cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 4265: Human prostate mesenchymal stem cells in prostate cancer: Mechanisms of TGF-β1 promoted myofibroblast/CAF differentiation

Reactive stroma in prostate cancer is typified by the co-evolution of myofibroblasts and carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), yet the origin and biology of myofibroblast stem/progenitor cells are not known. TGF-β1 is overexpressed in prostate cancer cells and affects myofibroblast differentiation, a key step in formation of a tumor-promoting reactive stroma. However, specific mechanisms of how TGF-β1 regulates recruitment, activation and differentiation of myofibroblast stem/progenitor cells are poorly understood. Human prostate mesenchymal stem cell (hpMSC) lines were initiated from organ cultures of normal human prostate gland and characterized by a novel 3D co-culture model. Differentially engineered LNCaP cells to overexpress active TGF-β1 were cultured as organoids on CM-inserts and hpMSCs were co-cultured with engineered LNCaP cells either in direct contact or on laminin-coated coverslips in the bottom chamber. 3D organoids grown in serum-free media for 72 hours were analyzed by IHC, ELISA and qRT-PCR. In addition, RNAi gene knockdown experiments were performed in hpMSC to identify key transcription factors involved in myofibroblast/CAF differentiation. hpMSCs were CD44+/CD90+ and showed characteristics and gene expression similar to human mesenchymal stem cells. In the 3D model, LNCaP cells and hpMSCs self-organized into a free-floating organoid. The organoids exhibited a periphery of LNCaP cells and a core of reactive stroma-appearing cells. Significantly, LNCaP cells induced myofibroblast differentiation of hpMSC and this was promoted by LNCaP expression of active TGF-β1. Gene expression analysis identified the RUNX1 and ID1 transcription factors as upregulated in hpMSC by TGF-β1. Knockdown of RUNX1 and ID1 are being used to assess the role and mechanisms of how these transcription factors regulate myofibroblast differentiation. Together, these data suggest that the genesis and co-evolution of reactive stroma in prostate cancer results from activation and differentiation of CD44+/CD90+ endogenous hpMSC via upregulation of specific transcription factors by TGF-β1. Defining key mechanisms that recruit, activate and differentiate the origin of myofibroblasts/CAFs could provide clues to develop new strategies to target the microenvironment niche. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4265. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4265
Fluoxetine administration potentiates the effect of olanzapine on locus coeruleus neuronal activity.

Abstract Background As many as 30% of individuals diagnosed with depression are nonresponsive to traditional antidepressant medication. Augmentation and combination strategies have emerged in an attempt to address this issue. Atypical antipsychotics (e.g., olanzapine), when added to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (e.g., fluoxetine) have shown great promise in the treatment of these treatment-resistant patients. As of yet, the precise neural mechanisms responsible for the beneficial clinical effect of these combinations are not completely understood. Methods Separate groups of rats received either saline or fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day) for 24 hours or 3 weeks via subcutaneously implanted osmotic pumps. The effects of either intravenous saline or olanzapine (.3, 1.0, or 3.0 mg/kg) on locus coeruleus (LC) neuronal activity were then assessed via extracellular single-unit recordings. Results Acute administration of olanzapine produced a significant elevation of the firing rate and burst firing of LC cells, and chronic, but not acute, administration of fluoxetine decreased baseline and burst firing of LC cells; however, when given in combination, an interaction of fluoxetine and olanzapine was observed, with olanzapine causing a significantly greater increase in LC firing rate and burst firing after acute and chronic administration of fluoxetine. Conclusions These results provide a potential neural mechanism for the beneficial clinical effects of the olanzapine/fluoxetine combination. The increase in baseline and burst firing of LC neurons in the groups receiving both fluoxetine and olanzapine would result in enhanced norepinephrine release in projection areas (e.g., prefrontal cortex), which could lead to a reduction in depressive symptoms.
Transcriptional Activation by the Human Progesterone Receptor: Towards a Predictive Understanding

A mechanistic and thus predictive understanding of transcriptional regulation in humans is highly lacking. For example, the current understanding for transcription factors such as progesterone receptor (PR) is that it binds to promoter regions of PR-regulated genes, then recruits coactivating proteins and RNA polymerase in order to activate transcription. However, this framework does not account for the ability of PR to differentially and simultaneously regulate multiple gene promoters. Differential regulation may hinge, at least in part, on the uniquely coded assembly of transcription factors at each promoter. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of promoter-specific binding, thermodynamic approaches were used to dissect PR interactions at natural and synthetic promoter sequences containing multiple binding sites. The results of experiments employing quantitative footprint titrations and statistical thermodynamic modeling show that PR-promoter interactions follow specific codes for assembly; that PR binding is highly cooperative; and that efficient coactivator recruitment is exclusively coupled to cooperative interactions. These results correlate with cellular measurements demonstrating that PR-regulated promoters containing multiple binding sites generate synergistic increases in transcriptional activity. Taken together, cooperativity may be key in the activation of transcription. As a means to assess the chemical forces responsible for cooperativity we examined the role of monovalent cations in regulating receptor-promoter interactions. Our findings suggest cooperative interactions are thermodynamically linked to Na+ binding to PR. Noting that PR directly regulates the expression of ion channels and pumps, it is possible that Na+ is not only an allosteric effector but also a physiologic regulator of PR-activated transcription in humans.
Acute Respiratory Failure following Severe Arsenic Poisoning

