cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Blockade of a late inhibitory postsynaptic potential in hippocampal CA3 neurons in vitro reveals a late depolarizing potential that is augmented by pentobarbital.

Abstract These experiments show that blockade of a late inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) in rat hippocampus by injection of GTPβs into a single monitored neuron, or by injection of pertussis toxin into the hippocampus, exposed a synaptic potential that was depolarizing relative to the early, GABAA mediated IPSP. The reversal potential of this late depolarizing potential (LDP) was 10–12 mV positive to that of the early IPSP. The response was augmented by 40–60 μM pentobarbital, and the augmented response appeared to be sensitive to picrotoxin, an antagonist of GABAA action. The LDP is comparable to a depolarizing GABAA synaptic response that had been previously observed only when synaptic behavior of slices was grossly altered by exposure to pentobarbital or 4-aminopyridine.
Test-Bed Infrastructure for Industrial Control Systems Validation

To properly deal with the increasing complexity of industrial distributed and agile manufacturing control systems, the use of methods and tools that support the designer in the definition, implementation and verification of intelligent logic control software is more and more necessary. Nowadays, many different software tools are available to face the rapid prototyping and closed loop simulation based verification of an automation system control software. The possibility to validate the control strategies of an automation system for industrial plant during its design phases is very advantageous. In fact the control system validation on plant site is very expensive, both for the high man power costs and for the long time required to implement and test the software code implemented in the control system devices. Scope of this paper is to present the hardware/software infrastructure designed to interface an industrial PLC to a laboratory process simulator and to a real small scale plant, in order to validate the industrial PLC software control code before the real plant commissioning phase. In particular the PLC, communicating with its remote input/output terminal boards via Profibus, is firstly connected to the process simulator for a roughly control algorithm validation, secondly it is interfaced to a small scale plant so to deeply test the PLC logic control solution.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Free-Space Integrated Optics Realized by Surface-Micromachining

A surface-micromachined free-space micro-optical bench (FS-MOB) technology has been proposed to monolithically integrate micro-optical elements, optomechanical structures, micropositioners, and microactuators on the same substrate. Novel three-dimensional micro-optical elements have been fabricated by surface-micromachining techniques. The optical axes of these optical elements are parallel to the substrate, which enables the entire free-space optical system to be integrated on a single substrate. Mocro-scale Fresnel lenses, refractive microlenses, mirrors, beam-splitters, gratings, and precision optical mounts have been successfully fabricated and characterized. Integration of micro-optical elements with translation or rotation stages provides on chip optical alignment or optomechanical switching. This new free-space micro-optical bench technology could significantly reduce the size, weight, an cost of most optical systems, and could have a significant impact on optical switching, optical sensing and optical data storage systems as well as packaging of optoelectronic components.
Resonance Raman spectroscopy of iron-oxygen vibrations in hemerythrin.

Abstract Resonance Raman spectra are reported for oxyhemerythrin and 15 anionic adducts of methemerythrin. All methemerythrin derivatives except sulfidomethemerythrin contain a Raman band near 510 cm −1 which is assigned to an iron-oxygen stretching vibration. The effect of H 2 18 O on the frequency of this vibration was studied extensively. On the basis of the exchange results, the vibration is assigned to OH − , H 2 O, or a μ-oxo bridge between the irons.
Regional patterns of communication in the United States: A theoretical perspective

This paper provides the rationale for a systematic study of regional patterns of communication in the United States (US). Regionalism is conceptualized, regional influences on communication are examined, and their significance is established. Next, the regional development of the US is described through an account of regional history and an examination of forces that cause the decay, maintenance, and reestablishment of distinct regions. Finally, a program of regional research on US communication is proposed. Deficiencies in prior research are examined, rudimentary research efforts are considered, boundaries are described, and future research directions are provided.
A Comparison of Distributional Considerations with Statistical Analysis of Resting State fMRI at 3T and 7T

Ultra-high field 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers potentially unprecedented spatial resolution of functional activity within the human brain through increased signal and contrast to noise ratios over traditional 1.5T and 3T MRI scanners. However, the effects physiological and imaging artifacts are also greatly increased. Traditional statistical parametric mapping theories based on distributional properties representative of data acquired at lower fields may be inadequate for new 7T data. Herein, we investigate the model fitting residuals based on two 7T and one 3T protocols. We find that model residuals are substantively more non-Gaussian at 7T relative to 3T. Imaging slices that passed through regions with peak inhomogeneity problems (e.g., mid-brain acquisitions for the 7T hippocampus) exhibited visually higher degrees of distortion along with spatially correlated and extreme values of kurtosis (a measure of non-Gaussianity). The impacts of artifacts have been previously addressed for 3T data by estimating the covariance matrix of the regression errors. We further extend the robust estimation approach for autoregressive models and evaluate the qualitative impacts of this technique relative to traditional inference. Clear differences in statistical significance are shown between inferences based on classical versus robust assumptions, which suggest that inferences based on Gaussian assumptions are subject to practical (as well as theoretical) concerns regarding their power and validity. Hence, modern statistical approaches, such as the robust autoregressive model posed herein, are appropriate and suitable for inference with ultra-high field functional magnetic resonance imaging.
On the scaling of air layer drag reduction

