cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of TRPML1 channel activity and inflammatory exosome release by endogenously produced reactive oxygen species in mouse podocytes

The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor containing pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in podocytes has been implicated in the initiation of glomerular inflammation during hyperhomocysteinemia (hHcy). However, the mechanism by which NLRP3 inflammasome products are released from podocytes remains unknown. The present study tested whether exosome secretion from podocytes is enhanced by NADPH oxidase-produced reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may serve as a pathogenic mechanism mediating the release of inflammatory cytokines produced by the NLRP3 inflammasome in podocytes after Hcy stimulation. We first demonstrated the remarkable elevation of endogenously produced ROS in podocytes treated with Hcy compared with control podocytes, which was abolished by pre-treatment with the NADPH oxidase inhibitors, gp91 ds-tat peptide and diphenyleneiodonium (DPI). In addition, Hcy induced activation in podocytes of NLRP3 inflammasomes and the formation of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) containing inflammatory cytokines, which were prevented by treatment with gp91 ds-tat or the ROS scavenger, catalase. Given the importance of the transient receptor potential mucolipin 1 (TRPML1) channel in Ca2+-dependent lysosome trafficking and consequent lysosome-MVB interaction, we tested whether lysosomal Ca2+ release through TRPML1 channels is inhibited by endogenously produced ROS in podocytes after Hcy stimulation. By GCaMP3 Ca2+ imaging, we confirmed the inhibition of TRPML1 channel activity by Hcy which was remarkably ameliorated by catalase and gp91 ds-tat peptide. By structured illumination microscopy (SIM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), we found that ML-SA1, a TRPML1 channel agonist, significantly enhanced lysosome-MVB interaction and reduced exosome release in podocytes, which were attenuated by Hcy. Pre-treatment of podocytes with catalase or gp91 ds-tat peptide restored ML-SA1-induced changes in lysosome-MVB interaction and exosome secretion. Moreover, we found that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) mimicked the effect of Hcy on TRPML1 channel activity, lysosome-MVB interaction, and exosome secretion in podocytes. Based on these results, we conclude that endogenously produced ROS importantly contributes to inflammatory exosome secretion from podocytes through inhibition of TRPML1 channel activity, which may contribute to the initiation of glomerular inflammation during hHcy.
How Emotional Intelligence Promotes Leadership and Management Practices

This study sought to determine the relationship between leadership and managerial practices from over 615,395 respondents at 83 U.S. Federal agencies. The theoretical framework was informed by Goleman’s theory, the Bar-On model theory, and identified a research gap that could be addressed through emotional intelligence (EI) by calculating the standard deviation of positive responses between 2015 and 2019. The research established the mean for the respondent’s views on leadership and managerial practices was 51.53. The standard deviation for the respondents was 11.78. Thus, revealing an increase in positive responses among employees and identified that EI improves leadership and managerial practices.
Design and Analysis of Double-Sided Thomson Coil Actuator for Extra Fast Opening Operation

Thomson Coil Actuator (TCA) has gained increased research interests in recent years due to the fast response as well as manageable losses. Therefore, this paper presents the design and analysis results of a single and double fixed coils TCA. The actuator is developed as a part of an extra fast medium voltage hybrid DC Circuit Breaker (CB) for DC modern grids. The design analysis for the single fixed coil TCA highlights the challenges that the actuator may experience with higher excitation voltage. Furthermore, a double-sided TCA version has been designed and compared to the single fixed coil one demonstrating the essential advantages that the double-sided version has. In addition, other design aspects such as mechanical and thermal analysis have been studied and presented in order to guarantee higher reliability of the actuator during its operation. Also, a comparison of the TCA vs. a conventional solenoid-based actuator will be presented.
Community Policing: A Police-Citizen Partnership

1. Police History Relevant to Community Policing 2. Understanding Police Culture 3. Police Discretion, Police Misconduct, and Mechanisms to Control Police Misconduct 4. Crime Prevention and Community Policing 5. Concepts, Strategies, Experiments, and Research Findings That Have Influenced Community Policing 6. Communities, Neighborhoods, and Multiculturalism 7. Problem-Oriented Policing 8. Community-Oriented Policing 9. Organizational Change and Community Policing 10. Planning the Implementation of Community Policing 11. Selected Approaches to Training and Planning 12. Distinctive Community Policing Programs 13. The Future of Community Policing
Room temperature atomic layerlike deposition of ZnS on organic thin films: Role of substrate functional groups and precursors

