cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antagonism of a peripheral vascular but not an apparently central serotonergic response by xylamidine and BW 501C67

Xylamidine and BW501C67 (α-anilino-N-2-m-chlorophenoxypropylacetamidine), serotonin antagonists that have been reported not to cross the blood-brain barrier, were compared to other serotonin antagonists: mianserin, ketanserin, metergoline and LY 53857. All six compounds were potent inhibitors of the binding of tritiated spiperone to 5HT2 receptors in rat frontal cortex membranes in vitro and were less potent inhibitors of the binding of tritiated serotonin to 5HT1 receptors in rat brain membranes. All were potent antagonists of the 5HT2 receptor-mediated contractile response to serotonin in the rat jugular vein in vitro. At doses of 0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg i.p., xylamidine and BW501C67 antagonized the pressor response to intravenously injected serotonin in pithed rats. In contrast, neither xylamidine nor BW501C67 at doses of 1 or 3 mg/kg i.p. antagonized the elevation of serum corticosterone concentration by quipazine in rats, although the other compounds antagonized this effect with ED50 values between 0.03 and 0.9 mg/kg. These data corroborate the previously reported antiserotonin activity of xylamidine and BW501C67. Since xylamidine and BW501C67 were potent antagonists of a peripheral serotonergic response in vivo, their inability to antagonize the elevation of serum corticosterone concentration by quipazine suggests that this effect results from activation of central serotonin receptors.
Pathogenicity of a granulosis virus of the Indian-meal moth

Abstract A bioassay was conducted to determine the virulence of a granulosis virus to firstinstar, Indian-meal moth larvae. The calculated LC 50 was 18,000 capsules per gram of bran diet. Fiducial limits (0.05) were determined to be 20,900 and 15,900 capsules/g. Studies on time of death showed that a concentration of 8.6 × 10 4 capsules/g killed 51% of test larvae by 10 days after exposure to the virus. A subsequent specificity test showed that the virus failed to infect first-instar Ephestia elutella, Cadra cautella , and C. figulilella at a concentration of 8.6 × 10 6 capsules/g.
The Distinctiveness of American Denominationalism: A Case Study of the 1846 Evangelical Alliance

The Chicago school in American religious historiography, especially its two most distinguished representatives, W. W. Sweet and Sidney E. Mead, has emphasized the growth of religious liberty as a crucial factor in accounting for the characteristic shape of American Protestantism in the early nineteenth century. The effect of this interpretative hypothesis has been to emphasize the distinctiveness of American religious history while focusing attention so intensely upon American phenomena that evidence from European history which might have served to qualify that hypothesis has not yet received adequate attention.
Major Depression and Conduct Disorder in a Twin Sample: Gender, Functioning, and Risk for Future Psychopathology

ABSTRACT Objective Major depression (MDD) and conduct disorder (CD) co-occur in adolescents at rates higher than would be expected by chance. This study described the functioning of adolescents with histories of these disorders and examined whether these patterns of association differed by gender. Method Subjects with a lifetime DSM-III-R diagnosis of MDD and/or CD were selected from a sample of 17-year-old twins; control subjects had no history of either disorder. The domains of school success, substance dependence, peer relationships, and age of first sexual intercourse were examined. Results Overall, each disorder separately and especially both disorders together related to increased maladjustment in the domains of school success and substance dependence. For school behavior problems, nicotine dependence, and drug dependence, the combination of MDD and CD related to particularly problematic functioning. Results were similar for males and females. Longitudinal data indicated that the occurrence of these disorders by late adolescence was predictive of subsequent depression and antisocial behavior in early adulthood. Conclusions The combination of CD and MDD relates to more serious maladjustment, especially relating to school success and substance dependence, than would be expected given the adjustment associated with each disorder alone.
THE PREDICTIVE VALIDITY OF A WORK SAMPLE: A LABORATORY STUDY

Concurrent and predictive test validity data and test-retest reliability data were obtained for a work sample performance measure and two paper and pencil tests in a laboratory setting. The work sample predicted performance on the criterion comparably with the two traditional paper and pencil tests for both concurrent and predictive validity conditions. The results of this study coupled with the inherent advantages of work samples for personnel selection offer a favorable prognosis for future research and application of work samples. The findings are interpreted in light of a behavioral consistency model and the practical utility of work samples as a personnel selection technique.
Influence of Ca2+ and Suwannee River Humic Acid on aggregation of silicon nanoparticles in aqueous media

Abstract Silicon nanoparticles (NPs) have potential applications in many fields including microelectronics, biomedical imaging, and most recently energetics. Even though silicon NPs are thought to be harmless, their full impact on the environment and human health needs further investigation due to their potential increased use and recent toxicity data. Various techniques were used to characterize silicon NPs that are being considered for use in energetics. These techniques included dynamic light scattering (DLS), electron microscopy (EM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Experiments were also conducted on the early stage aggregation kinetics of silicon NPs in the presence of Ca2+ and Suwannee River Humic Acid (SRHA). The addition of SRHA in the presence of Ca2+ resulted in increased attachment efficiencies and decreased critical coagulation concentration (from 0.4 to 0.1 M). The enhanced aggregation was attributed to bridging generated by SRHA aggregates as evidenced by selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). SAED verified the bridging to be amorphous phase comprised of humic substances rather than artifacts of silicon crystallites. Element distribution analyses were also used in the delineation of the silicon NP aggregation mechanisms in the absence and presence of SRHA.
Floridian high-voltage power-grid network partitioning and cluster optimization using simulated annealing

