cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gram-negative rod bacteremia in cancer patients. A review with emphasis on the antibody response.

The nature and severity of Gram-negative rod bacteremia in patients with cancer has been examined. Patients with low levels of circulating neutrophils, low levels of antibody at the time of onset of sepsis and patients infected with antibiotic resistant strains are at particular risk of dying from this infection. Overall, infection remains the most important cause of death in patients with hematologie malignancies and solid tumors. Control efforts should be directed at developing more effective methods of maximizing efficacy of currently available antimicrobial agents and the search for new potent and safe antibiotics must continue. Moreover, there is a real and pressing need to prevent these infections in this susceptible population and efforts should continue in the direction of optimal isolation and protection of the patient at risk as well as exhaustive studies of the mechanisms of immunity to Gram-negative rods and their potential enhancement in cancer patients.
Fulvalene ions—I: Calculations on calicene ions

Abstract Calculations on planar and 90°-twisted calicene and the mono- and di-ions derived from it are reported. Both all-valence-electron and π-electron calculations were performed, utilizing an “all aromatic” geometry throughout. Calculated ionization energies indicate that there should be no appreciable gain in resonance stabilization upon radical formation, however the radicals should be amenable to preparation. Good general agreement was obtained between the π-electron charge and spin distributions predicted by the INDO and PPP methods. In addition, these are generally in good agreement with simple predictions based on Hu¨ckel's (4n + 2) rule.
Diapause in the pea aphid ( Acyrthosiphon pisum ) is a slowing but not a cessation of development

Many insects undergo a period of arrested development, called diapause, to avoid seasonally recurring adverse conditions. Whilst the phenology and endocrinology of insect diapause have been well studied, there has been comparatively little research into the developmental details of diapause. We investigated developmental aspects of diapause in sexually-produced embryos of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. We found that early stages of embryogenesis progressed at a temperature-independent rate, characteristic of diapause, whereas later stages of embryogenesis progressed at a temperature-dependent rate. However, embryos maintained at very high temperatures during the temperature-independent stage showed severe developmental abnormalities. Under no temperature regime did embryos display a distinct resting stage. Rather, morphological development progressed slowly but continuously throughout embryogenesis. Diapause in the pea aphid, and perhaps in many other insects, is a temperature-independent slowing but not a cessation of morphological development. This suggests that the mechanisms limiting developmental rate during diapause may be the same as those controlling developmental rate at other stages of growth.
Identification of a Novel Serine Protease-like Gene, the Expression of Which Is Down-Regulated during Breast Cancer Progression

Abstract In an effort to isolate genes with down-regulated expression at the mRNA level during oncogenic transformation of human mammary epithelial cells (MECs), we performed subtractive hybridization between normal MEC strain 76N and its radiation-transformed tumorigenic derivative 76R-30. Here, we report the isolation of cDNA clones corresponding to a 1.4-kb mRNA species that is abundantly expressed in 76N cells but is drastically reduced in 76R-30 cells. Based on its selective expression in MECs compared with fibroblasts, the corresponding gene is designated NES1 (normal epithelial cell-specific 1). Sequence analysis of the full-length NES1 cDNA clones revealed it to be a novel gene with a predicted polypeptide of 30.14 kilodaltons; in vitro transcription and translation confirmed this prediction. Database searches revealed a 50–63% similarity and 34–42% identity with several families of serine proteases, in particular the trypsin-like proteases, members of the glandular kallikrein family (including prostate-specific antigen, nerve growth factor γ, and epidermal growth factor-binding protein) and the activators for the kringle family proteins (including the human tissue plasminogen activator and human hepatocyte growth factor activator). Importantly, all of the residues known to be crucial for substrate binding, specificity, and catalysis by the serine proteases are conserved in the predicted NES1 protein, suggesting that it may be a protease. An antipeptide antibody directed against a unique region of the NES1 protein (amino acids 120–137) detected a specific 30-kilodalton polypeptide almost exclusively in the supernatant of the mRNA-positive MECs, suggesting that NES1 is a secreted protein. The 1.4-kb NES1 mRNA was expressed in several organs (thymus, prostate, testis, ovary, small intestine, colon, heart, lung, and pancreas) with highest levels in the ovary; a 1.1-kb transcript was found in the pancreas. Although expression of the NES1 mRNA was observed in all normal and immortalized nontumorigenic MECs, the majority of human breast cancer cell lines showed a drastic reduction or a complete lack of its expression. The structural similarity of NES1 to polypeptides known to regulate growth factor activity and a negative correlation of NES1 expression with breast oncogenesis suggest a direct or indirect role for this novel protease-like gene product in the suppression of tumorigenesis.
Improving electrokinetic microdevice stability by controlling electrolysis bubbles

