cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cyclic nucleotide signaling in vascular and cavernous smooth muscle: aging-related changes

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the cyclic nucleotide signaling in vascular and cavernous smooth muscle. Altered control of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) relaxation and/or growth is implicated in many vascular diseases. The cAMP- and cGMP mediated VSM relaxation and growth inhibition in normal and diseased states. The major steps of the signaling cascades, beginning with the signaling molecules and their receptors, converging onto the cyclases and cyclic nucleotide dependent kinases, branching into kinase-anchoring proteins and alternative effectors, and finished with cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases are described. In each step, the discussion is started with data concerning the normal mechanisms, progressing into disease- and aging-related areas, and finished with data related to erectile function and dysfunction. The multiple isoforms and variants exist within each protein or peptide family and relatively few of them are investigated in the vascular smooth muscle or in an aging-related setting. The heterogeneity of the various vascular beds deems generalization of any given findings inappropriate. The complexity of the cyclic nucleotide signaling molecules and their effectors provide an opportunity to develop new molecules with better efficacy and fewer side effects for the treatment of these diseases.
In-Game Advertising Effects

ABSTRACTThis quasi-experimental survey involves 100 participants aged 18-24 years, conducted to measure effects of advertising schema congruity in a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) and other aspects of gameplay experience. Results from a posttest questionnaire suggest that though moderately incongruent advertising in an MMORPG can trigger high awareness rates, extremely incongruent in-game advertising can reduce a game’s perceived sense of realism and annoy players if not coordinated appropriately with the game environment. Whereas previous research suggests players usually accept in-game advertising when relevant, this study shows that the opposite occurs when advertisers fail to contextualize ads within the game world.
Modulation of Schistosoma mansoni egg-induced granuloma formation: II. Soluble suppressor activity from lymphoid cells during chronic infection

Abstract Chronic schistosomiasis mansoni is associated with a modulation of schistosome egg-associated cell-mediated granuloma formation. In this study the injection of a cell-free sonicate from either spleen or thymus cells from chronic Schistosoma mansoni -infected mice (> 15 weeks) passively modulated granuloma size in acutely infected (6–8 weeks) syngeneic mice. Cell-free sonicates from age-matched uninfected mice did not suppress granuloma formation. The chronic extracts also suppressed the soluble schistosome egg antigenic preparation-elicited delayed skin test reactivity in 7–8 week infected animals, but failed to suppress the unrelated antigen-elicited reactivity to bovine serum albumin (BSA) of BSA-sensitized animals.
Differential effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3 on hindlimb function in paraplegic rats

We compared the effect of viral administration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) on locomotor recovery in adult rats with complete thoracic (T10) spinal cord transection injuries, in order to determine the effect of chronic neurotrophin expression on spinal plasticity. At the time of injury, BDNF, NT-3 or green fluorescent protein (GFP) (control) was delivered to the lesion via adeno-associated virus (AAV) constructs. AAV–BDNF was significantly more effective than AAV–NT-3 in eliciting locomotion. In fact, AAV–BDNF-treated rats displayed plantar, weight-supported hindlimb stepping on a stationary platform, that is, without the assistance of a moving treadmill and without step training. Rats receiving AAV–NT-3 or AAV–GFP were incapable of hindlimb stepping during this task, despite provision of balance support. AAV–NT-3 treatment did promote the recovery of treadmill-assisted stepping, but this required continuous perineal stimulation. In addition, AAV–BDNF-treated rats were sensitized to noxious heat, whereas AAV–NT-3-treated and AAV–GFP-treated rats were not. Notably, AAV–BDNF-treated rats also developed hindlimb spasticity, detracting from its potential clinical applicability via the current viral delivery method. Intracellular recording from triceps surae motoneurons revealed that AAV–BDNF significantly reduced motoneuron rheobase, suggesting that AAV–BDNF promoted the recovery of over-ground stepping by enhancing neuronal excitability. Elevated nuclear c-Fos expression in interneurons located in the L2 intermediate zone after AAV–BDNF treatment indicated increased activation of interneurons in the vicinity of the locomotor central pattern generator. AAV–NT-3 treatment reduced motoneuron excitability, with little change in c-Fos expression. These results support the potential for BDNF delivery at the lesion site to reorganize locomotor circuits.
A Comprehensive Examination of IFRS 1: An Exploratory Study of Canadian Early Adopters

In the context of the Canadian transition to IFRS, this study provides evidence that the decomposition of equity permits a more comprehensive examination of the financial reporting impact of the GAAP-to-GAAP standard differences, the extent to which IFRS is being implemented, and equity reclassifications which potentially transfer unrealized capital to earned capital. The evidence provided in this study suggests that IFRS adoption is not a monolithic research question. It is an endeavor which requires a thorough examination of its parts before addressing the objectives of the GAAP changeover as a whole. In the five regression models which tested firm attributes as a function of the components of equity, four of the models demonstrated predictive power. Employing a repeated-measures general linear model to compare model results of the dependent variables: the adjustment to retained earnings as reported and the adjustment to RE without the reclassification effect, the study provides evidence that suggests that the equity reclassification effect is significant in explaining the financial effects of the IFRS implementation.
Aging and Cancerigenesis. IV. Interrelationships Among Age, Immune Response, and Tumor Incidence in Several Strains of Mice

