cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation of the Microcirculation in Rat Spinotrapezius Muscle Fascia

A thorough understanding of the microcirculation may help with the early diagnosis and treatment of many diseases such as diabetes or hypertension (see for example Schmid-Schonbein [1]). In this study, the microcirculation in rat spinotrapezius muscle fascia is investigated using a numerical approach.© 2007 ASME
Intraoperative echocardiographic diagnosis of inferior vena cava stenosis after cardiopulmonary bypass.

THE INFERIOR VENA CAVA (IVC) is responsible for about two thirds of the total venous return to the right atrium (RA). Obstruction of the IVC can be due to chronic disease or an acute insult. The etiology of chronic IVC obstruction includes congenital abnormalities, indirect compression of the IVC (retroperitoneal tumors, hepatic tumors, giant left atrium), or intravascular tumor extension (metastatic renal tumors). Chronic obstruction of the IVC is associated with findings of hepatic congestion, ascites, lower extremity edema, and venous thrombosis. The slow progression of disease results in collateral venous return to the superior vena cava (SVC) via the azygos, intrathoracic, and vertebral veins. In contrast, acute stenosis of the IVC can result in hepatic and renal dysfunction, severe hemodynamic instability, and cardiovascular collapse if left untreated. Acute IVC obstruction is rare and has been reported as a complication of operative procedures, including bicaval heart transplantation, orthotopic liver transplantation, mitral valve replacement, and extrinsic compression from implantation of a Nuss bar for repair of pectum excavatum. The authors describe a case of acute IVC stenosis at the RA junction that was diagnosed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The intraoperative echocardiographic findings included a localized area of narrowing at the IVC-RA cannulation site, turbulent flow into the RA, underfilled cardiac chambers with hyperdynamic biventricular activity, and dilated hepatic veins. The echocardiographic findings were correlated with invasive hemodynamic measurements, and a therapeutic intervention with return to CPB was performed. The authors recommend the routine examination of the IVC at the IVC-RA junction with color-flow Doppler and spectral Doppler interrogation of flow after cardiac surgery cases, especially in the case of a bicaval venous cannulation technique.
Interaction of serotonin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in the central nervous system.

Serotonin (5-Oxytryptamin) wirkt bei der Maus als mildes Sedativum und steigert den hypnotischen Effekt von Evipan deutlich. Diese Wirkungssteigerung kann durch Lysergsaure-diathylamid (LSD) antagonisiert werden. Dieser Befund stimmt mit der Ansicht uberein, dem Serotonin komme eine physiologische Rolle im Gehirn zu und dass LSD moglicherweise durch antagonistische Wirkung gegenuber Serotonin Psychose verursachen kann.
The Cycle of Popularity: Interpersonal Relations among Female Adolescents.

Despite evidence that friends -are extremely important to adolescents, there has been little research on early adolescent peer relations, especially on peer relations among girls. The research that exists suggests that girls and boys have very different relationships with peers and that entry into middle school is often a difficult transition for adolescent girls. This article examines peer relations among girls in a middle school setting using data from a larger ethnographic study. We found that a system of social stratification developed during the middle school years, resulting in a clear, stable hierarchy of cliques by eighth grade. Friendships with popular girls became an important avenue for peer status. At the same time, however, many popular girls tended to avoid interactions with students of lower status, leading to strong feelings of resentment and dislike. Thus, there developed a cycle of popularity, in which feelings toward popular girls movedfrom positive to negative, eventually making them some of the least liked individuals in the school. Implications of this cycle of popularity for peer relations, self-esteem, and adult friendships are discussed.
Membranes as messengers in T cell adhesion signaling

Talin and RapL are components of molecular pathways that regulate the avidity of the integrin lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) for its ligand, intercellular adhesion molecule 1. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of LFA-1 affinity regulation and signaling and discuss a scenario for how Talin and Rap1 might act in synergy to achieve regulation of LFA-1 that is tailored to the specific functional requirements of different situations. Speedy delivery of signals may be crucial, and membrane trafficking from endosomes and the Golgi apparatus seem to be essential in delivering the messages from spatially segregated surface receptors.
On the spectra of Gaussian matrices

Abstract We give a simple characterization of the moduli of the eigenvalues of a complex Gaussian matrix in terms of x 2 distributions. We also show that the spectral radius of a k × k complex Gaussian matrix is stochastically smaller than the norm of a k × ( k + 1) real Gaussian matrix.
Contour reconstruction in diffraction tomography

We address the problem of reconstructing the directional derivative and/or the Laplacian of an object function f characterizing a weakly inhomogeneous scatterer directly from data collected in a set of scattering experiments. We employ the Rytov approximation to model the complex phase of the scattered wavefields and show that a minimum-norm least-squares solution can be obtained from the well known filtered backpropagation algorithm of diffraction tomography with appropriate modification of the tomographic filters employed in the filtering step of the algorithm. The procedure is illustrated by a computer simulation study.
Is the open-mouth odontoid view necessary in children under 5 years?

