cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relation between magnetospheric state parameters and the occurrence of plasma depletion events in the nighttime midlatitude F region

Studies using all-sky imagers have revealed the presence of various ionospheric irregularities in the night-time mid-latitude F-region. The most prevalent and well known of these are the Medium Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (MSTIDs) that usually occur when the geomagnetic activity is low, and mid-latitude spread-F plumes that are often observed when the geomagnetic activity is high. The inverse and direct relations between geomagnetic activity (particularly Kp) and the occurrence rate of MSTIDs and midlatitude plumes, respectively, have been observed by several studies using different instruments. In order to understand the underlying causes of these two relations, it is illuminating to better characterize the occurrence of MSTIDs and plumes using multiple magnetospheric state parameters. Here we statistically compare multiple geomagnetic driver and response parameters (such as Kp, AE, Dst, and solar wind parameters) with the occurrence rates of night-time MSTIDs and plumes observed using an all-sky imager at Arecibo Observatory (AO) between 2003 and 2008. The results not only allow us to better distinguish MSTIDs and plumes, but also shed further light on the generation mechanism and electrodynamics of these two different phenomena occurring at night-time in the mid-latitude F-region.
Fabry-Perot interferometer with a new focal plane detection technique and its application in ground-based measurement of NIR OH emissions

Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) is an important instrument to study the composition and dynamics of the mesosphere and thermosphere. Despite the inherent large throughput of FPI, its sensitivity and applications has been largely limited by the use of low quantum efficiency and limited spectral range photomultiplier tubes. The high quantum efficiency CCD has gained wide acceptance in recent years. CCD is almost an ideal detector, it has high quantum efficiency and wide spectral range from UV to NIR, but its square format is not compatible with the circular fringe pattern generated by the FPI. In this paper we will show a new focal plane detection technique called the circle to line interferometer optical (CLIO) system. CLIO converts the circular FPI fringes into linear fringes and makes the CCD more applicable to Fabry-Perot interferometer. The design of an advanced FPI based on CLIO and modern back- thinned, AR-coated high quantum efficiency CCD operating in the MPP mode will also be presented.
Screening for hypertension in the dental office

Dentists and the dental health teams can contribute significantly to the health of their patients by screening for hypertension in the dental office. In a study, 861 randomly selected dental clinic patients were screened for hypertension. A systolic blood pressure value of 140 mm Hg and a diastolic blood pressure value of 90 mm Hg were used as the cut-off points. Of the patients, 29.8% were potential hypertensives, and 22.9% of these individuals made regular yearly visits to their dentists but not to their physicians. A discussion of the results of this study as compared with those of other studies is presented, and some recommendations for future investigations are made.
Electrochemical Patterning of Organic Monolayers on Silicon

Organic monolayers may be grafted onto silicon surfaces using an in situ electrochemical patterning method. In this technique, dielectric templates such as polystyrene spheres (e = 2.5) or poly(dimethylsiloxane) stamps (e = 2.3-2.8) are placed in close proximity to, or in direct contact with, silicon electrodes while a potential is applied to drive electrografting reactions. In this work, the authors describe methyl monolayer patterns created in anodic processes and phenylacetylene monolayer patterns created in cathodic processes. Both anodic and cathodic processes show similar chronoamperometric behavior, suggesting silicon passivation associated with the formation of monolayers. Atomic force microscopy shows the sizes, geometries, and thickness of patterned films. Comparison of experimental results with electric field simulations also shows that solution resistance controls the feature sizes, resulting from electrografting with proximal dielectric templates. Similarly, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows that the films are densely packed with relatively low levels of defects. The versatile technique is further demonstrated as a monolayer resist for patterned electrodeposition of copper on silicon.
Identification and quantification of volatile organic compounds from a dairy

Abstract Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to odor and air quality problems have been identified from the Washington State University Knott Dairy Farm using gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC–MS). Eighty-two VOCs were identified at a lactating cow open stall and 73 were detected from a slurry wastewater lagoon. These compounds included alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, ethers, aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, terpenes, other hydrocarbons, amines, other nitrogen containing compounds, and sulfur-containing compounds. The concentration of VOCs directly associated with cattle waste increased with ambient air temperature, with the highest concentrations present during the summer months. Concentrations of most detected compounds were below published odor detection thresholds. Emission rates of ethanol (1026±513 μg cow −1 s −1 ) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) (13.8±10.3 μg cow −1 s −1 ) were measured from the lactating stall area using an atmospheric tracer method and concentrations were plotted using data over a 2-year period. Emission rates of acetone (3.03±0.85 ng cow −1 s −1 ), 2-butanone (145±35 ng cow −1 s −1 ), methyl isobutyl ketone (3.46±1.11 ng cow −1 s −1 ), 2-methyl-3-pentanone (25.1±8.0 ng cow −1 s −1 ), DMS (2.19±0.92 ng cow −1 s −1 ), and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) (16.1±3.9 ng cow −1 s −1 ) were measured from the slurry waste lagoon using a laboratory emission chamber.
Programmed cell death 4 inhibits breast cancer cell invasion by increasing tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 expression.

