cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
cis-Requirement for the maintenance of round spermatid-specific transcription

Maintenance of strict developmental stage- and cell type-specific gene expression is critical for the progression of spermatogenesis. However, the mechanisms which sustain the spatiotemporal order of gene transcription within the seminiferous epithelium are poorly understood. Previous work has established that the proximal promoter of the mouse SP-10 gene was sufficient to maintain round spermatid-specific expression (Reddi, P.P., Shore, A.N., Shapiro, J.A., Anderson, A., Stoler, M.H., Acharya, K.K., 2003b. Spermatid-specific promoter of the SP-10 gene functions as an insulator in somatic cells. Dev. Biol. 262, 173-182). The present study addressed the cis-requirement for this regulation and sought to identify the cognate transcription factor(s). We found that mutation of two 5'-ACACAC motifs (at -172 and -160) within the -186/+28 SP-10 promoter led to premature and indiscriminate expression of a reporter gene in the seminiferous epithelium of transgenic mice, whereas the wild-type -186/+28 promoter retained spermatid specificity. Neither promoter showed ectopic expression in the somatic tissues. Expression cloning using the -186/-148 portion of the promoter yielded transcriptional repressors TDP-43 and Puralpha of which TDP-43 required the complementary 5'-GTGTGT elements located on the opposite strand for binding in vitro. Further, Northern analysis and immunohistochemistry of mouse testis showed the presence of TDP-43 in cell-types where the SP-10 gene remains repressed. Taken together, our results demonstrate that 5'-GTGTGT motifs on the complementary strand are required to prevent premature expression of SP-10 during spermatogenesis and implicate TDP-43 as the putative regulatory factor. The study also implied that additional level(s) of regulation keep the SP-10 gene silent in the somatic tissues.
High-repetition pulse generation using LiNbO3 modulators

Subsystems based on LiNbO3 are attractive because the modulators are now commercially available, can operate up to very high speeds, and can operate over a wide wavelength range. We describe the principle of operation and performance of high repetition rate pulsed sources based on LiNbO3 modulators. We have generated transform limited pulses at 20 GHz repetition rate with a pulsewidth of 8 ps and at 40 GHz repetition rate with a pulsewidth of 6.5 ps using two modulators in series. These modulators were driven by sinusoidal signals at 10 GHz. The analysis shows generation of shorter pulses at higher repetition rate is feasible with higher bandwidth modulators.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Design and Assessment of a Mobile Augmented Reality-Based Information Delivery Tool for Construction and Civil Engineering Curriculum

AbstractThe goal of the research reported in this paper is to design and systematically assess the effectiveness of a collaborative context-aware mobile augmented reality tool (CAM-ART) in construction and civil engineering curriculum. To achieve this goal, an augmented reality (AR)-based information delivery tool, CAM-ART, was implemented in classroom-scale experiments to enhance traditional lecture-based instruction and information delivery methods. In the research reported in this paper, the contents of an ordinary textbook were enhanced using computer-generated three-dimensional (3D) objects and other virtual multimedia (e.g., sound, video, and graphs), and delivered to students through an AR application running on their smartphones or tablet computers. The sample consisted of construction and civil engineering students, who were randomly assigned to Group A (control group) and Group B (test group). The designed learning tool was tested in a collaborative and interactive environment, preperformance an...
DAYTIME WIND TURBULENCE IN A MOUNTAIN VALLEY

Abstract SYNOPSIS An unusual example of wind turbulence in the daytime air stream in mountain valleys is found near Yosemite Valley, Calif. The stream as it flows east up the valley in the afternoon divides through two branch canyons, the current in the southeasterly branch turning sharply round a steep mountain spur. This spur and the configuration of the canyon walls sets up a rotation of air in the lee of the cliffs about an inched axis, the lower end of which is at the spur, the upper end about a mile away to the east, the general trend being parallel to the side of the canyon. The path of an air particle near the periphery of this roll was found, by observations on the drift of tissue papers, to be that of a great spiral, the diameter of which seems to vary from nothing at the spur to perhaps 2,000 feet at the east end. Observed variations in the form of the spiral are due to changes in the local winds under the influence of topography.
Accelerated ovum transport in rabbits induced by endotoxin 1. Changes in prostaglandin levels and reversal of endotoxin effect

