cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
887. G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase Interacting Protein 1 Slows down the Apoptosis Process of Retinal Ganglion Cells in a Rat Model

Top of pageAbstract Central nervous system (CNS) trauma, stoke, or neuron degeneration diseases can lead to permanent paralysis or other loss of function. However, it is becoming clear that the CNS is not incapable of regeneration. The adult mammalian CNS has a low potential of neuron regeneration because it consists of low levels of growth-promoting matrix molecules and high levels of inhibitory factors. The integrin family of transmembrane receptors may have the ability to active the neuron regeneration. The function of one member of the integrin family, which is G protein-coupled receptor kinase interacting protein 1 (GIT1), has been tested in an eye model of the rat. Briefly, the recombinant GIT1 and eGFP, luciferase, or eGFP adenoviral vectors (ADGIT1, ADLUC, or ADGFP) and DiI solution were injected into the left superior colliculus (SC) separately. The expression of luciferase or eGFP was monitored in rat eyes by using a molecular imaging technique. The right optical nerves were isolated and injured in some rats 3|[ndash]|5 days after virus injection. The retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer and the right optical nerve will be tested at different time points. The luciferase gene expression in RGCs was detected in the eyes of live animals following local luciferin delivery using optical imaging techniques. No GFP expression was detected using fluorescent imaging techniques. The cell types that were expressed the foreign genes were mainly RGCs, which were confirmed by using luciferase immunohistochemistry and fluorescent microscopy. Because more than 95% RGCs will be dead in 2 weeks after rat optical nerve injury and the living RGCs are pre-required for axonal growth, the numbers of living RGCs were counted first. The living RGCs were labeled by DiI and shown in a red color under fluorescent microscopy. The samples of optical nerves have not been tested yet. The average numbers of RGCs in 140000 |[mu]|m2 on Days 10 and 15 post optical nerve injury were 179.6 |[plusmn]| 4.3 and 23.4 |[plusmn]| 1.7 in ADGIT1 group and 69.4 |[plusmn]| 4.6 and 11.9 |[plusmn]| 0.8 in ADGFP group. The numbers of living RGCs in ADGIT1 group were significantly higher than that in the ADGFP group at both time points (P<0.01). The results indicate that GIT1 has the function to slow down the apoptosis process of the RGCs in rat.
Nanocrystalline Al–Mg alloy with ultrahigh strength and good ductility

Abstract A bulk nanocrystalline Al–5%Mg alloy was synthesized by an in situ consolidation mechanical alloying technique. The mechanical behavior of this alloy was investigated by hardness and tensile tests, which revealed it has four times the strength of a conventional Al-5083 alloy along with good ductility (8.5% elongation). The microstructure was investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, and the fracture surface by scanning electron microscopy.
The effects of multimodal display aids on human performance

This paper addresses the effects which multimodal display aids, such as auditory cues, have on human performance when used in conjunction with visual displays. The purpose of the experiments conducted is to determine if auditory display aids have a positive or negative effect on a simple monitoring task. Eight subjects were tested on both a strictly visual display and a visual display incorporating an auditory cue. Each task involved monitoring four different types of display indicators for certain critical conditions for twenty minutes. The indicators included a blinking light, a red light, two linear gauges, and two circular dials presented on a computer screen. The auditory cue was presented as a modulated beep with a frequency of 450 Hz, a duration of 2000 ms, a period of 1000 ms and a 50% duty cycle. Subjects had to respond by clicking on the appropriate button when indicators being monitored reached a critical condition. The results of the experiments indicate that auditory cues do positively enhance the detection of critical conditions for certain types of visual indicators.
Release of myelin basic protein-degrading proteolytic activity from microglia and macrophages after infection with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus: comparison between susceptible and resistant mice

Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) produces a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease in its natural host, the mouse. A delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to viral antigens generally correlates with susceptibility to the disease and is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of demyelination in this model of human multiple sclerosis (MS). The hallmark of DTH responses is the recruitment by activated Th-1 cells of lymphoid cells and especially macrophages in infected areas. It is believed that soluble factors released by these cells would produce tissue damage, particularly myelin breakdown. In the present study, we compared TMEV-infected macrophages and microglia, isolated from both susceptible SJL/J and resistant C57BL/6 mice, for their ability to secrete proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading myelin basic protein. In addition, we studied whether supernatants from infected microglia/macrophages were also capable of killing oligodendrocytes in the same in vitro system. As detected by SDS-PAGE, MBP-degrading proteolytic activity was found only in supernatants from infected SJL/J microglia and macrophages, but not in supernatants collected from infected C57BL/6 microglia and macrophages, or in supernatants from mock-infected SJL/J and C57BL/6 cells. Similarly, incubation of E20.1 cells, an immortalized line of oligodendrocytes, with infected SJL/J, but not C57BL/6 supernatants, resulted in cytotoxic activity. When cells from resistant C57BL/6 mice were treated with LPS, they became susceptible to infection and also secreted proteolytic enzymes. The proteolytic activity released from infected microglia and macrophages was found to be dose-dependent, was inactivated by heat, and was inhibited by phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF). These results indicate that a serine protease is released from infected microglia and macrophages and suggest a role for proteases in TMEV-induced myelin injury.
Invertebrate mass mortality induced by a gymnodinium breve red tide in gulf of Mexico waters at sarasota, Florida

