cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective blockade of peripheral delta opioid agonist induced antinociception by intrathecal administration of delta receptor antisense oligodeoxynucleotide

Abstract Previous studies have shown that intrathecal (i.t.) administration of antisense, but not mismatch, oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) to the cloned delta opioid receptor (DOR) can inhibit the antinociceptive actions of i.t. delta (δ), but not mu (μ) or kappa (κ), opioid agonists. As a major portion of spinal opioid receptors are localized on the central terminals of the small afferent fibers, we hypothesized that the effects of antisense ODNs given i.t. might be the result of actions at the level of the cell body in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). This possibility was investigated by assessing the antinociceptive actions of an i.t. or intrapaw (ipaw) administered μ (morphine), δ ([ d -Ala 2 , Glu 4 ]deltorphin) or κ (CI977) opioid agonist in rats treated with i.t. saline or antisense or mismatch ODNs to the DOR (12.5 μg, twice-daily for 3 days). The opioid agonists produced significant antinociception in the 5% formalin-flinch test following either i.t. or ipaw administration. DOR antisense ODN treatment blocked the antinociceptive actions of both i.t. or ipaw [ d -Ala 2 , Glu 4 ]deltorphin without affecting the antinociceptive actions of i.t. or ipaw morphine or CI977. Radioligand binding studies with [ 3 H]naltrindole (NTI), a δ selective antagonist, indicated an approximate 50% decrease in δ opioid receptors in the lumbar spinal cord following i.t. DOR antisense, but not mismatch, ODN treatment. DOR antisense or mismatch ODN treatment did not affect ν or κ radioligand binding in lumbar spinal cord. These data suggest the possibility that peripheral proteins can be targeted with i.t. antisense ODNs providing significant opportunities for the exploration of the physiological and pathological significance of these substances.
Out of focus: Images of women and men in newspaper photographs

This study examined the roles portrayed by men and women in newspaper photographs. The photographs in the 184 issues of the four Connecticut newspapers studied yielded 8960 representations of men and women. Photographs were coded for page placement and the roles portrayed by each individual. The author found that on most pages and in most roles, photos of men far outnumber those of women. While there is some indication that the range of roles portrayed is less limited for both women and men, it is also clear that the roles in which women and men are portrayed are clustered stereotypically: professional and sports for men and spouse for women. Suggestions for methodological refinements that might help clarify the extent and nature of stereotyping also are presented.
Finding minimum-cost paths for electric vehicles

Modern route-guidance software for conventional gasoline-powered vehicles does not consider refueling since gasoline stations are ubiquitous and convenient in terms of both accessibility and use. The same technology is insufficient for electric vehicles (EVs), however, as charging stations are much more scarce and a suggested route may be infeasible given an EV's initial charge level. Recharging decisions may also have significant impacts on the total travel time and longevity of the battery, which can be costly to replace, so they must be considered when planning EV routes. In this paper, the problem of finding a minimum-cost path for an EV when the vehicle must recharge along the way is modeled as a dynamic program. It is proven that the optimal control and state space are discrete under mild assumptions, and two different solution methods are presented.
An evaluation of robust controls for passive building thermal mass and mechanical thermal energy storage under uncertainty

Abstract Passive building thermal mass and mechanical thermal energy storage (TES) are known as one of state-of-the-art demand-side control instruments. Specifically, Model-based Predictive Control (MPC) for this operation has the potential to significantly increase performance and bring economic advantages. However, due to the uncertainty in certain operating conditions in the field, its control effectiveness could be diminished and/or seriously damaged, which results in poor performance. This study pursues improvements of the control performance of both thermal inventories under uncertainty by proposing a robust MPC in which relevant uncertainty sources are compiled; therefore, it is designed to perform more stable than traditional MPCs under uncertain conditions. Uniqueness and superiority of the proposed robust demand-side controls include: (i) Controls are developed based on the a priori uncertainty assessment, such that a systematic modeling approach for uncertainty was taken according to characteristics and classifications of uncertainty. (ii) The robust MPC reduces the variability of performance under varied and non-indigenous conditions compared to the deterministic MPC, and thus can avoid the worst case situation.
Quantum Electrodynamics of Charged Particles without Spin

Feynman's formulation of quantum electrodynamics is shown to be equivalent to the Schwinger-Tomonaga theory also for spinless charged particles (mesons) as developed by Kanesawa and Tomonaga. The divergencies of the scattering matrix are analyzed to all orders in the fine-structure constant and it is found that mass and charge renormalizations do not remove all divergencies, unlike the electron case. The remaining divergence is associated with the meson-meson interaction and occurs in all orders of radiative corrections except the lowest (second) order in which the process can exist. In order to make the scattering matrix completely finite a direct interaction term $\ensuremath{\lambda}{\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{*}(x){\ensuremath{\varphi}}^{*}(x)\ensuremath{\varphi}(x)\ensuremath{\varphi}(x)$ in the Hamiltonian must be postulated. The infinite coupling constant $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ is to be renormalized by an infinite renormalization. One obtains a finite amount of direct interation which must be determined from experiment. The identical cancellation of certain divergencies to all orders of the fine-structure constant and valid spin 0, \textonehalf{}, and 1 is proven in the Appendix.
Hydro- and morpho-dynamic modeling of breaking solitary waves over a fine sand beach. Part I: Experimental study