Air-induced drag reduction was investigated on a 12.9 m long flat plate test model at a free stream speed of . Measurements of the local skin friction, phase velocity profiles (liquid and gas) and void fraction profiles were acquired at downstream distances to 11.5 m, which yielded downstream-distance-based Reynolds numbers above 80 million. Air was injected within the boundary layer behind a 13 mm backward facing step (BFS) while the incoming boundary layer was perturbed with vortex generators in various configurations immediately upstream of the BFS. Measurements confirmed that air layer drag reduction (ALDR) is sensitive to upstream disturbances, but a clean boundary layer separation line (i.e. the BFS) reduces such sensitivity. Empirical scaling of the experimental data was investigated for: (a) the critical air flux required to establish ALDR; (b) void fraction profiles; and (c) the interfacial velocity profiles. A scaling of the critical air flux for ALDR was developed from balancing shear-induced lift forces and buoyancy forces on a single bubble within a shear flow. The resulting scaling successfully collapses ALDR results from the current and past studies over a range of flow conditions and test model configurations. The interfacial velocity and void fraction profiles were acquired and scaled within the bubble drag reduction (BDR), ALDR and transitional ALDR regimes. The BDR interfacial velocity profile revealed that there was slip between phases. The ALDR results showed that the air layer thickness was nominally three-quarters of the total volumetric flux (per unit span) of air injected divided by the free stream speed. Furthermore, the air layer had an average void fraction of 0.75 and a velocity of approximately 0.2 times the free stream speed. Beyond the air layer was a bubbly mixture that scaled in a similar fashion to the BDR results. Transitional ALDR results indicate that this regime was comprised of intermittent generation and subsequent fragmentation of an air layer, with the resulting drag reduction determined by the fraction of time that an air layer was present.
Dynamic Duopoly: Prices and Quantities

We study a dynamic model of duopoly in which firms choose both prices and quantities. If quantity (capacity) choices are relatively inflexible, firms generally carry excess (idle) capacity in equilibrium. Because of this enforcement cost, firms are unable to achieve monopoly levels. This contrasts with models in which which firms compete in either prices or quantities alone. On the other hand, if capacities are flexible firms may be able to sustain monopoly behaviour.
Applying Sun Tzu's terrain and ground to the study of marketing strategy

In the ancient text The Art of War, military strategist Sun Tzu suggests that to be successful in war you have to understanding the environment in which you will do battle. In this paper, the authors apply Sun Tzu's discussion of ground and terrain, the controllable environmental variables, to the study of marketing strategy. The authors demonstrate how Sun Tzu's ground and terrain can serve as parsimonious typologies of competitive market situations that are useful for the study of marketing theory and practice. Marketing is merely a civilized form of warfare in which most battles are won with words, ideas, and disciplined thinking. (Albert W. Emery, xxxx)
Molecular phylogeny and speciation of the surfperches (Embiotocidae, Perciformes).

Labroid fishes include a variety of families, such as wrasses (Labridae), odacids (Odacidae), damselfishes (Pomacentridae), parrotfishes (Scaridae), cichlids (Cichlidae), and surfperches (Embiotocidae). With only 23 species, the small embiotocid family exhibits a remarkably low species diversity compared to the large species diversity of the Cichlidae. Using mitochondrial DNA sequences of all 14 extant embiotocid genera, we established a molecular phylogeny of the family and compared it with a previously proposed morphological phylogeny. Genetic differentiation among embiotocids was compared to that among cichlids. Although species numbers are extremely different between these two families, the degrees of genetic differentiation within each family was found to be very similar.
Development of a general purpose configurable architecture for smart-pixel research

The ever-increasing demand for communication bandwidth and system interconnectivity has been a motivating factor behind the integration of optoelectronics devices and conventional data processing circuitry. Based on the smart-pixel architectures first developed in the last decade, the architecture presented here monolithically integrates optical sensors with silicon CMOS-based circuitry to produce a generically programmable smart-pixel array. Two generations of the architecture are described and compared. We have proposed a reconfigurable photonic information-processing chip based on photonic VLSI device technology. Integrating detectors into a SIMD array removes the bottleneck associated with fetching slices of data. By fabricating the detectors along with logic circuits in a bulk CMOS process, the cost is minimized. The modular nature of the array organization facilitates replication of the configurable architecture for smart-pixel research (CASPR) concept into large arrays without a significant increase in design overhead. Thus, the CASPR architecture can provide the maximum flexibility associated with a reconfigurable smart-pixel array. Finally, we implement two design iterations of the CASPR architecture and show how the architecture might be used in a page-oriented optical data processing application.
Rem Is a New Member of the Rad- and Gem/Kir Ras-related GTP-binding Protein Family Repressed by Lipopolysaccharide Stimulation

