cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
cAMP increases apical IsK channel current and K+ secretion in vestibular dark cells.

Adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) is known to stimulate exogenous IsK channel current in the Xenopus oocyte expression system. The present study was performed to determine whether elevation of cytosolic cAMP in a native mammalian epithelium known to secrete K+ through endogenously expressed IsK channels would stimulate K+ secretion through these channels. The equivalent short circuit current (Isc) across vestibular dark cell epithelium in gerbil was measured in a micro-Ussing chamber and the apical membrane current (IIsK) and conductance (gIsK) of IsK channels was recorded with both the on-cell macro-patch and nystatin-perforated whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. It has previously been shown that Isc can be accounted for by transepithelial K+ secretion and that the apical IsK channels constitute a significant pathway for K+ secretion. The identification of the voltage-dependent whole-cell currents in vestibular dark cells was strengthened by the finding that a potent blocker of IsK channels, chromanol 293B, strongly reduced IIsK from 646 ± 200 to 154 ± 22 pA (71%) and gIsK from 7.5 ± 2.6 to 2.8 ± 0.4 nS (53%). Cytoplasmic cAMP was elevated by applying dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP), or the phosphodiesterase inhibitors 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and Ro-20-1724. dbcAMP (1 mm) increased Isc and IIsK from 410 ± 38 to 534 ± 40 μA/cm2 and from 4.3 ± 0.8 to 11.4 ± 2.2 pA, respectively. IBMX (1 mm) caused transient increases of Isc from 415 ± 30 to 469 ± 38 μA/cm2 and Ro-20-1724 (0.1 mm) from 565 ± 43 to 773 ± 58 μA/cm2. IBMX increased IIsK from 5.5 ± 1.5 to 16.9 ± 5.8 pA in on-cell experiments and from 191 ± 31 to 426 ± 53 pA in whole-cell experiments. The leak conductance due to all non-IsK channel sources did not change during dbcAMP and IBMX while 293B in the presence of dbcAMP reduced IIsK by 84% and gIsK by 62%, similar to unstimulated conditions. These results demonstrate that the cAMP pathway is constitutively active in vestibular dark cells and that the cAMP pathway stimulates transepithelial K+ secretion by increasing IsK channel current rather than by altering another transport pathway.
Nuclear form factors for the scattering of neutralinos

Abstract Heavy dark-matter particles may transfer significant amounts of momentum in collisions with detector nuclei. Both spin-independent and spin-dependent cross sections are modified at high q by form factors that reflect the spatial distribution of nucleons inside the nucleus. While spin-independent form factors are simply related to nuclear densities, spin-dependent form factors reflect delicate aspects of nucleonic and nuclear structure. I derive the relation between these form factors and ground state wave-functions, and describe their calculation in some nuclei of experimental interest. The spin-dependent form factors always have longer tails than those associated with spin-independent scattering.
Signatures of Hydrometeor Species from Airborne Passive Microwave Data for Frequencies 10–183 GHz

AbstractPassive microwave brightness temperatures (BTs) collected above severe thunderstorms using the Advanced Microwave Precipitation Radiometer and Conical Scanning Millimeter-Wave Imaging Radiometer during the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment are compared with a hydrometeor identification applied to dual-polarimetric Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler radar data collected at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma (KVNX). The goal of this work is to determine the signatures of various hydrometeor species in terms of BTs measured at frequencies used by the Global Precipitation Measurement mission Microwave Imager. Results indicate that hail is associated with an ice-scattering signature at all frequencies examined, including 10.7 GHz. However, it appears that frequencies ≤ 37.1 GHz are most useful for identifying hail. Low-level (below 2.5 km) hail becomes probable for a BT below 240 K at 19.4 GHz, 170 K at 37.1 GHz, 90 K at 85.5 GHz, 80 K at 89.0 GHz, 100 K at 165.5 GHz, and 100 K at 1...
Food Relationships Between Florida Spotted Gar and Other Organisms in the Tamiami Canal, Dade County, Florida

Abstract An investigation of the food chains leading to the production of Florida spotted gar, Lepisosteus platyrhincus DeKay, was conducted in a 3-mile section of the Tamiami Canal approximately 20 miles west of Miami. In this area these fish are extremely abundant, and those collected ranged in length from 10.5 to 24.4 inches. Collections of gar, forage fish, plankton, periphyton, bottom fauna, and physicochemical data were obtained at frequent intervals from February 20 to June 28, 1952. A total of 448 gar stomachs was examined, of which only 106 (23.7 percent) contained food. Stomachs of 572 specimens of fish, representing 9 species known to serve as food for gar, were obtained and the contents analyzed. Stomachs of fresh-water shrimp, Palaemonetes paludosa, and other invertebrates which entered into the food chains were examined. The diet of the gar consisted principally of fish although 57.5 percent of the stomachs contained shrimp and other invertebrates which comprised 23.6 percent of the total fo...
Quality of Political Management and the Role of Corruption: A Cross-Country Analysis