The room temperature atomic layerlike deposition (ALLD) of ZnS on functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) was investigated, using diethyl zinc (DEZ) and in situ generated H2S as reactants. Depositions on SAMs with three different terminal groups, –CH3, –OH, and –COOH, were studied. It was found that the reaction of DEZ with the SAM terminal group is critical in determining the film growth rate. Little or no deposition is observed on –CH3 terminated SAMs because DEZ does not react with the methyl terminal group. ZnS does deposit on both –OH and –COOH terminated SAMs, but the grow rate on –COOH terminated SAMs is ∼10% lower per cycle than on –OH terminated SAMs. DEZ reacts with the hydroxyl group on –OH terminated SAMs, while on –COOH terminated SAMs it reacts with both the hydroxyl and carbonyl bonds of the terminal groups. The carbonyl reaction is found to lead to the formation of ketones rather than deposition of ZnS, lowering the growth rate on –COOH terminated SAMs. SIMS spectra show that both –OH and –COOH terminated SAMs are covered by the deposited ZnS layer after five ALLD cycles. In contrast to ZnO ALLD where the composition of the film differs for the first few layers on –COOH and –OH terminated SAMs, the deposited film composition is the same for both –COOH and –OH terminated SAMs. The deposited film is found to be Zn-rich, suggesting that the reaction of H2S with the Zn-surface adduct may be incomplete.
Determining the Proper Standard for Invalidating Arbitration Agreements Based on High Prohibitive Costs: A Discussion on the Varying Applications of the Case-by-Case Rule

Compulsory arbitration agreements placing a high risk of prohibitive costs on plaintiffs can make it difficult for plaintiffs to bring their disputes and effectively vindicate their statutory claims. The Supreme Court has indicated that high costs can make an arbitration agreement unenforceable, but the Court has not yet articulated a clear standard on when agreements should be invalidated on that basis. While most courts agree that a case-by-case inquiry is appropriate, the courts are split on whether to apply the case-by-case inquiry to the individual plaintiff’s situation, or to a broader class of prospective plaintiffs. This article argues that the proper case-by-case inquiry is the broader approach, which evaluates the agreement’s impact on a group of prospective plaintiffs because it provides the most protection of the deterrent function of anti-discrimination statutes for the broad group of parties the statutes are designed to protect.
The Role of Product-Specific Factors in Intra-Firm Trade of U.S. Manufacturing Multinational Corporations

This study examines the role of major product-specific factors in the product patterns of intra-firm trade of U.S. manufacturing MNCs. Using pooled time-series (1982–86), cross-sectional (nineteen products) regression analysis, this study finds that the technology intensity of a product has a strong positive effect on the propensity of the product to intra-firm trade. In contrast, the economies of scale level appears to have a constraining effect on the propensity. Finally, the vertical integration intensity and the international production intensity are found to have no significant bearings on the propensity.
Clinical experience of anti-Xa monitoring in critically ill dogs receiving dalteparin

Objectives To describe a population of critically ill dogs receiving dalteparin monitored with an anti‐Xa assay, to assess the potential utility of serial monitoring, and to investigate the association between pre‐treatment thromboelastography (TEG) and the ability to achieve targeted anti‐Xa activity. Design Descriptive retrospective study. Setting Veterinary teaching hospital. Animals Thirty‐eight client‐owned dogs receiving dalteparin and monitored with an anti‐Xa assay. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for signalment, underlying disease, clinicopathological data, occurrence of thromboembolic events, complications, and outcome. Thirty‐eight dogs receiving dalteparin were monitored with an anti‐Xa assay. Diseases included hematological disease, protein‐losing disease, neoplastic disease, and septic processes. Pretreatment hypercoagulability was present in 34/35 dogs by assessment of TEG. Five cases of thromboembolism were confirmed prior to starting treatment and 4 cases occurred during hospitalization. Bleeding complications were rare (3/38) and 29/38 dogs survived to discharge. Interpretation of the anti‐Xa assay allowed for dose adjustment although reliable achievement of target anti‐Xa activity was not demonstrated. Dogs with higher G values on pretreatment TEG were significantly less likely to achieve the target anti‐Xa activity (ie, be above or below the target range). Conclusions Dalteparin was well tolerated in a heterogeneous population of dogs. However, dose adjustment in response to anti‐Xa activity interpretation inconsistently resulted in subsequent attainment of the target anti‐Xa range. Development of guidelines may be warranted to more consistently achieve the target range. Dogs that appear more hypercoagulable on pre‐treatment TEG may require closer monitoring and greater dose adjustment to achieve the target anti‐Xa range.
Construing corporate diversification and the role of information technology for diversified firms in the knowledge economy

Traditional approaches to corporate diversification are inadequate for understanding the role of corporation and strategy in the knowledge economy. This paper discusses (1) the need to construe corporate diversification in terms of knowledge-based relatedness and knowledge management capabilities of firms and (2) the role of IT for diversified firms. Knowledge-based relatedness captures relatedness of the most strategic knowledge resources—product, customer, managerial, and IT knowledge resources—residing across businesses of the firm whereas knowledge management capability captures the ability of the firm to create, transfer, integrate, and leverage knowledge across its businesses. While knowledge-based relatedness provides a potential for performance through knowledge-based synergies, knowledge-management capability converts this potential into actual performance. IT knowledge relatedness is key to both creation and realization of knowledge-based synergies across the diversified firm.
Casinos and Economic Growth