Abstract The objectives of this work are (1) to examine the mechanisms that influence tsunami erosion and deposition mechanisms in the littoral zone via physical simulations of breaking solitary waves over a fine sand beach, and (2) to provide experimental data for validation of numerical models to predict tsunami erosion and deposition processes. The experiments were carried out in a 48.8 m × 2.16 m × 2.1 m wave flume. The flume was instrumented to observe free surface elevations, cross-shore velocities, suspended sediment concentrations, vertical and cross-shore pore-pressure gradients near the shoreline, and morphological changes. In addition, wave–sediment interactions were observed via underwater video cameras. The results are systematically analyzed to investigate the roles of wave breaking, bore runup, wave drawdown, and wave-induced pore-pressure variations on tsunami erosion and deposition processes. The studies showed that the wave plunging on a thin layer of water prior to reaching the shoreline did not cause much sediment suspension, while the waterjet impinging directly on the beach entrained substantial amounts of sand. The suspended sediments were subsequently pushed up the slope by fluid momentum as the broken wave transformed to a turbulent bore. A small net deposition region was observed near the maximum runup point where both the flow velocity and the water depth were near zero. A significant amount of the sediment transport occurred during the wave drawdown in the form of thick sheet flow, which resulted in net erosion of the shore face and the beach. A hydraulic jump formed near the wave breaking region toward the end of the drawdown, which caused most of the suspended sand to deposit in the wave breaking region. Consequently, breaking solitary waves over a sloping fine sand beach led to net erosion of the shore face and the beach, net deposition in a small region immediately seaward of the max excursion point, and net deposition in the wave breaking zone.
Androgen regulation of progestin biosynthetic enzymes in FSH-treated rat granulosa cells in vitro

The influence of androgens on the FSH modulation of progestin biosynthetic enzymes was studied in vitro. Granulosa cells obtained from immature, hypophysectomized, estrogen-treated rats were cultured for 3 days in a serum-free medium containing FSH (20 ng/ml) with or without increasing concentrations (10−9−10−6 M) of 17β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-3-one (dihydrotestosterone; DHT), 5α-androstane-3α, 17β-diol (3α-diol), or the synthetic androgen 17β-hydroxy-17-methyl-4,9,11-estratrien-3-one (methyltrienolone; R1881). FSH treatment increased progesterone and 20α-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one(20α-OH-P) production by 10.2- and 11-fold, respectively. Concurrent androgen treatment augmented FSH-stimulated progesterone and 20α-OH-P production in a dose-related manner (R1881 > 3α-diol > DHT). In the presence of an inhibitor of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), the FSH-stimulated pregnenolone (3β-hydroxy-5-pregnen-20-one) production (a 20-fold increase) was further enhanced by co-treatment with R1881, 3α-diol or DHT. Furthermore, FSH treatment increased 4.4-fold the activity of 3β-HSD, which converts pregnenolone to progesterone. This stimulatory action of FSH was further augmented by concurrent androgen treatment. In contrast, androgen treatment did not affect FSH-stimulated activity of a progesterone breakdown enzyme, 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase(20α-HSD). These results demonstrate that the augmenting effect of androgens upon FSH-stimulated progesterone biosynthesis is not due to changes in the conversion of progesterone to 20α-OH-P, but involves an enhancing action upon 3β-HSDΔ5, Δ4-isomerase complexes and additional enzymes prior to pregnenolone biosynthesis.
Quantum oscillations in strained-layer superlattices

Large-amplitude quantum oscillations are observed in the magnetotransport in GaAs-Ga/sub 0.8/In/sub 0.2/As strained-layer superlattices. These measurements demonstrate that single-crystal perfection and high mobilities at low temperatures can be achieved in a new class of semiconductor structures. The properties of these structures can be tailored easily over a wide range inaccessible to naturally occurring lattice-matched heterostructures.
Henrietteeae (Melastomataceae): A New Neotropical Berry-Fruited Tribe

Abstract With nearly 2,000 species, all restricted to the Neotropics, Miconieae represent the largest radiation within Melastomataceae. Generic limits and relationships within the tribe have long been contested. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses of the tribe, based on sequences of nrITS and ndhF, resulted in consistent support for a clade comprising Bellucia, Loreya, Henriettea, and Henriettella, which is neither nested within nor sister to the Miconieae. Furthermore, and based upon a series of presumably synapomorphic anatomical and morphological characters, e.g. megastyloid crystals, absence of both medullary and cortical vascular bundles, plinerved leaves, axillary or cauliflorous inflorescences, we consider three additional genera, Kirkbridea, Llewelynia, and Myriaspora, to belong to this clade, a newly recognized tribe, Henrietteeae. These seven genera had formerly been assigned to the Miconieae based on their having exappendiculate anthers (except Kirkbridea) and berry fruits. Henriettella and Lle...
Lymphocyte signaling: Cbl sets the threshold for autoimmunity.

