cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface Passivation for Molecular Motor Protein Assays

In kinesin motiliy assays, it has been shown that the surfaces with which kinesin interacts must be passivated in order to prevent kinesin from denaturing on them. The most popular surface blocker is the casein family of milk proteins. Casein is usually purified to various degrees from bovine milk and has many unknowns associated with it when reconstituted and used in motor protein assays. In order to obtain a clearer picture of how kinesin and microtubules interact, a cleaner surface passivation needs to be found. The interaction of kinesin with microtubules has been studied extensively, however, there are fewer studies that investigate how the interaction of kinesin and microtubules changes due to surface passivation. One recent study has shown that the differing components of casein (termed alpha, beta, and kappa) can significantly affect microtubules in gliding motility assays [1]. Gliding motility assays are assays where a glass cover slip is passivated and kinesin is prevented from interacting directly with the substrate. Microtubules are then propelled by the motor activity of a bed of immobilized kinesin molecules. Lipid molecules are fatty acids that can be purified to a much greater extent than casein can. Also, lipid molecules exhibit the same amphiphilic behavior as casein, they adhere to glass easily, and can be easily functionalized. Lipids are thus an attractive alternative to casein proteins for surface passivation. We report preliminary results on the surface passivation performance of lipid molecules and other materials in gliding motility assays. [1] Vivek Verma, William O Hancock, Jeffrey M Catchmark, “The role of casein in supporting the operation of surface bound kinesin,” J. Biol. Eng. 2008; 2: 14. PMID: 18937863
A Critical Evaluation of the Present Status of Toxicity of Aminoxyl Radicals

Abstract The literature on the toxicity of aminoxyl radicals was critically reviewed. It was concluded that, in general, the aminoxyl radicals possess a very low toxicity and are not mutagenic. In support of this contention, several aminoxyl radicals were evaluated in vitro. Thus, aminoxyl radicals 3‐carboxy‐2, 2, 5, 5‐tetramethylpyrroline‐1‐oxyl ( 1 ), 3‐carboxy‐2, 2, 5, 5‐tetramethylpyrrolidine‐1‐oxyl (PCA; 2 ), 4‐hydroxy‐2, 2, 6, 6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl (Tempol; 3 ), and N ‐(1‐hydroxymethyl‐2, 3‐dihydroxypropyl)‐3‐carboxyamino‐2, 2, 5, 5‐tetramethylpyrrolidine‐1‐oxyl (NAT; 4 ) were evaluated using Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA 102 and TA 104, with a supplement of xanthine oxidase enzyme. 1, 2 , and 4 were found to be nonmutagenic, while 3 elicited in TA 104 only about a twofold increase in the number of revertants above the control. This response is considered to be, at best, marginal in view of wide fluctuations of experimental scores. The results of the present study are in agreement with those of other studies confirming the nonmutagenicity of aminoxyl radicals investigated to date. However, these conclusions are different from those of a study where 3 was tested in the presence of a generated toxic oxygen species that can cause mutagenic changes of the environment.
The generality of within-session patterns of responding: Rate of reinforcement and session length

Rats and pigeons responded for food delivered according to multiple schedules. The session length varied from 10 to 120 min, and the programmed rate of reinforcement varied from 15 to 240 reinforcers per hour. Response rates usually changed systematically within experimental sessions. For both rats and pigeons, responding reached a peak after an approximately constant amount of time since the beginning of the session, regardless of session length. When rats, but not pigeons, served as subjects, the peak rates of responding occurred later in the session and the within-session changes were smaller for lower than for higher rates of reinforcement. The similarities between the results for rats and for pigeons when session length varied suggest that at least one of the factors that produces the within-session changes in responding is shared by the present species, responses, and reinforcers. The differences in results when rate of reinforcement varied are more difficult to interpret.
Integrated Knowledge Management

In this paper the author presents the inception of Integrated Knowledge Management (IKM). Knowledge management is entering its new stage, after the delays of its â€œdefinitionlessâ€ , IT-based period, when knowledge got confused with information, losing thus two decades of fruitful development. Although there now is a significant information overload, killing productivity, creativity and innovation, there can never be any knowledge overload. Knowledge is fundamentally different from information. The integration of data, information, knowledge and wisdom into a coherent and unified management support is necessary for effective transformational IKM support systems. The author draws the necessary distinction between information and knowledge and show that although it is difficult to measure the value of information, the value of knowledge can be measured simply and effectively: by the metric of added value. Several quantitative examples of knowledge measurement are also given. Once people learn how to measure knowledge, the value of the inputs of data and information can be derived. The space is thus opened for integrated knowledge management. Integrating data mining, information processing, knowledge management and wisdom attainment into a unified support system is a prerequisite for effective management in the post-crisis era of socio-economic transformation.
Characterization of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) K1 promoter activation by Rta

