cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing the discriminative stimuli produced by either the neuroactive steroid pregnanolone or the benzodiazepine midazolam in rats

Neuroactive steroids might be therapeutic alternatives for benzodiazepines because they have similar anxiolytic, sedative, and anticonvulsant effects, and their actions at different modulatory sites on γ-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors might confer differences in adverse effects. This study used drug discrimination to compare discriminative stimuli produced by positive GABAA modulators that vary in their site of action on GABAA receptors. Two groups of rats discriminated either 3.2 mg/kg of pregnanolone or 0.56 mg/kg of midazolam from vehicle while responding under a fixed ratio 10 schedule of food presentation. Pregnanolone, midazolam, and flunitrazepam produced ≥80% drug-lever responding in both groups; each drug was more potent in rats discriminating pregnanolone. Pentobarbital produced ≥80% drug-lever responding in all rats discriminating pregnanolone, and in 1/3 of the rats discriminating midazolam with larger doses decreasing response rates to <20% of control. Morphine and ketamine produced predominantly saline-lever responding in both groups. Flumazenil antagonized midazolam and flunitrazepam in both groups; slopes of Schild plots were not different from unity, and pA 2 values for flumazenil ranged from 5.86 to 6.09. Flumazenil did not attenuate the discriminative stimulus effects of pregnanolone. The midazolam and pregnanolone discriminative stimuli were qualitatively similar, although the effects of pentobarbital were not identical in the two groups. Although acute effects of midazolam and pregnanolone are similar, suggesting that neuroactive steroids might retain the therapeutic effects of benzodiazepines, differences emerge during chronic treatment, indicating that neuroactive steroids might produce fewer adverse effects than benzodiazepines.
On-Line Efficiency Optimization of a Variable Frequency Induction Motor Drive

The problems associated with the implementation of an optimal efficiency controller in variable frequency induction motor drives are examined. A simple method for minimizing, on-line, the global system losses is presented. This method is based on the adaptive control of the rotor flux in a field-oriented drive system. The effectiveness of this control strategy is verified using digital simulation.
29Si spin-lattice NMR relaxation in microporous silica-based materials with high Mn2+ concentrations

The 29Si T1 time measurements have been performed under magic angle spinning for supermicroporous Si/Mn materials 1-6 containing Mn2+ in concentrations of 0 (1), 1.2 (2), 2.5 (3), 3.8 (4), 15 (5) and 19.8 wt% (6). It has been found that the central lines, corresponding to isotropic chemical shifts, and their sidebands relax differently in samples 2-4 with relatively small Mn2+ contents. Because the relaxation curves for 1-6 are nonexponential and identical for 6 at spinning rates of 5, 10 and 12 kHz, dipolar relaxation via the paramagnetic centers is dominant. The relaxation data have been interpreted as a function of Mn2+ concentrations in terms of incorporation of the Mn2+ ions into the silica lattice when their concentration is small (<or=2.5 wt%). At higher concentrations, most of the manganese is located on the surface of the silica.
A clinical evaluation of innovar and innostat for outpatient sedation in dentistry

Abstract An open study was conducted to compare the relative efficacies of Innovar and Innostat in the production of preoperative sedation for dental outpatients. Parameters examined included a global evaluation by the operator, treatment observation, including subjective pain, mental attitude, patient awareness, motor performance, eyelid position, and ability to communicate. Vital signs were monitored throughout all procedures and remained stable and within normal limits in all instances. Although the drugs proved both safe and effective during surgical procedures, bothersome postoperative complications contraindicate their use in dental outpatients.
Extension Of Nuclear Structure Data Base Searches For Gamma-Ray Laser Candidates

Results from a data base search of computerized nuclear structure libraries have been extended and augmented so as to expand the information available for nuclei suitable as gamma-ray laser candidates. The spectrum of nuclear levels occurring in deformed rotational nuclei have been calculated and have been used in conjunction with isomeric state data for odd-A systems. The results of this augmentation effort are presented with particular emphasis on results obtained for /sup 177/Lu, /sup 177/Hf, and /sup 179/Hf. For these cases some possibly interesting cases were identified that met energy spacing criteria. However, significant hindrance factors exist for them which negate their interest for gamma-ray laser applications. 9 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.
Automatic detection and replacement of syntactic constructs causing shift-reduce conflicts

