cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies on the mechanisms of active ion fluxes across alveolar epithelial cell monolayers

To investigate the cell physiologic and biological properties of the alveolar epithelium, we studied rat alveolar epithelial cell monolayers grown on permeable supports in primary culture. Type II alveolar epithelial cells were disaggregated using elastase, and partially purified on a discontinuous metrizamide gradient. These isolated cells were plated onto tissue culture-treated Nuclepore membrane filters at 1.5×106 cells/cm2 and maintained in a humidified incubator (5% CO2 in air, 37° C). After 2 days in culture, the bathing media on both sides of the cell monolayers were changed to fresh culture medium, thus removing nonadherent cells (mostly leukocytes). These monolayers exhibit a high transmonolayer resistance (>2000 Ω-cm2) and actively transport ions. Radionuclide flux studies indicate that Na+ is the predominant ionic species absorbed actively under baseline conditions, accounting for about 80% of the total active ion transport. Cl− seems to be passively transported across the epithelium. However, when the epithelium is exposed to a beta-agonist (terbutaline), active absorption of Na+ is increased and active absorption of Cl− occurs. Although it is clear that both active Na+ and Cl− transport are dependent on Na+/K+-ATPase activity, and that Na+ enters cells predominantly through channels, the specific mechanisms by which Cl− enters and exits the alveolar epithelial cells remain unclear. The stimulated reabsorption of Na+ and Cl− may be important in helping to remove excess fluid from alveolar air spaces in the lung.
Radiation Pulmonary Toxicity: From Mechanisms to Management

The goal of radiation therapy is to reduce or eliminate tumor burden while sparing normal tissues from long-term injury. Thoracic radiation presents a unique challenge because of the inherent sensitivity of normal lung tissue to radiation. Damage to normal lung tissue presents a major obstacle in the treatment of individuals. To overcome this problem, a number of strategies are being used, including the modulation of dose volume, the use of image-guided radiotherapy, and the use of agents designed to reduce lung injury from radiation. Herein we discuss our current knowledge of the molecular and cellular events that occur after radiation therapy, the clinical manifestations of radiation-induced lung injury, current strategies to minimize lung injury, and recent experimental methods to reduce lung injury and their potential for translation into the clinic.
Possibilities of peanut, pecan and safflower seed oils as supplements for olive oil

Samples of completely refined peanut oil, semirefined pecan oil, imported edible grade olive oil and crude safflower seed oil have been examined for composition, spectral transmittance and other properties. Compositions were determined by means of the modified Bertram oxidation method and application of the iodine-thiocyanogen number technique.
Modern homology modeling of G-protein coupled receptors: which structural template to use?

The recent availability in the literature of new crystal structures of inactive G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) prompted us to study the extent to which these crystal structures constitute an advantage over the former prototypic rhodopsin template for homology modeling of the transmembrane (TM) region of human class A GPCRs. Our results suggest that better templates than those currently available are required by the majority of these GPCRs to generate homology models that are accurate enough for simple virtual screening aimed at computer-aided drug discovery. Thus, we investigated: (1) which class A GPCRs would have the highest impact as potential templates for homology modeling of other GPCRs, if their structures were solved, and (2) the extent to which multiple-template homology modeling (using all currently available GPCR crystal structures) provides an improvement over single-template homology modeling, as evaluated by the accuracy of rigid protein−flexible ligand docking on these models.
Heparin-coated bypass circuits in cardiopulmonary bypass: improved biocompatibility or not.

Heparin bonding to bypass circuits has been found to reduce bleeding complications. Here, this process is reviewed with special attention to markers of inflammation and clinical outcome. Indicators of inflammation (i.e. cytokine levels, elastase and complement components) are decreased when using heparin bonded circuits compared to conventional bypass circuits. The decrease in the levels of these response modifiers appears minimal. Clinical outcomes, other than bleeding complications, have not been studied to any great extent with this technology. These lower levels of the various biological response modifiers are not correlated with lower levels of complications or shorter hospital stays. We conclude based on this data that it is not clear if this decrease translates into a clinical benefit in routine operative cases that require cardiopulmonary bypass
Integration of infrastructure based positioning systems and inertial navigation for ubiquitous context-aware engineering applications

This paper presents research that investigated and implemented a hybrid integrated location tracking framework that was developed by integrating infrastructure based positioning systems and inertial navigation. The authors implemented this research by using the Personal Dead Reckoning positioning system to serve as the inertial navigation based positioning system. The primary contribution of the presented work is the development and implementation of the Integrated Tracking System algorithm which was implemented in two levels. At the first level, the Integrated Tracking System (ITS) was developed by integrating Global Positioning System (GPS) and Personal Dead Reckoning (PDR) system to ubiquitously track a mobile user, in dynamic environments where GPS coverage may be uncertain. At the second level, the PDR system was integrated with a database of pre-determined known indoor location points in order to correct the accumulated drift error during a mobile user's navigation in an indoor environment. Finally, a hybrid tracking system was developed and implemented by integrating the PDR system with the mobile user's intervention and discernment of the environment. The implementation and the results obtained from validation experiments performed on the aforementioned hybrid tracking systems demonstrate the potential of using hybrid tracking for determining the spatial context of mobile users in ubiquitous context-aware engineering applications.
Variations in Definition and Method of Retrieval of Complications Influence Outcomes Statistics after Pancreatoduodenectomy: Comparison of NSQIP with Non-NSQIP Methods