We report the cDNA cloning and characterization of a novel GTP-binding protein, termed Rem (for Rad and Gem-related), that was identified as a product of polymerase chain reaction amplification using oligonucleotide primers derived from conserved regions of the Rad, Gem, and Kir Ras subfamily. Alignment of the full-length open reading frame of mouse Rem revealed the encoded protein to be 47% identical to the Rad, Gem, and Kir proteins. The distinct structural features of the Rad, Gem, and Kir subfamily are maintained including a series of nonconservative amino acid substitutions at positions important for GTPase activity and a unique sequence motif thought to direct membrane association. Recombinant Rem binds GTP in a specific and saturable manner. Ribonuclease protection analysis found Rem to be expressed at comparatively high levels in cardiac muscle and at moderate levels in lung, skeletal muscle, and kidney. The administration of lipopolysaccharide to mice, a potent activator of the inflammatory and immune systems, results in the general repression of Rem mRNA levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Thus, Rem is the first Ras-related gene whose mRNA levels have been shown to be regulated by repression.
Technology, international competitiveness, and union behavior

Union opposition to a free trade agreement with Mexico affirms the conventional wisdom that international trade damages the union movement. This study uses data from the March and May CPS for 1984 to 1987 to investigate this issue for production workers. The results indicate that union wages are not influenced by greater trade at medium union densities. However, at low union densities, greater imports (exports) reduce (increase) wages with the opposite pattern occurring at high union densities. The union wage pattern is consistent with product market considerations playing a strong role at low union densities and end game considerations playing a strong role at high union densities. In general, nonunion wages are not significantly impacted by greater trade. After controlling for imports and exports, nonunion wages are much greater in internationally competitive industries while union wages are not significantly greater in competitive industries. Nonunion wages appear to be more influenced by efficiency wage considerations. Thus, a Mexican free trade agreement will have little influence on union wages and should increase nonunion wages.
Scalable networked virtual environments using unstructured overlays

Large-scale Networked Virtual Environments (NVEs) are used to enable rich interactive experiences such as multiplayer games, military and industrial training, and collaborative engineering systems. In these applications, hosts must exchange data updates to maintain a consistent view of the virtual environment. In large-scale environments, the volume of data places a heavy load on the networking and computational resources available to each host. To improve scalability, systems have employed a variety of techniques, including data subscription, data segmentation, and multicast. In this paper, we describe a communication architecture for Networked Virtual Environments that takes advantage of unstructured peer-to-peer (P2P) overlay networks for message distribution. The overlay network design provides scalability while supporting easy deployment over today's Internet. The approach, when combined with data segmentation and data subscription, enables Internet deployment of large-scale NVEs.
Political Culture, Labor Movement Power, Religion, and Public Policy in Canada and the United States: Vive la Différence?:

rightly--considered "most similar cases." Yet in some important respects, the two societies diverged markedly in recent years. This is obvious in high profile public policy areas such as the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gasses and legislation legalizing gay marriage. But no less important--because, I shall argue, as it helps to explain the public policy divergence-is the growing difference in the level of union organization and in the level and character of religiosity in the two countries. In the mid-1950s, about the same share of Canadians and Americans (35 percent) were union members; at the same time, about 60 percent of Canadians and 50 percent of Americans told pollsters that they went to church each Sunday. By the dawn of the 21st century, U.S. "union density" had fallen to about 12 percent, less than half the Canadian level (about 35 percent), while regular churchgoing in Canada had fallen to 22 percent, about half of the U.S. level (42 percent) (Adams, 50). What explains these divergences? To what degree do differences in national political cultures contribute to these divergent trends? These are among the central concerns of the three books under review. All three argue (or assume) that differences in national political cultures explain differences in the level and character of civil society organization, and in public policy. All three books rely mainly on large-scale national surveys to map the contours of these cultures, and to argue for connections between culture, organization, and policy. However, our authors disagree on what aspects of national cultures are most important, on how large differences in these areas are, and on whether these differences are growing or shrinking over time! Lipset and Meltz assert that the core political values of each country are fundamentally different and that this difference has not changed over the last quarter century, or indeed, for the past two centuries. Inglehart et al. argue that Canadian and American political values were not very different in 1981 and had become even more similar by 1990. Adams holds that there were major differences in national cultures in 1992, and that some of these had grown substantially by 2000. In this review, I argue that national culture arguments contribute little to an explanation of diverging union density and religiosity in these two countries. We are better off, I think, looking at differences in the goals and the power of different factions within the labor movements and the religious communities of each country. These differences explain diverging levels of membership, political power, and political goals in labor and religious organizations in the two countries. Such an analysis suggests that the two trends are causally related as well-that is, it is no coincidence that levels of union density are much lower, while levels of religiosity are much higher, in the United States than in Canada.
Development of model of workers' mental processes related to absence norm as behavior rule in agent-based simulation