Using the Bertelsmann Transformation Political Management Index (PMI, 2008), which measures the role and quality of political leaders, this study empirically investigates the relationship among corruption, economic freedom, and political management, controlling for the underlying socio-economic and cultural factors that shape the success of a country's political leadership. The results suggest that corruption significantly affects the quality of political management and that the effect is dependent on the level of economic freedom.
Dynamics of market structure, advertising and profitability: a VAR approach

The purpose of this study is to provide an econometric characterization of the dynamic interrelationship among structure, conduct and performance variables with a vector autoregressive (VAR) model. Particular attention will be given to the causality and response patterns of the variable involved. In the light of our desire to ascertain descriptive characterizations of historical behaviour, we let the data speak for itself. The result suggests a weak realtionship existing between market structure and profitability.
Multiple use of an industrial‐distributed control system in control engineering education

The paper demonstrates how a four-tank laboratory process equipped with a modern distributed control system (DCS) is used in different control engineering laboratories for the undergraduate and graduate levels. This includes the utilization of commercial tools for DCS engineering as well as the design and commissioning of traditional and advanced control solutions. Using the same pilot plant and control system in different modules lowers the costs, allows the reutilization of results and enables an efficient laboratory organization. It also supports the process of learning the inner context of different process control related subjects. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 21: 313–321, 2013
Mucosal afferents mediate laryngeal adductor responses in the cat.

Laryngeal adductor responses (LAR) close the airway in response to stimulation of peripheral afferents in the superior laryngeal nerve. Although both mucosal afferents and proprioceptive receptors ...
Alcohol-Related Consequences among Intercollegiate Student Athletes: The Role of Drinking Motives

This study examined drinking motives as predictors of alcohol-related consequences among student athletes and nonathletes. Results indicated that the highest level of alcohol-related consequences was reported by student athletes with high levels of both coping and conformity motives.
Neutrophil adherence, phagocytic-nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and chemiluminescence in canine whole blood

Methods for measuring neutrophil adherence, phagocytic-nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reducing activity and chemiluminescence were applied to canine whole blood as means for routine assessment of neutrophil functions. The phagocytic-NBT reduction test appeared to be useful for monitoring the NBT reducing activity of phagocytic cells associated with phagocytic functions. Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid suppressed both the adherence and the phagocytic-NBT reducing activity of neutrophils. Increased phagocytic-NBT reduction and an enhanced chemiluminescence response were observed in dogs with neutrophilia. These methods provide a rapid and practical screening procedure for measuring selected phagocytic functions in canine whole blood.
A simple, accurate model for viscosities of polymer blends†

The accurate but complex McAllister model for the melt viscosities (η) of binary polymer blends has been greatly simplified by dropping the terms involving only mole fraction and molecular weight, by switching from mole fraction to mass fraction, and by making the model explicit in dynamic, rather than kinematic, viscosity. The simpler Lecyar model was tested side-by-side with the McAllister in five binary systems and at seven levels of shear rate from 5 to 500 s−1 in each system. For the 35 pairs of curves fitted, the rms standard error of estimate was 0.0945 (In η), for the Lecyar model versus 0.0911 for the McAllister; the difference corresponds to only 0.4 percent additional error in the blend viscosity. Comparison of results in two systems, reported by Carley and Crossan (12) with those of other workers, indicate that the differences among what appear to be comparable, self-consistent data sets are much greater than the within-set errors of rheometric measurement and model fitting.
Titrations of Barbiturates and Sulfa Drugs in 3-Methyl-2-oxazolidone

3-Methyl-2-oxazolidone was evaluated as a solvent for the titration of selected barbiturates and sulfa drugs. Its high dielectric constant and wide liquid range contribute to its outstanding solvent properties. Tetrabutylammonium hydroxide was used as the titrant. End-points were determined potentiometrically using a glass-calomel electrode system. Data evaluation was performed by suitable computer programs, and relative acid strengths were determined.
Control of Triosephosphate Dehydrogenase in Photosynthesis.

The intracellular and phylogenetic distribution of the NAD and the NADP dependent triosephosphate dehydrogenases (TPD) in photosynthetic organisms has been examined in many laboratories (8,11,12, 20, 22). Studies by Fuller and Gibbs (6), and Smillie and Fuller (21) have indicated that the NADP enzyme occurs only in green tissues of higher plants and in O2 evolving photosynthetic microorganisms. Brawerman and Konigsberg (4) have studied the kinetics of the formation of the NADP enzyme in Euglena and found that the rates of synthesis of chlorophyll and the increase in NADP activity are approximately equal. These results led to the suggestion that the NADP enzyme functions in photosynthetic metabolism while the NAD enzyme is operative in oxidative or glycolytic metabolism. This suggestion received further support from the demonstration by Heber, Pon and Heber (12) that the NAD linked TPD is confined to the chloroplast in several higher plant species. In contrast to these findings, however, no NADP dependent TPD activity has been observed in photosynthetic bacteria (6,7). To examilne further the question of pyridinie niucleotide specificity in photosynthesis, we have studied the kinetics of changes in NADP and NAD linked dependent TPD activities in bleaching and regreening cultures of Chlamtdomonas reinhardi and Euglenta gracilis, and the activity and properties of the NAD dependent TPD from Chromatium strain D grown under either photolithotrophic or photoorganotrophic conditions.
External cavity laser biosensor