Background NSQIP and the Accordion Severity Grading System have recently been used to develop quantitative methods for measuring the burden of postoperative complications. However, other audit methods such as chart reviews and prospective institutional databases are commonly used to gather postoperative complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate discordance between different audit methods in pancreatoduodenectomy—a common major surgical procedure. The chief aim was to determine how these different methods could affect quantitative evaluations of postoperative complications. Study Design Three common audit methods were compared with NSQIP in 84 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy. The methods were use of a prospective database, a chart review based on discharge summaries only, and a detailed retrospective chart review. The methods were evaluated for discordance with NSQIP and among themselves. Severity grading was performed using the Modified Accordion System. Results Fifty-three complications were listed by NSQIP and 31 complications were identified that were not listed by NSQIP. There was poor agreement for NSQIP-type complications between NSQIP and the other audit methods for mild and moderate complications (kappa 0.381 to 0.744), but excellent agreement for severe complications (kappa 0.953 to 1.00). Discordance was usually due to variations in definition of the complications in non-NSQIP methods. There was good agreement among non-NSQIP methods for non-NSQIP complications for moderate and severe complications, but not for mild complications. Conclusions There are important differences in perceived surgical outcomes based on the method of complication retrieval. The non-NSQIP methods used in this study could not be substituted for NSQIP in a quantitative analysis unless that analysis was limited to severe complications.
Field observations of sand transport by shoaling waves

Abstract A study of wave-generated currents and associated sand transport in the offshore zone of southern California has modified several previously-recognized theories concerning sedimentary processes in this region. A set of passing waves generates oscillating currents at the sea floor which have a spectrum of velocities whose average strengths over broad shelves are predicted accurately by classical wave theory. Long period swells and offshore breezes cause a net transport of bottom water towards the beach, while short period waves and onshore winds are associated with neutral or seaward flow. Ripple marks on the shallow sea floor, whose dimensions are a function of sediment size and current velcity, allow all available sand sizes to be moved with equal ease. A ripple remains in the same position even though sediment and water may be differentially transported. Most bottom sand transport occurs in the lowest few centimeters of the water column at a rate which varies with the square of current strength. Fine sand-grain size populations migrate in the direction of the greatest current velocities as a unit without being sorted. During winter in southern California, rip currents transport beach sand to the offshore where it is confined by predominant seaward oscillations caused by steep waves and strong winds. Rips are not active in calm summer months, and long period swells produce shoreward surge asymmetry which replenishes the beach with sediment.
Angiotensin II-induced process of angiogenesis is mediated by spleen tyrosine kinase via VEGF receptor-1 phosphorylation

Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), expressed in endothelial cells, has been implicated in migration and proliferation and in vasculogenesis. This study was conducted to determine the contribution of Syk and the underlying mechanism to the angiogenic effect of ANG II and VEGF. Angiogenesis was determined by tube formation from the endothelial cell line EA.hy926 (EA) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and microvessel sprouting in rat aortic rings. ANG II (10 nM), EGF (30 ng/ml), and VEGF (50 ng/ml) stimulated EA cells and HUVECs to form tubular networks and increased aortic sprouting; these effects were blocked by VEGF receptor-1 and Flt-1 antibody (Flt-1/Fc) but not by the VEGF receptor-2 (Flk-1) antagonist SU-1498. ANG II increased the phosphorylation of Flt-1 but not Flk-1, whereas VEGF increased the phosphorylation of both receptors in EA cells and HUVECs. VEGF expression elicited by ANG II was not altered by Flt-1/Fc or SU-1498. EGF stimulated tube formation from EA cells and HUVECs and Flt-1 phosphorylation and aortic sprouting, which were blocked by the EGF receptor antagonist AG-1478 and Flt-1/Fc but not by SU-1498. ANG II-, EGF-, and VEGF-induced tube formation and aortic sprouting were attenuated by the Syk inhibitor piceatannol and by Syk short hairpin interfering (sh)RNA and small interfering RNA, respectively. ANG II, EGF, and VEGF increased Syk phosphorylation, which was inhibited by piceatannol and Syk shRNA in EA cells and HUVECs. Neither piceatannol nor Syk shRNA altered ANG II-, EGF-, or VEGF-induced phosphorylation of Flt-1. These data suggest that ANG II stimulates angiogenesis via transactivation of the EGF receptor, which promotes the phosphorylation of Flt-1 and activation of Syk independent of VEGF expression.
Bone morphogenetic proteins, extracellular matrix, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways are required for osteoblast-specific gene expression and differentiation in MC3T3-E1 cells.