The voltage-operating window for many electrokinetic microdevices is limited by electrolysis gas bubbles that destabilize microfluidic system causing noise and irreproducible responses above ∼3 V DC and less than ∼1 kHz AC at 3 Vpp. Surfactant additives, SDS and Triton X-100, and an integrated semipermeable SnakeSkin® membrane were employed to control and assess electrolysis bubbles from platinum electrodes in a 180 by 70 μm, 10 mm long microchannel. Stabilized current responses at 100 V DC were observed with surfactant additives or SnakeSkin® barriers. Electrolysis bubble behaviors, visualized via video microscopy at the electrode surface and in the microchannels, were found to be influenced by surfactant function and SnakeSkin® barriers. Both SDS and Triton X-100 surfactants promoted smaller bubble diameters and faster bubble detachment from electrode surfaces via increasing gas solubility. In contrast, SnakeSkin® membranes enhanced natural convection and blocked bubbles from entering the microchannels and thus reduced current disturbances in the electric field. This data illustrated that electrode surface behaviors had substantially greater impacts on current stability than microbubbles within microchannels. Thus, physically blocking bubbles from microchannels is less effective than electrode functionalization approaches to stabilize electrokinetic microfluidic systems.
Separation and characterization of deoxyribonucleases of Escherichia coli B. II. Further purification and properties of an exonuclease induced by infection with bacteriophage T2.

Abstract A virus-induced enzyme, T2 exonuclease A, has been purified 250-fold from cell-free extracts of Escherichia coli infected with bacteriophage T2e9. In order to obtain large quantities of infected cells for this purpose, a continuous system was devised for growing, infecting, and harvesting cells. The specificity of T2 exonuclease A is characterized by a stepwise attack beginning at the 3'-hydroxyl terminus of a polydeoxyribonucleotide chain and the liberation of 5'-mononucleotides. One molecule of the enzyme appears to remove terminal nucleotide residues randomly rather than to degrade any one polynucleotide chain completely before attacking another. Polynucleotide chains bearing a terminal 3'-phosphoryl group are not degraded by T2 exonuclease A. Dinucleotides terminated with a 5'-phosphomonoester end group are readily cleaved, but removal of the terminal 5'-phosphoryl group reduces the rate of cleavage 9-fold. Removal of the 5'-phosphoryl group from oligonucleotide chains containing 3 nucleotide residues or more does not affect the initial rate of cleavage of phosphodiester bonds. Although oligonucleotides of degree of polymerization less than 100 are degraded at least 100 times more rapidly than heat-denatured DNA, the enzyme has greater affinity for heat-denatured DNA. Because of these circumstances, heat-denatured DNA is a potent competitive inhibitor of the degradation of oligonucleotides. The enzyme has greater affinity for the DNA of bacteriophage T2, which contains glucosylated residues of hydroxymethylcytosine, than it has for a comparable preparation of salmon sperm DNA. However, it appears that the presence of the glucosylated residues decreases the rate of hydrolysis about 20-fold.
Radio Recombination Lines in Extragalactic Sources

Attempts to detect Hydrogen recombination lines from extragalactic sources using narrow 10MHz observing windows began at least as far back as 19T15 when E. Seaquist and I searched for emission lines in 3C273. Other unreported searches with negative results were almost certainly made, but meaningful observations began only in late 1975 when wider observing windows (30-90 MHz) became available. Although many improvements In instrumentation and observing techniques have been made in the last four years mere detection of the wide, weak recombination lines found in external galaxies Is still a struggle. However detections have now been made in at least two sources with sufficient accuracy to enable us to define the line producing mechanism and, with some improvements in instrumentation many more detections may be made soon, in what is turning out to be an exciting new field of astronomy.
Astrocyte and microglial activation by insulin/saline treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis (1072.8)

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) and/or its treatment with insulin and saline (I/S) may cause brain injury in children. The mechanism of DKA-related brain injury is poorly understood. It is unclear whet...
Preliminary Results from the Firas and Dirbe Experiments on Cobe

The FIRAS and DIRBE experiments on COBE will provide data that strongly constrain models of Population III stars and dust. This paper describes the analysis procedures necessary to process COBE data, and compares simple Population III models to the preliminary COBE data.
Micro-Scale Blood Lead Determinations in Screening: Evaluation of Factors Affecting Results

The Delves micro-scale technique for blood lead analysis is an accurate method for screening capillary blood specimens, obtained by fingerstick, for lead intoxication. Results are affected by the age of cup, loop, and hollow-cathode tube and by the spatial relationship between optical tube and cup. Because the glass in many commercially available capillary tubes (used in specimen collection) contains lead and cannot be decontaminated, a lead-free glass tube must be used. A solution of citric acid in ethanol (20 g/liter) effectively cleanses the puncture site. A double-blind study of 207 specimens gave a mean value of 276.6 ± 105.8 µg/liter (1 SD) for the micro-scale method vs. 273.2 ± 99.0 for a macro-scale method. The mean coefficent of variation for the micro-scale method was 5.75% ± 1.9 (SD). We conclude that values of 480 µg/liter or below are not "toxic" (i.e., are significantly less than 600 µg/liter, the value at which therapy is begun). The method is shown to be satisfactory as a screening procedure and for confirming lead analyses done by other methods.
Executive control of gaze by the frontal lobes

