cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do catecholamines directly modulate the delayed plateau potassium current in frog atrium

An important electrophysiological action of catecholamines in the heart is the modulation of the second inward current (iCa). Catecholamine augmentation of iCa has been attributed to an increase in the number of functional channels, as well as an increase in the probability of channel opening [1, 4, 12]. Another important electrophysiological action of catecholamines in the heart is the modulation of time-dependent outward currents. In the Purkinje fibre, epinephrine has been shown to shift the voltage-dependence of the pacemaker current, iK2 [13]. The delayed outward current(s) which is activated over the plateau range of potentials (ix) is also augmented by catecholamines in Purkinje fibers [14] as well as frog atrium [3]. Several possible mechanisms for enhancement of the outward plateau current by catecholamines have been proposed [2]: (i) a direct increase in the maximal conductance of the channel; (ii) an indirect enhancement of outward current mediated by stimulation of Na+-K+ exchange (which may reduce potassium concentration in restricted extracellular spaces and hence produce an increase in the driving force for K+) or (iii) an indirect augmentation of outward current via enhancement of intracellular Ca2+ (calcium-activated potassium conductance) [10]. To distinguish between these possible mechanisms, the influence of epinephrine and isoproterenol on the delayed outward K+ current in single isolated bullfrog atrial cells was examined. Evidence is presented that in single frog atrial cells, concentrations of epinephrine or isoproterenol which produce large increases in the second inward current have no detectable effect upon the delayed plateau K+ current.
Introduction to eicosanoids and the gastroenteric tract.

Eicosanoids are produced throughout the gastrointestinal tract and are significant mediators of physiologic and pathophysiologic processes. Understanding the precise role(s) of specific eicosanoid metabolites remains a significant challenge, but has led to the development of new pharmacologic strategies for treating NSAID-induced gastroenteropathy and IBD. Given the complex array of arachidonic acid metabolites, the development of more specific and potent inhibitors of these cyclooxygenase isoforms is important for future studies and possible therapeutic applications. Mice have been prepared that lack expression of COX-1 or COX-2. Once these animals have been carefully evaluated, understanding of the role of various pathways of eicosanoid formation in gastrointestinal function, development, and epithelial growth regulation might be improved. Considerable progress has been made in the understanding of arachidonic acid metabolism and in eicosanoid receptor biology. The identification and characterization of an inducible cyclooxygenase isoform has led to important studies evaluating the role of this enzyme in inflammation, neoplasia, and NSAID-induced gastrointestinal injury. The demonstration that COX-2 overexpression in intestinal epithelial cells leads to specific phenotypic changes, such as increased adhesion and inhibition of apoptosis, indicates that this enzyme may alter the tumorigenic potential of epithelial cells and offers hope for the future development of improved chemopreventive agents.
A Biographical Bandwagon

Albert Einstein. A Biography. ALBRECHT FOLSING. Viking, New York, 1997. xiv, 882 pp. + plates. $34.95 or C$45. ISBN 0-670-85545-6. Translated from the German edition (Frankfurt am Main, 1993) by Ewald Osers. Einstein. A Life. DENIS BRIAN. Wiley, New York, 1996. xvi, 509 pp. + plates. $30, ISBN 0-471-11459-6; paper, $19.95 or C$27.95, ISBN 0-471-19362-3.
Sources of Error in the Determination of Output Voltage of Pulse Generators by Pacemaker System Analyzers

The use of threshold or pacemaker system analyzers with widely different characteristics has introduced potential sources of error in the determination of the output voltage of pulse generators. This is further compounded by the availability of pulse generators with diverse waveform configurations and programmability capabilities. Because of this non-uniformity, the physician must have some rudimentary knowledge of waveform characteristics and appreciate the limitations of threshold or pacemaker system analyzers to avoid the unnecessary replacement of normally-functioning pulse generators.
The effect of nitro substitution on the photochemistry of benzyl benozhydroxamate: Photoinduced release of benzohydroxamic acid

Abstract The redox congener of the important signaling agent nitric oxide (NO), nitroxyl or nitrosyl hydride (HNO) has also been demonstrated to induce distinct physiological effects. The aim of this study was to determine if benzohydroxamic acid, which was selected as a stable model compound of HNO donors, could be released by the o -nitrobenzyl photolabile protecting group (PPG) in a wavelength-dependent manner. It was expected that selective irradiation of the o -nitrobenzyl chromophore would favor the release of benzohydroxamic acid over undesired products associated with N–O bond cleavage. Quantum yields for the release of benzohydroxamic acid protected by the o -nitrobenzyl PPG increased at longer wavelengths, with a concomitant decrease in the yield of minor products. Through the use of triplet photosensitizers, triplet quenchers, computational methods, and the position of the nitro substituent, insights into the nature of the mechanism were suggested.
Varying trends in surface energy fluxes and associated climate between 1960 and 2002 based on transient climate simulations

