cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alterations in venous endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell relaxation induced by high glucose concentrations can be prevented by aminoguanidine.

Abstract High glucose concentrations lead to the formation of advanced glycosylation end-products (AGE). Increased glucose concentrations are found during the systemic inflammatory response syndrome and during coronary artery bypass surgery. This study examines the pharmacological effect of AGE on venous endothelial-dependent and -independent relaxation and seeks to determine if aminoguanidine, a known AGE inhibitor, can prevent changes induced by the presence of high glucose concentrations. Standard isometric tension studies on rings from endothelialized and deendothelialized rabbit external jugular veins were performed after incubation for 6 hr in 5.5 m M glucose (control) or 44 m M glucose. The effects of preincubation with either indomethacin (10 μ M ) to inhibit cyclo-oxygenase activity or aminoguanidine (10 μ M ) to inhibit protein glycosylation were also studied. In the presence of 44 m M glucose, there was a significant reduction in acetylcholine (endothelial cell based)- and forskolin-induced (smooth muscle cell based) relaxation without associated alterations in serotonin-, calcium ionophore-, and sodium nitroprusside-mediated relaxations. The alterations in acetylcholine-mediated relaxation were inhibited by the addition of indomethacin; co-incubation with aminoguanidine prevented the decrease in acetylcholine-mediated and forskolin-mediated responses. This study shows that in vitro elevated glucose concentrations lead to a reduction in both endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell relaxation, which may be due to AGE-mediated generation of endothelial cell cyclo-oxygenase products and AGE-induced changes in cAMP-mediated relaxation. Therefore, AGE production in the vessel wall cells produces alterations in receptor-dependent and receptor-independent cyclo-oxygenase production and these changes result in altered endothelial- and nonendothelial-mediated relaxation. Alterations in the endothelial and smooth muscle cell responses can be inhibited by aminoguanidine, suggesting that means to reduce or prevent glycosylation are beneficial in ameliorating the acute changes induced by short-term exposure to elevated glucose concentrations.
MR imaging patterns of gadolinium retention within liver neoplasms.

Background: To determine the spectrum of appearances of gadolinium retention within cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and other liver neoplasms.
Genetic manipulation of polyamine metabolism in poplar II: effects on ethylene biosynthesis

Abstract Possible competition between polyamine and ethylene metabolisms was studied in two types of transgenic poplar (Populus nigra × maximowiczii) cells: (a) constitutively expressing a mouse ornithine decarboxylase (ODC, EC 4.1.1.17) cDNA under the control of double 35S cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) promoter (cell line 2E), and (b) constitutively expressing a Datura S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC, EC 4.1.1.50) cDNA under the control of a single 35S CaMV promoter (line PS-18). The 2E cells contained significantly higher putrescine (Put) as well as spermidine (Spd) contents than the non-transgenic (NT) cells. The PS-18 cells contained three- to five-fold lower amounts of Put than the NT cells; their Spd content was either comparable to NT cells (at 3 d of culture) or it was higher than the NT cells (at 6 d of culture). The production of ethylene in the 2E cells was generally higher than in the NT cells throughout the 7-d culture period. Ethylene production in the PS-18 cells was comparable to NT cells. The cellular content of 1-aminocyclo-propane-1-carboxylic acid in the NT and 2E cells was quite similar, while it was slightly lower in the PS-18 cells. It is concluded that in poplar cells the cellular pool of S-adenosylmethionine is probably large enough to satisfy the demand for both polyamine and ethylene production and no competition between the two pathways is apparent.
Development of a Model of Elevated Intraocular Pressure in Rats by Gene Transfer of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2

Purpose. To determine whether inducing calcification in the trabecular meshwork results in elevated IOP in living rats. To use this property to create an elevated IOP animal model by gene transfer of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2).
Three-Dimensional Modeling of Hydraulic Fractures in Layered Media: Part I—Finite Element Formulations

A comprehensive model represented by a set of equations governing the mechanics of planar hydraulic fracture propagation in a multi-layered reservoir is presented. A general-purpose integral formulation for the formation elasticity is developed along with a numerical scheme for mode I fracture response evaluation of an arbitrarily shaped planar pressurized crack in a layered medium. Non-Newtonian fluid flow in the hydraulically induced fracture is governed by a two-dimensional nonlinear partial differential equation. Finite element formulations for the governing equations as well as calibrative examples illustrating the computational features of the model are presented. Numerical schemes for determining the moving fracture front and coupling of the fluid flow and structural/fracture responses are also developed.
Plasmon-Sampled Surface-Enhanced Raman Excitation Spectroscopy †