Absenteeism at work adversely affects performance in organizations, and is reportedly complex. Absenteeism is not only a behavior caused by an individual's characteristics, but also a system behavior of organizations, as implied in the notions of absence culture and absence norm. In this paper, it is suggested that the use of agent-based modeling and simulation can be an effective way to study mechanisms of absenteeism. To develop an agent-based simulation, a model of workers' mental processes related to the absence norm---which can be used as behavior rules of agents---is suggested. Finally, results of the simulation with the base model are introduced, and the interplay between the absence norm and absence rate in organizations, as well as the assimilation of workers' perceptions, is discussed.
Glycosyltransferases of rat brain that make cerebrosides: substrate specificity, inhibitors, and abnormal products.

(Received 9 April 1975. Accepted 3 Noliember 1975) Abstract-Brain homogenates from young rats were assayed for their ability to synthesize cerebrosides from radioactive UDP-galactose or UDP-glucose and ceramide. A comparison of galactose transfer with ceramides made from different 2-hydroxy acids showed that the shortest one tested (C,) was by far the best acceptor, while the poorest contained 18 carbon atoms; longer fatty acids were better than CIS. Glucosyltransferase, on the other hand, showed rather little chain length specificity or dis- crimination against hydroxy acid ceramides. Synthetic compounds analogous in structure to ceramides were tested as inhibitors of the sugar transferases. Some were found to act as sugar acceptors themselves, particularly amides of DL-erythro-1- phenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol. Some amides were good inhibitors of glucosyltransferase, particularly decanoyl norephedrine, decanoyl threo-l-phenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol and decenoyl phenylalaninol. The secondary amine analogous to the first of these, N-decyl norephedrine, was also very effective. No strong inhibitors of galactosyl transferase were found, although octanoyl o-threo-p-nitrophenyla- minopropanediol showed promise (42% inhibition at 0.3 mM). Octanoyl phenylalaninol was nearly as good an inhibitor; the inhibition appeared only after a lag period. It is suggested that the glucosyltransferase inhibitors might he useful in therapy of Gaucher's disease, by reducing the degradative load normally falling on glucocerebrosidase.
rheological evaluation of polystyrene/polyethylene blends

The dynamic shear behavior at 200°C of low density polyethylene, LDPE, polystyrene, PS, and their blends was studied. Two series of blends were prepared containing LDPE:PS = 1:2, 2:1 and 17:3; the first series contained 0, the second 5 wt% of the compatibilizing, partially hydro-genated poly(styrene-b-isoprene) di-block copolymer, SEB. From the Casson plot the relative values of apparent yield stress were found to be G′y > G″y the addition of SEB decreased both these functions, but the inequality remained valid. After subtracting the yield stress values the frequency relaxation spectrum was computed from the relation G″ = G″(ω). The linear viscoelastic functions determined from the spectrum were found to agree with experimental values within a range of error below 5%. The blends were found to be thermorheologically complex with the time-temperature shift factors depending on both temperature and frequency. A compositional dissymmetry of blend morphology was observed: PS dispersed in LDPE formed spheres, while at corresponding concentration LDPE in PS formed fibers. A difference in surface tension of the two polymers, leading to different spreading coefficients (SPE/PS≠SPS/PE), or dissymmetry of the interfacial tension coefficient, could provide a possible explanation.
Validation of Daily Ring Deposition in the Otoliths of Age-0 Alligator Gar

AbstractWe validated techniques for estimating the daily age of young-of-the-year Alligator Gar, Atractosteus spatula. Alligator Gar eggs were hatched and larvae were grown in aquaria and then transferred to an outdoor artificial stream. Fish were sampled from 21 d to 118 d posthatch. Sagittal otoliths were extracted from each fish, and each otolith was embedded in a clear epoxy resin. Otoliths were sectioned along a transverse plane, sanded with 600-grit sandpaper to reveal daily rings, and then polished with 1500-grit sandpaper. We estimated the daily age of each otolith three times, making each estimate in random order without reference to known ages. The mean of the three counts for each otolith was considered the final age estimate. Daily age estimates of 50 Alligator Gar (21–118 d old, 43–458 mm total length) were closely related to known fish ages, validating daily ring deposition. Absolute error in age estimates increased after 62 d posthatch; 68% of the estimated ages were within ±3 d of the know...
Acute dose- and time-dependent effects of budesonide on airway blood flow in asthma