Abstract Many partitioning methods may be used to partition a network into smaller clusters while minimizing the number of cuts needed. However, other considerations must also be taken into account when a network represents a real system such as a power grid. In this paper we use a simulated annealing Monte Carlo (MC) method to optimize initial clusters on the Florida highvoltage power-grid network that were formed by associating each load with its “closest” generator. The clusters are optimized to maximize internal connectivity within the individual clusters and minimize the power deficiency or surplus that clusters may otherwise have.
Comparison of Dengue Virus Type 2-Specific Small RNAs from RNA Interference-Competent and –Incompetent Mosquito Cells

The exogenous RNA interference (RNAi) pathway is an important antiviral defense against arboviruses in mosquitoes, and virus-specific small interfering (si)RNAs are key components of this pathway. Understanding the biogenesis of siRNAs in mosquitoes could have important ramifications in using RNAi to control arbovirus transmission. Using deep sequencing technology, we characterized dengue virus type 2 (DENV2)-specific small RNAs produced during infection of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and A. aegypti Aag2 cell cultures and compared them to those produced in the C6/36 Aedes albopictus cell line. We show that the size and mixed polarity of virus-specific small RNAs from DENV-infected A. aegypti cells indicate that they are products of Dicer-2 (Dcr2) cleavage of long dsRNA, whereas C6/36 cells generate DENV2-specific small RNAs that are longer and predominantly positive polarity, suggesting that they originate from a different small RNA pathway. Examination of virus-specific small RNAs after infection of the two mosquito cell lines with the insect-only flavivirus cell fusing agent virus (CFAV) corroborated these findings. An in vitro assay also showed that Aag2 A. aegypti cells are capable of siRNA production, while C6/36 A. albopictus cells exhibit inefficient Dcr2 cleavage of long dsRNA. Defective expression or function of Dcr2, the key initiator of the RNAi pathway, might explain the comparatively robust growth of arthropod-borne viruses in the C6/36 cell line, which has been used frequently as a surrogate for studying molecular interactions between arboviruses and cells of their mosquito hosts.
Modified selective population transfer experiments. Methods for selective decoupling and suppression of unwanted signals

Abstract Two pulse sequences, based on the selective population transfer experiment, greatly extend and improve the applications of this polarization transfer method. One of these sequences copes with situations where it is desirable to apply selective decoupling to a group of magnetically equivalent protons which are also used for polarization transfer. The resulting spectrum is both enhanced with all remaining lines in phase and simplified to permit more facile interpretation as is demonstrated for the 29Si NMR spectrum of vinyltrimethylsilane. The second pulse sequence is an improvement of the conventional SPT difference spectroscopy method. Selective π pulses are applied alternately to the low- and high-frequency satellites in the 1H spectrum with a concurrent 180° phase shift of the 90° “read” pulse. This sequence is used for the suppression of strong unwanted signals (e.g., solvent peaks) and does not involve acquisition of these signals in the FIDs. An enhanced coupled or decoupled spectrum for the weak resonances is obtained as is demonstrated by uncovering the signals for the CHD2CN isotopomer from the 13C spectrum of 99% deuterium enriched CD3CN.
Crossed and uncrossed central effects of muscle spindle afferents from the lateral pterygoid muscle of the guinea pig

Physiological evidence is presented for the presence of stretch reflexes in the lateral pterygoid (Pt) muscle of the guinea pig. The central reflex effects of excitation of Pt stretch reflex afferents were also investigated. Passive lateral jaw displacement, which resulted in stretch of the Pt muscle on the side of jaw movement and stretch of the zygomatico-mandibularis (Z) muscle on the side contralateral to the movement, evoked increased EMG activity in these muscles. Stimulation of the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus (mes V) evoked monosynaptic reflexes in both the Pt and Z nerves. Tonic stretch of the Pt muscle facilitated the monosynaptic reflex in the Pt nerve evoked by stimulation of mes V. Tonic vibration of the Pt muscle facilitated the mes V evoked monosynaptic reflex in the nerves to the ipsilateral Pt and contralateral Z muscles. Conversely, tonic vibration of the Z muscle facilitated the monosynaptic reflex evolved by mes V stimulation in the contralateral Pt and ipsilateral Z nerve. The results support the view that muscle spindles exist in the Pt and Z muscles and that there is a monosynaptic stretch reflex for both the Pt and Z muscles with cell bodies located in the mes V nucleus. It was also shown that the ipsilateral Pt muscle and the contralateral Z muscle act as synergists in the production of lateral jaw movements and that the organization of the stretch reflexes originating from the Pt and Z muscles support their synergistic action.
Experiencing flow: Is doing it together better than doing it alone?