A 47-year-old man had an episode of severe respiratory failure after acute intoxication with arsenic. Features of the initial clinical presentation included nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, acute psychosis, diffuse skin rash, and marked pancytopenia. A peripheral neuropathy then developed which resulted in severe weakness of all muscles of the limbs, the shoulder and pelvic girdles, and the trunk. The neuropathy continued to progress despite treatment with dimercaprol (BAL in oil). Five weeks after the initial exposure, the patient was no longer able to maintain adequate ventilation and required mechanical ventilatory support Improvement in the patient's neuromuscular status permitted successful weaning from the ventilator after one month of mechanical ventilation. Long-term follow-up revealed no further respiratory difficulty and slow improvement in the strength of the peripheral muscles.
A simple method for reaction rate prediction of ester hydrolysis

Abstract Ester hydrolysis is described by chemical descriptors calculated from quantum mechanic methods. Statistical analysis with good fitting (cross-validated R adj 2 = 92.4 % ) and predicting capability (cross-validated R adj 2 = 91.9 % for test molecules) were established through multiple linear regression. Contributions of descriptors in these statistical models were compared and the two-variable models provide sufficient information at high level of calculation.
VIP neurons in the neocortex

Abstract What is the nature of the cellular actions of VIP (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) in the neocortex? Is VIP co-localized with another neurotransmitter? Do VIP neurons interact with other cortical neurotransmitter systems? How does the intracortical VIP-containing neuronal system relate to the basic elements of cortical organization? Recent immunohistochemical and pharmacological investigations have addressed these questions and have shed some light on the possible function of VIP-containing neurons in the neocortex.
CORTICUS: the end of unconditional love for steroid use?

1 Clinical Fellow, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 3 Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA 4 Assistant Professor, Departments of Critical Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Digital Holography Applied to Quantitative Measurement of Oil-drop in Oil-Water Two-Phase Flows

We present a digital holography system applied to quantitative measurement of oil-drops in oil-water two-phase flows. Statistical analysis on measured size distributions shows that the distribution follows a lognormal distribution.
Operational impact of employee wellness programs: a business case study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of employee wellness programs on employee engagement and the reduction of employee health care costs. The intent of the analysis is to explain the typical costs associated with these programs and the potential benefits to the employer and employee.Design/methodology/approach – Due to the paucity of academic literature on the operational impact of employee wellness programs, a case study utilizing an internal company's resources and employee survey were also used to examine business questions related to the efficacy of such programs in businesses.Findings – The results of the employee survey showed that there is a correlation between eating a balanced diet and being more productive at work. Also, there is a link between being in good physical health, potentially because employees participate in the wellness program, and being productive at work. On the other hand, it was also found that employees who do not eat a very balanced diet, do...
A Comparison of Hyponym and Synonym Decisions

Is class inclusion (hyponymy) a more primitive or simpler semantic relation than synonymy? This question was addressed by comparing the time required to identify examples of the two relations in a semantic decision task. In two experiments subjects made truelfalse decisions about statements of the form “An A is a B.” In Experiment 1 category-member and synonym pairs were randomly intermixed; there was no difference between the two relations. In Experiment 2 one group was presented with the two relations randomly intermixed, as in Experiment 1 (mixed condition), while two other groups were each presented with just one of the relations (separate condition). In the separate condition responses were faster to class inclusion than to synonym pairs, while in the mixed condition there was no difference, as in Experiment 1. The results suggest that class inclusion may be a simpler relation than synonymity, although the difference may simply reflect the use to which the two relations are put in common use. The fact that the difference occurred in the separate but not in the mixed conditions suggests that the latencies reflected the evaluation of the relations against a decision criterion rather than directly reflecting lexical organization or everyday usage.
Diabetes management and glycemic control in youth with type 1 diabetes: test of a predictive model