A method is described for repairing some shift-reduce conflicts caused by limited lookahead in LALR(1) parsers such as those built by bison. Also, six types of Extended BNF (EBNF) construct are identified that cause a shift-reduce conflict when a Yet Another Compiler Compiler (YACC) file translated directly from EBNF is processed by bison. For each type, a replacement EBNF construct is described representing the same grammar and causing no shift-reduce conflict when its YACC equivalent is processed by bison. Algorithms are given for identifying instances of each type and transforming them into their replacements. The algorithms are implemented in an automatic parser builder that builds parsers for subsets of the DMIS language. The parser builder reads an EBNF file and writes C++ classes, a YACC file, and a Lex file, which are then processed to build a parser. The parsers build a parse tree using the C++ classes. The EBNF for DMIS is written in natural terms so that natural C++ classes are generated. However, if translated directly into YACC, the natural EBNF leads to 22 shift-reduce conflicts that fall into the six types. The parser builder recognizes the six constructs and replaces them automatically before generating YACC. The YACC that is generated parses in terms of unnatural constructs while building a parse tree using natural C++ classes. The six types of construct may occur in any statement-based language that uses a minor separator, such as a comma; hence knowing how to recognize and replace them may be broadly useful. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the U.S.A.
Relational behaviors in marketing channel relationships: Transaction cost implications

Abstract Despite recent progress in research on marketing channel relationships, one important question remains unaddressed: Do distributor relational behaviors lower transaction cost for distributors? If so, how do relational behaviors affect transaction cost? This study examines the process through which relational behaviors affect transaction cost. Combining the relational perspective with the transaction cost analysis of exchange, the author develops hypotheses on the links between relational behaviors and transaction cost from a distributor's point of view: a distributor's relational behaviors have different direct and indirect effects on its transaction cost. The proposed hypotheses are tested on distributor–supplier relationships with data collected through a national survey of industrial distributors. The hypotheses on the dual, differential effects of relational behaviors on distributor transaction cost received partial empirical support.
Food robbing in ants, a form of interference competition

Food robbing is a special form of interference competition in ants. It has been frequently observed in Myrmecocystus mimicus, which waylay returning foragers of several Pogonomyrmex species at their nests and take insect prey, particularly termites, away from them. Myrmecocystus more successfully robs prey from P. desertorum and P. maricopa than from P. barbatus. Usually only those Pogonomyrmex nests are affected by Myrmecocystus prey robbing that are not farther away than 10 m from the Myrmecocystus nest. Some M. mimicus workers show a high specialization in prey robbing. Other cases of food robbing in ants are described.
Differential expression and HIV-1 regulation of μ-opioid receptor splice variants across human central nervous system cell types

The μ-opioid receptor (MOR) is known to undergo extensive alternative splicing as numerous splice variants of MOR have been identified. However, the functional significance of MOR variants, as well as how splice variants other than MOR-1 might differentially regulate human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) pathogenesis in the central nervous system (CNS), or elsewhere, has largely been ignored. Our findings suggest that there are specific differences in the MOR variant expression profile among CNS cell types, and that the expression levels of these variants are differentially regulated by HIV-1. While MOR-1A mRNA was detected in astroglia, microglia, and neurons, MOR-1 and MOR-1X were only found in astroglia. Expression of the various forms of MOR along with the chimeric G protein qi5 in HEK-293T cells resulted in differences in calcium/NFAT signaling with morphine treatment, suggesting that MOR variant expression might underlie functional differences in MOR-effector coupling and intracellular signaling across different cell types. Furthermore, the data suggest that the expression of MOR-1 and other MOR variants may also be differentially regulated in the brains of HIV-infected subjects with varying levels of neurocognitive impairment. Overall, the results reveal an unexpected finding that MOR-1 may not be the predominant form of MOR expressed by some CNS cell types and that other splice variants of MOR-1, with possible differing functions, may contribute to the diversity of MOR-related processes in the CNS.
Abstract 1159: A novel HGF-MET paracrine signaling pathway promotes growth and resistance to chemotherapy in lung cancer

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Lung cancer is a leading cause of deaths from cancer among men and women worldwide with an estimated 1.5 million deaths each year. Available molecularly targeted therapies benefit a limited number of patients and even in these patients acquired resistance is a major impediment to effective therapeutic response. To address the need for additional therapeutic targets, we used a unique approach to identify and target tumor-stroma paracrine crosstalk pathways in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To explore paracrine crosstalk in NSCLC, we analyzed transcriptomes of specific stromal and epithelial compartments that were sorted from Kras driven mouse model of NSCLC. Transcriptome analysis and computational modeling of multi-cellular network identified potential tumor-stroma crosstalk signaling pathways. We have selected the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-MET tyrosine kinase receptor signaling pathway because both HGF and MET are associated with poor survival in many cancer types including lung cancer. Notably, we identified reprogrammed intratumoral macrophages as unique source of HGF, while the expression of MET receptor was confined to tumor epithelial compartment. Importantly, we have observed elevated HGF in chemoresistant tumors both in mouse and human. Previous studies have implicated MET receptor amplification or mutations as the main mechanism of acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs, but little is known about the contribution of HGF ligand-dependent activation of MET signaling in NSCLC growth and resistance to chemotherapeutic regimens that are widely used. We have used a combination of culture experiments and in vivo genetic approaches to show that macrophage-derived HGF interacts with the MET receptor on tumor epithelial cells in a paracrine fashion, to activate downstream signaling pathways that promote tumor progression and mediate resistance to standard chemotherapies. Our investigations on this relatively unexplored HGF-MET paracrine interaction as a key mechanism of resistance to standard-of-care chemotherapeutic regimens-and not just EGFR targeted therapies-have the potential to benefit the NSCLC population as whole rather than a small subset of patients. Citation Format: Hyejin Choi, Ding Cheng Gao, Sharrell B. Lee, Anna Durrans, Seongho Ryu, Olivier Elemento, Stephen Wong, Nasser K. Altorki, Vivek Mittal. A novel HGF-MET paracrine signaling pathway promotes growth and resistance to chemotherapy in lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1159. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1159
Observation of Raman band shifting with excitation wavelength for carbons and graphites