This work presents the first systematic study of the surface-enhanced Raman-scattering (SERS) properties of nanosphere lithography (NSL) derived Ag nanoparticles. Furthermore, it demonstrates the necessity of correlating nanoparticle structure and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectroscopic data in order to effectively implement SERS on nanofabricated surfaces that have narrow (∼100 nm) LSPR line widths. Using nanoparticle substrates that are structurally well characterized by atomic force microscopy, the relationship between the LSPR extinction maximum (λmax) and the SERS enhancement factor (EF) is explored in detail using the innovative approach of plasmon-sampled surface-enhanced Raman excitation spectroscopy (PS-SERES). PS-SERES studies were performed as a function of excitation wavelength, molecular adsorbate, vibrational band, and molecule-localized resonance or nonresonance excitation. In each case, high S/N ratio spectra are achieved for samples with an LSPR λmax within a ∼120-nm wind...
The histopathological and immunopathological diagnosis of angiosarcoma of the face and scalp

Angiosarcoma of the face and scalp (AS) may be associated with a better prognosis if the lesions are detected early in their development. However, the diagnosis of AS is hindered by its variable histopathology. We have examined cutaneous biopsies from 71 patients with AS to identify the most characteristic histological features. In addition, immunoperoxidase labelling was performed on selected cases for UEA-I binding. Factor VIII RA, laminin, vimentin and two antigens recognised by the monoclonal antibodies 4E6 (supplied by Dr Spry, Hammersmith Hospital) and PAL-E (Schlingeman et al., 1985). All the tumours showed areas recognizable as vascular channels, with atypical endothelial linings, but various degrees of differentiation were seen. The majority of tumours showed well-differentiated areas of collagen dissection (75%) and tumour giant cells (80%). Half the cases showed solid patches of poorly differentiated spindle cell or carcinoma-like change and in some this represented the major change. The three predominant histological patterns were examined for the presence of endothelial markers. Well-differentiated areas of collagen dissection showed uniform positive labelling by all markers except Factor VIIIRA, which gave patchy positivity and PAL-E which highlighted only normal vessels. Reduced positivity was seen in areas of luminal proliferation of tumour cells and labelling was generally absent in poorly differentiated solid areas. Our studies demonstrate the range of histopathological and immunopathological appearances in AS. However, loss of normal endothelial cell markers from well-differentiated vascular channels may represent the earliest stage of malignant change.
Adherence of oral streptococci to hydroxyapatite in vitro via glycerol-teichoic acid

Abstract Rabbit antisera to Bacillus sp. containing antibody to teichoic acid (TA) was used to investigate the role of TA in the adherence of Streptococcus mutans , Streptococcus sanguis and Bacillus species to hydroxyapatite (HA) in vitro . The adherence of radio-labelled bacteria to uncoated HA was significantly reduced by antibody to TA. Incubation of the antiserum with purified soluble TA reduced the adherence inhibition effect of the antiserum. When saliva-coated HA was used, the adherence inhibition effect of antibody to TA was still effective but at a reduced level than that observed with clean HA. These results suggest that TA may contribute to the binding of oral streptococci to tooth surfaces in vivo .
Cytotoxicity, DNA cross-linking, and DNA single-strand breaks induced by cyclophosphamide in a rat leukemia in vivo

A study of cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced DNA damage and repair occurring in vivo was conducted in the brown Norway rat myelocytic leukemia (BNML) model. DNA single-strand breaks (SSB), DNA-DNA interstrand cross-links (DIC), DNA-protein cross-links (DPC), and DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) were measured by alkaline and neutral elution. After i. p. injection of 50 mg/kg CP, DIC were detectable at 1 h and peaked at 8 h. DPC were detectable at 2 h and peaked at 6 h. Both DIC and DPC persisted at a relatively high level until 28 h. Dose-response curves for both DIC and DPC were determined at 4 h after CP injection over the dose range of 25–150 mg/kg. These doses ranged from the minimally effective dose to doses curative for rats bearing this leukemia (1- to 9-log kill of leukemia cells). No SSB or DSB was observed at 4 h after CP injection over the dose range of 15–250 mg/kg, but a low level of SSB was observed at 18–28 h after CP treatment. These data suggest that the cytotoxic effect of CP in vivo is mediated mostly by DIC and DPC. SSB appearing late after CP injection in vivo may be a reflection of repair of DIC and DPC and an indication of the optimal timing for administration of DNA-repair inhibitors. This observation is of interest since our earlier work demonstrated that hydroxyurea can potentiate the therapeutic benefit of CP in this model when it is given over the 4-day period immediately after CP treatment.
The disinhibited effect in sequential blanking

About 15 years ago, Hartline & Ratliff proposed a disinhibition effect in Limulus and a number of recent studies have attempted to demonstrate such effects in the human visual system. The present study provides an analogue to the Hartline and Ratliff paradigm, for the human visual system, and the results obtained suggest that such disinhibition phenomena may be operative in man’s visual system.
An extracorporeal artificial placenta supports extremely premature lambs for 1 week