Abstract An outbreak of red tide (Gymnodinium breve) during September 1978 resulted in a mass mortality of the following invertebrates on Sarasota, Florida beaches: spisula solidissima similis,. Donax variabilis; Emerita talpoida; and Libinia dubia. The invertebrate kill was most probably due to the effects of the toxic dinoflagel‐late rather than other factors such as low dissolved oxygen.
Xeroderma pigmentosum exhibiting neurological disorders and systemic lupus erythematosus.

A patient is described who has a unique combination of symptoms that correspond with two sun-sensitive conditions: xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Both of these conditions have been suggested as being associated with a defect in DNA repair, but this is only clearly established for XP. The patient described is the only known case among U.S. blacks, thus far, although African black cases are known. Her DNA repair levels are 20--30% of normal, within the range found for many XP cell cultures and consistent with her assignment to group C by other investigators. Unusual for group C cases, however, are the neurological disorders, some of which correspond to those found in the de Sanctis Cacchione form of XP, which is commonly assigned to group A. Whether the associated SLE is a consequence of some special aspect of this particular XP condition or whether it is fortuitous cannot be resolved at present.
Infra-red spectra and chromatographic fractions of irradiated linoleic and linolenic acids.

A NUMBER of authors have suggested that cross-linking or related tanning interactions between lipid hydroperoxides and aortic wall proteins may be the ‘primary’ biochemical events in human atherogenesis1–4. Complexes do not seem to be formed, however, between mildly (thermally) oxidized corn oil or autoxidized linoleic acid preparations and either gelatine, lysine or glycine5, although stable hydroperoxides are probably formed under these and related experimental conditions6–8. In addition, synthetic hydroperoxides and peroxides (for example, tert.-butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, para-methane hydroperoxide, diisopropylbenzene hydroperoxide and di-tert.-butyl peroxide and hydrogen peroxide) do not appear capable of acting as cross-linking agents for either native bovine aortae or chemically modified goatskin collagen preparations9.
Light‐Induced Body Movement of Euglena gracilis Coupled to Flagellar Photophobic Responses by Mechanical Stimulation*†

SYNOPSIS. In low viscosity media, Euglena gracilis strain Z responds to a sudden change in light intensity by a cessation of forward movement, followed by a reorientation of the locomotor flagellum which results in turning of the cell around the lateral axis (photophobic response). At a viscosity interface between low [∼ 1 cP (centipoise)] and high (4000 cP) media, the cells exhibit avoidance responses or become immobilized in the higher viscosity medium. Upon changing the light intensity, free swimming cells have photophobic responses, while immobilized ones undergo body contractions. For cells immersed in media of varying viscosity, the delay between light stimulation and body contraction (transduction time) is shortest at high viscosities. From 500 to 2000 cP, where the cells are capable of both movement and light-induced body contractions, there is a logarithmic dependence of the transduction time on the viscosity. The transduction time does not vary appreciably with the intensity of the primary light stimulus within a range of 0.14-1.13 kW/m2.
The PuPuCl3 system

Abstract Phase equilibria in the PuPuCl 3 system was investigated up to 1180°C. A salt-rich eutectic point exists at 7 mole% Pu and 740°C, which is also the monotectic temperature. The metal-rich eutectic point is at some composition greater than 99 mole% Pu and was too small to be detected. The consolute temperature is sufficiently high to be beyond the scope of this investigation. No evidence for a Pu halide other than PuCl 3 was found.
On matrix norms and logarithmic norms

LetA be a complexn×n matrix, letr(A) denote the spectral radius ofA and let ?(A) denote the spectral abscissa ofA. If ? is a norm onC n , we denote by lub? the matrix norm subordinate to ? and by? ? the logarithmic norm corresponding to ?. New proofs are given for the following two relations:r(A)=inf lub? A and ?(A)=inf? ? (A), where the infimums are taken over all ellipsoidal norms ? onC n .
First International Workshop on Software Engineering for Computational Science & Engineering

In recognition of the general lack of exposure scientists have to software engineering and vice versa, a workshop was held during the 2008 International Conference on Software Engineering in Leipzig, Germany. The workshop's goal was to bring together researchers and practitioners from the software engineering and computational science and engineering (CSaE) communities to build a common understanding of the issues involved in the complex process of CSaE software development and identify common themes to pursue in future research.
Waiting for a miracle.