Objectives. Questionnaires (984) were submitted to pediatric radiologists to determine how often odontoid fractures were missed on lateral views and detected on open-mouth odontoid views in children under 5 years. Other questions relating to imaging protocols of the odontoid also were included, and there were 432 respondents.
Stressor controllability and Fos expression in stress regulatory regions in mice.

Controllability is an important determinant of the effects of stress on behavior. We trained mice with escapable (ES) and inescapable (IS) shock and examined behavioral freezing and Fos expression in brain regions involved in stress to determine whether stressor controllability produced differential activation of these regions. Mice (C57BL/6J) were trained to escape footshock by moving to a safe chamber in a shuttlebox. This terminated shock for both ES mice (n=5) and yoked-control mice receiving IS (n=5). Handling control (HC) mice (n=5) experienced the shuttlebox, but never received footshock. Training took place on three days (20 trials per day, 0.2 mA, 5.0 sec maximum duration, 1.0 min interstimulus interval). On day 3, the animals were killed two h after training and the brains were processed for Fos expression in the amygdala, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, locus coeruleus and dorsal raphe nucleus. Fos expression after IS was greater than after ES and HC in all regions (p < .05). Fos expression after ES was greater than HC only in PVN (p < .05). Freezing in ES mice was equal to or greater than in IS mice whereas HC mice showed minimal freezing. Differential activation of brain regions implicated in stress may, in part, account for differences in behavior in the aftermath of uncontrollable and controllable stress.
Infrared and Raman spectra of trans-[MX2(H2 O)4]+ type complex ions (M = Ti(III), V(III) and Cr(III) and X = Cl and Br)

Abstract The infrared and low-temperature Raman spectra of Cs 3 VCl 6 ·4H 2 O, CS 2 CrCl 5 ·4H 2 O, Cs 2 TiCl 5 ·4H 2 O, Cs 2 VBr 5 ·4H 2 O, and related compounds have been measured in the region from 4000 to 200 or 100cm −1 . Normal coordinate calculations have been carried out on the trans -[MCl 2 (H 2 O) 4 ] + structure (M=V(III), Cr(III) and Ti(III)) derived from X-ray analyses of the first two compounds. The presence of the trans -[MX 2 (H 2 O) 4 ] + type (XCl and Br) ion in all the compounds studied has been confirmed by the similarity of their vibrational spectra.
Spawning by California Golden Trout: Characteristics of Spawning Fish, Seasonal and Daily Timing, Redd Characteristics, and Microhabitat Preferences

Abstract We investigated the spawning biology of California golden trout Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita, an endemic subspecies of rainbow trout, in the Golden Trout Wilderness, California. We investigated the influence of stream temperature on the seasonal and daily timing of spawning, measured characteristics of completed redds, and quantified microhabitat use and preferences by spawning females. We also quantified size at sexual maturity, degree of sexual size dimorphism, and the operational sex ratio during the spawning season. Golden trout spawning began after peak stream discharge in mid-May, when maximum daily water temperatures consistently exceeded 15°C and continued for approximately 3 weeks. Stream temperatures also influenced the daily timing of spawning activity, with highest activity in the afternoon when stream temperatures approached the daily maximum. Among sexually mature fish (>95 mm), males were significantly larger than females, and ripe males were 3–9 times more abundant than ripe fem...
Role of bile salts in the biology of tapeworms. I. Effects on the metabolism of Hymenolepis diminuta and Oochoristica symmetrica

Abstract The anaerobic metabolism of Hymenolepis diminuta and Oochoristica symmetrica is inhibited by the bile salts, sodium taurocholate, sodium glycocholate and sodium cholate. The inhibition is greater at pH 7.0 than at pH 7.4. The inhibition produced can be reversed by washing the worms for a brief period of time. Data on the inhibition of metabolism by digitonin and Tween 80 suggest that these compounds may behave somewhat differently than the bile salts. Feeding of bile salts to female animals did not produce demonstrable changes in tapeworm egg production, in size of the worm at autopsy, nor in the rate of metabolism of such worms. The lack of correlation between the surface activity and the inhibition produced by such compounds is briefly discussed.
IDENTIFICATION OF VDR ANTAGONISTS AMONG NUCLEAR RECEPTOR LIGANDS USING VIRTUAL SCREENING.