Abstract The effect of endotoxin ( Salmonella enteritidis -Boivin) on ovum transport in the rabbit was examined. A dose of 10 μg/kg intravenously (iv) given 24 h after an injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) to induce ovulation caused expulsion of 87% of ova from the oviduct within 24 h. The ED50 and 95% probability limits were 3.1 (2.38–4.03) μg/kg. A dose of 20 μg/kg given at 24 h after hCG exerted its effect on ovum transport within 4 h. Concurrent treatment with indomethacin completely prevented the effect of endotoxin on ovum transport. Endotoxin caused an increase of prostaglandin-like material (PG) E, measured by radioimmunoassay, in uterine vein blood within 35 min and PGE levels continued to rise until 3 h after endotoxin and remained elevated until 8–9 ½ h. PGF in uterine vein blood was not elevated until 90 min after endotoxin and then increased more rapidly than PGE during the next 2.5 h: it was still elevated at 8–9 ½ h. The ratio of PGF:PGE in uterine vein blood decreased from 3:1 in 24 h control samples to 1:1 at 1 h after endotoxin, and then increased rapidly exceeding 5:1 at 2 h. In animals given both indomethacin and endotoxin PG levels in uterine vein blood declined. Phenoxybenzamine partially prevented the effect of endotoxin on ovum transport and in animals so treated PGE levels in uterine vein blood increased similarly to those in animals receiving endotoxin alone, but PGF values, while elevated, were suppressed compared to those in endotoxin animals and the PGF:PGE ratio never exceeded 2:1. It is concluded that endotoxin induces accelerated ovum transport by causing an initial relaxation of the oviductal isthmic musculature due to PGE dominance followed by stimulation of oviductal circular musculature due to PGF dominance.
Extracting depth by binocular stereo in a robot vision system

New generation of robotic systems will operate in complex, unstructured environments utilizing so-phisticated sensory mechanisms. Vision and range will be two of the most important sensory modalities such a system will utilize to sense their operating environment. Measurement of depth is critical for the success of many robotic tasks such object recognition and location; obstacle avoidance and navigation; and object inspection. In this paper we consider the development of a binocular stereo technique for extracting depth information in a robot vision system for inspection and manipulation tasks. Ability to produce precise depth measurements over a wide range of distances and the passivity of the approach, make binocular stereo techniques attractive and appropriate for range finding in a robotic environment. This paper describes work in progress towards the development of a region-based binocular stereo tech-nique for a robot vision system designed for inspection and manipulation and presents preliminary experiments designed to evaluate performance of the approach. Results of these studies show promise for the region-based stereo matching approach.
The importance of transamination and decarboxylation in phenylalanine metabolism in vivo in the rat.

Abstract The extent of hydroxylation, transamination, and decarboxylation in the metabolism of excess phenylalanine in vivo has been examined by measuring the amount of radioactivity from [14C]phenylalanine that is converted to 14CO2 and urinary metabolites. Transamination and direct decarboxylation represent only 6% of total phenylalanine metabolism. The major aromatic metabolites in the urine after phenylalanine loading are phenylacetylglycine, phenylacetic acid, phenylpyruvate, and phenylalanine. A small but significant portion (1.5%) of phenylalanine is degraded to nonaromatic compounds. The maximum phenylalanine oxidation in vivo is approximately 75% 24 h at saturating concentrations of phenylalanine; thus, the major route of degradation of phenylalanine in the rat, even when intake is high, is via formation of acetoacetic acid and fumaric acid.
SPECIES COMPOSITION, BIOMASS, AND NUTRIENT CONTENT OF PERIPHYTON IN THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES1

Periphyton biomass, nutrient dynamics in the biomass, and species composition were studied in two Florida Everglades sloughs from August 1991 to August 1992. Periphyton biomass on macrophytes was strongly season-dependent. Maximum biomasses, 1180, 161, and 59 g dry mass.m−2 on Eleocharis vivipara, E. cellulosa, and Nymphaea odorata, respectively, occurred in summer and early autumn; winter and spring periphyton biomass was very low (practically not measurable). Periphyton was dominated by blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) during the summer and autumn; diatoms dominated during the winter and spring. Green algae occurred mostly during the summer and autumn, but their growth was sparse and did not contribute significantly to periphyton biomass. Nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios in the periphyton were very high (59–121:1), suggesting phosphorus limitation of periphyton growth. The periphyton contained large concentrations of calcium (up to 22.3% on dry mass basis) especially in late summer and autumn.
SPECTROSCOPIC MEASUREMENT OF HIGH-FREQUENCY ELECTRIC FIELDS IN A PLASMA BY OBSERVATION OF TWO-QUANTUM TRANSITIONS AND SPECTRAL LINE SHIFTS

We have observed normally forbidden two-quantum transitions in the optical spectrum of a helium plasma. We induced these transitions by applying a microwave field to a separately generated steady-state helium discharge. Measurements of the relative intensity and wave-length of the optical photons emitted in the two-quantum transition $5^{1}F^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2^{1}P^{0}$ in He I determined both the frequency and the strength of the microwave field in the plasma. The field strength was also measured by observation of the Stark shift of a spectral line and by measurement of the microwave power input and the $Q$ of the microwave cavity. All measurements of the field strength are in satisfactory agreement and indicate an rms microwave field strength in the plasma of about 215 V/cm. The spectroscopic measurement of the frequency of the microwave field is within 3% of the actual value, and the measured polarization of the radiation agrees with theory.
Intranuclear Neuronal Inclusions: A Common Pathogenic Mechanism for Glutamine-Repeat Neurodegenerative Diseases?