Abstract Purpose The treatment of extreme prematurity remains an unsolved problem. We developed an artificial placenta (AP) based on extracorporeal life support (ECLS) that simulates the intrauterine environment and provides gas exchange without mechanical ventilation (MV) and compared it to the current standard of neonatal care. Methods Extremely premature lambs (110–120days; term=145d) were used. AP lambs ( n =9) were cannulated (jugular drainage, umbilical vein reinfusion) for ECLS. Control lambs ( n =7) were intubated, ventilated, given surfactant, and transitioned to high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. All lambs received parenteral nutrition, antibiotics, and steroids. Hemodynamics, blood gases, hemoglobin, and circuit flows were measured. Results Four premature lambs survived for 1week on the AP, with one surviving 6days. Adequate oxygenation and ventilation were provided by the AP. The MV lambs survived 2–8hours. Each of these lambs experienced a transient improvement with surfactant, but developed progressive hypercapnea and hypoxia despite high airway pressures and HFOV. Conclusions Extremely premature lambs were supported for 1week with the AP with hemodynamic stability and adequate gas exchange. Mechanically ventilated lambs succumbed within 8hours. Further studies will assess control of fetal circulation and organ maturation on the AP.
iSPCG: Incremental subgraph-preconditioned conjugate gradient method for online SLAM with many loop-closures

We propose a novel method to solve online SLAM problems with many loop-closures on the basis of two stateof-the-art SLAM methods, iSAM and SPCG. We first use iSAM to solve a sparse sub-problem to obtain an approximate solution. When the error grows larger than a threshold or the optimal solution is requested, we use subgraph-preconditioned conjugate gradient method to solve the original problem where the subgraph preconditioner and initial estimate are provided by iSAM. Finally we use the optimal solution from SPCG to regularize iSAM in the next steps. The proposed method is consistent, efficient and can find the optimal solution. We apply this method to solve large simulated and real SLAM problems, and obtain promising results.
A Service-Learning Elective in Native American Culture, Health and Professional Practice

Objectives. To evaluate the success of an elective course in Native American culture, health, and service-learning in fostering interest in experiences and careers with the USPHS Indian Health Service (IHS), and in shaping reflective practitioners. Design. Students conducted readings, kept reflective journals, and engaged in discussions with Native American and non-Native American speakers. Students orally presented a Native American health issue and spent their fall break in Chinle, Ariz, providing social and healthcare services to the Dine under the supervision of IHS pharmacists. Opportunities for additional IHS experiences were discussed, as was discerning the Creator's call to a professional life of service. Assessment. Thirteen of 15 students who had completed the service-learning course by January 2007 responded to a brief survey indicating that not only were the course objectives met, but the experiences had a lasting impact on professional mindset and career plans. Conclusion. The course had a la...
Use of the Health Belief Model to examine older adults' food-handling behaviors.

Abstract Objective To measure the association among Health Belief Model (HBM) variables and safe food-handling behaviors among older adults. Design A mail survey using Dillman's Total Design Method. Setting In October 1999, a survey was sent to volunteers from a preexisting cohort of noninstitutionalized older adults living throughout Nevada. Data collection continued through January 2000. Participants With a 56% response rate, the sample (n = 266) was composed mainly of women (73%) and individuals from urban counties (74%). The mean age was 68.09 years (SD = 8.27). Except for gender, sample characteristics were similar to those of the preexisting cohort. Variables Measured Perceived threat of foodborne illness (ie, perceived severity and perceived susceptibility), cues to action (ie, media cues and educational cues), and safe food-handling behaviors (ie, sanitation and cross-contamination). Analysis Rank order correlation coefficients were computed to measure the association among variables. Significance was set at P Results Cues to action were positively related to perceived threat of foodborne illness and safe food-handling behaviors. Perceived severity of foodborne illness was positively related to one dimension of safe food-handling behaviors (ie, sanitation). Conclusions and Implications The HBM is a useful framework for examining food-handling behaviors among older adults.
RNA tertiary folding monitored by fluorescence of covalently attached pyrene

The pathways by which large RNAs adopt tertiary structure are just beginning to be explored, and new methods that reveal RNA folding are highly desirable. Here we report an assay for RNA tertiary folding in which the fluorescence of a covalently incorporated chromophore is monitored. Folding of the 160-nucleotide Tetrahymena group I intron P4−P6 domain was used as a test system. Guided by the P4−P6 X-ray crystal structure, we chose a nucleotide (U107) for which derivatization at the 2‘-position should not perturb the folded conformation. A 15-mer RNA oligonucleotide with a 2‘-amino substitution at U107 was derivatized with a pyrene chromophore on a variable-length tether, and then ligated to the remainder of P4−P6, providing a site-specifically pyrene-labeled P4−P6 derivative. Upon titration of the pyrene-derivatized P4−P6 with Mg2+, the equilibrium fluorescence intensity reversibly increased several-fold, as expected if the probe's chemical microenvironment changes as the RNA to which it is attached fold...
Hydrogen bonding studies—VIII. The thermodynamics of hydrogen bonding of phenol to some oxygen-containing molecules and to benzene☆