Herein, we described the development of two virtual screens to identify new vitamin D receptor (VDR) antagonists among nuclear receptor (NR) ligands. Therefore, a database of 14330 nuclear receptor ligands and their NR affinities was assembled using the online available “Binding Database.” Two different virtual screens were carried out in conjunction with a reported VDR crystal structure applying a stringent and less stringent pharmacophore model to filter docked NR ligand conformations. The pharmacophore models were based on the spatial orientation of the hydroxyl functionalities of VDR's natural ligands 1,25(OH2)D3 and 25(OH2)D3. The first virtual screen identified 32 NR ligands with a calculated free energy of VDR binding of more than −6.0 kJ/mol. All but nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) are VDR ligands, which inhibited the interaction between VDR and coactivator peptide SRC2-3 with an IC50 value of 15.8 μM. The second screen identified 162 NR ligands with a calculated free energy of VDR binding of more than −6.0 kJ/mol. More than half of these ligands were developed to bind VDR followed by ERα/β ligands (26%), TRα/β ligands (7%), and LxRα/β ligands (7%). The binding between VDR and ERα ligand H6036 as well as TRα/β ligand triiodothyronine and a homoserine analog thereof was confirmed by fluorescence polarization.
Health benefits of tunneling through the Chinese environmental Kuznets curve (EKC)

Abstract In this paper, we first add to what is a growing literature on the existence and nature of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) model for developing countries, by testing for the existence of an EKC for China using a panel data set of city-specific, annual ambient levels of SO2 pollution. We find some support for both the typical inverted-U-shaped relationship and an N-shaped, cubic configuration. More significantly, we then explore the possibility of China's “tunneling” through the EKC, by using newer, cleaner technologies, and thereby avoiding some of the environmental degradation that had often accompanied economic growth. Specifically, we estimate and economically value the health benefits realizable to Chinese cities from successful efforts to “tunnel” under the EKC over the next generation.
Continuous Disaster Tolerance in the IaaS clouds

The advances of virtualization technology in Data Centres lead to the development of features such as High Availability, Disaster Recovery and Fault Tolerance. However, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) computing clouds that span across distributed areas require even a more advanced mechanism. In this paper we present a Disaster Tolerance (DT) enablement solution that covers all layers of IaaS clouds. Technical aspects of implementation are highlighted, detailing the Seven-stage DT algorithm and the enhancements of Qemu-kvm hypervisor, Libvirt virtualization toolkit, Eucalyptus cloud and the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) public API and tools.
Unusual hemodynamics in löffler's endomyocarditis

Abstract A necropsy-proved case of Loffler's endomyocarditis in which unusual hemodynamic measurements were recorded at a terminal stage is presented. The right ventricle, as a result of extensive fibrosis, functioned as a mere conduit, and atrial contraction provided the propelling force in the right side of the heart. A right atrial thrombus that partially obstructed the tricuspid valve was also found at postmortem study and probably contributed to the unusual hemodynamic findings. Cardiac catheterization studies in more patients with Loffler's endomyocarditis at various stages of the illness may increase understanding of the course of this obscure disease.
Existing data suggest that Alzheimer's disease is preventable

Abstract: The ultimate goal of Alzheimer's disease (AD) research is to prevent the onset of the neurodegenerative process and thereby allow successful aging without cognitive decline. Herein I argue that a simple and effective preventative approach for AD may be in hand. AD is a disorder associated with the aging process and is, accordingly, characterized by cellular and molecular changes that occur in age-related diseases in other organ systems. Such changes include increased levels of oxidative stress, perturbed energy metabolism, and accumulation of insoluble (oxidatively modified) proteins (prominent among which are amyloid β-peptide and tau). The risk of several other prominent age-related disorders, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, is known to be influenced by the level of food intake-high food intake increases risk, and low food intake reduces risk. An overwhelming body of data from studies of rodents and monkeys has documented the profound beneficial effects of dietary restriction (DR) in extending life span and reducing the incidence of age-related diseases. Reduced levels of cellular oxidative stress and enhancement of energy homeostasis contribute to the beneficial effects of DR. Recent findings suggest that DR may enhance resistance of neurons in the brain to metabolic, excitotoxic, and oxidative insults relevant to the pathogenesis of AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. While further studies will be required to establish the extent to which DR will reduce the incidence of AD, it would seem prudent (based on existing data) to recommend DR as widely applicable preventative approach for age-related disorders including neurodegenerative disorders.
A spatially explicit framework for quantifying downstream hydrologic conditions.

Continued improvements in spatial datasets and hydrological modeling algorithms within Geographic Information Systems (GISs) have enhanced opportunities for watershed analysis. With more detailed hydrology layers and watershed delineation techniques, we can now better represent and model landscape to water quality relationships. Two challenges in modeling these relationships are selecting the appropriate spatial scale of watersheds for the receiving stream segment, and handling the network or pass-through issues of connected watersheds. This paper addresses these two important issues for enhancing cumulative watershed capabilities in GIS. Our modeling framework focuses on the delineation of stream-segment-level watershed boundaries for 1:24 000 scale hydrology, in combination with a topological network model. The result is a spatially explicit, vector-based, spatially cumulative watershed modeling framework for quantifying watershed conditions to aid in restoration. We demonstrate the new insights available from this modeling framework in a cumulative mining index for the management of aquatic resources in a West Virginia watershed.
Absent factor II in systemic lupus erythematosus. Immunologic studies and response to corticosteroid therapy