The K1 gene of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) encodes a 46-kDa transmembrane glycoprotein that possesses transforming properties, initiates signaling pathways in B cells, and prevents apoptosis. Here, we demonstrate a mechanism for activation of the K1 promoter by the Rta transactivator. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) analysis of the K1 promoter demonstrated that purified Rta protein bound to the K1 promoter at three locations, independent of other DNA-binding factors. Transcriptional assays revealed that only two of these Rta DNA-binding sites are functionally significant, and that they could impart Rta responsiveness to a heterologous E4 TATA box promoter. In addition, TATA-binding protein (TBP) bound to a TATA box element located 25 bp upstream of the K1 transcription start site and was also shown to associate with Rta by coimmunoprecipitation analysis. Rta transactivation may therefore be mediated in part through recruitment of TBP to target promoters.
Silicate and nitrate uptake in the Monterey Bay upwelling system

Abstract Rates of silicate (Si(OH)4) and nitrate (NO3) uptake by natural phytoplankton assemblages were measured simultaneously in an upwelling center in Monterey Bay, California, using the tracers 68GeGe(OH)4 and 15NNO3. The high precision of the 68GeGe(OH)4 method and low non-biological adsorption of 68GeGe(OH)4 showed the method to be useful for field studies. The 68GeGe(OH)4 results for Si(OH)4 compared well with published results using 30SiSi(OH)4 obtained for the Peru upwelling center providing a basis for confidence in the method as a way to estimate Si(OH)4 uptake. Data from four cruises, each of 1-week duration, collected in 1992 and 1993, are reported. Spatial patterns of uptake were found to be essentially identical for both nutrients with maxima close to the coast during weak upwelling and displaced off the coast during strong upwelling conditions. Nutrient addition experiments showed Si(OH)4 concentration effects over a large range and much above the accepted values for the half saturation constant for Si(OH)4 uptake. The results of this study indicate control of new production by Si(OH)4 in the Monterey Bay upwelling ecosystem.
Use of situational cues by preschool children

Pictures often are used in language intervention programs to elicit selected linguistic constructions or to teach concepts to children below the age of 5 years. However,, preschool children frequently are egocentric in their perceptions and in their language, and are unable to view a situation from a perspective other than their own. This study presented children who were in Piaget's preoperational period of development with pictures accompanied by a one-word descriptive phrase and asked the children to explain what was meant by the utterance. It was found that the younger child generally was more egocentric in his interpretations, and his responses reflected less attention to the situational cues present in the picture. The results are discussed in light of common clinical practices of using pictorial stimuli for children with language problems.
Viewing the sunrise: iPac 2.0 accessibility

iPac 2.0, the Web‐based online catalog of epixtech, inc., was scheduled to go into general release for Dynix and Horizon Sunrise customers in the fourth quarter 2001. Previous epixtech Web‐based online catalogs (Java‐ and HTML‐based) presented difficulties for accessibility. This article evaluates the third in a series of iPac products, 2.0, using the following accessibility tools: Bobby, JAWS for Windows, Vischeck Color Blindness Simulator, W3C Validator, and ZoomText. This article attempts to evaluate the accessibility of iPac 2.0 against these five tools, tools that are more traditionally used with standard HTML Web pages than Web‐based online catalogs.
Pharmacotherapeutic profile of venlafaxine

When selecting an antidepressant, a number of factors must be considered. These considerations are summarized under the mnemonic STEPS: Safety, Tolerability, Efficacy, Payment (eg, cost-effectiveness), and Simplicity of use. Venlafaxine is the first of a new class of antidepressants that selectively blocks the serotonin and noradrenaline uptake pumps without blocking muscarinic, histaminergic and adrenergic receptors or inhibiting sodium fast channels. Because venlafaxine avoids these mechanisms of action, it has a wide therapeutic index, an improved tolerability profile and a reduced risk of causing pharmacodynamically mediated drug-drug interactions when compared to tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). In contrast to some other new antidepressants, venlafaxine also avoids effects on cytochrome P450 which are likely to cause clinically meaningful, pharmacokinetically mediated drug-drug interactions. The effects on the uptake pumps of both serotonin and noradrenaline appear to be responsible for some of venlafaxine's unique features in terms of antidepressant efficacy, including its ascending antidepressant dose-response curve and its apparent rapid onset of antidepressant action at the upper end of its clinically relevant dosing range. Venlafaxine is effective in a broad spectrum of patients, including outpatients and inpatients, those with and without melancholia, patients with symptoms of anxiety or agitation or retardation and patients with first time or recurrent episodes of major depression. An important factor when selecting an antidepressant is the simplicity of the dosing regimen and the ability to rapidly and confidently achieve the optimal dose for the patient. In this regard, venlafaxine can be initiated at a clinically effective dose from the beginning. If the patient fails to respond to this dose, there is evidence that increased antidepressant efficacy can be achieved by increasing the dose rather than having to resort to an augmentation strategy or switch to another class of antidepressants. In the immediate release form, venlafaxine has proven antidepressant efficacy when using a twice-or three-times-a-day schedule. A sustained release formulation is expected to be marketed soon and will permit once-a-day-dosing.
Hypocretin/Orexin regulation of dopamine signaling and cocaine self-administration is mediated predominantly by hypocretin receptor 1.