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) have been shown to decrease airway blood flow (Qaw) via a non-genomic action on airway vascular smooth muscle contraction. We have previously shown a dose-dependent decrease in Qaw with a single inhalation of 360, 720 and 1440 µg budesonide (BUD) in moderate-to-severe asthmatics where Qaw decreased transiently from 12 to 21% after all doses (p Objective: Here, we have investigated the effects of repetitive BUD inhalations on Qaw in moderate-to-severe asthma patients on regular ICS use. Methods: The 18 subjects enrolled were told to abstain from ICS for at least 36 h before the experiment. Inhalation of 720 μg BUD was given 4 times, separated by 30 min. Qaw, FEV1, blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation were measured before each inhalation and 30, 90, 150, 210 and 270 min after the last dose. A soluble, inert gas-uptake method was used to measure Qaw. Results: Baseline mean Qaw was 61.33 ± 3.15 µL/min (per mL of lung anatomical dead space) and FEV1 2.3 ± 0.3 L. Numerically, mean Qaw progressively decreased after each BUD inhalation. At 30 min after the last dose, mean Qaw was 28% below baseline (p Conclusions: In moderate-to-severe asthma patients on regular ICS use, repeated inhalations of high BUD dose have a cumulative acute vasoconstrictive effect in the airway suggesting an acute non-genomic action that increases vasomotor tone. This effect could decrease airway obstruction and the vascular clearance of concomitantly inhaled bronchodilators from the airway.
Vaginal Biofilms and Bacterial Vaginosis: Of Mice and Women

“What is bacterial vaginosis, anyway? Why can’t we treat it very well? What does a biofilm have to do with it? I thought those were involved in prosthetic device infections! Isn’t there an animal model for this condition that can help us answer these questions, whose importance I personally doubt, as there is for any respectable disease?” In this issue of the Journal, Hymes and colleagues present data that speak to several of these questions, which, despite the interlocutor’s skepticism above, seriously affect women’s (and men’s, as it turns out) health. These investigators report a novel finding that might explain why the vaginal biofilm associated with bacterial vaginosis appears to be so tenacious, and how it might be disrupted. Most investigators would agree that a vaginal microbiome dominated by specific species of Lactobacillus—namely, Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus jensenii—optimizesthelikelihoodofseveral desirable outcomes. These outcomes include healthy pregnancy and delivery, absence of upper genital tract infection, lack of abnormal vaginal symptoms, and reduced risk for acquiring several sexually transmitted pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus. When these species of Lactobacillus are replaced by a diverse mix of copious numbers of anaerobic bacteria, the vaginal pH increases (above the optimal range, which is ≤4.5), and bacterial vaginosis results, if this disruption proceeds to the point where clinical or Gram stain criteria are fulfilled. Among the most important adverse outcomes that have consistently been linked to bacterial vaginosis are elevated risk of HIV acquisition [1], preterm delivery [2], and pelvic inflammatory disease [3]. In a recent, prospective cohort study of HIV-serodiscordant heterosexual couples in which the female partner had HIV infection at enrollment, bacterial vaginosis that occurred during follow-up was associated with an increased risk of HIV acquisition among the male sex partners of these women [4].
Evolution of the Downgoing Lithosphere and the Mechanisms of Deep Focus Earthquakes

Summary The thermal evolution of the lithospheric slab at subduction zones and its geophysical effects are numerically calculated. An alternating-direction, implicit, finite-difference scheme is used to compute the thermal models taking into account all heating sources and phase boundaries. These models, with the appropriate spreading rates and dip angles, are compared with different island arc systems. Temperatures inside the slab are strongly controlled by the conductivity and by the time elapsed since the initiation of descent. The depth to which temperature anomalies persist is generally about 700 km or less. The thermal results are used to construct the seismic velocities and ray paths, density anomalies, and the resulting stress distribution. Comparing the theoretical stress distribution and the focal mechanism studies of intermediate- and deep-focus earthquakes indicates the importance of both the mantle's rheology and the temperature dependence of the slab's elastic properties. The intermediate and deep focus earthquakes are located along the coolest region of the slab. The theoretical results explain the source mechanisms and the orientation of principal stresses under major island arcs.
Where do security policies come from