This report describes a patient with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who evidenced severe bleeding consequent to a profound and isolated reduction in plasma factor II (prothrombin) activity. Absence of the factor is documented by immunologic means and its return after corticosteroid therapy is demonstrated. The authors recommend inclusion of this acquired coagulopathy among other more traditional diagnostic manifestations of SLE.
Comparison of a new rapid convergent adaptive control algorithm to least mean square on an active noise control system

In this paper, an efficient rapid convergent control algorithm will be developed and will be compared with other adaptive control algorithms using an experimental active noise control system. Other control algorithms are Widrow's finite impulse response adaptive control algorithm, and a modified Godard's algorithm. Comparisons of the random noise attenuation capability, transient and convergence performance, and computational requirements of each algorithm will be made as the order of the controller and relevant convergence parameters are varied. The system used for these experiments is a test bed of noise suppression technology for expendable launch vehicles. It consists of a flexible plate backed by a rigid cavity. Piezoelectric actuators are mounted on the plate and polyvinylidene fluoride is used both for microphones and pressure sensors within the cavity. The plate is bombarded with an amplified random noise signal, and the control system is used to suppress the noise inside the cavity generated by the outside sound source.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Studies on the mechanism of action of ionizing radiations. IX. The effect of x-irradiation on cytochrome c.

Abstract Aqueous dilute solutions of ferrocytochrome c were easily oxidized by x-rays, the oxidation being proportional to the intensity of irradiation. The ionic yield was 0.54. The oxidation produced by 10,000 r. was completely reversed on addition of dithionate. The oxidation seems to be brought about only by OH radicals produced on x-irradiation of water, because catalase offered no protection and the absence of oxygen did not reduce the extent of oxidation. X-Irradiation attacked also the protein and porphyrin components of cytochrome. The protein portion was more sensitive in alkaline solutions, whereas the porphyrin portion was more sensitive in acid solutions. X-irradiation seems to produce an oxidation of the chromophore double bond groups of porphyrin, which is manifested by a decrease of all the absorption bands characteristic of this substance. The ionic yield, as calculated from a decrease of the Soret band, was rather low: 0.015 in neutral solutions, and 0.046 in acid solutions.
Play and Social Interaction of Children with Disabilities at Learning/activity Centers in an Inclusive Preschool

Abstract This study of nine preschool children with disabilities in an inclusive program with typical peers examined the types of play and social interactions in which they engaged in their chosen learning/activity centers. The following learning centers were used in this study: art (paints and drawing materials); creative expression (making teacher-directed products using cutting); writing (typewriter, letter writing, and printing materials); housekeeping/dress-up (kitchen setup, various apparel); computer (softwareprograms); woodworking (hammers, wood blocks, and foam blocks); Lego® (multi-colored blocks); and science (nature materials). Findings indicated differences among the children in the amount of time they spent in various centers, the number of different types of play in which they engaged, and in the amount of time spent in play of various types. The children also differed in the number of observed segments in which peers (typical and atypical) were present, number/type of peer interaction even...
A behavioral analysis of the impact of voluntary physical activity on hippocampus-dependent contextual conditioning

Voluntary physical activity induces molecular changes in the hippocampus consistent with improved hippocampal function, but few studies have explored the effects of wheel running on specific hippocampal-dependent learning and memory processes. The current studies investigated the impact of voluntary wheel running on learning and memory for context and extinction using contextual fear conditioning which is known to be dependent on the hippocampus. When conditioning occurred prior to the start of 6 weeks of wheel running, wheel running had no effect on memory for context or extinction (assessed with freezing). In contrast, when wheel running occurred for 6 weeks prior to conditioning, physical activity improved contextual memory during a retention test 24 h later, but did not affect extinction learning or memory. Wheel running had no effect on freezing immediately after foot shock presentation during conditioning, suggesting that physical activity does not affect the acquisition of the context-shock association or alter the expression of freezing, per se. Instead, it is argued that physical activity improves the consolidation of contextual memories in the hippocampus. Consistent with improved hippocampus-dependent context learning and memory, 6 weeks of wheel running also improved context discrimination and reduced the context pre-exposure time required to form a strong contextual memory. The effect of wheel running on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in hippocampal and amygdala subregions was also investigated. Wheel running increased BDNF mRNA in the dentate gyrus, CA1, and the basolateral amygdala. Results are consistent with improved hippocampal function following physical activity.
Solitary sclerosis Progressive myelopathy from solitary demyelinating lesion

