cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Methanol to Formaldehyde by Isolated Vanadium, Molybdenum, and Chromium Oxide Clusters Supported on Rutile TiO2(110)

We use density functional theory to examine some of the important aspects of methanol oxidation to formaldehyde catalyzed by isolated MO3 (M = V, Mo, and Cr) clusters supported on rutile, TiO2(110). Thermodynamic analysis led us to conclude that in the presence of oxygen, the M (M = V, Mo, and Cr) atom takes three oxygen atoms from the gas phase and this MO3 species is the oxidant in the catalyst. We calculate the structure of these clusters, their Bader charge, the structure of the methoxide formed by methanol adsorption, and the activation energy for the dehydrogenation of the methyl group in the methoxide. We find that VO3 is a substantially better catalyst than MoO3 or CrO3.
In-Stent Restenosis Limitation with Stent-based Controlled-Release Nitric Oxide: Initial Results in Rabbits

PURPOSE: To evaluate effect of controlled stent-based release of an NO donor to limit in-stent restenosis in rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bioerodable microspheres containing NO donor or biodegradable polymer (polylactide-co-glycolide–polyethylene glycol) were prepared and loaded in channeled stents. Daily concentrations of NO release from NO-containing microspheres were assayed in vitro. NO- and polymer-containing (control) microsphere-loaded stents were deployed in aortas of New Zealand white rabbits (n = 8). Aortas with stents were harvested at 7 (n = 5) and 28 days (n = 3) and evaluated for cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels (7 days), number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen–positive cells (7 days), and intima-to-media ratio (7 and 28 days), with statistical significance evaluated by using one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: NO-containing microspheres released NO with an initial bolus in the 1st week, followed by sustained release for the remaining 3 weeks. Significant increase in c...
A Man of Distinction among Them: Alexander McKee and the Ohio Country Frontier, 1754-1799

A Man of Distinction Among Them: Alexander McKee and the Ohio Country Frontier, 1754-1799. By Larry L. Nelson. (Kent: Kent State University Press, 1999. Pp. xv, 262. Illustrations, maps. $35.00.) On the surface, Larry L. Nelson's account of British Indian agent Alexander McKee seems a part of a very old historiography: biographies of relatively low-level government officials on the frontier. One of the more recent, and more effective, of such works is Reginald Horsman's more-than-three-- decades-old study, Matthew Elliott: British Indian Agent (1964). But appearances can be deceiving. With A Man of Distinction Among Them, Nelson reworks this approach by situating his subject within a framework established by the most up-to-date scholarship, not only on the upper Ohio Valley and British Indian policy, but also on cultural mediation and frontier interactions. In particular, he relies heavily upon Richard White's influential analysis of the "middle ground" to understand the world in which McKee acted (The Middle Ground: Indians, Empires, and Republics in the Great Lakes Region, 1650-1815 [1991]). For Nelson, Alexander McKee was the classic cultural mediator. Nelson presents him as the mixed-race child of an Irish immigrant fur trader and a Shawnee woman (it seems probable that she was a white captive who had been raised by the Shawnees). Born around 1735 on the western Pennsylvania frontier, McKee grew up at a time and place when the barriers of race, culture, and nation were permeable. In the late 1760s, he married a Shawnee (though, like his mother, she appears to have been a white adoptee). McKee maintained a dual existence, with homes and stores in both native villages and white settlements until at least the late 1770s. Unlike most cultural mediators, however, McKee was, Nelson argues, not a "marginal man" whose standing in each of the cultures in which he operated was always tenuous (xiii). Instead, he was highly respected in both worlds. With the outbreak of war in the upper Ohio Valley in the mid-1750s, McKee began to serve the British government as an interpreter and envoy. Over the next four decades, he rose through the ranks of the British Indian department, acting as agent, commissary, and, for the final years of his life, deputy superintendant and inspector general. At the same time, he engaged in the fur trade, speculated in land, and operated a store. These activities placed him at the center of Anglo-Indian relations during the Seven Years War, Pontiac's Rebellion, Dunmore's War, the American Revolution, and the continuing war between the Ohio Indians and the United States that persisted until the Battle of Fallen Timbers and the Treaty of Greenville. In Nelson's appraisal, McKee was "a pivotal figure" throughout these decades (x). It is in elaborating McKee's "pivotal" role in these events that Nelson suggests the promise and reveals the shortcomings of this book. For much of his service, McKee was a critical-if not the only-conduit between the British government and some native villages and groups. …
Drug-Induced Liver Injury: Review Article