High levels of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein have been associated with invasion and metastasis of breast tumors. Both prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) have been shown to mediate the invasive activity of COX-2 in breast cancer cells. Here we expand these studies to determine how COX-2 uses PGE2 and IL-8 to induce breast cancer cell invasion. We demonstrated that PGE2 and IL-8 decreased the expression of the tumor suppressor protein Programmed Cell Death 4 (PDCD4). We hypothesized that suppression of PDCD4 expression is vital to the invasive activity of PGE2 and IL-8. In MCF-7 cells overexpressing PDCD4 (MCF-7/PDCD4), PGE2 and IL-8 failed to induce invasion, in contrast to the parental MCF-7 cells, thus indicating that PDCD4 blocks breast cancer cell invasion. MCF-7/PDCD4 cells produced higher levels of the Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) than the parental cells. Silencing TIMP-2 mRNA in MCF-7/PDCD4 cells reversed the anti-invasive effects of PDCD4, allowing PGE2 and IL-8 to induce the invasion of these cells. Here we report the novel findings that suppression of PDCD4 expression is vital for the invasive activity of COX-2 mediated by PGE2 and IL-8, and that PDCD4 increases TIMP-2 expression to inhibit breast cancer cell invasion.
Perceiving subjective contours during early childhood.

Abstract The perception of subjective contours in visual displays that characteristically produce them among adults was studied for children between 3 and 6 years. Evidence for visually creating subjective contours was derived in two ways: (a) by means of direct perception, and (b) by means of recognition of the typically completed shape from among members of a matching series. With both procedures, there were significant age-related contours. A majority of 3-year-olds showed at least one instance of figural completion based on direct perception, and their average recognition performance was 60%. By 5 years, all children provided a clear indication that they had completed at least one figure by means of subjective contours, and their recognition accuracy was 100%. The overall findings provide age-related information that must be accounted for by theories of perceptual development; in particular, those dealing with pictorial perception.
Evidence of inability to fully activate human limb muscle

The purpose of this study was to determine whether muscle activation level estimated by twitch interpolation technique was different when an electrical stimulus was applied during a dynamic force (DF; force rising) task from that when the stimulus was applied during a static force (SF; constant force) task. Fourteen subjects performed voluntary SF and DF contractions involving isometric elbow flexion at seven voluntary force levels. At each level, the electrical stimulation was applied to the surface of the biceps brachii muscle when the force was steady (SF task) and when the force was rising (DF task). The voluntary activation level of the biceps brachii muscle during the SF maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) was 98.5% and that during the DF MVC task was significantly lower (94.5%; P < 0.05). The motoneurons and/or muscle fibers may become more excitable during the DF task so that the same stimulus can recruit those that are otherwise less excitable during the SF task.
iTag: a personalized blog tagger

We present iTag, a personalized tag recommendation system for blogs. iTag improves on current tag recommendation systems in two ways. First, iTag has much higher precision and recall than previously proposed tagging algorithms. For example, iTag achieved over 60% precision and recall on a set of 1000 blog posts selected at random from a WordPress RSS feed in April 2009, whereas the previously developed TagAssist achieved less than 10% precision and recall on our data. Second, iTag performs just as well when trained on a single user's blog as when trained on a large corpus of blogs. Thus, iTag can be deployed as a global, non-personalized tag recommendation system, or as a personalized tag recommender. Our experiments and survey of tagging behavior suggest that bloggers use tags idiosyncratically, so personalized tagging is an important option.
NORMALIZING SWEET ORANGE ( C. SINENSIS (L.) OSBECK) SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS WITH SEMI-PERMEABLE MEMBRANES

Development of citrus somatic embryos initiated from embryogenic callus generally results in abnormal morphogenesis of somatic embryos. To normalize development, glycerol-induced globular-stage somatic embryos of sweet orange [C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck cv. ‘Hamlin’] were cultured on 6000–8000 MW cutoff cellulose acetate, >400 000 MW cutoff cellulose acetate, nitrocellulose, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), cellulose filter paper, or positive or neutral charged nylon membranes. Only the two cellulose acetate membranes resulted in the development of normal, two-cotyledon, bipolar, heart-shaped embryos, and no aberrant teratoma-like structures. Heart-shaped embryos developed and germinated normally on Murashige and Tucker basal medium with 0.5% sucrose and 1 μM gibberellic acid. Culture of embryogenic callus directly onto cellulose membranes also resulted in the development of normal heart-shaped embryos, indicating that glycerol induction of globular-stage embryos is not necessary. Heart-shaped embryos were not observed when the osmotic potential of the medium was increased by the addition of 2.5–15% polyethylene glycol; neither were they observed when the matric potential of the medium was increased by increasing the gelling agent concentrations of agar and Gelrite from 0.8% to 3% and 0.15% to 0.9%, respectively.
Value of the 12-Lead ECG in Wide QRS Tachycardia

