cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TGF-beta-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition.

During development and in the context of different morphogenetic events, epithelial cells undergo a process called epithelial to mesenchymal transition or transdifferentiation (EMT). In this process, the cells lose their epithelial characteristics, including their polarity and specialized cell-cell contacts, and acquire a migratory behavior, allowing them to move away from their epithelial cell community and to integrate into surrounding tissue, even at remote locations. EMT illustrates the differentiation plasticity during development and is complemented by another process, called mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET). While being an integral process during development, EMT is also recapitulated under pathological conditions, prominently in fibrosis and in invasion and metastasis of carcinomas. Accordingly, EMT is considered as an important step in tumor progression. TGF-β signaling has been shown to play an important role in EMT. In fact, adding TGF-β to epithelial cells in culture is a convenient way to induce EMT in various epithelial cells. Although much less characterized, epithelial plasticity can also be regulated by TGF-β-related bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and BMPs have been shown to induce EMT or MET depending on the developmental context. In this review, we will discuss the induction of EMT in response to TGF-β, and focus on the underlying signaling and transcription mechanisms.
Improvements and innovations in endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration

Keywords: Algorithm; Core histology needle; Cytology; Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration fine needle biopsy; Histology
Donald Hebb: The Organization of Behavior

I consider this a great privilege to be able to briefly remark on D.O. Hebb’s marvellous book “Organization of Behavior: A Neuropsychological Theory” which he wrote in 1949. Hebb’s ideas have had a profound influence on brain theory, in particular his famous “A Neurophysiological Postulate” governing the correlated pre-post synaptic changes which are the basis for the engram or memory trace. Although, there are many different forms of Hebb’s postulate, I believe that essentially all “viable” mammalian cortical models embody some version of his idea: “Let us assume then that the persistence or repetition of a reverberatory activity (or “trace”) tends to induce lasting cellular changes that add to its stability. The assumption can be precisely stated as follows: When an axon of cell A is near enough to excite cell B and repeatedly or persistently takes part in firing it, some growth process or metabolic change takes place in one or both cells such that A ‘s efficiency, as one of the cells firing B, is increased”.
Inclusion Complexes of 6-Bromo-2-Naphthol (Guest) and α-Cyclodextrin (Host): Thermodynamics of the Binary Complex and First-Reported Dynamics of a Triplet-State Guest/Host2 Complex†

The thermodynamics properties of the 1 guest−1 host ground-state complex were determined from near UV absorbance measurements as a function of temperature. Entropy changes for formation of the binary and ternary complexes suggest that the brominated end of the guest molecule is attached to the first host molecule, and the hydroxyl end is encapsulated by the second host. The enthalpy of stabilization is approximately twice as great for the ternary complex as for the binary complex in the ground state. A molecular kinetics mechanism is presented that is used to determine some of the dynamics properties of the 1 guest−2 host complex from measurements of the pulsed laser-induced phosphorescence that emanates from the triplet state of 6-bromo-2-naphthol. The rate of dissociation of the triplet-state ternary complex is governed by a large Arrhenius activation energy (82 ± 1 kJ/mol), and the dissociation rate constant (k-d = 8400 s-1 at 25 °C) is more than an order of magnitude smaller than that in typical binar...
Music Therapy and Autism: A View from Disability Studies

La musicoterapia si e posizionata esattamente all'interno del modello medico della disabilita, sostenendo che molti tipi di variabilita umana devono essere intesi come malattie, morbi, o altri tipi di condizioni mediche e patologiche, offrendo la musica come fonte di normalizzazione, risanamento, e terapia verso una possibile cura. Ma per molte condizioni umane, tra cui l'autismo, la cura non e ne possibile ne auspicabile. Invece di cercare di normalizzare le persone autistiche, la musicoterapia puo invece riconoscere i loro distinti interessi e attitudini musicali, e offrirsi per migliorare la loro cultura nativa in un clima di reciproco rispetto. Piuttosto che di normalizzazione e cura, i musicoterapisti potrebbero adoperarsi per migliorare l'espressione del se, la conoscenza, e la gratificazione attraverso la mutualita del far musica.
Compressively Sampled MR Image Reconstruction Using Hyperbolic Tangent-Based Soft-Thresholding

The application of compressed sensing (CS) to magnetic resonance (MR) images utilizes the transformed domain sparsity to enable the reconstruction from an under-sampled k-space (Fourier) data using a non-linear recovery algorithm. In order to estimate the missing k-space data from the partial Fourier samples, the reconstruction algorithms minimize an objective function based on mixed l 1 − l 2 norms. Iterative-shrinkage algorithms, such as parallel coordinate descent (PCD) and separable surrogate functional, provide an efficient numerical technique to minimize the l 1-regularized least square optimization problem. These algorithms require a thresholding step to induce sparsity in the solution, which is an essential requirement of the CS recovery. This paper introduces a novel soft-thresholding method based on the hyperbolic tangent function. It has been shown that by using the proposed thresholding function in the sparsifying domain and a data consistency step in the k-space, the iterative-shrinkage algorithms can be used effectively to recover the under-sampled MR images. For the purpose of demonstration, we use the proposed soft-thresholding and data consistency with the PCD algorithm and compare its performance with the conventional PCD, projection onto convex sets and low-resolution reconstruction methods. The metrics used to compare the various algorithms are the artifact power, the peak signal-to-noise ratio, the correlation and the structural similarity index. The experimental results are validated using Shepp–Logan phantom image as well as real human head MR images taken from the MRI scanner at St. Mary’s Hospital, London.
Science and morality: A Soviet dilemma.