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a term that describes abnormalities in liver function tests (LFTs) related to medication intake. DILI, a subtype of hepatotoxicity, does not include hepatic injuries related to nonmedicinal compounds, including herbal, complementary, and alternative medicines [1, 2]. DILI accounts for roughly 0.1% to 3% of hospital admissions, 600 liver transplantations, and 120 deaths from liver failure in the United States each year [3–6]. It is the Number 1 cause of death from acute liver failure in the country [3], and the most frequent cause of medication withdrawal from the market [7]. The liver is the central organ in the metabolism and detoxification of drugs and toxins. Consequently, drugs affect the liver more frequently than any other organ and place the liver at increased risk for toxic damage [8]. After absorption by the intestines, drugs reach the liver via the portal system. In
Helmet-mounted display (HMD) upgrade for the US Army's AVCATT simulation program

The Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT) reconfigurable manned module simulator is the Army's premier deployable helicopter collective training simulator. While successful, improvements to the visual display performance for the Out-The-Window (OTW) visual system have been desired. In a recent selection evaluation, Rockwell Collins' SR100A HMD was chosen for the upgrade, improving display resolution, reducing weight, enhancing comfort and increasing ruggedness. This paper will compare the current XL100A HMD with the improved performance of the new SR100A system.
Use of assisted reproductive technologies and anesthesia in a patient with primary pulmonary hypertension

Abstract Objective To report the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in a patient with primary pulmonary hypertension. Design Case report. Setting University medical center. Patient(s) A 28-year-old nulliparous woman with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) treated with continuous intravenous epoprostenol. Intervention(s) Ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, general anesthesia, and pregnancy by surrogate carrier. Main outcome measure(s) Successful ART cycle(s) in patient with PPH and successful gestational carrier pregnancy. Result(s) Successful pregnancy by surrogate gestational carrier. Conclusion(s) Assisted reproductive technologies and a surrogate gestational carrier were a successful reproductive option for a patient with primary pulmonary hypertension. Ovarian stimulation, oocyte retrieval, and general anesthesia are not without risk but were well tolerated in this case. Multidisciplinary involvement in the planning and administration of such procedures is necessary for optimal outcomes in these patients.
I-SPINE: a software package for advances in image-guided and minimally invasive spine procedures

While image guidance is now routinely used in the brain in the form of frameless stereotaxy, it is beginning to be more widely used in other clinical areas such as the spine. At Georgetown University Medical Center, we are developing a program to provide advanced visualization and image guidance for minimally invasive spine procedures. This is a collaboration between an engineering-based research group and physicians from the radiology, neurosurgery, and orthopaedics departments. A major component of this work is the ISIS Center Spine Procedures Imaging and Navigation Engine, which is a software package under development as the base platform for technical advances.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Wall Street women: professional saviors of the global economy

Purpose – This paper aims to, by drawing on two decades of field work on Wall Street, explore the recent evolution in the gendering of Wall Street, as well as the potential effects – including the reproduction of financiers’ power – of that evolution. The 2008 financial crisis was depicted in strikingly gendered terms – with many commentators articulating a divide between masculine, greedy, risk-taking behavior and feminine, conservative, risk-averse approaches for healing the crisis. For a time, academics, journalists and women on Wall Street appeared to be in agreement in identifying women’s feminine styles as uniquely suited to lead – even repair – the economic debacle. Design/methodology/approach – The article is based on historical research, in-depth interviews and fieldwork with the first generation of Wall Street women from the 1970s up until 2013. Findings – In this article, it is argued that the preoccupation in feminine styles of leadership in finance primarily reproduces the power of white glob...
Mechanism of dimethyl sulfoxide‐induced hemolysis

A study has been made of the possible mechanism by which dimethyl sulfoxide induces hemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes in vitro. Erythrocytes were shown by spectral analysis to remove dimethyl sulfoxide from aqueous solution and to resist the agent's release upon washing. Electron microscopy revealed the increased formation of lesions in the erythrocyte membrane with increasing concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide. Dimethyl sulfoxide was also shown to be increasingly capable of removing fatty acids from the erythrocyte membrane with an increase in concentration. Results of the study indicate that dimethyl sulfoxide is capable of causing the hemolysis of erythrocytes by virtue of its affinity for the erythrocyte membrane and the disruption of its integrity, in part due to its lipid solvency action.
Subband hybrid feature for multi-stream speech recognition

A subband hybrid (SBH) feature is developed for multi-stream (MS) speech recognition. The fullband speech signal is decomposed into multiple subbands, each covers about 3 Bark along the frequency. Speech signal is analyzed by a high-resolution filterbank of 4 filters/Bark and a low-resolution filterbank of 2 filters/Bark to facilitate the representation of both short-term spectral modulation and long-term temporal modulation within a frequency subband. Experiments on TIMIT corpus for English and RATS corpus for Arabic Levantine show that the SBH feature significantly enhances the amount of information being extracted from individual subbands. The MS system with performance monitor achieves a substantial gain in performance over the single-stream baseline.
Delivering the goods: The importance of screening accuracy for effective community intervention and prevention