Objective: To present a case series of patients with progressive myelopathy in the setting of a solitary demyelinating lesion. Methods: We describe 7 patients evaluated over a 6-year period. All had progressive motor impairment attributable to an MRI lesion compatible with a demyelinating plaque in the brainstem or upper cervical spinal cord. At the time of evaluation, none met the International Panel imaging criteria for dissemination in space, and none described clinical symptoms consistent with relapses affecting other portions of the CNS. Results: Lesions identified were in the ventral cervicomedullary junction in 4 patients, the ventral spinal cord in 2 patients, and the pons in 1 patient. Median age at onset was 43 years (range 33–51 years). Median follow-up interval was 3 years (range 2–27 years). Six patients reached an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 6.0 or worse. Median time to EDSS score of 6.0 was 7.5 years (range 1.5–26 years). Four had CSF findings characteristic of multiple sclerosis (MS). None had CSF, imaging, or serologic evidence of an alternative etiology of progressive myelopathy. In 3 patients, serial MRI scans of the brain and spinal cord demonstrated no accumulation of lesions. Postmortem examination of a fourth patient demonstrated an isolated pontine demyelinating lesion. Conclusions: Solitary demyelinating lesions may produce a progressive myelopathy similar to primary progressive MS. Demyelinating disease should be in the differential diagnosis of progressive myelopathy despite absence of dissemination in space.
Circuit-switch architecture for a 30/20-GHz FDMA/TDM geostationary satellite communications network

A circuit switching architecture is described for a 30/20 GHz frequency division, multiple access uplink/time division multiplexed downlink (FDMA/TDM) geostationary satellite communications network. Critical subsystems and problem areas are identified and addressed. Work was concentrated primarily on the space segment; however, the ground segment was considered concurrently to ensure cost efficiency and realistic operational constraints.
Sequencing of real‐world samples using a microfabricated hybrid device having unconstrained straight separation channels

We describe a microfabricated hybrid device that consists of a microfabricated chip containing multiple twin-T injectors attached to an array of capillaries that serve as the separation channels. A new fabrication process was employed to create two differently sized round channels in a chip. Twin-T injectors were formed by the smaller round channels that match the bore of the separation capillaries and separation capillaries were incorporated to the injectors through the larger round channels that match the outer diameter of the capillaries. This allows for a minimum dead volume and provides a robust chip/capillary interface. This hybrid design takes full advantage, such as sample stacking and purification and uniform signal intensity profile, of the unique chip injection scheme for DNA sequencing while employing long straight capillaries for the separations. In essence, the separation channel length is optimized for both speed and resolution since it is unconstrained by chip size. To demonstrate the reliability and practicality of this hybrid device, we sequenced over 1000 real-world samples from Human Chromosome 5 and Ciona intestinalis, prepared at Joint Genome Institute. We achieved average Phred20 read of 675 bases in about 70 min with a success rate of 91%. For the similar type of samples on MegaBACE 1000, the average Phred20 read is about 550-600 bases in 120 min separation time with a success rate of about 80-90%.
Automating Cassini instrument commanding for Saturn exploration

The NASA Cassini spacecraft is now in orbit about Saturn and in the prime phase of its mission to Saturn and the large moon Titan. Cassini was built and is managed by the NASA/California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. Unlike previous outer planet missions, the Cassini program employs a "distributed operations" approach to implementing the science-observing program. The associated ground system implementation is driven by this operations concept. Under this approach, the science instrument teams participate directly in planning and integrating the uplink command loads to the spacecraft, not only for commanding their own instrument states, but also for controlling the attitude of the spacecraft. This approach places responsibility for pointing control, as well as telemetry volume and power states, in the hands of the end users. This reduces the need for science-driven requirements to be passed from the science teams to uplink engineers, where resource constraints might result in compromises different from those the science teams might have chosen. Additionally, uplink engineers could potentially introduce errors in pointing, power management, or telemetry state with insufficient visibility by the science teams to recognize them. The distributed operations approach also introduces considerable complexity. The science instrument teams must gain a comprehensive understanding of the system level interactions and constraints and a mastery of the spacecraft command generation, integration, and validation tools normally controlled only by the uplink organization (JPL). Additionally, the science instrument teams must maintain a configuration management system usually required only within the uplink organization. The challenges represented by this expansion in the role of the science instrument teams has driven the development of many tools and procedures by those very lean teams, in order to minimize errors and schedule lapses that could cause such a distributed system to fail. This environment motivates the development of as much automation of the command generation and integration as possible, to keep the reliance on human work and re-work of command sequences to as low a level as possible
Positive behavioral contrast: Development within sessions

Scattergrams show that the rate of responding to S+ during the formation of a discrimination is not correlated with the rate of responding during the fust previous presentation of S−.
Girls' and Women's Issues in Counseling: A Theory‐Based Course Design

In this article, the development of a master's-level course regarding girls' and women's issues in counseling is described. First, the pedagogical foundation for the course design is highlighted. Second, the learning goals for the course are outlined: (a) knowledge of counseling issues pertinent to girls and women in contemporary society, (b) development of effective interventions based on gender-informed counseling approaches, and (c) awareness of counselors' advocacy role in improving the situation of girls and women. Corresponding teaching methods and class activities are also provided.
Anionic dispersion polymerization of styrene. II. Mechanism of particle formation