Alexander Vucinich with science. Philosophy has been proclaimed a study of the general principles of scientific inquiry and every branch of philosophical thought in open conflict with science has been outlawed. Religion has been chastised as a negation of science. The works of art have been identified as special cultural expressions of an "undivided world view" rooted in science and contributing to a "cognition and reproduction of reality." A poet is not asked to be a scientist but he is expected not to challenge the scientific world view, as the world view of Soviet culture.
One-step oxidation of benzene to phenol with nitrous oxide over Fe/MFI catalysts

The one-step oxidation of benzene to phenol with nitrous oxide has been studied over a variety of Fe/MFI catalysts at 400 and 450 °C. The turnover frequency (TOF) is found to strongly increase with decreasing Fe loading in accordance with the model of mononuclear Fe sites. The TOF is highest for steamed H-MFI catalysts with an iron impurity of Fe/Al =0.014. A large increase in phenol yield upon steaming H-MFI at 650 °C indicates that Fe ions are transferred from lattice to extralattice positions. Treating such catalysts with H2S results in a dramatic decrease of the selectivity to phenol, proving the crucial role of Fe ions. A small residual activity for phenol formation after sulfidation could indicate a different reaction path of low rate or regeneration of Fe sites by oxidation of sulfide groups. In general, three types of Fe sites have been identified in Fe/MFI catalysts: (1) mononuclear Fe, catalyzing phenol formation, (2) dinuclear, oxygen-bridged Fe oxo-ions, catalyzing NOx reduction, and (3) Fe oxide nanoparticles, catalyzing deep oxidation.
Chromism of Bi2WO6 in single crystal and nanosheet forms

Nanosheets of Bi2WO6 with lateral dimensions of 1–2 μm and thicknesses of 5–15 nm were prepared using Cs4W11O362− nanosheets as the tungsten oxide precursor and lateral template. The formation of these nanosheets was followed by electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction techniques. The isolated Bi2WO6 nanosheet product was characterized with respect to structure, morphology, spectroscopic properties, and optical properties. The bandgap energy of Bi2WO6 nanosheets is relatively large at ∼3.1 eV. The chromism of these sheets with respect to UV irradiation and Li+ intercalation was examined in detail. The UV-induced photochromism of dispersed Bi2WO6 nanosheets is highly dependent on the solvent environment, and the initial color change from white to black is reversible. The photochromic properties of “flowerlike” and single crystal Bi2WO6 were evaluated as well. Another color change, pale yellow to brown-black, occurred when lithium ions were intercalated into the Bi2WO6 lattice using n-butyl lithium. Reaction of lithiated Bi2WO6 with water yielded nanofragments of Bi2WO6 rather than nanosheets.
Properties of Nb-doped lead scandium niobate titanate thin films prepared by a sol–gel method

Abstract Lead scandium niobate titanate (Pb[Sc 1/2 Nb 1/2 ) 0.57 Ti 0.43 ]O 3 ) thin films with 0.5 mol% Nb doping were prepared by a sol–gel method. Films annealed at temperatures greater than 600°C crystallized into a single phase perovskite structure. The films were transparent and crack-free with uniform thickness and an average grain size of 1.1 μm. The dielectric constant and dissipation factor measured at 1 kHz for a film annealed at 700°C were 1370 and 0.022, respectively. Ferroelectricity was confirmed by the presence of hysteresis loops, with a remanent polarization of 20 μC/cm 2 and coercive field of 35 kV/cm. The piezoelectric coefficient ( d 33 ) of a poled film was 98 pm/V. Dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of the films were enhanced through annealing and poling after deposition of the top gold electrode.
Development and initial validation of a measure of intention to stay in academia for physician assistant faculty.

PURPOSE The purpose of this research was to construct and validate a measure of "intention to stay in academia" for physician assistant faculty members. METHODS The 70-item instrument was developed through a literature review, a qualitative investigation of how experienced physician assistant faculty members conceptualized "intention to stay in academia," and an expert review of survey items. The items were pilot tested on a convenience sample of 53 faculty members from 9 physician assistant programs; the revised survey was then administered to all 1002 physician assistant program faculty members in the United States with physician assistant credentials. Rasch analyses were conducted to examine psychometric properties of the measure and collect evidence of validity. RESULTS The national survey had a 48% response rate, and participants were representative of all physician assistant faculty members. Although the overall instrument demonstrated acceptable construct coverage, good reliability estimates, and adequate fit statistics for the majority of the items, only 36.5% of the variance in the data could be explained by the measure. A subset of 19 items relating to a supportive academic environment ("Supportive Environment" scale) was extracted and met the expectations of the Rasch model. CONCLUSIONS The Supportive Environment scale produced a meaningful progression of indicators of "intention to stay in academia" for physician assistant faculty members and demonstrated characteristics of a linear measure. Administrators can make valid inferences regarding physician assistant faculty intention to stay from the subscale analysis.
Nicotinic stimulation modulates tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA half-life and protein binding to the 3′UTR in a manner that requires transcription