The unexpected discovery of inclusion bodies in the polyglutamine disorders, and the clear demonstration that polyglutamine-containing proteins can aggregate, indicate that these polyglutamine disorders are more similar to each other than was previously anticipated and may be related to other neurodegenerative disorders. As is described in the accompanying review (Lansbury, 1997 [this issue of Neuron]), protein aggregation is a common mechanism in other late-onset neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, prion disease, and Parkinson's disease. Shared mechanisms or shared biological modifiers may underlie several of these diseases. Cross-fertilization among investigators working on these various disorders is bound to lead to rapid advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of these diseases.Figure 1Tentative Model for Generation of Intranuclear Inclusions in Polyglutamine Diseases, Focusing on HD(1) The normal protein, with its normal-length glutamine repeat.(2) The expanded glutamine repeat undergoes a conformational change, presumably due to hairpin formation via a polar zipper. Interactions with other proteins such as HAP1 and HIP1 are altered, possibly resulting in pathological events within the cytoplasm.(3) The protein with the expanded glutamine repeat undergoes proteolytic cleavage, via caspase 3 or other enzymes. Dystrophic neurites form in the cytoplasm (data not shown).(4) The N-terminal fragment is translocated to the nucleus, where it may bind to the nuclear matrix (for ataxin-1, binding to LANP takes place in the nuclear matrix), forming a nidus for additional molecules to associate via a β-pleated sheet.(5) As additional huntingtin fragments aggregate, the proteins are modified by ubiquitinization.(6) Proteins cannot be removed and form the intranuclear neuronal inclusions. Cytoplasmic aggregates can also form (data not shown), yielding dystrophic neurites.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Time-shortened degrees: A return to nostalgia

Time-shortened degrees have roots in the nineteenth century. History relates the evolution of the degree to changes occuring in college and university curricula. In more recent times the time-shortened degree can be correlated to the technologic mind, which emphasizes efficiency and expediency. Many unanswered and even unasked questions must be addressed. Not the least of these issues is the whole concept of what constitutes academic credit.
About the mechanism of formation of iron hydroxide fouling layers on reverse osmosis membranes

Abstract The rate of fouling by deposition of iron hydroxide on tubular reverse osmosis membranes was studied under closely controlled experimental conditions resembling those of brackish water desalination. Feed brines of approximately 5,000 ppm NaCl were used to which small amounts of iron hydroxide were added. The effect of brine flow rate, product water flux, pH and oil contamination on the rate of fouling layer buildup was investigated. Results obtained suggested that the rate of membrane fouling due to iron hydroxide buildup is governed by two processes: nucleation and growth.
Combined effects of cocaine and nicotine on cardiovascular performance in a canine model.

Background: With the proliferation of cocaine abuse, increased incidence of catastrophic cardiovascular events such as angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmias, or sudden death are reported. Many of these patients also smoke cigarettes before and after cocaine use, leading to a high frequency of simultaneous exposure to both drugs. Cocaine's and nicotine's independent effects on cardiodynamics are well documented, but combined effects of both on complete cardiovascular hemodynamics remain unknown. Hypothesis: The study aimed to determine whether these effects are additive, synergistic, or antagonistic and was therefore designed to investigate the cardiovascular changes produced as a result of combined administration of cocaine and nicotine in a canine model. Methods: Initially, in phase I, 30 experiments were performed to study the dose-response curve of both drugs. in phase II and III, 12 dogs were subjected to 30 experiments. in phase II, cocaine was given intravenously (IV) followed by nicotine. in phase HI, sequence of drug administration was reversed to study the effects on hemodynamics and coronary artery blood flow reserve. Results: Hemodynamic parameters observed were Phase I: Dose-response curve established the IV bolus dose of cocaine 2 mg/kg and nicotine 50 μg/kg. Phase II: Cocaine increased heart rate, blood pressure, and dP/dt, but nicotine administration after cocaine produced marked significant synergistic excitatory effects: dP/dt increased from 1810 ± 210 to 6300 ± 460 (p< 0.003). Phase III: Nicotine significantly increased heart rate, mean arterial pressures, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, pulmonary artery, pulmonary capillary wedge, and right atrial pressures. Nicotine increased dP/dt (1810 ± 192 to 5000 ± 160 mmHg/s; p < 0.004). These excitatory effects of nicotine were attenuated by cocaine when administered as a second drug (dP/dt decreased to 1925 ± 144 from 5000 ± 160 mmHg/s; p < 0.004). Conclusions: Cocaine, when administered alone, caused increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and dP/dt, but nicotine showed a significant increase in all the hemodynamic parameters. Both drugs reduced coronary blood flow reserve. in combination, cocaine plus nicotine administration had synergistic excitatory effects in dogs. A reversed drug combination, that is, nicotine plus cocaine, attenuated the excitatory effects of nicotine.
Design of proportional-derivative feedback and input shaping for control of inertia plants

Closed-loop feedback control and command shaping are often used together to achieve superior control performance. In many cases, the feedback control is designed and implemented first. Then, the command shaping is designed to improve the resulting closed-loop dynamics. However, there is an often-overlooked advantage of optimally combining these two control schemes. This study will show that proportional and derivative feedback control can be intelligently used to create a closed-loop system that is particularly advantageous when input shaping is used as a filter outside of the loop. Experimental results are shown to verify the theoretical developments.
Identifying attentional deployment tactics in older adults’ written narratives about emotionally upsetting events

Essays about distressing events written by 58 older adults on three occasions (n = 174) were coded to identify how older adults responded when confronting an emotionally upsetting event. Participants limited the experience of negative emotion by transitioning from negative to positive aspects of the event within a writing session, and across sessions, switched writing topics and moved from writing about past events to current problems. The use of attentional deployment tactics was associated with lower negative affect. This study confirms results found in quantitative studies and uncovers new processes that promote emotion regulation.
Intracellular calcium accumulation during the evolution of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in the immature rat.