One of the primary reasons for governments legalizing casino gambling is the purported economic benefits from casino development. Among these benefits is economic growth. Over the last half-century, policies that promote economic growth have become an integral part of public sector economic activity. In the United States, state government attempts to attract industry via tax breaks and financial incentives have been the object of considerable research attention. But the apparent inability of either of these sets of policies to sustain successful outcomes over time has led state policy makers to explore alternative avenues. Writing in the 1930s, Joseph Schumpeter noted that one method of spurring economic growth is to provide a new good to the consuming public. Since legalization of a previously illegal activity is tantamount to introducing a “new good” to the public menu of consumption possibilities, there should be no surprise that a growth policy that has seen increasing popularity is legalized gambling.
The electron capture cross section using the r-CTMC method: a review and a suggestion for improvement

In this work we review the classical recipe for estimating partial cross sections for electron capture into selected energy levels within the Classical Trajectory Monte Carlo (CTMC) method [R.L. Becker and A.D. MacKellar, J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Phys. 17 (1984) 3923], and point to a deficiency of the method when applied to the CTMC in its r-version, according to the terminology introduced by Cohen [J.S. Cohen, J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Phys. 18 (1985) 1759]. We suggest, in this case, an alternative recipe based on the generation of stationary classical spatial distributions for electrons in arbitrary levels. The output of the CTMC simulations is projected onto these classical distributions rather than on the quantal ones. A comparison between the two approaches is done.
A tutorial on the emerging nanotechnology devices

This paper provides an overview of the research on nanometer scale electronic switching devices. Such devices are likely to be used for building ultra-density integrated electronic computers of the future. We first describe the problems faced by the downscaling of FET devices and then discuss the emerging alternatives: 1) Carbon Nanotube transistors 2) Quantum effect and single-electron devices and 3) Molecular electronic devices. We discuss the basic operating principle of each type of device. Here mathematical details have been suppressed in favor of simpler understanding. The present state of the art for each new device is given, outlining the open problems for research. Finally, a possible time-line for their large-scale implementation is given.
Unsymmetrically functionalized benzoporphyrins

The synthesis of unsymmetrical push–pull benzoporphyrins has been realized. UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and DFT calculations reveal subtle substituent effects on the electronic and optical properties of these porphyrins.
Delay discounting of hypothetical monetary rewards with decoys.

Abstract The current research attempted to decrease individuals’ rates of delay discounting by introducing decoys that are similar but inferior to delayed rewards. Two experiments in the current study compared patterns of delay discounting generated by repeated choices between two hypothetical monetary rewards in the absence or presence of a decoy. Binary questionnaires (i.e., decoy absent) included questions with two options: a smaller-sooner (SS) reward and a larger-later (LL) reward. Trinary questionnaires (i.e., decoy present) included questions with three options: an SS reward, an LL reward, and a decoy. If an option is at least as rewarding on every dimension of value as an alternative and the option is more rewarding than an alternative on at least one dimension, then the option is considered to dominate the alternative ( Wedell, 1991 ). The first experiment assessed the influence of decoys dominated by LL rewards (LL − decoys), which were constructed to be similar (on the dimension of amount) but inferior (on the dimension of delay) to LL rewards. The second experiment examined the effects of counterbalancing the order of binary and trinary questionnaires. In the first experiment, participants discounted to a lesser degree when LL − decoys were present as compared to when they were absent. In the second experiment, participants only discounted to a lesser degree on trinary questionnaires with LL − decoys when they had not previously completed binary questionnaires. Patterns of discounting generated by binary questionnaires were similar to those generated by trinary questionnaires when decoys are present; however, the degree to which individuals discounted delayed rewards was affected by the number of and type of options that were available. The current results join previous evidence suggesting that rates of delay discounting are sensitive to a variety of contextual influences.
Sleep quality, but not quantity, is associated with self-perceived minor error rates among emergency department nurses

Abstract Introduction The emergency department (ED) is demanding and high risk. The impact of sleep quantity has been hypothesized to impact patient care. This study investigated the hypothesis that fatigue and impaired mentation, due to sleep disturbance and shortened overall sleeping hours, would lead to increased nursing errors. Methods This is a prospective observational study of 30 ED nurses using self-administered survey and sleep architecture measured by wrist actigraphy as predictors of self-reported error rates. An actigraphy device was worn prior to working a 12-hour shift and nurses completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Error rates were reported on a visual analog scale at the end of a 12-hour shift. Results The PSQI responses indicated that 73.3% of subjects had poor sleep quality. Lower sleep quality measured by actigraphy (hours asleep/hours in bed) was associated with higher self-perceived minor errors. Sleep quantity (total hours slept) was not associated with minor, moderate, nor severe errors. Discussion Our study found that ED nurses' sleep quality, immediately prior to a working 12-hour shift, is more predictive of error than sleep quantity. These results present evidence that a “good night's sleep” prior to working a nursing shift in the ED is beneficial for reducing minor errors.
Induction of Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita in Mice by Passive Transfer of Autoantibodies from Patients

Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is an autoimmune sub-epidermal blistering disease characterized by autoantibodies to type VII (anchoring fibril) collagen. To date, however, direct evidence for a pathogenic role of human EBA autoantibodies has not been demonstrated. In this study, we affinity-purified anti-type VII collagen antibodies from EBA patients' sera and then injected them into adult hairless immunocompetent mice. Mice injected with EBA autoantibodies developed skin fragility, blisters, erosions, and nail loss on their paws – all features of EBA patients. By clinical, histological, immunological, and ultrastructural parameters, the induced lesions were reminiscent of human EBA. Histology showed bullous lesions with an epidermal–dermal separation. IgG and C3 deposits were observed at the epidermal–dermal junction. All mice had serum antibodies that labeled the dermal side of salt-split human skin like EBA sera. Direct immunogold electron microscopy specifically localized deposits of human IgG to anchoring fibrils. (Fab′) 2 fragments generated from EBA autoantibodies did not induce disease. We conclude that EBA human patient autoantibodies cause sub-epidermal blisters and induce EBA skin lesions in mice. These passive transfer studies demonstrate that human EBA autoantibodies are pathogenic. This novel EBA mouse model can be used to further investigate EBA autoimmunity and to develop possible therapies.
Cleavage of membrane-associated ICAM-1 from astrocytes : Involvement of a metalloprotease

Disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with immune-mediated pathogenesis is frequently associated with enhanced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on resident glial cells, including astrocytes. Recently, a soluble form of ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) has been demonstrated within the CNS and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), arising from an intrathecal source. In this study, we investigated the ability of TNF-alpha treated astrocytes to generate sICAM-1 from a population of membrane-associated ICAM-1. To determine the ability of ICAM-1 to be released from the cell surface, generating sICAM-1, cell cultures were treated with TNF-alpha for 21 h prior to cell surface protein iodination or biotinylation. We show that the membrane-associated form of ICAM-1 (approximately 90 KD) is converted to a soluble form (approximately 83 KD) in cell culture supernatants. The half-life of TNF-alpha induced membrane-associated ICAM-1 on rat astrocytes is approximately 5 h. The proteolytic cleavage process for the conversion of membrane-associated ICAM-1 to sICAM-1 was sensitive to Batimastat (BB94) and phosphoramidon, two inhibitors of metalloproteases, whereas inhibitors of serine-, cysteine-, aspartic-, and chymotrypsin-like proteases had no effect on this process. These results indicate that astrocytes can be induced to produce sICAM-1, and this process involves a metalloprotease that is induced/activated in a TNF-alpha-dependent fashion. It is proposed that astrocytes may be a source of intrathecal sICAM-1 under inflammatory conditions.
Automatic estimation of the first three subglottal resonances from adults' speech signals with application to speaker height estimation

Recent research has demonstrated the usefulness of subglottal resonances (SGRs) in speaker normalization. However, existing algorithms for estimating SGRs from speech signals have limited applicability-they are effective with isolated vowels only. This paper proposes a novel algorithm for estimating the first three SGRs (Sg1,Sg2 and Sg3) from continuous adults' speech. While Sg1 and Sg2 are estimated based on the phonological distinction they provide between vowel categories, Sg3 is estimated based on its correlation with Sg2. The RMS estimation errors (approximately 30, 60 and 100Hz for Sg1,Sg2 and Sg3, respectively) are not only comparable to the standard deviations in the measurements, but also are independent of vowel content and language (English and Spanish). Since SGRs correlate with speaker height while remaining roughly constant for a given speaker (unlike vocal tract parameters), the proposed algorithm is applied to the task of height estimation using speech signals. The proposed height estimation method matches state-of-the-art algorithms in performance (mean absolute error=5.3cm), but uses much less training data and a much smaller feature set. Our results, with additional analysis of physiological data, suggest the existence of a limit to the accuracy of speech-based height estimation.
MO‐E‐204C‐09: Quantitation of Nanoparticle Concentrations in Microscopic Bound States

Purpose: To measure the distribution of nanoparticles into microscopic bound states. Antibody targeting has had varying success primarily due to competing mechanisms of uptake, including nonspecific binding and phagocytic activity, and the inability of nanoparticles to penetrate the vascular barrier. Methods of estimating the number of nanoparticles in each bound state will allow us to understand the mechanisms that deprive nanoparticles of their ability to bind targeted antigens and allow us to design methods to enhancing the antigen binding. Method and Materials: When a pure sinusoidal magnetic field is applied to magnetic nanoparticles, the signal at the harmonics of the applied field can be detected at very low concentrations of nanoparticles because there are no other sources of signal and the bandwidth of the measurement can be very narrow. Identical iron oxide nanoparticles (25nm) were a) in aqueous solution and b) bound to two‐micron polystyrene beads. The phase and amplitude of the third and fifth harmonics were measured using applied fields with different frequencies and amplitudes. The signals from the two pure solutions were fit the signals from known combinations of the two solutions using a linear mixture model. Results: The harmonics as a function of frequency and amplitude of the applied field from the two samples were linearly independent. The condition number was 31.8 when the amplitude was varied from 10mT to 24mT and 14.8 when frequency was changed over the range 300Hz to 2700Hz. For two frequencies, 570, 2100 Hz, the average measured error from a linear least squares fit of the data for three mixtures was 4.7% and the maximum was 28%. Conclusion: MSB can be used to monitor the concentrations of nanoparticles in at least two bound states remotely with reasonable accuracy. The system is nonlinear so a nonlinear model would reduce the errors significantly.
Phytosynthesis of sedoheptulose-C14.