Immune reactivity of mice with various incidences of spontaneous tumors was measured at different points in their lifespan. Cytotoxic activity of immune sera from 3- and 12-month-old mice was high or moderately high in AKR/J, SJL/J, and A/HeJ mice in which high incidences of spontaneous tumors occur by the 12th month, and in SWR/J and C3HeB/-FeJ mice in which high incidences of spontaneous tumors reportedly occur after 18 months of age. A decrease in primary antibody response accompanied old age in 4 of the 6 strains tested (including randombred Swiss ICR/Ha), but not in AKR/J or A/HeJ mice. These facts, together with previous tests of cellular response in these mice, imply that under these experimental conditions little correspondence exists between humoral and cellular response. Further, host immunity may be only secondarily implicated in neoplastic formation.
Benefiting from Structural Similarities Among Personal Services

Argues that all service encounters can be thought of as sharing common elements and common problems. Considers some common issues faced by a variety of personal service providers, maintaining that researchers and managers can understand consumer classification and evaluation of services by comparing functionally dissimilar services. Analyses data from a consumer survey on attitudes to 16different household and personal services. Uses cluster analysis of these services, showing two dimensions, Service Locus and Service Instigation. Examines the relative importance of service attributes across these clusters.
Theoretical considerations of effects of x-ray film–screen characteristics on threshold detectability of small low-contrast objects

An expression is derived for visual contrast of a radiographed small object that takes into account the proportion of scattered radiation as well as the shape of the sensitometric curve of the film-screen combination. Based on this expression for visual contrast applied to two different film-screen systems, predictions are made for threshold perceptability of low-contrast objects radiographed with the two imaging systems in the presence of scattered radiation and at different points on the sensitometric curves.
Retention of discrimination learning sets by cats

Experimental and control groups of five and four cats, respectively, were trained to criterion on 96 form-discrimination problems. The experimental group received J00 days of training on double alternation, end the control group went untested, over an interval of 7 months. Both groups were then tested on 32 new form discriminations and manifested equivalent retention of the discrimination learning set. The results for individual Ss indicate that learning set performance in cats is unaffected by long interruptions in testing or by interpolated training on an insoluble potentially conflicting task, unless S learns a response strategy which is antagonistic to efficient visual-discrimination performance.
Structural aspects of microemulsions using dielectric relaxation and spin label techniques

Abstract The structural characteristics of three similar systems containing sodium stearate, alcohol (n-pentanol, n-hexanol, or n-heptanol), hexadecane, and varying amounts of water were investigated. The systems were identical in composition except for the nature of alcohol used for producing microemulsions. In all the three microemulsion systems, the microemulsion remained isotropic and clear up to the water/oil ratio of 0.48. However, the electrical resistance studies indicated that the three systems were strikingly dissimilar. Upon increasing the water/oil ratio, n-pentanol microemulsion systems exhibited a constant decrease in resistance; hexanol microemulsion systems showed an initial increase and a subsequent sharp decrease whereas n-heptanol microemulsion systems exhibited very high electrical resistance which could not be measured (>l07Ω-cm). The pentanol microemulsion systems exhibited dielectric relaxation at lower water/oil ratios as compared to the hexanol microemulsion systems. However, heptanol microemulsion systems did not exhibit dielectric relaxation. The dielectric relaxation results were interpreted in terms of ionization of the carboxyl group and the concomitant formation of the electrical double layer. This occurred at lower water/oil ratios in pentanol microemulsion systems as compared to hexanol microemulsion systems. However, there was no measurable ionization or electrical double layer formation in heptanol microemulsion systems. The spin label studies using a stearic acid spin probe suggested that the stearate molecule is located at the oil/water interface. Furthermore, the spin label incorporated in microemulsions exhibited anisotropic behavior in contrast to the isotropic behavior of the spin label dissolved in oil or water. The values of order parameter suggested that the order in interfacial film as measured by the spin label decreased in the following order: heptanol > hexanol > pentanol. In other words, the shorter chain alcohol produced a maximum disorderat the oil/water interface. The isotropic hyperfine splitting constant of the label in the three microemulsion systems suggested that the environment experienced by the spin label was intermediate between that of water and oil. In summary, the electric, dielectric, and ESR measurements suggest that the alcohol chain length affects the ionization, interfacial polarization, and disorder at the oil/water interface which in turn influences the properties of microemulsions.
Continuum based modeling of silicon integrated circuit processing: An object oriented approach

Continuum based integrated circuit process modeling is the dominant tool used to investigate and understand integrated circuit (IC) development. This paper describes the commonly used models for implantation, diffusion, and material growth. In addition, the supporting numerical techniques are described. This paper focuses on the implementation in object oriented code, Florida Object Oriented Process Simulator (FLOOPS). The software architecture is described for implementing models and numerics. A number of process examples are introduced and discussed.
Relativistic effects in few nucleon systems

Abstract The discussion session on relativistic effects was moderated by Professor Walter Glockle, of the Universitat Bochum. This report is divided into two main sections on (1) relativistic few body equations and (2) relativistic calculations of matrix elements. In some places the discussion is incorporated into the text, but a number of issues pertaining to the first topic are summarized separately in part 1.3.
Ag crystallite formation and coalescence on hydrogen-terminated GaAs(110).