Abstract An excessive intracellular accumulation of calcium (Ca 2+ ) in neurons and glia has been proposed to represent a major ‘final common pathway’ for cell death arising from hypoxia–ischemia. To clarify the role of altered calcium flux into the perinatal brain undergoing hypoxic–ischemic damage, 7-day postnatal rats underwent unilateral common carotid artery ligation followed by systemic hypoxia with 8% oxygen. This insult is known to produce brain damage in the form of selective neuronal death or infarction largely limited to the cerebral hemisphere ipsilateral to the arterial occlusion. Either prior to or following hypoxia–ischemia, the rat pups received a s.c. injection of 45 CaCl 2 , and specimens of blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and brain were obtained for isotopic measurements and the calculation of the extent of brain intracellular radioactivity. During hypoxia–ischemia, there was a modest increase in intracellular Ca 2+ radioactivity (+28–47%) in both cerebral hemispheres only after 2 h of hypoxia–ischemia. During recovery from 2 h of hypoxia–ischemia, intracellular Ca 2+ accumulated progressively only in the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere for up to 24 h, during which interval intracellular Ca 2+ decreased in the contralateral hemisphere. No such progressive accumulation was noted during recovery in animals previously exposed to only 1 h of hypoxia–ischemia. The results suggest that a disruption of intracellular Ca 2+ homeostasis is a major contributing factor in the evolution of perinatal hypoxic–ischemic brain damage. Ca 2+ accumulation is a relatively modest and late event during the hypoxic–ischemic phase, and a progressive overload occurs during the recovery phase only if infarction occurs. The question remains as to whether or not the intracellular Ca 2+ overload occurring during recovery is a contributor to or a consequence of the ultimate brain damage.
OVERVIEW OF DIFFERENTIAL GPS METHODS

A local GPS reference receiver (RR) can be used to eliminate common errors in the GPS navigation solution of other nearby receivers. A threefold improvement in remote GPS position accuracy can be achieved by this technique under optimum conditions. Several methods of accomplishing this process are presented.
Abstract 3687: Benzyl isothiocyanate downregulates Ronβ and sfRon to inhibit self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells.

Recent studies suggest that cancer stem cells play a major role not only in the initiation and maintenance of breast cancer but also in clinical response to therapy. Breast cancer stem cells (bCSC) are characterized by their ability to self-renew (asymmetrical division into a daughter bCSC and a progeny), form spheres under ultra-low attachment conditions in vitro, and express unique cell-surface markers (eg, CD44, ESA). Elimination of both therapy-resistant bCSC and therapy-sensitive epithelial tumor cells may be required for effective prevention of breast cancers. We have shown previously that dietary administration of benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), a small molecule constituent of many edible cruciferous vegetables (eg, garden cress), significantly inhibits mammary cancer development in a transgenic mouse model (MMTV-neu) in association with apoptosis induction and tumor infiltration of T cells. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of BITC on bCSC. Exposure of MCF-7 (an estrogen-responsive cell line) and SUM159 (a triple-negative cell line) human breast cancer cells to pharmacologic doses of BITC (0.5-2.5 μM) resulted in inhibition of mammosphere formation (first generation after BITC treatment and subsequent generations without BITC treatment), aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) activity, and CD44 high /CD24 low /ESA+ population. Inhibition of bCSC self-renewal resulting from BITC exposure was accompanied by down-regulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPAR), Bmi-1, and Ron (Ronβ and sfRon) proteins in vitro and in MDA-MB-231 xenografts in vivo (uPAR and Bmi-1). Ectopic expression of uPAR alone was sufficient to drive stemness in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cells. However, the BITC-mediated inhibition of mammosphere formation and ALDH1 activity was sustained even after stable overexpression of uPAR in MCF-7 or MDA-MB-468 cells. Similarly, Bmi-1 overexpression was largely dispensable for BITC-mediated suppression of bCSC. On the other hand, overexpression of Ron (full-length) as we as sfRon in MCF-7 cells conferred significant protection against BITC-mediated inhibition of bCSC self-renewal. Ectopic expression of sfRon, but not Ron, resulted in nearly 4-fold increase in ALDH1 activity compared with control cells. Novel conclusions of the present study are: (a) overexpression of sfRon is sufficient to drive stemness at least in MCF-7 cells (b) mammary cancer prevention by BITC likely involves removal of bCSC, and (c) BITC-mediated inhibition of bCSC is caused by suppression of Ron signaling. This study was supported by the grant CA129347-06 awarded by the National Cancer Institute. Citation Format: Su-Hyeong Kim, Anuradha Sehrawat, Shivendra V. Singh. Benzyl isothiocyanate downregulates Ronβ and sfRon to inhibit self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3687. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3687
Color opponent slow potential interactions in the frontal organ of the frog: Rana pipiens.