Abstract The thermodynamics of hydrogen bonding association of phenol both to four oxygen-containing molecules and to benzene has been studied by a near infrared spectrophotometric method in carbon tetrachloride solution. For the compounds studied, the enthalpies of association decrease in the order diethyl ether ∼ methyl ethyl ketone > n-butyraldehyde > ethyl acetate ⪢ benzene (Table 5). The self-association of phenol in carbon tetrachloride has also been studied, and a new method has been used for the calculation of the dimerization constant for phenol as a function of temperature.
Multilevel Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Systems of Care Implementation Survey (SOCIS)

A major impediment to obtaining national information on systems of care implementation has been the lack of a psychometrically sound large-scale survey instrument. The present study provided information on the factorial and concurrent validity of the Systems of Care Implementation Survey scales. Multilevel confirmatory factor analysis and multilevel regression analysis were used to test these indicators of internal and external validity. Two hundred twenty-five counties were randomly selected and stratified by population size and poverty level. Nine hundred ten informants responded to the survey questionnaire, M = 4.04 informants per county (SD = 3.17). Results indicated that all models had at least adequate fit to the data, with nine of the 14 factor models having excellent fit. Overall, 11 of the 14 factors had some indication that receiving federal funding to create systems of care was associated with higher scores on the factors. Implications for future research were discussed.
Chemical Marker for ALS-Inhibitor Herbicides: 2-Aminobutyric Acid Proportional in Sub-Lethal Applications

A chemical profiling technique for sub-lethal acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibitor herbicides (e.g., sulfonylureas, imidazolines, triazolopyrimidine sulfonanilides, and pyrimidyloxy salicylic) was developed using 2-aminobutyric acid, and was found to be directly proportional to application rates in field studies on two varieties of potato plants. An uncomplicated, benign-by-design analytical method for the determination of 2-aminobutyric acid in plant tissue was developed. The method is simple, fast, and automated, entailing a water-trichloroacetic acid extraction followed by precolumn on-line derivatization using o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) solution and liquid chromatographic analyses. Use of reagents and chlorinated organic solvents, and generation of waste, are minimized as compared to other ALS-inhibitor herbicide analytical techniques. Recoveries for a series of fortified plant tissues ranged from 82 to 103%. Two 20-day field trials on two potato varieties, Russet Burbank and Shepody, were conducted during the 2000 and 2001 growing seasons. The study demonstrated that the 2-aminobutyric acid method is an excellent, selective chemical marker technique for ALS-inhibitor herbicides for real world plant matrixes.
Alternative Trading Organizations: Shifting Paradigm in a Culture of Social Responsibility

Alternative Trading Organizations (ATO) are nonprofit businesses that market crafts, gifts, and food from developing countries through mail-order catalogs and retail stores in many regions of the world. Combining functions of exporters and retailers, ATOs work directly with producer groups on product design, quality control, management, and shipping. This article profiles ATO organizational culture through three emergent themes: social responsibility for artisans, creative tension toward emerging behavioral norms, and organizational analysis for change. The ATO profile points to an emerging paradigm shift as ATOs integrate, within a culture of social responsibility, dual emphases on artisan producer groups and on North American consumers. The profile is intended both to document the organizational culture of ATOs and to serve as a baseline for further analytical and comparative analysis of ATOs operating in a variety of settings and across time. Challenges for the future of alternative trade are identifie...
Health Seeking Behaviors in the Oldest Old

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To examine nutrition related health seeking behaviors among community-dwelling, cognitively intact elders. According to Healthy People 2000, dietary factors contribute considerably to preventable illness and premature death. Health seeking behaviors related to diet were examined in community-dwelling, cognitively intact elders aged in their 60s (n=89), 80s (n=91), and 100s (n=74) between 1988 and 1992. Nine health seeking behaviors were examined: avoid too much sodium, fat, cholesterol, sugar, caffeine, or food; and eat enough fiber, vitamins and minerals, or calcium. From chi-square analyses, it was found that health seeking behaviors were most profoundly influenced by age cohorts, followed by income and education; there were few effects of gender or race. Centenarians were significantly less likely than those in their 60s and 80s to practice all of the health seeking behaviors except trying a lot to eat enough vitamins and minerals (P ≤0.05). The health seeking behaviors most likely to be practiced by the centenarians were eat enough vitamins and minerals and fiber, and avoid too much fat; those in their 80s were most likely to avoid too much fat and sodium, and eat enough fiber and vitamins and minerals; and those in their 60s were most likely to avoid too much fat and cholesterol, and eat enough fiber. Those with higher incomes were significantly more likely to practice five of the nine health seeking behaviors (P ≤ 0.05); while those with higher levels of education were significantly more likely to practice three of the nine health seeking behaviors (P ≤ 0.05).Among centenarians, lack of adherence to most of the health seeking behaviors probably reflects their low socioeconomic status and lack of exposure to nutrition messages concerning the role of diet and health. Thus, nutrition-related health promotion efforts for the elderly must be tailored to the oldest old and those with low incomes and education levels. Funded by NIH grant RO1-43435-06 and Ga. Ag. Exp. Station #769.
Cloud computing approaches for prediction of ligand binding poses and pathways