A survey study and two experiments were done to test the hypothesis that social flow is more enjoyable than solitary flow. In the survey study it was found that recalled social flow experiences were rated more enjoyable than solitary flow experiences. In the first experiment when challenge and skill were the same across social and solitary conditions, social flow was reported to be more enjoyable than solitary flow. In the second experiment when the level of social interdependence was manipulated it was found that participants in highly interdependent teams reported more joy in flow than individuals performing less interdependently. In both experiments, people playing simple paddleball games reported and expressed more joy performing with others than alone. Taken together, the three investigations support the conclusion that doing it together is better than doing it alone. Solitary flow, while quite enjoyable, is not as enjoyable as social flow.
A computer-controlled technique for electrochemical STM tip fabrication☆

Abstract We present a novel technique developed in our laboratory for the fabrication of sharp tips for scanning tunneling microscopy. A computer-controlled mechanism is implemented for positioning the wire to be etched at the electrolyte/air interface. The tips are fabricated by AC electrochemical etching in solutions of KCN for Pt-Ir tips or KOH for tungsten tips. By monitoring the etching current with the computer we designed a simple algorithm that provides automated controllable etching conditions.
The Differing Views on Insanity of Two Nineteenth Century Forensic Psychiatrists

Dr. Charles H. Nichols and Dr. John P. Gray were the two foremost forensic psychiatrists in the latter half of the nineteenth century in the U.S. However, their rationales differed dramatically. They were involved in four notable murder trials where insanity issues arose: one was a trial for the murderer of a Union officer during the Civil War; in another, a conspirator was tried for the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln; in the third, a temporary insanity plea was supported by a medical expert for the first time in a U.S. courtroom; and the fourth was the trial of the assassin of President James A. Garfield. Pointedly, their differing viewpoints still remain controversial today.
INFRARED OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF PULSED LASER DEPOSITED CARBON FILMS WITH THE BONDING AND PROPERTIES OF DIAMOND

Composed of packed nanophase nodules in which the carbon atoms are linked with the tetrahedral bonding of diamond, laser plasma films are deposited in vacuum onto almost any substrate by condensing carbon ions carrying keV energies. These multiply charged ions are obtained from the laser ablation of graphite at intensities in excess of 1011 W cm−2. The high energy of condensation provides both for the chemical bonding of such films to a wide variety of substrates and for low values of residual compressive stress. Coatings of 2–5 μm thicknesses have extended lifetimes of important optical materials against the erosive wear from high-speed particles and droplets by factors of tens to thousands. In this work, the optical properties of these films at infrared (IR) wavelengths were studied. Transmission spectra of several freestanding films on silicon frames were measured. Using a model considering rough surface scattering and free carrier absorption, satisfactory fits to these transmission spectra were obtained and from them the optical parameters were extracted. The characterization studies performed in this work indicated a great potential for the laser-deposited nanophase diamond films in optical applications.
Beyond Charge Density Matching: The Role of C–H···O Interactions in the Formation of Templated Vanadium Tellurites

Differences in the [V2Te2O10]n2n– layer topologies in [C6H16N2][V2Te2O10] and [C5H14N2][V2Te2O10] are the result of deviations in the C–H···O hydrogen-bonding networks. Stronger influences, such as reagent concentrations and charge density matching, were minimized through the use of both nearly identical reaction gels and 2,5-dimethylpiperazine and 2-methylpiperaine, which have very similar charge densities. Reactant concentration and charge density matching effects were quantified using composition space analyses, molecular and geometric decomposition surface areas, and Iterative Hirshfeld partial atomic charges.
Assessing network vulnerability in a community structure point of view

We introduce Community structure Vulnerability Assessment (CVA) problem to assess the network vulnerability under a community structure point of view. Given a positive number k, CVA aims to find out the k most vulnerable nodes whose removals maximally transform the current network community structure to a different one. As the first attempt, we suggest an approximation algorithm for the special case k = 1, and propose multiple greedy algorithms for CVA problem. To certify the effectiveness of suggested approaches, we test them on not only synthesized networks with known community structures but also on real-world social traces.
Heidegger Teaching: An analysis and interpretation of pedagogy

German philosopher Martin Heidegger stirred educators when in 1951 he claimed teaching is more difficult than learning because teachers must ‘learn to let learn’. However in the main he left the aphorism unexplained as part of a brief four‐paragraph, less than two‐page set of observations concerning the relationship of teaching to learning; and concluded at the end of those observations that to become a teacher is an ‘exalted matter’. This paper investigates both of Heidegger's claims, interpreting letting learn in the context of Heidegger's larger philosophical project, and suggesting why in light of that project to become a teacher is an exalted concern. The methodology guiding the inquiry is largely hermeneutic, the purpose of the essay to interpret teaching from a Heideggerian perspective: its nature and general method.
Developmental Differences in Vowel Duration in Open and Closed Syllables