A wealth of useful diagnostic criteria is available to assist the health care worker in arriving at the correct diagnosis in cases of a wide QRS tachycardia (WQRST). Despite the abundance of good criteria for determining the diagnosis in cases of WQRST, they are of no use if they cannot be readily applied in an urgent clinical situation because they cannot be easily recalled or are too complex and cumbersome to use. It may be that refresher courses in the differential diagnosis of WQRST, especially for emergency physicians who are often the "first responders" to patients with WQRST, can improve physicians' diagnostic accuracy in this important disorder.
Viewing the World: Visual Inquiry in International Settings

This teaching note describes a course, Viewing the World: Visual Inquiry in International Settings, which the author taught in the Czech Republic in 2009. Five students successfully completed the course, which consisted of designing a project, collecting and analyzing visual data, presenting findings, and writing a final report of a qualitative study relevant to social issues in the Czech Republic. The manuscript introduction provides context for the course with brief reviews of international social work literature, relevant Council on Social Work Education Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, and principles of qualitative research. The course description, structure, learning objectives, texts, assignments, evaluation of how learning objectives were met, and suggestions for future courses are included. The author will provide the complete syllabus on request.
Measurement of Electron Transfer Rates between Adsorbed Azurin and a Gold Electrode Modified with a Hexanethiol Layer

In this work we report the application of electroreflectance (ER) spectroscopy for the study of the redox reaction of the nonheme protein azurin. Azurin was irreversibly adsorbed on a polycrystalline gold surface modified with a hexanethiol layer. Surface-enhanced resonant Raman spectroscopy (SERRS) demonstrated that the immobilized azurin's copper site remained intact upon adsorption and that it underwent reversible reduction–oxidation. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) data showed that the peak current of the oxidation (or reduction) wave depended linearly on the sweep rate as appropriate for an immobilized species. The formal potential of the adsorbed azurin was 95 ± 8 mV vs Ag/AgCl electrode, nearly identical to the earlier observed value of the native azurin in solution. All measurements were analyzed in the context of Marcus theory of electron transfer. The separation of the reduction–oxidation peaks in the CV data gave an estimate of the electron transfer (ET) rate in the range from 4 to 12 s−1. ER, with light of wavelength of 640 nm, yielded a strong signal at the same potential as the midpotential determined in CV. The frequency dependence of the ER response was consistent with an ET rate of 150 to 200 s−1. Electrochemical impedance measurements indicated an ET rate of the order of 300 s−1. The disparity between the ET rates measured with CV and ER suggests that ET may not be a single-step process. The results also point to the importance of hydrophobic interactions in adsorption and redox transformations of azurin.
Interactions of 125-Mev K + Mesons in Nuclear Emulsion

An experimental study of the elastic, inelastic, and charge exchange scattering of ${K}^{+}$ mesons in nuclear emulsion has been made based on 100 meters of track at an average beam energy of 125 Mev. The elastic scattering and total cross sections have been used in a diffuse surface optical model calculation and the inelastic distribution has been analyzed by Monte Carlo techniques. With the assumption of $S$-wave scattering for the $T=1$ ${K}^{+}$-nucleon state and $S$- and $P$-wave scattering for $T=0$, two best fit $T=0$ phase-shift solutions have been found for two different radius parameters. The dependence upon radius is small and the $P$-0wave phase shifts seem to be important at this energy.
Diastolic hypotension is an unrecognized risk factor for β-agonist-associated myocardial injury in children with asthma

Objectives:Tachycardia and diastolic hypotension have been associated with β-2 agonist use. In the setting of β-agonist-induced chronotropy and inotropy, diastolic hypotension may limit myocardial blood flow. We hypothesized that diastolic hypotension is associated with β-agonist use and that diasto
Numerical simulation of the generation of turbulence from cometary ion pick-up

Observations of magnetic field fluctuations near Comet Halley have revealed a rapid development of a Kolmogoroff-like turbulence spectrum extending from below 0.01 Hz to above 0.1 Hz. Spectra obtained far from the comet have a strong peak in power near the Doppler-shifted ion-cyclotron frequency of singly ionized water. Closer to the comet, the spectrum at higher frequencies is enhanced in power level over the background solar wind spectrum by approximately an order of magnitude. The equations of incompressible MHD are solved using a two-dimensional 256 x 256 mode spectral method code to simulate this spectral evolution as an inertial range turbulent cascade. The initial conditions contained a constant magnetic field and a single coherent wave mode at a low wave number. The solar wind turbulence was modeled by a background noise spectrum having a Kolmogoroff spectral index. The coherent mode decayed into an inertial range spectrum with Kolmogoroff slope within a few eddy-turnover times. Both the time scale and the increase in power level of the turbulence seen in the simulation are in accord with the Giotto observations.
Structural Studies of the Escherichia coli Signal Transducing Protein IIAGlc: Implications for Target Recognition†,‡

