cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Na+-Ca2+ exchange and Ca2+ efflux in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Abstract The objective of this study was to assess the contribution of Na+–Ca2+exchange activity to Ca2+efflux at various cytosolic Ca2+concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in transfected Chinese hamster cells expressing the bovine cardiac Na+–Ca2+exchanger. Ionomycin was added to fura-2 loaded cells and the resulting [Ca2+]itransient was monitored in Ca2+-free media with or without extracellular Na+. The presence of Na+reduced both the amplitude and duration of the [Ca2+]itransient. Na+had similar effects when the peak of the [Ca2+]itransient was buffered to 100 nM by cytosolic EGTA, or when Ca2+was slowly released from internal stores with thapsigargin. Ca2+efflux following ionomycin addition was directly measured with extracellular fura-2 and followed a biphasic time course (t1/2≈ 10 s and 90 s). The proportion of total efflux owing to the rapid phase was increased by Na+and reduced by EGTA-loading. Na+accelerated the initial rate of Ca2+efflux by 65% in unloaded cells but only by 16% in EGTA-loaded cells. In both cases, the stimulation by Na+was less than expected, given the pronounced effects of Na+on the [Ca2+]itransient. We conclude that the exchanger contributes importantly to Ca2+efflux activity at all [Ca2+]ivalues above 40 nM. We also suggest that Ca2+efflux pathways may involve non-cytosolic or local routes of Ca2+traffic.
(RE)PLACING THE NEW URBANISM DEBATES: TOWARD AN INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AGENDA

New Urbanism (NU) is a complex planning paradigm and social movement that has recently become influential in planning, residential development, and government housing circles. To introduce this special issue on NU, we describe the history and important figures of the movement and provide a brief literature review of popular, academic, and professional presses. Because NU is a multifaceted phenomenon, we advocate an interdisciplinary approach to understanding it, one that would promote constructive dialogue and a range of perspectives (and choices) within and between disciplines, professions, and communities. From the vantage point of the academic community (in particular, geography), we argue that various theoretical and methodological perspectives can contribute to a more progressive understanding and implementation of NU practices at various scales. We conclude by outlining three areas for future research: documenting how NU is understood and implemented by urban professionals, analyzing urban infill pr...
Energetics, forces, and quantized conductance in jellium-modeled metallic nanowires

Energetics and quantized conductance in jellium-modeled nanowires are investigated using the localdensity-functional-based shell correction method, extending our previous study of uniform-in-shape wires @C. Yannouleas and U. Landman, J. Phys. Chem. B 101, 5780 ~1997!# to wires containing a variable-shaped constricted region. The energetics of the wire ~sodium! as a function of the length of the volume-conserving, adiabatically shaped constriction, or equivalently its minimum width, leads to the formation of self-selecting magic wire configurations, i.e., a discrete configurational sequence of enhanced stability, originating from quantization of the electronic spectrum, namely, formation of transverse subbands due to the reduced lateral dimensions of the wire. These subbands are the analogs of shells in finite-size, zero-dimensional fermionic systems, such as metal clusters, atomic nuclei, and 3 He clusters, where magic numbers are known to occur. These variations in the energy result in oscillations in the force required to elongate the wire and are directly correlated with the stepwise variations of the conductance of the nanowire in units of 2 e 2 /h. The oscillatory patterns in the energetics and forces, and the correlated stepwise variation in the conductance, are shown, numerically and through a semiclassical analysis, to be dominated by the quantized spectrum of the transverse states at the most narrow part of the constriction in the wire. @S0163-1829~98!01908-0#
Emissivity measurements of single levitated microparticles

Single micron-sized spherical particles of carbon and aluminum oxide are suspended in an electrodynamic levitator equipped with a high vacuum system. A CO2 laser is used to heat the particles while their infrared emission signals are monitored from 1.3 - 5.5 micrometers . At atmospheric pressure, particle cooling from air conduction is quite rapid, and the IR signal from a particle follows the 5 millisecond laser pulse. When the levitator is evacuated to pressures ranging from 1 X 10-4 to 1 X 10-5 torr, the efficiency of molecular impact cooling is greatly reduced, and radiative cooling becomes dominant. Under these conditions the particle temperature and emissivity can be found by theoretical fits of the radiative decay curves. For the carbon samples, our analysis has yielded emissivity values in good agreement with those calculated from Mie theory. One interesting feature of this agreement is the determination of emissivities greater than one for the smaller carbon particles. The emissivities found from the thermal decays of Al2O3 micro- particles are much larger than those predicted using Mie theory with bulk optical constants. These anomalously high emissivities for the alumina particles may be caused by surface contaminants.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Counter-Intuitive Effects of Flow on Positive Leadership and Employee Attitudes: Incorporating Positive Psychology into the Management of Organizations