had a very supportive wife, Carolyn, who stood by him at every point in life. Both were CPA accountants, although Carolyn had not been working for many years due to the success of their business and the hiring of more staff. They owned a very nice house in an attractively affluent neighborhood. Both were graduates of a nationally known Bible school and were members of a well-known Bible Church. Worship services for the regular congregation were held on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, which left Sundays open for their golf, tennis, and auto racing schedules that were held year round. They were a happy couple and believed that God was extremely involved and was a part of their lives. They felt that their faith was what brought them to this point in their lives and that nothing bad could happen to them as long as they were faithful and giving in their faith community. John’s cousin was on the governing board of the church and had helped in the design of its educational wing. The church was made accessible because it sought to reach out to everyone in society. John had had a very large celebration on his 34th birthday. All of his family and friends were present. He was congratulated on the successes that he had had over the past years and all of his philanthropic work in the community and in his church. About a week after his birthday celebration, John experienced a heart attack. His hospital stay and diagnostic evaluation found that he had several blocked arteries. After a procedure to prevent more heart problems, John seemed to be recovering rapidly when suddenly he experienced a stroke that left him with right hemiparesis and some speech difficulties. He had numerous medical problems and was severely weakened by the entire process of his medical course over the next 3 months. Then, John was admitted for comprehensive rehabilitation. John refused to go to therapy on the first
Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors are required for trans-activation of the human SERCA2 promoter in cardiomyocytes

Objectives : The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) is essential to the removal of cytosolic calcium following cardiac contraction, and its abundance and activity are significantly altered during perinatal development and in failing myocardium. The objective of the current study was to identify cis regulatory elements and nuclear transcription factors responsible for transactivating SERCA2 gene expression in cardiomyocytes. Methods : Primary cultures of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were transiently transfected with luciferase (LUX) reporter gene constructs containing deletions of the SERCA2 promoter or which harbored mutations in consensus Sp1 transcription factor binding sites. Cotransfection assays, electrophoretic mobility shift, and supershift assays were also performed to delineate the regulatory role of specific transcription factors. Results : We identified a putative AP-1-like element and a consensus Egr-1 binding site, but neither Egr-1 nor 12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) significantly modified human SERCA2 promoter activity in vitro. Maximal activity of the SERCA2 promoter required the proximal 177 bp, and strong activation was observed with a 125-bp construct, within which an Sp1 site and a CAAT box were important. Mutation analysis also revealed the importance of two Sp1 sites between −125 and −200. Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors were subsequently identified to bind to oligonucleotide probes corresponding to only the two most proximal Sp1 sites. Conclusions : These studies provide direct evidence that regulation of human SERCA2 gene expression in cardiomyocytes depends on transactivation events elicited by Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors.
Mutagenesis by normal metabolites in Escherichia coli: phenylalanine mutagenesis is dependent on error-prone DNA repair

Abstract In search of a model for the production of ‘spontaneous’ mutations induced by DNA damage produced during normal metabolism, 19 amino acids were tested for mutagenicity in Escherichia coli K-12 uvrB . Cystine, and, to a lesser extent, arginine and threonine were found to be antimutagenic; only phenylalanine was found to be mutagenic. At 2 mM, phenylalanine induced mutants at 1.5–2-fold above background [ lacZ 53(amber)→Lac + , rifampicin resistance (missence), and bacteriophage T6 resistance]. Tyrosine and, to a lesser extent, tryptophan (each at 2 mM) inhibited the mutagenicity of phenylalanine. Phenylalanine mutagenesis was detected in the uvrB strain, but not in the wild-type, uvrB umuC or uvrB lexA strains. Thus, phenylalanine seems to cause the production of excisable lesions (‘UV-like’?) in DNA, which, if not excised, can induce mutations via error-prone DNA repair.
The production of better mathematical software

Some observations are made on steps to be taken toward the creation of better mathematical software. These steps suggest the need for a coordinated effort and the creation of a center to focus activities in this area.
Women airforce service pilots part II: Cancellation

To be a woman and a pilot was highly unusual in 1942 and represented a paradigm shift for American culture (Photo 1). World War II enabled America to try something new in 1942 : to train and utilize women pilots to support the war effort because of a shortage of male pilots. The desperate need did not mean all parties were supportive of the trial.
The effects of food stamp receipt on weight gained by expectant mothers

With over 66% of Americans overweight, expectant mothers are unusual because they are encouraged to gain weight while pregnant. Food stamp receipt (FSR) may facilitate recommended weight gain by providing resources for food and nutrition. I examine the effects of FSR on the amount of weight gained by low-income expectant mothers using NLSY79 data. Results indicate FSR decreases the probability gaining insufficient weight but does not exacerbate the probability of gaining too much weight. Examining the effects of FSR on pregnancy weight gain is important because low birth weight is more likely when expectant mothers gain insufficient weight.
Input affects uptake: How early language experience influences processing efficiency and vocabulary learning