[1] The observed reduction in land surface radiation over the last several decades (1960–1990), the so-called “dimming effect,” and the more recent evidence of a reversal in “dimming” over some locations beyond 1990 suggest several consequences on climate, notably on the hydrological cycle. Such a reduction in radiation should imply reduced surface temperature (Ts) and precipitation, which have not occurred. We have investigated the possible causes for the above climate features using a climate model coupled to a dynamic ocean model under natural and anthropogenic conditions. To isolate the aerosol influence on surface radiation trends, we have analyzed transient climate simulations from 1960 to 2002 with and without anthropogenic aerosols. Based on a linear trend with aerosol effects included, the global mean change in the surface solar radiation absorbed over land is −0.021 ± 0.0033 Wm−2yr−1. Although the overall trend is negative, we do note a reversal in dimming after 1990, consistent with observations. Without aerosol effects, the surface solar radiation absorbed over land increases throughout 1960 to 2002, mainly due to the decrease in cloud cover associated with increased greenhouse warming. In spite of a simulated increase in Ts of 0.012 K yr−1 for 1960 to 2002, the global mean latent heat flux and associated intensity of the hydrological cycle decrease overall, however with increases over some land locations due mainly to moisture advection. Simulated changes correspond more closely to observed changes when accounting for aerosol effects on climate.
Should PTSD Criterion A be retained

Criterion A has been controversial since its inception, partially because it performs a key gate keeping function. Major criticisms of Criterion A of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) include that it has resulted in “criterion creep.” The authors tested the hypothesis that a nonrestrictive definition would substantially increase posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence by determining PTSD based on Criteria B, C, D, E, and F, without restricting Criterion A in large probability samples of U.S. adolescents and Florida adults. Few PTSD cases occurred in the absence of Criterion A1 events, providing little support for the criterion creep hypothesis. Specific recommendations are to retain Criterion A; permit additional events; consider expanding Criterion A2; consider that either Criterion A1 or A2 be met; and place greater emphasis on Criterion F.
Shadowing and the Plasma-Sheath Transition Layer

This paper gives a rigorous derivation of the system μ2 d2w0\over dζ2 =w20+ζ , w0(ζ0)=-(-ζ0)1/2 , dw0\over dζ (ζ0)= 1\over 2 (-ζ0)-1/2 , ζ0<0 , governing the electric potential in the transition layer joining quasi-neutral plasma to space charge sheath in a weakly ionized plasma. The parameter μ represents the tolerance for ``shadowing,'' i.e., it measures the ``distance'' between the true solution of the full Euler-Poisson system and the solution of the reduced order limit equation for w0(ζ) .
Performance of a device for entrainment reduction and smoother operation of a fluidized bed

Abstract A device proposed for the suppression of entrainment from fluidized beds has been studied. Particles projected upward at the bed surface entered a particle diverter which returned them to the bed. Measurements were made of the air velocity and mass flux profiles downstream of the device using a rugged hot-film anemometer and an electrostatic mass flux probe. In addition, entrainment rates were measured by weighing the particles collected over a given time in a filter. As initially designed, the diverter demonstrated a significant decrease in the transport disengaging height and a reduction in entrainment of more than 80% at a height of 1.3 m above a 0.33 m dia. bed. Additionally, a significant observation was that the bed ran steadier and smoother than operation without the device.
Psychophysical modelling for combined manual materials-handling activities.

Most psychophysical studies in manual materials handling (MMH)are involved only with single MMH activities, i.e. lifting, lowering, carrying, holding, pushing or pulling. Very little research has been reported on the determination of operator capacities for combinations of MMH activities (e.g. lifting a box, then carrying the box, or carrying a box, then lowering the box). These kinds of combined activities are prevalent in industry and in our daily lives. The objective of this study was to utilize the psychophysical approach to examine the effects of combinations of lifting, carrying and lowering activities. Twelve male students served as subjects for the study. The capacities that were determined as the maximum acceptable workloads for a 1-h work period for four individual MMH activities—lifting from floor to knuckle height (LFK), lifting from knuckle to shoulder height (LKS), lowering from knuckle to floor height (LOW) and carrying for 3·4 m (C) —and three combined MMH activities—LFK + C, LFK + C + LKS...
Child injury control: Trends, themes, and controversies

Injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among US children, and an important driver of health status globally. Despite its enormous burden, injury is preventable. Over the last 10 years, significant progress has been made in the reduction of unintentional injury among US children. However, aggregate trends mask important disparities by age group, region, and injury mechanism. Basic and translation research is needed to develop and test prevention strategies to address these new or recalcitrant problems. Motor vehicle occupant injury has fallen to historic lows, but challenges remain in protecting novice drivers and managing the distraction of new technologies. Injury to pedestrians has also declined, but likely as a result of decreased exposure as fewer children walk. This calls for a broader public health perspective to promote activity while enhancing safety. Deaths due to drowning are common and illustrate the difficulty in measuring and promoting appropriate supervision. Environmental modification and use of protective products may be a more appropriate response. Concussion in sport is another challenging issue: public health laws promote identification and appropriate management of concussed athletes, but less progress has been made on primary prevention of these injuries. Unintentional poisoning is on the rise, attributable to misuse of, and overdose with, prescription opioids. Injury deaths to infants are also increasing. This trend is driven in part by better death investigation that classifies more sleep-related deaths as suffocation events. Finally, we examine a sample of cross-cutting themes and controversies in injury control that might be amenable to empiric evaluation.
High-frequency series-resonant DC link power conversion

An AC/DC conversion scheme is presented which eliminates the need for self-commutated devices and requires only 12 thyristors for full double bridge AC to AC power conversion. The system utilizes a series resonant DC link between the AC/DC and DC/AC converters. This series resonant scheme is, in effect, the dual of the parallel DC resonant converter. The DC resonant circuit can be essentially considered as a commutating circuit which ensures turn-off of all twelve thyristors by providing the necessary zero-current instants. A significantly improved sinusoidal current waveform can be obtained at both the input and output compared to conventional high-power converters by the use of high-frequency pulse density modulation. >
Hardness vs. randomness within alternating time

We study the complexity of building pseudorandom generators (PRGs) with logarithmic seed length from hard functions. We show that, starting from a function f:{0,1}/sup l//spl rarr/{0,1} that is mildly hard on average, i.e. every circuit of size 2/sup /spl Omega/(l)/ fails to compute f on at least a 1/poly(l) fraction of inputs, we can build a PRG: {0,1}/sup O(logn)//spl rarr/{0,1}/sup n/ computable in ATIME(O(1), logn)=alternating time O(logn) with O(1) alternations. Such a PRG implies BP/spl middot/AC/sub 0/=AC/sub 0/ under DLOGTIME-uniformity. On the negative side, we prove a tight lower bound on black-box PRG constructions that are based on worst-case hard functions. We also prove a tight lower bound on black-box worst-case hardness amplification, which is the problem of producing an average-case hard function starting from a worst-case hard one. These lower bounds are obtained by showing that constant depth circuits cannot compute extractors and list-decodable codes.
Comparative analysis of temporal and spatial variability in above-ground production in a deciduous forest and prairie

Production patterns of tallgrass prairie and adjacent eastern deciduous forest were summarized for a five to seven year period. Each system responded differentially to annual or growing season rainfall and solar energy (measured by pan water evaporation). Overall, forest productivity was negatively correlated with annual precipitation; the prairie exhibited no relationship with precipitation. These differences probably reflect the lack of water limitation of the forest and the “downstream” position of the forest. Wood and seed production in the forest were the most variable components measured in our study. Neither variable was related to forest foliage production. Seed production in the prairie was also variable within and between years but was related to prairie foliage production. Prairie seed production was not correlated with seed production of the forest. The two ecosystems respond differentially and independently of each other within the range of climatic variation observed here. Such differences have potential significance to consumers who use both systems for habitat or resources.
Treatment of oophorectomized guinea pigs with intrauterine 17β-estradiol pellets may modulate myometrial β-adrenergic receptor binding properties

Intrauterine 17 beta-estradiol pellets can induce an up-regulation of guinea pig myometrial beta-adrenergic receptor density and l-isoproterenol-dependent adenylate cyclase activity. Does 17 beta-estradiol influence the ability of beta-adrenergic receptors to form a "high affinity" state with l-isoproterenol, which is a necessary step for adenylate cyclase activation? Nonpregnant, oophorectomized guinea pigs received intrauterine pellets of either placebo, 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone, or 17 beta-estradiol plus progesterone for 1 week. 17 beta-Estradiol resulted in pharmacologic, whereas progesterone resulted in physiologic plasma 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone concentrations, respectively. The affinity of myometrial beta-adrenergic receptors for l-isoproterenol was measured by percentage of inhibition of -[125I]cyanopindolol binding. In all groups, the competition curves in the presence of magnesium chloride could be resolved into two affinity states of the beta-adrenergic receptor, "high" and "low," respectively. The ratio of their dissociation constants was not influenced by hormonal treatment. However, the relative concentration of beta-adrenergic receptors in the high affinity state was significantly higher in the 17 beta-estradiol-treated group than that in the control group. This correlates with the up-regulation in myometrial adenylate cyclase activity and suggests that myometrial beta-adrenergic receptor-adenylate cyclase function may be modulated by 17 beta-estradiol.
Prospective evaluation of the accuracy of the intraductal secretin stimulation test in the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis.