Executive control requires controlling the initiation of movements, judging the consequences of actions, and adjusting performance accordingly. We have investigated the role of different areas in the frontal lobe in executive control expressed by macaque monkeys performing a saccade stop signal task. Certain neurons in the frontal eye field respond to visual stimuli, and others control the production of saccadic eye movements. Neurons in the supplementary eye field do not control directly the initiation of saccades but, instead, signal the production of errors, the anticipation and delivery of reinforcement, and the presence of response conflict. Neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex signal the production of errors and the anticipation and delivery of reinforcement, but not the presence of response conflict. Intracranial local field potentials in the anterior cingulate cortex of monkeys indicate that these medial frontal signals can contribute to event-related potentials related to performance monitoring. Electrical stimulation of the supplementary eye field improves performance in the task by elevating saccade latency. An interactive race model shows how interacting units produce behavior that can be described as the outcome of a race between independent processes and how conflict between gaze-holding and gaze-shifting neurons can be used to adjust performance.
Theory and design of M-channel maximally decimated quadrature mirror filters with arbitrary M, having the perfect-reconstruction property

Based on the concept of losslessness in digital filter structures, this paper derives a general class of maximally decimated M-channel quadrature mirror filter banks that lead to perfect reconstruction. The perfect-reconstruction property guarantees that the reconstructed signal \hat{x} (n) is a delayed version of the input signal x (n), i.e., \hat{x} (n) = x (n - n_{0}) . It is shown that such a property can be satisfied if the alias component matrix (AC matrix for short) is unitary on the unit circle of the z plane. The number of channels M is arbitrary, and when M is two, the results reduce to certain recently reported 2-channel perfect-reconstruction QMF structures. A procedure, based on recently reported FIR cascaded-lattice structures, is presented for optimal design of such FIR M-channel filter banks. Design examples are included.
Stable isotopes of modern water across the Himalaya and eastern Tibetan Plateau: Implications for estimates of paleoelevation and paleoclimate

[1] Paleoaltimetry based on stable isotopes (δ18O and δ2H) of paleowater from the central and northern Tibetan Plateau is challenged by the lack of a clear relationship between isotopic composition and elevation north of the Himalaya. In order to determine the environmental factor(s) responsible for temporal changes in isotopic composition revealed in the geologic record, an understanding of the modern controls on isotope evolution in the continental interior is necessary. Here, we present new δ18O and deuterium excess (d excess) data from modern surface water along a roughly south-north transect on the eastern part of the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau. Results corroborate an inverse relationship betweenδ18O and elevation in the Himalaya. Northward across the plateau, there is a positive trend in meteoric water δ18O that is linear (∼1.5‰ per degree latitude) and robust (R2 = 0.94). A positive trend northward is also observed in d excess of surface water from large rivers. We show that Rayleigh distillation modified by surface water recycling can account for the observed spatial distribution of both δ18O and d excessacross the plateau. HYSPLIT modeling of air parcel back trajectories suggests that air mass mixing varies from east to west across the plateau. However, isotopic trends along the plateau's eastern margin are consistent with roughly parallel transects to the west, suggesting that a local process like moisture recycling exerts control over the isotopic evolution across the entire plateau, regardless of origin of air masses. Assuming the northern Tibetan Plateau was equally far from an oceanic source during late Eocene-Miocene time, paleoelevations of the Hoh Xil Basin are recalculated to account for recycling, increasing elevation estimates by 1100–2700 m.
Rating scale of therapists' systemic responses in an individual treatment context.

This study involves the development of a process study instrument that measures therapists' systemic responses in an individual treatment context. The scale captures the quintessential elements of the family systems approach, namely, interventions that address interactional sequences of behaviors and contextual concerns. Two hundred and thirty sessions from 15 clients were rated using this scale. An interrater reliability of .62 was attained at the session level; at the client level, reliability reached an average of .89. Analyses with the 15 cases did not reveal a significant relationship between process variables and outcome measures. However, exploratory analysis of 11 clients, excluding cases that might have other overriding factors that impact treatment outcome, revealed significant findings confirming the predictive validity of the scale.
Poly( lactide-co-glycolide) microencapsulation of vaccine antigens

Fimbriae from Bordetella pertussis have been encapsulated in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) microspheres of a size appropriate for oral administration. The binding of antibodies which react with conformational or linear fimbrial epitopes, to fimbriae released from microspheres, suggested that the process of microencapsulation was not detrimental to the native integrity of the protein. Mice were immunised by oral gavage with a single dose of microencapsulated fimbriae, or with fimbriae adsorbed onto alhydrogel and administered by intraperitoneal injection. The resulting immune responses in serum were comparable but only oral administration of microencapsulated fimbriae elicited specific immune responses in external secretions. Six weeks after immunisation, both groups of immunised animals were protected against challenge with live B. pertussis.
Atomic coherence effects within the sodium D1 manifold. I. Creation of coherence and dressed state analysis