We have demonstrated a novel single-mode continuous-wave narrow bandwidth emission and widely tunable external cavity laser biosensor that simultaneously achieves high resolution, high sensitivity and large dynamic range.
Understanding Competitive and Contagion Effects of Layoff Announcements

When a firm announces a significant permanent layoff, the firm's reputation among key stakeholders such as employees and investors suffers. However, what does this action mean for rival firms? How does the information contained in a layoff announcement by one firm transfer to the reputations of other firms in the industry? Building on the similarity between the reputation formation process and the firm valuation process, we use stock price as an aggregate measure of firm reputation in the eyes of shareholders. We examine how changes in the announcing firm's reputation affect the reputations of rival firms, through changes in their stock prices, in the same (contagion effect) or opposite (competitive effect) direction. This paper examines a longitudinal sample of layoff announcements in the US oil and gas industry from 1989 to 1996. Results suggest that reputation effects of layoff announcements spillover beyond the announcing firm and extend to other firms in the industry. These inter-organizational reputation effects follow a contagious process, that is, if shareholders respond negatively to a layoff announcement, they will exhibit simultaneous negative reactions for non-announcing firms and that the negative effects of layoff announcements increase with layoff prevalence. Furthermore, we find that close rivals experience a dampening of the contagion effect, perhaps reflecting countervailing competitive effects. By examining layoff announcements through both the institutional reputation and resource-based lenses, our work begins to reconcile how the two competing forces of cooperation and competition work together to influence firm-level outcomes.
Analysis of non-linear non-autonomous systems by truncated point mappings

Abstract In this paper, we propose a method for the analysis of multidimensional non-linear systems with periodically varying coefficients by means of truncated point mappings. The proposed method, based on multinomial truncation, generates an explicit analytical expression for the point mapping in terms of the states and parameters of the system to any order of approximation. This approach when combined with analytical techniques, such as the perturbation method employed here, forms a powerful tool for the analysis of periodic solutions and their stability. The underlaying principles of point mapping analysis are discussed and an algorithm for generating truncated point mappings for non-linear periodic systems is derived. To demonstrate the proposed method, it is applied to study the periodic solutions of a forced Duffing's equation and for a parametric analysis of periodic solutions of Matheiu's equation.
Real-gas simulation for the Shuttle Orbiter and planetary entry configurations including flight results

By testing configurations in a gas (like CF4) which can produce high normal-shock density ratios, such as those encountered during hypersonic entry, certain aspects of real-gas effects can be simulated. Results from force-moment, shock-shape and oil flow visualization tests are presented for both the Shuttle Orbiter and a 45 deg sphere-cone in CF4 and air at M = 6, and comparisons are made with flight results. Pitching-moment coefficients measured on a Shuttle Orbiter model in CF4 showed a nose-up increment, compared with air results, that was almost identical to the difference between preflight predictions and flight in the high hypersonic regime. The drag coefficient measured in CF4 on the 45 deg sphere-cone, which is the same configuration used on the forebody of the Pioneer Venus entry vehicles, showed excellent agreement with flight data at M = 6.
Sexism and (mis)representation of women in Sheng

Gender issues have not received much attention in previous studies on Sheng. Although many studies have noted the sex-distinctive differences in the use of this contact code, none has specifically addressed the question of gender. In this paper, gender issues are discussed under sexism encrypted in word connotations and word structure. Although sexism encompasses linguistic discrimination of both sexes, we are cognizant of the fact that more often than not, it is the women who are the victims of sexism. I examine the asymmetry in terms of frequency of referential terms that denote the two sexes and the parallel connotations between the words for males and those of females. By paying deliberate attention to women's lexical choices in the words for girls and female body parts, I argue that women are not just passive recipient of male lexical labels but are also agents who participate in self definition. The parallels in terms of denotation and connotation of male and females words is discussed within the in...
Simulating prosthetic vision with disortions for retinal prosthesis design

Retinal prostheses are used to restore vision to individuals with vision impairments caused by the damaged photoreceptors in their retina. Despite the early successes, designing prostheses that can restore functional vision in general, continues to be a challenging problem due to the large number of design parameters that need to be customized for individual users. Gathering data using real patients in a timely and safe manner is also difficult. To address these problems, a virtual environment for realistically and safely simulating prosthetic vision is described. Besides supporting phosphenized rendering of images at different resolutions to normal users, and eye movement tracking, the environment also supports spatial distortions that are commonly perceived by prostheses users. A procedure to automatically generate such spatial distortions is developed. User corrections if any, are logged and compared with the original distortion values to evaluate distortion perception. Experimental results obtained in using this environment to perform various visual acuity tasks are described.
Laryngoscopy and pharyngeal pH are complementary in the diagnosis of gastroesophageal-laryngeal reflux.