Abstract Slow potentials recorded from the frog (Rana pipiens) Stirnorgan in response to a step stimulus of dim violet light, can increase linearly for at least a minute. Such a long integration time is remarkable. Either a violet or a green conditioning stimulus will cause a reduction in the response to a subsequent violet test stimulus, even with separation times of up to 2 min. The decay time constant of this effect is about 35 sec, twice as long as the decay of the response to the violet conditioning flash itself. Such interaction can be accounted for by a proposed model in which transmitters block post synaptic sites as well as directly inactivate opponent transmitter. In the absence of conditioning stimuli, the stimulus-response curve for violet stimuli is linear with log intensity over the two log units recordable. Possibly, the violet-green interaction in the frog Stirnorgan permits time of day (or season) estimation by determining the angle of the sun.
Phase I clinical trial and pharmacokinetics of weekly ICRF-187 (NSC 169780) infusion in patients with solid tumors

ICRF-187 was given to 62 evaluable patients with advanced solid tumors in a Phase I clinical trial. Weekly infusions were given in dosages ranging from 0,85 g/m2 to 7.42 g/m2 for a total of four weeks with a two week rest period between courses. Dose-limiting hematological toxicity was seen in heavily pretreated patients at a dose of 3.8 g/m2/week. All patients also developed reversible SGOT elevations. In patients with less prior therapy hematologic toxicity was not dose-limiting but hepatotoxicity, manifest by transient SGOT levels greater than 5 times baseline was seen at 7.42 g/m2/week even though only 3/6 patients could receive 4 consecutive weekly doses. At virtually all dose levels tested some patients developed anemia. Other toxicities, including alopecia, nausea, vomiting and reversible serum amylase elevations, were mild.
Audio and video cues for geo-tagging online videos in the absence of metadata

Tagging videos with the geo-coordinates of the place where they were filmed (i.e. geo-tagging) enables indexing online multimedia repositories using geographical criteria. However, millions of non geo-tagged videos available online are invisible to the eyes of geo-oriented applications, which calls for the development of automatic techniques for estimating the location where a video was filmed. The most successful approaches to this problem largely rely on exploiting the textual metadata associated to the video, but it is not rare to encounter videos with no title, description nor tags. This work focuses on this adverse scenario and proposes a purely audiovisual approach to geo-tagging. Using a subset of the MediaEval 2011 Placing task data set, we evaluate the ability of several visual and acoustic features for estimating the videos location, and demonstrate that the optimally configured version of the proposed system outperforms the only audiovisual participant in the MediaEval 2011 Placing task.
Design of a Pulse-Facility Nozzle Using the Rotational Method of Characteristics

A new nozzle has been designed for NASA’s HYPULSE shock/expansion tube facility to be used for scramjet engine testing at a Mach-15 flight-enthalpy condition. The nozzle has an area ratio of 9:5:1 that expands the inflow fromMach6alongthecenterlinetoMach8.7andachievesthegoalofincreasingtheareaofthecore flow(byafactor of 9). The nozzle contour was generated by a new computer program that solves the Euler equations using the rotational method of characteristics. The rotational method was required to properly include the effects of the boundary layer-induced nonuniformities of the flow properties at the nozzle inflow. Although the density and Mach numbervaryradiallyatthenozzleexitduetothenonuniformitiesoftheinflow,thenewnozzleproducesexit flowthat is parallel and has uniform static pressure. The design has been verified with a computational fluid dynamics calculation that compares favorably with the method of characteristics solution.
Fabrication and performance evaluation of an in-membrane micro-fuel cell

Abstract A new approach to fabricating planar micro-fuel cells with flow channels and catalyst layers fully integrated into the Nafion membrane is presented. The microfabrication approach leverages the use of electron beam lithography for pattern creation, dry etching for pattern transfer and aspect ratio manipulation, and masking for selective electro-catalyst layer deposition. Sputtered Pt and conventional Pt/C served as catalyst layers for the fabricated cells which were tested under humid and dry conditions. The sputtered cell had the best overall performance. The maximum power densities were respectively 11.2 and 20.8 mW cm −2 for the dry and humidified conventional catalyst based cells, and 3.0 and 22.1 mW cm −2 for the sputtered Pt cells. Based on these results, the authors conclude that the observed performance is limited by ohmic polarization.
PER2 rhythms in the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis of the diurnal grass rat (Arvicanthis niloticus)

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is the central pacemaker that controls circadian rhythms in mammals. In diurnal grass rats (Arvicanthis niloticus), many functional aspects of the SCN are similar to those of nocturnal rodents, making it likely that the difference in the circadian system of diurnal and nocturnal animals lies downstream from the SCN. Rhythms in clock genes expression occur in several brain regions outside the SCN that may function as extra-SCN oscillators. In male grass rats PER1 is expressed in the oval nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST-ov) and in the central and basolateral amygdala (CEA and BLA, respectively); several features of PER1 expression in these regions of the grass rat brain differ substantially from those of nocturnal species. Here we describe PER2 rhythms in the same three brain regions of the grass rat. In the BNST-ov and CEA PER2 expression peaked early in the light period Zeitgeber time (ZT) 2 and was low during the early night, which is the reverse of the pattern of nocturnal rodents. In the BLA, PER2 expression was relatively low for most of the 24-h cycle, but showed an acute elevation late in the light period (ZT10). This pattern is also different from that of nocturnal rodents that show elevated PER2 expression in the mid to late night and into the early day. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that diurnal behavior is associated with a phase change between the SCN and extra-SCN oscillators.
NITROGEN BIOGEOCHEMISTRY IN THE OLIGOHALINE ZONE OF A NEW ENGLAND ESTUARY