The current research sought to determine the effect that flow—a state of optimal experience—has on the relationships between positive leadership and employee attitudes and perceptions of safety climate. Regression analyses revealed that flow moderated the effects of transformational leadership on job satisfaction and the effects of authentic leadership on both job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Furthermore, flow and positive leadership interacted in such a way as to negatively predict employee attitudes. Additionally, flow partially mediated the effect of authentic leadership on safety climate. The authors discuss the theoretical and practical importance of these findings and the potential limitations of the current study.
Single Quantum Dot Spectroscopy via Non-Resonant Dot-Cavity Coupling

Coherent quantum dot spectroscopy is performed in a quantum dot coupled to a photonic crystal cavity by exploiting non-resonant dot-cavity coupling. This enables manipulation of the quantum dot levels and readout through cavity emission.
Plastic: a metaphor for integrated technologies

Ubiquitous computing research has recently focused on 'busyness' in American households. While these projects have generated important insights into coordination and communication, we think they overlook the more spontaneous and opportunistic activities that surround and support the scheduled ones. Using data from our mixed-methods study of notebook and ultra-mobile PC use, we argue for a different perspective based on a metaphor of 'plastic'. 'Plastic' captures the way technologies, specifically computers, have integrated into the heterogeneous rhythms of daily life. Plastic technologies harmonize with and support daily life by filling opportunistic gaps, shrinking and expanding until interrupted, not demanding conscious coordination, supporting multitasking, and by deferring to external contingencies.
Lightweight methods to estimate influenza rates and alcohol sales volume from Twitter messages

We analyze over 570 million Twitter messages from an eight month period and find that tracking a small number of keywords allows us to estimate influenza rates and alcohol sales volume with high accuracy. We validate our approach against government statistics and find strong correlations with influenza-like illnesses reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (r(14) = .964, p < .001) and with alcohol sales volume reported by the U.S. Census Bureau (r(5) = .932, p < .01). We analyze the robustness of this approach to spurious keyword matches, and we propose a document classification component to filter these misleading messages. We find that this document classifier can reduce error rates by over half in simulated false alarm experiments, though more research is needed to develop methods that are robust in cases of extremely high noise.
Accelerated Glycolysis in Early Hypertensive Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Changes in energy metabolism have been demonstrated in established left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). It is not known if cardiac energy metabolism is shifted toward anaerobic pathways during the earl
Kinetics of wetting of surfaces by polymers; capillary flow

Abstract The rate of penetration of liquids into capillaries and slits provides an experimental tool with which to study wetting, since capillaries and slits represent models for actual surface irregularities. Classically, equations for the distance penetrated l as a function of time t have been solved with the assumption that the contact angle θ is constant. This condition is not valid for polymer melts. Equations for l = f(t) are obtained for horizontal slits and capillaries taking cos θt = (cos θx)(1 − ae−ct); the importance of terms arising from θ(t) is demonstrated. For vertical capillaries and slits with descending or ascending liquid columns, equations for dl dt are obtained but are not amenable to general solutions in elementary form. In general, the dynamics of flow is controlled by the coefficient (γL cos θt)/gη, where g is a factor which depends on the geometry of the system.
Fluorescence and Resonance Raman Spectra of the Aqueous Solvated Electron

Fluorescence and resonance Raman spectroscopy are used to probe the solvent structure and dynamics of the aqueous solvated electron. Electrons are generated by 218 nm photolysis of iodide or ferrocyanide, and spectra are obtained with 532 or 683 nm probe wavelengths. Strong resonance enhancement of the water Raman librational bands and intramolecular bend and stretch are observed, and the frequencies of the enhanced intramolecular modes are significantly downshifted from the corresponding bands in pure water. The resonance Raman enhancements show that the s→p transition of the aqueous solvated electron is coupled to both inter- and intramolecular solvent modes. A broad fluorescence emission underlying the Raman features and extending past 1600 nm into the near-IR is observed due to the solvated electron. The fluorescence quantum yield in H2O is ∼7 × 10-7 and it increases 1.4-fold in D2O. A Strickler−Berg analysis of the absorption and emission spectral profiles indicates a near-IR radiative lifetime of ∼4...
Inhibition of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus-induced syncytium formation in normal human cells by homologous interferon

Abstract Pretreatment of human cells with homologous interferon reduces the number as well as the size of the multinucleate cells observed after M-PMV infection. The inhibition observed is species specific since treatment with interferon of rhesus fetal lung cells, which are as susceptible to M-PMV-induced cell fusion as human cells, did not result in any significant reduction in multinucleate cell formation.
A Five-Hour Variant of Gomori's Methenamine Silver method for Argentaffin Cells

Gomori's methenamine silver method for argentaffin cells has been modified and considerably accelerated by almost doubling the silver concentration and raising the incubation temperature to 60°C. Argentaffin cells are selectively impregnated in 3 to 4 hours and the background remains relatively clear up to 4 hours. The contrasts are clearer than with the ammoniacal silver methods of Masson and of Gluckmann.
Majorana fermions: Doubling down on Majorana

A superconducting device that exhibits voltage steps twice as large as expected could harbour Majorana fermions.
Noninvasive methods for determining pulmonary vascular function in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension: application of a mechanical oscillator model.