The connection and similarity between two different models for lasing without inversion are studied, and various dressed state pictures enlighten its physical origin. Recent experiments on coherence effects in sodium are reviewed. The existence of atomic coherence in these experiments is critically examined. It is found that the hyperfine structure and the coupling coefficients within the sodium D1 manifold are of crucial importance.
ENHANCED ABSORPTION OF MILLIMETER WAVE ENERGY IN MURINE SUBCUTANEOUS BLOOD VESSELS

The aim of the present study was to determine millimeter wave (MMW) absorption by blood vessels traversing the subcutaneous fat layer of murine skin. Most calculations were performed using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique. We used two types of models: (1) a rectangular block of multilayer tissue with blood vessels traversing the fat layer and (2) cylindrical models with circular and elliptical cross-sections simulating the real geometry of murine limbs. We found that the specific absorption rate (SAR) in blood vessels normally traversing the fat layer achieved its maximal value at the parallel orientation of the E-field to the vessel axis. At 42 GHz exposure, the maximal SAR in small blood vessels could be more than 30 times greater than that in the skin. The SAR increased with decreasing the blood vessel diameter and increasing the fat thickness. The SAR decreased with increasing the exposure frequency. When the cylindrical or elliptical models of murine limbs were exposed to plane MMW, the greatest absorption of MMW energy occurred in blood vessels located on the lateral areas of the limb model. At these areas the maximal SAR values were comparable with or were greater than the maximal SAR on the front surface of the skin. Enhanced absorption of MMW energy by blood vessels traversing the fat layer may play a primary role in initiating MMW effects on blood cells and vasodilatation of cutaneous blood vessels.
956 THE WISKOTT-ALDRICH SYNDROME: A MEMBRANE DEFECT OF THE LYMPHO-HEMATOPOIETIC SYSTEM

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked disorder characterized by eczema, decreased T lymphocyte function, and decreased platelet count with small, poorly functioning platelets. A unitarian hypothesis to explain the various immune and hematological manifestations of WAS has not existed. The size of WAS platelets normalized and their in vitro function improves following splenectomy suggesting the WAS platelet defect is an acquired rather than an intrinsic defect. To determine if the basic defect in WAS patients is a membrane defect present in both platelets and lymphocytes, the size of lymphocytes of a WAS patient was determined before and after splenectomy. The volume of the patient's lymphocytes was markedly reduced before splenectomy (1264 ± 20μ3) as compared to normal lymphocytes (2320 ± 228μ3, n=6). Seven days after splenectomy two populations of peripheral lymphocytes were identified, one of which was slightly smaller than the patient's original lymphocytes (1114 ± 76μ3) while the second was normal size (2288 ± 64μ3). Fourteen days after splenectomy only normal sized lymphocytes were detected. No change in lymphocyte size was seen in patients with ITP following splenectomy (n=2). No change in the normal blastogenic response of the patient's T lymphocytes was seen after splenectomy. These results suggest that the basic defect in WAS may be a membrane defect which leads to the production of small platelets and lymphocytes (microplatelets and microlymphocytes) by the spleen.
The weighted nearest neighbor rule for class dependent sample sizes (Corresp.)

The nearest neighbor rule is considered for data samples obtained by selecting N_{i} independent samples with the conditional distribution corresponding to class C_{i} . It is shown that a weighted distance rule can The nearest neighbor nde is considered for data samples obtained by selecting N_{i} independent samples with the conditional distribution corresponding to class C_{i} . It is shown that a weighted distance rule can improve the performance when the ratio of N_{i} to the total sample size differs substantially from the {\sl a priori} probability of class C_{i} .
Complete all-optical switching of visible picosecond pulses in birefringent fiber

Switching of visible picosecond pulses with a 50:1 contrast ratio is demonstrated in a time-division interferometry arrangement. The high-contrast switching of the signal is accomplished by uniform cross-phase modulation by an orthogonally polarized control pulse that walks through the signal during propagation in a strongly birefringent 10-m fiber.
Development of the veterinary medicine rotation component of the Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences curriculum