Osteoblasts secrete a complex extracellular matrix (ECM) containing collagenous and noncollagenous proteins, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and growth factors. Osteoblast-specific gene expression requires ascorbic acid (AA)-dependent assembly of a collagenous ECM. Matrix responsiveness requires an alpha2beta1 integrin-collagen interaction and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, which phosphorylates and activates the osteoblast-specific transcription factor Cbfa1. This study examines interactions between this integrin/MAPK-mediated pathway and signals initiated by BMPs contained in the osteoblast matrix. MC3T3-E1 cells were shown to constitutively express BMP-2, BMP-4, and BMP-7. Noggin, a specific BMP inhibitor, reversibly blocked AA-induced gene expression, indicating that BMP production by MC3T3-E1 cells was necessary for differentiation. The ability of exogenously added BMP-2, BMP-4, or BMP-7 to stimulate osteocalcin (OCN) and bone sialoprotein (BSP) mRNAs or OCN promoter activity was synergistically increased in cells that were actively synthesizing an ECM (i.e., were grown in the presence of AA). A minimum of 4 days of ECM accumulation was required for this synergistic response to be observed. Neither BMP-7, AA, nor a combination of these two treatments had major effects on Cbfa1 messenger RNA (mRNA) or protein levels, as would be expected if regulation was mainly at the posttranscriptional level. U0126, a specific inhibitor of MAPK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK), blocked AA- or BMP-7/AA-dependent gene expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner that was closely correlated with inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. This work establishes that autocrine BMP production as well as integrin-mediated cell-collagen interactions are both required for osteoblast differentiation, and both these pathways require MAP kinase activity.
Constraints: A uniform model for data and control

Most programming systems reflect a model of computation which sharply distinguishes between “passive” data objects and “active” program objects (procedures). Furthermore, procedures describe not only a set of computations but the precise flow of control between them. In contrast, a group at MIT is investigating a new paradigm called constraints in which a single kind of object models both data and procedures, and in which the description of procedures minimizes commitment to the order in which computational steps will be executed.A (primitive) constraint is an object with some parts, which correspond to fields of a data structure or input/output parameters of a procedure, and a body which describes how to compute the values of some parts from other parts. The body consists of rules written in an implementation language (Lisp in the MIT systems). Constraints with no body behave like ordinary data structures; constraints with substantial bodies behave more like procedures. However, unlike procedures, which always compute the same set of outputs from the same set of inputs, a constraint may compute in different directions depending on the available data.
Tectonic inferences from the ca. 1255–1100 Ma Unkar Group and Nankoweap Formation, Grand Canyon: Intracratonic deformation and basin formation during protracted Grenville orogenesis

The Unkar Group of the Grand Canyon Supergroup is one of the best-preserved remnants of Mesoproterozoic sedimentary rocks in the southwestern United States. It provides an exceptional record of intracratonic basin formation and associated tectonics kinematically compatible with protracted "Grenville-age" NW-directed shortening. New U/Pb age determinations from an air-fall tephra at the base of the Unkar Group dates the onset of deposition at ca. 1255 Ma, and 4 0 Ar/ 3 9 Ar K-feldspar thermochronology in the Grand Canyon indicates that basement rocks cooled through 150 °C between ca. 1300 and 1250 Ma, refining exhumation rates of basement rocks just prior to Unkar deposition. Abrupt thickness and facies changes in conglomerate and dolomite of the Bass Formation (lower Unkar Group) associated with NE-striking monoclinal flexures indicate NW-directed synsedimentary contraction at ca. 1250 Ma. A large disconformity (∼75 m.y. duration) is inferred between the lower and upper Unkar Group and is located below the upper Hakatai Shale, as documented by detrital zircons. A second style of Unkar Group deformation involved the development ofhalfgrabens and full grabens that record NE-SW extension on NW-striking, high-angle normal faults. Several observations indicate that NW-striking normal faulting was concurrent with upper Unkar deposition, mafic magmatism, and early Nankoweap deposition: (1) intraformational faulting in the Bass Formation, (2) intraformational faulting in the 1070 Ma (old Rb/Sr date) Cardenas Basalt and lower Nankoweap Formation, (3) syntectonic relationships between Dox deposition and 1104 Ma (new Ar/Ar date) diabase intrusion, and (4) an angular unconformity between Unkar Group and Nankoweap strata. The two tectonic phases affecting the Unkar Group (ca. 1250 Ma and ca. 1100 Ma) provide new insight into tectonics of southern Laurentia: (1) Laramide-style (monoclines) deformation in the continental interior at ca. 1250Ma records Grenville-age shortening; and (2) ca. 1100 Ma detrital muscovite (Ar/Ar) and zircon (U/Pb) indicate an Unkar Group source in the Grenville-age highlands of southwestern Laurentia during development of NW-striking extensional basins. We conclude that far-field stresses related to Grenville-age orogenesis (NW shortening and orthogonal NE-SW extension) dominated the sedimentary and tectonic regime of southwestern Laurentia from 1250 to 1100 Ma.
Medical modelling of obesity: a transition from action to experience in a 20th century American medical textbook