Extensive evidence suggests that the hypocretins/orexins influence cocaine reinforcement and dopamine signaling via actions at hypocretin receptor 1. By comparison, the involvement of hypocretin receptor 2 in reward and reinforcement processes has received relatively little attention. Thus, although there is some evidence that hypocretin receptor 2 regulates intake of some drugs of abuse, it is currently unclear to what extent hypocretin receptor 2 participates in the regulation of dopamine signaling or cocaine self-administration, particularly under high effort conditions. To address this, we examined the effects of hypocretin receptor 1, and/or hypocretin receptor 2 blockade on dopamine signaling and cocaine reinforcement. We used in vivo fast scan cyclic voltammetry to test the effects of hypocretin antagonists on dopamine signaling in the nucleus accumbens core and a progressive ratio schedule to examine the effects of these antagonists on cocaine self-administration. Results demonstrate that blockade...
Genetic determinants of UGT1A1 inducibility

Background UGT1A1 is induced by phenobarbital (PB). This study investigates whether the TATA box indel and two SNPs in the PBREM region are associated with the variability in the inductive phenotype. Methods Human hepatocytes (n=36) were incubated with 2 mM PB (48 h) followed by 5 μM SN-38 (1 h), a UGT1A1 probe. SN-38 glucuronide (SN-38G) in the cell media was measured by HPLC. Three UGT1A1 variants (−53(TA)6>7, −3156G>A and −3279T>G) were genotyped. Samples were considered to be induced if the SN-38G levels in PB-treated cells increased by at least 25% when compared to untreated cells, and P<0.05 (unpaired t-test). Results Significant UGT1A1 induction was observed in 81% of the cultures (fold-induction=1.7±0.4, mean±SD). The SN-38G concentrations in the basal and induced states were highly correlated (r=0.94, P 0.05). The basal and induced activities were correlated with −53(TA)6>7 (and with −3156G>A due to almost complete linkage with the −53 indel) (P G SNP (P>0.05). The fold-induction was not associated with any variants (P>0.05). Conclusions The indel at −53 affects the basal phenotype and seems to limit the hepatocyte capability of maximal induction after PB. However, variants at −53, −3156 and −3279 are not associated with variability in UGT1A1 inducibility. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 77, P25–P25; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2004.11.096
The Far Infrared Spectrum of Water Vapor

The rotation spectrum of water vapor has been measured with high dispersion from 18\ensuremath{\mu} to 75\ensuremath{\mu}. The spectrometer employed echelette gratings and higher spectral orders were successfully removed through the use of filters and selective reflection. The positions of single lines were determined with an accuracy of about 0.05 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ throughout the entire region while neighboring lines as close together as 0.5 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ could be separated and measured. The analysis of the spectrum was accomplished in the following manner. From the values of the moments of inertia found by Mecke the energy levels were calculated from the asymmetric rotator equations. However, these computed levels are often far from the actual energy levels due to the presence of a large correction arising out of the centrifugal force stretching of the molecule. An estimate of this correction, which amounted in some cases to over 200 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, was made, thus furnishing energy levels with which to begin the analysis. The intensities of the rotation lines were calculated by using as an approximation the symmetric rotator amplitudes. By comparing the expected spectrum with the observed spectrum it was then possible to identify the lines and through them to determine the actual energy levels of the water vapor molecule. Combination relations as well as the formation of analytic series from analogous lines, served as important checks on the identifications. Through these methods the rotational energy levels of the water molecule have been found up to and including the group of $J=11$ with an accuracy around 0.1 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The highest level determined, possesses an energy of over 3200 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, while all the rotational levels with energies less than 2000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ have been obtained. Finally all the allowed transitions together with their intensities are calculated and these are plotted directly above the observed spectrum. The agreement is remarkably good. All the essential features of the spectrum and indeed most of the finer details are correctly reproduced.
The effects of constituent trust and representative bargaining visibility on intergroup bargaining

Abstract In this study of the intergroup bargaining process, the effects of a constituent's trust in his representative and the visibility of the representative's bargaining upon: ( a ) the representative's bargaining behavior, ( b ) the opposing representative's (outsider's) bargaining behavior, and ( c ) the number of agreements reached by the representative and outsider were investigated. Subjects formed two-man labor and management teams and bargained over four separate wages. In the negotiations, two subjects serving as their respective team's representative bargained face to face with each other; each representative's constituent directed his bargaining. Initial constituent distrust (vs trust) fostered competitive representative and outsider bargaining and fewer agreements. Bargaining visibility engendered similar though weaker results. In addition, as the negotiations proceeded, the initial constituent distrust of his representative diminished as the representative's competitiveness increased. The above findings suggest a modification of current intergroup bargaining models.
Trap-related parametric shifts under DC bias and switched operation life stress in power AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