We describe an innovative protocol for ab initio prediction of ligand crystallographic binding poses and highly effective analysis of large datasets generated for protein-ligand dynamics. We include a procedure for setup and performance of distributed molecular dynamics simulations on cloud computing architectures, a model for efficient analysis of simulation data, and a metric for evaluation of model convergence. We give accurate binding pose predictions for five ligands ranging in affinity from 7 nM to > 200 μM for the immunophilin protein FKBP12, for expedited results in cases where experimental structures are difficult to produce. Our approach goes beyond single, low energy ligand poses to give quantitative kinetic information that can inform protein engineering and ligand design.
Age-related differences in visual search in dynamic displays

The authors examined the ability of younger and older adults to detect changes in dynamic displays. Older and younger adults viewed displays containing numerous moving objects and were asked to respond when a new object was added to the display. Accuracy, response times, and eye movements were recorded. For both younger and older participants, the number of eye movements accounted for a large proportion of variance in transient detection performance. Participants who actively searched for the change performed significantly worse than did participants who employed a passive or covert scan strategy, indicating that passive scanning may be a beneficial strategy in certain dynamic environments. The cost of an active scan strategy was especially high for older participants in terms of both accuracy and response times. However, older adults who employed a passive or covert scan strategy showed greater improvement, relative to older active searchers, than did younger adults. These results highlight the importance of individual differences in scanning strategy in real-world dynamic, cluttered environments.
High-resolution laser spectroscopy of the Q v (0) transitions in solid parahydrogen

Our recent high-resolution laser spectroscopy of theQ v(0) (υ=υ←0,J=0←0) transitions in solid parahydrogen is discussed. The systems studied include the fundamental vibrational bands of impurity D2 and HD, the first and second overtones of parahydrogen, and the charge-induced spectrum ofγ-ray irradiated parahydrogen. Additionally, Stark and stimulated Raman-gain spectroscopies are applied to the solid. The linewidths are as sharp as 2 MHz HWHM, which is highly unusual for a solid. Our spectra demonstrate a variety of physical phenomena, particularly theΔk = 0 selection rule, as well asJ = 1/J = 0 pair intermolecular interactions.
Charge Modulation, Spin Response, and Dual Hofstadter Butterfly in High-T~c Cuprates

The modulated density of states observed in recent STM experiments in underdoped cuprates is argued to be a manifestation of the charge-density wave of Cooper pairs (CPCDW). CPCDW formation is due to superconducting phase fluctuations enhanced by Mott-Hubbard correlations near half-filling. The physics behind the CPCDW is related to a Hofstadter problem in a dual superconductor. It is shown that CPCDW does not impact nodal fermions at the leading order. An experiment is proposed to probe coupling of the CPCDW to the spin carried by nodal quasiparticles.
Stress-induced impairments in prefrontal-mediated behaviors and the role of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor.

Abstract The prefrontal cortex (PFC) mediates higher-order cognitive and executive functions that subserve various complex, adaptable behaviors, such as cognitive flexibility, attention, and working memory. Deficits in these functions typify multiple neuropsychiatric disorders that are caused or exacerbated by exposure to psychological stress. Here we review recent evidence examining the effects of stress on executive and cognitive functions in rodents and discuss an emerging body of evidence that implicates the N -methyl- d -aspartate receptor (NMDAR) as a potentially critical molecular mechanism mediating these effects. Future work in this area could open up new avenues for developing pharmacotherapies for ameliorating cognitive dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disease. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Neuroscience Disease Models .
A Petri net model to determine optimal assembly sequences with assembly operation constraints

Abstract The assembly process in an automated assembly system is the execution of successive assembly operations in which each operation joins one component with another component to form a larger component. The selection of the assembly sequence of a product has a great effect on the efficiency of the assembly process. A systematic procedure is needed not only to generate all feasible assembly sequences but also to choose an optimal sequence. This paper describes a method for finding tight bounds on optimal sequences in an assembly system. A Petri net obtained from the AND/OR graph of a product can be formulated as a 0–1 integer linear program that minimizes the total assembly time or cost while satisfying three assembly operation constraints, namely, ease of component handling, ease of component joining, and tool changes. A Lagrangian dual formulation is then developed to obtain a lower bound. A dynamic programming algorithm provides a dual solution, and a subgradient optimization algorithm is used to maximize the lower bound obtained from the dual problem. The solution procedure is validated by determining the optimal assembly sequences of three products.
Seasonal and Spatial Controls over Nutrient Cycling in a Pacific Northwest Prairie