We examine the password policies of 75 different websites. Our goal is understand the enormous diversity of requirements: some will accept simple six-character passwords, while others impose rules of great complexity on their users. We compare different features of the sites to find which characteristics are correlated with stronger policies. Our results are surprising: greater security demands do not appear to be a factor. The size of the site, the number of users, the value of the assets protected and the frequency of attacks show no correlation with strength. In fact we find the reverse: some of the largest, most attacked sites with greatest assets allow relatively weak passwords. Instead, we find that those sites that accept advertising, purchase sponsored links and where the user has a choice show strong inverse correlation with strength.We conclude that the sites with the most restrictive password policies do not have greater security concerns, they are simply better insulated from the consequences of poor usability. Online retailers and sites that sell advertising must compete vigorously for users and traffic. In contrast to government and university sites, poor usability is a luxury they cannot afford. This in turn suggests that much of the extra strength demanded by the more restrictive policies is superfluous: it causes considerable inconvenience for negligible security improvement.
Predictive planning for supply chain management

Supply chains are ubiquitous in the manufacturing of many complex products. Traditionally, supply chains have been created through the intricate interactions of human representatives of the various companies involved. However recent advances in planning, scheduling, and autonomous agent technologies have sparked an interest, both in academia and in industry, in automating the process. The Trading Agent Competition Supply Chain Management (TAC SCM) scenario provides a unique testbed for studying and prototyping supply chain management agents by providing a competitive environment in which independently created agents can be tested against each other over the course of many simulations. This paper presents the features of TAC SCM from a planning and scheduling perspective and introduces TacTex-05, the champion agent from the 2005 competition. TacTex-05 takes a predictive approach to its many planning and scheduling decisions by estimating future resource availability and constraints. This paper focuses on these aspects of the agent and isolates their impact with controlled empirical tests.
FET microwave detectors

A novel high efficiency microwave detector using a FET (field effect transistor) MGF 1304A was designed, fabricated and tested at 8.6 GHz. Detected audio power over absorbed microwave power ratio of this FET detector was 135% due to the positive gain, compared with the 5% efficiency of the conventional 1N23C diode detector. The test results show that the FET detector designed and fabricated is more efficient for low level microwave signal detection than the conventional diode detector. The FET detector absorbs very little microwave power compared to the diode detector and is therefore more efficient within the definition employed. This increase in conversion efficiency comes at the expense of having to add DC power. >
Should the ApoE genotype be a covariate for clinical trials in Alzheimer disease

Should the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype be a covariate for clinical trials in Alzheimer disease (AD)? ApoE is a transport protein for lipids, amyloid-beta proteins, and the different phenotypes differentially affect amyloid-beta deposition, neurofibrillary tangle formation, and microglial activation. The ApoE genotype has not affected efficacy in short symptomatic AD trials. ApoE4 has been associated with greater efficacy in at least two mild cognitive impairment studies. Vasogenic edema was more frequent in ApoE4 AD patients treated with a monoclonal antibody to amyloid beta. Since there is evidence that the ApoE genotype may differentially affect disease mechanisms, efficacy, and adverse effects in both AD and mild cognitive impairment trials, the ApoE genotype should be included as a covariate in future studies.
Role of superoxide in apoptosis induced by growth factor withdrawal

We have examined the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in apoptosis induced by growth factor deprivation in primary cultures of mouse proximal tubular (MPT) cells. When confluent monolayers of MPT cells are deprived of all growth factors, the cells die by apoptosis over a 10- and 14-day period. Both epidermal growth factor (EGF) and high-dose insulin directly inhibit apoptosis of MPT cells deprived of growth factors. Growth factor deprivation results in an increase in the cellular levels of superoxide anion while apoptosis of MPT cells induced by growth factor withdrawal is inhibited by a number of antioxidants and scavengers of ROS. Growth factor deprivation also results in activation of caspase activity, which is inhibited by EGF and high-dose insulin as well as by the ROS scavengers and antioxidants that inhibit apoptosis. The cell-permeant caspase inhibitor, z-Val-Ala-Asp-CH2F (zVAD-fmk), prevents the increase in caspase activity and markedly inhibits apoptosis induced by growth factor deprivation. However, zVAD-fmk had no effect on the increased levels of superoxide associated with growth factor deprivation. Thus we provide novel evidence that ROS play an important role in mediating apoptosis associated with growth factor deprivation. ROS appear to act upstream of caspases in the apoptotic pathway. We hypothesize that oxidant stress, induced by growth factor withdrawal, represents a signaling mechanism for the default pathway of apoptosis.
Refining a risk model for occupational tuberculosis transmission.