The mechanism for the formation of uniform micron-size polystyrene particles by anionic dispersion polymerization of styrene in hexane medium was investigated. Uniform particles in the range of 2.28–7.14 μm were obtained by varying the polymerization parameters such as the stabilizer, initiator, monomer multi-addition, and temperature. Particles of larger size and narrow molecular weight distribution were formed by increasing the initiator concentration. The particle size also increased with decreasing stabilizer concentration and polymerization temperature. The formation of larger size particles at lower temperature, lower stabilizer, and higher initiator concentrations provides supporting evidence that particle nucleation in anionic dispersion polymerization is due to a polymer chain aggregation mechanism. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Preparing Teachers for Cultural Diversity: Constructivist Orientations

Abstract Constructivist philosophical orientations can provide the foundation for teacher education programs that address cultural diversity. The view of knowledge and reality as human construction, value-laden, and embedded within social context leads to a respect for diverse cultural perspectives. Constructivists can make a conscious choice to examine and value democratic principles that actually lead to the empowerment of all groups of citizens. Social reconstructionist teacher education is an example of a teacher preparation philosophy that implicitly follows constructivist principles. Social reconstructionists have recognized that preservice teachers enter education with their own constructed realities and must be involved in the examination of their own culturally based beliefs as well as the historical and cultural context from which schooling has emerged. These constructivist orientations can lead to the reconceptualization of teacher education and a truly democratic response to cultural diversity.
Pulmonary hypertension in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease

The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PHTN) in the pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD) population is not known despite its high prevalence in adult patients. Our hypothesis was that increased pulmonary artery pressures (PAPs) would be found in SCD children and adolescents, especially those with a history of pulmonary complications: acute chest syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, and reactive airway disease. Fifty-two SCD children, 23 of whom had underlying pulmonary disease, were screened for PHTN, which was defined as a tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRV) of at least 2.5 m/s. Twenty-four (46.15%) SCD patients had increased PAP (i.e., TRV ≥2.5 m/s), and 6 (11.5%) had significant PHTN (i.e., TRV ≥3.0 m/s). Pulmonary disease was marginally associated with PHTN (odds ratio 2.80 and confidence interval 0.88 to 8.86; p = 0.0795). As in adult SCD patients with PHTN, this complication was correlated with the degree of hemolysis as manifested by significantly higher lactate dehydrogenase and bilirubin, lower hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, and a strong association with Hb-SS phenotype. However, after statistical adjustment for age and sex, increased serum LDH was not associated with the development of PHTN. Further studies are needed to clarify the prevalence and mechanisms of PHTN in pediatric and adolescent patients with SCD.
Chemiluminescence-Based Inhibition Kinetics of Alkaline Phosphatase in the Development of a Pesticide Biosensor

The use and application of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase in a chemiluminescence assay are discussed. The enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of a macrocyclic phosphate compound generating a chemiluminescence signal. On the basis of inhibition of this signal, a methodology for the detection and quantitation of organophosphorus-based pesticides has been developed. The methodology is studied with alkaline phosphatase in the bulk aqueous phase, and detection of the signal is accomplished by a simple optical setup. Parts per billion level detection of paraoxon and methyl parathion in bulk solutions is achieved. The technique is rapid and sensitive and is applicable to the detection of most organophosphorus-based pesticides. The results from kinetic studies indicate a mixed type of inhibition of the enzyme by paraoxon and methyl parathion. The detection methodology forms an integral part of a biosensor under development and is adaptable to incorporating optical fibers for remote detection of pesticides.
Optical properties of gold in acetate glasses

Abstract Colors of gold ruby glasses are variable, depending in part on the sizes of the gold particles dispersed in the colloidal state throughout the silicate glass. Gold has been incorporated into analogous low-melting acetate liquids and glasses. The resulting colors imparted to lead–lithium acetate glasses and sodium–potassium–calcium acetate glasses vary from pink to purple, as the colloidal dispersion is affected by the structure of the acetate system. The structural dependence of the color of gold in these acetate systems is unlike that for the dependence of the color of Co2+ in the same acetates.
Tic-Tac-Toe on a Finite Plane

Everyone knows how to play tic-tac-toe. On an n x n board, if a player places n of her marks either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally before her opponent can do the same, then she wins the game. What if we keep the rules of the game the same but increase the number of ways to win? For simplicity, any configuration of n marks that produces a win, regardless of whether or not it appears straight, will be called a winning line. For example, we will add the four winning lines shown in FIGURE 1 when playing on the 3 x 3 board.
High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of xanthomegnin and viomellein