This paper reports on trap-related shifts of the transfer curve and threshold voltage of power AlGaN/GaN HEMTs under switched bias operating life and reverse and forward DC bias stress. Opposite polarity threshold voltage shifts at room temperature under operating life and reverse bias stress conditions can be explained by means of drain current transient measurements under reverse bias stress conditions. A proposed model to explain the trapping/de-trapping behavior under different stress conditions is described and highlights the critical role of the electric field. Experimental evidence of the importance of the role of the electric field is seen in reduced parametric shift by improving the field plate design.
Hippocampal astrocytes exhibit Ca2+-elevating muscarinic cholinergic and histaminergic receptors in situ.

Recent findings suggest that astrocytes respond to neuronally released neurotransmitters with Ca 2+ elevations. These Ca 2+ elevations may trigger astrocytes to release glutamate, affecting neuronal activity. Neuronal activity is also affected by modulatory neurotransmitters that stimulate G protein-coupled receptors. These neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine and histamine, might affect neuronal activity by triggering Ca 2+ -dependent release of neurotransmitters from astrocytes. However, there is no physiological evidence for histaminergic or cholinergic receptors on astrocytes in situ. We asked whether astrocytes have these receptors by imaging Ca 2+ -sensitive dyes sequestered by astrocytes in hippocampal slices. Our results show that immunocytochemically identified astrocytes respond to carbachol and histamine with increases in intracellular free Ca 2+ concentration. The H1 histamine receptor antagonist chlorpheniramine inhibited responses to histamine. Similarly, atropine and the M1-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist pirenzepine inhibited carbachol-elicited responses. Astrocyte responses to histamine and carbachol were compared with responses elicited by «,-adrenergic and metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists. Individual astrocytes responded to different subsets of receptor agonists. Ca 2+ oscillations were the prevalent response pattern only with metabotropic glutamate receptor stimulation. Finally, functional α 1 -adrenergic receptors and muscarinic receptors were not detected before postnatal day 8. Our data show that astrocytes have acetylcholine and histamine receptors coupled to Ca 2+ . Given that Ca 2+ elevations in astrocytes trigger neurotransmitter release, it is possible that these astrocyte receptors modulate neuronal activity.
Engine load torque estimation using nonlinear observers

An important element in developing dynamic internal combustion diagnostic algorithms utilizing crankshaft speed measurements is to have a relatively accurate estimate of the load torque imposed on the engine. Without this estimate crankshaft effects from the load torque can be incorrectly attributed to cylinder pressure variations, and costly false detections can result. Cylinder pressure estimates improve considerably in accuracy when load torque estimation errors are reduced. This paper describes the formulation of nonlinear engine load torque observers that can be used in conjunction with engine diagnostic algorithms. Simulations of these observers with and without integrators are presented to show the tracking ability during typical vehicle upshifts. Sensor noise, modeling errors, and sensor discretization effects are included in the simulations to show the robustness of these algorithms.
Capacity analysis of mimo ad hoc network with stream number selection

We study the problem of stream number selection in an ad hoc multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) network, where there are a number of co-existent MIMO transmitter-receiver pairs. We assume that there is no channel state information (CSI) at the transmitters, and the receivers use single-user detection. It is shown that the link capacities at high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is mainly limited by the number of degrees of freedom available at the receiver side. In general the number of streams per transmitter should not be more than Ntau/L when the interference level is high, where Ntau is the number of receive antennas and L is the number of simultaneous links. When the interference level is low, the number of streams should be set equal to the number of transmit antennas.
Depositional History of the Middle Proterozoic Castner Marble and Basal Mundy Breccia, Franklin Mountains, West Texas