Abstract Cbl, a negative regulator of immune signaling, has recently been shown to act as a ubiquitin–protein ligase. Further, two new papers describing Cbl-b-deficient mice suggest that Cbl-b sets the threshold of signaling in T and B cells and prevents the development of autoimmunity.
Magnetic Flux Distribution in Transformers

It is customary when discussing magnetic leakage in the transformer to consider the primary and secondary windings as having a counter e. m. f. induced by a flux surrounding the coil and having the core for a part of its path. This leakage flux is frequently represented by closed lines. Since the main flux is also represented by closed lines in the core, apparently two fluxes are to be found in the core under a given coil, namely, the leakage flux and the main flux. The main flux is the flux found in the core at a point not under either the primary or secondary winding, and has been commonly considered as being the flux which causes the secondary induced voltage. If the leakage fluxes have a separate existence, i. e., if they are to be represented by closed lines, then the flux along the edges of the core would consist largely of leakage lines while that to be found in the middle portion of the core would be the main flux. Since these fluxes are out of phase with one another it should be possible to identify them if they are present as separate fluxes. Using a simple test core-type transformer, provided with belt exploring coils under both the primary and secondary windings, data concerning the magnitudes and phase positions of the fluxes in different sections of the core were secured. The results show that leakage fluxes do not exist as separate fluxes in the core.
Reduction of Noise From MR Thermometry Measurements During HIFU Characterization Procedures

Magnetic resonance (MR) thermometry is a valuable method for characterizing thermal fields generated by high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducers in tissue phantoms and excised tissues. However, infiltration of noise signals generated by external rf sources into the scanner orifice limits the ability of the scanner to measure temperature rise during the heating or ablation phase. In this study, magnetic resonance interferometry (MRI) monitored HIFU ablations are performed on freshly excised porcine liver samples, at varying sonication times, 20 s, 30 s, and 40 s at a constant acoustic intensity level of 1244 W/cm 2 . Temperature throughout the procedure was measured using proton resonant frequency MR thermometry. Without filtering, reliable temperature measurements during the heating phase could not be obtained since temperature maps appeared blurred and analysis was impossible. Also, measurements acquired during the cooling phase decayed manifested an unrealistically slow rate of temperature decay. This abnormally slow rate was confirmed with computational results. A low-pass RC filter circuit was subsequently incorporated into the experimental setup to prevent infiltration of noise signals in the MRI orifice. This modified RC filter circuit allowed noninvasive measurement of the HIFU induced temperature rise during the heating phase followed by temperature decay during cooling. The measured data were within 13% agreement with the temperature rise computed by solving the acoustic and heat equations.
Dynamics of bulk polyethylene on a high coordination lattice

Monte Carlo simulations of bulk polyethylene were performed on a high-coordination lattice. In this study, we investigated the effect of coarse-grained short and long range interaction parameters on the dynamic properties of the bulk system. As a result of fine tuning of the simulation parameters, our coarse-grained simulations were successful in mimicing the local and large-scale dynamics of C 44 H 90 and C 100 H 202 melts.
The effect of stratification and seasonal variability on the profile of an anaerobic swine waste treatment lagoon.

In this study, the characterization of an anaerobic swine waste treatment lagoon from a farrowing operation (∼2000 sows) was carried out to examine the dynamics of the system due to stratification and seasonal variability. Swine waste samples were taken at different depths with a pulley system equipped with a special sampler that allows for sampling exclusively at certain depth. Chemicals and microbial dynamics were monitored throughout a one-year-period. Results showed that nutrient (C, N, P, S) concentrations varied according to stratified lagoon layers and season. Trace minerals (Al, Ca, Fe, and Mg), on the other hand, appeared to be affected more by stratification than seasonal variability. Molecular analysis also showed that microbial community structure appeared to be affected by the stratification and seasonal variability. Based on these data, it is important to consider the effect of stratification and seasonal variability in managing these open lagoons.
Reversible restriction of vesicular stomatitis virus in permissive cells treated with inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis.