West Coast prairies in the US are an endangered ecosystem, and effective conservation will require an understanding of how changing climate will impact nutrient cycling and availability. We examined how seasonal patterns and micro-heterogeneity in edaphic conditions (% moisture, total organic carbon, % clay, pH, and inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus) control carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling in an upland prairie in western Oregon, USA. Across the prairie, we collected soils seasonally and measured microbial respiration, net nitrogen mineralization, net nitrification, and phosphorus availability under field conditions and under experimentally varied temperature and moisture treatments. The response variables differed in the degree of temperature and moisture limitation within seasons and how these factors varied across sampling sites. In general, we found that microbial respiration was limited by low soil moisture year-round and by low temperatures in the winter. Net nitrogen mineralization and net nitrification were never limited by temperature, but both were limited by excessive soil moisture in winter, and net nitrification was also inhibited by low soil moisture in the summer. Factors that enhanced microbial respiration tended to decrease soil phosphorus availability. Edaphic factors explained 76% of the seasonal and spatial variation in microbial respiration, 35% of the variation in phosphorus availability, and 29% of the variation in net nitrification. Much of the variation in net nitrogen mineralization remained unexplained (R 2 = 0.19). This study, for the first time, demonstrates the complex seasonal controls over nutrient cycling in a Pacific Northwest prairie.
Enhanced decision making through neuroscience

We propose to enhance the decision making of pilot, co-pilot teams, over a range of vehicle platforms, with the aid of neuroscience. The goal is to optimize this collaborative decision making interplay in time-critical, stressful situations. We will research and measure human facial expressions, personality typing, and brainwave measurements to help answer questions related to optimum decision-making in group situations. Further, we propose to examine the nature of intuition in this decision making process. The brainwave measurements will be facilitated by a University of California, San Diego (UCSD) developed wireless Electroencephalography (EEG) sensing cap. We propose to measure brainwaves covering the whole head area with an electrode density of N=256, and yet keep within the limiting wireless bandwidth capability of m=32 readouts. This is possible because solving Independent Component Analysis (ICA) and finding the hidden brainwave sources allow us to concentrate selective measurements with an organized sparse source rs sensing matrix [Ps], rather than the traditional purely random compressive sensing (CS) matrix[P].© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An investigation by light scattering of the state of aggregation of amylose in aqueous solutions

Aqueous alkali has been assumed to be a good solvent for amylose, and has been used as a medium for physicochemical studies on this polymer. It is shown that there is a slow but substantial reduction in the turbidity of normal KOH solutions of amylose, even in the almost total absence of oxygen. More significantly there is a corresponding, but much more rapid, drop in turbidity in neutral solutions (pH 6.5–7.0). At pH 4.0 the turbidities are, in general, constant for up to at least 30 days. The results are interpreted on the basis of aggregates, which evidently must be of a very special type and are termed “native” aggregates. It is suggested that these may consist of amylose in essentially the helical configuration. The properties of these aggregates are in strong contrast to those of the retrograded aggregates. In the form of the first type of aggregate the amylose will not retrograde, at room temperature, without undergoing first a drop in turbidity suggesting that the transition from the “native” to the retrograded aggregate passes through the molecular state. The native aggregates are stabilized toward both disaggregation and retrogradation by pretreatment with iodine. Disaggregation is accompanied by a drop in relative viscosity. Some of the implications of these unexpected observations are pointed out.
A study of convective elements in the atmospheric surface layer

A statistical model, based on a method of Vulf'son, is used to examine some of the plume-like temperature structures formed in the unstable boundary layer. The model assumes that the plume diameter changes slowly with height so that a cylindrical approximation may be made. Measurements of the vertical velocity and temperature were used to determine the temperature dependent portion of the vertical velocity field. Temperature data were collected from sensors on a tower and from aircraft; velocity data were collected only from the tower. Using this model for analysis of the data indicates that: (1) the average isotherm diameter and the population of isotherms are a function ofz/L; (2) the distribution of core temperatures is approximately a uniform distribution. Independent of the model, a convective velocity was determined and found to have approximately the same profile as the temperature; from this the average velocity of the plumes was found to be a linear function ofz/L, fromz/L ∼- 0.1 toz/L ∼- 1.0. As a consequence of this functional dependence, the entrainment into the plumes is approximately constant over this range. The cumulative temperature distribution function was found to be an asymmetric function ofz/L. A simple relation which is independent ofu * is given to determine the heat flux.
Local Structures in PEO-[C2mim]CF3SO3 Electrolytes Used in Electrochemical Double-Layer Capacitors

Polymer electrolytes containing room-temperature ionic liquids have tremendous potential for use in electrochemical double-layer capacitors. In this report, the local structure of one family of ionicliquid-based polymer electrolytes (PEO complexed with 1-ethyl-3methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate, [C2mim]CF3SO3) is correlated to trends in the conductivity and thermal properties of the materials. Conductivities dramatically increase as the mole fraction of the ionic liquid is increased in the polymer electrolyte. Concomitantly, melting point onset temperatures for PEO decrease with increasing amounts of ionic liquid. IR and Raman spectroscopy suggest that the [C2mim] + cations are weakly coordinated by oxygen atoms of the polymer backbone, and there is some degree of ionic association at higher mole fractions. The lack of strong PEO-[C2mim] + interactions might explain, in part, why this system has much higher conductivities compared to other PEO-MCF3SO3 (M = Li, Na, K, etc.) polymer electrolytes at equivalent salt compositions.
Applying a Randomized Interdependent Group Contingency Component to Classwide Peer Tutoring for Multiplication Fact Fluency