Background & Aims: The standard secretin stimulation test (SST) is the accepted gold standard for pancreatic function testing. The intraductal secretin stimulation test (IDST) performed at the time of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been proposed as a more feasible way to evaluate pancreatic function. The accuracy of the IDST for the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis (CP) has not been well defined. Methods: We prospectively evaluated patients with suspected CP. The IDST, SST, and ERCP were performed in each of the 19 study patients. The SST and ERCP were used as independent diagnostic standards against which the results of the IDST were compared directly to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the IDST. Results: When the SST was used as a diagnostic standard for CP, the sensitivity of the IDST was 80% (95% confidence interval [CI], 44%–97%), the specificity was 22% (95% CI, 2%–60%), and the overall accuracy was 52% (95% CI, 28%–75%). The positive predictive value was 53% and the negative predictive value was 50%. When the pancreatogram was used as the diagnostic standard, the sensitivity of the IDST was 100% (95% CI, 69%–100%), the specificity was 55% (95% CI, 21%–86%), and the overall accuracy was 79% (95% CI, 54%–93%). Receiver operator curves showed that there was no optimal cut-off value for peak bicarbonate concentration that led to acceptable sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions: The IDST is not accurate for the diagnosis of CP.
Multiform Ventricular Ectopic Rhythm by Combined Parasystolic and Reentrant Activities

Multiform ventricular ectopic rhythm (MVER), i.e., at least two QRS configurations of ventricular ectopic beats (VEBs), was assessed by 24-hour ambulatory ECG recording in four patients with ventricular parasystole (VP). In two of these four patients, VEBs with fixed coupling to the preceding impulses coexisted with VP beats of different configuration. In case no. 1, the VEBs had an identical coupling interval to sinus beats and VP beats, suggesting a mechanism of reentry elicited from both dominant pacemakers. In case no. 2, an intermittent form of VP due to type II second-degree entrance block was present. In this patient, the VEBs were coupled to sinus beats and to sinus-VP fusion beats and appeared to be dependent on the sinus beats reaching the VP focus. A mechanism of reentry determined by the penetration of sinus beats into the VP area, with prematurity-dependent aberrancy of VEBs, was suggested for the coupled VEBs in this patient. These observations suggest that the coexistence of an automatic ventricular ectopic focus and of a reentrant activity determined by, or elicited from, an area of automaticity may constitute the underlying mechanism of MVER in some patients.
Structure-Based Discovery of A2A Adenosine Receptor Ligands

The recent determination of X-ray structures of pharmacologically relevant GPCRs has made these targets accessible to structure-based ligand discovery. Here we explore whether novel chemotypes may be discovered for the A2A adenosine receptor, based on complementarity to its recently determined structure. The A2A adenosine receptor signals in the periphery and the CNS, with agonists explored as anti-inflammatory drugs and antagonists explored for neurodegenerative diseases. We used molecular docking to screen a 1.4 million compound database against the X-ray structure computationally and tested 20 high-ranking, previously unknown molecules experimentally. Of these 35% showed substantial activity with affinities between 200 nM and 9 μM. For the most potent of these new inhibitors, over 50-fold specificity was observed for the A2A versus the related A1 and A3 subtypes. These high hit rates and affinities at least partly reflect the bias of commercial libraries toward GPCR-like chemotypes, an issue that we at...
Low-frequency transconductance dispersion in InAlAs/InGaAs/InP HEMT's with single- and double-recessed gate structures

The effects of trapping mechanisms on the transconductance of single- and double-recessed InAlAs/InGaAs/InP HEMT's are examined. Measurements at room temperature indicate transconductance dispersion occurring primarily between 100 Hz and 1 MHz. A detailed examination of the dispersion yields two mechanisms with different activation energies which were determined by measuring the transition frequencies as functions of temperature. One mechanism, causing negative dispersion, has an activation energy of 0.17 eV and was found only in the double-recessed structure. The other mechanism, causing positive dispersion and common to both structures, has a dominant transition with an activation energy of 0.51 eV at low fields. The first mechanism appears to be associated with surface states, while the second is caused by electron traps in the InAlAs or its interface with the InGaAs channel. Transient response measurements were also used to examine the location of the traps and to study the field dependence of the characteristic times.
High Light Response of the Thylakoid Proteome in Arabidopsis Wild Type and the Ascorbate-Deficient Mutant vtc2-2. A Comparative Proteomics Study