Abstract Obesity is now the focus of considerable attention in the medical profession, and many have noted that obesity has been progressively medicalised. The subjection of phenomena to medical explanation, however, has been associated with both the potential to relieve and also to exacerbate the attribution of individual responsibility. In order to understand the ways in which a particular phenomenon, obesity, can be variously conceptualised at different time-points within a medical framework, we conducted a content analysis of a series of medical textbook entries. Using the widely-consulted Cecil Textbook of Medicine, we reviewed entries on obesity from 1927 to 2000 and found that throughout this period the text consistently maintains that obesity results from a simple excess of caloric intake over expenditure. Despite the unwavering nature of this basic model, an evolving set of causal factors is superimposed. Early models invoke aberrant individual activities, such as habitual overeating, while later editions drop these factors in favour of genetic and, paradoxically, environmental effects. Obesity shifts in ontological status, as it is transformed from being the product of something that individuals do to something that they experience. Concurrent with these changes, we find a change in the social appraisal of obesity. In each edition there is a narrative regarding the cost/benefit relationship between obese persons and society, as well as a construction of accountability for obesity as an outcome. Obese individuals are progressively held less responsible for their condition in successive editions of the text. Initially cast as societal parasites, they are later transformed into societal victims. Using these texts and obesity as a case-example, we demonstrate that medical conceptualisation of a presumably cohesive object of knowledge can undergo transformation quite independently of definitive experimental evidence, with a persistent dialectic between etiological configuration and formulations of social culpability and remediation. We situate our findings with respect to ongoing debates concerning the nature and implications of medicalisation. This case effectively highlights a more general epidemiological tension between an individual level of focus on risk behaviours and a population level of focus that contexualises behaviours within a social and material framework.
High dose rate radiation treatment of experimental intramuscular prostate carcinoma.

Purpose: The Dunning R3327-MLL is a well established transplanted tumour line, and as such it makes a desirable model for evaluative studies of therapy. In the current study, the interstitial growth characteristics as well as the response of this tumour to a single fraction of high dose rate radiation is investigated.Materials and methods: The in vitro response to radiation of the Dunning R3327-MLL was studied via a colony forming assay using a Cs-137 irradiator. In vitro radiosensitivity was determined on tumours implanted intramuscularly in the left gastrocnemius muscle of the rat and irradiated using an Ir-192 afterloader.Results: The results demonstrate a faster growth rate when compared to the reported subcutaneous growth rates. The Dunning R3327-MLL's radiosensitivity is comparable to that of late response tissues. The dose required to achieve a specific radiobiological response (the α:β ratio) of the in vitro cell line is 2.4 Gy, whereas the ratio for the intramuscularly growing tumour was 0.99 Gy....
Phase Relationships in the ZrO2‐Sc2O3 and ZrO2‐In2O3 Systems

Zirconia-rich subsolidus phase relationships in the ZrO2–Sc2O3 and ZrO2–In2O3 systems were investigated. Phase inconsistencies in the ZrO2–Sc2O3 system resulted from a diffusionless cubic-to-tetragonal (t') phase transformation not being recognized in the past. Through three different measuring techniques, along with microstructural observations, the solubility limits of the tetragonal and cubic phases were determined.
Fully coupled implicit method for thermochemical nonequilibrium air at suborbital flight speeds

A CFD technique is described in which the finite-rate chemistry in thermal and chemical nonequilibrium air is fully and implicitly coupled with the fluid motion. Developed for use in the suborbital hypersonic flight speed range, the method accounts for nonequilibrium vibrational and electronic excitation and dissociation, but not ionization. The steady-state solution to the resulting system of equations is obtained by using a lower-upper factorization and symmetric Gauss-Seidel sweeping technique through Newton iteration. Inversion of the left-hand-side matrices is replaced by scalar multiplications through the use of the diagonal dominance algorithm. The code, named CENS2H (Compressible-Euler-Navier-Stokes Two-Dimensional Hypersonic), is fully vectorized and requires about 8.8 x 10 to the -5th sec per node point per iteration using a Cray X-MP computer. Converged solutions are obtained after about 2400 iterations. Sample calculations are made for a circular cylinder and a 10 percent airfoil at 5 deg angle of attack. The calculated cylinder flow field agrees with that obtained experimentally. The code predicts a 10 percent change in lift, drag, and pitching moment for the airfoil due to the thermochemical phenomena.
Degree of taste discrimination among suspension‐feeding cladocerans and copepods: Implications for detritivory and herbivory