Abstract Preliminary separations of xanthomegnin and viomellein demonstrated some irreversible binding to silica. However, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic procedures on C 18 columns showed that binding could be minimized by the inclusion of sodium dodecyl sulfate in the mobile phase. Capacity factors for xanthomegnin and viomellein in several solvent systems are reported. Baseline resolution of the two mycotoxins was achieved with water—acetonitrile—sodium dodecyl sulfate—sulfuric acid (55:45:0.02:0.04, v/v/w/w). Utilization of radial compression technology provided for separation times of 14–16 min. Quantitative techniques were established for the substances based on solvent extraction from the natural substrate followed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation. In addition to effective separation, the procedure appeared to partially resolve two isomeric forms of viomellein. The toxin occurred in a single form in the initial, crude fungal extract but apparently the compound was racemized during exposure to silica.
Cloud authorization: exploring techniques and approach towards effective access control framework

Despite the various attractive features that Cloud has to offer, the rate of Cloud migration is rather slow, primarily due to the serious security and privacy issues that exist in the paradigm. One of the main problems in this regard is that of authorization in the Cloud environment, which is the focus of our research. In this paper, we present a systematic analysis of the existing authorization solutions in Cloud and evaluate their effectiveness against well-established industrial standards that conform to the unique access control requirements in the domain. Our analysis can benefit organizations by helping them decide the best authorization technique for deployment in Cloud; a case study along with simulation results is also presented to illustrate the procedure of using our qualitative analysis for the selection of an appropriate technique, as per Cloud consumer requirements. From the results of this evaluation, we derive the general shortcomings of the extant access control techniques that are keeping them from providing successful authorization and, therefore, widely adopted by the Cloud community. To that end, we enumerate the features an ideal access control mechanisms for the Cloud should have, and combine them to suggest the ultimate solution to this major security challenge -- access control as a service (ACaaS) for the software as a service (SaaS) layer. We conclude that a meticulous research is needed to incorporate the identified authorization features into a generic ACaaS framework that should be adequate for providing high level of extensibility and security by integrating multiple access control models.
The cAMP-activated GTP exchange factor, Epac1 upregulates plasma membrane and nuclear Akt kinase activities in 8-CPT-2-O-Me-cAMP-stimulated macrophages: Gene silencing of the cAMP-activated GTP exchange Epac1 prevents 8-CPT-2-O-Me-cAMP activation of Akt activity in macrophages☆

cAMP regulates a wide range of processes through its downstream effectors including PKA, and the family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors. Depending on the cell type, cAMP inhibits or stimulates growth and proliferation in a PKA-dependent or independent manner. PKA-independent effects are mediated by PI 3-kinases-Akt signaling and EPAC1 (exchange protein directly activated by cAMP) activation. Recently, we reported PKA-independent activation of the protein kinase Akt as well co-immunoprecipitation of Epac1 with Rap1, p-AktThr-308, and p-AktSer-473 in forskolin-stimulated macrophages. To further probe the role of Epac1 in Akt protein kinase activation and cellular proliferation, we employed the cAMP analog 8-CPT-2-O-Me-cAMP, which selectively binds to Epac1 and triggers Epac1 signaling. We show the association of Epac1 with activated Akt kinases by co-immunoprecipitation and GST-pulldown assays. Silencing Epac1 gene expression by RNA interference significantly reduced levels of Epac1 mRNA, Epac protein, Rap1•GTP, p-ERK1/2, p-B-Raf, p110α catalytic subunit of PI 3-kinase, p-PDK, and p-p70s6k. Silencing Epac1 gene expression by RNA interference also suppressed 8-CPT-2-O-Me-cAMP-upregulated protein and DNA synthesis. Concomitantly, 8-CPT-2-O-Me-cAMP-mediated upregulation of AktThr-308 protein kinase activity and p-AktThr-308 levels was prevented in plasma membranes and nuclei of the cells. In contrast, silencing Epac1 gene expression reduced AktSer-473 kinase activity and p-AktSer-473 levels in plasma membranes, but showed negligible effects on nuclear activity. In conclusion, we show that cAMP-induced Akt kinase activation and cellular proliferation is mediated by Epac1 which appears to function as an accessory protein for Akt activation.
Pipeflow downstream of a reducer and its effects on flowmeters

Abstract The pipeflow profile and its influence on orifice coefficients downstream of a reducer have been studied experimentally in a 5.25 cm (2.07 in) diameter water flow facility. The mean and turbulence velocities, obtained by laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) are presented. From the measured velocity profiles, the profile characteristics of the pipeflow are described qualitatively and quantitatively. Several profile indexes are introduced to characterize the profile features (peaknesses and flow displacements). These indexes are then correlated with flowmeter performance in these flows. It is shown that these profile indexes correlate well with changes in discharge coefficient for the orifice meters and thus could be used to develop criteria for improving the performance of orifice meters or other types of meter in non-ideal installation conditions.
Sweep detection and alignment in handheld GPR detection devices

Handheld ground penetrating radar (GPR) devices, such as the AN/PSS-14, produce image data for a detection sequence. Sequences contain sweeps of left to right and right to left swings of the device. By smoothing the image scan and examining local minima, we can determine the sweep ranges and turn around points contained within the data. Different filters are used to determine the interval between sweeps and approximate the exact turn around point for each sweep. Images are then annotated with the start and end of sweep locations. Results presented are both qualitative, based on comparison to labeling by humans, and quantitative, based on robot- collected data. Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) helps us align overlapping regions of a left to right sweep with its corresponding right to left sweep.
On some fundamental properties of solutions of differential equations in Banach spaces