The utility and feasibility of community intervention and prevention programs depend greatly on the accuracy by which programs' participants are screened from among community dwellers. This is because indiscriminate application of the program to the entire community benefits only a few, while it can even harm the many others. It is therefore necessary to define and screen a target population so the program can be delivered exclusively to them. Consequently, screening accuracy has implications for the plan, design, and evaluation of community-based programs. In this manuscript indices of screening accuracy are discussed in the context of screening for substance use, and depression. Receiver Operating Characteristic curves, measurement error, as well as design and evaluation of community programs are also discussed in the context of screening accuracy. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Measurement of Autogenous Pressure and Dissociated Species during the Thermolysis of Mesitylene for the Synthesis of Monodispersed, Pure, Paramagnetic Carbon Particles

Two reaction parameters are important for the synthesis of entirely monodispersed, pure, paramagnetic spherical carbon particles. The experimental setup is developed to measure in situ autogenous pressure as a function of temperature during the thermolysis of mesitylene in a closed reactor. In situ mass spectrometry analyzed the dissociated species during the heating cycle of mesitylene as a function of temperature. The morphology, structure, composition, and magnetic properties of the as-prepared spherical carbon particles are characterized by using SEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, EDX, CHNS analysis, and EPR.
Forest roads as partial barriers to terrestrial salamander movement

: Roads can fragment animal populations by disrupting movement among formerly continuous habitats. Although models have demonstrated that disrupted movement can contribute to long-term extinction, there are few empirical data on the effects of roads on animal movement. We used displacement and homing experiments to determine whether forest roads are barriers to the movement of terrestrial salamanders. We displaced 1471 red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) across five forest roads and compared return rates to those of salamanders displaced equal distances toward the forest interior. Roads significantly reduced the return rate of salamanders, with a mean reduction of 51%. Steep roadside verges further reduced return rates, particularly for salamanders moving downhill across verges. The permeability of roads to salamander movement did not appear to be related to road surface type. Gravel roads had both the highest and lowest observed permeability with the two paved roads intermediate between these. We conclude that narrow forest roads are partial barriers to salamander movement and that steep roadside verges may exacerbate these effects. Resumen: Las carreteras pueden fragmentar a las poblaciones animales al interrumpir el movimiento entre habitats anteriormente continuos. Aunque los modelos han demostrado que la interrupcion de movimiento puede contribuir a la extincion en el largo plazo, existen pocos datos empiricos sobre los efectos de carreteras sobre el movimiento de animales. Utilizamos experimentos de desplazamiento y de orientacion para determinar si las carreteras en bosques son barreras para el movimiento de salamandras terrestres. Desplazamos a 1471 individuos de Plethodon cinereus a traves de cinco carreteras y comparamos sus tasas de retorno con las de salamandras que fueron desplazadas a distancias equivalentes hacia el interior del bosque. Las carreteras aparentemente redujeron la tasa de retorno de salamandras, con una reduccion media de 51%. Los bordes de carretera empinados redujeron aun mas las tasas de retorno, particularmente para salamandras atravesando bordes cuesta abajo. La permeabilidad de las carreteras al movimiento de salamandras no parecio estar relacionado con el tipo de superficie de la carretera. Las carreteras cubiertas con grava tuvieron tanto la permeabilidad mas alta como la mas baja y las dos carreteras pavimentadas fueron intermedias entre las cubiertas con grava. Concluimos que las carreteras angostas son barreras parciales para el movimiento de salamandras y los bordes de carretera empinados pueden exacerbar estos efectos.
Synthesis of nanometer-sized hollow polymer capsulesfrom alkanethiol-coated gold particles

A tripodal alkythiolate ligand has been assembled on gold nanoparticles, which upon metathesis polymerization and particle etching, yields crosslinked spherical hollow polymer capsules.
Theoretical considerations on the optogalvanic detection of laser induced fluorescence in atmospheric pressure atomizers

Abstract Several theoretical considerations are given on the potential and practical capabilities of a detector of fluorescence radiation whose operating principle is based on a multi-step excitation-ionization scheme involving the fluorescence photons as the first excitation step. This detection technique, which was first proposed by Matveev et al. [ Zh. Anal Khim. 34 , 846 (1979)], combines two independent atomizers, one analytical cell for the excitation of the sample fluorescence and one cell, filled with pure analyte atomic vapor, acting as the ionization detector. One laser beam excites the analyte fluorescence in the analytical cell and one (or two) laser beams are used to ionize the excited atoms in the detector. Several different causes of signal and noise are evaluated, together with a discussion on possible analytical atom reservoirs (flames, furnaces) and laser sources which could be used with this approach. For properly devised conditions, i.e. optical saturation of the fluorescence and unity ionization efficiency, detection limits well below pg/ml in solution and well below femtograms as absolute amounts in furnaces can be predicted. However, scattering problems, which are absent in a conventional laser-enhanced ionization set-up, may be important in this approach.
The evolutionary basis of sex variations in the use of natural resources: Human examples