Abstract Objectives To develop the veterinary medicine rotation component of the Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE) curriculum, to assess pharmacy students' performance and perceptions toward the veterinary medicine rotation, to assess student performance on a subjective, objective, assessment, and plan (SOAP) note, and to evaluate preceptor performance of the rotation. Methods The curriculum was designed to expose students to a veterinary clinical setting. Formative and summative instruments were distributed via E*Value ™ for student self-assessment, rotation evaluation, and preceptor evaluation. Quantitative and qualitative data were used to assess the outcome of student visits to a veterinary clinical site during the third year of a pharmacy curriculum. Data were collected and analyzed following the completion of the rotation. Results Of 85 students, 84 finished the survey (98.8%). Results revealed that the rotation benefitted students' pharmacy education and roles as pharmacists (88.1%). Students reported improved confidence in their ability to educate clients whose animals require prescriptions (95.2%). Students also reported an increase in such "customer service" areas as the importance of a "caring attitude" and the proper behavior of a health care provider (89.3%). Active learning sessions helped students meet the learning objectives of the rotation. Conclusion Students found the rotation to be useful and beneficial to their pharmacy education and roles as pharmacists. The rotation enhanced students' performances, attitudes, and perceptions in providing assistance to veterinarians, animal patients, and clients of veterinarians. A pharmacy curriculum integrating a realistic veterinary clinical setting is a useful and novel method to inspire students about veterinary medicine.
Slope form, erosion, and hydrology in some Belizean Karst depressions

Detailed slope surveys were made in seven karst depressions in central Belize. Four major slope types were identified—inclined bedrock slopes, staircases, broken cliffs, and talus slopes. Depression bases are dominated by inclined bedrock and talus slopes, midslopes largely by broken cliffs, and near hill summits by staircases. Erosional weight loss tablets deployed in 1975–1981 and 1980–1985 show significant variations between the different slope types, with a maximum near depression bases. Throughfall measurements in 1980 and 1985 show that midslope and near-summit sites receive 10–20 per cent less water than do depression bases. Surface runoff, monitored using coloured dyes, is of limited distance and duration but still contributes to surface corrosion and morphology. Vadose seepage, monitored by tracing water from the surface to a small, shallow cave, is rapid, and subsurface corrosion exceeds that at the surface. Overall, near-surface form and process are consistent with hydrological models of depression development (Williams, 1983, 1985) and surface processes contribute significantly to overall depression form. Moreover, surface activity complements that in the subcutaneous zone by directing recharge into the epikarstic aquifer.
Prequantization of infinite dimensional dynamical systems

Abstract The problem of prequantization of infinite dimensional dynamical systems is considered, using a Gaussian measure on an Abstract Wiener Space to play the role of volume element replacing the Liouville measure. As an example, it is shown that the flow on L 1 2 (Ω) × L 0 2 (Ω) corresponding to the nonlinear Klein-Gordon field over a two dimensional static space time N=Ω × R leaves the Gaussian measure defined on this space w.r.t. the norm on L s + 1 2 × L s 2 (where 1 2 quasi-invariant. This makes it possible to carry out the prequantization in this case.
A thermodynamic study on an associated solution model for liquid alloys

Abstract Liquid alloys with a rapid increase of component activities over a narrow composition range may be modelled by an associated solution model. Associated species with a fixed stoichiometry in that composition range are postulated in equilibrium with elemental species. Palrwise interactions among all species are described by Margules-type equations. The success of this description is, of course, not a verification of the physical existence of associated species. The thermodynamic background of this model is investigated in this study. For binary liquid alloys, the key equations governing the calculation of activities in internal equilibrium are presented graphically. Formulae for the calculation of the Gibbs energy, enthalpy and entropy of mixing in the postulated species-system are developed and related to the corresponding effects in the binary liquid alloys. The formation of very asymmetric and twin miscibility gaps is discussed. The difference between the Gibbs energy of species and real alloys at stoichiometry is pointed out. Limiting cases of weak and strong association are discussed and formulae for terminal values of activity coefficient and partial enthalpy of solution are developed. Structural related properties of Sn-Te liquid alloys are calculated and compared to experimental data. A quantitative prediction of data in ternary and multicomponent alloys is one major motivation for the precise description of binary alloys and a suitable extension of the associated solution model is presented. The model is compared to other associate models and to sublattice models. Despite the different physical picture, close phenomenological and mathematical resemblance is discovered among the associated solution and the sublattice model.
Preferential repair of DNA double-strand break at the active gene in vivo.

Previous studies have demonstrated transcription-coupled nucleotide/base excision repair. We report here for the first time that DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair is also coupled to transcription. We generated a yeast strain by introducing a homing (Ho) endonuclease cut site followed by a nucleotide sequence for multiple Myc epitopes at the 3′ end of the coding sequence of a highly active gene, ADH1. This yeast strain also contains the Ho cut site at the nearly silent or poorly active mating type α (MATα) locus and expresses Ho endonuclease under the galactose-inducible GAL1 promoter. Using this strain, DSBs were generated at the ADH1 and MATα loci in galactose-containing growth medium that induced HO expression. Subsequently, yeast cells were transferred to dextrose-containing growth medium to stop HO expression, and the DSB repair was monitored at the ADH1 and MATα loci by PCR, using the primer pairs flanking the Ho cut sites. Our results revealed a faster DSB repair at the highly active ADH1 than that at the nearly silent MATα locus, hence implicating a transcription-coupled DSB repair at the active gene in vivo. Subsequently, we extended this study to another gene, PHO5 (carrying the Ho cut site at its coding sequence), under transcriptionally active and inactive growth conditions. We found a fast DSB repair at the active PHO5 gene in comparison to its inactive state. Collectively, our results demonstrate a preferential DSB repair at the active gene, thus supporting transcription-coupled DSB repair in living cells.
Modulating L-type calcium current affects discontinuous cardiac action potential conduction