Abstract Indomethacin, a potent nonsteroidal inhibitor of prostaglandin synthetase (cyclooxygenase) reduced yields of infectious vesicular stomatitis virus in HEp-2 cells more than 99% if added to cultures at levels of 10−3 M either before or after infection. Other permissive cell lines differed according to the treatment period and drug level required for restricting productive infections. The inhibitory effect of indomethacin was progressively reduced if infection of cells was delayed for increasing times after drug removal. Strong inhibition of viral replication also occurred in cells treated with the cyclooxygenase antagonists naproxen, phenylbutazone, and oxyphenylbutazone whereas phenacetin, which does not block cyclooxygenase function, was inactive. Enhanced viral replication occurred in indomethacin-treated HEp-2 cultures when these cells were subsequently exposed to such substances as prostaglandin El, cyclic AMP, or insulin. Conversely, indomethacin-treated cells remained restrictive for VSV if they were subsequently exposed to metabolic inhibitors of functional DNA (actinomycin D or mitomycin C), messenger RNA synthesis (α-amanitin), or protein synthesis (cycloheximide) at concentrations that normally do not compromise viral replication. Pretreatment of HEp-2 cells with mitomycin C markedly shifted the dose response for indomethacin-mediated inhibition of VSV from a 90% inhibitory dose of about 10−4 M to one of 10−9 M or lower. These findings suggest that preexisting host factors essential for replication of VSV, although rendered nonfunctional by the drug indomethacin, can be replenished unless their synthesis is blocked by various classes of metabolic inhibitors.
Multiple quantum well-based modulating retroreflectors for inter- and intra-spacecraft communication

Free space optics (FSO) can provide high data rates with efficient use of power. However, small platforms may not be able to support the payload requirements of a conventional FSO terminal. An alternative FSO terminal uses a modulating retro-reflector (MRR). MRRs shift most of the power, weight, and pointing requirements to one end of the link. With a MRR configuration, it is possible to establish a two-way FSO link using a single laser transmitter. The MRR terminal of these systems can be small, lightweight, and low power. The MRR maintains the small beam divergence of a conventional optical communications link, but gains the loose pointing advantage of an RF link, reducing the pointing requirements. Communication needs in space present many asymmetric scenarios in which a MRR architecture could be beneficial. This paper describes some of the current capabilities and limitations of MRR systems, as well as applications to space links. An evaluation of the radiation tolerance of modulators is presented.
Effect of Hydration and Crystal Form on the Surface Area of Lactose

Abstract Heating crystalline α -lactose monohydrate at 110 to 130C, in vacuo, to form anhydrous α-lactose yielded a solid with an expanded surface area as determined by low temperature N 2 , or Kr adsorption. The BET area (Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller Equation. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 60:309. 1938.) of the anhydrous sugar was 2.0m 2 /g while that of original α -lactose•H 2 O was only .18m 2 /g. Rehydration of the anhydrous form to the monohydrate by exposure to H 2 O vapor at .72 P 0 at 25C resulted in only a partial reduction in surface area. Only minor differences were observed among the BET areas of several solid forms of lactose and other sugars of similar sieve size indicating only minor differences in porosity or particle shape which may be related to their potential as sorbents for odorous substances in the atmosphere.
Bootstrap Capitalism: Sequel to Welfare Reform

Since the 1935 Social Security Act, the United States' response to poverty has consisted of an array of stigmatizing public assistance programs that have provided benefits well below the poverty level, and which are so unpopular that many of the poor eligible for benefits avoid them altogether. The take-up rate of public assistance programs is about 50%, meaning half of those eligible fail to receive benefits. The quintessential example was Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), which, despite its reinvention as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), continues to thwart the aspirations of low-income Americans; families accumulating sufficient income or assets above the means test are terminated from assistance. In contrast, bootstrap capitalism promises to mainstream the welfare poor and working poor, not only by offering them the same financial services most Americans take for granted, but also by leveraging capital for community development projects. For example, the take-up rate for t...
Submicroscopic studies of the round window membrane.

A study of the ultrastructure of the round window membrane revealed several interesting characteristics of functional significance. The membrane consists of three layers: (1) An external layer faces the tympanic cavity and varies from one to two cells in thickness. It is composed of four types of cells: osrniophilic, osmiophobic, dark granulated and goblet cells. The free surface has niicrovilli and is coated with an amorphous substance. (2) An internal layer, facing the scala tympani, is one cell thick and lacks rnicrovilli, but an occasional kinocilia was observed. The cells have very long thin cytoplasmic processes and extensive endoplasmic reticulum. Secretory granules are present, and it appears that these cells synthesize a substance, possibly glycogen. Blood vessels were observed resting on the free surface. (3) A middle layer of connective tissue contains all the normal components and is interspersed with blood vessels and unmyelinated nerve fibers. Both collagen and elastic fibers were found to b...
Therapeutic Vasculogenesis It Takes Two

See related article, pages 194–202 The shortage of organs for transplantation has been so severe and prolonged that many of us have become almost numb to the crisis facing patients and their families. In 2008, there are 98 992 patients on various organ transplantation waiting lists in the United States alone; during January and February, 4471 transplants were performed but 1044 patients died while on waiting lists.1 This organ crisis shines an unwanted spotlight on the failure of tissue engineering to thus far deliver on its promises of the late 20th century. Tissue engineering in the 21st century still has the same potential, in some ways rediscovering itself under the more reputable moniker of “Regenerative Medicine.” However, some of the problems that kept tissue engineering from delivering the goods in the 1990s remain important ones in this century. One of the critical challenges in building any new organ is the dependence of an implanted tissue construct on sufficient oxygen and nutrient transport for its cells to survive, both for access to substrate molecules and clearance of products of metabolism.2 The principal mechanism for this transport, especially for small molecules, is passive diffusion along concentration gradients, and oxygen diffusion is of obvious importance. The transport of other nutrients is generally more favorable than that of oxygen because the diffusion of oxygen is relatively slow, consumption is high, and the tolerated time for any deficit is so short. To provide sufficient oxygen tension to mitochondria inside the cell, the minimum distance from the cell to the closest capillary lumen in many metabolically active tissues is rarely greater than 40 to 200 μm.3 With this proximity to flowing blood and its partial pressures of ≈100 mm Hg, oxygen can maintain the concentration gradient required at the cell. The distance-to-oxygen …
Do Unions Help or Hinder Women in Training? Apprenticeship Programs in the United States