Abstract The biosynthesis of sedoheptulose in the Sedum plant was studied in order to develop procedures for synthesizing C14-labeled sedoheptulose in optimal yield. The rate of formation of C14-labeled sedoheptulose as well as its relationship to that of the other C14-labeled compounds, especially sucrose, glucose, and fructose, was studied. The rate of accumulation of free sedoheptulose in Sedum spectabile varied considerably with the age of the plants, the conditions under which the plants were kept before the experiments (atmospheric conditions, light and dark treatments), and the medium (water or nutrient solution) in which the plants were kept during the photosynthesis. Very small amounts of C14-labeled sedoheptulose formed during the first 24 hr. of photosynthesis in C14O2 in both mature and young leaves. Free sedoheptulose accumulates and is depleted much more slowly than are sucrose, glucose, and fructose. Starved plants deprived of their reservoir of free hexoses by respiration still contained remarkably large amounts of free sedoheptulose. In C14O2 they were always found to accumulate very little free radioactive sedoheptulose until the reservoirs of hexoses were restored. It is concluded that the unique sedoheptulose accumulation in Sedum is largely due to the relative inactivity of the required kinase.
High-energy x-ray imaging spectrometer (HEXIS)

HEXIS is a MIDEX-class mission concept for x-ray astronomy. Its objectives are to improve our knowledge of the high energy x-ray sky by increasing the number of sources above 20 keV to > 2,000, discovering transient sources such as x-ray novae and gamma-ray bursts, and making spectral and temporal studies of the sources. With mission life > 3 years, a 1-year all-sky survey sensitivity of approximately 0.3 mCrab, and continuous monitoring of the entire visible sky, HEXIS will provide unprecedented capabilities. Source positions will be determined to accuracies of a few arcmin or better. Spectra will be determined with an energy resolution of a few keV and source variability will be studied on time scales from < 1 sec to years. In addition, 10 times more sensitive studies of limited fields will be performed at the same time. Gamma-ray bursts will be detected about 4 times/week at about the same sensitivity as BATSE and the sensitivity to nova-like x-ray transients will be approximately 6 mCrab in one day. HEXIS contains a set of coded mask imagers that use position-sensitive CZT detectors operating from approximately 5 keV to 200 keV. Detector planes are built with 41 cm2 CZT detector modules which employ crossed-strip readout to obtain a pixel size of 0.5 mm. Nine modules are grouped in a 369 cm2 array for each imager. In the past 2 years significant progress has been made on techniques requires for HEXIS: position-sensitive CZT detectors and ASIC readout, coded mask imaging, and background properties at balloon altitudes. Scientific and technical details of HEXIS are presented together with result form tests of detectors and a coded mask imager.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Automated Accident Detection System

The development of a system for automatically detecting and reporting traffic accidents at intersections was considered. A system with these properties would be beneficial in determining the cause of accidents and could also be useful in determining the features of the intersection that have an impact on safety. A complete system would automatically detect and record traffic conditions associated with accidents such as time of the accident, video of the accident, and the traffic light signal controller parameters. The basic research required to develop the system is considered. This involves developing methods for processing acoustic signals and recognizing accident events from the background traffic events. A database of vehicle crash sounds, car braking sounds, construction sounds, and traffic sounds was created. The mel-frequency cepstral coefficients were computed as a feature vector for input to the classification system. A neural network was used to classify these features into categories of crash a...
Hybrid SWCNT - NiO Composites for Supercapacitor Applications

Supercapacitor devices promise to be an effective means of storing energy, and delivering power for personal electronics, remote sensors, and transportation.1, 2 Rare earth metals, such as ruthenium, have been used and report high value of capacitance, specific power, and energy.4 Nevertheless, the rarity of such metals prevent their practical use. In this study we utilize an earth-abundant nickel and a controlled microwave synthesis to create nickel oxide (NiO) with an optimal nanostructure for capacitance. To surpass the lofty series resistance associated with metal oxides such as NiO, we exploit the conductive properties of single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes and NiO can benefit from the presence of each other by preventing unnecessary aggregation.
Load balancing for heterogeneous clusters of PCs

Abstract With commercial supercomputers and homogeneous clusters of PCs, static load balancing is accomplished by assigning equal tasks to each processor. With heterogeneous clusters, the system designers have the option of quickly adding newer hardware that is more powerful than the existing hardware. When this is done, the assignment of equal tasks to each processor results in suboptimal performance. This research addresses techniques by which the size of the task assigned to a processor is a suitable match. Thus, the more powerful processors do more work and the less powerful processors perform less work. We find that when the range of processing power is narrow, some benefit can be achieved with asymmetric load balancing. When the range of processing power is broad, dramatic improvements in performance are realized — our experiments have shown up to 92% improvement when asymmetrically load balancing a modified version of the computationally intensive NAS Parallel Benchmarks’ LU application on a heterogeneous cluster of Linux-powered PCs.
Selective inactivation of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and the basolateral amygdala attenuates conditioned-cued reinstatement of extinguished cocaine-seeking behavior in rats.