In Escherichia coli, the glucose-specific phosphocarrier protein of the phosphotransferase system (PTS), IIAGlc (IIIGlc in older literature), is also the central regulatory protein of the PTS. Depending upon its state of phosphorylation, IIAGlc binds to a number of different proteins that display no apparent sequence homology. Previous structural studies suggested that nonspecific hydrophobic interactions, specific salt bridges, and an intermolecular Zn(II) binding site contribute to the wide latitude in IIAGlc binding sites. Two new crystal forms of IIAGlc have been solved at high resolution, and the models were compared to those previously studied. The major intermolecular contacts in the crystals differ in detail, but all involve the hydrophobic active site of IIAGlc interacting with a hydrophobic patch on a neighbor and all are shown to be surprisingly similar to the physiologically relevant regulatory interaction of IIAGlc with glycerol kinase. In two crystal forms, a helix on one molecule interacts with the face of another, while in the other crystal form, the primary crystal contact consists of a strand of beta-sheet that contributes to an intermolecular Zn(II) binding site with tetrahedral ligation identical to that of the zinc peptidase thermolysin. Thus, relatively nonspecific hydrophobic interactions combined with specific salt bridges and an intermolecular cation binding site (cation-promoted association) permit a regulatory protein to bind to target proteins that have little or no sequence or structural homology with one another. It is suggested that signal transduction by IIAGlc is a binary switch in which phosphorylation at the active site directly controls binding to target molecules.
The Effects of Liberal Arts Experiences on Liberal Arts Outcomes

Despite scholars' praise of liberal arts education as a model form, very little research has examined the actual impact of liberal arts education on learning outcomes. The elaborate rhetoric and anecdotal support, long used to advance liberal arts education as the premier type of education with value for all, is no longer sufficient. The practices and conditions that lead to outcomes of a liberally educated student remain an empirical black box. Guided by the work of Pascarella et al. (2005, Liberal arts colleges and liberal arts education: New evidence on impacts. ASHE Higher Education Report, 31(3)), this study examined the extent to which an institutional ethos, that values student-student and stu- dent-faculty interaction within a supportive environment characterized by high expectations for developing the intellectual arts, manifests in the lived experiences of students and predicts the development of outcomes theoretically associated with the liberal arts. Specifically, we investigated the construct and predictive validity of the liberal arts experience scale relative to liberal arts outcomes. Using data from the first phase of the Wabash National Study of Liberal Arts Education, net of student background character- istics and institution attended, we found liberal arts experiences had a positive effect on four of six liberal arts outcomes, including intercultural effectiveness, inclination to inquire and lifelong learning, well-being, and leadership.
Enzyme-catalysed assembly of DNA hydrogel

DNA is a remarkable polymer that can be manipulated by a large number of molecular tools including enzymes. A variety of geometric objects, periodic arrays and nanoscale devices have been constructed. Previously we synthesized dendrimer-like DNA and DNA nanobarcodes from branched DNA via ligases. Here we report the construction of a hydrogel entirely from branched DNA that are three-dimensional and can be crosslinked in nature. These DNA hydrogels were biocompatible, biodegradable, inexpensive to fabricate and easily moulded into desired shapes and sizes. The distinct difference of the DNA hydrogel to other bio-inspired hydrogels (including peptide-based, alginate-based and DNA (linear)-polyacrylamide hydrogels) is that the crosslinking is realized via efficient, ligase-mediated reactions. The advantage is that the gelling processes are achieved under physiological conditions and the encapsulations are accomplished in situ-drugs including proteins and even live mammalian cells can be encapsulated in the liquid phase eliminating the drug-loading step and also avoiding denaturing conditions. Fine tuning of these hydrogels is easily accomplished by adjusting the initial concentrations and types of branched DNA monomers, thus allowing the hydrogels to be tailored for specific applications such as controlled drug delivery, tissue engineering, 3D cell culture, cell transplant therapy and other biomedical applications.
Fire debris analysis and scene reconstruction

article During the summer of 2010 near a little village in the south of Italy, a fire destroyed a piece of brushland without any apparent economic importance. The remains of a fire-setting tool were found at the point of origin of the fire. It was started using a well-planned and methodical approach. The analytical results demon- strated a sophisticated and effective incendiary tool designed to leave little evidence that could identify the offender. The action and the purpose of the arsonist were clear but the basic motivation was unpredictable. The burned area was without any relevant economical interest. It was burnt during the past and has not been used for any cultivation or sheep farming but in the region there was evidence of bushfires that had been lit to stimulate the growth of forest fruits to be harvested for sale.
Using species distribution models to identify suitable areas for biofuel feedstock production