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression increases in adrenal chromaffin cells treated with the nicotinic agonist, dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP; 1 microM). We are using this response as a model of the changes in TH level that occur during increased cholinergic neural activity. Here we report a 4-fold increase in TH mRNA half-life in DMPP-treated cells chromaffin cells that is apparent when using a pulse-chase analysis to measure TH mRNA half-life. No increase is apparent using actinomycin D to measure half-life, indicating a requirement for ongoing transcription. Characterization of protein binding to the TH 3'UTR responsible for stabilization using labeled TH 3'UTR probes and electro-mobility shift assays shows the presence of two complexes both of which are increased by DMPP-treatment. The faster migrating complex (FMC) increases 2.5-fold and the slower migrating complex (SMC) increases 1.5-fold. Both changes are prevented by actinomycin D. Characterization of the protein binding to the TH UTR probes indicates SMC is disrupted by polyribonucleotides, poly (A) and poly (U), while binding to FMC is reduced by poly (CU). Separation of UV crosslinked RNA-protein complexes on SDS polyacrylamide gels shows FMC to contain a single protein whereas SMC contains three proteins. Northwesterns yielded similar results. Comparison of DMPP-induced protein binding with the poly C binding protein (PCBP) involved in hypoxia induced rat PC12 TH mRNA stability indicates none of the bovine UTR binding proteins are the PCBP. Thus, nicotinic stimulation produces a transcription-dependent increase in TH mRNA half-life that is mediated by previously unrecognized TH mRNA binding proteins.
Subanguina radicicola, the root-gall nematode infecting Poa annua in New Brunswick, Canada.

Poa annua frequently is found as the dominant turfgrass species on golf course putting greens grown in the range of cool-season grasses. While not intentionally established, it is an aggressive weed in stands of bentgrasses (Agrostis spp.). When significant encroachment of P. annua occurs, it often is maintained indefinitely. In May 2003, P. annua putting greens at the Riverside Country Club in Rothesay, New Brunswick, Canada showed signs of an unidentified disease. Putting greens were slow to green up and large chlorotic patches were evident across affected areas. When roots were examined, extensive galling was observed. Galls were slender and often twisted in appearance. Upon dissection of washed galls, hundreds of eggs were exuded into the surrounding water droplet, and mature male and female nematodes were observed. Further morphological examination of males, females, and juvenile nematodes demonstrated that they were Subanguina radicicola (Greef 1872) Paramanov 1967 (1,2). Each P. annua plant had an average of four galls (with a range of two to nine) primarily located within the uppermost centimeter of the soil. Of 18 P. annua putting greens, four were affected by the nematode and displayed the same damage symptoms. S. radicicola has been identified from American beachgrass in Rhode Island and from P. annua in Oregon, but to our knowledge, this is the first report of the nematode affecting P. annua on a golf course in eastern North America. References: (1) W. F. Mai and P. Mullin. Plant-Parasitic Nematodes: A Pictorial Key to Genera. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, 1996. (2) G. Thorne. Principles of Nematology. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York, 1961.
Comparison of theory and experiment for moments induced by loose internal parts

Spin-stabilized projectiles often employ internal parts that are loose. Typical examples are safety mechanisms within fuzes, payload components, or submunitions. A series of tests were conducted where a loose internal part was driven by the rotor of a freely gimballed gyroscope. The motion of the loose part is not identical to that of the gyroscope and will cause the gyroscope yaw to grow. The gyroscope yaw history and the orbital motion of the loose part were measured to determine the phase angle between the motion of the loose part and the yawing motion of the gyroscope. The experimental data were used as input parameters to a theory that predicts moments (and, therefore, the yaw growth rate) induced by a loose internal part. Where the assumptions of the theory were appropriately modeled by the experiment, comparisons of theoretical and experimental yaw growth rates were consistent.
Biological effects of small air ions: A review of findings and methods

A wide variety of effects of exposure to small air ions have been reported, but these are difficult to evaluate because of limitations in experimental design and control. These limitations are discussed, and trends in the literature are reviewed. It is concluded that small air ions are likely to have biological effects, that these effects may be related to polarity, and that where effects occur they are likely to be small in magnitude and difficult to detect reliably.
The Historical Significance of Joe Camel