ABSTRACT The ca. 1260 Ma Castner Marble is composed of six metamorphosed lithologies: stromatolitic limestone, cryptalgalaminite, massive limestone, hornfels (mudstone and tuff), rhythmite, and flat-pebble conglomerate. On the basis of the associations of these lithologies, the Castner Marble can be divided into three distinct intervals: a lower section containing stromatolitic and cryptalgalaminite units, a middle section with thick hornfels and massive limestone beds, and an upper section of rhythmites (interlaminated to thinly interbedded carbonate and hornfels) with interbedded flat-pebble conglomerate. The Castner succession was deposited during a transgressive event on a low-energy carbonate ramp. The contact between the Castner Marble and the overlying basaltic Mundy Breccia marks a catastrophic event or series of events, in which rhythmite units were disrupted and/or displaced along arcuate detachment surfaces and redeposited as lenses of rhythmite megabreccia unconformably overlying intact rhythmite sequences. These megabreccia lenses consist of large, locally deformed rhythmite blocks in a matrix of muddy flat-pebble conglomerate. One megabreccia lens contains intervals bearing irregular-shaped basalt clasts possible hyaloclastite layers, and pod-like basalt intrusions. This polymictic lens may have been produced by submarine syn-eruptive mixing of basalt and sediment. Local basalt intrusions may be part of the feeder system for this material and also the overlying basaltic Mundy Breccia. The Mundy Breccia covered the irregular topography created by the megabreccia lenses, locally loading and deforming the megabreccia into flame-like structures. The polymictic (carbonate and basalt) nature of one lens and presence of load features suggests that little time elapsed between deposition of the Castner Marble and the Mundy Breccia, and therefore that the Mundy Breccia was most likely deposited in a submarine setting.
Neurotoxicity with Antimicrobials in the Elderly: A Review

Abstract Purpose Mild adverse drug reactions typically associated with antimicrobials are familiar to most clinicians. However, rare phenomena, such as neurotoxicity, are often unpredictable and potentially unexpected. The toxic effects of antimicrobials on the central nervous system are often underreported and the mechanism(s) may be mixed or obscure. Geriatric patients are at increased risk for adverse drug reactions given physiologic alterations affecting pharmacokinetic processes. A dearth of information exists regarding neurotoxic presentations precipitated by antimicrobial use in the geriatric population. The purpose of this review is to present the available literature on neurotoxic effects of antimicrobials in geriatric patients, with an emphasis on manifestations of psychosis or delirium, or both. Methods A comprehensive literature search of the PubMed, Medline via Ovid, and Embase databases was conducted from 1966 to 2014. It included systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, observational studies, case series, and case reports that involved neurologic effects, specifically delirium and psychosis associated with antimicrobial use. Findings Various antimicrobial classes are implicated with neurotoxicity. The classes with the most reported cases include fluoroquinolones, macrolides, sulfonamides, nitrofurans, and β-lactams. A higher risk of developing various symptoms of neurotoxicity was found in the elderly with use of piperacillin and tazobactam, cephalosporins, carbapenems, aminoglycosides, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, nitrofurantoin, linezolid, and possibly the fluoroquinolones. Potential mechanisms of neurotoxicity differ between the agents. The etiology of neurotoxicity with some agents is not fully elucidated. Incidence may increase with reported risk factors, renal dysfunction, or drug interactions. Implications Awareness of antimicrobials causing or contributing to neurotoxic events may enhance clinical decisions in diagnosis and management when such incidents occur.
Distal learning applied to biped robots

In order for biped robots to handle a variety of tasks, the robot must be able to traverse different terrains. Different terrains require different walking gaits, and if all these gaits must be programmed by human operators then this programming can be a very large and time consuming process. If, however, the robot has the capability to automatically generate different gaits when placed on unfamiliar terrain, then the need to program many different gaits is eliminated. This paper looks at a method to generate gaits based on distal supervised learning. This method incorporates a forward model of the robot dynamics and uses it to convert stability information into information on how to adjust the robot's joints so as to regain stability. The method is tested with a simulation of the SD-2 biped robot. >
Self-similarity in a human balancing task

High speed motion analysis techniques in 3-D are used to demonstrate that the magnitude of the corrective forces made by a finger of a trained individual during stick balancing are self-similar and in particular are described by a truncated Levy flight (TLF). The presence of scaling in a balancing task requires that current theories of motor control be re-evaluated.
Genetic characterization of pcpS, encoding the multifunctional phosphopantetheinyl transferase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Fatty acid synthases (primary metabolism), non-ribosomal peptide synthases and polyketide synthases (secondary metabolism) contain phosphopantetheinyl (Ppant)-dependent carrier proteins that must be made functionally active by transfer of the 4′-Ppant moiety from coenzyme A. These reactions are usually catalysed by dedicated Ppant transferases. Although rich in Ppant-dependent carrier proteins, it was previously shown that Pseudomonas aeruginosa possesses only one Ppant transferase, encoded by pcpS, which functions in both primary and secondary metabolism. Consistent with this notion are our findings that pcpS can genetically complement mutations in the Escherichia coli acpS and entD genes, encoding the apo-acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase of fatty acid synthesis and a Ppant transferase of enterobactin synthesis, respectively. It also complements a Bacillus subtilis sfp mutation affecting a gene encoding a Ppant transferase essential for surfactin synthesis. A pcpS insertion mutant could only be constructed in a strain carrying the E. coli acpS gene on a chromosomally integrated element in trans, implying that the in vitro essentiality of pcpS is due to its requirement for activation of apo-ACP of fatty acid synthesis. The conditional pcpS mutant is non-fluorescent, does not produce pyoverdine and pyochelin, and does not grow in the presence of iron chelators. The data presented here for the first time confirm that PcpS plays an essential role in both fatty acid and siderophore metabolism.
Paraspinal muscle spindle responses to the duration of a spinal manipulation under force control.