Scanning tunneling microscopy has been used to study Ag nucleation on H-terminated GaAs(110) at 300 K. Growth is characterized by cluster nucleation and Ag monomer capture for depositions below \ensuremath{\sim}0.5 monolayer (ML). Crystallite coalescence is evident by \ensuremath{\sim}1 ML. Microcrystallites are formed with {111} facets defining an A-shaped structure for depositions as low as 0.25 ML. This A-shaped structure is symmetric about the substrate [11\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}0] direction for H-terminated GaAs(110), but it is tilted 10\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} for growth on GaAs(110). Crystallite-crystallite interactions distort the cluster shape at higher coverage. The existence of a scaling relationship for the cluster-size distribution for 2- to 5-ML depositions indicates a common growth mechanism.
Boyle's corpuscular hypothesis and Locke's primary-secondary quality distinction

Locke denied that ideas of secondary qualities resemble their causes. It has been suggested that Locke denied this because he accepted a mechanical corpuscular hypothesis about the constitution of objects. This paper shows that this and other usual explanations of Locke's denial are mistaken. Further, it suggests an alternative relationship between the scientific account and Locke's philosophical views, and finally it provides Locke's real justification for his claim that ideas of secondary qualities do not resemble their causes.
Preparation and pretreatment effects on metal decoration in Rh/La2O3

Abstract Ethane hydrogenolysis and cyclopropane hydrogenation were used to probe changes in the decorative overlayer in Rh/La 2 O 3 resulting from variations in reduction temperature, weight loading, treatment in oxygen followed by low temperature reduction, and method of precursor decomposition. Increasing reduction temperature resulted in an increase in the extent of decoration, especially between 200°C and 400°C, as evidenced by a suppression of cyclopropane hydrogenation and ethane hydrogenolysis rate. For a series of catalysts with increasing weight loading, reduction at 500°C resulted in significant decoration in each case. However, only a slight effect of weight loading may be suggested. An oxidation/ low temperature reduction cycle partially reversed the decorative effect. No difference in decoration was observed due to calcination vs. reduction for precursor decomposition when the catalysts were exposed to the same final reduction temperature. Due to the smaller ensemble size required for its sites, cyclopropane hydrogenation was found to be more sensitive than ethane hydrogenolysis to changes in surface structure for these heavily decorated catalysts. Because of limitations in determining free rhodium surface area, the extent of coverage of the rhodium by the decorative overlayer was only able to be determined qualitatively.
Retransmission-based error control for scalable streaming media systems

Large-scale continuous media (CM) system implementations require scalable servers most likely built from clusters of storage nodes. Across such nodes, random data placement is an attractive alternative to the traditional round-robin striping. One benefit of random placement is that additional nodes can be added with low data-redistribution overhead such that the system remains load balanced. One of the challenges in this environment is the implementation of a retransmission-based error control (RBEC) technique. Because data is randomly placed, a client may not know which server node to ask for a lost packet retransmission. We design and implement three RBEC techniques that utilize the benefits of random data placement in a cluster server environment while enabling a client to efficiently identify the correct server node for lost packet requests. We implement and evaluate our techniques with a one-, two-, four-, and eight-way server cluster and across local and wide-area networks. Our results show the feasibility and effectiveness of our approaches in a real-world environment and also identify one solution as generally superior to the other two.
Inorganic scintillators: today and tomorrow

Abstract The past half-century has witnessed the discovery of many new scintillator materials and numerous advances in our understanding of the basic physical processes governing the operation of inorganic scintillators. These developments are reviewed briefly, but then the question arises—what about today and tomorrow? Have we exhausted luminescence phenomena and the periodic table in our search for improved scintillator materials? Properties of both intrinsic and activated scintillator materials, crystalline and amphorous, are considered. Several fundamental limits of scintillator performance are examined together with the prospects for discovering better scintillators guided by first-principles theoretical calculations of the processes active in scintillation.
Synergistic activation of transcription by bacteriophage lambda cI protein and E. coli cAMP receptor protein

Two heterologous prokaryotic activators, the bacteriophage lambda cI protein (lambda cI) and the Escherichia coli cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP), were shown to activate transcription synergistically from an artificial promoter bearing binding sites for both proteins. The synergy depends on a functional activation (positive control) surface on each activator. These results imply that both proteins interact directly with RNA polymerase and thus suggest a precise mechanism for transcriptional synergy: the interaction of two activators with two distinct surfaces of RNA polymerase.
Sterile hemopneumothorax due to pulmonary infarction.