Abstract The Joe Camel advertising campaigns had little or no effect on smoking by youths or adults beyond shifting brand shares among younger smokers. The advertisements appear to have wielded substantial influence on the larger political and legal environment, however. This influence was transmitted first through the lens of pronouncements by the public health community, including the Food and Drug Administration, which helped shape public opinion toward the view that cigarette advertising causes smoking. This, in turn, provided essential support for the unprecedented wave of litigation that engulfed the industry and has relied primarily on nonpublic industry documents rather than market data. The extent of Joe Camel’s indirect influence has not been quantified but appears to have been substantial.
Effect of dietary lipids on renal function in rats with subtotal nephrectomy

Effect of dietary lipids on renal function in rats with subtotal nephrectomy. Female rats with 1-3/4 nephrectomy were divided in two groups and pair fed for five weeks diets differing in their linoleic acid content. Five weeks after subtotal nephrectomy, values for glomerular filtration rate and renal plasma flow were significantly higher and the values of blood pressure significantly lower in rats fed a diet rich in linoleic acid. Systolic blood pressure averaged 156 ± 5.6 mm Hg in high and 215 ± 8.1 mm Hg in low linoleic acid-fed rats. Differences in the values of blood pressure between the two groups were observed three weeks after subtotal renal ablation and persisted throughout the period of observation. Inulin clearance averaged 0.89 ± 0.07 ml/min in the high and 0.44 ± 0.05 ml/min in the low linoleic acid group. Protein excretion in the urine was significantly less in rats fed the high linoleic acid diet (36.9 ± 4.4 mg/24 hr) than in those fed the low linoleic acid diet (90.1 ± 12.5 mg/24 hr). The weight of the remnant kidney five weeks after subtotal renal ablation was greater in rats fed a low linoleic acid diet as compared to those fed a high linoleic acid diet (P
Vasa and nanos are coexpressed in somatic and germ line tissue from early embryonic cleavage stages through adulthood in the polychaete Capitella sp. I

Members of the vasa and nanos gene families are involved in germ line development in a number of diverse animals. As a polychaete annelid model for studies of the germ line, Capitella sp. I has several advantages including the presence of dedicated gonads, individuals that reproduce multiple times, and the presence of males, females, and hermaphrodites. Germ line development has not been characterized in Capitella sp. I, nor is the mechanism of germ line specification generally well understood in annelids. We have cloned vasa and nanos orthologues from Capitella sp. I and found that both CapI-vasa and CapI-nanos transcripts are expressed in developing gametes of sexually mature adults. Characterization of both these genes during embryonic, larval, and juveniles stages reveals expression in multiple somatic tissues for CapI-vasa and CapI-nanos with largely overlapping but not identical expression patterns. In early cleavage stages, both transcripts are broadly expressed; following gastrulation, expression is observed in the presumptive brain, mesodermal bands, and developing foregut. Using CapI-nanos and CapI-vasa as markers, we have identified putative primordial germ cells (PGCs) in larvae, which are initially present as small bilateral clusters in segment 4 and as a single cluster at late larval stages. In adults, a single large cluster of putative PGCs is present in segments 5 and 6. In addition to highlighting differences in expression profiles for these two genes among lophotrochozoans, we present a hypothesis concerning the origin and development of PGCs in Capitella sp. I.
Immunologic observations in macaques with Shigella-associated periodontal disease.

The purpose of this study was to determine if macaques with Shigella-associated periodontal disease (SAPD) were mounting humoral and cellular immunologic responses to Shigella flexneri. Responses to Bacteroides melaninogenicus ss. intermedius, a recognized periodontal pathogen, were also examined. Of the 12 monkeys studied, 4 were uninfected controls, 6 had SAPD, and 2 had been successfully treated for SAPD. At or near the time of immunologic testing, all animals were free of intestinal shigellosis. Antibody titers to the test organisms were determined by direct bacterial agglutination; cellular responses were determined by a serum-free blast transformation assay. The highest antibody titers and blastogenic responses to both Shigella and Bacteroides antigens were observed in animals from the SAPD group. Monkeys with SAPD gave significantly higher antibody titers to both S. flexneri (p < 0.05) and B. melaninogenicus ss. intermedius (p < 0.01) than did the control monkeys. They also gave significantly higher blastogenic responses to PHA (p < 0.05) and S. flexneri (p < 0.05) than did control monkeys, but did not differ significantly in their blastogenic responses to Bacteroides. These results support the suggestion that Shigella is of etiologic importance in SAPD. They also suggest that a highly virulent microorganism which is a numerically minor component (< 0.1%) of the cultivable flora can elicit significant host responses.
Democracy and Religion

Relations between American democracy and religion have always been somewhat equivocal.On the one hand, moral and ethical principles derived from the Judeo-Christian tradition have been a major source of democratic values. Religion was an important motivating factor in both the colonization of North America and the American Revolution. The Founding Fathers set such high store by religion that they included its free exercise along with free speech and a free press among the liberties specifically protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. Organized religion played a key role in such drives to perfect democracy as the abolition of slavery, the enactment of woman's suffrage, and the civil rights struggle of the 1960s. Perhaps most important, the so-called Protestant ethic provided the moral bedrock on which republican institutions were built.On the other hand, democratic theorists and much of the general public have been wary of the absolutist social outlook often associated with religion. Practically all religions claim to embody ultimate truths about the nature of the universe and the human condition. At some level, therefore, they can hardly be tolerant of rival beliefs. Religious bodies can avoid social intolerance by acknowledging that human imperfection clouds and corrupts the judgments of all institutions, including the churches, or by limiting their social pronouncement to broad moral directives. In practice, however, individuals or institutions claiming to represent transcendent moral authority are often tempted to attach certainty to their opinions on complex issues in secular politics.
Apportionment of nuptial alkaloidal gifts by a multiply-mated female moth ( Utetheisa ornatrix ): eggs individually receive alkaloid from more than one male source