Objective More than 90% of chiropractic patients receive high-velocity, low-amplitude spinal manipulation (HVLA-SM) as part of their chiropractic care. The purpose of the current study was determine how the duration of a lumbar HVLA-SM given under force control affects the discharge of paraspinal muscle spindle afferents. Methods Experiments were performed on deeply anesthetized adult cats treated in accordance with the Guiding Principles in the Care and Use of Animals approved by the American Physiological Society. Muscle spindle afferents were identified in the dorsal roots. Neural activity was recorded from individual spindles located in the low back predominately from multifidus and longissimus muscles. Spinal manipulative loads were applied to the L6 vertebra. Force-time profiles were half-sine waves with impulse durations of 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 milliseconds, delivered at constant magnitudes of 33%, 66%, or 100% body weight. The relationships between spinal manipulation duration and muscle spindle responses were determined using a randomized block design. Results Mean instantaneous discharge frequency increased with decreasing impulse duration. There appeared to be a threshold effect for impulse duration below which the increase in muscle spindle discharge changed greatly with decreasing impulse duration and above which the discharge did not substantially change with decreasing impulse duration. This threshold was in the vicinity of the duration of an HVLA-SM applied clinically (≤200 milliseconds). After the manipulation, muscle spindle afferents often became silent, but manipulation duration had little effect on this duration and also had little effect on the time it took for the afferents to recover their initial resting discharge. Conclusions The findings suggest that one biomechanical characteristic of an HVLA-SM is its capacity to load paraspinal muscle spindles at a rate where their velocity sensitivity predominates over their length sensitivity.
Open collaborative grid service architecture (OCGSA)

In this paper we introduce a new architecture, called Open Collaborative Grid Services Architecture (OCGSA); that serves as the building block for designing collaborative services within Grids. The framework is based on the Open Grid Services Architecture (OGSA) that combines aspects of Grids with Web services. Using OGSA enables users to access advanced Grid features such as lifetime management, notification, and security that are otherwise not available in Web services. Our framework provides high-level Grid services that can be integrated within future collaborative applications, hence making them automatically Grid aware. Besides the definition of such useful advanced collaborative services, we use this architecture to validate the approach taken in OGSA and verify whether necessary collaborative services can be implemented with the help of OGSA. Use of these services will also enable the creation of peer-to-peer collaboative infrastructures.
Cross-layer resilience using wearout aware design flow

As process technology shrinks devices, circuits experience accelerated wearout. Monitoring wearout will be critical for improving the efficiency of error detection and correction. The most effective wearout monitoring approach relies on continuously checking only the most critical circuit paths to detect timing degradation. However, circuits optimized for power and area efficiency have a steep critical path wall in some designs. Furthermore, wearout depends on dynamic conditions, such as processor's operating environment, and application-specific path utilization profile. The dynamic nature of wearout coupled with steep critical path walls may result in excessive number of paths that need to be monitored. In this paper we propose a novel cross-layer circuit design flow that uses path timing information and runtime path utilization data to significantly enhance monitoring efficiency. The proposed methodology uses application-specific path utilization profile to select only a few paths to be monitored for wearout. We propose and evaluate four novel algorithms for selecting paths to be monitored. These four approaches allow designers to select the best group of paths under varying power, area and monitoring budget constraints.
Influence of developmental stage, salts and food presence on various end points using Caenorhabditis Elegans for aquatic toxicity testing

This study used a randomized block design to investigate the importance of several variables in using the free-living soil nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, for aquatic toxicity testing. Concentration-response data were obtained on nematodes of various developmental stages exposed to four metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, and Hg) and a water-soluble organic toxicant, sodium pentachlorophenate (PCP), under conditions of varied solvent medium (with or without salts and with or without a bacterial food source). The end points measured were 24- and 96-h mortality LC50 value, as well as development of larval stages to adulthood and evidence of reproduction. The results suggest that nematodes of various ages respond similarity to a given toxicant for all end points measured, although adults cultured from eggs appeared more sensitive than adults cultured from dauer larvae. The most important environmental variable in determining toxicity was the medium in which the tests were conducted. The presence of potassium and sodium salts in the medium significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the toxicity of many test samples. The presence of bacteria had little effect on 24-h tests with salts, but was important in 96-h survival and development. Based on sensitivity and ease of handling, adults cultured from eggs are recommended inmore » both 24h and 96-h tests.« less
Combined Thermal–Surgical Ablation of Locally Advanced Abdominopelvic Malignancies