The thylakoid proteome of chloroplasts contains multiple proteins involved in antioxidative defense, protein folding, and repair. To understand this functional protein network, we analyzed the quantitative response of the thylakoid-associated proteome of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) wild type and the ascorbate-deficient mutant vtc2-2 after transition to high light (HL; 1,000 μmol photons m−2 s−1). The soluble thylakoid proteomes of wild type and vtc2-2 were compared after 0, 1, 3, and 5 d of HL using two-dimensional gels with three independent experiments, followed by a multivariant statistical analysis and tandem mass spectrometry. After 5 d of HL, both wild-type and vtc2-2 plants accumulated anthocyanins, increased their total ascorbate content, and lost 10% of photosystem II efficiency, but showed no bleaching. Anthocyanin and total ascorbate concentrations in vtc2-2 were respectively 34% and 20% of wild type, potentially leading to enhanced oxidative stress in vtc2-2. Forty-five protein spots significantly changed as a consequence of genotype, light treatment, or both. Independent confirmation was obtained from western blots. The most significant response was the up-regulation of thylakoid YCF37 likely involved in photosystem I assembly, and specific fibrillins, a flavin reductase-like protein, and an aldolase, each located in thylakoid-associated plastoglobules. Fe-superoxide dismutase was down-regulated in vtc2-2, while Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase was up-regulated. vtc2-2 also showed a systematic up-regulation of a steroid dehydrogenase-like protein. A number of other stress-related proteins, several thylakoid proteases, and lumenal isomerases did not change, while PsbS increased in wild type upon light stress. These findings are discussed in terms of plastid metabolism and oxidative stress defense, and emphasize that understanding of the chloroplast stress-response network must include the enzymatic role of plastoglobules.
Intramolecular cyclization assistance for fast degradation of ornithine‐based poly(ester amide)s

Inspired by the spontaneous cyclization of ornithine in peptides, polyesters containing protected ornithine (Orn) side chains along the backbone were synthesized and shown to degrade rapidly upon deprotection through intramolecular cyclization. A new ornithine-based poly(ester amide) PEA 1 and a lysine-based control PEA 2, both bearing the light-sensitive protecting group o-nitrobenzyl alcohol (ONB), were synthesized. Tert-butyl carbamate (Boc)-protected versions 1-Boc and 2-Boc were also synthesized for proof of concept. GPC confirmed that 1-Boc degrades over 40 times faster than 2-Boc following deprotection into the designed intramolecular cyclization products. Finally, TEM visualization of particles made from 1 encapsulating iron oxide nanoparticles reveals complete disruption of nanoparticles and release of payload within a day upon UV irradiation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3783–3790
High-Molecular-Weight Plasmid Correlates with Escherichia coli Enteroinvasiveness

We tested by the Sereny method and examined for plasmids 14 previously Sereny-test-positive and 17 previously untested Escherichia coli strains. The presence of a 140-megadalton plasmid was significantly associated with enteroin-vasiveness as measured by the Sereny test in the 31 E. coli strains examined.
Coupling of cerebral blood flow and oxygen consumption during physiological activation and deactivation measured with fMRI

The physiological basis of the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal and its dependence on baseline cerebral blood flow (CBF) were investigated by comparing responses to a visual stimulus after physiological changes of the baseline. Eight human subjects were imaged with 3 and 4 T MRI scanners, and both BOLD signal and CBF were simultaneously measured. Subjects viewed a flickering radial checkerboard in a block design experiment, alternating between eyes open or closed during the off periods. Compared to a baseline state with eyes open in a darkened room, substantial deactivation (average change: 2.9 +/- 0.3% BOLD, 22 +/- 2.1% CBF) in the occipital cortex was observed when the eyes were closed. The absolute response during stimulation (average change: 4.4 +/- 0.4% BOLD, 36.3 +/- 3.1% CBF) was independent of the preceding resting condition. We estimated the fractional change in CBF to be approximately 2.2 +/- 0.15 times greater than the fractional change in metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2). The changes in CBF and CMRO2 were consistently linearly coupled during activation and deactivation with CBF changes being between approximately 60% and 150% compared to baseline with eyes open. Relative to an assumed baseline oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) of 40%, the estimated OEF decreased to 33 +/- 1.4% during activation and increased to 46 +/- 1.2% during rest with eyes closed. In conclusion, we found that simply closing the eyes creates a large physiological deactivation in the visual cortex, and provides a robust paradigm for studying baseline effects in fMRI. In addition, we propose a feed-forward model for neurovascular coupling which accounts for the changes in OEF seen following baseline changes, including both the current physiological perturbations as well as previously reported pharmacologically induced changes.
Some Comments on Professor Körner’s Paper

With sweeping strokes Professor Korner has painted us some metaphilosophy. Portions look insightful and suggestive, if viewed from favourable angles; other portions, to which my comments are directed, betray an overthick brush and invite illusion. The shape of the whole is that of the outline of a gridwork, a Procrustean crosshatch on which to lay belief bodies.
Use of dietary supplements among people living with HIV/AIDS is associated with vulnerability to medical misinformation on the internet