The objective of this study was to test a comprehensive model of biologic (pubertal status), family (communication and conflict), and psychological influences (behavioral autonomy) on diabetes management and glycemic control in a sample of youth (N = 226) with type 1 diabetes recruited during late childhood/early adolescence (ages 9–11 years). The study design was a prospective, multisite, multi-method study involving prediction of diabetes management and glycemic control 1 year post-baseline. The primary outcome measures included diabetes management behaviors based on the Diabetes Self-Management Profile (DSMP) administered separately to mothers and youth and glycemic control measured by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) obtained by blood samples and analyzed by a central laboratory to ensure standardization. Our hypothesized predictive model received partial support based on structural equation modeling analyses. Family conflict predicted less adequate glycemic control 1 year later (p < 0.05). Higher conflict predicted less adequate diabetes management and less adequate glycemic control. More advanced pubertal status also predicted less adequate glycemic control, but behavioral autonomy did not. Family conflict is an important, potentially clinically significant influence on glycemic control that should be considered in primary and secondary prevention in the management of type 1 diabetes in youth.
Conditions required for the mean response to fall within specified bounds

Abstract This article addresses a variation of the specification problem mentioned in Srivastava (1966). In particular, conditions on the input variables are sought so that a single mean response falls, with some degree of confidence, within specified bounds. The actual determination of these conditions is made possible using an algorithm that generates design points in a sequential manner. Several simulated examples are presented to illustrate the implementation of the proposed algorithm.
Phase transitions in solids

Phase Transitions in Solids: An Approach to the Study of the Chemistry and Physics of Solids. By C. N. R. Rao and K. J. Rao. Pp. 330. (McGraw Hill: Maidenhead, UK, and New York, 1978.) £18.15.
Small configurations in simple permutations

We prove that every entry in a simple permutation of length at least 4 is contained in a copy of 2413 or 3412 or plays the role of the '3' in a copy of 25314 or 41352. This allows us to give a short proof that the number of permutations with at most r copies of 132 has an algebraic generating function for any integer r.
Waveform generation and signal processing in ultra-wideband radar

Fourier synthesis method of waveform generation for ultra wideband (UWB) radar overcomes several disadvantages of traditional impulse generation. In this method a signal is generated in frequency domain by summing the relatively low power harmonics of the desired signal instead of generating it by a single high power source in time domain. In this paper waveform generation is extended beyond simple baseband periodic pulses. Method for generation of complex amplitude coded baseband waveforms with accurate control of pulse shape and pulse repetition interval is described. This waveform allows pulse compression and coherent integration of UWB signals and thus further reducing the need for very large power sources which may be required for conventional impulse radar implementation. The paper also presents a UWB radar concept which incorporates frequency domain waveform generation. Signal processing issues for target detection are also addressed.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Measuring and Cooling the Motion of a Nanomechanical Oscillator with a Microwave Cavity Interferometer

By embedding a nanomechanical beam in a superconducting microwave cavity, we measure the beam's motion near the standard quantum limit, we cool the beam with radiation pressure and, we realize an ultrasensitive force detector.
Norepinephrine and serotonin: Opposite effects on the activity of lateral geniculate neurons evoked by optic pathway stimulation

Abstract This study compares the responses of single units in the rat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd) to microiontophoretically applied norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT). Most of the cells were identified physiologically as P-type (geniculocortical relay) neurons. At low iontophoretic currents (1 to 20 nA), NE caused a delayed increase in the spontaneous firing rate of these units, whereas 5-HT invariably slowed the discharge frequency. To compare the effects of the two monoamines on evoked activity, P-cells were driven by electrical stimulation of the afferent visual pathway at the level of the optic chiasm. NE caused a marked facilitation of both the short-latency (2 to 4 ms) and the delayed (70 to 230 ms) responses to such stimulation. The α-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine (10 nA), which by itself had no consistent effect on evoked activity, strongly diminished the response to NE. In contrast to NE, 5-HT was a powerful depressant of electrically evoked activity; neither phentolamine nor the 5-HT antagonist methysergide antagonized this response. Firing of LGNd units evoked by flashes of light was also facilitated by NE and depressed by 5-HT. We conclude that LGNd relay neurons exhibit the following unique features in their responsiveness to monoamines: (i) microiontophoretically applied NE facilitates, but 5-HT depresses, the spontaneous or synaptically evoked activity of virtually every cell; (ii) there is no dissociation between the actions of NE on spontaneous and evoked activity, as is the case in other brain regions.
Mental illness in late life: The neurobiology of depression

The majority of elderly adults negotiate late life free from significant psychological disability. However, depression is one of the most common and distressing mental health problems they face. A number of factors associated with mental health, illness and depression in older adults is reviewed. In addition, an overview of selected psychological and biological theories related to depression are presented with the focus on genetic studies and the neurobiologic nature of stress to demonstrate the interaction between brain, behavior, cognition, and emotion. Psychiatric mental health nurses are challenged not only to examine the complex interaction between physical, mental, and social factors, but to integrate this knowledge into the discipline of psychiatric—mental health nursing, its practice, research, and education.
Self-Mutilation and Malingering among Cuban Migrants Detained at Guantanamo Bay

In the late summer of 1994, thousands of Cubans tried to flee to the United States, using crude rafts to make the trip across the Caribbean to the Florida coast.1 The reason for this exodus was the...
Development of auditory brainstem response to tone pip stimuli in the rat