Trade unions are frequently criticised for excluding women from skilled crafts by denying them training. This article examines this argument by estimating the retention and attrition probabilities of men and women in the joint union-management and the unilateral employer-sponsored apprenticeship programs. While men, on average, have higher retention and lower attrition rates than women, joint sponsorship raises women's graduation probability above (and lowers their quit probability below) those of men or women apprentices in unilateral programs.
Dissolving the Wine/Water Paradox

Von Mises’ wine/water paradox has long served as an argument against the Principle of Indifference. A solution to the paradox is proposed, with a view toward resolving general difficulties in applying the principle. The Principle of Indifference (PI), an artifact of the classical theory of probability, says that we should assign equal probability to any mutually exclusive and jointly exhaustive set of possible outcomes, iff we have insufficient reason to consider any one of these outcomes more or less likely than any other. Despite its intuitive appeal and its formative role in the field of probability, PI has fallen into serious disrepute among probability theorists. Perhaps the most common and compelling argument against PI is that it leads to irresolvable paradox. Beginning with Bertrand ([1889]), authors have attempted to show that applying PI to certain kinds of examples leads to contradiction. Opinions are divided as to which of these so-called Bertrand paradoxes can be resolved simply by making PI more precise, but critics and defenders of the principle agree that not all of them can be. One particular paradox, von Mises’ wine/water paradox, plays a curiously pivotal role in this discussion. Everyone seems to agree that it has no solution. Van Fraassen ([1989]) claims that the paradox signals the ‘ultimate defeat’ of the Principle of Indifference, nullifying the ‘Pyrrhic victory’ won by Poincare ´ ([1912]) and Jaynes ([1973]) over other Bertrand paradoxes. Gillies ([2000]) calls it the one ‘fatal’ objection to PI, and Oakes ([1986]) uses it to confirm that ‘the classical conception of probability cannot withstand more than casual examination’. Even Jaynes ([1973]) and Schlesinger ([1991]), lonely defenders of PI, throw up their hands at this paradox, arguing that it simply stakes out the limitations of the principle. The fact that so many critics rely on this one example to discredit PI is in itself cause for some suspicion. At the very least, it suggests that dissolving the wine/water paradox would score a major victory for PI. I hope to supply this victory.
Firm dynamics and markup variations: Implications for sunspot equilibria and endogenous economic fluctuations

This paper analyzes how the interaction between firms’ entry-and-exit decisions and variations in competition gives rise to self-fulfilling, expectation-driven fluctuations in aggregate economic activity and in measured total factor productivity (TFP). The analysis is based on a dynamic general equilibrium model in which net business formation is endogenously procyclical and leads to endogenous countercyclical variations in markups. This interaction leads to indeterminacy in which economic fluctuations occur as a result of self-fulfilling shifts in the beliefs of rational forward looking agents. When calibrated with empirically plausible parameter values and driven solely by self-fulfilling shocks to expectations, the model can quantitatively account for the main empirical regularities characterizing postwar U.S. business cycles and for 65% of the fluctuations in measured TFP.
Pharmacology of antiarrhythmic drugs in elderly patients.

Bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias are common in elderly patients as a result of aging and acquired cardiac disease. Antiarrhythmic drugs are effective in elderly patients for the management of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias; however, dosing of drugs must be performed with care because of age-related changes in drug pharmacokinetics, the presence of concomitant disease, and frequent drug-drug interactions. Despite the large number of antiarrhythmic drugs having different electrophysiologic actions, as described in this article, only the ?-blockers have been shown to be effective in reducing mortality and to lack proarrhythmic actions.
Meprin A impairs epithelial barrier function, enhances monocyte migration, and cleaves the tight junction protein occludin

Meprin metalloproteases are highly expressed at the luminal interface of the intestine and kidney and in certain leukocytes. Meprins cleave a variety of substrates in vitro, including extracellular matrix proteins, adherens junction proteins, and cytokines, and have been implicated in a number of inflammatory diseases. The linkage between results in vitro and pathogenesis, however, has not been elucidated. The present study aimed to determine whether meprins are determinative factors in disrupting the barrier function of the epithelium. Active meprin A or meprin B applied to Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell monolayers increased permeability to fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran and disrupted immunostaining of the tight junction protein occludin but not claudin-4. Meprin A, but not meprin B, cleaved occludin in MDCK monolayers. Experiments with recombinant occludin demonstrated that meprin A cleaves the protein between Gly100 and Ser101 on the first extracellular loop. In vivo experiments demonstrated that meprin A infused into the mouse bladder increased the epithelium permeability to sodium fluorescein. Furthermore, monocytes from meprin knockout mice on a C57BL/6 background were less able to migrate through an MDCK monolayer than monocytes from their wild-type counterparts. These results demonstrate the capability of meprin A to disrupt epithelial barriers and implicate occludin as one of the important targets of meprin A that may modulate inflammation.
Long-term impacts of introduced flathead catfish on native ictalurids in a north Florida, USA, river.