Background: Use of dietary supplements is common among people living with HIV/AIDS. Because dietary supplements are used in the context of other health behaviors, they may have direct and indirect health benefits. However, supplements may also be associated with vulnerability to medical misinformation and unfounded health claims. We examined use of dietary supplements among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and the association between use of dietary supplements and believing medical misinformation. Methods: A convenience sample of 268 men and 76 women living with HIV was recruited from AIDS services and clinics in Atlanta, GA. Participants completed measures of demographic and health characteristics, dietary supplement use, beliefs about dietary supplements, internet use, and an internet evaluation task designed to assess vulnerability to medical misinformation. Results: One out of four PLWH currently used at least one dietary supplement product excluding vitamins. Dietary supplement use was associated with higher education and greater use of the internet for health-related information. Dietary supplement users also endorsed greater believability and trust in unfounded claims for HIV cures.
Actuating Single Wall Carbon Nanotube-Polymer Composites: Intrinsic Unimorphs**

Electromechanical coupling effects in polymers have been routinely employed to create an array of sensors and actuators. The most dominant coupling effects originate from piezoelectric, electrostrictive, and electrostatic (also known as the Maxwell effect) mechanisms. To generate high displacements, electrostrictive and Maxwell effects are typically exploited because the strain in such polymers is a quadratic function of the applied electric field, whereas it is linear for piezoelectrics. However, the high compliance of most electrostrictive and electrostatic polymers limits their durability and output force and reduces their applicability. Owing to their low dielectric constants relative to ceramics, polymers typically require large applied electric fields to actuate. For strain amplification, several actuator concepts have been demonstrated including multilayer and bender designs. Most commercial actuators integrate design concepts, including unimorph, bimorph, and multimorph. These designs require extra processing steps and introduce extraneous layers such as adhesives and inactive, so-called ‘‘dummy’’, layers to convert longitudinal to bending strain. The incorporation of these adhesive and inactive layers reduces the magnitude of the actuation of a given actuation system significantly and often causes delamination. Furthermore, mismatches in the thermal expansion coefficients and mechanical properties among the adhesive, inactive, and active layers can cause additional adverse effects on the actuation performance. Here we introduce a novel electroactive single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)–polymer composite, an intrinsic unimorph, which can actuate to a large strain (2.6%) at relatively low driving voltages (<1 MV m ) while maintaining
A logic of concrete time intervals

A description is given of: (1) a finite-state model for asynchronous systems in which the time delays between the scheduling and occurrence of the events that cause state changes are constrained to fall between fixed numerical upper and lower time bounds; (2) a branching-time temporal logic suitable for describing the temporal and logical properties of asynchronous systems, for which the structures of (1) are the natural models; and (3) a functional verification system for asynchronous circuits which generates, from a Boolean circuit with general feedback and specified min/max rise and fall times for the gates, a finite-state structure as in (1), and then exhaustively checks a formal specification of that circuit in the language (2) against that finite-state model. >
Pulmonary receptor for advanced glycation end-products promotes asthma pathogenesis through IL-33 and accumulation of group 2 innate lymphoid cells.

Background Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human gene for the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) are associated with an increased incidence of asthma. RAGE is highly expressed in the lung and has been reported to play a vital role in the pathogenesis of murine models of asthma/allergic airway inflammation (AAI) by promoting expression of the type 2 cytokines IL-5 and IL-13. IL-5 and IL-13 are prominently secreted by group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), which are stimulated by the proallergic cytokine IL-33. Objective We sought to test the hypothesis that pulmonary RAGE is necessary for allergen-induced ILC2 accumulation in the lung. Methods AAI was induced in wild-type and RAGE knockout mice by using IL-33, house dust mite extract, or Alternaria alternata extract. RAGE's lung-specific role in type 2 responses was explored with bone marrow chimeras and induction of gastrointestinal type 2 immune responses. Results RAGE was found to drive AAI by promoting IL-33 expression in response to allergen and by coordinating the inflammatory response downstream of IL-33. Absence of RAGE impedes pulmonary accumulation of ILC2s in models of AAI. Bone marrow chimera studies suggest that pulmonary parenchymal, but not hematopoietic, RAGE has a central role in promoting AAI. In contrast to the lung, the absence of RAGE does not affect IL-33–induced ILC2 influx in the spleen, type 2 cytokine production in the peritoneum, or mucus hypersecretion in the gastrointestinal tract. Conclusions For the first time, this study demonstrates that a parenchymal factor, RAGE, mediates lung-specific accumulation of ILC2s.
Composite synchronization in parallel discrete-event simulation

This paper considers a technique for composing global (barrier-style) and local (channel scanning) synchronization protocols within a single parallel discrete-event simulation. Composition is attractive because it allows one to tailor the synchronization mechanism to the model being simulated. We first motivate the problem by showing the large performance gap that can be introduced by a mismatch of model and synchronization method. Our solution calls for each channel between submodels to be classified as synchronous or asynchronous. We mathematically formulate the problem of optimally classifying channels and show that, in principle, the optimal classification can be obtained in time proportional to max{C/spl times/log C, V/spl times/N}, where C is the number of channels, V the number of unique minimal delays on those channels, and N is the number of submodels. We then demonstrate an implementation which finds an optimal solution at runtime and consider its performance on network topologies, including one of the global Internet at the autonomous system level. We find that the automated method effectively determines channel assignments that maximize performance.
Modelling the responses of Andean and Amazonian plant species to climate change: the effects of georeferencing errors and the importance of data filtering