Treatment options for patients with inoperable primary or recurrent/metastatic abdominopelvic malignancies are limited, and these patients have short lifespan. The purpose of our study is to examine outcomes of combined open radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and surgical debulking of otherwise unresectable tumors. Consecutive 50 patients were identified from an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved database undergoing ablation for unresectable abdominopelvic malignancies via conventional surgical methods in a single institution between 07/2003 and 09/2009. Patients were selected for debulking if they had a dominant mass that caused significant symptoms. Sixteen patients had primary tumors, and 34 presented with a recurrent/metastatic malignancy. The primary tumors were abdominopelvic sarcomas (eight patients), large desmoids (two), colorectal cancer (CRC) (two), and gastric cancer, mucinous cystic pancreatic neoplasm, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), and carcinoid (one each). The recurrent/metastatic tumors were CRCs (16 patients), abdominopelvic sarcomas (12), and GIST, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, melanoma, adrenal cancer, and pseudomyxoma peritonei recurrences (1 each). Twenty-two patients were alive and 28 died as of September 2009. Median survival for patients who died was 9.5 months and for patients who were alive was 22 months. Patients with primary tumors had 5-year survival of 18% compared with no survivors at 5 years in the recurrent/metastatic group (P = 0.002). Thermosurgical ablation of otherwise unresectable primary tumors and recurrent/metastatic abdominopelvic malignancies is feasible in selected cases. Patients with ablated primary tumors have a survival advantage over patients who have ablation for recurrent/metastatic disease.
Calibration strategy for the Earth Observing System (EOS)-AM1 platform

The Earth Observing System (EOS) is an international, 18-year program in global remote sensing of the Earth comprising multiple instruments flown on several satellite platforms. The first EOS platform, AM1, scheduled for launch in 1998, includes five instruments designed to make radiometric and reflectance measurements of the Earth over a wavelength range extending from the visible to the thermal infrared. The goal of the EOS-AM1 platform and instruments is to advance the scientific understanding of the Earth in the areas of clouds, aerosols, radiative balance, terrestrial and oceanic characterization, and the carbon cycle. In order to achieve this goal, the EOS-AM1 instruments must produce state-of-the-art accurate, precise, and consistent radiance and reflectance measurements over their five-year lifetimes. In addition, the production of continuous remote-sensing data from multiple instruments on several platforms requires that the remote-sensing measurements of the AM1 platform be radiometrically tied to the measurements made by instruments on successive platforms. This is achieved through careful prelaunch and postlaunch instrument calibration, cross-calibration, and level 1B data validation (i.e. vicarious calibration). This paper presents an overview of the calibration, cross-calibration, and level 1B data validation strategy for the AM1 platform.
Adolescents’ and adults’ perceptions of ‘natural’, ‘organic’ and ‘additive-free’ cigarettes, and the required disclaimers

Objectives We sought to investigate adolescents’ and adults’ perceptions of an American Spirit advertisement with ‘natural’, ‘organic’ and ‘additive-free’ descriptors and related disclaimers. Methods We conducted nine focus group discussions in the Southern USA, with 59 participants aged 13–64 years (30 male, 29 female), stratified by age, smoking status and susceptibility to smoking. We conducted thematic content analysis of the transcripts. Results Many participants were sceptical or confused about the ‘natural’, ‘organic’ and ‘additive-free’ descriptors. Many participants viewed American Spirit cigarettes as being less, or possibly less harmful than other cigarettes, even though the ad contained disclaimers explicitly stating that these cigarettes are not safer. Some participants said that people tend to ignore disclaimers, a few expressed doubt that the disclaimers were fully true, and others did not notice the disclaimers. A few smokers said they smoke American Spirit cigarettes because they think they are not as bad for them as other cigarettes. Conclusions Disclaimers intended to prevent consumers from attributing a health benefit to cigarettes labelled as ‘natural’, ‘additive-free’, or ‘organic’ may be insufficient. A ban on these descriptors may be a more appropriate remedy than disclaimers.
The Social Bond and Place: A Study of How the Bureau of Land Management Contributes to Civil Society

Civil society is a widely discussed concept, often proposed as a means to address problems associated with a weakening of the social fabric. Nearly all civil society literature works from the notion that creating more dynamic discourse around any given issue will help build agreement about the key values and in so doing, the robust social bond necessary to resolve that issue will emerge. Research from other fields indicates that a strong social bond is a prerequisite to the possibility of social discourse, rather than emerging from discourse. The research described in this article will explore one factor that contributes to the construction of the social bond and subsequent emergence of civil society, place, and examines how one public agency does or does not utilize that factor in collaborative governance efforts.
Three-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling of coastal flood mitigation by wetlands