Introduction of flathead catfish, Pylodictis olivaris (Rafinesque), in waters of the USA has been widespread and often with negative impacts. Flathead catfish have been collected in Florida waters since the 1980s, and this study documents their impact on native fishes shortly after establishment. Four sites in the Choctawhatchee River, Florida, were sampled from 1997 to 2011, a time period spanning several years before and after the presence of flathead catfish at all sites. Flathead catfish expanded more than 91 river km in 2 years. The population increased rapidly and became the numerically dominant ictalurid at each site within 3 years of first detection at the site. Concurrent with the increases in flathead catfish was the precipitous decline of the native spotted bullhead, Ameiurus serracanthus (Yerger & Relyea). Electric fishing catch rates of flathead catfish significantly increased (P < 0.03) over time at all sites, while spotted bullhead catch rates significantly declined (P < 0.03) at three of four sites. Catch rates of flathead catfish and spotted bullhead were negatively correlated at all but the last site to be colonised by flathead catfish. This study provides evidence that introduced flathead catfish can quickly and significantly impact native ictalurids.
Use of in Vitro Autoradiography to Localize Binding Sites for Putative Endothelium-Derived Constrictor/Dilator Substances in Human Vascular Tissue

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the role of vascular endothelial cells in the control of blood vessel reactivity. It is now well established that many agents produce vasodilatation via an endothelium-dependent relaxing factor (EDRF). In 1988, Yanagisawa and his colleagues described the isolation of endothelin, an extremely potent vasoconstrictor peptide, which was released from cultured porcine endothelial cells. We have been using high and low resolution in vitro autoradiography (essentially as described by Young and Kuhar, 1979) to localize binding sites (putative receptors) for vasoactive compounds in human coronary tissue from patients undergoing bypass grafting or cardiac transplantation.
The potential of salivary point of care diagnostics

1- Dental student, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA. Harvard Catalyst, Laboratory for Innovative Translational Technologies, Harvard Medical School, Boston. Christina_Bonebreak@hsdm.harvard.edu 2- PhD, Director, Bio-Acoustic-MEM in Medicine Laboratory, Center for Biomedical Engineering, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA. udemirci@rics.bwh.harvard.edu 3- DDS, SM, DMSc, Director, Harvard Catalyst, Laboratory for Innovative Translational Technologies, Harvard Medical School, Bos ton, 02115, USA; Assistant Professor, Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA. wkuo@catalyst.harvard.edu
Variable frequency crosstalk noise analysis: a methodology to guarantee functionality from dc to f/sub max/

One means of reducing pessimism in crosstalk analysis is to consider timing orthogonality. While earlier works have addressed the temporal alignment of timing windows [1, 2, 3, 4], these treatments have overlooked one key point. Crosstalk noise failures are frequency dependent. A chip that functions at one frequency can fail due to crosstalk noise at faster and slower frequencies. Moreover, because system developers and manufacturers need chips that operate over a wide range of frequencies, noise analysis tools should guarantee a wide range of operation. In this paper, we explain this phenomenon and propose a simple procedure to include timing information and guarantee functionality from dc to fmax.
WHAT SNU? THE CASE OF THE MISSING SOLAR NEUTRINOS

The current attempts to observe solar neutrinos are reviewed. It is concluded that serious consideration must be given to the possibility that the neutrino flux from the Sun is essentially zero even though we are not yet absolutely forced to this conclusion. Transient effects in the Sun are briefly discussed as a possible explanation for the lack of solar neutrinos.
Velocity-selective two-photon resonances with blue and red detunings in a cold atomic sample

We explore a cooling mechanism that results from a two-photon Raman process resonant with a particular velocity class of atoms. We have seen evidence for cooling with both red and blue detuned light.
Hall studies of instabilities occurring in impact ionization of n-type indium antimonide

Abstract The J-E characteristic of InSb shows an instability at short times after application of the electric field. A transverse magnetic field lets the instability occur at a lower electric field. The Hall field shows a sharp drop simultaneously to the instability. Carrier concentrations at the threshold field are measured for various magnetic fields.
Deferred maintenance of indexes and of materialized views