The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act mandates a five-fold increase in US biofuel production by 2022. Given this ambitious policy target, there is a need for spatially explicit estimates of landscape suitability for growing biofuel feedstocks. We developed a suitability modeling approach for two major US biofuel crops, corn (Zea mays) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), based upon the use of two presence-only species distribution models (SDMs): maximum entropy (Maxent) and support vector machines (SVM). SDMs are commonly used for modeling animal and plant distributions in natural environments, but have rarely been used to develop landscape models for cultivated crops. AUC, Kappa, and correlation measures derived from test data indicate that SVM slightly outperformed Maxent in modeling US corn production, although both models produced significantly accurate results. When compared with results from a mechanistic switchgrass model recently developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), SVM results showed higher correlation than Maxent results with models fit using county-scale point inputs of switchgrass production derived from expert opinion estimates. However, Maxent results for an alternative switchgrass model developed with point inputs from research trial sites showed higher correlation to the ORNL model than the corresponding results obtained from SVM. Further analysis indicates that both modeling approaches were effective in predicting county-scale increases in corn production from 2006 to 2007, a time period in which US corn production increased by 24%. We conclude that presence-only methods are a powerful first-cut tool for estimating relative land suitability across geographic regions in which candidate biofuel feedstocks can be grown, and may also provide important insight into potential land-use change patterns likely to be associated with increased biofuel demand.
ENDOVASCULAR STENTS FOR COARCTATION OF THE AORTA: INITIAL RESULTS AND INTERMEDIATE-TERM FOLLOW-UP

Abstract OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of endovascular stents in native and recurrent coarctation of the aorta (CoA). BACKGROUND Stents have been used successfully in various locations. Their use in CoA can be an alternative to surgery or balloon angioplasty (BA). METHODS Thirty-four patients with CoA (13 native and 21 re-coarctation after surgery or BA) with a mean age of 16 ± 8 years (range 4 to 36 years) underwent attempted stent implantation between 1993 and 1999. Successful outcome was defined as peak systolic pressure gradient after stent implantation RESULTS Stents were implanted in 33/34 patients, and successful outcome occurred in 32/33 patients. Peak systolic pressure gradient decreased from 32 ± 12 mm Hg to 4 ± 11 mm Hg (p CONCLUSIONS Intravascular stent placement for native and recurrent CoA has excellent results in the short and intermediate terms. Long-term outcome remains to be evaluated.
Detection performance of chaotic spreading LPI waveforms

Low probability of intercept (LPI) performance of a direct-sequence (DS) spread-spectrum (SS) system with chaotic spreading sequences is investigated in this paper. Several intercept receivers, including energy detectors, synchronous and asynchronous, coherent and noncoherent structures, which are typically used to detect binary DS SS signals, are examined here to detect the presence of chaotic DS SS signals. A simple detection approach using a binary correlating function to detect nonbinary chaotic sequences is proposed. The expressions of detection probabilities of chaotic spreading signals using those intercept receivers are derived. Comparisons between systems using chaotic and binary sequences are given in terms of the LPI performance, and the performance improvement with chaotic spreading sequences is observed.
The sigma(70) transcription factor TyrR has zinc-stimulated phosphatase activity that is inhibited by ATP and tyrosine.

The TyrR protein of Escherichia coli (513 amino acid residues) is the chief transcriptional regulator of a group of genes that are essential for aromatic amino acid biosynthesis and transport. The TyrR protein can function either as a repressor or as an activator. The central region of the TyrR protein (residues 207 to 425) is similar to corresponding polypeptide segments of the NtrC protein superfamily. Like the NtrC protein, TyrR has intrinsic ATPase activity. Here, we report that TyrR possesses phosphatase activity. This activity is subject to inhibition by l-tyrosine and its analogues and by ATP and ATP analogues. Zinc ion (2 mM) stimulated the phosphatase activity of the TyrR protein by a factor of 57. The phosphatase-active site of TyrR was localized to a 31-kDa domain (residues 191 to 467) of the protein. However, mutational alteration of distant amino acid residues at both the N terminus and the C terminus of TyrR altered the phosphatase activity. Haemophilus influenzae TyrR (318 amino acid residues), a protein with a high degree of sequence similarity to the C terminus of the E. coli TyrR protein, exhibited a phosphatase activity similar to that of E. coli TyrR.
Rho and Rho Kinase Mediate Thrombin-Stimulated Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell DNA Synthesis and Migration