Pharyngeal pH monitoring and laryngoscopy are routinely used to diagnose gastroesophageal-laryngeal reflux as a cause of respiratory symptoms. Although their use seems intuitive, their ultimate diagnostic value is yet to be defined. We studied 10 asymptomatic (control) subjects and 76 patients with respiratory symptoms. Both patients and control subjects were given a symptom questionnaire. Each underwent direct laryngoscopy using the reflux finding score (RFS) to grade laryngeal injury, esophageal manometry, and 24-hour esophagopharyngeal pH monitoring. The patients were then classified as RFS+, if the score was greater than 7, and pharyngeal reflux (PR)+, if they had more than one episode of PR detected during pH monitoring. The most common symptoms reported by patients were hoarseness (87%), cough (53%), and heartburn (50%). Control subjects had a significantly lower RFS (2.1 vs. 9.6, P < 0.01) and fewer episodes of PR (0.2 vs. 3.4, P < 0.01), than patients. None of the control subjects had more than one episode of PR during a 24-hour period. Fifty patients (66%) were RFS+ and 26 (34%) were RFS—. Thirty-two patients (42%) were PR+ and 44 (58%) were PR-. Fifteen patients had a normal RFS and no PR (group I = RFS—/PR—). Forty patients had discordance between the laryngoscopic findings and the pH monitoring (group II = RFS—/PR + or RFS+/PR—). Twenty-one patients had both an abnormal RFS and PR (group III = RFS+/PR+). Patients in group III had significantly higher heartburn scores and distal esophageal acid exposure. Eighty-three percent of patients in group III but only 44% in group I improved their respiratory symptoms as a result of antireflux therapy. An abnormal PR or RFS differentiates patients with laryngeal symptoms from control subjects. Agreement between PR and RFS helps establish or refute the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux as a cause of laryngeal symptoms. Patients who are RFS+ and PR—may have laryngeal injury from another source, whereas patients who are RFS— and PR+ may not have acid entering the larynx, despite the presence of PR. Patients who are RFS+ and PR+ have more severe gastroesophageal reflux disease and their reflux causes laryngeal damage. Laryngoscopy and pharyngeal pH monitoring should be considered complementary studies in establishing the diagnosis of laryngeal injury induced by gastroesophageal reflux.
Glucocorticoids Stimulate p21 Gene Expression by Targeting Multiple Transcriptional Elements within a Steroid Responsive Region of the p21 waf1/cip1 Promoter in Rat Hepatoma Cells

Glucocorticoids can induce a G1arrest in the cell cycle progression of BDS1 rat hepatoma cells. In these cells, dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, stimulated a rapid and selective increase in expression of the p21 cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor mRNA and protein and virtually abolished CDK2 phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein. Expression of the p27 CDK inhibitor, and other G1-acting cell cycle proteins, remained unaffected. Dexamethasone stimulated p21 promoter activity in a p53-independent manner that required functional glucocorticoid receptors. Transforming growth factor-β, which also induced a G1 cell cycle arrest of the hepatoma cells, failed to elicit this response. Analysis of 5′ deletions of the p21 promoter uncovered a glucocorticoid responsive region between nucleotides −1481 and −1184, which does not contain a canonical glucocorticoid response element but which can confer dexamethasone responsiveness to a heterologous promoter. Fine mapping of this region uncovered three distinct 50–60-base pair transcriptional elements that likely function as targets of glucocorticoid receptor signaling. Finally, ectopic expression of p21 had no effect on hepatoma cell growth in the absence of glucocorticoids but facilitated the ability of dexamethasone to inhibit cell proliferation. Thus, our results have established a direct transcriptional link between glucocorticoid receptor signaling and the regulated promoter activity of a CDK inhibitor gene that is involved in the cell cycle arrest of hepatoma cells.
The Elusive Quest: Linking Environmental Change and Conflict

Despite contentious debates within the field of environmental security, findings of the principal research projects undertaken in the 1990s suggest significant agreement about the process linking environmental change to conflict. This article offers a reconsideration of the theoretical arguments unifying much of the research in environmental security, and argues that cases must extend their time frames considerably. The authors suggest that this would improve understanding of the social effects of environmental change, but is likely to revise mainstream arguments connecting environment and security in dramatic ways. By focusing on the often neglected role played by adaptive mechanisms, longer-range case studies tend not to support the claim that environmental stress is an urgent security issue, viewing it instead as an issue with long-term theoretical and policy relevance to those concerned not only with security, but also with sustainable development and environmental justice.
Ductile tearing and discrete void effects on cleavage fracture under small-scale yielding conditions