Environmental stimuli previously paired with cocaine can induce craving in humans and reinstate extinguished cocaine-seeking behavior in laboratory animals. Previous evidence has implicated the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) as possible substrates for conditioned-cued relapse. In order to test directly the role of the PFC in a model of relapse, the present study examined the effects of reversible inactivation of three medial PFC areas, the anterior cingulate (ACing), the prelimbic cortex (PL), and the infralimbic cortex (IL), on the expression of conditioned-cued reinstatement of extinguished cocaine-seeking behavior. We also tested the involvement of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the parietal cortex immediately dorsal to the BLA, sensory cortex area 1 – barrel field (S1BF). During daily 3-h sessions, rats pressed a lever for IV cocaine infusions that were paired with a light-tone (LT) presentation. Following extinction of lever pressing in the absence of the LT, reinstatement of extinguished lever pressing was measured during response-contingent presentations of the LT in the absence of cocaine. For localized reversible inactivation, tetrodotoxin (TTX) (5 ng/0.5 µl/side) or vehicle was bilaterally infused just prior to reinstatement testing. TTX inactivation of the BLA, ACing, or PL impaired the ability of LT presentations to reinstate extinguished lever pressing for cocaine-paired stimuli. In contrast, inactivation of the IL or the S1BF had no effect on conditioned-cued reinstatement. Furthermore, there was no effect of TTX in any of the tested brain regions on general locomotor activity. These results support a role for the dorsomedial PFC and the BLA in the circuitry that mediates drug-seeking behavior elicited by cocaine-associated stimuli. Placed within the context of recent studies using drug-primed and stress-induced reinstatement models, we suggest that the dorsomedial PFC may serve as a common link in the neural circuitry underlying reinstatement of drug-seeking behavior.
MEDICAL LIMITATIONS TO WILDERNESS TRAVEL

Physicians are frequently asked to give medical "permission" or "clearance" for a patient who wishes to undertake a trip or pursue a new physical activity. The patient may be seeking pretrip advice or may need a medical evaluation/release form completed. Some physicians are consultants to organizations or travel as a trip doctor for wilderness outing groups and may play a role in screening participants. In any of these capacities, the physician should carefully consider potential health problems associated with the planned activities. Risks and reasonably anticipated problems must be communicated to achieve full disclosure and an informed patient. In short, the problem is to match the prospective participant with the proposed activity to minimize the risk of failure caused by medical problems. This article considers medical conditions that are exacerbated by or limit tolerance to specific environmental risks. The goal is to evaluate physiologic demands on the patient and the patient's ability to meet those demands. The focus is on "wilderness" ventures, but this could include a car or bus tour of national parks with optional day hikes or a remote mountain climbing expedition. Generally, wilderness activities imply some exposure to environmental stresses, a degree of physical exertion, and remote location—or at least delayed access to health care. In addition to providing health advice to a patient before foreign travel, the first step in a pretrip evaluation is to know the itinerary and the planned activities so that the specific environmental risks are known. Mountain trekkers in an underdeveloped country in Asia or South America may encounter conditions from tropical to alpine with exposure to heat, cold, strenuous exertion at altitude, and infectious illnesses like diarrhea and malaria. A diving trip to the tropics must consider barotrauma in addition to heat and infectious diseases. There are risks and contraindications for each of these exposures. Levels of restriction may be absolute, relative, or temporary. Restrictions for physical activities depend primarily on the general fitness of the participant and in only a few instances on specific health problems and musculoskeletal conditions. The health history of the participant, in addition to active medical problems, should include: •Prior medical problems that could recur: e.g., ulcer disease, inflammatory bowel disease, spontaneous pneumothorax, high altitude pulmonary edema, frostbite, mental or emotional problems •Prior habits like smoking or drug use •Medications that can effect exercise tolerance, thermal regulation, acclimatization to altitude or judgment (beta blockers, anticholinergics, tranquilizers, sleeping pills) •Degree of physical fitness (type, duration, and intensity of regular physical activity), any physical limitations, and history of undertaking similar activities in the past
EStimating mahalanobis's distance using bayesian analysis

In this paper we are concerned with the problem of estimating Mahalanobis's distance between two or more populations using Bayesian approach. We first consider the case of two independent univariate normal populations having a common variance. We derive the posterior distribution of the
Theoretical temperature and grain-size dependence of domain state in X = 0.6 titanomagnetite