Researchers have documented the positive effects of classwide peer tutoring on academic performance, engagement, and other social behaviors of students with and without disabilities. Commonly, in classwide peer tutoring, students are paired and the class is divided in half. Points are awarded for tutoring behavior and academic responding during the tutoring session. At the end of the session, the half of the class with the most points earns a reward. In the current study, a fifth-grade teacher implemented classwide peer tutoring for multiplication facts. Instead of the traditional reinforcement system, a randomized classwide interdependent group contingency was implemented. Applying a multiple-probe design across problem sets, students demonstrated increased multiplication fact fluency across three problem sets. Discussion focuses on applied implications for contingency management when implementing classwide peer tutoring programs.
Bilateral near-infrared monitoring of the cerebral concentration and oxygen-saturation of hemoglobin during right unilateral electro-convulsive therapy.

Reductions in right prefrontal cerebral blood flow have been correlated with symptomatic improvement in depressed individuals receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Non-invasive near infrared spectroscopy has previously been shown to reliably measure changes in cerebral hemoglobin concentrations and oxygen saturation. In this study, we measured the concentration and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin on the right and left frontal brain regions of nine patients during right unilateral ECT. In all patients, we have found that the electrically induced seizure causes a stronger cerebral deoxygenation on the side ipsilateral to the electrical current (-21+/-5%) with respect to the contralateral side (-6+/-4%). On the brain side ipsilateral to the ECT electrical discharge, we have consistently observed a discharge-induced decrease in the total hemoglobin concentration, i.e. in the cerebral blood volume, by -7+/-3 microM, as opposed to an average increase by 6+/-3 microM on the contralateral side. The ipsilateral decrease in blood volume is assigned to a vascular constriction associated with the electrical discharge, as indicated by the observed decrease in cerebral oxy-hemoglobin concentration and minimal change in deoxy-hemoglobin concentration during the electrical discharge on the side of the discharge. These findings provide indications about the cerebral hemodynamic/metabolic mechanisms associated with ECT, and may lead to useful parameters to predict the individual clinical outcome of ECT.
The Omnidirectional Attention Funnel: A Dynamic 3D Cursor for Mobile Augmented Reality Systems

Knowledge of objects, situations, or locations in the environment may be productivity enhancing, generally useful, or even life-critical for mobile augmented reality (AR) users. Users may need assistance with: (1) dangers, obstacles, or situations requiring attention, (2) visual search, (3) task sequencing, and (4) spatial navigation. The omnidirectional attention funnel is a general purpose AR interface technique that rapidly guides attention to any object, person, or place in the space. The attention funnel dynamically draws user attention with a set of strong bottom-up spatial attention cues. In a study comparing the attention funnel to other attention directing techniques such as highlighting and audio cueing, we found that the attention funnel increased search speed by over 50%, and decreased perceived cognitive load by 18%. The technique has applicability as a general 3D cursor or cue in a wide array of AR applications that require visual search, emergency warning and alerts to specific objects or obstacles, or as a method for 3D navigation to objects in a room or guidance through space.
Parkinson's Disease and the Basal Ganglia: Lessons from the Laboratory and from Neurosurgery:

During the last decade, a clearer understanding of the circuitry of the basal ganglia and their mode of operation has emerged. The basal ganglia are now viewed as parts of larger, segregated circuits that involve the thalamus and cerebral cortex. A pathophysiological model has been elaborated and tested in which Parkinsonian signs are viewed as resulting from increased activity of neurons in the "motor" portion of the internal pallidum, the major output nucleus of the basal ganglia, leading to increased inhibition of thalamocortical projection neurons and decreased activation of the precentral motor fields. Increased internal pallidal activity is thought to result from striatal dopamine loss, leading to decreased inhibition of the internal pallidum via a monosynaptic ("direct") striatopallidal pathway and to excessive excitatory glutamatergic drive via a polysynaptic ("indirect") striatopallidal pathway. Because current medical therapies for Parkinson's disease, aimed at systemically replacing dopamine, o...
Towards universal power efficient scheduling in Gaussian channels

In this paper, we propose a framework for designing power efficient schedulers for transmitting bursty traffic sources over Gaussian wireless channels that provides deterministic and statistical guarantees on absolute delays experienced by the source packets. The proposed schedulers compute the transmission rate and power using temporal water-filling techniques without any knowledge of the arrival traffic statistics. The schedulers reduce the average transmission power substantially (55% in some scenarios) for small increases in delay. The framework allows us to design schedulers that artfully tradeoff the performance with the complexity of computing the schedulers. We also introduce an iterative process to compute a lower bound on the transmit power of any scheduler that provides absolute delay guarantees. The utility of having accurate traffic predictors is demonstrated; specifically, we show that a perfect one step predictor achieves near optimal performances for small delay bounds. The proposed schedulers and iterative method of computing the lower bound are also shown to provide statistical guarantees on packet delays.
Fault Slip Velocities Inferred from the Spectra of Ground Motions