Abstract Over the mid-to-upper region of the ductile-to-brittle transition region, transgranular cleavage and ductile tearing define two competing failure mechanisms in ferritic steel. At metallurgical scales (≲50 μm), formation and growth of the voids driving ductile crack extension likely alter the local stress fields acting on the smaller inclusions that trigger cleavage fracture. Here we study the effects of void growth on cleavage fracture by modeling discrete cylindrical voids lying on the crack plane ahead of the crack tip within a small-scale yielding (SSY) boundary layer model. These discrete voids have a spacing, D, within a highly refined crack-front region. This enables identification of both single void growth and multiple void growth mechanisms that depend primarily on the initial void porosity, f0. The crack grows in this model by release of nodal reactions (enforcing zero displacement) along the ligament (symmetry plane) between the blunted crack tip and closest void when the void obtains a specified critical porosity. This process grows the crack in discrete increments of size equal to the length of an intervoid ligament. Continued external loading leads to subsequent void growth and crack extensions through additional node releases. The external loads at the point of each crack extension define the crack growth resistance (JR) curves. This enables comparison with conventional JR–Δa curves obtained using computational cell (Gurson–Tvergaard) analyses. The Weibull stress model is then employed to quantify the stress concentration effects on the probability of cleavage fracture. We describe a non-dimensional function, h ( J ^ ) , to represent stress concentration effects on the Weibull stress in a convenient framework ( J ^ = J / D σ 0 denotes a non-dimensional loading for SSY analyses). These h-functions also reflect the increase in volume of material sampled as the crack grows from the original tip to the first void, the second void, etc. The h-functions vary with material flow properties, initial porosity (f0), critical porosity (fc), Weibull modulus (m), and T-stress (Tσ) or constraint level.
Thermoregulatory behavior of brown trout, Salmo trutta

Brown trout, Salmo trutta, were allowed to thermoregulate individually in an electronic shuttlebox. Pooled data for 6 fish showed a diel pattern of preferred temperature, with a diurnal minimum of 10.3°C, an early nocturnal maximum of 13.7°C, a less pronounced mid-scotophase minimum of 11.7°C, and a secondary dawn maximum of 12.8°C, in a somewhat crepuscular pattern. The 24-hour mean preferendum was 12.2°C.
National In-Home Consumer Evaluation of Pork Roasts From Pigs Administered Porcine Somatotropin (pSt)

Boneless pork loin (longissimus) or ham (semimembranosus) roasts from 60 control and 60 porcine somatotropin-produced (pSt) pigs (3 mg daily) were analyzed for composition and evaluated by 120 families in each of three major cities. In San Antonio and Portland each family received a loin roast from a control pig and a pSt-treated pig. In Buffalo, each family received a fresh ham roast from a control pig and a pSt-treated pig. Consumers were asked to evaluate the roasts during conventional in-home meal preparation and consumption. Overall, pSt roasts contained less intramuscular fat and no differences were noted in acceptability scores when control loin or ham roasts were compared with pSt-produced loin or ham roasts. No differences were noted in the preference scores for the loin roasts; however, consumers preferred the tenderness, juiciness and flavor of the control ham roasts.
Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection in Women Who Have Sex with Women: A Concern for Patients and Providers

Certain types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) are sexually transmitted and cause genital warts and cervical neoplasia. Little is known about the epidemiology of HPV among women who have sex with women (WSW), but recent research using amplified techniques for HPV DNA strongly suggests that HPV is sexually transmitted between female sex partners. In a pilot study of 149 WSW in Seattle, Washington, prevalence of HPV as detected by DNA amplification assay was 30%, and was 19% among women reporting no prior sex with men. Although most cervical cancer can be prevented with Pap smear screening by detection of squamous epithelial lesions (SIL), some data suggest that the frequency of Pap smear screening is suboptimal in WSW. Reasons for this are unclear, but may include perceptions by patients and providers that WSW are not at risk for many STD and, by extension, cervical cancer. In our study, WSW who reported no prior sex with men had routine Pap smear screening less frequently than the comparative group, and had a prevalence of SIL of 14%. Combined with the work of other investigators, these data strongly suggest that current recommendations for Pap smear screening among WSW should not differ from those for heterosexual women. WSW and their providers should understand that sex between women may confer a risk of HPV transmission; risk of transmission of other STD, including HIV, deserves further study.
Ischemic-induced alterations in cardiac sensitivity to digitalis

Abstract Intravenous infusion of acetylstrophanthidin to 6 dogs, after a 60 min left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion, was associated with a 43.0 ± 10.5% decrease in the dose of digitalis needed to produce ventricular arrhythmias as compared to the pre-ischemic dose (97.5 ± 8.0 μg/kg). Reperfusion of the ischemic region for 2 h after a 90 min occlusion resulted in a 54.4 ± 6.7% decrease in the arrhythmogenic dose. Direct intracoronary infusions of digitalis into the ischemic region, after a 90 min coronary occlusion followed by 2 h of reperfusion, was associated with a 47.7 ± 6.4% decrease in the dose of digitalis needed to produce arrhythmias. The pre-ischemic (control) arrhythmogenic dose of digitalis via the intracoronary infusion method was 1.5 ± 0.3 μg/kg (ean ± S.E.M. of 7 dogs). Sodium pump activity, estimated from the ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake in sodium-loaded loaded ventricular slices, was significantly higher in slices obtained from the ischemic regions (6.84 ± 0.30 nmoles86Rb/mg dry wt. (ean ± S.E.M.), than from the non-schemic regions (3.43 ± 0.64 nmoles 86 Rb/mg dry wt. ) . Sensitivity of the sodium pump activity to the inhibitory effect of ouabain was also increased in the ischemic regions as indicated by a shift in the log dose-response curve to the left. Thus, it appears that there is an increase in myocardial sensitivity to the toxic efect of digitalis after temporary ischemia and it appears to be related to an increase in the sensitivity of the Na+,K+-ATPase or sodium pump to the inhibitory effect of digitalis.
Development of a Vision System for an Intelligent Ground Vehicle