A case of sterile hemopneumothorax due to rupture of a pulmonary infarct is presented. The patient had rheumatic heart disease with congestive failure as the primary diagnosis. Only seven similar cases have been previously reported.
A Statistical Study of the Effects of Electric Fields on the Movements of Mammalian Sperm Cells

A micro technique has been developed to facilitate the study of electric field effects on the swimming pattern of sperm cells. The instrumentation for this technique, a micro-electrophoresis vessel, a metering motion picture projector, and a simple analog computer for data handling, are briefly described. It is shown experimentally that 1) an electric field imposed on a cell suspension acts primarily to direct the cells to the anode without appreciably changing their swimming speed, and 2) the field effects are not linear functions of field strength. It is postulated that the field effect is primarily galvanotaxis and that the cells seek a position of minimum stimulation and therefore must have a transverse sensitivity axis.
Windows on animal minds.

Abstract The simple kinds of conscious thinking that probably occur in nonhuman animals can be studied objectively by utilizing the same basic procedure that we use every day to infer what our human companions think and feel. This is to base such inferences on communicative behavior, broadly defined to include human language, nonverbal communication, and semantic communication in apes, dolphins, parrots, and honeybees. It seems likely that animals often experience something similar to the messages they communicate. Although this figurative window on other minds in obviously imperfect, it is already contributing significantly to our growing understanding and appreciation of animal mentality.
Definition of the Nucleon - Nucleus Optical Potential by Means of the Low Equation

The Low equation, generalized to the case of an energy-dependent potential, is used to define a nucleon-nucleus optical potential. Although this approach is completely equivalent to previous definitions of the optical potential for nucleon-nucleus scattering, it should be easier to adapt this treatment to relativistic, field-theoretic problems (auth)
Computers centers are cancers

Most computer centers have become permanent parts of the organizations they are designed to "serve." And many, if not most, of these centers cannot be justified in terms of serving the goals of their organization.
Transmission electron microscopy studies of the martensitic transformation in a Ti50Ni45Au5 alloy

Abstract The martensitic transformation in thin foils of a Ti50Ni45Au5 alloy is from a B2 (CsCl) parent to a B19′ (2H) martensite. The relative intensities of electron diffraction reflections from the martensite are in good agreement with those determined by X-ray diffraction. Type I ( 11 1 )M twins and compound (001)M twins are observed in the martensite. The orientation relationships between the B2 parent phase and the martensite with type I ( 11 1 )M twins and type II [011] twins as the lattice-invariant shear have been determined.
Design and experimental study on the grating outcouplers providing the controlled 2D-intensity profile of the output beam from a broad area laser diode

We present a method of designing a grating outcoupler to obtain the desired 1D- and 2D-intensity profile of the optical beam emitted by a grating coupled surface emitting laser. The method is based on variation of the periodicity, duty cycle, and the groove tilt angle of the grating. Grating design involves numerical analysis of the optical field propagated through the grating, by applying the Rigorous Coupled Wave Approach method. Experimental evaluation of the designed grating components was done by fabrication and testing the broad area semiconductor lasers with the monolithically integrated grating outcouplers. We also present a grating design which provides the spreading of a single optical output into multi-beams at different outcoupling angles in the emitting plane.
Chapter 27 Geology and petroleum potential of the north and east margins of the Siberian Craton, north of the Arctic Circle

Abstract The Siberian Craton consists of crystalline rocks and superimposed Precambrian sedimentary rocks deposited in rift basins. Palaeozoic rocks, mainly carbonates, were deposited along the margins of the craton to form an outwardly younger concentric pattern that underlies an outward-thickening Mesozoic sedimentary section. The north and east margins of the Siberian Craton subsequently became foreland basins created by compressional deformation during collision with other tectonic plates. The Tunguska Basin developed as a Palaeozoic rift/sag basin over Proterozoic rifts. The geological provinces along the north and east margins of the Siberian Craton are immature with respect to exploration, so exploration-history analysis alone cannot be used for assessing undiscovered petroleum resources. Therefore, other areas from around the world having greater petroleum exploration maturity and similar geological characteristics, and which have been previously assessed, were used as analogues to aid in this assessment. The analogues included those of foreland basins and rift/sag basins that were later subjected to compression. The US Geological Survey estimated the mean undiscovered, technically recoverable conventional petroleum resources to be approximately 28 billion barrels of oil equivalent, including approximately 8 billion barrels of crude oil, 103 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 3 billion barrels of natural gas liquids.
A controlled-environment culture system for high resolution light microscopy

Abstract A culture chamber has been developed within which cells or organisms can be maintained indefinitely in a controlled environment and studied by a variety of light microscopy techniques.
Therapeutic potential of resveratrol in Alzheimer's disease