Maintenance of secondary indexes and materialized views can cause the latency and bandwidth of concurrent information capture to degrade by orders of magnitude. In order to preserve performance during temporary bursts of update activity, e.g., during load operations, many systems therefore support deferred maintenance, at least for materialized views. However, deferring maintenance means that index or view contents may become out-of-date. In such cases, a seemingly benign choice among alternative query execution plans affects whether query results represent the latest database contents. We propose here a system that distinguishes between the maintenance of of logical contents and physical structure. This distinction lets us compensate for deferred logical maintenance operations while minimizing the impact of deferred physical maintenance operations, and results in support for concurrent high update rates and immediate, index-based query processing with correct transaction semantics.
Comparison of the catalytic influence of nickel and Cu-Ni alloys on the graphite-steam reaction

Abstract The catalytic effect of copper-nickel alloys on the graphite-steam reaction has been studied using a combination of controlled atmosphere electron microscopy and flow reactor techniques. These experiments show that the catalytic activity and selectivity of nickel can be modified by alloying with copper. However, in order for the alloy to function successfully, the H 2 O H 2 ratio must be kept below 100:1, a necessary requirement to maintain the catalyst in the alloyed state. The maximum activity occurs with a catalyst containing equal amounts of the two metals. It was also found that the product selectivity in this reaction is a function of both alloy composition and reaction temperature. Methane to hydrogen ratios decrease sharply as copper is added to nickel, reaching a minimum value at a catalyst composition containing equal amounts of copper and nickel. Furthermore, the magnitude of this effect is strongly dependent on the temperature, being highest at 500 °C and tending to disappear as the temperature is raised to 700 °C.
Supercritical CO2-cosolvent extraction of contaminated soils and sediments

DDT- or PCB-contaminated topsoils of high organic content were extracted using supercritical CO2 or CO2-5 wt% cosolvent (toluene, acetone, methanol, acetic acid, diethylamine) mixtures at 313 K and 101 bar. In separate experiments, the pure contaminants were dissolved in supercritical CO2 at the same conditions and the equilibrium solubilities determined. Most of the cosolvents only marginally improve extraction rates over the case of pure CO2. Methanol, however, increases total amounts of DDT removal from 50–80% to > 95%, and increases DDT and PCB extraction rates by as much as an order of magnitude. Methanol is a superior cosolvent probably because its hydrogen-bonding ability is better suited to interaction with the organic matter in the soil (humic acids, fulvic acids, polysaccharides); the organic matter essentially “dissolves” the contaminants in the soil matrix. Comparing a simple fixed–bed, local equilibrium (based on pure contaminant equilibria) desorption model to the actual desorption data indicates that contaminant solubilities in supercritical fluids are enhanced (over the pure contaminant case) when desorbing from soils. The enhancements may be related to the simultaneous desorption of other low molecular-weight organics from the soils.
High frequency ultrasound imaging using an active optical detector

Optical detection of ultrasound has numerous advantages over traditional piezoelectric methods. These systems offer noncontact inspection, rapid scanning capabilities, fine spatial sampling, and large bandwidths. In addition, difficulties associated with conventional ultrasound imaging systems such as cross-talk between elements, electrical connections, and electromechanical resonances are greatly reduced or even eliminated. Because of this, high frequency phased arrays for ultrasound detection can be emulated by accurately positioning and focusing optical beams on a suitable surface, which defines array elements. However, optical systems have lower sensitivity than their piezoelectric counterparts, limiting their widespread use in ultrasound imaging. Active optical detection offers a solution. An active ultrasound detector consisting of a neodymium-doped glass waveguide laser with an optical demodulation system, was built demonstrating enhanced sensitivity while preserving the benefits of traditional passive optical detection.
Performance enhancing proxy for interactive 3G network gaming

Unlike non-time-critical applications like email and file transfer, network games demand timely data delivery to maintain the seemingly interactive presence of players in the virtual game world. Yet the inherently large transmission delay mean and variance of 3G cellular links make on-time game data delivery difficult. Further complicating the timely game data delivery problem is the frequent packet drops at these links due to inter-symbol interference, fading and shadowing at the physical layer. In this paper, we propose a proxy architecture that enhances the timeliness and reliability of data delivery of interactive games over 3G wireless networks. In particular, a performance enhancing proxy is designed to optimize a new time-critical data type—variable-deadline data, where the utility of a datum is inversely proportional to the time required to deliver it. We show how a carefully designed and configured proxy can noticeably improve the delivery of network game data.
“Scope for the Imagination”: Imaginative Spaces and Female Agency in Anne of Green Gables

Within the canon of children’s literature, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables stands out for its spirited heroine Anne Shirley and her lively imagination. An orphan who has lived an “unloved life” full of “drudgery, poverty, and neglect,” Anne has developed her imagination as a coping mechanism and as a means of survival. Throughout the novel, Montgomery reveals that Anne’s imagination is a powerful entity that is intricately connected to place; as a result, Anne is able to reconfigure the physical world that she sees until it reflects her idealistic imaginings. By analyzing Anne’s imaginative elsewhere through Rose’s theoretical lens, one can see how truly progressive Anne is as a paradoxical figure who consistently possesses agency and actualizes her hopes and dreams into concrete realities.
Density and Viscosity from 293.15 to 373.15 K, Speed of Sound and Bulk Modulus from 293.15 to 343.15 K, Surface Tension, and Flash Point of Binary Mixtures of Bicyclohexyl and 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydronaphthalene or Trans-decahydronaphthalene at 0.1 MPa