Domain state calculations have been made for x = 0.6 titanomagnetite (TM60) as a function of grain size (a), temperature (T), stress (σ), and exchange constant (A), based on the equilibrium domain models of Amar and Kittel. Grains were assumed to be rectangular parallelepipeds, containing a simple array of uniformly spaced domains separated by planar, 180° Bloch walls, in zero magnetic field. To investigate the effects of residual stress upon domain number N, the domain wall energy was given in terms of either magnetocrystalline or uniaxial stress anisotropy. The effects of temperature upon N were modeled through the thermal variation of the material constants of TM60 which described magnetostatic (saturation magnetization) and domain wall (magnetocrystalline, magnetostriction, and exchange) energies. Calculations confirmed that both the Amar and Kittel models yielded very similar results at room temperature, regardless of whether stress or magnetocrystalline anisotropy was dominant. Rapid divergence between the two models occurred only close to the Curie temperature. Thus, significant discrepancies which have been noted between the predicted number of domains and the observed number of domains are not due to a lack of refinement in previous models, but must reflect uncertainties of a more fundamental nature. Systematic failure of particles to achieve absolute energy minimum states may not be sufficient by itself to explain this discrepancy. Higher levels of residual stress or lower values of the exchange constant, or both, may be necessary in order to reconcile theory with observation. The thermal models predicted that N will either increase or decrease, with heating, according to whether the wall energy falls more or less rapidly than the magnetostatic energy with temperature. Furthermore, the thermal dependence of N should be accounted for in models of thermoremanent magnetization. A simple model for calculating domain blocking temperatures (Tdb) was developed and predicted that (1) particles governed by magnetocrystalline anisotropy had Tdb values which were truncated well below the Curie temperature, while those particles governed by stress anisotropy had much higher Tdb values and (2) in all cases, very large multidomain grains had distributed Tdb values, while particles in the two- and three-domain range, had higher and more discrete Tdb values. Domain calculations also confirmed that TM60 particles should exhibit less thermal sensitivity in their domain structure when controlled by stress anisotropy than when controlled by magnetocrystalline anisotropy. This may help to explain recent domain observations on natural TM60, which suggested that few domain state changes occurred with heating. The model results also predicted that the exchange constant in TM60 should vary with temperature approximately as Ms1−3.
Is the "seat belt sign" associated with serious abdominal injuries in pediatric trauma?

BACKGROUND: The "seat belt sign" (SBS) has been reported to be highly associated with intra-abdominal injury. This study defines its predictive value in identifying injuries in a large pediatric trauma population. METHODS: At a level I pediatric trauma center, we performed a retrospective review of trauma flow sheets for all motor vehicle crash victims (ages, 0-20) requiring trauma team activation during 2005 and 2006. All patients with an abdominal SBS recorded were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Of 331 patients (mean age, 9.96 years), an SBS was present in 54 (16%) of these children. Abdominal injury was identified by computed tomography scan or intraoperatively in 12 (22%) of these children. Three (6%) children with SBS required operative intervention. Two had a bowel injuries and one had a negative laparoscopy. SBS and abdominal tenderness were reported in 30 (56%) patients; 8 (15%) of whom sustained abdominal injury. Of the 277 (84%) children without SBS, 36 (13%) had abdominal injuries. Four (11%) of these had a positive laparotomy with three having a bowel injuries. The relative risk of an abdominal injury given an SBS was 1.7 (CI 0.96-2.69; p = 0.078). Four (1.4%) children without SBS died of head injuries compared with zero with SBS. The SBS had a sensitivity of 25% and a specificity of 85%. CONCLUSIONS: The SBS was not significantly associated with abdominal injury in our population. Patients without SBS had a higher Injury Severity Score and accounted for all of the deaths. SBS may not be as predictive of abdominal injury as previously reported. Language: en
Satisfaction with organizational vision, job satisfaction and service efforts: an empirical investigation

Organizational vision is a generally accepted necessity for organizational success in the 1990s. Specifically, stakeholder attitude toward the vision is believed to improve performance and enhance efforts toward increased quality. To date, little empirical research has proven that attitude toward the organizational vision yields any measurable organizational outcomes. The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine if stakeholder satisfaction with organizational vision was associated with overall job satisfaction and perceived effort. A sample of 709 cruise line managers responded to the 31‐item questionnaire and a service effort scale developed for this study. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to define the constructs and establish the measurement properties of the structural equation model tested. Results indicated that satisfaction with vision accounted for 33 per cent and 21 per cent of the variance in job satisfaction and service efforts respectively. Conceptual and theoretical implications of the results are discussed.
Analysis of perfluorinated carboxylic acids in soils II: optimization of chromatography and extraction.