The course of development of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) in rat was examined. Pure tone pip stimuli of 3, 8 and 40 kHz at intensities up to 106 dB sound pressure level peak equivalent were presented to anesthetized rats on postnatal days (PND) 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 24, 36, 70 and 96. The peak-to-peak amplitude and the order of appearance of each wave was examined at each stimulus parameter. The first response to presentation of an auditory stimulus was observed on PND 12. This response was demonstrated to be of non-neural origin and presumed to be a summating potential representing hair cell function in the cochlea. The first neural responses, observed on PND 14, to 3- and 8-kHz tones only, appeared as two or more waves. High-frequency (40 kHz) tones did not elicit any substantive neural response on PND 14, but neural activity to this stimulus was observed consistently by PND 16. By PND 20, 4 waves were present consistently at all test frequencies, and by PND 36 the full adult complement of 5 vertex positive waves was recorded. The frequency-dependent sequential appearance of waves during development lends support to data charting the development of frequency mapping in the cochlea. The amplitude of waves I and II at 8 kHz decreased as the animal matured, while waves III-V generally showed an initial increase in amplitude at all test frequencies through PND 24 followed by a gradual amplitude decrease to adult levels. Possible sources for developmental changes in amplitude are discussed.
Absence of Significant A-B Scale Differences Among Medical Specialties

Using a new and improved A-B measure of psychotherapist effectiveness (SSZ-46) derived from the Strong Vocational Interest Blank, this study sought to determine whether psychiatrists as a group could be differentiated from other medical specialists. SVIB data were obtained while the 282 subjects (all males) were students at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; present medical specialty was ascertained at subsequent follow-up. Although psychiatrists and ophthalmologists obtained the highest (most A-directional) scores and pathologists the lowest, differences among groups were not statistically significant. Applications of alternative A-B measures yielded similar results. It was concluded that psychiatrists as a group are no more A-directional than other medical practitioners.
Sharing experiences with information technology.

Pharmacy is a profession focused on a responsibility to patients.[1][1] Pharmacy practice is constantly evolving to ensure that patients receive the best outcomes from their medication therapy. The changes we see in practice are often evolutionary in nature. Sometimes, however, new ideas, processes
THE EFFECTS OF FEEDING ELEVATED LEVELS OF VITAMINS D3 AND E ON BEEF QUALITY

Yearling (12 Angus, 12 Wagyu≥Angus) and 2-year old heifers (12 Angus, 12 Wagyu≥Angus) were fed elevated levels of Vitamin D3and/or Vitamin E to evaluate beef quality. Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBS) and sensory characteristics were determined on steaks from the Longissimus lumborum (LL) aged 21 days and on steaks from the Gluteus medius (GM) and Psoas major (PM) aged 7 days. Steaks were cut from all muscles, displayed for 5 days then L*value and hue angle were determined. Vitamin E supplemented heifers received the highest sensory tenderness and juiciness scores, while no differences were observed among other treatments. D3+E supplemented Angus LL had higher WBS values than other treatments and breeds. Display time affected both color measures for all muscles, but especially hue angles of GM and PM. Vitamin treatment affected LL and GM color measures in yearlings to a greater extent than in 2-year olds.
Adsorption of atrazine and metolachlor in three soils from Blue Creek wetlands, Waterville, Ohio

Atrazine and metolachlor are extensively used pesticides in agricultural activities in northwest Ohio. Adsorption coefficients are often used to model pesticide fate and transport. Many physical-chemical parameters, such as organic matter, clay content, pH, and ionic strength, affect pesticide adsorption. Adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms were studied by batch experiment. Effects of humic acid, solution pH, and ionic strength on atrazine and metolachlor adsorption were also approached. After 24 h, both atrazine and metolachlor reached adsorption equilibrium in three local soils. Adsorption isotherms were described by Freundlich equations. The Freundlich coefficient (Kf) ranged from 0.14 to 4.47 (L kg−1) for atrazine, and 0.04 to 5.30 (L kg−1) for metolachlor. Adsorption capacity decreased in the order Sloan loam > Del Rey loam > Ottokee fine sand. Koc values varied considerably for both pesticides: metolachlor > in Sloan loam, atrazine ≥ metolachlor in Del Rey loam, and atrazine > metolachlor in Ottokee fine sand. In addition to organic matter content, clay played a key role in adsorption in the Del Rey loam and Ottokee fine sand. Higher adsorption was observed at pH 5 for both pesticides. As pH decreased to 3 and increased to 11, adsorption decreased. Adsorption increased as ionic strength increased.
Current status of computational methods for transonic unsteady aerodynamics and aeroelastic applications

