentials with high order Hermite splines

Abstract Pseudo-potentials for diatomic molecules can be interpolated to high accuracy with a high order Hermite spline via the function Y = −[(ES − EU)/EU]EE [(1 − z)/2]2 where ES is the energy of the separated atoms, EU the united atom energy, EE the electronic energy and z = (R − Ra)/(R + Ra), where R is the inter-nuclear distance and Ra is an adjustable parameter. Both Y and its derivative with respect to z are very smooth, which facilitates the interpolation process. Limiting laws are used at each end to provide spline constraints and also to replace the spline in the regions beyond the data, giving a hybrid result. The low R limiting law is of the form EE = EU + Σi=2 Ai Ri. The A coefficients are obtained by least-squares. The high R limiting law is of the form E = ES - ΣCiR−i; the C coefficients can be obtained from perturbation theory, least-squares or in combination. Test data with a pseudo-potential similar to that of most diatomic molecules with added noise was interpolated with an order 12 spline at data intervals of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 Bohr. The resulting maximum errors in EE and vibrational energy levels were no more than several times a noise level of 10−17, 10−15 and 10−10, respectively. The lowest noise level at which the maximum errors were acceptable decreased with data range, spline order and smoothness of the function. The interpolation procedure was successfully applied to the H2 X, C and a states, for which abundant data in the form of tables of energy and gradient are available.
A Diverging Belt Screen for Farmer Stock Peanuts1

Abstract Separating farmer stock (FS) peanut materials into more than two diameters with conventional belt screens requires more than one screen with different spacings between belts. A new type of belt screen (diverging belt) was developed which separates materials into six sizes. The effects of varying the diverging belt screen operational parameters on separating farmer stock peanuts (cv. Florunner), loose shelled kernels (LSK), and foreign materials (FM) were evaluated with three replications. The operational parameters for two of the replicates were six consecutive positions along the deck length (30.5, 20.3, 50.8, 50.8, 50.8 cm and riding the entire deck length); six belt speeds (101.6, 111.8, 122.1, 132.3, 142.6, and 152.4 cm/sec); and six material feed rates (MatFR) (0.9, 1.8, 2.7, 3.6, 4.5, and 5.4 Mg/hr). Deck lengths and belt speeds were the same for the third replicate but MatFRs of 1.4, 2.7, 4.1, 5.4, 6.8, and 8.2 Mg/hr were used to evaluate performance of the screen at higher flow rates. Mat...
Application of fluorescence microscopy and photomicrography to woody tissues.

A procedure is described for making preparations of woody tissues for visual observation or photography by incident-light fluorescence microscopy. The chief advantages of the technic are the following:(1) Reliable recognition of anatomical characteristics in wood without ordinary time-consuming histological technics.(2) Examination of relatively larger surface areas of wood blocks than by usual methods.(3) Visual observation and, if desired, photography of tissues and cell structure in dry or in nearly natural or fresh condition.(4) Marked color contrast without the use of stains in many tissues, including specific types of cells comprising them.(5) Improved color contrast by use of Congo red with aspects not usually obtained by other methods.
Direct simulation of the buoyant rise of bubbles in infinite liquid using level set method

In this study, 3-D level set method is applied to investigate the rise of gas bubbles in infinite liquid domain due to the buoyancy force. A number of typical regimes for single bubble rising are studied, including the ellipsoidal, ellipsoidal cap, spherical cap, and skirted bubbles. The bubble shape and rise velocity predicted by the simulation are compared with the graphical correlations of Grace, Trans. Inst. Chem. Eng., 51, 116-120, (1973) and Bhaga and Weber, J. Fluid Mech., 105, 61-85, (1981). Good agreement is found between the simulation results and the correlations. These simulations cover a wide range of the parameters, including Eo, Mo, and Re, and demonstrate the capability and accuracy of level set method for simulation of bubbles under various conditions with considerable deformation. Finally, simulation results for the coalescence of two bubbles are also presented.