The traditional Poisson probability model for airborne Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) infection, also termed the Wells-Riley equation, can be modified to account for a health care worker's use of respiratory protection. It was previously shown that the beta distribution on the interval [0,1] is a good descriptor of respirator penetration values experienced by an individual worker from wearing to wearing, and of average respirator penetration values experienced by different workers. Based on the premise that the gamma distribution can reasonably describe the time-varying M.tb aerosol exposure levels experienced by health care workers, analytical solutions are presented for an individual worker's cumulative risk of infection, and for the worker population mean cumulative risk of infection, with and without use of respiratory protection. The gamma distribution is shown to be similar to the lognormal in describing right-skewed distributions of aerosol exposure concentrations on the interval [0,∞).
Creativity Stereotypes and the Consensual Assessment Technique

In creativity, there is scant evidence of significant racial and gender differences, and when such differences are found, there is no consistency regarding which groups perform best. There has been little work focusing on racial and gender biases and/or stereotypes within creativity assessment. It is study these issues by using a modified version of the Consensual Assessment Technique in which the judges are provided with information about the creators' gender and/or race. A total of 455 undergraduates assigned ratings for creativity, writing ability, and enjoyment to 60 poems downloaded from a poetry Web site. These poems either had no attribution or had (fictional) stereotypical Black, White, and Crossover names for each gender. Results suggest that novice raters using CAT methodology display little evidence of bias in their ratings of creativity, writing ability, and poem enjoyment. Very slight preference was found for poems assigned names of White females.
Exploring rapid radiochemical separations at the University of Tennessee Radiochemistry Center of Excellence

The University of Tennessee formed its Radiochemistry Center of Excellence (RCoE) in 2013 with support from the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. One of the major thrusts of the RCoE is to develop deeper understanding of rapid methods for radiochemical separations that are relevant to both general radiochemical analyses as well as post-detonation nuclear forensics. Early work has included the development and demonstration of rapid separations of lanthanide elements in the gas phase, development of a gas-phase separation front-end for ICP-TOF-MS analysis, and the development of realistic analytical surrogates for post-detonation debris to support methods development.
A randomized prospective study of antibiotic prophylaxis during abdominal surgery

The safety and efficacy of intravenous cefmetazole for prophylaxis before abdominal operations were compared with those of intravenous cefoxitin in a randomized, prospective clinical study. Eighty-nine evaluable patients were enrolled. These patients underwent primarily clean/contaminated (56%) and contaminated (39%) operations. A total of three (3%) patients developed postoperative wound infections. Two patients (2%) developed non-life-threatening adverse drug reactions. There were no life-threatening adverse drug reactions. There were no significant differences between the cefmetazole and cefoxitin study groups. Cefmetazole appears to be as safe and as efficacious as cefoxitin antibiotic in prophylaxis for intra-abdominal operations.
RNA-binding protein HuR regulates RGS4 mRNA stability in rabbit colonic smooth muscle cells.

Regulator of G protein signaling 4 (RGS4) regulates the strength and duration of G protein signaling and plays an important role in smooth muscle contraction, cardiac development, and psychiatric disorders. Little is known about the posttranscriptional regulation of RGS4 expression. We cloned the full-length cDNA of rabbit RGS4, which contains a long 3′-untranslated region (UTR) with several AU-rich elements (AREs). We determined whether RGS4 mRNA stability is mediated by the RNA-binding protein human antigen R (HuR) and contributes to IL-1β-induced upregulation of RGS4 expression. We show that IL-1β treatment in colonic smooth muscle cells doubled the half-life of RGS4 mRNA. Addition of RGS4 3′-UTR to the downstream of Renilla luciferase reporter induced dramatic reduction in the enzyme activity and mRNA expression of luciferase, which was attenuated by the site-directed mutation of the two 3′-most ARE sites. IL-1β increased luciferase mRNA stability in a UTR-dependent manner. Knockdown of HuR significantly aggravated UTR-mediated instability of luciferase and inhibited IL-1β-induced upregulation of RGS4 mRNA. In addition, IL-1β increased cytosolic translocation and RGS4 mRNA binding of HuR. These findings suggest that 3′-most ARE sites within RGS4 3′-UTR are essential for the instability of RGS4 mRNA and IL-1β promotes the stability of RGS4 mRNA through HuR.
Redistribution of coronary microvascular resistance produced by dipyridamole

This study assessed the redistribution of coronary microvascular resistance during vasodilation produced by dipyridamole. Measurements of microvascular diameter and pressure in the beating left ventricle of anesthetized cats were accomplished by means of a computer-controlled system that enabled measurements in the beating heart. Resistances of coronary arteries, microvessels, and veins were calculated from the quotients of the pressure gradient across each vascular compartment and myocardial perfusion (radioactive microspheres). Administration of dipyridamole increased coronary blood flow from 1.80 +/- 0.09 to 6.42 +/- 0.31 ml.min-1. g-1 (P less than 0.05). During control conditions, 25 +/- 8% of total resistance occurred in coronary arteries (proximal to 170 microns), 68 +/- 8% of total resistance was in coronary microvessels (between arterioles less than 170 microns in diameter and venules less than 150 microns in diameter), and 7 +/- 7% of resistance resided in veins (distal to 150 microns). There was a significant redistribution (P less than 0.05) of resistance in all vessel classes after dipyridamole: coronary arteries constituted 42 +/- 6%, microvessels contained 27 +/- 5%, and veins had 31 +/- 8% of total coronary resistance. During control conditions, vascular resistance in coronary arteries and microvessels was 17 +/- 4 and 45 +/- 6 mmHg.min.g.ml-1, respectively. During vasodilation, resistance was significantly reduced (P less than 0.05) in both the arterial and microvessel segments to 6 +/- 2 and 4 +/- 2 mmHg.min.g.ml-1, respectively. Venous resistance was not significantly affected during dipyridamole-induced vasodilation. In conclusion, there was a marked reduction of coronary vascular resistance in response to dipyridamole, with the major component accounted for by dilation of microvessels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Introduction to Multiprocessor I/O Architecture