The current status of computational methods for unsteady aerodynamics and aeroelasticity is reviewed. The key features of challenging aeroelastic applications are discussed in terms of the flowfield state: low-angle high speed flows and high-angle vortex-dominated flows. The critical role played by viscous effects in determining aeroelastic stability for conditions of incipient flow separation is stressed. The need for a variety of flow modeling tools, from linear formulations to implementations of the Navier-Stokes equations, is emphasized. Estimates of computer run times for flutter calculations using several computational methods are given. Applications of these methods for unsteady aerodynamic and transonic flutter calculations for airfoils, wings, and configurations are summarized. Finally, recommendations are made concerning future research directions.
The topography of impact craters in “softened” terrain on Mars

The technique of photoclinometry is applied here to Viking orbiter images of Mars in order to derive topographic profiles across Martian craters on both softened and unsoftened terrain. The results demonstrate that craters on the two kinds of terrain are in fact topographically distinct. Both simple and complex softened craters are characterized by more convex-upward crater walls than are unsoftened craters, and both simple and complex softened craters have rounder crater rims. Softened complex craters have modestly smaller crater depths than unsoftened complex craters. Both the rim heights and bowl depths are reduced, with the rim heights reduced more. Softened simple craters have much smaller crater depths than unsoftened simple craters. Both the rim heights and bowl depths are reduced, with the bowl depths reduced more.
Thermal Expansion and Chemical Durability of Phosphate Glasses

The thermal expansion coefficient and aqueous dissolution rate were measured for alkali phosphate glasses containing a third and fourth component. For a given series, both properties increased monotonically as the radii of the alkali ions increased. The observed expansion coefficients were in the range 99 to 286 × 10−7°C−1. A small mixed-alkali effect was observed for both properties.
The preservation of infective spores of Octosporea muscaedomesticae in Phormia regina, of Nosema algerae in Anopheles stephensi, and of Nosema whitei in Tribolium castaneum by lyophilization☆

Abstract Infective spores of three species of microsporidia were subjected to the lyophilization process by employing varying media as cryoprotectants. The infectivity of the lyophilized spores was then tested against a standard fresh spore preparation in the appropriate host insect. Spores of Octosporea muscaedomesticae served as an experimental model and were rendered noninfective in host Phormia regina (Calliphoridae: Diptera) after lyophilization with the following cryoprotective agents: skim milk (12%), ascorbic acid (5%) combined with thiourea (5%), glycerol (10%), mesoinositol (5%), and equine serum. Spores of O. muscaedomesticae lyophilized or vacuum-dried in 50% sucrose as well as in the hosts' tissues remained highly infective for as long as 2 years at a dose of 10 6 spores/fly and a trial length of 12 days. At a dose of 5 × 10 4 spores/fly there was a slight decrease in infectivity of the spores which had been lyophilized in the host's abdomen after a 2-year storage period compared with that of fresh, nonlyophilized spores. Naked spores of Nosema algerae suspended in 50% sucrose and lyophilized produced infection in 50% of the host population of Anopheles stephensi (Culicidae: Diptera) compared with 70% infection produced by fresh non-lyophilized spores. Spores of Nosema whitei lyophilized within its host larva Tribolium castaneum (Tenebrionidae: Coleoptera) remained 100% infective at a dose of 5 × 10 5 spores/gram diet. It is concluded that an aqueous solution of 50% sucrose and/or the host's tissues are excellent protectants for the cryogenic or vacuum-drying process of the above-named spores, and their protective function may apply also to other microsporidian species.
Evaluation of the factors influencing stomach-specific delivery of antibacterial agents for Helicobacter pylori infection

Because Helicobacter pylori infection is localized in the gastric mucus layer and at the mucus layer-epithelial cell interface, we have developed amoxycillin- and metronidazole-containing chitosan microspheres for stomach-specific drug delivery. Drug-loaded porous chitosan microspheres were prepared by simultaneous crosslinking and precipitation with sodium tripolyphosphate. The release of antibacterial agents into simulated gastric fluid (SGF, pH 1.2), and the stability and permeability through gastric mucin, were examined at 37 degrees C. Because of the high porosity of drug-loaded chitosan microspheres, all the amoxycillin and metronidazole were released in 2 h. High-performance liquid chromatography assays of the antibacterial agents in SGF at 37 degrees C indicated 40% degradation of amoxycillin after 10 h. Metronidazole was completely stable for up to 24 h in SGF. Amoxycillin and metronidazole were highly permeable through the gastric mucin gel layer. The results of this study show that acid-stable antibacterial agents, such as metronidazole, that rapidly permeate the gastric mucus layer would be very effective for the complete eradication of H. pylori infection when delivered specifically at the site of infection in the stomach.
Heteronuclear zero-field NMR