We have used pairs of cardiac cells (i.e., one real guinea pig ventricular cell and a real-time simulation of a numerical model of a guinea pig ventricular cell) to evaluate the effects on action potential conduction of a variable coupling conductance in combination with agents that either increase or decrease the magnitude of the L-type calcium current. For the cell pairs studied, we applied a direct repetitive stimulation to the real cell, making it the "leader" cell of the cell pair. We have demonstrated that significant delays in action potential conduction for a cell pair can occur either with a decreased value of coupling conductance or with an asymmetry in size such that the follower cell is larger than the leader cell. In both conditions we have shown that isoproterenol, applied to the real cell at very low concentrations, can reversibly decrease the critical coupling conductance (below which action potential conduction fails) for a cell pair with fixed cell sizes, or, for a fixed value of coupling conductance, increase the maximum allowable asymmetry in cell size for successful conduction. For either of these effects, we were able to show that treatment of the real cell with BayK 8644, which more specifically increases the magnitude of the L-type calcium current, was able to mimic the actions of isoproterenol. Treatment of the leader cell of the cell pair (the real cell) with nifedipine, which selectively lowers the magnitude of the L-type calcium current, had effects opposite those of isoproterenol or BayK 8644. The actions of nifedipine, isoproterenol, and BayK 8644 are all limited to conditions in which the conduction delay is on the order of 5 ms or more, whether this delay is caused by limited coupling conductance or by asymmetry in size of the cells. This limitation is consistent with the time course of the L-type calcium current and suggests that the effects of calcium channel blockers or beta-adrenergic blocking drugs, in addition to being selective for regions of the heart that depend on the L-type calcium current for the upstroke of the action potential, would also be somewhat selective for regions of the heart that have discontinuous conduction, either normally or because of some pathological condition.
Low-Field and High-Field Characterization of THUNDER Actuators

THUNDER (THin UNimorph DrivER) actuators are pre-stressed piezoelectric devices developed at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) that exhibit enhanced strain capabilities. As a result, they are of interest in a variety of aerospace applications. Characterization of their performance as a function of electric field, temperature and frequency is needed in order to optimize their operation. Towards that end, a number of THUNDER devices were obtained from FACE International Co. with a stainless steel substrate varying in thickness from 1 mil to 20 mils. The various devices were evaluated to determine low-field and high-field displacement its well as the polarization hysteresis loops. The thermal stability of these drivers was evaluated by two different methods. First, the samples were thermally cycled under electric field by systematically increasing the maximum temperature from 25 C to 200 C while the displacement was being measured. Second, the samples were isothermally aged at 0 C, 50 C, 100 C. and 150 C in air, and the isothermal decay of the displacement was measured at room temperature as a function of time.
Focus Issue: Unraveling Signaling Complexity

The biochemical processes that control the responses of cells to changes in their internal or external environments form a complex interconnected network. The molecules that participate in these processes are diverse and dynamic, and the networks themselves are affected by the flow of information through them. With this appreciation of the complexity in signaling networks, Science Signaling highlights computational and experimental approaches to understanding both the macroscopic cellular response and the microscopic signaling network and its constituents and dynamics.
Agile enterprise development framework utilizing services principles for building pervasive security

We are in an environment of continuously changing mission requirements and therefore our Information Systems must adapt to accomplish new tasks, quicker, in a more proficient manner. Agility is the only way we will be able to keep up with this change. But there are subtleties that must be considered as we adopt various agile methods: secure, protect, control and authenticate are all elements needed to posture our Information Technology systems to counteract the real and perceived threats in today's environment. Many systems have been tasked to ingest process and analyze different data sets than they were originally designed for and they have to interact with multiple new systems that were unaccounted for at design time. Leveraging the tenets of security, we have devised a new framework that takes agility into a new realm where the product will built to work in a service-based environment but is developed using agile processes. Even though these two criteria promise to hone the development effort, they actually contradict each other in philosophy where Services require stable interfaces, while Agile focuses on being flexible and tolerate changes up to much later stages of development. This framework is focused on enabling a successful product development that capitalizes on both philosophies.
Effects of strain on orbital ordering and magnetism at perovskite oxide interfaces: LaMnO 3 / SrMnO 3