Vowel duration in open and closed syllables was investigated in groups of ten normal 5-, 8-, and 10-year-old children, and adults. Productions of three syllables (bee, bead, beet), analyzed acoustically for vowel duration, indicated that for all age groups, mean vowel durations for “bee” and “bead” were significantly different from “beet” but were not different from each other. Developmental effects were noted in mean and variability of vowel duration. In addition, a context effect was observed, with adult-like values for both mean and variability obtained at an earlier age for “beet” than for “bee” and “bead.” These results suggest that both phonemic and phonetic factors are important in accounting for developmental changes in mean and variability of vowel duration.
Using the accumulation of CBD-extractable iron and clay content to estimate soil age on stable surfaces and nearby slopes, Front Range, Colorado

Abstract In many transport-limited environments, morphology, pedogenic iron and clay content provide a basis for estimating the exposure age of soils and associated landforms. We measured citrate-buffered dithionite (CBD)-extractable Fe (Fe d ) and clay concentration in fresh rock, saprolite, morainal and colluvial materials, and soil horizons from stable surfaces and hillslopes in the Colorado Front Range. Fresh igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks contain d and 1 to 5% clay. As bedrock and surficial deposits age, Fe d and clay accumulate from weathering and dustfall. Late Holocene regolith at warm, dry sites contains small amounts of Fe d and clay, but relatively moist soils developed on early Holocene cirque deposits contain as much as 1.5% Fe d and 8% clay. Concentrations and total profile accumulation of Fe d and clay increase with age in soils developed on stable surfaces of glacial deposits as old as ~ 130 kyr. On stable sites, Fe d and clay accumulation from weathering and dust is ~ 0.02 g cm − 2 kyr − 1 and ~ 0.2 g cm − 2 kyr − 1 , respectively. We used the Fe d and clay inventory in soil profiles at dated, stable Front Range surfaces to calculate accumulation functions, which allowed us to estimate soil age at hillslope sites. Heterogeneous parent material, particularly on hillslopes, and climate-related effects add to variability in measured relations. Mobile regolith in Gordon Gulch, one of the Boulder Creek Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) catchments, yields profile ages from about 0.5 to 5 × 10 4 yr, comparable to values measured using other techniques. Calculated profile ages are older on a north- vs. south-facing slope and increase from the drainage divide to the footslope. Ages calculated for stabilized colluvium and well-developed buried profiles at nearby hillslope sites (Lefthand, Ward and Rollinsville) suggest that these soils have stabilized over periods > 10 5 yr. In the absence of radiometric ages, the accumulation of Fe d and clay in soils on stable sites and hillslopes provides a useful, local chronofunction for 10 3 to ~ 3 × 10 5 yr. Local footslope thickening of mobile regolith, buried soils, and areas of Fe d - and clay-rich stabilized colluvium suggest that steady-state models of hillslope regolith must be modified to account for observed soil properties.
Mineralization in calcified plaque is like that of cortical bone--further evidence from ultrashort echo time (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging of carotid plaque calcification and cortical bone.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate carotid plaque calcification (CPC) using two-dimensional (2D) and 3D ultrashort echo time (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences and compare T1, T2*, water concentration, and bone mineral density (BMD) of CPC with those of cortical bone. Methods: Twelve carotid plaque specimens and eight tibial cortical bone samples were imaged with UTE sequences. Adiabatic inversion recovery prepared UTE (IR-UTE) acquisitions were used for T2* measurement. Saturation recovery prepared UTE acquisitions were used for T1 measurement. Water concentration was measured by comparing signal from CPC and bone with that from a phantom. BMD was measured withμ CT. Conventional gradient echo and fast spin echo images were also acquired for comparison. Results: Our studies show that CPC and cortical bone have similar T1 and BMD values but different T2* and water concentration. For CPC T2*s ranged from 0.31 to 3.87 ms, T1s ranged from 114 to 332 ms, water concentrations ranged from 6.4% to 17.6%, and BMD ranged from 977 to 1319 mg/ml. For cortical bone T2*s ranged from 0.33 to 0.45 ms, T1s ranged from 198 to 254 ms, water concentrations ranged from 24.7% to 33.8%, and mineral densities ranged from 970 to 1287 mg/ml. On average CPC shows about 5% longer T1, 5% lower BMD, 440% longer T2*, and 130% lower water concentration when compared to human cortical bone. Conclusions: CPC bears remarkable similarities with cortical bone in terms of BMD and T1. CPC shows a higher mean T2* and a lower mean water concentration.
Thermally forced low Froude number flow past three-dimensional obstacles

Abstract The present study extends the discussion of the flow of a density-stratified fluid past three-dimensional obstacles for Froude number O(1) to flows past an isolated obstacle with heated/cooled surface. The study focuses on a response of thermally forced stratified flows representative of mesoscale flows past mountainous islands such as Hawaii or Taiwan. In order to minimize the span of the parameter space, uniform ambient wind and stratification, axially symmetric bell-shaped hills with moderate slopes representative of mesoscale mountains, and a simple thermal forcing function that mimics natural effects over mountainous islands are assumed. The earth's rotation, surface friction, viscosity, dissipation, and moisture are neglected. With these simplifications flows can be characterized with two parameters: the Froude number and a characteristic scale of thermal forcing (defined later in this paper). The principal question addressed in this study is under what circumstances will a transition occur...
Rapid integrity assessment of rat and human epidermal membranes for in vitro dermal regulatory testing: correlation of electrical resistance with tritiated water permeability