Several epidemiological studies indicate that moderate consumption of red wine is associated with a lower incidence of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Red wine is enriched in antioxidant polyphenols with potential neuroprotective activities. Despite scepticism concerning the bioavailability of these polyphenols, in vivo data have clearly demonstrated the neuroprotective properties of the naturally occurring polyphenol resveratrol in rodent models for stress and diseases. Furthermore, recent work in cell cultures and animal models has shed light on the molecular mechanisms potentially involved in the beneficial effects of resveratrol intake against the neurodegenerative process in Alzheimer's disease.
Model risk and option hedging

Abstract This paper presents a theoretical approach to option hedging and valuation when traders are facing model risk. Model risk is restrictively defined as the financial risk resulting from the choice of an approximating model to proxy for the true but ex-ante unknown state space of the underlying security process. A generalized model is defined for estimating the appropriate volatility markup, which is dependent on the noisiness of the volatility estimate over time. Delta neutral hedge portfolios are created using simulated S&P 500 option prices to demonstrate that using a volatility markup in the traditional binomial model reduces model risk.
An Optimization Strategy for Enhancing the Performance of Fund of Funds Portfolios

Previous research provides evidence that much of the cross-sectional variation in equity returns can be explained by firm characteristics or sectors such as market capitalization, price-to-earnings ratios, change in operating earnings, and book-to-market ratios. One popular money management technique is to construct a portfolio (fund) using other managed portfolios (funds). The resulting overall portfolio is generally referred to as a fund of funds. This study demonstrates the potential for performance enhancement in a fund of funds when portfolio optimization techniques are employed on sector funds in order to construct the overall fund. Specifically, ex-ante optimization over sector funds that are constructed on the basis of market capitalization, price-to-earnings ratios, change in operating earnings, and book-to-market ratios demonstrates the potential for enhancing an overall equity fund performance relative to value-weighted and equal-weighted benchmark portfolios constructed from the population of stocks from which the sector portfolios are formed.
Aliphatic C−H/π Interactions: Methane−Benzene, Methane−Phenol, and Methane−Indole Complexes

Noncovalent C-H/pi interactions are prevalent in biochemistry and are important in molecular recognition. In this work, we present potential energy curves for methane-benzene, methane-phenol, and methane-indole complexes as prototypes for interactions between C-H bonds and the aromatic components of phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. Second-order perturbation theory (MP2) is used in conjunction with the aug-cc-pVDZ and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets to determine the counterpoise-corrected interaction energy for selected complex configurations. Using corrections for higher-order electron correlation determined with coupled-cluster theory through perturbative triples [CCSD(T)] in the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set, we estimate, through an additive approximation, results at the very accurate CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. Symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) is employed to determine the physically significant components of the total interaction energy for each complex.
Phase-only filters that best approximate the classical matched filters' outputs

Much research effort has been directed to designing phase-only and binary phase-only filters that maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (i.e., the noise tolerance) or the peak-to-correlation energy (i.e., the correlation peak sharpness). In this paper, we propose a filter design algorithm for phase-only filters that produce correlation outputs that approximate classical matched filter outputs in a minimum mean squared error sense. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the use of the design algorithm.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Comparison of left atrial and left ventricular performance in conscious dogs

The velocity of contraction has been reported to be more rapid in left atrium (LA) than left ventricle (LV), but the mechanics of contraction in these two chambers have not been compared under physiological conditions. Accordingly, sonomicrometer crystals and solid state pressure transducers were used to measure LV and LA systolic function simultaneously in seven conscious dogs. Two sets of crystals (LA-1, LA-2) were placed perpendicularly across the LA. Phenylephrine was infused at increasing doses from 0.4 to 1.2 microgram . kg-1 . min-1 to increase LV and LA afterloads. Constant heart rates were maintained by atrial pacing. The results indicated that LA motion was virtually identical in both diameters. LA fractional shortening (0.07 +/- 0.01) and ejection time (0.057 +/- 0.002 s) were much smaller than the ventricular values (0.21 +/- 0.01 and 0.18 +/- 0.01 s, respectively). The velocity of circumferential fibre shortening (Vcf) for the LV (1.16 +/- 0.05 cir . s-1) was not significantly different from LA-1 Vcf (1.19 +/- 0.09 cir . s-1) or LA-2 Vcf (1.22 +/- 0.08 cir . s-1). During phenylephrine infusions, LV systolic pressure increased from 120.0 +/- 3.4 to 190.8 +/- 15.5 mmHg and LV end-diastolic pressure increased from 3.6 +/- 0.3 to 27.7 +/- 2.7 mmHg. When Vcf for each chamber was plotted against the peak systolic pressure in that chamber, the curve of the LA was located upward and to the right of the LV curve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Thermal analysis for characterising composite materials

Abstract By combining the power of modern computers and software, it is possible to have up to four different thermal analytical techniques operating under the control of one technician in the laboratory.
Crystal Structure of the Human Two–Pore Domain Potassium Channel K2P1