Two studies explore how early vocabulary learning is influenced both by maternal speech to the child and by the childpsilas developing skill in real-time comprehension. Study 1 shows that amount and quality of motherspsila speech predict language growth in Spanish-learning children, providing the first evidence that language input shapes speech processing efficiency as well as lexical development. Study 2 demonstrates that early efficiency in speech processing is beneficial for vocabulary growth, showing how fluency in online comprehension facilitates learning.
Design and characterization of an integrate-and-fire neural recording system

A neuronal recording system for brain-machine interfaces (BMI) based on asynchronous biphasic pulse coding is described. A recording experiment comparing, in parallel, a commercial recording system (Tucker-Davis Technology) and the UF's custom solution (FWIRE) is set up to compare performance. The novel aspect of the UF system is that the analog signal is represented by an asynchronous pulse train, which provides a low-power, low-bandwidth, noise-resistant means for coding and transmission. Based on different front-end hardware settings, recording bandwidth and corresponding reconstruction accuracy can be varied. Taking advantage of neural firing features, the pulse-based approach requires less than 3K pulses/second to record a 25 KHz bandwidth signal from a hardware neural simulator. Recording performance has been characterized in the back-end signal processing with the spike sorting method. Two different spike sorting methods are proposed depending on different recording bandwidth constraints.
Early Autism Detection Implications for Pediatric Practice and Public Policy

Autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) present numerous challenges for early diagnosis and intervention. Recent research has concentrated on identifying symptoms of ASD in infants and toddlers. This art...
GABA stimulates chemotaxis and chemokinesis of embryonic cortical neurons via calcium-dependent mechanisms

During rat cortical development, when neurons migrate from the ventricular zone to the cortical plate, GABA localizes within the target destinations of migratory neurons. At this time, cells in germinal zones and along migratory pathways express GABA receptor subunit transcripts, implying that in vivo, GABA may be a chemoattractant. We used an in vitro strategy to study putative chemotropic effects of GABA on embryonic rat cortical cells. GABA stimulated neuronal migration in vitro at embryonic day 15 (E15). From E16 onward, two concentration ranges (fM and microM) induced motility. Femtomolar GABA primarily stimulated chemotaxis (migration along a chemical gradient), whereas micromolar GABA predominantly initiated chemokinesis (increased random movement). These effects were mimicked by structural analogs of GABA with relative specificity at GABAA (muscimol), GABAB (R-baclofen), and GABAC (trans- or cis-4-aminocrotonic acid) receptors. Antagonists of GABAB (saclofen) and GABAC (picrotoxin) receptors partially inhibited responses to both femto- and micromolar GABA; however, only responses to femtomolar GABA were partially blocked by bicuculline, a well established antagonist of GABA at GABAA receptors. Hence, chemotactic responses to femtomolar GABA seem to involve all three classes of GABA receptor proteins, whereas chemokinetic responses to micromolar GABA involve GABAB and GABAC receptor proteins. GABA-induced motility was blocked by loading the cells with the Ca(2+)-chelating molecule bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetra-acetic acid, suggesting that intracellular Ca2+ mediates GABA-induced cell movement. Optical recordings of cells loaded with Ca2+ indicator dye revealed that both femto- and micromolar GABA evoked increases in intracellular Ca2+. Thus, GABA-stimulated increases in intracellular Ca2+ may mediate both chemotactic and chemokinetic responses in embryonic cortical cells.
Multiple Trajectories of Cigarette Smoking and the Intergenerational Transmission of Smoking: A Multigenerational, Longitudinal Study of a Midwestern Community Sample

Objective To investigate the relation between developmental phenotypes of parental smoking (trajectories of smoking from adolescence to adulthood) and the intergenerational transmission of smoking to their adolescent children. Design A longitudinal, multigenerational study of a midwestern community sample followed individuals from adolescence into adulthood and was combined with Web-based assessment of participants' spouses and adolescent children. Mixture modeling identified multiple trajectories of smoking, and path analyses related these trajectories to adolescents' smoking (beyond both parents' current smoking). Potential mediations were parental education and adolescents' personality characteristics. Main outcome measure The outcome measure was adolescent smoking. Results A parent's smoking trajectory had a unique effect on their adolescent's smoking, beyond both parents' current smoking and the parent's educational attainment. However, although adolescents' personality characteristics were related both to adolescent smoking and to their parents' smoking, these characteristics could not explain the effects of the parent's smoking trajectory. Conclusion Parents whose smoking had an early onset, steep acceleration, high levels of smoking, and persistence over time had the highest risk for intergenerational transmission of smoking to their adolescent children.
PSF and p54nrb bind a conserved stem in U5 snRNA.