The development of a vision system for an autonomous ground vehicle designed and constructed for the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC) is discussed. The requirements for the vision system of the autonomous vehicle are explored via functional analysis considering the flows (materials, energies and signals) into the vehicle and the changes required of each flow within the vehicle system. Functional analysis leads to a vision system based on a laser range finder (LIDAR) and a camera. Input from the vision system is processed via a ray-casting algorithm whereby the camera data and the LIDAR data are analyzed as a single array of points representing obstacle locations, which for the IGVC, consist of white lines on the horizontal plane and construction markers on the vertical plane. Functional analysis also leads to a multithreaded application where the ray-casting algorithm is a single thread of the vehicle's software, which consists of multiple threads controlling motion, providing feedback, and processing the data from the camera and LIDAR. LIDAR data is collected as distances and angles from the front of the vehicle to obstacles. Camera data is processed using an adaptive threshold algorithm to identify color changes within the collected image; the image is also corrected for camera angle distortion, adjusted to the global coordinate system, and processed using least-squares method to identify white boundary lines. Our IGVC robot, MAX, is utilized as the continuous example for all methods discussed in the paper. All testing and results provided are based on our IGVC robot, MAX, as well.
Speed Mediation of Adult Age Differences in Cognition.

Previous research has established that a large proportion of the adult age-related variance in various measures offluid or process cognition is reduced when statistical control procedures such as hierarchical regression are used to eliminate variation in measures ofperceptual speed. This finding was confirmed in the present study and was extended to include paired-associate and free-recall measures of memory in addition to measures of reasoning and spatial abilities. Most of the speed mediation was associated with speed measures requiring cognitive operations such as comparison or substitution instead of merely motor responses such as copying symbols or drawing lines. These results suggest that the rate of performing elementary cognitive operations is an important proximal mediator ofthe adult age differences in several types ofcognitive tasks. Inspired largely by ideas of Birren (e.g., 1955,1965,1974), Salthouse 0985a) proposed that the adult age differences in certain measures of cognitive functioning might be partially mediated by age-related reductions in the speed ofexecuting relevant mental operations. The evidence available at that time was rather weak, because no published studies had been explicitly designed to investigate this hypothesis. Most of the data relevant to the hypothesis were obtained by locating published articles reporting correlations among age, a measure of processing speed, and a measure of cognition (or studies by Salthouse containing the relevant data), and then computing partial correlations between age and the cognitive measure after partialing out the measure of speed. Only a few data sets with the necessary information could be identified, and the samples were often small and usually involved two extreme age groups rather than a continuous range of ages. Furthermore, in all cases the relevant constructs were assessed with a single measure rather than with potentially more reliable and valid multiple measures. Despite these limitations, the hypothesis received some support because statistical control of the measure ofspeed frequently resulted in an appreciable reduction in the magnitude of the relation between age and the measure of cognition.
Taking on Tobacco: Policy Entrepreneurship and the Tobacco Litigation

The retrenchment of the federal government and the deregulation of many industries, beginning in the 1980s, afforded state elected officials opportunities for policy entrepreneurship. In particular...
Estimation of space-borne lidar return from natural waters: A passive approach

A method, based on the reciprocity principle of radiative transfer, for using routinely collected field measurements of apparent optical properties in a water body to estimate the total return (time integrated) to an airborne or space borne lidar is presented. It will allow prediction of lidar returns using the databases of apparent optical propertie assembled in support of ocean color remote sensing.
The equatorial neutral thermospheric response to geomagnetic

Thermospheric temperature and neutral density measurements from Dynamics Explorer 2 (DE 2) have been used to study the time-dependent response of the equatorial thermosphere to geomagnetic forcing. Data taken following the onsets of several different isolated geomagnetic storms have been used in a superposed-epoch scheme to investigate the characteristic response of the density and temperature structure of the equatorial thermosphere at ∼350 lcm altitude in the rooming and evening local-time sectors. The principal post-storm-onset features that have been observed are as follows: 1) Two travelling waves, one generated at northern high latitudes and one at southern high latitudes, pass through the equatorial thermosphere, with wave crests crossing the equator at a time lag of 3–6 hours after the storm onset. The maximum neutral density perturbations associated with these waves are ∼15–25% for atomic oxygen and ∼30–40% for molecular nitrogen. 2) Following the passage of these travelling waves, the densities and temperatures in the evening sector return relatively rapidly to their undisturbed state, whereas those in the morning sector have significant variations at longer lag times. In particular, significant increases in neutral density and temperature occur in the morning sector about 12 hours after the onset of the storm. The N2 density enhancements are seen earliest in the summer hemisphere, while the O density enhancements are seen earliest in the winter hemisphere.
African American Race Is a Robust Risk Factor for Food, but Not Aeroallergen Sensitization