We used the Rassoulzadegan-DeMott bead bioassay to evaluate the ability of various pelagic microcrustaceans to discriminate between particles on the basis of taste and size. The test examined zooplankton reactions to fresh algal exudates adsorbed onto polystyrene microspheres. The investigation shows that there is a marked dichotomy between certain large-bodied freshwater microcrustaceans in how they respond to small particles; it confirms that large daphnid cladocerans exhibit no taste discrimination for small beads, whereas calanoid copepods continually appraise resource quality of both small and large particles with a fine degree of discrimination. In contrast, smaller bodied daphnids and other cladocerans show some degree of taste and acute size discrimination, the former presumably related to processing large particles one at a time and to the individual peculiarities of the filtering mechanisms. Based on the findings from taste discrimination tests, we suggest that the degree of taste discrimination is often related to particle size. Moreover, we assert that many cladocerans are categorized more appropriately as detritivores than as herbivores, although they exhibit modest, size-related taste discrimination.
Interaction among Saccharomyces cerevisiae pheromone receptors during endocytosis

This study investigates endocytosis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae α-factor receptor and the role that receptor oligomerization plays in this process. α-factor receptor contains signal sequences in the cytoplasmic C-terminal domain that are essential for ligand-mediated endocytosis. In an endocytosis complementation assay, we found that oligomeric complexes of the receptor undergo ligand-mediated endocytosis when the α-factor binding site and the endocytosis signal sequences are located in different receptors. Both in vitro and in vivo assays suggested that ligand-induced conformational changes in one Ste2 subunit do not affect neighboring subunits. Therefore, recognition of the endocytosis signal sequence and recognition of the ligand-induced conformational change are likely to be two independent events.
Age at Menopause and Childbearing Patterns in Relation to Mortality

Several studies have reported increased mortality risk with early natural menopause. More recently, mortality risk was reported to be reduced among women who gave birth at age > or =40 years. The association between reproductive history and mortality was explored among 826 women in a prospective study involving 18,959 person-years of follow-up (from age 50 to 1990-1991) and 108 deaths. After adjustment for age and other covariates, the risk ratio among parous women was 1.53 (95% confidence interval: 0.58, 4.07) for natural menopause at age or =51 years. In contrast to a previous report, however, the highest estimated mortality risk was seen among women who gave birth in their forties (adjusted risk ratio = 2.14, 95% confidence interval: 1.05, 4.38) compared with having a last birth at ages 30-34 years.
RNA Incorporation Is Critical for Retroviral Particle Integrity after Cell Membrane Assembly of Gag Complexes

The nucleocapsid (NC) domain of retroviruses plays a critical role in specific viral RNA packaging and virus assembly. RNA is thought to facilitate viral particle assembly, but the results described here with NC mutants indicate that it also plays a critical role in particle integrity. We investigated the assembly and integrity of particles produced by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 M1-2/BR mutant virus, in which 10 of the 13 positive residues of NC have been replaced with alanines and incorporation of viral genomic RNA is virtually abolished. We found that the mutations in the basic residues of NC did not disrupt Gag assembly at the cell membrane. The mutant Gag protein can assemble efficiently at the cell membrane, and viral proteins are detected outside the cell as efficiently as they are for the wild type. However, only ∼10% of the Gag molecules present in the supernatant of this mutant sediment at the correct density for a retroviral particle. The reduction of positive charge in the NC basic domain of the M1-2/BR virus adversely affects both the specific and nonspecific RNA binding properties of NC, and thus the assembled Gag polyprotein does not bind significant amounts of viral or cellular RNA. We found a direct correlation between the percentage of Gag associated with sedimented particles and the amount of incorporated RNA. We conclude that RNA binding by Gag, whether the RNA is viral or not, is critical to retroviral particle integrity after cell membrane assembly and is less important for Gag-Gag interactions during particle assembly and release.
SODIUM-22 FROM SUPERNOVAE: A METEORITE CONNECTION

There are several meteoritic noble gas components whose isotopic abundances are distinctly different from the solar abundance. One of these components, Ne-E(L), is a 22Ne-rich component carried by presolar graphite. Neon-22 is dominantly from the radiogenic decay of 22Na (T 1/2 = 2.6 a), but it also contains 22Ne produced by 14N(α, γ)18F(e +ν)18O(α, γ)22Ne. The proportions of 22Ne from the two different origins vary with graphite density. Many low-density graphite grains (1.65-1.72 g cm–3) exhibit 18O and 28Si excesses, signatures of supernova origin. We revisited noble gas data on bulk (=aggregates) and single-grain analyses of presolar graphite to better understand the origin of Ne-E(L). We conclude that essentially all 22Ne in low-density graphite grains originated from 22Na produced in the O/Ne zone in supernovae. The initial presence of 22Na in these grains indicates that grains formed within a few years after the supernova explosion. The absence of implanted 22Ne can be explained if the grains and the gas in the ejecta became decoupled when they encountered the reverse shock and sputtering eroded the grains in the outer H-rich zone and in the interstellar medium.
Core-bored search-and-rescue applications for an agile limbed robot