PTB-associated splicing factor (PSF) has been implicated in both early and late steps of pre-mRNA splicing, but its exact role in this process remains unclear. Here we show that PSF interacts with p54nrb, a highly related protein first identified based on cross-reactivity to antibodies against the yeast second-step splicing factor Prpl8. We performed RNA-binding experiments to determine the preferred RNA-binding sequences for PSF and p54nrb, both individually and in combination. In all cases, iterative selection assays identified a purine-rich sequence located on the 3' side of U5 snRNA stem 1b. Filter-binding assays and RNA affinity selection experiments demonstrated that PSF and p54nrb bind U5 snRNA with both the sequence and structure of stem 1b contributing to binding specificity. Sedimentation analyses show that both proteins associate with spliceosomes and with U4/U6.U5 tri-snPNP.
Performance of diversity combining techniques for DS/DPSK signaling over a pulsed jammed multipath-fading channel

The effectiveness of antenna and spread-spectrum diversity is evaluated for direct-sequence differential phase-shift-keyed signaling over a worst-case pulse-jammed multipath-fading channel. Two diversity combining techniques are proposed. One uses predetection selective combining followed by postdetection equal-gain combining, and the other uses only postdetection equal-gain combining. The use of coding with hard and soft decision decoding is also considered. It is shown that the proposed diversity techniques can provide a significant improvement in the performance of coded antijam systems operating over jammed multipath-fading channels. >
Challenges and Future Directions of Software Technology: Secure Software Development

Developing large scale software systems has major security challenges. This paper describes the issues involved and then addresses two topics: formal methods for emerging secure systems and secure services modeling.
The Use of Patient Satisfaction Data to Assess the Impact of Continuous Quality Improvement Efforts

Objective: To quantitatively compare patient satisfaction with the visit to an academic otolaryngology office before and after quality improvement efforts. Design: Survey research of convenience sample of new patients. Setting: Outpatients offices of the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo. Patients: New patients seen between November 1993 and March 1994 (phase 1) and November 1995 and February 1996 (phase 2). Intervention: Numerous departmentwide quality improvements efforts were begun between phase 1 and phase 2. The Visit Rating Questionnaire, a 9-item patient-based questionnaire, was used to measure patient satisfaction. Main Outcome Measure: The percentage of patients who rated their visit overall as excellent. Results: Overall, 973 patients participated. The percentage of patients who rated their overall visit as excellent was 570 (58%) of 1067, while it was 200 (41%) of 491 for phase 1 and 370 (64%) of 576 for phase 2 (χ 2 =63.8; P Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1996;122:1045-1048
A Nonlinear Parabolic Equation Modelling Surfactant Diffusion

An initial-boundary value problem for nonlinear parabolic equations modelling surfactant diffusions is investigated. The boundary conditions are of nonlinear adsorptive types, and the initial value has a single point jump. We study the well-posedness of the problem, the convergence of a numerical scheme, and the regularity as well as quantitative behaviour of solutions.
Aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in oxygen minimum layer fishes: the role of alcohol dehydrogenase.

SUMMARY Zones of minimum oxygen form at intermediate depth in all the world’s oceans as a result of global circulation patterns that keep the water at oceanic mid-depths out of contact with the atmosphere for hundreds of years. In areas where primary production is very high, the microbial oxidation of sinking organic matter results in very low oxygen concentrations at mid-depths. Such is the case with the Arabian Sea, with O 2 concentrations reaching zero at 200 m and remaining very low ( 2 l –1 ) for hundreds of meters below this depth, and in the California borderland, where oxygen levels reach 0.2 ml O 2 l –1 at 700 m with severely hypoxic ( 2 l –1) waters at depths 300 m above and below that. Despite the very low oxygen, mesopelagic fishes (primarily lanternfishes: Mytophidae) inhabiting the Arabian Sea and California borderland perform a daily vertical migration into the low-oxygen layer, spending daylight hours in the oxygen minimum zone and migrating upward into normoxic waters at night. To find out how fishes were able to survive their daily sojourns into the minimum zone, we tested the activity of four enzymes, one (lactate dehydrogenase, LDH) that served as a proxy for anaerobic glycolysis with a conventional lactate endpoint, a second (citrate synthase, CS) that is indicative of aerobic metabolism, a third (malate dehydrogenase) that functions in the Krebs’ cycle and as a bridge linking mitochondrion and cytosol, and a fourth (alcohol dehydrogenase, ADH) that catalyzes the final reaction in a pathway where pyruvate is reduced to ethanol. Ethanol is a metabolic product easily excreted by fish, preventing lactate accumulation. The ADH pathway is rarely very active in vertebrate muscle; activity has previously been seen only in goldfish and other cyprinids capable of prolonged anaerobiosis. Activity of the enzyme suite in Arabian Sea and California fishes was compared with that of ecological analogs in the same family and with the same lifestyle but living in systems with much higher oxygen concentrations: the Gulf of Mexico and the Southern Ocean. ADH activities in the Arabian Sea fishes were similar to those of goldfish, far higher than those of confamilials from the less severe minimum in the Gulf of Mexico, suggesting that the Arabian Sea fishes are capable of exploiting the novel ethanol endpoint to become competent anaerobes. In turn, the fishes of California exhibited a higher ADH activity than their Antarctic relatives. It was concluded that ADH activity is more widespread in fishes than previously believed and that it may play a role in allowing vertically migrating fishes to exploit the safe haven afforded by severe oxygen minima.
Further results on singularly perturbed monotone systems, with an application to double phosphorylation cycles