People, unlike other primates, regularly consume foods acquired by others. When people forage for a living, women and men customarily acquire different foods and consume the products of each other's work. This distinctively human “sexual division of labor” has seemed the hallmark of human resource use. If men and women have different economic specialties, marriage creates a social unit that deploys their different capacities to serve family needs. Other distinctively human patterns then seem to arise from this fundamental economic cooperation between the sexes. In recent decades, the use of evolutionary theory to investigate and explain social behavior across the living world has revealed pervasive conflicts of interest between (as well as within) the sexes. Application of these tools to human examples shows the “sexual division of labor” to be the economic aspect of different and conflicting reproductive agendas for women and men. A review of some examples from communities where people hunt and gather for a living illustrates that families are not units of common economic interest. As with other primates, males and females have different reproductive goals and these differences shape sex differences in patterns of resource use.
Application of Jensen's inequality to adaptive suboptimal design

In this paper, it is shown that, if the expected cost-to-go functions generated by a suboptimal design for a partially observed, discrete-time, Markov decision problem with a specific state measurement quality are concave, then the suboptimal design has a desirable adaptivity characteristic relative to that state measurement quality. Optimal strategies are shown to possess this adaptivity characteristic, as does a suboptimal design presented in an example.
Radiation budget measurements for the eighties and nineties

The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) consisted of a scanning radiometer and non-scanning radiometers on each of three spacecraft. These instruments began flying in October 1984. The nonscanning radiometers continue to operate, providing broadband radiation measurements of the Earth's outgoing longwave radiation and reflected solar radiation, in addition to measurements of the solar output. The Clouds and Earth Radiant Energy System (CERES) features a scanning radiometer, which is an improved version of the ERBE scanning radiometer, and will fly on the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission and Earth Observation System platforms in the late nineties. The CERES project will provide not only radiant fluxes at the 'top of the atmosphere' (TOA), but also at the surface and will compute radiant flux divergence through the atmosphere.
Comparative Hypersensitivity in Intravenous Lipid Emulsions

We report a case of hypersensitivity to Intra-lipid but not to Liposyn II lipid emulsion. The patient had mild allergies to soybean protein, egg yolk, and egg whites by radioallergosorbent testing (RAST). Because protein contamination of the phospholipid binder during the emulsion manufacture may rarely occur, such contamination should be considered as a cause for urticarial eruptions associated with lipid emulsions.
Analytic neutron-star models

We give a fully relativistic and analytic solution representing a slowly rotating neutron-star model.
Mechanisms of cellular invasion by intracellular parasites.

Numerous disease-causing parasites must invade host cells in order to prosper. Collectively, such pathogens are responsible for a staggering amount of human sickness and death throughout the world. Leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, toxoplasmosis, and malaria are neglected diseases and therefore are linked to socio-economical and geographical factors, affecting well-over half the world’s population. Such obligate intracellular parasites have co-evolved with humans to establish a complexity of specific molecular parasite–host cell interactions, forming the basis of the parasite’s cellular tropism. They make use of such interactions to invade host cells as a means to migrate through various tissues, to evade the host immune system, and to undergo intracellular replication. These cellular migration and invasion events are absolutely essential for the completion of the lifecycles of these parasites and lead to their for disease pathogenesis. This review is an overview of the molecular mechanisms of protozoan parasite invasion of host cells and discussion of therapeutic strategies, which could be developed by targeting these invasion pathways. Specifically, we focus on four species of protozoan parasites Leishmania, Trypanosoma cruzi, Plasmodium, and Toxoplasma, which are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality.
Solar Sources and Geospace Consequences of Interplanetary Magnetic Clouds Observed During Solar Cycle 23

We present results of a statistical investigation of 99 magnetic clouds (MCs) observed during 1995-2005. The MC-associated coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are faster and wider on the average and originate within +/-30deg from the solar disk center. The solar sources of MCs also followed the butterfly diagram. The correlation between the magnetic field strength and speed of MCs was found to be valid over a much wider range of speeds. The number of south-north (SN) MCs was dominant and decreased with solar cycle, while the number of north-south (NS) MCs increased confirming the odd-cycle behavior. Two-thirds of MCs were geoeffective; the Dst index was highly correlated with speed and magnetic field in MCs as well as their product. Many (55%) fully northward (FN) MCs were geoeffective solely due to their sheaths. The non-geoeffective MCs were slower (average speed approx. 382 km/s), had a weaker southward magnetic field (average approx. -5.2nT), and occurred mostly during the rise phase of the solar activity cycle.
A Method for Studying Conformational Relaxations by Molecular Simulation: Conformational Defects in α-Phase Poly(vinylidene fluoride)