Abstract An approach is presented that allows for rapid selection of robust rat and human epidermal membranes for use on in vitro dermal regulatory studies. Tritiated water (THO) permeability was correlated with electrical resistance (ER) and the results used to propose ER values to judge membrane integrity. Rat and human epidermal membranes were prepared and mounted onto in vitro glass static diffusion cells (0.64 cm 2 ) maintained at 32 °C. THO permeability coefficients (Kp) were determined and compared with ER measurements. Electrical resistance was also determined for various in vitro cell exposure areas from 0.64 cm 2 to 2.54 cm 2 . Our results show that rat epidermal membrane THO Kp values exhibited a lognormal distribution with a median value of 2.76×10 −3 cm/h. Human epidermal membrane THO Kp values were best described by a Weibull distribution with a median value of 1.13×10 −3 cm/h. The corresponding median electrical resistance measurements were 5.59 kΩ for rat and 23 kΩ for human epidermal membranes. Based on the widely used and accepted single point THO Kp thresholds of ⩽2.5×10 −3 cm/h (rat) and ⩽1.5×10 −3 cm/h (human), the corresponding ER values of ⩾5.87 kΩ and ⩾17.1 kΩ were calculated and proposed as acceptable benchmarks for pre-qualifying membranes. In our research exploring the relationship between ER and exposure area we report that an inverse relationship exists between ER and in vitro cell exposure area; as cell area increased, ER decreased. The use of electrical resistance provides a rapid and reliable method for evaluating the integrity of rat and human epidermal membranes for in vitro dermal kinetic testing.
Identification of genetic polymorphisms in 40 chemotherapy pathway genes

Background We set out to identify functionally significant common polymorphisms in 40 genes involved in the pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic pathways of anticancer drugs. Methods We used a pooled approach to resequence 120 DNA samples from African-Americans, Asians, and Caucasians (40 samples each). Results Approximately 338 kb of sequence was analyzed from each sample. 193 of the 711 variant loci that were identified were located in exons. The PolyMAPr program was used to mine the dbSNP, JSNP, and CGAP databases. 243 of the 711 variants were novel, and 78% of the remaining 468 were listed as unvalidated in the databases. Based on estimated allele frequencies, 274 variants were population-specific and 284 were common to all 3 groups. Of the 115 ORF SNPs, 61 were population-specific and 31 were in all 3 groups. Resequencing and database mining identified 523 variants in the ORF. The PolyPhen program was used to predict functional significance of 275 nonsynonymous biallelic SNPs: 174, 43, and 48 were predicted to be benign, possibly damaging, and probably damaging, respectively. Estimated allele frequency and BLOSUM62 score decreased with increasing predicted severity of the amino acid change. Conclusions These results will aid future pharmacogenetic studies of anticancer drugs. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 77, P63–P63; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2004.12.132
Biophysical mechanisms of trichloroethene uptake and loss in baldcypress growing in shallow contaminated groundwater

Wetland vegetation may be useful in the remediation of shallow contaminated aquifers. Mesocosm experiments were conducted to describe the regulatory mechanisms affecting trichloroethene (TCE) removal rates from groundwater by flood-adapted wetland trees at a contaminated site. TCE flux through baldcypress [Taxodium distichum (L) Rich] seedlings grown in glass-carboys decreased from day to night and from August to December. The diel fluctuation coincided with changes in leaf-level physiology, as the daytime flux was significantly correlated with net photosynthesis but not with respiration at night. A decrease in seedling water use from summer to winter explained the large seasonal difference in TCE flux. A simple model that simulates gas-phase diffusion through aerenchyma tested the importance of diffusion of TCE vapor from roots to the stem. The modeled diffusive flux was within 64% of the observed value during the winter but could only explain 8% of the summer flux. Seedling water use was a good estimato...
Hot Peppers to Cool Blood Pressure