The theory of monotone dynamical systems has been found very useful in the modeling of some gene, protein, and signaling networks. In monotone systems, every net feedback loop is positive. On the other hand, negative feedback loops are important features of many systems, since they are required for adaptation and precision. This paper shows that, provided that these negative loops act at a comparatively fast time scale, the main dynamical property of (strongly) monotone systems, convergence to steady states, is still valid. An application is worked out to a double-phosphorylation "futile cycle" motif which plays a central role in eukaryotic cell signaling. The results significantly improve and extend those presented in our 2006 IEEE Conference on Decision and Control paper.
Automatic capture and presentation creation from multimedia lectures

For more than a decade, the RIPPLES group at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has developed and deployed content delivery systems to support on-campus and distance education. This has been an effective but expensive approach because of its dependence on content captured by human operators and substantial production effort. Presentations Automatically Organized from Lectures (PAOL) is a classroom-capture system that is transparent to and places no constraints (teaching style or pedagogy) on a lecturer. PAOL is unique-no other system can capture unconstrained computer-based materials, capture whiteboard writing and drawing, and produce a speaker video without requiring preinstalled software, electronic whiteboards, or special training. PAOL uses high-resolution cameras, a computer screen capture device, and a wireless microphone to automatically create multimedia Flash presentations, which include a digitally edited instructor video, enhanced images of all material presented by computer or written/drawn on a whiteboard, and an index to support navigation. The PAOL system has been used extensively during system development in several varied settings. We report on usability studies to determine the most effective presentation formats and interfaces and our efforts to capture a full course to further evaluate the impact on teaching and learning.
Fluid compartmental shifts with efficacious pioglitazone therapy in overweight monkeys: implications for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist use in prediabetes.

Pioglitazone is prescribed to improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and has been discussed as a therapy for metabolic syndrome. Pioglitazone and other thiazolidinediones are associated with fluid retention and edema that may exacerbate existing or developing congestive heart failure, which is often present in these patients. Using a nonhuman primate model, our aims were to evaluate (1) whether fluid shifts were detectable in normoglycemic monkeys, (2) which fluid compartment changed, and (3) whether fluid retention was dose dependent. Seventeen adult male cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) were studied in a Latin square design such that all animals received 0, 1, 2, and 5 mg/kg pioglitazone for 6 weeks with 2 weeks of washout between dosing intervals. Doses approximated human exposures achieved with 30, 45, and 60 mg. At the end of each period, animals were weighed and underwent dual-absorption x-ray absorption scanning for body composition measurements. Fluid volumes were quantitated by Evans blue dilution for plasma volume, equilibration of sodium bromide for extracellular water, and deuterated water for total body water. Significant (P < .05) effects were seen with expansion of PV at both the 2- and 5-mg/kg doses, along with reduced plasma sodium at 5 mg/kg; however, surrogate end points used to indicate fluid retention (body weight, hematocrit, total protein, and albumin) did not change significantly. Significant trends toward increases in interstitial fluid and extracellular water with increasing dose were apparent. Pioglitazone effectively improved metabolic status by significantly decreasing fasting glucose and triglycerides and increasing adiponectin. We conclude that thiazolidinedione-related plasma volume expansion occurs in nondiabetic primates and that fluid retention is detectable when compartments are directly measured.
OVERCOMING THE CRISIS IN CRITICAL CRIMINOLOGY: TOWARD A GROUNDED LABELING THEORY*

It has been said that critical criminology is in a state of crisis The author contends that the theoretical roots of this crisis lie in the failure of critical criminology to come to terms with the interactionist tradition from within which it developed. He shows how the traditional critical-Marxist critiques of interactionism have failed to comprehend the substance of this approach. Such substance is rooted in the social philosophy of pragmatism, especially in the thought of Mead, and in the reality of 20th-century social relationships The author proposes that the renewed critical criminology should be based in a grounded labeling theory which is able to foster consideration of both practical and discursive forms of interaction.
Transient Mean and Variance of Phase Error of the First-Order Phase-Locked Loop

Based on the Fokker-Planck techniques, the time-dependent mean and variance of phase error of the first-order phase-locked loop in the presence of white Gaussian noise have been obtained via stochastic differential equations. The steady-state variance reduced from the transient case is simple in its form and agrees closely with the previous results obtained by different approaches.
Effects of Back Contact Treatments on Junction Photoluminescence in CdTe/CdS Solar Cells