We study how strain affects orbital ordering and magnetism at the interface between ${\text{SrMnO}}_{3}$ and ${\text{LaMnO}}_{3}$ from density-functional calculations and interpret the basic results in terms of a three-site Mn-O-Mn model. Magnetic interaction between the Mn atoms is governed by a competition between the antiferromagnetic superexchange of the $\text{Mn}\text{ }{t}_{2g}$ core spins and the ferromagnetic double exchange of the itinerant ${e}_{g}$ electrons. While the core electrons are relatively unaffected by the strain, the orbital character of the itinerant electron is strongly affected, which in turn causes a large change in the strength of the ferromagnetic double exchange. The epitaxial strain produces the tetragonal distortion of the ${\text{MnO}}_{6}$ octahedron, splitting the $\text{Mn}\text{ }{e}_{g}$ states into ${x}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{y}^{2}$ and $3{z}^{2}\ensuremath{-}1$ states, with the former being lower in energy, if the strain is tensile in the plane and opposite if the strain is compressive. For the case of the tensile strain, the resulting higher occupancy of the ${x}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{y}^{2}$ orbital enhances the in-plane ferromagnetic double exchange owing to the larger electron hopping in the plane, causing at the same time a reduction in the out-of-plane double exchange. This reduction is large enough to be overcome by antiferromagnetic superexchange, which wins to produce a net antiferromagnetic interaction between the out-of-plane Mn atoms. For the case of the in-plane compressive strain, the reverse happens, viz., that the higher occupancy of the $3{z}^{2}\ensuremath{-}1$ orbital results in the out-of-plane ferromagnetic interaction, while the in-plane magnetic interaction remains antiferromagnetic. Concrete density-functional results are presented for the ${({\text{LaMnO}}_{3})}_{1}/{({\text{SrMnO}}_{3})}_{1}$ and ${({\text{LaMnO}}_{3})}_{1}/{({\text{SrMnO}}_{3})}_{3}$ superlattices for various strain conditions.
Designing Authentic Learning Tasks for Online Library Instruction

Abstract This empirical study explores whether authentic tasks designed specifically for deliberately grouped students have an effect on student perception of teaching presence and student cognitive gains. In one library research class offered in an express session online, the instructor grouped students randomly. In a second online library research class, students were deliberately grouped according to major. Assignments were designed and targeted to these two groups with IRB approval. The students were surveyed using a modified Community of Inquiry survey. Analysis of survey results using Chi Square tests indicates that this constructivist approach to teaching and learning is effective for teaching library research methods; there was a statistically significant measure of overall grade achievement in the deliberately grouped class.
Radiative transitions and isospin mixing in /sup 12/C

$\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray decays of the 12.7 and 16.1 MeV states of $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ are investigated in a coincidence study of the $^{10}\mathrm{B}(^{3}\mathrm{He}, p\ensuremath{\gamma})$ reaction. We obtain $\frac{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}0}}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}=(1.93\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.12)%$, $\frac{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}1}}{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}0}}=(15.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.8)%$ and $\frac{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}=(97.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1)%$ for $^{12}\mathrm{C}$(12.7), and $\frac{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}1}}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}=(2.42\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.29)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ for $^{12}\mathrm{C}$(16.1). Relative $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray branching ratios of $^{12}\mathrm{C}$(16.1) were measured using the ${E}_{p}=163$ keV $^{11}\mathrm{B}(p, \ensuremath{\gamma})$ resonance. We find $\frac{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}0}}{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}1}}=(4.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.7)%$, $\frac{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}(16.1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}9.6)}{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}1}}=(2.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4)%$, and $\frac{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}(16.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}12.7)}{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}1}}=(1.46\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.25)%$. This information, together with existing data on $M1$ transitions and single nucleon transfer reactions, is used to determine the isospin mixing between the 12.7 and 15.1 MeV levels of $^{12}\mathrm{C}$. A charge dependent matrix element of 110 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 30 keV is deduced.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{10}\mathrm{B}(^{3}\mathrm{He}, p\ensuremath{\gamma})$, $E=4.1$ MeV, $p$, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence. Deduced ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ for $^{12}\mathrm{C}$ levels at 12.7, 16.1 MeV. $^{11}\mathrm{B}(p, \ensuremath{\gamma})$, $E=163$ keV resonance. Measured ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ for transitions to 0.0, 4.4, 9.6, and 12.7 MeV in $^{12}\mathrm{C}$.NUCLEAR STRUCTURE $^{12}\mathrm{C}$, deduced isospin mixing between 12.7 and 15.1 MeV levels.
Effects of self-conscious emotions on affective and behavioral responses in HCI and CMC

It remains unsettled whether the design of humanlike interfaces is the gold standard in HCI. This study tested how the degree of humanness of the interfaces and the perceived interactants (HCI vs. CMC) might impact individuals' affective and behavioral responses in text-based interactions of a trivia game. The results showed that although users liked the computer agent more than the "other person," human-like representation, as manipulated by self-conscious emotions, only affected likability in the CMC context. And the "machine-like" interface actually appeared more expert. Our findings suggest humanlike interfaces should be applied with caution and within the right context. Important implications for user experience, as well as design for including emotions in HCI are discussed.
Local Consumer Information Systems for Services: A Test