Aim Species distribution models are a potentially powerful tool for predicting the effects of global change on species distributions and the resulting extinction risks. Distribution models rely on relationships between species occurrences and climate and may thus be highly sensitive to georeferencing errors in collection records. Most errors will not be caught using standard data filters. Here we assess the impacts of georeferencing errors and the importance of improved data filtering for estimates of the elevational distributions, habitat areas and predicted relative extinction risks due to climate change of nearly 1000 Neotropical plant species. Location The Amazon basin and tropical Andes, South America. Methods We model the elevational distributions, or ‘envelopes’, of 932 Amazonian and Andean plant species from 35 families after performing standard datafiltering,andagainusingonlydatathathavepassedthroughanadditionallayer ofdatafiltering.Wetestforagreementintheelevationsrecordedwiththecollection and the elevation inferred from a digital elevation model (DEM) at the collection coordinates. From each dataset we estimate species range areas and extinction risks due to the changes in habitat area caused by a 4.5 � C increase in temperature. Results Amazonian and Andean plant species have a median elevational range of 717 m. Using only standard data filters inflates range limits by a median of 433 m (55%). This is equivalent to overestimating the temperature tolerances of species by over 3 � C ‐ only slightly less than the entire regional temperature change predicted over the next 50‐100 years. Georeferencing errors tend to cause overestimates in the amount of climatically suitable habitat available to species and underestimates in species extinction risks due to global warming. Georeferencing error artefacts are sometimes so great that accurately predicting whether species habitat areas will decrease or increase under global warming is impossible. The drawback of additional data filtering is large decreases in the number of species modelled, with Andean species being disproportionately eliminated. Main conclusions Even with rigorous data filters, distribution models will mischaracterize the climatic conditions under which species occur due to errors in the collection data. These errors affect predictions of the effects of climate change on species ranges and biodiversity, and are particularly problematic in mountainous areas. Additional data filtering reduces georeferencing errors but eliminates many species due to a lack of sufficient ‘clean’ data, thereby limiting our ability to predict the effects of climate change in many ecologically important and sensitive regions such as the Andes Biodiversity Hotspot.
Segment-Based Stereo Matching*

Images are 2-dimensional projections of 3-dimensional scenes, therefore depth recovery is a crucial problem in image understanding, with applications in passive navigation, cartography, surveillance, and industrial robotics. Stereo analysis provides a more direct quantitative depth evaluation than techniques such as shape from shading, and its being passive makes it more applicable than active range finding imagery by laser or radar. This paper addresses the subproblem of identifying corresponding points in the two images. The primitives we use are groups of collinear connected edge points called segments, and we base the correspondence on the "minimum differential disparity" criterion. The result of this processing is a sparse array disparity map of the analyzed scene. �9 1985 Academic Press, Inc.
Brief Stability analysis of digital feedback control systems with time-varying sampling periods

Stability results on a class of nonlinear digital feedback control systems with time-varying sampling periods have been established with several applications.
Individual Investments in Higher Education

The decision of how much to invest in a college education has been shown to greatly affect an individual’s lifetime earnings. However, individuals may make inappropriate investments due to imperfect information and imperfect credit markets. This study reviews much of the theory about the proper level of investment in education and some of the current empirical evidence on the benefits and costs of a college education. In addition, a brief review of policies geared at increasing investments in education is presented.
Excretion of Penicillin in Human Milk Following Parturation

Summary Penicillin was administered intramuscularly to eleven normal patients. Three received 100,000 units every two hours for three injections, seven received a single injection of 100,000 units, and one received 50,000 units every three hours for a period of twenty-four hours. All showed significantly high blood levels one to two hours after the last injection of penicillin. Eight of the eleven patients showed penicillin in the breast milk.
Influence of High Tunnel Production and Planting Date on Yield, Growth, and Early Blight Development on Organically Grown Heirloom and Hybrid Tomato

High tunnels are rapidly gaining favor from growers in many regions of the United States because these structures extend the growing season and increase quality of high-value horticultural crops. Small to midsized organic growers who sell tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) for the fresh market can benefit from lower disease pressure and higher marketable yields that can be achieved in high tunnels. High tunnels also protect crops from environmental damage and benefit production of heirloom tomatoes as these varieties often have softer fruit and are more susceptible to diseases and cracking and splitting than hybrid varieties. The objective of this study was to determine the impacts of high tunnel production and planting date on heirloom and hybrid tomato varieties by observing differences in plant growth, yield, marketability, and early blight (Alternaria solani) development within an organic production system. This study showed no increase in total yields in high tunnels as compared with the open field, but increased marketability and size of tomatoes, and lowered incidence of defoliation resulting from early blight. Tomato planted earlier in both high tunnels and the open field yielded more marketable fruit during the production season than plants established on later planting dates. Hybrid varieties yielded more marketable fruit than heirloom varieties; however, heirloom tomatoes can have equivalent market value because of greater consumer demand and premium prices attained in the local market.
Social Mobility: Fixed or Pattern?