Device performance in CdTe/CdS solar cells is critically linked to the quality of the back contact. In this paper we report on a phenomenon wherein application of the back contact significantly alters the electro-optical properties of the absorber near the junction. We have studied the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of the near-junction CdTe region in CdTe/CdS solar cells before and after contact application. It is found that the elemental Tellurium layer formed on the CdTe surface by the standard nitric-phosphoric etch process results in a dramatic qualitative change in the junction PL spectrum. Prior to NP etch, the spectrum has two peaks at energies of 1.50 eV and 1.45 eV, corresponding to recombination in bulk CdTe, and in a CdTeS alloy with 9% sulfur content, respectively. After NP etch, the relative intensity of the low-energy peak is reduced, and the peak shifts towards higher energy. These changes are consistent with a model of increased band-bending at the grain boundaries near the CdTe/CdS heterojunction.
Elevated synaptic activity preconditions neurons against an in vitro model of Ischemia

Abstract Tolerance to otherwise lethal cerebral ischemia in vivo or to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in vitro can be induced by prior transient exposure to N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA): preconditioning in this manner activates extrasynaptic and synaptic NMDA receptors and can require bringing neurons to the “brink of death.” We considered if this stressful requirement could be minimized by the stimulation of primarily synaptic NMDA receptors. Subjecting cultured cortical neurons to prolonged elevations in electrical activity induced tolerance to OGD. Specifically, exposing cultures to a K+-channel blocker, 4-aminopyridine (20–2500 μm), and a GABAA receptor antagonist, bicuculline (50 μm) (4-AP/bic), for 1–2 days resulted in potent tolerance to normally lethal OGD applied up to 3 days later. Preconditioning induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and CREB which, along with Ca2+ spiking and OGD tolerance, was eliminated by tetrodotoxin. Antagonists of NMDA receptors or l-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (L-VGCCs) applied during preconditioning decreased Ca2+ spiking, phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and CREB, and OGD tolerance more effectively when combined, particularly at the lowest 4-AP concentration. Inhibiting ERK1/2 or Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs) also reduced Ca2+ spiking and OGD tolerance. Preconditioning resulted in altered neuronal excitability for up to 3 days following 4-AP/bic washout, based on field potential recordings obtained from neurons cultured on 64-channel multielectrode arrays. Taken together, the data are consistent with action potential-driven co-activation of primarily synaptic NMDA receptors and L-VGCCs, resulting in parallel phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and CREB and involvement of CaMKs, culminating in a potent, prolonged but reversible, OGD-tolerant phenotype.
Using a literature-based NMF model for discovering gene functional relationships

The rapid growth of the biomedical literature and genomic information presents a major challenge for determining the functional relationships among genes. In this study, we develop a Web-based bioinformatics software environment called FAUN or feature annotation using nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) to facilitate both the discovery and classification of functional relationships among genes. Both the computational complexity and parameterization of NMF for processing gene sets are discussed. We tested FAUN on three manually constructed gene document collections, and then used it to analyze several microarray-derived gene sets obtained from studies of the developing cerebellum in normal and mutant mice. FAUN provides utilities for collaborative knowledge discovery and identification of new gene relationships from text streams and repositories (e.g., MEDLINE). It is particularly useful for the validation and analysis of gene associations suggested by microarray experimentation.
Investigation of Interior Noise in a Twin-Engine Light Aircraft

This paper describes experimental studies of interior noise in a twin-engine, propeller-driven, light aircraft. An analytical model for this type of aircraft is also discussed. Results indicate that interior noise levels in this aircraft due to propeller noise can be reduced by reducing engine rpm at constant airspeed (about 3 dB), and by synchrophasing the twin engines/propellers (perhaps up to 12 dB). Ground tests show that the exterior noise pressure imposed on the fuselage consists of a complex combination of narrow-band harmonics due to propeller and engine exhaust sources. This noise is reduced by about 20-40 dB (depending on the frequency) by transmission through the sidewall to the cabin interior. The analytical model described uses modal methods and incorporates the flat-side geometrical and skin-stringer structural features of this light aircraft.
Electric pulse shape impact on biological effects: A modeling study

Electric pulses (EPs) can permeabilize cell membranes and intracellular organelles through pore formation. Changing the pulse duration and the shape of the pulses can alter the biological effects. Here, simulation results based upon the coupling of the asymptotic Smoluchowski equation for pore formation and the Nernst-Planck equation for ion motion show that a single 10ns or 600 ns EP permeabilizes the cell membrane on the side of field exposure to facilitate electrophoresis of calcium ions into the cell. Following the EP, the pores partially reseal and calcium concentration initially declines before increasing again across the cell due to diffusion. Calcium concentrations increase to ∼5 mM due after approximately 1 ms. Preliminary simulations for other pulse durations and discussed and extensions for bipolar pulses and novel pulse shapes are discussed.
Synchronized Heterogeneous Viscous Behavior of Soft Materials Upon Macroscopic Loading