Two-pore domain potassium (K(+)) channels (K2P channels) control the negative resting potential of eukaryotic cells and regulate cell excitability by conducting K(+) ions across the plasma membrane. Here, we present the 3.4 angstrom resolution crystal structure of a human K2P channel, K2P1 (TWIK-1). Unlike other K(+) channel structures, K2P1 is dimeric. An extracellular cap domain located above the selectivity filter forms an ion pathway in which K(+) ions flow through side portals. Openings within the transmembrane region expose the pore to the lipid bilayer and are filled with electron density attributable to alkyl chains. An interfacial helix appears structurally poised to affect gating. The structure lays a foundation to further investigate how K2P channels are regulated by diverse stimuli.
Cyclotron Resonance of Piezoelectric Polarons in the Quantum Limit

The shift of the cyclotron resonance frequency of electrons in piezoelectric semiconductors at finite temperature is calculated for the case of such a strong magnetic field that the energy separation of the Landau levels is larger than thermal energy. The thermal Green-function method is used to calculate the energy shifts of the two lowest Landau levels between which the transition occurs; the Dyson equation for the electron self-energy part is solved in an approximate way, taking into account the broadening and the shift of electronic states self-consistently. The shift obtained agrees in sign, and roughly in magnitude, with that given by a semiclassical theory, and with that observed in CdS by Baer and Dexter.
Plasmin-induced migration of endothelial cells: A potential target for the anti-angiogenic action of angiostatin

Angiostatin, a plasminogen fragment containing 3-4 N-terminal kringle domains, is a potent inhibitor of tumor-induced angiogenesis, but its mechanism of action is unclear. Angiostatin is a ligand for integrin alphavbeta(3) but does not induce stress fiber formation upon integrin binding, suggesting that angiostatin is a potential integrin antagonist. Plasmin, the parent molecule of angiostatin and a major extracellular protease, induces platelet aggregation, migration of peripheral blood monocytes, and release of arachidonate and leukotriene from several cell types. In the current study, we found that plasmin specifically bound to alphavbeta(3) through the kringle domains and induced migration of endothelial cells. In contrast, angiostatin did not induce cell migration. Notably, angiostatin, anti-alphavbeta(3) antibodies, RGD-peptide, and a serine protease inhibitor effectively blocked plasmin-induced cell migration. These results suggest that plasmin-induced migration of endothelial cells requires alphavbeta(3) and the catalytic activity of plasmin and that this process is a potential target for the inhibitory activity of angiostatin.
Studies of toxic aerosols via elastic and inelastic light scattering

Evaporation rates and chemical characteristics of potentially toxic aerosols have been determined by elastic and inelastic light-scattering measurements. The aerosol systems examined were a commercial catalyst consisting of a mixture of stannous octanoate (SNO) and 2-ethylhexanoic acid (EHA) and droplets emitted from open tanks of chromic acid solutions used for anodizing aluminum. The heavy metals contained in these aerosols represent a danger to the workplace if such materials are inhaled. Nanogram amounts of the solutions were studied by suspending single micro-droplets in electrodynamic balances in a flow of air to measure evaporation rates and to obtain Raman spectra. Elastic scattering data include phase functions and morphological resonance spectra from which droplet sizes are determined. The inelastic light-scattering data or Raman spectra provide molecular vibrational bond information. It was found that EHA spectra agree with bulk data in the literature, and that SNO Raman spectra, which are not ...
Color constancy: small overall and large local changes

This is a two-part study of the human visual system's mechanism for normalization in color constancy phenomena. Part I uses a viewing technique shown by Maximov. The viewing box consists of a cardboard shoe box with a hole cut in the top to pass light, a color correcting filter and a viewing tube. The viewing tube restricts the field of view on the opposite wall where small five-area Mondrians, called Tatami are mounted.
Vertical Distribution and Partitioning of Chromium in a Glaciof luvial Aquifer

The vertical distribution and partitioning (between the solid and aqueous phase) of chromium in a glaciofluvial aquifer in northeastern Connecticut were assessed. Most of the chromium (99 percent of its mass) is bound to the soil. Retardation is primarily the result of binding to organic matter and adsorption to iron oxide coatings. However, other attenuation mechanisms also appear to be significant. If the degree of chromium binding observed here is representative of other chromium contaminated sites, pump-and-treat remediation will not remove the vast amount of chromium from the subsurface. However, most of the chromium may be immobile, and removal may not be required following the initial pumping to remove the mobile fraction. Further knowledge of the mechanisms that bind chromium to the soil, their reversibility, and their kinetics is essential to developing effective remediation strategies.
Abnormal Esophageal Fluoroscopy

A thorough understanding of esophageal dysfunction is essential for every dysphagia clinician. The purpose of this chapter is to prevent a systematic approach to the fluoroscopic evaluation of esophageal pathology. In an ambulatory person with solid food dysphagia, an esophageal contribution to the swallowing complaint will be present in 60 % of individuals.
Bayesian Identification of High-Risk Intersections for Older Drivers via Gibbs Sampling