In the moth Utetheisa ornatrix the female is promiscuous and receives a nuptial gift of pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) by seminal infusion from each mate. The alkaloidal gifts are transmitted by the female to the eggs, which are protected as a result. We here show that individual eggs may receive PAs from more than one male source and that individual males have no assurance that the PA they themselves contribute to the female will find its way exclusively to eggs of their siring.
Applications of Acoustic Wave Devices for Sensing in Liquid Environments

Abstract Acoustic wave devices such as thickness shear mode (TSM) resonators and shear horizontal surface acoustic wave (SH‐SAW) devices can be utilized for characterizing physical properties of liquids and for chemical sensor applications. Basic device configurations are reviewed and the relationships between experimental observables (frequency shifts and attenuation) and physical properties of liquids are presented. Examples of physical property (density and viscosity) determination and also of chemical sensing are presented for a variety of liquid phase applications. Applications of TSMs and polymer‐coated guided SH‐SAWs for chemical sensing and uncoated SH‐SAWs for “electronic tongue” applications are also discussed.
A SIMPLE TECHNIQUE FOR ELETRONIC COUNTING AND SIZING PLATELETS

Platelet sizing is a newly explored method for distinguishing thrombocytopenin due to increased peripheral destruction from that due to decreased production. We have devised a method for simultaneously counting and sizing platelets on a fingerstick specimen using the Electrozone electronic counter. 0.02 ml of blood is collected into a capillary tube. A layer of Stractan II is added and the tube is spun in a micro-capillary centrifuge. A distinct platelet layer then lies above the Stractan. The tube is cut and the platelet layer is diluted and passed through the electronic counter using a 48μ aperture. Platelet number is determined by the counter, while size distributions are performed by a multichannel particle analyser interfaced with a logarithmic amplifier. Platelet vields are 93% by comparison to manual counts, thus electronic counts/0.93 show a very close relationship to manual counts (r=0.99). Platelet volumes in normal adults range from 1.18μ3 to 49.6μ3 with a mean volume of 7.03μ3. Female subjects had significantly larger platelets than male suhiects(p<0.05). A random relationship existed between platelet size and number. Mean platelet volume in full term infants was 5.90μ3 and in premature infants 6.34μ3. No relationship was found between gestational age or birth weight and platelet size. This method represents a simple and accurate method for simultaneous platelet counting and sizing and the entire procedure can be done in less than 6 minutes.
Fungemia due to Lachancea fermentati: a case report

Lachancea fermentati is an environmental yeast that is also used in the fermentation of alcoholic drinks. It has not previously been described as a human pathogen although the closely related yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii, can cause fungemia. Here we report a case of L. fermentati acting as a pathogen in a septic patient with cultures positive from blood, peritoneal fluid, bile, and sputum. A 36 year-old Caucasian man was hospitalized with acute alcoholic hepatitis complicated by Escherichia coli spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Three days after admission, he developed new fevers with sepsis requiring mechanical ventilation and vasopressor support. He was found to have a bowel perforation. Cultures from blood, peritoneal fluid, and sputum grew a difficult-to-identify yeast. Micafungin was started empirically. On hospital day 43 the yeast was identified as L. fermentati with low minimum inhibitory concentrations (by Epsilometer test) to all antifungals tested. Micafungin was changed to fluconazole to complete a 3-month course of therapy. Serial peritoneal fluid cultures remained positive for 31 days. One year after his initial hospitalization the patient had ongoing cirrhosis but had recovered from fungemia. This case demonstrates the need for clinicians to consider host factors when interpreting culture results with normally non-pathogenic organisms. In this immunocompromised host L. fermentati caused disseminated disease. We believe his hobby of brewing alcohol led to colonization with L. fermentati, which then resulted in invasive disease when the opportunity arose.
Analysis of binary data via a centered spatial-temporal autologistic regression model

A centered spatial-temporal autologistic model is developed for analyzing spatial-temporal binary data observed on a lattice over time. We propose expectation-maximization pseudolikelihood and Monte Carlo expectation-maximization likelihood as well as consider Bayesian inference to obtain the estimates of model parameters. Further, we compare the statistical efficiency of the three approaches for various sizes of sampling lattices and numbers of sampling time points. Regarding prediction, we use Monte Carlo to obtain predictive distributions at future time points and compare the performance of the model with the uncentered spatial-temporal autologistic regression model. The methodology is demonstrated via simulation studies and a real data example concerning southern pine beetle outbreak in North Carolina.
N‐Methyl‐d‐Aspartate‐Stimulated Increases in Intracellular Calcium Exhibit Brain Regional Differences in Sensitivity to Inhibition by Ethanol