Abstract With the objective of detecting and quantitating low concentrations of perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in soils, we compared the analytical suitability of liquid chromatography columns containing three different stationary phases, two different liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) systems, and eight combinations of sample-extract pretreatments, extractions and cleanups on three test soils. For the columns and systems we tested, we achieved the greatest analytical sensitivity for PFCAs using a column with a C18 stationary phase in a Waters LC/MS/MS. In this system we achieved an instrument detection limit for PFOA of 270 ag/μL, equating to about 14 fg of PFOA on-column. While an elementary acetonitrile/water extraction of soils recovers PFCAs effectively, natural soil organic matter also dissolved in the extracts commonly imparts significant noise that appears as broad, multi-nodal, asymmetric peaks that coelute with several PFCAs. The intensity and elution profile of this noise is highly variable among soils and it challenges detection of low concentrations of PFCAs by decreasing the signal-to-noise contrast. In an effort to decrease this background noise, we investigated several methods of pretreatment, extraction and cleanup, in a variety of combinations, that used alkaline and unbuffered water, acetonitrile, tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate, methyl-tert-butyl ether, dispersed activated carbon and solid-phase extraction. For the combined objectives of complete recovery and minimization of background noise, we have chosen: (1) alkaline pretreatment; (2) extraction with acetonitrile/water; (3) evaporation to dryness; (4) reconstitution with tetrabutylammonium–hydrogen–sulfate ion-pairing solution; (5) ion-pair extraction to methyl-tert-butyl ether; (6) evaporation to dryness; (7) reconstitution with 60/40 acetonitrile/water (v/v); and (8) analysis by LC/MS/MS. Using this method, we detected in all three of our test soils, endogenous concentrations of all of our PFCA analytes, C6 through C10—the lowest concentrations being roughly 30 pg/g of dry soil for perfluorinated hexanoic and decanoic acids in an agricultural soil.
CTCF Tethers an Insulator to Subnuclear Sites, Suggesting Shared Insulator Mechanisms across Species

Insulators can block an enhancer of one gene from activating a promoter on another nearby gene. Almost all described vertebrate insulators require binding of the regulatory protein CTCF for their activity. We show that CTCF copurifies with the nucleolar protein nucleophosmin and both are present at insulator sites in vivo. Furthermore, exogenous insulator sequences are tethered to the nucleolus in a CTCF-dependent manner. These interactions, quite different from those of the gypsy insulator element in Drosophila, may generate similar loop structures, suggesting a common theme and model for enhancer-blocking insulator action.
The effect of intertrial interval on avoidance learning in fish

The effect of intertrial interval on the acquisition of a shuttlebox avoidance response in fish, X iphophorus he fieri, was studied over five days of 20 trials each with intertrial intervals of .5, 1,2,5, 10, and 20 minutes. The results sup­ ported the hypothesis that learning is facilitated by longer intertrial intervals, but the a-shaped function generally ob­ tained with rats was not evident within the limits of the time intervals employed in this experiment. Several theoretical interpretations of avoidance learning suggest that the instrumental avoidance re­ sponse is reinforced by the reduction of conditioned fear, which is assumed to occur during the time interval between the response and the onset of the CS on the following trial. The length of this intertrial interval (ITI) should, therefore, have a direct relation­ ship to the speed of acquisition of the avoidance re­ sponse. Data available on the effect of ITI on acquisition of an avoidance response vary with the type of response required. Murphy & Miller (1956), Levine & England (1960), and Brush (1962) have all reported better per­ formance by rats at longer ITIs in the shutUebox. The ITIs varied from 20 sec. in the Levine and England study to 20 min. in the Brush experiment. Pearl (1963), as well as Pearl & Fitzgerald (1966), have shown, on the other hand, that the learning of a discriminated lever press avoidance response by rats is facilitated by shorter ITIs. The purpose of the present experiment was two-fold: first, to study the effect of ITI on the acquisition of a shuttlebox avoidance response in fish, and, second, to compare the effect of the ITI on fish with the data available on the rat. Subjects The Ss for this study were 79 experimentally naive Mexican Swordtails, Xiphophorus hellai. They were obtained locally and housed for several weeks prior to the experiment in 20 gallon community tanks. Apparatus The aquatic shuttlebox used in this study was built from an 18 in. Betta splendens display tank enclosed in a plywood housing. The tank was divided into two compartments of equal size by a gray Plexiglas door­ way. The CS was the onset of a 25 w light at the end of the compartment occupied by S at the beginning of each trial. The US was an electric shock delivered through a pair of electrodes set in the ends of the tank. The shock was developed from a 110 v ac source, passed through a variable resistor, and pulsed by a
Production of G and C Banding with Progressive Trypsin Treatment

Extract: Human metaphase cells were treated sequentially with trypsin. Photographs of the cells stained before and during this treatment showed first Giemsa (G) banding then a gradual decrease in prominence of G bands and the appearance of C bands. These results were confirmed using computer-generated density curves. Speculation: These results are more consistent with loss or change in configuration of chromosomal protein being the primary mechanism by which G and C bands are produced than denaturation-renaturation. Unless trypsin banding is carefully controlled a combination of G and C banding will be produced.