This paper reports on a survey of consumers' experiences with local services firms that was conducted by the Montgomery County, Maryland Office of Consumer Affairs and supported by an FTC grant. Over 1,200 individuals evaluated auto repair, heating and air conditioning, home remodeling, roofing, and insulation contracting firms on three dimensions: satisfaction with work performed, price in relation to quality, and strength of recommendation. Results for the heating and air conditioning category were published and widely disseminated.
Cultural recreations and hierarchy: a historical interplay

Forms of cultural recreations, both their content and structure, are analyzed as important communicative conduits in transmitting values that either support or contest social hierarchical development. Cultural recreations are defined broadly, including vernacular forms of recreation (e.g. music, dance, play, games), recreation's non-referential complements (rituals and language) and recreation's opposite (work), whereas societal hierarchy is differentiated from its referent in animal communities. Additionally, the factors intrinsic to specific forms of cultural recreations that make them efficacious communication vehicles are examined, as well as non-exclusive factors that enhance their communicative viability. Once forms of cultural recreations are demarcated and defined, their historical and evolutionary relations with strains of societal hierarchy and their opposite conditions are examined. It will be argued that the leisure and recreation practices of primitive man that originally transmitted communal...
Solubility of red phosphorus in molten lead

Abstract The solubility in molten lead of P 4 (g) generated by red phosphorus was measured by means of a two-zone isopiestic technique. The solubility of phosphorus vapor increases with temperature T, especially at T > 800 K. Linear regression analysis of the results was used to determine the infinite-dilution activity coefficient and first-order interaction coefficient for hypothetical liquid phosphorus dissolved in liquid lead.
Quantitative autoradiography of nicotinic [3H]acetylcholine binding sites in rat brain

Quantitative autoradiography was used to localize nicotinic [3H]acetylcholine (ACh) binding sites in rat brain. High concentrations of nicotinic [3H]ACh binding sites were observed in the anterior and medial nuclei of the thalamus, the medial habenula and the superficial layer of the superior colliculus. Moderate levels of binding sites were observed in a variety of brain regions such as the frontoparietal cortex and the hippocampus. Low levels of nicotinic ACh sites occurred throughout the hypothalamus and the primary olfactory cortex.
Extraction of CYP Chemical Interactions from Biomedical Literature Using Natural Language Processing Methods

This paper proposes a system that automatically extracts CYP protein and chemical interactions from journal article abstracts, using natural language processing (NLP) and text mining methods. In our system, we employ a maximum entropy based learning method, using results from syntactic, semantic, and lexical analysis of texts. We first present our system architecture and then discuss the data set for training our machine learning based models and the methods in building components in our system, such as part of speech (POS) tagging, Named Entity Recognition (NER), dependency parsing, and relation extraction. An evaluation of the system is conducted at the end, yielding very promising results: The POS, dependency parsing, and NER components in our system have achieved a very high level of accuracy as measured by precision, ranging from 85.9% to 98.5%, and the precision and the recall of the interaction extraction component are 76.0% and 82.6%, and for the overall system are 68.4% and 72.2%, respectively.
The effects of log erosion barriers on post‐fire hydrologic response and sediment yield in small forested watersheds, southern California

Wildfire usually promotes flooding and accelerated erosion in upland watersheds. In the summer of 1999, a high-severity wildfire burned a series of mixed pine/oak headwater catchments in the San Jacinto Mountains of southern California. Log erosion barriers (LEBs) were constructed across much of the burned area as an erosion control measure. We built debris basins in two watersheds, each about 1 ha in area, one with LEBs, the other without, to measure post-fire hydrologic response and sediment yield and to evaluate the effectiveness of the LEBs. The watersheds are underlain by granitic bedrock, producing a loamy sand soil above large extents of weathered bedrock and exposed core stones (tors) on the surface. Measured soil water-repellency was similar over the two catchments. Rain gauges measured 348 mm of precipitation in the first post-fire year. The ephemeral stream channels experienced surface flow after major rainstorms, and the source of the water was throughflow exfiltration at the slope/channel interface. Post-fire overland flow produced some rilling, but hillslope erosion measured in silt fences away from any LEBs was minor, as was sediment accumulation behind the LEBs. Stream channels in the catchments exhibited minor net scour. Water yield was much greater in the LEB-treated watershed. This resulted in 14 times more sediment yield by weight than the untreated watershed. Average soil depths determined by augering were nearly double in the catchment without the LEBs compared with the treated watershed. This suggests that differences in water and sediment yield between the two catchments are due to the twofold difference in the estimated soil water-holding capacity in the untreated watershed. It appears that the deeper soils in the untreated watershed were able to retain most of the precipitation, releasing less water to the channels and thereby reducing erosion and sediment yield. Thus, the test of LEB effectiveness was inconclusive in this study, because soil depth and soil water-holding capacity may have masked their performance.