We investigated nitrogen cycling in the oligohaline zone (the low-salinity region where river water first enters the estuary) of the Parker River estuary in northeastern Massachusetts. We introduced an isotopic tracer (15N-NO3−) for 27 days in August 1996 to help determine how watershed-derived nitrogen moves through the upper estuary. The amount of tracer added was sufficient to enrich nitrate isotopically by ∼100‰ in the vicinity of the addition but did not influence nitrate concentration appreciably. During typical summer low-flow conditions as occurred during the addition period, essentially all riverine nitrate (including the nitrate tracer) was rapidly removed from the water column by the planktonic diatom Actinocyclus normanii. Export of tracer down-estuary was low during the isotope addition period, in part because of low river discharge. Instead, most of the nitrogen originally assimilated by A. normanii was transferred to sediments in the oligohaline zone. Nitrogen demand by phytoplankton during...
A 2H solid-state NMR spectroscopic investigation of biomimetic bicelles containing cholesterol and polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine.

Abstract Deuterium solid-state NMR spectroscopy was used to qualitatively study the effects of both 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (PLiPC) and cholesterol on magnetically aligned phospholipid bilayers (bicelles) as a function of temperature utilizing the chain-perdeuterated probe 1,2-dimyristoyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DMPC- d 54 ) in DMPC/dihexanoylPC (DHPC) phospholipid bilayers. The results demonstrate that polyunsaturated PC and cholesterol were successfully incorporated into DMPC/DHPC phospholipid bilayers, leading to a bicelle that will be useful for investigations of eukaryotic membrane protein–lipid interactions. The data indicate that polyunsaturated PC increases membrane fluidity and decreases the minimum magnetic alignment temperature for DMPC/DHPC bicelles. Conversely, the introduction of cholesterol into aligned DMPC/DHPC bilayers decreases fluidity in the membrane and increases the minimum temperature necessary to magnetically align the phospholipid bilayers. Finally, the addition of Tm 3+ to magnetically aligned DMPC/DMPC- d 54 /PLiPC/DHPC bilayers doubles the quadrupolar splittings, indicating that this unique bicelle system can be aligned with the bilayer normal parallel to the static magnetic field.
Flickers of Freedom and Modes of Action : A Reply to Timpe

In recent years, many incompatibilists have come to reject the traditional association of moral responsibility with alternative possibilities. Kevin Timpe argues that one such incompatibilist, Eleonore Stump, ultimately fails in her bid to sever this link. While she may have succeeded in dissociating responsibility from the freedom to perform a different action, he argues, she ends up reinforcing a related link, between responsibility and the freedom to act under a different mode. In this paper, I argue that Timpe’s response to Stump exploits concessions she need not have made. The upshot is that, contrary to what Timpe maintains, there is no reason to doubt that Stump's brand of incompatibilism is a genuine alternative to the traditional variety.
Green at the micro-scale: towards self-powered embedded systems

The field of green computing, which has gained tremendous importance and popularity over the past few years, has mainly focused on large computing systems such as server farms. This talk makes the case that it is equally important for green computing to be applied at the micro-scale, targeting the billions of embedded devices found everywhere around us. A promising start in this direction is to power embedded systems using environmental (renewable) energy sources such as solar, wind, vibration, etc., which raises the possibility of self-sustaining embedded systems. This tutorial highlights the challenges involved in architecting such self-sustaining embedded systems and discusses various hardware and software techniques for their efficient design and operation.
Management of Diabetic Gastroparesis

Diabetic patients with nausea and vomiting need evaluation to determine symptom etiology; diabetic gastroparesis should never be the default diagnosis. If no other etiology for nausea and vomiting is found after an appropriate evaluation, treatment focuses on effectively relieving symptoms while maintaining adequate nutritional status. Therapy for patients with nausea and vomiting consists of restoring volume, glycemic, and electrolyte status and providing antiemetics generously in both a remittive and prophylactic fashion. Prokinetics are best used to treat gastric stasis or clinically significant delayed gastric emptying. A gastrostomy is rarely indicated, but a jejunostomy may be helpful in maintaining nutrition. Parenteral nutrition should generally be avoided because of high complication rates in this setting. Surgical intervention is essentially unstudied in this population and cannot be recommended. Gastric electrical stimulation is an interesting and novel therapy, but its efficacy beyond placebo remains to be conclusively shown.
Atrial tachycardia with widely-split P waves may mimic a distinct faster atrial tachycardia with half the cycle length of the actual P-P interval.