A custom version of the TerminatorBot is described for core bored inspection during search-and-rescue operations. "Core bored inspection" refers to visual inspection of a void by passing a small camera through an access hole into the void. This is the classic "camera-on-a-stick" approach. Sometimes the access hole occurs naturally. Sometimes a suspected void has no access hole. To gain access, a hole is bored through the rubble with a coring tool, hence the term "core-bored inspection". In either case, the camera, once inside, can articulate to look around, but is limited to fine-of-sight. Occlusions can prevent a thorough inspection or force using/boring another hole. A small, agile robotic device could augment the use of such cameras. We propose the TerminatorBot as a prototype limbed robot for studying such applications.
Evaluation of oscillator phase noise subject to reliability

This paper systematically investigates the hot carrier (HC) and soft-breakdown (SBD) induced performance degradations in CMOS voltage-controlled oscillators. After the MOSFET device RF parameter degradations due to HC and SBD effects are experimentally evaluated, the HC and SBD induced performance degradations of a differential 5-stage ring oscillator and a cross-coupled LC oscillator are evaluated for the first time for 0.16 /spl mu/m technology, focusing on phase noise. Two design techniques are proposed to improve the oscillator performance. The SpectraRF and BERT simulation results verified the effectiveness of the proposed design techniques.
Comparison of three culture techniques for the isolation of Brucella abortus from bovine supramammary lymph nodes.

Three different culturing techniques were compared and evaluated to determine the most effective method for isolating Brucella abortus from bovine supramammary lymph nodes (SM's). In method I, the SM was sliced in half, and the inner surface was minced finely with a sterile scalpel. The minced surface was spread onto the agar surface of 4 selective media. In method II, the SM was cut into small pieces and placed in a bag with a volume of phosphate-buffered saline equal to the volume of the lymph node. The bag was placed in a laboratory blender and the SM was macerated for 5 min. The tissue suspension was spread with a sterile cotton swab onto the agar surface of 4 selective media. In method III, the SM was processed in the laboratory blender. One milliliter of the suspension was pipetted into a flask of biphasic medium, and 2 ml of the suspension was pipetted into another flask of biphasic medium. A total of 626 SM's from 285 cows were cultured. Brucella abortus was isolated from 149 (52.3%) cows by 1 or more methods. Brucella abortus was isolated from 136 cows by method I, 137 cows by method II, and 86 cows by method III. Nine (3.2%) cows were positive by method I only, 11 (3.9%) cows by method II only, and 2 (0.7%) cows by method III only. The isolation rate for method III was significantly lower than for method I or II. There was no significant difference between methods I and II. The isolation of Brucella abortus from a cow with a positive Brucella serum titer is important for the con- firmation of brucellosis and for herd management. Various methods of processing and culturing tissue samples have been developed over the last 50 years. The use of guinea pigs was the original method of choice. 1,8 Later, a method of slicing and mincing the
Classroom-based assistive technology: collective use of interactive visual schedules by students with autism

vSked is an interactive and collaborative assistive technology for students with autism, combining visual schedules, choice boards, and a token-based reward system into an integrated classroom system. In this paper, we present the results of a study of three deployments of vSked over the course of a year in two autism classrooms. The results of our study demonstrate that vSked can promote student independence, reduce the quantity of educator-initiated prompts, encourage consistency and predictability, reduce the time required to transition from one activity to another. The findings from this study reveal practices surrounding the use of assistive technologies in classrooms and highlight important considerations for both the design and the evaluation of assistive technologies in the future, especially those destined for classroom use.
Differential effects of proteasome inhibitors on cell cycle and apoptotic pathways in human YT and Jurkat cells

Herein, we report differential effects of various proteasome inhibitors including clasto-lactacystin-beta-lactone, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and N-Acetyl-Leu-Leu-Norleu-al (LLnL) on proteasomal activities of YT and Jurkat cells, human natural killer (NK) and T cell lines, respectively. The inhibitory rates of these inhibitors on the purified 20S proteasomal and 26S proteasomal chymotrypsin-like activity in whole cell extracts and intact cells did not show significant differences between the two cell lines. The viability of both cell lines was reduced in the presence of LLnL. Subsequent studies revealed a reduction of the mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase-3 activation in these two cell lines upon treatment with proteasome inhibitors; however, caspase-3 activation occurred much earlier in Jurkat cells. Cell cycle analysis indicated a sub-G(1) apoptotic cell population in Jurkat cells and G(2)/M arrest in YT cells after they were treated by proteasome inhibitors. Moreover, pretreatment of YT cells by a caspase inhibitor followed by a proteasome inhibitor did not increase the percentage of G(2)/M phase cells. In addition, accumulation of p27 and IkappaB-alpha was detected only in Jurkat cells, but not YT cells. In summary, proteasome inhibitors may act differentially in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of tumors of NK and T cell origin, and may have similar effects on normal NK and T cells.
Sealing of micromachined cavities using chemical vapor deposition methods: characterization and optimization