Hierarchical Bayes methods are combined with an induced exposure model in order to identify intersections where the crash risk for a given driver subgroup is relatively higher than that for some other group. The necessary computations are carried out using Gibbs sampling, producing point and interval estimates of relative crash risk for the specified driver group at each site in a sample. The method is applied to data from 102 signalized intersections, and 10 were identified as showing high risk for older drivers. Left-turn crashes tended to predominate at these 10, whereas rear-end crashes were most common at geographically similar intersections not identified as showing high risk to older drivers.
INFANTILE BERIBERI PRESENTING AS LEIGH'S SYNDROME

A six month old male infant presented with a left 6th nerve palsy and increasing frequency of emesis. For 3-1/2 months his intake had consisted solely of a skim milk product containing <10 μ g/L of thiamine. Initial electrolytes, blood gas, LP, and CT scan were normal. He showed poor swallowing, intermittent staring and jerking, hypothermia and a progressive hyponatremia culminating in a seizure and respiratory arrest. Despite intubation, electrolyte correction, antibiotics and steroids, he developed total opthalmoplegia, hypotonia, mouthing movements, lethargy, apnea and bradycardia. A CT scan showed bilateral putaminal luscencies but no brainstem abnormalities. Serum glutamic acid, glutamine, alanine, and leucine were mildly elevated (4 days IV glucose only). Normal lab: cortisol, 17-OH progesterone, DHEA, uric acid, bicarb, liver functions, NH4, T4, Ca, P, Mg, Cr, urine porphyria studies. Thiamine supplementation resulted in rapid clinical improvement. CT scan three months later revealed almost complete resolution of the putaminal luscencies. One year later, mild gross motor delays remain; growth is normal; no seizures have occured.
Comparing measures of attachment: "To whom one turns in times of stress", parental warmth, and partner satisfaction.

ABSTRACT The Attachment and Clinical Issues Questionnaire (ACIQ; M. A. Lindberg & S. W. Thomas, 2011), was developed over an 18-year period containing 29 scales. The purpose of the present study was to test (a) the validity of the attachment scales in terms of how they predict to whom one turns in times of stress and for affective sharing, and (b) how the attachment scales compared with the Experiences in Close Relationship Questionnaire (ECR) in terms of concurrent, convergent, and discriminant evidence. The relevant secure scales of the ACIQ predicted to whom one turned in Study 1, and Study 2 demonstrated good convergent evidence with the ECR, but superior concurrent evidence in predicting partner satisfaction, and superior discriminant evidence in differentially correlating with mother and father warmth. Thus, the ACIQ passed essential validity and psychometric tests and was a more robust measure than the ECR with these defining characteristics of attachment.
Metabolic adaptation and in situ attenuation of chlorinated ethenes by naturally occurring microorganisms in a fractured dolomite aquifer near Niagara Falls, New York

A combination of hydrogeological, geochemical, and microbiological methods was used to document the biotransformation of trichloroethene (TCE) to ethene, a completely dechlorinated and environmentally benign compound, by naturally occurring microorganisms within a fractured dolomite aquifer. Analyses of groundwater samples showed that three microbially produced TCE breakdown products (cis-1,2-dichloroethene, vinyl chloride, and ethene) were present in the contaminant plume. Hydrogen (H2) concentra tions in groundwater indicated that iron reduction was the predominant terminal electron-accepting process in the most contaminated geologic zone of the site. Laboratory microcosms prepared with groundwater demonstrated complete sequential dechlorination of TCE to ethene. Microcosm assays also revealed that reductive dechlorination activity was present in waters from the center but not from the periphery of the contaminant plume. This dechlorination activity indicated that naturally occurring microorganisms have...
On the exact solution of random travelling salesman problems with medium size integer coefficients

Let edge weights for the complete graph on vertex set $\{ 1,2, \cdots ,n\} $ be chosen independently and uniformly from $\{ 0,1, \cdots ,B(n) - 1\} $ where $B(n) = o({n / {\log \log n}})$. We show that there exists a polynomial time $(O(n^3 \log n))$ algorithm which solves the associated travelling salesman problem with probability tending to 1 as n tends to $\infty $.
Collection of peritoneal exudate cells from small laboratory animals.

. A simple method for the collection of peritoneal cells from small laboratory animals is described. Peritoneal exudates were induced by either caseinate or glycogen, and the cells were retrieved through a closed system. The technique permitted repeated studies on individual animals and yielded consistently sterile cell suspensions.
The immunomodulatory glycan LNFPIII initiates alternative activation of murine macrophages in vivo.