Objective. Noninvasive diagnostics for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have traditionally sought to predict main pulmonary artery pressure from qualitative or direct quantitative measures of the flow velocity pattern obtained from spectral Doppler ultrasound examination of the main pulmonary artery. A more detailed quantification of flow velocity patterns in the systemic circuit has been obtained by parameterizing the flow trace with a simple dynamic system model. Here, we investigate such a model's utility as a noninvasive predictor of total right heart afterload and right heart function. Design. Flow velocity and pressure was measured within the main pulmonary artery during right heart catheterization of patients with normal hemodynamics (19 subjects, 20 conditions) and those with PAH undergoing reactivity evaluation (34 patients, 69 conditions). Our model parameters were obtained by least-squares fitting the model velocity to the measured flow velocity. Results. Five parameter means displayed significant (P < .05) differences between normotensive and hypertensive groups. The model stiffness parameter correlated to actual pulmonary vascular resistance (r = 0.4924), pulmonary vascular stiffness (r = 0.6811), pulmonary flow (r = 0.6963), and stroke work (r = 0.7017), while the model initial displacement parameter had good correlation to stiffness (r = 0.6943) and flow (r = 0.6958). Conclusions. As predictors of total right heart afterload (resistance and stiffness) and right ventricle work, the model parameters of stiffness and initial displacement offer more comprehensive measures of the disease state than previous noninvasive methods and may be useful in routine diagnostic monitoring of patients with PAH.
Rates of cell proliferation in adenomatous, suppressed, and normal parathyroid tissue: implications for pathogenesis.

In previous studies, the birth rate of new cells in parathyroid adenomas measured at the time of surgical excision was shown to be much too low to account for growth of the tumors from a single cell in the time available, but comparison with normal rates was not possible. We measured the prevalence of cells expressing the Ki-67 antigen, a cell cycle marker, in 55 parathyroid adenomas using the MIB-1 antibody and microwave antigen retrieval; in 22 cases, separate measurements were made in nonadenomatous tissue from the same glands. In 10 cases complete maps of the gland profile were reconstructed to study the distribution of labeled cells. The proportion of Ki-67-positive cells, estimated by systematic random sampling, was used to calculate cell birth rate assuming a duration of Ki-67 expression of 24 h; the results were compared to rates previously determined in normal parathyroid glands by the same method. The geometric mean cell birth rate was 9.97%/yr, about double the normal rate of 5.4%/yr, but less ...
An efficient reservation system for local area networks based on CSMA/CD

Two channel reservation network (TCRN) is discussed. TCRN uses advance reservation and two channels to increase the channel throughput with lower delay than CSMA-CD. Two channels and FIFO form the TCRN. The contention channel carries the reservation broadcasts, the data channel delivers the actual data, and the reservation table keeps the priorities of message transmissions on the D-channel. TCRN operation, modeling, and simulation results are described, and TCRN is compared to other popular networks. TCRN is found to perform better than CSMA-CD, SRMA, and ring and polling networks with various numbers of stations. >
Identifying Opportunity for Conflict: Politically Active Dyads

Since states cannot fight without the opportunity to do so, empirical identification of opportunity is important. Unfortunately, previous measures of opportunity—politically relevant dyads, the politically relevant international environment, and regional dyads—are inadequate. I attempt to measure opportunity by developing the concept of a politically active dyad, using contiguity, power status, and alliances as defining characteristics. I then use Braumoeller and Goertz's (2000) methodology for necessary conditions to compare active dyads with previous measures. This test demonstrates that although previous measures are unable to capture opportunity as a necessary condition for international conflict, the concept of politically active dyads does.
Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patient pain management expectations

Abstract This study compares emergency department (ED) pain management expectations in Hispanic versus non-Hispanic white patients with painful conditions. A prospective convenience sample of patients was enrolled at a university ED. Patient expectations of pain relief were recorded on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Surveys from 58 Hispanics and 408 non-Hispanic whites were completed and used for data analysis. Sample size was adequate to detect a minimum difference in pain relief of 13 mm. Both groups had similar chief complaints and degree of pain at presentation. Their demographics differed in age and language spoken. Mean expectations for pain relief were not significantly different (76mm [95% confidence interval (CI) 70-82] and 72mm [95% CI 70-74]) between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites, respectively. Mean expectations of a reasonable time to wait for pain medications were also not significantly different (31 minutes [95% CI 28-33] and 33 minutes [95% CI 26-48]) between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites, respectively. (Am J Emerg Med 2001;19:549-550. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company)
The zebrafish as a tool to identify novel therapies for human cardiovascular disease