Abstract The NMR spectra of polycrystalline solids are often best resolved in the absence of applied magnetic fields. Additionally, heteronuclear spin systems in zero field display features not observed in homonuclear systems. In this letter, spectra are presented and analyzed for the cases of heteronuclear spin pairs in 13 C-enriched β-calcium formate (solid) and in diethyl phosphite (liquid).
Use of factor analysis models to evaluate measurement invariance property of the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ)

Purposes To demonstrate the assessment of measurement invariance property in a health status instrument and to increase the awareness of its importance, we evaluate the measurement invariance of the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) across age and gender subgroups.
Altered Oxygen Permeation Through Packaging Polymers in Contact with Liquids—a Mathematical Model Confirmed in a Dilute Xanthan Gum Solution

The ability of liquids to reduce oxygen permeation through low density polyethylene (LDPE), oriented polypropylene (OPP), polyethylene terepthalate (PET), and polyvinylidene chloride (PVTDC) films was mathematically modeled using a water/xanthan solution as a model medium. For low barrier films (LDPE and OPP), the medium substantially reduced oxygen permeation. In PET, an intermediate barrier, the medium produced a recognizable, but minor reductions in permeation. For the highest barrier (PVDC), the medium's influence on permeation was almost unidentifiable. The effect of the medium's oxygen solubility constant and diffusion coefficient on permeation was also examined. For all films, reduction in permeation became significant only after solubility and diffusion values fell below 40% of water values.
Serum lactic dehydrogenase isoenzymes in diabetes and chlorpropamide therapy.

Serum LDH isoenzyme fractions were evaluated in non-diabetic control subjects, diet-controlled diabetic patients and diabetic patients receiving chlorpropamide (Diabinese) in addition to diet. Statistically significant elevations of fraction I were observed in both the diet-controlled and the chlorpropamide diet-controlled diabetic groups when compared with the normal controls. Fraction III, however, showed a statistically significant decrease in activity in the two diabetic groups when compared with the normal controls. No significant changes were observed in the other fractions. The findings indicate that the diabetic state per se may elicit an increase in fraction I with a decrease in fraction III, and that chlorpropamide therapy has no effect on the relative concentrations of the various serum LDH isoenzymes. This evidence confirms a previous observation from this laboratory that liver function remains unaltered during chlorpropamide therapy and that the mild abnormalities reported here are in all likelihood peculiar to the diabetic state itself.
Drosophila Amphiphysin Functions during Synaptic Fasciclin II Membrane Cycling

Recent studies have revealed that endocytosis and exocytosis of postsynaptic receptors play a major role in the regulation of synaptic function, particularly during long-term potentiation and long-term depression. Interestingly, many of the proteins implicated in exocytosis and endocytosis of synaptic vesicles are also involved in postsynaptic protein cycling. In vertebrates, Amphiphysin is postulated to function during endocytosis in nerve terminals; however, several recent reports using a Drosophila amphiphysin (damph) null mutant have failed to substantiate such a role at fly synapses. In addition, Damph is surprisingly enriched at the postsynapse. Here we used the glutamatergic larval neuromuscular junction to study the synaptic role of Damph. By selectively labeling internal and external pools of the cell adhesion molecule Fasciclin II (FasII), and by using a novel in vivo surface FasII immunocapture protocol, we show that the level of external FasII is decreased in damph mutants although the total level of FasII remains constant. In vivo FasII internalization assays indicate that the reincorporation of FasII molecules into the cell surface is severely inhibited in damph mutants. Moreover, we show that blocking soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) function in postsynaptic muscle cells interferes with FasII exocytosis. These experiments suggest that in Drosophila, Damph functions during SNARE-dependent postsynaptic FasII membrane cycling. This study challenges the notion that synaptic Amphiphysin is involved exclusively in endocytosis and suggests a novel role for this protein in postsynaptic exocytosis.
DC Amplifier Misalignment in Computing Systems

The equivalent input circuit representation for dc misalignment (offset) has appeared in the literature for the special case of a vacuum tube voltage amplifier with infinite input impedance. This paper will generalize the concept of the equivalent input circuit representation for dc offset for the four amplifier types with finite input impedances, and will give the conditions under which the use of each equivalent circuit is justified. In each case, two offset generators which are characteristic of the amplifier alone?independent of driving source impedance and load impedance termination? are defined. Because of this independence, the offset generators are referred to herein as ``characteristic misalignment generators.'' When the amplifier is connected into a system, a knowledge of these generators permits calculation of the effect of amplifier offset on system performance.
Recovery from GABA-mediated hemiplegia in young and aged rats: effects of catecholaminergic manipulations