This paper presents results of a systematic investigation to characterize the sealing of micromachined cavities using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods. We have designed and fabricated a large number and variety of surface-micromachined test structures with different etch-channel dimensions. Each cavity is then subjected to a number of sequential CVD deposition steps with incremental thickness until the cavity is successfully sealed. At etch deposition interval, the sealing status of every test structure is experimentally obtained and the percentage of structures that are sealed is recorded. Four CVD sealing materials have been incorporated in our studies: LPCVD silicon nitride, LPCVD polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon), LPCVD phosphosilicate glass (PSG), and PECVD silicon nitride. The minimum CVD deposition thickness that is required to successfully seal a microstructure is obtained for the first time. For a typical Type-1 test structure that has eight etch channels-each 10 /spl mu/m long, 4 /spl mu/m wide, and 0.42 /spl mu/m tall-the minimum required thickness (normalized with respect to the height of etch channels) is 0.67 for LPCVD silicon nitride, 0.62 for LPCVD polysilicon, 4.5 for LPCVD PSG, and 5.2 for PECVD nitride. LPCVD silicon nitride and polysilicon are the most efficient sealing materials. Sealing results with respect to etch-channel dimensions (length and width) are evaluated (within the range of current design). When LPCVD silicon nitride is used as the sealing material, test structures with the longest (38 /spl mu/m) and widest (16 /spl mu/m) etch channels exhibit the highest probability of sealing. Cavities with a reduced number of etch channels seal more easily. For LPCVD PSG sealing, on the other hand, the sealing performance improves with decreasing width but is not affected by length of etch channels.
Amelioration of the cooling load based chiller sequencing control

Abstract Cooling Load based Control (CLC) for the chiller sequencing is a commonly used control strategy for multiple-chiller plants. To improve the energy efficiency of these chiller plants, researchers proposed various CLC optimization approaches, which can be divided into two groups: studies to optimize the load distribution and studies to identify the optimal number of operating chillers. However, both groups have their own deficiencies and do not consider the impact of each other. This paper aims to improve the CLC by proposing three new approaches. The first optimizes the load distribution by adjusting the critical points for the chiller staging, which is easier to be implemented than existing approaches. In addition, by considering the impact of the load distribution on the cooling tower energy consumption and the pump energy consumption, this approach can achieve a better energy saving. The second optimizes the number of operating chillers by modulating the critical points and the condenser water set point in order to achieve the minimal energy consumption of the entire chiller plant that may not be guaranteed by existing approaches. The third combines the first two approaches to provide a holistic solution. The proposed three approaches were evaluated via a case study. The results show that the total energy consumption saving for the studied chiller plant is 0.5%, 5.3% and 5.6% by the three approaches, respectively. An energy saving of 4.9–11.8% can be achieved for the chillers at the cost of more energy consumption by the cooling towers (increases of 5.8–43.8%). The pumps’ energy saving varies from −8.6% to 2.0%, depending on the approach.
Regulation of Migratory Flight by Juvenile Hormone Mimic and Inhibitor in the Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Adult mated and virgin females were dosed with a juvenile hormone (JH) agonist or antagonist to alter their intrinsic levels of juvenoid compounds. Of 468 females tested, 252 flew, and migratory flight behavior was observed in 145 (31%). No migratory flights were undertaken by untreated virgins. Females treated with juvenile hormone mimic (JHM) and inhibitor (AJH) flew both trivial and sustained flights that were significantly longer in duration and distance than those of controls, but age displacement of peak flight activity varied according to treatment and mating status. There seems to be a definitive window of migratory flight activity in the western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, that can be temporally displaced by JHM and AJH treatment. Ovarian development was negatively correlated with migratory flight activity, which substantiates the inverse relationship between flight and reproduction. JH moderates the considerable flight capabilities of the WCR, permitting adaptation of this species to a dynamic, agricultural ecosystem.
Network Thinking in Animal Social Behavior

The application of quantitative network analysis to animal social networks has opened new avenues for researchers to identify intricate details about how individual interactions determine the social structure of groups. Network analysis allows researchers to begin to take large amounts of seemingly noisy data and make sense of interaction patterns among individuals by providing methods that enable quantification of social associations in ways that reveal patterns of sociality that were otherwise difficult to detect 10–15 years ago.
Bishop's Stone-Weierstrass Theorem: To the Memory of Errett Bishop [1928-1983] and Silvio Machado [1932-1981]

(1984). Bishop's Stone-Weierstrass Theorem. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 91, No. 1, pp. 22-32.
Defining "legitimate medical purpose".