Over the past decade, the zebrafish has become an increasingly popular animal model for the study of human cardiovascular disease. Because zebrafish embryos are transparent and their genetic manipulation is straightforward, the zebrafish has been used to recapitulate a number of cardiovascular disease processes ranging from congenital heart defects to arrhythmia to cardiomyopathy. The use of fluorescent reporters has been essential to identify two discrete phases of cardiomyocyte differentiation necessary for normal cardiac development in the zebrafish. These phases are analogous to the differentiation of the two progenitor heart cell populations in mammals, termed the first and second heart fields. The small size of zebrafish embryos has enabled high-throughput chemical screening to identify small-molecule suppressors of fundamental pathways in vasculogenesis, such as the BMP axis, as well as of common vascular defects, such as aortic coarctation. The optical clarity of zebrafish has facilitated studies of valvulogenesis as well as detailed electrophysiological mapping to characterize the early cardiac conduction system. One unique aspect of zebrafish larvae is their ability to oxygenate through diffusion alone, permitting the study of mutations that cause severe cardiomyopathy phenotypes such as silent heart and pickwickm171, which mimic titin mutations observed in human dilated cardiomyopathy. Above all, the regenerative capacity of zebrafish presents a particularly exciting opportunity to discover new therapies for cardiac injury, including scar formation following myocardial infarction. This Review will summarize the current state of the field and describe future directions to advance our understanding of human cardiovascular disease.
Do hallucinogens cause residual neuropsychological toxicity

We collected and reviewed studies in which neuropsychological tests were administered to users of LSD or other hallucinogens. Interpretation of the studies is limited by various confounding variables, such as subjects' premorbid cognitive and personality function and prior use of other substances. At present, the literature tentatively suggests that there are few, if any, long-term neuropsychological deficits attributable to hallucinogen use. To better resolve this issue, however, it will be important to study larger samples of chronic, frequent hallucinogen users who have not often used other types of drugs.
Comparison of aperture determinations on RHIC for single particles tracked 10/sup 6/ turns and 100 particles, having randomly generated initial coordinates, tracked for 1000 turns

Aperture determinations from 100 particles tracked for 1000 turns using randomly selected initial coordinates are compared with results from 10/sup 6/ turn runs when initial coordinates are defined by /spl epsivsub x/=/spl epsivsub y/ and X'/sub i/=Y'/sub i/=0. Measurements were made with ten distributions of magnetic field errors. The results from tracking 100 particles for 10/sup 3/ turns are equivalent to those from 10/sup 6/ turn runs, have a distribution of considerably less width, and require only one-tenth the computer time. >
Doping in metal chalcogenide glasses

Chalcogenide glasses that contain sufficient concentrations of metal atoms can be p-type doped. This doping results in part because the local structural order is tetrahedral at the metal and the chalcogen sites in these glasses. At concentrations exceeding 1019 cm−3, oxygen promotes doping by increasing the densities of dangling-bond defects at threefold-coordinated chalcogens, which are the doping sites in these glasses. For oxygen concentrations below 1019 cm−3, the conductivity is independent of oxygen, and therefore is controlled by other mechanisms. The compositions Cu6As4S9 and Cu6As4Se9 are studied, because at these compositions the S (or Se) and Cu atoms are all tetrahedrally coordinated and there exist only Cu-S and As-S (or Cu-Se and As-Se) bonds.
A finite element model with node renumbering for adaptive impedance imaging

An electrical impedance tomography (EIT) method is considered in which 32 electrodes are placed around the thorax, currents are injected, and voltages are measured to reconstruct a cross-sectional image of resistivity. The authors solve the forward problem using the finite-element method (FEM). The number of elements determines the spatial resolution of the resistivity image. An adaptive current-injection method to provide an optimal current distribution is used. The modified Newton-Raphson method is used as the reconstruction algorithm. The authors use sparse matrix techniques with node renumbering methods to minimize the computation time. >
THYMIDINE AND TESTOSTERONE INCORPORATION BY BURSAL AND THYMIC LYMPHOCYTES

After 12 days of incubation tritiated thymidine (3HTdR) was injected into the allantoic cavity or applied to the air cell of fertile eggs. At varying time periods after 3HTdR administration the bursa of Fabricius, thymus, and spleen were removed from the chick embryo and the amount of 3HTdR was assayed by liquid scintillation. The highest concentration of 3HTdR was observed two days after applying the isotope to the air cell with the greatest concentration of 3HTdR being in the spleen, then the bursa, and finally the thymus.The in vitro exposure of bursal and thymic cells to 3HTdR or to tritiated testosterone (3HTestR) revealed significantly more uptake of both isotopes by bursal than thymic cells. These data establish an optimum route and sampling period for in vitro 3HTdR studies with embryos and suggest that bursal cells are more receptive than thymic cells to both 3HTdR and 3HTestR. The latter may, in part, explain why cold testosterone administered to chicken embryos will eliminate bursal cells with ...
The maize root stem cell niche: a partnership between two sister cell populations