We investigated the participation of catecholaminergic mechanisms in the functional recovery from motor cortex lesions in young (9 months) and aged (26 months) rats. The animals were studied during the recovery period from an hemiplegic syndrome secondary to small motor cortex lesions potentiated by the localized, chronic (7 days) infusion of GABA into the lesion site. Acute administration of haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg IP) to these recovered animals induced a re-emergence of the contralateral motor syndrome in both groups. In the young group, the haloperidol-induced hemiplegia lasted one day whereas in the aged animals the deficit was significantly prolonged lasting three days. Apomorphine administration (0.5 mg/kg IP) prior to or immediately after haloperidol injection failed to prevent or reverse the reappearance of the motor deficit. Adult animals recovered from motor cortex aspirations performed 7 to 12 months prior were refractory to haloperidol effects. Amphetamine administration to young rats treated chronically with saline or GABA infusion into the somatomotor region also failed to alter the clinical evolution of the motor deficit. The evidence suggests that dopaminergic mechanisms are involved in the functional recovery from brain lesions and that these mechanisms are most susceptible to neuroleptic blockade during the early post-lesional period. The deleterious effects of dopaminergic blockade are heightened in aged populations. The use of dopaminergic antagonists in brain-lesioned subjects, and particularly in geriatric populations, is considered potentially harmful, particularly in the early stages of the recovery process.
Analysis of vibration amplification in a multi-staged clutch damper during engine start-up

Transient vibration amplifications of torsional systems passing through critical speeds have been of interest for a considerable amount of time. However, previous investigations on the piecewise linear system have focused mostly on numerical methods, and thus a reliable analytical method is not available for predicting transient amplification events. This article overcomes this void by developing and utilizing the closed-form solution of a linear single-degree-of-freedom torsional system, given a motion input under a constant acceleration rate, to approximate the transient responses of a piecewise linear system. This system represents a simplified vehicle powertrain system with a multi-staged clutch damper during the engine start-up process under an instantaneous motion input from the flywheel. First, the utility of a single-degree-of-freedom system and the motion input for the start-up process are experimentally and numerically illustrated by vehicle start-up measurements. Second, a closed-form solution ...
Detection and Localization of Material Releases With Sparse Sensor Configurations

We consider the problem of detecting and localizing a material release utilizing sparse sensor measurements and formulate the problem as one of abrupt change detection. Methods which rely on single-sensor detection require dense deployment to achieve adequate coverage; costly sensors preclude such approaches. Furthermore, localization requires the fusion of multiple sensor measurements. Fusion in sparse sensor configurations is dependent on the knowledge of the dynamics of particle dispersion, which is, itself, problematic due to the inherent randomness on the wind field. We consider the efficacy of using an approximate dynamic model with coarse parameter estimates for the detection and localization of material releases. Specifically, we consider propagation models consisting of diffusion plus transport according to a Gaussian dispersion model. Assuming a known wind field, unconstrained intersensor communication, and a centralized processor, we derive optimal inference algorithms and provide a hybrid detection-localization hypothesis-testing framework with linear growth in the hypothesis space. We then analyze the probability of detection, time-to-detection, and localization performance as a function of the number of sensors. Furthermore, we examine the impact on performance when the underlying dynamical model deviates from the assumed model. This detailed analysis provides the basis for the design of more sophisticated algorithms for 1) performing robust detection followed by refined nonlinear parameter estimation which provides enhanced localization, and 2) distributed architectures aimed at conserving communication resources in which detections within local clusters are used to trigger more intensive intercluster communication to improve detection and localization
One-Sided Confidence Intervals for the Quality Indices of a Complex Item

One-sided confidence intervals are found for the quality indices of a complex item comprising k vital components each having an exponentially distributed lifetime when life-testing data are available only for the individual components. The sampling plan consideredisthatinwhichniofcomponentiaretested untilri r i ≤ n i fail, i = 1,2, …, k. Two types of confidence intervals are obtained, one preferable for small samples or when the mean lifetimes of the components are nearly equal; the other for large samples with a wider range of mean lifetimes or in cases when there is reason to suspect the validity of the assumption of exponentially distributed lifetimes.
A framework for building complex netcentric systems on Active Network

Active applications can add value to communication. Yet it involves sophisticated domain knowledge and complex development process. In this paper we discuss a framework for the construction of complex active network applications. Its design motivation is to enable an expert to develop complex active applications as a value added communication service and make it available for repeated use by the end-applications. As a test case we select a self-organizing adaptive video transcoding channel. This multi-component multi-tier novel active application enables video to propagate over extreme network with highly asymmetric link and node capacity. At the same time it offers a unified channel abstraction to its service subscriber. In this paper we focus how this channel abstraction can be composed within the proposed active service composition framework.
Modern and Evolving Understanding of Cerebral Perfusion and Autoregulation.