Abstract The mitigation of storm tides by coastal wetlands is investigated by enhancing a well-established three-dimensional hydrodynamic model to include vegetation effects on mean flow and turbulence quantities. The influence of vegetation upon the mean flow characteristics is modeled through the stem-induced form drag and inertia force incorporated into the momentum equations. Vegetative source and sink terms are added to the transport equations of the Mellor–Yamada turbulence closure model in order to properly simulate the vertical mixing process that takes place within vegetated water columns. The model adopts two well-established empirical formulas to determine the vegetation drag coefficient. Although these formulas have been established under laboratory conditions that differ from those tested in the present study, quantitative and qualitative comparisons reveal the satisfactory performance of the enhanced model to simulate complex flow–vegetation interactions. Model validation against laboratory experiments show that the vegetation-induced drag force added to the momentum equations is the main contributor to the flow-vegetation interactions. The original model that lumps the resistance due to vegetation with the bottom roughness coefficient produces locally incorrect vertical distributions of mean flow velocity and turbulence quantities. The enhanced model is applied to simulate the impacts of intertidal salt marshes of Jamaica Bay, NY, on the storm tide produced by Hurricane Irene. The model results indicate that the salt marshes played only a minimal role in mitigating the peak water elevations induced by Irene. On the other hand, the presence of the marshes causes higher velocities in non-vegetated areas such as deep channels, and lower velocities in vegetated areas, and thus redistributes energy around the bay, with likely feedbacks on water quality, marsh stability, and the response to sea level rise.
Potentiel de la thérapie cellulaire dans les anévrysmes intracrâniens

Le developpement d’une lesion anevrysmale est le resultat d’une agression proteolytique de la paroi arterielle associee a la formation d’un thrombus luminal, a une perte des cellules musculaires lisses de la media et a la degradation de la matrice extracellulaire. Les therapeutiques actuelles visent a exclure l’anevrysme de la circulation de facon mecanique, mais de nouvelles approches doivent etre considerees pour obtenir la cicatrisation definitive de l’anevrysme notamment par therapie cellulaire en promouvant l’endothelialisation du collet anevrysmal. La therapie cellulaire est egalement experimentee pour l’amelioration du traitement endovasculaire des anevrysmes, visant a augmenter l’efficacite des traitements actuels. La therapie cellulaire est en effet evaluee pour diminuer le risque de recanalisation apres un traitement par coils (en favorisant la proliferation cellulaire au collet de l’anevrysme) et favoriser l’endothelialisation des stents flow diverters. Nous aborderons les avancees dans le domaine de la therapie cellulaire pour le traitement des anevrysmes intracrâniens et les differentes options envisageables pour ce traitement. Differents types cellulaires peuvent etre utilises (fibroblastes, cellules musculaires lisses, cellules endotheliales, cellules souches mesenchymateuses d’origine adipeuse ou medullaire). Aussi, differentes voies d’administration sont actuellement etudiees (therapie cellulaire seule par injection intra-anevrysmale ou therapie cellulaire mediee par des coils coates). La therapie cellulaire est une voie prometteuse pour le traitement des anevrysmes intracrâniens. De nombreuses avancees sont en cours et le transfert de cette technologie a l’Homme est probablement pour bientot !
Prompt radiation-induced conductivity in polyurethane foam and glass microballoons

We performed measurements and analyses of the prompt radiation-induced conductivity (RIC) in thin samples of polyurethane foam and glass microballoon foam at the Little Mountain Medusa LINAC facility in Ogden, UT. The RIC coefficient was non-linear with dose rate for polyurethane foam; however, typical values at 1E11 rad(si)/s dose rate was measured as 0.8E-11 mho/m/rad/s for 5 lb./cu ft. foam and 0.3E-11 mho/m/rad/s for 10 lb./cu ft. density polyurethane foam. For encapsulated glass microballoons (GMB) the RIC coefficient was approximately 1E-15 mho/m/rad/s and was not a strong function of dose rate.
The La Follette Committee: Labor and Civil Liberties in the New Deal

OR a century and a half federal power was the bete noire of American libertarians. After James Madison and the First Congress wrote the fears of their age into the Bill of Rights generations of Americans learned to measure liberty by governmental noninterference. In the twentieth century, when an organized civil liberties movement made its initial appearance on the American scene, it did so in opposition to federal legislation. The National Civil Liberties Bureau, predecessor of the American Civil Liberties Union, was the impassioned response of conscientious objectors and pacifists to the Espionage and Selective Service acts of 1917.1 Federal suppression of aliens and radicals during the first three decades of this century substantiated the assertions of those who attributed to centralized authority the most serious challenge to freedom.2 When the wartime and immediate postwar threats to civil liberties subsided, the ACLU recharted its course and launched a "dramatic campaign of service to labor." Throughout the twenties it resolutely defended the rights of labor, organized and unorganized; several Union officials considered an attack on capitalism the corollary of protecting civil liberty.3 The Depression, understandably, predisposed them toward a reform administration. Before long, however, the New Deal reawakened their fear of a leviathan state which would manipulate the national emergency to justify repression. For men like Roger Baldwin and Arthur Garfield Hays the memory of the Espionage and Sedition acts and the Palmer raids was