Currently there is a significant discussion in academia and the popular press over the present amount of inequality, the history of inequality and the negative effects on economies of inequality. Typical of this debate was a recent article by Martin Wolf in the Financial Times, (30 Sept 2014, “Why inequality is such a drag”). Here we discuss another aspect of inequality as a social phenomenon related to inherited status, wealth and privilege. The mechanisms of sustaining inequalities by elites are many, including producing generational disabilities in underclasses to prevent upward mobility and the development of achieved statuses.
Design and performance of an active radar calibration target for ultrawideband radar cross section measurements

The University of Nebraska has developed an ultra-wideband coherent random noise radar that accomplishes phase-coherent processing of the received data. The system operates over the 1 - 2 GHz frequency range. In order to make calibrated radar cross section measurements of targets and terrain, a radar calibration target was fabricated and tested. The unique requirements for the ultra-wideband calibration target include (1) high radar cross section value to minimize effects of background reflections, (2) constant radar cross section over the frequency range to ensure calibration accuracy, and (3) wide beamwidth to minimize effects of antenna pointing errors. The design consisted of a receive and a re-transmit antenna between which a high-pass filter and a microwave amplifier were inserted. Log-periodic antennas were used as calibration target antennas owing to their broadband and wide beamwidth characteristics. The high-pass filter possessed a 12 dB per octave roll off to appropriately reduce the signal level at lower frequencies to compensate for the correspondingly lower propagation loss as predicted by Friss transmission formula. The high-gain broadband amplifier was used to provide a high- retransmitted power level back to the radar. The design and performance characteristics of the active ultra-wideband radar calibration target are discussed in this paper.
A global research synthesis of HIV and STI biobehavioural risks in female-to-male transgender adults

ABSTRACTThere is a growing interest in HIV infection and sexually transmitted infection (STI) disease burden and risk among transgender people globally; however, the majority of work has been conducted with male-to-female transgender populations. This research synthesis comprehensively reviews HIV and STI research in female-to-male (FTM) transgender adults. A paucity of research exists about HIV and STIs in FTMs. Only 25 peer-reviewed papers (18 quantitative, 7 qualitative) and 11 ‘grey literature’ reports were identified, most in the US or Canada, that include data identifying HIV and STI risks in FTMs (five with fully laboratory-confirmed HIV and/or STIs, and five with partial laboratory confirmation). Little is known about the sexual and drug use risk behaviours contributing to HIV and STIs in FTMs. Future directions are suggested, including the need for routine surveillance and monitoring of HIV and STIs globally by transgender identity, more standardised sexual risk assessment measures, targeted data...
A closer look at the lower-order structure of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5: Comparison with the Five-Factor Model.

The Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) was developed as a measure of the maladaptive personality trait model included within Section III of the DSM-5. Although preliminary findings have suggested the PID-5 has a five-factor structure that overlaps considerably with the Five-Factor Model (FFM) at the higher order level, there has been much less attention on the specific locations of the 25 lower-order traits. Joint exploratory factor analysis of the PID-5 traits and the 30 facets of the NEO-PI-R were used to determine the lower-order structure of the PID-5. Results indicated the PID-5's domain-level structure closely resembled the FFM. We also explored the placement of several lower-order facets that have not loaded consistently in previous studies. Overall, these results indicate that the PID-5 shares a common structure with the FFM and clarify the placement of some interstitial facets. More research investigating the lower-order facets is needed to determine how they fit into the hierarchical structure and explicate their relationships to existing measures of pathological traits.
A postoperative complication causing physician consternation.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative ileus and urinary retention are relatively common complications after obstetric and gynecologic procedures. This case highlights an unusual cause of these common postoperative patient reports. CASE: A 71-year-old woman underwent an uncomplicated total vaginal hysterectomy and pelvic reconstruction for stage III pelvic organ prolapse. She subsequently presented with and was hospitalized for labile blood pressures, ileus, urinary retention, and subjective sensory and motor complaints. The cause of the patient's reports was not clear until her disease became relatively severe. CONCLUSION: When a postoperative patient has multiple symptoms that do not respond to standard intervention, rare causes outside of one's specialty should be considered.
DISTRIBUTION OF RADIOACTIVITY IN PLASMA AFTER FEEDING TRITIATED 7, 12-DIMETHYLBENZ(A)ANTHRACENE.

SummaryThe appearance of tritiated 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in blood after oral administration to rats was determined and its distribution in plasma investigated. Initially the radioactivity was associated with neutral fat but after some hours the hydrocarbon migrated on electrophoresis with the albumin fraction.