A 57-year-old man with atrial tachycardia (AT) after cavo-tricuspid isthmus ablation underwent electrophysiological testing. Mapping revealed atrial activation with a cycle length exactly twice that of the P-P interval on electrocardiogram. Electroanatomic mapping revealed an AT focus near the left superior pulmonary vein, with inter-atrial conduction occurring in the lower septum and cavo-tricuspid isthmus conduction block. A propagation map demonstrated activation going down the left atrial posterior wall and right atrial free wall, generating different positive P waves in the inferior leads. The focal AT with inter- and intra-atrial conduction block exhibited widely-split P waves misinterpreted as a distinct AT. (Circ J 2008; 72: 1381 - 1384)
Comparison of ionospheric models for single-frequency radar altimeters

Abstract Relative performances of available ionospheric models for computing path delay corrections to radar altimeter range data have been assessed using altimeter crossover measurements computed for the single-frequency altimeter measurements collected by Geosat and ERS-1, and for the dual-frequency altimeter measurements collected by TOPEX/POSEIDON. The models studied include IRI-90, IRI-95, and JPL GIM. The models are further compared with the ionospheric delay computed from TOPEX/POSEIDON dual-frequency altimeter data. Crossover analyses indicate that IRI-95 is an improved model over IRI-90 for computing ionospheric delays for all three altimetric satellites during low to medium solar activity periods. It is found that smoothing of the TOPEX/POSEIDON dual-frequency ionospheric corection significantly improved the precision of the TOPEX/POSEIDON data.
Mn2+ Sites in the Hammerhead Ribozyme Investigated by EPR and Continuous-Wave Q-band ENDOR Spectroscopies

Metal ions are critical to the structure and function of many RNA molecules, but measuring detailed coordination environments in RNA is challenging under solution conditions. The phosphodiester bon...
Globalization, the structure of the world economy and economic development

Abstract How does the structure of the world economy determine the gains from participation therein? In order to answer this question, we conduct a state of the art network analysis of international trade to map the structure of the international division of labor (IDL). We regress cross-national variation in economic growth on positional variation and mobility of countries within the IDL from 1965 to 2000. We find that the highest rates of economic growth occurred to countries in the middle of the IDL over the course of globalization. Second, we find that upper tier positions in the IDL are converging with each other, but diverging from the lower tier. This suggests that the mechanism underlying the rapid economic growth in intermediate positions was their uniquely high rates of upward mobility, in turn a function of their middling position. Taken together, these findings suggest that a country’s long-term economic development is conditioned by its position in the IDL.
Segmentation of textured images using Gibbs random fields

Abstract A new algorithm for the segmentation of textured images is developed by making use of Gibbs random fields. A hierarchical stochastic model is employed to represent textured images. At the higher level, the region formation process, describing different areas of the image, is modeled as a Gibbs random field, or equivalently as a Markov random field. At the lower level, the textures in different regions of the image are modeled also as Gibbs random fields. Based on this hierarchical model, the segmentation algorithm being proposed seeks to obtain the maximum a posteriori estimate of the region process using the textured image data. The maximization is carried out recursively by making use of a dynamic programming formulation. Computational concerns, however, necessitate the implementation of a suboptimal version of the algorithm that tries to maximize a pseudolikelihood over strips of the image. This is a non-trivial extension of a maximum a posteriori segmentation algorithm for noisy images modeled by Gibbs random fields [1]. The segmentation algorithm is applied on several textured images composed of 2, 3 region (texture) types and 2 or 4 level textures, with remarkable success. Numerous examples on the application of the segmentation algorithm are presented for textured images with region processes and textures generated according to a particular Gibbs distribution.
Mineral element concentration of two barley cultivars in relation to water deficit and aluminum toxicity

Abstract The separate and combined effects of water and Al stress on concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, Fe, Al, Cu, Mn, and Zn were determined in leaves of six sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars grown In an acid, Al‐toxic, Tatum subsoil (clayey, mixed, thermic, Typic Hapludult). Plants were grown 4 weeks in a plant growth chamber at high (pH 4.3) or low (pH 6.3) Al stress. During the last 2 weeks they were also subjected to low (‐20 to ‐40 kPa) or high (‐60 to ‐80 kPa) water stress. Overall, Al stress had a greater effect on mineral concentration than water stress. When data from all water stress treatments were combined and all six cultlvars were considered as a group, Al stress decreased concentrations of Ca, Mg, and Fe and Increased concentrations of K, Al, Cu, Mn, and Zn. When data from all Al stress treatments were combined for the six cultlvars, water stress decreased concentrations of Fe, Al, and Cu and increased concentration of Zn. Water stress alone had no effect on concentrations of Ca, K, Mg...
Optimal sampling times in bioequivalence tests.