A general method is proposed for the molecular level characterization of relaxation and transformation processes in polymer crystals mediated by propagation of conformational imperfections. The proposed approach combines a definition of the defect ensemble, in terms of the extent and boundary conditions of the defect zone, with procedures for searching conformation space for stable conformations in the ensemble and for determining the adiabatic reaction path connecting one symmetry-equivalent position of the defect in the lattice to another. The method was applied to the αc relaxation that occurs in the crystalline α phase of PVDF (α-PVDF). A large number of possible defects were found with a wide spectrum of heats of formation. Several of the lowest energy defects could be packed efficiently into the α-PVDF crystal. The adiabatic pathway for defect transport was estimated and vibrational contributions to the thermodynamic functions were obtained at all the stationary states. Two distinct relaxation proce...
Analytic theory of extrema, II: Application to non-linear oscillators

Abstract A simple method is applied that yields analytic results for the mean first passage time and the mean extreme value of Fokker-Planck processes in the asymptotic regime. The extremal properties of lightly damped linear and non-linear oscillators excited by white noise are studied. The agreement of the results of this theory with previous calculations is excellent.
Cyclic nucleotide activation of the silkmoth brain—;Cellular localization and further observations on the patterns of activation

Abstract The dramatic increase in brain cAMP levels associated with the activation of secretory activity in the brain of Cecropia can be elicited by transferring diapausing pupae of A. pernyi from short to long-day photoperiod. This “spike” of cAMP is not elicited when sufficiently chilled Cecropia pupae are exposed to short-day photoperiod at room temperature. The locus of this increase in brain cAMP content was determined to be the median neurosecretory cells by immunofluorescent methods.
Molecular systematics of the neotropical genus Psiguria (Cucurbitaceae): Implications for phylogeny and species identification.

Vines and lianas are important components of tropical forest ecosystems. They are found in both primary and secondary forests, at all levels of vegetation from forest fl oor to canopy, and they are most commonly seen without fl owers. Adaptations for defense, camoufl age, pollinator attraction, or increased exposure to light include leaf mimicry, changes in leaf shape, texture, or size over the life span of an individual, as well as variation in flshape, size, and color. Such infraspecifi c transformations make identifi cation based on morphology very challenging, if not impossible. One solution is to use molecular data to defi ne species boundaries. An example is presented here with the genus Psiguria Arn. (Cucurbitaceae), whose species identifi cations are confounded by several morphologi
Predicting Commitment in Young Adults’ Physically Aggressive and Sexually Coercive Dating Relationships

Intimate partner violence often begins during the courtship stage of romantic relationships. Although some relationships dissolve as a result of aggression, other relationships remain intact, increasing the risk for escalated violence. The present study identified factors predictive of individual differences in emerging adults’ commitment to physically aggressive or sexually coercive dating relationships. Specifically, Rusbult’s Investment Model of romantic relationships (e.g., investment, satisfaction, quality of alternatives, and commitment) was applied to a longitudinal sample of 148 young adult women who reported experiencing aggression or coercion from their current partners. To further explain commitment within aggressive or coercive dating relationships, rejection sensitivity and anxious and avoidant romantic relational styles were included as predictors of the Investment Model variables. A more avoidant romantic style indirectly predicted commitment through relationship satisfaction and investment...
Task-Dependent Modulation of Regions in the Left Inferior Frontal Cortex during Semantic Processing

To distinguish areas involved in the processing of word meaning (semantics) from other regions involved in lexical processing more generally, subjects were scanned with positron emission tomography (PET) while performing lexical tasks, three of which required varying degrees of semantic analysis and one that required phonological analysis. Three closely apposed regions in the left inferior frontal cortex and one in the right cerebellum were significantly active above baseline in the semantic tasks, but not in the nonsemantic task. The activity in two of the frontal regions was modulated by the difficulty of the semantic judgment. Other regions, including some in the left temporal cortex and the cerebellum, were active across all four language tasks. Thus, in addition to a number of regions known to be active during language processing, regions in the left inferior frontal cortex were specifically recruited during semantic processing in a task-dependent manner. A region in the right cerebellum may be functionally related to those in the left inferior frontal cortex. Discussion focuses on the implications of these results for current views regarding neural substrates of semantic processing.
Adapting Teacher-Made Tests for Mainstreamed Students

For handicapped students mainstreamed into the regular classroom, use of teacher—made tests to evaluate performance may be an obstacle to successful functioning in that environment. This article presents educators with specific strategies to consider in constructing teacher-made tests to optimize the performance of mainstreamed students. Guidelines relating to content and format of tests as well as test-taking behaviors are discussed.
Case study: product management during shut down of a CMOS production fab

In order to meet the increasing demand of semiconductor devices with minimum incremental cost, a 125 mm CMOS fab was converted to a 150 mm power BiCMOS. This paper focuses on the challenges encountered and experience learned from the shutting down of the 125 mm production from the perspective of product management. Since the shut down of our fab involved multiple internal organizations, the teamwork of multiple individuals who did not report to the fab management team was needed. Because of the complexity of the conversion and the limited human and financial resources available, great resistance was experienced in shutting down of a profit-making factory even in an effort to increase profit in the long run. Thorough communication of our vision and obtaining management "buy-in", we were able to win the team work of all the key players. The 125 mm fab provided semiconductor devices to four internal business organizations with over 60 business units. The next issue encountered was to decide which product to "keep" vs. to "kill". With an approach that relied on communication, creativity, willingness to take calculated risk, the 125 mm production was shut down successfully on time within 12 month while die delivery impact to customer is minimized.
Assembly of a Ca2+‐dependent BK channel signaling complex by binding to β2 adrenergic receptor