Abstract The Raman spectra of crystalline graphite, graphite damaged by ion-etching, and structurally disordered pyrolytic and glassy carbons were examined as a function of excitation wavelength λ over the range 488.0 to 647.1 nm. The bands located at 1360, 2720 and 2950 cm 1 with λ = 488.0 nm undergo a progressive red-shift as λ increases, while the positions of the other major bands (1580 and 1620 cm 1) are invariant. The significance of these observations is briefly discussed.
Simultaneous structural and control optimization of an axially loaded laser cross-link structure

This study develops a method for the simultaneous structural and control optimization of a strut used in a laser communication cross link structure. This strut combined with others form an isolation system which isolates the pointing element of the laser cross link from the spacecraft disturbances. Included in the optimization of the strut are the weight, thickness, and orientation of the fibers in the composite plies. This study includes the effects of using composite tailoring to promote the coupling of the axial-twisting-bending modes to enhance the damping system. The strut is modelled by a two dimensional composite cylindrical shell theory with higher order approximations for transverse shear. The results of the study are compared to a baseline strut which was designed solely for thermal stability and axial stiffness.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
EXACT SOLUTIONS OF CYCLICALLY SYMMETRIC OSCILLATOR EQUATIONS WITH NON‐LINEAR COUPLING. PART III: GLOBALLY STABLE SINGLE‐FREQUENCY LIMIT CYCLES

Several authors have found very simple exact limit cycle solutions in certain sets of N cyclically symmetric coupled non-linear oscillator equations. In part I of this paper it was shown that the search for sets of equations with similar solutions is made much simpler if the equations are expressed in terms of the normal modes of the unperturbed (linear) system. In various applications it is desirable that the equations have a limit cycle solution with a single frequency and that this solution be globally stable. It is found here that the transformation of the equations to the unperturbed normal modes can greatly simplify the construction of such systems.
Fresh Market Carrot Inspection by Machine Vision

A machine vision system was developed to inspect fresh market carrots. It was designed to grade carrots with an axial and transverse resolution of 0. 5mmper pixel. Hardware consisted of camera digital signal processing (DSP) imaging board host computer and illumination components. Feature extraction methods detect the major defects. A Bayes classification technique was used to construct the decision function which classify carrots as acceptable or cull. The system was able to image and classify in approximately 2. 5carrots/second. 1.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Factors Affecting Luteal Regulation Following Parabiosis in the Rat

The 24.6-day period of luteal persistence in the hysterectomized rat was shortened (p <0.01) to 18.5 days by performing only the surgical trauma necessary for parabiosis. Corpora lutea of hysterectomized rats persisted for 18.4, 16.4 and 16.3 days following parabiosis with cycling, pseudopregnant or other hysterectomized rats, respectively. These intervals were not significantly different from the 18.5 days of the unpaired hysterectomized animals following surgical trauma. However, the life span of corpora lutea was further shortened to 13.0 days (p <0.01) in hysterectomized rats paired with ovariectomized partners. Pseudopregnancy in intact rats was not affected by parabiosis with hysterectomized or with other intact pseudopregnant rats. Pairing of pseudopregnant with pregnant rats resulted in a significant increase in the length of pseudopregnancy. This experiment demonstrates that trauma has a luteolytic effect and suggests by the ovariectomized-hysterectomized group that the pituitary is the source of...
Age-Related Alterations in Muscular Endurance

Aging often results in a decline of most physiological systems of the body. However, the maintenance of some appropriate level of neuromuscular function into old age is critical if we expect the elderly to be able to maintain normal daily activity and functional independence. It is well established that muscular strength declines in old age, but an equally important parameter of neuromuscular function muscular endurance, has received only minimal attention in the literature. Important information regarding age-associated changes in muscular endurance can be obtained from both animal and human research models, each having their own set of limitations and advantages. One problem in trying to interpret past research dealing in this area is the fact that muscular endurance can be expressed in a variety of ways and can be measured by a variety of techniques. It seems that conflicting reports arise from substantial differences in research design, statistical analyses or the ability to control extraneous influences such as physical activity levels and dietary intakes. This review will examine both human and animal literature in an attempt to elucidate methodological concerns in the assessment of muscular endurance and the controversial evidence regarding changes in muscle morphology and muscle metabolism that may be responsible for age-related changes in muscular endurance. Issues that address the possible selective loss of fibre type and the declines in both total fibre number as well as fibre size will be presented, since muscle quantity and quality have obvious links to endurance capacity. In conjunction with the alterations reported in skeletal muscle tissue, muscle blood flow and the relationship between fibre and capillary numbers and their possible influences on substrate availability will also be discussed in relation to muscle endurance capabilities. Finally, the adaptive ability of aged skeletal muscle to improve muscular endurance by different training regimens and through different physiological mechanisms will be investigated.
Placental prostacyclin production in normal and toxemic pregnancies.