FEBRUARY 2013 AB24 Abstracts S A T U R D A Y 86 Prevalence of Milk, Peanut and Egg Allergies in A Socioeconomically Diverse Cohort of Infants: Identifying Cases of Food Allergy for Field Studies Using an Expert Panel Jerel M. Ezell, MPH, Suzanne Havstad, MA, Haejin Kim, MD, Ganesa Wegienka, PhD, Dennis Ownby, MD, FAAAAI, Edward M. Zoratti, MD, FAAAAI, Christine Cole Johnson, PhD, MPH, FAAAAI, Christine L. M. Joseph, PhD; Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, Division of Allergy-Immunology and Rheumatology, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, GA. RATIONALE: Double-blind, placebo-controlled oral food challenges remain the gold standard for identifying cases of food allergy, but are seldom feasible for large, epidemiologic studies. We used an expert panel to ascertain food allergy in a birth cohort. METHODS: Determination of Immunoglobulin-E-mediated food allergy (FA) to milk, peanut and egg in infants age 24 months was made by two board-certified allergists who categorized cases as highly probable, likely and unlikely. A third allergist was consulted for discordant reviews. Panelists reviewed cord blood IgEmeasures; parent interviews at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months, including family history of allergy/asthma; a 36-month parent interview including items on food avoidance, gastrointestinal symptoms, onset and duration of reactions to food; infant medical records; and serum-specific IgE and skin prick test results at 24 months. RESULTS: Of the 587 infants analyzed, the panel reviewed 280 cases and agreed on 220 (78.6%). The remaining 60 cases (21.4%) were decided by a third allergist. Overall, 52 infants (8.9%) had highly probable/likely cases of FA based on panel consensus. Prevalence of milk, peanut, and egg allergies was 1.7% (0.8-3.1), 5.3% (3.6-7.4) and 6.1% (4.3-8.4), respectively. In comparison, prevalence of sensitization to these food allergens was 31.6%, 11.6%, and 24.5%, respectively. Prevalence was highest for African Americans. Panelists took 1.7 minutes, on average, to review each case. CONCLUSIONS: As expected, not all sensitized infants were found to have a corresponding FA. Usage of an expert panel provides a systematic approach to identifying cases of FA in epidemiologic studies.
e-Readers, Our Readers, and Electronic Collections: A Pilot Study at a National Laboratory Library

In 2010, the Technical Library at Sandia National Laboratories conducted a six-month pilot study to evaluate various electronic reader devices and their potential for use within the Sandia environment. Five of the most popular dedicated e-reader models on the market, as well as Apple's iPad, were evaluated for their compatibility with existing Technical Library electronic collections, largely composed of scientific and technical documents in PDF format, as well as their perceived usability by Sandia researchers. This article describes the pilot study including recommendations and suggested areas for further research.
Complex signal reconstruction from time-frequency magnitude

A complex sequence can be recovered to within an overall constant phase factor from its generalized short-time Fourier transform magnitude, which includes the wavelet scalogram and short-time Fourier transform magnitude as special cases. >
Tartrate Chirality Determines Thaumatin Crystal Habit

A major challenge in structural biology is to produce high-quality protein crystals for X-ray diffraction. Currently, proteins are crystallized by trial and error, often in multicomponent solutions with chiral precipitants. As proteins are chiral molecules, we hypothesized that the chirality of the precipitants may affect crystallogenesis. To test this hypothesis, we crystallized thaumatin, an intensely sweet globular protein, with the three stereoisomers (l-, d-, and meso-) of tartaric acid. We find three different crystal habits and crystal packings; the three stereoisomers interact with the protein at different sites. All three precipitants produce high-quality crystals from which atomic resolution (∼1 A) structures were obtained. Our findings suggest that stereospecific interactions with precipitants are important in protein crystal formation and should be controlled when crystallizing proteins for structure determination.
Cough syncope: Case presentation and review

Abstract Episodes of loss of consciousness following cough are an uncommon complication of certain chronic respiratory diseases. An illustrative case is presented, and some suggested pathophysiologic mechanisms are reviewed. Treatment must be directed toward the basic underlying respiratory disorder as well as the reduction in the severity of cough.
Physicochemical changes in phosphorylase kinase associated with its activation

Phosphorylase kinase (PhK) regulates glycogenolysis through its Ca(2+)-dependent phosphorylation and activation of glycogen phosphorylase. The activity of PhK increases dramatically as the pH is raised from 6.8 to 8.2 (denoted as upward arrow pH), but Ca(2+) dependence is retained. Little is known about the structural changes associated with PhK's activation by upward arrow pH and Ca(2+), but activation by both mechanisms is mediated through regulatory subunits of the (alphabetagammadelta)(4) PhK complex. In this study, changes in the structure of PhK induced by upward arrow pH and Ca(2+) were investigated using second derivative UV absorption, synchronous fluorescence, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and zeta potential analyses. The joint effects of Ca(2+) and upward arrow pH on the physicochemical properties of PhK were found to be interdependent, with their effects showing a strong inflection point at pH approximately 7.6. Comparing the properties of the conformers of PhK present under the condition where it would be least active (pH 6.8 - Ca(2+)) versus that where it would be most active (pH 8.2 + Ca(2+)), the joint activation by upward arrow pH and Ca(2+) is characterized by a relatively large increase in the content of sheet structure, a decrease in interactions between helix and sheet structures, and a dramatically less negative electrostatic surface charge. A model is presented that accounts for the interdependent activating effects of upward arrow pH and Ca(2+) in terms of the overall physicochemical properties of the four PhK conformers described herein, and published data corroborating the transitions between these conformers are tabulated.
Examination techniques and interpretation of ophthalmic findings