This study compared N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-stimulated increases in intracellular calcium in fura-2-loaded neurons dissociated from newborn rat brainstem (EC50 in microM; 6.4), cerebellum (9.5), forebrain (6.3), and hippocampus (10.6). Ethanol inhibition of the response to 25 microM NMDA differed among the regions. The NMDA response in hippocampus was inhibited by 20 mM ethanol; cortex and cerebellum responses were inhibited by 80 mM ethanol, and no inhibition was seen in the brainstem. Addition of glycine (15 microM) failed to attenuate ethanol inhibition of the NMDA response. These results demonstrate that ethanol inhibition of NMDA-stimulated responses varies according to brain region. In contrast to previous findings from this laboratory using dissociated neurons from whole brain, the addition of glycine did not reverse the inhibitory effects of ethanol on NMDA-stimulated responses.
Improved chelators and sequestrants for Army Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units (ROWPUs)

Abstract Mobile Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units (ROWPUs) have been used by the armed forces to provide potable water for field applications. The current water purification systems, consist of the 600 gph, 3000 gph and 150,000 gpd ROWPUs. The ROWPU can provide potable water from any available water source such as fresh, brackish, and seawater and can also purify water that has been contaminated by nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) warfare agents. The ROWPUs are fielded with certain chemicals that are used to clean the elements and to prevent fouling and scale formation on the membranes. The antiscalant (sodium hexametaphosphate) currently used in the field, is reputed to be an effective antiscalant for constituents typically found in subsurface waters such as silicates of calcium and magnesium, etc., but not necessarily for surface waters containing organic matter, organometallic complexes, or heavy metals. The U.S. Army Belvoir Research, Development and Engineering Center has a contract with Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) to evaluate an effective antiscalant agent that will be effective with multiscalant components and over a wide range of temperatures. The overall development program consists of three phases. The first phase was the market investigation in which 16 potential chemicals were recommended for further evaluation. The second phase of development was the operational analysis which was divided in two stages: 1) bottle screening tests to identify the most promising antiscalants and 2) bench-scale tests in reverse osmosis (RO) membrane test cells to obtain performance data with a test configuration more representative of actual ROWPUs. The final phase of development will be the evaluation of the most promising antiscalants in a single RO element test stand at the Belvoir Research, Development and Engineering Center. This paper presents the results of the second phase tests that were conducted during the operational analysis in which two types of tests were performed. The bottle screening tests were conducted to assess the ability of the antiscalants to inhibit the precipitation of calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate, which are inorganic scalants frequently encountered in water purification and water distribution systems. Based on the results of the Bottle screening studies, the most promising antiscalants were tested in the bench-scale test stand using the flat-plate test cells with view ports to facilitate visual observations with multi-component challenge feed solutions. Permeate flow rates, water conductivities, and visual observations were used to determine the effectiveness of the antiscalants.
A simple theory of ionic solutions in a charged, square well model

Abstract An approximate theory of ionic solutions is presented and applied to a model system of hard spheres surrounded by a square well potential with charges located at the centers. Virial osmotic coefficients are calculated and compared to solutions of the hypernetted chain equation and to experimental data of alkali halide salts.
Selective lung ventilation during thoracoscopy: Effects of insufflation on hemodynamics

Background. Positive-pressure insufflation during thoracoscopy has been advocated by some authors to facilitate exposure of the intrathoracic structures by expediting collapse of the lung. We hypothesized that insufflation during thoracoscopy may result in hemodynamic compromise despite selective lung ventilation. Methods. After placement of invasive monitoring lines, six adult swine underwent selective lung ventilation and thoracoscopy. Baseline measurements of hemodynamic indices were taken before selective lung ventilation. The right lung then was collapsed; data were obtained at insufflation pressures up to 10 mm Hg and were compared with baseline values using Student's t test. Results. Cardiac index, mean arterial pressure, and left ventricular stroke work index decreased, whereas pulmonary artery and central venous pressures increased ( p Conclusions. Positive-pressure insufflation during thoracoscopy resulted in significant hemodynamic compromise despite the use of selective lung ventilation. Conversion to thoracotomy may be an alternative if positive-pressure insufflation is necessary to perform the thoracoscopic procedure.
Specification of attribute relations for access control policies and constraints using Policy Machine

Attribute relations in access control mechanisms or languages allow accurate and efficient specification of some popular access control models. However, most of the access control systems including today's de-facto access control protocol and specification language, XACML, does not provide sufficient syntactic and semantic support for the specification of attribute relations in their scheme. In this paper, we show the deficiencies of XACML in specifying such capabilities in the implementations of the Multilevel Security, Hierarchical Role Based policies and Separation of Duty requirements of access control systems. In comparison, we then demonstrate the attribute relation mechanism provided by a relation-based access control mechanism - the Policy Machine.
Dried Coffee Grounds Unsuitable for Use in the Diet of Growing Chickens