Abstract Prostacyclin is a potent vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation. Because toxemia is characterized by increased vasoconstriction frequetly associated with increased platelet aggregation and reduced uteroplacental blood flow, a deficiency in prostacyclin production during pregnancy could contribute to the development of toxemia. Placentally produced prostacyclin could have both local effects on the uteroplacental vasculature and systemic effects because prostacyclin, unlike the other prostaglandins, is not extensively metabolized by the lungs. Fresh human term placentas were obtained immediately after delivery from 12 normal and 12 toxemic (blood pressure ≥14090mm Hg, urinary protein >0.3 gm/24 hours) pregnancies. Tissues (300 mg) were incubated in a sterile manner in 5 ml of Dulbecco's Modifled Eagle's Medium for 48 hours at 37° C with 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide in a metabolic shaker. Samples were collected at 8, 20, 32, and 48 hours and analyzed for prostacyclin by radioimmunoassay of its stable metabolite, 6-keto-prostaglandin F 1α . Prostacyclin production was significantly decreased in toxemic placental tissue compared with normal placental tissue(2.72 ± 0.49 versus 7.22 ± 0.44 pg/mg/hr, mean ± SE, p 0.10) by arachidonic acid (5 or 100 μmol/L). Lowering the oxygen concentration from 95% to 20% significently (p 0.10) by toxemia. The amniotic and chorionic prostacyclin production rates were not different from each other (p > 0.10) and were only one seventh of the normal placental production rate. These data indicate that placental prostacyclin production is decreased in toxemia; therefore, this vasoactive prostaglandin may be involved in the causation and the associated hypertension and coagulation abnormalities of this disorder.
Spousal Support of Older Women with Osteoporotic Pain: Congruity of Perceptions

ABSTRACT Thirty-four couples were interviewed to assess the congruity of husbands' and wives' perceptions of the wives' osteoporotic pain and the exchange of instrumental support within the marital relationship. Moderate correlations were found between the husbands' and wives' ratings of two specific dimensions of the wives' pain experience: interference with daily life and pain severity. Wives who perceived their pain as more severe but as having a lesser impact on their personal lives provided the most frequent help to their husbands. The wives' pain perceptions were not predictive of the amount of assistance they perceived receiving from their spouses. Husbands' perceptions of their wives' pain experience were not predictive of the frequency of instrumental support they either received from or gave to their wives.
Simulating climate over western North America using stochastic weather generators

The climatologies of daily precipitation and of maximum and minimum temperatures over western North America are simulated using stochastic weather generators. Two types of generator, differentiated only by their method of modeling precipitation occurrence, are investigated. A second-order Markov model, in which the probability of the occurrence of precipitation is modeled as contingent upon its occurrence on the previous two days, is compared with a spell-length model, in which mass functions of wet- and dry-spell lengths are modeled. Both models are able to reproduce the observed annual and monthly climatology in the region to a high degree of accuracy. However, there is considerable over-dispersion in annual precipitation, resulting primarily from an underestimation in the interannual variability of precipitation intensity. The interannual variability of temperatures is similarly underestimated, and is most severe for minimum temperatures. There is a severe problem in estimating minimum temperature extremes, which can be attributed to the negatively skewed distribution of daily minimum temperatures. Non-normality in the distribution of daily temperatures is shown to be a problem in simulating extreme temperature maxima as well as of minima. It is suggested that the normal distribution used in the generation of daily temperatures in the widely used Richardson (1981) generator, and its derivations, be supplanted by a more appropriate distribution that permits skewness in either direction.
Polymorphism of the gene encoding the alpha subunit of the stimulatory G-protein of adenylyl cyclase (GNAS1).