Using transcript profile analysis, we explored the nature of the stem cell niche in roots of maize (Zea mays). Toward assessing a role for specific genes in the establishment and maintenance of the niche, we perturbed the niche and simultaneously monitored the spatial expression patterns of genes hypothesized as essential. Our results allow us to quantify and localize gene activities to specific portions of the niche: to the quiescent center (QC) or the proximal meristem (PM), or to both. The data point to molecular, biochemical and physiological processes associated with the specification and maintenance of the niche, and include reduced expression of metabolism-, redox- and certain cell cycle-associated transcripts in the QC, enrichment of auxin-associated transcripts within the entire niche, controls for the state of differentiation of QC cells, a role for cytokinins specifically in the PM portion of the niche, processes (repair machinery) for maintaining DNA integrity and a role for gene silencing in niche stabilization. To provide additional support for the hypothesized roles of the above-mentioned and other transcripts in niche specification, we overexpressed, in Arabidopsis, homologs of representative genes (eight) identified as highly enriched or reduced in the maize root QC. We conclude that the coordinated changes in expression of auxin-, redox-, cell cycle- and metabolism-associated genes suggest the linkage of gene networks at the level of transcription, thereby providing additional insights into events likely associated with root stem cell niche establishment and maintenance.
Defective trafficking of cone photoreceptor CNG channels induces the unfolded protein response and ER-stress-associated cell death

Mutations that perturb the function of photoreceptor CNG (cyclic nucleotide-gated) channels are associated with several human retinal disorders, but the molecular and cellular mechanisms leading to photoreceptor dysfunction and degeneration remain unclear. Many loss-of-function mutations result in intracellular accumulation of CNG channel subunits. Accumulation of proteins in the ER (endoplasmic reticulum) is known to cause ER stress and trigger the UPR (unfolded protein response), an evolutionarily conserved cellular programme that results in either adaptation via increased protein processing capacity or apoptotic cell death. We hypothesize that defective trafficking of cone photoreceptor CNG channels can induce UPR-mediated cell death. To test this idea, CNGA3 subunits bearing the R563H and Q655X mutations were expressed in photoreceptor-derived 661W cells with CNGB3 subunits. Compared with wild-type, R563H and Q655X subunits displayed altered degradation rates and/or were retained in the ER. ER retention was associated with increased expression of UPR-related markers of ER stress and with decreased cell viability. Chemical and pharmacological chaperones {TUDCA (tauroursodeoxycholate sodium salt), 4-PBA (sodium 4-phenylbutyrate) and the cGMP analogue CPT-cGMP [8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cGMP]} differentially reduced degradation and/or promoted plasma-membrane localization of defective subunits. Improved subunit maturation was concordant with reduced expression of ER-stress markers and improved viability of cells expressing localization-defective channels. These results indicate that ER stress can arise from expression of localization-defective CNG channels, and may represent a contributing factor for photoreceptor degeneration.
A comparison of the accuracy of discrete event and discrete time

Many combat and agent-based models use time-step as their simulation time advance mechanism. Since time discretization is known to affect the results when numerically solving differential equations, it stands to reason that it might likewise affect the results of such simulations. This paper demonstrates that is indeed the case. Using simple queueing models, we demonstrate that the size of the time step can have a substantial impact on estimated measures of performance. While large time steps can execute faster than a corresponding discrete event model, there can be substantial errors in the estimates. Conversely, with small time steps the results match both the discrete event measures as well as the analytic values, but can take substantially longer to execute.
CW operation of an intracavity pumped molecular submillimeter-wave laser

The 373-μm line of CH 3 CN was operated in a CW mode in an arrangement where the submillimeter (SMM)-wave laser is placed inside the resonator of the CO 2 pump laser. 1 mW of CW output power was obtained; this is five times the power of a comparable SMM-wave laser in the common extracavity arrangement. In a pulsed mode, a peak power of 46 mW was measured.
Technical Note: Estimating aerosol effects on cloud radiative forcing

Abstract. Estimating anthropogenic aerosol effects on the planetary energy balance through the aerosol influence on clouds using the difference in cloud radiative forcing from simulations with and without anthropogenic emissions produces estimates that are positively biased. A more representative method is suggested using the difference in cloud radiative forcing calculated as a diagnostic with aerosol scattering and absorption neglected. The method also yields an aerosol radiative forcing decomposition that includes a term quantifying the impact of changes in surface albedo. The method requires only two additional diagnostic calculations: the whole-sky and clear-sky top-of-atmosphere radiative flux with aerosol scattering and absorption neglected.
Analysis of the contention access period of IEEE 802.15.4 MAC

The recent ratification of IEEE 802.15.4 PHY-MAC specifications for low-rate wireless personal area networks represents a significant milestone in promoting deployment of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for a variety of commercial uses. The 15.4 specifications specifically target wireless networking among low-rate, low-power and low-cost devices that is expected to be a key market segment for a large number of WSN applications. In this article, we first analyze the performance of the contention access period specified in the IEEE 802.15.4 standard in terms of throughput and energy consumption. This analysis is facilitated by a modeling of the contention access period as nonpersistent CSMA with backoff. We show that, in certain applications in which having an inactive period in the superframe may not be desirable due to delay constraints, shutting down the radio between transmissions provides significant savings in power without significantly compromising the throughput. We also propose and analyze the performance of a modification to the specification which could be used for applications in which MAC-level acknowledgements are not used. Extensive ns-2 simulations are used to verify the analysis.
Adipokines and Cysteinyl Leukotrienes in the Pathogenesis of Asthma