In this work, the physical properties of binary mixtures of bicyclohexyl and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (tetralin) or trans-decahydronaphthalene (trans-decalin) were measured. Densities and viscosities were measured at temperatures from 293.15 to 373.15 K, and speeds of sound were measured at temperatures from 293.15 to 343.15 K. At 303.15 K, pure component values of density (960.9, 878.93, 862.29 kg·m–3), viscosity (1.85, 3.18, 1.79 mPa·s), and speed of sound (1450.2, 1422.7, 1357.5 m·s–1) are consistent with literature values for tetralin, bicyclohexyl, and trans-decalin, respectively. Density mole fraction data were fit to second- or third-order polynomials. Viscosity mole fraction data were fit using the three-body McAllister model. The bulk modulus ranged from 1206 to 2149 MPa over 293.15 to 343.15 K. For tetralin mixtures, increasing tetralin increased density, speed of sound, bulk modulus, and surface tension and decreased viscosity and flash point. For trans-decalin mixtures, increasing trans-d...
One Foot in Helsinki, One Foot in Mayapur: ISKCON Finland as a Glocal European Religion

ISKCON is traditionally studied as a new religious movement ( NRM ) or an instance of diasporic Hinduism. I argue here that an examination of the Finnish branch of ISKCON can be conceptualized as a case of a glocalized (global-local) religious movement wherein members have created amalgamated identities straddling the borders between nation states and cultures. Members have created a hybrid religious community appealing to both native-born Finns seeking to challenge and redefine the notion of Finnishness and Europeanness, and Indian immigrants seeking to bridge the boundaries between their new Finnish social-religious context and their Indian social-religious heritage. It offers a powerful example of the way in which members of a religious community have utilized their religious identity to situate themselves within the contemporary context of a secularized neoliberal European state.
IMAGES IN CLINICAL MEDICINE. Secondary Palatal Myoclonus.

A 59-year-old woman with a history of diabetes, hypertension, and multiple previous strokes presented for evaluation. She had had acute onset of imbalance and difficulty speaking 2 years earlier. Examination revealed a constant, jerky movement of the soft palate, shown in a video.
117. Imipramine attenuates neuroinflammation and reverses stress-induced social avoidance

Psychosocial stress is associated with altered immunity and mood disorders. We previously showed that repeated social defeat (RSD) promotes long-lasting microglial activation associated with social avoidance behavior, which is maintained for at least 24 days after cessation of RSD. Here our aims were to determine if Imipramine (tricyclic antidepressant) would reverse RSD-induced social avoidance and ameliorate neuroinflammatory responses. CB57/BL6 mice were divided into treatment groups. One group from RSD and controls received daily injections of Imipramine for 24 days, after 6 cycles of RSD. Two other groups were treated with saline. RSD mice spent significantly less time in the interaction zone when an aggressor was introduced into the cage. Administration of Imipramine reversed social avoidance behavior, significantly increasing the interaction time, so that it was similar to that of nondefeated mice. Moreover, 24 days of Imipramine treatment in RSD mice significantly decreased stress-induced mRNA levels of IL-6 in microglia. Following ex-vivo LPS stimulation, microglia from mice exposed to RSD, produced higher levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1B, and this was reversed by Imipramine. In a second experiment, Imipramine was added to drinking water confirming reversal of social avoidant behavior and decrease in mRNA expression of IL-6 in microglia. These data demonstrate that antidepressants may exert their effects in part by down-regulating neuroinflammation. This research was supported by NIH/NIMH R01 MH097243-02 and R01 MH093473-03.
A comparative study on the application of SIFT, SURF, BRIEF and ORB for 3D surface reconstruction of electron microscopy images

Image feature detector and descriptor algorithms have made a big advance in almost every area of computer vision applications including object localisation, object tracking, mobile robot mapping, watermarking, panorama stitching and 3D surface reconstruction by assisting the detection and description of feature points in a set of given images. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of four robust feature detection algorithms namely SIFT, SURF, BRIEF and ORB on multi-view 3D surface reconstruction of microscopic samples obtained by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a widely used equipment in biological and materials sciences for determining the surface attributes of micro objects. To this end, we first develop an optimised multi-view framework for SEM extrinsic calibration and its 3D surface reconstruction. We design a Differential Evolutionary-based algorithm to solve the problem in a global optimisation platform. Several qualitative and quantitative comparisons such as reliability on SEM extrinsi...
Ethnography and the politics of silence

This article traces a few elements of Michel-Rolph Trouillot’s critique of anthropology, which was, I argue, part of his broader anthropology of the West. The article first considers Trouillot’s an...