A two-allele polymorphism of the human gene encoding for the alpha subunit of the guanine nucleotide-binding protein is described.
Has Fodor Really Changed His Mind on Narrow Content

: In The Elm and the Expert (1994), Fodor rejects the notion of narrow content as superfluous. He envisions a scientific intentional psychology that adverts only to broad content properties in its explanations. I show that there has been no change in Fodor's treatment of Frege cases and cases involving the so-called deferential concepts. And for good reason: his notion of narrow content (1985-91) couldn't explain them. The only apparent change concerns his treatment of Twin Earth cases. However, I argue that the notion of broad content that his purely informational semantics delivers is, in some interesting sense, equivalent to the mapping notion of narrow content he officially gave up. I also critically reconstruct the evolution of Fodor's thinking between 1980 and 1994.
Intertemporal self-selection with multiple buyers

We consider a monopolist selling durable goods to consumers with unit demands but different preferences for quality. The seller can offer items of different quality at the same time to induce buyers to self-select, as in Mussa-Rosen (1978), but is not artificially constrained to offer only one such menu. Instead the seller can offer without precommitment asequence of menus over time. In the two-buyer case where the seller has complete information about each buyer's marginal valuation for quality, the seller's profits exceed what can be obtained from a single menu and sometimes approximate the profits of a perfectly discriminating monopolist. In companion papers (Bagnoli et al., 1990, 1992), we show that these conclusions continue to hold (1) in the infinite-horizon case with any finite number of buyers and (2) in two-period examples where the seller has incomplete information about buyer preferences.
The equilibrium states of a heavy rotating column

Abstract A heavy, rotating vertical column is clamped at one end and free at the other end. The stability boundaries are found by both analytical approximations and numerical integration. The problem depends on two non-dimensional parameters: β representing the importance of gravity to rigidity and a representing the importance of rotation to rigidity. Buckled shapes for the different modes are also obtained.
Enhanced Specific Delivery and Targeting of Oncolytic Sindbis Viral Vectors by Modulating Vascular Leakiness in Tumor

Genetic instability of cancer cells generates resistance after initial responses to chemotherapeutic agents. Several oncolytic viruses have been designed to exploit specific signatures of cancer cells, such as important surface markers or pivotal signaling pathways for selective replication. It is less likely for cancer cells to develop resistance given that mutations in these cancer signatures would negatively impact tumor growth and survival. However, as oncolytic viral vectors are large particles, they suffer from inefficient extravasation from tumor blood vessels. Their ability to reach cancer cells is an important consideration in achieving specific oncolytic targeting and potential vector replication. Our previous studies indicated that the Sindbis viral vectors target tumor cells by the laminin receptor. Here, we present evidence that modulating tumor vascular leakiness, using VEGF and/or metronomic chemotherapy regimens, significantly enhances tumor vascular permeability and directly enhances oncolytic Sindbis vector targeting in tumor models. Because host-derived vascular endothelium cells are genetically stable and less likely to develop resistance to chemotherapeutics, a combined metronomic chemotherapeutics and oncolytic vector regimen should provide a new approach for cancer therapy. This mechanism could explain the synergistic treatment outcomes observed in clinical trials of combined therapies.
Translation among WYSIWYG word processors in Chameleon

There is a need for widespread exchange of electronic documents in domains as diverse as book publishing, automated offices, factories, and research laboratories. The broad variety of data representations, particularly data created by wysiwyg word processors, is an obstacle to this exchange. This paper describes how the Chameleon translation-generation system accommodates this class of electronic documents. A comparison to an existing commercial product, with similar functionality, is also presented.
Purpose, human sociality and nature in akiwowo’s sociology of knowledge: a realist interpretation.

# is paper advances the view that there is an ontological commitment in Akiwowo’s sociology of knowledge which o$ ers an exposition of his thought on purpose, human sociality, nature and society. # e paper defends a realist interpretation of this ontology. It argues that a realist interpretation of Akiwowo’s account of human sociality, nature and society shows two major conclusions. One, social actions in society are human actions. Human actions are not isolated atoms. # erefore social actions are linked by the agency and, subjectivity of the human which is imbued with values and her/his capacity of sociality. Two, a condition for the continuous existence of a society is that such society has goals. # e evidence for this is simple: we see it. # is view of society di$ ers from the traditional view of purposiveness in society. # e paper suggests that these two conclusions show Akiwowo’s theoretical distance from positivism. # is rejection of positivism moves him closer to a natural law position.
Intergenerational resource transfers with random offspring numbers.

A problem common to biology and economics is the transfer of resources from parents to children. We consider the issue under the assumption that the number of offspring is unknown and can be represented as a random variable. There are 3 basic assumptions. The first assumption is that a given body of resources can be divided into consumption (yielding satisfaction) and transfer to children. The second assumption is that the parents' welfare includes a concern for the welfare of their children; this is recursive in the sense that the children's welfares include concern for their children and so forth. However, the welfare of a child from a given consumption is counted somewhat differently (generally less) than that of the parent (the welfare of a child is “discounted”). The third assumption is that resources transferred may grow (or decline). In economic language, investment, including that in education or nutrition, is productive. Under suitable restrictions, precise formulas for the resulting allocation of resources are found, demonstrating that, depending on the shape of the utility curve, uncertainty regarding the number of offspring may or may not favor increased consumption. The results imply that wealth (stock of resources) will ultimately have a log-normal distribution.
Visual attention mitigates information loss in small- and large-scale neural codes