Capsaicin is the compound that makes jalapeno peppers “hot,” inducing a burning sensation when it touches one’s mouth, eyes, or skin. This substance exerts its effects by activating a receptor—the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel—located on pain- and heat-sensing neurons. Capsaicin binding to TRPV1 triggers an increase in intracellular calcium and the release of several neuropeptides. Prolonged exposure promotes analgesia via desensitization of sensory nerves, which is the basis for capsaicin’s use in over-the-counter analgesic skin creams. Now, a study by Yang et al . identifies a new potential use of capsaicin: as a blood pressure–lowering treatment. The most important observation of the study is that prolonged feeding of capsaicin (at a concentration of 0.02%—a lot of heat) to rodent models of hypertension lowers blood pressure. This effect is dependent on TRPV1, because capsaicin did not reduce blood pressure in mice that lacked TRPV1. The authors showed that TRPV1 is expressed in endothelial cells (which line blood vessels); furthermore, capsaicin increases the phosphorylation of protein kinase A (PKA) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in a TRPV1-dependent fashion in endothelium or endothelial cells, thus increasing production of nitric oxide, which is a key mediator of vascular relaxation. What remains unclear, however, is whether these effects in endothelial cells are responsible for the long-term in vivo effects of capsaicin. According to Unigene of the National Center for Biotechnology Information, TRPV1 is expressed in many human tissues, including kidney, brain, and immune cells; all of these organs regulate blood pressure. That capsaicin has indirect effects on the endothelium and on blood pressure is supported by the authors’ observation that capsaicin has no acute effects on either blood pressure, PKA, or eNOS activation even after 3 weeks of treatment in mice; only after 4 months of capsaicin feeding was an effect on blood pressure apparent. This study provides a rationale for human trials targeting TRPV1, even if it is likely that one needs to “take the heat” for many months to cool one’s blood pressure. D. Yang et al. , Activation of TRPV1 by dietary capsaicin improves endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and prevents hypertension. Cell Metab . 12 , 130–141, 2010. [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/abstract/S1550-4131(10)00228-7
Orientation dependence of the nucleation and growth of partial dislocations and possible twinning mechanisms in aluminum

Abstract Plastic deformation in certain nanocrystalline metals (grain size less than 100 nm) or under certain conditions is associated with profuse activation of partial dislocations with grain boundaries acting as both the source and the sink. We use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of pure aluminum to investigate the orientation dependence of deformation mechanisms, and show that two types of twins can be generated. Theoretical calculations are used to understand the effect of loading orientation on the activation of twins. The theoretical framework incorporates (a) a tensorial stress state, (b) dislocation loops and (c) non-singular core energies for accurate descriptions of criteria for partial dislocation activation. Both the theoretical predictions and the MD simulation demonstrate that twins should be possible (but rare) in nanocrystalline aluminum.
Cramér-Rao-Leibniz Lower Bound — A new estimation bound for finite support measurement noise

In this paper we introduce a new bound on an estimator's error, derived from the classical Cramer-Rao Lower Bound (CRLB), for cases where the support of the likelihood function (LF) exhibits parameter-dependence. Parameter-dependent support of the LF arises here when an unknown parameter is observed in the presence of additive measurement noise and the measurement noise pdf has a finite support. This new modified CRLB — designated as the Cramer-Rao-Leibniz Lower Bound (CRLLB), since it relies on Leibniz integral rule — is presented and its use illustrated. The CRLLB is shown to provide, for example, a valid bound for the problem of uniform measurement noise for which the CRLB was shown in the literature as not valid. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that, in light of the CRLLB, the ML estimator in the uniform measurement noise case is statistically efficient, i.e., the estimator's variance is equal to the CRLLB.
Boundedness theorems and other mathematical studies of a Hodgkin-Huxley type system of differential equations - Numerical treatment of thresholds and stationary values

Abstract We present here a study of the Hodgkin-Huxley system of four first-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations (with initial values) as reformulated by H.M. Lieberstein. The original Hodgkin-Huxley system modeled the development and propagation of voltage impulses on nerve fibers. It was altered by Dr. Lieberstein so as to include the effects of line inductance and line capacitance without introducing any new parameters. It included the application of a sustained constant membrane current density I 0 . The inclusion of I 0 enables the system to model the electrical behavior of smooth muscle cells, pacemaker cells, receptor cells, and cells with a plateau-type behavior, in addition to nerve cells. In Part I, after a section that provides background material and preliminary facts concerning the system, local existence, uniqueness, and analyticity of solutions to the system are proved. Boundedness of the solutions is proved in Part II. It isproved there that three of the four solution components ( n, m, and h ) have lower bounds of zero and upper bounds of one. The lower boundedness of the fourth component, the membrane voltage v , is then proved, followed by a proof for upper boundedness. A second proof for lower boundedness is also given. Boundedness of the solutions leads to the existence and uniqueness of solutions for all nonnegative time. The continuous dependence of the solutions on initial values and parameters follows. Besides proving that the sensitivity to parameters inherent in the original Hodgkin-Huxley model is removed, continuous dependence also limits the mathematical possibilities that could be involved in the threshold phenomenon that appears in the equations. New bounds for n, m, and h are also obtained from the fact that v is bounded. In Part III, the mathematical possibilities that might govern the threshold phenomena that appear in the model are examined and new numerical work is presented, which indicates that the model yields solutions that are intermediate to the “on” and “off” solutions expected with such phenomena. Then theorems and numerical work are presented indicating that stationary points are not involved in the threshold phenomenon, although they do determine the behavior of the system at large positive times.
Multi-spectral band selection for satellite-based systems

The design of satellite based multispectral imaging systems requires the consideration of a number of tradeoffs between cost and performance. The authors have recently been involved in the design and evaluation of a satellite based multispectral sensor operating from the visible through the long wavelength IR. The criteria that led to some of the proposed designs and the modeling used to evaluate and fine tune the designs will both be discussed. These criteria emphasized the use of bands for surface temperature retrieval and the correction of atmospheric effects. The impact of cost estimate changes on the final design will also be discussed.
Guiding-center simulation of toroidal plasmas☆