Large-conductance voltage and Ca2+-activated potassium channels (BKCa) play a critical role in modulating contractile tone of smooth muscle, and neuronal processes. In most mammalian tissues, activation of β-adrenergic receptors and protein kinase A (PKAc) increases BKCa channel activity, contributing to sympathetic nervous system/hormonal regulation of membrane excitability. Here we report the requirement of an association of the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) with the pore forming α subunit of BKCa and an A-kinase-anchoring protein (AKAP79/150) for β2 agonist regulation. β2AR can simultaneously interact with both BKCa and L-type Ca2+ channels (Cav1.2) in vivo, which enables the assembly of a unique, highly localized signal transduction complex to mediate Ca2+- and phosphorylation-dependent modulation of BKCa current. Our findings reveal a novel function for G protein-coupled receptors as a scaffold to couple two families of ion channels into a physical and functional signaling complex to modulate β-adrenergic regulation of membrane excitability.
Interaction between Hantavirus Nucleocapsid Protein (N) and RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase (RdRp) Mutants Reveals the Requirement of an N-RdRp Interaction for Viral RNA Synthesis

Viral ribonucleocapsids harboring the viral genomic RNA are used as the template for viral mRNA synthesis and replication of the viral genome by viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Here we show that hantavirus nucleocapsid protein (N protein) interacts with RdRp in virus-infected cells. We mapped the RdRp binding domain at the N terminus of N protein. Similarly, the N protein binding pocket is located at the C terminus of RdRp. We demonstrate that an N protein-RdRp interaction is required for RdRp function during the course of virus infection in the host cell.
New methods for whole blood oximetry.

New techniques for determining the hematocrit (Hct) and oxygen saturation (SO2) of whole blood from backscattered light measurements are described. First, theoretical and experimental results are presented which show that the empirical linear relationship between SO2and the infrared-red backscattered light intensity ratio on which previous instruments have been based is an inadequate description primarily because it does not account for the strong effects of Hct and transducer geometry. Then it is shown that the ratio of backscattered intensities from two appropriately positioned infrared sources can be plotted against the infrared-red intensity ratio to produce a family of calibration curves from which SO2and Hct can be independently determined. Finally, a practical implementation of an oximetry system which employs a microelectronic catheter-tip optical sensor and a microprocessor-based signal processor is proposed.
Positional Obstruction of the Superior Mesenteric Artery by an Intra-aortic Balloon Pump Placed Through Subclavian Artery Approach

Patients awaiting orthotropic heart transplant (OHT) often require temporary mechanical circulatory support. Although the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) placed through percutaneous femoral arteriotomy is the most commonly used form of mechanical circulatory support in the United States, this approach requires the patient to remain immobile, making it suboptimal for extended use. Our center recently developed a novel technique to insert an IABP through the subclavian artery (SCA),1 allowing the patient to ambulate. Briefly, a polytetrafluoroethylene graft is anastomosed in an end-to-side fashion to the right or left SCA. A valve is secured within the other end of the graft, and the IABP is advanced through the graft into the descending aorta. The proximal radio-opaque IABP marker is positioned 2 cm superior to the carina with the distal marker near the L2 vertebra. Although several groups have reported various techniques for SCA IABP insertion,2,3 no consensus exists regarding the optimal position of the distal tip. We report 2 cases of IABP migration into the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) with associated bowel ischemia. A 60-year-old, 180 cm tall man with a Maquet 8F 50cc right SCA IABP complained of nonbloody diarrhea and severe abdominal pain radiating to the back 6 days after implant. He denied urinary symptoms and had no history of pancreatic, hepatic, or ulcerative disease. On physical examination, there was diffuse abdominal tenderness without peritoneal signs or distention. Bowel sounds were intact. Laboratories and ultrasonography of the liver, pancreas, and biliary system were unremarkable. Anteroposterior chest x-ray showed the …
ATMOSPHERIC DENSITY VARIATIONS AT 140 KILOMETERS DEDUCED FROM PRECISE SATELLITE RADAR TRACKING DATA.