The visual system transforms complex inputs into robust and parsimonious neural codes that efficiently guide behavior. Because neural communication is stochastic, the amount of encoded visual information necessarily decreases with each synapse. This constraint requires that sensory signals are processed in a manner that protects information about relevant stimuli from degradation. Such selective processing--or selective attention--is implemented via several mechanisms, including neural gain and changes in tuning properties. However, examining each of these effects in isolation obscures their joint impact on the fidelity of stimulus feature representations by large-scale population codes. Instead, large-scale activity patterns can be used to reconstruct representations of relevant and irrelevant stimuli, thereby providing a holistic understanding about how neuron-level modulations collectively impact stimulus encoding.
Pediatric Vascular Malformations: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and the Role of Interventional Radiology

The Mulliken and Glowacki classification (1982) differentiated vascular anomalies into two groups based on their endothelial characteristics: hemangiomas and vascular malformations. Vascular anomalies are localized defects of the vasculature that affect a limited number of vessels in a restricted area of the body. These defects are secondary to errors in vascular morphogenesis. Depending on the type of vessel involved, the vascular malformation group was subdivided into high-flow (such as arteriovenous malformation and arteriovenous fistula) and low-flow lesions (such as venous and lymphatic malformations). Depending on the type of lesion, the location and degree of involvement and the clinical effect, different types of treatment would be required. For the purpose of this review, we concentrate solely on vascular malformations: the clinical features, genetics, diagnosis, and current treatment options.
Preliminary Evaluation of a Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis for the Emulation of Transfemoral Prosthesis Socket Loads

Control of prosthetic limbs using myoelectric muscle potentials from the wearer’s residual limb enables direct control of artificial limb behavior. The typical approach entails the integration of surface electromyogram (sEMG) electrodes within the inner wall of the socket interface, located to target specific superficial muscles in the amputee’s residual limb. While myoelectric upper-limb control is commonplace in prosthetic practice, its use in lower-extremity devices has been slow to follow suit. Various research efforts have studied approaches to implementing myoelectric control of artificial leg behavior [1–4], but the need for myoelectric control in lower-limb prostheses has been limited by the lack of commercial prototypes with the capability of net power generation.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Pb isotopic heterogeneity in basaltic phenocrysts

The Pb isotopic compositions of phenocrystic phases in young basaltic lavas have been investigated using the Getty-DePaolo method (Getty S. J. and DePaolo D. J. [1995] Quaternary geochronology by the U-Th-Pb method. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 59, 3267 3272), which allows for the resolution of small isotopic differences. Phenocryst, matrix, and whole rock analyses were made on samples from the 17 Myr-old Imnaha basalts of the Columbia River Group, a zero-age MORB from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and a ca. 260 kyr-old tholeiite from Mount Etna. Plagioclase feldspar phenocrysts have low-(U, Th)/Pb, and in each sample the plagioclase has significantly lower 206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/207Pb values than whole rock, matrix, and magnetite-rich separates. The Pb isotopic contrast between plagioclase and matrix/whole rock is found in three samples with varying grain sizes (0.5 2 cm for the Imnaha basalt and MORB and <1 mm for the Etna sample) from different tectonic settings, suggesting that these results are not unique. The isotopic contrasts are only slightly smaller in magnitude than the variations exhibited by whole rock samples from the region. The Imnaha basalts also have Sr isotopic heterogeneity evident only in plagioclase phenocrysts, but the MORB and Etna lavas do not. The isotopic heterogeneities reflectmore » magma mixing, and indicate that isotopically diverse magmas were mixed together just prior to eruption. The results reinforce indications from melt inclusion studies that magma source region isotopic heterogeneities have large amplitudes at short length scales, and that the isotopic variations imparted to the magmas are not entirely homogenized during segregation and transport processes.« less
The Impact of Star Formation on the Interstellar Medium. I. The Excitation of Diffuse, Warm Ionized Gas in Dwarf Galaxies*