The early pathogen–macrophage interactions that help drive macrophage maturation towards classically or alternatively activated are largely unknown. To examine this question we utilized the immunomodulatory glycan Lacto-N-fucopentaose III (LNFPIII), which contains the Lewis X (LeX) trisaccharide, to activate murine peritoneal macrophages in vivo. Because LNFPIII is known to induce anti-inflammatory responses, we asked if LNFPIII stimulation of macrophages in vivo initiates alternative activation events such as upregulation of Arginase 1, Ym1, FIZZ-1, MGL-1 or macrophage mannose receptor (MMR). Examination of peritoneal exudate cells from mice 20 hr post-LNFPIII injection demonstrated increased Arginase 1 activity, at the mRNA and protein levels, coincident with undetectable inducible nitric oxide synthase expression or nitric oxide production. In addition to Arginase 1, Ym1 expression was also significantly upregulated at 20 and 48 hr after LNFPIII exposure in vivo. However, the expression of FIZZ-1, MGL-1, and MMR was not changed in these macrophages. In an attempt to determine activation requirements for functional activity, we adoptively transferred antigen-pulsed, in vivo LNFPIII activated macrophages into naive recipients and found that they were capable of triggering recipient T cells to secrete elevated levels of interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-13 compared to mice receiving control macrophages. Together, these data demonstrate that upregulation of expression of Arginase 1 and Ym1 occur very early in activation of macrophages, and can be independent of other alternatively activated (AA) macrophage markers. Importantly, these early events appear to be IL-4/IL-13-independent in our model. In the future we hope to determine if upregulation of these initial AA maturational events is sufficient for these macrophages to exert immunoregulatory activity in vivo.
Functional and cosmetic outcomes of combined penetrating keratoplasty and iris reconstruction lens implantation in eyes with a history of trauma.

Purpose To determine the functional and cosmetic outcomes of combined iris reconstruction lens (Ophtec) implantation and penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in eyes with acquired partial or complete aniridia. Setting Jules Stein Eye Institute and the Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA. Methods In a prospective nonrandomized single-center interventional case series, efficacy measures included improvement in cosmesis and reduction in glare, star bursts, and photophobia. Safety measures included changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), reports of adverse events, and surgical complications. Results The 9 eyes in the study had a history of penetrating or blunt trauma and were aphakic or in need of cataract surgery. Corneal pathologies necessitating transplantation included scarring, decompensation, or failure of a previous graft. Postoperatively, all patients were pleased with the cosmetic improvement of the study eye and all reported a reduction in visual disturbances. By the final follow-up examination, the BCVA improved in 4 patients but worsened in 5. Three adverse events were reported. There were no intraoperative surgical complications. The most serious postoperative complications were a pressure spike leading to loss of light perception, corneal graft rejection, and graft failure. The most common postoperative problem was surgically induced irregular corneal astigmatism. Conclusions Ophtec iris reconstruction lens implantation and simultaneous PK reduced visual disturbances and improved the aesthetic appearance of the eyes. The long-term safety of the procedure, judged by BCVA and postoperative complications, was mixed, with both good and bad outcomes.
Finestructure in outer Bristol Bay, Alaska

Abstract A salinity-temperature-depth (STD) cruise in Bristol Bay in the Bering Sea during March, 1976 showed the existence of a subsurface layer with large density inversions. This finestructure layer, which covered a horizontal distance of some 100 km, showed a maximum negative density gradient of 55 × 10−6 kgm−4. Stations showing these inversions were in the zone of interaction between Bering Sea water and the shelf water of Bristol Bay, which had been displaced ∼ 100km south of its usual location by strong northerly winds. The layer persisted for nearly one week. Hypotheses are advanced to account for its formation and persistence.
Substance P and serotonin independently affect intragastric pressure when microinjected into the nucleus raphe obscurus of the rat

Abstract We have recently shown that microinjection of substance P (SP) into the nucleus raphe obscurus (NRO) of the rat decreases intragastric pressure, whereas microinjection of serotonin (5-HT) increases it. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether there exists a functional interaction between SP and 5-HT in the NRO of the rat in their effects on gastric motor function. This was accomplished by microinjection of SP (135 pmol) and 5-HT (0.6 and 6 nmol) into the NRO in a rapid, sequential order in α-chloralose-anesthetized rats, while monitoring intragastric pressure and pyloric and greater curvature motilities. Substance P evoked significant decreases in intragastric pressure when microinjected into the NRO after vehicle and after 5-HT (at both 0.6 and 6 nmol). There was no difference in the magnitude of the SP effect after 5-HT when compared to the response after vehicle. Serotonin at a dose of 6 nmol, but not at a dose of 0.6 nmol, elicited significant increases in intragastric pressure when microinjected after vehicle or after SP, and there was no difference between the responses to 5-HT with respect to the initial treatment. We conclude that SP and 5-HT act independently in the NRO of the rat to affect intragastric pressure.
Dialysis needle puncture of wallgrafts placed in polytetrafluoroethylene hemodialysis grafts

This study evaluates the effect of routine venipuncture at hemodialysis on the durability of Wallgraft covered stents. Thirteen covered stents were placed in six aging, failing polytetrafluoroethylene grafts for treatment of pseudoaneurysms and recurrent stenoses. Four patients did not experience significant graft complications. One graft was ligated for an infected overlying skin ulcer. After surgical revision, the graft remains functional. Another patient experienced fraying of the stent edges and recurrence of a small pseudoaneurysm. Our experience suggests that the Wallgraft covered stent can withstand routine venipuncture at dialysis without flow-limiting stent distortion.