Abstract THE large quantities of coffee grounds resulting from the preparation of soluble coffee constitute a serious disposal problem. Inasmuch as the chemical composition of dried coffee grounds indicated that they might be used as a source of energy in poultry diets, two experiments, in which dried coffee grounds were compared with (1) ground yellow corn and (2) ground oat hulls, were conducted. EXPERIMENTAL Four lots of 25 Rhode Island Red chicks were used in each of the two experiments. The chicks were brooded in electrically heated battery brooders. In the first experiment the ground yellow corn in the experimental diet was replaced by 25, 15, and 7.5 percent of dried coffee grounds, and in the second experiment it was replaced by 5 and 10 percent of dried coffee grounds and by 5 and 10 percent of ground oat hulls. The experimental diet was compounded as follows: The average live weight . . .
Power Smoothing Energy Management and Its Application to a Series Hybrid Powertrain

Energy management strategies in hybrid electric vehicles determine how much energy is produced/stored/used in each powertrain component. We propose an approach for energy management applied to a series hybrid electric vehicle that aims at improving the powertrain efficiency rather than the total fuel consumption. Since in the series configuration the engine is mechanically decoupled from the traction wheels, for a given power request the steady-state engine operating point is chosen to maximize the efficiency. A control algorithm regulates the transitions between different operating points by using the battery to smoothen the engine transients, thereby improving efficiency. Because of the constrained nature of the transient-smoothing problem, we implement the control algorithm by model predictive control. The control strategy feedback law is synthesized and integrated with the powertrain control software in the engine control unit. Simulations of the urban dynamometer driving schedule (UDDS) and US06 cycles using a complete vehicle system model and experimental tests of the UDDS cycle show improved fuel economy with respect to baseline strategies.
Select Drosophila glomeruli mediate innate olfactory attraction and aversion

Fruitflies show robust attraction to food odours, which usually excite several glomeruli. To understand how the representation of such odours leads to behaviour, we used genetic tools to dissect the contribution of each activated glomerulus. Apple cider vinegar triggers robust innate attraction at a relatively low concentration, which activates six glomeruli. By silencing individual glomeruli, here we show that the absence of activity in two glomeruli, DM1 and VA2, markedly reduces attraction. Conversely, when each of these two glomeruli was selectively activated, flies showed as robust an attraction to vinegar as wild-type flies. Notably, a higher concentration of vinegar excites an additional glomerulus and is less attractive to flies. We show that activation of the extra glomerulus is necessary and sufficient to mediate the behavioural switch. Together, these results indicate that individual glomeruli, rather than the entire pattern of active glomeruli, mediate innate behavioural output.
Users Learning from Users: Building a Learning Commons from the Ground Up at a New University

The learning commons of Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is a physical space and cultural concept resulting from collaboration between the library and information technology services. Four tenets guided the development of the learning commons: (1) users learn from users; (2) serve the needs of the “Google” learner; (3) craft a tailored resource mix emphasizing electronic resources; and (4) resist organizational insularity.
A novel thermogravimetric method for estimating the saturated vapor pressure of low‐volatility compounds

Thermogravimetric analysis is used to measure accelerated vaporization rates at elevated temperatures and reduced pressures for several compounds. Multiple linear regression is used to generate empirical coefficients of an equation that relates these parameters. The vaporization rates of the compounds at standard ambient temperature and pressure (SATP) are estimated by extrapolation to 105 Pa (1 atm) and 298 K. The estimated vaporization rates are then correlated with literature values of saturated vapor pressure (psat). The results of twenty four compounds with vapor pressures that span 10 orders of magnitude indicate that psat25°C is directly psat proportional to the rate of vaporization at SATP. The average error of an estimate of psat25°C based on this relationship is less than a factor psat of 2.1.
Is Modern Information Technology Enabling the Evolution of a More Direct Democracy

Many futurists, technologists, and democratic theorists have asserted the Internet and modern information technology are enabling the realization of an authentic direct democracy, or at least a more participatory democracy. Conversely, critics contend advances in technology are only automating the existing democracy. This article explores the potential of modern information technology to enable the emergence of a more participatory democratic system. In particular, the key foundations of modern direct democracy are analyzed with respect to promising technological developments.
A probabilistic lower bound for checking disjointness of sets

On prouve, dans cet article, que pour un probleme particulier, determiner si deux ensembles (pas necessairement egaux en taille) sont disjoints montre que l'acceleration est limitee a une constante. Une borne inferieure probabiliste Ω(m log n) est prouvee, ou m et n sont les cardinalites d'ensembles et m≥n
Decreased Serum Thyrotropin Induced by Fasting