I present measurements of optical emission-line ratios from long-slit spectra of 14 star-forming dwarf galaxies. All members of the sample have a prominent component of diffuse warm ionized gas (DIG). Spectra of the DIG are characterized by high [O I]/Hα intensity ratios in addition to high [O II]/[O III], [S II]/Hα, [N II]/Hα, and low [O III]/Hβ ratios relative to the H II regions. Measurements from ~350 spectra extracted at spatial intervals of ~20-150 pc show that this spectral change is gradual and continuous; hence, the boundary between H II regions and DIG is not well defined spectroscopically. In diagnostic line-ratio diagrams, the spectral transition advances along a narrow track that is distinctly different from the well-established H II region excitation sequence. The line ratios progress toward the region populated by weak-[O I] Low-Ionization Nuclear Emission-Line Regions. I show that this H II-DIG transition sequence is driven primarily by a decrease in the relative density of ionizing photons to atoms, i.e., the ionization parameter. The radial gradient in the ionization parameter is consistent with the dilution of radiation from a centralized source. This result suggests that the dominant excitation mechanism of the DIG is photoionization by massive stars associated with the main star-forming regions. In several of the galaxies, however, an additional excitation mechanism is required to explain the moderately high [O III]/Hβ at very high [S II]/Hα and the sharp increase in [O I]/Hα with only a moderate increase in [O II]/[O III]. I show that these line ratios can be explained by a contribution to the emission from shock-excited gas. The inferred shock speeds are between 60 km s-1 and 100 km s-1; the line ratios in the regions with the lowest surface brightness require the largest relative contribution from shocks, up to 30%-50% of the emission. The prevalence of a secondary emission component from shocked gas is difficult to quantify. Where the metallicity is very low and/or the shock speed is 60 km s-1, the line ratios alone cannot distinguish emission from shocked gas from that from dilute H II regions. Among the galaxies, differences in the DIG line ratios can be largely attributed to the galactic metallicity. At similar metallicity, however, spectral differences are related to the ionization parameter and ionization state of the parent H II regions. This result provides direct evidence that star formation affects the structure of the interstellar medium on a global scale. I find that much of the observed variation in H II region ionization parameters is caused by substantial differences in their filling factors of warm ionized clouds. Based on these results, I suggest that the DIG spectra reflect the porosity of the star-forming regions.
Pore diffusion model for a two‐substrate enzymatic reaction: Application to galactose oxidase immobilized on porous glass particles

An analysis of the pore diffusion model involving a two-substrate enzymatic reaction is presented. The resulting equations have been applied to the case of galactose oxidase catalyzed oxidation of galactose when the enzyme is immobilized on porous glass particles. The physical constants of the system were obtained by theoretical predictions and the enzyme concentration in the porous medium was derived from the experimental results. The calculations were performed with the assumption that the kinetic parameters of the enzyme remain unchanged upon immobilization. The theoretically calculated effectiveness factors were compared with the experimental effectiveness factors determined from the batch kinetic experiments and were found to be in agreement. The results are presented as effectiveness factor plots graphed as functions of bulk galactose and oxygen concentrations. The model was extended in order to study the effect of external mass transfer coefficients and pore enzyme concentrations on the effectiveness factors.
In vivo imaging and treatment of solid tumor using integrated photoacoustic imaging and high intensity focused ultrasound system.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to show the feasibility of combined contrastimaging and treatment of solid tumorin vivo by an integrated photoacoustic imaging and high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system. Methods: During this study, photoacoustic imaging was performed to identify the location of a CT26 tumor, which was subcutaneously inoculated on the hip of a BALB/c mouse. Then the CT26 tumor was ablated by HIFU with the guidance of photoacousticimages. To enhance the contrast and specificity of photoacoustic imaging,goldnanorods were used as the contrast agents during the experiment. After being injected into the blood stream, goldnanorods passively accumulated around the tumor region, and therefore outlined the location and shape of the tumor in the photoacousticimages, which were used to guide the subsequent HIFU therapy. Results: The experiment results showed that the tumor was clearly visible on photoacousticimages after the injection of goldnanorods and HIFU was able to ablate the tumor under the guidance of photoacoustic imaging. Conclusions: The authors demonstrated that their integrated photoacoustic imaging and HIFU system has the potential for contrastimaging with goldnanorods with possible diagnosis and treatment of solid tumors.
Structure and micro-computed tomography-based finite element modeling of Toucan beak

Abstract Bird beaks are one of the most fascinating sandwich composites in nature. Their design is composed of a keratinous integument and a bony foam core. We evaluated the structure and mechanical properties of a Toucan beak to establish structure–property relationships. We revealed the hierarchical structure of the Toucan beak by microscopy techniques. The integument consists of 50 μm polygonal keratin tiles with ∼ 7.5 nm embedded intermediate filaments. The branched intermediate filaments were visualized by TEM tomography techniques. The bony foam core or trabecular bone is a closed-cell foam, which serves as a stiffener for the beak. The tridimensional foam structure was reconstructed by μ -CT scanning to create a model for the finite element analysis (FEA). The mechanical response of the beak foam including trabeculae and cortical shell was measured in tension and compression. We found that Young’s modulus is 3 (S.D. 2.2) GPa for the trabeculae and 0.3 (S.D. 0.2) GPa for the cortical shell. After obtaining the material parameters, the deformation and microscopic failure of foam were calculated by FEA. The calculations agree well with the experimental results.
Rigorous interpretation of electronic wavefunctions. IV. Origins of the unusual stability of the 1,3‐dimethylimidazol‐2‐ylidene carbene