Abstract A new computer simulation method for axisymmetric toroidal plasmas is developed. The method comprises two separate physical models representing different components of an experimental plasma. The first model is an MHD fluid equilibrium representation; the technique devised for the solution of this equilibrium is faster than any currently in common use. The second model is a macroparticle representation which uses guiding-center formalism for the particles' velocities and positions; consequently, the timestep used by this model may be many times longer than those possible for conventional macroparticle simulations. A new computer, code, GUIDON, which incorporates in these models a solution for self-consistent magnetic fields, is presented. Special features of the guiding-center model are discussed in detail. Results of simulations using GUIDON are also presented.
"The words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart": The mindset of gamblers revealed in their language.

The colorful language of gambling and gaming is essential to creating the players' world; in analyzing it we understand that world. This fringe vocabulary or slanguage is examined in connection with standard language, and is analyzed for its origins, its humor, and for the attitudes it expresses and transmits. This language is seen as a neglected indicator ofl'histoire de mentalite, the mindset of gamblers. It is also suggested that other factors—body language, paralanguage, stock expressions composed of standard words (jokes, catch phrases, etc.)-hold clues to the outlook, superstitions, behavior, the rational and irrational beliefs of gamblers.
Endogenous c-N-Ras Provides a Steady-state Anti-apoptotic Signal

Abstract We report that c-N-Ras possesses an isoform-specific, functional role in cell survival under steady-state conditions. This function includes protection from programmed cell death by serum deprivation or upon treatment with apoptosis-inducing agents. The data demonstrate that c-N-Ras may play a functional role in the regulation of steady-state phosphorylated Akt and serine 136-phosphorylated Bad (Ser136-pBad). Immortalized N-Ras knockout fibroblasts possess nearly undetectable levels of steady-state Ser136-pBad. In contrast, wild-type control cells and the N-Ras knockout cells ectopically expressing c-N-Ras at control levels maintained easily detectable levels of Ser136-pBad both at steady-state and following treatment with tumor necrosis factor α. Similar results were seen with Ser112-pBad. These differences did not arise from differences in total Bad protein levels. These data correlate with the observation that the N-Ras knockout cells exhibit a heightened susceptibility to the induction of apoptosis. Ectopic expression of c-N-Ras in the N-Ras knockout cells at endogenous levels, compared with control cells, significantly rescues the apoptotically sensitive phenotype. Elevated expression of either c-Kirsten A-Ras or c-Kirsten B-Ras did not reverse the apoptotic sensitivity of the N-Ras knockout cells or result in increased levels of either phospho-Akt or phospho-Bad. Our results indicate that, at steady state, c-N-Ras possesses an isoform-specific, functional role in cell survival.
Induction of immunodeficiency in mice by injection with syngeneic splenocytes immune to semi-allogeneic hybrid cells.

Abstract Intravenous transfer of BALB/c spleen cells (1−10 × 10 6 ) immunized against semi-allogeneic hybrid cells bearing H-2 k antigens into BALB/c mice resulted in splenomegaly (2- to 6-fold). As few as 2 × 10 4 spleen cells could transfer splenomegaly. A significant spleen enlargement was seen from 2 weeks after cell transfer and reached the peak level at 3 weeks. Those mice with splenomegaly displayed markedly reduced levels of proliferative responses to concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide. However, the levels of the major Ig classes (i.e., IgG, IgM, and IgA) in the immunodeficient mice were significantly elevated. Such induction of immunodeficiency in mice may help further to understand the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome of humans.
Calculations of Pressure Drop in a Circular Duct Using the Traditional Method Compared to That Using the Constricted Flow Diameter

The traditional method of calculating pressure drop in a pipe that conveys a fluid involves use of the Moody Diagram. This diagram is a correlation of data with friction factor plotted as a function of Reynolds number and relative roughness. A new graphical representation of these data has been formulated, and makes use of what is known as the constricted flow diameter. The background for this new correlation is based on using a pipe diameter less twice the average roughness height. A new “modified” Moody Diagram has been produced based on the constricted flow diameter. The presence of roughness features on the inside pipe wall has an effect on the flow along the pipe surface which is not accounted for in the traditional Moody diagram. The new diagram accounts for this effect. To demonstrate the use of the new diagram, several example problems have been formulated and solved using the traditional and the modified diagrams. Calculations indicate that at the smaller pipe sizes, the use of the constricted flow diameter yields significantly different results from those obtained in the traditional way. These results have a major influence on modeling flows in mini- and in micro-channels. Laminar and turbulent flows are both affected.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Approximation of the yolk by the LP yolk

If n points are sampled independently from an absolutely continuous distribution with support a convex subset of R2, then the center and radius of the ball determined by the bounding median lines (the LP yolk) converge with probability one to the center and radius of the yolk. The linear program of McKelvey (1986) is therefore an effective heuristic for computing the yolk in large samples. This result partially explains the results of numerical experiments in Koehler (1992), where the bounding median lines always produced a radius within 2% of the yolk radius.
Extinction of avoidance through response prevention: enhancement by administration of epinephrine or ACTH.