Aberrant regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration is associated with the pathophysiology of vascular disorders such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, restenosis, and graft rejection. To elucidate molecular mechanisms that regulate proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, we determined whether signaling through the small G protein Rho is involved in thrombin- and phenylephrine-stimulated proliferation and migration of rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs). Thrombin and the thrombin peptide SFLLRNP stimulated DNA synthesis of RASMCs as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation. Both ligands also increased cell migration as measured by the Boyden chamber method. L-Phenylephrine failed to induce either of these responses but increased inositol phosphate accumulation and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in these cells, which indicated that the cells were responsive to alpha1-adrenergic stimulation. The C3 exoenzyme, which ADP-ribosylates and inactivates Rho, fully inhibited both thrombin-stimulated proliferation and migration but had no effect on inositol phosphate accumulation. In addition, Y-27632, an inhibitor of the Rho effector p160ROCK/Rho kinase, decreased thrombin-stimulated DNA synthesis and migration. To directly examine Rho activation, Rho-[35S]GTPgammaS binding was measured. The addition of the thrombin peptide SFLLRNP, but not phenylephrine, to RASMC lysates resulted in a significant increase in Rho-[35S]GTPgammaS binding. Thrombin and SFLLRNP, but not phenylephrine, also increased membrane-associated Rho in intact RASMCs, consistent with selective activation of Rho by thrombin. These results indicate that thrombin activates Rho in RASMCs and establish Rho as a critical mediator of thrombin receptor effects on DNA synthesis and cell migration in these cells.
A critical interaction: leptin and ghrelin

Continuing research has increased our understanding of regulatory factors involving appetite, food intake, and energy metabolism. There appears to be a complex interaction among insulin, leptin, and ghrelin. A new study explored these interactions and indicates that leptin may regulate ghrelin levels and affect body weight changes.
Evaluation of heterogeneity in pharmacotherapy trials for drug dependence: a Bayesian approach

Aims: Difficulty identifying effective pharmacotherapies for cocaine dependence has led to suggestions that subgroup differences may account for some of the heterogeneity in treatment response. Well-attested methodological difficulties associated with these analyses recommend the use of Bayesian statistical reasoning for evaluation of salient interaction effects. Methods: A secondary data analysis of a previously published, double-blind, randomized controlled trial examines the interaction of decision-making, as measured by the Iowa Gambling Task, and citalopram in increasing longest sustained abstinence from cocaine use. Results: Bayesian analysis indicated that there was a 99% chance that improved decision-making enhances response to citalopram. Given the strong positive nature of this finding, a formal, quantitative Bayesian approach to evaluate the result from the perspective of a skeptic was applied. Conclusions: Bayesian statistical reasoning provides a formal means of weighing evidence for the pres...
Rural labor and credit markets

This paper studies changes over time in the incidence of labor tying. The existing literature is successful in explaining the emergence of this institution, but contains the counterfactual implication that there should be an increasing trend in labor tying. However, previous contributions have so far implicitly assumed that there are no consumption-credit markets available to workers. I show that taking account of borrowing opportunities leads to new predictions about the evolution of permanent labor. In particular, declines in borrowing costs associated to efficiency gains in the financial sector lead to a fall in the fraction of rural workers who are tied. In addition, if consumption-credit markets are operating, a fall in the size of the rural population will cause, under certain conditions, a decline in the percentage of permanent workers. These predictions are consistent with the observed trends in developing countries. Hence, this paper complements previous theoretical work on labor tying: with its addition, the theory now explains the emergence, persistence and final demise of this institution. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.
Efficacy of a criterion-driven transfusion protocol in patients having pediatric cardiac surgery

Abstract Objectives Low-hematocrit bypass is one technique used to prevent allogeneic transfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of a criterion-driven transfusion protocol and the effect of low-hematocrit bypass with moderate hypothermia in pediatric cardiac surgery. Methods Seventy-five children who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass with low-hematocrit bypass for repair of congenital heart disease were studied. Criteria for red blood cell transfusion included anemia with a hematocrit level of less than 15% during bypass and 20% after bypass. During cardiopulmonary bypass, venous oxygen saturation, hematocrit values, and regional cerebral oxygenation were continuously monitored. Arterial lactate levels were measured postoperatively. Results All patients had an uncomplicated perioperative course, and no perioperative death occurred. Twenty-two patients (29.3%) received a transfusion, and 53 (70.7%) patients did not. The hematocrit levels before and after modified ultrafiltration in the transfused group (21.6 ± 5.5%, 26.6 ± 6.5%) were significantly higher than those in the nontransfused group (18.9 ± 3.7%, 23.1 ± 4.1%) ( P P P Conclusions A criterion-driven transfusion program can be effective, and low-hematocrit bypass with a hematocrit value below 20% may affect lactate production or clearance from the body.
Animal Spirits: Affective and Deliberative Processes in Economic Behavior

The economic conception of human behavior assumes that a person has a single set of well-defined goals, and that the person’s behavior is chosen to best achieve those goals. We develop a model in which a person’s behavior is the outcome of an interaction between two processes: deliberative processes that assess options with a broad, goalbased perspective, and affective processes that encompass emotions and motivational drives. Our model provides a framework for understanding many departures from full rationality discussed in the behavioral-economics literature, and captures the familiar feeling of being “of two minds.” And by focusing on factors that moderate the relative influence of the two processes, our model also generates a variety of novel testable predictions.
Review of Image Fusion Algorithms for Unconstrained Outdoor Scenes