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of fasting on serum thyrotropin (TSH). Serum triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), TSH and prolactin (PRL) were measured twice daily by radioimmunoassay, and thyroidal iodine release (TIR) was measured continuously in two normal and six obese euthyroid subjects before, during and after a 7-day fast. All subjects displayed inhibition of TIR which fell to a nadir within 3 days, followedby a gradual rise with continued fasting. A further prompt rise in TIR in 5 of the 8 subjects began within 6 h of refeeding with a 1,000 calorie, oral carbohydrate load. Serum TSH (mean ± SE) also fell significantly within 2 days (P < 0.005) from 2.4 ± 1.0 to 1.1 ± 1.0 eU/ml, then gradually rose to near baseline values, followed by an increase to 2.9 ± 1.3 μU/ml after refeeding. The pattern of TSH response paralleled the observed changes in TIR, indicating dependenceof TIR on circulating TSH during fasting and refeeding. Serum T3 fell from 117 ± 10 to 54 ± 7 ng/dl dur...
Bandgap optimization of 2D photonic crystals

In this paper, a procedure for optimizing two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystals (PhC) is presented. In this procedure, the unit cell of a PhC structure is discretized into small grids and converted into a binary sequence. A direct binary search (DBS) method is then used to search through a terrain of possible solutions in order to find a more optimal one. This process is designed for improving the absolute band gap, opening a new one, for a predefined PBG structure. By applying this procedure on a honeycomb array of dielectric rods in air background, the maximum absolute gap-to-midgap ratio (MAGTMR) is increased to more than twice that of the initial structure. To further prove the validity of this procedure, this procedure is also applied to two best-found hexagonal and square lattice structures. The band gap improvements in these two cases indicate that besides structure type, structure symmetry, fill factor, index contrast, and size, shape and orientation of the constituent objects, there are other unknown factors, which affect the absolute band gap of a photonic crystal as well. The convergence property of this procedure is also discussed in this paper. The idea of this procedure can be applied to find the global optimal solution by using a global optimization algorithm, such as simulated annealing (SA), genetic algorithm (GA).
Diagenesis in porosity evolution of opening-mode fractures, Middle Triassic to Lower Jurassic La Boca Formation, NE Mexico

Abstract Opening-mode fractures (joints) in Middle Triassic to Lower Jurassic La Boca Formation sandstones, northeastern Mexico, have patterns of fracture porosity, mineral-fill structures, and size distributions not previously described from outcrop. Patterns match those found in cores from many basins. We used aperture measurements along lines of observation (scanlines), fracture-trace maps, petrography, high-resolution scanning-electron-microscope-(SEM)-based cathodoluminescence, and fluid inclusions to characterize fracture populations. Open fractures are lined by quartz that precipitated while fractures were opening, whereas sealed fractures additionally contain calcite deposited after fractures ceased opening. Large fractures and arrays of contemporaneous microfractures have consistent power-law aperture-size scaling over approximately three orders of magnitude. Our results imply that open fractures and fracture sizes depend on diagenetic state. The interplay of fracture mechanics and diagenetic history is a determinant on effective porosity within fractures and, thus, open fracture persistence, connectivity, and fluid flow.
Tryptophanase from Sphaerophorus funduliformis. Purification, molecular weight and subunit properties.

Abstract A crystalline tryptophanase can be obtained from extracts of Spaerophorus funduliformis using a heat treatment, hydroxyapatite chromatography and solubility in solutions of (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 as a function of pH and temperature. The purified enzyme is homogeneous by several criteria. S. funduliformis tryptophanase has a specific activity of 11.5–13.5 and requires pyridoxal 5′-phosphate for enzymatic activity. Like other tryptophanases that have been studied, the S. funduliformis enzyme is a tetramer protein consisting of four apparently identical subunits. The native enzyme has a sedimentation coefficient of 11.2 S and a molecular weight of 244 000. In solutions of 5 M guanidine · HCl, 8 M urea, and sodium dodecylsulfate, at high pH or in the presence of thiols, the enzyme dissociates to 59 000 molecular weight species which are homogeneous by the criterion of weight. Peptide maps of the reduced holo-tryptophanase show one pyridoxal-containing peptide and, lacking agreement with the determined amino acid composition, suggest that the subunits of the enzyme contain a high degree of internal sequence homology.
Contribution of Superior Mesenteric Vein Flow to the Right and Left Lobes of the Liver Using CFD

The incidence of cirrhosis, the end stage for many liver diseases, is rising and with it the need for better understanding of the progression of the disease and diagnostic techniques. The authors have noted that liver disease occurs preferentially in the right side of the liver which is the largest lobe. One hypothesis is that this is due to the composition of the blood that supplies the right lobe. The liver is fed by both the hepatic artery and the portal vein with the portal vein contributing about 80% of the blood supply. The portal vein (PV) is supplied by the superior mesenteric vein (SMV), which drains blood from the digestive track, and the splenic vein (SV), which drains blood from the spleen. Since the blood in the SMV is coming from the digestive track, it carries toxins and items absorbed during digestion. Toxins such as alcohol are known to damage the liver. Thus, our hypothesis is that the majority of the SMV flow feeds into the right portal vein and ultimately the right lobe of the liver. This study seeks to assess the validity of our hypothesis in four subjects by creating subject specific models in two normal subjects and two patients and using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to calculate the SMV contribution to the right portal vein.Copyright © 2009 by ASME