In bioequivalence studies, drug formulations are compared in terms of bioavailability parameters such as the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), the maximum concentration (C max), and the time to maximum concentration (t max). Accuracy in measuring these parameters directly affects the accuracy of bioequivalence tests. Because the number of blood draws per patient is limited, the blood collection times must be spaced so that concentration-time curve measurements can produce accurate bioavailability parameter estimates. This paper describes an optimization approach for calculating optimal time designs for one-compartment models, but is sufficiently general for other compartmental models. Simulation indicates that the optimal design improves the accuracy of AUC estimation.
Path Analysis of Welfare Use: Depression as a Mediating Factor

Path analysis was conducted to determine causal effects of life circumstances on depression and effects of these measures on employment and welfare use. Data were from the Welfare and Self-Sufficiency Survey conducted in a metropolitan county of Kentucky. Direct effects indicate that economic hardships and adverse life events increase depression scores and depression reduces earnings and increases welfare use. Indirect effects of economic hardships and adverse life events, through the mediating effects of depression, reinforce depression’s effects on employment and welfare use. The data include measures of life circumstances and depression scores of low-income women; thereby, permitting a path model that uniquely contributes to knowledge regarding the effects of life circumstances and depression on TANF-eligible women’s employment and welfare use.
Transcapillary adenosine transport and interstitial adenosine concentration in guinea pig hearts

We used the multiple-indicator-dilution technique to observe the capillary transport of adenosine in isolated Krebs-Henseleit-perfused guinea pig hearts. Tracer concentrations of radiolabeled albumin, sucrose, and adenosine were injected into the coronary inflow; outflow samples were collected for 10-25 s and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and by gamma- and beta-counting. The albumin data define the intravascular transport characteristics; the sucrose data define permeation through interendothelial clefts and dilution in interstitial fluid (ISF). Parameters calculated from adenosine data include permeability-surface area products for endothelial cell uptake at the luminal and abluminal membranes and intraendothelial metabolism. We found that in situ endothelial cells avidly take up and metabolize adenosine. Tracer adenosine in the capillary lumen is twice as likely to enter an endothelial cell as it is to permeate the clefts. There was no adenosine in the arterial perfusate. Under control conditions, the steady-state venous adenosine concentration was 3.6 +/- 0.8 nM, which from the flow and the parameters estimated from the tracer data gave a calculated ISF concentration of 6.8 +/- 1.5 nM. During dipyridamole infusion (10 microM) at constant pressure, the cell permeabilities went essentially to zero, whereas the venous adenosine concentration increased to 44.0 +/- 12.6 nM, giving an estimated ISF concentration of 191 +/- 53 nM. With constant flow perfusion, venous concentration during dipyridamole infusion was 30.9 +/- 6.3 nM, and estimated ISF concentration was 88 +/- 20 mM. We conclude that in this preparation, at rest, the ISF adenosine concentration is about twice the venous concentration and the ISF adenosine concentration increases with dipyridamole administration.
Continuing Caritas Journey-Reflections Upon a Shared Private Pilgrimage.

This manuscript is a continuing saga of an earlier walking pilgrimage (El Camino in northern Spain): now a journey to Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet, this time with others instead of alone. As I journeyed in close company with five others we experienced and expressed surprises about our selves and each other—our shared vulnerability, tolerance, and humility—uncovering lessons in living Caritas.As I trekked through these inner and outer adventures, Bhutan was discovered as a light of hope—a living metaphor of a people and a culture that hold and practice Caritas principles of loving—kindness, compassion, and equanimity for all sentient beings. Bhutan, a small country bordered by China and India, the only country in the world with a gross national happiness index and shared Caritas consciousness of oneness and connectedness of all, serves as a sacred path for humanity—a geographic Bodhisattva.
A Pain in the Ear: What Has the 7-Valent Conjugated Pneumococcal Vaccine Done to Reduce the Incidence of Acute Otitis Media?

would not be large; only 20%–30% of cases of AOM in the United States are associated with middle ear specimens that grow S. pneumoniae on culture [2]. Approximately 70% of children with S. pneumoniae–related AOM had S. pneumoniae serotypes contained in or closely related to serotypes contained in PCV7 [3]. At best, then, we expected an overall risk reduction of ∼20% for AOM among US children who completed the PCV7 vaccination course. Among 37,868 infants randomly assigned to receive either PCV7 or meningococcus type C conjugate vaccine in California, those receiving PCV7 experienced a 7.8% relative risk reduction in clinically diagnosed cases of AOM (95% CI, 5.2%–10.5%), and a 20% relative risk reduction in the placement of ventilatory tubes (95% CI, 3.6%–34.1%) [4]. Investigators in Finland found a 6% relative risk reduction in AOM among 831 infants receiving PCV7, compared with 831 receiving hepatitis B vaccine [5]. The 95% CI for the protective efficacy of the vaccine against AOM in this study was 4% to 16%. This has been interpreted as an indication that vaccine use might actually increase the frequency of AOM. This has some biological plausibility, because the increase in the incidence of AOM attributable to S. pneumoniae serotypes or to other otopathogens not contained in the vaccine might be greater than the decrease in the incidence of AOM attributable to S. pneumoniae serotypes contained in PCV7. Thus, these non-PCV7 serotypes would substitute for the eliminated vaccine strains and produce the same or greater incidence of AOM. More likely, the large 95% CI in the Finnish study was directly due to the small sample size, combined with the modest size of the relative risk reduction for AOM attributable to immunization with PCV7 [5]. In the California study, the large sample size narrowed the 95% CI and showed a 97% probability that the relative risk reduction was 5.2% [4].