In this paper, we review some of the recent image fusion algorithms and associated assessment techniques. This paper mainly reviews pixel-level algorithms published in the past five years. These fusion algorithms are experimentally evaluated with quantitative assessment techniques. A new practical assessment paradigm for image fusion is provided
Determinants of the rate of protein sequence evolution

The rate and mechanism of protein sequence evolution are fundamental questions in the field of molecular evolution. This Review examines theoretical models and empirical testing based on recent analyses of large-scale genomic data sets that have offered new insights into the determinants of the rate of protein evolution.
Reversible changes in diffusion- and perfusion-based imaging in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

Diffusion- and perfusion-based imaging studies are regularly used in patients with ischemic stroke. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare cause of stroke and is primarily treated by systemic anticoagulation. Endovascular intervention can be considered in cases of failed medical therapy, yet the prognostic value of diffusion- and perfusion-based imaging for CVST has not been clearly established. We present a patient with CVST whose abnormal findings on MRI and CT perfusion images were largely reversed after endovascular treatment.
A Performance Prediction Model for Low-Speed Centrifugal Fans

A generalized model for mapping the trend of the performance characteristics of a double-discharge centrifugal fan is developed based on the work by Casey and Robinson (C&R) which formulated compressor performance maps for tip-speed Mach numbers ranging from 0.4 to 2 using test data obtained from turbochargers with vaneless diffusers. The current paper focuses on low-speed applications for Mach number below 0.4. The C&R model uses four non-dimensional parameters at the design condition including the flow coefficient, the work input coefficient, the tip-speed Mach number and the polytropic efficiency, in developing a prediction model that requires limited geometrical knowledge of the centrifugal turbomachine. For the low-speed fan case, the C&R formulas are further extended to a low-speed, incompressible analysis.The effort described in this paper begins by comparing generalized results using efficiency data obtained from a series of fan measurements to that using the C&R model. For the efficiency map, the C&R model is found to heavily depend on the ratio of the flow coefficient at peak efficiency to that at the choke flow condition. Since choke flow is generally not applicable in the low-speed centrifugal fan operational environment, an alternate, but accurate estimation method based on fan free delivery derived from the fan test data is presented. Using this new estimation procedure, the modified C&R model predicts reasonably well using the double-discharge centrifugal fan data for high flow coefficients, but fails to correlate with the data for low flow coefficients. To address this undesirable characteristic, additional modifications to the C&R model are also presented for the fan application at low flow conditions.A Reynolds number correction is implemented in the work input prediction of the C&R model to account for low-speed test conditions. The new model provides reasonable prediction with the current fan data in both work input and pressure rise coefficients. Along with the developments for the efficiency and work input coefficient maps, the use of fan shut-off and free delivery conditions are also discussed for low-speed applications.© 2014 ASME
Urokinase expression in mononuclear phagocytes: cytokine-specific modulation by interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α

This study delineates the regulatory effects of inflammatory cytokines on mononuclear phagocyte plas- minogen activator (PA) activity. The mechanisms by which mononuclear phagocytes modulate PA activity are described. Mononuclear phagocytes regulate net PA ac- tivity by the balanced expression of urokinase-type PA (uPA), in either secreted or membrane-associated forms, and a specific plasminogen activator inhibitor, PAI-2. Therefore, understanding how immunomodulators regu- late macrophage PA activity requires that the compara- tive effects of uPA and PAI-2 be elucidated. We deter- mined how recombinant interferon-y (IFN) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF) regulate plasminogen activation in monoblast-like U937 cells and normal human mono- cytes. In U937 cells, both IFN and TNF induced concur- rent increases in secreted PA and PA inhibitor activities. These effects were accompanied by increased immuno- reactive uPA and PAI-2 in conditioned media (enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay) and steady-state levels of cellular uPA and PAI-2 mRNA (Northern analysis). To determine the relative abilities of IFN and TNF to either promote or inhibit plasmin generation, we directly com- pared the effects IFN and TNF, using optimal stimulating concentrations. IFN induced PA activity to 180% of the level achieved by TNF. In contrast, IFN elicited only 78% of the PA inhibitor produced by TNF stimulation. These differences in secreted activity can be explained by the shift in balance between uPA and PAI-2 proteins. Im- munoreactive uPA was induced equally by IFN and TNF, but TNF generated higher levels of PAI-2. The same over- all pattern of results was seen in normal human mono- cytes. IFN and TNF differ greatly in the ability to aug- ment receptor-bound PA activity in U937 cells, as IFN induced a twofold increase but TNF had no effect. We conclude that IFN and TNF modulate mononuclear
GLUTAMATE | Glutamate-Mediated Excitation and Mechanisms of Epileptogenesis in the Immature Brain