Consider the nonlinear abstract Cauchy problem (1) $$x' = f\left( {t,x} \right), x\left( {t_0 } \right) = x_0 $$ where f∈[R+ × X, X], X being a Banach space. We develop Alekseev's formula with respect to (1) and its perturbation (2) $$y' = f\left( {t,y} \right) + F\left( {t,y} \right), y\left( {t_0 } \right) = y_0 $$ where F∈C[R+ × X, X]. This result is a convenient tool in discussing the properties of solutions of (2) including the preservation of stability properties under constantly acting perturbations. In order to establish Alekseev's formula it was first essential to prove that the Frechet derivatives of the solution x(t, t0, x0) of (1), with respect to t0 and x0 exist and satisfy the equation of variation of (1) along the solution x(t, t0, x0).
Optimal Choice of AR and MA Parts in Autoregressive Moving Average Models

This paper deals with the Bayesian method of choosing the best model for a given one-dimensional series among a finite number of candidates belonging to autoregressive (AR), moving average (MA), ARMA, and other families. The series could be either a sequence of observations in time as in speech applications, or a sequence of pixel intensities of a two-dimensional image. The observation set is not restricted to be Gaussian. We first derive an optimum decision rule for assigning the given observation set to one of the candidate models so as to minimize the average probability of error in the decision. We also derive an optimal decision rule so as to minimize the average value of the loss function. Then we simplify the decision rule when the candidate models are different Gaussian ARMA models of different orders. We discuss the consistency of the optimal decision rule and compare it with the other decision rules in the literature for comparing dynamical models.
Ellagitannin Chemistry. First Total Synthesis of the 2,3- and 4,6-Coupled Ellagitannin Pedunculagin.

The biomimetic synthesis of pedunculagin (1) was accomplished through the sequential diastereoselective formation of two biphenyl C−C bonds. The synthesis strategy employed is predicated on extensive conformational modeling and involves initial oxidative coupling of the galloyl moieties at the O(2) and O(3) positions of an appropriately protected glucose-derived core, followed by installation and oxidative coupling of galloyl esters at the O(4) and O(6) positions.
The effects of tryptamine on transmitter release at a lobster neuromuscular junction.

Summary Electrophysiological techniques were employed to characterize the effects of tryptamine at excitatory and inhibitory neuromuscular junctions of the stretcher muscle in the carpopodite of lobster walking limbs. Tryptamine was found to have a concentration dependent, biphasic effect on excitatory junction potential (EJP) amplitude. At concentrations of 0.01–0.5 mN tyrptamine increased the amplitude of evoked EJPs, but at higher concentrations (> 0.5 mM) the amplitude was decreased by this amine. The high concentrations also decreased the amplitude of inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs) and reduced the frequency of miniature excitatory junction potentials (MEJPs). When a preparation in which the EJPs had been depressed by tryptamine was washed with the control, artificial sea water solution, the EJPs were increased to an amplitude greater than that of the pre-tryptamine control. Current -voltage relationship studies showed that tryptamine did not affect the effective resistance of the muscle fiber membrane. Tryptamine had no effect on the amplitude of excitatory responses evoked by the iontophoretic application of glutamate. Concentrations of tryptamine ranging to 10.0 mM affected neither the conduction velocity in meropodite or that of giant central nervous system (CNS) axons. We conclude that tryptamine affects synaptic transmission pre-synaptically by influencing the transmitter release process. Mass spectrometric analysis showed tryptamine to be an endogenous substance 3n the lobster; but the concentrations were low in the tissue analyzed. The highest concentration (∼0.3 nmol/g wet tissue) was in the subesophageal ganglion. Tryptamine was not detected in the meropodite nerves or carpopodite muscles.
A new approach to the symbolic factorization of multivariate polynomials

Abstract A heuristic factorization scheme that uses learning and other heuristic programming techniques to improve the efficiency of determining the symbolic factorization of multivariate polynomials with integer coefficients and an arbitrary number of variables and terms is described. The learning program, POLYFACT, in which the factorization scheme is implemented is also described. POLYFACT uses learning through the dynamic construction and manipulation of first-order predicate calculus heuristics to reduce the amount of searching for the irreducible factors of a polynomial. Tables containing the results of factoring randomly generated multivariate polynomials are presented: (1) to demonstrate that learning does improve considerably the efficiency of factoring polynomials, and (2) to show that POLYFACT does learn from previous experience. The factorization times of polynomials factored by both the scheme implemented in POLYFACT and Wang's implementation of Berlekamp's algorithm are given. The two algorithms are compared, and two situations where POLYFACT'S algorithm can be used to improve the efficiency of Wang's algorithm are discussed.