Abstract Avoidance responding has been viewed historically as being difficult to extinguish. However, one procedure that has been found to be very effective in extinguishing avoidance behavior is the response prevention technique. Several unsuccessful attempts have been made to increase the efficacy of this treatment by administering either an anxiolytic compound or a peripheral muscle relaxant just prior to the response prevention session. In the present study we demonstrate that administration of either epinephrine or ACTH prior to response prevention increases the effectiveness of this treatment in extinguishing an avoidance response. The first two experiments examine the effects of these hormones on response prevention-induced extinction of the instrumental avoidance response while the third experiment examines extinction of the Pavlovian conditioned fear supposedly mediating the avoidance behavior.
Have You Facebooked Astin Lately? Using Technology to Increase Student Involvement

This chapter explores Facebook.com's current and potential uses for increasing college student involvement. Ideas based on Astin's model of student involvement provide a framework for discussion.
A critical analysis of intraoperative time utilization in laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Background: Time and efficiency analysis is a technique common in industry that is being applied to surgical procedures. The aim of this study is to analyze the time spent performing the component parts of laparoscopic adrenalectomy by both the lateral transabdominal and the posterior retroperitoneal approaches. Methods: Operational videotapes of 33 patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy (12 lateral, 21 posterior) were reviewed. The operation was divided into six steps: trocar entry, laparoscopic ultrasonography, exposure of the adrenal gland, dissection of the adrenal, extraction of specimen, and irrigation-aspiration. Time spent for each step and the relation with age, gender, body mass index (BMI), tumor size, side, and histology were assessed using Student's t-test, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis. Results: Although tumor size was larger in the lateral compared to the posterior approach (5.5 vs 2.5 cm, p < 0.001), there was no difference between the groups regarding total operating time (116.1 vs 112.8 min). Most of the operating time was spent on dissection of the adrenal gland with both techniques (lateral, 60%; posterior, 66%). Exposure of the adrenal gland was longer in the lateral compared to the posterior approach (15.1 vs 5.8 min, respectively; p < 0.05). In the transabdominal technique, this step was longer on the right side than on the left (18.9 vs 11.4 min, respectively; p < 0.05). In the lateral approach, dissection time was dependent on tumor size (r = 0.90, p < 0.05) but not on BMI, whereas in the posterior approach both tumor size and BMI were positively correlated (r = 0.56 and r = 0.64, respectively). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to apply time analysis techniques to laparoscopic adrenal surgery. Understanding the variables that affect operative time may influence the choice of the surgical approach in a given patient. This study also suggests that efforts to improve operative efficiency are best directed at the dissection of the adrenal.
Using latent semantic indexing for literature based discovery

Latent semantic indexing (LSI) is a statistical technique for improving information retrieval effectiveness. Here, we use LSI to assist in literature-based discoveries. The idea behind literature-based discoveries is that different authors have already published certain underlying-scientific ideas that, when taken together, can be connected to hypothesize a new discovery, and that these connections can be made by exploring the scientific literature. We explore latent semantic indexing's effectiveness on two discovery processes: uncovering nearby relationships that are necessary to initiate the literature based discovery process; and discovering more distant relationships that may genuinely generate new discovery hypotheses
Analytical solution for constriction resistance with interstitial fluid in the gap

An analysis of the thermal constriction resistance between two semi-infinite solids in contact has been carried out to study the effects of the interstitial medium. The thermal contact is modeled as a three-media problem with finite resistivities for each medium, together with complete interfacial coupling between the solids and the interstitial fluid. Analytical solutions are obtained for a periodic array of two-dimensional gaps of circular segment profiles flanked by flat contacting surfaces. A corrective-iterative technique is used to account for the interaction between the gaps to obtain a closed form expression for the contact resistance in terms of known parameters. For the special case of zero-thickness adiabatic gaps, the present solution compares very well with the available analytical solution for gap fraction values of the κ g ≤0.7. The resistance is observed to be a strong function of gap conductivity and gap thickness, especially at lower values of these parameters.
Relationship between nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) and the C:N ratio in a polluted coral reef ecosystem, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

Abstract Biological nitrogen fixation was investigated in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, which receives secondary sewage from two treatment plants. In an attempt to determine the controlling environmental factors of nitrogen fixation in the Bay, dead coral heads, sediments, and suspended matter were analysed for carbon and nitrogen and their concentrations related to nitrogen fixation. The high blue-green algal fixation on dead coral structures in the middle sector is ascribed in part to the efficient flushing by oceanic water as indicated by the relatively high C: N ratio (15: 1) of the suspended matter. It is calculated that 760 and 6 Kg N2 ha−1 is fixed annually by blue-green algae on dead coral and bacteria in the sediment, respectively, in Kaneohe Bay. These rates would supply 2.3% of the annual nitrogen requirement for phytoplankton growth.