Background. The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically over the last decades, and its association with asthma is being increasingly recognized. Aims. Our hypothesis is that increased leptin and decreased adiponectin levels in obese subjects play a direct role in regulating inflammation in asthmatics. We wanted to examine the hypothesis that cysteinyl leukotrienes (cys-LT), inflammatory mediators that are regulated by adipokines, are involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. Methods. We studied a population of asthmatics and nonasthmatics, who in turn were divided into obese and nonobese categories. We examined leptin and its ratio to adiponectin, in asthmatics and nonasthmatics, with and without obesity. In addition, we measured cys-LT levels in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and in peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) in these groups. Results. Leptin levels were increased in obese asthmatics compared to obese nonasthmatics. The leptin/adiponectin (L/A) ratio was higher in obese asthmatics compared to obese nonasthmatics. EBC cys-LT levels were elevated in asthmatics compared to nonasthmatics. Discussion. Proinflammatory adipokines, released from adipose tissue, may promote an asthma phenotype through enhanced cys-LT production that may result in more prevalent and difficult to control airway disease.
Creating a Scene

Written in 1948, Waiting for Godot was copyrighted by Les Editions de Minuit in 1952, and translated into German in 1953. Beckett’s own English translation was published by Faber and Faber in 1955. Following its French production, where the audience reacted by creating their own scene of violence, the play was performed in London, and then came to America, where, in Miami, its producer sold out a two-week performance, billed in advance as follows: Bert Lahr, the Star of ‘Burlesque,’ and Tom Ewell, The Star of the Seven Year Itch,’ in the Laugh Sensation of Two Continents - Samuel Beckett’s ‘Waiting For Godot.’1 The results of this fiasco are well known: two thirds of he first-night audience, foregoing the fisticuffs of that first French audition, left the theater after the first act, and the management was plagued by requests for refunds from a good portion of the presubscribed audience upset by the initial adverse publicity. Good drama may become successful theater only with the intelligent cooperation of producer, director, and actors; and good symbolic drama must come to closure in the understanding responses of an emotionally moved audience.
Nutrient Transformations in Mass Cultures of Marine Algae

Two mass cultures of marine algae were maintained for 24 continuous weeks on mixtures of secondarily treated wastewater and seawater. Nitrogen removal and algal growth were related to both nitrogen loading in the form of variations in the waste-seawater mixture and changes in the dilution rate. Nitrogen assimilation was limited to about 4 mg/l. High nitrogen removals were associated with a combination of algal assimilation and ammonia evolution at the high pond pH values attained. Algal concentrations represented as both particulate carbon (PC) and particulate nitrogen (PN) decreased linearly with increases in the dilution rate. Maximum algal yields of 6 g PC m - ² day - ¹ occurred at a dilution rate of 0.75 day - ¹.
Fossil nest of sweat bees (Halictinae) from a Miocene Paleosol, Rusinga Island, western Kenya

A fossilized nest found in a 17 Ma paleosol on Rusinga Island is similar in many respects to those constructed by bees. The nest consists of subellipsoidal cells arranged in paired, parallel rows, which are themselves arranged in clusters. Typical cells average approximately 6 mm by 3.5 mm, and have curved dorsal surfaces and nearly flat ventral surfaces. The nest is here referred to a new ichnospecies: Celliforma habari. The cell shape and nest architecture are most like those of modern bees of the subfamily Halictinae (Apoidea: Halictidae), and probably were constructed by bees with a societal structure that was at least communal and quite possibly more highly social. The nest suggests a subhumid to humid climate and angiosperm-dominated vegetation for Rusinga Island during Early Miocene time.
The conditional KO approach: Cre/Lox technology in human neurons.

The use of human pluripotent stem cells to model human diseases has become a new standard in biomedical sciences. To this end, patient-derived somatic cells are studied in vitro to mimic human pathological conditions. Here, we describe an alternative experimental strategy, the ‘conditional KO approach’, which allows engineering disease-relevant mutations in pluripotent stem cells from healthy donors. In combination with the Cre/Lox technology, this strategy enables us to study the molecular causes of human diseases independent of the genetic background or of genetic alterations induced by clonal selection. As a proof-of-principle, we generated pluripotent stem cells with conditional loss-of-function mutations in the human STXBP1 gene that encodes Munc18-1. Using neurons derived from these cells, we show that heterozygous disruption of STXBP1 produces a specific and selective impairment in synaptic transmission that may account for the severe neurological disease caused by such mutations in human patients.
DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHODS FOR ASSESSING BRIDGE PAINTING RUST DEFECTS AND THEIR LIMITATIONS