The computational performance of multiprocessors continues to improve by leaps and bounds, fueled in part by rapid improvements in processor and interconnection technology. I/O performance thus becomes ever more critical, to avoid becoming the bottleneck of system performance. In this paper we provide an introduction to I/O architectural issues in multiprocessors, with a focus on disk subsystems. While we discuss examples from actual architectures and provide pointers to interesting research in the literature, we do not attempt to provide a comprehensive survey. We concentrate on a study of the architectural design issues, and the effects of different design alternatives.
Exploration of the Neurobiological Basis for a Three-System, Multiattribute Model of Memory

The structure and utilization of memory is central to one’s knowledge of the past, interpretation of the present, and prediction of the future. Therefore, the understanding of the structural and process components of memory systems at the psychological and neurobiological level is of paramount importance. In this chapter, I am presenting data in support of a neurobiological basis for an attribute model based on different forms or attributes of memory such as space, time, response, sensory-perception, reward value (affect) and in humans a language attribute is also added. These attributes are processed by different neural regions and interconnected networks across all three (event-based, knowledge-based, and rule-based) memory systems. Each memory system operates in processing mnemonic information based on a unique set of processes. The selection of some of these processes has been influenced greatly by computational models of specific brain regions. For each brain area there are a large number of processes that define the operation of each memory system. The hippocampus is used extensively, but not exclusively, to detail the multiple operations that characterize the overall activity of this brain region within the event-based memory system. The processes that are discussed for the event-based memory system include conjunctive encoding, spatial pattern separation, formation of arbitrary associations, pattern completion, and temporal pattern separation. The processes that are discussed for the knowledge-based memory system include perceptual memory and repetition priming. For the rule-based memory system the process of working memory is presented. Furthermore, based on brain-behavior experiments, there are interactions and parallel processing operations between the event-based memory system and the knowledge-based systems, between the event-based and rule-based memory systems, and between the rule-based and knowledge-based systems.
Towards resilient cyber-physical control systems

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are yielding novel problems and solutions for security researchers. CPSs connect computerized controllers and human supervisors with physical systems used in the energy, transportation, water, manufacturing, and other sectors. Recent attacks against CPS have prompted unprecedented investigation into new threats and mitigations against CPSs. There are motivating examples of real-world control system attacks such as the Maroochy Shire water system attack, the Lodz Poland train derailment, and the Stuxnet virus. In each of these attacks, the adversary capabilities and objectives, vulnerabilities, attack methods, and final outcomes differ significantly. However, despite the increased interest in CPS security problems, the security community faces significant learning curves in addressing them. Modern CPSs are founded on control theory, real-time systems, and obscure, often ad-hoc programming practices. Furthermore, the traditional definitions of security are often in conflict with the goals and operational constraints of CPSs. A security measure that blocks a system operator from executing a critical action could cause as much or more damage than an actual attack. We discuss the most basic and widely deployed application of CPS, control systems, and the emerging problems in their security.
Nursing Research of Children with Bronchiolitis Obliterans

Objective To analyze and summary nursing intervention methods and effect of children with bronchiolitis obliterans.Methods 84 cases of children with occlusive bronchiolitis syndrome in our hospital from February 2012 to February 2014 were selected and randomly divided into control group(42 cases) and observation group(42 cases).The control group was given routine nursing,the observation group was given comprehensive nursing intervention model.The clinical curative effect and adverse reaction of the two groups were compared and analysed.Results 28 cases in the observation group recovered,12 cases improved,and the total effective rate was95.2%,the incidence of adverse reactions was 16.7%.In the control group,12 cases recovered and 16 cases improved,the total effective rate was 66.7%,the incidence of adverse reaction was 54.8%.Clinical effect of the observation group was better than that of the control group(P0.05),and adverse reactions was fewer than those of the control group(P 0.05).Conclusion Children with bronchiolitis obliterans should combine with various check and take good lung nursing to prevent infection.At the same time,closely monitoring the oxygen saturation change and taking comprehensive nursing intervention model are necessary to improve patients recover.