Before the patient can be properly treated for an ophthalmic condition, the examiner must correctly assess any abnormal ophthalmic findings. This is best accomplished by taking a complete history and by performing a thorough ophthalmic examination. When performing an ophthalmic examination, the examiner must evaluate all areas of the adnexa, globe, and orbit and must be comfortable with ophthalmic examination techniques and interpretation of examination findings. To aid the examiner in this process, ophthalmic examination technique and normal and abnormal ophthalmic findings are discussed.
CaCO3 dissolution in the deep sea: Paced by insolation cycles

[1] Three CaCO3 dissolution events have been documented in the western equatorial Atlantic, one associated with marine isotope stage 5d, one with stage 5b, and one with early stage 4. The intensity of these events appears to require a greatly expanded invasion of waters with a low carbonate ion concentration akin to that characterizing today's deep Pacific (and also the Antarctic Bottom Water). While evident in a core from a depth of 3.4 km, these three events appear to be much less intense in the western equatorial Pacific than in the western Atlantic. The Atlantic results appear to be telling us that the density difference between Southern Ocean and North Atlantic deep waters has been modulated by insolation changes associated with the 23,000-year precession cycle.
Molecular dynamics simulation comparison of atomic scale intermixing at the amorphous Al2O3/semiconductor interface for a-Al2O3/Ge, a-Al2O3/InGaAs, and a-Al2O3/InAlAs/InGaAs

Abstract The structural properties of a-Al 2 O 3 /Ge, a-Al 2 O 3 /In 0.5 Ga 0.5 As and a-Al 2 O 3 /In 0.5 Al 0.5 As/InGaAs interfaces were investigated by density-functional theory (DFT) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Realistic a-Al 2 O 3 samples were generated using a hybrid classical-DFT MD “melt and quench” approach. The interfaces were formed by annealing at 700 K/800 K and 1100 K with subsequent cooling and relaxation. The a-Al 2 O 3 /Ge interface demonstrates pronounced interface intermixing and interface bonding exclusively through Al–O–Ge bonds generating high interface polarity. In contrast, the a-Al 2 O 3 /InGaAs interface has no intermixing, Al–As and O–In/Ga bonding, low interface polarity due to nearly compensating interface dipoles, and low substrate deformation. The a-Al 2 O 3 /InAlAs interface demonstrated mild intermixing with some substrate Al atoms being adsorbed into the oxide, mixed Al–As/O and O–Al/In bonding, medium interface polarity, and medium substrate deformation. The simulated results demonstrate strong correlation to experimental measurements and illustrate the role of weak bonding in generating an unpinned interface for metal oxide/semiconductor interfaces.
The Fractioning of Patent Law

Patentees overwhelmingly lose their cases, despite a seeming host of procedural advantages. The same is not true of other IP plaintiffs. Why? In this article, I suggest that the explanation lies in the "fractioning" of patent law into smaller and smaller issues. Claim construction after Markman is the clearest example, but there are others. We no longer decide in a holistic manner what a patent claim covers. Instead, we decide what each word of a claim covers. Because there are more and more such issues, and the patentee must win each of them, patentees face a form of multiple jeopardy. It is ironic that patent claims, developed to broaden and strengthen the patent right, have instead become obstacles to the patentee's success.
Comparing transient storage modeling and residence time distribution (RTD) analysis in geomorphically varied reaches in the Lookout Creek basin, Oregon, USA

Abstract The stream tracer technique has been widely used as a method of characterizing hyporheic exchange in stream-catchment studies, commonly incorporating the use of the numerical, transient storage model OTIS, which assumes an exponential residence time distribution. In this study, we compare OTIS and, a model that admits a general residence time distribution (RTD), called solute transport and multirate mass transfer-linear coordinates (STAMMT-L). Models were compared using slug-tracer injections of rhodamine WT (RWT) in three geomorphically distinct stream reaches in the Lookout Creek basin, Oregon USA: a second-order reach of a stream in Watershed 3 which is characterized by pool-step morphology; and two fourth-order reaches of Lookout Creek, one characterized by a single-thread, pool-step morphology, the other a morphologically complex reach with braided channels. OTIS modeling results tended to match short time scale concentrations well, including the advective peak, but the simulated late-time RTD of stream RWT concentrations was in error. The STAMMT-L model allowed for more accurate characterization of late-time stream RWT concentrations, and so characterized a larger portion of the entire RTD. Although both models are sensitive to morphologic differences among the studied stream reaches, they are also clearly different in the relative importance placed on short vs. long residence time distributions. Consequently the two models will result in different views of the hyporheic zone and its role in stream ecosystem processes.