Accurate and objective rust defect assessment is required to maintain a good -quality steel bridge painting surfaces and make a decision whether a bridge shall completely or partially be repainted. For more objective rust defect recognition, digital image recognition methods have been developed for the past few years and they are expected to replace or complement conventional painting inspection methods. Efficient image processing methods are also essential for the successful implementation of steel bridge coating warranty contracting where the owner, usually a state agency, and the contractor inspect steel bridge coa ting conditions regularly and decide whether additional maintenance actions are needed based on the processed data. Previously developed image recognition methods for painting rust defect assessment can be summarized as two: the NFRA (Neuro-Fuzzy Recognition Approach) method and the SKMA (Simplified K-Means Algorithm) method. The NFRA method uses artificial intelligence techniques to separate rust pixels from background pixels. The SKMA method segments object pixels and background pixels in a digitized ima ge using a statistical method, called the K-means algorithm. Even if both methods pass through different processing procedures, one common thing is that they first convert original color images to grayscale images and further process the grayscale images. This article presents the application of previously developed image processing methods for painting rust defect evaluation s and discusses their limitations under several specific environmental conditions which are often encountered while acquiring digital images.
Analysis of Equilibrium-Based TSA Processes for Direct Capture of CO2 from Air

Direct capture of CO2 from air is a concept that, if successfully implemented, could lead to capture of CO2 from disperse sources. We have developed process models to consider the viability of adsorption-based air capture technologies. Our models focus on using an amino-modified silica adsorbent, TRI-PE-MCM-41, and a structured monolithic contactor unit. We have studied several different temperature swing adsorption processes using the purity of CO2 and annual product throughput as metrics for comparing process performance. This analysis identifies some of the operational parameters, adsorbent characteristics, and other factors that have a significant effect on the performance of the process. Using the total energy requirement of the process and available sources of energy, such as low pressure steam and electricity, we carry out an economic analysis to obtain a net operating cost for air capture of CO2. We identify a process with a daily throughput of ∼1.1 t CO2 at 88.5% purity using standard shipping co...
Aqueous Hydricity of Late Metal Catalysts as a Continuum Tuned by Ligands and the Medium

Aqueous hydride transfer is a fundamental step in emerging alternative energy transformations such as H2 evolution and CO2 reduction. “Hydricity,” the hydride donor ability of a species, is a key metric for understanding transition metal hydride reactivity, but comprehensive studies of aqueous hydricity are scarce. An extensive and self-consistent aqueous hydricity scale is constructed for a family of Ru and Ir hydrides that are key intermediates in aqueous catalysis. A reference hydricity is determined using redox potentiometry and spectrophotometric titration for a particularly water-soluble species. Then, relative hydricity values for a range of species are measured using hydride transfer equilibria, taking advantage of expedient new synthetic procedures for Ru and Ir hydrides. This large collection of hydricity values provides the most comprehensive picture so far of how ligands impact hydricity in water. Strikingly, we also find that hydricity can be viewed as a continuum in water: the free energy of...
Breeding and Application of New Indica Restorer Line Luhui 615 with Good Grain Quality and Strong Blast Resistance

Luhui 615,derived from the cross of Minghui 63/Fan 32∥Duohui 1,4 and 5,is a new indica restorer line in rice with strong restoring ability,high combining ability,good grain quality,strong blast resistance and high yield seed production.The hybrid rice combinations Gangyou 615(Gang 46A×Luhui 615),K You 8615(K18A×Luhui 615) and Luxiang 615(Luxiang 91A×Luhui 615) showed a strong heterosis and were examined and approved for release in Sichuan during 2000—2004.
Intraoperative facial nerve monitoring.

Facial nerve monitoring is one of the most exciting innovations in otologic surgery in the past decade. Intraoperative monitoring has been shown to reduce the probability of iatrogenic injury to the facial nerve during surgery. It saves surgical time and reduces the anxiety level of both patients and surgeons. There are several reasons to use facial nerve monitoring: The surgeon never knows when it will be needed in a particular case, the operating room personnel become familiar with the equipment, and the surgeon learns how to interpret the sounds produced by the monitor and how to correlate them with surgical manipulations around the facial nerve. Facial nerve monitoring has added another dimension of safety to otologic and neurotologic surgery and has reduced the incidence of facial weakness or paralysis in the authors’ surgical practice.
Noninvasive monitoring of the neonatal respiratory system.

Abstract The development and use of a large variety of nonivasive respiratory monitors have provided the neonatal intensive care unit clinician with invaluable tools for continuous monitoring. Thorough understanding of how each monitor functions, what it measures, and factors that contribute to monitor errors and injuries is vital for appropriate use of this technology and for proper interpretation of monitor values. On-going patient assessment and a good understanding of physiologic principles affecting respiratory status and monitoring also are imperative to interpreting monitor values. Noninvasive monitors have raised a controversy about home use of monitors to prevent sudden infant death syndrome--a review of National Institute of Health recommendations is helpful when cardiorespiratory monitoring is an issue. Family teaching and support are beneficial for discharge planning.
The Potrero Creek Site: Activity Structure