Ab initio electronic structure calculations, carried out in conjunction with rigorous analysis of the resulting wavefunctions, demonstrate that the electronic factors responsible for the unusual stability of the 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene carbene are directly related to the substantial σ-backdonation from the carbenic carbon to the adjacent nitrogen atoms. The π-donation is found to play only a minor role, ruling out the presence of significant stabilization due to ylidic resonance structures. The unusually large proton affinity of the carbene is explained by the extra π-electron stabilization of the corresponding 1,3-dimethylimidazolium cation. The MP2/6-311++G** level of theory is found to be sufficient for accurate predictions of the geometries of the imidazol-2-ylidene carbenes. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Synchrotron radiation in biosciences

Abstract The Center for Synchrotron Biosciences (CSB) operates five beamlines at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS). Infrared (IR) micro-spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, structural proteomics and macromolecular footprinting are among the major technologies available through the Center. IR micro-spectroscopy is used to examine protein-folding in the microsecond time regime, image bone, neurons, seeds and other biological tissues, as well as image samples of interest in the chemical and environmental sciences. Structural proteomics research of New York Structural Genomics Research Consortium (NYSGRC) is steadily increasing the number of solved protein structures, with a goal to solve 100–200 structures per year. To speed up the research, a high-throughput method called ‘metallomics’ was implemented for NYSGRC crystallographers to detect intrinsic anomalous scatterers using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Hydroxyl radical mediated X-ray footprinting is capable of resolving folding events of RNA, at single base resolution on millisecond timescales using a synchrotron white beam. The high brightness of synchrotron source is essential for CSB projects as it permits the use of smaller sample sizes and/or concentration, and allows studies of more complicated biological systems than with conventional sources.
Cocaine Inhibition of Neuronal Differentiation in NGF-Induced PC12 Cells Is Independent of Ras Signaling

Cocaine Inhibition of Neuronal Differentiation in NGF-Induced PC12 Cells Is Independent of Ras Signaling
Supporting the vision for space with discrete event simulation

On January 14, 2004 President George W. Bush announced a new Vision for Space Exploration. This vision called for NASA to complete the assembly of the International Space Station by 2010 and retire the Space Shuttle immediately thereafter. A discrete event simulation (DES) based tool has been built to assess the viability of NASA accomplishing all of the Space Shuttle missions required to assemble the Space Station by the end of the decade. This paper describes this DES tool i.e. the Manifest Assessment Simulation Tool (MAST).
Probes for narcotic receptor mediated phenomena. 46. N-substituted-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydro-1H-1,4a-(epiminoethano)phenanthren-6- and 8-ols - carbocyclic relatives of f-oxide-bridged phenylmorphans.

Abstract Oxide-bridged phenylmorphans were conceptualized as topologically distinct, structurally rigid ligands with 3-dimensional shapes that could not be appreciably modified on interaction with opioid receptors. An enantiomer of the N-phenethyl-substituted ortho-f isomer was found to have high affinity for the μ-receptor (Ki = 7 nM) and was about four times more potent than naloxone as an antagonist. In order to examine the effect of introduction of a small amount of flexibility into these molecules, we have replaced the rigid 5-membered oxide ring with a more flexible 6-membered carbon ring. Synthesis of the new N-phenethyl-substituted tricyclic N-substituted-2,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydro-1H-1,4a-(epiminoethano)phenanthren-6- and 8-ols resulted in a two carbon-bridged relative of the f-isomers, the dihydrofuran ring was replaced by a cyclohexene ring. The carbocyclic compounds had much higher affinity and greater selectivity for the μ-receptor than the f-oxide-bridged phenylmorphans. They were also much more potent μ-antagonists, with activities comparable to naltrexone in the [35S]GTP-γ-S assay.
Sceptical Theism and Divine Lies

In this paper I develop a novel challenge for sceptical theists. I present a line of reasoning that appeals to sceptical theism to support scepticism about divine assertions. I claim that this reasoning is at least as plausible as one popular sceptical theistic strategy for responding to evidential arguments from evil. Thus, I seek to impale sceptical theists on the horns of a dilemma: concede that either (a) sceptical theism implies scepticism about divine assertions, or (b) the sceptical theistic strategy for responding to evidential arguments from evil fails. An implication of (a) is that sceptical theism is at odds with any religious tradition according to which there are certain claims that we can know to be true solely in virtue of the fact that God has told us that they are true. This result will render conceding (a) unattractive to many sceptical theists.
Job strain, work place social support, and cardiovascular disease: a cross-sectional study of a random sample of the Swedish working population.

This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between the psychosocial work environment and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence in a randomly selected, representative sample of 13,779 Swedish male and female workers. It was found that self-reported psychological job demands, work control, and co-worker social support combined greater then multiplicatively in relation to CVD prevalence. An age-adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) of 2.17 (95% CI-1.32, 3.56) was observed among workers with high demands, low control, and low social support compared to a low demand, high control, and high social support reference group. PRs of approximately 2.00 were observed in this group after consecutively controlling for the effects of age together with 11 other potential confounding factors. The magnitude of the age-adjusted PRs was greatest for blue collar males. Due to the cross-sectional nature of the study design, causal inferences cannot be made. The limitations of design and measurement are discussed in th...