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) does not have the authority to determine which health care activities constitute a “legitimate medical purpose” under federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has held in Oregon v. Ashcroft
Marken schaffen Werte — Brand Stewardship als Erfolgsfaktor

A brand is an asset and it builds equity. A brand — it’s all in our minds. Old days brand management has now future. Brand stewardship is as much an art as a science. Over ten years of research on Y&R BrandAsset™ Valuator indicate how brands evolve and erode. Brand vitality is key to success. To become a power brand a brand must be different, relevant, highly esteemed and familiar. Brand customer experience through many different touch points offers new opportunities. This is especially valid for the smaller and medium-sized companies. Manners2Brand™ addresses the issue of brand ambassadors. Often neglected they can make a difference — to the positive or negative. Based on solid research and long-time experience key findings are presented and new thoughts on brand stewardship offered.
It's Really Not about the Money: The Financing and Payment of Physician Services

Publisher Summary Traditional efforts by the physician community to remove the issue of money from the physician–patient relationship were thwarted when managed care plans reintroduced money as a direct factor in the service equation. Physician roles expanded to include health care cost management in addition to patient advocacy. From the middle of the nineteenth century until the late twentieth century, the way of purchasing medical services changed as physicians successfully restructured both their clinical and their economic relationships with patients. Through this effort, physicians controlled and directed the growth and development of the health-care industry. The profession expertly crafted its dominant position by championing the scientific approach to medical care and the fiduciary responsibility of physicians to act solely in the best interest of their patients. Manipulation of financial incentives alone will not fundamentally change delivery and financing models in the way required to equitably balance cost, quality, and access issues. The challenges and costs associated with restructuring patient–physician relationship and the health care industry are great. In a competitive market environment, however, the possibility of aligning physician incentives in a way that benefits the public while minimizing concerns is promising. The essence of good care is the cooperative interaction between an informed patient, and an engaged and caring physician. In this scenario, the role of money and the payment plan developed for physicians will be addressed in a way that will meet the requirements of all participants.
'Safe Harbor' and the European Union's Directive on Data Protection

The European Union's Directive on Data Protection became effective in October 1998. It requires that transfers of personal data from EU member to non-EU member countries take place only if the latter provides an adequate level of protection for the data. The U.S. Department of Commerce and the European Commission have drafted a set of "safe harbor" privacy principles, under which U.S. organizations may continue to self-regulate their privacy policies. This paper discusses the requirements and ramifications of the principles, as well as the likely effects on U.S. organizations.
Myelography: modern technique and indications

Myelography describes the instillation of intrathecal contrast media for the imaging evaluation of spinal canal pathology. The technique has evolved with the use of progressively less toxic contrast agents over its 90-year history and the inclusion of advanced image acquisition technology, including both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in addition to plain radiographic projections. The use of myelography for routine evaluation of spinal disease has diminished greatly due to the advent of MRI which has superior soft-tissue contrast and is relatively non-invasive. However, it is still a critical technique for conventional indications, such as spinal stenosis, when MRI is contraindicated or nondiagnostic. It is also recognized as the study of choice for brachial plexus injury, radiation therapy treatment planning, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Modern myelographic procedural technique and a discussion of how it contributes to these current indications will be reviewed in this chapter.
Seed Biology of the Weed Maryland Meadowbeauty (Rhexia mariana L.) in Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)

ABSTRACTStudies were conducted at three locations across the North Carolina coastal plain region to determine sexual reproductive potential, seedbank density, frequency of seed dormancy, and effect of temperature on Maryland meadowbeauty seed germination. Seed capsule density ranged from 500 per m2 to 1124 per m2 across locations. Each capsule contained an average of 74 seeds. Seeds germinated only in the 35/20 °C temperature regime, which represents the hottest month (August) of the growing season in southeastern North Carolina. Total number of germinated seeds differed across locations and ranged from 30% to 57%. The percent (average) of viable (66) and nonviable (26) meadowbeauty seeds was not different across locations. Relative germination and seed dormancy percentages were calculated based on the number of viable seeds. The percent relative germination and seed dormancy were different across locations and ranged from 47% to 86% and 14% to 55%, respectively. The highest number of germination resulted...
Paradigms for Assessing Hedonic Processing and Motivation in Humans: Relevance to Understanding Negative Symptoms in Psychopathology

Clinicians and researchers have long known that one of the debilitating aspects of psychotic disorders is the presence of "negative symptoms," which involve impairments in hedonic and motivational function, and/or alterations in expressive affect. We have a number of excellent clinical tools available for assessing the presence and severity of negative symptoms. However, to better understand the mechanisms that may give rise to negative symptoms, we need tools and methods that can help distinguish among different potential contributing causes, as a means to develop more targeted intervention pathways. Using such paradigms is particularly important if we wish to understand whether the causes are the same or different across disorders that may share surface features of negative symptoms. This approach is in line with the goals of the Research Diagnostic Criteria Initiative, which advocates understanding the nature of core dimensions of brain-behavior relationships transdiagnostically. Here we highlight some of the emerging measures and paradigms that may help us to parse the nature and causes of negative symptoms, illustrating both the research approaches from which they emerge and the types of constructs that they can help elucidate.
Natives of a Dry Place: Stories of Dakota before the Oil Boom

Review of: "Natives of a Dry Place: Stories of Dakota before the Oil Boom," by Richard Edwards