ABSTRACTAn analysis of the spatial distributions of artifacts and trash from the Potrero Creek site (Arizona EE: 9: 53) is undertaken in order to define the activity structure of the site. Two types of task performance areas are defined, a processing area and a food cooking area. Three of the former and four of the latter were used by the occupants of the site. As a seriation of house structures within the site indicates that not all were occupied simultaneously, it is suggested that not all task performance areas were used at the same time. A single small social unit could have produced the defined pattern over the period of no fewer than 200 years during which the site was occupied.
The Aesthetic Dimensions of Moral Experience

Chapter 2 explained how David Hume aestheticized moral philosophy to some extent, arguing that our feelings and sentiments, not our reason, contribute to our moral judgments. Peirce shared a similarly conservative approach to the conduct of life. As he argued, “it is the instincts, the sentiments, that make the substance of the soul. Cognition is only its surface.”2 Peirce articulated the connection between the aesthetic approach to ethics and conservatism when he stated that “sentimentalism implies conservatism.”3 Additionally, Chapter 5 discussed how Gadamer articulated the role of prejudice in our interpretive endeavors, and these include our interpretation of morally problematic situations.
Roman Power: A Thousand Years of Empire

The Roman Empire was one of the largest and most enduring in world history. In his new book, distinguished historian W. V. Harris sets out to explain, within an eclectic theoretical framework, the waxing and eventual waning of Roman imperial power, together with the Roman community's internal power structures (political power, social power, gender power and economic power). Effectively integrating analysis with a compelling narrative, he traces this linkage between the external and the internal through three very long periods, and part of the originality of the book is that it almost uniquely considers both the gradual rise of the Roman Empire and its demise as an empire in the fifth and seventh centuries AD. Professor Harris contends that comparing the Romans of these diverse periods sharply illuminates both the growth and the shrinkage of Roman power as well as the Empire's extraordinary durability.
Improved Appearance pf Switchyards and Substations

The report summarizes the Bureau of Reclamation's policy, criteria, and designs for improving the appearance of switchyard and substation facilities. Environmental planning in locating switchyards and substations is discussed. The paper presents the concept and development for simplified low silhouette designs for steel structures employing rigid-frame type structures to achieve optimum esthetic effects within economic limits. Use of color and landscaping are also discussed, along with ways to improve existing installations. The paper has 18 figures.
A deoxyribonuclease from calf spleen. II. Mode of action.

When highly polymerized deoxyribonucleic acid is digested with pancreatic DNase and the digest further degraded with phosphodiesterase from intestinal mucose or snake venom, the mononucleotides formed are 5'-phosphates. Since a digest prepared in this manner with a purified venom diesterase contains only 5'-mononucleotides and practically no nucleosides or polynucleotides, the pancreatic DNase must form only polynucleotides with 5' monoesterified phosphate end groups. Recently the enzymatic synthesis of polydeoxyribonucleotides from eoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphates has been demonstrated. Thus both enzymatic synthesis and degradation of deoxyribonucleic acids have as yet involved only derivatives with 5'-monoesterified phosphate.
It’s Not Hard Work; It’s Heart Work: Strategies of Effective, Award-Winning Culturally Responsive Teachers

With an increasingly diverse, K-12 public school student population, adequately teaching and instructing all student demographic groups is a pertinent educational issue. As such, there has been an ensuing need for teachers to develop the knowledge, dispositions, and pedagogical skills and competencies necessary to teach children from diverse backgrounds. Acknowledging this need, this qualitative analysis examines the teaching strategies that seven award-winning teachers of students in urban schools use to cultivate culturally responsive classroom environments. Considering the disparaging academic achievement of many U.S. public school students, culturally responsive teaching may assist in closing enduring achievement gaps. To this end, this study’s findings indicate four major themes that may inform the classroom pedagogical practices of practitioners.
Perioperative sexual interest in women with suspected gynecologic malignancies

Abstract Objectives For women with gynecologic cancer, the impact of surgery on sexual interest and desire in the immediate and later postoperative period is not well characterized. The objective of this study was to report the perioperative trends of changing sexual interest and desire in a cohort of women undergoing surgery for suspected gynecologic malignancies. Methods This is an ancillary analysis of a cohort study analyzing health-related outcomes in women who underwent primary surgical management of a suspected gynecologic malignancy between 10/2013 and 10/2014. Subjects completed the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sexual Function and Satisfaction Questionnaire (PROMIS-SFQ) preoperatively and questions on sexual interest and desire at one, three, and six months postoperatively. Bivariate tests and multiple linear regression were used to analyze data. Results Of 231 women who completed a baseline PROMIS-SFQ, 187 (81%) completed one-month, 170 (74%) three-month, and 174 (75%) six-month follow-up interviews. Following surgery, 71% of enrolled subjects were diagnosed with a malignancy. Women age 55 (−5.5±1.0 vs −2.3±0.9, p=0.02). In a multivariable analysis, age Conclusions This study provides new data regarding the timing and magnitude of changes in sexual interest following gynecologic oncology procedures.