This paper presents a preliminary study on characterizing the synchronized heterogeneous viscous behavior of soft materials upon macroscopic sinusoidal loading. Built upon a polymer-based microfluidic device capable of detecting distributed normal loads at a spatial resolution of 1.5mm, a rigid cylinder probe is employed to exert a macroscopic sinusoidal load on a sample placed on the device. Consequently, the synchronized heterogeneous viscous behavior of a sample translates to sinusoidal distributed loads, which are captured by the device. In a measurement, the input and output signals of a sample are the macroscopic sinusoidal load and the DC voltage outputs of the device, respectively, with the latter being representative of the sinusoidal deflections of a sample along its length. A preliminary data analysis is conducted on the recorded input and output signals to obtain their phase shifts at different frequencies, which are representative of the heterogeneous viscosity of a sample along its length. Several agar and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) samples and two animal cartilage tissue samples are prepared and measured. Variations among the measured phase shifts in a sample manifest its structural heterogeneity and demonstrate the feasibility of using the device to characterize the synchronized heterogeneous viscous behavior of soft materials upon macroscopic loading.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Homelessness at the Millennium

This article discusses the government’s response to what appeared at the time to be an overnight explosion of the homeless population in big cities and small towns as a result of major economic and social changes of the early 1980s. In order to respond effectively to underlying problems of homelessness, it explores solutions that are more comprehensive than merely building shelters. The author argues that while homelessness has a direct link to poverty, the government must also address more complex causes including, the lack of adequate mental health care, substance abuse, a decline in the availability of affordable housing, and the shift from blue-collar manufacturing to service sector jobs. The author stresses the importance of recognizing that reconnecting homeless people with society requires the homeless to move through a series of transitional steps. Two programs, HUD’s D.C. Initiative and Beyond McKinney Coalition proposals, that offer support services such as comprehensive health coverage, educational services, substance abuse treatment, day care, and job training and counseling, are featured.
Fast track bariatric surgery: safety of discharge on the first postoperative day after bariatric surgery.

Abstract Background Fast track recovery pathways have resulted in a multidisciplinary approach to enhance postoperative recovery. Objectives To assess feasibility and outcome of early discharge after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). Setting The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was analyzed to identify patients with body mass index≥35 kg/m2 who underwent LSG or LRYGB in 2012 and 2013. Methods Patients were allocated to early discharge (ED) when discharged on postoperative (POD) 1 and late discharge (LD) when discharged on POD 2 or 3. Baseline characteristics and 30-day outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. Results Records of 15,468 LSG and 16,483 LRYGB patients were analyzed; 5220 patients with LSG (33.7%) and 2960 patients with LRYGB (18%) were discharged on POD 1. The early discharge group had significantly fewer co-morbidities and lower rate of complications and readmission. Thirty-day readmission rate in LSG was 2.8% in ED versus 3.6% in LD (P = .008), and in LRGYB, it was 4.3% in ED versus 5.8% in LD (P = .001). Based on multivariate analysis, early discharge was not an independent risk factor for a higher readmission rate after LSG or LRYGB. Predictors of late discharge were age>50 years, body mass index>50 kg/m2, Hispanic or non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity, impaired functional status, diabetes on insulin, chronic steroid/immunosuppressant use, bleeding disorder, being on dialysis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, albumin Conclusion Discharge on POD 1 after LSG and LRYGB is feasible in a considerable proportion of patients. In this subgroup, early discharge is well tolerated and may be associated with lower complication and readmission rates.
Construction of Gifts "To A and His Children" (Herein the Rule in Wild's Case)

O NE OF the prized incidents of the institution of private property is the power of the owner over the devolution of his title. Yet, the careless way in which this power frequently is exercised makes one doubt whether it is appreciated. If the intention of the owner as to the choice of his successors in interest is so inadequately expressed that the courts are compelled to engage in a guessing contest to determine his intention, the exercise of this power by the owner becomes a mere matter of chance. The situations in which the most trouble arises are those where the beneficiaries of a disposition are described not by their individual names, but with reference to their membership in some group such as "children," "heirs," etc. The ambiguities inherent in these group descriptions are obviously not apparent to many persons who draft instruments using these phrases or far more care would be taken to avoid the disputes which are constantly arising. This article is concerned with the problems raised by one of these stock phrases frequently used to describe beneficiaries, namely, "A and his children." Anyone fully conscious of the dynamite in those simple words would, I am sure, never use them. But since they have been and continue to be used rather widely, an awakening seems to be essential and that is the principal purpose of this discussion. When the beneficiaries of a disposition are described by the phrase "A and his children," or some other equally incomplete expression, the technique employed by the courts to solve the disputes which arise is to adopt rules of construction which are to control in the absence of appropriate evidence manifesting some other desire. These rules of construction are designed to give effect to what the transferor probably would have intended had he thought about the problem which faces the court. Whether