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Glutamate receptors are prevalent on all neuronal cell types, as well as on astroglia and oligodendroglia. During infancy and childhood, forebrain neurons transiently express high levels of glutamate receptors compared to later in life. Animal studies reveal that enhanced glutamatergic transmission is required for activity-mediated synaptogenesis and plasticity that characterize early postnatal development. The developmental regulation of glutamate receptors results in the potential for enhanced seizure susceptibility in the immature brain as well as unique age-specific mechanisms of epileptogenesis.
There Is No Affirmative Action for Minorities, Shareholder and Otherwise, in Corporate Law

I review and comment herein on Anupam Chander's article, Minorities, Shareholder and Otherwise, 113 Yale L.J. 119 (2003). My critique focuses mainly on his underlying premise or, to put it another way, on showing that his analysis of corporate law doctrine is fundamentally flawed. Chander argues that, unlike constitutional law, "corporate law places minorities at the heart of its endeavor." Central to his project is an empirical claim that corporate law has an "elaborate framework" for "minority interests in the corporation." I argue that Chander's theoretical construct rests on a doctrinal foundation of sand. He persistently overstates the extent to which corporate law protects minority shareholders, while understating the freedom that law gives majority shareholders.
Novel seasonal land cover associations for eastern North American forest birds identified through dynamic species distribution modelling

Aim Plasticity in migratory and foraging behaviour allows species to exploit dynamic and novel habitats. This is especially important during seasonal transitions as species track shifting environmental resources and potentially associate with a diversity of habitats. Although land cover associations are thought to vary across seasons for many species, the prevalence of these dynamic relationships across species’ distributions are unknown. Our goal was to quantify the extent to which flexibility in seasonal land cover associations exists among forest breeding birds with differing migratory and foraging strategies. Location Eastern United States. Methods We used data on bird occurrence from eBird in conjunction with dynamic species distribution modelling to quantify seasonal plasticity in species land cover associations for 43 forest breeding bird species. We employed a multi-scaled approach relying on adaptive regression models to quantify spatiotemporally varying associations between species’ occurrences and land cover diversity and composition. We estimated how these associations varied from spring to autumn and across multiple regions. Results Species demonstrated seasonal shifts in land cover associations and, despite being forest dependent species, were more likely to occur in human-modified landscapes during seasonal transitions. From spring to autumn, Neotropical migrants were more likely to occur in landscapes of lower land cover diversity, but showed the highest seasonal plasticity in land cover associations. Residents and temperate migrants occurred in landscapes with a higher diversity of land cover, but were less variable in their seasonal land cover associations. Following summer, migratory and insectivorous birds took advantage of a wider array of land cover ranging from open to developed landscapes. Main conclusions Species move across landscapes in a seasonally dynamic fashion, and yet concepts of the ecological niche and species–environmental relationships are often considered static. Dynamic species distribution modelling can uncover seasonally complex species–environment relationships, and identify novel aspects of habitat associations critical for supporting full life cycle research and conservation efforts.
Prolactin involvement with the increase in seminal volume after sexual stimulation in stallions.

To test the hypothesis that prolactin mediates the increase in seminal volumes induced by sexual stimulation in stallions, semen was collected from six stallions every other day for 26 d. The last eight collection days were treatment days. For each stallion, four treatments were randomly assigned to the first four of the eight treatment collection days, and then repeated in reverse order on the last four collection days; 1) CONTROL: semen collected per normal procedures; 2) Sexually stimulated: stallions were presented to mares in a chute for 10 min before collection; 3) Bromocriptine (dopamine agonist) plus sexual stimulation: stallions were administered bromocriptine 10 min before 10 min of sexual stimulation prior to collection; and 4) Sulpiride: stallions were administered sulpiride (a dopamine antagonist) 25 min before collection. Prolactin concentrations in plasma were increased by sexual stimulation (P .1) on gel-free volume. Volume of gelatinous material, number of mounts, sperm concentration, motility, pH of gel-free semen, number of spermatozoa per ejaculate, and prolactin concentration in gel-free semen were not affected (P > .1) by treatment. Although the effect of bromocriptine indicated that prolactin may mediate the rise in seminal volume due to sexual stimulation, if it does, it must be in conjunction with other hormone(s) or factor(s), because increasing prolactin concentrations alone did not increase seminal volume in these stallions.
Incidence of Salmonella in Fresh Dressed Turkeys Raised Under Salmonella-Controlled and Uncontrolled Environments

Abstract The incidence of salmonella in turkeys from experimental salmonella-controlled and uncontrolled, or normal, flocks processed at three turkey slaughter plants were compared. The results indicate that processing salmonella-controlled turkeys in a plant that routinely kills normal birds may result in the contamination of the salmonella-controlled birds, probably due to salmonella in the plant environment. The salmonella-controlled turkeys studied tended to have a lower incidence of salmonella than normal birds. These observation indicate that salmonella control practices in turkey raising can result in a salmonella reduction in market birds even under existing commercial slaughter, evisceration, and cooling procedures.