Atmospheric density variations at 140 km deduced from precise satellite radar tracking data
Producer Services in the Urban Core and Suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona:

Recent research shows growing concentration of corporate decision-making functions in metropolitan cores and strong relationships between managerial activities and producer services. The paper investigates the location of 12 disaggregated producer service sectors in Phoenix, Arizona. Concentration of legal, accounting and computer services underpin the economy of the inner core. Second-order unweighted and employment-weighted distance-based clustering of establishments in each sector are calculated. Clustering of legal establishments is particularly high and there is a consistent pattern of higher clustering levels among the larger establishments of most sectors. Establishment size in several sectors is inversely related to distance from the centre. These results are interpreted as evidence that large establishments are drawn to central locations to exploit information externalities. Concentration in the inner core, clustering and the sensitivity of establishment size to distance from the CBD are signific...
Application of BP neural network for decision supported system oriented cooperative design

Partners selection and evaluation is one of the most vital actions of companies in a product design chain. Moreover, decision support is an important part of cooperative design. Selecting the right partner is the assurance of cooperative design. In order to improve reliability and scientificalness, a method of partner evaluation based on BP neural network and PCA is presented. An evaluation index system of partner is built and ability evaluation model based on BP neural network is put up. The indexes are reduced by the method of PCA and the ability evaluation is analyzed by MATLAB. Base on these, a prototype system of partner evaluation is established, the results prove that the theory and technology is right and workable.
Nondestructive Optical Characterization of Radiationhardened Polyimide Films

A noncontact, nondestructive method is used to determine viscoelastic and thermal transport properties of a DuPont Kapton film before and after neutron irradiation to determine the changes that would be expected to occur in a nuclear reactor environment. The results demonstrate general capabilities for non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of radiation-induced material degradation. The specific application demonstrated is evaluation of insulation materials to be used in a superconducting magnet design in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).
Acetaminophen and myocardial infarction in dogs

The hypothesis that acetaminophen can reduce necrosis during myocardial infarction was tested in male dogs. Two groups were studied: vehicle- (n = 10) and acetaminophen-treated (n = 10) dogs. All d...
Understanding quality food through cultural economy: the “politics of quality” in China’s northeast japonica rice

This paper seeks to clarify and strengthen the ways that cultural economy is used as an analytical tool and methodological approach to studying agro-food systems. The theoretical concept of cultural economy has received much attention in economic and cultural geography over the past decade. However, use of the term remains arguably vague and ambiguous. This paper argues that cultural economy is most constructive when regarded as a new epistemological approach to society and the economy. A focus on the ways that food is known as “quality” represents the material and symbolic practices that contribute to a new way of thinking about the economy. This point is illustrated in a case study of japonica rice grown in northeast China. A unique combination of social, economic, political, historical, and geographical factors come together in this region to produce rice that is generally identified within China today as “quality” rice. Situating northeast japonica rice in a greater context of a “politics of quality” in Chinese society, this case emphasizes the value of cultural economy to understand agro-food systems.
Effect of Cr + Implantation on the Thermal Oxidation of Ta

Cr + implantation of Ta was undertaken in an attempt to improve oxidation resistance at temperatures between 500 and 750°C, and for oxidation times up to l00h. Samples were implanted with 1.5×10 17 Cr + /cm 2 at 150 keV, and compared to samples implanted with 1×l0 16 or 1×10 17 Ta + /cm 2 at 145 keV to evaluate the role of physical effects from ion implantation. Following oxidation, samples were examined using helium and proton backscattering, electron and optical imaging techniques, and auger electron spectroscopy. Improved resistance to oxidation was observed in Cr + -implanted samples oxidized at 500°C for up to l00h, and at 600°C for about lh. However, some local breakdown occurred in these samples and no protection at all was observed at 750°C. Reasons for this breakdown are discussed and alternate approaches for improving oxidation resistance using ion implantation are proposed.
A time-path scheduling problem (TPSP) for aggregating large data files from distributed databases using an optical burst-switched network

The problem of aggregating large data files from distributed databases and address the corresponding challenges involved from a network architecture perspective is considered. We model this problem as one of identifying a time-path schedule (TPS) in a graph representation of the network. We prove that the TPS problem (TPSP) is NP-complete. We then propose a mixed integer linear programming (MILP)-based approach and three heuristics longest-file-first (LFF), disjoint-paths (DP), and most-distant-file-first (MDFF) - to solve TPSP.
Evaluating attentional and affective changes following an acute exercise bout using a modified dot-probe protocol

A large body of literature advocates exercise as a successful intervention for increasing positive affect while also reducing negative affect and anxiety. Questions concerning the mechanisms driving these effects remain unanswered, particularly considering theorized attentional adaptations that may be elicited by acute exercise bouts. We investigated pre- and post-exercise attentional bias to examine possible attentional explanations that may account for these reported changes in affect. On separate visits to the laboratory, 30 high trait anxious participants completed 30 min of exercise on a cycle ergometer at 70% of their heart rate reserve, or completed a 30-min quiet rest protocol. During each intervention, pre-test and post-test modified dot-probe assessments of attentional bias were completed, as were a series of self-report anxiety and affect questionnaires. Attentional bias scores and reaction times were calculated. Post-exercise dot probe performance did not vary significantly as a function of the affective valence of presented stimuli. As hypothesized, however, positive affect and reaction time improved significantly following exercise compared with the pre- and post-rest conditions and the pre-exercise condition, suggesting that exercise facilitates a broadening of attentional scope. Implications of these findings and future directions are discussed within the context of traditional and contemporary theories of dispositional affect and state-specific emotional responses.
Collagenolytic activity during active bone resorption in tissue culture.