There is much practical need in obtaining independent information about earthquake-source dynamic properties directly from observable data. One such dynamic parameter, the peak slip velocity during earthquake rupture, can be calculated from the corner frequencies of the source spectra, on the assumption of the validity of the ω 2-source model. To obtain the source terms, observed Fourier spectra should be corrected for the site and path effects. Small-to-moderate earthquakes in Japan recorded on multiple rock sites are well suited for the application of this methodology. The results indicate that the maximum slip velocity of the selected earthquakes ranged from approximately 0.2 to 0.6 m/sec. Direct observation-based determinations of this type provide valuable physical information about the in-situ faulting processes that can be used for constraining dynamics theories of faulting or in ground-motion prediction.
The molecular epidemiology of lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. There have been only slight improvements in early diagnosis and survival, reflecting limited advances in screening and treatment for lung cancer. The identification of host differences in susceptibility to lung carcinogens, in particular to cigarette smoke, is essential in predicting who is at highest risk. Susceptibility differences in the form of rare, high-penetrance genes are suggested from studies of familial aggregation of lung cancer and a linkage study. Studies focused on more common, low-penetrance genes in the tobacco smoke metabolism pathways (phase I and phase II enzymes) and DNA repair pathways are reviewed, as are inflammation and cell cycle-related genes and DNA adducts as intermediate biomarkers. Also reviewed are studies of epigenetic mechanisms, such as methylation, as alternative sources of variation in host susceptibility. Studies of molecular epidemiology in lung cancer survival are discussed briefly. In the future, studies that focus on complex interactions between multiple genes and environmental exposures within pertinent pathways are needed. New technological advances in genotyping will help move the field forward.
Gypsy moth mating disruption in open landscapes

Aerial applications of Disrupt II, a plastic laminated flake formulation containing a racemic form of the gypsy moth sex pheromone, disparlure, achieved > 99% reduction of mating among females on individual, isolated trees surrounded by an area cleared of trees. 2 These results support the use of mating disruption to eradicate isolated gypsy moth populations in open landscapes, such as parks, residential areas and com- mercial settings. 3 Mating success in both treated and untreated areas varied with the initial distance between males and females. When the initial distance between males and females was < 5 cm in an area receiving a dosage of 37.5 g of racemic disparlure per ha, mating success was reduced by 27% compared with a similar deployment in an untreated area. Mating was eliminated in areas treated at the same dosage when males and females were initially deployed 1 m apart but on separate trees. 4 This suggests that mating disruption may not be an effective tactic for gypsy moth eradication in cases where the infestation is concentrated on a small number of trees and males and females are in close proximity in space and time.
Simple microfluidic device for studying chemotaxis in response to dual gradients

Chemotaxis is a fundamental biological process where complex chemotactic gradients are integrated and prioritized to guide cell migration toward specific locations. To understand the mechanisms of gradient dependent cell migration, it is important to develop in vitro models that recapitulate key attributes of the chemotactic cues present in vivo. Current in vitro tools for studying cell migration are not amenable to easily study the response of neutrophils to dual gradients. Many of these systems require external pumps and complex setups to establish and maintain the gradients. Here we report a simple yet innovative microfluidic device for studying cell migration in the presence of dual chemotactic gradients through a 3-dimensional substrate. The device is tested and validated by studying the migration of the neutrophil-like cell line PLB-985 to gradients of fMLP. Furthermore, the device is expanded and used with heparinised whole blood, whereupon neutrophils were observed to migrate from whole blood towards gradients of fMLP eliminating the need for any neutrophil purification or capture steps.
Facilitating family adjustment to a diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: April 24-25, 2008, Miami, Florida.

Fifteen participants representing clinicians and parents from Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA met in Miami on April 24–25, 2008 to attend a workshop that focused on facilitating family adjustment to a diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The workshop, sponsored by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), was organized in response to parent and clinician concerns that many families do not receive adequate psychosocial support following diagnosis. DMD is a complex multi-systemic medical condition with characteristics of both chronic and terminal disease [1,2]. This can present significant challenges to a family’s ability to adjust to a diagnosis of DMD, and a greater understanding of strategies that can be implemented to maximize positive outcome is necessary. Although not exhaustive, the topics covered in this workshop were judged to be of particular importance to those with DMD, and amenable to the development of specific interventions that could be implemented at the clinic level. The aims of the workshop were to (1) examine important factors that can have an impact on family adjustment and function following a diagnosis of DMD and (2) identify potential interventions and important windows of opportunity for affecting positive adjustment. It is our hope that these initial results will serve as a foundation for future exploration in this area.