occurred over the past 5 to 10 years. Perhaps the most important of these changes has been a reinterpretation of older autoregulation studies that have resulted in raising the lower limit of autoregulation to approximately 70 mm Hg to 80 mm Hg, and not the previously used 60 mm Hg. � Tremendous variability in the lower limits of autoregulation exists among individuals. Using a percentage reduction below baseline blood pressure as a lower limit may result in better optimization of cerebral perfusion than using absolute blood pressure values. � Other changes in practice for the general anesthesiologist include correcting blood pressure for height differences between the site of blood pressure measurement and the brain, particularly in the sitting position, to account for the hydrostatic gradient. Rare cases of severe brain damage have been reported that may be related to hypoperfusion in the beach chair position. � Multiple physiologic and drug interactions that affect cerebral perfusion occur during every general anesthestic, and understanding the best way to optimize cerebral blood flow may potentially improve outcomes. Newer research on flow-metabolism coupling points to regional control of cerebral blood flow by the neurovascular unit, with glial cells playing a central role.
The Power Grid Transient Simulation in Linear Time Based on 3D Alternating-Direction-Implicit Method

The rising power consumption and clock frequency of VLSI technology demand robust and stable power delivery. Extensive transient simulations on large scale power delivery structures are required to analyze power delivery fluctuation caused by dynamic IR-, and Ldi/dt drop as well as package and on-chip resonance. This paper develops a novel and efficient transient simulation algorithm for the power distribution networks. The 3D TLM-ADI (Transmission-Line-Modeling Alternating-Direction-Implicit) method, first models the power delivery structure as a three dimensional transmission line shunt node structure and transfers those equations to the Telegraph equation. Finally, we solve it by the alternating direction implicit method. The 3D TLM-ADI method, with linear runtime and memory requirement, is also unconditionally stable which ensures that the time-steps are not limited by any stability requirement. Numerical experimental results show that the 3D TLM-ADI method is not only over 300,000 times faster than SPICE but also extremely memory saving and accurate.
High wallplug efficiency vertical-cavity top-surface-emitting laser diodes

Summary form only given. Wallplug efficiencies as high as 12.7% have been achieved for top-emitting VCSELs (vertical cavity surface emitting lasers) by addressing the associated complication of peripheral contacts on proton-bombarded regions in addition to mirror resistance. The two major technical advances that have resulted in the improved wallplug efficiencies are low-resistance p-type DBRs (distributed Bragg reflectors) and low resistance contacts to implanted regions of the DBR. VCSELs designed for 980-nm wavelength have been fabricated from epitaxial material incorporating these advances. Typical device characteristics including 2 mW in the fundamental mode and 2 V thresholds are routinely accomplished. Initially, wallplug efficiencies of 10% were typical; however, subsequent rapid thermal anneals increased the typical efficiency of 11% due to slight decreases in threshold current and slight increases in the initial slope efficiency. The efficiency increased further after an 8 h burn-in at a current of 10 mA. The highest efficiency measured after burn-in was 12.7% and occurred at 1.5 mW in the fundamental mode. >
PARALLEL OPTIMAL CONTROL WITH MULTIPLE SHOOTING, CONSTRAINTS AGGREGATION AND ADJOINT METHODS

In this paper, constraint aggregation is combined with the adjoint and multiple shooting strategies for optimal control of differential algebraic equations (DAE) systems. The approach retains the inherent parallelism of the conventional multiple shooting method, while also being much more efficient for large scale problems. Constraint aggregation is employed to reduce the number of nonlinear continuity constraints in each multiple shooting interval, and its derivatives are computed by the adjoint DAE solver DASPKADJOINT together with ADIFOR and TAMC, the automatic differentiation software for forward and reverse mode, respectively. Numerical experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
Hierarchical variational loopy belief propagation for multi-talker speech recognition

We present a new method for multi-talker speech recognition using a single-channel that combines loopy belief propagation and variational inference methods to control the complexity of inference. The method models each source using an HMM with a hierarchical set of acoustic states, and uses the max model to approximate how the sources interact to generate mixed data. Inference involves inferring a set of probabilistic time-frequency masks to separate the speakers. By conditioning these masks on the hierarchical acoustic states of the speakers, the fidelity and complexity of acoustic inference can be precisely controlled. Acoustic inference using the algorithm scales linearly with the number of probabilistic time-frequency masks, and temporal inference scales linearly with LM size. Results on the monaural speech separation task (SSC) data demonstrate that the presented Hierarchical Variational Max-Sum Product Algorithm (HVMSP) outperforms VMSP by over 2% absolute using 4 times fewer probablistic masks. HVMSP furthermore performs on-par with the MSP algorithm, which utilizes exact conditional marginal likelihoods, using 256 times less time-frequency masks.
REMARKS ON NAIVE SET THEORY BASED ON LP

Dialetheism is the metaphysical claim that there are true contradictions. And based on this view, Graham Priest and his collaborators have been suggesting solutions to a number of paradoxes. Those paradoxes include Russell’s paradox in naive set theory. For the purpose of dealing with this paradox, Priest is known to have argued against the presence of classical negation in the underlying logic of naive set theory. The aim of the present paper is to challenge this view by showing that there is a way to handle classical negation.