SummaryA tissue culture system has been used to study the release of collagenolytic activity from actively resorbing bone by measuring the degradation of purified, reconstituted H3-hydroxyproline- and H3-proline-labeled collagen fibrils. Under conditions where active bone resorption was observed morphologically, a collagenolytic factor was liberated from the bone which degraded reconstituted, undenatured collagen fibrils. This collagenolytic activity was increased by addition of parathyroid extract to the tissue culture medium, and still further enhanced when both parathyroid extract and heparin were added.
Renal microcysts and lithium

ObjectiveTo review the relationship between lithium-related renal dysfunction and microcysts.MethodElectronic databases (PubMed and Google Scholar) were queried.ResultsFrom a total of 12,425 public...
Neural correlates of state-based decision-making in younger and older adults

Older and younger adults performed a state-based decision-making task while undergoing functional MRI (fMRI). We proposed that younger adults would be more prone to base their decisions on expected value comparisons, but that older adults would be more reactive decision-makers who would act in response to recent changes in rewards or states, rather than on a comparison of expected values. To test this we regressed BOLD activation on two measures from a sophisticated reinforcement learning (RL) model. A value-based regressor was computed by subtracting the immediate value of the selected alternative from its long-term value. The other regressor was a state-change uncertainty signal that served as a proxy for whether the participant's state improved or declined, relative to the previous trial. Younger adults' activation was modulated by the value-based regressor in ventral striatal and medial PFC regions implicated in reinforcement learning. Older adults' activation was modulated by state-change uncertainty signals in right dorsolateral PFC, and activation in this region was associated with improved performance in the task. This suggests that older adults may depart from standard expected-value based strategies and recruit lateral PFC regions to engage in reactive decision-making strategies.
Accounting Administrator Perceptions of Impediments to Seeking AACSB Accounting Accreditation

As of April, 2012, only 168 U.S. institutions had attained and maintained AACSB accounting accreditation. Our objective was to determine why more U.S. institutions have chosen not to pursue AACSB accounting accreditation by identifying accreditation-related issues that are perceived to reduce an institution’s interest in seeking and/or ability to attain it. Surveys were returned by 103 of the 303 accounting program administrators at U.S. institutions with AACSB business (but not accounting) accreditation. The 86 respondents from units not pursing accounting accreditation neither agreed nor disagreed attainment of accounting accreditation would be valued by their institution’s internal constituencies or would enhance their unit’s reputation. Further, these respondents generally perceive their unit meets AACSB accounting pre-conditions and would have the ability to meet most accounting accreditation standards if they chose to pursue accounting accreditation. The issues of most significance are resource-related – securing the necessary resources to achieve their mission and action items and to meet AACSB standards on faculty sufficiency. Overall, the respondents’ lack of interest in accounting accreditation reportedly has less to do with the inability to meet accreditation standards and more to do with a lack of perceived value in accounting accreditation to warrant commitment of necessary resources.
Rotaxane-mediated suppression and activation of cucurbit[6]uril for molecular detection by 129Xe hyperCEST NMR

We report a method for blocking interactions between (129)Xe and cucurbit[6]uril (CB6) until activation by a specific chemical event. We synthesized a CB6-rotaxane that allowed no (129)Xe interaction with the CB6 macrocycle component until a cleavage event released the CB6, which then produced a (129)Xe@CB6 NMR signal. This contrast-upon-activation (129)Xe NMR platform allows for modular synthesis and can be expanded to applications in detection and disease imaging.
CMOS dielectrophoretic Lab-on-Chip platform for manipulation and monitoring of cells

We propose a novel Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) based Lab-on-Chip (LoC) platform for trapping, rotation and detection of cells and microorganism utilizing dielectrophoresis (DEP). DEP is a highly selective function of the permittivity, size and shape of the entity, and also depends on the permittivity of its environment; these dependencies can be used to identify and trap particles of interest with high precision. Real-time monitoring of such cellular manipulation is also desirable. Towards this goal, we have implemented a three-dimensional (3D) octa-pole electrode structure directly using the built-in metal layers of standard complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process and demonstrate trapping and rotating of yeast cells. Moreover, we implement an impedance readout circuitry to monitor this process in situ. Paper presented both simulation and experimental results validating the platform.
Measuring the thermodynamic effects of neurovascular coupling in the awake, behaving mouse brain

We explore the use of heat as a contrast mechanism for in-vivo brain imaging, using thermal imaging to understand the role of dynamic blood flow changes in temperature regulation of the living brain.